《宋史·列传·卷七十三》
因而这些不能坚守城池的人都没有被处决。仁宗皇帝当时正一意要实现天下太平，多次询问当前急需办理的大事，范仲淹对人说： 皇上对我信用至极，不过做事情总是有先有后的，长期安定局面带来的弊病，不是一朝一夕就可以完全消除的。 仁宗皇帝再次赐给他亲笔写的诏书，又为这件事打开天章阁，召集二府的大臣按条奏对，范仲淹惶恐不安，退朝后给皇帝上奏十件事：
帝方锐意太平，数问当世事，仲淹语人曰： 上用我至矣，事有先后，久安之弊，非朝夕可革也。 帝再赐手诏，又为之开天章阁，召二府条对，仲淹皇恐，退而上十事：
Therefore, none of those who failed to defend their cities were executed. Emperor Renzong was set on achieving peace and stability in the world at that time, and asked repeatedly about important matters that needed urgent attention. Fan Zhongyan told others: Although the emperor trusts me greatly, there is an order to how things are done. It is not possible to fully eliminate the problems that come with a long period of stability in a short period of time. Emperor Renzong once more bestowed his own calligraphy, and also opened Tiangzhang Pavilion over this matter, and summoned ministers from two departments to present their cases. Fan Zhongyan was very nervous, and submitted ten proposals to the emperor after court: