涵 Hán

Han was plain, loyal and careful, and stood out among the imperial clan. Through successive appointments he became Admonisher of the Heir Apparent. Guo Ziyi memorialized to have him made Administrative Assistant for the salt pools of Guannei. When Suzong reached Pingliang, he did not yet know where to turn. The Acting Military Commissioner of Shuofang, Du Hongjian, and others drew up a list of their soldiers, horses and granaries and sent Han galloping with the letter to wait on Suzong. When Han had his audience, his report was clear and well argued, and Suzong, pleased, made him Vice Director of the Left Office, and later promoted him to Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Clan. Edit

At the start of Baoying, when the region north of the Yellow River had been pacified, Han was mourning his mother, but he was called away from mourning and sent with the tally to proclaim the Emperor's comfort there. In the prefectures and counties he passed through he never spoke of anything but official business; he ate vegetables and drank water and slept on a mat on the ground. When he returned from the mission he begged firmly to complete his mourning, and Daizong, seeing how gaunt and worn he was, allowed it. When the mourning was over he was promoted to Supervising Secretary and then to Vice Minister of War. Edit

When Zhu Xicai killed Li Huaixian, Han was again sent to proclaim the Emperor's comfort in Hebei, and on his return became Surveillance Commissioner of Zhexi. After five years there he came to court and was appointed Censor-in-Chief and Surveillance Commissioner of the Capital Region. When Dezong succeeded to the throne, because Han was mild and easygoing and impeached no one, he was made Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent and Vice Commissioner for the Imperial Tomb. To avoid his father's name he was moved to Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Before long he was promoted to Left Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary, and he retired as Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He was enfeoffed in stages up to Duke of Xiangwu County. When he died he was posthumously made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Edit