Volume 312 Biographies 71: Han Qi and son: Zhongyan, Ceng Gongliang and son: Xiaokuan, Xiao Guang, Xiao Yun, Chen Shengzhi, Wu Chong, Wang Gui and uncle: Han, nephew: Qi

韓琦，字稚圭，相州安陽人。父國華，自有傳。琦風骨秀異，弱冠舉進士，名在第二。方唱名，太史奏日下五色雲見，左右皆賀。授將作監丞、通判淄州，入直集賢院、監左藏庫。時方貴高科，多徑去為顯職，琦獨滯筦庫，眾以為非宜，琦處之自若。禁中需金帛，皆內臣直批旨取之，無印可驗，琦請復舊制，置傳宣合同司，以相防察。又每綱運至，必俟內臣監蒞，始得受，往往數日不至，暴露廡下，衙校以為病，琦奏罷之。

Han Qi, whose courtesy name was Zhigui, was a native of Anyang in Xiang Prefecture. His father Guohua is the subject of a separate biography. Han Qi had an exceptional presence and bearing. In his early twenties he passed the jinshi examination, placing second. Just as his name was being proclaimed, the court astrologer reported five-colored clouds appearing beneath the sun, and everyone present congratulated him. He was appointed Vice Director of the Directorate for Palace Buildings and assigned as vice prefect of Zizhou, then entered the Hall of Assembled Worthies on special duty and supervised the Left Storehouse. At the time graduates of the highest examinations were held in high esteem, and many quickly advanced to prominent posts. Han Qi alone lingered at the state granary treasury. Many thought this unsuitable, but he remained entirely unruffled. Whenever the inner palace needed gold or silk, inner eunuchs would fetch it on edicts written in their own hand, with no official seal to verify them. Han Qi asked that the old system be restored and a Transmission and Review Contract Office set up so that the two sides could check each other. Moreover, each incoming convoy had to wait for an inner eunuch to come and supervise before it could be accepted. Often he would not appear for days, leaving goods exposed under the eaves. The warehouse staff regarded this as a serious burden, and Han Qi memorialized to abolish the requirement.

歷開封府推官、三司度支判官，拜右司諫。時宰相王隨、陳堯佐，參知政事韓億、石中立，在中書罕所建明，琦連疏其過，四人同日罷。又請停內降，抑僥倖。凡事有不便，未嘗不言，每以明得失、正紀綱、親忠直、遠邪佞為急，前後七十餘疏。王曾為相，謂之曰：「今言者不激，則多畏顧，何補上德？如君言，可謂切而不迂矣。」曾聞望方崇，罕所獎與，琦聞其語，益自信。權知制誥。

He served successively as investigating officer in the Kaifeng prefectural office and as fiscal reviewer in the Ministry of Revenue, then was appointed Remonstrator of the Right Bureau. At the time the chief councillors Wang Sui and Chen Yaozuo, together with Vice Grand Councillors Han Yi and Shi Zhongli, seldom advanced policy in the Secretariat. Han Qi submitted a series of memorials exposing their failings, and all four were dismissed on the same day. He also asked that direct appointments from within the palace be stopped and that undeserved favor be curbed. Whenever anything was amiss he spoke out without fail. He always pressed to clarify right and wrong, restore proper order, draw the loyal and upright close, and keep the wicked and fawning at a distance—more than seventy memorials in all. When Wang Zeng was chief councillor, he told him, "Nowadays remonstrators who are not forceful mostly hold back out of fear. How does that help the emperor's virtue? What you say may be called incisive without being pedantic." Wang Zeng's reputation was then at its height, and he rarely offered praise. When Han Qi heard these words, he grew all the more confident in himself. He was appointed acting drafter of edicts.

益、利歲饑，為體量安撫使。異時郡縣督賦調繁急，市上供綺繡諸物不予直，琦為緩調蠲給之，逐貪殘不職吏，汰冗役數百，活饑民百九十萬。趙元昊反，琦適自蜀歸，論西師形勢甚悉，即命為陝西安撫使。劉平與賊戰，敗，為所執，時宰入他誣，收繫平子弟，琦辨直其冤。

When Yi and Li circuits suffered famine that year, he was appointed Commissioner for Assessment and Pacification. In earlier years prefectures and counties had pressed tax collections harshly, and silks and embroideries supplied to the government were often not paid at fair value. Han Qi eased levies and granted relief, expelled greedy and cruel officials who neglected their duties, cut several hundred redundant corvée posts, and saved 1.9 million people from starvation. When Zhao Yuanhao rebelled, Han Qi had just returned from Shu and laid out the situation of the western armies in thorough detail. He was immediately appointed Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi. Liu Ping fought the rebels, was defeated, and taken captive. The chief councillors accepted other accusations and imprisoned Ping's sons and younger brothers. Han Qi argued their case and cleared the injustice done to them.

進樞密直學士，副夏竦為經略安撫、招討使。詔遣使督出兵，琦亦欲先發以制賊，而合府固爭，元昊遂寇鎮戎。琦畫攻守二策馳入奏，仁宗欲用攻策，執政者難之，琦言：「元昊雖傾國入寇，眾不過四五萬人，吾逐路重兵自為守，勢分力弱，遇敵輒不支。若倂出一道，鼓行而前，乘賊驕惰，破之必矣。」乃詔鄜延、涇原同出征。既還營，元昊來求盟，琦曰：「無約而請和者，謀也。」命諸將戒嚴，賊果犯山外。琦悉兵付大將任福，令自懷遠城趨德勝砦出賊後，如未可戰，即據險置伏，要其歸。及行，戒之至再。又移檄申約，苟違節度，雖有功，亦斬。福竟為賊誘，沒于好水川。竦使人收散兵，得琦檄於福衣帶間，言罪不在琦。琦亦上章自劾，猶奪一官，知秦州，尋復之。

He was promoted to Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs and served as deputy to Xia Song as Commissioner for Military Affairs, Pacification, and Suppression. An edict dispatched envoys to supervise troop movements. Han Qi also wanted to strike first and seize the initiative, but the whole headquarters stubbornly opposed him, and Yuanhao then raided Zhenrong. Han Qi drafted offensive and defensive plans and rushed them to court. Emperor Renzong wanted to adopt the offensive plan, but the chief administrators objected. Han Qi said, "Although Yuanhao has thrown his whole state into the invasion, his forces number no more than forty or fifty thousand. We station heavy troops on each route only to defend ourselves, so our strength is divided and weak and we cannot hold whenever we meet the enemy. If we unite on a single route and advance with drums beating, taking advantage of the enemy's arrogance and laxity, we are certain to defeat them." An edict was then issued for the Fuyan and Jingyuan commands to campaign together. After returning to camp, Yuanhao came seeking peace. Han Qi said, "When someone seeks peace without any prior agreement, it is a ruse." He ordered the generals to stand on alert, and the rebels indeed attacked beyond the mountains. Han Qi entrusted all the troops to the great general Ren Fu, ordering him to march from Huaiyuan toward Desheng Fort and strike behind the enemy. If battle were not yet feasible, he was to seize defensible ground, set ambushes, and cut off their retreat. When Fu set out, Han Qi warned him again and again. He also sent a written order reiterating the agreement: anyone who violated command, even if he achieved merit, would still be executed. Fu was ultimately lured into a trap by the enemy and perished at Haoshui River. Xia Song sent men to gather the scattered troops and found Han Qi's order in Fu's belt, showing that the blame did not lie with Han Qi. Han Qi also submitted a memorial impeaching himself, yet still had one rank stripped. He was made prefect of Qinzhou and soon restored.

會四路置帥，以琦兼秦鳳經略安撫、招討使。慶曆二年，與三帥皆換觀察使，范仲淹、龐籍、王沿不肯拜，琦獨受不辭。未幾，還舊職，為陝西四路經略安撫、招討使，屯涇州。琦與范仲淹在兵間久，名重一時，人心歸之，朝廷倚以為重，故天下稱為「韓范」。東兵從宿衛來，不習勞苦，琦奏增土兵以代戍，建德順軍以蔽蕭關、嗚沙之道。方謀取橫山，規河南，而元昊稱臣，召為樞密副使。

When commanders were appointed for the four frontier routes, Han Qi was concurrently made Commissioner for Military Affairs, Pacification, and Suppression of the Qinfeng circuit. In the second year of Qingli, he and the three commanders were all transferred to the post of observation commissioner. Fan Zhongyan, Pang Ji, and Wang Yan refused to accept, but Han Qi alone accepted without hesitation. Before long he returned to his former duties as Commissioner for Military Affairs, Pacification, and Suppression of the four Shaanxi routes, stationed at Jingzhou. Han Qi and Fan Zhongyan had long served among the armies. Their names carried great weight in their time, the people's hearts turned to them, and the court relied on them heavily, so the realm called them "Han and Fan." Eastern troops coming from palace guard service were unused to hardship. Han Qi memorialized to increase local troops to replace garrison duty and established the Deshun Army to shield the routes through Xiaoguan and Wusha. Just as he was planning to take Hengshan and target the region south of the river, Yuanhao submitted as a subject, and Han Qi was summoned to serve as Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs.

元昊介契丹為援，強邀索無厭，宰相晏殊等厭兵，將一切從之。琦陳其不便，條所宜先行者七事：一曰清政本，二曰念邊計，三曰擢材賢，四曰備河北，五曰固河東，六曰收民心，七曰營洛邑。繼又陳救弊八事，欲選將帥，明按察，豐財利，遏僥倖，進能吏，退不才，謹入官，去冗食。謂：「數者之舉，謗必隨之，願委計輔臣，聽其注措。」帝悉嘉納。遂宣撫陝西，討平群盜張海、郭邈山；禁卒羸老不任用者，悉汰之；盡修鄜延城障，須敵悉歸所侵地，乃許和。歸陳西北四策，以為：「今當以和好為權宜，戰守為實務。請繕甲厲兵，營修都城，密定討伐之計。」

Yuanhao, backed by the Khitan, pressed his demands without limit. Chief Councillor Yan Shu and others were weary of war and were about to grant everything he asked. Han Qi explained why this was unwise and listed seven measures that should be undertaken first: clarify the foundations of government; attend to frontier planning; promote talented worthies; prepare Hebei; secure Hedong; win the people's hearts; and build the capital at Luoyang. He next set forth eight measures to remedy abuses: select generals and commanders, clarify inspections, enrich fiscal resources, curb undeserved favor, advance capable officials, dismiss the untalented, be strict in admissions to office, and remove redundant posts. He said, "When such measures are undertaken, slander is sure to follow. I hope Your Majesty will entrust the planning to your assisting ministers and let them carry it out." The emperor fully praised and accepted them all. He was then made Pacification Commissioner of Shaanxi and suppressed the bandit chiefs Zhang Hai and Guo Miaoshan; palace guards who were weak, old, and unfit for service were all eliminated; the fortifications of Fuyan were fully repaired; and peace was granted only after the enemy had wholly returned all seized territory. On his return he presented four strategies for the northwest, arguing that "at present we should treat peace as an expedient measure and war and defense as the real task. I ask that armor be repaired and weapons sharpened, the capital be built up and fortified, and plans for punitive campaigns be settled in secret."

時二府合班奏事，琦必盡言，雖事屬中書，亦指陳其實。同列或不悅，帝獨識之，曰：「韓琦性直。」琦與范仲淹、富弼皆以海內人望，同時登用，中外跂想其勳業。仲淹等亦以天下為己任，群小不便之，毀言日聞。仲淹、弼繼罷，琦為辨析，不報。尹洙與劉滬爭城水洛事，琦右洙，朝論不謂然。乃請外，以資政殿學士知揚州，徙鄆州、成德軍、定州。兼安撫使，進大學士，又加觀文殿學士。

At the time the two bureaus reported together in court audience. Han Qi always spoke his mind fully, and even when a matter belonged to the Secretariat he still stated how things really stood. Some colleagues were displeased, but the emperor alone recognized his worth and said, "Han Qi's nature is straightforward." Han Qi, Fan Zhongyan, and Fu Bi all enjoyed the people's esteem throughout the realm. They were promoted at the same time, and inside and outside the court all looked eagerly to their achievements. Fan Zhongyan and the others also took the realm as their own charge. Petty men found this inconvenient, and slander was heard daily. Fan Zhongyan and Fu Bi were successively dismissed. Han Qi argued on their behalf, but received no response. Yin Zhu and Liu Hu disputed the matter of fortifying Shuiluo. Han Qi sided with Zhu, and court opinion did not agree. He then requested an outside post and, as Academician of the Hall for Aid in Governance, served as prefect of Yangzhou. He was later transferred to Yanzhou, the Chengde army, and Dingzhou. He concurrently served as Pacification Commissioner, was promoted to Grand Academician, and was further given the title of Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture.

初，定州兵狃平貝州功，需賞賚，出怨語，至欲噪城下。琦聞之，以為不治且亂，用軍制勒習，誅其尤無良者。士死攻戰，則賞賻其家，籍其孤嫠繼稟之，威恩並行。又仿古三陣法，日月訓齊之，由是中山兵精勁冠河朔。京師發龍猛卒戍保州，在道為人害，至定，琦悉留不遣，易素教者使之北，又振活饑民數百萬。璽書褒激，鄰道視以為準。

At first the troops of Dingzhou, accustomed to the glory of pacifying Beizhou, demanded rewards and uttered resentful words, even threatening to raise an uproar beneath the city walls. When Han Qi heard of this, he thought that if the matter were not corrected there would soon be disorder. He applied military regulations to enforce training and executed the worst offenders. When soldiers died in attack or battle, he rewarded and compensated their families, registered their orphans and widows, and continued their rations, combining stern authority with kindness. He also modeled the ancient three-formations method and trained them day and night until they moved as one. Thereafter the troops of Zhongshan became the finest and strongest north of the Yellow River. The capital dispatched Dragon Fierce guards to garrison Baozhou, and on the road they harmed people. When they reached Dingzhou, Han Qi kept them all and would not send them on, exchanged plain instructors to lead them north, and also revived several million famine victims. Imperial letters praised and encouraged him, and neighboring circuits took him as their standard.

拜武康軍節度使、知幷州。承受廖浩然，怙中貴勢貪恣，既誣逐前帥李昭亮，所為益不法，琦奏還之，帝命鞭諸本省。契丹冒占天池廟地，琦召其酋豪，示以曩日彼所求修廟檄，無以對，遂歸我斥地。既又侵耕陽武砦地，琦鑿塹立石以限之。始，潘美鎮河東，患寇鈔，令民悉內徙，而空塞下不耕，於是忻、代、寧化、大山之北多廢壤。琦以為此皆良田，今棄不耕，適足以資敵，將皆為所有矣。遂請距北界十里為禁地，其南則募弓箭手居之，墾田至九千六百頃。久之，求知相州。

He was appointed Military Commissioner of the Wukang Army and prefect of Bingzhou. The reception officer Liao Haoran relied on the power of inner favorites and was greedy and lawless. Having already slandered and driven out the former commander Li Zhaoliang, his conduct grew still more unlawful. Han Qi memorialized to have him recalled, and the emperor ordered him flogged at the relevant ministry. The Khitan encroached on and seized the land of the Tianchi Temple. Han Qi summoned their chieftains and showed them the edict they had once requested for repairing the temple. They had no reply and therefore returned the land we had marked off. They then encroached again by plowing the land of Yangwu Stockade. Han Qi dug ditches and set up boundary stones to mark the limit. At the beginning, when Pan Mei held Hedong, he feared enemy raids and ordered the people all to move inward, leaving the area below the passes uncultivated. Thus north of Xin, Dai, Ninghua, and Dashan there was much abandoned land. Han Qi held that all this was fine farmland. Now abandoned and uncultivated, it would only supply the enemy, and in time would all become theirs. He therefore requested that a zone ten li from the northern border be made forbidden ground, and south of it archer-militia be recruited to settle there. Reclaimed fields reached 9,600 qing. After a long time he requested appointment as prefect of Xiangzhou.

嘉祐元年，召為三司使，未至，迎拜樞密使。三年六月，拜同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士。六年閏八月，遷昭文館大學士、監修國史，封儀國公。帝既連失三王，自至和中病疾，不能御殿。中外惴恐，臣下爭以立嗣固根本為言，包拯、范鎮尤激切。積五六歲，依違未之行，言者亦稍怠。至是，琦乘間進曰：「皇嗣者，天下安危之所系。自昔禍亂之起，皆由策不早定。陛下春秋高，未有建立，何不擇宗室之賢者，以為宗廟社稷計？」帝曰：「後宮將有就館者，姑待之。」已又生女。

In the first year of Jiayou he was summoned as Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue. Before he arrived he was met and appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the sixth month of the third year he was appointed Grand Councillor and Grand Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. In the intercalary eighth month of the sixth year he was transferred to Grand Academician of the Hall of Illustrious Literature and Supervisor of the Compilation of the National History, and enfeoffed as Duke of Yi. The emperor had already lost three princes in succession. From the Zhihe era he was ill and could not hold court in the main hall. Inside and outside the court all were fearful. Officials vied in urging that an heir be established to secure the foundation. Bao Zheng and Fan Zhen were especially forceful. For five or six years the matter wavered without being carried out, and those who spoke out also gradually slackened. At this point Han Qi seized an opportunity to advance and said, "The imperial heir is what the safety and peril of the realm depend upon. From of old calamity and disorder have arisen because the succession was not settled early. Your Majesty's years are advanced, yet no heir has been established. Why not select a worthy member of the imperial clan for the sake of the ancestral temples and the altars of state?" The emperor said, "Someone in the rear palace is about to give birth. Let us wait for that for the moment." Later she again bore a daughter.

一日，琦懷《漢書·孔光傳》以進，曰：「成帝無嗣，立弟之子。彼中材之主，猶能如是，況陛下乎。願以太祖之心為心，則無不可者。」又與曾公亮、張昇、歐陽修極言之。會司馬光、呂誨皆有請，琦進讀二疏，未及有所啟，帝遽曰：「朕有意久矣，誰可者？」琦皇恐對曰：「此非臣輩所可議，當出自聖擇。」帝曰：「宮中嘗養二子，小者甚純，近不慧，大者可也。」琦請其名，帝以宗實告。宗實，英宗舊名也。琦等遂力贊之，議乃定。

One day Han Qi brought in the biography of Kong Guang from the Book of Han and said, "Emperor Cheng had no heir and established his younger brother's son. That ruler of only middling talent could still do so—how much more can Your Majesty. If Your Majesty would take Taizu's heart as your own heart, then nothing would be impossible." He also spoke to the utmost with Zeng Gongliang, Zhang Sheng, and Ouyang Xiu. It happened that Sima Guang and Lü Hui both had requests. Han Qi advanced and read the two memorials. Before he could say anything further, the emperor abruptly said, "I have had this intention for a long time. Who would be suitable?" Han Qi answered in fear and trembling, "This is not something we ministers may discuss. It should come from Your Majesty's sacred choice." The emperor said, "The palace once raised two sons. The younger is very pure-hearted but recently has not been clever. The elder will do." Han Qi asked his name, and the emperor told him Zongshi. Zongshi was the former name of Emperor Yingzong. Han Qi and the others thereupon strongly supported him, and the decision was settled.

英宗居濮王喪，議起知宗正。琦曰：「事若行，不可中止。陛下斷自不疑，乞內中批出。」帝意不欲宮人知，曰：「只中書行足矣。」命下，英宗固辭。帝復問琦，琦對曰：「陛下既知其賢而選之，今不敢遽當，蓋器識遠大，所以為賢也。願固起之。」英宗既終喪，猶堅臥不起。琦言：「宗正之命初出，外人皆知必為皇子，不若遂正其名。」乃下詔立為皇子。明年，英宗嗣位，以琦為仁宗山陵使，加門下侍郎，進封衛國公。

While Yingzong was in mourning as Prince of Pu, it was proposed to summon him to serve as Director of the Imperial Clan. Han Qi said, "If this matter proceeds, it cannot be halted midway. Your Majesty should decide without doubt and request an inner-palace draft to issue it." The emperor did not wish palace women to know and said, "It is enough for the Secretariat alone to act." When the order was issued, Yingzong firmly declined. The emperor again asked Han Qi. He answered, "Your Majesty already knew his worth and chose him. Now he dares not hastily accept—surely it is because his capacity and insight are far-reaching that he is worthy. I hope Your Majesty will firmly raise him up." After Yingzong had completed his mourning, he still lay abed and firmly would not rise. Han Qi said, "The order appointing him Director of the Imperial Clan has just been issued. Outsiders all know he must become the crown prince. It would be better to regularize his title at once." An edict was then issued establishing him as crown prince. The next year, when Yingzong succeeded to the throne, Han Qi was made Director of the Mausoleum for Renzong, promoted to Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and advanced to Duke of Wei.

琦既輔立英宗，門人親客，或從容語及定策事，琦必正色曰：「此仁宗聖德神斷，為天下計，皇太后內助之力，臣子何與焉。」英宗暴得疾，太后垂簾聽政。帝疾甚，舉措或改常度，遇宦官尤少恩，左右多不悅者，乃共為讒間，兩宮遂成隙。琦與歐陽修奏事簾前，太后嗚咽流涕，具道所以，琦曰：「此病固爾，病已，必不然。子疾，母可不容之乎？」修亦委曲進言，太后意稍和，久之而罷。後數日，琦獨見上，上曰：「太后待我無恩。」琦對曰：「自古聖帝明王，不為少矣。然獨稱舜為大孝，豈其餘盡不孝耶？父母慈愛而子孝，此常事不足道；惟父母不慈，而子不失孝，乃為可稱。但恐陛下事之未至爾，父母豈有不慈者哉。」帝大感悟。及疾愈，琦請乘輿因禱雨具素服以出，人情乃安。太后還政，拜琦右僕射，封魏國公。

Since Han Qi had assisted in establishing Yingzong, disciples and close guests sometimes spoke casually of the succession decision. He always said sternly, "This was Renzong's sagely virtue and divine decision, made for the sake of the realm, with the Empress Dowager's assistance from within the palace. What have ministers to do with it?" Yingzong suddenly fell ill, and the Empress Dowager drew the curtain and held court. The emperor's illness was severe. His conduct sometimes departed from the usual, and he showed eunuchs especially little favor. Many of those around him were displeased and together sowed slander, so the two palaces came to a breach. Han Qi and Ouyang Xiu reported affairs before the curtain. The Empress Dowager sobbed and wept, fully explaining the reasons. Han Qi said, "This illness is indeed so. When the illness passes, it will surely not be so. When a son is ill, can a mother fail to tolerate him?" Ouyang Xiu also advanced tactful words, and the Empress Dowager's mood gradually softened. After a long while the audience ended. Several days later Han Qi saw the emperor alone. The emperor said, "The Empress Dowager treats me without kindness." Han Qi answered, "From of old there have been no few sage emperors and enlightened kings. Yet only Shun is called greatly filial. Are all the rest wholly unfilial? When parents are loving and a son is filial, this is an ordinary matter not worth mentioning; only when parents are not loving yet a son does not lose his filiality is it praiseworthy. I only fear that Your Majesty's service has not yet reached the full measure. What parents are there who are not loving?" The emperor was greatly awakened. When his illness passed, Han Qi requested that the imperial carriage go forth in plain dress while praying for rain, and popular feeling was then settled. When the Empress Dowager returned power, Han Qi was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and enfeoffed as Duke of Wei.

夏人寇大順，琦議停歲賜，絕和市，遣使問罪。樞密使文彥博難之，或舉寶元、康定事，琦曰：「諒祚，狂童也，非有元昊智計，而邊備過當時遠甚。亟詰之，必服。」既而諒祚上表謝，帝顧琦曰：「一如所料。」帝寢疾，琦入問起居，言曰：「陛下久不視朝，願早建儲，以安社稷。」帝頷之，即召學士草制，立潁王。

The Tangut raided Dashun. Han Qi proposed halting the annual gifts, cutting off border markets, and dispatching envoys to demand accountability. Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs Wen Yanbo objected. Some cited the Baoyuan and Kangding affairs. Han Qi said, "Liangzuo is a reckless youth. He does not have Yuanhao's cunning, and frontier preparations far exceed those of that time. Press him quickly and he is sure to submit." Before long Liangzuo submitted a memorial of apology. The emperor turned to Han Qi and said, "Just as you foretold." The emperor lay ill in bed. Han Qi entered to inquire after his health and said, "Your Majesty has long not held court. I hope you will establish an heir early to settle the altars of state." The emperor nodded, immediately summoned academicians to draft the edict, and established the Prince of Ying.

神宗立，拜司空兼侍中，為英宗山陵使。琦執政三世，或病其專。御史中丞王陶劾琦不赴文德殿押班為跋扈。琦請去，帝為黜陶。永厚陵復土，琦不復入中書，堅辭位。除鎮安武勝軍節度使、司徒兼侍中、判相州。入對，帝泣曰：「侍中必欲去，今日已降制矣。」賜興道坊宅一區，擢其子忠彥秘閣校理。琦辭兩鎮，乃但領淮南。

When Shenzong took the throne, Han Qi was appointed Minister of Works and concurrent Palace Attendant, and made Director of the Mausoleum for Yingzong. Han Qi held office through three reigns, and some faulted him for being overbearing. Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang Tao impeached Han Qi for not attending the roll call at Wende Hall, calling it overbearing conduct. Han Qi requested to leave office, and the emperor dismissed Tao on his behalf. When earth was returned over Yonghou Mausoleum, Han Qi did not re-enter the Secretariat and firmly declined his post. He was appointed Military Commissioner of the Zhen'an and Wusheng armies, Minister of Education and concurrent Palace Attendant, and assigned to judge Xiangzhou. On entering audience the emperor wept and said, "Attendant, you surely wish to leave. Today the edict has already been issued." He was granted one residence in Xingdao Ward, and his son Zhongyan was promoted to Collator of the Imperial Library. Han Qi declined the two commands and therefore held only Huainan.

會种諤擅取綏州，西邊俶擾，改判永興軍，經略陝西。琦言：「邊臣肆意妄作，棄約基亂，願召二府亟決之。」琦入辭，曾公亮等方奏事，乞與琦同議。帝召之，琦曰：「臣前日備員政府，所當共議。今日，藩臣也，不敢預聞。」又言：「王陶指臣為跋扈，今陛下乃舉陝西兵柄授臣，復有劾臣如陶者，則臣赤族矣。」帝曰：「侍中猶未知朕意邪？」琦初言綏州不當取，已而夏人誘殺楊定，琦復言：「賊既如此，綏今不可棄」。樞密院以初議詰之，琦具論其故，卒存之。

It happened that Zhong E seized Suizhou on his own authority, and the western border was suddenly disturbed. Han Qi was transferred to judge the Yongxing army and made Commissioner for Military Affairs of Shaanxi. Han Qi said, "Frontier officials act recklessly on their own, abandon treaties, and lay the foundation for disorder. I hope the two bureaus may be summoned to decide this quickly." When Han Qi entered to take leave, Zeng Gongliang and others were just reporting affairs and asked to deliberate together with him. The emperor summoned him. Han Qi said, "Your servant the other day filled a post in the government and ought to have deliberated together. Today I am a frontier minister and dare not take part in hearing it." He also said, "Wang Tao charged me with overbearing conduct. Now Your Majesty is entrusting me with military authority in Shaanxi. If there is again one who impeaches me like Tao, then my whole clan will perish." The emperor said, "Attendant, do you still not know my intention?" Han Qi at first said Suizhou ought not to be taken. Afterward the Tangut lured and killed Yang Ding, and he again said, "Since the enemy has acted thus, Suizhou cannot now be abandoned." The Bureau of Military Affairs questioned him on the initial proposal. Han Qi fully explained the reasons, and in the end Suizhou was kept.

熙寧元年七月，復請相州以歸。河北地震、河決，徒判大名府，充安撫使，得便宜從事。王安石用事，出常平使者散青苗錢。琦亟言之。帝袖其疏以示宰臣，曰：「琦真忠臣，雖在外，不忘王室。朕始謂可以利民，今乃害民如此。且坊郭安得青苗，而亦強與之乎？」安石勃然進曰：「苟從其欲，雖坊郭何害。」明日，稱疾不出。當是時，新法幾罷，安石復出，持前議益堅。琦又懇奏，安石下之條例司，令其屬疏駁，刊石頒天下。琦申辨愈切，不克從。於是請解四路安撫使，止領一路，安石欲沮琦，即從之。六年，還判相州。

In the seventh month of the first year of Xining he again requested to return to Xiangzhou. Hebei suffered an earthquake and the Yellow River burst its banks. He was transferred to judge Daming Prefecture, made Pacification Commissioner, and granted discretionary authority. Wang Anshi held power and sent out Ever-Normal Granary envoys to distribute Green Sprouts money. Han Qi spoke urgently against it. The emperor kept his memorial in his sleeve and showed it to the chief ministers, saying, "Han Qi is a true loyal minister. Though outside court, he does not forget the royal house. I at first thought it could benefit the people. Now it harms the people like this. Moreover, how can market wards receive Green Sprouts funds, yet they are forcibly given them?" Wang Anshi advanced angrily and said, "If we follow their wishes, what harm even to market wards?" The next day he claimed illness and did not appear. At that time the New Policies were nearly abolished. Wang Anshi returned to office and held to his former views all the more firmly. Han Qi again memorialized earnestly. Wang Anshi sent it to the Regulations Office and ordered his subordinates to draft refutations, which were carved on stone and promulgated throughout the realm. Han Qi's rebuttals grew still more urgent, but he could not prevail. Thereupon he requested to be relieved of the four-circuit Pacification Commissionership and hold only one circuit. Wang Anshi wished to thwart Han Qi and immediately assented. In the sixth year he returned to judge Xiangzhou.

契丹來求代北地，帝手詔訪琦，琦奏言：

The Khitan came seeking land north of Dai. The emperor personally drafted an edict to consult Han Qi, and he memorialized, saying:

「臣觀近年以來，朝廷舉事，似不以大敵為恤。彼見形生疑，必謂我有圖復燕南意，故引先發制人之說，造為釁端。所以致疑，其事有七：高麗臣屬北方，久絕朝貢，乃因商舶誘之使來，契丹知之，必謂將以圖我。一也。強取吐蕃之地以建熙河，契丹聞之，必謂行將及我。二也。遍植榆柳于西山，冀其成長以制蕃騎。三也。創團保甲。四也。諸州築城鑿池。五也。置都作院，頒弓刀新式，大作戰車。六也。置河北三十七將。七也。契丹素為敵國，因事起疑，不得不然。

"Your servant observes that in recent years the court's undertakings seem not to regard the great enemy with concern. Seeing our actions they grow suspicious and surely think we intend to recover the southern Yan region. Therefore they invoke the doctrine of striking first to control others and manufacture provocations. The matters that cause suspicion are seven in number. Koryŏ was a subject state of the north and had long ceased tribute, yet through merchant ships it was induced to come. When the Khitan learn of this, they will surely think we intend to scheme against them. That is the first. Tibetan lands were forcibly taken to establish Xihe circuit. When the Khitan hear of it, they will surely think the move will soon reach them. That is the second. Elms and willows were planted everywhere on the western hills, hoping that when they grew they would restrain barbarian cavalry. That is the third. The tuanbao militia system was created. That is the fourth. Prefectures built walls and dug moats. That is the fifth. A Directorate of Works was established, new models of bows and blades were issued, and war chariots were built on a large scale. That is the sixth. Thirty-seven commands were established in Hebei. That is the seventh. The Khitan have long been an enemy state. Because matters give rise to suspicion, it cannot be otherwise.

臣昔年論青苗錢事，言者輒肆厚誣，非陛下之明，幾及大戮。自此，聞新法日下，不敢復言。今親被詔問，事系安危，言及而隱，死有餘罪。臣嘗竊計，始為陛下謀者，必曰治國之本，當先聚財積穀，募兵於民，則可以鞭笞四夷。故散青苗錢，使民出利；為免役之法，次第取錢；迨置市易務，而小商細民，無所措手。新制日下，更改無常，官吏茫然，不能詳記，監司督責，以刻為明。今農怨於甽畝，商歎于道路，長吏不安其職，陛下不盡知也。夫欲攘斥四夷，以興太平，而先使邦本困搖，眾心離怨，此則為陛下始謀者大誤也。

When your servant years ago discussed Green Sprouts money, speakers freely heaped heavy slander on me. But for Your Majesty's discernment I nearly suffered capital punishment. From then on, hearing new laws issued daily, I dared not speak again. Now personally receiving Your Majesty's edict of inquiry, the matter concerns safety and peril. To speak and yet conceal would leave guilt even in death. Your servant has privately reckoned that those who first advised Your Majesty surely said the foundation of governing the state must first gather wealth and store grain, recruit soldiers from the people, and then one can whip the four barbarians. Therefore Green Sprouts money was distributed so the people would pay interest; the exemption-from-corvée law was made and money was taken in stages; then the Market Exchange Office was established, and small merchants and common people had nowhere to turn. New regulations issued daily, with changes without constancy. Officials were dazed and could not keep detailed records. Supervisory commissioners pressed responsibility and took harshness as clarity. Now farmers resent in the furrows, merchants sigh on the roads, and senior officials are uneasy in their posts. Your Majesty does not fully know this. To wish to repel the four barbarians and raise Great Peace, yet first make the foundation of the state shaken and the people's hearts estranged and resentful—this is a great error of those who first advised Your Majesty.

臣今為陛下計，謂宜遣使報聘，具言向來興作，乃修備之常，豈有他意；疆土素定，悉如舊境，不可持此造端，以隳累世之好。以可疑之形，如將官之類，因而罷去。益養民愛力，選賢任能，疏遠奸諛，進用忠鯁，使天下悅服，邊備日充。若其果自敗盟，則可一振威武，恢復故疆，攄累朝之宿憤矣。」

What your servant now plans for Your Majesty is that envoys should be sent on a return visit of courtesy, fully explaining that recent undertakings are the constant practice of defense preparations. How could there be other intent? The borders have long been fixed and all should be as in the former territory. One must not use this to create a beginning and destroy the good relations of many generations. Where forms are suspicious, such as frontier commanders, let them therefore be abolished and removed. Further nourish the people and cherish their strength, select the worthy and employ the able, keep the wicked and fawning at a distance, advance the loyal and blunt, so that the realm is pleased and submits and frontier preparations daily grow stronger. If they truly break the alliance on their own, then in one stroke martial might may be raised, former territory recovered, and the long-standing resentments of many reigns vented."

疏上，會安石再入相，悉以所爭地與契丹，東西七百里，論者惜之。八年，換節永興軍，再任，未拜而薨，年六十八。前一夕，大星隕於治所，櫪馬皆驚。帝發哀苑中，哭之慟。輟朝三日，賜銀三千兩，絹三千匹，發兩河卒為治塚，篆其碑曰「兩朝顧命定策元勳」。贈尚書令，諡曰「忠獻」，配享英宗廟庭。常令其子若孫一人官於相，以護丘墓。故事，三省長官，惟尚書令為尤重，贈者必兼他官。至琦，乃單贈。後又詔，雖當追策，不復更加師保，蓋貴之也。

When the memorial was submitted, it happened that Wang Anshi again entered the chief councillorship and gave all the disputed land to the Khitan—seven hundred li east and west—and commentators regretted it. In the eighth year he exchanged commands to the Yongxing army and took a second term, but before he could accept the appointment he died, aged sixty-eight. On the previous night a great star fell at his administrative seat, and stable horses were all startled. The emperor expressed mourning in the palace park and wept for him in deep grief. Court was suspended for three days. He was granted three thousand taels of silver and three thousand bolts of silk. Troops from the two Hebei circuits were sent to build his tomb, and his stele was inscribed: "Founding Merit of the Two Reigns in Entrusted Mandate and Settled Policy." He was posthumously appointed Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. His posthumous title was "Loyal and Offering," and he was granted paired sacrifice in Yingzong's temple court. It was regularly ordered that one of his sons or grandsons hold office in Xiang to guard his tomb mound. By precedent, among the chiefs of the Three Departments only the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat was especially weighty. Those posthumously appointed to it must also hold another office. As for Han Qi, he alone received the single appointment. Later an edict also stated that though posthumous honors might be pursued, Teacher and Protector titles would not again be added—such was the honor paid him.

琦蚤有盛名，識量英偉，臨事喜慍不見於色，論者以重厚比周勃，政事比姚崇。其為學士臨邊，年甫三十，天下已稱為韓公。嘉祐、治平間，再決大策，以安社稷。當是時，朝廷多故，琦處危疑之際，知無不為。或諫曰：「公所為誠善，萬一蹉跌，豈惟身不自保，恐家無處所。」琦歎曰：「是何言也。今臣盡力事君，死生以之。至於成敗，天也，豈可豫憂其不濟，遂輟不為哉。」聞者愧服。在魏都久，遼使每過，移牒必書名，曰：「以韓公在此故也。」忠彥使遼，遼主問知其貌類父，即命工圖之，其見重於外國也如此。

Han Qi early had great fame. His insight and capacity were heroic and grand. In facing affairs joy and anger did not show on his face. Commentators compared his weight and depth to Zhou Bo and his governance to Yao Chong. When he was an academician on the frontier, he was barely thirty, yet the realm already called him Lord Han. Between the Jiayou and Zhiping eras he twice settled great policies to secure the altars of state. At that time the court had many troubles. Han Qi stood in a time of peril and doubt and did whatever he knew should be done. Someone admonished him, saying, "What you do is truly good, but if you should stumble, not only will you fail to preserve yourself. You may fear your family will have nowhere to dwell." Han Qi sighed and said, "What words are these? Now your servant serves the sovereign with all his strength, life and death following upon it. As for success or failure, that is Heaven's matter. How can one beforehand worry that it will not succeed and therefore cease to act?" Those who heard were ashamed and submitted. He was long in the Wei capital. Whenever Liao envoys passed through, their documents always bore his name, saying, "Because Lord Han is here." Zhongyan was envoy to Liao. The Liao ruler asked and learned that his appearance resembled his father's, and immediately ordered artisans to paint him. Such was the esteem in which he was held by foreign states.

琦天資樸忠，折節下士，無賤貴，禮之如一。尤以獎拔人才為急，儻公論所與，雖意所不悅，亦收用之，故得人為多。選飭群司，皆使奉法循理。其所建請，第顧義所在，無適莫心。在相位時，王安石有盛名，或以為可用，琦獨不然之。及守相，陛辭，神宗曰：「卿去，誰可屬國者，王安石何如？」琦曰：「安石為翰林學士則有餘，處輔弼之地則不可。」上不答。其鎮大名也，魏人為立生祠。相人愛之如父母，有鬥訟，傳相勸止，曰：「勿撓吾侍中也。」與富弼齊名，號稱賢相，人謂之「富韓」云。徽宗追論琦定策勳，贈魏郡王。子五人：忠彥、端彥、純彥、粹彥、嘉彥。端彥右贊善大夫。純彥官至徽猷閣直學士。粹彥為吏部侍郎，終龍圖閣學士。嘉彥尚神宗女齊國公主，拜駙馬都尉，終瀛海軍承宣使。

Han Qi's natural endowment was plain and loyal. He lowered himself to honor scholars, making no distinction between low and high, and treated all with the same courtesy. He especially made promoting talent urgent. If public opinion favored someone, even when it did not please his own mind he still employed him, and therefore he gained many capable men. He selected and disciplined the various offices, all causing them to uphold the law and follow principle. In what he proposed and requested, he looked only to where righteousness lay, with no mind of favor or disfavor. When he was chief councillor, Wang Anshi had great fame and some thought him usable. Han Qi alone did not agree. When he held Xiang and took leave at the throne, Shenzong said, "When you go, who can be entrusted with the state? What of Wang Anshi?" Han Qi said, "Wang Anshi as Hanlin academician would be more than sufficient. To place him in an assisting and supporting post would not do." The emperor did not reply. When he held Daming, the people of Wei built him a living shrine. The people of Xiang loved him as parents. When there were fights and lawsuits, they passed word urging one another to stop, saying, "Do not trouble our Attendant." He was famed equally with Fu Bi and called a worthy chief councillor. People called them "Fu and Han." Huizong posthumously reviewed Han Qi's merit in settling the succession and enfeoffed him as Prince of Wei commandery. He had five sons: Zhongyan, Duanyan, Chunyan, Cuiyan, and Jiayan. Duanyan was Right Gentleman for Fostering Goodness. Chunyan reached the post of Academician on Special Duty in the Hall of Splendid Culture. Cuiyan was Vice Minister of Personnel and ended as Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall. Jiayan married Shenzong's daughter, the Princess of Qi, was appointed Commandant of the Imperial Son-in-Law's Household, and ended as Commissioner-in-Chief of the Yinghai army.

子忠彥

Son: Zhongyan

忠彥，字師樸，少以父任，為將作監簿，復舉進士。琦罷政，忠彥以秘書丞召試館職，除校理、同知太常禮院，為開封府判官、三司鹽鐵判官。出通判永寧軍，召還，為戶部判官。

Zhongyan, whose courtesy name was Shipu, in youth entered office through his father's privilege as Registrar of the Directorate for Palace Buildings, and again passed the jinshi examination. When Han Qi left office, Zhongyan was summoned as Secretary of the Secretariat to test for a library post, appointed Collator and Associate Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and served as investigating officer of Kaifeng prefecture and salt-and-iron reviewer in the Ministry of Revenue. He went out as vice prefect of the Yongning army, was recalled, and became fiscal reviewer in the Ministry of Revenue.

使還。時官制行，章惇為門下侍郎，奏：「給事中，東省屬官，封駁宜先稟而後上。」忠彥奏：「朝廷之事，執政之所行也。事當封駁，則與執政固已異矣，尚何稟議之有。」詔從其請。左僕射王珪為南郊大禮使，事之當下者，自從其所畫旨。忠彥以官制駁之曰：「今事於南郊者，大禮使既不從中畫旨，處分出一時者，又不從中書奏審。官制之行，曾未期月，而廟堂自渝之，後將若之何？」乃詔事無鉅細，必經三省而後行。拜禮部尚書，以樞密直學士知定州。

He returned from his mission. At the time the official system was implemented. Zhang Dun was Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and memorialized, "The Supervising Secretary is an official of the Eastern Department. Review and rejection should first be reported and only then submitted upward." Zhongyan memorialized, "Affairs of the court are what the chief administrators carry out. When a matter should be reviewed and rejected, it is already at odds with the chief administrators. What need is there for prior consultation?" An edict followed his request. Left Vice Director Wang Gui was Grand Ritual Commissioner for the Southern Suburb. Matters that should be issued he handled according to his own drafted instructions. Zhongyan rejected this on grounds of the official system, saying, "Now in matters of the Southern Suburb, the Grand Ritual Commissioner neither follows central drafted instructions, nor do urgent dispositions go through the Secretariat for memorial review. The official system has not yet been in force a full month, yet the court itself violates it. What will be done afterward?" An edict was then issued that matters great and small must pass through the Three Departments before being carried out. He was appointed Minister of Rites and, as Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs, served as prefect of Dingzhou.

進左僕射兼門下侍郎，封儀國公。而曾布為右相，多不協，言事者助布排忠彥，以觀文殿大學士知大名府。又以欽聖欲復廢后，為忠彥罪，再降太中大夫，懷州居住。又論忠彥在相位，不應棄湟州，謫崇信軍節度副使，濟州居住。逮復湟、鄯，又謫磁州團練副使。復太中大夫，遂以宣奉大夫致仕。卒，年七十二。子治，徽宗時，為太僕少卿，出知相州。以疾丐祠，命其子肖胄代之，別有傳。

He was advanced to Left Vice Director and concurrent Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and enfeoffed as Duke of Yi. But Zeng Bu was the right chief councillor and they were often at odds. Memorialists helped Bu drive out Zhongyan, who was made Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture and prefect of Daming. Also because Empress Qinsheng wished to restore the deposed empress, Zhongyan was charged, demoted again to Grandee of Palace Attendance, and made to reside in Huaizhou. It was further argued that while Zhongyan was chief councillor he should not have abandoned Huangzhou. He was demoted to Vice Military Commissioner of the Chongxin army and made to reside in Jizhou. When Huang and Shan were recovered, he was again demoted to Vice Commissioner-in-Chief of the Cizhou army. Restored to Grandee of Palace Attendance, he then retired as Grandee for Court Audience. He died, aged seventy-two. His son Zhi, in Huizong's time, was Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud and went out as prefect of Xiangzhou. Because of illness he requested a temple post. His son Xiaozhou was ordered to replace him. He has a separate biography.

論曰：琦相三朝，立二帝，厥功大矣。當治平危疑之際，兩宮幾成嫌隙，琦處之裕如，卒安社稷，人服其量。歐陽修稱其「臨大事，決大議，垂紳正笏，不動聲色，措天下于泰山之安，可謂社稷之臣」。豈不信哉！忠彥世濟其美，繼登相位，宜矣。

The commentary says: Han Qi was chief councillor through three reigns and established two emperors. His achievement was great. At the perilous and doubtful moment of Zhiping, the two palaces nearly came to a breach. Han Qi handled it with ease and in the end settled the altars of state. People submitted to his magnanimity. Ouyang Xiu praised him: "Facing great affairs and deciding great deliberations, with robes hanging straight and tablet held upright, he did not move voice or countenance, and set the realm in the security of Mount Tai. He may be called a minister of the altars of state." Is this not to be believed! Zhongyan through generations continued his excellence and in turn ascended the chief councillorship—fitting indeed.

曾公亮

Zeng Gongliang

曾公亮，字明仲，泉州晉江人。舉進士甲科，知會稽縣。民田鏡湖旁，每患湖溢。公亮立斗門，泄水入曹娥江，民受其利。坐父買田境中，謫監湖州酒。久之，為國子監直講，改諸王府侍講。歲滿，當用故事試館職，獨獻所為文，授集賢校理、天章閣侍講、修起居注。擢天章閣待制，賜金紫。先是，待制不改服。仁宗面錫之，曰：「朕自講席賜卿，所以尊寵儒臣也。」遂知制誥兼史館修撰，為翰林學士、判三班院。三班吏叢猥，非賕謝不行，貴遊子弟，多倚勢請謁。公亮掇前後章程，視以從事，吏不能舉手。以端明殿學士知鄭州，為政有能聲，盜悉竄他境，至夜戶不閉。嘗有使客亡橐中物，移書詰盜，公亮報：「吾境不藏盜，殆從者之廋耳。」索之，果然。復入為翰林學士、知開封府。未幾，擢給事中、參知政事。加禮部侍郎，除樞密使。嘉祐六年，拜吏部侍郎、同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士。

Zeng Gongliang, whose courtesy name was Mingzhong, was a native of Jinjiang in Quanzhou. He passed the jinshi examination in the first class and served as magistrate of Kuaiji county. The people's fields lay beside Mirror Lake, and each year they suffered from the lake overflowing. Gongliang built sluice gates and discharged water into the Cao'e River. The people received the benefit. Because his father bought land within the prefectural boundary, he was demoted to supervisor of wine in Huzhou. After a long time he became Lecturer on Special Duty in the Directorate of Education and was transferred to Lecturer in the Various Princes' Households. When his term ended he should by precedent have tested for a library post, but he alone submitted writings he had composed and was appointed Collator of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, Lecturer in the Heavenly Manifestation Hall, and Compiler of the Daily Record. He was promoted to Awaiting Orders in the Heavenly Manifestation Hall and granted gold and purple. Previously, Awaiting Orders did not change their dress. Renzong personally bestowed it on him and said, "I grant this to you from the lecture seat in order to honor and favor a Confucian minister." He was then made drafter of edicts and concurrent Compiler for the History Office, Hanlin academician, and judge of the Three-Rank Bureau. The clerks of the Three-Rank Bureau were numerous and disorderly. Without bribes and favors nothing could be done, and sons of noble families mostly relied on influence to request audiences. Gongliang gathered former and latter regulations and showed them as the standard for conduct. The clerks could not raise a hand against him. As Academician of the Hall of Illustrious Brightness he served as prefect of Zhengzhou. His governance had a reputation for ability. Bandits all fled to other territories, and at night households did not close their doors. Once an envoy guest lost something from his bag and sent a letter demanding the thief. Gongliang replied, "My territory does not harbor thieves. Perhaps it was hidden by one of your attendants." When they searched, it was indeed so. He re-entered court as Hanlin academician and prefect of Kaifeng. Before long he was promoted to Supervising Secretary and Vice Grand Councillor. He was given the additional title of Vice Minister of Rites and appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the sixth year of Jiayou he was appointed Vice Minister of Personnel, Grand Councillor, and Grand Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies.

公亮明練文法，更踐久，習知朝廷臺閣典憲，首相韓琦每咨訪焉。仁宗末年，琦請建儲，與公亮等共定大議。密州民田產銀，或盜取之，大理當以強。公亮曰：「此禁物也，取之雖強，與盜物民家有間矣。」固爭之，遂下有司議，比劫禁物法，盜得不死。初，東州人多用此抵法，自是無死者。

Gongliang was clear and practiced in statutes and regulations. Having served long in office, he was thoroughly versed in the court's bureau regulations and precedents, and chief councillor Han Qi often consulted him. In the last years of Renzong, Han Qi requested establishing an heir, and with Gongliang and others jointly settled the great decision. In Mizhou the people's fields produced silver, and some stole it. The Court for Imperial Cases judged it as robbery by force. Gongliang said, "This is a forbidden substance. Though taking it was by force, there is a distinction from robbing goods from a common household." He firmly disputed it, and the matter was sent down to the relevant offices for deliberation. By analogy to the law on forbidden substances, theft did not incur death. At first many in the eastern prefectures used this as a precedent in law. From then on there were no deaths.

契丹縱人漁界河，又數通鹽舟，吏不敢禁，皆謂與之校，且生事。公亮言：「萌芽不禁，後將奈何？雄州趙滋勇而有謀，可任也。」使諭以指意，邊害訖息。英宗即位，加中書侍郎兼禮部尚書，尋加戶部尚書。帝不豫，遼使至不能見，命公亮宴于館，使者不肯赴，公亮質之曰：「錫宴不赴，是不虔君命也。人主有疾，而必使親臨，處之安乎？」使者即就席。神宗即位，加門下侍郎兼吏部尚書。

The Khitan allowed their people to fish in the border river and repeatedly sent salt boats through. Officials did not dare forbid it, all saying that to contend with them would also create trouble. Gongliang said, "If the sprout is not forbidden, what will be done later? Zhao Zi of Xiongzhou is brave and has plans. He can be entrusted." He was sent to convey the intended meaning, and frontier harm ceased entirely. When Yingzong took the throne, Gongliang was given the additional titles of Vice Director of the Secretariat and Minister of Rites, and soon Minister of Revenue. The emperor was unwell. When Liao envoys arrived they could not be received, and Gongliang was ordered to host a banquet at the lodge. The envoys refused to attend. Gongliang questioned them, saying, "To refuse a granted banquet is to be irreverent toward the sovereign's command. The ruler is ill. Must he personally attend? Is that a proper way to handle it?" The envoys thereupon took their seats. When Shenzong took the throne, he was given the additional titles of Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Minister of Personnel.

公亮方厚莊重，沈深周密，平居謹繩墨，蹈規矩；然性吝嗇，殖貨至鉅萬，帝嘗以方張安世。初薦王安石，及同輔政，知上方向之，陰為子孫計，凡更張庶事，一切聽順，而外若不與之者。嘗遣子孝寬參其謀，至上前略無所異，於是帝益信任安石。安石德其助己，故引擢孝寬至樞密以報之。蘇軾嘗從容責公亮不能救正，公亮曰：「上與介甫如一人，此乃天也。」世譏其持祿固寵云。子孝寬，從子孝廣、孝蘊。

Gongliang was square, thick, solemn, and weighty, deep and thorough in his carefulness. In ordinary life he strictly observed the measuring cord and followed the compass; yet by nature he was stingy and amassed goods to the amount of tens of thousands. The emperor once compared him to Zhang Anshi. He at first recommended Wang Anshi, and when they jointly assisted in government, knowing the emperor favored him, he secretly planned for his descendants. In all broad reforms of various affairs he entirely listened and assented, while outwardly seeming not to join in. He once sent his son Xiaokuan to take part in his plans. Before the throne he showed scarcely any difference, and thereby the emperor trusted Wang Anshi all the more. Wang Anshi was grateful for his help and therefore promoted Xiaokuan to the Bureau of Military Affairs in return. Su Shi once calmly reproached Gongliang for being unable to correct matters. Gongliang said, "The emperor and Jiefu are like one person. This is Heaven's doing." The age mocked him for holding his salary and securing favor. His sons were Xiaokuan; his nephews Xiaoguang and Xiaoyun.

子孝寬

Son: Xiaokuan

孝寬，字令綽，以蔭知桐城縣。選知咸平縣，民詣府訴雨傷麥，府以妄杖之。孝寬躬行田，辨其實，得蠲賦。除秘閣修撰、提點開封府界鎮縣。

Xiaokuan, whose courtesy name was Lingchuo, took office as magistrate of Tongcheng County through hereditary privilege. He was selected as magistrate of Xianping County. When the people went to the prefectural office to report rain damage to their wheat crop, the office dismissed it as false and had them beaten. Xiaokuan personally inspected the fields, verified the facts, and obtained a remission of taxes. He was appointed Compiler at the Imperial Library and Intendant of market towns and counties on the boundaries of the Kaifeng metropolitan prefecture.

保甲法行，民相驚言且籍為兵。知府韓維上言，乞候農隙行之。孝寬牓十七縣，揭賞告捕扇惑者，民兵不敢訴，維之言不得行。入知審官東院、判刑部。

When the baojia system was implemented, the people alarmed one another with talk that they would soon be registered as soldiers. The prefect Han Wei memorialized, asking that it be carried out during the agricultural off-season. Xiaokuan posted notices in all seventeen counties offering rewards to inform on and capture those who stirred up alarm. The militia did not dare complain, and Wei's proposal could not be implemented. He entered the capital to serve as Director of the Eastern Court of Judicial Review and Vice Minister of Punishments.

熙寧五年，遷樞密都承旨，承旨用文臣，自孝寬始。擢拜樞密直學士、簽書樞密院。丁父憂，除喪，以端明殿學士知河陽，徙鄆。鄆有孟子廟，孝寬請於朝，得封鄒國公，配享孔子。連徙鎮，以吏部尚書召，道卒，年六十六。贈右光祿大夫。

In the fifth year of Xining he was transferred to Chief Bearer of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The appointment of a civil official to that post began with Xiaokuan. He was promoted and appointed Academician Directly Attached to the Bureau of Military Affairs and Concurrent Clerk of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When his father died he entered mourning. After the mourning period he was made Academician of the Hall of Lucid Talents and prefect of Heyang, then transferred to Yan. Yan had a temple to Mencius. Xiaokuan petitioned the court and obtained enfeoffment of Mencius as Duke of Zou, with a place in the sacrificial rites alongside Confucius. After successive transfers as military commissioner, he was summoned as Minister of Personnel but died on the road, aged sixty-six. He was posthumously awarded the title Right Grandee of Splendid Happiness.

孝廣，字仲錫。元豐末，為北外都水丞。元祐中，大臣議復河故道，召孝廣問之，言不可，出通判保州。久之，復為都水丞。前此，班行使臣部木筏至者，須校驗無所失亡，乃得送銓，監吏領賕謝，不時遣。孝廣治籍疏姓名，謹其去留，一歲中，歸選者百輩。

Xiaoguang, whose courtesy name was Zhongxi. At the end of the Yuanfeng era he served as Vice Director of the Outer Northern Office of the Waterways. During the Yuanyou era, the high ministers discussed restoring the Yellow River to its old course and summoned Xiaoguang to consult him. He said it could not be done and was sent out as vice prefect of Bao Prefecture. After a long interval he again served as Vice Director of the Waterways. Previously, when envoys on regular missions arrived escorting timber rafts, the rafts had to be verified as having suffered no loss before the envoys could be forwarded to the Ministry of Personnel for appointment processing. The supervising clerks accepted bribes and did not dispatch them promptly. Xiaoguang organized the registers, listed the names in detail, and carefully tracked arrivals and departures. Within one year, a hundred groups returned for appointment selection.

除京西轉運判官，入為水部員外郎。河決內黃，詔孝廣行視，遂疏蘇村，鑿鉅野，導河北流，紓澶、滑、深、瀛之害。遷都水使者。洛水頻歲湓湧，浸齧北岸，孝廣按河堤，得廢澾口遺跡，曰：「此昔人所以殺水勢也。」即日浚決之，累石為防，自是無水患。出提點永興路刑獄，陝西、京西轉運副使，還為左司郎中，擢戶部侍郎，進尚書。坐錢帛不給費，罷為天章閣待制、知杭州。又以前聘契丹失奉使體，奪職。尋復之，移知潭州，加顯謨閣直學士、知鄆州。

He was appointed Fiscal Commissioner of the Jingxi Circuit, then entered the capital as Vice Director of the Waterways Bureau in the Ministry of Works. The Yellow River burst its banks at Neihuang. An edict ordered Xiaoguang to inspect the site. He dredged Sucun, cut through Juye, and directed the northern flow of the Yellow River, relieving the flooding in Chan, Hua, Shen, and Ying. He was promoted to Commissioner of the Waterways. The Luo River overflowed year after year, eroding the north bank. Xiaoguang inspected the river dikes and found traces of an abandoned sluice. He said, "This is how men of old reduced the force of the water." That same day he dredged and opened it, piled stones to form a barrier, and from then on there were no further floods. He was sent out as Intendant of Legal Affairs for Yongxing Circuit and as Vice Fiscal Commissioner of Shaanxi and Jingxi circuits. He returned to serve as Director of the Left Bureau, was promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue, and then to Minister. Because funds and silk were not supplied as required, he was demoted to Academician Awaiting Orders at the Hall of Heavenly Manifestations and prefect of Hangzhou. He was also stripped of rank for earlier failure to observe proper protocol on a mission to the Khitan. He was soon restored, transferred to prefect of Tanzhou, and given the additional title of Academician Directly Attached to the Hall of Manifest Epigraphy as prefect of Yan.

孝廣與胡安國、鄒浩善，皆大觀中忤時相，御史論之，復奪職知饒州。逾年，徙廣州，歷成德軍、太原府，得故職以卒，年六十，贈正議大夫。孝廣涖官以嚴稱，獲盜，輒碎其手焉。

Xiaoguang was on good terms with Hu Anguo and Zou Hao. All three offended the chief councillor during the Daguang era. Censors impeached them, and Xiaoguang again lost his office and was made prefect of Raozhou. After a year he was transferred to Guangzhou, then served at Chengdé Army and Taiyuan Prefecture. He recovered his former rank and died there, aged sixty. He was posthumously awarded the title Grandee of Correct Governing. Xiaoguang was known for severity in office. Whenever he captured robbers, he would smash their hands.

孝蘊，字處善。紹聖中，管幹發運司糶糴事，建言揚之瓜洲，潤之京口，常之奔牛，易堰為閘，以便漕運、商賈。既成，公私便之。提舉兩浙常平，改轉運判官，知臨江軍，召為左司員外郎，遷起居舍人。

Xiaoyun, whose courtesy name was Chushan. During the Shaosheng era he managed grain sale and purchase affairs for the Transport Commission. He proposed converting weirs to sluice gates at Guazhou in Yang Prefecture, Jingkou in Run Prefecture, and Benniu in Chang Prefecture to facilitate canal transport and commerce. Once the work was completed, both the government and private merchants benefited. He served as Intendant of the Changping Granaries of the Two Zhe circuits, then as Fiscal Commissioner and prefect of Linjiang Army. He was summoned as Vice Director of the Left Bureau and promoted to Attendant in the Office of Daily Records.

時京邑有盜，徽宗怒，期三日不獲，坐尹罪。孝蘊奏：「求盜急則遁益遠，小緩當自出。」從其言，得盜。崇寧建殿中省，擢為監。居數月，言者論其與張商英善，以集賢殿修撰出知襄州，徙江浙荊淮發運。泗州議開直河，以避漲溢沙石之害，孝蘊以淮、汴不相接，不可成。既而工役大集，竟成之，策勳第賞，辭不受。未幾，河果塞，召為戶部侍郎，帝嘗問右曹儲物幾何，疾作不能對。徙工部，以顯謨閣待制知杭州。其後坐累，連削黜，至貶安遠軍節度副使。

At the time there were robbers in the capital. Emperor Huizong was angry and set a three-day deadline for their capture; if they were not caught, the prefect would be punished. Xiaoyun memorialized, "If the search for robbers is pressed too urgently, they flee all the farther. Ease the pressure slightly and they will emerge on their own." The emperor followed his advice, and the robbers were captured. When the Department of Palace Affairs was established in the Chongning era, he was promoted to serve as its Supervisor. After several months, memorialists criticized his friendship with Zhang Shangying. He was sent out as Compiler at the Hall of Assembled Worthies and prefect of Xiangzhou, then transferred to Transport Commissioner for Jiangsu-Zhejiang and Jing-Huai. Sizhou proposed opening a straight channel to avoid damage from flooding and sand and gravel buildup. Xiaoyun argued that because the Huai and Bian rivers did not connect, the project could not succeed. Soon a great labor force was assembled and the channel was completed after all. When he was ranked for merit and offered a reward, he declined to accept. Before long the channel indeed silted shut. He was summoned as Vice Minister of Revenue. The emperor once asked how much was stored in the right bureau, but he was seized by illness and could not answer. He was transferred to the Ministry of Works, then made Academician Awaiting Orders at the Hall of Manifest Epigraphy and prefect of Hangzhou. Afterward he was implicated in successive cases, repeatedly demoted and stripped of rank, until he was banished as Vice Military Commissioner of Anyuan Army.

宣和二年，始復天章閣待制、知歙州。方臘起青溪，孝蘊約敕郡內，無得奔擾，分兵守厄塞，有避賊來歸者，獲罪，使出境，人稍恃以安。會移青州，既行而歙陷，道改杭州，時賊已破杭，孝蘊單車至城下。城既克復，軍士多殺人，孝蘊下令，脅從者得自首，無輒殺，皆束手不敢驁。論功，進顯謨閣直學士，又加龍圖閣學士。卒，年六十五，贈通議大夫。

In the second year of Xuanhe he was at last restored as Academician Awaiting Orders at the Hall of Heavenly Manifestations and prefect of She Prefecture. When Fang La rose at Qingxi, Xiaoyun issued strict orders within the prefecture forbidding flight and disorder. He divided troops to guard strategic passes. Those who fled the bandits and sought refuge in his jurisdiction were punished and expelled. The people gradually felt somewhat secure. Just as he was transferred to Qing Prefecture, he had already set out when She fell. En route his appointment was changed to Hangzhou. By then the bandits had already taken the city. Xiaoyun came alone in a single cart to the foot of the walls. Once the city was recovered, the soldiers killed many people. Xiaoyun issued an order that those who had been coerced could surrender themselves and that no one was to kill indiscriminately. All restrained themselves and did not dare run wild. For his merit he was promoted to Academician Directly Attached to the Hall of Manifest Epigraphy, and further made Academician of the Hall of Dragon Diagrams. He died, aged sixty-five. He was posthumously awarded the title Grandee of Discussion and Governance.

陳升之

Chen Shengzhi

陳升之，字暘叔，建州建陽人。舉進士，歷知封州、漢陽軍，入為監察御史、右司諫，改起居舍人、知諫院。時俗好藏去交親尺牘，有訟，則轉相告言，有司據以推詰。升之謂：「此告訐之習也，請禁止之。」又言：「三館為搢紳華途，近者用人益輕，遂為貴遊進取之階，請嚴其選。」詔自今臣僚乞子孫恩者，毋得除館閣。

Chen Shengzhi, whose courtesy name was Yangshu, was a native of Jianyang in Jian Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination and successively served as prefect of Feng Prefecture and Han Yang Army. He entered the capital as Investigating Censor and Remonstrator of the Right Bureau, then became Attendant in the Office of Daily Records and Director of the Remonstrance Bureau. It was then customary to hide away letters from relatives and friends. When lawsuits arose, people would inform on one another, and the authorities used such reports as grounds for investigation and interrogation. Shengzhi said, "This is the habit of informing and impeaching. I ask that it be forbidden." He also said, "The Three Halls are the splendid path of the gentry. Recently appointments have grown ever lighter, until they have become a ladder for the privileged to advance. I ask that selection be made strict." An edict ordered that from then on, when officials petitioned for favors for their descendants, they might not be appointed to Hall posts.

著作佐郎王瓘遇殿帥郭承祐於道，訶怒不下馬，執送府。升之言京官不宜為節度使下馬，因劾承祐驕恣，解其任。張堯佐緣後宮親，為三司使，尋為宣徽使；內侍王守忠領兩鎮留後，求升正班；御史張昪補郡，久不召；彭思永論事，令窮問所從來；唐介擊宰相，斥嶺南：升之皆極諫。遷侍御史知雜事。凡任言責五年，所上數十百事，然持論不堅，以故不盡施用。

Associate Compiler Wang Guan encountered Palace Guard Commander Guo Chengyou on the road, berated him angrily for not dismounting, and had him seized and sent to the prefectural office. Shengzhi said that capital officials should not dismount for military commissioners. He impeached Chengyou for arrogance and insubordination and had him removed from office. Zhang Yaozuo, through connections to the inner palace, became Commissioner of the Three Departments and then Commissioner of Palace Attendants; the eunuch Wang Shouzhong held military commissioner posts in two circuits and sought promotion to regular rank; Censor Zhang Bian was assigned to a prefecture and for a long time was not summoned back; Peng Siyong criticized affairs and was ordered harshly questioned as to his sources; Tang Jie attacked the chief councillor and was banished to Lingnan—in all these cases Shengzhi remonstrated forcefully. He was promoted to Attending Censor-in-Chief. In all he held remonstrance duties for five years and submitted several dozen to a hundred memorials, but his arguments were not firm, and for that reason not all were implemented.

擢天章閣待制、河北都轉運使，知瀛州、真定府，加龍圖閣直學士，復知諫院。上言：「天下州縣治否，朝廷不能周知，悉付之轉運使。今選用不精，又無考課，非闇滯罷懦，則淩肆刻薄，所以疾苦愁歎，雍圩上聞。必欲垂意元元，宜從此始。」乃詔翰林學士承旨孫抃、權御史中丞張昪，與升之同領磨勘轉運使及提點刑獄功務。

He was promoted to Academician Awaiting Orders at the Hall of Heavenly Manifestations and Chief Fiscal Commissioner of Hebei, served as prefect of Ying and Zhending, was given the additional title of Academician Directly Attached to the Hall of Dragon Diagrams, and again made Director of the Remonstrance Bureau. He memorialized, "Whether prefectures and counties throughout the realm are well governed, the court cannot know in full detail, and all is entrusted to the fiscal commissioners. Appointments are now made carelessly, and there is no performance review. The commissioners are either dim-witted, stagnant, dismissed, and cowardly, or overbearing, wanton, and harshly petty. Hence the people's suffering and grief are blocked from reaching the throne. If Your Majesty truly wishes to care for the common people, this is where to begin." An edict then ordered Hanlin Academician Exemplar Sun Bian, Acting Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhang Bian, and Shengzhi jointly to conduct merit review of fiscal commissioners and legal intendant work.

升之初為諫官時，嘗請抑絕內降，詔許有司執奏勿下。至是，申言之。詔委三省劾正其罪，仍揭於朝堂。文彥博乞罷相，升之慮樞密使賈昌朝復用，疏論其邪，昌朝卒罷去。遷樞密直學士、知開封府。歲餘，拜樞密副使。於是諫官御史唐介、范師道、呂誨、趙抃、王陶交章論升之陰結宦者，故得大用。仁宗以示升之，升之丐去。帝謂輔臣曰：「朕選用執政，豈容內臣預議邪。」乃兩罷之。以升之為資政殿學士、知定州，徙太原府。

When Shengzhi first served as remonstrator, he had asked to restrain inner-palace direct appointments. An edict permitted the relevant offices to hold such orders and memorialize against them rather than implement them. At this time he stated the matter again. An edict ordered the Three Departments to investigate and correct the offenses, and the results were posted in the court hall. Wen Yanbo asked to resign as chief councillor. Shengzhi feared that Bureau of Military Affairs Commissioner Jia Changchao would be restored to office. He submitted a memorial arguing Changchao's wickedness, and Changchao was finally dismissed. He was transferred to Academician Directly Attached to the Bureau of Military Affairs and prefect of Kaifeng. After a little over a year, he was appointed Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Thereupon remonstrators and censors Tang Jie, Fan Shidao, Lü Hui, Zhao Bian, and Wang Tao submitted successive memorials arguing that Shengzhi had secretly allied with eunuchs and therefore gained high office. Emperor Renzong showed this to Shengzhi, and Shengzhi begged to leave office. The emperor said to his ministers, "When I select men for high office, how can I tolerate inner officials participating in the deliberation?" Thereupon both were dismissed. Shengzhi was made Grand Academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance and prefect of Dingzhou, then transferred to Taiyuan Prefecture.

治平二年，復拜樞密副使。神宗立，以母老請郡，為觀文殿學士、知越州。熙甯元年，徙許，中道改大名府，過闕，留知樞密院。故事，樞密使與知院事不並置。時文彥博、呂公著既為使，帝以升之三輔政，欲稍異其禮，故特命之。明年，同制置三司條例司，與王安石共事。數月，拜中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士。升之既相，遂請免條例司，其說以為宰相無所不統，所領職事，豈可稱司。安石曰：「古之六卿，即今之執政，有司馬、司徒、司空，各名一職，何害於理？」升之曰：「若制置百司條例則可，但今制置三司一官，則不可。」由是忤安石，稱疾歸臥逾十旬，帝數敦諭，乃出。會母喪，去位；終制，召為樞密使。足疾不能立朝，七年，冬祀，又不能相禮。拜鎮江軍節度使、同平章事、判揚州，封秀國公。卒，年六十九。贈太保、中書令，諡曰成肅。

In the second year of Zhiping he was again appointed Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When Emperor Shenzong ascended the throne, he asked for a prefectural post because his mother was old. He was made Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture and prefect of Yue Prefecture. In the first year of Xining he was transferred to Xu, but en route his appointment was changed to Daming Prefecture. Passing the capital, he was kept on as Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. By precedent, the Bureau Commissioner and the Director of the Bureau were not both appointed at once. At the time Wen Yanbo and Lü Gongzhu were already commissioners. Because Shengzhi had served as one of three chief ministers, the emperor wished to mark his status slightly differently and so specially appointed him. The next year he jointly established the Fiscal Reform Commission and worked with Wang Anshi. Within several months he was appointed Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery and Grand Academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. Once Shengzhi became chief councillor, he asked to abolish the Fiscal Reform Commission. His argument was that the chief councillor oversees everything and the duties he heads cannot be called a "commission." Wang Anshi said, "The Six Ministers of antiquity were today's chief ministers—there were the Minister of War, Minister of Education, and Minister of Works, each named for a duty. What harm is there in principle?" Shengzhi said, "If it were establishing regulations for the hundred offices, that would be acceptable. But establishing regulations for a single Three Departments office cannot be done." Thereby he offended Wang Anshi. He claimed illness and retired to bed for more than a hundred days. The emperor repeatedly urged him earnestly, and only then did he emerge. When his mother died he left office. When mourning ended he was summoned as Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. A foot ailment prevented him from standing at court. In the seventh year, at the winter sacrifice, he could not again assist in the rites. He was appointed Military Commissioner of Zhenjiang Army, Concurrent Grand Councillor, and Administrator of Yangzhou, and enfeoffed as Duke of Xiuguo. He died, aged sixty-nine. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Preceptor and Director of the Chancellery, with the posthumous title Chengsu.

升之深狡多數，善傅會以取富貴。王安石用事，患正論盈庭，引升之自助。升之心知其不可，而竭力為之用，安石德之，故使先己為相。甫得志，即求解條例司，又時為小異，陽若不與之同者。世以是譏之，謂之「筌相」。升之初名旭，避神宗嫌名，改焉。

Shengzhi was deeply cunning and scheming, skilled at twisting circumstances to win wealth and rank. When Wang Anshi held power, troubled that upright discourse filled the court, he brought in Shengzhi to assist him. Shengzhi knew in his heart it was wrong, yet exerted himself on Anshi's behalf. Anshi was grateful and therefore had him serve as chief councillor before taking the post himself. Hardly had he gained his aim when he asked to be relieved of the Fiscal Reform Commission. He also occasionally offered minor differences, outwardly as if he did not agree. People mocked him for this and called him the "Trap Chief Councillor"—after the bamboo fish trap, for feigning to differ from Wang Anshi while in fact serving him. Shengzhi's original personal name was Xu; to avoid the taboo name of Emperor Shenzong, he changed it.

吳充，字沖卿，建州浦城人。未冠舉進士，與兄育、京、方皆高第。調穀熟主簿，入為國子監直講、吳王宮教授。等輩多與宗室狎，充齒最少，獨以嚴見憚，相率設席受經。充作《六箴》以獻，曰視，曰聽，曰好，曰學，曰進德，曰崇儉。仁宗命繕寫賜皇族，英宗在藩邸，書之坐右。

Wu Chong, whose courtesy name was Chongqing, was a native of Pucheng in Jian Prefecture. Before coming of age he passed the jinshi examination. He and his elder brothers Yu, Jing, and Fang all ranked at the top. He was appointed chief clerk of Gushu, then entered service as Erudite Lecturer of the Directorate of Education and Instructor at the Prince of Wu's palace. His peers mostly fraternized with imperial clansmen. Chong was the youngest, yet alone was feared for his severity, and they all in turn set out mats to receive his instruction in the classics. Chong composed the "Six Admonitions" and presented them, on Vision, Hearing, Pleasure, Learning, Advancing in Virtue, and Honoring Frugality. Emperor Renzong ordered them copied and bestowed on the imperial clan. When Emperor Yingzong was still in his princely residence, he kept the text at his right hand.

英宗立，數問充所在，會入覲，語其為吳王宮教授時事，嘉勞之。尋權鹽鐵副使。熙甯元年，知制誥。神宗諭以任用意，曰：「先帝知卿久矣。」遂同知諫院。言：「士大夫親沒，或藁殯數十年，傷敗風化，宜限期使葬。」詔著為令。河北水災、地震，為安撫使。使還，王安石參知政事，充子安持，其婿也，引嫌解諫職，知審刑院，權三司使，為翰林學士。三年，拜樞密副使。王韶取洮州，蕃酋木征遁去，充請招還故地，縻以爵秩，使自領所部，永為外臣，無庸列置郡縣，殫財屈力。時方以開拓付韶，充言不用。

When Yingzong acceded, he repeatedly asked where Chong was. When Chong happened to come for an audience, the emperor spoke of his service as instructor at the Prince of Wu's palace and praised and rewarded him. Soon he served as acting Vice Commissioner of Salt and Iron. In the first year of Xining, he was made Drafting Director. Emperor Shenzong instructed him to act according to his own judgment, saying, "The late emperor knew you well for a long time. He was then made Associate Director of the Remonstrance Bureau. He said, "When scholar-officials' parents die, some leave the corpse in temporary burial for decades. This damages customs, and they should be given a deadline for burial. An edict was issued making this a statute. When Hebei suffered flooding and earthquake, he was made Pacification Commissioner. On returning from his mission, Wang Anshi became Vice Grand Councillor. Chong's son Anchi was his son-in-law, so citing conflict of interest he resigned his remonstrance post and became Director of the Office of Review of Judicial Punishments, acting Commissioner of the Three Departments, and Hanlin Academician. In the third year he was appointed Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When Wang Shao took Tao Prefecture and the tribal chief Muzheng fled, Chong requested recruiting him back to his former territory, binding him with titles and ranks so he would govern his own followers, remain forever an outer vassal, and spare the state the need to establish prefectures and counties at the cost of exhausting finances and strength. At the time expansion was entrusted to Shao, and Chong's proposal was not adopted.

八年，進檢校太傅、樞密使。充雖與安石連姻，而心不善其所為，數為帝言政事不便。帝察其中立無與，欲相之，安石去，遂代為同中書門下平章事、監修國史。充欲有所變革，乞召還司馬光、呂公著、韓維、蘇頌，乃薦孫覺、李常、程顥等數十人。光亦以充可告語，與之書曰：「自新法之行，中外洶洶。民困於煩苛，迫於誅斂，愁怨流離，轉死溝壑。日夜引領，冀朝廷覺悟，一變敝法，幾年於茲矣。今日救天下之急，苟不罷青苗、免役、保甲、市易，息征伐之謀，而欲求成效，猶惡湯之沸，而益薪鼓橐也。欲去此五者，必先別利害，以悟人主之心。欲悟人主之心，必先開言路。今病雖已深，猶未至膏肓，失今不治，遂為痼疾矣。」充不能用。

In the eighth year he was advanced to Acting Grand Tutor and Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Although Chong was related by marriage to Anshi, he disapproved in his heart of what Anshi did and repeatedly told the emperor that government measures were inconvenient. The emperor saw his neutrality and lack of partisanship and wished to make him chief councillor. When Anshi left, he succeeded him as Concurrent Grand Councillor and Supervisor of the National History. Chong wished to make reforms and begged to recall Sima Guang, Lü Gongzhu, Han Wei, and Su Song. He also recommended Sun Jue, Li Chang, Cheng Hao, and several dozen others. Guang also considered Chong someone he could speak to frankly, and wrote him: "Since the new laws have been implemented, alarm has surged inside and outside the court. The people are worn down by onerous regulations, pressed by levies and confiscations, full of grievance and displacement, dying in ditches and gullies. Day and night one stretches one's neck in hope, wishing the court would awaken and overturn the flawed laws—all these years now. Today, to save the realm's urgent peril, if one does not abolish the Green Sprouts, Corvée Exemption, Baojia, and Market Stabilization laws and quiet plans for campaigns, yet seeks results, it is like hating that soup is boiling yet adding firewood and pumping the bellows. To remove these five things, one must first distinguish harm and benefit to awaken the sovereign's heart. To awaken the sovereign's heart, one must first open the path of speech. Today's illness is already deep, yet has not reached the vital organ. If it is not treated now, it will become a chronic disease. Chong could not adopt it.

王珪與充並相，忌充，陰掣其肘。而充素惡蔡確，確治相州獄，捕安持及親戚、官屬考治，欲鉤致充語，帝獨明其亡他。及確預政，充與議變法於前，數為所詘。安南師出無功，知諫院張璪又謂充與郭逵書，止其進兵，復置獄。充既數遭同列困毀，素病瘤，積憂畏，疾益侵。元豐三年三月，輿歸第，罷為觀文殿大學士、西太一宮使。逾月，卒，年六十。贈司空兼侍中，諡曰正憲。

Wang Gui served as chief councillor alongside Chong, envied him, and secretly held him back. Chong had long disliked Cai Que. Que investigated the Xiangzhou case, arresting Anchi and relatives and staff for interrogation, seeking to hook Chong's words. The emperor alone understood he had no other involvement. When Que entered governance, Chong debated the reform laws before him and was repeatedly refuted. When the Annam campaign went out without success, Remonstrance Director Zhang Can again claimed Chong had written to Guo Kui halting the advance and reopened a case. Having repeatedly suffered obstruction and slander from colleagues, and having long been ill with a tumor, accumulated worry and fear made his illness worsen. In the third month of the third year of Yuanfeng he was carried home in a litter and dismissed as Senior Academician of the Hall for Worthies and Commissioner of the Western Great Ultimate Palace. After a month he died, aged sixty. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Minister of Works and Concurrent Palace Attendant, with the posthumous title Zhengxian.

充內行修飭，事兄甚謹。為相務安靜。性沉密，對家人語，未嘗及國家事，所言於上，人莫知者。將終，戒妻子勿以私事干朝廷，帝益悲之。世謂充心正而力不足，譏其知不可而弗能勇退也。子安詩、安持。安詩在元祐時為諫官、起居郎。安持為都水使者，遷工部侍郎，終天章閣待制。安詩子儲、安持子侔，官皆員外郎，坐與妖人張懷素通謀，誅死。

Chong's private conduct was disciplined, and he served his elder brothers with great respect. As chief councillor he strove for quiet governance. By nature reserved and secretive, in speaking with family he never touched state affairs. What he said to the emperor, no one knew. Near death he admonished wife and children not to trouble the court with private matters, and the emperor grieved all the more. The world said Chong's heart was upright but his strength insufficient, mocking him for knowing what was wrong yet being unable to courageously withdraw. His sons were Anshi and Anchi. Anshi served during the Yuanyou era as remonstrator and Attendant at the Palace Archives. Anchi was Commissioner of Waterways, promoted to Vice Minister of Works, and ended as Awaiting Edict at the Hall of Heavenly Manifestations. Anshi's son Chu and Anchi's son Mou both held the rank of Vice Director. They were executed for conspiring with the sorcerer Zhang Huaisu.

王珪，字禹玉，成都華陽人，後徙舒。曾祖永，事太宗為右補闕。吳越納土，受命往均賦，至則悉除無名之算，民皆感泣。使還，或言其多弛賦租。帝詰之，對曰：「使新附之邦，蒙天子仁恩，臣雖得罪，死不恨。」帝大悅。

Wang Gui, whose courtesy name was Yuyu, was a native of Huayang in Chengdu Prefecture. Later the family moved to Shuzhou. His great-grandfather Yong served Emperor Taizong as Remonstrator of the Right. When Wuyue submitted its territory, he was ordered to equalize tax assessments. On arrival he abolished all nameless levies, and the people wept with gratitude. On returning from his mission, some said he had excessively relaxed tax and rent. The emperor questioned him. He replied, "To let a newly submitted region receive the Son of Heaven's benevolence—even if I offend and die, I have no regret. The emperor was greatly pleased.

珪弱歲奇警，出語驚人。從兄琪讀其所賦，唶曰：「騏驥方生，已有千里之志，但蘭筋未就耳。」舉進士甲科，通判揚州。吏民皆少珪，有大校嫚不謹，捽置之法。王倫犯淮南，珪議出郊掩擊之，賊遁去。召直集賢院，為鹽鐵判官、修起居注。接伴契丹使，北使過魏，舊皆盛服入。至是，欲便服，妄云衣冠在後乘。珪命取授之，使者愧謝。遂為賀正旦使。進知制誥、知審官院，為翰林學士、知開封府。遭母憂，除喪，復為學士，兼侍讀學士。

Gui from childhood was extraordinarily quick-witted, and his words astonished people. His cousin Qi read what he had composed and clicked his tongue, saying, "A qiji has just been born yet already has the will to travel a thousand li—only the sinews are not yet formed. He passed the jinshi in the top grade and was made Vice Prefect of Yangzhou. Officials and commoners all looked down on Gui for his youth. A senior military officer was disrespectful and careless, and Gui had him seized and punished by law. When Wang Lun raided Huainan, Gui proposed going outside the city to strike by surprise, and the bandits fled. Summoned to the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, he served as Salt and Iron Administrator and Compiler of the Daily Record. Escorting Khitan envoys, when northern envoys passed Wei, by custom they all entered in full dress. On this occasion they wished to enter in ordinary dress, falsely claiming their caps and robes were in the rear carriage. Gui ordered them fetched and handed over, and the envoys apologized in shame. He then served as envoy to congratulate on New Year's Day. He was advanced to Drafting Director and Director of the Bureau of Personnel Review, and served as Hanlin Academician and Prefect of Kaifeng. When his mother died he observed mourning. When mourning ended he again became Academician and Concurrent Lecturing Academician.

先是，三聖並侑南郊，而溫成廟享獻同太室。珪言：「三后並配，所以致孝也，而瀆乎饗帝。後宮有廟，所以廣恩也，而僭乎饗親。」於是專以太祖侑于郊，而改溫成廟為祠殿。嘉祐立皇子，中書召珪作詔，珪曰：「此大事也，非面受旨不可。」明日請對，曰：「海內望此舉久矣，果出自聖意乎？」仁宗曰：「朕意決矣。」珪再拜賀，始退而草詔。歐陽修聞而歎曰：「真學士也。」帝宴寶文閣，作飛白書分侍臣，命珪識歲月姓名。再宴群王，又使為序，以所御筆、墨、箋、硯賜之。

Previously the Three Sages were all enshrined at the southern suburban sacrifice, while the offerings at Empress Wencheng's temple equaled those at the Grand Chamber. Gui said, "Enshrining the three empresses together serves filial piety, yet it profanes the sacrifice to the Divine Lord. Having temples for the inner palace extends grace, yet it oversteps the sacrifice to kin. Thereupon only Emperor Taizu was enshrined at the suburban sacrifice, and Wencheng's temple was changed to a hall of worship. When the crown prince was to be established in the Jiayou era, the Secretariat summoned Gui to draft the edict. Gui said, "This is a great affair. I cannot do it without receiving the order face to face. The next day he requested an audience and said, "The realm has long looked to this act—is it truly from the sacred will? Emperor Renzong said, "My will is decided. Gui bowed twice in congratulation, then withdrew and drafted the edict. Ouyang Xiu heard and sighed, "A true Academician! The emperor banqueted at the Hall of Treasured Culture, wrote feibai script and distributed it among attendant ministers, and ordered Gui to inscribe the date and names. Banqueting the princes again, he also had Gui compose a preface and bestowed on him the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone he had personally used.

英宗立，當撰先帝諡，珪言：「古者賤不誄貴，幼不誄長，故天子稱天以誄之，制諡於郊，若云受之於天者。近制，唯詞臣撰議，庶僚不得參聞，頗違稱天之義。請令兩制共議。」從之。濮王追崇典禮，珪與侍從、禮官合議宜稱皇伯，三夫人改封大國，執政不以為然。其後三夫人之稱，卒如初議。始，珪之請對而作詔也，有密譖之者。英宗在位之四年，忽召至蘂珠殿，傳詔令兼端明殿學士，錫之盤龍金盆，諭之曰：「秘殿之職，非直器卿於翰墨間，二府員缺，即出命矣。曩有讒口，朕今釋然無疑。」珪謝曰：「非陛下至明，臣死無日矣。」神宗即位，遷學士承旨。珪典內外制十八年，最為久次，嘗因展事齋宮，賦詩有所感，帝見而憐之。熙寧三年，拜參知政事。九年，進同中書門下平章事、集賢殿大學士。

When Yingzong acceded, posthumous titles for the late emperor were to be drafted. Gui said, "In antiquity the low did not posthumously title the high, the young did not posthumously title the elder. Therefore the Son of Heaven invokes Heaven to bestow the title, fashioning the posthumous name at the suburban altar, as if receiving it from Heaven. Under recent practice only drafting academicians compose the proposal and common officials may not participate. This strays from the meaning of invoking Heaven. I request that both drafting divisions deliberate together. This was granted. For the rituals honoring the Prince of Pu posthumously, Gui together with attendants and ritual officials jointly concluded he should be styled Imperial Uncle and the three ladies should be enfeoffed as great states. The chief administrators did not agree. Afterward the titles of the three ladies ultimately followed the original proposal. At the beginning, when Gui had requested an audience to draft the edict, someone had secretly slandered him. In the fourth year of Yingzong's reign he was suddenly summoned to the Hall of Luminous Pearls. An edict was transmitted appointing him Concurrent Academician of the Hall of Bright Clarity. He was bestowed a coiling-dragon gold basin and instructed, "The secret-hall post is not merely to place your talents among brush and ink. When a vacancy opens in the Two Departments, an appointment will issue at once. There were slanderous tongues before. I am now at ease and without doubt. Gui thanked him, saying, "Had Your Majesty not been supremely clear, I would have had no day left to live. When Shenzong acceded, he was transferred to Chief Hanlin Academician. Gui presided over inner and outer edicts for eighteen years—the longest tenure. Once during ritual observance at the purification palace he composed a poem expressing his feelings, and the emperor saw it and took pity on him. In the third year of Xining he was appointed Vice Grand Councillor. In the ninth year he was advanced to Concurrent Grand Councillor and Senior Academician of the Hall of Worthies.

元豐官制行，由禮部侍郎超授銀青光祿大夫。五年，正三省官名，拜尚書左僕射兼門下侍郎，以蔡確為右僕射。先是，神宗謂執政曰：「官制將行，欲新舊人兩用之。」又曰：「御史大夫，非司馬光不可。」珪、確相顧失色。珪憂甚，不知所出。確曰：「陛下久欲收靈武，公能任責，則相位可保也。」珪喜，謝確。帝嘗欲召司馬光，珪薦俞充帥慶，使上平西夏策。珪意以為既用兵深入，必不召光，雖召，將不至。已而光果不召。永樂之敗，死者十餘萬人，實珪啟之。

When the Yuanfeng official system was implemented, he was promoted in one step from Vice Minister of Rites to Silver Gleam Grandee of Glory. In the fifth year, when the Three Department official titles were regularized, he was appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Concurrent Gate Head, and Cai Que was made Right Vice Director. Previously Emperor Shenzong said to the chief administrators, "When the new official system is about to be implemented, I wish to employ both new and old men. He added: "For the post of Censor-in-Chief, no one but Sima Guang will do." Gui and Zhang Dun looked at each other, their faces draining of color. Gui was deeply alarmed and could see no way out. Zhang Dun said: "Your Majesty has long wanted to recover Lingzhou. If you, sir, will take charge of it, your place as chief minister can be kept." Gui was delighted and thanked Zhang Dun. The emperor once wanted to summon Sima Guang. Wang Gui recommended Yu Chong to command Qingzhou, steering the court toward a campaign to subdue Western Xia. Wang Gui reckoned that once the army was committed to a deep invasion, Guang would certainly not be summoned—and even if he were, he would refuse to come. In the event, Guang was never summoned. The disaster at Yongle City cost more than a hundred thousand lives—and Wang Gui had truly set it in motion.

八年，帝有疾，珪白皇太后，請立延安郡王為太子。太子立，是為哲宗。進珪金紫光祿大夫，封岐國公。五月，卒於位，年六十七。特輟朝五日，賻金帛五千，贈太師，諡曰文恭。賜壽昌甲第。

In the eighth year the emperor fell ill. Wang Gui informed the empress dowager and asked that the Prince of Yan'an Commandery be named heir apparent. The heir was installed—he would reign as Emperor Zhezong. Wang Gui was promoted to Grandee of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon and enfeoffed as Duke of Qi. In the fifth month he died in office, aged sixty-seven. The court suspended audiences for five days in his honor, granted five thousand strings' worth of gold and silk as funeral gifts, posthumously ennobled him as Grand Preceptor, and gave him the posthumous title Cultured and Reverent. He was granted a first-rank mansion in the Shouchang quarter.

從父罕

Paternal uncle: Wang Han

罕，字師言，以蔭知宜興縣。縣多湖田，歲訴水，輕重失其平。罕躬至田處，列高下為圖，明年訴牒至，按圖示之，某戶可免，某戶不可免，眾皆服。范仲淹在潤，奏下其式于諸道。西方用兵，仍年科箭羽于東南，價踴貴，富室至豫貯以待鬻。罕白郡守，倍其直市之，而令民輸錢。旁州聞之，皆願如常州法。累遷戶部判官。修太宗別廟，中貴人大慮材，將一新之。罕白是特歲久丹漆黯暗，但當致飾耳，榱櫨皆如故，唯易一楹，省緡錢十萬。

Wang Han, styled Shiyan, entered office by hereditary privilege and served as magistrate of Yixing County. The county had many lakeside fields. Every year people petitioned about flood damage, and the assessments of who should pay what were wildly uneven. Han went to the fields himself and mapped their relative elevations. When petitions arrived the next year, he consulted the map: this household could be exempted, that one could not. Everyone accepted the ruling. When Fan Zhongyan was serving in Runzhou, he memorialized the throne to spread Han's method across every circuit. With war raging in the west, the court levied arrow feathers on the southeast year after year. Prices soared, and wealthy households even stockpiled feathers in advance to sell at a profit. Han advised the prefect to buy up the feathers at double the market price and have the people pay their quota in cash instead. Neighboring prefectures heard of the scheme and all wanted to adopt Changzhou's approach. He rose in succession to Assistant Section Chief in the Ministry of Revenue. During repairs to Emperor Taizong's separate temple, a senior eunuch vastly overestimated the timber required and planned to rebuild the whole structure from scratch. Han reported that the lacquer had merely darkened with age and needed only refurbishing. The rafters and beams could all stay in place; only one pillar needed replacing—a saving of a hundred thousand strings of cash.

出為廣東轉運使。儂智高入寇，罕行部在潮，廣州守仲簡自圍中遣書邀罕，罕報曰：「吾家亦受困，非不欲歸，顧獨歸無益，當求所以相濟者。」遂還惠州。州之惡少年正相率為盜，里落驚擾，惠人要罕出城，及郊，遮道求救護者數千計。罕擇父老可語者問以策，曰：「吾屬皆有田客，欲給以兵，使相保聚。」罕曰：「有田客者如是，得矣，無者奈何？」乃呼耆長發里民，補壯丁，每長二百人；又令邑尉增弓手二千。巳時下令，約申而集。募有方略者，許以官秩、金帛，使為甲首。久之，無至者。有婦人訴為僕奪釵珥，捕得之，並執奪攘者十八輩，皆梟首決口置道左，傳曰：「此耆長發為壯丁不肯行者也。」觀者始有怖色。至期，得六百人，尉所部亦至。於是染庫帛為旗；授之。割牛革為盾形，柔之湯中，每盾削竹簽十六，穿於革，以木為鼻，使持之自蔽。斷苦竹數千，銛其末，使操為兵。悉出公私戎器。檄告屬城，仿而行之。數日，眾大振，向之惡少年，皆隸行伍，無敢動。乃簡卒三千，方舟建旗，伐鼓作樂，順流而下。將至廣，悉眾登岸，斬木為鹿角，積高數仞，營于南門。智高戴黃蓋臨觀，相去三十步，見已嚴備，不敢犯。罕徐開門而入，智高遂解去。時南道郵驛斷絕，罕上事，不得通；而提點刑獄鮑軻遁處南雄，數具奏。及賊平，軻受賞，罕謫監信州酒。安撫使孫沔言罕實有功，復以為西路轉運使。或傳智高不死，走火峒，儂宗旦據險聚眾，邕守蕭注謀擊之。罕呼宗旦子日新謂之曰：「汝父內為交阯所仇，外為邊將希賞之餌，非計也。汝歸報，擇利而為之。於是父子俱降。

He was posted out as Transport Commissioner of Guangdong. When Nong Zhigao invaded, Han was making a circuit inspection in Chaozhou. Zhong Jian, the besieged prefect of Guangzhou, sent a letter inviting him. Han replied: "My own household is trapped as well. It is not that I do not want to come—but coming alone would accomplish nothing. We must find a way to help each other." He then returned to Huizhou. Wicked youths in the prefecture were banding together as robbers, and the countryside was in uproar. The people of Huizhou wanted Han to leave the city; at the outskirts, thousands blocked the road pleading for protection. Han chose elders he could consult and asked their advice. They said: "We all have tenant farmers on our estates. We want to arm them and have them gather for mutual defense." Han said: "That works for those with tenant farmers—but what about those who have none?" He then summoned the hamlet elders to muster the local population and fill out the militia ranks—two hundred men per elder. He also ordered the district captain to recruit two thousand additional archers. At mid-morning he issued the order, setting assembly for mid-afternoon. He sought men with military skill, promising official rank and rewards of gold and silk to serve as squad leaders. A long while passed, and no one came forward. A woman complained that a servant had stolen her hairpins and earrings. The thief was caught, along with eighteen looters. All nineteen were beheaded and their mouths slit; the heads were displayed beside the road with a proclamation: "These are militiamen summoned by the elders who refused to report for duty." The onlookers at last showed fear. When the appointed hour came, six hundred men had mustered, and the captain's force arrived as well. He dyed cloth from the government storehouse to make banners. These were handed out to the troops. He cut cattle hides into shield shapes and softened them in boiling water. Sixteen sharpened bamboo splints were threaded through each hide with a wooden grip attached, giving the men something to hold up for protection. Thousands of bitter bamboo poles were cut and their tips sharpened for the men to wield as spears. Every public and private weapon in the city was brought out. He sent dispatches to the subordinate prefectures instructing them to follow his example. Within days morale soared. The very youths who had been robbing now fell into the ranks and dared not stir. He then picked three thousand troops, linked boats under banners, beat drums and played music, and sailed downstream. As they neared Guangzhou, he landed his entire force, cut timber into abatis barriers piled several ren high, and encamped at the South Gate. Zhigao watched from beneath a yellow parasol at a distance of thirty paces. Seeing the defenses fully prepared, he did not dare attack. Han slowly opened the gates and entered the city, and Zhigao then withdrew. Postal routes on the southern circuit were cut off, and Han's reports to the throne never reached the capital. Meanwhile Bao Ke, the Judicial Intendant, had fled to Nanxiong and filed several detailed memorials. When the rebellion was put down, Ke received rewards while Han was demoted to overseer of the Xizhou wine monopoly. Pacification Commissioner Sun Mian testified that Han had truly distinguished himself, and Han was restored as Transport Commissioner of the Western Circuit. Rumors spread that Zhigao had survived and fled to Huo Tong, where Nong Zongdan held the high ground and gathered a following. Xiao Zhu, prefect of Yongzhou, planned an attack. Han summoned Zongdan's son Rixin and told him: "Your father is hated by the Vietnamese within and used as bait by frontier generals seeking rewards without. This is no viable course. Go back and tell him to weigh his options and act on whatever serves him best. Father and son then both surrendered.

徙知潭州。擢戶部、度支副使，復為潭州。為政務適人情，不加威罰。有狂婦數訴事，出言無章，卻之則勃罵，前守每叱逐之。罕獨引至前，委曲徐問，久稍可曉，乃本為人妻，無子，夫死，妾有子，遂逐婦而據家資，屢訴不得直，因憤恚發狂。罕為治妾而反其資，婦良愈，郡人傳為神明。監司上治狀，敕書褒諭，賜絹三百。徙知明州。以光祿卿卒，年八十。兄之子珪少孤，罕教養有恩，後珪貴，每予書，必以盛滿為戒云。

He was transferred to serve as prefect of Tanzhou. He was promoted to Vice Commissioner of the Ministry of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, then returned to Tanzhou. In governing he sought to accommodate human nature and did not resort to harsh punishments. A madwoman kept bringing lawsuits, her speech incoherent. Turn her away and she would burst into curses. Every previous prefect had shouted at her and driven her off. Han alone drew her forward and questioned her gently and at length. Gradually her story became clear: she had been a wife without children. When her husband died, a concubine bore a son, drove the wife out, and seized the family property. She had petitioned again and again without redress, and rage and despair had unhinged her. Han punished the concubine and restored the property to the wife. The woman recovered her sanity, and the people of the prefecture spoke of him as though he were divine. The circuit supervisors reported his achievements in office. An imperial edict commended him and granted three hundred bolts of silk. He was transferred to serve as prefect of Mingzhou. He died while serving as Director of the Imperial Household Provisioners, aged eighty. His elder brother's son Wang Gui was orphaned young; Han raised him with kindness. Later, when Gui rose to high office, Han always warned him in his letters against the peril of reaching the brim.

從兄琪

Paternal cousin: Wang Qi

琪，字君玉，兒童時已能為歌詩。起進士，調江都主簿。上時務十二事，請建義倉，置營田，減度僧，罷鬻爵，禁錦綺、珠貝，行鄉飲、籍田，復制科，興學校。仁宗嘉之，除館閣校勘、集賢校理。

Wang Qi, styled Junyu, was composing songs and poems while still a child. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed chief clerk of Jiangdu. He submitted twelve proposals on pressing affairs of state: establish charity granaries, create military colonies, reduce the number of ordained monks, abolish the sale of rank, ban brocade, silk gauze, pearls, and shells, revive the village drinking ceremony and the royal plowing rite, restore the special examination route, and promote schools. Emperor Renzong commended the proposals and appointed him Collator in the Palace Library and Proofreader in the Hall of Assembled Worthies.

帝宴太清樓，命館閣臣作《山水石歌》，琪獨蒙褒賞。詔通判舒州。歲饑，奏發廩救民，未報，先振以公租，守以下皆不聽，琪挺身任之。知復州，民毆佃客死，吏論如律。琪疑之，留未決，已而新制下，凡如是者聽減死。歷開封府推官，直集賢院、兩浙淮南轉運使、修起居注、鹽鐵判官、判戶部勾院、知制誥。嘗入對便殿，帝從容謂曰：「卿雅有心計，若三司缺使，當無以易卿。」

At a banquet in the Hall of Great Clarity, the emperor ordered the palace scholars to compose 《Song of Mountains, Waters, and Stones》. Qi alone won special praise. He was appointed vice-prefect of Shuzhou. During a famine year he memorialized to open the granaries and relieve the people. Before any reply arrived, he distributed relief from public rents on his own authority. The prefect and his subordinates all refused to go along, but Qi stepped forward and took full responsibility himself. As prefect of Fuzhou, he faced a case in which a commoner had beaten a tenant farmer to death. The clerks argued for the standard penalty under law. Qi had doubts and kept the case open. Before long a new statute arrived: in all such cases, the death penalty could be reduced. He served in succession as investigating officer of the Kaifeng prefecture, Director of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, Transport Commissioner for the Two Zhe and Huainan circuits, compiler of the Veritable Records, Section Chief of the Salt and Iron Commission, Section Chief of the Ministry of Revenue Audit Office, and Drafter of Proclamations. Once, during an audience in the Privy Hall, the emperor said casually: "You have a real gift for planning. If the Three Fiscal Commissions ever need a commissioner, no one could take your place."

會奉使契丹，因感疾還，上介誣其詐，責信州團練副使。久之，以龍圖閣待制知潤州。轉運使欲浚常、潤漕河，琪陳其不便，詔寢役。而後議者卒請廢古城埭，破古函管而浚之，河反狹，舟不得方行，公私交病。徙知江寧。先是，府多火災，或託以鬼神，人不敢救。琪召令廂邏，具為作賞捕之法，未幾，得奸人，誅之，火患遂息。復知制誥，加樞密直學士、知鄧州，徙揚州，入判太常寺，又出知杭州，復為揚州、潤州。以禮部侍郎致仕。卒，年七十二。

Just then he was dispatched on a mission to the Khitan. He fell ill on the road and turned back. The chief envoy falsely accused him of malingering, and he was demoted to Vice Commander of the Xizhou Militia. After a long interval he was made Draftsman in Waiting at the Hall of Dragon Charts and appointed prefect of Runzhou. The Transport Commissioner wanted to dredge the canal between Chang and Run. Qi laid out the drawbacks, and an edict halted the project. Later advocates finally won approval to abandon the ancient dyke, break open the old sluice gates, and dredge the channel. The river grew narrower instead; boats could no longer pass side by side, and both public and private interests suffered. He was transferred to serve as prefect of Jiangning. Previously the prefecture had suffered many fires. Some blamed supernatural forces, and people were afraid to fight the flames. Qi summoned the ward and patrol commandants and devised reward-and-capture regulations. Before long the arsonists were seized and executed, and the fires stopped. He again served as Drafter of Proclamations, was made Academician of the Privy Council, served as prefect of Dengzhou, was transferred to Yangzhou, returned to the capital as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, went out again as prefect of Hangzhou, and served again at Yangzhou and Runzhou. He retired with the rank of Vice Minister of Rites. He died at the age of seventy-two.

琪性孤介，不與時合。數臨東南名鎮，政尚簡靜。每疾俗吏飾廚傳以沽名譽，故待賓客頗闊略。間造飛語起謗，終不自恤。葬於真州。詔真、揚二州發卒護其窆，蓋異數也。

Qi was solitary and upright by nature and ill suited to the temper of his age. He governed several famous posts in the southeast and favored a plain, quiet style of administration. He always despised vulgar officials who lavishly furnished their kitchens and posting stations to burnish their reputations, and so his own hospitality was notably spare. Slanders arose from time to time, yet he never let them trouble him. He was buried at Zhenzhou. An edict ordered Zhen and Yang prefectures to dispatch soldiers to escort his burial—a singular honor.

論曰：公亮靜重鎮浮，練達典憲，與韓琦並相，號稱老成。升之自為言官，即著直聲。然皆挾術任數，公亮疾琦專任，薦王安石以間之，升之陰助安石，陽為異同，以避清議，二人措慮如此，豈誠心謀國者乎？新法之行，何望其能正救也。及安石去位，充、珪實代之，天下喁喁，思有所休息。充力不逮心，同僚左掣右伺，至鞅鞅以死，傷哉，其不足與有行也。珪容身固位，于勢何所重輕，而陰忌正人，以濟其患失之謀，鄙夫可與事君也與哉！

The commentator writes: Zeng Gongliang was calm and weighty, a steady anchor against frivolity. Well versed in statutes and precedent, he served as chief minister alongside Han Qi and was hailed as a seasoned statesman. Chen Sheng Zhi, from the moment he became a remonstrating official, won renown for blunt integrity. Yet both relied on stratagem and scheming. Zeng Gongliang resented Han Qi's monopoly on power and recommended Wang Anshi to drive a wedge between them. Chen Sheng Zhi secretly aided Wang Anshi while outwardly feigning disagreement to dodge the censure of upright opinion. By calculations such as these, could either man truly have been one who whole-heartedly sought the good of the state? With the New Policies in force, how could one hope they could set things right and save the realm? When Wang Anshi left office, Wu Chong and Wang Gui in fact replaced him. Throughout the realm people murmured, longing for some respite. Wu Chong's strength did not match his intent. Colleagues pulled from the left and watched from the right, until he died discontented. How sad—he was not equal to accomplishing the task. Wang Gui preserved himself and secured his post—what weight did he add or subtract to the balance of power? Yet he secretly resented upright men to advance his scheme of fearing loss. One may ask: can a base fellow be entrusted with serving his sovereign?

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