1
適有旨職事官無待次，改差浙東安撫司主管機宜文字。 繼為太學國子博士，樞密院編修官，通判福州。 奉祠，召為太常丞。 請外，孝宗方厲精求治，曰：「黃洽厚德，方任以事。」 不許。 當對，奏三事：備事莫若儲才，士卒當練其心，軍政必預為謀。 上矍然，洽徐奏：「願戒飭州郡，毋煩擾以致寇，毋輕易以玩寇。 寇擾而後定，傷根本多矣。」 繇秘書郎遷著作郎。 上諭詞臣：「秘閣儲英俊為異時公卿用，行黃洽詞，可及之。」
An order had just been issued that officeholders need not wait their turn in the appointment queue; he was reassigned as chief planning secretary on the Eastern Zhejiang Pacification Commission staff. He went on to serve as Erudite of the Imperial College and Directorate of Education, as a compilation officer in the Bureau of Military Affairs, and as vice prefect of Fuzhou. After a period of temple leave, he was recalled and appointed vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. When he asked to leave the capital for an outside post, Emperor Xiaozong—who was then vigorously pursuing good governance—said, "Huang Qia is a man of deep virtue, and I have only just begun to entrust him with real responsibilities." The request was denied. At an imperial audience he presented three points: the best preparation for any contingency is to stockpile talent; soldiers must have their hearts trained; and military policy must be planned well ahead of time. The emperor started at this; Qia then went on more slowly: "I urge Your Majesty to warn prefectures and commanderies not to harass the people and thereby breed rebellion, and not to treat threats lightly and thereby invite contempt from rebels. To restore order only after rebels have already run riot does far more harm to the foundations of the state." He was promoted from gentleman of the Secretariat to gentleman for compilation. The emperor told the drafting officials, "The Secret Cabinet holds outstanding men for future service as chief ministers; in drafting Huang Qia's appointment text, you may aim at that level."
2
除右正言，首奏：「諫臣非具員，職在諫爭，朝政有闕，所當盡言。」 上亦以為端士，許其盡言無隱。 除侍御史。 會水旱頻仍，因祠祭上言：「此事全在一念，陛下夙興默想，專精在民，身雖法宮，心則壇壝，洋洋左右，理非漠然。 洊歲荒歉之由，必有未盡契神示之心者。」 一日特詔：「諸路奉行荒政不虔，差官按視安集。」 洽亟奏：「使者一出，官吏必須知畏。 其常平一司，所職何事？ 淮、浙、江東見有使，以五使分五路，尚慮不周知。 今遣一人兼二三路，不過閱圖帳戶口多寡，地裡遼邈，安能遍歷乎？ 若專責常平，名正而職舉，事分而察精。」 又奏：「藝祖懲藩鎮偏重之失，不欲兵民之權聚於一夫之手。 今使主兵官兼郡寄，是合兵民權為一，且屬邊徼，偏重尤甚。」 上皆嘉納。 洽所論列，未嘗捃摭細故他慝以累其終身。
Appointed Right Remonstrator, he opened with a memorial: "Censors are not mere headcount posts—their duty is to remonstrate. Where court policy falls short, they must speak out fully." The emperor likewise took him for an upright man and allowed him to speak his mind without reserve. He was appointed attending censor. Floods and droughts came in succession; taking advantage of a state sacrifice, he said, "This all turns on a single resolve: if Your Majesty rises early and reflects in silence, fixing your mind wholly on the people, then though your body remains in the palace, your heart stands at the altar—and the spirit that surrounds you cannot be indifferent to their plight. The reason famine has returned year after year must be that something in our conduct has not yet fully answered what Heaven is trying to show us." One day a special edict declared, "The circuits are not carrying out famine relief with due care; send officials to inspect and resettle the afflicted." Qia quickly memorialized in reply, "Once envoys are sent out, local officials will certainly feel the pressure to act. What, then, is the Ever-Normal Granaries office for? Envoys are already active on the Huai, Zhe, and Jiangdong circuits; even splitting five envoys across five routes, you still cannot be sure every place is truly known. If you send one man to cover two or three circuits, he can do no more than skim registers of household counts; the distances are vast—how could he possibly visit every affected place? If you charge the Ever-Normal office alone, the title fits the task, responsibilities stay clear, and oversight can be thorough." He also memorialized, "Founding Emperor Taizu, learning from the excess of the military governors, did not want military and civil power concentrated in a single man's hands. To let the chief military officer also hold a prefectural post is to reunite military and civil authority in one person—and on the frontier, that imbalance is all the more dangerous." The emperor approved and adopted all of these proposals. In his denunciations, Qia never dredged up petty faults or unrelated wrongdoing to ruin a man for life.
3
除右諫議大夫。 上方銳志肄武，洽因風諫，言：「《頤》之大象：『君子以慎言語，節飲食。』 言語飲食猶謹節之，況其他乎？ 凡筋力喘息之間，一有過差，皆非所以養其身也。」 上曰：「卿言無非仁義忠孝，可為萬世臣子之法，朕常念之。」 洽在經筵，言：「宰相代天理物，要在為國得人。 人主之命相，任則勿疑。 宰相重則朝廷尊，朝廷尊則廟社安。 宰相掄才任職，當盡公心。 君子進則庶職舉，庶職舉則天下治。」 上首肯再三，乃曰：「卿如良金美玉，渾厚無瑕，天其以卿為朕弼耶？」
He was appointed Right Grandee of Remonstrance. The emperor was then ardently devoted to military drill; Qia took the occasion to remonstrate, citing the Great Image of Yi: "The noble man is careful in speech and moderate in food and drink. If even speech and eating must be regulated with care, how much more everything else? In every exertion and every breath, the slightest excess is no way to preserve one's health." The emperor said, "Everything you say rests on benevolence, righteousness, loyalty, and filial piety—it could serve as a model for subjects through the ages. I keep that in mind constantly." At the Classics Lecture, Qia said, "The chief minister stands in for Heaven in ordering the realm—the essential thing is to find the right men for the state. When the ruler appoints a chief minister, once he is entrusted, do not doubt him. When the chief minister carries real weight, the court is respected; when the court is respected, the altars of state are secure. In selecting talent and assigning posts, the chief minister must act with complete impartiality. When worthy men advance, every office is filled properly; when every office is filled properly, the realm is governed." The emperor nodded again and again, then said, "You are like fine gold and flawless jade—does Heaven mean to make you my right-hand minister?"
4
除御史中丞，奏：「薦舉請託，必競於宰執、臺諫之門，若宰執、臺諫不為人覓舉，使士大夫咸自率厲，以公道得之，豈不甚善。 或果知其人，露章以薦，亦何不可。」 潭州奏強盜罪不至死應配者坐加役流，有旨具議。 洽曰：「強盜異他盜，以其故為也。 若止髡役，三年之後，圈檻一弛，豨突四出，善良受害，可勝數耶？ 況役時必去防閑之具，走逸結合，患尤甚焉。」 上深然之。
Appointed censor-in-chief, he memorialized, "Petitions for recommendation all converge on the doors of chief ministers and censors. If those officers stopped hunting up posts for others, scholar-officials would discipline themselves and win appointment on merit alone—would that not be far better? If you truly know a man, there is nothing wrong with recommending him in an open memorial." Tanzhou reported that armed robbers whose crimes did not warrant death but who should have been banished were instead sentenced to penal servitude with exile; the court ordered a full discussion. Qia said, "Armed robbery is not ordinary theft—it is deliberate violence. If they receive only penal servitude, three years later, once confinement is relaxed, they will burst out everywhere—the harm to the innocent will be beyond counting. Moreover, during penal servitude restraints must be loosened; escape and banding together make the danger still worse." The emperor strongly agreed.
5
除參知政事。 上曰：「卿每告朕用人，今卿居用人之地，不可不勉。」 上因商榷除目，洽罄謁無所顧避，上大喜曰：「五十年無此差除。」 除知樞密院事。 洽累章求去，許之，除資政殿大學士、知隆興府。
He was appointed vice director of the Department of State Affairs. The emperor said, "You have always lectured me on choosing men; now you hold the post where men are chosen—you must not slacken." As they discussed appointment lists, Qia recommended candidates openly, without fear or favor; the emperor was delighted and said, "In fifty years there has been no round of appointments like this." He was appointed commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Qia repeatedly asked to resign; permission was granted, and he was made grand academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance and prefect of Longxing.
6
光宗受禪，特詔言事，洽奏：「用人為萬世不易之論，臣前以此納忠壽皇，今復告于陛下。」 屢乞歸田，尋畀提舉洞霄宮。 方未得請也，人勸之治第，洽曰：「吾書生，蒙拔擢至此，未有以報國，而先營私乎？ 使吾一旦罪去，猶有先人敝廬可庇風雨，夫復何憂。」 慶元二年致仕。
When Emperor Guangzong took the throne, a special edict invited memorials; Qia wrote, "Choosing the right men is a principle that never changes; I offered this counsel to Retired Emperor Xiaozong, and I offer it again to Your Majesty." He repeatedly asked to retire to his home district; soon he was given charge of the Dongxiao Palace. Before his request was granted, people urged him to build a house; Qia said, "I am only a scholar whom the court raised to high office. I have not yet repaid the state—shall I start scheming for private gain? Even if I am dismissed in disgrace tomorrow, I still have my ancestors' humble cottage to shelter me from wind and rain—what more do I need?" In the second year of Qingyuan (1196) he retired from office.
7
洽常言：「居家不欺親，仕不欺君，仰不欺天，俯不欺人，幽不欺鬼神，何用求福報哉！」 六年七月，薨，年七十九。 贈金紫光祿大夫。 洽質直端重，有大臣體，兩朝推為名臣。 有文集、奏議八十五卷。
Qia often said, "At home, do not deceive your kin; in office, do not deceive your ruler; toward Heaven above, do not deceive; toward men below, do not deceive; in secret, do not deceive ghosts and spirits—why seek reward for virtue?" In the seventh month of the sixth year of Qingyuan (1200) he died, aged seventy-nine. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Grandee of the Golden Purple. Qia was upright and dignified, with the bearing of a great minister, and was acclaimed as a famous minister under two emperors. His collected writings and memorials survive in eighty-five juan.
8
汪應辰
Wang Yingchen
9
汪應辰，字聖錫，信州玉山人。 幼凝重異常童，五歲知讀書，屬對應聲語驚人，多識奇字。 家貧無膏油，每拾薪蘇以繼晷。 從人借書，一經目不忘。 十歲能詩，遊鄉校，郡博士戲之曰：「韓愈十三而能文，今子奚若？」 應辰答曰：「仲尼三千而論道，惟公其然？」
Wang Yingchen, style name Shengxi, was a native of Yushan in Xin Prefecture. As a child he was unusually solemn; at five he could read; his impromptu couplets astonished listeners, and he knew many rare characters. The family was too poor for lamp oil; he gathered firewood each day to study into the night. When he borrowed books, a single reading was enough to fix them in memory. At ten he could write poetry. At the district school the prefectural erudite teased him: "Han Yu could write at thirteen—how do you compare?" Yingchen replied, "Confucius had three thousand disciples and still lectured on the Way—are you the only one who can teach?"
10
未冠，首貢鄉舉，試禮部，居高選。 時趙鼎為相，延之館塾，奇之。 紹興五年，進士第一人，年甫十八。 御策以吏道、民力、兵勢為問，應辰答以為治之要，以至誠為本，在人主反求而已。 上覽其對，意其為老成之士，及唱第，乃年少子，引見者掖而前，上甚異之。 鼎出班特謝。 舊進士第一人賜以御詩，及是，特書《中庸篇》以賜。 初名洋，與姓字若有語病，特改賜應辰。 上欲即除館職，趙鼎言：「且令歷外任，養成其材。」 乃授鎮東軍簽判。 故事，殿試第一人無待次者，至是，取一年半闕以歸。 舍人胡寅行詞曰：「屬者延見多士，問以治道，爾年未及冠，而能推明帝王躬行之本，無曲學阿世之態。」
Before he came of age, he topped the provincial examination; at the Ministry of Rites examination he ranked among the highest selections. Zhao Ding was then chief minister; he invited Yingchen to study in his household school and was astonished by him. In the fifth year of Shaoxing (1135) he placed first among jinshi graduates, aged only eighteen. The palace examination asked about official conduct, popular strength, and military power; Yingchen answered that the key to governance is utmost sincerity, and that the ruler need only look within himself. Reading his answer, the emperor took him for a seasoned man; when the ranks were announced and he proved a youth, attendants had to steady him as he was led forward, and the emperor was astonished. Zhao Ding stepped out of the ranks to offer special thanks. Formerly the top jinshi received an imperial poem; this time the emperor personally wrote out the chapter "Doctrine of the Mean" as a gift. His original given name was Yang, which awkwardly echoed his surname and style; the emperor specially renamed him Yingchen. The emperor wanted to appoint him at once to a Hanlin post; Zhao Ding said, "Let him serve outside the capital first and mature his talent." He was then appointed signing clerk of the Zhendong Army. By precedent the palace examination top graduate took office at once; this time he was given a year and a half before returning to the capital. Hanlin attendant Hu Yin drafted his appointment text: "When the emperor recently received many scholars and asked about governance, you were not yet of capping age, yet you could expound the foundation of the ruler's personal conduct, without the bent learning or flattery of the times."
11
應辰少受知于喻樗，既擢第，知張九成賢，問之於樗，往從之遊，所學益進。 初任，趙鼎為帥，幕府事悉諮焉。 歲小旱，命應辰禱雨名山即應，越人語之曰：「此相公雨。」 鼎曰：「不然，乃狀元雨也。」
In youth Yingchen won the notice of Yu Chu; after passing the examination he learned that Zhang Jiucheng was a worthy man, asked Chu about him, went to study under him, and advanced further in learning. In his first post Zhao Ding was regional commander; every matter in the staff office was referred to Yingchen. In a year of slight drought he was sent to pray for rain on a famous mountain; rain came at once, and the people of Yue called it "the chief minister's rain." Zhao Ding said, "No—it is the top graduate's rain."
12
召為秘書省正字。 時秦檜力主和議，王倫使還，金人欲以河南地歸我。 應辰上疏，謂：「和議不諧非所患，和議諧矣，而因循無備之可畏。 異議不息非所患，異議息矣，而上下相蒙之可畏。 金雖通和，疆場之上宜各戒嚴，以備他盜。 今方且肆赦中外，褒寵將帥，以為休兵息民自此而始。 縱忘積年之恥，獨不思異時意外之患乎？ 此因循無備之所以可畏也。 方朝廷力排群議之初，大則竄逐，小則罷黜，至有一言迎合，則不次擢用。 是以小人窺見間隙，輕躁者阿諛以希寵，畏懦者循默以備位，而忠臣正士乃無以自立於群小之間，此上下相蒙之所以可畏也。 臣願勿以和好之可無虞，而思患預防，常若敵人之至。」 疏奏，秦檜大不悅，出通判建州，遂請祠以歸。 寓居常山之永年院，蓬蒿滿逕，一室蕭然，饘粥不繼，人不堪其憂，處之裕如也，益以修身講學為事。 自是凡三主管崇道觀，在隱約時，胸中浩然之氣凜然不可屈。
He was summoned as proofreader of the Secretariat. Qin Hui was then pressing hard for peace; Wang Lun returned from his mission reporting that the Jurchens wished to return the Henan territory to Song. Yingchen submitted a memorial: "Failure to reach peace is not what we should fear; success in reaching peace while we drift unprepared—that is what should terrify us. Unending dissent is not what we should fear; when dissent dies down and court and country deceive one another—that is what should terrify us. Even if the Jin open peace talks, both sides should keep the borders on alert against any other threat. Yet the court is already granting amnesties and rewarding generals as though demobilization and peace for the people begin from this moment. Even if we forget years of humiliation, do we not consider unforeseen disasters yet to come? That is why drifting unprepared is so dangerous. When the court first set out to crush dissent, major critics were banished and minor ones dismissed; a single word of compliance could win extraordinary promotion. Petty men therefore spy out openings: the rash fawn and flatter for favor, the timid keep silent to hold their posts, while loyal ministers and upright men cannot stand firm among the small-minded—this is why mutual deception between ruler and subjects is so dangerous. I urge Your Majesty not to assume peace means safety, but to guard against disaster in advance, always as if the enemy were at the gates." When the memorial was submitted, Qin Hui was furious; Yingchen was demoted to vice prefect of Jianzhou, then took temple leave and returned home. He lived at the Yongnian Cloister in Changshan; weeds choked the paths, his single room was bare, and gruel was often lacking. Others could not have borne such poverty, but he remained at ease and devoted himself to self-cultivation and teaching. He thereafter served three terms as superintendent of the Chongdao Abbey; even in obscurity, the upright spirit in his breast could not be broken.
13
張九成謫邵州，交遊皆絕，應辰時通問。 及其喪父，言者猶攻之，而應辰不遠千里往吊，人皆危之。 通判袁州，凡所予奪，人無異詞。 始至，或以其書生易之，已乃知吏師所不能及。 丞相趙鼎死朱崖，扶喪過郡，應辰為文祭之曰：「惟公兩登上宰，皆直艱危之時； 一斥南荒，遂為死生之別。 事已定于蓋棺，恩特容於歸骨。」 吏付之火。 其子借三兵以歸，道出衢州，章傑為守，希檜意，指應辰為阿附，為死黨，符移訊鞫，偏搜行橐，求祭文不可得。 時胡寅遺檜書，謂此事不足竟，事乃寢。
When Zhang Jiucheng was banished to Shaozhou, all his associates cut contact; Yingchen continued to send messages of inquiry. When Zhang's father died, critics still attacked him, yet Yingchen traveled a thousand li to mourn with him; everyone thought him in grave danger. As vice prefect of Yuanzhou, every reward or punishment he imposed met with general approval. When he first arrived, some underestimated him as a mere scholar; they soon found that even veteran administrators could not match him. When Chief Minister Zhao Ding died at Zhuya and his coffin passed through the prefecture, Yingchen wrote a funeral elegy: "You twice rose to chief minister, both times in dire peril; One exile to the southern wilds, and they were parted in life and death. The matter was settled at the grave; grace alone allowed his bones to return home." Officials consigned it to the flames. His son borrowed three soldiers to escort the coffin home. Passing through Qu Prefecture, where Zhang Jie was prefect, Zhang—currying favor with Qin Hui—accused Yingchen of fawning on Zhao Ding and belonging to a dead faction. Warrants were issued to interrogate him and search his baggage, but the funerary text could not be found. Hu Yin then wrote to Qin Hui that the matter was not worth pursuing, and the affair was dropped.
14
通判靜江府，逾期不得代，乃沿檄歸省其母。 繼差通判廣州。 時檜所深忌者趙鼎、張浚，鼎既死而浚獨存，未快其意。 江西運判張常先箋注前帥張宗元與浚詩，言於朝，其詞連逮者數十家，將誣以不軌而盡去之。 獄既具，檜死，應辰幸而免。
As vice prefect of Jingjiang, he served past his term without a successor; he then followed orders to return and visit his mother. He was next assigned as vice prefect of Guangzhou. Qin Hui deeply feared Zhao Ding and Zhang Jun. Ding was dead, but Jun still lived, and Qin was not yet satisfied. Jiangxi transport commissioner Zhang Changxian annotated poems exchanged between former commander Zhang Zongyuan and Zhang Jun and reported to court; dozens of families were implicated in a plot to charge them with sedition and purge them all. The case was complete, but Qin Hui died; Yingchen was fortunate to escape.
15
明年，召為吏部郎官，遷右司。 母老乞外，丞相苦留之曰：「方進用，未應爾。」 應辰曰：「親老矣，不可緩。」 乃出知婺州。 郡積欠上供十三萬緡，朝廷命憲漕究治，應辰謂急則擾民，乃與諸邑蠲宿逋，去苛斂，定期會，窒滲漏，悉為補發。 尋丁內艱去，廬於墓側。
The next year he was summoned as a director in the Ministry of Personnel and promoted to the Right Office. His mother was elderly and he asked for an outside post. The chief minister pressed him to stay: "You are being promoted for important work—you should not leave now." Yingchen said, "My mother is old; this cannot wait." He was then appointed prefect of Wu Prefecture. The prefecture owed 130,000 strings in tribute arrears. The court ordered fiscal and judicial commissioners to investigate. Yingchen said haste would harass the people; with the districts he cancelled old debts, removed harsh levies, set schedules, stopped leaks, and fully made up the shortfall. Soon he left to mourn his mother and built a hut beside her tomb.
16
服闋，除秘書少監，遷權吏部尚書。 李顯忠冒具安豐軍功賞五千餘人，應辰奏駁之。 權戶部侍郎兼侍講。 應辰獨員當劇務，節冗費，常奏：「班直轉官三日，而堂吏增給食錢萬餘緡； 工匠洗澤器皿僅給百餘千，而堂吏食錢六百千； 塑顯仁神御，半年功未及半，而堂吏食錢已支三萬、銀絹六百匹兩。 他皆類此。」 上驚其費冗，命吏部裁之。
When mourning ended, he was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and promoted to acting minister of personnel. Li Xianzhong falsely claimed merit rewards for more than five thousand men at Anfeng Army; Yingchen memorialized to reject the claim. He served as acting vice minister of revenue and attendant lecturer. Yingchen alone shouldered heavy duties and cut waste, often memorializing: "When palace guards are promoted after three days, hall clerks add more than ten thousand strings in meal money; when craftsmen washed ritual vessels costing only a little over a hundred strings, hall clerks took six hundred thousand in meal money; in molding the spirit image of Empress Xianren, half a year's work was less than half done, yet hall clerks had already drawn thirty thousand strings in meal money and six hundred bolts of silk. Other cases were similar." The emperor was startled at such waste and ordered the Ministry of Personnel to cut it.
17
金渝盟，詔求足食足兵之策，應辰奏曰：「陸贄有云：『將非其人，兵雖多不足恃； 操失其柄，將雖才不為用』。 臣之所憂，不在兵之不足，在乎軍政之不修。 自講和以來，將士驕惰，兵不閱習，敵未至則望風逃遁，敵既退則謾列戰功，不惟佚罰，且或受賞。 方時無事，詔令有所不行，一旦有急，誰能聽命以赴國家之難。 望發英斷，賞善罰惡，使人人洗心易慮，以聽上命，然後號令必行矣。」
When the Jin violated the treaty, an edict sought policies for sufficient food and troops. Yingchen memorialized: "Lu Zhi said, 'If the general is not the right man, though troops be many they cannot be relied on; if authority is lost, though the general have talent he will not be used.'" What I fear is not insufficient troops but failure to put military administration in order. Since the peace talks, officers and soldiers have grown proud and lazy and troops are not drilled. Before the enemy arrives they flee at the first alarm; after the enemy retreats they falsely claim battle honors—not only escaping punishment but sometimes receiving rewards. When all is calm, edicts sometimes go unheeded; once crisis comes, who will heed orders and rush to the state's peril? I hope Your Majesty will act decisively, reward the good and punish the evil, so that every man reforms his heart to heed imperial command—then orders will surely be carried out."
18
三十二年建儲，以孝宗名與唐廬江王、晉楚王同，詔改為「曄」，應辰以為與唐昭宗同，白左相陳康伯，遂改今名。 集議秀王封爵，應辰定其稱曰「太子本生之親」。 議入，內降曰：「皇太子所生父，可封秀王。」 暨內禪，擬於傳位日降赦，應辰言：「唐太宗受禪于高祖，明年正月始改元。」 乃從其說。 又議改元「重熙」，應辰謂契丹嘗以紀年，遂改隆興。 一朝大典禮，多應辰所定。
In the thirty-second year the heir apparent was established. Because Xiaozong's name matched the Tang Prince of Lujiang and the Jin Prince of Chu, an edict changed it to Ye. Yingchen held that it matched Tang Zhaozong and told Left Director Chen Kangbo, and the present name was adopted. When the court deliberated the enfeoffment title of the Prince of Xiu, Yingchen fixed the designation as "the crown prince's biological father." When the deliberation was submitted, an inner edict said, "The crown prince's biological father may be enfeoffed as Prince of Xiu." At the inner abdication it was proposed to grant amnesty on the transfer day. Yingchen said, "When Tang Taizong received the abdication from Gaozu, he changed the reign title only in the first month of the following year." The court followed his view. They also deliberated changing the reign title to Chongxi; Yingchen said the Khitans had once used it as an era name, so it was changed to Longxing. Many great court rituals of the dynasty were fixed by Yingchen.
19
議太上尊號，李燾、陳康伯密議以「光堯壽聖」為稱。 及集議，或謂：「尊號始自開元，罷于元豐，今不當復，況太上視天下如棄敝屣，豈復顧此？」 應辰主之尤力。 或又言：「主上奉親，烏得援元豐自卻為比？」 於是議狀書者半，不書者半。 明日，應辰復與金安節等十二人各陳所見，大概謂「光堯」近乎「神堯」，「壽聖」乃英宗誕節，嘗以名寺。 御史周必大亦以為問，應辰答以「堯」豈可「光」。 是語有聞之德壽者，高宗因上過宮，云：「汪應辰素不樂吾。」 於是有詔：「尊號之議，已嘗奏知，不容但已。」 安節等遂奉詔。
When deliberating the retired emperor's honorific title, Li Tao and Chen Kangbo secretly agreed on Guangyao Shousheng. At the collective deliberation some said, "Honorific titles began in Kaiyuan and ended in Yuanfeng; they should not be revived now. Moreover the retired emperor regards the realm as cast-off sandals—would he care for this?" Yingchen supported this view most strongly. Others also said, "The emperor serves his parent—how can he cite Yuanfeng to shrink back?" Thus half the deliberation record supported writing the title and half opposed it. The next day Yingchen again joined Jin Anjie and twelve others in stating their views, broadly holding that Guangyao was close to Shenyao and Shousheng was Emperor Yingzong's birthday name and had once named a temple. Censor Zhou Bida also questioned this; Yingchen answered that Yao could not be "illuminated." This remark reached Gaozong at Deshou Palace. When the emperor visited the palace, Gaozong said, "Wang Yingchen has never been pleased with me." Thereupon came an edict: "The honorific deliberation has already been reported; it cannot simply be dropped." Anjie and the others then followed the edict.
20
應辰連乞補外，遂知福州。 未幾，升敷文閣待制，舉朱熹自代。 在鎮二年，會朝廷謀蜀帥，乃以敷文閣直學士為四川制置使、知成都府。 陛辭，特降詔撫諭。 入境，以書與宣撫使吳璘，令以撫諭詔申嚴號令。 既至，免利路民餉運，徙沿邊戍兵就糧內郡，縱保勝義士復業，存左藏所解白契二百萬以備不虞，悉奏行之。 有謂蜀中綱馬驛程由梁、洋、金、房，山路峻險，宜浮江而下，詔吳璘措置。 執政、大將皆主其說，應辰與夔帥王十朋力言其不便，遂得中止。 二稅勘合，每貫取二十錢，乾道詔旨嘗減三之一，有欲增之者，應辰與兩漕臣列奏，言：「勘合不以鈔計，而以貫石匹兩計，是陽為減而陰實增之也。 以成都一路計之，歲入三十萬，今以所增為六十萬，計以四路，不知幾倍。 雖非興利者所便，而民受其賜多矣。」
Yingchen repeatedly begged for an outside post and was made prefect of Fuzhou. Before long he was promoted to Hanlin attendant drafting and recommended Zhu Xi to succeed him. After two years in the post, when the court was planning a Sichuan commander, he was made direct academician of the Hall for Spreading Culture, Sichuan military commissioner, and prefect of Chengdu. On taking leave of the throne, a special edict was issued to comfort and instruct him. On entering the territory, he wrote to pacification commissioner Wu Lin, ordering him to proclaim the comforting edict and strictly enforce commands. Once there, he exempted the people of Li Circuit from transport levies, moved border garrison troops to draw grain from inner commanderies, allowed victorious volunteers to resume their occupations, retained two million in white contracts held in the Left Treasury as a reserve, and memorialized all for implementation. Some said that in Sichuan the relay stages for tribute horses ran through Liang, Yang, Jin, and Fang by steep mountain roads, and that it would be better to go by river; an edict ordered Wu Lin to arrange it. Chief ministers and great generals all favored the plan; Yingchen and Kuizhou commander Wang Shipeng strongly argued against its inconvenience, and it was stopped. For the two-tax verification, twenty cash per string was taken; in the Qiandao era an edict had reduced it by one third; some wished to increase it. Yingchen and the two transport commissioners jointly memorialized: "Verification is not counted by notes but by strings, piculs, bolts, and taels—this reduces in name while actually increasing. For the Chengdu circuit alone, annual intake was three hundred thousand; now the increase would make it six hundred thousand; calculated for four circuits, the multiple is unknown. Though profit-seekers may not like it, the people receive the greater benefit."
21
璘時駐蜀口武興，精兵為天下冠，既老且病，應辰密奏以關陝大將係國安危，所當預圖。 於是執政傳旨，若璘不起，令制司暫領其任。 暨璘死，應辰遂攝宣撫之職，蜀道晏然。
Lin was then stationed at Wuxing in the Shu mouth; his elite troops were the finest in the realm; he was old and ill. Yingchen secretly memorialized that the great generals of Guan and Shaan were tied to the state's safety and ought to be planned for in advance. Thereupon the chief ministers transmitted the instruction that if Lin could not rise, the commissioner should temporarily take his duties. When Lin died, Yingchen then acted as pacification commissioner; the Shu road was tranquil.
22
虞允文尋以知樞密院事宣撫四川，應辰援張浚例，乞罷制司，不許。 總所牒委官覈四川匿契稅，應辰奏：「其不便者四，曰妨農廢業，曰縱吏擾民，曰違法害教，曰長姦起訟。 比戶部已令人自首，州縣收併已不少，其未盡者，有見行法令，不宜為此煩擾。」 上曰：「論極有理，速罷止之。」
Yu Yunwen soon became bureau of military affairs commissioner and pacification commissioner for Sichuan; Yingchen cited Zhang Jun's precedent and begged to abolish the commissioner's office; permission was not granted. The general office sent orders to appoint officials to verify concealed contract taxes in Sichuan. Yingchen memorialized: "There are four harms: it hinders farming and ruins livelihoods; it lets clerks harass the people; it violates law and harms instruction; it breeds wickedness and stirs litigation. The Ministry of Revenue has already ordered people to confess; prefectures and districts have collected no small amount; for what remains there are existing statutes—it is not fitting to harass people further." The emperor said, "The argument is extremely reasonable; stop it quickly."
23
蜀大旱，詔問救荒之策，應辰奏：「利、閬、綿、梓軍馬糧料，隨民力均敷，官雖支糴錢，民不得半價，若選官就歲熟處糴之，可以寬民力，第無錢束手，乞給度牒。」 上曰：「汪應辰治蜀甚有聲，且留意民事如此。」 給度牒四百，永為糴本振濟，遂移書諸路漕臣，亟救荒，且以綿、劍和糴告之，而全蜀蒙惠。
Sichuan suffered great drought; an edict asked policies for famine relief. Yingchen memorialized: "In Li, Lang, Mian, and Zi, military horse grain rations are spread according to the people's strength; though the government pays grain money, the people receive less than half price. If officials are chosen to buy grain where the harvest is good, popular strength can be eased—but there is no money; I beg issuance of quota certificates." The emperor said, "Wang Yingchen governs Shu with great reputation and attends to the people's affairs thus." Four hundred quota certificates were granted, permanently as capital for grain purchase and relief; he then wrote to transport commissioners of various circuits to relieve famine urgently, and informed them of grain purchase in Mian and Jian; all Shu benefited.
24
劉珙拜同知樞密院事，進言曰：「汪應辰、陳良翰、張栻學行才能，臣所不及。」 已，得旨召還。 邛之安仁年饑，挻起為盜，害及旁郡，即具奏，且檄茶馬使招捕。 旬月間，誅其渠魁，餘悉撫定。 或白之虞允文曰：「汪帥得無掩盜事不上聞乎？」 宣司乃密奏，使人紿應辰曰：「邛寇事未敢奏，不審制司如何？」 應辰以奏檢報之，允文內愧。 將行，代納成都一府激賞絹估三萬三千九百八十四匹。
Liu Gong was made vice commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and advanced, saying, "Wang Yingchen, Chen Lianghan, and Zhang Shi in learning, conduct, and ability surpass your subject." Before long he received an edict to return. In Anren of Qiong, famine in one year stirred people to become bandits, harming neighboring commanderies; he immediately memorialized and also ordered the tea-and-horse commissioner to recruit and capture them. Within a month the ringleaders were executed and the rest were pacified. Someone told Yu Yunwen, "Does Commander Wang perhaps conceal the bandit affair and not report upward?" The pacification office then secretly memorialized and sent a man to deceive Yingchen, saying, "The Qiong bandit affair has not yet been daringly reported—how does the commissioner's office view it?" Yingchen reported with his memorial copy; Yunwen felt ashamed within. When about to depart, he paid on behalf of the Chengdu prefecture 33,984 bolts of appraisal silk for merit rewards.
25
冬，入覲，陛對，以畏天愛民為言。 上曰：「卿久在蜀，寬朕西顧憂，軍政民事革弊殆盡，蜀中除虛額，民間當被實惠。」 應辰奏：「虛額去則州縣寬，尚有兩事，曰預借，曰對糴。 預借乃州縣累歲相仍，對糴則以補州縣闕乏，民輸米一石，即就糴一石，或半價，或不支，且多取贏。 陛下近捐百萬除預借之弊，對糴患止數州，願並除之，則弊革無餘矣。」
In winter he entered audience; at the throne he spoke of revering Heaven and loving the people. The emperor said, "You were long in Shu and eased my western worries; in military and civil affairs you reformed abuses nearly to the end; in Shu false quotas were removed and the people should receive real benefit." Yingchen memorialized, "When false quotas are removed, prefectures and districts are eased; yet two matters remain: advance collection and paired grain purchase. Advance collection is what prefectures and districts have carried on for years; paired purchase supplements prefectural and district shortfalls—the people deliver one picul of rice and the government purchases one picul at once, or at half price, or pays nothing, and often takes surplus. Your Majesty recently gave up a million to remove the abuse of advance collection; the harm of paired purchase affects only a few prefectures—I hope both may be removed, then abuses will be reformed without remainder."
26
除吏部尚書，尋兼翰林學士並侍讀。 論愛民六事，廟堂議不合，不悅者眾。 一日，陳良祐登對，上告以「汪應辰言卿在蜀多誕謾。」 良祐奏：「臣與應辰昨同從班，應辰請外，得衢州，臣惜其去，同奏留之。 時邊奏方急，臣不知應辰將為便私計也。 奏既上，應辰以此大憾，乃為是說以中臣耳。」 上曰：「乃爾邪！」
He was appointed minister of personnel and soon also Hanlin academician and attendant reader. He discussed six matters of loving the people; the court deliberated and disagreed; many were displeased. One day Chen Liangyou appeared for audience; the emperor told him, "Wang Yingchen says you told many lies in Shu." Liangyou memorialized, "Your subject and Yingchen were formerly colleagues in the same rank; Yingchen asked for an outside post and received Qu Prefecture; your subject regretted his leaving and jointly memorialized to keep him. Border reports were then urgent; your subject did not know Yingchen was planning private convenience. Once the memorial was submitted, Yingchen greatly resented this and made this charge to strike at your subject." The emperor said, "So it is!"
27
應辰在朝多革弊事，中貴人皆側目。 德壽宮方甃石池，以水銀浮金鳧魚於上，上過之，高宗指示曰：「水銀正乏，此買之汪尚書家。」 上怒曰：「汪應辰力言朕置房廓與民爭利，乃自販水銀邪？」 應辰知之，力求去。 會復出發運均輸之旨，歎曰：「吾不可留矣，但力辨群枉，則補外之請自得。」 乃力論其事有害無利，遂以端明殿學士知平江府。
Yingchen in court reformed many abuses; the powerful eunuchs all glared sidelong. At Deshou Palace they were paving a stone pool and floated golden ducks and fish on mercury; when the emperor passed, Gaozong pointed and said, "Mercury is scarce; this was bought from Minister Wang's house." The emperor angrily said, "Wang Yingchen strongly urged that I set up shops to compete with the people for profit—yet he himself sells mercury?" When Yingchen learned of it, he urgently sought to leave. When the order to revive transport and equalization was issued again, he sighed, "I cannot remain; but if I forcefully refute the crowd's wrong, my request for an outside post will come of itself." He then strongly argued that the matter harmed without benefiting, and was made academician of the Hall for Brightening Governance and prefect of Pingjiang.
28
韓玉被旨揀馬，過郡，應辰簡其禮。 玉歸，譖之於上曰：「臣所過州縣，未有若平江之不治者。」 上怪之。 平江米綱至，有折閱，事上，連貶秩。 力疾請祠，自是臥家不起矣，以淳熙三年二月卒於家。
Han Yu received an order to select horses and passed through the prefecture; Yingchen simplified his reception. Yu returned and slandered him to the emperor: "Of all prefectures and districts your subject passed through, none was as poorly governed as Pingjiang." The emperor found it strange. When Pingjiang's grain transport arrived, there was shortage in delivery; the matter was reported upward and his rank was reduced in succession. Ill, he urgently begged temple leave; from then he lay at home unable to rise, and in the second month of the third year of Chunxi (1176) died at home.
29
應辰接物溫遜，遇事特立不回，流落嶺嶠十有七年。 檜死，始還朝，剛方正直，敢言不避。 少從呂居仁、胡安國游，張栻、呂祖謙深器許之，告以造道之方。 嘗釋克己之私如用兵克敵，「《易》懲忿窒欲，《書》剛制於酒，懲窒、剛制皆克勝義，可不常省察乎？」 其義理之精如此。 好賢樂善，出於天性，尤篤友愛，嘗以先疇遜其兄衢，雖無屋可居不顧也。 子達，繼登進士第，仕至吏部尚書、端明殿學士。
Yingchen in dealing with others was warm and modest; in affairs he stood alone and did not bend back; he wandered in the southern ranges for seventeen years. After Qin Hui died, he was at last able to return to court. Upright and resolute, he spoke candidly without fear or evasion. As a youth he studied under Lü Juren and Hu Anguo. Zhang Shi and Lü Zuqian held him in high regard and taught him how to pursue the Way. He once likened restraining selfish desires to using armies to defeat enemies: "The Book of Changes teaches us to restrain anger and check desires; the Book of Documents teaches us to be firm in restraining wine. Restraint, checking, and firm control all embody the meaning of overcoming and conquering—should we not constantly examine ourselves in this light?" Such was the subtlety and precision of his moral reasoning. Loving worthy men and delighting in good deeds came naturally to him. Deeply devoted to friendship and kinship, he once yielded his ancestral estate to his elder brother Qu, caring nothing that he himself was left without a house to live in. His son Da also passed the jinshi examination and rose to serve as Minister of Personnel and academician of the Hall for Brightening Governance.
30
王十朋
Wang Shipeng
31
王十朋，字龜齡，溫州樂清人。 資穎悟，日誦數千言。 及長，有文行，聚徒梅溪，受業者以百數。 入太學，主司異其文。
Wang Shipeng, whose style name was Guiling, was a native of Yueqing in Wenzhou. Naturally quick-witted, he could recite several thousand characters each day. When he came of age, he was noted for both literary talent and moral conduct. He gathered disciples at Meixi, and those who studied under him numbered in the hundreds. He entered the Imperial College, where the chief examiner found his essays outstanding.
32
秦檜死，上親政，策士，諭考官曰：「對策中有陳朝政切直者，並置上列。」 十朋以「權」為對，大略曰：「攬權者，非欲衡石程書如秦皇，傳餐聽政如隋文，強明自任、不任宰相如唐德宗，精於吏事、以察為明如唐宣宗，蓋欲陛下懲既往而戒未然，威福一出於上而已。 嘗有鋪翠之禁，而以翠羽為首飾者自若，是豈法令不可禁乎？ 抑宮中服澣濯之化，衣不曳地之風未形於外乎？ 法之至公者莫如選士，名器之至重者莫如科第。 往歲權臣子孫、門客類竊巍科，有司以國家名器為媚權臣之具，而欲得人可乎？ 願陛下正身以為本，任賢以為助，博采兼聽以收其效。」 幾萬餘言。 上嘉其經學淹通，議論醇正，遂擢為第一。 學者爭傳誦其策，以擬古晁、董。
After Qin Hui died, the emperor took personal charge of government and held the policy examination. He told the examiners, "Place at the top of the list any candidate whose answers speak frankly and directly about court affairs." Shipeng chose "consolidating power" as his theme and argued, in essence: "Consolidating power does not mean weighing every stone and tallying every document like the First Emperor of Qin, nor passing meals forward while holding court like Emperor Wen of Sui, nor insisting on one's own judgment and refusing to rely on the chancellor like Emperor Dezong of Tang, nor treating administrative minutiae as wisdom like Emperor Xuanzong of Tang. It means that Your Majesty should learn from past mistakes, guard against future ones, and keep authority and favor in your own hands alone. There was once a ban on kingfisher-feather ornamentation, yet people continued to wear kingfisher feathers in their hair as before. Is this because the law cannot be enforced? Or is it rather that the palace's example of frugal laundering and the custom of not letting robes drag on the ground has not yet been felt outside the inner court? No law is more fundamentally impartial than the selection of scholars, and no honor is weightier than the examination ranks. In recent years the sons, grandsons, and clients of powerful ministers have repeatedly captured top examination honors, while the officials treated the state's titles and offices as tools for currying favor with the powerful. Under such conditions, how could worthy men be found? I ask that Your Majesty make personal rectitude the foundation, employ worthy men as your support, and broadly gather opinions and listen to all sides so that these reforms may succeed." The answer ran to nearly ten thousand words. The emperor praised his thorough mastery of the classics and the purity of his argument, and placed him first in the examination. Scholars competed to copy and recite his policy answer, likening it to the work of the great Han memorialists Chao Cuo and Dong Zhongshu.
33
上用其言，嚴銷金鋪翠之令，取交阯所貢翠物焚之。 謂「十朋乃朕親擢」。 授紹興府簽判。 既至，或以書生易之，十朋裁決如神，吏姦不行。 時以四科求士，帥王師心謂十朋身兼四者，獨以應詔。 召為秘書郎兼建王府小學教授。 先是，教授入講堂居賓位，十朋不可，皇孫特加禮而位教授中坐。
The emperor acted on his advice, strictly enforced the ban on gold-inlaid kingfisher ornamentation, and had the kingfisher tribute from Jiaozhi burned. He said, "Shipeng was personally selected by me." He was appointed signing secretary of Shaoxing Prefecture. When he arrived, some looked down on him as a mere scholar, but Shipeng rendered judgments with uncanny precision, and corrupt clerks could find no opening. At the time the court was recruiting men under four categories of merit. Prefect Wang Shixin judged that Shipeng embodied all four and nominated him alone in response to the imperial edict. He was summoned to serve as a secretary in the Secretariat and concurrently as instructor of the primary school in the Heir Apparent's establishment. Previously, when instructors entered the lecture hall they took the guest seat. Shipeng refused to accept this arrangement, and the imperial grandson specially honored him by seating the instructor in the central place.
34
金將渝盟，十朋輪對，言：「自建炎至今，金未嘗不內相殘賊，然一主斃，一主生，曷嘗為中國利？ 要在自備如何。 禦敵莫急於用人，今有天資忠義、材兼文武可為將相者，有長於用兵、士卒樂為之用可為大帥者，或投閒置散，或老於藩郡，願起而用之，以寢敵謀，以圖恢復。」 蓋指張浚、劉錡也。 又言：「今權雖歸於陛下，政復出於多門，是一檜死百檜生也。 楊存中以三衙而交結北司，以盜大權。 漢之禍起於恭、顯，王氏之相為終始； 唐之禍起於北軍，藩鎮之相為表裏。 今以管軍位三公，利源皆入其門，陰結諸將，相為黨援。 樞密本兵之地，立班甘居其後。 子弟親戚，佈滿清要。 臺諫論列，委曲庇護，風憲獨不行于管軍之門，何以為國！ 至若清資加於噲五； 高爵濫於醫門； 諸軍承受，威福自恣，甚于唐之監軍； 皇城邏卒，旁午察事，甚于周之監謗； 將帥剝下賂上，結怨三軍； 道路捕人為卒，結怨百姓； 皆非治世事。」 上嘉納，戢邏卒，罷諸軍承受，更定樞密、管軍班次，解楊存中兵權，其言大略施行。 秦檜久塞言路，至是十朋與馮方、胡憲、查籥、李浩相繼論事，太學生為《五賢詩》述其事。 除著作郎。
When the Jin were about to break the alliance, Shipeng presented a rotating memorial, saying, "From the Jianyan era to the present, the Jin have never ceased fighting among themselves. Yet whenever one ruler dies, another rises—when has this ever benefited the Song? What matters is how well we prepare ourselves. Nothing is more urgent in repelling the enemy than putting the right men in office. There are men of natural loyalty and righteousness whose talents unite civil and military ability and who could serve as generals and chancellors; there are men skilled in command whose soldiers gladly follow them and who could serve as great marshals. Some lie idle in obscurity, others grow old in distant prefectures. I ask that they be summoned and employed to frustrate the enemy's designs and advance the cause of recovery. He was referring to Zhang Jun and Liu Qi. He also said, "Although power has now returned to Your Majesty, government again flows from many doors—one Hui is dead, but a hundred Huies are being born. Yang Cunzhong, commanding the three palace guard armies, cultivated ties with the Northern Bureau and thereby usurped great power. Han dynastic disaster began with the eunuchs Hong and Xian; the Wang clan's hold on the chancellorship ran from beginning to end; Tang dynastic disaster began with the Northern Armies; the military governors acted as outer and inner supports to one another. Today the commander of the palace armies holds rank among the Three Excellencies, every lucrative post flows through his household, and he secretly binds the generals together in mutual partisan support. The Bureau of Military Affairs is the original seat of military authority, yet in court order it is made to stand behind him. His sons, younger brothers, and in-laws fill every prestigious office. When censors and remonstrators spoke out, they were tactfully shielded; the power of impeachment did not reach the army commander's door. How can a state be governed this way? Pure offices have been lavished on men like Kuai Wu; high ranks have been wantonly handed out at a physician's door; army receivers have wielded authority and favor as they pleased, worse than the Tang dynasty army supervisors; imperial city patrol soldiers have crisscrossed the capital gathering intelligence, worse than the Zhou dynasty slander supervisors; generals have stripped their subordinates to bribe their superiors, breeding resentment throughout the armies; on the roads men have been seized and pressed into service, breeding resentment among the people; none of these are ways to govern an empire." The emperor praised and accepted his advice, restrained the patrol soldiers, abolished the army receivers, revised the court precedence of the Bureau of Military Affairs and the army commander, stripped Yang Cunzhong of military authority, and largely put his proposals into effect. Qin Hui had long blocked free speech. Now Shipeng, together with Feng Fang, Hu Xian, Zha Yao, and Li Hao, spoke out in succession on state affairs, and Imperial College students composed the "Poem of the Five Worthies" to commemorate what they had done. He was appointed drafting officer.
35
三十一年正月，風雷雨雪交作，十朋以為陽不勝陰之驗，遣陳康伯書，冀以《春秋》災異之說力陳於上，崇陽抑陰，以弭天變。 遷大宗正丞，亟請祠歸。 金犯邊，起劉錡為江、淮、浙西制置，張浚帥金陵，悉如其言。
In the first month of the thirty-first year, wind, thunder, rain, and snow struck together. Shipeng took this as a sign that yin was overpowering yang and wrote to Chen Kangbo, hoping that through the Spring and Autumn doctrine of calamities and portents he might forcefully lay the matter before the emperor, exalt yang and suppress yin, and thereby appease Heaven's warning. He was transferred to vice director of the Imperial Clan Court and urgently requested leave for temple service so he could return home. When the Jin violated the border, Liu Qi was summoned as pacification commissioner of the Jiang, Huai, and Western Zhe circuits, and Zhang Jun was placed in command at Jinling—just as Shipeng had urged.
36
孝宗受禪，起知嚴州。 召對，首言：「太皇非倦勤時，而以大器付陛下，賢于堯、舜，陛下當思以副太上者。 今社稷之安危，生民之休戚，人才之進退，朝廷之刑賞，宜若舜之協堯，斷然行之，以盡繼述之道。」 拜司封郎中，累遷國子司業。 言：「今居位者往往職之不舉，宜有以革之。 人主有大職三，任賢、納諫、賞罰是也。」 上嘉之。 除起居舍人，升侍講。 時左右史失職久，十朋除起居郎，胡銓奏四事，語在《胡銓傳》。 除侍御史，上謂胡銓曰：「比除臺官，外議如何？」 銓曰：「皆謂得人。」 上曰：「卿與十朋皆朕親擢。」
When Emperor Xiaozong ascended the throne, Shipeng was summoned to serve as prefect of Yanzhou. When summoned for audience, he began by saying, "The Retired Emperor did not abdicate from weariness of rule, yet entrusted the empire to Your Majesty—a deed more generous than Yao or Shun. Your Majesty should consider how to live up to that trust. The safety of the altars of state, the welfare of the people, the advancement of talent, and the punishments and rewards of the court should all be handled as Shun assisted Yao—decisively and without hesitation—to fulfill the duty of succession." He was appointed lang of the Department of Population and was successively promoted to vice director of the Directorate of Education. He said, "Those now in office often fail to perform their duties; there should be some way to reform this. A ruler has three great duties: employing worthy men, accepting remonstrance, and administering rewards and punishments." The emperor praised this. He was appointed attendant of the diaries of activity and presence and promoted to court lecturer. The Left and Right Historiographers had long neglected their duties. When Shipeng was appointed attendant of the diaries of activity and presence, Hu Quan memorialized on four matters—the account is given in the "Biography of Hu Quan." He was appointed attendant censor, and the emperor said to Hu Quan, "What is outside opinion of the recent appointments to the Censorate?" Quan said, "All agree that worthy men have been found." The emperor said, "You and Shipeng were both personally selected by me."
37
十朋見上英銳，每見必陳恢復之計。 及將北伐，上疏曰：
Shipeng saw that the emperor was spirited and resolute; whenever he had audience he always presented plans for national recovery. When the northern expedition was about to be launched, he submitted a memorial saying:
38
「天子之孝莫大於光祖宗、安社稷，因前王盈成而守者，周成康、漢文景是也； 承前世衰微而興者，商高宗、周宣王是也； 先君有恥而雪之，漢宣帝臣單于、唐太宗俘頡利是也； 先君有仇而復之，夏少康滅澆、漢光武誅莽是也。 跡雖不同，其為孝一也。 靖康之禍，亙古未有，陛下英武，慨然志在興復。 竊聞每對群臣奏事，則曰：『當如創業時。』 又曰：『當以馬上治之。』 又曰：『某事當俟恢復後為之』。 比因宣召，語及陵寢，聖容惻然，曰：『四十年矣。』 陛下之心真少康、高宗、宣王、光武之心，奈何大臣不能仰副聖心？ 願戒在位者，去附和之私心，贊國家之大計，則中興日月可冀矣。」
"Of filial piety in a Son of Heaven, nothing is greater than glorifying the ancestors and securing the altars of state. Those who inherited a flourishing legacy and preserved it include King Cheng and King Kang of Zhou and Emperors Wen and Jing of Han; those who rose from the decline of a former age include King Gaozong of Shang and King Xuan of Zhou; those who wiped away a former ruler's shame include Emperor Xuan of Han, who made the Xiongnu chanyu his minister, and Emperor Taizong of Tang, who captured Jieli; those who avenged a former ruler's enemy include Shaokang of Xia, who destroyed Ao, and Emperor Guangwu of Han, who executed Wang Mang. Though the paths differ, the filial duty is the same. The calamity of the Jingkang era was without precedent in history. Your Majesty is spirited and martial, and resolutely sets his heart on restoration. I have heard that whenever Your Majesty addresses the assembled ministers, you say, "We must act as we did when the dynasty was first founded." You also say, "We must govern from horseback." You also say, "Certain matters must wait until after recovery." Recently, in an imperial audience, the conversation turned to the imperial tombs. Your countenance grew sorrowful, and you said, "Forty years have passed." Your Majesty's heart is truly the heart of Shaokang, Gaozong, Xuanwang, and Guangwu—yet how is it that the great ministers cannot rise to match your resolve? I ask that those in office be warned to cast off the private habit of mere agreement and support the nation's great plan of recovery—then the day of revival may truly be hoped for."
39
因論史浩八罪，曰懷奸、誤國、植黨、盜權、忌言、蔽賢、欺君、訕上，上為出浩知紹興府。 十朋再疏，謂：「陛下雖能如舜之去邪，未能如舜之正名定罪。 紹興密邇行都，浩嘗為屬吏，姦賍彰聞，亦何顏復見其吏民。」 遂改與祠。
He then enumerated eight crimes of Shi Hao: harboring treachery, harming the state, forming factions, usurping power, resenting free speech, obscuring the worthy, deceiving the ruler, and insulting the sovereign. The emperor thereupon sent Hao out to serve as prefect of Shaoxing. Shipeng submitted another memorial, saying, "Although Your Majesty can remove the wicked as Shun did, you have not yet been able, as Shun did, to rectify names and fix guilt upon them. Shaoxing lies close to the traveling capital. Hao once served there as a subordinate official, and his corruption is publicly known. How can he bear to face its clerks and people again?" Hao was thereupon given a temple appointment instead.
40
史正志與浩族異，拜浩而父事之，十朋論正志傾險奸姦，觀時求進，宜黜正志以正典刑。 林安宅出入史浩、龍大淵門，盜弄威福，至是詐病求致仕，十朋並疏其罪。 皆罷去。
Shi Zhengzhi, though not of Hao's clan, bowed to Hao and treated him as a father. Shipeng argued that Zhengzhi was overbearing, treacherous, and wicked, watching the times to advance, and that he should be dismissed to uphold the proper punishments. Lin Anzhai moved in and out of the households of Shi Hao and Long Dayuan, usurping and manipulating authority and favor. At this time he feigned illness and sought retirement; Shipeng also memorialized his crimes. All were dismissed from office.
41
張浚出師復靈壁、虹縣，歸附者萬計，又復宿州。 十朋奏：「王師以吊民為主，先之以招納，不獲已而戰伐隨之，乞以此指戒浚。 金將既降，宜速加爵賞，以勸來者。」 上皆嘉納。
Zhang Jun marched out and recovered Lingbi and Hong County; those who submitted numbered in the tens of thousands, and he also recovered Suzhou. Shipeng memorialized, "The imperial army should take succoring the people as its main purpose, beginning with recruitment and submission and resorting to warfare only when necessary. I ask that this instruction be sent to Jun. When Jin generals have already surrendered, ranks and rewards should quickly be granted to encourage others to follow." The emperor praised and accepted all of this.
42
會李顯忠、邵宏淵不協，王師失律，張浚上表自劾，主和者乘此唱異議。 十朋上疏言：「臣素不識浚，聞其誓不與敵俱生，心實慕之。 前因輪對，言金必敗盟，乞用浚。 陛下嗣位，命督師江、淮，今浚遣將取二縣，一月三捷，皆服陛下任浚之難。 及王師一不利，橫議蜂起。 臣謂今日之師，為祖宗陵寢，為二帝復仇，為二百年境土，為中原弔民伐罪，非前代好大生事者比。 益當內修，俟時而動。 陛下恢復志立，固不以一衄為群議所搖，然異論紛紛，浚既待罪，臣其可尚居風憲之職！ 乞賜竄殛。」 因言：「臣聞近日欲遣龍大淵撫諭淮南，信否？」 上曰：「無之。」 又言：「聞欲以楊存中充御營使。」 上嘿然。
When Li Xianzhong and Shao Hongyuan failed to cooperate, the imperial army lost discipline. Zhang Jun submitted a memorial impeaching himself, and those favoring peace seized the moment to raise dissenting views. Shipeng submitted a memorial saying, "I have never known Jun personally, but hearing that he swore he would not live together with the enemy, I truly admired him. Previously, in a rotating memorial, I said the Jin would surely break the alliance and begged that Jun be employed. When Your Majesty succeeded to the throne, you ordered him to supervise the Jiang and Huai armies. Now Jun has sent generals to take two counties and in one month achieved three victories—all acknowledge the wisdom of Your Majesty's trust in Jun. When the imperial army suffered one setback, wild talk swarmed forth. I consider that today's campaign is fought for the imperial tombs of the ancestors, to avenge the two emperors, for two hundred years of territory, and to succor the people of the Central Plains and punish wrongdoing—it cannot be compared with the war-loving troublemakers of former ages. All the more should we strengthen ourselves internally and wait for the right moment to act. Your Majesty's will for recovery is firm and will surely not be shaken by one defeat amid clamoring dissent; yet opposing views multiply, and since Jun already awaits punishment, how can I still remain in the office of censorial integrity! I beg to be banished or executed." He then added, "I have heard that recently there is a plan to send Long Dayuan to pacify and instruct Huainan—is this true?" The Emperor said, "No, there is not." He added, "I have heard that Yang Cunzhong is to be appointed Imperial Camp Commissioner." The Emperor said nothing.
43
改除吏部侍郎，力辭，出知饒州。 饒並湖，盜出沒其間，聞十朋至，一夕遁去。 丞相洪适請故學基益其圃，十朋曰：「先聖所居，十朋何敢予人。」 移知夔州，饒民走諸司乞留不得，至斷其橋，乃以車從間道去，眾葺斷橋，以「王公」名之。
He was appointed vice minister of personnel but fervently declined and was sent out to serve as prefect of Raozhou. Raozhou bordered the lake, and bandits roamed the area. When they heard that Shipeng had arrived, they fled overnight. Grand Councilor Hong Shi asked for the old academy grounds to enlarge his garden. Shipeng said, "The place where the Former Sage lived—how could I give it away?" He was transferred to Kui Prefecture. The people of Raozhou petitioned every office to keep him, to no avail; they even broke the bridge. He left by carriage along a back road. The people rebuilt the bridge and named it the Lord Wang Bridge.
44
移知湖州，召對，劉珙請留之，上曰：「朕豈不知王十朋，顧湖州被水，非十朋莫能鎮撫。」 至郡，戶部責虛逋三十四萬，命吏持券往辨，不聽，即請祠去。 起知泉州，十朋前在湖割奉錢創貢闈，又為泉建之，尤宏壯。
Transferred to Huzhou, he was summoned for an audience. Liu Bing asked that he be kept at court. The Emperor said, "Do I not know Wang Shipeng? But Huzhou has been inundated—only Shipeng can pacify and reassure the people there." When he reached the prefecture, the Ministry of Revenue charged him with 340,000 in false arrears. He sent an official with vouchers to dispute the claim, but they refused to hear him. He immediately requested temple leave and left. He was recalled to serve as prefect of Quanzhou. Shipeng had earlier in Huzhou cut from his own salary to build an examination hall; he built one for Quanzhou as well, even more grand and imposing.
45
凡歷四郡，布上恩，恤民隱，士之賢者詣門，以禮致之。 朔望會諸生學宮，講經詢政，僚屬間有不善，反復告戒，俾之自新。 民輸租俾自概量，聞者相告，宿逋亦願償。 訟至庭，溫詞曉以理義，多退聽者。 所至人繪而祠之，去之日，老稚攀留涕泣，越境以送，思之如父母。 饒久旱，入境雨至； 湖積霖，入境即霽。 凡禱必應，其至誠不獨感人，而亦動天地鬼神。
In all he governed four prefectures, spreading the emperor's grace and tending to the people's hidden grievances. Worthy scholars who came to his door he received with full courtesy. On the first and fifteenth of each month he gathered students at the county school, lecturing on the classics and inquiring into local governance. When subordinates fell short, he admonished them again and again until they reformed. He let the people measure their own grain when paying rent taxes. Word spread among them, and even long-standing arrears were willingly repaid. When lawsuits came to court, he used gentle words to explain reason and principle, and many litigants withdrew their cases. Wherever he went, people painted his likeness and enshrined him. When he departed, old and young clung to him in tears and escorted him beyond the border, cherishing him as they would their own parents. Raozhou had long suffered drought; rain fell as soon as he entered its borders. Huzhou had endured prolonged rains; the skies cleared the moment he entered. Every prayer he offered was answered. His utmost sincerity moved not only people but Heaven, Earth, and the spirits as well.
46
東宮建，除太子詹事，力辭，詔州郡禮致，遂力疾造朝，以足疾不能趨，詔給扶減拜。 謁東宮，太子以其舊學，待遇有加。 又詔免朝參，遣中使以告及襲衣、金帶就其家賜之。 疾革，累章告老，以龍圖閣學士致仕，命下而卒，年六十。 紹熙三年，諡曰「忠文」。
When the Eastern Palace was established, he was appointed grand mentor of the heir apparent but fervently declined. An edict ordered the prefecture to escort him to court with ceremony. He then came despite serious illness. Because foot ailment kept him from hurrying, an edict granted him a staff and reduced the number of bows required. When he visited the Eastern Palace, the crown prince treated him with special honor, for he had once been his teacher. An edict also exempted him from court attendance. The emperor sent a palace envoy to notify him and bestowed court robes and a gold belt at his home. When his illness turned critical, he repeatedly memorialized to retire. He was granted retirement as Hanlin academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall. The order had just been issued when he died, at the age of sixty. In the third year of the Shaoxi reign, he was posthumously given the posthumous title Loyal and Refined.
47
十朋事親孝，終喪不處內，友愛二弟，郊恩先奏其名，沒而二子猶布衣。 書室扁曰「不欺」，每以諸葛亮、顏真卿、寇準、范仲淹、韓琦、唐介自比，朱熹、張栻雅敬之。
Shipeng was filial toward his parents and, throughout mourning, did not live within the inner quarters. He was affectionate toward his two younger brothers and, at suburban amnesties, submitted their names first. After his death his two sons still wore plain cloth. His study bore the inscription "No Deception." He often measured himself against Zhuge Liang, Yan Zhenqing, Kou Zhun, Fan Zhongyan, Han Qi, and Tang Jie. Zhu Xi and Zhang Shi held him in deep respect.
48
子聞詩、聞禮，皆篤學自立。 聞詩知光州、提點江東刑獄； 聞禮知常州、江東轉運判官，為治能守家法，人亦思慕之。
His sons Wen Shi and Wen Li were both earnest scholars who stood on their own merit. Wen Shi served as prefect of Guang Prefecture and as judicial commissioner for Jiangdong Circuit; Wen Li served as prefect of Changzhou and as vice transport commissioner for Jiangdong. In governing he upheld the family tradition, and people admired him as well.
49
吳芾，字明可，台州仙居人。 舉進士第，遷秘書正字。 與秦檜舊故，至是檜已專政，芾退然如未嘗識。 公坐旅進，揖而退，檜疑之，風言者論罷。 通判處、婺、越三郡。 知處州。 處舊苦丁絹重，芾損之，以新丁補其額。
Wu Fei, whose style name was Mingke, was a native of Xianju in Taizhou. He passed the jinshi examination and was promoted to corrector in the Secretariat. He had been an old acquaintance of Qin Hui, but by then Qin Hui already monopolized power, and Fei withdrew humbly as though they had never known each other. At a public gathering they advanced together; Fei bowed and withdrew. Qin Hui grew suspicious and had memorialists attack him until he was dismissed from office. He served as vice prefect of Chu, Wu, and Yue. He served as prefect of Chuzhou. Chuzhou had long suffered from heavy corvée silk levies. Fei reduced the burden, making up the quota with newly registered households.
50
何溥薦芾材中御史，除監察御史。 時金將敗盟，芾勸高宗「專務修德，痛自悔咎，延見群臣，俾陳闕失，求合乎天地，無愧乎祖宗，則人心悅服，天亦助順矣。」 上韙其言。 遷殿中侍御史。
He Bo recommended Fei as qualified to serve as censor, and he was appointed investigating censor. When the Jin were about to break the treaty, Fei urged Emperor Gaozong, "Devote yourself solely to cultivating virtue, repent your errors deeply, summon your ministers, and have them state what is lacking. Seek to accord with Heaven and Earth and stand without shame before your ancestors, and hearts will be won and Heaven will aid the righteous cause." The emperor praised his words. He was promoted to palace censor.
51
兩淮戰不利，廷臣爭陳退避計，芾言：「今日之事，有進無退，進為上策，退為無策。」 既而金主亮斃，上疏勸親征。 車駕至建康，芾請遂駐蹕，以係中原之望，高宗納其說。 會有密啟還東者，下侍從、臺諫議，芾言：「今欲控帶襄、漢，引輸湖、廣，則臨安不如建康便； 經理淮甸，應接梁、宋，則臨安不如建康近。 議者徒悅一時扈從思歸之人，非為國計。 臣恐回鑾之後，西師之聲援不接，北土之謳吟絕望矣。」 又言：「去歲兩淮諸城望風奔潰，無一城能拒守者，此秦檜壅塞言路、挫折士氣之餘毒也。 能反其道，則士氣日振，而見危授命者有人矣。」
When warfare in the Two Huai regions went badly, court ministers competed to propose plans of retreat. Fei said, "In today's situation there is advance but no retreat. Advance is the superior strategy; retreat is no strategy at all." Shortly afterward the Jin ruler Hailing was killed, and Fei submitted a memorial urging the emperor to campaign in person. When the imperial carriage reached Jiankang, Fei asked that it remain there to sustain the hopes of the Central Plains, and Gaozong accepted his view. When someone secretly memorialized to return east, the matter was sent down for discussion among attendants and remonstrating censors. Fei said, "If we now wish to control the Xiang and Han regions and draw supplies from Hunan and Guangdong, then Lin'an is less convenient than Jiankang; if we wish to manage the Huai region and respond to Liang and Song, then Lin'an is not as close as Jiankang. Those debating the issue merely please those who attend the emperor and long to return home for the moment; they do not consider the nation's interest. I fear that after the imperial return east, western armies will receive no support and the songs of longing from the northern lands will die in despair. He also said, "Last year the cities of the Two Huai fled and collapsed at the mere rumor of attack—not one city could hold fast. This is the lingering poison of Qin Hui's blocking of speech and crushing of morale. If we reverse that course, morale will rise day by day, and men who meet danger and give their lives will appear."
52
知紹興府。 會稽賦重而折色尤甚，芾以攢宮在，奏免支移折變。 鑒湖久廢，會歲大饑，出常平米募饑民浚治。 芾去，大姓利於田，湖復廢。
He served as prefect of Shaoxing. Kuaiji's tax burdens were heavy, and conversion surcharges especially severe. Because the imperial tombs were located there, Fei memorialized to exempt transport and conversion charges. Mirror Lake had long fallen into disuse. When a great famine struck, he released Ever-Normal Granary rice and hired hungry people to dredge and restore it. After Fei left, powerful clans profited from the farmland and the lake was abandoned once more.
53
權刑部侍郎，遷給事中，改吏部侍郎。 以敷文閣直學士知臨安府。 內侍家僮毆傷酒家保，芾捕治之，徇于市，權豪側目。 執政議以芾使金，復除吏部侍郎，且議以龍大淵為副，芾曰：「是可與言行事者邪？」 語聞，得罷不行。 下遷禮部侍郎，力求去，提舉太平興國宮。
Serving as acting vice minister of justice, he was transferred to recipient of edicts and then reassigned as vice minister of personnel. As academician of the Hall for the Diffusion of Literature, he served as prefect of Lin'an. A palace eunuch's household servant beat and injured a tavern keeper. Fei arrested and punished him and had the sentence displayed in the market, to the fury of the powerful. The chief ministers proposed sending Fei as envoy to the Jin. He was again appointed vice minister of personnel, and they also proposed Long Dayuan as his deputy. Fei said, "Is this someone with whom one can act in good faith?" When his words were reported, the mission was cancelled and he did not go. Demoted to vice minister of rites, he earnestly sought to leave office and was appointed superintendent of the Taiping Xingguo Palace.
54
時芾與陳俊卿俱以剛直見忌，未幾，俊卿亦引去。 中書舍人閻安中為孝宗言二臣之去，非國之福。 起知太平州。 造舟以梁姑溪。 歷陽築者久役潰歸，聲言欲趨郡境，芾呼至城下，厚犒遣之，而密捕倡亂者繫獄以聞，詔褒諭。 知隆興府。
At the time Fei and Chen Junqing were both resented for their firm uprightness. Before long Junqing withdrew as well. Secretariat drafter Yan Anzhong told Emperor Xiaozong that the departure of these two ministers was no blessing to the state. He was recalled to serve as prefect of Taiping. He built boats to bridge the Guxi River. Laborers from Liyang who had long served on construction projects broke ranks and returned home, declaring they would march on the prefecture. Fei summoned them below the city wall, rewarded them generously, and sent them away, while secretly arresting the ringleaders and imprisoning them. He reported this to the throne and received an edict of praise. He served as prefect of Longxing.
55
芾前後守六郡，各因其俗為寬猛，吏莫容姦，民懷惠利。 再奉太平祠，屢告老，以龍圖閣直學士致仕。 後十年卒，年八十。 嘗曰：「視官物當如己物，視公事當如私事。 與其得罪于百姓，寧得罪于上官。」 立朝不偶，晚退閑者十有四年，自號「湖山居士」。 為文豪健俊整，有表奏五卷、詩文三十卷。
Fei successively governed six prefectures, adjusting strictness and leniency to local custom. Officials could conceal no fraud, and the people felt his benevolence and benefit. He again took charge of the Taiping temple service, repeatedly memorialized to retire, and retired as Hanlin academician of the Dragon Diagram Hall. Ten years later he died, at the age of eighty. He once said, "Treat official property as your own property, and treat public affairs as private affairs. Better to offend your superiors than to offend the common people." Ill-fated at court, he spent the last fourteen years of his life in retirement and styled himself Recluse of Lakes and Mountains. His writing was bold, vigorous, and finely ordered. He left five fascicles of memorials and thirty fascicles of poetry and prose.
56
陳良翰
Chen Lianghan
57
陳良翰，字邦彥，台州臨海人。 蚤孤，事母孝。 資莊重，為文恢博有氣。 中紹興五年進士第。 知溫州瑞安縣。 俗號強梗，吏治尚嚴，良翰獨撫以寬，催租不下文符，但揭示名物，民競樂輸，聽訟咸得其情。 或問何術，良翰曰：「無術，第公此心如虛堂懸鏡耳。」 殿中侍御史吳芾薦為檢法官，遷監察御史。
Chen Lianghan, whose style name was Bangyan, was a native of Linhai in Taizhou. Orphaned early, he was filial toward his mother. By nature solemn and dignified, he wrote in a broad, expansive, and spirited style. He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of the Shaoxing reign. He served as magistrate of Ruian County in Wenzhou. The local custom was known for stubborn resistance, and official rule favored severity. Lianghan alone governed with leniency. For rent collection he issued no formal summonses—only posted names and amounts—and the people competed eagerly to pay. In hearing cases he always got to the truth. When someone asked his method, Lianghan said, "There is no method—only make your heart like a mirror hung in an empty hall." Palace censor Wu Fei recommended him as reviewing law officer, and he was promoted to investigating censor.
58
孝宗初元，金主褒新立，求和，而中原舊人多求歸，詔問何以處此，良翰言：「議和，復納降，皆非是。 必定計自治，而和不和，任之乃可。」 張浚軍淮、泗以規進取，而議者爭獻防江策，良翰言：「當固藩籬，專委任。 今舍淮防江，卻地奪便，朝廷過聽，使督府不得專閫外事，誤矣。」 除右正言。
In the first year of Emperor Xiaozong's reign, the new Jin ruler Bao had just ascended and sought peace, while many old subjects of the Central Plains wished to return. An edict asked how to handle this. Lianghan said, "Discussing peace or accepting surrender again—neither is right. We must resolve on self-governance; whether there is peace or not, leave it to fate—that is all that will work." Zhang Jun camped in Huai and Si to plan advances, while debaters competed to offer river-defense strategies. Lianghan said, "We should strengthen the frontier defenses and entrust authority fully. Now to abandon the Huai line to defend the Yangzi—giving up territory and surrendering advantage—because the court listens too readily and will not let the command headquarters manage frontier affairs exclusively, is mistaken." He was appointed right remonstrator.
59
金再移書求故疆，良翰言：「中原皆吾故土，況唐、鄧、海、泗又金渝盟後以兵取之，安得以故疆為言而歸之？」 湯思退主遣小使盧仲賢、李栻，良翰言：「仲賢輕儇無恥，栻自北來難信。」 又言：「廟堂督府論議不同，邊奏上聞，皆陽唯諾而陰沮敗之。 萬一失事機，督府安得獨任其責？」 上矍然稱善。
The Jin again sent letters demanding the old territories. Lianghan said, "The Central Plains are all our old lands. Moreover Tang, Deng, Hai, and Si were taken by the Jin by force after they violated the treaty—how can they speak of old territories and demand their return?" Tang Situi advocated sending minor envoys Lu Zhongxian and Li Shi. Lianghan said, "Zhongxian is frivolous and shameless; Shi, coming from the north, is hard to trust." He also said, "Court and command headquarters disagree in counsel. Border reports sent up are all openly assented to while covertly thwarted and ruined. If by any chance the opportunity is lost, how can the command headquarters alone bear the blame?" The emperor started and praised this.
60
朝廷遣史正志至建康，與張浚議事乖牾，良翰劾之，上曰：「正志亦無罪。」 良翰言：「陛下使浚守淮，則任浚為重，一郎官為輕，且正志居中，浚必為去就。」 上悟，出正志為福建漕運。 楊存中為御營使，總殿前軍，良翰言：「存中久擅兵柄，太上皇罷就第，奈何復假使名？ 宜慎履霜之戒」疏三上，存中竟罷。
The court sent Shi Zhengzhi to Jiankang, where he clashed with Zhang Jun over policy. Lianghan impeached him. The emperor said, "Zhengzhi is also not guilty." Lianghan said, "Your Majesty stationed Jun to hold the Huai line—then Jun's charge is weighty and a single bureau officer's is light. Moreover, with Zhengzhi at the center, Jun will surely consider leaving his post." The emperor understood and sent Zhengzhi out as transport commissioner for Fujian. Yang Cunzhong was imperial camp commissioner, commanding the Palace Front Army. Lianghan said, "Cunzhong long monopolized military power; the Retired Emperor dismissed him to his residence—why restore to him even a nominal post? We should heed the warning of treading on frost." After three memorials, Cunzhong was finally dismissed."
61
李栻不敢涉淮，良翰奏奪其官。 仲賢至汴，輒許金人以疆土、歲幣而還，上大怒，下仲賢吏，欲誅之，宰相叩頭懇請得免。 復遣王之望、龍大淵，良翰言：「前遣使已辱命，大臣不悔前失，不謂秦檜復見今日！ 且金要我罷四郡屯兵以歸之，是不折一兵，而坐收四千里要害之地，決不可許。 若歲幣，則俟得陵寢然後與，庶猶有名。 今議未決而之望遂行，恐其辱國不止于仲賢，願先馳一介往，俟議決，行未晚也。」 詔侍從、臺諫議，多是良翰，遂以胡昉、楊由義為審議官，與敵議四郡不合，困辱而歸。
Li Shi dared not cross the Huai; Lianghan memorialized to strip him of office. Zhongxian reached Bian and promptly promised the Jin territory and annual tribute, then returned. The emperor was furious, had Zhongxian handed over to the judicial authorities, and wished to execute him. The chief minister kowtowed and earnestly pleaded until execution was spared. The court again sent Wang Zhiwang and Long Dayuan. Lianghan said, "The previous envoys already disgraced their mission, yet the grand ministers do not repent their earlier failure—I never thought to see Qin Hui alive again today! Moreover the Jin demand that we withdraw garrisons from four prefectures and return them—this is to take four thousand li of strategic land without breaking a single spear. It absolutely must not be granted. As for annual tribute, wait until we recover the imperial tombs before paying—then at least there would be some justification. The court has not yet settled its deliberations, yet Zhiwang is already on his way—I fear he will disgrace the state no less than Zhongxian did. I beg that we first send a single envoy ahead; once the deliberation is decided, it will not be too late to depart." The emperor ordered the attendant officials and censorate-remonstrance officials to deliberate; most sided with Lianghan. Hu Fang and Yang Youyi were then appointed review commissioners, but they could not reach agreement with the enemy over the four prefectures and returned in humiliation.
62
思退尚執前論，正言尹穡附思退以撼督府。 良翰為左司諫，疏論：「思退姦邪誤國，宜早罷黜，張浚精忠老謀，不宜以小人言搖之。」 孝宗曰：「思退前議固失，然朕愛其警敏，冀可效，卿其置之。 若魏公則今日孰出其右，朕豈容有此意？ 縱有之，亦豈不謀卿等？ 此殆言者有異意，卿為朕諭之。」 良翰頓首謝曰：「陛下言及此，天下幸甚。 宰相縱無全才，寧取樸實，緩急猶可倚賴。 思退庸狡，小黠大癡，將誤國，且「警敏」二字，恐非明主卜相之法。」 既退，以上語諭同列，穡勃然變色，明日亦請對，遂罷良翰言職。
Situi still clung to his earlier view, and Zhengyan Yin Ji attached himself to Situi in order to undermine the command headquarters. As left remonstrance office censor, Lianghan submitted a memorial arguing that Situi was treacherous and wicked and was misleading the state and ought to be dismissed at once, and that Zhang Jun, loyal in spirit and seasoned in counsel, ought not be undermined by petty men's words." Emperor Xiaozong said, "Situi's earlier counsel was indeed mistaken, yet I value his quick alertness and hope he may yet prove useful. Let the matter rest. As for the Duke of Wei, who today surpasses him? How could I harbor such an intent? Even if I did, would I not consult you first? This likely means the speaker has ulterior motives—you should explain that to him on my behalf." Lianghan kowtowed and said in thanks, "Your Majesty speaks of this—the realm is greatly fortunate. Even if a chief minister lacks every talent, it is better to choose plain sincerity—in times of urgency one can still rely on him. Situi is mediocre and cunning—clever in small matters but foolish in great ones—and will mislead the state. Moreover, the words "alert quickness" are scarcely how a wise ruler should choose his ministers." After he withdrew, he relayed the emperor's words to his colleagues; Ji flushed with anger. The next day Ji too requested an audience, and Lianghan was dismissed from his remonstrance duties.
63
兩淮既撤備，金大入，孝宗始深悔。 太學生數百人伏闕，乞召用良翰、胡銓、王十朋而斬思退等，思退由是始敗。
Once defenses in the two Huai regions had been withdrawn, the Jin invaded on a large scale, and Xiaozong came to deeply regret it. Several hundred Imperial Academy students prostrated themselves at the palace gate, begging that Lianghan, Hu Quan, and Wang Shipeng be recalled and Situi and his allies be executed. From this Situi's fortunes began to fail.
64
良翰在諫省，成恭皇后受冊，官內外親屬二十五人，良翰論其冗，詔減七人。 知建寧府、福建轉運副使，提點江東刑獄，移浙西，召為宗正少卿、兵部侍郎，除右諫議大夫。 良翰言：「以蜀漢之師下關陝，以荊、襄、韓、魏，江、淮搗青、徐，此今日大計。 四川既命大臣，而荊、淮未有任責者，亦當擇重臣臨之。」 上稱善。
While Lianghan served in the remonstrance offices, Empress Chenggong received her investiture and twenty-five relatives inside and outside the clan were granted office. Lianghan argued the appointments were excessive, and an edict reduced them by seven. He served as prefect of Jianning and vice transport commissioner of Fujian, as judicial intendant of Jiangdong, then transferred to western Zhejiang; he was summoned as vice director of the Imperial Clan Court and vice minister of war, and appointed right remonstrance and discussion grandee. Lianghan said, "Send the armies of Shu and Han down on Guanzhong, deploy forces through Jing, Xiang, Han, and Wei, and strike Qing and Xu from the Jiang and Huai—this is the great strategy of the day. Since a grand minister has already been assigned to Sichuan, yet no one has been charged with Jing and Huai, a weighty minister should likewise be chosen to take command there." The emperor approved.
65
進給事中。 大將成閔冒請真奉，有司坐獲譴，閤門王抃矯詔遣妄人謝顯出境，顯既抵罪，置閔與抃不問，良翰皆駁議，請正典刑。 遂改禮部侍郎，不拜，以敷文閣待制提舉江州太平興國宮。
He was promoted to supervising censor. Grand General Cheng Min presumptuously requested real stipends, and the responsible officials were punished accordingly. Gatekeeper Wang Bian forged an edict that sent a reckless man, Xie Xian, across the border. After Xian was convicted, Min and Bian were left unpunished. Lianghan rejected both decisions and called for proper legal punishment. He was reassigned as vice minister of rites but declined the appointment and instead served as drafting academician of the Fuwen Pavilion, directing the Taiping Xingguo Palace in Jiangzhou.
66
召為太子詹事，既見，上屬以調護之責。 一日，召對選德殿，出手書唐太宗與魏征論仁德功利之說，俾極陳今日所未至者。 良翰退，上疏，略曰：「仁德治之本，功利治之效，務本而效自至。 今承天意，結民心，任賢能，退小人，擇將帥，收軍情，擇監司，吏久任，皆行之有未至，誠能革此八弊，則仁德無累，功利自致矣。」 上為之嘉歎，詔兼侍講。
He was summoned to serve as grand mentor of the heir apparent; after audience, the emperor entrusted him with the duty of nurturing and protecting the heir. One day he was summoned to audience in the Xuande Hall. The emperor produced in his own hand Taizong of Tang's exchange with Wei Zheng on benevolence, virtue, utility, and merit, and ordered him to set forth fully where the court had still fallen short. Lianghan withdrew and submitted a memorial saying, in summary, "Benevolence and virtue are the root of governance; utility and merit are its effects. Attend to the root and the effects will follow of themselves. Receiving Heaven's mandate, winning the people's hearts, appointing the worthy and able, dismissing petty men, choosing generals and commanders, restoring military morale, selecting surveillance commissioners, and granting officials long tenure—in all of these the court still falls short. If these eight defects can truly be reformed, benevolence and virtue will be unburdened and utility and merit will follow of themselves." The emperor praised it warmly and ordered him to serve concurrently as court lecturer.
67
未幾，以疾告老，除敷文閣直學士、提舉太平宮。 卒，年六十五。 光宗立，特諡「獻肅」。
Before long he reported illness and requested retirement; he was granted direct academician of the Fuwen Pavilion and assigned to direct the Taiping Palace. He died at the age of sixty-five. When Emperor Guangzong ascended the throne, he was specially granted the posthumous title Xiansu.
68
杜莘老
Du Shenlao
69
杜莘老，字起莘，眉州青神人，唐工部甫十三世孫也。 幼歲時，方禁蘇氏文，獨喜誦習。 紹興間，第進士，以親老不赴廷對，賜同進士出身。 授梁山軍教授，從游者眾。
Du Shenlao, whose style name was Qixin, was a native of Qingshen in Meizhou and a thirteenth-generation descendant of Du Fu of the Tang Ministry of Works. In his youth, when Su Shi's writings were banned, he alone delighted in reciting and studying them. During the Shaoxing reign he passed the jinshi examination, but because his parents were elderly he did not attend the palace examination and was granted jinshi status by special decree. He was appointed instructor at Liangshan Prefecture, and many students came to study under him.
70
秦檜死，魏良臣參大政，莘老疏天下利害以聞。 良臣薦之，主管禮、兵部架閣文字。 彗星見東方，高宗下詔求言，莘老上書，論：「彗，盩氣所生，多為兵兆。 國家為民息兵，而將驕卒惰，軍政不肅。 今因天戒以修人事，思患預防，莫大於此。」 因陳時弊十事。 時應詔者眾，上命擇其議論切當推恩以勸之，後省以莘老為首，進一階，遷敕令刪定官、太常寺主簿，升博士。 輪對，論：「金將敗盟，宜飭邊備，勿恃其不來，恃吾有以待之。」 上稱善再三。
After Qin Hui died and Wei Liangchen entered the highest councils of state, Shenlao submitted a memorial on the benefits and harms facing the realm. Liangchen recommended him, and he was put in charge of archival documents in the ministries of rites and war. A comet appeared in the east; Emperor Gaozong issued an edict seeking remonstrance. Shenlao submitted a letter arguing that comets arise from turbulent qi and often portend warfare. The state has sought to still the arms of war for the people, yet generals are arrogant and soldiers slack, and military administration lacks discipline. To take Heaven's warning as an occasion to rectify human affairs and think ahead to prevent calamity—nothing is more urgent than this." He thereupon set forth ten current abuses. Many responded to the edict at the time; the emperor ordered that those whose arguments were incisive and apt receive favors as encouragement. The secretariat ranked Shenlao first; he was advanced one rank, appointed edict and decree revising officer and vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and promoted to erudite. In a routine audience he argued that the Jin would break the covenant, that border defenses should be strengthened, and that the court should not rely on the enemy's staying away but on its own readiness to meet them." The emperor repeatedly praised it.
71
南渡後，典秩散失，多有司所記省，至凶禮又諱不錄。 顯仁皇后崩，議禮有疑，吏皆拱手，莘老以古義裁定。 大斂前一日，宰相傳旨問含玉之制，莘老曰：「禮院故實所不載，請以《周禮》典瑞鄭玄《注》製之，其可。」 因立具奏，上覽之曰：「真禮官也。」 及虞祭，或謂上哀勞，欲以宰相行事。 莘老曰：「古今無是。」 卒正之。
After the court crossed south, canonical ranks and ritual ordinances were scattered and lost; much survived only in abbreviated records kept by the responsible offices, and ominous rites were deliberately omitted. When Empress Xianren died, doubts arose in deliberating the funeral rites and the officials all stood aside with folded hands. Shenlao settled the matter according to ancient principle. On the day before the great encoffining, the chief minister relayed an order asking about the regulation for placing jade in the mouth. Shenlao said, "The Ritual Office's established precedents do not record this. I request that it be done according to Zheng Xuan's commentary on the Regalia section of the Rites of Zhou—that will suffice." He immediately drafted a full memorial. The emperor read it and said, "A true ritual officer." When it came to the Yu sacrifice, some argued that the emperor, worn with grief, wished to have the chief minister perform the rites. Shenlao said, "There is no such precedent in antiquity or the present." In the end the matter was corrected.
72
遷秘書丞，論江、淮守備，上曰：「卿言及此，憂國深矣。」 擢監察御史。 遷殿中侍御史，入對，上曰：「知卿不畏強禦，故有此授，自是用卿矣。」 陳俊卿既解言職，力求去，莘老因奏事，從容曰：「多事之際，令俊卿輩在論思之地，必有補益。」 上以為然，俊卿乃復留。
He was transferred to secretariat assistant director. Discussing Jiang and Huai defenses, the emperor said, "When you speak of this, your concern for the state runs deep." He was promoted to investigating censor. He was transferred to palace attendant censor. Entering audience, the emperor said, "Knowing that you do not fear the powerful, I make this appointment because of that—from now on I shall employ you." Chen Junqing had already resigned his remonstrance duties and earnestly sought to leave. While reporting on affairs, Shenlao said calmly, "In these troubled times, keeping Junqing and his like in posts of deliberation and reflection would surely be of benefit." The emperor agreed, and Junqing stayed on.
73
金遣使致嫚書，傳欽宗凶問，請淮、漢地，指索大臣。 上決策親征，莘老疏奏贊上，且謂：「敵欺天背盟，當待以不懼，勿以小利鈍為異議所搖，諛言所惰，則人心有恃而士氣振矣。 宜不限早暮，延見大臣、侍從，謀議國事； 申敕侍從、臺諫、監司、守臣，亟舉可用之才。」 又言：「親征有期，而禁衛才五千餘，羸老居半，至不能介胄者，願亟留聖慮。」 事皆施行。
The Jin sent envoys bearing an insulting letter, transmitting news of Emperor Qinzong's death, demanding the Huai and Han territories, and naming specific grand ministers for surrender. The emperor decided on a personal campaign. Shenlao memorialized in support and also argued that the enemy had deceived Heaven and betrayed the covenant and should be met without fear, that the court must not let petty gains dull its resolve or be shaken by dissent or enervated by flattery, and that then the people's hearts would have something to rely on and military morale would rise. The emperor should summon grand ministers and attendants without regard to hour, morning or evening, to deliberate on state affairs; and charge attendants, censorate-remonstrance officials, surveillance commissioners, and prefectural officials to recommend promptly men of usable talent." He also said, "The personal campaign has a set date, yet the Imperial Guard numbers just over five thousand—the weak and aged make up half, including men unable even to don armor. I beg that Your Majesty give this urgent attention." All his recommendations were carried out.
74
帶御器械劉炎筦禁中市易，通北賈，大為姦利。 一日，見莘老，輒及朝政，語狂悖，莘老以聞，斥監嘉州稅。 知樞密院事周麟之初請使金，及嫚書至，聞金將盛兵犯邊，乃大恐，建言不必遣使。 莘老劾麟之：「挾姦罔上，避事辭難，恐懼至於掩泣，眾有『哭殺富鄭公』之誚。」 尋與宮觀。 疏再上，乃責瑞州。
Bearer of imperial arms Liu Yan controlled market exchange within the forbidden city, trafficked with northern merchants, and reaped enormous illicit profit. One day, meeting Shenlao, he promptly spoke of court affairs in reckless and seditious language. Shenlao reported it, and Liu was demoted to supervise taxation in Jiazhou. Bureau of military affairs commissioner Zhou Linzhi had initially volunteered to serve as envoy to the Jin, but when the insulting letter arrived and he heard the Jin would mass troops to violate the border, he was terrified and advised that no envoy need be sent. Shenlao impeached Linzhi, saying he harbored treachery and deceived his sovereign, shirked duty and evaded hardship, and was so terrified he covered his face and wept—the crowd mocked him with the saying, "Crying the Duke of Zheng to death." He was soon given a palace directorship. After Shenlao submitted another memorial, Linzhi was demoted to Ruizhou.
75
幸醫承宣使王繼先怙寵干法，富浮公室，子弟直延閣，居第僭擬，別業、外帑遍畿甸，數十年無敢搖之者，聞邊警，亟輦重寶歸吳興為避敵計。 莘老疏其十罪，上曰：「初以太后餌其藥，稍假恩寵，不謂小人驕橫乃爾。」 莘老曰：「繼先罪擢髮不足數，臣所奏，其大概耳。」 上作色曰：「有恩無威，有賞無罰，雖堯舜不能治天下。」 詔繼先福州居住，子孫皆勒停。 籍其貲以千萬計，詔鬻錢入御前激賞庫，專以賞將士，天下稱快。
Favorite physician commissioner Wang Jixian, relying on imperial favor, violated the law; his wealth overflowed the public coffers; his sons and younger brothers held posts at the Hanlin Academy; his residence usurped princely standards; secondary estates and external treasuries spread throughout the capital region—and for decades none dared move against him. When he heard border alarms, he hurriedly carted heavy treasures back to Wuxing to prepare for flight from the enemy. Shenlao memorialized his ten crimes. The emperor said, "At first, because the empress dowager took his medicines, I extended him some favor—but I never thought a petty man could become so arrogant." Shenlao said, "Jixian's crimes—even counting each hair on his head would not suffice to enumerate them. What I memorialized was only the general outline." The emperor's expression changed and he said, "With favor but no authority, with rewards but no punishments—even Yao and Shun could not govern the realm." An edict ordered Jixian to reside in Fuzhou, and his sons and descendants were all stripped of office. His assets were registered in the tens of millions; an edict ordered the proceeds sold into the imperial front merit-reward treasury to reward officers and soldiers alone, and all under Heaven rejoiced.
76
內侍張去為取御馬院西兵二百髡其頂，都人異之，口語籍籍。 莘老彈治，上疑其未審，不樂。 莘老執奏不已，竟罷去為御馬院，致仕，而莘老亦以直顯謨閣知遂寧府。 給事中金安節、中書舍人劉珙封還制書，改司農少卿，尋請外，仍與遂寧。
Palace attendant Zhang Quwei took two hundred Western soldiers from the Imperial Horse Yard and shaved their heads; the people of the capital thought it strange and gossip spread widely. Shenlao impeached him, but the emperor doubted the matter had not yet been verified and was displeased. Shenlao persisted in memorializing without cease; in the end Quwei was dismissed to the Imperial Horse Yard and retired, while Shenlao too was made direct academician of the Zhixianmoge and appointed prefect of Suining. Supervising censor Jin Anjie and drafting official Liu Yu returned the sealed edicts in protest; Shenlao was reassigned as vice director of the ministry of revenue, and when he soon requested an outside post he was still sent to Suining.
77
始莘老自蜀造朝，不以家行。 高宗聞其清修獨處，甚重之，一日因對，褒諭曰：「聞卿出蜀，即蒲團、紙帳如僧然，難及也。」 未幾，遂擢用。 莘老官中都久，知公論所予奪，姦蠹者皆得其根本脈絡，嘗歎曰：「臺諫當論天下第一事，若有所畏，姑言其次，是欺其心不敬其君者也。」 及任言責，極言無隱，取眾所指目者悉擊去，聲振一時，都人稱骨鯁敢言者必曰杜殿院云。 治郡，課績為諸州最。
From the beginning, when Shenlao came from Shu to court, he traveled without his household. Emperor Gaozong heard of his pure solitary living and greatly valued him. One day during audience he praised him, saying, "I hear that when you left Shu you had only a meditation cushion and paper canopy, like a monk—hard to match." Before long he was promoted and employed. Shenlao served long in the capital and knew what public opinion granted and denied; for wicked parasites he grasped their roots and full extent. He once sighed and said, "The censorate and remonstrance offices should discuss the foremost matter under Heaven. If one has fears and speaks only of secondary matters, that is deceiving one's heart and failing to revere one's lord." When he bore the duty of remonstrance, he spoke openly without concealment, striking down all those the crowd singled out. His reputation shook the age, and when the people of the capital spoke of blunt-spoken men who dared remonstrate, they always said, "Director Du of the censorate, they say." As a prefect, his performance ratings ranked highest among all prefectures.
78
孝宗受禪，莘老進三議，曰：定國是、修內政、養根本。 尋卒，年五十八。
When Xiaozong received the abdication, Shenlao offered three counsels: settle the national purpose, repair internal government, and nurture the foundations. He soon died at the age of fifty-eight.
79
論曰：黃洽渾厚有守，應辰學術精醇，尤稱骨鯁。 十朋、吳芾、良翰、莘老相繼在臺府，歷詆姦幸，直言無隱，皆事上忠而自信篤，足以當大任者，惜不盡其用焉。
The commentator says: Huang Qia was simple and solid with integrity; Yingchen's learning was refined and pure, and he was especially renowned for bluntness. Shipeng, Wu Fei, Lianghan, and Shenlao served in succession in the censorate and remonstrance offices, repeatedly denouncing favored scoundrels and speaking without concealment—all loyal in serving their lords and firm in self-confidence, men fit to bear great responsibility, yet it is lamentable that their capacities were not fully used.