1
史浩，字直翁，明州鄞縣人。 紹興十四年登進士第，調紹興餘姚縣尉，歷溫州教授，郡守張九成器之。 秩滿，除太學正，升國子博士。 因轉對，言：「普安、恩平二王宜擇其一以係天下望。」 高宗頷之。 翌日，語大臣曰：「浩有用才也。」 除秘書省校書郎兼二王府教授。 三十年，普安郡王為皇子，進封建王，除浩權建王府教授。 詔建王府置直講、贊讀各一員，浩守司封郎官兼直講。 一日講《周禮》，言：「膳夫掌膳羞之事，歲終則會，惟王及后、世子之膳羞不會。 至酒正掌飲酒之事，歲終則會，惟王及后之飲酒不會，世子不與焉。 以是知世子膳羞可以不會，世子飲酒不可以無節也。」 王作而謝曰：「敢不佩斯訓。」
Shi Hao, courtesy name Zhiweng, came from Yin County in Ming Prefecture. In the fourteenth year of the Shaoxing era (1144), he passed the jinshi examination and was assigned as assistant magistrate of Yuyao County in Shaoxing. He later served as professor at Wenzhou, where Prefect Zhang Jiucheng held him in high esteem. When his term ended, he was appointed director of the Imperial University and then promoted to erudite of the National University. During a rotating audience with the emperor, he said, "One of the two princes, Pu'an and Enping, should be chosen to anchor the hopes of the realm." Emperor Gaozong nodded in agreement. The following day he told his senior ministers, "Hao has real talent." He was appointed collator in the Secretariat and concurrently instructor to both princely households. In the thirtieth year (1160), the Prince of Pu'an was made imperial son and promoted to Prince of Jian; Hao was appointed acting instructor to his household. An edict ordered the Prince of Jian's household established with one lecturer and one reader; Hao remained bureau director in the Department of State Affairs and also served as lecturer. One day, lecturing on the Rites of Zhou, he said, "The steward of provisions oversees meals; at year's end accounts are settled—but the king's, the queen's, and the heir apparent's provisions are not counted. As for the director of wine, who oversees drinking, accounts are settled at year's end—except for the king's and queen's wine; the heir apparent is not included. From this one sees that while the heir's meals need not be counted, his drinking may not go unrestrained." The prince rose and thanked him, saying, "I shall heed this instruction."
2
三十一年，遷宗正少卿。 會金主亮犯邊，下詔親征。 時兩淮失守，廷臣爭陳退避計，建王抗疏請率師為前驅。 浩為王力言：「太子不可將兵，以晉申生、唐肅宗靈武之事為戒。」 王大感悟，立俾浩草奏，請扈蹕以供子職，辭意懇到。 高宗方怒，覽奏意頓釋，知奏出於浩，語大臣曰：「真王府官也。」 既而殿中侍御史吳芾乞以皇子為元帥，先視師。 浩復遺大臣書，言：「建王生深宮中，未嘗與諸將接，安能辦此。」 或謂使王居守，浩復以為不可。 上亦欲令王遍識諸將，遂扈蹕如建康。
In the thirty-first year (1161), he was transferred to vice director of the Imperial Clan Court. When the Jin emperor Haiming invaded the frontier, an edict ordered the emperor to take the field in person. With both Huai regions lost, court officials competed in urging retreat, but the Prince of Jian submitted a bold memorial asking to lead the army as vanguard. Hao spoke emphatically to the prince: "A crown prince must not command troops—remember Shensheng of Jin and Tang Suzong at Lingwu." Deeply moved, the prince had Hao draft a memorial at once, asking to accompany the emperor in filial service; its language was earnest and sincere. Gaozong had been angry, but reading the memorial his mood softened at once. When he learned Hao had drafted it, he told his ministers, "That is a true servant of the prince's household." Soon afterward, Palace Censor Wu Bi asked that the prince be made commander-in-chief and sent ahead to inspect the troops. Hao again wrote to the senior ministers, saying, "The Prince of Jian was raised in the inner palace and has never worked with the generals—how could he handle such a task?" When some proposed leaving the prince behind to guard the capital, Hao again objected. The emperor also wanted the prince to meet the generals in person, so he accompanied the imperial retinue to Jiankang.
3
三十二年，上還臨安，立建王為皇太子，浩除起居郎兼太子右庶子。 孝宗受禪，遂以中書舍人遷翰林學士、知制誥。 張浚宣撫江、淮，將圖恢復，浩與之異議，欲城瓜洲、采石。 浚奏：「不守兩淮而守江，不若城泗州。」 除參知政事。 有詔議應敵定論，洪遵、金安節、唐文若等相繼論列，宰執獨無奏。 上以問浩，浩奏：「先為備禦，是謂良規。 儻聽淺謀之士，興不教之師，寇去則論賞以邀功，寇至則斂兵而遁跡，謂之恢復得乎？」 薦樞密院編修官陸游、尹穡，召對，並賜出身。 隆興元年，拜尚書右僕射，首言趙鼎、李光之無罪，岳飛之久冤，宜復其官爵，祿其子孫。 悉從之。
In the thirty-second year (1162), the emperor returned to Lin'an, made the Prince of Jian crown prince, and appointed Hao diarist and right vice tutor to the crown prince. When Emperor Xiaozong took the throne, Hao rose from drafter in the Secretariat to Hanlin academician and controller of edicts. Zhang Jun, pacification commissioner for the Jiang and Huai regions, planned to recover lost territory, but Hao disagreed and favored fortifying Guazhou and Caishi instead. Zhang Jun memorialized, "If we abandon the two Huai regions and defend only the Yangzi, we would do better to fortify Sizhou." Hao was appointed vice grand councilor. An edict called for debate on a settled policy against the enemy. Hong Zun, Jin Anjie, Tang Wenruo, and others submitted opinions in turn, but the chief ministers offered none. The emperor asked Hao, who replied, "Preparing defenses first is the sound policy. If we heed shallow schemers, raise an untrained army, hand out rewards when the enemy withdraws, and hide our troops when they return—can that be called recovery?" He recommended Lu You and Yin Ji, compilers at the Bureau of Military Affairs; both were summoned for audience and granted official status. In the first year of Longxing (1163), he was appointed right vice director of the Department of State Affairs and first argued that Zhao Ding and Li Guang were innocent and that Yue Fei had long been wronged; their ranks should be restored and their descendants given stipends. The emperor approved all of this.
4
李顯忠、邵宏淵奏乞引兵進取，浩奏：「二將輒乞戰，豈督府命令有不行耶？」 浚請入覲，乞即日降詔幸建康，上以問浩，浩陳三說不可，退，又以詰浚曰：「帝王之兵，當出萬全，豈可嘗試以圖僥倖。」 復辨論於殿上，浚曰：「中原久陷，今不取，豪傑必起而收之。」 浩曰：「中原決無豪傑，若有之，何不起而亡金？」 浚曰：「彼民間無寸鐵，不能自起，待我兵至為內應。」 浩曰：「勝、廣以鉏櫌棘矜亡秦，必待我兵，非豪傑矣。」 浚因內引奏：「浩意不可回，恐失幾會，乞出英斷。」 省中忽得宏淵出兵狀，始知不由三省，徑檄諸將。 浩語陳康伯曰：「吾屬俱兼右府，而出兵不與聞，焉用相哉！ 不去尚何待乎？」 因又言：「康伯欲納歸正人，臣恐他日必為陛下子孫憂。 浚銳意用兵，若一失之後，恐陛下終不得復望中原。」 御史王十朋論之，出知紹興。
Li Xianzhong and Shao Hongyuan memorialized asking to lead troops forward. Hao replied, "These two generals are begging to fight on their own—are the pacification headquarters' orders no longer obeyed?" Zhang Jun requested an audience and asked that an edict be issued at once for the emperor to visit Jiankang. The emperor consulted Hao, who gave three reasons against it. After retiring, he pressed Zhang Jun: "An emperor's army must be deployed with complete safety—how can we gamble on a lucky strike?" They debated again in court. Zhang Jun said, "The Central Plains have been lost for years; if we do not recover them now, local heroes will rise and take them." Hao said, "There are no such heroes in the Central Plains—if there were, why have they not risen and overthrown the Jin?" Zhang Jun said, "The people there are unarmed and cannot rise on their own; they are waiting for our army to arrive and act as allies within." Hao said, "Chen Sheng and Wu Guang overthrew Qin with hoes and thorn branches—if heroes had to wait for our army, they would not be heroes at all." Zhang Jun then submitted privately, "Hao's mind cannot be changed; I fear we will miss our chance. I beg Your Majesty to decide resolutely." The Secretariat suddenly received Hongyuan's troop deployment report and learned that orders had bypassed the Three Departments and gone straight to the generals. Hao said to Chen Kangbo, "We all serve concurrently in the right office, yet we were not told about troop deployment—what use are we as councilors? If we do not resign, what are we waiting for?" He added, "Kangbo wants to accept defectors from Jin; I fear that will one day trouble Your Majesty's descendants. Zhang Jun is set on war; after one defeat, I fear Your Majesty will never again be able to hope for the Central Plains." Censor Wang Shipeng impeached him, and Hao was sent out to serve as prefect of Shaoxing.
5
先是，浩因城瓜洲，白遣太府丞史正志往視之，正志與浚論辯。 十朋亦疏史正志朋比，並及浩，遂與祠，自是不召者十三年。 起知紹興府、浙東安撫使。 持母喪歸，服闋，知福州。
Earlier, as Hao was fortifying Guazhou, he reported this and sent Palace Storehouse Vice Director Shi Zhengzhi to inspect the work; Zhengzhi debated the matter with Zhang Jun. Wang Shipeng also memorialized that Shi Zhengzhi was forming factions and implicated Hao as well. Hao was given a stipendary post and was not summoned again for thirteen years. He was recalled to serve as prefect of Shaoxing and pacification commissioner of Eastern Zhe. He returned home to mourn his mother; when the mourning period ended, he was appointed prefect of Fuzhou.
6
淳熙初，上問執政：「久不見史浩，無他否？」 遂除少保、觀文殿大學士、醴泉觀使兼侍讀。 五年，復為右丞相。 上曰：「自葉衡罷，虛席以待卿久矣。」 浩奏：「蒙恩再相，唯盡公道，庶無朋黨之弊。」 上曰：「宰相豈當有黨，人主亦不當以朋黨名臣下。 朕但取賢者用之，否則去之。」
Early in the Chunxi era, the emperor asked the chief ministers, "I have not seen Shi Hao in a long time—is there any other reason?" He was then appointed junior guardian, grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature, commissioner of the Liquan Abbey, and concurrently imperial reader. In the fifth year (1178), he again became right chief councilor. The emperor said, "Since Ye Heng was dismissed, this seat has been kept open for you a long time." Hao replied, "Having received the grace to serve again as councilor, I will devote myself solely to public fairness, so that factionalism may be avoided." The emperor said, "Should a chief councilor have a faction? A ruler should not label his ministers as faction members. I simply employ the worthy; if they are not worthy, I remove them."
7
樞密都承旨王抃建議以殿、步二司軍多虛額，請各募三千人充之。 已而殿前司輒捕市人，京城騷動，被掠者多斷指，示不可用。 軍人怙眾，因奪民財。 浩奏：「盡釋所捕，而禽軍民首喧呶者送獄。」 獄成議罪，欲取兵民各一人梟首以徇。 浩曰：「諸軍掠人奪貨至於哄，則始釁者軍人也，軍法從事固當。 若市人陸慶童特與抗鬥爾，可同罰乎？ 陛下恐軍人有語，故一其罪以安之。 夫民不得其平，言亦可畏，'等死，死國可乎？ '是豈軍人語。」 上怒曰：「是比朕為秦二世也。」 浩徐進曰：「自古民怨其上者多矣，『時日曷喪，予及汝偕亡』，豈二世事。」 尋求去，拜少傅、保寧軍節度使，充醴泉觀使兼侍讀。 後有言慶童之冤者，上曰：「史浩嘗力爭，坐此求去，至今悔之。」
Wang Bian, chief receptionist at the Bureau of Military Affairs, proposed that the Palace and Infantry Commands had many phantom rolls on their registers and asked to recruit three thousand men for each command to fill them. Soon afterward the Palace Command began seizing townspeople at will. The capital was thrown into turmoil, and many of those seized cut off their fingers to show they were unfit for service. The soldiers, relying on their numbers, seized civilians' property. Hao memorialized, "Release all those seized, and arrest the leading soldiers and civilians who stirred up the uproar and send them to prison." When the case was concluded and punishment was debated, officials proposed executing one soldier and one civilian by decapitation as a warning. Hao said, "When the troops plundered people and seized goods until a riot broke out, the soldiers started the trouble; military law should indeed be applied to them. But the townsman Lu Qingtong merely fought back in resistance—can he be punished the same way? Your Majesty fears the soldiers will complain, so you are equalizing their crimes to pacify them. When the people cannot obtain justice, their words are also to be feared: 'Since death is the same either way, shall we die for the state?' Is that the speech of soldiers?" The emperor angrily said, "You are comparing me to Qin Er Shi." Hao replied calmly, "From antiquity many rulers have faced popular resentment; 'The day is come—let us perish together with you'—was that only a matter of the second Qin emperor?" Soon afterward he asked to leave office and was appointed junior tutor, military commissioner of the Baoning Army, and commissioner of the Liquan Abbey, concurrently imperial reader. Later, when someone spoke of Qingtong's injustice, the emperor said, "Shi Hao once argued forcefully on this and resigned because of it—I regret that to this day."
8
趙雄嘗薦劉光祖試館職，光祖答策，論科場取士之道，進入，上親批其後，略曰：「用人之弊，人君乏知人之哲，宰相不能擇人。 國朝以來，過於忠厚，宰相而誤國，大將而敗軍，未嘗誅戮。 要在人君必審擇相，相必當為官擇人，懋賞立乎前，誅戮設乎後，人才不出，吾不信也。」 手詔既出，中外大聳。 議者謂曾覿視草，為光祖甲科發也。 上遣覿持示浩，浩奏：「唐、虞之世，四凶極惡，止於流竄，三考之法，不過黜陟，未嘗有誅戮之科。 誅戮大臣，秦、漢法也。 太祖制治以仁，待臣下以禮，列聖傳心，迨仁宗而德化隆洽，本朝之治，與三代同風，此祖宗家法也。 聖訓則曰過於忠厚。 夫為國而底于忠厚，豈有所謂過哉？ 臣恐議者以陛下自欲行刻薄之政，歸過祖宗，不可不審也。」
Zhao Xiong once recommended Liu Guangzu for a trial Hanlin post. Guangzu's examination answer discussed how scholars were selected through the civil service examinations. When it was submitted, the emperor personally annotated it, writing in summary, "The flaw in employing men is that the ruler lacks the wisdom to know men and the chief councilor cannot choose them. Since the founding of our dynasty we have been excessively lenient; chief councilors who harmed the state and great generals who lost armies have never been executed. The key is that the ruler must carefully choose his councilor, the councilor must choose the right officials, rich rewards must stand before them and executions behind them—if talent still does not emerge, I do not believe it." Once the handwritten edict was issued, court and country were greatly shaken. Commentators said Zeng Di had drafted the edict to launch Guangzu as a top examination graduate. The emperor sent Di to show it to Hao. Hao memorialized, "In the age of Tang and Yu, the four villains were extremely wicked yet were only banished; the law of three appraisals amounted to no more than demotion and promotion—there was never a category of execution. Executing high ministers is the law of Qin and Han. Taizu governed with benevolence and treated his ministers with ritual propriety; successive emperors transmitted this spirit, and by Emperor Renzong virtue and transformation flourished together. The governance of our dynasty shares the spirit of the Three Dynasties—this is our ancestral house law. The sacred instruction then says we are 'excessively lenient.' For a state to rest upon leniency—how can there be such a thing as excess? I fear commentators will say Your Majesty himself wishes to pursue harsh government and shift the blame onto the ancestors—this must be carefully considered."
9
及自經筵將告歸，乃於小官中薦江、浙之士十五人，有旨令升擢，皆一時選也。 如薛叔似、楊簡、陸九淵、石宗昭、陳謙、葉適、袁燮、趙靜之、張子智，後皆擢用，不至通顯者六人而已。
When he was about to leave the Classics Mat and request retirement, he recommended fifteen scholars from Jiang and Zhe among lower officials; an edict ordered their promotion—all were outstanding men of the day. Men such as Xue Shusi, Yang Jian, Lu Jiuyuan, Shi Zongzhao, Chen Qian, Ye Shi, Yuan Xie, Zhao Jingzhi, and Zhang Zhizhi were later all promoted; only six did not reach high distinction.
10
十年，請老，除太保致仕，封魏國公。 晚治第鄞之西湖上，建閣奉兩朝賜書，又作堂，上為書「明良慶會」名其閣、「舊學」名其堂。 光宗御極，進太師。 紹熙五年薨，年八十九，封會稽郡王。 寧宗登極，賜諡「文惠」，御書「純誠厚德元老之碑」賜焉。 嘉定十四年，追封越王，改諡「忠定」，配享孝宗廟庭。
In the tenth year (1183), he requested retirement on account of age and was appointed grand guardian with permission to retire, enfeoffed as Duke of Wei. In his later years he built a residence on West Lake in Yin, erected a pavilion to house books bestowed by two reigns, and also built a hall; the emperor wrote Bright Ruler and Worthy Minister in Joyful Assembly to name the pavilion and Former Studies to name the hall. When Emperor Guangzong ascended the throne, Hao was promoted to grand preceptor. In the fifth year of Shaoxi (1194) he died at age eighty-nine and was enfeoffed as Prince of Kuaiji Commandery. When Emperor Ningzong ascended the throne, he was granted the posthumous title Cultured and Kind and bestowed an imperial inscription reading Stele for the Elder of Pure Sincerity and Deep Virtue. In the fourteenth year of Jiading (1221), he was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Yue, his posthumous title was changed to Loyal and Settled, and he was granted paired sacrifice in Emperor Xiaozong's temple.
11
浩喜薦人才，嘗擬陳之茂進職與郡，上知之茂嘗毀浩，曰：「卿豈以德報怨耶？」 浩曰：「臣不知有怨，若以為怨而以德報之，是有心也。」 莫濟狀王十朋行事，詆浩尤甚，浩薦濟掌內制，上曰：「濟非議卿者乎？」 浩曰：「臣不敢以私害公。」 遂除中書舍人兼直學士院，待之如初。 蓋其寬厚類此。 子：彌大、彌正、彌遠、彌堅。 彌遠嘉定初為右丞相，有傳。
Hao liked recommending talent. He once proposed promoting Chen Zhimao to office and to a prefecture. The emperor knew Zhimao had once slandered Hao and asked, "Are you repaying injury with virtue?" Hao said, "I know nothing of any injury; if one treats it as injury and repays it with virtue, that is calculation." Mo Ji submitted a report on Wang Shipeng's conduct that criticized Hao especially harshly; Hao recommended Ji to manage inner edicts. The emperor said, "Was not Ji among those who criticized you?" Hao said, "I dare not let private feeling harm the public good." Ji was then appointed drafter in the Secretariat and concurrently director of the Hanlin Academy; Hao treated him as before. His generosity and forbearance were generally of this kind. His sons were Midà, Mizheng, Miyuan, and Mijian. Miyuan became right chief councilor at the beginning of Jiading; he has a separate biography.
12
王淮，字季海，婺州金華人。 幼穎悟，力學屬文。 登紹興十五年進士第，為台州臨海尉。 郡守蕭振一見奇之，許以公輔器。 振帥蜀，辟置幕府。 振出，眾欲留，淮曰：「萬里將母，豈為利祿計。」 皆服其器識，遷校書郎。
Wang Huai, courtesy name Jihai, came from Jinhua in Wu Prefecture. From youth he was quick-witted and perceptive, studied diligently, and was skilled at literary composition. He passed the jinshi examination in the fifteenth year of Shaoxing (1145) and was appointed assistant magistrate of Linhai in Taizhou. Prefect Xiao Zhen was struck by him at first sight and declared him material for chief minister. When Zhen took command of Shu, he recruited Huai into his staff. When Zhen departed, the others wished to keep Huai behind; Huai said, "I am taking my mother a thousand li—how could I be calculating profit and salary?" All admired his capacity and judgment, and he was transferred to collator.
13
高宗命中丞舉可為御史者，朱倬舉淮，除監察御史，尋遷右正言。 首論：「大臣養尊，小臣持祿，以括囊為智，以引去為高。 願陛下正心以正朝廷，正朝廷以正百官。」 宰相湯思退無物望，淮條其罪數十，於是策免。 至於吏部侍郎沈介之欺世盜名，都司方師尹之狡險，大將劉寶掊克結權倖，皆劾罷之。 又奏：「自治之策，治內有三：正心術，寶慈儉，去壅蔽。 治外有四：固封守，選將帥，明賞罰，儲財用。」 上深嘉歎。
Emperor Gaozong ordered the vice censor-in-chief to recommend men fit to serve as censors; Zhu Zhuo recommended Huai, who was appointed investigating censor and soon transferred to right remonstrator. He first argued, "Great ministers cultivate their dignity, petty officials hold their salaries, taking purse-closing as wisdom and withdrawal as elevation. I wish Your Majesty to rectify the heart to rectify the court, and rectify the court to rectify the hundred officials." Chief Councilor Tang Situi had no public esteem; Huai listed several dozen of his crimes, and Situi was then dismissed by imperial rescript. As for Vice Minister of Personnel Shen Jie, who deceived the world and stole reputation; Bureau Director Fang Shiyin, who was crafty and treacherous; and Grand General Liu Bao, who extorted and colluded with favored power-holders—all were impeached and dismissed. He also memorialized, "The policy for self-governance has three points for internal rule: rectify the mind and methods, treasure kindness and frugality, and remove obstruction and concealment. For external rule there are four: strengthen frontier defense, select generals and commanders, clarify rewards and punishments, and store up wealth and resources." The emperor deeply praised and sighed in admiration.
14
除秘書少監兼恭王府直講。 時恭王生子挺，淮白于丞相，曰：「恭王夫人李氏生皇嫡長孫，乞討論典禮。」 錢端禮怒其名稱，奏：「淮有年鈞以長之說。」 上曰：「是何言也，豈不啟邪心？」 出淮知建寧府，改浙西提刑。 入見，陳閩中利病甚悉。 帝褒嘉之，且令一至東宮，皇太子待以師儒，特施拜禮。 尋召，除太常少卿，除中書舍人兼直學士院。 龍大淵贈太師，仍畀儀同三司恩數，張說除太尉、在京宮觀，皆封還詔書。 除翰林學士、知制誥，訓詞深厚，得王言體。 上命擇文學行誼之士，淮薦鄭伯熊、李燾、程叔達，皆擢用。
He was appointed vice director of the Secretariat and concurrently lecturer to the Prince of Gong's household. At that time the Prince of Gong's wife Lady Li gave birth to Ting; Huai reported to the chief councilor, saying, "The Prince of Gong's consort Lady Li has borne the emperor's eldest legitimate grandson; I beg that the proper rites be discussed." Qian Duansli was angered by this title and memorialized, "Huai has the doctrine of using seniority to determine precedence." The emperor said, "What kind of talk is this—does it not open the way to wicked intent?" Huai was sent out to serve as prefect of Jianning and then transferred to judicial commissioner of Western Zhe. On entering audience, he set forth the advantages and ills of Fujian in great detail. The emperor praised and commended him, and also ordered him to visit the Eastern Palace once; the crown prince treated him as teacher and scholar, and a special bowing ceremony was performed. Soon afterward he was recalled, appointed vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and appointed drafter in the Secretariat and concurrently director of the Hanlin Academy. Long Dayuan was posthumously granted grand preceptor and still given the privileges of equal rank with the Three Excellencies; Zhang Yue was appointed grand marshal with a capital stipendary post—all edicts were sealed and returned. He was appointed Hanlin academician and controller of edicts; his instruction edicts were profound and substantial, attaining the style of royal speech. The emperor ordered selection of men of literary learning and moral conduct; Huai recommended Zheng Boxiong, Li Tao, and Cheng Shuda, and all were promoted and employed.
15
淳熙二年，除端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事。 辛棄疾平茶寇，上功太濫。 淮謂：「不核真偽，何以勸有功。」 文州蕃部擾邊，吳挺奏：「庫彥威失利，靖州夷人擾邊。」 楊倓奏：「田淇失利。」 淮謂：「二將戰歿，若罪之，何以勸來者。」 上嘗諭曰：「樞密臨事盡公，人無間言，差除能守法甚善。」 薦軍帥吳拱、郭田、張宣。 除同知樞密院事、參知政事。
In the second year of Chunxi (1175), he was appointed academician of the Hall of Brilliant Governance and deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Xin Qiji pacified the tea bandits, but the reported merit was excessively generous. Huai said, "If truth and falsehood are not verified, how can merit be rewarded?" Tribal groups in Wen Prefecture disturbed the border; Wu Ting memorialized, "Ku Yanwei suffered defeat, and the Yi people of Jing Prefecture are disturbing the border." Yang Tan memorialized, "Tian Qi suffered defeat." Huai said, "These two generals died in battle; if they are punished, how can those who come after be encouraged?" The emperor once told him, "At the Bureau of Military Affairs you handle affairs with complete fairness and no one speaks against you; in appointments you can uphold the law—this is very good." He recommended the military commanders Wu Gong, Guo Tian, and Zhang Xuan. He was appointed associate director of the Bureau of Military Affairs and vice grand councilor.
16
時宰相久虛，淮與李彥穎同行相事。 淮謂：「授官當論賢否，不事形跡。 誠賢，不敢以鄉里故舊廢之； 非才，不敢以己私庇之。」 上稱善。 擢知院事、樞密使。 上言武臣嶽祠之員宜省，淮曰：「有戰功者，壯用其力，老而棄之，可乎？」 趙雄言：「北人歸附者，畀以員外置，宜令詣吏部。」 上曰：「姑仍舊。」 淮曰：「上意即天意也。」 雄又奏言：「宗室嶽祠八百員，宜罷。」 淮曰：「堯親睦九族，在平章百姓之先； 骨肉之恩疏，可乎？」 時辛棄疾平江西寇，王佐平湖南寇，劉焞平廣西寇，淮皆處置得宜，論功惟允。 上深嘉之，謂：「陳康伯雖有人望，處事則不及卿。」
At that time the chief councilor's seat had long been vacant; Huai and Li Yanying jointly performed councilor duties. Huai said, "In granting office one should judge worthiness or unworthiness, not outward appearances. If truly worthy, one dare not dismiss him because of hometown ties or old friendship; if lacking talent, one dare not shield him out of private feeling." The emperor praised this. He was promoted to director of the bureau and commissioner of military affairs. The emperor spoke of reducing the quota of military officials in mountain temple stipendary posts; Huai said, "Those with battle merit used their strength in their prime—when old, to cast them aside, is that acceptable?" Zhao Xiong said, "Northerners who have submitted should be given supernumerary appointments and ought to be ordered to report to the Ministry of Personnel." The emperor said, "For now, keep the old practice." Huai said, "Your Majesty's intent is Heaven's intent." Xiong again memorialized, "There are eight hundred imperial clansmen in mountain temple stipendary posts—they should be abolished." Huai said, "Yao treated the nine clans with kinship and harmony before he brought peace to the common people; to make blood kin distant—is that acceptable?" At that time Xin Qiji pacified the bandits of Jiangxi, Wang Zuo those of Hunan, and Liu Chun those of Guangxi; Huai handled all these appropriately and judged merit fairly. The emperor deeply praised him, saying, "Chen Kangbo may have public esteem, but in handling affairs he does not match you."
17
八年，拜右丞相兼樞密事。 先是，自夏不雨至秋，是日甘雨如注，士大夫相賀，上亦喜命相而雨，乃命口算諸郡絹錢盡蠲一年，為緡八十萬。
In the eighth year (1181), he was appointed right chief councilor and concurrently commissioner of military affairs. Earlier, from summer there had been no rain until autumn; on that day sweet rain poured down. The scholar-officials congratulated one another, and the emperor also rejoiced that rain came with the appointment of a councilor. He then ordered that silk-tax money in all prefectures be remitted for one year, amounting to eight hundred thousand strings of cash.
18
趙雄罷相，蜀士之在朝者皆有去意。 淮謂：「此唐季黨禍之胎也，豈聖世所宜有。」 皆以次進遷，蜀士乃安。 樞密都承旨王抃怙寵為姦，淮極陳其罪，謂：「人主受謗，鮮不由此。」 上即斥之，且曰：「丞相直諒無隱，君臣之間正宜如此。」 章穎論事狂直，上將黜之，淮曰：「陛下樂聞直言，士大夫以言相高，此風可賀也。 黜之適成其名。」 上說，穎復留。
When Zhao Xiong was dismissed as councilor, the Shu scholars at court all had thoughts of leaving. Huai said, "This is the seed of the factional disasters of late Tang—how can a sage age have such a thing?" All were promoted in turn by seniority, and the Shu scholars were then reassured. Wang Bian, chief receptionist at the Bureau of Military Affairs, relied on favor to commit wickedness; Huai fully set forth his crimes, saying, "When a ruler is slandered, rarely is it not because of such men." The emperor immediately dismissed him and also said, "The chief councilor is direct, sincere, and without concealment—between ruler and minister this is exactly as it should be." Zhang Ying discussed affairs with wild bluntness; the emperor was about to dismiss him. Huai said, "Your Majesty delights in hearing straight talk; scholar-officials take speech as their distinction—this custom is to be celebrated. To dismiss him would only make his name." The emperor was pleased, and Ying was kept in office.
19
時以荒政為急，淮言：「李椿老成練達，擬除長沙帥，朱熹學行篤實，擬除浙東提舉，以倡郡國。」 其後推賞，上曰：「朱熹職事留意。」 淮言：「修舉荒政，是行其所學，民被實惠，欲與進職。」 上曰：「與升直徽猷閣。」 成都闕帥，上加訪問，淮以留正對。 上曰：「非閩人乎？」 淮曰：「立賢無方，湯之執中也。 必曰閩有章子厚、呂惠卿，不有曾公亮、蘇頌、蔡襄乎？ 必曰江、浙多名臣，不有丁謂、王欽若乎？」 上稱善。 拜左丞相。
At that time famine relief was urgent; Huai said, "Li Chun is experienced and seasoned—I propose appointing him commander of Changsha; Zhu Xi is solid in learning and conduct—I propose appointing him commissioner of Eastern Zhe to lead the prefectures and commanderies." Later, when merit was being recommended, the emperor said, "Zhu Xi attends carefully to his duties." Huai said, "In carrying out famine relief he is putting his learning into practice; the people have received real benefit—I wish to grant him advancement in rank." The emperor said, "Grant him promotion to the Direct Huayou Pavilion." The Chengdu commander's post was vacant; the emperor further inquired, and Huai answered with Liu Zheng. The emperor said, "Is he not a man of Min?" Huai said, "To establish the worthy without regard to origin—this is Tang's holding to the mean. Must one say that Min has Zhang Zihou and Lü Huiqing, and not Zeng Gongliang, Su Song, and Cai Xiang? Must one say that Jiang and Zhe have many famous ministers, and not Ding Wei and Wang Qinruo?" The emperor praised this. He was appointed left chief councilor.
20
天長水害七十餘家，或謂不必以聞，淮曰：「昔人謂人主不可一日不聞水旱盜賊，《記》曰：『四方有敗，必先知之。』 豈可不以聞？」 鎮江饑民強借菽粟，執政請痛懲之，淮曰：「令甲，饑民罪不至死。」 進士八人求以免舉恩為升等，淮曰：「八人得之，則百人援之。」 龔頤以執政之客補官，求詣銓曹，淮以此門不可啟，絕其請。 嘗言跅弛之士，緩急能出死力，乃以周極知安豐軍，辛棄疾與祠。
At Tianchang, flooding harmed more than seventy households; some said it need not be reported. Huai said, "The ancients said a ruler must not go a single day without hearing of flood, drought, bandits, and thieves. The Record says, 'When there is disaster in the four directions, one must know of it first. How can it not be reported?" In Zhenjiang, starving people forcibly borrowed beans and grain; the chief ministers requested severe punishment. Huai said, "By statute, starving people are not guilty of a capital crime." Eight jinshi degree holders requested exemption from examination favor for rank promotion; Huai said, "If eight obtain it, then a hundred will cite it as precedent." Gong Yi, as a client of the chief ministers, received office by patronage and requested an audience at the Board of Appointments; Huai held that this door must not be opened and rejected his request. He once said that undisciplined men can in urgent need exert themselves unto death; accordingly he appointed Zhou Ji to command Anfeng Army and granted Xin Qiji a stipendary post.
21
上章力求去，以觀文殿大學士判衢州。 淮力辭，改提舉洞霄宮。 光宗嗣位，詔詢初政，淮以盡孝進德，奉天敬民，用人立政，罔不在初。 母亡，居喪如禮。 得疾，忽語家人曰：「《易》卦六十四，吾年亦然。」 淳熙十六年薨。 訃聞，上哀悼，輟視朝，贈少師，諡「文定」。
He submitted memorials repeatedly requesting to leave office and was appointed grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature with jurisdiction over Quzhou. Huai forcefully declined and was changed to commissioner of the Dongxiao Palace. When Emperor Guangzong succeeded to the throne, an edict inquired about initial governance; Huai advised that fulfilling filial piety and advancing virtue, revering Heaven and respecting the people, employing men and establishing policy—all lie in the beginning. When his mother died, he observed mourning according to ritual. When he fell ill, he suddenly told his family, "The Book of Changes has sixty-four hexagrams—my years are likewise." In the sixteenth year of Chunxi (1189) he died. When word of his death arrived, the emperor mourned, suspended court audience, posthumously granted him junior preceptor, and gave the posthumous title Literary and Settled.
22
初，朱熹為浙東提舉，劾知台州唐仲友。 淮素善仲友，不喜熹，乃擢陳賈為監察御史，俾上疏言：「近日道學假名濟偽之弊，請詔痛革之。」 鄭丙為吏部尚書，相與叶力攻道學，熹由此得祠。 其後慶元偽學之禁始於此。
Earlier, when Zhu Xi was commissioner of Eastern Zhe, he impeached Tang Zhongyou, prefect of Taizhou. Huai had long been on good terms with Zhongyou and disliked Xi; he therefore promoted Chen Jia to investigating censor and had him submit a memorial saying, "Recently the Learning of the Way has used its name to cover falsehood—I beg that an edict sternly reform this." Zheng Bing was minister of personnel; together they joined forces to attack the Learning of the Way, and Xi thereby received a stipendary post. Afterward the Qingyuan prohibition against false learning began from this.
23
趙雄，字溫叔，資州人。 為隆興元年類省試第一。 虞允文宣撫四蜀，辟幹辦公事，入相，薦於朝。 乾道五年，召見便殿，孝宗大奇之，即日手詔除正字。
Zhao Xiong, courtesy name Wenshu, came from Zizhou. He ranked first in the classified provincial examination of the first year of Longxing (1163). Yu Yunwen, pacification commissioner of the four Shu regions, recruited him as staff officer; when Yunwen entered the councilorship, he recommended him to court. In the fifth year of Qiandao (1169), he was summoned to audience in the informal hall; Emperor Xiaozong was greatly struck by him and that same day issued a handwritten edict appointing him collator.
24
范成大使金，將行，雄當登對，允文招與之語。 既進見，雄極論恢復。 孝宗大喜曰：「功名與卿共之。」 即除右史，兩月除舍人。 金使耶律子敬賀會慶節，雄館伴。 子敬披露事情不敢隱，邏者以聞。 上夜召雄，雄具以子敬所言對，上喜。 金使入辭，故事當用樂，雄奏：「卜郊有日，天子方齋，樂不可用。」 上難之，遣中使諭雄，雄奏：「金使必不敢不順，即有他，臣得引與就館。」 上大喜。 雄請復置恢復局，日夜講磨，條具合上意，除中書舍人。 自選人入館至此，未滿歲也。
Fan Chengda was envoy to Jin and was about to depart; Xiong was to have an audience; Yunwen summoned him and spoke with him. After entering audience, Xiong argued forcefully for recovery. Emperor Xiaozong was greatly pleased and said, "Merit and fame I shall share with you." He was immediately appointed right diarist, and two months later appointed drafter. The Jin envoy Yelü Zijing came to congratulate the Assembly Celebration Festival; Xiong served as host. Zijing disclosed affairs and dared not conceal them; the patrol officers reported this. The emperor summoned Xiong at night; Xiong fully reported what Zijing had said, and the emperor was pleased. When the Jin envoy came to take leave, by precedent music should be used; Xiong memorialized, "The date for the suburban sacrifice has been chosen and the Son of Heaven is now fasting—music may not be used." The emperor found this difficult; he sent a palace envoy to instruct Xiong. Xiong memorialized, "The Jin envoy surely will not dare disobey; even if there is trouble, I can lead him to the guest lodge." The emperor was greatly pleased. Xiong requested reestablishment of the Recovery Bureau, worked day and night in deliberation, submitted proposals that matched the emperor's intent, and was appointed drafter in the Secretariat. From entering the academy as a selected candidate to this point, not a full year had passed.
25
時金將起河南之役，議盡以諸陵梓宮歸於我。 上命雄出使賀生辰，仍止奉遷陵寢及正受書儀。 雄既見金主，爭辨數四。 其臣屢喝起，雄辭益力，卒得請乃已，金人謂之「龍鬥」。 嘗上疏論恢復計，大略謂：「莫若由蜀以取陝西，得陝西以臨中原，是秦制六國之勢也。」 八年，以母憂去。
At that time the Jin were about to launch a campaign in Henan; it was proposed that all the imperial coffins from the tombs be returned to us. The emperor ordered Xiong to go as envoy to congratulate the birthday and to limit his mission to requesting transfer of the tombs and correcting the protocol for receiving letters. After Xiong had audience with the Jin ruler, he argued back and forth several times. Jin ministers repeatedly shouted for him to rise, but Xiong's words grew only stronger; he finally obtained his request before stopping. The Jin called this a "dragon fight." He once submitted a memorial discussing plans for recovery, saying in summary, "Nothing is better than taking Shaanxi through Shu; with Shaanxi in hand one can overlook the Central Plains—this is the posture of Qin controlling the six states." In the eighth year, he left office on account of mourning for his mother.
26
淳熙二年，召為禮部侍郎，除端明殿學士，簽書樞密院事。 一日奏事，上曰：「今夏蠶麥甚熟、絲米價平可喜。」 雄奏：「孟子論王道始於不饑不寒。」 上曰：「近世士大夫好高論，恥言農事，微有西晉風。 豈知《周禮》與《易》言理財，周公、孔子曷嘗不以理財為務？ 且不獨此，士夫諱言恢復，不知其家有田百畝，內五十畝為人所據，亦投牒理索否？」 雄曰：「陛下志在大有為，敢不布堯言，書之《時政記》。」 十一月，同知樞密院事。 五年三月，參知政事。 十一月，拜右丞相。 每進見，必曰「二帝在沙漠」，未嘗離諸口也。
In the second year of Chunxi (1175), he was recalled as vice minister of rites, appointed academician of the Hall of Brilliant Governance, and deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. One day while reporting on affairs, the emperor said, "This summer the silkworms and wheat ripened well and silk and grain prices are stable—this is cause for joy." Xiong replied, "Mencius said that the kingly way begins with freedom from hunger and cold." The emperor said, "In recent times scholar-officials love lofty discourse and are ashamed to speak of farming—there is a slight whiff of Western Jin. Do they not know that the Rites of Zhou and the Changes speak of managing wealth, and that the Duke of Zhou and Confucius ever took managing wealth as their task? And not this alone—gentlemen avoid speaking of recovery, yet do they not know that if their family had a hundred mu of fields and fifty mu within were seized by others, they would still submit petitions to recover them?" Xiong said, "Your Majesty's ambition is for great achievement—how dare I not spread these words of Yao and record them in the Record of Current Policy?" In the eleventh month, he was appointed associate director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the third month of the fifth year, he was appointed vice grand councilor. In the eleventh month, he was appointed right chief councilor. Whenever he entered audience, he always said "the two emperors are in the desert"—these words never left his lips.
27
朱熹累召不出，雄請處以外郡，命知南康軍。 熹極論時事，上怒，諭雄令分析。 雄奏：「熹狂生，詞窮理短，罪之適成其名。 若天涵地育，置而不問可也。」 會周必大亦力言之，乃止。 紹興帥張津獻羨餘四十萬緡，雄乞降旨下紹興，以其錢為民代輸和買身丁折帛錢之半，使取諸民者，民復得之，足以見聖主之德。
Zhu Xi was repeatedly summoned but would not come out; Xiong requested that he be placed in an outer commandery and was ordered to command Nankang. Xi argued forcefully on current affairs; the emperor was angry and instructed Xiong to analyze and refute him. Xiong memorialized, "Xi is a wild scholar; his words are exhausted and his reasoning weak—to punish him would only make his name. If Heaven covers and Earth nourishes, one may set him aside and not inquire further." At this time Zhou Bida also spoke forcefully on this point, and the matter was dropped. The Shaoxing commander Zhang Jin presented a surplus of four hundred thousand strings of cash; Xiong requested that an edict be sent to Shaoxing to use this money to pay half the commutation tax for corvée and cloth purchase on the people's behalf, so that what had been taken from the people would return to them—enough to show the sage ruler's virtue.
28
自雄獨相，蜀人在朝者僅十數。 及眷衰，有言其私里黨者，上疑之。 已而陳峴為四川制置，王渥為茶馬，命從中出。 雄求去，詔勉留，曰：「丞相任事不避怨，選才無鄉舊。」 蓋有所激也。 祖宗時蜀人未嘗除蜀帥，雄請外，除觀文殿大學士、四川制置使。 王藺為御史，以故事不可，上疏論之。 雄乞免，改知瀘南安撫使。 上思雄不忘，改知江陵府。 江陵無險可恃，雄請城江陵，城成，民不告擾。
Since Xiong served alone as councilor, Shu men at court numbered only a dozen or so. When imperial favor waned, some spoke of his private favoritism toward his clique, and the emperor grew suspicious. Soon after, Chen Xian was made Sichuan commissioner and Wang Wo tea-and-horse commissioner; the appointments came directly from the center. Xiong requested to leave; an edict urged him to stay, saying, "The chief councilor handles affairs without avoiding resentment and selects talent without regard to hometown ties." This was evidently meant as a rebuke. In the time of the ancestors, Shu men were never appointed Shu commanders; Xiong requested an outside post and was appointed grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and Sichuan commissioner. Wang Lin served as censor and, citing precedent that this was impermissible, submitted a memorial arguing against it. Xiong requested exemption and was changed to pacification commissioner of Luzhou. The emperor, remembering Xiong fondly, changed his appointment to prefect of Jiangling. Jiangling had no natural defenses to rely on; Xiong requested fortification of Jiangling. When the walls were completed, the people reported no disturbance.
29
張栻再被召，論恢復固當，第其計非是，即奏疏。 孝宗大喜，翌日以疏宣示，且手詔云：「恢復當如栻所陳方是。」 即除侍講，云：「且得直宿時與卿論事。」 虞允文與雄之徒不樂，遂沮抑之。 廣西橫山買馬，諸蠻感悅，爭以善馬至。 上知栻治行，甚向栻，眾皆忌嫉。 洎栻復出荊南，雄事事沮之。 時司天奏相星在楚地，上曰：「張栻當之。」 人愈忌之。
Zhang Shi was again summoned; he argued that recovery was certainly right but that the plan was wrong, and immediately submitted a memorial. Emperor Xiaozong was greatly pleased; the next day he displayed the memorial and also issued a handwritten edict saying, "Recovery should follow exactly what Shi has set forth." He was immediately appointed lecturer and said, "When you are on overnight duty, I can discuss affairs with you." Yu Yunwen and Xiong's faction were displeased and therefore obstructed and suppressed him. At Hengshan in Guangxi horses were purchased; the various tribes were moved and pleased and competed to bring good horses. The emperor knew Shi's governance and conduct and greatly favored him; all were jealous. When Shi again went out to Jingnan, Xiong obstructed him at every turn. At that time the Directorate of Astronomy reported that the minister star was in Chu territory; the emperor said, "Zhang Shi corresponds to it." People grew even more jealous of him.
30
權邦彥
Quan Bangyan
31
權邦彥，字朝美，河間人。 登崇寧四年太學上舍第，調滄州教授，入為太學博士，改宣教郎，除國子司業。 宣和二年，使遼。 明年，抗表請帝臨雍。 為學官積十餘年，改都官郎中、直秘閣、知易州，移相州，復召為都官郎中。 與王黼議不合，鐫職，知冀州。
Quan Bangyan, courtesy name Chaomei, came from Hejian. He passed the upper dormitory examination in the fourth year of Chongning (1105), was assigned as professor at Cang Prefecture, entered service as erudite of the Imperial University, was changed to Instructor, and was appointed vice director of the National University. In the second year of Xuanhe (1120), he was envoy to Liao. The next year, he submitted a bold memorial requesting the emperor to visit the Imperial Academy. He served as an academic official for more than ten years, was changed to bureau director in the Department of Justice, appointed to the Secretariat Pavilion, and made prefect of Yi Prefecture; was transferred to Xiang Prefecture and again recalled as bureau director in the Department of Justice. He disagreed with Wang Fu in counsel, was demoted in rank, and served as prefect of Ji Prefecture.
32
金人再入，高宗開大元帥府，起兩河兵衛汴京，邦彥提所部兵二千五百人，與宗澤自澶淵趨韋城，據刀馬河，諸道兵莫有進者。 會敵兵大至，移屯南華。 二帝北遷，邦彥與澤五表勸進。
When the Jin entered again, Gaozong opened the grand marshal's headquarters and raised troops from the two He regions to defend Bianjing; Bangyan led his command of twenty-five hundred men and with Zong Ze hurried from Chanyuan toward Weicheng, holding the Daoma River, while troops from the various routes did not advance. When enemy troops arrived in force, they shifted camp to Nanhua. When the two emperors were moved north, Bangyan and Ze submitted five memorials urging Gaozong to ascend the throne.
33
建炎元年五月，召還，命知荊南府，改東平府。 時東州半已入金，至是圍益急，邦顏誓以死守，居數月城破，猶力戰不已。 民義而從之，突圍以出，遂奔行在。 有司議失守罪，將重坐之，帝以其父母妻子皆沒于敵，才貶二秩。 俄除寶文閣直學士兼知江州、本路制置使。 既抵鎮，三年冬，聞父死，乃解官。
In the fifth month of the first year of Jianyan (1127), he was recalled and ordered to serve as prefect of Jingnan, then changed to Dongping Prefecture. At that time half of the eastern prefectures had fallen to Jin; by then the siege grew ever tighter. Bangyan vowed to defend to the death; after several months the city fell, yet he still fought without cease. The people, moved by righteousness, followed him; breaking out of encirclement they escaped and then fled to the temporary capital. The responsible officials debated the crime of losing the city and were about to punish him severely; the emperor, because his parents, wife, and children had all been lost to the enemy, demoted him only two ranks. Soon after he was appointed academician of the Hall of Precious Culture and concurrently prefect of Jiang Prefecture and commissioner of that circuit. After reaching his post, in the winter of the third year he heard of his father's death and then resigned office.
34
四年，起復，知建康府，辭，不許。 劇盜張琪殘徽州，邦彥遣裨將平之。 改江淮等路制置發運使，以治辦稱。 言者論：「三年天下之通喪，後世有從權奪服者，所以徇國家之急。 比年如權邦彥、姜仲謙，至幕職亦起復，幾習宣、政之風，望革其弊，以明人倫、厚風俗。」 詔邦彥任軍賦，宜如舊，餘悉罷之。
In the fourth year, he was recalled from mourning, appointed prefect of Jiankang, declined, and was not permitted. The fierce bandit Zhang Qi ravaged Hu Prefecture; Bangyan sent a deputy general to pacify him. He was changed to commissioner of transport for the Jiang-Huai and other circuits and was known for effective administration. Critics argued, "Three years is the universal mourning period for the empire; later ages have those who shorten mourning by special dispensation in order to meet the state's urgent needs. In recent years such men as Quan Bangyan and Jiang Zhongqian, even at staff posts, have been recalled from mourning—almost the custom of the Xuanhe and Zhenghe eras. I hope this evil may be reformed to clarify human relations and strengthen custom." An edict ordered that Bangyan's duties in military supplies should continue as before; all other recalled-from-mourning appointments were abolished.
35
紹興元年，召為兵部尚書兼侍讀。 二年，除端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事。 初，邦彥獻十議以圖中興，大略謂：
In the first year of Shaoxing (1131), he was recalled as minister of war and concurrently imperial reader. In the second year (1132), he was appointed academician of the Hall of Brilliant Governance and deputy director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Earlier, Bangyan submitted ten proposals for national revival, saying in summary:
36
「宜以天下為度，進圖洪業，恢復士宇，勿苟安于東南。 駕御諸將，當威之以法，而限之以爵。 命讀講之臣，取累朝訓典及三代、漢、唐中興故事，日陳於前，以裨聖學。 又監觀傷善妨賢之讒，偷安苟容之佞，市恩立威之姦，懷諼罔上之欺，聽其言，察其事，則忠邪判。 愛民先愛其力，寬民先節其用。 朘己奉以佐國，當自執政始。 分閫而屬大事，類非偏裨之所能為，必得賢臣大將然後可。 制置一官可省，宜令沿江州縣各備境內，總以漕帥，上自荊、鄂、江、池，下至采石、京口，委任得人，乃防秋上策。 宗室中豈無傑然有人望，可以濟艱難、贊密勿、留宿衛者，願求其人置諸左右。 人事盡則天悔禍，不可獨歸之數。」
"One should measure by the empire, advance great enterprise, recover territory, and not be content with ease in the southeast. In commanding the generals, one should awe them with law and limit them with rank. Order the reading and lecturing officials to take the instruction codes of successive reigns and the stories of revival from the Three Dynasties, Han, and Tang and present them daily before the throne to aid the sage learning. Also watch for slander that harms the good and obstructs the worthy, flattery that seeks ease and tolerates wrong, wickedness that trades favor for intimidation, and deceit that harbors resentment and misleads superiors—hear their words, examine their deeds, and loyalty and treachery will be distinguished. To love the people, first love their strength; to be lenient to the people, first economize their expenditures. To reduce oneself and serve to assist the state should begin with the chief ministers. To divide command and entrust great affairs is generally not what subordinate officers can do—one must have worthy ministers and great generals before it can be done. The post of commissioner may be abolished; the Yangzi-bank prefectures and counties should each prepare within their borders, all under the transport commanders—from Jing, E, Jiang, and Chi above down to Caishi and Jingkou below. Entrusting the right men is the best strategy for autumn defense. Among the imperial clan there must be outstanding men of public esteem who can meet hardship, assist in secret counsel, and remain on night guard—I wish to seek such men and place them at Your Majesty's side. When human effort is exhausted, Heaven will regret disaster—it cannot be ascribed to fate alone."
37
呂頤浩素善邦彥，薦用之。 給事中程瑀劾邦彥五罪，三疏不報。 邦彥在樞密，又言：「宜乘機者三，譬奕之爭先，安可隨應隨解，不制人而制於人哉？」 尋兼權參知政事。 帝嘗對輔臣言湖南事，頤浩言：「李綱縱暴，恐治潭無善狀。」 帝曰：「綱在宣和間論水災，以得時望。」 邦彥曰：「綱元無章疏，第略虛名耳。」 蓋助頤浩以排綱也。 三年，卒。
Lü Yihao had long been on good terms with Bangyan and recommended him for employment. The supervisory attendant Cheng Yu impeached Bangyan on five crimes; three memorials received no response. While Bangyan was at the Bureau of Military Affairs, he also said, "There are three occasions one should seize; like competing for precedence in weiqi, how can one respond and release as one goes, not controlling others but being controlled by them?" Soon after he concurrently served as acting vice grand councilor. The emperor once spoke to his chief ministers about Hunan affairs; Yihao said, "Li Gang is violent and unrestrained—I fear his governance of Tan will show no good record." The emperor said, "Gang, during the Xuanhe era, discussed flood disasters and thereby gained timely reputation." Bangyan said, "Gang originally had no memorial at all—it was merely empty reputation." This was to assist Yihao in excluding Gang. In the third year, he died.
38
邦彥與政幾一年，碌碌無所建明，充位而已。 無子，以侄嗣衍為後。 有遺稿十卷，號《瀛海殘編》，藏於家。
Bangyan participated in government for nearly a year, accomplishing nothing notable—he merely filled the seat. He had no son and took his nephew Siyan as heir. He left ten juan of draft writings, titled Remnant Compilation from the Eastern Sea, kept in the family.
39
程松，字冬老，池州青陽人。 登進士第，調湖州長興尉。 章森、吳曦使北，松為傔從。 慶元中，韓侂胄用事，曦為殿帥。 時松知錢塘縣，諂事曦以結侂胄。 侂胄以小故出愛姬，松聞，以百千市之，至則盛供帳，舍諸中堂，夫婦奉之謹。 居無何，侂胄意解，復召姬，姬具言松謹待之意，侂胄大喜，除松幹辦行在諸軍審計司、守太府寺丞。 未閱旬，遷監察御史，擢右正言、諫議大夫。
Cheng Song, courtesy name Donglao, came from Qingyang in Chi Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination and was assigned as assistant magistrate of Changxing in Huzhou. When Zhang Sen and Wu Xi were envoys to the north, Song served as attendant. During the Qingyuan era, Han Tuozhou held power and Xi was commander of the Palace Command. At that time Song was magistrate of Qiantang County and flattered Xi to attach himself to Tuozhou. Tuozhou dismissed a favorite concubine over a small matter; Song heard of this and bought her for a hundred thousand cash. When she arrived he set out lavish furnishings, lodged her in the central hall, and he and his wife served her with care. Before long Tuozhou's anger eased and he recalled the concubine; she fully reported Song's careful treatment, and Tuozhou was greatly pleased. Song was appointed staff officer of the Capital Armies Audit Office and acting vice director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. In less than ten days he was transferred to investigating censor and promoted to right remonstrator and remonstrance officer.
40
呂祖泰上書，乞誅侂胄、蘇師旦，松與陳讜劾祖泰當誅，祖泰坐真決，流嶺南。 松滿歲未遷，意殊怏怏，乃獻一妾於侂胄，曰「松壽」。 侂胄訝其名，問之，答曰：「欲使疵賤姓常蒙記憶爾。」 除同知樞密院事，自宰邑至執政財四年。
Lü Zutai submitted a memorial requesting execution of Tuozhou and Su Shidan; Song and Chen Dan impeached Zutai as deserving death. Zutai was sentenced to true execution and exiled to Lingnan. When Song's year in office ended without promotion, he was deeply discontented and therefore presented a concubine to Tuozhou, naming her Song's Longevity. Tuozhou was surprised at the name and asked about it; Song answered, "I wished to make this flawed and lowly surname often receive your remembrance." He was appointed associate director of the Bureau of Military Affairs; from magistrate of a county to chief minister took only four years.
41
未幾，金人封曦為蜀王。 曦遺松書諷使去，松不知所為。 興元帥劉甲、茶馬范仲任見松，謀起兵誅曦，松恐事泄取禍，即揖二人起去。 會報金人且至，百姓奔走相蹂躪，一城如沸。 松亟望米倉山遁去，由閬州順流至重慶，以書抵曦，丐贐禮買舟，稱曦為蜀王。 曦遣使以匣封致饋，松望見大恐，疑其劍也，亟逃奔。 使者追及，松不得已啟視之，則金寶也。 松乃兼程出峽，西向掩淚曰：「吾今獲保頭顱矣。」 曦誅，詔落職，降三官，筠州居住，再降順昌軍節度副使，澧州安置。 又責果州團練副使、賓州安置。 死賓州。
Before long the Jin enfeoffed Xi as Prince of Shu. Xi sent Song a letter hinting that he should leave; Song did not know what to do. The Xingyuan commander Liu Jia and tea-and-horse commissioner Fan Zhongren visited Song and plotted to raise troops to execute Xi; Song feared the matter would leak and bring disaster, and immediately bowed the two men out. Reports came that Jin troops were about to arrive; the people ran in panic, trampling one another, and the whole city was in uproar. Song hurriedly fled toward Micang Mountain, went downstream from Lang Prefecture to Chongqing, and sent a letter to Xi begging travel expenses to buy a boat and addressing Xi as Prince of Shu. Xi sent an envoy with a sealed casket as a gift; Song saw it from afar and was greatly terrified, suspecting it was a sword, and fled at once. The envoy caught up; Song had no choice but to open and look—it was gold and jewels. Song then traveled day and night out of the gorges and, facing west with tears, said, "I have now preserved my head." When Xi was executed, an edict stripped Song of office, demoted him three ranks, and ordered him to reside in Yun Prefecture; he was demoted again to vice military commissioner of the Shunchang Army and assigned to Li Prefecture. He was further reduced to vice training commissioner of Guo Prefecture and assigned to Bin Prefecture. He died in Bin Prefecture.
42
陳謙，字益之，溫州永嘉人。 乾道八年進士，授福州戶曹、主管刑工部架閣文字，遷國子錄、敕令所刪修官、樞密院編修官。 陳中興五事，至李綱議建鎮事，上曰：「綱何足道。」 謙曰：「陛下用大臣，審出綱上，宜如聖訓。 今顧出綱下遠甚，奈何？」 上蹙然，遂極論逾數刻。
Chen Qian, courtesy name Yizhi, came from Yongjia in Wen Prefecture. A jinshi of the eighth year of Qiandao (1172), he was appointed revenue clerk of Fuzhou, supervisor of archival documents in the Ministry of Justice, then transferred to recorder of the National University, reviser at the Edict Office, and compiler at the Bureau of Military Affairs. When he set forth the five matters of national revival and reached Li Gang's proposal to establish command posts, the emperor said, "What is Gang worth discussing?" Qian said, "When Your Majesty employs great ministers, careful judgment should place one above Gang—this should follow the sacred instruction. Yet now one is placed far below Gang—what is to be done?" The emperor frowned, and they then argued at length for more than several quarters of an hour.
43
孝宗內禪，通判江州，知常州，提舉湖北常平。 平辰州峒徭，加直煥章閣，除戶部郎中，總領湖、廣財賦。 謙乃丞相趙汝愚客，會黨論起坐斥。 後數年，起為提點成都府路刑獄，移京西運判，復直煥章閣。
When Emperor Xiaozong abdicated internally, Qian served as vice prefect of Jiang Prefecture, prefect of Chang Prefecture, and commissioner of Hubei ever-normal granaries. He pacified the Dong Yao of Chen Prefecture, was granted the Direct Huanzhang Pavilion, appointed bureau director in the Ministry of Revenue, and made overall supervisor of the wealth and taxes of Hu and Guang. Qian was a client of Chief Councilor Zhao Ruyu; when factional disputes arose he was dismissed and expelled. Several years later he was recalled as judicial commissioner of the Chengdu circuit, transferred to transport judge of the Western Capital circuit, and again granted the Direct Huanzhang Pavilion.
44
韓侂胄謀擾金人，令獻馬者補官，七州民相扇為盜。 謙移書侂胄曰：「今若倚群盜行剽掠之策，豈得以敗亡為戲乎？」 既而屢論襄帥皇甫斌、李奕罪，且求罷。 上諭旨薛叔似協和之。 遷司農少卿、湖廣總領，除宣撫司參謀官。
Han Tuozhou plotted to provoke the Jin and ordered that those who presented horses receive office; the people of seven prefectures incited one another into banditry. Qian sent a letter to Tuozhou saying, "If one now relies on bandit gangs to carry out a policy of plunder, how can defeat and ruin be treated as a game?" Soon after he repeatedly discussed the crimes of the Xiang commander Huangfu Bin and Li Yi, and also requested dismissal. The emperor issued instructions that Xue Shusi should mediate and harmonize matters. He was transferred to vice director of the Court of Agriculture and overall supervisor of Hu and Guang, and appointed staff officer of the pacification headquarters.
45
金兵深入，陷應城，焚漢川，漢陽空城走，武昌震懼。 謙以寶謨閣待制副宣撫，即日置司北岸，命土豪趙觀覆之中流，士馬溺死甚眾，餘兵皆返走。 未幾，奪職，罷。 後復知江州。 侂胄死，和議已決，謙復罷，奉祠。 卒，年七十三。
Jin troops penetrated deeply, captured Yingcheng, burned Hanchuan, and Han Yang fled from an empty city; Wuchang was shaken with fear. Qian, as Hanlin attendant of the Baomo Pavilion, served as deputy pacification commissioner; that same day he established headquarters on the north bank and ordered the local strongman Zhao Guan to attack midstream; many soldiers and horses drowned, and the remaining troops all fled back. Before long his office was stripped and he was dismissed. Later he again served as prefect of Jiang Prefecture. When Tuozhou died and peace talks were settled, Qian was again dismissed and given a stipendary post. He died at age seventy-three.
46
謙有雋聲，早為善類所予。 晚坐偽禁中廢，首稱侂胄為「我王」，士論由是薄之。
Qian had a reputation for brilliance and was early on regarded favorably by the good and worthy. In his later years he was dismissed in the false-learning prohibition and was the first to call Tuozhou "my prince"; scholarly opinion therefore held him in low esteem.
47
張巖，字肖翁，大梁人，徙家揚州，紹興末渡江，居湖州。 為人機警，柔回善諧。 登乾道五年進士第，歷官為監察御史，與張釜、陳自強、劉三傑、程松等阿附時相韓侂胄，誣逐當時賢者，嚴道學之禁。
Zhang Yan, courtesy name Xiaoweng, was a native of Daliang; his family moved to Yang Prefecture, and at the end of Shaoxing he crossed the Yangzi and settled in Huzhou. By nature he was quick-witted, supple, and skilled at ingratiation. He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of Qiandao (1169), served through offices to investigating censor, and with Zhang Fu, Chen Ziqiang, Liu Sanjie, Cheng Song, and others fawned on Chief Councilor Han Tuozhou, slandered and expelled the worthy men of the time, and enforced the prohibition against the Learning of the Way.
48
進殿中侍御史，累遷給事中，除參知政事。 以言者罷為資政殿學士、知平江府，旋升大學士、知揚州。 時邊釁方開，詔岩與程松分帥兩淮，已而召還，為參知政事兼同知國用事。 開禧二年，遷知樞密院事。 明年，除督視江、淮軍馬。
He advanced to palace censor, was repeatedly promoted to supervisory attendant, and appointed vice grand councilor. Because of critics he was dismissed to serve as academician of the Hall of Literary Endeavor and prefect of Pingjiang, then soon promoted to grand academician and prefect of Yang Prefecture. At that time the border conflict had just opened; an edict ordered Yan and Cheng Song to divide command of the two Huai regions. Soon after they were recalled, and Yan became vice grand councilor and concurrently associate director of state affairs. In the second year of Kaixi (1206), he was transferred to director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The next year, he was appointed supervisor of Jiang and Huai military forces.
49
時方信孺使金議和，值吳曦以蜀叛，議未決，曦伏誅。 金人尋前議，信孺再行。 侂胄趣巖遣畢再遇、田琳合兵剿敵，且募生擒偽帥。 未幾，川、陝戰屢衄，大散關陷，敵情復變。 巖開督府九閱月，費耗縣官錢三百七十餘萬緡，見和議反復，乃言不知兵，固求去。
At that time Fang Xinru was envoy to Jin to negotiate peace; Wu Xi rebelled with Shu, negotiations were unsettled, and Xi was executed. The Jin soon resumed the earlier talks and Xinru went again. Tuozhou urged Yan to send Bi Zaiyu and Tian Lin to combine forces and suppress the enemy, and also offered rewards for capturing the false commander alive. Before long battles in Chuan and Shaanxi suffered repeated defeats, Dasanguan fell, and the enemy's disposition changed again. Yan opened the supervisory headquarters for nine months, spending more than 3.7 million strings of official cash; seeing peace talks go back and forth, he then said he did not know warfare and firmly requested to leave.
50
侂胄誅，御史章燮論巖與蘇師旦朋姦誤國，奪兩官。 寧宗謂兵釁方開，巖嘗言其不可，許自便，復元官，奉祠。 以銀青光祿大夫致仕，薨，贈特進。
When Tuozhou was executed, Censor Zhang Xie argued that Yan and Su Shidan had formed a wicked faction and harmed the state; two ranks were stripped from Yan. Emperor Ningzong said that when the military conflict opened Yan had once said it should not be done; he was permitted to do as he wished, his original rank was restored, and he was given a stipendary post. He retired with the rank of Silver Blue-Green Glory Grandee, died, and was posthumously granted special advancement.
51
論曰：史浩宅心平恕，而不能相其君恢復之謀。 王淮為偽學之禁，毒痡善類。 趙雄與虞允文協謀用兵，而舊史謂二人沮抑張栻，何哉？ 邦彥守城力戰，惜乎助呂頤浩攻李綱，君子少之。 程松、陳謙、張岩誣諛之徒，何足算哉！
The commentator says: Shi Hao was even-tempered and forgiving by nature, yet he could not counsel his ruler in plans for recovery. Wang Huai initiated the prohibition against false learning and poisoned the good and worthy. Zhao Xiong joined Yu Yunwen in plotting to use troops, yet the old history says the two obstructed Zhang Shi—why? Bangyan defended the city and fought hard; it is a pity he assisted Lü Yihao in attacking Li Gang—gentlemen think less of him for it. Cheng Song, Chen Qian, and Zhang Yan were slanderers and flatterers—not worth counting at all!