1
陳俊卿
Chen Junqing
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陳俊卿,字應求,興化人。 幼莊重,不妄言笑。 父死,執喪如成人。 紹興八年,登進士第,授泉州觀察推官。 服勤職業,同僚宴集,恒謝不往。 一日,郡中失火,守汪藻走視之,諸掾屬方飲某所,俊卿輿卒亦假之行,於是例以後至被詰,俊卿唯唯稱謝。 已而知其實,問故,俊卿曰:「某不能止同僚之行,又資其僕,安得為無過。 時公方盛怒,其忍幸自解,重人之罪乎?」 藻歎服,以為不可及。
Chen Junqing, whose courtesy name was Yingqiu, came from Xinghua. Even as a boy he was solemn and reserved, never given to idle talk or laughter. When his father died, he carried out the mourning rites with the gravity of a grown man. In the eighth year of the Shaoxing era he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed investigative adjutant in Quanzhou. He applied himself diligently to his office, and whenever his colleagues gathered for feasts he invariably excused himself. One day a fire broke out in the prefecture. Prefect Wang Zao rushed to the scene while his subordinates were drinking at a certain house; Junqing had also borrowed a carriage and runners to join them. By regulation, latecomers were called to account, and Junqing bowed repeatedly and accepted the blame. When the facts came out, Wang asked why he had done so. Junqing replied, "I could not stop my colleagues from going, and I even used their servants on the way—how could I claim to be blameless? Your Excellency was furious at the time; how could I seek to clear myself and heap the blame on others?" Wang Zao sighed in admiration and concluded that Junqing was beyond compare.
3
秩滿,秦檜當國,察其不附己,以為南外睦宗院教授。 尋添通判南劍州,未上而檜死,乃以校書郎召。 孝宗時為普安郡王,高宗命擇端厚靜重者輔導之,除著作佐郎兼王府教授。 講經輒寓規戒,正色特立。 王好鞠戲,因誦韓愈諫張建封書以諷,王敬納之。
When his term ended, Qin Hui was in power; perceiving that Junqing would not align with him, he assigned him to teach at the Southern Outer Muzong Academy. He was soon given an additional appointment as vice-prefect of Nanjian, but before he could take up the post Qin Hui died, and he was recalled to the capital as collator. Xiaozong was then Prince of Pu'an. Gaozong ordered that upright, steady men of substance be chosen to guide him, and Junqing was made assistant compiler and concurrently tutor in the princely household. In his lectures he always wove in admonitions, maintaining a grave bearing and holding himself apart. The prince was fond of cuju. Junqing recited Han Yu's memorial admonishing Zhang Jianfeng as an oblique warning, and the prince received the lesson with respect.
4
累遷監察御史、殿中侍御史。 首言:「人主以兼聽為美,必本至公; 人臣以不欺為忠,必達大體。 御下之道,恩威並施,抑驕將,作士氣,則紀綱正而號令行矣。」 遂劾韓仲通本以獄事附檜,冤陷無辜,檜黨盡逐而仲通獨全; 劉寶總戎京口,恣掊克,且拒命不分戍; 二人遂抵罪。 湯思退專政,俊卿曰:「冬日無雲而雷,宰相上不當天心,下不厭人望。」 詔罷思退。
He rose through the ranks to investigating censor and then palace censor. In his first memorial he wrote: "A ruler does well to hear many voices, but only when he is grounded in perfect fairness; for a minister, loyalty lies in refusing to deceive, yet he must also grasp the larger design of state. To command subordinates, kindness and severity must go together: curb arrogant generals and lift the morale of the ranks, and discipline will stand straight while orders are obeyed." He then impeached Han Zhongtong, who had curried favor with Qin Hui through prison cases and wrongfully ruined innocent men; Qin's faction had been swept away while Zhongtong alone remained untouched; and Liu Bao, who commanded the forces at Jingkou, extorted his men at will and defied orders by refusing to rotate garrison duty; both men were punished accordingly. When Tang Situi dominated the government, Junqing said: "Thunder in a cloudless winter sky—such a chief minister fails Heaven above and the people below." An edict removed Situi from office.
5
時災異數見,金人侵軼之勢已形。 俊卿乃疏言:「張浚忠藎,白首不渝,竊聞讒言其陰有異志。 夫浚之得人心、伏士論,為其忠義有素。 反是,則人將去之,誰復與為變乎?」 疏入,未報,因請對,力言之,上始悟。 數月,以浚守建康。 又言:「內侍張去為陰沮用兵,且陳避敵計,搖成算,請按軍法。」 上曰:「卿可謂仁者之勇。」 除權兵部侍郎。
Omens and disasters multiplied, and Jin raids were already taking shape along the frontier. Junqing memorialized: "Zhang Jun has been loyal to the bone; in old age he has not wavered. Yet I hear whispers that he secretly harbors disloyal designs. He wins men's hearts and commands the respect of the literati precisely because his loyalty has been proven over many years. Were it otherwise, men would desert him—who would follow him in treason?" The memorial went in without reply; he sought an audience and spoke forcefully until the emperor understood. A few months later Zhang Jun was appointed to defend Jiankang. He also urged: "The eunuch Zhang Quwei secretly undermines the war effort and urges plans to avoid the enemy, unsettling our strategy—he should be punished under military law." The emperor said, "You have the courage of a true gentleman." Junqing was appointed acting vice minister of war.
6
金主亮渡淮,俊卿受詔整浙西水軍,李寶因之遂有膠西之捷。 亮死,詔俊卿治淮東堡砦屯田,所過安輯流亡。 金主褒新立,申舊好,廷臣多附和議。 俊卿奏:「和戎本非得已,若以得故疆為實利,得之未必能守,是亦虛文而已。 今不若先正名,名正則國威強,歲幣可損。」 因陳選將練兵、屯田減租之策,擇文臣有膽略者為參佐,俾察軍政、習戎務以儲將材。
When the Jin emperor Hailing crossed the Huai, Junqing was ordered to reorganize the naval forces of western Zhejiang; Li Bao, acting under his authority, won the victory at Jiaoxi. After Hailing's death, Junqing was ordered to oversee fortresses and garrison farms east of the Huai, settling refugees wherever he went. The new Jin ruler Bao had just taken the throne and proposed renewing friendly relations; many at court favored peace. Junqing argued: "Peace with the Jin was never our first choice; even if recovering lost territory were a real gain, we might not be able to hold it—such talk is empty form. We should first set our diplomatic standing straight; once our position is clear our prestige will rise and the annual tribute can be cut." He proposed selecting good generals, training troops, garrison farming, and rent relief; civil officials of courage and judgment should serve as aides, inspecting military affairs and learning the art of war to build a pool of future commanders.
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孝宗受禪,言:「為國之要有三:用人、賞功、罰罪,所以行之者至公而已,願留聖意。」 遷中書舍人。 時孝宗志在興復,方以閫外事屬張浚。 以俊卿忠義,沉靖有謀,以本職充江淮宣撫判官兼權建康府事。 奏曰:「吳璘得孤軍深入,敵悉眾拒戰,久不決,危道也。 兩淮事勢已急,盍分遣舟師直搗山東,彼必還師自救,而璘得乘勝定關中。 我及其未至,潰其腹心,此不世之功也。」 會主和議方堅,詔璘班師,亦召俊卿。 奏陳十事:定規模,振紀綱,勵風俗,明賞罰,重名器,遵祖宗之法,蠲無名之賦。
When Xiaozong ascended the throne, Junqing wrote: "Three things are essential to governing a state: appointing the right men, rewarding merit, and punishing crime—and all three depend on perfect fairness. I beg Your Majesty to keep this in mind." He was promoted to drafter of the Secretariat. Xiaozong was bent on recovery and had just entrusted frontier affairs to Zhang Jun. Because Junqing was loyal, steady, and shrewd, he was made judicial commissioner on the Jiang-Huai pacification commission and concurrently acting prefect of Jiankang. He memorialized: "Wu Lin has pushed deep with a lone army while the enemy masses every man to resist him; the campaign drags on unresolved—a dangerous course. The Huai front is already critical. Send a fleet to strike Shandong directly; the Jin will have to recall their armies, and Lin can then press his advantage and secure Guanzhong. Strike their heartland before they can respond, and the victory would be one for the ages." But the peace party was ascendant; an edict recalled Lin and summoned Junqing back as well. He submitted ten proposals: set the scale of government, restore discipline, encourage proper conduct, clarify rewards and punishments, honor rank and office, follow ancestral law, and abolish irregular levies.
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隆興初元,建都督府,俊卿除禮部侍郎參贊軍事。 張浚初謀大舉北伐,俊卿以為未可。 會諜報敵聚糧邊地,諸將以為秋必至,宜先其未動舉兵,浚乃請於朝出師。 已而邵宏淵果以兵潰,俊卿退保揚州。 主和議者幸其敗,橫議搖之。 浚上疏待罪,俊卿亦乞從坐,詔貶兩秩。 諫臣尹穡附思退,議罷浚都督,改宣撫使治揚州。 俊卿奏:「浚果不可用,別屬賢將; 若欲責其後效,降官示罰,古法也。 今削都督重權,置揚州死地,如有奏請,臺諫沮之,人情解體,尚何後效之圖? 議者但知惡浚而欲殺之,不復為宗社計。 願下詔戒中外協濟,使浚自效。」 疏再上,上悟,即命浚都督,且召為相,卒為思退、穡所擠,遣視師江、淮。 俊卿累章請罪,以寶文閣待制知泉州,請祠,提舉太平興國宮。
In the first year of Longxing a supreme command was established, and Junqing was made vice minister of rites to assist in military planning. Zhang Jun at first planned a major northern campaign, but Junqing judged the time not ripe. Spies reported the Jin hoarding grain on the frontier; the generals expected an autumn offensive and urged striking before the enemy moved. Zhang Jun petitioned the court to march. Soon afterward Shao Hongyuan's army collapsed in defeat, and Junqing fell back to defend Yangzhou. The peace faction welcomed the defeat and spread reckless talk to undermine the war party. Zhang Jun submitted a memorial accepting blame; Junqing asked to share the punishment. Both were demoted two ranks by edict. The censor Yin Ji, allied with Situi, proposed stripping Zhang Jun of supreme command and making him pacification commissioner at Yangzhou. Junqing memorialized: "If Zhang Jun truly cannot serve, appoint another able commander; if you wish to hold him to account for future results, demotion is the ancient way to show censure. But to strip him of supreme command and post him in the trap of Yangzhou, where every request is blocked by the censors, is to dissolve morale entirely—what hope then of future success? His critics care only to destroy Zhang Jun and no longer think of the dynasty's welfare. I beg Your Majesty to issue an edict calling on all to cooperate and let Zhang Jun redeem himself." When he submitted again the emperor understood; Zhang Jun was restored to supreme command and summoned as chief councilor, but Situi and Yin Ji eventually forced him out and sent him to inspect the Jiang-Huai front. Junqing repeatedly asked to share the blame; he was made academician of the Baowen Pavilion and prefect of Quanzhou, then requested leave and was made superintendent of the Taiping Xingguo Palace.
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思退既竄,太學諸生伏闕下乞召俊卿。 乾道元年,入對,上勞撫之,因極論朋黨之弊。 除吏部侍郎、同修國史。 論人才當以氣節為主,氣節者,小有過當容之; 邪佞者,甚有才當察之。 錢端禮起戚里為參政,窺相位甚急,館閣之士上疏斥之。 端禮遣客密告俊卿,己即相,當引共政。 深拒不聽。 翌日,進讀《寶訓》,適及外戚,因言:「本朝家法,外戚不預政,有深意,陛下宜謹守。」 上首肯,端禮憾之。 知建康府。 逾年,授吏部尚書。
After Situi was banished, students of the Imperial Academy knelt at the palace gate petitioning for Junqing's recall. In the first year of Qiandao he was received in audience; the emperor comforted him warmly, and Junqing spoke at length on the evils of faction. He was appointed vice minister of personnel and co-compiler of the national history. He argued that in appointing men moral backbone should come first; men of backbone may be forgiven minor faults; but the wicked and fawning, however talented, must be watched closely. Qian Duanli, a relative of the empress, had risen to vice grand councilor and was openly angling for the chief ministership; Hanlin scholars memorialized against him. Duanli sent a secret envoy promising that once he became chief councilor he would bring Junqing in as his partner. Junqing firmly refused. The next day, lecturing on the Precious Instructions, he came to the passage on empress's kin and said: "Our dynasty's household law keeps empress's relatives out of government for good reason; Your Majesty should hold to it strictly." The emperor nodded agreement; Duanli bore a grudge. He was appointed prefect of Jiankang. A year later he was made minister of personnel.
10
時上未能屏鞠戲,將游獵白石。 俊卿引漢桓靈、唐敬穆及司馬相如之言力以為戒。 上喜曰:「備見忠讜,朕決意用卿矣。 朕在藩邸,知卿為忠臣。」 俊卿拜謝。
The emperor had not yet given up cuju and was planning a hunting excursion at Baishi. Junqing cited the Han emperors Huan and Ling, Tang Jingzong and Muzong, and Sima Xiangru's admonitions, urging restraint with all his force. The emperor said with pleasure, "I have seen your loyal candor; I am resolved to employ you. When I was still in the princely residence I knew you were a loyal minister." Junqing bowed in thanks.
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受詔館金使,遂拜同知樞密院事。 時曾覿、龍大淵怙舊恩,竊威福,士大夫頗出其門。 及俊卿館伴,大淵副之,公見外,不交一語,大淵納謁,亦謝不接。 洪邁白俊卿:「人言鄭聞除右史,某當除某官,信乎?」 詰所從,邁以淵、覿告。 具以邁語質於上,上曰:「朕曷嘗謀及此輩,必竊聽得之。」 有旨出淵、覿,中外稱快。
Ordered to host the Jin envoys, he was then appointed vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Zeng Di and Long Dayuan traded on old favor to wield secret influence, and many officials passed through their doors. When Junqing served as chief host with Dayuan as deputy, they exchanged not a word in public; when Dayuan offered a private visit, Junqing declined to receive him. Hong Mai asked Junqing: "People say Zheng Wen is to be made right secretary and I am to receive a certain post—is it true?" Pressed for his source, Mai named Dayuan and Di. Junqing reported this fully to the emperor, who said, "I never consulted those men on appointments—they must have been eavesdropping." An edict banished Dayuan and Di, to general satisfaction throughout the court.
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金移文邊吏,取前所俘。 俊卿請報以「誓書云:俘虜叛亡是兩事,俘虜發已多,叛亡不應遣。 且本朝兩淮民,上國俘虜亡慮數萬,本朝未嘗以為言,恐壞和議,使兩境民不安。 或至交兵,則屈直勝負有在矣。」
The Jin sent a diplomatic note to frontier officials demanding the return of captives taken earlier. Junqing proposed replying: "The treaty distinguishes captives from defectors; we have already returned many captives, and defectors should not be sent back. Moreover, tens of thousands of our people on both sides of the Huai and your captives and fugitives remain unsettled; we have never raised the matter, fearing to damage peace and unsettle both peoples. If it comes to war, the merits of each side will be decided on the field."
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鎮江軍帥戚方刻削軍士,俊卿奏:「內臣中有主方者,當併懲之。」 即詔罷方,以內侍陳瑤、李宗回付大理究贓狀。 十一月,當郊而雷,上內出手詔,戒飭大臣,葉顒、魏杞坐罷。 俊卿參知政事。 時四明獻銀礦,將召冶工即禁中鍛之。 俊卿奏:「不務帝王之大,而屑屑有司之細,恐為有識所窺。」 從官梁克家、莫濟俱求補外,俊卿奏:「二人皆賢,其去可惜。」 於是劾奏洪邁奸險讒佞,不宜在左右,罷之。 減福建鈔鹽,罷江西和糴、廣西折米鹽錢,蠲諸道宿逋金穀錢帛以巨萬計,於是政事稍歸中書矣。
Qi Fang, commander at Zhenjiang, was extorting his troops. Junqing memorialized: "Some eunuchs back Fang; they should be punished as well." An edict immediately dismissed Fang and referred the eunuchs Chen Yao and Li Zonghui to the Court of Judicial Review to investigate corruption. In the eleventh month, thunder sounded on the eve of the suburban sacrifice. The emperor issued a personal edict admonishing his ministers; Ye Yong and Wei Qi were dismissed. Junqing was appointed vice grand councilor. Siming presented a silver mine, and the court planned to summon smelters to work it inside the palace. Junqing objected: "To neglect the great affairs of empire for the petty work of clerks will be noticed by men of judgment." Attendants Liang Kejia and Mo Ji both sought provincial posts. Junqing urged: "Both are able men; their loss would be regrettable." He then impeached Hong Mai as treacherous, slanderous, and unfit to serve at court, and had him removed. He cut Fujian's salt surcharge, abolished Jiangxi's grain-purchase commutation and Guangxi's rice-conversion levy, and remitted arrears across the circuits totaling tens of millions—so that government gradually returned to the Secretariat.
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龍大淵死,上憐曾覿,欲召之。 俊卿曰:「自出此兩人,中外莫不稱頌。 今復召,必大失天下望。 臣請先罷。」 遂不召。 殿前指揮使王琪被旨按視兩淮城壁還,薦和州教授劉甄夫,得召。 俊卿言:「琪薦兵將官乃其職,教官有才,何預琪事。」 會揚州奏琪傳旨增築城已訖事,俊卿請於上,未嘗有是命。 俊卿曰:「若詐傳上旨,非小故。」 奏言:「人主萬幾,豈能盡防閑,所恃者紀綱、號令、賞罰耳。 不誅琪,何所不為。」 琪削秩罷官。
After Long Dayuan died, the emperor took pity on Zeng Di and wished to recall him. Junqing said, "Since those two men were banished, the whole court has applauded the decision. To recall them now would deeply disappoint the empire. I beg to resign first." Di was not recalled. Wang Qi, commander of the Palace Front, returned from inspecting the Huai fortifications and recommended Liu Zhenfu, professor of Hezhou, who was summoned to court. Junqing objected: "Qi may recommend military officers—that is his duty—but a talented instructor is none of his business." Meanwhile Yangzhou reported that Qi had claimed an imperial order to enlarge the city walls and that the work was done. Junqing asked the emperor, who said he had issued no such command. Junqing said, "To forge an imperial order is no small offense." He memorialized: "A ruler faces ten thousand affairs and cannot guard against every abuse; he relies on discipline, clear orders, and rewards and punishments. If Qi goes unpunished, what will men not dare to do?" Qi was demoted and dismissed.
15
先是,禁中密旨直下諸軍,宰相多不預聞,內官張方事覺,俊卿奏:「自今百司承御筆處分事,須奏審方行。」 從之。 既而以內諸司不樂,收前命。 俊卿言:「張方、王琪事,聖斷已明,忽諭臣曰:『禁中取一飲一食,必待申審,豈不留滯。』 臣所慮者,命令之大,如三衙發兵,戶部取財,豈為宮禁細微事。 臣等備數,出內陛下命令耳。 凡奏審欲取決陛下,非臣欲專之,且非新條,申舊制耳。 已行復收,中外惶惑,恐小人以疑似激聖怒。」 上曰:「朕豈以小人言疑卿等耶?」
Previously secret palace orders went straight to the armies without the chief ministers' knowledge. When the eunuch Zhang Fang's misconduct came to light, Junqing proposed that all imperial orders to government offices must be reported for review before execution. The emperor agreed. Soon the inner palace offices objected and the order was rescinded. Junqing said, "Your judgment in the Zhang Fang and Wang Qi cases was already clear. Suddenly I was told, 'Must the palace wait for review even to take food and drink—would that not cause delay? What I fear are great commands—dispatching troops from the Three Commands, drawing funds from the Ministry of Revenue—not petty palace matters. We ministers merely fill our posts and carry out Your Majesty's orders. Review is meant to let Your Majesty decide—not to monopolize power, and this is no innovation but the restoration of old practice. To enact a rule and then withdraw it alarms the court, and I fear petty men may stir Your Majesty's anger with suspicions." The emperor said, "Would I suspect you because of petty men's words?"
16
同知樞密院事劉珙進對,爭辨激切,忤旨,既退,手詔除珙端明殿學士,奉外祠。 俊卿即藏去,密具奏:「前日奏劄,臣實草定,以為有罪,臣當先罷。 珙之除命,未敢奉詔。 陛下即位以來,納諫諍,體大臣,皆盛德事。 今珙以小事獲罪,臣恐自此大臣皆阿順持祿,非國家福。」 上色悔久之,命珙帥江西。 俊卿退自劾,上手劄留之,且曰:「卿雖百請,朕必不從。」
Liu Gong, vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, argued so fiercely in audience that he offended the emperor. After he withdrew, a personal edict made him academician of the Duanming Hall and sent him to an outside sinecure. Junqing hid the edict and secretly memorialized: "I drafted the memorial in question. If anyone is at fault, I should resign first. I dare not accept the edict appointing Gong. Since Your Majesty's accession, accepting remonstrance and treating great ministers with respect have been marks of surpassing virtue. To punish Gong for a small matter—I fear great ministers will henceforth flatter and cling to their salaries, which is no blessing to the state." The emperor showed long regret and appointed Gong to command Jiangxi. Junqing withdrew and submitted his resignation. The emperor sent a personal note refusing it: "Even if you ask a hundred times, I will not agree."
17
四年十月,制授尚書右僕射、同中書門下平章事兼樞密使。 俊卿以用人為己任,所除吏皆一時選,獎廉退,抑奔競。 或才可用,資歷淺,密薦於上,未嘗語人。 每接朝士及牧守自遠至,必問以時政得失,人才賢否。
In the tenth month of the fourth year he was appointed right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, grand councilor, and concurrently commissioner of military affairs. Junqing made appointments his personal charge, choosing the best men of the day, rewarding integrity and restraining the scramble for office. If a man of talent lacked seniority, he recommended him secretly to the emperor and never told others. Whenever he met court officials or regional governors from afar, he always asked about current policy and the worth of available talent.
18
虞允文宣撫四川,俊卿薦其才堪相。 五年正月,上召允文為樞密使,至則以為右相,俊卿為左相。 允文建議遣使金以陵寢為請,俊卿面陳,復手疏以為未可。 上御孤矢,弦激致目眚,六月始御便殿。 俊卿疏曰:「陛下經月不御外朝,口語籍籍,皆輔相無狀,不能先事開陳,虧損聖德。 陛下憂勤恭儉,清靜寡欲,前代英主所不能免者皆屏絕,顧於騎射之末猶未能忘。 臣知非樂此,志圖恢復,故俯而從事,以閱武備,激士氣耳。 願陛下任智謀,明賞罰,恢信義,則英聲義烈,不越尊俎,固已震懾敵人於萬里之遠,豈待區區騎射于百步間哉。 陛下一身,宗社生靈之休戚繫焉,願以今日之事,永為後戒。」
Yu Yunwen was pacification commissioner of Sichuan; Junqing recommended him as qualified for the chief ministership. In the first month of the fifth year the emperor summoned Yunwen as commissioner of military affairs; on his arrival Yunwen became right chief councilor and Junqing left chief councilor. Yunwen proposed sending envoys to the Jin to demand the return of the imperial tombs. Junqing argued against it in person and again wrote privately that the time was not right. The emperor drew his bow; the string snapped and injured his eye. He did not hold court in the side hall until the sixth month. Junqing memorialized: "Your Majesty has not held outer court for a month, and rumor blames the chief ministers for failing to speak beforehand and thus impairing your virtue. Your Majesty is diligent, frugal, and pure, having put aside what even former enlightened rulers could not avoid—yet you have not yet given up riding and archery. I know you do not delight in this but pursue restoration, and therefore stooped to it to review military readiness and rouse the troops' spirit. Employ wisdom and strategy, clarify rewards and punishments, and restore faith and righteousness—then your heroic reputation alone, without leaving the council table, will awe the enemy ten thousand li away. Why rely on petty archery at a hundred paces? Your Majesty's person alone binds the fate of the dynasty and the people; may today's affair be an eternal warning."
19
曾覿官滿當代,俊卿預請處以浙東總管。 上曰:「覿意似不欲為此官。」 俊卿曰:「前此陛下去二人,公論甚愜。 願捐私恩,伸公議。」 覿怏怏而去。 樞密承旨張說為親戚求官,憚俊卿不敢言,會在告,請于允文,得之。 俊卿聞敕已出,語吏留之。 說惶恐來謝,允文亦愧,猶為之請,俊卿竟不與,說深憾之。 吏部尚書汪應辰與允文議事不合,求去,俊卿數奏應辰剛毅正直,可為執政。 上初然之,後竟出應辰守平江。 自是上意向允文,而俊卿亦數求去。
When Zeng Di's term expired, Junqing requested in advance that he be posted as commander-general of eastern Zhejiang. The emperor said, "Di seems unwilling to take that post." Junqing said, "When Your Majesty removed those two men, public opinion was greatly satisfied. I beg you to set aside private favor and uphold public opinion." Di departed in resentment. Zhang Yue, secretariat drafter of the Bureau of Military Affairs, sought an office for a relative but feared Junqing and said nothing. While Junqing was on leave he asked Yunwen and obtained the appointment. Junqing heard the edict had been issued and ordered the clerks to hold it. Yue came in alarm to apologize; Yunwen was ashamed but still pleaded for him. Junqing refused, and Yue deeply resented him. Wang Yingchen, minister of personnel, clashed with Yunwen on policy and sought to resign. Junqing repeatedly urged that Yingchen was firm, upright, and fit for the chief council. The emperor at first agreed, but in the end sent Yingchen to guard Pingjiang. From then on the emperor favored Yunwen, and Junqing repeatedly sought to resign.
20
明年,允文復申陵寢之議,上手劄諭俊卿,俊卿奏:「陛下痛念祖宗,思復故疆,臣雖疲駑,豈不知激昂仰贊聖謨,然于大事欲計其萬全,俟一二年間,吾之事力稍充乃可,不敢迎合意指誤國事。」 即杜門請去,以觀文殿大學士帥福州。 陛辭,猶勸上遠佞親賢,修政攘敵,泛使未可輕遣。 既去,允文卒遣使,終不得要領。 曾覿亦召還,建節鉞,躋保傅,而士大夫莫敢言。
The next year Yunwen again raised the tomb issue. The emperor sent a personal note to Junqing, who replied: "Your Majesty grieves for the ancestors and yearns to recover lost territory. Though I am worn and slow, how could I fail to support your plan? Yet great affairs require complete safety. Wait one or two years until our strength is fuller—I dare not flatter your intent and err in state affairs." He shut his doors and resigned, and was made academician of the Guanwen Hall and posted to command Fuzhou. At his farewell audience he still urged the emperor to keep the wicked at a distance, cherish the worthy, reform government, repel the enemy, and not lightly send general envoys. After he left, Yunwen sent envoys anyway but achieved nothing of substance. Zeng Di was also recalled, granted a military commission, and advanced to guardian and tutor ranks, while officials dared not speak out.
21
俊卿至福州,政尚寬厚,嚴於治盜,海道晏清,以功進秩。 轉運判官陳峴建議改行鈔鹽法,俊卿移書宰執,極言福建鹽法與淮、浙異,遂不果行。 明年,請祠,提舉洞霄宮。 歸第,弊屋數楹,怡然不介意。
At Fuzhou Junqing governed with leniency but punished bandits strictly; the sea routes grew peaceful, and he was promoted for merit. Chen Xian, transport judicial commissioner, proposed adopting the paper-salt law. Junqing wrote the chief ministers arguing that Fujian's salt system differed from the Huai and Zhe regions, and the plan was dropped. The next year he requested leave and was made superintendent of the Dongxiao Palace. He returned to a residence of only a few dilapidated rooms and was content.
22
淳熙二年,再命知福州。 累章告歸,除特進,起判建康府兼江東安撫。 召對垂拱殿,命坐賜茶,因從容言曰:「將帥當由公選,臣聞諸將多以賄得。 曾覿、王抃招權納賄,進人皆以中批行之。 贓吏已經結勘,而內批改正,將何所勸懲?」 上曰:「卿言甚當。」 朝辭,奏曰:「去國十年,見都城穀賤人安,惟士大夫風俗大變。」 上曰:「何也?」 俊卿曰:「向士大夫奔覿、抃之門,十纏一二,尚畏人知,今則公然趨附已七八,不復顧忌矣。 人材進退由私門,大非朝廷美事。」 上曰:「抃則不敢。 覿雖時或有請,朕多抑之,自今不復從矣。」 俊卿曰:「此曹聲勢既長,侍從、臺諫多出其門,毋敢為陛下言,臣恐壞朝廷紀綱,廢有司法度,敗天下風俗,累陛下聖德。」 命二府飲餞浙江亭。
In the second year of Chunxi he was again appointed prefect of Fuzhou. He repeatedly asked to retire, was made specially advanced, and was summoned to serve as prefect of Jiankang and pacification commissioner of Jiangdong. Summoned to audience in the Hall of Chui'gong, he was seated and served tea. He said at ease, "Generals should be chosen openly. I hear many commanders buy their posts with bribes. Zeng Di and Wang Bian monopolize power and accept bribes; promotions are all carried out by inner drafts. Corrupt officials have already been investigated, yet inner drafts reverse the findings—how can discipline be maintained?" The emperor said, "You speak rightly." At his farewell audience he said, "After ten years away I find grain cheap and the people at peace in the capital, but the customs of officials have greatly changed." The emperor asked, "How so?" Junqing said, "Formerly only one or two in ten officials courted Di and Bian, and still feared being known; now seven or eight openly attach themselves without scruple. When appointments pass through private doors, that is no fine thing for the court." The emperor said, "As for Bian, I would not dare. Though Di sometimes makes requests, I mostly refuse them; from now on I will no longer comply." Junqing said, "These men's influence has grown; many attendants and censors come from their faction and dare not speak for Your Majesty. I fear they will ruin court discipline, abolish the law, corrupt public morals, and burden your sacred virtue." The two chief councils were ordered to give him a farewell feast at Zhejiang Pavilion.
23
俊卿去建康十五年,父老喜其再來。 為政寬簡,罷無名之賦。 時御前多行「白劄」,用左右私人持送,俊卿奏非便,上手劄獎諭。 除少保,判建康府如故。 八年上章告老,以少師、魏國公致仕。 十三年十一月薨,年七十四。 方屬疾,手書示諸子云:「遺表止謝聖恩,勿祈恩澤及功德,勿請諡樹碑。」 上聞嗟悼,輟視朝,贈太保,命本路轉運司給葬事,賜諡「正獻」。
Fifteen years after Junqing had left Jiankang, the elders rejoiced at his return. He governed with leniency and simplicity and abolished irregular levies. Many "white memorials" were then issued from the imperial presence and carried by private attendants. Junqing objected that this was unwise, and the emperor sent a personal note commending him. He was made junior guardian and continued as prefect of Jiankang. In the eighth year he petitioned to retire and was made junior preceptor and Duke of Wei. In the eleventh month of the thirteenth year he died, aged seventy-four. While ill he wrote to his sons: "My final memorial should only thank the emperor; do not seek favors, merit titles, posthumous names, or steles." The emperor grieved, suspended court, posthumously made him grand guardian, ordered the transport office to arrange the funeral, and granted the posthumous title "Righteous Presentation."
24
俊卿孝友忠敬,得於天資,清嚴好禮,終日無惰容。 平居恂恂若不能言,而在朝廷正色危論,分別邪正,斥權勢無顧避。 凡所奏請,關治亂安危之大者。 雅善汪應辰、李燾,尤敬朱熹,屢嘗論薦。 其薨也,熹不遠千里往哭之,又狀其行。 有集二十卷。
Junqing was filial, loyal, and respectful by nature; grave, austere, and fond of ritual, never showing a lazy bearing all day. In private he was modest as if unable to speak, yet in court he spoke with grave bearing, distinguished right from wrong, and denounced the powerful without fear. All his memorials concerned great matters of order and chaos, safety and peril. He was close to Wang Yingchen and Li Tao and especially respected Zhu Xi, whom he repeatedly recommended. At his death Zhu Xi traveled a thousand li to mourn him and composed an account of his conduct. He left collected works in twenty juan.
25
子五人,宓有志於學,終承奉郎,朱熹為銘其墓。 宓自有傳。
He had five sons. Mi aspired to learning and ended as gentleman for court attendance; Zhu Xi wrote the inscription for his tomb. Mi has his own biography.
26
虞允文
Yu Yunwen
27
虞允文,字彬甫,隆州仁壽人。 父祺,登政和進士第,仕至太常博士、潼川路轉運判官。 允文六歲誦《九經》,七歲能屬文。 以父任入官。 丁母憂,哀毀骨立。 既葬,朝夕哭墓側,墓有枯桑,兩烏來巢。 念父之鰥且疾,七年不調,跬步不忍離左右。 父死,紹興二十三年始登進士第,通判彭州,權知黎州、渠州。
Yu Yunwen, whose courtesy name was Binfu, came from Renshou in Longzhou. His father Qi passed the jinshi in the Zhenghe era and rose to erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and transport judicial commissioner on the Tongchuan circuit. At six he could recite the Nine Classics; at seven he could compose prose. He entered office through his father's privilege. When his mother died he mourned so grievously that he was reduced to skin and bone. After burial he wept morning and evening at the tomb, where a withered mulberry stood and two crows came to nest. His father was widowed and ill; for seven years he took no new post and would not leave his father's side even a step. After his father's death he passed the jinshi in the twenty-third year of Shaoxing, became vice-prefect of Pengzhou, and acted as prefect of Lizhou and Qizhou.
28
秦檜當國,蜀士多屏棄。 檜死,高宗欲收用之,中書舍人趙達首薦允文,召對,謂人君必畏天,必安民,必法祖宗。 又論士風之弊,以文章進必抑其輕浮,以言語進必黜其巧偽,以政事進必去其苛刻,庶可任重致遠。 且極論四川財賦科納之弊。 上嘉納之。
When Qin Hui held power, many scholars of Shu were cast aside. After Qin Hui died, Emperor Gaozong wished to bring Yu Yunwen back into service. Palace drafting officer Zhao Da was the first to recommend him. Summoned for an audience, Yunwen said that a ruler must fear Heaven, secure the people, and take the ancestors as his law. He also discussed the defects of scholarly culture: those promoted for literary talent must be checked for frivolity; those promoted for eloquence must be dismissed for cunning deceit; those promoted for administrative skill must be purged of harshness—only then could they bear heavy responsibility and achieve lasting results. He also spoke at length about the abuses of Sichuan's fiscal levies and tax collections. The emperor praised his advice and accepted it.
29
除秘書丞,累遷禮部郎官。 金主亮修汴,已有南侵意。 王倫還,言敵恭順和好。 湯思退再拜賀,置邊備不問。 及金使施宜生頗泄敵情,張燾密奏之。 亮又隱畫工圖臨安湖山以歸。 亮賦詩,情益露。 允文上疏言:「金必敗盟,兵出有五道,願詔大臣豫思備禦。」 時三十年正月也。 十月,借工部尚書充賀正使,與館伴賓射,一發破的,眾驚異之。 允文見運糧造舟者多,辭歸,亮曰:「我將看花洛陽。」 允文還,奏所見及亮語,申言淮、海之備。
He was appointed secretary of the Secretariat and was successively promoted to posts in the Ministry of Rites. The Jin emperor Hailing had Bianjing repaired and already intended to invade the south. When Wang Lun returned from the Jin court, he reported that the enemy was deferential and eager for peace. Tang Situi bowed in congratulation and gave no thought to border defenses. When the Jin envoy Shi Yisheng let slip considerable intelligence about the enemy, Zhang Tao secretly reported it to the throne. Hailing also secretly sent painters to depict the lakes and mountains of Lin'an and took the paintings back with him. When Hailing composed poems, his hostile intentions became still more obvious. Yu Yunwen submitted a memorial stating, "The Jin will surely break the treaty. Their army will advance along five routes. I ask that ministers be ordered in advance to prepare defenses." This was in the first month of the thirtieth year of Shaoxing. In the tenth month he temporarily served as minister of works and envoy offering New Year's congratulations. At an archery contest with the reception staff, he hit the target with his first shot, to everyone's astonishment. Yu Yunwen noticed many men transporting grain and building boats. As he took leave to return home, Hailing said, "I plan to go view the flowers at Luoyang." When Yu Yunwen returned, he reported what he had seen and Hailing's remark, urging preparations along the Huai River and the coast.
30
除中書舍人、直學士院。 三衙管軍以宦寺充承受,允文言:「自古人主大權,不移于姦臣,則落於近幸。 秦檜盜權十有八年,檜死,權歸陛下。 邇來三衙交結中官,宣和、明受厥鑒未遠。」 上大悟,立罷之。
He was appointed drafting officer of the Secretariat and academician of the Hanlin Academy. The Three Commands had eunuchs serve as military liaisons. Yu Yunwen said, "Throughout history, when a ruler's supreme authority did not pass to treacherous ministers, it fell into the hands of favorites at court. Qin Hui seized power for fully eighteen years. When he died, authority returned to Your Majesty. Recently the Three Commands have cultivated ties with palace eunuchs—the lessons of the Xuanhe era and the Ming Shou affair are not far in the past." The emperor was greatly enlightened and immediately abolished the practice.
31
金使王全、高景山來賀生辰,口傳亮悖慢語,欲得淮南地,索將相大臣議事。 於是召三衙大將趙密等議舉兵,侍從、臺諫集議。 宰臣陳康伯傳上旨:「今日更不問和與守,直問戰當如何。」 遣成閔為京湖制置使,將禁衛五萬禦襄、漢上流。 允文曰:「兵來不除道,敵為虛聲以分我兵,成其出淮姦謀爾。」 不聽,卒遣閔。 七月,金主亮徙汴,允文復語康伯:「閔軍約程在江、池,宜令到池者駐池,到江者駐江。 若敵兵出上流,則荊湖之軍捍于前,江、池之軍援於後; 若出淮西,則池之軍出巢縣,江州軍出無為,可為淮西援,是一軍而兩用之。」 康伯然其說,而閔軍竟屯武昌。
Jin envoys Wang Quan and Gao Jingshan came to congratulate the emperor on his birthday. They relayed Hailing's insolent message, demanding territory south of the Huai River and insisting that chief and assistant ministers come to negotiate. The court then summoned the senior generals of the Three Commands, including Zhao Mi, to discuss mobilizing for war, and assembled attendant and remonstrance officials for joint deliberation. Chief minister Chen Kangbo conveyed the emperor's command: "Today we will no longer debate peace or passive defense—we will ask directly how to fight." Cheng Min was dispatched as Jing-Hu commissioner, leading fifty thousand imperial guards to defend the upper reaches of the Xiang and Han rivers. Yu Yunwen said, "When enemy troops advance they do not clear roads ahead of them—the enemy is feinting to divide our forces and cover their real scheme to break out from the Huai." The court did not listen, and Cheng Min was dispatched anyway. In the seventh month the Jin emperor Hailing moved his court to Bianjing. Yu Yunwen again told Chen Kangbo, "By schedule Cheng Min's army should reach Chizhou and Jiangzhou. Those who reach Chizhou should encamp there; those who reach Jiangzhou should encamp there. If the enemy came from the upper river, the Jing-Hu armies could hold them in front while the Chizhou and Jiangzhou forces reinforced from behind; if they came from west of the Huai, the Chizhou army could sortie from Chaoxian and the Jiangzhou army from Wuwei to reinforce the Huai west—one army deployed in two directions." Chen Kangbo agreed with the plan, but Cheng Min's army ultimately encamped at Wuchang instead.
32
九月,金主命李通為大都督,造浮梁于淮水上。 金主自將,兵號百萬,氈帳相望,鉦鼓之聲不絕。 十月,自渦口渡淮。 先是,劉錡措置淮東,王權措置淮西。 至是,權首棄廬州,錡亦回揚州,中外震恐。 上欲航海,陳康伯力贊親征。 是月戊午,樞臣葉義問督江、淮軍,允文參謀軍事。 權又自和州遁歸,錡回鎮江,盡失兩淮矣。
In the ninth month the Jin emperor appointed Li Tong supreme commander and built floating bridges on the Huai River. The Jin emperor took personal command. His army was said to number a million; felt tents stretched as far as the eye could see, and the clamor of gongs and drums never ceased. In the tenth month he crossed the Huai at Wokou. Earlier Liu Qi had been managing the Huai east region and Wang Quan the Huai west region. At this point Wang Quan was the first to abandon Luzhou, and Liu Qi also withdrew to Yangzhou. The court and the country were shaken with terror. The emperor wanted to flee by sea, but Chen Kangbo strongly urged him to lead the campaign in person. On the wuwu day of that month, chief councillor Ye Yiwen took command of the Jiang and Huai armies, with Yu Yunwen as military adviser. Wang Quan fled again from Hezhou, and Liu Qi withdrew to Zhenjiang—the entire Huai region was lost.
33
十一月壬申,金主率大軍臨采石,而別以兵爭瓜洲。 朝命成閔代錡、李顯忠代權,錡、權皆召。 義問被旨,命允文往蕪湖趣顯忠交權軍,且犒師采石,時權軍猶在采石。 丙子,允文至采石,權已去,顯忠未來,敵騎充斥。 我師三五星散,解鞍束甲坐道旁,皆權敗兵也。 允文謂坐待顯忠則誤國事,遂立招諸將,勉以忠義,曰:「金帛、告命皆在此,待有功。」 眾曰:「今既有主,請死戰。」 或曰:「公受命犒師,不受命督戰,他人壞之,公任其咎乎?」 允文叱之曰:「危及社稷,吾將安避?」
On the renshen day of the eleventh month, the Jin emperor led a great army to Caishi while a separate force fought for Guazhou. The court ordered Cheng Min to replace Liu Qi and Li Xianzhong to replace Wang Quan; both Liu and Wang were summoned back. Ye Yiwen received orders to send Yu Yunwen to Wuhu to hurry Li Xianzhong in relieving Wang Quan's command and also to reward the troops at Caishi, where Wang Quan's army still remained. On the bingzi day Yu Yunwen reached Caishi. Wang Quan had already fled, Li Xianzhong had not yet arrived, and enemy cavalry filled the area. Song troops were scattered in small groups of three to five, sitting unsaddled along the roadside in armor—all were remnants of Wang Quan's defeated army. Yu Yunwen decided that waiting passively for Li Xianzhong would betray the country. He immediately rallied the generals, exhorting them with talk of loyalty and duty, and said, "Gold, silk, and commissions are all here, waiting to reward those who distinguish themselves." They replied, "Now that we have a leader, we ask to fight to the death." Someone objected, "You were ordered to reward the troops, not to command the battle. If others fail, will you alone bear the blame?" Yu Yunwen rebuked him: "When the altars of state are in peril, where can I hide?"
34
至江濱,見江北已築高臺,對植絳旗二、繡旗二,中建黃屋,亮踞坐其下。 諜者言,前一日刑白黑馬祭天,與眾盟,以明日濟江,晨炊玉麟堂,先濟者予黃金一兩。 時敵兵實四十萬,馬倍之,宋軍才一萬八千。 允文乃命諸將列大陣不動,分戈船為五,其二並東西岸而行,其一駐中流,藏精兵待戰,其二藏小港,備不測。 部分甫畢,敵已大呼,亮操小紅旗麾數百艘絕江而來,瞬息,抵南岸者七十艘,直薄宋軍,軍小卻。 允文入陣中,撫時俊之背曰:「汝膽略聞四方,立陣後則兒女子爾。」 俊即揮雙刀出,士殊死戰。 中流官軍亦以海鰍船衝敵,舟皆平沉,敵半死半戰,日暮未退。 會有潰軍自光州至,允文授以旗鼓,從山後轉出,敵疑援兵至,始遁。 又命勁弓尾擊追射,大敗之,僵屍凡四千餘,殺萬戶二人,俘千戶五人及生女真五百餘人。 敵兵不死于江者,亮悉敲殺之,怒其不出江也。 以捷聞,犒將士,謂之曰:「敵今敗,明必復來。」 夜半,部分諸將,分海舟縋上流,別遣兵截楊林口。 丁丑,敵果至,因夾擊之,復大戰,焚其舟三百,始遁去,再以捷聞。 既而敵遣偽詔來諭王權,似有宿約。 允文曰:「此反間也。」 仍復書言:「權已置典憲,新將李世輔也,願一戰以決雌雄。」 亮得書大怒,遂焚龍鳳車,斬梁漢臣及造舟者二人,乃趨瓜洲。 漢臣,教亮濟江者也。
When he reached the riverbank, he saw that on the north bank a high platform had been erected with two crimson flags and two embroidered flags planted opposite each other and a yellow imperial canopy in the center. Hailing sat enthroned beneath it. Spies reported that the day before Hailing had sacrificed white and black horses to Heaven, sworn an oath with his troops to cross the river the next day, taken breakfast at the Hall of the Jade Unicorn, and promised one tael of gold to whoever crossed first. The enemy in fact numbered four hundred thousand men with twice as many horses, while the Song forces totaled only eighteen thousand. Yu Yunwen ordered the generals to form a battle line and hold position. He divided the oared warships into five groups: two sailed along the eastern and western banks, one held midstream with elite troops concealed for battle, and two waited hidden in small inlets against surprise. Hardly had the disposition been completed when the enemy raised a great shout. Hailing waved a small red flag and hundreds of boats crossed the river. In an instant seventy reached the south bank and pressed straight against the Song lines, which fell back slightly. Yu Yunwen entered the battle line, clapped Shi Jun on the back, and said, "Your courage and skill are famed throughout the land—standing behind the line makes you no better than a woman or child." Shi Jun immediately charged out wielding twin swords, and the soldiers fought with desperate valor. The midstream Song forces also rammed the enemy with paddle-wheel boats, sinking their vessels flush with the water. Half the enemy were dead and half still fighting, and by dusk they had not withdrawn. Just then routed troops arrived from Guangzhou. Yu Yunwen gave them banners and drums and sent them around from behind the hills. The enemy, suspecting reinforcements had arrived, finally fled. He then ordered strong bowmen to pursue and shoot from the rear, inflicting a major defeat. More than four thousand corpses littered the field; two wanhu officers were killed, five qianhu officers captured, and more than five hundred Jurchen soldiers taken alive. Hailing had all enemy soldiers who had not died on the river clubbed to death, furious that they had failed to cross. He reported the victory and rewarded the officers and soldiers, telling them, "The enemy is beaten today, but tomorrow they will surely return." At midnight he repositioned the generals, sent sea boats upstream by rope haul, and separately dispatched troops to block Yanglin Pass. On the dingchou day the enemy did return. Attacked from both flanks, they fought another major battle; three hundred of their boats were burned before they finally fled. Yu Yunwen reported victory again. Soon afterward the enemy sent a forged edict addressed to Wang Quan, as if some secret agreement existed between them. Yu Yunwen said, "This is a stratagem to sow discord." He nevertheless replied, "Wang Quan has already been punished under military law. The new commander is Li Shipu. We wish to settle the matter in a single battle." When Hailing read the reply he flew into a rage, burned his dragon-and-phoenix carriage, executed Liang Hanchen and two shipwrights, and marched on Guazhou. Liang Hanchen was the man who had advised Hailing on crossing the river.
35
顯忠至自蕪湖,允文語之曰:「敵入揚州,必與瓜洲兵合,京口無備,我當往,公能分兵相助乎?」 顯忠分李捧軍萬六千往京口,葉義問亦命楊存中將所部來會。 允文還建康,即上疏言:「敵敗於采石,將徼幸於瓜洲。 今我精兵聚京口,持重待之,可一戰而勝。 乞少緩六飛之發。」
When Li Xianzhong arrived from Wuhu, Yu Yunwen told him, "When the enemy enters Yangzhou they will surely join forces with the troops at Guazhou. Jingkou is undefended. I must go there—can you detach troops to help?" Li Xianzhong detached Li Bang's army of sixteen thousand men to Jingkou, and Ye Yiwen also ordered Yang Cunzhong to bring his forces to join them. Yu Yunwen returned to Jiankang and immediately submitted a memorial stating, "Having been defeated at Caishi, the enemy will try their luck at Guazhou. Our best troops are now gathered at Jingkou. If we hold our ground and wait, we can win in a single battle. I ask that the emperor's departure be slightly delayed."
36
甲申,至京口。 敵屯重兵滁河,造三閘儲水,深數尺,塞瓜洲口。 時楊存中、成閔、邵宏淵諸軍皆聚京口,不下二十萬,惟海鰍船不滿百,戈船半之。 允文謂遇風則使戰船,無風則使戰艦,數少恐不足用。 遂聚材治鐵,改修馬船為戰艦,且借之平江,命張深守滁河口,扼大江之衝,以苗定駐下蜀為援。 庚寅,亮至瓜洲,允文與存中臨江按試,命戰士踏車船中流上下,三周金山,回轉如飛,敵持滿以待,相顧駭愕。 亮笑曰:「紙船耳。」 一將跪奏:「南軍有備,未可輕,願駐揚州,徐圖進取。」 亮怒,欲斬之,哀謝良久,杖之五十。 乙未,亮為其下所殺。
On the jiashen day he reached Jingkou. The enemy massed heavy forces along the Chu River, built three sluice gates to store water several feet deep, and blocked the mouth of Guazhou. At that time the armies of Yang Cunzhong, Cheng Min, Shao Hongyuan, and others had all gathered at Jingkou—no fewer than two hundred thousand men—but paddle-wheel boats numbered fewer than a hundred and oared warships only half as many. Yu Yunwen noted that in wind they would need lighter combat boats and in calm weather heavier warships, and feared that they had too few of either. He therefore gathered timber and iron, converted transport boats into warships, and also requisitioned vessels from Pingjiang. He ordered Zhang Shen to hold the Chu River mouth and guard the Yangtze crossing, with Miao Ding encamped at Xiasbu as reinforcement. On the gengyin day Hailing reached Guazhou. Yu Yunwen and Yang Cunzhong inspected their forces along the river, ordering warriors to pedal their boat-ships up and down midstream. They circled Mount Jin three times, wheeling about with startling speed. The enemy stood with bows drawn waiting and stared at one another in astonishment. Hailing laughed and said, "They're only paper boats." A general knelt and reported, "The southern army is prepared and must not be underestimated. I ask that we halt at Yangzhou and plan our advance more carefully." Hailing flew into a rage and wanted to behead him. After prolonged pleading the man was spared but flogged fifty strokes. On the yimi day Hailing was assassinated by his own officers.
37
初,亮在瓜洲,聞李寶由海道入膠西,成閔諸軍方順流而下,亮愈怒。 還揚州,召諸將約三日濟江,否則盡殺之。 諸將謀曰:「進有渰殺之禍,退有敲殺之憂,奈何?」 有萬戴者曰:「殺郎主,與南宋通和歸鄉則生矣。」 眾曰:「諾。」 亮有紫茸細軍,不臨陣,恒以自衛,眾患之,有蕭遮巴者紿之曰:「淮東子女玉帛皆聚海陵。」 且嗾使往,細軍去而亮死。
Earlier, while Hailing was at Guazhou, he heard that Li Bao had invaded Jiaoxi by sea and that Cheng Min's armies were sailing downstream—Hailing grew still angrier. Returning to Yangzhou, he summoned his generals and gave them three days to cross the river—or he would execute them all. The generals conferred: "Advancing means drowning in the river; retreating means being clubbed to death. What can we do?" A man named Wan Dai said, "Kill the prince-lord, make peace with the Southern Song, and return home—we can live." They answered, "Agreed." Hailing kept an elite guard clothed in purple fur that never entered battle but always protected him personally, which the troops resented. A man named Xiao Zheba deceived him, saying, "The women, riches, and goods of Huai east are all gathered at Hailing." He also urged Hailing to go there. Once the elite guard had departed, Hailing was assassinated.
38
丙申,敵人退屯三十里,遣使議和。 己亥,奏聞。 召入對,上慰藉嘉歎,謂陳俊卿曰:「虞允文公忠出天性,朕之裴度也。」 詔免扈從,往兩淮措置。 允文至鎮江,奏收兩淮三策,不報。
On the bingshen day the enemy withdrew thirty li and sent envoys to negotiate peace. On the jihai day Yu Yunwen reported the news to the throne. Summoned for an audience, the emperor consoled and praised him, saying to Chen Junqing, "Yu Yunwen's loyalty to the state comes from his very nature—he is my Pei Du." An edict relieved him of escort duty and dispatched him to manage affairs in the two Huai regions. When Yu Yunwen reached Zhenjiang, he submitted three plans for recovering the two Huai regions, but received no reply.
39
明年正月,上至建康。 尋議回鑾,詔以楊存中充江淮、荊襄路宣撫使,允文副之。 給、舍繳存中除命,於是允文充川陝宣諭使。 陛辭,言:「金亮既誅,新主初立,彼國方亂,天相我恢復也。 和則海內氣沮,戰則海內氣伸。」 上以為然。 允文至蜀,與大將吳璘議經略中原,璘進取鳳翔,復鞏州。 金治兵爭陝西新復州郡,蜀士欲棄之,允文持不可。
In the first month of the following year the emperor reached Jiankang. Soon the court debated the emperor's return north. An edict appointed Yang Cunzhong commissioner for the Jiang-Huai and Jing-Xiang circuits, with Yu Yunwen as his deputy. Remonstrance and drafting officials brought objections against Yang Cunzhong's appointment, and Yu Yunwen was then appointed envoy to Sichuan and Shaanxi. At his farewell audience he said, "With Hailing of Jin dead and a new ruler just enthroned, their country is in chaos—Heaven is aiding our recovery. Peace would deflate the spirit of the realm; war would lift it." The emperor agreed. When Yu Yunwen reached Sichuan, he conferred with the great general Wu Lin on plans to recover the Central Plains. Wu Lin advanced on Fengxiang and retook Gong Prefecture. The Jin mobilized forces to contest the newly recovered prefectures of Shaanxi. Sichuan officials wanted to abandon them, but Yu Yunwen insisted they must be held.
40
孝宗受禪,朝臣有言西事者,謂官軍進討,東不可過寶雞,北不可過德順,且欲用忠義人守新復州郡,官軍退守蜀口。 允文爭之不得,吳璘遂歸河池,蓋用參知政事史浩議,欲盡棄陝西,臺諫袁季、任古附和其說。 允文再上疏,大略言:「恢復莫先於陝西,陝西五路新復州縣又係於德順之存亡,一旦棄之,則窺蜀之路愈多,西和、階、成,利害至重。」 前後凡十五疏,且移書陳康伯,康伯牽于同列,不能回也。 上將召允文問陝西事,執政忌其來,以顯謨閣直學士知夔州,尋又命奏事。
After Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, court officials discussing western affairs argued that government forces should advance no farther east than Baoji or north than Deshun, and proposed leaving the newly recovered prefectures to loyal volunteers while regular troops fell back to guard the Sichuan passes. Yu Yunwen argued in vain. Wu Lin then withdrew to Hechi, following Vice Grand Councilor Shi Hao's proposal to abandon Shaanxi entirely. Remonstrance officials Yuan Ji and Ren Gu endorsed his position. Yu Yunwen submitted another memorial, arguing in essence, "Recovery must begin with Shaanxi. The newly retaken prefectures and counties of the five Shaanxi circuits hinge on the fate of Deshun. Once we abandon them, the routes by which the enemy could probe Sichuan will multiply. Xihe, Jie, and Cheng are of the utmost strategic importance." In all he submitted fifteen memorials and also wrote to Chen Kangbo, but Kangbo, constrained by his colleagues, could not change the court's course. The emperor was about to summon Yu Yunwen to discuss Shaanxi affairs, but the chief ministers resented his influence and appointed him direct academician of the Xianmo Pavilion and prefect of Kuizhou. Soon afterward he was ordered to report to court.
41
時朝廷遣盧仲賢使金議和,湯思退又欲棄唐、鄧、海、泗,手詔謂唐、鄧非險要,可置度外,允文五上疏力爭。 思退怒,即奏曰:「此皆以利害不切於己,大言誤國,以邀美名。 宗社大事,豈同戲劇。」 上意遂定。 思退陽請召允文,實欲去之也。 允文上印,猶以四州不可棄為請,乞致仕。 詔以顯謨閣學士知平江府。 思退竟決和議,割唐、鄧。
At the time the court dispatched Lu Zhongxian as envoy to Jin to negotiate peace. Tang Situi also sought to abandon Tang, Deng, Hai, and Si. A personal edict declared that Tang and Deng were not strategically vital and could be set aside. Yu Yunwen submitted five memorials vigorously opposing this. Tang Situi grew angry and immediately memorialized, "These men speak grandly to mislead the state and win a fine reputation because the stakes do not touch them personally. The great affairs of state—how can they be treated like a play? The emperor's mind was then made up. Tang Situi outwardly requested that Yu Yunwen be summoned, but in fact wished to remove him. Yu Yunwen returned his seal of office, yet still petitioned that the four prefectures could not be abandoned and begged to retire. An edict appointed him academician of the Xianmo Pavilion and prefect of Pingjiang. Tang Situi ultimately settled on a peace agreement and ceded Tang and Deng.
42
二年,金兵復至,思退貶,上悔不用允文言。 陳俊卿亦薦允文堪大用,除端明殿學士、同簽書樞密院事。
In the second year Jin troops invaded again. Tang Situi was demoted, and the emperor regretted not having heeded Yu Yunwen's advice. Chen Junqing also recommended Yu Yunwen as fit for high office. He was appointed academician of the Duanming Hall and concurrent signer of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
43
乾道元年,拜參知政事兼知樞密院事。 是秋,金遣完顏仲有所議,偃蹇不敬,允文請斬之,廷有異論,不果。 會錢端禮受李宏玉帶,事連允文,為御史章服所論,罷政,奉祠西歸。
In the first year of the Qiandao reign he was appointed vice grand councilor and concurrently head of the Bureau of Military Affairs. That autumn Jin sent Wanyan Zhong to negotiate. He was arrogant and disrespectful. Yu Yunwen requested that he be executed, but dissent at court prevented it. Then Qian Duanli accepted Li Hongyu's belt, and the affair implicated Yu Yunwen. Censor Zhang Fu impeached him, and he was removed from office and sent west to serve in a temple post.
44
三年二月,召至闕,除知樞密院事兼參知政事。 吳璘卒,議擇代,上諭允文曰:「吳璘既卒,汪應辰恐不習軍事,無以易卿。 凡事不宜效張浚迂闊,軍前事,卿一一親臨之。」 即拜資政殿大學士、四川宣撫使,尋詔依舊知樞密院事。 歸蜀一月,召至闕,不數月復使蜀。 太上賜御書《聖主得賢臣頌》,上又為之制跋,陛辭,復以所御雙履及甲胄賜焉。
In the second month of the third year he was summoned to court and appointed head of the Bureau of Military Affairs and vice grand councilor. When Wu Lin died, the court debated choosing a successor. The emperor told Yu Yunwen, "Now that Wu Lin is dead, Wang Yingchen may not be skilled in military affairs—there is no one to replace you. In all affairs you must not imitate Zhang Jun's impractical grandiosity. As for affairs at the front, you must personally oversee each one. He was then appointed grand academician of the Zizheng Hall and commissioner for Sichuan. Soon an edict ordered him to retain his post as head of the Bureau of Military Affairs. After one month back in Sichuan he was summoned to court. Within a few months he was sent to Sichuan again. The retired emperor bestowed the imperially written "Ode on the Sage Ruler Obtaining Worthy Ministers." The emperor also composed a colophon for it. At his farewell audience he was again given the emperor's own pair of shoes and a suit of armor.
45
過郢,奏築黃鷹山城。 過襄陽,奏修府城。 八月至漢中,又往沔陽。 九月,至益昌。 先被手詔戒九事,洎至蜀,悉奉而行,尤以軍政為急。 又奏閱實諸軍,第其壯怯為三,上備戰,中下備輜重,老者少者不預。 汰兵凡萬人,減緡錢四百萬。 汰去兵有勞績者,置員闕處之。 興、洋義士,民兵也,紹興初以七萬計,大散之戰,將不授甲,驅之先官軍,死亡略盡。 命利帥晁公武核實,得二萬三千九百餘人。 又得陝西弓箭手法,參紹興制為一書,俾將吏守之。 以馬政付張松,奏依舊制分茶馬為川、秦司。
Passing through Ying, he memorialized on building Huangying Mountain Fort. Passing through Xiangyang, he memorialized on repairing the prefectural walls. In the eighth month he reached Hanzhong, then went on to Mianyang. In the ninth month he reached Yichang. He had first received a personal edict warning him on nine matters. When he reached Sichuan he carried them all out, treating military administration as especially urgent. He also memorialized on inspecting all armies, ranking them by strength and weakness into three grades: the top tier prepared for battle, the middle and lower for baggage, while the old and young were excluded. In all ten thousand troops were cut, saving four million strings of cash. Soldiers cut from the rolls who had records of merit were placed in vacant posts. The righteous volunteers of Xing and Yang were militia. At the beginning of the Shaoxing reign they numbered seventy thousand. At the battle of Dasan, the generals did not issue them armor but drove them ahead of the regular army, and they were nearly all killed. He ordered the Li circuit intendant Chao Gongwu to verify the rolls and found twenty-three thousand nine hundred and more men. He also obtained the Shaanxi archery technique, combined it with the Shaoxing regulations into one manual, and had commanders and officials observe it. He entrusted horse administration to Zhang Song and memorialized on restoring the old system of dividing tea-and-horse affairs into Sichuan and Shaanxi offices.
46
初在樞府,蕭遮巴以刷軍中人為言,允文嘗奏諭三衙撫存之。 至是,金、洋、興元歸正人二萬,遮道訴繫縲之苦,允文分給官田,俾咸振業。 欲結敵將姜挺、白沂,遵御劄募鞏人王嗣祖結外蕃以圖金人,又得蕃僧六彪者偕往,竟無成說。 時邛、蜀十四郡告饑,荒政凡六十五事,劍倅獻羨錢五萬,卻之。
When he was first in the Bureau of Military Affairs, Xiao Zheba spoke on behalf of men purged from the armies. Yu Yunwen had once memorialized instructing the three palace commands to care for them. At this time twenty thousand men who had returned to allegiance from Jin, Yang, and Xingyuan blocked the road complaining of the hardship of imprisonment. Yu Yunwen allotted them official fields so that all could revive their livelihoods. He wished to win over the enemy generals Jiang Ting and Bai Yi. Following an imperial note he recruited Wang Sizu of Gong to win over outer tribes against the Jurchens, and also obtained the Tibetan monk Liu Biao to go with him, but in the end nothing came of it. At the time fourteen prefectures of Qiong and Shu reported famine. Relief measures totaled sixty-five items. The sword prefectural aide offered surplus funds of fifty thousand, which he declined.
47
五年八月,拜右僕射、同中書門下平章事兼樞密使。 允文多薦知名士,如洪适、汪應辰。 及為相,籍人才為三等,有所見聞即記之,號《材館錄》。 凡所舉,上皆收用,如胡銓、周必大、王十朋、趙汝愚、晁公武、李燾其尤章明者也。 上以兵冗財匱為憂,允文與陳俊卿議革三衙雜役,汰冗籍,三軍無怨言。
In the eighth month of the fifth year he was appointed right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, concurrent grand councilor of the Secretariat-Chancellery, and commissioner of military affairs. Yu Yunwen often recommended well-known scholars such as Hong Kuo and Wang Yingchen. When he became chief minister he catalogued talent in three grades. Whatever he saw or heard he recorded in a work called "Records of the Talent Hall." All whom he recommended the emperor employed, such as Hu Quan, Zhou Bida, Wang Shipeng, Zhao Ruyu, Chao Gongwu, and Li Tao—these were especially notable. The emperor worried about redundant troops and depleted finances. Yu Yunwen and Chen Junqing discussed reforming miscellaneous corvée in the three palace commands and cutting redundant rolls. The three armies had no complaints.
48
口六年,陳俊卿以奏留龔茂良忤上意,上震怒甚,俊卿待命浙江亭,兩日不報。 允文請對,極論體貌之道,疊拜榻前,遂命判福州。
In the sixth year Chen Junqing offended the emperor by memorializing to retain Gong Maoliang. The emperor was greatly enraged. Junqing awaited orders at Zhejiang Pavilion for two days without response. Yu Yunwen requested an audience and spoke exhaustively on the proper way to treat a minister's dignity. Bowing repeatedly before the imperial couch, he secured an order appointing Junqing judge of Fuzhou.
49
詔以范成大為祈請使,為陵寢故。 金不從,且諜報欲以三十萬騎奉遷陵寢來歸,中外洶洶,荊、襄將帥皆請增戍。 允文謂:「金方懲亮,決不輕動,不過以虛聲撼我耳。」 遂奏止之。 朝論紛然,允文屹不動,敵卒無他。
An edict appointed Fan Chengda envoy to offer prayers on account of the imperial tombs. Jin did not agree, and spies reported that they wished to send three hundred thousand horsemen to escort the tombs back in relocation. Inside and outside the court there was uproar, and generals of Jing and Xiang all requested increased garrisons. Yu Yunwen said, "Jin has just punished Hailing and will certainly not move lightly. This is nothing but an empty threat to shake us. He then memorialized to stop it. Court opinion was divided, but Yu Yunwen stood firm unmoved. The enemy in the end did nothing else.
50
自莊文太子斃,儲位未定。 允文上疏,且屢懇陳。 七年正月,上兩宮尊號,議始定,下詔皇第三子恭王惇立為皇太子,皇子愷以雄武、保寧軍節度使判寧國府。 皇太子尋尹臨安。 侍衛馬軍司牧地舊在臨安,允文謂地狹不利芻牧,請令就牧鎮江,緩急用騎過江便。 三軍有怨語,其後言者以此為言。
Since Crown Prince Zhuangwen died, the succession was unsettled. Yu Yunwen submitted a memorial and repeatedly pleaded earnestly. In the first month of the seventh year the emperor bestowed honorific titles on the two palaces. The debate was then settled. An edict established the emperor's third son, Prince Gong Dun, as crown prince. Prince Kai was made military commissioner of Xiongwu and Baoning and judge of Ningguo. The crown prince soon served as governor of Lin'an. The pasture lands of the Palace Horse Army Command had formerly been at Lin'an. Yu Yunwen said the land was too narrow for grazing and requested that horses be pastured at Zhenjiang instead, so that in an emergency cavalry could cross the river conveniently. The three armies grumbled, and later critics used this against him.
51
胡銓以臺評去,允文奏留之經筵。 銓薦朱熹,上問允文識熹否? 允文謂熹不在程頤下,遂召熹,熹不至。 檢鼓院以六條抑上書人,允文力言不可,從之。
Hu Quan left on account of a censorial review. Yu Yunwen memorialized to retain him at the imperial lecture hall. Hu Quan recommended Zhu Xi. The emperor asked Yu Yunwen whether he knew Xi. Yu Yunwen said Xi was not beneath Cheng Yi. Zhu Xi was then summoned, but he did not come. The Inspection and Remonstrance Office used six articles to suppress those who submitted memorials. Yu Yunwen strongly argued this could not be done, and the emperor agreed.
52
會慶節,金使烏林答天錫入見,金主婿也,驕倨甚,固請上降榻問金主起居,上不許,天錫跪不起,侍臣錯愕失措。 允文請大駕還禁中,且諭之曰:「大駕既興,難再御殿,使人來且隨班上壽。」 金使慚而退。
At the celebration of the imperial birthday, the Jin envoy Wulindati entered audience. He was the Jin ruler's son-in-law and was extremely arrogant and insolent. He insisted that the emperor descend from the throne to inquire after the Jin ruler's health. The emperor refused. Wulindati knelt and would not rise. Attending officials were startled and at a loss. Yu Yunwen requested that the imperial carriage return to the inner palace, and also instructed him, "Once the imperial carriage has risen, it is hard to mount the hall again. When the envoy comes, let him follow the court ranks to offer birthday congratulations. The Jin envoy withdrew in shame.
53
上以僕射名不正,改為左、右丞相。 八年二月,授允文特進、左丞相兼樞密使,梁克家為右丞相。 允文嘗舉克家自代,上不許。 是月,以病乞解機政,又薦克家靖重有宰相器,至是始同相,手詔付允文曰:「朕方欲武臣為樞密,曹勛如何?」 允文謂勛人品卑凡,不可用。 既而以張說簽書樞密院事,右正言王希呂與臺官交劾之。 上怒希呂甚,手詔「與遠惡監當」,允文繳回,上益怒。 梁克家曰:「希呂論張說,臺綱也,左相救希呂,國體也。」 上怒稍解,卒薄希呂之罰。
The emperor considered the title of vice director incorrect and changed it to left and right chief ministers. In the second month of the eighth year Yu Yunwen was appointed special advance and left chief minister and commissioner of military affairs. Liang Kejia was made right chief minister. Yu Yunwen had once recommended Liang Kejia to succeed him. The emperor did not agree. That month, citing illness he requested release from state affairs and again recommended Liang Kejia as steady and possessed of the capacity of a chief minister. Only then did they serve together as chief ministers. A personal edict was given to Yu Yunwen, "I am just now wishing for a military man as head of the Bureau of Military Affairs. What of Cao Xun? Yu Yunwen said Cao Xun's character was base and common and he could not be used. Then Zhang Shuo was appointed signer of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Right remonstrance official Wang Xilü and censorial officials jointly impeached him. The emperor was very angry with Wang Xilü. A personal edict ordered "remote harsh supervisory assignment." Yu Yunwen returned it with an objection. The emperor grew angrier. Liang Kejia said, "Wang Xilü impeached Zhang Shuo—that is the censorial standard. The left chief minister saving Xilü—that is the dignity of the state. The emperor's anger eased slightly, and in the end Wang Xilü's punishment was lightened.
54
四月,御史蕭之敏劾允文,允文上章待罪。 上過德壽宮,太上曰:「采石之功,之敏在何許? 毋聽其去。」 上為出之敏,且書扇制詩以留之。 允文言之敏端方,請召歸以辟言路。 上謂其言寬厚,命曾懷書之《時政記》。
In the fourth month Censor Xiao Zhimin impeached Yu Yunwen. Yu Yunwen submitted a memorial awaiting punishment. The emperor visited the Virtue and Longevity Palace. The retired emperor said, "At the merit of Caishi, where was Zhimin? Do not listen to his removal. The emperor removed Xiao Zhimin on Yu Yunwen's behalf and also wrote an inscribed poem on a fan to keep him. Yu Yunwen said Xiao Zhimin was upright and requested that he be recalled to open the path of remonstrance. The emperor said his words were generous and ordered Zeng Huai to record them in the "Record of Current Policy."
55
上命選諫官,允文以李彥潁、林光朝、王質對,三人皆鯁亮,又以文學推重于時,故薦之,久不報。 曾覿薦一人,賜第,擢諫議大夫。 允文、克家爭之,不從。 允文力求去,授少保、武安軍節度使、四川宣撫使,進封雍國公。 陛辭,上諭以進取之方,期以某日會河南。 允文言:「異時戒內外不相應。」 上曰:「若西師出而朕遲回,即朕負卿; 若朕已動而卿遲回,即卿負朕。」 上御正衙,酌酒賦詩以遣之,且賜家廟祭器。
The emperor ordered the selection of remonstrance officials. Yu Yunwen named Li Yanying, Lin Guangchao, and Wang Zhi. All three were blunt and bright, and he also recommended them for their literary learning, which was respected at the time. For a long time there was no response. Zeng Di recommended one man, granted him a mansion, and promoted him to remonstrance grandee. Yu Yunwen and Liang Kejia contested this, but the emperor did not agree. Yu Yunwen vigorously sought to leave. He was appointed junior guardian, military commissioner of the Wu'an Army, and commissioner for Sichuan, and was advanced in rank to Duke of Yong. At his farewell audience the emperor instructed him on the method of advance, fixing a day on which they would meet south of the Yellow River. Yu Yunwen said, "In the past the warning was that inner and outer would not coordinate. The emperor said, "If the western army goes out and I hesitate, then I have failed you; If I have already moved and you hesitate, then you have failed me. The emperor mounted the main hall, poured wine, composed a poem, and sent him off, also bestowing ancestral temple ritual vessels.
56
九年至蜀。 大軍月給米一石五斗,不足贍其家,允文捐宣司錢三十萬易米,計口增給。 立戶馬七條,括民馬,奏選良家子以儲戰用。 初,北界有寇鄰者,擁眾數萬在商、虢間,允文秉政日納款,迨至蜀,復遣人致書允文,不報,羈縻之而已。 既而鄰謀覺,金密遣人捕之。 葉衡奏聞,允文上疏自辨,因請納祿,不報。
In the ninth year he reached Sichuan. The great army's monthly ration was one picul and five dou of rice, insufficient to support their families. Yu Yunwen contributed three hundred thousand of the commissioner's funds to exchange for rice and increased the ration by head count. He established seven articles on household horses, registered private horses, and memorialized on selecting sons of good families to store up for military use. At first on the northern border there was a bandit chief named Lin who gathered a host of tens of thousands between Shang and Guo. During Yu Yunwen's time in office he submitted allegiance. When Yu Yunwen reached Sichuan, Lin again sent men with a letter to him, but Yu Yunwen did not reply and merely kept him in loose restraint. Soon Lin's plot was discovered. Jin secretly sent men to capture him. Ye Heng reported this to the throne. Yu Yunwen submitted a memorial in self-defense and therefore requested to surrender his salary. He received no response.
57
上嘗謂允文曰:「丙午之恥,當與丞相共雪之。」 又曰:「朕惟功業不如唐太宗,富庶不如漢文、景。」 故允文許上以恢復。 使蜀一歲,無進兵期,上賜密詔趣之,允文言軍需未備,上不樂。
The emperor once said to Yu Yunwen, "The shame of bingwu must be washed away together with the chief minister. He also said, "My achievements alone do not match those of Emperor Taizong of Tang, and my wealth and prosperity do not match those of Emperors Wen and Jing of Han. Therefore Yu Yunwen promised the emperor recovery. After serving in Shu for a year with no plan to advance, the emperor sent a secret edict pressing him to act. Yu Yunwen replied that military supplies were not ready, and the emperor was displeased.
58
淳熙元年薨。 後四年,上幸白石大閱,見軍皆少壯,謂輔臣曰:「虞允文行沙汰之效也。」 尋詔贈太傅,賜諡「忠肅」。
He died in the first year of the Chunxi era. Four years later, the emperor reviewed troops at Baishi and saw an army of young, vigorous men. He told his chief ministers, "This is the effect of Yu Yunwen's winnowing of the ranks." Soon afterward an edict posthumously made him Grand Tutor and granted the posthumous title "Loyal and Solemn."
59
允文姿雄偉,長六尺四寸,慷慨磊落有大志,而言動有則度,人望而知為任重之器。 早以文學致身臺閣,晚際時艱,出入將相垂二十年,孜孜忠勤無二焉。 嘗注《唐書》、《五代史》,藏於家。 有詩文十卷,《經筵春秋講義》三卷,《奏議》二十二卷,《內外志》十五卷,行於世。
Yu Yunwen was imposing in bearing, six feet four inches tall, open-hearted and upright with lofty ambitions. His words and deeds were measured; at a glance people knew he was fit for weighty responsibility. Early he reached the halls of office through literary accomplishment; late he met national crisis and moved between general and minister for nearly twenty years, tirelessly loyal without deviation. He once annotated the History of Tang and the History of the Five Dynasties, keeping the manuscripts at home. His works included ten juan of poetry and prose, three juan of Lectures on the Spring and Autumn Annals for the Classic Mat, twenty-two juan of Memorials and Proposals, and fifteen juan of Internal and External Affairs — all in circulation.
60
子三人:公亮、公著、杭孫。 孫八人,皆好修,唯剛簡最知名,嘉定中,召不至,終利路提點刑獄。
His three sons were Gongliang, Gongzhu, and Hang. He had eight grandsons, all devoted to self-cultivation; Gangjian alone was most renowned. During the Jiading era he was summoned but did not come, and ended his career as judicial intendant of Lizhou Circuit.
61
辛次膺
Xin Ciying.
62
辛次膺,字起季,萊州人。 幼孤,從母依外氏王聖美於丹徒。 俊慧力學,日誦千言。 甫冠,登政和二年進士第,歷官為單父丞。
Xin Ciying, styled Qiji, was from Laizhou. Orphaned in youth, he followed his mother to live with her maternal relatives, the Wang family of Shengmei, at Dantu. Clever and gifted, he applied himself to learning and could recite a thousand words each day. Shortly after coming of age he passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Zhenghe and served as assistant magistrate of Shanfu.
63
值山東亂,舉室南渡。 屬閩寇范汝為陷建州,宰相呂頤浩以次膺宰浦城,遏賊衝。 比至,寇黨熊志寧已焚其邑。 於是披荊棘,坐瓦礫中,安輯吏民,料丁壯,治器械,厄險阻,號令不煩,邑民便之。 數月,韓世忠破賊,復建州,除審計司。 餘黨范黑龍破鄰邑,閩帥張守檄次膺,俟賊平而後行。 乃募鄉兵習強弩,賊至,與之夾水而陣,矢齊發,賊奔潰,生致首領五人,餘悉宥之。
When Shandong fell into turmoil, his entire household fled south. When the Fujian bandit Fan Ruwei seized Jianzhou, Grand Councilor Lu Yihao appointed Ciying magistrate of Pucheng to block the bandits' line of attack. By the time he arrived, the bandit follower Xiong Zhining had already burned the county seat. Thereupon he cleared thorns, sat amid the rubble, settled officials and commoners, counted able-bodied men, prepared weapons, held strategic passes, and issued orders without vexation — the townspeople welcomed this. Within months Han Shizhong defeated the bandits and recovered Jianzhou, and Ciying was appointed to the Audit Office. Remnant bandits under Fan Heilong ravaged neighboring counties. Fujian commander Zhang Shou ordered Ciying to wait until the bandits were pacified before departing. He recruited local militia to train with powerful crossbows. When the bandits arrived, he drew up lines facing them across the water and loosed a volley together; the bandits broke and fled. He captured five leaders alive and pardoned the rest.
64
用參政孟庾薦,召對,奏用人貴于務實,施令在於必行。 遷駕部。 願敕郡邑省耕薄征,務農抑末。 又奏:「中原之人,棄墳墓生業,從巡江左,饑寒殞仆。 願加存拊,可以堅中原徯后之心。」 遷吏部郎、湖北運判,中途召還,見高宗于建康行宮,首言救世之弊,上稱善,敕以所奏榜朝堂。
On Vice Grand Councilor Meng Yu's recommendation he was summoned for audience and argued that appointing men should value practical results and issuing orders must mean certain enforcement. He was transferred to the Transport Bureau. He asked that the emperor instruct prefectures and counties to ease farming burdens and lighten levies, promote agriculture and restrain commerce. He also memorialized, "People of the Central Plains have abandoned ancestral graves and livelihoods to follow the court south of the Yangtze; hungry and cold, they collapse and die. I ask that relief and care be increased — this can strengthen the hearts of those in the Central Plains who await the sovereign's return." He was promoted within the Ministry of Personnel and appointed transport commissioner for Hubei, but was recalled en route. At the temporary palace in Jiankang he saw Emperor Gaozong and opened with the ills afflicting the realm. The emperor praised him and ordered his memorial posted in the court hall.
65
擢右正言。 奏:「願閱兵將,親簡拔,攬恩威之柄,使人人知朝廷之尊。 左右近習,久則干政,願杜其漸。 兵連不解,十年於茲。 一歲用錢三十萬、米四百萬石,諸路常賦僅足支其半,餘悉取諸民。 乞罷不急之務,節姑息之澤,省冗官,汰愞兵。」
He was promoted to Right Remonstrance Official. He memorialized, "I wish that military commanders be reviewed and personally selected, that the handles of favor and severity be grasped, so that all may know the dignity of the court. Those close at hand, over time, meddle in government — I ask that this tendency be stopped at its start. War has continued unbroken for ten years now. Each year thirty million strings of cash and four million shi of grain are consumed; regular levies from all circuits barely cover half — the rest is entirely extracted from the people. I beg that non-urgent affairs be suspended, indulgent largesse be curtailed, superfluous officials be reduced, and cowardly troops be weeded out."
66
韓世忠男直秘閣,次膺奏曰:「攻城野戰,世忠功也,其子何與? 石渠、東觀,圖書府也,武功何與? 幸門一啟,援例者眾。」 又奏:「今主議者見小利忽大計,偏師偶勝,遽思進討,便謂攻為有餘; 警奏稍聞,首陳退舍,便謂守為不足。 願嚴紀律,謹烽燧,明間探。」 上皆信納。 聞韓世忠將自楚州移軍鎮江,復陳可慮者五。 王倫使北請和,次膺言:「宣和海上之約,靖康城下之盟,口血未乾,兵隨其後。 今日之事當識其詐。」
When Han Shizhong's son was appointed to the Imperial Archives, Ciying memorialized, "Storming cities and fighting in the field — that was Shizhong's merit. What has his son to do with it? The Stone Canal and Eastern Pavilion are repositories of books — what has military achievement to do with them? Once the gate of favor is opened, those citing precedent will be many." He also memorialized, "Those directing policy today seize on small gains and neglect the grand design. When a detached force wins by chance, they eagerly plan an advance and declare offense more than sufficient. When warning reports are barely heard, they put retreat first and declare defense insufficient. I ask that discipline be tightened, beacon-fires maintained with care, and scouting made clear." The emperor trusted and accepted all of it. When he learned Han Shizhong would move his army from Chuzhou to Zhenjiang, he again laid out five points of concern. When Wang Lun went north to sue for peace, Ciying said, "The agreement at sea in the Xuanhe era, the covenant beneath the walls of Jingkang — the blood on their lips was not yet dry before troops followed. Today's affair calls for recognizing their deceit."
67
時秦檜在政府,為其妻兄王仲薿敘兩官。 次膺劾仲薿奴事朱勔,投拜金酋,罪在不赦。 又劾知撫州王㬇違法佃官田,不輸租。 其父仲山,先知撫州,屈膝金人,㬇繼其後,何顏見吏民? 㬇,檜之妻兄也。 章留中。 次膺再論之曰:「近臣奏二人,繼聞追寢除命,是皆檜容私營救,陛下曲從其欲,國之紀綱,臣之責任,一切廢格。 借使貴連宮掖,親如肺附,寵任非宜,臣亦得論之,而大臣之姻婭,乃不得繩之耶? 望陛下奮乾剛之威,戒蒙蔽之漸。」
At the time Qin Hui held office and had arranged two rank appointments for his wife's elder brother Wang Zhongwei. Ciying impeached Zhongwei for having served Zhu Mi as a slave and bowing to submit to the Jin chief — crimes beyond pardon. He also impeached the prefect of Fuzhou, Wang Kuan, for illegally farming government fields and failing to pay rent. His father Zhongshan had earlier served as prefect of Fuzhou and bent knee to the Jin; Kuan succeeded him — with what face can he look upon officials and people? Kuan, too, was Hui's wife's elder brother. The memorial was held at court without action. Ciying argued again, "A remonstrance official memorialized against two men, yet I soon heard the appointments revoked — all because Hui tolerated private rescue efforts and Your Majesty indulged his wishes. The state's discipline and a minister's responsibility have all been set aside. Even if one were linked by rank to the palace inner quarters, close as lungs to the frame, and unfit for favor — a minister may still remonstrate. Yet a grand councilor's in-laws cannot be bound by law? I hope Your Majesty will summon the authority of Qian and guard against the gradual onset of being misled."
68
求去,除直秘閣、湖南提刑。 先是,湖南賊龍淵、李朝擁眾數萬,據衡之茶陵,檜匿不奏,乃以見闕處次膺。 陛辭,上曰:「卿以將母為請,朕不得留。 湖湘風物甚佳,且無盜賊,職名異恩,卒歲當召。」 既抵長沙,賊勢方張,戍將抽回,始悟檜欲陷之。 即單車趨茶陵,擒賊驍將戮之,募賊黨毛義、龍麟等,齎榜諭以朝廷抽回戍將,務欲招安,宜亟降,待以不死。 龍淵、李朝相繼降,仍請料精銳,可得禁旅萬餘。 次鷹笑曰:「是皆吾民,正當棄兵甲,持鋤耰,趣令復業。」 奏茶陵為軍。
He asked to leave office and was appointed to the Imperial Archives and made judicial intendant of Hunan. Previously the Hunan bandits Long Yuan and Li Chao had gathered tens of thousands and held Chaling in Hengzhou. Hui concealed this and did not report it, and placed Ciying in the vacancy. At his farewell audience the emperor said, "You asked to go to care for your mother — I cannot keep you. The scenery of Hunan and Hubei is splendid, and there are no bandits. The post carries special favor; at year's end you will surely be recalled." When he reached Changsha, the bandits were at full strength and the garrison troops had been withdrawn — only then did he realize Hui meant to trap him. He immediately went alone by cart to Chaling, captured and executed a bandit champion, recruited the bandit followers Mao Yi and Long Lin, and sent proclamations explaining that the court had withdrawn garrison troops intending to offer amnesty — they should surrender quickly and would be spared death. Long Yuan and Li Chao surrendered in succession, yet still asked to assemble picked troops — more than ten thousand palace guards could be raised. Ciying laughed and said, "These are all our people — they should simply discard arms, take up hoes, and be urged to resume their livelihoods." He memorialized to establish Chaling as a military garrison.
69
金好成,赦書至衡陽,次膺極陳其詐,略曰:「臣昨在諫列,嘗數論金人變詐無常,願陛下為宗社生靈深慮。 近觀邸報,樞密院編修官胡銓妄議和好,歷詆大臣,除名遠竄。 已而得銓書槁,乃知朝廷遽欲屈己稱藩,臣未知其可。 大臣懷姦固位,不恤國計,媕婀趨和,謬以為便,臣不知天下之人以為便乎? 『父之讎不與共戴天,兄弟之讎不反兵』。 棄讎釋怨,盡除前事,降萬乘之尊,以求說於敵,天下之人,果能遂亡怨痛以從陛下之志乎?」 書奏,不報。 金陷三京。
When the Jin peace was concluded and an amnesty edict reached Hengyang, Ciying vigorously denounced its deceit, saying in summary, "When I was among the remonstrance officials I repeatedly argued that the Jin change tactics without constancy — I urge Your Majesty to deliberate deeply for the altars of state and the living people. Recently reading the court gazette, I see that Compilation Officer Hu Quan of the Bureau of Military Affairs rashly debated the peace, reviled successive ministers, was stripped of rank and banished far away. Having then obtained Quan's draft letter, I know the court suddenly wishes to humble itself and declare vassalage — I do not know whether this can be done. Grand ministers harbor treachery to hold their posts, heedless of state policy, fawning toward peace and wrongly deeming it convenient — I do not know whether people under heaven deem it convenient. One does not live under the same heaven as the murderer of one's father; one does not turn home with weapons against the murderer of one's brother.' Abandoning vengeance, releasing grievances, clearing away all prior affairs, lowering the dignity of the Son of Heaven to please the enemy — can people under heaven truly put aside hatred and pain to follow Your Majesty's wish?" The memorial was submitted, but no response was given. The Jin took the three capitals.
70
次膺罷,奉祠。 秦檜以其負重名,欲先移書,當稍收用,次膺笑而不答。 閱十六年,貧益甚,亡毫髮求於人。 檜死,起知婺州,三日被召。 至國門,以足疾求去。 加秘閣修撰,還郡。 再召見,歷言仇怨當國,老母幾委溝壑,因奏國本未立,上改容曰:「誰可?」 次膺曰:「知子莫若父。」 上稱善。 擢權給事中。 蔣璨權戶部侍郎,次膺駁璨不守正,事交結,出璨知平江。 御史中丞湯鵬舉劾次膺假權報怨,除待制、宮觀。 起知泉州,移福建帥。 丁母憂,乞納祿。
Ciying was removed from office and granted a temple sinecure. Because Ciying carried great reputation, Qin Hui wished first to send a letter — surely he would be somewhat reemployed. Ciying smiled and did not reply. After sixteen years he grew ever poorer, never seeking the slightest thing from others. After Hui died, Ciying was raised to govern Wuzhou; within three days he was summoned. Upon reaching the capital gate, he requested leave citing foot ailment. He received the additional title Compiler of the Secret Archive and returned to his prefecture. Summoned again, he recounted in detail how enemies and foes held power — his aged mother nearly left to die in ditches — and memorialized that the heir apparent was not yet established. The emperor's expression changed and he asked, "Who is suitable?" Ciying said, "No one knows a son like his father." The emperor expressed approval. He was promoted to acting Attendant Drafting Officer. When Jiang Can was acting Vice Minister of Revenue, Ciying blocked his appointment for lack of integrity and cultivating connections, and Can was sent out to govern Pingjiang. Censor-in-Chief Tang Pengju impeached Ciying for abusing his power to settle scores; he was given the title Attendant Drafting and a palace appointment. He was raised to govern Quanzhou and then transferred to command Fujian. When his mother died he requested to surrender his salary.
71
孝宗即位,手詔趣召。 既至,奏:「陛下用賢必考核事功,勿以一人譽用之,一人毀去之,出令要無反汗,納善要知轉圜。 練兵恤民,經理兩淮,使敵不能乘虛而入。」 是日,除御史中丞。 朝德壽宮,高宗一見,謂:「惜閒卿于強健時。」
When Emperor Xiaozong took the throne, he sent a personal edict urgently summoning him. Upon arrival he memorialized, "Your Majesty, in employing the worthy you must assess actual achievements — do not appoint on one man's praise or dismiss on one man's slander. Issuing orders must not be reversed; accepting good counsel requires knowing how to change course gracefully. Train troops and care for the people; manage the two Huai regions so the enemy cannot exploit a gap to enter." That same day he was made Censor-in-Chief. Attending at Deshou Palace, Gaozong at one glance said, "A pity that leisure found you only after your vigorous years."
72
上將以春饗,迎高宗詣延祥觀,幸玉津園。 次膺奏:「欽宗服未終,方停策士,且金人嫚書甫至,意在交兵,矧原野間禁衛稀少,當過為之慮,兼一出費十數萬緡,曷若以資兵食。」 時兩淮盡為荒野,次膺奏:「乞集遺甿歸業,借種牛,或令在屯兵從便耕種,此足兵良法。」 至若成閔之貪饕,湯思退之朋附,葉義問之姦罔,皆以次論劾。 每章疏一出,天下韙之。 上方厲精政事,次膺每以名實為言,多所裨益,呼其官不名。
The emperor planned a spring banquet, welcoming Gaozong to Yansxiang Abbey and then visiting Jade Ford Garden. Ciying memorialized, "Emperor Qinzong's mourning is not yet complete and the civil examinations have just been suspended. Moreover an insolent Jin letter has just arrived, their intent being to provoke war. Furthermore the palace guard is sparse in the open countryside — this calls for extra caution. Also a single outing costs more than a hundred thousand strings — why not use that to supply troops' provisions?" At the time both Huai regions were entirely wasteland. Ciying memorialized, "I ask that scattered farmers be gathered to return to cultivation, seed and oxen be lent, or garrison troops be allowed to farm as convenient — this is an excellent method to supply the army." He successively impeached Cheng Min for greed, Tang Situi for factional clinging, and Ye Yiwen for treacherous deceit. Whenever one of his memorials appeared, all under heaven applauded it. The emperor was then vigorously managing affairs; Ciying spoke constantly of names and realities and contributed greatly. The emperor addressed him by his office title, not his personal name.
73
隆興改元,三月,同知樞密院事。 符離之師,捷奏日聞,次膺手疏千言,乞持重。 未幾,軍果潰。 及見,上顏色不樂,奏言:「師潰而歸,張浚彈壓必無他,此上天大儆戒于陛下。」 上歎其先見。
In the third month of the Longxing era change, he became Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. During the battle at Fuli, daily reports of victory arrived; Ciying submitted a handwritten memorial of a thousand characters urging restraint. Before long the army did indeed collapse. When he was received, the emperor's face was unhappy. Ciying memorialized, "The army collapsed and returned — Zhang Jun's suppression will surely have no ulterior motive. This is a great warning from Heaven to Your Majesty." The emperor sighed over his foresight.
74
拜參知政事,以疾力祈免。 且奏曰:「王十朋除侍史,雖上親擢,天下皆知臣嘗薦其賢。 湯思退召將至,亦知臣嘗疏其姦。 臣不引避,人其謂何?」 除資政殿學士、提舉洞霄宮。 陛辭,賜茶,甚惜其去。 次膺奏:「臣與思退,理難同列。」 上曰:「有謂湯思退可用者。」 次膺奏:「今日之事,恐非思退能辨。 思退固不足道,竊恐誤國家事。」 乾道六年閏五月卒,年七十九。
He was appointed Vice Grand Councilor but earnestly pleaded to be excused on account of illness. He also memorialized, "Wang Shipeng was appointed remonstrance official — though the emperor personally selected him, all under heaven know that I once recommended his worth. Tang Situi is about to be summoned back — they also know I once memorialized against his treachery. If I do not withdraw, what will people say?" He was made Academician of the Hall for Aid in Governance and appointed administrator of Dongxiao Palace. At his farewell audience the emperor bestowed tea and deeply regretted his departure. Ciying memorialized, "Between Situi and myself, reason makes it hard to serve in the same rank." The emperor said, "Some say Tang Situi can be employed." Ciying memorialized, "Today's affairs — I fear Situi cannot distinguish them. Situi is scarcely worth mentioning, but I privately fear he will harm state and family affairs." He died in the intercalary fifth month of the sixth year of the Qiandao era, aged seventy-nine.
75
次膺孝友清介,立朝謇諤。 仕宦五十年,無絲毫挂吏議。 為政貴清靜,先德化,所至人稱其不煩。 善屬文,尤工於詩。
Ciying was filial and friendly, pure and upright, and at court spoke with blunt integrity. In fifty years of official service he bore not the slightest mark in censorial records. In governing he valued tranquility and put moral transformation first; wherever he went people praised that he was not burdensome. He was skilled at literary composition and especially adept at poetry.
76
論曰:孝宗志恢復,特任張浚,俊卿斥姦黨,明公道,以為之佐。 洎居中書,知無不為,言無不盡,蓋其立志一以先哲為法,非他相可擬也。 允文許國之忠,炳如丹青。 金庶人亮之南侵,其鋒甚銳,中外倚劉錡為長城,錡以病不克進師。 允文儒臣,奮勇督戰,一舉而挫之,亮乃自斃。 昔赤壁一勝而三國勢成,淮淝一勝而南北勢定。 允文采石之功,宋事轉危為安,實係乎此。 及其罷相鎮蜀,受命興復,克期而往,志雖未就,其能慷慨任重,豈易得哉? 次膺力排群邪,無負言責,涖政不煩,居約有守。 晚再立朝,謇諤尤著,南渡直言之臣,宜為首稱焉。
The commentary says: Emperor Xiaozong aspired to recovery and specially entrusted Zhang Jun; Junqing expelled the faction of the wicked and clarified public principle to assist him. When he reached the Secretariat, there was nothing he would not undertake and nothing he would not speak — for he had set his aspiration entirely by the ancient sages as model, not to be compared with other chief ministers. Yu Yunwen's loyalty in serving the state shone as brightly as figures painted in red and green. When the deposed Jin ruler Liang invaded south, his momentum was very sharp; court and country relied on Liu Qi as a great wall, but Qi because of illness could not advance his army. Yu Yunwen, a civil minister, roused courage to direct the battle, and in one stroke broke the enemy; Liang then died by his own hand. Formerly one victory at Red Cliffs fixed the tripartite balance; one victory on the Huai and at Fei River fixed the balance between north and south. Yu Yunwen's achievement at Caishi turned the Song peril into safety — the dynasty truly hinged on this. When he was dismissed as chief minister and stationed in Shu, ordered to recover lost territory and setting a deadline to march — though his aim was not fulfilled, that he could be magnanimous and bear heavy responsibility — is that easily found? Ciying forcefully expelled the multitude of wicked men, did not fail in the duty of remonstrance, governed without vexation, and in poverty kept his integrity. Late in life he again stood at court, his blunt speaking especially notable — among the outspoken ministers since the southern crossing, he should be ranked first.