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王安石
Wang Anshi
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王安石，字介甫，撫州臨川人。 父益，都官員外郎。 安石少好讀書，一過目終身不忘。 其屬文動筆如飛，初若不經意，既成，見者皆服其精妙。 友生曾鞏攜以示歐陽修，修為之延譽。 擢進士上第，簽書淮南判官。 舊制，秩滿許獻文求試館職，安石獨否。 再調知鄞縣，起堤堰，決陂塘，為水陸之利； 貸穀與民，出息以償，俾新陳相易，邑人便之。 通判舒州。 文彥博為相，薦安石恬退，乞不次進用，以激奔競之風。 尋召試館職，不就。 修薦為諫官，以祖母年高辭。 修以其須祿養言於朝，用為群牧判官，請知常州。 移提點江東刑獄，入為度支判官，時嘉祐三年也。
Wang Anshi, styled Jiefu, was a native of Linchuan in Fuzhou. His father Yi served as an Outer Gentleman of the Bureau of Palace Attendants. From youth Wang Anshi loved to read, and what he read once he remembered for life. When he wrote, his brush moved swiftly; at first his work seemed effortless, but when finished, all who read it admired its brilliance. His friend Zeng Gong brought his writings to Ouyang Xiu, who praised him widely. He passed the jinshi examination at the top rank and was appointed signing clerk and vice prefect of Huainan. Under the old system, officials whose terms had expired could submit writings to qualify for an academy post; Wang Anshi alone refused. On his next appointment he served as prefect of Yin County, where he built dikes and dams and opened reservoirs and ponds to benefit both land and water transport. He lent grain to the people and collected interest on repayment, allowing new grain to replace old stores; the people of the district found this a great convenience. He served as vice prefect of Shuzhou. When Wen Yanbo was chief minister, he recommended Wang Anshi for his modest withdrawal from office and asked that he be promoted out of turn to counter the prevailing rush for advancement. He was soon summoned to qualify for an academy post but declined. Ouyang Xiu recommended him for a remonstrance post, but he declined because his grandmother was elderly. Ouyang Xiu told the court that Wang Anshi needed an income to support his family; he was made a vice prefect of the Pasturage Commission and requested appointment as prefect of Changzhou. He was transferred to serve as intendant of judicial prisons in Jiangdong, then entered the capital as vice director of the Revenue Commission; this was in 1058.
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安石議論高奇，能以辨博濟其說，果于自用，慨然有矯世變俗之志。 於是上萬言書，以為：「今天下之財力日以困窮，風俗日以衰壞，患在不知法度，不法先王之政故也。 法先王之政者，法其意而已。 法其意，則吾所改易更革，不至乎傾駭天下之耳目，囂天下之口，而固已合先王之政矣。 因天下之力以生天下之財，取天下之財以供天下之費，自古治世，未嘗以財不足為公患也，患在治財無其道爾。 在位之人才既不足，而閭巷草野之間亦少可用之才，社稷之託，封疆之守，陛下其能久以天幸為常，而無一旦之憂乎？ 願監苟且因循之弊，明詔大臣，為之以漸，期合於當世之變。 臣之所稱，流俗之所不講，而議者以為迂闊而熟爛者也。」 後安石當國，其所注措，大抵皆祖此書。
Wang Anshi's arguments were bold and original; he could bolster them with eloquent learning, was resolute in following his own judgment, and harbored a passionate ambition to reform society and transform custom. Thereupon he submitted a ten-thousand-word memorial, arguing: "The empire's wealth and strength grow daily more strained, and public morals grow daily more corrupt. The root of the trouble is ignorance of law and institutions—failure to take the governance of the ancient kings as our model. To follow the governance of the ancient kings is to follow their intent, nothing more. If we follow their intent, the changes and reforms I propose need not shock the whole realm or provoke universal outcry, yet would already accord with the governance of the ancient kings. We should use the empire's strength to generate its wealth and its wealth to meet its expenses. In well-governed ages since antiquity, insufficient revenue has never been the state's chief problem; the problem has always been the lack of a proper method for managing finances. There is already too little talent among those in office, and too few capable men even among common people in town and country. Can Your Majesty long rely on Heaven's favor alone to safeguard the altars of state and defend the frontiers, without fear of sudden disaster? I ask that Your Majesty observe the evils of complacency and inertia, clearly instruct your chief ministers, and proceed step by step toward meeting the demands of our own age. What I propose is what common opinion ignores, and what critics dismiss as impractical and threadbare." Later, when Wang Anshi directed the state, most of his policies were modeled on this memorial.
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俄直集賢院。 先是，館閣之命屢下，安石屢辭； 士大夫謂其無意於世，恨不識其面，朝廷每欲俾以美官，惟患其不就也。 明年，同修起居注，辭之累日。 閣門吏齎敕就付之，拒不受； 吏隨而拜之，則避於廁； 吏置敕於案而去，又追還之； 上章至八九，乃受。 遂知制誥，糾察在京刑獄，自是不復辭官矣。
Soon he was appointed director of the Jixian Academy. Previously, appointments to the academies and institutes had been issued repeatedly, and Wang Anshi had repeatedly declined them. Scholars and officials said he had no interest in public office and regretted not knowing him personally; the court, whenever it wished to grant him a fine post, feared only that he would refuse. The following year he was appointed concurrent compiler of the Daily Record and declined for many days. A gate clerk brought the edict to deliver to him, but he refused to accept it. The clerk followed and bowed to him; he withdrew to the privy. The clerk placed the edict on the desk and left, then was sent back to retrieve it. He submitted seven or eight memorials of refusal before finally accepting. He was then made drafter of edicts and inspector of capital judicial prisons, and from then on he no longer declined office.
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有少年得鬥鶉，其儕求之不與，恃與之昵，輒持去，少年追殺之。 開封當此人死，安石駁曰：「按律，公取、竊取皆為盜。 此不與而彼攜以去，是盜也； 追而殺之，是捕盜也，雖死當勿論。」 遂劾府司失入。 府官不伏，事下審刑、大理，皆以府斷為是。 詔放安石罪，當詣閣門謝。 安石言：「我無罪。」 不肯謝。 御史舉奏之，置不問。
A youth obtained a fighting quail. When his companions asked for it he refused; one who counted on their intimacy simply took it away, and the youth pursued and killed him. Kaifeng sentenced this man to death. Wang Anshi objected: "Under the law, both open seizure and secret theft count as robbery. When one refused to give it and the other carried it away, that was theft. Pursuing and killing him was apprehending a thief; even though the man died, no punishment should apply." He then impeached the prefectural office for an erroneous judgment. The prefectural officials would not accept this; the case was referred to the Office of Review of Punishments and the Court of Judicial Review, both of which upheld the prefecture's judgment. An edict pardoned Wang Anshi's offense and ordered him to go to the Gate Office to apologize. Wang Anshi said, "I am not guilty." He refused to apologize. The censorate memorialized against him, but the matter was set aside without inquiry.
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時有詔舍人院無得申請除改文字，安石爭之曰：「審如是，則舍人不得復行其職，而一聽大臣所為，自非大臣欲傾側而為私，則立法不當如此。 今大臣之弱者不敢為陛下守法； 而強者則挾上旨以造令，諫官、御史無敢逆其意者，臣實懼焉。」 語皆侵執政，由是益與之忤。 以母憂去，終英宗世，召不起。
At the time an edict forbade the Secretariat Academy from requesting changes to appointment documents. Wang Anshi objected: "If this stands, secretaries can no longer perform their duties and must simply defer to whatever the chief ministers do. Unless the chief ministers intend to bend the law for private ends, legislation should not be made this way. Today the weaker chief ministers dare not uphold the law for Your Majesty. While the stronger ones invoke imperial intent to issue orders, and no remonstrance official or censor dares oppose them—I am truly alarmed." His words all encroached on those in power, and from this he grew ever more at odds with them. He left office to mourn his mother; throughout Emperor Yingzong's reign he was summoned but did not accept.
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一日講席，群臣退，帝留安石坐，曰：「有欲與卿從容論議者。」 因言：「唐太宗必得魏徵，劉備必得諸葛亮，然後可以有為，二子誠不世出之人也。」 安石曰：「陛下誠能為堯，舜，則必有皋、夔、稷、禹； 誠能為高宗，則必有傅說。 彼二子皆有道者所羞，何足道哉？ 以天下之大，人民之眾，百年承平，學者不為不多。 然常患無人可以助治者，以陛下擇術未明，推誠未至，雖有皋、夔、稷、禹、傅說之賢，亦將為小人所蔽，卷懷而去爾。」 帝曰：「何世無小人，雖堯、舜之時，不能無四凶。」 安石曰：「惟能辨四凶而誅之，此其所以為堯、舜也。 若使四凶得肆其讒慝，則皋、夔、稷、禹亦安肯苟食其祿以終身乎？」
One day at the lecture session, after the ministers withdrew, the emperor kept Wang Anshi seated and said, "There is something I wish to discuss with you at leisure." He then said, "Emperor Taizong of Tang needed Wei Zheng, and Liu Bei needed Zhuge Liang, before they could accomplish anything. Those two men were truly unmatched in their age." Wang Anshi said, "If Your Majesty can truly be like Yao and Shun, then you will surely have men like Gao Yao, Kui, Hou Ji, and Yu. If you can truly be like Gaozong, then you will surely have a Fu Yue. Those two men are men that the truly wise would disdain—what is there to speak of? Given the vastness of the empire, the multitude of its people, a century of peace, and no lack of scholars. Yet you constantly lament that no one can assist in governance—because Your Majesty has not yet clearly chosen your method or fully extended your sincerity. Even if there were worthies like Gao Yao, Kui, Hou Ji, Yu, and Fu Yue, petty men would still obscure them, and they would withdraw their talents and leave." The emperor said, "In what age are there no petty men? Even in the time of Yao and Shun there were the Four Evils." Wang Anshi said, "It was precisely because they could distinguish the Four Evils and execute them that they were Yao and Shun. If the Four Evils had been allowed to unleash their slander and wickedness, how would Gao Yao, Kui, Hou Ji, and Yu have been willing to draw salary in idleness for the rest of their lives?"
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登州婦人惡其夫寢陋，夜以刃斮之，傷而不死。 獄上，朝議皆當之死，安石獨援律辨證之，為合從謀殺傷，減二等論。 帝從安石說，且著為令。
A woman of Dengzhou despised her husband's ugly appearance; at night she hacked at him with a blade, wounding but not killing him. When the case came up, court opinion unanimously held she should die; Wang Anshi alone cited the law and argued that it constituted joint conspiracy to kill and wound, warranting a sentence reduced by two degrees. The emperor accepted Wang Anshi's view and established it as a regulation.
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二年二月，拜參知政事。 上謂曰：「人皆不能知卿，以為卿但知經術，不曉世務。」 安石對曰：「經術正所以經世務，但後世所謂儒者，大抵皆庸人，故世俗皆以為經術不可施於世務爾。」 上問：「然則卿所施設以何先？」 安石曰：「變風俗，立法度，正方今之所急也。」 上以為然。 於是設制置三司條例司，令判知樞密院事陳升之同領之。 安石令其黨呂惠卿預其事。 而農田水利、青苗、均輸、保甲、免役、市易、保馬、方田諸役相繼並興，號為新法，遣提舉官四十餘輩，頒行天下。
In the second month of the second year he was appointed Vice Grand Councillor. The emperor said to him, "People fail to understand you; they think you know only classical learning and do not understand affairs of state." Wang Anshi replied, "Classical learning exists precisely to govern affairs of state. It is only that what later ages call Confucians are for the most part mediocre men, so common opinion holds that classical learning cannot be applied to affairs of state." The emperor asked, "Then what will you put first in what you implement?" Wang Anshi said, "Transforming custom and establishing laws and institutions are precisely what is urgent today." The emperor agreed. Thereupon the Fiscal Policy Commission was established, with Chen Shengzhi, who held concurrent authority over the Bureau of Military Affairs, appointed to direct it jointly. Wang Anshi had his ally Lü Huiqing participate in its affairs. Then the policies on farmland and waterworks, Green Sprouts loans, balanced delivery, baojia militia, exemption from corvée, market exchange, horse breeding, and square-field land assessment were launched in succession, collectively called the New Policies; more than forty supervising officials were dispatched to promulgate them throughout the realm.
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青苗法者，以常平糴本作青苗錢，散與人戶，令出息二分，春散秋斂。 均輸法者，以發運之職改為均輸，假以錢貨，凡上供之物，皆得徙貴就賤，用近易遠，預知在京倉庫所當辦者，得以便宜蓄買。 保甲之法，籍鄉村之民，二丁取一，十家為保，保丁皆授以弓弩，教之戰陣。 免役之法，據家貲高下，各令出錢雇人充役，下至單丁、女戶，本來無役者，亦一概輸錢，謂之助役錢。 市易之法，聽人賒貸縣官財貨，以田宅或金帛為抵當，出息十分之二，過期不輸，息外每月更加罰錢百分之二。 保馬之法，凡五路義保願養馬者，戶一匹，以監牧見馬給之，或官與其直，使自市，歲一閱其肥瘠，死病者補償。 方田之法，以東、西、南、北各千步，當四十一頃六十六畝一百六十步為一方，歲以九月，令、佐分地計量，驗地土肥瘠，定其色號，分為五等，以地之等，均定稅數。 又有免行錢者，約京師百物諸行利入厚薄，皆令納錢，與免行戶祗應。 自是四方爭言農田水利，古陂廢堰，悉務興復。 又令民封狀增價以買坊場，又增茶監之額，又設措置河北糴便司，廣積糧穀於臨流州縣，以備饋運。 由是賦斂愈重，而天下騷然矣。
Under the Green Sprouts Law, grain reserves from the Ever-Normal Granaries were converted into Green Sprouts funds, distributed to households at twenty percent interest, disbursed in spring and collected in autumn. The balanced delivery law transformed the transport-assignment office into a balanced-delivery system, lending money and goods so that all tribute goods could be procured where prices were low rather than high, using nearby sources to replace distant ones; knowing in advance what the capital granaries must supply, officials could conveniently stock and purchase as needed. Under the baojia system, rural people were registered, one man taken from every two adult males, ten households forming a bao; all bao militiamen were given bows and crossbows and trained in battle formations. Under the exemption-from-corvée law, households paid money according to their wealth to hire others to perform corvée; even single adult males and female-headed households who originally owed no corvée duty had to pay, in what was called assistance-for-corvée money. Under the market exchange law, people could borrow government goods and funds on credit, using land, houses, or gold and silk as security at twenty percent interest; if payment was overdue, an additional two-percent penalty was added each month beyond the interest. Under the horse-breeding law, in all five circuits, baojia militia who wished to raise horses received one horse per household, supplied from horses held by the pasturage commission, or the government gave them the price to buy their own; once a year the horses' condition was inspected, and compensation was required for dead or sick animals. Under the square-field law, a square of one thousand paces on each side—forty-one qing, sixty-six mu, and one hundred sixty paces—was taken as one unit; each year in the ninth month, magistrates and assistants measured and divided the land, assessed soil fertility, assigned color codes in five grades, and fixed tax amounts according to land grade. There was also exemption-from-service money: estimating the profits of the various guilds handling goods in the capital, all were required to pay money in exchange for exempting service households from attendance duties. From this officials everywhere competed to report on farmland and waterworks; ancient reservoirs and abandoned dams were zealously restored. The people were also ordered to submit sealed bids at increased prices to buy monopoly shops; tea supervision quotas were increased; the Hebei Grain Purchase Convenience Office was established; and grain was widely stored in riverine prefectures and counties to prepare for transport supply. From this taxation grew ever heavier, and the realm was thrown into turmoil.
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御史中丞呂誨論安石過失十事，帝為出誨，安石薦呂公著代之。 韓琦諫疏至，帝感悟，欲從之，安石求去。 司馬光答詔，有「士夫沸騰，黎民騷動」之語，安石怒，抗章自辨，帝為巽辭謝，令呂惠卿諭旨，韓絳又勸帝留之。 安石入謝，因為上言中外大臣、從官、臺諫、朝士朋比之情，且曰：「陛下欲以先王之正道勝天下流俗，故與天下流俗相為重輕。 流俗權重，則天下之人歸流俗； 陛下權重，則天下之人歸陛下。 權者與物相為重輕，雖千鈞之物，所加損不過銖兩而移。 今奸人欲敗先王之正道，以沮陛下之所為。 於是陛下與流俗之權適爭輕重之時，加銖兩之力，則用力至微，而天下之權，已歸於流俗矣，此所以紛紛也。」 上以為然。 安石乃視事，琦說不得行。
Censor-in-Chief Lü Hui memorialized on ten faults of Wang Anshi; the emperor removed Hui on his account, and Wang Anshi recommended Lü Gongshu to replace him. When Han Qi's remonstrance memorial arrived, the emperor was moved and wished to follow it; Wang Anshi asked to leave office. In reply to an edict Sima Guang wrote that 'officials were seething and the common people in turmoil'; Wang Anshi was angry and submitted a memorial in self-defense; the emperor offered conciliatory words of apology, had Lü Huiqing convey the imperial intent, and Han Jiang again urged the emperor to keep him. Wang Anshi entered to give thanks and spoke to the emperor of factional collusion among ministers inside and outside the court, attendant officials, censorate remonstrators, and court gentlemen, saying, "Your Majesty wishes to use the correct Way of the ancient kings to overcome the vulgar custom of the realm, and so you and that vulgar custom counterbalance each other. If vulgar custom weighs heavier, then the people of the realm turn to vulgar custom. If Your Majesty weighs heavier, then the people of the realm turn to Your Majesty. Weight counterbalances things; even for a load of a thousand jun, adding or subtracting no more than a zhu or a liang can shift the balance. Now wicked men wish to defeat the correct Way of the ancient kings to obstruct what Your Majesty is doing. Thus when Your Majesty and vulgar custom are just contending over weight, if you add even the force of a zhu or a liang, though the effort is tiny, the weight of the realm already shifts to vulgar custom—this is why there is such clamor." The emperor agreed. Wang Anshi then resumed his duties, and Qi's proposal could not be carried out.
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安石與光素厚，光援朋友責善之義，三詒書反覆勸之，安石不樂。 帝用光副樞密，光辭未拜而安石出，命遂寢。 公著雖為所引，亦以請罷新法出潁州。 御史劉述、劉琦、錢顗、孫昌齡、王子韶、程顥、張戩、陳襄、陳薦、謝景溫、楊繪、劉摯，諫官范純仁、李常、孫覺、胡宗愈皆不得其言，相繼去。 驟用秀州推官李定為御史，知制誥宋敏求、李大臨、蘇頌封還詞頭，御史林旦、薛昌朝、范育論定不孝，皆罷逐。 翰林學士范鎮三疏言青苗，奪職致仕。 惠卿遭喪去，安石未知所託，得曾布，信任之，亞于惠卿。
Wang Anshi and Sima Guang had long been close; Guang invoked the duty of friends to admonish one another and three times sent letters repeatedly urging him; Wang Anshi was displeased. The emperor wished to appoint Guang vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs; Guang declined before accepting the appointment, and when Wang Anshi left office the order was shelved. Although Gongshu had been brought in by him, he also asked to abolish the New Policies and was sent out to Yingzhou. Censors Liu Shu, Liu Qi, Qian Yi, Sun Changling, Wang Zishao, Cheng Hao, Zhang Jian, Chen Xiang, Chen Jian, Xie Jingwen, Yang Hui, and Liu Zhi, and remonstrators Fan Chunren, Li Chang, Sun Jue, and Hu Zongyu all failed to get their words heeded and left office one after another. Li Ding, a judicial officer of Xiuzhou, was abruptly appointed censor; drafters Song Minqiu, Li Dalin, and Su Song sealed and returned the appointment documents; censors Lin Dan, Xue Changchao, and Fan Yu argued that Ding was unfilial—all were dismissed and expelled. Hanlin Academician Fan Zhen three times memorialized against Green Sprouts loans, was stripped of office, and retired. When Huiqing left to mourn, Wang Anshi did not know whom to entrust affairs to; he obtained Zeng Bu, trusted him, and ranked him second only to Huiqing.
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三年十二月，拜同中書門下平章事。 明年春，京東、河北有烈風之異，民大恐。 帝批付中書，令省事安靜以應天變，放遣兩路募夫，責有司、郡守不以上聞者。 安石執不下。
In the twelfth month of the third year he was appointed Associate Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery. The following spring violent winds struck Jingdong and Hebei, and the people were greatly terrified. The emperor sent instructions to the Secretariat ordering provincial offices to restore calm in response to Heaven's warning, discharging conscripted laborers on both circuits and holding responsible any officials or prefects who had failed to report upward. Wang Anshi held to his position and refused to issue the order.
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開封民避保甲，有截指斷腕者，知府韓維言之，帝問安石，安石曰：「此固未可知，就令有之，亦不足怪。 今士大夫睹新政，尚或紛然驚異； 況于二十萬戶百姓，固有惷愚為人所惑動者，豈應為此遂不敢一有所為邪？」 帝曰：「民言合而聽之則勝，亦不可不畏也。」
To avoid baojia service, people in Kaifeng cut off fingers and severed wrists. Prefect Han Wei reported this; when the emperor asked Wang Anshi, he said, "This is hard to verify; even if it were true, it would not be surprising. Today when officials and gentry see the new policies, they still sometimes clamor in alarm and wonder. How much more among two hundred thousand households of common people—surely some foolish ones are swayed by others—should we for this reason not dare to act at all?" The emperor said, "When the people's words are gathered and heeded, one prevails—but one also cannot fail to respect them."
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東明民或遮宰相馬訴助役錢，安石白帝曰：「知縣賈蕃乃范仲淹之婿，好附流俗，致民如是。」 又曰：「治民當知其情偽利病，不可示姑息。 若縱之使妄經省臺，鳴鼓邀駕，恃眾僥倖，則非所以為政。」 其強辯背理率類此。
People of Dongming sometimes blocked the chief minister's horse to complain about assistance-for-corvée money. Wang Anshi told the emperor, "Magistrate Jia Fan is Fan Zhongyan's son-in-law; he likes to pander to popular opinion, which is why the people behave this way." He also said, "In governing the people one must know their true conditions and their grievances; one cannot show indulgence. If one indulges them to recklessly petition the provincial and central offices, beat drums to intercept the imperial carriage, and rely on mob pressure for advantage, that is not the way to govern." His forceful arguments against reason were generally of this kind.
16
帝用韓維為中丞，安石憾曩言，指為善附流俗以非上所建立，因維辭而止。 歐陽修乞致仕，馮京請留之，安石曰：「修附麗韓琦，以琦為社稷臣。 如此人，在一郡則壞一郡，在朝廷則壞朝廷，留之安用？」 乃聽之。 富弼以格青苗解使相，安石謂不足以阻奸，至比之共、鯀。 靈臺郎尤瑛言天久陰，星失度，宜退安石，即黥隸英州。 唐坰本以安石引薦為諫官，因請對極論其罪，謫死。 文彥博言市易與下爭利，致華嶽山崩。 安石曰：「華山之變，殆天意為小人發。 市易之起，自為細民久困，以抑兼併爾，于官何利焉。」 閼其奏，出彥博守魏。 於是呂公著、韓維，安石藉以立聲譽者也； 歐陽修、文彥博，薦己者也； 富弼、韓琦，用為侍從者也； 司馬光、范鎮，交友之善者也：悉排斥不遺力。
The emperor wished to appoint Han Wei censor-in-chief; Wang Anshi resented his earlier words and accused him of pandering to popular opinion to oppose what the emperor had established; because Wei declined, the appointment was dropped. Ouyang Xiu asked to retire; Feng Jing asked to keep him. Wang Anshi said, "Xiu attached himself to Han Qi and treated Qi as a pillar of state. A man like this ruins whatever commandery he is in and ruins the court when he is at court—what use is there in keeping him?" Thereupon he was permitted to retire. Fu Bi resigned his commissioner-grand-councillor post by blocking Green Sprouts; Wang Anshi said this was insufficient to obstruct wickedness and even compared him to Gong and Gun. Gentleman of the Spirit Terrace You Ying said Heaven had long been overcast and the stars had lost their measure, and Wang Anshi should be removed; he was immediately tattooed and made a bondsman in Yingzhou. Tang Jiong had originally been recommended by Wang Anshi as a remonstrating official; he then requested an audience and argued his crimes to the utmost, and was demoted and died. Wen Yanbo said market exchange competed with the people for profit and caused Mount Hua to collapse. Wang Anshi said, "The change at Mount Hua was perhaps Heaven's intent, raised on behalf of petty men. Market exchange was instituted because common people had long been distressed, to suppress consolidation—what profit is there for the government?" He blocked the memorial and sent Yanbo out as prefect of Wei. Thus Lü Gongshu and Han Wei, whom Wang Anshi had relied on to establish his reputation. Ouyang Xiu and Wen Yanbo, who had recommended him. Fu Bi and Han Qi, who had used him as an attendant. Sima Guang and Fan Zhen, good friends—all were expelled without sparing effort.
17
禮官議正太廟太祖東向之位，安石獨定議還僖祖於祧廟，議者合爭之，弗得。 上元夕，從駕乘馬入宣德門，衛士訶止之，策其馬。 安石怒，上章請逮治。 御史蔡確言：「宿衛之士，拱扈至尊而已，宰相下馬非其處，所應訶止。」 帝卒為杖衛士，斥內侍，安石猶不平。 王韶開熙河奏功，帝以安石主議，解所服玉帶賜之。
Ritual officials debated correcting Taizu's east-facing position in the Grand Ancestral Temple; Wang Anshi alone decided to return Xizu to the distant temple; debaters contested it together but could not prevail. On the Lantern Festival evening, while following the imperial procession he rode a horse into Xuande Gate; guards shouted to stop him and whipped his horse. Wang Anshi was angry and submitted a memorial requesting arrest and punishment. Censor Cai Que said, "Palace guards merely stand in attendance on the sovereign; a chief minister riding where he should dismount was properly stopped." The emperor finally had the guards beaten with rods and expelled the inner attendants, but Wang Anshi was still dissatisfied. Wang Shao opened the Xihe region and reported merit; because Wang Anshi had led the deliberation, the emperor removed the jade belt he was wearing and bestowed it on him.
18
七年春，天下久旱，饑民流離，帝憂形於色，對朝嗟歎，欲盡罷法度之不善者。 安石曰：「水旱常數，堯、湯所不免，此不足招聖慮，但當修人事以應之。」 帝曰：「此豈細事，朕所以恐懼者，正為人事之未修爾。 今取免行錢太重，人情咨怨，至出不遜語。 自近臣以至后族，無不言其害。 兩宮泣下，憂京師亂起，以為天旱，更失人心。」 安石曰：「近臣不知為誰，若兩宮有言，乃向經、曹佾所為爾。」 馮京曰：「臣亦聞之。」 安石曰：「士大夫不逞者以京為歸，故京獨聞其言，臣未之聞也。」 監安上門鄭俠上疏，繪所見流民扶老攜幼困苦之狀，為圖以獻，曰：「旱由安石所致。 去安石，天必雨。」 俠又坐竄嶺南。 慈聖、宣仁二太后流涕謂帝曰：「安石亂天下。」 帝亦疑之，遂罷為觀文殿大學士、知江寧府，自禮部侍郎超九轉為吏部尚書。
In the spring of the seventh year drought had long afflicted the realm; starving people wandered in exile; worry showed on the emperor's face; he sighed at court and wished to abolish entirely the harmful parts of the new laws. Wang Anshi said, "Flood and drought are regular occurrences that even Yao and Tang could not avoid; this is not worth the sage's concern—one need only cultivate human affairs to respond." The emperor said, "How is this a small matter? What I fear is precisely that human affairs have not been properly managed. Now the collection of exemption-from-service money is too heavy; popular sentiment complains and resents, even to the point of uttering disrespectful words. From close ministers to the empress's kin, none failed to speak of its harm. The two palaces wept, fearing disorder would rise in the capital, thinking that with Heaven's drought they would lose popular support even more." Wang Anshi said, "I do not know which close ministers; if the two palaces spoke, it was the doing of Xiang Jing and Cao Yi." Feng Jing said, "Your servant also heard it." Wang Anshi said, "Unruly officials and gentry take Jing as their refuge, so Jing alone heard their words; I did not hear them." Supervisor of the Gate of Peaceful Rule Zheng Xia submitted a memorial, painting the distressed condition of refugees he saw supporting the old and leading the young, making a picture to present, saying, "The drought was caused by Wang Anshi. Remove Wang Anshi and Heaven will surely rain." Xia was again punished by exile to Lingnan. Empress Dowagers Cisheng and Xuanren wept and said to the emperor, "Wang Anshi has thrown the realm into disorder." The emperor also doubted him and thereupon removed him as Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and prefect of Jiangning, leapfrogging nine ranks from Vice Minister of Rites to Minister of Personnel.
19
呂惠卿服闋，安石朝夕汲引之，至是，白為參知政事，又乞召韓絳代己。 二人守其成謨，不少失，時號絳為「傳法沙門」，惠卿為「護法善神」。 而惠卿實欲自得政，忌安石復來，因鄭俠獄陷其弟安國，又起李士寧獄以傾安石。 絳覺其意，密白帝請召之。 八年二月，復拜相，安石承命，即倍道來。 《三經義》成，加尚書左僕射兼門下侍郎，以子雱為龍圖閣直學士。 雱辭，惠卿勸帝允其請，由是嫌隙愈著。 惠卿為蔡承禧所擊，居家俟命。 雱風御史中丞鄧綰，復彈惠卿與知華亭縣張若濟為奸利事，置獄鞫之，惠卿出守陳。
When Lü Huiqing's mourning period ended, Wang Anshi drew him in morning and evening; at this time he recommended him as Vice Grand Councillor and also asked to summon Han Jiang to replace himself. The two men kept to his established plans without much deviation; at the time Jiang was called the 'Dharma-transmitting monk' and Huiqing the 'Dharma-protecting good spirit.' But Huiqing in fact wished to take power himself, feared Wang Anshi's return, used the Zheng Xia case to trap his younger brother Anguo, and also raised the Li Shining case to topple Wang Anshi. Jiang perceived his intent and secretly told the emperor, asking to summon Wang Anshi back. In the second month of the eighth year he was again appointed chief minister; Wang Anshi accepted the order and immediately came by forced marches. When the Three Classics with Commentary was completed, he was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrent Vice Director of the Chancellery; his son Pang was made Direct Academician of the Hall of Dragon Images. Pang declined; Huiqing urged the emperor to grant his request, and from this mutual suspicion grew ever more evident. Huiqing was attacked by Cai Chengxi and stayed home awaiting orders. Pang incited Censor-in-Chief Deng Wan to again impeach Huiqing and Magistrate of Huating County Zhang Ruoji for corrupt profit; a case was set up to interrogate them, and Huiqing was sent out as prefect of Chen.
20
十月，彗出東方，詔求直言，及詢政事之未協於民者。 安石率同列疏言：「晉武帝五年，彗出軫； 十年，又有孛。 而其在位二十八年，與《乙巳占》所期不合。 蓋天道遠，先王雖有官占，而所信者人事而已。 天文之變無窮，上下傅會，豈無偶合。 周公、召公，豈欺成王哉。 其言中宗享國日久，則曰『嚴恭寅畏，天命自度，治民不敢荒寧』。 其言夏、商多歷年所，亦曰『德』而已。 裨灶言火而驗，欲禳之，國僑不聽，則曰『不用吾言，鄭又將火』。 僑終不聽，鄭亦不火。 有如裨灶，未免妄誕，況今星工哉？ 所傳占書，又世所禁，謄寫偽誤，尤不可知。 陛下盛德至善，非特賢于中宗，周、召所言，則既閱而盡之矣，豈須愚瞽復有所陳。 竊聞兩宮以此為憂，望以臣等所言，力行開慰。」 帝曰：「聞民間殊苦新法。」 安石曰：「祁寒暑雨，民猶怨咨，此無庸恤。」 帝曰：「豈若並祁寒暑雨之怨亦無邪？」 安石不悅，退而屬疾臥，帝慰勉起之。 其黨謀曰：「今不取上素所不喜者暴進用之，則權輕，將有窺人間隙者。」 安石是其策。 帝喜其出，悉從之。 時出師安南，諜得其露布，言：「中國作青苗、助役之法，窮困生民。 我今出兵，欲相拯濟。」 安石怒，自草敕榜詆之。
In the tenth month a comet appeared in the east; an edict sought forthright speech and inquired about governmental affairs not in accord with the people. Wang Anshi led his colleagues in a memorial saying, "In the fifth year of Emperor Wu of Jin, a comet appeared in Zhen. In the tenth year there was again a broom star. Yet he reigned twenty-eight years, not matching what the Yisi Prognostications expected. Heaven's Way is distant; though the ancient kings had official divination, what they trusted was human affairs alone. Astronomical changes are endless; above and below people attach meanings—how could there not be chance correspondences? The Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao—would they deceive King Cheng? When they spoke of Zhongzong's long reign, they said, 'Solemn and reverent, in awe of Heaven's mandate, measuring himself—governing the people he dared not be negligent in repose.' When they spoke of Xia and Shang lasting many years, they also spoke only of 'virtue.' Pi Zao spoke of fire and it came true; wishing to avert it, Zichan would not listen, so he said, 'If you do not use my words, Zheng will again have fire.' Zichan in the end would not listen, and Zheng did not burn. Even one like Pi Zao could not avoid being wild and absurd—how much more today's star officials? The prognostic texts handed down were also banned by the age; copied with forgeries and errors, they were especially unreliable. Your Majesty's flourishing virtue is utmost good, not merely surpassing Zhongzong; what the Duke of Zhou and the Duke of Shao spoke of, you have already examined and fulfilled—why need foolish blind men to state anything again? I have privately heard the two palaces worry over this; I hope Your Majesty will earnestly use what we have said to reassure and comfort them." The emperor said, "I hear the people suffer greatly from the New Policies." Wang Anshi said, "In cold and heat, in drought and rain, the people still complain—this need not be worried over." The emperor said, "Would it not be better to have no complaints even about cold and heat, drought and rain?" Wang Anshi was displeased, withdrew and claimed illness; the emperor consoled and urged him to rise. His partisans plotted, saying, "If we do not now abruptly advance and use those the emperor has always disliked, our power will be weakened and others will spy for openings." Wang Anshi approved this plan. The emperor was pleased at his return and followed it all. At the time troops were sent against Annam; spies obtained their proclamation, which said, "China has made Green Sprouts and assistance-for-corvée laws that exhaust and distress the living people. I now send out troops wishing to rescue and relieve them." Wang Anshi was angry and personally drafted an edict and placard to denounce them.
21
華亭獄久不成，雱以屬門下客呂嘉問、練亨甫共議，取鄧綰所列惠卿事，雜他書下制獄，安石不知也。 省吏告惠卿于陳，惠卿以狀聞，且訟安石曰：「安石盡棄所學，隆尚縱橫之末數，方命矯令，罔上要君。 此數惡力行於年歲之間，雖古之失志倒行而逆施者，殆不如此。」 又發安石私書曰：「無使上知」者。 帝以示安石，安石謝無有，歸以問雱，雱言其情，安石咎之。 雱憤恚，疽發背死。 安石暴綰罪，云「為臣子弟求官及薦臣婿蔡卞」，遂與亨甫皆得罪。 綰始以附安石居言職，及安石與呂惠卿相傾，綰極力助攻惠卿。 上頗厭安石所為，綰懼失勢，屢留之於上，其言無所顧忌； 亨甫險薄，諂事雱以進，至是皆斥。
The Huating case long failed to conclude; Pang entrusted it to his retainers Lü Jiawen and Lian Hengfu; they took the matters Deng Wan had listed against Huiqing, mixed them with other documents, and sent them down to the imperial prison without Wang Anshi's knowledge. A provincial clerk reported to Huiqing in Chen; Huiqing reported the matter and also sued Wang Anshi, saying, "Wang Anshi has entirely abandoned what he learned, exalting the petty arts of the strategists, defying orders and falsifying commands, deceiving and coercing the ruler. These evils were forcefully practiced within a few years; even those of old who lost their purpose and acted perversely were probably not like this." He also exposed Wang Anshi's private letter saying, "Do not let the emperor know." The emperor showed it to Wang Anshi; he apologized that there was none; returning home he asked Pang, and Pang spoke the truth; Wang Anshi blamed him. Pang, indignant and resentful, developed a carbuncle on his back and died. Wang Anshi publicly exposed Wan's crimes, saying he sought office for his clansmen and disciples and recommended his son-in-law Cai Bian; thereupon both he and Hengfu were punished. Wan at first attached himself to Wang Anshi to hold a remonstrance post; when Wang Anshi and Lü Huiqing contended with each other, Wan exerted himself to the utmost to assist in attacking Huiqing. The emperor was quite weary of what Wang Anshi did; Wan feared losing power and repeatedly kept him before the emperor; his words were without any scruple. Hengfu was treacherous and shallow, fawning on Pang to advance; at this time all were expelled.
22
安石之再相也，屢謝病求去，及子雱死，尤悲傷不堪，力請解幾務。 上益厭之，罷為鎮南軍節度使、同平章事、判江寧府。 明年，改集禧觀使，封舒國公。 屢乞還將相印。 元豐二年，復拜左僕射、觀文殿大學士。 換特進，改封荊。 哲宗立，加司空。
When Wang Anshi was chief minister again, he repeatedly pleaded illness and asked to leave; when his son Pang died, he was especially grief-stricken and unable to bear it, and forcefully asked to be relieved of urgent affairs. The emperor grew ever more weary of him and removed him as Military Commissioner of the Zhennan Army, Associate Grand Councillor, and administrator of Jiangning Prefecture. The following year he was changed to Commissioner of the Jixi Abbey and enfeoffed as Duke of Shu. He repeatedly asked to return the seals of general and minister. In 1079 he was again appointed Left Vice Director and Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature. He was granted Special Advancement and his enfeoffment was changed to Jing. When Emperor Zhezong ascended, he was promoted to Minister of Works.
23
元祐元年，卒，年六十八，贈太傅。 紹聖中，諡曰「文」，配享神宗廟庭。 崇寧三年，又配食文宣王廟，列于顏、孟之次，追封舒王。 欽宗時，楊時以為言，詔停之。 高宗用趙鼎、呂聰問言，停宗廟配享，削其王封。
In 1086 he died, aged sixty-eight, and was posthumously granted Grand Tutor. During Shaosheng he was given the posthumous title Wen and granted a place in sacrificial rites at Emperor Shenzong's temple. In 1104, he was again granted a place in the sacrificial rites at Confucius's temple, ranked after Yan Hui and Mencius, and posthumously enfeoffed as King of Shu. During Emperor Qinzong's reign, Yang Shi raised the issue, and an edict put a stop to it. Emperor Gaozong, following the advice of Zhao Ding and Lü Congwen, ended his place in the ancestral temple sacrifices and revoked his princely title.
24
初，安石訓釋《詩》、《書》、《周禮》，既成，頒之學官，天下號曰「新義」。 晚居金陵，又作《字說》，多穿鑿傅會。 其流入於佛、老。 一時學者，無敢不傳習，主司純用以取士，士莫得自名一說，先儒傳注，一切廢不用。 黜《春秋》之書，不使列於學官，至戲目為「斷爛朝報」。
Early on, Wang Anshi wrote commentaries on the Classic of Poetry, the Classic of Documents, and the Rites of Zhou. When they were complete, they were issued to the state schools, and the world called them the New Meaning. In his later years, living in Jinling, he also wrote the Explaining Characters, which relied heavily on forced and arbitrary readings. Its influence flowed into Buddhism and Daoism. For a time scholars dared not fail to transmit and study them; chief examiners used them exclusively to select officials; scholars could not advance a doctrine of their own; traditional Confucian commentaries were entirely abolished. The Spring and Autumn Annals was demoted and excluded from the state schools, even mockingly called a 'chopped-up court gazette.'
25
安石未貴時，名震京師，性不好華腴，自奉至儉，或衣垢不澣，面垢不洗，世多稱其賢。 蜀人蘇洵獨曰：「是不近人情者，鮮不為大奸慝。」 作《辯姦論》以刺之，謂王衍、盧杞合為一人。
Before Wang Anshi rose to eminence, his name shook the capital; by nature he disdained luxury and lived extremely frugally, sometimes wearing unwashed clothes and an unwashed face, and the world mostly praised him as worthy. Su Xun of Shu alone said, "One who is not close to human feeling rarely fails to become a great villain." He wrote the Discourse on Distinguishing Villainy to satirize him, saying Wang Yan and Lu Qi combined in one person.
26
安石性強忮，遇事無可否，自信所見，執意不回。 至議變法，而在廷交執不可，安石傅經義，出己意，辯論輒數百言，眾不能詘。 甚者謂「天變不足畏，祖宗不足法，人言不足恤。」 罷黜中外老成人幾盡，多用門下儇慧少年。 久之，以旱引去，洎復相，歲餘罷，終神宗世不復召，凡八年。 子雱。
Wang Anshi's nature was strong and jealous; encountering affairs he would neither approve nor disapprove, trusting his own views and holding to his intent without turning back. When it came to debating reform, those at court all insisted it could not be done; Wang Anshi applied classical meaning and brought forth his own intent, debating at length each time, and none could refute him. To an extreme he said, "Heavenly changes are not worth fearing, the ancestors are not worth taking as models, people's words are not worth heeding." He dismissed and expelled mature and established men inside and outside court almost entirely, and mostly used clever young men among his followers. After a long time he withdrew on account of drought; when he again became chief minister, after a year and more he was removed; through Emperor Shenzong's reign he was never again summoned—for eight years in all. His son Pang.
27
子雱
Son: Pang
28
雱，字元澤。 為人慓悍陰刻，無所顧忌。 性敏甚，未冠，已著書數萬言。 年十三，得秦卒言洮、河事，歎曰：「此可撫而有也。 使西夏得之，則吾敵強而邊患博矣。」 其後王韶開熙河，安石力主其議，蓋兆於此。 舉進士，調旌德尉。
Pang, styled Yuanze. As a man he was fierce, bold, secretive, and cutting, without any scruple. His nature was extremely keen; before coming of age he had already written books of tens of thousands of words. At age thirteen, hearing a Qin soldier speak of Tao and He affairs, he sighed and said, "This can be pacified and possessed. If Western Xia obtains it, our enemy will grow strong and border troubles will multiply." Later when Wang Shao opened the Xihe region, Wang Anshi forcefully led the deliberation—the omen was here. He passed the jinshi examination and was assigned as defender of Jingde.
29
雱氣豪，睥睨一世，不能作小官。 作策二十餘篇，極論天下事，又作《老子訓傳》及《佛書義解》，亦數萬言。 時安石執政，所用多少年，雱亦欲預選，乃與父謀曰：「執政子雖不可預事，而經筵可處。」 安石欲上知而自用，乃以雱所作策及注《道德經》鏤板鬻於市，遂傳達於上。 鄧綰、曾布又力薦之，召見，除太子中允、崇政殿說書。 神宗數留與語，受詔注《詩》、《書》義，擢天章閣待制兼侍講。 書成，遷龍圖閣直學士，以病辭不拜。
Pang's spirit was bold; he looked down on the age and could not serve as a petty official. He wrote more than twenty policy essays, arguing to the utmost on affairs under Heaven, and also wrote Exegesis and Commentary on the Laozi and Explanations of Buddhist Texts, also tens of thousands of words. At the time Wang Anshi held power and mostly used young men; Pang also wished to be selected in advance, and plotted with his father, saying, "A chief minister's son though he cannot participate in affairs, the classics lecture seat can be occupied." Wang Anshi wished the emperor to know and use him himself, and so had Pang's policy essays and commentary on the Classic of the Way and Virtue carved on blocks and sold in the market, thus reaching the emperor. Deng Wan and Zeng Bu again forcefully recommended him; he was summoned for an audience and appointed Palace Attendant and Lecturer at the Hall of Esteeming Governance. Emperor Shenzong repeatedly kept him to converse; he received an edict to annotate the meaning of the Odes and Documents and was promoted to Awaiting Orders at the Hall of Heavenly Manifestation and concurrent Lecturer. When the book was complete, he was transferred to Direct Academician of the Hall of Dragon Images; on account of illness he declined and did not accept.
30
安石更張政事，雱實導之。 常稱商鞅為豪傑之士，言不誅異議者法不行。 安石與程顥語，雱囚首跣足，攜婦人冠以出，問父所言何事，曰：「以新法數為人所阻，故與程君議。」 雱大言曰：「梟韓琦、富弼之頭於市，則法行矣。」 安石遽曰：「兒誤矣。」 卒時才三十三，特贈左諫議大夫。
Wang Anshi reformed government affairs; Pang in fact guided it. He often called Shang Yang a heroic and outstanding man, saying that unless dissenters were executed the law would not be carried out. Wang Anshi was speaking with Cheng Hao; Pang came out with bound head and bare feet, carrying a woman's cap, and asked what his father was discussing; he said, "Because the New Policies are repeatedly blocked by people, I am discussing with Master Cheng." Pang spoke loudly, "Display Han Qi and Fu Bi's heads in the market, and the law will be carried out." Wang Anshi hastily said, "My son is mistaken." When he died he was only thirty-three; he was specially granted Left Remonstrance Grandee.
31
唐坰 〈附〉
Tang Jiong 〈Appendix〉
32
唐坰者，以父任得官。 熙甯初，上書云：「秦二世制于趙高，乃失之弱，非失之強。」 神宗悅其言。 又云：「青苗法不行，宜斬大臣異議如韓琦者數人。」 安石尤喜之，薦使對，賜進士出身，為崇文校書。 上薄其人，除知錢塘縣。 安石欲留之，乃令鄧綰薦為御史，遂除太子中允。 數月，將用為諫官，安石疑其輕脫，將背己立名，不除職，以本官同知諫院，非故事也。
Tang Jiong obtained office through his father's privilege. At the beginning of Xining he submitted a memorial saying, "Qin Ershi was controlled by Zhao Gao—this was a failure of weakness, not a failure of strength." Emperor Shenzong was pleased with his words. He also said, "If the Green Sprouts Law is not carried out, several great ministers who dissent like Han Qi should be beheaded." Wang Anshi was especially pleased with him, recommended him for an audience, granted jinshi status, and made him Proofreader of the Chongwen Library. The emperor looked down on him as a person and appointed him prefect of Qiantang County. Wang Anshi wished to keep him and so had Deng Wan recommend him as censor; he was then appointed Palace Attendant. After several months, when he was about to be used as a remonstrating official, Wang Anshi suspected he was frivolous and would turn against him to make a name; he did not grant the post but made him with his original rank concurrent director of the Remonstrance Academy—not precedent.
33
坰果怒安石易己，凡奏二十疏，論時事，皆留中不出。 乃因百官起居日，扣陛請對，上令諭以他日，坰伏地不起，遂召升殿。 坰至御坐前，進曰：「臣所言，皆大臣不法，請對陛下一一陳之。」 乃措笏展疏，目安石曰：「王安石近御坐，聽劄子。」 安石遲遲，坰訶曰：「陛下前猶敢如此，在外可知！」 安石悚然而進。 坰大聲宣讀，凡六十條，大略以「安石專作威福，曾布等表裏擅權，天下但知憚安石威權，不復知有陛下。 文彥博、馮京知而不敢言。 王珪曲事安石，無異廝僕。」 且讀且目珪，珪慚懼俛首。 「元絳、薛向、陳繹，安石頤指氣使，無異家奴。 張琥、李定為安石爪牙，臺官張商英乃安石鷹犬。 逆意者雖賢為不肖，附己者雖不肖為賢。」 至詆為李林甫、盧杞。 上屢止之，坰慷慨自若，略不退懾。 讀已，下殿再拜而退。 侍臣衛士，相顧失色，安石為之請去。 閣門糾其瀆亂朝儀，貶潮州別駕。 鄧綰申救之，且自劾繆舉。 安石曰：「此素狂，不足責。」 改監廣州軍資庫，後徙吉州酒稅，卒官。
Jiong indeed grew angry that Wang Anshi had slighted him; in all he submitted twenty memorials discussing current affairs, all kept within and not issued. Thereupon on the day of officials' attendance he knocked on the steps requesting an audience; the emperor ordered him told another day; Jiong prostrated himself and would not rise, and was then summoned to ascend the hall. Jiong came before the imperial seat and advanced, saying, "What I speak of are all great ministers' unlawful acts; I request to state them one by one to Your Majesty." Thereupon he placed his tablet and unfolded his memorial, eyeing Wang Anshi and saying, "Wang Anshi, approach the imperial seat and listen to the memorial." Wang Anshi hesitated; Jiong shouted, "Before Your Majesty you still dare to be like this—outside one can imagine!" Wang Anshi, startled, advanced. Jiong loudly read aloud, in all sixty articles, roughly stating, "Wang Anshi monopolizes authority and favor; Zeng Bu and others inside and outside usurp power; all under Heaven knows only to fear Wang Anshi's authority and no longer knows there is Your Majesty. Wen Yanbo and Feng Jing knew but dared not speak. Wang Gui curried favor with Wang Anshi, no different from a servant." As he read he eyed Gui; Gui, ashamed and afraid, bowed his head. Yuan Jiang, Xue Xiang, and Chen Yi—Wang Anshi orders them with chin and breath like household slaves. Zhang Hu and Li Ding are Wang Anshi's claws and teeth; censorate official Zhang Shangying is Wang Anshi's hawk and hound. Those who oppose his intent, though worthy, are treated as unworthy; those who attach to him, though unworthy, are treated as worthy. He even denounced him as Li Linfu and Lu Qi. The emperor repeatedly stopped him; Jiong was passionate and at ease, not retreating or flinching in the least. When the reading was done, he descended the hall, bowed twice, and withdrew. Attendant ministers and guards looked at each other in alarm; Wang Anshi asked to leave on his account. The Gate Office impeached him for profaning and disrupting court ritual; he was demoted to Vice Prefect of Chaozhou. Deng Wan pleaded for him and also impeached himself for mistaken recommendation. Wang Anshi said, "This one has always been mad—not worth blaming." He was changed to supervisor of the Guangzhou military supplies storehouse; later transferred to wine tax in Jizhou; he died in office.
34
論曰：朱熹嘗論安石「以文章節行高一世，而尤以道德經濟為己任。 被遇神宗，致位宰相，世方仰其有為，庶幾復見二帝三王之盛。 而安石乃汲汲以財利兵革為先務，引用凶邪，排擯忠直，躁迫強戾，使天下之人，囂然喪其樂生之心。 卒之群奸嗣虐，流毒四海，至於崇寧、宣和之際，而禍亂極矣」。 此天下之公言也。 昔神宗欲命相，問韓琦曰：「安石何如？」 對曰：「安石為翰林學士則有餘，處輔弼之地則不可。」 神宗不聽，遂相安石。 嗚呼！ 此雖宋氏之不幸，亦安石之不幸也。
The commentary says: Zhu Xi once discussed Wang Anshi: "With literary accomplishment and integrity surpassing his age, and especially taking moral governance and statecraft as his own charge. Favored by Emperor Shenzong, he rose to the position of chief minister; the age looked up to his capacity for action, hoping almost to see again the glory of the Two Emperors and Three Kings. Yet Wang Anshi was urgently taking wealth, profit, and military reform as first priorities, employing the vicious and wicked, expelling the loyal and upright, rash, pressing, strong, and perverse, causing the people of the realm clamorously to lose their joy in living. In the end wicked men succeeded in cruelty, spreading poison through the four seas, until the era of Chongning and Xuanhe, when calamity and disorder reached its extreme." This is the public verdict of the realm. Formerly when Emperor Shenzong wished to appoint a chief minister, he asked Han Qi, "What of Wang Anshi?" He replied, "Wang Anshi as Hanlin Academician would be more than sufficient; in the place of chief minister he would not do." Emperor Shenzong did not listen and thereupon made Wang Anshi chief minister. Alas! Though this was the misfortune of the Song house, it was also the misfortune of Wang Anshi.
35
王安禮
Wang Anli
36
王安禮，字和甫，安石之弟也。 早登科，從河東唐介辟。 熙寧中，鄜延路城囉兀，河東發民四萬負餉，宣撫使韓絳檄使佐役，後帥呂公弼將從之。 安禮爭曰：「民兵不習武事，今驅之深入，此不為寇所乘，則凍餓而死爾，宜亟罷遣。」 公弼用其言，民得歸，而他路遇敵者，全軍皆覆。 公弼執安禮手言曰：「四萬之眾，豈偶然哉。 果有陰德，相與共之。」
Wang Anli, styled Hefu, was Wang Anshi's younger brother. He passed the examination early and followed Tang Jie of Hedong as a recruit. During Xining, on the Fuyan circuit they fortified Luowu; Hedong mobilized forty thousand people to carry supplies; Pacification Commissioner Han Jiang ordered him to assist in the labor; later Commander Lü Gongbi was about to follow this. Anli contested, saying, "Militia do not practice military affairs; now driving them deep in—if they are not taken advantage of by bandits, they will die of cold and hunger; they should be quickly dismissed and sent back." Gongbi used his words; the people were able to return, while on other routes those who encountered the enemy—the entire army was destroyed. Gongbi took Anli's hand and said, "Forty thousand people—is this accidental? Truly there is hidden virtue; let us share it together."
37
初，絳專爵賞，既上最，多失實，公弼以狀聞。 詔即河東議功，公弼將受之。 安禮曰：「宣撫使以宰相節制諸道，且許便宜，封授一有不韙，人猶得非之。 公藩臣，乃欲隃進功狀于非其任邪？」 公弼遽辭。 遂薦安禮於朝，神宗召對，欲驟用之。 安石當國，辭，以為著作佐郎、崇文院校書。 他日得見，命之坐，有司言八品官無賜坐者，特命之。 遷直集賢院，出知潤州、湖州，召為開封府判官。 嘗偕尹奏事，既退，獨留訪以天下事，帝甚鄉納。 直舍人院、同修起居注。
Initially Jiang monopolized enfeoffments and rewards; when he submitted his final report, much was untrue; Gongbi reported the matter. An edict ordered merit to be discussed right in Hedong; Gongbi was about to accept it. Anli said, "The Pacification Commissioner, as chief minister commanding the circuits, was also permitted discretionary power—if a single enfeoffment or grant was improper, people could still criticize it. You are a frontier minister—do you wish to secretly advance a merit report beyond your charge?" Gongbi hastily declined. Thereupon he recommended Anli to court; Emperor Shenzong summoned him for an audience and wished to promote him rapidly. Wang Anshi was directing the state; Anli declined and was made Assistant Editor and Proofreader of the Chongwen Library. On another day when he received an audience, the emperor ordered him seated. The officials said that eighth-rank officials were not granted seats, but the emperor specially ordered it. He was transferred to the Directorship of the Jixian Academy, went out as prefect of Run and Hu prefectures, and was recalled as vice prefect of Kaifeng. Once when he appeared with the prefect to report on affairs, after withdrawing he alone was kept behind and questioned about affairs under Heaven; the emperor was greatly inclined to accept his views. Director of the Secretariat Academy and concurrent Compiler of the Daily Record.
38
蘇軾下御史獄，勢危甚，無敢救者。 安禮從容言：「自古大度之主，不以言語罪人。 軾以才自奮，謂爵位可立取，顧錄錄如此，其心不能無觖望。 今一旦致於理，恐後世謂陛下不能容才。」 帝曰：「朕固不深譴也，行為卿貰之。 卿第去，勿漏言，軾方賈怨於眾，恐言者緣以害卿也。」 李定、張璪皆擿使勿救，安禮不答，軾以故得輕比。
When Su Shi was imprisoned by the censorate, his situation was extremely perilous and none dared rescue him. Anli said calmly, "Since ancient times, magnanimous rulers have not punished people for their words. Shi relied on his talent to exert himself, thinking rank and title could be quickly obtained; yet he ended up like this, and his heart could not be without resentment. Now if he is suddenly brought to justice, I fear later ages will say Your Majesty cannot tolerate talent." The emperor said, "I in fact will not deeply punish him; soon I will pardon him for your sake. You just go and do not leak a word; Shi is just now buying resentment from the crowd—I fear critics will use this to harm you." Li Ding and Zhang Zao both prodded him not to rescue; Anli did not reply; Shi for this reason received a light sentence.
39
進知制誥。 彗星見，詔求直言。 安禮上疏曰：「人事失於下，變象見於上。 陛下有仁民愛物之心，而澤不下究，意者左右大臣不均不直，謂忠者為不忠，不賢者為賢，乘權射利者，用力殫於溝瘠，取利究於園夫，足以干陰陽而召星變。 願察親近之行，杜邪枉之門。 至於祈禳小數，貶損舊章，恐非所以應天者。」 帝覽數嘉歎，諭之曰：「王珪欲使卿條具，朕嘗謂不應沮格人言，以自壅障。 今以一指蔽目，雖泰、華在前弗之見，近習蔽其君，何以異此，卿當益自信。」
He was promoted to Drafter of Edicts. A comet appeared; an edict sought forthright speech. Anli submitted a memorial saying, "Human affairs fail below, and change-omens appear above. Your Majesty has a heart that cherishes the people and loves things, yet grace does not reach to the bottom—I suspect the great ministers at your side are uneven and not upright, calling the loyal disloyal and the unworthy worthy; those who seize power to pursue profit exhaust their strength on the emaciated in ditches and extract profit to the utmost from gardeners—enough to disturb yin and yang and summon star changes. I wish that Your Majesty would examine the conduct of those close to you and block the gate of wicked perversity. As for petty prayers and aversions, and demoting old regulations—I fear these are not the way to respond to Heaven." The emperor read it several times with praise and sighs, and instructed him, "Wang Gui wished you to itemize in detail; I once said one should not obstruct and block people's words to self-obstruct. Now to cover the eyes with one finger—even with Mount Tai and Mount Hua before one, one does not see them; close attendants obscuring their ruler—how is this different? You should be ever more confident."
40
以翰林學士知開封府，事至立斷。 前滯訟不得其情，及且按而未論者幾萬人，安禮剖決，未三月，三獄院及畿、赤十九邑，囚繫皆空。 書揭於府前，遼使過而見之，歎息誇異。 帝聞之，喜曰：「昔秦內史廖從容俎豆，以奪由余之謀，今安禮能勤吏事，駭動殊鄰，于古無愧矣。」 特升一階。
As Hanlin Academician he administered Kaifeng Prefecture; when affairs arrived he decided them on the spot. Previously stalled lawsuits whose facts were not obtained, and those detained awaiting judgment, numbered nearly ten thousand; Anli judged and decided them; within not three months, the three prison courts and the nineteen districts of the capital region—all prisoners were released. The notice was posted before the prefecture; a Liao envoy passed and saw it, sighing and praising it as extraordinary. When the emperor heard it, he said with pleasure, "Formerly Qin's Interior Scribe Liao, at ease with ritual vessels, took away Youyu's stratagem; now Anli can diligently manage official affairs and startle distant neighbors—in antiquity he would be without shame." He was specially promoted one rank.
41
帝數失皇子，太史言民墓多迫京城，故不利國嗣，詔悉改卜，無虜數十萬計，眾洶懼。 安禮諫曰：「文王卜世三十，其政先於掩骼埋胔，未聞遷人之塚以利其嗣者。」 帝惻然而罷。
The emperor repeatedly lost imperial sons; the Grand Astrologer said common people's graves mostly pressed on the capital, hence unfavorable to the imperial heir; an edict ordered all to be reburied—graves numbered in the hundreds of thousands; the crowd was in uproar and fear. Anli remonstrated, saying, "King Wen divined thirty generations for his house; his government put first covering exposed bones and burying flesh—I have never heard of moving people's graves to benefit one's heir." The emperor, moved to compassion, stopped it.
42
邏者連得匿名書告人不軌，所涉百餘家。 帝付安禮曰：「亟治之。」 安禮驗所指，皆略同，最後一書加三人，有姓薛者，安禮喜曰：「吾得之矣。」 呼問薛曰：「若豈有素不快者耶？」 曰有持筆來售者，拒之，鞅鞅去，其意似見銜。 即命捕訊，果其所為也。 即梟其首於市，不逮一人，京師謂為神明。
Patrol officers continuously obtained anonymous letters reporting people's misconduct; more than a hundred households were involved. The emperor handed it to Anli, saying, "Quickly investigate it." Anli verified those indicated—all were roughly the same; the last letter added three people, one surnamed Xue; Anli said with pleasure, "I have got it." He called and asked Xue, "Do you perhaps have someone with whom you have long been displeased?" He said there was one who came selling brushes; he refused him; the man left resentfully—his intent seemed to show grievance. He immediately ordered arrest and interrogation; it was indeed his doing. He immediately displayed the man's head in the market; not one person was implicated; the capital called him divine.
43
宗室令騑以數十萬錢買妾，久而斥歸之，訴府督元直。 安禮視妾，既火敗其面矣，即奏言：「妾之所以直數十萬者，以姿首也，今炙敗之，則不復可鬻，此與炮烙之刑何異。 請勿理其直而加厚譴，以為戒。」 詔從之，仍奪令騑俸。
A clansman, Commandant Fei, bought a concubine for several hundred thousand cash; after a long time he dismissed and returned her; she sued the prefecture to compel return of the original price. Anli looked at the concubine—her face had already been burned and ruined; he immediately memorialized, "The reason the concubine was worth several hundred thousand was her appearance; now having burned and ruined it, she can no longer be sold—how is this different from the branding torture? I request that the original price not be adjudicated but that heavy punishment be added as a warning." An edict followed this and moreover stripped Commandant Fei of his salary.
44
後宮造油箔，約三年損者反其價，才一年有損者，中官持詣府，請如約，詞氣甚厲。 安禮曰：「庸詎非置之不得其地，為風雨燥濕所壞耶。 苟如是，民將無復得直，約不可用也。」 卒不追。 以是宗室、中貴人皆憚之。
The inner palace made oil paper; it was agreed that if damaged within three years the price would be returned; after only one year there was damage; an inner attendant brought it to the prefecture requesting according to the agreement, his tone very fierce. Anli said, "Could it not be that it was not placed in the proper place and was damaged by wind, rain, dryness, and damp? If it is so, the people will never again get their price back—the agreement cannot be used." In the end he did not pursue it. Because of this the clansmen and inner favorites all feared him.
45
元豐四年，初分三省，置執政，拜中大夫、尚書右丞。 轉左丞。 王師問罪夏國，涇原承受梁同奏：「轉運使葉康直餉米，惡不可食。」 帝大怒曰：「貴糴遠餉，反不可用。 徒弊民力于道路，康直可斬也。」 安禮曰：「此一梁同之言，疑未必實，當按之。」 乃遣判官張大寧與同參核，且械繫康直以俟。 既而米可用者什八九，帝意解，赦康直。
In 1081, when the Three Departments were first divided and chief ministers were established, he was appointed Grandee of Palace Attendance and Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. He was transferred to Left Vice Director. The imperial army demanded punishment of the Xia state; Liang Tong, receiver on the Jingyuan circuit, memorialized, "Transport Commissioner Ye Kangzhi's supply grain was foul and inedible." The emperor was greatly angry and said, "Buying dear and supplying from afar—yet it cannot be used. Merely wasting the people's strength on the roads—Kangzhi can be beheaded." Anli said, "This is only Liang Tong's word—I suspect it may not be true; it should be investigated." Thereupon he dispatched Vice Director Zhang Daning to jointly verify with Tong, and moreover shackled and detained Kangzhi to await results. Afterward eight or nine tenths of the grain was usable; the emperor's mind was relieved and Kangzhi was pardoned.
46
是時，伐夏不得志，李憲又欲再舉。 帝以訪輔臣，王珪曰：「向所患者用不足，朝廷今捐錢鈔五百萬緡，以供軍食有餘矣。」 安禮曰：「鈔不可啖，必變而為錢，錢又變為芻粟。 今距出征之期才兩月，安能集事。」 帝曰：「李憲以為已有備，彼宦者能如是，卿等獨無意乎？ 唐平淮蔡，唯裴度謀議與主同。 今乃不出公卿而出於閹寺，朕甚恥之。」 安禮曰：「淮西，三州爾，有裴度之謀，李光顏、李愬之將，然猶引天下之兵力，歷歲而後定。 今夏氏之強非淮蔡比，憲材非度匹，諸將非有光顏、愬輩，臣懼無以副聖意也。」 帝悟而止。 後欲除憲節度使，安禮又以為不可。
At this time the campaign against Xia had not succeeded; Li Xian again wished to launch another. The emperor consulted the assistant ministers; Wang Gui said, "What we previously worried about was insufficient expenditure; the court now contributes five million strings of cash notes—enough to supply army provisions with surplus." Anli said, "Notes cannot be eaten—they must be converted to cash, and cash must be converted to fodder and grain. Now until the date of the expedition there are only two months—how can the matter be gathered in time?" The emperor said, "Li Xian thinks he is already prepared—if that eunuch can be like this, do you alone have no intent? When Tang pacified Huai and Cai, only Pei Du's plans and deliberations agreed with the ruler. Now it does not come from dukes and ministers but from eunuch offices—I am greatly shamed by this." Anli said, "Huaixi was only three prefectures; there were Pei Du's plans and the generals Li Guangyan and Li Su—yet still the military strength of the realm was drawn, and only after years was it settled. Now the Xia state's strength is not comparable to Huai and Cai; Xian's talent is not Pei Du's match; the generals do not have men like Guangyan and Su—I fear we cannot fulfill Your Majesty's intent." The emperor understood and stopped. Later when they wished to appoint Xian military commissioner, Anli again thought it could not be done.
47
御史中丞舒亶上章詆執政，且言：「尚書不置錄目，有旨按吏罪。」 安禮請取臺錄以為式，乃與省中同，遂並列亶他事，亶坐廢。 徐禧計議邊事，安禮曰：「禧志大才疏，必誤國。」 及永樂敗書聞，帝曰：「安禮每勸朕勿用兵，少置獄，蓋為是也。」
Censor-in-Chief Shu Dan submitted a memorial slandering those in power, and also said, "The Department of State Affairs did not establish a record register—there was an order to investigate officials' crimes." Anli requested taking the censorate record as the model—it was the same as in the secretariat; thereupon he also listed Dan's other affairs, and Dan was punished and dismissed. Xu Xi planned and deliberated on border affairs; Anli said, "Xi's ambition is great but his talent sparse—he will surely harm the state." When news of the defeat at Yongle arrived, the emperor said, "Anli always urged me not to use troops and to establish fewer prisons—it was probably for this."
48
久之，御史張汝賢論其過，以端明殿學士知江寧府，汝賢亦罷。 元祐中，加資政殿學士，歷揚、青、蔡三州。 又為御史言，失學士，移舒州。 紹聖初，還職，知永興軍。 二年，知太原府。 苦風痹，臥帳中決事，下不敢欺。 卒，年六十二，贈右銀青光祿大夫。
After a long time Censor Zhang Ruxian discussed his faults; he was made Academician of the Hall of Brilliant Clarity and prefect of Jiangning; Ruxian was also dismissed. During Yuanyou he was promoted to Academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance and served in the three prefectures of Yang, Qing, and Cai. Again on a censor's word he lost his academician rank and was transferred to Shuzhou. At the beginning of Shaosheng he returned to his post and administered Yongxing Army. In the second year he administered Taiyuan Prefecture. He suffered from wind paralysis; lying in his tent he decided affairs, and subordinates dared not deceive him. He died, aged sixty-two, and was posthumously granted Right Silver-Gleaming Grandee of Glorious Affairs.
49
安禮偉風儀，論議明辨，常以經綸自任，而闊略細謹，以故數詒口語云。
Anli had a grand bearing; his discourse was clear and discerning; he often took statecraft as his own charge, yet was broad and negligent in minute care—therefore he repeatedly gave cause for gossip.
50
王安國
Wang Anguo
51
王安國，字平甫，安禮之弟也。 幼敏悟，未嘗從學，而文詞天成。 年十二，出所為詩、銘、論、賦數十篇示人，語皆警拔，遂以文章聞于世，士大夫交口譽之。 於書無所不通，數舉進士，又舉茂材異等，有司考其所獻序言為第一，以母喪不試，廬於墓三年。
Wang Anguo, styled Pingfu, was Anli's younger brother. From youth he was keen and perceptive; he never studied formally, yet his literary words came naturally. At age twelve he produced several tens of poems, inscriptions, discourses, and rhapsodies he had written to show people; the language was all striking and elevated, and he thereby became known to the world for his literary works; officials and gentry praised him with one voice. In books there was nothing he did not master; he repeatedly passed the jinshi examination and also passed the Exceptional Talent examination; the officials judged his submitted preface first; on account of mourning for his mother he did not test and built a hut at the grave for three years.
52
熙寧初，韓絳薦其材行，召試，賜及第，除西京國子教授。 官滿，至京師，上以安石故，賜對。 帝曰：「卿學問通古今，以漢文帝為何如主？」 對曰：「三代以後未有也。」 帝曰：「但恨其才不能立法更制爾。」 對曰：「文帝自代來，入未央宮，定變故俄頃呼吸間，恐無才者不能。 至用賈誼言，待群臣有節，專務以德化民，海內興於禮義，幾致刑措，則文帝加有才一等矣。」 帝曰：「王猛佐苻堅，以蕞爾國而令必行，今朕以天下之大，不能使人，何也？」 曰：「猛教堅以峻刑法殺人，致秦祚不傳世，今刻薄小人，必有以是誤陛下者。 願顓以堯、舜、三代為法，則下豈有不從者乎。」 又問：「卿兄秉政，外論謂何？」 曰：「恨知人不明，聚斂太急爾。」 帝默然不悅，由是別無恩命，止授崇文院校書，後改秘閣校理。 屢以新法力諫安石，又質責曾布誤其兄，深惡呂惠卿之奸。
At the beginning of Xining Han Jiang recommended his talent and conduct; he was summoned for testing, granted passing rank, and appointed Professor of the Western Capital Imperial Academy. When his term was complete he came to the capital; because of Wang Anshi the emperor granted him an audience. The emperor said, "Your learning extends through antiquity and the present—what kind of ruler was Emperor Wen of Han?" He replied, "Since the Three Dynasties there has been none like him." The emperor said, "I only regret that his talent could not establish laws and change institutions." He replied, "From the time Wen came from Dai, entered Weiyang Palace, and settled the crisis in a moment between breaths—I fear one without talent could not have done it. As for using Jia Yi's words, treating the ministers with measure, devoting himself to transforming the people through virtue, raising ritual and righteousness throughout the realm, almost achieving the laying aside of punishments—then Wen was one degree more talented." The emperor said, "Wang Meng assisted Fu Jian—with a tiny state yet orders were surely carried out; now I with the vastness of the realm cannot make people obey—why?" He said, "Meng taught Jian to kill people with harsh punishments, causing Qin's fortune not to pass to another generation; now harsh petty men—there must be those who will use this to mislead Your Majesty. I wish that you would exclusively take Yao, Shun, and the Three Dynasties as models—then would those below have any who would not follow?" He again asked, "Your elder brother holds power—what do outside opinions say?" He said, "They regret that he does not know people clearly and that he collects revenue too urgently." The emperor was silent and displeased; from this there was no other gracious appointment—he was only made Proofreader of the Chongwen Library, later changed to Collator of the Secret Archive. He repeatedly remonstrated with Wang Anshi using the New Policies as leverage, also directly reproached Zeng Bu for misleading his elder brother, and deeply hated Lü Huiqing's wickedness.
53
先是，安國教授西京，頗溺于聲色，安石在相位，以書戒之曰：「宜放鄭聲。」 安國復書曰「亦願兄遠佞人。」 惠卿銜之。 及安石罷相，惠卿遂因鄭俠事陷安國，坐奪官，放歸田里，詔以諭安石，安石對使者泣下。 既而復其官，命下而安國卒，年四十七。
Earlier, when Anguo was professor in the Western Capital, he was quite immersed in music and women; Wang Anshi in the chief minister's position admonished him in a letter, "You should abandon the music of Zheng." Anguo replied in a letter, "I also wish my elder brother would keep far from flatterers." Huiqing harbored resentment over this. When Wang Anshi was removed as chief minister, Huiqing thereupon used the Zheng Xia affair to trap Anguo; he was punished by stripping of office and sent back to the countryside; an edict was sent to inform Wang Anshi, and he wept before the messenger. Soon afterward his office was restored; the order was issued but Anguo died, aged forty-seven.
54
論曰：安石惡蘇軾而安禮救之，昵惠卿而安國折之，議者不以咎二弟也，惟其當而已矣。 安禮為政，有足稱者。 安國早卒，故不見於用云。
The commentary says: Wang Anshi hated Su Shi yet Anli rescued him; he was close to Huiqing yet Anguo rebuked him—critics do not blame the two younger brothers; they acted only as was appropriate. Anli in governing had what is worth praising. Anguo died early, and so was not seen in employment.