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張方平
Zhang Fangping
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張方平，字安道，南京人。 少穎悟絕倫，家貧無書，從人假三史，旬日即歸之，曰：「吾已得其詳矣。」 凡書皆一閱不再讀，宋綬、蔡齊以為天下奇才。 舉茂材異等，為校書郎、知崐山縣。 又中賢良方正，選遷著作佐郎、通判睦州。
Zhang Fangping, styled Andao, was from Nanjing. As a youth he was brilliantly gifted beyond his peers. His family was poor and owned no books, so he borrowed the Three Histories from someone; within ten days he returned them, saying, "I have already taken in all their particulars." He never needed to read any book more than once. Song Shou and Cai Qi considered him a wonder of the age. Recommended as extraordinary talent of the highest grade, he was made Proofreader and magistrate of Kunshan County. He also passed the worthy-and-upright examination and was promoted to Assistant Compiler and vice-prefect of Muzhou.
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趙元昊且叛，為嫚書來，規得譴絕以激使其眾。 方平請：「順適其意，使未有以發，得歲月之頃，以其間選將厲士，堅城除器，為不可勝以待之。 雖終於必叛，而兵出無名，吏士不直其上，難以決勝。 小國用兵三年，而不見勝負，不折則破； 我以全制其後，必勝之道也。」 時天下全盛，皆謂其論出姑息，決計用兵。 方平上《平戎十策》，以為：「入寇當自延、渭，巢穴之守必虛。 宜屯兵河東，卷甲而趨之，所謂攻其所必救，形格勢禁之道也。」 宰相呂夷簡善其策而不果行。 當召試館職，仁宗曰：「是非兩策制科者乎？ 何試也？」 命直集賢院，俄知諫院。 夏人寇邊，方平首乞合樞密之職於中書，以通謀議。 帝然之，遂以宰相兼樞密使。 時調諸道弓手，刺其壯者為宣毅、保捷，方平連疏爭之，弗聽。 既而兩軍驕甚，合二十餘萬，皆市人不可用，如方平言。
When Zhao Yuanhao was on the verge of rebellion, he sent an insulting letter, scheming to draw down imperial reproach and a break in relations so as to stir up his people. Fangping petitioned: "Humor his intent so that he has no pretext to act, and buy the span of months and years. In that interval select generals, harden the troops, strengthen the walls, and ready the weapons, until we are invincible and waiting for him. Even if he must rebel in the end, if our army marches without a righteous cause and officers and men do not find their superiors upright, it will be hard to win a decisive victory. When a small state wages war for three years without a clear outcome, if it is not worn down it will be shattered; we may then use our intact strength to control what follows—that is the sure path to victory." At the time the empire was at its height, and all called his argument mere indulgence; the court resolved on war. Fangping submitted the Ten Stratagems for Pacifying the Barbarians, arguing: "If they raid, they will come from Yan and Wei, and the defense of their stronghold must be left thin. We should mass troops in Hedong and march swiftly thither—what is called striking where they must rescue, the method of checking their form and restraining their momentum." Chief Councilor Lü Yijian approved his plan, but it was never carried out. When he was to be summoned for examination for an academy post, Renzong said, "Is this not the man who passed the two-policy examination? Why test him?" He was ordered to serve directly in the Academy of Worthies, and soon made director of the Remonstrance Bureau. When the Xia raided the frontier, Fangping was the first to ask that the duties of the Military Affairs Commission be merged with the Secretariat so that planning might flow through a single channel. The emperor agreed, and thereafter the chief councilor also served as commissioner of military affairs. At the time bowmen were levied from every circuit, and the able-bodied were picked for the Xuan Yi and Bao Jie corps. Fangping submitted repeated memorials in protest, but was not heeded. Before long the two corps grew insufferably arrogant; together they numbered more than two hundred thousand men, all townsmen unfit for war, just as Fangping had warned.
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夏竦節制陝西並護諸將，四路以稟覆失事機，且詔使出師，逗遛不行。 及豐州陷，劉平等覆師，主帥皆坐譴，竦獨不預，方平劾罷之，而請四路帥臣，各自任戰守。 西師久未解，元昊亦困弊，方平言：「陛下猶天地父母也，豈與犬豕豺狼較乎？ 願因郊赦，引咎示信，開其自新之路。」 帝喜曰：「是吾心也。」 是歲，改慶曆赦書，敕邊吏通其善意，元昊竟降。 既以修起居注使契丹。 契丹主顧左右曰：「有臣如此，佳哉！」 騎而擊毬於前，酌玉卮飲之，且贈以所乘馬。 還，知制誥，權知開封府。 府事叢集，前尹率書板識之，方平獨默記決遣，無少差忘。 進翰林學士。 元昊既臣，而與契丹有隙，來請絕其使，議者不可。 方平曰：「得新附之小羌，失久和之強敵，非計也。 宜賜元昊詔，使之審處，但嫌隙朝除，則封冊暮下。 如此，於西、北為兩得矣。」 時韙其謀。 拜御史中丞，改三司使。
Xia Song directed Shaanxi and oversaw all the generals. The four circuits lost their timing through reporting up and waiting for reply, and even envoys ordered to take the field dallied and would not march. When Feng Prefecture fell and Liu Ping and others were destroyed, the commanders were all punished; Xia alone was not implicated. Fangping impeached him and had him removed, and asked that the commanders of the four circuits each bear full responsibility for fighting and defense on their own. The western campaign dragged on without resolution, and Yuanhao too was exhausted. Fangping said, "Your Majesty is still Heaven and Earth, father and mother—how can you measure yourself against dogs, pigs, and wolves? I ask that on the occasion of the suburban amnesty you acknowledge fault and show good faith, opening a path for them to renew themselves." The emperor said gladly, "That is my own heart." That year the Qingli amnesty edict was revised, border officials were ordered to convey this goodwill, and Yuanhao eventually submitted. He was then sent as envoy to the Khitan in his capacity as compiler of the Daily Records. The Khitan sovereign turned to those beside him and said, "To have a minister such as this—how excellent!" He rode out and played cuju before him, poured wine from a jade goblet for him to drink, and gave him the horse on which he himself had ridden. On his return he was made Drafting Edict-er and acting prefect of Kaifeng. Prefectural business piled up in heaps; previous prefects usually wrote matters on boards, but Fangping alone committed them to memory and decided them, without the least slip or lapse. He was promoted to Hanlin academician. Once Yuanhao had submitted but had fallen out with the Khitan, he asked that their envoys be cut off; those who debated the matter said this could not be done. Fangping said, "To gain a newly submitted petty Qiang while losing a long-peaceful powerful foe is no plan at all. We should send Yuanhao an edict ordering him to weigh the matter carefully: let the rift be removed by morning, and investiture will issue by evening. In this way we may gain on both the western and northern fronts. At the time his plan was approved. He was appointed censor-in-chief and transferred to commissioner of the Three Fiscal Commissions.
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初，王拱辰議榷河北鹽，方平見曰：「河北再榷鹽，何也？」 帝曰：「始立法耳。」 方平曰：「昔周世宗以鹽課均之稅中，今兩稅鹽錢是也。 豈非再榷乎？」 帝驚悟，方平請直降手詔罷之。 河朔父老迎拜於澶州，為佛老會七日，以報上恩，事具《食貨志》。 加端明殿學士、判太常寺。
At first Wang Gongchen proposed a state salt monopoly in Hebei. Fangping had audience and said, "To monopolize salt in Hebei again—why?" The emperor said, "It is only to establish the law." Fangping said, "Formerly Emperor Shizong of Zhou folded salt levies into the tax assessment; the salt money in today's two taxes is exactly that. Is this not a second monopoly?" The emperor started in astonishment and understood; Fangping asked that the emperor personally issue a handwritten edict to abolish it. The elders of Heshuo came to bow in welcome at Dazhou and held Buddhist and Daoist assemblies for seven days to repay imperial grace; the full account is in the Monographs on Food and Goods. He was given the additional title of academician of the Duanming Hall and concurrently directed the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
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禁中衛卒夜變，帝旦語二府，獎張貴妃扈蹕功。 夏竦即倡言：「當求所以尊異之禮。」 方平聞之，謂陳執中曰：「漢馮婕妤身當猛獸，不聞有所尊異； 且皇后在而尊貴妃，古無是事。 果行之，天下之責，將萃於公矣。」 執中瞿然而罷。
Palace guards mutinied at night; at dawn the emperor told the two councils and praised Noble Consort Zhang for escorting him in the disturbance. Xia Song immediately advocated, "We should seek rites by which to honor and distinguish her." Hearing this, Fangping said to Chen Zhizhong, "In Han, Consort Feng Jieyu shielded the emperor from a wild beast, yet one never hears of special honors for it; moreover, with the empress still present to exalt a noble consort—there is no such thing in antiquity. If you truly carry this out, the blame of all under Heaven will gather upon you. Chen Zhizhong started back and dropped the matter.
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帝以豐財省費訪群臣，方平既條對，又獨上數千言，大略以為：「祥符以來，務為姑息，漸失祖宗之舊。 取士、任子、磨勘、遷補之法壞，命將養兵，皆非舊律。 國用既窘，則政出多門； 大商豪民乘隙射利，而茶鹽香礬之法亂。 此治忽盛衰之本，不可以不急。」 帝覽對甚悅，且大用，會判官楊儀得罪，坐與交，出知滁州。 頃之，知江寧府，入判流內銓。
When the emperor sought the ministers' counsel on enriching the treasury and saving expense, Fangping both replied item by item and separately submitted several thousand characters, arguing in outline that since the Xiangfu era the court had pursued indulgent ease and had gradually lost the institutions of the founding ancestors. The methods of recruiting scholars, appointing sons by privilege, merit review, and advancement have broken down; appointing generals and training troops no longer follow the old rules. When state revenue is already straitened, policy issues from many gates; great merchants and powerful families seize every opening for profit, and the laws on tea, salt, incense, and alum fall into disorder. These are the roots of whether governance flourishes or fails, and they cannot be treated as anything but urgent. The emperor read the reply with great pleasure and was about to employ him greatly, but the judge Yang Yi offended the court; because Fangping associated with him, he was sent out as prefect of Chuzhou. Before long he was prefect of Jiangning, then entered court to direct the Inner Flow Bureau of Appointments.
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以侍講學士知滑州，徙益州。 未至，或扇言儂智高在南詔，將入寇，攝守亟調兵築城，日夜不得息，民大驚擾。 朝廷聞之，發陝西步騎兵仗，絡繹往戍蜀。 詔趣方平行，許以便宜從事，方平曰：「此必妄也。」 道遇戍卒，皆遣歸，他役盡罷。 適上元張燈，城門三夕不閉，得邛部川譯人始造此語者，梟首境上，而流其餘黨，蜀人遂安。
As lecturer-in-waiting academician he was made prefect of Huazhou, then transferred to Yizhou. Before he arrived, some spread word that Nong Zhigao in Nanzhao was about to invade; the acting prefect hastily levied troops and built walls, allowing no rest day or night, and the people were thrown into great alarm. When the court heard of it, Shaanxi infantry, cavalry, arms, and equipment were sent in an unbroken stream to garrison Shu. An edict urged Fangping to hurry, granting him discretionary authority. Fangping said, "This is certainly false." On the road he met garrison troops and sent them all back; all other levies were stopped. It happened to be the Lantern Festival; lanterns were hung and the gates were left unclosed for three nights. He obtained the interpreter from Qiongbu who had first fabricated this tale, beheaded him on the border, and banished the rest of the faction, and the people of Shu were then at peace.
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復以三司使召。 方西鄙用兵，兩蜀多所調發，方平為奏免橫賦四十萬，減鑄鐵錢十餘萬緡。 又建言：「國家都陳留，當四通五達之道，非若雍、洛有山川足恃，特倚重兵以立國耳。 兵恃食，食恃漕運，以汴為主，汴帶引淮、江，利盡南海。 天聖已前，歲調民浚之，故水行地中。 其後，淺妄者爭以裁減役費為功，汴日以塞，今仰而望焉，是利尺寸而喪丘山也。」 乃畫上十四策。 富弼讀其奏，漏盡十刻，帝稱善。 弼曰：「此國計大本，非常奏也。」 悉如其說行之。
He was again summoned as commissioner of the Three Fiscal Commissions. As the western border was at war, the Two Shu were heavily levied; Fangping memorialized to remit forty thousand in irregular exactions and reduce iron coin casting by more than one hundred thousand strings of cash. He also submitted advice: "The state capital is at Chenliu, on roads running in every direction—unlike Yong and Luo, which have mountains and rivers enough to rely on; it depends solely on heavy troops to uphold the state. Troops rely on food, food relies on transport; the Bian Canal is primary—the Bian leads in the Huai and Yangtze and draws the profit of the entire southern sea. Before Tiansheng, the people were levied annually to dredge it, so the water ran within the earth. Afterward shallow and reckless men competed to count cutting labor costs as merit; the Bian grew blocked day by day—now one looks up at it. This is profiting inches and losing hills." He thereupon presented a diagram with fourteen stratagems. Fu Bi read his memorial until the tenth watch of the night was done; the emperor praised it. Bi said, "This is the great foundation of national planning, not an ordinary memorial." All was carried out according to his proposal.
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遷尚書左丞、知南京。 未幾，以工部尚書帥秦州。 諜告夏人將壓境，方平料簡士馬，聲言出塞。 已而寇不至，言者論其輕舉，曾公亮曰：「兵不出塞，何名輕舉？ 寇之不得至，有備故也。 倘罪之，後之邊臣，將不敢為先事之備矣。」 方平不自安，請知南京。
He was transferred to Left Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue and made prefect of Nanjing. Before long, as Minister of Works he took command of Qin Prefecture. Spies reported that the Xia were about to press the border; Fangping inspected troops and horses and declared he would take the field beyond the passes. When the raiders did not come, critics judged him rash. Zeng Gongliang said, "If troops do not go beyond the passes, how is that called rash? That the enemy could not come was because there was preparation. If we punish him, frontier officials hereafter will not dare make preparations beforehand." Fangping himself was uneasy and requested appointment as prefect of Nanjing.
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英宗立，遷禮部尚書，請知鄆州。 還，為學士承旨。 帝不豫，召至福寧殿，帝馮几言，言不可辨。 方平進筆請，乃書云：「明日降詔，立皇太子。」 方平抗聲曰：「必潁王也，嫡長而賢，請書其名。」 帝力疾書之，乃退草制。
When Emperor Yingzong acceded, he was promoted to Minister of Rites and requested to be prefect of Yanzhou. On his return he was made chief Hanlin academician. The emperor was unwell and summoned him to the Hall of Blessings and Tranquility; leaning on the armrest the emperor spoke, but his words could not be distinguished. Fangping presented a brush and requested; the emperor then wrote, "Tomorrow issue an edict to establish the heir apparent." Fangping said in a firm voice, "It must be the Prince of Ying—eldest legitimate son and worthy; please write his name." The emperor, straining against illness, wrote it, and Fangping then withdrew to draft the edict.
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神宗即位，召見，請約山陵費，帝曰：「奉先可損乎？」 對曰：「遺制固云，以先志行之，可謂孝矣。」 又請差減錫賚，以乾興為準，費省什七八。 方平進詔草，帝親批之，曰：「卿文章典雅，煥然有三代風，又善以豐為約，意博而辭寡，雖《書》之訓誥，殆無加也。」 其見稱重如此。
When Emperor Shenzong took the throne, he was summoned and asked to limit tomb expenses. The emperor said, "Can what is done for the ancestors be reduced?" He replied, "The testamentary instructions indeed say so—to carry out the former emperor's intent may be called filial." He also requested reducing bestowals on the model of the Qianxing era, saving seven or eight tenths of the expense. Fangping submitted a draft edict; the emperor personally annotated it, saying, "Your writing is refined and elegant, radiant with the style of the Three Dynasties; you are also skilled at making abundance concise—thought broad yet language spare. Even the admonitions of the Documents can scarcely surpass it." Thus was he esteemed.
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拜參知政事。 御史中丞司馬光疏其不當用，不聽。 光解中丞，曾公亮議用王安石，方平以為不可。 數日，遭父憂，服闋，以觀文殿學士留守西京。 入覲，留判尚書都省，力請知陳州。 安石行新法，方平陛辭，極論其害，曰：「民猶水也，可以載舟，亦可以覆舟； 兵猶火也，弗戢必自焚。 若新法卒行，必有覆舟、自焚之禍。」 帝憮然。
He was appointed Vice Grand Councilor. Censor-in-chief Sima Guang memorialized that he should not be appointed; the emperor did not heed it. Guang resigned as censor-in-chief; Zeng Gongliang proposed employing Wang Anshi; Fangping thought this could not be done. Within days he suffered his father's death; when mourning ended he was made academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and left to guard the Western Capital. On entering audience he was retained to direct the general office of the Ministry Secretariat, but strongly requested to be prefect of Chenzhou. When Anshi implemented the New Policies, Fangping took leave at court and argued vehemently against their harm, saying, "The people are like water—they can bear the boat, and they can overturn it; Armies are like fire; if not restrained they will surely burn themselves. If the New Policies are finally carried through, there will surely be the calamities of capsizing the boat and burning oneself. The emperor looked troubled.
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韓絳主西師，慶卒亂，京西轉運使令一路各會兵於州，民大駭。 方平持檄不下而奏之，帝曰：「守臣不當爾邪！」 命罷諸郡兵。 召為宣徽北院使，留京師。 王安石深沮之，以為青州。 未行，帝問祖宗御戎之要，對曰：「太祖不勤遠略，如靈夏、河西，皆因其酋豪，許之世襲； 環州董遵誨、西山郭進、關南李漢超，皆優其祿賜，寬其文法。 諸將財力豐而威令行，間諜精審，吏士用命，故能以十五萬人而獲百萬之用。 及太宗謀取燕薊，又內徙李彝興、馮暉，於是朝廷始旰食矣。 真宗澶淵之克，與契丹盟，至今人不識兵革。 三朝之事如此。 近歲疆塲之臣，乃欲試天下於一擲，事成徼利，不成詒患，不可聽也。」 帝曰：「慶曆以來，卿知之乎？ 元昊初臣，何以待之？」 對曰：「臣時為學士，誓詔封冊，皆出臣手。」 帝曰：「卿時已為學士，可謂舊德矣。」
While Han Jiang directed the western campaign, Qingzhou troops mutinied, and the transport commissioner of western Jingdong ordered each circuit to assemble troops at the prefectures, throwing the people into great alarm. Fangping held the dispatch and did not issue it, memorializing instead. The emperor said, "Should not a guardian official act thus!" He ordered the troops of all prefectures disbanded. He was summoned as commissioner of the Northern Bureau of the Palace Military Affairs Commission and kept at the capital. Wang Anshi strongly obstructed him and had him appointed prefect of Qingzhou. Before he departed, the emperor asked the essentials of the founding ancestors' control of the barbarians. He replied, "Taizu did not strive for distant campaigns; in Lingxia, Hexi, and the like, he relied on their tribal chiefs and allowed them hereditary succession; Dong Zunhui of Huanzhou, Guo Jin of Xishan, and Li Hanchao of Guannan were all given generous salaries and rewards, and their legal burdens were eased. The generals were rich in resources and their commands effective; spies were precise and thorough; officers and soldiers obeyed orders—thus with one hundred fifty thousand men they obtained the use of a million. When Taizong schemed to take Yan and Ji and moreover moved Li Yixing and Feng Hui inward, the court then began to lose its ease. When Zhenzong prevailed at Chanyuan and made alliance with the Khitan, to this day people scarcely know war. The affairs of the three reigns were thus. In recent years frontier officials wish to stake the empire on a single throw—if it succeeds they seek profit, if it fails they bequeath disaster. This must not be heeded. The emperor said, "Since the Qingli era, do you know it? When Yuanhao first submitted, how was he treated?" He replied, "At the time I was an academician; the oath edicts and investiture documents all came from my hand." The emperor said, "At the time you were already an academician—you may be called an elder of merit."
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契丹泛使蕭禧來議疆事，臨當辭，臥驛中不起。 方平謂樞密使吳充曰：「但令主者日致饋勿問，且使邊郡檄其國可也。」 充啟從之，禧即行。
The Khitan general envoy Xiao Xi came to discuss border affairs; when about to take leave he lay in the post station and would not rise. Fangping said to Military Affairs Commissioner Wu Chong, "Simply have the host send provisions daily without inquiry, and moreover have the border prefectures dispatch a note to their state—that will suffice." Chong reported and followed this; Xi then departed.
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除中太一宮使。 王安石弛銅禁，奸民日銷錢為器，邊關海舶不復譏錢出，錢日耗。 方平極論其害，請詰安石：「舉累朝之令典，一旦削除之，其意安在？」 帝頗採其言，而方平求去。 進使南院，判應天府。 帝曰：「朕欲卿與韓絳共事，而卿論政不同； 欲置卿樞密，而卿論兵復異。 卿受先帝末命，訖無以副朕意乎？」 遂行。
He was appointed commissioner of the Central Supreme Unity Palace. Wang Anshi relaxed the copper prohibition; scoundrels daily melted coin into vessels; border passes and sea ships no longer inspected coin leaving; coin was daily depleted. Fangping argued vehemently against its harm and requested that Anshi be questioned: "The canonical statutes of successive reigns—why abolish them all at once? What is the intent?" The emperor largely adopted his words, but Fangping requested to leave office. He was advanced as commissioner of the Southern Bureau and concurrently directed Yingtian Prefecture. The emperor said, "I wished you to serve together with Han Jiang, yet your views on government differ; I wished to place you in the Military Affairs Commission, yet your views on war again differ. You received the late emperor's final charge—can you in the end not fulfill my intent? He then departed.
17
高麗使過府，長吏當送迎，方平言：「臣班視二府，不可為陪臣屈。」 詔但遣少尹。 王師征安南，方平言：「舉西北壯士健馬，棄之炎荒，其患有不可勝言者。 若師老費財，無功而還，社稷之福也。」 後皆如其言。
When a Goryeo envoy passed through the prefecture, the chief official was to escort him. Fangping said, "My rank is equal to the two councils; I cannot bow to a tributary envoy." An edict ordered only the vice-prefect sent. When the imperial army campaigned against Annan, Fangping said, "To raise stalwart men and strong horses from the northwest and abandon them in the burning wilds—the calamities are beyond telling. If the army grows weary, expenses mount, and it returns without achievement—that would be the fortune of the altars of state." Afterward all came to pass as he had said.
18
方平慷慨有氣節，既告老，論事益切，至於用兵、起獄，尤反覆言之。 且曰：「臣且死，見先帝地下，有以藉口矣。」 平居未嘗以言徇物、以色假人。 守蜀日，得眉山蘇洵與其二子軾、轍，深器異之。 嘗薦軾為諫官。 軾下制獄，又抗章為請，故軾終身敬事之，敘其文，以比孔融、諸葛亮。 晚受知神宗。 王安石方用事，嶷然不小屈，以是望高一時。 守宋都日，富弼自亳移汝，過見之曰：「人固難知也。」 方平曰：「謂王安石乎？ 亦豈難知者！ 方平頃知皇祐貢舉，或稱其文學，辟以考校。 既入院，凡院中之事，皆欲紛更。 方平惡其人，檄使出，自是未嘗與語也。」 弼有愧色，蓋弼素亦善安石云。
Fangping was generous and possessed integrity; after retiring he spoke on affairs with growing urgency, and on employing troops and initiating prosecutions he spoke with especial repetition. He also said, "When I am about to die and meet the late emperor underground, I shall have words to answer with." In ordinary life he never bent his words to please others or lent his countenance to deceive people. While governing Shu he obtained Su Xun of Meishan and his two sons Shi and Zhe, and deeply admired them as extraordinary. He once recommended Shi as remonstrance official. When Shi was sent to the drafting prison, Fangping again submitted a memorial in his defense; therefore Shi revered him all his life and wrote of his writings, comparing him to Kong Rong and Zhuge Liang. In his later years he won Shenzong's trust. When Wang Anshi was in power he stood erect and would not yield slightly; on this account his reputation towered for a time. While guarding the Song capital, Fu Bi moved from Bo to Ru and, passing through, visited him and said, "People are indeed hard to know." Fangping said, "You mean Wang Anshi? He is hardly hard to know! Fangping had lately directed the Huangyou civil examination; some praised Anshi's literary learning, and Fangping recruited him for examination duty. Once he entered the academy, he wished to overturn everything in the institution. Fangping detested the man and dispatched him out by order; from then on he never spoke with him." Bi showed a look of shame—for Bi had also been friendly with Anshi.
19
王拱辰
Wang Gongchen
20
王拱辰，字君貺，開封咸平人。 元名拱壽，年十九，舉進士第一，仁宗賜以今名。 通判懷州，入直集賢院，歷鹽鐵判官、修起居注、知制誥。 慶曆元年，為翰林學士。
Wang Gongchen, styled Junkuang, was from Xianping in Kaifeng. His original name was Gongshou. At nineteen he took first place in the jinshi examination, and Renzong bestowed his present name. He was vice-prefect of Huaizhou, entered direct service in the Academy of Worthies, and served in turn as salt and iron judge, compiler of the Daily Records, and drafting edict-er. In the first year of Qingli he became Hanlin academician.
21
契丹使劉六符嘗謂賈昌朝曰：「塘濼何為者？ 一葦可杭，投箠可平； 不然，決其堤，十萬土囊，即可路矣。」 仁宗以問拱辰，對曰：「兵事尚詭，彼誠有謀，不應以語我，此誇言爾。 設險守國，先王不廢，而祖宗所以限敵人也。」 至是，又使六符來，求關南十縣，斥太宗伐燕為無名，舉朝莫知所答。 拱辰曰：「王師征河東，契丹既通使，而寇石嶺關以援賊。 太宗怒，遂回軍伐之，豈謂無名？」 乃作報書曰：「既交石嶺之鋒，遂有薊門之役。」 契丹得報，遂繼好如初。 帝喜，謂輔臣曰：「非拱辰深練故實，殆難答也。」
The Khitan envoy Liu Liufu once said to Jia Changchao, "What are these ponds and marshes for? A single reed can ferry across; throw a staff and they can be leveled; otherwise breach the dikes—with one hundred thousand earth bags you can make a road at once." Renzong asked Gongchen, who replied, "Military affairs value deception; if they truly had a plan they would not tell us—this is mere boasting. Establishing defenses to guard the state—the former kings did not abolish this, and it is how the ancestors restrained the foe." At this time Liufu was again sent, demanding the ten counties south of the pass and denouncing Taizong's campaign against Yan as without cause; the whole court knew not how to answer. Gongchen said, "When the imperial army campaigned in Hedong, the Khitan had already sent envoys, yet they raided Shiling Pass to aid the rebels. Taizong was enraged and turned the army to attack them—how can this be called without cause?" He then composed a reply stating, "Once blades crossed at Shiling, there followed the campaign at Jimen." The Khitan received the reply and renewed amity as before. The emperor rejoiced and told the chief ministers, "Had not Gongchen been deeply versed in past facts, it would have been hard to answer."
22
權知開封府，拜御史中丞。 夏竦除樞密使，拱辰言：「竦經略西師，無功稱而歸。 今置諸二府，何以厲世？」 因對，極論之。 帝未省，遽起，拱辰前引裾，乃納其說，竦遂罷。 又言：「滕宗諒在慶州，所為不度，而但降秩守虢，懼邊臣則效，宜施重責。」 未聽，即家居，求自貶。 乃徙宗諒岳州，敕拱辰赴臺。 入見，帝曰：「言事官第自舉職，勿以朝廷未行為沮己，而輕去以沽名。 自今有當言者，宜力陳毋避。」
He was acting prefect of Kaifeng and appointed censor-in-chief. Xia Song was appointed commissioner of military affairs. Gongchen said, "Song directed the western campaign and returned claiming no achievement. Now to place him in the two councils—how can this admonish the age?" At audience he argued the point to the utmost. The emperor did not understand and rose abruptly; Gongchen went forward and seized his robe, and only then was his argument accepted; Song was then removed. He also said, "Teng Zongliang in Qing Prefecture acted without measure, yet was only demoted in rank to guard Guo—fearing frontier officials will imitate him, heavy punishment should be applied." Not heeded, he immediately retired at home and requested self-demotion. Zongliang was then transferred to Yue Prefecture, and Gongchen was ordered to return to the censorate. On entering audience the emperor said, "Remonstrance officials should simply perform their duties; do not, because the court has not acted, discourage yourselves and lightly leave to seek a name. From now on, when there is something that should be said, you should state it forcefully without evasion."
23
僧紹宗以鑄佛像惑眾，都人競投金冶中，宮掖亦出貲佐之。 拱辰言：「西師宿邊，而財費於不急，動士心，起民怨。」 詔亟禁之。 蘇舜欽會賓客於進奏院，王益柔醉作《傲歌》，拱辰風其僚魚周詢、劉元瑜舉劾之。 兩人既竄廢，同席者俱逐。 時杜衍、范仲淹為政，多所更張，拱辰之黨不便。 舜欽、益柔皆仲淹所薦，而舜欽，衍婿也，故因是傾之，由此為公議所薄。
The monk Shaozong deluded the masses by casting a Buddha image; the capital's people competed to cast gold into the furnace, and the palace also contributed funds to assist. Gongchen said, "The western campaign camps on the frontier, yet wealth is spent on what is not urgent—this stirs soldiers' hearts and raises the people's resentment." An edict urgently forbade it. Su Shunqin entertained guests at the Memorial Transmission Court; Wang Yirou, drunk, composed the Song of Arrogance. Gongchen prompted his colleagues Yu Zhouxun and Liu Yuanyu to impeach them. Once the two were banished and dismissed, all who shared the table were expelled as well. At the time Du Yan and Fan Zhongyan held power and made many changes; Gongchen's faction found this inconvenient. Shunqin and Yirou were both recommended by Zhongyan, and Shunqin was Yan's son-in-law; therefore he used this to overthrow them, and on this account was slighted in public opinion.
24
復以翰林學士權三司使。 坐舉富民鄭旭，出知鄭州，徙澶、瀛、幷三州。 數歲還，為學士承旨兼侍讀。 帝於邇英閣置《太玄經》、蓍草，顧曰：「朕每閱此。 卿亦知其說乎？」 拱辰具以對，且曰：「願陛下垂意《六經》，旁採史策，此不足學也。」
He again served as Hanlin academician and acting commissioner of the Three Fiscal Commissions. Because he had recommended the wealthy man Zheng Xu, he was sent out as prefect of Zhengzhou and transferred through the three prefectures of Chan, Ying, and Bing. After several years he returned and was made chief Hanlin academician and lecturer-in-waiting. The emperor placed the Classic of the Supreme Mystery and yarrow stalks in the Hall of Near Excellence and, turning, said, "I often peruse these. Do you also know its doctrine?" Gongchen answered in full detail and added, "I hope Your Majesty will fix your mind on the Six Classics and gather broadly from historical records—this is not worth studying."
25
至和三年，復拜三司使。 聘契丹，見其主混同江，設宴垂釣，每得魚，必酌拱辰酒，親鼓琵琶以侑飲。 謂其相曰：「此南朝少年狀元也，入翰林十五年，故吾厚待之。」 使還，御史趙抃論其輒當非正之禮，「異時北使援此以請，將何辭拒之？」 湖南轉運判官李章、知潭州任顓市死商真珠，事敗，具獄上，拱辰悉入珠掖庭。 抃並劾之。 除宣徽北院使，抃言：「宣徽之職，本以待勛勞者，唯前執政及節度使得為之，拱辰安得污此選？」 乃以端明殿學士知永興軍，歷泰、定二州、河南大名府，積官至吏部尚書。
In the third year of Zhihe he was again appointed commissioner of the Three Fiscal Commissions. As envoy to the Khitan he met their sovereign at the Hun Tong River; a banquet was set and they fished; whenever a fish was caught he would pour wine for Gongchen and personally play the pipa to accompany the drinking. He said to his chief minister, "This is the southern court's young zhuangyuan; he has been in the Hanlin for fifteen years—therefore I treat him generously." On returning from the mission, Censor Zhao Bian criticized his readily accepting improper rites: "If in future northern envoys cite this in request, with what words will we refuse?" Li Zhang, transport judge of Hunan, and Ren Yan, prefect of Tanzhou, purchased pearls from a dead merchant; when the affair was exposed the full case was submitted, and Gongchen sent all the pearls to the inner palace. Bian impeached him as well. He was appointed commissioner of the Northern Bureau of the Palace Military Affairs Commission. Bian said, "The post of Palace Military Affairs Commissioner was originally for those awaiting merit and toil; only former chief administrators and military commissioners may hold it—how can Gongchen stain this appointment?" He was then made academician of the Duanming Hall and prefect of Yongxing Army, served in turn the two prefectures of Tai and Ding and Henan's Daming Prefecture, and rose by accumulated offices to Minister of Personnel.
26
神宗登極，恩當轉僕射，歐陽脩以為此宰相官，不應序進，但遷太子少保。 熙寧元年，復以北院使召還。 王安石參知政事，惡其異己，乘二相有故，出為應天府。 八年，入朝，為中太一宮使。
When Shenzong acceded, by grace he should have been transferred to Vice Director; Ouyang Xiu held that this was a chief minister's office and should not be advanced in sequence, and he was only promoted to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. In the first year of Xining he was again summoned back as commissioner of the Northern Bureau. When Wang Anshi became Vice Grand Councilor he hated those who differed from him; seizing an occasion when the two chief ministers had business, he had Gongchen sent out as prefect of Yingtian. In the eighth year he returned to court and was appointed Commissioner of the Central Grand Unity Palace.
27
元豐初，轉南院使，賜金方團帶。 再判大名，改武安軍節度使。 三路籍民為保甲，日聚而教之，禁令苛急，往往去為盜，郡縣不敢以聞。 拱辰抗言其害曰：「非止困其財力，奪其農時，是以法驅之，使陷於罪罟也。 浸淫為大盜，其兆已見。 縱未能盡罷，願財損下戶以紓之。」 主者指拱辰為沮法，拱辰曰：「此老臣所以報國也。」 上章不已。 帝悟，於是第五等戶得免。
Early in the Yuanfeng period he was moved to Commissioner of the Southern Academy and awarded a gold square belt with ornamental plaques. He again administered Daming and was reassigned as Military Commissioner of the Wu'an Army. Across the three circuits commoners were enrolled in the baojia system and assembled each day for drill; regulations were severe, and many fled into banditry, though local officials did not dare report it. Gongchen forcefully protested the harm, declaring: "This does more than drain their resources and steal their farming season—it drives them by law straight into the snares of punishment. Given time they will swell into large outlaw bands; the warning signs are already plain. If the system cannot be wholly repealed, at least lighten the levy on the poorest households to give them relief." Those in charge charged Gongchen with sabotaging the law. He replied: "This is precisely how an old servant serves his country." He kept submitting memorials without letup. The emperor took his point, and fifth-grade households were granted exemption.
28
哲宗立，徙節彰德，加檢校太師。 是年薨，年七十四。 贈開府儀同三司，諡懿恪。
After Emperor Zhezong came to the throne, he was reassigned to command at Zhangde and promoted to Honorary Grand Preceptor. He died the same year, aged seventy-four. Posthumously he was awarded Grand Prefecture honors equal to the Three Excellencies, with the posthumous name Yike.
29
論曰：方平、拱辰之才，皆較然有過人者，而不免司馬光、趙抃之論。 豈其英發之氣，勇於見得，一時趨鄉未能盡適於正與？ 及新法行，方平痛陳其弊，拱辰爭保甲，言尤剴切，皆諤諤不少貶，為國老成，望始重矣。 若方平識王安石於辟校貢舉之時，而知其後必亂政，其先見之明，無忝呂誨云。
The commentators observe that Fangping and Gongchen were plainly men of exceptional ability, yet they still drew reproach from Sima Guang and Zhao Bian. Perhaps their keen brilliance and eagerness to press their convictions led them, for a season, to follow fashions that were not wholly upright. Once the New Policies took effect, Fangping laid out their abuses with anguish and Gongchen fought the baojia system in language especially sharp; both remonstrated without trimming their words, and as seasoned servants of the realm they at last won great respect. Fangping had spotted Wang Anshi during the provincial examination and foreseen that he would one day wreck the government—a prescience worthy of Lü Hui's praise.
30
張昪，字杲卿，韓城人。 舉進士，為楚邱主簿。 南京留守王曾稱其有公輔器。 累官度支員外郎。 夏竦經略陝西，薦其才，換六宅使、涇原秦鳳安撫都監。 未幾，以母老，求歸故官，得知絳州，改京西轉運使。 知鄧州，又以母辭。 或指為避事，范仲淹言於朝曰：「張昪豈避事者？」 乃許歸養。 歷戶部判官、開封府推官，至知雜御史。
Zhang Bian, styled Gaoging, came from Hancheng. After taking the jinshi degree he became chief clerk of Chuqiu. Wang Zeng, the Southern Capital pacification commissioner, declared that he possessed the caliber of a chief minister. By successive appointments he rose to Vice Director of the Revenue Section. Xia Song, while commissioner for Shaanxi, commended his ability, and Bian was reassigned as Six Mansions Commissioner and pacification superintendent for Jingyuan and Qinfeng. Soon afterward, citing his mother's age, he asked to resume civil office; he was made prefect of Jiangzhou, then transport commissioner for the West Capital Circuit. When named prefect of Dengzhou, he again begged off to care for his mother. Some called this shirking duty, but Fan Zhongyan told the court: "Zhang Bian is no shirker." The court allowed him to go home and support his mother. He held in turn the posts of Revenue Section judge, Kaifeng investigator, and finally auxiliary censor-in-chief.
31
張堯佐緣恩驟用，知開封府； 內侍楊懷敏夜直禁中，而衛士為變，皆極論之。 昪性質樸，不善擇言，至斥張貴妃為一婦人，謂懷敏得志，將不減劉季述。 仁宗讀之不懌，以語陳升之。 升之曰：「此忠直之言，不激切，則聖意不可回矣。」 帝乃解。 以天章閣待制知慶州，改龍圖閣直學士、知秦州。
Zhang Yaozhuo, raised overnight through imperial favor, was made prefect of Kaifeng; the eunuch Yang Huaimin kept night duty inside the palace, and when the guard corps rebelled—Bian condemned each of these abuses in the strongest terms. Plain and blunt by nature, Bian chose his words poorly: he dismissed Consort Zhang as "just a woman" and warned that if Huaimin had his way he would rival the tyrant eunuch Liu Jishu. Emperor Renzong read the memorial with annoyance and mentioned it to Chen Shengzhi. Chen Shengzhi replied: "These are loyal, straight words; unless they cut sharply, Your Majesty's mind will not be moved." The emperor's anger eased. He was appointed drafting official at the Hall of Heavenly Writings and prefect of Qingzhou, then promoted to attendant academician of the Hall of Dragon Illustrations and prefect of Qinzhou.
32
初，青唐蕃部藺氈，世居古渭，積與夏人有隙，懼而獻其地。 攝帥范祥無遠慮，亟城之。 諸族畏其偪，舉兵叛。 昪至，請棄勿城。 詔戶部副使傅求審視之，以為不可棄，與昪議殊。 先是，副總管劉渙討叛羌，逗撓不時進，昪命他將郭恩代之，羌乃潰去。 渙黜其功，讕訟恩多殺老稚，以撼昪。 朝廷命張方平守秦，徙渙涇原，亦徙昪青州。 將罪昪，方平辭曰：「渙、昪有階級，今互言而兩罷帥，不可為也。」 昪乃復留。
Earlier the Qingtang Tibetan leader Moqin, whose people had long dwelt at ancient Guwei, had built up enmity with the Xia and, in fear, offered up his lands. Acting commander Fan Xiang, lacking long-range judgment, hurriedly walled the place. The surrounding clans, alarmed by the pressure, took up arms in revolt. On reaching his post, Bian asked that the site be given up and left unwalled. The throne sent Deputy Finance Commissioner Fu Qiu to review the question; he ruled that the fort must be kept, contrary to Bian's view. Earlier, Vice Commander Liu Huan had been dispatched against the rebel Qiang but stalled and failed to press the attack; Bian replaced him with General Guo En, and the Qiang forces scattered. Huan belittled the victory and accused En of slaughtering the aged and young, seeking to shake Bian's position. The court sent Zhang Fangping to hold Qinzhou, moved Huan to Jingyuan, and reassigned Bian to Qingzhou. When the court was about to punish Bian, Fangping objected: "Huan and Bian stand in ranked posts; if mutual accusations now bring down both commanders, that precedent must not be set." Bian was therefore kept in office.
33
至和二年，召兼侍讀，拜御史中丞。 劉沆在相位，以御史范師道、趙抃嘗攻其惡，陰欲出之。 昪曰：「天子耳目之官，奈何用宰相怒而斥？」 上章力爭之，沆竟罷去。 帝見昪指切時事無所避，謂曰：「卿孤立，乃能如是。」 對曰：「臣仰託聖主，致位侍從，是為不孤。 今陛下之臣，持祿養望者多，而赤心謀國者少，竊以為如陛下乃孤立爾。」 帝為之感動。
In the second year of Zhihe he was recalled, made lecturer-in-attendance as well, and appointed censor-in-chief. Liu Hang occupied the chancellorship and, since censors Fan Shidao and Zhao Bian had assailed his misconduct, secretly sought to drive them out. Bian protested: "These are the emperor's eyes and ears—how can they be banished to satisfy a chancellor's wrath?" He memorialized fiercely in their defense, and Hang was finally removed. Seeing Bian speak bluntly on public affairs without evasion, the emperor said: "You stand alone, yet you dare so much." Bian answered: "I lean on a sage ruler and have been raised to serve at court—I am not alone. Among Your Majesty's ministers today, many cling to salary and reputation while few give their whole hearts to the realm; it is Your Majesty, I think, who stands alone." The emperor was moved to his core.
34
契丹主宗真遣使齎其畫像來，求帝畫像，未報而死。 子洪基立，以為請，詔昪報聘，諭使更致新主像。 契丹欲先得之，昪曰：「昔文成以弟為兄屈，尚先致敬，況今為伯父哉！」 遂無以奪，乃復以洪基像來。 嘉祐三年，擢樞密副使，遷參知政事、樞密使。 昪愛惜官資，凡內降所與，多持不下。 見帝春秋高，前後屢進言儲嗣事，卒與韓琦同決策。
The Liao emperor Zongzhen sent envoys with his painted likeness, asking for the Song emperor's portrait in exchange; before an answer could be sent, he died. His son Hongji succeeded and pressed the same request; the court dispatched Bian on a return embassy and told the envoys to present the new emperor's likeness. The Khitan side insisted on receiving the portrait first; Bian replied: "Even Princess Wencheng, though forced to treat a younger brother as elder, still offered courtesy first—how much more should an uncle do so now!" Unable to override him, they sent Hongji's portrait once more. In the third year of Jiayou he rose to vice commissioner of military affairs, then became vice grand councilor and commissioner of military affairs. Bian guarded official appointments jealously and often refused to ratify favors issued by private edict from the inner court. Noting the emperor's great age, he repeatedly pressed the question of the succession and finally settled it together with Han Qi.
35
英宗立，請老，帝曰：「太尉勤勞王家，詎可遽去？」 但命五日一至院，進見無蹈舞。 司馬光上疏言：「近歲以來，大臣年高者皆不敢自安其位，言事者欲以為名，又從而攻之。 使其人無可取，雖少壯何為？ 果有益於時，雖老何傷？ 昪為人忠謹清直，不可干以私，若使且居其位，於事亦未有曠廢也。」 昪請不已，始賜告，令養疾，遂以彰信軍節度使、同中書門下平章事判許州，改鎮河陽三城。 拜太子太師致仕。 熙寧十年薨，年八十六。 贈司徒兼侍中，諡曰康節。
After Emperor Yingzong took the throne, Bian asked to retire; the emperor said: "Grand Marshal, you have toiled long for the throne—how can you depart so quickly?" He was told only to attend the bureau once every five days and, when received in audience, was excused from the bowing dance. Sima Guang memorialized: "In recent years elder ministers have scarcely been able to hold their posts in peace; critics seek renown by attacking them, and others join the assault. If a man has nothing to offer, what use is his youth? If he truly serves the age, what injury is there in age? Bian is loyal, prudent, upright, and incorruptible; let him keep his post awhile and the business of state will not suffer." Bian kept petitioning until he was at last granted sick leave, then made military commissioner of the Zhangxin Army and a grand councilor of equal rank administering Xuzhou, later transferred to the Three Cities of Heyang. He was named Grand Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and retired from office. He died in the tenth year of Xining, aged eighty-six. Posthumously he was made Minister of Works and concurrent palace attendant, with the posthumous name Kangjie.
36
趙槩，字叔平，南京虞城人。 少篤學自力，器識宏遠，為一時名輩稱許。 中進士第，通判海州，為集賢校理、開封府推官。 奏事殿中，仁宗面賜銀緋。
Zhao Gai, styled Shuping, came from Yucheng in the Southern Capital circuit. As a youth he studied with fierce discipline and stood on his own strength; his breadth of mind won praise from the foremost men of the day. After passing the jinshi examination he was vice prefect of Haizhou, then collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies and investigator for Kaifeng. While presenting business in the palace hall, he received from Emperor Renzong's own hand robes of silver and crimson.
37
出知洪州，州城西南薄章江，有泛溢之虞，槩作石堤二百丈，高五丈，以障其沖，水不為患。 僚吏鄭陶、饒奭挾持郡事，為不法，前守莫能制。 州之歸化卒，皆故時群盜。 奭造飛語曰：「卒得廩米陳惡，有怨言，不更給善米，且生變。」 槩不答。 卒有自容州戍逃歸而犯夜者，斬之以徇，因收陶、奭抵罪，闔府股栗。
Assigned prefect of Hongzhou, he found the city vulnerable on the southwest where it pressed the Zhang River; he raised a stone embankment two hundred zhang long and five zhang high to break the flood, and the river no longer menaced the town. Subordinates Zheng Tao and Rao Shi had seized control of county business and broken the law; earlier prefects had been unable to restrain them. The Guihua garrison in the prefecture was made up entirely of former outlaw bands. Shi spread a rumor: "The soldiers were given spoiled grain from the storehouse and are angry; unless fresh grain is issued, there will be trouble." Gai ignored it. When a deserter from the Rongzhou garrison was caught violating curfew, Gai executed him publicly, then prosecuted Tao and Shi; the entire prefecture shook with fear.
38
加直集賢院、知青州。 坐失舉澠池令張誥免，久乃起，監密州酒。 知滁州，山東有寇李二過境上，告人曰：「我東人也，公嘗為青州，民愛之如父母，我不忍犯。」 率眾去。
He was further made direct academician of the Hall of Assembled Worthies and prefect of Qingzhou. He lost office for not recommending the Mianchi magistrate Zhang Gao; only after a long interval was he restored to supervise the wine tax at Mizhou. While prefect of Chuzhou, when the Shandong bandit Li Er crossed the border he told the locals: "I am an easterner too; when the Lord governed Qingzhou the people loved him as parents—I will not harm his district." He marched his followers away.
39
召修起居注。 歐陽修後至，朝廷欲驟用之，難於越次。 槩聞，請郡，除天章閣待制、糾察在京刑獄，修遂知制誥。 逾歲，槩始代之。 郊祀，當任子、進階爵，乞回其恩，封母郡太君。 宰相謂曰：「君即為學士，擬封不久矣。」 槩曰：「母年八十二，願及今拜君賜以為榮。」 乃許之，後遂為例。
He was called up to help compile the Daily Records. When Ouyang Xiu came later, the court wanted to advance him swiftly but hesitated to skip over senior men. Learning of this, Gai asked for a provincial appointment; he was made drafting official at the Hall of Heavenly Writings and inspector of capital punishments, while Xiu received the drafting post for edicts. After a year Gai at last succeeded him. At the suburban sacrifice, though entitled to ennoble his son and raise his own rank, he asked instead to transfer the honor and ennoble his mother as Lady of the Commandery. The chief minister told him: "You will soon become an academician; such honors can wait a little." Gai replied: "My mother is eighty-two; I want her to receive the emperor's grace while she still can." The request was approved, and afterward became established practice.
40
蘇舜欽等以群飲逐，槩言：「預會者皆館閣名士，舉而棄之，觖士大夫望，非國之福也。」 不報。 求知蘇州，終母喪，入為翰林學士。 聘契丹，契丹主會獵，請賦《信誓如山河詩》」，詩成，親酌玉杯為槩勸，且授侍臣劉六符素扇，寫之納袖中，其禮重如此。 還，兼侍讀學士。 諫官郭申錫論事忤旨，帝欲加罪，槩曰：「陛下始面諭申錫毋面從，今黜之，何以示天下？」 乃止。
After Su Shunqin and others were banished for communal drinking, Gai argued: "Those present were eminent men of the halls and pavilions; to cast them out wounds the hopes of the scholar-official class and does the realm no good." The court did not respond. He asked to serve at Suzhou; when his mourning was finished he returned as a Hanlin academician. On embassy to the Khitan, at a royal hunt the Khitan emperor asked him to compose the poem "Oaths as Firm as Mountains and Rivers"; when the verses were done, the emperor himself filled a jade cup to toast Gai and had his attendant Liu Liufu copy the poem on a plain fan and tuck it into his sleeve—such was the honor shown him. After returning he was also made lecturer-in-attendance academician. When remonstrance official Guo Shenxi offended the throne and the emperor meant to punish him, Gai said: "Your Majesty personally told Shenxi not to flatter you to your face; if you now remove him, what lesson will the empire draw?" The emperor stayed his hand.
41
槩秉心和平，與人無怨怒。 雖在事如不言，然陰以利物者為不少，議者以比劉寬、婁師德。 坐張誥貶六年，念之終不衰，誥死，恤其家備至。 歐陽修遇槩素薄，又躐知制誥，及修有獄，槩獨抗章明其罪，言為仇者所中傷，不可以天下法為人報怨。 修得解，始服其長者。 為鄆州時，吏按前守馮浩侵公使錢三十萬，當以職田租償。 槩知其貧，為代以己奉。 其平生所為類此。
Gai held a tranquil heart and nursed no grudges against others. Though in office he seemed to say little, he quietly did much to help others; observers likened him to Liu Kuan and Lou Shide. He had been demoted for six years on account of Zhang Gao, yet his affection never faded; when Gao died, he saw to his household with every care. Ouyang Xiu had long looked down on Gai and had vaulted past him to the post of drafter of edicts. When Xiu was caught in a legal case, Gai alone submitted a forthright memorial on his guilt, arguing that he had been struck down by foes and that the laws of the empire must not serve private vengeance. Once Xiu was exonerated, he came at last to respect Gai as a man of stature. While serving as prefect of Yun, clerks found that the former prefect Feng Hao had misappropriated three hundred thousand in public envoy funds and was obliged to make restitution from the rent of his official fields. Knowing Feng's poverty, Gai paid the sum for him out of his own stipend. Most of what he did in his life was of this kind.
42
槩初名禋，嘗夢神人金書名簿有「趙槩」，遂更云。
Gai had first been named Yin. He once dreamed of a god holding a golden register on which stood the name Zhao Gai, and thereafter changed his name.
43
胡宿，字武平，常州晉陵人。 登第，為揚子尉。 縣大水，民被溺，令不能救，宿率公私船活數千人。 以薦為館閣校勘，進集賢校理。 通判宣州，囚有殺人者，將抵死，宿疑而訊之，囚憚箠楚不敢言。 辟左右復問，久乃云：「旦將之田，縣吏縛以赴官，莫知其故。」 宿取具獄繙閱，探其本辭，蓋婦人與所私者殺其夫，而執平民以告也。
Hu Su, styled Wuping, was a native of Jinling in Chang Prefecture. Having passed the examinations, he was made sheriff of Yangzi. When the county was struck by great floods and people were drowning, the magistrate could not rescue them; Su mustered official and private boats and saved several thousand lives. On recommendation he was made a collator in the Hall of Literature, then promoted to proofreader in the Hall of Gathered Worthies. While serving as vice prefect of Xuan, a man condemned for murder was about to die. Su questioned him with misgivings, but the prisoner, fearing the rod, would not speak. Su sent his attendants away and questioned him again. At length the man said, "At dawn I was on my way to the fields when county clerks bound me and brought me to court. I do not know why." Su took up the completed dossier and traced the original charge: a woman and her paramour had murdered her husband and had seized an innocent man to stand accused in his place.
44
知湖州，前守滕宗諒大興學校，費錢數十萬。 宗諒去，通判、僚吏皆疑以為欺，不肯書歷。 宿誚之曰：「君輩佐滕侯久矣，苟有過，盍不早正？ 乃陰拱以觀，俟其去而非之，豈昔人分謗之意乎？」 坐者大慚謝。 其後湖學為東南最，宿之力為多。 築石塘百里，捍水患，民號曰胡公塘，而學者為立生祠。
When Su governed Hu Prefecture, the former prefect Teng Zongliang had greatly enlarged the schools there, spending several hundred thousand cash. After Zongliang left, the vice prefect and his colleagues all suspected fraud and refused to sign off on the accounts. Su rebuked them, saying, "You have long served under Master Teng. If there was wrongdoing, why did you not set it right at once? Instead you folded your hands in silence, waited until he had gone, and then condemned him—is that what the ancients meant by sharing blame?" Those seated there were deeply ashamed and apologized. Thereafter the schools of Hu became the best in the southeast, largely through Su's exertions. He built a stone dike a hundred li long to hold back floodwaters. The people named it Lord Hu's Dike, and scholars raised a living shrine in his honor.
45
久之，為兩浙轉運使。 召修起居注、知制誥。 入內都知楊懷敏坐衛士之變，斥為和州都監，未幾，召入復故職。 宿封還詞頭，且言：「懷敏得不窮治誅死，已幸，豈宜覆在左右？」 命遂寢。
After some time he was made transport commissioner of the Two Zhe circuits. He was recalled to compile the Daily Record and to serve as drafter of edicts. Palace Intendant Yang Huaimin, implicated in the guards' uprising, was demoted to military supervisor of He Prefecture; before long he was recalled and restored to his old office. Su sealed and returned the draft edict, saying, "That Huaimin was not fully prosecuted and put to death was already mercy enough. How can he rightly be placed again at the emperor's side?" The appointment was thereupon dropped.
46
慶曆六年，京東、兩河地震，登、萊尤甚。 宿兼通陰陽五行災異之學，乃上疏曰：「明年丁亥，歲之刑德，皆在北宮。 陰生於午，而極於亥。 然陰猶強而未即伏，陽猶微而不能勝，此所以震也。 是謂龍戰之會，其位在乾。 若西北二邊不動，恐有內盜起於河朔。 又登、萊視京師，為東北少陽之位，今二州置金坑，多聚民鑿山谷，陽氣耗泄，故陰乘而動。 宜即禁止，以寧地道。」 時以為迂闊。 明年，王則果以貝州叛。 皇祐五年正月，會靈宮災，是歲冬至，郊，以二帝並配。 明年大旱，宿言：「五行，火，禮也。 去歲火而今又旱，其應在禮，此殆郊丘並配之失也。」 即建言並配非古，宜用迭配如初。 時議者謂士大夫言，七十當致仕，其不知止者，請令有司按籍舉行之。 宿以為非優老之義，當少緩其期法：武吏察其任事與否，勿斷以年； 文吏使得自陳而全其節。 及言皇祐新樂與舊樂難並用； 禮部間歲一貢士不便，當用三年之制。 皆如其言。
In the sixth year of Qingli, earthquakes struck Jingdong and the Two He circuits; Deng and Lai suffered most severely. Su was also versed in yin-yang, the Five Phases, and the lore of omens, and submitted a memorial saying, "Next year is dinghai; the year's chastising and beneficent forces both lie in the Northern Palace. Yin is born at wu and reaches its height at hai. Yet yin remains strong and has not yet yielded, while yang is still faint and cannot prevail—that is why the earth trembles. This is what is called the meeting where dragons contend; its station lies in Qian. If the two northwestern frontiers do not move, I fear internal rebels may rise in Heshuo. Moreover, Deng and Lai lie toward the capital in the northeast seat of lesser yang. Now in both prefectures gold pits have been opened and crowds gathered to quarry the hills; yang is spent and dissipated, and yin takes advantage to stir. These works should be forbidden at once to quiet the way of earth." At the time people judged this impractical and far-fetched. The next year Wang Ze did indeed rebel at Beizhou. In the first month of the fifth year of Huangyou the Huiling Palace burned. That winter solstice the emperor performed the suburban sacrifice with both emperors jointly enshrined. The next year there was severe drought. Su said, "Among the Five Phases, fire belongs to ritual. Last year there was fire, and now drought—the response lies in ritual. This is likely the error of joint enshrinement at the suburban altar." He thereupon argued that joint enshrinement was not the ancient way and that alternating enshrinement should be restored as before. At the time some argued that officials who reached seventy ought to retire, and that those who did not know when to stop should be identified from the registers and compelled to do so. Su held that this was not true honor for the aged and that the rule should be eased somewhat: for military officers, judge whether they can still perform their duties rather than fixing the matter by age alone; for civil officers, let them petition on their own behalf and preserve their dignity. He also argued that the new music of Huangyou could not readily be used together with the old; and that the Ministry of Rites' biennial presentation of candidates was inconvenient and that the three-year system should be restored. In each case the court adopted his advice.
47
唐介貶嶺南，帝遣中使護以往。 宿言：「事有不可測，介如不幸道死，陛下受殺直臣之名。」 帝悟，追還使者。 遷翰林學士，知審官、刑院。 李仲昌開六塔河，民被害，詔獄薄其罪。 宿請斬以謝河北，仲昌由是南竄。 袞國公主下降，將行冊禮。 宿諫曰：「陛下昔封兩長主，未嘗冊命，今施之愛女，殆非漢明帝所謂『我子豈得與先帝子等』之義也。」
Tang Jie was demoted to Lingnan, and the emperor dispatched a palace envoy to escort him on his way. Su said, "Things cannot all be foreseen. If Jie should die by misfortune on the road, Your Majesty would bear the name of having killed a loyal remonstrator." The emperor took his meaning and recalled the envoy. He was promoted to Hanlin academician and placed in charge of the Bureau for Review of Appointments and the Bureau of Punishments. Li Zhongchang had opened the Six Pagodas Canal to the people's harm, and an imperial inquiry was ordered with lenient punishment. Su requested that he be executed to appease Hebei, and Zhongchang was thereby driven into exile in the south. Princess Guoguo was to marry beneath her rank, and the investiture rites were about to be performed. Su remonstrated, saying, "Your Majesty once enfeoffed your two elder princesses without ever granting investiture. To bestow it now upon a beloved daughter is hardly in the spirit of what Emperor Ming of Han meant when he said, 'How can my children rank with the late emperor's children?'"
48
涇州卒以折支不時給，出惡言，且欲相扇為亂。 既置於法，乃命劾三司吏。 三司使包拯護弗遣。 宿曰：「涇卒固悖慢，然當給之物，越八十五日而不與，計吏安得為無罪？ 拯不知自省，公拒制命，紀綱益廢矣。」 拯懼，立遣吏。 韓琦守并州，請復其節鎮。 宿言：「參、商為仇讎之星。 國家受命於商丘，而參為晉地。 今欲崇晉，非國之利也。 宋興削平四方，並最後服，故太宗不使列於方鎮，八十年矣，宜如故便。」 議遂止。 後琦秉政，卒復之。
Soldiers at Jing Prefecture, because their cloth allowance was not issued on schedule, spoke bitterly and even sought to stir one another to rebellion. After they had been punished according to law, he ordered an investigation of the clerks of the Three Departments. Commissioner of the Three Departments Bao Zheng shielded them and refused to send them forward. Su said, "The Jing soldiers were indeed insolent, yet what was owed them was withheld for more than eighty-five days. How can the accounting clerks be held guiltless? Zheng does not know to examine himself, yet openly resists an imperial command—the bonds of discipline are being further undone." Fearing the consequences, Zheng at once sent the clerks forward. Han Qi, while governing Bing Prefecture, requested that its military commission be restored. Su said, "Shen and Shang are stars of mutual enmity. The dynasty received the Mandate at Shangqiu, while Shen corresponds to the land of Jin. To exalt Jin now would not serve the state's interest. Since the founding of Song, when the realm was pacified on all sides, Bing was the last to submit; therefore Taizong did not rank it among the frontier commands. Eighty years have passed—it is best to leave things as they are." The proposal was thereupon dropped. Later, when Qi came to power, the commission was restored after all.
49
宿為人清謹忠實，內剛外和，群居不嘩笑，與人言，必思而後對。 故臨事重慎，不輒發，發亦不可回止。 居母喪三年，不至私室。 其當重任，尤顧惜大體。 在審官、刑院，擇詳議官，有在選中者，嘗監征榷，以水災負課。 同列謂小累不足白，宿竟白之，而薦其才足用，仁宗聽納。 同列退而誚曰：「公固欲白上，倘緣是不用，奈何？」 宿曰：「彼之得否，不過一詳議官。 宿平生以誠事主，今白首矣，忍以毫髮欺乎？ 為之開陳，聽吾君自擇爾。」 少與一僧善，僧有秘術，能化瓦石為黃金。 且死，將以授宿，使葬之。 宿曰：「後事當儘力，他非吾所冀也。」 僧嘆曰：「子之志，未可量也。」 其篤行自勵，至於貴達，常如布衣時。
Su was pure, careful, loyal, and sincere—hard within and gentle without. In company he never laughed loudly, and when he spoke with others he always considered first and then replied. Therefore in affairs he was grave and cautious: he did not act lightly, and once he acted there was no turning back. During the three years of mourning for his mother he never entered his private chambers. When he bore heavy responsibility he was especially careful of the larger interest. While serving in the Bureau for Review of Appointments and the Bureau of Punishments, he was selecting detailed-review officers when he found among the candidates one who had once supervised tax collection and, because of flood, had fallen short on receipts. His colleagues said the small blemish need not be reported to the throne, but Su reported it anyway and also recommended that the man's talent made him fit for service; Renzong accepted both. Afterward his colleagues withdrew and mocked him, saying, "You plainly meant to inform the throne—but if he is not appointed because of this, what then?" Su said, "Whether he is appointed or not concerns no more than one detailed-review officer. I have served my lord with sincerity all my life. Now my hair is white—how could I deceive him over the slightest thing? I lay the facts before him and let my sovereign decide for himself—that is all." In youth he was close to a monk who possessed a secret art and could turn tile and stone into gold. When the monk was near death, he meant to pass the art to Su and have him bury it with him. Su said, "I shall do all I can for the funeral rites. That alone is what I desire." The monk sighed and said, "Your resolve cannot be measured." His earnest conduct and self-restraint endured even after he rose to high rank; he remained as he had been when he wore plain cloth.
50
子：宗炎； 從子：宗愈、宗回。
His son: Zongyan; His nephews: Zongyu and Zonghui.
51
子宗炎
Son: Zongyan
52
宗炎，字彥聖，由將作監主簿鎖廳登第。 為國子大宗正丞、開封府推官、考功吏部郎中。 舊制，選人改京官，舉將小絓吏議，輒尼不行。 宗炎請先引見，俟舉者罪即追止，從之。
Zongyan, styled Yansheng, passed the examinations through the locked-hall procedure while serving as chief clerk in the Directorate of Works. He served as deputy director of the National University's Grand Preceptorate, investigating censor of Kaifeng Prefecture, and director of merit evaluation in the Ministry of Personnel. Under the old system, when a selected appointee was to be promoted to capital official, if the recommending superior had minor blemishes under clerical review, the promotion was always blocked. Zongyan requested that the candidate first be presented to the throne and that if the recommender were found guilty the appointment be revoked at once; this was adopted.
53
哲宗崩，遼使來吊祭，宗炎以鴻臚少卿迓境上。 使者不易服，宗炎以禮折之，須其聽命，乃相見。 暨還，升為卿。 初，父宿使遼，遼人重之。 其後宗炎婿鄧忠臣迓客，客問：「中外嘗有充使者否？」 忠臣以宿告，且言：「前使鴻臚，其子也。」 客歎：「胡氏世不乏人。」 俄以直龍圖閣知潁昌府，歷密州而卒。
When Zhezong died, a Liao envoy came to offer condolence sacrifices, and Zongyan, as vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, received him at the border. The envoy would not change his dress. Zongyan used ritual to rebuff him and would not meet until he submitted to the prescribed form. On his return he was promoted to full director. Earlier his father Su had served as envoy to Liao, and the Liao held him in high regard. Later, when Zongyan's son-in-law Deng Zhongchen received an envoy, the envoy asked, "Have there ever been envoys drawn from both within and without the court?" Zhongchen told him of Su, adding, "The former envoy served as director of imperial sacrifices—and that man was his son." The envoy exclaimed, "The Hu house has never lacked worthy men." Shortly afterward he was appointed with the honorary title Drafting Officer at the Dragon Diagram Hall and made prefect of Yingchang; he later governed Mi Prefecture and then died.
54
宗炎善為詩，藻思清婉。 歐陽修守亳，與客游郡圃，或誦其詩，修賞味不已，以為有鮑、謝風致。 其重之如此。
Zongyan was skilled at poetry; his phrasing was clear and graceful. When Ouyang Xiu governed Bo, he walked the prefectural garden with guests. Someone recited Zongyan's poems, and Xiu savored them endlessly, judging them to possess the spirit of Bao Zhao and Xie Lingyun. Such was the esteem in which he held him.
55
從子宗愈
Nephew: Zongyu
56
宗愈，字完夫，舉進士甲科，為光祿丞。 宿得請杭州，英宗問：「子弟誰可繼者？」 以宗愈對。 召試學士院。
Zongyu, courtesy name Wanfu, graduated jinshi with top honors and was appointed vice director of the Imperial Household Service. When Su secured an appointment to Hangzhou, Emperor Yingzong asked which of his sons or nephews might follow in his footsteps. He named Zongyu. Zongyu was called to an examination at the Hanlin Academy.
57
神宗立，以為集賢校理。 久之，兼史館檢討，遂同知諫院。 殿內卒盜皇城器物，宗愈言：「唐長孫無忌不解佩刀入東上閣門，校尉論當死。 今禁卒為盜，而入內都知不能覺察，願正其罪。」 殿帥直廬在長慶門內，久而自置隸圉。 宗愈曰：「嚴禁旅，所以杜奸宄也。 奈何令私人得為之？ 萬一凶黠者竄名其間，將不可悔。 請易募老卒。」
After Shenzong's accession, he was appointed collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies. In time he added the post of historiography reviser and then served concurrently as vice director of the Remonstrance Bureau. When inner-palace attendants stole property from the Imperial City, Zongyu argued: "In Tang times Zhangsun Wuji once entered the Eastern Upper Gate still wearing his sword through ignorance, and the gate guards were sentenced to death. Today forbidden troops turn thief, and the director of the inner palace never noticed—let their offenses be judged as they deserve." The palace guard commandant's duty station lay within Changqing Gate; over time he had begun to employ private grooms. Zongyu said, "The guard exists to keep out plotters and malcontents. Why should private retainers be permitted inside? Should some ruthless schemer hide among them, the harm would be irreparable. Recruit seasoned soldiers openly instead."
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王安石用李定為御史，宗愈言：「御史當用學士及丞、雜論薦，又須官博士、員外郎。 今定以幕職不因薦得之，是殆一齣執政意，即大臣不法，誰復言之？」 蘇頌、李大臨不草制，坐絀； 宗愈又爭之，安石怒，出通判真州。 歷提點河東刑獄、開封府推官、吏部右司郎中。
When Wang Anshi made Li Ding a censor, Zongyu protested: "Censors ought to come from the Hanlin and from recommended vice directors and staff officers, and must already hold erudite or outer-office rank. Li Ding gained the post as a staff aide without any recommendation—barely veiled favoritism from the chief minister. Once great ministers flout the law, who will dare object?" Su Song and Li Daxin declined to draft the appointment and were reduced in rank; Zongyu pressed the point again; Anshi, enraged, posted him as military prefect of Zhenzhou. He later served as judicial intendant of Hedong, investigating magistrate of Kaifeng, and right-section director in the Ministry of Personnel.
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元祐初，進起居郎、中書舍人、給事中、御史中丞。 時更定役法，書成，衙校募不足者，聽差入等戶。 宗愈言：「法貴均一，若持兩端，則於文有害。 是乃差法，非募法也。 請刪之。」
Early in Yuanyou he rose to attendant gentleman, drafting secretary, recipient of edicts, and censor-in-chief. While the corvée statutes were being rewritten, the draft allowed higher-grade households to be pressed into service wherever yamen runners could not be fully hired. Zongyu said, "Law must be even-handed; two faces in one clause corrupt the statute. That belongs to conscription, not to hired service. Strike that passage."
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哲宗嘗問朋黨之弊，對曰：「君子指小人為奸，則小人指君子為黨。 君子，蓋義之與比者。 陛下能擇中立之士而用之，則黨禍熄矣。」 明日，具《君子無黨論》以進。 拜尚書右丞。 於是諫議大夫王覿論其不當，而劉安世、韓川、孫覺等合攻之，朝廷依違。 逾年，出覿潤州，而言者愈力。 乃罷為資政殿學士、知陳州，徙成都府，蜀人安其政。 召為禮部尚書，遷吏部，卒，年六十六。 贈左銀青光祿大夫。
Zhezong once asked about the evil of factions; Zongyu answered, "When the upright denounce schemers as corrupt, the schemers denounce the upright as a clique. The gentleman keeps company with what is right—that is all. Choose impartial scholars and put them to use, and factional strife will fade." The following day he presented his complete essay "On How Gentlemen Form No Faction." He was made vice director of the right in the Ministry of State Affairs. Remonstrance Grandee Wang Xi then argued the promotion was wrong, and Liu Anshi, Han Chuan, Sun Jue, and others piled on; the court could not decide. A year later Xi was posted to Runzhou, yet the accusers grew fiercer. Zongyu was stripped of his central post, made academician of the Hall of Literary Glory, and sent to Chenzhou, then to Chengdu, where the people of Shu found his governance reassuring. Recalled as minister of Rites and then minister of Personnel, he died at sixty-six. He was posthumously granted Left Silver-Gleam Grandee of Splendid Happiness.
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從子宗回
Nephew: Zonghui
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宗回，字醇夫，用蔭登第，為編修敕令官、司農寺幹當公事、京西轉運判官、提點刑獄、京東陝西轉運使、吏部郎中。 紹聖初，以直龍圖閣知桂州，進寶文閣待制。 坐繫平民死，降集賢殿修撰、知隨州，改秦州、慶州，復為待制。
Zonghui, courtesy name Chunfu, entered service by yin privilege and passed the jinshi; he served as editor of edicts and statutes, clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, Western Capital transport vice commissioner, judicial intendant, Eastern Capital and Shaanxi transport commissioner, and personnel director. Early in Shaosheng he became prefect of Guizhou with the Straight Dragon Diagram designation and was promoted to awaiting edicts in the Hall of Treasured Literature. After a detainee died in his custody he was reduced to collator in the Hall of Gathered Worthies and prefect of Suizhou, then served at Qinzhou and Qingzhou before regaining awaiting-edicts rank.
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先是，熙河將王贍下邈川有功，帥孫路不樂贍，奪其兵與王愍。 朝廷知之，以宗回代路，加直學士。 時青唐瞎征內附，而心牟欽氈勒兵立別酋隴拶，還其地，勢復張。 瞎征大懼，自髡為僧以祈免。 王贍怨孫路，因言青唐不煩兵可下。 至，則駐宗哥城不進。 宗回怒，日夜檄趣之，且戒贍曰：「青唐兵甚弱，隴拶稚子，何能為，而怯懦逗遛，吾將以軍法從事。」 又遣王愍復至邈川，聲言代贍。 贍懼，乃率步騎掩青唐，據之，隴拶降。 詔以青唐為鄯州，邈川為湟州。 未幾，屬羌郎阿章叛，拒官軍。 宗回遣將王吉、魏釗討之，皆敗死。 又遣鈐轄种朴往。 朴言：「賊鋒方銳，且盛寒，宜少緩師。」 宗回不聽，督之急。 朴不得已行，亦敗死。 於是轉運判官秦希甫言湟、鄯難守，以為棄之便。 事下宗回，宗回持不可，希甫罷去。 會徽宗棄鄯州，於是任伯雨再疏其罪，奪職知蘄州。
Previously, Hexi general Wang Shan had captured Miaochuan with distinction, but commander Sun Lu resented him, seized his command, and gave the troops to Wang Min. The court learned of it and sent Zonghui to replace Lu, adding the title of academician. Qingtang's Xixia ruler had submitted, but Xinmou Qinzhann rallied troops, installed the rival chief Longzan, and recovered the land, and their strength revived. Terrified, the Qingtang ruler tonsured himself as a monk to beg for mercy. Wang Shan, nursing a grudge against Sun Lu, claimed Qingtang could fall without a battle. He reached Zongge City and stalled there. Zonghui fumed and bombarded him with dispatches, warning Shan: "Qingtang's forces are feeble and Longzan is a child—what threat is that? Your dithering is cowardice; I will invoke military law." He sent Wang Min to Miaochuan again, publicly announcing that he would replace Shan. Frightened, Shan finally led foot and horse in a raid on Qingtang, took the city, and Longzan submitted. An edict renamed Qingtang as Shanzhou and Miaochuan as Huangzhou. Soon afterward the Qiang leader Lang Azhang rebelled and fought the government forces. Zonghui dispatched Wang Ji and Wei Zhao against him; both were routed and killed. He next sent deputy commander Zhong Pu. Pu urged, "The enemy is at peak strength and the cold is bitter—we should pause the campaign." Zonghui refused to listen and drove him hard. Pu marched against his judgment and was killed in another defeat. Transport vice commissioner Qin Xifu then argued that Huangzhou and Shanzhou could not be held and ought to be given up. The proposal went to Zonghui, who held firm against withdrawal, and Xifu was removed. When Huizong later abandoned Shanzhou, Ren Boyu renewed the charges; Zonghui lost his post and was sent to Qizhou.
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還，為待制。 歷慶、渭、陳、延、澶州。 兄宗愈入黨籍，宗回亦罷郡。 居亡何，錄其堅守湟、鄯之議，起知秦州。 進樞密直學士，徙永興、鄭州、成德軍，復坐事去。 大觀中卒，贈銀青光祿大夫。
Afterward he regained awaiting-edicts status. He served in turn as prefect of Qing, Wei, Chen, Yan, and Chan. When his brother Zongyu was listed among the faction offenders, Zonghui too was dismissed from his post. Before long the court recalled his stubborn defense of Huang and Shan and restored him as prefect of Qinzhou. Promoted to Privy Council academician, he served at Yongxing, Zhengzhou, and Chengde, then lost office again over another matter. He died during the Daguang reign and was posthumously granted Silver-Gleam Grandee of Splendid Happiness.
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胡氏自宿始大，及宗愈仍世執政，其後子孫至侍從、九卿者十數，遂為晉陵名族。
The Hu rose to prominence beginning with Su; through Zongyu they governed for generations, and later their line produced more than ten attendants and ministers of the nine courts, making Jinling's Hu a household name.
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論曰：張昪清忠諒直，趙槩雅量過人，胡宿學通天人之奧，考其立朝大節，皆磊落為良執政。 宗愈仍居右轄，而學術視宿則有間矣。 宗回非邊將材，其守河湟之議，蓋以趣种朴於死，蘄合上意，以解其責爾。 若胡氏之世大也，殆脫萬人於水死，而陰德之所致與？
The historians write: Zhang Fang was incorruptible and bluntly honest; Zhao Gai's breadth of spirit stood above the crowd; Hu Su's learning reached into Heaven and human affairs—each, judged by his conduct at court, was an upright statesman. Zongyu still sat among the highest ministers, but beside Su's learning he fell short. Zonghui was no frontier commander; his insistence on holding the Huang-Shan corridor likely hurried Zhong Pu to his death, pleased the throne, and let him dodge responsibility. If the Hu grew great, perhaps it was because Su had snatched thousands from the flood—virtue unseen, reward deferred.