1
李諮，字仲詢，唐趙國公峘之後。 峘貶死袁州，因家新喻，遂為新喻人。
Li Zi, styled Zhongxun, traced his line to Han, the Tang-period Duke of Zhao. After Han was banished and died in Yuanzhou, the family made their home in Xinyu and became natives of that place.
2
諮幼有至性，父文捷出其母，諮日夜號泣，食飲不入口，父憐之而還其母，遂以孝聞。 舉進士，真宗顧左右曰：“是能安其親者。” 擢第三人，除大理評事、通判舒州，召試中書，為太子中允、直集賢院。 歷三司、開封府判官，再遷左正言，出為淮南轉運副使。 帝幸亳，以勞，遷尚書禮部員外郎。 會江南饑，徙江東轉運副使，為度支判官。 擢知制誥，寇準數改諮所擬制辭，諮不樂，以父留鄉里請外，遂出知荊南。 會翰林學士闕，宰相擬他官，帝曰：“不如李諮。” 遂為學士。 仁宗即位，超遷本曹郎中、權知開封府，數月，權三司使，拜右諫議大夫。
From childhood Li Zi showed deep filial devotion. When his father Wen Jie sent his mother away, he wept day and night and refused food and drink until his father took pity and brought her back, and his filial fame spread. He passed the jinshi examination. Emperor Zhenzong looked to those around him and said: "This is one who can put his parents at ease." He was placed third and appointed reviewing clerk of the Court of Judicial Review, concurrently controller of Shuzhou, summoned for examination at the Secretariat, and made crown prince attendant and direct academician of the Hall of Assembled Talents. He served as judge of the Three Departments and Kaifeng Prefecture, was promoted again to left rectifying censor, and went out as vice transport commissioner of Huainan. When the emperor visited Bozhou, he was transferred to vice director of the Ministry of Rites in the Secretariat in recognition of his service. When Jiangnan suffered famine, he was transferred to vice transport commissioner of Jiangdong and made judge of the Finance Commission. Promoted to drafting edicts, Kou Zhun repeatedly revised the edicts Li Zi drafted. Displeased, and with his father still in the hometown, he requested an outside post and went out as prefect of Jingnan. When a Hanlin academician post fell vacant and the chief ministers proposed another official, the emperor said: "Li Zi would be better." He was then made an academician. When Emperor Renzong took the throne, he was exceptionally promoted to director of his bureau and acting prefect of Kaifeng; within months he was acting commissioner of the Three Departments and appointed right remonstrance censor.
3
嘗奏事兩宮曰：“天下賦調有定，今西北寢兵且二十年，而邊饋如故。 戍兵雖未可滅，其末作浮費非本務者，宜一切裁損以厚下。” 即詔諮與御史中丞劉筠等同議冗費，以景德較天禧，計所減得十三之上。
He once presented a memorial to the Two Palaces: "Nationwide taxes and levies are set, yet though the northwest has seen no major campaigning for nearly twenty years, border supplies are still funded at the old level. Garrison forces may not yet be cut, but every peripheral and wasteful expense outside core business should be trimmed wholesale so more reaches the common people." The court then ordered Li Zi, Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Jun, and others jointly to review redundant spending; measured from Tianxi against Jingde, the reckoned savings came to more than thirteen parts per hundred.
4
時陜西緣邊數言軍食不給，度支都內錢不足支月奉，章獻太后憂之，命呂夷簡、魯宗道、張士遜與諮等經度其事。 諮曰：“舊法商人入粟邊郡，算茶與犀象、緡錢，為虛實三估，出錢十四文，坐得三司錢百文。” 諮請變法以實錢入粟，實錢售茶，三者不得相為輕重。 既行而商人果失厚利，怨謗蜂起。 諮以疾累請郡，改樞密直學士、知洪州。 行數月，而御史臺鞫吏王舉、句獻私商人，多請慈州礬，會計茶法不折虛費錢，妄稱增課百萬緡，以覬恩賞。 諮坐不察奪職。
Meanwhile the Shaanxi borderlands kept reporting short military rations, and the Finance Commission's central reserves could not meet monthly pay; the Zhangxian Empress Dowager was alarmed and charged Lü Yijian, Lu Zongdao, Zhang Shixun, Li Zi, and others to overhaul the system. Li Zi said, "Under the old rules merchants brought grain into border prefectures; tea was calculated together with rhinoceros horn, ivory, and strung coin in a threefold nominal-and-real reckoning—paying fourteen cash in hand could secure a hundred cash worth from the Three Departments." He urged reform: grain paid in hard cash, tea sold for hard cash, with the three items barred from offsetting one another's value. Once put in force the merchants truly lost their generous margin, and resentment and outcry spread everywhere. Li Zi, citing repeated illness, sought a provincial post and was made an academician of the Privy Council and prefect of Hongzhou. Months after he set out, the Censorate prosecuted clerks Wang Ju and Gou Xian for privately colluding with merchants—repeatedly requisitioning Cizhou alum—and in their tea-law accounts they refused to deduct fictitious expense cash yet falsely claimed a million strings in added revenue to win imperial favor. Li Zi was demoted for not having detected it.
5
久之，進給事中、知杭州，復樞密直學士、知永興軍。 衣冠子弟恃蔭無賴者，諮悉杖之，境內肅然。 還，勾當三班院，坐舉吏降左諫議大夫。 權三司使事，是歲，禁中火，倉卒營造，應辦舉集。
After a long while he rose to Supervising Censor and prefect of Hangzhou, then again Privy Council academician and commissioner of Yongxing. He had every privileged scion who traded on hereditary standing and ran lawless beaten with the rod, and his jurisdiction became orderly. When recalled he oversaw the Three-Rank Court; for faulty clerk recommendations he was reduced to Left Remonstrator. Acting Three Departments Commissioner that year, when fire broke out inside the palace compounds he rushed new construction and mustered every supply needed.
6
進尚書禮部侍郎，拜樞密副使。 數月，遭父喪，起復，遷戶部侍郎、知諫院事。 是時榷茶法浸壞，乃詔諮、蔡齊等更議之。 諮以前坐變法得罪，固辭，不許。 於是復用諮所變法，語具《食貨志》。 卒，贈右僕射，謚憲成。
He was promoted Vice Minister of Rites and appointed Vice Commissioner of the Privy Council. Months later his father died; recalled from mourning, he became Vice Minister of Revenue and head of remonstrance affairs. The state tea monopoly was then decaying; the throne ordered Li Zi, Cai Qi, and others to revise it. Li Zi, having once been faulted over his reform, steadfastly refused, but was not permitted to withdraw. They then revived Li Zi's own reforms in full; particulars are set out in the Monograph on Food and Money. When he died he was posthumously given Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, with the temple name Xiancheng.
7
諮性明辨，周知世務，其處煩猝，常若閑暇，吏不敢欺。 在樞府，專務革濫賞，抑僥幸，人以為稱職。 無子，以族子為後。
Clear-eyed by nature and versed in worldly affairs, he handled rushing crises as if unhurried, and underlings did not dare cheat him. At the Privy Council he worked especially to cut bloated rewards and curb lucky petitions; colleagues judged him worthy of the role. Childless, he took a kinsman's son as heir.
8
程戡，字勝之，許州陽翟人。 少力學，舉進士甲科，補涇州觀察推官，再遷秘書丞、通判許州。 曹利用貶，戡以利用婿降通判蘄州。 徙虔州，州人有殺母，暮夜置屍仇人之門，以誣仇者。 獄已具，戡獨辨之，正其罪。 以尚書屯田員外郎知歸州，召為侍御史、三司度支判官。
Cheng Kan, styled Shengzhi, came from Yangzhai in Xuzhou. As a youth he studied strenuously, passed the jinshi in the top tier, served as an investigator under the Jingzhou intendant, and was twice promoted to Secretariat aide and vice prefect of Xuzhou. When Cao Liyong was banished, Kan—his son-in-law—was demoted to vice commissioner of Qizhou. Moved to Qianzhou: a townsman murdered his mother and in the night laid the body at a foe's gate to incriminate him. The case was closed, yet Kan alone saw through it and assigned guilt correctly. As an assistant director in the Ministry of Revenue's granary section he governed Guizhou, then was summoned as Attendant Censor and expenditure reviewer of the Finance Commission.
9
寶元初，忻、代地震，壞城郭、廬舍，死傷甚眾，命戡安撫，頗以便宜從事。 改起居舍人、知諫院，遷兵部員外郎兼侍御史知雜事、三司戶部副使。 擢天章閣待制、陜西都轉運使。
Early in Baoyuan, earthquakes in Xin and Dai wrecked cities and homes with heavy casualties; Kan was sent to console the region with broad discretion. He became Drafting Attendant and Remonstrance chief, then Vice Director of War while also Attendant Censor overseeing mixed business and deputy of the Finance Commission's households section. Elevated to academician of the Tianzhang Pavilion and grand transport commissioner for Shaanxi.
10
未幾，知渭州。 陜西有保毅軍，人苦其役。 戡奏曰：“保毅在鄉兵外，不黥而有籍，所以佐邊備也。 已隸保捷兵，而保毅籍如故，州縣以供力役，率困憊，至破析財產售田者，猶數戶出一夫，民不勝苦。” 因詔：私役保毅者以計傭律坐之。
Soon after he governed Weizhou. Shaanxi maintained a Baoyi militia, whose service duties oppressed the people. Kan reported: "Baoyi troops sit outside the township militia—unbranded yet on the rolls—to reinforce frontier defense. Though already listed with the Baojie Army, Baoyi registers stayed unchanged; districts still pressed them for labor until families were ruined—selling land and splitting estates—yet several households still owed one conscript; the burden was unbearable." The court decreed that anyone who privately impressed Baoyi labor would be charged under the statute on hired labor.
11
進樞密直學士、知成都府。 坐嘗保任貝州張得一，得一伏誅，奪職出知鳳翔府，尋徙河中。 御史中丞張觀辨之，復為樞密直學士、知永興軍，徙瀛州，四遷給事中。 契丹使過，稱疾，求著帽見，戡使謂曰：“有疾，可毋相見，見當如禮。” 使者語屈，冠而見。
He advanced to Privy Council academician and prefect of Chengdu. He had vouched for Beizhou's Zhang Deyi; when Deyi was put to death after confessing, Kan lost his post and was sent out to Fengxiang, then soon to Hezhong. Censor-in-Chief Zhang Guan vindicated him; he returned as Privy Council academician and Yongxing commissioner, then Yingzhou, and after four steps reached Supervising Censor. A Liao envoy passing through pleaded illness and asked to be received capped rather than bare-headed; Kan's deputy told him, "If you are ill you need not appear at all—but if you appear you follow protocol." The envoy yielded and met with his cap on.
12
人言歲在甲午蜀且有變，孟知祥之割據，李順之起而為盜，皆此時也。 仁宗自擇戡再知益州，遷端明殿學士，召見慰遣。 至彭州，民妄言有兵變，捕斬之。 守益州者以嫌，多不治城堞，戡獨完城浚池自固，不以為嫌也。
Folk omens held that in a jiawu year Shu would see turmoil: Meng Zhixiang's breakaway and Li Shun's bandit uprising had both happened then. Emperor Renzong personally reappointed Kan to Yizhou, made him Duanming Hall academician, summoned him, and sent him off with reassurance. At Pengzhou commoners spread false talk of troop mutiny; he seized and executed them. Previous Yizhou governors, fearing suspicion, often let battlements go; Kan alone repaired walls and deepened moats without caring that it might look suspicious.
13
召拜參知政事，奏禁蜀人妖言誣民者。 避宰相文彥博親，改尚書戶部侍郎、樞密副使。 數與宋庠爭議，諫官、御史皆論之，戡亦自請罷。 除吏部侍郎、觀文殿學士兼翰林侍讀學士、同群牧制置使，尋拜宣徽南院使、鄜延路經略安撫使、判延州。
Recalled as Vice Councilor, he petitioned to outlaw Sichuan demagogues who deceived the populace. To avoid clashing with Grand Councilor Wen Yanbo's family ties, he became Revenue Vice Minister and Privy Council vice commissioner. He quarreled often with Song Qi; remonstrators and censors rebuked them both, and Kan himself asked to step down. Appointed Personnel Vice Minister, Observant Culture academician and Hanlin reader-in-waiting, co-administrator of the imperial stud; soon Southern Hall commissioner of the imperial insignia, Fuyan route pacification commissioner, and acting Yanzhou prefect.
14
英宗即位，以安武軍節度使留再任。 初，覃恩，蕃官例不序遷。 至是，用戡奏始皆得遷。 又請首領有戰功材武，皆得召見，選補為蕃官。 延州夾河為兩城，雉堞頗卑小。 敵登九州臺，則下瞰城中。 戡調兵夫大增築之。 橫山酋豪怨諒祚，欲率其屬叛，取靈、夏，來求兵為援。 戡言：“豺虎非自相搏，則未易取也； 癰疽非其自潰，則未易攻也。 諒祚久悖慢，宜乘此許之，所謂以蠻夷攻蠻夷，中國之利也。” 會英宗不豫，大臣重生事，不報。
At Yingzong's accession he was kept on as Anwu military commissioner for another term. Frontier tribal officers had not, by custom, received seniority promotions on general amnesties. On Kan's petition they now all gained promotions. He further asked that any chieftain with battlefield merit and martial ability be called in and posted as frontier tribal officer. Yanzhou sat on both banks as twin cities with rather low parapets. From Jiuzhou Terrace the enemy could overlook the town below. Kan drafted laborers and greatly enlarged the defenses. Hengshan chieftains, angered at Liang You, meant to rebel and seize Ling and Xia, and came seeking Song troops. Kan said, "Jackals and tigers are not easily taken unless they tear at one another; nor is a carbuncle easily struck until it ruptures on its own. Liang You's insolence has lasted long—now is the moment to agree; this is letting barbarians fight barbarians, to China's advantage." But Yingzong fell ill and senior ministers feared new entanglements, so nothing was answered.
15
言者請選大臣帥永興，屯重兵以制五路，敕戡具利害以聞。 戡以為“四路距永興皆十數驛，設有警，使聽節制，則不及事矣。 且關中財賦不贍，宿軍多，何以給之？”
Memorialists proposed a senior commander at Yongxing with heavy troops to oversee five frontier circuits; Kan was told to weigh costs and benefits. Kan argued that "each of the four circuits lies many stages from Yongxing—if trouble arose and all waited on central orders, events would outrun response. Moreover Guanzhong's revenues cannot sustain more—troops already encamped there in numbers—how feed another host?"
16
治平初，命宦官王昭明等領四路蕃部事。 戡曰：“蕃部所以亡去，苦邊吏苛暴，為西人誘略爾。 今昭明等徒能呼召首領，犒以牛酒，恐未足以結其心也。 而甚動邊聽，宜更置路分鈐轄、都監，各部一將兵，兼沿邊巡檢使，無復專蕃部事。” 從其奏。 夏人遣使入貢，僣漢官移文於州，稱其國中官曰樞密。 戡止令稱使副不以官，稱樞密曰“領廬”，方許之。
Early in Zhiping eunuchs including Wang Zhaoming were assigned to lead tribal affairs on all four frontier circuits. Kan said, "Tribes have defected because border clerks were brutal and Westerners seduced them. Wang Zhaoming and his kind can only summon chiefs and toast them with cattle and wine—hardly enough to bind loyalty. They also stir frontier gossip; better to install route deputies and chief inspectors, each circuit with one field commander doubling as border patrol commissioner, and end exclusive eunuch control of tribal affairs." The throne accepted his plan. Xi Xia envoys came to pay tribute but used Han-style notes to prefectures, styling their countryman as "Privy Councilor." Kan barred it, allowing only envoy and deputy without ranks, and only if "Privy Councilor" became "head of the official residence."
17
戡告老章累上，終弗聽，遣使以手詔問勞，賜茶藥、黃金，乃再上章曰：“臣老疾劇矣，高奴屯勁兵為要地，豈養病所耶？” 召還，道卒。 贈太尉，謚康穆。
Kan filed many retirement pleas without answer; the throne sent messengers with an autograph to console him and grant tea, medicines, and gold; he wrote again: "My ailments are grave—is Gaonu, where elite troops guard a choke point, a sickroom?" Called back, he died on the journey. Posthumously Grand Marshal, temple name Kangmu.
18
戡久在邊，安重習事，治不近名。 然不為言者所與，或傳戡交通宦官閻士良，至令妻出見之。
Long on the border, steady and seasoned, he ruled without courting renown. Yet critics never took his side; rumor said he dealt with eunuch Yan Shiliang—even made his wife appear to receive him.
19
夏侯嶠
Xia Houjiao
20
夏侯嶠，字峻極，其先幽州人。 高祖秀，為濟州鉅野鎮遊奕使，因家焉。 父浦，梁開平中，以明經至棣州錄事參軍。 嶠幼好學，弱冠，以辭賦稱，周相李谷延置門下。 又依西京留守向拱，攝伊陽令； 拱移安州，又令攝錄事參軍。 太平興國初，舉進士甲科，解褐大理評事、通判興州，累遷右贊善大夫。 從征太原，督芻糧於河朔。 遷殿中丞、通判邠州。 歲滿，拜監察御史、通判興元府，進秩殿中。
Xia Houjiao, styled Junji, was of Youzhou stock. Ancestor Xiu, under Gaozu, served as roving patrol officer of Juye post in Jizhou and made the locale his home. Father Pu, in Later Liang's Kaiping era, reached Di prefecture recorder via the Mingjing exam. Jiao studied avidly as a boy; by his twenties he was known for fu and verse; Zhou minister Li Gu brought him into his household. He served under Luoyang garrison commissioner Xiang Gong as acting magistrate of Yiyang; when Gong moved to Anzhou, Jiao again acted as recorder. In early Taiping xingguo he took jinshi in the top tier, began as Grand Court reviewer and vice commissioner of Xingzhou, and rose to Right Assistant Censor. On the Taiyuan expedition he oversaw fodder in Hebei. Promoted Palace Director and vice commissioner of Bin. At term's end he became Investigating Censor and vice commissioner of Xingyuan, advancing one grade in the palace service.
21
雍熙二年代還，對便殿。 太宗語有司曰：“此人朕自知其才行，勿須奏擬。” 即日改左補闕、直史館，賜緋魚。 會王師護邊，乘傳督河間餫道，就命知莫州。 逾月，徙洪州，改起居郎。 真宗在襄邸，太宗擇朝士謹厚者為官屬，即召入為翊善，賜金紫，加直昭文館。 真宗尹京府，命兼推官，加司封員外郎。 東宮建，復兼中舍，遷工部郎中。 及嗣位，拜給事中、知審刑院。 數月，擢樞密院副使。 咸平元年，以戶部郎中罷。 二年，始建講讀之職，命嶠為翰林侍讀學士。 及楊徽之卒，又命兼秘書監。 是秋，江、浙饑，命為江南巡撫使，所過疏理刑訟，存問耆老，務從寬簡，人以為便。 使還，采病民二十餘事上之，亟詔厘革。 又判吏部選事。
Yongxi year two, when his term ended, Taizong received him in the side hall. Taizong said to the staff, "I myself know this man's talent and conduct—do not route a nomination memorandum." That day he became Left Supplementation Censor and direct historian, with crimson robe and fish tally. As imperial forces guarded the borders he rode express to supervise Hejian grain routes and was appointed Mo prefect on the spot. A month later moved to Hongzhou; made Drafting Gentleman. While Prince Zhenzong was at his Xiang residence, Taizong chose sober courtiers as staff and summoned Jiao as tutor, granting gold-purple rank and making him straight historian of Zhaowen Hall. When Zhenzong administered the capital prefecture Jiao was also made reviewing sheriff and added Chief Clerk of the Revenue Section. With establishment of the Eastern Palace he doubled as Central Drafting Attendant and rose to Director of Works. At accession he was made Supervising Censor and director of the Court of Judicial Review. Several months later he was made vice commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Xianping year one he left office as Revenue-section director in the Ministry of Revenue. Year two the court created lecture-and-reading posts and named Jiao Hanlin Attendant Reader. After Yang Huizhi died he was also made concurrent Director of the Palace Library. That autumn famine struck Jiang and Zhe; appointed Jiangnan touring commissioner, he cleared lawsuits, visited the elderly, and favored lenient, simple handling—people welcomed it. Back from the tour he reported twenty-odd abuses harming commoners; the throne quickly ordered reforms. He also oversaw Ministry of Personnel selections.
22
嶠善鼓琴，好讀莊、老書，淳厚謹慎，居官無過失。 真宗尤愛重之，多所詢訪，每以善人目之。 素好道，留意養生，少疾。 景德元年五月，以選人俟對崇政殿，暴中風眩，亟詔取金丹，上尊酒餌之，肩輿還第，遣內侍召外內名醫診視。 其夕卒，年七十二。 詔贈兵部尚書，賵賜外，增賜白金三百兩給葬。 錄其子大理寺丞晟為太子中舍，孫恭為奉禮郎，侄孫蔚賜同學究出身。 嶠在近侍，恩遇甚渥。 卒後數月，畢士安為相，撫坐嘆曰：“使夏侯君在，吾豈先據此位！” 有集十五卷。
Jiao played the zither well, read Zhuangzi and Laozi, and was steady and careful—never faulted in office. Zhenzong prized him, consulted him often, and always called him a man of virtue. Long devoted to the Way and regimen, he rarely fell ill. Jingde year one, fifth month: awaiting audience at Chongzheng Hall as a selection candidate, he collapsed with apoplexy; the court sent for golden elixir and imperial wine, had him borne home in a sedan, and dispatched inner attendants to summon renowned physicians. He died that night at seventy-two. Posthumously made Minister of War; beyond standard funeral gifts, three hundred taels of white gold were granted for burial. Son Sheng, Court of Judicial Review registrar, was made Heir Apparent Central Drafting Attendant; grandson Gong, Court Gentleman for Offering; grand-nephew Wei granted fellow-student origin. As a close attendant Jiao enjoyed exceptional favor. Months after his death Bi Shian became chief minister and, patting his seat, sighed: "If Lord Xiahou still lived, how could I have sat here first!" He left a fifteen-juan collection.
23
大中祥符初，晟上《漢武封禪圖》，繢金匱、玉匱、石<石感>、石距之狀，鹹有註釋，上覽而善之。 至駕部員外郎。 恭至太子中舍。
Early Dazhong xiangfu Sheng presented "Diagram of Han Wu's Feng and Shan," illustrating gold and jade caskets and ceremonial stone forms with full notes; the emperor approved. He reached Vice Director of the Transport Section. Gong rose to Heir Apparent Central Drafting Attendant.
24
盛度，字公量，世居應天府，後徙杭州余杭縣。 曾祖珰，仕錢氏為余杭縣令。 父豫，從錢俶入朝，終尚書度支郎中。 度舉進士第，補濟陰尉。 選為封丘主簿，改府倉曹參軍，為光祿寺丞、御史臺推勘官，改秘書省秘書郎。 試學士院，為直史館、三司戶部判官，累遷尚書屯田員外郎。
Sheng Du, styled Gongliang, was long settled in Yingtian Prefecture, later moved to Yuhang in Hangzhou. Great-grandfather Dang served the Qian house as Yuhang magistrate. Father Yu followed Qian Chu to court and died Revenue-section director in the Ministry of Revenue. Du passed the jinshi and was made Jiyin assistant magistrate. Made Fengqiu registrar, then prefectural granary officer, Imperial Household vice director and Censorate investigator, then Palace Library secretary. Passing the Hanlin exam he became Historiography Office straight historian and Three Departments revenue judge, rising to State Farms vice director.
25
契丹寇邊，從幸大名，數上疏論邊事。 奉使陜西，因覽疆域，參質漢、唐故地，繪為《西域圖》以獻。 改開封府判官，坐決獄失實，降監洪州稅。 起知建昌軍、三司鹽鐵判官，改起居舍人、知制誥。 度嘗奏事便殿，真宗問其所上《西域圖》，度因言：“酒泉、張掖、武威、敦煌、金城五郡之東南，自秦築長城，西起臨洮，東至遼碣，延袤萬里。 有郡、有軍、有守捉，襟帶相屬，烽火相望，其為形勢備禦之道至矣。 唐始置節度，後以宰相兼領，用非其人，故有河山之險而不能固，有甲兵之利而不能禦。 今復繪山川、道路、壁壘、區聚，為《河西隴右圖》，願備上覽。” 真宗稱其博學。
When Khitan raided the border he accompanied the emperor to Daming and memorialized repeatedly on frontier policy. Sent to Shaanxi he surveyed the region against Han and Tang holdings and presented a "Western Regions Map." Made Kaifeng judge; untruthful verdicts demoted him to Hongzhou tax supervisor. Restored as Jianchang prefect and Three Departments salt-and-iron judge, then Drafting Gentleman and edict drafter. Memorializing in the side hall, Zhenzong asked about his "Western Regions Map"; Du said: "Southeast of Jiuquan, Zhangye, Wuwei, Dunhuang, and Jincheng—from Qin's Long Wall west at Lintao east to Liaojie, ten thousand li. Commanderies, armies, and garrisons linked like a belt, beacons in sight—the defensive layout was complete. Tang created commissioners, later filled by chief ministers with unfit men—hence barriers and arms alike failed. Now I have redrawn terrain, roads, walls, and settlements as "Hexi Longyou Map" for Your Majesty." Zhenzong praised his learning.
26
後遷右諫議大夫、權知開封府。 以疾不拜，改會靈觀判官，入翰林為學士，加史館修撰。 歷兵部郎中、景靈宮副使。 寇準罷相，度以交通周懷政，出知光州。 乾興初，再謫和州團練副使。 丁謂貶，起為祠部郎中，復兵部郎中，遷太常少卿、知筠州，更虔、滁、蘇三州。 還知審刑院，以右諫議大夫知揚州，加集賢院學士。 初，度謫洪州，建請復賢良方正科，又請建四科以取士，曰：博通墳典達於教化科，才識兼茂明於體用科，軍謀宏遠堪任將帥科，明曉法律能按章覆問科。 既而用夏竦議，置六科，其議亦自度始。
Later Right Remonstrance Censor and acting Kaifeng prefect. Illness kept him from accepting; made Hall of Numinous Communion judge, Hanlin academician, Historiography reviser. Served War Section director and Brilliant Numen deputy commissioner. When Kou Zhun fell, Du's tie to Zhou Huaizheng sent him out as Guang prefect. Early Qianxing he was again demoted to He military training vice commissioner. When Ding Wei fell he was raised Rites Section director, restored War Section director, made Imperial Sacrifices vice director and Yun prefect, then Qian, Chu, and Su. Back he headed Judicial Review, governed Yangzhou as Right Remonstrance Censor, and joined the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Demoted to Hongzhou he urged restoring the worthy-and-upright exam and four talent categories: canonical mastery for teaching, talent with institutional insight, military counsel for command, legal clarity for case review. Later six categories were set on Xia Song's motion—Du had originated the idea.
27
復為翰林學士、史館修撰，遷給事中。 嘗受詔與御史中丞王隨議通解鹽，聽商旅入錢算鹽，語在《食貨志》。 尋進承旨，以禮部侍郎兼端明殿學士，召問邊計，退而條十事上之。 又兼侍讀學士。
Restored Hanlin academician and Historiography reviser, promoted Supervising Censor. Ordered with Vice Censor Wang Sui to liberalize salt, letting merchants pay cash for allotments—see the Food and Goods Treatise. Soon chief Hanlin academician, Vice Rites Minister and Illustrious Hall academician; questioned on borders, he submitted ten points. He also doubled as Attendant Reader.
28
景祐二年，拜參知政事。 時王曾、呂夷簡為相，度與宋綬、蔡齊並參知政事，曾與齊善，而夷簡與綬善，惟度不得志於二人。 及二人俱辭相，仁宗問度曰：“王曾、呂夷簡力求退，何也？” 度對曰：“二人腹心之事，臣不得而知，陛下詢二人以孰可代者，則其情可察矣。” 仁宗果以問曾，曾薦齊，又問夷簡，夷簡薦綬，於是四人俱罷，而度獨留。 遷知樞密院事。
Jingyou year two he became Vice Participant in Governance. Wang Zeng and Lü Yijian were chief ministers; Du, Song Shou, and Cai Qi were vice participants; Zeng favored Qi, Yijian favored Shou—Du satisfied neither pair. When both resigned, Renzong asked Du why Wang Zeng and Lü Yijian pressed to leave. Du said: "I cannot know their private motives; ask each whom he would name as successor and their intent will show." Renzong asked Zeng, who named Qi; asked Yijian, who named Shou—all four left, Du alone stayed. He was made head of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
29
章得象既相，以度嘗位其上，即拜武寧軍節度使。 坐令開封府吏馮士元強取其鄰所賃官舍，以尚書右丞罷。 復知揚州，加資政殿學士、知應天府。 暴感風眩，以太子少傅致仕，卒。 贈太子太保，謚文肅。
Zhang Dexiang as chief minister, Du having once outranked him, was sent out as Wuning military commissioner. He fell as Right Secretariat vice director for letting Kaifeng clerk Feng Shiyuan seize a neighbor's leased official quarters. Restored Yangzhou prefect, added Assisting Governance academician and Yingtian prefect. Struck by apoplexy, he retired as Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and died. Posthumously Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, posthumous title Wensu.
30
度好學，家居列圖書，每歸，未嘗釋手。 敏於為文，而泛濫不精。 嘗奉詔同編《續通典》、《文苑英華》，註釋御集。 真宗祀汾陰，仁宗在藩邸，詔掌起居箋奏及留司章奏。 有《愚谷》、《銀臺》、《中書》、《樞中》四集，又有《中書》、《翰林》二制集。
A devoted reader, he lined his home with books and never set them down when home. Quick with prose but diffuse and unpolished. Ordered to help compile Continuation of the Comprehensive Institutions and Finest Blossoms and annotate imperial collections. At Zhenzong's Fenyin sacrifice, with Renzong in the princely residence, he handled daily-record and capital memorials. His collections Fool's Valley, Silver Terrace, Central Secretariat, and Bureau of Military Affairs, plus two edict volumes for Secretariat and Hanlin.
31
天禧三年，詔許中書舍人、給事中、諫議大夫母封郡太君，而學士不預。 時度官兵部郎中，因請追封其母，自是學士官未至諫議者，其母皆得封郡君。 度體肥大，艱於拜起，賓客有拜之者，則俯伏不能興，往往瞪視而詬詈之。 性極猜險，雖平居，僚友不敢易語言。 所至，下貧無賴，多所縱舍； 稍有貲者，一切繩之以法。
Tianxi year three edict enfeoffed mothers of drafting attendants, supervising censors, and remonstrance censors as commandery grand ladies—but not Hanlin academicians. As acting War Section director he sought posthumous enfeoffment for his mother; thereafter Hanlin mothers below remonstrance rank could be enfeoffed commandery ladies. Corpulent, he struggled to bow; when guests bowed he stayed bent, unable to rise, and often glared and cursed them. Deeply suspicious, colleagues scarcely dared casual speech even in private. Where he governed he often indulged the destitute and lawless; anyone with property he prosecuted to the letter.
32
子申甫，終尚書兵部郎中、集賢校理，嘗為福建轉運使，頗以修潔稱。 從兄京，有吏能，以尚書工部侍郎致仕，卒。
Son Shenfu died War Section director and Hall collator; once Fujian transport commissioner, noted for integrity. Cousin Jing, capable in administration, retired as Works vice minister and died.
33
丁度，字公雅，其先恩州清河人。 祖顗，後唐清泰初陷契丹，逃歸，徙居祥符。 父逢吉，以醫術事真宗藩邸，然好聚書，與儒者遊。 度強力學問，好讀《尚書》，尚擬為《書命》十餘篇。 大中祥符中，登服勤詞學科，為大理評事、通判通州，改太子中允、直集賢院。 坐解送國子監進士失實，監齊州稅。 還知太常禮院，判吏部南曹。 上書論六事：一、增講讀官； 二、增諫員； 三、補蔭用大功以上親； 四、選河北、河東役兵補禁軍； 五、籍令佐墾田為殿最； 六、凡緣公事坐私罪仗者，聽保任遷官。 章獻太后善之。
Ding Du, styled Gongya, came from Qinghe in En Prefecture. Grandfather Yan, early Later Tang Qingtai, was taken by Khitan, escaped, and settled at Xiangfu. Father Fengji practiced medicine in Zhenzong's princely household yet collected books and mingled with scholars. Du studied hard, loved the Documents, and drafted ten-odd chapters modeled on Charges. Dazhong xiangfu he passed the diligent-service literary exam, made Judicial Review reviewer and Tong vice commissioner, then Heir Apparent Central Drafting Attendant and Hall collator. Untruthful jinshi escort records demoted him to Qi tax supervisor. Restored he ran Imperial Sacrifices and judged Personnel's southern desk. He memorialized six points: first, add lecture-and-reading officers; second, add remonstrance officers; third, extend yin privilege to great-gong kin; fourth, draft Hebei and Hedong corvée troops into the forbidden army; fifth, score magistrates' assistants by reclaimed land; sixth, allow guarantors for officials flogged for private offenses tied to public duty. Empress Dowager Zhangxian approved.
34
舊制，監司及藩鎮辭謁皆賜對。 仁宗初即位，止令附中書、樞密奏之，度言，附奏非所以防壅蔽也。 又嘗獻《王鳳論》於章獻太后，以戒外戚。 歷三司磨勘司、京西轉運使。 司天言永昌陵有白氣，請增築以厭之，有詔按視。 度奏神道貴靜，不可輕繕治，乃止。 入知制誥，遷翰林學士，糾察在京刑獄，判太常禮院兼群牧使。
Old rules granted audience when circuit and frontier commissioners took leave to pay respects. At Renzong's accession memorials went only through Secretariat and Military Affairs; Du said that invited obstruction. He also gave Empress Dowager Zhangxian "Discourse on Wang Feng" to warn against consort kin. He audited the Three Departments and served Western Capital transport commissioner. Astronomers reported white vapor at Yongchang Tomb and sought added works to suppress it; the court ordered inspection. Du said the spirit way should stay quiet and works ceased. Made edict drafter, Hanlin academician, capital criminal investigator, Imperial Sacrifices judge and Herds commissioner.
35
劉平、石元孫敗，帝遣使問所以禦邊。 度奏曰：“今士氣傷沮，若復追窮巢穴，饋糧千里，輕用人命以快一朝之意，非計之得也。 唐都長安，天寶後，河、湟覆沒，涇州西門不開，京師距寇境不及五百里，屯重兵，嚴烽火，雖常有侵軼，然卒無事。 太祖時，疆場之任，不用節將。 但審擢材器，豐其廩賜，信其賞罰，方陲輯寧幾二十年。 為今之策，莫若謹亭障，遠斥堠，控扼要害，為制禦之全計。” 因條上十策，名曰《備邊要覽》。
After Liu Ping and Shi Yuansun were defeated the emperor asked how to defend the frontier. Du said: "Morale is shattered; to chase the enemy deep, supply grain a thousand li, and spend lives for a moment's satisfaction is no winning plan. Tang held Chang'an; after Tianbao He-Huang fell, Jing's west gate stayed shut, the capital within five hundred li of enemies—yet heavy garrisons and beacons kept raids from becoming disaster. Under Taizu frontiers did not use military commissioners. He chose talent, enriched stipends, trusted rewards and punishments—borders stayed quiet nearly twenty years. Today's policy: maintain barriers, distant scouts, hold key points—a full defensive plan." He then submitted ten policies titled Essentials for Border Defense.
36
時西疆未寧，二府三司，雖旬休不廢務。 度言：“苻堅以百萬師寇晉，謝安命駕出遊以安人心。 請給假如故，無使外夷窺朝廷淺深。” 從之。 累遷中書舍人，為承旨。
The west was still unsettled; the two bureaus and three departments kept working even on rest days. Du said: "When Fu Jian invaded Jin with a million men, Xie An went out touring to steady hearts. Grant leave as before, lest foreigners gauge the court's strength." The court agreed. Promoted Secretariat drafting attendant, then chief academician.
37
時葉清臣請商州置監鑄大錢，以一當十。 度奏曰：“漢之五銖，唐之開元及國朝錢法，輕重大小，最為折中。 歷代改更，法雖精密，不能期年，即復改鑄。 議者欲繩以峻法，革其盜鑄。 昔漢變錢幣，盜鑄死者數十萬。 唐鑄乾元及重輪乾元錢，錢輕幣重，嚴刑不能禁止。 今禁旅戍邊，月給百錢，得大錢裁十，不可畸用，舊錢不出，新錢愈輕，則芻糧增價。 臣嘗知湖州，民有抵茶禁者，受千錢立契代鞭背。 在京西，有強盜殺人，取其弊衣，直不過數百錢。 盜鑄之利，不啻數倍。 復有湖山絕處，兇魁嘯聚，爐冶日滋，居則鑄錢，急則為盜。 民間銅鉛之器，悉為大錢，何以禁止。”
Ye Qingchen sought a Shang mint casting ten-for-one large coins. Du said: "Han five-zhu, Tang Kaiyuan, and our coin law strike the best balance of weight and size. Each dynasty's refinements could not hold a year before recoining. Reformers wanted harsh laws to stop illicit casting. Han's currency change brought hundreds of thousands of casting executions. Tang's Qianyuan coins made money light and goods heavy; harsh law failed. Frontier troops get a hundred small coins monthly—only ten large ones, unusable alone; old coin hoarded, new coin debased, fodder prices climb. In Huzhou I saw tea-ban violators pay a thousand coins to take lashes by contract. In Jingxi a robber killed for rags worth hundreds of coins. Illicit casting profits many times over. Remote hills harbor chiefs who cast by day and rob when pressed. Household bronze and lead would become large coin—how forbid it?"
38
度又言：“祥符、天聖間，牧馬至十餘萬，其後言者以天下無事，不可虛費，遂廢八監。 然猶秦渭環階麟府文州、火山保德岢嵐軍，歲市馬二萬二百匹，補京畿、塞下之闕。 自西鄙用兵，四年所牧，三萬而已。 馬少地閑，坊監誠可罷； 若賊平馬歸，則不可闕。 今河北、河東、京東西、淮南皆籍丁壯為兵，請令民畜一戰馬者，得免二丁，仍不許貲產以升戶等，則緩急有備，而國馬蕃矣。” 慶歷中，副杜衍宣撫河東。 久之，遷端明殿學士、知審刑院。 時江西轉運使移屬州，凡市米鹽鈔，每百緡貼納錢三之一。 通判吉州李虞卿受財免貼納，事覺，大理將以枉法論。 度曰：“枉法，謂於典憲有所阿曲。 虞卿所違者，轉運使移文爾。” 遂貸虞卿死。
Du also said: "Xiangfu-Tiansheng herds topped a hundred thousand; peace advocates abolished eight pasturage offices as waste. Yet border markets still bought twenty-two thousand horses yearly for capital and frontier shortfalls. Four years of western war raised only thirty thousand. With few horses and idle land, pasturage offices may close; but when peace returns horses cannot be wanting. Now Hebei, Hedong, Jingdong East and West, and Huainan all register able-bodied men as soldiers. I request that commoners who keep one war horse be allowed to exempt two adult males from service, while still not permitting wealth and property to raise a household's tax grade; then in emergencies there will be preparation, and the state's horses will multiply." Qingli he deputized Du Yan pacifying Hedong. Later Illustrious Hall academician and Judicial Review head. Jiangxi transport made subordinates add one-third surcharge per hundred strings on rice, salt, or certificates. Jizhou vice prefect Li Yuqing took bribes to waive surcharge; Judicial Review sought a bending-law verdict. Du said: "Bending the law means distorting canonical statutes. Yuqing violated only a transport dispatch." Yuqing's death sentence was commuted.
39
帝嘗問，用人以資與才孰先？ 度對曰：“承平時用資，邊事未平宜用才。” 時度在翰林已七年，而朝廷方用兵，故對以此。 諫官孫甫論度所言，蓋自求柄用，帝諭輔臣曰：“度在侍從十五年，數論天下事，顧未嘗及私，甫安從得是語。” 未幾，擢工部侍郎、樞密副使。 因言：“周世宗募驍健，有朝出群盜、夕備宿衛者； 太祖閱猛士實騎軍。 請擇河北、河東、陜西就糧馬軍，以補禁旅之闕。” 又言：“契丹嘗渝盟，預備不可忽。” 因上《慶歷兵錄》五卷、《贍邊錄》一卷。 明年，參知政事。 會春旱，降秩中書舍人，逾月，復官。 後二年，衛士為變，事連宦官楊懷敏，樞密使夏竦請御史與宦官同於禁中鞫之，不可滋蔓，令反側者不自安。 度曰：“宿衛有變，事關社稷，此而可忍孰不可忍！ 請付外臺窮治黨與。” 爭於帝前。 仁宗從竦言，度遂求解政事，罷為紫宸殿學士兼侍讀學士。 御史何郯言，紫宸非官稱所宜。 改觀文殿學士、知通進銀臺司、判尚書都省，再遷尚書左丞，卒。 贈吏部尚書，謚文簡。 度性淳質，不為威儀，居一室十余年，左右無姬侍。 然喜論事，在經筵歲久，帝每以學士呼之而不名。 嘗問蓍龜占應之事，乃對：“卜筮雖聖人所為，要之一技而已，不若以古之治亂為監。” 又嘗示以欹器曰：“朕欲臨天下以中正之道。” 度對曰：“臣等亦願無傾滿以事陛下。” 因奏太宗嘗作此器，真宗亦嘗著論，於是帝制《後述》以賜之。
The emperor asked whether seniority or talent should come first in appointments. Du said: "Use seniority in peace, talent while borders are unsettled." He had served Hanlin seven years amid war, hence the answer. Remonstrance official Sun Fu criticized Du's words as seeking power for himself; the emperor told the chief ministers: "Du has been in attendance fifteen years, often discussing realm affairs, yet never touched private interest—how could Fu get such words?" Soon Vice Works Minister and Military Affairs vice commissioner. He said: "Zhou Shizong recruited braves—bandits by morning, guards by evening; Taizu reviewed warriors to fill the cavalry. Select Hebei, Hedong, and Shaanxi grain-fed horse troops to fill forbidden-army gaps." He warned Khitan covenant-breaking demanded vigilance. He submitted five juan of 《Qingli Military Records》 and one of 《Frontier Provisioning Records》. Next year he became Vice Participant in Governance. Spring drought lowered him to drafting attendant; a month later restored. Two years later guards mutinied, implicating eunuch Yang Huaimin; Xia Song wanted censors and eunuchs to interrogate inside the palace. Du said: "A guard mutiny touches the altars—if this is borne, what is not? Hand it to outer offices to try the clique thoroughly." They argued before the throne. Renzong sided with Xia Song; Du left governance for Purple Hall academician with Attendant Reader. Censor He Zan said Purple Hall was not a proper title. Made Observant Culture academician, Silver Terrace head, Secretariat Chancery director, then Left Secretariat vice director and died. Posthumously Personnel Minister, posthumous Wenjian. Plain and unceremonious, he lived one room over ten years without concubines. He loved debate; long in the classics hall the emperor called him "academician" without name. Asked about yarrow and tortoise divination he said it was but a craft—better mirror on past order and chaos. Shown a tilted vessel the emperor said he wished to rule by centrality. Du said servants too wished no tipping or overflowing in serving him. He noted Taizong and Zhenzong had written on the vessel; the emperor composed 《Later Discourse》 for him.
40
度著《邇英聖覽》十卷、《龜鑒精義》三卷、《編年總錄》八卷，奉詔領諸儒集《武經總要》四十卷。 子諷，集賢校理。
He wrote 《Ertang Sage Perusal》 ten juan, 《Tortoise Mirror Essentials》 three, 《Chronological General Records》 eight, and led 《Comprehensive Military Essentials》 forty juan. Son Feng, Hall of Assembled Worthies collator.
41
張觀，字思正，絳州絳縣人。 少謹願好學，有鄉曲名。 中服勤辭學科，擢為第一，授將作監丞、通判解州。 會鹽池吏以贓敗，坐失舉劾，降監河中府稅。 復通判果州，改秘書省秘書郎。
Zhang Guan, styled Sizheng, of Jiang County in Jiang Prefecture. Youthful, careful and studious, he was known locally. First in the diligent-service exam, he became Construction vice director and Jie vice commissioner. Salt-pond corruption he failed to impeach and was demoted to Hedong tax supervisor. Restored Guo vice commissioner, then Palace Library secretary.
42
仁宗即位，遷太常丞，擢右正言、直史館，為三司度支判官，同修起居註，改右司諫、知制誥、判登聞檢院，出知杭州。 還判國子監，權發遣開封府事，進為翰林學士、知審官院，累遷左司郎中，以給事中權御史中丞。
At accession he rose through Sacrifices vice director, Right Rectifier, historian, revenue judge, Daily Records co-compiler, remonstrator, drafter, Memorial Review judge, then Hangzhou prefect. Back he ran Education, acted for Kaifeng, became Hanlin academician and Appointments head, Left Secretariat director, acting Vice Censor-in-Chief.
43
時星流、地震、雷發正月，詔求直言。 觀謂：“承平日久，政寬法慢，用度漸侈，風俗漸薄，以致災異。” 因上四事：一曰知人，二曰嚴禁，三曰尚質，四曰節用。 河北大雨水，又條七事，曰：“導積水以廣播種，緩催欠以省禁錮，寬刑罰以振淹獄，收逃田以募歸復，罷工役以先急務，止配率以阜民財，通商旅以濟艱食。” 復知審官院，遂拜同知樞密院事。
Meteors, earthquake, and January thunder brought an edict seeking blunt counsel. Guan said long peace had loosened law, raised spending, thinned custom—and brought portents. He urged four things: know men, strict bans, value substance, economize. Hebei floods brought seven remedies: drain fields, slow arrears, loosen punishments, recover fields, halt labor, stop apportionment, open trade. Restored Appointments head, then Military Affairs vice commissioner.
44
康定中，西兵失利，因議點鄉兵，久之不決，遂與王鬷、陳執中俱罷，以資政殿學士、尚書禮部侍郎知相州。 徙澶州。 河壞孫陳埽及浮梁，州人大恐，或請趨北原以避水患。 觀曰：“太守獨去，如州民何。” 乃躬率卒徒增築之，堤完，水亦退。
Kangding western defeat and stalled militia debate dismissed him with Wang Zou and Chen Zhizhong to Xiang as Assisting Governance academician. Moved to Chan Prefecture. The river broke Sun Chen embankment and the bridge; some urged fleeing north. Guan said: "If the prefect alone flees, what of the people?" He led soldiers to raise the dike; when finished the water fell.
45
徙鄆州。 舊法，亦東通安邑鹽，而瀕海之地禁私煮。 觀上言：“利之所在，百姓趨之，雖日殺於市，恐不能止，請弛禁以便民。” 歲免黥配者不可勝計。 歷知應天府、孟州、河南府，以吏部侍郎兼御史中丞。 以父居業高年多病，請便郡，以觀文殿學士知許州。 月餘，拜左丞。 丁父憂，哀毀過人，既練而卒。 贈吏部尚書，謚文孝。
Moved to Yan Prefecture. Old law let Yidong use Anyi salt while coasts forbade private boiling. Guan said profit draws people despite executions—relax the ban for the people. Yearly tattooing and exile exemptions were countless. He governed Yingtian, Meng, and Henan, Personnel vice minister and Vice Censor-in-Chief. Father Juye aged and ill, he sought a nearby post and governed Xu as Observant Culture academician. A month later Left Vice Director. Father mourning grieved him past measure; he died after second-year mourning. Posthumously Personnel Minister, posthumous Wenxiao.
46
觀性至孝，初為秘書郎，其父方為州從事，因上書願以官授父。 真宗嘉之，以居業為京官。 及觀貴，居業繇恩至太府卿。 居業嘗過洛，嘉其山川風物，曰：“吾得老於此足矣。” 觀於是買田宅、營林榭，以適其意。 早起奉藥、膳，然後出視事，未嘗一日廢也。 趣尚恬曠，持廉少欲，平生書必為楷字，無一行草，類其為人。 仁宗飛白書“清”字賜觀，以賞其節。 然於吏事非所長，知開封府，民犯夜禁，觀詰之曰：“有人見否？” 眾傳以為笑。
Deeply filial, as secretary he asked to give his post to his father, then a prefecture aide. Zhenzong made Juye a capital official. When Guan rose, Juye through favor became Treasury vice director. Juye passing Luoyang praised its scenery: "I could grow old here content." Guan bought fields, houses, and pavilions for him. He rose early for medicine and meals before office—never a day missed. Tranquil and frugal, he wrote only regular script, never cursive—like his character. Renzong's flying-white "Qing" rewarded his integrity. Weak in clerical work, at Kaifeng he asked a curfew violator: "Was anyone watching?" People laughed.
47
鄭戩，字天休，蘇州吳縣人。 早孤力學。 客京師，事楊億，以屬辭知名，後復還吳。 及億卒，賓客弟子散去，戩乃倍道會葬。 舉進士，擢甲科，授太常寺奉禮郎、簽書寧國軍節度判官事，召試學士院，為光祿寺丞、集賢校理、通判越州。 還，改太子中允、同知太常禮院，註釋御制《發願文》、《三寶贊》，升直史館、三司戶部判官，同修起居注，以右正言知制誥。 判國子監； 選明經生講解經義。 徙知審刑院，遷起居舍人、龍圖閣直學士、權知開封府。
Zheng Jian, styled Tianxiu, of Wu County, Suzhou. Orphaned early, he studied hard. In the capital he studied under Yang Yi and was known for prose; later he returned to Wu. When Yi died Jian rushed day and night to the funeral while others dispersed. Top-grade jinshi, Sacrifices Court Gentleman and Ningguo secretary, Hanlin exam, Household vice director, Hall collator, Yue vice commissioner. Back he became Heir Apparent Central Drafting Attendant, Sacrifices director, annotated imperial 《Vow Text》 and 《Three Treasures Praise》, historian, revenue judge, Daily Records co-compiler, Right Rectifier and drafter. Judged the Directorate of Education; selected classics-exam graduates to lecture on scripture. Moved to Judicial Review head, Drafting Gentleman, Dragon Hall straight academician, acting Kaifeng prefect.
48
吏馮士為奸利，有告士元受賕藏禁書者，戩窮治之。 辭連宰相呂夷簡、知樞密院盛度、參知政事程琳，遂逮捕夷簡子公綽、公弼參劾其狀。 既而士元流海島，度、琳坐嘗交關士元罷去，其餘絀罰者，自御史中丞孔道輔、天章閣待制龐籍又十餘人，朝議畏其皦核。 戩敏強善聽決，喜出不意，獨假貸細民，即豪宗大姓，繩治益急，政有能跡。 徙權三司使，復轉運使考課格，分別殿最。 又勾較三司出入，得羨錢四百萬緡，以右諫議大夫、同知樞密院改樞密副使。
Clerk Feng Shi profiteered; reports said Feng Shiyuan took bribes and hid banned books—Jian tried it thoroughly. It implicated Lü Yijian, Sheng Du, and Cheng Lin; Jian arrested Yijian's sons and impeached them. Soon afterward Shiyuan was exiled to an island. Du and Lin were dismissed because they had once associated with Shiyuan, and more than ten others were demoted or punished, including Censor-in-Chief Kong Daofu and Tianzhang Pavilion Drafter Pang Ji. Court opinion feared Jian's harsh scrutiny. Keen and decisive, Jian surprised opponents, indulged commoners, and tightened law on great clans—effective rule. Made acting Three Departments commissioner; restored transport evaluations with highest and lowest ranks. Auditing Three Departments funds found four million strings surplus; Right Remonstrance Censor became Military Affairs vice commissioner.
49
戩與參知政事宋庠，為宰相呂夷簡所忌，與庠皆罷，以資政殿學士知杭州。 錢塘湖溉民田數十頃，錢氏置撩清軍，以疏淤填之患。 既納國後不復治，葑土堙塞，為豪族僧坊所占冒，湖水益狹。 戩發屬縣丁夫數萬辟之，民賴其利。 事聞，詔本郡歲治如戩法。
Lü Yijian disliked Jian and Song Xiu; both were dismissed; Jian governed Hangzhou as Assisting Governance academician. Qiantang Lake irrigated tens of thousands of mu; the Qian house kept a dredging corps against silting. After annexation it was neglected; silt and encroachment by clans and monasteries shrank the lake. Jian mobilized tens of thousands of county laborers to dredge it; people benefited. Reported up, the court ordered yearly maintenance by Jian's method.
50
遷給事中，徙并州，道改鄆州，又徙永興軍。 建言：“凡軍行所須，願下有司相緩急，析為三等，非急罷去。” 先是，衙吏輸木京師，浮渭泛河，多漂沒，既至，則斥不中程，往往破家不能償，戩奏歲減二十餘萬； 又奏罷括糴，以勸民積粟。 長安故都多豪惡，戩治之尚嚴，甚者至黥竄，人皆惕息。
Promoted Supervising Censor, sent to Bing, diverted to Yan, then Yongxing Army. He urged ranking army needs in three grades of urgency and abolishing non-urgent items. Clerks shipping timber to the capital lost much on the rivers and faced ruin when timber failed measure—Jian cut over two hundred thousand strings yearly; he also ended forced grain purchase to encourage storage. Old-capital Chang'an had fierce magnates; Jian ruled harshly, tattooing and exiling the worst—people feared him.
51
未幾，為陜西四路都總管兼經略、安撫、招討使，駐涇州，聽便宜從事。 遷尚書禮部侍郎。 時知慶州滕宗諒、知渭州張亢過用公使錢，戩致於法。 行邊至鎮戎軍，趣蓮花堡，天寒，與將佐置酒，元昊擁兵近塞。 會暮塵起，有報敵騎至者，戩曰：“此必三川將按邊回，非敵騎也。” 已而果然。 及疆事少寧，詔還，知永興軍。
Soon overall commander of four Shaanxi circuits with full frontier powers, based at Jing. Promoted Vice Rites Minister. Qing prefect Teng Zongliang and Wei prefect Zhang Kang misused public funds; Jian prosecuted them. At Zhenrong in cold weather he drank with generals at Lotus Fort while Yuan Hao neared the border. Dusk dust brought an alarm; Jian said it was a San River patrol returning, not enemies. It was. When the frontier calmed he was recalled to govern Yongxing Army.
52
初，靜邊砦主劉滬謀築水洛、結公二城，以通秦、渭援兵，招生羌大王族為邊衛。 戩使滬與著作佐郎董士廉督其役。 會罷戩四路，宣撫使韓琦、知渭州尹洙皆以為不便，召滬、士廉罷役歸，不聽。 乃使裨將狄青將兵以往，械送德順軍獄。 戩力爭於朝，卒城之。
Earlier Liu Hu at Jingbian Fort planned Shuilo and Jiegong cities to link Qin-Wei relief and recruit Qiang clans. Jian put Hu and Editorial Assistant Dong Shilian in charge. When Jian left the frontier Han Qi and Yin Zhu halted the works; Hu and Shilian refused. He sent Di Qing, who shackled them for Deshun prison. Jian fought at court and the cities were finished.
53
進戶部侍郎、資政殿大學士、知并州。 契丹與元昊方交兵，邊奏互上，獨戩不以聞。 詔遣使問其故，戩對曰：“敵自相攻，中國不足憂也。” 麟、府間有棄地曰草城川，戩募土人為弓箭手，計口給田。 初，兵興，用不足。 河東行鐵錢，山多炭、鐵，鼓鑄利厚，重辟不能止。 戩乃請三當一。 令既下，兵民相扇動，數千人邀走馬承受訴。 承受，中貴人，不能遏。 又群噪州門，守門者拒不得入。 戩聞，悉召至庭下，推首謀者數十人，黥隸他州，事乃定。
Promoted Revenue director, Grand Assisting Governance academician, Bing prefect. Khitan and Yuan Hao fought; border reports alternated—only Jian stayed silent. Asked why, Jian said enemies fighting each other were no worry for China. At Grass City Stream between Lin and Fu he recruited native archers with land by household. War had left funds short. Hedong used iron coin; rich coal and iron made casting profitable despite harsh law. Jian ordered three old coins for one new. The order stirred thousands who blocked the memorial receiver to protest. The eunuch receiver could not restrain them. They mobbed the prefecture gate and were kept out. Jian summoned them, tattooed dozens of ringleaders and sent them elsewhere—the riot ended.
54
遷吏部侍郎，改宣徽北院使，拜奉國軍節度使，卒。 贈太尉，謚文肅。 戩遇事，果敢必行。 然憑氣近俠，用刑峻深，士民多怨之。
Promoted Personnel vice minister, Entertainment envoy, Fengguo military commissioner, then died. Posthumously Grand Marshal, posthumous Wensu. Jian acted boldly and decisively. Yet he was chivalrous and harsh—officials and people resented him.
55
明鎬，字化基，密州安丘人。 中進士第，補蘄州防禦推官。 真宗崩，上《真頌》四十六篇，改大理寺丞。 薛奎領秦州，辟為節度判官。 奎徙益州，辟知錄事參軍。 程琳代奎，奏為簽書節度判官，就通判州事，遷太常博士。 還朝，仁宗問鎬所能，奎稱其沈鷙有謀，能斷大事，除開封推官。 獻《六冗書》，進尚書祠部員外郎，為三司戶部判官，改刑部員外郎、京東轉運使，遷兵部員外郎、直史館、益州路轉運使。 會歲饑，民無積聚，盜賊間發，鎬為平物價，募民為兵，人賴以安。 知陵州，楚應幾贓敗，或告以先期奏之，鎬曰：“獲罪則已，安可欺朝廷耶？” 卒坐失察，降知同州。 未逾月，會元昊寇延州，起為陜西轉運使。 虜破金明砦，既去，議修復其城，帥臣擁兵不即進，而鎬止以百餘騎，自督將士，一月而成。 又嘗閱同州廂軍，得材武者三百餘人，教以強弩，奏為清邊軍，號最驍悍。 其後，陜西、河東頗仿置之。
Ming Gao, styled Huaji, of Anqiu in Mi Prefecture. Jinshi, then Qi defense push officer. At Zhenzong's death he submitted forty-six 《True Eulogies》 and became Judicial Review reviewer. Xue Kui took Qin and made him military secretary. Kui moved to Yi and made him registrar. Cheng Lin made him signed military secretary and acting vice prefect, then Sacrifices erudite. Renzong asked Kui, who called Gao deep, fierce, and decisive—Kaifeng investigating officer. He submitted 《Six Redundancies》, rose through Rites, revenue judge, War vice director, historian, Yi transport commissioner. In famine he stabilized prices and recruited militia—people were safe. At Ling, Chu Yingji fell; told he had reported early, Gao said guilt was enough—he would not deceive the court. He was demoted to Tong for failure to inspect. A month later Yuan Hao raided Yan; Gao became Shaanxi transport commissioner. After Jinming Fort fell, commanders stalled; Gao rebuilt it in a month with a hundred horsemen. Reviewing Tong garrison he trained three hundred crossbowmen as Clear Border Army—fiercest troops. Later Shaanxi and Hedong copied the model.
56
遷戶部郎中、直昭文館、知陜州，徙江、淮制置發運使。 未行，會賊破豐州，擢天章閣待制、河東都轉運使。 修建寧中候百勝砦、鎮川清塞堡，凡五城，以勞遷左司郎中。
Promoted Revenue director, Zhaowen straight academician, Shaanxi prefect; slated for Jiang-Huai transport. Before leaving, Feng fell to bandits; he became Tianzhang awaiting-formatter and Hedong transport commissioner. He built five frontier forts including Jianning and Zhenchuan and was promoted Left Secretariat director.
57
明年，擢龍圖閣直學士、知并州。 鎬大巡邊以備賊。 時邊任多紈袴子弟，鎬乃取尤不職者杖之，疲軟者皆自解去，遂奏擇習事者守堡砦。 軍行，娼婦多從之，鎬欲驅逐，惡傷士卒心，會有忿爭殺娼婦者，吏執以白，鎬曰：“彼來軍中何耶？” 縱去不治，娼婦聞皆散走。 以樞密直學士、左諫議大夫知成德軍，入知開封府。 王則叛，命鎬為體量安撫使； 則未下，又命參知政事文彥博為宣撫使，以鎬副之。 貝州平，遷端明殿學士、給事中、權三司使，諸將悉超遷，都虞候、士卒八千四百人，第其功為五等，每等遷一資。 彥博數推鎬功，拜參知政事。 已而疽發背，帝謂輔臣曰：“鎬忠亮有勞，及其未亂，思一見之。” 臨問，惻然曰：“方賴卿謀國事，何遽被疾！” 鎬氣憊，猶能頓首謝。 翌日，卒，謚文烈。 鎬端挺寡言，所至安靜有體，而遇事不茍，為世所推重。
Next year Dragon Hall straight academician and Bing prefect. Gao toured the border heavily against bandits. He flogged incompetent frontier sons until they quit, then staffed forts with experienced men. Camp followers marched with the army; when one was killed Gao asked what business they had in camp. He released the killer; camp followers fled. Military Affairs straight academician and Left Remonstrance Censor at Chengde; then Kaifeng. Wang Ze rebelled; Gao was measurement-and-comfort commissioner; before Ze fell Wen Yanbo was pacification commissioner with Gao deputy. Bei pacified, he became Illustrious Hall academician, Supervising Censor, acting Three Departments commissioner; eight thousand four hundred men ranked five grades for promotion. Yanbo praised Gao; he became Vice Participant in Governance. A back carbuncle opened; the emperor told ministers he wished to see loyal Gao before it worsened. Visiting, he said he relied on Gao for state affairs—why so ill! Exhausted, Gao still bowed thanks. He died next day; posthumous Wenlie. Upright and taciturn, calm and measured, yet firm in affairs—widely esteemed.
58
〈附〉 王則
〈Appendix〉 Wang Ze
59
王則者，本涿州人。 歲饑，流至恩州，自賣為人牧羊，後隸宣毅軍為小校。 恩、冀俗妖幻，相與習《五龍》、《滴淚》等經及圖讖諸書，言釋迦佛衰謝，彌勒佛當持世。 初，則去涿，母與之訣別，刺“福”字於其背以為記。 妖人因妄傳字隱起，爭信事之，而州吏張巒、卜吉主其謀，黨連德、齊諸州，約以慶歷八年正旦，斷澶州浮梁，亂河北。 會其黨潘方凈以書謁北京留守賈昌朝，事覺被執，故不待期，亟以七年冬至叛。
Wang Ze was from Zhuo Prefecture. Famine sent him to En; he sold himself as a shepherd, then joined the Xuanyi Army as a junior officer. En and Ji favored occult sects studying 《Five Dragons》, 《Dripping Tears》, and omens that Maitreya would succeed the fading Buddha. Leaving Zhuo his mother tattooed "Fortune" on his back. Sectarians said the tattooed character would rise; clerks Zhang Luan and Bu Ji plotted with De and Qi to cut the Chan bridge in Qingli year eight and disorder Hebei. Clique member Pan Fangjing exposed the plot to Jia Changchao; they rebelled early on the seventh-year winter solstice.
60
時知州張得一方與官謁天慶觀，則率其徒劫庫兵，得一走保驍捷營。 賊焚門，執得一囚之。 兵馬都監、內殿承制田斌以從卒巷鬥，不勝而出。 城扉闔，提點刑獄田京、任黃裳持印，棄其家縋城出，保南關。 賊從通判董元亨取軍資庫鑰，元亨拒之，殺元亨。 又出獄囚，囚有憾司理參軍王獎者，遂殺獎。 既而節度判官李浩、清河令齊開、主簿王湙皆被害。
Prefect Zhang Deyi was at Tianqing Temple; Ze seized the armory while Deyi fled to Valiant Cavalry camp. Bandits burned the gate and imprisoned Deyi. Director Tian Bin fought in alleys and fled defeated. Gates closed; Tian Jing and Ren Huangshang fled by rope to South Pass. Bandits demanded the stores key from Dong Yuanheng; he refused and was killed. They freed prisoners; one killed judicial assistant Wang Jiang. Judge Li Hao, magistrate Qi Kai, and registrar Wang Ying were killed.
61
則僣號東平郡王，以張巒為宰相，卜吉為樞密使，建國曰安陽。 榜所居門曰中京，居室廄庫皆立名號，改年曰得聖，以十二月為正月。 百姓年十二以上、七十以下，皆涅其面曰“義軍破趙得勝”。 旗幟號令，率以“佛”為稱。 城以一樓為一州，書州名，補其徒為知州，每面置一總管。 然縋城下者日眾。 於是令守者伍伍為保，一人縋，餘悉斬。
Ze styled himself Prince of Dongping, made Zhang Luan chief minister and Bu Ji Military Affairs head, and founded Anyang. He called his gate Central Capital, named quarters and stores, era Desheng, twelfth month first month. Subjects twelve to seventy were face-tattooed "Righteous Army breaks Zhao and wins." Flags and orders mostly used "Buddha." Each tower became a prefecture with named commanders and follower-prefects. Daily more men lowered from the wall. Defenders were grouped in fives: one descender meant all five were beheaded.
62
有州民汪文慶、郭斌、趙宗本、汪順者，自城上系書射鎬帳，約為內應，夜垂縆以引官軍。 既內數百人，焚樓櫓，賊覺，率眾拒戰。 初，官軍既登，欲專其功，斷縆以絕後來者。 及與賊戰，兵寡不敵，與文慶等復縋而下。 是夜，城幾克。 則期正月十四日出要劫契丹使，諜者以告。 鎬遣殿侍安素伏兵西門，賊果以數百人夜出，伏發，皆就獲。
Wang Wenqing, Guo Bin, Zhao Zongben, and Wang Shun shot letters into Gao's camp promising night ropes for government troops. Hundreds entered and burned towers; bandits fought back. Troops inside cut the ropes to monopolize credit and block reinforcements. Outnumbered, they lowered themselves again with the agents. That night the city nearly fell. Ze planned to ambush the Khitan envoy on the fourteenth; spies told Gao. Gao ambushed the west gate; hundreds of bandits were captured.
63
城峻不可攻，乃為距闉，將成，為賊所焚。 遂即南城為地道，日攻其北牽制之。 及文彥博至，穴通城中，選壯士中夜由地道入，眾登城。 賊縱火牛，官軍以槍中牛鼻，牛還攻之，賊大潰，開東門遁。 閣門祗候張姻緣壕與戰，死之。 總管王信捕得則，其餘眾保村舍，皆焚死。 檻送則京師，支解以徇。 則叛凡六十六日。
Walls were too high to storm; siege screens were burned by bandits. They tunneled from the south while attacking the north daily. Yanbo arrived; troops entered by tunnel at midnight and took the wall. Fire oxen were turned back with spears; bandits fled east. Gate attendant Zhang Yin died fighting at the moat. Wang Xin captured Ze; holdouts in villages were burned. Ze was sent to the capital and dismembered as a warning. The rebellion lasted sixty-six days.
64
王堯臣
Wang Yaochen
65
王堯臣，字伯庸，應天府虞城人。 舉進士第一，授將作監丞、通判湖州。 召試，改秘書省著作郎、直集賢院。 會從父沖坐事，出堯臣知光州。 父喪，服除，為三司度支判官，再遷右司諫。
Wang Yaochen, styled Boyong, of Yucheng in Yingtian Prefecture. First in the jinshi, Construction vice director and Hu vice commissioner. Examined, made Palace Library editorial director and Hall collator. Cousin Chong's case sent Yaochen out as Guang prefect. After father mourning he was revenue judge, then Right Secretariat remonstrator.
66
郭皇后薨，議者歸罪內侍都知閻文應，堯臣請窮治左右侍醫者，不報。 時上元節，有司張燈，堯臣俟乘輿出，即上言：“后已復位號，今方在殯，不當遊幸。” 帝為罷張燈。 擢知制誥、同知通進銀臺司、提舉諸司庫務，知審刑院，入翰林為學士、知審官院。
Empress Guo's death drew blame on Yan Wenyin; Yaochen sought trials of court physicians—ignored. Lantern Festival: Yaochen stopped the emperor's outing while the empress still lay in coffin. The emperor canceled the lamps. Promoted drafter, Silver Terrace head, storehouse overseer, Judicial Review head, Hanlin academician and Appointments head.
67
陜西用兵，為體量安撫使。 將行，請曰：“故事，使者所至，稱詔存問官吏將校，而不及於民。 自元昊反，三年於今，關中之民雕弊為甚，請以詔勞來，仍諭以賊平蠲租賦二年。” 仁宗從之。
Shaanxi war made him measurement-and-comfort commissioner. About to depart he requested: "By precedent envoys wherever they go proclaim edicts to officials, generals, and clerks—but not the people. Since Yuan Hao rebelled three years ago, the people within the passes are greatly wasted; I request an edict to comfort them and announce that when bandits are pacified rent and levies will be remitted two years." Renzong agreed.
68
使還，上言：“陜西兵二十萬，分屯四路，然可使戰者止十萬。 賊眾入寇，常數倍官軍。 彼以十戰一，我以一戰十，故三至而三勝，由眾寡不侔也。 涇原近賊巢穴，最當要害，宜先備之。 今防秋甚邇，請益團士兵，以二萬屯渭州，為鎮戎山外之援； 萬人屯涇州，為原、渭聲勢； 二萬屯環慶，萬人屯秦州，以制其沖突。
On return he memorialized: "Shaanxi has two hundred thousand troops divided among four circuits, yet only one hundred thousand can fight. Bandits often outnumbered government troops severalfold. They chose one battle in ten; we one in ten—wins came from numbers. Jingyuan near the enemy nest should be prepared first. He sought twenty thousand militia at Wei for Zhenrong, ten thousand at Jing for Yuan-Wei support, twenty thousand at Huanqing and ten thousand at Qin to block thrusts.
69
且賊之犯邊，不患不能入，患不能出也。 並塞地形，雖險易不同，而兵行須由大川，大川率有砦柵為控扼。 賊來利在虜掠，人自為戰，故所向無前。 若延州之金明、塞門砦，鎮戎之劉璠、定川堡，渭州山外之羊牧隆城、靜邊砦，皆不能扼其來。 故賊不患不能入也。 既入漢地，分行鈔略，驅虜人畜，劫掠財貨，士馬疲困，奔趨歸路，無復鬥志。 若以精兵扼險，強弩註射，旁設奇伏，斷其首尾，且追且擊，不敗何待。 故賊之患在不能出也。 賊屢乘戰勝，重掠而歸，諸將不能追擊者，由兵寡而勢分也。 若尚循故轍，必無可勝之理。”
Bandits' problem was leaving, not entering. Armies had to follow rivers guarded by forts. Raiders fought for plunder and advanced freely. Jinming, Saimen, Liu Fan, Dingchuan, Yangmu Long, and Jingbian could not block entry, so bandits entered easily. Inside Han lands they raided until exhausted, then fled. Elite troops at defiles with crossbows and ambush could destroy retreating raiders. Hence bandits feared not escaping. Generals failed to pursue because troops were few and divided. If we still follow the old rut, there can be no principle of victory."
70
又論：“延州、鎮戎軍、渭州山外三敗之由，皆為賊先據勝地，誘致我師，將帥不能據險擊歸，而多倍道趨利。 兵方疲頓，乃與生羌合戰； 賊始縱鐵騎沖我軍，繼以步卒挽強註射，鋒不可當，遂致掩覆，此主帥不思應變以懲前失之咎也。 願敕邊吏，常遠斥候，遇賊至，度遠近立營砦，然後量敵奮擊，毋得輕出。” 詔以其言戎邊吏。
He also discussed: "The reasons for the three defeats at Yan Prefecture, Zhenrong Army, and beyond Wei mountains were all that bandits first held advantageous ground and lured our armies; commanders could not hold defiles and strike returning troops but mostly took shortcuts for gain. Weary troops then fought Qiang allies; iron cavalry and bow infantry overwhelmed unprepared commanders. I wish to order border officials always to scout far; when bandits come, gauge distance and establish camps and forts, then measure the enemy and strike boldly, not lightly going out." An edict sent his advice to border officials.
71
時韓琦坐好水川兵敗徙秦州，范仲淹亦以擅復元昊書降耀州。 堯臣言：“二人者，皆忠義智勇，不當置之散地。” 又薦种世衡、狄青有將帥才。 明年，賊果自鎮戎軍、原州入寇，敗葛懷敏，乘勝掠平涼、潘原，關中震恐，自邠、涇以東，皆閉壘自守。 仲淹自將慶州兵捍賊，賊引去。 仁宗思其言，乃復以琦、仲淹為招討使，置府涇州，益屯兵三萬人，而使堯臣再安撫涇原。
Han Qi was demoted after Haoshuichuan; Fan Zhongyan for answering Yuan Hao's letter. Yaochen said both were loyal and capable and should not be sidelined. He recommended Chong Shihang and Di Qing as generals. Next year raiders defeated Ge Huaimin and terrified Guanzhong. Fan Zhongyan blocked them and they withdrew. Renzong restored Qi and Fan, added thirty thousand troops, and sent Yaochen to Jingyuan.
72
初，曹瑋開山外地，置籠竿等四砦，募弓箭手，給田使耕戰自守。 其後將帥失撫禦，稍侵奪之，眾怨怒，遂劫德勝砦將姚貴，閉城畔。 堯臣適過境上，作書射城中，諭以禍福，眾遂出降。 乃為申明約束如舊而去。
Cao Wei had opened frontier forts and archer-farmers. Later encroachment made archers seize Desheng Fort and rebel. Yaochen shot a letter into the city and secured surrender. He restored old constraints and left.
73
既還，上言：“自陜西用兵，夏竦、陳執中並以兩府舊臣，為陜西經略、安撫、招討使，韓琦、范仲淹止為經略、安撫副使。 既而張存知延州，王沿知渭州，張奎知慶州，俱是學士、待制之職，亦止管勾本路總管司事。 及竦、執中罷，四路置帥，遂各帶都總管及經略、安撫、招討等使，因而武臣副總管亦為副使。 今琦、仲淹、龐籍既為陜西四路都總管、緣邊經略安撫招討等使，四路當稟節制，而尚帶經略使名者九人，各置司行事。 名號不異，而所稟非一。 今請逐路都總管、副總管並罷經略，只充緣邊安撫使。” 既而滕宗諒亦以為請，遂罷之。
On return he memorialized: "Since Shaanxi used troops, Xia Song and Chen Zhizhong as old ministers of the two bureaus were Shaanxi overall pacification, comfort, and punitive commissioners; Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan were only vice pacification and comfort commissioners. Later prefects were only circuit commanders in title. Four commanders then bore overlapping titles including military vice commissioners. Nine pacification titles still duplicated command. Titles matched but authority did not. Now I request each circuit's overall and vice commanders all abolish pacification and serve only as frontier comfort commissioners." Teng Zongliang agreed and the titles were abolished.
74
又言：“鄜延、環慶路，其地皆險固而易守； 惟涇原自漢、唐以來，為沖要之地。 自鎮戎軍至渭州，沿涇河大川直抵涇、邠，略無險阻。 雖有城砦據平地，賊徑交屬，難以捍防，如郭子儀、渾瑊，常宿重兵守之。 自元昊叛命數年，由此三入寇。 朝廷置帥府於涇州，為控扼關、陜之會，誠合事機。 然頻經敗覆，邊地空虛，士氣不振。 願深監近弊，精擇將佐； 其新集之兵，未經訓練，宜易以舊人。 儻一路兵力完實，則賊不敢長驅入寇矣。” 因論沿邊城砦、控扼要害、賊徑通屬及備禦輕重之策為五事上之。 又請涇、原五州營田，益置弓箭手，及請徹潼關樓櫓，皆報可。
He also said: "Yan-Yan and Huanqing circuits—their lands are rugged and easy to defend; only Jingyuan was vital since Han and Tang. From Zhenrong to Wei along the Jing River there was little rugged ground. Flat forts were hard to defend—Guo Ziyi and Hun Zhen had garrisoned heavily. Yuan Hao had thrice invaded through Jingyuan. Jing headquarters rightly controlled Guan-Shaanxi. Repeated defeats had emptied the border and morale. He urged scrutiny of abuses and better generals; untrained new troops should be replaced by veterans. If one circuit's military strength were complete and solid, bandits would not dare long-drive invasion." He submitted five frontier defense proposals. Jingyuan colony troops, more archers, and removing Tong towers were approved.
75
以戶部郎中權三司使，辟張溫之、杜杞等十余人為副使、判官。 時入內都知張永和建議，收民僦舍錢十之三以助軍費。 堯臣入對曰：“此衰世之事，召怨而攜民，唐德宗所以致朱泚之亂也。” 度支副使林濰畏永和，附會其說，堯臣奏黜濰，議乃定。
As acting Three Departments commissioner he recruited Zhang Wenzhi, Du Qi, and ten others. Zhang Yonghe proposed taking three-tenths of lease money for the army. Yaochen called it a declining-age policy that would bring Zhu Ci-style revolt. Lin Wei sided with Yonghe; Yaochen dismissed Wei and ended the plan.
76
夔州轉運使請增鹽井歲課十餘萬緡，堯臣以為上恩未嘗及遠人，而反牟取厚利，適足以斂怨，罷之。 遷翰林學士承旨兼端明殿學士，為群牧使。 丁母喪，服除，轉右諫議大夫。
He blocked a Kuizhou salt-well tax hike as exploitative. Promoted chief Hanlin academician, Illustrious Hall academician, Herds commissioner. After mother mourning, Right Remonstrance Censor.
77
初，學士蘇易簡、丁度皆自郎中進中書舍人充承旨，及堯臣為承旨，不遷官，意宰相賈昌朝所抑。 及是，文彥博為相，因其歲滿，遂優遷之。 大享明堂，加給事中。 與三司更議茶法，較天下每歲財賦出入，上其數，遂拜樞密副使。
Su Yijian and Ding Du had been promoted as chief academician; Yaochen blamed Jia Changchao for blocking him. When Wen Yanbo became chief minister, Yaochen was favorably promoted at term's end. At the Bright Hall sacrifice he was made Supervising Censor. He reworked tea law, tallied national revenue, and became Military Affairs vice commissioner.
78
會儂智高反，請析廣西宜、容、邕州為三路，以融、柳、象隸宜州，白、高、竇、雷、化、郁林、儀、藤、梧、龔、瓊隸容州，欽、賓、廉、橫、潯、貴隸邕州； 遇蠻入寇，三路會支郡兵掩擊，令經略、安撫使守桂州以統制焉； 益募澄海、忠敢土軍分屯，運全、永、道三州米以餉之，罷遣北兵遠戍。 時狄青經制嶺南，詔青審議，以為便。
Nong Zhigao's rebellion led him to split Guangxi into three circuits with listed prefectures. barbarian raids would draw joint strikes under a Guilin commissioner; recruit native troops, ship grain from three prefectures, and recall northern garrisons. Di Qing approved the plan.
79
居樞密三年，務裁抑僥幸，於是有鏤匿名書以布京城，然仁宗不以為疑也。 以戶部侍郎參知政事。 久之，帝欲以為樞密使，而當制學士胡宿固抑之，乃進吏部侍郎。 卒，贈尚書左僕射，謚文安。
Three years curbing favoritism brought anonymous posters, but Renzong did not suspect him. As Revenue director he became Vice Participant in Governance. The emperor wanted him as Military Affairs commissioner; Hu Su blocked it and he became Personnel vice minister. He died; posthumously Left Secretariat vice director, posthumous Wen'an.
80
堯臣以文學進，典內外制十餘年，其為文辭溫麗。 執政時，嘗與宰相文彥博、富弼、劉沆勸帝早立嗣，且言英宗嘗養宮中，宜為後，為詔草挾以進，未果立。 元豐三年，子同老進遺稿論父功，帝以訪文彥博，具奏本末，遂加贈太師、中書令，改謚文忠。
A literary man, he drafted edicts over ten years in warm, polished prose. In office he urged an early heir, favoring palace-raised Yingzong, but the edict failed. Yuanfeng year three his son secured posthumous Grand Tutor and Secretariat Director and posthumous Wenzhong.
81
孫抃，字夢得，眉州眉山人。 六世祖長孺，喜藏書，號“書樓孫氏”，子孫以田為業。 至抃始讀書屬文。 中進士甲科，以大理評事通判絳州。 召試學士院，除太常丞、直集賢院，為開封府推官，判三司開拆司，同修起居注，以右正言知制誥，遷起居舍人、翰林學士兼侍讀學士、史館修撰，累遷尚書吏部郎中。 抃雖久處顯要，罕所建明。
Sun Bian, styled Mengde, of Meishan in Mei Prefecture. Ancestor Changru collected books as the Book Tower Suns; later kin farmed. Bian was the first literatus in the line. Top-grade jinshi, Judicial Review reviewer and Jiang vice commissioner. Hanlin exam, Sacrifices vice director, Hall collator, Kaifeng investigator, Daily Records co-compiler, drafter, Hanlin academician, Attendant Reader, Historiography reviser, Personnel Section director. Despite long prominence Bian seldom proposed policy.
82
皇祐中，以右諫議大夫權御史中丞。 制下，諫官韓絳論奏抃非糾繩才，不可任風憲。 抃即手疏曰：“臣觀方今士人，趨進者多，廉退者少。 以善求事為精神，以能訐人為風采； 捷給若嗇夫者謂之有議論，刻深若酷吏者謂之有政事。 諫官所謂才者，無乃謂是乎？ 若然，臣誠不能也。” 仁宗察其言，趣視事，且命知審官院。 抃辭以任言責不當兼事局，乃止。
Huangyou year he acted as Vice Censor-in-Chief. Han Jiang said Bian lacked censorial talent. Bian immediately wrote by hand: "Your servant observes that among present scholars many rush advancement and few are modest in retreat. They prized scheming and denunciation; quick tongues passed for debate, harshness for governance. Is that the talent you mean? If so, your servant truly cannot." Renzong read his intent, ordered him to work, and named him Appointments head. He declined a concurrent bureau post.
83
在臺，數言事，不為矯激，尤喜稱薦人才。 帝欲除入內都知王守忠領武寧軍節度使，抃奏罷之。 溫成皇后葬，以劉沆為監護使，抃奏沆為宰相，不當為后妃護葬喪事。 時又議為后建陵立廟，抃率官屬言非禮。 因相與請對，固爭不能得，伏地不起，帝為改容遣之。 御史請罷宰相梁適，未聽，抃奏曰：“適在相位，上不能持平權衡，下不能篤訓子弟。 言事官數論奏，未聞報可，非罷適無以慰物論。” 宰相陳執中婢為嬖妾張氏榜殺，置獄取證左，執中弗遣，有詔勿推。 抃復與官屬請對論列，疏十上，適、執中卒皆罷。
As censor he spoke moderately and recommended talent. He blocked Wang Shouzhong from a military commission. He objected to chief minister Liu Hang overseeing Wencheng's burial. He led officials against a tomb and temple as unritual. They prostrated themselves until the emperor relented. Censors requested dismissing chief minister Liang Shi; not heard; Bian memorialized: "Shi in the chief post above cannot balance the scales, below cannot earnestly teach sons and younger brothers. Remonstrance officials repeatedly memorialized without response heard—unless Shi is dismissed popular opinion cannot be comforted." Chen Zhizhong blocked investigation of a maid killed by his concubine. Ten memorials later Liang Shi and Chen Zhizhong fell.
84
改翰林學士承旨，復兼侍讀學士。 帝讀《史記‧龜策傳》，問：“古人動作必由此乎？” 對曰：“古有大疑，既決於己，又詢於眾，猶謂不有天命乎，於是命龜以斷吉兇。 所謂‘謀及乃心，謀及卿士，謀及庶人，謀及卜筮’。 蓋聖人貴誠，不專人謀，默與神契，然後為得也。” 帝善其對。
Made chief Hanlin academician and Attendant Reader. Reading 《Records: Divination by Tortoise》, he asked if ancients always divined. He replied: "In antiquity when there was great doubt, after deciding in oneself one also consulted the multitude; still thinking there might be no Heaven's mandate, one then ordered tortoise to decide fortune and calamity. That is consulting heart, ministers, people, and divination. Sages value sincerity, not specializing in human counsel alone, silently matching the divine—then it is obtained." The emperor approved.
85
諫官陳升之上選用、責任、考課轉運使三法，命抃與御史中丞張升典之，卒亦無所進退焉。 再遷禮部侍郎。 抃久居侍從，泊如也，人以為長者。 既而樞密副使程戡罷，帝欲用舊人，即以命抃。 歲中，參知政事。
When Remonstrance Official Chen Shengzhi submitted three methods concerning the selection, responsibilities, and performance reviews of transport commissioners, Bian and Censor-in-Chief Zhang Sheng were ordered to oversee the matter, but in the end no official was advanced or removed. Promoted Vice Rites Minister. Long in attendance, tranquil, he was seen as an elder. When Cheng Kan left, Renzong appointed the veteran Bian. Within a year he became Vice Participant in Governance.
86
抃性篤厚寡言，質略無威儀。 居兩府，年益耄，無所可否。 又善忘，語言舉止多可笑，好事者至傳以為口實。 御史韓縝彈奏之，罷為觀文殿學士、同群牧制置使，復兼侍讀學士。 英宗即位，進戶部侍郎。 告老，以太子少傅就第，卒。 贈太子太保，謚文懿。
Sincere, taciturn, plain, without ceremony. In the two bureaus he aged and neither affirmed nor denied. Forgetful and often ridiculous, he became gossip. Han Zong impeached him; he became Observant Culture academician and Herds commissioner. Yingzong made him Revenue Section director. He retired as Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and died. Posthumously Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, posthumous Wenyi.
87
田況，字元均，其先冀州信都人。 晉亂，祖行周沒於契丹。 父延昭，景德中脫身南歸，性沈鷙，教子甚嚴，累官至太子率府率。 況少卓犖有大志，好讀書。 舉進士甲科，補江陵府推官，再調楚州判官，遷秘書省著作佐郎。 舉賢良方正，改太常丞、通判江寧府。
Tian Kuang, styled Yuanjun, from Xindu in Ji Prefecture. Grandfather Xingzhou died among Khitan in Jin turmoil. Father Yanzhao escaped south in Jingde, strict, rose to Heir Apparent Escort commandant. Youthful Kuang was ambitious and bookish. Top-grade jinshi, Jiangling push officer, Chu judge, Palace Library editorial assistant. Worthy-and-upright exam, Sacrifices vice director, Jiangning vice commissioner.
88
趙元昊反，夏竦經略陜西，辟為判官。 時竦與韓琦、尹洙等畫上攻守二策，朝廷將用攻策，范仲淹議未可出師。 況上疏曰：“昔繼遷擾邊，太宗部分諸將五路進討，或遇賊不擊，或戰衄而還。 又嘗令白守素、馬紹忠護送糧餉於靈州，諸將多違詔自奮，浦洛河之敗，死者數萬人。 今將帥士卒，素已懦怯，未甚更練。 又知韓琦、尹洙同建此策，恐未甚稟服，臨事進退，有誤大舉。 其不可一也。
Yuanhao's rebellion brought him to Xia Song's Shaanxi staff. Song, Han Qi, and Yin Zhu favored attack; Fan Zhongyan opposed. Kuang memorialized: "Formerly when Jiqian disturbed the border Taizong divided generals on five routes to attack; some met bandits and did not strike, some fought and retreated defeated. Pulu River disaster killed tens of thousands when generals disobeyed. Today's commanders and troops were untrained cowards. Han Qi and Yin Zhu might not obey, ruining the campaign. First impossibility.
89
計者以為賊常並力而來，我常分兵以禦，眾寡不敵，多貽敗衄，今若全師大舉，必有成功，此思之未熟爾。 夫三軍之命，系於將帥。 人之才有大小，智有遠近，以漢祖之善將，不若淮陰之益辦，況庸人乎？ 今徙知大眾可以威敵，而不思將帥之才否，此禍之大者也。 兩路之人，眾十餘萬，庸將驅之，若為舒卷； 賊若據險設伏，邀截沖擊，首尾前後，勢不相援，一有不利，則邊防莫守，別貽後患。 安危之計，決於一舉。 其不可二也。
Mass assault seems wise only if immature. Armies depend on commanders. Even Han Gaozu was no Huaiyin—lesser commanders were riskier. Mass alone without talented commanders was calamity. A hundred thousand on two circuits under mediocre generals were unwieldy; ambush could shatter them and leave the border bare. Safety hung on one throw. Second impossibility.
90
自西賊叛命以來，雖屢乘機會，然終不敢深寇郡縣，以厭其欲者，非算之少也。 直以中國之大，賢俊之盛，甲兵之眾，未易可測。 今師深入，若無成功，挫國威靈，為賊輕侮，或別墮奸計，以致他虞。 其不可三也。
Raiders had not deep-raided despite chances—not from lack of plans. They feared China's size, talent, and arms. Deep failure would wound prestige or invite traps. Third impossibility.
91
計者又云，將帥雖未足倚，下流勇進，或有其人。 自劉平、石元孫陷沒，士氣挫怯，未能振起。 今兵數雖多，疲懦者眾，以庸將驅怯兵，入不測之地，獨其下使臣數輩，幹賞蹈利，欲邀奇功，未見其利。 其不可四也。
Some hoped brave subordinates might succeed. Since Liu Ping and Shi Yuansun morale had not recovered. Many troops were weary cowards led by mediocrity for petty glory. Fourth impossibility.
92
計者又云，非欲深絕沙磧，以窮妖巢，但淺入山界，以挫賊氣，如襲白豹城之比。 臣謂乘虛襲掠，既不能破戎首、拉兇黨，但殘戮孥弱，以厚怨毒，非王師吊伐招徠之體。 然事出無策，為彼之所為，亦當霆發雷逝，往來輕速，以掩其不備。 今興師十萬，鼓行而西，賊已清野據險以待，我師何襲挫之有？ 其不可五也。 自元昊寇邊，人皆知其誅賞明、計數黠。 今未有間隙可窺，而暴為興舉，計事者但欲決勝負於一戰。 幸其或有所成，否則願自比王恢以待罪，勇則勇矣，如國事何。 其不可六也。
Shallow raids like Baicheng were proposed. Raiding women and children was not royal punitive style. If raiding, it must be swift surprise. A hundred thousand marching west met prepared enemies—no surprise. Fifth impossibility. Yuan Hao was known for clear discipline and crafty schemes. No gap existed yet planners wanted one decisive battle. Brave like Wang Hui awaiting punishment, but state affairs suffered. Sixth impossibility.
93
昨仲淹奏乞朝廷，敦包荒之量，存鄜延一路。 今諸將勒兵嚴備，未行討伐，容示以恩意，歲時之間，或可招納。 若使涇原一路獨入，則孤軍進退，憂患不淺。 傳聞賊謀，俟我師諸路入界，並兵以敵，此正陷賊計中。 其不可七也。 以臣所見，夏竦、韓琦、尹洙同獻此策，今若奏乞中罷，則是自相違異； 欲果決進討，則又仲淹執議不同。 乞召兩府大臣定議，但令嚴設邊備，若有侵掠，即出兵邀擊； 或賊界謹自守備，不必先用輕舉。 如此則全威制勝，有功而無患也。” 於是罷出師議。
Fan Zhongyan had urged preserving the Yan-Yan route. Strict defense might entice peace without attack. Jingyuan alone would be dangerously isolated. Bandits would unite when all routes entered—seventh trap. Seventh impossibility. Stopping now would contradict Song, Han Qi, and Yin Zhu; attacking would oppose Fan Zhongyan. He urged chief ministers to fortify borders and intercept only raids; not rash campaigns. Thus full prestige controls victory with achievement and no worry." The campaign was canceled.
94
況又言治邊十四事。 遷右正言，管勾國子監、判三司理欠憑由司，專供諫職，權修起居注，遂知制誥。 嘗面奏事，論及政體，帝頗以好名為非，意在遵守故常，況退而著論上之。 其略曰：“名者由實而生，非徒好而自至也。 堯、舜三代之君，非好名者。 而鴻烈休德，倬若日月，不能纖晦者，有實美而然也。 設或謙弱自守，不為恢閎睿明之事，則名從而晦矣，雖欲好之，豈可得耶。
He also submitted fourteen border reforms. Right Rectifier, Education overseer, arrears judge, remonstrator, Daily Records compiler, drafter. Renzong disliked name-seeking; Kuang wrote a rebuttal. The summary said: "Name is born from substance, not merely loving it and it comes of itself. Yao, Shun, and Three Dynasties rulers did not chase names. Real virtue shone like the sun. Modesty without great deeds hides name despite desire.
95
方今政令寬弛，百職不修，二虜熾結，淩慢中國，朝廷恫矜下民橫罹殺掠，竭瀝膏血，以資繕備，而未免侵軼之憂。 故屈就講和，為翕張予奪之術。 自非君臣朝夕恥憤，大有為以遏後虞，則勢可憂矣。 陛下若恐好名而不為，則非臣之所敢知也。 陛下倘奮乾剛，明聽斷，則有英睿之名； 行威令，懾奸宄，則有神武之名； 斥奢汰，革風俗，則有崇儉之名； 澄冗濫，輕會斂，則有廣愛之名； 悅亮直，惡巧媚，則有納諫之名； 務咨詢，達壅蔽，則有勤政之名； 責功實，抑偷幸，則有求治之名。 今皆非之而不為，則天下何所望乎？ 抑又聖賢之道曰名教，忠誼之訓曰名節，群臣諸儒所以尊輔朝廷，紀綱人倫之大本也。 陛下從而非之，則教化微，節義廢，無恥之徒爭進，而勸沮之方不行矣，豈聖人率下之意耶。”
Lax government, unrepaired offices, barbarian insults, and costly defense still failed. Peace talks were a grant-and-withhold tactic. Without shame and bold action, peril loomed. Fearing name-seeking was not his concern. Resolve brings discerning rule; awe orders bring martial renown; frugality brings thrift renown; cutting levies brings humane renown; welcoming blunt counsel brings remonstrance renown; consultation brings diligent-government renown; merit and punishing luck bring seeking-order renown. Rejecting all leaves the realm hopeless. Moreover, the Way of sages and worthies is called instruction through names, and the teaching of loyalty and righteousness is called integrity of name and station. These are the great foundations by which ministers and Confucians honor and support the court and maintain the bonds of human order. If Your Majesty follows and rejects them, then teaching is slight, integrity abandoned, shameless men vie to advance and methods of encouragement and restraint cannot proceed—is this the sage's intent in leading those below?"
96
時邊奏契丹修天德城及多葺堡砦。 況意其蓄奸謀，乃上疏曰：“朝廷予契丹金帛歲五十萬，朘削生民，輸將道路，疲弊之勢，漸不可久。 而近西羌通款，歲又予二十萬，設或復肆貪瀆，再有規求，朝廷尚可從乎？ 臣至愚，不當大責，每念至此，則惋嘆不已。 矧兩府大臣，皆宗廟社稷、天下生民所望而系安危者，豈不為陛下思之哉？ 每旦垂拱之對，不過目前政事數條而已，非陛下所以待輔臣，非輔臣所以憂朝廷之意也。
Border reports said Khitan repaired Tiande and many forts. Kuang thought they stored treacherous plots and memorialized: "The court grants Khitan fifty thousand strings of gold and silk yearly, scraping the living people, transporting on roads—the weary trend gradually cannot last long. Another twenty thousand to western Qiang—what if demands grew? He sighed at the burden. How much more should the great ministers of the two administrations, on whom the ancestral temple, the altars of state, all under Heaven, and the living people depend for safety or danger, think of this on Your Majesty's behalf? Each morning audience in the Chuigong Hall dealt only with a few immediate administrative matters. This was not the way Your Majesty should treat assisting ministers, nor was it the spirit in which assisting ministers should worry over the court.
97
有唐故事，肅宗以天下未乂，除正衙奏事外，別開延英以詢訪宰相，蓋旁無侍衛，獻可替否，曲盡討論。 今北敵桀慢，而河朔將佐之良愚，中兵之善窳，道路之夷險，城壘之堅弊，軍政之是否，財糧之多少，在兩府輔臣，實未有知之者。 萬一變發所忽，制由中出，少有差跌，則事不測矣。 如前歲蕭英、劉六符始來，和議未決，中外惶擾，不知為計，此臣所目睹也。 和議既定，又復恬然若無事者，是豈得為安哉。
Tang Suzong used Yanying sessions for frank counsel. Ministers did not know frontier realities. Surprise crises from ignorance were immeasurable. He had seen panic during Xiao Ying's mission. Peace brought false calm.
98
願因燕閑，召執政大臣於便殿，從容賜坐，訪逮時政，專以慮患為急。 則人人惟恐不知以誤應對，事事惟恐不集以孤聖懷，旦夕憂思，不敢少懈，同心協力，必有所為。 今不以此為務，而日以委瑣之事，更相辯對，議者羞之。 臣叨備近列，實系朝廷休戚，惟陛下不以人廢言。”
He urged side-hall talks focused on peril. Then everyone would fear not knowing enough and thereby answering wrongly; in every matter they would fear that affairs would not be brought together and would disappoint the sagely concern. Morning and evening they would worry and think, not daring the slightest slackness; with one heart and joined strength, they would surely accomplish something. Instead they bickered over trifles. Your servant occupies near rank, truly tied to court weal and woe—only Your Majesty do not reject words because of the man."
99
尋為陜西宣撫副使，還領三班院。 保州雲翼軍殺州吏據城叛，詔況處置之。
He became Shaanxi deputy pacification commissioner, then headed Three Ranks. Cloud Wing mutiny at Baozhou was assigned to Kuang.
100
既而除龍圖閣直學士、知成德軍。 況督諸將攻，以敕榜招降叛卒二千餘人，坑其構逆者四百二十九人，以功遷起居舍人。 徙秦州。 丁父憂，詔起復，固辭。 又遣內侍持手敕起之，不得已，乞歸葬陽翟。 既葬，托邊事求見，泣請終制，仁宗惻然許之。 帥臣得終喪自況始。 服除，以樞密直學士、尚書禮部郎中知渭州。
Soon Dragon Hall straight academician and Chengde prefect. He suppressed the mutiny, buried plotters, and was promoted. Moved to Qin Prefecture. Father mourning: he refused interrupted mourning. An inner attendant's edict sent him to bury his father at Yangzhai. He wept for full mourning and Renzong granted it. Commanders' full mourning began with Kuang. After mourning, Military Affairs straight academician and Wei prefect.
101
遷右諫議大夫、知成都府。 蜀自李順、王均再亂，人心易搖，守得便宜決事，多擅殺以為威，雖小罪，猶並妻子徙出蜀，至有流離死道路者。 況至，拊循教誨，非有甚惡不使遷，蜀人尤愛之。
Right Remonstrance Censor and Chengdu prefect. Shu prefects exiled families harshly after Li Shun and Wang Jun. Kuang soothed Shu and rarely exiled people.
102
遷給事中，召為御史中丞。 既至，權三司使，加龍圖閣學士、翰林學士。 況鉤考財賦，盡知其出入，乃約《景德會計錄》，以今財賦所入，多於景德，而歲之所出，又多於所入。 因著《皇祐會計錄》上之。 以禮部侍郎為三司使。 至和元年，擢樞密副使，遂為樞密使。 以疾，罷為尚書右丞、觀文殿學士兼翰林侍讀學士，提舉景靈宮，遂以太子少傅致仕，卒。 贈太子太保，謚宣簡。
Supervising Censor, then Vice Censor-in-Chief. Acting Three Departments commissioner, Dragon Hall and Hanlin academician. Auditing finances he found spending exceeded Jingde-era income. He submitted 《Huangyou Accounting Records》. Vice Rites Minister and Three Departments commissioner. Zhihe year one he became Military Affairs commissioner. Because of illness, he was relieved and made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Academician of Guanwen Hall, and concurrently Hanlin Reader-in-Waiting; he was placed in charge of Jingling Palace, then retired as Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent and died. Posthumously Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, posthumous Xuanjian.
103
況寬厚明敏，有文武材。 與人若無不可，至其所守，人亦不能移也。 其論天下事甚多，至並樞密院於中書以一政本，日輪兩制館閣官一員於便殿備訪問，以錫慶院廣太學，興鎮戎軍、原渭等州營田，汰諸路宣毅、廣捷等冗軍，策元昊勢屈納款，必令盡還延州侵地，毋過許歲幣，並入中青鹽，請戮陜西陷歿主將隨行親兵。 其論甚偉，然不盡行也。 有奏議二十卷。
Kuang was generous, keen, and gifted in civil and military affairs. Affable yet immovable in principle. He discussed many affairs under Heaven: merging the Bureau of Military Affairs into the Secretariat to make policy flow from a single root; rotating one official from the drafting offices, institutes, and archives each day into the side hall for consultation; using Xiqing Institute to enlarge the Imperial University; developing military colonies at Zhenrong Army and in Yuan and Wei prefectures; cutting redundant Xuan Yi, Guang Jie, and similar troops in the circuits; judging that Yuan Hao, his position exhausted, must submit, and insisting that he return all invaded land in Yan Prefecture, that annual payments not be overly granted, that Zhongqing salt be included, and that the personal guards who followed the commanders lost in Shaanxi be executed. Grand plans were only partly enacted. He left twenty juan of memorials.
104
始，契丹寇澶州，略得數百人，以屬其父延昭。 延昭哀之，悉縱去，因自脫歸中國。 延昭生八男，子多知名，況長子也。 保州之役，況坑殺降卒數百人，朝廷壯其決，後大用之。 然卒無子，以兄子為後。
Khitan captives were given to his father Yanzhao at Chanzhou. Yanzhao released them and escaped south. Yanzhao's eight sons were known; Kuang was eldest. Baozhou mass burial won court trust. Childless, he adopted his brother's son.
105
論曰：時治平而文德用，則士之負藝者致位政府，宜矣。 李諮、程戡曉暢吏事。 諮變茶法，雖浮議動搖，乍行乍止，卒無能易其說； 戡任邊寄，守以安靜，非必智謀，抑所遇之時耳。 嶠尚莊、老，以善著稱。 張觀、丁度、孫抃，世推其德性淳易，而盛度每為寮友猜憚，心跡固何如也。 戩明偉宏放，亦一時之俊。 堯臣論議鏗鏗，正誼而不謀利，其最優乎。 鎬堅正寡合，馭軍嚴，臨事果，其安撫河東邊塞，後來父老道其舉動措置，輒嗟嘆追思。 況有文武才略，言事精暢，然欲懲兵驕，乃坑降卒，弗忌陰禍，惜哉！
The discourse says civil times rightly elevated literati to power. Li Zi and Cheng Kan knew administration. Zi's tea reform survived debate; Kan kept the frontier quiet by circumstance as much as genius. Jiao honored Zhuangzi and Laozi and was known for virtue. Zhang Guan, Ding Du, and Sun Bian were praised as plain and virtuous; Sheng Du was feared by colleagues—what were his true motives? Jian too was a brilliant talent of the age. Yaochen's ringing discourse was upright and unprofitable—perhaps the best. Gao was upright and strict; elders long recalled his Hedong frontier measures. Kuang was gifted and eloquent, yet burying surrendered troops to punish arrogance ignored hidden harm—pity.