1
掌禹錫
Zhang Yuxi
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掌禹錫，字唐卿，許州郾城人。 中進士第，為道州司理參軍。 試身言書判第一，改大理寺丞，累遷尚書屯田員外郎、通判幷州。 擢知廬州，未行，丁度薦為侍御史，上疏請嚴備西羌。 時議舉兵，禹錫引周宣薄伐為得，漢武遠討為失； 且建畫增步卒，省騎兵。 舊法，薦舉邊吏，貪贓皆同坐。 禹錫奏謂：「使貪使愚，用兵之法也。 若舉邊吏必兼責士節，則莫敢薦矣。 材武者孰從而進哉？」 後遂更其法。
Zhang Yuxi, whose courtesy name was Tangqing, came from Yancheng in Xuzhou. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed judicial aide in Daozhou. He topped the examination of bearing, speech, calligraphy, and legal judgment, was made an aide in the Court of Judicial Review, and rose through several posts to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Revenue for State Farms and surveillance commissioner of Bingzhou. He was chosen prefect of Luzhou, but before he departed Ding Du recommended him as a censor; he submitted a memorial urging thorough precautions against the Western Qiang. As the court debated military action, Yu Xi argued that King Xuan of Zhou's restrained punitive campaign had been correct whereas Emperor Wu of Han's distant expedition had been a mistake; and he proposed adding more foot soldiers while cutting back on cavalry. Under the old regulations, anyone who recommended a border official was held jointly liable if that official proved corrupt. Yu Xi submitted a memorial stating: "To use the greedy and to use the foolish—that is how one wages war. If every recommender of border officials must also answer for their moral character, no one will dare to put names forward. How, then, will men of martial ability ever rise?" The regulation was eventually revised.
3
出提點河東刑獄。 杜衍薦，召試，為集賢校理，改直集賢院兼崇文院檢討。 歷三司度支判官、判理欠司、同管勾國子監。 歷判司農、太常寺。 數考試開封國學進士，命題皆奇奧，士子憚之，目為「難題掌公」。 遷光祿卿，改直秘閣。 英宗即位，自秘書監遷太子賓客。 御史劾禹錫老病不任事，帝憐其博學多記，令召至中書，示以彈文。 禹錫惶怖自請，遂以尚書工部侍郎致仕，卒。
He was sent out as judicial intendant for Hedong east of the Yellow River. Recommended by Du Yan, he was summoned for examination and made collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, then direct collator in that hall with concurrent duty as reviser in the Chongwen Academy. He served in turn as fiscal judge in the Three Departments, judge of outstanding debts, and co-superintendent of the Directorate of Education. He also held judgeships in the Ministry of Revenue and the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He repeatedly set examination topics for jinshi candidates at the Kaifeng Directorate; his questions were uniformly recondite, and students so dreaded him that they nicknamed him "Master Difficult Questions Zhang." He was promoted to Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and made direct collator in the Secret Repository. When Emperor Yingzong came to the throne, he was transferred from Director of the Palace Library to Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Censors impeached Yu Xi on the grounds that age and illness left him unfit for duty; the emperor, taking pity on his wide learning and retentive memory, had him called to the Secretariat and showed him the impeachment text. Yu Xi, terrified and ashamed, petitioned to retire and was allowed to leave office as Vice Director of the Ministry of Works in the Secretariat; he then died.
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禹錫矜慎畏法，居家勤儉，至自舉几案。 嘗預修《皇祐方域圖志》、《地理新書》，奏對帝前，王洙推其稽考有勞，賜三品服。 及校正《類篇》、《神農本草》，載藥石之名狀為《圖經》。 喜命術，自推直生日，年庚寅，日乙酉，時壬午，當《易》之《歸妹》、《困》、《震》初中末三卦。 以世應飛伏納五甲行軌析數推之，卦得二十五少分，三卦合七十五年約半，祿秩算數，盡於此矣。 著《郡國手鑒》一卷，《周易集解》十卷。 好儲書，所記極博，然迂漫不能達其要。 常乘駑馬，衣冠汙垢，言語舉止多可笑，僚屬或慢侮之，過閭巷，人指以為戲云。
Yu Xi was proud and scrupulous in observing the law; at home he lived frugally and diligently, even carrying his own tables and desks himself. He helped compile the Huangyou Gazetteer of the Realm and the New Book of Geography; when he appeared before the emperor, Wang Zhu praised his painstaking research, and he was awarded third-rank ceremonial robes. He also assisted in correcting the Classified Lexicon and the Divine Farmer's Materia Medica, recording the names and descriptions of medicinals and minerals in an illustrated compendium. He was fond of divination. From his own birth date on the straight day—year gengyin, day yiyou, hour renwu—he derived the hexagrams Gui Mei, Kun, and Zhen from the Book of Changes, in their first, second, and third lines respectively. By shifting correspondents and hidden lines, incorporating the five jia into the orbital cycle, and calculating the numbers, he obtained twenty-five and a fraction; the three hexagrams together pointed to about seventy-five and a half years. His stipend and office were, he concluded, fully accounted for within that span. He wrote one juan of A Hand Mirror of Commanderies and States and ten juan of Collected Explanations of the Book of Changes. He loved collecting books and his memory was vast, yet he was discursive and never quite reached the heart of a subject. He usually rode a sorry nag, wore stained hat and robes, and his words and manner were often ridiculous; colleagues sometimes slighted him, and in the streets people would point him out for amusement.
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蘇紳，字儀甫，泉州晉江人。 進士及第。 歷宜、復、安三州推官，改大理寺丞。 母喪，寓揚州。 州將盛度以文學自負，見其文，大驚，自以為不及，由是知名。 再遷太常博士，舉賢良方正科，擢尚書祠部員外郎、通判洪州，徙揚州。 歸，上十議，進直史館，為開封府推官、三司鹽鐵判官。 時眾星西流，並代地大震，方春而雷，詔求直言，紳上疏極言時事。
Su Shen He obtained his jinshi degree. He served in turn as investigating clerk in Yi, Fu, and An prefectures, then was made an aide in the Court of Judicial Review. While mourning his mother he stayed in Yangzhou. The prefect Sheng Du, who prided himself on his literary skill, was astonished by Shen's essays and judged himself Shen's inferior; from that time Shen's name spread. He was promoted again to erudite in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, entered the Exalted Worthies and Upright Scholars examination, and rose to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Rites for Ancestral Temples and surveillance commissioner of Hongzhou before being moved to Yangzhou. When he returned to court he presented ten policy memorials, was promoted to compiler in the Academy of History, and served as investigating official in the Kaifeng prefectural office and fiscal judge in the Salt and Iron Commission. At that time numerous stars drifted westward, Bing and Dai suffered a major earthquake, and thunder rolled in spring; the emperor called for frank advice, and Shen submitted a memorial that spoke bluntly about affairs of the day.
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安化蠻蒙光月率眾寇宜州，敗官軍，殺鈐轄張懷志等六人。 紳上言曰：
Meng Guangyue of the Anhua tribes led his people in raiding Yizhou, routed the government army, and killed Deputy Commander Zhang Huaizhi and five other officers. Shen submitted a memorial, saying:
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「國家比以西北二邊為意，而鮮復留意南方，故有今日之患，誠不可不慮也。 臣頃從事宜州，粗知本末。 安化地幅員數百里，持兵之眾，不過三四千人。 然而敢肆侵擾，非特恃其險絕，亦由往者守將失計，而國家姑息之太過也。
"The court has lately been preoccupied with the northwestern and northern borders and has paid little heed to the south; that is why we face today's disaster, and this truly cannot be ignored. I once served in Yizhou and have some grasp of how matters stand there. Anhua territory covers several hundred li, and men under arms number only three or four thousand at most. Yet they dare raid the borders—not only because the terrain is forbidding, but also because past commanders erred and the court has been too indulgent.
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向聞宜州吏民言，祥符中，蠻人騷動，朝廷興兵討伐。 是時，唯安撫都監馬玉勒兵深入，多殺所獲。 知桂州曹克明害其功，累移文止之，故玉志不得逞。 蠻人畏伏其名，至今言者猶惜之。 使當時領兵者皆如玉，則蠻當殄滅，無今日之患矣。 至使乘隙蹂邊，屠殺將吏，其損國威，無甚於此。 朝廷儻不以此時加兵，則無以創艾將來，而震疊荒裔。 彼六臣者，雖不善為馭，自致喪敗，然銜冤負恥，當有以刷除。
Officials and people in Yizhou say that during the Xiangfu period the tribes rebelled and the court sent troops to suppress them. At that time only Pacification Commissioner and Military Inspector Ma Yu drove deep into their territory and killed many captives. Cao Keming, prefect of Guizhou, jealous of his success, sent repeated dispatches to halt him, so Yu could not finish what he had begun. The tribes feared his reputation, and even today people still lament that he was not allowed to prevail. Had every commander then been like Ma Yu, the tribes would have been wiped out and we would have no trouble today. Instead they seized the moment to ravage the border and slaughter officers—nothing has done more harm to the dynasty's prestige. If the court does not use force now, we cannot chastise future rebels or overawe the frontier peoples. Those six officers were poor leaders and brought defeat on themselves, yet they died disgraced and wronged; their honor should be restored.
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臣觀蠻情，所恃者地形險阨，據高臨下，大軍難以並進。 然其壤土磽確，資蓄虛乏，刀耕火種，以為餱糧。 其勢可以緩圖，不可以速取； 可以計覆，不可以力爭。 今廣東西教閱忠敢澄海、湖南北雄武等軍，皆慣涉險阻。 又所習兵器，與蠻人略同。 請速發詣宜州策應，而以他兵代之。 仍命轉運使備數年軍食，今秋、冬之交，嵐氣已息，進軍據其出路，轉粟補卒，為曠日持久之計。 伺得便利，即圖深入，可以傾蕩巢穴，杜絕蹊逕。 縱使奔迸林莽，亦且壞其室廬，焚其積聚，使進無鈔略之獲，退無攻守之備。 然後諭以國恩，許以送款，而徙之內郡，收其土地，募民耕種，異時足以拓外夷為屏蔽也。
The tribes rely on steep ground, holding the heights and looking down, so large forces cannot advance in a body. Yet their land is barren, their stores scant; they farm by slash-and-burn and live hand to mouth. They can be worn down slowly, not crushed at a stroke; they can be overcome by strategy, not by frontal assault. The Chenghai and Xiongwu regiments of Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, and Hubei, drilled for loyalty and courage, are all accustomed to difficult country. Their weapons, moreover, closely resemble those of the tribes. I urge that these units be dispatched at once to Yizhou to support operations while other troops relieve them. Let transport officials stock several years' provisions; when autumn miasma lifts, advance to block their escape routes, rotate grain and fresh troops, and plan a long campaign. When opportunity offers, drive deep to destroy their strongholds and seal their mountain passes. Even if they scatter into the woods, ruin their houses and burn their grain so that advance yields no plunder and retreat offers no refuge. Then proclaim the court's mercy, offer terms if they surrender, relocate them to interior prefectures, reclaim their land, and settle farmers on it—over time this will extend the frontier and shield the empire from outer tribes.
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仍詔旁近諸蠻，諭以朝廷討叛之意，毋得相為聲援； 如獲首級，即優賞以金帛。 計若出此，則不越一年，逆寇必就殄滅。 況廣西溪峒、荊湖、川峽蠻落甚多，大抵好為騷動。 因此一役，必皆震讋，可保數十年無俶擾之虞矣。」
Also instruct neighboring tribes that the court is punishing rebellion and that they must not aid the rebels; reward with gold and silk anyone who brings in enemy heads. Adopt this plan and within a year the rebels should be destroyed. Moreover, in the streams of western Guang, the Jinghu region, and the Sichuan gorges there are many tribal settlements, most inclined to unrest. One such campaign will awe them all and secure decades without sudden raids."
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朝廷施用其策，遣馮伸己守桂州經制之，蠻遂平。 又陳便宜八事：
The court followed his advice, sent Feng Shenji to Guizhou to direct operations, and the tribes were pacified. He also presented eight practical reforms:
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「一曰重爵賞。 先王爵以褒德，祿以賞功，名以定流品，位以居才實。 未有無德而據高爵，無功而食厚祿，非其人而受美名，非其才而在顯位者。 不妄與人官，非惜寵也，蓋官非其人，則不肖者逞。 不妄賞人，非愛財也，蓋實非其人，則徼幸者眾。 非特如此而已，則又敗國傷政，納侮詒患。 上干天氣，下戾人心，災異既興，妖孽乃見。 故漢世五侯同日封，天氣赤黃，及丁、傅封而其變亦然。 楊宣以為爵土過制，傷亂土氣之祥也。
"First, hold ranks and rewards in esteem. The ancient kings used titles to honor virtue, stipends to reward merit, names to fix social standing, and offices to seat men of real ability. Never did the undeserving hold high rank, the unmeritorious enjoy rich stipends, the unworthy win fine reputations, or the incapable fill eminent posts. To withhold office is not miserliness; when office goes to the wrong man, the unworthy prevail. To withhold rewards is not love of money; when rewards miss their mark, opportunists multiply. Worse still, it ruins the state, corrupts government, invites contempt, and breeds calamity. Above it offends Heaven's harmony; below it alienates the people; omens and portents follow. In Han, when five marquises were enfeoffed on one day the sky turned red and yellow; when Ding and Fu were enfeoffed the same omen appeared. Yang Xuan held that excessive titles and land grants disturbed the qi of the realm.
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二曰慎選擇。 今內外之臣，序年遷改，以為官濫，而復有論述微效，援此希進者。 朝臣則有升監司，使臣則有授橫行。 不問人材物望，可與不可，並甄錄之。 不三數年，坐致清顯。 如此不止，則異日必以將相為賞矣。
"Second, be careful in selection. Today officials within and without the capital advance chiefly by seniority, as though office were cheap, while others cite minor achievements in memorials hoping to rise. Court officials are promoted to surveillance posts; commissioners receive extraordinary commissions. Without regard to talent, reputation, or fitness, all are enrolled alike. Within a few years they reach eminent posts. Carried further, even generals and chancellors will be handed out as rewards.
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三曰明薦舉。 今有位多援親舊，或迫於權貴，甚非薦賢助國，為官擇人之道。 若要官闕人，宜如祖宗故事，取班簿親擇五品以上清望官，各令舉一二人，述其才能德業，陛下與執政大臣，參驗而擢之。 試而有效，則先賞舉者，否則黜責之。 如此，則人人得以自勸。 又選人條約太嚴。 舊制，三人保者，得選京官，今則五人。 舊轉運使、提點刑獄率當三人，今止當一人。 舊大兩省官歲舉五人，今才舉三人； 升朝官舉三人，今則舉一人。 舊不以在任及所統屬皆得奏舉，今則須在任及統屬方許論薦。 驅馳下僚，未免有賢愚同滯之歎也。
"Third, clarify recommendations. Too many in office recommend relatives or bow to the powerful—far from recommending the worthy to aid the state and choosing men fit for office. When offices stand vacant, follow ancestral practice: from the roster choose eminent fifth-rank officials, each to recommend one or two men with a statement of ability and conduct; the emperor and chief ministers should verify and appoint. If the appointee succeeds, reward the recommender first; if not, demote and punish him. Then everyone will strive to recommend well. Moreover the rules for selecting officials have grown too strict. Formerly three guarantors sufficed for promotion to capital office; now five are required. Formerly transport commissioners and judicial intendants each counted as three guarantors; now only one counts. Formerly senior officials in the two inner secretariats recommended five men a year; now only three; officials above court audience recommended three; now only one. Formerly one need not be in office or within one's jurisdiction to recommend; now one must be in office and within one's chain of command. Lower officials must lament that worthy and unworthy alike are left stuck.
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四曰異服章。 朝班中執技之人與丞郎清望同佩金魚，內侍班行與學士同服金帶，豈朝廷待賢才、加禮遇之意？ 宜加裁定，使采章有別，則人品定而朝儀正矣。
"Fourth, differentiate insignia. In court ranks, technical specialists wear the golden fish alongside vice directors of clear reputation; inner attendants wear the golden belt like Hanlin academicians—is this how the court honors talent and shows distinction? Draw up regulations so insignia differ; then rank will be clear and court ritual restored.
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五曰適才宜。 古者自黃、散而下，及隋之六品，唐之五品，皆吏部得專去留。 今審官院、流內銓，則古之吏部； 三班院，古之兵部。 不問官職之閑劇，才能之長短，惟以資歷深淺為先後，有司但主簿籍而已。 欲賢不肖有別，不可得也。 太宗皇帝始用趙普議，置考課院以分中書之權，今審官是也，其職任豈輕也哉？ 宜擇主判官，付之以事權，責成其選事。 若以為格例之設久，不可遽更。 或有異才高行，許別論奏，如寇準判銓，薦選人錢若水等三人，並遷朝官為直館。 其非才亦許奏殿，如唐盧從願為吏部，非才實者並令罷選，十不取一是也。
"Fifth, match talent to task. In antiquity, from Yellow Gate attendants and scattered officials downward, and through Sui's sixth rank and Tang's fifth rank, the Ministry of Personnel alone decided who stayed and who went. Today's Court for Review of Appointments and the Inner Circulation Board are the old Ministry of Personnel; the Three-Rank Court is the old Ministry of War. Without regard to whether a post is important or minor or whether talent is great or small, promotion follows seniority alone; the bureaus merely maintain the registers. To distinguish the worthy from the unworthy is impossible under such a system. Emperor Taizong first followed Zhao Pu's advice and set up the Bureau of Performance Review to divide the Secretariat's authority—the present Court for Review is that office; its responsibility can hardly be called slight. Choose the presiding reviewer with care, give him real authority, and hold him accountable for appointments. If one holds that precedent is too entrenched to change overnight, allow men of exceptional talent and conduct to be recommended by special memorial, as when Kou Zhun judged the board and advanced three candidates including Qian Ruoshui, all promoted to court office and direct academy posts. the unworthy should likewise be reported to the throne, as when Tang's Lu Congyuan in the Ministry of Personnel dismissed unfit candidates, accepting only one in ten.
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六曰擇將帥。 漢制邊防有警，左右之臣，皆將帥也。 唐室文臣，自員外、郎中以上，為刺史、團練、防禦、觀察、節度等使，皆是養將帥之道，豈嘗限以文武？ 比年設武舉，所得人不過授以三班官，使人監臨，欲圖其建功立事，何可得也？ 臣僚舉換右職者，必人才弓馬兼書算策略，亦責之太備。 宜使有材武者居統領之任，有謀畫者任邊防之寄，士若素養之，不慮不為用也。
"Sixth, choose generals and commanders. Under Han practice, when the frontier was threatened, the emperor's close ministers were themselves generals and commanders. In Tang, civil officials from vice-director and director upward served as prefects, training commissioners, defense commissioners, surveillance commissioners, and military commissioners—all ways of training commanders; were civil and military ever rigidly separated? In recent years the military examination has been instituted, yet graduates receive only Three-Rank posts and supervisory duties—how can they be expected to win distinction in the field? When ministers recommend men for military posts they demand mastery of bow, horse, writing, calculation, and strategy—demands far too strict. Let men of martial talent hold command and men of stratagem bear frontier responsibility; cultivate talent properly and it will serve the state.
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七曰辨忠邪。 夫忠賢之嫉姦邪，謂之去惡，惡不去則害政而傷國。 姦邪陷忠良，謂之蔽明，明不蔽，則無以稔其慝而肆其毒矣。 忠邪之端，惟人主深辨之。 自古稱帝之聖者，莫如唐堯，然而四凶在朝，圮毀善類。 好賢之甚者，莫如漢文，然而絳、灌在列，不容賢臣。 願監此而不使譽毀之說得行，愛憎之徒逞志，則忠賢進而邪慝消矣。
"Seventh, distinguish loyal from depraved. When loyal men hate the wicked, they remove evil; if evil is not removed, government suffers and the state is harmed. When the wicked entrap the loyal, they obscure judgment; if judgment stays clear, villains cannot deepen their plots and spread their poison. Only the ruler's keen discernment can tell loyal from depraved. Of all called sage rulers, none surpasses Tang Yao, yet the Four Evils sat in court and ruined good men. Of those who loved worthy men most, none surpasses Emperor Wen of Han, yet Zhou Bo and Guan Ying in office would not tolerate worthy ministers. I pray Your Majesty heed this lesson: do not let flattery and slander prevail or partisans of favor and spite have their way; then loyal men will rise and villains fade.
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八曰修預備。 國家承平，天下無事將八十載，民食宜足而不足，國用宜豐而未豐，甚可怪也。 往者明道初，蟲螟水旱，幾遍天下。 始之以饑饉，繼之以疾疫，民之轉流死亡，不可勝數。 幸而比年稍稔，流亡稍復，而在位未嘗留意於備預之道，莫若安民而厚利，富國而足食。 欲民之安，則不之擇守宰、明教化； 欲民之利，則為之去兼並、禁遊末。 恤其疾苦，寬其徭役，則民安而利矣。 欲國之富，則必崇節儉，敦質素，蠲浮費。 欲食之足，則省官吏之冗，去兵釋之蠹，絕奢靡之弊，塞凋偽之原，則國食足矣。 民足於下，國富於上，雖有災沴，不足憂也。」
"Eighth, repair preparedness. The state has known peace and the realm has been largely free of war for nearly eighty years, yet the people's food should be ample and is not, state revenue should be rich and is not—how strange. In the early Mingdao era locusts, floods, and drought spread across nearly the whole realm. Famine came first, then pestilence; the people who fled and died are beyond counting. Fortunately harvests have improved somewhat and refugees have partly returned, yet those in office have never attended to preparedness—nothing surpasses settling the people and enriching them, enriching the state and filling its granaries. To settle the people, choose good prefects and magistrates and clarify moral instruction; to enrich the people, curb land concentration and forbid idle trades. Relieve their hardships and lighten their labor levies, and the people will be settled and prosper. To enrich the state, honor frugality, encourage simplicity, and cut wasteful spending. To fill granaries, cut redundant officials, end abuses in demobilized troops, stop extravagant waste, and seal off sham display, and state grain will suffice. When the people below are secure and the state above is rich, even disaster need not be feared."
20
書奏，帝嘉納之。 進史館修撰，擢知制誥，入翰林為學士。 再遷尚書禮部郎中。
When the memorial was submitted, the emperor praised and accepted it. He was promoted to compiler in the Academy of History, made drafter of edicts, and entered the Hanlin Academy as academician. He was promoted again to director in the Ministry of Rites.
21
王素、歐陽修為諫官，數言事，紳忌之。 會京師閔雨，紳請對，言：「《洪範》五事，『言之不從，是謂不乂，厥咎僭，厥罰常暘。』 蓋言國之號令，不專於上，威福之柄，或移臣下，虛嘩憤亂，故其咎僭。」 又曰：「庶位逾節茲謂僭。 刑賞妄加，群陰不附，則陽氣勝，故其罰常暘。 今朝廷號令，有不一者，庶位有逾節而陵上者，刑賞有妄加於下者，下人有謀而僭上者。 此而不思，雖禱於上下神祇，殆非天意。」 紳意以指諫官。 諫官亦言紳舉御史馬端非其人，改龍圖閣學士、知揚州，復為翰林學士、史館修撰、權判尚書省。
Wang Su and Ouyang Xiu served as remonstrance officials and spoke often on policy; Shen resented them. When the capital prayed for rain during drought, Shen requested audience and said: "In the Great Plan's five affairs, 'when words are not followed, this is disorder; the blame is presumption, the punishment constant drought. This means state orders are not concentrated at the top, authority and favor sometimes shift to ministers, and clamor and disorder arise—hence the blame of presumption." He also said: "When subordinate posts overstep their bounds, this is presumption. When punishments and rewards are rashly applied, yin forces do not attach and yang prevails—hence the punishment of constant drought. Today court orders are not uniform; some subordinates overstep and insult superiors; punishments and rewards are rashly applied below; and inferiors plot against their betters. If this is not pondered, prayer to spirits above and below will scarcely accord with Heaven's intent. Shen's intent was to strike at the remonstrance officials. The remonstrance officials also charged that Shen had recommended the unfit censor Ma Duan; he was transferred to academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion and prefect of Yangzhou, then restored as Hanlin academician, Academy compiler, and acting head of the Secretariat.
22
紳銳於進取，善中傷人。 陰中王德用，其疏至有「宅枕乾岡，貌類藝祖」之語，帝惡之，匿其疏不下。 遂出紳，以吏部郎中改侍讀學士、集賢殿修撰、知河陽，徙河中。 未行感疾，為醫者藥所誤，猶力疾笞之，已而卒。
Shen was ambitious and skilled at undermining others. He secretly attacked Wang Dezhi; his memorial even said "his residence lies on the Qian ridge, his appearance resembles Founder Taizu"—the emperor detested it and suppressed the memorial. Shen was therefore sent out, moved from director in the Ministry of Personnel to reader-in-waiting and compiler in the Hall of Assembled Worthies and prefect of Heyang, then transferred to Hezhong. Before he departed he fell ill; a physician's medicine harmed him, yet he still forced himself to flog the doctor, and soon died.
23
紳博學多知，喜言事。 嘗請罷連日視朝，復唐制朔望喚仗入閣，間開便殿，延對輔臣； 寬制舉科格，以收才傑； 選命諫員，勿侵御史職事。 趙元昊反，請詔邊帥為入討之計，且曰：「以十年防守之費，為一歲攻取之資； 不爾，則防守之備，不止於十年矣。」 又曰：「今邊兵止備陝西，恐賊出不意窺河東，即麟、府不可不慮，宜稍移兵備之。 鄜、延與原州、鎮戎軍，皆當賊衝，而兵屯從寡不均。 或寇原州、鎮戎軍，則鄜、延能應援。 陝西屯卒太多，永興為關、隴根本，而戍者不及三千。 宜留西戍之兵，壯關中形勢，緩急便於調發。 郡縣備盜不謹，請增尉員，益弓手藉。」 其論利害甚多。
Shen was broadly learned and fond of policy debate. He once asked to end consecutive days of court audience, restore Tang practice of summoning the guard on the first and fifteenth to enter the hall, occasionally open the informal hall, and extend audience to chief ministers; broaden examination regulations to gather outstanding talent; and in selecting remonstrance officials, not let them encroach on censorial duties. When Zhao Yuanhao rebelled, he asked that frontier commanders plan invasion, saying: "Take ten years' cost of defense as one year's cost of attack; otherwise defense will cost more than ten years." He also said: "Today frontier troops guard only Shaanxi; I fear the rebels may unexpectedly strike east of the river—Lin and Fu cannot be ignored; troops should be shifted to guard them. Yan and Yan along with Yuanzhou and Zhenrong Army all lie on the enemy's path, yet troop dispositions are uneven. If the enemy strikes Yuanzhou and Zhenrong Army, Yan and Yan can reinforce. Too many garrison troops are stationed in Shaanxi; Yongxing is the root of Guan and Long, yet defenders number fewer than three thousand. Western garrison troops should be retained to strengthen Guanzhong's posture and ease emergency dispatch. Prefectures and counties are lax in guarding against bandits; he asked to add assistant magistrates and increase archer levies." His discussions of policy were very numerous.
24
紳與梁適同在兩禁，人以為險詖，故語曰：「草頭木腳，陷人倒卓。」 子頌，別有傳。
Shen and Liang Shi were both in the Two Restricted Halls; people thought them treacherous and slanderous, hence the saying: "Grass head and wooden foot—overturn a man and drop him." His son Song has a separate biography.
25
王洙，字原叔，應天宋城人。 少聰悟博學，記問過人。 初舉進士，與郭稹同保。 人有告稹冒祖母禫，主司欲脫洙連坐之法，召謂曰：「不保，可易也。」 洙曰：「保之，不願易。」 遂與稹俱罷。 再舉，中甲科，補舒城縣尉。 坐覆縣民鍾元殺妻不實免官。
Wang Zhu, courtesy name Yuan Shu, was a native of Songcheng in Yingtian. In youth he was clever and broadly learned, with a memory that surpassed others. When he first entered the jinshi examination, he and Guo Zhi were mutual guarantors. Someone reported that Zhi had falsely claimed mourning for a step-grandmother; the chief examiner wished to exempt Zhu from joint punishment and summoned him, saying: "If you do not guarantee him, you may change." Zhu said: "I guarantee him and will not change." Both were therefore disqualified. On a second attempt he passed in the top grade and was appointed assistant magistrate of Shucheng. He was dismissed for reviewing the case of a county man, Zhong Yuan, who killed his wife—a finding that proved false.
26
後調富川縣主簿。 晏殊留守南京，厚遇之，薦為府學教授。 召為國子監說書，改直講。 校《史記》、《漢書》，擢史館檢討、同知太常禮院，為天章閣侍講。 專讀寶訓、要言於邇英閣。 累遷太常博士、同管勾國子監，預修《崇文總目》成，遷尚書工部員外郎。 修《國朝會要》，加直龍圖閣、權同判太常寺。 坐赴進奏院賽神與女妓雜坐，為御史劾奏，黜知濠州，徙襄州。
Later he was transferred to chief clerk of Fuchuan County. Yan Shu, holding Nanjing, treated him generously and recommended him as professor in the prefectural school. He was summoned as lecturer in the Directorate of Education and transferred to direct lecturer. He collated the Records of the Grand Historian and the Book of Han, was promoted to reviser in the Academy of History and concurrent vice-director in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and served as lecturer in the Tianzhang Pavilion. He specialized in reading the Precious Instructions and Essential Sayings in the Nearby Excellence Hall. He was promoted repeatedly to erudite in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and co-superintendent of the Directorate of Education; when the Comprehensive Catalogue of the Chongwen Academy was completed he was moved to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Works. While compiling the National Institutions of the Dynasty, he was given direct appointment in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion and acting vice-director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. For attending a spirit festival at the Memorial Memorial Court and sitting mixed with female entertainers, he was impeached by censors, demoted to prefect of Haozhou, and transferred to Xiangzhou.
27
會貝卒叛，州郡皆恟恟，襄佐史請罷教閱士，不聽。 又請毋給真兵，洙曰：「此正使人不安也。」 命給庫兵，教閱如常日，人無敢嘩者。
When Bei Zhe rebelled, all prefectures were alarmed; the Xiang assistant Shi asked to stop drilling the troops, but Zhu would not listen. He also asked not to issue real troops; Zhu said: "That is precisely what would make people uneasy." He ordered depot troops issued and drilling continued as on ordinary days; no one dared make an uproar.
28
徙徐州。 時京東饑，朝廷議塞商胡，賦楗薪，輸半而罷塞。 洙命更其餘為穀粟，誘願輸者以餔流民，因募其壯者為兵，得千餘人，盜賊衰息。 有司上其最，為京東第一，徙亳州。 復為天章閣侍講、史館檢討。
He was transferred to Xuzhou. At that time eastern Shandong suffered famine; the court debated blocking the Shanghu Canal, levying lock timber, and halting the block after delivering half. Zhu ordered the remainder converted to grain and millet, induced willing donors to feed refugees, and recruited the able-bodied as soldiers—more than a thousand men—and banditry subsided. The offices reported his excellence as first in eastern Shandong, and he was transferred to Bozhou. He was again made lecturer in the Tianzhang Pavilion and reviser in the Academy of History.
29
帝將祀明堂，宋祁言：「明堂制度久不講，洙有《禮》學，願得同具其儀。」 詔還洙太常，再遷兵部員外郎，命撰《大饗明堂記》。 除史館修撰，遷知制誥。 詔諸儒定雅樂，久未決。 洙與胡瑗更造鍾磬，而無形制容受之別。 皇祐五年，有事於南郊，勸上用新樂，既而議者多非之，卒不復用。
When the emperor was about to sacrifice at the Bright Hall, Song Qi said: "Bright Hall ritual has long gone unstudied; Zhu has learning in the Rites—I wish he may jointly set forth the ceremony." An edict recalled Zhu to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; he was promoted again to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of War and ordered to compose the Record of the Great Offering at the Bright Hall. He was appointed Academy compiler and promoted to drafter of edicts. An edict ordered the scholars to fix court music, but long no decision was reached. Zhu and Hu Yuan remade bells and chimes but without distinction of form, capacity, and volume. In the fifth year of Huangyou, when the southern suburb ceremony was held, they urged use of the new music; thereafter many debated against it and in the end it was not used again.
30
夏竦卒，賜諡文獻。 洙當草制，封還其目曰：「臣下不當與僖祖同諡。」 因言：「前有司諡王溥為文獻，章得象為文憲，字雖異而音同，皆當改。」 於是太常更諡竦文莊，而溥、得象皆易諡。
When Xia Song died, the posthumous title Literary Offering was granted. Zhu was to draft the edict; he returned the draft title, saying: "A subject should not share a posthumous title with Ancestor Xi." He also said: "Formerly the offices gave Wang Pu the posthumous title Literary Offering and Zhang Dexiang Literary Constitution—the characters differ but the sound is the same; both should be changed." Thereupon the Court of Imperial Sacrifices changed Song's title to Literary Sobriety, and Pu and Dexiang were both retitled.
31
嘗使契丹，至鞾淀。 契丹令劉六符來伴宴，且言耶律防善畫，向持禮南朝，寫聖容以歸，欲持至館中。 洙曰：「此非瞻拜之地也。」 六符言恐未得其真，欲遣防再往傳繪，洙力拒之。
He once served as envoy to the Khitan, reaching Boot Lake. The Khitan sent Liu Liufu to accompany the banquet and said that Yelu Fang was skilled at painting; he had long observed ritual toward the Song court and had painted the emperor's likeness to take home, and wished to bring it to the lodge. Zhu said: "This is not a place for reverent viewing." Liufu said he feared the likeness was not yet accurate and wished to send Fang again to paint it; Zhu firmly refused.
32
既而洙以兄子堯臣參知政事，改侍讀學士兼侍講學士。 罷一學士，換二學士且兼講讀，前此未嘗有也。 是歲，京東、河北秋大稔。 洙言：「近年邊糴，增虛價數倍，雖復稍延日月之期，而終償以實錢及山澤之物，以致三司財用之蹙。 請借內藏庫禁錢，乘時和糴京東、河北之粟，以供邊食，可以坐紓便糴之急。」 又言：「近時選諫官、御史，凡執政之臣嘗所薦者，皆不與選。 且士之飭身勵行，稍為大臣所知，反置而不用，甚可惜也。」 及得疾逾月，帝遣使問：「疾少間否，能起侍經席乎？」 時不能起矣。
Soon Zhu's nephew by marriage Yao Chen became Vice Director of the Secretariat; Zhu was made reader-in-waiting with concurrent lecturer-in-waiting. One academician was removed and two academicians with concurrent lecture and reading were appointed—never before had this occurred. That year the autumn harvest in eastern Shandong and Hebei was very abundant. Zhu said: "In recent years border grain purchases have raised fictitious prices several times over; though payment is slightly deferred, in the end real money and goods from hills and marshes are paid, tightening the Three Departments' finances. I ask to borrow forbidden funds from the inner treasury and, seizing the season, purchase grain in eastern Shandong and Hebei to supply frontier provisions—this can ease the urgent border purchase at a stroke." He also said: "In recent selection of remonstrance officials and censors, all whom chief ministers have once recommended are excluded from selection. Moreover, when scholars discipline themselves and are slightly known to great ministers, they are instead set aside—how regrettable." When his illness exceeded a month, the emperor sent an envoy to ask: "Is the illness somewhat better—can you rise to attend the classics lecture?" By then he could not rise.
33
洙泛覽傳記，至圖緯、方技、陰陽、五行、算數、音律、詁訓、篆隸之學，無所不通。 及卒賜諡曰文，御史吳中復言官不應得諡，乃止。 預修《集韻》、《祖宗故事》、《三朝經武聖略》、《鄉兵制度》，著《易傳》十卷、雜文千有餘篇。 子欽臣。
Zhu read widely in biographies; in charts and apocrypha, arts and techniques, yin and yang, the five phases, calculation, pitch pipes, glosses, and seal and clerical scripts—there was nothing he did not master. On his death he was granted the posthumous title Literary, but Censor Wu Zhongfu said his office did not warrant a posthumous title, and it was stopped. He took part in compiling the Collected Rhymes, Ancestral Stories, Sacred Military Overview of the Three Reigns, and Militia Institutions, and authored ten juan of Commentary on the Changes and more than a thousand miscellaneous essays. His son was Qinchen.
34
子欽臣
His son Qinchen
35
欽臣，字仲至，清亮有志操，以文贄歐陽修，修器重之。 用蔭入官，文彥博薦試學士院，賜進士及第。 歷陝西轉運副使。 元祐初，為工部員外郎。 奉使高麗，還，進太僕少卿，遷秘書少監。 開封尹錢勰入對，哲宗言：「比閱書詔，殊不滿人意，誰可為學士者？」 勰以欽臣對。 哲宗曰：「章惇不喜。」 乃以勰為學士，欽臣領開封。 改集賢殿修撰、知和州。 徙饒州，斥提舉太平觀。 徽宗立，復待制、知成德軍。 卒，年六十七。
Qinchen, courtesy name Zhongzhi, was pure and principled; he presented writings to Ouyang Xiu, who greatly valued him. He entered office by yin privilege; Wen Yanbo recommended him for trial in the Academy and he was granted jinshi rank. He served as vice transport commissioner of Shaanxi. In the early Yuanyou era he was outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Works. Sent as envoy to Goryeo, on his return he was advanced to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Studs and transferred to Vice Director of the Palace Library. Kaifeng prefect Qian Xie entered audience; Emperor Zhezong said: "Recently reading edicts, I am quite dissatisfied—who can serve as academician?" Xie answered with Qinchen. Zhezong said: "Zhang Dun dislikes him." Xie was therefore made academician and Qinchen headed Kaifeng. He was changed to compiler in the Hall of Assembled Worthies and prefect of Hezhou. He was transferred to Raozhou and dismissed as superintendent of the Taiping View. When Emperor Huizong acceded, he was restored to awaiting edict and prefect of Chengde Army. He died at age sixty-seven.
36
欽臣平生為文至多，所交盡名士，性嗜古，藏書數萬卷，手自讎正，世稱善本。
Qinchen wrote very many works in his lifetime; his associates were all famous men; he loved antiquity by nature and collected tens of thousands of volumes, collating them by hand—his editions were called fine copies.
37
胥偃，字安道，潭州長沙人。 少力學，河東柳開見其所為文曰：「異日必得名天下。」 舉進士甲科，授大理評事、通判湖、舒二州，直集賢院、同判吏部南曹、知太常禮院，再遷太常丞、知開封縣。
Xu Yan, courtesy name Andao, was a native of Changsha in Tanzhou. In youth he studied hard; Liu Kai of Hedong, seeing his writings, said: "Another day you will certainly win fame under Heaven." He passed the jinshi examination in the top grade and was appointed reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and surveillance commissioner of Hu and Shu prefectures, collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, concurrent judge in the southern bureau of the Ministry of Personnel, and director in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; he was promoted again to aide in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and magistrate of Kaifeng County.
38
與御史高升試府進士，既封彌卷首，輒發視，擇有名者居上。 降秘書省著作佐郎、監光化軍酒。 起通判鄧州，復太常丞。 林特知許州，辟通判州事，徙知漢陽軍。 還判三司度支勾院、修起居注。 累遷尚書刑部員外郎，遂知制誥，遷工部郎中，入翰林為學士，權知開封府。
With Censor Gao Sheng he tested prefectural jinshi candidates; once the sealed rolls were opened at the head, he would look and place famous men at the top. He was demoted to editorial assistant in the Secretariat and supervisor of wine at Guanghua Army. He was raised to surveillance commissioner of Dengzhou and restored as aide in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Lin Te knew Xuzhou and summoned him as surveillance commissioner; he was transferred to military commissioner of Hanyang. On return he judged the Three Departments' fiscal verification bureau and revised the Veritable Records. He was promoted repeatedly to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Justice, then drafter of edicts, director in the Ministry of Works, Hanlin academician, and acting prefect of Kaifeng.
39
忻州地震，偃以為：「地震，陰之盛。 今朝廷政令，不專上出，而後宮外戚，恩澤日蕃，此陽不勝陰之效也。 宜選將練師，以防邊塞。」 趙元昊朝貢不至，偃曰：「遽討之，太暴。 宜遣使問其不臣狀，待其辭屈而後加兵。 則其不直者在彼，而王師之出有名矣。」 又奏：「戍兵代還，宜如祖宗制，閱其藝後殿次進之。」
When Xinzhou suffered an earthquake, Yan held that: "Earthquake is the fullness of yin. Today court orders do not issue solely from above, while empresses and maternal kin receive favor daily—this is the effect of yang not overcoming yin. Generals should be chosen and troops drilled to guard the frontier." When Zhao Yuanhao's tribute missions did not arrive, Yan said: "To attack abruptly is too violent. An envoy should be sent to ask why he is not a subject; wait until his words are refuted and then add troops. Then the wrong party is on their side and the royal army's departure has a name." He also memorialized: "When garrison troops rotate home, follow ancestral practice—examine their skills in the rear hall and advance them in order."
40
會有衛卒賂庫吏求揀冬衣，坐繫者三十餘人。 時八月，霜雪暴至。 偃推《洪範》“急，恒寒若”之咎，請從末減，奏可。 西塞用兵，士卒妻子留京師者，犯法當死，帝不忍用刑，或欲以毒置飲食中，令得善死。 偃極言其不可，帝亦悔而止。 宦人程智誠與三班使臣馮文顯八人抵罪，帝使赦智誠三人，而文顯五人坐如法。 偃曰：「恤近遺遠，非政也，況同罪異罰乎？」 詔並釋之。 未幾，卒。
Thereupon palace guards bribed clerks to seek selection of winter clothing; more than thirty were imprisoned. It was the eighth month and frost and snow came suddenly. Yan applied the Great Plan's blame "haste—constant cold like" and asked reduction from the lowest degree; the memorial was approved. When western border troops were deployed, soldiers' wives who remained in the capital and broke the law deserved death; the emperor could not bear to use punishment and some wished to place poison in food and drink so they might die well. Yan spoke strongly that this could not be done; the emperor also regretted it and stopped. The eunuch Cheng Zhicheng and eight men of the Three-Rank envoy corps including Feng Wenxian were convicted; the emperor wished to pardon Zhicheng and three others while the five including Wenxian would be punished according to law. Yan said: "Favoring the near and neglecting the far is not government—and moreover, equal guilt with unequal punishment?" An edict released them all. Before long he died.
41
偃未仕時，家有良田數十頃，既貴，悉以予族人。 初，天下職田，無日月之限，而赴官者多以前後為斷。 偃請水陸田各限以月，因著為令。 嘗與謝絳受詔試中書吏，而大臣有以簡屬偃者，偃不敢發視，亟焚之。 歐陽修始見偃，偃愛其文，召置門下，妻以女。 偃糾察刑獄，范仲淹尹京，偃數糾其立異不循法者。 修方善仲淹，因與偃有隙。
Before Yan took office his family had several dozen qing of good farmland; once honored, he gave it all to kinsmen. At first, office land throughout the realm had no limit of days and months, and those taking up posts mostly cut off by before and after. Yan asked that water and land fields each be limited by month, and it was written into regulation. He once with Xie Jiang received an edict to test Secretariat clerks, and a great minister sent a note asking a favor of Yan; Yan dared not open it and quickly burned it. When Ouyang Xiu first met Yan, Yan loved his writings and summoned him to his gate, giving him his daughter in marriage. Yan investigated criminal cases; Fan Zhongyan was prefect of the capital and Yan repeatedly impeached him for establishing differences and not following law. Xiu was then friendly with Zhongyan and therefore had a rift with Yan.
42
子元衡，有學行，能自立，為尚書都官員外郎，並其子茂諶咸早卒。 偃妻，直史館刁約之妹。 與元衡婦韓、茂諶婦謝皆寡居丹陽，閨門有法，江、淮人至今稱之。
His son Yuanheng had learning and conduct and could stand on his own, serving as outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Justice; both he and his son Maoqin died young. Yan's wife was the younger sister of Diao Yue, compiler in the Academy of History. With Yuanheng's wife Han and Maoqin's wife Xie, all were widows dwelling in Danyang; their inner gates had discipline, and people along the Yangzi and Huai still praise them today.
43
柳植，字子春，真州人。 少貧，自奮為學，從祖開頗器之。 舉進士甲科，為大理評事、通判滁州。 遷著作郎、直集賢院、知秀州。 除三司度支判官，出知宣州。 擢修起居注、知制誥。 求知蘇州，徙杭州，累遷尚書工部員外、郎中。 召還，為翰林學士，遷諫議大夫、御史中丞。 既而以疾辭，改侍讀學士、知鄧州。 遷給事中、移潁州。
Liu Zhi, courtesy name Zichun, was a native of Zhenzhou. Poor in youth, he strove in learning; his uncle by marriage Liu Kai greatly valued him. He passed the jinshi examination in the top grade and was appointed reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and surveillance commissioner of Chuzhou. He was transferred to editorial director, direct collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and prefect of Xiu Prefecture. He was appointed fiscal judge in the Three Departments and went out as prefect of Xuanzhou. He was elevated to reviser of the Veritable Records and drafter of edicts. He asked to be prefect of Suzhou, was transferred to Hangzhou, and was promoted repeatedly to outer-court vice-director and director in the Ministry of Works. Recalled, he became Hanlin academician and was promoted to remonstrance grandee and censor-in-chief. Soon he resigned on grounds of illness and was changed to reader-in-waiting and prefect of Dengzhou. He was promoted to recipient of edicts and transferred to Yingzhou.
44
先是，張海、郭邈山叛京西，攻掠縣鎮，而光化卒邵興亦率其徒作亂，逐官吏，取庫兵而去。 時植領京西安撫使，坐賊發部中不能察，降右諫議大夫、知黃州。 久之，復其官。 坐薦張得一落職，未幾，復其職如故。 歷知壽、亳、蔡、揚四州，分司西京，遂致仕。 累遷吏部侍郎，卒。
Earlier, Zhang Hai and Guo Yaoshan rebelled in western Jing and attacked counties and towns, while Guanghua soldier Shao Xing also led his comrades in revolt, drove off officials, and took depot weapons and left. At the time Zhi headed the western Jing pacification commission; because the bandits arose in his jurisdiction without his detecting them, he was demoted to right remonstrance grandee and prefect of Huangzhou. After a long while his office was restored. For recommending Zhang Deyi he lost office; before long his office was restored as before. He successively served as prefect of Shou, Bo, Cai, and Yang prefectures, commissioner of the Western Capital branch, and then retired. He was promoted repeatedly to Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel and died.
45
植平居畏慎，寡言笑，所至官舍，蔬果不輒采，家無長物，時稱其廉。
Zhi in ordinary life was cautious and fearful, sparing of words and laughter; at every post he would not casually pick garden fruits and vegetables; his household had no long possessions, and the age called him incorrupt.
46
聶冠卿
Nie Guanqing
47
聶冠卿，字長孺，歙州新安人。 五世祖師道，楊行密版奏，號問政先生，鴻臚卿。 冠卿舉進士，授連州軍事推官。 楊億愛其文章，於是大臣交薦，召試學士院，校勘館閣書籍。 遷大理寺丞，為集賢校理、通判蘄州。 坐嘗校《十代興亡論》謬誤落職。
Nie Guanqing, courtesy name Changru, was a native of Xin'an in Shezhou. His fifth-generation ancestor Shidao was memorialized by Yang Xingmi as Lord of Inquiry into Governance, Grandee of Splendid Happiness. Guanqing passed the jinshi examination and was appointed investigating official in Lianzhou military administration. Yang Yi loved his writings; thereupon great ministers jointly recommended him; he was summoned for trial in the Academy and collated books in the palace collections. He was transferred to aide in the Court of Judicial Review, collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and surveillance commissioner of Qizhou. He lost office for once collating the Ten Dynasties Rise and Fall with errors.
48
再遷太常博士，復集賢校理。 言：「天下旬奏獄，雖笞、杖並覆，而徒、流不繫獄者乃不以聞，非所以矜慎刑罰之意。 請自今罷覆笞、杖罪，自徒以上雖不繫獄，亦奏覆。」 從之。 判登聞鼓院，歷開封府判官、三司鹽鐵度支判官，同修起居注。 累遷尚書工部郎中。
He was promoted again to erudite in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and restored as collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies. He said: "Throughout the realm decennial memorial prisons, though flogging and staff are all reviewed, yet exile and penal servitude not held in prison are not reported—this is not the intent of showing mercy in punishments. I ask that henceforth review of flogging and staff crimes be ended, and from exile upward, though not held in prison, memorial review also be submitted." The throne followed this. He judged the Court of Complaint and Appeal, served successively as judge in the Kaifeng prefectural office and fiscal judge in the Salt and Iron Commission, and jointly revised the Veritable Records. He was promoted repeatedly to director in the Ministry of Works.
49
初，翰林侍講學士馮元修大樂，命冠卿檢閱事跡。 又預撰《景祐廣樂記》，特遷刑部郎中、直集賢院。 以兵部郎中、知制誥判太常禮院，糾察刑獄。 奉使契丹，其主謂曰：「君家先世奉道，子孫固有昌者。」 嘗觀所著《蘄春集》，詞極清麗，因自擊球縱飲，命冠卿賦詩，禮遇甚厚。 還，同知通進銀臺司、審刑院，入翰林為學士。 母亡，起復，判昭文館。 未幾，兼侍讀學士。
At first Hanlin lecturer Feng Yuan revised the great music and ordered Guanqing to examine the records. He also took part in drafting the Expanded Music Record of the Jingyou era and was specially transferred to director in the Ministry of Justice and direct collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies. As director in the Ministry of War, drafter of edicts, and judge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, he investigated criminal cases. Sent as envoy to the Khitan, their ruler said to him: "Your family's forebears served the Way; surely descendants will prosper." He once read Guanqing's Qichun Collection—the language was extremely refined—and while playing ball and drinking freely ordered Guanqing to compose poetry, treating him with great courtesy. On his return he served as vice director of the Office for Transmission of Documents in Silver Terrace and the Court for Review of Punishments, and entered the Hanlin Academy as academician. When his mother died he was recalled from mourning and judged the Zhaowen Academy. Before long he also served as reader-in-waiting.
50
冠卿每進讀《左氏春秋》，必引尊王黜霸之義以諷。 一日，墜笏上前，帝憫冠卿喪毀羸瘠，既退，賜禁中湯劑。 未幾，告歸葬親，至揚州卒。 詔以其弟太常博士世卿通判宣州。 初，世卿監延豐倉，掘地得古磚，有隸書字，半漫滅。 其可辨者云：「公先世餌霞棲雲，高尚不仕，累石於江濱。」 又云：「昭王大丞相聶。」 又云：「水龍夜號，夕雞駭飛。 其年九月十二日卒，年五十有五。」 冠卿始見而惡之，至是，校所卒歲月及其享年，無少異者。
Whenever Guanqing lectured on the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, he always cited the meaning of honoring the king and dismissing hegemons to admonish. One day his tablet fell before the throne; the emperor pitied Guanqing's mourning and emaciation, and after he withdrew bestowed palace medicine. Before long he asked to return and bury his parent; he died at Yangzhou. An edict made his younger brother Shiqing, erudite in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, surveillance commissioner of Xuanzhou. At first Shiqing supervised the Yanfeng granary and digging the ground obtained an ancient brick with clerical script characters, half effaced. What could be made out read: "Your forebears ate cloud mist and dwelt among clouds, lofty and not serving office, piled stones on the river bank." It also read: "Grand Chancellor Nie of King Zhao." It also read: "The water dragon cried at night, the evening cock flew in alarm. In that year on the twelfth day of the ninth month he died, age fifty-five." When Guanqing first saw it he was displeased; when this came to pass, comparing the year and month of death and his span of years, there was not the slightest difference.
51
冠卿嗜學好古，手未嘗釋卷，尤工詩，有《蘄春集》十卷。
Guanqing loved learning and antiquity and never put down his books; he was especially skilled in poetry and had ten juan of the Qichun Collection.
52
論曰：學士大夫異於眾人者，以操行修爾。 《詩》曰：「靡不有初，鮮克有終。」 君子不可不慎也。 禹錫迂陋，不知止足之戒，取譏當世。 紳急進喜傾。 洙阿諛附會，晚節汙變，卒忘平生之學。 偃之恬正，植之廉介，冠卿之雅尚，其列侍從，庶亡愧焉。
The appraisal says: Scholar-officials differ from the multitude in that they cultivate conduct. The Odes says: "All have a beginning, few can have an end." The gentleman must be careful. Yu Xi was pedantic and vulgar, ignorant of the warning against not knowing when to stop, and drew ridicule in his age. Shen was eager to advance and delighted in overthrowing others. Zhu flattered and attached himself to factions; in his later years his conduct was stained and changed, and in the end he forgot the learning of his lifetime. Yan's tranquil rectitude, Zhi's incorrupt integrity, and Guanqing's elegant esteem—as they stood in attendance on the throne, they could mostly be without shame.
53
馮元，字道宗。 高祖禧，唐末官廣州，以術數仕劉氏。 傳三世至父邴，廣南平，入朝為保章正。 元幼從崔頤正、孫奭為《五經》大義，與樂安孫質、吳陸參、譙夏侯圭善，群居講學，或達旦不寢，號「四友」。 進士中第，授江陰尉。
Feng Yuan, courtesy name Daozong. His great-grandfather Xi in late Tang served in Guangzhou and by numerology served the Liu house. The line passed three generations to his father Bing; when Lingnan was pacified he entered court as Director of Astral Observations. Yuan in youth followed Cui Yizheng and Sun Shi in the Great Meaning of the Five Classics, and was friendly with Sun Zhi of Le'an, Wu Lucan, and Xiahou Gui of Qiao; they gathered to lecture and sometimes did not sleep until dawn, and were called the "Four Friends." He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed aide in Jiangyin.
54
時詔流內銓取明經者補學官，元自薦通《五經》。 謝泌笑曰：「古治一經，或至皓首，子尚少，能盡通邪？」 對曰：「達者一以貫之。」 更問疑義，辨析無滯。 補國子監講書，遷大理評事，擢崇文院檢討兼國子監直講。 王旦聞其名，嘗令說《論語》、《老子》，群子弟侍聽，因薦之。
At that time an edict ordered the Inner Circulation Board to take men who had passed the classics examination to fill academic posts; Yuan recommended himself as mastering the Five Classics. Xie Mi laughed and said: "In antiquity to master one classic one might study until white hair; you are still young—can you master them all?" He answered: "The penetrating person comprehends all in one." Further questioned on doubtful points, he analyzed without hesitation. He was appointed lecturer in the Directorate of Education, transferred to reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review, and elevated to reviser in the Chongwen Academy with concurrent direct lecturer in the Directorate of Education. Wang Dan heard his name and once had him expound the Analects and Laozi while the clan youths attended and listened, and therefore recommended him.
55
真宗試進士殿中，召元講《易》。 元進說曰：「地天為《泰》者，以天地之氣交也。 君道至尊，臣道至卑，惟上下相與，則可以輔相天地，財成萬化。」 帝悅。 未幾，遷太子中允、直龍圖閣，詔預內朝，直龍圖閣預內朝自此始。
Emperor Zhenzong tested jinshi in the palace hall and summoned Yuan to lecture on the Changes. Yuan advanced and explained: "Heaven and Earth as Tai means the qi of Heaven and Earth interact. The way of the ruler is supremely honored and the way of the minister supremely low—only when above and below join can they assist Heaven and Earth and complete the myriad transformations." The emperor was pleased. Before long he was transferred to Vice Director in the Crown Prince's household and direct appointment in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion; an edict placed him in the inner court—direct appointment in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion in the inner court began from this.
56
天禧初，數與查道、李虛己、李行簡入講《易》於宣和門北閣。 遷太常丞兼判禮部、吏部南曹。 皇子為壽春郡王，王旦又薦元宜講經資善堂。 帝以元少，更用崔遵度。 會遵度卒，擢左正言兼太子右諭德。
In the early Tianxi era he several times with Zha Dao, Li Xuji, and Li Xingjian entered to lecture on the Changes in the northern pavilion of the Xuanhe Gate. He was transferred to aide in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices with concurrent judge in the Ministry of Rites and southern bureau of the Ministry of Personnel. The imperial son was Prince of Shouchun; Wang Dan again recommended Yuan as fit to lecture in the Hall of Cultivating Goodness. The emperor thought Yuan young and instead used Cui Zundu. When Zundu died, Yuan was elevated to left rectifier of speech with concurrent mentor of the crown prince's right establishment.
57
仁宗即位，遷戶部員外郎，為直學士兼侍講。 與孫奭以經術並進講論，自是仁宗益嚮學。 歷會靈觀副使、知通進銀臺司、判登聞檢院、同判國子監。 故事，國子監多宿儒典領，後頗用公卿子弟，任均管庫。 及奭、元並命，士議悅服。 同知貢舉，進龍圖閣學士，預修《三朝正史》。 為翰林學士、判都省三班院、史館修撰、判流內銓兼群牧使，四遷給事中。
When Emperor Renzong acceded, he was transferred to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Revenue and made direct academician with concurrent lecturer. With Sun Shi he advanced by classical learning together in lecture and discussion; from this Renzong increasingly turned to learning. He successively served as vice commissioner of the Hall of Numina, director of the Office for Transmission of Documents in Silver Terrace, judge of the Court of Complaint and Inspection, and co-superintendent of the Directorate of Education. By precedent the Directorate of Education was mostly led by senior Confucians; later the sons of dukes and ministers were much used and all managed storehouses equally. When Shi and Yuan were both appointed, scholarly opinion was pleased and convinced. As co-director of the examinations he was advanced to academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion and took part in compiling the Veritable Records of the Three Reigns. He became Hanlin academician, judged the Secretariat's Three-Rank Court, Academy compiler, judge of the Inner Circulation Board with concurrent commissioner of the Herds, and was promoted four times to recipient of edicts.
58
元性簡厚，不治聲名，非慶吊未嘗過謁二府。 執親喪，自括髮至祥練，皆案禮變服，不為世俗齋薦，遇祭日，與門生對坐，誦說《孝經》而已。 多識古今臺閣品式之事，尤精《易》。
Yuan's nature was simple and generous; he did not pursue fame; except for congratulations and condolences he never visited the Two Offices. When observing mourning for a parent, from cutting the hair to the end of the second-year mourning he followed ritual in changing garments and did not perform popular Buddhist fasting; on sacrifice days he sat facing his students and recited only the Classic of Filial Piety. He knew much of ancient and modern matters of terrace and pavilion grades and forms, and was especially expert in the Changes.
59
初，七歲，方讀《易》，每夜夢異人，以紺蓮華與元吞之，且曰：「善讀此，後必貴顯。」 元且老，率三日一誦《易》。 無子，以兄之子譓為後。
At first, at age seven, when reading the Changes, each night he dreamed a strange man gave him an indigo lotus to swallow and said: "Read this well and later you will certainly be honored." When Yuan was old he still recited the Changes every three days on average. Having no son, he took his elder brother's son Hui as heir.
60
趙師民
Zhao Shimin
61
趙師民，字周翰，青州臨淄人。 九歲能屬文，舉進士第，孫奭辟兗州說書，領諸城主簿。 師民學問精博，奭自以為不及。 夏竦尤所奇重，稱為「盛德君子」，論其文行，願回兩子恩，授以京秩。 除齊州推官、青州教授，更天平軍節度推官。
Zhao Shimin, courtesy name Zhouhan, was a native of Linzi in Qingzhou. At age nine he could compose prose; he passed the jinshi examination; Sun Shi summoned him as lecturer in Yanzhou and he headed Zhucheng chief clerk. Shimin's learning was refined and broad; Shi felt himself inferior. Xia Song especially valued him, calling him a "gentleman of abundant virtue," and discussing his literary conduct wished to exchange the favor shown two sons and grant him capital rank. He was appointed investigating official in Qizhou and professor in Qingzhou, then investigating official in the Tianping military commission.
62
年五十來京師，近臣張觀、宋郊、王堯臣、龐籍、韓琦、明鎬列薦，為國子監直講，兼潤、冀二王宮教授。 改著作佐郎、宗正寺主簿，加崇文院檢討、崇政殿說書，遷宗正丞。
At age fifty he came to the capital; close ministers Zhang Guan, Song Jiao, Wang Yao Chen, Pang Ji, Han Qi, and Ming Hao jointly recommended him as direct lecturer in the Directorate of Education with concurrent professor in the Run and Ji princely establishments. He was changed to editorial assistant and registrar in the Court of the Imperial Clan, added reviser in the Chongwen Academy and lecturer in the Chongzheng Hall, and transferred to vice-director in the Court of the Imperial Clan.
63
會趙元昊反，罷進講。 師民上書陳十五事：一曰諮輔相，二曰命將帥，三曰柬侍從，四曰擇守宰，五曰治軍旅，六曰修邊防，七曰求諫諍，八曰延講誦，九曰革貢舉，十曰久官政，十一曰謹財用，十二曰不遺年，十三曰容誹謗，十四曰除忌諱，十五曰慎出令。 因獻《勸講箴》。 明年春，帝遂御迎陽門，召近臣觀圖畫，復命講讀經史。 師民見朝廷厭兵，屈意以招元昊，內不能平。 乃上言請任方面，以圖報效。 遷天章章閣侍講、同知貢舉，進待制、同判宗正寺。
When Zhao Yuanhao rebelled, lectures were suspended. Shimin memorialized setting forth fifteen matters: first, consult chief ministers; second, appoint generals; third, select attendants; fourth, choose prefects and magistrates; fifth, regulate the army; sixth, repair frontier defense; seventh, seek remonstrance; eighth, extend lecture and recitation; ninth, reform examinations; tenth, long tenure in office; eleventh, be careful with finances; twelfth, do not neglect the aged; thirteenth, tolerate slander; fourteenth, remove taboos; fifteenth, be careful in issuing orders. He also presented the Admonition to Encourage Lectures. The next spring the emperor then went to the Yingyang Gate, summoned close ministers to view paintings, and again ordered lecture and reading of the classics and histories. Shimin saw the court weary of war and bending its intent to win over Yuanhao; inwardly he could not be at peace. He therefore memorialized asking to hold a regional post to repay service. He was transferred to lecturer in the Tianzhang Pavilion and co-director of the examinations, advanced to awaiting edict and co-judge of the Court of the Imperial Clan.
64
嘗講《詩》「如彼泉流」，曰：「水之初出，喻王政之發。 順行則通，通故清潔； 逆亂則壅，壅故濁敗。 賢人用，則王政通而世清平； 邪人進，則王澤壅而世濁敗。 幽王失道，用邪絀正，正不勝邪，雖有善人，不能為治，亦將相牽而淪於汙濁也。」 帝曰：「水何以喻政？」 對曰：「水者，順行而潤下，利萬物，故以喻政，此於比興，義最大。」
He once lectured on the Odes' "like that spring's flow" and said: "Water's first emergence symbolizes the issuing of royal government. Flowing straight it passes; passing it is clear and clean; turned back in disorder it is blocked; blocked it is muddy and ruined. When worthy men are used, royal government passes and the age is clear and peaceful; when depraved men advance, royal favor is blocked and the age is muddy and ruined. King You lost the Way, used the depraved and dismissed the upright; the upright did not overcome the depraved; though there were good men they could not govern, and would also be dragged together into mire and filth." The emperor said: "Why use water to symbolize government?" He answered: "Water flows straight and moistens below, benefiting the myriad things—therefore it symbolizes government; among comparisons this meaning is greatest."
65
後講《論語》，問「修文德」，曰：「文者，經天緯地之總稱。 君人之道，撫之以仁，制之以義，接之以禮，講之以信，皆是。」 帝曰：「然其所先者，無若信也。」 曰：「信者，天下之大本，仁義禮樂，皆必由之，此實至道之要。」 復問「鑽燧改火」，曰：「古之聖王，舉動必順天時，所以四時變，火隨木色。 近世漸務苟簡，以為非治具而遂廢之，至其萬事皆不如古。」 又問：「子夏、子張所言交道孰勝？」 曰：「聖哲之道，含覆廣大，與天地參。 善者有以進德，惡者俾之改行。 子張之言為優。」
Later lecturing on the Analects, he was asked about "cultivate civil virtue" and said: "Culture is the general term for ordering Heaven and setting Earth. The way of ruling men—soothing with benevolence, regulating with righteousness, receiving with ritual, explaining with trust—all are this." The emperor said: "Yet of these, none surpasses trust." He said: "Trust is the great root under Heaven; benevolence, righteousness, ritual, and music all must pass through it—this is truly the essentials of the utmost Way." Asked again about "drilling fire and changing fire," he said: "The sage kings of antiquity in every movement followed Heaven's seasons; therefore the four seasons change and fire follows the color of wood. In recent times people have gradually pursued what is convenient and simple, thinking these are not instruments of government and therefore abandoning them—so that in the myriad affairs nothing is as in antiquity." Asked again: "Between what Zixia and Zizhang said about friendship, which is superior?" He said: "The sage's Way embraces and covers, vast as Heaven and Earth. For the good there is means to advance virtue; for the evil there is means to make them change conduct. Zizhang's words are superior."
66
他日讀《漢記》，問長安城，眾莫能知，共推師民。 因陳自古都雍年世，舊址所在，若畫諸掌。 帝悅曰：「何其所記如此！」 在經筵十餘年，甚見器異。 嘗盛夏屬疾家居，帝飛白書團扇為「和平」字，賜以寄意。
Another day reading the Han Records, he was asked about Chang'an city; none could answer and all pushed Shimin. He therefore set forth from antiquity the years of capitals at Yong and the old sites, as if drawn on the palm. The emperor said with pleasure: "How does he record thus!" In the classics lecture hall more than ten years, he was greatly valued and distinguished. Once in midsummer he was ill at home; the emperor wrote the characters "peace" in flying white on a round fan and bestowed it to convey his intent.
67
累請補郡，除龍圖閣直學士、知耀州。 帝自寫詩寵行，目以「儒林舊德」。 將行，上疏曰：
Repeatedly he asked to fill a prefecture and was appointed direct academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion and prefect of Yaozhou. The emperor himself wrote a poem to honor his departure, styling him "old virtue of the Confucian forest." About to depart, he submitted a memorial saying:
68
「近睹太陽食於正朔，此雖陰陽之事，亦慮是天意欲以感動聖心。 臣非瞽史，不知天道，但率愚意言之。 其月在亥，亥為水，水為正陰。 其日在丙，丙為正陽。 月掩日，陰侵陽，下蔽上之象也。 《詩》曰：『十月之交，朔日辛卯。』 又曰：『彼月而微，此日而微。』 謂以陰奸陽，失其敘也。 又曰：『百川沸騰，山塚崒崩。 高岸為谷，深谷為陵。』 謂下陵上，侵其權也。 又曰：『皇父卿士，番惟司徒。 家伯維宰，中允膳夫。 聚子內史，蹶維趣馬，楀維師氏。』 謂大小之臣，有不得其人者也。 宗周之間，時王失德。 今而引喻，蓋事有所譬，固當不諱。
"Recently I observed a solar eclipse at the new moon—though this is a matter of yin and yang, I also fear Heaven's intent wishes to move the sage heart. I am not a blind musician or clerk and do not know Heaven's Way, but speak from foolish opinion alone. The month is in hai; hai is water, and water is the true yin. The day is in bing; bing is the true yang. The moon eclipsing the sun is yin invading yang—the image of below obscuring above. The Odes says: 'In the tenth month's intercourse, on the new moon day xinmao.' It also says: 'That moon was dim, this sun was dim.' This speaks of yin harming yang and losing proper order. It also says: 'A hundred streams boil and surge, mountain tumuli crumble and fall.' High banks become valleys, deep valleys become hills. This speaks of below overthrowing above and encroaching on its authority. It also says: 'Grandfather the minister, Fan is sole Minister of Education.' Jia Bo is the steward, Zhong Yun is the provisioner. Juzi the recorder, Jue is sole master of horses, Yu is sole commander of the guard. This speaks of great and small ministers among whom some were not the right men. Between the Zhou capitals, the king at the time lost virtue. Now in drawing analogy, there is surely something to which matters compare—one should indeed not shrink from speaking.
69
凡天之示象，由人君有失，不然，則下蔽其上。 古人君之失，不過暴虐怠慢，奢侈縱放，不師古始。 舍是，何失道之有？ 今聖心慈仁恭勤，儉約自檢，動循典禮，如此自非下蒙上、邪撓正，使主恩不下究，而誰之咎歟？ 望陛下朝夕諮於丞弼心膂之臣，洎左右近侍耳目之官。 其忠而純者，與之慎柬內外百執事及州縣牧宰，使主恩究於下，不為群邪所蔽塞，則億兆之幸也。」
Whenever Heaven displays omens, it is because the ruler has faults; otherwise it is that below obscures above. The faults of rulers of antiquity were nothing beyond cruelty, sloth, extravagance, indulgence, and not taking antiquity as teacher. Apart from these, what loss of the Way could there be? Now the sage heart is benevolent, respectful, and diligent, frugal and self-restrained, moving according to ritual and precedent—if it is not that below obscures above and the depraved bend the upright, causing the ruler's grace not to reach below, whose fault is it? I hope Your Majesty morning and evening consult the chief ministers who are the heart and backbone, down to the close attendants who are eyes and ears. Those who are loyal and pure—with them carefully choose inner and outer hundred officials and prefectural and county shepherds and magistrates, so that the ruler's grace reaches below and is not blocked by the crowd of depraved—then the myriad people will be fortunate."
70
三遷刑部郎中，復領宗正，卒。
He was promoted three times to director in the Ministry of Justice, again headed the Court of the Imperial Clan, and died.
71
師民淳靜剛敏，舉止凝重。 幼喪父，哀感，不畜婢妾，年四十四始婚。 志尚清遠，專以讀書為事。 性極慈恕，勤於吏治，政有惠愛。 嘗奏蠲陝西旱租。 又欲論榷酤諸獘敝，會仁宗不豫而止。 常患近世官失其守，作《正官名》，議多不載。 有集三十卷。 子彥若，試中書舍人。
Shimin was pure, tranquil, firm, and keen; his bearing was grave and weighty. He lost his father in youth and was moved by grief; he kept no concubines and did not marry until age forty-four. His aim was lofty and remote; he devoted himself solely to reading books. His nature was extremely merciful and forgiving; he was diligent in governing and his administration had kindness and love. He once memorialized to remit drought rents in Shaanxi. He also wished to discuss the abuses of monopoly wine sales but stopped when Emperor Renzong fell ill. He often grieved that in recent times officials lost their proper duties and composed Rectifying Official Titles, but most of the discussion was not recorded. He had collected works in thirty juan. His son Yanruo passed the examination for Secretariat drafter.
72
張錫，字貺之，其先京兆人。 曾祖山甫，嘗從唐僖宗入蜀，蜀平，徙家漢陽。 錫進士甲科，為試秘書省校書郎、知南昌縣。 遷著作郎、知新州。 初建學於州，自是人始知學。 再遷太常博士、監染院。 詔選能吏治畿縣，乃以錫知東明。 始至，令其下曰：「吾所治者三：恃力、恃富、恃贖者，吾所先也。」 歲中以治跡聞。 樞密直學士李及薦為監察御史。 丁謂貶崖州，議還內地。 錫疏謂：「姦邪弄國，本與天下共棄之； 今復還，是違天下意。」 由是止徙雷州。
Zhang Xi, courtesy name Changzhi, his ancestors were natives of Jingzhao. His great-grandfather Shanfu once followed Emperor Xizong of Tang into Shu; when Shu was pacified the family moved to Hanyang. Xi passed the jinshi examination in the top grade and served as probationary collator in the Secretariat and magistrate of Nanchang County. He was transferred to editorial director and prefect of Xin Prefecture. When schools were first established in the prefecture, from this people began to know learning. He was promoted again to erudite in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and supervisor of the dye works. An edict selected capable officials to govern capital counties, and Xi was therefore made magistrate of Dongming. When he first arrived he ordered his subordinates: "What I govern are three kinds: those who rely on force, those who rely on wealth, and those who rely on bribes—I put these first." Within the year his governing traces were reported. Direct academician in the Bureau of Military Affairs Li Ji recommended him as investigating censor. Ding Wei was demoted to Yazhou and the court debated returning him to the interior. Xi memorialized: "The depraved who toyed with the state were originally abandoned together with all under Heaven; to bring them back now is to go against the will of all under Heaven." Thereupon he was only moved to Leizhou.
73
玉清昭應宮災，連繫甚眾。 錫言：「天災反以罪人，恐重天怒，願修德以應之。」 會論者眾，獄遂解。 遷殿中侍御史，權三司鹽鐵判官，出為荊湖北路轉運使，改尚書兵部員外郎，還判度支勾院，為京東轉運使。 淄、青、齊、濮、鄆諸州人冒耕河壖地，數起爭訟。 錫命籍其地，收租絹歲二十餘萬，訟者亦息。 判鹽鐵勾院，為河北轉運使，改江、淮制置發運使，召兼侍御史知雜事、判大理寺、權知諫院，安撫利、夔路。 歷度支、鹽鐵副使。 喪母，起復，擢天章閣待制、知河中府，累遷右司郎中，以龍圖閣直學士知滑州，遷右諫議大夫、知審官院。 進翰林侍讀學士、判太常寺、國子監。 卒，贈尚書工部侍郎。
When the Yujing Zhaoying Palace burned, many were implicated in chains. Xi said: "Heaven's disaster yet punishing men—I fear this will redouble Heaven's anger; I pray Your Majesty cultivate virtue to respond to it." As many joined in discussion, the cases were dissolved. He was transferred to palace attendant censor, acting fiscal judge in the Salt and Iron Commission, went out as transport commissioner of northern Jinghu Road, changed to outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of War, returned to judge the fiscal verification bureau, and became transport commissioner of eastern Shandong. In Zi, Qing, Qi, Pu, and Yan prefectures people falsely cultivated river-bank land and lawsuits arose repeatedly. Xi ordered the land registered and rent silk collected—more than two hundred thousand a year—and litigants also ceased. He judged the Salt and Iron verification bureau, became transport commissioner of Hebei, changed to commissioner for arranging transport on the Yangzi and Huai, was summoned with concurrent attendant censor knowing miscellaneous matters, judged the Court of Judicial Review, and acted as remonstrance official, pacifying Li and Kui circuits. He successively served as vice commissioner of fiscal affairs and salt and iron. When his mother died he was recalled from mourning, elevated to awaiting edict in the Tianzhang Pavilion and prefect of Hezhong, promoted repeatedly to director in the right bureau, and as direct academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion became prefect of Huazhou, then right remonstrance grandee and director of the Court for Review of Appointments. He was advanced to reader-in-waiting in the Hanlin Academy, judge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and superintendent of the Directorate of Education. He died and was posthumously granted Vice Director of the Ministry of Works in the Secretariat.
74
錫淳重清約，雖貴，奉養如少賤時。 讀書老而彌篤。 初，舉廣文館進士，考官任隨以為第一，及隨死，無子，錫屢賙其家。
Xi was pure, weighty, clear, and sparing; though honored, his support of parents was as when young and lowly. He read books and in old age was even more earnest. At first he entered the Guangwen Academy jinshi examination; examiner Ren Sui ranked him first, and when Sui died without sons, Xi repeatedly aided his household.
75
張揆，字貫之，其先范陽人，後徙齊州。 擢進士第，歷北海縣尉，改大理寺丞。 以疾解官，十年不出戶。 讀《易》，因通揚雄《太玄經》。 陳執中安撫京東，薦揆經明行淳，召為國子監直講，徙諸王府侍講。 以尚書度支員外郎直史館、荊王府記室參軍。 府罷，權三司戶部判官。 上所著《太玄集解》數萬言。 詔對邇英閣，令揲耆，得斷首，且言：「斷首準《易》之《夬》，蓋以陽剛決陰柔，君子進、小人退之象。」 仁宗悅。 擢天章閣待制兼侍讀，累遷右諫議大夫，進龍圖閣直學士、給事中、判太常寺。 一日，進讀漢《馬后傳》，至服大練、抑止外家，因言：「今妃族太盛，不可不裁損，使保其家。」 帝嘉納之。 詔改王溥諡，有議欲為「文忠」者，揆曰：「溥，周之宰相，國亡不能死，安得為忠？」 乃諡為「文康」。 加翰林侍讀學士、知審刑院，出知齊州。 卒，贈尚書禮部侍郎。
Zhang Kui, courtesy name Guanzhi, his ancestors were natives of Fanyang and later moved to Qi Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination and successively served as aide in Beihai and was changed to aide in the Court of Judicial Review. On grounds of illness he resigned office and for ten years did not leave his door. Reading the Changes, he thereby mastered Yang Xiong's Supreme Mystery. Chen Zhizhong pacified eastern Jing and recommended Kui as clear in the classics and pure in conduct; he was summoned as direct lecturer in the Directorate of Education and transferred to lecturer in the various princely establishments. As outer-court vice-director in the Ministry of Revenue he served as direct compiler in the Academy of History and recorder in the Jing princely establishment. When the establishment was abolished he acted as fiscal judge in the Three Departments' Revenue Bureau. He submitted his Collected Explanations of the Supreme Mystery in tens of thousands of words. An edict ordered audience in the Nearby Excellence Hall; he was told to cast yarrow stalks and obtained Severed Head, and said: "Severed Head corresponds to Guai in the Changes—yang firm deciding yin soft, the image of the gentleman advancing and petty men retreating." Emperor Renzong was pleased. He was elevated to awaiting edict in the Tianzhang Pavilion with concurrent lecturer, promoted repeatedly to right remonstrance grandee, and advanced to direct academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion, recipient of edicts, and judge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. One day, lecturing on the Han Empress Ma in the Veritable Records, when he came to wearing coarse silk and restraining the maternal kin, he therefore said: "Today the consort clans are too flourishing—they must be cut back so their houses may be preserved." The emperor praised and accepted it. When an edict changed Wang Pu's posthumous title, some debated making it "Literary Loyal"; Kui said: "Pu was a Zhou chancellor who could not die when the state perished—how can he be called loyal?" Thereupon he was given "Literary Tranquility." He was added reader-in-waiting in the Hanlin Academy and director of the Court for Review of Punishments, and went out as prefect of Qi Prefecture. He died and was posthumously granted Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites in the Secretariat.
76
揆性剛狷少容，闊於世務，然好讀書，老而不倦。 與弟掞相友愛，掞，為龍圖閣直學士。
Kui's nature was stern and narrow with little tolerance, broad in worldly affairs, yet he loved reading and in old age did not weary. He and his younger brother Shan loved each other; Shan became direct academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion.
77
楊安國
Yang Anguo
78
楊安國，字君倚，密州安丘人。 父光輔，居馬耆山，學者多從受經，州守王博文薦為太學助教。 孫奭知兗州，又薦為太常寺奉禮郎，州學講書。 既而奭與馮元薦安國為國子監直講，並召光輔至。 仁宗命說《尚書》，光輔曰：「堯、舜之事，遠而未易行，願講《無逸》一篇。」 時年七十餘矣，而論說明暢。 帝悅，欲留為學官，固辭，以國子監丞老於家。
Yang Anguo, courtesy name Junyi, was a native of Anqiu in Mizhou. His father Guangfu dwelt on Maqi Mountain; many students followed him to receive the classics; prefect Wang Bowen recommended him as teaching aide in the Imperial College. When Sun Shi knew Yanzhou he again recommended him as ceremonial officer in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and lecturer in the prefectural school. Thereafter Shi with Feng Yuan recommended Anguo as direct lecturer in the Directorate of Education and summoned Guangfu as well. Emperor Renzong ordered him to expound the Documents; Guangfu said: "The affairs of Yao and Shun are remote and not easy to practice—I pray to expound the chapter 'No Dissipation.'" He was then more than seventy, yet his discussion was clear and fluent. The emperor was pleased and wished to keep him as academic official, but he firmly declined and returned home as aide in the Directorate of Education.
79
安國《五經》及第，為枝江縣尉，後遷大理寺丞。 光輔教授兗州，請監兗州酒稅，徙監益州糧料院，入為國子監直講，景祐初，置崇政殿說書，安國以國子博士預選。 久之，進天章閣侍講、直龍圖閣，遂為天章閣待制、龍圖閣直學士，皆兼侍講。 進翰林侍講學士，歷判尚書刑部、太常寺，糾察在京刑獄，累遷給事中。 年七十餘，卒，贈尚書禮部侍郎。
Anguo passed the Five Classics examination and served as aide in Zhijiang County, later transferred to aide in the Court of Judicial Review. Guangfu taught in Yanzhou and requested to supervise Yanzhou wine tax; he was transferred to supervise the grain supply office in Yizhou, entered as direct lecturer in the Directorate of Education; in the early Jingyou era the Chongzheng Hall lecture was established and Anguo was selected as erudite in the Directorate of Education. After a long while he was advanced to lecturer in the Tianzhang Pavilion and direct appointment in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion, then awaiting edict in the Tianzhang Pavilion and direct academician in the Dragon Diagram Pavilion—all with concurrent lecture. He was advanced to reader-in-waiting in the Hanlin Academy, successively judged the Ministry of Justice and Court of Imperial Sacrifices, investigated capital criminal cases, and was promoted repeatedly to recipient of edicts. At age more than seventy he died and was posthumously granted Vice Director of the Ministry of Rites in the Secretariat.
80
安國講說，一以注疏為主，無他發明，引喻鄙俚，世或傳以為笑。 尤喜緯書及注疏所引緯書，則尊之與經等。 在經筵二十七年，仁宗稱其行義淳質，以比先朝崔遵度。
Anguo in lecturing relied solely on commentaries and subcommentaries without other invention; his analogies were vulgar and rustic, and the age sometimes passed them around for laughter. He especially loved apocryphal texts and apocryphal texts cited in commentaries, honoring them equally with the classics. In the classics lecture hall twenty-seven years, Emperor Renzong praised his conduct as pure and simple, comparing him to Cui Zundu of the former court.
81
嘗講《易》至《鼎卦》，帝問：「九四象如何？」 安國對：「九四上承至尊，上應初爻，行重非據，故折足覆餗。 亦猶任得其人，則雖重可勝，非其人，必有顛覆之患。」 帝稱善。 又嘗講《周官》至「大荒大劄，則薄征緩刑」，因進言曰：「古所謂緩刑，乃貰過誤之民爾。 今眾持兵仗取民廩食，一切寬之，恐無以禁姦。」 帝曰：「不然，天下皆吾赤子，迫於餓莩。 至起為盜。 州縣既不能振恤，乃捕而殺之。 不亦甚乎。」 嘗請書《無逸篇》於邇英閣之後屏，帝曰：「朕不欲背聖人之言。」 命蔡襄書《無逸》、王洙書《孝經》四章列置左右。
He once lectured on the Changes to the Ding hexagram; the emperor asked: "What is the image of the fourth nine?" Anguo answered: "The fourth nine above receives the utmost honored, above it corresponds to the first line—acting with weight without proper footing, therefore the legs break and the stew is overturned. It is also like when the appointment fits the man, then though the weight is heavy it can be borne; when the man is not right, there must be the calamity of overturning." The emperor praised it as good. He also once lectured on the Offices of Zhou to "great famine and great pestilence—then lighten levies and ease punishments," and therefore advanced saying: "What antiquity called easing punishments was pardoning people who erred through mistake. Today the multitude bear arms and take the people's granary food—to pardon all alike I fear there will be no means to forbid wickedness." The emperor said: "Not so—all under Heaven are my children, driven to banditry by hunger. Only then do they turn to banditry. When local governments cannot feed and shelter them, they hunt them down and execute them— can anything be more cruel?" He once asked that the "No Dissipation" chapter be written on the screen behind the Nearby Excellence Hall; the emperor replied: "I do not wish to turn my back on the sage's words." An edict then had Cai Xiang write out "No Dissipation" and Wang Zhu write four chapters of the Classic of Filial Piety, displayed on either side.
82
論曰：馮元質直博雅，有古君子之風，歐陽修稱師民醇儒碩學，在仁宗時，並繇宿望，先後執經勸講，庶有所補益矣。 張錫清慎斂晦，晚始見知。 揆及安國父子俱侍經幄，考求其說，亡過人者。 夫博習修潔之士，潛德隱行，不聞於世者多矣。 繇是言之，士遇不遇，豈非命哉！
The appraisal says: Feng Yuan was plain, upright, broad, and learned, with the bearing of an ancient gentleman; Ouyang Xiu called Shimin a pure Confucian and great scholar—in Renzong's reign both rose on long-standing repute and lectured on the classics in turn, and the court gained something from them after all. Zhang Xi was clear-minded, cautious, and self-effacing, and won recognition only late in life. Kui and the Anguo father and son all served in the classics lecture hall; judged by their teaching, none rose above the common run. How many there are of men broadly learned and self-cultivated, virtuous yet obscure, whom the world never hears of! Judged by this, whether a scholar finds his moment or not—is it not a matter of fate!