Volume 414 Biographies 173: Shi Miyuan, Zheng Qingzhi, Shi Songzhi, Dong Huai, Ye Mengding, Ma Tingluan

史彌遠鄭清之史嵩之董槐葉夢鼎馬廷鸞

Shi Miyuan, Zheng Qingzhi, Shi Songzhi, Dong Huai, Ye Mengding, and Ma Tingluan

史彌遠

Shi Miyuan

史彌遠，字同叔，浩之子也。淳熙六年，補承事郎。八年，轉宣義郎，銓試第一，調建康府糧料院，改沿海制置司幹辦公事。十四年，舉進士。紹熙元年，授大理司直。二年，遷太社令。三年，遷太常寺主簿，以親老請祠，主管沖佑觀。丁父憂。慶元二年，復為大理司直，尋改諸王宮大小學教授。輪對，乞旌廉潔之士，推舉薦之賞；浚溝洫，固堤防，實倉廩，均賦役，課農桑，禁末作，為水旱之備；葺城郭，修器械，選將帥，練士卒，儲粟穀，明烽燧，為邊鄙之防。丞相京鏜屏左右曰：「君他日功名事業過鏜遠甚，願以子孫為托。」四年，授樞密院編修官，遷太常丞，尋兼工部郎官，改刑部。六年，改宗正丞。丐外，知池州。嘉泰四年，提舉浙西常平。開禧元年，授司封郎官兼國史編修、實錄檢討，遷秘書少監，遷起居郎。二年，兼資善堂直講。

Shi Miyuan, whose style was Tongshu, was the son of Shi Hao. In the sixth year of the Chunxi era (1179), he received appointment as Gentleman for Attendance. Two years later he was promoted to Gentleman for Propagating Righteousness, placed first in the civil-service examination, posted to the grain-supply office of Jiankang Prefecture, and then transferred to the Coastal Pacification Commission as a staff officer. In the fourteenth year of Chunxi he passed the jinshi civil examination. In the first year of Shaoxi (1190) he was appointed Directing Clerk of the Court of Judicial Review. The following year he was made Director of the Altar of the God of the Soil. In the third year he became Registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices; because his parents were elderly he asked for a temple appointment and was assigned to administer Chongyou Abbey. He then went into mourning upon his father's death. In the second year of Qingyuan (1196) he returned to the post of Directing Clerk at the Court of Judicial Review, and shortly thereafter became professor at the Greater and Lesser Schools for imperial clansmen. At a rotating audience with the throne he asked that men of integrity be publicly honored and that greater rewards be given for recommending them; that canals be dredged, dikes reinforced, granaries stocked, tax and labor levies made equitable, farming and silk production promoted, luxury trades curbed, and every measure taken to guard against flood and drought; and that city walls be restored, arms readied, commanders chosen, soldiers trained, grain hoarded, beacon lines kept in order, and the frontier made secure against invasion. Chief Councillor Jing Yong sent his attendants away and said, "Your future career will far outshine mine; I ask you to look after my children." In the fourth year of Qingyuan he was made a compiler at the Bureau of Military Affairs, promoted to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, soon given a concurrent post in the Ministry of Works, and then moved to the Ministry of Justice. In the sixth year he was transferred to Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court. He requested a provincial post and was appointed prefect of Chizhou. In the fourth year of Jiatai (1204) he was appointed intendant of the Ever-Normal Granaries in western Zhe. In the first year of Kaixi (1205) he became a secretary in the Ministry of Rites, with concurrent duties on the National History and Veritable Records, then rose to Vice Director of the Palace Library and Recorder of the Emperor's Actions. In the second year of Kaixi he also served as lecturer at the Hall of Cultivating Goodness.

韓侂胄建開邊之議，以堅寵固位，已而邊兵大衄，詔在位者言事，彌遠上疏曰：「今之議者，以為先發者制人，後發者制於人，此為將之事，施於一勝一負之間，則可以爭雄而捷出。若夫事關國體、宗廟社稷，所系甚重，詎可舉數千萬人之命輕於一擲乎？京師根本之地，今出戍既多，留衛者寡，萬一盜賊竊發，誰其禦之？若夫沿江屯駐之兵，各當一面，皆所以拱護行都，尤當整備，繼今勿輕調發，則內外表裏俱有足恃，而無可伺之隙矣。所遣撫諭之臣，止令按曆邊陲，招集逋寇，戒飭將士，固守封圻。毋惑浮言以撓吾之規，毋貪小利以滋敵之釁，使民力愈寬，國勢愈壯，遲之歲月，以俟大舉，實宗社無疆之福。」

Han Tuozhou had urged war on the northern frontier to shore up his power; when the border armies were routed, the court ordered officials to speak freely. Miyuan memorialized: "Counselors today say that whoever strikes first controls the enemy and whoever delays is controlled. That may hold for generals in a single battle fought for immediate victory. But when the fate of the dynasty, the ancestral shrines, and the realm itself is at stake, how can we stake the lives of millions on one gamble? The capital is the heart of the empire, yet so many troops have marched out that few remain to guard it. If thieves or rebels should strike, who will defend the city? The armies posted along the Yangzi, each guarding its sector, exist to protect the mobile capital and must be kept at full strength. They should not be redeployed lightly; then court and frontier alike will be secure, with no opening for the enemy to probe. The envoys sent to the borders should be told only to inspect the frontier, rally deserters and stragglers, warn the troops, and hold the line. They must not heed reckless talk that would undo our strategy, nor chase small gains that would give the enemy cause to attack. Ease the burden on the people, strengthen the state, and wait months and years until we are ready for a major campaign. That will be the dynasty's lasting blessing."

奏方具，客曰：「侂胄必以奏議占人情，太夫人年高，能無貽親憂乎？」彌遠曰：「時事如此，言入而益于國，利於人，吾得罪甘心焉。」封鄞縣男兼權刑部侍郎。三年，改禮部兼同修國史、實錄院同修撰，仍兼刑部。

While he was finishing the memorial, someone warned him, "Tuozhou will use your words to court public favor. Your mother is elderly—will you not bring grief upon her?" Miyuan replied, "These are desperate times. If what I say helps the realm and the people, I will accept punishment gladly." He was enfeoffed as Baron of Yin County and appointed acting Vice Minister of Justice. In the third year of Kaixi he moved to the Ministry of Rites, with concurrent posts on the National History and Veritable Records, while retaining his Ministry of Justice duties.

兵端既開，敗衄相屬，累使求和，金人不聽。都城震搖，宮闈疑懼，常若禍在朝暮，然皆畏侂胄莫敢言。彌遠力陳危迫之勢，皇子詢聞之，亟具奏，乃罷侂胄並陳自強右丞相。既而台諫、給舍交章論駁，侂胄乃就誅。召彌遠對延和殿，帝欲命為簽書樞密院事，力辭，乃遷禮部尚書兼國史實錄院修撰。

After war broke out, defeat followed defeat. Repeated embassies sought peace, but the Jin court refused. The capital was shaken and the inner palace lived in fear, as if ruin might come any day, yet everyone was afraid of Tuozhou and kept silent. Miyuan urgently described the peril facing the dynasty. Prince Xun heard him and at once memorialized the throne; Tuozhou was removed from office and Chen Ziqiang was appointed Right Chief Councillor. Soon the censorate and remonstrance officials flooded the court with protests, and Tuozhou was executed. Miyuan was summoned to the Yenhe Hall. The emperor wanted to make him Signing Secretary of the Bureau of Military Affairs, but he firmly declined and was promoted instead to Minister of Rites with duties on the National History and Veritable Records.

詢立為太子，兼詹事，遣使詣金求和，金人以大散隔牙二關、濠州來歸，疏奏：「今兩淮、襄、漢沿邊之地，瘡痍未瘳，軍實未充。當勉厲將帥，盡吾委寄之誠；簡閱士卒，核其尺籍之闕。繕城堡，葺器械，儲糗糧。當聘使既通之後，常如干戈未定之日，推擇帥守以壯藩屏之勢，獎拔智勇以備緩急之求。」拜同知樞密院事兼太子賓客，進封伯。

Xun was made crown prince, with Miyuan as his grand tutor. Envoys went to the Jin to negotiate peace; the Jin returned the passes of Dasan and Geya and Hao Prefecture. Miyuan memorialized: "The frontiers along the two Huai, the Xiang, and the Han are still devastated and our armies are not yet replenished. We must urge our commanders to honor the trust we place in them; inspect the troops and correct errors in the muster rolls. Repair fortifications, restore arms, and stock provisions. Even after peace envoys have come and gone, we should live as though war were still unsettled: choose able governors and generals to strengthen our defenses, and promote the wise and brave for whatever crisis may come." He was appointed Vice Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and Grand Mentor to the Crown Prince, and promoted to Earl.

嘉定元年，遷知樞密院事，進奉化郡侯兼參知政事，拜右丞相兼樞密使兼太子少傅，進開國公。丁母憂，歸治葬，太子請賜第行在，令就第持服，以便咨訪。二年，以使者趣行急，乃就道，起復右丞相兼樞密使兼太子少師。四年，落起復。雪趙汝愚之冤，乞褒贈賜諡，厘正誣史，一時偽學党人朱熹、彭龜年、楊萬里、呂祖儉雖已歿，或褒贈易名，或錄用其後，召還正人故老於外。十四年，賜家廟祭器。

In the first year of Jiading (1208) he became Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, was made Marquis of Fenghua and Concurrent Administrator of Affairs, then Right Chief Councillor, Commissioner of Military Affairs, and Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince, and was raised to Duke of a founding meritocrat. When his mother died he went home to arrange the funeral. The crown prince asked that he be given a house in the capital so he could observe mourning there while remaining available for counsel. In the second year envoys urged him to return in haste; he set out and was recalled from mourning to Right Chief Councillor, Commissioner of Military Affairs, and Junior Preceptor to the Crown Prince. In the fourth year the stigma of being recalled from mourning was cleared from his record. He vindicated Zhao Ruyu, sought posthumous honors and a title for him, and corrected the slander written into the histories. Zhu Xi, Peng Guinian, Yang Wanli, and Lü Zuqian of the banned "False Learning" faction, though dead, were posthumously honored or had their names restored; their descendants were given office, and worthy elders in exile were recalled. In the fourteenth year of Jiading he was granted ritual vessels for his ancestral temple.

甯宗崩，擁立理宗，於是拜太師，依前右丞相兼樞密使，進封魏國公，六辭不拜，因乞解機政，歸田裏，亟出關，帝從之。實慶二年，拜少師，賜玉帶。勸上傾心順承以事太后，力學修德以答皇天眷祐，以副四海歸戴。紹定元年，上太后尊號，拜太傅，八辭不拜。夏，得疾，累疏丐歸，不許。都城災，五疏乞罷斥，乃降封奉化郡公。五年春，復爵。六年，將拜太師，三具奏辭，乞免出命，不許。乃拜太師，依前右丞相兼樞密使、魯國公，又三具奏辭。紹定五年，上疏乞謝事，拜太傅。未幾，拜太師、左丞相兼樞密使。上疏乞解機政，依前太師特授保寧、昭信軍節度使，充醴泉觀使，進封會稽郡王。卒，遺表聞，帝震悼，輟朝三日，特贈中書令，追封衛王，諡忠獻。戶部支賻贈銀絹以千計，內帑特頒五千匹兩，遣使祭奠。及其喪還，遣禮官致路祭於都門外，賜纛、佩玉、黝纁。

When Ningzong died, Miyuan installed Lizong on the throne. He was made Grand Preceptor while keeping his posts as Right Chief Councillor and Commissioner of Military Affairs, and was raised to Duke of Wei. He declined six times, then asked to leave government, return to his estate, and quickly left the capital; the emperor agreed. In the second year of Baoqing (1226) he was appointed Junior Preceptor and given a jade belt. He urged the emperor to serve the empress dowager wholeheartedly, study hard and cultivate virtue to repay Heaven's favor, and live up to the loyalty of the realm. In the first year of Shaoding (1228), when the empress dowager received an honorific title, he was appointed Grand Tutor but declined eight times. That summer he fell ill and repeatedly asked to retire, but was refused. After a disaster in the capital he submitted five memorials asking to be removed from office, and his rank was reduced to Duke of Fenghua. In the spring of the fifth year his original rank was restored. In the sixth year, when he was to be made Grand Preceptor, he declined three times and asked that the appointment be withheld, but the emperor refused. He was then appointed Grand Preceptor, remaining Right Chief Councillor and Commissioner of Military Affairs as Duke of Lu, and declined three more times. In the fifth year of Shaoding he asked to retire and was appointed Grand Tutor. Soon afterward he was made Grand Preceptor, Left Chief Councillor, and Commissioner of Military Affairs. He asked again to leave government. He kept the title of Grand Preceptor but was given the nominal posts of Military Commissioner of Baoning and Zhaoxin and Director of Liquan Abbey, and was raised to Prince of Kuaiji. He died. When his deathbed memorial arrived, the emperor was stricken with grief and suspended court for three days. Miyuan was posthumously made Director of the Secretariat, enfeoffed as Prince of Wei, and given the posthumous title Loyal and Offering. The Ministry of Revenue paid out thousands in silver and silk as funeral gifts; the inner treasury added five thousand bolts and taels, and envoys were sent to perform the rites. When the funeral procession returned, ritual officials offered sacrifices outside the city gate; he was granted a funeral banner, jade ornaments, and the dark red and black mourning robes.

初，誅李全，復淮安，克盱眙，第功行賞，諸將皆望不次拔擢。或言於彌遠，彌遠曰：「禦將之道，譬如養鷹，饑則依入，飽則揚去。曹彬下江南，太祖未肯以使相與之。況今邊戍未撤，警報時聞，若諸將一一遂其所求，志得意滿，猝有緩急，孰肯效死？」趙善湘以從官開閫，指授之功居多，日夜望執政。彌遠曰：「天族於國有嫌，高宗有詔止許任從官，不許為執政。紹熙末，慶元初，因汝愚、彥逾有定策功，是以權宜行之。某與善湘姻家，則又豈敢。」彌遠親密友周鑄、兄彌茂、甥夏周篆皆寄以腹心，人皆謂三人者必顯貴，然鑄老於布衣，彌茂以執政恩入流，周篆以捧香恩補官，俱止訓武郎而已。

Earlier, after Li Quan was killed, Huai'an was recovered and Xuyi captured, and merit rewards were handed out; every general expected exceptional promotion. When someone raised this with Miyuan, he said, "Commanding generals is like training a hawk: when it is hungry it stays with you; when it is full it flies off. When Cao Bin conquered the south, Emperor Taizu of Song still refused to make him a commissioner or chief councillor. The frontier garrisons are still in place and alarms still sound. If every general got everything he wanted and grew smug, who would die for the realm when crisis struck?" Zhao Shanxiang of the imperial clan had opened a command headquarters and had directed much of the campaign; he constantly hoped for a seat in the chief council. Miyuan said, "The imperial clan is always a delicate matter for the state. Gaozong decreed that clansmen might hold clan offices but not serve as chief councillors. At the end of Shaoxi and the start of Qingyuan, Zhao Ruyu and Ye Yanyue were given council posts only because they had helped settle the succession—an exceptional case. As I am related to Shanxiang by marriage, how could I possibly agree?" Miyuan trusted his close friend Zhou Zhu, his brother Miyuan Mao, and his nephew Xia Zhouzhuan with his deepest secrets. Everyone expected them to rise high, yet Zhu died a commoner, Mao entered office only through the chief councillor's privilege, and Zhouzhuan through a minor court favor—and none rose above Instructor in Military Affairs.

初，彌遠既誅韓侂胄，相甯宗十有七年。迨甯宗崩，廢濟王，非甯宗意。立理宗，又獨相九年，擅權用事，專任儉壬。理宗德其立己之功，不思社稷大計，雖台諫言其奸惡，弗恤也。彌遠死，寵渥猶優其子孫，厥後為制碑銘，以「公忠翊運，定策元勳」題其首。濟王不得其死，識者群起而論之，而彌遠反用李知孝、梁成大等以為鷹犬，於是一時之君子貶竄斥逐，不遺餘力雲。

After executing Han Tuozhou, Miyuan had served as Ningzong's chief councillor for seventeen years. When Ningzong died he deposed the Prince of Ji, though that had not been Ningzong's wish. He installed Lizong and ruled alone for nine more years, hoarding power and filling office with sycophants. Lizong was grateful that Miyuan had put him on the throne and ignored the welfare of the realm; even when censors denounced Miyuan's crimes, the emperor would not listen. After Miyuan's death his descendants were still richly favored, and a stele was later erected bearing the title "Loyal servant who upheld the dynasty and founding meritocrat of the succession." The Prince of Ji had died under suspicious circumstances, and thoughtful men protested, yet Miyuan used Li Zhixiao, Liang Chengda, and others as his enforcers, banishing and persecuting the leading scholars of the day without mercy.

鄭清之

Zheng Qingzhi

鄭清之，字德源，慶元之鄞人。初名燮，字文叔。少從樓昉學，能文，樓鑰亟加稱賞。嘉泰二年，入太學。十年，登進士第，調峽州教授。帥趙方嚴重，靳許可，清之往白事，為置酒，命其子範、葵出拜，方掖清之無答拜，且曰：「他日願以二子相累。」湖北茶商群聚暴橫，清之白總領何炳曰：「此輩精悍，宜籍為兵，緩急可用。」炳亟下召募之令，趨者雲集，號曰「茶商軍」，後多賴其用。調湖、廣總所準備差遣、國子監書庫官。十六年，遷國子學錄。丞相史彌遠與清之謀廢濟國公，事見《皇子竑傳》。俄以清之兼魏惠憲王府教授，遷宗學諭，遷太學博士，皆仍兼教授。甯宗崩，丞相入定策，詔旨皆清之所定。

Zheng Qingzhi, whose style was Deyuan, was a native of Yin in Qingyuan Prefecture. He had originally been named Xie, with the style Wenshu. As a youth he studied under Lou Fang and showed literary talent; Lou Yue often praised him highly. In the second year of Jiatai (1202) he entered the Imperial University. In the tenth year of Jiatai he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed professor in Xia Prefecture. The commander Zhao Fang was stern and slow to praise anyone. When Qingzhi came to report on affairs, Fang gave a banquet and had his sons Fan and Kui come out to bow. Fang raised Qingzhi so he need not bow in return and said, "One day I hope to leave my two sons in your care." In Hubei, tea merchants had banded together and grown violent. Qingzhi told the intendant He Bing, "These men are tough and capable; they should be enrolled as troops for emergencies." Bing quickly issued a recruitment order, and volunteers flocked in. They were called the "Tea Merchant Army" and proved valuable in later campaigns. He was transferred to preparatory duty at the Hu-Guang General Office and made librarian of the Directorate of Education. In the sixteenth year of Jiatai he was promoted to Recorder of the Imperial College. Chief Councillor Shi Miyuan and Qingzhi plotted to depose the Prince of Ji; see the biography of Prince Huo. Soon he was made professor at the establishment of Prince Weihuixian, then Instructor of the Imperial Clan School, then Doctor of the Imperial University, retaining his teaching posts throughout. When Ningzong died, the chief councillor settled the succession, and Qingzhi drafted all the edicts.

理宗即帝位，授諸王宮大小學教授，遷宗學博士、宗正寺丞兼權工部郎、兼崇政殿說書。帝問外人因閣子庫進絲履有謗議，清之言：「禁中服用頗事新潔者。」帝曰：「故事，月進鞵數兩，朕非敝不易，何由致謗？」清之奏：「孝宗繼高宗，故儉德易章，陛下繼甯考，故儉德難著。甯考自奉如寒士，衣領重浣，革舄屢補，今欲儉德著聞，須過於甯考方可。」帝嘉納。

When Lizong ascended the throne, Qingzhi was made professor at the schools for imperial clansmen, then Doctor of the Imperial Clan School, Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court with acting duty in the Ministry of Works, and lecturer at the Chongzheng Hall. The emperor asked about public criticism over silk shoes supplied through the Inner Storehouse. Qingzhi said, "Within the palace there is already a taste for what is fresh and new in dress." The emperor said, "By precedent only a few pairs are sent each month. I do not replace them until they are worn out—how could that invite slander?" Qingzhi replied, "Xiaozong followed Gaozong, so his frugality was easy to show. Your Majesty follows Ningzong, so frugality is harder to make visible. Ningzong lived like a poor scholar, washing his collars again and again and patching his leather shoes. If you wish your frugality to be widely known, you must go beyond what Ningzong did." The emperor approved and accepted his advice.

寶慶元年，改兼兵部兼國史院編修官、實錄院檢討官，遷起居郎，仍兼史官、說書、樞密院編修官。二年，權工部侍郎，暫權給事中，進給事中，升兼同修國史、實錄院同修撰。紹定元年，遷翰林學士、知制誥兼侍讀，升兼修國史實錄院修撰、端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事。三年，授參知政事兼簽書樞密院事。四年，兼同知樞密院事。六年，彌遠卒，命清之為右丞相兼樞密使。

In the first year of Baoqing (1225) he was given concurrent duty in the Ministry of War and on the National History and Veritable Records, was promoted to Recorder of the Emperor's Actions, and kept his posts as historiographer, lecturer, and compiler at the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the second year he became Acting Vice Minister of Works, then Acting and finally full Supervising Secretary, and was promoted to Associate Compiler of the National History and Veritable Records. In the first year of Shaoding (1228) he was made Hanlin academician, in charge of drafting proclamations and concurrent lecturer; he was then promoted to compiler of the National History and Veritable Records, Duanming Hall academician, and deputy signatory at the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the third year he was appointed vice grand councillor and deputy signatory at the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the fourth year he was given concurrent duty as associate controller of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the sixth year Miyuan died, and Qingzhi was appointed right grand councillor and commissioner of military affairs.

端平元年，上既親總庶政，赫然獨斷，而清之亦慨然以天下為己任，召還真德秀、魏了翁、崔與之、李𡌴、徐僑、趙汝談、尤焴、游似、洪咨夔、王遂、李宗勉、杜范、徐清叟、袁甫、李韶，時號「小元祐。」大者相繼為宰輔，惟與之終始辭不至，遣逸如劉宰、趙蕃皆見旌異。是時金雖亡而入洛之師大潰。二年，上疏乞罷，不可，拜特進、左丞相兼樞密使。三年八月，霖雨大風，四疏丐去。九月，禋祀雷變，請益力。乃授觀文殿大學士、醴泉觀使兼侍讀，四疏控辭，依舊大學士、提舉洞霄宮。及聞邊警，密疏：「恐陛下憂悔太過，以汩清明之躬，累剛大之志。」嘉熙三年，封申國公。四年，遣中使賜禦書「輔德明謨之閣」，賜楮十萬緡為築室，乃日與賓客門生相羊山水間。

In the first year of Duanping (1234), with the emperor now personally directing affairs and ruling with firm independent authority, Qingzhi likewise took the empire's welfare as his own charge. He recalled Zhen Dexiu, Wei Liaoweng, Cui Yuzhi, Li Hui, Xu Qiao, Zhao Rutan, You Yu, You Si, Hong Zikui, Wang Sui, Li Zongmian, Du Fan, Xu Qingsou, Yuan Fu, and Li Shao—a group known at the time as the "Little Yuanyou." The leading figures among them successively entered the highest councils; only Cui Yuzhi consistently declined and never came to court. Recluses such as Liu Zai and Zhao Fan were likewise singled out for special honors. At this time Jin had already fallen, yet the Song forces entering Luoyang suffered a disastrous rout. In the second year he memorialized asking to be relieved of office. The request was denied, and he was appointed special advancement, left grand councillor, and commissioner of military affairs. In the eighth month of the third year, as torrential rains and violent winds struck, he submitted four memorials asking to leave office. In the ninth month, when thunder accompanied the great sacrificial rites, he pressed his resignation request with still greater urgency. He was then made grand academician of the Guanwen Hall, commissioner of the Liquan View, and concurrent lecturer; after four memorials declining the appointment, he was retained as grand academician and made superintendent of the Dongxiao Palace. When border alarms reached him, he submitted a secret memorial: "I fear that excessive sorrow and regret may cloud Your Majesty's clarity and weigh down your firm and resolute resolve." In the third year of Jiaxi (1239) he was enfeoffed as Duke of Shen. In the fourth year an imperial emissary brought the emperor's own inscription for the "Pavilion of Assisting Virtue and Clarifying Counsel," along with one hundred thousand strings of paper currency to build a residence. Thereafter he spent his days wandering among hills and streams with guests and disciples.

淳祐四年，依前觀文殿大學士、醴泉觀使兼侍讀，屢辭不允，拜少保、觀文殿大學士、醴泉觀使兼侍讀，進封衛國公。趣入見，有旨賜第。五年正月，上壽畢，亦疏丐歸，不允。拜少傅，依前觀文殿大學士、醴泉觀使兼侍讀，進封越國公。居無何，喪其子士昌，決意東還，又不許。拜少師、奉國軍節度使，依前醴泉觀使兼侍讀、越國公，賜玉帶，更賜第於西湖之漁莊。進讀《仁皇訓典》，謂：「仁祖之仁厚，發為英明，故能修明紀綱，而無寬弛不振之患；孝宗之英明，本于仁厚，故能涵養士氣，而無矯勵峭刻之習。蓋仁厚、英明二者相須，此仁祖、孝宗所以為盛也。」帝褒諭之。

In the fourth year of Chunyou (1244), though he repeatedly declined reappointment as grand academician of the Guanwen Hall, Liquan View commissioner, and concurrent lecturer, he was made junior guardian with those same posts and was advanced to Duke of Wei. He was summoned for an audience and granted an imperial residence. In the first month of the fifth year, after celebrating the emperor's birthday, he memorialized asking to retire home; the request was denied. He was appointed junior preceptor, retained his posts as Guanwen Hall grand academician, Liquan View commissioner, and concurrent lecturer, and was advanced to Duke of Yue. Before long his son Shichang died; resolved to return east, he was once again refused permission. He was made junior master and military commissioner of the Fengguo Army, kept his posts as Liquan View commissioner and concurrent lecturer, and retained his title as Duke of Yue; he was granted a jade belt and a new residence at the Fishing Lodge on West Lake. While lecturing on the Instructions of Emperor Renzong, he said: "Emperor Renzong's humaneness and magnanimity blossomed into brilliance and clarity, enabling him to strengthen institutions without the danger of lax indulgence and slack governance; Emperor Xiaozong's brilliance and clarity were rooted in humaneness and magnanimity, enabling him to nourish the spirit of the scholar-official class without the habit of forced striving and harsh severity. Humaneness and brilliance depend on each other; that is why the reigns of Renzong and Xiaozong were so flourishing." The emperor praised and commended him.

六年，拜太保，力辭。故事，許回授子孫，清之請追封高祖洽，帝從之，蓋異恩也。七年，拜太傅、右丞相兼樞密使、越國公。中使及門，清之方放浪湖山，寓僧刹，竟夕不歸。詰旦內引，叩頭辭免，帝勉諭有外間所不及知者。甫退，則中使接踵而至。或請更化改元，清之曰：「改元，天子之始事，更化，朝廷之大端，漢事已非古，然不因易相而為之。」

In the sixth year he was offered the post of grand guardian but declined forcefully. By precedent an official could transfer honors to descendants; Qingzhi asked that his great-grandfather Qia be posthumously enfeoffed, and the emperor agreed—an exceptional favor. In the seventh year he was appointed grand preceptor, right grand councillor, commissioner of military affairs, and Duke of Yue. When the imperial emissary arrived at his door, Qingzhi was off enjoying the lakes and mountains, staying at a Buddhist monastery, and did not return until dawn. At daybreak he was summoned within the palace, where he kowtowed and begged to be excused; the emperor urged him to accept, saying there were matters unknown to those outside. Hardly had he withdrawn when imperial emissaries arrived one after another. When some urged a change of reign title and renewal of governance, Qingzhi said, "Changing the reign title is the emperor's inaugural act; renewing governance is a great turning point for the court. Han precedents are hardly ancient models, yet in any case neither should be done simply because the chief minister has changed."

帝以邊事為憂，詔趙葵以樞使視師，陳靴以知樞密院事帥湖、廣，二人方辭遜，會清之再相，力主之，科降辟置無所留難，葵、靴遂往。於是戰于泗水、渦口、木庫，皆以捷聞。九年，拜太師、左丞相兼樞密使，辭太師不拜，依前太傅。每謂天下之財困於養兵，兵費困於生券，思所以變通之，遇調戍防邊，命樞屬量遠近以便其道塗，時緩急以次其遣發。又議移歲調兵屯以戍淮面，並軍分頭目以節廩稍，先移鎮江策勝一軍屯泗水，公私便之。

Troubled by border affairs, the emperor ordered Zhao Kui, as commissioner of military affairs, to take command in the field and Chen Wei, as controller of the Bureau of Military Affairs, to lead forces in Hu and Guang. Both were hesitating to accept when Qingzhi returned as chief minister, strongly backed them, and cleared every appointment without obstruction—whereupon Kui and Wei set out. Thereupon battles were fought at Sishui, Wokou, and Muku, and in every case victory was reported. In the ninth year he was offered grandee and left grand councillor with the military commission; he declined the grandeeship and remained grand preceptor. He often observed that the empire's finances were strained by maintaining troops and that military costs were further burdened by pay certificates; he sought ways to reform the system. When troops were mobilized for frontier garrison duty, he ordered Bureau of Military Affairs staff to calculate distances so routes could be eased and dispatches sequenced according to urgency. He also proposed shifting yearly mobilized garrison troops to guard the Huai front, consolidating units and dividing command to regulate rations and stipends. First he moved the Cesheng Army from Zhenjiang to garrison Sishui—a change that benefited both the state and the people.

諸路虧鹽，執其事者破家以償，清之核其犯科者追理，掛誤者悉蠲之，全活甚眾。沿江算舟之賦素重，清之次第停罷，如池之雁氵義有大法場之目，其錢分隸諸司，清之奏罷其並緣漁取者，蓋數倍公家之入，合分隸者從朝廷償之。報下，清之方與客飲，舉杯曰：「今日飲此酒殊快！」四上謝事之章。

Where salt deficits occurred on the various circuits, officials in charge often ruined their families trying to make repayment. Qingzhi investigated those who had truly violated regulations and pursued recovery, while fully remitting debts owed through error—sparing a great many families ruin. The tax on boats along the Yangzi had long been heavy; Qingzhi abolished it in stages. At Yanqi in Chi Prefecture, for example, revenues under the designation Great Dharma Field had been divided among various offices. Qingzhi memorialized to abolish the exactions that used this as a pretext to fish for profit—amounting to several times the state's proper revenue—and had the affected offices compensated from the court. When the reply arrived, Qingzhi was drinking with guests; he raised his cup and said, "This wine tastes especially fine today!" He submitted four memorials thanking the throne and asking to retire from office.

十年，進《十龜元吉箴》，一持敬，二典學，三崇儉，四力行，五能定，六明善，七謹微，八察言，九惜時，十務實。疏奏：「敬天之怒易，敬天之休難，天怒可憂而以為易，天休可喜而以為難，何哉？蓋憂則懼心生，懼則怒可轉而為休；喜則玩心生，玩則休或轉而為怒。」帝大喜，命史官書之，賜詔獎諭。十一年，十疏乞罷政，皆不許。拜太師，力辭。有事於明堂，有旨閤門給扶掖二人，再賜玉帶，令服以朝。十一月丁酉，退朝感寒疾，危甚，猶以未得雪為憂。俄大雪，起曰：「百官賀雪，上必甚喜。」命掬雪床前觀之。累奏乞罷政，不允，奏不已，拜太傅、保甯軍節度使充醴泉觀使，進封齊國公致仕。卒，遺表聞，帝震悼，輟朝三日，特贈尚書令，追封魏郡王，賜諡忠定。

In the tenth year he presented the "Ten Tortoises Primordial Auspicious Admonitions": maintaining reverence; honoring learning; esteeming frugality; exerting effort; being able to settle affairs; discerning goodness; being careful in minute matters; examining words; cherishing time; and seeking what is solid and real. In his memorial he wrote: "It is easy to revere Heaven's anger but hard to revere Heaven's favor. Heaven's anger should cause concern, yet men treat it lightly; Heaven's favor should bring joy, yet men treat it with difficulty—why? Because worry gives rise to fear, and fear can turn Heaven's anger into favor; but pleasure gives rise to complacency, and complacency can turn Heaven's favor back into anger." The emperor was greatly pleased, ordered the historiographers to record it, and issued an edict of commendation. In the eleventh year he submitted ten memorials asking to leave office; all were denied. He was offered the post of grandee but declined forcefully. When rites were held at the Bright Hall, an order directed the Gate of Reception to provide two attendants to support him; he was again granted a jade belt and ordered to wear it at court. On dingyou in the eleventh month, after leaving court he fell gravely ill with a cold; even in his critical state he still worried that snow had not yet fallen. Soon heavy snow fell; he roused himself and said, "The officials will offer congratulations on the snow; the emperor must be greatly pleased." He had snow scooped up and brought to his bedside so he could look at it. He repeatedly memorialized asking to leave office, but when his petitions went unanswered he was finally appointed grand preceptor, military commissioner of the Baoning Army, and commissioner of the Liquan View, advanced to Duke of Qi, and granted retirement. When he died and his final memorial reached the throne, the emperor was deeply shaken and grieved, suspended court for three days, posthumously granted him Minister of the Masters of Writing, enfeoffed him posthumously as Prince of Wei Commandery, and gave him the posthumous title Loyal and Settled.

清之不好立異，湯巾嘗論事侵清之，及清之再相，巾求去，清之曰：「己欲作君子，使誰為小人。」力挽留之。徐清叟嘗論列清之，乃引之共政。趙葵視師年餘，乞罷，上未有以處之，清之曰：「非使作相不足以酬勞，陛下豈以臣故耶？臣必不因葵來遽引退，臣願為左，使葵居右。」上訖從之，然葵竟不果來。

Qingzhi did not like to stand apart in opposition. Tang Jin had once criticized him in debate; when Qingzhi returned as chief minister, Jin asked to leave. Qingzhi said, "If you insist on being the gentleman, who is left to play the villain?" He pressed him forcefully to stay. Xu Qingsou had once memorialized against Qingzhi; Qingzhi then brought him into the government to serve alongside him. Zhao Kui had inspected the armies for more than a year and asked to be relieved; the emperor did not know how to reward him. Qingzhi said, "Only making him chief minister would adequately reward his service—is Your Majesty holding back because of me? I will certainly not withdraw hastily because Kui is coming; I am willing to serve on the left and let Kui serve on the right." The emperor finally agreed, but Kui never did come to court.

清之代言奏對，多不存稿，有《安晚集》六十卷。清之自與彌遠議廢濟王竑，立理宗，駸駸至宰輔，然端平之間召用正人，清之之力也。至再相，則年齒衰暮，政歸妻子，而閑廢之人或因緣以賄進，為世所少雲。

When Qingzhi drafted imperial responses and memorials, he usually kept no drafts; his Collected Works of Anwan ran to sixty juan. From the time Qingzhi joined Miyuan in deposing Prince Ji and installing Lizong, he had gradually risen to chief minister; yet the recall of upright men during the Duanping period was largely Qingzhi's work. When he became chief minister a second time, he was already advanced in years; government fell to his wife and children, and idle or dismissed men sometimes used connections to buy their way back into office—conduct the age held in little esteem.

史嵩之

Shi Songzhi

史嵩之，字子由，慶元府鄞人。嘉定十三年進士，調光化軍司戶參軍。十六年，差充京西、湖北路制置司準備差遣。十七年，升幹辦公事。寶慶三年，主管機宜文字，通判襄陽府。紹定元年，以經理屯田，襄陽積谷六十八萬，加其官，權知棗陽軍。二年，遷軍器監丞兼權知棗陽軍，尋兼制置司參議官。三年，棗陽屯田成，轉兩官。以明堂恩，封鄞縣男，賜食邑。以直秘閣、京西轉運判官兼提舉常平兼安撫制置司參議官。四年，遷大理少卿兼京西、湖北制置副使。五年，加大理卿兼權刑部侍郎，升制置使兼知襄陽府，賜便宜指揮。六年，遷刑部侍郎，仍舊職。

Shi Songzhi, whose style was Ziyou, was a native of Yin in Qingyuan Prefecture. In the thirteenth year of Jiading (1220) he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed registrar of the revenue section in Guanghua Army. In the sixteenth year he was assigned as preparatory commissioner on the Jingxi-Hubei Circuit Pacification Commission. In the seventeenth year he was promoted to administrative clerk. In the third year of Baoqing (1227) he was put in charge of confidential documents and appointed vice prefect of Xiangyang Prefecture. In the first year of Shaoding (1228), for managing garrison fields he accumulated six hundred eighty thousand units of grain at Xiangyang; his rank was raised and he was made acting prefect of Zaoyang Army. In the second year he was transferred to assistant director of the Armory and concurrently acting prefect of Zaoyang Army; soon after he also served as advisory official on the Pacification Commission. In the third year, when the garrison fields at Zaoyang were completed, he was promoted two ranks. By grace of the Bright Hall rites, he was enfeoffed as Baron of Yin County and granted a fief for sustenance. He was appointed direct access to the Secretariat, transport commissioner of Jingxi, concurrently intendant of the Ever-Normal Granaries and advisory official on the Pacification Commission. In the fourth year he was transferred to vice minister of justice and concurrently deputy pacification commissioner of Jingxi and Hubei. In the fifth year he was additionally made minister of justice and acting vice minister of punishments, promoted to pacification commissioner and concurrently prefect of Xiangyang, and granted discretionary command. In the sixth year he was transferred to vice minister of punishments while retaining his former duties.

臣熟慮根本，周思利害，甘受遲鈍之譏，思出萬全之計。荊襄連年水潦螟蝗之災，饑饉流亡之患，極力振救，尚不聊生，徵調既繁，夫豈堪命？其勢必至於主戶棄業以逃亡，役夫中道而竄逸，無歸之民，聚而為盜，饑饉之卒，未戰先潰。當此之際，正恐重貽宵旰之慮矣。兵民，陛下之兵民也，片紙調發，東西惟命。然事關根本，願計其成，必計其敗，既慮其始，必慮其終，謹而審之，與二三大臣深計而熟圖之。

"Your subject has thoroughly weighed fundamentals and broadly considered benefits and harms, willingly accepting the charge of sluggishness in order to devise a plan of complete safety." "Jing and Xiang have suffered year after year from floods and locust plagues, famine, and mass displacement; though relief efforts have been pushed to the limit, the people can barely survive. Levies and mobilizations are already crushing—how can they bear more?" "The situation will inevitably reach the point where household heads abandon their occupations and flee, conscripts desert midway, displaced people gather into bandit bands, and famine-weakened troops collapse before battle even begins." "At such a moment, I truly fear adding anew to Your Majesty's sleepless cares." "Soldiers and people are Your Majesty's soldiers and people; at a single written order for mobilization, they go east or west as commanded." "Yet the matter touches fundamentals; I ask that success be weighed together with failure, the beginning together with the end—considering carefully and examining closely, and planning deeply and thoroughly with the chief ministers."

若夫和好之與進取，決不兩立。臣受任守邊，適當事會交至之沖，議論紛紜之際。雷同和附，以致誤國，其罪當誅；確守不移之愚，上迕丁寧之旨，罪亦當誅。迕旨則止於一身，誤國則及天下。

"Peace and alliance on the one hand and advance and seizure on the other absolutely cannot stand together." "Your subject received appointment to guard the frontier just as affairs converged at a critical juncture and opinions were clamorous." "Echoing others in agreement to the point of misleading the state—such a crime deserves execution;" "the folly of holding firm without shifting, in defiance of repeated admonitions—that crime also deserves execution." "Violating the imperial will affects only one person; misleading the state affects the whole empire."

丞相鄭清之亦以書言勿為異同，嵩之力求去。

Chief Councillor Zheng Qingzhi also wrote advising against creating divisions; Songzhi pressed forcefully to resign.

朝陵之使未還，而諸軍數道並進，復上疏乞黜罷，權兵部尚書，不拜。乞祠，進寶章閣直學士，提舉太平宮，歸養田裏。尋以華文閣直學士知隆興府兼江西安撫使。帝自師潰，始悔不用嵩之言，召見，力辭，權刑部尚書。引見，疏言結人心、作士氣、核實理財等事。且言：「今日之事，當先自治，不可專恃和議。」乞祠，以前職知平江府，以母病乞侍醫藥，不俟報可而歸。進寶章閣學士、淮西制置使兼沿江制置副使兼知鄂州。既內引，賜便宜指揮，兼湖、廣總領兼淮西安撫使。嘉熙元年，進華文閣學士、京西荊湖安撫制置使，依舊沿江制置副使兼節制光、黃、蘄、舒。乞免兼總領，從之。

The envoys to the imperial tombs had not yet returned when armies advanced on several routes together; he again memorialized asking to be dismissed, was offered acting minister of war, and declined to accept. He requested a sinecure, was promoted to direct academician of the Baozhang Pavilion, made superintendent of the Taiping Palace, and returned to his fields to care for his parents. Soon after he was made direct academician of the Huawen Pavilion, prefect of Longxing Prefecture, and concurrently Jiangxi pacification commissioner. After the army's rout, the emperor began to regret not having heeded Songzhi's advice; he summoned him for an audience, but Songzhi declined forcefully and was appointed acting minister of punishments. At his presentation he memorialized on winning people's hearts, rousing the spirit of the scholar-official class, verifying and solidifying financial administration, and other matters. He also wrote: "In affairs today, self-governance must come first; one cannot rely solely on peace negotiations." He requested a sinecure and was appointed with his former rank as prefect of Pingjiang Prefecture; when his mother fell ill he begged leave to attend her with medicine and returned without awaiting approval. He was promoted to academician of the Baozhang Pavilion, pacification commissioner of Huai West, concurrently deputy pacification commissioner along the river, and prefect of E Prefecture. After he was summoned within the palace, he was granted discretionary command and additionally served as general intendant of Hu and Guang and Huai West pacification commissioner. In the first year of Jiaxi (1237) he was promoted to academician of the Huawen Pavilion and Jingxi-Jinghu pacification commissioner, remaining deputy pacification commissioner along the river and concurrently controlling Guang, Huang, Qi, and Shu. He asked to be relieved of the concurrent general intendancy, and the request was granted.

廬州圍解，詔獎諭之。以明堂恩，進封伯，加食邑。條奏江、淮各三事，又陳十難，又言江陵非孟珙不可守，乞勉諭之。漢陽受攻，嵩之帥師發江陵，奏誅張可大，竄盧普、李士達，以其棄城也。二年，黃州圍解，降詔獎諭，拜端明殿學士，職任依舊，恩數視執政，進封奉化郡侯，加食邑。詔入覲，拜參知政事，督視東西、荊湖南北、江西路軍馬，鄂州置司，兼督視淮南西路軍馬兼督視光、蘄、黃、夔、施州軍馬，加食邑。城黃州。十一月，復光州。十二月，復滁州。三年，授宣奉大夫、右丞相兼樞密、都督兩淮四川京西湖北軍馬，進封公，加食邑，兼督江西、湖南軍馬，改都督江、淮、京、湖、四川軍馬。薦士三十有二人，其後董槐、吳潛皆號賢相。

When the siege of Luzhou was lifted, an edict commended him. On account of the Bright Hall favor, he was promoted to baron and granted additional income lands. He submitted memorials setting forth three matters each for the Yangtze and Huai regions, presented ten difficulties, and argued that Chingling could not be held without Meng Kung, begging that Meng be encouraged to remain. When Hanyang came under attack, Songzhi led troops out from Chingling, memorialized for the execution of Chang K'o-ta, and banished Lu P'u and Li Shih-ta for having abandoned their posts. In the second year, when the siege of Huang Prefecture was lifted, an edict commended him; he was appointed academician of the Tuanming Hall with his duties unchanged and favors equal to those of chief ministers, was promoted to marquis of Fenghua Commandery, and granted additional income lands. Summoned to audience, he was appointed vice grand councillor and placed in charge of the armies of the East and West, Chinghu, and Kiangsi circuits, with his headquarters at O Prefecture; he additionally supervised the Huainan West Route armies and the forces of Kuang, Ch'i, Huang, K'uei, and Shih, and was granted additional income lands. He fortified Huang Prefecture. In the eleventh month, Kuang Prefecture was recovered. In the twelfth month, Ch'u Prefecture was recovered. In the third year, he was granted the rank of Hsüan-feng Grandee and appointed right chief councillor concurrently director of the privy council and grand supervisor of the armies of the Two Huai, Szechuan, Chingxi, and Hupai; he was promoted to duke and granted additional income lands, additionally supervised the armies of Kiangsi and Hunan, and his title was revised to grand supervisor of the Yangtze, Huai, Ching, Hu, and Szechuan armies. He recommended thirty-two scholars; afterward Tung Huai and Wu Ch'ien were both acclaimed as worthy chief ministers.

復信陽，以督府米拯淮民之饑。六月，復襄陽，嵩之言：「襄陽雖復，未易守。」自是邊境多以捷聞，降詔獎諭。四年，乞祠，趣召奏事，轉三官，依前右丞相兼樞密使，眷顧特隆，賜齎無虛日。久旱，乞解機政。地震，屢疏乞罷免，皆不許。淳祐元年，進《玉斧箴》。安南入貢，不用正朔，嵩之議用范仲淹卻西夏書例，以不敢聞於朝還之。二年，進高、孝、光、甯帝《紀》，《孝宗經武要略》，《甯宗實錄》、《日曆》，《會要》、《玉牒》，進金紫光祿大夫，加食邑。是冬，封永國公，加食邑。四年，遭父喪，起復右丞相兼樞密使。累賜手詔，遣中使趣行。於是太學生黃愷伯、金九萬、孫翼鳳等百四十四人，武學生翁日善等六十七人，京學生劉時舉、王元野、黃道等九十四人，宗學生與寰等三十四人，建昌軍學教授盧鉞，皆上書論嵩之不當起復，不報。將作監徐元傑奏對及劉鎮上封事，帝意頗悟。

Hsin-yang was recovered, and grain from the supervisory headquarters was used to relieve famine among the Huai people. In the sixth month, Hsiang-yang was recovered; Songzhi said, "Though Hsiang-yang has been recovered, it will not be easy to defend." From then on the frontier frequently reported victories, and edicts commended him. In the fourth year, he requested a sinecure but was urgently summoned to report on affairs; he was promoted three ranks and remained right chief councillor concurrently director of the privy council; imperial favor was unusually great, and gifts were bestowed day after day. During a prolonged drought, he asked to be relieved of state affairs. After an earthquake, he repeatedly submitted memorials asking to be dismissed, but all were refused. In the first year of Ch'un-yu (1241), he presented the Admonition of the Jade Axe. When Annam sent tribute without acknowledging the dynastic calendar, Songzhi proposed following Fan Chung-yen's precedent in rejecting Western Hsia correspondence, and had the tribute returned on the ground that the court should not be apprised of it. In the second year, he presented the annals of the Kao, Hsiao, Kuang, and Ning emperors, the Essentials of Emperor Hsiao-tsung's Military Governance, the Veritable Records and Daily Calendar of Emperor Ning-tsung, the Institutional Compendium, and the Imperial Genealogy; he was promoted to grandee of the golden seal and purple girdle and granted additional income lands. That winter, he was enfeoffed as duke of Yung Kingdom and granted additional income lands. In the fourth year, when his father died, he was recalled from mourning to serve again as right chief councillor concurrently director of the privy council. The emperor repeatedly sent handwritten edicts and dispatched palace envoys to hurry him back to office. Thereupon one hundred forty-four Imperial Academy students, including Huang K'ai-po, Chin Chiu-wan, and Sun I-feng; sixty-seven Military Academy students, including Weng Jih-shan; ninety-four Capital Academy students, including Liu Shih-chü, Wang Yüan-yeh, and Huang Tao; thirty-four Princes' Academy students, including Yü Huan; and Lu Yüeh, professor of the Chien-ch'ang Prefecture school—all submitted memorials arguing that Songzhi should not be recalled from mourning, but received no response. After Hsu Yüan-chieh of the directorate of palace buildings answered at audience and Liu Chên submitted a sealed memorial, the emperor's mind was somewhat changed.

初，嵩之從子璟卿嘗以書諫曰：

Earlier, Songzhi's nephew Ching Ch'ing had once remonstrated with him in a letter, saying:

伯父秉天下之大政，必辦天下之大事；膺天下之大任，必能成天下之大功。比所行浸不克終，用人之法，不待舉削而改官者有之，譴責未幾而旋蒙敘理者有之，丁難未幾而遽被起復者有之。借曰有非常之才，有不次之除，醲恩異賞，所以收拾人才，而不知斯人者果能運籌帷幄、獻六奇之策而得之乎？抑亦獻賂幕賓而得之乎？果能馳身鞍馬，效一戰之勇而得之乎？抑亦效顰奴僕而得之乎？徒聞包苴公行，政出多門，便嬖私昵，狼狽萬狀，祖宗格法，壞於今日也。

"Uncle, holding the great governance of the empire, must accomplish the empire's great affairs;" "bearing the empire's great charge, must be able to achieve its great merit." Of late what you undertake gradually fails to reach completion; in your method of employing men, some are promoted without awaiting recommendation and scrutiny, some censured one day and reinstated the next, and some scarcely in mourning before being suddenly recalled. Granting that extraordinary talents receive extraordinary appointments—rich favor and special rewards to gather men of ability—do you know whether such men truly won their posts by scheming within the tent and offering the six wondrous stratagems? Or did they win them by offering bribes as staff retainers? Did they truly win them by charging on horseback and displaying the valor of a single battle? Or did they win them by aping frowns like menials and servants? One hears only that bribes are openly exchanged, policy issues from many hands, favorites and private intimates run rampant in every disgraceful way, and the ancestral regulations are being ruined today.

自開督府，東南民力，困於供需，州縣倉卒，匱于應辦，輦金帛，輓芻粟，絡繹道路，曰一則督府，二則督府，不知所幹者何事，所成者何功！近聞蜀川不守，議者多歸退師于鄂之失。何者？分戍列屯，備邊禦戎，首尾相援，如常山之蛇。維揚則有趙葵，廬江則有杜伯虎，金陵則有別之傑。為督府者，宜據鄂渚形勢之地，西可以援蜀，東可以援淮，北可以鎮荊湖。不此之圖，盡損藩籬，深入堂奧，伯父謀身自固之計則安，其如天下蒼生何！

Since the supervisory headquarters was opened, the strength of the people in the southeast has been exhausted by supply and demand; prefectures and counties are hard pressed and depleted in meeting requisitions; gold, silks, fodder, and grain crowd the roads—"first the supervisory headquarters, second the supervisory headquarters"—and no one knows what business is being done or what achievement is being accomplished! Recently I hear that Szechuan is not being held; many attribute it to the error of withdrawing troops at O. Why? Garrisons were distributed in camps to guard the frontier and repel invaders, head and tail aiding each other like the serpent of Ch'ang-shan. At Wei-yang there was Chao K'uei, at Lu-chiang Tu Po-hu, and at Chin-ling Pieh Chih-chieh. The holder of the supervisory headquarters ought to occupy the strategic ground at O-chu: from there he could aid Szechuan to the west, the Huai to the east, and secure Ching and Hu to the north. Instead of planning thus, you have wholly stripped away the outer defenses and penetrated deep into the inner chambers—Uncle, your plan to secure yourself may be safe enough, but what of the living masses under heaven!

是以饑民叛將，乘虛搗危，侵軼於沅、湘，搖盪於鼎、澧。為江陵之勢苟孤，則武昌之勢未易守；刑湖之路稍警，則江、浙之諸郡焉得高枕而臥？況殺降失信，則前日徹疆之計不可復用矣；內地失護，則前日清野之策不可復施矣。此隙一開，東南生靈特幾上之肉耳。則宋室南渡之疆土，惡能保其金甌之無闕也。盍早為之圖，上以寬九重宵旰之憂，下以慰雙親朝夕之望。不然，師老財殫，績用不成，主憂臣辱，公論不容。萬一不畏強禦之士，繩以《春秋》之法，聲其討罪不效之咎，當此之時，雖優遊菽水之養，其可得乎？異日國史載之，不得齒于趙普開國勳臣之列，而乃廁于蔡京誤國亂臣之後，遺臭萬年，果何面目見我祖於地下乎？人謂禍起蕭牆，危如朝露，此愚所痛心疾首為伯父苦口極言。

Hence starving people and rebel generals, seizing the opportunity to strike, have raided Yüan and Hsiang and shaken Ting and Li. If the position at Chingling stands alone, then the position at Wuch'ang will not be easy to hold; if the routes of Ching and Hu are slightly alarmed, how can the prefectures of Kiang and Che sleep in peace? Moreover, killing those who surrendered and breaking faith means the plan of the other day to withdraw frontiers cannot be used again; the inner lands losing protection means the strategy of the other day to clear the countryside cannot be applied again. Once this gap is opened, the living masses of the southeast will be no more than meat upon the chopping block. Then how can the territory of the Sung house since the southern crossing preserve its integrity without breach? Why not plan for this early—above to ease the emperor's anxiety from dawn to dusk, below to comfort your parents' hope from morning to evening? Otherwise, troops will grow weary and funds exhausted, achievements will not be completed, the ruler will worry and the minister be shamed, and public opinion will not tolerate it. Should men who fear not the powerful bind you by the law of the Spring and Autumn Annals and proclaim the fault of campaigning without effect—at such a time, could you even enjoy the leisurely nurture of bean and water? When the national history records it in days to come, you will not rank among the founding merit ministers like Chao P'u, but will be placed after the state-misleading traitors like Ts'ai Ching—leaving a stench for ten thousand years; with what face can you meet our ancestors beneath the ground? Men say disaster rises within the curtained wall and danger is like morning dew—this is what I, in deepest grief, speak to Uncle with utmost earnestness.

為今之計，莫若盡去在幕之群小，悉召在野之君子，相與改弦易轍，戮力王事，庶幾失之東隅，收之桑榆矣。如其視失而不知救，視非而不知革，薰蕕同器，駑驥同櫪，天下大勢，駸駸日趨於危亡之域矣。伯父與璟卿，親猶父子也，伯父無以少年而忽之，則吾族幸甚！天下生靈幸甚！我祖宗社稷幸甚！

For the plan of today, nothing is better than wholly removing the petty men in the staff, summoning all the gentlemen in retirement, together changing course and joining strength in the king's affairs—then perhaps what was lost at the eastern corner may be recovered at the mulberry sunset. If you see loss yet know not how to rescue, see wrong yet know not how to reform, put fragrant orchid and foul weed in the same vessel and slow nags with swift steeds in the same manger—the great trend of the empire will day by day hasten toward peril and ruin. Uncle and Ching Ch'ing are as close as father and son; Uncle, do not dismiss this because I am young—then our clan will be greatly fortunate! The living masses under heaven will be greatly fortunate! Our ancestral altars and state will be greatly fortunate!

居無何，璟卿暴卒，相傳嵩之致毒雲。嵩之為公論所不容，居閑十有三年。寶祐四年春，授觀文殿大學士，加食邑。八月癸巳卒，遺表上，帝輟朝，贈少師、安德軍範度使，進封魯國公，諡忠簡，以家諱改諡莊肅。德祐初，以右正言徐直方言奪諡。

Before long, Ching Ch'ing died suddenly; rumor had it that Songzhi had caused his death by poison. Songzhi was not tolerated by public opinion and lived in retirement for thirteen years. In the spring of the fourth year of Pao-yu (1256), he was appointed grand academician of the Kuan-wen Hall and granted additional income lands. On the kuei-ssu day of the eighth month he died; his final memorial was submitted; the emperor suspended court; he was posthumously granted junior preceptor and military commissioner of An-te Army, promoted to duke of Lu Kingdom, given the posthumous title Chung-chien, and the posthumous title was changed to Chuang-su because of a family taboo. At the beginning of Te-yu, on the memorial of Right Remonstrator Hsu Chih-fang, his posthumous title was revoked.

董槐，字庭植，濠州定遠人。少喜言兵，陰讀孫武、曹操之書，而曰：「使吾得用，將汛掃中土以還天子。」槐貌甚偉，廣顙而豐頤，又美髯，論事慷慨，自方諸葛亮、周瑜。父永，遇槐嚴，聞其自方，怒而嘻曰：「不力學，又自喜大言，此狂生耳，吾弗願也。」槐心愧，乃益自摧折，學于永嘉葉師雍。聞輔廣者，朱熹之門人，復往從廣，廣歎其善學。嘉定六年，登進士第，調靖安主簿。丁父憂去官。

Tung Huai, whose style was Ting-chih, was a native of Ting-yuan in Hao Prefecture. In youth he delighted in speaking of warfare and secretly read the books of Sun Wu and Ts'ao Ts'ao, saying, "If I were given employment, I would sweep the central lands clean and restore them to the Son of Heaven." Huai had a very imposing appearance—broad forehead, full cheeks, and a handsome beard; when discussing affairs he was impassioned and compared himself to Chu-ko Liang and Chou Yü. His father Yung, encountering Huai in severity and hearing him compare himself thus, angrily laughed and said, "You do not study hard, yet delight in grand talk—this is a mad youth; I want no part of it." Huai felt ashamed at heart and thereupon humbled himself all the more, studying under Yeh Shih-yung of Yung-chia. Hearing that Fu Kuang was a disciple of Chu Hsi, he again went to study under Kuang, who sighed at his excellence in learning. In the sixth year of Chia-ting (1213), he passed the chin-shih examination and was assigned as recorder of Ching-an. He entered mourning for his father and left office.

十四年，起為廣德軍錄事參軍，民有誣富人李桷私鑄兵結豪傑以應李全者，郡捕系之獄，槐察其枉，以白守，守曰：「為反者解說，族矣。」槐曰：「吏明知獄有枉，而擠諸死地以傅於法：顧法豈謂諸被告者無論枉不枉，皆可殺乎？」不聽。頃之，守以憂去，槐攝通判州事，歎曰：「桷誠枉，今不為出之，生無繇矣。」乃為翻其辭，明其不反，書上，卒脫桷獄。紹定二年，遷鎮江觀察推官。明年春，入為主管刑部架閣文字。秋，兼權禮兵部架閣，遷籍田令，特差權通判鎮江府。至州，會全叛，涉淮臨大江，大府急發州兵。槐即日將兵濟江而西，全遁去，乃還。五年，丁母憂。端平三年，差通判蘄州，辭。

In the fourteenth year, he was recalled to serve as judicial assistant of Kuang-te Army; a commoner falsely accused the wealthy man Li Chüeh of privately casting weapons and joining heroes to respond to Li Ch'üan; the prefecture arrested and imprisoned him; Huai perceived the injustice and reported it to the prefect, who said, "To plead for rebels is to bring extinction upon one's clan." Huai said, "The official clearly knows the case is unjust, yet forces the accused toward death to fit the law—does the law truly mean that all defendants, whether wronged or not, may be killed?" The prefect would not listen. Before long the prefect left office in grief; Huai acted as acting vice prefect and sighed, "Chüeh is truly wronged; if I do not release him now, he will have no way to live." Thereupon he reversed the charges, made clear that Chüeh had not rebelled, submitted a memorial, and in the end secured Chüeh's release from prison. In the second year of Shao-ting (1229), he was transferred to be investigating censor of Chên-chiang. The next spring he entered the capital as supervisor of documents in the archives of the ministry of punishments. In autumn he concurrently held acting charge of the archives of the ministries of rites and war, was transferred to registrar of the state farms, and was specially assigned as acting vice prefect of Chên-chiang Prefecture. Upon reaching the prefecture, Li Ch'üan rebelled, crossed the Huai and approached the Great River; the superior prefecture urgently dispatched the prefectural troops. Huai that same day led troops across the river westward; Ch'üan fled, and he then returned. In the fifth year, he entered mourning for his mother. In the third year of Tuan-p'ing (1236), he was assigned as vice prefect of Ch'i Prefecture and declined.

嘉熙元年，召赴都堂，遷宗正寺簿、出知常州。後三日，提點湖北刑獄。常德軍亂，夜縱火而噪，守尉闖不出。槐騎從數人於火所，且問亂故。亂者曰：「將軍馬彥直奪吾歲請，吾屬將責之償，不為亂也。」槐坐馬上，召彥直斬馬前，亂者還入伍中，明日，乃捕首亂者七人戮諸市，而賻彥直之家。差充歸、峽、嶽察訪使。二年，兼權知常德府，尋兼軍器少監，依舊提點刑獄。

In the first year of Chia-hsi (1237), he was summoned to the imperial secretariat, transferred to registrar of the imperial clan court, and sent out as prefect of Ch'ang Prefecture. Three days later he was made judicial intendant of Hupei. Ch'ang-te Army mutinied; at night they set fires and clamored; the prefect and commandant bolted their gates and would not come out. Huai rode with a few followers to the place of fire and inquired into the cause of the disorder. The mutineers said, "General Ma Yen-chih seized our annual stipend; we intend to hold him accountable for repayment—we are not making rebellion." Huai, seated on his horse, summoned Yen-chih and beheaded him before the horse; the mutineers returned to the ranks; the next day he arrested seven ringleaders and executed them in the market, and compensated Yen-chih's family. He was assigned to serve as inspector of Kuei, Hsia, and Yüeh. In the second year, he concurrently held acting charge as prefect of Ch'ang-te Prefecture; soon after he additionally served as vice director of the armory, while still holding judicial intendancy as before.

三年，以直寶謨閣知江州兼都督府參謀。秋，流民渡江而來歸者十余萬，議者皆謂：「方軍興，郡國急儲粟，不暇食民也。」槐曰：「民，吾民也，發吾粟振之，胡不可？」至者如歸焉。當是時，宋與金為鄰國，而襄、漢、揚、楚之間，豪傑皆自相結以保其族，無賴者往往去為群盜。浮光人翟全寓黃陂，有眾三千餘，稍出鹵掠。

In the third year, as direct attendant of the Pao-mo Pavilion he was made prefect of Chiang Prefecture concurrently staff officer of the grand supervisory headquarters. In autumn, more than one hundred thousand refugees who had crossed the river to return home came; those in discussion all said, "With warfare underway, prefectures and commanderies urgently need stored grain and have no leisure to feed the people." Huai said, "The people are my people; to release my grain and relieve them—why may this not be done?" Those who arrived were as though returning home. At that time the Sung and the Chin were neighboring states; between Hsiang, Han, Yang, and Ch'u, local heroes all joined one another to protect their clans, and ruffians often went off to become bandit gangs. Chai Ch'üan of Fu-kuang lodged at Huang-p'i with a following of more than three thousand and gradually went out on plundering raids.

槐令客說下全，徙之陽烏洲，使雜耕蘄春間，又享賜之，用為裨將。於是曹聰、劉清之屬皆來自歸。

Huai had a guest persuade Ch'üan to submit; he moved him to Yang-wu Isle, had him farm mixed fields in the Ch'i-ch'un region, again feasted and rewarded him, and employed him as a deputy general. Thereupon Ts'ao Ts'ung, Liu Ch'ing-chih, and their kind all came to submit of their own accord.

四年，進直華文閣、知潭州、主管湖南安撫司公事。方三邊急於守禦，督府日夜徵發，民且困，槐為畫策應之，令民不傷而軍須亦不匱。淳祐二年，遷左司郎官，進直龍圖閣、沿江制置副使兼知江州、主管江西安撫司公事。視其賦則吏侵甚，下教曰：「蒞州而吏猶為盜不自悔，吾且誅之！」吏乃震恐，願自新。槐因除民患害，凡利有宜，弛以利民，惟恐不盡弛。大計軍實，常若敵且至。裨將盧淵凶猾不受命，斬以徇師，軍中肅然。

In the fourth year, he was promoted to direct attendant of the Hua-wen Pavilion, made prefect of T'an Prefecture, and put in charge of the affairs of the Hunan Pacification Commission. Just as the three frontiers urgently needed defense, the supervisory headquarters requisitioned day and night and the people were growing distressed; Huai devised plans to meet the demands, so that the people were not harmed and military supplies were not exhausted. In the second year of Ch'un-yu, he was transferred to Left Department bureau officer, promoted to associate in the Chih Lung-t'u Pavilion, vice commissioner of the Yangtze River frontier command, concurrently prefect of Chiang Prefecture, and supervisor of the Kiangsi Pacification Commission. When he examined the taxes, he found official exactions were severe; he issued an instruction, saying, "Having come to govern this prefecture, yet officials still steal without repenting—I shall execute them!" The officials then trembled with fear and wished to reform themselves. Huai therefore removed harms afflicting the people; whenever a levy was fit to relax, he relaxed it to benefit the people, fearing only that he might not relax enough. He devoted great attention to tallying military stores, always as though the enemy were about to arrive. The deputy general Lu Yüan was fierce and crafty and refused to obey orders; he was beheaded as a warning to the army, after which discipline was restored throughout the ranks.

三年，進秘閣修撰。四年，召入奏事，遷權戶部侍即，賜紫，進集英殿修撰、沿江制置使、江東安撫使兼知建康府兼行宮留守。軍政弛弗治，乃為賞三等以教射，春秋教肄士卒坐作進退擊刺之技，歲餘盡為精兵。六年，召至闕，辭。出知靜江府兼廣西經略安撫使，又辭。權廣西運判兼提點刑獄。宰相移書槐曰：「國家方用兵，人臣不辭急難，公幸毋固辭。」槐即日就道，至邕州，上守禦七策。邕州之地西通諸蠻夷，南引交址及符奴、月烏、流鱗之屬，數寇邊，槐與約無相侵，推赤心遇之，皆伏不動。又與交址約五事：一無犯邊，二歸我侵地，三還鹵掠生口，四奉正朔，五通貿易。於是遣使來獻方物、大象南方悉定。

In the third year, he was promoted to compiler in the Secret Archive. In the fourth year, he was summoned to court to report on affairs, appointed acting Vice Minister of Revenue, granted purple robes, and promoted to compiler in the Chi-ying Hall, commissioner of the Yangtze River frontier command, Eastern Kiang pacification commissioner, concurrently prefect of Chien-k'ang, and provisional custodian of the mobile palace. Military administration had grown lax; he instituted three grades of reward for archery and, in spring and autumn, drilled the soldiers in formations, advances and retreats, and thrusting and stabbing; after more than a year they had all become elite troops. In the sixth year, he was summoned to the capital and declined the appointment. He was appointed prefect of Ching-chiang and concurrent Kwangsi Military Commissioner and Pacification Commissioner, but again declined. He was given the concurrent posts of acting Kwangsi transport intendant and judicial intendant. The chief councilor wrote to Huai, saying, "The state is currently at war; a subject must not shrink from urgent difficulties—please do not stubbornly decline, sir." That same day Huai set out on the road; upon reaching Yung Prefecture, he submitted seven strategies for frontier defense. Yung Prefecture bordered various tribal peoples to the west and, to the south, Chiao-chih and groups such as Fu-nu, Yüeh-wu, and Liu-lin, who repeatedly raided the frontier. Huai made non-aggression pacts with them and treated them with sincerity, and they all submitted and remained quiet. He also concluded a five-point agreement with Chiao-chih: no frontier violations, return of invaded territory, return of captives taken in raids, observance of the Sung calendar, and open trade. Envoys were then dispatched bearing tribute goods and elephants, and the entire south was pacified.

七年，進寶章閣待制。八年，遷工部侍郎，職事依舊，兼轉運使。九年，召赴闕，封定遠縣男。遷兵部侍郎兼權給事中兼侍讀，升給事中，上疏請抑損戚裏恩澤以慰天下士大夫。群臣奏事少與法違，憚槐不敢上。兼侍讀，進寶章閣直學士、知福州福建安撫使，辭。進封子。是年冬，拜端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事，進封侯。十二年，為同知樞密院事。寶祐元年，權參知政事。二年，進參知政事。四川制置使餘晦以戰敗奪官，詔荊襄制置使李曾伯往視師，曾伯辭，槐曰：「事如此，尚可坐而睨乎？」上疏請行，頓重兵夔門以固荊、蜀輔車之勢，詔報曰：「腹心之臣，所與共理天下者也，宜在朝廷，不宜在四方。」復上疏曰：「天下之事，不進則退，人臣無敢為岐意者，苟以臣為可任，宜少聽臣自效，即臣不足與軍旅之事，願上官爵。」不許，進封濠梁郡公。

In the seventh year, he was promoted to gentlemen-at-attendance in the Pao-chang Pavilion. In the eighth year, he was transferred to Vice Minister of Works while retaining his previous duties, concurrently serving as transport commissioner. In the ninth year, he was summoned to court and enfeoffed as Baron of Ting-yuan County. He was appointed Vice Minister of War, concurrently acting supervising censor and court reader, then promoted supervising censor; he submitted a memorial asking that favors granted to imperial consort clans be curtailed so as to reassure scholars and officials throughout the realm. When officials had business that in some measure violated the law, they feared Huai and dared not submit it. As concurrent court reader he was promoted to academician in the Pao-chang Pavilion and appointed prefect of Fu-chou and Fukien pacification commissioner, but declined. His son was promoted in rank of enfeoffment. That winter he was appointed academician of the Tuan-ming Hall and co-signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and elevated in enfeoffment to marquis. In the twelfth year, he became co-director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the first year of Pao-yu, he served as acting associate grand councilor. In the second year, he was promoted to associate grand councilor. The Szechwan frontier commissioner Yü Hui was stripped of office for defeat in battle; the throne ordered the Ching-Hsiang frontier commissioner Li Tseng-po to go inspect the armies, but Tseng-po declined. Huai said, "Matters being thus, how can one still sit back and watch indifferently?" He submitted a memorial asking to go in person and concentrate heavy troops at K'uei Gate to strengthen the mutual support between Ching and Shu. The edict replied, "A trusted minister is one who jointly governs the realm with Us; he ought to remain at court, not be sent to the four quarters." He submitted another memorial, saying, "Affairs under Heaven either advance or retreat—there is no standing still—and no subject dares entertain divergent intent. If Your Majesty deems me fit for trust, please grant me some latitude to prove myself; if I am inadequate for military affairs, I beg to be relieved of rank and office." His request was denied, and he was promoted in enfeoffment to Duke of Hao-liang Commandery.

帝日鄉用槐，槐言事無所隱，意在於格君心之非而不為容悅。帝問糴民粟積邊，則對曰：「吳民困甚，有司急糴不復省。夫民惟邦本，願先垂意根本。」帝問修太乙祠，則對曰：「土工薦起，民罷于徵發，非所以事天也。」帝問邊事，對曰：「外有敵國，則其計先自強。自強者人畏我，我不畏人。」又言：「敵國在前，宜拔材能用之。士大夫有過失，為執法吏所刺劾，終身擯弗用，深為朝廷惜此。苟非奸邪，皆願為昭洗，勿廢其他善。又遷謫之臣，久墮遐方，稍稍內徙，今得生還，顧弗用可矣。」槐每奏，帝輒稱善。

The emperor relied on Huai more and more; Huai spoke frankly on affairs, intending to correct what was wrong in the ruler's mind rather than offer pleasing flattery. When the emperor asked about purchasing civilian grain to stock the frontier, he replied, "The people of Wu are greatly distressed; officials urgently requisition grain without regard for their plight. The people are the foundation of the state; I wish Your Majesty would first attend to that root." When the emperor asked about repairing the Grand Unity Shrine, he replied, "Earthworks rise layer upon layer and the people are exhausted by conscript labor—this is not the way to serve Heaven." When the emperor asked about frontier affairs, he replied, "With enemy states abroad, one's first plan must be self-strengthening. Those who strengthen themselves are feared by others; they need not fear others." He added, "With enemy states before us, talented men ought to be selected and put to use. When scholar-officials had faults and were impeached by law-enforcement officers, they were barred from employment for life—the court deeply regretted this waste of talent. If they were not treacherous and wicked, I wish that all would be cleared and rehabilitated, and their other merits not discarded. As for exiled and demoted officials who had long languished in distant regions and were gradually moved inland—now that they have returned alive, it would suffice merely not to employ them." Whenever Huai memorialized, the emperor always praised him.

三年，拜右丞相兼樞密使。槐自以為人主所振拔，苟可以利安國家無不為，然務先大體，任人先取故舊之在疏遠者，在官者率滿歲而遷。嗜進者始不說矣。槐又言於帝曰：「臣為政而有害政者三。」帝曰：「胡為害政者三？」對曰：「戚裏不奉法，一矣；執法大吏久於其官而擅威福，二矣；皇城司不檢士，三矣。將率不檢下故士卒橫，士卒橫則變生於無時；執法威福擅故賢不肖混淆，賢不肖混淆則奸邪肆，賢人伏而不出；親戚不奉法故法令輕，法令輕故朝廷卑。三者弗去，政且廢，願自上除之。」於是嫉之者滋甚。

In the third year, he was appointed Right Grand Councilor and concurrently director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Huai, considering himself elevated by the sovereign, did whatever could benefit the state; yet he attended first to the larger pattern, appointing first old associates in remote posts, and generally rotating those in office after a full year. Those greedy for advancement were displeased at first. Huai also told the emperor, "In my administration there are three things that harm governance." The emperor asked, "What are the three things that harm governance?" He replied, "Imperial consort clans do not observe the law—that is the first; senior law-enforcement officials who remain long in their posts and arrogated authority and favor—that is the second; the Palace Command does not restrain its soldiers—that is the third. Generals fail to restrain their subordinates, so soldiers run riot; when soldiers run riot, mutiny may arise at any time; when law-enforcement officials arrogating authority and favor blur the distinction between the worthy and unworthy, the wicked run rampant while the worthy hide and do not emerge; when kinsmen do not observe the law, statutes lose weight; when statutes lose weight, the court is held in contempt. If these three are not removed, governance will collapse; I beg Your Majesty to eliminate them from above." Thereupon those who envied him grew all the more numerous.

帝年浸高，操柄獨斷，群臣無當意者，漸喜狎佞人。丁大全善為佞，帝躐貴之，竊弄威權而帝弗覺悟。大全已為侍御史，遣客私自結於槐，槐曰：「吾聞人臣無私交，吾惟事上，不敢私結約，幸為謝丁君。」大全度槐弗善己，銜甚，乃日夜刻求槐短。槐入見，極言大全邪佞不可近。帝曰：「大全未嘗短卿，卿勿疑。」槐曰：「臣與大全何怨？顧陛下拔臣至此，臣知大全邪而噤不言，是負陛下也。且陛下謂大全忠而臣以為奸，不可與俱事陛下矣。」既罷出，即上書乞骸骨，不報。四年，策免丞相，以觀文殿大學士提舉洞霄宮。時大全亦論劾槐，書未下，自發省兵迫遣之。於是太學諸生陳宜中等上書爭之，語見《大全傳》。

As the emperor grew older, he wielded power alone; no minister pleased him, and he gradually came to delight in consorting with flatterers. Ting Ta-chüan was skilled at flattery; the emperor promoted him by leaps and bounds, and he secretly wielded authority while the emperor remained unaware. Ta-chüan was already an attending censor and sent an agent to seek a private connection with Huai. Huai said, "I have heard that ministers must have no private associations; I serve only the ruler and dare not make private pacts—please convey my thanks to Master Ting." Ta-chüan concluded that Huai did not favor him and deeply resented him; day and night he sought out Huai's faults. When Huai entered audience, he spoke at length that Ta-chüan was a wicked flatterer and must not be approached. The emperor said, "Ta-chüan has never spoken ill of you—do not suspect him." Huai said, "What grudge do I have with Ta-chüan? Yet Your Majesty raised me to this position; if I know Ta-chüan is wicked and keep silent, I would be failing Your Majesty. Moreover, Your Majesty deems Ta-chüan loyal while I deem him treacherous—we cannot both continue to serve Your Majesty." When the audience ended he immediately submitted a memorial requesting retirement; there was no reply. In the fourth year, he was dismissed as grand councilor by imperial rescript and appointed Grand Academician of the Kuan-wen Hall to direct the Tung-hsiao Palace. At that time Ta-chüan also impeached Huai; before the memorial was issued, he himself dispatched provincial troops to force Huai to depart. Thereupon Imperial College students including Ch'en I-chung submitted memorials in protest; the account appears in the biography of Ta-chüan.

五年及景定元年，俱用祀明堂恩加食邑。二年，特授判福州、福建路安撫大使，固辭。進封吉國，又進封許國公。三年五月二十八日既夕，天大雨，烈風雷電，槐起衣冠而坐，麾婦人出，為諸生說《兌》、《謙》二卦，問夜如何？諸生以夜中對，遂薨。遺表上，贈太子少師，諡文清。帝使使致金六十斤、帛千匹以賻。

In the fifth year and in the first year of Ching-ting, he received increased fief income on both occasions through the Bright Hall sacrifice grace. In the second year, he was specially appointed judge of Fu-chou and Great Pacification Commissioner of the Fukien Circuit, but firmly declined. He was promoted in enfeoffment to Duke of Chi State, and again promoted to Duke of Hsü State. On the twenty-eighth day of the fifth month in the third year, at dusk, heaven sent down torrential rain, fierce wind, thunder, and lightning; Huai rose, dressed in cap and robes, and sat upright; he ordered the women out, lectured his students on the K'ui and Ch'ien hexagrams, and asked what hour of the night it was. The students answered that it was midnight, and thereupon he died. When his final memorial was submitted, he was posthumously enfeoffed as Junior Preceptor of the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous title Wen-ch'ing. The emperor sent an envoy to present sixty catties of gold and a thousand bolts of silk as funeral gifts.

葉夢鼎

Ye Mengding

葉夢鼎，字鎮之，台之寧海人。本陳待聘之子，七歲後於母族。少從直龍圖閣鄭霖、宗正少卿趙逢龍學，以太學上舍試入優等，兩優釋褐出身，授信州軍事推官，攝教事，講荒政。遷太學錄。

Ye Mengding, whose style was Chen-chih, was a native of Ning-hai in T'ai Prefecture. Originally he was the son of Ch'en T'ai-p'in; at age seven he was given to his mother's clan. In youth he studied under Cheng Lin, associate in the Chih Lung-t'u Pavilion, and Chao Feng-lung, Vice Director of the Imperial Clan Court; through the Superior Imperial College examination he entered with highest distinction, and with two highest grades received initial appointment as military judicial officer of Hsin Prefecture, acted as instructor, and lectured on famine administration. He was transferred to recorder of the Imperial College.

淳祐二年，雷變，上封事，言召人才，戒媟近。明年，輪對，言君子、直言、軍制、楮幣、任官、分閫六事。同番易湯巾召試館職，授秘書省正字。四年，升校書郎兼莊文府教授。五年，遷秘書郎，轉對，言定國本，求哲輔，專閫帥，獎用介直。雷變上言，援唐康澄「五可畏」之說，遷著作佐郎。六年，拜軍器少監兼兵部郎官，轉對，言國計、邊事、國體三事。又言：「外有窺邊之大敵，內有伺隙之巨奸；奇邪蠱媚于宮闈，熏腐依憑於城社；強藩悍將，牙蘖易搖，草竊奸宄，肘腋階變。」

In the second year of Ch'un-yu, when thunder changed its pattern, he submitted a sealed memorial urging the summoning of talent and warning against intimacy with the unworthy. The next year, in audience rotation, he spoke on six matters: the gentleman, forthright speech, military institutions, paper currency, appointment of officials, and division of frontier commands. In the same rotation as T'ang Chin he was summoned to examination for a palace post and appointed corrector in the Secretariat. In the fourth year, he was promoted to proofreader, concurrently instructor in the Chuang-wen Hall. In the fifth year, he was transferred to secretariat drafter; in audience rotation he spoke on establishing the heir, seeking wise assistants, assigning frontier commanders, and rewarding the upright and forthright. When thunder changed its pattern he submitted a memorial citing T'ang K'ang-ch'eng's doctrine of the "five things to be feared," and was transferred to assistant compiler. In the sixth year, he was appointed Vice Director of the Armory, concurrently bureau officer in the Ministry of War; in audience rotation he spoke on three matters: state finance, frontier affairs, and the integrity of the state. He also said, "Abroad there is a great enemy watching the frontier; within there is a great villain watching for an opening; strange and wicked persons beguile within the palace precincts, and corrupt minions lean on the state as on a city god; powerful frontier lords and fierce generals sprout shoots easily shaken; grass-thieves and hidden evildoers may trigger sudden change at one's very side."

權知袁州，轉運司和糴米三萬斛，夢鼎言：「袁山多而田少，朝廷免和糴已百年，自今開之，百姓子孫受無窮之害，則無窮之怨從之。」民湯頎獻田學官，妻子離散，夢鼎遂還之。毀萬載旗𥮉村淫祠，塞其妖井。召赴行在。丁本生母憂。十一年，免喪，拜司封員外郎。輪對，言：「陛下惑于左右之讒說，例視言者為好名，中傷既深，膠固莫解。近歲以來，言稍犯人主之所難者，不顯罷則陰黜，不久外則設間，去者屢召而不還，來者一鳴而輒斥。」兼玉牒檢討官，以直秘閣、江西提舉常平兼知吉州。節制悍將，置社倉、義倉，平反李義山受贓之冤，以國子司業召。

Acting as prefect of Yüan Prefecture, the transport commission arranged to purchase thirty thousand hu of rice; Meng-ting said, "Yüan has many mountains and little farmland; the court exempted coordinated purchase there for a hundred years already; if it is opened now, the people's descendants will suffer endless harm, and endless resentment will follow." A commoner named T'ang K'ai offered land to the school official; his wife and children were scattered in separation—Meng-ting returned the land to him. He destroyed the licentious shrine at Ch'i-ch'i Village in Wan-tsai and blocked up its demon well. He was summoned to the mobile court. He observed mourning for his birth mother. In the eleventh year, when mourning ended, he was appointed Outer Department vice director of the Ministry of Rites. In audience rotation he said, "Your Majesty is deluded by slander from those at your side and routinely treats those who speak as seekers of fame; slander has cut deep, and obstinacy cannot be dissolved. In recent years, when speech in some measure touched what the ruler finds difficult, if not openly dismissed then secretly demoted; if not soon sent out then traps were set; those who left were repeatedly summoned but not returned, and those who came were expelled at the first outcry." Concurrently compiler of the Imperial Genealogy, he was appointed associate in the Chih Secret Archive, Kiangsi intendant of Ever-Normal Granaries, concurrently prefect of Chi Prefecture. He kept fierce generals under control, established community and charity granaries, cleared Li I-shan's false conviction for bribery, and was summoned to serve as vice director of the Imperial Academy.

寶祐元年陛對，言國論主平江西義倉，不可待申省而後發。考試集英殿，授崇政殿說書，進講《尚書》。兼國史編修、實錄檢討，遷國子祭酒。二年，兼權禮部侍郎，諫幸西太乙宮。三年，權禮部侍郎，仍兼祭酒，升兼同修國史、實錄院同修撰，尋兼侍講。丁母憂。五年，以集英殿修撰差知贛州。丁大全柄國，欲挽夢鼎登朝，卒辭謝之。六年，改知建寧府，又改知隆興府。開慶元年，復知建寧府，作橋樑，置驛舍，建大安關，決疑獄。

In the first year of Pao-yu, in audience with the emperor he argued that Kiangsi's charity granaries should be opened at once and must not wait for a provincial report. After examination in the Hall of Assembled Excellence, he was appointed lecturer at the Hall of Venerated Governance and began lecturing on the Book of Documents. Concurrently compiler of the National History and examiner of the Veritable Records, he was transferred to chancellor of the Imperial Academy. In the second year, while also serving as acting vice minister of Rites, he remonstrated against the emperor's planned visit to the Western T'ai-i Palace. In the third year he remained acting vice minister of Rites and chancellor, was promoted to co-compiler of the National History and co-compiler of the Veritable Records Academy, and soon added the post of court lecturer. He entered mourning for his mother. In the fifth year, as a compiler at the Hall of Assembled Excellence, he was assigned to govern Kan Prefecture. Ting Ta-ch'üan dominated the government and tried to bring Meng-ting into court service, but Meng-ting ultimately declined. In the sixth year he was transferred to Chien-ning Prefecture, and then to Lung-hsing Prefecture. In the first year of K'ai-ch'ing he again governed Chien-ning Prefecture, built bridges and post stations, constructed the Ta-an Pass, and resolved doubtful criminal cases.

景定元年，召為太子詹事，上疏以「法天」為言。遷吏部侍郎，賜甯海縣食邑。二年，權兵部尚書兼權吏部尚書。三年，遷兵部尚書兼修國史兼實錄修撰。遷吏部尚書，五辭免，請祠，不允。拜端明殿學士、同簽書樞密院事，屢辭不許。同提舉編修《經武要略》兼太子賓客，進封甯海伯。四年，簽書樞密院事，進封臨海郡侯，以明堂恩進封臨海郡公。丞相賈似道欲造關子，罷十七、十八兩界會子，夢鼎以為厲民，乃止罷十七界。公田法行，夢鼎又以為厲民，故行之浙右而止。五年，三辭，不許，進同知樞密院事、權參知政事。以彗星出，夢鼎言政上下恐懼交修之日，乞解機政，又不許。奏免浙西經界。

In the first year of Ching-ting he was summoned to serve as tutor to the crown prince and submitted a memorial on aligning the throne with Heaven. He was transferred to vice minister of Personnel and granted the food fief of Ning-hai County. In the second year he served concurrently as acting minister of War and acting minister of Personnel. In the third year he was transferred to minister of War, while also serving as compiler of the National History and compiler of the Veritable Records. He was transferred to minister of Personnel, declined the appointment five times and asked for a sinecure post, but the request was denied. He was appointed academician of the Tuan-ming Hall and co-signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs, but repeatedly declined and was not allowed to withdraw. As co-director of the compilation of the Essential Military Compendium and guest of the crown prince, he was advanced to marquis of Ning-hai. In the fourth year, as signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs he was made marquis of Lin-hai Commandery, and by Bright Hall grace was further enfeoffed as duke of Lin-hai Commandery. Chancellor Chia Ssu-tao wanted to issue kuan-tzu notes and abolish both the seventeenth and eighteenth series of hui-tzu notes; Meng-ting argued that this would harm the people, so only the seventeenth series was abolished. When the public-field law was put into effect, Meng-ting again held that it would burden the people, so the policy was carried out only in western Che-chiang and no farther. In the fifth year he declined three times without success and was promoted to vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs and acting grand councilor. When a comet appeared, Meng-ting said it was a time for ruler and subjects alike to reform government in fear; he asked to be relieved of state duties, but again was refused. He submitted a memorial calling for the abolition of the land survey in western Che-chiang.

理宗崩，議太子即位，太后垂簾聽政，夢鼎曰：「母后垂簾，豈是美事！」進參知政事，加食邑。夢鼎力辭，似道懇留之，不可。帝勉諭再三，詔閣門封還奏疏。似道奏：「參政去則江萬里、王爚必不來」理宗復土，攝少傅，竣事，引疾歸裏，累詔，力辭，授資政殿學士、知慶元府、沿海制置使。肅清海寇，罪止首惡，羨余之費，悉卻不受。建濟民倉以備饑歲，造驛舍以待賓旅。

When Emperor Li-tsung died, the court debated the crown prince's accession and the empress dowager's regency from behind the curtain; Meng-ting said, "An empress dowager holding court behind a curtain—is that really something to welcome?" He was promoted to grand councilor and granted an increase in his food fief. Meng-ting forcefully declined the post; Ssu-tao earnestly pressed him to stay, but could not prevail. The emperor repeatedly urged him to remain, and an edict ordered the Gate of the Inner Court to seal and return his memorials of resignation. Ssu-tao memorialized, "If the grand councilor leaves, Chiang Wan-li and Wang Yao will surely not come." At Emperor Li-tsung's re-burial Meng-ting served as acting junior tutor; when the rites were finished he pleaded illness and returned home. Though repeatedly summoned by edict, he forcefully declined and was appointed academician of the Tzu-cheng Hall, prefect of Ch'ing-yüan, and coastal pacification commissioner. He suppressed sea bandits, limiting punishment to the ringleaders, and refused every surplus fee offered to him. He built relief granaries to guard against famine and constructed post stations for traveling guests.

鹹淳三年，再召為參知政事，加食邑，六辭，不許。詔著作佐郎盧鉞與台州守項公采趣行，拜特進、右丞相兼樞密使，累辭，不許，乃與似道分任。利州轉運使王價嘗以言去官，非其罪也，四川制置司已辟參議，及死，其子訴求遺澤。至是，夢鼎明其無罪，似道以為恩不己出，罷省部吏數人，榜其姓名於朝。夢鼎怒曰：「我斷不為陳自強。」即求去。似道之母讓似道曰：「葉丞相安于家食，未嘗希進，汝強與以相印，今乃牽制至此，若不從吾言，吾不食矣。」似道曰：「為官不得不如此。」會太學諸生亦上書言似道專權固位，乃悔悟，屬府尹洪燾求解，而夢鼎屢上章乞閑。冬雷，引咎求去愈力。

In the third year of Hsien-ch'un he was again summoned as grand councilor and granted an increase in his food fief; he declined six times, but was not allowed to refuse. An edict sent Assistant Compiler Lu Yüeh and the prefect of T'ai-chou, Hsiang Kung-ts'ai, to hurry him to court; he was appointed specially advanced, right chancellor, and director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He declined repeatedly without success and then shared duties with Ssu-tao. Wang Chia, transport commissioner of Li-chou, had once lost office for something he said, not for any crime; the Szechwan pacification commission had already appointed him as deliberating officer, and after his death his son petitioned for posthumous favors. Meng-ting now cleared Wang of wrongdoing; Ssu-tao, believing the favor had not come from himself, dismissed several provincial and ministry clerks and posted their names at court. Meng-ting said in anger, "I will never behave like Ch'en Tzu-ch'iang." He immediately asked to resign. Ssu-tao's mother rebuked him, saying, "Chancellor Yeh was content at home and never sought advancement; you forced the chancellor's seal on him, and now matters have come to this pass. If you do not do as I say, I will stop eating." Ssu-tao replied, "In office one cannot always avoid acting this way." At the same time students of the National University also submitted memorials accusing Ssu-tao of monopolizing power and clinging to office. He then repented and asked the capital intendant Hung Tao to mediate, while Meng-ting repeatedly submitted memorials asking to retire. After winter thunder appeared, he took the blame upon himself and pressed his resignation all the more forcefully.

四年，策楊妃，宰相無拜禮，吏贊拜，夢鼎以笏揮之，趨出。明日，乞還田裏，詔勉留之。詔免諸州守臣上殿奏事，夢鼎言：「祖宗謹重牧守之寄，將赴官，必令奏事，蓋欲察其人品，及面諭以廉律己，愛育百姓。其至郡延見吏民，具宣上意，庶幾求無負臨遣之意。今不遠數千里而來，咫尺天顏而不得見，甚非立法之本意。」又乞容受直言。進少保。五年，引杜衍致仕單車宵遁故事累辭，乃授觀文殿學士、判福州、福建安撫大使，進封信國公，不拜；充醴泉觀使，又不拜。七年，再充醴泉使。

In the fourth year, at the examination for Yang Fei, the chancellor was not to perform the bowing rite, yet clerks called for bows; Meng-ting waved his tablet at them and hurried out. The next day he asked to return to his fields, but an edict urged him to stay. When an edict exempted prefectural governors from ascending the hall to report, Meng-ting said, "The founders of the dynasty carefully valued the trust placed in frontier governors. Before taking office they were always required to report in person, so that the court could observe their character and instruct them face to face to govern with integrity and care for the people. On reaching their posts they would receive officials and commoners and fully convey the emperor's intent, so that they would not fail the purpose for which they had been dispatched. Now men travel thousands of li and yet cannot see the emperor's face though he is within reach—this is far from the original intent of the institution." He also asked that forthright speech be welcomed. He was promoted to junior guardian. In the fifth year, citing the precedent of Tu Yen, who retired and fled alone by cart at night, he repeatedly declined. He was then appointed academician of the Kuan-wen Hall, judicial prefect of Fu-chou, and Fukien pacification grand commissioner, and was enfeoffed as duke of Hsin, but he refused to accept. He was appointed commissioner of the Li-ch'üan Abbey and again refused. In the seventh year he again served as commissioner of Li-ch'üan.

九年，授少傅、右丞相兼樞密使，引疾力辭，宰、掾、郎、曹遝至趣行，扶病至嵊縣，請辭不獲，乞還山林。疏奏：「願上厲精寡欲，規當國者收人心，固邦本，勵將帥，飭州縣，重振恤。」扁舟徑歸。使者以禍福告，夢鼎語之曰：「廉恥事大，死生事小，萬無可回之理。」似道大怒，台臣奏從歸田之請，詔仍少保、觀文殿大學士、醴泉觀使，不請祠祿。

In the ninth year he was appointed junior tutor, right chancellor, and director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Citing illness, he forcefully declined, but chancellors, clerks, bureau officers, and staff came in succession to hurry him on his way. Supporting himself while ill, he reached Shêng County, asked to resign without success, and begged to return to the mountains and forests. In a memorial he wrote, "I pray that Your Majesty will sharpen your resolve and restrain your desires; those who govern the state should win back hearts, strengthen the foundation of the realm, encourage generals, discipline prefectures and counties, and vigorously restore care for the people." He then took a small boat and went straight home. When envoys warned him of fortune and calamity, Meng-ting told them, "Honor and shame are the greater matter; life and death the lesser. There is absolutely no turning back." Ssu-tao was furious. Censorial officials memorialized to grant his request to retire to his fields, and an edict retained him as junior guardian, grand academician of the Kuan-wen Hall, and commissioner of the Li-ch'üan Abbey, without temple stipend.

瀛國公初即位，咨訪故老，夢鼎上封事，曰：「敦教道，訓廉德，厲臣節，拯民瘼，重士選，勸吏廉，懲吏奸，補軍籍。授判慶元府、沿海制置大使，力辭，依前醴泉觀使兼侍讀，不拜。二年，益王即位於閩，召為少師、太乙宮使。航海遂行，道梗不能進，南向慟哭失聲而還。後二年卒。子應及，太府寺丞、知建德府軍器少監、駐戍軍馬；應有，朝請郎、太社令。

When Duke Ying first ascended the throne and consulted elder statesmen, Meng-ting submitted a sealed memorial saying, "Promote the way of teaching, train officials in integrity, strengthen ministerial loyalty, relieve the people's distress, value the selection of scholars, encourage honest officials, punish corrupt ones, and fill the military registers. He was appointed judicial prefect of Ch'ing-yüan and coastal pacification grand commissioner, but forcefully declined and continued as commissioner of the Li-ch'üan Abbey with the added post of court reader, which he also refused to accept. In the second year, when Prince I acceded at Min, Meng-ting was summoned as junior preceptor and commissioner of the T'ai-i Palace. He set out by sea, but the route was blocked and he could not proceed; facing south he wept aloud and turned back. Two years later he died. His son Ying-chi served as assistant director of the Imperial Treasury, prefect of Chien-te, vice director of the Armory, and commander of garrison troops and horses; Ying-yu served as gentleman for court audience and director of the Altar of the God of the Soil.

馬廷鸞

Ma Tingluan

馬廷鸞，字翔仲，饒州樂平人。本灼之子，繼灼兄光後。甘貧力學，既冠，裏人聘為童子師，遇有酒食饌，則念母藜藿不給，為之食不下嚥。登淳祐七年進士第，調池州教授，需次六年。

Ma Tingluan, styled Hsiang-chung, was a native of Lo-p'ing in Jao Prefecture. He was Chuo's biological son and succeeded in the place of Chuo's elder brother Kuang. Poor but diligent in study, after reaching manhood he was hired by neighbors as a children's teacher. Whenever feasts were set before him, he thought of his mother eating plain greens at home and could not swallow the food. He passed the jinshi examination in the seventh year of Ch'un-yu, was assigned as professor at Ch'ih Prefecture, and waited six years before taking up his post.

二年，進著作佐郎兼右司，遷將作少監。三年，一再乞外補，不許。廷鸞論貢舉三事：嚴鄉里之舉，重台省之覆試，訪山林之遺逸。又言荒政，宜蠲除被災州縣租賦之不可得者。擢軍器監兼左司，兼太子右諭德，升左諭德，行國子司業，乞免兼左司。輪對，言：「集和平之福者自陛下之身始，養和平之德者自陛下之心始。」兼翰林權直，擢秘書少監，升權直學士院。四年，擢起居舍人兼太子右庶子兼國史院編修官、實錄院檢討官。入奏言：「太史必當謹書災異。願陛下翕受敷施，以壯人才之精神；虛心容納，以植人言之骨幹。念邦本而以公滅私，嚴邊備而思患豫防。」時再召用宋臣，廷鸞引何郯之說進，極言宋臣不可用，帝從之。薦士二十人，進中書舍人。程奎污穢詭秘，不當補將仕郎；王之淵為大全黨，不當通判江州；朱熠不當知慶元府及為制置使；林奭、趙必、張稱孫不當與郡：皆繳還詞頭。兼國史實錄院。五年，彗出，上疏極言天人之際。遷禮部侍郎。理宗遺詔、度宗登極詔，皆廷鸞所草。兼侍讀，辭，不許。疏列孝宗之政以告。升直學士院。

In the second year he was promoted to assistant compiler with concurrent service in the Right Bureau, and was transferred to vice director of Palace Construction. In the third year he repeatedly asked for an outside appointment, but was refused. T'ing-luan proposed three reforms to the examination system: tighten local recommendations, give greater weight to re-examination by the provincial offices, and seek out recluses in the mountains and forests. He also spoke on famine relief, arguing that rent and levies owed by disaster-stricken prefectures and counties but impossible to collect should be remitted. He was promoted to director of the Armory with concurrent service in the Left Bureau, then also made right mentor to the crown prince, promoted to left mentor, and acting vice director of the Imperial Academy; he asked to be relieved of his concurrent post in the Left Bureau. In audience rotation he said, "The blessings of peace must begin with Your Majesty's own conduct; the virtue of peace must begin in Your Majesty's own heart." Concurrently acting duty officer of the Han-lin Academy, he was promoted to vice director of the Secretariat and then to acting academician of the Academy Institute. In the fourth year he was promoted to attendance drafter, concurrently right subordinate to the crown prince, compiler of the National History Academy, and examiner of the Veritable Records Academy. In memorial to the throne he said, "The grand astrologer must carefully record anomalies and disasters. May Your Majesty harmoniously receive Heaven's warnings and extend benefits, so as to strengthen the spirit of talented men; and with an open mind receive remonstrance, so as to strengthen the backbone of public speech. Keep the foundation of the state in mind and subordinate private interest to the public good; strengthen frontier defenses and prepare against trouble before it arises." At that time Sung Ch'en was again being considered for office; T'ing-luan cited Ho T'an's argument and strongly urged that Sung Ch'en must not be employed, and the emperor agreed. He recommended twenty scholars and was promoted to secretariat drafting officer. Ch'eng K'uei was corrupt and deceitful and ought not be granted appointment as general attendant gentleman; Wang Chih-yüan belonged to Ta-ch'üan's faction and ought not be made deputy prefect of Kiang Prefecture; Chu I ought not be made prefect of Ch'ing-yüan and pacification commissioner; Lin Shuang, Chao Pi, and Chang Ch'eng-sun were unfit for prefectural posts: he returned all their appointment documents. He also served concurrently in the National History and Veritable Records Academy. In the fifth year, when a comet appeared, he submitted a memorial speaking at length on the relationship between Heaven and human affairs. He was transferred to vice minister of Rites. Emperor Li-tsung's death edict and Emperor Tu-tsung's accession edict were both drafted by T'ing-luan. Appointed concurrently as court reader, he declined but was not permitted to withdraw. He submitted a memorial setting forth the policies of Emperor Hsiao-tsung for the throne's guidance. He was promoted to academician of the Academy Institute.

咸淳元年，進端明殿學士、簽書樞密院事兼同提舉編修《經武要略》。丁母憂。三年，同知樞密院事兼同提舉編修《經武要略》。入奏言培命脈，植根本，崇寬大，行仁厚。又言：「恢大度以優容，虛聖心而延佇，推內恕以假借，忍難行而聽納，則情無不達，理無不盡，奸人破膽，直士吐氣，天下事尚可為也。」兼權參知政事。五年，進參知政事兼同知樞密院事，進右丞相兼樞密使。八年，九疏乞罷政。九年，依舊觀文殿大學士、知紹興府、浙東安撫大使。上疏辭免，依舊職提舉臨安府洞霄宮。

In the first year of Hsien-ch'un he was promoted to academician of the Tuan-ming Hall and signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs, while also serving as co-director of the compilation of the Essential Military Compendium. He entered mourning for his mother. In the third year he served as vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs and co-director of the compilation of the Essential Military Compendium. In memorial to the throne he spoke of nurturing the life-vessels of the state, planting deep roots, honoring magnanimity, and practicing benevolence. He also said, "If Your Majesty restores broad-minded forbearance, keeps an open heart and waits patiently, extends inner forgiveness and tolerates what is hard to bear, then no feeling will go unheeded, no principle unexamined, villains will lose heart, upright men will speak freely, and affairs under Heaven may still be set right." He was concurrently appointed acting grand councilor. In the fifth year he was promoted to grand councilor and vice director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and then to right chancellor and director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the eighth year he submitted nine memorials asking to leave office. In the ninth year he retained his posts as Guanwen Hall grand academician, prefect of Shaoxing, and grand pacification commissioner of eastern Zhe. He declined by memorial and was appointed intendant of Dongxiao Palace in Lin'an, keeping his former rank.

度宗初年，詔詢故老，專以修攘大計叩之趙葵。葵極意指陳曰：「老臣出入兵間，備諳此事，願朝廷謹之重之。」似道作色曰：「此三京敗事者，詞臣失言。」廷鸞每見文法密，功賞稽遲，將校不出死力，于邊閫升辟，稍越拘攣。似道頗疑異己，黥堂吏以泄其憤。及辭相位，帝惻怛久之曰：「丞相勉為朕留。」廷鸞言：「臣死亡無日，恐不得再見君父。然國事方殷，疆圉孔棘。天下安危，人主不知；國家利害，群臣不知；軍前勝負，列閫不知。陛下與元老大臣惟懷永圖，臣死且瞑目。」頓首涕泣而退。

Early in Duzong's reign the court consulted elder statesmen; on the grand strategy of defense and recovery it turned specifically to Zhao Kui. Kui pointed emphatically and said, "This old servant has spent his life in the armies and knows these matters well; I beg the court to treat them with the utmost care." Jia Sidao's face darkened and he said, "This is the man who lost the Three Capitals—a drafting official who has spoken out of turn." Whenever Tingluan saw regulations too rigid, rewards delayed, and commanders holding back, he would promote men in the border commands, bending the rules a little. Sidao grew suspicious of rivals and had a clerk in his hall branded with ink to vent his anger. When he resigned as chief councillor, the emperor was moved for a long while and said, "Chief Councillor, please stay on for my sake." Tingluan said, "I have not long to live and fear I may never see Your Majesty again. Yet state affairs are urgent and the frontier is in grave peril. Whether the realm is safe or in peril, the sovereign does not know; what helps or harms the state—the ministers do not know; victory or defeat on the battlefield—even the frontier commanders do not know. If Your Majesty and the elder ministers will only plan for the long term, I can die in peace." He kowtowed, weeping, and withdrew.

論曰：史彌遠廢親立疏，諱聞直言。鄭清之墮名於再相之日。彌遠之罪既著，故當時不樂嵩之之繼也，因喪起復，群起攻之，然固將才也。董槐毋得而議之矣。葉夢鼎、馬廷鸞之所遭逢，其不幸也夫！

The historians' judgment: Shi Miyuan deposed the heir in favor of a distant prince and refused to hear honest counsel. Zheng Qingzhi's reputation suffered when he took the chief ministership a second time. With Miyuan's crimes well known, the court was unhappy that Songzhi should follow him; recalled from mourning, he was attacked from all sides—yet he was genuinely a capable general. Of Dong Huai there is little left to dispute. What befell Ye Mengding and Ma Tingluan—how bitter their fate!

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