Volume 415 Biographies 174: Fu Bocheng, Ge Hong, Ceng Sanfu, Huang Chouruo, Yuan Shao, Wei Zhen, Cheng Gongxu, Luo Biyuan, Wang Sui

傅伯成葛洪曾三復黃疇若袁韶危稹程公許羅必元王遂

Biographies of Fu Bocheng, Ge Hong, Ceng Sanfu, Huang Chouruo, Yuan Shao, Wei Zhen, Cheng Gongxu, Luo Biyuan, and Wang Sui.

傅伯成，字景初，吏部員外郎察之孫。少從朱熹學。登隆興元年進士第，調連江尉。試中教官科，授明州教授。以年少，嫌以師自居，日與諸生論質往復，後多成才。改知閩清縣。丁父艱，服除，知連江縣。東湖溉田餘二千頃，堤壞。即下流南港為石堤三百尺，民蒙其利。

Fu Bocheng, whose style was Jingchu, was the grandson of Cai, Vice Director of Personnel in the Ministry of Officials. As a young man he studied under Zhu Xi. He earned his jinshi degree in the first year of the Longxing reign and was posted as assistant magistrate of Lianjiang. After passing the instructor examination, he was appointed professor at Ming Prefecture. Feeling himself too young to play the formal teacher, he debated the substance of learning daily with his students; many of them later rose to distinction. He was then appointed magistrate of Minqing County. After his father's death he observed the mourning rites, and when they were complete he became magistrate of Lianjiang County. East Lake watered more than two thousand acres of farmland, but its dike had broken down. He promptly built a three-hundred-foot stone dike at Nangang on the lower reach, to the great benefit of the people.

慶元初，召為將作監，進太府寺丞。言呂祖儉不當以上書貶。又言於御史，朱熹大儒，不可以偽學目之。又言朋黨之敝，起於人主好惡之偏。坐是不合，出知漳州，以律己愛民為本。推熹遺意而遵行之，創惠民局，濟民病，以革禨鬼之俗。由郡南門至漳浦，為橋三十五，治道千二百丈。

Early in the Qingyuan era he was called to the Directorate of Imperial Works and soon promoted to Vice-Director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury. He argued that Lü Zuyijian ought not to have been punished with demotion merely for submitting a memorial. He also urged the censors that Zhu Xi, a leading Confucian scholar, must not be stigmatized as a practitioner of so-called False Learning. He further observed that the evils of partisan cliques stem from the sovereign's own partial likes and dislikes. Because of these remonstrances he fell from favor and was sent out as prefect of Zhangzhou, where he made strict self-discipline and care for the people his guiding principles. He extended Zhu Xi's intentions into practice, founded a Bureau for the People's Welfare to ease popular distress, and worked to uproot superstitious worship of pestilence spirits. From the prefectural south gate to Zhangpu he built thirty-five bridges and repaired twelve hundred zhang of roadway.

兩為部使者，遷工部侍郎。時權臣方開邊，語尚秘。伯成言：“天下之勢，譬如乘舟，中興且八十年矣，外而望之，舟若堅緻，歲月既久，罅漏浸多，苟安旦夕，猶懼覆敗，乃欲徼幸圖古人之所難，臣則未之知也。 ”相府災，同列相率唁丞相，或以為偶然者，伯成正色謂：“天意如此，官師相規時也，以為偶然乎？ ”丞相色動。遂陳三事：一曰失民心，二曰隳軍政，三曰啟邊釁。進右司郎官，權幸有私謁者，皆峻拒之。出為湖、廣總領。朝議欲納金人之叛降者，伯成言不宜輕棄信誓，乞戒將帥毋生事。御史中丞鄧友龍遂劾伯成，罷之。

After serving twice as a ministry commissioner, he was promoted to Vice-Minister of Works. The powerful minister of the day was then pressing for frontier war, and deliberations were still closely guarded. Bocheng said, "The empire is like a vessel underway. Nearly eighty years have passed since the restoration, and from afar the ship still seems sound—but time wears every hull, and leaks spread. To cling to a day's ease while dreading foundering is one thing; to gamble on achieving what even the ancients could scarcely accomplish is quite beyond my understanding." When fire struck the chief minister's residence, his colleagues hurried to offer condolences; some treated it as mere accident. Bocheng said sternly, "Heaven has sent a sign—this is the moment for ruler and ministers to counsel one another. Can you still call it chance?" The chief minister's face changed color. He then laid out three charges: the loss of popular support, the wrecking of military administration, and the provocation of border conflict. Promoted to Director in the Right Office, he sharply turned away every private caller from among the powerful favorites. He was then posted as overall fiscal controller for Huguang. When the court debated accepting Jin defectors, Bocheng urged that sworn pledges not be cast aside lightly and asked that commanders be warned against provoking incidents. Censor-in-Chief Deng Youlong then impeached Bocheng and secured his dismissal.

嘉定元年，召對，麵諭：“前日失於戰，今日失之和。小使雖返，要求尚多。陛下不獲己，悉從之。使和議成，猶可以紓一時之急；否則虛帑藏以資敵人，驅降附以絕來者，非計也。今之策雖以和為主，宜惜日為戰守之備。 ”權戶部侍郎史彌遠初拜相，麻詞有“昆命元龜”之語，閩帥倪思以為不當用，御史劾罷思。伯成因對及其事，帝曰“過當”者再。對曰：“思固過當，但恐摧抑太過，遂塞言路，乞明詔台諫侍從，竭盡底蘊，無以思為戒。 ”李壁謫居撫州，伯成言：“侂胄之誅，壁與有功，不酬近功，乃追前罪，他日負罪之臣，不容以功贖過矣。”

In the first year of Jiading he was summoned to audience and told in person, "We erred yesterday by fighting; today we err by suing for peace." Although the junior envoy has returned, the enemy's demands remain numerous. Your Majesty, left no alternative, has yielded to them all. If peace can be concluded, it may still ease the immediate crisis; otherwise the treasury will be drained to enrich the enemy, and those who wish to defect will be driven away—hardly a sound policy. Even if peace remains the chief aim, every day should be used to strengthen defenses for war. When Acting Vice-Minister of Revenue Shi Miyuan was first made chief minister, his investiture address used the phrase "Kunming yuangui." Ni Si, commander in Fujian, argued the wording was improper; the censors impeached him and had him removed. During his audience Bocheng raised this affair, and the emperor twice called it "going too far." He replied, "Ni Si may indeed have overstepped, but I fear that if repression goes too far the avenue of remonstrance will be shut. I beg Your Majesty to issue a clear edict that censors, remonstrators, and attendants should speak their minds fully, and not treat Ni Si as a warning to others." Li Bi had been banished to Fuzhou. Bocheng said, "Li Bi helped bring about Han Tuozhou's downfall. To ignore his recent service and instead revive old charges means that in future no offender will be allowed to atone through merit."

伯成未為諫官也，嚐言：“彌遠謀誅侂胄，事不遂則其家先破，侂胄誅而史代之，勢也。諸公要相協和，共議國事；若立黨相擠，必有勝負，非國之福。 ”又勸丞相錢象祖：“安危大事，以死爭之；差除小者，何必乖異？ ”拜左諫議大夫，抗疏十有三，皆軍國大義。或致彌遠意，欲使有所彈劾，謂將引以共政。謝之曰：“吾豈傾人以為利哉。 ”疏乞詔大臣以公滅私。

Even before he became a remonstrance official, Bocheng had once remarked, "Miyuan plotted Han Tuozhou's death; had the plot failed, his own house would have perished first. Once Tuozhou fell, the Shi clan took his place—that was the force of circumstance." You gentlemen must work in harmony and deliberate together on affairs of state; if you form factions and tear one another down, victory and defeat will follow—and that is no blessing to the realm. He also urged Chief Minister Qian Xiangzu, "On matters of national survival, dispute them even at the cost of your life; on petty appointments, why need you quarrel?" Appointed Left Remonstrance Grandee, he submitted thirteen forceful memorials, each addressing vital matters of war and state. Someone relayed Miyuan's wish that he launch impeachments, promising that he would then be drawn into shared governance. He refused, saying, "Would I ruin others for my own gain?" In a memorial he asked that high ministers be charged to let public duty extinguish private interest.

左遷權吏部侍郎。以集英殿修撰知建寧府。蔡元定謫死道州，歸葬建陽，乃雪其冤於朝。進寶謨閣待制、知鎮江府。全活饑民，瘞藏野殍，不可勝數。製置司欲移焦山防江軍於圌山石牌，伯成謂：“虛此實彼，利害等耳。包港在焦、圌之中，不若兩砦之兵迭戍焉。 ”圌山砦兵，素與海盜為地，伯成廉知姓名，會郡都試捕而鞫之，無一逸去。獄具，請貸其死，黥隸諸軍。

He was demoted to Acting Vice-Minister of Personnel. With the title Compiler at the Hall for Assembling Excellence, he was made prefect of Jianning. Cai Yuanding had died in exile at Daozhou and was buried at Jianyang; Bocheng then secured the clearing of his name at court. He was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary at the Baomo Pavilion and appointed prefect of Zhenjiang. He kept countless famine victims alive and gave decent burial to unclaimed corpses in the countryside beyond numbering. The Pacification Commission proposed shifting the Jiaoshan river-defense force to Shipai on Mount Tu. Bocheng objected, "You would weaken one post to strengthen another—the trade is no gain." Baogang lies between the two posts; better to have both garrisons rotate duty there. The Mount Tu garrison had long sheltered pirates; Bocheng knew their names in secret. At the prefecture's triennial examination he had them arrested and interrogated, and not one escaped. When judgment was rendered, he pleaded for their lives and had them tattooed and assigned to military service.

嘉定八年，召赴闕，辭不獲，行至莆，拜疏曰：“臣病不能進矣。 ”除寶謨閣直學士、通奉大夫，致仕。理宗即位，升直學士，落致仕，予祠，錫金帶。伯成辭免，乃進“昭明天常、扶持人極”之說，詔進一官。

In the eighth year of Jiading he was summoned to court. Unable to refuse, he traveled as far as Pu and submitted a memorial: "I am too ill to proceed farther." He was granted the titles Direct Academician at the Baomo Pavilion and Grandee for Court Audience, and retired from office. When Emperor Lizong ascended the throne, Bocheng was promoted to Direct Academician, recalled from retirement, granted a temple stipend, and awarded a gold belt. Bocheng declined the honors but presented his doctrine on clarifying Heaven's constant way and upholding the human pole; an edict advanced him one rank.

寶慶元年，與楊簡同召，尋加寶文閣學士，提舉佑神觀，奉朝請。雖力以老病辭，而愛君憂國之念不少衰。聞大理評事胡夢昱坐論事貶，蹙然語所親曰：“向呂祖儉之謫，吾為小臣，猶嚐抗論。今蒙國恩，叨竊至此而不言，誰當言者。 ”遂抗疏曰：“臣恐陛下不復聞天下事矣。方今內無良吏，田裏怨谘，外無名將，邊陲危急，而廉恥道喪，風俗益偷，賄賂流行，公私俱困。謂宜君臣上下，憂邊恤民，以弭禍亂。奈何今日某人言某事，未幾而斥，明日某人言某事，未幾而斥，則是上疏者以共工、兜之刑加之矣。昔韓愈論後世人主奉佛，運祚短促，唐憲宗大怒，將抵以死，自崔群、裴度戚裏諸賢皆為愈言，止貶潮州，尋復內徙。今上疏者非可愈比，然在列之臣，無一為言者，萬一死於瘴癘，陛下與大臣有殺諫者之謗，史冊書之，有累聖治。臣垂盡之年，與斯人相去，風馬牛之不相及，獨以受恩優異，效其瞽言。 ”不報。明年，加龍圖閣學士，轉一官，提舉鴻慶宮，復辭。

In the first year of Baqing he was summoned together with Yang Jian, then made Academician at the Baowen Pavilion, Superintendent of the Youshen Observatory, and Attendant at Court. Though he pleaded age and illness to decline office, his love for the ruler and anxiety for the state scarcely waned. When he learned that Hu Mengyu of the Court of Judicial Review had been banished for remonstrating on public affairs, he frowned and told his intimates, "When Lü Zuyijian was banished, I was only a junior official, yet I still spoke out boldly." Now, favored by the state and risen to this rank, if I remain silent, who else will speak? He then submitted a forceful memorial: "I fear Your Majesty will no longer hear what is happening in the realm." Within, there are no worthy officials and the countryside seethes with grievance; without, there are no distinguished generals and the borders stand in peril. Integrity has collapsed, morals grow lax, bribery runs rampant, and both state and people are exhausted. Ruler and ministers alike, he urged, should fret over the frontiers and care for the people to avert disaster. Yet today one man speaks on a matter and is soon dismissed; tomorrow another speaks and is likewise dismissed—so that memorialists are punished as Gonggong and Dou were of old. Long ago Han Yu warned that rulers who embraced Buddhism shortened their dynasties. Emperor Xianzong of Tang was furious and nearly had him executed; but Cui Qun, Pei Du, and other worthy men at court pleaded for him, and he was merely banished to Chaozhou, then soon recalled inland. Today's petitioner is no Han Yu, yet not one minister at court speaks for him. Should he die of southern pestilence, Your Majesty and your ministers will bear the stigma of silencing a remonstrator; the annals will record it to the harm of your reign. I am in my final years and have nothing to do with this man—our paths could scarcely cross—yet because the state has favored me beyond desert, I offer these imperfect words. He received no answer. The next year he was made Academician at the Longtu Pavilion, advanced one rank, appointed Superintendent of the Hongqing Palace, and declined once more.

伯成純實無妄，表裏洞達，每稱人善，不啻如己出，語及奸人誤國，邪人害正，詞色俱厲，不少假借，常慕屍諫，疏草畢，亟命繕寫，朝服而逝，年八十有四。贈開府儀同三司。端平三年，賜諡忠簡。

Bocheng was plain, sincere, and without artifice, transparent in word and deed. He praised others' virtues as warmly as his own. When traitors who misled the state or wicked men who harmed the upright were mentioned, his words and bearing turned fierce, and he yielded nothing. He admired the ideal of remonstrating unto death; when a memorial was finished he had it copied at once, put on his court robes, and died, aged eighty-four. Posthumously he was granted the title Grandee of the Palace with the insignia of the Three Excellencies. In the third year of Duanping he was given the posthumous epithet Loyal and Plain.

葛洪，字容父，婺州東陽人。從呂祖謙學，登淳熙十一年進士第。嘉定間，為樞密院編修官兼國史院編修官、實錄院檢討官。遷守尚書工部員外郎兼權樞密院檢詳諸房文字。上疏言：

Ge Hong, whose style was Rongfu, came from Dongyang in Wuzhou. He studied under Lü Zuqian and earned his jinshi degree in the eleventh year of the Chunxi reign. During the Jiading era he served as compiler at the Bureau of Military Affairs, concurrently compiler at the Bureau of National History and reviser at the Veritable Records Bureau. He was promoted to Vice Director in the Ministry of Works and concurrently served as acting examiner of documents in the various offices of the Bureau of Military Affairs. He submitted a memorial stating:

今之將帥，其才與否，臣不得而盡知。惟忠誠所在，凡為人臣者斯須所不可離，則不可不以是責之耳。今安居無事，非必奮不顧死，冒水火，蹈白刃，而後謂之忠也。第職思其憂謂之忠，公爾忘私謂之忠，純實不欺謂之忠。

As for today's commanders, I cannot know the full measure of each man's ability. But loyalty is what no subject may abandon for an instant, and on that score they must be held accountable. In times of peace one need not rush through fire or face naked blades to prove loyalty. To dwell on one's duties with care is loyalty; to set public good above private gain is loyalty; to be honest and without deceit is loyalty.

且拊循士卒，帥之職也，朝廷每嚴掊克之禁，蠲營運之逋，其儆之者至矣。今乃有別為名色，益肆貪黷，視生理之稍豐者而誣以非辜，動輒估籍，擇廩給之稍優者而強以庫務，取辦芻粟，抑配軍需，於拊循何有哉！訓齊戎旅，亦帥之職也，朝廷每嚴點試之法，申階級之令，其儆之亦切矣。今顧有教閱視為具文，坐作僅同兒戲，技勇者不與旌賞，拙懦者未嚐勸懲，士日橫驕，類難役使，於訓齊何有哉

Comforting and guiding the troops is a commander's duty, and the court has repeatedly forbidden extortion and remitted transport arrears—the warnings could scarcely be sterner. Yet some invent new pretexts for ever greater graft: they target anyone modestly prosperous with false charges, seize property through forced appraisals, press men with better rations into treasury labor, and extort fodder and supplies—this is comfort for the troops? Drilling and disciplining the troops is likewise a commander's duty, and the court has repeatedly tightened inspection rules and rank regulations—the admonitions have been equally stern. Yet some treat training reviews as mere paperwork, drills as child's play, reward the brave never, and discipline the inept never; the men grow daily arrogant and unruly—where is the discipline in that?

況乃有沉酣聲色之奉，溺意田宅之圖，而不恤國事者矣。又有營營終日，專務納交，書幣往來，道路旁午，而妄希升進者矣。自謂繕治器甲，修造戰艦，究其實，則飾舊為新而已爾。自謂撙節財用，聲稱羨餘，原其自，則剝下罔上而已爾。乞嚴飭將帥，上下振厲，申致軍實，常若有寇至之憂。磨礪振刷，以求更新，亦庶乎其有用矣。

Worse still are those lost in music and courtesans, obsessed with land and property, and indifferent to affairs of state. Others bustle all day cultivating connections, letters and gifts crowding the roads, while they dream of promotion. They claim to repair arms and build warships, but in truth merely dress up old gear as new. They claim thrift and report surpluses, but at bottom they merely squeeze the ranks and deceive their superiors. I beg that commanders be strictly disciplined, that the whole army be roused, that military readiness be restored, and that all live as though the enemy were at the gates. If they are honed and renewed, they may yet prove of some use.

帝嘉納之。

The emperor praised and accepted the memorial.

進直煥章閣，為國子祭酒，仍兼國史編修、實錄檢討。遷工部侍郎，仍兼祭酒兼同修國史實錄院同修撰，拜工部尚書，亦兼祭酒兼侍讀。進端明殿學士、同簽書樞密院事，拜參知政事，封東陽郡公。讚討平李全，援王素諫仁宗卻王德用進女事，以止備嬪禦，世多稱之。以資政殿學士、提舉洞霄宮，進大學士。召赴行在，仍舊職充萬壽觀使兼侍讀，尋提舉萬壽觀兼侍讀，守本官致仕，卒。帝輟視朝一日，諡端獻。杜範稱其侃侃守正，有大臣風。有奏議、雜著文二十四卷。

He was promoted to Direct Attendant at the Huanzhang Pavilion and made Director of the National University, while retaining his posts as compiler of the national history and reviser of the veritable records. He was made Vice-Minister of Works while retaining the directorship of the National University and an associate compilership at the national history and veritable records bureau; later he was appointed Minister of Works, still directing the National University and serving as lecturer-in-attendance. He was promoted to Academician at the Duanming Hall and concurrent signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs, appointed vice grand councilor, and enfeoffed as Duke of Dongyang. He commended the suppression of Li Quan and cited Wang Su's remonstrance against Emperor Renzong's acceptance of Wang Deyong's daughter, thereby halting the filling of the inner quarters—an act widely praised by later generations. Serving as Academician at the Hall for Assisting Governance and superintendent of the Dongxiao Palace, he was advanced to Grand Academician. Summoned to the traveling court, he resumed his old duties as superintendent of the Wanshou Observatory and lecturer-in-attendance, later held both posts together, retired at his original rank, and died. The emperor suspended court for a day in mourning and gave him the posthumous epithet Correct and Offering. Du Fan praised his easy dignity and steadfast integrity, calling it the bearing of a true statesman. His collected memorials and miscellaneous writings filled twenty-four juan.

曾三復字無玷，臨江人。乾道六年進士。淳熙末，為主管官告院，遷太府寺簿，曆將作、太府丞。登朝數年，安於平進，搢紳稱之。紹熙初，出知池州，改常州。召為御史檢法，拜監察御史，轉太常少卿，進起居舍人，遷起居郎兼權刑部侍郎，以疾告老。詔守本官職致仕。三復性耿介，恥奔競，故位不速進。在台餘兩年，持論正平，不隨不激。其沒也，士論惜之。

Ceng Sanfu, whose style was Wudian, came from Linjiang. He earned his jinshi degree in the sixth year of the Qiandao reign. Late in the Chunxi era he supervised the Bureau of Official Commissions, then served as registrar of the Court of the Imperial Treasury and subsequently as vice-director at both the Directorate of Imperial Works and the Court of the Imperial Treasury. After several years at court he was content with steady promotion, and the official class spoke well of him. Early in the Shaoxi era he was posted prefect of Chizhou, then transferred to Changzhou. Recalled as legal examiner for the censorate, he became investigating censor, then vice-director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, recorder of the emperor's movements, and attendant recorder with acting rank as vice-minister of justice before retiring on account of illness. An edict permitted him to retire while keeping his original rank. Sanfu was upright by nature and despised office-seeking, so his promotions came slowly. At the censorate for more than two years, his opinions were even-handed—neither partisan nor inflammatory. When he died, men of learning mourned the loss.

黃疇若，字伯庸，隆興豐城人。一歲而孤，外大母杜教之。淳熙五年舉進士，授祁陽縣主簿。邑民有訴僧為盜且殺人，移鞫治，疇若疑其無證，以白提點刑獄馬大同，且爭之甚力，已而得真盜，大同薦之，調柳州教授，又調靈川令。會萬安軍黎蠻竊發，經略司選疇若條畫招捕事宜。疇若謂須稽原始亂，為區處之方。再任嶺外，用舉考改知廬陵縣。州常以六月督畸零稅，疇若念民方艱食，取任內縣用錢三十餘緡為民代輸兩年。諸司舉為邑最官，召赴都堂審察，差監行在都進奏院。

Huang Chouruo, whose style was Boyong, came from Fengcheng in Longxing. Orphaned at the age of one, he was raised and taught by his maternal grandmother, Lady Du. He passed the jinshi examination in the fifth year of Chunxi and was appointed chief clerk of Qiyang County. When locals accused a monk of robbery and murder, Chouruo doubted the evidence, reported his suspicions to Judicial Intendant Ma Datong, and argued the case forcefully. The real culprit was later caught; Datong recommended him, and he was posted professor at Liuzhou, then magistrate of Lingchuan. When Li tribesmen in Wan'an Circuit rebelled, the Pacification Commission chose Chouruo to draft plans for their pacification. Chouruo argued that the roots of the unrest must be traced before remedies could be devised. After a second posting in the far south, he was recommended and made magistrate of Luling County. The prefecture habitually collected scattered residual taxes in the sixth month. Mindful that the people were starving, Chouruo used more than thirty strings of county funds to pay these taxes for them for two years. Recommended as the outstanding county magistrate, he was summoned for review at the chief council chamber and appointed supervisor of the capital memorial transmission office.

開禧元年，都城火。疇若應詔上言曰：“當今之急務有三：一曰賦斂征求之無藝，二曰都鄙軍民之無法，三曰守令牧養之無狀。 ”遷太府寺主簿，又遷將作監丞兼皇弟吳興郡王府教授。遷太府寺丞，又遷秘書丞兼權禮部郎官，兼資善堂說書。遷著作郎，拜監察御史。首章乞天子擇宰相，宰相擇監司。又言：“善為國者必以恐懼修省之訓陳於前，善為相者必以危亡災異之事告於上。”

In the first year of Kaixi fire broke out in the capital. Chouruo memorialized in response: "Three tasks are urgent today: unchecked taxation and exaction; lawlessness in the capital and the provinces, among soldiers and civilians alike; and magistrates who fail in their duty to care for the people." He was made chief clerk of the Court of the Imperial Treasury, then vice-director of the Directorate of Imperial Works and professor at the mansion of the emperor's younger brother, Prince of Wuxing. He rose to vice-director of the Court of the Imperial Treasury, then vice-director of the Secretariat with acting rank in the Ministry of Rites, and lecturer at the Hall for Cultivating Goodness. He became a compiler, then investigating censor. In his opening memorial he urged the emperor to choose the chief minister wisely, and the chief minister to choose circuit intendants wisely. He added, "A good ruler keeps lessons of fear and self-examination always before him; a good minister keeps warnings of peril and strange omens always before his sovereign."

韓侂胄敗，畤若上章丐去，帝批其奏曰：“卿懷忠藎，朕固知之。 ”疇若遂疏鄧友龍、陳景俊之惡。先是，江、淮督府既罔功，罷不更置。疇若奏，以為和戰未決，不遣近臣置幕府，無以統諸將。乞檢會前奏，亟詔大臣科條人才為宣撫使。帝即日以丘崈為江、淮製置使。尋遷疇若殿中侍御史兼侍講。朝廷與金人約和，金人約函致侂胄首。詔令台諫、侍從、兩省雜議。疇若與章燮等奏：“乞梟首，然後函送敵國。 ”人譏其有失國體。

After Han Tuozhou's fall, Chouruo asked to resign. The emperor wrote on his memorial, "Your loyal devotion I have always known." Chouruo then exposed the crimes of Deng Youlong and Chen Jingjun in a memorial. Earlier the Jiang-Huai command headquarters had accomplished nothing and was abolished without replacement. Chouruo argued that with peace and war still unsettled, no close minister had been sent to establish a headquarters, leaving no one to command the generals. He asked that earlier memorials be reviewed and that ministers be ordered at once to select a pacification commissioner. That same day the emperor appointed Qiu Jun pacification commissioner for Jiang and Huai. Soon Chouruo was made palace censor and court lecturer. The court made peace with the Jin, who demanded Tuozhou's head be sent in a casket. An edict ordered censors, attendants, and officials of both secretariats to deliberate jointly. Chouruo, Zhang Xie, and others memorialized, "We ask that the head be displayed publicly before it is sent to the enemy in a casket." Critics said this compromised the dignity of the state.

疇若奏：“今帑藏無餘，歲幣若必睥睨於百姓，願自宮禁以及宰執百官共為撙節，逐年樁積。 ”遂置安邊所。戶部侍郎沈詵條具合節省拘催者，疇若復乞：“依仁宗、孝宗兩朝成訓，凡節省事：在內諸司選內侍長一員，令自行搜訪，條具來上；在外廷三省則委宰掾、樞屬，六曹則委長貳，事幹浮費者聞奏。 ”又乞：“以官司房廊及激賞庫四季所獻並侂胄萬畝莊等，一並拘樁。 ”既而內廷及酒所減省，議多格，獨得估籍奸賊及房廊非泛供須五項，總緡錢九百一十三萬有奇，外樁留產業，每歲又可得七十一萬五千三百餘緡，疇若乞：“令後省類聚更化以來臣下章奏，察其可行者以聞，付之中書。”

Chouruo memorialized, "The treasury is empty. If the annual tribute must be wrung from the people, let the palace, the chief ministers, and all officials practice thrift and build reserves year by year." The Bureau for Pacifying the Frontier was then established. Vice-Minister of Revenue Shen Shen listed items for economizing. Chouruo again asked that, following the precedents of Emperors Renzong and Xiaozong, each inner bureau choose a senior eunuch to investigate and report; in the outer court entrust the secretariats' chief clerks and military bureau staff, and the ministries' senior officers; wasteful expenditures should be reported to the throne. He also asked that official properties, the Commendation Treasury's seasonal offerings, and Tuozhou's vast estates all be seized and registered. Later, proposed cuts in the inner court and wine offices were mostly blocked; only five measures succeeded—seizing traitors' assets and nonessential properties—yielding over nine million strings, with annual income of another seventy-one thousand strings from retained estates. Chouruo asked that memorials since the reform be collected, viable proposals reported, and referred to the Secretariat-Chancellery.

都城穀踴貴，詔減價糶樁管米十萬石，於是淮、浙流民交集。臨安府按籍振濟，僅不滿五千人，以三月後麥熟罷振濟，各給糧遣歸。疇若謂：“此實驅之使去耳。 ”遂奏：“乞令核實，近甸之人，願歸就田者勿問，其有未能歸者，更振濟兩月；淮民見在都城者，其家既破，又無贏貲，必難遽去，仍與振恤，俟早熟乃罷。 ”於是詔振濟至六月乃止。

When grain prices in the capital soared, an edict ordered the sale of one hundred thousand shi of reserve rice at reduced prices, drawing refugees from Huai and Zhejiang. Lin'an Prefecture registered fewer than five thousand for relief; when wheat ripened in the third month, relief ended and each refugee was given grain and sent home. Chouruo said, "This amounts to driving them away." He memorialized, "Verify the registers: let suburban refugees who wish to return to their fields go freely; extend relief two months for those who cannot yet return;" Huai refugees in the capital, their homes ruined and without savings, cannot leave quickly—continue relief until the early harvest. An edict then extended relief until the sixth month.

帝以蝗災，令刺舉監司不才者，疇若同台監考察上之。又言：“湖、廣盜賊，固迫於饑寒，然亦有激而成之者。黑風峒寇，實由官不為決訟所致。宜戒湖、廣諸司，申明法禁為賊，關防以時，平心決訟，勿令砦官巡尉侵漁。 ”權戶部侍郎，金使告主亡，差充館伴。

After locust plagues, the emperor ordered incompetent circuit intendants impeached; Chouruo joined the censorate in investigating and reporting them. He also said, "Bandits in Hunan and Guangdong are driven by hunger and cold, but some are provoked into rebellion." The Heifeng Cave bandits arose because officials refused to settle lawsuits. Offices in Hunan and Guangdong should be warned to enforce laws against banditry, guard passes properly, judge fairly, and stop fort officials and patrol inspectors from extorting the people. As acting vice-minister of revenue, he was appointed host commissioner when the Jin envoy reported his emperor's death.

自軍興費廣，朝廷給會子數多，至是折閱日甚。朝論頗嚴稱提，民愈不售，郡縣科配，民皆閉門牢避。行旅持券，終日有不獲一錢一物者。詔令侍從、台省，條上所見。疇若奏曰：“物少則貴，多則賤，理之常也。曷若令郡縣姑以漸稱提，先收十一界者消毀，勿復支出。上下流通，則不待稱提矣。 ”由是峻急之令少寬。又疏奏：“乞崇忠厚，延質樸，屏絕浮薄之論。乞撥買官田充糴本，以廣常平之儲。乞令戶察一員，專監安邊所。 ”帝皆是之。

War had swollen expenses and the court had issued vast quantities of paper notes; by now their value was collapsing daily. Court opinion favored strict enforcement of note value, but the people refused them ever more; when counties apportioned them by quota, people barred their doors to avoid receiving them. Travelers with notes in hand could spend a whole day unable to obtain a single coin or good. An edict ordered attendants and censors to submit detailed recommendations. Chouruo memorialized, "When goods are scarce they are dear; when abundant they are cheap—such is nature's law." Let prefectures and counties gradually restore note value: first collect and destroy notes of the eleventh series and issue no more. Once notes circulate freely above and below, enforced maintenance will no longer be needed. Harsh enforcement was accordingly eased somewhat. He also memorialized, "Honor loyalty and generosity, welcome plain integrity, and bar shallow and frivolous talk." Allocate funds to buy official fields as capital for grain purchases, to expand Ever-Normal Granary reserves. Appoint one revenue inspector to supervise exclusively the Bureau for Pacifying the Frontier. The emperor approved all these proposals.

因麵求補外，退上章，降詔不允，又連疏丐去。會旱蝗復熾，御筆令在朝百執事條上封事，疇若奏“官吏苛刻、科役頻並、賦斂繁重、刑法淹延”四事。冊皇太子，差充引見禮儀使。進華文閣待制、知成都府。蜀自吳曦畔後，製置使移司興元，朝論有偏重之嫌。朝廷擇人，故輟疇若以往，三辭不允。避諱，改寶謨閣待制。詔：“凡屬軍民利病，吏治藏否，並許諮訪以聞。 ”當征積欠十餘萬，疇若亟命榜九邑盡蠲之。考官吏冗員，非敕命差注者悉罷之。為民代輸六年布估錢，計二十萬二千四百緡；又別立庫儲二十五萬三千緡，期於異日接續代輸；又糴米十五萬石有奇，足廣惠倉之儲；又減他賦之重者，民力遂寬。

He asked in person for a provincial post; when refused by edict, he submitted repeated memorials begging to resign. When drought and locusts returned, the emperor ordered all officials to submit sealed memorials. Chouruo cited four ills: harsh officials, repeated combined levies, heavy taxation, and delayed justice. At the crown prince's investiture he was appointed commissioner for the presentation ceremony. He was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary at the Huawen Pavilion and made prefect of Chengdu. Since Wu Xi's rebellion in Shu, the pacification commissioner's office had moved to Xingyuan, and court opinion suspected undue favoritism toward the north. The court chose him for the post; Chouruo declined three times but was not permitted to refuse. To avoid a tabooed name, his title was changed to Attendant-in-Ordinary at the Baomo Pavilion. An edict declared, "You may inquire into all matters affecting soldiers and civilians, and report whether local administration is sound or corrupt." When more than one hundred thousand in back taxes were due, Chouruo promptly ordered all nine districts to remit them entirely. He reviewed officials for redundant posts and dismissed all not appointed by imperial edict. He paid six years of cloth appraisal levies on the people's behalf, totaling two hundred two thousand four hundred strings; established a separate reserve of two hundred fifty-three thousand strings for future payments on their behalf; purchased more than one hundred fifty thousand shi of rice to fill the Broad Benefit Granary; and reduced other heavy levies, easing the people's burden.

初，沈黎蠻屢犯邊，疇若至，則鏤榜曉以禍福，青、彌兩羌遂乞降。四年，董蠻合其部族入寇犍為利店。疇若亟調兵，且設方略捕之，皆遁去。先是，疇若廉知嘉定邊備廢弛，而平戎莊子弟可用，遂檄嘉定府權免平戎莊是年炭估、麻租，令莊子弟即日上邊為守備。會嘉定闕守，蠻窺利店無備，遂入寇。疇若復選西軍，欲且往防拓，牒轉運司折支，不報。蠻再犯龍鳩堡，轉運司始頗從所請。蠻復到龍門隘，知有備乃退。進龍圖閣待制，依舊知成都府。

Earlier Shenli tribesmen had repeatedly raided the frontier. Chouruo posted engraved proclamations explaining the consequences, and the Qing and Mi Qiang tribes submitted. In the fourth year, Dong tribesmen united their clans and attacked Lidian in Qianwei. Chouruo urgently mobilized troops and laid plans to capture them; all fled. Earlier Chouruo had learned that Jiading's frontier defenses were lax and that the young men of Pingrong Manor could serve. He ordered Jiading to exempt the manor's charcoal and hemp levies for the year and sent its young men to the frontier at once as defenders. Jiading happened to lack a magistrate; the tribesmen, seeing Lidian undefended, invaded. Chouruo again selected western troops to defend the frontier and requested advance funds from the Transport Commission, but received no reply. When the tribesmen attacked Longjiu Fort again, the Transport Commission at last largely granted his request. The tribesmen reached Longmen Pass again but withdrew on finding defenses ready. He was promoted to Attendant-in-Ordinary at the Longtu Pavilion while remaining prefect of Chengdu.

大使司之師出，東路提刑亦征兵，三垂告警，敘南之報復急，兩路震動。疇若亟移書兩軍，俾速還師守險為後圖，西師遂退守沐川。既而疇若兼製敘州兵甲公事，既得專行，益嚴守備，蠻首昔醜竟降，朝廷賞平蠻功，進疇若一秩。

When the envoy commission's army marched out and the eastern judicial intendant also raised troops, alarms sounded on three frontiers; urgent reports came from Xunan, and both routes were thrown into turmoil. Chouruo urgently ordered both armies to withdraw, hold the defiles, and regroup; the western army retreated to defend Muchuan. Soon given sole charge of Xuzhou military affairs, he tightened defenses further until the tribal leader Xichou surrendered. The court rewarded the pacification and advanced Chouruo one rank.

疇若留蜀四年，弊根蠹穴，苗耨發櫛。如乞揀留移屯西兵義勇，以防竊發，以救偏重；更用東南賢士使蜀四路，而拔蜀守之有治功者為東南監司，庶杜州縣姻婭之私；輕取錢引貼期之費，以紓民力：皆抗疏請於朝，乞力行之。復念大玄城乃張儀所築，高駢所修，圮壞歲久，復修費重，乃以節縮餘錢四十萬貫為修城備。疇若以製置使留漢中，則護諸將為得宜。召赴行在，入對延和殿，遷權兵部尚書、太子右庶子。

During four years in Shu, Chouruo rooted out entrenched abuses and exposed hidden corruption. He asked to retain western troops and militia at garrison posts to guard against sudden outbreaks and remedy the northward bias; to send worthy men from the southeast to the four Shu circuits and promote effective Shu magistrates to southeast posts, hoping to end nepotism in local government; and to reduce advance fees on paper currency to ease the people's burden—all submitted in forceful memorials begging the court to enact them vigorously. He also recalled that Great Xuancheng had been built by Zhang Yi and repaired by Gao Pian; after long ruin, rebuilding would be costly, so he set aside four hundred thousand strings of economized surplus funds as a reserve for repairing the walls. If Chou Ruo were kept at Hanzhong as military commissioner, protecting the various generals would be the proper course. He was summoned to the temporary capital, gave audience in the Yanyhe Hall, and was promoted to acting Minister of War and Right Senior Attendant to the Crown Prince.

八年，四月不雨，詔求直言。疇若條具三事，首言：“比稱提楮幣，州縣奉行切迫，故因坐減陌被估籍者眾，乞與給還；乞蠲閣下戶畸零稅賦；乞振贍雄淮軍之乏。 ”尋皆行之。落權，升左庶子，仍兼修史，擢太子詹事。疇若引範鎮故事，乞歸田裏。

In the eighth year, through the fourth month it did not rain, and an edict called for forthright advice. Chou Ruo set forth three matters in detail. First he said: "Recently, with the increase in value of paper currency, prefectures and counties enforced it urgently, so many who suffered reduced-face-value penalties had their property appraised and confiscated. I beg that these be restored;" I beg that the irregular leftover taxes of under-arcade households be remitted; and I beg that relief be provided for the shortages of the Xiong-Huai armies. Soon all were implemented. He was relieved of his acting status, promoted to Left Senior Attendant, continued concurrently as historiographer, and was elevated to Chamberlain for the Heir Apparent. Chou Ruo cited Fan Zhen's precedent and requested to return to his rural home.

十年春，差知貢舉，試禮部尚書，以足疾乞歸。進煥章閣學士、知福州，力辭，乃改提舉鴻慶宮。關外軍潰，言者論及疇若，落職罷祠，後以煥章閣學士致仕。所著有《竹坡集》、奏議、講議、《經筵故事》。

In the spring of the tenth year he was dispatched to oversee the metropolitan examination and was tested as Minister of Rites; citing a foot ailment, he requested to retire home. He was promoted to Academician of the Huanzhang Pavilion and appointed prefect of Fuzhou, but firmly declined; he was instead made director of the Hongqing Palace. When troops outside the pass routed, critics implicated Chou Ruo; he was demoted and stripped of his sinecure, and later retired as Academician of the Huanzhang Pavilion. His works included the Collection from Bamboo Slope, memorials, lecture notes, and Stories from the Classic Lectern.

袁韶字彥淳，慶元府人。淳熙十四年進士。嘉泰中，為吳江丞。蘇師旦恃韓侂胄威福，撓役法，提舉常平黃榮檄韶核田以定役。師旦密諭意言：“吳江多姻黨，儻相容，當薦為京朝官。 ”韶不聽。是歲更定戶籍，承徭賦，皆師旦黨，師旦諷言者將論去。榮亟以是事白於朝，且薦之。未幾，師旦敗。改知桐廬縣。桐廬多宗室，持縣事無有善去者。韶始至，絕私謁，莫敢撓。錢塘岸歲為潮齧，率取石桐廬，韶言：“廟子山有石，不必旁取鄰郡。 ”遂得求免。嘉定四年，召為太常寺主簿，父老旗鼓蔽江以餞，至於富陽，泣謝曰：“吾曹不復輸石矣。”

Yuan Shao, styled Yanchun, was a native of Qingyuan Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination in the fourteenth year of Chunxi. During the Jiatai era he served as assistant magistrate of Wujiang. Su Shidan, relying on Han Tuozhou's power and arrogance, obstructed the corvée law; Huang Rong, intendant of Ever-Normal Granaries, ordered Shao by dispatch to survey fields and fix corvée assessments. Shidan secretly conveyed his intent, saying: "Wujiang has many kin-based factions; if you can accommodate them, I will recommend you for a capital office." Shao did not listen. That year the household registers were revised, bearing corvée and taxes—all were Shidan's faction. Shidan hinted to critics that they would be removed. Huang Rong quickly reported this matter to the court and also recommended him. Before long, Shidan fell from power. He was transferred to serve as magistrate of Tonglu County. Tonglu had many imperial clansmen, and those who held county affairs rarely left with a good outcome. When Shao first arrived, he cut off private audiences, and no one dared interfere. Each year the Qiantang riverbank was gnawed by tides, and stone was routinely taken from Tonglu. Shao said: "Miaozi Mountain has stone; there is no need to seize it from neighboring prefectures." Thus the levy was exempted. In the fourth year of Jiading he was summoned as chief clerk of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Elders with drums and banners lined the river to see him off; reaching Fuyang, they wept and thanked him: "We shall never again supply stone!"

後為右司郎官、接伴金使。使者索歲幣，語慢甚，韶曰：“昔兩國誓約，止令輸燕，不聞在汴。 ”使者語塞。十三年，為臨安府尹，幾十年，理訟精簡，道不拾遺，裏巷爭呼為“佛子”，平反冤獄甚多。

Later he served as Right Department Director and escorted Jin envoys. The envoy demanded annual tribute, speaking with great insolence. Shao said: "Formerly the two states swore an oath fixing payment only to Yan—not at Bian." The envoy was left speechless. In the thirteenth year he became prefect of Lin'an; for nearly ten years he adjudicated cases with precision and brevity, the roads went untroubled by theft, alleys clamored to call him "Buddha-son," and he overturned many wrongful convictions.

紹定元年，拜參知政事。胡夢昱論濟王事，當遠竄，韶獨以夢昱無罪，不肯署文書。李全叛，揚州告急，飛檄載道，都城爭有逃避者。乃拜韶浙西製置使，仍治臨安鎮遏之。丞相史彌遠懲韓侂胄用兵事，不欲聲討。韶與範楷言於彌遠曰：“揚失守則京口不可保，淮將如卞整、崔福皆可用。 ”適福至，韶夜與同見彌遠，言福實可用。彌遠從之，遂討全。韶卒以言罷。端平初，奉祠，卒年七十有七，贈少傅。後以郊恩，累贈太師、越國公。

In the first year of Shaoding he was appointed Vice Grand Councillor. When Hu Mengyu was judged for the Prince of Ji affair and should be exiled far, Shao alone held Mengyu innocent and refused to sign the documents. Li Quan rebelled; Yangzhou reported an emergency; urgent dispatches filled the roads; and people in the capital scrambled to flee. Shao was appointed military commissioner of Western Zhejiang, still governing Lin'an to suppress the panic. Grand Councillor Shi Miyuan, chastened by Han Tuozhou's war, did not wish to openly campaign against Quan. Shao and Fan Kai said to Miyuan: "If Yang falls, Jingkou cannot be held. Huai generals like Bian Zheng and Cui Fu are all usable." Just then Fu arrived; Shao went with him at night to see Miyuan and said Fu was truly usable. Miyuan assented, and they proceeded to campaign against Quan. Shao was ultimately dismissed because of his words. At the start of Duanping he held a temple sinecure; he died at seventy-seven and was posthumously honored as Junior Grand Mentor. Later, through suburban grace, he was cumulatively honored as Grand Preceptor and Duke of Yue.

韶之父為郡小吏，給事通判廳，勤謹無失，歲滿當代，不聽去。後通判至，復留用之，因致豐饒。夫妻俱近五十，無子，其妻資遣之往臨安置妾。既得妾，察之有憂色，且以麻束發，外以彩飾之。問之，泣曰：“妾故趙知府女也，家四川，父歿家貧，故鬻妾以為歸葬計耳。 ”即送還之。其母泣曰：“計女聘財猶未足以給歸費，且用破矣，將何以酬汝？ ”徐曰：“賤吏不敢辱娘子，聘財盡以相奉。 ”且聞其家尚不給，盡以囊中貲與之，遂獨歸。妻迎問之曰：“妾安在？ ”告以其故，且曰：“吾思之，無子命也。我與汝周旋久，若有子，汝豈不育，必待他婦人乃育哉？ ”妻亦喜曰：“君設心如此，行當有子矣。 ”明年生韶。

Shao's father was a minor prefectural clerk serving in the vice prefect's office, diligent and careful without fault. When his term expired he should have been replaced, but they would not let him leave. When a later vice prefect arrived, he was again kept on and employed, and thus became prosperous. Husband and wife were both nearly fifty and childless; his wife provided funds and sent him to Lin'an to take a concubine. Having obtained a concubine, he observed she had a worried expression, and her hair was bound with hemp but decorated outwardly with colors. Questioning her, she wept and said: "I am the daughter of the former Prefect Zhao; my family is in Sichuan. My father died and the family was poor, so I was sold to raise funds for his return and burial." He immediately sent her back. Her mother wept and said: "The calculated bride-price still falls short for return expenses, and it is already spent—how shall we repay you?" He said slowly: "This humble clerk dare not dishonor the young lady; the bride-price I give entirely to you." Learning their household still lacked funds, he gave everything in his purse and returned alone. His wife came out to greet him and asked: "Where is the concubine?" He told her the reason and said: "I have thought about it—being childless is fate." You and I have been together long; if we were to have a child, would you not raise it? Must we wait for another woman to bear one? His wife also delighted and said: "With such intent as yours, we shall surely have a child soon." The next year Shao was born.

危稹，字逢吉，撫州臨川人。舊名科，淳熙十四年舉進士，孝宗更名稹。時洪邁得稹文，為之賞激。調南康軍教授。轉運使楊萬里按部，驟見歎獎，偕遊廬山，相與酬倡。調廣東帳司，未上，服父喪，免，調臨安府教授。倪思薦之，且語人曰：“吾得此一士，可以報國矣。 ”丁母憂，免，幹辦京西安撫司公事。入為武學諭，改太學錄。

Wei Zhen, styled Fengji, was a native of Linchuan in Fuzhou. Formerly named Ke, he passed the jinshi examination in the fourteenth year of Chunxi; Emperor Xiaozong renamed him Zhen. At the time Hong Mai saw Zhen's writing and was deeply impressed. He was assigned as instructor at Nankang Prefecture. Transport Commissioner Yang Wanli, on an inspection tour, suddenly saw him and praised him; together they toured Mount Lu and exchanged verses. Assigned to the Guangdong accounts office, he had not yet taken up the post when he mourned his father and was relieved; he was then assigned as instructor at Lin'an Prefecture. Ni Si recommended him and told others: "Having gained this one scholar, I can serve the state." After mourning his mother he was relieved and became staff officer of the Western Capital Pacification Commission. He entered service as instructor at the Military Academy and was changed to Recorder of the Imperial Academy.

明年，遷武學博士，又遷諸王宮教授。稹謂以教名官，而實未嚐教，請改創宗子學，立課試法如兩學，從之。嘉定九年，新學成，改充博士，其教養之規，稹所論建。遷秘書郎、著作佐郎，兼吳益王府教授。升著作郎兼屯田郎官。

The next year he was promoted to Doctor of the Military Academy, then to instructor at the Princes' Palace. Zhen observed that though titled instructor, he had not truly taught; he requested to establish a School for Imperial Clansmen with examination methods like the two academies—the court assented. In the ninth year of Jiading the new school was completed; he was made its doctor, and its training regulations were proposed by Zhen. He was promoted to Secretary and Assistant Compilation Officer, concurrently serving as instructor at Prince Wu Yi's palace. He was elevated to Compilation Officer concurrently serving as Director of State Farms.

稹始進對，請敘復軍功之賞以立大信，抆拭功臣之罪以厲忠節，置局以立武事，遣使以省邊防，厚賞以精間諜。次論和、戰、守利害，而請專意於守。是歲春至夏不雨，稹應詔言：“安邊所征斂之害，與無罪而籍沒之害；楮幣之改，以一奪二；鹽鈔之更，以新廢舊；至於沮格軍賞，放散死士，皆足以召怨而致旱。”

On his first audience Zhen requested restoring military merit rewards to establish great trust, wiping away meritorious ministers' crimes to encourage loyalty, establishing bureaus for military affairs, dispatching envoys to inspect border defenses, and generous rewards to cultivate spies. Next he discussed the pros and cons of peace, war, and defense, and requested exclusive focus on defense. That year from spring to summer there was no rain; responding to the edict Zhen said: "The harm of border pacification levies, and the harm of confiscating the innocent—" changing paper currency, taking one for two; changing salt certificates, discarding old for new; as for blocking military rewards and disbanding veteran soldiers—all are sufficient to summon resentment and bring drought.

明年又論：“謀國者欲以安靖為安靖，憂國者欲以振厲為安靖，自二議不合，是以國無成謀，人無定誌。願詔大臣合二議共圖之，且欲下兩淮帥臣，講明守禦之備。 ”最後言：“事無成規者，皆不可為。意向不明，無以一眾聽；信誓不立，無以結人心；報應不亟，無以趨事機；賞罰不果，無以作士氣。”

The next year he argued again: "State planners take quiet ease for peace; patriots take invigorating effort for peace. Since the two views disagree, the state lacks settled plans and people lack fixed resolve." I wish the Emperor would command grand ministers to unite both views and plan together, and also send orders to the Two Huai commanders to clarify defensive preparations. Finally he said: "What lacks established rules cannot be done." If intent is unclear, one cannot unify the multitude's hearing; If sworn faith is not established, one cannot bind people's hearts; If response is not swift, one cannot seize the moment; If rewards and punishments are not decisive, one cannot rouse soldiers' morale.

番易柴中行去國，稹賦詩送之，迕宰相，出知潮州。尋以通金華徐僑書論罷，提舉千秋鴻禧觀。久之，知漳州。漳俗視不葬親為常，往往棲寄僧刹，稹命營高燥地為義塚三，約期責之葬，其無主名、若有主名而力弗給者，官為葬之，凡二千三百有奇，刻石以識。郡有臨漳台，據溪山最勝處，作龍江書院其上。既成，橫經自講，人用歆動。邑令有賄聞者，劾去之，籍其財以還民。郡有經、總製無名錢歲五千緡，厲民為甚，前守趙汝讜奏蠲五之二，稹疏於朝，悉罷之。會常平使有言，稹不欲辯，即自請以歸。久之，提舉崇禧觀，與鄉里耆艾七人為真率會。卒，年七十四。

When Poyi Chai Zhongxing left the capital, Zhen composed a farewell poem that offended the chancellor; he was sent out as prefect of Chaozhou. Soon he was dismissed for correspondence with Jinhua's Xu Qiao on policy and was made director of the Qianqiu Hongxi Observatory. After a long time he was appointed prefect of Zhangzhou. Zhang custom treated leaving parents unburied as normal, often lodging coffins in monasteries. Zhen ordered three charity burial grounds on high dry land and set deadlines requiring burial; those without claimants, or with claimants lacking means, the government buried—totaling over twenty-three hundred, with stone markers inscribed. The prefecture had Linzhang Terrace at the finest stream-and-mountain site; he built Longjiang Academy upon it. When it was completed, he lectured on the classics himself, and people were deeply stirred. A county magistrate was reported for bribery; Zhen impeached and removed him, registering his wealth to return to the people. The prefecture had unnamed funds from jing and zongzhi levies of five thousand strings yearly, severely burdening the people. Former prefect Zhao Ruzan had memorialized to remit two-fifths; Zhen memorialized to the court and abolished them entirely. When the Ever-Normal intendant spoke against him, Zhen would not argue and immediately requested to return home. After a long time he became director of the Chongxi Observatory and, with seven village elders, formed a Plain Sincerity club. He died at seventy-four.

稹性至孝，父疾，願損己算益親年，疾尋愈。真德秀登從班，舉稹自代，沒，又為銘其墓。所著有《巽齋集》，諸經有講義、集解，諸魏、晉、唐詩文皆有編，輯先賢奏議曰《玉府》、曰《藥山》。

Zhen was exceptionally filial; when his father fell ill, he wished to shorten his own lifespan to extend his parent's years, and the illness soon healed. When Zhen Dexiu entered the secondary rank, he recommended Zhen to succeed him; after Zhen's death, Dexiu also wrote his tomb inscription. His works included the Xunzhai Collection; commentaries and collected exegeses on the classics; compilations of Wei, Jin, and Tang poetry and prose; and edited ancestral memorials titled Jade Archive and Medicine Mountain.

弟和，字祥仲。開禧元年進士，為上元主簿，大辟祠宇祀程顥，真德秀為記之。知德興，振荒有惠政。有《蟾塘文集》。

His younger brother He, styled Xiangzhong. He passed the jinshi examination in the first year of Kaixi, served as chief clerk of Shangyuan, greatly expanded temple halls to sacrifice to Cheng Hao, and Zhen Dexiu wrote the inscription. As magistrate of Dexing, he relieved famine with policies that earned the people's gratitude. He authored the Chantang Collection.

程公許，字季與，一字希穎，敘州宣化人。少知孝敬，大母侯疾，公許不交睫者數月，病革，嚐其痰沫，既卒，哀毀逾製。嘉定四年舉進士，調溫江尉，未上，丁母憂。服除，授華陽尉，再調綿州教授。製置使崔與之大加器賞，改秩知崇寧縣，蠲預借，免抑配，人甚德之。

Cheng Gongxu, styled Jiyu and also known as Xiying, was a native of Xuanhua in Xuzhou. From youth he was filial and respectful. When his great-grandmother fell ill, Gongxu went months without sleep; as her illness turned critical he tasted her phlegm, and after she died his grief exceeded the prescribed mourning. In the fourth year of Jiading he passed the jinshi examination and was assigned as assistant magistrate of Wenjiang, but before he could take up the post his mother died. When his mourning ended he was appointed assistant magistrate of Huayang, then transferred to serve as professor at Mian Prefecture. Pacification commissioner Cui Yu greatly valued him, promoted his rank, and appointed him magistrate of Chongning County, where he remitted advance loans and exempted forced apportionment; the people deeply esteemed him.

差通判簡州。改隆州，未上。會金人犯閬中，製置使桂如淵遁，三川震動，朝廷擢李代之，辟公許通判施州，行戶房公事。當兵將奔潰之後，公許盡力佐之，節浮費，疏利原，民不增賦而用自足。時諸將乘亂抄劫，事定自危，以重賂結幕府。大將和彥威懷金寶以獻，公許正色卻之，彥威慚而退。吳彥者，緘僧牒於書尾以進，公許卷還之而責其使，聞者畏服。有獻議招秦、鞏大姓於者，眾多從臾，獨公許謂山東覆轍未遠，反覆論難，從之。其後趙彥呐開閫，復行其策。未幾，金人搗成都，大姓者實導之，始服公許先見。

He was assigned as vice-prefect of Jian Prefecture. He was transferred to Long Prefecture but did not take up the post. When the Jin invaded Langzhong, pacification commissioner Gui Ruyuan fled and the Three Sichuan circuits were shaken. The court elevated Li Rong to replace him and recruited Gongxu as vice-prefect of Shi Prefecture, acting in the fiscal office. After the army and officers had broken and fled, Gongxu exerted every effort to assist Li Rong: he cut wasteful spending, opened new revenue sources, and kept the people from added levies while supplies remained sufficient. At that time the generals took advantage of the chaos to plunder; once order was restored they feared for themselves and tried to bind the headquarters with heavy bribes. Grand general He Yanwei came bearing gold and jewels as a gift; Gongxu sternly refused them, and Yanwei withdrew in shame. A man named Wu Yan sealed a monk's certificate at the end of a letter and sent it in; Gongxu rolled the letter back, returned it, and rebuked the messenger; those who heard were awed into submission. Someone proposed recruiting the great clans of Qin and Gong to Li Rong's side; many urged him on, but Gongxu alone said the overturned cart in Shandong was not long past. He argued repeatedly, and Li Rong followed his counsel. Later Zhao Yanna opened a command, and the earlier policy was carried out again. Before long the Jin struck at Chengdu, and the great clans had in fact guided them; only then did people acknowledge Gongxu's foresight.

端平初，授大理司直，遷太常博士。秋祀明堂，雷雨，應詔言事。嘉熙元年，御史杜範論執政李鳴復，不行，徙右史，竟拂衣東歸，鳴復坐政府自若。公許輪對，言：“誌士仁人，嬰逆鱗，賈眾怒，不過為陛下通耳目，為朝廷立綱紀而已。今也假以職而棄其諫，幸其退而優其遷，則是自裂其綱紀，自蔽其耳目，遂使居是職者雖被親擢，言不得行，始焉固辭而弗從，終焉強留而飲愧。臣恐自此同類沮失，各起遐心，來者相戒，以為容默，陛下愈孤立無助矣。”

At the beginning of Duanping he was appointed Direct Investigator of the Court of Judicial Review, then promoted to Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. During the autumn sacrifice at the Bright Hall, thunder and rain fell, and he responded to the imperial decree to speak on affairs of state. In the first year of Jiaxi, censor Du Fan criticized chief minister Li Mingfu, but nothing was done. Du was moved to Right Scribe and in the end shook out his robes and returned east, while Mingfu sat in the government as if nothing had happened. Gongxu spoke in turn at audience: "Men of purpose and benevolence who risk the dragon's scales and invite the wrath of the multitude do no more than open Your Majesty's ears and eyes and establish discipline for the court." Now to appoint them to office yet discard their remonstrance, to rejoice at their withdrawal yet favor their transfer, is to tear apart one's own discipline and blind one's own ears and eyes. Those who hold such posts, though personally promoted, cannot have their words acted upon: at first they firmly decline and are not heeded; in the end they are forcibly retained and swallow shame. Your servant fears that from this like-minded men will be discouraged and lost, each will turn away in heart, and those who come after will warn one another to keep silent and accommodating; Your Majesty will grow ever more isolated and without aid.

夏，行都大火，殿中侍御史蔣峴逢君希寵，創為邪說，禁錮言者。公許應詔曰：“群臣忠告者眾，而聖意確不可回；聖意不可回，而言者不免於激。陛下宜以大舜無藏怒宿怨為心，而參酌於漢文帝之待淮南厲王、我太宗待秦邸之故事，以召和氣，弭眚災，特在一念轉移之頃耳。 ”遷秘書丞兼考功郎官，竟為峴劾去，差主管雲台觀、和衢州，未上。改江東宣撫司參議官，不赴。

In summer a great fire struck the mobile capital. Palace Attendant Censor Jiang Xian, seeking the ruler's favor, invented perverse theories and shackled those who spoke out. Gongxu responded to the imperial decree: "Many among the ministers have offered loyal counsel, yet the sacred mind is firm and cannot be turned back;" When the sacred mind cannot be turned back, those who speak cannot avoid provocation. Your Majesty should take as your heart the model of Great Shun, who harbored no hidden anger or lingering resentment, and weigh the precedents of Emperor Wen of Han's treatment of the King of Huainan and our Taizong's treatment of the Prince of Qin, to summon harmonious qi and quell calamities—all lies in the turning of a single thought. He was promoted to Secretary Assistant and Concurrent Review of Merit Bureau official, but in the end Jiang Xian impeached him and had him removed. He was assigned to administer the Yuntai Abbey and concurrently serve at Qu Prefecture, but did not take up the post. He was transferred to serve as consulting officer of the Jiangdong Pacification Commission but did not go.

李宗勉入相，以著作佐郎召，兼權尚左郎官兼直舍人院，遷著作郎。時諫官郭磊卿以論事不報出關，徐榮叟亦抗章引去，公許奏：“乞還言官，俾安厥位。 ”既而史嵩之自江上入相，台諫謝方叔、王萬及磊卿相繼他徙，公許又奏：“外難憑陵，國勢岌若綴旒，朝廷上自為弗靖，陽為遷除，陰奪言職，此中外所以怏怏。”

When Li Zongmian entered the chancellorship, Gongxu was summoned as Assistant Drafting Academician, concurrently acting as Left Bureau official of the Ministry of Personnel and direct draftsman of the Academy of Scholarly Worthies, and was promoted to Drafting Academician. At that time remonstrance official Guo Leiqing left the capital because his memorials on affairs of state went unanswered, and Xu Rongsou also submitted a forceful memorial and withdrew. Gongxu memorialized: "I beg that the remonstrance officials be returned to office so they may rest secure in their posts." Soon Shi Songzhi entered the chancellorship from the Yangzi, and censors and remonstrators Xie Fangshu, Wang Wan, and Leiqing were transferred away one after another. Gongxu again memorialized: "Foreign perils press upon us and the state's condition hangs by a thread. The court itself is unsettled, outwardly granting transfers while secretly stripping remonstrance posts—this is why inside and outside are discontent."

遷將作少監。大旱，應詔疏時事四條。又言：“儲極虛位，天下寒心。 ”時朝廷令侍從、台諫條具易楮利害，尋降旨以新造十八界折五行使。公許繳申省，謂：“廟堂決意更革，本欲重十八界，亦當令十六界、十七界稍有分別，若一時皆以五折一，安保將來十七界與十八界並行而不折閱乎。曷若將十七界且以三兌一，使民間尚知寶此一界，不至一旦貿易不行，令三界各有等第，庶幾公私兩便。 ”嵩之格不行，徑揭黃榜。公許謂：“不經鳳閣鸞台，不得為敕。朝廷出令而宰相擅行如此，則掖垣可廢。 ”累上奏牘，徑欲引去，宗勉及參知政事遊似麵奏留之，兼國史編修、實錄檢討。

He was promoted to Vice-Director of Imperial Works. During a great drought he responded to the imperial decree with a memorial outlining four current matters. He also said: "The heir apparent's position stands empty, and the realm is chilled at heart." At that time the court ordered attendant officials and censor-remonstrators to set forth the pros and cons of changing paper currency, and soon an edict was issued making the newly minted Eighteenth Realm notes exchange at five to one. Gongxu returned the memorial to the Secretariat, saying: "The court has resolved on reform intending to strengthen the Eighteenth Realm, and the Sixteenth and Seventeenth Realms should still be given some distinction. If all at once everything is exchanged at five to one, how can one guarantee that when the Seventeenth and Eighteenth Realms circulate together in future, the Seventeenth will not also be forced down?" Would it not be better for now to exchange the Seventeenth Realm at three to one, so that the people still know to treasure this realm and trade does not suddenly cease? Let the three realms each have their rank, and perhaps both public and private will benefit. Songzhi blocked it and would not act; he posted the edict directly on the yellow board. Gongxu said: "Without passing through the Drafting Office and Secretariat, it cannot count as an imperial edict." For the court to issue an order yet the chief minister to act on his own authority in this way means the remonstrance offices may as well be abolished. He repeatedly submitted memorials and was on the point of resigning, but Zongmian and Vice Grand Councilor You Si pleaded face to face to retain him. He was also made compiler of the National History and collator of the Veritable Records.

淳祐元年，遷秘書少監，輪對，言蜀事十條。兼直學士院，拜太常少卿，力請外，為右正言濮鬥南之所論罷。尋以直寶謨閣知袁州，請蠲和糴之半。改命郡吏部總所綱運，而厚其貲，免募平民，民甚便之。新周敦頤祠，葺張栻書院，聘宿儒胡安之為諸生講說。杜範薦於上，召拜宗正少卿，再遷起居舍人。濮鬥南繳還，疏有“臣等恥與為伍”之語，遂以舊職提舉玉局觀。範見疏曰：“程季與肯與汝為伍耶？”

In the first year of Chunyou he was promoted to Vice-Director of the Secretariat and, in turn at audience, spoke on ten matters concerning Shu. He concurrently served as direct draftsman of the Hanlin Academy and was appointed Vice-Minister of Rites, but pressed strongly for an outside post and was removed because of Right Straight Remonstrator Pu Dounan's criticism. Soon he was made Direct Academician of the Baomo Pavilion and appointed prefect of Yuan Prefecture, where he requested remission of half the harmonized grain purchase levy. He changed orders so that county clerks would oversee transport of tribute grain in organized groups, increased their pay, and exempted the conscription of commoners; the people found this very convenient. He built a new temple to Zhou Dunyi, repaired Zhang Shi Academy, and engaged the elder scholar Hu Anzhi to lecture the students. Du Fan recommended him to the throne; he was summoned and appointed Vice-Director of the Court of the Imperial Clan, then promoted again to Attendant in the Office for Writing Current Affairs. Pu Dounan returned the appointment; his memorial contained the words "We are ashamed to be counted among such company," and Gongxu was thereupon assigned his former post as supervisor of the Yuju Abbey. When Fan saw the memorial, he said: "Would Cheng Jiyu consent to be counted among your company?"

退處二年，召赴行在，屬嵩之以父憂去位，經營起復，益憚公許，密柬韓祥嗾殿中侍御史王讚奏寢召命。帝雖曲從而意不悅。及逐不才台諫，擢公許起居郎兼直學士院。公許入奏不可不堅凝者七。帝語之曰：“卿一去三年，今用卿，出自朕意。 ”是日晚命下，嵩之罷起復，相範鍾及範，三製皆公許為之。兼權中書舍人。

After two years in retirement he was summoned to the mobile capital. As Songzhi was leaving office for his father's mourning and scheming for a return from mourning, he feared Gongxu all the more and secretly sent a note through Han Xiang urging Palace Attendant Censor Wang Zan to memorialize to hold up the summons. The emperor yielded, but was displeased at heart. When incompetent censors and remonstrators were dismissed, Gongxu was promoted to Attendant in the Office for Writing Current Affairs and concurrent direct draftsman of the Hanlin Academy. Gongxu entered and memorialized seven matters on which the court must not fail to remain firm. The emperor told him: "You have been away three years. In employing you now, this comes from my own intent." That evening the order was issued: Songzhi's return from mourning was halted, and the appointments of chief minister Fan Zhong and Du Fan—three edicts in all—were all drafted by Gongxu. He concurrently served as acting Drafting Secretary of the Secretariat.

時二相尚遜，機務多壅。公許奏：“輔臣崇執謙遜，避遠形跡，相示以色而不明言，事幾無窮，日月易失。今最急莫若疆場之事，帥才不蓄，一旦欲議易置，茫然莫知所付。九江擇守，至以近所廢斥朋附為欺之台察充其選。同時任言責者，雖心跡有顯晦，過惡有重輕，而獲罪於清議則同。一人抆拭之驟若是，三人者寧不引領以望玷缺之復。況近者言官方以劉晉之、鄭起潛、濮鬥南三人乞明正其罪，以示警戒，而忽聞龔基先之用，議者鹹謂改紀之初，所為錯繆，邪枉窺伺善類，何可高枕而臥。 ”帝見公許疏稱善，且言基先之用太早。

At that time both chief ministers still practiced deference, and urgent business often piled up blocked. Gongxu memorialized: "The chief ministers prize humility and deference, keep distant from one another in outward form, and signal by looks rather than speak plainly—affairs grow without end and days and months are easily lost." Nothing is more urgent than frontier affairs. Command talent is not being cultivated, and once one wishes to discuss replacement, one is blank and knows not whom to appoint. To choose a prefect for Jiujiang, they went so far as to fill the post with a recently dismissed party follower who had deceived the censorate. Those who at the same time bore the duty of speech, though their motives and conduct differed in clarity and their faults in severity, alike fell afoul of public opinion. When one man is wiped clean so abruptly, will not the three stretch their necks hoping for restoration of a blemished record? Moreover, remonstrance officials recently petitioned to clearly establish the crimes of Liu Jinzhi, Zheng Qiqian, and Pu Dounan as a warning, yet suddenly came word of Gong Jixian's appointment. All agreed that at the beginning of a new era such actions were mistaken; the crooked spy on the good—how can one sleep at ease? The emperor, reading Gongxu's memorial, praised it and said Gong Jixian's appointment had come too soon.

右史徐元傑暴亡，司諫謝方叔、御史劉應起言，不報。公許亟奏曰：“正月，侍御史劉漢弼死。四月，右丞相杜範死。六月，右史徐元傑死。漢弼之死固可疑，範之死人言已籍籍，然漢弼類風淫末疾，範亦尫弱多病，諉曰天命，猶可也。元傑氣體魁碩，神采嚴毅，議論英發，甫聞謁告，奄至暴亡，口鼻四體變異之狀，使人為之雪涕不已。六館諸生叩閽<簽頁>告，陛下始命有司置獄鞫勘，謂當於朝紳中選公正明決無所顧忌者專蒞其事，盡情研究，務使得實。集議朝堂，分列首從，必誅無赦。 ”疏入，不報。物論沸騰，臨安尹趙與芮奏乞置獄天府，帝從之。公許繳奏：“與芮乃嵩之死黨，乞改送大理寺，命台臣董之。 ”詔殿中侍御史鄭寀，寀回懦首鼠，事竟不白，然公論莫不偉公許。

Right Scribe Xu Yuanjie died suddenly. Remonstrator Xie Fangshu and Censor Liu Yingqi spoke out, but received no response. Gongxu urgently memorialized: "In the first month, Attendant Censor Liu Hanbi died." In the fourth month, Right Chief Minister Du Fan died. In the sixth month, Right Scribe Xu Yuanjie died. Hanbi's death was indeed suspicious, and Fan's death had already stirred much talk; yet Hanbi had symptoms like late-stage wind disorder, and Fan was also frail and often ill—to call it Heaven's mandate could still pass. Yuanjie was robust in physique, stern and dignified in mien, and brilliant in debate. He had only just asked leave when he suddenly died; the altered state of his mouth, nose, and limbs makes one weep endlessly. Students of the six halls knocked at the palace gates to petition; Your Majesty then ordered the relevant offices to set up a prison for investigation. One should select from the court's worthies someone fair, clear, and fearless to oversee it exclusively, investigate fully, and strive to get at the truth. Assemble deliberation in the court hall, distinguish ringleaders from followers, and execute without pardon. The memorial was submitted, but received no response. Public opinion boiled over. Prefect of Lin'an Zhao Yurui memorialized asking to establish a prison under the Metropolitan Prefecture, and the emperor assented. Gongxu returned the memorial, saying: "Yurui is Songzhi's sworn partisan. I beg that the case be transferred to the Court of Judicial Review and that censorial officials supervise it." An edict assigned Palace Attendant Censor Zheng Cai. Cai was timid and indecisive, and the matter in the end was never cleared—but public opinion unanimously praised Gongxu.

權禮部侍郎，差充執綏官。鄭起潛、劉晉之及陳一薦以台臣論劾遷謫，公許疏其附下罔上之罪，乞下各州軍嚴行押發。鄭清之以少保奉祠，侍講幄中，批復其子士昌官職，與內祠，且許侍養行在所。蓋士昌嚐以詔獄追逮，或云詐以死聞，清之造闕，泣請於帝，故有是命。公許繳奏：“士昌罪重，京都浩穰，奸宄雜糅，恐其積習沉痼，重為清之累；莫若且與甄復，少慰清之，內祠侍養之命宜與收寢。 ”帝密遣中貴人以公許疏示清之。項容孫以罪遣還家，道死，時敘官復職，公許駁奏，命遂格。

He served as Acting Vice-Minister of Rites and was assigned to hold the reins. Zheng Qiqian, Liu Jinzhi, and Chen Yijian had been transferred and demoted after censorial impeachment. Gongxu memorialized their crime of fawning on subordinates and deceiving superiors and begged that each circuit and garrison be ordered to escort them strictly under guard. Zheng Qingzhi, as Junior Guardian with a sacrificial stipend, while lecturing within the curtain, secured approval of an office for his son Shichang, a position in the inner sacrificial establishment, and permission to attend and serve at the mobile capital. For Shichang had once been pursued and arrested in an imperial prison case; some said he had feigned death. Qingzhi came to the palace gates and tearfully begged the emperor—hence this order. Gongxu returned the memorial: "Shichang's crime was grave. The capital is crowded and villains mixed in—I fear his deep-seated habits will again burden Qingzhi;" Better for now to grant him restoration of rank to comfort Qingzhi somewhat; the order for inner-sacrificial attendance should be withdrawn. The emperor secretly sent a eunuch to show Qingzhi Gongxu's memorial. Xiang Rongsun was sent home for his crime and died on the road. At the time a memorial was drafted to restore his office, but Gongxu rejected it in a memorial and the order was halted.

遷中書舍人，進禮部侍郎。嵩之免喪，以觀文殿大學士提舉洞霄宮，台諫、給舍交章論奏，公許疏：“乞睿斷亟下明詔，正邦典。 ”殿中侍御史章琰、正言李昴英以論執政及府尹，帝怒，出二人，公許力爭之。公許自繳士昌之命，清之日夜於經筵短公許。周坦妻與清之妻善，因拜坦殿中侍御史。坦首疏劾公許，以寶章閣待制知建寧府；諫議大夫鄭寀又劾之，命遂寢。

He was promoted to Drafting Secretary of the Secretariat and advanced to Vice-Minister of Rites. When Songzhi's mourning ended, he was made Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and supervisor of the Dongxiao Abbey. Censors, remonstrators, and drafting officials submitted memorial after memorial, and Gongxu memorialized: "I beg for sagely judgment to issue a clear edict promptly and uphold the state's norms." Palace Attendant Censor Zhang Yan and Straight Remonstrator Li Angying criticized the chief minister and the prefect. The emperor was angered and dismissed the two, but Gongxu argued fiercely on their behalf. Ever since Gongxu had returned Shichang's appointment, Qingzhi day and night spoke ill of Gongxu at the classics lecture. Zhou Tan's wife was on good terms with Qingzhi's wife, and for this Tan was appointed Palace Attendant Censor. Tan's first memorial impeached Gongxu, and he was made Direct Academician of the Baozhang Pavilion and appointed prefect of Jianning Prefecture; Remonstrance Grandee Zheng Cai again impeached him, and the order was then held up.

清之再相，公許屏居湖州者四年，再提舉玉隆觀、差知婺州，未上；帝欲召為文字官，清之奏已令守婺，帝曰：“朕欲其來。 ”乃授權刑部尚書，屢辭弗獲。入對，上疏貨財，興繕、逐諫臣、開邊釁時弊七事，薦知名士二十九人。

When Qingzhi returned as chief minister, Gongxu lived in seclusion at Huzhou for four years. He was again made supervisor of the Yulong Abbey and assigned prefect of Wu Prefecture, but did not take up the post; The emperor wished to summon him as a drafting official. Qingzhi reported that he had already been ordered to hold Wu, but the emperor said: "I want him to come." He was thereupon granted acting Minister of Punishments. He declined repeatedly but could not be refused. Entering for audience, he submitted a memorial on seven current abuses—squandering wealth, construction projects, driving out remonstrators, and provoking border conflict—and recommended twenty-nine renowned scholars.

時罷京學類申，散遣生徒，公許奏：“京學養士，其法本與三學不侔。往者立類申之法，重輕得宜，人情便安，近一旦忽以鄉庠教選而更張之，為士亦當自反，未可盡歸咎朝廷也。令行之始，臣方還朝，未敢強聒以撓既出之令。今士子擾擾道途，經營朝夕，今既未能盡復舊數，莫若權宜以五百為額，仍用類申之法，使遠方遊學者，得以肄習其間。京邑四方之極，而庠序一空，弦誦寂寥，遂使逢掖皇皇，市廛昉怨而不敢議，非所以作成士氣、尊崇教化也。 ”清之益不樂。授稿殿中侍御史陳垓以劾公許，參知政事吳潛奏留之，帝夜半遣小黃門取垓疏入。後二日，二府奏公許不宜去，同知樞密院徐清叟上疏論垓。太學生劉黻等百餘人、布衣方和卿伏闕上書論垓。朝廷尋授寶章閣學士、知隆興府，而公許已死矣。遺表上，帝嗟悼，進龍圖閣學士致仕，贈宣奉大夫，官其後，賜賻如令式。

At that time the metropolitan school's category-examination system was abolished and students dispersed. Gongxu memorialized: "The metropolitan school nurtures scholars; its methods were never the same as those of the Three Schools." In the past the category-examination method was established with due weight, and people found it convenient and secure. Recently, in a single day, it was overturned for village-school teaching selection; scholars too should reflect on themselves—not every blame can be laid on the court. At the beginning of the order's enforcement, your servant had only just returned to court and did not dare clamor loudly to thwart an order already issued. Now scholars bustle along the roads, scheming day and night. Since we cannot yet fully restore the former quota, it would be better provisionally to set five hundred as the limit and still use the category-examination method, so that traveling scholars from afar may study there. The capital is the apex of the four directions, yet the schools stand empty and recitation silent and desolate, leaving scholars in their sleeves anxious and desperate while the marketplaces begin to murmur with resentment yet dare not speak out—this is no way to build scholar morale and honor instruction. Qingzhi grew all the more displeased. Qingzhi supplied drafts to Palace Attendant Censor Chen Gai to impeach Gongxu. Vice Grand Councillor Wu Qian memorialized to retain him, and at midnight the emperor sent a junior eunuch to fetch Gai's memorial into the palace. Two days later, the two chief councils reported that Gongxu should not leave. Associate Grand Councillor of the Military Affairs Commission Xu Qingzou submitted a memorial criticizing Gai. More than a hundred Imperial University students led by Liu Fu, together with the commoner Fang Heqing, prostrated themselves at the palace gate and submitted memorials criticizing Gai. The court soon appointed him Academician of the Baozhang Pavilion and prefect of Xing Prefecture, but Gongxu was already dead. His death memorial was submitted. The emperor sighed in grief, promoted him to Academician of the Longtu Pavilion with retirement, posthumously conferred Xuanfeng Grandee upon him, granted office to his descendants, and bestowed burial gifts according to regulation.

公許衝澹寡欲，晚年惟一僮侍，食無重味，一裘至十數年不易。家無羨儲，敬愛親戚備至。蜀有兵難，族姻奔東南者多依公許以居。所著有《塵缶文集》、內外製、奏議、《奏常擬諡》、《掖垣繳奏》、《金革講義》、《進故事》行世。

Gongxu was calm and free of desire. In his later years he had only one boy attendant, ate no rich food, and kept one fur coat unchanged for a dozen years or more. His household had no surplus stores, and he treated kinsmen with utmost respect and affection. When Sichuan suffered military turmoil, many clansmen fleeing southeast depended on Gongxu for shelter. His writings in circulation include the Chen Fu Collection, inner and outer edicts, memorials, Drafting Regular Posthumous Titles, Returned Memorials from the Secretariat, Lectures on Military Affairs, and Submitted Historical Precedents.

羅必元，字亨父，隆興進賢人。嘉定十年進士。調鹹寧尉，撫州司法參軍，崇仁丞，復攝司法。郡士曾極題金陵行宮龍屏，迕丞相史彌遠，謫道州，解吏窘極甚。必元釋其縛，使之善達。真德秀入參大政，必元移書曰：“老醫嚐雲，傷寒壞證，惟獨參湯可救之，然其活者十無二三。先生其今之獨參湯乎？ ”調福州觀察推官。有勢家李遇奪民荔支園，必元直之；遇為言官，以私憾罷之”知餘幹縣。趙福王府驕橫，前後宰貳多為擠陷，至是以汝愚墓占四周民山，亦為直之，言於州曰：“區區小官，罷去何害？ ”人益壯其風力。

Luo Biyuan, styled Hengfu, was a native of Jinxian in Longxing. He passed the jinshi examination in the tenth year of Jiading. He was appointed assistant magistrate of Xianning, judicial aide in Fuzhou Prefecture, assistant magistrate of Chongren, and again acting judicial aide. A local scholar, Zeng Ji, inscribed the dragon screen of the Jinling traveling palace and offended Chief Minister Shi Miyuan. He was demoted to Da Prefecture, and the escorting clerk treated him with extreme harshness. Biyuan released his bonds and had him conveyed properly. When Zhen Dexiu entered to participate in great affairs of state, Biyuan sent him a letter saying: "An old physician once said that in the terminal stage of cold-damage illness, only ginseng decoction can save the patient—yet of those saved, scarcely two or three in ten survive." Are you not today's ginseng-only decoction? He was transferred to serve as push officer of the Fuzhou Observation Commission. A powerful family, the Lis, led by Yu, seized a commoner's lychee orchard, and Biyuan upheld justice for the victim; Yu became a remonstrating official and dismissed him out of personal grudge; he was then appointed magistrate of Yugan County. Prince Zhao Fu's household was arrogant and overbearing; successive prefects and vice-prefects had often been squeezed out and framed. Now they seized the surrounding commoners' hills around Zhao Ruyu's tomb, and Biyuan again upheld justice, saying to the prefect: "A petty official like me—what harm if dismissed?" People admired his moral force all the more.

淳祐中，通判贛州。賈似道總領京湖，克剝至甚。必元上疏，以為蠹國脈、傷民命，似道銜之。改知汀州，為御史丁大全按去，後起幹行在糧料院。錢塘有海鰍為患，漂民居，詔方士治之，都人鼓扇成風。必元上疏力止之。帝召見曰：“見卿《梅花詩》，足知卿誌。 ”度宗即位，以直寶章閣兼宗學博士致仕。卒，年九十一。必元嚐從危稹、包遜學，最為有淵源，見理甚明，風節甚高，至今鄉人猶尊慕之雲。

In the Chunyou era he served as vice-prefect of Gan Prefecture. Jia Sidao had overall charge of Jinghu and extorted the people to an extreme degree. Biyuan submitted a memorial, arguing that this gnawed at the nation's lifeblood and harmed the people's livelihood. Sidao bore a grudge against him. He was transferred to serve as prefect of Ting Prefecture but was removed by Censor Ding Daquan. He was later reappointed director of the mobile capital grain office. In Qiantang sea lampreys became a plague and swept away people's homes. An edict ordered Daoist masters to treat the affliction, and the capital's people stirred up a fad. Biyuan submitted a memorial forcefully urging that it be stopped. The emperor summoned him for audience and said: "Having read your 'Plum Blossom Poem,' I know your resolve well enough." When Emperor Duzong acceded, he was made Direct Academician of the Baozhang Pavilion and concurrently Imperial Clan School professor, with retirement. He died at the age of ninety-one. Biyuan had studied under Wei Zhen and Bao Xun. He was deepest in learning, saw principle with great clarity, and bore moral integrity of the highest order—villagers still honor and admire him to this day.

王遂字去非，一字穎叔，樞密副使韶之玄孫，後為鎮江府金壇人。嘉泰二年進士，調富陽主簿，曆官差幹辦諸司審計司。紹定三年，福建寇擾甫定，朝廷選賢能吏，勞來安集，以遂知邵武軍兼福建招捕司參議官。遂過江山、浦城道中，遇邵武避地之人，即遺金為歸資，從者如市。至郡，撫摩創痍，翦平凶孽，民恃以安。未幾，言者以遂妄自標致，邀譽沽名，罷。

Wang Sui, styled Qufei and also Yingshu, was the great-great-grandson of Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Shao; his family later became natives of Jintan in Runzhou Prefecture. He passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Jiatai, was appointed chief clerk of Fuyang, and served as assigned clerk of the Bureau for Auditing Various Offices. In the third year of Shaoding, bandit disturbances in Fujian had just been settled. The court selected able officials to comfort and resettle the people, appointing Sui prefect of Shaowu Army and concurrently deliberation officer of the Fujian Pacification Commission. On the road through Jiangshan and Pucheng, Sui met people from Shaowu fleeing to safer ground and immediately gave them gold for travel expenses. Those who followed him were like a market crowd. Upon reaching the prefecture, he soothed the wounds of war and cut down violent criminals, and the people relied on him for security. Before long, critics charged that Sui presumptuously promoted himself and sought praise to buy a reputation, and he was dismissed.

改知安豐軍，遷國子監主簿，又遷太常寺主簿，拜監察御史。疏奏極論進君子，退小人。又言正風俗，息奔競。又言：“朝廷謂史嵩之小黠為大智，近功為遠略。忽臣之言，必欲僥幸嵩之於不敗，非為國至計也。欺君誤國，天下知之，而朝廷猶且惑焉，勢甚凜凜也。 ”入對，言帝知、仁、勇，學有未至。

He was transferred to serve as prefect of Anfeng Army, promoted to registrar of the Directorate of Education, then promoted to registrar of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and appointed investigating censor. In memorials he argued at length for advancing gentlemen and removing petty men. He also urged rectifying custom and ending frantic competition for office. He also said: "The court treats Shi Songzhi's petty cleverness as great wisdom and near-term gains as far-reaching strategy." Disregarding your servant's words, you insist on hoping Songzhi may yet not fail—this is no supreme plan for the state. Deceiving the ruler and misleading the state—everyone under Heaven knows it, yet the court is still bewildered. The situation is deeply alarming. Entering for audience, he spoke of the emperor's knowledge, benevolence, and courage, saying his learning had not yet reached completion.

遷右正言，尋拜殿中侍御史。疏言：“三十年來凶德參會，未有如李知孝、梁成大、莫澤肆無忌憚者。三凶之罪，上通於天，乞重其刑。 ”又取劉光祖為殿中侍御史時奏格，擇其關於風化切於時宜者，請頒示中外。皆從之。又請於並淮置屯田，且條上邊事曰：“當今之急務：在朝廷者五，定規摹，明意向，一心力，謹事權，審號令；在邊閫者六，恤歸附，精間諜，節財用，練士兵，擇將才，計軍實。 ”又言：“君德必純乎剛。 ”帝皆善之。

He was promoted to Right Straight Remonstrator and soon appointed Palace Attendant Censor. In a memorial he said: "In thirty years no convergence of vicious conduct has matched the unrestrained audacity of Li Zhixiao, Liang Chengdang, and Mo Ze." The crimes of these three villains reach up to Heaven; I beg that their punishments be made heavier. He also took the memorial forms Liu Guangzu had used when serving as Palace Attendant Censor, selected those bearing on custom and urgent for the times, and asked that they be promulgated within and without the court. All were approved. He also asked to establish garrison farms along the Huai and submitted a detailed account of frontier affairs: "Today's urgent tasks: within the court, five—settle the plan, clarify intent, unify effort, handle authority with care, and examine orders;" On the frontier, six—show concern for those who submit, refine espionage, economize expenditures, drill local troops, select commanders of talent, and reckon military stores. He also said: "The ruler's virtue must be purely firm. The emperor approved all of it.

遷戶部侍郎兼同修國史實錄院同修撰，時暫兼權侍左侍郎。以寶章閣待制差知遂寧府。進煥章閣待制、四川安撫製置副使兼知成都府。差知平江府。進敷文閣待制、知慶元府，改知太平州，以論罷。進顯謨閣待制、知泉州。改溫州、寧國府。以寶章閣直學士知建寧府。以華文閣直學士差知隆興府兼江西轉運副使。改知太平州，復知隆興兼江西安撫使。召赴闕，授權工部尚書。

He was promoted to Vice-Minister of Revenue and concurrently associate compiler of the Veritable Records in the National History Office, and for a time also acting Left Vice-Minister of the Secretariat. As Direct Academician of the Baozhang Pavilion he was assigned prefect of Suining Prefecture. He was advanced to Direct Academician of the Huanzhang Pavilion, Vice Commissioner of the Sichuan Pacification and Military Commission, and concurrently prefect of Chengdu Prefecture. He was assigned prefect of Pingjiang Prefecture. He was advanced to Direct Academician of the Fuwen Pavilion and appointed prefect of Qingyuan Prefecture, then transferred to Taiping Prefecture, and was dismissed after criticism. He was advanced to Direct Academician of the Xianmo Pavilion and appointed prefect of Quan Prefecture. He was transferred to Wen Prefecture and Ningguo Prefecture. As Academician of the Baozhang Pavilion he was appointed prefect of Jianning Prefecture. As Academician of the Huawen Pavilion he was assigned prefect of Xing Prefecture and concurrently Vice Transport Commissioner of Jiangxi. He was transferred to Taiping Prefecture, then again appointed prefect of Xing Prefecture and concurrently Jiangxi Pacification Commissioner. He was summoned to court and granted acting Minister of Works.

遂與同裏劉宰素同誌，宰嚐稱遂為文雅健，無世俗浮靡之氣，足以名世。遂守平江，宰贈之言曰：“士友當親，而賢否不可不辨；財利當遠，而會計不可不明。折獄以情，毋為私意所牽；薦士以才，毋為權要所奪。當言則言，不視時而退縮；可去則去，不計利而遲回。庶幾名節之全，不愧簡冊所載。 ”蓋格言也。

Sui and his fellow townsman Liu Zai had long shared the same ideals. Zai once praised Sui as refined yet robust in prose, free of worldly ostentation, and worthy of making a name in his age. When Sui was prefect of Pingjiang, Zai sent him parting words: "Scholarly friends should be kept close, yet the worthy and unworthy must be distinguished;" Wealth and profit should be kept at a distance, yet accounts must not be unclear. Decide cases according to the facts, and do not be swayed by private feeling; Recommend scholars for their talent, and do not let powerful figures take them away. When one should speak, speak—do not shrink back according to the times; When one may leave, leave—do not hesitate out of calculation for profit. Then perhaps one's name and integrity may remain whole, without shame before what the annals record. These were maxims indeed.

論曰：“傅伯成晚與楊簡為時蓍龜。葛洪守正不阿。曾三復澹然無躁競之心。黃疇若優於政治。袁韶力請討李全，蓋丞相史彌遠腹心也。危稹以通問徐僑獲罪，其人可知，矧治州之政，有循吏之風焉。羅必元受學於稹者也。程公許、王遂讜論疊見，豈不偉哉。

The historians comment: "Fu Bocheng, in his later years together with Yang Jian, served as the age's divining tortoise and yarrow." Ge Hong upheld the upright and would not bend. Ceng Sanfu was serene and free of a restless, competitive heart. Huang Chouruo excelled in governance. Yuan Shao strongly urged the campaign against Li Quan—he was, in effect, Chief Minister Shi Miyuan's trusted confidant. Wei Zhen was punished for communicating with Xu Qiao—from this his character may be known. Moreover, in governing his prefecture he bore the manner of an exemplary official. Luo Biyuan was one who received learning from Zhen. Cheng Gongxu and Wang Sui put forth frank counsel again and again—how grand indeed.

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