1
楊礪，字汝礪，京兆鄠人。 曾祖守信，唐山南西道節度、同平章事，本宦官復恭假子也。 祖知禮，後唐均州刺史。 父仁儼，入蜀仕王氏，為丹棱令。 蜀平，補渭南主簿，累遷永和令。 礪，建隆中舉進士甲科。 父喪，絕水漿數日。 服除，以祿不足養母，閑居無仕進意，鄉舊移書敦諭，礪乃赴官。 解褐鳳州團練推官，歲餘，又以母疾棄官。 開寶九年，詣闕獻書，召試學士院，授隴州防禦推官。 入遷光祿寺丞，丁內艱，起就職。 久之，轉秘書丞，改屯田員外郎、知鄂州，以善政聞。
Yang Li, courtesy name Ruli, was a native of Hu in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Shouxin had served as military governor of the Shannan West circuit and as Tongpingzhangshi under Tang; he had originally been the foster son of the eunuch Fugong. His grandfather Zhili had been prefect of Jun Prefecture under Later Tang. His father Renyan had entered Shu and served the Wang regime, becoming magistrate of Danling. After Shu was pacified, he was appointed recorder of Weinan and was eventually promoted to magistrate of Yonghe. Li passed the jinshi examination in the first class during the Jianlong era. When his father died, he went without food or drink for several days. When the mourning period ended, his salary was too small to support his mother, so he lived at home with no ambition for office; old friends in the district wrote urging him on, and only then did Li accept a post. On entering office he was made military administration secretary of the Fengzhou training command; after a little more than a year he resigned again because his mother was ill. In the ninth year of Kaibao he went to the capital and presented a book; after being examined at the Hanlin Academy he was appointed defense administration secretary of Longzhou. He was promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; when his wife's parent died he left mourning and returned to his post. After some time he became secretary of the Secretariat, then outer bureau director in the Ministry of Revenue and acting prefect of Ezhou, where he won a reputation for good government.
2
端拱初，真宗在襄邸，遷庫部，充記室參軍，賜金紫。 初，廣順中，周世宗節制澶州，礪贄文見之，館接數日。 世宗入朝，礪處僧舍，夢古衣冠者曰：「汝能從乎？」 礪隨往，睹宮衛若非人間，殿上王者秉珪南向，總三十餘。 礪升謁之，最上者前有案，置簿錄人姓名，礪見己名居首，因請示休咎。 王者曰：「我非汝師。」 指一人曰：「此來和天尊，異日汝主也，當問之。」 其人笑曰：「此去四十年，汝功成，予名亦顯矣。」 礪再拜，寤而誌之。 礪初名勵，以籍作礪，遂改之。 至是，受命謁見藩府，歸謂子曰：「吾今見襄王儀貌，即所夢來和天尊也。」 遷水部郎中。 真宗尹開封，礪為推官。 真宗嘗問礪：「何年及第？」 礪唯唯不對。 後知其唱名第一，自悔失問，謂礪不以科名自伐，甚重之。 儲宮建，兼右諭德，轉度支郎中。 即位，拜給事中、判吏部銓。 未幾，召入翰林為學士。 咸平初，知貢舉，俄拜工部侍郎、樞密副使。 二年，卒，年六十九。 真宗軫悼，謂宰相曰：「礪介直清苦，方當任用，遽此淪謝。」 即冒雨臨其喪。 礪僦舍委巷中，乘輿不能進，步至其第，嗟憫久之。 廢朝，贈兵部尚書，中使護葬。
Early in the Duangong era, when Zhenzong was at the Xiang palace, Li was transferred to the treasury department, appointed staff recorder, and granted gold and purple insignia. Earlier, during the Guangshun era, when the Zhou Emperor Shizong was stationed at Cangzhou, Li presented a literary work and was received; he was entertained as a guest for several days. When Shizong went to the capital, Li was staying in a monastery and dreamed that a man in ancient court dress said, "Will you come with me?" Li followed along and saw palace guards unlike anything in the mortal world; in the hall more than thirty kings holding jade scepters faced south. Li went forward to pay his respects; before the highest figure stood a desk with a register of names, and Li saw his own name at the top, so he asked what his fate would be. The king said, "I am not your teacher." He pointed to someone and said, "This is the Laihe Heavenly Lord; one day he will be your sovereign—you should ask him." That man smiled and said, "Forty years from now, when you have achieved success, my name too will be renowned." Li bowed twice, woke, and wrote the dream down. Li had originally been named Li; because the household register gave the character for his name as Li, he adopted that form. Now, after being ordered to call at the prince's residence, he returned and told his son, "I have just seen the Prince of Xiang's appearance—it is the Laihe Heavenly Lord from my dream." He was promoted to bureau director in the Ministry of Works. When Zhenzong governed Kaifeng, Li served as his administration secretary. Zhenzong once asked Li, "In what year did you pass the examinations?" Li only murmured and would not answer. Later, learning that Li had been announced first at the palace examination, he regretted having asked the wrong question and said that Li did not flaunt his examination rank; he esteemed him all the more. When the heir apparent was established, Li also served as right mentor of the heir apparent and was transferred to bureau director in the Ministry of Revenue. When Zhenzong took the throne, Li was appointed supervising censor and put in charge of personnel selection at the Ministry of Personnel. Before long he was summoned to the Hanlin Academy as an academician. Early in the Xianping era he supervised the civil service examinations; soon afterward he was appointed vice minister of Works and deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the second year he died, at the age of sixty-nine. Zhenzong was deeply grieved and told his chief ministers, "Li was upright and lived in hardship; he was just the man to employ—and now he is suddenly gone." He went at once through the rain to Li's mourning hall. Li had rented a house in a narrow back lane, and the imperial carriage could not pass; the emperor walked to the door and sighed in pity for a long while. Court mourning was declared; Li was posthumously made minister of War, and a palace envoy supervised his burial.
3
礪為文尚繁，無師法，每詩一題或數十篇。 在翰林，制誥迂怪，見者哂之。 有文集二十卷。
Li's writing tended toward prolixity and lacked disciplined craft; for a single poetic topic he might compose dozens of poems. While in the Hanlin, his edicts were convoluted and eccentric, and those who read them smiled. He left a collected works in twenty juan.
4
子嶠至祠部郎中； 嶧至太常博士； 峭至太子中舍。 少子嵎，至道初與張庶凝刊校真宗儲邸書籍，真宗即位，皆賜進士出身、直史館。 嵎至祠部郎中，庶凝至太常丞。
His son Qiao rose to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites; Yi rose to erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; Qiao rose to middle household attendant of the heir apparent. The youngest son Yu, early in the Zhidao era, collated the books of Zhenzong's princely residence together with Zhang Shuning; when Zhenzong took the throne, both were granted jinshi status and appointment to the History Office. Yu rose to bureau director in the Ministry of Rites; Shuning rose to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
5
宋湜，字持正，京兆長安人。 曾祖擇，牟平令。 祖讚，萬年令。 父溫故，晉天福中進士，至左補闕； 弟溫舒，亦進士，至職方員外郎，兄弟皆有時名。 湜幼警悟，早孤，與兄泌勵志篤學，事母以孝聞。 溫舒典耀州，湜侍行，代作箋奏，詞敏而麗。 溫舒拊背曰：「此兒真國器，恨吾兄不及見也。」 太平興國五年進士，釋褐將作監丞、通判梓州榷鹽院，就遷右贊善大夫。 宋準薦其文，拜著作郎、直史館，賜緋。 雍熙三年，以右補闕知制誥，與王化基、李沆並命，仍賜白金五百兩、錢五十萬。 加戶部員外郎，與蘇易簡同知貢舉，俄判刑部，賜金紫。
Song Shi, courtesy name Chizheng, was a native of Chang'an in Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Ze had been magistrate of Mouping. His grandfather Zan had been magistrate of Wannian. His father Wengu, a jinshi of the Jin Tianfu era, rose to left remonstrance official; His younger brother Wenshu was also a jinshi and rose to outer bureau director in the Ministry of War; both brothers enjoyed renown in their day. Shi was clever from childhood and lost his father early; with his elder brother Bi he devoted himself to study and was known for his filial care of his mother. When Wenshu was prefect of Yao Prefecture, Shi accompanied him and drafted memorials on his behalf; the prose was swift and polished. Wenshu clapped him on the back and said, "This boy is truly material for the state—I only regret that my elder brother did not live to see it." He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo; on entering office he was made vice director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings and transit judge of the Zizhou salt monopoly office, and was soon promoted to right mentor grandee. Song Zhun recommended his writing; he was appointed drafting official and given a direct appointment to the History Office, with scarlet robes. In the third year of Yongxi he was made right remonstrance official with charge of drafting edicts, appointed together with Wang Huaji and Li Hang, and also granted five hundred taels of white gold and five hundred thousand cash. He was made outer bureau director in the Ministry of Revenue and, with Su Yijian, jointly supervised the civil service examinations; soon he was put in charge of the Ministry of Justice and granted gold and purple insignia.
6
淳化二年，祅尼道安訟大理斷獄不當，湜坐累，降均州團練副使。 時母老，湜留其室奉養。 移汝州，與王禹偁並召入，為禮部員外郎、直昭文館。 五年，以職方員外郎再知制誥、判集賢院，知銀臺、通進、封駮司。 至道元年，為翰林學士，知審官院、三班。 又兼修國史、判昭文史館事，加兵部郎中。
In the second year of Chunhua the heterodox nun Dao'an brought suit over an improper judgment in the Court of Judicial Review; Shi was implicated and demoted to deputy military training commissioner of Jun Prefecture. His mother was then elderly, and Shi left his post to care for her at home. After transfer to Ru Prefecture, he and Wang Yucheng were both recalled to court and made outer bureau director in the Ministry of Rites with a direct appointment to the Zhaowen Hall. In the fifth year, as outer bureau director in the Ministry of War he again drafted edicts and was put in charge of the Jixian Academy and the Yintai, Tongjin, and Fengbo offices. In the first year of Zhidao he became a Hanlin academician and was put in charge of the Bureau for Review of Appointments and the Three Classes. He also helped compile the national history and was put in charge of Zhaowen Hall affairs, and was promoted to bureau director in the Ministry of War.
7
真宗即位，拜中書舍人。 丁內艱，起復。 咸平元年冬，改給事中，充樞密副使。 真宗北巡，將次大名，以扈從軍列為行陣，親御鎧甲於中，諸王、樞密介胄以從，命湜與王顯分押後陣。 駐蹕數日，常召見便殿，方奏事，疾作仆地。 內侍掖出，太醫診視，撫問相繼，以疾亟聞。 明年正月，真宗臨視，許以先歸，賜衾褥，曰：「此朕嘗御者，雖故暗，亦足禦道途之寒。」 又遣內侍護送供帳，至澶州，卒，年五十一。 廢朝，贈吏部侍郎。 以子綸為太祝、純為奉禮郎； 弟某為光祿寺丞、湛為大理寺丞； 侄孫選同學究出身。 真宗再幸河朔，追悼之，加贈刑部尚書，諡曰忠定。
When Zhenzong took the throne, Shi was appointed secretariat drafter. When his wife's parent died he was recalled from mourning to office. In the winter of the first year of Xianping he was made supervising censor and deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When Zhenzong toured the north and was about to halt at Daming, the escort troops were drawn up in battle array; the emperor himself wore armor in the center, with princes and Bureau officials in armor following, and Shi and Wang Xian were ordered to command the rear guard separately. After several days' halt he was often summoned to the side hall; while reporting on business he was seized by illness and collapsed. Palace attendants helped him out; imperial physicians examined him; inquiries followed in succession, and word was sent that his illness was grave. In the first month of the following year Zhenzong visited him in person, allowed him to return home ahead, and gave him bedding, saying, "These I have used myself; though worn and faded, they will be enough to keep off the cold on the road." He also sent palace attendants to escort his traveling equipment; at Cangzhou Shi died, at the age of fifty-one. Court mourning was declared; he was posthumously made vice minister of the Ministry of Personnel. His son Lun was made libationer and Chun was made court gentleman of offerings; a younger brother was made vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and Zhan was made vice director of the Court of Judicial Review; a grandnephew Xuan was granted tongxue juren status. When Zhenzong again visited the north he mourned him afresh, posthumously promoted him to minister of Justice, and gave him the posthumous title Zhongding (Loyal and Settled).
8
湜風貌秀整，有醞藉，器識沖遠，好學，美文詞，善談論飲謔，曉音律，妙於奕棋。 筆法遒媚，書帖之出，人多傳效。 喜引重後進有名者，又好趨人之急，當世士流，翕然宗仰之。 有文集二十卷。
Shi was handsome and well composed, with cultivated reserve; his judgment was lofty and far-reaching; he loved learning and fine writing, was skilled at conversation and witty banter over wine, understood music, and was a master of go. His calligraphy was vigorous and elegant, and when his models circulated many people imitated them. He liked to advance talented younger men and was quick to help others in need; men of the age in official circles looked up to him as one. He left a collected works in twenty juan.
9
湜兄泌，太平興國二年進士，至起居郎、直史館、越王府記室參軍。
Shi's elder brother Bi, a jinshi of the second year of Taiping Xingguo, rose to palace attendant, direct appointment to the History Office, and staff recorder of the Prince of Yue's residence.
10
溫舒三子，沆、澥、濤。 沆，剛率，喜談兵。 太平興國五年進士，歷左正言、京西轉運使、度支判官。 淳化二年，呂蒙正罷相，沆坐親黨，貶宜州團練副使，起為太子中允，換如京副使。 咸平中，遣與梅詢使西京為安撫使，未行，罷為環慶路都監。 與知環州張從古擅發兵襲敵，不與部署叶謀，又士卒有死傷者，責授供奉官。 後為文思副使、京西提點刑獄，卒。 澥有清節，居長安不仕，與种放、魏野遊，多篇什酬唱。 濤，端拱二年進士，歷殿中丞、知襄城縣，以政績聞，賜緋魚。 歷鹽鐵判官，累遷監察御史、知虢州。 純及泌子緯皆至殿中丞。
Wenshu had three sons: Hang, Xie, and Tao. Hang was stern and blunt and liked to talk about military affairs. A jinshi of the fifth year of Taiping Xingguo, he served as left rectifier, transport commissioner of the Jingxi circuit, and revenue disbursement judge. In the second year of Chunhua, when Lü Mengzheng was dismissed as chief minister, Hang was implicated as a partisan and demoted to deputy military training commissioner of Yi Prefecture; he was later recalled as middle palace attendant and transferred to deputy commissioner of the Capital Transport Office. During the Xianping era he was dispatched with Mei Xun as pacification commissioner to the Western Capital; before he could depart he was reassigned as overall controller of the Huanqing circuit. Together with Zhang Conggu, prefect of Huan Prefecture, he launched troops on his own authority to raid the enemy without consulting deployment commissioner Ye Mou, and some soldiers were killed or wounded; he was reduced to palace attendant. Later he served as deputy commissioner of the Literary Reflection Office and judicial intendant of the Jingxi circuit, and died in office. Xie lived with integrity, remained in Chang'an without taking office, associated with Zhong Fang and Wei Ye, and exchanged many poems with them. Tao, a jinshi of the second year of Duangong, served as palace administration director and magistrate of Xiangcheng county, won notice for his administration, and was granted scarlet fish insignia. He served as salt and iron judge and was eventually promoted to investigating censor and prefect of Guo Prefecture. Chun and Bi's son Wei both rose to palace administration director.
11
王嗣宗
Wang Sizong
12
王嗣宗，字希阮，汾州人。 曾祖同節，寶鼎令。 祖待價，汾州防禦推官。 父夢證，成州軍事判官。
Wang Sizong, courtesy name Xiruan, was a native of Fen Prefecture. His great-grandfather Tongjie had been magistrate of Baoding. His grandfather Daijia had been defense administration secretary of Fen Prefecture. His father Mengzheng had been military administration judge of Cheng Prefecture.
13
嗣宗少力學自奮，遊京師，以文謁王祜，頗見優待。 開寶八年，登進士甲科，補秦州司寇參軍。 侍御史路冲知州事，為政苛急，盜賊群起。 嗣宗乘間極言其闕失，冲大怒，繫嗣宗於獄，又教無賴民被罪者訟嗣宗治獄枉濫。 朝廷遣殿中丞王廷範按之，具獲訟者誣罔狀，嗣宗乃得釋。
Sizong from youth studied hard and pushed himself forward; in the capital he presented his writing to Wang You and was treated with considerable favor. In the eighth year of Kaibao he passed the jinshi examination in the first class and was appointed judicial military adjutant of Qin Prefecture. Investigating censor Lu Chong was in charge of the prefecture; his government was harsh and severe, and bandits rose in bands. Sizong seized an opportunity to speak at length about his failings. Chong flew into a rage, imprisoned Sizong, and further incited convicted ruffians to bring suits accusing him of abusive and arbitrary conduct in the jail. The court dispatched Palace Affairs director Wang Tingfan to investigate. He fully uncovered the accusers' perjury and deception, and only then was Sizong released.
14
太宗征河東，嗣宗陳邊事，召赴行在，授大理寺丞、通判睦州，改右贊善大夫、徙河州。 太宗遣武德卒潛察遠方事，嗣宗械送京師，因奏曰：「陛下不委任天下賢俊，猥信此輩以為耳目，臣竊不取。」 太宗怒其橫，遣使械嗣宗下吏，削秩。 會赦，復官，尋以秘書丞通判澶州，並河東西，植樹萬株，以固堤防。 上言：「本州榷酤斗量，校以省斗不及七升，民犯私釀者三石以上坐死，有傷深峻，臣恐諸道率如此制，望詔自今並準省斗定罪。」 從之。 入為三司開拆推官，以左正言充河北轉運副使。 時邊境用兵，崔翰為大將，嗣宗每以苦言激其展效，就賜緋魚。 太宗將議親征，嗣宗上疏言契丹必不至之狀，甚見嘉納。 改左司諫，賜白金千兩。 入為度支判官，改駕部員外郎。 妻病，夜抉本司署門取藥，為直官宋鎬所發，坐罷職。 頃之，出知興元府，徙京西轉運使。 又移河北，賜金紫，貝州驍捷卒五十餘人謀竊發，嗣宗率吏悉擒之，優詔嘉獎。 遷虞部郎中，賜錢百萬。
When Emperor Taizong campaigned against Hedong, Sizong submitted a report on border affairs and was summoned to the imperial camp. He was appointed Assistant Director of the Court of Judicial Review and Vice Prefect of Mu Prefecture, then promoted to Right Advocate-in-Attendance and transferred to He Prefecture. Emperor Taizong had sent Wude soldiers to secretly investigate affairs in distant regions. Sizong had them shackled and sent to the capital, then memorialized: "Your Majesty does not entrust affairs to the worthy and talented throughout the realm, but rashly trusts men like these as your eyes and ears—I respectfully cannot approve." Emperor Taizong, angered by his insolence, sent emissaries to shackle Sizong and turn him over to the authorities, and reduced his rank. A general amnesty followed, and he was restored to office. Soon afterward he served as Secretariat Director and Vice Prefect of Chan Prefecture. Along both banks of the Yellow River he planted ten thousand trees to strengthen the dikes. He submitted a memorial: "In this prefecture the monopoly liquor measure, compared with the standard provincial measure, amounts to less than seven sheng. Private brewing of three shi or more is punishable by death—the penalty is excessively harsh. I fear every circuit will follow this same regulation. I hope Your Majesty will issue an edict that from now on all such cases be judged according to the standard provincial measure." The request was granted. He entered the capital as an investigating officer in the Three Offices Bureaus' Opening and Inspection Division, and served as Left Reminder-in-Attendance and Deputy Commissioner of the Hebei Transportation Circuit. At the time the frontier was at war and Cui Han was the commanding general. Sizong repeatedly goaded him with stern words to spur him to distinction in battle, and was promptly rewarded with the scarlet fish pouch. When Emperor Taizong was about to discuss a personal campaign, Sizong submitted a memorial arguing that the Khitans would certainly not come—a view that was highly praised and accepted. He was transferred to Left Reminder in the Department of State Affairs and granted a thousand taels of silver. He entered the capital as a fiscal management case officer and was promoted to Vice Director of the Bureau of Chariots and Horses. When his wife fell ill, he broke open the door of his bureau's office at night to obtain medicine. The duty officer Song Hao exposed the act, and Sizong was dismissed from office on that charge. Before long he was sent out as Prefect of Xingyuan and then transferred to Commissioner of the Jingxi Transportation Circuit. He was then transferred to Hebei and granted the gold-and-purple insignia. More than fifty daring Xiaojie soldiers of Bei Prefecture plotted a surprise attack; Sizong led his officers and captured them all, and a specially favorable edict commended him. He was promoted to Director of the Bureau of Government Monopoly and granted a million cash.
15
至道初，移河東轉運使，以為政暴率聞。 徙知耀州，又知同州，加比部郎中、淮南轉運使、江浙荊湖發運使。 揚、楚間有窄家神廟，民有疾不餌藥，但竭致祀以徼福。 嗣宗撤其廟，選名方，刻石州門，自是民風稍變。 初，漕運經泗州浮橋，舟多覆壞，嗣宗徙置城隅，遂獲安濟。 又建議外任官奉薄，貪猥者或致豐給，廉謹者終嬰貧匱，請以公田均賜之。 就改職方郎中。
At the beginning of the Zhidao reign he was transferred to Commissioner of the Hedong Transportation Circuit, becoming known for governing in a harsh and brusque manner. He was transferred to serve as Prefect of Yao Prefecture, then Prefect of Tong Prefecture, elevated to Director of the Bureau of Review, Commissioner of the Huainan Transportation Circuit, and Commissioner of Grain Transport for Jiangsu-Zhejiang and Jinghu. Between Yang and Chu there was a Zhai-family spirit temple. When people fell ill they took no medicine but exhausted their resources in worship to beg for fortune. Sizong demolished the temple, selected renowned medical formulas, and had them carved on stone at the prefectural gate; from then on local custom gradually changed. Earlier, grain transport had passed over Si Prefecture's floating bridge, and many boats capsized and were wrecked. Sizong had it relocated to a corner of the city wall, and safe passage was achieved. He also proposed that officials serving outside the capital receive thin salaries: the corrupt might still procure ample provision, while the upright and careful might end in poverty and want. He requested that public fields be divided and granted to them equally. He was then promoted to Director of the Bureau of Personnel Evaluations.
16
咸平三年，以漕運稱職，就拜太常少卿。 逾年，以右諫議大夫充三司戶部使，改鹽鐵使。 嘗與度支使梁鼎、戶部使梁顥同對，言曰：「國家經費甚繁，賦入漸少，加以冗食者眾，尤為耗蠹，所宜裁節。 若用度不足，即復重擾於民矣。 況西北二邊未平，有饋運之煩，臣等會議，事可省者，願條列以聞。」 從之。 明年，將郊祀，嗣宗因條上應奉諸物以及工作，凡減雜物十萬六千，省工九萬九千。 又言計省條奏，事有可紀者，望令判使一員，撰錄送史館。 詔以三司務繁，不當日有纂錄，可逐季錄送。 會罷三部使，改左諫議大夫，知通進、銀臺司兼門下封駁事，出知幷州兼幷代部署。 州境有臥龍王廟，每窮冬，闔境致祭，值風雪寒甚，老幼踣於道，嗣宗亟毀之。 轉運使鄭文寶上其政績，有詔褒美。 先是，西邊市馬，以給北邊戰士，有瘠弱者即送闕下，暑月道遠多死。 嗣宗建議，以汾州地涼，接樓煩諸監，美水草，請就牧放，從之。 召拜御史中丞。
In the third year of Xianping, for distinguished service in grain transport he was immediately appointed Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The following year he served as Right Reminder-in-Waiting and Commissioner of the Three Offices Household Bureau, then was transferred to Salt and Iron Commissioner. Once, together with Fiscal Commissioner Liang Ding and Household Commissioner Liang Hao, he had an audience and said: "State expenditures are very heavy and tax revenues are gradually shrinking. Added to this, the number of supernumeraries is large and especially drains resources—this ought to be cut back. If expenditures are insufficient, the people will again be heavily burdened. Moreover, the northwestern and northern frontiers are not yet pacified and there is the trouble of supply transport. We have met in conference and wish to submit an itemized list of matters that can be economized." The request was granted. The next year, as preparations were underway for the suburban sacrifice, Sizong submitted an itemized list of tribute items and labor projects, reducing miscellaneous goods by 106,000 and labor by 99,000. He also proposed that among the fiscal department's memorial items, matters worth recording should be compiled by one supervising commissioner and sent to the Historiography Institute. An edict responded that the Three Offices' business was heavy and daily compilation was inappropriate; records could be submitted quarterly. When the three commissionerships were abolished, he was made Left Reminder-in-Waiting, put in charge of the Memorial Reception and Silver Terrace Office with concurrent duty for seal-and-return review in the Chancellery, and sent out as Prefect of Bing Prefecture with concurrent command of the Bing-Dai garrison command. Within the prefecture was a Sleeping Dragon King temple. Every deep winter the whole territory would turn out for sacrifice; caught in fierce wind and snow, old and young collapsed in the roads. Sizong promptly destroyed it. Transportation Commissioner Zheng Wenbao submitted a report on his administrative achievements, and an edict praised him. Previously, horses were purchased on the western frontier to supply northern border troops. Weak and emaciated ones were sent to the capital; in the heat of summer the long journey killed many. Sizong proposed that since Fen Prefecture had a cool climate and bordered the Loufan horse pastures with fine grass and water, the horses should be grazed there instead. The proposal was accepted. He was summoned and appointed Vice Censor-in-Chief.
17
大中祥符間，真宗告謁太廟，嗣宗立班失儀，因自首。 真宗謂憲官當守禮法，以其性粗略，不之責。 加兼工部侍郎、權判吏部銓。 嗣宗剛果率易，無所畏憚，每進見，極談時事，或及人間細務。 頗輕險好進，深詆參知政事馮拯之短，遂結宰相王旦弟旭，使達意於旦以為助。 旦疾其醜行，因力庇拯，嗣宗大怒。 知制誥王曾從妹適孔冕家，閨門不睦。 曾從東封，至冕家啜茗中毒，得良藥乃解。 事已暴露，曾密疏方行大禮，願罷推究。 宰相亦以冕先聖後，將有褒擢，乃隱其事。 嗣宗獨謂曾誣構冕，懼反坐，乃求寢息。 會愆雨，嗣宗請對，言：「孔冕為王曾所訟，儻朝旨鞫問，加之鍛煉，則冕終負冤枉。 又侯德昭援赦敘緋，年考未滿，以欺詐得之，非吏部令史自首，亦無由知。 沿堂行首李永錫坐贓除名，復引充舊職，尋送銓授令錄。」 真宗亟召王旦等詰之。 旦曰：「孔冕之罪，朝議特為容隱，不令按問，誠非冤枉也。 德昭據吏部奏驗，乃行制命，及其首露，即已追奪。 永錫先為縣吏，坐為本部節度市羊不輸算除名，及沿堂闕人，李沆以其魁梧，因選擬官，復用為副行首。 在省祗事四年，陳牒乞班敘用，因復送銓。」 真宗曰：「止此，乃致旱邪？」 嗣宗理屈，復以他辭侵旦，旦不與抗，乃已。 明年十月，嗣宗復請對，言：「去歲八月至今年十月不雨，宿麥不登。 及秋，兗、鄆苦雨，河溢害稼，刑政有失，致成災沴。 孔冕冤枉，播在人口，王曾尚居近班，願示黜退，以正朝典，臣請露章以聞。」 真宗語王旦等曰：「曾實無罪，若嗣宗上章，亦須裁處。」 旦曰：「冕不善之跡甚眾，但以宣聖之後不欲窮究，謂其冤枉，感傷和氣，恐未近理。」 趙安仁曰：「今若再行按問，冕何能免罪？」 王欽若曰：「臣請審問嗣宗，若再鞫冕，不能自隱，如何區處？」 明日，嗣宗復對，且謝前言之失，真宗亦優容之。 其強妄多此類。
During the Dazhong Xiangfu era, when Emperor Zhenzong performed rites at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, Sizong breached protocol in the formation and confessed. Emperor Zhenzong said that a censor ought to observe ritual and law, but given his rough and careless nature, did not hold him accountable. He was additionally appointed Vice Minister of Works and given provisional charge of the Ministry of Personnel's selection board. Sizong was firm, resolute, and blunt, afraid of nothing. At every audience he spoke at length on current affairs, sometimes even touching on petty matters among the people. He was rather reckless and ambitious, bitterly assailing Vice Grand Councilor Feng Zheng's faults, and cultivated alliance with Grand Councilor Wang Dan's younger brother Xu, having him convey his wishes to Dan for support. Dan detested his vile conduct and therefore vigorously shielded Feng Zheng. Sizong was furious. Executive Drafting Academician Wang Zeng's younger female cousin by marriage had married into Kong Mian's family, and relations within the household were strained. When Zeng was returning from the eastern tour of the sacred Mount Tai, he stopped at Mian's home to drink tea and was poisoned; only after obtaining effective medicine was he saved. The matter had already come to light. Zeng sent a secret memorial that the grand rites were about to be performed and asked that investigation be halted. The grand councilors also considered that Mian was a descendant of the Sage and was slated for promotion, and therefore concealed the affair. Sizong alone held that Zeng had framed Mian. Fearful of being counter-charged, he asked that the matter be laid to rest. When drought persisted, Sizong requested an audience and said: "Kong Mian was accused by Wang Zeng. If an imperial order should interrogate him and torture is applied to extract confession, Mian will finally bear a false charge. Furthermore, Hou Dezhao obtained scarlet rank by invoking amnesty restitution, though his years of evaluation were incomplete—he secured it by fraud. Had not a Ministry of Personnel clerk confessed, there would have been no way to know. Hall-line chief Li Yongxi was dismissed and struck from the rolls for corruption, yet was recalled to his former post and soon sent to the selection board for appointment as a county recorder." Emperor Zhenzong promptly summoned Wang Dan and the others to question them. Wang Dan said: "Kong Mian's guilt was deliberately concealed by court deliberation—we simply forbade investigation. He is truly not wrongfully charged. Dezhao's appointment was issued on the basis of Ministry verification; once he was exposed, the appointment was immediately revoked. Yongxi had formerly been a county clerk, dismissed for purchasing sheep for the circuit military commissioner without paying the excise. When the hall line was short of men, Li Hang selected him for his imposing stature and restored him as deputy line chief. After four years of service in the ministry he submitted a petition requesting reappointment by seniority, and was sent back to the selection board." Emperor Zhenzong said: "Only these matters, and they caused the drought?" Sizong, having lost the argument, again attacked Dan on other grounds; Dan did not engage him, and the matter ended. In the tenth month of the following year Sizong again requested an audience, saying: "From the eighth month of last year until this tenth month there has been no rain; the winter wheat has failed. In autumn Yan and Yun suffered bitter rains; the river overflowed and ruined the crops. Failings in law and punishment have produced this calamity. Kong Mian's wrongful conviction is on everyone's lips, yet Wang Zeng still holds a place near the throne. I ask that he be publicly demoted to set right court standards. I request leave to submit an open memorial on the matter." Emperor Zhenzong told Wang Dan and the others: "Zeng is in fact innocent. Even if Sizong submits his memorial, it too must be adjudicated." Wang Dan said: "Mian's misdeeds are many, but because he is a descendant of the Sage we did not wish to pursue the matter thoroughly. To call him wrongfully charged and say harmony has been harmed—perhaps that is not quite reasonable." Zhao Anren said: "If we investigate again now, how could Mian escape guilt?" Wang Qinruo said: "I ask to interrogate Sizong: if Mian is tried again and the truth cannot be concealed, how shall we dispose of the matter?" The next day Sizong had another audience and apologized for his earlier errors; Emperor Zhenzong was lenient with him as well. His arrogance and presumption were often of this sort.
18
將祀汾陰，以永興重地，思得大臣才兼文武者鎮之。 因謂宰相曰：「嗣宗嘗自言知武事，可授廉車以當此任，宜召問之。」 嗣宗願奉詔，即拜耀州觀察使、知永興軍府。 真宗作詩賜之。 時种放得告歸山，嗣宗逆於傳舍，禮之甚厚。 放既醉，稍倨，嗣宗怒，以語譏放。 放曰：「君以手搏得狀元耳，何足道也！」 初，嗣宗就試講武殿，搏趙昌言帽，擢首科，故放及之。 嗣宗愧恨，因上疏言：「所部兼並之家，侵漁眾民，淩暴孤寡，凡十餘族，而放為之首。 放弟侄無賴，據林麓樵采，周回二百餘里，奪編厚利。 願以臣疏下放，賜放終南田百畝，徙放嵩山。」 疏辭極於詬辱，至目放為魑魅。 真宗方厚待放，令徙居嵩陽避之。
When preparations were underway for the sacrifice at Fen-yin, since Yongxing was a strategically vital region the emperor sought a senior minister versed in both civil and military affairs to guard it. He therefore told the grand councilors: "Sizong has said of himself that he understands military affairs. He could be given a surveillance commissionership for this post—I should summon and ask him." Sizong declared himself willing to obey the summons and was immediately appointed Surveillance Commissioner of Yao Prefecture and Military Prefect of Yongxing. Emperor Zhenzong composed a poem and bestowed it on him. At the time Zhong Fang had obtained leave to return to the mountains. Sizong received him at the relay station and treated him with great courtesy. Once Fang was drunk he grew somewhat arrogant; Sizong grew angry and used words to mock him. Fang said: "You won first place by grappling with your hands—what is there to boast of!" Earlier, when Sizong took the military examination in the Hall of Martial Lectures, he seized Zhao Changyan's hat in a wrestling bout and was placed first in the examination—hence Fang's jibe. Humiliated and resentful, Sizong submitted a memorial saying: "Within my jurisdiction there are more than ten powerful land-grabbing clans that encroach on the people and bully the orphaned and widowed—and Fang is their ringleader. Fang's younger brothers and nephews are ruffians who monopolize forestry and firewood gathering across more than two hundred li, seizing substantial profits. I ask that my memorial be forwarded to demote Fang, grant him a hundred mu of fields on Mount Zhongnan, and relocate him to Mount Song." The memorial's language was wildly abusive, going so far as to call Fang a demon. Emperor Zhenzong, who was still treating Fang with favor, ordered him to move to Songyang to avoid Sizong.
19
四年，邠寧陳興擅釋劫盜，徙嗣宗知邠州兼邠寧環慶路都部署。 城東有靈應公廟，傍有山穴，群狐處焉，妖巫挾之為人禍福，民甚信向，水旱疾疫悉禱之，民語為之諱「狐」音。 前此長吏，皆先謁廟然後視事。 嗣宗毀其廟，熏其穴，得數十狐，盡殺之，淫祀遂息。 徙知鎮州，發邊肅姦贓，肅坐貶。 嗣宗嘗言徙种放、掘邠狐、按邊肅，為去三害。
In the fourth year, Chen Xing of Binning arbitrarily released robbers; Sizong was transferred to Prefect of Bin Prefecture with concurrent command of the Binning-Huanqing Circuit garrison. East of the city was a Spirit-Responding Duke temple. Beside it was a mountain cave where a pack of foxes dwelled; sorcerers exploited them to bring people weal or woe. The people believed fervently and prayed there for rain, drought, disease, and plague alike; in speech they even tabooed the sound for "fox." Previous magistrates had all paid homage at the temple before taking up their duties. Sizong destroyed the temple, smoked out the cave, took several dozen foxes, and killed them all; the illicit cult ceased. Transferred to Prefect of Zhen Prefecture, he exposed Bian Su's corruption; Bian was demoted on that charge. Sizong once said that exiling Zhong Fang, digging out the Bin foxes, and prosecuting Bian Su were removing three scourges.
20
居二歲，召還，授樞密副使、檢校太保。 寇準為使，嗣宗與之不叶，累表解職，授檢校太傅、大同軍節度、知許州。 嗣宗嘗遊是州，別墅在焉，時人以為榮。 移知河南府。 天禧初，改感德軍節度，洛下訛言相驚。 徙知陝州，再表請老，且求入覲，遣使召還。 郊祀，改靜難軍節度。 既至闕下，病足，不能朝謁，乃求再知許州，不復議休退。 寇準為相，素惡之，特命以左屯衛上將軍、檢校太尉致仕。 表求面辭，以足疾艱於拜起，特免舞蹈，許其子扶掖之。 對數刻，賜錢百萬，還許下。 準貶，朝議以嗣宗藩輔舊臣，特令月給奉五十千。 嗣宗尤睦宗族，撫諸侄如己子，著遺戒以訓子孫勿得析居，又令以《孝經》、弓劍、筆硯置壙中。 五年，卒，年七十八。 廢朝，贈侍中。 諡曰景莊。 錄其子二人、甥二人官。
After two years he was recalled and appointed Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs with the honorary title of Grand Protector. Kou Zhun was commissioner; Sizong did not get along with him and repeatedly submitted memorials resigning, and was appointed Honorary Grand Mentor, Military Governor of Datong Army, and Prefect of Xu Prefecture. Sizong had once traveled in that prefecture and had a villa there; people of the time regarded it as an honor. He was transferred to Prefect of Henan Prefecture. At the beginning of Tianxi he was changed to Military Governor of Gande Army; false rumors in Luoyang alarmed the populace. Transferred to Prefect of Shan Prefecture, he twice memorialized requesting retirement and also asked to come to court; emissaries were sent to summon him back. At the suburban sacrifice he was made Military Governor of Jingnan Army. Once he reached the capital his feet were afflicted and he could not attend court audience, so he asked to be Prefect of Xu Prefecture again and no longer pressed for retirement. Kou Zhun was grand councilor and had long disliked him; he was specially ordered to retire as General-in-Chief of the Left Palace Guard and Honorary Grand Commandant. He submitted a memorial requesting a personal farewell audience; because his foot ailment made bowing difficult, he was specially exempted from the full prostration ritual and permitted to be supported by his son. After an audience of several quarters of an hour he was granted a million cash and returned to Xu Prefecture. When Kou was demoted, court deliberation held that Sizong, as a former frontier-supporting senior minister, should be specially granted a monthly stipend of fifty thousand cash. Sizong was devoted to his kin, treating his nephews as if they were his own sons; he left testamentary instructions forbidding descendants to live apart, and directed that the Classic of Filial Piety, a bow and sword, and writing brush and inkstone be buried with him. In the fifth year of the reign he died at the age of seventy-eight. Court mourning was declared, and he was posthumously conferred the title of Palace Attendant. He was given the posthumous title Jingzhuang (Resplendent and Dignified). Offices were granted to his two sons and two nephews.
21
嗣宗事三朝，最為宿舊。 所至以嚴明御下，尤傲狠，務以醜言淩挫群類。 為中丞日，嘗忿宋白、郭贄、邢昺七十不請老，屢請真宗敕其休致，又遣親屬諷激之。 及嗣宗晚歲疾甚，猶享厚祿，徘徊不去，嘗謂人曰：「僕惟此一事，未能免物議。」 眾皆嗤之。 嗣宗好為文，而劄尤甚。 奉祀之歲，近臣皆為頌記，宰相以嗣宗所撰，不足發揮盛德，慮為後所誚，乃不許刻石。 所著有《中陵子》三十卷。
Sizong had served three emperors and ranked among the most venerable of the old guard. In every post he ruled subordinates with stern discipline, but he was also notably arrogant and ruthless, habitually using abusive language to browbeat those around him. While serving as censor-in-chief, he took offense that Song Bai, Guo Zhi, and Xing Bing had reached seventy yet refused to retire; he repeatedly petitioned Zhenzong to compel their withdrawal from office and even sent relatives to needle them into doing so. Yet when Sizong himself grew seriously ill in old age, he continued to draw a lavish stipend and hesitated to step down; he once remarked to others, "This is the one thing for which I cannot escape censure." Everyone scoffed at the hypocrisy. Sizong was fond of writing, and memorials in particular. During the year of the state sacrifice, the emperor's close ministers all composed commemorative essays; the chief councilor judged Sizong's piece too weak to do justice to the emperor's greatness and, fearing posterity's ridicule, refused to allow it inscribed on stone. He authored the Zhonglingzi in thirty scrolls.
22
子堯臣，內殿承制； 唐臣，太子中舍； 從子舜臣，供奉官、閤門祗候； 禹臣，太子中舍。
His son Yao Chen served as Inner Palace Commissioner; Tang Chen held the post of Vice Director in the Crown Prince's Household; His nephew Shun Chen served as Attendant-in-Waiting and Gatekeeper Attendant; Yu Chen held the post of Vice Director in the Crown Prince's Household.
23
李昌齡
The biography continues with Li Changling.
24
李昌齡，字天錫，宋州楚丘人。 曾祖確，膠水令。 祖譚，邯鄲令。 父運，太常卿。 昌齡，太平興國三年舉進士，大理評事、通判合州。 歷將作監丞、右贊善大夫、通判銀州。 京城開金明池，昌齡獻詩百韻，太宗嘉之，擢右拾遺、直史館，賜緋。 改右補闕，出知滁州。 丁內艱，起為淮南轉運使，轉戶部員外郎、知廣州。
Li Changling, courtesy name Tianxi, was a native of Chuqiu in Song Prefecture. His great-grandfather Que had served as magistrate of Jiaoshui. His grandfather Tan had been magistrate of Handan. His father Yun rose to Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Changling passed the jinshi examination in Taiping Xingguo 3 (978) and was appointed Assistant Evaluator in the Court of Judicial Review and judicial intendant of He Prefecture. He then held the posts of Vice Director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings, Right Viscount of Goodness in the Crown Prince's Household, and judicial intendant of Yin Prefecture. When Jinming Pool was opened in the capital, Changling submitted a hundred-couplet poem that pleased Taizong, who promoted him to Right Reminder with direct attachment to the Historiography Institute and granted him red rank insignia. He was transferred to Right Supplementary Censor and appointed prefect of Chu Prefecture. After the death of his mother he was recalled from mourning to serve as Huainan Transport Commissioner, then promoted to Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue and appointed prefect of Guang Prefecture.
25
廣有海舶之饒，昌齡不能以廉自守，淳化二年代還。 初，運嘗典許州，有第在城中，昌齡包苴輜重悉留貯焉，其至京城，但藥物藥器而已。 會有言其貪者，太宗以為誣，召賜金紫，擢禮部郎中，逾月，為樞密直學士。 昌齡上言：「廣州市舶，每歲商舶至，官盡增價買之，良苦相雜，少利。 自今請擇其良者，官如價給之，苦者恣其賣，勿禁。 雷、化、新、白、惠、恩等州山林有群象，民能取其牙，官禁不得賣。 自今宜令送官，以半價償之，有敢隱匿及私市與人者，論如法。」 詔皆從之。
Guang Prefecture's maritime trade brought great wealth, but Changling failed to remain honest; he was recalled and replaced in Chunhua 2 (991). Earlier his father Yun had served as prefect of Xu and owned a residence in the city; Changling stored all his bribe-laden baggage there, bringing only medicines and medical instruments when he reached the capital. When accusations of corruption reached the throne, Taizong dismissed them as slander, summoned Changling, granted him gold and purple insignia, and promoted him to Bureau Director in the Ministry of Rites; within a month he was made Privy Council Academic Scholar. Changling memorialized: "At Guang Prefecture's maritime trade office, whenever merchant vessels arrive the government buys the entire cargo at inflated prices, mixing fine goods with shoddy ones to little profit. Henceforth the government should purchase only the best goods at fair market prices and allow inferior merchandise to be sold freely without restriction. In the mountain forests of Lei, Hua, Xin, Bai, Hui, En, and other prefectures wild elephants roam; though locals can harvest ivory, the government currently forbids its sale. Hereafter ivory should be delivered to the government for half-price compensation, and anyone who conceals it or sells it privately should be prosecuted under the statutes." The emperor approved all of these proposals.
26
是秋，初置審刑院於禁中。 凡獄具上奏，先申審刑院，印付大理、刑部斷覆以聞，又下審刑中覆裁決，以付中書，當者行之，否則宰相聞以論決。 命昌齡知院事。 月餘，又權判吏部流內銓，數日，授右諫議大夫，充戶部使。
That autumn the Office for the Review of Punishments was first established within the inner palace. All submitted case files were first routed through the Office for the Review of Punishments, then forwarded with an official seal to the Court of Judicial Review and Ministry of Justice for initial judgment and review; the case then returned to the Review Office for a second ruling before being sent to the Secretariat-Chancellery for execution, or, if disputed, referred to the chief councilor for final adjudication. Changling was appointed to head the new office. A month later he was also given temporary charge of the Ministry of Personnel's registry of current appointments; within days he was made Right Remonstrance Grandee and Commissioner of the Households Bureau.
27
三年，改度支使，拜御史中丞。 下詔御史臺，合行故事並條奏以聞，獄無大小，自中丞以下皆親臨鞫問，不得專責所司，李繼隆受命河朔征討，不赴臺辭，昌齡糾之，遣吏追還，罰奉。 又劾陝西轉運使鄭文寶生事邊境，築城沙磧，輕變禁法，文寶坐貶湖外。
In the third year he was made Commissioner of the Revenue Bureau and appointed censor-in-chief. An edict directed the Censorate to itemize all established precedents for the throne's review and required that cases of every size be personally heard by the censor-in-chief and his subordinates rather than delegated to clerks. When Li Jilong, ordered north on campaign, failed to call at the Censorate to bid farewell, Changling impeached him, had officials sent to bring him back, and levied a fine on his salary. He also impeached Shaanxi Transport Commissioner Zheng Wenbao for provoking trouble on the frontier by building fortifications in the desert and rashly altering trade restrictions; Wenbao was demoted to a post beyond Dongting.
28
至道二年，以本官參知政事。 占謝便殿，太宗謂曰：「中書政本，當進用善良，博詢眾議，以正道臨之，即怨謗無由而生矣。」 昌齡居位，頗選愞，無所建明。 真宗即位，加戶部侍郎。 坐交結王繼恩，貶忠武軍節度行軍司馬。
In Zhidao 2 (996) he was promoted to Participating Administrator of Affairs while retaining his existing rank. At his audience of thanks in the Convenient Hall, Taizong told him: "The Secretariat is the root of governance; you must promote worthy men, seek counsel widely, and lead by the proper path—then slander will find no foothold." Once in office, however, Changling proved timid and indecisive, advancing no significant policies. On Zhenzong's accession he was promoted to Vice Minister of the Ministry of Revenue. Convicted of colluding with Wang Ji'en, he was demoted to staff adjutant of the Zhongwu Army command.
29
從子紘
His nephew Hong.
30
紘，字仲綱。 父克明，仕至提點廣東刑獄。 紘，進士及第，試秘書省校書郎、知歙縣。 地產黃金，民輸以代賦，後金竭，責其賦如故。 紘奏罷之。 歷知於潛、剡縣，治有惠愛。 御史知雜呂夷簡薦之，改著作佐郎、監丹陽縣酒稅，知靈池縣。
Hong, courtesy name Zhonggang. His father Keming had risen to Intendant of Judicial Affairs for Guangdong. Hong passed the jinshi examination and was appointed collator in the Secretariat and magistrate of She County. The county produced gold, which the people had paid in lieu of regular taxes; when the gold ran out, the tax burden remained unchanged. Hong memorialized to end the practice. He later served as magistrate of Yuqian and Shan counties, governing with kindness and solicitude. Censor-in-Charge Lü Yijian recommended him; he was made Assistant Editor, put in charge of the wine tax at Danyang County, and appointed magistrate of Lingchi County.
31
判三司開拆司。 輔郡旱，流星墜西南有聲，會僧禳於文德殿，紘奏曰：「文德殿布政會朝之正位，每災異，輒聚緇黃讚唄於其間，何以示中外？」 改鹽鐵判官，歷梓州、陝西、河北路轉運使，遷侍御史。 建言：「西北久通好，士習安佚，不知戰陣之法。 宜擇良將，練精卒，去冗惰，實倉廩，豐財用，為守禦備。」 舉种世衡等數人，及奏罷貢餘物遺近臣。 遷知雜事、權同判流內銓。
He served as director of the Three Bureaus' Opening and Sorting Office. During a drought in the auxiliary capital a meteor fell in the southwest with a loud crash; monks were performing exorcism rites in Wende Hall when Hong memorialized: "Wende Hall is the throne room where policy is proclaimed and court convened—yet at every sign of calamity monks and priests gather there to chant. What message does this send to the empire?" He was made Salt and Iron Commissioner, then served successively as transport commissioner for the Zizhou, Shaanxi, and Hebei circuits before being promoted to Attending Censor. He submitted a proposal: "The northwest has enjoyed peace so long that troops have grown complacent and no longer know how to fight. We should choose able commanders, train crack troops, cut dead weight, fill the granaries, strengthen finances, and ready ourselves for defense." He recommended several men including Zhong Shiheng and also memorialized to end the practice of showering surplus tribute goods on the emperor's favorites. He was promoted to censor-in-charge and given acting concurrent charge of the registry of current appointments.
32
為三司度支副使，使契丹。 故事，奉使者以皇城卒二人與偕，察其舉措，使者悉姑息以避中傷。 前此劉隨為所誣，坐貶，久未復。 紘使還，具言其枉，稍徙隨南京。 除天章閣待制、河北都轉運使，遷刑部郎中，還，同知通進、銀臺司，進龍圖閣直學士、知秦州，卒。
He served as Vice Commissioner of the Revenue Bureau under the Three Bureaus and went as envoy to the Khitan. By custom each diplomatic envoy was accompanied by two Imperial City guards who monitored his behavior; envoys typically indulged them to avoid malicious reports. Liu Sui had earlier been falsely denounced by such guards, demoted, and not restored for a long time. On returning from his mission Hong fully reported Liu's wrongful treatment, and Liu was gradually transferred to Nanjing. He was appointed Tianzhang Pavilion Attendant-in-Waiting and Chief Transport Commissioner for Hebei, promoted to Bureau Director in the Ministry of Justice, and upon returning concurrently administered the Tongjin and Yintai bureaus; he was advanced to Dragon Diagram Pavilion Academic Scholar and appointed prefect of Qin Prefecture, where he died.
33
紘方介有吏材，篤於交遊，與劉顏為友，顏死，移任子恩官其子。
Hong was upright and capable in administration, and deeply loyal in friendship; when his friend Liu Yan died, he obtained an official appointment for Yan's son.
34
弟緯，起家三班借職，杜衍薦為閤門祗候，鎮戎軍瓦亭砦都監。 積勞累遷至河北緣邊安撫副使。 韓琦薦知保州，以左騏驥使、榮州刺史知雄州。 治兵頗嚴，不事廚傳，數與宦者爭利害。 積公使錢貯米三千斛為常平倉，奏下其法他州。 遷西上閤門使，留再任，卒。 子師中至天章閣待制。
His younger brother Wei entered service with a provisional Third Rank Bureau appointment; recommended by Du Yan, he became Gatekeeper Attendant and chief supervisor of Wating Stockade at Zhenrong Army. Through accumulated merit he rose to Vice Commissioner for Hebei Frontier Pacification. Recommended by Han Qi, he served as prefect of Bao Prefecture and later as Left Pacer and nominal prefect of Rong while governing Xiong Prefecture. He drilled his troops rigorously, eschewed lavish official entertainment, and repeatedly clashed with eunuchs over policy. He accumulated public funds to stock three thousand bushels of rice in a price-stabilization granary and memorialized to extend the practice to other prefectures. He was promoted to Western Upper Gate Envoy, kept on for a second term, and died in office. His son Shizhong rose to Tianzhang Pavilion Attendant-in-Waiting.
35
趙安仁
The biography continues with Zhao Anren.
36
趙安仁，字樂道，河南洛陽人。 曾祖武唐，虢州刺史。
Zhao Anren, courtesy name Ledao, was a native of Luoyang in Henan. His great-grandfather Wutang had served as prefect of Guo Prefecture.
37
父孚，字大信。 周顯德初，舉進士，調補開封尉。 乾德中，為浦江令，持父喪，服闋，攝永寧令。 會親征太原，部送本邑糧饋，民懷其惠，列狀以聞，即真授其任，擢宗正丞。 開寶中，初置衣庫，令孚主之。 俄坐事連逮抵罪，語見《趙普傳》。 太宗即位，起為國子監丞、知袁州。 還，知開封府司錄參軍事，受詔與殿中侍御史柴成務、供奉官葛彥恭、殿直郭載行視黃河，分南北岸按行，復遙堤以紓湍決。 孚言治遙堤不如分水勢，於是建議於澶、滑二州立分水之制。 時決河未平，重惜民力而寢焉。 朝廷議行封禪，孚上《封禪頌》，召拜秘書丞，賜緋魚。 受詔鞫開封獄，得其非辜者，即日授推官。 遷監察御史，出知舒州，改殿中侍御史。
His father Fu, courtesy name Daxin. At the outset of the Xiande era under Later Zhou he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed a Kaifeng police officer. During the Qiande era he served as magistrate of Pujiang; after his father's death he observed mourning, and when the period ended he served as acting magistrate of Yongning. When the emperor personally marched on Taiyuan, Fu organized the delivery of grain from his district; grateful locals petitioned the throne on his behalf, and he was immediately confirmed in his post and promoted to Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan. During the Kaibao era the imperial Garment Storehouse was first established, with Fu placed in charge. Soon afterward he was implicated in a crime and punished; details appear in the Biography of Zhao Pu. On Taizong's accession he was recalled to serve as Vice Director of the Directorate of Education and prefect of Yuan Prefecture. After returning he served as recorder of the Kaifeng Prefecture office and was ordered, together with Attending Censor Chai Chengwu, Attendant-in-Waiting Ge Yangong, and Palace Direct Guo Zai, to inspect the Yellow River; they surveyed both banks and restored distant dikes to relieve flooding. Fu argued that distant dikes were less effective than channeling the water's force and proposed a diversion system at Chao and Hua prefectures. At the time the river breach had not yet been contained, and the court, reluctant to strain the people's labor, set the proposal aside. When the court debated performing the feng and shan rites, Fu submitted an "Ode to the Feng and Shan"; he was summoned and appointed Secretariat Director and granted red fish insignia. Tasked with reviewing Kaifeng prison cases, he uncovered wrongful convictions and was appointed investigating magistrate that same day. He was promoted to Supervising Censor, appointed prefect of Shu Prefecture, and later transferred to Attending Censor.
38
雍熙中，詔詢文武禦戎之策。 孚奏議曰：「臣愚以為不用干戈，不勞飛輓，為萬世之利者，敢獻其說，惟明主擇之。 古者兵交使在其間，雖飛矢在上，走驛在下，蓋信義不可廢也。 昔苗民逆命，帝乃誕敷文德，而有苗格。 又仲尼曰：『有能一日克己復禮，天下歸仁。』 只如幷門一方，歷代難取，聖襟英斷，一舉成功。 當其逆城危於累卵，生聚懷伏，而陛下猶遣通事舍人薛文寶入城諭之。 日者北邊未賓，全燕猶梗，再興軍旅，將復土疆。 臣竊計屯戍邊陲，故非獲已，暴露原野，豈是願為？ 欲望朝廷通達國信，近鑒唐高祖之降禮，遠法周古公之讓地。 聖人以百姓之心為心，君子見幾而作，諭以禍福，示以恩威，議定邊疆，永息征戰。 養民事天，濟時利物，莫過於此。 臣又計彼雖嗜好不同，然去危就安，厭勞喜逸，亦人情之所同也。」 上嘉之。 雍熙中，廷策貢士，而安仁預為考會，賜金紫，因顧安仁問孚年幾，安仁曰：「臣父年六十二。」 上曰：「孚，名士也。」 亟召對，亦賜金紫。 明年，卒。
During the Yongxi era the throne solicited civil and military strategies for frontier defense. Fu submitted a memorial stating: "Your servant believes that what would benefit posterity without drawing swords or straining the transport corps deserves a hearing, and I beg the wise sovereign to weigh my proposal. In antiquity even when armies clashed, diplomatic envoys still passed between the lines; though arrows flew overhead and couriers raced below, good faith was never discarded. When the Miao defied the throne, the emperor spread civil virtue abroad, and they submitted. Confucius also said: "If a man can for a single day restrain himself and return to ritual, the empire will turn toward benevolence." Consider Bingzhou alone—dynasty after dynasty had failed to take it, yet Your Majesty's resolute judgment seized it in a single stroke. When the rebel city hung by a thread and its people cowered in dread, Your Majesty still sent Transmission Affairs Commissioner Xue Wenbao into the city to offer terms. Now the north has not yet submitted, all of Yan still holds out, and once again armies are raised to recover lost territory. I reflect that border garrisons exist only because no alternative remains—who would willingly endure exposure on the open steppe? I hope the court will convey its good faith clearly—taking warning from Emperor Gaozu of Tang's humiliating concessions, and emulating in distant antiquity the ancient Zhou duke's relinquishment of territory. Sages align their will with that of the people; a worthy minister acts when he reads the signs. Explain the consequences of fortune and disaster, show both kindness and firm authority, fix the boundaries through negotiation, and bring war to a permanent end. Nothing would do more to nurture the people, honor Heaven, serve the times, and benefit the realm than this course. I further reckon that though their customs differ, the wish to flee danger for safety and labor for rest is universal human nature." The emperor expressed his approval. During the Yongxi period, at the palace examination for presented scholars, Anren served on the grading committee and received the gold seal and purple robe. The emperor glanced at Anren and asked how old Fu was. Anren replied, "My father is sixty-two." The emperor said, "Fu is a man of distinguished reputation." Fu was promptly summoned for an audience and given the gold seal and purple robe as well. He died the following year.
39
安仁生而穎悟，幼時執筆能大字，十三通經傳大旨，早以文藝稱。 趙普、沈倫、李昉、石熙載咸推獎之。 雍熙二年，登進士第，補梓州榷鹽院判官，以親老弗果往。 會國子監刻《五經正義》板本，以安仁善楷隸，遂奏留書之。
Anren was bright from birth. As a child he could wield the brush and write large characters; by thirteen he had grasped the main themes of the classics and was already known for his literary talent. Zhao Pu, Shen Lun, Li Fang, and Shi Xizai all extolled and commended him. In Yongxi 2 he passed the jinshi examinations and was assigned as judge of the Zizhou Salt Monopoly Office, but he never took up the post because his parents were elderly. When the Directorate of Education was cutting woodblocks for the Correct Meaning of the Five Classics, Anren's skill in standard and clerical script led to a petition that he be kept on to do the writing.
40
歷大理評事、光祿寺丞，召試翰林，以著作佐郎直集賢院，賜緋。 時王侯、內戚家多以銘誄為託。 太宗製九紘琴、五紘阮，時多獻賦頌，上嘉文物之盛，悉閱覽，訂其工拙。 時稱安仁、李宗諤、楊億辭雅贍，召詣中書獎諭。 翌日，改遷太常丞。
He rose through the posts of judicial reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then passed a Hanlin examination and was made Left Assistant Gentleman in the Palace Library, serving on duty at the Hall of Assembled Worthies, with the scarlet robe conferred. Princes and imperial in-laws often commissioned him to write epitaphs and funeral eulogies. When Taizong had the nine-string qin and five-string ruan made, many submitted fu and song in praise. Delighted by this flowering of culture, the emperor read them all and weighed their literary merit. Anren, Li Zong'e, and Yang Yi were then hailed for their refined and copious prose, and were summoned to the Secretariat to receive commendation. The following day he was reassigned as vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
41
真宗即位，拜右正言，預重修《太祖實錄》。 上出師大名，安仁上疏曰：「臣以為有急務者三，大要者五。 急務三者：其一，激勵戎臣，舉勸懲之典； 其二，振救邊民，行優恤之惠； 其三，車駕還京，重神武之威。 大要五者：其一，選將略； 其二，持兵勢； 其三，求軍謀； 其四，修軍政； 其五，愛民力。」
Upon Zhenzong's accession, he was made Right Remonstrator and helped revise the Veritable Records of Emperor Taizu. When the emperor set out for Daming at the head of the army, Anren submitted a memorial: "I believe there are three urgent priorities and five broad essentials. The three urgent tasks are these: first, rouse the frontier commanders and enforce the standards of merit and discipline; second, relieve the border population and extend them generous aid; third, when Your Majesty returns to the capital, restore the awe of imperial military might. The five broad essentials are these: first, choose commanders for their strategic skill; second, sustain military strength; third, seek sound military counsel; fourth, reform military governance; fifth, conserve the people's resources and labor."
42
咸平三年，同知貢舉。 未幾，知制誥，副夏侯嶠巡撫江南，還，知審刑院。 嘗有將校笞所部卒死，罪議大辟。 安仁以軍中之令，非嚴不整，遂獲免死。 繼判尚書刑部兼制置群牧使，同知三班、審官院。 景德初，翰林學士梁顥召對，詢及當世臺閣人物，上稱安仁文行。 尋顥卒，即以安仁為工部員外郎，充翰林學士。
In Xianping 3 he served as co-examiner for the civil service tests. Soon after he was made drafter of edicts, accompanied Xiahou Qiao on an inspection tour of the Jiangnan region, and upon return was put in charge of the Court of Judicial Review. Once a commander beat a soldier under his command to death, and the case was argued as a capital offense. Anren held that military discipline requires strictness if troops are to remain in order, and on that ground the man was spared execution. He then served concurrently as judge of the Ministry of Justice, commissioner for horse herds, and co-director of the Three Ranks Office and the Bureau of Review. Early in the Jingde era, when Hanlin academician Liang Hao was summoned to audience and asked about leading court figures of the day, the emperor singled out Anren's literary talent and integrity. When Liang Hao died shortly afterward, Anren was promoted to Vice Minister of Works and appointed Hanlin academician.
43
初，孚極陳和好之利。 至是，安仁從幸澶州，會北邊請盟，首命安仁撰答書，又獨記太祖時聘問書式。 遼使韓杞至，道命接伴，凡覲見儀制，多所裁定。 館舍夕飲，杞舉橙子曰：「此果嘗見高麗貢。」 安仁曰：「橙橘產吳、楚，朝廷職方掌天下圖經，凡他國所產靡不知也。 今給事中呂祐之嘗使高麗，未聞有橙柚。」 杞失於誇誕，有愧色。 杞既受襲衣之賜，且以長為解，將辭復左衽。 安仁曰：「君將升殿受還書，天顏咫尺，如不衣所賜之衣，可乎？」 杞乃服以入。
Earlier, Fu had argued forcefully for the advantages of peace. Now Anren accompanied the emperor to Chanzhou. When the north sought a treaty, he was first charged with drafting the reply and was the only one who still remembered the diplomatic letter forms used in Taizu's reign. When the Liao envoy Han Qi arrived, Anren was ordered to serve as his host, and he settled many questions of ceremony and protocol for the imperial audience. At an evening gathering in the lodge, Qi held up an orange and said, "I once saw this fruit sent as tribute from Goryeo." Anren replied, "Oranges and tangerines come from Wu and Chu. The Directorate of Maps maintains gazetteers of the entire realm and knows the products of every foreign land. Supervising Secretary Lü Youzhi served as envoy to Goryeo, and he reported no oranges or pomelos there." Qi, caught in his boast, looked ashamed. After receiving the gift of court robes, Qi tried to excuse himself on the grounds of their size and, when preparing to leave, put his robe on with the left lapel forward. Anren said, "You are about to enter the hall to receive the reply letter. The emperor's face will be before you—is it fitting to appear without wearing the robes he gave you?" Qi put the robes on properly and went in.
44
及姚東之至，又令安仁接伴。 東之談次，頗矜兵強戰勝。 安仁曰：「老氏云：『佳兵者不祥之器，聖人不得已而用之。』 勝而不美，而美之者，是樂殺人也，樂殺人者不得志於天下。」 東之自是不敢復言。 王繼忠將兵陷沒，不能死節而反事之，東之屢稱其材。 安仁曰：「繼忠早事藩邸，聞其稍謹，不知其他。」 其敏於酬對，切中事機，類如此。 時論翕然，稱其得體，上益器之，自是有意柄用。 安仁又集和好以來事宜，及采古事，作《戴斗懷柔錄》三卷以獻。
When Yao Dongzhi arrived, Anren was again appointed to receive him. During conversation, Dongzhi was rather boastful about his army's strength and battlefield victories. Anren said, "Laozi wrote: 'Outstanding weapons are ill-omened tools; the sage employs them only when he must. To win a war without celebrating it is best; to celebrate victory is to delight in killing, and one who delights in killing will never prevail in the world.' After that Dongzhi did not dare raise the subject again. Wang Jizhong had surrendered with his troops rather than die loyal to the Song, yet had gone over to serve the Liao; Dongzhi repeatedly praised his abilities. Anren replied, "Jizhong served our prince's household long ago, and I heard he was reasonably conscientious—but beyond that I know nothing." His sharpness in debate and his knack for striking the right note at the right moment were typical of exchanges like these. Public opinion rallied to praise his tact, and the emperor valued him all the more; from that point he was marked for high office. Anren also compiled matters arising since the peace and drew on ancient examples to write the Records of Wearing the Dipper and Cherishing Softness in three fascicles, which he presented to the throne.
45
二年春，又與晁迥等同知貢舉。 三年，以右諫議大夫參知政事，俄修國史。 大中祥符初，議封禪，與王欽若並為泰山經制度置使、判兗州。 禮畢，復拜工部侍郎。 內外書詔有切要者，必經其裁。 進秩刑部。 五年，以兵部侍郎仍兼修史，奉祀，又同知禮儀院。 八年，知貢舉。 三典春闈，擇士平允，是故獨無譏誚，上再賜詩嘉之。
In the spring of the second year he again served as co-examiner with Chao Kui and others. In the third year he was made Vice Grand Councilor with the rank of Right Supervisory Censor and soon took charge of compiling the national history. Early in the Dazhong Xiangfu era, when the court debated the feng and shan rites, he and Wang Qinruo were jointly appointed commissioners for Mount Tai ritual arrangements and made prefect of Yanzhou. After the rites were completed he was again appointed Vice Minister of Works. Important edicts and memorials, whether domestic or foreign, all required his editorial approval. He was promoted to the Ministry of Punishments. In the fifth year, while serving as Vice Minister of War and still compiling the history, he also assisted in state sacrifices and became co-director of the Court of Ritual. In the eighth year he served as chief examiner. Having presided over the metropolitan examinations three times and selected candidates with scrupulous fairness, he alone escaped criticism, and the emperor twice honored him with commendatory poems.
46
尋知兼宗正卿。 舊制，宮闈令，凡有議奏與寺連署。 上以安仁舊德，俾知寺，以次列狀取裁。 寺掌玉牒屬籍，梁周翰始創其制而未備，安仁重加詳定，又為《仙源積慶圖》，皆統例精簡。 奏置修玉牒官，事具《職官志》。 國史成，遷右丞。 是夏，又為景靈宮副使。 屢得對言事，嘗奏曰：「方今治定功成，固軼前代，陛下尚親庶政，旰食忘倦，然而君臨之大，所宜分飭有司，為式於天下。」 遂詔諸司掌常務有條例者，毋或奏稟。 天禧二年，改御史中丞。 請給御寶印，歷書三院御史彈糾事。 五月，暴疾卒，年六十一。 廢朝，贈吏部尚書，諡文定，以其子溫瑜為大理寺丞，良規為奉禮郎，承裕為正字。
He was soon put in charge of the Imperial Clan Court as well. Under the old rules, palace matters submitted for discussion had to be jointly signed by the Imperial Clan Court. Because of Anren's long service and reputation, the emperor put him in charge of the court so that petitions could be submitted in proper order for his ruling. The court kept the imperial genealogy in jade registers; Liang Zhouhan had first created the system but left it incomplete. Anren thoroughly revised it and also compiled the Chart of Accumulated Blessings from the Immortal Source—both works clear in organization and concise in form. He petitioned to establish posts for maintaining the imperial genealogical registers; details appear in the Treatise on Offices and Ranks. When the national history was finished, he was promoted to Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. That summer he also served as vice commissioner of the Jingling Palace. Granted frequent audiences, he once memorialized: "The realm is now peaceful and prosperous, surpassing any previous dynasty. Your Majesty still attends to every detail of government, working late without rest. Yet the burden of imperial rule is so vast that you ought to assign routine duties to the appropriate offices and set an example for the entire empire." An edict followed directing that departments with standing regulations for routine business should no longer submit every matter for imperial approval. In Tianxi 2 he was made Censor-in-Chief. He obtained an imperial seal for his office and recorded impeachment cases from all three censorate bureaus. In the fifth month he died suddenly of illness, at the age of sixty-one. A mourning recess was declared. He was posthumously honored as Minister of Civil Appointments with the posthumous name Wendi. His sons Wenyu, Lianggui, and Chengyu were appointed to posts as vice director of the Court of Judicial Review, Gentleman for Court Rites, and collator respectively.
47
安仁質直純愨，無所矯飾，寬恕謙退，與物無競，雖家人僕使，未嘗見其喜慍。 女弟適董氏，早寡，取歸給養。 其甥董靈運尚幼，躬自訓導，為畢婚娶。 幼少與宋元輿同學，元輿門地貴盛，待安仁甚厚。 元輿蚤卒，家緒寢替，安仁屢以金帛濟之。 善訓諸子，各授一經。 尤嗜讀書，所得祿賜，多以購書。 雖至顯寵，簡儉若平素。 時閱典籍，手自讎校。 三館舊闕虞世南《北堂書鈔》，惟安仁家有本，真宗命內侍取之，嘉其好古，手詔褒美。 尤知典故，凡近世典章人物之盛，悉能記之。 喜誨誘後進，成其聲名，當世推重之。 有集五十卷。 溫瑜，後為國子博士。
Anren was honest, sincere, and utterly without pretense—mild, forgiving, and unassuming. Even servants in his household never saw him lose his temper or show undue excitement. His younger sister had married into the Dong family and was widowed young; he brought her home to support her. His nephew Dong Lingyun was still a boy; Anren personally tutored him and saw him through to marriage. As a youth he studied with Song Yuanyu, whose family was prestigious and who treated Anren with great kindness. When Yuanyu died young and his family's fortunes waned, Anren repeatedly sent them money and gifts. He was skilled at educating his sons, assigning each a different classic to master. He loved books above all else and spent most of his salary and imperial gifts on acquiring them. Even at the height of his eminence he lived as simply as he always had. He often read through his library and collated the texts by hand. The Three Institutes had long lacked a copy of Yu Shinnan's Northern Hall Book Extracts, but Anren owned one. Zhenzong sent palace attendants to borrow it, praised his antiquarian devotion, and wrote him a personal commendatory edict. He was exceptionally well versed in historical precedent and could recount in detail the institutions and notable figures of recent reigns. He delighted in mentoring young talent and helping them build their reputations, and his contemporaries held him in high regard. His collected writings filled fifty fascicles. Wenyu later served as Erudite of the Directorate of Education.
48
子良規
His son was Lianggui.
49
良規，字元甫。 父安仁奏為秘書省正字、同判太常寺。 張知白薦之，召試，賜進士及第。 用王曙舉，擢集賢校理兼宗正丞，預修《會要》。 坐宗正吏盜太廟神御物，出通判蘄州，徙河南府，知泰、滁二州。 歷京西陝西路提點刑獄、荊湖南路轉運使，奏罷馬氏時所賦丁口米數萬石。 權判三司開拆司、度支勾院，直集賢院、知廬州，積官至光祿卿，罷職。 初與張憲、掌禹錫、齊廓、張子思並為太常少卿兼館職，當進諫議大夫，而執政靳之，止遷卿。 故事，卿不兼職，故皆罷。 未幾，皆還之。
Lianggui, courtesy name Yuanfu. His father Anren had him appointed collator in the Secretariat and concurrent vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Zhang Zhibai recommended him; after an examination he was granted the jinshi degree. On Wang Shu's recommendation he was promoted to collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies and concurrent vice director of the Imperial Clan Court, and helped compile the Essentials of Governance. When clerks under the Imperial Clan Court stole sacred regalia from the Ancestral Temple, he was demoted to vice prefect of Qizhou, then transferred through Henan Prefecture and served as prefect of Tai and Chu. He served as judicial intendant on the Jingxi-Shaanxi circuit and transport commissioner on the Jinghu South circuit, and memorialized successfully to abolish the head-tax grain levy of tens of thousands of shi imposed under the Ma clan. He served concurrently as acting controller of the Three Departments' opening and audit offices, duty officer at the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and prefect of Luzhou, rising eventually to Court Chamberlain for Imperial Sacrifices before being removed from office. He had served alongside Zhang Xian, Zhang Yuxi, Qi Kuo, and Zhang Zisi as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices with an institute appointment, and was due for promotion to Supervisory Censor, but the chief ministers held back the appointment and he rose only to Court Chamberlain. Under established precedent, court ministers did not hold concurrent offices, and so all such posts were removed. Not long afterward, all were returned.
50
改直秘閣、同判宗正事，遷秘書監，知同、陝、相三州。 陝歲饑，百姓請閣殘稅二分，為官伐芟，以給河埽。 或以為須報乃可行，良規曰：「若爾，無及矣。」 檄縣遂行，而以擅命自劾。 進太子賓客、權判殿中省，遷尚書工部侍郎、判本部、知濠州，卒。 良規所至州郡，為政不甚力，然善委任佐屬，祿賜多分贍族人，餘皆輸之酒家。 子君錫。
He was reassigned to duty at the Secret Palace Hall and made concurrent vice director of imperial clan affairs, then promoted to director of the secretariat and appointed prefect of Tong, Shan, and Xiang. During a famine year in Shan, the people asked to defer two-tenths of the residual tax and supply labor for official clearing and cutting to provide for river-embankment work. Some held that approval had to be reported before anything could be done. Lianggui said, "If we wait for that, it will be too late." He sent orders to the counties and carried the plan out at once, then impeached himself for acting without authorization. He was promoted to honorary attendant of the heir apparent and acting judge of the directorate of palace services, then to vice minister of works with charge of that ministry and appointment as prefect of Haozhou, where he died. Wherever Lianggui served, he did not push his administration very hard, but he was skilled at trusting his staff. Most of his salary and perquisites he shared among his kinsmen; whatever remained he spent at taverns. His son was Junxi.
51
孫君錫
Sun Junxi
52
君錫，字無愧。 性至孝。 母亡，事父良規不違左右，夜則寢於旁。 凡衾裯薄厚、衣服寒溫、藥石精粗、飲食旨否、櫛發剪爪、整冠結帶，如《內則》所載者，無不親之。 及登進士第，以親故不願仕。 良規每出，必扶掖上下，至雜立僕禦中。 嘗從謁文彥博，彥博異其容止，問而知之，語諸子，令視以為法。
Junxi, courtesy name Wukui. By nature he was profoundly filial. After his mother died, he waited on his father Lianggui without ever leaving his side, and at night he slept beside him. Whether bedding was thick or thin, clothes warm or cool, medicine fine or coarse, food savory or not, or the combing of hair, trimming of nails, straightening of cap, and tying of sash—all the duties set out in the Domestic Instructions—he performed every one himself. After he passed the jinshi examination, he declined office out of devotion to his parents. Whenever Lianggui went out, he had to help him up and down steps, even when they stood among the household attendants. Once, accompanying his father on a visit to Wen Yanbo, he so impressed Yanbo by his bearing that Yanbo asked and learned why. Yanbo then told his sons to take Junxi as their model.
53
良規沒，調知武強縣。 從韓琦大名幕府。 彥博及吳充在樞管，更薦之為檢詳吏房文字，徙知大宗正丞，加秘閣校理，改宗正丞。 時增諸宗院講書教授官，而逐院自備緡錢為月饋，貧者或不能以時致，宗師輒移文督取。 君錫言：「國家養天下士於太學，尚不較其費，安有教育宗室令自行束脩之理！」 詔悉從官給。 歷開封府推官。
After Lianggui died, he was transferred to serve as magistrate of Wuqiang County. He entered Han Qi's staff at the Daming headquarters. When Yanbo and Wu Chong served in the Bureau of Military Affairs, they recommended him again as examiner of documents in the personnel bureau. He was then transferred to vice director of the grand imperial clan court, added as collator in the Secret Palace Hall, and later made vice director of the imperial clan court. At the time lecture instructors were added to the various imperial clan halls, but each hall had to supply its own cash for monthly stipends. Poorer halls sometimes could not pay on time, and the imperial clan director would send written orders to press for payment. Junxi said, "The state supports scholars from across the realm at the Imperial Academy and does not even quibble over the expense. How can we educate the imperial clan and yet expect them to pay their own teachers' fees!" An edict ordered that all such stipends be paid from official funds. He served as investigating magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture.
54
元祐初，遷司勳右司郎中、太常少卿，擢給事中。 論蔡確、章惇有罪不宜復職； 大河不可輕議東回，請亟罷修河司，以省邦費，寬民力。 蘇軾出知杭州，君錫言：「軾之文，追攀《六經》，蹈藉班、馬，知無不言。 壬人畏憚，為之消縮； 公論倚重，隱如長城。 今飄然去國，邪黨必謂朝廷稍厭直臣，且將乘隙復進，實係消長之機。 不若留之在朝，用其善言則天下蒙福，聽其讜論則聖心開益，行其詔令則四方風動，為利博矣。」 進刑部侍郎、樞密都承旨，拜御史中丞。 即上疏勸哲宗親講學，廣諮問，為躬政之漸。
Early in the Yuanyou era he was promoted to director in the right bureau of the Ministry of Personnel and vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then elevated to supervising censor. He argued that Cai Que and Zhang Dun, having been guilty of crimes, should not be restored to office; that the Yellow River must not be lightly discussed as if it could be turned east again; and he urged the immediate abolition of the river-works office to save state funds and ease the burden on the people. When Su Shi was sent out to govern Hangzhou, Junxi said, "Shi's writing vies with the Six Classics and treads in the footsteps of Ban Gu and Sima Qian. On whatever he knows, he speaks without reserve. Scheming men fear him and shrink back; public opinion relies on him as on a hidden long wall. Now that he leaves the court so lightly, evil factions will surely say the throne has grown weary of upright ministers and will seize the opening to advance again. This truly turns on the ebb and flow of power. Better to keep him at court. Employ his good counsel and the realm would be blessed; heed his honest remonstrance and the emperor's mind would be opened and enriched; carry out his proposals and the four quarters would respond. The benefit would be immense." He was then promoted to vice minister of justice and chief conveyer of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and appointed censor-in-chief. He immediately submitted a memorial urging Emperor Zhezong to study in person and broaden consultation, as a gradual step toward taking the reins of government himself.
55
君錫素有志行，後隨人低昂，無大建明。 初稱蘇軾之賢，遇賈易劾軾題詩怨謗，即繼言「軾負恩懷逆，無禮先帝，願亟正其罪。」 宣仁后覽之不悅，曰：「君錫全無執守。」 復以吏部侍郎、天章閣待制知鄭、陳、澶三州、河南府，徙應天。 因清明出郊，具奠謁杜衍、張昪、張方平、趙槩、王堯臣、蔡抗、蔡挺之塋，邀七家子孫，陪祭於側，時人傳其風義。 紹聖中，貶少府少監，分司南京，卒，年七十二。 紹興六年，贈徽猷閣直學士。
Junxi had always had integrity and resolve, but later he shifted with the tide and offered no major proposals of his own. At first he praised Su Shi's worth. When Jia Yi impeached Shi for inscribing poems of resentment and slander, he immediately followed with, "Shi has betrayed imperial favor and harbors treasonous intent. He showed no respect to the late emperor. I urge that his crime be promptly punished." Empress Dowager Xuanren read this with displeasure and said, "Junxi has no steadfast principle at all." He was again appointed vice minister of personnel and Hanlin academician of the Heavenly Writings Pavilion, governing Zheng, Chen, and Chan prefectures and Henan Prefecture, and was later transferred to Yingtian. On Qingming he went out to the suburbs, made full offerings, and visited the tombs of Du Yan, Zhang Bian, Zhang Fangping, Zhao Kai, Wang Yaochen, Cai Kang, and Cai Ting. He invited the descendants of all seven families to join the rites beside him, and people of the time praised his moral conduct. During the Shaosheng era he was demoted to vice director of the court of the imperial manufactories and assigned in nominal capacity to Nanjing, where he died at the age of seventy-two. In the sixth year of the Shaoxing era, he was posthumously granted the title of direct academician of the Huixian Pavilion.
56
陳彭年
Chen Pengnian
57
陳彭年，字永年，撫州南城人。 父省躬，鹿邑令。 彭年幼好學，母惟一子，愛之，禁其夜讀書。 彭年篝燈密室，不令母知。 年十三，著《皇綱論》萬餘言，為江左名輩所賞。 唐主李煜聞之，召入宮，令子仲宣與之遊。 金陵平，彭年師事徐鉉為文。 太平興國中，舉進士，在場屋間頗有雋名。 嘗因京城大酺，跨驢出遊構賦，自東華門至闕前，已口占數千言。 然佻薄好嘲詠，頻為宋白所黜，雍熙二年始中第。
Chen Pengnian, courtesy name Yongnian, was a native of Nancheng in Fuzhou. His father Shenggong served as magistrate of Luyi. From boyhood Pengnian loved learning. His mother, who had only this one son, doted on him and forbade him to read at night. Pengnian would light a lamp in a sealed room so his mother would not know. At thirteen he wrote the Discourse on the Imperial Framework, more than ten thousand characters long, and it won praise from leading men of the Jiangzuo region. When the ruler of Tang, Li Yu, heard of it, he summoned Pengnian into the palace and had his son Zhongxuan keep company with him. After Jinling was pacified, Pengnian studied composition under Xu Xuan. During the Taiping Xingguo era he passed the jinshi examination and won considerable distinction in the examination halls. Once, during a great feast in the capital, he rode a donkey out to compose a fu. From the Eastern Hua Gate to the gate before the palace, he had already improvised several thousand characters. Yet he was frivolous and fond of satirical verse, and was repeatedly failed by Song Bai. Only in the second year of Yongxi did he finally pass.
58
咸平三年，屢上疏言事，召試學士院，遷秘書丞、知閬州。 未行，改金州。 四年，上疏曰：「夫事有雖小而可以建大功，理有雖近而可以為遠計者，其事有五：一曰置諫官，二曰擇法吏，三日簡格令，四曰省冗員，五曰行公舉。 此五者，實經世之要道，致治之坦塗也。」 會詔舉賢良方正，翰林學士朱昂以彭年聞，召之，辭以貧乏，請終秩。
In the third year of Xianping he repeatedly submitted memorials on public affairs. Summoned for examination at the Hanlin Academy, he was promoted to secretary of the secretariat and appointed prefect of Langzhou. Before he set out, his appointment was changed to Jinzhou. In the fourth year he submitted a memorial saying, "Some matters are small yet can achieve great merit; some principles seem near at hand yet can serve long-range planning. There are five such matters: first, establish remonstrance officials; second, select law officers; third, simplify statutes and ordinances; fourth, reduce redundant personnel; and fifth, carry out public recommendation. These five are truly the essential ways to order the age and the broad path to good governance." When an edict called for worthy and upright men, Hanlin academician Zhu Ang reported Pengnian's name. He was summoned, but declined on grounds of poverty and asked to finish his current term.
59
景德初，代還，真秘閣。 杜鎬、刁衎薦其該博，命直史館兼崇文院檢討。 又代潘慎修起居注，賜緋魚。 獻《大寶箴》曰：
Early in the Jingde era, when his replacement arrived, he was made on duty at the True Secret Pavilion. Du Hao and Diao Kai recommended his broad learning, and he was ordered on duty at the History Institute while also serving as collator at the Hall of Illustrious Literature. He also replaced Pan Shenxiu as diarist and was granted the vermilion robe and fish tally. He presented the Admonition on the Great Treasure, which reads:
60
二儀之內，最靈者人。 生民之中，至大者君。 民既可畏，天亦無親。
Within heaven and earth, nothing is more numinous than humankind. Among the living people, none is greater than the sovereign. When the people are to be feared, Heaven shows no partiality.
61
所輔者德，所歸者仁。 恭己禦下，輝光益新。 載籍斯在，謀猷備陳。¤
What he must rely upon is virtue; what he must turn toward is benevolence. Reverent in his own conduct and gracious to those below, his radiance grows ever brighter. The records stand before him; every counsel is fully laid out.
62
內綏萬姓，外撫百蠻。 治亂所始，言動之間。 觀之則易，處之甚難。
Within, he soothes the myriad people; without, he pacifies the hundred barbarians. Where order and chaos begin lies between word and deed. To observe this is easy; to handle it is very hard.
63
由是先哲，喻彼投艱。 苟能慮未，乃可防閑。 審求逆耳，無惡犯顏。¤
For this reason the ancient sages likened it to crossing a difficult ford. If one can consider what has not yet happened, one can guard against misconduct. Deliberately seek words that grate on the ear, and do not resent those who offend your countenance.
64
既庶而富，教化乃施。 慈儉之政，富庶之基。 鰥寡孤獨，人之所悲。
Once the people are numerous and prosperous, instruction and transformation may be applied. A policy of kindness and thrift is the foundation of wealth and plenty. Widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless are what people most pity.
65
發號施令，宜先及之。 黃髮鮐背，心實多知。 左右侍從，何尚於茲。¤
When issuing orders and commands, these should be reached first. White-haired and bent-backed elders truly hold much knowledge in their hearts. Attendants at one's left and right—why look elsewhere for counsel?
66
瞻言百辟，咸代天工。 儻無虛授，可建大中。 克彰慎柬，惟藉至公。
Consider the hundred ministers: all stand proxy for Heaven's work. If no office is granted in vain, the great Mean may be established. To make careful selection manifest depends solely on utmost fairness.
67
知人則哲，聽德則聰。 才固難備，道亦少同。 葑菲罔舍，杞梓乃充。¤
To know men is wisdom; to heed virtue is perspicacity. Talent is hard to find complete in one man, and the Way is shared by few. Do not discard bracken and mugwort, and oak and catalpa will fill the ranks.
68
不扶自直，惟蓬在麻。 非揀莫見，惟金在沙。 參備顧問，必辨忠邪。
Without being propped up it grows straight—when fleabane stands among hemp. Without sifting none is seen—only when gold lies hidden in sand. Those who assist and counsel must distinguish loyalty from treachery.
69
獻替以正，裨益無涯。 自匿草澤，亦有國華。 訪此髦士，可拒朋家。¤
Offer correction to set things right, and the benefit knows no limit. Those who hide themselves in meadows and marshes also hold the nation's finest talent. Seek out such eminent scholars, and factional cliques may be kept at bay.
70
三章之立，庶民作程。 欽哉恤哉，可以措刑。 七代之建，奸孽是平。
When the three chapters were established, the common people had a standard to follow. Be reverent! Be compassionate! Thus punishment may be set aside. When the seven dynasties were established, villainy was subdued.
71
本仁本義，可以弭兵。 是為齊禮，亦曰好生。 有教無類，自誠而明。¤
Rooting policy in benevolence and righteousness, arms may be stilled. Thus ritual is harmonized, and this is also called cherishing life. Teach all without distinction of class; clarity comes from sincerity within.
72
宗廟社稷，饗之以恭。 宮室苑囿，誡之在豐。 春鬼秋獮，不廢三農。
To the ancestral temple and state altars, offer feasts with reverence. For palaces, gardens, and parks, the warning is against excess. Spring and autumn hunts must not interrupt the three agricultural seasons.
73
擊石拊石，用格神宗。 使人以悅，乃克成功。 治國以政，罔或不從。¤
Strike and clap the stone chimes to summon the ancestral spirits. Lead the people with what pleases them, and success may then be achieved. Govern the state through policy, and none will fail to follow.
74
濟濟多士，用之有光。 硜硜小器，謀之弗臧。 忠言致益，豈讓膏粱。
When scholars abound in great number, employing them lends brilliance to the realm. Petty talents of narrow views—taking counsel from them leads nowhere good. Loyal words bring real benefit—why yield place to pampered heirs?
75
六藝為樂，寧後笙簧。 任賢勿貳，堯所以昌。 改過不吝，湯所以王。¤
Take the Six Arts as the foundation of music, not mere pipes and reeds. Employ the worthy without divided loyalty—that is how Yao brought his age to prosperity. Correct faults without reluctance—that is how Tang came to rule as king.
76
六合至廣，萬彙尤多。 風俗靡一，嗜欲相摩。 如馭朽索，若防決河。
The realm is vast beyond measure, and the myriad creatures are beyond counting. Customs are never uniform, and appetites and desires endlessly chafe against one another. It is like driving a team with rotted reins, or holding back a river about to burst its banks.
77
左契斯執，六轡遂和。 導之以德，民免嬰羅。 不懈於位，俗乃偃戈。¤
Hold firm the reins of governance, and the six teams will move in harmony. Guide them with virtue, and the people will be spared the snares of the law. Never slack in office, and the people will lay down their weapons.
78
先王之訓，罔不咸然。 吾君之治，亦取斯焉。 小心翼翼，終日乾乾。
The teachings of the former kings are invariably just so. Our sovereign's governance likewise takes its model from this. Cautious in every thought, diligent from dawn to dusk.
79
三靈降鑒，百祿無愆。 由茲率土，永戴先天。 巍巍洪業，億萬斯年。¤
When heaven, earth, and the spirits look down in approval, every blessing arrives without fault. From this let all within the realm forever honor the founding mandate. Lofty and enduring is this great enterprise—may it stand for ten thousand generations.
80
頃之，預修《冊府元龜》。 三年，遷右正言，充龍圖閣待制，賜金紫。 先是，詔諫官、御史舉職言事，唯彭年與侍御史賈翱數有章奏，建白彈射，真宗令中書置籍記之。 加刑部員外郎。 與晁迥同知貢舉，請令有司詳定考試條式。 真宗因命彭年與戚綸參定，多革舊制，專務防閑。 其所取者，不復揀擇文行，止較一日之藝，雖杜絕請托，然置甲等者，或非宿名之士。
Before long he took part in compiling the Archivum of the Imperial Archives and Celestial Tortoise. In the third year he was promoted to right rectifier of speech, appointed awaiting-edicts at the Longtu Pavilion, and granted the gold seal and purple robe. Earlier, an edict had ordered remonstrance officials and censors to perform their duties and speak frankly on public affairs. Only Pengnian and investigating censor Jia Ao repeatedly submitted memorials with proposals and impeachments, and Emperor Zhenzong ordered the Secretariat to keep a register of their reports. He was further promoted to vice director in the Ministry of Punishments. Serving with Chao Jiong as co-director of the tribute selection examinations, he requested that the responsible offices thoroughly codify the rules for the examinations. Emperor Zhenzong thereupon ordered Pengnian and Qi Lun to revise the regulations together. They changed many old rules and focused chiefly on tightening safeguards against misconduct. Those they admitted were no longer chosen for literary merit and moral conduct; they judged only a single day's performance in the examination hall. Though this shut off favor-seeking, those ranked in the top grade were sometimes not established scholars of long standing.
81
大中祥符中，議建封禪，彭年預詳定儀注，上言辨正包茅之用。 禮成，進秩工部郎中，加集賢殿修撰。 三年，改兵部郎中、龍圖閣直學士。 遷右諫議大夫兼秘書監，詔就賜食廳編次《太宗御集》，賜勳上柱國。
During the Dazhong Xiangfu era, when the court debated performing the feng and shan rites, Pengnian helped fix the ritual protocols in detail and submitted a memorial clarifying the proper use of the wrapped reeds. When the rites were completed, he was promoted to chief director in the Ministry of Works and made an academician compiler at the Hall for Assembling Worthies. In the third year he was transferred to chief director in the Ministry of War and made a direct academician of the Longtu Pavilion. He was promoted to right remonstrance grandee while concurrently serving as director of the secretariat. By edict he was granted the use of the dining hall to compile the Imperial Collection of Emperor Taizong, and was granted the title Merit Upper Pillar of State.
82
嘗因奏對，真宗謂之曰：「儒術汙隆，其應實大，國家崇替，何莫由斯。 故秦衰則經籍道息，漢盛則學校興行。 其後命曆迭改，而風教一揆。 有唐文物最盛，朱梁而下，王風寢微。 太祖、太宗丕變弊俗，崇尚斯文。 朕獲紹先業，謹導聖訓，禮樂交舉，儒術化成，實二後垂裕之所致也。 又君之難，由乎聽受； 臣之不易，在乎忠直。 其君以寬大接下，臣以誠明奉上，君臣之心皆歸於正。 直道而行，至公相遇，此天下之達理，先王之成憲，猶指諸掌，孰謂難哉！」 彭年曰：「陛下聖言精詣，足使天下知訓，伏願躬演睿思，著之篇翰。」 真宗為製《崇儒術》、《為君難為臣不易》二論示之。 彭年復請示輔臣，刻石國子監焉。
Once, while answering questions in audience, Emperor Zhenzong said to him, "The waxing and waning of Confucian learning produces a vast response in the life of the state. The rise and fall of dynasties likewise proceed from nothing else. When Qin declined, the classics and the Way fell silent; when Han flourished, schools were founded and learning spread. Thereafter reign titles and calendars changed in succession, yet culture and moral instruction followed a single standard. Under Tang, culture and institutions reached their height; from Later Liang onward, royal civilization steadily waned. Taizu and Taizong radically transformed decadent customs and elevated refined learning. I have inherited their enterprise and faithfully follow their sage instruction. By advancing both rites and music I have brought Confucian learning to fruition—truly the generous legacy left by my two predecessors. Moreover, a ruler's difficulties arise from what he hears and accepts; A minister's hardship lies in remaining loyal and upright. When the ruler receives his subjects with magnanimity and the minister serves his sovereign with sincerity and clarity, the hearts of both turn toward what is right. To walk the straight path and meet one another in perfect fairness—this is the supreme principle under Heaven and the settled constitution of the former kings. It is as plain as the lines on one's palm—who can call that difficult! Pengnian replied, "Your Majesty's sagely words are refined and penetrating, enough to instruct all under Heaven. I humbly hope Your Majesty will personally unfold this wise insight and commit it to writing. Emperor Zhenzong then composed two treatises for him—On Honoring Confucian Learning and On the Ruler's Difficulty and the Minister's Hardship—and showed them to him. Pengnian then asked that they be shown to the chief ministers and carved in stone at the Imperial University.
83
六年，召入翰林，充學士兼龍圖閣學士，同修國史。 彭年嘗謁王旦，旦辭不見。 翌日，見向敏中。 敏中以彭年所上文字示旦，旦瞑目不覽，曰：「是不過興建符瑞，圖進取耳。」 真宗奉祀亳州太清宮，丁謂為經度制置使，以彭年副之。 又與謂同知禮儀院，禮成，加給事中。 時謂懇讓進秩，彭年亦辭之，不許，又為天書同刻玉副使。 國史成，遷工部侍郎。 九年，拜刑部侍郎、參知政事，判禮儀院，充會靈觀使。
In the sixth year he was summoned to the Hanlin Academy, appointed academician while also serving as academician of the Longtu Pavilion, and helped compile the national history. Pengnian once paid a call on Wang Dan, but Dan declined to receive him. The next day he saw Xiang Minzhong. Minzhong showed Dan the memorials Pengnian had submitted. Dan shut his eyes and refused to read them, saying, "This is nothing but promoting auspicious portents in hopes of personal advancement. When Emperor Zhenzong went to perform sacrifices at the Grand Ultimate Palace in Bozhou, Ding Wei served as commissioner for planning and disposition, with Pengnian as his deputy. He also served with Ding Wei as co-director of the Court of Ritual. When the rites were completed, he was further appointed supervising censorate attendant. At the time Ding Wei earnestly declined promotion in rank, and Pengnian declined as well, but neither request was granted. Pengnian was again appointed deputy commissioner for the joint engraving of the jade copy of the Celestial Book. When the national history was completed, he was promoted to vice director of the Ministry of Works. In the ninth year he was appointed vice director of the Ministry of Punishments and participant in governance, placed in charge of the Court of Ritual, and made director of the Hall of Assembly of Numina.
84
天禧大禮，為天書儀衛副使。 又為參詳儀製奉寶冊使。 正月九日，侍真宗朝天書，將詣太廟，退就中書閣中如廁，眩仆，肩輿還家。 遣中使挾醫診療，旦夕存問。 進兵部侍郎，表求罷奉，不許。 二月，卒，年五十七。 真宗親臨，涕泗久之。 又睹所居陋弊，歎息數四。 廢朝，贈右僕射，諡曰文僖，錄子佺期大理寺丞，孫彥先太常寺奉禮郎。 真宗前後賜彭年御製歌詩凡六篇。 彭年妻入謁，出彭年像示之，錫齎甚厚。
During the great Tianxi rites he served as deputy commissioner for the celestial book ritual guard. He also served as commissioner for examining and fixing the ritual regulations and presenting the precious registers. On the ninth day of the first month, while attending Emperor Zhenzong as he worshipped the Celestial Book and was about to proceed to the Grand Ancestral Temple, he withdrew to the privy in the secretariat pavilion, grew dizzy, and collapsed. He was carried home in a sedan chair. The emperor sent a palace envoy with physicians to treat him and sent inquiries morning and evening. He was promoted to vice director of the Ministry of War, but when he submitted a memorial asking to resign his stipend, the request was denied. In the second month he died, at the age of fifty-seven. Emperor Zhenzong came in person and wept for a long time. Seeing how shabby his residence was, the emperor sighed again and again. Court was suspended. He was posthumously enfeoffed as right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and given the posthumous name Wenzhi. His son Qianqi was granted the rank of director of the Court of Judicial Review, and his grandson Yannian was granted the rank of reverent officer of the Temple of Emperors. Before and after his death, Emperor Zhenzong bestowed upon Pengnian six poems and songs composed by the imperial hand. When Pengnian's wife came to pay her respects at court, the emperor had a portrait of Pengnian brought out and shown to her, and lavished generous gifts upon her.
85
彭年性敏給，博聞強記，慕唐四子為文，體製繁靡。 貴至通顯，奉養無異貧約。 所得奉賜，惟市書籍。 大中祥符間，附王欽若、丁謂，朝廷典禮，無不參預。 其儀製沿革、刑名之學，皆所詳練，若前世所未有，必推引依據以成就之。 故時政大小，日有諮訪，應答該辯，一無凝滯，皆與真宗意諧。
Pengnian was quick-witted and agile in mind, broadly learned with a powerful memory. He modeled his writing on the four great Tang masters, and his style was florid and ornate. Though he rose to great eminence, his household maintained the same frugal manner as in poverty. He spent his salary and imperial grants on nothing but books. During the Dazhong Xiangfu era he attached himself to Wang Qinruo and Ding Wei, and there was scarcely a court ritual in which he did not take part. He was thoroughly versed in the history of ritual regulations and in penal law. Whenever something had not existed in earlier ages, he would trace precedents and draw on them until the matter was fully worked out. For this reason he was consulted daily on affairs great and small. His answers were comprehensive and fluent, never faltering, and they always matched Emperor Zhenzong's intent.
86
及升內閣，李宗諤、楊億皆在後。 宗諤卒，億病退，而彭年專任矣。 事務既叢，形神皆耗，遂舉止失措，顛倒冠服，家人有不記其名者。 奉詔同編《景德朝陵地里》、《封禪》、《汾陰》三記，《閣門》、《客省》、《御史臺儀製》，又受詔編御集及宸章，集歷代婦人文集。 所著《文集》百卷，《唐紀》四十卷。
When he entered the inner cabinet, Li Zong'e and Yang Yi still ranked ahead of him. After Zong'e died and Yi withdrew because of illness, Pengnian alone bore the burden of office. As affairs piled up, both body and mind were worn down. He began to act erratically, putting on his cap and robes upside down, and some in his household no longer even remembered his name. By imperial order he helped compile the three records on the geography of the Jingde court tombs, the feng and shan rites, and the Fenyin sacrifice, as well as the ritual regulations of the Gate Bureau, the Guest Reception Office, and the Censorate. He also received orders to compile imperial collections and imperial compositions, and to assemble anthologies of writing by women across the dynasties. His written works included Collected Works in one hundred volumes and Tang Annals in forty volumes.
87
論曰：楊礪遭遇龍飛，致位崇顯，自以夢協其兆，而忠言善政，一無可述。 惟棄官侍母，不以科名自伐，蓋有取焉。 宋湜懿文多識，名動人主，至與李沆同命。 雖去沆遠甚，然樂善好施，士類歸之，亦可尚也。 王嗣宗治家能睦，為政可稱，所至立徹淫祀，亦人之所難。 至於剛愎少文，謀害王旦、王曾，與寇準相忤，其餘不足觀也矣。 李昌齡累更劇任，遂階大用，黨邪徇貨，遂貽終身之玷，良可醜也。 趙安仁言事，切中時弊，及答契丹書，不失祖宗規式，又能以凶器之言折敵，不使矜戰，可謂才辨之臣矣。 其孫君錫於元祐反正，論格蔡確、章惇復官之命，庶幾無忝所生。 陳彭年以辭藻被遇，上表獻箴，詳練儀製，若可嘉尚。 乃附王欽若、丁謂，溺志爵祿，甘為小人之歸，豈不重可歎也哉！
The commentators observe: Yang Li rose with the founding of the dynasty to eminent rank and believed his dream had foretold the omen. Yet he left nothing worth recounting in the way of loyal counsel or good governance. Only in abandoning office to care for his mother, and in refusing to flaunt his examination honors, did he show something admirable. Song Shi was a fine writer of broad learning whose reputation reached the throne, and he was appointed at the same time as Li Kang. Though he fell far short of Li Kang, he delighted in doing good and was generous in giving, and men of learning gathered to him—a quality still worth honoring. Wang Sizong kept his household in harmony and governed well wherever he served. He abolished illicit shrines in every post he held—a feat not easily achieved. But he was obstinate, uncultivated, and plotting against Wang Dan and Wang Zeng, and he clashed with Kou Zhun. The rest of his record scarcely merits attention. Li Changling held one demanding post after another until he reached high office, but by allying with wicked men and trafficking in profit he left a stain that never left him—a truly shameful end. Zhao Anren's memorials cut to the heart of the times. In drafting the reply to the Khitan letter he preserved the forms established by the founding emperors, and with ominous language he rebuffed the enemy without letting them boast of war. He may truly be called a minister of talent and eloquence. His grandson Junsu, during the Yuanyou restoration, spoke against the order restoring Cai Que and Zhang Dun to office—perhaps coming close to honoring the family he was born into. Chen Pengnian won imperial favor through his literary gifts, presented admonitions to the throne, and showed mastery of ritual regulations—all of which might seem praiseworthy. Yet he attached himself to Wang Qinruo and Ding Wei, drowning his ambition in rank and salary and willingly casting his lot with petty men. How greatly is that to be lamented!