Xiang Minzhong向敏中

Where the histories differ

Discrepancy over whether Xiang Minzhong was in the position of chancellor when Zhenzong evaluated Qian Weiji

• histories differThe 'Biographies of Hereditary Houses 3' states that when Zhenzong spoke with him, his official position was chancellor, but according to his own biography, at that time he was a留守 or尚书, and had not yet been reinstated as chancellor.

  In the 'History of Song, Biographies of Hereditary Houses 3', it is recorded that Qian Weiji was appointed to guard Jiangzhou and discerned a wrongful case (in the fourth year of Dazhong Xiangfu). Zhenzong praised him, saying: 'When the emperor heard of this, he said to Chancellor Xiang Minzhong: "Weiji, while guarding a commandery, was able to discern clearly; in the future he will surely be a capable official!"' However, in the 'History of Song, Biographies of Li Hang, Wang Dan, and Xiang Minzhong', it is recorded that he was not chancellor at that time: 'At the beginning of Dazhong Xiangfu, when discussing the Feng and Shan sacrifices, because Minzhong had old virtue and popular support, he was summoned and made acting military governor of the Eastern Capital. After the ceremony, he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs... When sacrificing at Fenyin, he was again made acting military governor... He was appointed Minister of Justice. In the fifth year, he was again appointed Grand Councilor.'