1
自古國家上有寬厚之君，然後為政者得以盡其愛民之術，而良吏興焉。 班固有曰：「漢興，與民休息，凡事簡易，禁罔疏闊，以寬厚清靜為天下先，故文、景以後，循吏輩出。」 其言蓋識當時之治體矣。
From antiquity, whenever a realm was governed by a magnanimous sovereign, those who wielded power could devote themselves wholeheartedly to caring for the people, and worthy officials would flourish. Ban Gu once wrote: "At the founding of the Han, the dynasty let the people recover from war; government was kept simple, legal restraints were broad and sparse, and the realm was led by clemency and restraint. After Emperors Wen and Jing, capable and honest administrators appeared in succession." In those lines he had grasped the essence of how the early dynasty was governed.
2
元初風氣質實，與漢初相似。 世祖始立各道勸農使，又用五事課守令，以勸農係其銜。 故當是時，良吏班班可見，亦寬厚之效也。 然自中世以後，循良之政，史氏缺於紀載。 今據其事蹟之可取者，作《良吏傳》。
The ethos of the early Yuan was plain and robust, much like that of the early Han. Kublai first appointed agricultural commissioners in each circuit and evaluated prefects and county magistrates on five criteria, tying promotion to the encouragement of farming. In that period, admirable officials were everywhere to be seen, another fruit of the dynasty's generous policies. From the mid-dynasty onward, however, the histories largely omit accounts of honest and capable governance. Here I have gathered the deeds of such men that are worth preserving and written this "Biographies of Virtuous Officials."
3
譚澄，字彥清，德興懷來人。 父資榮，金末為交城令。 國兵下河朔，乃以縣來附，賜金符，為元帥左都監，仍兼交城令。 未幾，賜虎符，行元帥府事，從攻汴有功。 年四十，移病，舉弟資用自代。 資用卒，澄襲職。 澄幼穎敏，為交城令時年十九。 有文谷水，分溉交城田，文陽郭帥專其利而堰之，訟者累歲，莫能直，澄折以理，令決水，均其利於民。 豪民有持吏短長為奸者，察得其主名，皆以法治之。 歲乙未，籍民戶，有司多以浮客佔籍，及徵賦，逃竄殆盡，官為稱貸，積息數倍，民無以償。 澄入覲，因中書耶律楚材，面陳其害，太宗惻然，為免其逋，其私負者，年雖多，息取倍而止； 亡民能歸者，復三年。 詔下，公私便之。 壬子，復大籍其民，澄盡削交城之不土著者，賦以時集。
Tan Cheng, styled Yanqing, came from Huailai in Dexing. His father Zirong had been magistrate of Jiaocheng in the final years of the Jin. When the Mongol armies swept into Hebei, he surrendered the county, received a gold tally, and was made Left Overseer of the Marshal's Office while continuing to serve as magistrate of Jiaocheng. He was soon given a tiger tally, acted for the marshal's headquarters, and distinguished himself in the siege of Kaifeng. At forty he resigned on grounds of illness and recommended his younger brother Ziyong to succeed him. When Ziyong died, Cheng inherited the post. Cheng had been quick and brilliant from youth; he was only nineteen when he became magistrate of Jiaocheng. The Wengu stream irrigated Jiaocheng's fields, but the district commander Guo of Wenyang had monopolized its water by building a dam. The dispute dragged on for years without resolution until Cheng judged the case on its merits, ordered the dam opened, and ensured the water's benefits were shared equally among the people. Some powerful locals had been exploiting officials' weaknesses to commit crimes; once Cheng identified the ringleaders, he punished them all according to law. In the yimwei year, when households were registered, officials inflated the rolls with transient residents. When taxes came due, nearly everyone fled. The government had to advance loans on their behalf, interest piled up to several times the principal, and the people had no way to repay. Cheng went to court and, through Yelü Chucai of the Central Secretariat, explained the damage in person. Ögedei was moved to compassion, remitted the tax arrears, and for private debts, no matter how old, limited interest to no more than the principal; fugitives who returned were granted a three-year tax exemption. When the edict was promulgated, both government and people benefited. In the renzi year, when a new census was taken, Cheng struck all non-resident names from Jiaocheng's rolls, and taxes were collected on time.
4
甲寅，世祖還自大理，澄進見，留籓府，凡遣使，必以澄偕，而以其弟山阜為交城令。 時世祖以皇弟開籓京兆，總天下兵。 歲丁巳，有間之者，憲宗疑之，遂解兵柄。 遣阿藍答兒往京兆，大集官吏，置計局百四十二條以考核之，罪者甚眾，世祖每遣左丞闊闊與澄周旋其間，以彌縫其缺，及親入朝，事乃釋。 中統元年，世祖即位，擢懷孟路總管，俄賜金符，換金虎符。 歲旱，令民鑿唐溫渠，引沁水以溉田，民用不飢。 教之種植，地無遺利。 至元二年，遷河南路總管，改平灤路總管。 七年，入為司農少卿，俄出為京兆總管。 居一年，改陝西四川道提刑按察使，建言：「不孝有三，無後為大。 宜令民年四十無子聽取妾，以為宗祀計。」 朝廷從之，遂著為令。
In jiayin, when Kublai returned from Dali, Cheng was summoned to audience and retained at the princely headquarters. Whenever an envoy was dispatched, Cheng went along, while his younger brother Shanfu was appointed magistrate of Jiaocheng. At that time Kublai, as the emperor's younger brother, had established his princely domain at Jingzhao and commanded all armies under heaven. In the dingsi year, slanderers turned Möngke against him, and he was stripped of his military command. Möngke dispatched Ala'er to Jingzhao, summoned a mass gathering of officials, and imposed one hundred and forty-two audit regulations by which to investigate them; a great many were found guilty. Kublai repeatedly sent Left Assistant Minister Kökö and Cheng to intervene and mitigate the damage, and only when he went to court in person was the matter finally settled. In the first year of the Zhongtong era, when Kublai ascended the throne, Cheng was promoted to administrator of Huaimeng Circuit; he was soon granted a gold tally, then a gold tiger tally. During a drought year, he had the people dig the Tangwen Canal to channel the Qin River for irrigation, and the populace did not go hungry. He taught the people farming and cultivation until no land was left uncultivated. In the second year of Zhiyuan, he was transferred to administrator of Henan Circuit, then reassigned to administrator of Pingluan Circuit. In the seventh year he was recalled to the capital as Vice Minister of Agriculture, but soon returned to the provinces as administrator of Jingzhao. After a year he was made Intendant of the Judicial Investigation Commission for Shaanxi-Sichuan Circuit and submitted a memorial: "There are three forms of unfilial conduct, but the greatest is having no posterity. Men who reach forty without a son should be permitted to take a concubine, for the sake of continuing the ancestral line." The court accepted his proposal, and it was promulgated as law.
5
四川僉省嚴忠范守成都，為宋將昝萬壽所敗，退保子城，世祖命澄代之。 至則葬暴骸，修焚室，賑饑貧，集逋亡，民心稍安。 會西南夷羅羅斯內附，帝以撫新國宜擇文武全才，遂以澄為副都元帥，同知宣慰使司事。 比至，以疾卒，年五十八。
Yen Zhongfan, Vice Secretariat Commissioner of Sichuan, had been defending Chengdu when he was defeated by the Song general Zan Wanshou and forced to retreat into the inner citadel. Kublai ordered Cheng to replace him. Upon arrival he buried the unburied dead, rebuilt burned homes, relieved the hungry and destitute, and gathered fugitives back to their homes; the people's hearts gradually settled. When the Luolosi tribes of the southwest submitted, the emperor judged that pacifying the newly acquired territory required a man of both civil and military talent, and appointed Cheng Deputy Commander-in-Chief and Associate Commissioner of the Pacification Commission. But before he could take up the post, he died of illness at the age of fifty-eight.
6
世祖嘗與太保劉秉忠論一時牧守，秉忠曰：「若邢之張耕，懷之譚澄，何憂不治哉！」 遊顯宣撫大名，嘗為諸路總管求虎符宣麻，澄至中書辭曰：「皇上不識譚澄耶？ 乃為顯所舉！」 中書特為去之。 其介如此。
Kublai once discussed the governors and prefects of the day with Grand Mentor Liu Bingzhong, who said: "With men like Zhang Geng of Xingzhou and Tan Cheng of Huai prefecture, what worry would there be about good governance!" You Xian, Pacification Commissioner of Daming, had once sought tiger tallies and imperial appointment edicts on behalf of circuit administrators. When Cheng came to the Central Secretariat to decline, he said: "Does His Majesty not already know Tan Cheng? And yet you would have me promoted on You Xian's recommendation!" The Central Secretariat accordingly struck his name from the list. Such was the integrity of the man.
7
子克修，歷湖北、河南、陝西三道提刑按察使。
His son Kexiu served in turn as Intendant of the Judicial Investigation Commissions of Hubei, Henan, and Shaanxi circuits.
8
許維禎，字周卿，遂州人。 至元十五年，為淮安總管府判官。 屬縣鹽城及丁溪場，有二虎為害，維禎默禱於神祠，一虎去，一虎死祠前。 境內旱蝗，維禎禱而雨，蝗亦息。 是年冬，無雪，父老言於維禎曰：「冬無雪，民多疾，奈何！」 維禎曰； 「吾當為爾禱。」 已而雪深三尺。 朝廷聞其事，方欲用之而卒，年四十四。 子殷。
Xu Weizhen, styled Zhouqing, came from Suizhou. In the fifteenth year of Zhiyuan he served as vice administrator of the Huai'an Circuit headquarters. In the subordinate counties of Yancheng and at Dingxi Station, two tigers were terrorizing the people. Weizhen offered silent prayers at a spirit shrine; one tiger departed, and the other died before the shrine. When drought and locusts struck his jurisdiction, Weizhen prayed and rain fell, and the locust plague also abated. That winter brought no snow, and the elders said to Weizhen: "Without snow in winter, the people will fall ill—what can be done!" Weizhen replied: "I shall pray on your behalf." Before long the snow lay three feet deep. The court heard of these deeds and was about to appoint him to higher office when he died at the age of forty-four. He had a son named Yin.
9
許楫，字公度，太原忻州人。 幼從元裕學，年十五，以儒生中詞賦選，河東宣撫司又舉楫賢良方正孝廉。 楫至京師，平章王文統命為中書省掾，以不任簿書辭，改知印。 丞相安童、左丞許衡深器重之。 一日，從省臣立殿下，世祖見其美髯魁偉，問曰：「汝秀才耶？」 楫頓首曰：「臣學秀才耳，未敢自謂秀才也。」 帝善其對，授中書省架閣庫管勾，兼承發司事。 未幾，立大司農司，以楫為勸農副使。 時商挺為安西王相，遇於途，楫因言：「京兆之西，荒野數千頃，宋、金皆嘗置屯，如募民立屯田，歲可得谷，給王府之需。」 挺以其言入奏，從之。 三年，屯成，果獲其利。 尋佩金符，為陝西道勸農使。
Xu Ji, styled Gongdu, came from Xinzhou in Taiyuan. As a youth he studied under Yuan Yu. At fifteen he passed the literary composition examination as a Confucian scholar, and the Hedong Pacification Commission also recommended him as a filial and upright candidate of outstanding talent. When Ji reached the capital, Grand Councillor Wang Wentong appointed him a clerk of the Central Secretariat, but citing his unsuitability for clerical work, he declined and was reassigned as seal-keeper. Chancellor An'tong and Left Assistant Minister Xu Heng held him in the highest regard. One day, as he stood with secretariat officials below the palace steps, Kublai noticed his fine beard and imposing stature and asked: "Are you a xiucai?" Ji prostrated himself and said: "Your subject is merely a student of the classics—I would not dare call myself a xiucai." The emperor was pleased with his reply and appointed him registrar of the Central Secretariat archive depot, with concurrent charge of the dispatch office. Before long the Ministry of Agriculture was established, and Ji was appointed Vice Commissioner for Agriculture. At the time Shang Ting was chancellor to the Prince of Anxi. Meeting him on the road, Ji said: "West of Jingzhao lie several thousand qing of wasteland where both Song and Jin once maintained garrison farms. If farmers were recruited to establish military colonies there, the annual harvest could supply the prince's household." Shang Ting reported this proposal to the throne, and it was approved. Three years later the colonies were established and yielded the expected harvest. He was soon granted a gold tally and appointed Commissioner for Agriculture of Shaanxi Circuit.
10
至元十三年，宋平，帝命平章廉希憲行中書於荊南府，以楫為左右司員外郎。 荊南父老輿金帛求見，楫曰：「汝等已為大元民矣，今置吏以撫字汝輩，奚用金帛以求見！」 明年，擢嶺北湖南提刑按察副使。 武岡富民有毆死出征軍人者，陰以家財之半誘其佃者，代己款伏。 楫審得其情，釋佃者，系富民，人服其明。 改江西道提刑按察副使，行省命招討郭昂討叛賊董旗，兵士俘掠甚眾，楫詢究得良民六百口，遣還鄉里。
In the thirteenth year of Zhiyuan, after the Song was pacified, the emperor ordered Grand Councillor Lian Xixian to administer the Central Secretariat at Jingnan Prefecture and appointed Ji Outer Assistant in the Left and Right Offices. Elders of Jingnan came bearing gold and silk in carriages to request an audience. Ji said: "You are already subjects of the Great Yuan. Officials have been appointed to care for you—why bring gold and silk to seek an audience!" The following year he was promoted to Vice Intendant of the Judicial Investigation Commission for Lingbei-Hunan. A wealthy man of Wugang had beaten a soldier on campaign to death and secretly offered half his family fortune to entice his tenant to confess in his stead. Ji investigated and uncovered the truth, released the tenant, and imprisoned the wealthy man; the people admired his clear judgment. Transferred to Vice Intendant of the Judicial Investigation Commission for Jiangxi Circuit. When the Branch Secretariat ordered Pacifier Guo Ang to suppress the rebel bandit Dong Qi, soldiers captured and plundered in great numbers. Ji investigated and found six hundred ordinary people among the captives, whom he sent back to their hometowns.
11
二十三年，授中議大夫、徽州總管。 桑哥立尚書，會計天下錢糧，參知政事忻都、戶部尚書王巨濟，倚勢刻剝，遣吏徵徽州民鈔，多輸二千錠，巨濟怒其少，欲更益千錠，楫詣巨濟曰：「公欲百姓死耶、生耶？ 如欲其死，雖萬錠可徵也。」 巨濟怒解，徽州賴以免。 楫考滿去。 徽之績溪、歙縣民柯三八、汪千十等，因歲饑阻險為寇。 行省右丞教化以兵捕之，相拒七月，乃使人諭之。 三八等曰：「但得許總管來，我等皆降矣。」 行省為驛召楫至，命往招之。 楫單騎趨賊壘，眾見楫來，皆拜曰：「我公既來，請署榜以付我。」 楫白教化，請退軍一舍，聽其來降。 不聽。 會以參政高興代教化，楫復以前言告之，興從其計，賊果降。
In the twenty-third year he was granted the title of Court Consultant and appointed administrator of Huizhou. When Sangge established the Ministry of Revenue and audited the realm's finances, Vice Grand Councillor Xindu and Minister of Revenue Wang Juji, relying on their power, engaged in harsh exactions. They sent officials to collect paper currency from Huizhou's populace, who paid two thousand ingots more than required. Juji was angry that the amount was too small and wanted to add another thousand. Ji went to Juji and said: "Do you, sir, wish the common people to live or to die? If you wish them dead, even ten thousand ingots could be collected." Juji's anger subsided, and Huizhou was spared thanks to Ji's intervention. When Ji's term of office expired, he departed. In Jixi and Shexian of Huizhou, commoners Ke Sanba, Wang Qianshi, and others, driven by famine, seized mountain passes and turned to banditry. Right Assistant Minister Jiaohua of the Branch Secretariat sent troops to capture them, but they resisted for seven months before he sent an envoy to negotiate. Sanba and the others said: "If only Prefect Administrator Xu would come, we would all surrender." The Branch Secretariat sent a relay summons for Ji and ordered him to go and negotiate their surrender. Ji rode alone to the bandits' stronghold. When they saw him coming, they all bowed and said: "Now that our lord has come, please sign the surrender proclamation and give it to us." Ji reported to Jiaohua and asked that the army withdraw one stage's distance to allow the bandits to surrender. Jiaohua refused. When Vice Administrator Gao Xing replaced Jiaohua, Ji repeated his earlier proposal. Gao Xing accepted the plan, and the bandits duly surrendered.
12
二十四年，授太中大夫、東平總管，謝事二年卒，壽七十。 十一子：餘慶，重慶，崇慶，餘失其名。
In the twenty-fourth year he was granted the title of Grand Master of Palace Attendance and appointed administrator of Dongping. He retired from office and died two years later at the age of seventy. He had eleven sons: Yuqing, Chongqing, and Chongqing; the names of the rest are lost.
13
田滋，字榮甫，開封人。 至元二年，由汴梁路總管府知事入為御史臺掾。 十二年，拜監察御史。 十三年，宋平，滋建言：「江南新附，民情未安，加以官吏侵漁，宜立行御史臺以鎮之。」 詔從其言。 遂超拜行御史臺侍御史。 歷兩淮鹽運使、河南路總管。 大德二年，遷浙西廉訪使。 有縣尹張彧者，被誣以贓，獄成，滋審之，但俯首泣而不語。 滋以為疑，明日齋沐，詣城隍祠禱曰：「張彧坐事有冤狀，願神相滋，明其誣。」 守廟道士進曰：「曩有王成等五人，同持誓狀到祠焚禱，火未盡而去之，燼中得其遺稿，今藏於壁間，豈其人耶？」 視之，果然。 明日，詣憲司詰成等，不服。 因出所得火中誓狀示之，皆驚愕伏辜，張彧得釋。 十年，改濟南路總管，尋拜陝西行省參知政事。 時陝西不雨三年，道過西嶽，因禱曰：「滋奉命來參省事，而安西不雨者三年，民飢而死，滋將何歸！ 願神降甘澤，以福黎庶。」 到官，果大雨。 滋即開倉，以麥五千餘石給小民之無種者，俾來歲收成以償官，民大悅。 未幾，以疾卒於位。 贈通奉大夫、河南行省參知政事，追封開封郡公，諡莊肅。
Tian Zi, styled Rongfu, came from Kaifeng. In the second year of Zhiyuan he entered the Censorate as a clerk, having previously served as administrative secretary of the Bianliang Circuit headquarters. In the twelfth year he was appointed investigating censor. In the thirteenth year, after the Song was pacified, Zi submitted a memorial: "The newly submitted Jiangnan region has a populace not yet at ease, and officials are preying on them. A traveling Censorate should be established to keep order there." An edict approved his proposal. He was then promoted directly to attendant censor of the traveling Censorate. He served in turn as salt transport commissioner of Lianghuai and administrator of Henan Circuit. In the second year of Dade he was transferred to surveillance commissioner of Zhexi. A county magistrate named Zhang Yu had been falsely accused of corruption. When the case was concluded, Zi examined him, but Zhang only bowed his head and wept without speaking. Zi found this suspicious. The next day, after fasting and bathing, he went to the City God shrine and prayed: "Zhang Yu's case bears the marks of injustice. I pray the spirit assist me in revealing the false accusation." The temple keeper came forward and said: "Some time ago Wang Cheng and four others came to the shrine with sworn statements to burn in prayer. They left before the fire had finished, and draft documents were recovered from the ashes. They are stored in the wall niche now—is this not their case?" He examined them, and it was indeed so. The next day he went to the surveillance office to interrogate Wang Cheng and the others, but they would not confess. He then produced the sworn statements recovered from the fire. All were stunned into confession, and Zhang Yu was released. In the tenth year he was transferred to administrator of Jinan Circuit, and soon afterward appointed Vice Administrator of the Shaanxi Branch Secretariat. Shaanxi had gone three years without rain. Passing Mount Hua on the road, he prayed: "I have been ordered to take up provincial duties, yet Anxi has had no rain for three years and the people are starving to death—where shall I return! I pray the spirit send sweet rain to bless the common people." When he reached his post, heavy rain indeed fell. Zi immediately opened the granaries and distributed more than five thousand shi of wheat to smallholders who had no seed grain, allowing them to repay the government from the next year's harvest. The people were greatly pleased. Before long he died of illness while still in office. He was posthumously granted the title of Senior Grand Master of the Palace and Vice Administrator of the Henan Branch Secretariat, enfeoffed as Duke of Kaifeng Commandery, and given the posthumous title Zhuangsu.
14
卜天璋，字君璋，洛陽人。 父世昌，仕金為河南孔目官。 憲宗南征，率眾款附，授鎮撫，統民兵二千戶，升真定路管民萬戶。 憲宗六年，籍河北民徙河南者三千餘人，俾專領之，遂家汴。 天璋幼穎悟，長負直氣，讀書史，識成敗大體。 至元中，為南京府史。 時河北饑民數万人，集河上欲南徙，有詔令民復業，勿渡，眾洶洶不肯還。 天璋慮其生變，勸總管張國寶聽其渡，國寶從之，遂以無事。 河南按察副使程思廉察其賢，辟為憲史，聲聞益著。 後為中台掾，有侍御史倚勢貪財，御史發其贓，天璋主文牘，未及奏，顧為所譖，俱拘內廷，御史對食悲哽，天璋問故，御史曰：「吾老，唯一女，心憐之，聞吾係，不食數日矣，是以悲耳。」 天璋曰：「死職，義也，奈何為兒女子泣耶！」 御史慚謝。 俄見原免。 丞相順德王當國，擢掾中書，為提控，事有可否，必力辯，他相怒，天璋言不置，王竟從其議，且曰：「掾能如是，吾復何憂！」
Bu Tianzhang, styled Junzhang, came from Luoyang. His father Shichang had served the Jin as a Kongmu official in Henan. When Möngke campaigned south, he led his people in submission, was appointed pacification commissioner, commanded two thousand militia households, and was promoted to civilian commissioner of ten thousand households in Zhending Circuit. In the sixth year of Möngke's reign, more than three thousand Hebei migrants registered in Henan were placed under his sole charge, and he made his home at Bian. Tianzhang had been quick-witted from youth. As an adult he possessed upright character, read history, and understood the larger patterns of rise and fall. During the Zhiyuan era he served as a clerk in the Nanjing prefecture office. At the time tens of thousands of starving people from Hebei had gathered at the river intending to migrate south. An edict ordered them to return to their occupations and not cross, but the crowd was in an uproar and refused to go back. Tianzhang feared this might spark unrest and advised Administrator Zhang Guobao to allow them to cross. Guobao followed his advice, and no trouble ensued. Henan Vice Surveillance Commissioner Cheng Silian recognized his talent and recruited him as a surveillance clerk, and his reputation grew ever more prominent. Later he served as a clerk of the Central Censorate. An attendant censor had been relying on his position to embezzle funds, and a censor exposed his corruption. Tianzhang was in charge of the documents and had not yet submitted the report when the accused slandered him; both were detained in the inner court. The censor wept bitterly over his meal. Tianzhang asked why, and the censor said: "I am old and have only one daughter whom I cherish. Hearing that I am detained, she has not eaten for days—that is why I grieve." Tianzhang said: "To die in the performance of one's duty is righteous—why weep like women and children!" The censor ashamedly apologized. Before long they were pardoned and released. When the Prince of Shunde served as chancellor, Tianzhang was promoted to clerk of the Central Secretariat as chief controller. On matters of approval or disapproval he always argued forcefully. Other ministers were angered, but Tianzhang did not cease speaking, and the prince ultimately followed his counsel, saying: "If a clerk can be like this, what have I to worry about!"
15
大德四年，為工部主事。 蔚州有劉帥者，豪奪民產，吏不敢決，省檄天璋往訊之，帥服，田竟歸民。 大德五年，以樞密大臣暗伯薦，授都事，贊其府。 引見，賜錦衣、鞍轡、弓刀。 後以扈從勞，加奉訓大夫，賜侍燕服二襲。 秩滿當代，樞密臣奏留之，特以其代為增員。 武宗時，遷宗正府郎中。 尚書省立，遷刑部郎中。 適盜賊充斥，時議犯者並家屬咸服青衣巾，以別民伍。 天璋曰：「赭衣塞路，秦弊也，尚足法耶！」 相悟而止。 有告諸侯王謀不軌者，敕天璋訊正之，賞賚優渥。 尚書省臣得罪，仁宗召天璋入見，時興聖太后在座，帝指曰：「此不貪賄卜天璋也。」 因問今何官，天璋對曰：「臣待罪刑部郎中。」 復問誰所薦者，對曰：「臣不才，誤蒙擢用。」 帝曰：「先朝以謝仲和為尚書，卿為郎中，皆朕親薦也。 汝宜奉職勿怠！」 即以中書刑部印章付之。 既視事，入覲，賜酒隆福宮，及錦衣三襲。 後被命治反獄，帝顧左右曰：「君璋，廉慎人也，必得其情。」 天璋承命，獄賴不冤。
In the fourth year of Dade he served as section chief of the Ministry of Works. In Weizhou a man named Liu Shuai had forcibly seized people's property, and officials dared not decide the case. The province dispatched Tianzhang to investigate. Shuai submitted, and the fields were finally returned to the people. In the fifth year of Dade, on the recommendation of Privy Council minister Anbo, he was appointed director and assisted the headquarters. On presentation at audience he was granted brocade robes, saddle and bridle, and bow and sword. Later, for his service accompanying the emperor on journeys, he was granted the title Grand Master for Glorious Instruction and given two sets of banquet attire. When his term expired and he was due to be replaced, Privy Council officials memorialized to retain him, and his replacement was specially added as an additional post. During the reign of Wuzong he was transferred to director of the Imperial Clan Court. When the Ministry of Revenue was established, he was transferred to director of the Ministry of Justice. Bandits were rampant at the time, and it was proposed that offenders and all their families wear blue garments and headcloths to distinguish them from ordinary people. Tianzhang said: "Criminals in red filling the roads—that was the Qin dynasty's failing. Is it still worth taking as a model!" The minister understood and dropped the proposal. When someone reported that a feudal prince was plotting treason, Tianzhang was ordered to investigate and ascertain the truth, and he received lavish rewards. When Ministry officials were found guilty, Renzong summoned Tianzhang for audience. Empress Dowager Xingsheng was seated there, and the emperor pointed and said: "This is Bu Tianzhang, who does not accept bribes." He then asked what office Tianzhang currently held, and Tianzhang replied: "Your subject holds the post of director of the Ministry of Justice, awaiting punishment." Asked again who had recommended him, he replied: "Your subject is without talent and was mistakenly promoted." The emperor said: "The previous reign appointed Xie Zhonghe as minister and you as director—both were personally recommended by me. You should fulfill your duties and not be negligent!" Thereupon the seal of the Central Secretariat Ministry of Justice was handed to him. After he assumed his duties, on attending audience he was granted wine at Longfu Palace and three sets of brocade robes. Later he was ordered to handle a treason case. The emperor said to those around him: "Junzhang is a man of integrity and caution—he is sure to get at the truth." Tianzhang accepted the commission, and thanks to him no one in the case was wrongly convicted.
16
皇慶初，天璋為歸德知府，劭農興學，复河渠，河患遂弭。 時群盜據要津，商旅不通，天璋擒百數人，悉磔以徇，盜為止息。 升浙西道廉訪副使，到任閱月，以更田制，改授饒州路總管。 天璋既至，聽民自實，事無苛擾，民大悅，版籍為清。 時省臣董田事，妄作威福，郡縣爭賂之，覬免譴，饒獨無有。 省臣銜之，將中以危法，求其罪無所得。 縣以飢告，天璋即發廩賑之，僚佐持不可，天璋曰：「民飢如是，必俟得請而後賑，民且死矣。 失申之責，吾獨任之，不以累諸君也。」 竟發藏以賑之，民賴全活。 其臨事無所顧慮若此。 火延饒之東門，天璋具衣冠，向火拜，勢遂熄。 鳴山有虎為暴，天璋移文山神，立捕獲之。 以治行第一聞。 升廣東廉訪使。 先是，豪民瀕海堰，專商舶以射利，累政以賂置不問，天璋至，發卒決去之。 嶺南地素無冰，天璋至，始有冰，人謂天璋政化所致云。 尋乞致事。
At the beginning of the Huangqing era, Tianzhang served as prefect of Guide. He encouraged farming and promoted learning, restored river channels, and river disasters were thereby quelled. Bandits held strategic passes and merchants could not travel. Tianzhang captured over a hundred men and had them all dismembered as a public warning, and banditry ceased. He was promoted to Vice Surveillance Commissioner of Zhexi Circuit, but within a month of assuming office, due to changes in the land tax system, he was reassigned as administrator of Raozhou Circuit. When Tianzhang arrived, he allowed the people to register themselves honestly. There was no harsh harassment, the people were greatly pleased, and the registers were cleared up. A provincial official supervised land affairs and arrogantly wielded power for personal gain. Prefectures and counties competed in bribing him, hoping to avoid censure, but Raozhou alone gave nothing. The provincial official bore a grudge and intended to trap him with severe law, but found no fault. A county reported famine. Tianzhang immediately opened the granaries for relief, but his subordinates objected that it was not permitted. Tianzhang said: "The people are starving like this—if we must wait for permission before relieving them, the people will be dead first. The responsibility for failing to report in advance I alone shall bear—I will not implicate any of you." In the end he opened the storehouses for relief, and the people were saved alive thanks to this. In handling affairs he showed such fearless resolve. Fire spread to the east gate of Raozhou. Tianzhang put on full official dress and bowed toward the fire, and the blaze then died down. On Mount Ming a tiger was ravaging the countryside. Tianzhang petitioned the spirit of Mount Wenshan, and it was immediately captured. He became known as the foremost in administrative conduct. He was promoted to Surveillance Commissioner of Guangdong. Previously, powerful locals had built coastal dikes to monopolize merchant shipping for profit, and successive administrations, bribed, had let it pass. When Tianzhang arrived, he dispatched soldiers to break them down. Lingnan had never known ice, but when Tianzhang arrived, ice appeared for the first time. People said it was due to Tianzhang's transforming governance. Soon he requested retirement.
17
天歷二年，蜀兵起，荊楚大震，復拜山南廉訪使。 人謂公老，必不行矣。 天璋曰：「國步方艱，吾年八十，恆懼弗獲死所耳，敢避難乎！」 遂行。 至則厲風紀，清吏治，州郡肅然。 是時，穀價翔踴，乃下令勿損穀價，聽民自便，於是舟車爭集，米價頓減。 复止憲司贓罰庫緡錢不輸於台，留用賑饑，御史至，民遮道稱頌。 會詔三品官言時政得失，因列上二十事，凡萬餘言，目之曰《中興濟治策》，皆中時病。 因自引去。 既歸汴，以餘祿施其族黨，家無甔儲，天璋處之，晏如也。 至順二年卒。 贈通議大夫、禮部尚書、上輕車都尉、河南郡侯，諡正獻。
In the second year of Tianli, troops rose in Shu and Jing-Chu was greatly shaken. He was again appointed Surveillance Commissioner of Shannan. People said he was old and would surely not go. Tianzhang said: "The state's fortunes are precarious. I am eighty years old and constantly fear I shall not find a place to die—how dare I shirk difficulty!" Thereupon he set out. Upon arrival he enforced discipline and purified official governance, and prefectures and districts were brought to order. Grain prices were soaring at the time. He ordered that grain prices not be suppressed and allowed the people free rein, whereupon boats and carts competed to gather, and rice prices fell sharply. He also halted the practice of the surveillance office's fine-forfeiture funds not being remitted to headquarters, keeping them for famine relief. When censors arrived, the people blocked the road to praise him. An edict invited officials of the third rank and above to speak on the gains and losses of current policy. He accordingly submitted twenty items totaling over ten thousand characters, titled "Policies for Restoring Prosperity and Governing Well"—all of which hit the ailments of the time. Thereupon he withdrew of his own accord. After returning to Bian, he gave his surplus salary to his clansmen and kinsmen. The household had no stores of grain, yet Tianzhang bore it with perfect ease. He died in the second year of Zhishun. He was posthumously granted the title of Grand Master for Appealing to the Throne, Minister of Rites, Senior Commander of Chariots, and Marquis of Henan Commandery, with the posthumous title Zhengxian.