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宦者二
Eunuchs II
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○楊守珍韓守英藍繼宗張惟吉甘昭吉盧守勤王守規李憲張茂則宋用臣王中正李舜舉石得一梁從吉劉惟簡
○ Yang Shouzhen · Han Shouying · Lan Jizong · Zhang Wei Ji · Gan Zhaoji · Lu Shouqin · Wang Shougui · Li Xian · Zhang Maozi · Song Yongchen · Wang Zhongzheng · Li Shunju · Shi Deyi · Liang Congji · Liu Weijian
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楊守珍，字仲寶，開封祥符人。 為入內黃門，習書史，學兵家方略。 善射，家僮過堂下，一發貫髻，人服其精。 選為環慶路走馬承受公事。 契丹謀入塞，為鎮、定、高陽關行營同押先鋒事。 會許民周繼宗為人誣告與外夷交通，幹證者六十人，辭服，遣守珍覆問，悉辦理出之。 徙真定、保、趙等州駐泊都監，邕、桂等十州安撫都監。 從曹克明降撫水州蠻，築二柵以扼其要。 天禧初，擒盜於青灰山。 累遷西京作坊使、帶禦器械、永興軍兵馬鈐轄，徙真定、邠寧路。 為內侍省內侍押班，提點內弓箭軍器庫。 進內園使、右班都知、領端州刺史。 嚐侍仁宗苑中，命乘馬馳射，賞其便習，賜錦袍卮酒。 卒，贈原州防禦使。
Yang Shouzhen (courtesy name Zhongbao) came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. Entering palace service as an Inner Yellow Gate attendant, he studied historiography and military strategy. A fine archer, he once pierced a servant's topknot with a single arrow as the man crossed the hall below—an exploit that won universal admiration. He was chosen to serve as the Huanqing Circuit courier commissioner. When the Khitan threatened a border incursion, he was named joint vanguard commander of the mobile headquarters covering Zhen, Ding, and Gaoyang Pass. A man of Xu named Zhou Jizong had been falsely accused of trafficking with foreign tribes; sixty witnesses' testimony seemed to convict him. Dispatched to re-examine the case, Shouzhen established the truth and secured the release of every person implicated. He was transferred to garrison commandant at Zhending, Ba, Zhao, and related prefectures, and pacification commandant over Yong, Gui, and eight other prefectures. Serving under Cao Keming, he helped pacify the tribes of Shui Prefecture and built two stockades to hold the strategic passes. Early in the Tianxi reign, he captured bandits on Qinghui Mountain. He rose through West Capital workshop commissioner, bearer of imperial arms, and Yongxing Army military commander, then was posted to Zhending and Binning circuits. He became chief escort of the Inner Attendant Service and superintendent of the inner bow and weapons arsenals. He was promoted to Inner Garden commissioner, director of the right bureau, and nominal prefect of Duanzhou. While attending Renzong in the imperial park, he was told to ride and shoot at the gallop; pleased with his skill, the emperor gave him a brocade robe and wine. At his death he was posthumously honored as defender-general of Yuanzhou.
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韓守英，字德華，開封祥符人。 初為入內高品，從征河東，數奉詔至石嶺關督戰，取隆州，遷殿頭。 久之，以西頭供奉官擢入內內侍押班，遷副都知。 隨王繼恩招安西川，為先鋒，戰於劍門有功，遷西京作坊使、劍門都監。 還，勾當三班院，進入內內侍都知。 曆定州、鎮定高陽關、並代路兵馬鈐轄。 契丹圍岢嵐軍，守英與鈐轄張誌言、知府州折惟昌帥所部渡河，抵朔州，以牽賊勢。 遂破狼水砦，俘數百人，獲馬牛羊鎧甲以數萬計，賊為解去。 賜錦袍、金帶。 俄領會州刺史，解都知。 再遷昭宣使，復領三班。
Han Shouying (courtesy name Dehua) came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. He began as a senior-ranked Inner Attendant, joined the eastern campaign, was repeatedly ordered to direct fighting at Shiling Pass, took Long Prefecture, and was promoted to hall chief. Years later he was elevated from Western Head palace attendant to chief escort of the Inner Attendant Service, then to deputy director. He followed Wang Jien in the pacification of Sichuan as vanguard commander; his victory at Jianmen won him promotion to West Capital workshop commissioner and commandant of Jianmen. After his return he oversaw the Three-Rank Bureau and was made director of the Inner Attendant Service. He held successive posts as military commander on the Dingzhou, Zhending–Gaoyang Pass, and Hedong circuits. When the Khitan besieged Kelan Army, Shouying joined Zhang Zhiyan, circuit commander, and Zhe Weichang, prefect of Yong, in crossing the Yellow River with their forces as far as Shuozhou to distract the enemy. They stormed Langshui stockade, took several hundred prisoners, and seized tens of thousands of head of livestock and suits of armor, whereupon the Khitan broke off the siege. The court rewarded him with a brocade robe and gold belt. He soon received the nominal prefecture of Huizhou and resigned the directorship. He was promoted again to Zhaoxuan commissioner and once more placed in charge of the Three-Rank Bureau.
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出為鄜延路都鈐轄，徙並代路。 建言：“本路宿兵多，百姓困於飛挽，今幸邊鄙無事，請留騎軍千，餘人悉徙內地。 ”真宗曰：“邊臣能體朝廷恤民之意，宜詔諸路視此行之。”
He was posted as military commander of Fuyan Circuit, then transferred to Hedong. He memorialized: "This circuit keeps too many troops on station; the people are ground down supplying them by forced transport. The frontier is quiet for now—let a thousand cavalry remain and send the rest inland." Zhenzong replied: "When a border commander grasps the court's wish to spare the people, every circuit should be ordered to do the same.
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提舉在京諸司庫務，勾當皇城司，為趙德明官告使。 曆宣政、宣慶二使，內侍左班都知，領獎州團練使、雅州防禦使，入內都知，管勾修國史。 書成，進景福殿使，又為延福宮使、入內都知，復提舉諸司庫務。 卒贈定國軍節度觀察留後。
He superintended capital bureau storehouses, managed the Imperial City Office, and served as patent envoy to Zhao Deming. He held the Xuanzheng and Xuanqing commissions in turn, directed the left bureau of the Inner Attendant Service, served as nominal Jiang regiment commander and Ya defender-general, became Inner Service director, and oversaw compilation of the national history. When the history was finished he was made Jingfu Hall commissioner; he later served again as Yanfu Palace commissioner and Inner Service director and once more superintended capital bureau storehouses. At his death he was posthumously honored as military commissioner and observation commissioner of the Dingguo Army.
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藍繼宗，字承祖，廣州南海人。 事劉鋹為宦者，歸朝，年十二，遷為中黃門。 從征太原，傳詔營陳間，多稱旨。
Lan Jizong (courtesy name Chengzu) was from Nanhai in Guangzhou. He had been a eunuch in Liu Chang's court; after surrendering to the Song he was, at twelve, promoted to Central Yellow Gate attendant. On the Taiyuan campaign he carried edicts along the fighting front and repeatedly won imperial praise.
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秦州並邊有大、小洛門砦，自唐末陷西羌。 雍熙中，溫仲舒諭酋豪使獻其地，徒眾渭北。 言者以為生事，請罷仲舒。 太宗遣繼宗往按視，還奏二砦據要害，產良木，不可棄。 帝悅，復使繼宗勞賜仲舒。 累遷西京作坊副使、勾當內東門。
On the Qinzhou frontier lay the Great and Small Luomen stockades, held by Western Qiang tribes since late Tang. During Yongxi, Wen Zhongshu persuaded the tribal chiefs to surrender the stockades and resettle their followers north of the Wei River. Critics called it needless provocation and demanded Zhongshu's recall. Taizong dispatched Jizong to inspect in person; he reported that both stockades occupied vital ground, yielded excellent timber, and must be kept. The emperor was pleased and sent Jizong back to Zhongshu with gifts and commendation. He rose through deputy West Capital workshop commissioner to manager of the Inner East Gate.
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元德太后、章穆皇后葬，為按行園陵使。 車駕北征，勾當留司、皇城司。 車駕謁諸陵，近陵舊乏水，繼宗疏泉陵下，百司從官皆取以濟。 擢入內副都知，為天書扶侍都監。 詔與李神祐第東封扈從內臣之勞，而入內供奉官範守遜等訴其不公，罷都知。 祀汾脽，復為天書扶侍都監，再遷東染院使。
At the burials of Empress Yuande and Empress Zhangmu he served as commissioner for surveying the tomb park. On the emperor's northern expedition he managed capital affairs left behind at court and the Imperial City Office. On a tour of the imperial tombs, where water had long been scarce, Jizong tapped springs below the mounds so that the entire entourage could be supplied. He was promoted to deputy director of the Inner Service and made director of the Heavenly Book escort corps. The court ranked his service on the eastern pilgrimage alongside Li Shenyou's, but Fan Shouyun and other inner attendants protested unfair ranking, and he lost the directorship. At the Fenzhou sacrifice he again headed the Heavenly Book escort and was promoted to East Dye Yard commissioner.
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明年，領會州刺史，進崇儀使、勾當皇城司。 修玉清昭應宮，與劉承珪典工作。 宮成，遷洛苑使、高州團練使，充都監。 坐章穆皇后陵隧墊，貶如京使。 典修景靈宮，進南作坊使，復修會靈、祥源觀。 車駕幸亳州，管勾留司、大內公事，提舉在京諸司庫務，勾當三班院，修國史院。 為趙德明加恩使，德明與繼宗射，繼宗每發必中，德明遺以所乘名馬。 為內侍省右班都知，遷入內都知。
The following year he held Huizhou in name, was promoted to Chongyi commissioner, and managed the Imperial City Office. He and Liu Chenggui jointly directed construction of the Yuqing Zhaoying Palace. On completion he became Luoyuan commissioner and nominal Gaozhou regiment commander, serving as chief project director. When Empress Zhangmu's tomb passage collapsed, he was demoted to Rujing commissioner. He oversaw repairs at Jingling Palace, was promoted to South Workshop commissioner, and rebuilt the Huiling and Xiangyuan shrines. On the Bozhou tour he managed stay-behind court business and inner-palace affairs, superintended capital storehouses, oversaw the Three-Rank Bureau, and refurbished the History Institute. As envoy to invest Zhao Deming with honors, he shot with Deming and never missed; Deming gave him his celebrated horse. He became right-bureau director of the Inner Attendant Service and then Inner Service director.
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仁宗即位，遷左騏驥使、忠州防禦使、永定陵修奉鈐轄。 曆昭宣、宣政、宣慶使。 累上章求致仕，特免入朝拜舞及從行幸。 頃之，復固請罷都知，以景福殿使、邕州觀察使家居養疾。 卒，贈安德軍節度使，諡僖靖。
At Renzong's accession he was made left imperial stud commissioner, nominal Zhong defender-general, and superintendent of Yongding Tomb repairs. He held the Zhaoxuan, Xuanzheng, and Xuanqing commissions in succession. He repeatedly asked to retire and was specially excused from court bows and imperial progresses. Soon he pressed again to resign the directorship and was allowed to keep Jingfu Hall commissioner and Yongzhou observation commissioner while recuperating at home. At his death he was posthumously made military commissioner of the Ande Army, with the posthumous epithet Xijing.
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繼宗事四朝，謙謹自持，每領職未久，輒請罷。 家有園池，退朝即亟歸，同列或留之，繼宗曰：“我欲歸種花卉、弄遊魚為樂爾。 ”景福殿置使，自大中祥符間至繼宗，授者才三人。 養子元用、元震。
Serving four reigns, Jizong kept to modest reserve; scarcely had he taken a post when he asked to be relieved of it. He kept a garden pool at home and left court the moment he could; when colleagues tried to detain him he would say, "I only want to go home and tend my flowers and fish." From the Dazhong Xiangfu era until Jizong, only three men had ever received the Jingfu Hall commission. His adopted sons were Yuanyong and Yuanzhen.
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元用終左藏庫使、梓州觀察使。
Yuanyong rose to left treasury commissioner and nominal observation commissioner of Zizhou.
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元震以兄蔭補入內黃門，轉高班，給事明肅太后。 禁中夜火，後擁仁宗登西華門，左右未集，元震獨傳呼宿衛，以功遷高品。 為三陵都監，條列防守法，其後諸陵以為式。 曆群牧都監，監三館秘閣，積官皇城使。 累遷入內副都知、忠州防禦使。 仙韶院火，元震救護，火以時息。 詔褒之，賜襲衣、金帶。 卒，贈鎮海軍留後。 元震養子五人，不畜閹子。
Yuanzhen entered service through his brother's privilege as Inner Yellow Gate attendant, rose to senior rank, and served Empress Dowager Mingsu. When fire broke out in the palace at night, the empress hurried Renzong to the West Huaming Gate before the guard had gathered; Yuanzhen alone roused the night watch and was promoted for it. As superintendent of the three imperial tomb precincts he drafted defensive regulations later adopted as the standard. He served in turn as herd commissioner and superintendent of the Three Institutes and secret archive, accumulating rank until imperial city commissioner. He rose to deputy director of the Inner Service and nominal defender-general of Zhong. When Xianyao Hall caught fire, Yuanzhen led the rescue and the blaze was brought under control. An edict commended him and granted ceremonial robes and a gold belt. At his death he was posthumously made deputy commissioner of the Zhenhai Army. Yuanzhen adopted five sons and refused to rear castrated heirs of his own.
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張惟吉，字佑之，開封人。 初補入內黃門，遷殿頭、高陽關路走馬承受公事。 護塞滑州天台埽役，遷西頭供奉官，監在京榷貨務。 知嘉州張約以贓敗，詔與御史王軫往劾其獄。 還，領內東門司，為修奉章獻、章懿太后二陵承受。 時議復用李諮榷茶算緡法，乃以惟吉為內殿崇班，復監榷貨務。 凡內侍領內東門，次遷勾當禦藥院，而惟吉才進官，眾以為薄，惟吉欣然就職。 再期，以羨餘遷承製。
Zhang Wei Ji (courtesy name Youzhi) was from Kaifeng. He entered service as Inner Yellow Gate attendant, became hall chief, and served as Gaoyang Pass courier commissioner. He supervised dike repairs at Huatai Mound in Huazhou, was promoted to Western Head palace attendant, and superintended the capital monopoly bureau. When Jia prefect Zhang Yue fell to corruption charges, he and Censor Wang Zhen were ordered to conduct the investigation. Returning, he headed the Inner East Gate Office and oversaw repairs at the tombs of Empresses Zhangxian and Zhangyi. When the court debated reviving Li Zi's tea monopoly surtax, he was made Inner Hall honored-class attendant and again placed over the monopoly bureau. Inner attendants who headed the Inner East Gate usually moved on to the Imperial Pharmacy; Wei Ji had only just advanced in rank and many thought the assignment beneath him, but he accepted it willingly. After two terms' surplus receipts he was promoted to palace manufacturer.
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為趙元昊官告使，還，言元昊驕僭，勢必叛，請預飭邊備。 及元昊寇延州，遣按視鄜延、環慶兩路器甲，並訪攻守利害。 敵既退，夏竦、韓琦謀自鄜延深入，乘虛擊之，命惟吉募並、汾驍勇，副以土兵，輕齎赴河外。 惟吉以為我師當持重伺變，不宜馳赴不測以自困，已而元昊果引去。 還奏稱旨，領皇城司，遷內侍省押班、群牧都監，簡陝西冗兵，領軍頭引見司，遷供備庫使，盡汰軍頭司軍校之罷癃者。 同提舉在京諸司庫務，領恩州刺史，為入內都知。
As patent envoy to Zhao Yuanhao he returned warning that Yuanhao's arrogance presaged rebellion and urging early border preparations. When Yuanhao attacked Yanzhou he was sent to inspect armor on the Fuyan and Huanqing circuits and to survey their strengths and weaknesses in attack and defense. After the raid ended, Xia Song and Han Qi wished to drive deep from Fuyan and hit Xi Xia while it was exposed; Wei Ji was ordered to recruit crack troops from Bing and Fen, augment them with local militia, and cross the river lightly equipped. Wei Ji argued the army should wait on events and keep its weight, not race into uncertainty; Yuanhao soon did withdraw. His report pleased the throne; he took the Imperial City Office, became Inner Service escort leader and herd commissioner, culled Shaanxi's redundant troops, headed the Army-Head Presentation Office, became provision-store commissioner, and cashiered unfit instructors there. He jointly superintended capital storehouses, held Enzhou in name, and became Inner Service director.
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商胡決，為澶州修河都鈐轄。 轉運使施昌言請亟塞，崔嶧以為歲災民困，役宜緩。 命惟吉按視，言河可塞而民誠困，財用不足，宜少待之。 從其議。 遷如京使、果州團練使，復領皇城司，卒。
When the Shanghu breach opened, he was made military commander for Cao prefecture river repairs. Transport commissioner Shi Changyan urged immediate closure; Cui Yan argued that after successive disasters the people were exhausted and work should wait. Ordered to inspect, Wei Ji reported the breach could be sealed but the people were genuinely overburdened and funds short—the work should be deferred. The court accepted his view. He was promoted to Rujing commissioner and nominal Guozhou regiment commander, again headed the Imperial City Office, and died.
18
惟吉任事久。 頗見親信，而言弗阿徇。 張貴妃薨，將治喪皇儀殿，諸宦官皆以為可，獨惟吉曰：“此事幹典禮，須翌日問宰相。 ”既而宰相不能執議，惟吉深以為非。 贈昭信軍節度觀察留後。 逾月，又贈保順軍節度使，諡忠安。
Wei Ji had served for many years. The throne leaned on him, yet he would not speak to please. At Noble Consort Zhang's death the palace prepared mourning in the Hall of Imperial Rites; every eunuch assented—only Wei Ji said, "This touches state ritual; the chief ministers must be consulted tomorrow." When the ministers failed to object, Wei Ji considered the decision a grave error. He was posthumously granted the titles of military commissioner and military governor of Zhaoxin Army. A month later he was posthumously made military commissioner of Baoshun Army and given the posthumous title Zhong'an, Loyal and Peaceful.
19
養子若水，字益之，以惟吉奏補小黃門，給事章惠太后殿，轉入內高品。 王師平貝州，征儂賊，皆以幹敏選為走馬承受。 賊平，以勞進官，三遷環慶路鈐轄。 討環州解乜臼族復有功，曆帶禦器械、內侍押班、副都知。
His adopted son Ruoshui, courtesy name Yizhi, entered service as a junior Yellow Gate attendant on Wei Ji's recommendation, served in Empress Dowager Zhanghui's hall, and rose to a senior Inner Service rank. When the court pacified Beizhou and campaigned against the Nong rebels, his competence won him appointment as courier commissioner on both occasions. After the rebellion ended he was promoted for his service and, through three successive steps, became military controller of Huanqing Circuit. He won further distinction suppressing the Jiemiujiu tribe at Huanzhou and in time held the posts of armed attendant, Inner Service escort leader, and deputy director.
20
熙寧初，造神臂弓成，神宗禦延和殿臨閱，置鐵甲七十步，俾衛士射，未有中者。 若水自請射，連中徹劄。 建慶壽、寶慈兩宮，典領工作，再遷嘉州防禦使。 以病蘄解職，領輝州觀察使，提舉四園苑諸司庫務。 卒，贈天平軍留後。
Early in the Xining era, when the new Divine Arm bow was ready, Emperor Shenzong inspected it at the Yanhe Hall, set a suit of iron armor seventy paces away, and had the guards shoot—not one hit. Ruoshui offered to shoot and struck repeatedly, each arrow piercing clean through the plate. He oversaw construction of the Qing Shou and Bao Ci palaces and was promoted again to defense commissioner of Jiazhou. Illness led him to resign his post; he held Huizhou in name and superintended the four imperial garden parks and their storehouses. He died and was posthumously made acting military commissioner of Tianping Army.
21
甘昭吉，字祐之，開封人。 初以內侍殿頭為英、韶州巡檢，捕盜有功，再遷內殿崇班、京東路都巡檢。 齊州武衛小校馮坦率營卒二百突入州廳事，欲為變，昭吉單騎馳往，戒所從將士操兵在外，先獨見亂卒，諭以福禍，令推首惡自贖，眾疑沮不敢動。 已而操兵者皆入，即共執十餘人，告曰：“此誘我者也。 ”昭吉立殺之，縱其餘去，州以無事。 特廷供備庫副使、帶禦器械。 後內侍省押班闕，仁宗記前功，特以授之。 遷入內副都知。
Gan Zhaoji, courtesy name Youzhi, came from Kaifeng. He first served as head usher in the Inner Attendant Service and as inspector of Ying and Shao prefectures, winning credit for capturing bandits; he was then promoted to Inner Hall Honored Rank and chief inspector of JD Circuit. At Qi prefecture, Military Guard company commander Feng Tan led two hundred camp soldiers in a sudden rush into the prefectural hall to raise a mutiny. Zhaoji rode alone to the scene, ordered the soldiers he had brought to wait armed outside, and went in by himself. He explained the consequences to the rebels and told them to surrender the ringleaders to save themselves; the men wavered and did not dare act. Soon his armed men entered as well; the mutineers together seized more than ten men and said, "These are the ones who led us astray." Zhaoji had them executed on the spot, released the rest, and the prefecture passed without further incident. He was specially granted the posts of assistant provision-store commissioner and armed attendant at the emperor's side. When the Inner Service escort leader's post later fell vacant, Emperor Renzong recalled his earlier service and specially appointed him to it. He was promoted to deputy director of the Inner Service.
22
盧守勤，字君錫，開封祥符人。 自入內內品累遷禮賓使、邠寧環慶路鈐轄，還為入內內侍省押班、領昌州刺史。 明道中，改葬章懿太后，而舊藏有水，以守勤嚐典葬事，罷為永興軍兵馬鈐轄，徙鄜延路。 再遷六宅使，加貴州團練使，進榮州防禦使兼邠寧環慶路安撫都監。 元昊寇保安軍，守勤率兵擊走之，特遷左騏驥使，移陝西鈐轄。
Lu Shouqin, courtesy name Junxi, came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. From an Inner Service inner rank he rose to protocol commissioner and military controller of Binning-Huanqing Circuit, then returned to the capital as Inner Service escort leader with Changzhou in name. During the Mingdao era, water seeped into the old tomb when Empress Dowager Zhangyi was reinterred; because Shouqin had overseen her earlier burial, he was demoted to military controller of Yongxing Army and transferred to Fuyan Circuit. He was promoted again to Six Residences commissioner, given Guizhou regiment commander in addition, and advanced to defense commissioner of Rongzhou while also serving as pacification superintendent of Binning-Huanqing Circuit. When Yuanhao attacked Bao'an Army, Shouqin led troops and repulsed him; he was specially promoted to Left Qiji commissioner and made military controller of Shaanxi.
23
初，劉平、石元孫被執，守勤撫膺涕泣不敢出，又嚐易蕃官馬。 延州通判計用章勸範雍棄城，將保鄜州，雍欲遣安撫都監李康伯往說賊，不肯行，賊去而守勤、用章更相論奏。 知制誥葉清臣以守勤擁兵觀望，請正其罪，並按二人。 守勤奪防禦使，為湖北都監； 用章除籍，配雷州本城； 康伯，均州都監。
Earlier, when Liu Ping and Shi Yuansun were taken prisoner, Shouqin beat his breast and wept and would not leave the city; he had also once exchanged horses with a border officer. Yanzhou vice prefect Ji Yongzhang urged Fan Yong to abandon the city and withdraw to Fuzhou. Yong wanted to send pacification superintendent Li Kangbo to parley with the enemy, but Kangbo refused. After the raid ended, Shouqin and Yongzhang filed competing accusations against each other. Drafting edict drafter Ye Qingchen charged that Shouqin had held his troops back and waited on events, and asked that he be punished and both men investigated. Shouqin was stripped of his defense commissionership and made superintendent of Hubei; Yongzhang was struck from the rolls and exiled to Leizhou; Kangbo was made superintendent of Junzhou.
24
久之，復恩州防禦使，遷利州觀察使，曆真定府、定州、北京路鈐轄。 以左衛大將軍致事，卒，贈保順軍節度使，諡安恪。 養子昭序。
After some years he was restored to defense commissioner of Enzhou, promoted to observation commissioner of Lizhou, and served in turn as military controller of Zhending, Dingzhou, and Beijing Circuit. He retired as Left Guard grand general and died; he was posthumously made military commissioner of Baoshun Army and given the posthumous title Anke, Secure and Respectful. He had an adopted son, Zhaoxu.
25
王守規，真定欒城人，入內都都知守忠之弟。 守忠事真宗，謹願慎密，眷遇最厚。 明道時，守規為小黃門，禁中夜半火，守規先覺，自寢殿至後苑皆擊去其鎖，乃奉仁宗及皇太后至延福宮，回視所經處已成煨燼。 翌日，執政候起居，帝曰：“非王守規導朕至此，幾不與卿等相見。 ”以功遷入內殿頭。 選治京城水，決汴河於公賈村，決蔡河於四里橋，水患以息。 加帶禦器械。 積官至宣慶使、康州防禦使、內侍右班副都知。 卒，年六十七，贈昭武軍留後。
Wang Shougui came from Luancheng in Zhending and was the younger brother of Inner Service chief director Shouzhong. Shouzhong served Emperor Zhenzong with scrupulous discretion and enjoyed the deepest imperial favor. During the Mingdao era, while Shougui was a junior Yellow Gate attendant, a fire broke out in the palace at midnight. He was the first to notice. From the sleeping hall to the rear garden he broke every lock in his path, then escorted Emperor Renzong and the empress dowager to Yanfu Palace; when he looked back, every place he had passed through was already in ashes. The next day, when the chief ministers attended him, the emperor said, "If Wang Shougui had not led me out, I might never have seen you again." For this service he was promoted to Inner Service head usher. He was chosen to manage the capital's waterways, opened the Bian River at Gongjia Village and the Cai River at Sili Bridge, and the flooding subsided. He was also made armed attendant at the emperor's side. He rose through the ranks to Zhaoxing commissioner, defense commissioner of Kangzhou, and deputy director of the Inner Attendant Right Bureau. He died at sixty-seven and was posthumously made acting military commissioner of Zhaowu Army.
26
李憲，字子範，開封祥符人。 皇祐中，補入內黃門，稍遷供奉官。 神宗即位，曆永興、太原府路走馬承受，數論邊事合旨，幹當後苑。 王韶上書請復河湟，命憲往視師，與韶進收河州，加東染院使，幹當禦藥院。 復戰牛精穀，拔珂諾城，為熙河經略安撫司幹當公事。 按視鄜延軍製，行至蒲中，會木征合董氈、鬼章之兵攻破踏白城，殺景思立，圍河州，詔趣赴之，憲馳至軍。 先是，朝廷出黃旗書敕諭將士，如用命破賊者倍賞。 於是憲晨起帳中，張以示眾曰：“此旗，天子所賜也，視此以戰，帝實臨之。 ”士爭呼用命以進。 督諸將傍山焚族帳，即日通路至河州。 賊餘眾保踏白，官軍出與戰，大破之。 進至餘川，又破賊堡十餘，木征率酋長八十餘人詣軍門降。 捷聞，以功加昭宣使、嘉州防禦使。 還，為入內內侍省押班、幹當皇城司。
Li Xian, courtesy name Zifan, came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. During the Huangyou era he entered service as an Inner Yellow Gate attendant and gradually rose to tribute commissioner. When Emperor Shenzong came to the throne, he served in turn as courier commissioner on the Yongxing and Taiyuan circuits; his repeated memorials on frontier affairs pleased the emperor, and he was put in charge of the rear garden. When Wang Shao memorialized to recover the Hehuang region, Xian was sent to inspect the army; he joined Shao in advancing and taking Hezhou, was made Eastern Dyeing Bureau commissioner, and put in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy. He fought again at Niujing Valley, took Kenuo Fort, and became senior administrator of the Xihe Pacification and Settlement Commission. While inspecting Fuyan army regulations he reached Puzhong, where Mu Zheng had joined forces with Dong Zhan and Gui Zhang, stormed Tabai Fort, killed Jing Sili, and besieged Hezhou. Ordered to hurry to the front, Xian galloped to the army. The court had already issued edicts on yellow flags promising double rewards to any soldier who fought with full devotion and broke the enemy. Xian then rose early in his tent, unfurled the flag, and showed it to the troops, saying, "This banner was given by the Son of Heaven. Fight under its sign—the emperor himself watches over you." The men shouted that they would give their all and pressed forward. He drove the generals to burn tribal encampments along the mountain slopes and opened a route to Hezhou the same day. The remaining enemy held Tabai; the imperial army sallied forth, fought them, and won a great victory. Advancing to Yuchuan, they stormed more than ten enemy forts; Mu Zheng then came to the camp with more than eighty chieftains and surrendered. When news of the victory arrived, he was promoted for his merit to Zhaoxuan commissioner and defense commissioner of Jiazhou. On returning to the capital he became Inner Service escort leader and head of the Imperial City Office.
27
安南叛，副趙卨招討，未行，卨建言：“朝廷置招討副使，軍事須共議，至節製號令即宜歸一。 ”憲銜之。 由是屢紛辨，遂罷憲而令乘驛計議秦鳳、熙河邊事，諸將皆聽節度。 於是御史中丞鄧潤甫、御史周尹、蔡承禧、彭汝礪極論其不可，又言：“鬼章之患小，用憲之患大； 憲功不成其禍小，有成功其禍大。 ”章再上，弗聽。 冷雞樸誘山後生羌擾邊，木征請自效，眾以為不可。 憲曰：“何傷乎！ 羌人天性畏服貴種。 ”聽之往。 木征盛裝以出，眾聳視，皆無鬥誌，師乘之，殺獲萬計，斬冷雞樸。 董氈懼，即遣使奉贄效順。 加宣州觀察使、宣政使、入內副都知，又遷宣慶使。 時用兵連年，度支調度不繼，詔憲兼經製財用，裁冗費什六，歲運西山巨木給京師營繕。 賜瑞應坊園宅一區。
When Annam rebelled, he served as Zhao Xu's deputy on the pacification campaign. Before they set out, Xu proposed: "A deputy pacification commissioner may deliberate on strategy, but command and orders must rest with one man." Xian took this as a personal slight. Repeated disputes followed, and Xian was removed from the Annam campaign and sent by courier to manage Qinfeng and Xihe frontier affairs, with all generals placed under his command. Censor-in-Chief Deng Runfu and censors Zhou Yin, Cai Chenxi, and Peng Ruli then protested vehemently, saying, "The threat from Gui Zhang is minor; the threat of putting Xian in command is grave;" if he fails, the damage will be limited; if he succeeds, the damage will be far greater. They submitted memorial after memorial, but the throne would not listen. Leng Jipu incited the Sheng Qiang beyond the mountains to raid the frontier; Mu Zheng offered to serve against them, but most thought it unwise. Xian said, "What is the harm in that?" The Qiang by nature fear and defer to men of noble rank. He let him go. Mu Zheng appeared in full ceremonial dress; the enemy stared in awe and lost all will to fight. The army pressed the advantage, killing and capturing by the tens of thousands and beheading Leng Jipu. Dong Zhan, alarmed, at once sent envoys with tribute to declare his submission. He was made observation commissioner of Xuanzhou and Xuanzheng commissioner, promoted to Inner Service deputy director, and later to Zhaoxing commissioner. War had dragged on for years and the treasury could not keep pace; Xian was ordered to take charge of finances as well. He cut redundant spending by six-tenths and each year shipped great timbers from the western mountains to supply capital construction. He was granted an estate in Ruiying Ward.
28
元豐中，五路出師討夏國，憲領熙、秦軍至西市新城。 復蘭州，城之，請建為帥府。 帝又詔憲領兵直趣興、靈，董氈亦稱欲往，宜乘機協力入掃巢穴，若興、靈道阻，即過河取涼州。 乃總兵東上，平夏人於高川石峽。 進至屈吳山，營打囉城，趨天都，燒南牟府庫，次葫蘆河而還。
During the Yuanfeng era, when five columns marched against Western Xia, Xian led the Xi and Qin armies to Xishi New City. He recovered Lanzhou, fortified it, and asked that it be established as a command headquarters. The emperor further ordered Xian to drive straight for Xing and Ling; Dong Zhan also declared his willingness to join. They were to strike together and overrun the enemy stronghold; if the route to Xing and Ling proved blocked, they were to cross the river and take Liangzhou instead. He then massed his forces and marched east, defeating Western Xia troops at Gaochuan Shixia. He advanced to Qunwu Mountain, built camp at Daluo Fort, pressed toward Tiandu, burned the Nanmou storehouses, then withdrew after reaching the Hulu River.
29
憲既不能至靈州，董氈亦失期，師無功。 憲欲以開蘭、會邀功弭責，同知樞密院孫固曰：“兵法，期而後至者斬。 況諸路皆至而憲獨不行，不可赦。 ”帝以憲猶有功，但令詰擅還之由，憲以饋餉不接為辭，釋弗誅。 復上再舉之策，兼陳進築五利，且從之。 會李舜舉入奏，具陳師老民困狀，乃罷兵。 趣憲赴闕，道賜銀帛四千。 為涇原經略安撫製置使，給衛三百。 進景福殿使、武信軍留後，使復還熙河，仍兼秦鳳軍馬。
Xian never reached Lingzhou, Dong Zhan missed his rendezvous, and the campaign came to nothing. Xian hoped to offset blame by claiming credit for recovering Lanzhou and Hui Prefecture. Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs Sun Gu said, "By military law, anyone who arrives after the appointed time is executed." All the other columns reached their objectives while Xian alone failed to advance—this cannot be forgiven. The emperor held that Xian still had some merit and merely demanded an explanation for his unauthorized withdrawal. Xian blamed broken supply lines and was spared punishment. He submitted a plan for another campaign, together with five arguments for advancing fortifications, and the court partly accepted his proposal. When Li Shunju came to court and detailed the exhaustion of the army and the suffering of the people, the campaign was called off. Xian was urgently recalled to court and granted four thousand strings' worth of silver and silk on the road. He was made pacification and settlement commissioner of Jingyuan and given three hundred guards. He was promoted to Jingfu Hall commissioner and acting military commissioner of Wuxin Army, sent back to Xihe, and retained command of Qinfeng forces.
30
夏人入蘭州，破西關，降宣慶使。 憲以蘭州乃西人必爭地，眾數至河外而相羊不進，意必大舉，乃增城守塹壁，樓櫓具備。 明年冬，夏人果大入，圍蘭州，步騎號八十萬眾，十日不克，糧盡引去。 又詔憲遣間諭阿裏骨結等，且選騎渡河，與賊遇，破之。 坐妄奏功狀，罷內省職事。
When Western Xia raiders entered Lanzhou and broke through Xiguan, he was demoted to Zhaoxing commissioner. Xian judged that Lanzhou was ground Western Xia would fight for. When enemy forces repeatedly massed beyond the river yet hesitated to advance, he expected a major assault and strengthened the city's walls, moats, towers, and parapets. The next winter Western Xia launched a major invasion and besieged Lanzhou with a force they claimed numbered eight hundred thousand infantry and cavalry. After ten days they could not take the city; their supplies ran out and they withdrew. The court again ordered Xian to send envoys to win over Ali Gujie and others, and to send select cavalry across the river; they met the enemy and defeated them. For falsely reporting his achievements, he was stripped of his Inner Service posts.
31
憲以中人為將，雖能拓地降敵，而罔上害民，終貽患中國雲。
The historian's judgment on Xian: as a eunuch general he could expand territory and subdue enemies, yet he deceived his superiors, harmed the people, and in the end brought lasting trouble upon the realm.
32
張茂則，字平甫，開封人。 初補小黃門，五遷至西頭供奉官，幹當內東門。 禁庭夜有盜，茂則首登屋以入，既獲賊，遷領禦藥院。
Zhang Maozi, courtesy name Pingfu, came from Kaifeng. He entered service as a junior Yellow Gate attendant and, through five promotions, became western head tribute commissioner in charge of the inner east gate. When thieves broke into the palace at night, Maozi was the first to climb onto the roof in pursuit; after the culprits were captured, he was put in charge of the Imperial Pharmacy.
33
仁宗不豫，中夜促召，茂則趨入扶衛，左右或欲掩宮門，茂則曰：“事無可慮，何至使中外生疑耶？ ”帝疾間，欲處以押班，懇求補外，轉宮苑使、果州團練使，為永興路兵馬鈐轄。 入為內侍押班，再遷副都知。 熙寧初，同司馬光相視恩、冀、深、瀛四州生堤及六塔、二股河利害，進入內都知。
When Emperor Renzong fell ill, Maozi was summoned at midnight and rushed in to support and guard him. Some attendants wanted to seal the palace gates, but Maozi said, "There is nothing to fear—why give rise to suspicion inside and outside the palace?" When the emperor recovered, the court wished to make him escort leader, but he earnestly asked for a provincial post. He became palace gardens commissioner and nominal Guozhou regiment commander, and was made military controller of Yongxing Circuit. He returned to the capital as Inner Service escort leader and was promoted again to deputy director. Early in the Xining era he joined Sima Guang in inspecting the earthen dikes of En, Ji, Shen, and Ying prefectures and the merits and risks of the Six Pagoda and Ergu River projects, and was promoted to Inner Service director.
34
上元夜，宮中火，督眾即撲滅。 詔曰：“宮禁不驚，帑藏如故，惟忠與力，予固嘉之。 ”賜以窄衣金帶。 累乞退休，言受國厚恩，廩食過量，積而未請者七年，乞令三司毀券。 詔褒之，仍進其官。 哲宗即位，遷寧國軍留後，加兩省都都知。 卒，年七十九。
On Lantern Festival night, when fire broke out in the palace, he rallied the men and had it put out at once. An edict said, "The palace was kept calm and the treasury untouched, thanks to loyal devoted service—I am deeply pleased." He was granted narrow-cut court robes and a gold belt. He repeatedly asked to retire, explaining that the state had shown him great favor, that he had drawn more grain than he needed, and that surplus rations had piled up unclaimed for seven years; he requested the Three Departments to cancel the vouchers. The emperor commended him in an edict and promoted his rank anyway. When Emperor Zhezong ascended the throne, Maozi became acting military commissioner of Ningguo Army and director of both Inner Service departments. He died at the age of seventy-nine.
35
茂則性儉素，食不重味，衣裘累十數年不易。 紹聖論元祐人，以茂則嚐預任使，追貶左監門衛將軍，崇寧中入黨籍。
Maozi was frugal and unpretentious: he never served more than one dish at a meal, and he wore the same fur coat for more than ten years. During the Shaosheng backlash against Yuanyou officials, Maozi was posthumously demoted to Left Guardian of the Gate Command because he had once held office under that faction; in the Chongning era his name was entered on the proscribed list.
36
宋用臣，字正卿，開封人。 為人有精思強力，以父蔭隸職內省。 神宗建東、西府，築京城，建尚書省，起太學，立原廟，導洛通汴，凡大工役，悉董其事。 性敏給，善傳詔令，故多訪以外事。 同列悉籍以進，朝士之乏廉節者，往往諂附之，權勢震赫一時。 積勞至登州防禦使，加宣政使。 元祐初，言者論其罪，降為皇城使，謫監滁州、太平州酒稅。 四年，主管靈仙觀。 紹聖初，召為內侍押班，進瀛州刺史。
Song Yongchen, courtesy name Zhengqing, came from Kaifeng. A man of keen mind and tireless energy, he entered the Inner Department through his father's privilege. When Shenzong built the eastern and western offices, rebuilt the capital walls, raised the Department of State Affairs, founded the Imperial University, established the Primary Temple, and cut the Luo River channel to join the Bian Canal, Yongchen supervised every major project. Quick-witted and agile, he excelled at delivering imperial edicts and was often consulted on matters beyond the palace. Colleagues routed everything through him; officials who lacked integrity often fawned on him, and for a time his power was unrivaled. Through long service he reached the rank of defender of Deng Prefecture and was made Xuanzheng commissioner. Early in the Yuanyou era, critics indicted his misconduct; he was reduced to Imperial City commissioner and sent to supervise wine tax at Chuzhou and Taiping. In the fourth year he was assigned to oversee the Lingxian Temple. Early in Shaosheng he was recalled as Inner Attendant Service escort leader and promoted to prefect of Ying Prefecture.
37
王中正，字希烈，開封人。 因父任補入內黃門，遷赴延福宮學詩書、曆算。 仁宗嘉其才，命置左右。 慶曆衛士之變，中正援弓矢即殿西督捕射，賊悉就擒，時年甫十八，人頗壯之。 遷東頭供奉官，曆幹當禦藥院、鄜延、環慶路公事，分治河東邊事。 破西人有功，帶禦器械。
Wang Zhongzheng, courtesy name Xilie, came from Kaifeng. Through his father's office he entered as an Inner Yellow Gate attendant and was sent to Yanfu Palace to study the classics, histories, and calendrical science. Emperor Renzong admired his ability and had him kept at his side. During the Qingli guard mutiny, Zhongzheng seized bow and arrows and, from the west side of the hall, directed the pursuit and shooting; the rebels were all captured. He was only eighteen, and men admired his courage. Promoted to eastern head tribute commissioner, he served at the Imperial Pharmacy and on official business for Fuyan and Huanqing circuits, sharing responsibility for Hedong border affairs. For defeating the western tribes he was granted Imperial equipage.
38
神宗將復熙河，命之規度。 還言：“熙河譬乳虎抱玉，乘爪牙未備，可取也。 ”遂從王韶入熙河，治城壁守具，以功遷作坊使、嘉州團練使，擢內侍押班。
When Shenzong prepared to recover the Xi He region, Zhongzheng was ordered to survey and plan the campaign. On his return he said, "Xi He is like a cub tiger clutching jade—while its claws and fangs are not yet grown, it can be seized." He then followed Wang Shao into Xi He, built walls and prepared defenses, and for his service was promoted to workshop commissioner and Guozhou regiment commander and made Inner Attendant Service escort leader.
39
吐蕃圍茂州，詔率陝西兵援之，圍解。 自石泉至茂州，謂之隴東路，土田肥美，西羌據有之，中正不能討。 乃因吐蕃入寇，言：“其路經靜州等族，棒僻不通，邇年商旅稍往來，故外蕃因以乘間。 縣至綿與茂，道裏均，而龍安有都巡檢，緩急可倚仗。 請割石泉隸綿，而窒其故道。 ”從之，隴東遂不可得。 還，使熙河經畫鬼章，進昭宣使、入內副都知。
When Tibetans besieged Mao Prefecture, he was ordered to lead Shaanxi troops to the relief, and the siege was broken. The route from Shiquan to Mao Prefecture was known as the Longdong Road—fertile country held by the western Qiang—and Zhongzheng could not drive them out. Then, using a Tibetan raid as his pretext, he said, "That route runs through the Jingzhou tribes by rough, impassable paths. In recent years merchants have begun to travel it, giving outer tribes their chance to strike." The distance from the county seat to Mian and Mao was the same, and Long'an had a patrol commander who could be counted on in an emergency. He asked that Shiquan be placed under Mian and the old route closed off. The court agreed, and the Longdong route was lost for good. On his return he was dispatched to Xi He to manage operations against Gui Zhang, and was promoted to Zhaoxuan commissioner and Inner Deputy Director.
40
元豐初，提舉教畿縣保甲將兵捕賊盜巡檢，獻民兵伍保法，請於村疃及縣以時閱習，悉行其言。 復往鄜延、環慶經製邊事，詔凡所須用度，令兩路取給，無限多寡。 既行，又稱麵受詔，所過募禁兵，願從者將之，主者不敢違。
Early in Yuanfeng he oversaw drilling the capital counties' baojia militia for bandit patrols, submitted the militia five-family system, and asked that villages and counties drill on schedule; the court adopted all of it. He returned to Fuyan and Huanqing to manage border affairs, with an edict that both circuits supply whatever he needed, without limit. Once underway he also claimed a face-to-face edict; wherever he went he recruited palace guards and took along any who volunteered, and local officials did not dare refuse.
41
問罪西夏，以中正簽書涇原路經略司事。 詔五路之師皆會靈州，中正失期，糧道不繼，士卒多死，命權分屯鄜延並邊城砦，以俟後舉。 自請罷省職，遷金州觀察使、提舉西太一宮，坐前敗貶秩。 元祐初，言者再論其將王師二十萬，公違詔書之罪，劉摯比中正與李憲、宋用臣、石得一為四凶，又貶秩兩等。 久之，提舉崇福宮。 紹聖初，復嘉州團練使。 卒，年七十一。
When the court moved to punish Western Xia, Zhongzheng was made signing secretary of the Jingyuan frontier headquarters. An edict ordered the five-route armies to assemble at Ling Prefecture. Zhongzheng missed the deadline, supplies failed, and many soldiers died. He was told to hold scattered camps along the Fuyan border and wait for another attempt. At his own request he gave up his provincial post, became military commissioner of Jin Prefecture and overseer of the Great Western One Palace, and was demoted for the earlier defeat. Early in Yuanyou, critics again charged him with leading two hundred thousand imperial troops in open defiance of the edict. Liu Zhe grouped Zhongzheng with Li Xian, Song Yongchen, and Shi Deyi as the Four Evildoers, and his rank was cut by two more grades. After some time he was assigned to oversee Chongfu Palace. Early in Shaosheng he was restored to Guozhou regiment commander. He died at the age of seventy-one.
42
李舜舉，字公輔，開封人。 世為內侍，曾祖神福，事太宗以信謹終始。 舜舉少補黃門，仁宗使督工冶金為器，既成，有羨數並上之，帝嘉其不欺。 出為秦鳳路走馬承受。
Li Shunju, courtesy name Gongfu, came from Kaifeng. His family had served as eunuchs for generations; his great-grandfather Shenfu attended Emperor Taizong with faithful diligence from first to last. Shunju entered service young as a Yellow Gate attendant. Emperor Renzong had him supervise the smelting of metal into vessels; when the work was done, he reported the surplus metal along with the vessels, and the emperor praised his honesty. He was sent out as courier-commissioner of Qinfeng Circuit.
43
英宗立，奏事京師。 會帝不豫，內謁者止之宮門，舜舉曰：“天子新即位，使者從邊方來，不得一見而去，何以慰遠人！ ”謁者以聞，亟召對，帝意良悅。 因言：“承受公事，以察守將不法為職，而終更論最，乃使帥臣保任，乞免之。 ”遂刪舊制。
When Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, Shunju came to the capital to report on affairs. When the emperor fell ill, inner ushers barred him at the palace gate. Shunju said, "The Son of Heaven has only just taken the throne; an envoy has come from the frontier—if he cannot even receive one audience before leaving, how will distant subjects be reassured!" The usher reported this; Shunju was summoned at once for audience, and the emperor was greatly pleased. He then said, "A courier-commissioner's duty is to watch for misconduct by regional commanders, yet at the end of a term the circuit commander must vouch for him in the merit review—I ask that this rule be abolished." The old regulation was thereupon struck from the books.
44
熙寧中，曆幹當內東門、禦藥院、講筵閣、實錄院。 郭逵討交州，以為廣西幹當公事，軍中之政得與講畫，或疾置入朝，稟受成算。 會逵貶，亦降左藏庫副使，以文思院使領文州刺史、帶禦器械。 進內侍押班，製置涇原軍馬。
During the Xining era he served in turn at the inner east gate, the Imperial Pharmacy, the Lecture Pavilion, and the Veritable Records Institute. When Guo Kui campaigned against Jiaozhou, Shunju was made Guangxi affairs manager; he took part in planning military affairs and sometimes rode posthaste to court to receive the approved strategy. When Kui was demoted, Shunju was reduced to deputy commissioner of the Left Treasury and, as Wensi Institute commissioner, held the nominal title of prefect of Wenz Prefecture with Imperial equipage. Promoted to Inner Attendant Service escort leader, he was put in charge of Jingyuan forces.
45
五路師出無功，議再舉，李憲督饋糧，言受密詔，自都轉運使以下乏軍興者皆聽斬。 民懲前日之役多死於凍餒，皆憚行，出錢百緡不能雇一夫，相聚立柵山澤不受調，吏往逼呼，輒毆擊，解州至械縣令以督之，不能集。 舜舉入奏其事，乃罷兵。 退詣中書，王珪迎勞之曰：“朝廷以邊事屬押班及李留後，無西顧之憂矣。 ”舜舉曰：“四郊多壘，此卿大夫之辱，相公當國，而以邊事屬二內臣，可乎？ 內臣正宜供禁庭灑掃之職，豈可當將帥之任！ ”聞者代珪慚焉。
The five-route campaign ended without success, yet some urged another try. Li Xian supervised supplies and claimed a secret edict empowering him to execute anyone from the transport commissioner down who fell short in provisioning the army. Still smarting from the last campaign, in which multitudes died of cold and hunger, the people dreaded going; a hundred strings of cash could not hire one man. They banded together in mountains and marshes behind stockades and refused conscription; officials sent to press them were beaten. In Jie Prefecture magistrates were even shackled to force compliance—and still the levies could not be filled. Shunju memorialized the situation at court, and the campaign was called off. On his way out he stopped at the Secretariat, where Wang Gui greeted him warmly and said, "The court has put the western frontier in the hands of the Escort Leader and Vice Military Commissioner Li—we need not worry about the west." Shunju replied, "When enemies press on every side, it is the shame of the court's ministers. You hold the reins of government—yet you leave the frontier to two eunuchs. Is that fitting? Eunuchs are meant to sweep and keep the inner palace—how can they stand in for generals and commanders! Those who heard it were ashamed for Wang Gui.
46
轉嘉州團練使。 沈括城永樂，遣舜舉計議，被圍急，斷衣襟作奏曰：“臣死無所恨，願朝廷勿輕此賊。 ”尋以死聞，贈昭信軍節度使，諡曰忠敏。
He was transferred to Guozhou regiment commander. When Shen Kuo fortified Yongle, he sent Shunju to advise; under tight siege, Shunju tore a strip from his robe collar and wrote a memorial: "I die without regret, but I beg the court not to underestimate this enemy." Soon word came that he had died; he was posthumously made military commissioner of Zhaoxin Army with the posthumous name Zhongmin (Loyal and Keen).
47
舜舉資性安重，與人言未嚐及宮省事。 頗覽書傳，能文辭筆劄。 在禦藥院十四年，神宗嚐書“李舜舉公忠奉上，恭勤檢身，始終惟一，以安以榮。 ”十九字賜之。
Shunju was steady and reserved by nature; in conversation he never spoke of palace business. He read widely and could compose polished prose and letters. During his fourteen years at the Imperial Pharmacy, Emperor Shenzong once wrote of him, "Li Shunju serves with public loyalty and private devotion, keeps himself reverent and diligent, and from first to last is unchanged—in peace as in honor." These nineteen characters were bestowed on him as an imperial gift.
48
石得一，開封人。 為內侍黃門，累官內殿承製。 神宗時，帶禦器械、管幹龍圖天章寶文閣、皇城司，四遷入內副都知。 元祐初，領成州團練使，罷內省職。 御史劉摯言：“得一頃筦皇城，恣其殘刻，縱遣邏者，所在棋布，張阱設網，以無為有，以虛為實。 朝廷大吏及富家小人，飛語朝上，暮入狴犴，上下惴恐，不能自保，至相顧以目者殆十年。 ”坐降左藏庫使，卒。 紹聖中，贈隨州觀察使。
Shi Deyi came from Kaifeng. Entering as an Inner Attendant Yellow Gate, he rose through the ranks to Inner Hall draftsman. Under Shenzong he held Imperial equipage, managed the Longtu, Tianzhang, and Baowen pavilions and the Imperial City Bureau, and after four promotions became Inner Deputy Director. Early in Yuanyou he held the nominal rank of Guozhou regiment commander and was removed from Inner Department duties. Censor Liu Zhe said, "While Deyi ran the Imperial City, he indulged cruelty, sent spies everywhere, and spread traps across the land, turning nothing into something and fiction into fact." High officials and wealthy commoners alike faced anonymous accusations in the morning and prison by evening. Court and country lived in fear, unable to protect themselves; for nearly ten years people dared only exchange glances. For this he was demoted to Left Treasury commissioner and later died. During Shaosheng he was posthumously made military commissioner of Sui Prefecture.
49
梁從吉，字君祐，開封人。 補入內高班。 王則反，奉命宣慰，還言：“小寇無多慮，諸將之兵足以翦除，若得重臣統其事，不崇朝可平矣。 ”於是仁宗以文彥博為安撫招討使。 賊平，又奏請分河北為路，每路以一帥府統之，遂建魏、鎮、定、瀛四帥。 熙寧初，為邠寧環慶路駐泊兵馬鈐轄。 夏人寇大順城，圍慶州七砦，從吉率兵八百餘人與戰，獲其酋領。 又討平寧州叛卒，以功升都鈐轄，累官皇城使。 從高遵裕至靈武，督士卒攻城，身被創甚，進入內押班，遷永州團練使，為副都知。 元祐中卒，贈成德軍節度使，諡曰敏恪。
Liang Congji, courtesy name Junyou, came from Kaifeng. He entered service as an Inner Senior Attendant. When Wang Ze rebelled, Congji was sent to announce imperial reassurance; on his return he said, "These petty rebels are no great concern—the generals' troops are enough to destroy them. Put a senior minister in command and they can be crushed before noon." Thereupon Emperor Renzong appointed Wen Yanbo Grand Pacifier and Campaign Commissioner. After the rebels were crushed, he memorialized to divide Hebei into circuits, each under a single command seat; Wei, Zhen, Ding, and Ying were thus established as four frontier commands. Early in the Xining era he became commander of stationed forces on the Binning and Huanqing frontier. When the Tangut raided Dashuncheng and besieged seven fortresses around Qing Prefecture, Congji led more than eight hundred men into battle and captured an enemy chieftain. He also put down mutinous troops in Ning Prefecture and, for his service, was promoted to chief controller, eventually reaching Imperial City commissioner. He followed Gao Zunyu to Lingwu and directed the assault on the city, suffering severe wounds. He was promoted to Inner Attendant Service escort leader, made Yongzhou regiment commander, and appointed deputy director. He died during the Yuanyou era and was posthumously made military commissioner of Chengde Army with the posthumous name Minke (Keen and Respectful).
50
劉惟簡，開封人，由入內黃門積官至昭宣使、康州刺史、高陽關路兵馬都監，為入內押班。 英宗初立，惟簡自河北來朝，請對寢門，內謁者難之，獨引見皇太后。 惟簡立福寧殿下，雨沾衣不退，帝起坐幃中，望見呼問曰：“諸路如汝者幾人，何以獨來？ ”對曰：“陛下新即位，臣來自邊塞，未瞻天表，不敢輒還，不知其他。 ”帝歎曰：“小臣知所守如此。 ”識其姓名屏間。 他日，神宗覽所題屏，擢幹當延福宮，自是蒙親信。
Liu Weijian of Kaifeng entered as an Inner Yellow Gate attendant and rose through the ranks to Zhaoxuan commissioner, nominal prefect of Kang Prefecture, military supervisor of Gaoyang Pass Road, and Inner Attendant Service escort leader. When Emperor Yingzong had just ascended the throne, Weijian came from Hebei to court and asked for audience at the sleeping gate. The inner ushers balked, but he was at last brought before the Empress Dowager alone. Weijian stood below the Hall of Eternal Tranquility as rain soaked his clothes, yet he would not leave. The emperor rose within the curtained bed and, seeing him from afar, called out, "How many men like you are there on the frontier circuits—and why have you come alone?" He answered, "Your Majesty has only just taken the throne. I come from the frontier and have not yet seen your face; I dared not turn back on my own. As for the others, I do not know. The emperor sighed and said, "Even a minor official can hold to his duty like this. He had Weijian's name written on a screen to remember him. Later, when Shenzong saw the name on the screen, he promoted Weijian to manage Yanfu Palace, and from then on treated him with personal trust.
51
交人叛，詔馳驛至桂州審視事勢，還言：“帥臣劉彝貪功生事，罪當誅。 乾德狂童，頸不足係。 ”帝信之。 郭逵、趙卨南征，以為行營承受。 逵、卨被謫，惟簡亦奪一官。
When the Annamese rebelled, he was ordered to ride posthaste to Guilin to assess the situation. On his return he reported, "The circuit commander Liu Yi, greedy for glory, provoked the crisis—he deserves death." As for the reckless youth Qian De, his neck is scarcely worth the rope. The emperor believed him. When Guo Kui and Zhao Jie marched south, Weijian was made campaign courier-commissioner. When Kui and Jie were demoted, Weijian lost one rank as well.
52
陝西五路師還，受命撫犒士卒，以疾先還者不賜。 惟簡心知其不便，至慶州，疏言：“士卒不幸，以將臣上違聖略，糧食不繼，逃生以歸，其情可貸。 今同立庭中而不預賜，恐患生倉卒。 ”帝用其言，均予之。 又使案閱河北保甲，振濟京西水災，參定諸陵薦獻。 既而為言者所劾，擯不用。 哲宗在藩時，惟簡奔奏服勤，及親政，召至左右。 以內侍押班卒，贈昭化軍留後。
When the five Shaanxi frontier armies returned, he was ordered to comfort and reward the troops, but those who had come back early because of illness received nothing. Weijian saw the policy was wrong; at Qingzhou he memorialized: "The men were not to blame—officers had defied imperial strategy and left them without rations, so they fled home; that deserves mercy. If they stand in the same courtyard yet the early returners are denied rewards, sudden unrest may follow." The emperor accepted his view and paid every man alike. He was also ordered to inspect Hebei militia rolls, aid flood victims in the western capital region, and regulate offerings at the imperial tombs. Critics soon impeached him and he was cast out of favor. While Zhezong was still heir, Weijian had served him diligently; at his accession he was called back to the inner circle. He died as chief escort of the Inner Attendant Service and was posthumously honored as deputy commissioner of the Zhaohua Army.