Zhao Bian, courtesy name Yuedao (1008 – 1084 AD) was from Xian (present day Qu County, Zhejiang Province) during the Song Dynasty (960 – 1279 AD). He passed the national exam to become a government official when he was 27. He served during three regimes: Emperor Renzong (ruling from 1022 – 1063 AD), Emperor Yingzong (1063 – 1067 AD), and Emperor Shenzong (1067 – 1085 AD). He was well known for being upright, generous with the people, and careful with his own conduct.
 
When Zhao was the General Secretary of the Royal Court, he was devoted to his job and responsibilities. He was said to be "fearless of those in power" and spoke with authority, and was nicknamed "Iron-Faced General Secretary."When Emperor Renzong appointed Chen Xu, who was a sycophant, to be the vice prime minister, Zhao immediately wrote a letter to the Emperor and pointed out that Chen "lied to the Emperor, took advantage of his public post for personal interest, and only tried to please those around the Emperor." When Emperor Renzong ignored his letter, Zhao wrote 17 more letters in the next few months to explain the principles of ruling a country and hiring officials, to list evidence of Chen's corruption, and to persuade the Emperor that having Chen in that post would result in disasters for the country. He kept writing until Emperor Ren fired Chen. Zhao Bian’s tenacity to uphold righteousness and not quit until justice is served is something to be respected.
 
Zhao always put the public's interest first. When discussing policy, Fan Zhen, another high-ranking official, often debated with Zhao. Most people thought the two did not get along. Once, Emperor Shenzong openly criticized Fan for his errors. The Emperor then asked the other officials about their opinions of Fan. Zhao said, "Fan is very loyal."The Emperor asked, "How do you know?" Zhao said, "When Emperor Renzong was ill in bed, Fan was the first to advise the Emperor to name a crown prince, to settle the public's anxiety. It took the Emperor 100 days to approve Fan's proposal. The delay made Fan so anxious that all his hair and beard turned white. Isn't he a loyal official?" After leaving the Royal Court, another official asked Zhao, "Fan is always opposing you. Why did you speak in his favor?" Zhao said, "Our debates are for the interest of the public, not our self-interests. How could I put my self-interest ahead of that of the public?"
 
Later in his life, Zhao Bian was demoted to several posts in local governments because he angered certain powerful factions in the administration. However, Zhao did not mind his demotion and was devoted to serving his people wherever he governed. He was very honest and frugal. Whenever he traveled, he always went on a horse by himself, only carrying his zither and a crane. That's why today, the expression, "one zither and one crane" is often used to refer to an honest official. When he was posted in central Sichuan Province, he founded many schools and focused on education. He often taught classes himself and wrote poems to encourage studying literature to become true scholars. As a result of his good leadership, the people of central Sichuan Province were content, and many residents of neighboring areas moved to central Sichuan. Before Zhao became the administrator of Qingzhou, the city suffered from a drought and a locust plague. After Zhao's arrival, a great wind blew all the locusts into a river, and rain began to fall. People all said this was a result of Zhao's virtue.
 
Zhao Bian's honesty was reflected in his conduct as a person and as an official. Every evening, he dressed formally to inform the heavens of his actions during the day. He did not do anything in which he did not dare to inform the heavens. He also told others to do good deeds, be diligent in pursuing the Tao, and cultivate virtue to keep a kind heart. Zhao believed in Buddha his whole life, which motivated his actions to be transparent and upright.
 
奉公无私　修德爱民
 
赵抃，字阅道，宋朝西安（今浙江省衢县）人，二十七岁中进士，历经宋仁宗、宋英宗、宋神宗三朝为官。他重视自身的修为，刚正不阿，爱民惠民，声誉远播。
 
赵抃任殿中御史时，恪尽职守，“弹劾不避权幸，声称凛然，京师目为‘铁面御史’”。宋仁宗任命好奉承拍马的陈旭担任枢密副使（相当于副宰相），赵抃立即上表弹劾，指出陈旭“欺君罔民，损公利己，专务谄悦陛下左右”。他见仁宗不予理会，几月间连续上了十七本奏章，反复向仁宗讲述治国和用人的道理，并举出大量事实说明陈旭贪渎不公，担当此要职必贻误国家，直至仁宗将陈旭罢免。赵抃这种坚持正义不达目地不罢休的韧劲、一追到底的精神，令人钦佩。
 
赵抃办事秉公无私，处处以国家大局为重。在议论朝政时，大臣范镇经常和他发生争议，人们都认为他二人不和。一次，范镇因有过失受到宋神宗指责，神宗问道：“范镇为人到底怎样？”赵抃首先说：“范镇是忠臣。”神宗就再问道：“你何以知道？”赵抃说：“仁宗皇帝有一次身体失调卧病在床，范镇就率先上奏，请求仁宗皇帝立太子以安定社稷民心。奏章一百天后才批下来，范镇为这事急的头发和胡须都白了，他不是忠臣是甚么？”退朝后，有人问他说：“范镇总是反对你，你为何替他说话？”赵抃说：“我和范镇之争乃为公不为私，岂能因一己之私而废弃公道？！”
 
赵抃后来因触怒权贵被贬为几任地方官，但他从不计较个人得失，无论在哪儿做官都做到爱民如子，造福一方百姓。他一清如水，每次赴任时单人独骑，仅带一架琴和一只仙鹤，成语“一琴一鹤”便由此而来，形容为官清廉。赵抃在蜀中任职时，广兴办学，注重教化，经常亲自授课，并写诗勉励学生：“古人名教在诗书，浅俗颓风好力扶。口诵圣贤皆进士，身为仁义始真儒”。使蜀中民风淳厚，民心归向，周边百姓多向其境内迁徙。赵抃在青州任职之前，青州久旱无雨，旱蝗肆虐，赵抃到任后，忽起一阵大风，蝗虫全部落水而死，随后又降甘霖。百姓的旱蝗之灾得以解除，人们都说这是赵抃的仁德所致。
 
赵抃为人为官忠诚正直，白天所做事，夜晚必定衣冠整齐，恭谨的对天禀告，凡是不可禀告的，便不敢做。他还经常向周围人劝善，要勤勉向道，只有修德才能慈悲心志。赵抃一生敬信神佛，居心行事，光明磊落。