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余端禮
Yu Duanli
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余端禮，字處恭，衢州龍遊人。 第進士，知湖州烏程縣。 民間賦丁絹錢，率三氓出一縑，不輸絹而折其估，一縑千錢，後增至五千，民不勝病。 端禮以告於府，事得上聞，又自詣中書陳便宜，歲蠲緡錢六萬。
Yu Duanli, whose courtesy name was Chugong, came from Longyou in Quzhou. After passing the jinshi examination, he was appointed magistrate of Wucheng County in Huzhou. The people were assessed a poll tax payable in silk money, with three households typically required to furnish one bolt. Those who did not pay in silk had the levy converted to a cash equivalent—initially one thousand cash per bolt, later raised to five thousand—and the burden became unbearable. Duanli reported the abuse to the prefecture, and the case was brought to the court’s attention. He then went to the Secretariat in person to argue for relief, securing an annual remission of sixty thousand strings of cash.
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召對，時孝宗志在恢復，端禮言：
When he was summoned to audience, Emperor Xiaozong was intent on reconquest. Duanli said:
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「謀敵決勝之道，有聲有實。 敵弱者先聲後實，以讋其氣； 敵強者先實後聲，以俟其機。 漢武乘匈奴之困，親行邊陲，威震朔方，而漠南無王庭者，讋其氣而服之，所謂先聲而後實也。 越謀吳則不然，外講盟好，內修武備，陽行成以種、蠡，陰結援于齊、晉，教習之士益精，而獻遺之禮益密，用能一戰而霸者，伺其機而圖之，所謂先實而後聲也。 今日之事異於漢而與越相若。 願陰設其備，而密為之謀，觀變察時，則機可投矣。
“The art of defeating an enemy combines display and substance. Against a weak foe, put show before substance to break his morale; against a strong foe, put substance before show and wait for the right moment. Emperor Wu of Han exploited the Xiongnu’s weakness, toured the borderlands in person, and awed the northern frontier until no royal court remained south of the desert. He subdued their spirit and won their submission—true “show before substance.” Yue’s campaign against Wu was different: outwardly it cultivated alliance while inwardly it sharpened arms; Wen Zhong and Fan Li publicly sued for peace even as secret ties were forged with Qi and Jin. Drill grew ever stricter and tribute ever more lavish, until a single battle won hegemony—watching the moment and striking accordingly, the classic case of “substance before show.” Our situation today differs from Han Wu’s case and resembles Yue’s against Wu. I urge that we prepare in secret and plot in silence, watching shifts and reading the times—then the moment to strike may be seized.
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古之投機者有四：有投隙之機，有搗虛之機，有乘亂之機，有承弊之機。 因其內釁而擊之，若匈奴困於三國之攻而宣帝出師，此投隙之機也。 因其外患而伐之，若夫差牽于黃池之役而越兵入吳，此搗虛之機也。 敵國不道，因其離而舉之，若晉之降孫皓，此乘亂之機也。 敵人勢窮，躡其後而蹙之，若高祖之追項羽，此乘弊之機也。 機之未至，不可以先； 機之已至，不可以後。 以此備邊，安若太山，以此應敵，動如破竹，惟所欲為，無不如志。」
Ancient strategists recognized four kinds of opportunity: striking a gap, raiding an undefended point, exploiting disorder, and pressing a spent enemy. To attack when internal strife opens a breach—as when the Xiongnu were worn down by the Three Kingdoms’ assaults and Emperor Xuan took the field—is to seize a gap. To invade when an external crisis distracts the foe—as when King Fuchai was pinned at Huangchi and Yue armies poured into Wu—is to raid an opening. When a rival state loses the Way and splits apart, to rise against its divisions—as when Jin accepted Sun Hao’s surrender—is to exploit disorder. When the enemy’s power is exhausted, to follow hard on his heels and hem him in—as when Gaozu pursued Xiang Yu—is to press a spent foe. Before the moment arrives, one must not move too soon; once it has arrived, one must not lag behind. Use this to secure the frontier and the realm will stand firm as Mount Tai; use it to meet the enemy and your advance will cleave like bamboo. Whatever you undertake will succeed.”
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上喜曰：「卿可謂通事體矣。」 後以薦為監察御史，遷大理少卿，轉太常少卿。
The emperor said with delight, “You truly grasp how affairs stand.” He was later recommended as investigating censor, promoted to vice minister of justice, and then transferred to vice minister of rites.
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詔以來歲祈穀上帝，仲春躬耕籍田，令禮官討論明道故事。 端禮言：「祈穀之制，合祭天地於圜丘，前期享於太廟，視冬至郊祀之儀，此國朝故事也。 若乃明道之制，則以宮中火後考室落成，故于太安殿恭謝天地，此特一時謝災之事耳。 今欲祈穀而耕籍，必合祭天地於圜丘，必前期朝享于景靈宮、太廟可也。 欲如明道之制，行於殿庭不可。」 詔太常、禮部集議。 中書有可以義起者，端禮曰：「禮固有可義起，至於大體，則不可易。 古者郊而後耕，以其於郊，故謂之郊，猶祀於明堂，故謂之明堂。 如明道謝災之制，則與祈穀異。 今以郊而施之殿庭，亦將以明堂而施之壇壝乎？ 禮之失自端禮始，端禮死不敢奉詔。」 上為之止。
An edict directed that the following year the court should pray for grain to the Supreme Lord and that the emperor should personally plow the sacred field in mid-spring, and it ordered ritual officials to review the precedents of the Mingdao period. Duanli said, “The rite of praying for grain calls for a joint sacrifice to Heaven and Earth at the Circular Mound, with a preliminary offering at the Imperial Ancestral Temple, following the same protocol as the winter solstice suburban sacrifice. That is our dynasty’s established practice. The Mingdao precedent arose only because, after a palace fire, the ancestral hall was completed and thanks were offered to Heaven and Earth in the Hall of Great Peace—a one-time ceremony of thanksgiving for deliverance from disaster. If we are to pray for grain and plow the sacred field now, we must sacrifice jointly at the Circular Mound and hold the preliminary court offerings at the Jingling Palace and the Imperial Ancestral Temple. To follow the Mingdao precedent and perform the rite in the palace hall is unacceptable.” The emperor ordered the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and the Ministry of Rites to deliberate jointly. Some at the Secretariat argued that rites could be improvised where expedient. Duanli said, “Rites may sometimes be initiated by expediency, but the fundamental framework must not be changed. In antiquity the suburban sacrifice preceded the plowing; because it took place at the suburban altar, it was called the suburban rite, just as sacrifice in the Bright Hall was called the Bright Hall rite. The Mingdao thanksgiving for disaster is a different rite altogether from praying for grain. If we now perform the suburban rite in the palace hall, shall we also perform the Bright Hall rite on the altar mounds? If ritual is corrupted, let the blame begin with me—I would rather die than obey such an edict.” On this the emperor abandoned the plan.
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權兵部侍郎兼太子詹事，進吏部侍郎，出知太平州，奉祠。 光宗立，召見，言：「天子之孝不與庶人同。 今陛下之孝于壽皇，當如舜之於堯，行其道可也，武之于文，繼其志、述其事可也。 凡壽皇睿謀聖訓，仁政善教，所嘗施於天下者，願與二三大臣朝夕講求而力行之，則足以盡事親之孝矣。」 授集英殿修撰、知贛州，還為吏部侍郎、權刑部尚書兼侍講，以煥章閣直學士知建康府。 召拜吏部尚書，擢同知樞密院事。
He served as acting vice minister of war and concurrently grand mentor of the heir apparent, was promoted to vice minister of personnel, was sent out as prefect of Taiping, and later held a sinecure post. When Emperor Guangzong took the throne, Duanli was summoned and said, “A Son of Heaven’s filial duty is not the same as a commoner’s. Your filial duty to Shouhuang should be like Shun’s to Yao—carry forward his Way; like King Wu’s to King Wen—continue his aims and complete his work. All of Shouhuang’s wise policies and sage teachings, the benevolent measures once applied across the realm—I urge Your Majesty to study them day and night with your leading ministers and put them vigorously into practice. That is how you will fully honor a father’s legacy.” He was appointed compiler at the Hall for Assembling Excellence and prefect of Ganzhou. On his return he served as vice minister of personnel and acting minister of justice while lecturing at court, and later as academician of the Huanzhang Pavilion and prefect of Jiankang. He was recalled, appointed minister of personnel, and promoted to associate commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
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興州帥吳挺死，端禮謂樞密趙汝愚曰：「吳氏世握蜀兵，今若復令承襲，將為後患。」 汝愚是其言，合辭以奏，光宗意未決，端禮言：「汝愚所請為蜀計，為東南計。 夫置大將而非其人，是無蜀也，無蜀，是無東南也。 今軍中請帥而遲遲不報，人將生心。」 不聽。 後挺子曦卒以蜀叛，如端禮言。
When Wu Ting, military commissioner of Xingzhou, died, Duanli told Zhao Ruyu, military affairs commissioner, “The Wu family has held Sichuan’s armies for generations. If we let them inherit command again, we will breed future trouble.” Zhao Ruyu agreed and they submitted a joint memorial, but Guangzong hesitated. Duanli said, “Ruyu’s request is a plan for Sichuan—and for the southeast. To appoint a commander who is not fit is to lose Sichuan; lose Sichuan and you lose the southeast. The army has asked for a commander and the court delays its answer—men will begin to scheme.” The emperor would not listen. Later Wu Xi, Ting’s son, did rebel in Sichuan, exactly as Duanli had warned.
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上以疾不朝重華宮，孝宗崩，又不能發喪，人情恟然。 端禮謂宰相留正曰：「公獨不見唐肅宗朝群臣發哀太極殿故事乎？ 宜請太皇太后代行祭之禮。」 於是宰執以請于太皇太后，留正懼，入臨重華宮，仆地致仕而去。
The emperor, ill, stopped attending court at Chonghua Palace. When Xiaozong died he could not even proclaim mourning, and public sentiment grew turbulent. Duanli said to Chief Minister Liu Zheng, “Have you forgotten how in Tang Suzong’s reign the ministers themselves proclaimed mourning at the Hall of Supreme Ultimate? You should ask the Grand Empress Dowager to perform the mourning rites in his stead.” The chief ministers then petitioned the Grand Empress Dowager. Liu Zheng, in fear, entered Chonghua Palace to attend the lying-in-state, collapsed, resigned, and withdrew.
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太皇太后垂簾，策皇子嘉王即皇帝位，王流涕遜避。 端禮奏：「太上違豫，大喪乏主，安危之機在於呼吸，太皇太后非為陛下計，乃為太上皇帝計，為宗社計。 今堅持退讓，不思國家之大計，是守匹夫之小節而昧天子之大孝也。」 寧宗悚然收淚，不得已，側身就御坐之半。 端禮與汝愚再拜固請，寧宗乃正御坐，退行禫祭禮。
The Grand Empress Dowager held court behind the curtain and designated Prince Jia, the imperial prince, to take the throne. The prince wept and shrank back in refusal. Duanli memorialized, “The Retired Emperor is gravely ill; the great mourning has no presiding lord; the realm’s safety hangs by a breath. The Grand Empress Dowager acts not for Your Majesty alone but for the Retired Emperor and for the altars of state. To cling to refusal now and ignore the state’s urgent need is to uphold a commoner’s petty scruple and miss a Son of Heaven’s greater filial duty.” Ningzong started, dried his tears, and with no choice turned and took half of the imperial seat. Duanli and Zhao Ruyu bowed again and pressed him firmly until Ningzong took the full seat and withdrew to perform the end-of-mourning rites.
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進端禮知樞密院事兼參知政事。 汝愚去右丞相位，端禮代之。 始，端禮與汝愚同心共政，汝愚嘗曰：「士論未一，非余處恭不能任。」 及韓侂胄以傳道之勞，寖竊威柄，汝愚等欲疏斥之，謀泄而汝愚逐。 端禮不能遏，但長籲而已。
Duanli was promoted to commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and concurrently participant in governance. When Zhao Ruyu left the post of right chief councilor, Duanli replaced him. At first Duanli and Zhao Ruyu governed in concert. Ruyu once said, “Scholar-official opinion is not united—without Yu Chugong the burden cannot be carried.” But Han Tuozhou, citing his role in securing the succession, gradually seized power. Ruyu and others tried to isolate him; the plot leaked and Ruyu was driven out. Duanli could not check him and could only sigh.
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浙西常平黃灝以放民租竄，知婺州黃度以庇蜀吏褫職罷郡，二人皆侂胄所憾，端禮執奏，竟不免於罪。 太府丞呂祖儉坐上書忤侂胄南遷，端禮救解不獲，公議始歸責焉。 他日見上，言除從官中書不知，朝綱已紊，禍根已滋。 即丐去，不許，進左丞相。
Huang Hao of the Zhexi Ever-Normal Granary was demoted for remitting tenants’ rent; Huang Du, prefect of Wuzhou, was stripped of office for shielding a Sichuan clerk—both were men Han Tuozhou resented. Duanli memorialized firmly on their behalf, yet both were punished in the end. Lu Zujian of the Imperial Treasury was banished south for a memorial that offended Tuozhou. Duanli tried to save him and failed, and public opinion began to turn against Duanli. On another audience he told the emperor that attendant officials were being appointed without the Secretariat’s knowledge—court discipline was already fraying and the seeds of disaster were sprouting. He immediately asked to resign but was refused and was promoted to left chief councilor instead.
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端禮在相位期年，頗知擁護善類，然為侂胄所制，壹鬱不愜志，稱疾求退，以觀文殿大學士提舉洞霄宮。 居頃之，判潭州，移慶元，復帥潭。 薨，授少保、郇國公致仕，贈太傅，諡「忠肅」。 子嶸，工部尚書。
Duanli served as chief councilor for a year and did much to protect worthy men, yet Han Tuozhou constrained him. Deeply frustrated, he pleaded illness and retired, becoming grand academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and director of the Palace of Grotto Heaven. Shortly afterward he was assigned to Tanzhou, transferred to Qingyuan, and again given command of Tan. He died. In retirement he had held Junior Guardian and been enfeoffed as Lord of Yun; posthumously he was given Grand Mentor with the temple name Loyal and Solemn. His son Song became minister of works.
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李璧，字季章，眉之丹稜人。 父燾，典國史。 壁少英悟，日誦萬餘言，屬辭精博，周必大見其文，異之曰：「此謫仙才也。」 孝宗嘗問燾：「卿諸子孰可用？」 燾以璧對。 以父任入官，後登進士第。 召試，為正字。
Li Bi, whose courtesy name was Jizhang, came from Danling in Mei Prefecture. His father Tao was in charge of compiling the national history. From youth Bi was exceptionally bright, reciting more than ten thousand characters a day and writing with refined breadth. Zhou Bida read his work and exclaimed, “This is the talent of a banished immortal.” Xiaozong once asked Tao, “Which of your sons is fit for service?” Tao named Bi. He entered office through his father’s privilege and later passed the jinshi examination. Summoned for a palace examination, he was made a corrector.
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璧受命使金，行次揚州，忠義人朱裕挾宋師襲漣水，金人憤甚，璧乞梟裕首境上，詔從其請。 璧至燕，與金人言，披露肝膽，金人之疑頓釋。 璧歸，侂胄用師意方銳，璧言：「進取之機，當重發而必至，毋輕出而苟沮。」 既而陳景俊使北還，贊舉兵甚力，錢象祖以沮兵議忤侂胄得罪貶，璧論襄陽形勢，深以腹心為憂，欲待敵先發，然後應之，侂胄意不懌，於是四川、荊、淮各建宣撫而師出矣。
Bi was dispatched as envoy to Jin. At Yangzhou he learned that the loyalist Zhu Yu had led Song troops in a raid on Lianshui, enraging the Jin court. Bi asked that Zhu’s head be displayed on the border, and the emperor granted his request. When Bi reached Yan he spoke frankly with the Jin envoys, laying his cards on the table, and their suspicions quickly dissolved. On his return Han Tuozhou was eager for war. Bi said, “The moment to advance must be seized with full force and certainty—do not strike lightly and risk discouragement.” Soon Chen Jingjun returned from the north urging war vigorously; Qian Xiangzu was punished for opposing it. Bi analyzed Xiangyang’s strategic position, warning that the heartland was exposed, and urged waiting for the enemy to move first—but Tuozhou was displeased. Pacification commissioners were then appointed for Sichuan, Jing, and Huai, and the armies marched.
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璧度力不能回，乃入奏：「自秦檜首倡和議，使父兄百世之仇不復開于臣子之口。 今廟謀未定，士氣積衰，苟非激昂，曷克丕應。 臣愚以為宜亟貶秦檜，示天下以讐恥必復之志，則宏綱舉而國論明，流俗變而人心一，君臣上下奮勵振作，拯潰民於殘虐，湔祖宗之宿憤。 在今日舉而措之，無難矣。」 疏奏，秦檜坐追王爵。 議者謂璧不論檜之無君而但指其主和，其言雖公，特以迎合侂胄用兵之私而已。
Seeing he could not turn policy back, Bi memorialized, “Ever since Qin Hui first championed peace, the feud our fathers and elder brothers bore for a hundred generations has been sealed from ministers’ lips. Court strategy is unsettled and morale has long decayed; without stirring ardor, how can we rise to the moment? I humbly urge that Qin Hui be swiftly degraded to show the realm our resolve to avenge feud and shame. Then the great framework will stand clear, public debate will align, custom will shift and hearts unite, ruler and ministers will rouse themselves, rescue the people from cruelty, and wash away our ancestors’ long resentment. To act on this today would not be difficult.” When the memorial was presented, Qin Hui’s princely title was posthumously revoked. Critics said Bi attacked Hui only for advocating peace, not for disloyalty to the throne—his words sounded public-spirited but really catered to Tuozhou’s private wish for war.
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初，侂胄召葉適直學士院，草出師詔，適不從，乃以屬璧，由是進權禮部尚書。 侂胄既喪師，始覺為蘇師旦所誤，一夕招璧飲，酒酣，及師旦事，璧微擿其過，覘侂胄意向，乃極言：「師旦怙勢招權，使明公負謗，非竄謫此人，不足以謝天下。」 師旦坐貶官。 璧又言：「郭倬、李汝翼僨軍誤國之罪，宜誅之以謝淮民。」 拜參知政事。
Earlier Tuozhou had summoned Ye Shi to draft the expedition edict; Ye refused, and the task fell to Bi, who was then promoted to acting minister of rites. After the armies were defeated Tuozhou realized Su Shidan had misled him. One evening he invited Bi to drink; as the wine flowed they spoke of Shidan, and Bi gently probed Tuozhou’s mood, then said forcefully, “Shidan abused power and brought you slander—only by banishing him can you answer to the realm.” Shidan was demoted and banished. Bi also said, “Guo Chun and Li Ruyi scattered the army and misled the state—they should be executed to answer to the people of Huai.” He was appointed participant in governance.
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金遣使來，微示欲和意，丘崈以聞，璧貽崈書，俾遣小使致書金帥求成，金帥報書以用兵首謀指侂胄，侂胄大恚，不復以和為意。 璧言：「張浚以討賊復仇為己任，隆興之初，事勢未集，亦權宜就和。 苟利社稷，固難執一。」 侂胄不聽，以張巖代崈，璧力爭，言丘崈素有人望，侂胄變色曰：「方今天下獨有一丘崈邪！」
Jin sent envoys hinting at peace. Qiu Chong reported this, and Bi wrote urging him to send a minor envoy to the Jin commander to seek terms. The Jin reply named Tuozhou as the chief plotter of the war. Tuozhou was furious and abandoned any thought of peace. Bi said, “Zhang Jun made punishing the enemy and avenging the feud his mission; at the start of the Longxing reign, when circumstances were not yet ripe, he too made peace as an expedient. When the altars of state benefit, it is hard to cling to a single course.” Tuozhou would not listen and replaced Chong with Zhang Yan. Bi argued fiercely that Qiu Chong enjoyed long-standing public esteem. Tuozhou flushed and said, “Is Qiu Chong the only man in the realm!”
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吳曦叛，據蜀稱王，楊巨源、安丙誅之。 事聞，璧議須用重臣宣撫，薦制置使楊輔為宣撫使，而使安丙輔之。 丙殺楊巨源，輔恐召變，以書舉劉甲自代，侂胄疑輔避事，璧曰：「孝宗聞吳璘病，亟詔汪應辰權宣撫使職事，蜀賴以安，此故事也。」 於是命甲權宣撫使。
Wu Xi rebelled, seized Sichuan, and declared himself king; Yang Juyuan and An Bing killed him. When word arrived, Bi argued that a senior minister must be sent as pacification commissioner and recommended military commissioner Yang Fu, with An Bing as his deputy. An Bing killed Yang Juyuan; Fu, fearing upheaval if recalled, recommended Liu Jia to replace him. Tuozhou suspected Fu of shirking duty. Bi said, “When Xiaozong heard Wu Lin was ill, he urgently ordered Wang Yingchen to act as pacification commissioner and Sichuan was stabilized—that is established precedent.” Liu Jia was then ordered to act as pacification commissioner.
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方信孺使北歸，言金人欲縛送侂胄，故侂胄忿甚，用兵之意益急。 璧方與共政，或勸其速去，毋與侂胄分禍，璧曰：「嘻，國病矣，我去誰適謀此？」 會禮部侍郎史彌遠謀誅侂胄，以密旨告璧及錢象祖，象祖欲奏審，璧言事留恐泄，侂胄迄誅，璧兼同知樞密院事。 御史葉時論璧反復詭譎，削三秩，謫居撫州。 後輔臣言誅侂胄事，璧實預聞，乃令自便。 復官提舉洞霄宮，久之，復以御史奏削三秩，罷祠。
When Fang Xinru returned from the north he reported that the Jin intended to bind and hand over Han Tuozhou. Tuozhou was furious and his zeal for war grew sharper still. While Bi was still in office, some urged him to withdraw quickly and not share Han Tuozhou’s downfall. Bi said, “Alas—the state is sick. If I leave, who is fit to handle this?” Meanwhile Vice Minister of Rites Shi Miyuan plotted to kill Tuozhou and confided the secret edict to Bi and Qian Xiangzu. Xiangzu wanted to memorialize for approval, but Bi warned that delay might leak the plan. Tuozhou was executed, and Bi was made associate commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Investigating censor Ye Shi attacked Bi as fickle and deceitful. Three ranks were stripped and he was banished to Fuzhou. Later, when chief ministers discussed Tuozhou’s execution, it emerged that Bi had been in on the plot, and he was allowed to go free. His rank was restored and he was made director of the Palace of Grotto Heaven, but years later a censor’s memorial again stripped three ranks and ended his sinecure.
22
越四年，復除端明殿學士、知遂寧府，未至，而潰兵張福入益昌，戕王人，略閬剽果，至遂寧，璧傳檄諭之，福等讀檄泣下，約解甲降。 會官軍至挑賊，賊忿，盡燔其城，顧府治曰：「李公旦夕來居，此其勿毀。」 璧馳書大將張威，使調嘉定黎雅砦丁、牌手來會戰，威夜遣人叩門，來言曰：「賊壘堅不可破，將選死士，梯而登，以火攻之。」 璧曰：「審爾，必多殺士卒，盍先斷賊汲路與糧道，使不得食，即自成擒矣。」 以長圍法授之，威用其謀，賊遂平。
Four years later he was again made academician of the Hall of Bright Clarity and prefect of Suining. Before he arrived, mutinous troops under Zhang Fu entered Yichang, killed officials, raided Langzhou and plundered Guozhou, and reached Suining. Bi issued a proclamation; Fu and his men wept when they read it and agreed to disarm and surrender. When government troops arrived and provoked them, the rebels in fury burned the whole city but spared the prefectural compound, saying, “Lord Li will arrive any day—do not destroy this.” Bi urgently wrote the general Zhang Wei to mobilize militia and archers from the Jiading and Liya stockades. Wei sent a messenger at night who said, “The rebel stockade is too strong to storm. We will pick dare-to-die men, scale the walls, and burn them out.” Bi said, “If you do that, many soldiers will die. Better first cut their water and grain routes so they starve—they will surrender themselves.” He taught Wei the method of prolonged encirclement. Wei followed his plan and the rebels were pacified.
23
璧尋引疾奉祠。 嘉定十五年六月卒，進資政殿學士致仕，諡「文懿」。
Bi soon pleaded illness and took a sinecure post. He died in the sixth month of Jiading 15, having been advanced to academician of the Hall of Government Affairs in retirement, with the posthumous title Cultured and Excellent.
24
璧嗜學如饑渴，群經百氏搜抉靡遺，于典章制度尤綜練。 為文雋逸，所著有《雁湖集》一百卷、《涓塵錄》三卷、《中興戰功錄》三卷、《中興奏議》若干卷、內外制二十卷、《援毫錄》八十卷、《臨汝閒書》百五十卷。 璧父子與弟𡌴皆以文學知名，蜀人比之三蘇雲。
Bi hungered for learning, combing the classics and the hundred schools without omission, and was especially masterful in statutes and institutions. His prose was elegant and elevated. His works included Collected Works from Goose Lake (100 juan), Record of Dust (3 juan), Record of Military Achievements in the Restoration (3 juan), Memorials of the Restoration (several juan), Inner and Outer Drafts (20 juan), Record of Brush-Holding (80 juan), and Leisure Writings from Linru (150 juan). Bi, his father and son, and his younger brother Sao were all famed for letters; Sichuan folk likened them to the three Sus of old.
25
丘崈，字宗卿，江陰軍人。 隆興元年進士，為建康府觀察推官。 丞相虞允文奇其才，奏除國子博士。 孝宗諭允文舉自代者，允文首薦崈。 有旨賜對，遂言：「恢復之志不可忘，恢復之事未易舉，宜甄拔實才，責以內治，遵養十年，乃可議北向。」
Qiu Chong, whose courtesy name was Zongqing, came from Jiangyin Circuit. A jinshi of Longxing 1, he served as investigating clerk in Jiankang Prefecture. Chief Councilor Yu Yunwen admired his talent and had him appointed erudite of the Imperial Academy. When Xiaozong asked Yunwen to recommend his successor, Yunwen named Chong first. Summoned to audience, he said, “The will to recover the north must never be forgotten, but recovery is not easily undertaken. Select true talent, charge them with internal governance, nurture the realm for ten years, and only then discuss marching north.”
26
時方遣范成大使金，祈請陵寢。 崈言：「泛使亟遣，無益大計，徒以驕敵。」 孝宗不樂，曰：「卿家墳墓為人所據，亦須理索否？」 崈對曰：「臣但能訴之，不能請之。」 孝宗怒，崈退待罪，孝宗察其忠，不譴也。
Fan Chengda was then being sent as envoy to Jin to petition for access to the imperial tombs. Chong said, “Sending general envoys in haste does nothing for the grand strategy—it only emboldens the enemy.” Xiaozong was displeased and said, “If your family graves were seized by others, would you not demand them back?” Chong replied, “I could lodge a complaint, but I could not demand their return.” Xiaozong was angry; Chong withdrew to await punishment, but Xiaozong saw his loyalty and did not punish him.
27
遷太常博士，出知秀州華亭縣。 捍海堰廢且百年，鹹潮歲大入，壞並海田，蘇、湖皆被其害。 崈至海口，訪遺址已淪沒，乃奏創築，三月堰成，三州舄鹵復為良田。 除直秘閣、知平江府，入奏內殿，因論楮幣折閱，請公私出內，並以錢會各半為定法。 詔行其言，天下便之。
He was transferred to erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and sent out as magistrate of Huating County in Xiuzhou. The coastal sea-wall dyke had lain in ruins for nearly a century; salt tides flooded in yearly, destroying seaside fields and harming both Suzhou and Huzhou. Chong went to the estuary, found the old site submerged, and memorialized to rebuild the dyke. In three months it was finished and the saline fields of three prefectures became fertile farmland again. Appointed to the Direct Secretariat and made prefect of Pingjiang, he memorialized in the inner hall on paper-currency depreciation and proposed that public and private payments from the inner treasury be fixed by law at half cash notes and half coin. An edict adopted his proposal, to the realm’s relief.
28
知吉州，召除戶部郎中，遷樞密院檢詳文字。 被命接伴金國賀生辰使。 金曆九月晦，與《統天曆》不合，崈接使者以恩意，乃徐告以南北曆法異同，合從會慶節正日隨班上壽。 金使初難之，卒屈服。 孝宗喜謂崈曰：「使人聽命成禮而還，卿之力也。」
As prefect of Jizhou he was recalled, appointed director in the Ministry of Revenue, and transferred to textual reviewer at the Bureau of Military Affairs. He was ordered to receive and accompany the Jin envoys sent for the imperial birthday. The Jin calendar’s last day of the ninth month disagreed with the Tongtian Calendar. Chong received the envoys graciously, then explained the calendrical differences and directed them to offer birthday felicitations on the proper day of the Festival of Joint Celebration with the court. The Jin envoys resisted at first but ultimately yielded. Xiaozong said with pleasure, “The envoys obeyed and completed the rites and returned—that was your doing.”
29
先是，王抃為樞密，崈不少下之。 方迓客時，抃排定程頓奏，上降付接伴，令沿途遵執。 崈具奏，謂「不可以此啟敵疑心。」 不奉詔。 抃憾之，訾崈不禮金使，予祠。 起知鄂州，移江西轉運判官，提點浙東刑獄，進直徽猷閣、知平江府，升龍圖閣，移帥紹興府，改兩浙轉運副使，以憂去。
Earlier Wang Bian was military commissioner, and Chong would not defer to him. As Chong was receiving the envoys, Bian drew up a fixed itinerary and memorialized it; the emperor transmitted it to the receiving officer with orders to follow it along the route. Chong memorialized in full, saying, “This must not be used to arouse the enemy’s suspicions.” He refused to obey the edict. Bian resented this and accused Chong of discourtesy to the Jin envoys; Chong was given a sinecure post. He was recalled to govern Ezhou, served as transport judge of Jiangxi and judicial intendant of eastern Zhejiang, was advanced to the Direct Huaiyou Pavilion and prefect of Pingjiang, promoted to the Dragon Diagram Pavilion, commanded Shaoxing, became vice transport commissioner of the two Zhe, and left on mourning leave.
30
光宗即位，召對，除太常少卿兼權工部侍郎，進戶部侍郎，擢煥章閣直學士、四川安撫制置使兼知成都府。 崈素以吳氏世掌兵為慮，陛辭，奏曰：「臣入蜀後，吳挺脫至死亡，兵權不可復付其子。 臣請得便宜撫定諸軍，以俟朝命。」 挺死，崈即奏：「乞選他將代之，仍置副帥，別差興州守臣，並利州西路帥司歸興元，以殺其權。 挺長子曦勿令奔喪，起復知和州，屬總領楊輔就近節制諸軍，檄利路提刑楊虞仲往攝興州。」 朝廷命張詔代挺，以李仁廣副之，遂革世將之患。 其後郭杲繼詔復兼利西路安撫。 杲死，韓侂胄復以兵權付曦，曦叛，識者乃服崈先見。
When Guangzong ascended, Chong was summoned, appointed vice minister of imperial sacrifices and acting vice minister of works, promoted to vice minister of revenue, and made academician of the Huanzhang Pavilion, Sichuan pacification commissioner, and concurrently prefect of Chengdu. Chong had long worried that the Wu clan held military power for generations. At his farewell audience he said, “After I enter Shu, when Wu Ting dies, military authority must not pass to his son again. I ask leave to act expediently in settling the armies until the court decides.” When Ting died, Chong immediately memorialized, “Select another general to replace him, appoint a deputy commander, assign a separate Xingzhou prefect, and return the Western Circuit of Lizhou command to Xingyuan to curb their power. Do not let Ting’s eldest son Xi return for mourning; recall him to govern Hezhou; place overall commander Yang Fu nearby to regulate the armies; and send Lizhou judicial intendant Yang Yuzhong to act as Xingzhou commander.” The court appointed Zhang Zhao to replace Ting with Li Renguang as deputy, ending the hereditary-commander problem. Later Guo Gao succeeded Zhao and again held the Western Circuit of Lizhou pacification commission. When Gao died, Han Tuozhou again gave military power to Xi; Xi rebelled, and observers then acknowledged Chong’s foresight.
31
進煥章閣直學士。 寧宗即位，赴召，以中丞謝深甫論罷之。 居數年，復職知慶元府。 既入奏，韓侂胄招以見，出奏疏幾二千言示崈，蓋北伐議也，知崈平日主復仇，冀可與共功名。 崈曰：「中原淪陷且百年，在我固不可一日而忘也，然兵凶戰危，若首倡非常之舉，兵交勝負未可知，則首事之禍，其誰任之？ 此必有誇誕貪進之人，攘臂以僥倖萬一，宜亟斥絕，不然必誤國矣。」
He was advanced to academician of the Huanzhang Pavilion. When Ningzong ascended, he answered the summons but was dismissed on Censor-in-Chief Xie Shenfu’s memorial. Several years later he was restored and made prefect of Qingyuan. After his audience memorial, Han Tuozhou summoned him and showed him a nearly two-thousand-word memorial for a northern expedition, knowing Chong had long favored vengeance and hoping to win him as an ally. Chong said, “The Central Plains have been lost for nearly a century—we must never forget that for a day. Yet war is perilous. If you launch an extraordinary campaign and victory is uncertain, who will bear the blame for being first to act? Boastful, reckless men will roll up their sleeves to gamble on a slim chance. Reject them at once, or you will ruin the state.”
32
進敷文閣學士，改知建康府。 將行，侂胄曰：「此事姑為遲之。」 崈因贊曰：「翻然而改，誠社稷生靈之幸，惟無搖於異議，則善矣。」 侂胄聞金人置平章，宣撫河南，奏以崈為簽樞，宣撫江、淮以應之。 崈手書力論「金人未必有意敗盟，中國當示大體，宜申警軍實，使吾常有勝勢。 若釁自彼作，我有辭矣。」 宣撫議遂寢。 侂胄移書欲除崈內職，宣諭兩淮。 崈報曰：「使名雖異，其為示敵人以嫌疑之跡則同，且偽平章宣撫既寢，尤不宜輕舉。」 侂胄滋不悅。
He was advanced to academician of the Hall for Spreading Culture and made prefect of Jiankang. As he was about to leave, Tuozhou said, “Let us delay this matter for now.” Chong praised him, “To change course would be the realm’s good fortune—only do not waver at dissent, and all will be well.” Tuozhou heard the Jin had appointed a chief councilor and Henan pacification commissioner and memorialized to make Chong deputy military commissioner and Yangzi-Huai pacification commissioner in response. Chong wrote forcefully, “The Jin may not intend to break the alliance. China should show magnanimity, strengthen military readiness, and keep ourselves in a position to win. If they provoke war, we will be in the right.” The pacification commission plan was shelved. Tuozhou wrote wishing to give Chong an inner-court post to proclaim instructions to the two Huai circuits. Chong replied, “Though the title differs, it still shows the enemy grounds for suspicion. Since the Jin pacification post is already shelved, we especially should not act rashly.” Tuozhou grew more displeased.
33
升寶文閣學士、刑部尚書、江淮宣撫使。 時宋師克泗州，進圖宿、壽，既而師潰，侂胄遣人來議招收潰卒，且求自解之計。 崈謂：「宜明蘇師旦、周筠等僨師之姦，正李汝翼、郭倬等喪師之罪。」 崈欲全淮東兵力，為兩淮聲援，奏「泗州孤立，淮北所屯精兵幾二萬，萬一金人南出清河口及犯天長等城，則首尾中斷，墮敵計矣。 莫若棄之，還軍盱眙。」 從之。
He was promoted to academician of the Hall for Treasuring Culture, minister of justice, and Yangzi-Huai pacification commissioner. Song forces had captured Sizhou and advanced on Suzhou and Shouzhou, then collapsed. Tuozhou sent men to discuss gathering routed troops and to seek a way to clear himself. Chong said, “Expose the treachery of Su Shidan, Zhou Yun, and others who scattered the army, and punish Li Ruyi, Guo Chun, and others who lost it.” Wishing to preserve Huaidong strength as support for both Huai circuits, he memorialized, “Sizhou stands isolated with nearly twenty thousand elite troops north of the Huai. If the Jin strike south from Qinghekou or attack Tiancheng, our forces will be cut off and fall into their trap. Better abandon it and withdraw the army to Xuyi.” His advice was followed.
34
金人擁眾自渦口犯淮南，或勸崈棄廬、和州為守江計，崈曰：「棄淮則與敵共長江之險矣。 吾當與淮南俱存亡。」 益增兵為防。
Jin forces massed at Wokou and invaded Huainan. Some urged Chong to abandon Luzhou and Hezhou to defend the Yangzi. Chong said, “Abandon the Huai and we share the Yangzi’s defenses with the enemy. I will live or die with Huainan.” He reinforced the garrisons.
35
進端明殿學士、侍讀，尋拜簽書樞密院，督視江、淮軍馬。 有自北來者韓元靖，自謂琦五世孫，崈詰所以來之故，元靖言：「兩國交兵，北朝皆謂出韓太師意，今相州宗族墳墓皆不可保，故來依太師爾。」 崈使畢其說，始露講解意。 崈遣人護送北歸，俾扣其實。 其回也，得金行省幅紙，崈以聞於朝，遂遣王文采持書幣以行。 文采還，金帥答書辭順，崈復以聞，遂遣陳璧充小使。 璧回，具言：「金人詰使介，既欲和矣，何為出兵真州以襲我？ 然仍露和意也。」 崈白廟堂，請自朝廷移書續前議，又謂彼既指侂胄為元謀，若移書，宜暫免係銜。 侂胄大怒，罷崈，以知樞密院事張巖代之。 既以臺論，提舉洞霄宮，落職。
He was advanced to academician of the Hall of Bright Clarity and reader-in-waiting, then appointed deputy military commissioner to supervise Jiang and Huai forces. Han Yuanjing came from the north claiming to be Han Qi’s fifth-generation descendant. Chong questioned his purpose. Yuanjing said, “Both courts are at war; the north says it is Grand Mentor Han’s doing. Our clan graves at Xiangzhou are no longer safe, so I have come to rely on the Grand Mentor.” Chong let him finish, and he then revealed a wish to discuss peace. Chong sent escorts to return him north and probe the truth. On his return he brought a note from the Jin Branch Secretariat. Chong reported it to court, and Wang Wencai was sent with letters and gifts. Wencai returned with a conciliatory reply from the Jin commander. Chong reported again, and Chen Bi was sent as minor envoy. Bi returned reporting, “The Jin questioned our envoy: if you want peace, why did troops from Zhenzhou attack us? Yet they still showed a desire for peace.” Chong told the chief ministers the court should send a letter continuing talks, and since the Jin named Tuozhou as chief plotter, his title should be omitted from the letter. Tuozhou was furious, dismissed Chong, and replaced him with Zhang Yan, commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Censors then attacked him; he was made director of the Palace of Grotto Heaven and stripped of rank.
36
侂胄誅，以資政殿學士知建康府，尋改江、淮制置大使兼知建康府。 淮南運司招輯邊民二萬，號「雄淮軍」，月廩不繼，公肆剽劫，崈乃隨「雄淮」所屯，分隸守臣節制，其西路則同轉運使張穎揀刺為御前武定軍，以三萬人為額，分為六軍，餘汰歸農，自是月省錢二十八萬緡，米三萬四千石。 武定既成軍伍，淮西賴其力。 以病丐歸，拜同知樞密院事。 卒，諡「忠定」。
After Tuozhou was executed, he was made academician of the Hall of Government Affairs and prefect of Jiankang, soon becoming great Jiang-Huai pacification commissioner while retaining the Jiankang prefecture. The Huainan transport office had gathered twenty thousand border people as the “Valiant Huai Army.” When monthly rations failed they plundered openly. Chong placed them under local commanders by garrison; on the western route he and transport commissioner Zhang Ying reorganized them as the Imperial Front Martial Stability Army—thirty thousand in six divisions, the rest returned to farming—saving twenty-eight myriad strings of cash and thirty-four thousand shi of grain monthly. Once Martial Stability was organized, western Huai relied on its strength. Pleading illness, he asked to retire and was appointed associate military commissioner. He died and was given the posthumous title Loyal and Settled.
37
崈儀狀魁傑，機神英悟，嘗慷慨謂人曰：「生無以報國，死願為猛將以滅敵。」 其忠義性然也。
Chong was tall and imposing, keen and perceptive. He once said passionately, “In life I have not repaid the state; in death I wish to be a fierce general who destroys the enemy.” Such was his loyal and righteous nature.
38
倪思，字正甫，湖州歸安人。 乾道二年進士，中博學宏詞科。 累遷秘書郎，除著作郎兼翰林權直。 光宗即位，典冊與尤袤對掌。 故事，行三制並宣學士。 上欲試思能否，一夕並草除公師四制，訓詞精敏，在廷誦歎。
Ni Si, whose courtesy name was Zhengfu, came from Gui’an in Huzhou. A jinshi of Qiandao 2, he also passed the erudite learning and grand rhetoric examination. He rose through the Secretariat to compiler and acting Hanlin attendant. When Guangzong ascended, he and You Mao jointly directed the ceremonial documents. By precedent three edicts were issued and the academician announced them. The emperor wished to test Si’s ability and in one night had him draft four edicts appointing dukes and grand mentors. The language was refined and keen, and the court marveled.
39
權侍立修注官，直前奏：「陛下方受禪，金主亦新立，欲制其命，必每事有以勝之，彼奢則以儉勝之，彼暴則以仁勝之，彼怠惰則以憂勤勝之。」 又請增置諫官，專責以諫事。 又乞召內外諸將訪問，以知其才否。
As acting revision officer in attendance, he stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty has just received the abdication and the Jin ruler has also newly ascended. To control his mandate, you must surpass him in every respect—meet extravagance with frugality, violence with benevolence, and idleness with anxious diligence.” He also asked to add remonstrance officials charged solely with remonstrance duties. He also asked that generals throughout the realm be summoned and questioned to assess their abilities.
40
遷將作少監兼權直學士院，兼權中書舍人，升中書舍人兼直學士院、同修國史，尋兼侍講。
He was made vice director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings and acting director of the Hanlin Academy and acting Secretariat drafter, then promoted to Secretariat drafter with concurrent Hanlin Academy directorship and associate national-history compiler, and soon after added lecturer in attendance.
41
初，孝宗以戶部經費之餘，則於三省置封樁庫以待軍用，至紹熙移用始頻。 會有詔發緡錢十五萬入內帑備犒軍，思謂實給他費，請毋發，且曰：「往歲所入，約四百六十四萬緡，所出之錢不及二萬，非痛加撙節，則封樁自此無儲。 遂定議犒軍歲以四十萬緡為額，由是費用有節。 又言：「唐制使諫官隨宰相入閣，今諫官月一對耳，乞許同宰執宣引，庶得從容論奏。」 上稱善，除禮部侍郎。
Initially Xiaozong had set aside the Ministry of Revenue’s surplus in sealed reserve treasuries across the Three Departments for military needs; under Shaoxi, raids on those funds grew ever more frequent. When an edict ordered one hundred fifty thousand strings transferred to the inner treasury for troop rewards, Si argued the money would actually cover other expenses and urged against the withdrawal, saying, “Annual receipts run to some four million six hundred forty thousand strings, yet outlays barely reach twenty thousand. Without severe austerity the sealed reserves will soon be empty. The court then fixed annual troop rewards at four hundred thousand strings, and spending thereafter was kept in check. He also memorialized: “Tang practice had remonstrance officials follow chief councilors into the privy chamber, whereas today they face the throne only once a month. I ask that they be allowed to enter with the chief councilors for audience, so remonstrance can be offered at leisure.” The emperor approved and appointed him vice minister of rites.
42
上久不過重華宮，思疏十上，言多痛切。 會上召嘉王，思言：「壽皇欲見陛下，亦猶陛下之于嘉王也。」 上為動容。 時李皇后浸預政，思進講姜氏會齊侯於濼，因奏：「人主治國必自齊家始，家之不能齊者，不能防其漸也。 始於褻狎，終於恣橫，卒至於陰陽易位，內外無別，甚則離間父子。 漢之呂氏，唐之武、韋，幾至亂亡，不但魯莊公也。」 上悚然。 趙汝愚同侍經筵，退語人曰：「讜直如此，吾黨不逮也。」
The emperor had long avoided Chonghua Palace; Si submitted ten memorials, many of them sharply worded and urgent. When the emperor summoned Prince Jia, Si said, “The Retired Emperor longs to see Your Majesty as much as Your Majesty longs to see Prince Jia.” The emperor was moved. Empress Li was gradually meddling in affairs of state. Si lectured on the Duke of Jiang’s meeting with the Duke of Qi at Luo and memorialized, “A ruler must put his own house in order before he can govern the realm. Those who cannot keep the household in order cannot check encroachment at its first stirrings. It begins with undue familiarity, ends in brazen overreach, and finally inverts the proper order of inner and outer until there is no distinction at all—in the worst case, driving father and son apart. Empress Lü of Han, Wu and Wei of Tang—dynasties nearly brought to ruin—and not only the case of Duke Zhuang of Lu.” The emperor was startled. Zhao Ruyu, who shared lecture attendance with him, said afterward, “Such candor and integrity—our faction cannot equal it.”
43
兼權吏部侍郎，出知紹興府。 寧宗即位，改婺州，未上，提舉太平興國宮，召除吏部侍郎兼直學士院。 御史姚愈劾思，出知太平州，歷知泉州，建寧府，皆以言者論去。 久之，召還，試禮部侍郎兼直學士院。 侂胄先以書致殷勤，曰：「國事如此，一世人望，豈宜專以潔己為賢哉？」 思報曰：「但恐方拙，不能徇時好耳。」
He was made acting vice minister of personnel, then sent out as prefect of Shaoxing. When Ningzong ascended he was reassigned to Wuzhou, but before taking up the post was made director of the Taiping Xingguo Palace. Recalled, he was appointed vice minister of personnel with concurrent Hanlin Academy directorship. Censor Yao Yu impeached Si and he was sent out as prefect of Taiping. He later served as prefect of Quanzhou and Jianning, but was driven from each post by critics. After some time he was recalled and made acting vice minister of rites with concurrent Hanlin Academy directorship. Han Tuozhou first sent a cordial letter, saying, “Affairs of state are as they are—a man of your generation’s standing—should you make personal purity your only virtue?” Si replied, “I only fear I am too square and clumsy to follow the fashions of the age.”
44
時赴召者，未引對先謁侂胄，或勸用近例，思曰：「私門不可登，矧未見君乎？」 逮入見，首論言路不通：「自呂祖儉謫徙而朝士不敢輸忠，自呂祖泰編竄而布衣不敢極說。 膠庠之士欲有吐露，恐之以去籍，諭之以呈槁，誰肯披肝瀝膽，觸冒威尊？ 近者北伐之舉，僅有一二人言其不可，如使未舉之前，相繼力爭之，更加詳審，不致輕動。」 又言：「蘇師旦贓以巨萬計，胡不黥戮以謝三軍？ 皇甫斌喪師襄漢，李爽敗績淮甸，秦世輔潰散蜀道，皆罪大罰輕。」 又言：「士大夫寡廉鮮恥，列拜於勢要之門，甚者匍匐門竇，稱門生不足，稱恩坐、恩主甚至於恩父者，諛文豐賂，又在所不論也。」 侂胄聞之大怒。
Those summoned to court then often visited Han Tuozhou before their audience. Some urged him to follow recent precedent, but Si said, “One must not enter a private house—how much less before one has seen the sovereign?” When he entered audience he spoke first of the blocked remonstrance path: “Since Lu Zujian was banished and relocated, court officials dare not speak loyally; since Lu Zutai was dispatched to the frontier, commoners dare not speak their minds fully. Academy students who wish to speak out are threatened with expulsion and told to submit drafts in advance—who would lay bare heart and liver and offend the throne? On the recent northern expedition only one or two spoke against it. Had they argued forcefully in succession before it was launched, with greater deliberation, the court would not have moved so rashly.” He also said, “Su Shidan’s embezzlement runs to vast sums—why not brand and execute him to answer the armies? Huangfu Bin lost his army in Xiang and Han; Li Shuang was defeated on the Huai frontier; Qin Shipu’s forces scattered on the Sichuan route—all grave crimes punished lightly.” He also said, “Scholar-officials lack integrity and shame. They queue to bow at the gates of the powerful; some crawl at the threshold, calling themselves disciples, favored seat, favored master, even favored father—fulsome prose and rich bribes scarcely need mention.” Han Tuozhou heard this and was furious.
45
思既退，謂侂胄曰：「公明有餘而聰不足：堂中剖決如流，此明有餘； 為蘇師旦蒙蔽，此聰不足也。 周筠與師旦並為姦利，師旦已敗，筠尚在，人言平章騎虎不下之勢，此李林甫、楊國忠晚節也。」 侂胄悚然曰：「聞所未聞！」
After withdrawing, Si told Han Tuozhou, “Your Lordship has surplus clarity but insufficient discernment. Judgments in the hall flow like water—that is surplus clarity; to be hoodwinked by Su Shidan—that is insufficient discernment. Zhou Jun and Shidan alike pursued corrupt profit. Shidan has already fallen but Jun remains—people say the chief councilor rides a tiger and cannot dismount. This is the late career of Li Linfu and Yang Guozhong.” Han Tuozhou started and said, “I have never heard the like!”
46
司諫毛憲劾思，予祠。 侂胄殛，復召，首對，乞用淳熙例，令太子開議事堂，閑習機政。 又言：「侂胄擅命，凡事取內批特旨，當以為戒。」
Remonstrance official Mao Xian impeached Si, and he was given a temple sinecure. After Han Tuozhou was executed Si was recalled. At his first audience he asked to follow the Chunxi precedent and have the crown prince open a council hall to familiarize himself with affairs of state. He also said, “Han Tuozhou arrogated command, taking inner drafts and special edicts for every affair—let that be a warning.”
47
除權兵部尚書兼侍讀。 求對，言：「大權方歸，所當防微，一有干預端倪，必且仍蹈覆轍。 厥今有更化之名，無更化之實。 今侂胄既誅，而國人之言猶有未靖者，蓋以樞臣猶兼宮賓，不時宣召，宰執當同班同對，樞臣亦當遠權，以息外議。」 樞臣，謂史彌遠也。 金人求侂胄函首，命廷臣集議，思謂有傷國體。 徙禮部尚書。
He was appointed acting minister of war with concurrent lecturing attendant. He requested audience and said, “Great power has just returned to proper channels—one must guard against the slightest encroachment. Any sign of interference and the old path will be trodden again. Today there is the name of renewal but not the reality of renewal. Now that Han Tuozhou has been executed, public talk is still unsettled because the Bureau chief still holds palace attendant rank and is summoned at irregular times. Chief councilors should attend in the same cohort and face the throne together, and the Bureau chief should keep his distance from power to quiet outside criticism.” The Bureau chief meant Shi Miyuan. When the Jin demanded Han Tuozhou’s head in a box, the court ordered ministers to deliberate jointly. Si said it would injure national dignity. He was transferred to minister of rites.
48
史彌遠擬除兩從官，參政錢象祖不與聞。 思言：「奏擬除目，宰執當同進，比專聽侂胄，權有所偏，覆轍可鑒。」 既而史彌遠上章自辨，思求去，上留之。 思乞對，言：「前日論樞臣獨班，恐蹈往轍，宗社堪再壞耶？ 宜親擢臺諫，以革權臣之弊，並任宰輔，以鑒專擅之失。」 彌遠懷恚，思請去益力，以寶謨閣直學士知鎮江府，移福州。
Shi Miyuan planned to appoint two junior officials without consulting Vice Premier Qian Xiangzu. Si said, “When proposed appointments are memorialized, chief councilors should advance together. Listening solely to Han Tuozhou skewed power—the overturned cart is a warning.” Soon Shi Miyuan submitted a memorial in self-defense. Si asked to resign, but the emperor kept him. Si requested audience and said, “The other day I spoke of the Bureau chief attending alone. I fear we are treading the old path—can the altars of state bear ruin twice? The emperor should personally elevate censorate and remonstrance officials to reform the evils of powerful ministers, and employ chief and associate councilors together to take warning from monopolization of power.” Miyuan harbored resentment. Si pressed harder to resign and was made Hanlin academician of the Hall for Expounding Principles and prefect of Zhenjiang, then transferred to Fuzhou.
49
彌遠拜右丞相，陳晦草制用「昆命元龜」語，思歎曰：「董賢為大司馬，冊文有『允執厥中』一言，蕭咸以為堯禪舜之文，長老見之，莫不心懼。 今制詞所引，此舜、禹揖遜也。 天下有如蕭咸者讀之，得不大駭乎？」 仍上省牘，請貼改麻制。 詔下分析，彌遠遂除晦殿中侍御史，即劾思藩臣僭論麻制，鐫職而罷，自是不復起矣。
When Miyuan was appointed right chief councilor, Chen Hui drafted the edict using the phrase “Kun orders the primordial tortoise.” Si sighed and said, “When Dong Xian became grand marshal, the appointment text contained ‘faithfully hold the center.’ Xiao Xian took it for the language of Yao yielding to Shun, and every elder who read it was struck with fear. The language cited in today’s edict is the yielding deference of Shun and Yu. If readers like Xiao Xian exist anywhere under Heaven, will they not be appalled?” He also submitted a document to the Secretariat requesting correction of the hemp appointment edict. An edict went down for analysis. Miyuan then appointed Hui palace censor, who immediately impeached Si—a border official overstepping in discussing the hemp edict. Si was stripped of rank and dismissed, and from then on was never reappointed.
50
久之，除寶文閣學士，提舉嵩山崇福宮。 嘉定十三年卒，諡「文節」。
After a long interval he was made academician of the Hall for Treasuring Culture and director of the Songshan Chongfu Palace. He died in the thirteenth year of Jiading and was posthumously titled “Cultured and Restrained.”
51
宇文紹節
Yuwen Shaojie
52
宇文紹節，字挺臣，成都廣都人。 祖虛中，簽書樞密院事。 父師瑗，顯謨閣待制。 父子皆以使北死，無子，孝宗湣之，命其族子紹節為之後，補官仕州縣。 九年，第進士。 累遷寶謨閣待制、知廬州。
Yuwen Shaojie, whose courtesy name was Tingchen, came from Guangdu in Chengdu. His grandfather Xuzhong served as junior signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs. His father Shiyuan was Hanlin attendant of the Hall for Manifest Strategy. Father and son both died on missions to the north. Having no heir, Xiaozong took pity and ordered a clansman, Shaojie, to succeed them. Given office, he served in prefectures and counties. In the ninth year he passed the jinshi examination. He rose to Hanlin attendant of the Hall for Expounding Principles and prefect of Luzhou.
53
時侂胄方議用兵，紹節至郡，議修築古城，創造砦柵，專為固圉計。 淮西轉運判官鄧友龍譖于侂胄，謂紹節但為城守，徒耗財力，無益於事。 侂胄以書讓紹節，紹節復書謂：「公有復讐之志，而無復讐之略； 有開邊之害，而無開邊之利。 不量國力，浪為進取計，非所敢知。」 侂胄得書不樂，乃以李爽代紹節，召還，為兵部侍郎兼中書舍人兼直學士院，以寶文閣待制知鎮江府。
Han Tuozhou was then debating war. When Shaojie reached his prefecture he proposed repairing old walls and building stockades and palisades, planning solely to strengthen defenses. Huai-Xi transport vice commissioner Deng Youlong slandered him to Han Tuozhou, saying Shaojie merely held cities, wasting money and manpower to no purpose. Han Tuozhou sent a letter rebuking Shaojie. Shaojie replied, “Your Lordship has the will to take revenge but not the strategy for revenge; the harm of opening the frontier but not its benefit. Recklessly plotting advance without measuring national strength is beyond what I dare understand.” Han Tuozhou received the letter displeased. Li Shuang replaced Shaojie, who was recalled and made vice minister of war with concurrent Secretariat drafter and Hanlin Academy directorship, then sent out as Hanlin attendant of the Hall for Treasuring Culture and prefect of Zhenjiang.
54
吳曦據蜀，趣紹節赴闕，任以西討之事。 紹節至，謂大臣曰：「今進攻，則瞿唐一關，彼必固守； 若駐軍荊南，徒損威望。 聞隨軍轉運安丙者素懷忠義，若授以密旨，必能討賊成功。」 大臣用其言，遣丙所親以帛書達上意，丙卒誅曦。
When Wu Xi seized Sichuan, Shaojie was urgently summoned to court and charged with the western punitive campaign. When Shaojie arrived he told the chief ministers, “If we attack now, at Qutang Pass alone they will surely hold firm; if we station troops at Jingnan we only diminish our prestige. I hear that campaign transport officer An Bing has long harbored loyalty and righteousness. Entrust him with a secret edict and he can surely succeed in punishing the rebel.” The chief ministers adopted his plan and sent a close associate of An Bing with a silk letter conveying the emperor’s intent. Bing ultimately executed Xi.
55
權兵部尚書，未幾，除華文閣學士、湖北京西宣撫使、知江陵府。 統制官高悅在戍所，肆為殺掠，遠近苦之。 紹節召置帳前，收其部曲。 俄有訴悅縱所部為寇者，紹節杖殺之，兵民皆歡。 升寶文閣學士，試吏部尚書，尋除端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事。
He served as acting minister of war and soon was appointed academician of the Hall for Refining Culture, Hubei Jingxi pacification commissioner, and prefect of Jiangling. Commanding officer Gao Yue at the garrison wantonly killed and plundered, and the region suffered. Shaojie summoned him before his tent and confiscated his troops. Soon someone complained that Yue had let his troops run as bandits. Shaojie had him beaten to death, and soldiers and civilians rejoiced. He was promoted to academician of the Hall for Treasuring Culture and acting minister of personnel, then soon appointed academician of the Hall of Illustrious Virtue and junior signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
56
安丙宣撫四川，或言丙有異志，語聞，廷臣欲易丙。 紹節曰：「方誅曦初，安丙一搖足，全蜀非國家有，顧不以此時為利，今乃有他耶？ 紹節願以百口保丙。」 丙卒不易。 朝廷於蜀事多所咨訪，紹節審而後言，皆周悉事情。
An Bing was pacification commissioner of Sichuan. When word reached court that he harbored divergent intentions, ministers wished to replace him. Shaojie said, “Just after Xi was punished, had An Bing shifted one foot all Sichuan would no longer have belonged to the state. He clearly did not seize that moment for profit—would he harbor other designs now? Shaojie offered to guarantee Bing with a hundred lives.” An Bing was ultimately not replaced. The court frequently consulted him on Sichuan affairs. Shaojie spoke only after careful review, and his answers were thorough.
57
嘉定六年正月甲午卒，訃聞，上嗟悼，為改日朝享。 進資政殿學士致仕，又贈七官為少師，非常典也。 諡曰「忠惠」。
He died on jiawu day of the first month of Jiading 6. When word reached the throne the emperor sighed in grief and changed the day of court audience. He was posthumously advanced to grand academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance as retired, and given seven additional ranks to grand mentor—an extraordinary honor. He was posthumously titled “Loyal and Generous.”
58
李蘩，字清叔，崇慶晉原人。 第進士，為隆州判官，攝綿州。 歲祲，出義倉穀賤糶之，而以錢貸下戶，又聽民以茅秸易米，作粥及褚衣，親衣食之，活十萬人。 明年又饑，邛蜀彭漢、成都盜賊蜂起，綿獨安堵。 知永康軍，移利州，提點成都路刑獄兼提舉常平。 歲凶，先事發廩蠲租，所活百七十萬人。 知興元府、安撫利州東路。
Li Fan, whose courtesy name was Qingshu, came from Jinyuan in Chongqing. After passing the jinshi examination he served as vice magistrate of Longzhou and acting prefect of Mianzhou. In a lean year he released ever-normal granary grain and sold it cheaply, lent cash to poorer households, and allowed people to exchange straw for rice. He made porridge and cotton clothing and personally fed and clothed the needy, saving a hundred thousand lives. The next year famine returned. Bandits swarmed in Qiong, Shu, Peng, Han, and Chengdu, but Mian alone remained tranquil. He served as prefect of Yongkang Army, then transferred to Lizhou as judicial intendant of Chengdu circuit and Ever-Normal intendant. In bad harvest years he opened granaries and remitted rent in advance, saving one million seven hundred thousand lives. He served as prefect of Xingyuan and pacification commissioner of the eastern Lizhou route.
59
漢中久饑，劍外和糴在州者獨多，蘩嘗匹馬行阡陌間訪求民瘼，有老嫗進曰：「民所以饑者，和糴病之也。」 泣數行下。 蘩感其言，奏免之，民大悅。 徙倉部員外郎，總領四川賦財、軍馬、錢糧，升郎中。
Hanzhong had long suffered famine, and among prefectures beyond Jian it alone stored unusually large hedged-purchase reserves. Fan once rode alone through the fields seeking the people’s grievances. An old woman came forward and said, “The people starve because hedged purchase harms them.” She wept, tears streaming down her face. Moved by her words, Fan memorialized for exemption, and the people rejoiced. He was transferred to vice director of granaries and made overall director of Sichuan revenue, horses, cash, and grain, then promoted to director.
60
淳熙三年，廷臣上言：「四川歲糴軍糧，名為和糴，實科糴也。」 詔制置使范成大同蘩相度以聞，蘩奏：「諸州歲糴六十萬石，若從官糴，歲約百萬緡，如於經費之中斟酌損益，變科糴為官糴，貴賤眂時，不使虧毫忽之價； 出納眂量，勿務取圭撮之贏，則軍不乏興，民不加賦。」 乃書「利民十一事」上之。 前後凡三年，蘩上奏疏者十有三，而天子降詔難問者凡八，訖如其議。 民既樂與官為市，遠邇歡趨，軍餉坐給，而田里免科糴，始知有生之樂。 會歲大稔，米價頓賤，父老以為三十年所無。 梁、洋間繪蘩像祠之。
In Chunxi 3 court officials memorialized, “Sichuan’s annual purchase of army grain is called hedged purchase, but in fact it is compulsory purchase.” An edict ordered Pacification Commissioner Fan Chengda and Fan jointly to assess the matter and report. Fan memorialized, “Prefectures annually purchase six hundred thousand shi of grain. Under official purchase the cost runs to about one million strings per year. If within the regular budget one adjusts increase and decrease, converting compulsory purchase to official purchase and setting prices high or low according to the times so that not the slightest loss is imposed; In receipts and disbursements take careful measure; do not chase spoonful profits—then the army will not lack supplies and the people will not bear added levies.” He then submitted “Eleven Measures for Benefiting the People.” Over three years Fan memorialized thirteen times; the emperor eight times sent edicts pressing hard questions—and in the end adopted his plan. Once the people were glad to trade with the government, near and far flocked in; army rations were met without strain, and the fields were freed from compulsory purchase—only then did they know the joy of life. That year brought a great harvest and rice prices plunged—the elders said they had not seen the like in thirty years. Between Liang and Yang they painted Fan’s portrait and set up shrines to him.
61
范成大驛疏言：「關外麥熟，倍于常年，實由罷糴，民力稍紓，得以盡于農畝。」 孝宗覽之曰：「免和糴一年，田間和氣若此，乃知民力不可重困也。」 擢蘩守太府少卿。 范成大召見，孝宗首問：「糴事可久行否？」 成大奏：「李蘩以身任此事，臣以身保李蘩。」 孝宗大悅，曰：「是大不可得李蘩也。」 上意方向用，而蘩亦欲奏蠲鹽酒和買之弊，以盡滌民害。 會有疾，卒。 詔以蘩能官，致仕恩外特與遺表，擇一人庶官，前此所未有。
Fan Chengda reported by courier, “Wheat beyond the passes is ripe at twice the usual yield—truly because purchase was ended, the people’s strength eased, and they could devote themselves fully to the fields.” Xiaozong read it and said, “One year without hedged purchase—and such harmony in the fields. Now I know the people’s strength must not be crushed.” Fan was promoted to vice director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. When Fan Chengda was summoned, Xiaozong’s first question was, “Can this purchase system continue long-term?” Chengda replied, “Li Fan stakes his person on this matter; I stake my person on Li Fan.” Xiaozong was delighted and said, “A man like this—Li Fan is irreplaceable.” The emperor meant to employ him further, and Fan also planned to memorialize remitting abuses in salt, wine, and harmonized purchase to cleanse the people’s burdens entirely. But he fell ill and died. Because Fan had served capably, an edict beyond ordinary retirement grace specially granted a posthumous memorial privilege to name one commoner for office—unprecedented.
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初，蘩宰眉山，校成都漕試，念吳氏世襲兵柄必稔蜀亂，發策云：「久假人以兵柄，未有不為患者。 以武、宣之明，不能銷大臣握兵之禍； 以憲、武之烈，不能收藩鎮握兵之權。 危劉氏、殲唐室，鮮不由此。」 吳挺以為怨。 後蘩總餉事，挺謬奏軍食粗惡，孝宗以問蘩，蘩緘其樣以進，挺之妄遂窮。 逾三十年，吳曦竟以蜀叛，安丙既誅曦，每語人云：「吾等焦頭爛額耳，孰如李公先見者乎？」 蘩講學臨政皆有源委，所著書十八種，有《桃溪集》一百卷。
Early on, as magistrate of Meishan, Fan graded the Chengdu transport examination. Mindful that the Wu clan’s hereditary grip on arms would ripen Shu’s chaos, he set a topic: “To lend others military power for long has never failed to breed trouble. For all the brilliance of Han Emperors Wu and Xuan, they could not dissolve the calamity of great ministers holding troops; for all the fierceness of Tang Emperors Xian and Wu, they could not recover the arms held by frontier commissioners. Endangering the Liu house and destroying the Tang realm—few catastrophes have not sprung from this.” Wu Ting took it as a personal affront. Later, when Fan oversaw provisions, Ting falsely reported that army rations were coarse and foul. Xiaozong asked Fan, who sealed a sample and presented it—exposing Ting’s lie. More than thirty years later Wu Xi rebelled in Shu. After An Bing executed him, he often said, “We merely scorched our heads and blistered our brows—who matched Lord Li’s foresight?” Fan’s scholarship and governance alike had depth and coherence. He authored eighteen works, including Collected Works from Peach Brook in one hundred juan.
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論曰：余端禮平時論議剴正，及為相，受制于韓侂胄，雖有志扶掖善類，而不得以直，遂頗不免君子之論。 若李壁、丘崈皆諫侂胄以輕兵召釁之失，及其決意用師，命葉適草詔不從，而壁獨當筆焉，何其所見後先舛迕哉！ 附會之罪，壁固無以逭於公論矣。 倪思直辭劘主，又屢觸權臣，三黜不變其風概，有可尚焉。 李蘩所至能舉荒政，蠲苛賦，亦庶幾古所謂惠人也。
The appraisal says: Yu Duanli’s ordinary discourse was incisive and upright, but as chief councilor he was constrained by Han Tuozhou. Though he wished to support worthy men, he could not act straight—and thus did not quite escape gentlemen’s criticism. Li Bi and Qiu Chong both warned Tuozhou against lightly using troops and inviting war—yet when he resolved on war and ordered Ye Shi to draft the expedition edict, Ye refused while Bi alone took up the brush. How could their views be so at odds! On the charge of currying favor, Bi could not escape public judgment. Ni Si admonished the ruler in blunt terms, repeatedly offended powerful ministers, and was thrice demoted without changing his bearing—something to esteem. Wherever Li Fan served he could mount famine relief and remit harsh levies—he too approximates what antiquity called a man of kindness.