Original text: Fan Zhongyan, also known as Xiwen, was the Prime Minister of the Tang Dynasty. Zhong Yan was orphaned when he was two years old. His mother was the Zhu family of Changshan, so we named her according to her surname. He had little ambition, but when he grew up and knew his family, he wept and bid farewell to his mother, and went to Yingtian Mansion, where he lived with his relatives and the same literature. Day and night are endless, the winter moon is very tired, and water is used to enrich the noodles; food is not given, and rice porridge is followed, which makes people unbearable. He was promoted to Jinshi and joined the army as the manager of the Guangde Army. He welcomed his mother back to his home. When he was promoted to official position during the Jiedu period of the Jiqing Army, his surname was returned and his first name was changed. In the seventh year of Tiansheng, Empress Dowager Zhang Xian will accept the dynasty on the winter solstice, and the emperor will lead all officials to celebrate their birthdays. Zhong Yan said extremely, and said: "If you keep relatives in the house, you have your own family etiquette. You should be in the same row as the officials and face the south. It cannot be a law for future generations." Shangshu asked the Queen Mother to return to power, but did not repay the favor. He went to find Hezhong Prefecture and moved to Chenzhou. He paid homage to Wai Lang, the minister of rites, and to the Tianzhang Pavilion, and was summoned back, sentenced to the Imperial Academy, and moved to Kaifeng Prefecture, the official and official minister. At that time, Lu Yijian was in power, and many people came out of his house. Zhong Yan's "Hundred Officials Map" refers to the next day: "This is the order of movement, this is not the next, this is public, and this is private. In addition to advancing and retreating close ministers, anyone who exceeds the qualifications should not be appointed as prime minister." Jane was displeased. The next day, when discussing the matter of building a capital, Zhong Yan said: "Luoyang is dangerous and solid, but Bian is the place of the Four Wars. It is peaceful and suitable to live in Bian, so if you have something to do, you must live in Luoyang. You should gradually save money and repair palaces." The emperor asked Yi Jian, Yi Jian said: "This is Zhongyan's erudite theory." Zhongyan dedicated four theories, mostly ridiculing current affairs. And he said: "Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty believed in Zhang Yu and did not doubt his uncle's family, so there was a new disaster. I am afraid that Zhang Yu will happen today and ruin your majesty's family law." The Yi Jian complained angrily: "Zhong Yan alienated your majesty and his ministers. Quoting, they are all friends. "Zhong Yan was very friendly, so he knew Raozhou. Han Du, the imperial censor in the palace, requested the Prime Minister to write to Zhong to suppress his cronies and expose the lack of power in the court. So Secretary Cheng Yu Jing said: "Zhong Yan disobeyed the prime minister with one word and suddenly demoted him. How about what I said before is between your majesty, mother and son? Your majesty is so tolerant. Please revise your previous order." Next year, even if the Yi bamboo slips are made, the theory of being a clique will be on the rise. The Yi bamboo slips came to the prime minister again, and the emperor ordered Zhongyan to relieve his regrets. Zhongyan thanked him and said: "I have no regrets about the affairs of the country when I am in my hometown. I have no regrets about the barbarian bamboo slips." Zhongyan was strong on the inside and gentle on the outside. He was extremely filial by nature. His mother was poor when she was alive. Although she was noble later, she was not a guest and did not care about meat. The wife can only provide food and clothing for herself. He is fond of giving and loves good deeds. On the day of death, all who hear it from all over the world will sigh. ("History of the Song Dynasty? Biography of Fan Zhongyan", abridged)

Translation: Fan Zhongyan, courtesy name Xiwen, was a descendant of Fan Lubing, the prime minister of the Tang Dynasty. Fan Zhongyan lost his father when he was two years old, and his mother remarried a man named Zhu from Changshan. Fan Zhongyan took his surname and his name was Shuo. He had ambitions and integrity since he was a child. When he grew up, he learned about his family background and said goodbye to his mother with sadness and tears. He left his hometown to Yingtian Mansion and relied on Qi Tongwen to study. He worked day and night non-stop. He was so exhausted in winter that he poured water on his face. He didn't have enough food, so he used gruel as food. Others couldn't bear it, but Fan Zhongyan didn't think it was hard. After passing the Jinshi examination, he joined the army as the manager of the Guangde Army and welcomed his mother home to support her. He was appointed as the Jiedu Tui officer of the Jiqing Army, and then changed his surname back to his original name. In the seventh year of Tiansheng, the Queen Mother Zhang Xian will accept the government on the winter solstice, and the emperor will lead hundreds of officials to congratulate her. Zhong Yan tried his best to dissuade this matter, and said: "Serving your mother at home has the etiquette of your own family. Just being in the court with all the officials and facing south to worship the Queen Mother cannot be used as a rule for future generations. He also asked the Queen Mother to return to power. , did not receive a reply. Soon he became the general magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture and was demoted to Chenzhou. He was awarded the post of Wailang, Minister of Rites, and Weilang of Tianzhang Pavilion. He was recalled to the capital, the city manager, and transferred to the post of Wailang, Ministry of Civil Affairs. Acting as the magistrate of Kaifeng. At that time, Lu Yijian was in power, and most of the people promoted were from his subordinates. Fan Zhongyan presented the "Hundred Officials Map" and pointed to the order: like this, he was promoted in order, like this, he was promoted out of order. This is fair, but it is selfish, not to mention the promotion or demotion of ministers. Those who are beyond the rank should not leave all these matters to the prime minister. "Lu Yijian is not happy. Later, when discussing the matter of building a capital, Fan Zhongyan said: "Luoyang is dangerous and strong, and Bianliang is a place surrounded by enemies. It is suitable to be in Bianjing during peacetime, but if there is war, it must be in Luoyang. Material reserves should be gradually expanded and palaces should be repaired." The emperor asked Lu Yijian, who said: "This is Fan Zhongyan's unrealistic opinion." Fan Zhongyan then wrote four treatises and presented them (to the emperor), generally condemning the government affairs at that time. He also said: "Emperor Cheng of the Han Dynasty believed in Zhang Yu and did not doubt his uncle's family, so there was Wang Mang's disaster. I'm afraid that Zhang Yu will be there today and damage your majesty's family law." Lu Yijian retorted angrily: "Fan Zhongyan alienated your majesty and his ministers. He recommended his appointment." All the officials are cronies (political groups that exclude dissidents)." Zhong Yanzhuo was more eager to deal with it, so he was dismissed and appointed as the governor of Raozhou. Han Du, the imperial censor in the palace, catered to the prime minister's wishes and requested that Fan Zhongyan's cronies be written down and their names revealed in the court hall. Under this situation, Secretary Cheng Yu Jing offered his opinion: "Fan Zhongyan was immediately demoted and exiled because he offended the prime minister with one sentence. What's more, what was discussed before was not between your majesty, mother and son. Your majesty has already tolerated him. I beg you. Change the previous order." The next year, Lu Yijian was also dismissed as prime minister, and talk about cronyism became popular. Lu Yijian entered the court as prime minister for the second time, and the emperor warned Fan Zhongyan to let him eliminate his previous resentment. Fan Zhongyan kowtowed and apologized: "The debate I had earlier was about state affairs, and I have no grudge against Lu Yijian.

"Fan Zhongyan is resolute in his heart but humble in appearance, and has an extremely filial temperament, because his mother was poor when she was alive. Although she was later a prominent figure, she did not eat more than two kinds of meat when entertaining guests. The food and clothing for his wife and children could only be self-sufficient. However (Fan Zhongyan ) loved to give, spread love, and was willing to do good deeds. When he died, everyone who heard about him sighed for him.