1
黃久約
Huang Jiuyue
2
黃久約，字彌大，東平須城人也。 曾祖孝綽有隱德，號「潛山先生」。 父勝，通判濟州。 母劉氏，尚書右丞長言之妹，一夕夢鼠銜明珠，寤而久約生，歲實在子也。 擢進士第，調鄆城主簿，三遷曹州軍事判官。 有盜竊民財，訴者以為強，郡守欲傅以重辟。 久約閱實，囚得免死。 累擢禮部員外郎，兼翰林修撰，升待制，授磁州刺史。 磁並山，素多盜，既獲而款伏者，審錄官或不時至，系者多以杖殺，或死獄中。 久約惻然曰：「民雖為盜，而不死於法可乎？」 乃盡請讞之而後行。
Huang Jiuyue, whose courtesy name was Yida, came from Xucheng in Dongping. His great-grandfather Xiaochuo was a man of quiet moral excellence, known as "Master Hidden Mountain." His father Sheng held the post of vice commissioner in Jizhou. His mother, of the Liu family, was the younger sister of Liu Changyan, Vice Director of the Right in the Ministry of Works. One night she dreamed that a mouse was carrying a lustrous pearl; when she awoke, Jiuyue had been born—the birth year was indeed a zi year. He passed the jinshi examination and was posted as chief clerk in Yuncheng; after three promotions he became military judge in Caozhou. When a man stole civilians' property, the plaintiff charged him with robbery, and the prefect wanted to impose the capital offense. Jiuyue reviewed the case on its merits, and the prisoner escaped execution. He rose through repeated promotions to Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites, served concurrently as Hanlin Compiler, was elevated to Academician-in-Waiting, and was appointed prefect of Cizhou. Cizhou lay against the mountains and had long been rife with bandits. After captives were taken and had confessed, the interrogators sometimes failed to arrive promptly; many detainees were beaten to death, or perished in jail. Moved to pity, Jiuyue said, "These people may have turned to robbery, but must they die under the law?" He required every case to be fully adjudicated before any sentence was carried out.
3
久之，複入翰林為直學士，尋授左諫議大夫，兼禮部侍郎，為賀宋生日副使。 至臨安，適館伴使病，宋人議欲以副使代行使事，久約曰：「設副使亦病，又將使都轄、掌儀輩行禮乎？」 竟令國信使獨前行，副使與館伴副使聯騎如故，乃終禮而還。 道經宿、泗，見貢新枇杷子者，州縣調民夫遞進，還奏罷之。
After a time he returned to the Hanlin as Academician Expositor, was soon made Left Remonstrance Counsellor while retaining a concurrent post as Vice Minister of Rites, and was sent as deputy envoy to offer birthday congratulations to the Song court. On reaching Lin'an, the Song escort commissioner happened to fall ill, and the Song officials proposed that the deputy envoy should stand in for him and conduct the ceremonies. Jiuyue objected: "If the deputy envoy falls ill as well, will you next have local commanders and protocol officers perform the rites?" In the end he had the chief trust envoy go forward alone, while he himself rode paired with the deputy escort commissioner as usual; the ceremonies were completed and the mission returned home. On the road through Suzhou and Sizhou he saw fresh loquats being presented as tribute, with local officials drafting corvée labor for relay transport. When he returned he memorialized to have the practice stopped.
4
時以貧富不均，或欲令富民分貸貧者，下有司議，久約曰：「物之不齊，物之情也。 貧富不均，亦理之常。 若從或者言，適足以斂怨，非損有餘補不足之道。」 章宗時領右丞相，韙其議。 尋上章請老，詔諭之曰：「卿忠直敢言，匡益甚多，未可使去左右。」 遷太常卿，仍兼諫職。
Because wealth and poverty were unevenly distributed, some proposed that the rich should be made to lend to the poor in shares; the matter was sent down to the ministries for deliberation. Jiuyue said, "That things are unequal is simply their nature. Unequal distribution of wealth is likewise the ordinary course of affairs. If we followed that proposal, we would only breed resentment; it is not the true way of drawing on surplus to relieve want." Zhangzong, who was then serving as Right Chancellor, endorsed his argument. Before long he submitted a memorial asking to retire. An edict reassured him: "You are loyal, forthright, and fearless in remonstrance, and you have done the court much good; We cannot yet let you leave Our side." He was promoted to Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices while keeping his remonstrance post.
5
時郡縣多闕官，久約言：「世豈乏材，閡於資格故也。 明詔每責大臣以守格法而滯人材，乞斷自宸衷而力行之。」 世宗曰：「此事宰相不屬意，而使諫臣言之歟？」 即日授刺史者數人。 久約又言，宜令親王以下職官遞相推舉，世宗曰：「薦舉人材，惟宰相當為耳，他官品雖高，豈能皆有知人之監？ 方今縣令最闕，宜令刺史以上舉可為縣令者，朕將察其實能而用之。」 又謂久約曰：「近日察舉好官，皆是諸科監臨，全無進士，何也？ 豈薦舉之法已有奸弊，不可久行乎？」 久約曰：「諸科中豈無廉能人，不因察舉有終身不至縣令者，此法未可廢也。」 上曰：「爾舉孫必福是乎？」 久約曰：「臣頃任磁州時，必福為武安丞，臣見其廉潔向公，無所顧避，所以保舉。 不謂必福既任警巡使，處決凝滯。」 上曰：「必福非獨遲緩，亦全不解事，所以罪不及保官者，幸其無贓汙耳。」 久約無以對。 必福五經出身，蓋諸科人，故上問及之。 翌日侍朝，故事，宰相奏事則近臣退避，久約欲趨出，世宗止之，自是諫臣不避，以為常。
Many prefectures and counties were then short of officials. Jiuyue said, "The age is not short of talent; rigid qualification rules are what block it. Imperial edicts have repeatedly rebuked the chief ministers for clinging to formal regulations and thereby stalling talent. I beg Your Majesty to decide this from your own judgment and enforce it resolutely." Shizong said, "The chancellor paid no attention to this, and so a remonstrance official had to raise it?" That very day several men were appointed prefects. Jiuyue further proposed that imperial princes and officials beneath them should recommend one another in rotation. Shizong replied, "Recommending talent is the chancellor's duty alone. However high another official's rank may be, can they all truly know how to judge men? County magistrates are the greatest shortage just now. Let prefects and higher officials recommend men fit to serve as magistrates; I shall examine their real ability before appointing them." He also asked Jiuyue, "In recent inspections the good officials recommended have all come from the specialized examination tracks serving as supervisors; not one jinshi. Why is that? Has the recommendation system already become corrupt and unsustainable?" Jiuyue replied, "The specialized tracks surely contain honest and capable men. Without inspection and recommendation, some spend their whole lives never reaching a county magistracy. The system must not be abolished yet." The emperor asked, "Was it you who recommended Sun Bifu?" Jiuyue said, "When I was prefect of Cizhou, Bifu was assistant magistrate in Wu'an. I saw him scrupulously honest and devoted to public duty, fearless in doing what was right, and recommended him on that basis. I never imagined that once appointed patrol commissioner he would become so slow and obstructive in his judgments." The emperor said, "Bifu is not merely dilatory; he understands nothing at all. The reason the recommending official is not punished is simply that, fortunately, there was no bribery involved." Jiuyue had no reply. Bifu had entered service through the Five Classics examination track, a specialized-track graduate, which is why the emperor raised the matter. The next day, while attending court, Jiuyue moved to withdraw as custom required when the chancellor was reporting affairs. Shizong stopped him. From then on remonstrance officials no longer withdrew during such reports, and this became standard practice.
6
章宗即位，久約以國富民貧、本輕末重、任人太雜、吏權太重、官鹽價高、坊場害民、與夫選左右、擇守令八事為獻，皆嘉納之。 再乞致仕，不許，授橫海軍節度使以優佚之。 明昌二年致仕，卒。 久約雋朗敢言，性友弟，為文典贍，有外祖之風雲。
When Zhangzong ascended the throne, Jiuyue submitted eight policy proposals: the state was rich while the people were poor; the economic base was undervalued and commerce overweighted; appointments were too indiscriminate; clerical authority was too great; official salt prices were too high; state monopolies harmed the people; and, finally, the court should choose its close advisers carefully and appoint prefects and magistrates wisely. Zhangzong praised and adopted them all. He again requested retirement, but was refused and instead appointed Military Commissioner of the Transverse Sea Army—a post meant to honor him with ease. He retired in the second year of Mingchang and died. Jiuyue was refined, sharp-witted, and fearless in remonstrance; he was devoted to his brothers by nature; his writing was classical and polished, in the literary manner of his maternal grandfather.
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李晏，字致美，澤州高平人。 性警敏，倜儻尚氣。 皇統六年，登經義進士第。 調岳陽丞。 再轉遼陽府推官，曆中牟令。 會海陵方營汴京，運木于河，晏領之。 晏以經三門之險，前後失敗者眾，乃馳白行台，以其木散投之水，使工取於下流，人皆便之。 丁內艱，服除，召補尚書省令史。 辭去，為衛州防禦判官。 世宗素識其才名，尋召為應奉翰林文字，特令詣閣謝，上顧謂左右曰：「李晏精神如舊。」 慰勞甚悉。 時方議郊禮，命攝太常博士，俄而真授。 為高麗讀冊官，五遷秘書少監，兼尚書禮部郎中，除西京副留守。 世宗謂侍臣曰：「翰林舊人少，新進士類不學，至於詔赦冊命之文鮮有能者，可選外任有文章士為之。」 左右舉晏，上曰：「李晏朕所自識。」 於是召為翰林直學士，兼太常少卿。 以母老乞歸養，授鄭州防禦使，未赴，母卒。 起複為翰林直學士。
Li Yan, whose courtesy name was Zhiwei, came from Gaoping in Zezhou. He was quick-witted by nature, unconventional, and drawn to bold, spirited action. In the sixth year of Huangtong he passed the jinshi examination in Classics Meaning. He was posted as assistant magistrate in Yueyang. After a second transfer he became investigating officer in Liaoyang Prefecture and later served as magistrate of Zhongmou. While Hailing was building his capital at Bianjing and shipping timber along the river, Yan was put in charge of the operation. Because the three river gates were treacherous and many shipments had failed there, Yan urgently reported to the Branch Secretariat, had the logs released into the current, and had workers recover them downstream. Everyone found the method far more workable. After mourning his mother and completing the mourning period, he was summoned to serve as a clerk in the Ministry of Works. He resigned the post and became defense judge in Weizhou. Shizong had long known his reputation for talent. Soon Yan was summoned as Attendant-for-Service Hanlin Scribe and was specially ordered to come to the palace to give thanks. The emperor turned to his attendants and said, "Li Yan's vigor is unchanged." He comforted and encouraged him at length. While the suburban sacrifice was being planned, he was appointed acting Doctor in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and soon received the substantive post. He served as reader of the investiture document for Goryeo, rose through five promotions to Vice Director of the Palace Library, held a concurrent post as Director in the Ministry of Rites, and was appointed Deputy Protector-General of the Western Capital. Shizong told his attendants, "The Hanlin has too few veterans, and recent jinshi generally do not study. Hardly any of them can draft edicts of amnesty or investiture documents. We should select men of proven literary ability from outside appointments." His attendants recommended Yan. The emperor said, "Li Yan is a man I know personally." Yan was then summoned as Hanlin Academician Expositor, with a concurrent post as Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Because his mother was elderly he asked to return home to care for her and was appointed Defense Commissioner of Zhengzhou, but before he could take up the post his mother died. He was recalled from mourning and reappointed Hanlin Academician Expositor.
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世宗禦後閣，召晏讀新進士所對策，至「縣令闕員取之何道」，上曰：「朕夙夜思此，未知所出。」 晏對曰：「臣伏念久矣，但無路不敢言。 今幸待罪侍從，得承大問，願竭所知。」 上曰：「然則何如？」 對曰：「國朝設科取士，始分南北兩選，北選百人，南選百五十人，合二百五十人。 詞賦經義入仕之人既多，所以縣令未嘗闕員。 其後南北通選，止設詞賦一科，每舉限取六七十人。 入仕之人既少，縣令闕員，蓋由此也。」 上以為然，詔後取人毋限以數。 尋擢吏部侍郎，兼前職，諭旨曰：「卿性果敢，有激揚之意，故以授卿，宜加審慎，毋涉荒唐。」 俄為中都路推排使，遷翰林侍講學士，兼御史中丞。
Shizong held court in the rear pavilion and had Yan read aloud the policy essays of the newly passed jinshi. When they reached the question of how to fill vacant county magistrate posts, the emperor said, "I have pondered this day and night, yet I still do not see the answer." Yan replied, "Your subject has long brooded over this in private, but had no avenue to speak and dared not do so. Now, by good fortune, I stand in attendance before you and may answer your great question; I wish to offer all I know." The emperor asked, "Then what do you propose?" He answered, "When our dynasty first established examinations, it held separate northern and southern selections: one hundred candidates in the north, one hundred fifty in the south, two hundred fifty in all. Because many men entered office through both the rhapsody and classics examinations, county magistrate posts were never left vacant. Later the north and south selections were merged, leaving only the rhapsody examination, with a quota of only sixty or seventy graduates each round. With far fewer men entering office, county magistrate vacancies followed—and that is the root of the problem." The emperor agreed and ordered that future examinations no longer be limited by a fixed quota. Soon he was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel while keeping his former post. An instruction read: "You are bold and decisive by nature and inclined to drive matters forward; that is why this post is given you. Be more careful, and do not let your conduct become reckless." Soon he was made Land-Survey Commissioner for the Central Capital Circuit, then promoted to Hanlin Academician Lecturer with a concurrent appointment as Censor-in-Chief.
9
會朝士以病謁告，世宗意其詐，謂晏曰：「卿素剛正，今某詐病，以宰相親故，畏而不糾歟？」 晏跪對曰：「臣雖老，平生所恃者，誠與直爾。 百官病告，監察當視。 臣為中丞，官吏奸私則當言之。 病而在告，此小事臣容有不知，其畏宰相何圖焉。」 既出，世宗目送之，曰：「晏年老，氣猶未衰。」 一日，御史台奏請增監察員，上曰：「采察內外官吏，固系監察。 然爾等有所聞知，亦當彈劾。 況糾正非違，台官職也，苟不能正其身，如正人何？」 顧謂晏曰：「豳王年少未練，朕以台事委卿，當一一用意。」
When a court official took sick leave, Shizong suspected fraud and said to Yan, "You have always been upright. This man is feigning illness. Because he is related to the chancellor, are you afraid to impeach him?" Yan knelt and answered, "Though I am old, all my life I have relied on sincerity and uprightness alone. When officials take sick leave, the surveillance censors are supposed to verify it. As Censor-in-Chief, it is my duty to report official corruption and self-dealing. Sick leave is a minor matter; I may simply not have known of it. What would I gain by fearing the chancellor?" After Yan withdrew, Shizong watched him leave and remarked, "Yan is old, yet his spirit has not faded." One day the Censorate requested additional surveillance censors. The emperor said, "Investigating officials inside and outside the court is indeed the duty of surveillance censors. But whenever you learn of wrongdoing, you should impeach as well. Correcting misconduct is the censor's office. If you cannot set your own conduct straight, how can you set others straight?" He turned to Yan and said, "The Prince of Bin is young and inexperienced. I entrust the Censorate to you; attend to every matter with care."
10
初，錦州龍宮寺，遼主撥賜戶民俾輸稅於寺，歲久皆以為奴，有欲訴者害之島中。 晏乃具奏：「在律，僧不殺生，況人命乎！ 遼以良民為二稅戶，此不道之甚也，今幸遇聖朝，乞盡釋為良。」 世宗納其言，於是獲免者六百餘人。 故同判大睦親府事謀衍家有民質券，積其息不能償，因沒為奴，屢訴有司不能直，至是，投匭自言。 事下御史台，晏檢擿案狀得其情，遂奏免之。 尋為賀宋正旦國信副使。 及世宗不豫，命宿禁中，一時詔冊，皆晏為之。
At Longgong Temple in Jinzhou, the Liao emperor had assigned households to pay taxes to the monastery. Over time they were all treated as slaves, and anyone who tried to appeal was killed on a remote island. Yan submitted a detailed memorial: "By law monks must not take life—how much less a human life! The Liao turned free commoners into dual-tax dependents—an outrage. Now that we have a sage dynasty, I beg that they all be restored to free commoner status." Shizong accepted his proposal, and more than six hundred people were freed. In the household of Mouyan, former Associate Administrator of the Great Office of Imperial Kin, a commoner had pledged himself on a pawn ticket. Interest piled up until he could not repay it and was seized as a slave. He appealed repeatedly without obtaining justice; at last he submitted a petition through the public suggestion box. The case was referred to the Censorate. Yan examined the records, established the facts, and memorialized for the man's release. Soon afterward he served as deputy trust envoy to offer New Year's congratulations to the Song court. When Shizong fell gravely ill, Yan was ordered to remain in the inner palace, and for a time he drafted all edicts and investiture documents.
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章宗立，晏畫十事以上。 一曰風俗奢忄栗，宜定制度。 二曰禁遊手。 三曰宜停鑄錢。 四曰免上戶管庫。 五曰太平宜興禮樂。 六曰量輕租稅。 七曰減鹽價。 八曰免監官陪納虧欠。 九曰有司尚苟且，乞申明經久遠圖。 十曰禁網差密，宜尚寬大。 又奏「乞委待制党懷英、修撰張行簡更直進讀陳言文字，以廣視聽」。 皆採納之。 以年老乞致仕，改禮部尚書，兼翰林學士承旨。 越二年，複申前請，授沁南軍節度使，久之，致仕。 上念其先朝舊人，複起為昭義軍節度使。 明昌六年，歸老，得疾，詔除其子左司員外郎仲略為澤州刺史，以便侍養。 承安二年卒，年七十五，諡曰文簡。
When Zhangzong ascended the throne, Yan submitted a memorial outlining ten policy proposals. First, popular customs have grown extravagant; institutions should be established to restrain them. Second, idlers and loafers should be prohibited. Third, the minting of coin should be stopped. Fourth, upper households should be exempted from managing state storehouses. Fifth, in this age of peace, rites and music should be revived. Sixth, land tax and levies should be reduced where possible. Seventh, the price of salt should be lowered. Eighth, supervising officials should not be required to cover revenue shortfalls from their own pockets. Ninth, government offices still favor short-term expediency; I beg that long-term policy be clearly proclaimed. Tenth, prohibitions are too tight; the government should favor leniency and breadth. He also proposed that Academician-in-Waiting Dang Huaiying and Compiler Zhang Xingjian take turns reading submitted memorials aloud to broaden the court's awareness. The emperor accepted all of these proposals. Citing his age, he requested retirement and was appointed Minister of Rites with a concurrent post as Chief Academician of the Hanlin. Two years later he renewed his retirement request and was appointed Military Commissioner of the Qinnan Army; after some time he finally retired. Mindful that he was a veteran of the previous reign, the emperor recalled him as Military Commissioner of the Zhaoyi Army. In the sixth year of Mingchang he retired home and fell ill. An edict appointed his son Zhonglüe, Vice Director in the Left Department, prefect of Zezhou so he could care for his father nearby. He died in the second year of Cheng'an at the age of seventy-five. His posthumous title was Wénjiǎn (Cultured and Simple).
12
子仲略
His son: Zhonglüe
13
仲略，字簡之。 聰敏力學，登大定十九年詞賦進士第，調代州五台主簿。 以母憂去，服闋，轉韓州軍事判官，遷澤州晉城令，補尚書省令史。 除翰林修撰，兼太常博士。 改授左司都事，為立夏國王讀冊官。 還，權領左司。 一日，奏事退，上顧謂侍臣曰：「仲略精神明健，如俊鶻脫帽。」 又曰：「李仲略健吏也。」 未幾，轉員外郎，以親病求侍，特授澤州刺史以便祿養。 先是，晏領沁南軍節度使，澤于懷為支郡，父子相繼，鄉人榮之。 以父喪免，起為戶部郎中。
Zhonglüe, whose courtesy name was Jianzhi. Quick-witted and diligent in study, he passed the jinshi rhapsody examination in the nineteenth year of Dading and was posted as chief clerk in Wutai, Daizhou. He left office to mourn his mother. When mourning ended he became military judge in Hanzhou, was promoted to magistrate of Jincheng in Zezhou, and was appointed a clerk in the Ministry of Works. He was appointed Hanlin Compiler with a concurrent post as Doctor in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He was reassigned as Chief Clerk of the Left Department and served as reader of the investiture document for the king of Xia. On his return he served as acting head of the Left Department. One day, after Zhonglüe had reported on business and withdrawn, the emperor remarked to his attendants, "Zhonglüe's spirit is bright and vigorous, like a fine hawk shaking off its hood." He added, "Li Zhonglüe is a capable administrator." Soon he was promoted to Vice Director. When a parent fell ill he asked to stay nearby and was specially appointed prefect of Zezhou so he could support them on a comfortable stipend. Earlier Yan had served as Military Commissioner of the Qinnan Army, and Ze Prefecture in Huai was under that jurisdiction. Father and son holding office in succession was a source of pride in their home district. He left office to mourn his father, then was recalled from mourning as Director in the Ministry of Revenue.
14
時上命六品以上官，十日以次轉對，乃進言曰：「凡救其末，不若正其本。 所謂本者厚風俗，去冗食，養財用而已。 厚風俗在乎立制度，禁奢忄栗。 去冗食在乎寵力農，抑遊墮。 養財用在乎廣儲蓄，時斂散。 商賈不通難得之貨，工匠不作無用之器，則下知重本。 下知重本，則末息矣。」 又條陳制度之宜，上嘉納之。 俄授翰林直學士，兼前職，因命充經義讀卷官。 上問曰：「有司以謂經義不若詞賦，罷之何如？」 仲略奏曰：「經乃聖人之書，明經所以適用，非詞賦比。 乞自今以經義進士為考試官，庶得碩學之士。」 上可其奏。 改吏部郎中，遷侍郎，兼翼王傅，俄兼宛王傅。
The emperor had ordered officials of the sixth rank and above to take turns presenting policy views every ten days. Zhonglüe spoke up: "To treat symptoms is never as effective as addressing the root cause. The root lies in strengthening public morals, eliminating wasteful consumption, and building up the state's resources. To strengthen morals we must establish institutions and curb extravagance. To cut waste we must favor agriculture and restrain idlers and loafers. To build up resources we must expand storage and regulate collection and distribution in good time. If merchants do not traffic in rare luxuries and artisans do not make useless goods, the people will learn to value the fundamentals of production. When the people value the fundamentals, secondary pursuits will naturally decline." He also laid out specific institutional reforms. The emperor praised and adopted them. Soon he was appointed Hanlin Academician Expositor while keeping his former post, and was assigned to read classics-meaning examination papers. The emperor asked, "The ministries say the classics examination is inferior to the rhapsody examination. Should we abolish it?" Zhonglüe replied, "The classics are the writings of the sages. Mastery of them serves practical governance; they cannot be compared to rhapsody composition. I beg that henceforth classics jinshi serve as examination examiners, so we may obtain truly learned men." The emperor approved his proposal. He was transferred to Director in the Ministry of Personnel, then promoted to Vice Minister, with concurrent posts as tutor to the Prince of Yi and soon the Prince of Wan.
15
時知大興府事紇石烈執中坐贓，上命仲略鞫之，罪當削解。 權要競言太重，上頗然之，仲略奏曰：「教化之行，自近者始。 京師，四方之則也。 郡縣守令無慮數百，此而不懲，何以勵後？ 況執中兇殘很愎，慢上虐下，豈可宥之。」 上曰：「卿言是也。」 未幾，授山東東西路按察使。 尋以病訪醫京師，泰和五年卒。 上聞之，歎曰：「此人于國家宣力多矣，何遽止是耶！」 贈朝列大夫，諡曰襄獻。
Heshenilie Zhizhong, administrator of Daxing Prefecture, was found guilty of corruption. The emperor ordered Zhonglüe to investigate; the offense warranted dismissal and degradation. Powerful figures protested that the penalty was too harsh, and the emperor was inclined to agree. Zhonglüe argued, "Moral transformation must begin close at hand. The capital is the model for the entire realm. There are hundreds of prefects and magistrates across the realm. If this man goes unpunished, how can others be held to account? Moreover, Zhizhong is brutal, obstinate, disrespectful to superiors, and cruel to subordinates. He must not be pardoned." The emperor said, "You are right." Soon he was appointed Surveillance Commissioner for the Shandong East and West Circuits. Soon afterward he went to the capital seeking medical treatment for illness and died in the fifth year of Taihe. When the emperor heard the news, he sighed and said, "This man has served the state with great dedication—how could he die so suddenly!" He was posthumously granted Grand Master of the Court. His posthumous title was Xiángxiàn (Assisting and Offering).
16
仲略性豪邁有父風，剛介特立，不阿權貴，臨事明敏無留滯，故所任以幹濟稱雲。
Zhonglüe was bold and open like his father, upright and independent, never fawning on the powerful. In office he was sharp and decisive, and everywhere he served he was known for getting things done.
17
李愈，字景韓，絳之正平人。 業儒術，中正隆五年詞賦進士第，調河南澠池主簿。 察廉優等為平陽酒副使，遷冀氏令，累遷解州刺史。 章宗即位，召授同知中都路都轉運使事，改同知濟南府。 明昌二年，授曹王傅，兼同知定武軍節度使事。 王奉命宴賜北部，愈從行，還過京師，表言：「諸部所貢之馬，止可委招討司受於界上，量給回賜，務省費以廣邊儲。 擬自臨潢至西夏沿邊創設重鎮十數，仍選猛安謀克勳臣子孫有材力者使居其職，田給于軍者許募漢人佃種，不必遠挽牛頭粟而兵自富強矣。」 上覽其奏，謂宰臣曰：「愈一書生耳，其用心之忠如是。」 以表下尚書省議。 會愈遷同知西京留守，過闕複上言，以為「前表儻可采，乞斷自宸衷」，上納用焉。 自是，命五年一宴賜，人以為便。 改棣州防禦使。 未幾，授大興府治中，上諭之曰：「卿資歷應得三品，以是員方闕而卿能幹，故用之，當知朕意。」 北京提刑副使範楫、知歸德府事鄧儼各舉愈以自代，由是擢河南路提刑使。 上言：「隨路提刑司乞留官一員，餘分部巡按。」 又言：「本司見置許州，乞移治南京為便。」 並從之。 憲台廉察，九路提刑司以愈為最。
Li Yu, whose courtesy name was Jinghan, came from Zhengping in Jiang Prefecture. Trained in Confucian learning, he passed the jinshi rhapsody examination in the fifth year of Zhenglong and was posted as chief clerk in Mianchi, Henan. Rated superior in an integrity inspection, he became deputy wine commissioner in Pingyang, was transferred to magistrate of Jishi, and rose through successive promotions to prefect of Jiezhou. When Zhangzong ascended the throne, Yu was summoned as Associate Administrator of the Central Capital transport commission, then transferred as Associate Administrator of Jinan Prefecture. In the second year of Mingchang he was appointed tutor to the Prince of Cao with a concurrent post as Associate Military Commissioner of the Dingwu Army. The prince was ordered to host banquets and distribute gifts to the northern tribes, and Yu accompanied him. On the return journey through the capital he memorialized: "Horses presented by the tribes should be received only at the border by the Pacification Commission, with measured return gifts. We must economize to build up frontier stores. He proposed establishing a dozen major garrisons along the frontier from Linhuang to Western Xia, staffing them with capable descendants of meritorious Jurchen commanders, and allowing Han tenants to farm military allotments locally, so troops need not depend on grain hauled from distant depots and the army could become self-sufficient." The emperor read the memorial and told his chief ministers, "Yu is only a scholar, yet his loyalty and concern are so evident." The memorial was referred to the Ministry of Works for deliberation. When Yu was transferred as Associate Protector-General of the Western Capital, he passed through the capital and submitted another appeal: if the earlier proposal was sound, he begged the emperor to decide personally. The emperor adopted it. Thereafter banquets and gifts to the tribes were held only once every five years, which people welcomed as a practical reform. He was transferred to Defense Commissioner of Dizhou. Soon he was appointed Administrator of Daxing Prefecture. The emperor told him, "Your qualifications merit the third rank. This post happened to be vacant and you are capable, which is why you are appointed. You should understand what We expect." Fan Ji, Deputy Surveillance Commissioner of the Northern Capital, and Deng Yan, Administrator of Guide Prefecture, each recommended Yu as his successor. Yu was therefore promoted to Surveillance Commissioner of the Henan Circuit. He proposed that each circuit surveillance commission keep one official in residence while the rest conducted regional inspection tours." He also proposed moving the commission's headquarters from Xuzhou to Nanjing for greater convenience." Both proposals were approved. In the Censorate's integrity review of the nine circuit surveillance commissions, Yu ranked first.
18
五年，入見，尚書省以聞，上問宰執有何議論，平章政事守貞曰：「李愈言河決事。」 上曰：「愈向陳備禦北邊策。 言甚荒唐。」 守貞曰：「愈於見職甚幹。」 上曰：「蓋以其敢為耳。」 又曰：「李愈論河決事，謂宜遣大臣視護以慰人心，其言良是。」 明年，改河平軍節度使。 承安二年，徙順義軍，奏陳屯田利害，上遣使宣諭，仍降金牌俾領其事。 四年，召為刑部尚書。 先是，刑部尚書闕，上以愈為可用，令議之。 或言愈病，上曰：「愈比陳言，有退地千里而爭言其功之語，卿等定惡此人多言耶。」 特召用之。 舊制，陳言者漏所言事於人，並行科罪，仍給告人賞。 愈言：「此蓋所以防閑小人也。 比年以來詔求直言，及命朝臣轉對，又許外路官言事，此皆聖言樂聞忠讜之意，請除去舊條以廣言路。」 上嘉納焉。 尋為賀宋正旦副使。
In the fifth year Yu came to court. When the Ministry of Works reported his audience, the emperor asked the chief ministers what Yu had discussed. Grand Councillor Shouzhen said, "Li Yu spoke about the Yellow River breach." The emperor said, "Yu once presented a plan for defending the northern frontier. It was quite absurd." Shouzhen said, "Yu is very capable in his current post." The emperor said, "Probably because he is bold enough to speak his mind." He added, "On the river breach, Li Yu argued that a senior minister should be sent to oversee relief work and reassure the people. That was sound advice." The following year he was appointed Military Commissioner of the Heiping Army. In the second year of Cheng'an he was transferred to the Shunyi Army. He memorialized on the pros and cons of military colonies; the emperor sent an envoy to proclaim his policy and issued a gold tablet authorizing Yu to oversee the project. In the fourth year he was summoned to serve as Minister of Punishments. The post of Minister of Punishments had been vacant, and the emperor considered Yu suitable and ordered discussion of the appointment. Some said Yu was ill. The emperor replied, "In a recent memorial Yu quoted the saying about retreating a thousand li yet still contending to claim merit. You surely do not dislike a man who speaks so frankly?" Yu was specially summoned and appointed. Under the old rules, if a memorial submitter leaked the content of his submission, both parties were punished and the informant received a reward. Yu argued, "That rule was meant to guard against petty men. In recent years the court has sought frank counsel, ordered ministers to present views in rotation, and allowed provincial officials to submit memorials—all signs that the throne welcomes loyal remonstrance. I beg that the old rule be abolished to broaden the avenue of speech." The emperor praised and adopted his proposal. Soon afterward he served as deputy envoy to offer New Year's congratulations to the Song court.
19
泰和二年春，上將幸長樂川，愈切諫曰：「方今戍卒貧弱，百姓騷然，三叉尤近北陲，恆防外患。 兼聞泰和宮在兩山間，地形狹隘，雨潦遄集，固不若北宮池台之勝，優遊閒適也。」 上不從，夏四月，愈複諫曰：「北部侵我舊疆千有餘裏，不謀雪恥，複欲北幸，一旦有警，臣恐丞相襄、樞密副使闍母等不足恃也。 況皇嗣未立，群心無定，豈可遠事逸遊哉。」 上異其言。 未幾，授河平軍節度使，改知河中府事，致仕。 泰和六年卒，年七十二。 諡曰清獻。 自著《狂愚集》二十卷。
In the spring of the second year of Taihe the emperor planned to visit Changle River. Yu urgently remonstrated: "Garrison troops are poor and weak, the people are unsettled, and Sancha lies close to the northern frontier, where external threats are constant. Moreover, Taihe Palace lies between mountains in cramped terrain where rain and flooding gather quickly. It cannot compare with the Northern Palace's pools and terraces for comfortable leisure." The emperor did not listen. In the fourth month Yu remonstrated again: "The northern tribes have seized more than a thousand li of our old territory. Instead of planning revenge, Your Majesty wishes to tour the north again. If trouble arises, I fear Chancellor Xiang, Vice Commissioner Chanmu, and others may not suffice. Moreover, no heir has been named and public morale is unsettled. How can Your Majesty indulge in distant pleasure travel?" The emperor was struck by his words. Soon he was appointed Military Commissioner of the Heiping Army, then Administrator of Hezhong Prefecture, and retired. He died in the sixth year of Taihe at the age of seventy-two. His posthumous title was Qīngxiàn (Pure and Offering). He authored twenty juan of the Collected Writings of the Mad Fool.
20
王賁，字文孺，其先自臨潢移貫宛平。 曾祖士方，正直敢言。 遼道宗信樞密使耶律乙辛之讒殺其太子，世無敢白其冤者，士方擊義鐘以訴，遼主感悟，卒誅乙辛，厚賞士方，授承奉官。 父中安，擢進士第，坐田玨黨事廢。 世宗即位黨禁解，終沂州防禦使。
Wang Ben, whose courtesy name was Wenru, came from a family that had moved from Linhuang and settled in Wanping. His great-grandfather Shifang was upright and fearless in speech. Liao Emperor Daozong believed the slander of Privy Councillor Yelü Yixin and had his crown prince killed. No one dared speak for the prince's innocence until Shifang struck the bell of righteousness to appeal. The Liao emperor was moved, eventually executed Yixin, richly rewarded Shifang, and appointed him Attendant-for-Service. His father Zhong'an passed the jinshi examination but was dismissed in the Tian Jue faction purge. When Shizong ascended the throne the faction ban was lifted, and Zhong'an ended his career as Defense Commissioner of Yizhou.
21
賁性孝友，勤敏好學，第進士，由複州軍事判官補尚書省令史，擢右三部檢法司正。 待御史賈鉉舉賁安靜有守，不尚奔競，政府亦言其廉素，善論議。 擢河北東西、大名府路提刑判官，選授尚書省都事，以喪去。 用薦者多，起複刑部員外郎、侍御史，累遷南京路按察使，卒。 賁敦厚尚義，篤於親朋，不營產業，比歿，家甚窶，上聞憫惜之，贈朝列大夫，仍厚恤共家。
Ben was filial, fraternal, diligent, and studious. After passing the jinshi examination he rose from military judge in Fuzhou to clerk in the Ministry of Works and was promoted to Director of the Right Three Departments Inspection and Law Office. Awaiting Censor Jia Xuan recommended Ben as steady and principled, not given to scrambling for advancement. The government also praised his integrity and skill in debate. He was promoted to surveillance judge for the Hebei East and West and Daming Prefecture circuits, then selected as Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Works, and left office to mourn. On the strength of many recommendations he was recalled from mourning as Vice Director in the Ministry of Punishments and Attending Censor, rose through successive promotions to Surveillance Commissioner of the Nanjing Circuit, and died in office. Ben was sincere and devoted to righteousness and his friends, and never built up private wealth. At his death his household was destitute. The emperor pitied him, posthumously granted him Grand Master of the Court, and gave his family generous relief.
22
弟質，字敬叔，登大定二十五年進士第，累官吏部主事，以才幹舉遷昭義軍節度副使。 章宗問質臨事若何，張萬公對曰：「勝其兄賁。」 章宗曰：「及其兄亦可矣。」 後以禮部尚書致仕，終。
His younger brother Zhi, courtesy name Jingshu, passed the jinshi examination in the twenty-fifth year of Dading, rose through posts to Chief Clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, and was promoted on merit to Vice Military Commissioner of the Zhaoyi Army. When Zhangzong asked how Zhi handled affairs, Zhang Wangong replied, "He surpasses his elder brother Ben. Zhangzong replied, "Being on a par with his elder brother would be commendable enough." He later retired from office as Minister of Rites and passed away.
23
許安仁
Biography of Xu Anren
24
許安仁，字子靜，獻州交河人。 幼孤，能自刻苦讀書，善屬文。 登大定七年進士第，調河間縣主簿。 累遷太常博士，兼國史院編修官。 章宗為皇太孫，安仁以講學被選東宮，轉左補闕、應奉翰林文字。 上即位，改國子監丞，兼補闕，徙翰林修撰，同知制誥，兼職如故。 侍御史賈鉉以安仁守道端愨，薦於朝。 同知濟南府事路伯達繼上章稱其立己純正，宜加顯任，超授禮部郎中，兼左補闕。 適朝議以流人實邊，安仁言：「昔漢有募民實邊之議，蓋度地營邑，制為田宅，使至者有所居，作者有所用，於是輕去故鄉而易於遷徙。 如使被刑之徒寒餓困苦，無聊之心，靡所顧藉，與古之募民實塞不同，非所宜行。」 上然之。 明昌四年春，上將幸景明宮，安仁與同列諫曰：「昔漢、唐雖有甘泉、九成避暑之行，然皆去京師不遠。 非如金蓮千里之外，鄰沙漠，隔關嶺，萬一有警，何以應變，此不可不慮也。」 疏奏，遂罷幸。 出為澤州刺史，作《無隱論》上之，凡十篇，曰本朝、曰情欲、曰養心、曰田獵、曰公道、曰養源、曰冗官、曰育材、曰限田、曰理財。 在郡二年，徙同知河南府事，升汾陽軍節度使，致仕。 泰和五年卒，年七十七，諡曰文簡。 安仁質實無華，澹然有古君子風，故為時人所稱雲。
Xu Anren, whose courtesy name was Zijing, came from Jiaohe in Xian Prefecture. He lost his parents early but disciplined himself in study and became an accomplished writer. He passed the imperial examinations in the seventh year of the Dading era and took up the post of chief clerk in Hejian County. He rose through the ranks to Doctor of Ceremonies, serving concurrently as a compiler at the National History Academy. While Zhangzong was still imperial grandson, Anren was chosen to lecture in the Eastern Palace; he then became Left Remonstrator and a Hanlin attendant-writer. After the emperor's accession, he was made Vice Director of the Imperial College while retaining his remonstrator post, then promoted to Hanlin compiler and associate director of proclamations, with his other duties unchanged. Attending Censor Jia Xuan recommended Anren to the court, citing his steadfast integrity and moral rectitude. Lu Boda, deputy administrator of Jinan, soon followed with a memorial praising Anren's spotless character and urging a prominent appointment; Anren was then skip-promoted to director in the Ministry of Rites while retaining his post as Left Remonstrator. When the court was debating whether to send exiled criminals to populate the frontier, Anren argued, "The Han once considered recruiting settlers for the border by laying out towns, assigning fields and homes, and giving newcomers both shelter and livelihood—making it easier to leave home and resettle. But if punished exiles are left cold, hungry, and desperate, with no support to fall back on, the policy bears no resemblance to the old frontier-recruitment schemes and should not be adopted. The emperor agreed with him. In the spring of Mingchang 4, as the emperor prepared to visit Jingming Palace, Anren and his colleagues remonstrated: "Han and Tang emperors did travel to Ganquan and Jiucheng to escape the heat, but those palaces lay close to the capital. Jinlian lies a thousand li distant, beside the desert and beyond the mountain passes—if trouble broke out, how could you respond in time? That risk cannot be ignored. The memorial was submitted, and the planned visit was abandoned. Posted to Ze Prefecture, he submitted a ten-part treatise called "Discourse on Concealing Nothing," covering the present dynasty, human desires, self-cultivation, hunting, public justice, moral foundations, redundant officials, nurturing talent, land limits, and fiscal management. After two years as prefect, he became deputy administrator of Henan Prefecture, was promoted to military commissioner of the Fenyang Army, and then retired from office. He died in Taihe 5 at the age of seventy-seven and was posthumously honored as Wenjian, "Cultured and Unadorned." Unpretentious and sincere, with the quiet dignity of a classical gentleman, Anren won wide esteem among his contemporaries.
25
梁襄，字公贊，絳州人。 少孤，養于叔父甯。 性穎悟，日記千餘言。 登大定三年進士第，調耀州同官主簿。 三遷邠州淳化令，有善政。 察廉，升慶陽府推官，召為薛王府掾。 世宗將幸金蓮川，有司具辦，襄上疏極諫曰：
Liang Xiang, whose courtesy name was Gongzan, came from Jiang Prefecture. He lost his parents early and was brought up by his uncle Ning. Naturally brilliant, he could commit more than a thousand characters to memory in a single day. He passed the examinations in Dading 3 and was appointed chief clerk in Tongguan, Yao Prefecture. Promoted three times, he served as magistrate of Chunhua in Bin Prefecture, where his administration won praise. Recognized in an integrity review, he rose to investigating officer in Qingyang Prefecture and was then called to serve as an aide in the household of the Prince of Xue. As Shizong prepared to visit Jinlian River and the officials made elaborate arrangements, Xiang submitted a forceful memorial of remonstrance:
26
金蓮川在重山之北，地積陰冷，五穀不殖，郡縣難建，蓋自古極邊荒棄之壤也。 氣候殊異，中夏降霜，一日之間，寒暑交至，特與上京、中都不同，尤非聖躬將攝之所。 凡奉養之具無不遠勞飛挽，越山逾險，其費數倍。 至於頓舍之處，軍騎闐塞，主客不分，馬牛風逸以難收，臧獲逋逃而莫得，奪攘蹂躪，未易禁止。 公卿百官衛士，富者車帳僅容，貧者穴居露處，輿台皁隸，不免困踣，饑不得食，寒不得衣，一夫致疾，染及眾人，夭傷無辜，何異刃殺。 此特細故耳，更有大於此者。
Jinlian River lies beyond the northern mountains in a perpetually cold region where grain will not grow and no county can be sustained—a wasteland abandoned since ancient times as the outermost frontier. The climate is extreme: frost can fall in midsummer, and heat and cold may alternate within a single day. It is nothing like the Upper or Central Capital and is wholly unsuited to the emperor's health and rest. Every item needed for the imperial household must be hauled from far away over mountains and dangerous passes, at many times the normal cost. At every stopping place troops and cavalry choke the roads, hosts and guests mingle in confusion, livestock scatter beyond recall, servants desert and vanish, and looting and trampling become impossible to control. Ministers, officials, and guards alike suffer: the wealthy barely fit into their carts and tents, while the poor sleep in caves or out in the open. Runners and servants collapse from hunger and cold; one man's illness spreads to many, and innocent lives are lost—as though they had been slain with swords. These are only minor hardships; far graver concerns lie ahead.
27
臣聞高城峻池，深居邃禁，帝王之籓籬也，壯士健馬，堅甲利兵，帝王之爪牙也。 今行宮之所，非有高殿廣宇城池之固，是廢其籓籬也。 持甲常坐之馬，日暴雨蝕，臣知其必羸瘠矣。 禦侮待用之軍，穴居野處，冷啖寒眼，臣知其必疲瘵矣。 衛宮周廬才容數人，一旦霖潦積旬，衣甲弓刀沾濕柔脆，豈堪為用，是失其爪牙也。 秋杪將歸，人已疲矣，馬已弱矣，裹糧已空，褚衣已弊，猶且遠幸松林，以從畋獵，行於不測之地，往來之間，動逾旬月，轉輸移徙之勞，更倍於前矣。
I have always understood that high walls, deep moats, and secure palaces are a ruler's first line of defense, while strong soldiers, hardy horses, and sharp weapons are his claws and fangs. The temporary palace offers none of the towering halls, broad halls, or fortified walls of the capital—it abandons the ruler's protective barrier. The horses kept saddled and ready are soaked daily by torrential rain; they cannot fail to grow weak and gaunt. The troops held in reserve to meet attack live in caves and open camps on cold rations and sleepless nights; they too must grow exhausted and ill. The guard barracks around the palace hold only a handful of men each; after weeks of rain, armor, bows, and blades turn sodden and useless—the ruler's claws and fangs are lost. By late autumn, when men and horses are already exhausted, provisions spent, and clothing in rags, the court still presses on to Songlin for the hunt through uncertain terrain—each round trip taking more than ten days and doubling the burden of transport and relocation.
28
以陛下神武善騎射，舉世莫及，若夫銜橛之變，猛摯之虞，姑置勿論。 設於行獵之際，烈風暴至，麈埃漲天，宿霧四塞，跬步不辨，以致翠華有崤陵之避、襄城之迷，百官狼狽於道途，衛士參錯于隊伍，當此宸衷寧無戒悔。 夫神龍不可以失所，人主不可以輕行，良謂此也。 所次之宮，草略尤甚，殿宇周垣，唯用氈布。 押宿之官、上番之士，終日驅馳，加之饑渴，已不勝倦。 更使徹曙巡警，露坐不眠，精神有限，何以克堪。 雖陛下悅以使人，勞而不怨，豈若不勞之為愈也。 故君人者不可恃人無異謀，要在處己於無憂患之域也。
Your Majesty's martial skill and horsemanship are unmatched in the world, so I will set aside the risks of a mount throwing its rider or a savage beast striking home. But if, mid-hunt, a sudden gale whips up blinding dust and fog so that one cannot see a step ahead—the imperial carriage lost as at Xiao Ling or Xiangcheng, officials scattered in disarray on the roads, guards thrown out of rank—would Your Majesty not bitterly regret it? A divine dragon must not leave its proper domain, nor should a sovereign travel lightly—this is exactly my point. The temporary palaces are shockingly crude—the halls and surrounding walls are made of nothing but felt and cloth. Officers on overnight duty and soldiers on rotating watch ride hard all day, hungry and thirsty, already beyond exhaustion. They are then kept on patrol until dawn, sitting unsheltered without sleep—how can finite strength endure such demands? Even if Your Majesty wins loyalty through kindness and men labor without complaint, would it not be far better not to impose such labor at all? A ruler cannot simply trust that no one harbors treacherous designs; the key is to keep himself in a position free from danger.
29
燕都地處雄要，北倚山險，南壓區夏，若坐堂隍，俯視庭宇，本地所生，人馬勇勁，亡遼雖小，止以得燕故能控制南北，坐致宋幣。 燕蓋京都之選首也。 況今又有宮闕井邑之繁麗，倉府武庫之充實，百官家屬皆處其內，非同曩日之陪京也。 居庸、古北、松亭、榆林等關，東西千里，山峻相連，近在都畿，易於據守，皇天本以限中外，開大金萬世之基而設也。 奈何無事之日，越居草萊，輕不貲之聖躬，愛沙磧之微涼，忽祖宗之大業，此臣所惜也。 又行幸所過，山徑阻修，林穀晻靄，上有縣崖，下多深壑，垂堂之戒，不可不思。
Yan occupies a strategic position, shielded by mountains to the north and commanding the heartland to the south—like a lord seated in his hall looking down on his court. Its native soldiers and horses are fierce and strong; even fallen Liao, though a small state, controlled north and south and extracted Song tribute precisely because it held Yan. Yan is the finest capital a realm could choose. Today Yan boasts splendid palaces and thriving towns, full granaries and arsenals, and the households of the entire bureaucracy—all far more than the secondary capital it once was. The Juyong, Gubei, Songting, and Yulin passes span a thousand li of linked mountain barriers close to the capital, easy to defend—barriers Heaven itself placed between inner and outer realms to secure Great Jin's foundation for ages to come. Yet in peacetime you would leave all this to dwell among wild grasses, risk the emperor's precious person for a trace of coolness in the desert, and neglect the ancestral foundation—this is what I lament. The route of the imperial tour passes through steep mountain paths and mist-shrouded valleys, with cliffs overhead and deep ravines below—the ancient warning against standing beneath a collapsing roof must not be forgotten.
30
臣聞漢、唐離宮，去長安才百許裏，然武帝幸甘泉，遂中江充之奸，太宗居九成，幾致結社之變。 太康畋於洛汭，後羿拒河而失邦； 魏帝拜陵近郊，司馬懿竊權而篡國。 隋煬、海陵，雖惡德貫盈，人誰敢議？ 止以離棄宮闕，遠事巡征，其禍遂速，皆可為殷鑒也。 臣嘗論之：安民濟眾，唐、虞猶難之。 而今日之民，賴陛下之英武，無兵革之憂，賴陛下之聖明，無官吏之虐，賴陛下之寬仁，無刑罰之枉，賴陛下之節儉，無賦斂之繁，可謂能安濟矣。 而游畋納涼之樂，出於富貴之餘，靜而思動，非如衣食切身有不可去者，罷之至易耳。 唐太宗將行關南，畏魏征而停，漢文帝欲馳霸陵，袁盎諫而遽止。 是陛下能行唐、虞之難行，而未能罷中主之易罷，臣所未諭也。
I recall that Han and Tang pleasure palaces lay barely a hundred li from Chang'an—yet Emperor Wu's visit to Ganquan played into Jiang Chong's conspiracy, and Taizong's stay at Jiucheng nearly triggered the Shentu rebellion. Tai Kang went hunting at the Luo marshes; Hou Yi seized the river crossing and the dynasty was lost; A Wei emperor paid tomb rites in the nearby suburbs while Sima Yi seized power and usurped the throne. Sui Yangdi and Prince Hailing were steeped in wickedness—yet who dared speak against them? They brought ruin upon themselves by abandoning the palace for distant tours and campaigns—their downfall came swiftly, and each offers a sober lesson from history. I have argued before that securing the people's welfare—even Yao and Shun found that arduous. Today's people owe their peace to Your Majesty's martial strength, free from the fear of war; to Your Majesty's wisdom, free from official oppression; to Your Majesty's benevolence, free from unjust punishment; and to Your Majesty's frugality, free from crushing taxes—you have already achieved what even Yao and Shun found difficult. Yet the pleasures of touring, hunting, and escaping the heat are luxuries of surplus, not necessities like food and clothing that cannot be forsaken—they would be the easiest thing in the world to give up. Tang Taizong planned a journey south of the pass but stopped at Wei Zheng's warning; Han Wendi wished to race to Baling but turned back the moment Yuan Ang remonstrated. Your Majesty can accomplish what even Yao and Shun found difficult, yet cannot set aside what mediocre rulers readily forsake—I confess I cannot fathom it.
31
且燕京之涼，非濟南之比，陛下牧濟南日，每遇炎蒸，不離府署，今九重之內，台榭高明，宴安穆清，何暑得到。 議者謂陛下北幸久矣，每歲隨駕大小，前歌後舞而歸，今茲再出，寧有遽不可乎。 臣愚以為患生於不戒者多矣，西漢崇用外戚，而有王莽之禍，梁武好納叛降，而有侯景之變。 今者累歲北幸，狃于無虞，往而不止，臣甚懼焉。 夫事知其不可猶冒為之，則有後難必矣。
Besides, Yan's coolness is nothing like Jinan's; when Your Majesty governed Jinan, you never left the prefectural yamen even in the worst heat. Now within the palace, lofty terraces and halls offer serene comfort—how could summer heat penetrate there at all? Some argue that Your Majesty has toured the north for years, with the whole court singing and dancing on each return—surely one more journey could do no harm? I believe disaster often begins where caution is abandoned: the Western Han elevated imperial in-laws and brought on Wang Mang's usurpation; Emperor Wu of Liang welcomed defectors and triggered Hou Jing's rebellion. Year after year of northern tours has bred complacency—the habit continues unchecked, and I am deeply alarmed. When one persists in what one knows to be unwise, disaster is sure to follow.
32
議者又謂往年遼國之君，春水秋山，冬夏捺缽，舊人猶喜談之，以為真得快樂之趣，陛下效之耳。 臣愚以謂三代之政今有不可行者，況遼之過舉哉。 且本朝與遼室異，遼之基業根本，在山北之臨潢，臣知其所遊，不過臨潢之旁，亦無重山之隔，冬猶處於燕京。 契丹之人，以逐水草牧畜為業，穹廬為居，遷徙無常，又壤地褊小，儀物殊簡，輜重不多，然隔三五歲方能一行，非歲歲皆如此也。 我本朝皇業，根本在山南之燕，豈可舍燕而之山北乎？ 上京之人，棟宇是居，不便遷徙。 方今幅員萬里，惟奉一君，承平日久，制度殊異，文物增廣，輜重浩穰，隨駕生聚，殆逾于百萬。 如何歲歲而行，以一身之樂，歲使百萬之人困於役、傷於財、不得其所，陛下其忍之歟？ 臣又聞，陛下于合圍之際，麋鹿充牣圍中，大而壯者，才取數十以奉宗廟，餘皆縱之，不欲多殺。 是陛下恩及于禽獸，而未及於隨駕眾多之臣庶也。
Others cite the old Liao emperors' seasonal camps—spring waters, autumn mountains, summer and winter nabo—and say veterans still speak fondly of those pleasures, as though Your Majesty were simply following their example. I would argue that even some policies of the Three Dynasties would be impracticable today—let alone the excesses of Liao. Our dynasty differs fundamentally from Liao: Liao's base lay at Linhuang north of the mountains, and their tours never went far from it, with no great mountain barrier—and even in winter they stayed at Yanjing. The Khitan lived as nomadic herders in yurts, roaming without fixed abode; their realm was small, their equipage simple, and their baggage light—yet even they made such journeys only every three to five years, not annually. Our dynasty's foundation lies in Yan south of the mountains—how can we abandon Yan for the northern wastes? The people of the Upper Capital live in permanent houses and are ill suited to constant migration. Today the realm spans ten thousand li under a single sovereign; after long peace its institutions, culture, and material wealth have vastly expanded, and the retinue on tour may exceed a million souls. How can Your Majesty tour every year for personal pleasure, year after year imposing forced labor and financial ruin on a million people—can you truly countenance that? I have also heard that at the great encirclement hunt, when deer fill the ring, Your Majesty takes only a few dozen of the largest and strongest for the ancestral temple and releases the rest, unwilling to slaughter more. Your Majesty's mercy extends even to game animals, yet not to the vast multitude of officials and commoners who follow the imperial train.
33
議者謂，前世守文之主，生長深宮。 畏見風日，彎弧上馬，皆所不能，志氣銷懦，筋力拘柔，臨難戰懼，束手就亡。 陛下監其如此，不憚勤身，遠幸金蓮，至於松漠，名為坐夏打圍，實欲服勞講武。 臣愚以為戰不可忘，畋獵不可廢，宴安鴆毒亦不可懷，然事貴適中，不可過當。 今過防驕惰之患，先蹈萬有一危之途，何異無病而服藥也。 況欲習武不必度關，涿、易、雄、保、順、薊之境地廣又平，且在邦域之中，獵田以時，誰曰不可？ 伏乞陛下發如綸之旨，回北轅之車，塞雞鳴之路，安處中都，不復北幸，則宗社無疆之休，天下莫大之願也。
Some argue that cultured rulers of old were raised in deep palace seclusion. They shrank from wind and sunlight, could neither draw a bow nor mount a horse, grew timid and soft, and when crisis came they cowered helplessly to their doom. Seeing this danger, Your Majesty has not shunned personal hardship, touring as far as Jinlian and Songmo—nominally to escape the summer heat and hunt, but in truth to harden yourself through martial training. I agree that warfare must not be forgotten, hunting should not be abandoned, and the seductive ease of the palace must be resisted—but all things require moderation, not excess. In guarding against the softness of palace life, you have embraced a path of needless peril—as though swallowing medicine when there is no sickness. Besides, martial training need not cross the frontier passes—the broad flat lands of Zhuo, Yi, Xiong, Bao, Shun, and Ji lie well within the realm; seasonal hunting there would serve the same purpose. Who could object? I humbly beg Your Majesty to issue a solemn decree, turn the imperial carriage south, close the northern road, and remain securely at the Central Capital without further northern tours—the boundless blessing of the dynasty and the deepest wish of the realm would then be fulfilled.
34
方今海內安治，朝廷尊嚴，聖人作事，固臣下將順之時，而臣以螻蟻之命，進危切之言，仰犯雷霆之威，陷於吏議，小則名位削除，大則身首分磔，其為身計，豈不愚謬。 惟陛下深思博慮，不以人廢言，以宗廟天下為心，俯垂聽納，則小臣素願遂獲，雖死猶生，他非所覬望也。
The realm is at peace and the court commands dignity; this is a time when ministers should comply, not remonstrate. Yet I, a man of no account, speak words of grave warning, risking imperial wrath and official punishment—from loss of rank to execution by dismemberment. By any measure of self-preservation, I must seem a fool. Only if Your Majesty reflects deeply, judges the message rather than the messenger, and keeps the dynasty and the realm at heart will my lifelong wish be granted—I would count even death as life itself, and ask for nothing more.
35
世宗納之，遂為罷行，仍諭輔臣曰：「梁襄諫朕毋幸金蓮川，朕以其言可取，故罷其行。 然襄至謂隋煬帝以巡遊敗國，不亦過乎。 如煬帝者蓋由失道虐民，自取滅亡。 民心既叛，雖不巡幸，國將安保？ 為人上者，但能盡君道，則雖時或巡幸，庸何傷乎？ 治亂無常，顧所行何如耳。 豈必深處九重便謂無虞，巡遊以時即兆禍亂者哉！」
Shizong accepted the memorial and canceled the tour, then told his chief ministers, "Liang Xiang urged me not to visit Jinlian River; I found his argument persuasive and called off the journey. But for Xiang to claim that Sui Yangdi destroyed his dynasty through touring alone—that goes too far, does it not? A ruler like Yangdi perished because he abandoned the Way and oppressed his people—he brought ruin upon himself. Once the people had turned against him, how could the state have survived even if he had never toured? If a sovereign truly fulfills his duties, what harm could occasional tours possibly do? Peace and chaos follow no fixed rule; everything depends on how a ruler governs. Must one believe that dwelling deep in the palace guarantees safety, while timely tours inevitably foretell disaster?"
36
襄由是以直聲聞。 擢禮部主事、太子司經。 選為監察御史，坐失察宗室弈事，罰俸一月。 世宗責之曰：「監察，人君耳目，風聲彈事可也。 至朕親發其事，何以監察為？」 轉中都路都轉運戶籍判官，未幾，遷通遠軍節度副使，以喪去。 服闋，授安國軍節度副使，同知定武軍節度事，避父諱改震武軍。 太常卿張暐、曹州刺史段鐸薦襄學問該博，練習典故，可任禮官。 轉同知順義軍節度使事、東勝州刺史。 坐簸揚俸粟責倉典使償，為按察司所劾，以贖論。 曆隩州刺史，累遷保大軍節度使，卒。
From this Xiang earned a reputation for fearless integrity. He was promoted to clerk in the Ministry of Rites and instructor in the crown prince's household. He was appointed investigating censor but was fined one month's salary for failing to uncover a gambling scandal among imperial clansmen. Shizong rebuked him: "Censors are the emperor's eyes and ears—it is their duty to investigate rumors and lodge impeachments. But when the emperor must uncover the affair himself, of what use are censors at all?" He became Household Register Judge on the Central Capital transport commission, was soon promoted to Vice Military Commissioner of the Tongyuan Army, and left office to mourn. When mourning ended he was appointed Vice Military Commissioner of the Anguo Army with a concurrent post in the Dingwu Army; to avoid his father's taboo name the assignment was changed to the Zhenwu Army. Zhang Wei, Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Duan Duo, prefect of Caozhou, recommended Xiang as broadly learned and versed in ritual precedent, fit for a post in the ritual offices. He was transferred as Associate Administrator of the Shunyi Army and prefect of Dongshengzhou. He was punished for mishandling salary grain and making the granary clerk pay restitution. The surveillance commission impeached him, and he was allowed to redeem the offense. He served as prefect of Youzhou, rose through promotions to Military Commissioner of the Baoda Army, and died.
37
襄長於《春秋左氏傳》，至於地理、氏族，無不該貫。 自蚤達至晚貴，膳服常淡薄，然議者譏其太儉雲。
Xiang was expert in the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals and thoroughly versed in geography and clan genealogy. From his early rise to his late eminence, his food and clothing remained plain, though some criticized him as excessively austere.
38
贊曰：金起東海，始立國即設科取士，蓋亦知有文治也。 漸摩培養，至大定間人材輩出，文義蔚然。 加以世宗之聽納，人各盡其所能，論議書疏有可傳者。 惜史無全文，僅存梁襄《諫北幸》一書，辭雖過繁而意亦切至，故備載之，以見當時君明臣直，不以言為忌。 金之致治于斯為盛，嗚呼休哉。
The encomium reads: The Jin arose from the Eastern Sea. From the founding of the state it established examinations to select scholars, showing that it understood the value of civil governance. Through gradual cultivation, by the Dading era talents emerged in succession and literary culture flourished. With Shizong's willingness to listen and accept counsel, men gave their best, and many memorials and essays from that age are worth preserving. Regrettably the histories preserve few full texts; only Liang Xiang's "Remonstrance Against the Northern Tour" survives. Though verbose, its intent is earnest, and it is recorded here to show an age when the ruler was enlightened, ministers were upright, and frank speech was not feared. The Jin reached the height of good government in this age—how excellent indeed!
39
路伯達
Lu Boda
40
路伯達，字仲顯，冀州人也。 性沉厚，有遠識，博學能詩，登正隆五年進士第，調諸城主簿。 由泗州榷場使補尚書省掾，除興平軍節度副使，入為大理司直。 大定二十四年，世宗將幸上京，伯達上書諫曰：「人君以四海為家，豈獨舊邦是思，空京師而事遠巡，非重慎之道也。」 書奏，不報。 閱歲，改秘書郎，兼太子司經。 時章宗初向學，伯達以文行知名，選為侍讀，居無何以憂去。 會安武軍節度使王克溫舉伯達行義，起為同知西京路轉運使事，召為尚書禮部員外郎，兼翰林修撰，敕與張行簡進讀陳言文字。
Lu Boda, whose courtesy name was Zhongxian, came from Jizhou. Deep and steady by nature, with far-sighted judgment, he was broadly learned and wrote poetry well. He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of Zhenglong and was posted as chief clerk in Zhucheng. From commissioner of the Sizhou monopoly market he became a clerk in the Ministry of Works, was appointed Vice Military Commissioner of the Xingping Army, and entered the Court of Review as Directing Officer. In the twenty-fourth year of Dading, as Shizong prepared to visit the Upper Capital, Boda submitted a written remonstrance: "A ruler takes the four seas as his home. Why think only of the old domain? To empty the capital for distant tours is not the way of prudent rule." The memorial received no response. A year later he was appointed Secretary with a concurrent post as Master of Classics for the Heir Apparent. Zhangzong was then beginning his studies. Boda, renowned for learning and conduct, was selected as Lecturer-in-Attendance but soon left office to mourn. Wang Kewen, Military Commissioner of the Anwu Army, recommended Boda for moral integrity. Recalled from mourning, he became Associate Administrator of the Western Capital transport commission, was summoned as Vice Director in the Ministry of Rites with a concurrent Hanlin Compiler post, and was ordered with Zhang Xingjian to read submitted memorials aloud.
41
先是，右丞相襄奏移賀天壽節於九月一日，伯達論列以其非時，平章政事張汝霖、右丞劉瑋及台諫亦皆言其不可，下尚書省議，伯達曰：「上始即政，當行正、信之道，今易生辰非正，以紿四方非信。 且賀非其時，是輕禮重物也。」 因陳正名從諫之道。 升尚書刑部郎中。 上問群臣曰：「方今何道使民務本業、廣儲蓄？」 伯達對曰：「布德流化，必自近始。 請罷畿內采獵之禁，廣農郊以示敦本，輕幣重穀，去奢長儉，遵月令開籍田以率先天下，如是而農不勸、粟不廣者未之有也。」 是時，採捕禁嚴，自京畿至真定、滄、冀，北及飛狐，數百里內皆為禁地，民有盜殺狐兔者有罪，故伯達及之。 累遷刑部侍郎、太常卿，拜安國軍節度使，未幾，改鎮安武。
Earlier, Right Chancellor Xiang had proposed moving the Heavenly Longevity Festival celebration to the first day of the ninth month. Boda argued the timing was improper; Grand Councillor Zhang Rulin, Vice Director Liu Wei, and the censorial and remonstrance offices agreed. When the matter was referred to the Ministry of Works, Boda said, "Your Majesty has just ascended the throne and should uphold rectitude and trust. Changing the birthday date is not rectitude; deceiving the realm is not trustworthiness. Moreover, celebrating at the wrong season slighted ritual in favor of material convenience." He then expounded the principles of rectifying names and heeding remonstrance. He was promoted to Director in the Ministry of Punishments. The emperor asked his ministers, "What policy today will make the people attend to basic production and build up reserves?" Boda answered, "Spreading virtue and transforming customs must begin close at hand. Abolish the hunting ban in the capital region, expand suburban farming to show devotion to fundamentals, value grain over luxury goods, curb extravagance and promote thrift, and open the ceremonial field according to seasonal ordinance to lead the realm by example. Then agriculture will surely flourish and stores will grow." Hunting and gathering were then strictly forbidden from the capital region through Zhending, Cang, and Ji north to Feihu—hundreds of li of forbidden ground where killing even foxes or hares was a crime. That is why Boda raised the issue. He rose through successive promotions to Vice Minister of Punishments and Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was appointed Military Commissioner of the Anguo Army, and soon transferred to command Anwu.
42
嘗使宋回，獻所得金二百五十兩、銀一千兩以助邊，表乞致仕，未及上而卒。 其妻傅氏言之，上嘉其誠，贈太中大夫，仍以金銀還之，傅泣請，弗許。 傅以伯達嘗修冀州學，乃市信都、棗強田以贍學，有司具以聞，上賢之，賜號成德夫人。
On returning from a mission to the Song he presented 250 taels of gold and 1,000 taels of silver he had received to support the frontier, and drafted a retirement memorial, but died before it could be submitted. His wife Lady Fu reported this. The emperor praised his sincerity, posthumously granted him Grand Master of the Palace, and ordered the gold and silver returned. Lady Fu wept and begged to keep them, but was refused. Because Boda had once restored the school in Jizhou, Lady Fu used the returned funds to buy fields in Xindu and Zaoqiang to support it. When officials reported this, the emperor praised her and granted the title Lady of Accomplished Virtue.
43
子鐸、鈞。 鈞字和叔，登大定二十五年進士第，終萊州觀察判官。 鐸最知名，別有傳。
His sons were Duo and Jun. Jun, courtesy name Heshu, passed the jinshi examination in the twenty-fifth year of Dading and ended his career as surveillance judge in Laizhou. Duo was the most famous and has a separate biography.
44
贊曰：金詘宋稱臣稱侄，受其歲幣，禮也。 使聘于其國，燕享禮也，納其重賂其可乎哉？ 時人貪利忘禮，習以為常，莫有知其為非者。 故去則雲酬勞效，還則戶增物力，上下交征，惟利是事，此何誼耶？ 伯達獨能明其非禮，回獻所饋，齎志未畢，傅氏又能成之，及歸所獻，竟以買田贍學。 婦人秉心之烈、制事之宜，乃能如是，士大夫溺于世俗之見者寧不愧哉。 賜號成德，不亦宜乎。
The encomium reads: The Jin humbled the Song into acknowledging subject and nephew status and received annual tribute—this was ritual propriety. Sending envoys and receiving them with proper banquet ritual was correct—but accepting heavy bribes from them, how could that be right? Men of the time were greedy for profit and forgot ritual propriety. The practice had become custom, and scarcely anyone recognized it as wrong. On departure they called it reward for service; on return households grew richer—superiors and subordinates alike pursuing profit alone. What sense of propriety was this? Boda alone recognized the impropriety and, on his return, presented the gifts he had received. He died before his intent was fulfilled, but Lady Fu completed it: when the court returned the gold and silver, she used them to buy fields to support the school. That a woman of such fierce integrity and sound judgment could act thus—should scholar-officials drowned in worldly convention not feel ashamed? The title Lady of Accomplished Virtue was richly deserved.