1
曹伯啟
Cao Boqi
2
曹伯啟，字士開，濟寧碭山人。 弱冠，從東平李謙遊，篤於問學。 至元中，歷仕為蘭溪主簿，尉獲盜三十，械徇諸市，伯啟以無左驗，未之信； 俄得真盜，尉以是黜。 累遷常州路推官，豪民黃甲，恃財殺人，賂佃客誣伏，伯啟讞得其情，遂坐甲殺人罪。 遷河南省都事、台州路治中，御史潘昂霄、廉訪使王俁交薦，擢拜西台御史，改都事。 關陝自許衡倡道學，教多士，伯啟請建祠立學，以表其績，朝議是之。 涇陽民誣其尹不法，伯啟核實，抵民罪。 四川廉訪僉事闊闊木以苛刻聞，伯啟糾黜之。
Cao Boqi, whose style name was Shikai, came from Dangshan in Jining. In his youth he studied under Li Qian of Dongping and pursued learning with great dedication. In the Zhiyuan period he rose to become registrar of Lanxi. When the district magistrate seized thirty supposed thieves and had them shackled and paraded through the markets, Boqi, finding no corroborating evidence, refused to believe the case. Soon the real thieves were caught, and the magistrate was removed from office as a result. He was eventually promoted to investigating censor of Changzhou Circuit. A wealthy local bully named Huang Jia had killed a man and bribed a tenant farmer to take a false confession. Boqi tried the case, uncovered the truth, and secured a murder conviction against Jia. After serving as chief clerk of Henan Province and assistant prefect of Taizhou Circuit, he was jointly recommended by Censor Pan Angxiao and Surveillance Commissioner Wang Yi and appointed censor of the Western Censorate, later reassigned as chief clerk. In the Guan-Shaan region Xu Heng had pioneered Neo-Confucian teaching and instructed many scholars. Boqi petitioned to build a shrine and establish a school in his honor; the court agreed. When the people of Jingyang falsely accused their magistrate of misconduct, Boqi investigated and held the accusers accountable. Boqi impeached and removed Kuokuomu, the Sichuan surveillance vice commissioner, who was notorious for his harshness.
3
延祐元年，升內台都事，遷刑部侍郎。 丞相鐵木迭兒專政，一日，召刑曹官屬問曰：「西僧訟某之罪，何為久弗治？」 眾莫敢對，伯啟從容言曰：「犯在赦前。」 丞相雖甚怒，莫之奪也。 宛平尹盜官錢，鐵木迭兒欲並誅守者，伯啟執不可，杖遣之。 八番帥擅殺，起邊釁，朝廷已用帥代之矣，命伯啟往詰其事。 次沅州，道梗，伯啟恐兵往則彼驚，將致亂，乃遣令史楊鵬單騎往喻新帥，備得其情，止奏坐前帥擅興罪，邊民以安。 大同宣慰使法忽魯丁，撲運嶺北糧，歲數万石，肆為欺罔，累贓巨萬，朝廷遣使督徵，前後受賂，皆反為之遊言，最後伯啟往，其人已死，喻其子弟曰：「負官錢，雖死必徵。 與其納賂於人，曷若償之於官。 第條汝父所賂之數，官為征之。」 諸受賂者皆懼，而潛歸賂於其子，為鈔五百餘萬緡，民之逋負而無可理者，即列上與免之。 出為真定路總管，治尚寬簡，民甚安之。
In 1314 he was promoted to chief clerk of the Inner Censorate and appointed vice minister of the Ministry of Punishments. Chief Councillor Temuder dominated the government. One day he summoned the officials of the punishment bureau and demanded, "A Western monk has brought suit against someone—why has this case gone untried for so long?" No one dared answer. Boqi replied calmly, "The offense occurred before the general amnesty." The chief councillor was furious but could not gainsay him. When the magistrate of Wanping embezzled official funds, Temuder wanted to execute the guards as well. Boqi refused and had the guards beaten and dismissed instead. A commander of the Eight Banners had executed someone without authority, provoking a border crisis. The court had already replaced him with a new commander and sent Boqi to investigate. At Yuanzhou the roads were impassable. Boqi feared that sending troops would alarm the locals and spark rebellion, so he dispatched clerk Yang Peng alone to explain the situation to the new commander. Once he had the full facts, he reported only the former commander's unauthorized action, and the border region was pacified. Fahuruding, the Datong pacification commissioner, had transported tens of thousands of piculs of grain annually to the northern frontier while engaging in massive fraud and amassing illicit wealth in the tens of thousands. Envoys sent to collect the debt had all accepted bribes and lobbied on his behalf. When Boqi finally went, Fahuruding was already dead. Boqi told his sons and brothers, "Debts owed to the state must be collected even after death. Better to repay the government than to pay bribes to others. Simply itemize the bribes your father paid, and the government will collect them on his behalf." Those who had taken bribes were terrified and quietly returned more than five million strings in paper money to his son. Debts the common people could never repay were listed and submitted for exemption. As circuit intendant of Zhending he governed with leniency and simplicity, and the people lived in great contentment.
4
延祐五年，遷司農丞，奉旨至江浙議鹽法，罷檢校官，置六倉於浙東、西，設運鹽官，輸運有期，出納有次，船戶、倉吏盜賣漏失者有罰。 歸報，著為令。 尋拜南台治書侍御史，因言：「揚清激濁，屬在台憲，諸被枉赴訴者，實則直之，妄則加論可也。 今論冤一切不問，豈風紀定制乎？」 俄去位。
In 1318 he was appointed vice minister of agriculture and sent by imperial order to Jiang-Zhe to reform the salt monopoly. He abolished inspection officials, established six warehouses in eastern and western Zhe, appointed transport officials, set fixed delivery schedules, regulated receipts and disbursements, and imposed penalties on boatmen and granary clerks who stole or lost salt. He reported on his return, and his proposals were enacted as law. Soon afterward he was appointed investigating censor of the Southern Censorate. He argued, "Upholding integrity and purging corruption is the censorate's duty. When the wronged come to appeal, vindicate the genuine cases and punish the frivolous ones. To dismiss every appeal of injustice without inquiry—how does that accord with the censorate's proper role?" He soon left office.
5
英宗立，召拜山北廉訪使，時敕建西山佛宇甚亟，御史觀音保等以歲饑請緩之，近臣激怒上聽，遂誅言者。 伯啟曰：「主上聰明睿斷，是不可以不諍。」 乃劾台臣緘默，使昭代有殺諫臣之名，帝為之悚聽。 俄拜集賢學士、御史臺侍御史。 有詔同刊定《大元通制》，伯啟言：「五刑者，刑異五等，今黥杖徒役於千里之外，百無一生還者，是一人身備五刑，非五刑各底於人也。 法當改易。」 丞相是之，會伯啟除浙西廉訪使，不果行。
When Emperor Yingzong ascended the throne, Boqi was summoned as Shanbei surveillance commissioner. An edict had urgently ordered construction of a Buddhist temple on the Western Hills. Censors Guanyinbao and others pleaded for delay because of famine, but court favorites inflamed the emperor, and the remonstrators were executed. Boqi said, "Our sovereign is intelligent and discerning—we cannot remain silent." He impeached the censorate for their silence, warning that the dynasty would be remembered for executing remonstrators. The emperor was shaken into attention. He was soon appointed academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies and attendant censor of the Censorate. When ordered to help compile the Comprehensive Institutions of the Great Yuan, Boqi argued, "The five punishments are meant to be five distinct grades. Today a single offender may be tattooed, beaten, and sent to penal servitude a thousand li away, with scarcely one in a hundred returning alive. One person thus suffers all five punishments, rather than each punishment being applied to its proper degree. The law must be revised." The chief councillor agreed, but Boqi was soon appointed Western Zhe surveillance commissioner and left before the reform could be carried out.
6
泰定初，引年北歸，優游鄉社，碭人賢之，表所居為曹公里。 伯啟性莊肅，奉身清約，在中台，所獎借名士尤多； 為侍讀學士，考試國子，首取呂思誠、姚紱。 雲南僉事範震言宰臣欺上罔下，不報，範飲恨死，伯啟具其事，書於太史。 真州知州呂世英以剛直獲罪，伯啟白其枉，進擢風憲。 其好彰善率類此。 天歷中，起伯啟為淮東廉訪使、陝西諸道行御史臺中丞，使驛敦遣，伯啟喟然曰：「吾年且八十，尚忘知止之戒乎！」 終不起，一時被命者，因相繼去位，天下之士高之。 至順三年，長子震亨卒於毗陵，伯啟往拊之； 明年二月，卒於毗陵，年七十九。 有詩文十卷，號《漢泉漫稿》，《續集》三卷，行世。 子六人，孫十人，皆顯仕。
At the beginning of the Taiding reign he cited his age and retired north, living at ease in his home community. The people of Dang honored him and named his lane Cao Gong Lane. Boqi was grave and dignified in character and lived in purity and frugality. While at the Inner Censorate he especially encouraged and promoted eminent scholars. As reader-in-waiting academician he examined National University students and placed Lü Sicheng and Yao Fu at the top. Fan Zhen, a Yunnan vice commissioner, had accused the chief ministers of deceiving the throne and misleading the people. His memorial went unanswered, and he died in bitterness. Boqi set forth the full account and entered it in the historical record. When Lü Shiying, prefect of Zhenzhou, was punished for his upright character, Boqi declared his innocence and secured his promotion to a surveillance post. His habit of honoring virtue and setting an example was characteristic of him throughout. During the Tianli era he was recalled as Huaidong surveillance commissioner and regional censor-in-chief of Shaanxi, with urgent orders sent by courier. Boqi sighed and said, "I am nearly eighty—have I forgotten the warning to know when to stop?" He never took office. Others appointed at the same time soon resigned in succession, and scholars throughout the realm held him in the highest esteem. In 1332 his eldest son Zhenheng died at Piling, and Boqi went to mourn him. The following second month he died at Piling, aged seventy-nine. He left ten juan of poetry and prose entitled Casual Drafts from the Han Spring and three juan of a sequel, both of which circulated widely. His six sons and ten grandsons all attained prominent office.
7
○李元禮
Li Yuanli
8
李元禮，字庭訓，真定人。 資性莊重，燕居不妄言笑。 歷易州、大都路儒學教授，遷太常太祝，升博士。 定撰世祖聖德神功文武皇帝、昭睿順聖皇后、裕宗文惠明孝皇帝尊諡議，稱頌功德，體制溫雅。 請諡圜丘，升祔太室，禮文多其所詳定。
Li Yuanli, whose style name was Tingxun, came from Zhending. By nature he was grave and solemn and never spoke or laughed lightly even in private. He served as Confucian instructor in Yizhou and Dadu Circuit, then was appointed grand invocator of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and promoted to erudite. He drafted the honorific posthumous titles for Emperor Shizu, Empress Zhaorui Shunsheng, and Emperor Yuzong. His eulogies of their merits were warm and elegant in style. He petitioned for posthumous titles at the Round Mound altar and for enshrinement in the Grand Chamber, and much of the ritual text was drafted in detail by him.
9
元貞元年，擢拜監察御史，彈劾無所回撓。 二年，有旨建五台山佛寺，皇太后將臨幸，元禮上疏曰：
In 1295 he was appointed investigating censor and impeached without fear or favor. In the second year an edict ordered construction of a Buddhist temple on Mount Wutai, and the empress dowager was to visit in person. Yuanli submitted a memorial:
10
古人有言曰：生民之利害，社稷之大計，惟所見聞而不繫職司者，獨宰相得行之，諫官得言之。 今朝廷不設諫官，御史職當言路，即諫官也，烏可坐視得失而無一言，以裨益聖治萬分之一哉！ 伏見五台創建寺宇，土木既興，工匠夫役，不下數万，附近數路州縣，供億煩重，男女廢耕織，百物踴貴，民有不聊生者矣。 伏聞太后親臨五台，布施金幣，廣資福利，其不可行者有五：時當盛夏，禾稼方茂，百姓歲計，全仰秋成，扈從經過，千乘萬騎，不無蹂躪，一也。 太后春秋已高，親勞聖體，往復暑途數千里，山川險惡，不避風日，輕冒霧露，萬一調養失宜，悔將何及，二也。 今上登寶位以來，遵守祖宗成法，正當兢業持盈之日，上位舉動，必書簡冊，以貽萬世之則，書而不法，將焉用之，三也。 夫財不天降，皆出於民，今日支持調度，方之曩時百倍，而又勞民傷財，以奉土木，四也。 佛本西方聖人，以慈悲方便為教，不與物競，雖窮天下珍玩奇寶供養不為喜，雖無一物為獻而一心致敬，亦不為怒。 今太后為國家、為蒼生崇奉祈福，福未獲昭受，而先勞聖體，聖天子曠定省之禮，軫思親之懷，五也。 伏願中路回轅，端居深宮，儉以養德，靜以頤神，上以循先皇后之懿範，次以盡聖天子之孝心，下以慰元元之望。 如此，則不祈福而福至矣。
The ancients said that matters affecting the welfare of the people and the security of the state—whatever one sees or hears regardless of one's official duties—may be acted on only by the chief minister and spoken of only by the remonstrating official. Today the court has no dedicated remonstrators; the censorate serves as the path of remonstrance and is therefore the remonstrator. How can we sit by watching right and wrong without a word, contributing even one ten-thousandth to sagely governance? I observe that construction of the Wutai temple has mobilized tens of thousands of artisans and laborers. The surrounding circuits and prefectures bear crushing supply burdens. Men and women have abandoned farming and weaving, prices have soared, and many can no longer sustain themselves. I hear that the empress dowager will visit Wutai in person to distribute gold and bestow blessings. Five reasons argue against this. First, it is midsummer and the grain is in full growth; the people's livelihood depends entirely on the autumn harvest, yet the entourage of thousands of chariots and tens of thousands of horsemen cannot but trample the fields. Second, the empress dowager is advanced in years. To labor her sacred person on a round trip of several thousand li through summer heat, perilous mountains, wind, sun, mist, and dew—if her health should suffer, what regret could avail? Third, since His Majesty ascended the throne he has observed the ancestral statutes in an era that demands vigilance. The actions of the throne are recorded for ten thousand generations. If they are written but not followed as law, of what use is the record? Fourth, wealth does not fall from heaven but comes from the people. Today's fiscal burdens are a hundredfold what they once were, yet we again exhaust the people and waste resources on construction. The Buddha was a sage of the Western Regions who taught compassion and expedient means and did not contend with worldly things. He would not rejoice though offered all the world's treasures, nor grow angry though offered nothing at all, so long as the heart was sincere. Fifth, the empress dowager worships on behalf of the state and the people, yet blessings have not been received while her sacred person is already exhausted. Meanwhile the Son of Heaven neglects his duties of attendance and is consumed with filial anxiety. I humbly pray that Your Majesty turn back midway, dwell quietly in the deep palace, cultivate virtue through frugality and nourish the spirit through repose—thereby following the late empress's excellent example, fulfilling the Son of Heaven's filial devotion, and comforting the people's hopes. Thus blessings will come without your having to pray for them.
11
台臣不敢以聞。
The censorate officials dared not report the memorial.
12
大德元年，侍御史萬僧與御史中丞崔彧不合，詣架閣庫，取前章封之，入奏曰：「崔中丞私黨漢人李御史，為大言謗佛，不宜建寺。」 帝大怒，遣近臣齎其章，敕右丞相完澤、平章政事不忽木等鞫問。 不忽木以國語譯而讀之，完澤曰：「其意正與吾同。 往吾嘗以此諫，太后曰：'我非喜建此寺，蓋以先皇帝在時，嘗許為之，非汝所知也。 '」彧與萬僧面質於完澤，不忽木抗言曰：「他御史懼不肯言，惟一御史敢言，誠可賞也。」 完澤等以章上聞。 帝沉思良久曰：「御史之言是也。」 乃罷萬僧，復元禮職。 未幾，改國子司業，以疾卒，贈亞中大夫、翰林直學士、輕車都尉，追封隴西郡侯。 子端，仕至禮部尚書。
In 1297 Attendant Censor Wanseng, at odds with Censor-in-Chief Cui Yu, went to the archives, retrieved Yuanli's sealed memorial, and presented it to the throne: "Vice Censor-in-Chief Cui is protecting his Han protégé Censor Li, who has spoken slanderously against Buddhism. The temple should not be built." The emperor was furious and sent a close attendant with the memorial, ordering Right Chief Councillor Wanze, Associate Chief Councillor Bayan, and others to investigate. Bayan translated and read it aloud. Wanze said, "Its meaning is exactly my own. I once remonstrated on this myself. The empress dowager said, 'I do not delight in building this temple. The late emperor promised it while he lived—something you would not know. '" Cui and Wanseng confronted each other before Wanze. Bayan declared boldly, "Other censors were afraid to speak—only this one dared. He truly deserves reward." Wanze and the others reported the memorial upward. The emperor pondered at length and said, "The censor is right." He dismissed Wanseng and restored Yuanli to office. He was soon appointed vice director of the National University but died of illness. He was posthumously granted Vice Grand Master of the Palace, Hanlin direct academician, and Colonel of Light Chariots, and enfeoffed as Marquis of Longxi. His son Duan rose to Minister of Rites.
13
○王壽
Wang Shou
14
王壽，字仁卿，涿郡新城人。 幼穎敏嗜學，長以通國字，為中書掾。 既而用朝臣薦，入侍裕宗，眷遇特異。 至元十九年，授兵部員外郎。 二十二年，升吏部郎中。 二十四年，分置尚書省，遂革。 二十八年，罷尚書省歸中書，復任吏部郎中。 以婿康里不忽木柄用當道，即自免去。 明年，授大司農丞，不赴。 元貞二年，出為燕南河北道廉訪副使。 大德二年，不忽木為中執法，复棄官歸。 三年，授集賢直學士，秩滿，就升侍讀學士，俄擢御史臺侍御史，論事剴切。 六年二月，召壽奉香江南，遍祠嶽鎮海瀆。 密旨：去歲風水為災，百姓艱食，凡所經過，採聽入對。 使還，具奏：「民之利病，係於官吏善惡，在今宜選公廉材幹、存心愛物者專撫字，剛方正大、深識治體者居風憲。 天災代有，賑濟以時，無勞聖慮。 惟是豪右之家，仍據權要，當罷其職，處之京師，以保全之，此長久之道也。」
Wang Shou, whose style name was Renqing, came from Xincheng in Zhuo Commandery. As a youth he was clever and devoted to learning. Proficient in the Mongolian script, he became a secretariat clerk. Recommended by court ministers, he entered service attending Prince Yuzong and received exceptional favor. In 1282 he was appointed vice director of the Ministry of War. In 1285 he was promoted to director of the Ministry of Personnel. In 1287 a separate Secretariat was established and his post was abolished. In 1291 the separate Secretariat was abolished and he was reappointed director of the Ministry of Personnel. When his son-in-law Bayan of the Kangli clan came to power, he resigned at once. The following year he was appointed vice minister of agriculture but declined to serve. In 1296 he was appointed deputy surveillance commissioner of the Yannan Hebei Circuit. In 1298 Bayan became chief law officer, and Shou again resigned and returned home. In 1299 he was appointed direct academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies. At the end of his term he was promoted to reader-in-waiting academician, then soon elevated to attendant censor of the Censorate, where his memorials were incisive and earnest. In the second month of 1302 he was summoned to offer incense in the south and worship at all sacred mountains, passes, and sea estuaries. A secret edict instructed him that floods and storms had brought disaster the previous year and the people were starving; wherever he passed he was to gather reports for the throne. On his return he memorialized in full: "The people's welfare depends on the quality of officials. We should appoint fair, capable men devoted to the people's welfare to govern the regions, and upright men of deep political understanding to the surveillance posts. Natural disasters occur in every age; timely relief requires no special concern from Your Majesty. Only the great powerful families still hold crucial posts. They should be removed from office and kept in the capital where they can be watched—this is the lasting solution."
15
初，壽與台臣奏：「宰相內統百官，外均四海，位尊任重，不可輕假非人。 三代以降，國之興衰，民之休戚，未有不由相臣之賢否也。 世祖初置中書省，以忽魯不花、塔察兒、纟泉真、安童、伯顏等為丞相，史天澤、劉秉忠、廉希憲、許衡、姚樞等實左右之，當時稱治，比唐貞觀之盛。 迨至阿合馬、郝禎、耿仁、盧世榮、桑哥、忻都等，壞法黷貨，流毒億兆。 近者，阿忽台、伯顏、八都馬辛、阿里等專政，煽惑中禁，幾搖神器。 君子小人已試之驗，較然如此。 臣願推愛君思治之心，邪正互陳，成敗對舉，庶幾上悟天衷，懲其既往，知所進退，天下之事，可從而理也。」 九年，參議中書省事。 十年，改吏部尚書。
Earlier Shou and the censorate had memorialized: "The chief minister governs all officials within and balances the realm without. The position is exalted and the burden heavy—it must not lightly be given to unworthy men. Since the Three Dynasties, the rise and fall of states and the welfare of the people have always depended on whether chief ministers were worthy. When Emperor Shizu first established the Central Secretariat, he appointed Olubuhua, Tachar, Quanzhen, Antong, Bayan, and others as chief councillors, with Shi Tianze, Liu Bingzhong, Lian Xixian, Xu Heng, and Yao Shu assisting them. The age was called well governed, comparable to the splendor of the Tang Zhenguan era. Then came Ahmad, Hao Zhen, Geng Ren, Lu Shirong, Sangge, Xindu, and others, who violated the law, trafficked in goods, and spread poison to millions. Recently Ahutai, Bayan, Badamasin, Ali, and others monopolized power, misled the inner palace, and nearly shook the throne. The tested contrast between worthy and unworthy ministers is abundantly clear. I beg to extend the loyal concern for good governance by setting worthy and unworthy ministers side by side and comparing their successes and failures, so that Your Majesty may awaken to Heaven's intent, learn from past errors, know when to advance and retreat, and bring order to the realm." In 1305 he was appointed deliberator of Central Secretariat affairs. In 1306 he was appointed Minister of Personnel.
16
十一年，武宗即位，首拜御史中丞，未幾，更拜左丞，俄復拜御史中丞。 至大二年三月，臥疾求代。 三年夏，遷太子賓客、集賢大學士。 秋九月卒，年六十。 明年，贈銀青榮祿大夫、平章政事、上柱國、薊國公，諡文正。
In 1307, when Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne, Shou was first appointed censor-in-chief, soon made left vice councillor, then again censor-in-chief. In the third month of 1309 he fell ill and requested to be replaced. In the summer of 1310 he was appointed mentor of the heir apparent and grand academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies. He died in the ninth month of autumn, aged sixty. The following year he was posthumously granted Silver-Green Glory and Blessings Grand Master, associate chief councillor, Pillar of the State, and Duke of Ji, with the posthumous title Wenzheng.
17
○王倚
Wang Yi
18
王倚，字輔臣，其先東萊人也。 父永福，金末避地徙燕，為宛平著姓，富雄閭里。 倚為人孝友樂易，重然諾； 與人交，不苟合； 讀書務躬行，不專事章句。 世祖選良家子入侍東宮，時倚年弱冠，在眾中儀觀獨偉，太保劉秉忠深器重之，即以充選。 倚服勤守恪，遂見信任。 有詔皇太子裁決天下事。 凡時政所急，民瘼所繫，倚知無不言。 是時，官職未備，而湯沐分邑，地廣事繁，當有統屬，乃拜倚工部尚書，行本位下隨路民匠都總管。 至元二十一年，詔立東宮官屬，以倚為家丞。 又置儲用司，掌貨幣出納，令倚兼之。 後以疾辭職，仍給太子家丞祿，以優養之。 倚上言：「不事事而苟竊祿食，臣心誠所未安。」 不許，力辭再四，方許之。 二十六年，皇孫出鎮懷孟，帝為選老成練達舊臣護之，乃以屬倚。 陛辭，帝目之良久，謂侍臣曰：「倚，修潔人也，左右皇孫，得人矣。」 及行，營幕所在，軍政肅然。 未幾，召還。 二十八年，授禮部尚書，以疾辭。 明年卒，年五十三。 贈正議大夫、禮部尚書，追封太原郡侯，諡忠肅。 子二人，鵬，異樣總管府總管。
Wang Yi, whose style name was Fuchen, came from Donglai. His father Yongfu fled to Yan at the end of the Jin dynasty and became a leading family of Wanping, wealthy and powerful in the district. Yi was filial, friendly, cheerful, and trustworthy; in friendship he would not join casually with others; in study he devoted himself to practice rather than textual commentary alone. Emperor Shizu selected sons of good families to serve in the Eastern Palace. Yi was just past twenty, and among the group his bearing alone was imposing. Grand Guardian Liu Bingzhong greatly valued him and had him selected. Yi served diligently and with integrity and soon won trust. An edict ordered the crown prince to decide state affairs. Whatever urgent policy matter or popular grievance arose, Yi spoke of it without reserve. Offices were not yet fully established, but the prince's fief was vast and its affairs numerous and required unified oversight. Yi was appointed Minister of Works and acting director-general of civilian artisans for the heir apparent on all circuits. In 1284 an edict established Eastern Palace officials and appointed Yi household aide. A Reserve Supplies Office was also established to manage currency, and Yi was appointed to head it concurrently. Later he resigned because of illness but continued to receive the household aide's salary as a generous allowance. Yi memorialized, "To draw salary without handling affairs—my conscience cannot be at ease." His request was denied. He pleaded repeatedly and was finally permitted to resign. In 1289 the imperial grandson was sent to garrison Huai-Meng. The emperor selected seasoned old ministers to accompany him and entrusted Yi to the mission. At his farewell audience the emperor gazed at him a long while and told his attendants, "Yi is a man of cultivated integrity. To have him attend the imperial grandson—we have found the right man." On his departure, wherever the camp was pitched, military and civil administration were conducted with strict order. He was soon recalled. In 1291 he was appointed Minister of Rites but resigned because of illness. He died the following year, aged fifty-three. He was posthumously granted Correct Counsel Grand Master and Minister of Rites, enfeoffed as Marquis of Taiyuan, with the posthumous title Zhongsu. He had two sons; Peng served as intendant of the Yiyang Directorate.
19
○劉正
Liu Zheng
20
劉正，字清卿，清州人也。 年十五，知讀書，習吏事，初辟制國用使司令史，遷尚書戶部令史。 至元八年，罷諸路轉運司，立局考核逋欠，正掌其事。 大都運司負課銀五百四十七錠，逮系倪運使等四人征之，視本路歲入簿籍，實無所負，辭久不決。 正察其冤，遍閱吏牘，得至元五年李介甫關領課銀文契七紙，適合其數，驗其字畫，皆司庫辛德柔所書也。 辛貧窘，時已富實，交結權貴，莫敢誰何。 正廉得其實，始白尚書捕鞫之，悉得課銀。 辛既伏辜，而四人得釋，正由是知名。 轉樞密院令史，辟掾中書。
Liu Zheng, whose style name was Qingqing, came from Qingzhou. At fifteen he took up reading and clerkly work, was first recruited as clerk of the Commissioner for Regulating National Revenue, and was transferred to clerk of the Revenue Section of the Ministry. In 1271 the circuit transport offices were abolished and a bureau was established to assess overdue debts, which Zheng directed. The Dadu transport office was charged with owing five hundred forty-seven ingots in tax silver. Transport Commissioner Ni and three others were arrested to collect it, but the circuit revenue registers showed no debt, and the case dragged on unresolved. Zheng perceived the injustice, searched the records, and found seven receipts for tax silver issued in 1268 by Li Jiefu that exactly matched the amount. The handwriting proved to be that of warehouse clerk Xin Derou. Xin had once been poor but was now wealthy and connected with powerful nobles, and no one dared challenge him. Zheng uncovered the facts, reported to the ministry, had Xin arrested and tried, and fully recovered the tax silver. After Xin confessed, the four men were released, and Zheng became famous for the case. He was transferred to clerk of the Bureau of Military Affairs and recruited as a secretariat aide.
21
十四年，分省上都，會諸王昔里吉叛，至居庸關，守者告前有警急，使姑退，正曰：「職當進而弗往，後至者益怯矣。」 馳出關，至上都。 邊將請黃白金符充戰賞，主者告乏，中書檄工部造給之，後帝以為欺罔，欲詰治。 正曰：「軍賞貴速，先造符印而後禀命，豈不可乎！」 帝釋之。
In 1277, when the branch secretariat was at Shangdu, Prince Shiregi rebelled. At Juyong Pass the guards reported danger ahead and urged retreat. Zheng said, "Our duty is to advance. If we hold back, those who follow will only grow more timid." He galloped through the pass and reached Shangdu. Border generals requested gold tallies for battle rewards, but supplies were exhausted. The secretariat ordered the Ministry of Works to manufacture and issue them. Later the emperor considered this deceptive and wished to punish those responsible. Zheng said, "Military rewards require speed. To manufacture the tallies first and report afterward—how can that be wrong?" The emperor dropped the matter.
22
十五年，擢左司都事。 時阿合馬當國，與江淮行省阿里伯、崔斌有隙，誣以盜官糧四十萬，命刑部尚書李子忠與正馳驛往按其事，獄弗具。 阿合馬復遣北京行省參知政事張澍第四人雜治之，竟置二人於死，正乃移疾還家。 十八年，徵為左司員外郎。 十九年春，阿合馬併中書左右司為一，遂為左右司員外郎。 三月，阿合馬敗，火魯霍孫為右丞相，復為左司員外郎，謁告歸。 九月，中書傳旨捕正，與參政咱喜魯丁等偕至帝前，問曰：「汝等皆黨於阿合馬，能無罪乎？」 正曰：「臣未嘗阿附，惟法是從耳。」 會日暮，車駕還內，俱械係於闕東隙地。 逾數日，奸黨多伏誅，复械係正於拱衛司，火魯霍孫曰：「上嘗謂劉正衣白衣行炭穴十年，可謂廉潔者。」 乃免歸。
In 1278 he was promoted to chief clerk of the Left Section. Ahmad then dominated the government and bore a grudge against Ali Bo and Cui Bin of the Jiang-Huai Branch Secretariat. He falsely accused them of stealing four hundred thousand piculs of official grain and sent Minister of Punishments Li Zizhong and Zheng to investigate by urgent courier. They found no case. Ahmad sent Associate Administrator Zhang Shu of the Beijing Branch Secretariat and three others to retry the case. The two men were eventually executed. Zheng pleaded illness and returned home. In 1281 he was summoned as vice director of the Left Section. In the spring of 1282 Ahmad merged the Left and Right Sections into one, and Zheng became vice director of the combined section. In the third month Ahmad fell from power. Huoluohusun became right chief councillor, and Zheng was again appointed vice director of the Left Section before requesting leave to return home. In the ninth month the secretariat ordered Zheng arrested. He was brought before the emperor with Associate Chief Councillor Zhaixiluding and others. The emperor asked, "You were all Ahmad's partisans—can you be guiltless?" Zheng replied, "I never fawned on him. I followed only the law." At dusk the imperial carriage returned within the palace, and all were shackled in the open ground east of the gate. After several days many of Ahmad's faction were executed. Zheng was again shackled in the Palace Guard. Huoluohusun said, "Your Majesty once said Liu Zheng wore plain clothes and worked in coal pits for ten years—he is incorrupt." He was then released and sent home.
23
二十年春，樞密院奏為經歷，升參議樞密院事。 二十五年，桑哥既立尚書省，擢為戶部侍郎，升戶部尚書。 嘗舉核河間鹽運官虧課事，幾陷於罪，乃移疾歸。 二十八年，桑哥敗，完澤為丞相，复擢為戶部尚書，升參議。 尚書省罷，仍參議中書省事。 湖南馬宣慰庶子，因爭廕不得，誣告其兄匿亡宋官金。 正知其誣，罪之，仍官其兄。 濟南張同知子求為兩淮運使，正知其不稱，弗與。 張遂作飛語構其事，帝召正詰之曰：「匿金事在右司，爭廕事在左司，參議乃幕長，寢右而舉左，寧無私乎？」 正辨折明，事遂釋。
In the spring of 1283 the Bureau of Military Affairs appointed him administrator and promoted him to deliberator of bureau affairs. In 1288, after Sangge established the Secretariat, he was promoted to vice minister and then Minister of Revenue. He once investigated a Hejian salt transport official's tax shortfall and nearly fell into trouble himself, then pleaded illness and retired. In 1291 Sangge fell from power and Wanze became chief councillor. Zheng was again appointed Minister of Revenue and promoted to deliberator. When the Secretariat was abolished he continued as deliberator of Central Secretariat affairs. The secondary son of Hunan Pacification Commissioner Ma, having lost a dispute over hereditary privilege, falsely accused his elder brother of concealing Song official gold. Zheng recognized the false charge, punished the accuser, and restored the elder brother to office. The son of Jinan Vice Prefect Zhang sought appointment as Two Huai transport commissioner. Zheng knew him unfit and refused. Zhang then spread slander to frame him. The emperor summoned Zheng and demanded, "The gold case was in the Right Section and the privilege dispute in the Left. As deliberator you are chief of staff. You suppressed one and favored the other—were you not partial?" Zheng refuted the charge clearly and was exonerated.
24
七年秋，還清州。 八年六月，以左丞行省江西。 冬十月，改江浙。 武宗即位，召為中書左丞，升右丞。 二年，立尚書省，懇辭還家。 仁宗即位，召諸老臣入議國事，正詣闕言八事：一曰守成憲，二曰重省台，三曰辨邪正，四曰貴名爵，五曰正官符，六曰開言路，七曰慎賞罰，八曰節財用。 會行赦改元，集議行之。 仁宗初政，風動天下，正與諸老臣陳讚之力居多。 累乞致仕不許，拜榮祿大夫、平章政事、議中書省事。 時議經理河南、淮、浙、江西民田，增茶鹽課額，正極言不可，弗從。 歲大旱，野無麥谷，種不入土。 台臣言，燮理非其人，奸邪蒙蔽，民多冤滯，感傷和氣所致。 有旨會議。 平章李孟曰：「燮理之責，儒臣獨孟一人，請避賢路。」 平章忽都不丁曰：「台臣不能明察奸邪，臧否時政，可還詰之。」 正言：「台省一家，當同心獻替，擇善而行，豈容分異耶！」 孟搖首，竟如忽都不丁言。 右丞相帖木迭兒傳旨：廉訪司權太重，故按事失實，自今不許專決六品以下官。 平章忽都不丁、李孟將議行之，正言：「但當擇人，法不可易也。」 事遂寢。 延祐六年卒，後贈宣力贊治功臣、光祿大夫、司徒、柱國、趙國公，諡忠宣。
In the autumn of 1310 he returned to Qingzhou. In the sixth month of 1311 he was sent as left vice councillor to administer the Jiangxi Branch Secretariat. In the tenth month of winter he was transferred to Jiang-Zhe. When Emperor Wuzong ascended the throne, Zheng was summoned as left vice councillor and promoted to right vice councillor. In 1309 the Secretariat was reestablished; he earnestly declined and returned home. When Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, he summoned old ministers to discuss state affairs. Zheng presented eight proposals: preserve established statutes; strengthen the provincial and censorate offices; distinguish worthy from unworthy; honor titles and ranks; rectify official credentials; open the path of remonstrance; be cautious in rewards and punishments; and economize state expenditure. An amnesty and change of reign title were then enacted along with his proposals. At the beginning of Renzong's reign reform swept the realm, and Zheng and the other old ministers contributed most to it. He repeatedly requested retirement but was refused and was appointed Glory and Blessings Grand Master, associate chief councillor, and deliberator of Central Secretariat affairs. Plans were discussed to survey civilian fields in Henan, Huai, Zhe, and Jiangxi and increase tea and salt taxes. Zheng strongly opposed them, but his advice was not followed. A great drought struck; the fields bore no grain and seed would not take in the soil. Censors reported that poor governance, wicked officials obscuring truth, and many unresolved popular grievances had disturbed the harmonious order of nature. An edict ordered a conference. Associate Chief Councillor Li Meng said, "The responsibility for harmonizing governance falls on me alone as the Confucian minister—I request to yield my post." Associate Chief Councillor Hudubuding said, "The censors cannot clearly perceive wicked officials or judge current policy—they should be questioned in turn." Zheng said, "The censorate and secretariat are one family. They should work together in offering counsel, choose what is good, and act on it. How can they be divided?" Meng shook his head, but in the end Hudubuding's proposal prevailed. Right Chief Councillor Temuder transmitted an order that surveillance offices had too much power and investigations were therefore unreliable, and from then on they were forbidden to decide cases involving officials below the sixth rank on their own. Associate Chief Councillors Hudubuding and Li Meng were about to enact it. Zheng said, "One need only choose the right men—the law should not be changed." The matter was then dropped. He died in 1319 and was later posthumously granted the title Meritous Minister Who Proclaims Strength and Assists Governance, Glory and Blessings Grand Master, Minister of Education, Pillar of the State, and Duke of Zhao, with the posthumous title Zhongxuan.
25
子秉德，官秘書監丞，歷兵、工二部侍郎，出為安慶路總管。 秉仁，以廕為中書架閣管勾，累官工部尚書，致仕。
His son Bingde served as vice director of the Palace Library, as vice minister in the Ministries of War and Works, and as circuit intendant of Anqing. Bingren entered through hereditary privilege as secretariat archives clerk, rose to Minister of Works, and retired.
26
○謝讓
Xie Rang
27
謝讓，字仲和，潁昌人。 祖義，有材勇，金貞祐間，為義軍千戶。 讓幼穎悟好學，及壯，推擇為吏，補宣慰司令史。 國兵取宋，立行中書省於江西，讓以選為令史，調河間等路都轉運鹽司經歷。 先是，灶戶在軍籍者，悉除其名，以丁多寡為額輸鹽，其後多顧舊戶代為煮鹽，而顧錢甚薄。 讓言：「軍戶既落籍為民，當與舊灶戶均役，既令代役，豈宜复薄其傭，使重困乎？ 自今顧人，必厚與直，乃聽。」 先是，逃亡戶率令見戶包納其鹽，由是豪強者以計免，而貧弱愈困。 讓令驗物力多寡，比次甲乙以均之。
Xie Rang, whose style name was Zhonghe, came from Yingchang. His grandfather Yi was talented and brave and served during the Jin Zhenyou era as a thousand-household of the righteous army. Rang was clever and devoted to learning as a youth. When grown he was selected as a clerk and appointed to the Pacification Commission. When the Yuan army conquered Song, a Branch Secretariat was established in Jiangxi. Rang was selected as clerk and transferred as administrator of the Hejian and other circuits Salt Transport Directorate. Earlier, saltern households on military registers had been removed from the rolls and assessed salt quotas by household size. Many then hired former saltern households to boil salt for them, but paid very low wages. Rang argued, "Military households removed from the rolls should share labor equally with old saltern households. Since they are required to substitute labor, how can their wages be kept so low as to crush them? From now on hires must pay fair wages before approval." Earlier, absconding households' salt quotas were generally assigned to present households to cover. The powerful escaped by schemes while the poor grew ever more distressed. Rang ordered a survey of households' material resources, ranked them by grade, and distributed the burden equally.
28
擢南台御史，舉湖廣行省平章政事哈剌哈孫答剌罕可為御史大夫，山東廉訪使陳天祥可為御史中丞，右司員外郎高昉可任風憲。 劾江浙省臣聽詔不恭及不法事，帝遣使雜問，既款服，詔令讓與俱來，人皆危之，讓恬然若無事者，台綱以之益振。 大德間，詔立陝西行御史臺，以讓為都事，凡御史封章及文移，其可否一決於讓。 入為中書省右司都事，遷戶部員外郎。 時東勝、雲、豐等州民飢，乞糴鄰郡，憲司懼其販鬻為利，閉其糴。 事聞於朝，讓設法立禁，閉糴者有罪，三州之民賴以全活者甚眾。
Promoted to censor of the Southern Secretariat, he recommended Hala Hasun Darkhan, Pacification Commissioner of the Huguang Branch Secretariat, for Censor-in-Chief; Chen Tianxiang, Regional Inspector of Shandong, for Vice Censor-in-Chief; and Gao Fang, Associate Section Director of the Right Secretariat, for censorial duty. He impeached Jiang-Zhe officials for failing to receive an edict respectfully and for unlawful conduct. After the Emperor sent envoys to cross-examine them and they confessed, an edict summoned Rang to appear with them. Though others feared for him, Rang remained calm as if nothing were amiss, and the authority of the censorate was all the stronger for it. In the Dade era, when the Shaanxi Branch Censorate was established, Rang was appointed Chief Clerk. Every censorial memorial and document was approved or rejected on his judgment alone. He entered the capital as Chief Clerk of the Right Secretariat of the Central Secretariat and was transferred to Associate Director of the Ministry of Revenue. When people in Dongsheng, Yun, Feng, and other prefectures faced famine and sought to buy grain from neighboring commanderies, the Censorate, fearing they would profit by reselling it, shut down the trade. Reported to court, Rang established rules penalizing anyone who blocked grain purchases. Many in those three prefectures were saved as a result.
29
四年，授宗正府郎中，擢監察御史，遷中書省右司員外郎，出為湖廣行省左右司郎中。 時廣西兩江岑雄、黃聖許等，屢相讎殺，為邊患。 讓謂：「此曹第可懷柔，不宜力競，寬其法以羈縻之，使不至跳梁可也。 若乃舍中國有用之民，爭炎荒不毛之地，非長策也。」 因書榜招諭，以攜其黨。 湖廣宣慰使張國紀建言科江南夏稅，讓極言其非便。 遷河南行省左右司郎中。 是時，江淮屯戍軍二十餘萬，親王分鎮揚州，皆以兩淮民稅給之，不足，則漕於湖廣、江西。 是歲會計兩淮，僅少三十萬石，讓請以淮鹽三十萬引鬻之，收其價鈔以給軍食，不勞遠運，公私便之。
In the fourth year he was appointed Director in the Court of the Imperial Clan, promoted to Investigating Censor, transferred to Associate Section Director of the Right Secretariat, and sent out as Section Director of the Huguang Branch Secretariat. In Guangxi's two-river region, Qin Xiong, Huang Shengxu, and others were locked in cycles of blood vengeance, threatening the frontier. Rang argued, "These people can be won by conciliation, not force. Ease the law to bind them without rebellion—that is enough. To sacrifice useful subjects of the Central Plains for barren frontier wastes is no wise policy." He posted proclamations to win over their followers. When Zhang Guoji, Pacification Commissioner of Huguang, proposed collecting Jiangnan's summer tax, Rang forcefully argued against it. He was transferred to Section Director of the Henan Branch Secretariat. More than two hundred thousand garrison troops held the Jiang-Huai line, with princes stationed at Yangzhou. Two Huai taxes fed them; shortfalls were filled from Huguang and Jiangxi. When the Two Huai fell thirty thousand shi short that year, Rang proposed selling three hundred thousand yin of Huai salt and using the proceeds for rations—avoiding long transport and easing both state and people.
30
至大元年，轉戶部侍郎。 時京倉主計吏以倉廩多罅漏，惟久雨米壞，請覆糠粃其上，因揉諸米中，以給內外工人及宿衛者。 讓察其奸，以藁秸易之，姦弊悉除。 二年，拜西台治書侍御史。 三年，拜治書侍御史，未上，改同僉樞密院事，尋拜戶部尚書。 仁宗在東宮，以讓先朝舊人，召見賜酒，以示眷注。 四年，改刑部尚書。 仁宗即位，加讓正議大夫，入謝，賜以卮酒，讓痛飲之。 帝曰：「人言老尚書不飲，何飲耶？」 讓曰：「君賜，不敢違也。」 少頃，醉不能立，命扶出之。 翼日，讓謝，帝曰：「老尚書誠不飲也。」 初，尚書省柄臣構殺留守鄭阿爾思蘭，籍其家，中外冤之； 尚書省罷，未有直其冤者。 讓明其事，以所籍貲產給還之。 有旨：六部事疑不決者，須讓共議，而後上聞。 於是戶部更定鈔法，禮部議正禮文，讓皆與焉。 刑部有案，讓未署字，而誤用印，吏懼，遂私效讓署。 事覺，度無損於事，且憐吏以罪廢，遂視之曰：「吾署也。」 其寬厚多類此。 讓上言：「古今有天下者，皆有律以輔治。 堂堂聖朝，詎可無法以準之，使吏任其情、民罹其毒乎！」 帝嘉納之。 乃命中書省纂集典章，以讓精律學，使為校正官，賜青鼠裘一襲、侍宴服六襲。
In the first year of Zhida he was transferred to Vice Minister of Revenue. Capital granary clerks, citing cracks in the stores and rain-damaged grain, asked to cover stores with chaff and mix it into rations for laborers and palace guards. Rang uncovered the fraud, substituted straw, and abolished the abuse. In the second year he was appointed Supervising Secretary of the Western Secretariat. In the third year he was appointed Supervising Secretary but before taking office was made Concurrent Associate Director of the Privy Council; soon after he was appointed Minister of Revenue. While still crown prince, Renzong summoned the veteran official Rang, treated him to wine, and showed his regard. In the fourth year he was transferred to Minister of Punishments. On Renzong's accession Rang received the title Regular Grand Master of Discussion. At his audience of thanks he was given wine and drank deeply. The Emperor said, "People say the old Minister does not drink—why did you drink?" Rang replied, "It was the Sovereign's gift—I dared not refuse." Before long he was too drunk to stand and had to be helped out. The next day Rang apologized. The Emperor said, "The old Minister truly does not drink." Earlier, a powerful minister of the Ministry of Revenue had framed and killed the garrison commander Zheng A'ersilan and confiscated his property—a verdict widely regarded as unjust; and when the Ministry of Revenue was abolished, no one had yet righted the injustice. Rang clarified the case and restored the confiscated property to the family. An edict decreed that whenever the Six Ministries could not resolve a doubtful matter, Rang must be consulted before it was reported to the throne. When the Ministry of Revenue revised the paper-money law and the Ministry of Rites deliberated on correcting ritual texts, Rang took part in both. In a Ministry of Punishments case, the seal was applied before Rang had signed. Fearing punishment, a clerk privately forged his signature. When the forgery was discovered, judging that the case was unaffected and pitying the clerk who would otherwise be ruined, he looked at it and said, "This is my signature." His generosity was often of this kind. Rang submitted a memorial: "From ancient times to the present, every ruler of the realm has had laws to assist in governance. How can our glorious Sacred Court be without law as a standard, letting officials follow their whims while the people suffer!" The Emperor praised and accepted it. He then ordered the Central Secretariat to compile statutes and regulations. Because Rang was expert in jurisprudence, he was appointed Revising Official and given a blue-rat fur robe and six sets of banquet attire.
31
二年，朝廷以吏多滯事，責曹案不如程者。 令下，讓曰：「刑獄非錢穀、銓選之比，寬以歲月，尚慮失實，豈可律以常法乎！」 乃入白於宰相，曰：「尚書言是也。」 由是刑曹獨得不責稽違。 拜陝西行省參知政事。 未幾，拜西台侍御史，命甫下，詔罷西台，復立，就拜侍御史。 四年十月，卒於官，年六十有六。 贈正奉大夫、河南行省參知政事，追封陳留郡公，諡憲穆。 子好古，奉政大夫、覆實司提舉。
In the second year the court, finding that officials were delaying business, held accountable those whose bureau cases fell behind schedule. When the order was issued, Rang said, "Criminal cases are not like revenue or personnel matters. Even with months of deliberation one still fears getting the facts wrong—how can they be judged by ordinary deadlines!" He then reported to the Chancellor, saying, "The Minister is right." As a result the penal bureau alone was exempted from accountability for delay. He was appointed Vice Administrator of the Shaanxi Branch Secretariat. Before long he was appointed Attending Censor of the Western Secretariat. The appointment had barely been issued when an edict abolished the Western Secretariat; when it was reestablished he was immediately appointed Attending Censor again. In the tenth month of the fourth year he died in office at the age of sixty-six. He was posthumously granted Senior Grand Master of the Right and Vice Administrator of the Henan Branch Secretariat, enfeoffed posthumously as Duke of Chenliu Commandery, with the posthumous title Xianmu. His son Haogu held the title Grand Master for Governance and served as Commissioner of the Verification Office.
32
○韓若愚
Han Ruoyu
33
韓若愚，字希賢，保定滿城人。 由武衛府史授通惠河道所都事，開河有功，詔賜錦衣一襲。 遷留守司都事，尋升經歷，出知薊州，改中書左司都事。 時監燒昏鈔者欲取能名，概以所燒鈔為偽鈔，使管庫者誣服。 獄既具，若愚知其冤，覆之，得免死者十餘人。 遷刑部郎中，提舉諸路寶鈔庫，擢吏部郎中。 仁宗即位，故事，凡潛邸官吏，不次遷轉，若愚以歲月定其資品，遂著為令。 皇慶元年，遷內台都事，改刑部侍郎，尋擢中書左司郎中。 時議禁民田獵，犯者抵死。 若愚曰：「昔齊宣王之囿，方四十里，殺其麋鹿者，如殺人之罪，孟子非之。」 眾以為然，遂輕其刑。 時參政曹鼎新辭職，帝曰：「若效韓若愚廉勤足矣，何用辭為！」 繼命若愚參議中書省事。 鐵木迭兒為右丞相，以憎愛進退百官，恨若愚不附己，羅織以事。 帝知其枉，不聽。 拜戶部尚書。 延祐六年，命理河間等路囚，輕重各得其情，復拜參議中書省事。 丞相鐵木迭兒復入相，以舊憾誣若愚罪，欲殺之，帝不從，復奏奪其官，除名歸鄉里。 至治三年，詔雪其冤。 泰定元年，命復其官，尋拜刑部尚書，遷湖廣省參知政事，未行，改詹事丞。 八月，命宣撫江浙，复留為侍御史。 時左丞相倒剌沙擅威福，以事誣侍御亦憐珍等，下樞密獄，無敢言其冤，若愚以計奏左丞相倒剌沙為右大夫，其事遂解。 三年，擢浙西廉使，未行，拜河南省左丞。 會文宗平內難，若愚畫策中機，帝嘉之，進資政大夫。 天曆三年，遷淮西江北道廉訪使。 九月，以疾卒，年六十八。 贈資德大夫、江浙等處行中書省左丞、上護軍，追封南陽郡公，諡貞肅。
Han Ruoyu, whose style name was Xixian, came from Mancheng in Baoding. Starting as a clerk in the Imperial Guard Office, he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Tonghui Riverway Office. For his merit in opening the river, an edict granted him a brocade robe. He was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Garrison Command Office, soon promoted to Administrator, sent out as Prefect of Ji Prefecture, and then made Chief Clerk of the Left Secretariat of the Central Secretariat. Supervisors charged with burning worn paper money sought to burnish their reputations by treating every note they burned as counterfeit and forcing treasury keepers to confess under false charges. Once the case was complete, Ruoyu knew the men were wronged. He reviewed the case and spared more than ten from execution. He was transferred to Director of the Ministry of Punishments, put in charge of precious-paper-money treasuries in all circuits, and promoted to Director of the Ministry of Personnel. When Renzong ascended the throne, officials who had served him before his accession had traditionally been promoted out of turn. Ruoyu fixed their ranks by years of service, and this was established as regulation. In the first year of Huangqing he was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Inner Secretariat, made Vice Minister of Punishments, and soon promoted to Section Director of the Left Secretariat. At that time a proposal would have forbidden hunting on private fields, with violators facing death. Ruoyu said, "In antiquity King Xuan of Qi's park measured forty li square, and killing its deer was punished like murder—Mencius condemned this." The assembly agreed, and the penalty was lightened. When Vice Administrator Cao Dingxin resigned, the Emperor said, "If you would emulate Han Ruoyu's integrity and diligence, that would be enough—why resign!" Ruoyu was then ordered to serve as Associate Administrator of Central Secretariat affairs. Temüder, as Right Chancellor, promoted and dismissed officials according to personal favor and spite. Resenting Ruoyu for refusing to attach himself, he framed charges against him. The Emperor knew he was wronged and refused to act on the charges. He was appointed Minister of Revenue. In the sixth year of Yanyou he was ordered to judge prisoners in Hejian and other circuits, assigning punishments that fit each case. He was again appointed Associate Administrator of Central Secretariat affairs. When Chancellor Temüder returned to office, he nursed old resentment and falsely charged Ruoyu with crimes, seeking his execution. The Emperor refused, but Temüder again memorialized to strip his office, remove his name from the rolls, and send him home. In the third year of Zhizhi an edict cleared his wrongful conviction. In the first year of Taiding his office was restored. Soon he was appointed Minister of Punishments and transferred to Vice Administrator of Huguang Province, but before he could depart he was made Vice Director of the Heir Apparent's Household. In the eighth month he was ordered to pacify Jiang-Zhe, but was then retained as Attending Censor. At that time Left Chancellor Targash abused his power, falsely charged Attending Censors Yilian Zhen and others, and imprisoned them in the Privy Council. No one dared speak for them, but Ruoyu by a stratagem memorialized to appoint Targash as Senior Grand Master of the Right, and the matter was resolved. In the third year he was promoted to Regional Inspector of Western Zhejiang, but before he could depart he was appointed Left Vice Administrator of Henan Province. When Wenzong suppressed the internal turmoil, Ruoyu devised strategy that struck at the heart of the crisis. The Emperor praised him and promoted him to Grand Master for Governance. In the third year of Tianli he was transferred to Regional Inspector of the Huai-West Jiang-North Circuit. In the ninth month he died of illness at the age of sixty-eight. He was posthumously granted Grand Master of Virtuous Achievement, Left Vice Administrator of the Jiang-Zhe Branch Secretariat, and Upper Guardian of the State, and enfeoffed posthumously as Duke of Nanyang Commandery with the posthumous title Zhensu.
34
○趙師魯
Zhao Shilu
35
趙師魯，字希顏，霸州文安縣人。 父趾，秘書少監，贈禮部尚書。 師魯為人風采端莊，在太學，力學如寒士。 延祐初，為興文署丞。 五年，遷將作院照磨。 七年，辟為御史臺掾，後補中書省掾，於朝廷典章故實、律令文法，無不練習。 臨事明敏果斷，執政奇之。 及典銓選，平允無私，人無不服。 擢工部主事，遷中書省檢校官，咸著能名。 泰定中，拜監察御史。 時大禮未舉，師魯言：「天子親祠郊廟，所以通精誠，迓福釐，生烝民，阜萬物，百王不易之禮也。 宜鑑成憲，講求故事，對越以格純嘏。」 帝嘉納焉。 元夕，令出禁中，命有司張燈山為樂，師魯上言：「燕安怠惰，肇荒淫之基； 奇巧珍玩，發奢侈之端。 觀燈事雖微，而縱耳目之欲，則上累日月之明。」 疏聞，遽命罷之，賜師魯酒一上尊，且命御史大夫傳旨，以嘉忠直。
Zhao Shilu, whose style name was Xiyan, came from Wen'an County in Bazhou. His father Zhi had been Vice Director of the Secretariat and was posthumously granted Minister of Rites. Shilu carried himself with dignified bearing. In the Imperial Academy he studied as diligently as a poor scholar. At the beginning of the Yanyou era he served as Assistant Director of the Office for Promoting Literature. In the fifth year he was transferred to Assessor of the Directorate of Public Works. In the seventh year he was recruited as a Censorate clerk and later appointed a Central Secretariat clerk. He mastered every aspect of court statutes, precedents, laws, and regulations. In handling affairs he was clear, keen, and decisive, and the chief ministers marveled at him. When he handled personnel selection, he was fair and impartial, and no one failed to submit. Promoted to Clerk of the Ministry of Works and transferred to Revising Official of the Central Secretariat, he won renown for ability in both posts. During the Taiding era he was appointed Investigating Censor. At that time the grand rites had not been performed. Shilu said, "The Son of Heaven personally sacrifices at the suburban altars and ancestral temple to communicate sincere devotion, welcome blessings, nurture the people, and enrich the myriad things—it is a rite unchanged through the hundred kings. We ought to mirror established statutes, inquire into precedents, and facing Heaven obtain pure blessing." The Emperor praised and accepted it. On the Lantern Festival an order issued from within the palace directing officials to erect lantern mountains for amusement. Shilu submitted a memorial: "Ease and indolence in repose lay the foundation of dissipation; curious crafts and rare treasures open the door to extravagance. The matter of viewing lanterns is small, yet indulging the desires of eye and ear would dim the brightness of sun and moon above." When the memorial was received, the Emperor immediately ordered the display stopped, granted Shilu a superior measure of wine, and had the Censor-in-Chief convey an imperial message praising his loyal forthrightness.
36
是時，宰相倒剌沙密專命令，不使中外預知，師魯又上言：「古之人君，將有言也，必先慮之於心，諮之於眾，決之於故老大臣，然後斷然行之，渙若汗不可反，未有獨出柄臣之意，不諮眾謀者也。」 不報。 倒剌沙雖剛狠，亦服其敢言。 有朝士年未及致仕，其子請預廕其官，而執政者為之地，師魯駁其非，事遂止。 遷樞密院都事，改本院經歷。 致和初，升奉政大夫、參議樞密院事。 天歷中，遷樞密院判官，改兵部侍郎。 丁父憂，特旨起為同僉樞密院事，師魯固辭不就。 服除，復為樞密判官，持節治四川軍馬，諭上威德，大閱於郊，寬簡有法，士卒懷其恩信。 未幾，遷中順大夫、刑部侍郎，樞密院復奏為其院判官。 久之，出為河間路轉運鹽使，除害興利，法度修飭，絕巡察之姦，省州縣廚傳贈遺之費，灶戶商人，無不便之，歲課遂大增。 暇日，又割己俸，率僚吏新孔子廟，命吏往江右制雅樂，聘工師，春秋釋奠，士論稱之。 師魯由從官久典金谷，每鬱鬱不樂，疾篤，棄官歸京師，至元三年九月卒，年五十有三。 贈嘉議大夫、禮部尚書、天水郡侯，諡文清。
At that time Chancellor Targash secretly monopolized commands without letting court or country know in advance. Shilu again submitted a memorial: "Ancient sovereigns, before issuing a command, first pondered it in their hearts, consulted the multitude, and decided through old and great ministers—then executed it resolutely, like sweat that cannot be recalled. Never has a ruler relied solely on a powerful minister's ideas without consulting the multitude's counsel." No response was given. Though Targash was harsh and fierce, he respected Shilu's bold speech. A court official had not yet reached retirement age when his son requested advance hereditary appointment. When the chief ministers paved the way, Shilu refuted the impropriety and the matter was stopped. He was transferred to Chief Clerk of the Privy Council and then made Administrator of that office. At the beginning of the Zhihe era, he was promoted to Grand Master for Governance and Privy Council Deliberator. During the Tianli era, he was transferred to Privy Council Vice Director and then made Vice Minister of War. While mourning his father's death, he was specially ordered to resume office as Associate Privy Council Commissioner, but Shilu firmly declined. When his mourning period ended, he again became Privy Council Vice Director. Bearing imperial credentials, he managed Sichuan's military horses, proclaimed the sovereign's authority and virtue, and held a grand review outside the city. Lenient and straightforward yet firm in law, he won the soldiers' affection and trust. Before long he was promoted to Grand Master of Harmonious Accord and Vice Minister of Punishments, and the Privy Council again memorialized to restore him as its Vice Director. After some time he was appointed Salt Transport Commissioner of Hejian Circuit. He eliminated abuses and promoted public benefit, restored discipline in the regulations, stopped the corruption of inspection patrols, and reduced the costs of post-stations and gift-giving borne by prefectures and counties. Salt producers and merchants alike found the system convenient, and the annual levy rose sharply. In his spare time he again drew from his own salary to lead his subordinates in rebuilding the Confucius temple. He sent officials to Jiangyou to procure ceremonial music, hired master craftsmen, and conducted the spring and autumn sacrificial rites. Scholars praised him widely. Shilu had long served as an attendant official in charge of finances and grain, and he was often dispirited. When his illness grew grave he resigned and returned to the capital, dying in the ninth month of the third year of Zhiyuan at the age of fifty-three. He was posthumously granted Grand Master for Outstanding Counsel, Minister of Rites, and Marquis of Tianshui, with the posthumous title Wenqing.
37
○劉德溫
Liu Dewen
38
劉德溫，字純甫，大興人，起家中書省宣使。 大德十一年，以年勞，授從仕郎、內宰司照磨，監建興聖宮； 又調承務郎、掌儀署令； 未幾，升奉訓大夫、內宰司丞。 奉中旨，徵河南民逋糧，德溫輒平其價，令出鈔以償，民甚便之。 复升朝列大夫、延福司丞，奉旨代祠岳瀆。 比還，遷中憲大夫、同知大都路都總管府事。 輦轂之下，供億浩繁，德溫措置有法，民用不擾。 遷甄用少監，升亞中大夫、禮部侍郎，复升嘉議大夫、同知上都留守司事。 省檄和糴糧，民以價不時得，遞相觀望，德溫下令曰：「糧入價出，吏有敢為弊者罪之。」 於是糧不逾期而集。 轉大司農丞。 耕籍之儀，取具一時，德溫欲考訂典禮，集為成書，未畢，俄授通議大夫、永平路總管。 永平當天歷兵革之餘，野無居民，德溫為政一年，而戶口增，倉廩實，遂興學校以育人材，庶事畢舉。 歲大旱，禱而雨，歲以不歉。 灤、漆二水為害，有司歲發民築堤。 德溫曰：「流亡始集，而又役之，是重困民也。」 遂罷其役，而水亦不復至。 有豪民武斷於鄉里，前吏莫敢治，德溫按得其罪，論如法，杖之，書其過於門，後竟以不道伏誅。 永平，古孤竹國也，國初，郡守楊阿台請於朝，諡伯夷曰清惠，叔齊曰仁惠，為廟以祠之，而祠禮猶未具也。 德溫請命有司春秋具牢禮致祭，從之，著為式，賜廟額曰聖清，士論韙之。 至順四年卒，年六十九。 贈正議大夫、禮部尚書、上輕車都尉、彭城郡侯，諡清惠。
Liu Dewen, whose style name was Chunfu, came from Daxing and began his career as a Secretariat messenger. In the eleventh year of Dade, in recognition of years of service he was appointed Attendant Gentleman and Registrar of the Inner Palace Directorate, supervising construction of the Xingsheng Palace; he was then transferred to Gentleman for Service and made Director of the Ceremonial Office; Before long he was promoted to Grand Master for Instruction and Vice Director of the Inner Palace Directorate. By imperial order he was sent to collect overdue grain from the people of Henan. Dewen fixed the price at once and ordered payment in paper currency, which greatly eased the burden on the people. He was again promoted to Grand Master of the Court Array and Vice Director of the Yanfu Directorate, and by imperial order went to perform sacrifices to the mountains and rivers on the sovereign's behalf. On his return he was transferred to Grand Master of Palace Discipline and Vice Administrator of the Metropolitan Circuit Chief Secretariat. In the capital, where supplies were vast and demands heavy, Dewen managed affairs with sound method and kept the people from disturbance. He was transferred to Vice Director of Selection and Employment, promoted to Vice Grand Master of the Palace and Vice Minister of Rites, and then to Grand Master for Outstanding Counsel and Vice Commissioner of the Shangdu Garrison Command. When the province ordered equitable grain purchases, the people held back because payment was not made promptly. Dewen issued an order: "Grain is delivered and payment is issued at once; any clerk who commits fraud will be punished." Thereupon the grain was collected before the deadline. He was transferred to Vice Director of the Grand Granary Directorate. The rites of plowing and sacrifice had been assembled in haste. Dewen wished to examine and revise the canonical rites and compile them into a book, but before he finished he was appointed Regular Grand Master of Discussion and Circuit Intendant of Yongping. Yongping, in the aftermath of the warfare of the Tianli era, had been stripped of its rural population. After one year under Dewen's governance households increased and granaries were filled. He then established schools to nurture talent and brought all local affairs to good order. In a year of severe drought he prayed and rain fell, so the harvest was spared. The Luan and Qi rivers caused frequent damage, and each year the authorities conscripted the people to build dikes. Dewen said, "The displaced have only just returned, and to conscript them again would only deepen their hardship." He therefore halted the conscription, and the floods did not return. A powerful local bully had tyrannized the countryside, and previous officials dared not touch him. Dewen investigated, proved his guilt, punished him according to law, had him beaten, and posted his offenses on his gate. In the end the man was executed for gross misconduct. Yongping was the site of the ancient state of Guzhu. At the founding of the dynasty the prefect Yang Atai petitioned the court to grant Boyi the posthumous title Qinghui and Shuqi the title Renhui, and built a temple to honor them, but the full sacrificial rites had not yet been established. Dewen petitioned that the authorities perform full spring and autumn sacrifices with proper offerings. The court approved, made it precedent, and granted the temple the plaque title Shengqing. Scholars praised the decision. He died in the fourth year of Zhishun at the age of sixty-nine. He was posthumously granted Correct Counsel Grand Master, Minister of Rites, Upper Colonel of Light Chariots, and Marquis of Pengcheng, with the posthumous title Qinghui.
39
○尉遲德誠
Wei Chidecheng
40
尉遲德誠，字信甫，絳州人。 祖天澤，仕金為庫官，郡王帶孫拔絳州，天澤在俘中，道見兵死者，輒涕泣收瘞之，帶孫令佩金符，授雲州御衣局人匠總管。 父鼎，仕至潞州知州。 德誠歷官太子率更丞。 至大元年，改詹事院都事。 二年，遷家令司丞。 仁宗以為謹恪，常賜酒帛，得侍左右。 數薦士，出則未嘗語人。 事前有粟苗，不種而萌偶出，一莖雙穗，眾以為嘉禾。 升家令。 四年，選為河東山西道宣慰司同知，擊姦吏，寬稅斂，上計京師。 入見，帝方食，賜以馂餘，擢工部尚書，未拜，改陝西行台治書侍御史。 延祐元年，遷京畿都漕運使。 二年，拜遼東道肅政廉訪使，上疏言事，其略曰勞諸王以懷其心，防出入以嚴宮禁，立諫官以遠讒佞，崇科舉以求人材，立常平以備荒年，汰僧道以寬民力，舉賢良以勵忠孝，抑奢侈以厚風俗，及拯鈔法、裁冗官等事。 未報而卒，年五十三。
Wei Chidecheng, whose style name was Xinfu, came from Jiangzhou. His grandfather Tianze had served the Jin as a warehouse official. When Prince Daison captured Jiangzhou, Tianze was taken captive. On the road, whenever he saw dead soldiers he wept and buried them. Daison ordered him to wear a gold tally and appointed him Chief Overseer of Artisans of the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau in Yunzhou. His father Ding rose to serve as Prefect of Luzhou. Decheng served as Vice Director of the Crown Prince's Directorate of Water Clocks. In the first year of Zhide he was appointed Chief Clerk of the Household Administration. In the second year he was transferred to Vice Director of the Household Steward Directorate. Renzong considered him careful and respectful, often rewarded him with wine and silk, and allowed him to attend at his side. He repeatedly recommended worthy men, but once he had left office he never mentioned it to anyone. Before the office building, millet sprouts appeared though none had been planted—one stalk bearing twin ears. Everyone took it for an auspicious crop. He was promoted to Household Steward. In the fourth year he was selected Vice Commissioner of the Hedong Shanxi Pacification Commission. He struck down corrupt officials, eased tax levies, and went to the capital to submit his accounts. At his audience the Emperor was at meal and granted him leftovers from the table. He was promoted to Minister of Works, but before he could take up the post he was appointed Investigating Censor of the Shaanxi Branch Secretariat. In the first year of Yanyou he was transferred to Metropolitan Grain Transport Commissioner. In the second year he was appointed Surveillance Commissioner of the Liaodong Circuit and submitted a memorial on affairs of state. In summary he urged that the princes be treated well to win their loyalty, palace access be guarded to tighten security, remonstrance officials be established to keep slanderers and flatterers at bay, the civil service examinations be honored to seek talent, ever-normal granaries be established to prepare for famine years, Buddhist and Daoist clergy be reduced to ease the people's burden, the worthy and good be recommended to encourage loyalty and filial piety, extravagance be restrained to strengthen custom, and measures be taken to rescue the paper currency system and cut redundant officials. Before any response was given he died at the age of fifty-three.
41
○秦起宗
Qin Qizong
42
秦起宗，字元卿，其先上黨人，後徙廣平洺水縣。 曾大父當金季兵起，窾山麓為洞，奉其親以居，傍窾大洞，匿其里中百人閉之。 具牛酒，出待兵，兵入索，惟見其親屬，曰：「孝士也。」 釋之去。 里人曰：「秦父生我。」
Qin Qizong, whose style name was Yuanqing, traced his ancestry to Shangdang; his family later moved to Ming County in Guangping. When warfare broke out at the end of the Jin, his great-grandfather hollowed out a cave at the foot of a mountain and brought his parents to live there. Beside it he dug a larger cave and hid a hundred people from his village inside. He prepared oxen and wine and went out to meet the soldiers. When they entered and searched, they saw only his relatives and said, "This is a filial man." They released him and left. The villagers said, "Qin's father gave us life."
43
文宗初立，命威順王徵八番。 是時，蜀省囊加台拒命未平，起宗極言武昌重鎮，當備上流之師，親王不可遠去，力止之。 及王入見，帝謂曰：「八番之行，非秦元卿，幾為失計。」 其後八番師還，無敢擾於道路者。 朝議以起宗治蜀，幕府忘其名，曰秦元卿，帝引筆改曰起宗，其眷注如此。 拜中台御史，劾中丞和尚受人婦人、賤買縣官屋，不報。 起宗從台官入見，跽辯久之，敕令起，起宗不起，會日暮，出； 明日，立太子，有赦，起宗又奏：「不罪和尚，無以正國法。」 和尚服辜。 帝曰：「為御史，當如是矣。」 元會，賜只孫服，令得與大宴。 又劾閩憲卜咱耳竊父妾以逃，其父憤死，瀆亂天常，流之嶺南。 自是盡言無諱，皆見聽用。 有《御史奏議》一卷。
When Wenzong first ascended the throne, he ordered Prince Weishun to levy troops from the Eight Banners. At that time Nangiadai's rebellion in Sichuan had not yet been pacified. Qizong urgently argued that Wuchang was a strategic stronghold that must guard the upper Yangtze, that a prince should not go far away, and forcefully stopped the expedition. When the prince came to audience, the Emperor said to him, "Had it not been for Qin Yuanqing, the expedition of the Eight Banners would nearly have been a grave mistake." Afterwards, when the Eight Banners army returned, no one dared disturb the roads. When the court proposed appointing Qizong to govern Sichuan, the staff office forgot his given name and wrote Qin Yuanqing. The Emperor took up his brush and corrected it to Qizong—such was the regard in which he held him. He was appointed Censor of the Central Censorate and impeached Vice Censor-in-Chief Heshang for taking another man's wife and buying government buildings at an undervalued price. No response was given. Qizong entered audience with the censorate officials and knelt to argue at length. An edict ordered him to rise, but he refused. At dusk he withdrew. The next day the crown prince was installed and an amnesty was issued. Qizong memorialized again: "If Heshang is not punished, there is no way to uphold the laws of the state." Heshang submitted to punishment. The Emperor said, "This is how a censor ought to act." At the New Year's assembly he was granted a jisun robe and allowed to attend the grand banquet. He also impeached the Fujian surveillance commissioner Bozha'er for stealing his father's concubine and fleeing, an offense that drove his father to death in rage. Bozha'er was judged to have violated the order of heaven and was exiled to Lingnan. From then on he spoke without reserve, and his counsel was heard and adopted. He left one fascicle of Memorials of a Censor.
44
遷都漕運使，帝召諭之曰：「漕輸事多廢闕，賴御史治之爾。」 出為撫州路總管，至官，有司供張甚盛，問其費所從出，小吏不敢隱，曰：「借辦於民。」 遂亟使歸之，幾席僅給而已。 自是官府僚佐有宴集，成禮即止。 因諭眾曰：「我素農家，安儉約，務安靜，庶使吾民化之。」 居一歲，以老去官。 明年，以兵部尚書致仕，居一歲，卒，諡昭肅。
He was transferred to Metropolitan Grain Transport Commissioner. The Emperor summoned him and said, "Grain transport has fallen badly into neglect; I rely on you, my former censor, to set it right." He was appointed Circuit Intendant of Fuzhou. On reaching office he found the reception provisions extravagantly lavish and asked where the expense came from. A petty clerk dared not conceal it and said, "It was borrowed from the people." He immediately had it returned and kept only the barest bedding and furnishings. From then on, whenever officials and subordinates held banquets, they stopped once proper ceremony had been observed. He told the assembly, "I come from farming stock. I am content with thrift and seek quiet governance, hoping my people will follow my example." After one year he retired on account of age. The following year he retired as Minister of War. One year later he died and was granted the posthumous title Zhaosu.
45
子四人：鈞，銓，鐸，鏞。 鈞，西台御史； 鏞，延徽寺經歷； 銓，都省掾； 鐸蚤卒。
He had four sons: Jun, Quan, Duo, and Yong. Jun served as a censor of the Western Censorate; Yong served as Administrator of the Yanhui Temple; Quan served as a clerk of the Metropolitan Secretariat; Duo died young.