1
白時中徐處仁馮澥王倫宇文虛中湯思退
Bai Shizhong, Xu Churen, Feng Xie, Wang Lun, Yu Wenxuzhong, and Tang Situi
2
白時中
Bai Shizhong
3
白時中，字蒙亨，壽春人。 登進士第，累官為吏部侍郎。 坐事，降秩知鄆州，已而復召用。 政和六年，拜尚書右丞、中書門下侍郎。 宣和六年，除特進、太宰兼門下，封崇國公，進慶國。
Bai Shizhong, whose style name was Menghui, came from Shouchun. After earning his jinshi degree, he advanced through a series of posts until he became Vice Minister of Personnel. He was punished for an offense and demoted to serve as prefect of Yanzhou, yet was soon recalled to office. In 1116 he was made Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Vice Director of the Secretariat-Chancellery. In 1124 he was promoted to Special Advanced Grandee and Grand Councilor with concurrent charge of the Chancellery, enfeoffed as Duke of Chong, and later raised to Duke of Qing.
4
始，時中嘗為春官，詔令編類天下所奏祥瑞，其有非文字所能盡者，圖繪以進。 時中進《政和瑞應記》及《贊》。 及為太宰，表賀翔鶴、霞光等事。 圜丘禮成，上言休氣充應，前所未有，乞宣付秘書省。 時燕山日告危急，而時中恬不為慮。 金人入攻，京城修守備，時中謂宇文粹中曰：「萬事須是涉曆，非公嘗目擊守城之事，吾輩豈知首尾邪？」
Earlier, while serving as Director of the Board of Rites, he had been ordered to compile auspicious omens reported from across the empire; any that could not be fully conveyed in words were to be illustrated and presented to the throne. Shizhong presented the Record of Auspicious Responses of the Zhenghe Era together with a laudatory text. After he became Grand Councilor, he memorialized the throne to celebrate sightings of cranes in flight, luminous clouds, and similar portents. After the Round Mound sacrifice was completed, he reported that an unprecedented abundance of auspicious emanations had manifested and asked that the account be issued to the Secretariat for preservation. While the Yan region sent daily reports of mounting crisis, Shizhong showed no concern whatsoever. When the Jurchens attacked and the capital rushed to strengthen its defenses, Shizhong told Yuwen Cuizhong, "Everything depends on firsthand experience. If you had not once seen a siege with your own eyes, how could the rest of us know what defense truly entails?"
5
欽宗即位，召大臣決策守京師，問誰可將者。 李綱言：「朝廷高爵厚祿蓄養大臣，蓋將用之有事之日。 時中輩雖書生，然撫將士以抗敵鋒，乃其職也。」 時中勃然曰：「李綱莫能將兵出戰乎？」 綱曰：「陛下儻使臣，當以死報。」 於是以綱為右丞，充守禦使。 時中尋罷為觀文殿學士、中太一宮使。 禦中劾時中孱懦不才，詔落職。 未幾，卒。
After Emperor Qinzong took the throne, he convened senior officials to decide whether to hold the capital and asked who was fit to lead the army. Li Gang said, "The court lavishes high rank and generous stipends on its senior ministers precisely so they may be used when the state is in peril. Men like Shizhong may be scholars, but rallying troops to meet the enemy is exactly what their office demands." Shizhong flushed with anger and snapped, "Then can Li Gang not lead the army into the field himself?" Gang replied, "If Your Majesty appoints me, I will repay the trust with my life." The emperor then appointed Gang Right Vice Director and Defense Commissioner. Shizhong was soon removed from office and given the posts of Academician of the Hall for Observing Literature and Commissioner of the Central Grand Unity Palace. The Censorate impeached him as timid, incompetent, and unfit for duty, and an edict removed him from all posts. He died soon afterward.
6
徐處仁
Xu Churen
7
徐處仁，字擇之，應天府穀熟縣人。 中進士甲科，為永州東安縣令。 蠻人叛，處仁入峒，開示恩信，蠻感泣，誓不復反。 知濟州金鄉縣。 以薦者召見，徽宗問京東歲事，處仁以旱蝗對。 問：「邑有盜賊乎？」 曰：「有之。」 上謂處仁不欺，除宗正寺丞、太常博士。
Xu Churen, whose style name was Zhezhi, came from Gushu County in Yingtian Prefecture. He graduated at the head of his jinshi cohort and was appointed magistrate of Dong'an County in Yongzhou. When local tribes rebelled, Churen went into their mountain passes, won them over with assurances of imperial favor, and moved them to tears; they swore never to rise again. He later served as magistrate of Jinxiang County in Jizhou. Recommended to court, he was summoned for audience; when Huizong asked about conditions in the eastern capital region, Churen reported drought and locust plagues. The emperor asked, "Are there bandits in your district?" He answered, "There are." The emperor praised him for speaking frankly and appointed him Vice Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan and Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
8
時初置算學，議所祖，或以孔子贊《易》知數。 處仁言：「仲尼之道無所不備，非專門比。 黃帝迎日推策，數之始也，祖黃帝為宜。」 擢監察御史，遷殿中、右正言、給事中。 攝開封府，裁決如流，囚系常空。 進戶部尚書，繼拜中大夫、尚書右丞。 丁母憂，免喪，以資政殿學士知青州，徙知永興軍。
When the School of Mathematics was first established, officials debated its patron; some argued for Confucius on the grounds that his commentary on the Changes showed mastery of numerology. Churen objected, "Confucius's teaching embraces every field of learning; it should not be reduced to a single specialty. The Yellow Emperor, who observed the sun and devised counting rods, was the true origin of mathematics; he is the proper patron." He was promoted to Investigating Censor and later served as Palace Censor, Right Remonstrator, and Drafting Attendant. While acting administrator of Kaifeng, he disposed of cases with remarkable speed, and the jails were often empty. He rose to Minister of Revenue and was then appointed Grandee of Palace Attendance and Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. After observing mourning for his mother, he was appointed Academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance and prefect of Qingzhou, then transferred to Yongxing Circuit.
9
童貫使陝西，欲平物價，處仁議不合，曰：「此令一傳，則商賈弗行，而積藏者弗出，名為平價，適以增之。」 轉運使阿貫意，劾其格德音，倡異論，侵辱使者。 詔處仁赴闕。 尋改知河陽，落職知蘄州。 久之，以顯謨閣直學士知潁昌府。 民有得罪宮掖者，雖赦不原，處仁為奏上。 童貫乘是擠之，奪職，提舉鴻慶宮。 復延康殿學士、知汝州，再奉鴻慶祠、知徐州，召為醴泉觀使。
When Tong Guan was dispatched to Shaanxi and proposed price controls, Churen disagreed, warning, "Once this order goes out, merchants will stop trading and hoarders will refuse to sell; a policy called price stabilization will only drive prices higher." The transport commissioner, eager to please Tong Guan, impeached him for defying the imperial edict, spreading dissent, and insulting the envoy. An edict summoned Churen to the capital. He was soon reassigned to Heyang, then demoted and sent to serve as prefect of Qizhou. After some time he was restored as Academician Expositor on Duty of the Hall of Manifest Strategy and appointed prefect of Yingchang. A commoner who had offended the palace women remained unpardoned despite an amnesty; Churen memorialized the throne on his behalf. Tong Guan used the incident to force him out, stripped him of office, and appointed him Commissioner of the Palace of Grand Celebration. He was later restored as Academician of the Hall of Extended Glory and prefect of Ruzhou, again tended the Hongqing Shrine while governing Xuzhou, and was finally summoned as Commissioner of the Sweet Spring Abbey.
10
徽宗訪以天下事，處仁對曰：「天下大勢在兵與民，今水旱之餘，賦役繁重，公私凋弊，兵民皆困，不及今謀之，後將有不勝圖者。」 上曰：「非卿不聞此言。」 明日，除侍讀。 進讀罷，理前語，處仁言：「昔周以塚宰製國用，於歲之杪，宜會朝廷一歲財用之數，量入為出，節浮費，罷橫斂，百姓既足，軍儲必豐。」 上稱善詔置裕民局討論振兵裕民之法。 蔡京不悅，言者謂：「今設局曰'裕民'，豈平日為不裕民哉？」 乃罷局，出處仁知揚州。 未幾，以疾奉祠歸南都。
When Huizong asked his view of the empire's condition, Churen replied, "The fate of the realm rests on its soldiers and its people. After successive floods and droughts, taxes and labor levies have grown crushing; public and private resources are exhausted, and both army and populace are in distress. Unless we act now, the situation will soon become unmanageable." The emperor said, "No one but you would have told me this." The next day he was appointed Lecturer-in-Waiting. After the lecture he resumed his earlier theme, proposing that, as in antiquity when the Zhou chief steward controlled state expenditure, the court should tally annual revenue and spending at year's end, match outlays to income, cut waste, and end illegal levies; once the people were secure, military stores would naturally be full." The emperor approved and ordered the establishment of the Bureau for Enriching the People to devise policies for strengthening the army and relieving the populace. Cai Jing took offense, and critics asked, "By creating a bureau called 'Enriching the People,' are you implying that the people have not been enriched until now?" The bureau was dissolved, and Churen was sent out to serve as prefect of Yangzhou. Soon afterward, citing illness, he took a temple stipend and retired to the southern capital.
11
方臘為亂，處仁亟見留守薛昂，為畫守戰之策。 因語昂曰：「睢陽蔽遮江、淮，乃國家受命之地，脫有非常，吾助君死守。」 語聞於朝，起為應天尹。 河北盜起，徙大名尹。 前尹王革慘而怯，盜無輕重悉抵死，小有警，輒閉城以兵自衛。 處仁至，即大開城門，徹牙內甲兵，人情遂安。
When Fang La rebelled, Churen repeatedly visited the acting prefect Xue Ang and laid out plans for defense and counterattack. He told Ang, "Suiyang shields the Yangtze and Huai valleys; it is where the dynasty received the Mandate. If disaster strikes, I will help you defend it to the last." When his words reached court, he was appointed prefect of Yingtian. When banditry broke out in Hebei, he was transferred to serve as prefect of Daming. His predecessor Wang Ge was cruel yet timid, executing every offender regardless of the crime's severity and shutting the gates at the slightest alarm to shelter behind his troops. Churen arrived, immediately threw open the gates, and dismissed the armed guards inside the yamen, and the populace quickly regained its composure.
12
徽宗賜手詔曰：「金人雖約和，然狼子野心，易扇以變，有當行事以聞。」 處仁上《備邊禦戎》十策。 進觀文殿學士，召為寶籙宮使，特升大學士。 舊制，大觀文非宰相不除，前二府得除，自處仁始。
Huizong sent a personal edict: "Although the Jurchens have agreed to peace, their wolfish nature makes them quick to turn treacherous; report whatever measures you deem necessary." Churen submitted his Ten Stratagems for Border Defense and Repelling the Barbarians. He was promoted to Academician of the Hall for Observing Literature, summoned as Commissioner of the Palace of the Precious Register, and specially elevated to Grand Academician. By longstanding rule, the title of Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Literature was reserved for chancellors; although two former chief ministers had held it, Churen was the first to receive it without having served as chancellor.
13
欽宗即位，金人犯京師，處仁儲糧列備，合銳兵萬人勤王； 奏乞下詔親征，以張國威。 奏至，朝廷適下親征詔書，以李綱為行營使。 即移書綱，言備禦方略。 金人請和而歸，處仁奏宜伏兵浚、滑，擊其半濟，必可成功。 召為中書侍郎。 入見，欽宗問割三鎮，處仁言：「國不競亦陵，且定武陛下之潛藩，不當棄。」 與吳敏議合。 敏薦處仁可相，拜太宰兼門下侍郎。
When Qinzong took the throne and the Jurchens attacked the capital, Churen stockpiled grain, organized defenses, and mustered ten thousand elite troops to march to the emperor's aid; he memorialized asking that the emperor issue an edict for a personal campaign to rally national morale. His memorial arrived just as the court had issued its own edict for a personal campaign and appointed Li Gang Campaign Commissioner. He promptly wrote to Gang outlining his defensive plans. When the Jurchens sued for peace and withdrew, Churen urged ambushing them at Jun and Hua while they were half across the river, insisting that the strike would succeed. He was summoned to serve as Vice Director of the Secretariat. At audience, Qinzong asked about ceding the three northern prefectures; Churen replied, "A state that will not fight is overrun in any case; moreover Dingwu was Your Majesty's own former princely domain and must not be surrendered." His position aligned with that of Wu Min. Wu Min recommended him for the chancellorship, and he was appointed Grand Councilor with concurrent charge of the Chancellery.
14
童貫部勝捷軍衛徽宗東巡，貫既貶，軍士有惡言。 徽宗將還，都人洶懼，或請為備。 處仁曰：「陛下仁孝，思奉晨昏，屬車西還，天下大慶，宜郊迎稱賀。 軍士妄言，臣請身任之。」 乃以處仁為扈駕禮儀使，統禁旅從出郊，迄二聖還宮，部伍肅然。
Tong Guan's Victory Army had escorted Huizong on his eastern tour; after Tong Guan was disgraced, the troops began spreading seditious talk. As Huizong prepared to return, the capital was gripped by alarm, and some officials urged taking precautions. Churen said, "Your Majesty is filial and yearns to attend your father morning and evening. When the imperial procession returns, the whole realm will rejoice; we should go out to the suburbs to welcome it with celebration. As for the soldiers' loose talk, I will take personal responsibility." He was appointed Commissioner of Escort Ceremonies, led the palace guards out to meet the procession, and kept the ranks perfectly orderly from the two emperors' return until they re-entered the palace.
15
初，處仁為右丞，言：「六曹長貳，皆異時執政之選，而部中事一無所可否，悉稟命朝廷。 夫人才力不容頓異，豈有前不能決一職而後可共政者乎？ 乞詔自今尚書、侍郎不得輒以事諉上，有條以條決之，有例以例決之，無條例者酌情裁決； 不能決，乃申尚書省。」 會處仁以憂去，不果行，及當國，卒奏行之。
Earlier, as Right Vice Director, he had argued that the heads and deputies of the six ministries were all future chancellor material, yet on departmental business they approved nothing on their own and referred every matter to the court. A man's capacity does not change overnight—how can someone unable to decide a single office's affairs suddenly be fit to govern the realm? He asked that an edict forbid ministers and vice ministers from routinely passing matters upward: decide by statute where statute applies, by precedent where precedent applies, and by judgment where neither exists; and report to the Department of State Affairs only when a decision could not be reached." Churen left office to observe mourning before the reform could be enacted; once he became chief minister, he finally had it implemented.
16
聶山為戶部尚書兼開封尹，庫有美珠，山密語甯德宮宦者，用特旨取之。 處仁奏：「陛下鑒近患，事必由三省。 今以珠為道君太上皇后壽，誠細故，且美事； 然此端一開，則前日應奉之徒復縱，臣為陛下惜之。」 乃抵主藏吏罪。
Nie Shan served as Minister of Revenue and concurrent prefect of Kaifeng; when he found fine pearls in the treasury, he secretly arranged with a eunuch of the Ningde Palace to obtain them by special order. Churen memorialized, "Your Majesty has learned from recent troubles that all affairs must pass through the Three Departments. These pearls are intended as a birthday gift for the Retired Emperor's empress dowager—a trifling matter and, in itself, a gracious act; yet once this door is opened, the old tribute-seekers will run wild again, and I grieve to see it, Your Majesty." The chief treasury clerk was punished instead.
17
處仁言論，初與吳敏、李綱合，尋亦有異議。 嘗與敏爭事，擲筆中敏面，鼻額為黑。 唐恪、耿南仲、聶山欲排去二人而代之位，諷言者論之，與敏俱罷，處仁以觀文殿大學士為中太一宮使。 尋知東平府，提舉崇福宮。 高宗即位，起為大名尹、北道都總管，卒于郡。
Churen's views initially aligned with those of Wu Min and Li Gang, but disagreements soon arose. He once quarreled with Min and flung his brush at his face, leaving Min's nose and forehead ink-black. Tang Ke, Geng Nanzhong, and Nie Shan sought to oust the two men and take their posts; they prompted critics to attack them, and both Min and Churen were dismissed; Churen was given the posts of Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Literature and Commissioner of the Central Grand Unity Palace. He soon served as prefect of Dongping and Commissioner of the Palace of Lofty Blessings. When Gaozong took the throne, he was recalled as prefect of Daming and Commander-in-Chief of the Northern Route, and died in that post.
18
處仁在宣和間，數請寬民力以弭盜賊。 尹大名，以剛廉稱。 及為首相，無大建明，方進言以金人出境，社稷再安，皆由聖德儉勤，致有天人之助。 仲師道請合諸道兵屯河陽諸州，為防秋計，處仁謂金人豈能復來，不宜先自擾以示弱。 南都受圍時，處仁在圍城中，都人指為奸細，殺其長子庚。 幼子度，吏部侍郎。
During the Xuanhe era he repeatedly urged easing the people's burdens to curb banditry. As prefect of Daming he was renowned for firmness and integrity. As chief minister he offered no major initiatives, contenting himself with the claim that once the Jurchens withdrew, the dynasty was secure again—all thanks to the emperor's sage virtue, frugality, and diligence, which had won Heaven's aid. When Zhong Shidao proposed concentrating troops from all circuits at Heyang and neighboring prefectures for autumn defense, Churen argued that the Jurchens would hardly return and that the court should not unsettle itself and display weakness. When the southern capital was besieged, Churen was trapped inside the walls; the populace denounced him as a traitor and killed his eldest son Geng. His younger son Du rose to Vice Minister of Personnel.
19
馮澥字長源，普州安嶽人。 父山，熙寧末，為秘書丞、通判梓州，鄧綰薦為台官，不就，退居二十年，范祖禹薦於朝，官終祠部郎中。 澥登進士第，曆官入朝，以言事再謫。
Feng Xie, whose style name was Changyuan, came from Anyue in Puzhou. His father Shan, in the late Xining period, served as Vice Director of the Secretariat and transit commissioner of Zizhou. Deng Chuo recommended him for a censorial post, but he declined and lived in retirement for twenty years until Fan Zuyu recommended him to court; he ended his career as Director of the Bureau of Sacrifices. Xie earned his jinshi degree, advanced through office into the capital, and was twice demoted for speaking out on policy.
20
澥為文師蘇軾，論西事與蔡京忤。 郡人張庭堅以言事斥象州死，妻子流離，澥力振其家，及入諫省，奏官其一子。 然議論主熙、豐、紹聖，而排鄒浩、李綱、楊時，君子少之。
As a writer he studied under Su Shi; on western frontier policy he clashed with Cai Jing. When his fellow townsman Zhang Tingjian was banished to Xiangzhou for remonstrance and died there, leaving his family destitute, Xie worked tirelessly to support them; once he entered the Remonstrance Bureau, he memorialized to grant office to one of Zhang's sons. Yet he championed the reforms of Xining, Feng, and Shaosheng while opposing Zou Hao, Li Gang, and Yang Shi, which earned him little esteem among upright officials.
21
王倫，字正道，莘縣人，文正公旦弟勖玄孫也。 家貧無行，為任俠，往來京、洛間，數犯法，倖免。 汴京失守，欽宗禦宣德門，都人喧呼不已，倫乘勢徑造御前曰：「臣能彈壓之。」 欽宗解所佩夏國寶劍以賜，倫曰：「臣未有官，豈能彈壓？」 道自薦其才。 欽宗取片紙書曰：「王倫可除兵部侍郎。」 倫下樓，挾惡少數人，傳旨撫定，都人乃息。 宰相何㮚以倫小人無功，除命太峻，奏補修職郎，斥不用。
Wang Lun, whose style name was Zhengdao, came from Shen County and was a great-great-grandson of the Literary Correct Lord Wang Dan's younger brother Xu. Born poor and without proper conduct, he lived as a knight-errant between the capital and Luoyang, breaking the law repeatedly yet always escaping punishment. When Bianjing fell, Qinzong appeared at the Xuande Gate while the crowd roared without cease; Lun pushed through and said directly to the emperor, "I can calm them." Qinzong unbuckled the Xia treasure sword at his belt and gave it to him; Lun replied, "I hold no office—how can I suppress a mob?" Thus he pressed his own qualifications. Qinzong scribbled on a slip of paper, "Wang Lun may be appointed Vice Minister of War." Lun went downstairs, gathered a few ruffians, proclaimed the edict to pacify the crowd, and the capital finally quieted. Chancellor He Zhu protested that Lun was an unworthy schemer and the appointment too abrupt; he had him reduced to Supplementary Duty Gentleman and barred from office.
22
建炎元年，選能專對者使金，問兩宮起居，遷朝奉郎，假刑部侍郎。 充大金通問使，閣門舍人朱弁副之，見金左副元帥宗維議事，金留不遣。
In 1127 the court chose someone skilled in diplomacy to inquire after the captive emperors in Jin territory; Lun was promoted to Court Gentleman for Imperial Sacrifices and temporarily made Vice Minister of Punishments. He was sent as envoy to the Great Jin with Zhu Bian as deputy; meeting the Jin Left Vice Marshal Zong Wei, he was detained and not allowed to return.
23
有商人陳忠，密告倫二帝在黃龍府，倫遂與弁及洪皓以金遺忠往黃龍府潛通意，由是兩宮始知高宗已即位矣。 久之，粘罕使烏陵思謀即驛見倫，語及契丹時事。 倫曰：「海上之盟，兩國約為兄弟，萬世無變。 雲中之役，我實饋師，贊成厥功。 上國之臣，嘗欲稱兵南來，先大聖惠顧盟好，不許。 厥後舉兵以禍吾國，果先大聖意乎？ 況亙古自分南北，主上恭勤，英俊並用，期必復古。 盍思久遠之謀，歸我二帝、太母，復我土疆，使南北赤子無致塗炭，亦足以慰先大聖之靈，幸執事者贊之。」 思謀沉思曰：「君言是也，歸當盡達之。」 已而粘罕至，曰：「比上國遣使來，問其意指，多不能對。 思謀傳侍郎語欲議和，決非江南情實，特侍郎自為此言耳。」 倫曰：「使事有指，不然來何為哉？ 人定者勝天，天定亦能勝人，惟元帥察之。」 粘罕不答。 是後，宇文虛中、魏行可、洪皓、崔縱、張邵相繼入使，皆拘之。
A merchant named Chen Zhong secretly informed Lun that the two emperors were held at Huanglong Prefecture; Lun, Bian, and Hong Hao used Jin gold to send Zhong there to convey their message in secret, and the captive courts first learned that Gaozong had already taken the throne. After some time Wanyan Zonghan sent Wulingsimou to meet Lun at the courier station and discuss old affairs with the Khitans. Lun said, "Under the sea alliance our two states swore brotherhood for all time. In the Yunzhong campaign we supplied your armies and helped secure your victory. Your ministers once wished to march south; our former emperor honored the alliance and refused. Yet afterward you marched to devastate our realm—was that truly what our former emperor intended? North and south have been divided since antiquity; our sovereign is diligent and employs able men, and restoration is within reach. Consider a lasting settlement: return our two emperors and the empress dowager, restore our lands, and spare the people north and south further slaughter—it would comfort our former emperor's spirit. I beg you to urge this." Simou reflected and said, "You are right; I shall report this fully on my return." Soon Zonghan came and said, "Lately when your envoys arrive and we ask their purpose, most cannot answer. Simou relayed your wish to discuss peace—that cannot reflect Jiangnan's true intent; it is only your own words." Lun replied, "An envoy comes with a mandate—otherwise why travel at all? Human resolve can overcome Heaven, and Heaven's decree can overcome men—only consider this, Marshal." Zonghan made no reply. Thereafter Yu Wenxuzhong, Wei Xingke, Hong Hao, Cui Zong, and Zhang Shao were sent in succession, and all were detained.
24
紹興二年，粘罕忽自至館中與倫議和，縱之歸報。 是秋，倫至臨安，入對，言金人情偽甚悉，帝優獎之。 除右文殿修撰，主管萬壽觀，官其二弟一侄。 時方用兵討劉豫，和議中格。 三年，韓肖胄使金還，金遣李永壽、王詡繼至。 二人驕倨，以倫充伴使，倫與道雲中舊故，驕倨少損，遂拜詔。 訖事，倫復請祠。 劉光世求倫參議軍事，辭。 宰相趙鼎請召倫赴都堂稟議，倫陳進取之策，不合，復請祠。
In 1132 Zonghan suddenly came to Lun's quarters to negotiate peace and released him to report back. That autumn he reached Lin'an, reported in audience on Jin intentions in detail, and the emperor richly rewarded him. He was made Academician Expositor of the Right Literary Hall and put in charge of the Longevity Abbey; two younger brothers and a nephew were also given office. At that time the court was campaigning against Liu Yu, and peace talks stalled. In 1133 Han Xiaozhou returned from the Jin, and the Jin sent Li Yongshou and Wang Xu in turn. The two were insufferably arrogant; Lun was made their escort; by invoking old Yunzhong ties he softened their arrogance enough for them to accept the imperial message. When the mission ended, Lun again asked for a temple stipend. Liu Guangshi asked him to advise on military affairs; he declined. Chancellor Zhao Ding summoned him to the Department of State Affairs; Lun's plan for advance and recovery was rejected, and he again sought a temple stipend.
25
七年春，徽宗及寧德後訃至，復以倫為徽猷閣待制，假直學士，充迎奉梓宮使，以朝請郎高公繪副之。 入辭，帝使倫謂金左副元帥昌曰：「河南地，上國既不有，與其付劉豫，曷若見歸？」 倫奉詔以行，因附進太后、欽宗黃金各二百兩，仍以金帛賜宇文虛中、朱弁、孫傅、張叔夜家屬之在金國者。
In the spring of 1137, when news arrived of Huizong's and the Ningde empress's deaths, Lun was again made Awaiting Edict of the Hall of Imperial Strategy, given temporary academician rank, and sent to receive the imperial coffin with Court Gentleman Gao Gonghui as deputy. On taking leave, the emperor instructed Lun to tell the Jin Left Vice Marshal Chang, "Since you no longer hold Henan, why give it to Liu Yu rather than return it to us?" Lun departed under edict, forwarding two hundred taels of gold each for the empress dowager and Qinzong, and gifts of gold and silk for the families of Yu Wenxuzhong, Zhu Bian, Sun Fu, and Zhang Shuye still held by the Jin.
26
倫至睢陽，劉豫館之，疑有他謀，移文取國書。 倫報曰：「國書須見金主面納，若所銜命，則祈請梓宮也。」 豫肋取不已。 會迓者至，渡河見撻懶於涿州，具言豫邀索國書無狀，且謂：「豫忍背本朝，他日安保其不背大國。」
At Suiyang Liu Yu housed him but, suspecting hidden designs, demanded the state letter by official message. Lun replied, "The state letter must be presented to the Jin sovereign in person; my commission concerns only the imperial coffin." Liu Yu pressed without relenting. When escorts arrived he crossed the river and met Tatala at Zhuozhou, detailing Yu's outrageous demands and warning, "Yu betrayed our court—who can guarantee he will not betray yours?"
27
是年冬，豫廢。 倫及高公繪還，左副元帥昌送倫等曰：「好報江南，自今道塗無壅，和議可以平達。」 倫入對，言金人許還梓宮及太后，又許歸河南地，且言廢豫之謀由己發之。 帝大喜，賜予特異。
That winter Liu Yu was deposed. On Lun and Gao Gonghui's return, Chang saw them off, saying, "Tell Jiangnan the roads are open and peace can now be concluded." At audience Lun reported that the Jin promised the coffin, the empress dowager, and Henan, and claimed the plan to depose Yu had been his own. The emperor was overjoyed and rewarded him lavishly.
28
初，倫既見昌，昌遣使偕倫入燕見金主亶，首謝廢豫，次致使指。 金主始密與群臣定議許和，遂遣倫還，且命太原少尹烏陵思謀、太常少卿石慶來議事。 至行在，倫往來館中計事。 八年秋，以端明殿學士再使金國，知閣門事藍公佐為之副，申問諱日，期還梓宮。 倫辭，引至都堂授使指二十餘事。 既至金國，金主亶為設宴三日，遣簽書宣徽院事蕭哲、左司郎中張通古為江南詔諭使，偕倫來。
After Lun first met Chang, Chang sent an envoy to escort him to Yan to see Emperor Yan, first thanking him for deposing Yu, then presenting the mission. The Jin emperor had secretly agreed on peace with his ministers, sent Lun back, and dispatched Wulingsimou of Taiyuan and Shi Qing of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to negotiate. At the traveling palace Lun shuttled between lodgings to negotiate. In the autumn of 1138 he was again sent as Academician of the Hall of Bright Clarity to the Jin with Lan Gongzuo as deputy, to fix taboo days and a date for the coffin's return. On leave he was taken to the Department of State Affairs and given more than twenty instructions. At the Jin court Emperor Yan feasted him for three days and sent Xiao Zhe and Zhang Tonggu as envoys to proclaim edicts to Jiangnan, returning with Lun.
29
朝論以金使肆嫚，抗論甚喧，多歸罪倫。 十一月，倫至行在，引疾請祠，不許，趣赴內殿奏事。 時哲等驕倨，受書之禮未定。 御史中丞勾龍如淵詣都堂與秦檜議，召倫責曰：「公為使通兩國好，凡事當於彼中反覆論定，安有同使至而後議者？」 倫泣曰：「倫涉萬死一生，往來虎口者數四，今日中丞乃責倫如此。」 檜等共解之曰：「中丞無他，亦欲激公了此事耳。」 倫曰：「此則不敢不勉。」 倫見通古，以一二策動之。 通古恐，遂議以檜見金使於其館，受書以歸。 金許歸梓宮、太母及河南地。
The court denounced the Jin envoys' insolence; debate raged, and much blame fell on Lun. In the eleventh month Lun reached court, pleaded illness for a temple stipend, was refused, and was hurried to the inner hall to report. Zhe and his party were arrogant, and the rites for receiving their letter remained unsettled. Investigating Censor-in-Chief Gou Long Ruyuan met Qin Hui at the Department of State Affairs, summoned Lun, and rebuked him: "You were sent to secure peace—every point should have been settled there. How can we debate only after their envoys arrive?" Lun wept, "I have passed through death's door four times—yet today you rebuke me like this." Hui and the others calmed him: "He means only to spur you to finish the business." Lun said, "I shall not fail to do my utmost." He met Tonggu and swayed him with a few arguments. Tonggu, alarmed, agreed that Hui should meet the Jin envoy at his lodge and receive the letter. The Jin promised the coffin, the empress dowager, and Henan.
30
九年春，賜倫同進士出身、端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事，充迎梓宮、奉還兩宮、交割地界使，既又以倫為東京留守兼開封尹。 倫至東京，見金右副元帥兀朮，交割地界，兀朮還燕。 五月，倫自汴京赴金國議事。 初，兀朮還，密言于金主曰：「河南地本撻懶、宗磐主謀割之與宋，二人必陰結彼國。 今使已至汴，勿令逾境。」 倫有雲中故吏隸兀朮者潛告倫，倫即遣介具言於朝，乞為備。 兀朮遂命中山府拘倫，殺宗磐及撻懶。
In the spring of 1139 Lun was granted jinshi standing, made Academician of the Hall of Bright Clarity and Signing Secretary of the Privy Council, and charged with receiving the coffin, restoring the captive courts, and delivering territory; he was also made Defender of the Eastern Capital and prefect of Kaifeng. At the Eastern Capital he met the Right Vice Marshal Wuzhu, delivered the territory, and Wuzhu returned to Yan. In the fifth month he went from Bianjing to the Jin court to negotiate. Earlier, on returning, Wuzhu had secretly told the Jin emperor, "Henan was ceded to Song at Tatala and Zongpan's urging; they will surely conspire with Song. The envoy is now at Bian—do not let him cross the border." A former Yunzhong subordinate in Wuzhu's service secretly warned Lun, who immediately sent word to court begging for precautions. Wuzhu ordered Zhongshan to detain Lun and executed Zongpan and Tatala.
31
十月，倫始見金主于禦子林，致使指。 金主悉無所答，令其翰林待制耶律紹文為宣勘官，問倫：「知撻懶罪否？」 倫對：「不知。」 又問：「無一言及歲幣，反來割地，汝但知有元帥，豈知有上國邪？」 倫曰：「比蕭哲以國書來，許歸梓宮、太母及河南地，天下皆知上國尋海上之盟，與民休息，使人奉命通好兩國耳。」 既就館，金主復遣紹文諭倫曰：「卿留雲中已無還期，及貸之還，曾無以報，反間貳我君臣耶？」 乃遣藍公佐先歸，論歲貢、正朔、誓表、冊命等事，拘倫以俟報； 已而遷之河間，遂不復遣。
In the tenth month Lun first saw the Jin emperor at Yuzi Forest and presented his commission. The emperor answered nothing and sent his Hanlin Awaiting Edict Yelü Shaowen to interrogate him: "Do you know Tatala's crime?" Lun replied, "I do not." He asked again, "You say nothing of tribute yet come to seize land—you know only the marshal, not the emperor?" Lun said, "When Xiao Zhe came with your state letter he promised the coffin, the empress dowager, and Henan; all the world knows you meant to renew the sea alliance and rest the people—our envoys came only to keep peace." At his quarters the emperor sent Shaowen again: "You were detained at Yunzhong with no hope of return; we released you, yet you repay us by sowing discord among our ruler and ministers?" Lan Gongzuo was sent back first to negotiate tribute, the calendar, oath documents, and investiture; Lun was held awaiting reply; he was soon moved to Hejian and never released.
32
十年，金渝盟，兀朮等復取河南。 倫居河間六載，至十四年，金欲以倫為平灤三路都轉運使，倫曰：「奉命而來，非降也。」 金益脅以威，遣使來趣，倫拒益力。 金杖其使，俾縊殺之。 倫厚賂使少緩，遂冠帶南向，再拜慟哭曰：「先臣文正公以直道輔相兩朝，天下所知。 臣今將命被留，欲汙以偽職，臣敢愛一死以辱命！」 遂就死，年六十一。 於是河間地震，雨雹三日不止，人皆哀之。 詔贈通議大夫，賜其家金千兩、帛千匹。 子述與從兄遵間入金境，至河間，得倫骨以歸，官給葬事。 後諡湣節。
In 1140 the Jin broke the treaty and Wuzhu again seized Henan. Lun lived at Hejian six years; by 1144 the Jin wished to make him Director-General of Transport for Ping, Luan, and Lu; Lun said, "I came on imperial commission, not to surrender." The Jin threatened him further and sent envoys to press him; he refused all the more firmly. The Jin beat his envoy and ordered him to strangle Lun. Lun bribed the envoy to delay; then donning cap and belt he faced south, bowed twice, and wailed, "My ancestor the Literary Correct Lord served two reigns on the straight path, known to all under Heaven. I was detained on mission, and you would stain me with a false office—I dare not cling to life and disgrace my charge!" He died at sixty-one. Hejian then suffered an earthquake, and hail fell for three days; all mourned him. An edict posthumously made him Grandee of Court Discussion and gave his family a thousand taels of gold and a thousand bolts of silk. His son Shu and a cousin Zun secretly entered Jin territory, reached Hejian, recovered his bones, and returned; the state provided the funeral. He was later given the posthumous title Lamented Integrity.
33
宇文虛中
Yu Wenxuzhong
34
宇文虛中，字叔通，成都華陽人。 登大觀三年進士第，曆官州縣，入為起居舍人、國史編修官、同知貢舉，遷中書舍人。
Yu Wenxuzhong, whose style name was Shutong, came from Huayang in Chengdu. He passed the jinshi examination in 1109, served in prefectural posts, entered court as Attendant for Drafting Imperial Documents, National History compiler, and Associate Director of the Examination, and rose to Drafting Attendant of the Secretariat.
35
宣和間，承平日久，兵將驕惰，蔡攸、童貫貪功開邊，將興燕雲之役，引女直夾攻契丹，以虛中為參議官。 虛中以廟謨失策，主帥非人，將有納侮自焚之禍，上書言：「用兵之策，必先計強弱，策虛實，知彼知己，當圖萬全。 今邊圉無應敵之具，府庫無數月之儲，安危存亡，系茲一舉，豈可輕議？ 且中國與契丹講和，今逾百年，自遭女真侵削以來，向慕本朝，一切恭順。 今舍恭順之契丹，不羈縻封殖，為我蕃籬，而遠逾海外，引強悍之女真以為鄰域。 女真藉百勝之勢，虛喝驕矜，不可以禮義服，不可以言說誘，持卞莊兩鬥之計，引兵逾境。 以百年怠惰之兵，當新銳難抗之敵； 以寡謀安逸之將，角逐于血肉之林。 臣恐中國之禍未有寧息之期也。」 王黼大怒，降集英殿修撰，督戰益急。 虛中建十一策，上二十議，皆不報。
During Xuanhe, after long peace, troops and generals had grown arrogant and lax; Cai You and Tong Guan, greedy for glory, opened the frontier and prepared the Yan-Yun campaign, enlisting the Jurchens to attack the Khitans jointly, with Xuzhong as deliberation officer. Xuzhong saw that flawed policy and unfit commanders would invite disaster and memorialized, "War requires first weighing strength and weakness, assessing realities, knowing enemy and self, and planning for complete security. The frontier lacks means to resist; the treasuries lack months of stores—the state's survival hangs on this one move—how can it be lightly undertaken? China and the Khitans have been at peace over a century; since the Jurchen invasions they have looked to our court with respect and remained wholly obedient. Now you abandon these obedient Khitans, fail to keep them as our frontier barrier, yet reach across the sea to make the fierce Jurchens our neighbor. The Jurchens, riding a tide of victories, bluster with empty arrogance—they cannot be won by ritual or reason, cannot be swayed by words, and like the two tigers in the old stratagem, they march their armies across our border. With an army grown soft through a century of peace, they face a fresh and formidable foe; with generals short on counsel and long on comfort they plunge into slaughter. I fear China's calamities will know no end." Wang Fu was furious and demoted him to Academician Expositor of the Hall for Assembling Excellence while pressing the war ever harder. Xuzhong drafted eleven stratagems and twenty memorials; none received a reply.
36
斡離不、粘罕分道入侵，童貫聞之，憂懣不知所為，即與虛中及範訥等謀，以赴闕稟議為遁歸之計，以九月至汴京。 是日，報粘罕迫太原，帝顧虛中曰：「王黼不用卿言，今金人兩路並進，事勢若此，奈何？」 虛中奏：「今日宜先降詔罪己，更革弊端，俾人心悅，天意回，則備禦之事，將帥可以任之。」 即命虛中草詔，略曰：「言路壅蔽，面諛日聞，恩幸持權，貪饕得志，上天震怒而朕不悟，百姓怨懟而朕不知。」 又言出宮人、罷應奉等事。 帝覽詔曰：「今日不吝改過，可便施行。」 虛中再拜泣下。
Wolibu and Zonghan invaded on separate routes; Tong Guan, distraught, plotted with Xuzhong and Fan E to slip back to the capital under pretense of reporting for deliberation, arriving at Bianjing in the ninth month. That day word came that Zonghan was pressing Taiyuan; the emperor turned to Xuzhong and said, "Wang Fu ignored your counsel; the Jin advance on two fronts—what can we do?" Xuzhong replied, "Issue an edict confessing fault and reforming abuses, win back the people and Heaven's favor, and leave defense to the generals." He was ordered to draft an edict reading, in part, "Remonstrance is blocked, flattery fills our ears, favorites grasp power, the greedy prosper—Heaven is enraged yet we do not see it, the people groan yet we do not hear." It also ordered the release of palace women and the abolition of tribute offices. " The emperor read it and said, "We will not spare reform—execute it at once." Xuzhong bowed again in tears.
37
時守禦難其人，欲召熙河帥姚古與秦鳳帥種師道，令以本路兵會鄭、洛，外援河陽，內衛京城。 帝顧謂虛中曰：「卿與姚古、師道如兄弟，宜以一使名護其軍。」 遂以虛中為資政殿大學士、軍前宣諭使。 虛中檄趣姚古、師道兵馬，令直赴汴京應援。 金騎至城下，放兵掠至鄭州，為馬忠所敗，遂收斂為一。 西路稍通，師道、姚古及其他西兵並得達汴京。 虛中亦馳歸，收合散卒，得東南兵二萬餘人。 以便宜起致仕官李邈，令統領於汴河上從門外駐兵。
Finding a defender was difficult; the court wished to summon Yao Gu of Hexi and Zhong Shidao of Qinfeng to unite their troops at Zheng and Luoyang, support Heyang, and guard the capital. The emperor told Xuzhong, "You are like brothers to Yao Gu and Shidao—go as envoy to oversee their armies." Xuzhong was made Grand Academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance and Imperial Commissioner before the army. He issued urgent orders for Yao Gu and Shidao to march straight to Bianjing. Jin cavalry reached the walls and raided as far as Zhengzhou; Ma Zhong defeated them, and they drew together as one force. The western route opened slightly; Shidao, Yao Gu, and other western troops all reached Bianjing. Xuzhong galloped back as well, gathered scattered troops, and mustered more than twenty thousand men from the southeast. By special authority he recalled the retired Li Miao to command troops outside the Cong Gate on the Bian River.
38
會姚平仲劫金營失利，西兵俱潰，金人復引兵逼城下，虛中縋而入。 欽宗欲遣人奉使，辨劫營非朝廷意，乃姚平仲擅興兵，大臣皆不肯行。 虛中承命即往都亭驛，見金使王汭，因持書復議和。 渡濠橋，道逢甲騎如水，雲梯、鵝洞蔽地，冒鋒刃而進。 既至敵營，露坐風埃，自巳至申，金人注矢露刃，周匝圍繞，久乃得見康王於軍中。 次日，侍王至金幕，見二太子者語不遜，禮節倨傲。 抵暮，遣人隨虛中入城，要越王、李邦彥、吳敏、李綱、曹晟及金銀、騾馬之類，又欲御筆書定三鎮界至，方退軍。
When Yao Pingzhong's raid on the Jin camp failed and western troops collapsed, the Jin pressed the walls again, and Xuzhong was hauled up by rope. Qinzong wished to send an envoy to explain that the raid was not court policy but Yao Pingzhong's unauthorized act; senior ministers all refused. Xuzhong accepted at once, went to the Duting Post Station, met the Jin envoy Wang Ni, and reopened peace talks. Crossing the moat bridge he met armored cavalry like a flood, scaling ladders and assault tunnels covering the ground, and advanced through a wall of blades. At the enemy camp he sat exposed from midday to late afternoon while Jin soldiers fixed arrows and surrounded him; only after long delay did he see Prince Kang. The next day he attended the prince to the Jin tent; the two princes spoke insolently and behaved with arrogant ceremony. At dusk they sent him back into the city demanding Prince Yue, Li Bangyan, Wu Min, Li Gang, Cao Sheng, gold, silver, mules, and horses, and an imperial brush fixing the three prefectures' boundaries before withdrawal.
39
令虛中再往，必請康王歸。 虛中再出，明日，從康王還，除簽書樞密院事。 自是又三往，金人固要三鎮，虛中泣下不言，金帥變色，虛中曰：「太宗殿在太原，上皇祖陵在保州，詎忍割棄。」 諸酋曰：「樞密不稍空，我亦不稍空。」 如中國人稱「脫空」，遂解兵北去。 言者劾以議和之罪，罷知青州，尋落職奉祠。 建炎元年，竄韶州。
They ordered Xuzhong to go again and insist on Prince Kang's return. He went out again; the next day he returned with Prince Kang and was appointed Signing Secretary of the Privy Council. He went three more times; the Jin demanded the three prefectures; Xuzhong wept in silence; when the commander flushed, Xuzhong said, "Taizong's hall stands at Taiyuan, the retired emperor's tombs at Baozhou—how can we abandon them?" The chieftains said, "If the Privy Councilor will not budge, neither will we." Using the Chinese phrase for "giving nothing," they lifted the siege and withdrew north. Critics impeached him for negotiating peace; he was dismissed to Qingzhou, then soon stripped of rank and given a temple stipend. In 1127 he was banished to Shaozhou.
40
二年，詔求使絕域者，虛中應詔，復資政殿大學士，為祈請使，楊可輔副之。 尋又以劉誨為通問使，王貺為副。 明年春，金人並遣歸，虛中曰：「奉命北來祈請二帝，二帝未還，虛中不可歸。」 於是獨留。 虛中有才藝，金人加以官爵，即受之，與韓昉輩俱掌詞命。 明年，洪皓至上京，見而甚鄙之。 累官翰林學士、知制誥兼太常卿，封河內郡開國公，書金太祖《睿德神功碑》，進階金紫光祿大夫，金人號為「國師」。 然因是而知東北之士皆憤恨陷北，遂密以信義結約，金人不覺也。
In 1128 the court sought envoys to distant regions; Xuzhong answered, was restored as Grand Academician, and made Petitioning Envoy with Yang Kefu as deputy. Liu Hui was soon made Communication Envoy with Wang Kuang as deputy. The next spring the Jin sent the others back; Xuzhong said, "I came north to petition for the two emperors; until they return, I cannot return." He alone remained. Talented in letters, he accepted the offices the Jin gave him and with Han Fang and others drafted their edicts. The next year Hong Hao reached Shangjing, saw him, and despised him. He rose to Hanlin Academician, Drafting Attendant, Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, Duke of Henei, wrote the Stele of Sagely Virtue and Divine Merit for the Jin founder, became Grandee of the Gold Seal and Purple Ribbon, and was called "National Teacher." Yet he learned that northeastern scholars resented captivity and secretly bound them in loyal covenant without the Jin noticing.
41
金人每欲南侵，虛中以費財勞人，遠征江南荒僻，得之不足以富國。 王倫歸，言：「虛中奉使日久，守節不屈。」 遂詔福州存恤其家，仍命其子師瑗添差本路轉運判官。 檜慮虛中沮和議，悉遣其家往金國以牽制之。 金皇統四年，轉承旨，加特進，遷禮部尚書，承旨如故。
Whenever the Jin planned southern invasions, he argued that campaigning to the remote south wasted wealth and labor and would not enrich the state. When Wang Lun returned he reported, "Xuzhong has long served on mission and upheld his integrity." An edict ordered Fuzhou to support his family and appointed his son Shiyuan transport judge of the circuit. Qin Hui feared he would obstruct peace and sent his entire family to Jin territory to hold him in check. In Jin Huangtong 4 he became Chief Academician, received special advancement, and was promoted to Minister of Rites.
42
虛中恃才輕肆，好譏訕，凡見女真人，輒以「礦鹵」目之，貴人達官，往往積不平。 虛中嘗撰宮殿榜署，本皆嘉美之名，惡之者摘其字以為謗訕，由是媒蘖成其罪，遂告虛中謀反。 鞫治無狀，乃羅織虛中家圖書為反具。 虛中曰：「死自吾分。 至於圖籍，南來士大夫家家有之，高士談圖書尤多於我家，豈亦反邪？」 有司承順風旨，並殺士談。 虛中與老幼百口同日受焚死，天為之晝晦。 淳熙間，贈開府儀同三司，諡肅湣，賜廟仁勇，且為置後，是為紹節，官至簽書樞密院事。 開禧初，加贈少保，賜姓趙氏。 有文集行於世。
Arrogant in talent, he loved mockery; he called Jurchen women "salt brine," and officials nursed deep resentment. He composed palace placards with auspicious names; enemies twisted the characters into slander and framed him for rebellion. Investigation found nothing, so they fabricated his household books as evidence of rebellion. Xuzhong said, "Death is my portion. As for books, every southern official has them; Gao Shitan's library is larger than mine—is he also a rebel?" The officials followed the prevailing wind and killed Shitan too. Xuzhong and more than a hundred kin were burned the same day; the sky darkened at noon. In the Chunxi era he was posthumously made Grandee of the Palace Gate with Equal Ceremony, titled Solemn Lament, granted the temple name Renyong, and given heirs—one, Shaojie, reached Signing Secretary of the Privy Council. At the beginning of Kaixi he was further posthumously made Junior Guardian and granted the surname Zhao. His collected works circulated widely.
43
湯思退
Tang Situi
44
湯思退，字進之，處州人。 紹興十五年，以右從政郎授建州政和縣令，試博學宏詞科，除秘書省正字。 自是登郎曹，貳中秘，秉史筆。
Tang Situi, whose style name was Jinzhi, came from Chuzhou. In 1145, as Right Associate for Governance, he was appointed magistrate of Zhenghe in Jianzhou; he passed the Examinations for Erudite Learning and Eminent Phrasing and became Corrector of the Secretariat. He then rose through court posts, served in the Secretariat archives, and wielded the historiographer's brush.
45
二十五年，由禮部侍郎除端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事，未幾參大政。 先是，秦檜當國，惡直醜正，必不異和議，不摘己過，始久於用。 時思退名位日進，檜病篤，招參知政事董德元及思退至臥內，屬以後事，各贈黃金千兩。 德元慮其以我為自外，不敢辭，思退慮其以我期其死，不敢受。 高宗聞之，以思退不受金，非檜党，信用之。 二十六年，除知樞密院事。 明年，拜尚書右僕射； 又二年，進左僕射。 明年，侍御史陳俊卿論其「挾巧詐之心，濟傾邪之術，觀其所為，多效秦檜，蓋思退致身，皆檜父子恩也。」 遂罷，以觀文殿大學士奉祠。
In 1155 he was made Academician of the Hall of Bright Clarity and Signing Secretary of the Privy Council from Vice Minister of Rites and soon joined the chief council. When Qin Hui held power he hated the upright, tolerated no dissent on peace, and never confessed fault—thus he held office long. Situi's rank rose daily; when Hui lay dying he summoned Dong Deyuan and Situi to his bedside, entrusted later affairs, and gave each a thousand taels of gold. Deyuan feared refusal would mark him as disloyal and accepted; Situi feared acceptance would mark him as awaiting Hui's death and refused. Gaozong heard Situi refused the gold and was not Hui's man, and trusted him. In 1156 he was made Director of the Privy Council. The next year he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs; two years later he advanced to Left Vice Director. The next year Remonstrating Censor Chen Junqing attacked him: "He harbors craft and deceit, employs the arts of overturning the upright, and imitates Qin Hui in all he does—his rise was entirely through the Hu family's favor." He was dismissed and made Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Literature with a temple stipend.
46
隆興元年，符離師潰，召思退復相。 諫議大夫王大寶上章論之，不報。 金帥紇石烈志寧遺書三省、樞密院，索海、泗、唐、鄧四郡。 思退欲與和，遣淮西安撫司幹辦公事盧仲賢加樞密院計議、編修官，持報書以往。 既行，上戒勿許四郡。 仲賢至宿州，僕散忠義懼之以威，仲賢皇恐，言歸當稟命，遂以忠義為三省、樞密院書來。 上猶欲止割海、泗，思退遽奏以吏部侍郎王之望為通問使，知閣門事龍大淵副之，將割棄四州。 張浚在揚州聞之，遣其子栻入奏仲賢辱國無狀。 上怒，會侍禦周操論仲賢不應擅許四郡，下大理究問，召浚赴行在。 十二月，拜思退左僕射，浚右僕射。
In 1163, after the rout at Fuli, Situi was recalled as chancellor. Remonstrating Grandee Wang Dabao memorialized against him without response. The Jin commander Heshilie Zhining demanded Hai, Si, Tang, and Deng prefectures by letter to the Three Departments and Privy Council. Situi sought peace and sent Lu Zhongxian of the Huai'an Pacification staff, added as Privy Council deliberator, with the reply. Before he departed, the emperor warned him not to concede the four prefectures. At Suzhou Pusan Zhongyi terrified him; Zhongxian, in panic, said he would report back for orders, and Zhongyi's letter arrived as if from the Three Departments. The emperor still wished to withhold Hai and Si; Situi hastily appointed Wang Zhiwang Communication Envoy with Long Dayuan as deputy to abandon all four prefectures. Zhang Jun at Yangzhou sent his son Shi to memorialize that Zhongxian had disgraced the state. The emperor was furious; Attendant Censor Zhou Cao attacked Zhongxian for unauthorized concession; the case went to judicial review and Jun was summoned. In the twelfth month Situi was made Left Vice Director and Jun Right Vice Director.
47
二年，浚以金未可與和，請上幸建康，圖進兵。 上手批王之望等並一行禮物並回，詔荊、襄、川、陝嚴邊備，竄仲賢郴州。 思退恐，奏請以宗社大計，奏稟上皇而後從事。 上批示三省曰：「金無禮如此，卿猶欲言和。 今日敵勢，非秦檜時比，卿議論秦檜不若。」 思退大駭，陰謀去浚，遂令之望、大淵驛疏兵少糧乏，樓櫓、器械未備，人言委四萬眾以守泗州，非計。 上頗惑之，乃命浚行邊，還兵罷招納。 浚力乞罷政，許之。 上命思退作書，許金四郡。
In 1164 Jun argued the Jin were not ready for peace and asked the emperor to visit Jiankang to plan advance. The emperor returned Wang Zhiwang and all mission gifts, ordered strict border defense, and banished Zhongxian to Chenzhou. Situi, in fear, asked to report the great policy to the Retired Emperor before proceeding. The emperor wrote to the Three Departments, "The Jin show such contempt—yet you still speak of peace. The enemy today is not what they were in Hui's day—your counsel does not even match Hui's." Situi was terrified and plotted to remove Jun, having Zhiwang and Dayuan report by courier that troops were few, grain scarce, defenses unready, and forty thousand men at Sizhou unwise. The emperor was swayed and ordered Jun to tour the frontier; on return troops were withdrawn. Jun urgently begged to leave office and was permitted. The emperor ordered Situi to write conceding the four prefectures.
48
既而金專事殺戮，上意中悔，思退復密令孫造諭敵以重兵脅和。 上聞有敵兵，命建康都統王彥等禦之，仍命思退督江、淮軍，辭不行。 僕散忠義自清河口渡淮，言者極論思退急和撤備之罪，遂罷相，尋責居永州。 於是太學生張觀等七十二人上書，論思退、王之望、尹穡等奸邪誤國，招致敵人，請斬之。 思退憂悸死。
When the Jin turned to slaughter the emperor regretted it; Situi secretly had Sun Zao tell them to coerce peace with heavy troops. Hearing of enemy troops, the emperor ordered Wang Yan to resist and Situi to supervise Jiang and Huai armies; he declined. Pusan Zhongyi crossed the Huai at Qinghekou; critics attacked Situi for rushing peace and withdrawing defenses; he was dismissed and banished to Yongzhou. Seventy-two Imperial Academy students led by Zhang Guan memorialized that Situi, Wang Zhiwang, and Yin Ji had misled the state and invited the enemy, begging their execution. Situi died of fear and agitation.
49
思退始終與張浚不合，浚以雪恥復仇為志，思退每借保境息民為口實，更勝迭負，思退之計迄行，然終以不免。 敵既得海、泗、唐、鄧，又索商、秦，皆思退力也。
Situi and Zhang Jun were always at odds; Jun sought revenge and restoration, Situi always cited securing borders and resting the people; they alternately prevailed, Situi's plans ultimately won, yet he could not escape ruin. After the enemy took Hai, Si, Tang, and Deng they also demanded Shang and Qin—all through Situi.
50
論曰：以白時中之孱佞，徐處仁之奸細，馮澥之邪枉，湯思退之巧詐，而排楊時，誤李綱，異張浚，其識趣可見矣，雖有小善，何足算哉。 王倫雖以無行應使，往來虎口，屢被拘留，及金人脅之以官，竟不受，見迫而死，悲夫！ 較之虛中即受其命，為之定官制、草赦文、享富貴者，大有間矣。 卒以輕肆譏諷，覆其家族，真不知義命者哉。 雖雲冤死，亦自取焉。 律以豫讓之言，益可愧哉。
The critique says: Bai Shizhong was weak and fawning, Xu Churen treacherous and petty, Feng Xie crooked, Tang Situi crafty—while they excluded Yang Shi, misled Li Gang, and opposed Zhang Jun, their judgment is plain; small virtues count for little. Wang Lun, though unworthy, answered the mission, passed through the tiger's mouth repeatedly, was detained again and again, and when the Jin coerced him with office refused to the end—pressed, he died; lamentable! Compared with Xuzhong, who promptly accepted Jin office, devised their bureaucracy, drafted their amnesties, and lived in wealth and honor, the difference is vast. Yet in the end his reckless mockery destroyed his entire clan—he truly did not understand righteousness or fate. Though his death is called wrongful, he brought it on himself. Judged by the standard Yu Rang set, he is all the more to be ashamed.