佛祖統紀 46.44

46.44

述曰。蔡京初見靈素以為異人。引而進之。將結知於上。以固其寵耳。及靈素得君而橫罷佛興道。京始懼物論。亟言其妄無及矣。亦猶京初薦童貫以為能事。及專主北伐不悉稟廟堂。京始大疾之。屢言其過無及矣。大抵蔡京以姦人之資欲引黨助己以專國政。而童貫靈素亦姦人之流。故不能相容。而反相疾。然則蔡京之進二姦不能無罪矣。或謂京能言二姦之罪者知悔舉也。則將應之曰京以二姦專擅不與己協。言其過者疾之之辭。非同中正君子之清議也。

The author remarks: When Cai Jing first met Lin Lingsu, he thought him an extraordinary person, recommended and introduced him, intending to forge an alliance with him before the Emperor so as to consolidate his own favor. When Lingsu gained the sovereign's favor and acted tyrannically by suppressing Buddhism and promoting Daoism, Jing then became afraid of public criticism and hurriedly spoke of his falsehoods, but it was too late! This is just as when Jing initially recommended Tong Guan, considering him capable; when Guan held exclusive control of the northern expeditions and ceased to report fully to the court, Jing then developed a great hatred for him and repeatedly spoke of his faults, but it was too late! In general, Cai Jing, having the qualities of a wicked man, wished to enlist partisans to assist himself in monopolizing state governance; but Tong Guan and Lin Lingsu were also of the class of wicked men, and thus they could not tolerate each other and instead hated one another. Thus Cai Jing cannot be without blame for advancing these two villains. If someone should say that Jing was capable of exposing the crimes of the two villains because he knew remorse, I would reply to him: Jing spoke of their faults because the two villains monopolized power and did not cooperate with him; his accusations were words of hatred, not at all comparable to the pure criticisms of righteous and upright gentlemen.