Volume 473 Biographies 232: Treacherous Officials 3 - Huang Qianshan, Wang Boyan, Qin Hui

黃潛善汪伯彥秦檜

Huang Qianshan, Wang Boyan, and Qin Hui.

黃潛善

Huang Qianshan.

黃潛善，字茂和，邵武人。擢進士第，宣和初，為左司郎。陝西、河東地大震，陵谷易處，徽宗命潛善察訪陝西，因往視。潛善歸，不以實聞，但言震而已。擢戶部侍郎，坐事謫亳州，以徽猷閣待制知河間府。

Huang Qianshan, whose style name was Maohe, came from Shaowu. After passing the jinshi examination, he was appointed Left Department Gentleman at the start of the Xuanhe era. When a major earthquake struck Shaanxi and Hedong, shifting hills and valleys from their places, Emperor Huizong ordered Qianshan to investigate Shaanxi, and he went to see for himself. On his return, Qianshan failed to report what he had actually found and mentioned only that there had been an earthquake. Promoted to Vice Minister of Revenue, he was later demoted to Bozhou for an offense, then appointed Prefect of Hejian with the title of Huaiyou Pavilion Attendant-Drafter.

靖康初，金人入攻，康王開大元帥府，檄潛善將兵入援。張邦昌僭位，潛善趨白于帥府，王承制拜潛善為副元帥。

Early in the Jingkang era, as the Jurchens invaded, the Prince of Kang established the Grand Marshal's headquarters and ordered Qianshan to march with troops to the capital's aid. When Zhang Bangchang seized the throne, Qianshan rushed to inform the marshal's headquarters, and the Prince, exercising emergency authority, appointed him deputy marshal.

明年，金人攻陝西，京東、山東盜起，潛善、伯彥匿不以聞。張遇焚真州，距行在六十里，內侍邵成章疏潛善、伯彥誤國，成章坐除名。御史馬伸亦以劾潛善、伯彥得罪，謫監濮州酒稅，道卒。

The following year, as the Jurchens attacked Shaanxi and bandits rose across Jingdong and Shandong, Qianshan and Boyan suppressed the reports and never informed the court. When Zhang Yu burned Zhenzhou, only sixty li from the temporary capital, eunuch Shao Chengzhang submitted a memorial accusing Qianshan and Boyan of ruining the country—and was himself stripped of office for his trouble. Censor Ma Shen likewise fell afoul of the court for impeaching Qianshan and Boyan; he was demoted to supervise wine taxes at Puzhou and died en route.

潛善進左僕射兼門下侍郎。鄆、濮相繼陷沒，宿、泗屢警，右丞許景衡以扈衛單弱，請帝避其鋒，潛善以為不足慮，率同列聽浮屠克勤說法。俄泗州奏金人且至，帝大驚，決策南渡。禦舟已戒，潛善、伯彥方共食，堂吏大呼曰：「駕行矣。」乃相視蒼黃鞭馬南馳。都人爭門而出，死者相枕藉，人無不怨憤。會司農卿黃鍔至江上，軍士聞其姓以為潛善也，爭數其罪，揮刃而前，鍔方辯其非是，而首已斷矣。

Qianshan was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, concurrently serving as Vice Director of the Chancellery. As Yan and Pu fell one after another and Suzhou and Sizhou came under repeated threat, Right Vice Director Xu Jingheng, seeing how thin the imperial guard was, urged the emperor to withdraw from the enemy's path. Qianshan dismissed the concern and led his fellow ministers to listen to the Buddhist monk Keqin preach. Before long Sizhou reported that the Jurchens were approaching, and the emperor, deeply alarmed, resolved to flee south across the Yangtze. The imperial boat was already made ready, yet Qianshan and Boyan were still at table together when a clerk cried out, "The emperor is leaving!" They exchanged panicked glances and whipped their horses south in desperate flight. The people of the capital surged through the gates in a stampede, corpses heaped upon corpses, and none escaped bitterness and fury. When Minister of Revenue Huang E reached the river, soldiers who heard his surname took him for Qianshan, clamored to list his crimes, and rushed forward with drawn blades. E had barely begun to protest his identity when his head was already off.

帝渡瓜州，幸鎮江，敵兵已躡其後。潛善、伯彥聯疏言艱難之時，不敢具文求退。中丞張澄劾之，乃罷潛善為觀文殿大學士、知江寧府，落職居衡州。鄭瑴又論潛善、伯彥均于誤國，而潛善之惡居多，王庭秀繼以為言，責置英州。諫官袁植乞斬之都市，帝不許。尋卒于梅州。

The emperor crossed at Guazhou and made for Zhenjiang, with enemy troops already close on his heels. Qianshan and Boyan submitted a joint memorial saying that in such dire times they dared not file a formal request to resign. When Censor-in-Chief Zhang Cheng impeached them, Qianshan was removed from office, given the nominal title of Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and appointment as Prefect of Jiangning, then stripped of rank and exiled to Hengzhou. Zheng Yue argued further that Qianshan and Boyan were equally responsible for the ruin of the state, though Qianshan's crimes were the greater; Wang Tingxiu added his voice, and Qianshan was banished to Yingzhou. Remonstrance official Yuan Zhi petitioned for Qianshan's public execution in the capital, but the emperor refused. He soon died at Meizhou.

潛善猥持國柄，嫉害忠良。李綱既逐，張愨、宗澤、許景衡輩相繼貶死，憲諫一言，隨陷其禍，中外為之切齒。高宗末年有旨，潛善、余深、薛昂皆復官錄後。諫官淩哲言深、昂朋附蔡京，潛善專恣誤國，今盡復三人恩數，恐政刑失平，忠義解體。詔以潛善嘗任副元帥，特復元官，錄一子。

Qianshan shamelessly wielded state power, envying and destroying loyal and worthy men. After Li Gang was driven from office, Zhang Xie, Zong Ze, Xu Jingheng, and others were demoted and died in turn; a single word from any censor or remonstrator would bring immediate ruin, and men throughout the court and country ground their teeth in fury. Near the end of Emperor Gaozong's reign, an edict restored the official ranks of Qianshan, Yu Shen, and Xue Ang and granted posthumous honors to their heirs. Remonstrance official Ling Zhe argued that Shen and Ang had been partisans of Cai Jing and Qianshan had acted with reckless arrogance to ruin the country; restoring all three to favor, he warned, would throw law and governance out of balance and unravel the fabric of loyalty and righteousness. An edict held that because Qianshan had once served as deputy marshal, his original rank alone would be restored and one son granted posthumous honors.

汪伯彥

Wang Boyan.

汪伯彥，字廷俊，徽之祁門人。登進士第，積官為虞部郎官。靖康改元，召見，獻河北邊防十策，直龍圖閣、知相州。是冬，金人陷真定，詔徙真定帥司於相，俾伯彥領之。

Wang Boyan, whose style name was Tingjun, came from Qimen in Huizhou. After passing the jinshi examination, he rose through the ranks to become a Gentleman of the Bureau of Parks and Forests. When the Jingkang era began, he was summoned to court, presented ten strategies for defending the northern frontier, and was appointed Directly Attached to the Dragon Diagram Hall and Prefect of Xiangzhou. That winter, after the Jurchens captured Zhending, an edict transferred the Zhending military command to Xiangzhou and placed Boyan in charge.

高宗以康王使金至磁，時金騎充斥，嘗有甲馬數百至城下，蹤跡王所在。伯彥亟以帛書請王還相，躬服橐鞬，部兵逆王於河上。王勞之曰：「他日見上，當首以京兆薦公。」其受知自此始矣。未幾，王奉蠟書，開天下兵馬大元帥府，以伯彥為副將。王引兵渡河，謀所向，言人人殊，伯彥獨曰：「非出北門濟子城不可。」王喜曰：「廷俊言是也。」既濟，由大名曆鄆、濟達于南京，奏為集英殿修撰。

When the Prince of Kang, later Emperor Gaozong, was sent as envoy to the Jurchens and reached Ci, Jurchen cavalry swarmed the region; on one occasion several hundred armored riders came to the city walls searching for the Prince. Boyan urgently sent a letter urging the Prince to return to Xiangzhou, donned armor himself, and led troops to meet him on the river. The Prince thanked him, saying, "When I next see the emperor, I shall recommend you first for the post at Jingzhao." From this moment his favor with the Prince began. Before long the Prince received the sealed imperial edict, established the Grand Marshal's headquarters for all armies, and appointed Boyan his deputy commander. The Prince led his troops across the river and debated their next move; opinions differed widely, but Boyan alone insisted, "We must leave by the north gate and cross at Zicheng—there is no other way." The Prince was pleased and said, "Tingjun is right." After crossing, they traveled through Daming, Yan, and Ji to Nanjing, and Boyan was recommended for appointment as Compiler in the Hall for Gathering Excellence.

北兵薄京城，欽宗詔：金人見議通和，康王將兵，毋得輕動。伯彥以為然。宗澤曰：「女真狂譎，是欲款我師爾。如即信之，後悔何及乎！宜亟進兵。」伯彥等難之。及城破，金人逼二帝北行，張邦昌僭立，王聞之涕泣。明年春，王承制除伯彥顯謨閣待制，升元帥，進直學士。高宗即位，擢知樞密院事。未幾，拜右僕射。

As northern troops closed on the capital, Emperor Qinzong issued an edict: "The Jurchens are now negotiating peace; the Prince of Kang holds the army—do not move rashly." Boyan agreed. Zong Ze said, "The Jurchens are wild and deceitful—they only mean to stall our army. If we trust them now, what regret will come too late! We should advance immediately." Boyan and the others objected. When the city fell and the Jurchens marched the two emperors north, Zhang Bangchang seized the throne—and the Prince wept at the news. The following spring the Prince, exercising emergency authority, appointed Boyan Xianmo Pavilion Attendant-Drafter, promoted him to marshal, and made him Direct Academician. When Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, Boyan was promoted to Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. Before long he was appointed Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

方高宗初政，天下望治。伯彥、潛善逾年在相位，專權自恣，不能有所經畫。御史諫官，下至韋布內侍，皆劾奏之。罷伯彥為觀文殿大學士、知洪州，改提舉崇福宮，尋落職居永州。紹興初，復職，知池州、江東安撫大使。言者弗置，乃詔以舊職奉祠，尋知廣州。四年，帝追贈陳東、歐陽澈。舍人王居正論伯彥、潛善不已，復褫前職。

At the start of Gaozong's reign, the whole realm looked for good government. Boyan and Qianshan held the chief ministership for more than a year, wielding power as they pleased and achieving nothing of substance. Censors and remonstrators, commoners and eunuchs alike, all impeached and memorialized against them. Boyan was removed from office, given the nominal title of Grand Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and appointment as Prefect of Hongzhou, then reassigned to direct the Chongfu Palace, and soon stripped of rank and exiled to Yongzhou. Early in the Shaoxing era his rank was restored and he was appointed Prefect of Chizhou and Grand Pacification Commissioner of Jiangdong. Critics would not let the matter drop, so an edict assigned him to a temple commission at his former rank; he was soon made Prefect of Guangzhou. In the fourth year the emperor posthumously honored Chen Dong and Ouyang Che. Drafting official Wang Juzheng kept denouncing Boyan and Qianshan without letup, and Boyan's restored rank was stripped once again.

七年，帝謂輔臣曰：「元帥舊僚，往往淪謝，惟汪伯彥實同艱難。朕之故人，所存無幾，宜與牽復。」秦檜、張浚曰：「臣等已議曰郊恩取旨，更得天筆明其舊勞，庶幾內外孚信。」始伯彥之未第也，受館于王氏，檜嘗從之學，而浚亦伯彥所引，故共贊焉。九年，知宣州，過闕，帝謂檜曰：「伯彥便令之官，庶免紛紜。」又曰：「伯彥潛藩舊僚，去國七年。漢之高、光不忘豐沛、南陽故舊，皆人情之常。」伯彥上所著《中興日曆》五卷，拜檢校少傅、保信軍節度使。十年，請祠，從之。明年五月，卒，贈少師，諡忠定。

In the seventh year the emperor told his chief ministers, "The old companions from the marshal's headquarters have mostly passed away; only Wang Boyan truly shared those hardships. Of my old friends, few remain—I should see him restored." Qin Hui and Zhang Jun said, "We have already discussed handling this through the suburban grace amnesty; if Your Majesty's own brush further clarifies his past service, court and country alike may be persuaded." In earlier days, before Boyan had passed the examinations, he had tutored in the Wang household—Hui had been among his pupils—and Jun too had been recommended by Boyan; so they joined in supporting his restoration. In the ninth year, while serving as Prefect of Xuanzhou, he passed through the capital; the emperor told Hui, "Let Boyan proceed directly to his post, so as to avoid controversy." He added, "Boyan is an old companion from my days as prince; he has been away from court for seven years. Gaozu and Guangwu of Han never forgot their old companions from Feng and Pei, and from Nanyang—that is only human nature." Boyan submitted his five-juan work, Calendar of the Restoration, and was appointed Honorary Junior Tutor and Military Commissioner of Baoxin. In the tenth year he requested a temple commission and the request was granted. The following year, in the fifth month, he died; he was posthumously made Junior Preceptor and given the posthumous title Zhongding, "Loyal and Settled."

初，伯彥既去相州，金人執其子軍器監丞似，使割地以至相州，守臣趙不試固守不下，遂拘而北，久之乃還。或云似之得歸，伯彥實使人贖之。似後更名召嗣。

Earlier, after Boyan had left Xiangzhou, the Jurchens seized his son Si, Supervisor of the Directorate of Armaments, and used him to demand territory up to Xiangzhou; the defending official Zhao Bushi held firm and refused to yield, so Si was taken north and only returned after a long captivity. Some said that when Si finally came home, Boyan had in fact sent men to ransom him. Si later changed his name to Zhaosi.

時議割三鎮以弭兵，命檜借禮部侍郎與程瑀為割地使，奉肅王以往。金師退，檜、瑀至燕而還。御史中丞李回、翰林承旨吳幵共薦檜，拜殿中侍御史，遷左司諫。王雲、李若水見金二酋歸，言金堅欲得地，不然，進兵取汴京。十一月，集百官議於延和殿，范宗尹等七十人請與之，檜等三十六人持不可。未幾，除御史中丞。

At the time the court debated ceding the Three Prefectures to halt the war; Hui was temporarily appointed Vice Minister of Rites and, together with Cheng Yu, sent as cession envoy escorting Prince Su. When the Jurchen army withdrew, Hui and Yu reached Yan and returned. Censor-in-Chief Li Hui and Hanlin Academician-in-Attendance Wu Qian jointly recommended Hui; he was appointed Palace Censor and then promoted to Left Remonstrator. Wang Yun and Li Ruoshui, returning from meeting the two Jurchen chiefs, reported that the Jurchens were determined to have the territory—or else they would advance and take Bianjing. In the eleventh month the officials were assembled to deliberate in the Yanshe Hall; Fan Zongyin and seventy others favored cession, while Hui and thirty-six others opposed it. Before long he was appointed Censor-in-Chief.

閏十一月，汴京失守，二帝幸金營。二年二月，莫儔、吳幵自金營來，傳金帥命推立異姓。留守王時雍等召百官軍民共議立張邦昌，皆失色不敢答，監察御史馬伸言於眾曰：「吾曹職為爭臣，豈容坐視不吐一辭？當共入議狀，乞存趙氏。」時檜為台長，聞伸言以為然，即進狀曰：

In the intercalary eleventh month Bianjing fell, and the two emperors were taken to the Jurchen camp. In the second year, second month, Mo Chou and Wu Qian came from the Jurchen camp with the Jurchen commander's order to install a ruler of another surname. Left-behind official Wang Shiyong and others summoned officials, soldiers, and civilians to discuss installing Zhang Bangchang; all turned pale and dared not speak. Supervising Censor Ma Shen addressed the assembly: "Our duty is to remonstrate—how can we sit by in silence? We should jointly submit a deliberation petition asking that the Zhao house be preserved." Hui was then chief of the censorate; hearing Shen's words he agreed, and at once submitted a petition stating:

檜荷國厚恩，甚愧無報。今金人擁重兵，臨已拔之城，操生殺之柄，必欲易姓，檜盡死以辨，非特忠於主也，且明兩國之利害爾。趙氏自祖宗以至嗣君，百七十餘載。頃緣奸臣敗盟，結怨鄰國，謀臣失計，誤主喪師，遂致生靈被禍，京都失守，主上出郊，求和軍前。兩元帥既允其議，布聞中外矣，且空竭帑藏，追取服禦所用，割兩河地，恭為臣子，今乃變易前議，人臣安忍畏死不論哉？

Hui has received the state's deep favor and is deeply ashamed to have repaid so little. Now the Jurchens hold a great army before a city already taken and wield the power of life and death; insisting on changing the dynasty, they would have us submit. Hui would die arguing the point—not only from loyalty to his sovereign, but to make clear the interests of both states. The Zhao house has ruled from the founding ancestors down to the present sovereign for more than one hundred and seventy years. Recently treacherous ministers broke the alliance and earned the enmity of a neighboring state; strategists blundered and led the sovereign to lose his armies—so the people suffered, the capital fell, and the emperor went out beyond the walls to sue for peace before the enemy host. The two Jurchen commanders had already agreed to terms and proclaimed them throughout the realm; the treasury was emptied, imperial robes and accoutrements seized, the lands of the two He regions ceded, and we submitted as vassals—yet now they would change what was agreed. What minister could keep silent for fear of death?

宋於中國，號令一統，綿地萬里，德澤加于百姓，前古未有。雖興亡之命在天有數，焉可以一城決廢立哉？昔西漢絕於新室，光武以興；東漢絕于曹氏，劉備帝蜀；唐為朱溫篡奪，李克用猶推其世序而繼之。蓋基廣則難傾，根深則難拔。

Song ruled the Central Realm with unified authority, its domain stretching ten thousand li, bestowing virtue and grace upon the people as no earlier age had done. Though the fate of rise and fall lies with Heaven and has its appointed course, how can the fate of a dynasty be decided by the fall of a single city? Formerly Western Han ended with Wang Mang's Xin dynasty, and Guangwu rose to restore it; Eastern Han ended with the house of Cao, and Liu Bei reigned in Shu; Tang was usurped by Zhu Wen, yet Li Keyong still upheld its dynastic succession. For when the foundation is broad it is hard to overturn, and when the roots run deep they are hard to uproot.

張邦昌在上皇時，附會權幸，共為蠹國之政。社稷傾危，生民塗炭，固非一人所致，亦邦昌為之也。天下方疾之如仇讎，若付以土地，使主人民，四方豪傑必共起而誅之，終不足為大金屏翰。必立邦昌，則京師之民可服，天下之民不可服；京師之宗子可滅，天下之宗子不可滅。檜不顧斧鉞之誅，言兩朝之利害，願復嗣君位以安四方，非特大宋蒙福，亦大金萬世利也。

In the time of the Retired Emperor, Zhang Bangchang attached himself to the powerful and together they enacted policies that ruined the state. The altars of state were endangered and the people plunged into suffering—not the work of one man alone, yet Bangchang was among those responsible. The realm now hates him as a mortal enemy; if territory were entrusted to him to rule the people, heroes throughout the land would surely rise to destroy him—and in the end he would never serve Great Jin as a reliable bulwark. If Bangchang must be installed, the people of the capital may be compelled to submit, but the people of the realm cannot; The imperial clansmen of the capital may be wiped out, but the imperial clansmen throughout the realm cannot be. Hui, heedless of death by axe and halberd, argued the interests of both dynasties and urged restoring the heir to the throne to pacify the realm—not only would Great Song be blessed, but Great Jin would gain lasting benefit as well.

檜之歸也，自言殺金人監己者奔舟而來。朝士多謂檜與㮚傅、樸同拘，而檜獨歸；又自燕至楚二千八百里，逾河越海，豈無譏訶之者，安得殺監而南？就令從軍撻懶，金人縱之，必質妻屬，安得與王氏偕？惟宰相范宗尹、同知樞密院李回與檜善，盡破群疑，力薦其忠。未對前一日，帝命先見宰執。檜首言「如欲天下無事，南自南，北自北」，及首奏所草與撻懶求和書。帝曰：「檜樸忠過人，朕得之喜而不寐。蓋聞二帝、母后消息，又得一佳士也。」宗尹欲處之經筵，帝曰：「且與一事簡尚書。」故有禮部之命。從行王安道、馮由義、水砦丁不異及參議官並改京秩，舟人孫靖亦補承信郎。始，朝廷雖數遣使，但且守且和，而專與金人解仇議和，實自檜始。蓋檜在金庭首唱和議，故撻懶縱之使歸也。

On his return, Hui claimed that he had killed his Jurchen guard and fled south by boat. Many at court noted that Hui had been detained together with Li Fu and Pu, yet Hui alone had returned; moreover, the journey from Yan to Chu was twenty-eight hundred li, crossing rivers and seas—would no one have challenged him? How could he have killed his guard and made it south? Even if he had followed Tatala's army and the Jurchens released him, they would surely have held his family as hostages—how could he have traveled with Lady Wang? Only Chief Minister Fan Zongyin and Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Li Hui were on good terms with Hui; they dispelled the widespread doubts and strongly vouched for his loyalty. The day before his formal audience, the emperor ordered him to meet the chief ministers first. Hui opened with the formula "If you wish the realm to be at peace, let the south be the south and the north be the north," and presented the peace letter he had drafted for Tatala. The emperor said, "Hui's plain loyalty surpasses that of others—I am so delighted to have found him that I cannot sleep. I have heard news of the two emperors and the empress dowager, and have gained an excellent man as well." Zongyin wished to place him in the imperial lecture hall, but the emperor said, "For now give him charge of a ministry with lighter duties." Hence the appointment to the Ministry of Rites. Wang Andao, Feng Youyi, Ding Buyi of the Water Fort, and the advisory officials who had traveled with him were all promoted to capital ranks; the boatman Sun Jing was also granted the rank of Credentialed Gentleman. Although the court had sent envoys several times before, holding the line while negotiating peace, the policy of seeking reconciliation and peace exclusively with the Jurchens truly began with Hui. Hui had been the first at the Jurchen court to advocate peace talks, and that was why Tatala released him to return.

紹興元年二月，除參知政事。七月，宗尹罷。先是，范宗尹建議討論崇甯、大觀以來濫賞，檜力贊其議，見帝意堅，反以此擠之。宗尹既去，相位久虛。檜揚言曰：「我有二策，可聳動天下。」或問何以不言，檜曰：「今無相，不可行也。」八月，拜右僕射、同中書門下平章事兼知樞密院事。九月，呂頤浩再相，檜同秉政，謀奪其柄，風其黨建言：「周宣王內修外攘，故能中興，今二相宜分任內外。」頤浩遂建都督府于鎮江。帝曰：「頤浩專治軍旅，檜專理庶務，如種、蠡之分職可也。」

In the second month of the first year of Shaoxing, he was appointed Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. In the seventh month Zongyin was dismissed from office. Earlier Fan Zongyin had proposed reviewing excessive rewards since the Chongning and Daguan eras; Hui strongly endorsed the idea, but when he saw the emperor's resolve, he turned and used it to drive Zongyin out. After Zongyin left office, the chief ministership remained vacant for a long time. Hui proclaimed publicly, "I have two strategies that could shake the whole realm." When someone asked why he would not reveal them, Hui said, "There is no chief minister now—it cannot be done." In the eighth month he was appointed Right Vice Director, Co-Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery, and concurrent Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the ninth month Lü Yihao returned as chief minister; Hui shared power and plotted to seize his authority, prompting his faction to propose, "King Xuan of Zhou strengthened the interior and repelled external foes and so restored the dynasty—the two chief ministers today should divide duties between civil and military affairs." Yihao then established a supreme command headquarters at Zhenjiang. The emperor said, "Let Yihao handle military affairs and Hui civil administration—like the division of labor between Wen Zhong and Fan Li."

二年，檜奏置修政局，自為提舉，參知政事翟汝文同領之。未幾，檜面劾汝文擅治堂吏，汝文求去；諫官方孟卿一再論之，汝文竟罷。監察御史劉一止，檜黨也，言：「宣王內修，修其所謂外攘之政而已。今簿書獄訟、官吏差除、土木營繕俱非所當急者。」屯田郎曾統亦謂檜曰：「宰相事無不統，何以局為？」檜皆不聽。既而有議廢局以搖檜者，一止及檢討官林待聘皆上疏言不可廢。七月，一止出臺，除起居郎，蓋自叛其說，識者笑之。

In the second year Hui memorialized to establish a Bureau for Political Reform, appointing himself supervisor with Vice Director Zhai Ruwen as co-director. Before long Hui openly impeached Ruwen for overstepping authority in managing chancery clerks, and Ruwen requested to resign; Remonstrator Fang Mengqing argued the case repeatedly, and Ruwen was finally removed from office. Supervising Censor Liu Yizhi, a member of Hui's faction, said, "When King Xuan strengthened the interior, he reformed what was called the policy of repelling external foes—that is all. Documents and lawsuits, appointments and dismissals, construction and repairs—none of these should be urgent priorities now." Gentleman of the Bureau of Agriculture Zeng Tong also said to Hui, "A chief minister's affairs are all-encompassing—why need a separate bureau?" Hui would not listen to any of them. When talk arose of abolishing the bureau to undermine Hui, Yizhi and Compiler Lin Daipin both submitted memorials arguing it must not be abolished. In the seventh month Yizhi left the censorate and was appointed Diarist—a reversal of his own position that made the knowing laugh.

頤浩自江上還，謀逐檜，有教以引朱勝非為助者。詔以勝非同都督。給事中胡安國言勝非不可用，勝非遂以醴泉觀使兼侍讀。安國求去，檜三上章留之，不報。頤浩尋以黃龜年為殿中侍御史，劉棐為右司諫，蓋將逐檜。於是江躋、吳表臣、程瑀、張燾、胡世將、劉一止、林待聘、樓炤並落職予祠，台省一空，皆檜黨也。檜初欲傾頤浩，引一時名賢如安國、燾、瑀輩布列清要。頤浩問去檜之術于席益，益曰：「目為黨可也。今黨魁胡安國在瑣闥，宜先去之。」蓋安國嘗問人材于遊酢，酢以檜為言，且比之荀文若。故安國力言檜賢于張浚諸人，檜亦力引安國。至是，安國等去，檜亦尋去。檜再相誤國，安國已死矣。黃龜年始劾檜專主和議，沮止恢復，植黨專權，漸不可長，至比檜為莽、卓。八月，檜罷，乃為觀文殿學士、提舉江州太平觀。

When Yihao returned from the river region, he plotted to drive out Hui; someone advised him to bring in Zhu Shengfei as an ally. An edict appointed Shengfei co-supreme commander. Drafting Reviewer Hu Anguo argued that Shengfei was unfit for the post; Shengfei was then made Director of the Liquan Temple and concurrent Lecturer. Anguo requested to resign; Hui submitted three memorials asking to keep him, but received no reply. Yihao soon appointed Huang Guinian as Palace Censor and Liu Fei as Right Remonstrator—clearly preparing to drive out Hui. Thereupon Jiang Ji, Wu Biaochen, Cheng Yu, Zhang Tao, Hu Shijiang, Liu Yizhi, Lin Daipin, and Lou Zhao were all stripped of office and given temple commissions; the censorate and remonstrance offices were emptied—all were members of Hui's faction. At first, when Hui sought to overthrow Yihao, he brought in celebrated men of the time such as Anguo, Tao, and Yu and placed them in prestigious posts. Yihao asked Xi Yi how to remove Hui; Yi said, "Label him a faction—that will do. The faction leader Hu Anguo is now in the drafting office—you should remove him first." Anguo had once asked You Zuo about men of talent; Zuo spoke of Hui and compared him to Xun Wenruo. Therefore Anguo strongly declared Hui more worthy than Zhang Jun and the others, and Hui strongly recommended Anguo in return. By then Anguo and the others were gone, and Hui soon followed. By the time Hui became chief minister again and harmed the state, Anguo was already dead. Huang Guinian first impeached Hui for monopolizing peace talks, obstructing recovery, building a faction and hoarding power—an evil that could not be allowed to grow—and even compared him to Wang Mang and Dong Zhuo. In the eighth month Hui was dismissed and made Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and Director of the Taiping Temple in Jiangzhou.

前一日，上召直學士院綦崈禮入對，示以檜所陳二策，欲以河北人還金國，中原人還劉豫。帝曰：「檜言『南人歸南，北人歸北』。朕北人，將安歸？檜又言『為相數月，可聳動天下』，今無聞。」崈禮即以上意載訓辭，播告中外，人始知檜之奸。龜年等論檜不已，詔落職，榜朝堂，示不復用。三年，韓肖胄等使還，洎金使李永壽、王翊偕來，求盡還北俘，與檜前議吻合。識者益知檜與金人共謀，國家之辱未已也。

The day before, the emperor summoned Academician Qi Chongli and showed him the two strategies Hui had proposed: returning people of Hebei to the Jin state and people of the Central Plain to Liu Yu. The emperor said, "Hui said, 'Southerners return to the south, northerners return to the north. I am a northerner—where am I to return? Hui also said, 'As chief minister for several months, I can shake the whole realm'—yet now nothing has come of it." Chongli at once recorded the emperor's intent in the dismissal edict and proclaimed it throughout the realm; only then did people learn of Hui's treachery. Guinian and others kept denouncing Hui without cease; an edict stripped his rank, posted the notice in the court hall, and declared he would not be used again. In the third year Han Xiaozhou and others returned as envoys; when Jin envoys Li Yongshou and Wang Yi arrived together, they demanded the return of all northern captives—a request that matched Hui's earlier proposal. The knowing increasingly understood that Hui had conspired with the Jurchens, and the nation's humiliation was far from over.

五年，金主既死，撻懶主議，卒成其和。二月，復資政殿學士，仍舊宮祠。六月，除觀文殿學士、知溫州。六年七月，改知紹興府。尋除醴泉觀使兼侍讀，充行宮留守；孟庾同留守，並權赴尚書、樞密院參決庶事。時已降詔將行幸，檜乞扈從，不許。帝駐蹕平江，召檜赴行在，用右相張浚薦也。十二月，檜以醴泉觀兼侍讀赴講筵。七年正月，何蘚使金還，得徽宗及寧德后訃，帝號慟發喪，即日授檜樞密使，恩數視宰臣。四月，命王倫使金國迎奉梓宮。

In the fifth year, after the Jin ruler died, Tatala led the peace negotiations and finally brought the treaty to completion. In the second month his rank as Academician of the Hall for Assisting Governance was restored, and he retained his old temple commission. In the sixth month he was appointed Academician of the Hall for Viewing Literature and Prefect of Wenzhou. In the seventh month of the sixth year he was transferred to Prefect of Shaoxing. Soon he was appointed Director of the Liquan Temple and concurrent Lecturer, serving as left-behind official of the traveling palace; Meng Yu served as co-left-behind official, and both were authorized to attend the Department of State Affairs and Bureau of Military Affairs to decide civil affairs. An edict had already been issued for the imperial progress; Hui asked to accompany the emperor and was refused. When the emperor halted at Pingjiang, he summoned Hui to the traveling court on the recommendation of Right Chief Minister Zhang Jun. In the twelfth month Hui attended the lecture hall as Director of the Liquan Temple and concurrent Lecturer. In the first month of the seventh year He Xian returned from an embassy to Jin with news of the deaths of Emperor Huizong and Empress Ningde; the emperor wailed and began mourning, and that same day appointed Hui Commissioner of Military Affairs with honors equal to a chief minister. In the fourth month Wang Lun was ordered to go as envoy to the Jin state to receive the imperial coffin.

九月，浚求去，帝問：「誰可代卿？」浚不對。帝曰：「秦檜何如？」浚曰：「與之共事，始知其暗。」帝曰：「然則用趙鼎。」鼎於是復相。台諫交章論浚，安置嶺表。鼎約同列救解。與張守面奏，各數千百言，檜獨無一語。浚遂謫永州。始，浚、鼎相得甚，浚先達，力引鼎。嘗共論人才，浚劇談檜善，鼎曰：「此人得志，吾人無所措足矣！」浚不以為然，故引檜，共政方知其暗，不復再薦也。檜因此憾浚，反謂鼎曰：「上欲召公，而張相遲留。」蓋怒鼎使擠浚也。檜在樞府惟聽鼎，鼎素惡檜，由是反深信之，卒為所傾。鼎與浚晚遇於閩，言及此，始知皆為檜所賣。

In the ninth month Jun requested to resign; the emperor asked, "Who can replace you?" Jun did not answer. The emperor said, "What of Qin Hui?" Jun said, "Working with him, I have only now learned how treacherous he is." The emperor said, "Then use Zhao Ding." Ding then returned as chief minister. Censors and remonstrators submitted successive memorials against Jun, and he was exiled to the Lingnan region. Ding agreed with his colleagues to plead for Jun's release. Together with Zhang Shou he memorialized in person, each speaking at length, but Hui alone said not a word. Jun was then demoted to Yongzhou. At first Jun and Ding were on excellent terms; Jun rose first and strongly recommended Ding. They once discussed men of talent together; Jun spoke at length of Hui's virtues, and Ding said, "If this man gets his way, we will have nowhere to stand!" Jun disagreed and therefore recommended Hui; only after sharing power did he learn how treacherous Hui was, and he never recommended him again. Hui therefore resented Jun and told Ding in turn, "The emperor wishes to summon you, but Chief Minister Zhang is delaying." This was because he was angry at Ding and wanted to use him to drive out Jun. In the Bureau of Military Affairs Hui deferred entirely to Ding; Ding had always disliked Hui, but for this reason came instead to trust him deeply and was ultimately overthrown by him. Ding and Jun met late in life in Min and spoke of this; only then did they learn they had both been betrayed by Hui.

十一月，奉使朱弁以書報粘罕死，帝曰：「金人暴虐，不亡何待？」檜曰：「陛下但積德，中興固有時。」帝曰：「此固有時，然亦須有所施為，然後可以得志。」

In the eleventh month envoy Zhu Bian reported by letter that Nianhan had died; the emperor said, "The Jurchens are brutal and cruel—how can they not perish?" Hui said, "Your Majesty need only accumulate virtue—the restoration will surely come in its time." The emperor said, "That time will surely come, but one must also take action before one can achieve one's aim."

八年三月，拜右僕射、同中書門下平章事兼樞密使。吏部侍郎晏敦復有憂色，曰：「奸人相矣。」五月，金遣烏陵思謀等來議和，與王倫偕至。思謀即宣和始通好海上者。議以吏部侍郎魏矼館伴，矼辭曰：「頃任御史，嘗言和議之非，今不可專對。」檜問矼所以不主和，矼備言敵情。檜曰：「公以智料敵，檜以誠待敵。」矼曰：「第恐敵不以誠待相公爾。」檜乃改命。六月，思謀等入見。帝愀然謂宰相曰：「先帝梓宮，果有還期，雖待二三年尚庶幾。惟是太后春秋高，朕旦夕思念，欲早相見，此所以不憚屈己，冀和議之速成也。」檜曰：「屈己議和，此人主之孝也。見主卑屈，懷憤不平，此人臣之忠也。」帝曰：「雖然，有備無患，使和議可成，邊備亦不可弛。」

In the third month of the eighth year he was appointed Right Vice Director, Co-Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery, and concurrent Commissioner of Military Affairs. Vice Minister of Personnel Yan Dunfu wore a troubled expression and said, "A villain is chief minister now." In the fifth month Jin sent Wulinsi Mou and others to negotiate peace, arriving together with Wang Lun. Simou was the man who had first opened friendly relations at sea in the Xuanhe era. It was proposed that Vice Minister of Personnel Wei Kang serve as host; Kang declined, saying, "When I recently served as censor, I spoke against peace talks—I cannot now serve as sole negotiator." Hui asked Kang why he opposed peace; Kang fully explained the enemy's situation. Hui said, "You use wisdom to assess the enemy; I use sincerity to treat the enemy." Kang said, "I only fear the enemy will not treat you with sincerity." Hui then changed the appointment. In the sixth month Simou and the others had an audience. The emperor said sorrowfully to the chief ministers, "If the late emperor's coffin truly has a date of return, even waiting two or three years would still be acceptable. Only the empress dowager is advanced in years, and I think of her constantly, longing to see her soon—that is why I do not shrink from humbling myself, hoping the peace talks will be quickly concluded." Hui said, "To humble oneself and negotiate peace—this is the sovereign's filial piety. To see one's lord humbled and feel indignant and aggrieved—this is a minister's loyalty." The emperor said, "Even so, preparedness prevents disaster—even if peace talks succeed, frontier defenses must not be relaxed."

十月，宰執入見，檜獨留身，言：「臣僚畏首尾，多持兩端，此不足與斷大事。若陛下決欲講和，乞顓與臣議，勿許群臣預。」帝曰：「朕獨委卿。」檜曰：「臣亦恐未便，望陛下更思三日，容臣別奏。」又三日，檜復留身奏事，帝意欲和甚堅，檜猶以為未也，曰：「臣恐別有未便，欲望陛下更思三日，容臣別奏。」帝曰：「然。」又三日。檜復留身奏事如初，知上意確不移，乃出文字乞決和議，勿許群臣預。

In the tenth month the chief ministers entered for an audience; Hui alone remained and said, "Officials fear consequences at both ends and mostly hedge their bets—they are not fit to decide great affairs. If Your Majesty is resolved to negotiate peace, I beg that deliberation be entrusted to me alone and that other officials not be permitted to participate." The emperor said, "I entrust this to you alone." Hui said, "I too fear it may not yet be expedient—I hope Your Majesty will consider further for three days and allow me to memorialize separately." Three days later Hui again remained to memorialize; the emperor's intent for peace was very firm, yet Hui still held back and said, "I fear there may still be inexpediency—I hope Your Majesty will consider further for three days and allow me to memorialize separately." The emperor said, "So be it." Three more days passed. Hui again remained to memorialize as before; knowing the emperor's intent was firmly set, he then produced a written request to decide the peace talks and exclude other officials from participation.

鼎力求去位，以少傅出知紹興府。初，帝無子。建炎末，范宗尹造膝有請，遂命宗室令懬擇藝祖後，得伯琮、伯玖入宮，皆藝祖七世孫。伯琮改名瑗，伯玖改名璩。瑗先建節，封建國公。帝諭鼎專任其事。又請建資善堂，鼎罷，言者攻鼎，必以資善為口實。及鼎、檜再相，帝出禦劄，除璩節度使，封吳國公。執政聚議，樞密副使王庶見之，大呼曰：「並後匹嫡，此不可行。」鼎以問檜，不答。檜更問鼎，鼎曰：「自丙辰罷相，議者專以此藉口，今當避嫌。」約同奏面納御筆，及至帝前，檜無一語。鼎曰：「今建國在上，名雖未正，天下之人知陛下有子矣。今日禮數不得不異。」帝乃留御筆俟議。明日，檜留身奏事。後數日，參知政事劉大中參告，亦以此為言。故鼎與大中俱罷。明年，璩卒授保大軍節度使，封崇國公。故鼎入辭，勸帝曰：「臣去後，必有以孝弟之說脅制陛下者。」出見檜，一揖而去，檜亦憾之。

Ding strongly sought to leave office and departed as Junior Tutor to serve as Prefect of Shaoxing. At first the emperor had no son. At the end of the Jianyan era Fan Zongyin made a private request; the emperor then ordered clansman Ling Huan to select descendants of Emperor Taizu and brought Bozong and Bojiu into the palace—both seventh-generation descendants of Taizu. Bozong was renamed Yuan, and Bojiu was renamed Yu. Yuan first received a military commission and was enfeoffed as Duke of Jianguo. The emperor instructed Ding to take sole charge of the matter. He also requested establishing the Hall of Nurturing Virtue; after Ding was dismissed, critics attacked him and always used the Hall of Nurturing Virtue as a pretext. When Ding and Hui returned as chief ministers, the emperor issued an imperial note appointing Yu as military commissioner and enfeoffing him as Duke of Wu. The chief ministers gathered to deliberate; Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Wang Shu saw the note and cried out, "To set a consort equal to the principal heir—this cannot be done." Ding asked Hui about it; Hui did not answer. Hui in turn asked Ding; Ding said, "Since I was dismissed as chief minister in the bingchen year, critics have always used this as a pretext—we should avoid suspicion now." They agreed to memorialize together and return the imperial note in person, but when they came before the emperor Hui said not a word. Ding said, "The Duke of Jianguo now stands above; though his title is not yet formalized, people throughout the realm know Your Majesty has a son. Today's ceremonial treatment must be different." The emperor then retained the imperial note pending deliberation. The next day Hui remained to memorialize privately. Several days later Vice Director Liu Dazhong reported at court and spoke on the same matter. Therefore both Ding and Dazhong were dismissed. The following year Yu was finally appointed Military Commissioner of Baoda and enfeoffed as Duke of Chongguo. When Ding entered to take leave, he admonished the emperor, "After I depart, there will surely be those who use arguments of filial piety and brotherhood to coerce Your Majesty." Going out he saw Hui, bowed once, and left—and Hui resented it.

鼎既去，檜獨專國，決意議和。中朝賢士，以議論不合，相繼而去。於是，中書舍人呂本中、禮部侍郎張九成皆不附和議，檜諭之使優遊委曲，九成曰：「未有枉己而能正人者。」檜深憾之。殿中侍御史張戒上疏乞留趙鼎，又陳十三事論和議之非，忤檜。王庶與檜尤不合，自淮西入樞庭，始終言和議非是，疏凡七上，且謂檜曰：「而忘東都欲存趙氏時，何遺此敵邪？」檜方挾金人自重，尤恨庶言，故出之。

After Ding departed, Hui alone monopolized the state and resolved to negotiate peace. Worthy men at court, disagreeing with his policies, departed in succession. Drafting Official Lü Benzhong and Vice Minister of Rites Zhang Jiucheng both refused to endorse the peace talks; Hui instructed them to be flexible and accommodating, but Jiucheng said, "No one who bends himself can set others straight." Hui deeply resented this. Palace Censor Zhang Jie submitted a memorial asking to retain Zhao Ding and set forth thirteen points against peace talks, offending Hui. Wang Shu was especially at odds with Hui; from Huaixi he entered the Bureau of Military Affairs and consistently argued that peace talks were wrong, submitting seven memorials in all, and said to Hui, "Have you forgotten when at the Eastern Capital you wished to preserve the Zhao house—why have you abandoned this enemy?" Hui was then using the Jurchens to bolster his own position and especially hated Shu's words, and therefore had him removed.

樞密院編修官胡銓上疏，願斬檜與王倫以謝天下。於是上下洶洶。檜謬為解救，卒械送銓貶昭州。陳剛中以啟賀銓，檜大怒，送剛中吏部，差知贛州安遠縣。贛有十二邑，安遠濱嶺，地惡瘴深，諺曰：「龍南、安遠，一去不轉。」言必死也。剛中果死。尋以銓事戒諭中外。既而校書郎許忻、樞密院編修官趙雍同日上疏，猶祖銓意，力排和議。雍又欲正南北兄弟之名，檜亦不能罪。曾開見檜，言今日當論存亡，不當論安危。檜駭愕，遂出之。司勳員外郎朱松、館職胡珵、張擴、淩景夏、常明、範如圭同上一疏言：「金人以和之一字得志於我者十有二年，以覆我王室，以弛我邊備，以竭我國力，以懈緩我不共戴天之仇，以絕望我中國謳吟思漢之赤子，以詔諭江南為名，要陛下以稽首之禮。自公卿大夫至六軍萬姓，莫不扼腕憤怒，豈肯聽陛下北面為仇敵之臣哉！天下將有仗大義，問相公之罪者。」後數日，權吏部尚書張燾、吏部侍郎晏敦復、魏矼、戶部侍郎李彌遜、梁汝嘉、給事中樓炤、中書舍人蘇符、工部侍郎蕭振、起居舍人薛徽言同班入奏，極言屈己之禮非是。新除禮部侍郎尹焞獨上疏，且移書切責檜，檜始大怒，焞于是固辭新命不拜。奉禮郎馮時行召對，言和議不可信，至引漢高祖分羹事為喻。帝曰：「朕不忍聞。」顰蹙而起。檜乃謫時行知萬州，尋亦抵罪。中書舍人勾龍如淵抗言於檜曰：「邪說橫起，胡不擇台官擊去之。」檜遂奏如淵為御史中丞，首劾銓。

Compiler in the Bureau of Military Affairs Hu Quan submitted a memorial calling for the execution of Hui and Wang Lun to appease the realm. Thereupon both court and country were in uproar. Hui feigned intercession on his behalf, but in the end had Quan shackled and exiled to Chaozhou. Chen Gangzhong sent a letter congratulating Quan; Hui was greatly angered and sent Gangzhong to the Ministry of Personnel, assigning him as magistrate of Anyuan County in Ganzhou. Ganzhou had twelve districts; Anyuan bordered the mountains, the land was harsh and miasma deep, and a proverb said, "Longnan and Anyuan—once you go, you do not return." It meant certain death. Gangzhong indeed died. Soon, on account of the Quan affair, an admonition was issued throughout the realm. Before long Proofreader Xu Xin and Compiler Zhao Yong submitted memorials on the same day, still following Quan's line and forcefully opposing peace talks. Yong also wished to rectify the names of northern and southern brothers, and Hui could not punish him for it. Zeng Kai saw Hui and said that today one should speak of survival and extinction, not of safety and danger. Hui was startled and had him removed. Gentleman of the Bureau of Merit Zhu Song and Academicians Hu Cheng, Zhang Kuo, Ling Jingxia, Chang Ming, and Fan Rugui jointly submitted a memorial saying, "For twelve years the Jurchens have had their way with us through the single word 'peace'—to overthrow our royal house, relax our frontier defenses, exhaust our national strength, slacken our hatred of an enemy with whom we cannot share the sky, despair the common people of China who sing and sigh for Han, and under the name of 'imperial edict instructing Jiangnan' demand that Your Majesty perform the kowtow. From high ministers and grandees down to the myriad people of the six armies, none fail to clench their fists in rage—how could they consent to see Your Majesty face north and become a subject of the enemy! Throughout the realm there will be those who, upholding great righteousness, will call the chief minister to account." Several days later Acting Minister of Personnel Zhang Tao, Vice Ministers Yan Dunfu and Wei Kang, Vice Minister of Revenue Li Mixun and Liang Rujia, Drafting Reviewer Lou Zhao, Drafting Official Su Fu, Vice Minister of Works Xiao Zhen, and Diarist Xue Huiyan entered together to memorialize, arguing at length that the rites of self-humiliation were wrong. The newly appointed Vice Minister of Rites Yin Hun alone submitted a memorial and sent a letter sharply rebuking Hui; Hui was finally greatly angered, and Hun firmly declined the new appointment. Ceremonial Gentleman Feng Shixing was summoned for an audience and said peace talks could not be trusted, even citing Emperor Gaozu of Han dividing the broth as a comparison. The emperor said, "I cannot bear to hear this." He frowned and rose. Hui then demoted Shixing to serve as Prefect of Wanzhou, and soon he was also punished for an offense. Drafting Official Goulong Ruyuan spoke boldly to Hui, "Heretical talk rises on every side—why not select censorate officials to strike it down?" Hui then memorialized to appoint Ruyuan as Censor-in-Chief, who first impeached Quan.

金使張通古、蕭哲以詔諭江南為名，檜猶恐物論咎己，與哲等議，改江南為宋，詔諭為國信。京、淮宣撫處置使韓世忠凡四上疏力諫，有「金以劉豫相待」之語，且言兵勢重處，願以身當之，不許。哲等既至泗州，要所過州縣迎以臣禮，至臨安日，欲帝待以客禮，世忠益憤，再疏言：「金以詔諭為名，暗致陛下歸順之義，此主辱臣死之時，願效死戰以決勝敗。若其不克，委曲從之未晚。」亦不許。哲等既入境，接伴使範同再拜問金主起居，軍民見者，往往流涕。過平江，守臣向子諲不拜，乞致仕。哲等至淮安，言先歸河南地，且冊上為帝，徐議餘事。

Jin envoys Zhang Tonggu and Xiao Zhe came under the name of 'imperial edict instructing Jiangnan'; Hui still feared public blame and discussed with Zhe and the others changing Jiangnan to Song and 'imperial edict instructing' to 'imperial letter of credence.' Pacification Commissioner of Jing and Huai Han Shizhong submitted four memorials forcefully remonstrating, with words such as 'Jin treats us as it treated Liu Yu,' and offered to take personal command where military strength was concentrated—this was refused. After Zhe and the others reached Sizhou, they demanded that the prefectures and counties they passed through receive them with the rites due a subject; on reaching Lin'an they wanted the emperor to treat them with the rites due a guest. Shizhong grew more indignant and submitted another memorial: "Jin uses 'imperial edict instructing' to covertly impose submission upon Your Majesty—this is the time when the ruler is shamed and ministers must die; I wish to fight to the death to decide victory and defeat. If we cannot prevail, yielding tactfully will not yet be too late." This too was refused. After Zhe and the others entered the border, Escort Commissioner Fan Tong bowed twice and inquired after the Jin ruler's health—soldiers and civilians who saw it often wept. Passing Pingjiang, the defending official Xiang Ziyin refused to bow and requested retirement. Zhe and the others reached Huai'an and said they would first return the lands of Henan and enfeoff the emperor, discussing other matters afterward.

檜至是欲上行屈己之禮，帝曰：「朕嗣守太祖、太宗基業，豈可受金人封冊。」會三衙帥楊沂中、解潛、韓世良相率見檜曰：「軍民洶洶，若之何？」退，又白之台諫。於是勾龍如淵、李誼數見檜議國書事，如淵謂得其書納之禁中，則禮不行而事定。給事中樓炤亦舉「諒陰三年不言」事以告檜，於是定檜攝塚宰受書之議。帝亦切責王倫，倫諭金使，金使亦懼而從。帝命檜即館中見哲等受其書。金使欲百官備禮，檜使省吏朝服導從，以書納禁中。先一日，詔金使來，將盡割河南、陝西故地，又許還梓宮及母兄親族，初無需索。以參知政事李光素有時望，俾押和議榜以鎮浮言。又降禦劄賜三大將。

By this time Hui wished the emperor to perform the rites of self-humiliation; the emperor said, "I succeed in guarding the foundations of Taizu and Taizong—how can I accept enfeoffment from the Jurchens?" The three commanders of the palace armies—Yang Yizhong, Xie Qian, and Han Shiliang—came together to see Hui and said, "Soldiers and civilians are in uproar—what is to be done?" On withdrawing they also reported it to the censors and remonstrators. Goulong Ruyuan and Li Yi repeatedly saw Hui to discuss the state letter; Ruyuan said that if the letter were obtained and placed within the palace, the rites would not be performed and the affair would be settled. Drafting Reviewer Lou Zhao also cited the precedent of 'three years of mourning without speaking' to inform Hui; thereupon the plan was settled for Hui to act as chief mourner and receive the letter. The emperor also sharply rebuked Wang Lun; Lun instructed the Jin envoys, and they too feared and complied. The emperor ordered Hui to see Zhe and the others at the guest house and receive their letter. The Jin envoys wanted all officials to prepare the full rites; Hui had provincial clerks in court dress lead the procession and placed the letter within the palace. The day before, an edict announced the coming of the Jin envoys: the former lands of Henan and Shaanxi would be fully restored, the return of the imperial coffin and the emperor's mother, brothers, and kin was promised, with no initial demands. Because Vice Director Li Guang had long enjoyed public esteem, he was made to endorse the peace proclamation to suppress loose talk. Imperial notes were also issued to the three great generals.

九年，金人歸河南、陝西故地，以王倫簽書樞密院事，充迎奉梓宮、奉還兩宮、交割地界使，藍公佐副之。判大宗正事士㒟、兵部侍郎張燾朝八陵。帝謂宰執曰：「河南新復，宜命守臣專撫遺民，勸農桑，各因其地以食，因其人以守，不可移東南之財，虛內以事外。」帝雖聽檜和而實疑金詐，未嘗弛備也。

In the ninth year the Jurchens returned the former lands of Henan and Shaanxi; Wang Lun was appointed Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs and envoy to receive the imperial coffin, return the two palaces, and hand over territorial boundaries, with Lan Gongzuo as deputy. Director of Imperial Clan Affairs Shi Yi and Vice Minister of War Zhang Tao paid court at the eight imperial tombs. The emperor told the chief ministers, "Henan is newly recovered—defending officials should focus on comforting the remaining people, encouraging agriculture and sericulture, feeding each region according to its land and defending each region according to its people; the wealth of the southeast must not be shifted to empty the interior for the sake of the exterior." Although the emperor listened to Hui on peace, he in fact suspected Jin deceit and never relaxed preparations.

時張浚在永州，馳奏，力言以石晉、劉豫為戒，復遺書孫近，以「帝秦之禍，發遲而大」。徐俯守上饒，連南夫帥廣東，岳飛宣撫淮西，皆因賀表寓諷。俯曰：「禍福倚伏，情偽多端。」南夫曰：「不信亦信，其然豈然？雖虞舜之十二州，皆歸王化；然商於之六百里，當念爾欺！」飛曰：「救暫急而解倒懸，猶之可也；欲長慮而尊中國，豈其然乎？」他如秘書省正字汪應辰、樊光遠、澧州推官韓糸川、臨安府司戶參軍毛叔慶，皆言金人叵測；迪功郎張行成獻《詢蕘書》二十篇，大意言自古講和，未有終不變者，條具者皆豫備之策。檜悉加黜責，糸川貶循州。

At the time Zhang Jun was at Yongzhou; he sent urgent memorials citing the Later Jin and Liu Yu as warnings, and sent a letter to Sun Jin with the words, "The calamity of submitting to Qin comes slowly but grows great." Xu Fu guarded Shangrao, Lian Nanfu commanded Guangdong, and Yue Fei pacified Huaixi—all conveyed satire in their congratulatory memorials. Fu said, "Fortune and misfortune lean upon each other; truth and falsehood take many forms." Nanfu said, "Not believing is also believing—is it so, or is it not? Although the twelve provinces of Yu Shun all returned to royal transformation; yet the six hundred li of Shangyu—remember your deceit!" Fei said, "To relieve a temporary emergency and undo an inverted hanging may still be acceptable; to wish for long-term planning and to honor the Central Realm—is that really so?" Others such as Proofreader Wang Yingchen, Fan Guangyuan, Judicial Officer of Lizhou Han Sichuan, and Administrative Assistant of Lin'an Prefecture Mao Shuqing all said the Jurchens were unpredictable; Credentialed Gentleman Zhang Xingcheng presented twenty chapters of Inquiry of the Humble, arguing that from antiquity peace negotiations have never remained unchanged, and listing preparatory strategies for every contingency. Hui had them all demoted and punished; Sichuan was exiled to Xunzhou.

七月，兀朮殺其領三省事宗磐及左副元帥撻懶，拘王倫於中山府。蓋兀朮以歸地為二人所主，將有他謀也。倫嘗密奏於朝，檜不之備，但趣倫進。時韓世忠有乘懈掩擊之請，檜言《春秋》不伐喪，與帝意合，遂已。

In the seventh month Wuzhu killed Zongpan, who directed the Three Departments, and Left Deputy Marshal Tatala, and detained Wang Lun at Zhongshan Prefecture. Wuzhu, because the return of territory had been advocated by these two men, was about to pursue other designs. Lun had secretly memorialized the court, but Hui made no preparations and only urged Lun to proceed. At the time Han Shizhong requested a surprise strike while the enemy was off guard; Hui cited the Spring and Autumn Annals on not attacking during mourning, which accorded with the emperor's intent, and the matter was dropped.

十年，金人果敗盟，分四道入侵。兀朮入東京，葛王褎取南京，李成取西京，撒離喝趨永興軍。河南諸郡相繼陷沒。帝始大怪，下詔罪狀兀朮。御史中丞王次翁奏曰：「前日國是，初無主議。事有小變，則更用他相，後來者未必賢，而排黜異黨，紛紛累月不能定，願陛下以為至戒。」帝深然之。檜力排群言，始終以和議自任，而次翁謂無主議者，專為檜地也。於是檜位復安，據之凡十八年，公論不能撼搖矣。

In the tenth year the Jurchens indeed broke the treaty and invaded in four columns. Wuzhu entered Dongjing, Prince Ge Xiuyu took Nanjing, Li Cheng took Xijing, and Salihuo pressed toward Yongxing Army. The prefectures of Henan fell one after another. The emperor was at first greatly astonished and issued an edict listing Wuzhu's crimes. Censor-in-Chief Wang Ciweng memorialized, "On the previous national policy, there was at first no leading deliberation. When affairs shifted slightly, another chief minister was appointed—the successor was not necessarily worthy, yet rival factions were driven out, and for months on end nothing could be settled; I hope Your Majesty will take this as the greatest warning." The emperor deeply agreed. Hui forcefully rejected all other opinions and consistently took peace talks upon himself, while Ciweng's words about there being no leading deliberation were made specially to clear ground for Hui. Thereupon Hui's position was secure again; he held it for eighteen years in all, and public opinion could not shake him.

六月，檜奏曰：「德無常師，主善為師。臣昨見撻懶有割地講和之議，故贊陛下取河南故疆。今兀朮戕其叔撻懶，藍公佐歸，和議已變，故贊陛下定吊伐之計。願至江上諭諸帥同力招討。」卒不行。閏六月，貶趙鼎興化軍，以王次翁受檜旨，言其規圖復用也。言者不已，尋竄潮州。

In the sixth month Hui memorialized, "Virtue has no fixed teacher—take what is good as teacher. Your minister previously saw that Tatala had proposed ceding territory and negotiating peace, and therefore supported Your Majesty in recovering the former borders of Henan. Now Wuzhu has killed his uncle Tatala, and Lan Gongzuo has returned—the peace talks have changed, and therefore I support Your Majesty in settling on a plan of punitive expedition. I wish to go to the river region and instruct the commanders to join forces in recruitment and suppression." In the end he did not go. In the intercalary sixth month Zhao Ding was demoted to Xinghua Army; Wang Ciweng, acting on Hui's instruction, said Ding was plotting to be restored to office. Critics would not cease, and soon he was exiled to Chaozhou.

時張俊克亳州，王勝克海州，岳飛克郾城，幾獲兀朮。張浚戰勝于長安，韓世忠勝於泇口鎮，諸將所向皆奏捷，而檜力主班師。九月，詔飛還行在，沂中還鎮江，光世還池州，錡還太平。飛軍聞詔，旗靡轍亂，飛口呿不能合。於是淮甯、蔡、鄭復為金人有。以明堂恩封檜莘國公。十一年，兀朮再舉，取壽春，入廬州，諸將邵隆、王德、關師古等連戰皆捷。楊沂中戰拓皋，又破之。檜忽諭沂中及張俊遽班師。韓世忠聞之，止濠州不進；劉錡聞之，棄壽春而歸。自是不復出兵。

At the time Zhang Jun captured Bozhou, Wang Sheng captured Haizhou, and Yue Fei captured Yancheng, nearly capturing Wuzhu. Zhang Jun was victorious at Chang'an, Han Shizhong at Jiakou, and the generals wherever they went reported victories—yet Hui strongly advocated withdrawing the army. In the ninth month an edict ordered Fei to return to the traveling court, Yizhong to Zhenjiang, Guangshi to Chizhou, and Qi to Taiping. When Fei's army heard the edict, banners drooped and ranks fell into disorder; Fei's mouth hung open and would not close. Thereupon Huaining, Cai, and Zheng again fell to the Jurchens. On the Hall of Brightness grace Hui was enfeoffed as Duke of Shen. In the eleventh year Wuzhu invaded again, took Shouchun, and entered Luzhou; the generals Shao Long, Wang De, Guan Shigu, and others won successive victories. Yang Yizhong fought at Tuogao and defeated the enemy again. Hui suddenly instructed Yizhong and Zhang Jun to withdraw the army at once. When Han Shizhong heard it, he halted at Haozhou and did not advance; when Liu Qi heard it, he abandoned Shouchun and returned. From this time troops were no longer sent out.

四月，檜欲盡收諸將兵權，給事中範同獻策，檜納之。密奏召三大將論功行賞，韓世忠、張俊並為樞密使，岳飛為副使，以宣撫司軍隸樞密院。六月，拜左僕射、同中書門下平章事兼樞密使，進封慶國公。《徽宗實錄》成，遷少保，加封冀國公。先是，莫將、韓恕使金，拘於涿州。至是，兀朮有求和意，縱之歸。檜復奏遣劉光遠、曹勳使金，又以魏良臣為通問使。未幾，良臣偕金使蕭毅等來，議以淮水為界，求割唐、鄧二州。尋遣何鑄報聘，許之。

In the fourth month Hui wished to take all military authority from the generals; Drafting Reviewer Fan Tong offered a plan, and Hui adopted it. In a secret memorial he proposed summoning the three great generals to discuss merit and grant rewards; Han Shizhong and Zhang Jun were both made Commissioners of Military Affairs, Yue Fei Vice Commissioner, and the pacification armies were placed under the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the sixth month he was appointed Left Vice Director, Co-Grand Councillor of the Secretariat-Chancellery, and concurrent Commissioner of Military Affairs, and advanced to Duke of Qing. When the Veritable Records of Emperor Huizong were completed, he was transferred to Junior Preceptor and additionally enfeoffed as Duke of Ji. Earlier Mo Jiang and Han Shu had been sent as envoys to Jin and were detained at Zhuozhou. By this time Wuzhu wished to seek peace and released them to return. Hui again memorialized to send Liu Guangyuan and Cao Xun as envoys to Jin, and appointed Wei Liangchen as communication envoy. Before long Liangchen came together with Jin envoys Xiao Yi and others, proposing the Huai River as boundary and demanding the cession of Tang and Deng prefectures. Soon He Zhu was sent on a return embassy and the terms were accepted.

十月，興岳飛之獄。檜使諫官万俟禼論其罪，張俊又誣飛舊將張憲謀反，於是飛及子雲俱送大理寺，命御史中丞何鑄、大理卿周三畏鞫之。十一月，貶李光藤州，範同罷參知政事。同雖附和議，以自奏事，檜忌之也。十二月，殺岳飛。檜以飛屢言和議失計，且嘗奏請定國本，俱與檜大異，必欲殺之。鑄、三畏初鞫，久不伏；禼入台，獄遂上。誣飛嘗自言「己與太祖皆三十歲建節」為指斥乘輿，受詔不救淮西罪，賜死獄中。子雲及張憲殺於都市。天下冤之，聞者流涕。飛之死，張俊有力焉，語在《飛傳》。

In the tenth month the case against Yue Fei was opened. Hui had remonstrance official Wan Qixie argue his crimes; Zhang Jun further falsely accused Fei's former general Zhang Xian of plotting rebellion; Fei and his son Yun were sent to the Court of Judicial Review, and Censor-in-Chief He Zhu and Chief Judge Zhou Sanwei were ordered to interrogate them. In the eleventh month Li Guang was demoted to Tengzhou and Fan Tong was dismissed as Vice Director. Although Tong had endorsed peace talks, he memorialized on his own authority, and Hui resented him for it. In the twelfth month Yue Fei was executed. Because Fei had repeatedly said peace talks were a mistaken plan and had once memorialized to fix the heir apparent—all greatly at odds with Hui—Hui was determined to kill him. Zhu and Sanwei at first interrogated him, but for a long time he would not confess; when Qixie entered the censorate, the case was finally submitted. They falsely accused Fei of once saying "Both I and Taizu received military commissions at thirty" as an insult to the throne, and of failing to rescue Huai West when ordered; he was granted death in prison. His son Yun and Zhang Xian were executed in the capital market. All under Heaven considered it an injustice; those who heard wept. Zhang Jun had a strong hand in Fei's death; the account is in the Biography of Fei.

十二年，胡銓再編管新州。八月，徽宗及顯肅、懿節二梓宮至行在。太后還慈甯宮。九月，加太師，進封魏國公。十月，進封秦、魏兩國公。檜以封兩國與蔡京、童貫同，請改封母為秦、魏國夫人。子熺舉進士，館客何溥赴南省，皆為第一。熺本王唤孽子，檜妻喚妹，無子，喚妻貴而妒，檜在金國，齣熺爲檜後。檜還，其家以熺見，檜喜甚。檜幸和議復成，益咎前日之異己者。先是，趙鼎貶潮州，王庶貶道州，胡銓再貶新州。至是，皆遇赦永不檢舉。曾開、李彌遜並落職。張俊本助和議，居位歲餘無去意，檜諷江邈論罷之。

In the twelfth year Hu Quan was again placed under supervised exile at Xinzhou. In the eighth month the imperial coffins of Emperor Huizong and Empresses Xiansu and Yijie arrived at the traveling court. The empress dowager returned to the Cining Palace. In the ninth month he was made Grand Preceptor and advanced to Duke of Wei. In the tenth month he was advanced to Duke of both Qin and Wei. Because enfeoffment as duke of two states matched Cai Jing and Tong Guan, Hui requested that his mother be enfeoffed as Lady of Qin and Wei instead. His son Xi passed the jinshi examination, and his client He Pu went to the southern capital examination—both ranked first. Xi was originally the illegitimate son of Wang Huan; Hui's wife was Huan's younger sister—childless, and with Huan's wife being proud and jealous—while Hui was in the Jin state she presented Xi as Hui's heir. When Hui returned, his family presented Xi to him, and Hui was greatly pleased. Fortunate that peace talks were restored, Hui blamed all the more those who had differed from him in earlier days. Earlier Zhao Ding had been demoted to Chaozhou, Wang Shu to Daozhou, and Hu Quan again to Xinzhou. By this time, all encountered amnesties from which they would never be eligible for release. Zeng Kai and Li Mixun were both stripped of office. Zhang Jun had originally helped the peace talks and, holding office for more than a year, showed no intent to leave; Hui prompted Jiang Miao to argue for his dismissal.

十三年，賀瑞雪，賀雪自檜始。賀日食不見，是後日食多書不見。彗星常見，選人康倬上書言彗星不足畏，檜大喜，特改京秩。楚州奏鹽城縣海清，檜請賀，帝不許。知虔州薛弼言木內有文曰「天下太平年」，詔付史館。於是修飾彌文，以粉飾治具，如鄉飲、耕籍之類節節備舉，為苟安余杭之計，自此不復巡幸江上，而祥瑞之奏日聞矣。

In the thirteenth year auspicious snow was celebrated—a practice that began with Hui. Eclipses in which the sun was not seen were celebrated; thereafter solar eclipses were often recorded as unseen. Comets appeared frequently; examination candidate Kang Zhuo submitted a memorial saying comets were not to be feared—Hui was greatly pleased and specially transferred him to a capital rank. Chuzhou reported that the sea at Yancheng County was clear; Hui requested celebration, but the emperor refused. Prefect of Qianzhou Xue Bi reported characters within a tree reading "Years of peace under Heaven"; an edict ordered it sent to the Historiography Office. Thereupon ornate rhetoric was increasingly used to embellish the apparatus of governance—village drinking ceremonies, plowing at the altar, and the like performed step by step in full—as a plan for complacent security at Hangzhou; from this time the emperor no longer toured the river region, and reports of auspicious omens were heard daily.

洪皓歸自金國，名節獨著，以致金酋室撚語，直翰苑不一月逐去。室撚者，閣，粘罕之左右也。初，粘罕行軍至淮上，檜嘗為之草檄，為室撚所見，故因皓歸寄聲。檜意士大夫莫有知者，聞皓語，深以為憾，遂令李文會論之。胡舜陟以非笑朝政下獄死，張九成以鼓唱浮言貶，累及僧宗杲，編配，皆以語忤檜也。張邵亦坐與檜言金人有歸欽宗及諸王后妃意，斥為外祠。十四年，貶黃龜年，以前嘗論檜也。閩、浙大水，右武大夫白鍔有「燮理乖謬」語，刺配萬安軍。太學生張伯麟嘗題壁曰「夫差，爾忘越王殺而父乎」，杖脊刺配吉陽軍。故將解潛罷官閒居，辛永宗總戎外郡，亦坐不附和議，潛竄南安死，永宗編置肇慶死。趙鼎、李光皆再竄過海。皓之罪由白鍔延譽，光以在藤州唱和有諷刺及檜者，為守臣所告也。

Hong Hao returned from the Jin state with outstanding reputation and integrity, but because he repeated words of the Jurchen chief's attendant Shinie, he was appointed to the Hanlin Academy and driven out within a month. Shinie was Ge, an attendant of Nianhan. Earlier, when Nianhan's army marched to the Huai region, Hui had once drafted a proclamation for him, which Shinie had seen; therefore, through Hao's return, he sent a message. Hui thought no scholar-official knew of this; hearing Hao's words, he deeply resented it and had Li Wenhui argue against him. Hu Shunzhi was imprisoned and died for mocking court governance; Zhang Jiucheng was demoted for stirring up loose talk; the monk Zonggao was implicated and assigned to supervised exile—all because their words offended Hui. Zhang Shao was also punished for telling Hui that the Jurchens intended to return Emperor Qinzong and the princes, queens, and consorts, and was dismissed to an outer temple commission. In the fourteenth year Huang Guinian was demoted because he had once argued against Hui. Great floods struck Min and Zhe; Right Martial Grandee Bai E used the words "governance is perversely mistaken" and was tattooed and exiled to Wan'an Army. Imperial Academy student Zhang Boli once wrote on a wall, "Fuchai, have you forgotten that the King of Yue killed your father?" He was beaten on the back, tattooed, and exiled to Jiyang Army. Former general Xie Qian, dismissed and living in retirement, and Xin Yongzong, commanding troops in an outer prefecture, were also punished for not endorsing peace talks—Qian was exiled to Nan'an and died; Yongzong was assigned to Zhaoqing and died. Zhao Ding and Li Guang were both again exiled across the sea. Hao's crime arose from Bai E's praise of him; Guang, because while at Tengzhou he joined in poetic exchange containing satire directed at Hui, was reported by the defending official.

先是，議建國公出閣，吏部尚書吳表臣、禮部尚書蘇符等七人論禮與檜意異，於是表臣等以討論不祥、懷奸附鼎皆罷。始，檜為上言：趙鼎欲立皇太子，是待陛下終無子也，宜俟親子乃立。遂嗾御史中丞詹大方言鼎邪謀密計，深不可測，與范冲等咸懷異意，以徼無妄之福。沖嘗為資善翊善，故大方誣之。其後監察御史王鎡言帝未有嗣，宜祠高禖，詔築壇於圜丘東，皆檜意也。

Earlier, when the Duke of Jianguo's departure from the palace was discussed, Minister of Personnel Wu Biaochen, Minister of Rites Su Fu, and five others argued ritual matters at odds with Hui's intent; Biaochen and the others were all dismissed for discussing inauspicious matters and harboring treachery by attaching themselves to Ding. At the beginning Hui told the emperor, "Zhao Ding wishes to install the crown prince—this means treating Your Majesty as ultimately having no son; one should wait until a biological son is born before installing an heir." He then prompted Censor-in-Chief Zhan Dafang to say that Ding had treacherous schemes and secret plots, deeply unfathomable, and that he and Fan Chong and others all harbored divergent intent, seeking undeserved fortune. Chong had once served as assistant tutor in the Hall of Nurturing Virtue, and therefore Dafang falsely accused him. Afterward Supervising Censor Wang Zi said the emperor had no heir and should sacrifice to Gaomei; an edict ordered an altar built east of the Round Mound—all Hui's intent.

台州曾惇獻檜詩稱「聖相」。凡投獻者以皋、夔、稷、契為不足，必曰「元聖」。檜乞禁野史。又命子熺以秘書少監、領國史，進建炎元年至紹興十二年《日曆》五百九十卷。熺因太后北還，自頌檜功德凡二千餘言，使著作郎王揚英、周執羔上之，皆遷秩。自檜再相，凡前罷相以來詔書章疏稍及檜者，率更易焚棄，日曆、時政亡失已多，是後記錄皆熺筆，無復有公是非矣。冬十月，右正言何若指程頤、張載遺書為專門曲學，力加禁絕，人無敢以為非。

Zeng Dun of Taizhou presented a poem to Hui calling him "sage chief minister." All who presented offerings found Gao Yao, Kui, Hou Ji, and Qi insufficient and always said "primordial sage." Hui requested a ban on unofficial histories. He also ordered his son Xi, as Deputy Director of the Secretariat, to direct the national history and submit five hundred and ninety juan of Calendar from the first year of Jianyan to the twelfth year of Shaoxing. Because the empress dowager returned from the north, Xi himself praised Hui's merit and virtue in more than two thousand words and had Compilers Wang Yangying and Zhou Zhigao submit it—all were promoted in rank. Since Hui became chief minister again, all edicts and memorials since his earlier dismissal that even slightly mentioned him were generally altered or burned; much of the Calendar and Current Affairs records were lost, and thereafter all records were written by Xi's hand—there was no longer any public right and wrong. In the tenth month of winter Right Remonstrator He Ruo pointed to the posthumous writings of Cheng Yi and Zhang Zai as specialized and biased learning and forcefully sought their prohibition—no one dared say it was wrong.

十五年，熺除翰林學士兼侍讀。四月，賜檜甲第，命教坊樂導之入，賜緡錢金綿有差。六月，帝幸檜第，檜妻婦子孫皆加恩。檜先禁私史，七月，又對帝言私史害正道。時司馬伋遂言《涑水記聞》非其曾祖光論著之書，其後李光家亦舉光所藏書萬卷焚之。十月，帝親書「一德格天」扁其閣。十六年正月，檜立家廟。三月，賜祭器，將相賜祭器自檜始。

In the fifteenth year Xi was appointed Hanlin Academician and concurrent Lecturer. In the fourth month a mansion was granted to Hui; the Music Bureau was ordered to lead him in with music, and strings of cash, gold, and silk were granted in varying amounts. In the sixth month the emperor visited Hui's residence; Hui's wife, daughters-in-law, sons, and grandsons were all granted favors. Hui had earlier banned private histories; in the seventh month he again told the emperor in audience that private histories harmed the correct Way. At the time Sima Ji then said that Records of Suishui was not a work written by his great-grandfather Guang; afterward Li Guang's family also brought out the ten thousand juan Guang had collected and burned them. In the tenth month the emperor personally wrote the plaque "Single virtue matches Heaven" for his hall. In the first month of the sixteenth year Hui established a family temple. In the third month ritual vessels were granted—the granting of ritual vessels to chief ministers and generals began with Hui.

先是，帝以彗星見求言。張浚上疏，言：「今事勢如養大疽于頭目心腹之間，不決不止，願謀為豫備。不然，異時以國與敵者，反歸罪正議。」檜久憾浚，至是大怒，即落浚節鉞，貶連州，尋移永州。

Earlier, because a comet appeared, the emperor requested opinions. Zhang Jun submitted a memorial saying, "The present situation is like nurturing a great ulcer between the head, eyes, and vital organs—it will not stop unless cut out; I wish to plan preparations in advance. Otherwise, when the time comes that the state is given to the enemy, blame will instead be placed on upright deliberation." Hui had long resented Jun; at this he was greatly angered, stripped Jun of his military commission, demoted him to Lianzhou, and soon transferred him to Yongzhou.

十七年，改封檜益國公。五月，移貶洪皓于英州。八月，趙鼎死于吉陽軍。是夏，先有趙鼎遇赦永不檢舉之旨，又令月申存亡，鼎知之，不食而卒。自鼎之謫，門人故吏皆被羅織，雖聞其死而歎息者亦加以罪。又竄呂頤浩子摭於藤州。十二月，進士施鍔上《中興頌》、《行都賦》及《紹興雅》十篇，永免文解。自此頌詠導諛愈多。賜百官喜雪禦筵於檜第。

In the seventeenth year Hui was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Yi. In the fifth month Hong Hao was transferred and demoted to Yingzhou. In the eighth month Zhao Ding died at Jiyang Army. That summer there had first been an edict that Zhao Ding, encountering amnesty, would never be reported for release, and also an order to report monthly whether he was alive or dead; Ding learned of this, stopped eating, and died. From Ding's demotion, his students and former subordinates were all entangled in fabricated charges—even those who sighed upon hearing of his death were punished. Lü Yihao's son Zhi was also exiled to Tengzhou. In the twelfth month jinshi Shi E submitted Ode to the Restoration, Rhapsody on the Traveling Capital, and ten chapters of Shaoxing Elegances, and was permanently exempted from the literary examination. From this time praise and flattery grew ever more. An imperial banquet celebrating auspicious snow was granted to the officials at Hui's residence.

十八年，熺除知樞密院事，檜問胡寧曰：「外議如何？」寧曰：「以為公相必不襲蔡京之跡。」五月，李顯忠上恢復策，落軍職，與祠。六月，迪功郎王廷珪編管辰州，以作詩送胡銓也。閏八月，福州言民采竹實萬斛以濟饑。十一月，胡銓自新州移貶吉陽軍，以作頌謗訕也。

In the eighteenth year Xi was appointed Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs; Hui asked Hu Ning, "What is the outside talk?" Ning said, "They think the chief minister and grand councillor will surely not follow in Cai Jing's footsteps." In the fifth month Li Xianzhong submitted a strategy for recovery, was stripped of military office, and given a temple commission. In the sixth month Credentialed Gentleman Wang Tinggui was placed under supervised exile at Chenzhou for composing a poem to send off Hu Quan. In the intercalary eighth month Fuzhou reported that the people had gathered ten thousand hu of bamboo seeds to relieve famine. In the eleventh month Hu Quan was transferred from Xinzhou and demoted to Jiyang Army for composing a laudatory piece containing slander.

十九年，帝命繪檜像，自為贊。是歲，湖、廣、江西、建康府皆言甘露降，諸郡奏獄空。帝嘗語檜曰：「自今有奏獄空者，當令監司驗實。果妄誕，即按治，仍命御史台察之。苟不懲戒，則奏甘露瑞芝之類，崇虛飾誕，無所不至。」帝雖眷檜，而不可蔽欺也如此。十二月，禁私作野史，許人告。

In the nineteenth year the emperor ordered Hui's portrait painted and wrote the encomium himself. That year Hu, Guang, Jiangxi, and Jiankang Prefecture all reported that sweet dew had fallen, and various prefectures memorialized that their prisons were empty. The emperor once told Hui, "From now on, when empty prisons are memorialized, the supervisory commissioners should verify the facts. If it is truly false and deceitful, investigate and punish at once, and order the Censorate to inspect it. If not punished and warned, memorials of sweet dew, auspicious fungus, and the like—exalting the empty and embellishing deceit—will know no bounds." Although the emperor favored Hui, he could not be deceived in this way. In the twelfth month private composition of unofficial histories was banned and people were permitted to inform.

二十年正月，檜趨朝，殿司小校施全刺檜不中，磔於市。自是每出，列五十兵持長梃以自衛。是月，曹泳告李光子孟堅省記光所作私史，獄成，光竄已久，詔永不檢舉；孟堅編置峽州；朝士連坐者八人，皆落職貶秩；胡寅竄新州。泳由是驟用。五月，秘書少監湯思退奏以檜存趙氏本末付史館。六月，熺加少保。鄭煒告其鄉人福建安撫司機宜吳元美作《夏二子傳》，指蚊、蠅也；家有潛光亭、商隱堂，以亭號潛光，有心于党李，堂名商隱，無意于事秦。故檜尤惡之。編管右迪功郎安誠、布衣汪大圭，斬有蔭人惠俊、進義副尉劉允中，黥徑山僧清言，皆以訕謗也。時檜疾愈，朝參許肩輿，二孫扶掖，仍免拜。二十一年，朝散郎王揚英上書薦熺爲相，檜奏揚英知泰州。

In the first month of the twentieth year, as Hui hurried to court, Palace Guard corporal Shi Quan stabbed at Hui but missed; he was dismembered in the market. From this time, whenever he went out, fifty soldiers bearing long staves were arrayed to guard him. That month Cao Yong reported that Li Guang's son Mengjian had memorized a private history written by Guang; the case was concluded—Guang had long been exiled, and an edict declared he would never be reported for release; Mengjian was assigned to supervised exile at Xizhou; eight court officials implicated by association were all stripped of office and demoted in rank; Hu Yin was exiled to Xinzhou. Yong was thereby suddenly promoted. In the fifth month Deputy Director of the Secretariat Tang Situi memorialized to deliver to the Historiography Office Hui's account of how the Zhao house was preserved. In the sixth month Xi was made Junior Preceptor. Zheng Wei reported that his fellow townsman Wu Yuanmei, a staff officer of the Fujian Pacification Commission, had written Biography of the Two Sons of Summer, referring to mosquitoes and flies; his home had a Hidden Light Pavilion and a Shang Yin Hall—the pavilion named Hidden Light showed a heart attached to the Li faction, and the hall named Shang Yin showed no intent to serve Qin. Therefore Hui especially hated him. Right Credentialed Gentleman An Cheng and commoner Wang Dagui were placed under supervised exile; the hereditary beneficiary Hui Jun and Advance Righteousness Vice Warrant Officer Liu Yunzhong were executed; the Jingshan monk Qingyan was tattooed—all for slander. At the time Hui's illness had improved; he was permitted a sedan chair at court attendance, supported by two grandsons, and still exempted from bowing. In the twenty-first year Palace Attendant Wang Yangying submitted a memorial recommending Xi as chief minister; Hui memorialized to appoint Yangying Prefect of Taizhou.

二十二年，又興王庶二子之奇之荀、葉三省、楊煒、袁敏求四大獄，皆坐謗訕。煒又以嘗登李光、蕭振之門，言時事也。於是光永不檢舉，振貶池州。二十三年，檜請下臺州于謝伋家取綦崈禮所受御筆繳進。檜初罷相，上有責檜語，欲泯其跡焉，是歲，進士黃友龍坐謗訕，黥配嶺南；內侍裴詠坐指斥，編管瓊州。二十四年二月，楊炬以弟煒舊累死賓州，炬編管邕州。何兌訟其師馬伸發端上金人書乞存趙氏，為分檜功，兌編管英州。三月，檜孫敷文閣待制塤試進士舉，省殿試皆為第一，檜從子焞、焴、姻党周夤，沈興傑皆登上第，士論為之不平。考官則魏師遜、湯思退、鄭仲熊、沈虛中、董德元也。師遜等初知貢舉，即語人曰：「吾曹可以富貴矣。」及廷試，檜又奏思退為編排，師遜為詳定。塤與第二人曹冠策皆攻專門之學，張孝祥策則主一德元老且及存趙事。帝讀塤策，皆檜、熺語，於是擢孝祥為第一，降塤第三。未幾，塤修撰實錄院，宰相子孫同領史職，前所無也。

In the twenty-second year four great cases were opened against Wang Shu's two sons Zhiqi and Zhi, Ye Sansheng, Yang Wei, and Yuan Minqiu—all punished for slander. Wei was also punished because he had once entered the households of Li Guang and Xiao Zhen and spoke on current affairs. Thereupon Guang was never to be reported for release, and Zhen was demoted to Chizhou. In the twenty-third year Hui requested that from Taizhou, at Xie Ji's home, the imperial brush received by Qi Chongli be retrieved and submitted. When Hui was first dismissed as chief minister, the emperor had words rebuking Hui, which he wished to erase; that year jinshi Huang Youlong was punished for slander, tattooed, and assigned to Lingnan; eunuch Pei Yong was punished for pointing and reproaching, and assigned to supervised exile at Qiongzhou. In the second month of the twenty-fourth year Yang Ju, because his younger brother Wei had died of overwork at Binzhou on an old case, was assigned to supervised exile at Yongzhou. He Dui sued, saying his teacher Ma Shen had been the first to submit the Jurchen letter asking to preserve the Zhao house, dividing credit with Hui; Dui was assigned to supervised exile at Yingzhou. In the third month Hui's grandson Kun, Huaiwen Pavilion Attendant-Drafter, took the jinshi examination and ranked first in both the provincial and palace examinations; Hui's nephews Chun and Yu, his affinal kin Zhou Yin, and Shen Xingjie all passed the top tier—scholar-official opinion was aggrieved. The examiners were Wei Shixun, Tang Situi, Zheng Zhongxiong, Shen Xuzhong, and Dong Deyuan. When Shixun and the others first learned they would oversee the examinations, they told people, "We can become rich and noble now." At the palace examination Hui again memorialized to appoint Situi as compiler and Shixun as final adjudicator. Kun and second-place candidate Cao Guan both attacked specialized learning in their policy essays; Zhang Xiaoxiang's essay upheld the single virtue of the elder statesman and also touched on preserving the Zhao house. The emperor read Kun's essay—all the words of Hui and Xi; thereupon Xiaoxiang was raised to first place and Kun lowered to third. Before long Kun was made compiler in the Veritable Records Academy—a chief minister's descendants jointly holding historiography posts was unprecedented.

六月，以王循友前知建康嘗罪檜族党，循友安置藤州。八月，王趯為李光求內徙，趯編管辰州。鄭玘、賈子展以會中有嘲謔講和之語，玘竄容州，子展竄德慶府。方疇以與胡銓通書，編置永州。十二月，魏安行、洪興祖以廣傳程瑀《論語解》，安行編置欽州，興祖編置昭州。又竄程緯，以其慢上無禮也。

In the sixth month, because Wang Xunyou, former Prefect of Jiankang, had once punished members of Hui's faction, Xunyou was assigned to Tengzhou. In the eighth month Wang Yue requested internal transfer for Li Guang; Yue was assigned to supervised exile at Chenzhou. Zheng Qi and Jia Zizhan, because at a gathering there were mocking words about peace talks, were exiled—Qi to Rongzhou and Zizhan to Deqing Prefecture. Fang Chou, for corresponding with Hu Quan, was assigned to supervised exile at Yongzhou. In the twelfth month Wei Anxing and Hong Xingzu, for widely circulating Cheng Yu's Commentary on the Analects, were assigned to supervised exile—Anxing to Qinzhou and Xingzu to Chaozhou. Cheng Wei was also exiled for disrespect toward superiors and lack of propriety.

帝嘗諭檜曰：「近輪對者，多謁告避免。百官輪對，正欲聞所未聞，可令檢舉約束。」檜擅政以來，屏塞人言，蔽上耳目，凡一時獻言者，非誦檜功德，則訐人語言以中傷善類。欲有言者恐觸忌諱，畏言國事，僅論銷金鋪翠、乞禁鹿胎冠子之類，以塞責而已。故帝及之，蓋亦防檜之壅蔽也。

The emperor once instructed Hui, "Recently those taking turns at audience mostly request leave to avoid it. Officials taking turns at audience is precisely to hear what has not been heard—you may order investigation and restraint." Since Hui monopolized government, he blocked human speech and covered the emperor's ears and eyes—all who offered opinions either recited Hui's merit and virtue or picked at people's words to harm the good. Those who wished to speak feared touching taboos and dreaded speaking on state affairs, discussing only such things as gilding and inlaying jade or requesting bans on deer-fetus caps—merely to fulfill obligation. Therefore the emperor brought this up—likely also to guard against Hui's obstruction and concealment.

衢州嘗有盜起，檜遣殿前司將官辛立將千人捕之，不以聞。晉安郡王因入侍言之，帝大驚，問檜，檜曰：「不足上煩聖慮，故不敢聞，盜平即奏矣。」退而求其故，知晉安言之，遂奏晉安居秀王喪不當給俸，月損二百緡，帝為出內帑給之。

Once when bandits rose in Quzhou, Hui sent Palace Guard general Xin Li with a thousand men to capture them and did not report it. The Prince of Jin'an mentioned it while attending the emperor; the emperor was greatly alarmed and asked Hui, who said, "It was not worth troubling Your Majesty's concern, so I dared not report it—once the bandits were pacified I would memorialize." On withdrawing he sought the reason and learned the Prince of Jin'an had spoken; he memorialized that the Prince, residing in the Xiuwang residence during mourning, should not receive salary, reducing him by two hundred strings of cash per month—the emperor provided it from the inner treasury.

二十五年二月，以沈長卿舊與李光啟譏和議，又與芮燁共賦《牡丹詩》，有「寧令漢社稷，變作莽乾坤」之句，為鄰人所告，長卿編置化州，燁武岡軍。靜江有驛名秦城，知府呂願中率賓僚共賦《秦城王氣詩》以媚檜，不賦者劉芮、李燮、羅博文三人而已。願中由此得召。又張扶請檜乘金根車，又有乞置益國官屬及議九錫者，檜聞之安然。十月，申禁專門之學。以太廟靈芝繪為華旗，凡郡國所奏瑞木、嘉禾、瑞瓜、雙蓮悉繪之。

In the second month of the twenty-fifth year, because Shen Changqing had formerly joined Li Guang in mocking peace talks and also composed Peony Poems with Rui Ye containing the line "Better let Han's altars of state change into Mang's cosmos," he was reported by a neighbor—Changqing was assigned to supervised exile at Huazhou and Ye to Wugang Army. In Jingjiang there was a post station named Qin City; Prefect Lü Yuanzhong led his guests and subordinates to compose Qin City Royal Qi Poems to flatter Hui—only Liu Rui, Li Xie, and Luo Bowen did not compose. Yuanzhong was thereby summoned to court. Zhang Fu also requested that Hui ride the golden-root carriage, and there were also those who asked to establish Yiguo official staff and discussed the nine bestowals—Hui heard it all calmly. In the tenth month specialized learning was again banned. The imperial temple's auspicious fungus was painted as a splendid banner, and all auspicious trees, fine grain, auspicious melons, and twin lotuses memorialized by prefectures and commanderies were painted as well.

趙令衿觀檜《家廟記》，口誦「君子之澤，五世而斬」，為汪召錫所告。御史徐𡕇又論趙鼎子汾與令衿飲別厚贐，必有奸謀，詔送大理，拘令衿南外宗正司。檜於一德格天閣書趙鼎、李光、胡銓姓名，必欲殺之而後已。鼎已死而憾之不置，遂欲孥戮汾。檜忌張浚尤甚，故令衿之獄，張宗元之罷，皆波及浚。浚在永州，檜又使其死黨張柄知潭州，與郡丞汪召錫共伺察之。至是，使汾自誣與浚及李光、胡寅謀大逆，凡一時賢士五十三人皆與焉。獄成，而檜病不能書。

Zhao Lingqin, reading Hui's Record of the Family Temple, recited aloud "A gentleman's influence fades by the fifth generation"—he was reported by Wang Zhaoxi. Censor Xu Kan further argued that Zhao Ding's son Fen and Lingqin, drinking farewell with generous parting gifts, must have had treacherous designs; an edict ordered them sent to the Court of Judicial Review and Lingqin detained at the Southern Outer Imperial Clan Office. In the Single Virtue Matches Heaven Hall Hui wrote the names of Zhao Ding, Li Guang, and Hu Quan—he was determined not to stop until he had killed them. Ding was already dead yet Hui's resentment did not cease, and he then wished to execute Fen and his family. Hui especially envied Zhang Jun; therefore the case of Lingqin and the dismissal of Zhang Zongyuan both implicated Jun. Jun was at Yongzhou; Hui again had his partisan Zhang Bing made Prefect of Tanzhou to watch him together with Vice Prefect Wang Zhaoxi. By this time he had Fen falsely accuse himself of plotting great treason with Jun, Li Guang, and Hu Yin—in all, fifty-three worthy men of the time were implicated. The case was concluded, but Hui was ill and could not write.

是月乙未，帝幸檜第問疾，檜無一語，惟流涕而已。熺奏請代居相位者，帝曰：「此事卿不當與。」帝遂命權直學士院沈虛中草檜父子致仕制。熺猶遣其子塤與林一飛、鄭柟夜見台諫徐喜、張扶謀奏請己為相。丙申，詔檜加封建康郡王，熺進少師，皆致仕，塤、堪並提舉江州太平興國宮。是夜，檜卒，年六十六。後贈申王，諡忠獻。

On the yimwei day of that month the emperor visited Hui's residence to inquire after his illness; Hui said not a word and only wept. Xi memorialized asking who would replace him in the chief ministership; the emperor said, "In this matter you should not participate." The emperor then ordered Acting Direct Academician Shen Xuzhong to draft the retirement edicts for Hui and his son. Xi still sent his son Kun with Lin Yifei and Zheng Nan to see censors and remonstrators Xu Xi and Zhang Fu by night, plotting to memorialize requesting himself as chief minister. On the bingshen day an edict advanced Hui to Prince of Jiankang Commandery and Xi to Junior Preceptor; both retired from office—Kun and Kan were both made directors of the Taiping Xingguo Palace in Jiangzhou. That night Hui died, aged sixty-six. Later he was posthumously made Prince of Shen and given the posthumous title Zhongxian, "Loyal and Dedicated."

檜兩據相位者，凡十九年，劫制君父，包藏禍心，倡和誤國，忘仇斁倫。一時忠臣良將，誅鋤略盡。其頑鈍無恥者，率為檜用，爭以誣陷善類為功。其矯誣也，無罪可狀，不過曰謗訕，曰指斥，曰怨望，曰立黨沽名，甚則曰有無君心。凡論人章疏，皆檜自操以授言者，識之者曰：「此老秦筆也。」察事之卒，佈滿京城，小涉譏議，即捕治，中以深文。又陰結內侍及醫師王繼先，伺上動靜。郡國事惟申省，無一至上前者。檜死，帝方與人言之。

Hui twice held the chief ministership for nineteen years in all—coercing ruler and father, harboring treacherous intent, advocating peace to ruin the state, forgetting enmity and violating human relations. The loyal ministers and worthy generals of the time were executed and eliminated nearly to the last. Those who were stubborn, dull, and shameless were mostly used by Hui, competing to make falsely accusing the good their achievement. In their fabrications, when no crime could be described, they said only slander, pointing and reproach, resentment and longing, forming factions to seek fame—and in extreme cases, having a heart without a ruler. All memorials discussing people were written by Hui himself and given to those who spoke; those who recognized them said, "This is Old Qin's brush." Spies were spread throughout the capital—the slightest involvement in mockery or criticism meant immediate arrest and punishment, applied with harsh legal interpretation. He also secretly connected with eunuchs and the physician Wang Jixian to watch the emperor's movements. Affairs of commanderies and kingdoms were reported only to the provinces—not one reached the throne. Only after Hui died did the emperor speak of it with others.

檜立久任之說，士淹滯失職，有十年不解者。附己者立與擢用。自其獨相，至死之日，易執政二十八人，皆世無一譽。柔佞易制者，如孫近、韓肖胄、樓炤、王次翁、范同、万俟禼、程克俊、李文會、楊願、李若谷、何若、段拂、汪勃、詹大方、餘堯弼、巫伋、章夏、宋朴、史才、魏師遜、施钜、鄭仲熊之徒，率拔之冗散，遽躋政地。既共政，則拱默而已。又多自言官聽檜彈擊，輒以政府報之，由中丞、諫議而升者凡十有二人，然甫入即出，或一閱月，或半年即罷去。惟王次翁閱四年，以金人敗盟之初持不易相之論，檜德之深也。開門受賂，富敵于國，外國珍寶，死猶及門。人謂熺自檜秉政無日不鍛酒具，治書畫，特其細爾。

Hui established the doctrine of long tenure; scholars stagnated and lost office, some going ten years without release. Those who attached themselves to him were immediately promoted and employed. From the time he held the chief ministership alone until the day he died, twenty-eight men held executive power in succession—and the world had not a word of praise for any of them. Those who were soft, flatteringly compliant, and easy to control—such as Sun Jin, Han Xiaozhou, Lou Zhao, Wang Ciweng, Fan Tong, Wan Qixie, Cheng Kejun, Li Wenhui, Yang Yuan, Li Ruogu, He Ruo, Duan Fu, Wang Bo, Zhan Dafang, Yu Yaobi, Wu Ji, Zhang Xia, Song Pu, Shi Cai, Wei Shixun, Shi Ju, Zheng Zhongxiong, and the like—were mostly plucked from idle posts and suddenly elevated to the seats of power. Once they shared power, they merely bowed in silence. Many also declared that their offices listened to Hui's impeachments and at once reported them to the government; those promoted from censor-in-chief and remonstrator numbered twelve in all, yet as soon as they entered they departed—some after one month, some dismissed within half a year. Only Wang Ciweng lasted four years, because at the beginning of the Jurchen breach of treaty he held that the chief minister should not be changed—Hui was deeply grateful to him. He opened his door to receive bribes; his wealth rivaled the state—foreign treasures still reached his gate after his death. People said that from the day Hui held power Xi never passed a day without forging wine vessels and tending calligraphy and painting—but these were only the small matters.

檜陰險如崖阱，深阻竟叵測。同列論事上前，未嘗力辨，但以一二語傾擠之。李光嘗與檜爭論，言頗侵檜，檜不答。及光言畢，檜徐曰：「李光無人臣禮。」帝始怒之。凡陷忠良，率用此術。晚年殘忍尤甚，數興大獄，而又喜諛佞，不避形跡。

Hui was treacherous as a cliff trap—his depths and barriers were ultimately unfathomable. When colleagues deliberated on affairs before the emperor, he never argued forcefully but used only a word or two to topple and squeeze them out. Li Guang once argued with Hui, his words quite encroaching on Hui—Hui did not reply. When Guang had finished speaking, Hui said slowly, "Li Guang lacks the propriety of a minister." The emperor then grew angry at Guang. In entrapping the loyal and worthy, he generally used this technique. In his later years he was especially cruel, repeatedly opening great cases, and also delighted in flattery and sycophancy without concealing it.

然檜死熺廢，其党祖述餘說，力持和議，以竊據相位者尚數人，至孝宗始蕩滌無餘。開禧二年四月，追奪王爵，改諡謬醜。嘉定元年，史彌遠奏復王爵、贈諡。

Yet after Hui died and Xi was discarded, his faction inherited and propagated his remaining doctrines, forcefully upheld peace talks, and several men still usurped the chief ministership—not until Emperor Xiaozong were they swept away without remainder. In the fourth month of the second year of Kaixi his princely rank was posthumously revoked and his posthumous title changed to Miaochou, "Deceitful and Ugly." In the first year of Jiading Shi Miyuan memorialized to restore his princely rank and grant a posthumous title.

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