Volume 341 Biographies 100: Wang Cun, Sun Gu, Zhao Zhan, Fu Yao Yu

王存孫固趙瞻傅堯俞

Wang Cun, Sun Gu, Zhao Zhan, and Fu Yaoyu

王存，字正仲，潤州丹陽人。幼善讀書，年十二，辭親從師於江西，五年始歸。時學者方尚雕篆，獨為古文數十篇，鄉老先生見之，自以為不及。

Wang Cun, whose style name was Zhengzhong, was a native of Danyang in Run Prefecture. From childhood he was adept at reading; at twelve he left his family to study under a teacher in Jiangxi and did not return for five years. Scholars of the day prized florid, ornamental composition; he alone drafted several dozen pieces in the antiquated style, and when the village elders saw them they judged themselves his inferior.

慶歷六年，登進士第，調嘉興主簿，擢上虞令。豪姓殺人，久莫敢問，存至，按以州吏受賕，豪賂他官變其獄，存反為罷去。久之，除密州推官。修潔自重，為歐陽修、呂公著、趙概所知。治平中，入為國子監直講，遷秘書省著作佐郎，歷館閣校勘、集賢校理、史館檢討、知太常禮院。存故與王安石厚，安石執政，數引與論事，不合，即謝不往。存在三館歷年，不少貶以干進。嘗召見便殿，累上書陳時政，因及大臣，無所附麗，皆時人難言者。

In the sixth year of Qingli (1046) he passed the jinshi examination, was appointed recorder in Jiaxing, and was promoted to magistrate of Shangyu. A powerful clan had committed murder, and for a long time no one dared investigate. When Cun arrived he pursued the case and found that a prefectural clerk had taken bribes; the powerful family bribed other officials to reverse the verdict, and Cun was dismissed instead. After some time he was appointed judicial reviewer in Mizhou. Cultivated in purity and self-restraint, he came to the notice of Ouyang Xiu, Lü Gongzhu, and Zhao Gai. During the Zhiping era he entered service as direct lecturer at the Imperial University, was promoted to assistant compiler in the Secretariat, and successively served as collator in the palace libraries, collator in the Hall of Assembled Talents, examiner in the History Office, and director of rites at the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Cun had once been on close terms with Wang Anshi; when Anshi took power he repeatedly summoned Cun to discuss policy, but when they disagreed Cun excused himself and ceased to attend. During his years in the Three Institutes he never lowered himself in the least to advance his career. He was once summoned to the informal palace hall and repeatedly submitted memorials on current affairs, including matters touching great ministers, without attaching himself to any faction—topics others found hard to speak.

元豐元年，神宗察其忠實無黨，以為國史編修官、修起居注。時起居注雖日侍，而奏事必稟中書俟旨。存乞復唐貞觀左右史執筆隨宰相入殿故事，神宗韙其言，聽直前奏事，自存始也。

In the first year of Yuanfeng (1078) Emperor Shenzong perceived his loyalty and lack of faction and appointed him compiler of the national history and recorder of imperial actions. At the time, though the recorder of actions attended daily, he had to report through the Secretariat and await instructions before memorializing. Cun requested restoration of the Tang Zhenguan precedent whereby the left and right historians carried their brushes and followed the chief ministers into the hall; Shenzong approved his proposal and allowed direct presentation—beginning with Cun.

明年，以右正言、知制誥、同修國史兼判太常寺。論圜丘合祭天地為非古，當親祠北郊如《周禮》。官制行，神宗切於用人，存請自熙寧以來群臣緣論事得罪，或詿誤被斥而情實納忠非大過者，隨材召擢，以備官使。語合神宗意。收拔者甚眾。又言：「赦令出上恩，而比歲議法治獄者，多乞不以赦降原減。官司謁禁，本防請托，而吊死問疾，一切杜絕，皆非便也。」執政不悅。

The next year he was made right remonstrance official, drafter of edicts, joint compiler of the national history, and concurrently administrator of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He argued that the joint sacrifice of Heaven and Earth at the Circular Mound was not ancient practice and that the emperor should personally sacrifice at the Northern Suburb as in the Rites of Zhou. When the new bureaucracy was implemented Shenzong was keen to employ men; Cun requested that from Xining onward officials who had offended through policy disputes or been dismissed through misunderstanding yet had in truth offered loyal counsel without grave fault be summoned and promoted according to ability to fill offices. His words matched Shenzong's intent. Very many were recalled and promoted. He also said: "Amnesties issue from imperial grace, yet in recent years those who deliberate on law in adjudicating cases often request that crimes not be remitted or reduced by amnesty. Prohibitions on visiting officials were meant to guard against solicitation, yet to cut off entirely condolence calls and inquiries after the sick—none of this is expedient." The chief ministers were displeased.

五年，遷龍圖閣直學士、知開封府。京師並河居人，盜鑿汴堤以自廣，或請令培築復故，又按民廬侵官道者使撤之。二謀出自中人，既有詔矣。存曰：「此吾職也。」入言之。即曰馳其役，都人歡呼相慶。進樞密直學士，改兵部尚書，轉戶部。神宗崩，哲宗立，永裕陵財費，不逾時告備，宰相乘間復徙之兵部。太僕寺請內外馬事得專達，毋隸駕部。存言：「如此，官制壞矣。先帝正省、台、寺、監之職，使相臨制，不可徇有司自便，而隳已成之法。」元祐初，還戶部，固辭不受。二年，拜中大夫、尚書右丞。三年，遷左丞。

In the fifth year (1082) he was transferred to academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and prefect of the Kaifeng metropolitan prefecture. Residents along the capital's Bian Canal illicitly mined the dike to expand their properties; some proposed ordering restoration of the old embankment, while others investigated dwellings encroaching on the official roadway and demanded their demolition. Both schemes came from eunuchs, and an edict had already been issued. Cun said: "This is my responsibility." He entered the palace to speak on it. The edict was immediately revoked and corvée halted; the whole city shouted in celebration. He was advanced to academician of the Privy Council, changed to Minister of War, then transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. When Shenzong died and Zhezong succeeded, the expenses for Yongyu Tomb were reported ready in no time; the chief minister seized the occasion to move him back to the Ministry of War. The Court of the Imperial Stud petitioned that matters concerning horses inside and outside the capital be reported directly, not subordinated to the Carriage Department. Cun said: "If this is done the bureaucratic system is ruined. The late emperor straightened the duties of ministries, councils, courts, and directorates so they would oversee one another; we cannot indulge each office's convenience and ruin a system already established." At the beginning of Yuanyou (1086) he was returned to the Ministry of Revenue but firmly declined and did not accept. In the second year (1087) he was appointed Grandee of Persuasion and Right Vice Councilor. In the third year he was promoted to Left Vice Councilor.

有建議罷教畿內保甲者，存言：「今京師兵籍益削，又廢保甲不教，非國家根本久長之計。且先帝不憚艱難而為之，既已就緒，無故而廢之，不可。」門下侍郎韓維罷，存言：「去一正人，天下失望，忠黨沮氣，讒邪之人爭進矣。」又論杜純不當罷侍御史，王覿不當罷諫官。

When someone proposed abolishing training of metropolitan baojia militia, Cun said: "The capital's military registers are already thinning; to abolish baojia training as well is no plan for the state's long-term security. Moreover the late emperor did not shrink from difficulty to establish this; now that it is in order, to abandon it without cause is impossible." When Vice Director of the Chancellery Han Wei was dismissed, Cun said: "Remove one upright man and the empire loses hope, loyal partisans lose heart, and slanderers and villains will vie to advance." He also argued that Du Chun should not be removed as attendant censor and Wang Di should not be removed as remonstrance official.

四方奏讞大辟，刑部援比請貸，都省屢以無可矜恕卻之。存曰：「此祖宗制也。有司欲生之，而朝廷破例殺之，可乎？」又言：「比廢進士專經一科，參以詩賦，失先帝黜詞律、崇經術之意。」河決而北幾十年，水官議還故道，存爭之曰：「故道已高，水性趨下，徒費財力，恐無成功。」卒輟其役。蔡確以詩怨訕，存與范純仁欲薄其罪，確再貶新州，存亦罷，以端明殿學士知蔡州。始，存之徙兵部，確力也。至是，為確罷，士大夫善其能損怨。歲餘，加資政殿學士、知揚州。揚、潤相去一水，用故相例，得歲時過家上冢，出賜錢給鄰里，又具酒食召會父老，親與酬酢，鄉黨傳為美談。

When the regions reported capital cases, the Ministry of Justice cited precedents requesting leniency, but the Ministry repeatedly returned them on grounds that nothing warranted pity. Cun said: "This is ancestral institution. The department wishes to spare them, yet the court breaks precedent to kill them—is that permissible?" He also said: "Recently the specialist classics jinshi examination was abolished and poetry and rhapsody were mixed back in, contrary to the late emperor's purpose in dismissing lyric rules and elevating classical learning." The Yellow River had been flowing north for nearly forty years; hydraulic officials proposed returning it to the old channel; Cun contended: "The old channel is already elevated while the water tends downward—only to waste resources with little hope of success." The project was finally abandoned. Cai Que, for verses of resentment and mockery, was to have his punishment eased by Cun and Fan Chunren; Que was banished again to Xinzhou and Cun was also dismissed, becoming academician of the Duanming Hall and prefect of Cai Prefecture. Initially when Cun was shifted to the Ministry of War, it was Que who had pressed for it. Now dismissed because of Que, scholars praised his ability to set aside resentment. After more than a year he was given additional rank as academician of the Privy Council and made prefect of Yangzhou. Yangzhou and Run Prefecture were separated by a single stretch of water; by precedent for former chief counselors he could visit home annually for tomb sweeping, distribute imperial bounty to neighbors, and host banquets for local elders, personally toasting them—a story the countryside told with admiration.

召為吏部尚書。時，在廷朋黨之論浸熾，存為哲宗言：「人臣朋黨，誠不可長，然或不察，則濫及善人。慶歷中，或指韓琦、富弼、范仲淹、歐陽修為黨，賴仁宗聖明，不為所惑。今日果有進此說者，願陛下察之。」由是復與任事者戾，除知大名府，改知杭州。

He was summoned to serve as Minister of Personnel. At the time factional discourse in court was intensifying; Cun told Zhezong: "Factions among ministers truly must not grow, yet if one does not examine carefully the innocent may be swept up. In Qingli some pointed to Han Qi, Fu Bi, Fan Zhongyan, and Ouyang Xiu as a faction; fortunately Renzong was sagacious and was not misled. If today anyone advances such talk, I pray Your Majesty discern it." Because of this he again clashed with those in office and was made prefect of Daming, then changed to prefect of Hangzhou.

紹聖初，請老，提舉崇禧觀，遷右正議大夫致仕。舊制，當得東宮保傅，議者指存嘗議還西夏侵地，故殺其恩典，既而降通議大夫。存嘗悼近世學士貴為公卿，而祭祀其先，但循庶人之制。及歸老築居，首營家廟。建中靖國元年，卒，年七十九。贈左銀青光祿大夫。

At the start of Shaosheng (1094) he requested retirement, was made overseer of the Chongxi Abbey, and promoted to Right Master of Persuasion with honorable retirement. By old regulation he should have received grand protector posts in the Eastern Palace; critics cited his having urged returning Western Xia occupied land, so his grace was reduced, then lowered to Master of Exchange. Cun had lamented that in recent times literati who rose to chief ministers still performed ancestral rites only by commoner custom. When he retired and built his residence he first erected a family shrine. In the first year of Jianzhongjingguo (1101) he died, aged seventy-nine. He was posthumously granted Left Silver Glory Grandee of Honor.

存性寬厚，平居恂恂，不為詭激之行，至其所守，確不可奪。司馬光嘗曰：「並馳萬馬中能駐足者，其王存乎！」

Cun's nature was generous and mild; in ordinary life he was deferential and made no showy or provocative acts, yet what he upheld could not be shaken. Sima Guang once said: "Among ten thousand horses galloping abreast, the one who can rein in—is that not Wang Cun?"

孫固，字和父，鄭州管城人。幼有立志。九歲讀《論語》，曰：「吾能行此。」徂徠石介一見，以公輔期之。擢進士第，調磁州司戶參軍。從平貝州，為文彥博言脅從罔治之義，與彥博意協，故但誅首惡，余無所及。轉霍邑令，遷秘書丞，為審刑詳議官。宰相韓琦知其賢，諭使來見，固不肯往。琦益器重之，引為編修中書諸房文字。

Sun Gu, whose style name was Hefu, was a native of Guancheng in Zheng Prefecture. From youth he formed high resolve. At nine he read the Analects and said: "I can practice this." Cuzai Shi Jie, upon a single meeting, looked to him as a future chief counselor. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed registrar of Cizhou's household office. Following the pacification of Bei Prefecture he explained to Wen Yanbo the principle of not prosecuting the coerced; Yanbo agreed, so only the ringleaders were punished and the rest went untouched. He was transferred to magistrate of Huoyi, promoted to Secretariat director, and made detailed reviewer in the Court for Scrutiny of Offenses. Chief Counselor Han Qi knew his talent and urged him to call; Gu firmly refused to go. Qi valued him all the more and brought him in as compiler of documents for the various bureaus of the Secretariat-Chancellery.

治平中，神宗為潁王，以固侍講；及為皇太子，又為侍讀。至即位，擢工部郎中、天章閣待制、知通進銀台司。種諤取綏州，固知神宗志欲經略西夏，欲先事以戒，即上言：「待遠人宜示之信，今無名舉兵，非計之得。願以漢韓安國、魏相、唐魏征論兵之略，參校同異，則是非炳然矣。兵，兇器也，動不可妄，妄動將有悔。」大臣惡其說，出知澶州。

During Zhiping, when Shenzong was Prince of Ying, Gu served as his lecturer; when he became crown prince, Gu again served as reader-in-waiting. Upon accession he was promoted to director in the Ministry of Works, awaiting draft in the Heavenly Records Pavilion, and overseer of the Silver Terrace Gateway Office. When Zhong E took Suizhou, Gu knew Shenzong wished to manage Western Xia affairs and wished to warn him in advance, so he memorialized: "In dealing with distant peoples one should show trust; to raise troops without cause is no worthy plan. I beg that the military discussions of Han Anguo of Han, Wei Xiang of Wei, and Wei Zheng of Tang be collated for comparison, and right and wrong will stand clear. Arms are an inauspicious instrument; to move them must not be rash—rash movement brings regret." Great ministers detested his view and he was sent out as prefect of Duan Prefecture.

還知審刑院，復領銀台、封駁兼侍讀，判少府監。神宗問：「王安石可相否？」對曰：「安石文行甚高，處侍從獻納之職，可矣。宰相自有其度，安石狷狹少容。必欲求賢相，呂公著、司馬光、韓維其人也。」凡四問，皆以此對。及安石當國，更法度，固數議事不合；青苗法出，又極陳其不便。及韓琦疏至，神宗感動，謂固曰：「朕熟計之，誠不便。」固出語執政曰：「及上有意，宜亟圖之，以福天下。」既而竟從安石。固復領銀台司。

Called back to head the Court for Scrutiny, again overseeing Silver Terrace and seal review, lecturer-in-waiting, and administrator of the Court of Imperial Works. Shenzong asked: "Can Wang Anshi serve as chief counselor?" He answered: "Anshi's learning and conduct are very lofty; in attendance and remonstrance he suffices. Chief counselor has its own measure; Anshi is narrow-minded with little tolerance. If you truly wish a worthy counselor, Lü Gongzhu, Sima Guang, and Han Wei are the men." Four times he was asked and each time answered thus. When Anshi held power and reformed institutions, Gu repeatedly disputed and disagreed; when the Green Sprouts law was issued he vigorously stated its inconveniences. When Han Qi's memorial arrived Shenzong was moved and told Gu: "I have weighed it carefully—it is truly inconvenient." Gu went out and told the chief ministers: "While His Majesty is minded to it, you should quickly plan it for the empire's blessing." Yet in the end they followed Anshi. Gu again oversaw the Silver Terrace Office.

孔文仲對制策忤時政，報罷。固言：「陛下以名求士，而士以實應，今反過之，何哉？今謂文仲之言以惑天下，臣恐天下不惑文仲之言，以文仲之黜為惑也。」胡宗愈坐言事逐，蘇頌、陳薦以論李定罷，固皆引誼爭之。

Kong Wenzhong's policy response examination offended current politics and he was failed. Gu said: "Your Majesty seeks scholars by reputation and scholars respond with substance; now this is reversed—how so? To say Wenzhong's words mislead the empire—I fear the empire will not be misled by Wenzhong's words but will be misled by Wenzhong's dismissal." Hu Zongyu was dismissed for remonstrance; Su Song and Chen Jian were removed for criticizing Li Ding—Gu all cited righteousness to dispute.

時議尊僖祖為始祖，固議曰：「漢高以得天下與商、周異，故太上皇不得為始封；光武中興，不敢祖舂陵而祖高帝。宋有天下，傳之萬世，太祖功也，不當替其祀；請以為始祖，而為僖祖別立廟。禘祫之日，奉其祧主東向以伸其尊，合所謂祖以孫尊、孫以祖屈之意。」韓琦見而嘆曰：「孫公此議，足以不朽矣。」加龍圖閣直學士、知真定府。遼人盜耕解子平地，歲且久，吏爭弗能還。固微得其要領，折愧之，正疆地二百里。熙寧末，以樞密直學士知開封府。元豐初，同知樞密院事。時征安南，建順州，其地瘴癘不堪守，固請棄之，內徙者二萬戶。

At the time deliberation honored Emperor Xianzu as founding ancestor; Gu argued: "Gaozu of Han differed from Shang and Zhou in gaining the empire, so the Great Supreme could not be founding fief; Guangwu at restoration dared not take Chunling as ancestor but took Gaozu. Song received the empire to pass to ten thousand generations—Taizu's achievement; his sacrifices must not be displaced; He proposed that Taizu be recognized as founding ancestor and that a separate temple be built for Xizu. On the great seasonal sacrifices, Xizu's tablet would face east to show his dignity, in keeping with the principle that the ancestor is exalted through the grandson while the grandson defers to the ancestor. When Han Qi read it, he sighed and said, "Master Sun's proposal alone would be enough to make his name immortal." He was promoted to Dragon Diagram Hall Academician-in-Attendance and made prefect of Zhending. For years the Liao had been farming encroached land at Jiezi Pingdi, and local officials could not win it back despite repeated disputes. Gu quietly mastered the essentials of the case, shamed the Liao into backing down, and restored two hundred li of borderland. Late in the Xining era he was made Secretariat Direct Academician and prefect of Kaifeng. Early in the Yuanfeng era he was appointed Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. During the campaign against Annan, Shun Prefecture had been established, but the region was too malarial to garrison. Gu urged that it be abandoned and twenty thousand households be resettled inland.

諜者告夏人幽其主，神宗欲西討，固數言舉兵易，解禍難。神宗曰：「夏有釁不取，則為遼人所有，不可失也。」固曰：「必不得已，請聲其罪薄伐之，分裂其地，使其酋長自守焉。」神宗笑曰：「此真酈生之說爾。」時執政有言便當直度河，不可留行。固曰：「然則孰為陛下任此者？」神宗曰：「朕已屬李憲。」固曰：「伐國，大事也，豈可使宦官為之！今陛下任李憲，則士大夫孰肯為用乎？」神宗不悅。他日，固又曰：「今五路進師而無大帥，就使成功，兵必為亂。」神宗曰：「大帥誠難其人。」呂公著曰：「既無其人，曷若已之。」固曰：「公著言是也。」初議五路入討，會於靈州，李憲由熙河入，輒不赴靈州，乃自開蘭、會，欲以弭責。固曰：「兵法期而後至者斬。今諸路皆進，而憲獨不行，雖得蘭、會，罪不可赦。」神宗不聽，其後師果無功。神宗曰：「朕始以孫固言為迂，今悔無及矣。」

Spies reported that the Xia had imprisoned their ruler. When Emperor Shenzong wanted to launch a western campaign, Gu repeatedly warned that it is easy to start a war but hard to end the trouble it brings. Emperor Shenzong said, "When Xia gives us a pretext and we fail to act, the Liao will take it instead. We cannot miss this chance. Gu replied, "If we truly have no choice, at least proclaim their crimes and wage a limited campaign. Partition their territory and let their chieftains hold each part on their own. Emperor Shenzong laughed and said, "That is exactly the sort of thing Li Sheng would have said. Those in power at the time argued that the army should cross the river immediately and must not linger. Gu asked, "Then whom will Your Majesty put in charge of it? The emperor answered, "I have already entrusted it to Li Xian. Gu protested, "Invading a state is a grave undertaking. How can it be entrusted to a eunuch! If Your Majesty puts Li Xian in command, which scholar-official will be willing to serve under him? The emperor was displeased. On another day Gu warned again, "Five columns are advancing without a supreme commander. Even if they win, the armies will surely fall into disorder. The emperor said, "It really is hard to find the right supreme commander. Lü Gongzhu said, "If there is no suitable man, why not call the campaign off? Gu said, "Gongzhu is right. The original plan called for five columns to converge on Lingzhou. Li Xian entered through the Xihe route but never went to Lingzhou. Instead he seized Lan and Hui on his own, hoping that would shield him from punishment. Gu said, "Military law says that anyone who arrives after the appointed time is to be beheaded. Every column has advanced while Xian alone has not. Even if he captured Lan and Hui, his offense cannot be forgiven. The emperor would not listen, and in the end the campaign failed completely. Emperor Shenzong said, "At first I thought Sun Gu was being pedantic. Now it is too late for regret."

改太中大夫、樞密副使，進知院事，以疾避位，拜觀文殿學士、知河陽，尋提舉嵩山崇福宮。哲宗即位，以正議大夫知河南府，徙鄭州。元祐二年，召除侍讀、提舉中太一宮，遂拜門下侍郎。哲宗與太皇太后矜其年高，每朝會豫節拜儀，聽休於幄次。固數乞骸骨，太皇太后曰：「卿，先帝在東宮時舊臣。今帝新聽政，勉留輔導；或體中未安，取文書於家治之可也。」固感激，強起視事，復知樞密院事，累官右光祿大夫。五年，卒，年七十五。哲宗、太皇太后皆出聲泣。時文彥博致仕歸洛，將宴餞崇政殿，以固在殯，罷之。輟視朝二日，贈開府儀同三司，諡曰溫靖。

He was promoted to Grandee of Palace Attendance and Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, then advanced to Director of the bureau. Illness forced him to step aside, and he was made Wenyuan Hall Academician and prefect of Heyang, then soon superintendent of Chongfu Palace on Mount Song. When Emperor Zhezong ascended the throne, Gu was made Grandee of Righteous Counsel and prefect of Henan, then transferred to Zheng Prefecture. In the second year of Yuanyou he was recalled, made Imperial Reader and superintendent of the Central Grand Unity Palace, and then appointed Vice Minister of the Gate. Emperor Zhezong and the Grand Empress Dowager, mindful of his age, let him shorten the bowing rites at court and rest in the side pavilion. Gu repeatedly asked to retire. The Grand Empress Dowager said, "You are an old minister from when the late emperor was still heir apparent. The present emperor has only just begun to rule. I urge you to stay and guide him. If you are unwell, you may take documents home and handle them there. Deeply moved, Gu forced himself back to duty, again became Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and eventually rose to Right Grandee of Splendid Happiness. In the fifth year of Yuanyou he died at the age of seventy-five. Both Emperor Zhezong and the Grand Empress Dowager wept aloud. Wen Yanbo had recently retired to Luoyang, and a farewell banquet was planned in Chongzheng Hall, but it was canceled because Gu's body still lay in state. Court audiences were suspended for two days. He was posthumously made Grand Preceptor with ceremonial honors equal to the Three Excellencies, and given the posthumous title Wenjing.

固宅心誠粹，不喜矯亢，與人居久而益信，故更歷夷險，而不為人所疾害。嘗曰：「人當以聖賢為師，一節之士，不足學也。」又曰：「以愛親之心愛其君，則無不盡矣。」司馬光退處，固每勸神宗召歸；及光為陳州，過鄭，固與論天下大事至數十，曰：「公行且相，宜視先後緩急審處之。」傅堯俞銘其墓曰：「司馬公之清節，孫公之淳德，蓋所謂不言而信者也。」世以為確論。紹聖時奪遺澤，元符二年，奪所贈官，列元祐黨籍。政和中，徽宗以固嘗為神宗宮僚，特出籍，悉還所奪。

Gu was sincere and pure at heart, disliked pretension and arrogance, and grew more trusted the longer people knew him. Through good times and bad he was never resented or harmed. He once said, "People should take sages and worthies as their teachers. A man who excels in only one virtue is not worth imitating. He also said, "Serve your ruler with the same devotion you give your parents, and you will hold nothing back. When Sima Guang had retired from office, Gu repeatedly urged Emperor Shenzong to recall him. When Guang became prefect of Chen and passed through Zheng on his way, Gu discussed the great affairs of the realm with him dozens of times and said, "You are about to become chief minister. Weigh priorities carefully and handle each matter in its proper order. Fu Yaoyu wrote on his tomb, "Master Sima's pure integrity and Master Sun's simple virtue are what people mean when they speak of trust earned without words. Later generations regarded that as a sound judgment. During Shaosheng his posthumous honors were revoked. In the second year of Yuanfu his conferred offices were stripped and he was entered on the Yuanyou faction register. In the Zhenghe era, because Gu had once served in Shenzong's palace staff, Huizong specially removed him from the register and restored everything that had been taken away.

趙瞻，字大觀，其先亳州永城人。父剛，太子賓客，徙鳳翔之盩厔。瞻舉進士第，調孟州司戶參軍，移萬泉令。捐圭田修學宮，士自遠而至。改知夏縣，作八監堂，書古賢令長治跡以自監。又以秘書丞知永昌縣，築六堰灌田，歲省科斂數十萬，水訟咸息，民以比召、杜。升太常博士，知威州。瞻以威、茂雜群獠，險而難守，不若合之而建郡於汶川，條著其詳，為《西山別錄》。後熙寧中，朝廷經理西南，就瞻取其書考焉。

Zhao Zhan, whose style name was Daguan, came from a family originally of Yongcheng in Bozhou. His father Gang had been Guest of the Heir Apparent and later moved the family to Zhouzhi in Fengxiang. Zhao passed the jinshi examination, was appointed Revenue Section aide in Meng Prefecture, and later became magistrate of Wanquan. He donated his gui fields to rebuild the county school, and scholars came from far away to study there. He was made prefect of Xia County, built the Hall of Eight Mirrors, and inscribed the records of ancient worthy magistrates there to hold himself accountable. As Secretariat Assistant he also governed Yongchang County, where he built six irrigation weirs. Annual tax levies fell by hundreds of thousands, water disputes died away, and the people compared him to the famous administrators Zhao and Du. He was promoted to Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and appointed prefect of Wei Prefecture. Zhao argued that Wei and Mao were entangled with many tribal peoples, too rugged to defend separately. He proposed merging them into a new prefecture at Wenchuan and laid out the plan in detail in his Separate Records of the Western Mountains. Later, during the Xining reforms, when the court reorganized the southwest, it consulted Zhao's book.

遷尚書屯田員外郎。英宗治平初，自都官員外郎除侍御史。上疏曰：「英斷獨化，人主至權也。審至權者，當主以天下之大公，揆以天下之正論，如是而後權可一也。若夫積久之敝，陛下其思焉。刑賞施設之失，可革則革；號令言動之過，可止則止。輔相賴其用，宜責其效；台諫知其才，宜信其說。兵柄宜削諸宦官，邊議宜付諸宿將。蓋權不可矯而為也，以從天下之望耳。」英宗稱善。

He was promoted to Assistant in the Ministry of Revenue's Fields Section. Early in Emperor Yingzong's Zhiping era he was promoted from Assistant in the Capital Section to Attending Censor. He submitted a memorial saying, "Resolute judgment exercised on one's own is the ruler's supreme authority. To wield that authority rightly, one must be guided by the great public good of the realm and measured by its shared standards of right judgment. Only then can power be truly unified. As for abuses that have accumulated over many years, Your Majesty should give them careful thought. Where punishments, rewards, and institutions have gone wrong, reform what can be reformed. Where edicts, words, and conduct have gone astray, stop what can be stopped. Chancellors are employed for their service; hold them accountable for results. The censorate knows their talent; trust what they say. Strip eunuchs of military authority and entrust frontier policy to veteran generals. Authority cannot be bent by force. It must follow what the realm expects of its ruler. Emperor Yingzong praised the memorial.

久之，詔遣內侍王昭明等四人為陝西諸路鈐轄，招撫諸部。瞻以唐用宦者為觀軍容、宣慰等使，後世以為至戒，宜追還內侍，責成守臣，章三上，言甚激切。會文彥博、孫沔經略西夏，別遣馮京安撫諸路，瞻又請罷京使，專委宿將。夏人入侵王官，慶帥孫長卿不能御，加長卿集賢院學士，瞻言長卿當黜不宜賞，賞罰倒置。京東盜賊數起，瞻請易置曹、濮守臣之不才者，未報。乃求退，力言追還昭明等，英宗改容，納其言。

Before long an edict dispatched the inner attendants Wang Zhaoming and three others as supervisory commissioners on the Shaanxi frontier to pacify the tribal peoples. Zhao cited how the Tang had used eunuchs as army supervisory and pacification commissioners, a practice later ages regarded as the gravest warning. He urged that the inner attendants be recalled and frontier defense left to the local commanders. He submitted three forceful memorials on the matter. When Wen Yanbo and Sun Mian were put in charge of the Western Xia frontier, Feng Jing was separately sent to pacify the routes. Zhao again asked that Feng Jing's mission be canceled and the work entrusted to veteran generals alone. When the Xia raided Wangguan, the Qingzhou commander Sun Changqing failed to repel them, yet he was promoted to Academician of the Hall for Advancing Worthies. Zhao protested that he should have been dismissed, not rewarded, calling it a reversal of reward and punishment. Banditry flared repeatedly in the eastern capital region. Zhao asked that incompetent prefects in Cao and Pu be replaced, but received no reply. He then asked to retire and spoke forcefully again about recalling Zhaoming and the others. Emperor Yingzong's expression changed, and he accepted Zhao's advice.

二年秋，京師大水，詔百官言事，多留中，瞻請「悉出章疏，付兩省詳擇以聞」，從之。時議追崇濮安懿王，瞻引漢師丹、董宏事，謂其屬薛溫其曰：「事將類此，吾必以死爭，固吾所也。」中書請安懿王稱親，瞻爭曰：「仁宗既下明詔子陛下，議者顧惑禮律所生所養之名，妄相訾難，彼明知禮無兩父貳斬之義，敢裂一字之詞，以亂厥真。且文有去婦出母者，去已非婦，出不為母，辭窮直書，豈足援以斷大議哉？臣請與之庭辨，以定邪正。」已而皇太后手書尊王為皇，瞻嘆曰：「向者太后切責大臣，議乃得罷。今邪臣與中官交締，歸過至尊而自為之地，吾與首議之臣，不並生矣！」因復力陳。會假太常少卿接契丹賀正使，入對，英宗問前事，對曰：「陛下為仁宗子，而濮王又稱皇考，則是二父，二父非禮。」英宗曰：「御史嘗見朕欲皇考濮王乎？」瞻曰：「此乃大臣之議，陛下未嘗自言。」英宗曰：「是中書過耳，朕自數歲時，先帝養為子，豈敢稱濮考？」瞻曰：「臣請退諭中書，作詔以曉天下。」時連日晦冥，英宗指天示瞻曰：「天道如此，安敢妄為褒尊。朕意已決，無庸宣告。」瞻曰：「陛下祗畏天戒，不以私妨公，甚盛德也。」及使還，聞呂誨等諫濮議皆罷去，乞與同貶，不報。趣入對，英宗曰：「卿欲就龍逢、比干之名，孰若效伊尹、傅說哉？」瞻皇懼，言：「臣不敢奉詔，使朝廷有同罪異罰之譏。」遂通判汾州。

That autumn the capital was struck by severe flooding. The emperor ordered all officials to submit memorials, but many were held back in the palace. Zhao asked that every memorial be released to the two departments for review and report, and the request was granted. At the time the court was debating posthumous honors for Prince Anyi of Pu. Zhao cited the Han precedents of Shi Dan and Dong Hong and told his subordinate Xue Wenqi, "This affair will be like those cases. I will dispute it to the death. That is my firm resolve. When the Secretariat asked that Prince Anyi be addressed as the emperor's kin, Zhao objected, "Emperor Renzong already issued a clear edict naming Your Majesty his son. The debaters fix only on ritual terms for biological and adoptive parentage and recklessly attack one another. They know perfectly well that ritual allows no two fathers or two mourning garments, yet they dare twist a single word to overturn the truth. The ritual text even says that a man who dismisses his wife and expels his mother has neither a wife nor a mother in name. That passage was written in plain desperation. How can it decide a question of state? I ask to debate them openly in court and settle what is right and what is wrong. Before long the Grand Empress Dowager wrote by hand to honor the prince as emperor. Zhao sighed and said, "Earlier the empress dowager had sternly rebuked the chief ministers, and the debate was halted. Now wicked ministers and palace eunuchs are in league. They shift the blame onto Your Majesty while carving out their own advantage. The ministers who led the opposition and I cannot both survive! He pressed his argument again with all his force. He was temporarily serving as Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to receive the Khitan New Year's envoy. At audience Emperor Yingzong asked about the earlier affair, and Zhao replied, "Your Majesty is Emperor Renzong's son, yet Prince Pu is also to be called Imperial Father. That would mean two fathers, and two fathers violate ritual. The emperor said, "Censor, have you ever seen me wish to make Prince Pu my imperial father? Zhao said, "This is the ministers' proposal. Your Majesty has never said so yourself. The emperor said, "That is only the Secretariat's doing. From childhood the late emperor raised me as his son. How could I dare call Prince Pu my father? Zhao said, "Then let me withdraw and instruct the Secretariat to draft an edict clarifying this for the realm. For days the sky had been dark and ominous. The emperor pointed to Heaven and said to Zhao, "Heaven's warning is plain. How could I dare rashly grant exalted honors? My mind is already made up. There is no need for a proclamation. Zhao said, "Your Majesty reverently heeds Heaven's warning and will not let private feeling obstruct the public good. That is magnificent virtue. When he returned from his mission he learned that Lü Hui and the others who had remonstrated against the Pu honors had all been dismissed. He asked to be demoted with them, but received no reply. He was summoned back to audience. Emperor Yingzong said, "Do you want the fame of Long Feng and Bi Gan, or would it not be better to serve the throne like Yi Yin and Fu Yue? Zhao was awestruck and afraid. He said, "I dare not accept that command, lest the court be reproached for punishing the same offense differently. He was then made vice prefect of Fen Prefecture.

神宗即位，遷司封員外郎、知商州，又除提點陝西刑獄。熙寧三年，為開封府判官。神宗問：「卿知青苗法便乎？」對曰：「青苗法，唐行之於季世擾攘中，掊民財誠便。今欲為長久計，愛養百姓，誠不便。」初，王安石欲瞻助己，使其黨餌以知雜御史。瞻不應，由是不得留京師，出為陝西轉運副使，改永興軍轉運使。以親老，請知同州。七年，朝廷患錢重，議以交子權之，命瞻制置。瞻曰：「有本錢足恃，法乃可行，如多出空券，是罔民也。」議不合，移京西轉運使；又以親老不行，徙陝州，請還鄉里，除提舉鳳翔太平宮。丁外艱，服除，易朝請大夫、知滄州。

When Emperor Shenzong ascended the throne, Zhao was promoted to Assistant in the Ministry of Rites' Enfeoffment Section and made prefect of Shang Prefecture, then appointed Intendant of Shaanxi Judicial Affairs. In the third year of Xining he became an administrative aide of Kaifeng Prefecture. Emperor Shenzong asked, "Do you think the Green Sprouts Law is convenient? He replied, "The Green Sprouts Law was used by the Tang in the turmoil of a dynasty's decline. For stripping the people's wealth, it was indeed convenient. But if you wish to plan for the long term and cherish the common people, it is truly unsuitable." Earlier Wang Anshi had wanted Zhao to support him and had his faction offer him the post of miscellaneous censor. Zhao did not accept. He was therefore unable to remain in the capital and was sent out as Vice Commissioner of Shaanxi Transport, then made Commissioner of Yongxing Circuit Transport. Citing his parents' advanced age, he asked to be made prefect of Tong Prefecture. In the seventh year of Xining the court worried that copper cash had become too heavy to carry conveniently and discussed using jiaozi notes to offset it, ordering Zhao to oversee the scheme. Zhao said, "The measure can work only if there is sufficient reserve capital to back it. Issuing too many empty notes would be deceiving the people." His views did not prevail, and he was transferred to Commissioner of Jingxi Transport; Again citing his parents' age he did not take up the post and was moved to Shaan Prefecture. He asked to return home and was appointed commissioner of Fengxiang's Taiping Palace. After mourning his father's death, when the mourning period ended he was promoted to Gentleman for Court Appearances and made prefect of Cang Prefecture.

哲宗立，轉朝議大夫，召為太常少卿，遷戶部侍郎。元祐三年，擢樞密直學士、簽書樞密院事。明年，以中大夫同知院事。因進對言：「機政所急，人才而已。今臣選武臣難遽盡知，請詔諸路安撫、轉運使舉使臣，科別其才，第為三等，籍之以備選注。」

When Emperor Zhezong ascended the throne, Zhao was promoted to Grandee of Court Discussion, summoned as Vice Minister of Rites, and promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue. In the third year of Yuanyou (1088) he was promoted to Academician Ex Officio of the Privy Council with concurrent duty as Privy Council signatory. The following year he became Vice Director of the Privy Council with the rank of Grandee of the Palace. In audience he said, "What statecraft urgently needs is talent and nothing else. I find it hard to know military officers thoroughly when selecting them myself. I ask that Your Majesty order the circuit pacification and transport commissioners to recommend officers, classify their talents in three grades, and register them for future appointments."

初，元豐中，河決小吳，北注界河，東入於海。神宗詔，東流故道淤高，理不可回，其勿復塞。乃開大吳以護北都。至是，都水王令圖請還河故道，下執政議。瞻曰：「自河決已八年，未有定論。今遽興大役，役夫三十萬，用木二千萬，臣竊憂焉。朝廷方遣使相視，若以東流未便，宜亟從之；若以為可回，宜為數歲之計，以緩民力」。議者又謂河入界河而北，則失中國之險，昔澶淵之役，非河為限，則北兵不止。瞻曰：「王者恃德不恃險。昔堯、舜都蒲、冀，周、漢都咸、鎬，皆歷年數百，不聞以河障外國。澶淵之役，蓋廟社之靈，章聖之德，將相之智勇，故敵帥授首，豈獨河之力哉？」後使者以東流非便，水官復請塞北流，瞻固爭之，卒詔罷役，如瞻所議。

Earlier, during the Yuanfeng era, the Yellow River broke through at Xiao Wu, flowed north into the Jie River, and eastward into the sea. Emperor Shenzong decreed that the old eastward course had silted too high to be restored by reason, and ordered that it not be blocked again. Great Wu was therefore opened to protect the Northern Capital (Kaifeng). At this point Director of Waters Wang Lingtu asked to restore the river's old course, and the matter was referred to the chief ministers. Zhao said, "It has been eight years since the breach and there is still no settled policy. To launch a massive project now would require three hundred thousand laborers and twenty million units of timber. I am deeply concerned. The court has just sent envoys to inspect the course. If the eastward flow proves unsuitable, we should follow their recommendation promptly; if restoration is still deemed necessary, we should plan over several years to ease the burden on the people." Some argued that if the river entered the Jie River and flowed north, China would lose its strategic barrier. They said that at the Chanyuan campaign, had the river not formed a barrier, the northern troops would not have halted. Zhao said, "A true king relies on virtue, not on geographic barriers. Yao and Shun made their capitals at Pu and Ji; the Zhou and Han at Xian and Hao. Each endured for centuries, and none is said to have relied on a river to hold off foreign states. The victory at Chanyuan rested on the spirit of the ancestral temples, the virtue of Emperor Zhenzong, and the wisdom and courage of his generals and ministers. That is why the enemy commander submitted. How could it have been the river's work alone?" Later the envoys reported that the eastward course was unsuitable. The water officials again asked to block the northward flow, but Zhao protested firmly. An edict finally halted the project, as Zhao had urged.

洮、河諸族以青唐首領浸弱可制，欲倚中國兵威以廢之，邊臣亟請興師。瞻曰：「不可。御外國以大信為本，且既爵命之，彼雖失眾心，無犯王略之罪，何辭而伐之？若其不克，則兵端自此復起矣。」乃止。瞻又奏廢渠陽軍，以紓荊湖之力；乞詔諭西夏使歸永樂遺民，夏人聽命。

The tribes of Tao and He, seeing the Qingtang leader grow weak and ripe for control, wished to use Song military might to remove him. Frontier officials repeatedly pressed for war. Zhao said, "We must not. In dealing with foreign peoples great faith is the foundation. We have already enfeoffed and appointed them. Though they have lost the hearts of their people, they have not violated imperial territory. What justification is there for attacking them? If we fail, war will break out again from this point onward." The campaign was abandoned. Zhao also memorialized to abolish Quchuan Army to ease the burden on Jing and Hu circuits; He asked that Western Xia be instructed to return the displaced people of Yongle. The Xia complied.

五年，卒，年七十二。太皇太后語輔臣曰：「惜哉，忠厚君子也。」車駕親臨，輟視朝二日。贈銀青光祿大夫，諡曰懿簡。紹聖中，言者以傅會元祐諸臣，追奪所贈官，列於黨籍。

In the fifth year of Yuanyou he died at seventy-two. The Grand Empress Dowager told the chief ministers, "What a pity. He was a loyal and honest gentleman." The emperor personally attended his funeral, and court audiences were suspended for two days. He was posthumously awarded Silver Blue-Glitter Grandee of Glorious Blessing, with the posthumous title Yijian (Blessed and Simple). During Shaosheng (1094–1098) critics charged that he had colluded with Yuanyou ministers. His posthumous honors were revoked and he was listed in the faction register.

瞻著《春秋論》二十卷，《史記牴牾論》五卷，《唐春秋》五十卷，《奏議》十卷，《文集》二十卷，《西山別錄》一卷。四子：孝諶，瀛州錄事參軍；獻誠，唐城令；某，蚤卒；彥詒，太康主簿。

Zhao authored Discourses on the Spring and Autumn Annals (20 juan), Discourse on Contradictions in the Records of the Historian (5 juan), Spring and Autumn of Tang (50 juan), Memorials (10 juan), Collected Writings (20 juan), and Separate Record of Western Hills (1 juan). He had four sons: Xiaochen, staff officer of Ying Prefecture; Xiancheng, magistrate of Tangcheng; one [name omitted], who died young; and Yanyi, registrar of Taikang.

傅堯俞

Fu Yaoyu

傅堯俞，字欽之，本鄆州須城人，徙孟州濟源。十歲能為文，及登第，猶未冠。石介每過之，堯俞未嘗不在，介曰：「君少年決科，不以遊戲為娛，何也？」堯俞曰：「性不喜囂雜，非有他爾。」介嘆息奇之。嘗監西京稅院事，留守晏殊、夏竦皆謂曰：「子有清識雅度，文約而理盡，卿相才也。」

Fu Yaoyu, whose style name was Qinzhi, was originally from Xucheng in Yan Prefecture and later moved to Jiyuan in Meng Prefecture. At ten he could already compose prose, and when he passed the civil service examination he had not yet come of age. Whenever Shi Jie visited, Yaoyu was always present. Jie said, "You are young and already set on passing the examinations. Why do you not amuse yourself with games?" Yaoyu said, "By nature I dislike noise and bustle. There is no other reason." Jie sighed and marveled at him. When he supervised the Western Capital Tax Office, the prefects Yan Shu and Xia Song both told him, "You have pure insight and elegant bearing. Your writing is concise yet exhaustive in reasoning. You have the talent of a chief minister."

知新息縣，累遷太常博士。嘉祐末，為監察物史。袞國公主下嫁李瑋，為家監梁懷吉、張承照所間，與夫不相中。仁宗斥二人於外，未幾，復還主家，出瑋知衛州。堯俞言：「主恃愛薄其夫，陛下為逐瑋而還隸臣，甚悖禮，為四方笑，後何以誨諸女乎？」

He served as magistrate of Xinxin County and was repeatedly promoted to Erudite of the Imperial Temple. At the end of the Jiayou era he became a supervising censor. The Princess of Guo married Li Wei but was estranged from her husband by her household supervisors Liang Huaiji and Zhang Chengzhao, who came between them. Emperor Renzong expelled the two men from court, but before long they were returned to the princess's household while Wei was sent out to serve as prefect of Weizhou. Yaoyu said, "The princess relies on imperial favor and slighted her husband. Your Majesty expelled Wei yet returned these attendants to her service. This gravely violates ritual propriety and will make the realm laugh. How will you later instruct your other daughters?"

皇城邏卒吳清誣奏富民殺人，鞠治無狀，有司須清辨，內侍主者不遣。堯俞言：「陛下惜清，恐不復聞外事矣。臣以為不若使付外，暴其是非而行賞罰焉，則事之上聞者皆實，乃所以廣視聽也。縱而不問，則讒者肆行，民無所措手足，尚欲求治，得乎？」內侍李允恭、朱晦屈法任其子，趙繼寵越次管當天章閣，蔡世寧掌內藏，而以珠私示內人。堯俞以為嬖寵恩幸過失，當防之於漸，悉劾之。

A patrolman of the Imperial City Guards, Wu Qing, falsely reported that a wealthy man had committed murder. Investigation found no basis for the charge. The relevant office required Qing to testify, but the eunuch in charge would not release him. Yaoyu said, "Your Majesty cherishes Qing. I fear you will no longer hear of affairs outside the palace. I believe it would be better to hand the case to the outer bureaucracy, expose the rights and wrongs, and impose proper rewards and punishments. Then what reaches Your Majesty will all be true, and that is how to broaden your sight and hearing. If such cases are indulged without inquiry, slanderers will run riot and the people will have nowhere to turn. Can good order still be sought?" The eunuchs Li Yun'gong and Zhu Hui bent the law to appoint their sons; Zhao Jibao was put in charge of the Tianzhang Pavilion out of turn; Cai Shining managed the inner treasury and privately showed pearls to palace women. Yaoyu held that indulgence of favorites was a fault that should be checked at the outset. He impeached them all.

時乏國用，言利者爭獻富國計。堯俞奏曰：「今度支歲用不足，誠不可忽，然欲救其弊，在陛下宜自儉刻，身先天下，無奪農時，勿害商旅，如是可矣。不然，徒欲紛更，為之無益，聚斂者用，則天下殆矣。」

At the time state revenue was scarce, and profit-seekers competed to present plans to enrich the treasury. Yaoyu memorialized, "The Ministry of Revenue's annual expenditure is indeed insufficient and cannot be neglected. Yet to remedy this, Your Majesty should begin with frugality, take the lead for all under Heaven, do not seize the farmers' seasons, and do not harm merchants and travelers. That would suffice. Otherwise, merely changing policies back and forth will do no good. If revenue-raising schemes are adopted, the realm will be in peril."

仁宗春秋高，皇嗣未立，堯俞請建宗室之賢，以慰天下望。及英宗為皇子，有司闕供饋，仁宗未知。堯俞言：「陛下既以宗社之重建皇嗣，宜以家人禮，使皇子朝夕侍膳左右，以通慈孝之誠。今禮遇有闕，非所以隆親親、重國本也。」於是詔有司供具甚厚。

Emperor Renzong was advanced in years and the imperial heir had not yet been named. Yaoyu asked that a worthy member of the imperial clan be established as heir to satisfy the hopes of the realm. When Yingzong was made heir apparent, the relevant offices failed to provide adequate supplies, and Renzong did not know. Yaoyu said, "Your Majesty has already reestablished the heir for the sake of the altars of soil and grain. You should treat him with family ritual, have the prince attend your meals morning and evening, and thereby express the bond of filial devotion. The ceremonial treatment he now receives is deficient. That is not how to exalt kinship and strengthen the foundation of the state." An edict then ordered the relevant offices to supply provisions very generously.

英宗即位，轉殿中侍御史，遷起居舍人。皇太后與英宗同聽政，英宗有疾，既平，堯俞上書皇太后，請還政。久之，聞內侍任守忠有讒間語，堯俞諫皇太后曰：「外間物論紛惑，兩宮之情未通。臣謂天下之可信者，無大於以天下與人，亦無大於受天下以公，況皇帝以明睿之資，貫通古今，而受人之天下乎？如誅竄讒人，則慈孝之聲並隆矣。」於是皇太后還政，逐守忠。堯俞言於英宗曰：「皇太后給事左右之人，宜頗錄其勤勞，少加恩惠，上慰母后，下安反側。且守忠已去，其餘不問可也。」

When Emperor Yingzong took the throne, Yaoyu was transferred to Attendant Censor of the Palace and promoted to Drafting Attendant. The Empress Dowager and Yingzong ruled jointly. When Yingzong fell ill and recovered, Yaoyu memorialized the Empress Dowager asking her to return government to him. After some time he heard that the eunuch Ren Shouzhong was spreading slander to sow discord. Yaoyu remonstrated with the Empress Dowager, saying, "Public discussion outside the palace is in turmoil, and the feelings between the two palaces are not yet reconciled. I say there is nothing greater in earning trust under Heaven than giving the realm to another, and nothing greater than receiving the realm in the public interest—how much more when the emperor, with discerning sagacity and mastery of past and present, has received the realm from the people? If slanderers are executed and expelled, the renown of filial devotion will rise together." Thereupon the Empress Dowager returned government to the emperor and expelled Shouzhong. Yaoyu said to Yingzong, "Those who attend the Empress Dowager should have their service recorded and be given some favor, to comfort your mother above and settle those below. Moreover, Shouzhong is already gone. The rest may go uninvestigated."

遷右司諫、同知諫院。英宗眷遇堯俞，嘗雪中賜對，堯俞自東廡升，英宗傾身東向以待，每奏事退，多目送之。嘗問曰：「多士盈庭，孰忠孰邪？」堯俞曰：「大忠大佞，固不可移；中人之性，繫上所化。」英宗納其言。

He was transferred to Right Remonstrance Official and Concurrent Director of the Remonstrance Bureau. Yingzong showed special regard for Yaoyu. Once during a snowfall he granted him audience. Yaoyu ascended from the east wing corridor, and Yingzong bent forward facing east to receive him. Each time Yaoyu finished presenting a matter and withdrew, the emperor often watched him go. He once asked, "Many officers fill the court. Which are loyal and which are wicked?" Yaoyu said, "Great loyalty and great wickedness cannot be changed; but middling men depend on how the sovereign shapes them." Yingzong accepted his words.

時英宗初躬庶政，猶謙讓任大臣，堯俞言：「大臣之言是，陛下偶以為然而行之可也；審其非矣，從而徇之，則人主之柄安在？願君臣之際，是是非非，毋相面從。總覽眾議，無所適莫，則威柄歸陛下矣。」嘗因論事，英宗曰：「卿何不言蔡襄？」對曰：「若襄有罪，何不自正典刑，安用臣言？」英宗曰：「欲使台諫言，以公議出之。」對曰：「若付之公議，臣但見襄辦山陵事有功，不見其罪。臣身為諫官，使臣受旨言事，臣不敢。」

At the time Yingzong had first begun to attend to government personally but still deferred to his great ministers. Yaoyu said, "When a great minister's words are right, Your Majesty may happen to agree and carry them out—that is acceptable; but if you examine them and find they are wrong, yet follow and indulge them—where then does the sovereign's authority lie? I wish that between ruler and minister right and wrong may be clear, and that none merely comply to each other's face. Take comprehensive account of all opinions, favoring none exclusively, and authority will return to Your Majesty." Once during a discussion of state affairs Yingzong said, "Why do you not speak against Cai Xiang?" He replied, "If Xiang is guilty, why not apply the proper punishment yourself? Why use my words?" Yingzong said, "I wish the censorate and remonstrance officers to speak, bringing the matter forth through public discussion." He replied, "If entrusted to public discussion, I only see Xiang's merit in managing the imperial tomb works. I do not see his crime. As a remonstrance official, to have me receive an edict to speak on a matter—I dare not."

陝西言，近邊熟戶頗逃失。詔以內侍李若愚等為陝西四路鈐轄，專使招納，歲一入奏事。堯俞言：「此安撫、經略使職也。且若愚等，陛下不信其言，則如不用；言必見從，則邊帥之權，移於四人矣。」尋罷之。

Shaanxi reported that many assimilated border households had recently fled or been lost. An edict appointed the eunuchs Li Ruoyu and others as supervisory commissioners of the four Shaanxi circuits, charged specifically with recruiting them, with annual reports to the throne. Yaoyu said, "This is the duty of pacification and frontier commissioners. Moreover, if Your Majesty does not trust their words, it is as if you do not use them at all; but if their words are always followed, the authority of the frontier commanders will shift to these four men." The appointment was soon abolished.

大臣建言濮安懿王宜稱皇考，堯俞曰：「此於人情禮文，皆大謬戾。」與侍御史呂誨同上十余疏，其言極功。主議者知恟々不可遏，遂易「考」稱「親」。堯俞又言：「『親』，非父母而何？亦不可也。夫恩義存亡一也，先帝既以陛下為子，當是時，設濮王尚無恙，陛下得以父名之乎？」又因水災言：「簡宗廟，則水不潤下。今以濮王為皇考，於仁宗之廟，簡孰甚焉。」

Great ministers proposed that Prince Pu Anyi should be styled Imperial Father. Yaoyu said, "In human sentiment and ritual propriety this is gravely mistaken. He and the investigating censor Lü Hui submitted more than ten joint memorials, pressing their arguments to the utmost. The proponents saw the uproar could not be stemmed and substituted the title Imperial Father (kao) with Imperial Kin (qin). Yaoyu spoke again: "'Kin'—if it does not mean father and mother, what does it mean? That too is unacceptable. Favor and obligation are the same in life and in death. The late emperor had already taken Your Majesty as his son—at that moment, if Prince Pu had still been alive and well, could Your Majesty have addressed him as father?" He also spoke in connection with the floods: "When ancestral temples are curtailed, water does not soak the earth below. To make Prince Pu Imperial Father now—what greater curtailment could there be to Renzong's temple?"

俄命堯俞與趙瞻使契丹，比還，呂誨、呂大防、范純仁皆以諫濮議罷，復除堯俞侍御史知雜事。堯俞拜疏必求罷去，英宗面留之。堯俞言：「誨等已逐，臣義不當止。」因再拜辭，英宗愕然，曰：「是果不可留也。」遂出知和州。通判楊洙乘間問曰：「公以直言斥居此，何為未嘗言及御史時事？」堯俞曰：「前日言職也，豈得已哉？今日為郡守，當宣朝廷美意，而反呫呫追言前日之闕政，與誹謗何異？」

Soon Yaoyu and Zhao Zhan were dispatched as envoys to the Khitan. After they returned, Lü Hui, Lü Daguan, and Fan Chunren were all removed for opposing the Pu affair; Yaoyu was reappointed Attending Censor with concurrent charge of miscellaneous business. Yaoyu repeatedly submitted memorials asking to be dismissed; Yingzong kept him in person. Yaoyu said, "Hui and the others have already been driven out; in duty I ought not remain." He bowed twice and withdrew. Yingzong was taken aback and said, "This man truly cannot be kept." He was then sent out to serve as prefect of He Prefecture. Vice-Prefect Yang Zhu took an opportune moment to ask, "You were banished here for speaking plainly—why have you never mentioned affairs from your days as censor?" Yaoyu said, "That was the office of remonstrance—how could one have held back? Today as a prefect one should proclaim the court's good intent; to keep muttering over yesterday's governmental lapses—how is that different from slander?"

神宗即位，徙知廬州。熙寧三年，至京師。王安石素與之善，方行新法，謂之曰：「舉朝紛紛，俟尹來久矣，將以待制、諫院處君。」堯俞曰：「新法世以為不便，誠如是，當極論之。平生未嘗好欺，敢以為告。」安石慍之，但授直昭文館、權鹽鐵副仗，俄出為河北轉運使，改知江寧府。陛辭，言：「仁廟一室，與藝祖、太宗併為百代不遷之主。」

When Shenzong acceded, Yaoyu was transferred to prefect of Lu Prefecture. In the third year of Xining he arrived at the capital. Wang Anshi had long been friendly with him and was then enacting the New Policies. He told him, "The whole court is in an uproar; we have long awaited your arrival—and intend to place you as a drafting academician in the Remonstrance Bureau." Yaoyu said, "The world considers the New Policies ill-suited; if that is truly so, I shall argue the point to the full. I have never in my life been fond of deceit, and I venture to tell you so plainly." Anshi took offense and merely gave him Direct Attendant of the Zhaowen Pavilion and acting Vice Commissioner of the Salt and Iron Commission; soon he was sent out as Hebei transport commissioner, then reassigned as prefect of Jiangning. At his farewell audience he said, "Renzong's single shrine, together with Taizu and Taizong, are undying sovereigns for a hundred generations."

徙許州、河陽、徐州，再歲六移官，困於道路，知不為時所容，請提舉崇福宮。先是，徐人告有談天文休咎者，堯俞以事未白，不受辭。談者後伏誅，堯俞坐不即捕，削官職。稍起，監黎陽縣倉草場，郡掾行縣，堯俞從眾出迎盡禮。守為遣他吏代主出納，堯俞不可，曰：「居其官安得曠其職。」雖寒暑，必日至庾中治事，凡十年。

He was moved through Xu Prefecture, Heyang, and Xuzhou; within two years he changed posts six times, worn out on the road, and seeing that the age would not accommodate him, he asked to superintend Chongfu Palace. Earlier, someone in Xuzhou reported a person who spoke of celestial signs and fortune and misfortune; Yaoyu, because the case was not yet clear, declined to take the accusation. The speaker was later executed; Yaoyu was punished for failing to arrest him at once and was stripped of his ranks. He was gradually restored to supervise the Liyang County granary hay depot; when a prefectural clerk made a circuit of the county, Yaoyu went out with the others to receive him with full courtesy. The prefect wanted to send another clerk to handle receipts and disbursements in his stead; Yaoyu refused, saying, "While one holds the post, how can one neglect the charge?" In cold or heat alike he came every day to the granary to conduct business—for ten years in all.

哲宗立，自知明州召為秘書少監兼侍講，擢給事中、吏部侍郎、御史中丞。奏言：「人才有能有不能，如使臣補闕拾遺以輔盛德，明善正失以平庶政，舉直措枉以正大臣，臣雖不才，敢不儘力。若使窺人陰私，抉人細故，則非臣所能，亦非臣之志也。」御史張舜民以言事罷，詔堯俞更舉御史，堯俞封還詔書，請留舜民。不聽，即以堯俞為吏部侍郎，堯俞不可，遂以龍圖閣待制知陳州。未幾，復為吏部侍郎、御史中丞。

When Zhezong acceded, he was summoned from Ming Prefecture as Vice Director of the Secretariat with concurrent Court Lecturer, then promoted through Supervising Censor, Vice Minister of Personnel, and Censor-in-Chief. He memorialized, "Talents differ in what they can and cannot do. If Your Majesty would have me fill gaps and recover oversights to support your abundant virtue, clarify what is good and correct what is wrong to steady ordinary government, and promote the upright while setting aside the crooked to rectify great ministers—though I lack ability, how could I not give my utmost? But if you would have me pry into private lives and pick at petty faults, that is neither within my power nor in keeping with my intent." When Censor Zhang Shunmin was dismissed for remonstrating, the court ordered Yaoyu to nominate a replacement; Yaoyu sealed the edict and returned it, asking that Shunmin be kept. The court would not agree and at once appointed Yaoyu Vice Minister of Personnel; he declined, and was therefore made a Dragon Diagram Hall academician in waiting and prefect of Chen Prefecture. Before long he was again Vice Minister of Personnel and Censor-in-Chief.

前宰相蔡確坐詩誹謗，貶新州，宰執、侍從以下，罷者七八人，御史府為之一空。堯俞曰：「確之黨，其尤者固宜逐，其餘可以一切置之。」且言：「以陛下盛德，而乃於此不能平？願聽之如蚊虻之過耳，無使有纖微之忤，以奸太和之氣。事至，以無心應之，聖人所以養至誠而御遐福也。」

Former chief councillor Cai Que was convicted of slander in verse and demoted to Xin Prefecture; among chief administrators, attendants, and those below, seven or eight were removed, and the Censorate was left nearly empty. Yaoyu said, "Among Que's faction, the worst offenders should indeed be driven out; the rest may be set aside entirely." He added, "With Your Majesty's abundant virtue, can you not be tranquil even here? May Your Majesty hear such things as mosquitoes and gnats pass the ear, and not let the slightest affront disturb the great harmonious breath of the realm. When matters arise, meet them with an unperturbed mind—that is how the sage cultivates utmost sincerity and secures blessings from afar."

水官李偉議大河可從孫村導之還故道。堯俞言：「河事雖不可隃度，然比遣使按之，皆言非便。而偉又繆悠不肯任責，豈可以遽興大役。」朝廷遂置偉議。進吏部尚書兼侍讀。元祐四年，拜中書侍郎。六年，卒，年六十八。哲宗與太皇太后哭臨之，太皇太后語輔臣曰：「傅侍郎清直一節，終始不變，金玉君子也。方倚以相，遽至是乎！」贈銀青光祿大夫，諡曰獻簡。紹聖中，以元祐黨人，奪贈諡，著名黨籍。後黨錮解，下詔褒贈，錄其子。

Hydraulic official Li Wei proposed that the Yellow River could be diverted from Sun Village back to its former channel. Yaoyu said, "River works cannot be judged from a distance, yet the envoys recently sent to inspect all reported that the plan was impracticable. Moreover, Wei is feckless and unwilling to accept responsibility—how can we rush into a major project?" The court thereupon shelved Wei's proposal. He was promoted to Minister of Personnel with concurrent Court Reader. In the fourth year of Yuanyou he was appointed Vice Director of the Secretariat. In the sixth year he died, at the age of sixty-eight. Zhezong and the Grand Empress Dowager came to mourn him. The Grand Empress Dowager told the chief ministers, "Vice Minister Fu was pure and upright in a single unbroken strand from first to last—a gentleman of jade and gold. I had only just been relying on him as chief councillor—and suddenly it comes to this!" He was posthumously granted Silver-Gleam Grandee of Glorious Blessing, with the posthumous title Xianjian (Presenting Simplicity). During Shaosheng, as a Yuanyou partisan, his posthumous honors and title were revoked and his name was entered on the faction roll. Later, when the faction proscription was lifted, an edict commended and restored his honors, and his son was enrolled in office.

堯俞厚重言寡，遇人不設城府，人自不忍欺。論事君前，略無回隱，退與人言，不復有矜異色。初，自諫官補郡，眾疑法令有未安者，必有所不從，堯俞一切遵之，曰：「君子素其位而行，諫官有言責也，為郡知守法而已。」徐前守侵用公錢，堯俞至，為償之，未足而去。後守移文堯俞使償入之，考實非堯俞所用，卒不辯。司馬光嘗謂河南邵雍曰：「清、直、勇之德，人所難兼，吾於欽之見焉。」雍曰：「欽之清而不耀，直而不激，勇而能溫，是為難爾。」從孫察，見《忠義傳》。

Yaoyu was grave and sparing of words; he laid no hidden schemes against others, and people themselves could not bring themselves to cheat him. When he argued policy before the throne he scarcely hedged or concealed anything; once he withdrew and spoke with others, he showed no air of special pride. When he first left the remonstrance bureau for a prefectural post, many expected that wherever the laws seemed unsettled he would refuse to comply; Yaoyu followed them in full and said, "The gentleman acts according to his station. A remonstrance official bears the duty to speak; as a prefect one need only uphold the law." The previous prefect of Xuzhou had misappropriated public funds; when Yaoyu arrived he repaid the debt, but left before the sum was fully made up. The succeeding prefect sent papers demanding that Yaoyu make good the shortfall; investigation showed the funds were not his, yet he never defended himself. Sima Guang once said to Shao Yong of Henan, "Purity, uprightness, and courage are virtues men seldom combine—I see all three in Qin-zhi." Yong said, "Qin-zhi is pure without ostentation, upright without harshness, brave yet still gentle—that is what is truly rare." His collateral grandson Fu Cha is treated in the Biographies of Loyalty and Righteousness.

論曰：存、固、瞻、堯俞，初皆善王安石；及其秉政，未嘗受所誘餌，與論新法，終不詭隨。及元祐區別正邪，其論蔡確詩謗之罪恐為已甚，將啟朋黨之禍，豈非先知之明乎？他有更張，隨事諫止，不少循默。然無矯枉過中之失，故能不亟不徐，進退有道，在元祐諸臣中，身名俱全，亦難矣哉。

The historians' judgment runs: Wang Cun, Sun Gu, Zhao Zhan, and Fu Yaoyu were all initially friendly with Wang Anshi; yet once he held power they never took his inducements, and in debating the New Policies they never ended in unprincipled acquiescence. When Yuanyou drew lines between the righteous and the wicked, their view that the punishment of Cai Que for slander in verse had perhaps gone too far—and would open the door to factional disaster—was that not foresight? On other reforms they remonstrated case by case and did not quietly go along. Yet they never overcorrected, and so could move neither too fast nor too slow; in advance and retreat they kept to the proper path. Among the Yuanyou ministers, to preserve both life and reputation intact was no small achievement.

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