Volume 321 Biographies 80: Zheng Xie, Chen Xiang, Qian Gongfu, Sun Zhu, Feng Ji, Lu Hui, Liu Shu, Liu Qi, Qian Yi, Zheng Xia

鄭獬，字毅夫，安州安陸人。少負俊材，詞章豪偉峭整，流輩莫敢望。進士第一。通判陳州，入直集賢院、度支判官、修起居注、知制誥。

Zheng Xie, whose courtesy name was Yifu, came from Anlu in Anzhou. From youth he showed exceptional ability, and his writing was bold, imposing, and finely wrought—none among his peers dared measure himself against him. He took first place in the jinshi examination. He was vice-prefect of Chenzhou, then served in the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, as fiscal affairs judicial commissioner, compiler of the Veritable Records, and draft edict compiler.

英宗郎位，治永昭山陵，悉用乾興制度，獬言：「今國用空乏，近者賞軍，已見橫斂，富室嗟怨，流聞京師。先帝節儉愛民，蓋出天性，凡服用器玩，極於樸陋，此天下所共知也。而山陵制度，乃欲效乾興最盛之時，獨不傷儉德乎？願飭有司，損其名數。」又言：「天子初即位，郡國馳表稱賀，例官其人，此出五代餘習，因仍未改。今庶官猥眾，充溢銓曹。況前日群臣進官，已布維新之澤，不須復行此恩，以開僥幸。」皆不報。又上疏言：「陛下初臨御，恭默不言，所與共政者七八大臣而已，焉能盡天下之聰明哉？願申詔中外，許令盡言，有可采錄，召與之對。至於臣下進見，訪以得失，虛心求之，必能有益治道。」帝嘉納之。時詔諸郡敦遣遺逸之士，至則試之秘閣，命以官，頗有謬舉者，眾論喧嘩，旋即廢罷，獬言：「古之薦士，以謂拔十得五，猶得其半；況今所失未至十五，而遽以浮言廢之，可乎？願復此科，使豪俊無遺滯之歎。」未及行，出知荊南。

When Emperor Yingzong came to the throne, construction of the Yongzhao Imperial Tomb proceeded under the full regulations of the Qianxing reign. Xie said: "State funds are now exhausted. The recent rewards to the army have already brought on heavy exactions; wealthy families groan in resentment, and reports of this reach the capital. The late emperor was thrifty and cared for the people by nature; in clothing, vessels, and ornaments he chose the plainest and simplest—this all the realm knows. Yet the tomb is to follow the most extravagant standards of Qianxing—does that not alone tarnish his reputation for frugality? I ask that the responsible offices be ordered to cut back the prescribed items and quantities. He also said: "When a new emperor takes the throne, the provinces rush in congratulatory memorials and, by custom, those who present them receive office. This is a remnant of Five Dynasties practice that has never been abolished. Common offices are now far too numerous and crowd the Bureau of Appointments. Moreover, the court has only just promoted the ministers and spread the grace of a new reign—there is no need to grant this favor again and encourage opportunism." None of these proposals received a reply. He submitted another memorial: "Your Majesty has just begun to rule and remains respectfully silent; only seven or eight great ministers share in government—how can you draw on all the wisdom under Heaven? I ask that an edict go forth throughout the court and the provinces permitting frank speech, and that where something is worth adopting, the speaker be summoned for audience. When your ministers come before you, question them on what succeeds and what fails; seek their counsel in humility, and governance will surely gain." The Emperor praised and accepted this advice. An edict then directed the commanderies to send up reclusive scholars; on arrival they were examined at the Secret Pavilion and given office. There were many mistaken nominations, public outcry grew loud, and the measure was soon dropped. Xie said: "In antiquity it was said that in recommending scholars, if ten were chosen and five proved worthy, one still had half; how much more when today's failures do not reach one in fifteen—yet you hasten to abolish the policy on loose talk—is that right? I ask that this examination be restored, so that outstanding men need not lament being passed over." Before this could be carried out, he was sent out as prefect of Jingnan.

治平中，大水求言，獬上疏曰：「陛下側身思咎，念有以消復之，不知求忠言者，將欲用之邪？抑但舉故事邪？觀前世之君，因變異以求諫者甚眾，及考其實，則能用其言而載於行事者，蓋亦鮮矣。今詔發天下忠義之士，必有極其所韞，以薦諸朝，一日萬機，勢未能盡覽，不過如平時下之中書、密院，至於無所行而後止。如是則與前世之為空言者等爾。謂宜選官置屬，掌所上章，與兩府近臣從容講貫，可則行之，否則罷之，有疑焉，則廣詢而決之。群臣得而眾事舉，此應天之實也。天下之進言也甚難，而上之受言也常忽。願陛下采群臣之章疏，容而聽之，史冊大書，以為某年大水，詔求直言，用某人之辭而求某事，以出夫前世之為空言者，無令徒掛牆壁為虛文而已。」還，判三班院。

In the Zhiping era, after severe floods an edict called for counsel. Xie submitted a memorial: "Your Majesty bends himself to reflect on guilt and seeks means to dispel and remedy it—I do not know whether in seeking loyal counsel you mean truly to use it, or only to follow precedent? Looking at emperors of former ages, many sought remonstrance because of portents; yet when one examines the record, those who truly used such words and embodied them in action were very few. Now the edict summons loyal and righteous men from across the realm; some will surely give the fullest of what they hold and offer it to court. With ten thousand affairs in a day, Your Majesty cannot read all; most likely they will be routed to the Secretariat and Privy Council as in ordinary times, until nothing can be done and they are set aside. In that case it will be no different from the empty words of former ages. I propose that officials be chosen and staff assigned to receive submitted memorials, and that they discuss them at leisure with close ministers of the two administrations—where feasible, act; where not, set aside; where in doubt, consult widely and decide. When ministers are heard and affairs are carried through, this is the true way to respond to Heaven. It is very hard for those below to offer counsel, and those above often receive it with neglect. I hope Your Majesty will gather the memorials of your ministers, grant them a hearing, and have the historians record in full that in such-and-such a year, after great floods, an edict sought frank speech and such-and-such a man's words were used to accomplish such-and-such a matter—thus surpassing the empty speech of former ages, and not letting them hang on the wall as dead documents alone." On his return to the capital, he was made director of the Three-Ban Bureau.

神宗初，召獬夕對內東門，命草吳奎知青州及張方平、趙抃參政事三制，賜雙燭送歸舍人院，外廷無知者。遂拜翰林學士。朝廷議納橫山，獬曰：「兵禍必起於此。」已而种諤取綏州，獬言：「臣竊見手詔，深戒邊臣無得生事。今乃特尊用變詐之士，務為掩襲，如戰國暴君之所尚，豈帝王大略哉！諤擅興，當誅。」又請因諒祚告哀，遣使立其嗣子，識者韙之。

Early in Shenzong's reign, Xie was summoned for an evening audience at the Inner Eastern Gate and ordered to draft three edicts—appointing Wu Kui to Qingzhou and Zhang Fangping and Zhao Bian as participating administrators of affairs. He was given paired candles to light his way back to the Academy of Scholarly Worthies; the outer court knew nothing. He was then made Hanlin academician. When the court debated accepting the submission of Hengshan, Xie said, "Military disaster will surely begin here." Soon afterward Chong E seized Suizhou. Xie said, "I have seen the emperor's own hand-edict sternly warning border officials not to provoke trouble on their own. Yet now you specially honor men of shifting deceit who strive for surprise attacks, as the tyrants of the Warring States admired—how is this the broad strategy of an emperor? E acted on his own authority and should be executed." He also asked that, when Liangzuo reported mourning, an envoy be sent to install his heir—men of judgment approved.

權發遣開封府。民喻興與妻謀殺一婦人，獬不肯用按問新法，為王安石所惡，出為侍讀學士、知杭州。御史中丞呂誨乞還之，不聽。未幾，徙青州。方散青苗錢，獬言：「但見其害，不忍民無罪而陷憲網。」引疾祈閑，提舉鴻慶宮，卒，年五十一。家貧子弱，其柩藁殯僧屋十餘年，滕甫為安州，乃克葬。

He served as acting chief intendant of Kaifeng Prefecture. A commoner named Yu Xing conspired with his wife to murder a woman; Xie refused to apply the new interrogation-by-torture law and earned Wang Anshi's enmity; he was sent out as academician reader-in-waiting and prefect of Hangzhou. Censor-in-chief Lü Hui begged that he be recalled; the request was denied. Before long he was transferred to Qingzhou. When Green Sprouts money was being distributed, Xie said, "I see only its harm and cannot bear that innocent people should fall into the penal net." He cited illness to seek a quiet post, was made promoter of Hongqing Palace, and died at fifty-one. His family was poor and his sons still young; his coffin lay in a rough burial in a monk's hall for more than ten years until Teng Fu became prefect of Anzhou and at last he could be buried.

陳襄，字述古，福州侯官人。少孤，能自立，出遊鄉校，與陳烈、周希孟、鄭穆為友。時學者沉溺於雕琢之文，所謂知天盡性之說，皆指為迂闊而莫之講，四人者始相與倡道於海濱，聞者皆笑以驚，守之不為變，卒從而化，謂之「四先生」。

Chen Xiang, whose courtesy name was Shugu, came from Houguan in Fuzhou. Orphaned in youth, he supported himself, attended the district school, and befriended Chen Lie, Zhou Ximeng, and Zheng Mu. Scholars of the day were lost in ornate prose; teachings on knowing Heaven and fulfilling one's nature were dismissed as impractical and left untaught. The four first preached the Way together on the coast—listeners laughed in shock, but they held their course until others followed and were transformed, and they were called the "Four Masters."

襄舉進士，調浦城主簿，攝令事。縣多世族，以請託脅持為常，令不能制。襄欲稍革其俗，每聽訟，必使數吏環立於前。私謁者不得發，老奸束手。民有失物者，賊曹捕偷兒至，數輩相撐拄，襄語之曰：「某廟鐘能辨盜，犯者捫之輒有聲，餘則否。」乃遣吏先引以行，自率同列詣鐘所祭禱，陰塗以墨，而以帷蔽之。命群盜往捫，少焉呼出，獨一人手無所汙，扣之，乃為盜者；蓋畏鐘有聲，故不敢觸，遂服罪。

Xiang passed the jinshi examination and was appointed chief recorder of Pucheng, where he also handled the magistrate's duties. The county had many powerful clans who routinely used influence and pressure as weapons, and the magistrate could not restrain them. Xiang wished to reform these customs gradually; whenever he heard a case he had several clerks stand in a ring before him. Private petitioners could not speak; veteran schemers were left helpless. When a commoner reported a theft, the constable brought in several petty thieves who accused one another. Xiang told them, "A certain temple bell can identify thieves—whoever is guilty will make it ring when he touches it; the innocent will not." He sent clerks to lead them ahead and himself led his colleagues to the bell to offer sacrifice and prayer, secretly smearing it with ink and covering it with a curtain. He ordered the band to touch the bell; shortly he called them out—only one had clean hands; under questioning he proved to be the thief; He had feared the bell would ring and dared not touch it, and thereupon confessed.

知河陽縣，始教民種稻。富弼為郡守，一見即禮遇之。襄留意教化，進縣子弟於學。或讒之於弼，謂其誘邑子以資過客，弼疑焉。人勸毀學舍以塞謗，不聽。久之，弼以語襄，襄曰：「自反而縮，雖千萬人往矣。公苟有惑志，何名知己。」益講說不少懈。弼由是愈益奇之，及入相，薦為秘閣校理、判祠部。譯經僧死，遺表度十僧，列子廟三年度一道士，皆抑不行。

As magistrate of Heyang County he first taught the people to plant rice. Fu Bi, as prefect of the commandery, honored him at first meeting. Xiang devoted himself to moral education and enrolled the county's young men in the school. Someone slandered him to Bi, saying he was using local youths to entertain traveling guests; Bi grew suspicious. Others urged him to tear down the school to silence slander; he refused. After some time Bi spoke of this to Xiang; Xiang said, "If after examining myself I am blameless, though thousands come against me, what harm? If you harbor doubts, how can you be called one who knows me?" He lectured all the more without slackening." Bi admired him still more; when Bi became chief minister he recommended Xiang as collator of the Secret Pavilion and judicial commissioner of the Sacrificial Bureau. When a scripture-translating monk died, his memorial asked to ordain ten monks, and Liezi Temple sought to ordain one Daoist every three years—all were denied.

知常州，運渠橫遏震澤，積水不得北入江，為常、蘇二州病。襄度渠之丈尺與民田步畝，定其數，授以浚法。未幾，遂削望亭古堰，水不復積。入為開封府推官、鹽鐵判官。神宗立，奉使契丹，以設席小異於常，不即坐，契丹移檄疆吏，坐出知明州。明年，同修起居注，知諫院，改侍御史知雜事。論青苗法不便，曰：「臣觀制置司所議，莫非引經以為言，而其實則稱貸以取利，事體卑削，貽中外譏笑。是特管夷吾、商鞅之術，非聖世所宜行。望貶斥王安石、呂惠卿以謝天下。」又乞罷韓絳政府，以杜大臣爭利而進者，且言韓維不當為中丞，劉述、范純仁等無罪，宜復官。皆不聽，而召試知制誥。襄以言不行，辭不肯試，願補外。安石欲以為陝西轉運使，帝惜其去，留修起居注。襄懇辭，手詔諭之，乃就職。逾年，為知制誥，安石又欲出之，帝不許。尋直學士院，安石益忌之，擿其書詔小失，出知陳州，徙杭州，以樞密直學士知通進銀臺司兼侍讀，判尚書都省。卒，年六十四，贈給事中。

As prefect of Changzhou, transport canals dammed Lake Tai so that pooled water could not flow north into the river, harming Chang and Su prefectures. Xiang measured the canal against the people's fields, fixed quotas, and taught them how to dredge. Before long he removed the ancient dyke at Wangting, and the water no longer backed up. He entered the capital as investigating officer of Kaifeng Prefecture and salt and iron judicial commissioner. When Shenzong ascended the throne, Xiang was sent as envoy to the Khitan; because the seating differed slightly from custom he would not sit at once; the Khitan blamed the border officials, and he was demoted to prefect of Mingzhou. The next year he was made co-compiler of the Veritable Records, head of the Remonstrance Bureau, and supervising censor with concurrent duties. He criticized the Green Sprouts law, saying, "What the Fiscal Affairs Commission proposes always cites the classics, yet in substance it is lending at interest for profit—the matter is base and invites ridicule at home and abroad. This is the art of Guan Zhong and Lord Shang—not what a sage age should practice. He asked that Wang Anshi and Lü Huiqing be demoted to console the realm." He also asked to remove Han Jiang from government to block ministers who advance through profit-seeking, said Han Wei should not be censor-in-chief, and that Liu Shu, Fan Chunren, and others were innocent and should be restored. None of this was heeded; instead he was summoned to examination for draft edict compiler. Because his counsel had no effect, Xiang declined the examination and asked for an outside post. Anshi wished to make him Shaanxi transport commissioner; the Emperor regretted losing him and kept him to compile the Veritable Records. Xiang earnestly declined; the Emperor wrote a personal edict instructing him, and only then did he accept. After a year he became draft edict compiler; Anshi again wished to send him out, but the Emperor refused. Before long he was made academy academician; Anshi hated him more, seized on a small error in his edict, and sent him to Chenzhou, then Hangzhou, then as Privy Council academician he headed the Court of Imperial Entertainments and served as attendant reader with concurrent duty over the Ministry of State Affairs. He died at sixty-four and was posthumously made Vice Director of the Secretariat.

襄蒞官所至，必務興學校。平居存心以講求民間利病為急。既亡，友人劉尋視其篋，得手書累數十幅，盈紙細書，大抵皆民事也。在經筵時，神宗顧之甚厚，嘗訪人材之可用者。襄以司馬光、韓維、呂公著、蘇頌、范純仁、蘇軾至於鄭俠三十三人對，謂光、維、公著皆股肱心膂之臣，不當久外；謂俠愚直敢言，發於忠義，投竄瘴癘，朝不謀夕，願使得生還。帝不能盡用。

Wherever Xiang held office he devoted himself to establishing schools. In daily life he chiefly studied the hardships and benefits of the common people. After his death his friend Liu searched his chest and found dozens of sheets in his own hand, covered with fine script—nearly all concerned the people's welfare. When he served on the Classics Mat, Shenzong regarded him highly and once asked which talented men might be employed. Xiang named thirty-three men from Sima Guang, Han Wei, Lü Gongzhu, Su Song, Fan Chunren, and Su Shi down to Zheng Xia, saying Guang, Wei, and Gongzhu were heart-and-soul ministers who should not long remain outside court; as for Xia, he was simple, upright, and outspoken from loyalty, cast into the southern wastes with the court not planning past tomorrow—he hoped Xia might be allowed to return alive. The Emperor could not employ them all.

錢公輔

Qian Gongfu

錢公輔，字君倚，常州武進人。少從胡翼之學，有名吳中。第進士甲科。通判越州，為集賢校理、同判吏部南曹。歷開封府推官、戶部判官、知明州。衙前法以三等差次勞勤，應格者聽指酒場以自補，富者足欲而貧得日困，充募益鮮；額有不足，至役鄉民，破產不供費。公輔取酒場官鬻之，分輕重以給役者，不復調民。同修起居注，進知制誥。

Qian Gongfu, whose courtesy name was Junyi, came from Wujin in Changzhou. In youth he studied under Hu Yizhi and was renowned in the Wu region. He placed in the top grade of the jinshi examination. He was vice-prefect of Yuezhou, collator of the Imperial Archives, and concurrent judicial commissioner of the Southern Bureau of the Ministry of Personnel. He served successively as investigating officer of Kaifeng Prefecture, Ministry of Revenue judicial commissioner, and prefect of Mingzhou. The yamen-runner law graded labor in three ranks; those who qualified could assign themselves wine-fields for support—the rich had enough while the poor grew poorer, and willing runners grew scarce; when quotas fell short they conscripted villagers, who went bankrupt and could not meet the cost. Gongfu made the wine-fields government-operated and allocated duties by weight to supply the runners, no longer levying on the people. He was co-compiler of the Veritable Records and advanced to draft edict compiler.

神宗立，拜天章閣待制、知鄧州，復知制誥。入見，帝勞苦之，使錄《十議》以進，命知諫院。嘗至中書白事，富弼謂曰：「上求治如饑渴，正賴君輩同心以濟。」公輔曰：「朝廷所為是，天下誰敢不同！所為非，公輔欲同之，不可得已。」

When Shenzong ascended the throne, he was appointed Hanlin attendant of the Hall of Heavenly Patterns and prefect of Dengzhou, then again draft edict compiler. When he came before the throne, the emperor commiserated with his labors, ordered him to copy out the Ten Discourses for submission, and made him head of the Remonstrance Bureau. Once when he came to the Central Secretariat on business, Fu Bi told him, "The emperor thirsts for good government; we are counting on men like you to pull together and make it happen." Gongfu replied, "When the court is right, who in the realm would dare dissent! When it is wrong, even if I wanted to go along, I could not."

王安石雅與之善，既得志，排異己者，出滕甫鄆州，公輔數於帝前言甫不當去。薛向更鹽法，安石主其議，而公輔謂向當黜，遂拂安石意，罷諫職，旋出知江寧府。明年，帝欲召還，安石言其助小人為異議，不宜在左右，但徙揚州。以病乞越，改提舉崇福觀，卒，年五十二。

Wang Anshi had always been close to him, but once Anshi got his way and drove out dissenters—sending Teng Fu to Yunzhou—Gongfu repeatedly told the emperor that Fu ought not to have been dismissed. When Xue Xiang overhauled the salt law, Anshi backed him, but Gongfu argued that Xue should be removed. That defied Anshi's wishes; Gongfu lost his remonstrance post and was soon sent out as prefect of Jiangning. The next year the emperor wanted him back, but Anshi said he helped petty men stir up opposition and should not stay at court; he was only moved to Yangzhou. He pleaded illness and asked to be excused, was reassigned as superintendent of the Chongfu Abbey, and died at fifty-two.

孫洙，字臣源，廣陵人。羈丱能文，未冠擢進士。包拯、歐陽修、吳奎舉應制科，進策五十篇，指陳政體，明白剴切。韓琦讀之，太息曰：「慟哭流涕，極論天下事，今之賈誼也。」再遷集賢校理、知太常禮院。

Sun Zhu, courtesy name Chenyuan, was from Guangling. Even as a child he could write; before he came of age he passed the jinshi examination. Bao Zheng, Ouyang Xiu, and Wu Kui recommended him for the special imperial examination; he submitted fifty policy essays on the body politic, lucid and cutting. Han Qi read them and sighed, "Weeping and wailing, he exhaustively discusses the affairs of the realm—today's Jia Yi." He was promoted again to collator of the Imperial Archives and director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.

治平中求言，以洙應詔疏時弊要務十七事，後多施行，兼史館檢討、同知諫院，乞增諫員以廣言路。凡有章奏，輒焚其稿，雖親子弟不得聞。王安石主新法，多逐諫官御史，洙知不可，而鬱鬱不能有所言，但力求補外，得知海州。免役法行，常平使者欲加斂緡錢，以取贏為功，洙力爭之。方春旱，發運使調民浚漕渠以通鹽舸，洙持之不下，三上奏乞止其役。旱蝗為害，致禱於朐山，撤奠，大雨，蝗赴海死。

In the Zhiping era, when the throne called for counsel, Zhu answered with a memorial on seventeen pressing abuses of the day, many of which were later adopted. He also served as archive collator and associate head of the Remonstrance Bureau, and asked that remonstrance posts be increased to widen the path of criticism. Whenever he drafted a memorial he burned the manuscript; not even his own sons were allowed to see it. Wang Anshi pushed the new laws and purged many remonstrance officials and censors. Zhu knew protest was useless, yet brooded in silence and could say nothing; he only pressed for an outside appointment and became prefect of Haizhou. When the exemption-from-corvée law took effect, the Ever-Normal Granary commissioner wanted to levy extra cash and treat surplus as achievement; Zhu fought it hard. During a spring drought the transport commissioner drafted people to dredge the canal for salt barges. Zhu held the order back and three times memorialized to stop the work. When drought and locusts ravaged the land, he prayed on Mount Xiong. After the offerings were withdrawn, heavy rain fell and the locusts died in the sea.

尋幹當三班院。三班員過萬數，功罪籍不明，前後牴牾，吏左右出入，公為欺奸。洙革其甚者八事，定為令。同修起居注，進知制誥。先是，百官遷敘，用一定之詞，洙建言：「群臣進秩，事理各異，而同用一詞；至或一門之內，數人拜恩，名體散殊，而格以一律。苟從簡便，非所以暢王言、重命令也。」詔自今封贈蔭補，每大禮一易，他皆隨等撰定。

He was soon put in charge of the Three-Class Bureau. Its membership exceeded ten thousand, yet merit and fault records were a muddle, old and new entries conflicted, and clerks controlled every in and out, openly cheating the office. Zhu corrected the eight worst abuses and codified them as law. He served as co-compiler of the Veritable Records and was promoted to draft edict compiler. Before this, promotions of officials all used one fixed formula. Zhu proposed, "When ministers rise in rank, the circumstances differ, yet one phrase serves for all; sometimes even within one family several people receive honors at once, their titles and forms all different, yet all are squeezed into the same mold. To take the easy way is not how to give full voice to the sovereign's words or lend dignity to his commands." An edict followed: henceforth, for enfeoffment, patronage appointment, and supplementary rank, each grand ceremony would bring one revision of the wording; other cases would be drafted according to rank.

元豐初，兼直學士院。澶州河平，作靈津廟，詔洙為之碑，神宗獎其文。擢翰林學士，才逾月，得疾。時參知政事闕，帝將用之，數遣中使、尚醫勞問。入朝期日，洙小愈，在家習肄拜跽，僨不能興，於是竟卒，年四十九。帝臨朝嗟惜，常賻外賜錢五十萬。

At the start of the Yuanyou era he also served in the Hanlin Academy Direct Office. When the river at Chanyang was brought to peace, the Lingjin Temple was built. Zhu was ordered to write its stele inscription, and Shenzong praised the text. He was promoted to Hanlin academician, but fell ill barely a month later. With the vice grand councilor post empty, the emperor meant to use him and repeatedly sent palace envoys and court physicians to ask after his health. On the day he was to enter court he had improved slightly and was at home practicing kneeling and bowing when he collapsed and could not get up. He died at forty-nine. The emperor grieved at court and, beyond the usual funeral gift, gave fifty thousand cash.

洙博聞強識，明練典故，道古今事甚有條理。出語皆成章，雖對親狎者，未嘗發一鄙語。文詞典麗，有西漢之風。士大夫共以丞輔期之，不幸早世，一時憫傷焉。

Zhu was widely read and had a formidable memory. He knew precedent inside out and spoke of past and present with clear order. Everything he said came out fully formed; even with close friends he never let slip a coarse word. His writing was classical and fine, with the tone of Western Han. Scholars and officials alike expected him for the highest office, but he died young, and the age mourned him.

豐稷，字相之，明州鄞人。登第，為穀城令，以廉明稱。從安燾使高麗，海中大風，檣折，舟幾覆，眾惶擾莫知所為，稷獨神色自若。燾歎曰：「豐君未易量也。」知封丘縣，神宗召對，問：「卿昔在海中遭風波，何以不畏？」對曰：「巨浸連天，風濤固其常耳，憑仗威靈，尚何畏！」帝悅，擢監察御史。治參知政事章惇請託事，無所移撓，出惇陳州。徒著作佐郎、吏部員外郎，提點利州、成都路刑獄。

Feng Ji, courtesy name Xiangzhi, was from Yin in Mingzhou. After passing the examinations he was magistrate of Gucheng, known for integrity and clear judgment. On a mission to Goryeo with An Yan, a gale at sea snapped the mast and the vessel nearly overturned. The company panicked, but Ji alone kept his composure. Yan sighed, "Master Feng is not a man one can easily take the measure of." As magistrate of Fengqiu he was summoned for audience. Shenzong asked, "When you met wind and waves at sea, why were you not afraid?" He answered, "The great sea reaches to the sky; wind and waves are its ordinary way. With Your Majesty's majesty to rely on, what is there to fear!" The emperor was pleased and promoted him to investigating censor. He prosecuted Vice Grand Councilor Zhang Dun for using influence and would not bend; Dun was sent out to Chenzhou. He was moved to assistant editorial director and vice minister of Personnel, then intendant of criminal justice for Lizhou and the Chengdu circuit.

入為殿中侍御史。上疏哲宗曰：「陛下明足以察萬事之統，而不可用其明；智足以應變曲當，而不可用其智。順考古道，二帝所以聖；儀刑文王，成王所以賢。願以《洪範》為元龜，祖訓為寶鑒，一動一言，思所以為則於四海，為法於千載，則教化行，習俗美，而中國安矣。」劉奉世冊立夏國嗣子乾順，而乾順來賀坤成節，奉世遽出境，稷劾之，奉世以贖論，遷右司諫。揚、荊二王為天子叔父，尊寵莫並，密令蜀道織錦茵，稷於正衙論曰：「二聖以儉先天下，而宗王僭侈，官吏奉承，皆宜糾正。」既退，御史趙㞦謂曰：「聞君言，使幾汗流浹背。」改國子司業、起居舍人，歷太常少卿、國子祭酒。車駕幸太學，命講《書·無逸篇》，賜四品服，除刑部侍郎兼侍講。元祐八年春，多雪，稷言：「今嘉祥未臻，沴氣交作，豈應天之實未充，事天之禮未備，畏天之誠未孚歟？宮掖之臣，有關預政事，如天聖之羅崇勳、江德明，治平之任守忠者歟？願陛下昭聖德，祗天戒，總正萬事，以消災祥。」帝親政，召內侍居外者樂士宣等數人。稷言：「陛下初親萬機，未聞登進忠良，而首召近幸，恐上累大德。」

He returned to court as palace censor. He memorialized to Emperor Zhezong: "Your Majesty is clear enough to grasp the thread running through ten thousand affairs, yet that clarity is not used; your wisdom is enough to meet every change aptly, yet that wisdom is not used. By reverently studying the ancient Way, the Two Emperors became sage; by taking King Wen as model, King Cheng became worthy. I pray Your Majesty take the Hong Fan as your great oracle and ancestral instruction as your bright mirror, so that every move and every word is weighed as a standard for the four seas and a model for a thousand years. Then teaching will spread, custom will be refined, and the realm will be secure. Liu Fengshi had been sent to invest the Xixia heir Qianshun, yet when Qianshun came to congratulate the Kuncheng festival Fengshi abruptly left the border. Ji impeached him; Fengshi was punished by fine, and Ji was promoted to supervising censor of the Right Bureau. The Prince of Yang and Prince of Jing, the emperor's uncles, enjoyed unmatched favor; they secretly ordered brocade carpets woven on the Shu route. Ji argued in the main hall, "The two sage emperors led the realm in thrift, yet imperial princes grow lavish and officials flatter them—all this should be corrected." After he withdrew, Censor Zhao Fang told him, "Hearing you speak nearly made the sweat run down my back." He was moved to vice director of the Directorate of Education and diarist, then successively vice director of the Court of Sacrificial Worship and director of the Directorate of Education. When the emperor visited the Imperial Academy, Ji was ordered to lecture on the "Against Luxurious Ease" chapter of the Documents. He was granted fourth-rank robes and made vice minister of Justice with concurrent lecturing duties. In spring of the eighth year of Yuanyou snow fell often. Ji said, "Auspicious omens have not yet appeared and baleful forces are at work—is the substance of answering Heaven insufficient, the rites of serving Heaven incomplete, or reverence for Heaven not yet sincere? Are there palace attendants meddling in government, as Luo Chongxun and Jiang Deming did in the Tiansheng era, or Ren Shouzhong in the Zhiping era? I pray Your Majesty show forth sage virtue, heed Heaven's warnings, and set all affairs straight to dispel these omens." When the emperor personally took the reins, he recalled several eunuchs who had been posted outside, among them Le Shixuan. Ji said, "Your Majesty has only just begun to handle the myriad affairs of state. I have not yet heard of advancing the loyal and worthy, yet the first summons go to close favorites. I fear this will burden your great virtue."

以集賢院學士知潁州、江寧府，拜吏部侍郎，又出知河南府，加龍圖閣待制。章惇欲困以道路，連歲亟徙六州。徽宗立，以左諫議大夫召，道除御史中丞，入對，與蔡京遇，京越班揖曰：「天子自外服召公中執法，今日必有高論。」稷正色答曰：「行自知之。」是日，論京奸狀，既而陳瓘、江公望皆言之，未能動。稷語陳師錫等曰：「京在朝，吾屬何面目居此？」擊之不已，京遂去翰林。又乞辨宣仁誣謗之禍，且言：「史臣以王安石《日錄》亂《神宗實錄》，今方修《哲宗實錄》，願申飭之。」時宦官漸盛，稷懷《唐書·仇士良傳》讀於帝前，讀數行，帝曰：「已諭。」稷為若不聞者，讀畢乃止。

As academician of the Academy of Scholarly Worthies he governed Yingzhou and Jiangning, was made vice minister of Personnel, then sent out again as prefect of Henan and given the post of Hanlin attendant-in-waiting of the Dragon Diagram Hall. Zhang Dun meant to wear him down with travel and moved him through six prefectures in as many years. When Huizong came to the throne, Ji was summoned as left remonstrance grandee and, on the road, appointed chief investigating censor. Entering audience he met Cai Jing, who stepped forward out of rank and bowed, "His Majesty recalled you from the provinces to enforce the law at court—today there must be weighty counsel." Ji answered sternly, "You will know when you see it." That day he denounced Jing's wrongdoing. Later Chen Guan and Jiang Gongwang spoke as well, but could not move him. Ji told Chen Shixi and the others, "With Jing in court, what face do we have sitting here?" He kept pressing the attack without letup, and Jing finally left the Hanlin. He also asked that the slander against Empress Dowager Xuanren be cleared, saying, "Historians used Wang Anshi's Daily Records to corrupt the Veritable Records of Shenzong. Now the Veritable Records of Zhezong is being compiled—I pray Your Majesty give strict orders." As eunuchs gradually grew stronger, Ji brought the Tang History biography of Qiu Shiliang and read it before the emperor. After a few lines the emperor said, "I understand." Ji behaved as if he had not heard and read on until he finished.

曾布得助嬖昵，將拜相，稷約其僚共論之。俄轉工部尚書兼侍讀，布遂相。稷謝表有佞臣之語，帝問為誰，對曰：「曾布也。陛下斥之外郡，則天下事定矣。」改禮部。論宋用臣不當賜美諡，不為書敕。哲宗升祔，議功臣配享，稷以為當用司馬光、呂公著。或謂二人嘗得罪，不可用。稷曰：「止論其有功於時爾，如唐五王豈非得罪於中宗，何嫌於配享？」又言：「陛下以『建中靖國』紀元，臣謂尊賢納諫，舍己從人，是謂『建中』；不作奇技淫巧，毋使近習招權，是謂『靖國』。以副體元謹始之義。」禁內織錦緣宮簾為地衣，稷言：「仁宗衾褥用黃絁，服御用縑繒，宜守家法。」詔罷之。

Zeng Bu, backed by favorites, was about to become chief councillor. Ji arranged with his colleagues to denounce this together. Before long he was moved to minister of Works with concurrent lecturing duties, and Bu became chief councillor. Ji's thank-you memorial spoke of sycophants. The emperor asked whom he meant. He answered, "Zeng Bu. If Your Majesty sends him out to a distant prefecture, affairs under Heaven will be settled." He was transferred to the Ministry of Rites. He argued that Song Yongchen should not receive a flattering posthumous title and refused to draft the edict. When Zhezong was enshrined and meritorious ministers were debated for paired sacrifice in the ancestral temple, Ji held that Sima Guang and Lü Gongzhu should be chosen. Some said both had once given offense and could not be used. Ji said, "One looks only at their service to the age. In Tang, did not the Five Princes offend Emperor Zhongzong—what bar is there to paired sacrifice?" He also said, "Your Majesty has taken Jianzhong Jingguo as the era name. I hold that honoring the worthy and heeding remonstrance, setting aside the self to follow others—that is Jianzhong; not making odd contrivances and extravagant crafts, not letting close attendants seize power—that is Jingguo. That would fulfill the meaning of opening an era with reverent care. Inside the palace, brocade from palace curtains was woven into floor coverings. Ji said, "Emperor Renzong's bedding used yellow gauze and imperial dress used plain silk and cotton. Your Majesty should keep to the household law." An edict ordered the practice halted.

稷盡言守正，帝待之厚，將處之尚書左丞，而積忤貴近，不得留，竟以樞密直學士守越。蔡京得政，修故怨，貶海州團練副使、道州別駕，安置台州。除名徙建州，稍復朝請郎。卒，年七十五。建炎中，追復學士，諡曰清敏。

Ji spoke uprightly to the end. The emperor treated him generously and meant to make him left vice grand councilor, but because he repeatedly offended powerful favorites he could not stay and was finally made Hanlin attendant-in-waiting and prefect of Yue. When Cai Jing took power he settled old scores, demoting Ji to military training vice commissioner of Haizhou and prefectural administrator of Daozhou, with residence assigned at Taizhou. He was struck from the rolls and exiled to Jianzhou, later restored in part to court-greeting gentleman. He died at seventy-five. During the Jianyan era his Hanlin rank was posthumously restored and he was given the posthumous title Qingmin.

初，文彥博嘗品稷為人似趙抃，及賜諡，皆以「清」得名。稷三任言責，每草疏，必密室，子弟亦不得見。退多焚稿，未嘗以時政語人。所薦士如張庭堅、馬涓、陳瓘、陳師錫、鄒浩、蔡肇，皆知名當世雲。

Earlier Wen Yanbo had judged Ji's character akin to Zhao Bian's, and when the posthumous title was granted both men were honored with Qing in the name. Ji three times held remonstrance office. Whenever he drafted a memorial he shut himself in a private room—even sons and younger brothers were not allowed to see. Afterward he burned most drafts and never discussed current affairs with others. Men he recommended—Zhang Tingjian, Ma Juan, Chen Guan, Chen Shixi, Zou Hao, Cai Zhao—were all celebrated in their day.

論曰：熙寧行新法，輕進少年爭趨競進，老成知務者逡巡引退，何其見幾之明耶？獬議論剴切，精練民事，青苗法行，獬獨幡然求去，至窘迫不堪，弗恤也。襄奮起海隅，屢折不變，學者卒從而化，乃心民事，死猶不已。公輔以忤安石見黜，洙為諫官不能言，至免役取贏，洙方力爭，所謂不揣其本者歟！稷劾蔡京，論司馬光、呂公著當配享廟庭，蓋亦名侍從也。

The commentary says: In the Xining era, when the new laws were launched, young men scrambled to advance while seasoned men who knew better hung back and withdrew—how sharp their foresight! Xie's discourse was cutting and he was skilled in the people's affairs. When the Green Sprouts law took effect, Xie alone turned away and sought to leave, even when pressed to the breaking point, without wavering. Xiang rose from the seacoast, was struck down again and again yet never changed; scholars in the end followed and were transformed. He gave his heart to the people's affairs, and even in death did not stop. Gongfu was dismissed for crossing Anshi; Zhu, though a remonstrance official, could not speak—only when the exemption law sought surplus did he fight back. Is this not failing to strike at the root? Ji impeached Cai Jing and argued that Sima Guang and Lü Gongzhu should share sacrifice in the temple hall—he too was a famed attendant-in-waiting.

呂誨，字獻可，開封人。祖端，相太宗、真宗。誨性純厚，家居力學，不妄與人交。進士登第，由屯田員外郎為殿中侍御史。時廷臣多上章訐人罪，誨言：「臺諫官許風聞言事，蓋欲廣采納以補闕政。苟非職分，是為侵官。今乃詆斥平生，暴揚曖昧，刻薄之態浸以成風，請下詔懲革。」樞密副使程戡結貴幸，致位政地，誨疏其過，以宣徽使判延州。復上言：「戡以非才罷，不宜更委邊任；宣徽使地高位重，非戡所當得也。」兗國公主薄其夫，夜開禁門入訴。誨請並劾閽吏，且治主第宦者罪，悉逐之。御藥供奉官四人遙領團練使，御前忠佐當汰復留，誨劾樞密使宋庠陰求援助，徇私紊法。詔罷庠而用陳升之為副使，誨又論之。升之既去，誨亦出知江州，時嘉祐六年也。

Lü Hui, whose courtesy name was Xianké, came from Kaifeng. His grandfather Duan had served as chief minister under Emperors Taizong and Zhenzong. By nature Hui was honest and steadfast; he devoted himself to study at home and kept company only with care. After passing the jinshi examination, he rose from vice director of the Directorate of Tuntian to palace attendant censor. At the time many officials were submitting memorials accusing their colleagues of crimes. Hui said, "Censorial and remonstrance officials are allowed to report matters on hearsay precisely so the throne may gather more counsel and remedy shortcomings in governance. When it falls outside one's proper duties, that is encroachment on another office. Today officials vilify men's whole lives and parade ambiguous affairs into the open; such harshness has gradually become the prevailing habit. I ask that an edict be issued to punish and reform it." The deputy commissioner of military affairs Cheng Kan had curried favor with the powerful to reach the seat of government. Hui memorialized his faults, and Cheng was reassigned as military affairs commissioner administering Yanzhou. He submitted again: "Since Kan was dismissed for lack of talent, he ought not be entrusted again with frontier duties; the post of military affairs commissioner is high in rank and grave in responsibility—not one Cheng deserved." The Princess of Yanguo treated her husband with contempt and, at night, had the forbidden gate opened to enter the palace and plead her case. Hui asked that the gatekeepers be impeached as well, and that the eunuchs of the princess's residence be punished; all were expelled. Four imperial pharmacy supply officials held regimental commissioner titles in absentia; palace loyal assistants who ought to have been culled were retained instead. Hui impeached military affairs commissioner Song Qi for secretly soliciting support, showing favoritism and disturbing the law. An edict removed Qi and made Chen Shengzhi deputy commissioner; Hui argued against the appointment again. After Shengzhi left office, Hui was also sent out as prefect of Jiangzhou, in the sixth year of the Jiayou era.

上疏請蚤建皇嗣，曰：「竊聞中外臣僚，以聖嗣未立，屢有密疏請擇宗人。唯陛下思忠言，奮獨斷，以遏未然之亂。又聞太史奏，彗躔心宿，請備西北。按《天文志》，心為天王正位，前星為太子，直則失勢，明則見祥。今既直且暗，而妖彗乘之，臣恐咎證不獨在西北也。自夏及秋，雨淫地震，陰盛之沴，固有冥符。近者宗室之中，訛言事露，流傳四方，人心駭惑，窺覦之志，可不防其漸哉！願為社稷宗廟計，審擇親賢，稽合天意，宸謀已定，當使天下共知。萬一有奸臣附會其間，陽為忠實，以緩上心，此為患最大，不可不察也。」仁宗以誨章付中書韓琦，由此定議。

He submitted a memorial urging that an imperial heir be established without delay, saying, "I hear that officials inside and outside the court, because no imperial heir has yet been named, have repeatedly submitted secret memorials asking that a member of the imperial clan be chosen. I only ask that Your Majesty heed loyal counsel, act with resolute independent judgment, and check disorder before it arises. I have also heard the grand astrologer report that a comet had crossed the Heart constellation and ask that defenses in the northwest be strengthened. According to the Treatise on Astronomy, the Heart is the proper seat of the Heavenly King and the front star represents the crown prince—when upright it signifies loss of power; when bright it signals good omen. Now it stands upright yet dim, with an ominous comet upon it—I fear the portents of blame reach beyond the northwest alone. From summer through autumn there have been excessive rains and earthquakes; calamities born of yin in excess surely carry their signs in the unseen world. Recently within the imperial clan scandalous rumors have come to light and spread in every direction; people are alarmed and unsettled, and covetous designs are stirring—surely these must be checked at the first sign! For the sake of the altars of state and the ancestral temple, I ask that a worthy kinsman be chosen with care, that the choice accord with Heaven's intent, and that once Your Majesty's decision is firm it be made known to all under Heaven. If by any chance crafty ministers should attach themselves to the affair, posing as loyal and sincere while lulling Your Majesty's resolve—that would be the gravest danger and must not go unexamined." Emperor Renzong handed Hui's memorial to Chief Minister Han Qi, and the decision was settled accordingly.

召為侍御史，改同知諫院。英宗不豫，誨請皇太后日命大臣一員，與淮陽王視進藥餌。都知任守忠用事久，帝之立非守忠意，數間諜東朝，播為惡言，內外洶懼。誨上兩宮書，開陳大義，詞旨深切，多人所難言者。帝疾小愈，屢言乞親萬幾。太后歸政，誨言於帝曰：「后輔佐先帝歷年，閱天下事多矣。事之大者，宜關白諮訪然後行，示弗敢專。」遂論守忠平生罪惡，並其黨史昭錫竄之南方。內臣王昭明等為陝西四路鈐轄，專主蕃部。誨言：「自唐以來，舉兵不利，未有不自監軍者。今走馬承受官品至卑，一路已不勝其害，況鈐轄乎？」卒罷之。

He was recalled as attendant censor and made associate director of the remonstrance bureau. When Emperor Yingzong fell ill, Hui asked that the empress dowager daily appoint one senior minister to join the Prince of Huaiyang in supervising the administration of medicine. Palace intendant Ren Shouzhong had long held power; the emperor's accession had not been Shouzhong's wish, and he repeatedly sent spies to the eastern palace spreading slander—in and out of court were in turmoil and fear. Hui submitted letters to both palaces setting forth the fundamental principles in language deep and earnest—much that others found difficult to say. When the emperor's illness eased somewhat, he repeatedly asked to resume personal governance. When the empress dowager returned power to the throne, Hui said to the emperor, "The empress dowager assisted the late emperor for many years and has seen far more of the realm's affairs than you. On great matters you ought to inform and consult her before acting, showing that you dare not decide alone." He then memorialized against Shouzhong's lifelong crimes and, together with his ally Shi Zhaoxi, had them banished to the south. The inner officials Wang Zhaoming and others served as frontier commissioners on the four Shaanxi routes, charged exclusively with tribal affairs. Hui said, "Since Tang times, whenever military campaigns have gone badly, the trouble has never failed to begin with military supervisors. Today the dispatch-bearers on horseback are of the lowest rank—one circuit already cannot endure the harm they do; how much less frontier commissioners?" In the end the posts were abolished.

治平二年，遷兵部員外郎，兼侍御史知雜事。上言：「臺諫者，人主之耳目，期補益聰明，以防壅蔽。舊三院御史，常有二十員，而後益衰減，蓋執政者不欲主上聞中外之闕失。今臺闕中丞，御史五員，惟三人在職，封章十上，報聞者八九。諫官二人，一他遷，一出使，言路壅塞，未有如今日之甚者。竊為陛下羞之。」帝覽奏，即命邵必知諫院。

In the second year of Zhiping he was promoted to vice director of the ministry of war and concurrently made chief attendant censor. He submitted a memorial: "The censorate and remonstrance officials serve as the sovereign's eyes and ears, meant to sharpen his judgment and guard against obstruction and concealment. Formerly the three censorial bureaus regularly had twenty officers, but their number had steadily dwindled, for those in power did not wish the sovereign to hear of shortcomings within and beyond the court. The censorate now lacked its vice-director; of five censor posts only three were actually serving. Of ten sealed memorials submitted, eight or nine received mere acknowledgment. Of the two remonstrance officers, one had transferred elsewhere and one had been sent on diplomatic missions—the channels of remonstrance were blocked as never in memory. I am privately ashamed for Your Majesty." The emperor read the memorial and immediately appointed Shao Bi director of the remonstrance bureau.

於是濮議起，侍從請稱王為皇伯，中書不以為然，誨引義固爭。會秋大水，誨言：「陛下有過舉而災沴遽作，惟濮王一事失中，此簡宗廟之罰也。」郊廟禮畢，復申前議，七上章，不聽；乞解臺職，亦不聽。遂劾宰相韓琦不忠五罪，曰：「昭陵之土未乾，遽欲追崇濮王，使陛下厚所生而薄所繼，隆小宗而絕大宗。言者論辨累月，琦猶遂非，不為改正，中外憤鬱，萬口一詞。願黜居外藩，以慰士論。」又與御史范純仁、呂大防共劾歐陽修「首開邪議，以枉道說人主，以近利負先帝，陷陛下於過舉。」皆不報。已而詔濮王稱親，誨等知言不用，即上還告敕，居家待罪，且言與輔臣勢難兩立。帝以問執政，修曰：「御史以為理難並立，若臣等有罪，當留御史。」帝猶豫久之，命出御史，既而曰：「不宜責之太重。」乃下遷誨工部員外郎、知蘄州。

Then arose the controversy over titles for Prince Pu; the attendant officials proposed calling the prince Imperial Uncle, the secretariat disagreed, and Hui cited principle and argued stubbornly. When great autumn floods struck, Hui said, "Your Majesty's missteps have brought calamity swiftly upon us; only in the matter of Prince Pu have you missed the mark—this is punishment for slighting the ancestral temple." After the suburban and temple rites were complete, he pressed his earlier argument again; he submitted seven memorials without being heeded; he asked to be relieved of his censorial post, and this too was denied. He then impeached Chief Minister Han Qi on five counts of disloyalty, saying, "The earth over Zhaoling is not yet dry, yet you hasten to posthumously honor Prince Pu, causing Your Majesty to favor your biological father and slight your adopted one—to exalt the lesser line and extinguish the greater. Remonstrators debated for months, yet Qi still clung to his error and refused to correct it—throughout the realm people were aggrieved, and all spoke with one voice. I ask that he be demoted to a post in the outer provinces to satisfy public opinion among the scholar-officials." Together with censors Fan Chunren and Lü Dafang he jointly impeached Ouyang Xiu for "having first opened heterodox opinion, using perverse doctrine to persuade the sovereign, trading immediate advantage against the late emperor's intent, and trapping Your Majesty in a wrongful course." None received response. Before long an edict styled Prince Pu as kin; knowing their remonstrance had failed, Hui and the others returned their commissions, remained at home awaiting punishment, and declared that they could not coexist with the chief ministers. The emperor consulted the chief ministers; Ouyang Xiu said, "The censors hold that coexistence is impossible—if we ministers are in the wrong, the censors ought to remain." The emperor hesitated at length, then ordered the censors dismissed; afterward he said, "They ought not be punished too harshly." Hui was demoted to vice director of the ministry of works and appointed prefect of Qizhou.

神宗立，徙晉州，加集賢殿修撰、知河中府。召為鹽鐵副使，擢天章閣待制，復知諫院，拜御史中丞。初，中旨下京東買金數萬兩，又令廣東市真珠，傳云將備宮中十閣用度。誨言：「陛下春秋富盛，然聰明睿知，以天下為心，必不留神於此，願亟罷之。」

When Emperor Shenzong acceded, Hui was transferred to Jinzhou, made academic editor of the Hall for Gathering Worthies, and appointed prefect of Hezhong Prefecture. He was recalled as vice commissioner of the salt and iron commission, promoted to academician in waiting at the Hall of Heavenly Manifestation, restored as director of the remonstrance bureau, and appointed censor-in-chief. At first secret imperial orders went out to buy tens of thousands of taels of gold in Jingdong and pearls in Guangdong; rumor had it the purchases were to supply the ten palace pavilions. Hui said, "Your Majesty is in the prime of life, keen and wise, with the realm at heart—you surely cannot mean to fix your attention on such things. I ask that the orders be revoked at once."

王安石執政，時多謂得人。誨言其不通時事，大用之，則非所宜。著作佐郎章辟光上言，岐王顥宜遷居外邸，皇太后怒，帝令治其離間之罪。安石謂無罪，誨請下辟光吏，不從，遂上疏劾安石曰：「大奸似忠，大佞似信，安石外示樸野，中藏巧詐，陛下悅其才辨而委任之。安石初無遠略，惟務改作立異，罔上欺下，文言飾非，誤天下蒼生，必斯人也。如久居廟堂，必無安靜之理。辟光之謀，本安石及呂惠卿所導。辟光揚言：『朝廷若深罪我，我終不置此二人。』故力加營救。願察於隱伏，質之士論，然後知臣言之當否。」帝方注倚安石，還其章。誨求去，帝謂曾公亮曰：「若出誨，恐安石不自安。」安石曰：「臣以身許國，陛下處之有義，臣何敢以形跡自嫌，苟為去就。」乃出誨知鄧州。蘇頌當制，公亮謂之曰：「辟光治平四年上書時，安石在金陵，惠卿監杭州酒稅，安得而教之？」故制詞云：「黨小人交譖之言，肆罔上無根之語。」制出，帝以咎頌，以公亮之言告，乃知辟光治平時自言他事，非此也。誨之將有言也，司馬光勸止之，誨曰：「安石雖有時名，然好執偏見，輕信奸回，喜人佞己。聽其言則美，施於用則疏；置諸宰輔，天下必受其禍。且上新嗣位，所與朝夕圖議者，二三執政而已，苟非其人，將敗國事。此乃腹心之疾，救之惟恐不逮，顧可緩耶？」誨既斥，安石益橫。光由是服誨之先見，自以為不及也。

When Wang Anshi took power, many said the throne had found the right man. Hui said that Wang did not understand current affairs and that to employ him on a grand scale would be unwise. Editorial assistant Zhang Boguang submitted a memorial saying Prince Qi should move to an outer residence; the empress dowager was incensed, and the emperor ordered him prosecuted for sowing discord. Anshi argued he was guiltless; Hui asked that Boguang be handed over to the judicial authorities—the request was denied. He then submitted a memorial impeaching Anshi: "The greatest villainy wears the mask of loyalty; the greatest sycophancy masquerades as sincerity. Anshi appears plain and rustic without while concealing craft and deceit within. Your Majesty delights in his talent and eloquence and has entrusted him with power. Anshi had no long-term vision from the start; he cared only for novelty and change, deceiving those above and misleading those below, dressing error in elegant words—if anyone is to lead the common people of the realm astray, it will be this man. If he remains long in the seat of government, the realm will know no peace. Boguang's scheme had been instigated by Anshi and Lü Huiqing. Boguang declared publicly, "If the court punishes me severely, I will never let these two men go." Therefore Anshi exerted himself mightily to rescue him. I ask that Your Majesty probe what lies hidden and test my words against public opinion among scholar-officials—then you will know whether I speak rightly." The emperor was then placing his trust in Anshi and returned the memorial unacted upon. Hui asked to be dismissed; the emperor said to Zeng Gongliang, "If Hui is sent out, I fear Anshi will take it amiss." Anshi said, "I have pledged my life to the state; if Your Majesty acts with justice, how dare I shrink from appearances or fuss over comings and goings?" Hui was then sent out as prefect of Dengzhou. Su Song was assigned to draft the appointment edict; Gongliang said to him, "When Boguang submitted his memorial in the fourth year of Zhiping, Anshi was in Jinling and Huiqing was supervising the wine tax in Hangzhou—how could they have coached him?" Accordingly the edict read, "He indulged the slander of petty men and wantonly spread baseless words to deceive the sovereign." When the edict was issued, the emperor blamed Song; after Gongliang's account was reported to him, he learned that during the Zhiping era Boguang had spoken on his own of other matters—not this one. When Hui was about to speak out, Sima Guang urged him to hold back; Hui said, "Anshi may enjoy a reputation in his own time, but he clings to partial views, trusts wicked deceivers too readily, and delights in men who flatter him. His words sound fine in the hearing, but put into practice they prove unsound; place him among the chief ministers and the realm will surely suffer for it. Moreover the new sovereign has only just acceded; those with whom he deliberates day and night are no more than two or three chief ministers—if they are not the right men, the nation's business will be ruined. This is a disease at the heart of the state—we must treat it before it is too late; how can we afford to delay?" Once Hui was dismissed, Anshi grew all the more overbearing. Guang came thereby to admire Hui's foresight and considered himself his inferior.

明年，改知河南，命未下而寢疾矣。旋提舉崇福宮，以疾表求致仕曰：「臣本無宿疾，醫者用術乖方，妄投湯劑，率任情意，差之指下，禍延四支。一身之微，固無足恤，奈九族之託何！」蓋以身疾諭朝政也。

The following year he was reassigned as prefect of Henan, but before the order was issued he fell gravely ill. He was soon made promoter of Chongfu Palace; citing illness he submitted a request to retire, saying, "Your subject had no chronic ailment originally, but physicians applied the wrong methods and recklessly administered decoctions according to whim—a slight error at the fingertip, and calamity spread to all four limbs. One body is a small thing and scarcely worth grieving over—but what of the charge entrusted to the nine clans!" He was using his bodily illness as an allegory for the state of court governance.

誨三居言責，皆以彈奏大臣而去，一時推其鯁直。居病困，猶旦夕憤歎，以天下事為憂。既革，司馬光往省之，至則目已瞑。聞光哭，蹶然而起，張目強視曰：「天下事尚可為，君實勉之。」光曰：「更有以見屬乎？」曰：「無有。」遂卒，年五十八，海內聞者痛惜之。

Three times Hui held the duty of remonstrance and each time left office after impeaching chief ministers; for a time men praised his unyielding integrity. Even in grave illness he still grieved and sighed morning and night, bearing the affairs of the realm on his mind. When his condition turned critical, Sima Guang went to visit him; when he arrived, Hui's eyes were already shut. Hearing Guang weep, he jolted upright, opened his eyes with effort, and said, "The affairs of the realm can still be set right—Junshi, press on." Guang said, "Is there anything more you would entrust to me?" He said, "Nothing." He then died, at fifty-eight; all who heard grieved for him throughout the realm.

元祐初，呂大防、范純仁、劉摯表其忠，詔贈通議大夫，以其子由庚為太常寺太祝。自誨罷去，御史劉述、劉琦、錢顗皆以言安石被黜。

At the opening of the Yuanyou era, Lü Dafang, Fan Chunren, and Liu Zhe memorialized his loyalty; an edict posthumously granted him the title General of Promotion of Righteousness and appointed his son Yougeng senior temple warden in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. After Hui's dismissal, the censors Liu Shu, Liu Qi, and Qian Yi were all demoted for speaking against Anshi.

劉述，字孝叔，湖州人。舉進士，為御史臺主簿，知溫、耀、真三州，提點江西刑獄，累官都官員外郎，六年不奏考功課。知審官院胡宿言其沉靜有守，特遷兵部員外郎，改荊湖南北、京西路轉運使，再以覃恩遷刑部郎中。

Liu Shu, whose courtesy name was Xiaoshu, came from Huzhou. He passed the jinshi examination, served as chief clerk of the censorate, was prefect of Wen, Yao, and Zhen, served as judicial intendant for Jiangxi, rose by accumulated posts to vice director of the ministry of justice, and for six years did not submit his annual merit review. Hu Su of the Court of Review praised his calm integrity, and he was specially promoted to vice director of the ministry of war, made transport commissioner for the Jinghu and Jingxi circuits, and later advanced through a grace edict to director of the ministry of justice.

神宗立，召為侍御史知雜事，又十一年不奏課。帝知其久次，授吏部郎中。嘗言去奢當自後宮始，章辟光宜誅，高居簡宜黜，張方平不當參大政，王拱辰不當除宣徽使。皆不報。滕甫為中丞，述將論之。甫聞，先請對。甫退，述乃言甫為言官無所發明，且擿其隱慝。帝曰：「甫遇事輒爭，裨益甚多，但外人不知耳。甫談卿美不輟口，卿無言也。」

When Shenzong came to the throne, he was summoned as supervising censor in charge of mixed duties, and again for eleven years he filed no annual merit review. Knowing he had long remained at the same rank, the emperor appointed him director of the ministry of personnel. He once argued that curbing luxury should start in the inner palace, that Zhang Biguang deserved death, Gao Jujian deserved removal, that Zhang Fangping should not take part in high policy, and that Wang Gongchen should not be made commissioner of the Xuanhui Guard. None of these memorials received a reply. When Teng Fu served as censor-in-chief, Shu prepared to impeach him. Fu heard of it and first asked for a private audience with the emperor. After Fu withdrew, Shu said that Fu, as a remonstrance officer, had produced nothing of substance and went on to expose his hidden misconduct. The emperor said, "Fu contends over every matter that comes before him and does the court great good, though outsiders do not know it. Fu never stops praising your virtues—say no more."

王安石參知政事，帝下詔專令中丞舉御史，不限官高卑。趙抃爭之，弗得。述言：「舊制，舉御史官，須中行員外郎至太常博士，資任須實歷通判，又必翰林眾學士與本臺丞雜互舉。蓋眾議僉舉，則各務盡心，不容有偏蔽私愛之患。今專委中丞，則愛憎在於一己。若一一得人，猶不至生事；萬一非其人，將受權臣屬託，自立黨援，不附己者得以中傷，媒蘖誣陷，其弊不一。夫變更法度，其事不輕，而止是參知政事二人，同書劄子。且宰相富弼暫謁告，曾公亮已入朝，臺官今不闕人，何至急疾如此！願收還前旨，俟弼出，與公亮同議，然後行之。」弗聽。

When Wang Anshi became vice grand councilor, the emperor issued an edict giving the censor-in-chief sole authority to recommend censors, with no restriction on rank. Zhao Bian objected but could not prevail. Shu said, "Under the old system, censorial nominees had to hold ranks from vice director in the secretariat-chancellery track down to doctor of the grand imperial sacrifice, with actual experience as vice-prefect; and Hanlin academicians and the censorate's own vice commissioners had to recommend them in mixed rotation. When many voices joined in recommendation, each would do his utmost and there would be no room for bias or private favor. Now, if the choice rests with the censor-in-chief alone, likes and dislikes will be his alone. If every appointee were the right man, trouble might still be avoided; but if even one unworthy man were chosen, he would take orders from powerful ministers, build a faction of his own, and those who would not join him could be slandered and framed by whispered accusation—the abuses would be many. To change laws and institutions is no small matter, yet here only two vice grand councilors signed a joint memorandum. Moreover Chief Councilor Fu Bi was temporarily on leave, Zeng Gongliang had already taken his seat at court, and the censorate is not short-handed—why the sudden haste! I ask that the earlier order be withdrawn, and that after Bi returns you discuss the matter with Gongliang and only then put it into effect." His plea went unheeded.

述兼判刑部，安石爭謀殺刑名，述不以為是。及敕下，述封還中書，奏執不已。安石白帝，詔開封府推官王克臣劾述罪。於是述率御史劉琦、錢顗共上疏曰：

Shu also served as judicial commissioner of the ministry of justice. Anshi pressed his view on the legal classification of premeditated murder, and Shu rejected it. When the edict came down, Shu sealed it and sent it back to the Secretariat, memorializing again and again in defense of his position. Anshi reported to the emperor, and an edict ordered Wang Kezhen, investigating officer of the Kaifeng prefecture, to impeach Shu. Thereupon Shu, together with censors Liu Qi and Qian Yi, submitted a joint memorial saying:

「安石執政以來，未逾數月，中外人情囂然胥動。蓋以專肆胸臆，輕易憲度，無忌憚之心故也。陛下任賢求治，常若饑渴，故置安石政府。必欲致時如唐、虞，而反操管、商權詐之術，規以取媚。遂與陳升之合謀，侵三司利柄，取為己功；開局設官，用八人者分行天下，驚駭物聽，動搖人心。去年因許遵文過飾非，妄議自首按問之法，安石任一偏之見，改立新議，以害天下大公。章辟光獻岐邸遷外之說，疏間骨肉，罪不容誅。呂誨等連章論奏，乞加竄逐。陛下雖許其請，安石獨進瞽言，熒惑聖聽。陛下以為愛己，隱忍不行。先朝所立制度，自宜世世子孫，守而勿失；乃欲事事更張，廢而不用。安石自應舉歷官，尊尚堯、舜之道，以倡率學者，故士人之心靡不歸向，謂之為賢。陛下亦聞而知之，遂正位公府。遭時得君如此之專，乃首建財利之議，務為容悅，言行乖戾，一至於此。剛狠自任，則又甚焉。姦詐專權之人，豈宜處之廟堂，以亂國紀！願早罷逐，以慰安天下元元之心。曾公亮位居丞弼，不能竭忠許國，反有畏避之意，陰自結援以固寵，久妨賢路，亦宜斥免。趙抃則括囊拱手，但務依違大臣，事君豈當如是！」

"Since Anshi took power, in less than a few months feeling inside and outside the court has been in uproar. This is because he follows his own whim, treats the laws lightly, and acts without fear or restraint. Your Majesty seeks worthy men and good government with the eagerness of hunger and thirst, and so you placed Anshi in office. You meant to bring the age to the level of Tang and Yu, yet he instead practices the cunning arts of Guan Zhong and Shang Yang, scheming only to please. He then conspired with Chen Shengzhi to seize the revenue powers of the Three Fiscal Departments and claim the credit for himself; opening new bureaus, appointing officials, and sending eight men out across the empire—shocking all who heard of it and unsettling the people's hearts. Last year, building on Xu Zun's glossing over faults, he rashly proposed changes to the law on voluntary confession and interrogation; Anshi indulged this one-sided view, overturned established practice, and harmed the public good of the realm. Zhang Biguang urged that the Prince of Qi be sent away from court, sowing discord between kin—a crime that deserved death. Lu Hui and others submitted memorial after memorial demanding that he be punished and banished. Though Your Majesty agreed to their request, Anshi alone spoke blind counsel and misled Your Majesty's judgment. Your Majesty, believing that he was acting out of personal loyalty, held back and did nothing. The institutions of the previous reign ought to be preserved by every generation and never abandoned; yet he would change everything and cast aside what should be kept. From the examinations through his official career, Anshi upheld the way of Yao and Shun and led the scholars, so that men of learning all turned to him and called him worthy. Your Majesty heard the same and, knowing it, raised him to the highest office. Given such exclusive favor from the throne, he ought to have served the age; instead he led with schemes for profit, striving only to please—so far have his words and deeds diverged. His obstinacy and self-will go further still. How can a man so treacherous, so deceitful, and so hungry for power be kept in the halls of government to disorder the laws of the state! We beg that he be removed at once, to reassure the hearts of the common people throughout the realm. Zeng Gongliang sits among the chief ministers yet fails to serve the state with full loyalty; instead he shrinks back in fear, secretly builds alliances to protect his position, and long blocks the path of worthy men—he too should be dismissed. As for Zhao Bian, he keeps his purse shut and his hands folded, doing nothing but drift with the great ministers—is that how one should serve the ruler!"

疏上，安石奏先貶琦、顗監處、衢州鹽務。公亮疑太重，安石曰：「蔣之奇亦降監，當從之。」司馬光乃上疏曰：「臣聞孔子曰：『守道不如守官。』孟子曰：『有言責者，不得其言則去。』此古今通義，人臣之大節也。彼謀殺已傷自首刑名，天下皆知其非。朝廷既違眾議而行之，又以守官之臣而罪之，臣恐失天下之心也。夫絏食鷹鸇者，求其鷙也，鷙而烹之，將安用哉！今琦、顗所坐，不過疏直，乃以迕犯大臣，猥加譴謫，恐臣下自此以言為諱。乞還其本資，以靖群聽。」不報。

When the memorial was submitted, Anshi proposed that Qi and Yi be demoted first to supervise salt affairs at Chuzhou and Quzhou. Gongliang thought the penalty too harsh. Anshi said, "Jiang Zhiqi was also demoted to a supervisory post—we should follow that precedent." Sima Guang then submitted a memorial saying, "I have heard Confucius say, 'To uphold the Way is not as good as to uphold one's office. Mencius said, 'One whose duty is to speak, if he cannot speak as he ought, should leave.' This is the enduring principle of all ages—the great duty of a minister. The change to the law on premeditated murder and voluntary confession is already known throughout the realm to be wrong. The court already overrode public opinion to enforce it, and now would punish ministers for doing their duty—I fear the realm will lose heart. A man who feeds hawks and falcons on tied bait wants their fierceness—once they are fierce, if you cook them, what use are they! Qi and Yi are guilty of nothing but blunt honesty, yet because they crossed powerful ministers they were harshly punished and demoted—I fear that from now on officials will shrink from speaking out. I ask that their original ranks be restored, to quiet the alarm of the court." There was no reply.

開封獄具，述三問不承。安石欲置之獄，光又與范純仁爭之，乃議貶為通判。帝不許，以知江州。逾歲，提舉崇禧觀。卒，年七十二，紹興初，贈秘閣修撰。

The Kaifeng investigation was concluded; through three interrogations Shu would not confess. Anshi wanted him imprisoned; Guang again argued with Fan Chunren, and they finally agreed on demoting him to vice-prefect. The emperor would not agree and instead appointed him prefect of Jiangzhou. A year later he was made superintendent of the Chongxi Abbey. He died at seventy-two. At the beginning of the Shaoxing era he was posthumously granted the title Secretariat Compiler.

劉琦，字公玉，宣城人。博學強覽，立志峻潔。以都官員外郎通判歙州。召為侍御史，建言：「自城綏州，數致羌寇，宜棄之。」浙西開漕渠，役甚小，使者張大其事，以功遷官。言者論其非，詔琦就劾，官吏人人惴恐。琦但按首謀二人而已。既貶，通判鄧州而卒，年六十一。

Liu Qi, whose courtesy name was Gongyu, came from Xuancheng. Broadly learned and quick to grasp what he read, he held himself to a stern and upright standard. As vice director of the ministry of justice he served as vice-prefect of Shezhou. Summoned as attendant censor, he memorialized, "Since Suizhou was fortified we have repeatedly provoked Qiang raids—it should be abandoned." In western Zhejiang a transport canal was opened; the work was slight, but the envoy exaggerated it and was promoted for merit. Critics denounced the affair, and an edict ordered Qi to investigate on the spot; every official was terrified. Qi prosecuted only the two ringleaders and no one else. After his demotion he served as vice-prefect of Dengzhou, where he died at sixty-one.

錢顗，字安道，常州無錫人。初為寧海軍節度推官，守孫沔用威嚴為治，屬吏奔走聽命。顗當官而行，無所容撓，遇不可，必爭之，由是獨見器重。知贛、烏程二縣，皆以治行聞。

Qian Yi, whose courtesy name was Andao, came from Wuxi in Changzhou. He began as investigating officer under the Ninghai military governorship. The prefect Sun Yan ruled by fear, and his subordinates scurried to obey. Yi did his duty without yielding; whenever he saw something wrong he fought it, and for this alone he won special respect. As magistrate of Gan and Wucheng counties, he was known in both places for the quality of his administration.

治平末，以金部員外郎為殿中侍御史裏行。許遵議謀殺案問刑名，未定而入判大理，顗以為：「一人偏詞，不可以汨天下之法，遵所見迂執，不可以當刑法之任。」不從。二年而貶，將出臺，於眾中責同列孫昌齡曰：「平日士大夫未嘗知君名，徒以昔官金陵，媚事王安石，宛轉薦君，得為御史。亦當少思執國，奈何專欲附會以求美官？顗今當遠竄，君自謂得策邪？我視君犬彘之不如也。」即拂衣上馬去。

Near the end of the Zhiping era he served as acting palace censor while holding the rank of vice director of the ministry of revenue. Xu Zun disputed the legal classification of a premeditated murder case and, before the issue was settled, was appointed to judge at the Court of Judicial Review. Yi argued, "One man's biased opinion must not cloud the law of the realm; Zun's views are narrow and stubborn, and he is unfit to bear responsibility for penal law." His objection was not accepted. Two years later he was demoted. As he was about to leave the censorate, he rebuked his colleague Sun Changling before the whole assembly: "Ordinary scholars never even knew your name. You merely fawned on Wang Anshi while serving at Jinling, and through backstairs recommendation won appointment as censor. You ought at least to think about the welfare of the state—why must you court favor only to win a better post? I am now being sent into distant exile—do you think your strategy has succeeded? In my eyes you are lower than dogs and swine." With that he shook out his robes, mounted his horse, and rode away.

後自衢徙秀州。家貧母老，至丐貸親舊以給朝晡，而怡然無謫官之色。蘇軾遺以詩，有「烏府先生鐵作肝」之句，世因目為「鐵肝御史」。卒，年五十三。

Later he was transferred from Quzhou to Xiuzhou. His family was poor and his mother elderly; he had to borrow from friends and relatives even for daily meals, yet he remained cheerful and showed none of the bitterness of exile. Su Shi sent him a poem containing the line "The censor of the black office has a liver of iron," and men thereafter called him the Iron-Liver Censor. He died at fifty-three.

鄭俠，字介夫，福州福清人。治平中，隨父官江寧，閉戶苦學。王安石知其名，邀與相見，稱獎之。進士高第，調光州司法參軍。安石居政府。凡所施行，民間不以為便。光有疑獄，俠讞議傅奏，安石悉如其請。俠感為知己，思欲盡忠。

Zheng Xia, whose courtesy name was Jiefu, came from Fuqing in Fuzhou. During the Zhiping era he accompanied his father to a post at Jiangning, shut his doors, and studied with fierce dedication. Wang Anshi knew his name, invited him to an audience, and praised him warmly. He passed the jinshi examination with high honors and was appointed legal aide in Guang Prefecture. Anshi was in power. Whatever he put into effect, the people found burdensome. When Guang Prefecture had doubtful cases, Xia reviewed them, drafted opinions, and forwarded memorials; Anshi approved every request. Xia was deeply moved, regarded him as a patron who understood him, and resolved to serve him with full loyalty.

秩滿，徑入都。時初行試法之令，選人中式者超京官，安石欲使以是進，俠以未嘗習法辭。三往見之，問以所聞，對曰：「青苗、免役、保甲、市易數事，與邊鄙用兵，在俠心不能無區區也。」安石不答。俠退不復見，但數以書言法之為民害者。久之，監安上門。安石雖不悅，猶使其子雱來，語以試法。方置修經局，又欲辟為檢討，更命其客黎東美諭意，俠曰：「讀書無幾，不足以辱檢討。所以來，求執經相君門下耳。而相君發言持論，無非以官爵為先，所以待士者亦淺矣。果欲援俠而成就之，取其所獻利民便物之事，行其一二，使進而無愧，不亦善乎？」

When his term ended, he went directly to the capital. The new law-examination decree had just taken effect, allowing successful candidates to leap to capital office; Anshi wanted to advance him by that route, but Xia declined on the ground that he had never studied law. Three times he visited him. When Anshi asked what he had heard, he answered, "The Green Sprouts loans, the labor-exemption tax, the baojia system, the market-trade monopoly, and frontier warfare—I cannot pretend these give me no concern." Anshi made no answer. Xia withdrew and never visited again, but wrote letter after letter describing how the new laws harmed the people. After some time he was appointed supervisor of the Anshang Gate. Though displeased, Anshi still sent his son Wang Bian to discuss the law examination with him. When the Classics Revision Bureau was being set up, Anshi also wanted to appoint Xia as a collator and sent his client Li Dongmei to explain his intent. Xia replied, "I have read too little to deserve the title of collator. I came only to study the classics under the prime minister's tutelage. Yet in everything the prime minister says and argues, office and rank come first; the way he treats men of learning is shallow as well. If you truly mean to help Xia and see him succeed, take the proposals he has offered for the people's benefit, put one or two into practice, and let him rise without shame—would that not be better?"

是時，免役法出，民商咸以為苦，雖負水、捨髮、擔粥、提茶之屬，非納錢者不得販鬻。稅務索市利錢，其末或重於本，商人至以死爭，如是者不一。俠因東美列其事。未幾，詔小夫裨販者免征，商之重者十損其七，他皆無所行。

By then the labor-exemption tax had been promulgated, and townspeople and merchants alike found it oppressive—even water carriers, barbers, porridge sellers, and tea hawkers could not trade unless they paid fees. Tax offices demanded market-profit levies that sometimes exceeded the cost of the goods themselves, and merchants even fought to the death over them—such cases were countless. Xia reported these abuses to Anshi through Li Dongmei. Before long an edict exempted petty street vendors from the tax, cut the heaviest merchant levies by seven-tenths, and left the other measures unenforced.

是時，自熙寧六年七月不雨，至於七年之三月，人無生意。東北流民，每風沙霾曀，扶攜塞道，羸瘠愁苦，身無完衣。並城民買麻糝麥麩，合米為糜，或茹木實草根，至身被鎖械，而負瓦楬木，賣以償官，累累不絕。俠知安石不可諫，悉繪所見為圖，奏疏詣閤門，不納。乃假稱密急，發馬遞上之銀臺司。其略云：

From the seventh month of the sixth year of Xining until the third month of the seventh year, no rain fell, and the people lost all hope of living. Refugees from the northeast clogged the roads whenever wind and dust blotted out the sky—emaciated, wretched, without a whole garment to their names. Capital residents bought hemp bran and wheat bran to mix with rice into gruel, or lived on wild fruit and grass roots; some wore shackles even as they hauled tiles and timber to sell and pay the state—such scenes never ceased. Knowing Anshi would not heed remonstrance, Xia painted everything he had witnessed, brought a memorial to the Gate of Receiving Instruction, and was turned away. He then falsely marked it as a secret emergency and sent it by courier to the Yintai Office. The memorial in essence said:

「去年大蝗，秋冬亢旱，麥苗焦枯，五種不入，群情懼死；方春斬伐，竭澤而漁，草木魚鱉，亦莫生遂。災患之來，莫之或禦。願陛下開倉廩，賑貧乏，取有司掊克不道之政，一切罷去。冀下召和氣，上應天心，延萬姓垂死之命。今臺諫充位，左右輔弼又皆貪猥近利，使夫抱道懷識之士，皆不欲與之言，陛下以爵祿名器，駕馭天下忠賢，而使人如此，甚非宗廟社稷之福也。竊聞南征北伐者，皆以其勝捷之勢、山川之形，為圖來獻，料無一人以天下之民質妻鬻子，斬桑壞舍，流離逃散，遑遑不給之狀上聞者。臣謹以逐日所見，繪成一圖，但經眼目，已可涕泣。而況有甚於此者乎！如陛下行臣之言，十日不雨，即乞斬臣宣德門外，以正欺君之罪。」

"Last year brought a great locust plague; through autumn and winter drought raged; wheat withered in the fields; the five grains failed; the people live in dread of death; now in spring they strip the land bare and drain every pool for fish—grass, trees, fish, and turtles alike cannot live on; when disaster strikes, none can hold it back. I beg Your Majesty to open the granaries, relieve the destitute, and abolish every oppressive and unjust measure of the officials. May this summon harmony below and answer Heaven above, and prolong the lives of countless people already at death's door. Today the censorial and remonstrance offices are filled with placeholders, and the ministers at your side are greedy, base men chasing profit, so that worthy men who hold to the Way will not speak with them. Your Majesty governs the empire's loyal talent with rank and reward—yet to leave men such as these in power is no blessing to the dynasty. I hear that every commander returning from southern and northern campaigns brings maps of victories and terrain; yet not one has reported how the people of the realm are pawning wives and selling children, cutting mulberry trees and tearing down homes, fleeing in desperation without enough to live on. Your subject has painted into one scroll what he sees each day; the sight alone is enough to weep. And how much worse are the things not shown! If Your Majesty acts on this memorial and no rain falls within ten days, I ask to be executed outside the Xuande Gate for the crime of deceiving my sovereign."

疏奏，神宗反覆觀圖，長籲數四，袖以入。是夕，寢不能寐。翌日，命開封體放免行錢，三司察市易，司農發常平倉，三衛具熙河所用兵，諸路上民物流散之故。青苗、免役權息追呼，方田、保甲並罷，凡十有八事。民間歡叫相賀。又下責躬詔求言。越三日，大雨，遠近沾洽。輔臣入賀，帝示以俠所進圖狀，且責之，皆再拜謝。

When the memorial arrived, Shenzong studied the picture again and again, sighed deeply four times, and carried it inside in his sleeve. That night he could not sleep. The next day he ordered Kaifeng to stop collecting transit exemption fees in practice, the Three Departments to investigate the market-trade offices, the Directorate of Agriculture to open the Ever-Normal Granaries, the Three Guard units to account for troops used in Xihe, and circuit intendants to report why people and goods had scattered along the roads. Green Sprouts and labor-exemption interest collections were suspended, and field-equalization and baojia were abolished—eighteen measures in all. People in the streets shouted for joy and congratulated one another. The throne also issued an edict of self-reproach inviting remonstrance. Three days later heavy rain fell, soaking the land far and near. When the chief ministers came to congratulate him, the emperor showed them Xia's picture and memorial and rebuked them; all bowed low in apology.

安石上章求去，外間始知所行之由，群奸切齒，遂以俠付御史，治其擅發馬遞罪。呂惠卿、鄧綰言於帝曰：「陛下數年以來，忘寐與食，成此美政，天下方被其賜；一旦用狂夫之言，罷廢殆盡，豈不惜哉？」相與環泣於帝前，於是新法一切如故。

Anshi submitted a memorial asking to resign, and only then did the court learn why the measures had been taken. His enemies gnashed their teeth and handed Xia over to the censorate on the charge of dispatching the courier without authorization. Lü Huiqing and Deng Wan told the emperor, "For years Your Majesty has labored without rest to build these excellent policies, and the realm is only now beginning to benefit; yet in one day, on the word of a reckless man, nearly all of it is undone—is that not a pity?" They wept together before the throne, and the New Policies were restored in full.

安石去，惠卿執政，俠又上疏論之。仍取唐魏徵、姚崇、宋璟、李林甫、盧祀傳為兩軸，題曰《正直君子邪曲小人事業圖跡》。在位之臣暗合林甫輩而反於崇、璟者，各以其類，復為書獻之。並言禁中有被甲、登殿等事。惠卿奏為謗訕，編管汀州。御史臺吏楊忠信謁之曰：「御史緘默不言，而君上書不已，是言責在監門而臺中無人也。」取懷中《名臣諫疏》二帙授俠曰：「以此為正人助。」惠卿暴其事，且嗾御史張琥並劾馮京為黨與。俠行至太康，還對獄，獄成，惠卿議致之死。帝曰：「俠所言非為身也，忠誠亦可嘉，豈宜深罪？」但徙英州。既至，得僧屋將壓者居之，英人無貧富貴賤皆加敬，爭遣子弟從學，為築室以遷。

After Anshi departed and Huiqing took power, Xia submitted another memorial criticizing the administration. He also compiled the Tang biographies of Wei Zheng, Yao Chong, Song Jing, Li Linfu, and Lu Qi into two scrolls titled "Portraits of the Deeds of Upright Gentlemen and Crooked Petty Men." For ministers in office who secretly resembled Li Linfu and his like while opposing Chong and Jing, he wrote again, grouping each man with his kind, and presented the work to the throne. He also reported rumors of armored men in the inner palace and of armed men entering the hall. Huiqing memorialized that this was slander and had Xia placed under registered exile in Tingzhou. Yang Zhongxin, a clerk of the censorate, visited him and said, "The censors remain silent while you keep memorializing—the duty of remonstrance has fallen to a gate supervisor while the censorate stands empty." He took two volumes of Memorials of Famous Ministers from his robe and gave them to Xia, saying, "Let these aid the upright." Huiqing made the incident public and also incited Censor Zhang Hu to impeach Feng Jing as Xia's accomplice. When Xia reached Taikang he was brought back to stand trial; once the case was closed, Huiqing urged the death penalty. The emperor said, "Xia did not speak for his own gain; his loyalty deserves praise—how can he be punished severely?" He was merely exiled to Yingzhou. When he arrived he lived in a monk's hall on the verge of collapse; the people of Ying, high and low alike, honored him, sent their sons to study under him, and built a house for him to move into.

論曰：誨以言三黜，述、琦、顗窮厄至死，皆充然無悔，身雖不偶，而聲名則昭著於天下後世矣。俠以區區小官，雖未信而諫，能以片言悟主，殃民之法幾於一舉而空之，功雖不成，而此心亦足以白於天下後世。呂惠卿、鄧綰之罪，可勝誅哉！

The historian comments: Hui was three times dismissed for speaking out; Shu, Qi, and Yi suffered to the point of death—yet none regretted it. Though fortune never favored them, their names shine before the world and posterity. Xia held only a minor post, yet though he had not yet earned trust he remonstrated boldly and with a few words moved his ruler; policies that harmed the people were nearly swept away at once. Though success was not complete, his intent stands clear before the world and posterity. The crimes of Lü Huiqing and Deng Wan—no punishment could be enough!

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