1
陳康伯
Chen Kangbo
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陳康伯，字長卿，信之弋陽人。 父亨仲，提舉江東常平。 康伯幼有學行。 宣和三年，中上舍丙科。 累遷太學正。 丁內艱。 貴溪盜將及其鄉，康伯起義丁逆擊，俘其渠魁，邑得全。
Chen Kangbo, courtesy name Changqing, was a native of Yiyang in Xin Prefecture. His father Hengzhong served as Director of Ever-Normal Granaries for Jiangdong. From childhood Kangbo was noted for his scholarship and personal integrity. In 1121, he passed the upper dormitory division C examination at the Imperial Academy. He rose through successive appointments to Director of the Imperial Academy. He entered mourning upon his father's death. When bandits from Guixi approached his home district, Kangbo raised local militia and counterattacked, capturing the ringleaders and saving the district from ruin.
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建炎末，為敕令刪定官，預修《紹興敕令》。 尋通判衢州，攝郡事。 盜發白馬原，康伯督州兵濟王師進討，克之。 除太常博士，改提舉江東常平茶鹽。 高宗進蹕建康，康伯以職事過闕，得對，因請擇將，上開納。
Near the end of the Jianyan era, he served as a code-revision official and helped compile the Shaoxing Imperial Codes. He was soon appointed Vice Prefect of Quzhou, where he also administered prefectural affairs in the prefect's stead. When bandits rose at Baima Plain, Kangbo directed prefectural troops to support the imperial army in a punitive campaign and captured them. He was appointed Academician of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then reassigned to supervise ever-normal granaries, tea, and salt in Jiangdong. When Emperor Gaozong moved his court to Jiankang, Kangbo happened to be in the capital on official business and was granted an audience, where he urged the emperor to select capable generals. The emperor received the suggestion favorably.
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紹興八年，除樞密院大計議官。 累遷戶部司勳郎中。 康伯與秦檜太學有舊，檜當國，康伯在郎省五年，泊然無求，不偷合。 十三年，始遷軍器監。 借吏部尚書使金，至汴將晡，不供餉，閉戶臥勿問； 入夜，館人扣戶謝不敏，亦不對。 後因金使至，詔康伯館伴，端午賜扇帕，與論拜受禮，言者以生事論，罷知泉州。
In 1138, he was appointed Grand Deliberator of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He rose through successive appointments to serve concurrently as Bureau Section Director in the Ministries of Revenue and of Personnel. Kangbo had known Qin Hui from their days at the Imperial Academy. When Qin dominated the government, Kangbo spent five years in the ministry offices without ambition or scheming, refusing to ingratiate himself. Not until the thirteenth year of Shaoxing was he transferred to the Directorate of Armaments. Appointed acting Minister of Personnel and sent as envoy to Jin, he reached Bian near dusk without being offered provisions. He shut his door and went to bed without a word of complaint. That night the host knocked on his door to apologize for the lapse, but Kangbo offered no response. Later, when a Jin envoy arrived, the court ordered Kangbo to serve as host envoy. When fans and silk were bestowed at the Dragon Boat Festival, he discussed the ritual of bowing to receive them. Critics charged him with stirring up trouble, and he was removed from office and sent to govern Quanzhou.
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海盜間作，朝廷遣劉寶、成閔逐捕，康伯以上意招懷，盜多出降，籍為兵。 久之，不逞者陰倡亂，康伯訊得實，論殺之，州以無事。 秩滿，三奉祠，垂十年。
Sea pirates emerged intermittently, and the court dispatched Liu Bao and Cheng Min to hunt them down. Acting on the emperor's policy of clemency, Kangbo persuaded many to surrender, and they were enrolled as soldiers. After a time, discontented elements secretly stirred up rebellion. Kangbo investigated, confirmed the plot, had the ringleaders executed, and the prefecture was kept at peace. When his term expired, he held temple sinecures on three separate occasions, for nearly ten years in all.
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檜死，起知漢州，將出峽，召對，除吏部侍郎。 康伯首請節用寬民，凡州縣取民無藝，許監司互察，臺諫彈劾。 尋兼禮、戶部。 乞約歲用，會所入，儲什之一二備水旱。 奏上，議竟不決。 兼刑部。 前此有司希檜意興大獄，康伯平讞直冤，士大夫存歿多賴之。 除吏部尚書。 宰臣擬用「權尚書」出命，高宗顧曰：「朕且大用，何權為？」 尋拜參知政事。
After Qin's death, Kangbo was recalled to govern Han Prefecture. Before he had even left the Three Gorges, he was summoned for an audience and appointed Vice Minister of Personnel. Kangbo was the first to call for frugal government and relief for the people. Wherever local officials extorted the people without restraint, he proposed that supervisory commissioners be empowered to investigate one another and that censorial officials impeach offenders. He was soon given concurrent charge of the Ministries of Rites and Revenue. He proposed setting annual expenditure against projected revenue and reserving one or two tenths as a buffer against flood and drought. His memorial reached the throne, but deliberations ended without a decision. He was given additional charge of the Ministry of Justice. Under Qin, officials had launched major prosecutions to win favor. Kangbo rebalanced verdicts and cleared wrongful convictions, and many officials owed their lives or posthumous vindication to him. He was appointed Minister of Personnel. The chief councillors proposed issuing the appointment as "Acting Minister," but Gaozong turned and said, "I intend to use him in full measure — why call him acting?" He was soon appointed Vice Grand Councillor.
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自孫道夫使北還，已聞金以買馬非約為言，朝廷特恃和，康伯與同知樞密院事王倫白發其端，倫使還，乃言和好無他，康伯持初論不變。 九月，以通奉大夫守尚書右僕射、同中書門下平章事，例賜銀絹，康伯固辭，減半，又辭。 兼史院。 上嘗謂其「靜重明敏，一語不妄發，真宰相也。」 又命與湯思退輔政，事勿憚商論，惟其當而已。 康伯言：「大臣事當盡公，若依阿植黨，此鄙夫患失者，臣非惟不敢，亦素不能。」 高宗歎其長者。 普安郡王居潛藩，高宗一日謂康伯，當以使相封真王，今宜冠以屬籍，於是詔以為皇子，封建王，實三十年二月也。
Ever since Sun Daofu's return from the north, the court had heard that Jin was complaining that horse purchases fell outside the treaty terms. The court still clung to the hope of peace. Kangbo and Wang Lun, Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, were the first to raise the alarm. When Wang returned from his own mission, he insisted the alliance was intact, but Kangbo never wavered from his initial judgment. In the ninth month he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Ministry of State and Concurrent Grand Councillor with the rank of Grandee for Court Audience. By precedent he was offered silver and silk; he firmly declined, and when the gift was halved he declined again. He was also given charge of the History Institute. The emperor once described him as "calm, deliberate, and sharp — never speaking rashly — a true chief minister." He was also ordered to govern alongside Tang Situi, with instructions to debate freely and decide matters on merit alone. Kangbo said, "A chief minister's duty is to serve the public good. To fawn, build factions, and cling to office is the way of a petty man. I not only dare not do such things — I have never been capable of them." Gaozong praised him as a man of mature and upright character. Prince Pu'an still lived in the inner palace as heir apparent in waiting. One day Gaozong told Kangbo that he ought to be enfeoffed as a full prince under the commissioner-grandee rank and entered in the imperial clan register. An edict then declared him imperial son and enfeoffed him as Prince of Jian — this was in the second month of 1160.
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明年三月，拜光祿大夫、尚書左僕射。 五月，金遣使賀天申節，出嫚言，求淮、漢地，指取將相大臣，且以淵聖凶問至。 康伯主禮部侍郎黃中之論，持斬衰三年。 先是，葉義問、賀允中使還，言金必敗盟，康伯請早為之備，建四策：一，增劉錡荊南軍，以重上流； 二，分畫兩淮地，命諸將結民社，各保其境； 三，劉寶獨當淮東，將驕卒少，不可倚； 四，沿江諸郡修城積糧，以固內地。 至是，召三衙帥及楊存中至都堂議舉兵，又請侍從、臺諫集議，康伯傳上旨曰：「今日更不問和與守，直問戰當如何。」 時上意雅欲視師，內侍省都知張去為陰沮用兵，且陳退避策，中外妄傳幸閩、蜀，人情洶洶。 右相朱倬無一語，同知樞密院事周麟之受命聘金，憚不欲行，康伯獨以為己任，奏曰：「金敵敗盟，天人共憤，今日之事有進無退，聖意堅決，則將士之意自倍。 願分三衙禁旅助襄、漢，待其先發應之。」 康伯勉周麟之以國事，麟之語侵康伯，康伯曰：「使某不為宰相，當自行，大臣與國存亡，雖死安避。」 麟之竟以辭行罷，尋貶責。 殿中侍御史陳俊卿言當用張浚，且乞斬張去為以作士氣。 康伯以俊卿振職，奏權兵部侍郎。
In the third month of the following year he was appointed Left Vice Director of the Ministry of State with the rank of Grandee of Splendor. In the fifth month Jin sent envoys to congratulate the Heavenly Progenitor Festival. They spoke contemptuously, demanded the territories between the Huai and Han rivers, named specific generals and ministers for extradition, and also brought news of Emperor Qinzong's death. Kangbo sided with Vice Minister of Rites Huang Zhong and insisted on three years of mourning in the most severe grade. Earlier, when Ye Yiwen and He Yunzhong returned from their missions, they reported that Jin would surely renounce the treaty. Kangbo urged early preparations and proposed four measures: first, reinforce Liu Qi's army in Jingnan to strengthen the upper Yangtze. Second, demarcate the Two Huai region and order local generals to organize militia communities so each area could defend itself. Third, Liu Bao alone held eastern Huai; his officers were arrogant and his troops too few to be trusted. Fourth, the counties along the Yangtze should repair city walls and stockpile grain to secure the interior. At this juncture the commanders of the Three Palace Commands and Yang Cunzhong were summoned to the chief councillors' hall to discuss mobilization. Kangbo also called for a joint consultation of attendants and censorial officials, relaying the emperor's charge: "Today let us set aside debate over peace or mere defense — I want to know how we should fight." The emperor himself wished to take personal command of the armies, but Zhang Quwei, Chief Director of the Inner Service, secretly discouraged war and urged retreat. Rumors spread that the court would flee to Fujian or Sichuan, and public panic mounted. Right Grand Councillor Zhu Zhuo offered not a word. Zhou Linzhi, Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, had been ordered to serve as envoy to Jin but feared to go. Kangbo alone accepted the burden as his own and memorialized: "Jin has broken the treaty — heaven and men alike are enraged. Today there is no retreat, only advance. If Your Majesty's resolve is firm, the troops' morale will redouble of itself. I ask that the Three Palace Commands' capital garrison be dispatched to reinforce Xiangyang and the Han River region, to respond once the enemy moves first." Kangbo pressed Zhou Linzhi on the grounds of national duty. Zhou responded with insults, to which Kangbo replied, "Had I not been chief minister, I would have gone myself. A grand minister shares the fate of the state — even death is no excuse for shirking." Zhou ultimately pleaded illness to avoid going and was dismissed; he was soon demoted and censured. Remonstrance Official Chen Junqing argued that Zhang Jun should be put in command, and called for Zhang Quwei's execution to rally troop morale. Impressed by Chen Junqing's forceful discharge of duty, Kangbo recommended him for appointment as acting Vice Minister of War.
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九月，金犯廬州，王權敗歸，中外震駭，朝臣有遣家豫避者。 康伯獨具舟迎家入浙，且下令臨安諸城門扃鐍率遲常時，人恃以安。 敵迫江上，召楊存中至內殿議之，因命就康伯議。 康伯延之入，解衣置酒，上聞之已自寬。 翌日，入奏曰：「聞有勸陛下幸越趨閩者，審爾，大事去矣，盍靜以待之。」
In the ninth month Jin attacked Luzhou. Wang Quan's army was routed. Court and country alike were shaken; some officials sent their families away in advance. Kangbo alone prepared boats to bring his family into Zhejiang, and ordered that Lin'an's city gates be closed more slowly than usual — through this the people found reassurance. As the enemy pressed toward the river, Yang Cunzhong was summoned to the inner palace for consultation and then sent to confer with Kangbo. Kangbo invited him in, loosened his garments, and offered wine. When the emperor heard of this, his own anxiety eased. The next day he memorialized: "I hear that some urge Your Majesty to flee to Shaoxing and then on to Fujian. If that is true, all is lost. Better to remain calm and wait."
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一日，忽降手詔：「如敵未退，散百官。」 康伯焚之而後奏曰：「百官散，主勢孤矣。」 上意既堅，請下詔親征，以葉義問督江、淮軍，虞允文參謀軍事。 上初命朱倬為都督，倬辭，乃命義問。 允文尋敗敵于采石，金主亮為其臣下所斃而還。
One day the emperor suddenly issued a handwritten edict: "If the enemy does not withdraw, dismiss the entire bureaucracy." Kangbo burned the edict, then memorialized: "If the officials are dismissed, Your Majesty stands alone." Once the emperor's resolve was firm, Kangbo urged a proclamation of personal campaign. Ye Yiwen was appointed to oversee the Jiang-Huai armies, with Yu Yunwen as military strategist. The emperor first named Zhu Zhuo supreme commander, but Zhu declined, and Ye Yiwen was appointed in his place. Yu soon routed the enemy at Caishi. Emperor Hailing of Jin was assassinated by his own court, and the invading army withdrew.
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方亮之犯江，國人即立葛王褒。 三十二年，始遣高忠建來告登位，議授書禮，康伯以誼折之，於是報書始用敵國禮。
While Hailing was still pushing south toward the Yangtze, the Jin court had already enthroned Prince Ge, Wanyan Yong. In 1162, Gao Zhongjian arrived to announce the new emperor's accession. When court ritual for receiving the letter was debated, Kangbo objected on grounds of propriety, and the court's reply was accordingly drafted in the forms reserved for an enemy state.
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高宗倦勤，有與子意，康伯密贊大議，乞先正名，俾天下咸知聖意，遂草立太子詔以進。 及行內禪禮，以康伯奉冊。 孝宗即位，命兼樞密使，進封信國公，禮遇殊渥，但呼丞相而不名。
Weary of rule, Gaozong wished to abdicate in favor of his son. Kangbo quietly supported the plan, urging that the heir's status be formally settled first so the realm would understand the emperor's intent. He then drafted the edict establishing the crown prince and submitted it for approval. When the abdication ceremony was performed, Kangbo was charged with presenting the investiture document. Upon Xiaozong's accession, Kangbo was made concurrent Commissioner of Military Affairs, advanced to Duke of Xin, and granted exceptional honors — the emperor addressed him only as "Chief Minister," never by name.
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康伯自建康扈從回，即以病祈去位，不允。 明年，改元隆興，請益堅，遂以太保、觀文殿大學士、福國公判信州。 上慰勞甚勤，且曰：「有宣召，慎勿辭。」 宰執即府餞別，百官班送都門外。 已又辭郡，丐外祠，除醴泉觀使。
On returning from Jiankang with the imperial procession, Kangbo at once pleaded illness and asked to retire; the emperor refused. The next year, when the era name was changed to Longxing, his request grew more insistent. He was finally released as Grand Mentor, Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature, and Duke of Fu, assigned to govern Xin Prefecture. The emperor comforted him warmly and said, "If I summon you again, do not refuse." The chief councillors held a farewell feast at his residence, and officials lined up to escort him beyond the capital gate. He soon resigned the prefectural post and requested an honorary temple appointment; he was made Commissioner of the Liquan Abbey.
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二年八月，起判紹興府，且令赴闕奏事，復辭。 未幾，召陪郊祀。 時北兵再犯淮甸，人情驚駭，皆望康伯復相。 上出手劄，遣使即家居召之。 未出里門，拜尚書左僕射、同中書平章事兼樞密使，進封魯國公。 親故謂康伯實病，宜辭，康伯曰：「不然。 吾大臣也，今國家危，當輿疾就道，幸上哀而歸之爾。」 道聞邊遽，兼程以進，至闕下，詔子安節、婿文好謙掖以見，減拜賜坐。 間日一會朝，許肩輿至殿門，仍給扶，非大事不署。 敵師退，尋以目疾免朝謁，臥家，旬餘一奏事。
In the eighth month of the second year he was recalled to govern Shaoxing Prefecture and ordered to report at court; he declined again. Before long he was summoned to attend the suburban sacrifices. When northern troops again invaded the Huai region, panic spread and everyone hoped Kangbo would return as chief minister. The emperor sent a personal letter and dispatched an envoy to summon him directly from his home. Before he had even left his neighborhood, he was appointed Left Vice Director of the Ministry of State, Concurrent Grand Councillor and Commissioner of Military Affairs, and advanced to Duke of Lu. Relatives and friends urged that he was truly ill and should decline; Kangbo replied, "Not at all. I am a chief minister. The state is in peril — I should travel even in sickness, trusting that the emperor in his mercy will release me when the crisis passes." En route he heard urgent news from the frontier and traveled day and night. At court an edict allowed his son Anjie and son-in-law Wen Haoqian to support him during his audience; the usual bows were waived and he was granted a seat. He attended court every other day, was permitted a palanquin to the palace gate, was provided with attendants, and signed documents only on major affairs. After the enemy withdrew, he was soon excused from court audiences on account of eye trouble; he remained at home and reported on affairs roughly once every ten days.
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乾道元年正月上辛，有事南郊，康伯起陪祠，已即丐歸，章屢上，不許。 一日出殿門，喘劇，輿至第薨，年六十有九。 贈太師，諡「文恭」，擇日臨奠，子偉節固辭，乃止。 命工部侍郎何俌護喪歸。
On the first upper-xin day of the first month of Qiandao (1165), when the southern suburban sacrifice was held, Kangbo attended despite his illness. Immediately afterward he petitioned to retire; repeated memorials were refused. One day, leaving the palace gate, his breathing grew labored. He died at his residence in the palanquin, aged sixty-nine. He was posthumously enfeoffed Grand Preceptor with the temple name Wengong ("Reverent in Culture"). A day was set for the emperor to attend his funeral in person, but his son Weijie firmly declined, and the plan was dropped. Vice Minister of Public Works He Bing was ordered to escort the coffin home.
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二子：偉節，除直秘閣； 安節，賜同進士出身，五辭不受，上手劄批諭，寄留省中以成其美，康伯薨，給還之。 慶元初，配享孝宗廟庭，改諡「文正」。
He had two sons: Weijie was appointed to the Secret Archive; Anjie was granted the status of a Presented Scholar by special decree; he declined five times. The emperor wrote in his own hand urging acceptance and had the decree held at the ministry to preserve the honor intact. After Kangbo's death it was returned to the family. At the beginning of the Qingyuan era he was enshrined in Xiaozong's temple, and his posthumous title was changed to Wenzheng ("Upright in Culture").
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梁克家
Liang Kejia
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梁克家，字叔子，泉州晉江人。 幼聰敏絕人，書過目成誦。 紹興三十年，廷試第一，授平江簽判。 時金主亮死，眾皆言可乘機進取，克家移書陳俊卿，謂：「敵雖退，吾兵力未振，不量力而動，將有後悔。」 俊卿歸以白丞相陳康伯，歎其遠慮。 召為秘書省正字，遷著作佐郎。
Liang Kejia, courtesy name Shuzi, was a native of Jinjiang in Quan Prefecture. From childhood he was exceptionally quick-witted; whatever he read once he could recite from memory. In 1160 he ranked first in the palace examination and was appointed Signing Administrator of Pingjiang. When Emperor Hailing of Jin had just died, everyone argued that the moment should be seized for an offensive. Kejia wrote to Chen Junqing, saying, "Though the enemy has withdrawn, our armies are not yet restored. To act without measuring our strength will bring regret." Junqing returned and reported this to Chief Minister Chen Kangbo, who praised his farsightedness. He was summoned as Corrector in the Secretariat and promoted to Assistant Compiler in the Institute for the Compilation of Historical Records.
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時災異數見，克家奏宜下詔求言，從之，令侍從、臺諫、卿監、郎官、館職疏闕失。 克家條六事：一正心術，二立紀綱，三救風俗，四謹威柄，五定廟算，六結人心。 其論定廟算，謂今邊議不過三說，曰將、兵、財，語甚切直。 累遷中書舍人。
Calamities and portents were appearing with increasing frequency. Kejia memorialized that the emperor should issue an edict inviting counsel. The request was granted, and attendant officials, censors, remonstrators, directors, supervisors, bureau officials, and academy scholars were ordered to submit memorials on governmental failings. Kejia set forth six priorities: rectifying the ruler's mind, establishing institutional discipline, restoring social customs, guarding against abuse of power, settling military strategy, and winning the people's hearts. In his section on military strategy, he argued that frontier debates always came down to three things — commanders, troops, and finances — and his language was strikingly blunt. He rose through successive appointments to Drafting Official of the Secretariat.
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使金，金以中朝進士第一，敬待之，即館宴射，連數十發中的。 金人來賀慶會節，克家請令金使入朝由南門，百官由北門，從者毋輒至殿門外，以肅朝儀，詔定為令。
On a mission to Jin, he was received with respect as the top palace examination graduate of the Central Court. At a banquet in the guesthouse they held an archery contest, and he hit the target with dozens of shots in a row. When Jin envoys came to congratulate the court on the Celebration Assembly Festival, Kejia requested that they enter by the South Gate while officials used the North Gate, and that attendants not gather outside the palace gates, so as to preserve court decorum. An edict made this permanent regulation.
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郊祀有雷震之變，克家復條六事。 遷給事中，凡三年，遇事不可，必執奏無隱。 嘗奏：「陛下欲用實才，不喜空言，空言固無益，然以空言為懲，則諫爭之路遂塞，願有以開導之。」 上欣納，因命條具風俗之弊，克家列四條，曰欺罔、苟且、循默、奔競，上手筆獎諭。
During the suburban sacrifice thunder and lightning struck. Kejia again set forth his six-point program. Promoted to Supervising Secretary, he served three years in that post and, whenever he found a matter unacceptable, always submitted a forthright memorial without holding back. He once memorialized: "Your Majesty wishes to employ men of real talent and dislikes empty talk. Empty talk is indeed useless, but if it becomes grounds for punishment, the path of remonstrance will be closed. I hope Your Majesty will find ways to encourage frank counsel." The emperor accepted this gladly and ordered a detailed account of prevailing social ills. Kejia listed four: deception, perfunctoriness, silent conformity, and ruthless careerism. The emperor wrote him a personal commendation.
22
乾道五年二月，拜端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事。 明年，參知政事。 又明年，兼知院事。 初修金好，金索所獲俘，啟釁未已。 克家請築楚州城，環舟師于外，邊賴以安。 在政府，與虞允文可否相濟，不苟同。 皇太子初立，克家請選置官屬，增講讀員，遂以王十朋、陳良翰為詹事，中外稱得人。 允文主恢復，朝臣多迎合，克家密諫，數不合，力丐去。 上曰：「兵終不可用乎？」 克家奏：「用兵以財用為先，今用度不足，何以集事？」 上改容曰：「朕將思之。」 詰朝，上面諭曰：「朕終夜思卿言，至當，毋庸去。」
In the second month of 1169, he was appointed Academician of the Hall for Illuminating Governance and Signing Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The following year he was appointed Vice Grand Councillor. The year after that he also took charge of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When relations with Jin were first restored, Jin demanded the captives they had taken, and provocations continued without end. Kejia requested that Chuzhou's walls be rebuilt and naval forces stationed around it, and the frontier owed its security to this measure. In office he and Yu Yunwen balanced and checked each other and never agreed merely for the sake of agreement. When the Crown Prince was first installed, Kejia requested the selection of staff and an increase in lecturers and readers. Wang Shipeng and Chen Lianghan were appointed Grand Mentors of the Heir Apparent, and court and country alike praised the appointments as excellent choices. Yunwen advocated recovering lost territory, and many court officials fell in with him. Kejia remonstrated in private, often disagreeing, and repeatedly begged to resign. The emperor said, "So war is finally out of the question?" Kejia replied, "War depends first on finances. With revenues insufficient today, how can any campaign be mounted?" The emperor's expression changed. "I will consider it," he said. The next morning the emperor addressed him in person: "I thought on your words all night — they are entirely right. Do not resign."
23
八年，詔更定僕射為左右丞相，拜克家為右丞相兼樞密使。 一日，上謂宰執曰：「近過德壽宮，太上頤養愈勝，天顏悅懌，朕退不勝喜。」 克家奏：「堯未得舜以為己憂，既得舜，固宜甚樂。」 允文奏：「堯獨高五帝之壽以此。」 上曰：「然。」 允文既罷相，克家獨秉政，雖近戚權幸不少假借，而外濟以和。 張說入樞府，公議不與，寢命，俄復用。 說怒士夫不附己，謀中傷之，克家悉力調護，善類賴之。
In the eighth year an edict redesignated the Left and Right Grand Counsellors as Left and Right Grand Chancellors, and Kejia was appointed Right Grand Chancellor and concurrent Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. One day the emperor told his chief ministers, "I recently visited Deshou Palace. The Retired Emperor's health and spirits are better than ever, his face bright with contentment. I could hardly contain my joy on leaving." Kejia replied, "Before Yao found Shun he had worries of his own; once he had Shun, he could only rejoice." Yunwen added, "It was for this reason that Yao alone outlived all the Five Emperors." The emperor said, "Indeed." After Yunwen was dismissed, Kejia held the government alone. He granted little favor to relatives and court favorites, yet outwardly tempered his firmness with conciliation. When Zhang Yue was appointed to the Bureau of Military Affairs, public opinion opposed it and the order was shelved — yet soon he was reappointed. Zhang Yue resented that scholars would not rally to him and plotted to ruin them. Kejia did everything in his power to protect them, and men of integrity owed their safety to him.
24
議金使朝見授書儀，時欲移文對境以正其禮，克家議不合，遂求去，以觀文殿大學士知建康府。 陛辭，上以治效為問，克家勸上無求奇功。 既而三省、密院卒移牒泗州，敵不從，遣泛使來，舉朝震駭。 後二年，湯邦彥坐使事貶，天下益服克家謀國之忠。
When the court debated the ceremony for Jin envoys presenting letters at audience, some wished to send an official communication across the border to correct their protocol. Kejia disagreed, resigned, and was appointed Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture and Prefect of Jiankang. At his farewell audience the emperor asked about his governing record, and Kejia urged him not to pursue spectacular achievements. Before long the Three Departments and the Bureau of Military Affairs sent a dispatch to Sizhou anyway. The enemy refused to comply and sent a general envoy, and the whole court was shaken. Two years later Tang Bangyan was demoted over his diplomatic mission, and the empire came increasingly to respect Kejia's loyal judgment in state affairs.
25
淳熙八年，起知福州，在鎮有治績。 趙雄奏欲令再任，降旨仍知福州。 召除醴泉觀使。 九年九月，拜右丞相，封儀國公。 逾月而疾。 十三年，命以內祠兼侍讀，賜第，在所存問不絕。 十四年六月，薨，年六十。 手書遺奏，上為之垂涕，贈少師，諡「文靖」。
In 1181 he was recalled to serve as prefect of Fuzhou, where he achieved a solid governing record. Zhao Xiong memorialized that Kejia should serve another term, and an edict was issued retaining him as prefect of Fuzhou. He was summoned to the capital and appointed Commissioner of the Liquan Palace. In the ninth month of the ninth year he was appointed Right Grand Chancellor and enfeoffed as Duke of Yiguo. After little more than a month he fell ill. In the thirteenth year he was given an inner-court sinecure while concurrently serving as Reader-in-Waiting, granted an official residence, and the court's inquiries after his health never ceased. In the sixth month of the fourteenth year he died, aged sixty. He left a final memorial in his own hand. The emperor wept for him and posthumously appointed him Junior Preceptor, with the posthumous title Wenjing.
26
初，唱第時，孝宗由建邸入侍，愛其風度峻整，及登政府，眷寵尤渥。 為文渾厚明白，自成一家，辭命尤溫雅，多行於世。
When he ranked at the palace examination, Xiaozong had just entered the palace from the Jian estate and admired his stern, dignified bearing. Once Kejia reached high office, imperial favor was especially generous. His prose was full-bodied and lucid, forming a style of its own. His edicts and commissions were especially warm and elegant and circulated widely.
27
汪澈，字明遠，自新安徙居饒州浮梁。 第進士，教授衡州、沅州。 用万俟卨薦，為秘書正字、校書郎。 輪對，乞令帥臣、監司、侍從、臺諫各舉將帥，高宗善之，行其言。 除監察御史，進殿中侍御史，特賜鞍馬。 時和戎歲久，邊防浸弛，澈陳養民養兵、自治豫備之說，累數千言。
Wang Che, courtesy name Mingyuan, moved from Xin'an to settle in Fuliang in Raozhou. He passed the jinshi examination and served as Erudite at Hengzhou and Yuanzhou. On Wan Qixie's recommendation he was appointed Corrector in the Secretariat and Collator. At a rotating audience he requested that commanders-in-chief, supervisory commissioners, attendant officials, and censor-remonstrators each recommend generals. Gaozong approved and implemented his proposal. He was appointed Investigating Censor, promoted to Attendant Censor within the Palace, and specially granted saddle and horse. Peace with the enemy had lasted many years and frontier defenses had gradually slackened. Che set forth his views on nurturing the people, building up the army, self-governance, and advance preparation in a memorial of several thousand characters.
28
顯仁皇后攢宮訖役，議者欲廣四隅，士庶墳在二十里內皆當遷，命澈按視。 還奏：「昭慈、徽宗、顯肅、懿節四陵舊占百步，已數十年，今日何為是紛紛？ 漢長樂、未央宮夾樗裡疾墓，未嘗遷。 國朝宮陵儀制，在封堠界內，不許開故合祔，願遷出者聽，其意深矣。」 高宗大悟，悉如舊。
When construction at Empress Xianren's provisional tomb was completed, some proposed expanding the grounds on all four sides, which would have required relocating every commoner's grave within twenty li. Che was ordered to inspect the site. On returning he memorialized, "The four tombs — Zhaoci, Huizong, Xiansu, and Yijie — have occupied a hundred paces for decades. Why make such a fuss today? In Han times the Changle and Weiyang palaces stood beside the tomb of Chunyu Ji without anyone demanding its removal. Our dynasty's ritual system for imperial tomb-palaces forbids opening old graves for joint burial within the boundary mounds, though those who wish to relocate may do so — the intent is deeply considered." Gaozong fully understood and restored everything as it had been.
29
葉義問使金還，頗知犯邊謀，澈言：「不素備，事至倉卒，靖康之變可鑒。 今將驕卒惰，宜加蒐閱，使有鬥心。 文武職事務選實才，不限資格。」 除侍御史。 左相湯思退不協人望，澈同殿中侍御史陳俊卿劾罷，又論鎮江大將劉寶十罪，詔奪節予祠。
Ye Yiwen returned from a mission to Jin having learned much of their border-incursion plans. Che said, "Without prior preparation, when crisis strikes suddenly, the Jingkang disaster stands as a warning. Today the generals are arrogant and the troops slack. Training and inspection should be intensified to restore their fighting spirit. Civil and military appointments should go to men of real ability, without restriction by seniority or formal qualifications." He was appointed Attendant Censor. Left Grand Councillor Tang Situi had lost public confidence. Che, together with Attendant Censor Chen Junqing, impeached and removed him. He also charged Liu Bao, the great general at Zhenjiang, with ten crimes; an edict stripped him of his command tally and granted him a sinecure.
30
三十一年，上元前一夕，風雷雨雪交作，澈言《春秋》魯隱公時大雷震電，繼以雨雪，孔子以八日之間再有大變，謹而書之。 今一夕間二異交至，此陰盛之證，殆為金人。 今荊、襄無統督，江海乏備禦，因陳修攘十二事。 殿帥楊存中久握兵權，內結閹寺，王十朋、陳俊卿等繼論其罪，高宗欲存護使去，澈與俊卿同具奏，存中始罷。
In the thirty-first year, on the eve of the Lantern Festival, wind, thunder, rain, and snow struck together. Che cited the Spring and Autumn Annals: during the reign of Duke Yin of Lu, great thunder and lightning were followed by rain and snow, and because two great portents occurred within eight days, Confucius recorded them with particular care. Now two portents have arrived in a single night — a sign of yin in excess, and likely a warning concerning the Jin. Jing and Xiang currently have no overall commander, and river and sea defenses are unprepared. He thereupon set forth twelve measures for defense and recovery. Palace Commander Yang Cunzhong had long held military power and cultivated ties with eunuchs. Wang Shipeng, Chen Junqing, and others successively charged him with crimes. Gaozong wished to protect him and ease him out of office, but Che and Junqing jointly submitted a memorial, and only then was Cunzhong dismissed.
31
會金使高景山來求釁端，澈言：「天下之勢，強弱無定形，在吾所以用之。 陛下屈己和戎，厚遺金繒，彼輒出惡言，以撼吾國。 願陛下赫然睿斷，益兵嚴備，佈告中外，將見上下一心，其氣百倍矣。」 除御史中丞。
When the Jin envoy Gao Jingshan came seeking grounds for provocation, Che said, "The balance of power under Heaven has no fixed shape — it depends on how we use it. Your Majesty has humbled himself to make peace and sent rich gifts of gold and silk, yet they repeatedly utter hostile words to undermine our state. I hope Your Majesty will act with resolute wisdom, increase troops and tighten defenses, and proclaim this throughout the realm — then court and country will unite and their morale will be multiplied a hundredfold." He was appointed Vice Censor-in-Chief.
32
尋遣馬帥成閔以所部三萬人屯荊、襄，以澈為湖北、京西宣諭使，詔凡吏能否、民利病悉以聞。 過九江，王炎見澈論邊事，辟為屬，偕至襄陽撫諸軍。 鄂帥田師中老而怯，立奏易之。 時欲置襄守荊南，澈奏：「襄陽地重，為荊楚門戶，不可棄。」 敵將劉萼擁眾十萬，揚聲欲取荊南，又欲分軍自光、黃搗武昌。 朝廷以敵昔由此入江南，令吳拱嚴護武昌津渡。 拱將引兵加鄂，澈聞之，馳書止拱，而自發鄂之餘兵戍黃州，俾拱留襄。 敵騎奄至樊城，拱大戰漢水上，敵眾敗走。 時唐、鄧、陳、蔡、汝、潁相次歸職方。 未幾，金主亮死，澈乞出兵淮甸，與荊、襄軍夾擊其歸師。 未報，而金新主罷兵請和，召澈入為參知政事，與宰相陳康伯同贊內禪。
Soon the cavalry commander Cheng Min was dispatched with thirty thousand troops to garrison Jing and Xiang, and Che was appointed Pacification Commissioner for Hubei and Jingxi. An edict ordered him to report on officials' competence and the people's welfare. Passing through Jiujiang, Wang Yan met Che to discuss frontier affairs, recruited him as an aide, and together they went to Xiangyang to reassure the troops. The commander at E Prefecture, Tian Shizhong, was old and timid; Che immediately memorialized for his replacement. At the time the court wished to transfer the Xiangyang prefect to Jingnan. Che memorialized, "Xiangyang is strategically vital — the gateway to Jing-Chu — and must not be abandoned." The enemy general Liu E commanded a hundred thousand men, proclaiming his intent to take Jingnan while also planning to divide his forces from Guang and Huang to strike Wuchang. Because the enemy had once entered Jiangnan by this route, the court ordered Wu Gong to guard Wuchang's ferry crossings strictly. Gong was about to lead troops to reinforce E Prefecture. Che heard of this, sent urgent letters to stop him, and himself mobilized E's remaining troops to garrison Huangzhou, keeping Gong at Xiangyang. Enemy cavalry suddenly reached Fancheng. Gong fought a great battle on the Han River and routed the enemy host. Tang, Deng, Chen, Cai, Ru, and Ying successively returned to Song control. Before long Emperor Hailing of Jin died. Che requested dispatching troops to the Huai region to join with the Jing and Xiang armies in a pincer attack on the enemy's retreating forces. Before a reply came, the new Jin ruler ceased hostilities and sued for peace. Che was summoned to serve as Vice Grand Councillor and, together with Chief Minister Chen Kangbo, assisted in the internal transfer of the throne.
33
隆興元年，入奏，還武昌，而張浚克期大舉，詔澈出師應之。 澈以議不合，乞令浚並領荊、襄。 諫議大夫王大寶論澈無制勝策，皇甫倜以忠義結山砦，扼敵要衝，澈不能節制，坐視孤軍墮敵計。 趙撙以千五百人救方城，敗散五百餘人，澈漫不加省。 乞罷黜。 澈亦請祠，除資政殿學士、提舉洞霄宮。 大寶疏再上，落職，仍祠祿。
In the first year of Longxing he entered court to memorialize, returned to Wuchang, and when Zhang Jun set a date for a major campaign, an edict ordered Che to take the field in support. Che, finding himself at odds with the plan, requested that Zhang Jun be given concurrent command over Jing and Xiang. Remonstrance and Discussion Grandee Wang Dabao charged that Che had no strategy for victory. Huangfu Tong had rallied mountain forts through loyalty and righteousness and blocked a vital enemy route, yet Che could not coordinate the effort and sat by while an isolated force fell into the enemy's trap. Zhao Zun led fifteen hundred men to relieve Fangcheng; more than five hundred were defeated and scattered, yet Che made no inquiry whatsoever. He requested Che's dismissal. Che also requested a sinecure and was appointed Academician of the Hall for Assistance in Governance and Commissioner of the Tongxiao Palace. Wang Dabao submitted another memorial; Che was demoted from office but retained his stipend.
34
明年，知建康府，尋除樞密使。 在位二年，以觀文殿學士奉洞霄祠，尋知鄂州兼安撫使。 孝宗訪邊事，澈奏：「向者我有唐、鄧為藩籬，又皇甫倜控扼陳、蔡，敵不敢窺襄。 既失兩郡，倜復內徙，敵屯新野，相距百里爾。 臣令趙撙、王宣築城儲糧，分備要害，有以待敵。 至於機會之來，難以豫料。」 孝宗善之。 時議廢江州軍，澈言不可。 知寧國府，改福州、福建安撫使，復請祠。 尋致仕。 卒，年六十三。 贈金紫光祿大夫，諡「莊敏」。
The following year he served as Prefect of Jiankang, and soon was appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. After two years in office he took up the Tongxiao sinecure as Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture, and soon was appointed Prefect of E Prefecture with concurrent Pacification Commissioner. When Xiaozong inquired about frontier affairs, Che memorialized, "Formerly we had Tang and Deng as outer barriers, and Huangfu Tong controlled Chen and Cai — the enemy did not dare threaten Xiangyang. Once we lost those two prefectures and Tong was transferred inward, the enemy encamped at Xinye — barely a hundred li away. I have ordered Zhao Zun and Wang Xuan to build walls, stockpile grain, and garrison key points, so we may be ready when the enemy comes. As for when opportunity may arise, that is impossible to predict in advance." Xiaozong approved. At the time there was debate over abolishing the Jiangzhou army; Che argued against it. He served as Prefect of Ningguo, was transferred to Fuzhou as Fujian Pacification Commissioner, and again requested a sinecure. He soon retired from office. He died, aged sixty-three. He was posthumously appointed Grandee of the Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon, with the posthumous title Zhuangmin.
35
澈為殿中日，薦陳俊卿、王十朋、陳之茂為臺官，高宗曰：「名士也，次第用之矣。」 在樞府，孝宗密訪人材，薦百有十八人。 嘗奏言：「臣起寒遠，所以報國惟無私不欺爾。」 其自奉清約，雖貴猶布衣時。 有文集二十卷、奏議十二卷。
When Che served in the Palace Bureau, he recommended Chen Junqing, Wang Shipeng, and Chen Zhimao for censorial posts. Gaozong said, "Men of renown — they will be appointed in due course." In the Bureau of Military Affairs, when Xiaozong privately inquired about talent, he recommended one hundred eighteen men. He once memorialized, "I rose from humble and remote origins; the only way I can repay the state is to serve without selfishness and without deception." In his personal life he was frugal and austere; even when ennobled he lived as simply as in his commoner days. He left collected works in twenty juan and memorials in twelve juan.
36
葉義問
Ye Yiwen
37
葉義問，字審言，嚴州壽昌人。 建炎初，登進士第。 調臨安府司理參軍。 范宗尹為相，義問與沈長卿等疏其姦。 為饒州教授，攝郡。 歲旱，以便宜發常平米振民，提刑黃敦書劾之，詔勿問。 前樞密徐俯門僧犯罪，義問繩以法，俯嘗舉義問，怒甚，乃袖薦書還之。
Ye Yiwen, courtesy name Shenyan, was a native of Shouchang in Yan Prefecture. At the beginning of the Jianyan era he passed the jinshi examination. He was assigned as Judicial Administrator of Lin'an Prefecture. When Fan Zongyin served as chief minister, Yiwen together with Shen Changqing and others submitted a memorial exposing his corruption. He served as Erudite of Raozhou and administered prefectural affairs. During a drought he expediently released ever-normal granary rice to relieve the people. Intendant Huang Dunshu impeached him, but an edict ordered that the matter not be pursued. A monk at the gate of former Commissioner Xu Fu committed a crime; Yiwen prosecuted him by law. Xu had once recommended Yiwen and was furious, returning the recommendation letter from his sleeve.
38
知江寧縣。 召秦檜所親役，同僚不可，義問曰：「釋是則何以服他人。」 卒役之。 通判江州。 豫章守張宗元忤檜，或中以飛語，事下漕臣張常先。 宗元道九江，常先檄義問拘其舟，義問投檄曰：「吾寧得罪，不為不祥。」 常先白檜，罷去。
He served as magistrate of Jiangning County. He summoned corvée laborers who were Qin Hui's intimates; colleagues objected, but Yiwen said, "If I release these men, how can I enforce the law on anyone else?" In the end he put them to corvée labor. He served as Vice Prefect of Jiangzhou. Zhang Zongyuan, prefect of Yuzhang, had offended Qin Hui; someone attacked him with slander, and the matter was referred to Transport Commissioner Zhang Changxian. Zhang Zongyuan passed through Jiujiang; Changxian ordered Yiwen to detain his boat. Yiwen returned the order, saying, "I would rather face punishment than commit an unjust act." Changxian reported to Qin Hui, and Yiwen was dismissed.
39
檜死，湯思退薦之，上記其嘗言范宗尹，召至，言臺諫廢置在人主，檜親黨宜盡罷逐，以言得罪者宜敘復。 擢殿中侍御史。 樞密湯鵬舉效檜所為，植其黨周方崇、李庚，置籍臺諫，鉏異己者。 義問累章劾鵬舉，有「一檜死一檜生」之語，並方崇等皆罷之。 又言：「凡擇將遇一闕，令樞密院具三名取上旨，則軍政盡出掌握。」 遷侍御史。 朱樸、沈虛中奉祠里居，義問劾其附秦檜，皆移居。 郊祀赦，義問言：「頃歲附會告訐者，不應例移放。」 從之。 遷吏部侍郎兼史館修撰，尋兼侍讀，拜同知樞密院事。
After Qin Hui died, Tang Situi recommended him; the emperor remembered his memorial against Fan Zongyin and summoned him. He argued that appointing and dismissing censor-remonstrators rested with the ruler, that Qin Hui's partisans should all be removed, and that men punished for speaking out should be rehabilitated. He was elevated to Attendant Censor within the Palace. Commissioner Tang Pengju imitated Qin Hui's methods, planted his partisans Zhou Fangchong and Li Geng, registered censor-remonstrators, and purged dissenters. Yiwen repeatedly memorialized to impeach Pengju, declaring "one Qin Hui dead, one Qin Hui alive," and Fangchong and the others were all dismissed. He also argued, "Whenever a general's post falls vacant, the Bureau of Military Affairs should submit three names for the emperor's choice — then military affairs will remain under imperial control." He was transferred to Attendant Censor. Zhu Pu and Shen Xuzhong were serving temple sinecures at home; Yiwen impeached them for having attached themselves to Qin Hui, and both were ordered to relocate. At the suburban-sacrifice amnesty, Yiwen argued that those who in recent years had joined in informing and denouncing should not be released under the general amnesty. The emperor agreed. He was transferred to Vice Minister of Personnel with concurrent Compiler in the History Institute, soon also Reader-in-Waiting, and appointed Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
40
上聞金有犯邊意，遣義問奉使覘之，還奏：「彼造舟船，備器械，其用心必有所在，宜屯駐沿海要害備之。」 金主亮果南侵。 命視師，義問素不習軍旅，會劉錡捷書至，讀之至「金賊又添生兵」，顧吏曰：「『生兵』何物耶？」 聞者掩口。 至鎮江，聞瓜洲官軍與敵相持，大失措，乃役民掘沙溝，植木枝為鹿角禦敵，一夕潮生，沙溝平，木枝盡去。 會建康留守張燾遣人告急，義問乃遵陸，云往建康催發軍，市人皆媟罵之。 又聞敵據瓜洲，采石兵甚眾，復欲還鎮江，諸軍喧沸曰：「不可回矣，回則有不測。」 遂趨建康。 已而金主亮被弑，師退，義問還朝，力請退，遂罷。
Hearing that Jin intended to invade the frontier, the emperor dispatched Yiwen on an observation mission. On returning he memorialized, "They are building ships and preparing weapons — their intent must be hostile. Coastal key points should be garrisoned in preparation." Emperor Hailing of Jin did indeed invade south. He was ordered to inspect the armies. Yiwen had never studied military affairs. When Liu Qi's victory dispatch arrived, he read as far as "the Jin bandits have added fresh troops" and turned to a clerk, asking, "What are 'fresh troops'?" Those who heard stifled their laughter. Reaching Zhenjiang he heard that the Guazhou army was locked in stalemate with the enemy and panicked. He conscripted civilians to dig sand trenches and planted wooden branches as abatis. Overnight the tide rose, the trenches were filled in, and the branches were swept away. When Jiankang Intendant Zhang Tao sent an urgent appeal, Yiwen took the overland route, claiming he was going to Jiankang to urge troop dispatch. Market people cursed him openly. Hearing that the enemy held Guazhou and that Caishi had a large force, he wished to return to Zhenjiang. The troops clamored, "We cannot turn back — if we do, the consequences are unpredictable." He then hastened to Jiankang. Before long Emperor Hailing of Jin was assassinated and the armies withdrew. Yiwen returned to court, strenuously requested retirement, and was dismissed.
41
隆興元年，中丞辛次膺論義問「頃護諸將幾敗事，且以官私其親」。 謫饒州。 乾道元年，詔自便。 六年卒，年七十三。
In the first year of Longxing, Vice Censor-in-Chief Xin Ciying charged that Yiwen "had nearly ruined matters while overseeing the generals, and used his office to favor relatives." He was demoted to Raozhou. In the first year of Qiandao an edict restored him to free movement. In the sixth year he died, aged seventy-three.
42
蔣芾，字子禮，常州宜興人，之奇曾孫。 紹興二十一年，進士第二人。 孝宗即位，累遷起居郎兼直學士院。 時宦者梁珂事上潛邸，撓權，尹穡論珂，與祠，芾繳奏罷之。
Jiang Fei, courtesy name Zili, was a native of Yixing in Chang Prefecture and a great-grandson of Zhiqi. In 1151 he ranked second among jinshi graduates. When Xiaozong succeeded to the throne, he rose through successive appointments to Recorder of the Left and concurrent Attendant of the Academy of Scholarly Worthies. At the time eunuch Liang Ke had served Xiaozong at the heir apparent's residence and encroached on power. Yin Ji impeached Ke and had him given a temple sinecure; Fei submitted a rescript memorial and had him dismissed.
43
簽書樞密院事，首奏加意邊防，又奏：「拔將才行伍間，識其姓名，一旦披籍可立取具。 又料簡歸正人，仍以北人將之，或令深入山東，或令自荊、襄深入。」
As Signing Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs, his first memorial urged attention to frontier defense. He also memorialized, "Promote generals from the ranks, record their names, and when registers are opened they can be summoned immediately. He also proposed screening returned loyalists and assigning northerners to command them — some to drive deep into Shandong, others to penetrate from Jing and Xiang."
44
除權參知政事、同知國用事。 芾奏：「方今財最費於養兵，藝祖取天下，不過十五萬人。 紹興初，外有大敵，內有巨寇，然兵數亦不若今日之多。 近見陳敏勇汰三千人，戚方汰四千人，然多是有官人，與以外任，請券錢、添借給如故，是減於內而添于外，何益？ 又招兵耗蠹愈甚，臣考核在內諸軍，每月逃亡事故，常不下四百人。 若權停招兵一年有半，俟財用稍足，招丁壯，不惟省費，又得兵精。」 上悟。
He was appointed Acting Vice Grand Councillor and concurrent Vice Director of State Affairs. Fei memorialized, "Today the greatest expense is maintaining troops. When the Founder took the realm, he had no more than a hundred fifty thousand men. At the beginning of Shaoxing, though there was a great external enemy and major internal bandits, troop numbers still fell short of today's. Recently Chen Minyong reduced three thousand troops and Qi Fang four thousand, yet most were men with official rank given external appointments who still drew certificate money and supplemental allowances as before — reducing within while adding without. What benefit is there? Recruiting troops wastes resources ever more severely. My audit of capital armies finds monthly desertions and casualties regularly exceed four hundred. If recruiting is halted for a year and a half, and when finances recover only strong young men are recruited, costs will be saved and the army will be stronger." The emperor understood.
45
一日，因進呈邊報，上顧芾曰：「將來都督非卿不可。」 芾奏：「臣未嘗經歷兵間。」 又奏：「方今錢穀不足，兵士不練，將帥與臣不相識，願陛下更審思其人。」 南郊禮畢，宰相葉顒、魏杞罷。 芾采眾論，參己見，為《籌邊志》上之。
One day, while presenting frontier reports, the emperor turned to Fei and said, "When the time comes, you alone can serve as overall commander." Fei replied, "Your subject has never served in military affairs." He added, "Funds and grain are insufficient, soldiers are untrained, and the generals do not know me. I hope Your Majesty will choose more carefully." After the southern-suburb rites, chief ministers Ye Yong and Wei Qi were dismissed. Fei collected public opinion, added his own views, and submitted his Frontier Planning Record.
46
明年，拜右僕射、同中書門下平章事兼樞密使。 會母疾卒，詔起復，拜左僕射，芾力辭。 有密旨欲今歲大舉，手詔廷臣議，或主和，或主恢復，使芾決之。 芾奏：「天時人事未至。」 拂上意。 服闋，除觀文殿大學士、知紹興府、提舉洞霄宮。 尋以言者論，落職，建昌軍居住。 期年，有旨自便。 再提舉洞霄宮，卒。
The next year he was appointed Right Grand Counsellor, Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery, and concurrent Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. When his mother fell gravely ill and died, an edict ordered him to leave mourning and appointed him Left Grand Counsellor; Fei strenuously declined. A secret order wished for a major campaign that year; an imperial letter ordered court officials to debate peace versus recovery, with Fei to decide. Fei memorialized, "Heaven's timing and human affairs are not yet ripe." This went against the emperor's intent. After mourning he was appointed Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture, Prefect of Shaoxing, and Commissioner of the Tongxiao Palace. Soon accusers brought charges and he was demoted, ordered to reside in Jianchang Circuit. After a full year an edict restored him to free movement. Again appointed Commissioner of the Tongxiao Palace, he died.
47
芾始以言邊事結上知，不十年間致相位，終以不能任兵事受責，豈優於論議而劣於事功歟？
Fei first won the emperor's trust through frontier policy and reached the chancellorship in less than ten years, yet was ultimately blamed for inability to handle military affairs — was he better at debate than at practical achievement?
48
葉顒，字子昂，興化軍仙遊人。 登紹興元年進士第，為廣州南海縣主簿，攝尉。 盜發，州檄巡、尉同捕，巡檢獲盜十餘人，歸其勞於顒，顒曰：「掠美、欺君、幸賞，三者皆罪，不忍為也。」 帥曾開大善之。
Ye Yong, courtesy name Zi'ang, was a native of Xianyou in Xinghua Circuit. He passed the jinshi examination in 1131, served as Recorder of Nanhai County in Guang Prefecture, and administered as assistant magistrate. When bandits rose, the prefecture ordered patrol inspectors and assistant magistrates to capture them jointly. The patrol inspector seized more than ten bandits and attributed the credit to Yong. Yong said, "Stealing credit, deceiving the ruler, and hoping for reward — all three are crimes. I will not commit them." Prefecture commander Zeng Kai greatly approved.
49
知信州貴溪縣。 時詔行經界，郡議以上中下三等定田稅，顒請分為九等，守從之，令信之六邑以貴溪為式。
He served as magistrate of Guixi County in Xin Prefecture. An edict ordered a field-boundary survey; the prefecture proposed three tax grades. Yong requested nine grades; the prefect agreed and ordered the six districts of Xin to follow Guixi's model.
50
知紹興府上虞縣。 凡繇役，令民自推貨力甲乙，不以付吏，民欣然皆以實應。 摧租各書其數與民，約使自持戶租至庭，親視其入，咸便之。 帥曹泳令今歲夏租先期送什之八，顒請少紓其期，泳怒。 及麥大熟，民輸租反為諸邑最，泳大喜，許薦於朝，顒固辭。
He served as magistrate of Shangyu County in Shaoxing Prefecture. For all corvée duties he had the people assess their own wealth and strength, without entrusting the task to clerks; the people gladly responded truthfully. For rent collection he wrote each household's amount and had them bring their receipts to the hall in person, watching the intake himself — all found this convenient. Prefect Cao Yong ordered that year's summer rent delivered eight-tenths in advance; Yong requested a slight extension and Cao was angered. When wheat ripened abundantly, rent collection in his district ranked first among all counties; Cao was delighted and offered to recommend him to court, but Yong firmly declined.
51
賀允中薦顒靜退，遂召見，顒論國仇未復，中原之民日企鑾輿之返，其語剴切，高宗嘉納。 除將作監簿。 知處州，青田令陳光獻羨餘百萬，顒以所獻充所賦。 湯思退之兄居處州，家奴屠酤犯禁，一繩以法，思退不悅。 屬常州逋緡錢四十萬，守坐免，移顒知常州。
He Yunchong recommended Yong for his quiet integrity; he was summoned for audience. Yong spoke on the national enmity not yet avenged and how the people of the Central Plains daily longed for the emperor's return; his words were earnest, and Gaozong praised and accepted them. He was appointed Registrar of the Directorate of Palace Buildings. As prefect of Chuzhou, Chen Guang of Qingtian submitted a surplus of a million; Yong applied it toward the assessed levy. Tang Situi's elder brother lived in Chuzhou; a household slave violated the prohibition on butchering and selling wine and was prosecuted by law; Situi was displeased. Changzhou owed forty thousand strings in tax arrears; the prefect was dismissed and Yong was transferred to serve as prefect of Changzhou.
52
金犯邊，高宗視師建康，道毗陵，顒賜對舟次，因言：「恢復莫先於將相，故相張浚久謫無恙，是天留以相陛下也。」 顒初至郡，無旬月儲，未一年餘緡錢二十萬。 或勸獻羨，顒曰：「名羨餘，非重征則橫斂，是民之膏血也，以利易賞，心實恥之。」
When Jin invaded the frontier, Gaozong inspected the armies at Jiankang, passed through Piling, and granted Yong an audience aboard ship. He said, "Recovery must begin with generals and ministers; former chancellor Zhang Jun, long demoted yet unharmed — Heaven has preserved him to serve Your Majesty." When Yong first arrived there was less than a month's supply in the treasury; within a year he accumulated a surplus of two hundred thousand strings. Some urged presenting surplus revenue. Yong said, "What is called 'surplus' — unless it comes from heavy taxation it is extortion, the people's lifeblood. To trade profit for commendation — my heart would be ashamed."
53
召為尚書郎，除右司。 詔求直言，顒上疏謂：「陛下以手足之至親，付州郡之重寄，是利一人害一方也。」 人稱其直。 除吏部侍郎，復權尚書。 時七司弊事未去，上疏言選部所以為弊，乃與郎官編七司條例為一書，上嘉之，令刻板頒示。
He was summoned as a Bureau Director in the Department of State Affairs and appointed to the Right Bureau. An edict sought frank speech; Yong submitted a memorial saying, "Your Majesty entrusts the heavy charge of a prefecture to the closest kin — this benefits one person and harms a whole region." People praised his frankness. He was appointed Vice Minister of Personnel and again acted as Minister. Abuses in the seven bureaus had not been removed. He submitted a memorial on why the Selection Bureau had become corrupt, then compiled the regulations of the seven bureaus into one book with bureau officials. The emperor praised it and ordered it carved on blocks and promulgated.
54
除端明殿學士，拜參知政事兼同知樞密院事。 武臣梁俊彥請稅沙田、蘆場，帝以問顒，對曰：「沙田乃江濱地，田隨沙漲而出沒不常，蘆場則臣未之詳也。 且辛巳軍興蘆場田租並復，今沙田不勝其擾。」 上曰：「誠如卿言。」 顒至中書，召俊彥切責之曰：「汝言利求進，萬一為國生事，斬汝不足以塞責。」 俊彥皇恐汗下。 是日，詔沙田、蘆場並罷。
He was appointed Academician of the Hall for Illuminating Governance and Vice Grand Councillor with concurrent Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Military official Liang Junyan requested taxing sand fields and reed marshes. The emperor asked Yong, who replied, "Sand fields are riverside land that appears and vanishes with shifting sand and is not constant. As for reed marshes, I am not well informed. Moreover at the Xinsi military emergency reed-marsh land tax was restored; sand fields cannot bear such harassment now." The emperor said, "Truly as you say." Yong went to the Secretariat and summoned Junyan, sharply reproaching him, "You speak of profit seeking advancement — if you cause trouble for the state, beheading you would not suffice to answer for it." Junyan was terrified, sweat streaming down his face. That same day an edict abolished taxation on sand fields and reed marshes.
55
御史林安宅請兩淮行鐵錢，顒力言不可，安宅不能平，既入樞府，乃上章攻顒云：「顒之子受宣州富人周良臣錢百萬，得監鎮江大軍倉。」 御史王伯庠亦論之。 顒乞下吏辯明，乃以資政殿學士提舉洞霄宮。 上下其事臨安府，時王炎知臨安，上令炎親鞫置對，無秋毫跡。 獄奏，上以安宅、伯庠風聞失實，並免所居官，仍貶安宅筠州，召顒赴闕。 入見，上勞之曰：「卿之清德自是愈光矣。」
Censor Lin Anzhai requested iron coinage in the two Huai circuits. Yong strongly opposed it, and Anzhai resented the opposition. Once in the Bureau of Military Affairs he submitted a memorial attacking Yong, claiming Yong's son had received a million cash from the wealthy Zhou Liangchen of Xuan Prefecture to obtain supervision of the Jiang Army granary. Attendant Censor Wang Boxiang also impeached him. Yong requested a formal investigation and was appointed Academician of the Hall for Assistance in Governance and Commissioner of the Tongxiao Palace. The matter was referred to Lin'an Prefecture; Wang Yan was then prefect, and the emperor ordered him to conduct the interrogation personally — not a trace of wrongdoing was found. When the case was reported, the emperor ruled that Anzhai and Boxiang had acted on unfounded rumor and dismissed both from office, demoting Anzhai to Yun Prefecture and summoning Yong to court. On audience the emperor comforted him, saying, "Your integrity shines all the brighter for this."
56
除知樞密院事，未拜，進尚書左僕射兼樞密使。 顒首薦汪應辰、王十朋、陳良翰、周操、陳之茂、芮曄、林光朝等，可備執政、侍從、臺諫，上嘉納。 又言：「自古明君用人，使賢使愚，使姦使盜，惟去泰甚。」 上曰：「固然。 虞有禹、皐，亦有共、驩； 周有旦、奭，亦有管、蔡，在用不用。」 顒曰：「誠如聖訓，但今日在朝雖未見有共、驩、管、蔡，然有竊弄威福者，臣不敢隱。」 上問為誰，顒以龍大淵對，語在《陳俊卿傳》。
He was appointed Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs; before the appointment ceremony he was advanced to Left Grand Counsellor and Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Yong first recommended Wang Yingchen, Wang Shipeng, Chen Lianghan, Zhou Cao, Chen Zhimao, Rui Ye, Lin Guangchao, and others as fit for high office, attendant posts, and censorial roles; the emperor praised and accepted the recommendations. He also said, "Since antiquity enlightened rulers have employed both the worthy and the foolish, the treacherous and the thieving — only removing the excessively bad." The emperor said, "Indeed. Under Yu there were Yu and Gao, but also Gong and Huan; Under Zhou there were Dan and Shi, but also Guan and Cai — the difference lay in using them or not." Yong said, "Truly as Your Majesty instructs, but though one does not yet see Gong, Huan, Guan, or Cai at court today, there are those who secretly manipulate power and favor, and I dare not conceal it." The emperor asked who; Yong named Long Dayuan — the account is in the biography of Chen Junqing.
57
上以國用未裕，詔宰相兼國用使，參政同知國用事，顒乃言：「今日費財養兵為甚，兵多則有冗卒虛籍，無事則費財，有事則不可用。 雖曰汰之，旋即招之，欲足國用，當嚴於汰、緩於招可也。 孔子曰：『節用而愛人』。 蓋節用，則愛人之政自行於其間，若欲生財，祗費民財爾。」 上曰：「此至言也。」 上曰：「建康劉源嘗賂近習，朕欲遣王抃廉其姦。」 顒曰：「臣恐廉者甚於姦者。」 乃止。
Because state revenues were not yet ample, an edict ordered the chief minister to serve concurrently as Commissioner of State Revenue. Yong then said, "Today's greatest expense is maintaining troops. When troops are many there are redundant soldiers and empty registers; in peace they waste funds, in war they are useless. Though troops are said to be reduced, they are immediately recruited again; to fill state coffers, reduction should be strict and recruitment slow. Confucius said, 'Be economical in expenditure and love the people.' If expenditure is economized, the policy of loving the people operates naturally; if one seeks to generate wealth, one only wastes the people's wealth." The emperor said, "These are supreme words." The emperor said, "Liu Yuan of Jiankang once bribed close attendants; I wish to send Wang Bian to investigate his corruption." Yong said, "I fear the investigator may prove worse than the corrupt man." The plan was then abandoned.
58
乾道三年冬至，上親郊而雷，顒引漢故事上印綬，提舉太平興國宮。 歸至家，不疾而薨，年六十八。 以觀文殿學士致仕，贈特進，諡「正簡」。
At the winter solstice of the third year of Qiandao the emperor personally performed the suburban sacrifice and thunder struck. Yong cited Han precedent and submitted his seal and cord, and was appointed Commissioner of the Taiping Xingguo Palace. Returning home he died without prior illness, aged sixty-eight. Having retired as Grand Academician of the Hall for Observing Culture, he was posthumously appointed Special Advance and given the posthumous title Zhengjian.
59
顒為人簡易清介，與物若無忤，至處大事毅然不可奪。 友人高登嘗上書譏切時相，名捕甚急。 顒與同邸，擿令逸去，登曰：「不為君累乎？」 顒曰：「以獲罪，固所願也。」 即為具舟，舟移乃去。 自初仕至宰相，服食、僮妾、田宅不改其舊。
Yong was simple, upright, and pure; with others he seemed never to give offense, yet in great affairs he was resolute and could not be swayed. His friend Gao Deng once submitted a memorial sharply criticizing the chief minister and was urgently sought by name. Yong lodged in the same residence and urged him to flee. Deng said, "Will this not implicate you?" Yong said, "To incur guilt for this is exactly what I wish." He immediately prepared a boat for him and left only after the boat had departed. From first taking office to reaching the chancellorship, his food, clothing, servants, concubines, fields, and houses remained unchanged.
60
葉衡，字夢錫，婺州金華人。 紹興十八年進士第，調福州寧德簿，攝尉。 以獲鹽寇改秩，知臨安府於潛縣。 戶版積弊，富民多隱漏，貧弱困於倍輸，衡定為九等，自五以下除其籍，而均其額於上之四等，貧者頓蘇。 征科為期限榜縣門，俾里正諭民，不遣一吏而賦自足。 歲災，蝗不入境。 治為諸邑最。 郡以政績聞，即召對，上曰：「聞卿作縣有法。」 遣還任。
Ye Heng, courtesy name Mengxi, was a native of Jinhua in Wu Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination in 1148, was assigned as Clerk of Ningde in Fuzhou, and administered as assistant magistrate. For capturing salt smugglers he was promoted in rank and served as magistrate of Yuqian County in Lin'an Prefecture. Household registers had long been corrupt; wealthy families concealed registration while the poor suffered doubled levies. Heng fixed nine grades; from the fifth grade down registers were removed and quotas distributed among the upper four grades, and the poor were suddenly relieved. For tax collection he posted deadlines at the county gate and had village heads instruct the people, without sending a single clerk yet levies were fully collected. In a drought year locusts did not enter the district. His governance ranked first among all districts. The prefecture reported his achievements and he was summoned for audience. The emperor said, "I hear you governed your county with method." He was sent back to his post.
61
擢知常州。 時水潦為災，衡發倉為糜以食饑者。 或言常平不可輕發，衡曰：「儲蓄正備緩急，可視民饑而不救耶？」 疫大作，衡單騎命醫藥自隨，偏問疾苦，活者甚眾。 檄晉陵丞李孟堅攝無錫縣，有政聲，衡薦於上，即除知秀州。 上之信其言如此。
He was promoted to serve as prefect of Changzhou. At the time flooding caused disaster; Heng opened the granaries and made gruel to feed the hungry. Some said the ever-normal granaries should not be lightly opened. Heng said, "Stores exist for emergencies — can one watch the people starve and not save them?" When plague broke out severely, Heng rode alone with medicines at his side, going everywhere to ask after the afflicted; very many were saved. He ordered Jinling Assistant Magistrate Li Mengjian to administer Wuxi County; Mengjian had a good governing reputation and Heng recommended him; he was immediately appointed prefect of Xiuzhou. Such was the emperor's trust in his judgment.
62
除太府少卿。 合肥瀕湖有圩田四十里，衡奏：「募民以耕，歲可得穀數十萬，蠲租稅，二三年後阡陌成，仿營田，官私各收其半。」 從之。
He was appointed Vice Director of the Palace Storehouse. By Lake Chao in Hefei there were forty li of polder fields. Heng memorialized, "Recruit people to cultivate them and each year several hundred thousand bushels can be obtained. Exempt rent and tax; after two or three years, model this on garrison fields and let official and private each receive half." This was accepted.
63
除戶部侍郎。 時鹽課大虧，衡奏：「年來課入不增，私販害之也，宜自煮鹽之地為之制，司火之起伏，稽灶之多寡，亭戶本錢以時給之，鹽之委積以時收之，擇廉能吏察之，私販自絕矣。」 仍命措置官三人：淮南於通州，浙東於明州，浙西於秀州。
He was appointed Vice Minister of Revenue. At the time salt revenue was greatly depleted. Heng memorialized, "Revenue has not increased because private trafficking harms it. Regulations should be made from the salt-boiling regions, controlling fires, checking furnaces, paying stove households on schedule, collecting accumulated salt on schedule, and assigning incorrupt officials to inspect — private trafficking will cease." Three arrangement officials were appointed: for Huainan at Tongzhou, for eastern Zhe at Mingzhou, and for western Zhe at Xiuzhou.
64
丁母憂。 起復，知盧州，未行，除樞密都承旨。 奏馬政之弊，宜命統制一員各領馬若干匹，歲終計其數為殿最。 李垕應賢良方正對策，近訐直，入第四等，衡奏：「陛下赦其狂而取其忠，足以顯容諫之盛。」 乃賜垕制科出身。 有言江、淮兵籍偽濫，詔衡按視，賜以袍帶、鞍馬、弓矢，且命衡措置民兵，咸稱得治兵之要。 訖事赴闕，上御便殿閱武士，召衡預觀，賜酒，灑宸翰賜之。
He entered mourning for his mother. Recalled from mourning, he was appointed prefect of Luzhou but had not yet departed when he was appointed Chief Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He memorialized on abuses in horse administration and proposed that one controller be assigned to each group of horses, with annual counts determining merit and demerit. Li Yao answered the examination for Worthy and Upright and Plainspoken; his responses were nearly too blunt and he ranked in the fourth grade. Heng memorialized, "Your Majesty pardons his rashness and takes his loyalty — this is enough to display the greatness of tolerating remonstrance." Yao was then granted status as a decree examination graduate. Some reported that Jiang and Huai military registers were fraudulent. An edict ordered Heng to inspect; he was granted robe, belt, saddle, horse, bow, and arrows, and ordered to arrange militia — all praised that he had grasped the essentials of governing troops. When the task was completed he came to court; the emperor reviewed martial officers in the side hall and summoned Heng to observe, bestowing wine and an imperial inscription.
65
知荊南、成都、建康府，除戶部尚書，除簽書樞密院事，拜參知政事。 衡奏二事：一，牧守將帥必擇材以稱其職，必久任以盡其材； 二，令戶部取湖廣會子實數，盡以京會立限易之。 從之。
He served as prefect of Jingnan, Chengdu, and Jiankang, was appointed Minister of Revenue, Signing Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and Vice Grand Councillor. Heng memorialized on two matters: first, prefects, commanders, and generals must be chosen for ability and must serve long terms to exhaust their talent; second, order the Ministry of Revenue to take the actual numbers of Hu-Guang treasury notes and within a fixed term exchange them all for capital notes. This was accepted.
66
拜右丞相兼樞密使。 上銳意恢復，凡將帥、器械、山川、防守悉經思慮，奏對畢，從容賜坐，講論機密，或不時召對。 時會子浸患折閱，手詔賜衡曰：「會子雖曰流通，終未盡愜人意，目即流使有二千二百餘萬。 今用上下庫黃金、白金、銅錢九百萬，內藏庫五百萬，並蜀中錢物七百萬，盡易會子之數，專命卿措置，日近而辦，卿真宰相才也。」
He was appointed Right Grand Chancellor and Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The emperor was keen on recovery; generals, weapons, terrain, and defenses were all carefully considered. After memorial audiences he would grant him a seat to discuss secrets, or sometimes summon him at irregular hours. At the time treasury notes were increasingly troubled by depreciation. A handwritten edict was bestowed on Heng, saying, "Though treasury notes are said to circulate, they still do not fully satisfy; currently more than twenty-two million are in circulation. Now use nine million in gold, silver, and copper cash from the upper and lower treasuries, five million from the inner storehouse, and seven million from Shu — altogether to replace the full number of notes. You alone are charged with this — you are truly chancellor material."
67
一日，上曲宴宰執於凝碧，上曰：「自三代而下，至於漢、唐，治日常少，亂日常多，何也？」 衡奏：「聖君不常有，周八百年，稱極治成、康而已。」 上曰：「朕觀《無逸篇》，見周公為成王歷言商、周之君享國長遠，真萬世龜鑑。」 衡奏：「願陛下常以《無逸》為龜鑑，社稷之福。」 上又言：「朝廷所用，正論其人如何，不可有黨。 如唐牛、李之黨，相攻四十年，緣主聽不明至此。 文宗曰：『去河北賊易，去朝中朋黨難』。 朕嘗笑之。」 衡奏：「文宗優遊不斷，故有此語。 陛下英明聖武，誠非難事。」
One day the emperor gave an informal banquet to the chief ministers at Ningbi and said, "From the Three Dynasties down through Han and Tang, days of order were always fewer and days of disorder always more — why?" Heng replied, "Sagely rulers are not constant; in eight hundred years of Zhou, only the utmost order of Cheng and Kang is praised." The emperor said, "When I read the 'Against Idleness' chapter, I see the Duke of Zhou for King Cheng repeatedly speaking of Shang and Zhou rulers who enjoyed long reigns — it is truly a mirror for ten thousand generations." Heng replied, "I hope Your Majesty will always take the 'Against Idleness' as a mirror — this is the fortune of the realm." The emperor also said, "In employing men at court, one should judge the man — there must be no factions. Like the Niu-Li factions of Tang, attacking each other for forty years — it came to this because the ruler's hearing was not clear. Emperor Wenzong said, 'Removing the bandits north of the Yellow River is easy; removing factional cliques at court is hard.' I once laughed at this." Heng replied, "Wenzong was leisurely and indecisive, hence these words. Your Majesty is bright, sage, and martial — truly this is no difficult matter."
68
御寶實封令與臨安府竇思永改合入官，衡奏：「選人改官，非奏對稱旨，則用考舉磨勘，一旦特旨與之，非陛下愛惜人才之意。」 上亟收前命。
An imperial sealed order directed that Dou Siyong of Lin'an Prefecture be given a promotion. Heng memorialized, "For a selection official to change rank, unless commended at audience, the regular path is examination and merit review — a special order at once is not Your Majesty's intent to cherish talent." The emperor immediately withdrew the order.
69
上諭執政，選使求河南，衡奏：「司諫湯邦彥有口辨，宜使金。」 邦彥請對，問所以遣，既知薦出於衡，恨衡擠己，聞衡對客有訕上語，奏之，上大怒。 即日罷相，責授安德軍節度副使，郴州安置。 邦彥使還，果辱命，上震怒，竄之嶺南，詔衡自便，復官與祠。 年六十有二薨，贈資政殿學士。
The emperor instructed the chief ministers to select an envoy to seek Henan. Heng memorialized, "Remonstrance Official Tang Bangyan has a glib tongue and should be sent to Jin." Bangyan requested audience and asked why he was being sent; learning the recommendation came from Heng he resented Heng for pushing him aside. Hearing that Heng had mockingly spoken of the emperor before guests, he reported this and the emperor was greatly angered. That same day Heng was dismissed as chancellor, demoted to Military Vice Commissioner of Ande, and ordered to reside in Chen Prefecture. When Bangyan returned from his mission he indeed disgraced it; the emperor was shaken with anger and exiled him to Lingnan. An edict restored Heng to free movement and reinstated his rank and sinecure. He died aged sixty-two and was posthumously appointed Academician of the Hall for Assistance in Governance.
70
衡負才足智，理兵事甚悉，由小官不十年至宰相，進用之驟，人謂出於曾覿云。
Heng was talented and resourceful, understood military affairs thoroughly, and from a minor post reached the chancellorship in less than ten years. People said his rapid advancement came through Zeng Di.
71
論曰：陳康伯以經濟自任，臨事明斷。 梁克家才優識遠，謀國盡忠。 至若汪澈之論事忠愨，薦達人才，葉義問直言正色，掃除秦檜餘黨，然不長於兵，臨敵失措，豈優議論而劣事功者歟？ 葉顒清儉正直，而衡才智有餘，蓋亦一時之選云。
The commentators say: Chen Kangbo took statecraft upon himself and was clear and decisive in affairs. Liang Kejia was talented with far-reaching judgment and served the state with full loyalty. As for Wang Che's loyal policy debate and recommendation of talent, and Ye Yiwen's frank speech in sweeping away Qin Hui's remaining partisans — yet not being skilled in military affairs and losing composure before the enemy — were they superior in debate but inferior in practical achievement? Ye Yong was frugal, upright, and honest, while Heng had talent and wisdom in abundance — all were choices of their time.