1
蔚昭敏
Yu Zhaomin
2
蔚昭敏，字仲明，開封祥符人。 父興，事周世宗，數戰伐有功，又從太宗平太原，終龍尉都虞候。 真宗為襄王，昭敏自東班殿侍選隸襄王府。 帝即位，授西頭供奉官，累遷崇儀使、冀貝行營兵馬都監。 契丹以五千騎突至冀州城南，昭敏帥部兵與戰，敗之，得其器甲，賊遁去，而師不失一人。
Yu Zhaomin, whose courtesy name was Zhongming, came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. His father Xing had served Emperor Shizong of Zhou, distinguishing himself in repeated campaigns, and later followed Taizong in the pacification of Taiyuan; he ended his career as chief commandant of the Dragon Guards. While Zhenzong was still Prince of Xiang, Zhaomin was selected from the Eastern Class palace attendants and assigned to the prince's household. After the emperor's accession he was made Western Head Palace Attendant, and rose in turn to Honored Ceremonial Envoy and military superintendent of the Ji and Bei field encampments. When five thousand Khitan horsemen suddenly appeared south of Jizhou, Zhaomin led his troops into battle, routed them, and captured their arms and armor; the enemy fled, and his force did not lose a single man.
3
咸平四年，領順州刺史、定州行營鈐轄兼押大陣，又為鎮、定、高陽關三路先鋒。 契丹入寇，帝北巡至大名，契丹退趨莫州，昭敏與范廷召追至莫州東三十里，斬首萬餘級，擒生口甚眾，契丹委器甲遁去。 拜唐州團練使，累遷至殿前副都指揮使，遷都指揮使、保靜軍節度使。 以足疾，命入謁無拜。 卒，贈侍中。
In the fourth year of Xianping he held the prefecture of Shun, served as commandant of the Dingzhou field headquarters with charge of the main array, and was also vanguard for the three routes of Zhen, Ding, and Gaoyang Pass. During a Khitan invasion the emperor toured north as far as Daming; when the Khitan fell back toward Mozhou, Zhaomin and Fan Tingzhao pursued them thirty li east of Mozhou, took more than ten thousand heads, captured a great many prisoners, and the Khitan abandoned their arms and armor in flight. He was made military training commissioner of Tang Prefecture, rose in succession to deputy director-in-chief of the Palace Front Corps, and was then promoted to director-in-chief and military commissioner of Baojing Army. Because of a foot ailment he was permitted to attend court without performing the full bow. He died and was posthumously honored as Grand Counselor.
4
高化，字仲熙，真定人。 少沉勇有力，不事耕稼，學擊劍，善射。 契丹犯河北，應募轉餉飛狐口。 楊業留戲下，使捕賊酋大鵬翼，獲之。 會契丹又犯真定，乃辭業還家，家屬盡為契丹所掠去。 從州將入京師，遂隸禁軍，選為襄王牽䪊官。 王尹京，命巡內外八廂，積獲奸盜甚眾。 盜有遺化金帛者，化弗受。 一日，王趨急召出府門，馬驚墮，化掖之而起。 王曰：「微爾。 吾幾殆。」 益親信之。
Gao Hua, whose courtesy name was Zhongxi, came from Zhending. As a youth he was steady, courageous, and strong; he did not work the fields but studied swordplay and became an expert archer. When the Khitan raided Hebei, he volunteered to haul provisions to Feihu Pass. Yang Ye kept him in his service and sent him to capture the rebel chieftain Da Pengyi, whom he took alive. When the Khitan again struck Zhending, he left Yang Ye's service and went home, only to find his whole family carried off by the Khitan. He followed a prefectural commander to the capital, entered the palace guards, and was chosen as horse-leader for the Prince of Xiang. When the prince served as capital intendant, Hua was ordered to patrol the eight inner and outer wards and over time seized a great many thieves and rogues. When captured robbers left him gold and silk, he refused to accept it. One day the prince was summoned in haste out the mansion gate; his horse bolted and threw him, and Hua steadied him and helped him rise. The prince said, "But for you— I would have been killed." From then on the prince relied on him all the more.
5
發兵襲明珠族，不利，降滑州總管。 改興州防禦使、真定路副都總管，徙高陽關路。 修護章惠太后園陵，累拜殿前副都指揮使，歷建武軍節度使。 以老，辭管軍。 詔入朝，化又固請，改武安軍節度使、知滄州，未行，改相州。 部有大獄已具，皆當論死。 化疑之，遣移訊，果出無罪者三人。 逾年，復告老，以右屯衛上將軍致仕。 卒，年八十。 贈太尉，諡曰恭莊。
He led troops against the Mingzhu tribe, met defeat, and submitted to the Huazhou military superintendent. He was appointed defender of Xing Prefecture and deputy chief commander of the Zhending circuit, then transferred to the Gaoyang Pass circuit. He supervised repairs at Empress Zhanghui's mausoleum park, rose in succession to deputy director-in-chief of the Palace Front Corps, and served as military commissioner of Jianwu Army. When he grew old he resigned from army command. An edict summoned him to court, but Hua petitioned again; he was made military commissioner of Wu'an Army and prefect of Cangzhou, yet before he set out was reassigned to Xiang Prefecture. In his jurisdiction a major case had already been concluded, with every defendant sentenced to death. Hua had doubts, ordered the case reinvestigated elsewhere, and three innocent men were indeed released. A year later he again pleaded old age and retired with the rank of general-in-chief of the Right Garrison Guard. He died at the age of eighty. He was posthumously honored as Grand Marshal with the posthumous title Gongzhuang (Respectful and Dignified).
6
化謹質少過，馭軍有法。 雖起身行伍，然頗知民事焉。
Hua was careful and unassuming, rarely at fault, and governed his troops by strict discipline. Though he had risen from the ranks, he was well versed in civilian affairs.
7
周美，字之純，靈州回樂人。 少隸朔方軍，以材武稱。 趙保吉陷靈州，美棄其族，間走歸京師，天子召見，隸禁軍。 契丹犯邊，真宗幸澶州，禦城北門，美慷慨自陳，願假數騎縛契丹將至闕下，帝壯之，常令宿衛。
Zhou Mei, whose courtesy name was Zhichun, came from Huile in Ling Prefecture. In his youth he served in the Shuofang Army and won renown for ability and valor. When Zhao Baoji took Ling Prefecture, Mei left his kinsmen behind, made his way secretly to the capital, was received in audience by the emperor, and was enrolled in the palace guards. During a Khitan border raid Zhenzong went to Chanyuan and reviewed troops at the city's north gate; Mei stepped forward boldly and offered, with only a few horsemen, to seize a Khitan general and bring him bound to court. The emperor was impressed and regularly kept him on palace guard duty.
8
天聖初，德明部落寇平涼方渠，美以軍候戍邊，與州將追戰，破之於九井原、烏侖河，斬首甚眾。 累遷天武都虞候。 元昊反，陝西用兵，經略使夏竦薦其材，擢供備庫使、延州兵馬都監。 夏人既破金明諸砦，美請於經略使范仲淹曰：「夏人新得志，其勢必復來。 金明當邊衝，我之蔽也，今不亟完，將遂失之。」 仲淹因屬美復城如故。 數日賊果來，其眾數萬薄金明，陣於延安城北三十里。 美領眾二千力戰，抵暮，援兵不至，乃徙軍山北，多設疑兵。 夏人望見，以為救至，即引去。 既而復出艾蒿砦，遂至郭北平，夜鬥不解。 美率眾使人持一炬從間道上山，益張旗幟，四面大噪，賊懼走。 獲牛羊、橐駝、鎧甲數千計，遂募兵築萬安城而還。 敵復寇金明，美引兵由虞家堡並北山而下，敵即引卻。 遷文思使，徙知保定軍。 經略使龐籍表留之，改東路都巡檢使。 敗敵於金湯城，焚其族部二十一。
Early in the Tiansheng era, Deming's tribes raided Pingliang and Fangqu; Mei was posted to the frontier as army scout, joined the prefectural commander in pursuit, and routed them at Jiujing Plain and on the Wulun River, taking many heads. He rose in succession to commandant of the Heavenly Martial Guards. When Yuan Hao rebelled and war broke out in Shaanxi, frontier commissioner Xia Song recommended his talent; he was promoted to commissioner of the supply and equipment repository and military superintendent of Yanzhou. After the Xia had overrun the Jinming forts, Mei urged frontier commissioner Fan Zhongyan: "The Xia have just tasted victory; they are certain to return. Jinming lies on the frontier choke point—it is our shield. If we do not repair it immediately, we shall lose it altogether." Zhongyan accordingly entrusted Mei with restoring the fort to its former state. Within days the enemy did come: tens of thousands pressed Jinming and drew up in battle order thirty li north of Yan'an. Mei led two thousand men in hard fighting until evening; when no reinforcements came, he shifted his troops north of the hill and deployed many decoys. The Xia saw them, took them for arriving relief, and withdrew at once. They soon sallied again from Aigao Fort, reached Guobei Plain, and fought through the night without letup. Mei led his force, sent men with torches up a concealed path, unfurled still more banners, and raised a deafening uproar on every side until the enemy fled in panic. They captured thousands of cattle, sheep, camels, and suits of armor, then raised troops, built Wan'an Fort, and withdrew. When the enemy raided Jinming again, Mei led his troops down from Yujia Fort along the northern hills, and the enemy withdrew immediately. He was promoted to Literary Accomplishment Envoy and transferred to govern Baoding Army. Frontier commissioner Pang Ji memorialized to retain him, and he was made chief inspector of the eastern route. He defeated the enemy at Jintang Fort and burned twenty-one of their tribal settlements.
9
元昊大入，據承平砦。 諸將會兵議攻討，洛苑副使种世衡請齎三日糧直搗敵穴。 美曰：「彼知吾來，必設伏待我。 不如間道掩其不意。」 世衡不聽。 美獨以兵西出芙蓉谷，大破敵。 世衡等果無功。 未幾，敵復略土塠砦，美迎擊於野家店，追北至拓跋谷，大敗其眾。 以功遷右騏驥使。 軍還，築柵於蔥梅官道谷，以據敵路。 令士卒益種營田，而收穀六千斛。 復率眾繇廳子部西濟大理河，屠劄萬多移二百帳，焚其積聚以歸。 籍、仲淹交薦之，除鄜延路兵馬都監，遷賀州刺史。
Yuan Hao launched a major invasion and occupied Chengpu Fort. The generals assembled to plan an assault; Vice Commissioner of Luoyuan Park Zhong Shihang proposed carrying three days' rations and driving straight at the enemy stronghold. Mei said, "Once they know we are coming, they are certain to lay ambushes for us. Better to take a concealed route and strike where they do not expect us." Shihang would not heed him. Mei alone marched west through Furong Valley with his troops and inflicted a crushing defeat on the enemy. Shihang and his colleagues, as expected, achieved nothing. Before long the enemy raided Tudun Fort again; Mei met them at Yejia Inn, pursued north to Tuoba Valley, and routed their army. For his achievements he was promoted to Right Qiji Envoy. On the army's return he built palisades in Congmei Official Road Valley to hold the enemy's line of advance. He had the troops expand garrison farming and harvested six thousand hu of grain. He again led his troops west from the Tingzi tribe, crossed the Dali River, destroyed two hundred tents of the Zhawanduoyi, burned their stockpiles, and withdrew. Ji and Zhongyan both recommended him; he was made military superintendent of the Fuyan circuit and promoted to prefect of He.
10
初，美自靈武來，上其所服精甲，詔藏軍器庫。 至是，加飾黃金，遣使即軍中賜之。 又破敵於無定河，乘勝至綏州，殺其酋豪，焚廬帳，獲牛馬、羊駝、器械三百計，因城龍口平砦。 敵以精騎數千來襲，美從百餘騎馳擊破之。 加本路鈐轄，遂為副總管。 遷龍神衛四廂都指揮使、通州刺史； 進捧日、天武四廂都指揮使，陵州團練使。
When Mei first came from Lingwu he had presented the fine armor he wore, and an edict ordered it kept in the armory. Now gold ornament was added, and an envoy was sent to present it to him in camp. He again routed the enemy on the Wuding River, pressed on to Sui Prefecture, killed their tribal leaders, burned their camps, and captured some three hundred head of cattle, horses, sheep, camels, and sets of equipment, then fortified Longkouping Fort. When several thousand elite enemy horsemen attacked, Mei with a little over a hundred riders charged and broke them. He was made commandant of the circuit and then deputy chief commander. He was promoted to director-in-chief of the four wings of the Dragon Divine Guards and prefect of Tong Prefecture; then advanced to director-in-chief of the four wings of the Sun-Bearing and Heavenly Martial Guards and military training commissioner of Ling Prefecture.
11
慶曆中，又城清水、安定、黑水、佛堂、北橫山、乾谷、土明、柳谷、雕巢、盧兒、原安砦十一堡。 安定之役，諜報敵數萬將大至，經略使遣管勾機宜楚建中分諸將兵，趣城黑水以待。 諸將憚敵且至，不肯與兵。 美曰：「兵常以寡擊眾，何自怯也。」 卒以兵二千與建中，而敵亦引去。 每邊書至，諸將各擇便利，獨美未嘗辭難，然所向輒克，諸將以此服之。 歷侍衛親軍馬軍殿前都虞候、眉州防禦使、步軍副都指揮使、遂州觀察使、鄜延副都總管。 召還，授耀州觀察使，又進馬軍副都指揮使。 卒，贈忠武軍節度使，諡忠毅。
During the Qingli era he also fortified eleven strongpoints: Qingshui, Anding, Heishui, Fotang, North Hengshan, Gangu, Tuming, Liugu, Diaochao, Lu'er, and Yuan'an. During the Anding campaign, intelligence reported that tens of thousands of the enemy were about to arrive; the frontier commissioner sent staff officer Chu Jianzhong to apportion the generals' forces and rush to fortify Heishui in anticipation. The generals, fearing the enemy's imminent arrival, refused to furnish him troops. Mei said, "Soldiers are meant to strike many with few—why shrink from it?" In the end he furnished Jianzhong with two thousand troops, and the enemy withdrew as well. Whenever frontier dispatches arrived, the other generals each chose the easier assignment; Mei alone never shirked hardship, yet wherever he went he prevailed, and for this the generals respected him. He rose in succession to commandant of the palace cavalry and Palace Front Corps of the imperial guards, defender of Meizhou, deputy director-in-chief of the foot guards, observation commissioner of Suizhou, and deputy chief commander of Fuyan. He was recalled, appointed observation commissioner of Yao Prefecture, and then promoted to deputy director-in-chief of the cavalry. He died and was posthumously honored as military commissioner of Zhongwu Army with the posthumous title Zhongyi (Loyal and Resolute).
12
自陝西用兵，諸將多不利，美前後十餘戰，平族帳二百，焚二十一，招種落內附者十一族，復城堡甚多。 在軍中所得祿賜，多分其戲下，有餘，悉饗勞之。 及死，家無餘貲。 子蚤卒，以孫永清為子，官至引進副使。
Since the Shaanxi campaigns began, most generals had fared poorly; Mei fought more than ten engagements in all, pacified two hundred tribal encampments, burned twenty-one, brought eleven tribes to submit, and recovered a great many forts and strongpoints. He gave most of his salary and gifts in the army to his men; whatever remained he spent entirely on feasts to reward them. When he died, his household had nothing left in reserve. His son died young; he adopted his grandson Yongqing, who rose to vice introducing envoy.
13
閻守恭
Yan Shougong
14
閻守恭，并州榆次人。 父榮，倜儻有志略，劉繼元欲召至帳下，辭以母老不就。 守恭生而體貌奇偉，榮曰：「是必當事太平天子，吾無恨矣。」 後十七年，劉氏平，徙太原民於大名府，因家焉。 往來負販於並、汾間，過西山，聞郭進為都巡檢使，太宗甚寵遇之。 乃慨然曰：「進不遇主，亦行伍爾，吾自度豈不及進邪？」 遂應募，隸拱聖軍，擢殿前押班。
Yan Shougong came from Yuci in Bing Prefecture. His father Rong was bold and enterprising; Liu Jiyuan wished to recruit him to his staff, but he declined on the plea that his mother was elderly and did not accept. Shougong was born with an imposing physique; Rong said, "This boy is destined to serve the Son of Heaven in an age of peace; I shall have no regrets." Seventeen years later the Liu regime fell; the people of Taiyuan were relocated to Daming Prefecture, and the family settled there. He traveled as a peddler between Bing and Fen; passing the Western Hills he heard that Guo Jin was chief inspector and that Taizong greatly favored him. He sighed and said, "Had Jin not found his sovereign, he too would be nothing but a common soldier—why should I not measure up to Jin?" He then enlisted, joined the Palatine Sacred Army, and was promoted to palace front escort leader.
15
咸平中，從幸河北，以功為捧日副指揮使，歷拱聖、龍衛、捧日指揮使，累遷左第二軍指揮使、乾州刺史。 明道中，落軍職，以德州刺史為永興軍兵馬鈐轄，徙幷代路。
During Xianping he accompanied the emperor to Hebei; for his achievements he became deputy commander of the Sun-Bearing Guards, served in turn as commander of the Palatine Sacred, Dragon Guards, and Sun-Bearing Guards, and rose to commander of the Left Second Army and prefect of Qian. During Mingdao he was stripped of his army post, appointed military commandant of Yongxing Army while serving as prefect of Dezhou, and transferred to the Bingdai circuit.
16
守恭性沉勇，御軍嚴。 雖家居如對賓客。 常訪求士大夫，取郭進事而師法之。 所得奉祿悉散予人。 在并州，因春社會賓客曰：「守恭，太原一貧民爾。 徒步位刺史，老復官鄉里，逾分多矣。 今日與卿輩訣。」 後十日卒。
Shougong was calm and courageous by nature and ruled his troops with strict discipline. Even at home he conducted himself as if receiving guests. He often sought out scholar-officials and modeled himself on the example of Guo Jin. He gave away all of his salary to others. While serving at Bingzhou, he gathered his guests at the spring communal sacrifice and said, "Shougong is nothing but a poor man from Taiyuan. To rise from nothing to the rank of prefect, and in my old age to hold office again in my hometown — I have far exceeded what I deserve. Today I bid you all farewell." Ten days later he died.
17
孟元，字善長，洺州人。 性謹願少過，頗喜讀書。 少隸禁軍，以挽強選補殿侍，累遷散都頭班指揮使，擢如京使、幷代州兵馬都監，改鈐轄，徙高陽關路，又徙真定路。
Meng Yuan, styled Shanchang, came from Mozhou. He was cautious and upright by nature, seldom at fault, and fond of reading. As a youth he joined the Forbidden Army and, selected for his strength at drawing the bow, was appointed a palace attendant. He rose through the ranks to command the scattered company head class, was promoted to Commissioner as if to the Capital and military superintendent of Bing and Dai prefectures, served as deputy military commissioner, and was transferred first to the Gaoyang Gate circuit and then to the Zhending circuit.
18
王則據貝州反，元赴城下攻戰，被數十創，又中機石，墜濠中。 既出，戰愈力。 更募死士由永濟渠穴地以進。 賊平，改右騏驥使，徙大名府路鈐轄。 河朔饑，權知滄州。 民鬻鹽為生，歲荒鹽多不售，民無以自給。 元度軍食有餘，悉用易鹽，繇是民不轉徙。
When Wang Ze seized Beizhou and rebelled, Yuan fought at the city wall, suffering several dozen wounds; he was also struck by a catapult stone and fell into the moat. Once he climbed out, he fought all the more fiercely. He recruited fresh dare-to-die troops and advanced by tunneling under the Yongji Canal. After the rebels were suppressed, he was appointed Right Qiji Commissioner and transferred to deputy military commissioner of the Daming Prefecture circuit. When Hebei suffered famine, he served as acting prefect of Cangzhou. The people made their living selling salt, but in the famine year much of it would not sell, and they had no way to support themselves. Yuan saw that the army had surplus provisions and used them all to buy salt, so the people no longer had to flee elsewhere.
19
御史中丞郭勸言其貝州功而賞未當，乃擢普州刺史，遷宮苑使，專管勾麟府軍馬事。 護築永寧堡，敵不敢動。 為龍神衛四廂都指揮使、忠州團練使、高陽關馬步軍總管，遷天武、捧日四廂都指揮使，又遷步軍都虞候、眉州防禦使、幷代路副都總管。 判北京賈昌朝奏為大名府路副都總管，徙定州路，遷馬軍都虞候，徙鄜延路，行至鄭州卒，贈遂州觀察使。
Censor-in-chief Guo Quan argued that his merit at Beizhou had not been properly rewarded; he was thereupon promoted to prefect of Puzhou, made Palace Parks Commissioner, and put in sole charge of mustering the army horses of Lin Prefecture. He oversaw the construction of Yongning Fort, and the enemy did not dare stir. He served as commander of all four companies of the Dragon Spirit Guard, regimented trainer of Zhongzhou, and chief of the infantry and cavalry of Gaoyang Gate; was transferred to commander of all four companies of the Celestial Martial and Sun-Rising guards; and was again made vice commander of the infantry army, defense commissioner of Meizhou, and deputy chief general of the Bingdai circuit. Court delegate of the Northern Capital Jia Changchao recommended him as deputy chief general of the Daming Prefecture circuit; he was transferred to the Dingzhou circuit, promoted to vice commander of the cavalry army, and moved to the Zhenyan circuit, but died at Zhengzhou en route and was posthumously awarded observation commissioner of Suizhou.
20
劉謙，字漢宗，開封人。 少補衛士，數遷至捧日右廂都指揮使，領嘉州團練使兼京城巡檢。 元昊反，改博州團練使、環慶路馬步軍總管兼知邠州。 謙不讀書，然鬥訟曲直，皆區處當理。 前守者多強市民物以飾廚傳，謙獨無所撓，邠人頗愛之。 夏竦奏為涇原路總管，徙知涇州，未行，會賊寇鎮戎軍，謙引兵深入賊境，破其聚落而還。 以功擢龍神衛四廂都指揮使、象州防禦使。 暴疾卒，贈永清軍節度觀察留後。
Liu Qian, styled Hanzong, came from Kaifeng. As a youth he entered the palace guard corps and, through several promotions, rose to commander of the right company of the Sun-Rising Guard, serving as regimented trainer of Jiazhou while also acting as capital circuit inspector. When Yuanhao rebelled, he was reassigned as regimented trainer of Bozhou, chief of infantry and cavalry of the Huanqing circuit, and concurrent prefect of Binzhou. Qian was not a reader, yet in disputes and lawsuits he judged every case fairly and soundly. Earlier prefects had often forcibly bought goods from townspeople to furnish their kitchens and guest quarters, but Qian never did so, and the people of Bin came to love him. Xia Song recommended him as chief general of the Jingyuan circuit and transferred him to serve as prefect of Jingzhou; before he departed, bandits raided Zhenrong Army, and Qian led troops deep into enemy territory, destroyed their settlements, and returned. For this achievement he was promoted to commander of all four companies of the Dragon Spirit Guard and defense commissioner of Xiangzhou. He died suddenly of illness and was posthumously awarded military governor and observation commissioner of Yongqing Army, remaining in office.
21
趙振，字仲威，雄州歸信人。 景德中，從石普於順安軍。 獲契丹陣圖，授三班借職。 後數年，為隰州兵馬監押，捕盜於青灰山，殺獲甚眾。
Zhao Zhen, styled Zhongwei, came from Guixin in Xiongzhou. During the Jingde era he served under Shi Pu at Shun'an Army. He captured a Khitan battle formation map and was granted third-class borrowed office. Several years later, as military supervisor of Xi Prefecture, he hunted bandits at Qinghui Mountain and killed or captured a great many of them.
22
高平蠻叛，徙湖北都巡檢使兼制置南路。 以南方暑濕，弓弩不利，別創小矢，激三百步，中輒洞穿，蠻遂駭散。 歲中，遷慶州沿邊都巡檢使。 時，金湯李欽、白豹神木馬兒、高羅跛臧三族尤悍難制，振募降羌，啖以利，令相攻，破十餘堡。 欽等詣振自歸。 振為置酒，先釂，取細仗，圍財數分，植百步外共射。 欽等百發不中，振十矢皆貫，欽等皆驚，誓不復敢犯。
When the Gaoping barbarians rebelled, he was transferred to chief circuit inspector of Hubei and concurrently put in charge of the southern route. Because the southern heat and humidity made crossbows ineffective, he devised small arrows that could be shot three hundred paces and pierced clean through on impact; the barbarians were terrified and scattered. Within the year he was transferred to chief border inspector of Qingzhou. At the time the three tribes of Jintang Li Qin, Baimu Shenma'er, and Gaoluo Bozang were especially fierce and hard to control; Zhen recruited surrendered Qiang, tempted them with rewards, and set them against one another, destroying more than ten forts. Qin and the others came to Zhen and surrendered of their own accord. Zhen set out wine for them, drank first himself, took fine weapons, divided the spoils into several piles, placed them a hundred paces away, and had them all shoot together. Qin and the others fired a hundred shots without hitting once; Zhen's ten arrows all passed clean through; they were all astonished and swore never again to dare attack him.
23
明年，涇原屬羌胡薩逋歌等叛，鈐轄王懷信以兵數千屬振遊奕，屢捷。 從數十騎詣懷信，遇賊十倍，射殪數十，餘悉退散。 數月，賊數萬圍平遠砦，都監趙士龍戰沒。 振出別道，力戰抵砦，奪取水泉，率敢死士破圍，賊走，追斬數千級，徙涇原都鹽，歷知順安、保安、廣信軍、霸州，改京東都大提舉捉賊。 明年，知環州，累遷象州防禦使。
The next year Hu Saboge of the affiliated Qiang of Jingyuan and others rebelled; Deputy Military Commissioner Wang Huaixin assigned several thousand troops to Zhen for roving patrol, and he won repeated victories. Riding with several dozen men to see Huaixin, he encountered bandits ten times their number, shot and killed several dozen, and put the rest to flight. Several months later, several tens of thousands of bandits besieged Pingyuan Stockade, and Supervisor Zhao Shilong was killed in battle. Zhen took another route, fought his way to the stockade, seized its water supply, and led dare-to-die troops to break the siege; the bandits fled, and he pursued and beheaded several thousand. He was transferred to chief salt commissioner of Jingyuan, served successively as prefect of Shun'an, Bao'an, and Guangxin armies and of Bazhou, and was then made chief commissioner for capturing bandits in the eastern capital circuit. The next year he served as prefect of Huanzhou and was promoted in succession to defense commissioner of Xiangzhou.
24
元昊將反，為金銀冠珮隱飾甲騎遺屬羌，振潛以金帛誘取之，以破其勢，得冠珮銀鞍三千、甲騎數百。 告鄰部俾以環為法，不聽，於是東茭、金明、萬劉諸族勝兵數萬，悉為賊所有。 及劉平等皆敗，唯環慶無患。 自本路馬步軍副總管擢龍神衛四廂都指揮使、鄜延路副都總管、知延州，代范雍。 尋改捧日、天武四廂。 振謂將吏曰：「今賊以我夷傷，必乘勝以進，勢宜固守。 尚慮諸城不能皆如吾謀，苟延州弗支，則陝西未可測，此天下安危之機也。」
When Yuanhao was about to rebel, he sent gold and silver crowns and pendants and secretly adorned cavalry armor as gifts to the affiliated Qiang; Zhen secretly lured them back with gold and silk, breaking their strength and recovering three thousand crowns, pendants, and silver saddles along with several hundred armored horsemen. He urged neighboring prefectures to follow Huan's example, but they would not listen; as a result, the tribes of Dongjiao, Jinming, Wanliu, and others — several tens of thousands of able fighters — all fell into enemy hands. When Liu Ping and the others were all defeated, Huanqing alone remained untroubled. From deputy chief general of infantry and cavalry of his circuit he was promoted to commander of all four companies of the Dragon Spirit Guard, deputy chief general of the Zhenyan circuit, and prefect of Yanzhou, replacing Fan Yong. Soon after he was transferred to the four companies of the Sun-Rising and Celestial Martial guards. Zhen told his officers and clerks, "The enemy, seeing that we have suffered heavy casualties, is sure to press forward on the momentum of victory; the wise course is to stand firm and defend. I still worry that not every city can follow our plan; if Yanzhou cannot hold, then the fate of Shaanxi west of the mountains is impossible to predict — this is the hinge on which the empire's safety turns."
25
未幾，賊寇塞門砦。 振有兵幾八千，按甲不動。 砦中兵才千人，屢告急，被圍五月，才遣百餘人赴之，砦遂陷。 砦主高延德、鹽押王繼元皆沒於賊。 振坐擁兵不救，為都轉運使龐籍所奏，貶白州團練使、知絳州。 未行，會延德、繼元家復訴於朝，敕御史方偕就劾振。 法當斬，再貶太子左清道率府率、潭州安置。 逾年，復右武衛將軍、惠州團練使、幷代路兵馬鈐轄，就遷副總管、祁州團練使。
Before long the enemy raided Saimen Stockade. Zhen had nearly eight thousand troops but kept his armor on and did not move. The stockade had only a thousand men and sent repeated urgent appeals; after five months under siege, Zhen sent only a little over a hundred men to their aid, and the stockade fell. Stockade commander Gao Yande and salt supervisor Wang Jiyuan both fell to the enemy. Zhen was punished for holding troops and failing to rescue the stockade; Circuit Transport Commissioner Pang Ji memorialized against him, and he was demoted to regimented trainer of Baizhou and prefect of Jiangzhou. Before he departed, the families of Yande and Jiyuan appealed again at court, and the emperor ordered Censor Fang Xie to go and impeach Zhen. By law he deserved execution; he was demoted again to colonel of the Left Clear Way Escort of the Heir Apparent's Household and assigned to Tanzhou. After more than a year he was restored as Right Martial Guard general, regimented trainer of Huizhou, and deputy military commissioner of the Bingdai circuit, and was immediately promoted to deputy chief general and regimented trainer of Qizhou.
26
元昊既破豐州，將襲近砦，振率鈐轄張亢、麥允言出麟州深柏堰，擊破之。 兼領嵐、憲六州軍事。 河外饑，振設法通砦外商，得米數十萬斛，軍民以濟。 進博州防禦使，改解州致仕。 復起為左神武軍大將軍，卒。
After Yuanhao captured Fengzhou and was about to raid nearby stockades, Zhen led Deputy Military Commissioners Zhang Kang and Mai Yunyan out from Shenbai Weir of Lin Prefecture and routed the enemy. He also took charge of military affairs in the six prefectures and armies of Lan and Xian. When the region beyond the Yellow River suffered famine, Zhen devised a way to open trade with merchants outside the stockades and obtained several hundred thousand bushels of rice, saving both army and people. He was promoted to defense commissioner of Bozhou and then retired at Jiezhou. He was recalled to serve as great general of the Left Divine Martial Army and died in office.
27
振剛強自負，有武力，便弓馬，喜謀畫，輕財尚氣，眾樂為用。 子珣、瑜，皆工騎射。
Zhen was strong-willed and proud, skilled in arms and adept with bow and horse, fond of strategy, generous and high-spirited, and men were glad to serve under him. His sons Xun and Yu were both skilled in mounted archery.
28
珣年十六，仁宗召試便殿，授三班借職。 景祐中，有言珣藝益進，且習書史。 復召見閱武伎，又試策略於中書，條對數千言。 自殿直進閤門祗候，未幾，除濠州兵馬都監。
At sixteen, Xun was summoned by Emperor Renzong to demonstrate his skills in the Informal Hall and was granted third-class borrowed office. During the Jingyou era it was reported that Xun's skills had improved further and that he was also studying books and history. He was summoned again to demonstrate his martial skills and was also tested on strategy at the Secretariat, where he answered at length in several thousand words. He was promoted from palace attendant to gatekeeper attendant of the Inner Gate, and before long was appointed military superintendent of Haozhou.
29
初，珣隨父在西邊，訪得五路徼外形勝利害，作《聚米圖經》五卷。 詔取其書，並召珣至，又上《五陣圖》、《兵事》十餘篇。 帝給步騎使按陣，既成，臨觀之。 陳執中招討陝西，薦為緣邊巡檢使。 呂夷簡、宋庠為奏曰：「用兵以來，策士之言以萬計，無如珣者。」 即擢通事舍人、招討都監。 珣自以年少新進，辭都監。 授兵萬人，御賜鎧仗，令自擇偏裨、參佐，居涇原，兼治籠竿城。
Early on Xun had followed his father on the western frontier, investigated the strategic terrain along the borders of the five circuits, and composed the five-scroll Gathered-Rice Atlas. The court ordered his book brought in and summoned Xun as well; he also submitted more than ten chapters on the Five Formations Diagram and military affairs. The emperor supplied infantry and cavalry for him to drill in formation, and when the drill was complete, watched in person. When Chen Zhizhong was appointed pacification commissioner of Shaanxi, he recommended Xun as border circuit inspector. Lü Yijian and Song Qi memorialized on his behalf, saying, "Since the war began, strategists have submitted tens of thousands of proposals, yet none have matched Xun." He was immediately promoted to Protocol Envoy and pacification chief supervisor. Xun, considering himself young and newly advanced, declined the chief supervisor post. He was given ten thousand troops and imperial armor and weapons, and was allowed to choose his own subordinate commanders and staff; he was stationed in Jingyuan and also administered Longgan City.
30
麻氈、黨留百餘帳處近塞為暴，珣白府，引兵二萬，自靜邊歷揆吳抵木寧襲賊，俘獲數千計。 靜邊將劉滬殿後，為賊所掩。 珣登阪望見，從騎數百復入，拔滬之眾以出，士皆歎服。 瞎氈居龕穀無所屬，珣與書招之，遺以綈綿，瞎氈聽命。
More than a hundred tents of Ma Zhan and Dang Liu near the border were raiding and plundering; Xun reported to headquarters, led twenty thousand troops from Jingbian through Kuiwu to Muning to strike the bandits, and captured several thousand. Jingbian commander Liu Hu brought up the rear and was ambushed by the bandits. Xun climbed a slope and saw what had happened; with several hundred followers he rode back in, rescued Hu's men, and the soldiers all marveled at him. Xia Zhan lived in Kan Valley under no master; Xun wrote to summon him, sent gifts of silk and cotton, and Xia Zhan submitted.
31
改本路都監，詔追入朝。 將行，適元昊大入，府檄留珣，會葛懷敏於瓦亭。 懷敏已屯五谷口西至馬欄城，聞夏人徙軍新壕外，議欲質明掩襲。 珣謂懷敏曰：「敵遠來，眾倍鋒銳，莫若依馬欄城布柵以扼其路，守鎮戎城以便餉道，俟其衰擊之，此必勝之道也。 不然，必為賊所屠。」 懷敏不聽，兵遂逼鎮戎城，越界壕，抵定川。 未及陣，夏人引鐵騎來犯，珣居陣西北，瑜亦在軍中，戰甚力。 東壁兵輒潰，中軍大擾，珣擁刀斧手前鬥，夏眾稍卻，我軍復陣。 懷敏詰朝退走，就食鎮戎。 俄夏騎四合，珣被擒，瑜以身免。
He was made chief supervisor of his circuit, and an edict ordered him recalled to court. Just as he was about to leave, Yuanhao launched a major invasion; headquarters ordered Xun to remain, and he joined Ge Huaimin at Wating. Huaimin had already encamped from Wugu Pass west to Malan City; hearing that the Tangut army had moved outside the new moat, he proposed a dawn surprise attack. Xun told Huaimin, "The enemy has marched from far away; their numbers are doubled and their edge is sharp. Better to fortify Malan City with palisades to block their route, hold Zhenrong City to secure the supply line, and wait until they weaken before striking — that is the sure path to victory. Otherwise you will surely be slaughtered by the enemy." Huaimin would not listen; the army pressed on to Zhenrong City, crossed the border moat, and reached Dingchuan. Before they could form ranks, the Tangut led iron cavalry against them; Xun held the northwest of the formation, Yu was also in the army, and both fought fiercely. The troops on the eastern flank suddenly broke; the center was thrown into chaos; Xun led his axemen forward to fight, the Tangut lines fell back slightly, and the army re-formed. At dawn the next day Huaimin withdrew and went to Zhenrong for provisions. Soon Tangut horsemen closed in from all sides; Xun was captured, and Yu escaped alone.
32
珣美風儀，性勁特好學，恂恂類儒者。 既沒，人多惜之。 贈莫州刺史，後卒賊中。 瑜弟璞，亦知名。
Xun had a fine bearing, was resolute and studious by nature, and carried himself with the modest courtesy of a Confucian scholar. After his death many mourned his loss. He was posthumously awarded prefect of Mo Prefecture and later died in enemy hands. Yu's younger brother Pu was also well known.
33
范恪，字許國，開封人。 初名全，少隸軍籍於許州，選入捧日軍，又選為殿前指揮使，歷行門、龍旗直、散員押班。 康定元年，元昊數寇邊。 試武伎，擢內殿崇班、慶州北路都巡檢使，與攻白豹城，破之。 既還，夏人遣騎襲其後。 恪設伏崖險，敵半度，邀擊之，斬首四百級，生獲七十餘人。 以功遷內殿承制。
Fan Ke, styled Xuguo, came from Kaifeng. His original name was Quan; as a youth he entered the army rolls at Xuzhou, was selected into the Sun-Rising Army, and later chosen as commander of the Palace Front, serving successively in the Procession Gate, Dragon Banner, and scattered company escort posts. In the first year of Kangding, Yuanhao repeatedly raided the frontier. After his martial skills were tested, he was promoted to Inner Hall Honored Company and chief northern-route circuit inspector of Qingzhou; he joined the attack on Baibao City and captured it. On the return march, the Tangut sent cavalry to strike from the rear. Ke laid an ambush on a treacherous cliff pass; when the enemy was halfway across, he intercepted them, taking four hundred heads and more than seventy prisoners. For this achievement he was promoted to Inner Hall Commissioner.
34
嘗會諸道兵攻十二盤暨咄當、迷子砦，中流矢，督戰愈力。 視炮石中有火爨者，恪取號於眾曰：「賊矢石盡，用灶下甓矣。」 於是士卒爭奮，果先得城。 遷供備庫副使。
He once combined forces from several circuits to attack Shierpan and the Zhuodang and Mizi forts; though struck by an arrow in the fighting, he directed the battle with even greater force. Noticing cooking fires among the stones hurled by catapults, Ke cried out to the troops: "The enemy has run out of arrows and stones—they are throwing bricks from under their stoves! At that the soldiers surged forward with fresh zeal and were indeed the first to take the city. He was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Provision and Equipment Storehouse.
35
恪有弓勝一石七斗，其箭鏃如鏵，名曰鏵弓。 又於羽間識其官稱、姓氏，凡所發必中，至一箭貫二人。 他日，取蕉蒿砦歸，恪獨殿後，為數千騎所襲。 屬視矢箙止有二鏵，即為引滿之勢，賊遽卻。 嘗與總管杜惟序、鈐轄高繼隆將兵分討漢乞、薛馬、都嵬等三砦，恪先破都嵬，而繼隆圍薛馬不能下，恪馳往取之，既又援惟序下漢乞砦。 改左騏驥副使。
Ke owned a bow with a draw weight of more than one picul and seven pecks; its arrowheads were shaped like plowshares, and the weapon was known as the Plowshare Bow. He also inscribed rank titles and surnames between the fletchings; every arrow he released found its mark, and once a single shaft pierced two men. On another occasion, after capturing Jiaohao Fort on the return march, Ke alone held the rear and was set upon by several thousand horsemen. Glancing back, he saw only two plowshare arrows left in his quiver; he at once drew the bow to the full, and the enemy fled at once. He once joined Chief Commander Du Weixu and Commandant Gao Jilong in dividing forces to subdue the three forts of Hanqi, Xuema, and Douwei. Ke first broke Douwei; Jilong besieged Xuema but could not reduce it, so Ke galloped to take it himself, then turned back to relieve Weixu and capture Hanqi Fort. He was reassigned as Deputy Commander of the Left Qilin Guard.
36
虜犯大順城，諸將皆閉城自守。 恪率兵二千餘，戰克之。 改宮苑副使、環慶路兵馬都監，因特召見。 仁宗謂曰：「適有邊奏，賊犯高平軍劉璠堡，可乘驛亟往。」 遂遷禮賓使、榮州刺史、環慶路鈐轄，手詔令趣范仲淹麾下起兵赴援。 恪晝夜兼行，比至平涼，賊已解。 頃之，遷洛苑使，權秦鳳路兵馬總管。
When the enemy attacked Dashun City, every general shut the gates and held fast within the walls. Ke led a little more than two thousand men and fought them to victory. He was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Palace Parks and Chief Military Inspector of Huanqing Circuit, and was specially summoned to audience. Emperor Renzong said to him, "A frontier report has just arrived: bandits are attacking Liu Fan's fort at Gaoping Army. Take the courier route and go at once. He was thereupon promoted to Commissioner of Ceremonies for Receiving Guests, Prefect of Rongzhou, and Commandant of Huanqing Circuit, and an imperial handwritten edict ordered him to hurry to Fan Zhongyan's command and raise troops for relief. Ke pressed on day and night without rest, but by the time he reached Pingliang the enemy had already withdrawn. Before long he was promoted to Commissioner of the Luoyang Park and acting Chief Military Commander of Qinfeng Circuit.
37
恪驍勇善射，臨難敢前，故數有戰功，自龍、神衛四廂都指揮使累遷至侍衛親軍馬步軍副都指揮使，曆坊州刺史、解州防禦、宣州觀察使、保信軍節度觀察留後，以疾出為永興軍路副都總管，數月卒，贈昭化軍節度使。
Ke was fierce, brave, and a fine archer who dared press forward in danger, and so he won battle honors again and again. From commandant of the four wings of the Dragon and Divine Guard he rose in succession to deputy chief commander of the Palace Guard's horse and foot armies, serving as prefect of Fangzhou, defender of Jiezhou, observer of Xuanzhou, and acting military commissioner and observer of the Baoxin Army. Illness sent him out as deputy chief commander of the Yongxing Army Route; he died within a few months and was posthumously enfeoffed as military commissioner of the Zhaohua Army.
38
馬懷德
Ma Huaide
39
馬懷德，字得之，開封祥符人。 父玉，東頭供奉官，言懷德可試引弓、擊劍、角觝，補三班奉職，為延州南安砦主、東路巡檢。 數以少擊西賊，敗其眾。 范仲淹知延州，修青澗城，奏懷德為兵馬監押，以所部兵入賊境，破遮鹿、要冊二砦，親射殺其酋狗兒廂主，遷左班殿直。 又率蕃漢燒蕩賊海溝、茶山、龍柏、安化十七砦三百餘帳，斬首數百級，虜馬駝牛羊萬數，遷右侍禁。
Ma Huaide, styled Dezhi, came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. His father Yu was an Eastern Head Palace Attendant; he reported that Huaide could be tested in archery, swordplay, and wrestling, and Huaide was appointed Third-Rank Palace Attendant, serving as master of Nan'an Fort at Yanzhou and eastern-route inspector. Several times he attacked the Western bandits with small forces and routed their armies. When Fan Zhongyan governed Yanzhou and built Qingjian City, he recommended Huaide as military supervisor. Leading his own troops into enemy territory, Huaide broke the Zhelu and Yaoche forts and personally shot dead their chieftain Gou'erxiangzhu; he was promoted to Left Hall Gentlemen of the Guard. He also led Tangut and Han troops to burn and scour seventeen forts at Haigou, Chashan, Longbai, and Anhua—more than three hundred tents in all—taking several hundred heads and tens of thousands of enemy horses, camels, cattle, and sheep; he was promoted to Right Palace Guard.
40
以范仲淹、韓琦薦，授閣門祗候，延州龐籍入奏為東路都巡檢使。 夷黑神、厥保等十八砦，賊以四萬騎犯邊，趨僕射穀。 懷德以兵數千據穀旁高原待之，斬首二百級，得畜產、器械以千數。 遷內殿崇班。 又以兵修龍安城，虜不敢犯，遂為鄜延路都監。 又城綏平，破賊青化、押班、吃當三砦，殺獲甚眾。
On the recommendation of Fan Zhongyan and Han Qi, he was appointed Palace Gate Attendant; Pang Ji of Yanzhou reported to court and had him made eastern-route chief inspector. At the eighteen forts of Yiheishen, Juebao, and the rest, the enemy crossed the border with forty thousand horsemen and drove toward Pushe Valley. Huaide took several thousand men to the high ground beside the valley and waited; he took two hundred heads and captured livestock and weapons by the thousands. He was promoted to Inner Hall Honored Company. He again used troops to repair Long'an City; the enemy did not dare attack, and he was then made circuit inspector of Fuyan Route. He also fortified Suiping and broke the enemy forts of Qinghua, Yaban, and Chidang, killing and capturing a great many of the foe.
41
元昊為夏國主，命國子博士高良夫與懷德會西人畫界。 龐籍具論其前後功，遷供備庫副使兼閣門通事舍人。 時用兵久，民多亡散，懷德招輯有方，經略使梁適奏請推其法諸路。 曆知保安軍、環州、環慶益利路鈐轄，累遷至四方館使、舒州團練使，徙鄜延路副都總管。
When Yuanhao became ruler of the Xia state, he ordered State Academy Doctor Gao Liangfu to meet with Huaide and the Westerners to demarcate the border. Pang Ji laid out his achievements in full detail, and he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Provision and Equipment Storehouse, concurrently Palace Gate Envoy. The long war had scattered many people, but Huaide had effective ways of recruiting and resettling them; Military Commissioner Liang Shi memorialized asking that his methods be applied on every circuit. He successively governed Bao'an Army and Huanzhou, served as commandant of Huanqing and Yili circuits, rose in turn to Envoy of the Four Directions Hall and Regimental Commander of Shuzhou, and was transferred to Deputy Chief Commander of Fuyan Route.
42
坐違法賂宦官閻士良，為安撫呂景初奏，降四方館使、英州刺史。 大名府路總管，侍衛親軍步軍都虞候、象州防禦使、鄜延路副都總管，遷馬軍都虞候，徙環慶路。 環州蕃官蘇恩以其屬叛，往降之。 又遷殿前都虞候、步軍副指揮使、隨州觀察使。
Convicted of illegally bribing the eunuch Yan Shiliang, he was demoted on memorial by Pacification Commissioner Lu Jingchu to Envoy of the Four Directions Hall and Prefect of Yingzhou. He served as chief commander of Daming Prefecture Route, deputy commander of the Palace Guard Foot Army, defender of Xiangzhou, and deputy chief commander of Fuyan Route; he was promoted to deputy commander of the Horse Army and transferred to Huanqing Route. When Su En, a Tangut official at Huanzhou, rebelled with his followers, Huaide went to accept his surrender. He was again promoted to deputy commander of the Palace Front, deputy commander of the Foot Army, and observer of Suizhou.
43
英宗即位，遷靜難軍節度觀察留後，召還，卒，贈安遠軍節度使。 嘗因戰，流矢中其顙，鏃入於骨，以弩弦係鏃，發機而出之。
When Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, he was promoted to acting military commissioner and observer of the Jingnan Army; recalled to court, he died and was posthumously enfeoffed as military commissioner of the Anyuan Army. Once in battle a stray arrow struck his forehead and the point lodged in the bone; he tied the point to a crossbow string and pulled the trigger to draw it out.
44
安俊，字智周，其先太原人。 祖贇，高州團練使。 仁宗為皇太子，俊以將家子謹厚，選為資善堂祗候。 及即位，補右班殿直，累遷東頭供奉官、閣門祗候，為環州都監。 破趙元昊吃江、井那等諸砦，安撫使韓琦上其功，遷內殿崇班、環慶路都監，徙涇原。 契丹欲渝盟，與狄青、范恪同召至京師，將使備北邊，擢內園副使。 翌日，改禮賓使。
An Jun, styled Zhizhou, came from a Taiyuan family. His grandfather Yun was regimental commander of Gaozhou. When Renzong was crown prince, Jun—steady and conscientious as the son of a military family—was chosen as attendant of the Zishan Hall. When the emperor took the throne, he was appointed Gentlemen of the Guard of the Right Wing, rose in succession to Eastern Head Palace Attendant and Palace Gate Attendant, and became circuit inspector of Huanzhou. He captured the forts of Chini-jiang, Jingna, and others held by Zhao Yuanhao; Pacification Commissioner Han Qi reported his achievements, and he was promoted to Inner Hall Honored Company and circuit inspector of Huanqing Route, then transferred to Jingyuan. When the Khitans seemed ready to break the alliance, he was summoned to the capital together with Di Qing and Fan Ke to prepare the northern frontier; he was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of the Inner Gardens. The next day he was reassigned as Commissioner of Ceremonies for Receiving Guests.
45
會葛懷敏敗，命為秦鳳路鈐轄，復徙涇原。 因條上御戎十三事，改原州，徙麟州，遷六宅使、貴州刺史、知忻州，徙代州。 為帥臣誣奏，降京東路鈐轄。 富弼知青州，為之辨理，真除虢州刺史，徙高陽關路，又遷原州刺史，知滄、涇、冀三州。 秦州築古渭城，蕃部大擾，徙秦鳳路總管。 曆龍神衛、捧日、天武四廂都指揮使，果州團練使，環慶路副總管； 遷侍衛步軍都虞候、陵州防禦使。 卒，贈閬州觀察使。
When Ge Huaimin was defeated, he was ordered to serve as commandant of Qinfeng Route and was again transferred to Jingyuan. He thereupon submitted in detail thirteen proposals on frontier defense, was made prefect of Yuanzhou, transferred to Linzhou, promoted to Commissioner of the Six Residences, prefect of Guizhou, and governor of Xinzhou, then transferred to Daizhou. Falsely impeached by a frontier commander, he was demoted to commandant of the Jingdong Route. When Fu Bi governed Qingzhou he argued on his behalf; Jun was then genuinely appointed prefect of Guozhou, transferred to the Gaoyang Pass Route, again promoted to prefect of Yuanzhou, and put in charge of the three prefectures of Cang, Jing, and Ji. When Guwei City was built at Qinzhou and the tribal peoples were greatly disturbed, he was transferred to chief commander of Qinfeng Route. He successively served as commandant of the four wings of the Dragon and Divine Guard, Sun-Rising, and Heavenly Martial guards, regimental commander of Guozhou, and deputy chief commander of Huanqing Route; He was promoted to deputy commander of the Palace Guard Foot Army and defender of Lingzhou. He died and was posthumously enfeoffed as observer of Langzhou.
46
俊久在邊，羌人識之。 環州得俘虜，知州種世衡問之曰：「若屬於吾將孰畏？」 曰：「畏安大保。」 指俊於坐曰：「此長髯將軍是也。」
Jun had long served on the frontier, and the Qiang knew him well. When Huanzhou took prisoners, Prefect Zhong Shiheng asked them, "Among our generals, whom do you fear? They answered, "We fear Grand Guardian An. Pointing to Jun among those present, he said, "This long-bearded general is the man."
47
向寶，鎮戎軍人，為御前忠佐，換禮賓使，涇原、秦鳳鈐轄。 積勞，自皇城使帶禦器械，曆真定、鄜延副總管，遷龍神衛四廂都指揮使、嘉州團練使，卒。
Xiang Bao, a man of Zhenrong Army, served as a loyal aide before the throne, exchanged that post for Commissioner of Ceremonies for Receiving Guests, and was commandant of Jingyuan and Qinfeng. After long service he rose from Commissioner of the Imperial City with charge of imperial weapons to deputy chief commander of Zhending and Fuyan, was promoted to commandant of the four wings of the Dragon and Divine Guard and regimental commander of Jiazhou, and died.
48
寶善騎射，年十四，與敵戰，斬首二級。 及壯，以勇聞。 有虎踞五原卑邪州，東西百里斷人跡，寶一矢殪之。 道過潼關，巨盜郭邈山多載關中金帛、子女，寶射走之，盡得其所掠。 嘗至太原，梁適射弩再中的，授寶矢射之，四發三中。 適曰：「今之飛將也。」 神宗稱其勇，以比薛仁貴。 及死，厚恤其家。
Bao was skilled in mounted archery; at fourteen he fought the enemy and took two heads. When he came of age, he was known for his courage. A tiger held sway over Beyang Prefecture in Wuyuan, and for a hundred li east and west no traveler dared pass; Bao brought it down with a single arrow. Passing Tong Pass, he found the great bandit Guo Miaoshan laden with gold, silk, women, and children plundered from within the pass; Bao shot and drove him off and recovered everything that had been taken. Once at Taiyuan, Liang Shi twice hit the mark with a crossbow; he handed Bao an arrow to shoot, and Bao hit three times in four shots. Shi said, "A flying general of our own day. Emperor Shenzong praised his courage and compared him to Xue Rengui. When he died, the court gave his family generous relief.
49
論曰：蔚昭敏、高化、周美，蓋皆有功於邊鄙者。 化在蜀州，取軍中積材以塞水患，又能平反冤獄，脫人於死，蓋武人之知民事者。 美敗夏人，焚族部，城堡砦，未嘗擇便利，而所向輒勝； 所得祿賜，悉分與麾下，士亦樂為之用，推古良將，何以加此。 閻守恭慕郭進為人，而慷慨自效，起徒步至刺史，其志亦豈小哉。 孟元、劉謙、馬懷德、范恪皆經略西鄙，數戰有功。 其初起自卒伍，而能練習民事、招輯散亡，不獨一武夫而已。 趙振挽強命中，精曉兵機。 塞門之敗，振擁兵不救，何獨暗於此邪？」 子珣年少習書史，閱武技，用兵以來，人以為無如珣者。 籠竿一戰，西人奔走不暇，從容而拔劉滬於死，英風義烈，何可少哉！ 葛懷敏以不用珣計而取敗，珣亦力戰而沒，惜哉！ 安俊、向寶無多戰功，夏人皆識其名而畏之。 張忠區區，較之諸人，未可同日語也。
The historians comment: Yu Zhaomin, Gao Hua, and Zhou Mei were all men who had served the frontier with distinction. While serving at Shuzhou, Hua used accumulated army stores to check flooding, and could also reverse unjust verdicts and rescue men from death—a soldier who understood civilian affairs. Mei defeated the Tangut, burned tribal settlements, castles, and forts, never picking easy ground, yet wherever he turned he prevailed; Every stipend and reward he received he shared entirely with his men, and they were glad to fight for him; compared with the great generals of old, what more could one ask? Yan Shougong admired Guo Jin's character and gave himself wholeheartedly to service; rising from foot soldier to prefect, his ambition was hardly small. Meng Yuan, Liu Qian, Ma Huaide, and Fan Ke all held the western frontier and won repeated honors in battle. Though they had risen from the ranks, they could also manage civilian affairs and gather the scattered populace—they were not mere fighting men. Zhao Zhen could draw a heavy bow and hit his mark, and was finely versed in the art of war. Yet at the defeat at Saimen he held troops back and did not go to the rescue—why was he alone so blind in that? His son Zixun, though still young, studied the classics and history and trained in martial skills; since the campaigns began, people considered none his equal. At the battle of Longgan the Westerners fled in disorder; with calm assurance he pulled Liu Hu back from death—such heroic spirit and lofty loyalty, how could it be undervalued! Ge Huaimin brought defeat on himself by refusing Zixun's plan, and Zixun also fought to the end and died—alas! An Jun and Xiang Bao won no great tally of battle honors, yet the Tangut all knew their names and feared them. Zhang Zhong was a petty man; beside these others he cannot be spoken of in the same breath.