赵抃的一生行迹（1008-1084）
赵抃，字阅道，号知非子，衢州西安（今浙江衢州）人，北宋名臣。为官清廉刚正，弹劾不避权贵，人称"铁面御史"。任殿中侍御史时，以一琴一鹤自随，清廉自守。任成都知府时，以一琴一鹤赴任，传为美谈。
衢州（1008） · 衢州少时
宋真宗大中祥符元年，赵抃出生于衢州西安县，家境清寒。赵抃少年丧父，由母亲抚养成人。他自幼好学，但因家贫常无钱买灯油，便在月下读书。二十七岁进士及第，开始了他的仕途。
杭州（1040） · 铁面御史
宋仁宗康定元年前后，赵抃任杭州通判。他在杭州任上以清廉著称，处理政务公正无私。杭州为东南都会，官场积弊颇深，赵抃到任后大力整顿吏治，严惩贪腐，使杭州官场风气为之一新。
开封（1054） · 铁面御史
宋仁宗至和元年，赵抃任殿中侍御史，以刚正不阿著称。他弹劾权贵毫不留情，不论对方官位多高、背景多深，人称"铁面御史"。他曾连上十二道奏章弹劾宰相陈执中，震动朝野。
成都（1063） · 成都牧民
宋仁宗嘉祐八年（1063年），英宗即位，赵抃迁龙图阁直学士，出任成都知府。他赴任时只带一琴一鹤，别无他物，以示清廉。在成都任上，他兴修水利、减轻赋税、整顿治安，政绩卓著。蜀地百姓称颂他为"赵青天"。
开封（1070） · 执政朝廷
宋神宗熙宁三年，赵抃任参知政事，位列执政。他在朝中对王安石新法既不完全赞同也不完全反对，主张择善而从。他多次劝谏神宗要慎重推行新法，不可操之过急。
越州（1075） · 执政朝廷
宋神宗熙宁八年前后，赵抃出知越州（今浙江绍兴）。越州为人文荟萃之地，王羲之兰亭修禊之所。赵抃在越州勤政爱民，疏浚鉴湖、修筑堤坝，使越州水利大治。公务之余，他常到兰亭、鉴湖等处游览，留下不少诗文。
衢州（1080） · 归老衢州
宋神宗元丰三年，赵抃以太子少保致仕，回到衢州故里。他在衢州过着简朴的退休生活，仍然关心国事，但不干预朝政。他每日读书、弹琴、赏鹤，怡然自得。
衢州（1084） · 归老衢州
宋神宗元丰七年，赵抃病逝于衢州，享年七十七岁。朝廷追赠太子少师，谥号"清献"。苏轼为其撰写碑文，称其"清节冠世，一琴一鹤，足以传千古"。
The Life Journey of Zhao Bian, the Iron-Faced Censor
Zhao Bian (1008-1084), courtesy name Yuedao, art name Zhifeizi, was a native of Xi'an County, Quzhou (present-day Quzhou, Zhejiang) and a celebrated statesman of the Northern Song. Rigidly honest and fearless in impeachment — 'the Iron-Faced Censor' — he was famous for traveling to his governorship of Chengdu with only one qin and one crane. Su Shi wrote his epitaph: 'His pure integrity crowned the age — one qin, one crane: enough to live a thousand years.'
Timeline of the Journey
- 1008 · 衢州 — Born poor in Quzhou and fatherless young; too poor for lamp oil, he read by moonlight before passing the jinshi at twenty-seven.
- 1040 · 杭州 — As Assistant Prefect of Hangzhou he cleaned out the deep-rooted abuses of the great southeastern capital.
- 1054 · 开封 — As Palace Censor from 1054 he impeached the mighty without a glance at rank or connections — twelve memorials against Chancellor Chen Zhizhong shook the court.
- 1063 · 成都 — Going out to govern Chengdu with a single qin and a single crane, he built waterworks, lightened taxes and pacified the prefecture — 'Zhao the Blue Sky' to the people of Shu.
- 1070 · 开封 — As Vice Grand Councilor from 1070 he neither embraced nor opposed Wang Anshi's laws wholesale, urging the emperor to temper haste with care.
- 1075 · 越州 — Governing Yuezhou (Shaoxing), he dredged Mirror Lake and repaired dikes, roving the Orchid Pavilion country in what leisure remained.
- 1080 · 衢州 — Retired home to Quzhou in 1080 with the rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent — reading, playing the qin, tending his crane.
- 1084 · 衢州 — Died at Quzhou in 1084, aged seventy-seven, posthumously honored 'Qingxian' (Pure and Devoted); Su Shi wrote the stele.
One qin and one crane — that was the whole luggage of Zhao Bian's integrity. In an age of faction he impeached the powerful, comforted the poor, and retired as poor as he came, leaving the language a byword for the incorruptible official.
