鐔津文集 16.6

16.6

余讀唐書見其為韓子與李紳爭臺參移牒往來論臺府事體。而見愈之性愎訐言詞不遜大喧物論。及視韓子論京尹不臺參答友人書而其氣躁言厲爭之也。噫韓李皆唐之名臣。何其行事之際乃若此。唐之典故御史臺則掌持邦國刑憲典章。以肅正其朝廷也。京兆府雖所管神州畿縣。其實乃一大州牧之事體耳。以其臺府較則臺重於府矣。韓乃兼御史大夫。李正中丞。然大夫固高於中丞而韓李互有其輕重也。此所以發其諍端矣。韓子見幾初當避而讓之可也。不然姑從朝廷之舊儀。何乃使之輒爭。春秋時滕侯薛侯朝魯而爭長。孔子惡其無禮書之。遺左丘明而發其微旨。聖人豈不因前而戒後乎。紳愈縱不能見幾稍悟。豈不念春秋之法而懼之耶。然李氏吾不論也。韓子自謂專儒。毅然欲為聖人之徒。是亦知儒有爵位相先者。久相待遠相致者。在醜夷不爭者。又曰。君子矜而不爭者。韓子與公垂平生相善。始公垂舉進士時。韓子乃以書稱其才而薦諸陸員外者。及此正可推讓以顧前好乃反爭之。喧譁于朝廷。而韓子儒之行何有。故舊之道安在。使後學當何以取法。假令朝廷優於韓子。詔獨免其臺參。韓子自當以不敢虧朝廷之令式。固宜讓第恭其禮貌日趨於臺參。彼李紳識者。豈不媿且伏也。彼欲嫁禍于二人者。豈不沮其姦計而自悔。豈不歸厚德稱長者於韓子耶。是豈獨當時感媿乎逢吉而已矣。亦垂于後世士大夫之法也。惜乎不能行諸以成就其德。豈韓子力不足而識不至耶。昔廉頗不伏其位。居藺相如之下。宣言欲辱之。而相如至每朝時嘗稱疾。不欲與頗爭列。余嘗愛相如有器識臨事守大體。太史公謂退讓頗名重丘山。宜其有重名也。較此其賢於韓子遠矣。漢孝景之時。竇嬰與田蚡交毀而相爭朝。既出而武安侯怒御史大夫韓安國不專助己。安國因責蚡曰。夫魏其毀君。君當免冠解印綬而歸可。曰臣幸得待罪。固非其任。魏其言皆是也。如此則上必多君有讓德。今人毀君。君亦毀之。譬如賈竪女子爭言。何其無大體也。韓子當時雖幸無御史之責。今其垂之史書而取笑萬世之識者。其又甚於安國之讓也。慎之哉。慎之哉。

When reading the *Tangshu*, I saw that in the dispute between Master Han and Li Shen over the morning audience at the Censorate (taican), official dispatches were exchanged back and forth discussing the proper status and decorum between the Censorate (tai) and the Capital Prefecture (fu); and I saw that Yu’s disposition was obstinate and contentious, his words disrespectful, causing a great clamor in public opinion. And looking at Master Han’s 'Letter Answering a Friend Concerning the Capital Prefect Not Attending the Censorate Audience', his manner was impatient and his words harsh in disputing it. Alas! Han and Li were both famous ministers of the Tang; why did they act like this in their conduct? According to the precedents of the Tang, the Censorate (Yushitai) was in charge of upholding the penal laws and statutes of the state in order to keep the court solemn and correct. Although the Jingzhao Prefecture administered the capital district and its subprefectures, its actual substance was merely that of a large regional governorship. Comparing the Censorate and the Prefecture, the Censorate was indeed weightier than the Prefecture. Han held the concurrent title of Grand Master of the Censorate (Yushi Dafu), while Li was titular Vice Censor-in-Chief (Zhongcheng). Now, the Grand Master was certainly higher than the Vice Censor-in-Chief, yet between Han and Li each held a kind of weight over the other; this was what gave rise to their quarrel. If Master Han had perceived the subtle cues, he should have stepped aside and yielded at the outset; that would have been proper. If not that, he should have provisionally followed the court's old ritual; why did he let it come to a prompt quarrel? During the Spring and Autumn period, when the lords of Teng and Xue had audience in Lu, they contested precedence. Confucius despised their lack of propriety and recorded it, leaving it to Zuo Qiuming to reveal its subtle import. How could the sage not have used the past to admonish posterity? Even if Shen and Yu could not perceive the subtle cues and gain some realization, did they not think of the principle of the *Chunqiu* and fear it? However, I shall not discuss Master Li. Master Han claimed to be a devoted Confucian and resolutely wished to be a disciple of the sage. Does this not also mean knowing that among Confucians, those with rank yield to one another, those of long standing treat one another with deference, those from afar draw near one another, and among coarse barbarians one does not contend? It is also said: 'The gentleman is dignified but does not contend.' Master Han and Gongchui (Li Shen) had been on good terms all their lives. At the beginning, when Gongchui stood for the jinshi examination, Master Han wrote a letter praising his talent and recommended him to Vice Director Lu. Arriving at this juncture, he could well have deferred to him out of regard for their former friendship, yet instead he contested with him, making an uproar at court. Where was Master Han's Confucian conduct? Where was the way of old friends? What were later scholars to take as a model? Supposing the court showed favor to Master Han and issued an edict specifically exempting him from the Censorate audience, Master Han ought to have felt that he dared not diminish the established ordinances of the court; he certainly should have yielded rank, showed respectful decorum, and daily hastened to the Censorate audience. If Li Shen was a man of understanding, would he not have been ashamed and submitted? Would not those who wished to shift blame onto the two men have had their treacherous schemes thwarted and regretted them? Would they not have attributed deep virtue to Master Han and praised him as an elder? Would this merely have brought shame to [Li] Fengji at that time? It would also have served as a model for scholar-officials of later generations. Alas, that he could not practice this to consummate his virtue! Was Master Han's power insufficient, or his understanding inadequate? In ancient times, Lian Po refused to submit to his position beneath Lin Xiangru, openly declaring his desire to humiliate him; yet whenever it was time for morning court, Xiangru frequently pleaded illness, not wishing to contest rank with Po. I have always admired Xiangru's capacity and insight, how he maintained the greater body of affairs when facing situations. The Grand Historian said that by stepping back and yielding to Po, his renown became weightier than hills and mountains; it was fitting that he gained such great renown! Compared to this, he was far superior to Master Han. In the time of Emperor Xiaojing of the Han, Dou Ying and Tian Fen mutually disparaged and contested each other at court. After withdrawing, the Marquis of Wu'an was enraged that Censor-in-Chief Han Anguo did not exclusively assist him. Anguo thereupon reproached Fen, saying: 'When Weiqi disparaged you, you should have removed your cap, unfastened your seal and ribbon, and returned home, saying: "Your servant has been fortunate to await punishment, but this office is certainly not my calling; what Weiqi said is entirely correct." If you had done this, the sovereign would surely have commended your yielding virtue. Now another man disparages you, and you also disparage him—this is like a merchant clerk and a woman trading insults; how utterly lacking in the greater body of affairs!' Although Master Han at that time was fortunate not to incur the censure of a censor, now, recorded in the historical books, he is mocked by men of understanding throughout ten thousand generations, which is even worse than Anguo's rebuke. Be careful! Be careful!