1
葛邲，字楚輔，其先居丹陽，後徙吳興。 世以儒學名家，高祖密至邲，五世登科第，大父勝仲至邲，三世掌詞命。 邲少警敏，葉夢得、陳與義一見稱為國器。
Ge Bi, courtesy name Chufu, came from a family that had originally lived in Danyang before relocating to Wuxing. For generations the family was renowned for Confucian scholarship: from Ge Mi the founding ancestor down to Ge Bi, five generations passed the civil examinations, and from Ge Shengzhong his grandfather down to Ge Bi, three generations served as imperial draftsmen. Ge Bi was quick-witted from youth; Ye Mengde and Chen Yuyi both declared him a national treasure at first meeting.
2
以蔭授建康府上元丞。 會金人犯江，上元當敵衝，調度百出，邲不擾而辦，留守張浚、王綸皆器重之。 登進士第。 蕭之敏為御史，薦其才，除國子博士。 輪對，論州縣受納及鬻爵之弊，孝宗獎諭曰：「觀所奏，知卿材。」 除著作郎兼學士院權直。
By privilege of his family's office he was appointed assistant magistrate of Shangyuan in Jiankang Prefecture. When the Jurchens crossed the Yangtze, Shangyuan stood directly in the enemy's path. Orders for supplies and levies poured in from every direction, yet Ge Bi fulfilled them without disrupting the district. The regional commanders Zhang Jun and Wang Lun both held him in high regard. He passed the jinshi civil examination. When Xiao Zhimin served as censor, he recommended Ge Bi's ability, and Ge Bi was appointed erudite of the Imperial University. In an audience for policy discussion, he spoke on the abuses of local tax collection and the sale of offices. Emperor Xiaozong praised him, saying, "From what you have submitted, I know your ability." He was appointed drafting officer and acting attendant in the Academy of Scholars.
3
除正言，首疏言：「盈虛之理，隱于未然； 治亂之分，生於所忽。 宜專以畏天愛民為先。」 又論：「征榷歲增之害，如輦下都稅務，紹興間所趁茶鹽歲以一千三百萬緡為額，乾道六年後增至二千四百萬緡。 成都府一務，初額四萬八千緡，今至四十餘萬緡，通四川酒額遂至五百餘萬緡，民力重困。 至若租稅有定數，而暗耗日增，折帛益多，民安得不窮乎？ 願明詔有司，茶鹽酒稅比原額已增至一倍者，毋更立新額，官吏不增賞，庶少蘇疲甿。」 上特召，復令條陳，邲以六事對，皆切中時病。 除侍御史，論救荒三事，累遷中書舍人。
Appointed remonstrating censor, he first memorialized, saying, "The principle of plenty and want is concealed before it appears; the line between order and chaos is drawn from what is overlooked. Your Majesty should make reverence for Heaven and love for the people your foremost priorities." He also argued, "The harm of yearly increases in monopoly taxes is plain. At the metropolitan tax office, for example, the annual tea and salt quota during the Shaoxing era was set at 13 million cash; after the sixth year of the Qiandao era it rose to 24 million. A single tax office in Chengdu Prefecture had an initial quota of 48,000 cash; it now exceeds 400,000. The total wine quota for all of Sichuan has reached more than 5 million cash, and the people are severely overburdened. As for land tax, though the fixed amounts remain unchanged, hidden losses mount daily and cloth levies in kind grow ever heavier. How can the people avoid destitution? I pray Your Majesty issue a clear edict to the responsible offices: where tea, salt, and wine taxes have already doubled the original quota, no new quota shall be set and officials shall receive no additional rewards, so that the exhausted farmers may recover somewhat." The Emperor specially summoned him and ordered further memorials. Ge Bi responded on six matters, all striking directly at the ills of the day. He was appointed attending censor, memorialized on three measures for famine relief, and was promoted in succession to vice director of the Secretariat-Chancellery.
4
歲旱，詔求初政得失，邲應詔，大略謂：「虞允文制國用，南庫之積日以厚，戶部之入日以削，故近年以來，常有不足之憂。 罷兵以來，諸將皆以賂得升，其勢必至於掊刻取償，益精其選。」 遷給事中。 張嶷以說之子除知閣，裴良琮以顯仁之侄女夫落階官，邲皆繳奏。 廣西議更鹽法，邲言：「鈔法之行，漕臣嘗紿群商，沒入其貲。 楮幣行之二廣，民必疑慮，且有後悔。」 除刑部尚書。
In a year of drought, an edict sought review of the gains and losses of early policies. Ge Bi responded, broadly stating, "When Yu Yunwen managed state finances, the reserves of the Southern Treasury grew daily while the Ministry of Revenue's receipts shrank daily; in recent years there has therefore been constant anxiety over shortfalls. Since demobilization, generals have won promotion through bribes; this must inevitably drive them to squeeze the people to recoup their costs. Selection should be made more rigorous." He was promoted to supervising censor. When Zhang Yi was appointed court attendant because he was the son of a favorite, and Pei Liangqiong was stripped of rank as husband of a niece of Empress Xianren, Ge Bi returned both appointments for re-examination. When Guangxi debated changing the salt law, Ge Bi said, "When the salt-certificate system was introduced, the transport commissioner once deceived the merchant guilds and confiscated their property. If paper currency is introduced in the two Guang regions, the people will certainly be wary, and regret will follow." He was appointed minister of justice.
5
邲為東宮僚屬八年，孝宗書「安遇」字以賜，又出《梅花詩》命邲屬和，眷遇甚渥。 光宗受禪，除參知政事。 邲勸上專法孝宗，正風俗，節財用，振士氣，執中道，恤民力，選將帥，收人才，擇監司，明法令，手疏歷言之，上嘉納。 除知樞密院事。 紹熙四年，拜左丞相，專守祖宗法度，薦進人物，博采公論，惟恐其不聞之。 未期年，除觀文殿大學士、知建康府。 改隆興，請祠。
Ge Bi served eight years as an aide in the Eastern Palace. Emperor Xiaozong wrote the characters "peaceful in encounter" as a gift and also presented a poem on plum blossoms for Ge Bi to compose a matching verse. The imperial favor shown him was very great. When Emperor Guangzong received the abdication, Ge Bi was appointed vice grand councilor. Ge Bi urged the Emperor to take Emperor Xiaozong alone as his model: rectify custom, economize expenditures, revive scholarly morale, hold to the middle way, spare the people's strength, select generals, gather talent, choose fiscal intendants, and clarify laws. He set these out at length in a handwritten memorial, and the Emperor approved with praise. He was appointed director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the fourth year of Shaoxi he was appointed left grand councilor. He strictly maintained the laws and institutions of the ancestors, recommended worthy persons, and gathered public opinion broadly, fearing only that he might not hear of them. Before a full year had passed, he was appointed grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and prefect of Jiankang Prefecture. He was transferred to Longxing and requested a sinecure post.
6
改判福州，道行感疾，除少保，致仕。 薨，年六十六。 贈少師，諡「文定」，配饗光宗廟庭。 有文集二百卷、《詞業》五十卷。
Transferred to serve as administrative commissioner of Fuzhou, he fell ill en route, was appointed junior guardian, and retired. He died at the age of sixty-six. He was posthumously awarded grand preceptor, given the posthumous title "Wending," and granted a place in Emperor Guangzong's temple sacrifices. He left collected writings in two hundred juan and Compositions for the Examinations in fifty juan.
7
錢端禮
Qian Duanli
8
錢端禮，字處和，臨安府臨安人。 父忱，瀘川軍節度使。 端禮以恩補官。 紹興間，通判明州，加直秘閣，累遷右文殿修撰，仕外服有聲。 高宗材之，知臨安府。
Qian Duanli, courtesy name Chuhe, was a native of Lin'an in Lin'an Prefecture. His father Chen was military commissioner of the Luzhou Army. Duanli entered office by hereditary privilege. During the Shaoxing era he served as vice prefect of Mingzhou, was promoted to direct access to the Secret Archive, and rose through posts including compiler in the Hall of Literary Glory. His performance in provincial service won him a strong reputation. Emperor Gaozong noted his ability and appointed him prefect of Lin'an.
9
御史中丞汪澈論版曹闕官，當遴選，權戶部侍郎兼樞密都承旨。 端禮嘗建明用楮為幣，於是專委經畫，分為六務，出納皆有法，幾月易錢數百萬。
The censor-in-chief Wang Che memorialized that the Ministry of Revenue lacked officials and that careful selection was needed. Duanli was appointed vice minister of revenue concurrently as chief aide to the Bureau of Military Affairs. Duanli had once proposed using paper notes as currency. He was therefore entrusted exclusively with planning the system, which was divided into six branches with regulated receipts and disbursements. Within months several million cash in coin was exchanged.
10
孝宗銳意恢復，詔張浚出師。 會符離稍失利，湯思退遂倡和議，端禮奏：「有用兵之名，無用兵之實，賈怨生事，無益于國。」 思退大喜，奏除戶部侍郎。 未幾，兼吏部。 端禮與戶部尚書韓仲通同對，論經費，奏：「所入有限，兵食日增，更有調發，不易支吾。」 上云：「須恢復中原，財賦自足。」 仲通奏：「恢復未可必，且經度目前所用。」 端禮奏：「仲通言是，乞採納。」
Emperor Xiaozong was keen to recover lost territory and ordered Zhang Jun to take the field. When the setback at Fuli became known, Tang Situi began advocating peace. Duanli memorialized, "There is the name of waging war but not the reality. It breeds resentment and creates trouble, benefiting the state not at all. Situi was greatly pleased and memorialized for Duanli's appointment as vice minister of revenue. Before long he also held the Ministry of Personnel concurrently. Duanli and Minister of Revenue Han Zhongtong jointly addressed the throne on finances, memorializing, "Revenue is limited while military provisions grow daily. If further levies are dispatched, the treasury cannot long sustain them. The Emperor said, "Once we recover the Central Plains, revenues will suffice of themselves. Zhongtong memorialized, "Recovery cannot yet be taken as certain. Plan first for current needs. Duanli memorialized, "Zhongtong's words are right. I beg they be adopted."
11
思退與張浚議和戰不決，浚方主戰，上意甚向之。 思退詭求去，端禮請對乞留，又奏：「兵者兇器，願以符離之潰為戒，早決國是，為社稷至計。」 於是思退復留，命浚行邊，還戍兵，罷招納。 以端禮充淮東宣諭使，王之望使淮西，端禮入奏：「兩淮名曰備守，守未必備； 名曰治兵，兵未必精。 有用兵不勝，僥倖行險，輕躁出師，大喪師徒者，必勝之說果如此，皆誤國明甚。」 端禮既以是詆浚，右正言尹穡亦劾浚，罷都督，自此議論歸一矣。
Situi and Zhang Jun could not settle the debate over war and peace. Jun still favored war, and the Emperor's mind leaned strongly toward him. Situi feigned a request to leave office. Duanli sought audience begging that he be retained and also memorialized, "Arms are instruments of violence. I pray Your Majesty take the rout at Fuli as a warning, decide the national policy early, and make this the paramount plan for the altars of state. Situi was then kept in office. Zhang Jun was ordered to inspect the frontier, garrison troops were withdrawn, and recruitment levies were halted. Duanli was appointed commissioner to pacify and instruct Huaidong, and Wang Zhiwang was sent to Huaidong. Duanli entered to memorialize, "The two Huai districts are said to be prepared for defense, yet defense is not necessarily in place; they are said to be training troops, yet the troops are not necessarily well drilled. There are those who wage war without victory, take reckless risks in hope of luck, rashly take the field, and lose armies wholesale. If the doctrine that one must win truly were so, all of this grievously misleads the state. Having thus attacked Jun, Duanli was joined by remonstrating censor Yin Ji, who also impeached Jun. The grand commander was dismissed, and from then on debate converged on one view.
12
端禮至淮還，極言守備疏略，恐召金兵，宜早定和議。 遂除吏部侍郎，再往淮上，驛疏言：「遣使、發兵當並行，使以盡其禮，兵以防其變，不必待金書至而後遣使。 書中或有見脅之語，不若先遣以釋其疑，于計為得。」 上云：「端禮所奏未是。」 思退傳旨撤海、泗二州戍兵，語在《思退傳》。
When Duanli returned from the Huai region, he spoke urgently of lax defenses and feared this would provoke the Jurchens. Peace should be settled soon. He was then appointed vice minister of personnel and sent again to the Huai frontier. By courier memorial he said, "Sending envoys and deploying troops should proceed together: envoys to fulfill all ritual propriety, troops to guard against sudden change. There is no need to wait until the Jurchen letter arrives before sending envoys. If the letter contains language that seems coercive, it would be better to send envoys first to dispel their suspicion. That would be the better plan. The Emperor said, "What Duanli memorializes is not correct. Situi transmitted an order withdrawing garrison troops from Haizhou and Sizhou. The account is given in Situi's biography.
13
金帥僕散忠義分兵入，上意中悔，令思退都督江、淮軍馬，端禮試兵部尚書，參贊軍事。 思退畏怯不行，端禮赴闕，上曰：「前後廷臣議論，獨卿不變。」 兼戶部尚書，俄拜端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事兼權參知政事。 上嘗問：「欲遣楊由義持金帥書，而辭行甚力，誰可遣？」 端禮請以王抃行，俾與金帥議，許割商、秦地，歸被俘人，惟叛亡者不與，餘誓目略同紹興，世為叔侄之國，減銀絹五萬，易歲貢為歲幣。 及抃還，上見書，金皆聽許。 端禮贊上如其式報之：「謀國當思遠圖，如與之和，則我得休息以修內治，若為忿兵，未見其可。」 抃遂行。 諜報北軍已回，端禮以和議既定，乞降詔。 除參知政事兼權知樞密院事。
The Jurchen commander Puxie Zhongyi divided his forces and invaded. The Emperor's mind turned to regret. He ordered Situi to command the Jiang-Huai forces, and Duanli was given acting appointment as minister of war to assist in military affairs. Situi, timid, would not go. Duanli came to court, and the Emperor said, "Among court ministers debating back and forth, you alone have not changed. He was given concurrent appointment as minister of revenue, and soon after was appointed academician of the Duanming Hall, deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and acting vice grand councilor. The Emperor once asked, "I wish to send Yang Youyi with the Jurchen commander's letter, but he refuses the mission with great force. Who can be sent? Duanli proposed sending Wang Bian to negotiate with the Jurchen commander: cede Shang and Qin territories, return captured persons except deserters; other oath terms largely followed the Shaoxing settlement — perpetual uncle-and-nephew states, reduce silver and silk tribute by 50,000, and change annual tribute to annual payments. When Bian returned, the Emperor saw the letter. The Jurchens agreed to all terms. Duanli urged the Emperor to reply in like form: "In planning for the state one must think long-term. If we make peace, we gain rest to improve internal governance. If we march in anger, I see no assurance of success. Bian then set out. Spies reported that northern armies had withdrawn. Duanli, as peace was settled, begged that an edict proclaiming it be issued. He was appointed vice grand councilor concurrently acting director of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
14
時久不置相，端禮以首參窺相位甚急。 皇長子鄧王夫人，端禮女也，殿中侍御史唐堯封論端禮帝姻，不可任執政，不報，遷太常少卿。 館閣士相與上疏排端禮，皆坐絀。 刑部侍郎王茀陰附端禮，建為「國是」之說以助其勢。 吏部侍郎陳俊卿抗疏，力詆其罪，且謂本朝無以戚屬為相，此懼不可為子孫法。 逮進讀《寶訓》，適及外戚，因言：「祖宗家法，外戚不與政，最有深意，陛下所宜守。」 上納其言。 端禮憾之，出俊卿知建寧府。
As no grand councilor had been appointed for a long time, Duanli as senior vice councilor eagerly sought the top post. The consort of the Emperor's eldest son, the Prince of Deng, was Duanli's daughter. Palace attendant Tang Yaofeng argued that Duanli as imperial in-law could not hold executive power. There was no response, and Tang was transferred to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Academicians of the Institute collectively memorialized against Duanli. All were demoted. Vice minister of justice Wang Fu secretly aligned with Duanli and devised a doctrine of "national policy" to bolster his faction. Vice minister of personnel Chen Junqing submitted a forceful memorial denouncing his crimes and stating that this dynasty has never made an in-law grand councilor — a precedent to be feared for posterity. When reading the Imperial Instructions, the section on consorts of foreign origin came up. He said, "The ancestral house law keeping consorts from government carries profound meaning. Your Majesty should uphold it. The Emperor accepted his words. Duanli resented this and had Junqing sent out as prefect of Jianning Prefecture.
15
鄧王夫人生子，太上甚喜。 先兩月，恭王夫人李氏亦生子，於是恭王府直講王淮白端禮云：「恭王夫人子是為皇長嫡孫。」 端禮不懌，翌日奏：「嫡庶具載《禮經》，講官當以正論輔導，不應為此邪說。」 遂指淮傾邪不正，與外任。 鄧王立為太子，端禮引嫌，除資政殿大學士、提舉德壽宮兼侍讀，改提舉洞霄宮。 起知寧國府，移紹興，進觀文殿學士。
When the consort of the Prince of Deng gave birth, the Retired Emperor was greatly pleased. Two months earlier the consort of the Prince of Gong, Lady Li, had also given birth. The lecturer Wang Huai of the Prince of Gong's household told Duanli, "The son of the Prince of Gong's consort is the eldest legitimate grandson of the Emperor. Duanli was displeased. The next day he memorialized, "Primary and secondary wives are fully recorded in the Book of Rites. Lecturers should guide with correct doctrine and should not propagate such heterodox views. He then accused Huai of perverse bias and had him sent to an outside post. When the Prince of Deng was established as crown prince, Duanli cited conflict of interest and was appointed grand academician of the Hall of Literary Policy, commissioner of the Deshou Palace with concurrent reader, then transferred to commissioner of the Tongsiao Palace. He was recalled as prefect of Ningguo Prefecture, transferred to Shaoxing, and promoted to grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature.
16
魏杞，字南夫，壽春人。 祖蔭入官。 紹興十二年，登進士第。 知宣州涇縣。 從臣錢端禮薦其才，召對，擢太府寺主簿，進丞。 端禮宣諭淮東，杞以考功員外郎為參議官，遷宗正少卿。
Wei Qi, courtesy name Nanfu, was a native of Shouchun. His grandfather entered office by hereditary privilege. In the twelfth year of Shaoxing he passed the jinshi civil examination. He served as magistrate of Jing County in Xuanzhou Prefecture. Attendant Chen Qian Duanli recommended his talent. Summoned for audience, he was promoted to registrar of the Court of the Imperial Granary and then to assistant director. When Duanli was commissioner to pacify Huaidong, Qi served as consultant officer with the rank of director in the Ministry of Personnel. He was transferred to vice director of the Court of the Imperial Clan.
17
湯思退建和議，命杞為金通問使，孝宗面諭：「今遣使，一正名，二退師，三減歲幣，四不發歸附人。」 杞條上十七事擬問對，上隨事畫可。 陛辭，奏曰：「臣若將指出疆，其敢不勉。 萬一無厭，願速加兵。」 上善之。
Tang Situi established the peace settlement and appointed Qi as envoy to inquire of the Jurchens. Emperor Xiaozong instructed him face to face, "In sending this envoy: first, rectify titles; second, withdraw troops; third, reduce annual payments; fourth, do not send back defectors. Qi submitted seventeen proposed questions and answers item by item. The Emperor approved each as it arose. At farewell audience he memorialized, "If Your Majesty sends me as commissioner beyond the border, how could I not exert myself? If they prove insatiable, I pray reinforcements be added swiftly. The Emperor approved.
18
行次盱眙，金所遣大將僕散忠義、紇石烈志寧等方擁兵闖淮，遣權泗州趙房長問所以來意，求觀國書，杞曰：「書御封也，見主當廷授。」 房長馳白僕散忠義，疑國書不如式，又求割商、秦地及歸正人，且欲歲幣二十萬。 杞以聞，上命盡依初式，再易國書，歲幣亦如其數。 忠義以未如所欲，遂與志寧分兵犯山陽。 戰不利，驍將魏勝死之。
At Xuyi on the journey, the Jurchen generals Puxie Zhongyi, Hexilie Zhining, and others were just leading troops across the Huai. Qi sent Zhao Fangchang, acting prefect of Sizhou, to ask their purpose and request to see the imperial letter. Qi said, "The letter is sealed by the Emperor. It shall be presented at court before the sovereign. Fangchang galloped to report to Puxie Zhongyi, suspecting the imperial letter did not follow the proper form. He also demanded cession of Shang and Qin territories and return of defectors, and wanted annual payments of 200,000. Qi reported this. The Emperor ordered that the original form be fully followed, the imperial letter be rewritten, and the annual payments likewise set at that amount. Because his wishes were not fully met, Zhongyi then divided forces with Zhining and invaded Shanyang. The battle went badly, and the fierce general Wei Sheng was killed.
19
上怒金反覆，詔以禮物犒督府師，杞奏：「金若從約，而金繒不具，豈不瘠國體、格事機乎？」 乃以禮物行。 至燕，見金主褒，具言：「天子神聖，才傑奮起，人人有敵愾意，北朝用兵能保必勝乎？ 和則兩國享其福，戰則將士蒙其利，昔人論之甚悉。」 金君臣環聽拱竦。 館伴張恭愈以國書稱「大宋」，脅去「大」字，杞拒之，卒正敵國體，損歲幣五萬，不發歸正人北還。 上慰藉甚渥。
The Emperor, angered at Jurchen duplicity, ordered gifts sent to reward the commandery forces. Qi memorialized, "If the Jurchens abide by the treaty yet gold and silk are not prepared, would this not emaciate the state's dignity and obstruct the moment?" Gifts were then sent. Arriving in Yan, he saw the Jurchen ruler Bao and fully stated, "The Son of Heaven is divine; talented men rise up; every man burns with hatred of the enemy. Can the northern court wage war and guarantee victory? If we make peace, both states enjoy its blessings; if we fight, officers and soldiers bear its costs. Men of old discussed this very thoroughly." The Jurchen ruler and ministers listened in a circle, hands clasped in awe. The escort Zhang Gongyu, because the imperial letter used "Great Song," coerced removal of the character "Great." Qi refused, and in the end corrected the enemy state's standing, reduced annual payments by 50,000, and did not send defectors back north. The Emperor's consolation was very generous.
20
守起居舍人，遷給事中、同知樞密院事，進參知政事、右僕射兼樞密使。 時方借職田助邊，降人蕭鷓巴賜淮南田，意不愜，以職田請，杞言：「圭租食功養廉，借之尚可，奪之不可。」 上是其言。 杞以使金不辱命，繇庶官一歲至相位。 上銳意恢復，杞左右其論。 會郊祀冬雷，用漢制災異策免，守左諫議大夫、提舉江州太平興國宮。
He served as attendant drafting officer, was promoted to supervising censor and deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and advanced to vice grand councilor, right vice director of the Department of State Affairs, and commissioner of military affairs. At the time office lands were being borrowed to aid the frontier. The surrendered man Xiao Zheba was granted lands in Huainan but was dissatisfied and requested office lands instead. Qi said, "Official rent feeds merit and sustains integrity. To borrow it is still permissible; to seize it is not." The Emperor approved his words. Because Qi as envoy to the Jurchens did not disgrace his mission, he rose from a common official in one year to the top post. The Emperor was keen to recover lost territory, and Qi swayed his counsel. When thunder sounded in winter during the suburban sacrifice, following Han precedent for calamities and anomalies he was dismissed from office, remaining as left remonstrating censor and commissioner of the Taiping Xingguo Palace in Jiangzhou.
21
六年，授觀文殿學士、知平江府。 諫官王希呂論杞貪墨，奪職。 後以端明殿學士奉祠，告老，復資政殿大學士。 淳熙十一年十一月薨，贈特進。 嘉泰中，諡「文節」。
In the sixth year he was appointed grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and prefect of Pingjiang Prefecture. Remonstrating official Wang Xilu accused Qi of corruption and greed, and his office was stripped. Later, as academician of the Duanming Hall he held a sinecure post, reported old age, and was again made grand academician of the Hall of Literary Policy. In the eleventh month of the eleventh year of Chunxi he died; he was posthumously awarded special advancement. During the Jiatai era he was given the posthumous title "Wenjie."
22
周葵，字立義，常州宜興人。 少力學，自鄉校移籍京師，兩學傳誦其文。 宣和六年，擢進士甲科。 調徽州推官。 高宗移蹕臨安，諸軍交馳境上，葵與判官攝郡事，應變敏速，千里帖然。 教授臨安府，未上，吏部侍郎陳與義密薦之，召試館職。 將試，復引對，高宗曰：「從班多說卿端正。」
Zhou Kui, courtesy name Liyi, was a native of Yixing in Changzhou. From youth he studied diligently. He transferred his registration from the district school to the capital, and both academies circulated his writings. In the sixth year of Xuanhe he was selected in the top rank of the jinshi examination. He was appointed investigating officer in Huizhou Prefecture. When Emperor Gaozong moved the court to Lin'an, armies crisscrossed the borders. Kui and the vice magistrate administered the prefecture, responding to changes with swift agility, and for a thousand li all was calm. He was appointed professor in Lin'an Prefecture but had not yet taken up the post when vice minister of personnel Chen Yuyi secretly recommended him. He was summoned to test for an institute post. Just before the test he was again summoned for audience. Emperor Gaozong said, "Many in the attendant ranks say you are upright."
23
除監察御史，徙殿中侍御史。 在職僅兩月，言事至三十章，且歷條所行不當事凡二十條，指宰相不任責。 高宗變色曰：「趙鼎、張浚肯任事，須假之權，奈何遽以小事形跡之？」 葵曰：「陛下即位，已相十許人，其初皆極意委之，卒以公議不容而去，大臣亦無固志。 假如陛下有過，尚望大臣盡忠，豈大臣有過，而言者一指，乃便為形跡，使彼過而不改，罪戾日深，非所以保全之也。」 高宗改容曰：「此論甚奇。」
He was appointed investigating censor and transferred to palace attendant. In office barely two months, he submitted memorials on affairs reaching thirty chapters, and in succession listed twenty improper actions, pointing out that the grand councilors did not bear responsibility. Emperor Gaozong changed color and said, "Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun are willing to take responsibility. One must lend them authority. Why suddenly use small matters to expose their conduct?" Kui said, "Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have already appointed some ten grand councilors. At first you entrusted each with full intent, yet in the end public opinion would not tolerate them and they left. The grand councilors too had no firm will. Suppose Your Majesty had faults — one would still hope grand councilors would serve with full loyalty. How can it be that when grand councilors have faults and remonstrators point them out, one immediately treats it as exposing conduct, so that their faults go uncorrected and guilt deepens daily? That is not how to preserve them." Emperor Gaozong changed expression and said, "This argument is quite remarkable."
24
張浚議北伐，葵三章力言此存亡之機，非獨安危所係。 或言葵沮大計，罷為司農少卿，以直秘閣知信州。 未上，鼎罷，陳與義執政，改湖南提刑，以親老易江東，皆不就。
When Zhang Jun debated a northern expedition, Kui submitted three memorials forcefully stating that this was a matter of survival and extinction, not merely safety and danger. Some said Kui was obstructing the great plan. He was dismissed as vice director of the Court of Imperial Granaries and appointed direct access to the Secret Archive as prefect of Xinzhou. Before he took up the post, Ding was dismissed. Chen Yuyi held power and changed his appointment to fiscal intendant of Hunan. Because his parents were old he sought transfer to Jiangdong — he accepted neither.
25
和議已定，被召，論：「為國有道，戰則勝，守則固，和則久。 不然，三者在人不在我矣。」 除太常少卿。 時秦檜獨相，意葵前論事去，必憾趙鼎，再除殿中侍御史。 葵語人曰：「元鎮已貶，葵固不言，雖門下客亦不及之也。」 內降差除四人，奏言：「願陛下以仁祖為法，大臣以杜衍為法。」 檜始不樂。 又論國用、軍政、士民三弊，高宗曰：「國用當藏之民，百姓足則國用非所患。」 又言薦舉改官之弊，宜聽減舉員，詔吏部措置。
Once peace was settled, he was recalled and argued, "Governing a state has its way: in war one prevails, in defense one holds firm, in peace one endures. Otherwise, all three depend on others, not on us." He was appointed vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. At the time Qin Hui alone was grand councilor. He thought Kui had left office over earlier remonstrances and must resent Zhao Ding, and again appointed him palace attendant. Kui told others, "Yuanzhen has already been demoted. Kui will certainly not speak of it — not even to clients at my gate." An inner edict specially appointed four men. He memorialized, "I pray Your Majesty take Emperor Renzong as your model and grand councilors take Du Yan as theirs." Hui was displeased at first. He also discussed three abuses — state finances, military administration, and scholars and people. Emperor Gaozong said, "State finances should be stored with the people. When the common people are sufficient, state finances are not what one need worry about." He also spoke on abuses in recommendation and promotion and begged that the number of recommenders be reduced. An edict ordered the Ministry of Personnel to arrange it.
26
檜所厚權戶部尚書梁汝嘉將特賜出身，除兩府，汝嘉聞葵欲劾之，謂中書舍人林待聘曰：「副端將論君矣。」 待聘乘檜未趨朝，亟告之，檜即奏為起居郎。 葵方待引，檜下殿諭閣門曰：「周葵已得旨除起居郎。」 隔下。 八月庚辰也。
Liang Rujia, whom Hui favored as acting minister of revenue, was about to be specially granted initial appointment and dual palace posts. Rujia heard Kui intended to impeach him and told vice director of the Secretariat-Chancellery Lin Daipin, "The deputy censor is about to criticize you." Daipin, while Hui had not yet gone to court, urgently told him. Hui immediately memorialized for Kui's appointment as attendant drafting officer. Kui was just waiting to be presented when Hui descended from the hall and instructed the Gate Office, "Zhou Kui has already received the edict appointing him attendant drafting officer." The curtain was lowered. It was the day gengchen in the eighth month.
27
參政李光擬除呂廣問館職，檜不許。 時有詔從官薦士，葵以廣問應，初不相知也。 光既絀，葵以附會落職，主管玉隆觀。 復直秘閣，起知湖州，移平江府。 時金使絡繹於道，葵不為禮，轉運李椿年希檜旨劾之，落職，主管崇道觀。 屏居鄉閭，憂患頻仍，人不能堪，葵獨安之。
Vice grand councilor Li Guang proposed appointing Lü Guangwen to an institute post; Hui would not permit it. At the time there was an edict that attendant officials recommend scholars. Kui recommended Guangwen in response — they had not known each other before. When Guang was demoted, Kui was stripped of office for collusion and made superintendent of the Yulong Abbey. He was again given direct access to the Secret Archive, recalled as prefect of Huzhou, and transferred to Pingjiang Prefecture. At the time Jurchen envoys crowded the roads. Kui did not observe the proper rites. Transport commissioner Li Chunnian, seeking Hui's intent, impeached him. He was stripped of office and made superintendent of the Chongdao Abbey. Living in seclusion in his home district, misfortunes came one after another. Others could not bear it, yet Kui alone remained at peace.
28
檜死，復直秘閣、知紹興府。 過闕，權禮部侍郎，尋兼國子祭酒。 奏：「科舉所以取士。 比年主司迎合大臣意，取經傳語可諛者為問目，學者競逐時好。 望詔國學並擇秋試考官，精選通經博古之士，置之前列，其穿鑿乖謬者黜之。」
When Hui died, Kui was again given direct access to the Secret Archive and appointed prefect of Shaoxing Prefecture. Passing the capital, he was acting vice minister of rites, and soon also chancellor of the Imperial University. He memorialized, "The civil examinations exist to select scholars. In recent years chief examiners have catered to grand councilors' wishes, selecting passages from the classics that can flatter for question topics. Scholars compete to chase current fashion. I pray an edict that the Imperial University and autumn-exam chief examiners alike be chosen: select first those versed in the classics and broad in antiquity, and dismiss those who force strained interpretations and err grievously."
29
兼權給事中。 侍御史湯鵬舉言：「葵以魏良臣薦，躐處侍從； 呂廣問，葵之死黨。 乞並罷之。」 太學生黃作、詹淵率諸生都堂投牒留葵。 翌日，博士何俌等言於朝，乞懲戒，詔作、淵皆送五百里外州編管，葵出知信州，隨罷。
He also held concurrent appointment as acting supervising censor. Attending censor Tang Pengju said, "Kui was recommended by Wei Liangchen and leaped to attendant rank; Lü Guangwen is Kui's sworn faction. I beg that both be dismissed." Imperial University students Huang Zuo and Zhan Yuan led the students to the chief minister's gate to submit petitions asking Kui be retained. The next day erudite He Fu and others spoke at court begging punishment. An edict ordered Zuo and Yuan both sent for registered exile five hundred li outside the prefecture. Kui was sent out as prefect of Xinzhou and likewise dismissed.
30
起知撫州，引疾，改提舉興國宮，加直龍圖閣、知太平州。 水壞圩堤，悉繕完，凡百二十里。 傍郡圩皆沒，惟當塗歲熟。 市河久堙，雨暘交病，葵下令城中，家出一夫，官給之食，並力浚導，公私便之。 進集英殿修撰、敷文閣待制、知婺州。
He was recalled as prefect of Fuzhou, cited illness, changed to commissioner of the Xingguo Palace, and promoted to direct access to the Dragon Diagram Hall as prefect of Taiping Prefecture. Flood waters damaged the polder dikes. He repaired them all — one hundred twenty li in total. Neighboring prefectures' polders were all submerged; only Dangtu had a full harvest that year. The market river had long been silted; drought and flood alternated in harm. Kui ordered every household in the city to supply one man. The government provided food, and all joined to dredge and channel — public and private alike benefited. He was promoted to compiler in the Hall for Assembling Excellence, awaiting orders in the Hall for Spreading Culture, and prefect of Wuzhou.
31
孝宗即位，除兵部侍郎兼侍講，改同知貢舉兼權戶部侍郎。 孝宗數手詔問錢穀出入，葵奏：「陛下勞心庶政，日有諮詢，若出人意表。 今皆微文細故，此必有小人乘間欲售其私，不可不察。」 蓋指龍大淵、曾覿也。 孝宗色為動。
When Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, he was appointed vice minister of war with concurrent reader, changed to deputy director of the examinations with concurrent acting vice minister of revenue. Emperor Xiaozong repeatedly sent handwritten edicts asking about revenue and expenditure. Kui memorialized, "Your Majesty toils over myriad policies and daily seeks consultation — if matters fall outside what people expect. Now all are petty documents and minor affairs. There must be petty men seizing the interval to sell their private interests. This cannot go unexamined." This referred to Long Dayuan and Zeng Di. Emperor Xiaozong's expression changed.
32
金主亮為其下所斃，張浚自督府來朝，密言：「敵失泗州，其懼罪者皆欲來歸，願遣軍渡淮赴之，此恢復之機也。」 葵請對，謂不可輕舉，累數百言。 及遣李顯忠、邵宏淵取靈壁、虹二縣，敗績。 孝宗思其言，拜參知政事。 葵始終守自治之說。
The Jurchen ruler Haili was killed by his subordinates. Zhang Jun came from the commandery to court and secretly said, "The enemy lost Sizhou. Those who fear punishment all wish to come over. Send troops across the Huai to meet them — this is the moment for recovery." Kui sought audience and argued it should not be lightly attempted, piling up several hundred words. When Li Xianzhong and Shao Hongyuan were sent to take Lingbi and Hong counties, they suffered defeat. Emperor Xiaozong recalled his words and appointed him vice grand councilor. Kui consistently upheld the doctrine of self-governance.
33
兼權知樞密院事。 臺諫交章言議和太速，葵與陳康伯、湯思退乞令侍從、臺諫集議，眾益洶洶，諸公待罪乞罷，不許。 葵獨留身固請，孝宗曰：「卿何請之力也？」 曰：「自預政以來，每與宰相論事，有以為然而從者； 有不得以強從者； 有絕不肯從者，十常四五。 洎至榻前，陛下又或不然，大率十事之中，不從者七八，安得不愧於心，此臣所以欲去也。」
He also held concurrent appointment as acting director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Censors and remonstrators submitted successive memorials saying peace was negotiated too hastily. Kui with Chen Kangbo and Tang Situi begged that attendants and remonstrators assemble for joint discussion. The crowd grew ever more clamorous. The officials offered resignation begging dismissal — not permitted. Kui alone remained and forcefully begged leave. Emperor Xiaozong said, "Why do you beg so forcefully?" He said, "Since entering government, whenever I discuss affairs with the grand councilor, sometimes he agrees and follows; sometimes he cannot agree but is forced to follow; sometimes he absolutely refuses to follow — ten times in four or five. When it comes before Your Majesty's couch, Your Majesty again sometimes disagrees. Broadly speaking, of ten matters seven or eight are not followed. How can I not feel ashamed at heart? That is why I wish to leave."
34
嘗乞召用侍從、臺諫，孝宗曰：「安得如卿直諒者。」 遂薦李浩、龔茂良，孝宗皆以為佳士，次第用之。 太常奏郊牛斃，葵言：「《春秋》鼷鼠食牛角免郊，況邊虞未靖，請展郊以符天意。」 詔從之。
He once begged to recall attendants and remonstrators. Emperor Xiaozong said, "Where can one find someone as straight and candid as you?" He then recommended Li Hao and Gong Maoliang. Emperor Xiaozong considered both excellent men and employed them in succession. The Court of Imperial Sacrifices reported the suburban ox had died. Kui said, "In the Spring and Autumn Annals, a rat gnawed an ox's horn and the suburban sacrifice was exempted — how much more when frontier alarms are not yet settled? I pray the suburban sacrifice be postponed to accord with Heaven's intent." An edict followed his request.
35
葵孝於事親，當任子，先孤侄。 其薨也，幼子與孫尚未命。 平生學問不泥傳注，作《聖傳詩》二十篇、文集三十卷、奏議五卷。 晚號惟心居士。 四年，有司請諡，賜諡曰「惠簡」。
Kui was filial in serving his parents. When entitled to appoint a son, he first appointed a nephew who had lost his father. When he died, his youngest son and grandson had not yet received appointments. His lifelong learning did not cling to transmitted commentaries. He wrote twenty chapters of Odes on the Sage's Transmission, thirty juan of collected writings, and five juan of memorials. In his later years he styled himself the Lay Buddhist of Only Mind. In the fourth year the responsible offices requested a posthumous title; he was granted the posthumous title "Huijian."
36
施師點
Shi Shidian
37
施師點，字聖與，上饒人。 十歲通《六經》，十二能文。 弱冠遊太學，試每在前列，司業高宏稱其文深醇有古風。 尋授以學職，以舍選奉廷對，調復州教授。 未上，丁內艱。 服除，為臨安府教授。
Shi Shidian, courtesy name Shengyu, was a native of Shangrao. At ten he mastered the Six Classics; at twelve he could write essays. In early manhood he studied at the Imperial University. In examinations he always ranked at the front. Vice director Gao Hong praised his writing as deep, pure, and in an ancient style. Soon he was granted a teaching post. Selected by dormitory for palace audience, he was assigned as professor in Fuzhou Prefecture. Before taking up the post, he entered mourning for his mother. When mourning ended, he became professor in Lin'an Prefecture.
38
八年，兼權禮部侍郎，除給事中。 時太子詹事已除，上又特令增員為二，命兼之。 賜對，言：「比年人物骫骳，士氣耗苶，當廣儲人材以待用。」 上曰：「觀卿所奏，公輔器也。」
In the eighth year he held concurrent appointment as acting vice minister of rites and was appointed supervising censor. At the time the post of aide to the crown prince had already been filled. The Emperor also specially ordered the number increased to two and commanded Shidian to hold one concurrently. Granted audience, he said, "In recent years men have grown crooked and scholarly morale has withered. Talent should be broadly stored for use." The Emperor said, "From what you have submitted, you are material for chief minister."
39
假翰林學士、知制誥兼侍讀使金。 致命金廷，立班既定，相儀者以親王將至，命師點退位，師點屹立。 相儀者請數四，師點正色曰：「班立已定，尚欲何為。」 不肯少動。 在廷相顧駭愕，知其有守，不敢復以為請。 九年，使還，有言其事於上者，上嘉歎不已。 及後金使賀正旦至闕，問館伴：「師點今居何官？」 館伴宇文價于班列中指師點以示之，金使恍然曰：「一見正人，令人眼明。」
Acting Hanlin academician, drafting officer with concurrent reader, envoy to the Jurchens. Delivering the imperial message at the Jurchen court, once the formation was set, the protocol officer, because a prince was about to arrive, ordered Shidian to step back. Shidian stood firm. The protocol officer requested four or five times. Shidian said sternly, "The formation is already set. What more do you want?" He would not move the slightest. Those in court looked at one another in shock. Knowing he had principle, they dared not request again. In the ninth year, when he returned from his mission, someone reported the matter to the Emperor, who praised him endlessly. Later, when a Jurchen envoy came to court for New Year's congratulations, he asked the escort, "What office does Shidian hold now?" The escort Yuwen Jia pointed out Shidian in the formation. The Jurchen envoy said with sudden clarity, "To see an upright man once makes one's eyes bright."
40
十年，除端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事。 入奏，控免，上曰：「卿靖重有守，識慮深遠，朕欲用卿久矣。」 復詔兼參知政事，除參知政事兼同知樞密院事。 師點嘗同宰相奏事退，復同樞密周必大進呈，上曰：「適一二事卿等各陳所見，甚關大體。 前此宰相奏事，執政不措辭，今卿等如此，深副所望。」 必大奏：「祖宗時，宰執奏事自相可否，或至面相切責，退不相銜。 自秦檜用事，執政畏避不敢言。 今陛下虛心兼聽，若只宰相奏事，何用執政為？」 師點復奏：「臣敢不竭股肱之力。」 上因諭之曰：「朕欲天下事日往來胸中，未嘗釋也。」
In the tenth year he was appointed academician of the Duanming Hall and deputy commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Entering to memorialize, he begged to decline. The Emperor said, "You are calm, principled, and far-sighted in judgment. I have long wished to employ you." An edict again appointed him concurrently vice grand councilor. He was appointed vice grand councilor concurrently deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Shidian once memorialized with the grand councilor and withdrew, then with military affairs director Zhou Bida entered to present. The Emperor said, "On one or two matters just now you each stated your views — very much to the larger pattern. Before this, when grand councilors memorialized, executive officials did not speak. Now that you act thus, you deeply fulfill what I hope for." Bida memorialized, "In the time of the ancestors, when grand councilors and executives memorialized, they approved or disapproved among themselves — sometimes even rebuked one another face to face and parted without speaking afterward. Since Qin Hui held power, executives have feared and avoided speaking. Now Your Majesty listens with an open mind to all sides. If only the grand councilor memorializes, what need is there for executives?" Shidian again memorialized, "Your servant dares not fail to exert all strength as arms and legs." The Emperor thereupon instructed them, "I wish the affairs of the empire to flow daily into my breast. I never release them."
41
先是，州郡上供或不以時進，立歲終稽考法，及是，主計臣有喜為督促者，乞不待歲終先期行之。 畫命已下，師點矍然曰：「此策若行，上下逼迫，民不聊生。」 或謂：「令已出矣。」 師點曰：「事有為天下病，惟恨更之不速。」 即追寢其議。 樞密周必大舉手賀師點曰：「使天下赤子不被其毒者，公之賜也。」 一日，入對後殿，上曰：「朕前飲冰水過多，忽暴下，幸即平復。」 師點曰：「自古人君當無事時，快意所為，忽其所當戒，其後未有不悔者。」 上深然之。
Previously, prefectural tribute to the capital was sometimes not submitted on schedule. A year-end audit law was established. At this time the chief accountant, pleased with urging, begged that it be implemented early without waiting for year's end. The draft order had already been issued when Shidian started and said, "If this policy is implemented, superiors and inferiors will be driven hard and the people will have no peace." Some said, "The order has already gone out." Shidian said, "When a matter is a sickness to the empire, one can only regret not changing it sooner." He immediately pursued and halted the proposal. Military affairs director Zhou Bida raised his hands and congratulated Shidian, "That the newborn children of the empire are not poisoned by this is your gift." One day, after audience in the rear hall, the Emperor said, "I drank too much iced water earlier and suddenly had severe diarrhea — fortunately I have already recovered." Shidian said, "Since antiquity, when a ruler has nothing to do, he does as he pleases and suddenly forgets what he should guard against. Afterward there has never been one who did not regret it." The Emperor deeply approved.
42
十三年，辭兼同知樞密院事。 權提舉國史院，權提舉《國朝會要》。 十四年，除知樞密院事。 師點惓惓搜訪人才，手書置夾袋中，謂蜀去朝廷遠，人才難以自見，蜀士之賢者，俾各疏其所知，差次其才行、文學，每有除授，必列陳之。 十五年春，以資政殿大學士知泉州，除提舉臨安府洞霄宮。
In the thirteenth year he resigned concurrent appointment as deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Acting commissioner of the National History Office; acting commissioner of the National Institutions Compendium. In the fourteenth year he was appointed director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Shidian diligently searched out talent, writing names by hand and placing them in a folder. He said Sichuan was far from court and talent was hard to show itself. Worthy Sichuan scholars were asked each to list those they knew, ranking their conduct, talent, and literary skill. Whenever there was an appointment, he always listed and presented them. In the spring of the fifteenth year, as grand academician of the Hall of Literary Policy he was appointed prefect of Quanzhou. He was appointed commissioner of the Tongsiao Palace in Lin'an Prefecture.
43
紹熙二年，除知隆興府、江西安撫使。 師點嘗謂諸子曰：「吾平生仕宦，皆任其升沉，初未嘗容心其間，不枉道附麗，獨人主知之，遂至顯用。 夫人窮達有命，不在巧圖，惟忠孝乃吾事也。」 三年，得疾薨，年六十九。 贈金紫光祿大夫。 有奏議七卷、制槁八卷、《東宮講議》五卷、《易說》四卷、《史識》五卷、文集八卷。
In the second year of Shaoxi he was appointed prefect of Longxing Prefecture and pacification commissioner of Jiangxi. Shidian once told his sons, "All my life in office I have let promotion and demotion take their course. From the first I never calculated among them, never bent the Way to attach myself to power. Only the ruler knew me, and so I reached prominent employment. A man's poverty and success have destiny. It lies not in clever scheming. Only loyalty and filial piety are my concern." In the third year he fell ill and died at the age of sixty-nine. He was posthumously awarded grandee of the gold seal and purple ribbon. He left seven juan of memorials, eight juan of draft edicts, five juan of Eastern Palace Lectures, four juan of Explanations of the Changes, five juan of Historical Judgments, and eight juan of collected writings.
44
蕭燧，字照鄰，臨江軍人。 高祖固，皇祐初為廣西轉運使，知儂智高凶狡，條上羈縻之策於樞府，不果用，智高後果叛。 父增，紹興初嘗應制舉。
Xiao Sui, courtesy name Zhaolin, was a native of Linjiang Prefecture. His founding ancestor Gu, in the early Huangyou era, was transport commissioner of Guangxi. Knowing Nong Zhigao was fierce and cunning, he submitted a policy of restraint to the Military Affairs Bureau. It was not adopted, and Zhigao later rebelled as expected. His father Zeng in the early Shaoxing era once responded to the special examination.
45
燧生而穎異，幼能屬文。 紹興十八年，擢進士高第。 授平江府觀察推官。 時秦檜當國，其親黨密告燧，秋試必主文漕臺，燧詰其故，曰：「丞相有子就舉，欲以屬公。」 燧怒曰：「初仕敢欺心耶！」 檜懷之，既而被檄秀州，至則員溢，就院易一員往漕闈，秦熺果中前列。 秩滿，當為學官，避檜，調靜江府察推而歸。
Sui was gifted from birth and could compose essays from childhood. In the eighteenth year of Shaoxing he was selected in the top rank of the jinshi examination. He was appointed investigating officer in Pingjiang Prefecture. At the time Qin Hui held the state. His close associates secretly told Sui that in the autumn examination he would surely chief the transport commission. Sui asked why. They said, "The chancellor has a son taking the exam and wishes to entrust it to you." Sui angrily said, "At the start of office dare I deceive my heart!" Hui resented him. Soon he was dispatched to Xiuzhou. When he arrived the quota was full, so he exchanged one slot at the academy and went to the transport examination. Qin Xi indeed ranked at the front. When his term ended he should have become an academic officer. Avoiding Hui, he was assigned investigating officer in Jingjiang Prefecture and returned home.
46
燧未第時，夢神人示以文書，記其一聯云：「如火烈烈，玉石俱焚； 在冬青青，松柏不改。」 已而果符前事。 未幾，丁憂。 三十二年，授靖州教授。 孝宗初，除諸王宮大小學教授。 輪對，論官當擇人，不當為人擇官，上喜，制《用人論》賜大臣。 淳熙二年，累遷至國子司業兼權起居舍人，進起居郎。
Before Sui passed the examination, he dreamed a divine man showed him a document recording one couplet: "Like fire blazing bright, jade and stone burn together; in winter green and fresh, pine and cypress unchanged." Later it indeed matched what had gone before. Before long he entered mourning. In the thirty-second year he was appointed professor in Jingzhou. At the start of Emperor Xiaozong's reign he was appointed professor in the princes' primary and secondary schools. In a rotating audience he argued that offices should choose men, not that men should choose offices. The Emperor was pleased and composed An Essay on Employing Men to bestow on grand ministers. In the second year of Chunxi he was promoted in succession to vice director of the Imperial University with concurrent acting attendant drafting officer, then attendant drafting officer.
47
先是，察官闕，朝論多屬燧，以未歷縣，遂除左司諫。 上諭執政：「昨除蕭燧若何？」 龔茂良奏：「燧純實無華，正可任言責，聞除目下，外議甚允。」 燧首論辨邪正然後可以治，上以外臺耳目多不稱職，時宦官甘昪之客胡與可、都承旨王抃之族叔秬皆持節於外，有所依憑，無善狀，燧皆奏罷之。
Previously the investigating censor post was vacant. Court opinion mostly favored Sui, but because he had not yet served in a county he was appointed left remonstrating censor instead. The Emperor told the executives, "How about yesterday's appointment of Xiao Sui?" Gong Maoliang memorialized, "Sui is pure and solid without ornament — exactly fit to bear the duty of speech. Hearing the appointment went out, outside opinion is very satisfied." Sui first argued that distinguishing the wicked from the upright must come before governance can proceed. The Emperor, because many provincial commissioners and censors were unfit, and at the time the eunuch Gan Sheng's client Hu Yuhe and chief aide Wang Bian's clansman Jiu both held commissions outside with backing and no good record — Sui memorialized to dismiss them all.
48
時覆議進取，上以問燧，對曰：「今賢否雜揉，風俗澆浮，兵未強，財未裕，宜臥薪嚐膽以圖內治。 若恃小康，萌驕心，非臣所知。」 上曰：「忠言也。」 因勸上正紀綱； 容直言； 親君子，遠小人； 近習有勞可賞以祿，不可假以權。 上皆嘉納。 擢右諫議大夫，入謝，上曰：「卿議論鯁切，不求名譽，糾正姦邪，不恤仇怨。」
At the time recovery was debated again. The Emperor asked Sui, who replied, "Now the worthy and unworthy are mixed, custom is shallow and floating, the army is not yet strong, and finances are not yet ample. One should sleep on brushwood and taste gall to plan internal governance. If one relies on modest prosperity and nurtures arrogance, that is not what your servant knows." The Emperor said, "Loyal words." He thereupon urged the Emperor to rectify discipline; tolerate straight speech; draw near to gentlemen and keep petty men at a distance; close attendants who have merit may be rewarded with stipends but must not be lent power. The Emperor approved all. He was promoted to right remonstrating censor. Entering to give thanks, the Emperor said, "Your remonstrances are cutting and do not seek reputation. You correct wickedness and do not spare enmity."
49
五年，同知貢舉。 有旨下江東西、湖南北帥司招軍，燧言：「所募多市井年少，利犒齎，往往捕農民以應數，取細民以充軍。 乞嚴戒諸郡，庶得丁壯以為用。」 從之。
In the fifth year he served as deputy director of the examinations. There was an order to the Jiangdong, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Hubei commanders to recruit soldiers. Sui said, "Those recruited are mostly young men of the marketplace who want bounty pay. They often seize farmers to fill quotas and take common people to fill the army. I beg strict warning to all prefectures so that strong young men may be put to use." The request was followed.
50
夔帥李景孠貪虐，參政趙雄庇之，臺臣謝廓然不敢論，燧獨奏罷之。 雄果營救，覆命還任。 燧再論，並及雄。 雄密奏燧誤聽景孠仇人之言，遂下臨安府捕恭州士人鐘京等置之獄，坐以罪，景孠復依舊職。 燧乃自劾，詔以風聞不許，竟力求去。 徙刑部侍郎，不拜，固請補外。 出知嚴州，吏部尚書鄭丙、侍郎李椿上疏留之，上亦尋悔。
The Kuizhou commander Li Jingsun was greedy and cruel. Vice grand councilor Zhao Xiong shielded him. Censor Xie Kuoran dared not speak. Sui alone memorialized for his dismissal. Xiong indeed worked for his rescue. A reversed order restored him to office. Sui remonstrated again, implicating Xiong as well. Xiong secretly memorialized that Sui had wrongly heard the words of Jingsun's enemy. The Lin'an Prefecture was then ordered to arrest Gongzhou scholar Zhong Jing and others and put them in prison, convicting them. Jingsun resumed his old post. Sui then impeached himself. An edict said rumor was not permitted — he still forcefully begged to leave. Transferred to vice minister of justice, he did not accept and forcefully begged for an outside post. Sent out as prefect of Yanzhou, minister of personnel Zheng Bing and vice minister Li Chun memorialized to retain him. The Emperor also soon regretted it.
51
嚴地狹財匱，始至，官鏹不滿三千，燧儉以足用。 二年之間，積至十五萬，以其羨補積逋，諸邑皆寬。 先是，宣和庚子方臘盜起，甲子一周，人人憂懼，會遂安令朘土兵廩給，群言恟恟。 燧急易令，且呼卒長告戒，悉畏服。 城中惡少群擾市，燧密籍姓名，涅補軍額，人以按堵。 上方靳職名，非功不予，詔燧治郡有勞，除敷文閣待制，移知婺州。 父老遮道，幾不得行，送出境者以千數。
Yan was narrow in territory and poor in resources. When he first arrived, official funds were less than three thousand. Sui lived frugally and made them suffice. Within two years he accumulated one hundred fifty thousand, using the surplus to cover accumulated arrears. All districts were relieved. Previously, in the gengzi year of Xuanhe Fang La's rebellion had risen. A jiazi cycle had completed and everyone was fearful. When the Suian magistrate cut local militia rations, talk grew clamorous. Sui urgently replaced the magistrate and summoned squad leaders to admonish them. All feared and submitted. Ruffians in the city disturbed the market in groups. Sui secretly registered names and branded them into military quotas. People lived in settled peace. The Emperor was then sparing with honorary titles and granted them only for merit. An edict said Sui's governance of the prefecture had merit and appointed him awaiting orders in the Hall for Spreading Culture, transferring him to prefect of Wuzhou. Elders blocked the road — he could hardly leave. Those who saw him off beyond the border numbered in the thousands.
52
婺與嚴鄰，人熟知條教，不勞而治。 歲旱，浙西常平司請移粟于嚴，燧謂：「東西異路，不當與，然安忍於舊治坐視？」 為請諸朝，發太倉米振之。
Wu bordered Yan. People knew the regulations well and it was governed without effort. In a year of drought, the Western Zhejiang Ever-Normal Granary requested grain moved to Yan. Sui said, "East and west are different routes and should not be supplied — yet how can I bear to sit in my old jurisdiction and watch?" He requested it of the court and had Taicang grain sent to relieve them.
53
八年，召還，言：「江、浙再歲水旱，願下詔求言，仍令諸司通融郡縣財賦，毋但督迫。」 除吏部右選侍郎，旋兼國子祭酒。 九年，為樞密都承旨。 近例，承旨以知閤門官兼，或怙寵招權，上思復用儒臣，故命燧以龍圖閣待制為之。 燧言：「債帥之風未殄，群臣多迎合獻諛，強辨干譽，宜察其虛實。」 上稱善。 除權刑部尚書，充金使館伴。
In the eighth year he was recalled and said, "Jiang and Zhe have suffered flood and drought two years running. I pray an edict seek remonstrance, and also order all offices to coordinate prefectural finances flexibly — do not merely press for collection." He was appointed vice minister of the right selection bureau of personnel, and soon also chancellor of the Imperial University. In the ninth year he was chief aide to the Bureau of Military Affairs. By recent precedent the chief aide was held concurrently by a court-attendant gate officer. Some relied on favor to grasp power. The Emperor wished to restore use of Confucian officials and therefore appointed Sui, as awaiting orders in the Hall for Spreading Culture, to the post. Sui said, "The wind of debt-commanders has not yet died out. Many ministers cater and offer flattery, arguing forcefully for reputation. Their reality and pretense should be examined." The Emperor praised it. He was appointed acting minister of justice and served as escort for the Jurchen envoy.
54
十年，兼權吏部尚書。 上言廣西諸郡民身丁錢之弊。 兼侍講，升侍讀。 言：「命令不可數易，憲章不可數改。 初官不許恩例免試，今或竟令注授。 既卻羨餘之數，今反以出剩為名。 諸路錄大辟，長吏當親詰，若死囚數多，宜如漢制殿最以聞。」 事多施行。 慶典霈澤，丁錢減半，亦自燧發之。
In the tenth year he also held concurrent appointment as acting minister of personnel. He memorialized on the abuse of the personal service tax in Guangxi prefectures. Concurrent reader; promoted to senior reader. He said, "Commands must not be changed frequently. Statutes must not be revised repeatedly. Initially, initial appointees were not permitted hereditary exemption from examination — now some are directly registered and appointed. Surplus was once rejected — now surplus is named as output. All routes record capital cases. Chief officials should personally examine — if condemned prisoners are numerous, ranking by achievement as in Han practice should be reported. Many matters were implemented. At the celebration amnesty the personal service tax was halved — this too originated with Sui.
55
高宗山陵，充按行使，除參知政事，尋充永思陵禮儀使，權監修國史日曆。 十六年，權知樞密院。 以年及自陳，上留之，不可，除資政殿學士，與郡。 復請閑，提舉臨安府洞霄宮。 紹熙四年卒，年七十七。 諡「正肅」。
At Emperor Gaozong's mountain tomb he served as inspection envoy. Appointed vice grand councilor. Soon also ritual commissioner for the Eternal Reflection Tomb, acting supervisor of the national history calendar. In the sixteenth year he was acting director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Citing age he offered himself. The Emperor kept him — not permitted — and appointed him grand academician of the Hall of Literary Policy with a prefecture. He again begged leisure and was made commissioner of the Tongsiao Palace in Lin'an Prefecture. In the fourth year of Shaoxi he died at the age of seventy-seven. Posthumous title "Zhengsu."
56
孝宗每稱其全護善類，誠實不欺，手書《二十八將傳》以賜。 子逵，登淳熙十四年進士第，唱名第四，孝宗曰：「逵才氣甚佳，父子高科，殊可喜。」 逵累官至太常。
Emperor Xiaozong often praised his full protection of the good and honest lack of deception, and hand-wrote the Biographies of the Twenty-Eight Generals to bestow on him. His son Kui passed the jinshi in the fourteenth year of Chunxi, ranked fourth at the announcement. Emperor Xiaozong said, "Kui's talent is excellent. Father and son both high graduates — very delightful." Kui rose in succession to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
57
龔茂良
Gong Maoliang
58
龔茂良，字實之，興化軍人。 紹興八年，進士第。 為南安簿、邵武司法。 父母喪，哀號擗踴，鄰不忍聞。 調泉州察推，以廉勤稱。 改宣教郎，以同知樞密院事黃祖舜薦，召試館職，除秘書省正字。 累遷吏部郎官。
Gong Maoliang, courtesy name Shizhi, was a native of Xinghua Prefecture. In the eighth year of Shaoxing he passed the jinshi examination. He served as registrar in Nan'an and judicial officer in Shaowu. When his parents died he wailed and beat his breast. Neighbors could not bear to hear. Assigned investigating officer in Quanzhou — known for integrity and diligence. Changed to instructor. Recommended by deputy director of military affairs Huang Zushun. Summoned to test for institute post. Appointed corrector in the Secretariat. Promoted in succession to director in the Ministry of Personnel.
59
張浚視師江、淮，茂良言：「本朝禦敵，景德之勝本於能斷，靖康之禍在於致疑，願仰法景德之斷，勿為靖康之疑。」 除監察御史。
When Zhang Jun took command on the Jiang-Huai front, Maoliang said, "Our dynasty's defense against the enemy — the victory at Jingde rested on being able to decide; the disaster at Jingkang lay in breeding doubt. I pray emulate Jingde's decisiveness and not Jingkang's doubt." Appointed investigating censor.
60
江、浙大水，詔陳闕失，茂良疏曰：「水至陰也，其占為女寵，為嬖佞，為小人專制。 崇、觀、政和，小人道長，內則憸腐竊弄，外則姦回充斥，於是京城大水，以至金人犯闕。 今進退一人，施行一事，命由中出，人心譁然，指為此輩。 臣願先去腹心之疾，然後政事闕失可次第言矣。」 內侍梁珂、曾覿、龍大淵皆用事，故茂良及之。
Jiang and Zhe suffered great flood. An edict sought omissions and faults. Maoliang memorialized, "Water is utmost yin. Its omen is favor to women, flattery, and petty men's exclusive power. In the Chong, Guan, and Zhenghe eras petty men's way grew long. Within, sycophants stole and manipulated; without, wicked men filled the realm. Then the capital flooded, even to the Jurchens violating the capital. Now promoting or demoting one man, implementing one affair — orders come from within. Hearts clamor, pointing at this crowd. Your servant prays first remove the sickness at the heart — then omissions in government may be spoken in order." The eunuchs Liang Ke, Zeng Di, and Long Dayuan all held power — hence Maoliang touched on them.
61
遷右正言。 會內侍李珂沒，贈節度，諡「靖恭」，茂良諫曰：「中興名相如趙鼎，勳臣如韓世忠，皆未有諡，如朝廷舉行，亦足少慰忠義之心。 今施於珂為可惜。」 竟寢其諡。 嘗論大淵、覿奸姦，至是又極言之，曰：「今積陰弗解，淫雨益甚，熒惑入斗，正當吳分，天意若有所怒而未釋。 二人害政，甚珂百倍。」 上諭以皆潛邸舊，非他近習比，且俱有文學，敢諫爭，未嘗預外事。 翌日，再疏言：「唐德宗謂李泌：『人言盧杞姦邪，朕獨不知，何耶？』 泌曰：『此其所以為奸邪也。』 今大淵、覿所為，行道之人能言之，而陛下更頌其賢，此臣所以深憂。」 疏入，不報，即家居待罪。 章再上，除太常少卿，五辭不拜，除直秘閣、知建寧府。 自以不為群小所容，請祠，不允。
Promoted to right remonstrating censor. When the eunuch Li Ke died, he was posthumously granted military commissioner and posthumous title "Jinggong." Maoliang remonstrated, "Famous ministers of the Restoration like Zhao Ding, meritorious ministers like Han Shizhong, have never had posthumous titles. If the court carried this out, it would somewhat comfort loyal hearts. To grant it to Ke is regrettable." The posthumous title was finally halted. He once argued Dayuan and Di were wicked — now he spoke of them extremely, saying, "Yin accumulates and is not released. Excessive rain grows worse. The Spark Star enters the Dipper — right in Wu's portion. Heaven's intent seems angry and not yet appeased. These two harm government — a hundred times worse than Ke." The Emperor explained that both were old companions of the hidden palace, not like other close attendants. Both had literary skill, dared remonstrate, and never meddled in outside affairs. The next day he again memorialized, "Tang Dezong said to Li Mi, 'Men say Lu Qi is wicked — I alone do not know it. Why? Mi said, 'That is why he is wicked.' What Dayuan and Di do, travelers can speak of — yet Your Majesty further praises their worth. That is why your servant is deeply worried." The memorial entered — no response — and he stayed home awaiting punishment. Memorial again — appointed vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Five times he declined — appointed direct access to the Secret Archive as prefect of Jianning Prefecture. Thinking himself not tolerated by the petty crowd, he begged a sinecure — not permitted.
62
上後知二人之姦，既逐於外，起茂良廣東提刑，就知信州。 即番山之址建學，又置番禺南海縣學，既成，釋奠，行鄉飲酒以落之。 城東舊有廣惠庵，中原衣冠沒于南者葬之，歲久廢，茂良訪故地，更建海會浮圖，菆寄暴露者皆揜藏無遺。 召對崇政殿，左丞相陳俊卿欲留之，右相虞允文不樂。 會俊卿亦罷，除直顯謨閣、江西運判兼知隆興府。
The Emperor later learned of the two men's wickedness. Once they were driven outside, Maoliang was raised as fiscal intendant of Guangdong and immediately appointed prefect of Xinzhou. On Fan Mountain's site he built a school, and also established schools in Panyu and Nanhai counties. When complete he performed the sacrifice and held a district drinking ceremony to mark completion. East of the city was the old Guanghui Abbey where Central Plains gentry who died in the south were buried — long abandoned. Maoliang sought the old site, rebuilt the Sea Assembly pagoda, and all exposed bones were buried without remainder. Summoned for audience in the Chongzheng Hall. Left grand councilor Chen Junqing wished to retain him. Right councilor Yu Yunwen was displeased. When Junqing was also dismissed, he was appointed direct access to the Xianmo Hall, Jiangxi transport commissioner concurrently prefect of Longxing Prefecture.
63
上以江西連歲大旱，知茂良精忠，以一路荒政付之。 茂良戒郡縣免積稅，上戶止索逋，發廩振贍。 以右文殿修撰再任，疫癘大作，命醫治療，全活數百萬。 進待制敷文閣，賞其救荒之功。 召對，奏：「潢池弄兵之盜，即南畝負耒之民。 今諸郡荒田極多，願詔監司守臣條陳，募人從便請耕，民有餘粟，雖驅之為寇，亦不從矣。」 除禮部侍郎。
The Emperor, because Jiangxi had suffered drought several years running, knowing Maoliang's deep loyalty, entrusted famine relief for the whole route to him. Maoliang warned prefectures to waive accumulated taxes, taking only arrears from upper households and opening granaries for relief. As compiler in the Hall of Literary Glory he served a second term. Epidemic raged — he ordered medical treatment and saved millions. Promoted awaiting orders in the Hall for Spreading Culture, rewarding his famine-relief merit. Summoned for audience, he memorialized, "Robbers who play with weapons in the pond are the same southern-field men who shoulder hoes. Now wasteland in prefectures is extremely abundant. I pray an edict to supervisors and prefects to list proposals, recruiting people to request cultivation as convenient. If people have surplus grain, though driven to banditry they will not follow." Appointed vice minister of rites.
64
上亟用茂良，手詔問國朝典故有自從官徑除執政例，明日即拜參知政事。 奏事，賜坐，上顧葉衡及茂良曰：「兩參政皆公議所與。」 衡等起謝，上從容曰：「自今諸事毋循私，若鄉曲親戚，且未須援引。 朕每存公道，設有誤，卿等宜力爭，君臣之間不可事形跡。」 茂良曰：「大臣以道事君，遇有不可，自當啟沃，豈容跡見於外。」 請詔有司刊定七司法。
The Emperor urgently employed Maoliang. A handwritten edict asked whether there was precedent for promoting an attendant directly to executive — the next day he was appointed vice grand councilor. Memorializing affairs, he was granted a seat. The Emperor looked at Ye Heng and Maoliang and said, "Both vice councilors are what public opinion gives." Heng and others rose to give thanks. The Emperor said calmly, "From now on in all matters do not follow private ties. If hometown kin, do not yet recommend them. I always preserve public principle. If there is error, you should forcefully contend. Between ruler and minister one must not let conduct show on the surface." Maoliang said, "Grand ministers serve the ruler with the Way. When there is what cannot be done, they should naturally counsel. How can conduct appear on the outside?" He begged an edict to the responsible offices to compile and fix the seven-branch code.
65
淮南旱，茂良奏取封樁米十四萬，委漕帥振濟。 或謂：「救荒常平事，今遽取封樁米，毋乃不可？」 茂良以為：「淮南咫尺敵境，民久未復業，饑寒所逼，萬一嘯聚，患害立見，寧能計此米乎？」 他日，上獎諭曰：「淮南旱荒，民無饑色，卿之力也。」
Huainan suffered drought. Maoliang memorialized to take 140,000 piculs of sealed reserve grain and entrust the transport commissioner for relief. Some said, "Famine relief is Ever-Normal Granary business — to suddenly take sealed reserve grain, is it not impermissible?" Maoliang thought, "Huainan is a stone's throw from the enemy border. The people long unsettled, driven by hunger and cold — if they gather with a shout, harm appears at once. Can one count this grain?" Another day the Emperor praised him, "Huainan drought and wasteland — the people show no hunger — your strength."
66
潮州守奏通判不法，得旨，下帥臣體訪。 通判，茂良鄉人也，同列密以省吏付棘寺推鞫，欲及茂良。 奏事退，同列留身，出獄案進上，茂良不知也。 上厲聲曰：「參政決無此！」 茂良遜謝，不復辯。
The Chaozhou prefect memorialized that the vice prefect acted unlawfully. An order was received for the route commander to investigate. The vice prefect was Maoliang's townsman. Colleagues secretly gave the provincial clerk to the prison for interrogation, intending to implicate Maoliang. After memorializing he withdrew. Colleagues remained and produced the prison case to the Emperor — Maoliang did not know. The Emperor said sternly, "The vice councilor absolutely did not do this!" Maoliang declined with thanks and did not argue further.
67
葉衡罷，上命茂良以首參行相事。 慶壽禮行，中外覬恩，茂良慨然歎曰：「此當以身任怨，不敢愛身以弊天下。 若自一命以上覃轉，不知月添給奉與來歲郊恩奏補幾何，將何以給？」
When Ye Heng was dismissed, the Emperor ordered Maoliang as senior vice councilor to act as grand councilor. When the Celebration of Longevity rites were performed, inside and outside hoped for grace. Maoliang sighed and said, "This should be borne with one's body, resenting blame. One must not spare the body and harm the empire. If from first rank upward all receive broad promotion — who knows how much monthly stipend and next year's suburban grace and supplemental appointments will cost? How will it be supplied?"
68
宣諭獎用廉退，茂良奏：「朱熹操行耿介，屢召不起，宜蒙錄用。」 除秘書郎。 群小乘間讒毀，未幾，手詔付茂良，謂「虛名之士，恐壞朝廷」，熹迄不至。 錢良臣侵盜大軍錢糧，累數十萬，茂良奏其事，手詔令具析。 俄召良臣赴闕，駸駸柄用，其後茂良之貶，良臣與有力焉。
Imperial instruction praised use of the honest and retiring. Maoliang memorialized, "Zhu Xi's conduct is upright. Repeatedly summoned he did not come — he should be recorded and employed." Appointed secretary gentleman. Petty men seized the interval to slander. Before long a handwritten edict was given Maoliang saying "men of empty reputation may harm the court" — Xi never came. Qian Liangchen embezzled several hundred thousand in army funds and grain. Maoliang memorialized the matter. A handwritten edict ordered detailed analysis. Soon Liangchen was summoned to court and gradually wielded power. Afterward Maoliang's demotion had Liangchen's force behind it.
69
茂良之以首參行相事也，逾再歲，上亦不置相，因諭茂良：「史官近奏三台星不明，蓋實艱其選耳。」 淳熙四年正月，召史浩於四明，茂良亦覺眷衰，因疾力求去。 上曰：「朕以經筵召史浩，卿不須疑。」
When Maoliang acted as grand councilor as senior vice councilor, after more than two years the Emperor still did not appoint a grand councilor and therefore told Maoliang, "Historians recently memorialized that the Three Platforms stars are dim — it truly makes selection difficult." In the first month of the fourth year of Chunxi, Shi Hao was summoned from Siming. Maoliang also felt favor waning and forcefully begged to leave on grounds of illness. The Emperor said, "I summoned Shi Hao for the classics lecture — you need not doubt."
70
時曾覿欲以文資祿其孫，茂良以文武官各隨本色蔭補格法繳進。 覿因茂良入堂道間，俾直省官賈光祖等當道不避。 街司叱之，曰：「參政能幾時！」 茂良奏：「臣固不足道，所惜者朝廷大體。」 上諭覿往謝，茂良正色曰：「參知政事者，朝廷參知政事也。」 覿慚退。 上諭茂良先遣人於覿，衝替而後施行。 茂良批旨，取賈光祖輩下臨安府撻之。 手詔宣問施行太遽，茂良待罪。 上使人宣諭委曲，令繳進手詔，且謂：「卿去雖得美名，置朕何地？」 茂良即奉詔。
At the time Zeng Di wished to grant his grandson a civil stipend. Maoliang returned the memorial on the hereditary privilege grid for civil and military offices each following their original category. Di, as Maoliang entered the hall corridor, had direct-access officials Jia Guangzu and others block the way without yielding. The street office shouted at them. They said, "How long will the vice councilor last!" Maoliang memorialized, "Your servant is indeed not worth speaking of — what is regretted is the larger pattern of the court." The Emperor instructed Di to go apologize. Maoliang said sternly, "Vice grand councilor — the court's vice grand councilor. Di withdrew ashamed. The Emperor told Maoliang first to send men to Di, replace them, and then implement. Maoliang annotated the order: take Jia Guangzu and the rest to Lin'an Prefecture for beating. A handwritten edict said the implementation was too hasty. Maoliang awaited punishment. The Emperor sent someone to explain in detail, ordering the handwritten edict returned, and said, "Though you leave with a fine name, where does that leave me?" Maoliang immediately obeyed the edict.
71
謝廓然賜出身，除殿中侍御史，廓然附曾覿者也。 中書舍人林光輔繳奏，不書黃，遂補外。 茂良力求去，上諭曰：「朕極知卿，不敢忘，欲保全卿去，俟議恢復，卿當再來。」 是日，除職與郡，令內殿奏事，乃手疏恢復六事，上曰：「卿五年不說恢復，何故今日及此？」 退朝甚怒，曰：「福建子不可信如此！」 謝廓然因劾之，乃落職放罷； 尋又論茂良擅權不公，矯傳上旨，輒斷賈光祖等罪，遂責降，安置英州。 父子卒于貶所。
Xie Kuoran was granted initial appointment and appointed palace attendant — Kuoran was one who attached to Zeng Di. Vice director of the Secretariat-Chancellery Lin Guangfu returned the memorial and did not write the yellow copy. He was then sent outside. Maoliang forcefully begged to leave. The Emperor instructed, "I know you extremely well and dare not forget. I wish to preserve you in leaving. Wait until recovery is debated and you should come again." That day he was given office and a prefecture, ordered to memorialize in the inner hall. He then hand-memorialized six matters on recovery. The Emperor said, "You five years did not speak of recovery — why today reach this?" After court he was very angry and said, "Fujian men cannot be trusted like this!" Xie Kuoran thereupon impeached him — office was stripped and he was dismissed; soon he again argued Maoliang abused power unfairly, falsely transmitted the imperial intent, and arbitrarily judged Jia Guangzu and others guilty — he was demoted and exiled, settled in Yingzhou. Father and son died in exile.
72
覿與廓然死後，茂良家投匭訟冤，遂復通奉大夫。 周必大獨相，進呈復職，上曰：「茂良本無罪。」 遂復資政殿學士，諡「莊敏」。
After Di and Kuoran died, Maoliang's family submitted a complaint box seeking redress. He was restored to grandee for appeasing the state. Zhou Bida alone was grand councilor. Presenting restoration of office, the Emperor said, "Maoliang originally had no guilt." He was restored grand academician of the Hall of Literary Policy. Posthumous title "Zhuangmin."
73
茂良平生不喜言兵，去國之日乃言恢復事，或謂覿密令人訹之云：「若論恢復，必再留。」 茂良信之。 廓然論茂良，亦以此為罪。 茂良沒數年，朱熹從其子得副本讀之，則事雖恢復，而其意乃極論不可輕舉，猶平生素論也，深為之歎息云。
Maoliang all his life disliked speaking of war. On the day he left the state he spoke of recovery — some say Di secretly had someone threaten him, "If you discuss recovery, you will surely be kept again." Maoliang believed it. Kuoran's impeachment of Maoliang also took this as a crime. Several years after Maoliang's death, Zhu Xi obtained a copy from his son and read it. Though the matter was recovery, its intent extremely argued against light action — still his lifelong plain doctrine. He sighed deeply.
74
論曰：葛邲在相位雖不久，而能守法度，進人才，其處己也，則以不欺為本。 錢端禮以戚屬為相，周葵晚雖不附秦檜，而與龔茂良皆主和議。 若乃魏杞奉使知尊國體，施師點之靖重有守，蕭燧忠實敢言，仕於紹興之間，可謂不幸矣。
The commentator says: Ge Bi in the top post though not long was able to preserve laws and institutions and advance talent. In conducting himself he took honesty as root. Qian Duanli as in-law became grand councilor. Zhou Kui though late did not attach to Qin Hui — yet he with Gong Maoliang both favored peace. As for Wei Qi as envoy knowing how to honor the state's dignity, Shi Shidian's calm principle and steadfastness, Xiao Sui's honest daring in speech — serving in the Shaoxing era, one may say they were unfortunate.