1
宦者三
Eunuchs, Part Three
2
○李祥陳衍馮世寧李繼和高居簡程昉蘇利涉雷允恭閻文應任守忠童貫 〈（方臘附）〉 梁師成楊戩
○ Li Xiang, Chen Yan, Feng Shining, Li Jihe, Gao Jujian, Cheng Fang, Su Lishe, Lei Yungong, Yan Wenying, Ren Shouzhong, and Tong Guan (Fang La appended.) Liang Shicheng and Yang Jian
3
李祥，開封人。 為入內黃門。 資驍銳，善騎射，用材武中選，授涇原儀渭同巡檢。 從景思立於河、湟，以功遷內殿崇班，為河州駐泊兵馬都監。 從郭逵討交阯，駐富良江，賊兵大至，與涇原將姚兕力戰，敗之。 遷皇城使、鎮戎軍沿邊都巡檢使。 從劉昌祚征靈武，議功加沂州團練使。 或言所部兵失亡多，降簡州刺史，權熙河蘭會路都監，總岷州兵。 夏人攻蘭州，祥赴援，保險待變，數日，虜徹圍去。 復團練使，進階州防禦使。 從種誼襲鬼章有功，升兵馬都鈐轄。 在熙河二十餘年，以宣慶使、內侍押班卒。
Li Xiang was a native of Kaifeng. He served as an Enter-the-Inner Yellow Gate eunuch. Naturally bold and keen, skilled in riding and archery, he was chosen through the martial-talent selection and appointed joint patrol inspector of Jingyuan, Yi, and Wei. Following Jing Silizhi on the He and Huang frontiers, he was promoted for merit to Inner Hall Exalted Class and made overall supervisor of garrisoned troops at Hezhou. He accompanied Guo Kui in the campaign against Jiaozhi and was stationed on the Fu Liang River; when rebel forces came in great strength, he fought fiercely with the Jingyuan general Yao Si and routed them. He was promoted to Imperial City Envoy and overall patrol inspector along the Zhenrong frontier. He followed Liu Changzuo in the Lingwu campaign and, when merits were assessed, was slated for promotion to regiment trainer of Yizhou. When someone reported heavy losses among his troops, he was demoted to prefect of Jianzhou and given acting authority as overall supervisor of the Xihé Lanhui circuit, commanding the forces of Minzhou. When the Tangut attacked Lanzhou, Xiang hurried to relieve the city, held strong positions and waited for developments; after several days the enemy lifted the siege and withdrew. He was restored to regiment trainer and advanced to defense envoy of Jiezhou. He followed Chong Yi in the successful raid on Gui Zhang and was promoted to overall commander of cavalry. After more than twenty years on the Xihé frontier, he died holding the posts of Xuanqing Envoy and chief of the inner attendant escort class.
4
陳衍，開封人。 以內侍給事殿庭，累官供備庫使。 梁惟簡薦諸宣仁聖烈皇后，主管高韓王宅，領禦藥院、內東門司。 宣仁山陵，為按行使。 俄以左藏庫使、文州刺史出為真定路都監。
Chen Yan was a native of Kaifeng. As an inner attendant he served in the palace audience hall and rose through posts to Supply-Prepare Treasury Envoy. Recommended by Liang Weijian to Empress Xuanren the Sacred and Lie, he oversaw the residences of the Gao and Han princes and headed both the Imperial Pharmacy and the Inner East Gate Office. At the construction of Empress Xuanren's mausoleum he served as inspection envoy. Shortly thereafter he was sent out as overall supervisor of the Zhending circuit with the titles Left Treasury Envoy and prefect of Wenshan.
5
御史來之邵方力詆元祐政事，首言：“衍在垂簾日，怙寵驕肆，交結戚裏，進退大臣，力引所私，俾居耳目之地。 ”張商英亦論：“衍交通宰相，禦服為之賜珠； 結托詞臣，儲祥為之賜膳。 ”蓋指呂大防、蘇軾也。 衍坐貶，監郴州酒稅務。 惟簡以援引，張士良、梁知新以黨附，皆得罪。 已又編管白州，徙配朱崖。
The censor Lai Zhishao, then vigorously attacking Yuanyou policies, led off by saying: “During the regency Yan relied on imperial favor, grew arrogant, cultivated ties with the empress's kin, controlled the appointment and dismissal of chief ministers, and forced his own men into posts that kept the court under surveillance. Zhang Shangying added: “Yan cultivated the chief minister—imperial robes and pearls were bestowed for his sake; he cultivated literary officials—auspicious meals at the Stored Felicity Hall were sent down for his sake.” This referred to Lü Dafang and Su Shi. Yan was convicted and demoted to supervisor of the Chenzhou wine-tax office. Weijian was punished for patronage; Zhang Shiliang and Liang Zhixin were punished for factional attachment. He was then placed under registered supervision at Baizhou and later transferred in exile to Zhuya.
6
章惇起獄，誣元祐諸老、大臣，雲結衍輩以謀廢立。 士良嚐與衍同在宣仁後閣，自郴州召之，使實其說。 士良至，但言宣仁彌留之際，衍嚐可否二府事及用禦寶付外而已。 鍛煉無所得，安惇、蔡京乃奏衍疏隔兩宮，斥隨龍內侍十餘人於外，以剪除人主腹心羽翼，意在動搖，大逆不道。 乃詔處死，令廣西轉運使程節涖其刑。
Zhang Dun launched a prosecution, accusing the Yuanyou elders and senior ministers of plotting with Yan and his circle to depose and replace the emperor. Shiliang, who had once served with Yan in Empress Xuanren's rear pavilion, was recalled from Chenzhou to corroborate the charge. When Shiliang arrived he testified only that during Empress Xuanren's final illness Yan had occasionally approved or rejected matters of the two councils and had once sent the imperial seal outside the palace—nothing more. Unable to extract more by forced interrogation, An Dun and Cai Jing memorialized that Yan had estranged the Two Palaces, expelled more than ten inner attendants of the “follow-the-dragon” corps, and sought to cut away the sovereign's closest supporters with intent to shake the throne—capital treason. An edict ordered his execution, with Guangxi transport commissioner Cheng Jie sent to supervise the sentence.
7
馮世寧
Feng Shining
8
馮世寧，字靜之，以入內黃門累遷昭宣使、忠州團練使、入內押班。 揚國公主寢疾，哲宗欲夜出問訊，世寧執言不可，帝雖微忤，卒為之改容。 再遷景福殿使、明州觀察使。 至副都知。 崇寧新官名，世寧首知入內內侍省事。 禁中夜火，使宿衛士撲滅之，既定，令自他途出，蓋不欲使知宮省曲折也。 徽宗賞歎。 進感德軍留後。 政和初，以內客省使、彰化軍留後致仕。
Feng Shining, courtesy name Jingzhi, rose from Enter-the-Inner Yellow Gate through Zhaoxuan Envoy and regiment trainer of Zhongzhou to chief of the enter-inner escort class. When Princess Yangguo lay gravely ill the Zhezong Emperor wished to go out at night to visit her; Shining firmly objected, and though the emperor was briefly displeased, he ultimately moderated his manner. He was further promoted to Jingfu Hall Envoy and observation envoy of Mingzhou. He rose to associate chief eunuch. Under the Chongning renaming of offices he became the first superintendent of the Enter-the-Inner Inner Attendant Province. When a night fire broke out in the palace he had the night guards extinguish it; once it was out he ordered them to leave by another route so they would not learn the palace's layout. Huizong praised him warmly. He was promoted to acting governor of the Gandé Army. At the beginning of the Zhenghe era he retired with the titles Inner Guest Province Envoy and acting governor of the Zhanghua Army.
9
世寧出入禁闥六十年，循謹無過。 卒，年六十七，贈開府儀同三司。 諡曰恭節。
Shining had passed in and out of the forbidden precincts for sixty years, scrupulous and without reproach. He died at sixty-seven and was posthumously granted the ceremonial rank of Open-fu, Equal to the Three Offices. His posthumous title was Respectful Integrity.
10
李繼和
Li Jihe
11
李繼和，開封人。 以父任為內侍黃門。 慶曆中，為河北西路承受。 保州兵叛，塞城門距守，官軍重圍之，不得入。 繼和獨上南關門，密呼所結內應者，諭以禍福。 眾言：“俟李昭亮至，即斬關自歸。 ”已而果然。 賊平，遷兩秩。 王則反貝州，為城下走馬承受。
Li Jihe was a native of Kaifeng. Through his father's office he entered service as an inner-attendant Yellow Gate. During the Qingli era he served as receiver on the Hebei West circuit. When Baozhou troops mutinied they barred the gates and held the city while government forces encircled it but could not enter. Jihe alone climbed the south pass gate, secretly summoned the insiders he had cultivated, and admonished them with the consequences of fortune and ruin. They replied: “When Li Zhaoliang arrives we will cut the pass and surrender.” And so it proved. After the rebels were pacified he was promoted two ranks. When Wang Ze rebelled at Beizhou he served as galloping horse receiver beneath the walls.
12
沙苑闕馬，詔秦州置場以券市之，繼和領職不數月，得馬千數，而人不擾。 舊制，內侍入仕三十年始得磨勘，至是，乃令以勞進官者無拘於年。
When the Shaxi pastures lacked horses the court ordered a Qinzhou market to buy them with certificates; Jihe took charge and within months procured more than a thousand horses without troubling the people. By old rule inner attendants needed thirty years in service before merit review; now those promoted for merit were freed from the age limit.
13
環州弓箭手歲時給酒，州將不與，眾喧訴，亟闔府門不敢出，繼和步入眾中譬曉之曰：“汝曹為一杯酒，遂喪軀命乎！ ”眾悟散去。 事聞，擢帶禦器械。 累遷宣慶使、文州團練使、入內副都知，卒。 子從善援例求贈官，神宗曰：“此弊事也！ 繼和無軍功，何必贈？ ”自是為定制雲。
At Huanzhou the bowmen's annual wine ration was withheld by the prefect; they clamored in protest and he shut the gate in fear. Jihe walked into the crowd and said: “Will you throw away your lives for a cup of wine? The crowd understood and dispersed. When the affair was reported he was promoted to Bearer of Imperial Arms. He rose through Xuanqing Envoy and regiment trainer of Wenshan to associate chief eunuch of the enter-inner corps and died in office. His son Congshan sought a posthumous grant by precedent; Shenzong said: “This is a corrupt practice! Jihe had no military merit—why grant anything? From then on this became fixed regulation.
14
高居簡
Gao Jujian
15
高居簡，字仲略，世本番禺人。 以父任為入內黃門。 護作溫成原廟奉神物，以精辦稱，超轉殿頭，領後苑事。 坐奉使梓夔路多占驛兵，降高品。 曆領龍圖、天章、寶文閣、內東門司，幹當禦藥院。
Gao Jujian, courtesy name Zhonglüe, was by descent from Panyu. Through his father's office he became an Enter-the-Inner Yellow Gate eunuch. Overseeing the spirit objects for Wencheng's original temple, he won praise for meticulous management, was promoted leapfrog to hall head, and directed the rear imperial garden. He was demoted for requisitioning too many relay troops on a mission to the Zi-Qi circuit. He successively headed the Dragon Diagram, Heavenly Chapter, and Treasured Literature pavilions, the Inner East Gate Office, and the Imperial Pharmacy.
16
神宗即位，御史張唐英言其資性憸巧，善迎合取容。 中丞司馬光亦言其“久處近職，罪惡已多。 祖宗舊制，幹當禦藥院官至內殿崇班以上，即須出外。 今陛下獨留四人，中外以此竊議。 況居簡頃在先朝，依憑城社，物論切齒。 及陛下繼統，乃復先自結納，使寵信之恩過於先帝。 願明治其罪，以解天下之惑”。 於是罷為供備庫使。 稍遷帶禦器械，進內侍押班。 以文思使領忠州刺史。 卒，贈耀州觀察使。
When Shenzong took the throne the censor Zhang Tangying said he was crafty and skilled at flattery. The vice censor-in-chief Sima Guang also said, “Having long held intimate posts, his offenses are many. Ancestral regulation required those who managed the Imperial Pharmacy and reached Inner Hall Exalted Class or above to leave the inner service. Your Majesty alone keeps four men in such posts, and court and country whisper about it. Moreover Jujian in the previous reign leaned on powerful patrons, and public opinion gnashed its teeth. When Your Majesty succeeded he again courted favor first, winning trust beyond what the late emperor gave. I beg that his crimes be clearly punished to remove the empire's doubts.” He was therefore removed to Supply-Prepare Treasury Envoy. He was soon restored to Bearer of Imperial Arms and advanced to the inner attendant escort class. As Wensi Envoy he also held the prefecture of Zhongzhou. He died and was posthumously made observation envoy of Yaozhou.
17
居簡聞外廷議論，必以入告，省中目為“高直奏”。 仁宗時，嚐使南海，遇廣州火，救者不力，居簡督眾護軍資甲仗二庫，賴以獲全。 事聞，詔褒之。
Whenever Jujian heard outer-court debate he reported it inside; the inner offices nicknamed him “Gao the Straight Memorial.” Under Renzong he was once sent to the southern seas; when fire broke out at Guangzhou and rescue faltered, he directed protection of the army-supply and armor treasuries, which were thereby saved. When this was reported the throne praised him.
18
程昉，開封人。 以小黃門積遷西京左藏庫副使。 熙寧初，為河北屯田都監。 河決棗強，釃二股河導之使東，為鋸牙，下以竹落塞決口。 加帶禦器械。 河決商胡北流，與御河合為一。 及二股東流，御河遂淺澱。 昉以開浚功，遷宮苑副使。 又塞漳河，作浮梁於洺州。 兼外都水丞，詔相度興修水利。 河決大名第五埽，昉議塞之，因疏塘水溉深州田。 又導葫蘆河，自樂壽之東至滄州二百里。 塞孟家口，開乾寧軍直河，作橋於真定之中渡。 又自衛州王供埽導沙河入御河，以廣運路。 累遷達州團練使，製置河北河防水利。
Cheng Fang was a native of Kaifeng. From junior Yellow Gate he rose to deputy envoy of the West Capital Left Treasury. At the start of Xining he was overall supervisor of Hebei field allocation. When the river broke at Zaoqiang he channeled the Two-Branch River eastward, set saw-teeth works, and sealed the breach with bamboo fascines below. He was given the title Bearer of Imperial Arms. When the river broke north at Shanghu it merged with the Imperial River into one stream. After the Two-Branch flowed east the Imperial River grew shallow and silted. Fang was promoted to deputy envoy of palace gardens for dredging merit. He also dammed the Zhang River and built a floating bridge at Mingzhou. As outer capital water vice director he was ordered to survey and promote hydraulic works. When the river broke the fifth embankment at Daming, Fang proposed sealing it and channeling pond water to irrigate Shenzhou's fields. He also opened the Gourd River from east of Leshou to Cangzhou, two hundred li. He blocked Mengjiakou, opened the Qianning Army's straight channel, and bridged the central ford at Zhending. He further led the Sha River from the Wanggong embankment at Weizhou into the Imperial River to widen the transport route. He rose to regiment trainer of Dazhou and was made commissioner for Hebei river control and hydraulic works.
19
御史盛陶言：“昉挾第五埽之功，專為己力。 假朝廷威福，恐動州縣。 所開共城河，頗廢人戶水磑，久無成功。 又議開沁河，因察訪官按行，始知不便。 漳河、滹沱之役，水占邢、洺、趙、深、祁五州之田，王廣廉、孔嗣宗、錢勰、趙子幾皆嚐論奏其奸欺之狀，則多置撻口，指決河所侵便為淤田。 其事權之盛，則舉官廢吏，惟其所欲。 悖慢豪橫，則受聖旨者三，受提點刑獄司牒者十二，故有違拒。 小人誤當賞擢，驕暴自肆。 願遣官代還，仍行究治。 ”神宗曰：“王安石以昉知河事，故加任使，令開漳河，用工七百萬，滹沱八九百萬，已議體量矣。”
The censor Sheng Tao said: “Fang trades on the merit of the fifth embankment work and keeps the credit for himself alone. He borrows the court's authority and terrifies the prefectures and counties. The Gongcheng River he opened ruined many households' water mills and long brought no success. He also proposed opening the Qin River, but when inspection officials surveyed the route its impracticality became clear. The Zhang and Hutuo projects flooded fields in Xing, Ming, Zhao, Shen, and Qi; Wang Guanglian, Kong Sizong, Qian Xu, and Zhao Ziji all memorialized his fraud, while he set up whip stations and claimed flood-damaged land as silt fields for himself. His power grew so that he promoted and dismissed officials at will. Arrogant and defiant, he ignored three imperial edicts and twelve documents from the circuit criminal judge. A petty man wrongly honored, he grew arrogant and unrestrained. I beg that an official be sent to replace him and that he be investigated and punished.” Shenzong replied: “Wang Anshi trusted Fang with river work, so I gave him wider authority—opening the Zhang River cost seven million in labor and the Hutuo eight or nine million; we are already reviewing the accounts.”
20
始，安石欲興水利，驟用昉，昉挾安石勢而慢韓琦，後安石覺其虛誕，亦疏之。 以憂死，贈耀州觀察使。 遂罷都大製置河防水利司。
At first Anshi wished to expand hydraulic works and abruptly elevated Fang, who leaned on Anshi's power to slight Han Qi; later Anshi saw through his exaggerations and distanced himself. He died of anxiety and was posthumously made observation envoy of Yaozhou. The great commissionerate for river control and hydraulic works was then abolished.
21
蘇利涉
Su Lishe
22
神宗即位，授達州刺史。 曆內侍押班、副都知，轉海州團練使。 仙韶院火，營救甚力，賜襲衣、金帶。 卒，年六十四，贈奉國軍節度使，諡曰勤僖。
When Shenzong took the throne he was made prefect of Dazhou. He served successively as inner attendant escort, associate chief eunuch, and regiment trainer of Haizhou. When fire broke out at the Xianyao courtyard he fought the blaze vigorously and was rewarded with court robes and a gold belt. He died at sixty-four, was posthumously made military commissioner of the Fengguo Army, and received the posthumous title Diligent Felicity.
23
利涉嚐幹當皇城司，循故事，廂卒邏報不皆以聞。 後石得一代之，事無巨細悉以奏，往往有緣飛語受禍者，人始以利涉為賢。
Lishe once managed the Imperial City office; following precedent, barracks patrol reports were not all sent up. When Shi Deyi replaced him every matter great or small was memorialized, and many suffered from rumor; only then did people regard Lishe as the better man.
24
雷允恭
Lei Yungong
25
雷允恭，開封人。 初為黃門，頗慧黠，稍遷入內殿頭，給事東宮。 周懷政偽為天書，允恭豫發其事，懷政死，擢內殿崇班，遷承製。 再遷西京作坊使、普州刺史、入內內侍省押班。
Lei Yungong was a native of Kaifeng. He began as a Yellow Gate eunuch, clever and sharp, and soon rose to inner hall head serving the Eastern Palace. When Zhou Huaizheng forged a “heaven book,” Yungong exposed the plot beforehand; Huaizheng was executed, and Yungong was promoted to Inner Hall Exalted Class and Inherit Manufacture. He was further made workshop envoy of the West Capital, prefect of Puzhou, and escort chief of the Enter-the-Inner Inner Attendant Province.
26
章獻後初臨政，丁謂潛結允恭，凡機密事令傳達禁中，由是允恭勢橫中外。 山陵事起，允恭請效力陵上，章獻後曰：“吾慮汝有妄動，恐為汝累也。 ”乃以為山陵都監。 允恭馳至陵下，司天監邢中和為允恭言：“今山陵上百步，法宜子孫，類汝州秦王墳。 ”允恭曰：“何不就？ ”中和曰：“恐下有石與水爾。 ”允恭曰：“上無他子，若如秦王墳，何不可？ ”中和曰：“山陵事重，踏行覆按，動經月日，恐不及七月之期耳。 ”允恭曰：“第移就上穴，我走馬入見太后言之。 ”允恭素貴橫，人不敢違，即改穿上穴。 入白其事，章獻後曰：“此大事，何輕易如此？ ”允恭曰：“使先帝宜子孫，何惜不可？ ”章獻後意不然，曰：“出與山陵使議可否。 ”時丁謂為山陵使，允恭具道所以，謂唯唯而已。 允恭入奏曰：“山陵使亦無異議矣。 ”既而上穴果有石，石盡水出。 允恭竟以是並坐盜金寶賜死，籍其家。 中和流沙門島。 謂尋竄海上。
When Empress Zhangxian first ruled, Ding Wei secretly enlisted Yungong to relay every secret matter into the palace, and Yungong's power spread inside and outside the court. When the imperial tomb project began Yungong volunteered; the empress said, “I fear you may act rashly and bring trouble on yourself.” She nevertheless appointed him overall supervisor of the mausoleum. Yungong raced to the site; Xing Zhonghe of the Astronomy Bureau told him, “A tomb a hundred paces upslope suits descendants, like the tomb of the Prince of Qin at Yuzhou.” Yungong said, “Why not take it?” Zhonghe said, “I fear stone and water below.” Yungong said, “The late emperor had no other sons—if it suits descendants like the Qin prince tomb, what harm?” Zhonghe said, “A tomb is weighty; surveying and re-checking take months—we may miss the seventh-month deadline.” Yungong said, “Just shift to the upper cave—I will ride in and tell the empress dowager.” Yungong was habitually imperious; none dared refuse, and the upper cave was chosen at once. Reporting inside, the empress said, “This is a great matter—how can you treat it so lightly?” Yungong said, “To benefit the late emperor's descendants—what would we not do?” Displeased, she said, “Go discuss it with the mausoleum envoy.” Ding Wei was mausoleum envoy; Yungong laid out the plan and Wei only murmured assent. Yungong reported back, “The mausoleum envoy also has no objection.” Stone and water indeed appeared at the upper cave. Yungong was ultimately executed for stealing imperial treasures and his household was confiscated. Zhonghe was exiled to Shamen Island. Wei was soon banished to the coast.
27
閻文應
Yan Wenying
28
閻文應，開封人。 給事掖庭，積遷至入內副都知。 仁宗初親政，與宰相呂夷簡謀，以張耆、夏竦、陳堯佐、範雍、趙稹、晏殊、錢惟演皆章獻後所任用，悉罷之。 退以語郭后，後曰：“夷簡獨不附太后邪？ 但多機巧，善應變耳。 ”由是並夷簡罷。
Yan Wenying was a native of Kaifeng. Serving the rear palace, he rose to associate chief eunuch of the enter-inner corps. When Renzong first took personal rule he plotted with Lü Yijian to dismiss Zhang Shu, Xia Song, Chen Yaozuo, Fan Yong, Zhao Zhen, Yan Shu, and Qian Weiyan—all appointees of Empress Zhangxian. Told to Empress Guo, she said, “Does Yijian alone not serve the empress dowager? He is only crafty and quick to adapt.” Yijian was dismissed as well.
29
夷簡素與文應相結，使為中詗。 久之，乃知事由郭后，夷簡遂怨後，及再相，楊、尚二美人方寵，尚美人於仁宗前有語侵後，後不勝忿，批其頰，仁宗自起救之，誤中其頸，仁宗大怒。 文應乘隙，遂與謀廢後，且勸以爪痕示執政。 夷簡以怨，力主廢事，因奏仁宗出諫官，竟廢後為淨妃，以所居宮名瑤華，皆文應為夷簡內應也。
Yijian had long been tied to Wenying and used him as an inside spy. Learning the move came from Empress Guo, Yijian bore a grudge; when he returned as chief minister the Yang and Shang beauties were in favor, and when Shang insulted the empress before the emperor the empress struck her cheek; Renzong rose to intervene, struck her neck by mistake, and flew into a rage. Wenying seized the moment to plot deposing the empress and urged showing her claw marks to the ministers. Yijian, nursing resentment, forcefully drove the deposition, had remonstrance officials expelled, and deposed the empress to Pure Consort in the Yaohua palace—all with Wenying as Yijian's inside man.
30
郭后既廢，楊、尚二美人益寵專夕，仁宗體為之弊，或累日不進食，中外憂懼。 楊太后亟以為言，仁宗未能去。 文應早暮入侍，言之不已，仁宗厭其煩，強應曰：“諾。 ”文應即以氈車載二美人出，二美人涕泣，詞說云云不肯行。 文應罵曰：“官婢尚何言？ ”驅使登車。 翌日，以尚氏為女道士，居洞真宮； 楊氏別宅安置。 既而仁宗復悔廢郭后，有復後之意，文應大懼。 會後有小疾，挾太醫診視數日，乃言後暴崩，實文應為之也。
After Empress Guo's deposition the Yang and Shang beauties monopolized the emperor's nights; his health suffered, he sometimes ate nothing for days, and the realm grew alarmed. Empress Dowager Yang urged repeatedly, but Renzong could not send them away. Wenying attended morning and evening without cease; wearied, Renzong forced himself to say, “Very well.” Wenying at once loaded the two beauties on a felt cart; they wept and pleaded but would not go. Wenying cursed, “Palace maids—what more is there to say?” He drove them into the cart. The next day Shang was made a female Daoist at Dongzhen Palace; Yang was placed in a separate residence. Renzong later regretted deposing Empress Guo and thought of restoring her; Wenying was terrified. When the empress fell slightly ill he brought imperial physicians for days, then announced sudden death—it was Wenying's doing.
31
累至昭宣使、恩州團練使。 時諫官劾其罪，請並其子士良出之。 以文應領嘉州防禦使，為秦州鈐轄，改鄆州，士良罷禦藥院，為內殿崇班。
He rose to Zhaoxuan Envoy and regiment trainer of Enzhou. Remonstrance officials impeached him and asked that his son Shiliang be expelled as well. Wenying was made defense envoy of Jiazhou and commander at Qinzhou, later Yanzhou; Shiliang left the Imperial Pharmacy for Inner Hall Exalted Class.
32
始楊、尚二美人之出宮也，左右引陳氏女入宮，父號陳子城，楊太后嚐許以為後，宋綬不可。 王曾、呂夷簡、蔡齊相繼論諫。 陳氏女將進禦，士良聞之，遽見仁宗。 仁宗披百葉擇日，士良曰：“陛下閱此，豈非欲納陳氏女為後邪？ ”仁宗曰：“然。 ”士良曰：“子城使，大臣家奴仆官名也，陛下納其女為後，無乃不可乎！ ”仁宗遽命出之。 文應後徙相州鈐轄。 卒，贈邠州觀察使。
When the Yang and Shang beauties left the palace attendants introduced a Chen girl whose father was called Chen Zicheng; Empress Dowager Yang had promised to make her empress, but Song Shou objected. Wang Zeng, Lü Yijian, and Cai Qi remonstrated in turn. As the Chen girl was to be presented, Shiliang heard of it and rushed to Renzong. Renzong was reading the calendar of auspicious days; Shiliang said, “Your Majesty—is this not to take the Chen girl as empress?” Renzong said, “It is.” Shiliang said, “Zicheng was a minister's household steward—how can Your Majesty make his daughter empress?” Renzong at once ordered her sent out. Wenying was later transferred as commander of Xiangzhou. He died and was posthumously made observation envoy of Binzhou.
33
任守忠
Ren Shouzhong
34
任守忠，字稷臣，蔭入內黃門，累轉西頭供奉官，領禦藥院，坐事廢。 久之，復故官，稍遷上御藥供奉。 初，章獻後聽政，守忠與都知江德明等交通請謁，權寵過盛。 仁宗親政，出為黃州都監，又謫監英州酒稅，稍遷潭州都監，徙合流鎮。 西鄙用兵，又為秦鳳、涇原路駐泊都監，以功再遷東染院使、內侍押班。 出為定州鈐轄，加內侍副都知。 累遷宣政使、洋州觀察使，為入內都知。
Ren Shouzhong, courtesy name Jichen, entered by yin privilege as Enter-the-Inner Yellow Gate, rose to west-head tribute envoy and head of the Imperial Pharmacy, and was dismissed for an offense. After long service he was restored and promoted to upper imperial-medicine tribute offer. Under Empress Zhangxian's regency Shouzhong and chief eunuch Jiang Deming trafficked in access and grew overmighty. When Renzong took rule Shouzhong was sent out as Huangzhou supervisor, demoted to Yingzhou wine tax, then Tanzhou supervisor, then Heliu town. In the western campaigns he was garrison supervisor on the Qinfeng and Jingyuan circuits and was twice promoted for merit to east dye courtyard envoy and inner attendant escort. He went out as commander of Dingzhou and was made associate chief eunuch. He rose to Xuanzheng Envoy and observation envoy of Yangzhou and became chief eunuch of the enter-inner corps.
35
仁宗未有嗣，屬意英宗，守忠居中建議，欲援立昏弱以徼大利。 及英宗即位，拜宣慶使、安靜軍留後。 守忠又語言誕妄，交亂兩宮。 於是知諫院司馬光論守忠離間之罪，為國之大賊，民之巨蠹，乞斬於都市。 英宗猶未行，宰相韓琦出空頭敕一道，參政歐陽修已簽，趙概難之，修曰：“第書之，韓公必自有說。 ”琦遂坐政事堂，立守忠庭下，曰：“汝罪當死，貶保信軍節度副使、蘄州安置。 ”取空頭敕填與之，即日押行，琦意以為少緩則中變也。
Renzong had no heir and favored Yingzong; Shouzhong meddled, hoping to enthrone a weak ruler for great gain. When Yingzong ascended the throne he was made Xuanqing Envoy and acting governor of the Anjing Army. Shouzhong again spoke wildly and disturbed the Two Palaces. Remonstrance official Sima Guang charged him with estranging the Two Palaces—the state's great traitor and the people's plague—and begged execution in the capital market. Yingzong hesitated; Han Qi produced a blank edict already signed by Ouyang Xiu; Zhao Gai objected, and Xiu said, “Write it—Lord Han will explain.” Qi sat in the Administration Hall, had Shouzhong stand below, and said, “Your crime deserves death; you are demoted to deputy military commissioner of Baoxin and settled at Qizhou.” He filled the blank edict and sent him off the same day, fearing delay might bring reversal.
36
守忠久被寵幸，用事於中，人不敢言其過，及貶，中外快之。 久之，起為左武衛將軍，致仕，卒，年七十九。
Long favored and ruling from within, none had dared speak against him; at his demotion court and country rejoiced. He was later restored as general of the Left Martial Guard, retired, and died at seventy-nine.
37
童貫，少出李憲之門。 性巧媚，自給事宮掖，即善策人主微指，先事順承。 微宗立，置明金局於杭，貫以供奉官主之，始與蔡京遊。 京進，貫力也。 京既相，讚策取青唐，因言貫嚐十使陝右，審五路事宜與諸將之能否為最悉，力薦之。 合兵十萬，命王厚專閫寄，而貫用李憲故事監其軍。 至湟川，適禁中火，帝下手劄，驛止貫毋西兵。 貫發視，遽納鞾中。 厚問故，貫曰：“上趣成功耳。 ”師竟出，復四州。 擢景福殿使、襄州觀察使，內侍寄資轉兩使自茲始。
Tong Guan in youth came from Li Xian's household. Clever and ingratiating, serving in the palace quarters he read the ruler's subtle wishes and anticipated them. When Huizong ascended he placed the Bright Gold Bureau at Hangzhou with Guan as tribute envoy in charge, and Guan first befriended Cai Jing. Jing's rise was Guan's doing. Once Jing was chief minister he urged taking Qingtang, saying Guan had been sent ten times to the Shaanxi frontier, knew the five circuits and every general's capacity better than anyone, and strongly recommended him. A hundred thousand troops were assembled; Wang Hou held sole command while Guan, following Li Xian's precedent, supervised the army. At the Huang River a palace fire broke out; the emperor sent a courier order forbidding Guan to advance west. Guan read it and thrust it into his boot. When Hou asked why, Guan said, “The emperor wants success—that is all.” The army marched out anyway and recovered four prefectures. He was made Jingfu Hall Envoy and observation envoy of Xiangzhou—the first inner attendant to hold two envoy ranks on entrusted credentials.
38
未幾，為熙河蘭湟、秦鳳路經略安撫製置使，累遷武康軍節度使。 討溪哥臧征，復積石軍、洮州，加檢校司空。 頗恃功驕恣，選置將吏，皆捷取中旨，不復關朝廷，浸咈京意。 除開府儀同三司，京曰：“使相豈應授宦官？ ”不奉詔。
Soon he was frontier pacification commissioner of Xihé Lantang and Qinfeng and rose to military commissioner of the Wukang Army. Campaigning against Xige Zangzheng he recovered Jishi Army and Taozhou and was made acting Sikong. Proud of merit, he appointed officers by swift imperial word without court review and gradually alienated Jing. When made Open-fu Equal to the Three Offices, Jing said, “Should a chief minister's rank go to a eunuch?” Guan did not accept the edict.
39
將秦、晉銳師深入河、隴，薄於蕭關古骨龍，謂可製夏人死命。 遣大將劉法取朔方，法不可，貫逼之曰：“君在京師時，親授命於王所，自言必成功，今難之，何也？ ”法不得已出塞，遇伏而死。 法，西州名將，既死，諸軍恟懼。 貫隱其敗，以捷聞，百官入賀，皆切齒，然莫敢言。 關右既困，夏人亦不能支，乃因遼人進誓表納款。 使至，授以誓詔，辭不取，貫強館伴使固與之，還及境，棄諸道上。 舊制，熟羌不授漢官，貫故引拔之，有至節度使者。 弓箭手失其分地而使守新疆，禁卒逃亡不死而得改隸他籍，軍政盡壞。
He would lead Qin and Jin elite troops deep into He and Long toward Gugulong at Xia Pass, claiming to hold the Tangut's fate. He sent Liu Fa to take Shuofang; Fa refused; Guan pressed him: “In the capital you vowed success at the throne—why refuse now?” Fa had to march out, met an ambush, and died. Fa, a famed general of the western circuits, was dead and the armies panicked. Guan hid the defeat and reported victory; officials congratulated while gnashing their teeth, yet none dared speak. The northwest was exhausted and the Tangut could not hold out; they submitted an oath of allegiance through the Liao. When the envoy came Guan forced the oath edict on him; at the border the envoy abandoned it on the road. By old rule mature Qiang were not given Han offices; Guan promoted them, some to military commissioner. Bowmen lost allotments yet guarded new frontiers; deserters escaped death by shifting registers—the army was ruined.
40
方臘者，睦州青溪人也。 世居縣堨村，托左道以惑眾。 初，唐永徽中，睦州女子陳碩真反，自稱文佳皇帝，故其地相傳有天子基、萬年樓，臘益得憑籍以自信。 縣境梓桐、幫源諸峒皆落山谷幽險處，民物繁夥，有漆楮、杉材之饒，富商巨賈多往來。
Fang La was a native of Qingxi in Muzhou. His clan lived at the county embankment village and he used heterodox teachings to beguile the people. In Tang Yonghui a Muzhou woman, Chen Shuozhen, had rebelled as the Wenkai Emperor; the region was said to hold a Son of Heaven's foundation and Ten-Thousand-Year Tower, which bolstered La's confidence. Zitong and Bangyuan gorges were populous, rich in lacquer, paper, and cedar; great merchants passed through.
41
時吳中困於朱勔花石之擾，比屋致怨，臘因民不忍，陰聚貧乏遊手之徒。 宣和二年十月，起為亂，自號聖公，建元永樂，置官吏將帥，以巾飾為別，自紅巾而上凡六等。 無弓矢、介胄，唯以鬼神詭秘事相扇訹，焚室廬，掠金帛子女，誘脅良民為兵。 人安於太平，不識兵革，聞金鼓聲即斂手聽命，不旬日聚眾至數萬，破殺將官蔡遵於息坑。 十一月陷青溪，十二月陷睦、歙二州。 南陷衢，殺郡守彭汝方； 北掠新城、桐廬、富陽諸縣，進逼杭州。 郡守棄城走，州即陷，殺製置使陳建、廉訪使趙約，縱火六日，死者不可計。 凡得官吏，必斷臠支體，探其肺腸，或熬以膏油，叢鏑亂射，備盡楚毒，以償怨心。
Wu was harried by Zhu Mian's flower-and-stone levies; La secretly gathered the poor and idle. In the tenth month of Xuanhe 2 he rebelled as the Sacred Duke, era Yongle, with ranks marked by headcloths—six grades from red upward. Without bows or armor they used occult rites, burned homes, plundered wealth and women, and coerced civilians into service. Unused to war, they obeyed at drumbeat; within ten days tens of thousands gathered and General Cai Zun was killed at Xi pit. In the eleventh month Qingxi fell; in the twelfth, Mu and She. Southward they took Qu and killed Prefect Peng Rufang; northward they raided Xincheng, Tonglu, and Fuyang and pressed Hangzhou. The prefect fled; Hangzhou fell; Commissioner Chen Jian and Investigation Envoy Zhao Yue were killed; fire raged six days with countless dead. Captured officials were dismembered, disemboweled, boiled in oil, or shot in volleys—Chu tortures to repay hatred.
42
警奏至京師，王黼匿不以聞，於是凶焰日熾。 蘭溪靈山賊朱言吳邦、剡縣仇道人、仙居呂師囊、方岩山陳十四、蘇州石生、歸安陸行兒皆合黨應之，東南大震。
Alarms reached the capital but Wang Fu hid them, and the rebellion blazed hotter. Zhu Yan, Wubang, Qiu Daoren, Lü Shinang, Chen Fourteen, Shi Sheng, and Lu Xing'er all rose in league—the southeast shook.
43
發運使陳亨伯請調京畿兵及鼎、澧槍牌手兼程以來，使不至滋蔓。 徽宗始大驚，亟遣童貫、譚稹為宣撫製置使，率禁旅及秦、晉蕃漢兵十五萬以東，且諭貫使作詔罷應奉局。 三年正月，臘將方七佛引眾六萬攻秀州，統軍王子武乘城固守，已而大軍至，合擊賊，斬首九千，築京觀五，賊還據杭。 二月，貫、稹前鋒至清河堰，水陸並進，臘復焚官舍、府庫、民居，乃宵遁。 諸將劉延慶、王稟、王渙、楊惟忠、辛興宗相繼至，盡復所失城。 四月，生擒臘及妻邵、子毫二太子、偽相方肥等五十二人於梓桐石穴中，殺賊七萬。 四年三月，餘黨悉平。 進貫太師，徙國楚。
Transport commissioner Chen Hengbo asked for capital troops and Ding-Li musketeers to hurry east lest the revolt spread. Huizong was alarmed and sent Tong Guan and Tan Zhen east with a hundred fifty thousand troops, ordering Guan to abolish the Tribute Bureau by edict. In the first month of year 3 Fang Qifo led sixty thousand against Xiuzhou; Wang Ziwu held the wall until the main army came, slew nine thousand, built five victory mounds, and the rebels retreated to Hangzhou. In the second month the vanguard reached Qinghe weir by land and water; La burned government buildings and fled by night. Liu Yanqing, Wang Bin, Wang Huan, Yang Weizhong, and Xin Xingzong arrived in turn and recovered the lost cities. In the fourth month La, his wife Shao, sons Hao, false minister Fang Fei, and fifty-two others were taken alive in a Zitong cave; seventy thousand rebels were killed. By the third month of year 4 the remnants were pacified. Guan was made Grand Preceptor and enfeoffed in Chu.
44
臘之起，破六州五十二縣，戕平民二百萬，所掠婦女自賊峒逃出，倮而縊於林中者，由湯岩、椔嶺八十五里間，九村山谷相望。 王師自出至凱旋，四百五十日。
La had ravaged six prefectures and fifty-two counties, slain two million civilians; women who fled the strongholds were found naked and hanged for eighty-five li across nine valleys. The imperial campaign lasted four hundred fifty days from departure to triumph.
45
臘雖平，而北伐之役遂起。 既而以復燕山功，詔解節鉞為真三公，加封徐、豫兩國。 越兩月，命致仕，而代以譚稹。 明年復起，領樞密院，宣撫河北、燕山。 宣和七年，詔用神宗遺訓，能復全燕之境者胙本邦，疏王爵，遂封廣陽郡王。
Though La was crushed, the northern campaign followed. For recovering Yanshan he was made a true Three Dukes and enfeoffed in Xu and Yu. Two months later he was ordered to retire, replaced by Tan Zhen. The next year he returned to lead the Privy Council and pacify Hebei and Yanshan. In Xuanhe 7 Shenzong's testament promised enfeoffment to whoever recovered all Yan; Guan was made Prince of Guangyang.
46
是年，粘罕南侵，貫在太原，遣馬擴、辛興宗往聘以嚐金，金人以納張覺為責，且遣使告興兵，貫厚禮之，謂曰：“如此大事，何不素告我？ ”使者勸貫速割兩河以謝，貫氣褫不能應，謀遁歸。 太原守張孝純誚之曰：“金人渝盟，王當令天下兵悉力枝梧，今委之而去，是棄河東與敵也。 河東入敵手，奈河北乎？ ”貫怒叱之曰：“貫受命宣撫，非守土也。 君必欲留貫，置帥何為？ ”孝純拊掌歎曰：“平生童太師作幾許威望，及臨事乃蓄縮畏懾，奉頭鼠竄，何面目復見天子乎？”
That year Nianhan invaded south; Guan was at Taiyuan and sent Ma Kuo and Xin Xingzong to negotiate; the Jin blamed the reception of Zhang Jue and announced war; Guan entertained them lavishly and said, “Why was I not told of this great matter?” The envoy urged him to cede the Two He to apologize; Guan was cowed speechless and plotted flight. Taiyuan defender Zhang Xiaochun reproached him: “The Jin broke the treaty—you should rally the empire; to leave is to abandon Hedong to the enemy.” If Hedong falls, what of Hebei?” Guan shouted back: “I am a pacification commissioner, not a territorial defender.” If you must keep me here, why appoint a commander?” Xiaochun clapped his hands and sighed: “All your life you built such prestige—yet in crisis you scurry like a rat—how can you face the Son of Heaven?”
47
貫奔入都，欽宗已受禪，下詔親征，以貫為東京留守，貫不受命而奉上皇南巡。 貫在西邊募長大少年號勝捷軍，幾萬人，以為親軍，環列第舍，至是擁之自隨。 上皇過浮橋，衛士攀望號慟，貫唯恐行不速，使親軍射之，中矢而踣者百餘人，道路流涕，於是諫官、御史與國人議者蜂起。 初貶左衛上將軍，連謫昭化軍節度副使，竄之英州、吉陽軍。 行未至，詔數其十大罪，命監察御史張澂跡其所至，蒞斬之，及於南雄。 既誅，函首赴闕，梟於都市。
Guan fled to the capital; Qinzong had succeeded and ordered a personal campaign, making Guan Eastern Capital commander; Guan refused and escorted the retired emperor south. On the frontier he had raised the Victory Swift Army of nearly ten thousand tall youths as his personal guard; now he took them with him. As the retired emperor crossed the floating bridge guards wept and clung to him; Guan had his guard shoot them down—more than a hundred—and remonstrators and the public erupted. He was first demoted to Left Guard upper general, then Zhaohua deputy commissioner, then banished to Ying and Jiyang. Before he arrived an edict listed ten crimes and sent censor Zhang Cheng to track and execute him at Nanxiong. After execution his head was boxed and displayed in the capital market.
48
貫握兵二十年，權傾一時，奔走期會過於製敕。 嚐有論其過者，詔方劭往察，劭一動一息，貫悉偵得之，先密以白，且陷以他事，劭反得罪，逐死。 貫狀魁梧，偉觀視，頤下生須十數，皮骨勁如鐵，不類閹人。 有度量，能疏財。 後宮自妃嬪以下皆獻餉結內，左右婦寺譽言日聞。 寵煽翕赫，庭戶雜遝成市，嶽牧、輔弼多出其門，廝養、仆圉官諸使者至數百輩。 窮奸稔禍，流毒四海，雖菹醢不償責也。
Guan held the army twenty years with power over the age; his summons outran imperial regulations. When Fang Shao was sent to investigate him, Guan spied on his every move, denounced him first on other charges, and Shao was ruined and died in exile. Guan was tall and imposing, with a dozen whiskers under his chin and iron-hard frame—hardly like a eunuch. He had breadth and gave freely. From consorts down the harem sent gifts to court him; palace women daily praised him. His favor blazed; his courtyard was a market; governors and ministers came from his gate; hundreds served as grooms and envoys. His treachery poisoned the realm—execution could not repay the debt.
49
梁師成
Liang Shicheng
50
梁師成，字守道，慧黠習文法，稍知書。 初隸賈詳書藝局，詳死，得領睿思殿文字外庫，主出外傳道上旨。 政和間，得君貴幸，至竄名進士籍中，積遷晉州觀察使、興德軍留後。 建明堂，為都監，既成，拜節度使、加中太一、神霄宮使。 曆護國、鎮東、河東三節度，至檢校太傅，遂拜太尉、開府儀同三司，換節淮南。
Liang Shicheng, courtesy name Shoudao, was clever, knew document law, and could read a little. He first served Jia Xiang's calligraphy bureau; after Xiang's death he headed the Ruisi Hall outer treasury and relayed edicts on the road. In Zhenghe he won the emperor's favor, slipped his name into the jinshi rolls, and rose to observation envoy of Jinzhou and acting governor of Xingde. Overseeing the Bright Hall's construction, he was made military commissioner and envoy of the Central Great One and Divine Empyrean palaces when it was done. He held three military commissions, rose to acting grand tutor, then Grand Commandant and Open-fu Equal to the Three Offices, and exchanged to Huainan.
51
時中外泰寧，徽宗留意禮文符瑞之事，師成善逢迎，希恩寵。 帝本以隸人畜之，命入處殿中，凡禦書號令皆出其手，多擇善書吏習仿帝書，雜詔旨以出，外廷莫能辨。 師成實不能文，而高自標榜，自言蘇軾出子。 是時，天下禁誦軾文，其尺牘在人間者皆毀去，師成訴於帝曰：“先臣何罪？ ”自是，軾之文乃稍出。 以翰墨為己任，四方俊秀名士必招致門下，往往遭點汙。 多置書畫卷軸於外舍，邀賓客縱觀，得其題識合意者，輒密加汲引，執政、侍從可階而升。 王黼父事之，雖蔡京父子亦諂附焉，都人目為“隱相”，所領職局至數十百。
The realm was at peace and Huizong cared for ritual and omens; Shicheng flattered him for favor. The emperor kept him as a household slave yet put him in the hall; imperial writings came from his hand; clerks imitated the emperor's script and mixed edicts the outer court could not tell. Shicheng could not really write yet boasted that he was Su Shi's son. Su Shi's works were banned and his letters destroyed; Shicheng pleaded to the emperor, “What crime did my forebear commit?” From then Su Shi's writings slowly reappeared. He made brush and ink his charge, summoned talented men, and often stained them. He displayed paintings for guests; those whose inscriptions pleased him were secretly promoted to ministerial posts. Wang Fu treated him as a father; even the Cai Jings fawned on him; the capital called him the hidden chief minister, with hundreds of offices.
52
黼造伐燕議，師成始猶依違，卒乃讚決，又薦譚稹為宣撫。 燕山平，策勳進少保。 益通賄謝，人士入錢數百萬，以獻頌上書為名，令赴廷試，唱第之日，侍於帝前，囁嚅升降。 其小吏儲宏亦豫科甲，而執廝養之役如初。 李彥括民田於京東、西，所至倨坐堂上，監司、郡守不敢抗禮。 有言於帝，師成適在旁，抗聲曰：“王人雖微，序於諸侯之上，豈足為過？ ”言者懼而止。 師成貌若不能言，然陰賊險鷙，遇間即發。
When Fu proposed attacking Yan Shicheng hesitated then approved and recommended Tan Zhen as pacifier. When Yanshan was pacified he was made junior guardian for merit. He took millions in bribes, had donors present praise memorials and sit the palace exam while he murmured beside the emperor on ranking day. His clerk Chu Hong also passed the jinshi yet still tended stables. Li Yan seized fields in the east; wherever he went he sat arrogantly in the hall while supervisors and prefects dared not stand on ceremony. When someone spoke to the emperor Shicheng cried aloud: “A king's man, though lowly, ranks above feudal lords—is that a fault?” The speaker fell silent in fear. Shicheng seemed unable to speak yet was secretly vicious and struck when chance came.
53
家居與黼鄰，帝幸黼第，見其交通狀，已怒，朱勔又以應奉與黼軋，因乘隙攻之。 帝罷黼相，師成由是益絀。 鄆王楷寵盛，有動搖東宮意，師成能力保護。 欽宗立，嬖臣多從上皇東下，師成以舊恩留京師。 於是太學生陳東、布衣張炳力疏其罪。 炳指之為李輔國，且言宦官表裏相應，變恐不測。 東復論其有異志，攘定策功，當正典刑。 帝迫於公議，猶未誦言逐之。 師成疑之，寢食不離帝所，雖奏廁亦侍於外，久未有以發。 會鄭望之使金營還，帝命師成及望之以宣和殿珠玉器玩復往。 先令望之詣中書諭宰相，至則留之，始詔暴其罪，責為彰化軍節度副使。 開封吏護至貶所，行次八角鎮，縊殺之，以暴死聞，籍其家。
He lived beside Fu; the emperor saw their dealings at Fu's house and grew angry; Zhu Mian's clash with Fu gave a chance to attack. The emperor dismissed Fu; Shicheng was thereby diminished. Prince Kai of Yun was favored to the Eastern Palace's peril; Shicheng protected the heir. When Qinzong ascended, favored minions followed the retired emperor east; Shicheng stayed at the capital on old favor. Then academy student Chen Dong and commoner Zhang Bing fiercely memorialized his crimes. Bing compared him to Li Fuguo and warned that inner and outer eunuchs in league could bring unpredictable ruin. Chen Dong added that he harbored ulterior intent, had usurped merit in fixing the succession, and deserved statutory punishment. The emperor, pressed by public opinion, still would not speak of expelling him. Shicheng grew suspicious and would not leave the emperor's side, even waiting outside the privy, finding no chance to act. When Zheng Wangzhi returned from the Jin camp the emperor ordered Shicheng and Wangzhi to take Xuanhe Hall treasures to the Jin again. Wangzhi was first sent to inform the secretariat, then detained; an edict exposed Shicheng's crimes and demoted him to deputy commissioner of Zhanghua. Kaifeng officers escorted him toward exile; at Bajiao town he was strangled and reported as sudden death; his property was confiscated.
54
楊戩，少給事掖庭，主掌後苑，善測伺人主意。 自崇寧後，日有寵，知入內內侍省。 立明堂，鑄鼎鼐、起大晟府、龍德宮，皆為提舉。
Yang Jian in youth served the rear palace, managed the rear garden, and was skilled at reading the emperor's wishes. After Chongning he grew daily in favor and became superintendent of the Enter-the-Inner Inner Attendant Province. He directed the Bright Hall, casting of tripods, the Great Splendor Music Office, and the Dragon Virtue Palace.
55
政和四年，拜彰化軍節度使，首建期門行幸事以固其權，勢與梁師成埒。 曆鎮安、清海、鎮東三鎮，由檢校少保至太傅，遂謀撼東宮。
In Zhenghe 4 he was made military commissioner of Zhanghua, invented imperial outings of the Gate Guard to fix his power, rivaling Liang Shicheng. He held three military commissions, rose from acting junior guardian to grand tutor, and plotted against the heir.
56
有胥吏杜公才者獻策於戩，立法索民田契，自甲之乙，乙之丙，展轉究尋，至無可證，則度地所出，增立賦租。 始於汝州，浸淫於京東西、淮西北，括廢堤、棄堰、荒山、退灘及大河淤流之處，皆勒民主佃。 額一定後，雖衝蕩回復不可減，號為“西城所”。 築山濼古钜野澤，綿亙數百里，濟、鄆數州，賴其蒲魚之利，立租算船納直，犯者盜執之。 一邑率於常賦外增租錢至十餘萬緡，水旱蠲稅，此不得免。 擢公才為觀察使。 宣和三年，戩死，贈太師、吳國公，而李彥繼其職。
Clerk Du Gongcai proposed tracing land deeds from owner to owner until none could be proved, then taxing measured output. Beginning at Ruzhou it spread across the east, northwest, and Huai region, seizing wasteland and river silt and forcing owners to tenant. Once quotas were set they could not be reduced even if floods restored the land—the scheme was called the Western City office. They diked the ancient Juye marsh for hundreds of li; boat tolls were levied and violators arrested. Districts paid more than a hundred thousand strings above regular tax; drought exemptions did not apply. Gongcai was made observation envoy. In Xuanhe 3 Jian died, was posthumously made Grand Preceptor and Duke of Wu; Li Yan succeeded him.
57
彥天資狠愎，密與王黼表裏，置局汝州，臨事愈劇。 凡民間美田，使他人投牒告陳，皆指為天荒，雖執印券皆不省。 魯山闔縣盡括為公田，焚民故券，使田主輸租佃本業，訴者輒加威刑，致死者千萬。 公田既無二稅，轉運使亦不為奏除，悉均諸別州。 京西提舉官及京東州縣吏劉寄、任輝彥、李士漁、王滸、毛孝立、王隨、江惇、呂坯、錢棫、宋憲皆助彥為虐，如奴事主，民不勝忿痛。 前執政冠帶操笏，迎謁馬首獻媚，花朝夕造請，賓客徑趍謁舍，不敢對之上馬，而彥處之自如。
Yan was fierce and colluded with Wang Fu, setting up an office at Ruzhou with harsher methods. Fine private fields were denounced as crown wasteland regardless of deeds. Lushan county was entirely seized; old deeds were burned; owners paid rent as tenants; appellants were tortured to death by the millions. Public fields paid no double tax yet transport commissioners did not seek relief; burdens were averaged to other prefectures. Liu Ji, Ren Huiyan, Li Shiyu, Wang Hu, Mao Xiaoli, Wang Sui, Jiang Dun, Lü Pi, Qian Qi, and Song Xian helped Yan tyrannize the people like slaves to a master. Former chief ministers with tablets bowed at his horse; guests cringed at his lodge while Yan remained at ease.
58
發物供奉，大抵類朱勔，凡竹數竿用一大車、牛驢數十頭，其數無極，皆責辦於民，經時閱月，無休息期。 農不得之田，牛不得耕墾，殫財靡芻，力竭餓死，或自縊轅軛間。 如龍鱗薜荔一本，輦致之費逾百萬。 喜賞怒刑，禍福轉手，因之得美官者甚眾。 潁昌兵馬鈐轄範寥不為取竹，誣刊蘇軾詩文於石為十惡，朝廷察其捃摭，亦令勒停。 當時謂朱勔結怨於東南，李彥結怨於西北。
Tribute goods like Zhu Mian's required whole carts and dozens of animals per trifle, forced on the people without rest. Farmers lost fields, oxen could not plow, wealth was spent, strength failed, and many hanged themselves on cart shafts. A single dragon-scale ivy cost more than a million to deliver. Reward and punishment turned on his whim and many won offices through him. Fan Liao of Yingchang refused bamboo; Yan forged Su Shi's verse on stone as ten crimes; the court saw the frame-up and ordered him stopped. People said Zhu Mian bred resentment in the southeast and Li Yan in the northwest.
59
靖康初，詔追戩所贈官爵，彥削官賜死，籍其家； 劉寄以下十人皆停廢； 復範寥官。
At the beginning of Jingkang Jian's posthumous honors were revoked; Yan was stripped and executed and his household confiscated; Liu Ji and the other ten were all dismissed; Fan Liao's office was restored.