1
唐恪李邦彥附:余深薛昂吳敏王安中王襄趙野曹輔耿南仲王㝢
Tang Ke; Li Bangyan, with appended biographies of Yu Shen, Xue Ang, Wu Min, Wang Anzhong, Wang Xiang, Zhao Ye, Cao Fu, Geng Nanzhong, and Wang Yu
2
唐恪，字欽叟，杭州錢塘人。 四歲而孤，聞人言其父，輒悲泣。 以蔭登第，調郴尉。 縣民有被害而屍不獲，吏執其鄰人，抑使自誣，令以為信。 恪爭之，令曰：「否將為君累。」 恪曰：「吾為尉而盜不能捕，更俾亡辜死平？」 躬出訪求，夕，若有告者，旦而得屍，遂獲盜。 知榆次，縣豪子雄於鄉，萃逋庇奸，不輸公賦，前後莫敢詰。 恪以理善曉之，悟而自悔，折節為長者。 最聞，擢提舉河東常平、江東轉運判官。
Tang Ke, whose style name was Qinsou, came from Qiantang in Hangzhou. He lost his father at the age of four; whenever he heard anyone mention him, he would burst into tears. He gained office through hereditary privilege and was posted as aide in Chen prefecture. When a county resident was murdered and the body could not be found, the clerks seized a neighbor and forced a false confession, which the magistrate accepted as credible. Ke objected, but the magistrate said, "If you refuse, you will only bring trouble on yourself." Ke replied, "I am the district aide and cannot even catch the thief—am I to let an innocent man die instead?" He went out to investigate in person; that evening someone seemed to come forward with information, and by morning the body was found and the thief arrested. When he governed Yuci, a powerful young man in the county dominated the countryside, harboring fugitives and shielding criminals while refusing to pay public taxes, and no one before or after him had dared challenge him. Ke reasoned with him patiently until he understood his error, repented, and mended his ways to become a respected elder in the district. When his performance was rated highest, he was promoted to intendant of the Hedong Ever-Normal Granaries and transport vice-commissioner in Jiangdong.
3
大觀中，牂牁內附，召為屯田員外郎，持節招納夷人。 夷始恫疑，衷甲以逆，恪盡去兵衛，從數十卒單行。 夷望見歡呼，投兵聽命。 以奉使稱職，遷右司員外郎、起居舍人。 迎遼使還，言河北邊備弛廢，宜及今無事，以時治之。 徽宗壯之，曰：「非卿誰宜為者。」 命為都轉運使，加集賢殿修撰。 中貴人稱詔有所市，恪不答，憤而歸，中以他事，降直龍圖閣、知梓州。
During the Daguan period, when Zangge came under Song rule, he was summoned as vice director of the Directorate of Agriculture and sent with imperial credentials to receive and win over the tribal peoples. The tribesmen were at first fearful and suspicious and came out in armor to resist; Ke dismissed his entire guard and went forward with only a few dozen men. When they saw him they shouted in welcome, cast down their weapons, and submitted. Because he acquitted himself well on this mission, he was promoted to vice director of the Right Office and attendant of the Secretariat. After escorting the Liao envoy back, he reported that the Hebei frontier defenses had fallen into neglect and should be restored while the realm was still at peace. Emperor Huizong was impressed and said, "If not you, who is fit to undertake this?" He was appointed metropolitan transport commissioner and given the additional title of Academician in the Hall for Collecting the Finest Writings. A palace eunuch claimed an edict authorizing purchases; Ke would not comply. The eunuch left in anger, and on another pretext Ke was demoted to direct academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and sent to govern Zizhou.
4
曆五年，徙滄州。 河決，水犯城下，恪乘城救理。 都水孟昌齡移檄索船與兵，恪報水勢方惡，船當以備緩急； 滄為極邊，兵非有旨不敢遣。 昌齡怒，劾之，恪不為動，益治水。 水去，城得全，詔書嘉獎。 乃上疏請暫免保甲、保馬呈閱及復諸縣租，等第振貸，以寬被水之民。 未報，悉便宜罷行之，民大悅。
After five years he was transferred to Cangzhou. When the Yellow River burst its banks and the flood threatened the city, Ke took to the walls to organize the relief effort. Meng Changling, Director of Waterways, sent a dispatch demanding boats and troops; Ke replied that the waters were still dangerous and the boats must be held in reserve. Cangzhou lay on the outer frontier, and he dared not dispatch troops without explicit imperial orders. Changling was furious and impeached him, but Ke was unmoved and threw himself all the more into controlling the flood. When the waters withdrew the city stood intact, and an imperial edict commended his achievement. He then submitted a memorial asking that baojia and baoma inspections be suspended for the time being, county rents restored, and graded relief loans issued to ease the burden on those affected by the flood. Before any reply arrived, he used his discretionary authority to suspend all of these measures at once, to the great joy of the people.
5
進龍圖閣待制、知揚州，召拜戶部侍郎。 京師暴水至，汴且溢，付恪治之。 或請決南堤以紓宮城之患，恪曰：「水漲堤壞，此亡可奈何，今決而浸之，是魚鱉吾民也。」 亟乘小舟，相水源委，求所以利導之，乃決金堤注之河。 浹旬水準，入對，帝勞之曰：「宗廟社稷獲安，卿之力也。」 恪再拜，因上疏言：「水，陰類也，至犯京闕，天其或者以陰盛之沴儆告陛下乎？ 願垂意時事，益謹天戒。」
He was promoted to awaiting academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and appointed prefect of Yangzhou, then summoned to the capital as vice minister of Revenue. When sudden flooding struck the capital and the Bian River was on the verge of overflowing, the court placed Ke in charge of the crisis. Some urged breaching the southern dike to spare the palace precincts; Ke said, "When the waters rise the dikes give way—that cannot be helped; but to breach them deliberately now would be to turn our people into fish and turtles." He quickly took a small boat, traced the flood to its source, found how best to channel it, and breached the Jin dike to send the waters into the river. Within ten days the waters had subsided; when he came before the throne the emperor praised him, saying, "The ancestral temples and the altars of state stand secure—this is your achievement." Ke bowed again and submitted a memorial: "Water belongs to the yin principle; that it should assail the capital gates—might Heaven be warning Your Majesty through the excess of yin? I beg Your Majesty to attend closely to affairs of state and heed Heaven's warning all the more carefully."
6
宣和初，遷尚書，帝許以二府。 為宰相王黼所陷，罷知滁州。 言者論其治第曆陽，擾民逾制，提舉鴻慶宮。 五年，起知青州； 未行，召為吏部尚書，徙戶部。 復請外，以延康殿學士知潭州，請往錢塘掃墓，然後之官，遂改杭州，
Early in the Xuanhe reign he was made Minister, and the emperor promised him a seat in one of the two highest councils. Framed by the chief councilor Wang Fu, he was dismissed and sent to govern Chuzhou. Critics charged that in building his estate at Liyang he had harassed the people beyond what regulations allowed, and he was made intendant of Hongqing Palace. In the fifth year he was recalled to govern Qingzhou. Before he could depart he was summoned as Minister of Personnel, then moved to the Ministry of Revenue. He again asked to leave the capital; as academician of the Yankang Hall he was appointed prefect of Tanzhou, requested leave to sweep his ancestors' graves at Qiantang before taking up his post, and was accordingly reassigned to Hangzhou.
7
靖康初，金兵入汴，李邦彥薦之，拜同知樞密院事，至則為中書侍郎。 時進見者多論宣和間事，恪言于欽宗曰：「革弊當以漸，宜擇今日之所急者先之。 而言者不顧大體，至毛舉前事，以快一時之憤，豈不傷太上道君之心哉。 京、攸、黼、貫之徒既從竄斥，姑可已矣，他日邊事既定，然後白道君，請下一詔，與天下共棄之，誰曰不可。」 帝曰：「卿論甚善，為朕作詔書，以此意佈告在位。 因賜東宮舊書萬卷，且用近比除子璟直秘閣，力辭之。
At the start of the Jingkang crisis, when Jin forces entered Bian, Li Bangyan recommended him; he was appointed vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs and, on arrival, became vice director of the Secretariat. Many who came before the throne were rehearsing abuses from the Xuanhe years; Ke said to Emperor Qinzong, "Reform should proceed step by step; choose what is most urgent today and deal with that first. Yet those who spoke ignored the larger picture, dredging up every past offense to satisfy a moment's anger—would that not wound the Retired Emperor, the Daoist Lord? Jing, You, Fu, Guan, and their followers have already been driven out—let that be enough for now; when the frontier is settled, then inform the Daoist Lord and ask him to issue an edict by which the whole realm joins in casting them off—who would say that cannot be done?" The emperor said, "Your argument is excellent; draft an edict for Us and proclaim this intent to all who hold office. He was also granted ten thousand volumes from the Eastern Palace library, and by recent precedent his son Jing was made direct academician of the Secretariat; Ke firmly declined.
8
八月，進拜少宰兼中書侍郎，帝注禮之甚渥。 然恪為相，無濟時大略。 金騎再來，邀割三鎮，恪集廷臣議，以為當與者十九，恪從之。 使者既行，於是諸道勤王兵大集，輒諭止令勿前，皆反旆而去。 洎金兵薄城下，始悔之，密言於帝曰：「唐自天寶而後屢失而復興者，以天子在外可以號召四方也。 今宜舉景德故事，留太子居守而西幸洛，連據秦、雍，領天下親征，以圖興復。」 帝將從其議，而開封尹何㮚入見，引蘇軾所論，謂周之失計，未有如東遷之甚者。 帝幡然而改，以足頓地曰：「今當以死守社稷。」 擢㮚門下侍郎，恪計不用。
In the eighth month he was promoted to Junior Councilor and vice director of the Secretariat; the emperor showed him exceptional favor. Yet as chief minister Ke had no grand strategy to rescue the dynasty. Jin cavalry came again demanding the cession of three prefectures; Ke convened the court for deliberation, and nineteen of those present favored yielding them—Ke sided with the majority. Once the envoys had set out, relief armies from every circuit gathered in force; he repeatedly ordered them to halt and not advance, and they all turned back. When the Jin army pressed against the walls he began to regret his course and said privately to the emperor, "After the Tianbao era the Tang lost their realm again and again yet recovered each time because the Son of Heaven was outside the capital and could summon the four quarters. We should now follow the Jingde precedent: leave the crown prince to defend the capital while the court moves west to Luoyang, secure Qin and Yong in succession, and lead the armies of the realm in person to plan restoration." The emperor was about to accept this plan when Kaifeng prefect He Li came to audience and cited Su Shi's argument that of all the Zhou dynasty's missteps none equaled moving the capital eastward. The emperor changed his mind at once and stamped his foot, saying, "Now we must defend the altars of state to the death." He Li was promoted to vice director of the Gate, and Ke's plan went unused.
9
從帝巡城，為都人遮擊，策馬得脫，遂臥家求去。 御史胡舜陟繼劾其罪，謂「恪之智慮不能經畫邊事，但長於交結內侍，今國勢日蹙，誠不可以備位。」 乃以觀文殿大學士、中太一宮使兼侍讀罷，㮚代為相。
While accompanying the emperor on an inspection of the city walls he was intercepted and beaten by the people of the capital; he spurred his horse free, then lay at home and asked to resign. Censor Hu Shunzhi then impeached him, saying, "Ke's mind is unequal to planning the frontier crisis; he excels only at cultivating palace eunuchs; with the state's position daily more desperate, he truly cannot remain in office." He was dismissed as academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature, commissioner of the Central Grand Unity Palace, and concurrent reader-in-waiting; He Li replaced him as chief minister.
10
京城不守，車駕至金帥營，恪曰：「計失矣。 一入，將不得還。」 既而還宮，恪迎拜道左，請入覲，㮚不可。 二年正月，復幸，恪曰：「一之謂甚，其可再乎？」 及金人逼百官立張邦昌，令吳開、莫儔入城取推戴狀，恪既書名，仰藥而死。
When the capital fell and the imperial carriage went to the Jin commander's camp, Ke said, "The plan has failed. Once you enter, you will not be able to return." The emperor eventually returned to the palace; Ke bowed in welcome along the road and asked to be received in audience, but He Li would not permit it. In the first month of the second year the emperor went again; Ke said, "Once is already too much—how can it be done a second time?" When the Jin forced the officials to install Zhang Bangchang and sent Wu Kai and Mo Chou into the city to collect pledges of support, Ke had already signed his name, then took poison and died.
11
李邦彥
Li Bangyan
12
李邦彥，字士美，懷州人。 父浦，銀工也。 邦彥喜從進士游，河東舉人入京者，必道懷訪邦彥。 有所營置，浦亦罷工與為之，且復資給其行，由是邦彥聲譽弈弈。 入補太學生，大觀二年，上舍及第，授秘書省校書郎，試符寶郎。
Li Bangyan, whose style name was Shimei, came from Huaizhou. His father Pu was a silversmith. Bangyan delighted in the company of jinshi scholars; examination candidates from Hedong bound for the capital always routed through Huai to call on him. Whenever they needed something arranged, Pu would lay aside his trade to assist and even fund their journey; by this means Bangyan's reputation spread far and wide. He entered the Imperial University; in the second year of Daguan he passed the upper dormitory examination, was appointed proofreader in the Secretariat, and tested for the post of tally officer of talismans and seals.
13
邦彥俊爽，美風姿，為文敏而工。 然生長閭閻，習猥鄙事，應對便捷； 善謳謔，能蹴鞠，每輟街市俚語為詞曲，人爭傳之，自號李浪子。 言者劾其遊縱無檢，罷符寶郎，復為校書郎。 俄以吏部員外郎領議禮局，出知河陽，召為起居郎。 邦彥善事中人，爭薦譽之，累遷中書舍人、翰林學士承旨。
Bangyan was handsome and spirited, carried himself well, and wrote with quickness and skill. Yet having grown up in the back alleys he was versed in coarse and vulgar pursuits and answered with ready wit. He was skilled at ribald songs and jest, could play cuju, and often turned street slang into lyrics that everyone rushed to copy; he called himself Li the Prodigal. Critics impeached his unrestrained conduct; he was dismissed from the tally office and restored to proofreader. Soon afterward, as vice director of the Ministry of Personnel, he headed the Rites Bureau, was sent out to govern Heyang, and was recalled as attendant of the Secretariat. Bangyan was adept at courting palace eunuchs, who vied to praise him, and he rose in succession to drafting attendant of the Secretariat and Hanlin academician and chief drafter.
14
宣和三年，拜尚書右丞； 五年，轉左丞。 浦死，贈龍圖閣直學士，諡曰宣簡。 邦彥起復，與王黼不協，乃陰結蔡攸、梁師成等，讒黼罷之。 明年，拜少宰，無所建明，惟阿順趨諂充位而已，都人目為「浪子宰相」。
In the third year of Xuanhe he was appointed vice director of the Department of State Affairs. In the fifth year he was transferred to left vice director. When Pu died he was posthumously made direct academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall with the posthumous title Xuanjian. Bangyan returned from mourning; at odds with Wang Fu, he secretly allied with Cai You, Liang Shicheng, and others to slander Fu until he was removed. The following year he was made Junior Councilor; he offered no constructive policy but only flattered and fawned to hold the seat, and the people of the capital called him "the Prodigal Councilor."
15
徽宗內禪，命為龍德宮使，升太宰。 知眾議不與，外患日逼，抗疏丐宮祠。 金人既薄都城，李綱、种師道罷，邦彥堅主割地之議。 太學生陳東數百人伏宣德門上書，言邦彥及白時中、張邦昌、趙野、王孝迪、蔡懋、李乂之徒為社稷之賊，請斥之。 邦彥退朝，群指而大詬，且欲毆之，邦彥疾驅得免。 乃以特進、觀文殿大學士充太一宮使。 不旬日，吳敏為請，復起為太宰。 人皆駭愕，言者交論之。 出知鄧州，遂請持餘服，提舉亳州明道宮。 建炎初，以主和誤國，責建武軍節度副使，潯州安置。
When Huizong abdicated in favor of his son, Bangyan was made commissioner of the Longde Palace and promoted to Grand Councilor. Knowing that public opinion was against him and external danger drew nearer each day, he submitted a memorial begging for a palace sinecure. Once the Jin had pressed against the capital and Li Gang and Zhong Shidao were dismissed, Bangyan firmly upheld the policy of ceding territory. Several hundred Imperial University students led by Chen Dong lay prostrate at the Xuande Gate and submitted a memorial naming Bangyan, Bai Shizhong, Zhang Bangchang, Zhao Ye, Wang Xiaodi, Cai Mao, Li Yi, and their like as enemies of the altars of state and demanding their removal. As Bangyan left court the crowd pointed at him and shouted abuse, and some tried to seize and beat him; he spurred his horse and escaped. He was therefore made specially advanced academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and commissioner of the Grand Unity Palace. Within ten days Wu Min pleaded on his behalf and he was recalled as Grand Councilor. Everyone was shocked and alarmed, and critics assailed him in turn. He was sent out to govern Dengzhou, then asked to complete his mourning observances and was made intendant of Mingdao Palace in Bozhou. At the beginning of the Jianyan era, for having pursued peace at the cost of the state, he was demoted to vice military commissioner of the Jianwu Army and exiled to Xunzhou.
16
方蔡京、王黼用事，附麗者多援引入政府，若余深、薛昂、吳敏、王安中、趙野，史皆逸其事，因附著於此雲。
While Cai Jing and Wang Fu held power, many who attached themselves to them were drawn into high office; as for Yu Shen, Xue Ang, Wu Min, Wang Anzhong, and Zhao Ye, the histories have omitted their stories, and they are therefore recorded here.
17
余深附
Yu Shen, appended
18
余深，福州人。 元豐五年，進士及第。 崇甯元年，為太常博士、著作佐郎，改司封員外郎，拜監察御史、殿中侍御史，試辟雍司業。
Yu Shen came from Fuzhou. In the fifth year of Yuanfeng he passed the jinshi examination. In the first year of Chongning he was made erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and assistant editor, then vice director of the Bureau of Honors, and appointed investigating censor and palace censor, with trial appointment as director of studies at the Directorate of Education.
19
累官御史中丞兼侍讀。 治張懷素獄，事連蔡京，與開封尹林攄曲為掩覆，獄辭有及京者輒焚之。 京遂力引深與攄驟至執政。 大觀二年，以吏部尚書拜尚書左丞。 三年，轉中書侍郎； 四年，轉門下侍郎。 京既致仕，深不自安，累疏請罷，乃以資政殿學士知青州。
He rose in succession to censor-in-chief and concurrent reader-in-waiting. While prosecuting the Zhang Huaisu case, which implicated Cai Jing, he and Kaifeng prefect Lin Zhe bent the law to cover it up, burning any testimony that mentioned Jing. Jing then used all his influence to promote Shen and Zhe until they swiftly reached the highest council. In the second year of Daguan, as Minister of Personnel he was appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. In the third year he was transferred to vice director of the Secretariat. In the fourth year he was transferred to vice director of the Gate. After Jing retired, Shen grew increasingly uneasy and submitted memorial after memorial asking to resign; he was finally made academician of the Zizheng Hall and sent to govern Qingzhou.
20
深諂附蔡京，結為死黨。 京奸謀詭計得助多者，深為首，攄次之。 言者累章劾深，深益懼，丐致仕。 建炎二年，降中大夫，臨江軍居住。 尋以渡江赦恩，還鄉里，卒。 子日章，亦以言者罷徽猷閣待制。
Shen fawned on Cai Jing and joined him in a sworn faction. Among those who aided Jing's treacherous schemes and crafty plots, Shen stood foremost and Zhe second. Critics submitted memorial after memorial impeaching Shen; he grew ever more fearful and begged to retire. In the second year of Jianyan he was demoted to grandee of court and ordered to reside at Linjiang. Soon afterward, through the amnesty granted for the court's flight south across the Yangzi, he was allowed to return home and died there. His son Rizhang was likewise dismissed from awaiting academician of the Huixian Hall after critics spoke against him.
21
薛昂附
Xue Ang, appended
22
薛昂，杭州人，登元豐八年進士第。 崇甯初，曆太學博士、校書郎、著作佐郎，為殿中侍御史，試起居郎，改中書舍人兼侍講，升給事中兼大司成。 昂寡學術，士子有用《史記》、《西漢》語，輒黜之。 在哲宗時，常請罷史學，哲宗斥為俗佞。 拜翰林學士，以不稱職改刑部尚書，轉兵部。 大觀三年，拜尚書左丞。 明年，請補外，出知江甯，徙河南。 久之，提舉嵩山崇福宮。
Xue Ang came from Hangzhou and passed the jinshi examination in the eighth year of Yuanfeng. Early in the Chongning reign he rose through the posts of Imperial University erudite, proofreader, and assistant editor, became palace censor, tested as attendant of the Secretariat, was made drafting attendant and concurrent lecturer, and was promoted to supervising censor and concurrent grand director of studies. Ang was poorly learned; whenever a candidate used phrases from the Records of the Grand Historian or the History of the Former Han, he would fail him. Under Emperor Zhezong he repeatedly petitioned to abolish the study of history; Zhezong denounced him as a vulgar sycophant. He was appointed Hanlin academician; found unfit for the post, he was moved to Minister of Justice and then to the Ministry of War. In the third year of Daguan he was appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. The following year he asked for a provincial post, was sent to govern Jiangning, and was then transferred to Henan. After a long interval he was made intendant of Chongfu Palace on Mount Song.
23
政和三年，蔡京復用事，昂復自尚書右丞為左丞，遷門下侍郎。 尋請罷，授彰化軍節度使、佑神觀使，改特進，充資政殿大學士、知應天府。 昂與余深、林攄始終附會蔡京，至舉家為京諱。 或誤及之。 輒加笞責，昂嘗誤及，即自批其口。 靖康初，言者斥其罪，詔以金紫光祿大夫致仕。 杭州軍亂，昂不請命領州事，責徽州居住。 昂主王氏學，嘗在安石坐，圍棋賭詩，局敗，昂不能作，安石代之，時人以為笑雲。
In the third year of Zhenghe, when Cai Jing returned to power, Ang was restored from right vice director to left vice director and promoted to vice director of the Gate. Soon he asked to resign and was made military commissioner of Zhanghua and commissioner of the Youshen Palace, then given special advancement and made academician of the Zizheng Hall and prefect of Yingtianfu. Ang, together with Yu Shen and Lin Zhe, clung to Cai Jing from first to last, going so far as to have their entire households avoid speaking Jing's taboo name. If anyone accidentally mentioned it, he would have them beaten; Ang once made the mistake himself and at once slapped his own mouth. At the start of the Jingkang crisis critics denounced his crimes, and an edict ordered him to retire with the rank of grandee of the golden-girdled purple. When the Hangzhou garrison mutinied, Ang failed to request authority to take charge of the prefecture and was ordered to reside at Huizhou. Ang championed the Wang school of learning; he once sat with Wang Anshi playing go for wagers in verse; when he lost the game he could not compose a poem, and Anshi wrote one for him—people at the time made it a laughingstock.
24
吳敏附
Wu Min, appended
25
吳敏，字元中，真州人。 大觀二年，辟雍私試首選。 蔡京喜其文，欲妻以女，敏辭。 因擢浙東學事司幹官，為秘書省校書郎，京薦之充館職。 中書侍郎劉正夫以敏未嘗過省，不可，京乃請御筆特召上殿，除右司郎官。 御筆自此始，違者以大不恭論，繇是權幸爭請御筆，而繳駁之任廢矣。 升中書舍人、同修國史，改給事中。 敏為蔡京所引，鄭居中方秉政，敏數言其失，居中銜之。 坐駁盜當死者，罷為右文殿修撰、提舉南京鴻慶宮。 久之，復為給事中、權直學士院兼侍講。
Wu Min, whose style name was Yuanzhong, came from Zhenzhou. In the second year of Daguan he ranked first in the Directorate of Education's private examination. Cai Jing admired his writing and wished to marry his daughter to him; Min declined. He was therefore promoted to secretary of the Zhedong Directorate of Education and made proofreader in the Secretariat; Jing recommended him for a Hanlin post. Vice director of the Secretariat Liu Zhengfu objected that Min had never passed the provincial examination and could not be appointed; Jing then requested an imperial-brush summons to audience and secured his appointment as vice director of the Right Office. The imperial-brush appointment began at this point; anyone who violated the procedure was charged with great disrespect; from then on the powerful and favored vied to request imperial-brush appointments, and the duty of review and rejection fell into disuse. He was promoted to drafting attendant of the Secretariat and concurrent editor of the national history, then made supervising censor. Min had been introduced by Cai Jing; when Zheng Juzhong held power, Min often criticized his failings and Juzhong bore a grudge. For overturning a death sentence in a robbery case he was dismissed as academician of the Youwen Hall and made intendant of Hongqing Palace in Nanjing. After a long interval he was again made supervising censor, acting head of the Academy of Letters, and concurrent lecturer.
26
徽宗將內禪，蔡攸探知上意，引敏入對。 宰臣執政皆在，敏前奏事，且曰：「金人渝盟，舉兵犯順，陛下何以待？」 上蹙然曰：「奈何！」 時東幸計已定，命戶部尚書李棁先出守金陵。 敏退，詣都堂言曰：「朝廷便為棄京師計，何理也？ 此命果行，須死不奉詔。」 宰執以為言，棁遂罷行。 皇太子除開封尹，上去意益決，敏因奏對得請，遂薦李綱。 綱嘗語敏以上宜傳位，如唐天寶故事，故薦之，冀上或有所問也。 明日，宰臣奏事，徽宗獨留李邦彥，語敏所對。 命除門下侍郎，輔太子。 敏駭曰：「臣既畫計，當從陛下巡幸。 陛下且傳位，而臣受不次之擢，臣曷敢？」 上曰：「不意卿乃爾敢言。」 於是命敏草傳位詔。
When Huizong was about to abdicate, Cai You discerned the emperor's intent and brought Min in for audience. The chief ministers and those in power were all present; Min spoke first and said, "The Jin have broken the treaty and marched in rebellion—how does Your Majesty mean to respond?" The emperor frowned and said, "What can be done!" By then the plan to move the court east was already settled; the emperor ordered Minister of Revenue Li Zhi to go out first to defend Jinling. Min withdrew and went to the chief ministers' hall, saying, "The court is already preparing to abandon the capital—how can that be justified? If this order is truly issued, I would rather die than obey it." The chief ministers took up his argument and Li Zhi's mission was canceled. The crown prince was made acting prefect of Kaifeng; as the retired emperor's resolve to flee grew firmer, Min secured permission through audience and recommended Li Gang. Gang had once told Min that the emperor ought to pass the throne as in the Tang Tianbao precedent, so Min recommended him in the hope that the emperor might consult him. The next day, when the chief ministers reported to audience, Huizong kept only Li Bangyan and discussed Min's answers. He ordered Min appointed vice director of the Gate to assist the crown prince. Min was alarmed and said, "I have already devised the plan and ought to accompany Your Majesty on the journey. Your Majesty is about to pass the throne, yet I am given an extraordinary promotion—how dare I accept it?" The emperor said, "I did not expect you to be so bold in speech." He therefore ordered Min to draft the abdication edict.
27
王安中附
Wang Anzhong, appended
28
王安中，字履道，中山陽曲人。 進士及第，調瀛州司理參軍、大名縣主簿，曆秘書省著作郎。 政和間，天下爭言瑞應，廷臣輒箋表賀，徽宗觀所作，稱為奇才。 他日，特出制詔三題使具草，立就，上即草後批：「可中書舍人。」 未幾，自秘書少監除中書舍人，擢御史中丞。 開封邏卒夜跡盜，盜脫去，民有驚出與卒遇，縛以為盜； 民訟諸府，不勝考掠之慘，遂誣服。 安中廉知之，按得冤狀，即出民，抵吏罪。
Wang Anzhong, whose style name was Lüdao, came from Yangqu in Zhongshan. He passed the jinshi examination and was assigned as judicial aide in Yingzhou and registrar of Daming County, then served in succession as editor in the Secretariat. During the Zhenghe era, when the whole realm vied to report auspicious omens and court ministers repeatedly submitted congratulatory memorials, Huizong read Anzhong's compositions and called him a rare talent. On another occasion he specially set three topics for drafting edicts and required immediate completion; the emperor annotated the draft at once: "May be made drafting attendant of the Secretariat." Before long he rose from vice director of the Secretariat to drafting attendant and was promoted to censor-in-chief. Kaifeng patrol guards tracked thieves by night; the thieves escaped, and a startled civilian who ran out into the street met the guards and was bound as a thief. The man brought suit at the prefectural office but could not endure the cruelty of the beating and falsely confessed. Anzhong investigated and found the injustice, established that the case was wrongful, released the man, and punished the officers responsible.
29
有徐禋者，以增廣鼓鑄之說媚于蔡京，京奏遣禋措置東南九路銅事，且令搜訪寶貨。 禋圖繪坑冶，增舊幾十倍，且請開洪州嚴陽山坑，迫有司承歲額數十兩。 其所烹煉，實得銖兩而已。 禋術窮，乃妄請得希世珍異與古之寶器，乞歸書藝局，京主其言。 安中獨論禋欺上擾下，宜令九路監司覆之，禋竟得罪。
A man named Xu Yin won Cai Jing's favor with proposals to expand drum-casting; Jing memorialized sending Yin to manage copper affairs in the nine southeastern circuits and ordered him to search out precious goods as well. Yin mapped out mining sites and increased the old quotas nearly tenfold, and petitioned to open the Yanyang Mountain mine in Hongzhou, forcing the relevant offices to meet an annual quota of several tens of taels. What he actually smelted and refined amounted to only a few ounces. When Yin's methods failed he falsely claimed to have obtained rare treasures of the age and ancient precious vessels and begged to turn them over to the Bureau of Calligraphy and Painting; Jing backed his claim. Anzhong alone argued that Yin was deceiving the emperor above and harassing the people below, and urged that the supervisory commissioners of the nine circuits be ordered to investigate; Yin was finally found guilty.
30
時上方鄉神仙之事，蔡京引方士王仔昔以妖術見，朝臣戚裏寅緣關通。 安中疏請自今招延山林道術之士，當責所屬保任，宣召出入，必令察視其所經由，仍申嚴臣庶往還之禁； 並言京欺君僭上、蠹國害民數事。 上悚然納之。 已而再疏京罪，上曰：「本欲即行卿章，以近天寧節，俟過此，當為卿罷京。」 京伺知之，大懼，其子攸日夕侍禁中，泣拜懇祈。 上為遷安中翰林學士，又遷承旨。
At that time the emperor was devoted to immortals; Cai Jing introduced the Daoist Wang Zaixi, who appeared with sorcery, and court ministers and imperial kin curried favor through him. Anzhong submitted a memorial asking that from then on, whenever mountain recluses and Daoist masters were recruited, the responsible office should be required to vouch for them; those summoned to court must declare their routes in and out, and strict limits on contact between officials and the public should be enforced. He also listed several charges of Jing's deceiving the ruler, overstepping his authority, and harming the state and the people. The emperor accepted this with alarm. Soon he submitted another memorial on Jing's crimes; the emperor said, "I originally meant to act on your memorial at once, but with the Tianning festival near, after it passes I will dismiss Jing for you." Jing learned of this and was terrified; his son You attended the emperor in the inner palace day and night, weeping and pleading for mercy. The emperor therefore transferred Anzhong to Hanlin academician, then to chief drafter.
31
靖康初，言者論其締合王黼、童貫及不幾察郭藥師叛命，罷為觀文殿大學士、提舉嵩山崇福宮； 又責授朝議大夫、秘書少監、分司南京，隨州居住； 又貶單州團練副使，象州安置。 高宗即位，內徙道州，尋放自便。 紹興初，復左中大夫。 子辟章知泉州，迎安中往，未幾卒，年五十九。
At the start of Jingkang critics charged that he had bonded with Wang Fu and Tong Guan and failed to detect Guo Yaoshi's defection in time; he was dismissed as academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and made intendant of Chongfu Palace on Mount Song. He was again demoted to court discussion grandee and vice director of the Secretariat with duties in Nanjing, and ordered to reside at Suizhou. He was further demoted to vice military commissioner of Danzhou and exiled to Xiangzhou. When Emperor Gaozong took the throne he was moved inland to Daozhou, then released to go where he pleased. Early in the Shaoxing era he was restored to left grandee of court. His son Bichang governed Quanzhou and welcomed Anzhong there; he died not long afterward, at the age of fifty-nine.
32
安中為文豐潤敏拔，尤工四六之制。 徽宗嘗宴睿謨殿，命安中賦詩百韻以紀其事。 詩成，嘗歎不已，令大書於殿屏，凡侍臣皆以副本賜之。 其見重如此。 有《初寮集》七十六卷傳於世。
Anzhong wrote in a rich, fluent, quick, and elevated style and was especially skilled in parallel prose. Huizong once feasted at the Hall of Sagacious Deliberation and ordered Anzhong to compose a hundred-rhyme poem to record the occasion. When the poem was finished the emperor sighed in admiration and had it written in large characters on the hall screen; every attending minister was given a copy. Such was the esteem in which he was held. His Chuliao Collection in seventy-six juan has been handed down to later ages.
33
王襄附
Wang Xiang, appended
34
王襄，初名甯，鄧州南陽人，擢進士第。 崇寧二年，以軍器監主簿言事稱旨，擢庫部員外郎，改光祿少卿，出察訪陝西。 還，為顯謨閣待制、權知開封府。 府事浩穰，訟者株蔓千餘人，縲系滿獄。 襄晝夜決遣，四旬俱盡； 又閱月，獄再空。 遷龍圖閣直學士、吏部侍郎，出知杭州； 未至，改海州； 又改應天府，徙鄆州。 召為禮部尚書，移兵部，出知潁州，改永興軍。。 蒲城妖賊王寧適同姓名，請更名宓。 為左司諫石公弼所劾，徙汝州，俄奪學士，提舉南京鴻慶宮。
Wang Xiang, originally named Ning, came from Nanyang in Dengzhou and passed the jinshi examination. In the second year of Chongning, as registrar of the Directorate of Armaments he spoke on policy to the emperor's satisfaction and was promoted to vice director of the Storehouse Bureau, then made vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and sent out to inspect Shaanxi. On his return he was made awaiting academician of the Xianmo Hall and acting prefect of Kaifeng. Prefectural affairs were vast and tangled; litigants had implicated more than a thousand people and the prisons were packed with prisoners in fetters. Xiang judged cases day and night and cleared the entire backlog within forty days. After another month the prisons were empty again. He was transferred to direct academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and vice minister of Personnel, and sent out to govern Hangzhou. Before he could arrive he was reassigned to Haizhou. He was again reassigned to Yingtianfu and then transferred to Yanzhou. He was summoned as Minister of Rites, moved to the Ministry of War, sent out to govern Yingzhou, and then assigned to Yongxing Army. A sorcerer-rebel named Wang Ning in Pucheng happened to share his name; he requested to change his name to Mi. Impeached by remonstrator of the Left Office Shi Gongbi, he was transferred to Ruzhou; soon his academician title was stripped and he was made intendant of Hongqing Palace in Nanjing.
35
大觀三年，以集賢殿修撰知潭州，改兵部侍郎，使高麗。 還對稱旨，詔賜名襄。 曆工部、吏部尚書，拜同知樞密院事。 坐薦引近侍，以延康殿學士罷知亳州； 又坐交通郭天信落職，提舉嵩山崇福宮。 久之，起知郢州，復學士秩，尋加資政殿學士，徙知淮寧府。 以言事忤王黼，復提舉崇福宮。
In the third year of Daguan, as academician of the Hall for Collecting the Finest Writings he governed Tanzhou, was made vice minister of War, and sent as envoy to Goryeo. When he returned and came before the throne his answers pleased the emperor, and an edict bestowed on him the name Xiang. He served in succession as Minister of Works and Minister of Personnel and was appointed vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. For recommending a close attendant he was dismissed as academician of the Yankang Hall and sent to govern Bozhou. Again, for associating with Guo Tianxin he lost his post and was made intendant of Chongfu Palace on Mount Song. After a long interval he was recalled to govern Yingzhou, his academician rank was restored, and soon he was promoted to academician of the Zizheng Hall and transferred to Huainingfu. For speaking on policy in a way that offended Wang Fu he was again made intendant of Chongfu Palace.
36
宣和六年，起為河南尹。 金人再入，出為西道都總管，張杲副之。 高宗開大元帥府，襄以所部兵會于虞城縣。 即位，命襄知河南府。 襄初與趙野分總西北道諸軍，金人圍京師，徵兵入援，二人故迂道宿留。 至是，降寧遠軍節度副使，永州安置，卒。
In the sixth year of Xuanhe he was recalled as prefect of Henan. When the Jin invaded again he was sent out as commander-in-chief of the western route, with Zhang Gao as his deputy. When Gaozong established the Grand Marshal's headquarters, Xiang brought his troops to join him at Yucheng County. When the emperor took the throne, Xiang was appointed prefect of Henan. Xiang had earlier shared command of the northwestern-route armies with Zhao Ye; when the Jin besieged the capital and relief troops were summoned, the two deliberately took roundabout routes and lingered on the way. He was then demoted to vice military commissioner of the Ningyuan Army, ordered to reside at Yongzhou, and died there.
37
趙野附
Zhao Ye, appended
38
趙野，開封人。 登政和二年進士第。 曆監察御史、殿中侍御史，試起居舍人兼太子舍人，俄遷中書舍人、給事中、大司成，拜刑部尚書、翰林學士。 時蔡京、王黼更秉政，植黨相擠，一進一退，莫有能兩全者，野處之皆得其心，京、黼亦待之不疑。 宣和七年，拜尚書右丞，升左丞。
Zhao Ye came from Kaifeng. He passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Zhenghe. He rose through the posts of investigating censor and palace censor, tested as attendant of the Secretariat and concurrent tutor of the crown prince, was soon promoted to drafting attendant, supervising censor, and grand director of studies, and was appointed Minister of Justice and Hanlin academician. At that time Cai Jing and Wang Fu alternated in power, each planting factions to squeeze the other; as one rose the other fell, and few could please both sides—yet Ye managed to win the trust of each, and neither Jing nor Fu suspected him. In the seventh year of Xuanhe he was appointed right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and promoted to left vice director.
39
靖康初，為門下侍郎。 徽宗東幸，詔野為行宮奉迎使。 以左司諫陳公輔言，罷野行，出為北道都總管，顏岐副之。 已而落職，提舉嵩山崇福宮。 元帥府建，命與范訥為宣撫司，守東京，尋帥師屯宛亭，以待王師。 王襄既責，野亦降安遠軍節度副使，邵州安置。
At the start of the Jingkang crisis he was vice director of the Gate. When Huizong traveled east, an edict appointed Ye commissioner for welcoming the traveling palace. On the remonstrance of remonstrator of the Left Office Chen Gongfu, Ye's mission was canceled; he was sent out as commander-in-chief of the northern route, with Yan Qi as deputy. Soon he was stripped of office and made intendant of Chongfu Palace on Mount Song. When the Grand Marshal's headquarters was established he was ordered with Fan Ne to form a pacification commission and hold the Eastern Capital, then soon led troops to camp at Wanting to await the imperial army. After Wang Xiang was punished, Ye was likewise demoted to vice military commissioner of the Anyuan Army and ordered to reside at Shaozhou.
40
建炎元年，復起知密州。 時盜賊充斥山東，車駕如淮南，命令阻絕，野棄城去。 軍校杜彥等乘間作亂，追野以歸。 彥坐堂上數之曰：「汝知州而攜家先遁，此州之人，誰其為主？」 野不能應，遂見殺。 家屬悉為賊所分，唯子學老得免。
In the first year of Jianyan he was again recalled to govern Mizhou. At that time bandits filled Shandong; as the imperial carriage moved toward the Huai region, orders ceased to arrive and Ye abandoned the city and fled. Garrison officer Du Yan and others seized the moment to rebel and pursued Ye to bring him back. Yan sat in the hall and rebuked him, saying, "You were the prefect yet fled with your family ahead of everyone—who in this prefecture would still call you their lord?" Ye could not answer and was killed on the spot. His household were all divided among the bandits; only his son Xuelao escaped.
41
曹輔附
Cao Fu, appended
42
曹輔，字載德，南劍州人。 第進士。 政和二年，以通仕郎中詞學兼茂科，曆秘書省正字。
Cao Fu, whose style name was Zaide, came from Nanjianzhou. He passed the jinshi examination. In the second year of Zhenghe, through the dual examination in erudite letters and flourishing literary talent, he served as rectifier in the Secretariat.
43
自政和後，帝多微行，乘小轎子，數內臣導從。 置行幸局，局中以帝出日謂之有排當，次日未還，則傳旨稱瘡痍，不坐朝。 始，民間猶未知。 及蔡京謝表有「輕車小輦，七賜臨幸」，自是邸報聞四方，而臣僚阿順，莫敢言。 輔上疏略曰：
After the Zhenghe era the emperor often traveled incognito, riding in a small palanquin with a few eunuchs as guides. A Bureau for Imperial Excursions was established; the day the emperor went out was called having a schedule, and if he failed to return the next day an edict would announce that he was afflicted with sores and would not hold court. At first the common people still did not know. When Cai Jing's letter of thanks contained the phrase "light carriage and small palanquin, seven bestowals of imperial visits," the court gazette spread the news across the realm, while officials fawned and none dared speak. Fu submitted a memorial that read in summary:
44
陛下厭居法宮，時乘小輿，出入廛陌之中、郊坰之外，極遊樂而後反。 道塗之言始猶有忌，今乃談以為帝某日由某路適某所，某時而歸； 又雲輿飾可辨而辟。 臣不意陛下當宗廟社稷付託之重，玩安忽危，一至於此。 夫君之與民，本以人合，合則為腹心，離則為楚、越，畔服之際在於斯須，甚可畏也。 昔者仁祖視民如子。 憫然惟恐其或傷。 一旦宮闈不禁，衛士輒逾禁城，幾觸寶瑟。 荷天之休，帝躬保祐。 俚語有之，'盜憎主人'，主人何負于盜哉？ 況今革冗員，斥濫奉，去浮屠，誅胥吏，蚩愚之民，豈能一一引咎安分？ 萬一當乘輿不戒之初，一夫不逞，包藏禍心，發蜂蠆之毒，奮獸窮之計，雖神靈垂護，然亦損威傷重矣。 又況有臣子不忍言者，可不戒哉！
Your Majesty is weary of dwelling in the regulated palace and from time to time rides a small carriage out among the market lanes and beyond the suburban fields, pursuing pleasure to the utmost before returning. Talk along the roads was at first still cautious, but now people discuss which day the emperor went by which route to which place and at what hour he returned. They also say the carriage ornaments can be recognized from afar. I did not expect that Your Majesty, bearing the heavy charge of the ancestral temples and altars of state, would treat security with neglect and danger with play, until matters reached this point. Between ruler and people the bond is made through human feeling; when united they are heart and belly, when divided they are Chu and Yue—the moment of turning away lies within an instant, and this is greatly to be feared. In former times Emperor Ren treated the people as his children. He was full of pity and feared lest they suffer any harm. Once the inner palace was breached and guards overstepped the forbidden city, nearly striking the imperial zither. Thanks to Heaven's blessing the emperor's person was preserved. A common saying runs, "A thief hates his master"—what has the master done to deserve the thief's hatred? Moreover, now redundant posts are cut, excessive stipends removed, Buddhist establishments reduced, and corrupt clerks punished—how can the foolish masses one by one accept blame and keep their places? If, when Your Majesty is incautious on an outing, a single man loses restraint, harbors treachery, and unleashes the poison of a hornet or the desperation of a cornered beast, even if spirits protect you, your majesty will still suffer loss of authority and grave injury. Moreover, there are matters ministers cannot bear to speak of—should this not be guarded against!
45
臣願陛下深居高拱，淵默雷聲，臨之以穹昊至高之勢，行之以日月有常之度。 及其出也，太史擇日，有司除道，三衛百官，以前以後。 若曰省煩約費，以便公私，則臨時降旨，存所不可闕，損所未嘗用。 雖非祖宗奮制，比諸微服晦跡，下同臣庶，堂陛陵夷，民生奸望，不猶愈乎？
I pray that Your Majesty dwell deep and hold the throne high, silent as thunder, facing the realm with Heaven's supreme power, and acting with the regular motion of sun and moon. When you go out, the grand astrologer chooses the day, the relevant offices clear the road, and the three guards and all officials precede and follow. If the aim is to reduce trouble and expense for public and private benefit, then issue a temporary edict, retaining what cannot be omitted and cutting what has never been used. Though this falls short of the ancestors' strenuous restraint, compared with traveling in disguise, hiding your tracks, lowering yourself to the level of common subjects, degrading the hall and steps, and stirring wicked hopes among the people—is it not still better?
46
上得疏，出示宰臣，令赴都堂審問。 太宰餘深曰：「輔小官，何敢論大事？」 輔對曰：「大官不言，故小官言之。 官有大小，愛君之心，則一也。」 少宰王黼陽顧左丞張邦昌、右丞李邦彥曰：「有是事乎？」 皆應以不知。 輔曰：「茲事雖裏巷細民無不知，相公當國，獨不知邪？ 曾此不知，焉用彼相！」 黼怒其侵已，令吏從輔受辭。 輔操筆曰：「區區之心，一無所求，愛君而已。」 退，待罪於家。 黼奏不重責輔，無以息浮言，遂編管郴州。 輔將言，知必獲罪，召子紳來，付以家事，乃閉戶草疏。 夕有惡鳥鳴屋極，聲若紡輪，心知其不祥，弗恤也。 處郴六年，黼當國不得移，輔亦怡然不介意。
The emperor received the memorial, showed it to the chief councilors, and ordered Fu to the chief councilors' hall for examination. Grand Councilor Yu Shen said, "Fu is a petty official—how dare he discuss great affairs?" Fu replied, "Because great officials do not speak, a petty official must speak. Officials may differ in rank, but the heart that loves the ruler is one." Junior Councilor Wang Fu turned to left vice director Zhang Bangchang and right vice director Li Bangyan and said, "Is there such a thing?" Both answered that they did not know. Fu said, "Though even alleyway commoners know this matter, you govern the state—do you alone not know it? If you did not know this, of what use is such a councilor!" Fu was angry at being affronted and had clerks take Fu's written statement. Fu took up the brush and wrote, "This petty heart seeks nothing at all—only to love the ruler." He withdrew and waited at home to be punished. Wang Fu memorialized that if Fu were not heavily punished the rumors would not cease, and Fu was therefore registered and banished to Chenzhou. Before speaking Fu knew he would certainly be punished; he summoned his son Shen and entrusted him with household affairs, then shut his door and drafted the memorial. In the evening an evil bird cried on the roof ridge, its sound like a spinning wheel; he knew in his heart this was inauspicious but paid no heed. He remained at Chen six years; while Wang Fu held power he could not be transferred, yet Cao Fu remained at ease and unconcerned.
47
耿南仲附
Geng Nanzhong, appended
48
耿南仲，開封府人。 與余深同年登第，曆提舉兩浙常平，徙河北西路，改轉運判官、提點廣南東路及夔州路刑獄、荊湖江西兩路轉運副使，入為戶部員外郎、辟雍司業，坐事罷知衢州。 政和二年，以禮部員外郎為太子右庶子，改定王、嘉王侍讀，俄試太子詹事、徽猷閣直學士，改寶文閣直學士。 在東宮十年。
Geng Nanzhong came from Kaifeng prefecture. He passed the examination in the same year as Yu Shen and served as intendant of the Zhejiang Ever-Normal Granaries, was transferred to Hebei West Circuit, became transport vice-commissioner and commissioner for criminal affairs in eastern Guangnan and Kuizhou circuits and transport vice-commissioner in the Jinghu, Jiangxi, and Huguang circuits, then entered the capital as vice director of the Ministry of Revenue and director of studies at the Directorate of Education; for an offense he was dismissed to govern Quzhou. In the second year of Zhenghe, as vice director of the Ministry of Rites he became right tutor of the crown prince, was changed to tutor to the Princes of Ding and Jia, soon tested as grand tutor of the crown prince and direct academician of the Huixian Hall, then made direct academician of the Baowen Hall. He served in the Eastern Palace for ten years.
49
欽宗辭內禪，得疾，出臥福甯殿，宰相百官班候，日暮不敢退。 李邦彥曰：「皇太子素親耿南仲，可召之入。」 南仲與吳敏至殿中侍疾。 明日，帝即位，拜資政殿大學士、簽書樞密院事。 未幾，免簽書。 帝以南仲東宮舊臣，禮重之，賜宅一區，升尚書左丞、門下侍郎。
When Qinzong declined the internal abdication he fell ill and lay out in the Hall of Blessings and Tranquility; chief ministers and all officials stood in attendance and at dusk dared not withdraw. Li Bangyan said, "The crown prince has always been close to Geng Nanzhong—he may be summoned in." Nanzhong and Wu Min came to the hall to attend on his illness. The next day the emperor took the throne and Nanzhong was appointed academician of the Zizheng Hall and signer of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Before long he was relieved of the signing duty. Because Nanzhong had long served the Eastern Palace, the emperor treated him with special honor, granted him a residence, and promoted him to left vice director of the Department of State Affairs and vice director of the Gate.
50
金人再舉鄉京師，請割三鎮以和，議者多主戰守，唯南仲與吳幵堅欲割地。 康王使軍前，請南仲偕。 帝以其老，命其子中書舍人延禧代行。 金人次洛陽，不復言三鎮，直請畫河為界。 於是議遣大臣往，南仲以老辭，聶昌以親辭。 上大怒，即令南仲出河東、昌出河北，議割地。
When the Jin raised troops again and besieged the capital, demanding the cession of three prefectures for peace, many in council favored fighting and defense, but only Nanzhong and Wu Kai firmly wished to cede territory. The Prince of Kang was sent to the army front and asked that Nanzhong accompany him. The emperor, considering him too old, ordered his son Yanxi, drafting attendant of the Secretariat, to go in his place. When the Jin reached Luoyang they no longer spoke of the three prefectures but directly demanded that the border be fixed at the river. The court then deliberated sending a senior minister; Nanzhong declined on grounds of age and Nie Chang on grounds of kinship. The emperor was greatly angered and at once ordered Nanzhong out to Hedong and Chang out to Hebei to negotiate the cession of territory.
51
初，南仲自謂事帝東宮，首當柄用，而吳敏、李綱越次進，位居己上，不能平。 因每事異議，擯斥不附己者。 綱等謂不可和，而南仲力沮之，惟主和議，故戰守之備皆罷。 康王在相州，南仲偕金使王汭往衛州。 鄉兵穀殺汭，汭脫去，南仲獨趣衛，衛人不納。 走相州，以上旨喻康王，起河北兵入衛京師，因連署募兵榜揭之，人情始安。 二帝北行，南仲與文武官吏勸進。
At first Nanzhong thought that because he had served the emperor in the Eastern Palace he should be the first to wield power, yet Wu Min and Li Gang had risen out of turn and stood above him, and he could not accept it. Therefore on every matter he took the opposite view and drove out those who would not attach themselves to him. Gang and others said peace was impossible, but Nanzhong strenuously obstructed them and upheld only the peace policy, so all preparations for war and defense were abandoned. The Prince of Kang was at Xiangzhou; Nanzhong accompanied the Jin envoy Wang Rui to Weizhou. Local militia at Gu killed Rui; Rui escaped, and Nanzhong alone hurried to Wei, but the people of Wei would not admit him. He fled to Xiangzhou, explained the imperial intent to the Prince of Kang, raised Hebei troops to defend the capital, and jointly signed a recruitment proclamation and posted it; popular feeling then settled. When the two emperors were taken north, Nanzhong joined civil and military officials in urging the Prince of Kang to take the throne.
52
高宗既即位，薄南仲為人，因其請老，罷為觀文殿大學士、提舉杭州洞霄宮。 延禧以龍圖閣直學士知宣州。 已而言者論其主和誤國罪，詔鐫學士秩，延禧亦落職與祠。 尋責南仲臨江軍居住。 御史中丞張澂又言：「南仲趣李綱往救河東，以致師潰，蓋不恤國事，用此報讎。」 帝曰：「南仲誤淵聖，天下共知，朕嘗欲手劍擊之。」 命降授別駕，安置南雄，行至吉州卒。 建炎四年，復觀文殿大學士。
Once Gaozong had taken the throne he despised Nanzhong's character; because Nanzhong asked to retire on grounds of age, he was dismissed as academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and made intendant of Dongxiao Palace in Hangzhou. Yanxi was made direct academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and prefect of Xuanzhou. Soon critics charged him with pursuing peace at the cost of the state; an edict stripped his academician rank, and Yanxi also lost his post and was given a temple sinecure. Soon Nanzhong was ordered to reside at Linjiang Army. Censor-in-chief Zhang Cheng again said, "Nanzhong urged Li Gang to go rescue Hedong, causing the army to collapse—he plainly cared nothing for state affairs and used this to settle a personal grudge." The emperor said, "Nanzhong wronged the Profound Sage—everyone knows it—and I once wished to strike him with my own sword." He was ordered demoted to assistant prefect and exiled to Nanxiong; on the road he reached Jizhou and died. In the fourth year of Jianyan he was again made academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature.
53
王㝢附
Wang Yu, appended
54
王㝢，字元忠，江州人。 父易簡，資政殿大學士兼侍講。 㝢曆校書郎、著作佐郎、度支員外郎兼充編修官、國子司業，為起居舍人，改中書舍人兼蕃衍宅直講。 欽宗立，以給事中命兼邇英殿經筵侍講，轉吏部侍郎，升禮部尚書、翰林學士。
Wang Yu, whose style name was Yuanzhong, came from Jiangzhou. His father Yijian was academician of the Zizheng Hall and concurrent reader-in-waiting. Yu rose through the posts of proofreader, assistant editor, vice director of the Revenue Bureau and concurrent compiler, and vice director of studies of the Directorate of Education, became attendant of the Secretariat, and was made drafting attendant and concurrent lecturer at the Fanxi Residence. When Qinzong took the throne he was ordered as supervising censor to serve concurrently as lecturer at the Eying Hall classics lecture, transferred to vice minister of Personnel, and promoted to Minister of Rites and Hanlin academician.
55
康王之使金也，以㝢為尚書左丞副之。 㝢憚行，假夢兆丐免，易簡亦上書以請。 上震怒，追毀左丞命，降單州團練副使，新州安置，並易簡宮祠黜之。 建炎四年，賊馬進破江州，易簡等三百人俱被害。
When the Prince of Kang was sent as envoy to the Jin, Yu was appointed left vice director of the Department of State Affairs as his deputy. Yu feared the journey and, citing a dream omen, begged to be excused; Yijian also submitted a memorial asking the same on his behalf. The emperor was furious, revoked the appointment as left vice director, demoted Yu to vice military commissioner of Danzhou and exiled him to Xinzhou, and also stripped Yijian of his palace sinecure and dismissed him. In the fourth year of Jianyan the bandit Ma Jin captured Jiangzhou; Yijian and three hundred others were all killed.
56
論曰：三代之後，有天下而長久者，漢、唐、宋爾。 漢、唐末世，朋黨相確，小人在位，然猶有君子扶持遷延，浸微浸滅； 未有純用小人，至於主辱國播，如宋中葉之烈也。 蔡京以紹述為羅，張端官、修士而盡之，上箝下錮，其術巧矣。 徽宗亦頗悟，間用鄭居中、王黼、李邦彥輩，褫京柄權。 以不肖易不肖，猶去野葛而代烏喙也，庸愈哉！ 當是時，王、蔡二黨，階京者芘京，締黼者右黼，援麗省台，迭相指嗾，徼功挑患，汴、洛既震，則恇縮無策，苟生丐和。 彼邦彥、安中、深、敏輩誤國之罪，當正其僇，而欽、高二君徒從竄典，信失刑矣。 恪既預推戴，署狀乃死，無足贖者。 輔以小臣劘上，面譙大臣，坐斥不變，獨終始無朋與，其賢矣乎。
The commentary says: After the Three Dynasties, only Han, Tang, and Song held the realm for long. At the ends of Han and Tang, factions clashed and petty men held office, yet gentlemen still supported the state and prolonged its decline, which grew faint and then vanished. Never before had petty men been employed exclusively, to the point of the ruler's humiliation and the realm's dispersal, as fiercely as in the middle Song. Cai Jing used the doctrine of continuing the reforms as a net, promoted petty officials and cultivated scholars to fill it, and clamped those above while shackling those below—his method was cunning. Huizong also came to some understanding and from time to time employed Zheng Juzhong, Wang Fu, Li Bangyan, and their like to strip Jing of power. To replace the unworthy with the unworthy is like removing wild kudzu and substituting monkshood—how is that any improvement! At that time the Wang and Cai factions—those who rose through Jing sheltered Jing, those who bonded with Fu supported Fu—filled the provincial and metropolitan offices, directing one another in turn, seeking merit and provoking disaster; once Bian and Luoyang were shaken they shrank back without strategy and begged for peace merely to save their lives. The crimes of Bangyan, Anzhong, Shen, Min, and their like in harming the state ought to have received proper punishment, yet Emperors Qin and Gao merely followed banishment statutes—truly a failure of justice. Ke had already taken part in installing Zhang Bangchang; after signing his name he died—there is nothing to redeem. Fu, a petty official, remonstrated with the emperor, rebuked the chief councilors to their faces, and sat in dismissal without wavering, alone from first to last without faction—was he not worthy?