During Emperor Renzongs reign

After passing the imperial examination in 1027, Wen Yanbo first became the magistrate of Yicheng County. Later he was appointed controller-general (通判) of Jiang Prefecture. Eventually he arrived in the capital Kaifeng to serve under Emperor Renzong, first as an investigating censor (监察御史) and later as a palace censor (殿中侍御史).

In 1038, Tangut people in Song's northwestern region declared their independence, naming their state Xia (known in history as Western Xia) and invaded Song. Wen Yanbo suggested to Emperor Renzong that marshals in the front line should be given independent authorities to discipline subordinate generals for desertion and cowardice. The rule had been that marshals needed permission from the imperial court first, in order to carry out such orders. Wen argued that this rule may only be implemented during peaceful times, because during times of war, enforcement of military law and concentration of military power is of utmost importance to military commanders. Emperor Renzong took his advice and praised him.

In 1040, Western Xia army attacked Yan Prefecture. General Liu Ping (刘平) went to reinforce the city, but was ambushed and trapped in a hill. Liu sent urgent messages asking another general Huang Dehe (黄德和) to reinforce him, but Huang was afraid and deserted in the opposite direction. As a result Liu was captured, and Huang told the emperor that Liu defected, even bribing Liu's servant to corroborate his claims. Emperor Renzong sent Wen Yanbo to Hezhong to judge the case. After careful examinations, Wen discovered the truth, but Huang, who had many "connections" in the capital, attempted to discredit Wen's findings. As a result, Emperor Renzong sent another official, Pang Ji, to re-investigate the case. Wen told Pang that he should go back as the case was already closed. Eventually Pang accepted Wen's findings and executed both Huang and Liu's servant.

家世

• 曾祖父：文崇远，原姓「敬」，仕后唐，历晋城天池、辽州平城二县主簿，避晋高祖石敬瑭讳，更其氏曰『文』，仕后晋，历代州崞县、并州太谷二县令，汉高祖刘知远即位，恢复敬姓，仕后汉，终岚州录事参军。以曾孙文彦博赠仕至太傅、中书令兼尚书令、燕国公。曾祖母宋氏，赠燕国太夫人。

• 祖父：文锐，字挺之，仕后汉，以荫补郊社署丞，辟石州军事推官，后弃官归乡。以孙文彦博赠至太师、中书令兼尚书令、周国公。祖母王氏，赠周国太夫人。祖母申氏赠越国太夫人。祖母郭氏赠沂国太夫人。

• 父：文洎，以儒学进，历十三官。所至强直勤敏，振利攘窖。历监征阅州，司勋员外郎、荆湖南路转运使，三门白波发运使，判三司开拆磨勘司，终主客郎中、河东转运使。景佑四年（1037年）卒。以子彦博赠仕至太师、中书令兼尚书令、魏国公。御赐寺额「教忠积庆」。母耿氏，先赠扶风县君，又赠秦营太夫人，后赠至魏国太夫人，早亡。御赐寺额「永福」。继母申氏，先封永乐县君，后赠至鲁国太夫人。继母王氏，赠永乐县君。从弟文彦若，季弟文彦伯。

生平

宋真宗景德三年九月二十九日(1006年10月23日)文彦博生，祖辈避后晋高祖和宋翼祖赵敬的讳而改姓「文」。天圣五年（1027年），文彦博中进士，先后任翼城知县、绛州通判、监察御史、殿中侍御史、河东转运副使等职。庆历七年（1047年），文彦博任枢密副使。十一月，贝州王则起事，八年春正月，朝廷任命文彦博宣抚河北，去平息王则起义。文彦博至贝州城下，一面让官军猛攻北城，另一方面在南城挖地道，直通城里。闰正月，官军攻入城中，王则被捕，起义被平息。文彦博以功升同中书门下平章事、集贤院大学士。

皇佑元年（1049年）八月，文彦博为昭文馆大学士，三年，因殿中侍御史唐介的弹劾被罢官。至和二年（1055年）六月，文彦博再任同中书门下平章事、昭文馆大学士。以后，又去河南府、大名府、太原府等地做地方官。

英宗时，文彦博任枢密使。

神宗即位，王安石开始变法，文彦博与安石持论有异，对其中市易、青苗诸法伤民弊端多所论及，因反对王安石变法，文彦博被改任地方官，后以太师致仕。

晚年

哲宗元佑元年（1086年）四月，经司马光推荐，81岁高龄的文彦博出任平章军国重事，五年，以太师充护国军、山南西道节度使等使复致仕。

逝世及身后

绍圣四年（1097年），章敦秉政，云文彦博与司马光曾反对王安石变法，降为太子太保。而就在这一年的五月丁巳日，文彦博去世，享寿九十岁。

狄青曾问文彦博朝廷外放自己的原因，文答：「无他，朝廷疑尔。」历代名将毁于「不知进退」四字的，不知多少。狄青的委屈，不能简单地以「重文抑武」或「文武不相能」来解答。。

宋徽宗崇宁（1102——1106年）间，蔡京为右相，将文彦博、吕公著、司马光等人称为「元佑党人」，刻元佑党人碑，禁止元佑学术。至北宋末，南宋初，文彦博才又被追复太师，谥忠烈。

著作

博著有《大飨明堂纪要》二卷、《药准》一卷，已佚，今存《文潞公集》40卷，收入《山右丛书》中。文彦博也爱写诗、词，但所留甚少，且多与政治有关，如《双泉》云：「长剑并弹霜气豪，白虹半折秋云高。濯缨洗耳更何处，世人回看轻鸿毛。」又如《题榆次县鼓楼》：「置向谯楼一任挝，挝多挝少不知他。如今幸有黄紬被，努出头来放早衙。」

彦博亦工书法，黄庭坚云「潞公书极似苏灵芝公」「今观《到洛为儿子赴许昌》帖，笔执清劲，真不愧古人！」

轶事

文彦博最为大众熟知的故事就是灌水浮球的故事。文彦博小时候与小夥伴们踢球，一下球滚到一个树洞里，大家用手或是用棍子想把球取出来，但太深谁也拿不到，文彦博这时想出个办法，就是将水灌入树洞，球浮出树洞，将球拿到。

子孙

子

• 文恭祖

• 文贻庆

• 文齐贤

• 文保雍

• 文居中

• 文及甫

• 文维申

• 文宗道

女

• 一女嫁与包拯之子包绶为妻。

孙子

• 文永世

• 文康世

注释