1
元絳，字厚之，其先臨川危氏。 唐末，曾祖仔倡聚眾保鄉里，進據信州，為楊氏所敗，奔杭州，易姓曰元。 祖德昭，仕吳越至丞相，遂為錢塘人。 絳生而敏悟，五歲能作詩，九歲謁荊南太守，試以三題，上諸朝，貧不能行。 長，舉進士，以廷試誤賦韻，得學究出身。 再舉登第，調江寧推官，攝上元令。
Yuan Jiang, styled Houzhi, came from the Wei clan of Linchuan. At the end of the Tang dynasty, his great-great-grandfather Zai raised a band to defend their home district, advanced to occupy Xinzhou, was defeated by the Yang clan, fled to Hangzhou, and changed the family name to Yuan. His grandfather Dezhao served the Wu-Yue kingdom, rising to Chancellor, and the family thus became natives of Qiantang. Jiang was born quick and perceptive. At five he could write poetry; at nine he called on the prefect of Jingnan, was tested on three topics, and sent the results to court—but he was too poor to make the journey himself. When he came of age he passed the jinshi examination, but in the palace examination he used the wrong rhyme in his fu and received only the lower rank of research graduate. On his second attempt he passed the examination and was appointed judicial assistant at Jiangning, serving concurrently as acting magistrate of Shangyuan.
2
民有號王豹子者，豪占人田，略男女為僕妾，有欲告者，則殺以滅口。 絳捕置於法。 甲與乙被酒相毆擊，甲歸臥，夜為盜斷足。 妻稱乙，告里長，執乙詣縣，而甲已死。 絳敕其妻曰：「歸治而夫喪，乙已伏矣。」 陰使信謹吏跡其後，望一僧迎笑，切切私語。 絳命取僧繫廡下，詰妻奸狀，即吐實。 人問其故，絳曰：「吾見妻哭不哀，且與傷者共席而襦無血污，是以知之。」
Among the people was a man known as Wang the Leopard who seized others' land by force, kidnapped men and women as servants and concubines, and murdered anyone who tried to report him. Jiang arrested him and punished him according to law. A and B, both drunk, fought each other. A went home to sleep, and in the night a burglar cut off his feet. The wife accused B. She reported to the village head, who seized B and brought him to the county seat—but A was already dead. Jiang told the wife, "Go home and prepare your husband's funeral. B has already confessed." Secretly he sent a reliable, careful clerk to follow her. The clerk saw a monk come forward with a smile, and the two whispered together at length. Jiang had the monk seized and bound under the corridor, questioned the wife about the affair, and she immediately confessed. When people asked how he knew, Jiang said, "I saw that the wife's weeping was not truly mournful, and that though she shared a mat with the wounded man, her jacket had no blood on it—that is how I knew."
3
安撫使范仲淹表其材，知永新縣。 豪子龍聿誘少年周整飲博，以技勝之，計其貲折取上腴田，立券。 久而整母始知之，訟於縣，縣索券為證，則母手印存，弗受。 又訟於州，於使者，擊登聞鼓，皆不得直。 絳至，母又來訴，絳視券，呼謂聿曰：「券年月居印上，是必得周母他牘尾印，而撰偽券續之耳。」 聿駭謝，即日歸整田。
The pacification commissioner Fan Zhongyan recommended his ability, and he was appointed magistrate of Yongxin County. The son of a powerful family, Long Yu, lured the young man Zhou Zheng into drinking and gambling. Beating him by skill, he calculated Zhou's assets and took his best fields in settlement, drawing up a contract. Only after a long time did Zhou Zheng's mother learn of it and sue at the county. The county demanded the contract as evidence, but since the mother's handprint was on it, they refused to accept her claim. She appealed again at the prefecture, before the commissioner, and by beating the drum at the imperial audience hall—but nowhere could she obtain justice. When Jiang arrived, the mother came to sue again. Jiang examined the contract and called to Yu, "The date on this contract sits above the seal—you must have taken the end of some other document bearing Zhou's mother's seal and forged this contract by continuing from it." Yu was alarmed and apologized, returning Zhou Zheng's fields that same day.
4
知通州海門縣。 淮民多盜販鹽，制置使建言，滿二十斤者皆坐徒。 絳曰：「海濱之人，恃鹽以為命，非群販比也。」 笞而縱之。 擢江西轉運判官、知台州。 州大水冒城，民廬蕩析。 絳出庫錢，即其處作室數千區，命人自占，與期三歲償費，流移者皆復業。 又甓其城，因門為牐，以禦湍漲，後人守其法。 入為度支判官。
He was appointed magistrate of Haimen County in Tongzhou. People along the Huai River often smuggled salt. The fiscal commissioner proposed that anyone caught with twenty jin or more should be sentenced to penal servitude. Jiang said, "People of the seacoast depend on salt for their livelihood—they cannot be lumped together with professional smuggling gangs." He had them flogged and released them. He was promoted to transport vice-commissioner of Jiangxi and appointed magistrate of Taizhou. A great flood washed over the city walls of the prefecture, and people's homes were swept away and destroyed. Jiang drew on treasury funds to build several thousand dwellings on the spot, letting people choose their own, with three years to repay the cost. All the displaced returned to their livelihoods. He also faced the city walls with brick and built sluice gates at the city gates to hold back surging waters. Later officials kept to his methods. He was recalled to the capital as vice-director of the Revenue Department.
5
儂智高叛嶺南，宿軍邕州而歲漕不足。 絳以直集賢院為廣東轉運使，建瀕江水砦數十，以待逋寇； 繕治十五城，樓堞械器皆備，軍食有餘。 以功遷工部郎中，歷兩浙、河北轉運使，召拜鹽鐵副使，擢天章閣待制、知福州，進龍圖閣直學士，徙廣、越、荊南，為翰林學士、知開封府，拜三司使、參知政事。 數請老，神宗命其子耆寧校書崇文院，慰留之。
When Nong Zhigao rebelled in Lingnan, troops were stationed at Yongzhou, but annual grain transport fell short. Jiang, serving as a direct appointee at the Hall of Assembled Worthies, was made Guangdong transport commissioner. He built dozens of riverside forts to intercept fleeing bandits; repaired fifteen cities so that towers, parapets, and weapons were all in readiness, and military provisions were more than sufficient. For his achievements he was promoted to director in the Ministry of Works, then served successively as transport commissioner in the Two Zhes and Hebei. He was summoned and appointed vice-commissioner of Salt and Iron, promoted to academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns and magistrate of Fuzhou, advanced to direct academician at the Dragon Diagram Hall, transferred through Guang, Yue, and Jingnan, made Hanlin academician and magistrate of Kaifeng, and finally appointed commissioner of the three fiscal departments and Vice Grand Councillor. He repeatedly asked to retire. Shenzong appointed his son Qining as collator at the Academy of Scholarly Glory to comfort him and keep him in office.
6
會太學虞蕃訟博士受賄，事連耆寧，當下獄。 絳請上還職祿，而容耆寧即訊於外，從之。 於是御史至第薄責絳，絳一不自辨，罷知亳州。 入辭，帝謂曰：「朕知卿，一歲即召矣。 卿意欲陳訴乎？」 絳謝罪，願得潁，即以為潁州。 明年，加資政殿學士、知青州，過都，留提舉中太一宮，力疾入謁，曰：「臣疾憊子弱，儻一旦不幸死，則遺骸不得近先人丘墓。」 帝惻然曰：「朕為卿辦襄，雖百子何以加。」 詔毋多拜，乘輿行幸勿扈從。 又明年，以太子少保致仕。
Then the Imperial University student Yu Fan sued a lecturer for taking bribes, and the case implicated Qining, who should have been thrown into prison. Jiang asked to return his salary and office, requesting that Qining be allowed to be questioned outside prison instead. The emperor agreed. Thereupon censors came to his residence to audit and reprimand him. Jiang offered no defense at all and was dismissed to serve as magistrate of Bozhou. When he came to take leave, the emperor said, "I know you well—you will be recalled within a year. Do you wish to lodge an appeal?" Jiang apologized and asked to be assigned to Ying. He was immediately appointed magistrate of Yingzhou. The next year he was given the additional title of academician of the Hall of Asset Administration and assigned to Qingzhou. Passing through the capital, he was retained to direct the Palace of Grand Unity of the Central Heaven. Though ill, he forced himself to attend audience and said, "I am ill, and I worry my sons are weak. If I should die suddenly, my remains would not lie near my ancestors' tombs." The emperor was moved and said, "I will arrange your funeral for you—what could a hundred sons add to that?" He decreed that Jiang need not perform repeated bows and need not accompany the imperial carriage on processions. The following year he retired with the title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent.
7
絳所至有威名，而無特操，少儀矩。 仕已顯，猶謂遲晚。 在翰林，諂事王安石及其子弟，時論鄙之。 然工於文辭，為流輩推許。 景靈宮作神御十一殿，夜傳詔草《上梁文》，遲明，上之。 雖在中書，而蕃夷書詔，猶多出其手。 既得謝，帝眷眷命之曰：「卿可營居京師，朕當資幣金，且便耆寧仕進。」 絳曰：「臣有田廬在吳，乞歸鬻之，即築室都城，得望屬車之塵，幸矣。 敢冀賜邪。」 既行，追齎白金千兩，敕以蚤還。 絳至吳逾歲，以老病奏，恐不能奉詔。 三年而薨，年七十六。 贈太子少師，諡曰「章簡」。
Wherever Jiang served he earned a reputation for sternness, yet he lacked exceptional moral fiber and paid little heed to propriety. Even after he had risen to high office, he still felt his advancement had come too late. While in the Hanlin Academy he fawned on Wang Anshi and his sons, and public opinion despised him for it. Yet he was skilled in literary composition and was well regarded by his contemporaries. When the Jingling Palace built eleven spirit halls for imperial portraits, he was ordered at night to draft the Raising-the-Beam inscription. By dawn he had submitted it. Even after he entered the Secretariat, documents and edicts concerning foreign peoples and frontier affairs still came mostly from his hand. Having granted him retirement, the emperor spoke to him with deep affection: "You may establish a residence in the capital. I will supply the funds, and this will also ease Qining's path to office." Jiang said, "I have fields and a house in Wu. I beg to return and sell them, then build a dwelling in the capital. Merely to catch sight of the dust of Your Majesty's carriage would be fortune enough. How dare I hope for a gift from Your Majesty?" After he departed, the emperor sent after him a thousand taels of white silver and ordered him to return soon. Jiang reached Wu, and after more than a year he memorialized on account of old age and illness, saying he feared he could not obey the edict. Three years later he died, at the age of seventy-six. He was posthumously given the title of Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent, with the posthumous name Zhangjian (Plain and Simple).
8
許將，字沖元，福州閩人。 舉進士第一。 歐陽修讀其賦，謂曰：「君辭氣似沂公，未可量也。」 簽書昭慶軍判官，代還，當試館職，辭曰：「起家為官，本代耕爾，願以守選餘日，讀所未見書。」 宰相善其志，以通判明州。 神宗召對，除集賢校理、同知禮院，編修中書條例。 自太常丞當轉博士，超改右正言； 明日，直舍人院； 又明日，判流內銓，皆神宗特命，舉朝榮之。 初，選人調擬，先南曹，次考功，綜核無法，吏得緣文為奸，選者又不得訴長吏。 將奏罷南曹，辟公舍以待來訴者，士無留難。 進知制誥，特敕不試而命之。
Xu Jiang, styled Chongyuan, was a native of Min in Fuzhou. He placed first in the jinshi examination. Ouyang Xiu read his fu and said, "Your literary spirit resembles Duke Yi of Wang. Your future cannot yet be measured." As signing secretary and judge of the Zhaoging Army, when his term ended and he was due to take the examination for an academy post, he declined: "Taking office from the start is merely to stand in for farming. I wish to use the remaining days while awaiting appointment to read books I have not yet seen." The chief councilor approved his purpose and appointed him vice-prefect of Mingzhou. Shenzong summoned him for audience and appointed him collator at the Hall of Assembled Worthies and associate director of the Board of Rites, with responsibility for compiling regulations of the Secretariat. From assistant director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices he should normally have been promoted to doctor, but was specially advanced to right remonstrator; the next day, assigned to duty in the Academy of Scholars; and the day after that, judge of the Board of the Flow Within—all special appointments by Shenzong. The whole court regarded it as an honor. Previously, when selecting officials for appointment, cases went first to the Southern Office and then to the Merit Office. Review had no fixed standards, clerks could manipulate documents for fraud, and candidates could not appeal to senior officials. Jiang memorialized to abolish the Southern Office and opened public offices to receive those coming to appeal. Candidates encountered no delays or obstruction. He was promoted to drafter of edicts, specially appointed by imperial order without examination.
9
契丹以兵二十萬壓代州境，遣使請代地，歲聘之使不敢行，以命將。 將入對曰：「臣備位侍從，朝廷大議不容不知。 萬一北人言及代州事，不有以折之，則傷國體。」 遂命將詣樞密院閱文書。 及至北境，居人跨屋棟聚觀，曰：「看南朝狀元。」 及肄射，將先破的。 契丹使蕭禧館客，禧果以代州為問，將隨問隨答。 禧又曰：「界渠未定，顧和好體重，吾且往大國分畫矣。」 將曰：「此事，申飭邊臣豈不可，何以使為？」 禧慚不能對。 歸報，神宗善之，以將知審官西院、直學士院、判尚書兵部。
The Khitan pressed the border of Daizhou with two hundred thousand troops and sent envoys demanding territory. The envoy for the annual tribute mission did not dare go, and the assignment was given to Jiang. Jiang entered and replied, "I hold a place among the emperor's attendants—the great deliberations of court surely cannot be unknown to me. If by any chance the northerners raise the matter of Daizhou and I have nothing with which to refute them, the dignity of the state will be injured." He was then ordered to go to the Bureau of Military Affairs to review the relevant documents. When he reached the northern border, residents straddled roof beams to gather and watch, saying, "Look—the zhuangyuan of the Southern Court." When they practiced archery, Jiang was the first to hit the target. The Khitan envoy Xiao Xi served as host to the guests. Xi indeed raised the question of Daizhou, and Jiang answered each point as it came. Xi also said, "The boundary ditch is not yet fixed. Considering the gravity of friendly relations, I shall go to your great state to demarcate it." Jiang said, "On this matter, would it not suffice to instruct the frontier officials sternly? Why need an envoy?" Xi was shamed and could not reply. On his return and report, Shenzong approved. Jiang was made director of the Western Court for Review of Appointments, assigned to duty in the Academy of Worthies, and judge of the Ministry of War in the Department of State Affairs.
10
時河北保甲、陝西河東弓箭社、閩楚槍仗手雖有名籍，其多少與年月不均，以致閱按無法，將一切整攝之。 進翰林學士、權知開封府，為同進所忌。 會治太學虞蕃訟，釋諸生無罪者，蔡確、舒亶因陷之，逮其父子入御史府，逾月得解，黜知蘄州。
At the time the Hebei militia, the Shaanxi-Hedong crossbow societies, and the Min-Chu pike-and-staff corps all had registers, but their numbers and dates were inconsistent, making inspection impossible. Jiang standardized them all. He was promoted to Hanlin academician and acting magistrate of Kaifeng, arousing the envy of fellow entrants. When the case of Yu Fan at the Imperial University was handled, he released the students who were innocent. Cai Que and Shu Dan used this to frame him, seized him and his father and son and sent them to the Censorate. After more than a month they obtained release, but he was demoted to magistrate of Qizhou.
11
明年，以龍圖閣待制起知秦州，改揚州，又改鄆州。 上元張燈，吏籍為盜者繫獄，將曰：「是絕其自新之路也。」 悉縱遣之，自是民無一人犯法，三圄皆空。 父老歎曰：「自王沂公後五十六年，始再見獄空耳。」 鄆俗士子喜聚肆以謗官政，將雖弗禁，其俗自息。
The next year he was recalled as academician awaiting orders at the Dragon Diagram Hall and appointed magistrate of Qinzhou, then transferred to Yangzhou, and then to Yanzhou. On the Lantern Festival, when lamps were hung, clerks registered known thieves and imprisoned them. Jiang said, "This cuts off their path to reform." He released them all. From then on not a single person broke the law, and all three prisons stood empty. The elders sighed and said, "Since Duke Yi of Wang, fifty-six years have passed before we see empty prisons again." The custom in Yan was for scholar-gentry to gather in taverns to slander official policy. Though Jiang did not forbid it, the custom died down of its own accord.
12
召為兵部侍郎。 上疏言：「兵措於形勢之內，最彰而易知； 隱於權用之表，最微而難能。 此天下之至機也。 是以治兵有制，名雖不同，從而橫之，方而圓之，使萬眾猶一人； 車馬有數，用雖不同，合而分之，散而斂之，取四方猶跬步； 製器有度，工雖不同，左而右之，近而遠之，運眾算猶掌握。 非天下之至神，孰能與此？」 又條奏八事，以為「兵之事有三：曰禁兵，曰廂兵，曰民兵。 馬之事有三：曰養馬，曰市馬，曰牧馬。 兵器之事有二：曰繕作，曰給用。」 及西方用兵，神宗遣近侍問兵馬之數，將立具上之； 明日，訪樞臣，不能對也。
He was summoned to serve as Vice Minister of War. He submitted a memorial saying, "Troops deployed within visible formations are most conspicuous and easy to discern; troops hidden beneath the surface of strategic deployment are most subtle and hardest to master. This is the supreme pivot of the empire. Therefore in governing troops there is regulation: though the names differ, by following them one arrays them horizontally, squares them and rounds them, making ten thousand men move as one; for chariots and horses there are fixed numbers: though their uses differ, by combining them one divides them, by dispersing one gathers them, and reaching the four directions is like a single step; for making implements there are standards: though the crafts differ, by moving left and right, near and far, one handles multitudinous calculations as if they were in the palm of one's hand. Unless one possessed the supreme spirit of the empire, who could achieve this? He also submitted eight items in sequence, holding that "matters of troops fall into three categories: forbidden troops, garrison troops, and militia. Matters of horses fall into three: raising horses, purchasing horses, and herding horses. Matters of weapons fall into two: repair and manufacture, and supply and use." When war was waged in the west, Shenzong sent a close attendant to ask the numbers of troops and horses. Jiang immediately compiled and submitted a full report; The next day he consulted the chief ministers, but they could not answer.
13
以龍圖閣直學士知成都府。 元祐三年，再為翰林學士。 四年，拜尚書右丞。 將自以在先朝為侍從，每討熙、豐舊章以聞。 中旨用王文郁、姚兕領軍，執政復議用張利一、張守約。 將始與執政同議，復密疏利一不可用。 言者論其窺伺主意，炫直賣友。 罷為資政殿學士、知定州，移揚州，又移大名府。
He was appointed magistrate of Chengdu Prefecture with the title of direct academician at the Dragon Diagram Hall. In the third year of the Yuanyou era, he again became a Hanlin academician. In the fourth year he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Jiang himself, having served as an attendant in the previous reign, regularly investigated the old regulations of the Xining and Yuanfeng eras and reported them to the throne. An imperial order appointed Wang Wenyu and Yao Si to lead the army, but the chief administrators reconsidered and proposed Zhang Liyi and Zhang Shouyue instead. Jiang at first agreed with the chief administrators, then secretly memorialized that Zhang Liyi was unsuitable. Critics charged that he was probing the emperor's intent and parading his integrity while betraying his colleagues. He was dismissed to serve as academician of the Hall of Asset Administration and magistrate of Dingzhou, then transferred to Yangzhou, and then to Daming Prefecture.
14
會黃河東、北二議未決，將曰：「度今之利，謂宜因梁村之口以行東，因內黃之口以行北，而盡閉諸口，以絕大名諸州之患。 俟水大至，觀故道足以受之，則內黃之口可塞； 不足以受之，則梁村之口可以止； 兩不能相奪，則各因其自流以待之。」
When the two proposals for the eastern and northern courses of the Yellow River remained undecided, Jiang said, "Considering present advantage, the best course is to follow the Liangcun outlet for the eastern flow and the Neihuang outlet for the northern flow, and close all other outlets to eliminate the threat to Daming and the surrounding prefectures. Wait until the flood peaks. If the old channel can carry it, then the Neihuang outlet may be blocked; if it cannot, then the Liangcun outlet may be stopped; if neither can prevail, then let each follow its own course and wait."
15
紹聖初，入為吏部尚書，上疏乞依元豐詔，定北郊夏至親祀。 拜尚書左丞、中書侍郎。 章惇為相，與蔡卞同肆羅織，貶謫元祐諸臣，奏發司馬光墓。 哲宗以問將，對曰：「發人之墓，非盛德事。」 方黨禍作，或舉漢、唐誅戮故事，帝復問將，對曰：「二代固有之，但祖宗以來未之有，本朝治道所以遠過漢、唐者，以未嘗輒戮大臣也。」 哲宗皆納之。
At the beginning of the Shaosheng era, he entered the capital as Minister of Personnel and submitted a memorial requesting that, in accordance with the Yuanfeng edict, the emperor personally perform the northern suburban sacrifice at the summer solstice. He was appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Director of the Secretariat. When Zhang Dun became chief councilor, he and Cai Bian together fabricated charges, demoted and exiled the Yuanyou officials, and memorialized to exhume Sima Guang's tomb. Zhezong asked Jiang about this. He replied, "Exhuming a person's tomb is not the act of a ruler of great virtue." When the factional purge began, some cited the precedents of executions in the Han and Tang dynasties. The emperor again asked Jiang, who replied, "Those dynasties indeed had such cases, but since our founding ancestors there has been none. The reason our dynasty's governance far surpasses Han and Tang is that we have never casually executed great ministers." Zhezong accepted all of this.
16
將嘗議正夏人罪，以涇原近夏而地廣，謀帥尤難，乞用章楶，楶果有功。 崇寧元年，進門下侍郎，累官金紫光祿大夫，撫定鄯、廓州。 邊臣欲舉師渡河，朝議難之。 將獨謂：「外國不可以爽信，而兵機有不可失，既已戒期，願遂從之。」 未幾，捷書至，將以復河、湟功轉特進，凡居政地十年。
Jiang once discussed punishing the Tangut people. Because Jingyuan bordered Xia and the territory was vast, finding a commander was especially difficult. He recommended Zhang Jie, who indeed achieved success. In the first year of the Chongning era, he was promoted to Vice Director of the Chancellery, rose to the rank of Grandee of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, and pacified Shan and Kuo prefectures. Frontier officials wished to raise an army and cross the river, but the court deliberation found it difficult to approve. Jiang alone said, "Foreign states cannot be treated with broken faith, and military opportunity cannot be missed. Since the date has already been set, I wish we would proceed." Before long, victory reports arrived. Jiang was promoted to special advance for recovering the He and Huang regions. In all he held power for ten years.
17
御史中丞朱諤取將舊謝章表，析文句以為謗，且謂：「將左顧右視，見利則回，幡然改圖，初無定論。 元祐間嘗為丞轄，則盡更元豐之所守。 紹聖初復秉鈞軸，則陰匿元祐之所為。 逮至建中，尚此冒居，則紹聖之所為已皆非矣。 強顏今日，亦復偷安，則建中之所為亦隨改焉。」 遂以資政殿大學士知河南府。 言者不已，降資政殿學士、知潁昌府，移大名，加觀文殿學士、奉國軍節度使。 在大名六年，數告老，召為佑神觀使。 政和初，卒，年七十五。 贈開府儀同三司，諡曰「文定」。
Censor-in-chief Zhu E took Jiang's old memorials of thanks and parsed the sentences as slander, charging, "Jiang looks left and right, turns when he sees profit, suddenly changes course, and from the first has had no fixed judgment. During the Yuanyou era he once served as vice-director, then completely overturned what the Yuanfeng era had upheld. At the beginning of the Shaosheng era he again held the helm of state, then secretly concealed what the Yuanyou era had done. By the time of the Jianzhong era, still shamelessly holding office, what the Shaosheng era had done was already all wrong. Putting on a bold face today and again seeking ease, what the Jianzhong era has done will also change accordingly. He was then made grand academician of the Hall of Asset Administration and magistrate of Henan Prefecture. The critics did not cease. He was demoted to academician of the Hall of Asset Administration and magistrate of Yingchang Prefecture, transferred to Daming, and given the additional titles of academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and military commissioner of the Fengguo Army. After six years at Daming, he repeatedly requested retirement and was summoned to serve as commissioner of the Youshen Observatory. At the beginning of the Zhenghe era he died, at the age of seventy-five. He was posthumously given the title of Grand Preceptor with honors equal to the Three Excellencies, with the posthumous name Wending, Literary and Settled.
18
子份，龍圖閣學士。
His son Fen became an academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall.
19
鄧潤甫
Deng Runfu
20
鄧潤甫，字溫伯，建昌人。 嘗避高魯王諱，以字為名，別字聖求，後皆復之。 第進士，為上饒尉、武昌令。 舉賢良方正，召試不應。 熙寧中，王安石以潤甫為編修中書條例、檢正中書戶房事。 神宗覽其文，除集賢校理、直舍人院，改知諫院、知制誥。 同鄧綰、張琥治鄭俠獄，深致其文，入馮京、王安國、丁諷、王堯臣罪。
Deng Runfu, styled Wenbo, was a native of Jianchang. He once avoided the taboo name of Prince Gao of Lu, using his style as his given name and taking the additional style Shengqiu; later all were restored. He passed the jinshi examination and served as sheriff of Shangrao and magistrate of Wuchang. He was recommended as worthy and upright, but when summoned for examination he did not respond. During the Xining era, Wang Anshi appointed Runfu to compile regulations of the Secretariat and to inspect and rectify the Secretariat's household affairs. Shenzong read his writings and appointed him collator at the Hall of Assembled Worthies with duty in the Academy of Scholars, then changed him to director of the Remonstrance Bureau and drafter of edicts. Together with Deng Wan and Zhang Hu he handled the Zheng Xia case, deeply pursuing his writings and implicating Feng Jing, Wang Anguo, Ding Feng, and Wang Yaochén.
21
擢御史中丞。 上疏曰：「向者陛下登用雋賢，更易百度，士狃於見聞，蔽於俗學，競起而萃非之，故陛下排斥異論，以圖治功。 然言責之路，反為壅抑； 非徒抑之，又或疑之。 論恤民力，則疑其違道干譽； 論補法度，則疑其同乎流俗； 論斥人物，則疑其訐以為直。 故敢言之氣日以折，而天下事變，有不得盡聞。 曩變法之初，勢自當爾。 今法度已就緒，宜有以來天下論議。 至於淫辭詖行，有挾而發，自當屏棄。 如此，則善言不伏，而致大治也。」
He was promoted to censor-in-chief. He submitted a memorial saying, "Previously Your Majesty elevated outstanding talent and changed a hundred measures. Scholars clung to what they had seen and heard, were blinded by conventional learning, and rose together to criticize. Therefore Your Majesty excluded dissenting views to seek governing achievement. Yet the path of remonstrance was instead blocked; not only suppressed but sometimes also suspected. Discuss relief for the people's burdens, and it is suspected of violating the Way and seeking reputation; discuss supplementing laws and institutions, and it is suspected of conforming to vulgar custom; discuss denouncing persons, and it is suspected of exposing others merely to appear upright. Therefore the spirit of daring to speak waned day by day, and changes in affairs under heaven could not all reach Your Majesty's ears. At the beginning of the reforms, the situation naturally had to be so. Now laws and institutions are already in order. There should be means to draw discussion from all under heaven. As for licentious words and slanderous conduct launched with ulterior motives, those should naturally be rejected. In this way, good words would not be suppressed, and great order would be achieved."
22
李憲措置熙河邊事，潤甫率其屬周尹、蔡承禧、彭汝礪上書切諫，其略云：「自唐開元以來，用楊思勖、魚朝恩、程元振、吐突承璀為將。 有功，則負勢驕恣，陵轢公卿； 無功，則挫損國威，為四國笑。 今陛下使憲將兵，功之成否，非臣等所能預料。 然以往事監之，其有害必矣。 陛下仁聖神武，駕御豪傑，雖憲百輩，顧何能為，獨不長念卻慮，為萬世之計乎？ 豈可使國史所書，以中人將兵自陛下始？ 後世沿襲故跡，視以為常，進用其徒握兵柄，則天下之患，將有不可勝言者矣！」 不聽。
Li Xian managed frontier affairs in Xihe. Runfu led his subordinates Zhou Yin, Cai Chengxi, and Peng Ruli in submitting a stern memorial. The gist said, "Since the Kaiyuan era of the Tang dynasty, Yang Sixu, Yu Chao'en, Cheng Yuanzhen, and Tuhu Chenghuan were used as generals. When they had merit, they relied on power and were arrogant and unrestrained, trampling on dukes and ministers; when they had no merit, they damaged national prestige and became the laughingstock of the four states. Now Your Majesty has Xian lead troops. Whether he succeeds or fails, we your ministers cannot foretell. Yet taking past events as a mirror, harm is certain. Your Majesty is benevolent, sage, divine, and martial, controlling heroes. Though Xian were a hundred men, what could they do? Will you not long consider and reflect for the plan of ten thousand generations? How can we allow the national histories to record that eunuch generals began with Your Majesty? Later generations following old tracks would regard it as normal. If their kind were advanced to grasp military power, calamity under heaven would be beyond words! The emperor did not listen.
23
又言：「興利之臣，議前代帝王陵寢，許民請射耕墾，而司農可之。 唐之諸陵，因此悉見芟劉，昭陵喬木，翦伐無遺。 熙寧著令，本禁樵采，遇郊祀則敕吏致祭，德意可謂遠矣。 小人掊克，不顧大體。 願絀創議之人，而一切如令。」 從之。
He also said, "Profit-seeking officials proposed that former dynasties' imperial tombs be opened to allow the people to apply for hunting, farming, and reclamation, and the Minister of Revenue approved. All the tombs of the Tang dynasty were thus mowed and cut down. The tall trees of Zhaoling were felled without remainder. The Xining established order originally forbade cutting firewood and gathering. When suburban sacrifices occurred, officials were ordered to perform rites. The benevolent intent can be called far-reaching. Petty men extort without regard for the larger good. I wish to demote those who originated the proposal and have everything follow the established order. The emperor consented.
24
遷翰林學士。 因論奏相州獄，為蔡確所陷，落職知撫州。 移杭州，以龍圖閣直學士知成都府。 召復翰林學士兼掌皇子閣箋記，一時制作，獨倚潤甫焉。 哲宗立，惟潤甫在院，一夕草制二十有二。 進承旨，修撰《神宗實錄》。 以母喪去，終制，為吏部尚書。 梁燾論其草蔡確制，妄稱有定策功，乃以龍圖閣學士知亳州。 閱歲，復以承旨召。 數月，除端明殿學士、禮部尚書。 請郡，得知蔡州，移永興軍。
He was transferred to Hanlin academician. Because he discussed and memorialized on the Xiangzhou case, he was framed by Cai Que, demoted, and made magistrate of Fuzhou. He was transferred to Hangzhou, then appointed magistrate of Chengdu Prefecture as direct academician at the Dragon Diagram Hall. He was summoned back as Hanlin academician and put in charge of the princes' pavilion documents. For a time all compositions relied solely on Runfu. When Zhezong ascended the throne, Runfu alone was in the academy. In one night he drafted twenty-two edicts. He was promoted to chief academician and compiled the Veritable Records of Shenzong. He left office on his mother's death. After the mourning period ended, he became Minister of Personnel. Liang Tao argued that in drafting Cai Que's edict he falsely claimed merit in settling the succession. He was then made academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and magistrate of Bozhou. After a year he was again summoned as chief academician. After several months he was appointed academician of the Hall of Clear Brightness and Minister of Rites. He requested a prefectural post and was made magistrate of Caizhou, then transferred to Yongxing Army.
25
元祐末，以兵部尚書召。 紹聖初，哲宗親政，潤甫首陳武王能廣文王之聲，成王能嗣文、武之道，以開紹述。 遂拜尚書左丞。 章惇議重謫呂大防、劉摯，潤甫不以為然，曰：「俟見上，當力爭。」 無何，暴卒，年六十八。 輟視朝二日。 以嘗掌均邸箋奏，優贈開府儀同三司，諡曰「安惠」。
At the end of the Yuanyou era he was summoned as Minister of War. At the beginning of the Shaosheng era, when Zhezong personally took power, Runfu was the first to state that King Wu extended King Wen's fame and King Cheng inherited the Way of Wen and Wu, thereby opening the succession of the past. He was then appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Zhang Dun proposed heavy demotion for Lü Dafang and Liu Zhi. Runfu did not agree, saying, "Wait until I see the emperor—I will argue forcefully." Before long he suddenly died, at the age of sixty-eight. Court audience was suspended for two days. Because he had once managed the Jun princes' pavilion memorials, he was generously posthumously given the title of Grand Preceptor with honors equal to the Three Excellencies, with the posthumous name Anhui, Peaceful and Kind.
26
林希，字子中，福州人。 舉進士，調涇縣主簿，為館閣校勘、集賢校理。 神宗朝，同知太常禮院。 皇后父喪，太常議服淺素，希奏：「禮，后為父降服期。 今服淺素，不經。」 及遣使高麗，希聞命，懼形於色，辭行。 神宗怒，責監杭州樓店務。 歲餘，通判秀州，復知太常禮院，遷著作佐郎、禮部郎中。 元豐六年，詔修《兩朝寶訓》，上之。 元祐初，歷秘書少監、起居舍人、起居郎，進中書舍人。 言者疏其行誼浮偽，士論羞薄，不足以玷從列。 以集賢殿修撰知蘇州，更宣、湖、潤、杭、亳五州，加天章閣待制。
Lin Xi, styled Zizhong, was a native of Fuzhou. He passed the jinshi examination, was assigned as registrar of Jing County, and served as collator in the academies and collator at the Hall of Assembled Worthies. During Shenzong's reign he served as associate director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. When the empress's father died, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices debated wearing light plain mourning. Xi memorialized, "According to rites, the empress for her father wears reduced mourning for one year. Wearing light plain mourning now is not according to the classics." When he was ordered to serve as envoy to Goryeo, Xi heard the command, fear showed on his face, and he declined to go. Shenzong was angry and punished him by assigning him to supervise the Hangzhou building-shop office. After more than a year he was made vice-prefect of Xiuzhou, again served as director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and was promoted to assistant director of the Bureau of Compilation and director in the Ministry of Rites. In the sixth year of the Yuanfeng era he was ordered to compile the Precious Instructions of the Two Reigns and submitted it. At the beginning of the Yuanyou era he successively served as vice-director of the Secretariat, recorder of conduct, and director of conduct, and was promoted to drafter of the Secretariat. Critics memorialized that his conduct and righteousness were shallow and false. Scholarly opinion was ashamed and scornful, holding him unworthy to stain the attendant ranks. He was made compiler at the Hall of Assembled Worthies and magistrate of Suzhou, then transferred through five prefectures—Xuan, Hu, Run, Hang, and Bo—and given the additional title of academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns.
27
紹聖初，進寶文閣直學士、知成都府。 道闕下，會哲宗親政，章惇用事，嘗曰：「元祐初，司馬光作相，用蘇軾掌制，所以能鼓動四方，安得斯人而用之。」 或曰：「希可。」 惇欲使希典書命，逞毒於元祐諸臣，且許以為執政。 希亦以久不得志，將甘心焉，遂留行。 復為中書舍人，修《神宗實錄》兼侍讀。
At the beginning of the Shaosheng era, he was promoted to direct academician at the Hall of Precious Culture and appointed magistrate of Chengdu Prefecture. Passing below the palace gate, when Zhezong personally took power and Zhang Dun held sway, Zhang Dun once said, "At the beginning of the Yuanyou era, Sima Guang was chief councilor and used Su Shi to draft edicts—that is how he stirred the four directions. Where can we find such a man to use?" Someone said, "Xi will do." Zhang Dun wished to have Xi manage documents and edicts, vent his venom on the Yuanyou officials, and moreover promised to make him chief administrator. Xi also, having long failed to achieve his ambitions, was willing to submit to this, and so remained and proceeded. He again became drafter of the Secretariat, compiling the Veritable Records of Shenzong while concurrently serving as lecturer.
28
哲宗問：「神宗殿曰『宣光』，前代有此名乎？」 希對曰：「此石勒殿名也。」 乃更為「顯承」。 時方推明紹述，盡黜元祐群臣，希皆密豫其議。 自司馬光、呂公著、大防、劉摯、蘇軾、轍等數十人之制，皆希為之，詞極其醜詆，至以「老奸擅國」之語陰斥宣仁，讀者無不憤歎。 一日，希草制罷，擲筆於地曰：「壞了名節矣。」
Zhezong asked, "Shenzong's hall is called Xuanguang—did former dynasties have this name?" Xi replied, "That was the name of Shi Le's hall." It was then changed to Xiancheng. At the time they were promoting the succession of the past and dismissing all Yuanyou ministers. Xi secretly participated in all these deliberations. The edicts for Sima Guang, Lü Gongzhu, Dafang, Liu Zhi, Su Shi, Zhe, and dozens of others were all drafted by Xi. The language was extremely ugly and slanderous, even using the phrase "old traitor monopolizing the state" to secretly denounce Empress Xuanren. Readers were all indignant and sighing. One day, when Xi finished drafting an edict, he threw the brush to the ground and said, "I have ruined my reputation and integrity."
29
遷禮部，吏部尚書、翰林學士，擢同知樞密院。 始，惇疑曾布在樞府間己，使希為貳，以相伺察。 希日為布所誘，且怨惇不引為執政，遂叛惇。 會邢恕論希罪，惇因並去之，罷知亳州，移杭州，布不能救也。 旋以端明殿學士知太原府。
He was transferred to the Ministry of Rites, then served as Minister of Personnel and Hanlin academician, and was promoted to associate director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. At first Zhang Dun suspected Zeng Bu in the Bureau of Military Affairs was undermining him, and made Xi second-in-command so the two could watch and investigate each other. Xi was daily enticed by Bu, and also resented Zhang Dun for not recommending him as chief administrator, and so turned against Zhang Dun. When Xing Shu discussed Xi's crimes, Zhang Dun took the opportunity to remove them both. Xi was dismissed to serve as magistrate of Bozhou, then transferred to Hangzhou, and Bu could not save him. Shortly afterward he was made academician of the Hall of Clear Brightness and magistrate of Taiyuan Prefecture.
30
徽宗立，徙大名。 上河東邊計三策，朝廷以其詞命醜正之罪，奪職知揚州，徙舒州。 未幾卒，年六十七。 追贈資政殿學士，諡曰「文節」。 弟旦。
When Huizong ascended the throne, he was transferred to Daming. He submitted three plans for the Hedong frontier. The court, taking his language as the crime of maligning the upright, stripped his office and made him magistrate of Yangzhou, then transferred him to Shuzhou. Before long he died, at the age of sixty-seven. He was posthumously given the title of academician of the Hall of Asset Administration, with the posthumous name Wenjie, Literary and Principled. His younger brother was Dan.
31
弟旦
Younger brother Dan
32
旦，第進士，熙寧中，由著作佐郎主管淮南常平，擢太子中允、監察御史裏行。 居臺五月，以論李定事罷守故官。 久之，幹當奏院； 陳繹領門下封駁，又摭其前論罷之。 累年，乃簽書淮南判官。 入為太常博士，工部、考功員外郎。
Dan passed the jinshi examination. During the Xining era, from assistant director of the Bureau of Compilation he supervised Huainan Ever-Normal Granaries, and was promoted to palace attendant and acting censor. After five months at the Censorate, he was dismissed for discussing the Li Ding affair and returned to his former post. After a long time he was assigned to manage the Memorials Office; Chen Yi led the Chancellery's review and rejection section, and again seized on his earlier discussion to dismiss him. After several years he became signing secretary and judge of Huainan. He entered the capital as doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and vice-director in the Ministries of Works and Merit.
33
元祐元年，拜殿中侍御史。 甫蒞職，即上疏曰：「廣言路然後知得失，達民情然後知利病。 竊見去歲五月，詔求讜言，士民爭欲自獻。 及詳觀詔語，名雖求諫，實欲拒言，約束丁寧，使不得觀望迎合，犯令干譽，終之以必行黜罰以恐懼之。 於是人人知戒，言將出而復止； 至於再申諭告，方達天聰。 聞初詔乃蔡確、章惇造端，其詞盡出於惇。 今二人既去，其餘黨常懷醜正惡直之心，願深留宸慮，以折邪謀。」 遂論呂惠卿、鄧綰：「雖罷揚州，猶蒞小郡，小郡之民奚罪焉？ 乞投之散地，以謝天下。」 又言：「近彈王中正、石得一等，雖已薄責，得一所任肘腋小人，如翟勍之徒，亦宜編削。」 詔並降支郡營校。 又論崔台符、賈種民舞文深酷之罪，皆逐之。 出為淮南轉運副使，歷右司郎中、秘書少監、太僕卿，終河東轉運使。
In the first year of the Yuanyou era he was appointed palace censor. As soon as he took office, he submitted a memorial saying, "Broaden the path of speech and then one knows gain and loss; reach the people's sentiments and then one knows benefit and harm. I privately observe that last year in the fifth month an edict sought forthright words, and scholars and commoners competed to offer themselves. But on closely examining the edict's language, though nominally seeking remonstrance, it actually wished to reject speech. Constraints were repeated and earnest, preventing hedging and flattery, warning against violating orders and seeking reputation, and ending with certain dismissal and punishment to terrify them. Thereupon everyone knew to be cautious, and words about to come forth were stopped; only when the edict was repeated and announced did it reach the imperial ear. I hear the initial edict was originated by Cai Que and Zhang Dun, and its language entirely came from Zhang Dun. Now the two men are gone, but the remaining faction constantly harbors hearts that malign the upright and hate the straight. I wish Your Majesty would deeply keep this in mind to thwart evil designs. He then discussed Lü Huiqing and Deng Wan: "Though dismissed to Yangzhou, they still hold small prefectures—what crime have the people of small prefectures committed? I beg to cast them to idle posts to answer to all under heaven." He also said, "Recently impeaching Wang Zhongzheng, Shi Deyi, and others—though lightly punished, the petty men they employed at their side, such as Zhai Qing and his kind, should also be demoted and stripped." An edict ordered all of them demoted to branch prefectures as camp officers. He also discussed Cui Taifu and Jia Zhongmin for the crime of manipulating documents with deep cruelty. All were expelled. He went out as Huainan transport vice-commissioner, successively served as director in the Right Office, vice-director of the Secretariat, and Minister of the Stud, and ended his career as Hedong transport commissioner.
34
子膚，坐元符上書，陷於黨籍。
His son Fu, because of submitting a memorial in the Yuanfu era, was implicated in the faction register.
35
蔣之奇
Jiang Zhiqi
36
蔣之奇，字穎叔，常州宜興人。 以伯父樞密直學士堂蔭得官。 擢進士第，中《春秋》三傳科，至太常博士； 又舉賢良方正，試六論中選，及對策，失書問目，報罷。 英宗覽而善之，擢監察御史。
Jiang Zhiqi, styled Yingshu, was a native of Yixing in Changzhou. Through his uncle's privilege as direct academician at the Bureau of Military Affairs he obtained office. He passed the jinshi examination, placed in the Three Commentaries on the Spring and Autumn Annals category, and rose to doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; He was also recommended as worthy and upright. In the six-essay examination he was selected, but in the policy response he failed to write the question topics and was dismissed. Yingzong read it and approved, and promoted him to censor.
37
神宗立，轉殿中侍御史，上謹始五事：一曰進忠賢，二曰退奸邪，三曰納諫諍，四曰遠近習，五曰閉女謁。 神宗顧之曰：「斜封、墨敕必無有，至於近習之戒，孟子所謂『觀遠臣以其所主』者也。」 之奇對曰：「陛下之言及此，天下何憂不治。」
When Shenzong ascended the throne, he was transferred to palace censor and submitted five matters of careful beginning: first, advance the loyal and worthy; second, remove the treacherous and evil; third, accept remonstrance; fourth, keep distant close associates; fifth, close off women's petitions. Shenzong looked at him and said, "Slanting seals and ink edicts surely will not exist. As for the warning about close associates, this is what Mencius called 'observe distant ministers by those they serve.'" Zhiqi replied, "Your Majesty's words reaching this point—what worry is there that all under heaven will not be well governed?"
38
初，之奇為歐陽修所厚，制科既黜，乃詣修盛言濮議之善，以得御史。 復懼不為眾所容，因修妻弟薛良孺得罪怨修，誣修及婦吳氏事，遂劾修。 神宗批付中書，問狀無實，貶監道州酒稅，仍榜朝堂。 至州，上表哀謝，神宗憐其有母，改監宣州稅。
Initially Zhiqi was favored by Ouyang Xiu. After failing the special examination, he went to Xiu and spoke at length of the excellence of the Pu discussion, thereby obtaining the censor post. Again fearing he would not be accepted by the multitude, and because Xiu's wife's younger brother Xue Liangru had offended and resented Xiu, he falsely accused Xiu and his wife Lady Wu, and impeached Xiu. Shenzong annotated and sent it to the Secretariat. Inquiry found no substance. He was demoted to supervise wine tax at Daozhou, and the notice was posted at court. Arriving at the prefecture, he submitted a memorial of sorrowful apology. Shenzong pitied him for having a mother and changed him to supervise tax at Xuanzhou.
39
新法行，為福建轉運判官。 時諸道免役推行失平，之奇約僦庸費，隨算錢高下均取之，民以為便。 遷淮東轉運副使。 歲惡民流，之奇募使修水利以食流者。 如揚之天長三十六陂，宿之臨渙橫斜三溝，尤其大也，用工至百萬，溉田九千頃，活民八萬四千。
When the new laws were implemented, he became Fujian transport vice-commissioner. At the time the exemption-from-corvée policy was implemented unevenly in various circuits. Zhiqi fixed hired-labor costs and collected uniformly according to the amount of calculated money. The people found it convenient. He was transferred to Huaidong transport vice-commissioner. In a bad year people fled. Zhiqi recruited laborers to repair waterworks to feed the displaced. Such as the thirty-six embankments of Tianchang in Yangzhou, and the three diagonal canals of Linhuan in Suzhou—these were especially large. Labor used reached a million, irrigating nine thousand qing of fields and sustaining eighty-four thousand people.
40
歷江西、河北、陝西副使。 之奇在陝西，經賦入以給用度，公私用足。 比其去，庫緡八十餘萬，邊粟皆支二年。 移淮南，擢江、淮、荊、浙發運副使。 元豐六年，漕粟至京，比常歲溢六百二十萬石，錫服三品。 請鑿龜山左肘至洪澤為新河，以避淮險，自是無覆溺之患。 詔增二秩，加直龍圖閣，升發運使。 凡六年，其所經度，皆為一司故事。
He successively served as vice-commissioner in Jiangxi, Hebei, and Shaanxi. Zhiqi in Shaanxi managed tax revenues to supply expenses, and public and private needs were met. By the time he left, the treasury held over eight hundred thousand strings of cash, and frontier grain could supply two years. Transferred to Huainan, he was promoted to vice-commissioner of grain transport for Jiang, Huai, Jing, and Zhe. In the sixth year of the Yuanfeng era, grain transported to the capital exceeded the normal year by six million two hundred thousand shi. He was granted third-rank robes. He requested to cut a new river from the left elbow of Guishan to Hongze to avoid Huai River dangers. From then on there was no calamity of capsizing and drowning. An edict increased his rank by two steps, added direct appointment at the Dragon Diagram Hall, and promoted him to transport commissioner. In all six years, what he planned and measured all became precedents for the office.
41
元祐初，進天章閣待制、知潭州。 御史韓川、孫升、諫官朱光庭皆言之奇小人，不足當斯選。 改集賢殿修撰、知廣州。 妖人岑探善幻，聚黨二千人，謀取新興，略番禺，包據嶺表，群不逞借之為虐，其勢張甚。 之奇遣鈐轄楊從先致討，生擒之。 加寶文閣待制。 南海饒寶貨，為吏者多貪聲，之奇取前世牧守有清節者吳隱之、宋璟、盧奐、李勉等，繪其象，建十賢堂以祀，冀變其習。
At the beginning of the Yuanyou era, he was promoted to academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns and appointed magistrate of Tanzhou. Censors Han Chuan and Sun Sheng and remonstrator Zhu Guangting all said Zhiqi was a petty man, unworthy of this selection. He was changed to compiler at the Hall of Assembled Worthies and magistrate of Guangzhou. The sorcerer Cen Tan was skilled in illusion. He gathered a band of two thousand men, plotted to seize Xinxing, plunder Panyu, and envelop Lingnan. The unruly borrowed his power to do harm, and his momentum swelled greatly. Zhiqi sent commander Yang Congxian to attack and captured him alive. He was given the additional title of academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Precious Culture. The Southern Sea abounds in precious goods, and many officials who serve there have reputations for greed. Zhiqi took former prefects and governors of integrity—Wu Yinzhi, Song Jing, Lu Huan, Li Mian, and others—painted their images, and built the Hall of Ten Worthies to worship them, hoping to change the custom.
42
徙河北都轉運使、知瀛州。 遼使耶律迪道死，所過郡守皆再拜致祭。 之奇曰：「天子方伯，奈何為之屈膝邪！」 奠而不拜。 入為戶部侍郎。 未幾，復出知熙州。 夏人論和，請畫封境。 之奇揣其非誠心，務修守備，謹斥候，常若敵至。 終之奇去，夏人不敢犯塞。
He was transferred to chief transport commissioner of Hebei and magistrate of Yingzhou. The Liao envoy Yelü Didao died. Prefects and governors along the route all bowed twice and performed sacrifices. Zhiqi said, "A Son of Heaven's regional lord—how can one bend the knee for him! He offered libation but did not bow. He entered the capital as Vice Minister of Revenue. Before long he again went out as magistrate of Xizhou. The Tangut people discussed peace and requested demarcation of the border. Zhiqi surmised they were not sincere and devoted himself to repairing defenses, carefully posting scouts, always as if the enemy were arriving. Until Zhiqi left, the Tangut people did not dare violate the frontier.
43
紹聖中，召為中書舍人，改知開封府，進龍圖閣直學士，拜翰林學士兼侍讀。 元符末，鄒浩以言事得罪，之奇折簡別之，責守汝州。 閱月，徙慶州。
During the Shaosheng era he was summoned as drafter of the Secretariat, changed to magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, promoted to direct academician at the Dragon Diagram Hall, and appointed Hanlin academician and lecturer. At the end of the Yuanfu era, Zou Hao offended by speaking on affairs. Zhiqi sent a letter to bid him farewell and was punished by being assigned to guard Ruzhou. After a month he was transferred to Qingzhou.
44
之奇為部使者十二任，六典會府，以治辦稱。 且孜孜以人物為己任，在閩薦處士陳烈，在淮南薦孝子徐積，每行部至，必造之。 特以畔歐陽修之故，為清議所薄。
Zhiqi served twelve terms as circuit commissioner, six times administering metropolitan prefectures, and was known for efficient governance. Moreover he diligently took recommending persons as his responsibility. In Min he recommended the recluse Chen Lie; in Huainan he recommended the filial son Xu Ji. Whenever he toured his circuit he always visited them. Only because he had turned against Ouyang Xiu was he scorned by pure opinion.
45
子：皆，至侍從。 曾孫：芾，別有傳。
His son Jie rose to attendant. His great-grandson Fei has a separate biography.
46
陸佃，字農師，越州山陰人。 居貧苦學，夜無燈，映月光讀書。 躡屩從師，不遠千里。 過金陵，受經於王安石。 熙寧三年，應舉入京。 適安石當國，首問新政，佃曰：「法非不善，但推行不能如初意，還為擾民，如青苗是也。」 安石驚曰：「何為乃爾？ 吾與呂惠卿議之，又訪外議。」 佃曰：「公樂聞善，古所未有，然外間頗以為拒諫。」 安石笑曰：「吾豈拒諫者？ 但邪說營營，顧無足聽。」 佃曰：「是乃所以致人言也。」 明日，安石召謂之曰：「惠卿云：『私家取債，亦須一雞半豚。』 已遣李承之使淮南質究矣。」 既而承之還，詭言於民無不便，佃說不行。
Lu Tian, styled Nongshi, was a native of Shanyin in Yuezhou. Living in poverty he studied hard. At night with no lamp he read by moonlight. Wearing straw sandals he followed teachers, not fearing journeys of a thousand li. Passing through Jinling, he received instruction in the classics from Wang Anshi. In the third year of the Xining era he entered the capital for the examination. Just as Wang Anshi was in power, he first asked about the new policies. Tian said, "The laws are not ungood, but implementation cannot match the original intent and instead disturbs the people, as with the Green Sprouts policy." Wang Anshi said in alarm, "Why is it like this? I discussed it with Lü Huiqing and also sought outside opinion." Tian said, "Your Lordship delights in hearing what is good—unprecedented since antiquity—yet outside opinion rather takes it as rejecting remonstrance." Wang Anshi smiled and said, "How could I be one who rejects remonstrance? Only heretical talk buzzes about—hardly worth listening to." Tian said, "That is precisely what causes people to speak." The next day Wang Anshi summoned him and said, "Huiqing says, 'Even private lending requires a chicken or half a pig. I have already sent Li Chengzhi to Huainan to investigate on the spot.'" Before long Chengzhi returned and falsely reported that the people had no inconvenience. Tian's argument was not adopted.
47
禮部奏名為舉首。 方廷試賦，遽發策題，士皆愕然； 佃從容條對，擢甲科。 授蔡州推官。 初置五路學，選為鄆州教授，召補國子監直講。 安石以佃不附己，專付之經術，不復諮以政。 安石子雱用事，好進者坌集其門，至崇以師禮，佃待之如常。
The Ministry of Rites submitted his name as first in the examination. Just as the palace examination fu was underway, the policy question was suddenly issued. Scholars were all startled; Tian calmly answered item by item and was placed in the top grade. He was appointed judicial assistant at Caizhou. When the five-circuit schools were first established, he was selected as professor at Yanzhou and summoned to fill the post of lecturer at the Directorate of Education. Because Tian did not attach himself to Wang Anshi, he was entrusted solely with classical learning and no longer consulted on government. When Wang Anshi's son Bian held power, those eager to advance thronged his gate, even honoring him with the rites due a teacher. Tian treated him as usual.
48
同王子韶修定《說文》。 入見，神宗問大裘襲袞，佃考禮以對。 神宗悅，用為祥定郊廟禮文官。 時同列皆侍從，佃獨以光祿丞居其間。 每有所議，神宗輒曰：「自王、鄭以來，言禮未有如佃者。」 加集賢校理、崇政殿說書，進講《周官》，神宗稱善，始命先一夕進稿。 同修起居注。 元豐定官制，擢中書舍人、給事中。 哲宗立，太常請復太廟牙盤食。 博士呂希純、少卿趙令鑠皆以為當復。 佃言：「太廟，用先王之禮，於用俎豆為稱； 景靈宮、原廟，用時王之禮，於用牙盤為稱，不可易也。」 卒從佃議。
Together with Wang Zishao he revised and fixed the Shuowen. Entering audience, Shenzong asked about the great fur robe and the layered ceremonial robe. Tian examined the rites and replied. Shenzong was pleased and employed him as an officer for determining suburban and temple ritual texts. At the time his colleagues were all attendants. Tian alone held the rank of assistant director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments among them. Whenever there was discussion, Shenzong would say, "Since Wang and Zheng, none who speak of rites have been like Tian." He was given the additional posts of collator at the Hall of Assembled Worthies and lecturer at the Hall of Promoting Governance. He lectured on the Offices of Zhou. Shenzong praised it and first ordered drafts submitted the night before. He jointly compiled the Daily Records. When the Yuanfeng office system was fixed, he was promoted to drafter of the Secretariat and attendant censor. When Zhezong ascended the throne, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices requested restoring tooth-tray offerings at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Doctors Lü Xichun and vice-director Zhao Lingshuo all held that it should be restored. Tian said, "The Imperial Ancestral Temple uses the rites of former kings. Using stands and vessels is appropriate; the Jingling Palace and the original temples use the rites of the present king. Using tooth-trays is appropriate—they cannot be changed." In the end they followed Tian's proposal.
49
是時，更先朝法度，去安石之黨，士多諱變所從。 安石卒，佃率諸生供佛，哭而祭之，識者嘉其無向背。 遷吏部侍郎，以修撰《神宗實錄》徙禮部。 數與史官范祖禹、黃庭堅爭辨，大要多是安石，為之晦隱。 庭堅曰：「如公言，蓋佞史也。」 佃曰：「盡用君意，豈非謗書乎！」
At this time the previous reign's laws and institutions were changed and Wang Anshi's faction was removed. Scholars mostly concealed changes in whom they followed. When Wang Anshi died, Tian led the students to offer to Buddha, wept, and sacrificed to him. The discerning praised him for having no shifting allegiance. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Personnel. Because of compiling the Veritable Records of Shenzong he was moved to the Ministry of Rites. He repeatedly argued with historians Fan Zuyu and Huang Tingjian. Mostly he sided with Wang Anshi and concealed matters for him. Tingjian said, "By your words, you are a flatterer-historian." Tian said, "If we fully used your intent, would it not be a book of slander!"
50
進權禮部尚書。 鄭雍論其穿鑿附會，改龍圖閣待制、知潁州。 佃以歐陽修守潁有遺愛，為建祠宇。 《實錄》成，加直學士，又為韓川、朱光庭所議，詔止增秩，徙知鄧州。 未幾，知江寧府。 甫至，祭安石墓。 句容人盜嫂害其兄，別誣三人同謀。 既皆訊服，一囚父以冤訴，通判以下皆曰：「彼怖死耳，獄已成，不可變。」 佃為閱實，三人皆得生。 紹聖初，治《實錄》罪，坐落職，知秦州，改海州。 朝論灼其情，復集賢殿修撰，移知蔡。
He was promoted to acting Minister of Rites. Zheng Yong argued that he forced connections and strained interpretations. He was changed to academician awaiting orders at the Dragon Diagram Hall and magistrate of Yingzhou. Because Ouyang Xiu when governing Ying had left beloved memory, Tian built a shrine for him. When the Veritable Records were completed, he was given direct academician rank. Again criticized by Han Chuan and Zhu Guangting, an edict only increased his rank and transferred him to be magistrate of Dengzhou. Before long he was made magistrate of Jiangning Prefecture. As soon as he arrived, he sacrificed at Wang Anshi's tomb. A man of Jurong stole his sister-in-law and killed his elder brother, then separately falsely accused three men of conspiring together. After all had confessed under interrogation, one prisoner's father appealed on grounds of injustice. The vice-prefect and below all said, "He is merely terrified of death. The case is already settled and cannot be changed." Tian reviewed the facts, and all three men were spared. At the beginning of the Shaosheng era, prosecuted for the Veritable Records affair, he was demoted and stripped of office, made magistrate of Qinzhou, then changed to Haizhou. Court discussion clarified the circumstances. He was restored as compiler at the Hall of Assembled Worthies and transferred to be magistrate of Caizhou.
51
徽宗即位，召為禮部侍郎。 上疏曰：「人君踐祚，要在正始，正始之道，本於朝廷。 近時學士大夫相傾競進，以善求事為精神，以能訐人為風采，以忠厚為重遲，以靜退為卑弱。 相師成風，莫之或止，正而救之，實在今日。 神宗延登真儒，立法制治，而元祐之際，悉肆紛更。 紹聖以來，又皆稱頌。 夫善續前人者，不必因所為，否者賡之，善者揚焉。 元祐紛更，是知賡之而不知揚之之罪也； 紹聖稱頌，是知揚之而不知賡之之過也。 願諮謀人賢，詢考政事，惟其當之為貴，大中之期，亦在今日也。」 徽宗遂命修《哲宗實錄》。
When Huizong ascended the throne, he was summoned as Vice Minister of Rites. He submitted a memorial saying, "When a ruler ascends the throne, the key lies in a correct beginning. The way of a correct beginning is rooted in the court. Recently scholars and officials undermined each other in competing for advancement. They took skill in seeking affairs as spirit, ability to expose others as style, loyalty and honesty as sluggishness, and quiet withdrawal as weakness. Teaching each other, it became custom. None could stop it. To correct and rescue it is truly a task for today. Shenzong extended invitation to true scholars, established laws and governed, yet during the Yuanyou era all were wildly changed. Since the Shaosheng era, all have again been praised. One who well continues predecessors need not follow what they did. What was wrong should be continued against; what was good should be raised up. The Yuanyou era's wild changes were the fault of knowing how to continue against but not knowing how to raise up; The Shaosheng era's praise was the error of knowing how to raise up but not knowing how to continue against. I wish to consult and plan with worthy men and inquire and examine governance. Only what is fitting is precious. The expectation of great centrality is also in today. Huizong then ordered compilation of the Veritable Records of Zhezong.
52
遷吏部尚書，報聘於遼，歸，半道聞遼主洪基喪，送伴者赴臨而返，誚佃曰：「國哀如是，漢使殊無吊唁之儀，何也？」 佃徐應曰：「始意君匍匐哭踴而相見，即行吊禮； 今偃然如常時，尚何所吊？」 伴者不能答。
He was transferred to Minister of Personnel and returned an envoy mission to Liao. On the way back, halfway he heard the Liao ruler Hongji had died. The escort went to mourn and returned, mocking Tian: "The state's mourning is such—yet the Song envoy has no condolence rites. Why? Tian slowly replied, "At first I thought you would crawl and weep and wail when we met, and then I would perform condolence rites; now you are at ease as in normal times—what is there to condole?" The escort could not reply.
53
拜尚書右丞。 將祀南郊，有司欲飾大裘匣，度用黃金多，佃請易以銀。 徽宗曰：「匣必用飾邪？」 對曰：「大裘尚質，後世加飾焉，非禮也。」 徽宗曰：「然則罷之可乎？ 數日來，豐稷屢言之矣。」 佃因贊曰：「陛下及此，盛德之舉也。」 徽宗欲親祀北郊，大臣以為盛暑不可，徽宗意甚確。 朝退，皆曰：「上不以為勞，當遂行之。」 李清臣不以為然。 佃曰：「元豐非合祭而是北郊，公之議也。 今反以為不可，何耶？」 清臣乃止。
He was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. When about to sacrifice at the southern suburb, the officials wished to decorate the great fur robe case. Estimating that much gold would be used, Tian requested replacing it with silver. Huizong said, "Must the case use decoration?" He replied, "The great fur robe values simplicity. Later ages added decoration—this is not rite." Huizong said, "Then may we abolish it? These past days Feng Ji has repeatedly spoken of it." Tian thereupon praised, "Your Majesty reaching this point is an act of great virtue." Huizong wished to personally sacrifice at the northern suburb. Great ministers thought the great heat made it impossible, but Huizong's intent was very firm. After court dismissal, all said, "The emperor does not consider it laborious—we should proceed." Li Qingchen did not agree. Tian said, "In the Yuanfeng era it was not combined sacrifice but the northern suburb—this was your proposal. Now you instead say it is impossible—why?" Qingchen then stopped.
54
御史中丞趙挺之以論事不當，罰金。 佃曰：「中丞不可罰，罰則不可為中丞。」 諫官陳瓘上書，曾布怒其尊私史而壓宗廟。 佃曰：「瓘上書雖無取，不必深怒，若不能容，是成其名也。」 佃執政與曾布比，而持論多近恕。 每欲參用元祐人才，尤惡奔競，嘗曰：「天下多事，須不次用人； 苟安寧時，人之才無大相遠，當以資歷序進。 少緩之，則士知自重矣。」 又曰：「今天下之勢，如人大病向愈，當以藥餌輔養之，須其安平； 苟為輕事改作，是使之騎射也。」
Censor-in-chief Zhao Tingzhi was fined for improper discussion of affairs. Tian said, "The censor-in-chief cannot be fined. If fined, one cannot serve as censor-in-chief." Remonstrator Chen Guan submitted a memorial. Zeng Bu was angry that he honored private histories and suppressed the ancestral temple. Tian said, "Though Guan's memorial has nothing to recommend it, there is no need for deep anger. If you cannot tolerate it, you make his name." Tian in power was allied with Zeng Bu, yet his arguments mostly leaned toward forgiveness. He often wished to employ Yuanyou talent alongside others and especially hated rushing and competition. He once said, "When the empire has many affairs, one must use men out of turn; if times are peaceful, men's talents differ little—one should advance them in order of seniority. Slow it slightly, and scholars will know to value themselves." He also said, "Today's situation under heaven is like a person whose great illness is turning toward recovery. One should nourish with medicine and diet, waiting for peace and stability; if one lightly changes and remakes affairs, it is like making him ride and shoot."
55
轉左丞。 御史論呂希純、劉安世復職太驟，請加鐫抑，且欲更懲元祐餘黨。 佃為徽宗言不宜窮治，乃下詔申諭，揭之朝堂。 讒者用是詆佃，曰：「佃名在黨籍，不欲窮治，正恐自及耳。」 遂罷為中大夫、知亳州，數月卒，年六十一。 追復資政殿學士。
He was transferred to Left Vice Director. Censors argued that Lü Xichun and Liu Anshi were restored to office too hastily. They requested further demotion and also wished to punish remaining Yuanyou faction members. Tian told Huizong it was not appropriate to pursue to the end. An edict was issued to clarify and instruct, posted at court. Slanderers used this to attack Tian, saying, "Tian's name is on the faction register. He does not wish to pursue to the end—he truly fears reaching himself." He was then dismissed to serve as grandee of the palace and magistrate of Bozhou. Several months later he died, at the age of sixty-one. He was posthumously restored as academician of the Hall of Asset Administration.
56
佃著書二百四十二卷，於禮家、名數之說尤精，如《埤雅》、《禮象》、《春秋後傳》皆傳於世。
Tian authored two hundred forty-two juan of books. He was especially expert in ritualists' and numerical nomenclature theories. Works such as the Piya, Rites Imagery, and Later Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals all circulated in the world.
57
吳居厚
Wu Juhou
58
吳居厚，字敦老，洪州人。 第嘉祐進士，熙寧初，為武安節度推官。 奉行新法，盡力核閑田，以均給梅山徭，計勞，得大理丞，轉補司農屬。 元豐間，提舉河北常平，增損役法五十一條，賜銀緋，為京東轉運判官，升副使。
Wu Juhou, styled Dunlao, was a native of Hongzhou. He passed the jiayou jinshi examination. At the beginning of the Xining era he was judicial assistant of the Wu'an military commission. Implementing the new laws, he exerted himself to verify idle fields and distribute them evenly to the Meishan Yao. Counting his labor, he obtained the rank of assistant director of the Court of Judicial Review and was transferred to fill a post in the Ministry of Revenue. During the Yuanfeng era he directed Hebei Ever-Normal Granaries, added and reduced fifty-one articles of the corvée law, was granted silver and crimson robes, became Jingdong transport vice-commissioner, and was promoted to vice-commissioner.
59
天子方興鹽、鐵，居厚精心計，籠絡鉤稽，收羨息錢數百萬。 即萊蕪、利國二冶官自鑄錢，歲得十萬緡。 詔褒揭其能。 擢天章閣待制、都轉運使。 前使者皆以不任職蒙譴，居厚與河北蹇周輔、李南公會境上，議鹽法，搜剔無遺。 居厚起州縣凡流，無閥閱勳庸，徒以言利得幸，不數歲，至侍從，嗜進之士從風羨美。 又請以鹽息買絹，資河東直； 發大鐵錢二十萬貫，佐陝西軍興； 且募民養保馬。 當時商功利之臣，所在成聚，居厚最為掊克。
The Son of Heaven was just developing salt and iron. Juhou carefully calculated, coordinated and audited, and collected surplus interest money of several million. At the Laiwu and Liguo smelting offices he personally cast coin, obtaining one hundred thousand strings per year. An edict praised and publicized his ability. He was promoted to academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns and chief transport commissioner. Previous envoys all suffered punishment for incompetence. Juhou met at the border with Jian Zhoufu and Li Nangong of Hebei to discuss the salt law, searching and extracting without omission. Juhou rose from ordinary county and prefecture ranks, without noble pedigree or meritorious deeds, merely gaining favor by speaking of profit. Within a few years he reached attendant rank, and those eager to advance followed the wind and envied his success. He also requested using salt interest to buy silk and fund Hedong direct transport; issued two hundred thousand strings of large iron coin to assist Shaanxi military mobilization; and recruited the people to raise militia horses. At the time profit-seeking officials gathered everywhere. Juhou was the most extortionate.
60
劇盜王沖因民不忍，聚眾數千，欲乘其行部至徐，篡取投諸冶。 居厚聞知，間道遁去。 元祐治其罪，責成州團練副使，安置黃州。 章惇用事，起為江淮發運使。 疏支家河通漕，楚、海之間賴其利。 召拜戶部侍郎、尚書，以龍圖閣學士知開封府，為永泰陵橋道頓遞使。 坐積雨留滯，罷知和州。
The notorious bandit Wang Chong, because the people could not endure it, gathered several thousand men. He intended when Juhou toured his circuit to Xuzhou to seize him and throw him into the smelter. Juhou heard of it and fled by a hidden path. During the Yuanyou era his crime was prosecuted. He was punished as vice-commissioner of the Chengzhou militia and settled at Huangzhou. When Zhang Dun held power, he was recalled as Jiang-Huai transport commissioner. He dredged the Zhijia River to open grain transport. Between Chu and the sea they relied on its benefit. He was summoned and appointed Vice Minister and Minister of Revenue, made academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, and served as relay commissioner for the Yongtai Mausoleum bridge route. Because accumulated rain caused delay, he was dismissed to serve as magistrate of Hezhou.
61
崇寧初，復尹開封，拜尚書右丞，進中書門下侍郎。 以老避位，為資政殿學士、東太一宮使，恩許仍服方團金球文帶。 自是，前執政在京師者視此。 出為亳州、洪州，徙太原，道都門，留使祐神觀，復還政府，遷知樞密院。 政和三年，以武康軍節度使知洪州，卒，年七十九。 贈開府儀同三司。
At the beginning of the Chongning era he again governed Kaifeng, was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and advanced to Vice Director of the Secretariat and Chancellery. Citing old age he yielded his post and was made academician of the Hall of Asset Administration and commissioner of the Eastern Palace of Grand Unity. By grace he was permitted still to wear the square-round gold-sphere patterned belt. From then on, former chief administrators in the capital looked to this as precedent. He went out as magistrate of Bozhou and Hongzhou, then transferred to Taiyuan. Passing the capital gate he was retained as commissioner of the Youshen Observatory, then returned to government and was transferred to director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the third year of the Zhenghe era, as military commissioner of the Wukang Army he was made magistrate of Hongzhou. He died at the age of seventy-nine. He was posthumously given the title of Grand Preceptor with honors equal to the Three Excellencies.
62
居厚在政地久，以周謹自媚，無赫顯惡，唯一時聚斂，推為稱首。
Juhou held power for a long time, flattering with thorough caution. He had no glaring evil, only the revenue extraction of his time—he was ranked foremost.
63
溫益，字禹弼，泉州人。 第進士，歷大宗正丞、利州路湖南轉運判官、工部員外郎。 紹聖中，由諸王府記室出知福州，徙潭州。 鄒浩南遷過潭，暮投宿村寺，益即遣州都監將數卒夜出城，逼使登舟，竟淩風絕江而去。 他逐臣在其境內，若范純仁、劉奉世、韓川、呂希純、呂陶，率為所侵困，用事者悅之。 未及用，而徽宗以藩邸恩，召為太常少卿，遷給事中兼侍讀。 陳瓘指言其過，謂不宜列侍從、處經帷，不報。 改龍圖閣待制、知開封府，猶兼侍讀。 時執政倡言，帝當為哲宗服兄弟之服。 曾肇在邇英讀《史記•舜紀》，因言：「昔堯、舜同出黃帝，世數已遠，然舜為堯喪三年者，以嘗臣堯故也。」 益意附執政，進曰：「《史記》世次不足信，堯、舜非同出。」 遷吏部尚書。
Wen Yi, styled Yubi, was a native of Quanzhou. He passed the jinshi examination and successively served as assistant director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, transport vice-commissioner of Lizhou Circuit and Hunan, and vice-director in the Ministry of Works. During the Shaosheng era, from secretary of the princes' establishments he went out as magistrate of Fuzhou, then transferred to Tanzhou. Zou Hao passed through Tan on his southward exile. At dusk he lodged at a village temple. Yi immediately sent the prefectural commander with several soldiers out of the city by night, forced him aboard a boat, and he ultimately crossed the river against the wind and departed. Other exiled officials within his jurisdiction, such as Fan Chunren, Liu Fengshi, Han Chuan, Lü Xichun, and Lü Tao, were all harassed and distressed by him. Those in power were pleased. Before he could be further employed, Huizong out of favor from his princely residence summoned him as vice-director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and transferred him to attendant censor and lecturer. Chen Guan pointed out his faults, saying he was unfit to rank among attendants or sit at the classics curtain. No response was given. He was changed to academician awaiting orders at the Dragon Diagram Hall and magistrate of Kaifeng Prefecture, still concurrently serving as lecturer. At the time the chief administrators advocated that the emperor should wear brotherly mourning for Zhezong. Zeng Zhao read the Annals of Shun in the Records of the Grand Historian at the Eying Hall and said, "Formerly Yao and Shun both descended from the Yellow Emperor. Generations were already distant, yet Shun mourned Yao for three years because he had once served Yao. Yi intended to side with the chief administrators and advanced, "The genealogical order in the Records of the Grand Historian is not reliable. Yao and Shun did not share the same descent." He was transferred to Minister of Personnel.
64
益仕宦從微至著，無片善可紀，至其狡譎傅合，蓋天稟然。 及是，乃時有立異。 京一日除監司、郡守十人，益稍不謂然。 京知中書舍人鄭居中與益厚，使居中自從其所問之，居中以告。 益曰：「君在西掖，每見所論事，舍人得舉職，侍郎顧不許耶？ 今丞相所擬錢龢而下十人，皆其姻黨耳，欲不逆其意得乎？」 京聞而頗憚焉。 逾年，卒，年六十六。
Yi in office rose from obscurity to prominence. Not a shred of good could be recorded. As for his cunning and forced compliance, it was surely innate. By this time he occasionally took independent stands. One day Jing appointed ten circuit commissioners and prefectural magistrates. Yi was somewhat displeased. Jing knew that drafter of the Secretariat Zheng Juzhong was close to Yi and had Juzhong ask him on his own initiative. Juzhong reported back. Yi said, "You are in the western secretariat. Whenever you see matters discussed, the drafter can perform his duty—does the vice minister not permit it? Now the chief councilor's proposed ten men from Qian He downward are all his affinal kin—how can one not go against his intent?" Jing heard and was somewhat intimidated. After more than a year he died, at the age of sixty-six.
65
子：萬石，至尚書。
His son Wanshi rose to Minister.
66
論曰：王安石為政，一時士大夫之素知名者，變其所守而從之，比比皆然； 元絳所蒞，咸有異政，亦諂事之，陋矣。 許將嘗力止發司馬光墓，此為可稱； 而言者謂其仕於元祐、紹聖以至建中，左右視利，幡然改圖，初無定論。 鄧潤甫初掌箋記，盛有文名，而首贊紹述之謀，又表章蔡確定策之功，雖有他長，無足觀矣。 林希草制，務醜詆正人，自知隳壞名節，擲筆而悔之，何晚也； 弟旦反其所為，糾劾巨奸，善惡豈相掩哉！ 蔣之奇始慫恿濮議，晚摭飛語，擊舉主以自文，小人之魁傑者也。 吳居厚奉行新法，剝下媚上，溫益阿附二蔡，物議不容。 陸佃雖受經安石，而不主新法，元祐黨人之罪，請一施薄罰而已，猶差賢於眾人焉。
The commentary says: When Wang Anshi governed, renowned scholar-officials of the time changed what they upheld and followed him—this was everywhere the case; Wherever Yuan Jiang served there were outstanding achievements, yet he also flattered and served Wang Anshi—how base. Xu Jiang once forcefully stopped the exhumation of Sima Guang's tomb—this is praiseworthy; Yet critics say that serving from the Yuanyou and Shaosheng eras through Jianzhong, he looked left and right for profit, suddenly changed course, and from the first had no fixed judgment. Deng Runfu at first managed documents and had a great literary reputation, yet he was first to praise the succession scheme and also memorialized Cai Que's merit in settling the succession. Though he had other strengths, he is not worth regarding. Lin Xi drafted edicts, striving to slander upright men. Knowing he ruined his reputation and integrity, he threw down the brush and regretted it—how late; His younger brother Dan reversed what he did, impeaching great villains—can good and evil cover each other! Jiang Zhiqi at first instigated the Pu discussion. In his later years he gathered slanderous rumors and struck at his patron to justify himself—a paragon among petty men. Wu Juhou implemented the new laws, stripping those below and flattering those above. Wen Yi fawned on the two Cais—public opinion would not tolerate them. Lu Tian though he received instruction in the classics from Wang Anshi did not uphold the new laws. Regarding the crimes of Yuanyou faction members, he requested only light punishment—he was still somewhat more worthy than the multitude.