1
裴滿亨
Pei Manheng
2
裴滿亨，字仲通，本名河西，臨潢府人。 其先世居遼海，祖諱虎山者，天輔間移屯東受降城，以禦夏人，後徙居臨潢。 亨性敦敏習儒，大定間，收充奉職，世宗謂曰：「聞爾業進士舉，其勿忘為學也。」 二十八年，擢第，世宗嘉之，升為奉禦。 一日問以上古為治之道，亨奏：「陛下欲興唐、虞之治，要在進賢，退不肖，信賞罰，薄征斂而已。」 章宗即位，諭之曰：「朕左右侍臣多以門第顯，惟爾由科甲進，且先朝信臣，國家利害，為朕盡言。」 俄擢監察御史。 內侍梁道兒恃恩驕橫，朝士側目，亨劾奏其奸。 遷鎬王府尉，出為定國軍節度副使，三遷同知大名府事。 先是，豪猾從衡，前政莫制，亨下車宣明約束，闔境帖然。 承安四年，改河南路按察副使，就遷本路副統軍。 中都、西京等路按察使。 時世襲家豪奪民田，亨檢其實，悉還正之。 泰和五年，改安武軍節度使。 歲大雪，民多凍殍，亨輸己俸為之周贍，及勸率僚屬大姓同出物以濟。 轉河東南北路按察使，卒於官。 上聞而惜之，贈嘉議大夫，賻物甚厚。
Pei Manheng, whose style name was Zhongtong and whose original name was Hexi, came from Linhuang Prefecture. His family had long resided in the Liao Sea area. His grandfather, known as Hushan, was transferred during the Tianfu period to garrison the Eastern Surrender City against the Western Xia and later moved to Linhuang. Heng was earnest, quick to learn, and devoted to Confucian study. In the Dading period he was taken on as a palace attendant. Emperor Shizong told him, "I hear you are preparing for the jinshi examination—do not neglect your learning." In the twenty-eighth year of Dading he passed the examinations. The emperor praised him and promoted him to palace attendant-in-waiting. One day he was asked about ancient principles of governance. Heng replied, "If Your Majesty wishes to restore the rule of the age of Tang and Yu, you need only advance the worthy, remove the unworthy, make rewards and punishments credible, and keep taxes and levies light." When Emperor Zhangzong succeeded to the throne, he told him, "Most of those around me rose by family rank alone; you came up through the examinations and were trusted by the previous emperor. Tell me plainly whatever affects the welfare of the state." He was soon promoted to investigating censor. The palace attendant Liang Dao'er abused imperial favor and behaved arrogantly; officials shrank from him, and Heng memorialized against his misconduct. He became commandant of the Prince of Hao's household, then left the capital as deputy military commissioner of the Dingguo Army, and after three further promotions served as associate prefect of Daming. Before his arrival, powerful local bullies had run unchecked and no prior administration could restrain them. As soon as Heng took office he proclaimed clear regulations, and the entire jurisdiction settled down. In the fourth year of Cheng'an he was made deputy surveillance commissioner of the Henan Circuit and soon afterward promoted to deputy commander-in-chief of that circuit. He was appointed surveillance commissioner for the Zhongdu, Xijing, and related circuits. Hereditary magnates were seizing commoners' land by force. Heng verified each case and returned the fields to their rightful owners. In the fifth year of Taihe he was made military commissioner of the Anwu Army. Heavy snow that year left many dead of exposure. Heng gave his own salary for relief and urged his staff and leading families to contribute supplies as well. He was transferred to surveillance commissioner of the Hedong North and South circuits and died in office. The emperor mourned his loss, posthumously enfeoffed him as Jiayi Grand Master, and granted unusually generous funeral gifts.
3
亨性尤謹密，出入宮禁數年，讜議忠言多所裨益，有稿則焚之，雖家人輩莫知也。 所曆州郡，皆有政績可紀雲。
Heng was exceptionally discreet. During his years in and out of the palace, his candid loyal counsel proved of great benefit; he burned any draft he made, so that even his household never knew what he had said. In every prefecture and circuit he held office, his achievements were worth recording.
4
斡勒忠
Wala Zhong
5
斡勒忠，本名宋浦，蓋州人也。 習女直、契丹字，曆兵部、樞密院、尚書省令史，再轉大理寺知法，遷右三部司正。 練達邊事，嘗奉命使北，歸致馬四千餘匹，詔褒諭之。 大定二十六年，為監察御史，轉尚書省都事。 章宗立，遷尚書兵部員外郎，出為滄州刺史。 河東路提刑副使徒單移刺古舉以自代，改滕州刺史。 嘗調發黃河船，數以稽期聽贖。 授北京副留守，入為同簽樞密院事，兼沂王傅。 承安二年，拜武甯軍節度使，致仕。 泰和三年卒，年七十一。 忠性敦愨，通法律，以直自守，不交權貴，故時譽歸之。
Wala Zhong, whose original name was Song Pu, came from Gaizhou. He mastered Jurchen and Khitan script, served as a clerk in the Ministry of War, the Bureau of Military Affairs, and the Secretariat, was twice transferred to legal specialist at the Court of Judicial Review, and rose to director of the Right Three Departments. Well versed in frontier affairs, he was once sent on embassy to the north and returned with more than four thousand horses; an edict commended him. In the twenty-sixth year of Dading he became investigating censor, then chief clerk of the Secretariat. When Zhangzong succeeded, he was promoted to vice director of the Ministry of War in the Secretariat and appointed prefect of Cangzhou. Tudan Yilagua, deputy chief judicial commissioner of the Hedong Circuit, recommended Zhong to succeed him, and Zhong was made prefect of Tengzhou. He had once requisitioned Yellow River transport boats and, when deadlines were missed, was repeatedly allowed to pay fines in lieu of punishment. He was appointed deputy guardian of the Northern Capital, then entered the capital as associate privy councilor and concurrent tutor to the Prince of Yi. In the second year of Cheng'an he was appointed military commissioner of the Wuning Army and retired from office. He died in the third year of Taihe at the age of seventy-one. Zhong was honest and sincere by nature, versed in law, and upheld integrity without courting the powerful; for this his contemporaries held him in esteem.
6
張大節
Zhang Dajie
7
張大節，字信之，代州五台人。 擢天德三年進士第，調崞縣丞。 改東京市令。 世宗判留務，甚愛重之。 海陵修汴京，以大節領其役。 世宗改元於遼東，或勸赴之，富貴可一朝遂，大節曰：「自有定分，何遽爾。」 隨例補尚書省令史，擢秘書郎、大理司直。 會左警巡使闕，世宗謂宰臣曰：「朕得其人矣。」 遂授大節。 俄以杖殺豪民為有司所劾，削一階解職。 未幾，授同知洺州防禦使事。
Zhang Dajie, whose style name was Xinzhi, came from Wutai in Daizhou. He passed the jinshi examination in the third year of Tiande and was appointed assistant magistrate of Guo County. He was then made market superintendent of the Eastern Capital. When Emperor Shizong handled retained duties at court, he held Dajie in high regard. When Prince Hailing rebuilt Bianjing, Dajie was put in charge of the work. When Shizong changed the reign title in Liaodong, some urged Dajie to go join him, promising rank and riches overnight. Dajie said, "Fortune has its fixed allotment—why rush like that?" He took up a clerkship in the Secretariat by routine appointment and was promoted to secretary and direct judge of the Court of Judicial Review. When the post of left metropolitan patrol fell vacant, Shizong told his chief ministers, "I have found the right man." He promptly appointed Dajie to the post. Soon afterward he was impeached by the authorities for beating a powerful local bully to death, demoted one rank, and dismissed. Before long he was appointed associate commissioner of the Luozhou Defense Army.
8
入為太府丞、工部員外郎。 盧溝水齧安次，承詔護視堤城。 擢修內司使，推排東京路戶藉，人服其平。 進工部郎中。 時阜通監鑄錢法弊，與吏部員外郎麻珪蒞其事。 積銅皆窳惡，或欲征民先所給直，大節曰：「此有司受納之過，民何與焉。」 以其事聞，卒得免征。 就改戶部郎中，定襄退吏誣縣民匿銅者十八村，大節廉得其實，抵吏罪，民斫石頌之。 召授工部侍郎，改戶部。 世宗東巡，徙太府監，諭之曰：「侍郎與太府監品同，以從行支應籍卿辦耳。」 尋為宋生日使，還授橫海軍節度使，過闕謁謝東宮，顯宗撫慰良久，曰：「萬事惟中可也。」 因榜其公堂曰「惟中」。 郡境有巨盜久不獲，大節以方略擒之。 後河決于衛，橫流而東，滄境有九河故道，大節即相宜繕堤，水不為害。
He entered the capital as vice director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury and vice director of the Ministry of Works. When the Lugou River undermined An'ci, he received orders to supervise the dikes and fortifications. Promoted to commissioner of the Directorate of Palace Repairs, he surveyed household registers on the Eastern Capital circuit, and the people accepted his fairness. He was promoted to director of the Ministry of Works. At the time the Funtong Directorate's coinage regulations were defective; together with Ma Gui, vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, he was sent to handle the matter. The stockpiled copper was all substandard, and some proposed recovering from the people what they had been paid. Dajie said, "That is the fault of the receiving officials—what offense have the people committed?" He reported the matter to the throne, and in the end the levy was waived. He was then made director of the Ministry of Revenue. A retired clerk in Dingxiang falsely accused villagers in eighteen hamlets of hoarding copper; Dajie investigated, found the truth, punished the clerk, and the people carved a stone inscription in his praise. He was summoned and appointed vice minister of Works, then transferred to the Ministry of Revenue. When Shizong toured the east, Dajie was made director of the Imperial Treasury. The emperor told him, "A vice minister and the director of the Imperial Treasury are equal in rank—I am only shifting you so you can manage supplies for the journey." Soon afterward he served as birthday envoy to Song. On his return he was appointed military commissioner of the Henghai Army. When he passed the capital to pay his respects at the Eastern Palace, Emperor Xianzong comforted him at length and said, "In all things, the middle way is enough." He therefore posted the words "Moderation Alone" in his public hall. A major bandit in the prefecture had long evaded capture; Dajie seized him by strategy. Later the Yellow River burst its banks at Wei and flowed east in flood; Cangzhou still had the old channels of the Nine Rivers. Dajie repaired the dikes where needed, and the waters did no damage.
9
章宗即位，擢中都路都轉運使，因言河東賦重宜減，議者或不同，大節以他路田賦質之，遂命減焉。 乞致仕，不許，徙知太原府，以並、代鄉郡，故優寵之。 近郭有男子被殺者，聞其妻哭聲不哀，召而審之，果為姦夫所殺，人以為神。 西山有晉叔虞祠，舊以施錢輸公使庫，大節還其廟以給營繕。 選授河東路提刑使，未赴，留知大興府事，治有能名。 閱歲，移知廣寧府，複請老，授震武軍節度使。 部有銀冶，有司以為爭盜由此生，付河東、西京提刑司與州同議，皆以官榷為便，大節曰：「山澤之利，當與民共，且貧而無業者，雖嚴刑能禁其竊取乎？ 宜明諭民，授地輸課，則其遊手者有所資，於官亦便。」 上從其議。 複乞致仕，許之，仍擢其子尚書刑部員外郎岩叟為忻州刺史，以便祿養。 承安五年卒，年八十。
When Zhangzong succeeded, Dajie was made director of transport for the Zhongdu Circuit. He argued that Hedong's land tax was too heavy and should be reduced; some officials disagreed, but Dajie compared it with field taxes in other circuits, and a reduction was ordered. He asked to retire but was refused and was instead made prefect of Taiyuan; because Bing and Dai were his home region, he received special favor. A man was murdered near the city wall. Hearing that the wife's weeping was not truly mournful, he summoned and questioned her and found she had been killed by her lover; people called it uncanny insight. On the western hills stood the shrine of Jin Prince Shuyu; offerings had been diverted to the public envoy treasury. Dajie restored the funds to the shrine for its upkeep. Selected as chief judicial commissioner of the Hedong Circuit, he had not yet departed when he was kept on to govern Daxing Prefecture, where his administration gained a reputation for ability. After a year he was transferred to Guangning Prefecture, again sought retirement, and was appointed military commissioner of the Zhenwu Army. His jurisdiction had a silver works. Officials believed theft and strife arose from it and referred the matter to the Hedong and Xijing judicial commissioners and the prefecture; all favored state monopoly. Dajie said, "The bounty of hills and marshes should be shared with the people. Besides, for the poor without livelihood, can harsh punishments stop secret mining? Better to explain the policy clearly, grant plots, and collect dues—then idle hands will have a livelihood, and the state will benefit as well." The emperor adopted his proposal. He again sought retirement and was granted it. His son Yansou, vice director in the Ministry of Punishments, was also made prefect of Xinzhou so he could support his father nearby. He died in the fifth year of Cheng'an at the age of eighty.
10
大節素廉勤好學，能勵勉後進，自以得學于任倜，待倜子如親而加厚。 又善弈棋，當世推為第一，嘗被召與禮部尚書張景仁弈。 世宗嘗謂宰臣曰：「人多稱王翛能官，以朕觀之，凡事不肯盡心，一老奸耳。 張大節賦性剛直，果于從政，遠在王翛之上，惜乎用之太晚。」 又屢語近臣曰：「某某非不幹，然不及張大節忠實也。」 其見知如此。
Dajie was frugal, diligent, and devoted to learning, and he encouraged younger scholars. He regarded himself as Ren Chou's student and treated Chou's son with the kindness due to family. He was also skilled at weiqi and was ranked first in his age; he was once summoned to play with Zhang Jingren, minister of rites. Emperor Shizong once told his chief ministers, "Many praise Wang Xiao as an able official, but as I see it he never gives his full effort to anything—he is only an old schemer. Zhang Dajie is upright by nature and resolute in administration—far above Wang Xiao. It is a pity he was used too late." He also told close ministers more than once, "So-and-so is not unwilling to serve, yet none equals Zhang Dajie's loyalty and honesty." Such was the regard in which he was held.
11
子岩叟
Son: Yansou
12
岩叟，字孟弼，大節子也。 大定十九年進士，調葭州司候判官，再除雄州觀察判官，補尚書省令史，除大理評事，再遷監察御史、同知河東北路轉運使事、中都路都轉運副使、刑部員外郎、忻州刺史，以父憂去官。 起複大理少卿、河北東西大名等路按察轉運副使，累遷刑部侍郎，兼夔王傅，太常卿兼國子祭酒。 大安三年，朝廷欲塞諸城門以為兵備，集三品官議於尚書省，岩叟曰：「塞門所以受兵，是任城而不任人。 莫若遣兵擇將，背城疾戰。」 時議多之。 除鎮西軍節度使，移定國軍。 貞祐二年，改昭義，複移沁南。 逾年，按察司言其年老不任邊要，乃致仕，退寓洛陽，卒。
Yansou, whose style name was Mengbi, was Zhang Dajie's son. He passed the jinshi examination in the nineteenth year of Dading and served as judicial assistant at Jia Prefecture, twice as observation judge at Xiong Prefecture, then as a Secretariat clerk, reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review, investigating censor, associate director of transport on the Hedong North Circuit, associate director of transport for the Zhongdu Circuit, vice director of the Ministry of Punishments, and prefect of Xinzhou; he left office to mourn his father. Recalled from mourning, he became vice director of the Court of Judicial Review and surveillance and transport deputy for the Hebei East and West and Daming circuits, rose to vice minister of punishments, concurrently tutor to the Prince of Kui, and grand master of sacrifices with concurrent charge of the Directorate of Education. In the third year of Da'an the court planned to seal the city gates for defense. Third-rank officials met at the Secretariat. Yansou said, "Sealing the gates means receiving the enemy behind walls—it trusts ramparts, not people. Better to deploy troops, choose commanders, and fight with the city at your back." Most officials present agreed with him. He was appointed military commissioner of the Zhenxi Army, then transferred to the Dingguo Army. In the second year of Zhenyou he was transferred to Zhaoyi, then again to Qinnan. After more than a year the surveillance office reported that he was too old for frontier duty; he retired, settled in Luoyang, and died there.
13
張亨，字彥通，大興漷陰人。 登皇統六年進士第，調樊山丞，以廉幹聞。 授弘州軍事判官，曆巨鹿、宜川令。 大定二年，補尚書省令史，除大理司直，累遷尚書左司郎中，授戶部侍郎，移吏部。 擢中都路都轉運使，坐草場使鄧汝霖盜草失舉劾，解職，削一官。 起授戶部尚書。 世宗問宰臣曰：「御史中丞馬惠迪與張亨人才孰優？」 平章政事張汝霖曰：「惠迪為人雖正，於事不敏，亨吏才極高。」 上曰：「如汝父浩，于事明敏少有及者，但臨事多徇，若無此過則誠難得之賢相也。」 時車駕車巡，費用百出，自遼以東泉貨甚少，計司患其不給，欲輦運以支調度，亨謂：「上京距都四千里，若挽錢而行，是率三而致一也，不獨枉費國用，無乃重勞民力乎。 不若行會便法，使行旅便於囊橐，國家無轉輸之勞而用自足矣。」 出為絳陽軍節度使。 已而複謂宰臣曰：「漢人三品以上官常少得人，如張亨近令補外，頗為眾議所歸，以朕觀之，無甚過人。 小官中豈無才能之士，第未知耳。」 又曰：「亨嘗為左司，奏事多有脫略，是亦謬庸人也。」 章宗即位，初置九路提刑司，時方重其選，上以亨為河東南北路提刑使，兼勸農採訪事。 訪其利病，條為十三事以聞，上嘉納之。 亨在職每事存大體、略苛細，御史以寬緩不事事劾之，降授蔡州防禦使。 明年，遷南京路轉運使，轉知歸德府事，致仕。 泰和二年卒，年七十八。 亨才識強敏，明達吏事，終始有可稱雲。
Zhang Heng, whose style name was Yantong, came from Huyin in Daxing. He passed the jinshi in the sixth year of Huangtong and was appointed assistant magistrate of Fanshan, where he became known for integrity and competence. He was appointed military judge of Hong Prefecture and served in turn as magistrate of Julu and Yichuan. In the second year of Dading he took a Secretariat clerkship, became direct judge of the Court of Judicial Review, rose to director of the Left Secretariat, was made vice minister of revenue, and transferred to the Ministry of Personnel. Promoted to director of transport for the Zhongdu Circuit, he was dismissed and demoted one rank for failing to impeach the pasture commissioner Deng Rulin, who had stolen fodder. He was recalled and appointed minister of revenue. Emperor Shizong asked his chief ministers, "Which man has the greater talent—Vice Censor-in-Chief Ma Huidi or Zhang Heng?" Chief Councilor Zhang Rulin replied, "Huidi is upright in character but not quick in affairs; Heng's administrative talent is outstanding." The emperor said, "Your father Hao was among the clearest and quickest in affairs, yet he often bent to expediency. Without that flaw he would truly have been a rare worthy chancellor." The imperial tour was underway and expenses multiplied. East of Liao, currency was scarce; the accounting office feared a shortfall and proposed hauling coin by cart. Heng said, "The Northern Capital is four thousand li from the capital. Hauling coin there means spending three to deliver one—it wastes state funds and surely overburdens the people. Better to use the convenience-exchange system so travelers can carry value in their purses; the state will avoid transport costs and still have enough on hand." He was sent out as military commissioner of the Jiangyang Army. Soon afterward he again told his chief ministers, "Han officials of third rank and above seldom prove worthy. Zhang Heng was recently sent outside and drew much public praise, yet as I see it he is not greatly above the rest. Surely there are able men among lower officials—we simply do not know them yet." He also said, "Heng once served in the Left Secretariat and often left gaps in his reports—he too is a muddled mediocrity." When Zhangzong succeeded, the court first established chief judicial commissioners for nine circuits and took their selection seriously. Heng was appointed chief judicial commissioner for the Hedong North and South circuits, with concurrent duties to encourage farming and conduct investigations. He investigated local abuses and benefits, set forth thirteen recommendations, and the emperor approved them. Heng in office always grasped the larger pattern and overlooked petty detail. Censors impeached him for excessive leniency, and he was demoted to commissioner of the Caizhou Defense Army. The following year he became director of transport on the Nanjing Circuit, then prefect of Guide, and retired. He died in the second year of Taihe at the age of seventy-eight. Heng was quick-witted and thoroughly versed in administration; his career from start to finish won praise.
14
韓錫，字難老，其先自析津徙薊之漁陽。 祖貽願，遼宣徽北院使。 父秉休，歸朝，領忠正軍節度使。 錫以廕補閣門祗候。 天會中，南伐，錫從軍掌禮儀，俄以母，老乃就監差。 久之，授神銳軍都指揮使，入為宮苑使。 天德元年，擢尚書工部員外郎，領燕都營繕。 特賜胡礪榜進士及第，四遷尚書戶部侍郎，以母喪解。 旋起復舊職，付金牌一、銀牌十、籍水手于山東。 時蘇保衡為水軍都統制，趨杭州，俾錫部船三百會廣陵。 適保衡敗還，喪船過半，令錫補足之。 時水淺，船不得進，海陵遣使急責之，眾稍亡，錫召諸豪諭之曰：「今連保法嚴，逃將安往，縱一身偶脫，其如妻子何？」 眾悟，亡者稍止。 大定改元於遼東，錫奔赴行在，詔複前職。 明年，授同知河間府事，引見於香閣，誡之曰：「聞皇族居彼者縱甚，卿當以法繩之。」 錫下車宣佈詔言，後無有撓政害民者。 遷孟州防禦使，累拜絳陽軍節度使，改知濟南府事。 告老，許之。 明昌五年卒，年八十三。
Han Xi, whose style name was Nanlao, came from a family that had moved from Xijin to Yuyang in Ji. His grandfather Yiyuan had been Liao commissioner of the Northern Bureau of the Imperial Secretariat. His father Bingxiu submitted to the Jin court and served as military commissioner of the Zhongzheng Army. Xi entered service through yin privilege as a palace gate attendant. During Tianhui, when the army campaigned south, Xi followed as master of ceremonies. Soon afterward, as his mother had grown old, he took a supervisory assignment. After some time he was appointed commander of the Shenrui Army and entered the capital as palace park commissioner. In the first year of Tiande he was promoted to vice director of the Ministry of Works and placed in charge of repairs in the Yan capital. He was specially granted jinshi standing through Hu Li's examination list, rose four times to vice minister of revenue, and left office to mourn his mother. He was soon recalled to his former post, given one gold tally and ten silver tallies, and assigned to register sailors in Shandong. Su Baoheng was then overall commander of the navy and hurried to Hangzhou; Xi was ordered to lead three hundred ships to rendezvous at Guangling. Baoheng soon returned in defeat, having lost more than half his fleet, and Xi was ordered to replace the lost vessels. The water was too shallow for the boats to advance. Hailing sent urgent envoys to rebuke him, and men began to desert. Xi summoned local leaders and said, "The mutual-responsibility law is strict—where can deserters go? Even if one man slips away, what becomes of his wife and children?" The men understood, and desertions gradually stopped. When the reign title was changed to Dading in Liaodong, Xi hurried to the mobile court and was ordered back to his former post. The next year he was made associate prefect of Hejian and received audience in the Fragrant Pavilion. The emperor warned him, "I hear the imperial clansmen there are wildly unrestrained—you must restrain them by law." Xi proclaimed the edict as soon as he took office, and afterward no one obstructed government or harmed the people. He was moved to commissioner of the Mengzhou Defense Army, repeatedly served as military commissioner of the Jiangyang Army, and became prefect of Jinan. He requested retirement on grounds of age and was permitted. He died in the fifth year of Mingchang at the age of eighty-three.
15
鄧儼，字子威，懿州宜民人也。 天德三年，擢進士第。 大定中，為左司員外郎、右司郎中，尋轉左司，掌機務者數年。 有司奏使宋者，世宗命選漢官一人，參知政事梁肅以戶部侍郎王翛、工部侍郎張大節、左司郎中鄧儼對，世宗曰：「王翛、張大節苦無資歷，與左右司官辛苦不同，其命儼往。」 嘗謂宰臣曰：「人言鄧儼用心不正，朕視儼奏事其心識甚明，在太府監心亦向公。」 宰臣因奏儼明事機、有心力，於是擢戶部侍郎。 翌日，複謂宰臣曰：「吏部掌銓選，當得通練人，可置儼於吏部。」 因改命焉。 累遷中都路都轉運使。 明昌初，為戶部尚書。 上命尚書省集百官議，如何使民棄末務本以廣儲蓄。 儼言：「今之風俗競為侈靡，莫若定立制度，使貴賤、上下、衣冠、車馬、室宇、器用各有等差，裁抑婚姻喪葬過度之禮，罷去鄉社追逐無名之費，用度有節則蓄積日廣矣。」 尋知歸德府事，致仕，卒。
Deng Yan, whose style name was Ziwei, came from Yimin in Yizhou. He passed the jinshi examination in the third year of Tiande. During Dading he served as vice director of the Left Secretariat and director of the Right Secretariat, then moved to the Left Secretariat and handled confidential affairs for several years. When officials proposed an envoy to Song, Shizong ordered a Han official chosen. Councilor Liang Su named Wang Xiao, Zhang Dajie, and Deng Yan; the emperor said, "Wang Xiao and Zhang Dajie lack senior standing—the work of Left and Right Secretariat officials is not the same. Send Yan." He once told his chief ministers, "People say Deng Yan is not upright, but in his memorials his judgment is very clear, and when he was at the Imperial Treasury he was fair-minded." The chief ministers then reported that Yan understood affairs and had drive, and he was promoted to vice minister of revenue. The next day he again told his chief ministers, "The Ministry of Personnel controls appointments and needs a thoroughly practiced man—Yan should be placed there." He was reassigned accordingly. He rose to director of transport for the Zhongdu Circuit. At the beginning of Mingchang he became minister of revenue. The emperor ordered the Secretariat to gather officials to discuss how to make the people abandon secondary pursuits, return to fundamentals, and broaden state reserves. Yan said, "Custom now competes in extravagance. Better to fix institutions so that rank, dress, carriages, dwellings, and implements each have proper gradations, curb excessive marriage and funeral rites, and abolish wasteful village festivals—then restrained spending will steadily build reserves." He was soon made prefect of Guide, retired, and died.
16
初，儼致仕複夤緣求進，上問左右：「鄧儼可複用乎？」 平章政事完顏守貞曰：「儼有才力，第以謀身為心。」 上曰：「朕亦知之。 然儼可以誰比？」 守貞曰：「臨事則不後於人，但多務自便耳。 儼前乞致仕，陛下以其頗黠故許之，甚合眾議。 今使複列於朝，恐風化從此壞矣。」 上然之，遂不復用雲。
Earlier, after Yan retired he again curried favor seeking reappointment. The emperor asked those around him, "Can Deng Yan be used again?" Chief Councilor Wanyan Shouzhong said, "Yan has ability, but his heart is set on advancing himself." The emperor said, "I know that as well. Yet whom can Yan be compared with?" Shouzhong said, "In handling affairs he is not behind others, but he is much given to self-convenience. Yan earlier begged to retire; Your Majesty permitted it because he is rather crafty—that accorded well with public opinion. If he is now restored to court, I fear public morals will be corrupted from this point on." The emperor agreed, and Yan was not employed again.
17
巨構，字子成，薊州平谷人。 幼篤學，年二十登進士第。 由信都丞察廉為石城令，補尚書省令史，授振武軍節度副使。 改同提舉解鹽司事，以課增入為少府監丞。 再遷知登聞檢院，兼都水少監。 時右司郎中段珪卒，世宗曰：「是人甚明正可用，如巨構每事但委順而已。」 二十五年，除南京副留守，上謂宰臣曰：「巨構外淳質而內明悟，第乏剛鯁耳。 佐貳之任貴能與長官辨正，恐此人不能爾。 若任以長官，必有可稱。」 章宗即位，擢橫海軍節度使。 承安五年致仕，卒。
Ju Gou, whose style name was Zicheng, came from Pinggu in Jizhou. He studied earnestly from youth and passed the jinshi examination at twenty. From assistant magistrate of Xindu he was judged incorrupt and made magistrate of Shicheng, took a Secretariat clerkship, and was appointed deputy military commissioner of the Zhenwu Army. He was made associate director of the Jie Salt Commission and, for increased revenue, entered the capital as vice director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. He was twice promoted to director of the Petition Review Office and concurrently vice director of the Directorate of Waterways. When Duan Gui, director of the Right Secretariat, died, Shizong said, "That man was very clear and upright and could be used; Ju Gou, by contrast, only complies in every matter." In the twenty-fifth year he was made deputy guardian of Nanjing. The emperor told his chief ministers, "Ju Gou is outwardly plain and inwardly perceptive, only lacking firmness. A deputy's duty requires disputing with the chief—I fear Gou cannot do that. If given chief responsibility, he would surely prove praiseworthy." When Zhangzong succeeded, Gou was promoted to military commissioner of the Henghai Army. He retired in the fifth year of Cheng'an and died.
18
構性寬厚寡言，所治以鎮靜稱，性尤恬退，故人既貴不復往來，先遺以書則裁答寒溫而已。 大定中，詔與近臣同經營香山行宮及佛舍，其近臣私謂構曰：「公今之德人，我欲舉奏，公行將大任矣。」 構辭之。 以廉慎守法在考功籍，始終無過雲。
Gou was generous and sparing of words; his administrations were known for calm. He was especially retiring—when old friends had risen in rank he did not visit again, and if they wrote first he answered only with conventional greetings. During Dading he was ordered with close ministers to build the Xiangshan traveling palace and Buddhist halls. A close minister privately told Gou, "You are a man of virtue today; I wish to memorialize in your praise—you will soon receive great appointment." Gou declined. Listed in the merit-review rolls for integrity, caution, and observance of law, he had no fault from start to finish.
19
賀揚庭
He Yangting
20
賀揚庭，字公叟，曹州濟陰人也。 登天德三年經義進士第，調範縣主簿兼尉，籍有治聲。 大定十三年，由安肅令補尚書省令史，授沁南軍節度副使，入為監察御史，曆右司都事、戶部員外郎、侍御史、右司員外郎。 世宗喜其剛果，謂揚庭曰：「南人礦直敢為，漢人性奸，臨事多避難。 異時南人不習詞賦，故中第者少，近年河南、山東人中第者多，殆勝漢人為官。」 俄以廉能遷戶部郎中，進官二階。 頃之，授左司郎中，改刑部侍郎、山東東路轉運使。 章宗即位，初置九路提刑司，驛召赴闕，授山東東西路提刑使。 揚庭性疾惡，纖介不少容。 明昌改元，詔諸路提刑使入見，親問所察事條，至揚庭則斥之曰：「爾何治之煩也。」 明年，下除洺州防禦使，時歲歉民饑，揚庭諭蓄積之家令出所餘以糶之，饑者獲濟，洺人為之立石頌德。 改陝西西路轉運使，表乞致仕，上曰：「揚庭能幹者也，當何如？」 右丞劉瑋言其疾，遂許之。 卒年六十七。
He Yangting, whose style name was Gongsou, came from Jiyin in Caozhou. He passed the jingyi jinshi examination in the third year of Tiande and was appointed chief clerk and concurrently bailiff of Fan County, where his record showed a reputation for good government. In the thirteenth year of Dading, from magistrate of Ansu he took a Secretariat clerkship, became deputy military commissioner of the Qinnan Army, entered as investigating censor, and served as chief clerk of the Right Secretariat, vice director of revenue, attendant censor, and vice director of the Right Secretariat. Shizong was pleased with his firmness and told Yangting, "Southerners are blunt and daring; Han character is crafty, and in affairs they mostly shun difficulty. Formerly southerners did not study rhapsody and prose, so few passed the examinations; in recent years many from Henan and Shandong have passed—they may surpass Han men in office." Soon afterward, for integrity and ability, he was made director of the Ministry of Revenue and advanced two ranks. Before long he was appointed director of the Left Secretariat, then vice minister of punishments and director of transport on the Shandong East Circuit. When Zhangzong succeeded, the nine-circuit chief judicial commissioners were first established. Yangting was summoned urgently to court and appointed chief judicial commissioner of the Shandong East and West circuits. Yangting hated evil and would not tolerate the slightest fault. When the reign title was changed to Mingchang, chief judicial commissioners of all circuits were ordered to audience; the emperor personally asked what they had investigated. When it came to Yangting he rebuked him: "Why is your governance so troublesome?" The next year he was demoted to commissioner of the Luozhou Defense Army. That year the harvest failed and the people were hungry. Yangting urged wealthy households to sell their surplus grain; the hungry were relieved, and the people of Luo erected a stone inscription in his praise. He was made director of transport on the Shaanxi West Circuit and memorialized begging to retire. The emperor said, "Yangting is an able man—what should be done?" Vice Director Liu Wei said he was ill, and permission was granted. He died at the age of sixty-seven.
21
贊曰：裴滿亨以進士選奉禦，能陳唐、虞致治之道于宮庭燕私之地，又能斥中貴梁道兒之奸。 斡勒忠以吏道致身，始終不交權貴。 世宗自立於遼東，歸者如市，張大節獨守正不赴。 韓錫出守河間，面諭皇族之居彼者恣睢不道，俾繩以法，佞者必希旨以市權，錫下車宣佈告戒而已。 是皆有識之士，不為富貴所移者也。 巨構骫骳，賀揚庭骨鯁，大定於二人而屢評南北士習之優劣，亶其然乎。 張亨始以繆庸見薄，晚以論列稱賞，亦砥礪之功歟。 鄧儼專務謀身，上下稱黠，致仕又求進用，弗可改也夫。
Appreciation: Pei Manheng, chosen through the jinshi examination as palace attendant, could set forth Tang and Yu governance even in the palace's private leisure and expose the favored attendant Liang Dao'er's wickedness. Wala Zhong rose through clerical administration and never associated with the powerful. When Shizong established himself in Liaodong, returnees thronged like a market; Zhang Dajie alone upheld integrity and did not go. Han Xi went out to govern Hejian and was told face to face that imperial clansmen there were overbearing and must be restrained by law. Flatterers would curry favor for power; Xi on taking office only proclaimed the admonition. These were all men of insight, not moved by wealth and honor. Ju Gou was compliant and He Yangting was firm. Emperor Dading repeatedly judged northern and southern scholarly habits through these two men—was it not indeed so? Zhang Heng was at first despised as blundering and mediocre, yet in later years won praise through his policy discussions—was that also the fruit of tempering? Deng Yan devoted himself solely to advancing himself; high and low called him crafty; after retirement he again sought reemployment—such a man cannot be changed.
22
閻公貞
Yan Gongzhen
23
焦旭，字明銳，沃州柏鄉人。 第進士，調安喜主簿。 再轉大興令，攝左警巡事，以杖親軍百人長，有司議其罪當杖決，世宗曰：「旭親民吏也，若因杖有官人複行杖之，何以行事？ 其令收贖。」 改良鄉令。 世宗幸春水，見石城、玉田令皆年老不治，謂宰臣曰：「縣令最親民，當得賢才。 畿甸尚如此，天下可知矣。」 平章政事石琚薦旭幹能可甄用，上然之，召為右警巡使。 旭為人剛果自任，不避權勢。 初，旭部民訴良，旭以無文據付本主，道逢監察御史訴其事，語涉訛亂，即收付旭，旭釋之不問，為御史所劾，削官兩階，杖百八十，出為大名府推官。 尋授右三部檢法司正，代韓天和為監察御史。 時御史台言：「監察糾彈之司，天和諸科出身，難居是職。」 上命別舉，中丞李晏薦旭剛正可任，遂授之，而改天和獲鹿令。 章宗初即位，太傅克甯、右丞相襄請上出獵，旭劾奏其非，上慰諭之，為罷獵。 明昌元年，登聞鼓院初設官，宰執奏司諫郭安民、補闕許安仁及旭皆堪擢用。 改侍御史，四遷都水監，以治河防勞進官一階，授西京路轉運使，卒。 旭性警敏，練達時政，與王翛，劉仲洙輩世稱能吏雲。
Jiao Xu, whose style name was Mingrui, came from Baixiang in Wozhou. He passed the jinshi examination and was appointed chief clerk of Anxi. He was twice transferred to magistrate of Daxing and acted as left metropolitan patrol. For beating a hundred-man leader of the imperial guard with a staff, the authorities judged he should be beaten in turn. Shizong said, "Xu is an official close to the people—if for beating an official he is beaten again, how can he govern? Let him redeem the penalty instead." He was changed to magistrate of Liangxiang. When the emperor visited the spring waters he saw that the magistrates of Shicheng and Yutian were old and did not govern. He told his chief ministers, "Magistrates are closest to the people and should be able men. Even the capital region is like this—one can imagine the rest of the empire." Chief Councilor Shi Jue recommended Xu as capable and fit for selection. The emperor approved and summoned him as right metropolitan patrol. Xu was firm and self-reliant by nature and did not avoid the powerful. Earlier a subject of his district sued for freedom; Xu, lacking documentary proof, returned him to his master. On the road the man met an investigating censor and sued the matter incoherently; Xu was handed the case, released the man without inquiry, was impeached by the censor, demoted two ranks, beaten one hundred eighty strokes, and sent out as judicial push officer of Daming Prefecture. Soon he was appointed director of the Right Three Departments Legal Review Office, replacing Han Tianhe as investigating censor. At the time the Censorate said, "The investigating censor is the office of impeachment—Tianhe came up through miscellaneous examinations and finds it hard to hold this post." The emperor ordered another selection. Vice Censor-in-Chief Li Yan recommended Xu as upright and fit; Xu was appointed, and Tianhe was made magistrate of Huolu. When Zhangzong first succeeded, Grand Tutor Kening and Right Chancellor Xiang asked the emperor to go hunting. Xu impeached this as improper; the emperor comforted them and canceled the hunt. In the first year of Mingchang, when the Petition Drum Court first established offices, the chief ministers memorialized that Remonstrator Guo Anmin, Supplementation Officer Xu Anren, and Xu were all fit for promotion. He was made attendant censor, promoted four times to superintendent of waterways, and advanced one rank for his work on river defenses. He was then appointed transport commissioner of the Western Capital circuit and died in office. Xu was quick-witted and thoroughly versed in current affairs. He and Wang Xiao, Liu Zhongzhu, and others were renowned as able administrators of their day.
24
劉仲洙
Liu Zhongzhu
25
劉仲洙，字師魯，大興宛平人。 大定三年，登進士第。 曆龍門主簿、香河酒稅使，再調深澤令。 縣近滹沱河，時秋成，水忽暴溢，仲洙極力護塞，竟無害。 有盜夜發，居民震驚，仲洙率縣卒生執其一，餘眾遂潰，旦日掩捕皆獲。 尋以廉能進官一階，升河北西路轉運司支度判官，入為刑部主事，六遷右司員外郎，俄轉吏部。 世宗謂宰臣曰：「人有言語敏辯而庸常不正者，有語言拙訥而才智通達、存心向正者，如劉仲洙頗以才行見稱，然而口語甚訥也。」 右丞張汝霖曰：「人之若是者多矣，願陛下深察之。」 二十九年，出為祁州刺史，以六善為教，民化之。 章宗即位，除中都、西京等路提刑副使。 先是，田玨等以黨罪廢錮者三十余家，仲洙知其冤，上書力辨，帝從之，乃複玨官爵而黨禁遂解。 明昌二年，授並王傅、兼同知大同府事，尋改平陽，移德州防禦使。 轉運郭邦傑、節度李晏皆舉仲洙以自代。 升為定海軍節度使。 歲饑，仲洙表請開倉，未報，先為賑貸，有司劾之，罪以贖論。 時仲洙兄仲淵以罪責石州，仲洙上書請以萊易石，朝廷義而不許。 久之，以年老乞致仕，累表方聽。 泰和八年卒，年七十五。
Liu Zhongzhu, styled Shilu, came from Wanping in Daxing. In the third year of the Dading era he passed the jinshi examination. He served as registrar of Longmen and wine-tax commissioner of Xianghe, then was reassigned as magistrate of Shenze. The county lay near the Hutuo River. At harvest time the river suddenly flooded, but Zhongzhu threw himself into the dikes and kept the county safe. When thieves raided by night and terrified the populace, Zhongzhu led county troops and captured one alive. The rest fled, and by dawn a sweep had taken them all. Soon he was promoted one rank for integrity and competence, became revenue adjutant on the Hebei West Circuit transport staff, entered the Ministry of Justice as a principal clerk, rose through six posts to assistant director in the Right Secretariat, and soon moved to the Ministry of Personnel. Shizong told his chief ministers, "Some men speak fluently yet are mediocre and corrupt; others speak haltingly yet are intelligent, capable, and upright. Liu Zhongzhu is widely praised for talent and character, but he is painfully slow of speech." Right Vice Chancellor Zhang Rulin said, "There are many such cases. I hope Your Majesty will look into them carefully." In the twenty-ninth year he was posted as prefect of Qizhou, where he governed through the Six Virtues teaching, and the people were transformed by it. When Zhangzong took the throne, he was made vice surveillance commissioner for the Central Capital, Western Capital, and other circuits. Earlier, more than thirty households including Tian Jue had been stripped of office and confined in the Tian Jue party case. Knowing they had been wronged, Zhongzhu memorialized forcefully on their behalf. The emperor agreed, restored Jue's rank and title, and lifted the faction ban. In the second year of Mingchang he became tutor to Prince Bing and vice prefect of Datong Prefecture, then was reassigned to Pingyang and made defensive commissioner of Dezhou. Transport commissioner Guo Bangjie and military commissioner Li Yan both recommended Zhongzhu as their successor. He was promoted to military commissioner of the Dinghai Army. During a famine Zhongzhu memorialized to open the granaries. Before a reply arrived he issued relief loans on his own authority. The authorities impeached him, and he was fined in lieu of punishment. At the time his elder brother Zhongyuan had been punished with assignment to Shizhou. Zhongzhu memorialized offering to swap his own post at Laizhou for Shizhou. The court admired his loyalty but refused. After some time he petitioned to retire on grounds of age, and only after several memorials was he allowed to do so. He died in the eighth year of Taihe at the age of seventy-five.
26
仲洙性剛直，果于從政，尤長於治民，所在皆有功跡，蓋一時之能吏雲。
Zhongzhu was upright and resolute in office and especially skilled at governing the people. Everywhere he served he left a record of achievement—one of the era's truly able administrators.
27
李完，字全道，朔州馬邑人。 經童出身，複登詞賦進士第。 調澄城主簿，有遺愛，民為立祠。 用廉，遷定襄令，召補尚書省令史。 時以縣令闕人廉問，世宗選能吏八人按行天下，完其一也。 明昌初，為監察御史。 故事，台令史以六部令史久次者補，吏皆同類，莫肯舉劾。 完言：「尚書省令史，正隆間用雜流，大定初乙太師張浩奏請，始純取進士，天下以為當。 令乞以三品官子孫及終場舉人，委台官辟用。」 上納其言。 擢尚書省都事，出為同知橫海軍節度使事、河間府治中。 提刑司言：「完習法律，有治劇才，軍民無間語。」 升沁州刺史，仍以璽書褒諭。 遷同知廣寧府。 初，遼濱民崔元入城飲不歸，求得屍于水中。 有司執同飲者訊之，皆誣服，提刑司疑其冤，以獄畀完。 完廉得其賊乃舟師也，遂免同飲人。 改北京臨潢路提刑副使。 承安二年，遷陝西西路轉運使，尋授南京路按察使，卒。 完長於吏治，所至奸惡屏跡，民皆便之。
Li Wan, styled Quandao, came from Mayi in Shuozhou. He entered service through the classics-child route and later passed the poetry-and-prose jinshi examination as well. As registrar of Chengcheng he won such affection that the people built a shrine in his honor. Recognized for integrity, he was promoted to magistrate of Dingxiang and then summoned to serve as a clerk in the Ministry of Works. When magistracies stood vacant and the court sought men of integrity, Shizong chose eight able officers to inspect the realm. Wan was among them. At the start of the Mingchang era he became an investigating censor. By custom, censorate clerks were drawn from long-serving ministry clerks. Because they were all cut from the same cloth, none would impeach his fellows. Wan said, "During Zhenglong, Ministry of Works clerks were recruited from mixed backgrounds. In early Dading, Grand Preceptor Zhang Hao memorialized that they should be taken only from jinshi graduates, and the realm judged that correct. I ask that sons and grandsons of third-rank officials and candidates who have finished the examination field be recruited by censorate officials instead." The emperor accepted his proposal. He was promoted to chief clerk of the Ministry of Works, then sent out as vice military commissioner of the Heng-hai Army and administrative aide of Hejian Prefecture. The surveillance office reported, "Wan knows the law, has talent for heavy administration, and both soldiers and civilians speak of him without complaint." He was promoted to prefect of Qinzhou and received an imperial letter of commendation. He was transferred to vice prefect of Guangning Prefecture. Earlier a Liaobin man named Cui Yuan had gone into town to drink and never returned. His body was found in the water. Officials arrested his drinking companions and interrogated them until all confessed falsely. The surveillance office suspected injustice and handed the case to Wan. Wan traced the crime to a boatman and released the drinking companions. He was made vice surveillance commissioner of the Northern Capital Linhuang Circuit. In the second year of Cheng'an he became transport commissioner of the Shaanxi West Circuit, then surveillance commissioner of the Southern Capital Circuit, and died in office. Wan excelled at administration. Wherever he served, wrongdoers kept out of sight and the people benefited.
28
馬百祿
Ma Bailu
29
馬百祿，字天錫，通州三河人。 父柔德，天會初第進士，累遷翰林修撰，坐田玨黨免官，迨世宗朝解黨禁，複召用焉。 百祿幼志學，事繼母以孝聞，登大定三年詞賦進士第，調武清主簿。 由龍山令召補尚書省令史，不就，改榷貨副使、平陽府判官，入為國子博士。 朝廷以宰縣日清白有治跡，特遷官一階，升同知北京路轉運事。 委錄南北路刑獄，所至無冤。 召為尚書戶部員外郎，與同知河北東路轉運事李京為中都等路推排使。 明昌初，遷耀州刺史，吏民畏愛。 提刑司以狀聞，授韓王傅、同知安武軍節度事。 俄改兼同知興平軍，以提刑司複舉廉，升孟州防禦使，再遷南京路提刑使。 御史台以剛直能幹聞，轉知河中府。 承安四年致仕，卒。 諡曰貞忠。
Ma Bailu, styled Tianshi, came from Sanhe in Tongzhou. His father Roude passed the jinshi in early Tianhui, rose to Hanlin reviser, lost office in the Tian Jue party case, and was recalled once Shizong lifted the faction ban. From youth Bailu devoted himself to study and was known for filial service to his stepmother. He passed the poetry-and-prose jinshi in the third year of Dading and was assigned registrar of Wuqing. Summoned from his post as magistrate of Longshan to serve as a Ministry of Works clerk, he declined. He became deputy monopoly commissioner and prefectural judge of Pingyang, then entered the Directorate of Education as an erudite. The court noted his upright record as a county magistrate and specially promoted him one rank, making him vice transport commissioner of the Northern Capital circuit. Entrusted to review criminal cases on the northern and southern circuits, he left no wrongful convictions in his wake. Summoned as assistant director in the Ministry of Revenue, he and Li Jing, vice transport commissioner of the Hebei East Circuit, were appointed household registration survey commissioners for the Central Capital and other circuits. At the start of Mingchang he became prefect of Yaozhou, where officials and commoners alike feared and admired him. When the surveillance office reported his merits, he was made tutor to Prince Han and vice military commissioner of the Anwu Army. He was soon made concurrent vice commissioner of the Xingping Army as well. Cited again for integrity, he rose to defensive commissioner of Mengzhou and then surveillance commissioner of the Southern Capital Circuit. Known at the Censorate for uprightness and ability, he was transferred to prefect of Hezhong Prefecture. He retired in the fourth year of Cheng'an and later died. He was posthumously titled Zhenzhong, "Loyal and Upright."
30
楊伯元
Yang Boyuan
31
楊伯元，字長卿，開封尉氏人。 登大定三年進士第，調郾城主簿。 升榆次令，召為大理評事，累除定海軍節度副使，用廉，超授同知河東北路轉運事，入為尚書刑部員外郎，以憂免，起為遼州刺史。 明昌元年，移涿州。 久之，擢工部侍郎，四遷安武軍節度使。 泰和三年致仕，卒。
Yang Boyuan, styled Changqing, came from Weishi in Kaifeng. He passed the jinshi in the third year of Dading and was assigned registrar of Yancheng. He rose to magistrate of Yuci, then reviewer of the Court of Judicial Review and vice military commissioner of the Dinghai Army. Recognized for integrity, he was specially made vice transport commissioner of the Hedong North Circuit, entered the Ministry of Justice as assistant director, left office for mourning, and was recalled as prefect of Liaozhou. In the first year of Mingchang he was transferred to Zhuozhou. After some time he was promoted to vice minister of works and, through four further appointments, became military commissioner of the Anwu Army. He retired in the third year of Taihe and later died.
32
伯元以才幹多被委注，凡兩為推排定課使，累為審錄官，人稱其平。 每有疑獄，必專遣決，明辯多中理。 賜諡曰達。
Talented and capable, Boyuan was repeatedly entrusted with important duties. He twice served as household registration survey and tax-assessment commissioner and often as case-review officer, and people praised his fairness. Whenever a case was doubtful, he was sent to decide it personally, and his judgments usually struck the truth. He was posthumously titled Da, "Accomplished."
33
劉璣，字仲璋，益都人也。 登天德三年進士第。 大定初，為太常博士，改左拾遺，兼許王府文學。 璣奏王府事，世宗責之曰：「汝職掌教道，何預奏事！」 因命近侍諭旨永中曰：「卿有長史，而令文學奏事何也？ 後勿複爾。」 累除同知漕運司事，嘗奏言：「漕戶顧直太高，虛費官物，宜約量裁損。 若減三之一，歲可省官錢一十五萬餘貫。」 世宗是其言。 授戶部員外郎，條上便宜數事，世宗謂宰臣曰：「璣言河堤種柳可省每歲堤防之費，及言官錢利害，甚可取。 前後戶部官往往偷延歲月，如璣者不可多得，卿等議其可者行之。 璣向言漕運省費事，盡心公家，不厚賞無以勸來者。」 乃賜錢三千貫。 擢濰州刺史，徙知濟州。 未幾，遷同知北京留守事，坐曲法放免奴婢訴良者，左降管州刺史。 世宗謂宰臣曰：「璣為人何如？」 參知政事程輝曰：「璣執強跋扈，嘗追濟南府官錢，以至委曲生意而害及平民。」 上曰：「朕聞璣在北京，凡奴隸訴良，不問契券真偽，輒放為良，意欲徼福於冥冥，則在己之奴何為不放？」 又曰：「璣放朕之家奴，意欲以此邀福，存心若是，不宜再用。」 明昌二年，入為國子司業，乞致仕不許，轉國子祭酒，尋擢太常卿，以昏耄不任職為御史台所糾罷。 承安二年卒。 年八十二。 兄珫。
Liu Ji, styled Zhongzhang, came from Yidu. He passed the jinshi in the third year of Tiande. In early Dading he was an erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then left remonstrance officer and literary instructor to the Prince of Xu's household. When Ji memorialized on a matter of the princely household, Shizong rebuked him: "Your duty is to teach the Way—why are you submitting memorials on administrative affairs?" He then had a close attendant instruct Yongzhong: "You have a chief administrator—why let your literary instructor submit memorials? Do not let this happen again." After several appointments as vice commissioner of the Grain Transport Office, he once memorialized, "Transport households are paid too generously, wasting state resources. The allowance should be measured and cut. Cutting it by one third would save more than one hundred fifty thousand strings of official cash each year." Shizong approved. As assistant director in the Ministry of Revenue he submitted several practical proposals. Shizong told his ministers, "Ji says planting willows on river dikes could cut annual dike costs, and his remarks on official cash are well worth heeding. Revenue officials before him often dragged their feet for months. Men like Ji are rare—discuss what can be adopted and put it into practice. Ji's earlier proposal to cut transport costs shows real devotion to the public purse. Without a generous reward, who will follow his example?" He was therefore granted three thousand strings of cash. Promoted to prefect of Weizhou, he was then transferred to prefect of Jizhou. Soon he became vice commissioner of the Northern Capital garrison, but was demoted to prefect of Guanzhou for bending the law to free slaves and bondwomen who had brought freedom suits. Shizong asked his ministers, "What sort of man is Ji?" Vice Grand Councilor Cheng Hui said, "Ji is overbearing and domineering. When he pursued funds owed by Jinan Prefecture he twisted the facts so badly that common people suffered." The emperor said, "I hear that in the Northern Capital, whenever slaves brought freedom suits Ji released them as commoners without checking whether their contracts were genuine, hoping to win merit in the unseen world—so why did he not free his own slaves?" He added, "Ji freed my household slaves to court favor with Heaven. With a heart like that, he ought not be employed again." In the second year of Mingchang he became vice director of the Directorate of Education. He asked to retire but was refused, was made chancellor of the Directorate, then minister of imperial sacrifices, and was finally impeached and removed by the Censorate as too senile to serve. He died in the second year of Cheng'an. He was eighty-two years old. His elder brother was Liu Chong.
34
兄珫
Elder Brother Chong
35
珫字伯玉，幼名太平。 以功臣子補閣門祗候，遭父喪求終制，會海陵篡立，不許，改充護衛。 海陵忌宗室，珫坐與往來，斥居鄉里。 世宗即位，珫晝夜兼馳上謁，世宗大悅，以為護衛十人長。 往招宗敘、白彥敬、紇石烈志寧，皆相繼來附。 還報，上喜其有功，呼其小字而謂之曰：「太平所至，庶幾能贊朕致太平矣。」 改禦院通進。 與烏居仁等往南京發遣六宮百司，珫建議留尚書右丞紇石烈良弼經略淮右，餘皆北來，詔從之。 丁母憂，起複，三遷武庫署令。 車駕幸西京，留珫為中都總管判官。 再轉近侍局使，遷太子少詹事，兼引進使，賜襲衣。 未幾，為陝西統軍都監，賜廄馬、金帶，皇太子以馬與幣為贐。 召為同知宣徽院事，遷太子詹事、右宣徽使，與張僅言典領昭德皇后園陵，襄事，太子贈以廄馬。 轉左宣徽使，以疾求補外，除定海軍節度使，以其弟太府監瑋為同知宣徽院事。 珫朝辭，上曰：「卿舊臣，今補外，寧不惻然。 東萊瀕海，風物亦佳，卿到必得調養。 朕用卿弟在近密，如見卿也。」 仍賜廄馬、金帶、彩十端、絹百匹。 卒官，年五十七。 珫柩過京畿，敕有司致祭，賻銀三百兩、重彩三十端。
Chong, styled Boyu, had the childhood name Taiping. As the son of a meritorious official he was appointed gate usher. When his father died he asked to observe full mourning, but Hailing's usurpation intervened and the request was denied; he was reassigned as an imperial guardsman. Hailing distrusted the imperial clan. Chong was banished to the countryside for keeping company with them. When Shizong took the throne, Chong rode day and night to pay his respects. Delighted, Shizong made him captain of ten imperial guardsmen. Sent to summon Zongxu, Bai Yanjing, and Heshenlie Zhining, he brought them in one after another to Shizong's side. When he returned to report, the emperor, pleased with his service, called him by his childhood name and said, "Wherever Taiping goes, he may yet help me bring the realm to peace." He was made director of communications for the Imperial Park. With Wu Juren and others he went to the Southern Capital to organize the departure of the inner palace and central offices. Chong proposed leaving Right Vice Chancellor Heshenlie Liangbi to oversee the Huai region while everyone else moved north, and the emperor agreed. When his mother died he was recalled from mourning to serve again, and after three promotions became director of the Arsenal. When the emperor traveled to the Western Capital, Chong was left behind as administrative judge of the Central Capital garrison. He was twice transferred to commissioner of the Inner Attendants Bureau, promoted to junior steward of the Heir Apparent, concurrently introduction commissioner, and granted court robes. Before long he was overall supervisor of the Shaanxi commandery army and granted stable horses and a gold belt; the crown prince gave horses and silks as parting gifts. He was summoned as associate commissioner of the Palace Domestic Service, promoted to steward of the Heir Apparent and right commissioner of that service; with Zhang Jinyan he directed Empress Zhaode's park tomb and assisted at her funeral; the crown prince gave him stable horses. He became left commissioner of the Palace Domestic Service. Ill, he sought an outside post and was made military commissioner of the Dinghai Army; his younger brother Wei, director of the Imperial Treasury, was made associate commissioner of the Palace Domestic Service. At his farewell audience Chong was told, "You are an old minister; now sent outside—surely you feel sorrow. Donglai borders the sea and the scenery is fine—you will surely recover your health there. I keep your younger brother close at hand—it is as if I still see you." He was also granted stable horses, a gold belt, ten bolts of colored silk, and one hundred bolts of plain silk. He died in office at the age of fifty-seven. When Chong's coffin passed through the capital region, the authorities were ordered to perform sacrifices, and three hundred taels of silver and thirty bolts of heavy colored silk were granted for his funeral.
36
康元弼
Kang Yuanbi
37
康元弼，字輔之，大同雲中人。 幼敏學，善屬文，登正隆二年進士第。 調汝陽簿，改崇義軍節度判官。 由垣曲縣令補尚書省令史，累遷同知河北西路轉運使事，召為大理丞。
Kang Yuanbi, whose style name was Fuzhi, came from Yunzhong in Datong. He was quick to learn from youth and skilled at composition; he passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Zhenlong. He was appointed registrar of Ruyang and then military judge of the Chongyi Army. From magistrate of Yuanqu he took a Secretariat clerkship, rose to associate director of transport on the Hebei West Circuit, and was summoned as vice director of the Court of Judicial Review.
38
大定二十七年，河決曹、濮間，瀕水者多墊溺，朝延遣元弼往視，相其地如盎，而城在盎中，水易為害，請命於朝以徙之，卒改築于北原，曹人賴焉。 出為弘州刺史，閱歲授大理少卿。 先是，衛州為河所壞，增築蘇門以寓州治。 水既退，民不樂遷，欲複歸衛，於是遣元弼按視，還言治故城便，遂複其舊。 轉秘書少監，兼著作郎，改通州刺史，兼領漕事。 章宗立，尊孝懿皇后為皇太后，以元弼舊臣詔充副衛尉。 再轉大理卿，以喪去，起複為尚書刑部侍郎，兼鄆王傅，遷南京路轉運使。 承安三年致仕，卒。
In the twenty-seventh year of Dading the Yellow River burst between Cao and Pu and many along the banks drowned. The court sent Yuanbi to inspect the site. He found the terrain bowl-shaped with the city inside it, where flood easily did harm, and requested permission to relocate it. The city was eventually rebuilt on the northern plain, to Cao's great benefit. He was sent out as prefect of Hong Prefecture; after a year he was appointed vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. Earlier Weizhou had been destroyed by the river and Sumen was enlarged to serve as the prefectural seat. When the water receded the people were unwilling to remain and wished to return to Wei. Yuanbi was sent to inspect and reported that governing the old city was preferable; the old seat was restored. He was transferred to vice director of the Secretariat with concurrent charge as editing director, made prefect of Tong Prefecture, and concurrently directed transport affairs. When Zhangzong succeeded, Empress Xiaoyi was honored as empress dowager, and Yuanbi, as an old minister, was ordered to serve as deputy commandant of the Imperial Guard. He was again made director of the Court of Judicial Review, left on mourning, recalled as vice minister of punishments with concurrent tutorship of the Prince of Yan, and moved to director of transport on the Nanjing Circuit. He retired in the third year of Cheng'an and died.
39
移剌益
Yila Yi
40
移剌益，字子遷，本名特末阿不，中都路胡魯土猛安人也。 以廕補國史院書寫，積勞調徐州錄事，召為樞密院知法，三遷翰林修撰。 時北邊有警，詔百官集尚書省議之，太尉克甯銳意用兵，益言天時未利，宜俟後圖。 御史台舉益剛正可任，遂兼監察御史。 未幾，改戶部員外郎。 明昌三年，畿內饑，擢授霸州刺史，同授刺史者十一人，既入謝，詔諭之曰：「親民之職，惟在守令，比歲民饑，故遣卿等往撫育之。 其資序有過者有弗及者，朕不計此，但以材選，爾其知之。」 既至，首出俸粟以食饑者，於是倅以下及郡人遞出粟以佐之，且命屬縣視以為法，多所全活。 郡東南有堤久頹圮，水屢為害，益增修之，民以為便，為益立祠。 升遼東路提刑副使。 五年，宋主新立，詔以泗州當使客所經，守臣宜擇人，宰臣進擬數人，皆不合上意，上曰：「特末阿不安在？ 此人可也。」 即授防禦使。 召為尚書戶部侍郎，尋轉兵部。 屬群牧人叛，命益同殿前都點檢兗往招降之。 承安二年，邊鄙弗寧，上禦便殿，召朝官四品以上入議，益謂「守為便。 天子之兵當取萬全，若王師輕出，少有不利，非惟損大國之威，恐啟敵人侵玩之心。」 出為山東西路轉運使。 有敕使按鷹于山東，益奏：「乞止令調於近甸，何必驚遠方耳目。」 書聞，上命有司治使者罪。 遷河東南北路按察使。 舊制，在位官有不任職，委所屬上司體訪。 州府長貳幕職，許互相舉申。 益上言以為：「傷禮讓之風，亦恐同官因之不睦，別生奸弊。 乞止令按察司糾劾，似為得體」。 又言：「隨路點軍官與富人飲會，公通獻遺，宜依准監臨官於所部內犯罪究治。」 上皆納焉。 泰和二年，卒於官。
Yila Yi, whose style name was Ziqian and whose original name was Temu Abu, came from the Hulutu garrison in the Zhongdu Circuit. He entered through yin privilege as scribe of the Historiography Institute, rose through service to recorder of Xuzhou, was summoned as legal specialist of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and was three times promoted to Hanlin editing director. When the northern frontier was alarmed, officials were assembled at the Secretariat. Grand Marshal Kening was eager for war; Yi said the season was not favorable and plans should wait. The Censorate recommended Yi as upright and fit for office, and he was concurrently made investigating censor. Before long he was made vice director of the Ministry of Revenue. In the third year of Mingchang famine struck the capital region. Yi was promoted to prefect of Bazhou along with ten others. After they gave thanks, an edict told them, "Prefects and magistrates are closest to the people. Because of recent famine we send you to nurture them. Some of you outrank others in seniority and some fall short—I disregard that and choose only by talent. Know this well." On arrival he first gave salary grain to feed the hungry. Deputies and county people followed with grain of their own, and he ordered subordinate counties to follow the example—many lives were saved. Southeast of the commandery a dike had long lain in ruins and floods had repeatedly done harm. Yi repaired and strengthened it; the people were pleased and erected a shrine in his honor. He was promoted to deputy surveillance commissioner of the Liaodong Circuit. In the fifth year a new Song emperor succeeded. An edict noted that Sizhou lay on the envoys' route and required a careful choice of defender. Several candidates proposed by the chief ministers displeased the emperor, who said, "Where is Temu Abu? This man will do." He was immediately appointed defense commissioner. He was summoned as vice minister of revenue in the Secretariat and soon transferred to the Ministry of War. When pastoral tribes rebelled, Yi was ordered together with Yan, overall commander of the Palace Front, to go and win them over. In the second year of Cheng'an the frontier was unsettled. The emperor met officials of fourth rank and above in the side hall. Yi said, "Defense is the better course. The Son of Heaven's army must seek complete security. If the imperial army marches out lightly and meets even small setbacks, it will diminish the state's prestige and may embolden the enemy." He was sent out as director of transport on the Shandong West Circuit. An edict envoy was collecting hawks in Shandong. Yi memorialized, "I beg that collection be limited to the near districts—why alarm distant regions?" When the memorial was received, the emperor ordered the envoy punished. He was moved to surveillance commissioner of the Hedong North and South circuits. Under old regulations, when an incumbent was unfit for office, investigation was entrusted to his immediate superior. Prefectural chiefs, deputies, and staff were permitted to impeach one another. Yi memorialized that this "injures the spirit of courtesy and yielding and may make colleagues ill at ease and breed fresh abuses. I beg that only the surveillance office be allowed to impeach—that seems the proper form." He also said, "Circuit army inspectors who feast with the wealthy and exchange gifts openly should be investigated and punished under the law governing supervising officials who offend within their jurisdiction." The emperor adopted all of these proposals. In the second year of Taihe he died in office.
41
贊曰：閻公貞定金律令，楊伯元定金推排，人皆以平稱之，難矣。 焦旭畿內小官，聽斷不受御史風指，遂罹深憲。 大臣請人主遊獵，劾奏其非，為之罷獵，誠有古人之風焉。 李完、康元弼無他足稱，完論台令史一事，元弼論曹、衛兩城，各當其可。 馬百祿初坐黨廢，晚著治跡。 劉璣初以理財得幸，晚以曲法得罪，人有前後遭遇不同，而百祿求福不回，非璣所及也。 劉珫以大定之立馳赴行在，雖終身榮寵，蓋一趨時之士耳。 劉仲洙剛而訥於言，移剌益剛而敢言。 益以志寧北伐為不可，仲洙釋田玨黨禍三十家。 《語》曰：「剛毅木訥近仁。」 豈不信哉！
Appreciation: Yan Gongzhen fixed the Jin code statutes and Yang Boyuan fixed the Jin household survey regulations—both were called fair, which is no small praise. Jiao Xu was a minor official in the capital region who would not bend his judgments to censorial pressure and therefore suffered severe punishment. When great ministers asked the ruler to go hunting, he impeached the impropriety and the hunt was canceled—truly in the manner of the ancients. Li Wan and Kang Yuanbi have little else especially praiseworthy; Wan on the Censorate clerk matter and Yuanbi on the Cao and Wei relocations—each was right where it mattered. Ma Bailu was at first dismissed for party affiliation and in later years showed real administrative achievement. Liu Ji at first won favor through fiscal management and later offended through bending the law. Fortune differs, yet Bailu sought blessing without wavering—something Ji could not match. Liu Chong galloped day and night to Shizong's mobile court when Dading was established; though honored for life, he was essentially a man who rushed with the times. Liu Zhongzhu was firm yet slow of speech; Yila Yi was firm yet daring in speech. Yi held Zhining's northern campaign impracticable; Zhongzhu cleared the party punishment of thirty households tied to Tian Jue. The Analects says, "Firm, resolute, plain, and slow of speech are close to humaneness." Can this not be believed!