1
司馬光
Sima Guang
2
司馬光，字君實，陝州夏縣人也。 父池，天章閣待制。 光生七歲，凜然如成人，聞講《左氏春秋》，愛之，退為家人講，即了其大指。 自是手不釋書，至不知饑渴寒暑。 群兒戲于庭，一兒登甕，足跌沒水中，眾皆棄去，光持石擊甕破之，水迸，兒得活。 其後京、洛間畫以為圖。 仁宗寶元初，中進士甲科。 年甫冠，性不喜華靡，聞喜宴獨不戴花，同列語之曰：「君賜不可違。」 乃簪一枝。
Sima Guang, whose courtesy name was Junshi, came from Xia County in Shaan Province. His father Chi served as a Hanlin Academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns. When Guang was seven, he carried himself with the gravity of a grown man. After hearing the Zuo Commentary to the Spring and Autumn Annals taught, he took to it at once; back at home he explained it to his household and immediately grasped its larger meaning. From that time he scarcely set his books aside, so absorbed that he scarcely noticed hunger, thirst, or the change of seasons. While the neighborhood children were playing in the courtyard, one boy climbed onto a large jar, slipped, and fell into the water inside. Everyone else ran away, but Guang picked up a stone, broke the jar, and let the water rush out so the boy could live. Later the story was painted in pictures throughout the capital region. In the early Baoyuan reign of Emperor Renzong he placed in the top tier of the jinshi examinations. He had only just come of age and by temperament disliked ostentation. At the victory banquet for successful candidates he alone refused the customary floral ornament. His companions told him, "You cannot refuse what the sovereign bestows." So he pinned on a single blossom.
3
除奉禮郎，時池在杭，求簽蘇州判官事以便親，許之。 丁內外艱，執喪累年，毀瘠如禮。 服除，簽書武成軍判官事，改大理評事，補國子直講。 樞密副使龐籍薦為館閣校勘，同知禮院。 中官麥允言死，給鹵簿。 光言：「繁纓以朝，孔子且猶不可。 允言近習之臣，非有元勳大勞而贈以三公官，給一品鹵簿，其視繁纓，不亦大乎！」 夏竦賜諡「文正」，光言：「此諡之至美者，竦何人，可以當之？」 改「文莊」。 加集賢校理。
He received appointment as Gentleman for Ceremonial Observance. His father Chi was then serving in Hangzhou, and Guang asked to be posted as assayer in Suzhou so he could be close to him; the request was approved. When both parents died he observed the full mourning rites for years, wasting away in the manner prescribed by ritual. After mourning he was made noting clerk of the Wucheng Army, then promoted to reviewer in the Court of Judicial Review and given a supplementary post as lecturer in the Directorate of Education. Vice Commissioner Pang Ji of the Bureau of Military Affairs recommended him for collator in the Hall of Literature and concurrent director of the Court of Rites. When the eunuch Mai Yunyan died, the court granted him imperial funeral regalia. Guang objected: "Ornate cap tassels in court dress — even Confucius regarded that as improper. Yunyan was merely a favored intimate of the throne, with no signal merit to his name, yet they would ennoble him posthumously to the rank of a Three Dukes and award first-rank funeral regalia — is that not a far graver breach than ornate tassels?" When Xia Song was given the posthumous epithet Cultured and Correct, Guang protested: "That epithet is the highest honor — what has Song done to deserve it?" The epithet was changed to Cultured and Solemn. He was further appointed collator in the Hall of Assembled Worthies.
4
從龐籍辟，通判并州。 麟州屈野河西多良田，夏人蠶食其地，為河東患。 籍命光按視，光建：「築二堡以制夏人，募民耕之，耕者眾則糴賤，亦可漸紓河東貴糴遠輸之憂。」 籍從其策； 而麟將郭恩勇且狂，引兵夜渡河，不設備，沒於敵，籍得罪去。 光三上書自引咎，不報。 籍沒，光升堂拜其妻如母，撫其子如昆弟，時人賢之。
He joined Pang Ji's staff and was appointed vice prefect of Bingzhou. West of the Quye River in Linzhou lay rich farmland that the Western Xia were encroaching upon, to the great distress of Hedong. Ji sent Guang to survey the ground. Guang recommended: "Erect two fortified posts to check the Western Xia and recruit settlers to farm the land. Once many are farming, grain prices will fall, and that will gradually relieve Hedong's burden of dear grain hauled from afar." Ji adopted his plan; but the Linzhou commander Guo En, bold to the point of rashness, led his men across the river by night without proper precautions and was wiped out by the enemy; Ji was blamed and dismissed. Guang three times memorialized the throne accepting blame himself, but received no answer. After Ji's death Guang went to his home, paid obeisance to his widow as to a mother, and cared for his sons as he would younger brothers — conduct the age admired.
5
改直秘閣、開封府推官。 交趾貢異獸，謂之麟，光言：「真偽不可知，使其真，非自至不足為瑞，願還其獻。」 又奏賦以風。 修起居注，判禮部。 有司奏日當食，故事食不滿分，或京師不見，皆表賀。 光言：「四方見，京師不見，此人君為陰邪所蔽； 天下皆知而朝廷獨不知，其為災當益甚，不當賀。」 從之。
He was reassigned as having direct access to the Secret Repository and as investigating censor in the Kaifeng prefectural court. Jiaozhi sent tribute of a strange creature called a qilin. Guang argued: "We cannot even tell whether it is real; and if it were, a beast that did not arrive unbidden is no true portent. I urge that the tribute be sent back." He also submitted a fu-rhapsody by way of remonstrance. He was put in charge of compiling the Veritable Records and concurrently served as judge of the Ministry of Rites. The relevant offices reported an impending solar eclipse; by precedent, if the eclipse was partial, or if it could not be seen in the capital, officials all submitted congratulatory memorials. Guang objected: "When the eclipse is visible throughout the realm but not in the capital, it means the Son of Heaven is overshadowed by dark and corrupt influences; everyone under Heaven knows while the court alone does not — the omen is only more grave, and congratulations are out of place." The court accepted his view.
6
同知諫院。 蘇轍答制策切直，考官胡宿將黜之，光言：「轍有愛君憂國之心，不宜黜。」 詔置末級。
He was made concurrent director of the Remonstrance Bureau. Su Zhe's policy examination answers were blunt and forthright; the examiner Hu Su was about to fail him. Guang said: "Zhe shows a loyal concern for ruler and realm; he should not be failed." An edict placed him at the bottom of the pass list.
7
仁宗始不豫，國嗣未立，天下寒心而莫敢言。 諫官范鎮首發其議，光在并州聞而繼之，且貽書勸鎮以死爭。 至是，復面言：「臣昔通判并州，所上三章，願陛下果斷力行。」 帝沉思久之，曰：「得非欲選宗室為繼嗣者乎？ 此忠臣之言，但人不敢及耳。」 光曰：「臣言此，自謂必死，不意陛下開納。」 帝曰：「此何害，古今皆有之。」 光退未聞命，復上疏曰：「臣向者進說，意謂即行，今寂無所聞，此必有小人言陛下春秋鼎盛，何遽為不祥之事。 小人無遠慮，特欲倉卒之際，援立其所厚善者耳。 『定策國老』、『門生天子』之禍，可勝言哉？」 帝大感動曰：「送中書。」 光見韓琦等曰：「諸公不及今定議，異日禁中夜半出寸紙，以某人為嗣，則天下莫敢違。」 琦等拱手曰：「敢不盡力。」 未幾，詔英宗判宗正，辭不就，遂立為皇子，又稱疾不入。 光言：「皇子辭不貲之富，至於旬月，其賢於人遠矣。 然父召無諾，君命召不俟駕，願以臣子大義責皇子，宜必入。」 英宗遂受命。
When Emperor Renzong first fell ill and no heir had been named, the empire held its breath, yet no one dared speak openly. The remonstrator Fan Zhen was first to broach the matter; Guang, hearing of it while serving in Bingzhou, followed with his own memorial and wrote urging Zhen to press the point even at the risk of death. Now he spoke again in person: "When I was vice prefect of Bingzhou I submitted three memorials on this; I beg Your Majesty to act with resolution and see them through." The Emperor fell silent a long while, then said: "Are you not asking me to choose an heir from among the imperial clan? That is the counsel of a loyal minister — it is only that no one else dares utter it." Guang said: "When I spoke thus I expected to die for it; I never dreamed Your Majesty would hear me with such openness." The Emperor said: "What harm is there in that? Rulers ancient and modern have done the same." Guang withdrew without receiving orders, then memorialized again: "I meant my earlier counsel to be acted on immediately; now nothing is heard — surely petty men are saying Your Majesty is in the prime of life and asking why you would raise so ill-omened a topic. Such men lack foresight; they only want, when crisis comes in haste, to put on the throne whomever they have long favored. The catastrophes of "the elder statesman who fixed the succession" and "the Son of Heaven who was his pupil's creature" — need I recount them at length?" Deeply moved, the Emperor said: "Send this to the Secretariat." Guang told Han Qi and the others: "Unless you settle the succession now, one night the palace will issue a slip of paper naming an heir, and the whole realm will have no choice but to obey." Qi and the others bowed with folded hands: "We shall spare no effort." Soon an edict named Yingzong to head the Imperial Clan Court; he declined and would not accept. He was then named imperial son, yet again pleaded illness and refused to enter the palace. Guang said: "The prince has refused unearned riches for a month and more — his virtue already sets him far above ordinary men. Yet when a father calls, a son does not refuse; when the sovereign commands, a subject does not wait to yoke his carriage. I urge that the prince be pressed by the great obligations of son and subject — then he will surely come." Yingzong then accepted the appointment.
8
兗國公主嫁李瑋，不相能，詔出瑋衛州，母楊歸其兄璋，主入居禁中。 光言：「陛下追念章懿太后，故使瑋尚主。 今乃母子離析，家事流落，獨無雨露之感乎？ 瑋既黜，主安得無罪？」 帝悟，降主沂國，待李氏恩不衰。 進知制誥，固辭，改天章閣待制兼侍講、知諫院。 時朝政頗姑息，胥史諠譁則逐中執法，輦官悖慢則退宰相，衛士凶逆而獄不窮治，軍卒詈三司使而以為非犯階級。 光言皆陵遲之漸，不可以不正。 充媛董氏薨，贈淑妃，輟朝成服，百官奉慰，定諡，行冊禮，葬給鹵簿。 光言：「董氏秩本微，病革方拜充媛。 古者婦人無諡，近制惟皇后有之。 鹵簿本以賞軍功，未嘗施於婦人。 唐平陽公主有舉兵佐高祖定天下功，乃得給。 至韋庶人始令妃主葬日皆給鼓吹，非令典，不足法。」 時有司定後宮封贈法，后與妃俱贈三代，光論：「妃不當與后同，袁盎引卻慎夫人席，正為此耳。 天聖親郊，太妃止贈二代，而況妃乎？」
The Princess of Yan'guo was married to Li Wei, but the two could not live together. An edict banished Wei to Weizhou, sent the mother Yang back to her brother Zhang, and had the princess take up residence in the inner palace. Guang said: "Your Majesty, remembering Empress Dowager Zhangyi, gave Wei the princess in marriage. Now mother and son are separated and the household is broken up — is there no room for gracious compassion? If Wei is punished, can the princess be held blameless?" The Emperor took his point; the princess was demoted to Princess of Yi'guo, while the Li family continued to enjoy undiminished favor. Promoted to drafter of edicts, he firmly declined; he was instead made Hanlin Academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns, with concurrent posts as lecturer and director of the Remonstrance Bureau. Court governance had grown indulgent: when clerks raised a clamor the middle law officer was dismissed; when palace attendants were rude the chief minister was removed; when guards committed outrage the case was not fully pursued; when soldiers reviled the Commissioner of the Three Departments it was deemed no breach of rank. Guang warned that each was a step toward decline and could not be left unchecked. When Gentle Lady Dong died she was posthumously made Imperial Concubine; the court suspended audiences and wore mourning; officials offered condolences; an epithet was granted; investiture rites were held; and imperial funeral regalia was provided for the burial. Guang objected: "Lady Dong's rank was humble to begin with; only on her deathbed was she made Gentle Lady. In antiquity women received no posthumous epithets; under recent rules only an empress did. Imperial funeral regalia was meant to reward military merit and had never been extended to women. Only Tang's Princess of Pingyang, who raised forces to help Gaozu secure the empire, had been granted such honors. Only under Empress Wei were consorts and princesses first given martial music at burial — a corrupt precedent, not to be imitated." While offices were drafting rules for posthumous honors in the inner palace — empress and consort alike ennobling three generations — Guang argued: "A consort must not rank with an empress; Yuan Ang had Lady Shen's seat moved back for exactly this reason. At the Tiansheng suburban sacrifice the Grand Consort received only two generations of honors — how much less should a mere consort?"
9
英宗立，遇疾，慈聖光獻后同聽政。 光上疏曰：「昔章獻明肅有保佑先帝之功，特以親用外戚小人，負謗海內。 今攝政之際，大臣忠厚如王曾，清純如張知白，剛正如魯宗道，質直如薛奎者，當信用之； 猥鄙如馬季良，讒諂如羅崇勳者，當疏遠之，則天下服。」 帝疾愈，光料必有追隆本生事，即奏言：「漢宣帝為孝昭後，終不追尊衛太子、史皇孫； 光武上繼元帝，亦不追尊鉅鹿、南頓君，此萬世法也。」 後詔兩制集議濮王典禮，學士王珪等相視莫敢先，光獨奮筆書曰：「為人後者為之子，不得顧私親。 王宜凖封贈期親尊屬故事，稱為皇伯，高官大國，極其尊榮。」 議成，珪即命吏以其手稿為按。 既上與大臣意殊，御史六人爭之力，皆斥去。 光乞留之，不可，遂請與俱貶。
When Yingzong came to the throne he fell ill, and Empress Dowager Cisheng Guangxian ruled jointly with him. Guang memorialized: "Empress Zhangxian Mingsu once had the merit of safeguarding the late emperor, yet because she favored petty kinsmen and flatterers she was condemned throughout the realm. In the present regency, ministers as loyal as Wang Zeng, as upright as Zhang Zhibai, as firm as Lu Zongdao, and as direct as Xue Kui should be trusted and used; while men as vile as Ma Jiliang and as deceitful as Luo Chongxun should be kept far off — then the empire will be at ease." When the Emperor recovered, Guang foresaw a push to elevate his biological father and at once memorialized: "Emperor Xuan of Han succeeded Emperor Zhao yet never posthumously honored Crown Prince Wei or the Emperor Grandson; Emperor Guangwu succeeded Emperor Yuan and likewise did not posthumously honor the lords of Julu and Nandun — that is the model for all ages." Later, when an edict ordered the Hanlin academicians to debate rites for the Prince of Pu, Wang Gui and the others exchanged glances and none dared speak first; Guang alone seized his brush and wrote: "He who becomes another's heir is that man's son and must not favor his private kin. Under the precedents for enfeoffment and posthumous honors for close imperial kin, he should be styled Imperial Uncle, with high rank and a great state — the fullest dignity allowed." Once the decision was drafted, Gui at once ordered clerks to take Guang's manuscript as the official record. Once submitted, the decision clashed with the chief ministers; six investigating censors fought it with all their strength and were all expelled. Guang pleaded that they be kept; when refused, he asked to be demoted along with them.
10
初，西夏遣使致祭，延州指使高宜押伴，傲其使者，侮其國主，使者訴于朝。 光與呂誨乞加宜罪，不從。 明年，夏人犯邊，殺略吏士。 趙滋為雄州，專以猛悍治邊，光論其不可。 至是，契丹之民捕魚界河，伐柳白溝之南，朝廷以知雄州李中祐為不材，將代之。 光謂：「國家當戎夷附順時，好與之計較末節，及其桀驁，又從而姑息之。 近者西禍生於高宜，北禍起于趙滋； 時方賢此二人，故邊臣皆以生事為能，漸不可長。 宜敕邊吏，疆場細故輒以矢刃相加者，罪之。」
Earlier the Western Xia had sent envoys to offer condolences; the Yanzhou commander Gao Yi served as companion commissioner, behaved arrogantly toward the envoys, and insulted their ruler; the envoys lodged a complaint at court. Guang and Lü Hui asked that Yi receive a heavier penalty; the court refused. The following year the Western Xia invaded the frontier, killing and plundering officials and troops. Zhao Zi held Xiongzhou and governed the border solely through fierceness and harshness; Guang warned that this course was untenable. By then Khitan subjects were fishing in the border river and cutting willows south of the Bai Gou; the court judged Li Zhongyou, commissioner at Xiongzhou, incompetent and was about to replace him. Guang said: "When barbarians are compliant we quarrel over trifles; when they grow defiant we indulge them again. The recent western trouble sprang from Gao Yi, the northern from Zhao Zi; yet the court was praising both men, so border officers all treated provocation as achievement — a habit that must not be allowed to spread. I urge an order to frontier commanders: whoever resorts to arms over petty border incidents shall be punished."
11
仁宗遺賜直百餘萬，光率同列三上章，謂：「國有大憂，中外窘乏，不可專用乾興故事。 若遺賜不可辭，宜許侍從上進金錢佐山陵。」 不許。 光乃以所得珠為諫院公使錢，金以遺舅氏，義不藏於家。 后還政，有司立式，凡後有后取用，當覆奏乃供。 光云：「當移所屬使立供已，乃具數白后，以防矯偽。」
Emperor Renzong left direct gifts of more than a million cash; Guang led his colleagues in three joint memorials: "The realm is in deep mourning and resources are strained at court and in the provinces — we cannot follow only the Qianxing precedent. If the bequest cannot be declined, let attendants be allowed to contribute from their salaries toward the imperial tomb instead." The request was denied. Guang turned the pearls he received into public funds for the Remonstrance Bureau and gave the gold to his maternal uncle — he would not keep such gifts in his household. When the empress dowager returned power, the relevant offices set a rule: whenever the empress dowager later made a request, supplies should be issued only after a memorial of approval. Guang said: "The responsible office should prepare and deliver first, then report the amounts to the empress dowager — that is how to guard against fraud."
12
曹佾無功除使相，兩府皆遷官。 光言：「陛下欲以慰母心，而遷除無名，則宿衛將帥、內侍小臣，必有覬望。」 已而遷都知任守忠等官，光復爭之，因論：「守忠大奸，陛下為皇子，非守忠意，沮壞大策，離間百端，賴先帝不聽； 及陛下嗣位，反覆交構，國之大賊。 乞斬于都市，以謝天下。」 責守忠為節度副使，蘄州安置，天下快之。
Cao Yi was made military commissioner and grand councilor though he had no merit, and both Secretariat chancellors were promoted as well. Guang said: "Your Majesty meant to comfort your mother's heart, but rank granted without cause will teach palace guards, frontier generals, and petty attendants alike to expect the same." Soon the chief inner attendant Ren Shouzhong and others were promoted; Guang protested again, declaring: "Shouzhong is a great villain — when Your Majesty was named imperial son it was against his will; he thwarted the great design and sowed discord at every turn — only the late emperor's refusal to heed him saved the day; When Your Majesty took the throne he plotted and slandered without cease — the empire's greatest villain. I beg that he be put to death in the capital marketplace as satisfaction to the realm." Shouzhong was demoted to military vice commissioner and exiled to Qizhou for resettlement, to the relief of the whole empire.
13
詔刺陝西義勇二十萬，民情驚撓，而紀律疏略不可用。 光抗言其非，持白韓琦。 琦曰：「兵貴先聲，諒祚方桀驁，使驟聞益兵二十萬，豈不震懾？」 光曰：「兵之貴先聲，為無其實也，獨可欺之於一日之間耳。 今吾雖益兵，實不可用，不過十日，彼將知其詳，尚何懼？」 琦曰：「君但見慶曆間鄉兵刺為保捷，憂今復然，已降敕榜與民約，永不充軍戍邊矣。」 光曰：「朝廷嘗失信，民未敢以為然，雖光亦不能不疑也。」 琦曰：「吾在此，君無憂。」 光曰：「公長在此地，可也； 異日他人當位，因公見兵，用之運糧戍邊，反掌間事耳。」 琦嘿然，而訖不為止。 不十年，皆如光慮。
An edict called up two hundred thousand volunteers in Shaanxi; the populace was thrown into alarm, yet discipline was slack and the force proved unusable. Guang protested vigorously and carried a memorial to Han Qi. Qi said: "In warfare prestige strikes first; Liangzuo is at his most defiant — if he suddenly learns we have raised two hundred thousand men, will he not be terrified?" Guang replied: "The first strike avails only when there is no real force behind it — you may fool them for a day. We are adding men who cannot actually fight; within ten days they will know the full truth — what is left to fear?" Qi said: "You only recall how in the Qingli era local militia were turned into permanent troops and fear a repeat; we have already posted an edict pledging the people they will never be sent to garrison the frontier." Guang said: "The court has broken its word before; the people dare not trust this pledge — I myself cannot help doubting." Qi said: "While I hold office here, you need not worry." Guang said: "You may remain in this post for now; but when someone else succeeds you, seeing these troops he will press them into hauling grain and garrisoning the frontier — a thing done in the blink of an eye." Qi fell silent but never halted the policy. Within ten years everything unfolded as Guang had warned.
14
王廣淵除直集賢院，光論其奸邪不可近：「昔漢景帝重衛綰，周世宗薄張美。 廣淵當仁宗之世，私自結于陛下，豈忠臣哉？ 宜黜之以厲天下。」 進龍圖閣直學士。
Wang Guangyuan was given direct access to the Hall of Assembled Worthies; Guang protested that his treachery made him unfit for proximity: "Emperor Jing of Han once prized Wei Wan; Emperor Shizong of Zhou looked down on Zhang Mei. During Renzong's reign Guangyuan cultivated Your Majesty in private — is that the conduct of a loyal minister? He should be removed to warn the whole empire." He was promoted to academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall with direct access.
15
神宗即位，擢為翰林學士，光力辭。 帝曰：「古之君子，或學而不文，或文而不學，惟董仲舒、揚雄兼之。 卿有文學，何辭為？」 對曰：「臣不能為四六。」 帝曰：「如兩漢制詔可也； 且卿能進士取高第，而云不能四六，何邪？」 竟不獲辭。
When Shenzong came to the throne Guang was elevated to Hanlin Academician, but he strove to decline. The Emperor said: "Men of old either studied without literary grace or wrote without learning — only Dong Zhongshu and Yang Xiong united both. You possess both learning and letters — why refuse?" He answered: "I cannot compose the six-part parallel prose of court edicts." The Emperor said: "The plain edicts of the two Han dynasties will do; besides, you placed in the top tier of the jinshi examinations — yet claim you cannot write parallel prose? How can that be?" In the end he could not refuse.
16
御史中丞王陶以論宰相不押班罷，光代之，光言：「陶由論宰相罷，則中丞不可復為。 臣願俟既押班，然後就職。」 許之。 遂上疏論修心之要三：曰仁，曰明，曰武； 治國之要三：曰官人，曰信賞，曰必罰。 其說甚備。 且曰：「臣獲事三朝，皆以此六言獻，平生力學所得，盡在是矣。」 御藥院內臣，國朝常用供奉官以下，至內殿崇班則出； 近歲暗理官資，非祖宗本意。 因論高居簡奸邪，乞加遠竄。 章五上，帝為出居簡，盡罷寄資者。 既而復留二人，光又力爭之。 張方平參知政事，光論其不叶物望，帝不從。 還光翰林兼侍讀學士。
Investigating Censor Wang Tao was dismissed for attacking the chief ministers' failure to attend court in rank order; when Guang was named to replace him he said: "Tao lost his post for criticizing the chief ministers — I cannot accept the censorate while that issue stands. I ask to wait until they resume attending in proper order, then take up the post." His request was granted. He then memorialized on the three essentials of cultivating the heart — benevolence, clarity, and martial resolve; and the three essentials of governing the state — appointing the right men, rewarding faithfully, and punishing without fail. His exposition was thorough in every respect. He added: "I have served three reigns and always offered these six principles; what a lifetime of study has taught me is contained in them alone." The Imperial Pharmacy was staffed by inner attendants; by dynastic custom posts below commissioner for attendance on the sovereign were used, and once a man reached inner palace attendant of the highest grade he left the post; in recent years ranks had been quietly purchased — contrary to the founders' intent. He also denounced Gao Jujian as treacherous and begged that he be banished to a distant post. After five memorials the Emperor removed Jujian and abolished all purchased ranks. Later two men were retained; Guang protested again with all his force. Zhang Fangping was made participant in determining government affairs; Guang argued he lacked public confidence; the Emperor would not listen. Guang was returned to the Hanlin Academy with a concurrent post as lecturer.
17
光常患歷代史繁，人主不能遍鑒，遂為《通志》八卷以獻。 英宗悅之，命置局秘閣，續其書。 至是，神宗名之曰《資治通鑒》，自製《序》授之，俾日進讀。
Guang had long lamented that the histories of successive dynasties were too vast for any ruler to survey; he therefore compiled the Comprehensive Mirror in eight juan and presented it to the throne. Yingzong was delighted and ordered a bureau established in the Secret Repository to continue the work. By then Shenzong named it the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, composed a Preface himself, and commanded Guang to read from it daily at court.
18
詔錄潁邸直省官四人為閤門祗候，光曰：「國初草創，天步尚艱，故御極之初，必以左右舊人為腹心耳目，謂之隨龍，非平日法也。 閤門祗候在文臣為館職，豈可使廝役為之。」
An edict named four direct clerks from the Prince of Ying's household as palace gate attendants; Guang objected: "At the dynasty's founding the throne was still insecure, so a new ruler necessarily relied on old companions as eyes and ears — the so-called followers of the dragon — not the regular practice of settled times. Among civil officials palace gate attendants are academy posts — how can lackeys fill them?"
19
西戎部將嵬名山欲以橫山之眾，取諒祚以降，詔邊臣招納其眾。 光上疏極論，以為：「名山之眾，未必能制諒祚。 幸而勝之，滅一諒祚，生一諒祚，何利之有； 若其不勝，必引眾歸我，不知何以待之。 臣恐朝廷不獨失信諒祚，又將失信於名山矣。 若名山餘眾尚多，還北不可，入南不受，窮無所歸，必將突據邊城以救其命。 陛下不見侯景之事乎？」 上不聽，遣將种諤發兵迎之，取綏州，費六十萬，西方用兵，蓋自此始矣。
A Western Xia frontier officer named Wei Mingshan wished to use the Hengshan tribes to seize Liangzuo and surrender; the court ordered frontier officials to recruit his followers. Guang memorialized at length: "Mingshan's followers may not be able to control Liangzuo at all. If they win, we destroy one Liangzuo only to create another — what gain is that? If they lose, they will surely bring their followers to us — and I do not know how we are to receive them. I fear the court will break faith not only with Liangzuo but with Mingshan as well. If many of Mingshan's followers remain, they cannot go back north and the south will not take them in; desperate and with nowhere to turn, they will surely strike border towns to save themselves. Has Your Majesty forgotten what became of Hou Jing?" The Emperor would not listen; he sent the general Chong E to lead troops to receive them and seized Suizhou at a cost of six hundred thousand — western campaigns began from this.
20
百官上尊號，光當答詔，言：「先帝親郊，不受尊號。 末年有獻議者，謂國家與契丹往來通信，彼有尊號我獨無，於是復以非時奉冊。 昔匈奴冒頓自稱『天地所生日月所置匈奴大單于』，不聞漢文帝復為大名以加之也。 願追述先帝本意，不受此名。」 帝大悅，手詔獎光，使善為答辭，以示中外。
When all officials offered honorific titles, Guang was to draft the reply and wrote: "The late emperor performed the suburban sacrifice in person and refused such titles. In his last years some argued that because we exchanged letters with the Khitan and they bore honorific titles while we did not, the titles were again offered at an improper time. Long ago the Xiongnu chanyu Maodun called himself the Great Chanyu Established by Heaven and Earth and the Sun and Moon — yet Emperor Wen of Han never fashioned a grand title to match his. I urge that we follow the late emperor's original intent and refuse these titles." The Emperor was greatly pleased, personally drafted an edict praising Guang, and had him compose an elegant reply for all court and country to see.
21
執政以河朔旱傷，國用不足，乞南郊勿賜金帛。 詔學士議，光與王珪、王安石同見，光曰：「救災節用，宜自貴近始，可聽也。」 安石曰：「常袞辭堂饌，時以為袞自知不能，當辭位不當辭祿。 且國用不足，非當世急務，所以不足者，以未得善理財者故也。」 光曰：「善理財者，不過頭會箕斂爾。」 安石曰：「不然，善理財者，不加賦而國用足。」 光曰：「天下安有此理？ 天地所生財貨百物，不在民，則在官，彼設法奪民，其害乃甚於加賦。 此蓋桑羊欺武帝之言，太史公書之以見其不明耳。」 爭議不已。 帝曰：「朕意與光同，然姑以不允答之。」 會安石草詔，引常袞事責兩府，兩府不敢復辭。
The chief ministers, citing drought damage in Hebei and short revenue, asked that gold and silk not be distributed at the southern suburban sacrifice. The Emperor ordered the academicians to discuss it; Guang met with Wang Gui and Wang Anshi and said: "Disaster relief and economy should begin with those nearest the throne — that may be allowed." Anshi said: "Chang Gun once refused his stipend at court — men of the time thought he knew his limits and should have resigned his office, not merely his salary. Besides, short revenue is not the age's true emergency; we lack only a man who knows how to manage the treasury well." Guang said: "A skilled financier is nothing but one who wrings the people dry with comb and dustpan." Anshi replied: "Not so — a skilled financier fills the treasury without raising new taxes." Guang said: "Can such a thing exist under Heaven? All wealth produced by heaven and earth lies either with the people or with the state; if you devise schemes to seize it from the people, the harm is worse than new taxes. That is the deception Sang Hongyang practiced on Emperor Wu — the Grand Historian recorded it to expose his folly." The argument would not end. The Emperor said: "My own view agrees with Guang, yet for the moment I shall answer with a refusal." When Anshi drafted the reply he cited Chang Gun to rebuke the Secretariat chancellors, who dared not protest further.
22
安石得政，行新法，光逆疏其利害。 邇英進讀，至曹參代蕭何事，帝曰：「漢常守蕭何之法不變，可乎？」 對曰：「寧獨漢也，使三代之君常守禹、湯、文、武之法，雖至今存可也。 漢武取高帝約束紛更，盜賊半天下； 元帝改孝宣之政，漢業遂衰。 由此言之，祖宗之法不可變也。」 呂惠卿言：「先王之法，有一年一變者，『正月始和，布法象魏』是也； 有五年一變者，巡守考制度是也； 有三十年一變者，『刑罰世輕世重』是也。 光言非是，其意以風朝廷耳。」 帝問光，光曰：「『布法象魏』，布舊法也。 諸侯變禮易樂者，王巡守則誅之，不自變也。 刑新國用輕典，亂國用重典，是為『世輕世重』，非變也。 且治天下譬如居室，敝則修之，非大壞不更造也。 公卿侍從皆在此，願陛下問之。 三司使掌天下財，不才而黜可也，不可使執政侵其事。 今為制置三司條例司，何也？ 宰相以道佐人主，安用例？ 苟用例，則胥吏矣。 今為看詳中書條例司，何也？」 惠卿不能對，則以他語詆光。 帝曰：「相與論是非耳，何至是。」 光曰：「平民舉錢出息，尚能蠶食下戶，況縣官督責之威乎！」 惠卿曰：「青苗法，願取則與之，不願不強也。」 光曰：「愚民知取債之利，不知還債之害，非獨縣官不強，富民亦不強也。 昔太宗平河東，立糴法，時米斗十錢，民樂與官為市。 其後物貴而和糴不解，遂為河東世世患。 臣恐異日之青苗，亦猶是也。」 帝曰：「坐倉糴米何如？」 坐者皆起，光曰：「不便。」 惠卿曰：「糴米百萬斛，則省東南之漕，以其錢供京師。」 光曰：「東南錢荒而粒米狼戾，今不糴米而漕錢，棄其有餘，取其所無，農末皆病矣！」 侍講吳申起曰：「光言，至論也。」
Once Anshi took power he enacted the New Policies; Guang repeatedly memorialized against their harm. During lecture at the Hall for Cultivating Virtue they reached Cao Shen succeeding Xiao He; the Emperor asked: "The Han often kept Xiao He's laws unchanged — is that permissible?" He answered: "Not only the Han — if the rulers of the Three Dynasties had steadfastly kept the laws of Yu, Tang, Wen, and Wu, those dynasties might stand even today. Emperor Wu of Han abandoned Gaozu's constraints and changed them recklessly — rebels filled half the empire; Emperor Yuan altered Xuan's policies and the Han cause declined. From this it follows that the laws of the founding ancestors must not be changed." Lü Huiqing said: "The former kings' laws included some that changed yearly — the line "In the first month harmony begins, proclaim the law at the gate" is one; some that changed every five years — the imperial tour to inspect institutions is one; some that changed every thirty years — "Punishments light in one age, heavy in another" is one. Guang is mistaken; he only means to sway the court with clever talk." The Emperor turned to Guang; he said: ""Proclaim the law at the gate" means proclaim the existing law. If a feudal lord altered ritual or music, the king on his tour punished him — the king did not change them himself. A newly founded state uses light punishments, a chaotic state heavy ones — that is "light in one age, heavy in another," not alteration. Governing the empire is like keeping a house — when it wears one repairs it; one does not tear it down and rebuild unless it is utterly ruined. The chief ministers and attendants are all present — I beg Your Majesty to ask them. The Commissioner of the Three Departments manages the realm's finances — if he is unfit, remove him; but do not let the chief ministers invade his charge. Now you have created a Bureau for the Fiscal Regulations of the Three Departments — for what reason? A chief minister assists the ruler by moral principle — what need has he of precedent cases? If he relies on precedents, he becomes a mere clerk. Now you have created a Bureau to Review Regulations of the Secretariat — why? Huiqing could not reply and turned to other topics to attack Guang. The Emperor said: "We are debating right and wrong — why descend to this?" Guang said: "When commoners lend at interest they can still devour poorer households — how much worse when the magistracy enforces collection with state power!" Huiqing said: "Under the Green Sprouts law, those who wish to borrow may; those who do not are not forced." Guang said: "Simple folk know the benefit of borrowing but not the pain of repayment — it is not only officials who do not force them; wealthy lenders do not force them either. When Taizong pacified Hedong he established the grain-purchase law; grain was then ten cash per dou and the people gladly sold to the government. Later, when prices rose, the compulsory purchase was never lifted — it became a curse on Hedong for generations. I fear that in time Green Sprouts will prove the same." The Emperor asked: "What of storing grain in government granaries?" All those present rose; Guang said: "That is inexpedient." Huiqing said: "Buy a million hu of grain and we can skip the southeast transport tribute, using the saved funds for the capital instead." Guang said: "The southeast lacks coin while grain rots in abundance. To transport money instead of buying grain is to abandon what they have in surplus and seize what they lack — farmers and merchants alike will suffer!" The Lecturer-in-Waiting Wu Shen rose and said: "Guang has stated the final truth."
23
它日留對，帝曰：「今天下洶洶者，孫叔敖所謂『國之有是，眾之所惡』也。」 光曰：「然。 陛下當論其是非。 今條例司所為，獨安石、韓絳、惠卿以為是耳，陛下豈能獨與此三人共為天下邪？」 帝欲用光，訪之安石。 安石曰：「光外託劘上之名，內懷附下之實。 所言盡害政之事，所與盡害政之人，而欲置之左右，使與國論，此消長之大機也。 光才豈能害政，但在高位，則異論之人倚以為重。 韓信立漢赤幟，趙卒氣奪，今用光，是與異論者立赤幟也。」
On another day, kept back for a private audience, the Emperor said: "The turmoil across the realm is what Sun Shu'ao meant when he said the state possesses what the people hate." Guang said: "That is so. Your Majesty should judge what is right and what is wrong. Only Anshi, Han Jiang, and Huiqing approve what the Regulations Office has done — can Your Majesty run the empire with just these three?" The Emperor wanted to appoint Guang and asked Anshi's opinion. Anshi said: "Guang outwardly poses as a fierce loyalist, but inwardly courts popularity among the people. Everything he says undermines good government; everyone he keeps company with undermines good government. To put him at your side and let him debate state policy — that is the great turning point between advance and retreat. Guang's abilities alone would not ruin policy, but in high office he would give dissenters something to rally around. When Han Xin raised the red banner of Han, the Zhao troops lost heart. Appoint Guang now and you raise a red banner for the opposition."
24
安石以韓琦上疏，臥家求退。 帝乃拜光樞密副使，光辭之曰：「陛下所以用臣，蓋察其狂直，庶有補於國家。 若徒以祿位榮之，而不取其言，是以天官私非其人也。 臣徒以祿位自榮，而不能救生民之患，是盜竊名器以私其身也。 陛下誠能罷制置條例司，追還提舉官，不行青苗、助役等法，雖不用臣，臣受賜多矣。 今言青苗之害者，不過謂使者騷動州縣，為今日之患耳。 而臣之所憂，乃在十年之外，非今日也。 夫民之貧富，由勤惰不同，惰者常乏，故必資於人。 今出錢貸民而斂其息，富者不願取，使者以多散為功，一切抑配。 恐其逋負，必令貧富相保，貧者無可償，則散而之四方； 富者不能去，必責使代償數家之負。 春算秋計，輾轉日滋，貧者既盡，富者亦貧。 十年之外，百姓無復存者矣。 又盡散常平錢穀，專行青苗，它日若思復之，將何所取？ 富室既盡，常平已廢，加之以師旅，因之以饑饉，民之羸者必委死溝壑，壯者必聚而為盜賊，此事之必至者也。」 抗章至七八，帝使謂曰：「樞密，兵事也，官各有職，不當以他事為辭。」 對曰：「臣未受命，則猶侍從也，于事無不可言者。」 安石起視事，光乃得請，遂求去。
After Han Qi submitted a memorial, Anshi stayed home and asked to resign. The Emperor then appointed Guang Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Guang declined: "Your Majesty means to use me, I suppose, because you see my blunt honesty and hope it will serve the state. If you honor me with salary and rank but ignore what I say, you are filling a heavenly office with the wrong man for private ends. For me to take salary and rank for my own glory while failing to relieve the people's suffering would be to steal the insignia of office for private profit. If Your Majesty will abolish the Regulations Commission, recall its commissioners, and stop the Green Sprouts, Labor Exemption, and the rest — even if you never appoint me, I will already have received a great boon. Those who complain of Green Sprouts speak only of commissioners harassing the prefectures and counties — a problem for today. What I fear lies ten years ahead, not in the present. Some people are rich and some poor because some are diligent and some are idle; the idle are always short and must borrow from others. Now the state lends money and collects interest. The wealthy do not want the loans, but commissioners treat wide distribution as merit and forcibly assign debt to everyone. Fearing default, they make rich and poor guarantee one another. When the poor cannot repay, they flee in every direction; Those who are rich and cannot flee are forced to cover the debts of several households. Debts reckoned in spring and settled in autumn compound day by day. When the poor are ruined, the rich become poor as well. After ten years, no common people will be left. And the Ever-Normal reserves of money and grain are spent entirely on Green Sprouts. If you later wish to restore them, where will the funds come from? Once the wealthy are ruined and the Ever-Normal system gone, add war and famine on top — the weak will die in ditches, the strong will band together as robbers. This must come to pass." He submitted memorials seven or eight times. The Emperor sent word: "Military Affairs handles military matters. Each office has its charge — you should not refuse the post on other grounds." He replied: "I have not yet taken the appointment — I am still an attendant — and there is nothing I may not speak about." Anshi returned to office; Guang got his way and asked to resign.
25
以端明殿學士知永興軍。 宣撫使下令分義勇戍邊，選諸軍驍勇士，募市井惡少年為奇兵； 調民造乾糒，悉修城池樓櫓，關輔騷然。 光極言：「公私困敝，不可舉事，而京兆一路皆內郡，繕治非急。 宣撫之令，皆未敢從，若乏軍興，臣當任其責。」 於是一路獨得免。 徙知許州，趣入覲，不赴； 請判西京御史臺歸洛，自是絕口不論事。 而求言詔下，光讀之感泣，欲嘿不忍，乃復陳六事，又移書責宰相吳充，事見《充傳》。
He was appointed Hanlin Academician of the Hall of Illustrious Brightness and put in charge of Yongxing Circuit. The Pacification Commissioner ordered the militia split to garrison the border, picked the fiercest soldiers from the regular armies, and recruited rowdy youths from the markets as strike forces; He conscripted civilians to make dried provisions and fully rebuilt walls and towers — the capital region was thrown into uproar. Guang protested vigorously: "Public and private resources are exhausted — we cannot launch campaigns. The whole Jingzhao route lies in the interior; fortifications are not urgent. I have not dared obey any of the Pacification Commissioner's orders. If military funds fall short, I will take the blame." As a result, this circuit alone was spared. He was transferred to Xuzhou. Summoned to court, he did not go; He asked to serve as judge of the Western Capital Censorate and returned to Luoyang. From then on he kept silent on state affairs. When an edict soliciting advice was issued, Guang read it and wept. He wanted to stay silent but could not, and so again set forth six points and wrote a letter rebuking Chief Councillor Wu Chong — the details appear in Wu's biography.
26
蔡天申為察訪，妄作威福，河南尹、轉運使敬事之如上官； 嘗朝謁應天院神御殿，府獨為設一班，示不敢與抗。 光顧謂臺吏曰：「引蔡寺丞歸本班。」 吏即引天申立監竹木務官富贊善之下。 天申窘沮，即日行。
Cai Tianshen served as an investigatory commissioner and abused his authority. The Intendant of Henan and the Transport Commissioner treated him like a superior; Once, when he attended court at the Imperial Spirit Hall in Yingtian Court, the prefecture alone set aside a separate place in the ranks for him, showing they dared not stand against him. Guang turned to the Censorate clerks and said: "Bring Vice-Director Cai back to his proper place in the ranks." The clerks immediately placed Tianshen below Fu Zanshan, supervisor of the bamboo and timber office. Humiliated, Tianshen left that very day.
27
元豐五年，忽得語澀疾，疑且死，豫作遺表置臥內，即有緩急，當以畀所善者上之。 官制行，帝指御史大夫曰：「非司馬光不可。」 又將以為東宮師傅。 蔡確曰：「國是方定，願少遲之。」 《資治通鑒》未就，帝尤重之，以為賢于荀悅《漢紀》，數促使終篇，賜以潁邸舊書二千四百卷。 及書成，加資政殿學士。 凡居洛陽十五年，天下以為真宰相，田夫野老皆號為「司馬相公」，婦人孺子亦知其為君實也。
In the fifth year of Yuanfeng he suddenly developed a speech disorder. Fearing he might die, he prepared a final memorial in advance and kept it by his bed — if crisis came, a trusted friend was to submit it. When the new official hierarchy took effect, the Emperor pointed to the post of Grand Censor and said: "Only Sima Guang will do." The Emperor also intended to make him tutor to the crown prince. Cai Que said: "The national policy has only just been settled — I hope this can wait a little longer." The Comprehensive Mirror for Aid in Government was still unfinished. The Emperor valued it above all, judging it superior to Xun Yue's Annals of Han. He repeatedly pressed Guang to finish it and gave him 2,400 volumes of old books from the Ying palace. When the book was finished, he received the additional title Academician of the Hall of Government Affairs. He lived in Luoyang for fifteen years in all. The empire treated him as the real prime minister — farmers and villagers all called him "Prime Minister Sima," and even women and children knew him as Junshi.
28
帝崩，赴闕臨，衛士望見，皆以手加額曰：「此司馬相公也。」 所至，民遮道聚觀，馬至不得行，曰：「公無歸洛，留相天子，活百姓。」 哲宗幼沖，太皇太后臨政，遣使問所當先，光謂：「開言路。」 詔榜朝堂。 而大臣有不悅者，設六語云：「若陰有所懷，犯非其分； 或扇搖機事之重； 或迎合已行之令； 上以徼幸希進，下以眩惑流俗。 若此者，罰無赦。」 後復命示光，光曰：「此非求諫，乃拒諫也。 人臣惟不言，言則入六事矣。」 乃具論其情，改詔行之，於是上封者以千數。
When the Emperor died, Guang went to the capital for the mourning. The guards saw him and touched their foreheads in salute: "It is Prime Minister Sima." Wherever he went, crowds blocked the road until his horse could not pass, crying: "Sir, do not go back to Luoyang — stay at court to serve the Son of Heaven and save the people." Emperor Zhezong was still a child. The Empress Dowager ruled in his stead and sent envoys to ask what should be done first. Guang said: "Open the channels of remonstrance." An edict was posted in the court hall. But displeased ministers devised six forbidden phrases: "If one secretly harbors hidden designs and oversteps one's proper role; or stirs up weighty matters of state; or panders to policies already in force; seeking promotion through flattery above, or misleading the common people below. Whoever does these things shall be punished without pardon." The draft was shown to Guang again. Guang said: "This is not inviting criticism — it is blocking criticism. Officials can only keep quiet — speak and you violate one of the six prohibitions." He explained the problem in full. The edict was revised and issued, and memorials poured in by the thousands.
29
起光知陳州，過闕，留為門下侍郎。 蘇軾自登州召還，緣道人相聚號呼曰：「寄謝司馬相公，毋去朝廷，厚自愛以活我。」 是時天下之民，引領拭目以觀新政，而議者猶謂「三年無改于父之道」，但毛舉細事，稍塞人言。 光曰：「先帝之法，其善者雖百世不可變也。 若安石、惠卿所建，為天下害者，改之當如救焚拯溺。 況太皇太后以母改子，非子改父。」 眾議甫定。 遂罷保甲團教，不復置保馬； 廢市易法，所儲物皆鬻之，不取息，除民所欠錢； 京東鐵錢及茶鹽之法，皆復其舊。 或謂光曰：「熙、豐舊臣，多憸巧小人，他日有以父子義間上，則禍作矣。」 光正色曰：「天若祚宗社，必無此事。」 於是天下釋然，曰：「此先帝本意也。」
Guang was recalled to govern Chenzhou, but passing the capital he was kept on as Vice Director of the Chancellery. When Su Shi was recalled from Dengzhou, people along the road gathered and shouted: "Tell Prime Minister Sima not to leave court — take care of yourself so you can save us." All across the empire people craned their necks and watched for the new policies. Yet some officials still invoked "three years without changing the father's ways," nitpicking minor points and slowly shutting down open debate. Guang said: "Among the late Emperor's laws, what was good should stand for a hundred generations. What Anshi and Huiqing built to the empire's harm must be undone as urgently as saving someone from fire or drowning. Besides, the Empress Dowager is a mother correcting her son — not a son overturning his father's legacy." The debate was settled. The militia training system was abolished and the government horse program was not revived; The market-control law was abolished. Stored goods were sold off, interest was waived, and the people's debts were forgiven; The iron-coin, tea, and salt systems in the eastern capital region were all restored to their old forms. Some warned Guang: "Many holdovers from the Xi and Feng years are cunning petty men. One day they may drive a wedge between father and son with the throne, and trouble will follow." Guang said sternly: "If Heaven protects the dynasty, that will never happen." The empire was reassured at last, saying: "This was the late Emperor's true intent."
30
元祐元年復得疾，詔朝會再拜，勿舞蹈。 時青苗、免役、將官之法猶在，而西戎之議未決。 光歎曰：「四患未除，吾死不瞑目矣。」 折簡與呂公著云：「光以身付醫，以家事付愚子，惟國事未有所託，今以屬公。」 乃論免役五害，乞直降敕罷之。 諸將兵皆隸州縣，軍政委守令通決。 廢提舉常平司，以其事歸之轉運、提點刑獄。 邊計以和戎為便。 謂監司多新進少年，務為刻急，令近臣於郡守中選舉，而於通判中舉轉運判官。 又立十科薦士法。 皆從之。
In the first year of Yuanyou he fell ill again. An edict allowed him to bow twice at court but exempted him from the full prostration dance. Green Sprouts, Labor Exemption, and the commander-reform laws were still in place, and policy toward the western tribes remained unsettled. Guang sighed: "Four evils remain — I cannot die in peace." He sent a note to Lü Gongzhu: "I leave my body to the doctors and my household to my foolish son. State affairs alone have no one — I now entrust them to you." He then set out the five harms of Labor Exemption and asked that it be abolished by direct imperial decree. Frontier troops were placed under prefectures and counties, with military decisions left to prefects, magistrates, and vice-prefects. The Ever-Normal supervising commission was abolished and its work returned to transport commissioners and judicial investigators. Border policy favored peace with the frontier peoples. He said too many circuit supervisors were young newcomers obsessed with severity. He had close ministers choose from among prefects, and nominate transport vice-commissioners from among vice-prefects. He also instituted the Ten Categories system for recommending talent. All of this was approved.
31
拜尚書左僕射兼門下侍郎，免朝覲，許乘肩輿，三日一入省。 光不敢當，曰：「不見君，不可以視事。」 詔令子康扶入對，且曰：「毋拜。」 遂罷青苗錢，復常平糶糴法。 兩宮虛己以聽。 遼、夏使至，必問光起居，敕其邊吏曰：「中國相司馬矣，毋輕生事、開邊隙。」 光自見言行計從，欲以身徇社稷，躬親庶務，不舍晝夜。 賓客見其體羸，舉諸葛亮食少事煩以為戒，光曰：「死生，命也。」 為之益力。 病革，不復自覺，諄諄如夢中語，然皆朝廷天下事也。
He was appointed Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrent Vice Director of the Chancellery, exempt from regular court attendance, allowed a sedan chair, and required to enter the Secretariat only once every three days. Guang declined, saying: "Without seeing the ruler, I cannot govern." An edict ordered his son Kang to help him into audience and added: "No bowing required." Green Sprouts lending was abolished and the Ever-Normal grain sale-and-purchase system restored. Both the Empress Dowager and the Emperor deferred to him completely. When Liao and Xia envoys arrived they always inquired after Guang. Their border officials were instructed: "The Song have made Sima chancellor — do not provoke trouble or open a border clash." Seeing his counsel followed in policy, Guang meant to give his life to the state — handling affairs himself, day and night without rest. Visitors, seeing how thin he had grown, warned him with Zhuge Liang's example — eating little while burdened with endless work. Guang said: "Life and death are fate." He worked all the harder. When his illness turned critical he was barely conscious, murmuring as in a dream — yet everything he said was about court and empire.
32
是年九月薨，年六十八。 太皇太后聞之慟，與帝即臨其喪，明堂禮成不賀，贈太師、溫國公，襚以一品禮服，賻銀絹七千。 詔戶部侍郎趙瞻、內侍省押班馮宗道護其喪，歸葬陝州。 諡曰「文正」，賜碑曰「忠清粹德」。 京師人罷市往弔，鬻衣以致奠，巷哭以過車。 及葬，哭者如哭其私親。 嶺南封州父老，亦相率具祭，都中及四方皆畫像以祀，飲食必祝。
He died that year in the ninth month, at the age of sixty-eight. The Empress Dowager grieved deeply on hearing the news. She and the Emperor went at once to his funeral. The Hall of Brightness rites were completed without celebration. He was posthumously enfeoffed Grand Preceptor and Duke of Wen, dressed in first-rank mourning robes, and granted seven thousand taels of silver and silk in funeral gifts. An edict named Vice Minister of Revenue Zhao Zhan and Palace Inner Service Commissioner Feng Zongdao to escort the funeral home. He was buried in Shaan Province. He was given the posthumous epithet Cultured and Correct, and a stele bearing the inscription Loyal, Pure, and of Refined Virtue. In the capital people shut their shops to mourn him, sold garments to pay for offerings, and wept in the streets as the bier passed. At the burial the mourners wept as though for their own kin. Elders in Fengzhou in the far south also gathered to offer sacrifice; in the capital and across the realm his portrait was painted for veneration, and at every meal people prayed to it.
33
光孝友忠信，恭儉正直，居處有法，動作有禮。 在洛時，每往夏縣展墓，必過其兄旦，旦年將八十，奉之如嚴父，保之如嬰兒。 自少至老，語未嘗妄，自言：「吾無過人者，但平生所為，未嘗有不可對人言者耳。」 誠心自然，天下敬信，陝、洛間皆化其德，有不善，曰：「君實得無知之乎？」
Guang was filial, loyal, and trustworthy, respectful, frugal, and upright; his household ran by rule and his every gesture observed ritual. In Luoyang, whenever he went to Xia County to tend the family graves he always called on his elder brother Dan, who was nearly eighty; Guang served him as to a strict father and watched over him as over a child. From youth to age he never spoke falsely; he said: "I surpass no one — only that in everything I have done in life there is nothing I could not tell the world." His sincerity was innate; the empire trusted him. In Shaan and Luoyang his virtue transformed custom — if someone did wrong, people asked: "Would Junshi not know?"
34
光於物澹然無所好，於學無所不通，惟不喜釋、老，曰：「其微言不能出吾書，其誕吾不信也。」 洛中有田三頃，喪妻，賣田以葬，惡衣菲食以終其身。
He cared little for possessions and had no hobbies; in scholarship there was nothing he had not mastered — only he disliked Buddhism and Daoism, saying: "Their subtleties add nothing to our classics, and their fables I do not credit." He owned three qing of land in Luoyang; when his wife died he sold it for her burial and lived in coarse clothes and plain food for the rest of his days.
35
紹聖初，御史周秩首論光誣謗先帝，盡廢其法。 章惇、蔡卞請發塚斫棺，帝不許，乃令奪贈諡，仆所立碑。 而惇言不已，追貶清遠軍節度副使，又貶崖州司戶參軍。 徽宗立，復太子太保。 蔡京擅政，復降正議大夫，京撰《姦黨碑》，令郡國皆刻石。 長安石工安民當鐫字，辭曰：「民愚人，固不知立碑之意。 但如司馬相公者，海內稱其正直，今謂之奸邪，民不忍刻也。」 府官怒，欲加罪，泣曰：「被役不敢辭，乞免鐫安民二字于石末，恐得罪於後世。」 聞者愧之。
In the early Shaosheng reign Investigating Censor Zhou Zhi was first to charge that Guang had slandered the late emperor and that all his policies must be abolished. Zhang Dun and Cai Bian asked to open his tomb and smash his coffin; the Emperor refused, but ordered his posthumous honors withdrawn and the stele he had raised cast down. Dun would not relent and had him further demoted to military vice commissioner at Qingyuan, then to registrar of the household at Yazhou. When Huizong came to the throne he was restored to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. When Cai Jing seized power he was demoted again to Regular Grandee of Discussion; Jing wrote the Stele of Wicked Faction and ordered every prefecture and county to carve it in stone. A Chang'an stonemason named An Min was assigned to cut the inscription; he refused: "I am only a common craftsman and do not understand why this stele is raised. Yet Chancellor Sima is hailed as upright throughout the empire — to call him wicked now is more than I can carve." The prefect threatened punishment; weeping, he said: "I dare not refuse the work — only let my name An Min be left off the stone, lest posterity condemn me." All who heard were ashamed.
36
靖康元年，還贈諡。 建炎中，配饗哲宗廟庭。
In the first year of Jingkang his posthumous honors were restored. Under Jianyan he was given a place in the temple sacrifices to Emperor Zhezong.
37
子康
His son Kang
38
Disambig.svg参见：直集賢院提舉西京嵩山崇福宫司馬君墓誌銘
See: Epitaph for Master Sima, Director of the Hall of Assembled Worthies and Supervisor of the Chongfu Palace on Mount Song in the Western Capital.
39
康，字公休，幼端謹，不妄言笑，事父母至孝。 敏學過人，博通群書，以明經上第。 光修《資治通鑒》，奏檢閱文字。 丁母憂，勺飲不入口三日，毀幾滅性。 光居洛，士之從學者退與康語，未嘗不有得。 塗之人見其容止，雖不識，皆知其為司馬氏子也。 以韓絳薦，為秘書，由正字遷校書郎。 光薨，治喪皆用《禮經》家法，不為世俗事。 得遺恩，悉以與族人。 服除，召為著作佐郎兼侍講。
Kang, whose courtesy name was Gongxiu, was from childhood grave and careful, never speaking or laughing lightly, and served his parents with the utmost filial piety. He learned faster than others, mastered many books, and passed the classics examination in the top rank. When Guang compiled the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government he had Kang appointed to collate the text. Observing mourning for his mother, he took not a spoonful of food for three days and was nearly destroyed by grief. While Guang lived in Luoyang, scholars who came to study would speak with Kang afterward and always learned something. Travelers who saw his bearing, though strangers, all knew at once he was a son of the Sima house. On Han Jiang's recommendation he entered the Secretariat; from proofreader he rose to collator. When Guang died, Kang conducted the mourning wholly by the family rites in the Book of Rites, without worldly custom. The grace gifts he received he gave entirely to his kinsmen. When mourning ended he was summoned as assistant in the Bureau of Compilation with a concurrent lectureship.
40
上疏言：「比年以來，旱暵為虐，民多艱食。 若復一不稔，則公私困竭，盜賊可乘。 自古聖賢之君，非無水旱，惟有以待之，則不為甚害。 願及今秋熟，令州縣廣糴，民食所餘，悉歸於官。 今冬來春，令流民就食，候鄉里豐穰，乃還本土。 凡為國者，一絲一毫皆當愛惜，惟於濟民則不宜吝。 誠能捐數十萬金帛，以為天下大本，則天下幸甚。」 拜右正言，以親嫌未就職。
He memorialized: "In recent years drought has ravaged the land and the people have often gone hungry. If harvest fails again, public and private stores will be drained and bandits will seize their chance. Sage rulers of old also knew flood and drought — but with preparation the harm need not be grave. I urge that while this autumn's harvest is still ample, every prefecture and county buy grain broadly and place whatever the people can spare in government granaries. This winter and spring let refugees eat where they can; when the countryside recovers, send them home. Whoever governs a state must treasure every thread and hair — only in saving the people should one not be sparing. If the court can truly spend several hundred thousand in gold and silk for the realm's foundation, the empire will be greatly blessed." He was appointed Right Remonstrator but declined because of kinship restrictions.
41
為哲宗言前世治少亂多，祖宗創業之艱難，積累之勤勞，勸帝及時向學，守天下大器，且勸太皇太后每于禁中訓迪，其言切至。 邇英進講，又言：「《孟子》於書最醇正，陳王道尤明白，所宜觀覽。」 帝曰：「方讀其書」。 尋詔講官節以進。
He told Zhezong how in past ages good order was brief and disorder long, how hard the founders' work had been and how much diligence it had cost — urging the Emperor to study while there was time, guard the great vessel of the realm, and urging the Grand Empress Dowager to instruct him daily in the inner palace; his words were urgent and thorough. In lecture at the Hall for Cultivating Virtue he said: "Of all books Mencius is purest and states the royal way most clearly — Your Majesty should read it." The Emperor said: "I am reading that book now." Soon an edict ordered the lecturers to present the text in abridged sections.
42
康自居父喪，居廬疏食，寢於地，遂得腹疾，至是不能朝謁。 賜優告。 疾且殆，猶具疏所當言者以待，曰：「得一見天子極言而死無恨。」 使召醫李積於兗。 積老矣，鄉民聞之，往告曰：「百姓受司馬公恩深，今其子病，願速往也。」 來者日夜不絕，積遂行； 至，則不可為矣。 年四十一而卒。 公卿嗟痛于朝，士大夫相弔于家，市井之人，無不哀之。 詔贈右諫議大夫。
Since his father's death Kang had lived in a mourning hut on plain food, sleeping on the ground, and developed abdominal illness so severe he could no longer attend court. He was granted extended leave. As death approached he still drafted memorials on what must be said, declaring: "If I could see the Son of Heaven once and speak my fill, I would die content." He sent for the physician Li Ji of Yanzhou. Ji was old; when villagers heard, they told him: "The people owe Chancellor Sima deep kindness — now his son is ill; go at once." Visitors came day and night without cease, and Ji set out; when he arrived, nothing could be done. He died at the age of forty-one. Chief ministers grieved at court, scholar-officials mourned at his home, and in the markets none failed to weep. An edict posthumously appointed him Right Remonstrator.
43
康為人廉潔，口不言財。 初，光立神道碑，帝遣使賜白金二千兩，康以費皆官給，辭不受。 不聽。 遣家吏如京師納之，乃止。
Kang was personally incorruptible and never spoke of money. When Guang erected his spirit-way stele the Emperor sent two thousand taels of white silver; Kang held that all costs were met by the state and refused the gift. The court would not listen. He sent a household steward to the capital to return it, and only then was the matter closed.
44
論曰：熙寧新法病民，海內騷動，忠言讜論，沮抑不行； 正人端士，擯棄不用。 聚斂之臣日進，民被其虐者將二十年。 方是時，光退居於洛，若將終身焉。 而世之賢人君子，以及庸夫愚婦，日夕引領望其為相，至或號呼道路，願其毋去朝廷，是豈以區區材智所能得此于人人哉？ 德之盛而誠之著也。 一旦起而為政，毅然以天下自任，開言路，進賢才。 凡新法之為民害者，次第取而更張之，不數月之間，剗革略盡。 海內之民，如寒極而春，旱極而雨，如解倒懸，如脫桎梏，如出之水火之中也。 相與咨嗟歎息，歡欣鼓舞，甚若更生，一變而為嘉祐、治平之治。 君子稱其有旋乾轉坤之功，而光於是亦老且病矣。 天若祚宋，慭遺一老，則奸邪之勢未遽張，紹述之說未遽行，元祐之臣固無恙也。 人眾能勝天，靖康之變，或者其可少緩乎？ 借曰有之，當不至如是其酷也。 《詩》曰：「哲人云亡，邦國殄瘁。」 嗚呼悲夫！
The appraisal says: The New Policies of the Xining era harmed the people; the realm was in turmoil; loyal counsel was suppressed; Upright men were cast aside and not employed. Men of exaction advanced daily; the people suffered their cruelty for nearly twenty years. At that time Guang retired to Luoyang as though he would never leave. Yet the worthy, and even common men and foolish women, day and night looked to him as chief minister — some cried in the roads begging him to stay — could talent alone win such love from all? It was the greatness of his virtue and the manifest sincerity of his heart. Once he took power he boldly shouldered the realm, opened the avenue of speech, and advanced the worthy. Every New Policy that harmed the people he struck down in turn; within months they were largely gone. The people were like those long frozen who feel spring, long parched who feel rain — like men cut down from the rack, freed from chains, pulled from flood and fire. They sighed and rejoiced as if born anew; in an instant the rule of Jiayou and Zhiping seemed restored. Gentlemen praised his power to turn the age; yet by then Guang was old and ill. If Heaven had blessed Song and left one old man standing, villainy would not have risen so fast, the doctrine of succession would not have spread, and the men of Yuanyou would have been safe. When the multitude overpowers heaven — might the Jingkang catastrophe have come later? Even if it came, it need not have been so savage. The Odes says: "When the wise man perishes, the state is laid waste." Alas, how tragic!
45
康濟美象賢，不幸短命而死，世尤惜之。 然康不死，亦將不免於紹聖之禍矣。
Kang inherited his father's excellence and seemed born for greatness, yet died young — the age grieved for him all the more. Yet had Kang lived, he too would not have escaped the Shaosheng persecutions.
46
呂公著
Lu Gongzhu
47
呂公著，字晦叔，幼嗜學，至忘寢食。 父夷簡器異之，曰：「他日必為公輔。」 恩補奉禮郎，登進士第，召試館職，不就。 通判潁州，郡守歐陽修與為講學之友。 後修使契丹，契丹主問中國學行之士，首以公著對。 判吏部南曹，仁宗獎其恬退，賜五品服。 除崇文院檢討、同判太常寺。 壽星觀營真宗神御殿，公著言：「先帝已有三種御，而建立不已，殆非祀無豐昵之義。」 進知制誥，三辭不拜。 改天章閣待制兼侍讀。
Lu Gongzhu, whose courtesy name was Huishu, loved learning from childhood to the point of forgetting sleep and food. His father Yijian saw his promise and said: "One day he will be chief minister." By grace he was made Gentleman for Ceremonial Observance, passed the jinshi examination, and was summoned to test for an academy post but declined. As vice prefect of Yingzhou he studied the classics with the prefect Ouyang Xiu. When Xiu later went as envoy to the Khitan, the Khitan ruler asked which Chinese men were most learned and virtuous; Xiu named Gongzhu first. He judged the southern bureau of the Ministry of Personnel; Renzong praised his quiet withdrawal and granted him fifth-rank dress. He was made collator in the Hall of Literature and concurrent judge of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. At the Longevity Star Observatory they built a hall for Emperor Zhenzong's spirit tablet; Gongzhu objected: "The late emperor already has three spirit halls, yet building continues — this is hardly the rite that does not favor the near." He was promoted to drafter of edicts but three times declined. He was made Hanlin Academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Heavenly Patterns with a concurrent lectureship.
48
神宗立，召為翰林學士、知通進銀臺司。 司馬光以論事罷中丞，還經幄。 公著封還其命曰：「光以舉職賜罷，是為有言責者不得盡其言也。」 詔以告直付閣門。 公著又言：「制命不由門下，則封駁之職，因臣而廢。 願理臣之罪，以正紀綱。」 帝諭之曰：「所以徙光者，賴其勸學耳，非以言事故也。」 公著請不已，竟解銀臺司。
When Shenzong came to the throne he was summoned as Hanlin Academician and director of the Office for Transmission and the Silver Terrace. When Sima Guang was dismissed as investigating censor for remonstrating he returned to the inner lecture service. Gongzhu returned the sealed appointment, saying: "Guang was dismissed for doing his duty — so men charged to speak cannot speak fully." An edict ordered the report sent to the Palace Gate Office. Gongzhu said again: "If imperial commands bypass the Secretariat, the duty of seal and rebuke is voided by a subject's act. I beg that my offense be judged to restore the statutes." The Emperor told him: "Guang was moved because we rely on him to encourage learning — not because of his remonstrance." Gongzhu pleaded without cease and in the end was relieved of the Silver Terrace.
49
熙寧初，知開封府。 時夏秋淫雨，京師地震。 公著上疏曰：「自昔人君遇災者，或恐懼以致福，或簡誣以致禍。 上以至誠待下，則下思盡誠以應之，上下至誠而變異不消者，未之有也。 惟君人者去偏聽獨任之弊，而不主先入之語，則不為邪說所亂。 顏淵問為邦，孔子以遠佞人為戒。 蓋佞人惟恐不合於君，則其勢易親； 正人惟恐不合於義，則其勢易疏。 惟先格王正厥事，未有事正而世不治者也。」
In the early Xining era he was made prefect of Kaifeng. That summer and autumn brought excessive rain and the capital was shaken by earthquake. Gongzhu memorialized: "From of old when rulers met disaster, some through fear won blessing, some through levity brought calamity. If the ruler treats those below with utmost sincerity, those below will repay with utmost sincerity — never yet has such sincerity failed to dispel strange portents. Only if a ruler avoids listening to one side alone and relying on one man alone, and does not treat prior impressions as decisive, will he not be thrown into confusion by wicked counsel. When Yan Yuan asked how to govern a state, Confucius warned him to keep flatterers at a distance. Flatterers fear only that they will not please the ruler, so their position tends easily toward intimacy; upright men fear only that they will not accord with what is right, so their position tends easily toward distance. Only when the king first sets affairs right is the world governed — never yet has right conduct in affairs failed to bring order to the realm."
50
禮官用唐故事，請以五月御大慶殿受朝，因上尊號。 公著曰：「陛下方度越漢、唐，追復三代，何必于陰長之日，為非禮之會，受無益之名？」 從之。
Following Tang precedent, the ritual officials asked that in the fifth month the emperor hold court at the Grand Celebration Hall and there accept a honorific title. Gongzhu said: "Your Majesty already surpasses Han and Tang and seeks to restore the ways of the Three Dynasties — why gather on a day of lengthening yin at an irregular rite only to receive a title that brings no benefit? The Emperor accepted his advice.
51
二年，為御史中丞。 時王安石方行青苗法，公著極言曰：「自古有為之君，未有失人心而能圖治，亦未有能脅之以威、勝之以辯而能得人心者也。 昔日之所謂賢者，今皆以此舉為非，而生議者一切祗為流俗浮論，豈昔皆賢而今皆不肖乎？」 安石怒其深切。 帝使舉呂惠卿為御史，公著曰：「惠卿固有才，然奸邪不可用。」 帝以語安石，安石益怒，誣以惡語，出知潁州。
In the second year he was appointed investigating censor. While Wang Anshi was putting the Green Sprouts system into effect, Gongzhu spoke forcefully: "Never in history has an active ruler lost the people's hearts and still brought order; nor has anyone ever won hearts by threatening them or prevailing in debate. Men once called worthy all regard this measure as wrong, yet every objecting voice is dismissed as shallow popular chatter — were they all worthy then and all unworthy now? Wang Anshi was enraged by how forcefully he spoke. When the Emperor sought to recommend Lu Huiqing as investigating censor, Gongzhu said: "Huiqing has talent, but he is treacherous and cannot be trusted. The Emperor told Wang Anshi, who grew still angrier, slandered Gongzhu with vicious charges, and had him sent out as prefect of Yingzhou.
52
八年，彗星見，詔求直言。 公著上疏曰：「陛下臨朝願治，為日已久，而左右前後，莫敢正言。 使陛下有欲治之心，而無致治之實，此任事之臣負陛下也。 夫士之邪正、賢不肖，既素定矣。 今則不然，前日所舉，以為天下之至賢； 而後日逐之，以為天下至不肖。 其于人材既反覆不常，則於政事亦乖戾不審矣。 古之為政，初不信於民者有之，若子產治鄭，一年而人怨之，三年而人歌之。 陛下垂拱仰成，七年於此，然輿人之誦，亦未有異于前日，陛下獨不察乎？」
In the eighth year a comet appeared, and an edict called for frank counsel. Gongzhu memorialized: "Your Majesty has long sat on the throne wishing to govern well, yet among those around you none dare speak plainly. If Your Majesty has the will to govern but not the reality of good government, the ministers charged with affairs have failed you. Whether a gentleman is upright or corrupt, worthy or unworthy, is by nature already clear. Now it is otherwise: those promoted yesterday were called the worthiest in the realm; yet those cast out the next day are called the most unworthy in the realm. When judgment of men shifts so constantly, governance too becomes erratic and uncertain. In ancient times some rulers were not trusted at first — Zichan governing Zheng was resented after one year yet praised in song after three. Your Majesty has ruled at ease for seven years, yet what common folk say has scarcely changed. Does Your Majesty not see this?"
53
起知河陽，召還，提舉中太一宮，遷翰林學士承旨，改端明殿學士、知審官院。 帝從容與論治道，遂及釋、老，公著問曰：「堯、舜知此道乎？」 帝曰：「堯、舜豈不知？」 公著曰：「堯、舜雖如此，而惟以知人安民為難，所以為堯、舜也。」 帝又言唐太宗能以權智御臣下。 對曰：「太宗之德，以能屈己從諫爾。」 帝善其言。
He was appointed prefect of Heyang, then recalled, made superintendent of the Central Grand Unity Palace, promoted to chief Hanlin Academician, and appointed academician of the Hall of Illustrious Virtue and director of the Bureau for Review of Appointments. In an unhurried conversation about governance the Emperor turned to Buddhism and Daoism. Gongzhu asked: "Did Yao and Shun know this doctrine? The Emperor said: "Surely Yao and Shun knew it? Gongzhu said: "Even Yao and Shun were so, yet they held knowing men and settling the people to be the hard part — that is what made them Yao and Shun. The Emperor added that Emperor Taizong of Tang could control his ministers through shrewd wit. He replied: "Taizong's virtue lay in his ability to humble himself and heed remonstrance. The Emperor was pleased with his answer.
54
未幾，同知樞密院事。 有欲復肉刑者，議取死囚試劓、刖，公著曰：「試之不死，則肉刑遂行矣。」 乃止。 夏人幽其主，將大舉討之。 公著曰：「問罪之師，當先擇帥，苟未得人，不如勿舉。」 及兵興，秦、晉民力大困，大臣不敢言，公著數白其害。
Before long he was made vice commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When some wished to restore corporal punishments and proposed testing nose-cutting and foot-amputation on condemned prisoners, Gongzhu said: "If the test subjects do not die, corporal punishment will be put into practice. The proposal was dropped. The Tangut people had imprisoned their ruler, and the court prepared a major punitive expedition. Gongzhu said: "A punitive army must first have the right commander — if no suitable man is found, it is better not to act. When war broke out the people of Qin and Jin were sorely strained; senior ministers dared not speak, but Gongzhu repeatedly reported the damage.
55
元豐五年，以疾丐去位，除資政殿學士、定州安撫使。 俄永樂城陷，帝臨朝歎曰：「邊民疲弊如此，獨呂公著為朕言之耳。」 徙揚州，加大學士。 將立太子，帝謂輔臣，當以呂公著、司馬光為師傅。
In the fifth year of Yuanfeng he asked to leave office because of illness and was made academician of the Hall for Assistance in Governance and pacification commissioner of Dingzhou. Soon the fortress at Yongle fell. At court the Emperor sighed: "The border people are this badly worn — only Lu Gongzhu has told me. He was transferred to Yangzhou and promoted to grand academician. When the crown prince was to be installed, the Emperor told his chief ministers that Lu Gongzhu and Sima Guang should be his tutors.
56
元祐元年，拜尚書右僕射兼中書侍郎。 三省並建，中書獨為取旨之地。 乃請事於三省者，與執政同進呈，取旨而各行之。 又執政官率數日一聚政事堂，事多決於其長，同列莫得預。 至是，始命日集，遂為定制。 與司馬光同心輔政，推本先帝之志，凡欲革而未暇與革而未定者，一一舉行之。 民歡呼鼓舞，咸以為便。 光薨，獨當國，除吏皆一時之選。 時科舉罷詞賦，專用王安石經義，且雜以釋氏之說。 凡士子自一語上，非新義不得用，學者至不誦正經，唯竊安石之書以干進，精熟者轉上第，故科舉益弊。 公著始令禁主司不得出題老、莊書，舉子不得以申、韓、佛書為學，經義參用古今諸儒說，毋得專取王氏。 復賢良方正科。
In the first year of Yuanyou he was appointed Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and concurrent Vice Grand Counselor of the Secretariat. With all three departments active together, the Secretariat alone remained the place where imperial decisions were taken. He asked that business belonging to all three departments be presented jointly with the chief ministers, decisions taken, and each department carry them out on its own. Chief ministers had also been meeting at the Hall of Affairs only every few days; most matters were decided by the senior minister and the others were left out. From this point daily meetings were mandated, and the practice became permanent. Working in concert with Sima Guang, he traced policy back to the late emperor's intent and carried through, one by one, every reform that had been planned but deferred or begun but left unfinished. The people shouted and danced for joy; all regarded the changes as a clear benefit. After Guang died he bore the burden of state alone and filled every post with men chosen for the moment. Examinations had dropped rhyme-prose and relied solely on Wang Anshi's commentaries on the classics, often mixed with Buddhist ideas. From the first phrase upward, nothing but the new interpretation would do; scholars stopped reciting the orthodox classics and merely cribbed Wang's books to advance, with the most practiced winning top ranks — so the examinations grew ever more corrupt. Gongzhu ordered that examiners no longer set questions from the Laozi and Zhuangzi, that candidates not study Shenzi, Han Feizi, or Buddhist works, that commentary draw on all schools of Confucian learning past and present, and that Wang Anshi's interpretation not be the sole standard. He restored the Worthy and Upright examination.
57
右司諫賈易以言事訐直詆大臣，將峻責，公著以為言，止罷知懷州。 退謂同列曰：「諫官所論，得失未足言。 顧主上春秋方盛，慮異時有進諛說惑亂者，正賴左右爭臣耳，不可豫使人主輕厭言者也。」 眾莫不歎服。
Remonstrance official Jia Yi was to be severely punished for bluntly attacking senior ministers; Gongzhu spoke for him, and the sentence was reduced to dismissal as prefect of Huaizhou. Afterward he told his colleagues: "Right or wrong, what the remonstrance official said is not the point. The sovereign is still young; we must worry that someday flatterers will confuse him — we depend on contentious ministers at his side, and we must not teach the ruler to grow weary of frank speech. All present sighed in admiration.
58
吐蕃首領鬼章青宜結久為洮、河患，聞朝廷弭兵省戍，陰與夏人合謀復取熙、岷。 公著白遣軍器丞游師雄以便宜諭諸將，不逾月，生致于闕下。
The Tibetan leader Qingtang Jiaoshi had long troubled the Tao and He region; learning that the court had halted campaigns and reduced garrisons, he secretly plotted with the Tangut to retake Xi and Min. Gongzhu sent armory vice director You Shixiong with discretionary authority to instruct the generals; within a month Qingtang was captured alive and brought to court.
59
帝宴近臣於資善堂，出所書唐人詩分賜。 公著乃集所講書要語明白、切於治道者，凡百篇進之，以備遊意翰墨，為聖學之助。
The Emperor entertained close ministers at the Hall for Cultivation of Virtue and handed out Tang poems he had copied. Gongzhu collected a hundred essential passages from books he had taught — clear and useful for governance — and presented them so the emperor's leisure in brushwork might also serve his learning.
60
三年四月，懇辭位，拜司空、同平章軍國事。 宋興以來，宰相以三公平章重事者四人，而公著與父居其二，士豔其榮。 詔建第於東府之南，啟北扉，以便執政會議。 凡三省、樞密院之職，皆得總理。 間日一朝，因至都堂，其出不以時，蓋異禮也。
In the fourth month of the third year he earnestly declined office and was appointed Grand Mentor and co-administrator of state affairs. Since the founding of the Song, only four chief ministers had held a Three Dukes' rank while administering state affairs; Gongzhu and his father accounted for two, and scholars admired the distinction. An edict ordered a residence built south of the Eastern Secretariat with a north gate opened so the chief ministers could meet conveniently. He was empowered to oversee in general the duties of all three departments and the Bureau of Military Affairs. He attended court every other day and also came to the metropolitan hall; his comings and goings were not bound by regular hours — an extraordinary privilege.
61
明年二月薨，年七十二。 太皇太后見輔臣泣曰：「邦國不幸，司馬相公既亡，呂司空復逝。」 痛閔久之。 帝亦悲感，即詣其家臨奠，賜金帛萬。 贈太師、申國公，諡曰「正獻」，御筆碑首曰「純誠厚德」。
In the second month of the following year he died at seventy-two. When the Grand Empress Dowager saw the chief ministers she wept: "The state is unfortunate — Chancellor Sima is gone and Grand Mentor Lu has followed him. She mourned at length. The Emperor too was grieved; he went at once to mourn at his home and bestowed ten thousand strings of cash in gold and silk. He was posthumously made Grand Preceptor and Duke of Shen, with the posthumous title Correct Presentation; the emperor's own brush on his stele read Pure Sincerity and Deep Virtue.
62
公著自少講學，即以治心養性為本，平居無疾言遽色，於聲利紛華，泊然無所好。 暑不揮扇，寒不親火，簡重清靜，蓋天稟然。 其識慮深敏，量閎而學粹，遇事善決，苟便於國，不以私利害動其心。 與人交，出於至誠，好德樂善，見士大夫以人物為意者，必問其所知與其所聞，參互考實，以達於上。 每議政事，博取眾善以為善，至所當守，則毅然不回奪。 神宗嘗言其于人材不欺，如權衡之稱物。 尤能避遠聲跡，不以知人自處。
From youth he lectured on learning with self-cultivation as the foundation; in daily life he never spoke harshly or showed sudden anger; toward rank, gain, and worldly splendor he was utterly detached. In summer he did not use a fan; in winter he did not sit by the fire — grave, restrained, and serene by innate temperament. His insight was deep and quick, his breadth of mind wide and his learning pure; in affairs he decided well, and if something served the state private interest would not sway him. He dealt with others in utmost sincerity, loved virtue and delighted in talent; when he met scholar-officials who cared about men's character he asked what they knew and had heard, cross-checked the accounts, and passed the results upward. In deliberating policy he drew together every sound view, yet on what he had to uphold he stood firm and would not yield. Shenzong once said that in judging men he never deceived, like a balance weighing things true. He was especially adept at keeping his reputation quiet and did not parade his talent for knowing men.
63
始與王安石善，安石兄事之，安石博辯騁辭，人莫敢與亢，公著獨以精識約言服之。 安石嘗曰：「疵吝每不自勝，一詣長者，即廢然而反，所謂使人之意消者，于晦叔見之。」 又謂人曰：「晦叔為相，吾輩可以言仕矣。」 後安石得志，意其必助己，而數用公議，列其過失，以故交情不終。 于講說尤精，語約而理盡。 司馬光曰：「每聞晦叔講，便覺己語為煩。」 其為名流所敬如此。
He and Wang Anshi began as friends; Anshi treated him as an elder brother. Anshi was a forceful debater and no one dared stand up to him, yet Gongzhu alone won him over with refined insight and measured words. Anshi once said: "My faults and pettiness often overcome me; one visit to an elder and I wilt and turn back — that power to dissolve another's anger, I find in Huishu. He also told others: "When Huishu becomes chief minister, we may speak of serving in office again. Later, when Anshi came to power he expected Gongzhu would help him, but Gongzhu repeatedly voiced public opinion and listed his faults, and their friendship ended. In teaching he was especially masterful; his words were spare yet his principles fully delivered. Sima Guang said: "Whenever I hear Huishu lecture, my own speech begins to feel wordy. Such was the esteem in which leading men held him.
64
子希哲
His son Xizhe
65
希哲，字原明，少從焦千之、孫復、石介、胡瑗學，復從程顥、程頤、張載遊，聞見由是益廣。 以蔭入官，父友王安石勸其勿事科舉，以僥倖利祿，遂絕意進取。 安石為政，將置其子雱於講官，以希哲有賢名，欲先用之。 希哲辭曰：「辱公相知久，萬一從仕，將不免異同，則疇昔相與之意盡矣。」 安石乃止。
Xizhe, whose courtesy name was Yuanming, studied in youth under Jiao Ganzhi, Sun Fu, Shi Jie, and Hu Yuan, and later learned from Cheng Hao, Cheng Yi, and Zhang Zai, so his horizons broadened. He entered office through yin privilege; his father's friend Wang Anshi urged him not to sit for the examinations lest he chase office by luck, and he gave up any thought of advancement. When Anshi came to power he planned to place his son Pang among the lecturers; because Xizhe had a reputation for worth he wished to promote him first. Xizhe declined: "You have known me graciously for so long; if I take office we will surely disagree, and everything we once shared will be lost. Anshi desisted.
66
公著作相，二弟已官省寺，希哲獨滯管庫，久乃判登聞鼓院，力辭。 公著歎曰：「當世善士，吾收拾略盡，爾獨以吾故置不試，命也夫！」 希哲母賢明有法度，聞公著言，笑曰：「是亦未知其子矣。」
When Gongzhu became chief minister his two younger brothers already held posts in the central ministries, while Xizhe alone languished in warehouse duties; only much later was he assigned to the Palace Gate Drum Court, which he strenuously declined. Gongzhu sighed: "I have gathered nearly every worthy man of the age; you alone, because of me, are left untested — fate, alas! Xizhe's mother was wise and disciplined; hearing this she laughed: "He does not know his son yet after all."
67
終公著喪，始為兵部員外郎。 范祖禹，其妹婿也，言于哲宗曰：「希哲經術操行，宜備勸講，其父常稱為不欺暗室。 臣以婦兄之故，不敢稱薦，今方將引去，竊謂無嫌。」 詔以為崇政殿說書。 其勸導人主以修身為本，修身以正心誠意為主。 其言曰：「心正意誠，則身修而天下化。 若身不能修，雖左右之人且不能諭，況天下乎？」
Only after his father's mourning ended did he become vice director in the Ministry of War. Fan Zuyu, who had married his sister, told Zhezong: "Xizhe's learning and conduct suit him for lecturing and remonstrance; his father often said he would not cheat even in an unlit room. As his brother-in-law I did not dare recommend him before; now that I am about to leave office I believe there is no conflict. An edict appointed him lecturer at the Hall for Exaltation of Governance. In advising the ruler he took self-cultivation as the foundation, and within self-cultivation he emphasized rectifying the mind and making intent sincere. He said: "When the mind is correct and intent sincere, the person is cultivated and the world is transformed. If you cannot cultivate yourself, you cannot even instruct those beside you — how much less govern the world?"
68
擢右司諫，辭，未聽，私語祖禹曰：「若不得請，當以楊畏、來之邵為首。」 既而不拜。 會紹聖黨論起，御史劉拯論其進不由科第，以秘閣校理知懷州。 中書舍人林希又言：「呂大防由公著援引，故進希哲以酬私恩。 凡大防輩欺君賣國，皆公著為之倡； 而公著之惡，則希哲導成之，豈宜汙華職。」 於是但守本秩，俄分司南京，居和州。
Promoted to right remonstrance official, he declined; the court would not listen. Privately he told Fan Zuyu: "If my request is denied, Yang Wei and Lai Zhishao should be placed at the head. In the end he did not accept the appointment. When the Shaosheng factional strife erupted, investigating censor Liu Cheng argued that his advancement had not come through the examinations; he was made collator in the Secret Archive and prefect of Huaizhou. Central Secretariat drafter Lin Xi also said: "Lu Dafang was promoted through Gongzhu's recommendation, so Xizhe was advanced to repay a private favor. All the crimes of Dafang's faction in deceiving the ruler and betraying the state were initiated by Gongzhu; and the evil of Gongzhu was shaped under Xizhe's guidance — how could he be allowed to stain an exalted office? Thereupon he kept only his original rank; soon he was assigned to the Nanjing branch office and lived in Hezhou.
69
徽宗初，召為秘書少監，或以為太峻，改光祿少卿。 希哲力請外，以直秘閣知曹州。 旋遭崇寧黨禍，奪職知相州，徙邢州。 罷為宮祠。 羈寓淮、泗間，十餘年卒。
At the start of Huizong's reign he was summoned as vice director of the Secretariat; some thought the post too lofty, and he was changed to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Xizhe strongly requested an outside post and was made prefect of Caozhou with the rank of collator in the Secret Archive. Soon he suffered the factional disaster of Chongning, was stripped of office and made prefect of Xiangzhou, then transferred to Xingzhou. He was dismissed to a sinecure temple post. Living in exile between the Huai and Si rivers, he died after more than ten years.
70
希哲樂易簡儉，有至行，晚年名益重，遠近皆師尊之。 子：好問，有傳。
Xizhe was cheerful, easy, simple, and frugal, with supreme conduct; in later years his reputation grew ever weightier, and men near and far honored him as a teacher. His son Haowen has a separate biography.
71
子希純
His son Xi Chun
72
希純，字子進，登第，為太常博士。 元祐祀明堂，將用皇祐故事，並饗天地百神，皆以祖宗配。 希純言：「皇祐之禮，事不經見，嘉祐既已厘正。 至元豐中，但以英宗配上帝，悉罷從祀群神，得嚴父之義，請循其式。」 從之。
Xi Chun, whose courtesy name was Zijin, passed the examinations and became a doctorate in the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. During Yuanyou, when sacrificing at the Bright Hall, the court planned to follow the Huangyou precedent of jointly feasting Heaven, Earth, and the hundred spirits, all with ancestral accompaniment. Xi Chun said: "The Huangyou rite lacks established precedent; in Jiayou it was already corrected. By Yuanfeng only Emperor Yingzong was paired with the Supreme Lord and all attendant sacrifices to the host of spirits were abolished, honoring the father as ritual requires; I pray we follow that form. The court followed his advice.
73
歷宗正、太常、秘書丞。 哲宗議納后，希純請考三代昏禮，參祖宗之制，博訪令族，參求德配。 凡世俗所謂勘婚之書，淺陋不經，且一切屏絕，以防附會。 遷著作郎，以父諱不拜。 擢起居舍人，權太常少卿。
He served successively as vice director in the Court of the Imperial Clan, Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and Secretariat. When Zhezong deliberated taking an empress, Xi Chun asked that the marriage rites of the Three Dynasties be examined, ancestral institutions consulted, prominent clans widely sought, and a worthy match found. All vulgar so-called books for inspecting marriage are shallow, crude, and unorthodox; let them all be excluded to guard against forced matches. He was transferred to drafting secretary but, because of taboo on his father's personal name, declined to accept the appointment. He was promoted to court diarist and acting vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
74
宣仁太后崩，希純慮奸人乘間進說搖主聽，即上疏曰：「自元祐初年，太皇聽斷，所用之人皆宿有時望，所行之事皆人所願行。 唯是過惡得罪之徒，日伺變故，捭闔規利，今必以更改神宗法度為說。 臣以為先帝之功烈，萬世莫掩。 間有數事，為小人所誤，勢雖頗有損益，在於聖德，固無所虧。 且英宗、神宗何嘗不改真宗、仁宗之政，亦豈盡用慶祖、太宗之法乎？ 小人既誤先帝，復欲誤陛下，不可不察。」 未幾，拜中書舍人、同修國史。
When Empress Dowager Xuanren died, Xi Chun feared villainous men would seize the moment to sway the ruler; he at once memorialized: "Since early Yuanyou the Grand Empress held judgment; the men she used all had long-standing public standing, and the affairs she carried out were what people wished done. Only those who had erred and been punished watch daily for change, scheming for advantage; they will surely speak now of altering Shenzong's institutions. Your servant holds that the late emperor's achievements can never be concealed for ten thousand generations. A few matters were misled by petty men; though in effect there was some loss and gain, to his sacred virtue nothing was truly diminished. Moreover, did Emperors Yingzong and Shenzong not also alter the policies of Zhenzong and Renzong — and did they fully adhere to the methods of the founding ancestors and Taizong? Petty men already misled the late emperor; they wish again to mislead Your Majesty — this cannot go unexamined. Before long he was appointed central Secretariat drafter and co-compiler of national history.
75
內侍梁從政、劉惟簡除內省押班，希純以親政之始，首錄二人，無以示天下，持不行。 由是閹寺側目，或於庭中指以相示曰：「此繳還二押班詞頭者也。」
Palace attendants Liang Congzheng and Liu Weijian were appointed inner-circuit wardens; Xi Chun, because this was the start of personal rule, held that installing these two men first offered no model to the realm and steadfastly refused to issue the edicts. Hence the eunuchs glared; some in the courtyard would point and say to one another: "This is the one who returned the drafts for the two wardens' appointments."
76
章惇既相，出為寶文閣待制、知亳州。 諫官張商英憾希純，攻之力。 又以外親嫌，連徙睦州、歸州。 自京東而之浙西，自浙西而上三峽，名為易地，實困之也。 公著追貶，希純亦以屯田員外郎分司南京，居金州。 又責舒州團練副使，道州安置。 建中靖國元年，還為待制、知瀛州。 徽宗聞其名，數稱之。 曾布忌希純，因其請覲，未及見，亟以邊，遽趣遣之。 俄改潁州，入崇寧黨籍。 卒，年六十。
When Zhang Dun became chief minister, Xi Chun was sent out as Hanlin Academician awaiting orders at the Hall of Literary Glory and prefect of Bozhou. Remonstrance official Zhang Shangying resented Xi Chun and attacked him forcefully. Again, on grounds of affinity by marriage, he was transferred in succession to Muzhou and Guizhou. From the eastern capital region to western Zhe, from western Zhe up the Three Gorges — nominally a change of post, in reality an exhausting persecution. When Gongzhu was posthumously demoted, Xi Chun too was made vice director of the Directorate of Agriculture assigned to the Nanjing branch, living in Jinzhou. He was further demoted to deputy military commissioner of Shuzhou and settled in Daozhou. In the first year of Jianzhong Jingguo he was restored as awaiting-order academician and prefect of Yingzhou. Huizong heard his name and praised him repeatedly. Zeng Bu envied Xi Chun; when he requested an audience, before he could be received Zeng Bu hurried to the frontier and pressed for his immediate dispatch. Soon he was changed to Yingzhou and entered the Chongning faction list. He died at sixty.
77
論曰：公著父子俱位至宰相，俱以司空平章軍國事，雖漢之韋、平，唐之蘇、李，榮盛孰加焉。 夷簡多智數，公著則一切持正，以應天下之務，嗚呼賢哉。 其論人才，如權衡之稱物，故一時賢士，收拾略盡。 司馬光疾甚，諄諄焉以國事為托，當時廷臣，莫公著若也審矣。 追考其平生事業，蓋守成之良相也。 然知子之賢而不能薦，殆猶未免於避嫌，而有愧于從祖云。 希哲、希純世濟其美，然皆隱于崇寧党禍，何君子之不幸歟！
The appraisal says: Gongzhu father and son both reached the chancellorship, both as Grand Mentor administering state affairs — even the Wei and Ping of Han, the Su and Li of Tang — what glory surpasses this? Yijian was full of schemes; Gongzhu held uniformly to correctness in meeting the affairs of the realm — alas, how worthy! In judging talent he was like a balance weighing things true — thus worthy men of the age were nearly all gathered in. When Sima Guang was gravely ill he earnestly entrusted state affairs to him — among court ministers at the time, none was trusted like Gongzhu; this is clear. Reviewing his life's work, he was essentially a fine minister for preserving an established order. Yet knowing his son's worth and unable to recommend him — he perhaps could not escape the taint of avoiding suspicion, and had reason to feel ashamed before his collateral ancestor, one might say. Xizhe and Xi Chun carried on his excellence through generations, yet both were lost in the Chongning faction disaster — how unfortunate for gentlemen!