Volume 111 Biographies 49: Gulijiashilun, Nei same clan: Wanyaneke, Sa Henian, Qiang Shen, Wulindahutu, same clan: Wanyansilie, Geshilieyawuta

古里甲石倫

Gulijia Shilun

古里甲石倫，隆安人。以武舉登第。為人剛悍，頗自用，所在與人不合。宣宗以其勇善戰，每任用之。貞祐二年，累遷副提控、太原府判官，與從宜都提控、振武軍節度使完顏蒲刺都議拒守不合，措置乖方，敵因大入，幾不可禦。既乃交章論列，以自辨其無罪，上惡其不和，詔分統其兵。未幾，遷同知太原府事。奏請招集義軍，設置長校，各立等差。都統授正七品職，副統正八品，萬戶正九品，千戶正班任使，謀克雜班。仍三十人為一謀克，五謀克為一千戶，四千戶為一萬戶，四萬戶為一副統，兩副統為一都統，外設一總領提控。制可。

Gulijia Shilun came from Long'an. He qualified through the military examination. He was brash and headstrong, inclined to go his own way, and rarely got on with colleagues wherever he was posted. Because of his courage and skill in warfare, Emperor Xuanzong kept appointing him to active duty. In Zhenyou 2 he rose stepwise to deputy army controller and Taiyuan assistant prefect; he clashed with Congyi metropolitan controller and Zhenwu commissioner Wanyan Puluodu over how to defend the city, their disorganized arrangements let the enemy pour in, and the position was nearly lost. They then filed rival memorials blaming each other and pleading innocence; the throne, disgusted by their feud, ordered their forces split between them. Soon afterward he was made associate prefect of Taiyuan. He asked permission to raise militia, appoint senior officers, and define a hierarchy of ranks. Commanders-in-chief were to hold seventh-rank posts, deputy commanders eighth-rank, ten-thousand-household chiefs ninth-rank, thousand-household chiefs regular-grade appointments, and company commanders miscellaneous-grade posts. Thirty men would form a company, five companies a thousand-household unit, four thousand households a ten-thousand-household unit, forty thousand a deputy command, two deputy commands a full command, with an overall supervising controller above them. The plan was approved.

二年四月，石倫言：「去歲北兵破太原，游兵時入嵐州境，而官民將士悉力捍禦，卒能保守無虞。向者河東內郡，皆駐以精甲，實以資儲，視邊城尤為完富，然兵一至，相繼淪沒。嵐兵寡而食不足，惟其上下協同，表裏相應，遂獲安帖。當大軍初入，郡縣倉皇，非此帥府控制，則庾、管、保德、岢嵐、寧化皆不可知矣。今防秋不遠，乞朝廷量加旌賞，務令益盡心力，易以鎮守。」詔有功者各遷官一級，仍給降空名宣敕，令樞密院遣授之。

In the fourth month of year 2 Shilun reported: "Last year the northern army took Taiyuan, and raiders kept crossing into Lan Prefecture, yet officials, civilians, and troops threw everything into the defense and the prefecture held without disaster. The inner Hedong prefectures had once been garrisoned with crack troops and piled with stores—richer, it was thought, than the frontier towns—yet they had fallen in succession as soon as the enemy appeared. Lan had few soldiers and scant grain, yet because leaders and men acted as one and coordinated inside and out, the place stayed secure. When the main force first swept in, the districts were in chaos; without control from this headquarters, Yu, Guan, Baode, Kelan, and Ninghua might all have been lost. Autumn campaigning is near; I ask the court to reward these men proportionately so they will fight harder and hold the line more readily." The throne ordered one grade of promotion for each man with merit and issued blank appointment commissions for the Bureau of Military Affairs to distribute.

三年二月，石倫奏：「向者並、汾既破，兵入內地，臣謂必攻平陽，平陽不守，將及潞州，其還當由龍州穀以入太原。故臣嘗請兵欲扼其歸路，朝廷不以為然，既而皆如臣所料。始敵入河東時，郡縣民皆攜老幼徙居山險，後雖太原失守，而眾卒不從，其意謂敵不久留，且望官軍複至也。今敵居半歲，遣步騎擾諸保聚，而官軍竟無至者，民其能久抗乎。夫太原，河東之要郡；平陽，陝西，河南之籓籬也。若敵兵久不去，居民盡從，屯兵積糧以固基本，而複擾吾郡縣未殘者，則邊城指日皆下矣。北路不守，則南路為邊，去陝西、河南益近，臣竊憂之，故複請兵以圖戰守。而樞府檄臣，並將權太原治中郭遹祖、義軍李天祿等萬餘人，就其糧五千石，會汾州權元帥右都監抹撚胡剌複太原。臣召遹祖，欲號令其眾，遹祖不從。尋得胡剌報曰：'嘗問軍數于遹祖，但稱天祿等言之，未嘗親閱。問糧，則曰散在數處。 '蓋其情本欲視朝廷以己有兵糧，冀或見用，以取重職，不可指為實用也。雖然，臣已遣提控石盞吾里忻等領軍以往矣。但敵勢頗重，而往者皆新集白徒，絕無精銳，恐不能勝。乞於河南、陝西量分精兵，以增臣力，仍令陝西州郡近河東者給之資糧，更令南路諸軍綴敵之南，以分其勢，如此庶幾太原可複也。」詔陝西、河東行省分糧與之，請兵之事，以方伐宋不從。

In the second month of year 3 Shilun wrote: "After Bing and Fen fell and the enemy pushed inland, I said they would strike Pingyang next; if Pingyang gave way they would reach Luzhou, and on the return march they would come into Taiyuan through Longzhou Valley. I had asked for troops to cut off their retreat, but the court disagreed—and events proved me right. When the enemy first entered Hedong, county folk moved families into the hills; even after Taiyuan fell the people still held out, expecting a short occupation and the return of imperial troops. The enemy has now been there half a year, raiding every fortified hamlet with infantry and cavalry, while no imperial force has appeared—how long can civilians hold out? Taiyuan is the key prefecture of Hedong; Pingyang is the bulwark of Shaanxi and Henan. If they stay, win over the population, garrison and stock grain to entrench themselves, and then harry our remaining districts, every border town will fall in short order. If the north cannot be held, the south becomes the front line and Shaanxi and Henan draw nearer to danger; I therefore ask again for troops to fight and defend. The Bureau of Military Affairs then ordered me to combine Acting Taiyuan administrator Guo Yuizu, militia leader Li Tianlu, and more than ten thousand men with five thousand shi of grain and rendezvous with Fenzhou acting marshal right metropolitan supervisor Monian Hula to retake Taiyuan. I summoned Yuizu to take command of his men, but he refused. Hula soon reported: "When I asked Yuizu for troop numbers he cited what Tianlu and others had said and had never inspected them himself. Asked about grain, he said it was scattered in several places. He plainly wanted the court to think he already had troops and supplies so he might win a major appointment; his forces cannot be counted on in practice. Even so, I have already sent controller Shizhan Wulixin and others forward with troops. The enemy is strong, however, and the men sent are raw levies without a single crack unit; I fear they will not prevail. I ask for a share of elite troops from Henan and Shaanxi, supplies from Shaanxi districts near Hedong, and southern armies to pin the enemy in the south and divide his strength—only then might Taiyuan be retaken." The court ordered the Shaanxi and Hedong branch secretariat to share out grain, but refused the request for troops because a campaign against Song was under way.

三月，石倫複上言曰：「頃者大兵破太原，招民耕稼，為久駐之基。臣以太原要鎮，所當必爭，遣提控石盞吾里忻引官兵義兵共圖收復。又以軍士有功者宜速賞之，故擬令吾里忻得注授九品之職，以是請於朝，而執政以為賞功罰罪皆須中覆。夫河東去京師甚遠，移報往返不暇數十日，官軍皆敗亡之餘，鋒銳略盡，而義兵亦不習行陣，無異烏合，以重賞誘之猶恐不為用，況有功而久不見報乎。夫眾不可用則不能退敵，敵不退則太原不可複，太原不可複則平陽之勢日危，而境土日蹙矣。今朝廷抑而不許，不過慮其濫賞耳。借使有濫賞之弊，其與失太原之害孰重？」於是詔從其請，自太原治中及他州從七品以下職、四品以下散官，並聽石倫遷調焉。

In the third month Shilun wrote again: "The enemy has taken Taiyuan, set the people to farming, and is preparing to stay. Taiyuan is a vital post we must fight for; I have sent controller Shizhan Wulixin with regulars and militia to retake it. Men with merit should be rewarded at once; I proposed a ninth-rank appointment for Wulixin, but the chief ministers insisted that all rewards and punishments await central approval. Hedong is far from the capital; a round of memorials takes weeks. Our regulars are broken remnants with little fight left, and the militia barely know drill—they are a mob. Heavy rewards may not move them; how will they fight if merit goes unrewarded for months? If these troops will not fight, the enemy will not withdraw; without that, Taiyuan cannot be retaken, Pingyang grows daily more dangerous, and our territory shrinks. The court now refuses only out of fear of over-rewarding. Even if some rewards were excessive, which is worse—that abuse or losing Taiyuan?" The throne then granted his request: Shilun might appoint and transfer Taiyuan administrators and all posts from associate seventh rank down and scattered offices from fourth rank down in other prefectures.

是月，石倫複言：「日者遣軍潛搗敵壘，欲分石州兵五百權屯方山，剿殺土寇，且備嵐州，而同知蒲察桓端拒而不發。又召同知甯邊軍節度使姚里鴉鶻與之議兵，竟不聽命。近領兵將取太原，委石州刺史納合萬家權行六部，而辭以他故，幾誤軍糧。約武州刺史郭憲率所領並進，憲亦不至。臣猥當方面之任，而所統官屬並不稟從，乞朝廷嚴為懲誡，庶人知職分，易以責辦。」宰臣惡之，乃奏曰：「桓端、鴉鶻已經奏改，無複可議。石倫身兼行部，不自規畫，而使萬家往來應給，石州無人，恐亦有失。武州邊郡，正當兵沖，使憲率軍離城，敵或乘之，孰與守禦？萬家等不從，未為過也。」上以為然，因遣諭石倫曰：「卿嘗行院於歸德，衛州防備之事，非不素知，乃屢以步騎為請何耶？比授卿三品，且數免罪譴卿，嘗自誓以死報國，今所為如此，豈報國之道哉！意謂河南之眾必不可分，但圖他日得以藉口耳。卿果赤必為國，盡力經畫，亦足自效。萬家等若必懲戒，彼中誰複可使者？姑為容忍可也。」

That month Shilun reported: "I had sent men to raid the enemy camp and asked for five hundred Shi Prefecture troops to hold Fangshan, wipe out local bandits, and cover Lan Prefecture, but associate administrator Pucha Huanduan refused to move them. I also summoned associate Ningbian commissioner Yao Li Yagu to discuss troop movements, but he ignored my orders. When I recently marched to retake Taiyuan I left Shi prefect Nahe Wanjia acting for the six ministries; he pleaded other business and nearly ruined the army's grain supply. I had arranged for Wu prefect Guo Xian to advance with his command, but he too failed to appear. I hold a regional command, yet my subordinates will not obey; I ask the court to punish them severely so men know their duty and I can enforce my orders." The chief ministers, displeased, replied: "Huanduan and Yagu have already been transferred by memorial; there is nothing more to debate. Shilun himself holds touring ministry duties yet does not plan them and sends Wanjia back and forth on supply errands, leaving Shi Prefecture empty—another mistake, surely. Wu is a frontier prefecture in the path of invasion; if Xian marches away, who will hold the city when the enemy strikes? Wanjia and the others were not at fault in refusing." The emperor agreed and sent Shilun word: "You once ran the touring commission at Guide and know Weizhou's defenses well—why do you keep asking for infantry and cavalry? You were lately raised to third rank and repeatedly pardoned; you once swore to die for the state—yet you act like this. Is that how one serves the country? You surely know Henan's troops cannot be split and only want an excuse for later. If you are truly loyal, throw yourself into planning and you will still prove your worth. If you punish Wanjia and the rest, who in that region will still serve you? For now, bear with them."

閏三月，石倫駐兵太原之西，俟諸道兵至進戰，聞脅從人頗有革心，上言於朝，乞降空名宣敕、金銀符，許便宜遷注，以招誘之。上從其請，並給付之，仍聽注五品以下官職。

In the intercalary third month Shilun camped west of Taiyuan awaiting reinforcements; learning that many who had followed the enemy were wavering, he asked the court for blank commissions and gold-and-silver tallies with authority to appoint men on the spot and win them over. The emperor agreed, issued them, and allowed him to appoint offices up to fifth rank.

六月，保德州振威軍萬戶王章、弩軍萬戶齊鎮殺其刺史孛術魯銀術哥，仍滅其家，脅官吏軍民同狀白嵐州帥府，言銀術哥專恣慘酷，私造甲仗，將謀不軌。石倫密令同知州事把蒲剌都圖之，蒲剌都乃與兵吏置酒召章等欽，擒而族誅之。至是，朝廷命行省胥鼎量宜遷賞，仍令蒲剌都攝州事，撫安其眾焉。

In the sixth month Baode Zhenwu Army commander Wang Zhang and crossbow-army commander Qi Zhen murdered their prefect Boshulu Yinshuge and wiped out his family, then forced officials, troops, and civilians to sign a joint report to the Lan headquarters accusing Yinshuge of tyranny, secretly forging arms, and plotting rebellion. Shilun secretly ordered associate prefect Ba Puluodu to deal with them; Puluodu gave a banquet for Zhang and his fellows, seized them, and executed their entire families. The court then ordered branch secretariat Xudding to reward men as he saw fit and left Puluodu acting prefect to calm the people.

正大八年，大兵入河南，州郡無不下者，朝議以權昌武軍節度使粘葛仝周不知兵事，起石倫代之。石倫初赴昌武，詔諭曰：「卿先朝宿將，甚有威望，故起拜是職。元帥蘇椿、武監軍皆曉兵事，今在昌武，宜與同議，勿複不睦失計也。」時北兵已至許，石倫赴鎮，幾為遊騎所獲。數日，知兩省軍敗，潰軍踵來。有忠孝軍完顏副統入城，兩手皆折，血污滿身，州人憂怖不知所出。石倫遣歸順軍提控嵐州人高珪往斥候，珪因持在州軍馬糧草數目奔大元軍，仍告以城池深淺。俄大兵至城下，以鳳翔府韓壽孫持檄招降，言三峰敗狀。石倫、蘇椿不詰問即斬之市中。既而武監軍偏裨何魏輩開東門，內族按春開南門，夾谷太守開西門。大元軍入城，擒蘇椿，問以大名南奔之事，椿曰：「我本金朝人，無力故降，我歸國得為大官，何謂反耶！」大將怒其不屈，即殺之。石倫投廨後井中，仝周自縊州廨。武監軍者初不預開門之謀，何魏輩欲保全之，故言于大將曰：「監軍令我輩獻門。」然亦怒其不迎軍而降，亦殺之。

In Zhengda 8 the main army swept into Henan and every prefecture fell; the court decided that acting Changwu commissioner Niange Tongzhou was no soldier and recalled Shilun to replace him. As Shilun set out for Changwu, an edict told him: "You are a seasoned general of the previous reign with great standing; that is why you are called back to this post. Marshal Su Chun and the Wu military supervisor both know warfare and are at Changwu; consult with them and do not quarrel again to the ruin of your plans." The northern army had already reached Xu when Shilun took up his post and was nearly caught by raiders. Within days he learned that the armies of both branch secretariats had been beaten and broken troops kept streaming in. A Zhongxiao Army Wanyan deputy commander came into the city with both arms broken and covered in blood; the townspeople were terrified and at a loss. Shilun sent Guishun Army controller Gao Gui of Lan Prefecture to scout; Gui fled to the Great Yuan army with tallies of the city's troops, horses, and grain and told them how strong or weak the defenses were. Soon the main force was at the walls; Han Shousun of Fengxiang came with a summons to surrender and described the rout at Sanfeng. Shilun and Su Chun had him beheaded in the market without a hearing. Then Wu military supervisor's lieutenants He Wei and others opened the east gate, imperial clansman An Chun the south gate, and prefect Jiagu the west gate. The Great Yuan troops entered, seized Su Chun, and asked about his flight south from Daming; Chun said: "I am a Jin subject who surrendered from weakness; if I return home I shall hold high office—how is that rebellion?" The commander, enraged by his defiance, killed him on the spot. Shilun threw himself into the well behind the yamen; Tongzhou hanged himself in the prefectural hall. The Wu military supervisor had not been in the plot to open the gates; He Wei and his men tried to save him and told the commander: "The military supervisor ordered us to open the gate." But they were still angry that he had not come out to welcome the army and surrender, and killed him too.

仝周名暉，字子陽，策論進士，興定間為徐州行樞密院參議官，上章言：「惟名與器不可假人，自古帝王靡不為重。今之金銀牌，即古符節也，其上有太祖禦畫，往年得佩者甚難，兵興以來授予頗濫，市井道路黃白相望，恐非所以示信於下也。乞寶惜之，有所甄別。」上以語宰臣，而丞相高琪等奏：「時方多難，急於用人，駕馭之方，此其一也，如故為便。」

Tongzhou, personal name Hui, style Ziyang, had passed the policy-treatise examination; in the Xingding era he was a participating officer of the Xuzhou touring bureau of military affairs and wrote: "Rank and regalia must not be lent lightly; every dynasty has treated them as sacred. Today's gold and silver tallies are the old credentials of command, bearing the Taizu's own brushwork. Once they were rarely bestowed; since the wars began they have been handed out freely until markets and roads glitter with them—I fear that no longer inspires trust below. I ask that they be treasured and granted with discrimination." The emperor mentioned this to his ministers; Chancellor Gao Qi and others replied: "These are desperate times and men are needed at once; loosening credentials is one way to command them, and the old practice should stand."

蘇椿，大名人，初守大名，歸順於大元，正大二年九月，自大名奔汴，詔置許州，至是，見殺。

Su Chun came from Daming; he had first held Daming, then submitted to Great Yuan; in the ninth month of Zhengda 2 he fled from Daming to Bian and was posted at Xu Prefecture; now he was killed.

完顏訛可

Wanyan Eke

完顏訛可，內族也。時有兩訛可，皆護衛出身，一曰「草火訛可」，每得賊，好以草火燎之，一曰「板子訛可」，嘗誤以宮中牙牌報班齊者為板子，故時人各以是目之。

Wanyan Eke was of the imperial clan. There were two men named Eke, both from the guards: one was called "Straw-Fire Eke" because he liked to burn captives with straw torches, the other "Board Eke" because he once mistook the palace tally boards that announced the watch for wooden planks—hence their nicknames.

正大八年九月，大兵攻河中。初，宣宗議遷都，朝臣謂可遷河中：「河中背負關陝五路，士馬全盛，南阻大河，可建行台以為右翼。前有絳陽、平陽、太原三大鎮，敵兵不敢輕入。應三鎮郡縣之民皆聚之山寨，敵至則為晝攻夜劫之計。屯重軍中條，則行在有萬全之固矣。」主議者以河中在河朔，又無宮室，不及汴梁，議遂寢。宣宗既遷河南，三二年之後，詔元帥都監內族阿祿帶行帥府事。阿祿帶恇怯不能軍，竭民膏血為浚築之計。未幾，絳州破，阿祿帶益懼，馳奏河中孤城不可守。有旨親視，果不可守則棄之，無至資敵。阿祿帶遂棄河中，燒民戶官府，一二日而盡。尋有言河中重鎮，國家基本所在，棄之為失策，設為敵人所據，則大河之險我不得專恃矣。宣宗悔悟，系阿祿帶同州獄，累命完複之，隨守隨破。至是，以內族兩訛可將兵三萬守之。大兵謀取宋武休關。未幾，鳳翔破，睿宗分騎兵三萬入散關，攻破鳳州，徑過華陽，屠洋州，攻武休關。開生山，截焦崖，出武休東南，遂圍興元。興元軍民散走，死于沙窩者數十萬。分軍而西，西軍由別路入沔州，取大安軍路開魚鱉山，撤屋為筏，渡嘉陵江入關堡，並江趨葭萌，略地至西水縣而還。東軍止屯興元、洋州之間，遂趨饒峰。宋人棄關不守，大兵乃得入。

In the ninth month of Zhengda 8 the main army attacked Hezhong. When Emperor Xuanzong first debated moving the capital, some ministers urged Hezhong: "Hezhong rests on the five Guan-Shaan circuits with full armies and horses, is barred to the south by the Yellow River, and could host a touring office as the right wing. Jiangyang, Pingyang, and Taiyuan stand before it as three great bastions, so the enemy would not advance lightly. The people of the districts under those three bastions should gather in mountain stockades and, when the enemy comes, harass him by day and raid by night. With heavy troops at Zhongtiao, the mobile court would be perfectly secure." The advocates of the plan replied that Hezhong lay north of the river, lacked palace buildings, and could not rival Bianliang, and the proposal died. After Emperor Xuanzong moved to Henan, two or three years later he ordered imperial clansman Aludai, metropolitan supervisor of the marshalate, to run the commandery headquarters. Aludai was timid and useless in the field, draining the people dry for digging and building works. Soon Jiang Prefecture fell; Aludai grew more frightened and urgently reported that isolated Hezhong could not be held. He was ordered to inspect in person; if the city truly could not be held he might abandon it, but not enrich the enemy. Aludai then abandoned Hezhong, burning homes and government buildings until nothing was left within a day or two. Soon critics said Hezhong was a vital post and the foundation of the state; abandoning it was a blunder, for if the enemy held it the Jin could no longer rely on the Yellow River alone. Emperor Xuanzong came to his senses, imprisoned Aludai in Tong Prefecture, and repeatedly ordered Hezhong retaken, but it fell as soon as it was garrisoned. Now the two imperial-clan Ekes were sent with thirty thousand men to hold it. The main army aimed to seize the Song fortress at Wuxiu Pass. Soon Fengxiang fell; Ruizong sent thirty thousand horsemen through San Pass, took Feng Prefecture, marched through Huayang, massacred Yang Prefecture, and assaulted Wuxiu Pass. They cut roads through Sheng Mountain and Jiao Cliff, came out southeast of Wuxiu, and besieged Xingyuan. Soldiers and civilians of Xingyuan fled in panic; several hundred thousand died at Shawan. The force split westward: the western column entered Mian by another route, opened Yubie Mountain on the Da'an Army road, tore down houses for rafts, crossed the Jialing into the pass forts, followed the river to Jiameng, raided as far as Xishui County, and withdrew. The eastern column camped between Xingyuan and Yang Prefecture, then marched on Raofeng. The Song abandoned the passes undefended, and the main army poured through.

初，大兵期以明年正月合南北軍攻汴梁，故自將攻河中。河中告急，合打蒲阿遣王敢率步兵一萬救之。十二月，河中破。初，河中主將知大兵將至，懼軍力不足，截故城之半守之。及被攻，行帳命築松樓高二百尺，下瞰城中，土山地穴百道並進。至十一月，攻愈急。自王敢救軍至，軍士殊死鬥，日夜不休，西北樓櫓俱盡，白戰又半月，力盡乃陷。草訛可戰數十合始被擒，尋殺之。板訛可提敗卒三千奪船走，北兵追及，鼓噪北岸上，矢石如雨。數里之外有戰船橫截之，敗軍不得過，船中有齎火砲名「震天雷」者連發之，砲火明，見北船軍無幾人，力斫橫船開，得至潼關，遂入閿鄉。尋有詔赦將佐以下，責訛可以不能死，車載入陝州，決杖二百。識者以為河中城守不下，德順力竭而陷，非戰之罪，故訛可之死，人有冤之者。

The main army had planned a joint north-south assault on Bianliang in the first month of the coming year; the commander therefore led the Hezhong campaign in person. Hezhong sent desperate appeals; Heda Pu'a dispatched Wang Gan with ten thousand foot soldiers to relieve the city. In the twelfth month Hezhong fell. The Hezhong commander, expecting the main army and fearing he had too few men, walled off only half the old city for defense. Under assault, the field headquarters built two-hundred-foot pine towers overlooking the city and pressed the siege with earthen mounds and tunnels on every side. By the eleventh month the assault had intensified. After Wang Gan's relief force arrived the garrison fought day and night without rest; the northwest towers were smashed, hand-to-hand combat lasted another fortnight, and the city fell only when strength was spent. Straw-Fire Eke fought dozens of engagements before he was taken and soon executed. Board Eke gathered three thousand survivors, seized boats, and fled; northern troops caught up on the north bank amid drums and shouts, arrows and stones falling like rain. A few li downstream warships barred their path. Enemy vessels fired "Heaven-Shaking Thunder" incendiary bombs in succession; in the flashes Board Eke saw few men aboard, hacked through the blockade, reached Tong Pass, and escaped into Wenxiang. An edict soon pardoned the officers and men but blamed Eke for failing to die fighting; he was carted to Shaan Prefecture and beaten with the staff two hundred times. Knowledgeable men said Hezhong had held out until strength was spent, not through cowardice in battle, and that Eke's punishment was unjust.

初，訛可以元帥右監軍、邠涇總帥、權參知知事，奉旨於邠、涇、鳳翔往來防秋。奉禦六兒監戰，於訛可為孫行，而訛可動為所制，意頗不平，漸生猜隙。七年九月，召赴京師，改河中總帥，受京兆節制。此時六兒同赴召，謂訛可奉旨往來防秋，而乃畏怯避遠，正與朝旨相違，上意頗罪訛可。及河中陷，苦戰力盡，而北兵百倍臨之，人謂雖至不守猶可以自贖，竟杖而死，蓋六兒先入之言主之也。

Eke had been marshal right metropolitan supervisor, Bin-Jing commander-in-chief, and acting participating administrator, ordered to patrol Bin, Jing, and Fengxiang on autumn defense. Palace attendant Liu'er served as battle supervisor and outranked Eke; Eke resented his constant interference and suspicion grew between them. In the ninth month of year 7 he was recalled to the capital, made Hezhong commander-in-chief, and placed under Jingzhao's authority. Liu'er went to court with him and accused Eke of shirking the autumn-defense duties he had been assigned; the emperor was much displeased with Eke. When Hezhong fell after a desperate defense against overwhelming northern forces, many said Eke deserved redemption even in defeat; he was beaten to death instead, largely because Liu'er's earlier accusations had already swayed the court.

劉祁曰：「金人南渡之後，近侍之權尤重。蓋宣宗喜用其人以為耳目，伺察百官，故奉禦輩採訪民間，號'行路禦史'，或得一二事即入奏之，上因以責台官漏泄，皆抵罪。又方面之柄雖委將帥，又差一奉禦在軍中，號曰'監戰'，每臨機制變，多為所牽制，遇敵輒先奔，故師多喪敗。」哀宗因之不改，終至亡國。

Liu Qi wrote: "After the Jin crossed the river southward, the power of palace attendants grew especially heavy. Emperor Xuanzong used them as spies on the bureaucracy, so attendants prowled the streets as 'roadside censors' and reported whatever they heard; the emperor then punished the regular censors for leaking secrets. Though field command was given to generals, an attendant was also sent with each army as 'battle supervisor,' constraining every decision; at contact with the enemy he often fled first, and armies were repeatedly ruined." Emperor Aizong left the practice unchanged, and the dynasty perished.

論曰：古里甲石倫善戰而好犯法，故見廢者屢，晚起為將，卒死於難。金運將終，又用數奇之李廣，其乏絕不亦宜乎。草訛可力戰而死，板訛可亦力戰，不死於陣而死于刑，論者以為有近侍先入之言。夫以褻禦治軍，既掣之肘，又信其讒以殺人，金失政刑矣。唐之亡，坐以近侍監軍，金蹈其轍，哀哉。

The appraisal says: Gulijia Shilun fought well but loved to break the law, was repeatedly dismissed, was raised late as a general, and died in the final catastrophe. As Jin's fate neared its end they again relied on a Li Guang of ill-starred campaigns—small wonder their resources gave out. Straw-Fire Eke died fighting; Board Eke fought equally hard but died under the rod, not in battle—commentators blamed the prior accusations of palace attendants. To run armies through intimate attendants who hamstrung commanders and whose slander brought executions was to abandon government and justice altogether. Tang had fallen because intimate attendants supervised armies; Jin followed the same road—alas.

撒合輦

Sa Henian

四年，大元既滅西夏，進軍陝西。四月丙申，召尚書溫蒂罕壽孫、中丞烏古孫卜吉、祭酒裴滿阿虎帶、直學士蒲察世達、右司諫陳規、監察烏古論四和完顏習顯、同判睦親府事撒合輦同議西事，上曰：「已諭合達盡力決一戰矣。」群臣多主和事，獨輦力破和議，語在《陳規傳》。

In year 4, after Great Yuan destroyed Western Xia, its armies advanced into Shaanxi. On bingchen of the fourth month the emperor summoned Minister Wentihen Shousun, censor-in-chief Wugusun Buji, libationer Peiman Ahudai, academician Pucha Shida, remonstrance officer Chen Gui, investigators Wugulun Sihe and Wanyan Xixian, and associate administrator of the Office of Imperial Kin Sa Henian to discuss the western front. The emperor said: "I have already ordered Heda to stake everything on one decisive battle." Most ministers favored peace; only Henian forcefully blocked the peace proposal, as told in the biography of Chen Gui.

八月，朝廷得清水之報，令有司罷防城及修城丁壯，凡軍需租調不急者權停。初，聞大兵自鳳翔入京兆，關中大震，以中丞卜吉、祭酒阿忽帶兼司農卿，簽民兵，督秋稅，令民入保為避遷計。當時議者以謂大兵未至而河南先亂，且曰：「禦史監察城洛陽，治書供帳北使，中丞下兼司農簽軍督稅，台政可知矣。」至是，上謂撒合輦曰：「諺雲水深見長人。朝臣或欲我一戰，汝獨言當靜以待之，與朕意合，今日有太平之望，皆汝謀也。先帝嘗言汝可用，可謂知人矣。」

In the eighth month reports from Qingshui reached the court; officials were ordered to release men from garrison and wall work and to suspend non-urgent military levies and taxes. When word came that the main army had entered Jingzhao from Fengxiang, Guanzhong was thrown into panic; Buji and Ahudai were made concurrent agriculture ministers, enrolled militia, collected autumn taxes, and ordered people into fortified settlements against evacuation. Critics said Henan was in chaos before the main army even arrived and remarked: "Censors inspect Luoyang's walls, judicial secretaries entertain northern envoys, and the censor-in-chief enrolls militia and collects taxes as agriculture minister—one can see the state of the censorate." The emperor then told Sa Henian: "The proverb says that in deep water one sees who is truly tall. Some ministers wanted a single decisive battle, but you alone urged patience, which matched my mind. Today's hope of peace is your doing. The late emperor said you were fit for service; he truly knew men."

未幾，右拾遺李大節、右司諫陳規言撒合輦諂佞納賄及不公事，奏帖留中不報。明惠皇后嘗傳旨戒曰：「汝諂事上，上之騎鞠皆汝所教。」尉忻亦極言之，上頗悟，出為中京留守、兼行樞密院事。初，宣宗改河南府為金昌府，號中京，又擬少室山頂為禦營，命移剌粘合築之，至是撒合輦為留守。

Soon remembrancer Li Dajie and remonstrance officer Chen Gui accused Henian of flattery, bribery, and injustice; the memorial was kept within and never answered. Empress Minghui once sent word of warning: "You flatter the sovereign; even his polo is taught by you." Wei Xin spoke just as strongly; the emperor took the hint and posted Henian out as Central Capital defender with concurrent touring bureau of military affairs duties. Emperor Xuanzong had renamed Henan Prefecture Jinchang Prefecture and styled it Central Capital, planned an imperial camp on Mount Shaoshi's summit, and ordered Yila Nihehe to build it; Henian was now posted as defender.

九年正月，北兵從河清徑渡，分兵至洛，出沒四十餘日。二月乙亥，立砲攻城。洛中初無軍，得三峰潰卒三四千人，與忠孝軍百餘守禦。時輦疽發於背，不能軍，同知溫蒂罕斡朵羅主軍務，有大事則就輦稟之。三月甲申，忠孝軍百餘騎入使宅，強擁輦出奔，輦不得已從之，並以官屬及其子自隨，才出南裏城門，城上軍覺，閉之甕城中，矢石亂下，人馬多死傷。輦知不能出，仰呼求救，軍士知出奔非輦意，以繩引而上，送入其宅，不敢出。鎮撫官縛出奔之黨，欲殺之，已斬三人，輦親為乞命，得免。乙酉，斡朵羅齎金帛出北門，如前日巡城犒軍之狀，既出即沿城而西，直出外壕，城上人呼曰：「同知講和去矣。」軍士及將領隨而下者三四百人。少之，輦傳令雲：「同知叛降，有再下城者斬。」凡斬三四人，乃定。丙戌夜，城東北角破，輦奪南門出不得，投濠水死。已而，大兵退，強伸複立帥府。

In the first month of year 9 northern troops crossed at Heqing, sent detachments to Luoyang, and raided the vicinity for more than forty days. On yihai of the second month they erected siege cannon. Luoyang at first had no garrison; three or four thousand Sanfeng rout survivors and a little over a hundred Zhongxiao troops held the walls. Henian had a carbuncle on his back and could not take the field; associate administrator Wentihen Woduoluo ran military affairs and consulted Henian on major decisions. On jiashen of the third month more than a hundred Zhongxiao horsemen burst into the residence and forced Henian to flee with his staff and son; as they passed the south inner gate the wall garrison noticed, shut the barbican on them, and arrows and stones killed many men and horses. Henian, trapped, cried for help; the soldiers knew he had not meant to flee, hauled him back up by rope, and returned him to his residence, where he dared not emerge. The pacification officer seized the fugitives and had already beheaded three when Henian personally pleaded for their lives and saved the rest. On yiyou Woduoluo carried gold and silk out the north gate as if to reward the troops on wall inspection, then followed the wall west and went straight out beyond the moat; men on the wall shouted: "The associate administrator has gone to sue for peace!" Three or four hundred soldiers and officers followed him down. Soon Henian issued an order: "The associate administrator has defected; anyone who leaves the wall again will be executed." After three or four executions the panic subsided. On the night of bingxu the northeast corner of the wall collapsed; Henian tried the south gate, could not escape, and drowned himself in the moat. When the main army withdrew, Qiang Shen re-established the command headquarters.

強伸，本河中射糧軍子弟，貌極寢陋，而膂力過人。興定初，從華州副都統安寧複潼關，以勞任使，嘗監郃陽醋。後客洛下，選充官軍，戍陝鐵嶺，軍潰被虜，從都尉兀林答胡土竄歸中京。時中京已破，留守兼行樞密院使內族撒合輦死之，元帥任守真複立府事，以便宜署伸警巡使。後守真率部曲軍從行省思烈入援，鄭州之敗，守真死。天興元年八月，中京人推伸為府簽事，領所有軍二千五百人，傷殘老幼半之。甫三日，北兵圍之，東西北三面多樹大砲。伸括衣帛為幟，立之城上，率士卒赤身而戰，以壯士五十人往來救應，大叫，以「憨子軍」為號，其聲勢與萬眾無異。兵器已盡，以錢為鏃，得大兵一箭，截而為四，以筒鞭發之。又創遏砲，用不過數人，能發大石于百步外，所擊無不中。伸奔走四應，所至必捷。得二駝及所乘馬皆殺之，以犒軍士，人不過一啖，而得者如百金之賜。九月，大兵退百里外。閏月，複攻，兵數倍於前。又一月，不能拔。事聞，哀宗降詔褒諭，以伸為中京留守、元帥左都監、世襲謀克、行元帥府事。

Qiang Shen came from the grain-shooting army of Hedong; he was homely in appearance but possessed extraordinary strength. Early in the Xingding era he followed Hua deputy commander An Ning in retaking Tong Pass, was rewarded with appointment, and once supervised the Heyang vinegar monopoly. He later went to Luoyang, was enrolled in the regular army, garrisoned Tieling in Shaan, was captured when the army collapsed, and fled back to Central Capital with commandant Wulindahutu. Central Capital had already fallen; defender Sa Henian had died; marshal Ren Shouzhen re-established headquarters and appointed Shen patrol commissioner on discretionary authority. Later Shouzhen led his household troops with branch secretariat Silie to relieve Zheng Prefecture and died in the defeat there. In the eighth month of Tianxing 1 the people of Central Capital chose Shen as prefectural signing officer with twenty-five hundred troops, half of them wounded, aged, or boys. Within three days northern troops besieged the city and erected heavy cannon on the east, north, and west. Shen hung banners of cloth and silk on the walls, led his men to fight stripped to the waist, and sent fifty stalwarts to rush wherever needed, shouting the battle cry "Simpleton Army" until their roar sounded like ten thousand men. When weapons ran out they used coins for arrowheads; each enemy arrow they captured was cut into four and shot back with tube slings. He also devised a blocking catapult manned by only a few men that could hurl boulders more than a hundred paces with unerring aim. Shen raced to every threatened point and always prevailed. He slaughtered two camels and his own mount to feed the troops; each man received barely a mouthful, yet a share was prized like a hundred pieces of gold. In the ninth month the main army withdrew a hundred li. In the intercalary month they attacked again with several times the former force. Another month passed and they still could not take the city. When word reached the court, Emperor Aizong praised him and appointed him Central Capital defender, marshal left metropolitan supervisor, hereditary company commander, with authority over the marshalate.

十月，參知政事內族思烈自南山領軍民十余萬入洛，行省事。二年二月，伸建一堂於洛川驛之東，名曰「報恩」，刻詔文於石，願以死自效。三月，中使至，以伸便宜從事。

In the tenth month participating administrator Silie led more than a hundred thousand soldiers and civilians from the southern hills into Luoyang and took charge of branch secretariat affairs. In the second month of year 2 Shen built a hall east of Luochuan post station called Repaying Grace, carved the imperial edict in stone, and vowed to die in the state's service. In the third month an imperial envoy arrived and authorized Shen to act at his discretion.

是月，大兵自汴驅思烈之子於東門下，誘思烈降。思烈即命左右射之，既而知崔立之變，病不能語而死。總帥忽林答胡土代行省事，伸行總帥府事，月餘糧盡，軍民稍稍散去。

That month the main army from Bian drove Silie's son before the east gate to tempt Silie into surrender. Silie immediately ordered his attendants to shoot the boy; when he learned of Cui Li's coup he fell ill, lost speech, and died. Commander-in-chief Hulindahutu took over branch secretariat affairs while Shen ran the commander headquarters; after a month supplies ran out and troops and civilians drifted away.

五月，大兵複來，陣于洛南，伸陣水北。有韓帥者匹馬立水濱，招伸降，伸謂帥曰：「君獨非我家臣子耶？一日勤王，猶遺令名於世，君既不能，乃欲誘我降耶？我本一軍卒，今貴為留守，誓以死報國耳。」遂躍而射之。帥奔陣，率步卒數百奪橋，伸軍一旗手獨出拒之，殺數人，伸乃手解都統銀符與之佩，士卒氣複振。初，築戰壘於城外四隅，至五門內外皆有屏，謂之迷魂牆。大兵以五百騎迫之，伸率卒二百鼓噪而出，大兵退。

In the fifth month the main army returned, drawing up south of Luoyang while Shen formed his line north of the river. A commander Han stood alone on the riverbank and called on Shen to surrender; Shen said: "Are you not a servant of our house? Even a single day of loyal service leaves a name for the ages; since you could not manage that, do you now mean to tempt me to surrender? I was only a common soldier; now I am defender of the city, and I swear to die for the state." He leaped forward and shot at him. Han fled to his line and led several hundred foot soldiers to seize the bridge; one of Shen's standard-bearers charged out alone, killed several men, and Shen personally gave him the metropolitan supervisor's silver tally; the troops' morale revived. He had earlier built fighting ramparts at the four outer corners and screening walls inside and outside the five gates, called Soul-Bewildering Walls. The main army pressed with five hundred horsemen; Shen led two hundred men out with shouts and drums, and the enemy withdrew.

六月，行省胡土率眾走南山，鷹揚都尉獻西門以降，伸知城不能守，率死士數十人突東門出，轉戰至偃師，力盡就執。載以一馬，擁迫而行。伸宛轉不肯進，強掖之，將見大帥塔察。及中京七里河，伸語不遜，兵卒相謂曰：「此人乖角如此，若見大帥，其能降乎？不若殺之。」因好語誘之曰：「汝能北面一屈膝，吾貸汝命。」伸不從，左右力持使北面，伸拗頭南向，遂殺之。

In the sixth month branch secretariat Hutu fled south with his force; Yingyang commandant opened the west gate in surrender; Shen, knowing the city was lost, broke out the east gate with several dozen devoted men, fought his way to Yanshi, and was captured when his strength gave out. They put him on a horse and hustled him along. Shen twisted and refused to go forward; they dragged him along to present him to grand marshal Tacha. At Qili River near Central Capital Shen spoke defiantly; the soldiers said to one another: "This man is so stubborn—if he sees the grand marshal, will he ever submit? Better kill him now." They coaxed him: "Face north and bow once and we will spare your life." Shen refused; his guards forced him to turn north, but he wrenched his head southward, and they killed him.

烏林答胡土

Wulindahutu

烏林答胡土。正大九年正月戊子，北兵以河中一軍由洛陽東四十里白坡渡河。白坡故河清縣，河有石底，歲旱水不能尋丈。國初以三千騎由此路趨汴，是後縣廢為鎮，宣宗南遷，河防上下千里，常以此路為憂，每冬日命洛陽一軍戍之。河中破，有言此路可徒涉者，已而果然。北兵既渡，奪河陰官舟以濟諸軍。時胡土為破虜都尉，戍潼關，以去冬十二月被旨入援，至偃師，聞白坡徑渡之耗，直趨少室，夜至少林寺。時登封縣官民已遷太平頂禦寨。明日，胡土使人紿縣官雲：「吾軍中家屬輜重欲留此山，即率兵赴汴京。」因攝縣官下山，使之前導，一軍隨之而上。山既險固，糧亦充足，遂有久住之意。尋縱軍下山劫掠居民，甚于盜賊，旁近一二百里無不被害。胡土畏變，知而不禁，又所劫牛畜糧糗，亦分有之。

Wulindahutu. On wuzi of the first month of Zhengda 9 a Hezhong army crossed the river at Baipo, forty li east of Luoyang. Baipo had been Heqing County; with its rocky riverbed, even in drought the water seldom rose to eight feet. At the dynasty's founding three thousand horsemen had taken this road to Bian; later the county was reduced to a town. After the Xuanzong moved south, the thousand-li river line was always troubled by this crossing, and each winter a Luoyang garrison was posted there. After Hezhong fell someone said the ford could be crossed on foot, and before long it was. Once across, the northern troops seized government boats at Heyin to ferry the rest of the army. Hutu was then Defender Who Breaks the Barbarians, stationed at Tong Pass. Ordered south the previous twelfth month, he reached Yanshi, heard of the crossing at Baipo, turned straight for Shaoshi, and reached Shaolin Temple that night. The officials and people of Dengfeng had already withdrawn to the stockade on Taiping Peak. The next day Hutu sent men to deceive the county magistrate: "My dependents and baggage will stay on this mountain while I lead the army to Bian." He then took the magistrate down the mountain as his guide while a detachment followed up behind. The mountain was steep and well supplied, and he began to think of staying. Before long he let his men down to plunder the countryside worse than bandits; for a hundred or two hundred li around none escaped harm. Hutu feared mutiny, knew what was happening yet did not stop it, and took his own share of the cattle, grain, and fodder seized.

七月，恆山公武仙、參政思烈兩行省軍，屯登封城南大林下，遣人約之入京。胡土百計不肯下，不得已，乃分其軍四千，與思烈俱東。八月三日，兩行省軍潰于中牟，胡土狼狽上山，殘卒三二十人外偏裨無一人至者。十二月，思烈自留山行省於中京，徵兵同保洛陽，又遷延不行。思烈以檄來，言：「若依前逗留，自有典憲，吾不汝容矣。」胡土懼，乃挈妻子及軍往中京，留其半山上以為巢穴。天興二年三月，思烈病卒，留語胡土代行省事。六月，敵勢益重，強伸方盡力戰禦，而胡土即領輕騎、挈妻子棄城南奔，遂失中京。

In the seventh month the two branch secretariat armies of Prince Hengshan Wu Xian and participating administrator Silie camped in the great woods south of Dengfeng and sent to summon him to the capital. Hutu used every excuse to stay on the mountain; only under compulsion did he detach four thousand men and march east with Silie. On the third of the eighth month both armies were routed at Zhongmou. Hutu fled in disorder up the mountain with only thirty-odd survivors; not a single officer rejoined him. In the twelfth month Silie, who had kept his branch secretariat on the mountain at Central Capital, called up troops to hold Luoyang jointly, yet again delayed and would not march. Silie sent a written order: "If you linger as before, the statutes apply, and I will not spare you." Afraid, Hutu took his wife, children, and troops to Central Capital, leaving half his force on the mountain as a refuge. In the third month of Tianxing 2 Silie died of illness and left instructions for Hutu to take over branch secretariat affairs. In the sixth month the enemy pressed harder. Qiang Shen was fighting with all his strength, but Hutu at once led light cavalry away with his wife and children, abandoned the south of the city, and fled, and Central Capital was lost.

初，胡土在太平頂既顧望不進，又懼人議己，乃出榜募人為救駕軍，雲：「一旅之眾可以興複國家，諸人有能奮發許國捐軀者，豈不濟大事乎！」於是，不逞之徒隨募而出，得澤人緝麻觜、武錄事等二十餘人，促令赴京。行及盧店，即行劫，械至，杖之二百，人無不竊笑。既而走蔡州，上召見慰問，而心薄之。會宋人攻唐州，元帥烏古論黑漢屢遣人告急，即命胡土領忠孝軍百人，就征西山招撫烏古論換住、黃八兒等軍赴之。胡土率兵至唐，宋人斂避，縱其半入城，夾擊之，胡土大敗，僅存三十騎以還，換住死焉。

Earlier, on Taiping Peak Hutu had hung back and feared criticism, so he posted a notice recruiting a rescue-the-throne army: "A single company can restore the state. If any of you will rouse yourselves to serve the realm and give your lives, will that not finish the great task?" Discontented men answered the call. He gathered more than twenty, including Jima Zui of Ze and a military recorder, and hurried them to the capital. At Ludian they began robbing on the road. Brought before him, they were flogged two hundred strokes, and everyone secretly laughed. They then went to Cai Prefecture. The emperor summoned and consoled them, but inwardly thought little of them. When the Song attacked Tangzhou, Marshal Wugulun Heihan sent repeated urgent appeals. Hutu was ordered to lead a hundred Loyal and Filial troops west to summon Wugulun Huanzhu, Huang Ba'er, and other forces to the relief. Hutu marched to Tang. The Song drew back, let half his force into the city, then struck from both sides. Hutu was routed and returned with only thirty horsemen; Huanzhu was killed.

既而以胡土為殿前都點檢，罷權參政。大兵圍蔡，分軍防守，胡土守西面。十一月，胡土之奴竊其金牌，夜縋城降，朝士喧播謂胡土縱之往，將有異志。胡土聞之，內不自安，乞解軍職。上慰之曰：「卿父子昆弟皆為帥臣，受恩不為不厚，顧肯降耶。且卿向在洛陽不即降，而千里遠來降於蔡，豈人情也哉。聞卿遇奴太察，且其衣食不常給之，此蓋往求溫飽耳，卿何慊焉。」因賜饌以安其心。初，胡土罷機政，頗有怨言，左右勸上誅之，上不聽。及令守西城，尤怏怏不樂，至是始感恩無他慮矣。

Hutu was then made Palace Front chief inspector and removed from acting participating administrator. The main army besieged Cai. Forces were divided for defense, and Hutu held the west wall. In the eleventh month Hutu's slave stole his gold tally and let himself down the wall at night to surrender. Courtiers spread word that Hutu had let him go and harbored other designs. Hearing this, Hutu grew uneasy and asked to be relieved of his military post. The emperor consoled him: "Your father, sons, and brothers have all been commanders. The favor shown you is not slight. Would you really surrender? Besides, you did not surrender at once when you were at Luoyang, yet you came a thousand li to surrender at Cai. Does that sound like human nature? I hear you are too harsh with the slave and do not regularly provide his food and clothing. He surely went seeking comfort. Why be bitter about it?" He then gave him a feast to set his mind at ease. Earlier, when Hutu was removed from government affairs he had complained bitterly. Attendants urged the emperor to execute him, but the emperor refused. When ordered to hold the west wall he was especially resentful. Only now did he feel grateful and lay aside other thoughts.

尋以總帥孛術魯婁室與胡土皆權參政，婁室與右丞仲德同事，胡土防守如故，複以都尉承麟為東面元帥權總帥。先是，攻東城，婁室隨機備禦。二日移攻南城，烏古論鎬易之，砲擊城樓幾僕，右丞仲德率軍救援，乃罷攻。俄而四面受敵，仲德艱於獨援，遂薦承麟代婁室東面，而乞與婁室同救應。初，胡土失外城，頗慚恨，聲言力小不能令眾，仲德亦薦之，故有是命。蔡城破，投汝水死。

Soon commander-in-chief Shulutu Loushi and Hutu were both made acting participating administrators. Loushi worked with right chancellor Zhongde while Hutu continued his defense. Defender Chenglins was again made eastern marshal with acting overall command. Earlier, when the east wall was attacked, Loushi had defended as circumstances required. On the second day the attack shifted to the south wall and Wugulun Hao took over. Catapults nearly brought down the tower. Right chancellor Zhongde led a relief force and the assault was called off. Before long the city was attacked on four sides. Zhongde could not sustain relief alone and recommended Chenglins to replace Loushi on the east while asking to assist Loushi jointly. Earlier, when Hutu lost the outer city he was ashamed and claimed his force was too small to command the troops. Zhongde also recommended him, hence this appointment. When Cai fell he threw himself into the Ru River and died.

贊曰：撒合輦本以佞進，烏林答胡土戰陣不武，付以孤城，望其捍禦大難，豈得為知人乎。強伸一射糧卒耳，及授以兵，乃能應變制勝，遠過二人，力盡乃斃，猶有烈丈夫之風焉。古人有言：「四郊多壘，拔士為將。」使金運未去，伸足以建功名矣夫。

The commentary says: Sa Henian advanced through flattery; Wulindahutu was no warrior in battle. To entrust an isolated city to him and expect him to ward off catastrophe—can that be called knowing men? Qiang Shen was only a grain-quota archer, yet once given troops he could adapt and win, far surpassing the other two. He died only when his strength was spent, and still showed the spirit of a true man. The ancients said: "When the suburbs on four sides are full of enemy camps, promote men from the ranks to be generals." Had Jin's fortune not waned, Shen would have been enough to win lasting fame.

完顏思烈

Wanyan Silie

內族思烈，南陽郡王襄之子也。資性詳雅，頗知書史。自五六歲入宮充奉禦，甚見寵倖，世號曰「自在奉禦」。當宣宗入承大統，胡沙虎跋扈，思烈尚在髫齔，嘗涕泣跪抱帝膝致說曰：「願早誅權臣，以靖王室。」帝急顧左右掩其口。自是帝甚器重之。後由提點近侍局遷都點檢。天興元年，汴京被圍，哀宗以思烈權參知政事，行省事于鄧州。會武仙引兵入援，於是思烈率諸軍發自汝州，過密縣，遇大元兵，不用武仙阻澗之策，遂敗績于京水，語在《武仙傳》。中京留守、元帥左監軍任守真死之。上聞，罷思烈行省之職，以守中京。無何，大兵圍中京未能下，崔立遣人監思烈子於中京城下，招之使降。思烈不顧，令軍士射之。既而知崔立已以汴京歸順，病數日而死。初，思烈會武仙等軍入援，即與仙論議不同，仙以思烈方得君，每假借之。思烈謂仙本無入援意，特以朝廷遣一參政召兵，迫於不得已乃行耳。然仙知兵，頗以持重為事。思烈急於入京，不聽仙策，於是左右司員外郎王渥乃勸思烈曰：「武仙大小數百戰，經涉不為不多，兵事當共議。」思烈疑其與仙有謀，幾斬之，渥自以無愧於內，不懼也。已而思烈果敗，渥歿於陣。

Silie of the inner clan was the son of Prince of Nanyang, Wang Xiang. By nature he was composed and refined and knew something of books and history. From the age of five or six he entered the palace as an attendant and was greatly favored. People called him the "Self-Possessed Attendant." When the Xuanzong succeeded to the throne and Hu Shahu was overbearing, Silie was still a child. He once knelt weeping, embraced the emperor's knee, and said: "I beg that the powerful minister be executed early to settle the royal house." The emperor hurriedly signaled his attendants to cover the boy's mouth. From then on the emperor greatly valued him. He was later promoted from supervisor of the Personal Attendance Bureau to metropolitan inspector. In the first year of Tianxing Bian was besieged. The Aizong made Silie acting participating administrator and sent him to direct branch secretariat affairs at Dengzhou. When Wu Xian marched in relief, Silie led the armies from Ruzhou. Passing Mixian they met Great Yuan troops. Ignoring Wu Xian's plan to block them at the ravine, he was defeated at Jingshui, as told in Wu Xian's biography. Ren Shouzhen, defender of Central Capital and left supervising marshal, died in the battle. On hearing this the emperor removed Silie's branch secretariat post and ordered him to hold Central Capital. Before long the main army besieged Central Capital without taking it. Cui Li sent men to place Silie's son below the walls and summon him to surrender. Silie paid no heed and ordered his soldiers to shoot. When he learned that Cui Li had already surrendered Bian, he fell ill and died within days. Earlier, when Silie joined Wu Xian and other relief armies, he and Wu Xian disagreed at once. Because Silie had just won the ruler's favor, Wu Xian always indulged him. Silie said Wu Xian had never meant to march in relief but had come only because the court sent a participating administrator to summon troops and he was forced to go. Yet Wu Xian knew warfare and made caution his principle. Silie was eager to reach the capital and would not hear Wu Xian's advice. Thereupon Wang Wo, outer gentleman of the Left and Right Secretariat, urged Silie: "Wu Xian has fought hundreds of battles large and small. His experience is not slight. Military affairs should be discussed together." Silie suspected collusion with Wu Xian and nearly had him executed. Wo felt himself blameless inwardly and was not afraid. Before long Silie was indeed defeated, and Wo died in battle.

渥字仲澤，後名仲澤，太原人。性明俊不羈，博學善談論，工尺牘，字畫清美，有晉人風。少遊太學，長於詞賦，登興定二年進士第。為時帥奧屯邦獻、完顏斜烈所知，故多在兵間。後辟寧陵令，有治跡，入為尚書省令史。因使宋至揚州，應對敏給，宋人重之。及還，為太學助教，轉樞密院經歷官，俄遷右司都事，稍見信用。及思烈往鄧州，以渥為左右司員外郎，從行。

Wo, styled Zhongze and later also named Zhongze, was a man of Taiyuan. He was bright and sharp, unrestrained by convention, broadly learned and skilled in discussion, adept at documents, and wrote with a clear, beautiful hand in the manner of the Jin period. In youth he studied at the Imperial Academy, excelled at lyrics and rhapsodies, and passed the jinshi examination in the second year of Xingding. The military commissioners Aotun Bangxian and Wanyan Xielie knew him, so he was often with the armies. He was later summoned as magistrate of Ningling, where he left traces of good governance, and then entered service as a clerk in the Secretariat. On a mission to the Song he reached Yangzhou, replied sharply, and the Song esteemed him. On his return he became an assistant instructor at the Imperial Academy, then transferred to an experience officer at the Privy Council, and soon rose to chief clerk of the Right Secretariat, gradually gaining trust. When Silie went to Dengzhou, Wo was made outer gentleman of the Left and Right Secretariat and accompanied him.

贊曰：思烈夙惠，請誅權奸以立主威，有甘羅、辟疆之風，所謂「茂良不必父祖」者也。中京之圍，崔立脅其子使招之降，不顧而趣射之，何愧乎橋玄。至如不從武仙之言，以至於敗，此蓋時人因惜王仲澤之死而有是言，仙無入援之意則非誣也。

The commentary says: Silie showed talent early, asking to kill powerful traitors to establish the sovereign's authority, with something of Gan Luo and Pi Jiang about him—what is meant by "the excellent need not follow father and grandfather." At the siege of Central Capital, Cui Li coerced his son to summon him to surrender. Silie paid no heed and ordered his men to shoot. What shame is there compared with Qiao Xuan? As for his failure to follow Wu Xian's advice, which led to defeat, contemporaries spoke thus chiefly because they regretted Wang Zhongze's death. That Wu Xian had no real intent to march in relief was not slander.

紇石烈牙吾塔

Geshilie Yawuta

紇石烈牙吾塔，一名志。本出親軍，性剛悍喜戰。貞祐間，僕散安貞為山東路宣撫使，以牙吾塔為軍中提控。是時，山東群盜蜂起，安貞遣牙吾塔破巨蒙等四堌，又破馬耳山砦，殺劉二祖賊党四千餘人，降賊八千，虜其偽宣差程寬、招軍大使程福，又降脅從民三萬餘人。貞祐四年六月，積功累遷欄通渡經略使。十月，為元帥左都監。十二月，行山東西路兵馬都總管府事，兼武甯軍節度使、徐州管內觀察使。

Geshilie Yawuta, also named Zhi. He came from the personal guard army and was fierce and fond of battle. During the Zhenyou period Pusan Anzhen was pacification commissioner of the Shandong circuit and made Yawuta army controller in his force. At that time bandits swarmed across Shandong. Anzhen sent Yawuta to break four stockades including Jumeng and the Ma'er Mountain fort, killed more than four thousand of Liu Erzu's followers, accepted the surrender of eight thousand bandits, captured the false commissioner Cheng Kuan and recruiting envoy Cheng Fu, and also won over more than thirty thousand coerced civilians. In the sixth month of Zhenyou 4, through accumulated merit he was promoted to strategic commissioner at Lan'tong Crossing. In the tenth month he became left supervising marshal. In the twelfth month he acted as commander-in-chief of the Shandong West and East circuits, and also held the posts of military commissioner of the Military Pacification Army and observation commissioner within Xuzhou.

興定二年正月，宋兵萬餘攻泗州，牙吾塔赴援，至臨淮，遇宋人三百，掩殺殆盡。及泗州，宋兵八千圍甚急，督眾進戰，大破之，溺水死者甚眾，獲馬三百餘匹，俘五十餘人。又圍盱眙，宋人閉門堅守，不敢出。以騎兵分掠境內，而時遣羸卒薄城誘之。宋人出騎數百來拒，牙吾塔麾兵佯北，發伏擊之，斬首二百。宋人複出步騎八千來援，合擊敗之，殺一太尉，斬首三百。尋獲覘者，稱青平宋兵甚眾，將救盱眙。牙吾塔移兵赴之，宋兵步騎七千人突出，兵少卻，旋以輕騎扼其後。初逗留不與戰，縱之走東南，薄諸河，斬首千餘，溺死者無算，獲馬牛數百，甲仗以千計。師還，遇宋兵三千于連塘村，斬首千餘級，俘五十人，獲馬三十五疋，宣宗以其有功，賜金帶一。三年正月，敗宋人於濠州之香山村。二月，又敗之於滁州，斬首千級。拔小江寨，殺統制王大篷等，斬三萬，俘萬餘人。又拔輔嘉平山寨，斬首數千，俘五百餘人，獲馬牛數百，糧萬斛。三月，提控奧敦吾里不大敗宋人於上津縣，兵還至濠州，宋人以軍八千拒戰，牙吾塔迎擊敗之，獲馬百餘疋。

In the first month of Xingding 2 more than ten thousand Song troops attacked Sizhou. Yawuta marched to relieve them. At Linhuai he met three hundred Song soldiers and in a surprise attack killed nearly all of them. At Sizhou eight thousand Song troops had pressed the siege hard. He drove his men forward, routed them, and many drowned. He took more than three hundred horses and more than fifty prisoners. He then besieged Xuyi. The Song shut the gates and held firm, not daring to come out. He sent cavalry to raid the countryside and from time to time sent weak detachments close to the walls to lure them out. Several hundred Song horsemen came out to resist. Yawuta feigned a northward retreat, sprang an ambush, and beheaded two hundred men. The Song sent out eight thousand foot and horse in relief. He struck jointly and defeated them, killed one grand guardian, and beheaded three hundred. Soon he captured scouts who reported that a large Song force at Qingping was coming to relieve Xuyi. Yawuta shifted his force to meet them. Seven thousand Song foot and horse burst forth. His force being smaller, he drew back, then sent light cavalry to block their rear. At first he held back and did not engage, let them flee southeast, and drove them to the rivers. He beheaded more than a thousand; the drowned were beyond counting. He seized several hundred horses and cattle and armor and weapons by the thousand. On the return march he met three thousand Song troops at Liantang Village, beheaded more than a thousand, took fifty prisoners and thirty-five horses. The Xuanzong rewarded his merit with a gold belt. In the first month of year 3 he defeated the Song at Xiangshan Village in Haozhou. In the second month he defeated them again at Chuzhou and beheaded a thousand. He took Xiaojiang stockade, killed the controller Wang Dapeng and others, beheaded thirty thousand, and took more than ten thousand prisoners. He also took Fujia Pingshan stockade, beheaded several thousand, took more than five hundred prisoners, seized several hundred horses and cattle, and ten thousand hu of grain. In the third month army controller Aodun Wulida routed the Song at Shangjin County. When the army returned to Haozhou, eight thousand Song troops resisted. Yawuta met them and defeated them, taking more than a hundred horses.

五年正月，上以紅襖賊助宋為害，邊兵久勞苦，詔牙吾塔遺宋人書求戰，略曰：「宋與我國通好，百年於此，頃歲以來，納我叛亡，絕我貢幣，又遣紅襖賊乘間竊出，跳樑邊疆，使吾民不得休息。彼國若以此曹為足恃，請悉眾而來，一決勝負，果能當我之鋒，沿邊城邑當以相奉。度不能，即宜安分保境，何必狐號鼠竊、乘陰伺夜以為此態耶？且彼之將帥亦自受鉞總戎，而臨敵則望風遠遁，被攻則閉壘深藏，逮吾師還，然後現形耀影以示武。夫小民尚氣，女子有志者猶不爾也，切為彼國羞之。」

In the first month of year 5, because the Red Jacket rebels were helping Song harm the frontier and border troops had long been worn down, the emperor ordered Yawuta to send the Song a letter calling for battle. It read in part: "Song and our state have been at peace for a hundred years, yet in recent years you have taken in our deserters, cut off our tribute payments, and sent Red Jacket rebels to slip through whenever they saw a chance, raiding the border so our people cannot rest. If your state thinks such men are enough to rely on, bring your full army and let us settle the matter in one battle. If you can truly stand against our edge, the frontier towns shall be yours. If you know you cannot, keep to your borders in peace. Why yelp like foxes and steal like rats, waiting for night to play this game? Your own generals receive the commander's axe and take overall command, yet at the sight of the enemy they flee far off; when attacked they shut the ramparts and hide away, and only after our armies withdraw do they show themselves and cast shadows to display martial prowess. Even common folk still care about honor, and spirited women would not act this way. We are truly ashamed for your state."

先是，宋將時青襲破泗州西城。二月，牙吾塔將兵取之，宋兵拒守甚力，乃募死士以梯沖並進，大敗宋兵。時青乘城指麾，射中其目，遂拔眾南奔。乃陳兵橫絕走路擊之，宋兵大潰，遂複泗州西城。三月，複出兵宋境，以報其役，破團山、賈家等諸寨，進逼濠州。牙吾塔慮州人出拒，躬率勁兵逆之，遇邏騎二百於城東，擊殺過半。會偵者言前路芻糧甚艱，乃西掠定遠，由渦口而還。九月，又率兵渡淮，大破宋兵於團山，詔遷官升職有差。

Earlier, the Song general Shi Qing had raided and taken the western quarter of Sizhou. In the second month Yawuta led troops to retake it. The Song defenders fought hard, so he recruited dare-to-die men and advanced scaling ladders and battering rams together, routing the Song army. Shi Qing stood on the wall directing the defense. A shot struck Yawuta in the eye, and Shi Qing then withdrew his force south in flight. He then arrayed troops across the road to cut them off and strike. The Song army broke in rout, and he recovered the western quarter of Sizhou. In the third month he again led troops into Song territory to answer that campaign, broke the stockades at Tuan Mountain, Jiajia, and elsewhere, and pressed toward Haozhou. Fearing the prefectural forces would come out to resist, Yawuta personally led crack troops to meet them. East of the city he met two hundred patrol horsemen and killed more than half. When scouts reported that fodder and grain ahead were very scarce, he turned west to raid Dingyuan and returned by the Wo estuary. In the ninth month he again led troops across the Huai and routed the Song at Tuan Mountain. An edict promoted officers and raised ranks by degree.

二年四月，上言：「賞罰國之大信，帝王所以勸善而懲惡，其令一出，不可中變。向官軍戰歿者皆廩給其家，恩至厚也。臣近抵宿州，乃知例以楮幣折支，往往不給，至於失所。此殆有司出納之吝，不能奉行朝廷德意之過也。自今願支本色，令得贍濟。」以糧儲方艱，詔有司給其半。

In the fourth month of year 2 he submitted a memorial: "Rewards and punishments are a state's greatest pledge. Emperors use them to encourage good and punish evil. Once an order is issued, it must not be altered midway. Until now the families of officers and soldiers who died in battle have all been supported from the granaries—kindness carried to the utmost. When I recently reached Suzhou I learned that by regulation they are paid in discounted paper notes, and often not paid at all, so that families lose their livelihood. This is probably the fault of officials being stingy in disbursement and failing to carry out the court's benevolent intent. From now on I ask that payments be made in kind so that families may be supported." Because grain stores were then strained, an edict ordered the offices to pay half.

紅襖賊寇壽、潁，剽掠數日而去。牙吾塔聞之，率兵渡淮，偵知硃村、孝義村有賊各數百，分兵攻之，連破兩柵，及焚其村塢數十。還遇宋兵數百，陣淮南岸，擊殺其半，尋有兵千余自東南來追，複大敗之。

Red Jacket rebels raided Shou and Ying, plundered for several days, and withdrew. When Yawuta heard, he led troops across the Huai. Scouts reported several hundred rebels each at Zhucun and Xiaoyi villages. He divided his force to attack, broke two palisades in succession, and burned several dozen of their village forts. On his return he met several hundred Song troops arrayed on the south bank of the Huai and killed half of them. Soon more than a thousand troops pursued from the southeast, and he defeated them again.

先是，納合六哥殺元帥蒙古綱，據邳州以叛。十月，牙吾塔圍之，焚其樓櫓，斬首百餘。於是，宋鈐轄高顯、統制侯進、正將陳榮等知不能守，共誅六哥，持其首縋城降。六哥既誅，眾猶拒守，方督兵進攻，宋總領劉斌、提控黃溫等縛首亂顏俊、戚誼、完顏乞哥，及梟提控金山八打首，遣其校馬俊、吳珪來獻。既而紅襖監軍徐福、統制王喜等亦遣其總領孫成、總押徐琦納款。劉斌等遂率軍民出降，牙吾塔入城，撫慰其眾，各使安集，又招獲紅襖統制十有五人，將官訓練百三十有九人。十一月，遣人來報，仍函六哥首以獻。宣宗大喜，進牙吾塔官一階，賜金三百兩、內府重幣十端，將士遷賞有差。

Earlier, Nahan Liuge had killed Marshal Mengu Gang, seized Pizhou, and rebelled. In the tenth month Yawuta besieged it, burned its towers and stockadeworks, and beheaded more than a hundred men. Thereupon the Song commander Gao Xian, controller Hou Jin, regular general Chen Rong, and others, knowing they could not hold, jointly killed Liuge, lowered his head by rope from the wall, and surrendered. After Liuge was killed the people still resisted. As Yawuta was pressing the assault, Song chief Liu Bin, superintendent Huang Wen, and others sent the heads of the rebels Luan Yanjun, Qi Yi, and Wanyan Qige, and displayed the head of superintendent Jinshan Bada, dispatching their adjutants Ma Jun and Wu Gui to present them. Then Red Jacket monitor Xu Fu, controller Wang Xi, and others also sent their chief Sun Cheng and superintendent Xu Qi to submit allegiance. Liu Bin and the rest then led soldiers and civilians out to surrender. Yawuta entered the city, comforted the people, and had each group settle in peace. He also recruited fifteen Red Jacket controllers and one hundred thirty-nine officers and trainers. In the eleventh month he sent men to report and still sent Liuge's head in a box as tribute. Emperor Xuanzong rejoiced greatly, promoted Yawuta one rank, bestowed three hundred taels of gold and ten bolts of imperial fine silks, and rewarded officers and soldiers with promotions by degree.

正大三年十一月，北兵猝入西夏，攻中興府甚急。召陝西行省及陝州、靈寶二總帥訛可、牙吾塔議兵。又詔諭兩省曰：「倘邊方有警，內地可憂，若不早圖，恐成噬臍。旦夕事勢不同，隨機應變，若逐旋申奏，恐失事機，並從行省從宜規畫。」

In the eleventh month of Zhengda year 3, northern troops suddenly entered Western Xia and pressed Zhongxing Prefecture fiercely. The Shaanxi branch secretariat and the two marshals of Shanzhou and Lingbao, Wanyan Eke and Yawuta, were summoned to discuss military measures. An edict also instructed the two secretariats: "If the frontier should raise an alarm, the interior may be at risk. If we do not plan early, we may come to bite our navel. Day and night the situation differs; respond as events require. If we report step by step we may lose the moment. All follow the branch secretariat in discretionary planning."

四年，牙吾塔複取平陽，獲馬三千。是歲，大兵既滅夏國，進攻陝西德順、秦州、清水等城、遂自鳳翔入京兆，關中大震。五年，圍慶陽。六年十月，上命陝省以羊酒及幣赴慶陽犒北帥，為緩師計。北中亦遣唐慶等往來議和，尋遣斡骨欒為小使，徑來行省。十二月，詔以牙吾塔與副樞蒲阿權簽樞密院事，內族訛可將兵救慶陽。七年正月，戰于大昌原，慶陽圍解。詔以牙吾塔為左副元帥，屯京兆。初，斡骨欒來，行省恐泄事機，因留之。蒲阿等既解慶陽之圍，志氣驕滿，乃遣還，謂使者曰：「我已準備軍馬，可戰鬥來。」語甚不遜，斡骨欒以此言上聞，太宗皇帝大怒，至應州，以九日拜天，即親統大兵入陝西。八年，遷居民于河南，棄京兆東還。五月，至閿鄉，得寒疾，汗不出，死。

In year 4 Yawuta again took Pingyang and captured three thousand horses. That year, after Great Yuan forces had destroyed the Xia state, they attacked Dexun, Qinzhou, Qingshui, and other cities in Shaanxi, then entered Jingzhao from Fengxiang. Guanzhong was shaken to its core. In year 5 they besieged Qingyang. In the tenth month of year 6 the emperor ordered the Shaanxi secretariat to take sheep, wine, and silks to Qingyang to reward the northern commanders as a strategy to slow the campaign. The north also sent Tang Qing and others back and forth to discuss peace. Soon they dispatched Woguluan as a junior envoy directly to the branch secretariat. In the twelfth month an edict appointed Yawuta and Vice Censor-in-Chief Pu'a to hold acting signatures at the Bureau of Military Affairs, while imperial clansman Wanyan Eke was to lead troops to relieve Qingyang. In the first month of year 7 they fought at Dachangyuan and the siege of Qingyang was lifted. An edict made Yawuta Left Vice Marshal and stationed him at Jingzhao. When Woguluan had first arrived, the branch secretariat feared leaking their plans and therefore detained him. After Pu'a and the others had lifted the siege of Qingyang, their spirits were swollen with pride. They sent Woguluan back, telling the envoy: "We have already prepared horses and troops. Come fight if you will." The words were deeply insolent. Woguluan reported them upward. Emperor Taizong was greatly enraged. Reaching Yingzhou, on the ninth day he worshipped Heaven and at once personally led great forces into Shaanxi. In year 8 the inhabitants were moved to Henan. Jingzhao was abandoned and they withdrew east. In the fifth month, reaching Wenxiang, he contracted a chilling illness, could not sweat, and died.

「塔」亦作「太」，亦曰「牙忽帶」，蓋女直語，無正字也。是歲九月，國信使內族乘慶自北使還，始知牙吾塔不遜激怒之語，且言慶等在旁心魄震盪，殆不忍聞。當時以帥臣不知書，誤國乃爾。

"Ta" is also written "Tai"; it is also called "Yahudai"—a Jurchen word with no standard written form. In the ninth month of that year the credential envoy, imperial clansman Cheng Qing, returned from the northern mission and first learned of Yawuta's insolent words that had provoked them. He also said that while he stood at their side his heart and soul shook, scarcely able to bear what he heard. At the time people said that because the commander was illiterate, he had mistaken the state in this way.

塔為人鷙狠狼戾，好結小人，不聽朝廷節制。嘗入朝，詣省堂，詆毀宰執，宰執亦不敢言，而上倚其鎮東方，亦優容之。尤不喜文士，僚屬有長裾者，輒以刀截去。又喜淩侮使者，凡朝廷遣使來，必以酒食困之。或辭以不飲，因並食不給，使餓而去。司農少卿張用章以行戶部過宿，塔飲以酒。張辭以寒疾，塔笑曰：「此易治耳。」趨左右持艾來，臥張於床，灸之數十。又以銀符佩妓，屢往州郡取賕，州將之妻皆遠迎迓，號「省差行首」，厚賄之。禦史康錫上章劾之，且曰：「朝廷容之，適所以害之。欲保全其人，宜加裁制。」朝廷竟不治其罪，以屢敗宋兵，威震淮、泗。好用鼓椎擊人，世呼曰「盧鼓椎」，其名可以怖兒啼，大概如呼「麻胡」雲。

Yawuta was fierce, cruel, and wolfish by nature. He liked to bond with petty men and would not obey court regulation. Once he came to court and went to the Secretariat hall to slander the chief ministers. The chief ministers did not dare reply, while the emperor relied on him to guard the east and likewise indulged him. He especially disliked literary gentlemen. If a subordinate wore long robes, he would slash them off with a blade. He also delighted in humiliating envoys. Whenever the court sent an envoy, he would wear him down with food and drink. If they declined to drink, he would give no food at all and send them away hungry. Vice Minister of Agriculture Zhang Yongzhang was passing through on a Households mission and stayed overnight. Yawuta pressed wine on him. Zhang declined on account of a chilling illness. Yawuta laughed and said, "That is easy to cure." He hurried his attendants to bring moxa, laid Zhang on the bed, and burned him with moxa several dozen times. He also wore a silver tally on courtesans and repeatedly went to prefectures and districts to take bribes. Wives of prefectural commanders went far to meet and escort them, calling them "provincial detachment headmen," and gave them heavy bribes. Censor Kang Xi submitted a memorial impeaching him, saying: "The court's indulgence of him is precisely what harms him. If one wishes to preserve the man, one should impose restraint." The court ultimately did not punish his crimes. Because he repeatedly defeated Song troops, his prestige shook the Huai and Si region. He liked to beat people with a drum mallet. The world called him "Lu drum mallet," a name that could frighten children into silence—much like crying "Mahu," as people say.

有子名阿里合，世目曰「小鼓椎」，嘗為元帥，從哀宗至歸德，與蒲察官奴作亂，伏誅。

He had a son named Alihe, known to the world as "Little drum mallet." He once served as marshal, followed Emperor Aizong to Guide, joined Pucha Guannu in rebellion, and was executed.

贊曰：金自胡沙虎、高琪用事，風俗一變，朝廷矯寬厚之政，好為苛察，然為之不果，反成姑息。將帥鄙儒雅之風，好為粗豪，然用非其宜，終至跋扈。牙吾塔戰勝攻取，威行江、淮，而矜暴不法，肆侮王人，此豈可制者乎？棄陝而歸，死於道途，殆其幸歟！其子效尤，竟陷大僇，君子乃知康錫之言不為過也。

The encomium says: From the time Hushahu and Gao Qi held power in Jin, customs changed at a stroke. The court narrowed its generous policy and came to favor harsh scrutiny, yet could not carry it through and instead became indulgent. Generals despised refined manners and favored crude bravado, yet employed them inappropriately and in the end came to insubordination. Yawuta won battles and took cities; his might ran the Yangtze and Huai, yet he was violent and lawless and wantonly insulted the king's men. Could such a man be controlled? Abandoning Shaanxi and returning east, he died on the road—perhaps that was his good fortune! His son followed his example and in the end suffered great punishment. Gentlemen then knew that Kang Xi's words had not been excessive.

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