1
沈銖，字子平，真州揚子人。 父季長，王安石妹婿也。 銖少從安石學，進士高第，至國子直講。 季長領監事，改審官主簿，坐虞蕃事免歸。 元祐置訴理所，被罪者爭自列，銖獨不言。
Shen Zhu, whose style name was Ziping, came from Yangzi in Zhen Prefecture. His father Jichang had married the younger sister of Wang Anshi. Zhu studied under Wang Anshi from youth, graduated at the top of his jinshi cohort, and eventually became a Direct Lecturer at the Imperial University. Jichang served as overseer of the directorate, was reassigned as Principal Clerk of the Bureau of Review, then was dismissed and sent home because of the Yu Fan affair. When the Yuanyou era instituted a Bureau for Appeals, convicted officials rushed to plead their cases—Zhu alone remained silent.
2
紹聖初，起為太學博士、秘書省正字、崇政殿說書，受旨同編類元祐臣僚章疏。 以進講為解，拜右司諫，辭，改起居郎、權中書舍人。 吳居厚除戶部尚書，銖論其使京東時聚斂，詔具實狀，不能對，罰金。 講《詩·南山有臺》，至「萬壽無期」，以為此太平之基，立而可久之應，哲宗屢首肯之。 真拜中書舍人兼侍講，俄引疾，以龍圖閣待制知宣州卒。 弟錫。
Early in the Shaosheng era he was recalled and made Doctor of the Imperial University, Correcting Clerk of the Secretariat, and Lecturer at the Chongzheng Hall, with orders to help compile and classify memorials submitted by Yuanyou-era officials. He cited his lecturing duties to decline further office, was appointed Right Remonstrator but refused, and was instead made Attendant of the Left with acting authority as Drafting Officer of the Central Secretariat. When Wu Juhou was named Minister of Revenue, Zhu accused him of extortion during his tenure in the east; ordered to substantiate the charge, Zhu could not do so and was fined. In lecturing on the "Southern Mountains Have a Terrace" ode, when he reached the line "myriad years without end," he argued that this signified the foundation of enduring peace and long-lasting stability; Emperor Zhezong nodded in agreement again and again. He was formally appointed Drafting Officer of the Central Secretariat and concurrent Lecturer; soon after he cited illness, was made Awaiting Draftsman of the Dragon Diagram Hall and assigned as prefect of Xuanzhou, where he died. His younger brother was Xi.
3
弟錫
Younger brother: Xi
4
錫，字子昭，以王安禮任，為鄂州司戶參軍。 崇寧初，為講議司檢討。 蔡京方銓次元符上書人，欲定罪，錫曰：「遠方之士，未能知朝廷好惡，若概罪之，恐非敦世厲俗之道。」 京不從。 除衛尉丞，遷祠部員外郎，提點江東刑獄、知婺州。 入為左司員外郎，兼定、嘉二王侍講，進太常少卿，拜兵部侍郎，以徽猷閣待制知應天府，徙江寧。
Xi, whose style name was Zizhao, secured a post through Wang Anli's patronage as Revenue Section Administrator in E Prefecture. Early in the Chongning era he became Reviser of the Bureau for Discussion and Deliberation. Cai Jing was then reviewing those who had submitted memorials during the Yuanfu reign and sought to punish them. Xi objected: "Men from distant regions cannot yet know the court's preferences. If we convict them all alike, I fear that will not be the way to encourage moral seriousness in the realm." Cai Jing would not heed him. He was appointed Assistant Director of the Court of Imperial Regalia, promoted to Outer Gentleman of the Court of Sacrificial Worship, then made Intendant of Criminal Justice east of the Yangtze and prefect of Wu. He entered the capital as Outer Gentleman of the Left Division and concurrent lecturer to Princes Ding and Jia, rose to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was appointed Vice Minister of War, then made Awaiting Draftsman of the Huixian Pavilion and prefect of Yingtianfu before being transferred to Jiangning.
5
張懷素誅，朝廷疑其黨有脫者，江、淮間往往以誣告興獄。 錫至郡，有告者，按之，則妄也。 具疏於朝，由是他郡繫者皆得釋。 歷知海、泰、汝、宣四州，以通議大夫致仕。 卒，贈宣奉大夫。
After Zhang Huai was executed, the court feared that some of his accomplices remained at large; along the Yangtze and Huai, false accusations frequently sparked prosecutions. When Xi reached his prefecture, someone lodged an accusation; his investigation showed it to be groundless. He submitted a full report to the court, and on that basis prisoners held in other prefectures were all released. He served in turn as prefect of Hai, Tai, Ru, and Xuan, then retired with the rank of Grandee for Advising Governance. He died and was posthumously ennobled as Grandee for Assisting the Dynasty.
6
路昌衡
Lu Changheng
7
路昌衡，字持正，開封祥符人。 起進士，至太常博士。 參鞫陳世儒獄，逮治苛峻，至士大夫及命婦，皆不免。 遷右司員外郎，歷江淮發運、陝西轉運副使，知廣州，徙荊南，又徙潭州，加直龍圖閣、知慶州。
Lu Changheng, whose style name was Chizheng, came from Xiangfu in Kaifeng. He entered service through the jinshi examinations and rose to Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He took part in investigating the Chen Shiru affair; the arrests and prosecutions were so harsh that even scholar-officials and ladies of rank were not spared. He was promoted to Outer Gentleman of the Right Division, served as transport commissioner on the Jiang-Huai and as vice transport commissioner in Shaanxi, was prefect of Guangzhou, then transferred to Jingnan and Tanzhou in turn, and was finally made Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and prefect of Qingzhou.
8
紹聖中，召為衛尉、大理卿，遷工部侍郎，俄以寶文閣待制知開封府。 李清臣有狂婦人之訴，昌衡致之重辟。 出知瀛州，徙永興軍，進直學士、知成都。
During the Shaosheng era he was recalled as Director of the Court of Imperial Regalia and Grand Justice, promoted to Vice Minister of Works, and soon made Awaiting Draftsman of the Huixin Pavilion and prefect of Kaifeng. When Li Qingchen was sued by a deranged woman, Changheng imposed the death penalty on her. He left the capital as prefect of Yingzhou, was transferred to the Yongxing Garrison Command, and was then promoted to Academician and prefect of Chengdu.
9
徽宗立，應詔上書曰：「頻年以來，西方用兵，致興大役，利源害政，佞臣蔽主，四者皆陰之過盛。 自陝以西，民力傷殘，人不聊生。 災異之變，生於天地之不和，起於人心之怨望。 故妖星出見，大河橫決，秋雨霖淫，諸路饑饉，殍死道路，妻子棄捐，破析貲儲，以應星火之令。 勤勞憔悴，多不生還，人心如此，而欲其無怨，難矣。」
When Huizong took the throne, he submitted a memorial by imperial request: "In recent years warfare in the west has led to great public works; profit-seeking has harmed governance; sycophants have obscured the ruler—all four reflect an excess of yin. West of Shaan the people's strength was broken, and they could scarcely keep themselves alive. Strange calamities arise from disharmony between heaven and earth and from the resentment in people's hearts. Hence demon stars appeared, the Yellow River burst its banks, autumn rains poured without cease, famine spread through the circuits, corpses lined the roads, wives and children were abandoned, and families broke open their savings to meet orders as urgent as sparks. They toiled until worn and gaunt, and many never came home alive. When hearts are like this, to expect no resentment is all but impossible."
10
俄坐清臣獄事，責司農少卿，分司，居郢州。 明年，起為滁州、定州，復直學士、知開封府。 乞嚴告捕虛妄之法，以靖訐訴。 徙南京留守，又坐前上書事落職，入黨籍，卒。 宣和五年，贈龍圖閣學士。
Soon he was implicated in the Qingchen affair, was demoted to Vice Director of the Directorate of Agriculture with nominal duties only, and lived in Yingzhou. The following year he was recalled to serve in Chuzhou and Dingzhou, restored as Academician, and again made prefect of Kaifeng. He asked for strict laws against false accusations in order to quiet malicious suits. He was transferred to Garrison Commander of Nanjing, was again demoted because of his earlier memorial, was entered on the partisan register, and died. In the fifth year of Xuanhe he was posthumously ennobled as Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall.
11
謝文瓘
Xie Wenguan
12
謝文瓘，字聖藻，陳州人。 進士甲科，教授大名府。 元豐中，上疏言：「臣下推行新法，多失本意，而榜笞禁錮，民受其虐，掊克聚斂，不勝多門。 其不急之征，非理之取，宜罷減之。」 大臣以為訕朝廷，議置之罪。 神宗曰：「彼謂奉法者非其人爾，匪訕也。」
Xie Wenguan, whose style name was Shengzao, came from Chen Prefecture. He graduated in the top tier of the jinshi examinations and served as Instructor at Daming Prefecture. During the Yuanfeng era he submitted a memorial: "Officials charged with implementing the new laws often miss their original intent, yet with beatings and imprisonment the people suffer under them; extortion and exaction come from more sources than can be counted. Levies that are not urgent and exactions that are unjust ought to be abolished or reduced." The chief ministers took this as slander of the court and discussed punishing him. Emperor Shenzong said: "He means that the wrong men are enforcing the law—that is not slander of the court."
13
哲宗時，御史中丞黃履薦為主簿，三年不詣執政府。 召對，除秘書省正字，考功、右司員外郎。 紹聖末，都水使者議建廣武四埽石岸，朝廷命先治岸數十步，以驗其可否。 黃流湍悍，役人多死，一方甚病，功不可成，而使者申前說愈力。 文瓘條別利害，罷其役。
Under Emperor Zhezong, Censor-in-Chief Huang Lü recommended him as Chief Clerk, yet for three years he never called on the chief councilors. He was summoned to audience and appointed Correcting Clerk of the Secretariat, then Outer Gentleman of the Bureau of Evaluation and the Right Division. Late in the Shaosheng era the Commissioner of Waterways proposed building stone embankments at the four Guangwu embankments; the court ordered that several dozen paces of bank be built first to test feasibility. The Yellow River current was fierce; many laborers died; the region was deeply afflicted; the work could not be finished, yet the commissioner pressed his earlier plan all the harder. Wenguan laid out the harms and benefits in detail and halted the project.
14
徽宗立，擢起居舍人、給事中。 詔修《神宗寶訓》，文瓘請擇當時大政事、大黜陟，節其要旨，而為之說以進。 然所論率是王安石，謂神宗能察眾多之謗，任之而不貳，於是朋黨消而威柄立，他皆放此。 遼主洪基殂，使往吊之，令從者變服而入，貶秩二等。
When Huizong took the throne, he was promoted to Attendant of the Left and Supervising Secretary. By edict the Veritable Records of Shenzong were to be compiled; Wenguan asked that the great affairs and great dismissals of the day be selected, their essentials condensed, and explanatory essays submitted. Yet his account always centered on Wang Anshi, arguing that Shenzong could see through the many slanders, employ him without wavering, and thereby dissolve factions while establishing imperial authority; everything else followed the same pattern. When the Liao ruler Hongji died, he was sent to offer condolences; he allowed his followers to enter in altered dress and was demoted two ranks.
15
崇寧元年，出知濮州。 尋治黨事，坐元豐上疏及嘗詒呂公著書，再謫邵武軍，移處州。 帝披黨籍曰：「朕究知文瓘本末。」 命出籍，乃以為集英殿修撰、知濟州，卒。
In the first year of Chongning he left the capital as prefect of Pu. Soon party cases were prosecuted; because of his Yuanfeng memorial and because he had once written to Lü Gongzhu, he was twice demoted to Shaowu Army and transferred to Chuzhou. The emperor unrolled the partisan register and said: "I know Wenguan's whole story through and through." He ordered him removed from the register, appointed him Academician of the Hall Assembled for Excellence and prefect of Jizhou, and Wenguan died in office.
16
子貺，宣和中，為駕部員外郎、知汝州。 欽宗時，上封事十篇，論事切至。 使於金，還，提點京西北路刑獄。 金人犯汝州，貺自襄陽領兵往援之，戰死。
His son Kuang, during the Xuanhe era, served as Outer Gentleman of the Department of Imperial Transport and as prefect of Ru. Under Emperor Qinzong he submitted ten sealed memorials, his critique of affairs sharp and thorough. He served as envoy to the Jin; on his return he was made Intendant of Criminal Justice for the Capital Northwest Circuit. When the Jurchens attacked Ru, Kuang led troops from Xiangyang to its relief and died in battle.
17
陸蘊，字敦信，福州侯官人。 少知名，登進士第，為太學《春秋》博士。 經廢員省，改國朝會要所檢閱文字。
Lu Yun, whose style name was Dunxin, came from Houguan in Fuzhou. He was known from youth, passed the jinshi examinations, and became Doctor of the Spring and Autumn Annals at the Imperial University. After surplus clerks were abolished, he was reassigned as Text Reviewer at the Institute of Essentials of the National Dynasties.
18
崇寧中，提舉河北、兩浙學事，召對，言：「元祐異意俗學，既不為我用，近詔不以使一路，而猶得為守令，臣愚未知其可。」 遂拜禮部員外郎，轉吏部，遷辟雍司業、太常少卿。 議原廟不合，黜知瑞金縣。 還為太常，進國子祭酒、中書舍人。 請葺諸州天慶觀，立學事司考課法。 遷大司成，擢御史中丞。 引門下侍郎余深親嫌自列，徽宗曰：「相避之法，防有司不能盡公爾，侍從吾所信任，豈得下同庶僚乎？」 不許。
During Chongning he was promoted as School Inspector for Hebei and the Two Zhe circuits. At audience he said: "Yuanyou heterodox vulgar learning cannot serve us; a recent edict bars them from circuit posts, yet they may still be prefects and magistrates—I do not see how that can be right." He was then appointed Outer Gentleman of the Ministry of Rites, transferred to Personnel, and promoted to Vice Director of the Piyong and Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He argued that the Origin Temple was inappropriate and was demoted to magistrate of Ruixin County. He returned to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, was promoted to Chancellor of the National University and Drafting Officer of the Central Secretariat. He asked that the Tianqing Temples in the prefectures be repaired and that examination regulations be established for the School Inspectorate. He was made Grandee of Ceremonies and elevated to Censor-in-Chief. He cited kinship with Vice Director Yu Shen and asked to recuse himself. Huizong said: "Recusal laws guard against officials who cannot be wholly fair; attendants are men I trust—how can you place yourself on the same footing as common clerks?" The request was denied.
19
蘊頗論事，嘗言：「御筆一日數下，而前後相違，非所以重命令； 輔相大臣，宦官戚里，賜第營築，縱撤民居，縣官市材於民，而不予直； 貴遊子弟以從官領閑局，奉朝請，為員猥多，無益於事； 又賜予過制，中外用度多於賦入； 數幸私室，乖尊卑之分，亦非臣下之福。」 其言皆中時病。
Yun often spoke on policy and once said: "Imperial brush edicts issue several times in a single day yet contradict one another—that is not how to give weight to commands; grand councilors, eunuchs, and imperial kin are granted estates and build freely, tearing down commoners' homes while county officials buy materials from the people without paying fair price; sons of the nobility hold idle posts as attendant officials and receive court audiences—the ranks are swollen and serve no public purpose; again grants and gifts exceed regulations, and court and local expenditures outrun tax revenues; frequent visits to private chambers violate the distinction between ruler and subject and are no blessing to ministers either." His words all struck at the ills of the day.
20
以龍圖閣待制知福州，改建州。 時弟藻由列曹侍郎出為泉州，過蘊，合樂燕款，閩人以為盛事。 加顯謨閣直學士，引疾，提舉鴻慶宮。 方二浙用兵，旁郡皆繕治守備，蘊聞命就道，使者劾為避事，奪職。 稍復集英殿修撰，卒。
He was made Awaiting Draftsman of the Dragon Diagram Hall and prefect of Fuzhou, then transferred to Jianzhou. At the time his younger brother Zao had left the capital as a vice minister and was going out as prefect of Quanzhou; passing Yun's post, they feasted together with music—the people of Fujian took it as a grand occasion. He was given the additional title of Academician of the Xianmo Pavilion, cited illness, and was made Supervisor of the Hongqing Palace. Just as the Two Zhe circuits were at war, neighboring prefectures all repaired their defenses; Yun heard the order and set out on the road, but the commissioner impeached him for shirking duty and stripped his office. He was shortly restored as Academician of the Hall Assembled for Excellence and died.
21
黃寔，字師是，陳州人。 登進士第，歷司農主簿，積官提舉京西、淮東常平。 元豐末，議罷提舉官，命末布，寔舅章惇屬蔡確徙寔提點開封縣鎮。 遷提點梓州路、兩浙刑獄，京東、河北轉運副使。
Huang Shi, whose style name was Shishi, came from Chen Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examinations, served as Chief Clerk of the Directorate of Agriculture, and rose through accumulated posts to Intendant of the Ever-Normal Granaries for the Capital West and Huainan East circuits. Late in Yuanfeng it was proposed to abolish the intendants; before the order was issued, Shi's uncle Zhang Dun had Cai Que transfer him to Intendant of the county towns of Kaifeng. He was promoted to Intendant of Criminal Justice for Zizhou and the Two Zhe, and Vice Commissioner of Transport for the East of the Mountains and Hebei.
22
哲宗以寔為監司久，議召用，曾布陰沮之。 林希曰：「寔兩女皆嫁蘇軾子，所為不正，不宜用。」 乃以知陝州，為江淮發運副使。 賀遼主登位，及境，迓者移牒來，稱為賀登寶位使。 寔報以受命無「寶」字，拒不受。 還除太僕卿，再擢寶文閣待制、知瀛州，徙定州。 朝旨籍民兵旁郡，因緣擾困，寔懷檄不下，而畫利害請之，事得寢。 卒於官，贈龍圖閣直學士。
Because Shi had long served as a circuit intendant, Zhezong discussed recalling him to the capital; Zeng Bu secretly blocked it. Lin Xi said: "Both of Shi's daughters married Su Shi's sons; his conduct is improper and he should not be employed." He was instead made prefect of Shaan and Vice Commissioner of Transport for the Jiang-Huai region. Sent to congratulate the Liao ruler on his enthronement, at the border the greeters sent a document addressing him as envoy congratulating enthronement on the precious throne. Shi replied that his commission contained no word for "precious" and refused to accept it. On his return he was appointed Master of the Imperial Stud, then elevated again to Awaiting Draftsman of the Huixin Pavilion and prefect of Yingzhou before being transferred to Dingzhou. A court order required militia registration in neighboring prefectures, which harassed and distressed the people; Shi kept the edict in his pocket and did not issue it, but submitted a report on the harms and benefits; the matter was dropped. He died in office and was posthumously ennobled as Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall.
23
寔孝友敦睦，世稱其內行。 蘇轍在陳與寔遊，因結昏，其後又與軾友善。 紹聖黨禍起，寔以章惇甥故獲免，然亦不得久於朝著焉。
Shi was filial and harmonious in family life, and the world praised his private conduct. While serving in Chen, Su Zhe became acquainted with Shi and arranged a marriage between their families; he later also became close friends with Su Shi. When the Shaosheng-era factional persecution began, Shi was spared because he was related by marriage to Zhang Dun, but he could not remain at court for long.
24
姚祐，字伯受，湖州長興人。 元豐末，第進士。 徽宗初，除夔州路轉運判官。 且行，會帝幸禁苑御弓矢，祐奏《聖武臨射賦》，帝大悅，留為右正言。 歷陳紹述之說，遷左司諫。 建議置輔郡以拱大畿，進殿中監。 六尚局官制成，凡所以享上率屬、察舉稽違、殿最勤惰之法，皆祐裁定。 以親老請郡，授顯謨閣待制、知江寧府。 時召捕張懷素，祐追獲之，復為殿中監。
Yao You, courtesy name Boshou, was from Changxing in Huzhou Prefecture. In the closing years of the Yuanfeng reign, he passed the jinshi examination. Early in Emperor Huizong's reign, he was appointed transport vice-commissioner of the Kuizhou Circuit. As he was about to leave for his post, the emperor visited the imperial park to practice archery; You submitted "Ode on the Sage's Martial Prowess at Archery," which greatly pleased the emperor, who kept him at court as Right Remonstrator. He repeatedly advocated the Shaoshu ("Continuing the Legacy") agenda and was promoted to Left Branch Remonstrator. He recommended establishing auxiliary prefectures to surround and protect the capital region, and was promoted to Director of the Bureau within the Palace. When the regulations for the Six Offices Bureau were finalized, You drew up all the rules governing how superiors were served, subordinates were overseen, violations were investigated, and diligence and negligence were evaluated. Citing his elderly parents, he requested a post outside the capital and was appointed Attendant Gentleman of the Hall for Illustrious Counsel and prefect of Jiangning Prefecture. When the court ordered the capture of Zhang Huaisu, You pursued and apprehended him, and was reappointed Director of the Bureau within the Palace.
25
逾歲，以直學士知鄭州，改秦州。 或請調熙河弓箭士徙邊，以省更戍。 祐謂人情懷土重遷，丐以二年為更發之期，滿歲樂業而願留者，乃聽。 且請擇熙、秦富民分丁授地，蠲役借糧，以勸耕植。 益廣秦之東、西川，建城壁，嚴保障，以控熙河、涇原。 皆從之。 復為殿中監，改吏部侍郎，命鎮蜀，用母老辭。 遷工部尚書，加龍圖閣學士，為大名尹，進延康殿學士，復為工部尚書，徙禮部。 母喪，除知太原府。
More than a year later, he was appointed prefect of Zhengzhou with the title of Hanlin Bachelor, then transferred to Qin Prefecture. Some officials proposed moving the Xihe archer-soldiers to border posts to reduce the burden of rotating garrison deployments. You argued that people are attached to their native land and dislike moving; he asked that rotations occur every two years, and only those who, after a full year, had settled in happily and wished to stay would be allowed to remain. He also proposed selecting wealthy households in Xi and Qin prefectures, assigning land to adult male dependents, exempting them from corvée and lending them grain to encourage cultivation. He also expanded Qin's Eastern and Western Valleys, built walls and fortifications, and tightened defenses to hold Xihe and Jingyuan. The court accepted all of his proposals. He was again appointed Director of the Bureau within the Palace, then Vice Minister of Personnel; when ordered to govern Shu, he declined citing his aged mother. He was promoted to Minister of Works and made Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall; he served as chief magistrate of Daming, was elevated to Academician of the Hall of Extended Splendor, returned to the post of Minister of Works, and was then transferred to the Ministry of Rites. After his mother died, he was appointed prefect of Taiyuan Prefecture.
26
縣有小胥造塚，逼其先墓者，祐疑為厭己，請解官持服。 先是，詔許祐悉買墓旁地，遂並徙他塚，小胥不從，故祐持以為說。 言者論其挾仇要君，乃止。 以提舉上清寶籙宮卒，贈特進，諡曰「文禧」。
A minor clerk in the county built a tomb that encroached on his family's ancestral grave; You suspected it was an attempt to harm him through sorcery and asked to resign to observe mourning rites. Earlier, an edict had allowed You to purchase all the land around the grave site so that other tombs could be relocated together; the minor clerk refused to comply, and You cited this as his justification. Critics charged that he was exploiting a personal grievance to force the emperor's hand, and the matter was dropped. He died while serving as Administrator of the Shangqing Precious Register Palace, was posthumously ennobled with the title of Special Advancement, and was given the posthumous name Wenxi ("Literary Felicity").
27
樓异，字試可，明州奉化人。 進士高第，調汾州司理參軍，徙永興虞策幕府，監在京文繡院，知大宗正丞，遷度支員外郎。 以養親求知泗州，復為吏部右司員外郎、左司郎中、太府鴻臚卿，除直秘閣、知秀州。
Lou Yi, courtesy name Shike, was from Fenghua in Ming Prefecture. He ranked high among the jinshi and was assigned as judicial military adjutant of Fen Prefecture; he then joined Yu Ce's staff in Yongxing, supervised the Capital Brocade and Embroidery Institute, served as Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court, and was promoted to Vice Director of the Revenue Bureau. To care for his parents he requested the post of prefect of Si Prefecture; he later served again as Vice Director of the Right Branch of the Ministry of Personnel, Director of the Left Branch, and Grandee of Splendid Happiness, then was appointed Direct Agent of the Secret Repository and prefect of Xiu Prefecture.
28
政和末，知隨州，入辭，請於明州置高麗一司，創百舟，應使者之須，以遵元豐舊制。 州有廣德湖，墾而為田，收其租可以給用。 徽宗納其說。 改知明州，賜金紫。 出內帑緡錢六萬為造舟費，治湖田七百二十頃，歲得穀三萬六千。 加直龍圖閣、秘閣修撰，至徽猷閣待制。 郡資湖水灌溉，為利甚廣，往者為民包侵，异令盡泄之墾田。 自是苦旱，鄉人怨之。
Late in the Zhenghe era, while serving as prefect of Su Prefecture, he came to court for an audience and requested that a Korean affairs office be established at Ming Prefecture, with a hundred boats built to meet envoys' needs, in accordance with the old Yuanfeng system. The prefecture had Guangde Lake; if it were reclaimed as farmland, the rent income could cover expenses. Emperor Huizong accepted his proposal. He was transferred to serve as prefect of Ming Prefecture and was granted the gold-and-purple insignia of high rank. Sixty thousand strings of cash from the inner treasury were allocated for boat construction; seven hundred twenty qing of reclaimed lake land yielded thirty-six thousand bushels of grain per year. He was promoted to Direct Agent of the Dragon Diagram Hall and Compiler of the Secret Repository, eventually reaching Attendant Gentleman of the Hall of Splendid Merit. The prefecture depended on lake water for irrigation to great benefit; previously people had encroached on it for reclamation, but Yi ordered the entire lake drained to convert it to farmland. Thereafter the region suffered drought, and the local people resented him.
29
在郡五年，既請溫之船官自隸以便役，又請越、台之鹽以佐費，詔責之曰：「郡自有鹽筴不能興，而欲東取諸台，西取諸越，斯乃以鄰國為壑也。」 睦寇起，善理城戍有績，進徽猷閣直學士、知平江府，卒。
After five years as prefect, he requested that Wenzhou's boat officials be placed under his direct control for convenience, and also asked for salt from Yue and Tai prefectures to supplement expenses; an imperial edict rebuked him: "Your prefecture has its own salt monopoly but cannot develop it, yet you wish to take from Tai in the east and Yue in the west—this is merely shifting your burdens onto neighboring prefectures." When bandits rose in Mu Prefecture, he skillfully managed the city's defenses with notable success; he was promoted to Direct Academician of the Hall of Splendid Merit and appointed prefect of Pingjiang Prefecture, where he died.
30
沈積中
Shen Jizhong
31
沈積中，常州人。 賜進士出身，為辟雍正、戶部員外郎，至秘閣修撰、河北轉運使，召拜戶部侍郎，進尚書，知河間、真定府。 積中本王黼所引拔，黼方圖燕地，使覘邊隙。 中書舍人程振語之曰：「當思異時覆族之禍。」 積中感其戒，至鎮，以書謝振，盛言其不可，振宣告於朝。 已而師敗於白溝，童貫還，罷積中提舉上清寶籙宮。 既得燕山，又命以資政殿學士同知府，未行而卒，或曰為盜所殺，或曰婢殺之，終亦不能明也。 貫惡其曩言，追削官職。 建炎中，宰相上其書，乃悉復之。
Shen Jizhong was from Chang Prefecture. Granted jinshi status, he served as Director of the Imperial Academy and Vice Director of the Ministry of Revenue, eventually becoming Compiler of the Secret Repository and transport commissioner of Hebei; he was summoned to serve as Vice Minister of Revenue, promoted to Minister, and appointed prefect of Hejian and Zhending. Jizhong had originally been promoted by Wang Fu; Fu was then scheming to seize Yan territory and sent him to scout for openings along the border. Vice Grand Counselor Cheng Zhen warned him: "You should think about the disaster of having your entire clan wiped out." Moved by the warning, Jizhong, upon reaching his post, wrote to thank Zhen and argued forcefully that the venture was ill-advised; Zhen made the letter public at court. Soon the army was defeated at Baigou; when Tong Guan returned, Jizhong was demoted to Administrator of the Shangqing Precious Register Palace. After Yan Mountain was captured, he was again appointed Academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance and co-governor of the prefecture, but died before he could take up the post; some said he was killed by bandits, others that a maid killed him—the truth was never established. Tong Guan, resenting his earlier opposition, had his offices posthumously revoked. During the Jianyan era, the chief councilor submitted his letter to the throne, and all his honors were fully restored.
32
李伯宗
Li Bozong
33
李伯宗，字會之，河陽人。 第進士，知內丘、咸陽、太康縣。 建言：「朝廷行方田均稅之法，令以豐歲推行。 今州縣吏，苟簡懷異者指熟為災，而貪進幸賞者掩災為熟，望深察其違戾，而置諸罰。」 括縣壯丁為兵，得千人，上其名數與按閱之法。 知樞密院蔡卞喜而薦之，提舉京畿保甲，使行其說，增籍二萬。 已而有訴者，陳牒至八百七十，左遷通判相州、提舉白波輦運，提點江、淮坑冶鑄錢，入為將作少監。
Li Bozong, courtesy name Huizhi, was from Heyang. He passed the jinshi examination and served as magistrate of Neiqiu, Xianyang, and Taikang counties. He submitted a memorial: "The court is implementing the square-field equal-tax system and has ordered that it be rolled out in years of abundance. Today prefecture and county officials who are lax or hold private objections call ripe harvests disasters, while those greedy for promotion and rewards conceal disasters as ripe harvests; I ask that such violations be thoroughly investigated and punished." He conscripted able-bodied men from the county as soldiers, raising a thousand men, and submitted their rolls along with a plan for inspection drills. Military Affairs Commissioner Cai Bian was pleased and recommended him; he was appointed to oversee the capital-region baojia militia and implement his proposals, adding twenty thousand men to the rolls. Complaints soon poured in—petitions totaled eight hundred seventy; he was demoted to vice-prefect of Xiang Prefecture, put in charge of the Baibo transport relay, appointed supervisor of Jiang-Huai mining and coin minting, and later recalled to the capital as Vice Director of the Directorate of Public Works.
34
開封民有鬻神祠故帽，飾以龍者，吏以為乘輿服御，伯宗曰：「此無他，當坐不應為爾。」 尹不從，具以請，如伯宗議。 歷大理卿，入對言：「今情重法輕者許奏請，而情輕法重者不得焉，恐非仁聖忠恕之意。」 徽宗納之。 遷刑部侍郎。 與王黼不相能，有胥吏微過罷，提舉崇福宮。
A man in Kaifeng sold an old ceremonial hat from a shrine decorated with dragons; officials deemed it imperial regalia; Bozong said: "There is nothing more to it—it should be punished only as an improper act." The chief magistrate disagreed but referred the matter upward for decision, which followed Bozong's recommendation. After serving as Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review, he addressed the throne: "Today petitioners whose offenses are serious but whose statutory penalties are light may appeal, while those whose offenses are minor but whose penalties are heavy may not—I fear this does not reflect the spirit of humane and forgiving governance." Emperor Huizong accepted his view. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Justice. He fell out with Wang Fu; after a minor infraction involving a clerk he was dismissed and appointed Administrator of the Chongfu Palace.
35
明年，知同州，徙陝西都轉運使。 以通奉大夫、顯謨閣待制卒，贈光祿大夫，諡曰「榮」。
The following year he was appointed prefect of Tong Prefecture, then transferred to chief transport commissioner of Shaanxi. He died holding the ranks of Grandee for Counselling the Palace and Attendant Gentleman of the Hall for Illustrious Counsel; he was posthumously ennobled as Grandee of Splendid Happiness and given the posthumous name Rong ("Glory").
36
汪澥，字仲容，宣州旌德人。 少從胡瑗學《易》，又學於王安石，著《三經義傳》，澥與其議，又首傳其說。 熙寧太學成，分錄學政。 登進士第，調鼎州司理參軍、知黟縣，入為太學正，累遷國子祭酒，兼定、嘉二王翊善，擢中書舍人，為大司成。 議學制不合，以顯謨閣待制知婺州，改潁昌，又改陳、壽二州，徙應天府。 上章辭行，提舉崇福宮。 卒，贈宣奉大夫。
Wang Xie, courtesy name Zhongrong, was from Jingde in Xuan Prefecture. In youth he studied the Book of Changes under Hu Yuan and later studied under Wang Anshi, who authored Commentaries on the Meaning of the Three Classics; Xie participated in these discussions and was among the first to spread their teachings. When the Imperial Academy was completed in the Xining era, he was assigned to help oversee academic administration. He passed the jinshi examination and was assigned as judicial military adjutant of Ding Prefecture and magistrate of Yi County; he later entered the capital as Rectifier of the Imperial Academy, rose through the ranks to Rector of the Imperial University, concurrently served as instructor to the Princes of Ding and Jia, was promoted to Vice Grand Counselor, and became Grandee of Instruction. After his views on the educational system fell out of favor, he was appointed Attendant Gentleman of the Hall for Illustrious Counsel and prefect of Wu Prefecture; he was later transferred to Yingchang, then to Chen and Shou prefectures, and finally to Yingtian Prefecture. He submitted a memorial declining the appointment and was made Administrator of the Chongfu Palace. He died and was posthumously ennobled as Grandee for Court Announcement.
37
澥自布衣錄天子學，至為正，為司業、祭酒，迄於司成，官以儒名者三十年，一時人士推之。
From commoner origins Xie entered the imperial academy, rising from Rectifier to Vice Rector, Rector, and finally Grandee of Instruction; he held scholarly office for thirty years and was widely admired by his contemporaries.
38
何常，字德固，京兆人。 中進士第，為開封府兵曹。 紹聖初，或言蘇軾主文柄，取士之非毀宗廟者，常預其間，出通判原州。 歷將作丞、陝西轉運判官、熙河轉運副使。 議者欲貸民金帛，而使入粟塞下。 常曰：「車牛轉輸，民力已病，然未至於死亡者，粟自官出，而民無害也。 今強以金帛，使自入粟，懼非貧弱之利。」 熙帥及監軍劾之，貶秩，徙成都路。
He Chang, courtesy name Degu, was from Jingzhao. He passed the jinshi examination and served as military section clerk in the Kaifeng Prefecture office. Early in the Shaosheng era, it was alleged that Su Shi controlled the examination process and admitted candidates who had not insulted the ancestral temples; Chang was implicated and was sent out as vice-prefect of Yuan Prefecture. He successively served as Assistant Director of the Directorate of Public Works, transport vice-commissioner of Shaanxi, and deputy transport commissioner of Xihe. Proponents of the plan wished to lend the people gold and silk in exchange for having them deliver grain to the frontier. Chang argued: "Cart-and-ox transport has already exhausted the people's strength; as long as it has not driven them to ruin, supplying grain from government stores does the people no harm. Forcing them to take gold and silk and deliver grain on their own, I fear, would not serve the interests of the poor and weak." The military commander of Xi Prefecture and the army supervisor impeached him; his rank was reduced and he was transferred to the Chengdu Circuit.
39
中使持御劄至，令織戲龍羅二千，繡旗五百。 常奏：「旗者，軍器之飾，敢不奉詔。 戲龍羅唯供御服，日衣一匹，歲不過三百有奇； 今乃數倍，無益也。」 詔獎其言，為減四之三。
A palace envoy arrived with an imperial directive ordering two thousand bolts of "playful dragon" silk and five hundred embroidered banners. Chang submitted a memorial: "Banners are military adornments—I dare not refuse the imperial order. Playful dragon silk is reserved for imperial garments—at one bolt per day, the annual requirement is little more than three hundred bolts; yet the order calls for several times that amount, which serves no purpose." The emperor praised his candor and reduced the order by three-fourths.
40
除直龍圖閣，加集賢殿修撰，為使徙陝西，以顯謨閣待制知秦州，轉通議大夫。 諜告夏人多築堡柵，朝議出兵牽制，常言：「羌人生長射獵，今困於版築，違所長，用所短，可以拱手待其弊，無煩有為也。」 從之。
He was appointed Direct Agent of the Dragon Diagram Hall and Compiler of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, was transferred to Shaanxi on assignment, then appointed Attendant Gentleman of the Hall for Illustrious Counsel and prefect of Qin Prefecture, and promoted to Grandee for Discussion. Spies reported that the Western Xia were building many forts and palisades; the court debated sending troops to tie them down; Chang argued: "The Qiang people grew up hunting and shooting; now they are exhausted by fortification work—they are used against their strengths and toward their weaknesses; we can simply wait for them to wear themselves out—there is no need to act." The court accepted his advice.
41
鎮秦六歲，察訪方邵劾其越法貨酒，借米麴於官而毀其歷。 獄具，責昭化軍節度副使。 數月，復其官。 終右文殿修撰，年七十三。
After six years governing Qin Prefecture, investigating commissioner Fang Shao impeached him for illicitly selling wine, borrowing rice and yeast from government stores and destroying the records. When the case was concluded, he was demoted to Military Vice Commissioner of the Zhaohua Army. Several months later, his former offices were restored. He ended his career as Compiler of the Hall of Right Culture, at the age of seventy-three.
42
論曰：西漢之末，士大夫阿諛銷懦，遂底於亡。 東都諸賢以風節相尚，激成黨禍。 宋元祐類東都，崇、宣類西漢末世，蓋忠鯁獲罪，則相習容悅而已。 君驕臣諂，此邦之所繇喪也。 觀沈銖諸人，徒徇時軒輊，不能為有亡，惡足以言士哉！
The commentary states: At the end of the Western Han, scholar-officials flattered their rulers and grew morally enfeebled, until the dynasty collapsed. The worthy men of the Eastern Capital vied in moral integrity, which stirred up factional persecution. The Song Yuanfu era resembled the Eastern Capital period, while the Chongning and Xuanhe eras resembled the late Western Han—for when loyal and upright men were punished, officials learned only to accommodate and flatter. When rulers grow arrogant and ministers fawn, that is how a state is lost. Looking at Shen Yin and his like, they merely chased the fashions of the day and could neither save the state nor hasten its fall—how can they be worthy of the name scholar!
43
葉祖洽
Ye Zujia
44
葉祖洽，字敦禮，邵武人。 熙寧初，策試進士，祖洽所對，專投合用事者，考官宋敏求、蘇軾欲黜之，呂惠卿擢為第一。 簽書奉國軍判官、判登聞檢院，由國子丞知湖州，留為校書郎。
Ye Zujia, courtesy name Dunli, was from Shaowu. Early in the Xining era, in the policy essay examination for jinshi, Zujia's answers were tailored entirely to please those in power; examiners Song Minqiu and Su Shi wanted to fail him, but Lü Huiqing ranked him first. He served as signing secretary and military adjutant of the Fengguo Army and as judge of the Bureau for Hearing Grievances; from Assistant Director of the National University he was appointed prefect of Hu Prefecture, then was retained at court as Proofreader.
45
元祐初，歷職方、兵部員外郎，加集賢校理，進禮部郎中。 給事中趙君錫論其對策訕及宗廟，祖洽自辨，事下從官定議。 蘇軾、劉攽言：「祖洽謂祖宗紀綱法度，因循苟簡，願朝廷與大臣合謀而新之。 可以為議論乖謬，若謂之訕則不可。」 於是但出提點淮西刑獄。
Early in the Yuanyou era, he served successively as Bureau Director in the Ministry of Works and Vice Director in the Ministry of War, was appointed Collator of the Hall of Assembled Worthies, and was promoted to Director of the Ministry of Rites. Supervising Censor Zhao Junxi charged that his policy essay had insulted the imperial ancestors; Zujia defended himself, and the case was sent to participating officials for a ruling. Su Shi and Liu Ban said: "Zujia held that the statutes and institutions of the imperial founders had been followed in a perfunctory, slipshod way, and wished that the court and senior ministers would consult together to reform them. His views might be deemed mistaken, but they cannot be called slander." He was then merely posted out as Judicial Commissioner for Huai West.
46
紹聖中，入為左司郎中、起居郎、中書舍人、給事中。 祖洽性狠愎，喜諛附，密言王珪於冊立時有異論。 哲宗曰：「宣仁聖烈，婦人之堯、舜也。 其於社稷大計，聖意素定，朕已令作告命，明述此旨。」 祖洽復言：「若以珪為無跡，則黃履、劉拯相繼論之矣，願稽合群情，決之獨斷。」 珪遂追貶。 又言：「司馬光、呂公著獲終牖下，恩禮隆縟； 蔡確受遺定策，而貶死嶺外，乞恤其孤。」 其論率類此。 林希薦祖洽，謂其最向正，帝言不可大用，乃已。 坐舉王回出知濟州，徙洪州，以牟利黷貨聞。
During the Shaosheng era, he was brought to court as Left Department Director, Drafting Clerk of the Imperial Diary, Secretariat Drafter, and Supervising Censor. Zujia was fierce and obstinate by nature, fond of flattering and currying favor; he secretly reported that Wang Gui had voiced dissent when the new emperor was enthroned. Emperor Zhezong said: "Empress Xuanren the Sage and Virtuous was a Yao or Shun among women. On the great question of the realm's succession, her sacred intent had long been settled; I have already ordered an edict drafted to make this clear." Zujia pressed further: "If Gui is held to have left no trace of wrongdoing, then Huang Lü and Liu Cheng have already raised the charge in turn; I beg Your Majesty to weigh the consensus of opinion and decide on your own authority." Wang Gui was then posthumously demoted. He also said: "Sima Guang and Lü Gongzhu were able to die peacefully at home, honored with lavish ceremonies; Cai Que had received the dying testament and settled the succession, yet was demoted and died in exile beyond the mountains; I beg that his orphaned family be shown compassion." His arguments were mostly of this sort. Lin Xi recommended Zujia, saying he was the most upright of men; the Emperor said he could not be trusted with high office, and the matter was dropped. For recommending Wang Hui, he was sent out as prefect of Ji Prefecture, then transferred to Hong Prefecture, where he became notorious for profiteering and corruption.
47
祖洽與曾布厚，人目為「小訓狐」。 布用事，欲以吏部侍郎召，韓忠彥不可，白為寶文閣待制、知青州。 未赴，布竟引為吏部。 布罷，乃出知定州，且行，大言於上，至云：「當時蔡確稍失事幾，王珪果遂姦謀，則神宗遂失正統，不知今日神器孰歸。 臣為朝廷宗社明確之功，正珪之罪，勸沮忠邪於千萬年，以此報神宗足矣。」 徽宗怒其躁妄，降集賢殿修撰、提舉沖佑觀，自是不復用。 久之，知洪州，改亳州，加徽猷閣直學士。 政和末，卒。
Zujia was on close terms with Zeng Bu; people called him the "Little Training Fox." While Bu held power, he tried to summon Zujia as Vice Minister of Personnel; Han Zhongyan refused, and Zujia was instead appointed Scholar of the Hall for Treasuring Culture and prefect of Qing Prefecture. Before he could take up the Qingzhou post, Bu had him appointed Vice Minister of Personnel after all. After Bu fell from power, Zujia was sent out as prefect of Ding Prefecture; as he was about to leave, he spoke boldly to the throne, going so far as to say: "Had Cai Que at that moment missed his chance by the slightest margin, and Wang Gui had truly carried through his treacherous plot, then Emperor Shenzong's legitimate succession would have been lost, and no one would know to whom the throne would belong today. Your subject's service in vindicating the court and the altars, exposing Wang Gui's guilt, and encouraging loyalty while restraining treachery for ages to come—repaying Emperor Shenzong thus is more than enough." Emperor Huizong, angered by his rash presumption, demoted him to Compiler of the Hall of Assembled Worthies and put him in charge of the Chongyou Temple; from then on he was never again employed. After a long interval, he served as prefect of Hong Prefecture, then was transferred to Bo Prefecture and granted the title Academician of the Hall of Emblematic Splendor. Late in the Zhenghe era, he died.
48
時彥，字邦美，開封人。 舉進士第，簽書潁昌判官，入為秘書省正字，累至集賢校理。 紹聖中，遷右司員外郎。 使遼失職，坐廢，旋復校理，提點河東刑獄，蹇序辰使遼還，又坐前受賜增拜，隱不言，復停官。 徽宗立，召為吏部員外郎，擢起居舍人，改太常少卿，以直龍圖閣為河東轉運使，加集賢殿修撰、知廣州。 未行，拜吏部侍郎，徙戶部，為開封尹。 異時都城苦多盜，捕得，則皆亡，卒吏憚於移問，往往略之。 彥始請一以公憑為驗，否則拘繫之以俟報，坊邑少安，獄屢空。 數月，遷工部尚書，進吏部，卒。
Shi Yan, courtesy name Bangmei, was from Kaifeng. He passed the jinshi examination, served as signing secretary and adjutant at Yingchang, entered court as Corrector in the Secretariat, and rose to Collator of the Hall of Assembled Worthies. During the Shaosheng era, he was promoted to Vice Director of the Right Department. On a mission to Liao he failed in his duties and was dismissed; he was soon restored as collator and appointed Judicial Commissioner for Hedong; when Jian Xuchen returned from a Liao mission, Yan was again punished for having previously accepted gifts and a promotion without reporting them, and was once more suspended from office. When Emperor Huizong ascended the throne, he was summoned as Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel, promoted to Attendant Drafting Clerk of the Imperial Diary, transferred to Vice Director of the Court of Sacrificial Worship, and with the title of direct associate of the Hall of Dragon Designs appointed Transport Commissioner of Hedong; he was also made Compiler of the Hall of Assembled Worthies and prefect of Guang Prefecture. Before he could take up the Guangzhou post, he was appointed Vice Minister of Personnel, then transferred to the Ministry of Revenue and made Magistrate of Kaifeng. For some time the capital had been plagued by rampant theft; when thieves were caught, they would promptly disappear, and clerks and runners, fearing the paperwork of transfer and interrogation, often let cases drop. Yan first required that only official release documents be accepted as proof of discharge; otherwise suspects were to be detained pending confirmation. The wards and neighborhoods grew somewhat quieter, and the prisons were often empty. Within a few months he was promoted to Minister of Works, then to Minister of Personnel, and died.
49
霍端友
Huo Duanyou
50
霍端友，字仁仲，常州武進人。 徽宗即位，策進士第一，授宣義郎。 不閱月，擢秘書省校書郎，遷著作佐郎、起居郎、中書舍人，服金紫。 故事唯服黑角帶，帝顧見之，曰：「給事、舍人等爾，而服飾相絕如是。」 始命犀帶佩魚。 進給事中、大司成、禮部侍郎。 端友言：「朝廷尊安，重內輕外。 可令內外侍從更出迭入，以奉禁闥，殿大邦，俾天下之勢如持衡，庶無首重尾輕之患。」 疏入，即請補郡，乃以顯謨閣待制知平江。 改陳州，為政以寬聞，不立聲威。 陳地汙下，久雨則積潦，時疏新河八百里，而去淮尚遠，水不時泄。 端友請益開二百里，徹於淮，自是水患遂去。 內侍石燾傳詔索瑞香花數十本，端友不可，疏罷之。 復以禮部召，轉吏部。 官至通議大夫。 卒，贈宣奉大夫。
Huo Duanyou, courtesy name Renzhong, was from Wujin in Chang Prefecture. When Emperor Huizong ascended the throne, Duanyou ranked first in the policy jinshi examination and was appointed Master of Exemplary Integrity. In less than a month he was promoted to Proofreader in the Secretariat, then transferred to Assistant Editor, Drafting Clerk of the Imperial Diary, and Secretariat Drafter, and was permitted to wear gold and purple attire. By precedent they wore only black horn belts; when the Emperor noticed this, he said: "They are supervising censors and drafters alike, yet their dress is so utterly different." He then ordered that they be given rhinoceros-horn belts with fish pendants. He was promoted to Supervising Censor, Grandee of Ritual Studies, and Vice Minister of Rites. Duanyou said: "The court is secure and at ease, valuing the center and slighting the periphery. Inner and outer attendants should be rotated in and out of office, serving at the palace gates and governing the great provinces, so that the empire's weight would be balanced like a steelyard and the realm would not suffer from a heavy center and a light periphery." When his memorial was submitted, he immediately asked to be sent to a prefecture; he was then appointed Scholar of the Hall of Manifest Instruction and prefect of Pingjiang. Transferred to Chen Prefecture, he was known for lenient governance and did not try to make a name through imposing authority. Chen Prefecture lay on low, swampy ground; after prolonged rain, water would pool. A new canal eight hundred li long had been dredged, but it still lay far from the Huai River, and floodwater could not drain in time. Duanyou asked that dredging be extended another two hundred li until it reached the Huai River; from then on the flood problem was eliminated. The palace attendant Shi Tao came with an edict demanding several dozen stalks of auspicious incense flowers; Duanyou refused and memorialized to have him removed from office. He was recalled to the Ministry of Rites and then transferred to the Ministry of Personnel. He rose to the rank of Master for Discussion of Governance. He died and was posthumously granted the title Master of Imperial Service.
51
俞㮚，字祗若，江寧人。 崇寧四年，以上舍生賜進士第，簽書鎮南軍判官。 未赴，為辟雍博士、秘書省正字、吏部員外郎、起居舍人，兼定、嘉二王記室，擢中書舍人。 居三月，進給事中、殿中侍御史。 毛注建議罷增石炭場，㮚駁其非。 除顯謨閣待制、知蔡州，明日復留。 逾年，竟出為襄州。 還，拜給事中，上言：「學校，三代之學也。 然崇寧四年以前，議者以為是，五年，則非之； 大觀三年以前，議者以為是，四年，則非之。 豈學校固若是哉？ 觀望者無定說爾。 必使士有成才，人無異論，事之不美者不出於學校，然後為得。」 言頗見行。
Yu Li, courtesy name Zhihuo, was from Jiangning. In the fourth year of Chongning, as a senior student of the National University he was granted jinshi rank and appointed signing secretary and adjutant of the Zhennan Army. Before he could take up that appointment, he was made Doctor of the Imperial Academy, Corrector in the Secretariat, Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel, Attendant Drafting Clerk of the Imperial Diary, concurrently Recorder for the Princes of Ding and Jia, and promoted to Secretariat Drafter. After three months he was promoted to Supervising Censor and Palace Censor. Mao Zhu proposed abolishing the expanded charcoal market; Li rebutted the proposal as wrong. He was appointed Scholar of the Hall of Manifest Instruction and prefect of Cai Prefecture, but was kept at court the very next day. After more than a year, he was finally sent out as prefect of Xiang Prefecture. On his return he was appointed Supervising Censor and submitted a memorial: "Schools embody the learning of the Three Dynasties. Yet before the fourth year of Chongning critics called them right, and in the fifth year they called them wrong; Before the third year of Daguan they called them right, and in the fourth year they called them wrong. Can schools truly be so changeable? It is only that those who wait on the winds of opinion have no settled view. Only when scholars are truly formed, public opinion is unified, and nothing unsatisfactory arises from the schools will the system be right." Much of what he said was put into practice.
52
蔡京再相，憾向所用士多畔己，葉夢得言㮚獨否，遂拜御史中丞。 陳士風六弊，又發戶部尚書劉炳為舉子時陰事。 京方倚炳為腹心，戾其意，改㮚翰林學士。 遷兵部尚書，以樞密直學士知開德府。 石公弼在襄州，以論衙前事謫言者，謂㮚實倡之，罷，提舉崇禧觀。 竟以毀紹聖法度，貶常州團練副使，安置太平州。 行未至，復述古殿直學士、知江寧府，卒。
When Cai Jing returned as chief councilor, he resented that many of the men Zeng Bu had employed had turned against him; Ye Mengde said that Li alone had not, and Li was appointed Imperial Censor-in-Chief. He memorialized on the six faults of scholarly conduct and also exposed secret misconduct from when Minister of Revenue Liu Bing was an examination candidate. Jing was then relying on Liu Bing as his close confidant; angered by Li's attack, he transferred Li to Hanlin Academician. He was transferred to Minister of War and appointed Academician of the Bureau of Military Affairs and prefect of Kaide Prefecture. When Shi Gongbi was in Xiang Prefecture, he spoke out on the corvée-transport issue and censors who supported him were punished; Li was said to have instigated the affair; Li was dismissed and made Supervisor of the Chongxi Temple. He was ultimately demoted to Deputy Military Training Commissioner of Chang Prefecture and exiled to Taiping Prefecture for having criticized the Shaosheng reforms. Before he reached his place of exile, he was restored as Academician of the Hall of Ancient Traditions and appointed prefect of Jiangning Prefecture, where he died.
53
蔡薿，字文饒，開封人。 崇寧五年，以諸生試策，揣蔡京且復用，即對曰：「熙、豐之德業，足以配天，不幸繼之以元祐； 紹聖之纘述，足以永賴，不幸繼之以靖國。 陛下兩下求言之詔，冀以聞至言、收實用也。 而見於元符之末者，方且幸時變而肆姦言，乘間隙而投異意，詆誣先烈不以為疑，動搖國是不以為憚。 願逆處其未至而絕其原。」 於是擢為第一，以所對頒天下，甫解褐，即除秘書省正字，遷起居舍人。 未幾，為中書舍人。 自布衣至侍從，才九月，前所未有也。
Cai Ni, courtesy name Wenrao, was from Kaifeng. In the fifth year of Chongning, as an ordinary student in the policy examination, sensing that Cai Jing was about to be restored to power, he answered: "The virtue and achievements of the Xining and Yuanfeng eras were worthy to match Heaven; unfortunately they were followed by Yuanyou; The continuation of the Shaosheng reforms could have been relied on forever; unfortunately that was followed by Jingguo. Your Majesty has twice issued edicts inviting candid counsel, hoping to hear the fullest truth and put useful proposals into practice. Yet at the end of the Yuanfu era, some were already welcoming changing times to spread treacherous opinions, seizing openings to push divergent views, slandering the glorious dead without hesitation, and undermining the state's settled course without fear. I beg that these tendencies be checked before they take hold and their source cut off." He was ranked first; his examination answer was promulgated throughout the realm; barely out of plain dress, he was appointed Corrector in the Secretariat and then Attendant Drafting Clerk of the Imperial Diary. Before long he was made Secretariat Drafter. From commoner to court attendant in only nine months—something never seen before.
54
旋進給事中。 一意附蔡京，敘族屬，尊為叔父。 京命攸、修等出見，薿亟云：「向者大誤，公乃叔祖，此諸父行也。」 遽列拜之。 八寶赦恩，詔兩省差擇元祐黨人，情輕者出籍。 薿不肯書，言者論其不能推廣上恩，使歲久獲罪之人得以洗濯。 出知和州。 明年，加顯謨閣待制、知杭州。
He was soon promoted to Supervising Censor. He attached himself entirely to Cai Jing, arranged a family connection, and honored him as his paternal uncle. When Jing had You, Xiu, and others come out to meet him, Ni exclaimed: "I was greatly mistaken before—you are my grand-uncle; these gentlemen are of my father's generation." He immediately lined up and bowed to them. Under the Eight Treasures amnesty, an edict ordered the two departments to select members of the Yuanyou faction for removal from the blacklist—those whose offenses were minor were to be cleared. Ni refused to draft the edict; critics argued that he would not extend the Emperor's grace and allow those condemned for years to be cleared. He was sent out as prefect of He Prefecture. The following year he was granted the title Scholar of the Hall of Manifest Instruction and appointed prefect of Hang Prefecture.
55
始，薿未第時，以書謁陳瓘，稱其諫疏似陸贄，剛方似狄仁傑，明道似韓愈。 及對策，所持論頓異，遂欲害瓘以絕口。 因其子正彙告蔡京不軌，執送京師。 薿復入為給事中，又與宰相何執中謀，使石悈治瓘，幾不免，事具《瓘傳》。 御史毛注言：「陛下修善政以應天，斥大姦以定國，而薿巧言惑眾，造為釁端。」 疏入不報。
At first, before Ni had passed the examinations, he wrote to Chen Guan praising his remonstrance memorials as reminiscent of Lu Zhi's, his upright firmness as reminiscent of Di Renjie's, and his clarity of principle as reminiscent of Han Yu's. When he sat for the policy examination, his views suddenly reversed; he then sought to destroy Guan to silence him. Using the occasion of Guan's son Zheng Hui reporting Cai Jing's disloyalty, he had the boy seized and sent to the capital. When Ni returned to court as Supervising Censor, he conspired with Chief Councilor He Zhizhong to have Shi Jue prosecute Guan; Guan nearly perished; the full account is given in Chen Guan's biography. Censor Mao Zhu said: "Your Majesty is practicing good government to answer Heaven and expelling great villains to stabilize the state, yet Ni uses clever speech to mislead the people and stir up trouble." The memorial was submitted but received no response.
56
范柔中者，頃以上書入邪等，至是進階。 薿言：「柔中嘗毀神考，哲宗有弗共戴天之讎。 自今春黨人復官，士論駭愕，有致疑於紹述者。 乞削其敘遷，昭示好惡。」 從之。 張商英作相，常安民與之書，激使為善。 薿弟萊剽其稿示薿，即論之以搖商英。 薿遷翰林學士，坐妄議政事罷，提舉洞霄宮。 起知建寧府。
Fan Rouzhong had earlier been placed on the blacklist of malcontents for submitting a memorial; now he was promoted in rank. Ni said: "Rouzhong once slandered Emperor Shenzong—an enemy with whom Emperor Zhezong could not share the same sky. Since faction members were restored to office this spring, opinion among the literati has been shocked, and some have begun to doubt the Shaosheng succession. I beg that his promotion be revoked to make clear the court's standards of favor and disfavor." The request was granted. When Zhang Shangying became chief councilor, Chang Anmin wrote him a letter exhorting him to do good. Ni's younger brother Lai stole Chang Anmin's letter and showed it to Ni, who immediately memorialized against Chang to undermine Zhang Shangying. Ni was made Hanlin Academician, then dismissed for rashly discussing state affairs and appointed Supervisor of the Dongxiao Palace. He was recalled and made prefect of Jianning.
57
方建神霄宮，薿先一路奏辦，下詔褒獎，召為學士承旨、禮部尚書。 嘗陰附權幸，事覺，徽宗令入對，將面詰之。 逾月不奉詔，帝怒，命黜之。 御史言：「薿遊太學，則挾詭計以鉗諸生； 居侍從，則抉私事以脅宰輔； 處門下，則借國法以快私忿； 為郡守，則妄尊大而蔑監司。 召自金陵，偃然以丞轄自處，既升宗伯，乃懷不滿之心。 宜重置諸罰。」 遂貶單州團練副使，房州安置。
While the Divine Empyrean Palace was under construction, Ni memorialized in advance to oversee preparations along the route; the emperor issued a commendation and recalled him as Academician Expositor and Minister of Rites. He had secretly curried favor with powerful courtiers; when this came to light, Huizong ordered him to audience and prepared to confront him in person. For more than a month he failed to answer the summons; the emperor grew angry and ordered his dismissal. A censor said: "At the Imperial University, Ni used underhanded schemes to intimidate the students; as a court attendant, he dredged up private matters to threaten the chief councilors; in the Secretariat, he invoked state law to settle private scores; as prefect, he presumptuously put on airs and treated circuit supervisors with contempt. Recalled from Jinling, he carried himself as though he were already a deputy commissioner; once promoted to Minister of Rites, he nursed grievances. He deserves the full measure of punishment." He was demoted to Military Vice Commissioner of Shan Prefecture and exiled to Fang Prefecture.
58
宣和中，復龍圖閣直學士，再知杭州。 為政喜怒徇情，任刑大慘。 方臘亂後，西北戍卒代歸，人得犒絹，薿禁民與為市，乃下其直，強取之。 卒怒，乘薿夜飲客，縱火焚州治，須其出救，殺之。 薿知事勢洶洶，逾垣走，僅得免。 詔奪職罷歸。 明年，以徽猷閣待制卒。
During the Xuanhe era he was restored as Academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall and again appointed prefect of Hangzhou. In office he governed by whim, indulging anger and favor alike, and applied punishments with extreme severity. After the Fang La rebellion, garrison troops from the northwest rotated home with reward silk; Ni forbade the populace to trade with them, then depressed the price and seized the silk by force. The soldiers, enraged, waited until Ni was entertaining guests at night, set fire to the prefectural compound, and killed him when he came out to fight the blaze. Ni saw the situation turning violent, climbed over the wall, and fled—barely escaping with his life. By edict his office was stripped and he was dismissed to return home. The following year he died while serving as Awaiting Draftsman of the Huixian Pavilion.
59
論曰：自太宗歲設大科，致多士，居首選者躐取華要，有不十年至宰相，亦多忠亮雅厚，為時名臣。 治平更三歲之制，繼以王安石改新法，士習始變。 哲、徽紹述，尚王氏學，非是無以得高第。 葉祖洽首迎合時相意，擢第一，自是靡然，士風大壞，得人亦衰，而上之恩秩亦薄矣。 熙寧而後，訖於宣和，首選十八人，唯何㮚、馬涓與此五人有傳，然時彥、端友齪齪，祖洽、俞㮚、蔡薿憸邪小人。 繇王氏之學不正，害人心術，橫潰爛漫，並邦家而覆之； 如是其慘焉，此孟子所以必辯邪說、正人心也。
The commentary states: From Emperor Taizong the great examination was held annually, producing a host of scholars; top graduates vaulted into the highest offices, some reaching the chancellorship within ten years, and many were loyal, upright, and magnanimous—men renowned in their day. Under the Zhiping reign the triennial examination cycle was altered, and with Wang Anshi's New Policies the habits of scholars began to change. Under Zhezong and Huizong the Shaosheng succession was exalted; Wang Anshi's learning was prized, and without adhering to it one could not win high marks. Ye Zujia was the first to tailor his answers to the chief councilor's wishes and was ranked first; thereafter the practice spread—the moral tone of the literati collapsed, worthy men grew scarce, and imperial favor and rank became cheap. From the Xining era through Xuanhe, among eighteen top graduates only He Li, Ma Juan, and these five men have biographies here; yet Shi Yan and Huo Duanyou were petty and narrow, while Ye Zujia, Yu Li, and Cai Ni were sycophantic villains. Because Wang's learning was unsound, it corrupted men's hearts, spread moral collapse without restraint, and brought down both state and family; so grievous was the ruin—this is why Mencius insisted on refuting heterodox doctrines and setting the human heart right.