1
衛膚敏
Wei Fumin
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衛膚敏，字商彥，華亭人。 以上舍生登宣和元年進士第，授文林郎、南京宗子博士，尋改教授。 六年，召對，改宣教郎、秘書省校書郎，命假給事中賀金主生辰。 膚敏奏曰：「彼生辰後天寧節五日，金人未聞入賀，而反先之以失國體，萬一金使不來，為朝廷羞。 請至燕山候之，彼若不來，則以幣置境上而已。」 帝可其奏。 既至燕，金賀使果不至，遂置幣而返。 七年，復假給事中以行，及慶源府，逢許亢宗還，語金國事，曰：「彼且大入，其勢不可往。」 膚敏至燕，報愈急，眾懼不敢進，膚敏叱曰：「吾將君命以行，其可止乎？」 即至金國，知其兵已舉，殊不為屈。 及將還，金人所答國書，欲以押字代璽，膚敏力爭曰：「押字豈所以交鄰國。」 論難往復，卒易以璽。 及受書，欲令雙跪，膚敏曰：「雙跪乃北朝禮，安可令南朝人行之哉！」 爭辨逾時，卒單跪以受。 金人積不說，中道羈留且半年。
Wei Fumin, styled Shangyan, came from Huating. Having graduated as a shangshe student, he passed the jinshi examination in the first year of the Xuanhe reign (1119) and was appointed Wenlin Lang and Doctor of the Southern Capital Imperial Clan Directorate; he was soon reassigned as an instructor. In the sixth year (1124) he was called to court, promoted to Xuanjiao Lang and collator in the Secretariat, and appointed acting Supervising Censor to convey birthday felicitations to the Jin sovereign. Fumin submitted a memorial: "Their ruler's birthday falls five days after our Tianning Festival. We have not heard that the Jin intend to send felicitations, yet we would go first and compromise our national dignity. If the Jin envoys fail to appear, the court will suffer humiliation. I propose that we advance only to Yanshan and wait. If they do not come, we can simply leave the tribute gifts at the frontier and return." The emperor approved his proposal. Upon reaching Yan, he found that no Jin congratulatory mission had come. He left the gifts and returned. In the seventh year (1125) he again served as acting Supervising Censor on the mission. At Qingyuan Prefecture he met Xu Kangzong returning from the north, who warned of Jin affairs: "They are poised for a major invasion. Under these circumstances you cannot proceed." When Fumin reached Yan, the intelligence grew more alarming by the day. His companions were afraid to go forward. Fumin rebuked them: "I carry the sovereign's commission. How can we turn back?" He pressed on into Jin territory. Though he knew their armies were already in motion, he did not yield an inch. As he prepared to return, the Jin sought to affix a personal signature stamp to their reply rather than the imperial seal. Fumin protested vigorously: "A signature stamp is no way to conduct diplomacy between neighboring states." After prolonged argument, they finally substituted the imperial seal. When he was to receive the letter, they demanded that he kneel on both knees. Fumin said: "The double kneel is northern ritual. How can subjects of the southern court be made to observe it!" After a protracted dispute, he finally received the document kneeling on one knee only. The Jin, who had long resented him, detained him midway for nearly six months.
3
至涿州新城，與斡離不遇，遣人約相見，拒之不可，遂語之曰：「必欲相見，其禮當如何？」 曰：「有例。」 膚敏笑曰：「例謂趨伏羅拜，此禮焉可用？ 北朝止一君耳，皇子郎君雖貴，人臣也，一介之使雖賤，亦人臣也。 兩國之臣相見，而用君臣之禮，是北朝一國有二君也。」 金人氣折，始曰：「唯所欲。」 膚敏長揖而入。 既坐，金人出誓書示之，膚敏卻不視，曰：「遠使久不聞朝廷事，此書真偽不可知。」 因論用兵事，又以語折之，幾復為所留。
At Xincheng in Zhuo Prefecture he encountered Wanyan Zonghan, who sent an envoy to arrange a meeting. Fumin refused. When pressed, he asked: "If you insist on a meeting, what form of ceremony do you propose?" They replied: "There is precedent." Fumin laughed. "Your precedent means rushing forward and prostrating in the Luo bow. What use is such a ceremony? The northern realm has but one sovereign. Princes and noble lords, however exalted, are subjects; an envoy, however humble, is likewise a subject. If subjects of two states meet using sovereign-and-subject ritual, you would have two sovereigns in one realm." The Jin were silenced and at last said: "As you wish." Fumin entered with a formal bow. Once seated, the Jin produced an oath document for his inspection. Fumin refused to look at it. "A distant envoy has long been out of touch with court affairs," he said. "I cannot know whether this document is genuine." He then debated military affairs and again bested them in argument, nearly being detained a second time.
4
靖康初，始還，進三官，遷吏部員外郎。 會高麗遣使來賀，命假太常少卿往接之。 朝論欲改稱宣問使，膚敏曰：「國家厚遇高麗久矣，今邊事方作，不可遽削其禮，失遠人心，願姑仍舊。」 乃復稱接伴使。 既至明州，會京師多難，乃便宜稱詔厚賜使者，遣還。
At the outset of the Jingkang crisis (1126) he finally returned, was promoted three ranks, and appointed Vice Director in the Ministry of Personnel. When Goryeo dispatched envoys with congratulations, he was appointed acting Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to receive them. Court opinion favored renaming the post Inquiry Commissioner. Fumin objected: "The court has long treated Goryeo with generosity. With border troubles just erupting, we must not abruptly curtail their ceremonial standing and alienate distant allies. I ask that the former title be retained for now." The title was accordingly restored to Reception Commissioner. Upon reaching Ming Prefecture he learned that the capital was in crisis. Exercising discretionary authority, he issued a proclamation in the emperor's name granting the envoys generous gifts and sent them home.
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遷起居舍人，言：「前日金人憑陵，都邑失守，朝臣欲存趙氏者不過一二人而已，其他皆屈節受辱，不以為恥，甚者為敵人斂金帛，索妃嬪，無所不至，求其能詐楚如紀信者無有也。 及金人偽立叛臣，僭竊位號，在廷之臣逃避不從及約寇退歸位趙氏者，不過一二人而已，其他皆委質求榮，不以為愧，甚者為叛臣稱功德，說符命，主推戴之議，草勸進之文，無所不為，求其擊朱泚如段秀實者無有也。 今陛下踐祚之初，苟無典刑，何以立國？ 凡前日屈節敵人，委質偽命者，宜差第其罪，大則族，次則誅，又其次竄殛，下則斥之遠方，終身不齒，豈可猶畀祠祿，使塵班列哉？」 又言：「今二帝北遷，寰宇痛心，願陛下愈自貶損，不忘服雪，卑宮室，菲飲食，惡衣服，減嬪御，斥聲樂，以至歲時上壽，春秋錫宴，一切罷之，雖饗郊廟亦不用樂。 必俟兩宮還闕，然後復常，庶幾精誠昭格天地，感動人心。」 拜右諫議大夫兼侍讀，言：「行在頗興土木之役，非所以示四方，乞罷築承慶院、昇暘宮。」 又奏：「“凡黜陟自中出者，皆由三省乃得奉行，或戾祖宗成憲者，皆許執奏。」 時內侍李志道以赦恩復保慶軍承宣使，添差入內都知，膚敏極論罷之。
Promoted to Attendant Diarist, he memorialized: "When the Jin overran the realm and the capital fell, scarcely one or two officials sought to preserve the Zhao dynasty. The rest submitted to humiliation without shame; the worst collected gold and silk for the enemy and demanded imperial consorts—nothing was beyond them. Not one could be found to match Ji Xin's ruse against Chu. When the Jin installed a puppet ruler and usurped the imperial title, scarcely one or two officials at court refused to serve or pledged to restore the Zhao house once the invaders withdrew. The rest submitted for advancement without shame; the worst praised the puppet's virtues, expounded portents, led the movement to enthrone him, and drafted accession memorials. Not one could be found to match Duan Xiushi's strike against Zhu Ci. At the outset of Your Majesty's reign, if there is no exemplary punishment, how can the state endure? All who submitted to the enemy or served the puppet regime should be punished in graduated degrees: the gravest by clan extinction, next by execution, then by exile or strangulation, and the least banished forever from office. How can they still receive stipends and sit among the court ranks?" He added: "With both emperors captive in the north, the realm grieves. I urge Your Majesty to humble yourself further: wear mourning for their redemption, dwell in modest quarters, eat plain food, dress in coarse garments, reduce the harem, banish music—even birthday felicitations and seasonal banquets should cease, and even suburban and ancestral rites should be performed without music. Only when both sovereigns return to the capital should normal practice resume, so that sincerity may move Heaven and Earth and stir the hearts of the people." Appointed Right Remonstrance Grandee and concurrent Reader-in-Waiting, he urged: "The mobile court is undertaking extensive construction, which sends the wrong signal to the realm. I beg that work on Chengqing Court and Shengyang Palace be halted." He further memorialized: "All appointments and dismissals issued from the inner palace must pass through the Three Departments before taking effect; whenever they violate ancestral statutes, officials should be permitted to remonstrate." At that time the eunuch Li Zhidao was restored through an amnesty to Commissioner of the Baoqing Army with an additional post as Director of the Inner Palace. Fumin argued vigorously until the appointment was rescinded.
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初，欽宗內侍昭慶軍承宣使容機，圍城中時乞致仕，高宗即位，命起之。 膚敏言：「自古帝王未有求閹寺於閑退而用者。」 遂寢。 后父邢煥除徽猷閣待制，太后兄子孟忠厚顯謨閣直學士。 膚敏言：「非祖宗法。」 煥尋換武職，忠厚自若。 俄遷膚敏中書舍人，膚敏懇奏曰：「昔司馬光論張方平不當參知政事，自御史中丞遷翰林學士。 光言：『以臣為是，則方平當罷； 以臣為非，則臣當貶。 今兩無所問而遷臣，臣所未諭。』 臣雖不肖，願附于司馬光。」 又言：「事母后莫若孝，待戚屬莫若恩，勸臣下莫若賞。 今陛下順太母以非法，非所謂孝，處忠厚以非分，非所謂恩，不用臣言而遷其官，非所謂賞，一舉而三失矣。」 帝命宰相諭膚敏曰：「朝廷以次遷官，非因論事也。」 膚敏猶不拜，居家逾月，及忠厚改承宣使，詔后族勿除從官，膚敏始拜命。 又言：「中書根本之地，舍人所掌，不特演綸而已。」 凡命令不合公議者，率封還之。
Earlier, Emperor Qinzong's eunuch Rong Ji, Commissioner of the Zhaoqing Army, had requested retirement during the siege. When Gaozong acceded, he was ordered to resume office. Fumin objected: "No sovereign in history has ever recalled a eunuch from retirement for service." The order was withdrawn. The empress's father Xing Huan was appointed Awaiting Draftsman of the Huiyou Pavilion; the empress dowager's nephew Meng Zhonghou was made Academician Expositor of the Xianmo Pavilion. Fumin protested: "This violates ancestral precedent." Huan was soon transferred to a military post, but Zhonghou's appointment stood unchanged. Soon Fumin was promoted to Secretariat Drafter. He submitted an earnest memorial: "When Sima Guang argued that Zhang Fangping was unfit for the vice premiership, Fangping had been moved from Censor-in-Chief to Hanlin Academician. Guang said: "If I am right, Fangping should be dismissed;" if I am wrong, I should be demoted. Yet with neither question resolved I am promoted. I cannot understand this." Unworthy though I am, I would follow Sima Guang's example." He added: "In serving the empress dowager, nothing surpasses filial piety; in treating kinsmen, nothing surpasses kindness; in encouraging officials, nothing surpasses reward. Yet Your Majesty indulges the grand empress dowager unlawfully—that is not filial piety; you favor Zhonghou beyond his station—that is not kindness; you promote him without heeding my counsel—that is not reward. In a single act you have committed three errors." The emperor directed the chief councilor to explain to Fumin: "This promotion follows ordinary seniority; it is not a response to your memorial." Fumin still refused to accept and remained at home for over a month. Only when Zhonghou was demoted to Commissioner and an edict barred empress clansmen from attendant posts did Fumin finally accept the appointment. He also said: "The Secretariat is the foundation of government. The drafter's charge is not merely to compose edicts." Whenever an order conflicted with public opinion, he invariably sealed it and returned it unapproved.
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會膚敏知貢舉，有進士何烈對省試策，謬稱「臣」，諫官李處遯乞正考官鹵莽之罪，以集英殿修撰提舉洞霄宮。 或謂膚敏在後省論事，為黃潛善、汪伯彥所惡，故因事斥之。
While Fumin served as chief examiner, the candidate He Lie wrongly styled himself "your subject" in the policy examination. Remonstrance official Li Chudun called for punishing the chief examiner's negligence, and Fumin was reassigned as Compiler at the Hall for Cherishing Excellence with charge of the Dongxiao Palace. Some held that Fumin's remonstrances in the Secretariat had earned the enmity of Huang Qianshan and Wang Boyan, who used this incident to remove him.
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三年春，召赴行在。 時帝次平江。 膚敏入見，言及時事泣下，帝亦泣曰：「卿今宜知無不言，有請不以時對。」 膚敏謝曰：「臣頃嘗三為陛下言，揚州非駐蹕之地，乞早幸江寧。 今錢塘亦非帝王之都，宜須事定，亟還金陵。」 因陳所以守長江之策，帝善其言。 翌日，再對，歸得疾，然猶力疾扈蹕至臨安。 俄除刑部侍郎，未拜，謁告歸華亭就醫，許之，遷禮部侍郎。
In the spring of the third year (1129) he was summoned to the mobile court. The emperor was then at Pingjiang. Fumin had an audience. As he spoke of current affairs he wept, and the emperor wept as well. "You must speak freely hereafter," the emperor said. "If you have counsel, do not withhold it." Fumin replied: "I have thrice urged that Yangzhou is unsuitable as an imperial residence and begged an early move to Jiangning. Qiantang is likewise no fit capital. Once affairs stabilize, Your Majesty should return swiftly to Jinling." He then presented his strategy for defending the Yangzi, which the emperor approved. The next day he had a second audience. He fell ill on his return but still forced himself to escort the imperial procession to Lin'an. He was soon appointed Vice Minister of Justice but had not yet assumed the post when he requested leave to seek treatment in Huating. Permission was granted, and he was transferred to Vice Minister of Rites.
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初，膚敏久疾臥舟中，不能朝，時苗、劉之變，帝未反正，宰相朱勝非言于隆祐太后，以「膚敏稱疾坐觀成敗，無人臣節」。 及卒，始明其非偽云。 年四十九，特贈大中大夫。 子仲英、仲傑、仲循。
Earlier, during the Miao-Liu mutiny, Fumin had lain gravely ill in his boat and could not attend court. Before the emperor was restored, Chief Councilor Zhu Shengfei told Empress Dowager Longyou that Fumin "feigned illness and watched events unfold without a subject's loyalty." Only after his death was it understood that his illness had been genuine. He was forty-nine. He was posthumously granted the title Grandee of the Palace. His sons were Zhongying, Zhongjie, and Zhongxun.
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劉珏，字希范，湖州長興人。 登崇寧五年進士第。 初遊太學，以書遺中書舍人鄒浩曰：「公始為博士論取士之失，免所居官，在諫省斥宮掖之非，遠遷嶺表，豈逆計禍福，邀後日報哉，固欲蹈古人行也。 今庶政豈盡修明，百官豈盡忠實，從臣繼去，豈盡非才，言官屢逐，豈盡有罪！ 信任逾曩昔而拱默不言，天下之士竊有疑焉，願有以慰塞群望。」 浩得書愧謝之。 宣和四年，擢監察御史，坐言事知舒州，留為尚書主客員外郎。
Liu Jue, styled Xifan, came from Changxing in Huzhou. He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of the Chongning reign (1106). While at the Imperial University he wrote to Secretariat Drafter Zou Hao: "As an Erudite you criticized errors in civil service examinations and lost your post; in the Remonstrance Bureau you denounced palace abuses and were exiled to the far south. You did not calculate fortune and misfortune to win later reward—you sought to follow the ancients' example. Are state affairs fully well governed? Are all officials loyal and honest? As attendant ministers depart in succession, were none of them talented? As remonstrance officials are repeatedly expelled, were all of them guilty? Yet you enjoy greater trust than ever while remaining silent. Scholars throughout the realm privately wonder. I hope you will find some way to answer their expectations." Hao received the letter and thanked him with remorse. In the fourth year of Xuanhe (1122) he was promoted to Investigating Censor. For his remonstrances he was appointed prefect of Shuzhou but was retained as Vice Director in the Ministry of Revenue's Host-Guest Bureau.
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除中書舍人。 陳十開端之戒曰：
He was appointed Secretariat Drafter. He presented ten warnings about dangerous beginnings:
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「陛下即位罷御筆，止營繕，登俊乂，詘虛誕，戢內侍之權，開言者之路，命令既當，未嘗數改，任用既公，率皆稱職，賞必視功，政必核實，此天下所以指日而徯太平也。 比者內降數出，三省罕有可否，此御筆之開端也。 教子弟既有其所，又徹而新之，長入祗候之班，勢若可緩，亟而成之，此營繕之開端也。 河陽付之庸才，涇原委之貪吏，此任用失當之開端也。 花石等濫賞，既治復止，馬忠統兵，累行累召，此命令數易之開端也。 三省、密院議論各有所見，啟擬各舉所知，持不同不比之說，忘同寅協恭之議，此大臣不和之開端也。 內路之帥擅作聖旨指揮，行郡之守稱為外任監當，此臣下誕謾之開端也。 董局務者廣辟官屬，侍帷幄者分爭殿廬，此內侍恣橫之開端也。 兩省繳奏多命以次行下，或戒以不得再繳，臺諫言事失當，率責為遠小監當，此言路壅塞之開端也。 恤民之詔累下，未可行者多，是為空文無實德，此政事失信之開端也。 隨龍第賞，冠帶之工亦推恩，金兵扣闕，禮房之吏亦進秩，此爵賞僣濫之開端也。 是十者雖未若前日之甚，其端已見，杜而止之，可以馴致治平，因而循之，雖有智者不能善其後矣。」
"At Your Majesty's accession you abolished imperial brush edicts, halted construction, elevated the worthy, repressed empty boasting, restrained eunuch power, and opened the path for remonstrance. Orders were sound and seldom changed; appointments were fair and officials largely performed their duties; rewards followed merit and governance was verified in practice. The realm looked to peace with each passing day. Lately inner edicts have issued repeatedly while the Three Departments rarely approve or disapprove—this is the beginning of a return to brush edicts. Schools for imperial clansmen already had quarters, yet buildings were torn down and rebuilt; long-service attendants were added to waiting ranks; work that seemed deferrable was rushed to completion—this is the beginning of renewed construction. Heyang was entrusted to mediocrity and Jingyuan to a corrupt official—this is the beginning of improper appointments. Rewards for the Huashi Bureau were lavished, then punished offenses were pardoned. Ma Zhong was repeatedly dispatched and recalled—this is the beginning of erratic commands. The Three Departments and the Bureau of Military Affairs each held separate views; in memorials each recommended his own associates; they clung to differing opinions and forgot collegial harmony—this is the beginning of discord among chief ministers. Circuit commanders arbitrarily issued orders in the emperor's name; prefects were styled supervisors of external assignments—this is the beginning of official arrogance and deceit. Bureau chiefs expanded their staffs without restraint; attendants at the imperial curtain disputed over palace quarters—this is the beginning of eunuch arrogance. Returned memorials from the Two Departments were often ordered issued without review, or officials were warned not to return them again. Censorate and remonstrance officials who erred were routinely banished to distant petty posts—this is the beginning of blocked remonstrance. Edicts showing compassion for the people were repeatedly issued, yet many could not be implemented. These were empty words without real effect—this is the beginning of lost credibility in governance. Rewards followed rank in the imperial entourage; even artisans of caps and belts received favors. When Jin troops reached the capital, clerks of the Rites Bureau were also promoted—this is the beginning of excessive and improper rewards. These ten, though not yet as grave as before, already show their beginnings. Stop them now and orderly peace may still be attained; follow them further and even the wise cannot repair the damage."
13
詹度都堂稟議，中書舍人安扶持不可，改命珏書行，珏言：「伐燕之役，度以書贊童貫大舉，去秋蔡靖屢以金人點集為言，度獨謂不應有此，遂不設備，請竄度嶺表。」 詔予宮祠。 李綱以觀文殿學士知揚州，安扶又持不可，珏言：「韓琦好水之敗，韓絳西州之敗，皆不免黜責。 綱勇於報國，銳於用兵，聽用不審，數有敗衄，宜降黜以示懲戒。」 綱改宮祠。 吏部侍郎馮澥言珏持兩端，為綱遊說，提舉亳州明道宮。
Zhan Du submitted a proposal at the chief councilor's court. Secretariat Drafter An Fu objected. The order was reassigned to Jue to draft. Jue argued: "In the campaign against Yan, Du praised Tong Guan's grand strategy in writing. Last autumn Cai Jing repeatedly warned of Jin troop mobilization, but Du alone dismissed the reports and made no preparations. I ask that Du be exiled to the southern marches." An edict granted Du a palace temple post. Li Gang was appointed Academician at the Hall for Viewing Culture and prefect of Yangzhou. An Fu again objected. Jue argued: "Han Qi's defeat at Haoshui and Han Jiang's defeat at Xizhou both led to demotion and censure. Gang is bold in serving the state and eager to employ troops, but he does not weigh counsel carefully and has suffered repeated defeats. He should be demoted as a warning." Gang was reassigned to a palace temple post. Vice Minister of Personnel Feng Xi accused Jue of equivocating and lobbying for Gang. Jue was reassigned as Administrator of the Mingdao Palace in Bozhou.
14
遷給事中，論內降、營繕二事曰：「陛下以前朝房院而建承慶院，議者以為營造浸廣，以隆祐太后時有御筆，議者以為內降數出。 蓋除授不歸中書，工役領之內侍，此人言所以籍籍也。 營繕悉歸有司，中旨皆許執奏，則眾論息矣。」 孟忠厚除顯謨閣直學士，邢煥徽猷閣待制，珏封還，言舊制外戚未有為兩禁官者，詔煥換武階。 帝曰：「忠厚乃隆祐太后族，宜體朕優奉太后之意。」 珏持益堅，忠厚尋亦換武階。
Promoted to Supervising Censor, he addressed inner edicts and construction: "Your Majesty built Chengqing Court on the site of a former palace compound, and critics held that construction was expanding; because Empress Dowager Longyou had issued brush edicts, critics held that inner edicts were proliferating. The reason for public agitation is that appointments bypass the Secretariat and construction is directed by eunuchs. If construction were returned to the proper offices and inner edicts were all subject to remonstrance, public criticism would subside." Meng Zhonghou was appointed Direct Academician at the Hall for Displaying Governance and Xing Huan Awaiting Drafting at the Hall of Majestic Planning. When Jue returned from his mission he observed that precedent never allowed imperial in-laws to hold posts in the Two Restricted Bureaus. The throne ordered Xing Huan transferred to a military commission. The emperor said, "Zhonghou belongs to Empress Dowager Longyou's clan. You should respect my wish to treat the empress dowager with generous favor." Jue held firm, and before long Zhonghou too was transferred to a military commission.
15
遷吏部侍郎，同修國史，言：「淮甸備敵，兵食為先，今以降卒為見兵，以糴本為見糧，無一可恃，維揚城池未修，軍旅多闕，卒有不虞，何以待之？」 已而金人果乘虛大入，帝亟如臨安，以珏為龍圖閣直學士、知宣州。 俄復為吏部侍郎。
Promoted Vice Minister of Personnel and Associate Compiler of the National History, he memorialized: "Defense of the Huai region depends first on troops and grain. Today surrendered soldiers pass as our standing army and purchase funds pass as stored grain—neither can be trusted. Yangzhou's walls remain unrepaired and ranks are badly depleted. If disaster strikes, what then?" The Jurchens soon exploited the opening and swept in. The emperor rushed to Lin'an and appointed Jue Direct Academician at the Hall of Dragon Designs and prefect of Xuanzhou. Soon he was restored as Vice Minister of Personnel.
16
以久雨詔求言，珏疏論消天變、收人心數事，詞極激切，並陳荊、陝、江、淮守禦之略：「願申詔大臣，悉屏細務，唯謀守禦。 自京及荊、淮之郡，置大帥，屯勁兵。 命沿江之守，各上措畫之方，明斥堠，設險阻，節大府之出，廣大農之入，檢察戰艦而習之，則守禦詳盡，人心安，天意回，大業昌矣。」 遷吏部尚書。
After prolonged rain the throne called for counsel. Jue submitted a sharp memorial on dispelling heaven's warnings and winning hearts, and laid out plans to defend Jing, Shaanxi, the Yangtze, and the Huai: "Issue fresh orders to chief ministers to set aside petty business and focus only on defense. From the capital through the Jing and Huai prefectures, appoint supreme commanders and station elite troops. Require river governors to submit detailed plans, clear the signal posts, fortify choke points, curb spending from major prefectures, expand farm revenues, inspect warships and drill crews—then defenses will be sound, the people settled, heaven appeased, and the dynasty strengthened." He was promoted to Minister of Personnel.
17
隆祐太后奉神主如江西，詔珏為端明殿學士、權同知三省樞密院事從行。 時詔元祐黨籍及上書廢錮人，追復故官，錄用子孫，施行未盡者，珏悉奏行之。 又言常安民、張克公嘗論蔡京罪，乞厚加恩。 至洪州，疏言修治巡幸道路之役，略曰：「陛下遭時艱難，躬履儉約，前冬幸淮甸，供帳弊舊，道路險狹，未嘗介意。 今聞衢、信以來，除治道路，科率民丁，急如星火，廣市羊豕，備造服用，使農夫不得穫，齊民不得休，非陛下儉以避難之意也。 乞降詔悉罷。」 金人攻吉州，分兵追太后，舟至太和縣，衛兵皆潰，珏奉太后退保虔州。 監察御史張延壽論珏罪，珏亦上書自劾，逾嶺俟命，落職，提舉江州太平觀。 延壽論不已，責授秘書少監，貶衡州。 紹興元年，許自便。 明年，以朝散大夫分司西京。 卒於梧州，年五十五。 官其二子。 八年，追復龍圖閣學士。 有《吳興集》二十卷、《集議》五卷、《兩漢蒙求》十卷。
When Empress Dowager Longyou escorted the ancestral tablets to Jiangxi, Jue was appointed Academician at the Hall of Bright Worthies and Acting Associate Commissioner of the Three Departments and Bureau of Military Affairs to accompany the tour. An edict had ordered restoration of Yuanyou blacklist officials and those banned for memorializing, with their descendants reemployed. Where the order was incomplete, Jue memorialized to enforce it fully. He also urged generous reward for Chang Anmin and Zhang Kegong, who had once indicted Cai Jing. At Hongzhou he memorialized against repairs for the imperial route: "Your Majesty faces hard times and lives frugally. Last winter's Huai tour used worn supplies over narrow, perilous roads—you never complained. Now from Quzhou and Xinzhou onward I hear roads cleared, peasants conscripted at frantic pace, livestock bought in bulk, and finery prepared—farmers cannot harvest and townspeople cannot rest. This is not the frugal spirit Your Majesty showed in flight from danger. I beg that an edict abolish these works entirely." Jurchen forces attacked Jizhou and sent columns after the empress dowager. At Taihe County the escort collapsed. Jue withdrew with the empress dowager to Qianzhou. Investigating Censor Zhang Yanshou charged Jue, who also submitted a self-impeachment, crossed the Nanling to await judgment, was dismissed, and assigned to administer Taiping Abbey in Jiangzhou. Zhang Yanshou pressed his case. Jue was demoted to Junior Supervisor of the Secretariat and exiled to Hengzhou. In Shaoxing 1 he was allowed to go where he pleased. The following year he held the title Grandee of Court Dispersion with a nominal post in the Western Capital. He died at Wuzhou, aged fifty-five. Two of his sons received official appointments. In the eighth year his Dragon Designs Academicianship was posthumously restored. His works included Collected Works of Wuxing in twenty juan, Collected Deliberations in five juan, and Quests through the Two Han in ten juan.
18
胡舜陟
Hu Shunzhi
19
胡舜陟，字汝明，徽州績溪人。 登大觀三年進士第，歷州縣官，為監察御史。 奏：「御史以言為職，故自唐至本朝皆論時事，擊官邪，與殿中侍御史同。 崇寧間，大臣欲便己，遂變祖宗成憲，南臺御史始有不言事者。 多事之時，以開言路為急。 乞下本臺，增入監察御史言事之文，以復祖宗之制。」 以內艱去。
Hu Shunzhi, styled Ruming, came from Jixi in Huizhou prefecture. He earned jinshi honors in Daguan 3, served in county and prefectural posts, and rose to Investigating Censor. He memorialized: "A censor's charge is to speak. From Tang through our dynasty, censors have addressed current affairs and indicted corrupt officials—no less than Palace Aides of the Censorate. During Chongning, ministers bent precedent to serve themselves, and Southern Bureau investigating censors ceased remonstrating on state affairs. In perilous times, opening the remonstrance path is urgent. I beg an order to this bureau restoring Investigating Censors' remonstrance authority under ancestral practice." He left office to observe mourning for a parent.
20
服闋，再為監察御史。 奏：「河北金兵已遁，備禦尤不可不講。」 欽宗即位，又言：「今結成邊患，幾傾社稷，自歸明官趙良嗣始，請戮之以快天下。」 遂誅良嗣。 又奏：「今邊境備禦之計，兵可練，粟可積，獨將為難得，請詔內外之臣，並舉文武官才堪將帥者。」 又奏：「上殿班先臺後諫，祖宗法也，今臺臣在諫臣下，乞今後臺諫同日上殿，以臺諫雜壓為先後。」
After mourning he was again appointed Investigating Censor. He memorialized: "Though Jurchen forces have withdrawn from Hebei, border defenses must not be neglected." At Qinzong's accession he urged: "The border crisis that nearly destroyed the dynasty began with Surrender-Illumination official Zhao Liangsi. Execute him to satisfy the realm." Liangsi was accordingly executed. He also urged: "Troops can be trained and grain stockpiled, but capable generals are scarce. Order officials throughout the empire to recommend civil and military men fit for command." He also pleaded: "Ancestral law placed censors before remonstrators at imperial audience. Today censors rank below remonstrators. Let censors and remonstrators attend together hereafter, with mixed rank deciding precedence."
21
遷侍御史。 奏：「向者晁說之乞皇太子講《孝經》，讀《論語》，間日讀《爾雅》而廢《孟子》。 夫孔子之後深知聖人之道者，孟子而已。 願詔東宮官遵舊制，先讀《論語》，次讀《孟子》。」 又奏：「涪陵譙定受《易》于郭雍，究極象數，逆知人事，洞曉諸葛亮八陣法，宜厚禮招之。」
He was promoted to Attending Censor. He objected: "Chao Shuozhi proposed that the crown prince study the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects, read the Erya on alternate days, and drop Mencius. After Confucius, Mencius alone deeply grasped the sage's Way. I urge an edict ordering Eastern Palace tutors to follow precedent: first the Analects, then Mencius." He also recommended: "Qiao Ding of Fuling studied the Changes under Guo Yong, mastered numerology, foresaw events, and knew Zhuge Liang's Eight Formations by heart. Summon him with generous honors."
22
高宗即位，舜陟論宰相李綱之罪，帝不聽。 言者論其嘗事偽廷，除集英殿修撰、知廬州。 時淮西盜賊充斥，廬人震恐，日具舟楫為南渡計。 舜陟至，修城治戰具，人心始安。
At Gaozong's accession Shunzhi charged Chancellor Li Gang, but the emperor would not listen. Critics accused him of serving the puppet regime. He was made Compiler at the Hall for Assembling Excellence and prefect of Luzhou. Bandits overran western Huai. Luzhou residents panicked and daily prepared boats for a flight south. When Shunzhi arrived he fortified the walls and readied arms, and the people calmed.
23
冀州雲騎卒孫琪聚兵為盜，號「一海蝦」，至廬，舜陟乘城拒守。 琪邀資糧，舜陟不與，其眾請以粟遺之，舜陟曰：「吾非有所愛，顧賊心無厭，與之則示弱，彼無能為也。」 乃時出兵擊其抄掠者，琪宵遁，舜陟伏兵邀擊，得其輜重而歸。
Sun Qi, a Cloud Cavalry trooper from Jizhou, raised a band that he called "One Sea Shrimp." When they reached Luzhou, Shunzhi manned the walls in defense. Qi demanded supplies. Shunzhi refused. When his men urged sending grain, he said: "It is not stinginess—these bandits are insatiable. To yield would show weakness, and they cannot prevail anyway." He then sent out troops to harry the raiders. Qi fled by night. Shunzhi's ambush cut him off and captured his baggage train.
24
濟南僧劉文舜聚黨萬餘，保舒州投子山縱剽，舜陟遣介使招降之。 時丁進、李勝合兵為盜蘄、壽間，舜陟遣文舜破之。
The Jinan monk Liu Wenshun rallied more than ten thousand men, seized Mount Touzi in Shuzhou, and raided freely. Shunzhi sent envoys to accept their surrender. Ding Jin and Li Sheng had joined forces as bandits between Qizhou and Shouzhou. Shunzhi dispatched Wenshun to defeat them.
25
張遇自濠州奄至梁縣，舜陟使毀竹里橋，伏兵河西，伺其半渡擊敗之。 又請以身守江北，以護行宮。 帝壯其言，擢徽猷閣待制，充淮西制置使。 范瓊自壽春渡淮，貽書責贍軍錢帛，舜陟諭以逆順，瓊乃去。
Zhang Yu swept from Haozhou upon Liang County. Shunzhi had Zhuli Bridge destroyed, hid troops west of the river, and struck as the enemy was mid-crossing. He also volunteered to hold the north bank personally to shield the mobile court. Impressed, the emperor promoted him to Awaiting Drafting at the Hall of Majestic Planning and appointed him Huai West Pacification Commissioner. Fan Qiong crossed the Huai from Shouchun and demanded army pay by letter. Shunzhi lectured him on loyalty versus rebellion, and Fan withdrew.
26
自軍興後，淮西八郡，群盜攻蹂無全城，舜陟守廬二年，按堵如故，以徽猷閣待制知建康府，充沿江都制置使。 逾年，改知臨安府，復為徽猷閣待制，充京畿數路宣撫使。 尋罷，遷廬、壽鎮撫使，改淮西安撫使。 至廬州，潰兵王全與其徒來降，舜陟散財發粟，流民漸歸。 改知靜江府，詔措置市戰馬。 御史中丞常同奏舜陟兇暴傾險，罷之。
Since the war began, bandits had ravaged all eight Huai West prefectures without leaving a city intact. Shunzhi held Luzhou for two years in undisturbed order. He was then made Awaiting Drafting at the Hall of Majestic Planning, prefect of Jiankang, and overall River Pacification Commissioner. A year later he became prefect of Lin'an, was reappointed Awaiting Drafting at the Hall of Majestic Planning, and Pacification Commissioner for several Capital Region circuits. Soon dismissed, he was made Commander of Luzhou and Shouzhou, then Huai West Pacification Commissioner. At Luzhou, routed troops under Wang Quan surrendered. Shunzhi distributed funds and grain, and refugees gradually returned. He was reassigned prefect of Jingjiang with orders to procure war horses. Investigation Commissioner Chang Tong charged Shunzhi with brutality and treachery, and he was removed.
27
後十八年，復為廣西經略。 以知邕州俞儋有贓，為運副呂源所按，事連舜陟，提舉太平觀。 先是，舜陟與源有隙，舜陟因討郴賊，劾源沮軍事，源以書抵秦檜，訟舜陟受金盜馬，非訕朝政。 檜素惡舜陟，入其說，奏遣大理寺官袁柟、燕仰之往推劾，居兩旬，辭不服，死獄中。
Eighteen years later he was restored as Guangxi Military Commissioner. When Yongzhou prefect Yu Dan was prosecuted for corruption by Transport Vice Commissioner Lü Yuan, the case implicated Shunzhi, who was reassigned to administer Taiping Abbey. Shunzhi and Yuan had long been at odds. While campaigning against Chen bandits, Shunzhi impeached Yuan for hindering operations. Yuan wrote Qin Hui accusing Shunzhi of bribery and horse theft—charges short of sedition. Hui had long disliked Shunzhi and accepted Yuan's story. He dispatched Ministry of Justice investigators Yuan Nan and Yan Yangzhi. After twenty days Shunzhi would not confess and died in custody.
28
舜陟有惠愛，邦人聞其死，為之哭。 妻江氏訴於朝，詔通判德慶府洪元英究實。 元英言：「舜陟受金盜馬，事涉曖昧，其得人心，雖古循吏無以過。」 帝謂檜曰：「舜陟從官，又罪不至死，勘官不可不懲。」 遂送柟、仰之吏部。
Shunzhi had been beloved by the people. When word of his death spread, they wept. His wife Lady Jiang appealed to court. Hong Yuanying, vice prefect of Deqing, was ordered to investigate. Yuanying reported: "The bribery and horse-theft charges were unclear, yet in winning popular loyalty even ancient model officials scarcely surpassed him." The emperor told Hui: "Shunzhi was a court follower, and the charge did not warrant death. The investigators must be punished." Yuan Nan and Yangzhi were referred to the Ministry of Personnel for discipline.
29
沈晦，字元用，錢塘人，翰林學士沈遘孫。 宣和間進士廷對第一，除校書郎，遷著作佐郎。 金人攻汴京，借給事中從肅王樞出質斡離不軍。 金人再攻也，與之俱南。 京城陷，邦昌偽立，請金人歸馮澥等，晦因得還，真為給事中。
Shen Hui, styled Yuanyong, came from Qiantang and was grandson of Hanlin Academician Shen Kui. In the Xuanhe era he placed first in the jinshi palace debate, became Collator, and rose to Assistant Editor. When the Jurchens besieged Bianjing he served temporarily as Supervising Censor and accompanied Prince Su as hostage to Wanyan Zonghan's camp. When the Jurchens attacked again he was marched south with the captives. After the capital fell and Zhang Bangchang's puppet regime was installed, he secured the Jurchens' release of Feng Xi and others and returned home, receiving a formal appointment as Supervising Censor.
30
高宗即位，言者論晦雖使金艱苦，而封駁之職不可以賞勞，除集英殿修撰、知信州。 帝如揚州，將召為中書舍人，侍御史張守論晦為布衣時事，帝曰：「頃在金營見其慷慨，士人細行，豈足為終身累邪？」 不果召。 知明州，移處州。
At Gaozong's accession critics argued that embassy hardship did not qualify Hui for the sealing-and-return post. He was made Compiler at the Hall for Assembling Excellence and prefect of Xinzhou. At Yangzhou the emperor planned to recall Hui as Palace Secretariat Drafter. Attending Censor Zhang Shou revived rumors of Hui's youth. The emperor replied: "I saw his courage in the Jurchen camp. Must petty youthful conduct haunt a man forever?" The appointment did not proceed. He served as prefect of Mingzhou, then Chuzhou.
31
帝如會稽，移守婺州。 賊成皋入寇，晦用教授孫邦策，率民兵數百出城與戰，大敗，晦欲斬邦，已而釋之。 時浙東防遏使傅崧卿在城中，單騎往說皋，皋遂降。 進徽猷閣待制。 以言者論晦妄用便宜指揮行事，降集英殿修撰、提舉臨安府洞霄宮。 尋復徽猷閣待制、知宣州，移知建康府。 甫逾月，以御史常同論罷。
When the court moved to Kuaiji he was reassigned prefect of Wuzhou. The bandit Chenggao invaded. Following Instructor Sun Bang's advice, Hui led several hundred militiamen out to fight and was routed. He nearly executed Bang but relented. Zhedong Defense Commissioner Fu Songqing was in the city. He rode out alone, persuaded Chenggao, and secured his surrender. He was promoted to Awaiting Drafting at the Hall of Majestic Planning. Critics charged Hui with abusing discretionary authority. He was demoted to Compiler at the Hall for Assembling Excellence and assigned to administer Dongxiao Palace in Lin'an. Soon restored as Awaiting Drafting at the Hall of Majestic Planning at Xuanzhou, he was transferred to prefect of Jiankang. Barely a month later Attending Censor Chang Tong's charges removed him from office.
32
紹興四年，起知鎮江府、兩浙西路安撫使，過行在面對，言：「藩帥之兵可用。 今沿江千餘里，若令鎮江、建康、太平、池、鄂五郡各有兵一二萬，以本郡財賦易官田給之，敵至，五郡以舟師守江，步兵守隘，彼難自渡。 假使參渡，五郡合擊，敵雖善戰，不能一日破諸城也。 若圍五郡，則兵分勢弱，或以偏師綴我大軍南侵，則五郡尾而邀之，敵安敢遠去。 此制稍定，三年後移江北，糧餉、器械悉自隨。」 又自乞分兵二千及召募敢戰士三千，參用昭義步兵法，期年後，京口便成強藩。 時方以韓世忠屯軍鎮江，不果用。
In Shaoxing 4 he was recalled as prefect of Zhenjiang and Pacification Commissioner of western Two Zhe. At the mobile court he argued: "Frontier commanders' troops can be put to use. Along the thousand-li Yangtze line, let Zhenjiang, Jiankang, Taiping, Chizhou, and Ezhou each maintain ten to twenty thousand men, paid from local revenues via purchase of official fields. When enemies come, the five prefectures can block the river with fleets and hold the passes with infantry—the foe cannot cross unaided. Even partial crossings could be met by a joint counterstrike from all five prefectures. However skilled the enemy, they could not take every city in a day. Besieging all five would spread their forces thin. If a detachment pinned our main army during a southern drive, the five prefectures could harry their rear—enemies would not dare advance far. Once this system is established, after three years transfer north of the river with supplies and arms self-sufficient." He also asked for two thousand assigned troops and three thousand recruits trained in the Zhaoyi infantry method, promising that within a year Jingkou would become a strong defensive prefecture. Han Shizhong already held Zhenjiang with his army, so the plan was rejected.
33
劉麟入寇，世忠拒於揚州，晦乞促張俊兵為世忠援。 趙鼎稱晦議論激昂，帝曰：「晦誠可嘉，然朕知其人言甚壯，膽志頗怯，更觀臨事，能副所言與否？」 然晦不為世忠所樂，尋提舉臨安府洞霄宮，起為廣西經略兼知靜江府。
When Liu Lin invaded, Shizhong fought at Yangzhou. Hui urged dispatch of Zhang Jun's forces to reinforce him. Zhao Ding praised Hui's fervor. The emperor replied: "Hui deserves credit, but I know him—bold in speech, timid in spirit. We shall see whether action matches words." Shizhong disliked Hui nonetheless. Hui was soon assigned to Dongxiao Palace in Lin'an, then recalled as Guangxi Military Commissioner and prefect of Jingjiang.
34
先是，南州蠻酋莫公晟歸朝，歲久，用為本路鈐轄羈縻之，後遁去，旁結諸峒蠻，歲出為邊患。 晦選老將羅統戍邊，招誘諸酋，喻以威信，皆詣府請降，晦犒遺之，結誓而去。 自是公晟孤立，不復犯邊。 晦在郡，歲買馬三千匹，繼者皆不能及。 進徽猷閣直學士，召赴行在，除知衢州，改潭州，提舉太平興國宮，卒。
Earlier the southern Man chieftain Mo Gongsheng had submitted to the court. After long service as a nominal circuit controller he fled, rallied neighboring cave tribes, and annually raided the frontier. Hui assigned veteran general Luo Tong to guard the frontier, won over the chieftains with pledges of authority and trust, and all came to the prefectural seat to submit. He rewarded them and sent them away bound by oath. Thereafter Gongsheng was isolated and ceased raiding the frontier. During Hui's tenure the prefecture annually procured three thousand horses—a figure none of his successors could match. Promoted to Direct Aide of the Hall of Splendid Learning, he was summoned to the mobile court, served as prefect of Quzhou and then Tanzhou, administered the Taiping Xingguo Palace, and died.
35
晦膽氣過人，不能盡循法度，貧時尤甚，故累致人言。 然其當官才具，亦不可掩云。
Hui was bolder than most and often skirted the law—especially when he was poor—drawing repeated criticism. Yet his competence in office could not be denied.
36
劉一止
Liu Yizhi
37
劉一止，字行簡，湖州歸安人。 七歲能屬文，試太學，有司欲舉八行，一止曰：「行者士之常。」 不就。 登進士第，為越州教授。 參知政事李邴薦為詳定一司敕令所刪定官。
Liu Yizhi, styled Xingjian, came from Gui'an in Huzhou. At seven he could already write essays. When tested at the Imperial College, officials sought to nominate him for the Eight Virtues. Yizhi replied: "Virtuous conduct is what every scholar should possess." He declined the honor. Having passed the jinshi examination, he was appointed instructor at Yuezhou. Vice Grand Councillor Li Bing recommended him as a revising officer on the Commission for Revising Statutes of a Single Office.
38
紹興初，召試館職，其略曰：「事不克濟者，患在不為，不患其難，聖人不畏多難，以因難而圖事耳。 如其不為，俟天命自回，人事自正，敵國自屈，盜賊自平，有是哉？」 高宗稱善，且諭近臣以所言剴切知治道，欲驟用，執政不樂，除秘書省校書郎。 考兩浙類試，以科舉方變，欲得通時務者，同列皆患無其人，一止出一卷曰：「是宜為首。」 啟號乃張九成也，眾皆厭服。
Early in the Shaoxing reign he was called to compete for an academy appointment. His essay argued: "What defeats great undertakings is inaction, not difficulty. The sage does not dread hardship; he turns hardship to purpose. Without action, can one wait for Heaven to reverse itself, affairs to right themselves, enemies to submit, and bandits to disperse of their own accord?" Gaozong approved and told his inner circle that the essay showed sharp insight into governance; he wished to promote Yizhi at once, but the chief ministers resisted, and Yizhi was made collator in the Secretariat. During the Two Zhes classified examination, with the civil-service system in flux the examiners sought candidates versed in current affairs. Colleagues despaired of finding any. Yizhi produced one paper and said: "This should take first place." The name proved to be Zhang Jiucheng, and all conceded.
39
遷監察御史。 上疏謂：「天下之治，眾君子成之而不足，一小人敗之而有餘，君子雖眾道則孤，小人雖寡勢易蔓，不加察，則小人伺隙而入以敗政矣。」 又言：「陛下憫宿蠹未除，頹綱未振，民困財竭，故置司講究，然未聞有所施行，得無有以疑似之說欺陛下，曰『如此，將失人心』。 夫所謂失人心者，必刑政之苛，賦役之多，好惡之不公，賞罰之不明； 若皆無是，則所失者小人之心耳，何病焉。」
He was promoted to investigating censor. He memorialized: "Good government requires many worthy men yet can still fail; one base man can destroy it with ease. Worthies may be numerous, but the Way stands alone; villains may be few, yet their power spreads. Without vigilance, petty men slip through the cracks and wreck the state." He added: "Your Majesty, grieving that old abuses persist and institutions lie in ruins while the people suffer and coffers run dry, established offices to study reform—yet nothing has been enacted. Are sycophants not deceiving you with warnings that reform will 'lose the people's hearts'? Losing the people's hearts means cruel law, crushing levies, biased favor, and muddled rewards and punishments— if none of these apply, only petty men lose heart. What harm is that?"
40
時庶事草創，有司以吏所省記為法，吏並緣為姦，一止曰：「法令具在，吏猶得舞文，矧一切聽其省記，所欲與則陳與例，欲奪則陳奪例，與奪在其牙頰，患可勝言哉！ 請以省記之文刊定頒行，庶幾絕姦吏弄法受賕之弊。」 從之。 逾年而書成。
With the state still rebuilding, departments treated clerks' shorthand notes as law, inviting abuse. Yizhi warned: "Full statutes already allow clerks to twist the law—how much worse if everything rests on their private notes! To grant a favor they cite one precedent; to deny one they cite another. Power sits on their tongues—the mischief is incalculable. Publish the official text of those notes after editorial review, to end corrupt clerks' manipulation of law and acceptance of bribes." The court agreed. More than a year later the compilation was finished.
41
秦檜請置修政局，一止言：「宣王內修政事，修其外攘之政而已。 今之所修，特簿書獄訟，官吏遷降，土木營建之務，未見所當急也。」 又謂：「人才進用太遽，仕者或不由銓選，朝士入而不出，外官雖有異能，不見召用，非軍事而起復，皆幸門不塞之故。 請選近臣曉財利者，仿劉晏法，瀕江置司以制國用，鄉村置義倉以備水旱，增重監司之選。」 後多採用其言。
When Qin Hui proposed a Bureau for Administrative Reform, Yizhi objected: "King Xuan of Zhou reformed government at home to strengthen defense abroad—that was all. Today's 'reform' covers paperwork, litigation, personnel moves, and construction—hardly the urgent matters." He also warned: "Appointments come too fast. Some bypass the Board of Appointments; court officials enter and never leave; able local officials go uncalled; non-military recall flourishes—all because favoritism runs unchecked. Select close ministers skilled in finance, adopt Liu Yan's methods, establish riverine offices to manage state revenue, set up charity granaries in the countryside against flood and drought, and raise standards for circuit-intendant appointments." Many of his proposals were later adopted.
42
遷起居郎。 奏事，帝迎語曰：「朕親擢也，繇六察遷二史，祖宗時有幾？」 一止謝：「先朝惟張澂、李棁耳。」 因極陳堂吏宦官之蠹，執政植私黨，無憂國心。 翌日罷，主管台州崇道觀。
He was made diarist. When he reported to the throne, the emperor greeted him: "I promoted you myself—from investigating censor to diarist. How often did our forebears do that?" Yizhi replied: "Under the previous emperor, only Zhang Cheng and Li Zong." He then denounced bureau clerks and eunuchs, charging that chief ministers built private factions and cared nothing for the realm. The next day he was dismissed to administer the Chongdao Abbey in Taizhou.
43
召為祠部郎、知袁州，改浙東路提點刑獄，為秘書少監，復除起居郎，擢中書舍人兼侍講。 莫將賜出身除起居郎，一止奏：「將以上書助和議，驟自太府丞綴從班，前此未有，臣乃與將同命，願並臣罷之。」 不報。
Recalled as director in the Ministry of Rites and prefect of Yuanzhou, he became judicial intendant of Eastern Zhe, vice director of the Secretariat, diarist again, then Secretariat drafter and court expositor. When Mo Jiang received direct appointment as diarist for memorializing in favor of peace talks—leaping from vice director of the Palace Storehouse into the inner court, an unprecedented rise—Yizhi protested: "I share this appointment with Jiang; dismiss us both." The emperor did not respond.
44
遷給事中。 徐偉達者，嘗事張邦昌為郎，得知池州，一止言：「偉達既仕偽廷，今付以郡，無以示天下。」 孟忠厚乞試郡，一止言：「后族業文如忠厚雖可為郡，他日有援例者，何以卻之？ {」汪伯彥知宣州入覲，詔以元帥府舊人，特依見任執政給奉，一止言：「伯彥誤國之罪，天下共知，以郡守而例執政，殆與異時非待制而視待制，非兩府而視兩府者類矣。」 帝皆為罷之，於凡貴近之請，雖小事亦論執不置。 御史中丞廖剛謂其僚曰：「臺當有言者，皆為劉君先矣。」
He was promoted to supervising drafter. Xu Weida had served Zhang Bangchang's puppet regime as a court gentleman and was now made prefect of Chizhou. Yizhi objected: "Having served a usurper, he should not govern a commandery—it sets a ruinous example." Meng Zhonghou, a consort clansman, sought a trial prefectural appointment. Yizhi argued: "Men of letters among the empress's kin may serve, but what precedent will you cite when others follow? " Wang Boyan, prefect of Xuanzhou, came to court. Because he had served in the Marshal's Office, an edict granted him a chief minister's stipend. Yizhi protested: "Boyan's betrayal is notorious. Giving a prefect a councillor's pay repeats the old abuse of inflating ranks without title." The emperor rejected all three nominations. On every favor sought by the powerful—even trifles—Yizhi argued and would not yield. Investigating censor-in-chief Liao Gang told his staff: "We censors should speak out—but Liu Yizhi always beats us to it."
45
居瑣闥百餘日，繳奏不已，用事者始忌，奏一止同周葵薦呂廣問，迎合李光，罷，提舉江州太平觀。 進敷文閣待制。 御史中丞何若奏：「一止朋附光，偃蹇慢上。」 落職，罷祠。 後八年，請老，復職，致仕。 秦檜死，召至國門，以病不能拜，力辭，進直學士，致仕。 卒年八十三。
After more than a hundred days in the inner court, his rebuttals never ceased. The powerful turned against him, accusing him of joining Zhou Kui in recommending Lü Guangwen to court Li Guang. He was dismissed to administer the Taiping Abbey in Jiangzhou. He was promoted to vice director of the Hall of Dispersed Literature. Investigating censor-in-chief He Ruo charged that Yizhi "factions with Li Guang and treats the throne with arrogance." He was stripped of rank and lost his abbey post. Eight years later he requested retirement, was restored to rank, and retired. After Qin Hui's death he was summoned to the capital but, too ill to bow, firmly declined; he was granted academician rank and retired. He died at eighty-three.
46
一止沖淡寡欲，嘗誨其子曰：「吾平生通塞，聽于自然，唯機械不生，故方寸自有樂地。」 博學無不通，為文不事纖刻，制誥坦明有體，書詔一日數十輒辦，嘗言：「訓誥者，賞善罰惡詞也，豈過情溢美、怒鄰罵坐之為哉。」 其草顏魯公孫特命官制甚偉，帝歎賞，為手書之。 詩自成家，呂本中、陳與義讀之曰：「語不自人間來也。」 有類稿五十卷。 子巒、嶅，從弟寧止。
Yizhi was serene and ascetic. He told his sons: "Advancement and setback I leave to fate; because I harbor no scheming, my heart knows its own peace." Learned in all fields, he wrote without ornament. His edicts were lucid and well-formed; he could draft dozens in a day. "Imperial words reward virtue and punish vice," he said—"they must not flatter beyond merit or curse the innocent in rage." His draft appointing a grandson of Yan Zhenqing to special office was so fine the emperor admired it and copied it by hand. His poetry stood apart. Lü Benzhong and Chen Yuyi read it and marveled: "Language like this does not belong to this world." He left fifty juan of collected drafts. His sons were Luan and Yao; his cousin was Ningzhi.
47
從弟寧止
Cousin Ningzhi
48
寧止，字無虞，登宣和進士甲科，除太學錄、校書郎。 建炎初，為浙西安撫大使司參議，改兩浙轉運判官。 苗傅、劉正彥之變，寧止自毗陵馳詣京口、金陵，見呂頤浩、劉光世，勉以忠義，退而具軍須以佐勤王。 除左司郎官，辭。 帝復位，除右司郎官、給事中。 梁揚祖為發運使，寧止再疏論駁。
Ningzhi, styled Wuyu, passed the Xuanhe jinshi in the top class and became Imperial College recorder and collator. Early in Jianyan he served on the Western Zhe Pacification staff, then as transport judge of the Two Zhes. During the mutiny of Miao Fu and Liu Zhengyan, Ningzhi rode from Piling to Jingkou and Jinling, urged Lü Yihao and Liu Guangshi to loyalty, then gathered supplies for the loyalist cause. Appointed director in the Left Department, he declined. After the emperor's restoration he became director in the Right Department and supervising drafter. When Liang Yangzu was made transport commissioner, Ningzhi memorialized twice in opposition.
49
以添差江、淮、荊湖制置發運副使扈從隆祐太后幸江西，尋為兩浙轉運副使。 錄勤王功，直龍圖閣，進秘閣修撰，主管崇道觀，提點江淮等路坑冶鑄錢，知鎮江府兼沿江安撫，進右文殿修撰。 寧止言：「京口控扼大江，為浙西門戶，請分常州、江陰軍及昆山、常熟二縣隸本司，庶防秋時沿江號令歸一，可以固守。」 權戶部侍郎，總領三宣撫司錢糧。 張浚都督諸軍，以為行府屬。 除吏部侍郎，進徽猷閣直學士、知秀州，升顯謨閣，提舉太平觀，卒。
As supernumerary vice transport commissioner he escorted Empress Dowager Longyou to Jiangxi, then served as vice transport commissioner of the Two Zhes. For loyalist service he was made Direct Aide of the Dragon Diagram Hall, Secret Archive compiler, administrator of the Chongdao Abbey, intendant of mining and coinage on the Jiang-Huai routes, prefect of Zhenjiang and riverine pacification commissioner, then compiler of the Hall of Right Culture. Ningzhi argued: "Jingkou commands the Yangtze and guards Western Zhe. Transfer Changzhou, Jiangyin, Kunshan, and Changshu to this command so autumn river defense speaks with one voice and the line holds firm." He served as acting vice minister of revenue, supervising funds for the three pacification commissions. Overall commander Zhang Jun made him a staff officer at field headquarters. Made vice minister of personnel, Direct Aide of the Hall of Splendid Learning, and prefect of Xiuzhou, he rose to the Hall of Manifest Counsel, administered the Taiping Abbey, and died.
50
寧止有文名，慷慨喜論事。 當艱難時，上疏言闕失，指切隱微，多人所難言。 乞禁王安石《日錄》，復賢良方正科，用司馬光十科薦士法，仿唐制宰執論事以諫官侍立，皆其顯顯者。 勤王之舉，呂頤浩紀其有輸忠贊謀之勞。 寧止與一止、岑皆群從昆弟，帝嘗稱寧止忠、一止清、岑敏云。 有《教忠堂類稿》十卷。
Ningzhi was known for letters and spoke boldly on public affairs. In crisis he memorialized on failures of state, naming hidden wrongs others dared not voice. He urged banning Wang Anshi's Daily Record, restoring the Exemplary and Upright examination, adopting Sima Guang's ten-category recommendation system, and reviving Tang practice of remonstrance officers attending council debates—among his best-known proposals. Lü Yihao credited his loyal counsel during the loyalist campaign. Ningzhi, Yizhi, and Cen were cousins; the emperor once praised Ningzhi's loyalty, Yizhi's integrity, and Cen's sharpness. He left ten juan of the Jiaozhong Hall Collection.
51
胡交修
Hu Jiaoxiu
52
胡交修，字已楙，常州晉陵人。 登崇寧二年進士第，授泰州推官，試詞學兼茂科。 給事中翟汝文同知貢舉，得其文曰：「非吾所能及也。」 置之首選，除編類國朝會要所檢閱文字。 政和六年，遷太常博士、都官郎，徙祠部，遷左司官，拜起居舍人、起居郎。 昭慈太后垂簾聽政，除右文殿修撰、知湖州。
Hu Jiaoxiu, styled Yimao, came from Jinling in Changzhou. Passing the jinshi in the second year of Chongning (1103), he became magistrate of Taizhou and tested for erudite letters and flourishing literature. Supervising drafter Zhai Ruwen, co-directing the examination, read his paper and declared: "I cannot equal this." He ranked first and was made reviser for the Compilation of Song Dynasty Institutional Compendia. In Zhenghe 6 he became Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and director in the Ministry of Justice, then moved through the Ministries of Rites and the Left Department to diarist-attendant and diarist. When Empress Dowager Zhaoci regented, he was made compiler of the Hall of Right Culture and prefect of Huzhou.
53
建炎初，以中書舍人召，辭不至，改徽猷閣待制、提舉杭州洞霄宮。 三年，復以舍人召，詔守臣津發，尋進給事中、直學士院兼侍講。 入對，首論天下大勢曰：「淮南當吾膺，將士遇敵先奔，無藩籬之衛。 湖、廣帶吾脅，群盜乘間竊發，有腹心之憂。 江、浙肇吾基，根本久未立。 秦、蜀張吾援，指臂不相救。 宜詔二三大臣修政事，選將帥，蒐補卒乘，以張國勢，撫綏疲瘵，以固國本。」
Early in Jianyan he was summoned as Secretariat drafter but declined, and was instead made vice director of the Hall of Splendid Learning and administrator of the Dongxiao Abbey in Hangzhou. In the third year he was recalled as drafter; local officials were ordered to escort him. He soon became supervising drafter, entered the Direct Academy, and served as court expositor. In audience he first surveyed the realm: "Huainan is our breastworks, yet troops flee at contact—we have no shield. Hunan and Guangdong press our flanks—bandits exploit every opening, threatening our vitals. Jiangsu and Zhejiang were our foundation—yet the root was never firmly planted. Shaanxi and Sichuan are our arms—yet they cannot aid one another. Summon two or three senior ministers to reform government, choose generals, rebuild armies, expand national strength, and heal the exhausted to secure the state's foundation."
54
帝又出手詔，訪以弭盜保民、豐財裕國、強兵禦戎之要，交修疏言：
The emperor also issued a handwritten edict asking how to suppress bandits, protect the people, enrich the treasury, and strengthen defenses. Jiaoxiu replied:
55
「昔人謂甑有麥飯，床有故絮，雖儀、秦說之不能使為盜，惟其凍餓無聊，日與死迫，然後忍以其身棄之于盜賊。 陛下下寬大之詔，開其自新之路，禁苛慝之暴，豐其衣食之源，則悔悟者更相告語歡呼而歸。 其不變者，黨與攜落，亦為吏士所係獲，而盜可弭，盜弭則可以保民矣。 沃野千里，殘為盜區，皆吾秔稻之地。 操弓矢，帶刀劍，椎牛發塚，白晝為盜，皆吾南畝之民。 陛下撫而納之，反其田里，無急征暴斂，啟其不肖之心，耕桑以時，各安其業，穀帛不可勝用，而財可豐，財豐則可以裕國矣。 日者翟興連西路，董平據南楚，什伍其人，為農為兵，不數年，積粟充牣，雄視一方。 盜賊猶能爾，況以中興二百郡地，欲強兵以禦寇，不能為翟興輩之所為乎？」
"The ancients said: with gruel in the pot and cotton on the bed, even persuaders like Su Qin could not drive men to banditry—only when cold, hungry, and daily facing death do people throw in with robbers. Issue lenient edicts, open paths to repentance, forbid cruel oppression, and secure livelihoods—then repentant men will return rejoicing. Holdouts will see their gangs collapse and be seized by officials; banditry will end, and with it the people will be safe. A thousand li of fertile land lies wasted to bandits—all once our rice country. Men who draw bows, bear swords, slaughter cattle, and rob graves by daylight were once our farmers. Welcome them back to their fields, levy lightly, let them farm in season, and each man keep his trade—grain and cloth will abound, the treasury will fill, and the state grow rich. Zhai Xing held the west and Dong Ping southern Chu; they organized men as farmers and soldiers, and within years their granaries overflowed and they dominated their regions. If bandits can manage this, cannot the Restoration's two hundred prefectures, seeking strong armies against invaders, do as Zhai Xing did?"
56
世以為名言。
Contemporaries hailed these as words of wisdom.
57
李成盜江、淮，廷議欲親征，交修謂：「群盜猖狂，天子自將，勝之則不武，不勝則貽天下笑。 此將帥之責，何足以辱王師？」 議遂格，盜尋遁。
When Li Cheng ravaged the Jiang-Huai, court debate favored an imperial campaign. Jiaoxiu objected: "Petty bandits run wild—if the Son of Heaven leads in person, victory is unworthy and defeat a national disgrace. This is work for generals—why demean the imperial host?" The plan was dropped; the bandits soon dispersed.
58
周杞守常州，坐殘虐免。 會大旱，帝問交修致旱之由，對以殆杞佚罰之故，乃以杞屬吏。 杞疑為交修所讒，上書告其罪，遣大理寺丞胡蒙詣常按驗。 交修無所絓，然群從多抵罪。 尋以徽猷閣待制提舉太平觀。
Zhou Qi, prefect of Changzhou, was dismissed for cruelty. During severe drought the emperor asked Jiaoxiu the cause. He answered that Qi had escaped punishment; Qi was handed to the magistrates. Qi suspected Jiaoxiu had slandered him, accused Jiaoxiu by memorial, and the Court of Judicial Review sent Hu Meng to Changzhou to investigate. Jiaoxiu was cleared, but many kinsmen were convicted. He was soon made vice director of the Hall of Splendid Learning and administrator of the Taiping Abbey.
59
六年，召為給事中、刑部侍郎、翰林學士、知制誥兼侍讀。 久之，遷刑部尚書。 汀州寧化縣論大辟十人，獄已上，知州事鄭強驗問，無一人當死，交修乞治縣令冒賞殺無辜罪。 江東留獄追逮者尚六百人，交修言：「若待六百人俱至，則瘐死者眾矣，請以罪狀明白者論如律，疑則從輕。」 詔皆如其言。
In the sixth year he was recalled as supervising drafter, vice minister of punishments, Hanlin academician, edict drafter, and court reader. After long service he became minister of punishments. In Ninghua County, Tingzhou, ten men were sentenced to death; Prefect Zheng Qiang found none deserved it. Jiaoxiu demanded punishment for the magistrate who killed innocents for reward. More than six hundred detainees still awaited trial in Jiangdong. Jiaoxiu urged: "Waiting for all six hundred means many will die in custody. Judge clear cases by law; where doubt remains, show mercy." Edicts followed his advice.
60
朝論欲以四川交子行之諸路，交修力陳其害，謂：「崇寧大錢覆轍可鑒，當時大臣建議，人皆附和，未幾錢分兩等，市有二價，姦民盜鑄，死徙相屬。 以今交子校之大錢，無銅炭之費，無鼓鑄之勞，一夫挾紙日作十數萬，真贗莫辨，售之不疑，一觸憲網，破家壞產，以賞告捕，禍及無辜。 歲月之後，公私之錢盡歸藏鏹之家，商賈不行，市井蕭條，比及悔悟，恐無及矣。」 時議大舉，交修曰：「今妄言無行之徒，為迎合可喜之論，吾無以考驗其實，遽信之以舉事，豈不誤國哉？」 帝覽之矍然。 翌日，出其奏示大臣曰：「交修真一士之諤諤也。」
Court debate favored extending Sichuan's jiaozi paper notes empire-wide. Jiaoxiu warned: "The Chongning large-coin disaster is warning enough—ministers proposed it, all agreed, and soon coins split in value, markets doubled in price, counterfeiters flourished, and death and exile followed. Compared with large coins, jiaozi need no copper or smelting—one man with paper can print hundreds of thousands daily, real and fake indistinguishable. One brush with the law destroys families; informers' rewards harm the innocent. In time all money will sit in hoarders' vaults, trade will halt, markets wither—and repentance will come too late." With the proposal widely favored, Jiaoxiu said: "Flatterers offer pleasing schemes I cannot verify—shall we trust them and act, and so mislead the state?" The emperor read it and started. Next day he showed the memorial to his ministers: "Jiaoxiu is a lone honest voice."
61
蜀帥席益既去，帝問交修孰可守蜀者，對以臣從子世將可用，遂以世將為樞密直學士、四川安撫制置使。 世將在蜀五年，號為名帥。
When Sichuan commander Xi Yi left office, the emperor asked who could hold Shu. Jiaoxiu named his kinsman Shijiang, who was made direct academician of the Military Affairs Commission and Sichuan pacification commissioner. Shijiang governed Shu five years and was reckoned a fine commander.
62
自重兵聚關外以守蜀，餉道險遠，漕舟自嘉陵江而上，春夏漲而多覆，秋冬涸而多膠。 紹興初，宣撫副使吳玠始行陸運，調成都、潼川、利州三路夫十萬，縣官部送，徼賞爭先，十斃三四。 至是交修言：「養兵所以保蜀也，民不堪命則腹心先潰，何以保蜀？ 臣愚欲三月以後、九月以前，第存守關正兵，餘悉就糧他州，如此則守關者水運可給，分戍者陸運可免。」 帝命學士院述交修意，詔玠行之。
With main forces massed beyond the passes, supply lines were long and perilous. Barges on the Jialing capsized in spring floods and grounded in autumn drought. Early in Shaoxing, Vice Pacification Commissioner Wu Jie began overland transport, drafting a hundred thousand laborers from Chengdu, Tongchuan, and Lizhou; officials raced for credit and three or four in ten died. Jiaoxiu warned: "Armies exist to guard Shu—if the people break, the heart collapses first. How then guard Shu? From the third month through the eighth, keep only garrison troops at the passes; send the rest to draw grain elsewhere—pass garrisons supplied by water, outposts spared overland hauls." The emperor had the Academy draft Jiaoxiu's plan into edict; Wu Jie was ordered to carry it out.
63
議徽宗配享功臣，交修奏：「韓忠彥建中靖國初為相，賢譽翕然，時號『小元祐』。」 從之，人大允服。
Debating Huizong's posthumous honors for meritorious ministers, Jiaoxiu argued: "Han Zhongyan became chief minister at the opening of Jianzhong Jingguo; acclaim gathered, and men called him 'Little Yuanyou.'" The court agreed; public opinion approved.
64
八年夏，以親老，除寶文閣學士、知信州。 入辭，上欲留侍經筵，力言母老，願奉祠里中以便養。 帝曰：「卿去，行復召矣。」 改提舉江州太平興國宮。 九年六月召還，除兵部尚書、翰林學士兼侍講。 時河南新復，交修奏； 「京西、陝右取士之法，乞如祖宗時設諸科之目，以待西北之士； 別為號於南宮，以收五路之才。」 詔令禮部討論。 逾年，復請補外，除端明殿學士、知合州。 卻私請，免上供以萬計，領州數月卒。
In the eighth year, summer, citing an aged parent, he was made academician of the Hall of Precious Culture and prefect of Xinzhou. Taking leave of court, he declined the emperor's wish to keep him at the classics lecture, pleading an aged mother and requesting a home abbey for her care. The emperor said: "Go now—I will call you back." He was made administrator of the Taiping Xingguo Abbey in Jiangzhou. In the ninth year, sixth month, he was recalled as minister of war, Hanlin academician, and court expositor. With Henan newly recovered, Jiaoxiu memorialized: "For recruiting in Jingxi and western Shaanxi, restore the ancestral examination categories for northwestern scholars; create separate palace examination tracks to gather talent from the five circuits." The Ministry of Rites was ordered to study the proposal. More than a year later he sought an outside post and became academician of the Hall of Manifest Counsel and prefect of Hezhou. He refused private favors, waived tribute payments in the tens of thousands, and died after only months as prefect.
65
交修簡重寡言，進止有度，為文不事琢雕，坦然明白，在詞苑號為稱職。 自其從祖宿、從父宗愈至交修、世將，皆在禁林。 中興以後，學士三入者自交修始。 交修裒次為書，號《四世絲綸集》，以侈一門之遇。 至於事繼母以孝聞，撫二弟極其友愛，遇恩以次補官，若交修者，其文行之兼副者歟！
Jiaoxiu was reserved and measured, sparing in speech, writing plainly without ornament—well regarded among literary officials. From his great-uncle Su and uncle Zongyu through Jiaoxiu and Shijiang, the family served in the Forbidden Grove. After the Restoration, Jiaoxiu was the first to enter the Hanlin Academy three times. He compiled Four Generations of Imperial Edicts to celebrate the family's imperial service. Filial to a stepmother, devoted to two younger brothers, passing favors to kin in proper order—was Jiaoxiu not a man whose letters and conduct alike measured up?
66
綦崇禮
Qi Chongli
67
綦崇禮，字叔厚，高密人，後徙濰之北海。 祖及父皆中明經進士科。 崇禮幼穎邁，十歲能作邑人墓銘，父見大驚曰：「吾家積善之報，其在茲乎！」
Qi Chongli, styled Shuhou, was from Gaomi and later moved to Beihai in Wei. Grandfather and father both passed the Mingjing jinshi examination. Precocious as a boy, at ten he wrote a townsman's epitaph. His father marveled: "Our family's accumulated virtue bears fruit here!"
68
初入太學，諸生溺于王氏新說，少能詞藝者。 徽宗幸太學，崇禮出二表，祭酒與同列大稱其工。 登重和元年上舍第，調淄縣主簿，為太學正，遷博士，改宣教郎、秘書省正字，除工部員外郎，尋為起居郎、攝給事中。 召試政事堂，為制誥三篇，不淹晷而就，辭翰奇偉。 拜中書舍人，賜三品服，進用之速，近世所未有，高宗猶以為得之晚。
Entering the Imperial College, students were steeped in Wang Anshi's New Learning and few could write polished prose. When Huizong visited the college, Chongli submitted two memorials that the libationer and fellows praised as masterly. Passing the shangshe examination in Chonghe 1, he served as chief clerk of Zi County, director and then Erudite of the Imperial College, rectifier in the Secretariat, vice director in the Ministry of Works, then diarist and acting supervising drafter. Tested at the Hall of Administration, he drafted three edicts in a breath—his prose singular and grand. Made Secretariat drafter with third-rank robes, he rose faster than any in recent memory—yet Gaozong still felt he had come late.
69
車駕如平江，有旨鄒浩追復龍圖閣待制，崇禮當行詞，推帝所以褒恤遺直之意，有曰：「處心不欺，養氣至大。 言期寤意，引裾嘗犯于雷霆； 計不顧身，去國再遷於嶺徼。 群臣動色，志士傾心。」 又曰：「英爽不忘，想生氣之猶在； 姦諛已死，知朽骨之尚寒。」 同列推重，除試尚書吏部侍郎，時從官惟崇禮與汪藻，尋兼直學士院。 以徽猷閣直學士知漳州，其俗悍強，號難治，屬有巨寇起建州，聲撼鄰境，人心動搖，崇禮牧民禦眾，一如常日，訖盜息，環城內外按堵如故。
When the court moved to Pingjiang, an edict restored Zou Hao posthumously to vice director of the Dragon Diagram Hall. Chongli drafted the text, voicing the emperor's praise for the martyred upright: "A heart without deceit, a spirit cultivated to greatness. His words sought to awaken the throne; he once seized the emperor's robe and braved imperial thunder— his plans scorned self-preservation; twice exile sent him to the southern frontier. Ministers paled; men of resolve bowed their hearts." He also wrote: "His bright spirit is not forgotten—living breath seems still to linger; flatterers lie dead—even their rotten bones still chill the air." Colleagues admired the draft. He became acting vice minister of personnel; among attendants only he and Wang Zao remained—soon he also held the Direct Academy. As Direct Aide of the Hall of Splendid Learning and prefect of Zhangzhou—renowned for fierce customs and hard rule—he faced a great bandit in Jianzhou whose fame shook the region. Chongli governed as on any other day; when banditry ended, the city within and without remained undisturbed.
70
徙知明州，召為吏部侍郎兼權直學士院。 時有詔侍從官日輪一員，具前代及本朝事關治體者一二事進入，崇禮言：「祖宗以來選用儒臣，以奉講讀。 若令從官一例獻其所聞，既非舊典，且又越職，望令講讀官三五日一進。」 乃命學士與兩省官如前詔。 又言：「駐蹕臨安，以浙西為根本，宜固江、淮之守，然後可以圖興復。 蜀在萬里外，當召用其士夫，慰安遠人之心。」 時兵革後，省曹簿書殘毀幾盡，崇禮再執銓法，熟於典故，討論沿革，援據該審，吏不得容其私。 後有詔重刊七司條敕，崇禮所建明，悉著為令。
Transferred to Mingzhou, he was recalled as vice minister of personnel and acting director of the Direct Academy. An edict then required attendants to rotate daily, each submitting one or two cases from past and present bearing on governance. Chongli objected: "Since the ancestors, Confucian officials were chosen to lecture and read. Making all attendants report what they hear is neither old practice nor their duty. Let lecture and reading officials submit every three to five days." Academicians and officials of the two provinces were ordered as before. He also urged: "Stationed at Lin'an with Western Zhe as foundation, secure the Jiang-Huai line—then plan recovery. Shu lies ten thousand li distant—summon its scholar-officials to reassure those far from court." After war, provincial records lay nearly destroyed. Chongli again enforced appointment law, versed in precedent, tracing origins and changes with full citation—clerks could not cheat. When the Seven Bureaus' statutes were reprinted, Chongli's clarifications were all written into law.
71
移兵部侍郎，仍進直學士院。 御筆處分召至都堂，令條具進討固守利害。 崇禮奏：「諜傳金人併兵趣川、陝，蓋以向來江左用兵非敵之便，故二三歲來悉力窺蜀。 其意以謂蜀若不守，江、浙自搖，故必圖之，非特報前日吳玠一敗而已。 今日利害，在蜀兵之勝負。」 又奏：「君之有臣，所以濟治。 臣效實用，則君享其功； 臣竊虛名，則君受其弊。 實用之利在國，虛名之美在身。 忠於國者，不計一己之毀譽，惟天下之治亂是憂； 潔其身者，不顧天下之治亂，惟一己之毀譽是恤。 然效力于國，其實甚難，世未必貴； 竊名於己，其為則易，且以得譽。 二者有關於風俗甚大，是不可不察也。」
Transferred to vice minister of war, he remained in the Direct Academy. By imperial order he was summoned to the chief council hall to itemize the pros and cons of advance and defense. Chongli reported: "Spies say the Jurchens mass armies toward Sichuan and Shaanxi—finding the lower Yangtze ill-suited, these two or three years they have fixed on Shu. They reckon that if Shu falls, Jiang and Zhe will shake—so they must take it; this is not merely revenge for Wu Jie's old defeat. Today's stakes are victory or defeat in Shu." He also wrote: "A ruler keeps ministers to finish the work of rule. When ministers deliver real service, the ruler gains the credit; when ministers steal empty fame, the ruler bears the harm. Real service benefits the state; empty fame beautifies the self. Men loyal to the realm ignore personal praise and blame and worry only for order and chaos; men who polish themselves ignore order and chaos and cherish only their own reputation. Serving the state truly is hard, and the age may not honor it; stealing fame is easy, and praise follows. Both weigh heavily on custom—this cannot go unexamined."
72
九月，御筆除翰林學士，自靖康後，從官以御筆除拜自此始。 楊惟忠、邢煥以節度使致仕，告由舍人院出，崇禮言：「祖宗時，凡節鉞臣僚得謝，不以文武，並納節別除一官致仕。 熙寧間，富弼以元勳始令特帶節鉞致仕，其後繼者曾公亮、文彥博，他人豈可援以為例。」 詔自今如祖宗故典。
In the ninth month an imperial brush made him Hanlin academician—the first such appointment since Jingkang. Yang Weizhong and Xing Huan retired as military commissioners; the announcement came from the drafters' office. Chongli noted: "Under the ancestors, commissioners surrendering seals were reappointed to retirement posts, civil or military alike. In Xining Fu Bi, a founding minister, was first allowed to retire keeping his seal; later Zeng Gongliang and Wen Yanbo followed—others should not cite this." Edicts restored the ancestral rule.
73
進兼侍讀兼史館修撰。 時有旨重修神宗、哲宗《正史》。 兵火之後，典籍散亡，崇禮奏：「《神宗實錄》墨本，元祐所修已是成書，朱本出蔡卞手，多所附會，乞將朱墨本參照修定。 《哲宗實錄》，崇寧間蔡京提舉編修，增飾語言，變亂是非，難以便據舊錄修定，欲乞訪求故臣之家文獻事蹟參照。」 又奏：「知湖州汪藻編類元符庚辰至建炎己酉三十年事蹟，乞下藻以已成文字赴本所。」 並從之。 先是，藻奉詔訪求甚備，未及修纂，崇禮取而專之。
He was promoted to court reader and History Office compiler. An edict then ordered revision of the Correct Histories of Shenzong and Zhezong. After war scattered the archives, Chongli reported: "Shenzong's Veritable Records exist in ink and Zhu manuscripts—the Yuanyou ink text is complete; Cai Bian's Zhu text is tendentious. Compare and revise both. Zhezong's Records, compiled under Cai Jing in Chongning, embellish and distort truth; the old text cannot simply be revised. Search former ministers' homes for documents to compare." He also asked that Wang Zao, prefect of Huzhou, who had compiled thirty years of events from Yuanfu gengchen through Jianyan jiyou, submit his finished text." All was approved. Wang Zao had been ordered to search exhaustively; before he could finish, Chongli seized the project for himself.
74
嘗進唐太宗錄刺史姓名于屏風故事，曰：「連千里之封得一良守，則千里之民安； 環百里之境得一良令，則百里之民說。 牧民之吏咸得其良，則治功成矣。 苟能效當時之事，以守令姓名詳列于屏，簡在帝心，則人知盡心職業。」 再入翰林凡五年，所撰詔命數百篇，文簡意明，不私美，不寄怨，深得代言之體。
He once cited Taizong's practice of listing prefects' names on a screen: "One good governor over a thousand li secures a thousand li of people; one good magistrate over a hundred li pleases a hundred li of people. When every local administrator is worthy, governance succeeds. Revive that practice—list worthy prefects and magistrates on the imperial screen—and men will know to serve with their whole hearts." In his second Hanlin tenure of five years he drafted hundreds of edicts—concise, clear, neither flattering nor vindictive—in the true voice of imperial words.
75
以寶文閣直學士知紹興府。 劉豫導金人入侵，揚、楚震擾，高宗躬御戎衣次吳會。 崇禮以近臣承寧方面，謂浙東一道為行都肘腋之地，備禦不可不謹，密疏於朝，得便宜從事。 於是繕城郭，厲甲兵，輸錢帛以犒王師，簡舟艦以扼海道，疚心夙夜，殆廢食寢。 及春，帝還，七州晏然不知羽檄之遽。 斯年，上印綬，退居台州。 卒年六十，贈左朝議大夫。
Made Direct Aide of the Hall of Precious Culture, he governed Shaoxing. When Liu Yu led Jurchen invasion, Yangzhou and Chuzhou trembled. Gaozong donned armor and halted at Wuhui. Chongli, a close minister holding a frontier post, warned that Eastern Zhe was the capital's armpit and defense must be rigorous. A secret memorial won him discretionary authority. He repaired walls, honed arms, sent funds to reward the imperial army, and deployed ships to block the sea lanes—working day and night, nearly forgoing food and sleep. When spring brought the emperor's return, seven prefectures stayed calm, unaware how close war had come. That year he surrendered seal and sash and retired to Taizhou. He died at sixty and was posthumously made Left Court Counselor.
76
崇禮妙齡秀髮，聰敏絕人，不為崖岸斬絕之行。 廉儉寡欲，獨覃心辭章，洞曉音律，酒酣氣振，長歌慷慨，議論風生，亦一時之英也。 中年頓剉場屋，晚方登第，以縣主簿驟昇華要，極潤色論思之選。 端方亮直，不憚強禦，秦檜罷政，崇禮草詞顯著其惡無所隱，檜深憾之。 及再相，矯詔下台州就崇禮家索其稿，自於帝前納之，且將修怨。 會崇禮已沒，故身後所得恩澤，其家畏懼不敢陳，士大夫亦無敢為其任保。 樓鑰嘗敘其文，以為氣格渾然天成，一旦當書命之任，明白洞達，雖武夫遠人曉然知上意所在云。
Youthful and brilliant, he was clever beyond peers yet never aloof or harsh. Frugal and ascetic, he devoted himself to letters and music; warmed by wine he sang boldly and debated with fire— a man of his age. Mid-career he languished in examinations; late he passed and rose from county clerk to the inner court, reaching the summit of deliberative drafting. Upright and fearless, when Qin Hui fell from power Chongli's draft edict exposed his crimes without concealment—Hui hated him deeply. When Qin Hui returned to power he forged an edict searching Chongli's home in Taizhou for drafts, presented them before the emperor, and planned revenge. Chongli was already dead; his family's posthumous honors went unclaimed from fear, and no official dared stand guarantor. Lou Yue praised his prose as naturally formed in spirit; entrusted with imperial words, he wrote so plainly that even soldiers and distant peoples knew the throne's intent.
77
論曰：建炎、紹興之際，網羅俊彥，布於庶職，如衛膚敏以下七人者，其論議時政，指陳闕失，雖或好惡多不同，亦皆一時之表表者，矧一止、甯止兄弟之忠清，交修、崇禮之祠翰，又有助於治化者焉。
The historians comment: In the Jianyan and Shaoxing era the court gathered outstanding men and spread them through every office. Wei Fumin and the six who follow debated policy and named failures; though their views often diverged, all stood among the age's finest. Especially the loyal integrity of Yizhi and Ningzhi and the draftsmanship of Jiaoxiu and Chongli—they too advanced governance and reform.