History of the Song Dynasty
Original text:
Sima Guang, courtesy name Junshi, was a native of Xia County, Shaanxi Province. Fuchi, Tianzhang Pavilion is waiting to be built. When Guangsheng was seven years old, he was as awe-inspiring as an adult. He heard Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals and fell in love with it. I can't put down the book. In the early days of Renzong's reign, he was a Jinshi (Jia Ke) and became the first in his senior year. I don't like extravagant flowers by nature. I heard that I didn't wear flowers at the wedding banquet. Tongli said: "You can't violate the gift given by you." It was a hairpin. From Pang Ji, he was promoted to Tongju and merged with the state. There are many fertile fields to the west of the river in Quye, Linzhou. The Xia people encroached on the land and caused trouble to the east of the river. Ji ordered Guang to inspect and build: "Build two forts to control the summer people, and recruit people to cultivate them. If many of the cultivators are there, the farmers will be poor, and it can also gradually alleviate the worry of the nobles in the east of the river being lost to distant places." Ji followed his strategy. However, Lin General Guo En was brave and crazy. He led his troops to cross the river at night without any equipment. He was defeated by the enemy and was offended. Guang San wrote to himself to take the blame and not to retaliate. After his death, Guangsheng went to the hall to worship his wife as his mother, and caressed his son as his younger brother. He was a virtuous person at that time. He was changed to Zhimi Pavilion and promoted to official positions in Kaifeng Prefecture. Jiaozhi paid tribute to a strange beast, which he called Lin. He simply said: "The authenticity cannot be known, so make it true. If it is not self-regarding, it will not be auspicious. I am willing to return its offering." He also wrote a poem with wind. Xiu Daily Notes, Judgment of Rites. Some ministers reported that it was time to eat, and the story was that they were not satisfied with the meal, or that the capital was missing, so they all expressed their congratulations. Guang said: "Seeing him in all directions, but not in the capital, this man has been concealed by evil spirits. The whole world knows about it but the imperial court alone does not know about it. It is a calamity that is more beneficial than a congratulation." Follow this. Renzong did not hesitate at first, and the country's heirs were not yet established. The world was cold and no one dared to speak out. Fan Zhen, the admonisher, first proposed his proposal. Guang heard about it in Bingzhou and continued it. He wrote a letter urging the town to fight to the death. At that time, he came back and said: "I have made a decision to merge the states, and I have written three chapters. I hope your Majesty will act decisively and vigorously." The emperor pondered for a long time and said: "Don't you want to choose the clan as your heir? This is a loyal minister's words, but people don't Dare to reach your ears. "Guang said, "I said this, saying that I will die, but I don't want your majesty to accept it." The emperor said, "What harm is this? Xiang Zhijin said, meaning that it is about to go, but now there is no news. There must be a villain saying that Your Majesty is in the spring and Autumn period. How can he suddenly do something ominous? A villain has no foresight, and just wants to support him when he is in a hurry. Is it possible to explain the disaster of "Dingce Guo Lao" being a disciple of the emperor?" The emperor was moved and said: "Send Zhongshu." When he saw Han Qi and others, he said, "If you don't decide now, we will make a decision in the future. If a piece of paper comes out in the middle of the night, no one in the world will dare to violate it. "Qi et al. raised their hands and said, "I dare not do my best." Not long after, Ying Zong was ordered to judge Zong Zheng, but he refused, so he was made the prince, also known as Ji. Not included. Guangyan said: "The prince is so rich that he cannot give up. As for ten months, he is far more virtuous than others. However, there is no promise when called by his father, and he is not summoned immediately by the emperor. I am willing to repay the prince with my righteousness as a minister, so I will definitely join." Yingzong then accepted the order.
(Excerpt from "History of the Song Dynasty: Biography of Sima Guang")
Translation:
Sima Guang, whose courtesy name was Junshi, was a native of Xia County, Shaanxi Prefecture. His father, Sima Chi, once served as the governor of Tianzhang Pavilion. When Sima Guang was seven years old, he was as serious as an adult. He especially loved listening to others telling "Zuo's Spring and Autumn Annals". After returning home, he told his family what he heard and was able to tell the main idea. After that, he couldn't let go of the scroll all day long. In the early years of Baoyuan reign of Emperor Renzong of Song Dynasty, Sima Guang passed the Jinshi examination. He was just twenty years old. He didn't like splendor, so Sima Guang was the only one who didn't wear flowers at the wedding banquet. A person who was also a Jinshi told him: "You must not violate the flowers rewarded by the king." So Sima Guang wore one. Sima Guang followed Pang Ji and served as the judge of Bingzhou. There are many fertile fields west of the river in Quye, Linzhou. The Xixia people have encroached on the land in this area, which has become a scourge to the east of the river. Pang Ji ordered Sima Guang to inspect, and Sima Guang suggested: "Build two castles to resist the Xixia people, and recruit people to cultivate the land. With more people cultivating, the price of buying grain will be lower, and the grain supply in Hedong can be slowly eased." The price is high and the worry of relying on distant supplies" Pang Ji followed his strategy. Linzhou general Guo En was brave but a bit arrogant. He led his troops to cross the river at night without any defense, and was destroyed by the enemy. Pang Ji was convicted and left Linzhou. Sima Guang wrote three times stating that Guo En's downfall was his fault, but received no reply. After Pang Ji died, Sima Guang went to court to see his wife. He treated her like a mother and raised his son like his own brother. People at that time praised him very much. Later, Sima Guang was appointed as the promotion official of Zhimi Pavilion and Kaifeng Prefecture. At this time, Cozhin Gong found a strange beast, which he said was a lin. Sima Guang said: "The authenticity is unknown. Even if it is genuine, it does not mean that it is an auspicious sign if it does not come by itself. I hope that all their belongings will be returned to them." "Things to offer." He wrote another poem to make a satirical remonstrance. He also compiled notes on daily life and served in the Ministry of Etiquette. Relevant departments say that there is a solar eclipse. According to custom, if the solar eclipse is not of a certain degree, or if the capital cannot see it, everyone should express their congratulations. Sima Guang said: "It can be seen in all directions but invisible to the capital. This shows that the king is deceived by the insidious and evil villain. Everyone in the world knows it, but the court does not know it. The disaster it will bring will be more severe, no matter It should be celebrated." The court followed his opinion. Renzong was in poor health, but the country's heir had not yet been determined, and everyone in the world was worried but dared not speak. The admonisher Fan Zhen first expressed his opinion. After Sima Guang heard about it in Bingzhou, he also expressed his opinion and sent a letter to Fan Zhen, urging him to fight with death. At this time, Sima Guang said to the emperor face to face: "I used to make a general judgment in Bingzhou. I wrote three chapters of the document. I hope your majesty will act decisively and faithfully." The emperor thought for a long time and then said: "Could it be that he wanted to select the descendants of the clan as the emperor? Heir? This is indeed what the loyal minister said, but others dare not say it. "Sima Guang said, "I thought that I would be punished with death if I said this. I didn't expect that the emperor would be so enlightened and accept it." The emperor said, "This. What's wrong? This kind of thing has happened in ancient and modern times.
Sima Guang didn't hear about the edict after he retired, so he wrote again: "What I said before, I thought it would be implemented immediately, but now I haven't heard anything. There must be some villain among them saying that Your Majesty is in the prime of life, why?" Doing something unlucky right away? Those villains have no long-term considerations and just want to win over those they care about and be friendly to in a hurry. Can we finish talking about the disasters of ‘Ding Ceguo Lao’ and ‘Protagonist of the Emperor’?” The emperor was greatly moved and said: “Send Sima Guang’s letter to Zhongshu Province. "Sima Guang saw Han Qi and others and said, "The princes have agreed as early as possible. A piece of paper will be sent out in the palace in the middle of the night, naming someone as the heir. No one in the country will dare to violate it. Han Qi and others bowed their hands and said, "I dare not not try my best." "Soon, an edict was issued asking Yingzong to take charge of Zongzheng affairs. Yingzong refused repeatedly and refused to agree, so he was made the prince. Yingzong also said that he was ill and refused to enter the palace. Sima Guang said: "It has been almost a month since the prince refused to be rich. , it can be seen that he is much more virtuous than ordinary people. However, he did not agree to his father's summons, and when the king summoned him, he refused to accept the call. He hoped to use the morality of his ministers to blame the prince, and he would definitely enter the palace. "Yingzong accepted the call as expected.