1
二十一年正月戊申朔，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 壬子，以夏國請，詔複綏德軍榷場，仍許就館市易。 上聞山東、大名等路猛安謀克之民，驕縱奢侈，不事耕稼。 詔遣閱實，計口授地，必令自耕，地有餘而力不贍者，方許招人租佃，仍禁農時飲酒。 丙辰，追貶海陵煬王亮為庶人，詔中外。 甲子，如春水。 丙子，次永清縣。 有移剌餘裏也者，契丹人也，隸虞王猛安，有一妻一妾。 妻之子六，妾之子四。 妻死，其六子廬墓下，更宿守之。 妾之子皆曰：「是嫡母也，我輩獨不當守墳墓乎？」 於是，亦更宿焉，三歲如一。 上因獵，過而聞之，賜錢五百貫，仍令縣官積錢于市，以示縣民，然後給之，以為孝子之勸。
In year 21, on the wushen new moon of the first month, congratulatory envoys arrived from Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia. On renzi, at Western Xia’s request, the throne reopened the Suide Army border market and allowed trade at the embassy lodge as before. The emperor learned that meng’an and mouke households in Shandong, Daming, and other circuits had grown proud and lavish, and neglected the plow. He ordered a survey: land was to be assigned by household size and worked by the holders themselves; renting out surplus fields was permitted only when hands fell short, and drinking during the farming season remained forbidden. On bingchen Hailing Tyrant King Liang was posthumously stripped to commoner rank, and the decree was proclaimed throughout the realm. On jiazi he went to the spring-waters hunt. On bingzi he halted at Yongqing County. A Khitan named Yelü Yuliye, registered under the King Yu meng’an, had one wife and one concubine. The wife bore six sons; the concubine bore four. When the wife died, her six sons built mourning huts at the grave and kept vigil in rotation. The concubine’s sons said: “She was the legitimate mother—should we alone leave the tomb unwatched?” So they joined the watch in turn, and for three years kept to the same rule. Hunting nearby, the emperor heard the tale and gave five hundred strings of cash, bidding the magistrate stack the coins in the market for all to see before paying the reward—an example to filial sons.
2
二月戊戌，太白晝見。 庚子，還都。 壬寅，以河南尹張景仁為御史大夫。 乙巳，以元妃李氏之喪，致祭興德宮，過市肆不聞樂聲，謂宰臣曰：「豈以妃故禁之耶？ 細民日作而食，若禁之是廢其生計也，其勿禁。 朕前將詣興德宮，有司請由薊門，朕恐妨市民生業，特從他道。 顧見街衢門肆，或有毀撤，障以簾箔，何必爾也。 自今勿複毀撤。」
In the second month, on wuxu, Venus shone by day. On gengzi he returned to the capital. On renyin Zhang Jingren, intendant of Henan, was named censor-in-chief. On yisi, mourning primary consort Lady Li, he sacrificed at Xingde Palace; the markets were silent as he passed, and he asked the chief ministers: “Have you silenced the city for the consort? The people live from day labor; forbid their trade and you ruin their bread—let it be. When I went to Xingde Palace before, the offices wanted me through Ji Gate, but I took another road lest I harm the townspeople’s trade. Still I saw lanes and shops pulled down in places, hung with curtains and reed screens—what need was there? Hereafter, do not tear them down again.”
3
三月丁未朔，萬春節，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 上初聞薊、平、灤等州民乏食，命有司發粟糶之，貧不能糴或貸之。 有司以貸貧民恐不能償，止貸有戶籍者。 上至長春宮，聞之，更遣人閱實，賑貸。 以監察禦史石抹元禮、鄭達卿不糾舉，各笞四十，前所遣官皆論罪。 甲子，太白晝見。 乙丑，詔山后冒占官地十頃以上者皆籍入官，均給貧民。 遼州民硃忠等亂言，伏誅。 上謂宰臣曰：「近聞宗州節度使阿思懣行事多不法，通州刺史完顏守能既與招討職事，猶不守廉。 達官貴要多行非理，監察未嘗興劾。 斡睹只群牧副使僕散那也取部人二球仗，至細事也，乃便劾奏。 謂之稱職，可乎？ 今監察職事修舉者與遷擢，不稱者，大則降罰，小則決責，仍不許去官。」
On the dingwei new moon of the third month, at the Wan Spring Festival, congratulatory envoys came from Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia. Learning that Ji, Ping, Luan, and other prefectures were short of food, he first ordered grain sold from government stores and grain lent to those too poor to buy. The offices, fearing the poor would never repay, lent only to registered households. At Changchun Palace he heard of it and sent men to verify the rolls and extend relief loans anew. Supervising censors Shi Mo Yuanli and Zheng Daqing, who had failed to impeach, were each beaten forty strokes; every earlier envoy was punished as the law required. On jiazi Venus shone by day. On yichou an edict declared that monks holding more than ten qing of official land would have it registered to the state and divided among the poor. At Liaozhou Zhu Zhong and others spread seditious talk and were put to death. He told the chief ministers: “I hear Zongzhou commissioner Asi Men breaks the law at every turn, and Tongzhou prefect Wanyan Shouneng, though charged with pacification, still will not live cleanly. Great men do as they please, yet the censorate never stirs. Pusan Naye, a vice commissioner of the Wudai herd office, took two ball sticks from his tribesmen—a petty thing—and you impeach him at once. You call that competence—can it be so? Henceforth censors who do their work shall be advanced; those who fail—in grave cases demoted and fined, in light cases flogged, and in neither case allowed to resign.”
4
閏月己卯，恩州民鄒明等亂言，伏誅。 辛卯，漁陽令夾穀移裏罕、司候判官劉居漸以被命賑貸，止給富戶，各削三官，通州刺史郭邦傑總其事，奪俸三月。 乙未，上謂宰臣曰：「朕觀自古人君多進用讒諂，其間蒙蔽，為害非細，若漢明帝尚為此輩惑之。 朕雖不及古之明君，然近習讒言，未嘗入耳。 至於宰輔之臣，亦未嘗偏用一人私議也。」 癸卯，以尚書左丞相完顏守道為太尉、尚書令，尚書左丞蒲察通為平章政事，右丞襄為左丞，參知政事張汝弼為右丞，彰德軍節度使梁肅為參知政事。
In the intercalary month, on jimao, Zou Ming and others at Enzhou spread seditious talk and were put to death. On xinmao Yuyang magistrate Jiagu Yilihan and judicial assistant Liu Jujian, ordered to lend relief grain, supplied only rich households; each lost three ranks. Tongzhou prefect Guo Bangjie, who oversaw them, forfeited three months’ salary. On yiwei he told the chief ministers: “Since antiquity rulers have too often raised flatterers; the harm of their hidden poison is not slight—even Han Mingdi was misled by such men. I am no sage of antiquity, yet the whispers of flatterers have never reached my ears. Nor have I ever let one minister’s private counsel sway the cabinet.” On guimao Left Chief Councillor Wanyan Shoudao became grand guardian and chief minister; Left Vice Councillor Pucha Tong became grand councillor; Right Vice Xiang became left vice; Participation Councillor Zhang Rubi became right vice; and Zhangde Army commissioner Liang Su became participation councillor.
5
四月戊申，以右丞相徒單克甯為左丞相，平章政事唐括安禮為右丞相。 增築泰州、臨潢府等路邊堡及屋宇。 庚戌，奉安昭祖以下三福三宗禦容于衍慶宮，行親祀禮。 上諭宰臣曰：「朕之言行豈能無過？ 常欲人直諫而無肯言者。 使其言果善，朕從而行之，又何難也。」 戊辰，以滕王府長史把德固為橫賜夏國使。 壬申，幸壽安宮。
In the fourth month, on wushen, Right Chief Councillor Tushan Kening became left chief councillor and Grand Councillor Tangkuo Anli became right chief councillor. Border forts and barracks on the Taizhou, Linhuang, and other routes were enlarged and repaired. On gengxu the imperial portraits from Zhaozu through the three blessings and three ancestors were enshrined at Yanqing Palace, and the kin-sacrifice rites were performed. He told the chief ministers: “Can my words and deeds be without fault? I long for blunt counsel, yet none will offer it. When the advice is sound, I act on it—what is hard in that?” On wuchen Badegu, chief steward of the Prince of Teng’s house, was sent as lateral-bestowal envoy to Western Xia. On renshen he visited Shou’an Palace.
6
五月戊子，西北路招討使完顏守能以贓罪，杖二百，除名。
In the fifth month, on wuzi, Northwest Route pacification commissioner Wanyan Shouneng, convicted of bribery, was flogged two hundred strokes and expelled from office.
7
七月丙戌，還都。 丁酉，樞密使趙王永中罷。 己亥，以左丞相徒單克甯為樞密使。 辛丑，以太尉、尚書令完顏守道複為左丞相，太尉如故。
In the seventh month, on bingxu, he returned to the capital. On dingyou Privy Commissioner Zhao Yongzhong left office. On jihai Left Chancellor Tuodan Kening was appointed privy commissioner. On xinchou Grand Guardian and Secretariat Director Wanyan Shoudao resumed the left chancellorship while keeping his grand guardian rank.
8
八月乙丑，以右副都點檢胡什賚等為賀宋生日使，吏部郎中奚胡失海為夏國生日使。
In the eighth month, on yichou, Right Deputy Palace Inspector Hushen and others were sent as Song birthday envoys, and Personnel Section Chief Xi Husihai as Western Xia birthday envoy.
9
二十二年三月辛未朔，萬春節，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀，丁丑，命尚書省申敕西北路招討司勒猛安謀克官督部人習武備。 甲申，諭戶部：「今歲行幸山后，所須並不得取之民間，雖所用人夫，並以官錢和雇，違者杖八十，罷職。」 癸巳，詔頒重修制條。 以吏部尚書張汝霖為御史大夫。
Year 22, third month, new moon on xinwei: at the Wan Spring Festival congratulatory envoys came from Song, Goryeo, and Xia. On dingchou the Secretariat was told to instruct the Northwest Route Pacification Commissioner that meng’an and mouke officers must drill their people in arms. On jiashen he directed the Revenue Ministry: 「On this year’s tour of the mountains rear, take nothing from the populace; even corvee labor must be paid from official funds. Offenders—eighty strokes and dismissal. 」On guisi an edict issued the revised statute book. Personnel Minister Zhang Rulin was appointed censor-in-chief.
10
四月乙卯，行監臨院務官食直法。 以削明肅尊號，詔中外，從皇太子請也。 甲子，上如金蓮川。
In the fourth month, on yimao, the law fixing stipends for supervisory market officials took effect. At the crown prince’s request, the throne stripped the Mingsu honorific and proclaimed it throughout court and realm. On jiazi he went to Golden Lotus Stream.
11
五月甲申，太白晝見。
In the fifth month, on jiashen, Venus was seen by day.
12
六月庚子朔，制立限放良之奴，限內娶良人為妻，所生男女即為良。 丁巳，右丞相致仕石琚薨。 七月辛巳，宰臣奏事，上頗違豫，宰臣請退。 上曰：「豈以朕之微爽於和，而倦臨朝之大政耶？」 使終其奏。 甲午，秋獵。
Sixth month, new moon on gengzi: a rule fixed that bondservants freed within a set term who marry commoners before the term ends—their offspring are freeborn. On dingsi retired Right Chancellor Shi Ju died. In the seventh month, on xinsi, the chief ministers were reporting affairs when the emperor felt somewhat indisposed and they asked leave to withdraw. He said: 「Am I to neglect the weight of government because my health is slightly off? 」He told them to complete their report. On jiawu the autumn hunt began.
13
八月戊辰，太白經天。
In the eighth month, on wuchen, Venus crossed the sky.
14
九月戊寅，至自金蓮川。 以左衛將軍禪赤等為賀宋生日使，尚輦局使僕散曷速罕為夏國生日使。 己丑，以同知東京留守司事裔在任專恣，失上下之分，謫授複州刺史。 乙未，壽刺史訛裏也、同知查剌、軍事判官孫紹先、榷場副使韓仲英等以受商賂縱禁物出界，皆處死。
In the ninth month, on wuyin, he returned from Golden Lotus Stream. Left Guard General Chanci and others were sent as Song birthday envoys; Imperial Carriage Bureau Commissioner Pusan Hesuhan as Western Xia birthday envoy. On jichou Yi, deputy regent of the Eastern Capital, for lording it over others in office and forgetting rank—was demoted to prefect of Fu. On yiwei Shou Prefect Elibaye, Vice Prefect Chala, military judge Sun Shaoxian, border-market deputy Han Zhongying, and others—for taking merchants’ bribes and letting banned goods out—were all put to death.
15
十月辛丑，從河間宗室于平州。 庚戌，袷享於太廟。
In the tenth month, on xinchou, clansmen from Hejian were relocated to Pingzhou. On gengxu the combined offering was made at the Ancestral Temple.
16
十一月丙子，以吏部尚書孛朮魯阿魯罕等為賀宋正旦使。 東京留守徒單貞以與海陵逆謀，伏誅。 妻永平縣主，子慎思並賜死。 甲申，以宿直將軍僕散忠佐為高麗生日使。 玉田縣令移剌查坐贓，伏誅。 戊子，冬獵。
In the eleventh month, on bingzi, Personnel Minister Bolülu Aluhan and others were sent as Song New Year envoys. Eastern Capital Regent Tudan Zhen was executed for joining Hailing’s plot. His wife, the Lady of Yongping County, and his son Shensi were granted death as well. On jiashen Night-Duty General Pusan Zhongzuo was sent as Goryeo birthday envoy. Yila Cha, magistrate of Yutian, was executed on a corruption charge. On wuzi the winter hunt began.
17
十二月庚子，還都。 癸丑，獵近郊。 辛酉，立強取諸部羊馬法。
In the twelfth month, on gengzi, he returned to the capital. On guichou he hunted in the near suburbs. On xinyou a statute was enacted against forcibly taking sheep and horses from the tribal peoples.
18
二十三年正月丁卯，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀，庚午，詔有司但獲強盜，跡狀既明，賞隨給之，勿得更待。 丁丑，參知政事梁肅致仕。 辛巳，廣樂園燈山火。 壬午，如春水，詔夾道三十裏內被役之民與免今年租稅，仍給傭直。 甲午，大邦基伏誅。
Year 23, first month, on dingmao: congratulatory envoys from Song, Goryeo, and Xia. On gengwu an edict ruled that when robbers were caught and the case was clear, bounty was to be paid at once without further delay. On dingchou Participation Councillor Liang Su retired from office. On xinsi the lantern mound at Guangleyuan burned. On renwu he went to the spring hunt; within thirty li along the route corvee folk were exempted from the year’s rent and tax and paid hire wages. On jiawu Dabangji was put to death.
19
二月乙巳，還都。 戊申，以尚書右丞張汝弼攝太尉，致祭于至聖文宣王廟。 庚戌，以戶部尚書張仲愈為參知政事。 禦史台進所察州縣官罪，上覽之曰：「卿等所廉皆細碎事，又止錄其惡而不舉其善，審如是，其為官者不亦難乎？ 其並察善惡以聞。」
In the second month, on yisi, he returned to the capital. On wushen Right Assistant Director Zhang Rubi, acting as grand guardian, offered sacrifice at the temple of Confucius. On gengxu Revenue Minister Zhang Zhongyu was appointed participation councillor. The Censorate reported crimes it had found among local officials. The emperor read the list and said: 「You dredge up trivia, and you note only faults—not virtues. If that is how it is, who could serve as an official? 」Report good and bad together.」
20
三月丙寅朔，萬春節，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 丙子，初制宣命之寶，金、玉各一。 尚書右丞相烏古論元忠罷。 潞州涉縣人陳圓亂言，伏誅。 乙酉，雨土。 丙戌，詔戒諭中外百官。
Third month, new moon on bingyin: at the Wan Spring Festival congratulatory envoys came from Song, Goryeo, and Xia. On bingzi the imperial command seals were first cast—one gold, one jade. Right Chancellor Wugulun Yuanzhong left office. Chen Yuan of She County in Lu Prefecture was executed for treasonable talk. On yiyou dust fell from the sky. On bingxu an edict warned every official, civil and military, within and beyond the capital.
21
四月辛丑，更定奉使三國人從差遣格。 祁州刺史大磐坐無罪掠死染工，妄認良人二十五口為奴，削官四階，罷之。 癸丑，地生白毛。 以大理正紇石主列速為橫賜高麗使，壬戌，幸壽安宮，剌有司為民禱雨。 是夕，雨。
In the fourth month, on xinchou, the rules governing staff and missions to Song, Goryeo, and Xia were revised. Dapan, prefect of Qizhou, had looted and killed a dyeworker without cause and falsely enslaved twenty-five commoners; he was demoted four ranks and removed from office. On guichou white filaments sprouted from the earth. Heishi Zhuliesu, rectifier of the Court of Review, was named lateral-bestowal envoy to Goryeo; on renxu he went to Shou’an Palace and ordered the ministries to pray for rain for the people. Rain fell that night.
22
五月庚午，縣令大雛訛只等十人以不任職罷歸。 六十以上者進官兩階，六十以下者進官一階，並給半俸。 甲戌，命應部除官嘗以罪罷而再敘者，遣使按其治跡，如有善狀，方許授以縣令，無治狀者，不以任數多少，並不得授。 丁亥，雷，雨雹，地生白毛。
In the fifth month, on gengwu, county magistrate Dadu E’zhi and ten others were removed and sent home for failing in office. Men of sixty and above were advanced two ranks, those under sixty one rank, and all received half pay. On jiaxu the throne ruled that officials the Ministry of Personnel had reinstated after dismissal for crime must be investigated on their record; only with a good report could they receive a county post, and without one no term of service, however long, would qualify them. On dinghai came thunder, hail, and white filaments from the earth.
23
六月壬子，有司奏右司郎中段珪卒，上曰：「是人甚明正，可用者也。 如知登聞檢院巨構，每事但委順而已。 燕人自古忠直者鮮，遼兵至則從遼，宋人至則從宋，本朝至則從本朝，其俗詭隨，有自來矣！ 雖屢經遷變而未嘗殘破者，凡以此也。 南人勁挺，敢言直諫者多，前有一人見殺，後複一人諫之，甚可尚也。」 又曰：「昨夕苦暑，朕通宵不寐，因念小民比屋卑隘，何以安處？」
In the sixth month, on renzi, the ministries reported the death of Right Department director Duan Gui. The emperor said: “He was notably upright and clear-minded—a man who could have been used. Men like Ju Gou at the Palace Memorial Transmission and Review Office simply defer on every question. Yan folk have rarely been steadfast: Liao came and they served Liao, Song came and they served Song, We came and they served Us—their ways are opportunist, and always have been! That they have survived repeated upheavals without ruin is wholly due to this. Southerners are tough and outspoken; many dare direct remonstrance. One was killed for it, yet another spoke up after him—that is deeply admirable.” He added: “Yesterday’s heat was unbearable; I could not sleep all night, thinking how the people crowd into low, narrow houses—how do they endure it?”
24
七月乙酉，平章政事移剌道，參知政事張仲愈皆罷。 御史大夫張汝霖坐失糾舉，降授棣州防禦使。
In the seventh month, on yiyou, Chief Councillor Yelü Dao and Participation Councillor Zhang Zhongyu were both removed. Censor-in-Chief Zhang Rulin, for lax impeachment, was reduced to defender of Di Prefecture.
25
八月乙未，觀稼於東郊。 以女直字《孝經》千部付點檢司分賜護衛親軍。 癸卯，還都。 乙巳，大名府猛安人馬和尚謀叛，伏誅。 括定猛安謀克戶口田土牛具。 以戶部尚書程輝為參知政事。
In the eighth month, on yiwei, he viewed the harvest in the eastern suburb. A thousand Jurchen-script copies of the Classic of Filial Piety were sent to the Palace Front Inspectorate for distribution among the imperial guards. On guimao he returned to the capital. On yisi Ma Heshang, a meng’an soldier of Daming Prefecture, plotted rebellion and was put to death. Meng’an and mouke households, land, and oxen were surveyed and registered. Cheng Hui, minister of revenue, became participation councillor.
26
九月己巳，以同僉大宗正事方等為賀宋生日使，宿直將軍完顏斜裏虎為夏國生日使。 譯經所進所譯《易》、《書》、《論語》、《孟子》、《老子》、《楊子》、《文中子》、《劉子》及《新唐書》。 上謂宰臣曰：「朕所以令譯《五經》者，正欲女直人知仁義道德所在耳！」 命頒行之。 辛未，秋獵。
In the ninth month, on jisi, Fang Deng, associate administrator of the Imperial Clan Court, was sent to congratulate Song on the emperor’s birthday, and duty-night general Wanyan Xielihu for Xia’s birthday. The Script Translation Institute submitted its Jurchen renderings of the Changes, Documents, Analects, Mencius, Laozi, Yangzi, Zhongzi, Liuzi, and the New Book of Tang. The emperor told the chief ministers: “I had the Five Classics translated so Jurchens would know where benevolence, righteousness, and duty stand!” He commanded their promulgation. On xinwei the autumn hunt began.
27
十月癸巳，還都。 庚戌，幸東宮，賜皇孫吾都補洗兒禮。 己未，慶雲見。 辛酉，太白晝見。
In the tenth month, on guisi, he returned to the capital. On gengxu he went to the Eastern Palace and performed the infant-bathing rite for his grandson Wudubu. On jiwei auspicious clouds were seen. On xinyou Venus appeared in daylight.
28
十一月壬戌朔，日有食之。 丙寅，平章政事蒲察通罷。 丁卯，歲星晝見。 壬申，以樞密副使崇尹為平章政事。
In the eleventh month, on renxu at the new moon, the sun was eclipsed. On bingyin Chief Councillor Pucha Tong was removed from office. On dingmao Jupiter appeared in daylight. On renshen Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Chong Yin became chief councillor.
29
閏月甲午，上謂宰臣曰：「帝王之政，固以寬慈為德，然如梁武帝專務寬慈，以至綱紀大壞。 朕嘗思之，賞罰不濫，即是寬政也，余複何為？」 以尚書左丞襄為平章政事，右丞張汝弼為左丞，參知政事粘割斡特剌為右丞，禮部尚書張汝霖為參知政事。 以西京留守婆廬火等為賀宋正旦使。 制外任官嘗為宰執者，凡吏牘上省部，依親王例，免書名。 戊午，歲星晝見。 上謂宰臣曰：「女直進士可依漢兒進士補省令史。 夫儒者操行清潔，非禮不行。 以吏出身者，自幼為吏，習其貪墨，至於為官，習性不能遷改。 政道興廢，實由於此。」 庚申，尚書省左司員外郎徐偉奏事，上謂宰臣曰：「斯人純而幹，有司郎中郭邦傑直而頗躁。」 十二月癸酉，上謂宰臣曰：「海陵自以失道，恐上京宗室起而圖之，故不問疏近，並徙之南。 豈非以漢光武、宋康王之疏庶得繼大統，故有是心。 過慮若此，何其謬也。」 乙酉，高麗以母喪來告。 丁亥，以真定尹烏古論元忠複為尚書右丞相。
In the intercalary month, on jiawu, he told the chief ministers: “Government should be lenient and kind, yet when Emperor Wu of Liang pursued lenience alone, law and order fell apart. I have thought about it: when reward and punishment are not misapplied, that is lenient rule—what else is required?” Xiang, left vice director of the Secretariat, was made chief councillor; Zhang Rubi, right vice director, became left vice director; Participation Councillor Niange Watele became right vice director; and Zhang Rulin, minister of rites, became participation councillor. Poluohuo, keeper of the Western Capital, and others were sent as envoys to congratulate Song on the new year. It was decreed that former chief councillors serving in the provinces need not sign their names on documents sent to the secretariat, following the princes’ precedent. On wuwu Jupiter again appeared in daylight. He told the chief ministers: “Jurchen jinshi graduates should fill secretariat clerkships on the same footing as Han jinshi. Confucian scholars keep their conduct clean and act only through ritual. Men who rise from clerical ranks learn greed from youth as petty clerks; once they hold office, the habit does not leave them. Whether rule flourishes or fails turns on this.” On gengshen Xu Wei, outer director of the Secretariat’s Left Department, presented a memorial. The emperor told the chief ministers: “This one is pure and able; Director Guo Bangjie is honest but somewhat hot-tempered.” In the twelfth month, on guiyou, he told the chief ministers: “Hailing knew his course was wrong and feared the clan at the Upper Capital would plot against him, so kin near and far alike he transplanted to the south. Was it not because men of remote birth like Han Guangwu and Song Kangwang had seized the throne—hence that dread in his heart? Such excessive anxiety—how wrongheaded!" On yiyou Goryeo sent word that the queen mother had died. On dinghai Zhending Intendant Wugulun Yuanzhong was again appointed right chancellor of the Secretariat.
30
二十四年正月辛卯朔，宋、夏遣使來賀。 徐州進芝草十有八莖，真定進嘉禾二本，六莖，異畝同穎。 戊戌，如長春宮春水。
In year twenty-four, on the xinmao new moon of the first month, congratulatory envoys arrived from Song and Western Xia. Xuzhou offered lingzhi with eighteen stalks; Zhending offered two stands of auspicious grain, six stalks each, from separate fields but with a single ear. On wuxu he went to Changchun Palace for the spring waters.
31
二月壬申，還都。 癸酉，上曰：「朕將往上京。 念本朝風俗重端午節，比及端午到上京，則燕勞鄉間宗室父老。」 甲戌，制一品職事官庶孽子承廕，更不引見。 丙戌，以東上閣門使完顏進兒等為高麗敕祭使，西上閣門使大仲尹為慰問使，虞王府長史永明為起複使，以器物局使皞為橫賜夏國使。
In the second month, on renshen, he returned to the capital. On guiyou the emperor said, "I am about to go to the Upper Capital. Our people hold the Dragon Boat festival dear; if I arrive at the Upper Capital in time, I can feast the imperial clansmen and elders of the homeland." On jiaxu the court ruled that when sons by concubines of first-rank officials inherited enfeoffment, they would no longer be presented at court. On bingxu Eastern Upper Gate Commissioner Wanyan Jin’er and others were sent as imperial mandate-sacrifice envoys to Goryeo; Western Upper Gate Commissioner Da Zhongyin as consolation envoy; Chief Administrator of the Yu Prince’s Household Yongming to urge resumption of office; and Implements Bureau Commissioner Hao as envoy bearing transverse gifts to Western Xia.
32
三月庚寅朔，萬春節，宋、夏遣使來賀。 甲午，以上將如上京，尚書省奏定「皇太子守國諸儀」。 丙申，尚書省進「皇太子守國寶」，上召皇太子授之，且諭之曰：「上京祖宗興王之寺，欲與諸王一到，或留三二年，以汝守國。 譬之農家種田，商人營財，但能不墜父業，即為克家子，況社稷任重，尤宜畏慎。 常時觀汝甚謹，今日能紓朕優，乃見中心孝也。」 皇太子再三辭讓，以不諳政務，乞備扈從。 上曰：「政事無甚難，但用心公正，毋納讒邪，久之自熟。」 皇太子流涕，左右皆為之感動。 皇太子乃受寶。 丁酉，如山陵。 己亥，還都。 壬寅，如上京。 皇太子允恭守國。 癸卯，宰執以下奉辭於通州。 上謂宰執曰：「卿輩皆故老，皇太子守國，宜悉心輔之，以副朕意。」 又謂樞密使徒單克寧曰：「朕巡省之後，脫或有事，卿必親之。 毋忽細微，大難圖也。」 又顧六部官曰：「朕聞省部文字多以小不合而駁之，苟求自便，致累歲不能結絕，朕甚惡之。 自今可行則行，可罷則罷，毋使在下有滯留之歎！」 時諸王皆從，以趙王永中留輔太子。
In the third month, on the gengyin new moon, at the Ten-Thousand Springs festival congratulatory envoys came from Song and Western Xia. On jiawu, with the emperor about to go to the Upper Capital, the Secretariat submitted and settled the "protocol for the crown prince’s regency." On bingshen the Secretariat presented the "crown prince’s regency seal"; the emperor summoned the crown prince, invested him, and said: "The Upper Capital is where our forefathers rose to power; I mean to go there with the princes, perhaps for two or three years, and leave you to guard the realm. It is like a farmer in his fields or a merchant with his goods: if you do not let your father’s estate slip away, you are a son who can keep the house. How much more when the altars of state rest on you—you must be doubly fearful and careful. I have always found you very dutiful; that today you can lighten my burdens shows the filial heart I hoped for." The crown prince repeatedly declined, saying he did not yet know state affairs and begging to go along as escort. The emperor said, "State affairs are not so hard—only keep your heart fair, admit no slander, and in time you will grow skilled." The crown prince wept, and all beside him were moved. The crown prince then accepted the seal. On dingyou he went to the imperial tombs. On jihai he returned to the capital. On renyin he went to the Upper Capital. Crown Prince Yungong held regency over the realm. On guimao the chief ministers and below bade farewell at Tongzhou. The emperor told the chief ministers, "You are all veterans; while the crown prince holds regency, assist him with all your hearts, as I expect." He also told Privy Commissioner Tudan Kening, "After I have gone on tour, if anything should arise, you must see to it yourself. Do not neglect small matters, for great trouble is hard to undo." He also turned to the Six Ministries officials and said, "I hear provincial and ministry papers are often rejected over trifles, officials seeking their own ease, so suits drag on for years—I detest this. Hereafter, what can be done, do; what can be set aside, set aside—do not let people below groan at delay!" All the princes went with him; Prince Zhao Yongzhong was left to assist the crown prince.
33
四月己未朔，太白晝見。 咸平尹移剌道薨。 庚申，次廣寧府。 丙寅，次東京。 丁卯，朝謁孝甯宮。 給複東京百里內夏秋稅租一年。 在城隨關年七十者補一官。 曲赦百里內犯徒二年以下罪。 乙酉，觀漁于混同江。
In the fourth month, on the jiwei new moon, Venus appeared in daylight. Xianping Intendant Yila Dao died. On gengshen he stopped at Guangning Prefecture. On bingyin he stopped at the Eastern Capital. On dingmao he paid court at the Xiaoning Palace. Summer and autumn tax and rent within a hundred li were remitted for one year. In the city, registered residents aged seventy were each granted an office. Within a hundred li, penal labor up to two years was pardoned by special grace. On yiyou he watched fishing on the Huntong River.
34
五月己丑，至上京，居於光興宮。 庚寅，朝謁于慶元宮。 戊戌，宴于皇武殿。 上謂宗戚曰：「朕思故鄉，積有日矣，今既至此，可極歡飲，君臣同之。」 賜諸王妃、主，宰執百官命婦各有差。 宗戚皆沾醉起舞，竟日乃罷。
In the fifth month, on jichou, he reached the Upper Capital and lodged at Guangxing Palace. On gengyin he paid court at Qingyuan Palace. On wuxu he gave a feast in the Huangwu Hall. The emperor told the imperial kin, "I have longed for my homeland many days; now that I am here, let us drink our fill—ruler and subjects together." The imperial princesses, chief ministers, and officials’ wives were each granted gifts in varying amounts. The kin all drank until drunk and danced; the revel lasted all day before it ended.
35
六月辛酉，幸按出虎水臨漪亭。 壬戌，閱馬於綠野澱。
In the sixth month, on xinyou, he visited the Linqi Pavilion on the Anshe River. On renxu he reviewed horses at Lüye Marsh.
36
七月乙未，上謂宰臣曰：「天子巡狩當舉善罰惡。 凡士民之孝弟淵睦者舉而用之，其不顧廉恥無行之人則教戒之，不悛者則加懲罰。」 丙午，獵於勃野澱。 乙卯，上謂宰臣曰：「今時之人，有罪不問，既過之後則謂不知。 有罪必責，則謂每事尋罪。 風俗之薄如此。 不以文德感化，不能複于古也。 卿等以德輔佐，當使複還古風。」
In the seventh month, on yiwei, the emperor told the chief ministers, "When the Son of Heaven tours the realm he should promote the good and punish the wicked. Wherever the people show filial piety, brotherly duty, and close harmony among neighbors, promote and employ them; those who disregard shame and live without proper conduct, admonish and instruct, and if they do not reform, punish them." On bingwu he hunted at Boyeqi Marsh. On yimao the emperor told the chief ministers, "Nowadays when men are guilty no one questions them; once the moment has passed they plead ignorance. When guilt is pursued they complain that every affair is raked for blame. Morals have thinned to this degree. Without civil virtue to win men over, we cannot recover the ways of old. Aid me with virtue and bring back the ancient ways."
37
八月癸亥，乙太府監張大節等為賀宋生日使，侍御史遙裏特末哥為夏國生日使。 乙亥，詔免上京今年市稅。
In the eighth month, on guihai, Grand Storehouse Supervisor Zhang Dajie and others were sent as Song birthday envoys, and Censor-in-Chief Yaoli Temuge as Western Xia birthday envoy. On yihai the throne exempted the Upper Capital’s market taxes for the year.
38
九月甲辰，歲星晝見。
In the ninth month, on jiachen, Jupiter appeared in daylight.
39
十月丁卯，獵於近郊。
In the tenth month, on dingmao, he hunted in the near suburbs.
40
十一月辛卯，還宮。 甲午，詔以上京天寒地遠，宋正旦、生日，高麗、夏國生日，並不須遣使，令有司報諭。 丙午尚書省奏徙速頻、胡裏改三猛安二十四謀克以實上京。
In the eleventh month, on xinmao, he returned to the palace. On jiawu an edict ruled that because the Upper Capital was cold and remote, no envoys need be sent for Song’s New Year and birthday or for Goryeo and Western Xia birthdays; the ministries were to notify them in writing. On bingwu the Secretariat asked to relocate twenty-four mouke in three meng’an from Supin and Huligai to fill out the Upper Capital.
41
十二月丙辰，獵於近郊。 己卯，還宮。
In the twelfth month, on bingchen, he hunted in the near suburbs. On jimao he returned to the palace.
42
二十五年正月乙酉朔。 丁亥，宴妃嬪、親王、公主、文武從官於光德殿，宗室、宗婦及五品以上命婦，與坐者千七百餘人，賞賚有差。
In year twenty-five, on the yiyou new moon of the first month. On dinghai he feasted consorts, imperial princes, princesses, and civil and military followers in the Guangde Hall; more than seventeen hundred imperial kin, clan wives, and titled wives of fifth rank and above took seats, and rewards were graded.
43
二月癸酉，以東平尹鳥古論思列怨望，殺之。 丁丑，如春水。
In the second month, on guiyou, Dongping Intendant Wugulun Silie was executed for disaffection. On dingchou he went to the spring-waters hunt.
44
四月己未，至自春水。 癸亥，幸皇武殿擊球，許士民縱觀。 甲子，詔於速頻、胡裏改兩路猛安下選三十謀克為三猛安，移置於率督畔窟之地，以實上京。 壬申，曲赦會寧府仍放免今年租稅，百姓年七十以上者補一官。 甲戌，以會寧府官一人兼大宗正丞，以治宗室之政。 上謂群臣曰：「上京風物朕自樂之，每奏還都，輒用感愴。 祖宗舊邦，不忍舍去，萬歲之後，當置朕于太祖之側，卿等無忘朕言。」 丁丑，宴宗室、宗婦于皇武殿，大功親賜官三階，小功二階，緦麻一階，年高屬近者加宣武將軍。 及封宗女，賜銀、絹各有差。 曰：「朕尋常不飲酒，今日甚欲成醉，此樂亦不易得也！」 宗室婦女及群臣故老以次起舞，進酒。 上曰：「吾來數月，未有一人歌本曲者，吾為汝等歌之。」 命宗室弟敘坐殿下者皆坐殿上，聽上自歌。 其詞道王業之艱難，及繼述之不易，至「慨想祖宗，宛然如睹」，慷慨悲激，不能成聲，歌畢泣下。 右丞相元忠率群臣、宗戚捧觴上壽，皆稱萬歲。 於是，諸夫人更歌本曲，如私家之會。 既醉，上複續調，至一鼓乃罷。 己卯，發上京。 庚辰，宗室戚屬奉辭。 上曰：「朕久思故鄉，甚欲留一二歲，京師天下根本，不能久於此也。 太平歲久，國無征徭，汝等皆奢縱，往往貧乏，朕甚憐之。 當務儉約，無忘祖先艱難。」 因泣數行下，宗室戚屬皆感泣而退。
In the fourth month, on jiwei, he returned from the spring waters. On guihai he went to the Huangwu Hall for cuju and let scholars and commoners watch at will. On jiazi the throne ordered thirty mouke chosen from meng’an under the Supin and Huligai circuits to form three meng’an and resettled at Shuaidu Banku to fill out the Upper Capital. On renshen Huining Prefecture received a partial amnesty and this year’s land tax was remitted; commoners of seventy and above were granted one rank. On jiaxu one official of Huining Prefecture was named to serve concurrently as deputy director of the Grand Imperial Clan Court and govern clan affairs. The emperor told the assembled ministers, "I delight in the Upper Capital’s scenes myself; whenever memorials urge return to the capital I am overcome with grief. Our ancestors’ homeland—I cannot bear to leave it; when my ten thousand years are done place me at Taizu’s side—do not forget what I say." On dingchou he feasted the imperial kin and clan wives in the Huangwu Hall; kin in the greatest mourning degree were advanced three ranks, in the middle two, in the least one; the aged and close in kinship were also made General Who Manifests Martiality. As clan daughters were enfeoffed, silver and silk were granted in varying amounts. He said, "I seldom drink, yet today I long to drink my fill—such joy is not easily had!" Clan women and veteran ministers in turn rose to dance and offer wine. The emperor said, "I have been here months and not one of you has sung the homeland tune—I will sing it for you." He ordered younger imperial kin seated in order below the hall to take seats on the dais and hear him sing himself. The lyrics spoke of the hardship of founding the realm and the difficulty of succession; at the line "thinking of the ancestors, it seems I see them plain," he grew impassioned and grief-stricken and could not finish the tune; when the song ended he wept. Right Chancellor Yuanzhong led ministers and kin to raise cups and wish long life; all shouted "Ten thousand years!" Then the ladies again sang homeland tunes, as at a family gathering. Once drunk, the emperor took up the tune again and did not leave off until the first watch. On jimao he departed the Upper Capital. On gengchen the imperial kin and affinal kin came to bid farewell. The emperor said, "I have longed for my homeland and wished to stay another year or two, but the capital is the root of the realm—I cannot linger here. Peace has lasted many years and the state levies no campaigns; you grow extravagant and often fall into want—I pity you deeply. Practice thrift and do not forget the ancestors’ hardship." He wept several lines of tears; the imperial kin and affinal kin, all moved, wept as they withdrew.
45
五月庚寅，平章政事襄、奉禦平山等射懷孕兔。 上怒杖平山三十，召襄誡飭之，遂下詔禁射兔。 壬寅，次天平山好水川。 癸卯，遣使臨潢、泰州勸農。 丙午，命尚書省奏事衣窄紫。
In the fifth month, on gengyin, Chief Councillor Xiang, Imperial Attendant Pingshan, and others shot a pregnant hare. The emperor in anger gave Pingshan thirty strokes of the rod, summoned Xiang to rebuke him, and then forbade the shooting of hares by edict. On renyin he halted at Tianping Mountain on the Haoshui River. On guimao he sent envoys to Linhuang and Taizhou to encourage agriculture. On bingwu he ordered the Secretariat to present memorials in narrow-cut purple.
46
六月甲寅，獵近山，見田壟不治，命笞田者。 庚申，皇太子允恭薨。 丙寅，尚書右丞相烏古論元忠罷。 庚午，遣左宣徽使唐括鼎詣京師，致祭皇太子。 戊寅，命皇太子妃及諸皇孫執喪。 並用漢儀。
In the sixth month, on jiayin, he hunted in the nearby hills; seeing untilled ridges, he had the farmers caned. On gengshen Crown Prince Yungong died. On bingyin Right Chancellor Wugulun Yuanzhong left office. On gengwu he sent Left Xuanhui Commissioner Tangguo Ding to the capital to perform mourning rites for the crown prince. On wuyin the crown prince’s consort and all imperial grandsons were ordered to observe mourning. Han mourning rites were used throughout.
47
七月戊申，發好水川。 九月辛巳朔，次轄沙河，賜百歲老嫗帛。 甲申，次遼水，召見百二十歲女直老人，能道太祖開創事，上嘉歎，賜食，並賜帛。 己酉，至自上京。 是日，上臨奠宣孝皇太子于熙春園。 十月丙辰，尚書省奏親軍數多，宜稍減損，詔定額為三千。 宰臣退，上謂左右曰：「宰相年老艱于久立，可置小榻廊下，使少休息。」 甲子，禁上京等路大雪及含胎時採捕。 上謂宰臣曰：「護衛年老出職而授臨民，手字尚不能畫，何以治民？ 人胸中明暗外不能知，精神昏耄已見於外，是強其所不能也。 天子以兆民為子，不能家家而撫，在用人而已。 知其不能而強授之，百姓其謂我何？」 丁丑，命學士院、講院、秘書監、司天臺、著作局、閣門、通進、拱衛、直武器署等官，凡直宮中，午前許退。 十一月庚辰朔，詔曰：「豺未祭獸，不許採捕。 冬月，雪尺以上，不許用網及速撒海，恐盡獸類。」 歲星晝見。 壬午，太白晝見。 甲午，以臨潢尹僕散守中等為賀宋正旦使。 丙申，夏國遣使問起居。 戊戌，以曹王永功為御史大夫。 壬寅，以禮部員外郎移剌履為高麗生日使。 十二月戊午，以皇孫金源郡王麻達葛判大興尹，進封原王。 甲子，太白晝見，經天。 丙寅，左相完顏守道、左丞張汝弼、右丞粘割斡特剌、參知政事張汝霖坐擅增東宮諸皇孫食料，各削官一階。 甲戌，制增留守、統軍、總管、招討、都轉運、府尹、轉運、節度使月俸。 上謂宰臣曰：「太尉守道論事止務從寬，犯罪罷職者多欲複用。 若懲其首惡，後來知畏，罪而複用，何以示戒。」 是日，命範銅為「禮信之寶」，凡賜外方禮物，給信袋則用之。 丙子，上問宰臣曰：「原王大興行事如何？」 右丞斡特剌對曰：「聞都人皆稱之。」 上曰：「朕令察於民間，鹹言見事甚明，予奪皆不失當，曹、豳二王弗能及也。 又聞有女直人訴事，以女直語問之，漢人訴事，漢語問之。 大習不失本朝語為善，不習，則淳風將棄。」 汝弼對曰：「不忘本者，聖人之道也。」 斡特剌曰：「以西夏小邦，崇尚舊俗，獨能保國數百年。」 上曰：「事當任實，一事為偽則喪百真，故凡事莫如真實也。」
In the seventh month, on wushen, he departed Haoshui River. In the ninth month, on the xinsi new moon, he stopped at Xiahe River and granted silk to women a hundred years old. On jiashen he stopped at the Liao River and summoned a Jurchen elder of a hundred and twenty who could tell of Taizu’s founding; the emperor praised him, gave him food, and granted silk as well. On jiyou he returned from the Upper Capital. That day the emperor came in person to mourn the Xuanxiao Crown Prince at Xichun Garden. In the tenth month, on bingchen, the Secretariat reported that the personal guard was too large and should be cut back; an edict fixed the quota at three thousand. When the chancellors withdrew, the emperor told those beside him, "The chancellors are old and cannot stand long; place small couches in the corridor below so they may rest a little." On jiazi hunting and trapping were forbidden on the Upper Capital routes during heavy snow and when animals were pregnant. The emperor told the chancellors, "When aged guards leave service and are sent to govern the people, they cannot even write their own names—how can they govern the people? What is clear or clouded in a man’s breast cannot be known from outside, but when the mind is dull and senile it shows on the outside—this is forcing what they cannot do. The Son of Heaven takes the myriad people as his children; he cannot comfort every household himself—it rests only on whom he employs. If we know they cannot do it and yet force office on them, what will the people think of me?" On dingchou officials of the Hanlin Academy, Lecture Institute, Secretariat Directorate, Directorate of Astronomy, Compilation Bureau, Gate Office, Memorial Processing Office, Palace Guard, Direct Weapons Office, and the like—all on palace duty—were permitted to leave before noon. In the eleventh month, on the gengchen new moon, an edict said, "Before the jackal has sacrificed to the beasts, hunting and capture are forbidden. In winter, when snow is more than a foot deep, nets and the susahai dragnet are forbidden, lest game be wiped out." Jupiter appeared in daylight. On renwu Venus appeared in daylight. On jiawu Linhuang Intendant Pusan Shouzhong and others were sent to congratulate Song on New Year’s Day. On bingshen Western Xia sent envoys to inquire after the emperor’s health. On wuxu Prince Cao Yonggong was appointed censor-in-chief. On renyin Ministry of Rites Outer-Section Officer Yila Lü was sent as Goryeo birthday envoy. In the twelfth month, on wuwu, the imperial grandson Jinyuan Prince Madage was made acting intendant of Daxing and promoted to Prince of Yuan. On jiazi Venus appeared in daylight and crossed the meridian. On bingyin Left Chancellor Wanyan Shoudao, Left Vice Councillor Zhang Rubi, Right Vice Councillor Zhagewo Hutela, and Participation Councillor Zhang Rulin, for having on their own increased the Eastern Palace imperial grandsons’ rations, were each demoted one rank. On jiaxu regulations increased the monthly salaries of military commissioners, circuit commanders, grand marshals, pacification commissioners, transport commissioners, prefects, transport agents, and military governors. The emperor told the chancellors, "Grand Guardian Shoudao in discussing affairs always seeks leniency; many dismissed for crime he would employ again. Punish the chief culprits and those who follow will know fear; to punish and then employ again—how is that a warning?" That day he ordered bronze cast for the "Treasure of Ritual and Trust"; whenever gifts were sent abroad with a trust pouch, it was used. On bingzi the emperor asked the chancellors, "How does the Prince of Yuan conduct affairs at Daxing?" Right Vice Councillor Hutela replied, "I hear the people of the capital all praise him." The emperor said, "I ordered inquiry among the people; all say he sees affairs very clearly and in grant and denial never misses the mark—the Princes of Cao and Bin cannot match him. I also hear that when a Jurchen came to plead a case he questioned him in Jurchen, and when a Han man came he questioned him in Chinese. To be well versed and not lose our dynasty’s language is good; if we do not learn it, our plain customs will be cast away." Rubi replied, "Not to forget one’s roots is the way of the sages." Hutela said, "Western Xia is a small state, yet by honoring its old customs alone it has kept its realm for several hundred years." The emperor said, "Affairs must rest on what is real; if one thing is false a hundred truths are lost—therefore in all things nothing surpasses truth."
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二十六年正月庚辰朔，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 甲辰，如長春宮春水。 二月癸酉，還都。 乙亥，詔曰：「每季求仕人，問以疑難，令剖決之。 其才識可取者，仍訪察政跡，如其言行相副，即加升用。」 三月乙卯朔，萬春節，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 丁亥，以大理卿闕，上問誰可？ 右丞粘割斡特剌言，前使部尚書唐括貢可，乃授以是職。 己丑，尚書省擬奏除授，上曰：「卿等在省未嘗薦士，止限資級，安能得人？ 古有布衣人相者，聞宋亦多用山東、河南流寓疏遠之人，皆不拘於貴近也。 以本朝境土之大，豈無其人，朕難遍知，卿又不舉。 自古豈有終身為相者，外官三品以上，必有可用之人，但無故得進耳。」 左丞張汝弼曰：「下位雖有才能，必試之乃見。」 參政程輝曰：「外官雖有聲，一旦入朝，卻不稱任，亦在沙汰而已。」 癸巳，香山寺成，幸其寺，賜名大永安，給田二千畝，栗七千株，錢二萬貫。 丁酉，以親軍完顏乞奴言，制猛安謀克皆先讀女直字經史然後承襲。 因曰：「但令稍通古今，則不肯為非。 爾一親軍粗人，乃能言此，審其有益，何憚而不從。」
In year twenty-six, on the gengchen new moon of the first month, congratulatory envoys arrived from Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia. On jiachen he went to Changchun Palace for the spring waters. In the second month, on guiyou, he returned to the capital. On yihai an edict said, "Each season seek candidates for office and question them on difficult points, ordering them to decide cases. Those whose talent and judgment warrant use should still be investigated for their administrative record; if words and deeds match, promote and employ them at once." In the third month, on the yimao new moon, at the Ten-Thousand Springs festival congratulatory envoys came from Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia. On dinghai the directorate of the Court of Judicial Review was vacant; the emperor asked who would serve. Right Vice Councillor Zhagewo Hutela said former Envoy-Section Minister Tangque Gong would do, and he was appointed to the post. On jichou the Secretariat drafted appointments for presentation; the emperor said, "You in the Secretariat have never recommended scholars, but only limit yourselves to rank and seniority—how can you get the right men? In antiquity commoners were made chancellors; I hear Song also much employed men from Shandong and Henan, wanderers from afar, all without being bound to the noble and near. With our dynasty’s territory so vast, can there be no such men? I cannot know them all, and you do not recommend them. From antiquity has anyone been chancellor for life? Among outer officials of the third rank and above there must be men fit to serve—it is only that they have no path to advance." Left Vice Director Zhang Rubi said: “Men in humble posts may have ability, but only trial will show it.” Participation Councillor Cheng Hui said: “Local officials may be well spoken of, yet once they reach court they may fail in office—that is only another sort of culling.” On guisi Xiangshan Temple was finished; he went there, named it Great Everlasting Peace, and granted two thousand mou of land, seven thousand chestnut trees, and twenty thousand strings of cash. On dingyou, at the urging of guardsman Wanyan Qinu, the court ruled that every meng’an and mouke must study Jurchen writing and the classics and histories before inheriting a company. He said: “Let them know something of past and present, and they will refuse to do evil. A rough guardsman like you could say this—I see the good in it; why hold back from adopting it?”
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四月壬子，尚書省奏定院務監官虧陪兌納法及橫班格。 因曰：「朕常日禦膳亦從減省，嘗有一公主至，至無餘膳可與，當直官皆目睹之。 若欲豐腆，雖日用五十羊亦不難矣！ 然皆民之脂膏，不忍為也。 監臨官惟知利己，不知其利自何而來？ 朕嘗曆外任，稔知民間之事，想前代之君，雖享富貴，不知稼穡艱難者甚多，其失天下，皆由此也！ 遼主聞民間乏食，謂何不食幹臘，蓋幼失師保之訓，及其即位，故不知民間疾苦也。 隨煬帝時，楊素專權行事，乃不慎委任之過也。 與正人同處，所知必正道，所聞必正言，不可不慎也。 今原王府官屬，當選純謹秉性正直者充，勿用有權術之人。」 戊午，尚書左丞張汝弼罷。 己未，幸壽安宮。 壬戌，太尉、左丞相完顏過道致仕。 以客省使李磐為橫賜高麗使。 尚書省奏北京轉運使以贓除名。 尚書省奏事，上曰：「比有上書言，職官犯除名不可複用，朕謂此言極當。 如軍期急速，權可使用。 今天下無事，複用此輩，何以戒將來。」 又奏：「年前以諸路水旱，於軍民地土二十一萬餘頃內，擬免稅四十九萬余石。」 從之。 詔曰：「今之稅，考古行之，但遇災傷，常加蠲免。」
In the fourth month, on renzi, the Department of State Affairs reported regulations for bureau supervisors’ deficit compensation and exchange delivery, and the lateral-rank table. He said: “I already pare my daily meals; once when a princess arrived there was nothing left to set before her, and every officer on duty saw it. If I wanted plenty, fifty sheep a day would be easy enough! But it is all wrung from the people’s substance—I will not do it. Supervisors think only of their own gain—do they know where that gain comes from? I have held posts in the provinces and know the people’s affairs well; many rulers of old, though rich and exalted, never learned how hard the harvest is—losing the realm always began there! When the Liao emperor heard the people had no food, he asked why they did not eat jerky—he had lost his tutors in boyhood, and on taking the throne he knew nothing of popular hardship. Under Sui Yangdi, Yang Su acted as he pleased—that came of appointing men without care. Keep company with upright men and what you learn will be the right Way and what you hear right words—this must not be treated lightly. For Prince Yuan’s household staff, choose men who are pure, cautious, and upright in nature; do not use men versed in intrigue.” On wuwu Left Vice Director Zhang Rubi left office. On jiwei he went to Shou’an Palace. On renxu Grand Preceptor and Left Chancellor Wanyan Guodao retired from office. Guest Bureau Commissioner Li Pan was named lateral-bestowal envoy to Goryeo. The Department of State Affairs reported that the Beijing transport commissioner had been removed from office for graft. As the Department of State Affairs reported, the emperor said: “A recent memorial held that officials struck from the rolls for crime must not serve again—I find that wholly right. When armies must move in haste, they may be used for the moment. But the realm is at peace now; to put such men back in office—how will that warn those who come after?” The ministers also reported: “Last year, because of flood and drought on the circuits, we propose remitting 490,000-odd shi of tax on 210,000-odd qing of military and civilian land.” The throne assented. An edict said: “Measured against antiquity, present taxes are light—and whenever disaster strikes, remission is added.”
50
五月甲申，以司徒、樞密使徒單克甯為太尉、尚書左丞相，判大宗正事趙王永中複為樞密使，大興尹原王麻達葛為尚書右丞相，賜名璟。 參加政事程輝致仕。 戊子，盧溝決于上陽村，湍流成河，遂因之。 庚寅，御史大夫曹王永功罷，以豳王永成為御史大夫。 戊戌，以尚書右丞粘割斡特剌為左丞，參知政事張汝霖為右丞。
In the fifth month, on jiashen, Tushan Kening, minister of works and bureau of military affairs head, became grand preceptor and left chancellor; Zhao Yongzhong, director of the imperial clan, again headed the bureau of military affairs; Prince Yuan Madage, metropolitan governor, became right chancellor and received the name Jing. Participation Councillor Cheng Hui retired. On wuzi the Lugou broke through at Shangyang village; the flood cut a channel, and they let it run. On gengyin Censorate Grandee Prince Cao Yonggong left office, and Prince Bin Yongcheng became censorate grandee. On wuxu Right Vice Director Niange Watele became left vice director, and Participation Councillor Zhang Rulin right vice director.
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六月癸亥，尚書省奏速頻、胡裏改世襲謀克事，上曰：「其人皆勇悍，昔世祖與之鄰，苦戰累年，僅能克復。 其後乍服乍叛，至穆、康時，始服聲教。 近世亦嘗分徙。 朕欲稍遷其民上京，實國家長久之計。」 己巳，上謂宰執曰：「齊桓中庸主也，得一管仲，遂成霸業。 朕夙夜以思，惟恐失人。 朕既不知，卿等又不薦，必俟全才而後舉，蓋亦難矣！ 如舉某人長於某事，朕亦量材用之。 朕與卿等俱老矣！ 天下至大，豈得無人？ 薦舉人材，當今急務也。」 又言：「人之有幹能，固不易得，然不若德行之士最優也。」 上謂右丞相原王曰：「爾嘗讀《太祖實錄》乎？ 太祖征麻產，襲之，至泥淖馬不能進，太祖舍馬而步，歡都射中麻產，遂擒之。 創業之難如此，可不思乎。」 甲戌，詔曰：「凡陳言文字詣登聞檢院送學士院聞奏，毋經省廷。」
In the sixth month, on guihai, the Department of State Affairs reported on hereditary mouke succession among the Sufen and Huli Gai; the emperor said: “They are a fierce people; our founding forebear neighbored them and fought bitterly for years before barely subduing them. Afterward they submitted and rebelled by turns; only under Mu and Kang did they accept our transforming rule. In recent times some have also been moved away. I mean to shift some of their people little by little to the Upper Capital—that is the lasting plan for the realm.” On jisi the emperor told the chief ministers: “Duke Huan of Qi was no more than a middling ruler, yet one Guan Zhong made him hegemon. I brood on it day and night, fearing only that I shall miss the right man. I cannot know everyone, and you do not put men forward; if we must wait for a perfect talent before appointing, that is hard indeed! Name a man’s strength, and I will use him for that. You and I are growing old! The realm is vast—are there truly no men? To recommend talent is today’s urgent business.” He added: “Able men are hard to find, but none are better than men of virtue.” The emperor asked Right Chancellor Prince Yuan: “Have you read the Veritable Record of Taizu? Taizu attacked Macheng by surprise; when mud bogged his horse he dismounted and went on foot; Huandu shot Macheng and took him. Founding the realm was that hard—should we not keep it in mind?” On jiaxu an edict ruled: “Written petitions shall go to the Imperial Petition Office and then to the Hanlin Academy for the throne’s hearing, not through the Secretariat.”
52
七月壬午，詔給內外職事官兼職俸錢。 丙申，禦史中丞馬惠迪為參知政事。 庚子，上聞同知中都路都轉運使事趙曦瑞，其在職應錢谷利害文字多不題署，但思安身，降授積石州刺史。
In the seventh month, on renwu, pay was ordered for officials holding concurrent posts, within and beyond the capital. On bingshen Censor-in-Chief Ma Huidi became participation councillor. On gengzi the emperor learned that Zhao Xirui, associate administrator on the Zhongdu circuit transport commission, had often left unsigned the fiscal papers that mattered while in office, caring only to secure himself, and was demoted to prefect of Jishi.
53
閏月己未，還都。
In the intercalary month, on jiwei, he returned to the capital.
54
八月丁丑，上謂宰臣曰：「親軍雖不識字，亦令依例出職，若涉贓賄，必痛繩之。」 太尉左丞相克甯曰：「依法則可。」 上曰：「朕於女直人未嘗不知優恤。 然涉於贓罪，雖朕子弟亦不能恕。 太尉之意，欲姑息女直人耳！」 戊寅，尚書省奏，河決，衛州壞。 命戶部侍郎王寂、都水少監汝嘉徙限衛州胙城縣。 丁亥，尚書省奏，遣吏部侍郎李晏等二十六人分路推排諸路物力，從之。 己丑，以宿直將軍李達可為夏國生日使。 辛卯，以益都尹宗浩等為賀宋生日使。 甲午，秋獵。 庚子，次薊州。 辛丑，幸仙洞寺。 壬寅，幸香林、淨名二寺。
In the eighth month, on dingchou, the emperor told the chief ministers, "Even if the imperial guards cannot read, let them still take office by precedent; if they touch graft, punish them severely." Grand Marshal and Left Chief Councillor Kening said, "That may be done by law." The emperor said, "I have never failed to show Jurchen people special favor. Yet where graft is involved, not even my own sons and brothers would I spare. What the Grand Marshal means is simply to indulge Jurchen people!" On wuyin the Secretariat reported that the Yellow River had broken through and Weizhou was wrecked. He ordered Revenue Vice Minister Wang Ji and Waterways Vice Director Rujia to reset bounds and relocate people within Zuo County in Wei Prefecture. On dinghai the Secretariat proposed sending Personnel Vice Minister Li Yan and twenty-five others by separate routes to push property assessments on every circuit; the throne approved. On jichou Duty-Station General Li Dake was sent as envoy for the Xia ruler’s birthday. On xinmao Yidu Prefect Zong Hao and others were sent to congratulate Song on the emperor’s birthday. On jiawu the autumn hunt began. On gengzi he halted at Ji Prefecture. On xinchou he visited Xiandong Temple. On renyin he visited the Xianglin and Jingming temples.
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九月甲辰朔，幸盤山上方寺，因篇曆中盤、天香、感化諸寺。 庚申，還都。 丙寅，上謂宰臣曰：「烏底改叛亡，已遣人討之，可益以甲士，毀其船筏。」 參知政事馬惠迪曰：「得其人不可用，有其地不可居，恐不足勞聖慮。」 上曰：「朕亦知此類無用，所以毀其船筏，欲不使再邊境耳！」
In the ninth month, on the jiachen new moon, he visited Panshan’s Shangfang Temple and in turn the Zhongpan, Tianxiang, Ganhua, and other monasteries. On gengshen he returned to the capital. On bingyin the emperor told the chief ministers, "The Udige have rebelled and fled; troops are already out against them—add armored men and destroy their boats and rafts." Participation Councillor Ma Huidi said, "Even with their people they are useless and their land uninhabitable—perhaps this hardly needs Your Majesty’s concern." The emperor said, "I know such people are useless too; I destroy their boats and rafts so they cannot trouble the border again!"
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十月戊寅，定職官犯贓同職相糾察法。 庚寅，上謂宰臣曰：「西南、西北兩路招討司地隘，猛安人戶無處圍獵，不能閑習騎射。 委各猛安謀克官依時教練，其弛慢過期及不親監視，並決罰之。」 甲午，詔增河防軍數。 戊戌，甯昌軍節度使崇肅、行軍都統忠道以討烏底改，不待克敵而還，崇肅杖七十，削官一階，忠道杖八十，削官三階。
In the tenth month, on wuyin, the law on mutual scrutiny when officials commit graft was fixed. On gengyin the emperor told the chief ministers, "The Southwest and Northwest pacification commissioners’ lands are cramped; meng’an households have nowhere to hunt in enclosure and cannot keep up mounted archery. Let each meng’an and mouke officer drill them on schedule; those lax, overdue, or not supervising in person—all are to be beaten and fined." On jiawu an edict increased the Yellow River defense troops. On wuxu Ningchang Army commissioner Chongsu and campaign commander Zhongdao, sent against the Udige, came back before the enemy was beaten; Chongsu took seventy blows of the staff and lost one rank, Zhongdao eighty blows and three ranks.
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十一月甲辰朔，定閔宗陵廟薦享禮。 上謂宰臣曰：「女直人中材傑之士，朕少有識者，蓋亦難得也。 新進士如徒單鎰、夾古阿裏補、尼厖古鑒輩皆可用之材也。 起身刀筆者，雖用才力可用，其廉介之節，終不及進士。 今五品以上闕員甚多，必資級相當，至老有不能得者，況欲至卿相乎？ 古來宰相率不過三五年而退，罕有三二十年者，卿等特不舉人，甚非朕意。」 上顧修起居注崇璧曰：「斯人孱弱，付之以事，未必能辦，以其謹厚長者，故置諸左右，欲諸官效其為人也。」 辛亥，以刑部尚書移剌子元等為賀宋正旦使。 戊午，以左警巡副使鶻沙通敏善斷，擢殿中侍御史兼右三部司正。 庚申，立右丞相原王璟為皇太孫。 甲子，上謂宰臣曰：「朕聞宋軍自來教習不輟，今我軍專務遊惰，卿等勿謂天下既安而無豫防之心，一旦有警，軍不可用，顧不敗事耶？ 其令以時訓練。」 丙寅，上謂侍臣曰：「唐太子承乾所為多非度，太宗縱而弗檢，遂至於廢，如早為禁止，當不至是。 朕于聖經不能深解，至於史傳，開卷輒有所益。 每見善人不忘忠孝，檢身廉潔，皆出天性。 至於常人多喜為非，有天下者苟無以懲之，何由致治。 孔子為政七日而誅少正卯，聖人尚爾，況餘人乎？」 戊辰，上謂宰臣曰：「朕雖年老，聞善不厭。 孔子雲：'見善如不及，見不善如探湯。 '大哉言乎！」 右丞張汝弼對曰：「知之非艱，行之惟艱。」 以拱衛直副都指揮使韓景懋為高麗生日使。 以近侍局直長尼厖古鑒純直通敏，擢皇太孫侍丞。 己巳，獵近郊。 庚午，上謂宰臣曰：「朕方前古明君，固不可及。 至於不納近臣讒言，不受戚裏私謁，亦無愧矣！ 朕嘗自思，豈能無過，所患過而不改，過而能改，庶幾無咎。 省朕之過，頗喜興土木之工，自今不復作矣。」
In the eleventh month, on the jiachen new moon, the rites for offerings at Minzong’s tomb and temple were fixed. The emperor told the chief ministers, "Among Jurchen there are outstanding men I have scarcely met—truly they are hard to find. New jinshi such as Tudan Yi, Jiagu Alibu, and Nimuguci Jian and their like are all fit for use. Men who rise from clerical work may have usable talent, yet their integrity never equals that of jinshi graduates. Today vacancies above the fifth rank are many, yet rank and qualification must match; some grow old without a post—how much less reach chancellor? From antiquity chancellors mostly serve three to five years; rarely twenty or thirty—yet you notably fail to recommend men. That is far from my intent." He turned to Daily Recorder reviser Chongbi and said, "This man is frail; put to work he may not manage, yet because he is careful, steady, and elderly I keep him close, wishing you officials would take him as your model." On xinhai Minister of Justice Yelü Ziyuan and others were sent to congratulate Song on the New Year. On wuwu Left Police Patrol deputy commissioner Husha Tongmin, for sound judgments, was promoted to palace attendant censor and concurrent chief clerk of the Right Three Bureaus. On gengshen Right Chief Councillor Prince of Yuan Jing was made imperial great-grandson heir. On jiazi the emperor told the chief ministers, "I hear Song troops never stop drilling; now our army gives itself wholly to idling and pleasure. Do not think the realm is settled and needs no guard—if alarm comes and the troops fail, will affairs not collapse? Order training at the proper season." On bingyin he told attendant ministers, "Tang crown prince Chengqian’s conduct was largely beyond measure; Taizong indulged him and did not check it, until he was deposed—had he been restrained early, it would not have come to that. I cannot deeply grasp the sacred classics, yet in histories and biographies I always gain something from opening a volume. Whenever I see good men who do not forget loyalty and filial piety and who keep themselves honest and clean—all that comes from inborn nature. As for ordinary people, most delight in wrong; if the ruler will not punish them, how can there be order? Confucius in government seven days executed Shaozheng Mao—even a sage did so; how much more the rest of us?" On wuchen the emperor told the chief ministers, "Though I am old, I never weary of hearing what is good. Confucius said, “When you see good, hasten to it as if you cannot catch up; when you see evil, withdraw as from scalding water.” How great these words!” Right Vice Director Zhang Rubi replied, "Knowing is not hard; doing is what is hard." Garrison Guard deputy commandant Han Jingmao was sent as envoy for Goryeo’s birthday. Because Palace Attendance Bureau director Nimuguci Jian Chunzhi was forthright and penetrating, he was promoted to attendant of the imperial great-grandson heir. On jisi he hunted in the near suburbs. On gengwu the emperor told the chief ministers, "Compared with the enlightened rulers of old, I surely cannot match them. As for refusing close ministers’ slander and kin and consorts’ private audiences—I have nothing to be ashamed of! I often reflect: how could I be without fault? What I fear is fault left uncorrected; correct it, and perhaps there is no blame. Looking at my faults, I have rather delighted in building works; from now on I will do so no more."
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十二月甲申，上退朝，禦香閤，左諫議大夫黃久約言遞送荔支非是，上諭之曰：「朕不知也，今令罷之。」 丙戌，上謂宰臣曰：「有司奉上，惟沽辦事之名，不問利害如何。 朕嘗欲得新荔支，兵部遂于道路特設鋪遞。 比因諫官黃久約言，朕方知之。 夫為人無識，一旦臨事，便至顛沛。 宮中事無大小，朕常親覽者，以不得人故也，如使得人，寧複他慮。」 丁亥，上謂宰臣曰：「朕年來惟以省約為務，常膳止四五味，已厭飫之，比初即位十減七八。」 宰臣曰：「天子自有制，不同餘人。」 上曰：「天子亦人耳，枉費安用。」 丙申，上謂宰臣曰：「比聞河水泛溢，民罹其害者貲產皆空。 今複遣官於彼推排，何耶？」 右丞張汝霖曰：「今推排皆非被災之處。」 上曰：「必鄰道也。 既鄰水而居，豈無驚擾遷避者乎？ 計其貲產，豈有餘哉！ 尚何推排為。」 又曰：「平時用人，宜尚平直。 至於軍職，當用權謀，使人不易測，可以集事。 唐太宗自少年能用兵，其後雖居帝位，猶不能改，吮瘡剪須，皆權謀也。」
In the twelfth month, on jiashen, after audience the emperor withdrew to Xiangge Pavilion; Left Remonstrance Officer Huang Jiuyue said relaying lychees was wrong; the emperor told him, "I did not know; stop it now." On bingxu the emperor told the chief ministers, "When offices serve things up, they only want the credit for fulfilling orders and never ask what helps or harms. I once wanted fresh lychees, and the Board of War set up special relay posts along the roads. Only now, through Remonstrance Officer Huang Jiuyue, do I know it. A man without judgment, when affairs suddenly fall on him, ends in distress. That I personally oversee palace affairs great and small is because I lack the right men; had I them, what else would I worry about?" On dinghai the emperor told the chief ministers, "In recent years I have made economy my only task; ordinary meals have four or five dishes at most, and I am already weary of surfeit—compared with when I first took the throne, spending is down seven or eight tenths." The chief ministers said, "The Son of Heaven has his own rules, unlike other men." The emperor said, "The Son of Heaven is only a man too—what use is waste?" On bingshen the emperor told the chief ministers, "Lately I heard the river flooded; people who suffered have lost everything. Yet now officials are sent there again for property assessments—why?" Right Vice Director Zhang Rulin said, "The assessments now are all outside the disaster zones." The emperor said, "They must be in neighboring circuits. Living beside the water, were there not people alarmed and driven to flee? Count their property—how could there be anything left! Why still property assessments?" He also said, "In ordinary appointments, straightforwardness should be prized. For military posts, use stratagem so men cannot easily read you—that is how affairs get done. Taizong could use troops from youth; even on the throne he never changed—sucking sores and trimming beards were all stratagem."
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二十七年正月癸卯朔，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 己酉，以襄城令趙渢為應奉翰林文字。 渢入謝，上問宰臣曰：「此党懷英所薦耶？」 對曰：「諫議黃久約亦嘗薦之。」 上曰：「學士院比舊殊無人材，何也？」 右丞張汝霖曰：「人材須作養，若令久任練習，自可得人。」 庚戌，如長春宮春水。
In year 27, first month, on the guimao new moon, Song, Goryeo, and Xia sent envoys to congratulate. On jiyou Xiangcheng magistrate Zhao Feng was made yingfeng Hanlin literary officer. Zhao Feng came in to give thanks; the emperor asked the chief ministers, "Was this Dang Huaiying’s recommendation?" They replied, "Remonstrance Officer Huang Jiuyue also recommended him once." The emperor said, "The Hanlin Academy has far less talent than of old—why?" Right Vice Director Zhang Rulin said, "Talent must be nurtured; keep men long in office to gain practice, and you will get men." On gengxu he went to Changchun Palace for the spring waters.
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二月乙亥，還都。 乙卯，改閔宗廟號曰熙宗。 癸未，命曲陽縣置錢監，賜名「利通」。 乙酉，上謂宰執曰：「朕自即位以來，言事者雖有狂妄，未嘗罪之。 卿等未嘗肯盡言，何也？ 當言而不言，是相疑也。 君臣無疑，則謂之嘉會。 事有利害，可竭誠言之。 朕見緘默不言之人，不欲觀之矣。」 丁亥，命沿河京、府、州、縣長貳官，並帶管勾河防事。 己丑，諭宰執曰：「近侍局官須選忠直練達之人用之。 朕雖不聽讒言，使佞人在側，將恐漸漬聽從之矣！」 上謂宰執曰：「朕聞寶坻尉蒙括末也清廉，其為政何如？」 左丞斡特剌對曰：「其部民亦稱譽之，然不知所稱何事？」 上曰：「凡為官但得清廉亦可矣，安得全才之人。 可進官一階，升為令。」 又言：「朕時或體中不佳，未嘗不視朝。 諸王、查官但有微疾，便不治事，自今宜戒之。」 丙申，命罪人在禁有疾，聽親屬人視。
In the second month, on yihai, he returned to the capital. On yimao Minzong’s temple name was changed to Xizong. On guiwei he ordered Quyang County to set up a mint, granted the name Litong. On yiyou the emperor told the chief executives, "Since I took the throne, though memorialists have been reckless, I have never punished them. You have never been willing to speak your minds—why? To have something to say and hold back is mutual suspicion. Where ruler and minister are without suspicion, that is a fine assembly. Where affairs have benefit or harm, speak with full sincerity. When I see men who stay silent, I do not wish to look on them." On dinghai he ordered chief and associate officials of capitals, prefectures, districts, and counties along the river all to concurrently oversee river defense. On jichou he instructed the chief executives, "Palace Attendance Bureau officials must be loyal, upright, experienced, and perceptive men. Though I do not heed slander, if flatterers stand at my side, I fear I may gradually soak into heeding them!" The emperor told the chief executives, "I hear Baodi Commandant Mengkuomo is honest and clean—how is his governance?" Left Vice Director Hutela replied, "His subordinates praise him too, yet I do not know what they praise." The emperor said, "For any office, if a man is only honest and clean, that is enough—how can one demand full talent? Advance him one rank and promote him to magistrate." He also said, "When I am sometimes unwell, I have never failed to hold audience. The princes and inspection officials—at the slightest ailment they stop handling affairs; from now on this must be forbidden." On bingshen he ordered that sick prisoners in detention might be visited by kin.
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三月癸卯朔，萬春節，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 辛亥，皇太孫受冊，赦。 乙卯，尚書省言：「孟家山金口閘下視都城百四十餘尺，恐暴水為害，請閉之。」 從之。 上謂大臣曰：「十室之邑，必有忠信。 今天下之廣，人民之眾，豈得無人？ 唐之顏真卿、段秀實皆節義之臣也，終不升用，亦當時大臣固蔽而不舉也。 卿等當不私親故，而特舉忠正之人，朕將用之。」 又言：「國初風俗淳儉，居家惟衣布，非大會賓客，未當輒烹羊豕。 朕嘗念當時節儉之風，不欲妄費，凡宮中之官與賜之食者，皆有常數。
In the third month, on the guimao new moon, Wan Spring Festival; Song, Goryeo, and Xia sent envoys to congratulate. On xinhai the imperial great-grandson was invested; an amnesty was proclaimed. On yimao the Secretariat reported: "Below the Mengjiashan Golden Mouth sluice the capital stands more than one hundred forty chi lower; sudden flood damage is feared, and we ask that it be shut." The request was approved. " The emperor told the chief ministers, "In a hamlet of ten households there must be loyalty and trust. With the realm so vast and the people so many, how can there be no such men? Tang’s Yan Zhenqing and Duan Xiushi were both men of integrity and loyalty, yet they were never advanced—it was because the chief ministers of the day were closed and would not raise them. You must not favor kin and old friends, but specially recommend loyal and upright men; I will employ them." He added, "At the founding the custom was pure and frugal; at home people wore only cloth, and unless it was a great gathering or guests they did not casually slaughter sheep and swine. I often recall that frugal custom and do not wish to waste recklessly; every palace officer and everyone granted food has a fixed ration.
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四月丙戌，以刑部尚書宗浩為參知政事。 丙申，上如金蓮川。 辛丑，京師地震。 五月壬子，詔罷曷懶路所進海蔥及太府監日進時果。 曰：「蔥、果應用幾何？ 徒勞人耳！ 惟上林諸果，三日一進。」 庚午，以所進禦膳味不調適，有旨問之。 尚食局直長言：「臣聞老母病劇，私心憒亂，如喪魂魄，以此有失嘗視，臣罪萬死！」 上嘉其孝，即令還家侍疾，俟平愈乃來。
In the fourth month, on bingxu, Minister of Justice Zong Hao was made participation councillor. On bingchen the emperor went to Jinlian River. On xinchou the capital was shaken by earthquake. In the fifth month, on renzi, an edict ended the sea scallions sent from Yilan Route and the Imperial Treasury’s daily seasonal fruit. It said, "How much scallion and fruit are needed? It only wears people out! Only Upper Park fruits are to be sent in once every three days." On gengwu, because the imperial meal presented was poorly seasoned, an order went out to question it. The Imperial Kitchen Bureau director said, "I have heard my aged mother’s illness is grave; in private I am distraught, as if my soul had fled—for this I failed in my tasting duty; my crime deserves ten thousand deaths!" The emperor praised his filial piety and at once sent him home to tend her illness, to return when she had recovered.
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六月戊寅，免中都、河北等路嘗被河決水災軍民租稅。 庚辰太白晝見。
In the sixth month, on wuyin, land tax was remitted for soldiers and civilians in Zhongdu, Hebei, and other circuits who had suffered river-breach floods. On gengchen Venus appeared in daylight.
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七月丙午，太白晝見，經天。 壬子，秋獵。
In the seventh month, on bingwu, Venus appeared in daylight and crossed the meridian. On renzi the autumn hunt began.
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八月丙戌，次雙山子。
In the eighth month, on bingxu, he halted at Shuangshanzi.
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九月己亥朔，還都。 己酉，上謂宰臣曰：「朕今歲春水所過州縣，其小官多幹事，蓋朕前嘗有賞擢，故皆勉力。 以此見專任責罰，不如用賞之有激勸也。」 以河中尹田彥皋等為賀宋生日使，武器署令斜卯阿土為夏國生日使。
In the ninth month, on the jihai new moon, he returned to the capital. On jiyou the emperor told the chief councillors, "In the prefectures and counties the spring waters passed through this year, the petty officials mostly did their work well—because I once rewarded and promoted such men, they all exerted themselves. From this one sees that relying solely on blame and punishment is not as stirring as using rewards." Hezhong Intendant Tian Yangao and others were sent to congratulate Song on the emperor’s birthday; Weapons Office Director Xiemao Atu was envoy for the Xia ruler’s birthday.
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十月乙亥，宋前主構殂。 庚辰，祫享於太廟。 庚寅，上謂宰臣曰：「朕觀唐史，惟魏征善諫，所言皆國家大事，甚得諫臣之體。 近時台諫惟指摘一二細碎事，姑以塞責，未嘗有及國家大利害者，豈知而不言歟？ 無乃亦不知也。」 宰臣無以對。
In the tenth month, on yihai, the former Song ruler Gou died. On gengchen a joint seasonal offering was performed at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On gengyin the emperor told the chief councillors, "Reading Tang history, only Wei Zheng remonstrated well; what he spoke of were all matters of state import, very much in the remonstrator’s proper form. Lately censors and remonstrators only pick out one or two petty matters, barely to fulfill duty, and never touch the realm’s great benefit and harm—do they know yet not speak? Perhaps they do not know either." The chief councillors had no reply.
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十一月庚戌，以左副都點檢崇安為賀宋正旦使。 甲寅，詔：「河水泛溢，農夫被災者，與免差稅一年。 衛、懷、孟、鄭四州塞河勞役，並免今年差稅。 庚申，平章政事崇尹致仕。 甲子，上謂宰臣曰：「卿等老矣，殊無可以自代者乎，必待朕知而後進乎？」 顧右丞張汝霖曰：「若右丞者亦石丞相所言也。 平章政事襄及汝霖對曰：「臣等苟有所知，豈敢不言，但無人耳！」 上曰：「春秋諸國分裂，土地褊小，皆稱有賢。 卿等不舉而已。 今朕自勉，庶幾致治，他日子孫，誰與共治者乎？」 宰臣皆有慚色。
In the eleventh month, on gengxu, Left Deputy Director of Inspection Chong’an was sent to congratulate Song on the New Year. On jiayin an edict said, "Where the Yellow River has overflowed and farmers have suffered disaster, corvée tax is remitted for one year. For river-blocking labor in Wei, Huai, Meng, and Zheng prefectures, this year’s corvée tax is likewise remitted. On gengshen Chief Councillor Chong Yin retired from office. On jiazi the emperor told the chief councillors, "You are old; is there truly no one who could replace you? Must you wait until I know them before advancing them?" He turned to Right Vice Director Zhang Rulin and said, "A man like the vice director was also spoken of by Chief Councillor Shi. Chief Councillor Xiang and Rulin replied, "If we had known such men, how would we dare not speak? There simply are none!" The emperor said, "In the Spring and Autumn period the states were divided and the lands narrow, yet each claimed to have worthies. You simply do not recommend them. Now I will exert myself, hoping to bring good order; in later days my sons and grandsons—who will govern with them?" The chief councillors all showed shame.
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十二月庚午，以翰林待制趙可為高麗生日使。 丁丑，獵於近郊，壬午，宋遣使告哀。 甲申，上諭宰臣曰：「人皆以奉道崇佛設齋讀經為福，朕使百姓無冤，天下安樂，不勝於彼乎？ 爾等居輔相之任，誠能匡益國家，使百姓蒙利，不惟身享其報，亦將施及子孫矣！」 左丞斡特剌曰：「臣等敢不盡以為，第才不逮，不能稱職耳。」 上曰：「人亦安能每事盡善，但加勉勵可也。」 戊子，禁女直人不得改稱漢姓、學南人衣裝，犯者抵罪。
In the twelfth month, on gengwu, Hanlin awaiting appointment Zhao Ke was sent as envoy for Goryeo’s birthday. On dingchou he hunted in the near suburbs; on renwu Song sent envoys to announce mourning. On jiashen the emperor instructed the chief councillors, "People all take practicing the Way, honoring Buddhism, setting feasts, and reading sutras as merit; if I keep the people free of injustice and the realm at peace, is that not better than those things? You hold the chancellor’s post; if you can truly benefit the state and let the people gain profit, you will not only enjoy the reward yourselves—you will also extend it to your sons and grandsons!" Left Vice Director Niange Hutela said, "We dare not fail to do all we can; it is only that our talent falls short and we cannot fill the office.” The emperor said, “No one can do everything perfectly; only urge him on.” On wuzi Jurchen were forbidden to take Chinese surnames or wear southern dress; offenders were punished.
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二十八年正月丁酉朔，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 癸卯，遣宣徽使蒲察克忠為宋弔祭使。 甲辰，如春水。
In year twenty-eight, on the dingyou new moon of the first month, congratulatory envoys arrived from Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia. On guimao Palace Attendant-in-Chief Pucha Kezhong was sent as Song condolence envoy. On jiachen he went to the spring-waters hunt.
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二月乙亥，還都。 乙丑，宋遣使獻先帝遺留物。 癸巳，宋使朝辭，以所獻禮物中玉器五，玻璃器二十，及弓劍之屬使還遺宋，曰：「此皆爾國前主珍玩之物，所宜寶藏，以無忘追慕。 今受之，義有不忍，歸告爾主，使知朕意也。」
In the second month, on yihai, he returned to the capital. On yichou Song envoys presented the late emperor’s bequest gifts. On guisi, as the Song envoys took leave of court, five jade pieces, twenty glass vessels, and items such as bows and swords were returned to Song with the message, “These were your late emperor’s treasured possessions and should be kept in honor, that you may not forget your mourning. To take them now would be more than I can bear in conscience; go tell your ruler, so he may know my mind.”
72
三月丁酉朔，萬春節，宋、高麗、夏遣使來賀。 禦慶和殿受群臣朝，複宴于神龍殿，諸王、公主以次捧觴上壽。 上歡甚，以本國音自度曲。 蓋言臨禦久，春秋高，渺然思國家基緒之重，萬世無窮之托。 以戒皇太孫，當修身養德，善於持守，及命太尉、左丞相克甯盡忠輔導之意。 於是，上自歌之，皇太孫及克甯和之。 極歡而罷。 戊申，命隨朝六品、外路五品以上職事官，舉進士已在仕、才可居翰苑者，試製詔等文字三道，取文理優贍者補充學士院職任。 應赴部求仕人，老病昏昧者，勒令致仕，止給半俸，更不遷官。 甲寅，幸壽安宮。
In the third month, on the dingyou new moon, at the Wan Spring Festival congratulatory envoys came from Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia. He received the ministers’ homage in the Qinghe Hall and feasted again in the Shenlong Hall; princes and princesses in turn raised their cups to wish him long life. The emperor was in high spirits and composed a tune in the Jurchen tongue. Broadly it spoke of long rule, advanced age, and a far-off sense of the weight of the dynastic foundation and the endless trust of ages to come. It admonished the imperial great-grandson to cultivate virtue and hold firm to his charge, and charged Grand Marshal and Left Chief Councillor Kening to guide him with loyal devotion. Thereupon the emperor sang it himself, and the imperial great-grandson and Kening joined in harmony. They made merry to the full and then dispersed. On wushen he ordered court officials of sixth rank and above and circuit officials of fifth rank and above to recommend jinshi already in office whose talent could serve the Hanlin Academy; they were to draft three pieces such as edicts, and those whose writing was strong were to be appointed to the Academy of Scholars. Candidates coming to the ministry for office who were old, ill, and feeble of mind were forced to retire on half salary with no further promotion. On jiayin he visited Shou’an Palace.
73
四月癸酉，命增外任小官及繁難局分承應人俸。 丁丑，以陝西路統軍使孛朮魯阿魯罕為參知政事。 癸未，命建女直大學。
In the fourth month, on guiyou, he ordered higher pay for minor officials on outside assignment and attendants in arduous bureaus. On dingchou Shaanxi Route commander-in-chief Boluolu Aruhan became participation councillor. On guiwei he ordered a Jurchen university established.
74
五月丙午，制諸教授必以宿儒高才者充，給俸與丞簿等。 戊申，宋使來謝弔祭。
In the fifth month, on bingwu, it was decreed that every professor must be a veteran Confucian of high talent, with salary equal to an assistant magistrate or registrar. On wushen Song sent envoys to thank him for the condolence mission.
75
七月辛亥，尚書左丞粘割斡特剌罷。
In the seventh month, on xinhai, Left Vice Director Zhagewo Hutela left office.
76
八月甲子朔，日有食之。 辛未，還都。 庚辰，上謂宰臣曰：「近聞烏底改有不順服之意，若遣使責問，彼或抵捍不遜，則邊境之事有不可已者。 朕嘗思之，抬徠遠人，於國家殊無所益。 彼來則聽之，不來則勿強其來，此前世羈縻之長策也。」 參知政事孛朮魯阿魯罕罷。 壬午，以山東路統軍使完顏婆盧火為參知政事。 甲申，上謂宰臣曰：「用人之道，當自其壯年心力精強時用之，若拘以資格，則往往至於耄老，此不思之甚也。 阿魯罕使其早用，朝廷必得補助之力，惜其已衰老矣！ 凡有可用之材，汝等宜早思之。」
In the eighth month, on the jiazi new moon, there was a solar eclipse. On xinwei he returned to the capital. On gengchen the emperor told the chief ministers, “I have lately heard that the Udige are showing signs of defiance; if envoys are sent to rebuke them, they may resist with insolence, and then border affairs may become impossible to stop. I have often thought that enticing distant peoples brings the state no real benefit. If they come, accept them; if not, do not force them—this is the old policy of loose reins.” Participation Councillor Boluolu Aruhan left office. On renwu Shandong Route commander-in-chief Wanyan Boluohuo became participation councillor. On jiashen the emperor told the chief ministers, “In employing men, use them while they are still vigorous, when mind and strength are keen; if one is bound by seniority, one often ends by employing them only in old age—what a failure to think! Had Aruhan been used earlier, the court would surely have gained his help; it is a pity he is already old! Whenever there is usable talent, you should think of it early.”
77
九月甲午朔，以鷹坊使崇夔為夏國生日使。 丙申，以安武軍節度使王克溫等為賀宋生日使。 乙亥，秋獵。 乙卯，還都。 十月乙丑，京、府及節度州增置流泉務，凡二十八所。 禁糠禪、瓢禪，其停止之家抵罪。 乙酉，尚書省奏擬除授而拘以資格，上曰：「日月資考所以待庸常之人，若才行過人，豈可拘以常例？ 國家事務皆須得人，汝等不能隨才委使，所以事多不治。 朕固不知用人之術，汝等務循資守格，不思進用才能，豈以才能見用，將奪己之祿位乎？ 不然，是無知人之明也。 群臣皆曰：「臣等豈敢蔽賢，才識不逮耳。」 上顧謂右丞張汝霖曰：「前世忠言之臣何多，今日何少也？」 汝霖對曰：「世亂則忠言進，承平則忠言無所施。」 上曰：「何代無可言之事，但古人知無不言，今人不肯言耳！」 汝霖不能對。 十一月戊戌，以改葬熙陵，詔中外。 上謂侍臣曰：「凡修身者，喜怒不可太極，怒極則心勞，喜極則氣散，得中甚難，是故節其喜怒，以思安身。 今宮中一歲未嘗責罰人也。」 庚子，太白晝見。 詔南京、大名府等處避水逃移不能複業者，官與津濟錢，仍量地頃畝給以耕牛。 甲辰，以河中尹田彥皋等為賀宋正旦使。 戊申，上謂宰臣曰：「制條以拘於舊律，間有難解之辭。 夫法律歷代損益而為之，彼智慮不及而有乖違本意者，若行刪正，令眾易曉，有何不可。 宜修之，務令明白。」 有司奏重修上京禦容殿，上謂宰臣曰：「宮殿制度，苟務華飾，必不堅固。 今仁政殿遼時所建，全無華飾，但見它處歲歲修完，惟此殿如舊，以此見虛華無實者，不能經久也。 今土木之工，滅裂尤甚，下則吏與工匠相結為奸，侵克工物，上則戶工部官支錢度材，惟務苟辦，至有工役才畢，隨即欹漏者，奸弊苟且，勞民費財，莫甚於此。 自今體究，重抵以罪。」 庚戌，上謂宰臣曰：「朕近讀《漢書》，見光武所為，人有所難能者。 更始既害其兄伯升，當亂離之際，不思報怨，事更始如平日，人不見戚容，豈非人所難能乎？ 此其度量蓋將大有為者也，其他庸主豈可及哉。」 右丞張汝霖曰：「湖陽公主奴殺人，匿主車中，洛陽令董宣從車中曳奴下，殺之。 主人奏，光武欲殺宣，及聞宣言，意遂解，使宣謝主，宣不奉詔。 主以言激怒光武，光武但笑而已，更賜宣錢三十萬。」 上曰：「光武聞直言而怒解，可謂賢主矣，令宣謝主，則非也。 高祖英雄大度，駕馭豪傑，起自布衣，數年而成帝業，非光武所及，然及即帝位，猶有布衣粗豪之氣，光武所不為也。」 癸丑，幸太尉克甯第。
In the ninth month, on the jiawu new moon, Hawk Yard Commissioner Chongqi was sent as Western Xia birthday envoy. On bingchen Anwu Army military commissioner Wang Kewen and others were sent to congratulate Song on the emperor’s birthday. On yihai the autumn hunt began. On yimao he returned to the capital. In the tenth month, on yichou, the capital, circuit seats, and military commission prefectures added Running Spring pawn offices, twenty-eight in all. Bran Zen and gourd Zen were forbidden; households that practiced them were punished. On yiyou the Department of State Affairs reported proposed appointments held back by seniority; the emperor said, “Monthly service tallies are for mediocre men; if talent and conduct surpass the norm, how can one be bound by ordinary precedent? State affairs all require the right men; you cannot assign duty according to talent, and so many matters go untended. I truly do not know the art of employing men—you cling to seniority and grades and do not think to advance ability; is it that if the able were used, they would take your own salary and rank? If not, this is simply failure to know men. The ministers all said, “We would not dare hide the worthy; our talent and judgment fall short.” The emperor turned to Right Vice Director Zhang Rubi and said, “Former ages had so many loyal remonstrators; why are there so few today?” Rubi replied, “In ages of disorder loyal words advance; in ages of peace loyal words have nowhere to apply.” The emperor said, “What age lacked matters worth speaking of? The men of old knew they must speak whatever they knew; the men of today simply will not speak!” Rubi had no answer. In the eleventh month, on wuxu, with Xiling to be reburied, an edict went out to the court and the realm. The emperor told attendant ministers, "In self-cultivation joy and anger must not run to extremes; anger at the extreme wearies the heart, joy at the extreme scatters the breath—holding the mean is hard, so moderate joy and anger to keep yourself whole. In the palace we have not punished anyone all year." On gengzi Venus appeared in daylight. An edict ordered that families in Nanjing, Daming, and elsewhere who had fled floodwaters and could not resume farming be given travel subsidies, with land measured out by the mu and oxen supplied for the plow. On jiachen Hezhong Intendant Tian Yangao and others were sent to congratulate Song on the New Year. On wushen the emperor told the chief ministers, "Our statutes are cramped by old laws, and some phrases are hard to parse. Laws are trimmed and added through the ages; where wit fell short and the text warps the intent, why not revise so everyone can grasp it? Revise them and make them plain." The offices proposed rebuilding the Imperial Portrait Hall at Shangjing; the emperor told the chief ministers, "Palace buildings that chase ornament will not endure. Renzheng Hall was built under the Liao and has no flourish at all, yet elsewhere halls are patched every year while this one stands as it was—vanity does not last. Today’s builders are shoddier than ever—clerks and craftsmen below collude and steal materials, Household and Works officials above hand out money and timber only to finish the job, so work is barely done before walls lean and roofs leak. Fraud of this sort wastes the people and the treasury—nothing worse. From now on investigate and punish by law." On gengxu the emperor told the chief ministers, "I have been reading the Book of Han and marvel at Guangwu—men find much of it hard to equal. After Gengshi killed his brother Bosheng, amid chaos he sought no revenge but served Gengshi as on any other day, with no grief on his face—is that not beyond most men? Such breadth was preparing for great deeds—how could petty monarchs compare? Right Vice Councillor Zhang Rulin said, "The Princess of Huyang's slave killed a man and hid in her carriage; Luoyang Magistrate Dong Xuan dragged the slave out and executed him. The princess complained; Guangwu meant to kill Xuan, but when he heard Xuan's bold words his anger faded and he ordered Xuan to apologize to the princess—and Xuan refused the command. The princess goaded him further, yet Guangwu only laughed—and gave Xuan three hundred thousand cash. The emperor said, "Guangwu was a worthy ruler to hear blunt speech and relent, but ordering Xuan to apologize was wrong. Gaozu was heroic and broad, ruled the bold, rose from common cloth to empire in a few years—beyond Guangwu—but once he held the throne he kept a commoner's rough edge, which Guangwu did not." On guichou he visited Grand Marshal Kening at home.
78
十二月丙寅，以大理正移剌彥拱為高麗生日使。 乙亥，上不豫。 庚辰，赦天下。 乙酉，詔皇太孫景攝政，居慶和殿東廡。 丙戌，以太尉、左丞相徒單克甯為太尉兼尚書令，平章政事襄為尚書右相，右丞張汝霖為平章政事。 參知政事完顏婆盧火罷，以戶部尚書劉暐為參知政事。 戊子，詔尚書令徒單克甯、右丞相相襄、平章政事張汝霖宿於內殿。
In the twelfth month, on bingyin Court of Judicial Review Director Yila Yangong was sent as envoy for Goryeo's birthday. On yihai the emperor took ill. On gengchen he proclaimed an amnesty for all under Heaven. On yiyou he ordered Imperial Great-Grandson Jing to govern as regent from the east wing of Qinghe Hall. On bingxu Grand Marshal and Left Chief Councillor Tushan Kening became grand marshal and minister director; Grand Councillor Xiang became right director; Right Vice Councillor Zhang Rulin became grand councillor. Participation Councillor Wanyan Boluhuo left office; Minister of Revenue Liu Wei became participation councillor. On wuzi he ordered Minister Director Kening, Right Chief Councillor Xiang, and Grand Councillor Zhang Rulin to keep vigil in the inner palace.
79
二十九年正月壬辰朔，上大漸，不能視朝。 詔遣宋高麗、夏賀正旦使還。 癸巳，上崩于福安殿，壽六十七。 皇太孫即皇帝位。 己亥，殯于大安殿。 三月辛卯朔，上尊諡曰光天興運文德武功聖明仁孝皇帝，廟號世宗。 四月乙酉，葬興陵。
In year 29, on the renchen new moon of the first month, the emperor was gravely ill and could not hold court. He ordered the New Year congratulatory envoys to Song, Goryeo, and Western Xia recalled. On guisi he died in Fu'an Hall, aged sixty-seven. The imperial great-grandson ascended the throne. On jihai the coffin was placed in Da'an Hall. In the third month, on the xinmao new moon, he was given the posthumous title Emperor of Illumined Heaven and Rising Fortune, of civil virtue and martial achievement, sage-bright and humane and filial, with temple name Shizong. In the fourth month, on yiyou, he was buried at Xingling.
80
贊曰：世宗之立，雖由勸進，然天命人心之所歸，雖古聖賢之君，亦不能辭也。 蓋自太祖以來，海內用兵，寧歲無幾。 重以海陵無道，賦役繁興，盜賊滿野，兵甲並起，萬姓盼盼，國內騷然，老無留養之丁，幼無顧複之愛，顛危愁困，待盡朝夕。 世宗久典外郡，明禍亂之故，知吏治之得失。 即位五載，而南北講好，與民休息。 於是躬節儉，崇孝弟，信賞罰，重農桑，慎守令之選，嚴廉察之責，卻任得敬分國之請，拒趙位寵郡縣之獻，孳孳為治，夜以繼日，可謂得為君之道矣！ 當此之時，群臣守職，上下相安，家給人足，倉廩有餘，刑部歲斷死罪，或十七人，或二十人，號稱「小堯舜」，此其效驗也。 然舉賢之急，求言之切，不絕於訓辭，而群臣偷安苟祿，不能將順其美，以底大順，惜哉！
Eulogy: Shizong's enthronement, though urged on him, was where Heaven's mandate and men's hearts met—even sage kings of old could not have refused. From Taizu on the realm had known war almost without respite. Hailing's tyranny heaped taxes and labor on the land; bandits roamed; arms clashed everywhere; people watched and waited while the state churned—the aged without sons to support them, children without anyone to tend them—reeling in peril from dawn to dusk. Shizong had long governed in the provinces and knew why chaos came and how officials won or lost. Five years on the throne and north and south were at peace; the people rested. He lived plainly, exalted filial piety and brotherhood, trusted reward and punishment, valued farming, chose magistrates carefully, inspected integrity sternly, refused Ren Dedao's petition to partition the realm and Zhao Weichong's gift of commanderies as fiefs, and governed tirelessly day and night—this was the way of a true ruler. Ministers kept their posts; high and low were secure; households had enough and granaries were full; each year the Ministry of Punishments condemned seventeen or twenty men to death—and the age called him a little Yao and Shun. Such was the fruit. Yet his urgency to raise the worthy and his hunger for counsel never left his words, while ministers clung to ease and salary and could not carry his virtue to full order—alas!