Volume 114 Biographies 52: Bai Hua, Xiemaoaishi relative: Hezhou, Shimoshiji

三年五月，宋人掠壽州，永州桃園軍失利，死者四百餘人。時夏全自楚州來奔。十一月庚申，集百官議和宋。上問全所以來，華奏：「全初在盱眙，從宋帥劉卓往楚州。州人訛言劉大帥來，欲屠城中北人耳。眾軍怒，殺卓以城來歸。全終不自安，跳走盱眙，盱眙不納，城下索妻孥，又不從，計無所出，乃狼狽而北，止求自免，無他慮也。」華因是為上所知。全至後，盱眙、楚州，王義深、張惠、范成進相繼以城降。詔改楚州為平淮府，以全為金源郡王、平淮府都總管，張惠臨淄郡王，義深東平郡王，成進膠西郡王。和宋議寢。四年，李全據楚州，眾皆謂盱眙不可守，上不從，乃以淮南王招全，全曰：「王義深、范成進皆我部曲而受王封，何以處我。」竟不至。

In the fifth month of the third year, the Song raided Shou Prefecture, and the Taoyuan Army at Yong Prefecture was defeated, leaving more than four hundred dead. At that time Xia Quan defected from Chu Prefecture and came over to the Jin. On gengshen day in the eleventh month, the court gathered the officials to deliberate on making peace with the Song. When the emperor asked why Quan had come, Hua reported: "Quan had been at Xuyi and followed the Song commander Liu Zhuo to Chu Prefecture. The townspeople spread a rumor that Grand Commander Liu was coming to slaughter every northerner in the city. The soldiers, enraged, killed Zhuo and offered the city in surrender. Quan never felt secure; he bolted to Xuyi, which refused him entry, then stood below the walls demanding his wife and children, which was also refused. With nowhere to turn, he fled north in disorder, asking only to save his own skin and nothing more." In this way Hua won the emperor's notice. After Quan arrived, Wang Yishen, Zhang Hui, and Fan Chengjin surrendered Xuyi and Chu Prefecture one after another. An edict renamed Chu Prefecture Pinghuai Prefecture, made Quan Prince of Jinyuan and chief commander of Pinghuai, Zhang Hui Prince of Linzi, Yishen Prince of Dongping, and Chengjin Prince of Jiaoxi. Talk of peace with the Song was set aside. In the fourth year Li Quan held Chu Prefecture. Many said Xuyi could not be defended, but the emperor refused to abandon it and enfeoffed Quan as Prince of Huainan. Quan replied: "Yishen and Chengjin were my own men yet were made princes—what rank do you intend for me?" He never came.

是歲，慶山奴敗績於龜山。五年秋，增築歸德城，擬工數百萬，宰相奏遣華往相役，華見行院溫撒辛，語以民勞，朝廷愛養之意，減工三之一。溫撒，李辛賜姓也。

That year Qingshan Nu suffered defeat at Guishan. In the autumn of the fifth year the enlargement of Guide's walls was projected to cost millions in labor; the chief ministers proposed sending Hua to supervise the work. Hua met Wensa Xin of the Directorate, spoke of the people's exhaustion and the court's care for them, and cut the labor by a third. Wensa was Li Xin, who had been granted a surname.

六年，以華權樞密院判官。上召忠孝軍總領蒲察定住、經歷王仲澤、戶部郎中刁璧及華諭之曰：「李全據有楚州，睥睨山東，久必為患。今北事稍緩，合乘此隙令定住權監軍，率所統軍一千，別遣都尉司步軍萬人，以璧、仲澤為參謀，同往沂、海界招之，不從則以軍馬從事，卿等以為何如？」華對曰：「臣以為李全借大兵之勢，要宋人供給饋餉，特一猾寇耳。老狐穴塚，待夜而出，何足介懷。我所慮者北方之強耳。今北方有事，未暇南圖，一旦事定，必來攻矣。與我爭天下者此也，全何預焉。若北方事定，全將聽命不暇，設不自量，更有非望，天下之人寧不知逆順，其肯去順而從逆乎！為今計者，姑養士馬，以備北方。使全果有不軌之謀，亦當發於北朝息兵之日，當此則我易與矣。」上沉思良久曰：「卿等且退，容我更思。」明日，遣定住還屯尉氏。

In the sixth year Hua was appointed acting judge of the Bureau of Military Affairs. The emperor summoned Pucha Dingzhu, chief of the Loyal and Filial Army, Wang Zhongze, staff officer, Dia Bi of the Revenue Bureau, and Hua and said: "Li Quan holds Chu Prefecture and eyes Shandong; before long he will be a menace. The northern front has slackened; use this opening to let Dingzhu oversee the army in the field with his thousand men, send ten thousand infantry of the Cavalry Command, and send Bi and Zhongze as advisers to summon Quan on the Yi–Hai border. If he refuses, move against him with horse and foot. What do you think?" Hua answered: "I believe Li Quan leans on our great army's strength to force the Song to feed him—nothing but a slippery outlaw. An old fox in its burrow waits for night to stir—why trouble ourselves? What troubles me is the power to the north. The northern power is occupied elsewhere and has no time to turn south; when that business is done, they will attack us. They are the ones who will fight us for the empire—what is Quan to that? When the north is settled, Quan will barely keep pace with our orders; if he dares more, will anyone under heaven not know loyalty from treason—who would abandon the lawful to follow a rebel? The policy for now is to rest soldiers and horses against the northern threat. Any treason in Quan will show itself only after the northern dynasty stands down; then he will be easy to handle." The emperor thought long and said: "Withdraw for now; I must consider further." The next day he ordered Dingzhu back to camp at Weishi.

時陝西兵大勢已去，留脫或欒駐慶陽以擾河朔，且有攻河中之耗，而衛州帥府與恆山公府並立，慮一旦有警，節制不一，欲合二府為一，又恐其不和，命華往經畫之。初，華在院屢承面諭云：「汝為院官，不以軍馬責汝。汝辭辯，特以合喜、蒲阿皆武夫，一語不相入，便為齟齬，害事非細，今以汝調停之，或有乖忤，罪及汝矣。院中事當一一奏我，汝之職也。今衛州之委，亦前日調停之意。」

The Shaanxi army's main force was already gone; Tuo Wo or Luan held Qingyang to trouble Hebei, with word of a thrust at the Middle He. The Weizhou command and the Duke of Hengshan's office both stood, and lest an alarm find them divided, the court wished to unite them but feared discord, and sent Hua to settle the matter. Before, while Hua served in the bureau, the emperor had told him repeatedly: "As a bureau officer I do not charge you with armies. You are quick with words; Hexi and Pu A are soldiers, and a single disagreement breeds friction that harms the state. I send you to mediate—any breach, and you bear it. Report every bureau matter to me—that is your charge. The Weizhou assignment is the same kind of mediation."

國制，凡樞密院上下所倚任者名奏事官，其目有三，一曰承受聖旨，二曰奏事，三曰省院議事，皆以一人主之。承受聖旨者，凡院官奏事，或上處分，獨召奏事官付之，多至一二百言，或直傳上旨，辭多者即與近侍局官批寫。奏事者，謂事有區處當取奏裁者殿奏，其奏每嫌辭費，必欲言簡而意明，退而奉行，即立文字，謂之檢目。省院官殿上議事則默記之，議定歸院，亦立檢目呈覆。有疑則復稟，無則付掾史施行。其赴省議者，議既定，留奏事官與省左右司官同立奏草，圓覆諸相無異同，則右司奏上。此三者之外又有難者，曰備顧問，如軍馬糧草器械、軍帥部曲名數、與夫屯駐地裏厄塞遠近之類，凡省院一切事務，顧問之際一不能應，輒以不用心被譴，其職為甚難，故以華處之。

By state rule, the men the Bureau of Military Affairs relied on were called memorial officers, in three kinds: receiving the sacred edict, memorializing, and deliberating with the provincial offices—each held by one person. The receiver of edicts took every bureau memorial, imperial disposition, or private summons, often one or two hundred words, or the emperor's words directly; longer orders were drafted with the Inner Service Bureau. The memorializer presented matters needing the throne's ruling; memorials had to be brief and clear, then on withdrawal were executed as written inspection items. When provincial officers debated in court he noted in silence; when debate ended they returned to the bureau and submitted inspection items. Doubts were reported again; otherwise clerks carried them out. For provincial deliberation, once settled the memorial officer and the province's left and right officers drafted the memorial; if all ministers agreed, the right officer submitted it. Beyond these was the harder role of adviser on call—horses, grain, arms, commanders' rolls, camp terrain, passes, distances—for any bureau or provincial matter, one failure at consultation brought rebuke; the post was arduous, and Hua was given it.

五月，以丞相賽不行尚書省事于關中，蒲阿率完顏陳和尚忠孝軍一千駐邠州，且令審觀北勢。如是兩月，上謂白華曰：「汝往邠州六日可往復否？」華自量日可馳三百，應之曰：「可。」上令密諭蒲阿才候春首，當事慶陽。華如期而還。上一日顧謂華言：「我見汝從來凡語及征進，必有難色，今此一舉特銳于平時，何也？」華曰：「向日用兵，以南征及討李全之事梗之，不能專意北方，故以北向為難。今日異于平時，況事至於此，不得不一舉。大軍入界已三百餘里，若縱之令下秦川則何以救，終當一戰摧之。戰于近裏之平川，不若戰于近邊之險隘。」上亦以為然。

In the fifth month Chief Minister Sai could not manage Revenue affairs in Guanzhong; Pu A led a thousand Loyal and Filial troops under Wanyan Chenheshang to Bin Prefecture to watch the north. After two months the emperor asked Bai Hua: "Can you reach Bin and return in six days?" Hua reckoned three hundred li a day and said: "Yes." The emperor told him to instruct Pu A in secret to wait for early spring, then strike at Qingyang. Hua returned on time. One day the emperor said to Hua: "Whenever we speak of campaigning you look uneasy; this time you are keener than usual—why?" Hua said: "Before, southern wars and the Li Quan affair blocked us from facing north, so a northern campaign was hard. Now is not ordinary times, and matters have reached this point—we must act. Their main force is three hundred li in; if we let them down into the Qin plain there is no saving it—we must fight and crush them. Battle in frontier narrows, not on nearby open ground. The emperor agreed.

七年正月，慶陽圍解，大軍還。白華上奏：「凡今之計，兵食為急。除密院已定忠孝軍及馬軍都尉司步軍足為一戰之資，此外應河南府州亦須簽揀防城軍，秋聚春放，依古務農講武之義，各令防本州府城，以今見在九十七萬，無致他日為資敵之用。」五月，華真授樞密判官，上遣近侍局副使七斤傳旨云：「朕用汝為院官，非責汝將兵對壘，第欲汝立軍中綱紀、發遣文移、和睦將帥、究察非違，至於軍伍之閱習、器仗之修整，皆汝所職。其悉力國家，以稱朕意。」

In the first month of the seventh year Qingyang's siege was raised and the great army withdrew. Bai Hua memorialized: "Every policy today turns on troops and grain. Besides the Loyal and Filial Army and the cavalry and infantry command already set by the secret bureau for one battle, southern prefectures should muster garrison troops—mustered in autumn, released in spring—in the old way of farming and drilling, each to hold its city, keeping the present ninety-seven thousand from ever arming the foe. In the fifth month Hua received full appointment as bureau judge; the emperor sent Inner Service deputy Qijin with the edict: "I made you a bureau officer not to duel the enemy in the field, but to enforce discipline, dispatch papers, reconcile commanders, and probe misconduct; drilling troops and repairing arms are yours. Serve the state with all your strength, as I expect."

八年，大軍自去歲入陝西，翱翔京兆、同、華之間，破南山砦柵六十餘所。已而攻鳳翔，金軍自閿鄉屯至澠池，兩行省晏然不動。宰相台諫皆以樞院瞻望逗遛為言，京兆士庶橫議蜂起，以至諸相力奏上前。上曰：「合達、蒲阿必相度機會，可進而進耳。若督之使戰，終出勉強，恐無益而反害也。」因遣白華與右司郎中夾谷八里門道宰相百官所言，並問以「目今二月過半，有怠歸之形，諸軍何故不動？」且詔華等往復六日。華等既到同，諭兩行省以上意。合達言：「不見機會，見則動耳。」蒲阿曰：「彼軍絕無糧餉，使欲戰不得，欲留不能，將自敝矣。」合達對蒲阿及諸帥則言不可動，見士大夫則言可動，人謂合達近嘗得罪，又畏蒲阿方得君，不敢與抗，而亦言不可動。華等觀二相見北兵勢大皆有懼心，遂私問樊澤、定住、陳和尚以為何如，三人者皆曰：」他人言北兵疲困，故可攻，此言非也。大兵所在，豈可輕料？是真不敢動。」華等還，以二相及諸將意奏之，上曰：」我故知其怯不敢動矣。」即復遣華傳旨諭二相云：「鳳翔圍久，恐守者力不能支。行省當領軍出關，宿華陰界，次日及華陰，次日及華州，略與渭北軍交手。計大兵聞之必當奔赴，且以少紓鳳翔之急，我亦得為掣肘計耳。」二相回奏領旨。華東還及中牟，已有兩行省納奏人追及，華取報密院副本讀之，言：「領旨提軍出關二十里至華陰界，與渭北軍交，是晚收軍入關。」華為之仰天浩歎曰：「事至於此，無如之何矣。」華至京，奏章已達，知所奏為徒然，不二三日鳳翔陷，兩行省遂棄京兆，與牙古塔起遷居民于河南，留慶山奴守之。

In the eighth year the army that had entered Shaanxi the year before ranged between Jingzhao, Tong, and Hua and stormed more than sixty southern mountain stockades. They then besieged Fengxiang; Jin forces moved from Min to Mianchi while both provincial offices did nothing. Ministers and censors accused the secret bureau of delay; Jingzhao murmured until every minister pressed the throne. The emperor said: "Heda and Pu A will seize the moment and advance when they may. Force them to battle and it will be reluctant—I fear harm, not help. He sent Bai Hua with right bureau director Jiagu Balimen to relay the ministers' words and ask: "Half of the second month is past and they seem ready to withdraw—why do the armies not move?" He gave Hua six days for the round trip. At Tong, Hua and his party delivered the emperor's message to both provincial offices. Heda said: "Without an opening we do not move; when we see one, we do." Pu A said: "They have no grain at all; they cannot fight if they wish, nor stay if they wish—they will exhaust themselves." To Pu A and the generals Heda said they must not move; to the literati he said they could. Men said Heda had lately given offense and, fearing Pu A's favor, dared not oppose him and so also said no move. Hua saw both ministers feared the northern host and privately asked Fan Ze, Dingzhu, and Chenheshang; all three said: "The talk that the northern army is spent and can be attacked is wrong. How can one lightly judge where the main army stands? They truly dare not move. Hua reported the ministers' and generals' views; the emperor said: "I knew they were too timid to move." He sent Hua again to tell both ministers: "Fengxiang has been besieged long; the defenders may not hold. Lead the army out of the pass, camp on the Huayin frontier, reach Huayin the next day and Hua Prefecture the day after, and skirmish with the Weibei force. The main army will hurry over, easing Fengxiang a little and giving us a lever. Both ministers memorialized receipt of the order. Hua was east of Zhongmou when provincial messengers caught him; he read the bureau copy: "We led the army twenty li beyond the pass to Huayin, fought the Weibei force, and withdrew into the pass that evening. Hua sighed to heaven: "It has come to this—nothing can be done." At the capital his memorial was already in; he knew it was useless. In two or three days Fengxiang fell; both offices abandoned Jingzhao, moved the people to Henan with Yaguta, and left Qingshan Nu behind.

夏五月，楊妙真以夫李全死于宋，構浮橋于楚州之北，就北帥梭魯胡吐乞師復仇。朝廷覘知之，以謂北軍果能渡淮，淮與河南跬步間耳，遣合達、蒲阿駐軍桃源界滶河口備之。兩行省乃約宋帥趙范，趙葵為夾攻之計。二趙亦遣人報聘，俱以議和為名，以張聲勢。二相屢以軍少為言，而省院難之，因上奏云：「向來附關屯駐半年，適還舊屯，喘不及息，又欲以暑月東行，實無可圖之事，徒自疲而已。況兼桃源、青口蚊虻湫濕之地，不便牧養，目今非征進時月，決不敢妄動。且我之所慮，特楚州浮梁耳。姑以計圖之，已遣提控王銳往視可否。」奏上，上遣白華以此傳諭二相，兼領王銳行。二相不悅。蒲阿遣水軍虹縣所屯王提控者以小船二十四隻，令華順河而下，必到八里莊城門為期，且曰：「此中望八里莊，如在雲間天上，省院端坐，徒事口吻，今樞判親來，可以相視可否，歸而奏之。」華力辭不獲，遂登舟。及淮與河合流處，才及八里莊城門相直，城守者以白鷂大船五十溯流而上，占其上流以截華歸路。華幾不得還，昏黑得徑先歸，乃悟兩省怒朝省不益軍，謂皆華輩主之，故擠之險地耳。是夜二更後，八里莊次將遣人送款云：「早者主將出城開船，截大金歸路，某等商議，主將還即閉門不納，渠已奔去楚州，乞發軍馬接應。」二相即發兵騎、開船赴約，明旦入城安慰，又知楚州大軍已還河朔，宋將燒浮橋，二相附華納奏，上大喜。

In summer, the fifth month, Yang Miaozhen—her husband Li Quan having been killed by the Song—built a pontoon bridge north of Chu Prefecture and asked the northern commander Soluhutu for troops to avenge him. The court learned of it and judged that if the northern army crossed the Huai, Henan lay a step away; Heda and Pu A were sent to the Taoyuan frontier at the Mo River mouth. Both provincial offices then arranged with Song commanders Zhao Fan and Zhao Kui for a joint attack. The two Zhaos sent envoys as well, all under the name of peace talks, to swell their show of force. The two ministers pleaded few troops while the provincial and bureau offices objected; they memorialized: "We camped at Fu Pass half a year and have only just returned, scarcely breathing, and now they want us east in summer heat—there is nothing to gain, only weariness. Taoyuan and Qingkou are fly-ridden marshes, poor for grazing; this is not the season to campaign, and we dare not stir rashly. We worry only about the pontoon at Chu Prefecture. For now let us plot against it; we have sent Commander Wang Rui to see if it is feasible. The emperor sent Bai Hua to tell both ministers and to accompany Wang Rui. Both ministers were displeased. Pu A sent the naval commander Wang at Hong county with twenty-four small boats and ordered Hua downriver to reach Balizhuang's gate on schedule, saying: "From here Balizhuang seems in the clouds; the capital offices sit and talk; now the bureau judge comes—you can see for yourselves and report back. Hua protested in vain and boarded. At the Huai–river confluence he had only lined up with Balizhuang's gate when the garrison sent fifty large "white hawk" boats upstream to block his return. Hua nearly failed to return; in the dark he took a bypath and got back first, and understood both offices were angry the capital would not add troops, blamed men like Hua, and had pushed him into peril. After the second watch Balizhuang's deputy sent surrender: "Earlier the commander went out to block the Jin return; we agreed not to admit him when he returned; he has fled to Chu Prefecture—send troops to receive us. Both ministers sent horse and boat at once; at dawn they entered to reassure the city, learned the Chu Prefecture main force had returned to Hebei and the Song had burned the bridge; Hua submitted the memorial and the emperor rejoiced.

初，合達謀取宋淮陰。五月渡淮。淮陰主者胡路鈐往楚州計事于楊妙真，比還，提正官郭恩送款于金，胡還不納，慟哭而去。合達遂入淮陰，詔改歸州，以行省烏古論葉裏哥守之，郭恩為元帥右都監。既而，宋人以銀絹五萬兩匹來贖盱眙龜山，宋使留館中，郭恩謀劫而取之，或報之于盱眙帥府，即以軍至，恩不果發。明日，宋將劉虎、湯孝信以船三十艘燒浮梁，因遣其將夏友諒來攻盱眙，未下。泗州總領完顏矢哥利館中銀絹，遂反。防禦使徒單塔剌聞變，扼罘山亭甬路，好謂之曰：「容我拜辭朝廷然後死。」遂取朝服望闕拜，慟良久，投亭下水死。矢哥遂以州歸楊妙真，總帥納合買住亦以盱眙降宋。

Earlier Heda had planned to take Song Huaiyin. In the fifth month he crossed the Huai. Huaiyin's commander Hu Luqian had gone to Chu to consult Yang Miaozhen; on his return Guo En, supervising officer, offered surrender to the Jin, but Hu refused and left in tears. Heda entered Huaiyin; an edict renamed it Gui Prefecture, with provincial officer Wugulun Yelige as defender and Guo En as right deputy commander. Soon the Song sent fifty thousand taels of silver and bolts of silk to ransom Guishan at Xuyi; the envoy lodged at the guesthouse; Guo En plotted to seize it by force, but word reached the Xuyi command, troops came at once, and En could not act. Next day Liu Hu and Tang Xiaoxin of the Song burned the pontoon with thirty boats and sent Xia Youliang against Xuyi without success. Sizhou chief Wanyan Shigel had silver and silk lodged at the guesthouse and rebelled. Defender Tushan Tala, hearing the mutiny, blocked the Fushan Pavilion causeway and said kindly: "Let me take leave of the court before I die." He donned court dress, bowed toward the palace, mourned long, and drowned himself in the water below the pavilion. Shige surrendered the prefecture to Yang Miaozhen, and commander-in-chief Nahan Maizhu surrendered Xuyi to the Song as well.

九月，陝西行省防秋，時大兵在河中，睿宗已領兵入界，慶山奴報糧盡，將棄京兆而東。一日，白華奏，偵候得睿宗所領軍馬四萬，行營軍一萬，佈置如此，「為今計者，與其就漢禦之，諸軍比到，可行半月，不若徑往河中。目今沿河屯守，一日可渡，如此中得利，襄、漢軍馬必當遲疑不進。在北為投機，在南為掣肘，臣以為如此便」。上曰：「此策汝畫之，為得之他人？」華曰：「臣愚見如此。」上平日銳于武事，聞華言若欣快者，然竟不行。

In the ninth month the Shaanxi provincial office prepared autumn defense; the great army was in the Middle He, Ruizong had crossed the border, and Qingshan Nu reported grain spent and meant to abandon Jingzhao for the east. Bai Hua memorialized that scouts reported Ruizong with forty thousand horse and ten thousand camp troops, and said: "Better than meeting them in Han after half a month's march is to strike straight for the Middle He. The river garrisons could be crossed in a day—we gain the center, and Xiang–Han forces will hang back. In the north it is opportunity; in the south it is leverage—I think this best." The emperor asked: "Is this your plan or someone else's?" Hua said: "It is my own humble view." The emperor, usually eager for war, seemed pleased at Hua's words, yet did not act.

未幾，合達自陝州進奏帖，亦為此事，上得奏甚喜。蒲阿時在洛陽，驛召之，蓋有意於此矣。蒲阿至，奏對之間不及此，止言大兵前鋒忒木泬統之，將出冷水穀口，且當先禦此軍。上曰：「朕不問此，只欲問河中可搗否。」蒲阿不獲已，始言睿宗所領兵騎雖多，計皆冗雜。大兵軍少而精，無非選鋒。金軍北渡，大兵必遣輜重屯於平陽之北，匿其選鋒百里之外，放我師渡，然後斷我歸路與我決戰，恐不得利。」上曰：「朕料汝如此，果然。更不須再論，且還陝州。」蒲阿曰：「合達樞密使所言，此間一面革撥恐亦未盡，乞召至同議可否。」上曰：「見得合達亦止此而已，往復遲滯，轉致誤事。」華奏合達必見機會，召至同議為便。副樞赤盞合喜亦奏蒲阿、白華之言為是。上乃從之。召合達至，上令先與密院議定，然後入見。既議，華執合達奏帖舉似再三，竟無一先發言者。移時，蒲阿言：「且勾當冷水穀一軍何如。」合達曰：「是矣。」遂入見。上問卿等所議若何，合達敷奏，其言甚多，大概言河中之事與前日上奏時勢不同，所奏亦不敢自主，議遂寢。二相還陝，量以軍馬出冷水谷，奉行故事而已。十二月，河中府破。

Soon Heda memorialized from Shaan on the same matter, and the emperor was delighted. Pu A was at Luoyang and summoned by courier—the emperor clearly intended this. Pu A, at audience, did not mention it, saying only that vanguard Temu Bo would issue from Cold Water Valley and must be met first. The emperor said: "I do not ask that—I ask whether the Middle He can be struck." Pressed, Pu A said Ruizong's horse were many but the plan redundant. The great army was few but elite—all picked vanguard. If we crossed north they would park baggage north of Pingyang, hide vanguard a hundred li off, let us cross, then cut our retreat and fight—we would not profit. The emperor said: "I reckoned you would say so—and so you have. Say no more; return to Shaan." Pu A said: "Heda's words—reorganization here may be incomplete; summon him to judge feasibility." The emperor said: "Heda would say the same; delay would only harm affairs." Hua said Heda would see the chance and that joint deliberation was best. Deputy judge Chisan Hexi also said Pu A and Bai Hua were right. The emperor agreed. Heda was summoned to settle matters with the secret bureau before audience. After deliberation Hua held up Heda's memorial repeatedly, yet no one spoke first. After a while Pu A said: "Let us handle the Cold Water army first—how is that?" Heda said: "So be it." They then entered audience. The emperor asked their conclusion; Heda spoke at length, saying the Middle He situation differed from his earlier memorial and he dared not decide—the plan died. Both ministers returned to Shaan and sent troops to Cold Water Valley in mere form. In the twelfth month the Middle He prefecture fell.

九年，京城被攻。四月兵退，改元天興。是月十六日，並樞密院歸尚書省，以宰相兼院官，左右司首領官兼經歷官，惟平章白撒、副樞合喜、院判白華、權院判完顏忽魯剌退罷。忽魯剌有口辯，上愛幸之。朝議罪忽魯剌，而書生輩妒華得君，先嘗以語撼之，用是而罷。金制，樞密院雖主兵，而節制在尚書省。兵興以來，茲制漸改，凡是軍事，省官不得預，院官獨任專見，往往敗事。言者多以為將相權不當分，至是始並之。

In the ninth year the capital was attacked. In the fourth month the army withdrew and the era was renamed Tianxing. On the sixteenth the secret bureau was merged into Revenue, ministers doubling as bureau officers; Grand Councilor Bai Sa, Deputy Hexi, Judge Bai Hua, and Acting Judge Wanyan Hulula alone were dismissed. Hulula was glib and the emperor favored him. Court blamed Hulula, but scholar-officials jealous of Hua's favor had undermined him, and so he was dismissed. By Jin law the secret bureau commanded troops but Revenue controlled them. Since war began provincial officers were shut out of military affairs and bureau officers alone decided, often to ruin. Critics had long said civil and military power must not be split; now they were united.

十二月朔，上遣近侍局提點曳剌粘古即白華所居，問事勢至於此，計將安出。華附奏：「今耕稼已廢，糧斛將盡，四外援兵皆不可指擬，車駕當出就外兵。可留皇兄荊王使之監國，任其裁處。聖主既出，遣使告語北朝，我出非他處收整軍馬，止以軍卒擅誅唐慶，和議從此斷絕，京師今付之荊王，乞我一二州以老耳。如此則太后皇族可存，正如《春秋》紀季入齊為附庸之事，聖主亦得少寬矣。」於是起華為右司郎中。初，親巡之計決，諸將皆預其議，將退，首領官張袞、聶天驥奏：「尚有舊人諳練軍務者，乃置而不用，今所用者，皆不見軍中事體，此為未盡。」上問未用者何人，皆曰院判白華，上頷之，故有是命。

On the first of the twelfth month the emperor sent Inner Service director Yelazhangu to Hua's home to ask what plan remained now that affairs had reached this pass. Hua memorialized: "Farming is ruined, grain nearly spent, relief from four sides uncertain—the emperor should go out to the armies. Leave the Prince of Jing to oversee the realm as he judges fit. Tell the north: we leave not to gather troops but because soldiers killed Tang Qing and peace is ended; the capital goes to the Prince of Jing; grant us one or two prefectures for our old age. So the empress dowager and clan may survive, as Ji Ji entered Qi as a vassal in the Spring and Autumn—the emperor may rest easier. Hua was then made right bureau director. When the personal campaign was decided, all generals took part; on withdrawal Zhang Gun and Nie Tianji said old hands versed in war were unused while newcomers knew nothing of the army. Asked who was unused, all named Bai Hua; the emperor nodded and appointed him.

明日，召華諭之曰：「親巡之計已決，但所往群議未定，有言歸德四面皆水，可以自保者，或言可沿西山入鄧。或言設欲入鄧，大將速不泬今在汝州，不如取陳、蔡路轉往鄧下。卿以為如何？」華曰：「歸德城雖堅，久而食盡，坐以待斃，決不可往。欲往鄧下，既汝州有速不泬，斷不能往。以今日事勢，博徒所謂孤注者也。孤注雲者，止有背城之戰。為今之計，當直赴汝州，與之一決，有楚則無漢，有漢則無楚。汝州戰不如半途戰，半途戰又不如出城戰，所以然者何？我軍食力猶在，馬則豆力猶在。若出京益遠，軍食日減，馬食野草，事益難矣。若我軍便得戰，存亡決此一舉，外則可以激三軍之氣，內則可以慰都人之心。或止為避遷之計，人心顧戀家業，未必毅然從行。可詳審之。」遂召諸相及首領官同議，禾速嘉兀地不、元帥豬兒、高顯、王義深俱主歸德之議，丞相賽不主鄧，議竟不能決。明日，制旨京城食盡，今擬親出，聚集軍士于大慶殿諭以此意，諭訖，諸帥將佐合辭奏曰：「聖主不可親出，止可命將，三軍欣然願為國家效死。」上猶豫，欲以官奴為馬軍帥，高顯為步軍帥，劉益副之，蓋采輿議也，而三人者亦欲奉命。權參政內族訛出大罵云：「汝輩把鋤不知高下，國家大事，敢易承邪！」眾默然，惟官奴曰：「若將相可了，何至使我輩。」事亦中止。

Next day Hua was told the personal campaign was fixed but the destination disputed—some said Guide's waters could shelter them, others the western hills into Deng. Others said Subutai at Ru Prefecture made the Chen–Cai route into Deng better. What do you think?" Hua said: "Guide's walls are strong, but food will fail and waiting means death—do not go. Deng is impossible with Subutai at Ru. Today's situation is the gambler's last stake. Staking all means only battle with backs to the wall. Go straight to Ru and decide in one fight—Chu or Han, not both. Better at Ru than halfway, better halfway than from the walls—why? Our men still have food strength; horses still have bean fodder. Farther from the capital, army food dwindles daily; horses eat wild grass and all grows harder. One fight decides survival, stirs the armies without, comforts the capital within. If it is only flight, men will cling to home and may not follow boldly. Weigh this carefully." Ministers and chiefs were summoned; Hesujia, Zhuer, Gao Xian, and Wang Yishen favored Guide, Sai favored Deng—no decision. Next day an edict said food was gone and the emperor would go out; at Daqing Hall the troops were told; commanders memorialized: "The emperor must not go out—send generals; the armies will die gladly." The emperor hesitated, wishing Guannu for horse and Gao Xian for foot with Liu Yi deputy—the carriage view—and all three would accept. Acting councilor clansman Echu cursed: "You wield hoes and know nothing of state affairs—dare you take this on!" All were silent; only Guannu said: "If ministers and generals could manage, why us." That too ceased.

明日，民間哄傳車駕欲奉皇太后及妃後往歸德，軍士家屬留後。目今食盡，坐視城中俱餓死矣。縱能至歸德，軍馬所費支吾復得幾許日。上聞之，召賽不、合周、訛出、烏古孫卜吉、完顏正夫議，餘人不預。移時方出，見首領官、丞相言，前日巡守之議已定，止為一白華都改卻，今往汝州就軍馬索戰去矣。遂擇日祭太廟誓師，擬以二十五之日啟行。是月晦，車駕至黃陵岡，復有北幸之議，語在《白撒傳》。

Next day rumor said the carriage would escort the empress dowager and consorts to Guide while families stayed. Food is gone—we watch the whole city starve. Even at Guide, how long will army costs last? The emperor summoned Sai, Hezhou, Echu, Wugusun Buji, and Wanyan Zhengfu alone. They emerged and told chiefs and minister: the patrol plan was fixed until Bai Hua alone changed it; now they go to Ru for battle. They chose a day for ancestral sacrifice and army oath, planning to depart on the twenty-fifth. At month's end the carriage reached Huangling Mound; northward talk arose again—see the biography of Bai Sa.

天興二年正月朔，上次黃陵岡，就歸德餫船北渡，諸相共奏，京師及河南諸州聞上幸河北，恐生他變，可下詔安撫之。是時，在所父老僧道獻食，及牛酒犒軍者相屬，上親為拊慰，人人為之感泣。乃赦河朔，招集兵糧，赦文條畫十餘款，分道傳送。二日，或有云：「昨所發河南詔書，倘落大軍中，奈泄事機何。」上怒，委近侍局官傳旨，謂首領官張袞、白華、內族訛可當發詔時不為後慮，皆量決之。是時衛州軍兩日至蒲城，而大軍徐躡其後。十五日，宰相諸帥共議上前，郎中完顏胡魯剌秉筆書，某軍前鋒，某軍殿后，餘事皆有條畫。書畢，惟不言所往，華私問胡魯剌，托以不知。是晚，平章及諸帥還蒲城軍中。夜半，訛可、袞就華帳中呼華云：「上已登舟，君不知之耶？」華遂問其由，訛可云：「我昨日已知上欲與李左丞、完顏郎中先下歸德，令諸軍並北岸行，至鳳池渡河。今夜平章及禾速嘉、元帥官奴等來，言大軍在蒲城曾與金軍接戰，勢莫能支，遂擁主上登舟，軍資一切委棄，止令忠孝軍上船，馬悉留營中。計舟已行數里矣。」華又問：「公何不從往？」云：「昨日擬定首領官止令胡魯剌登舟，余悉隨軍，用是不敢。」是夜，總帥百家領諸軍舟往鳳池，大軍覺之，兵遂潰。

On Tianxing year two, first month, first day, the emperor halted at Huangling Mound and crossed north on Guide grain boats; ministers said Henan might change on hearing Hebei favor and begged reassuring edicts. Elders, monks, and Daoists offered food, oxen, and wine in turn; the emperor comforted them and all wept. He pardoned Hebei, summoned troops and grain, and sent an amnesty of more than ten articles by separate routes. On the second day someone said: "Yesterday's Henan edict—if the great army seizes it, our plans are exposed." The emperor was angry and had Inner Service officers sentence Zhang Gun, Bai Hua, and clansman Eke for not foreseeing this when issuing the edict. Weizhou troops reached Pucheng in two days while the great army followed slowly. On the fifteenth ministers and commanders deliberated before the emperor; director Wanyan Hulula wrote vanguard, rear, and the rest in order. When done they did not say the destination; Hua asked Hulula privately, who pleaded ignorance. That evening the grand councilor and commanders returned to Pucheng. At midnight Eke and Gun called at Hua's tent: "The emperor has boarded—do you not know?" Hua asked why; Eke said: "Yesterday I knew the emperor meant to reach Guide first with Councilor Li and Director Wanyan, armies on the north bank crossing at Fengchi. Tonight the grand councilor, Hesujia, Guannu, and others said the great army at Pucheng had fought Jin troops and could not hold, crowded the emperor onto the boat, abandoned stores, put only the Loyal and Filial Army aboard, and left all horses in camp. They reckoned the boat had already gone several li. Hua asked: "Why did you not follow?" He said: "Yesterday only Hulula of the chiefs was to board; the rest followed the army, and I dared not." That night commander Bai led all army boats to Fengchi; the great army noticed and the troops collapsed.

上在歸德。三月，崔立以汴京降，右宣徽提點近侍局移剌粘古謀之鄧，上不聽。時粘古之兄瑗為鄧州節度使、兼行樞密院事，其子與粘古之子並從駕為衛士。適朝廷將召鄧兵入援，粘古因與華謀同之鄧，且拉其二子以往，上覺之，獨命華行，而粘古改之徐州。華既至鄧，以事久不濟，淹留於館，遂若無意於世者。會瑗以鄧入宋，華亦從至襄陽，宋署為制幹，又改均州提督。後范用吉殺均之長吏。送款於北朝，遂因而北歸。士大夫以華夙儒貴顯，國危不能以義自處為貶云。

The emperor was at Guide. In the third month Cui Li surrendered Bianjing; Inner Service director Yelazhangu plotted Deng, but the emperor refused. Zhangu's brother Yuan was Deng commissioner and acting secret bureau judge; both sons followed as guards. The court was summoning Deng relief; Zhangu plotted with Hua to go to Deng and take both sons; the emperor noticed, sent Hua alone, and reassigned Zhangu to Xuzhou. At Deng, affairs long unresolved, Hua lingered at the guesthouse as if the world did not concern him. When Yuan brought Deng to the Song, Hua followed to Xiangyang; the Song made him staff officer, then Jun prefectural supervisor. Later Fan Yongji killed Jun's senior official. He offered surrender to the northern court and returned north. Scholar-officials, noting Hua's long standing as a prominent Confucian, faulted him for not holding to righteousness when the state was in peril.

用吉者，本姓孛術魯，名久住。初歸入宋，謁制置趙範，將以計動其心，故更姓名范用吉。趙怒其觸諱，斥之，用吉猶應對如故。趙良久方悟，且利其事與己符，遂擢置左右，凡所言動，略不加疑，遂易其姓曰花，使為太尉，改鎮均州。未幾，納款於北。後以家人誣以欲叛，為同列所害。

Yongji was originally surnamed Boluolu and named Jiuzhu. On first entering Song service he visited Commissioner Zhao Fan, planning to sway him, and changed his name to Fan Yongji. Zhao, angered that he had touched the taboo of Fan's name, drove him off; Yongji answered as before. After long reflection Zhao understood, saw profit in what matched his wishes, and kept Yongji at his side without doubt; he changed his surname to Hua, made him Grand Marshal, and transferred him to Jun Prefecture. Before long he offered surrender to the north. Later his household falsely accused him of rebellion, and colleagues killed him.

贊曰：白華以儒者習吏事，以經生知兵，其所論建，屢中事機，然三軍敗衄之餘，士氣不作，其言果可行乎。從瑗歸宋，聲名掃地，則猶得列于金臣之傳者，援蜀譙周等例云。

The appraiser says: Bai Hua, a Confucian versed in administration and a classicist who understood war, repeatedly hit the mark in counsel—yet after repeated defeats morale never rallied; could his plans truly have been executed? Following Yuan to the Song ruined his reputation—yet he may still appear among Jin ministers' biographies by the precedent of Qiao Zhou of Shu and the like.

斜卯愛實

Xiemao Aishi

斜卯愛實，字正之，策論進士也。正大間，累官翰林直學士，兼左司郎中。天興元年正月，聞大兵將至，以點檢夾穀撒合為總帥，率步騎三萬巡河渡，命宿直將軍內族長樂權近侍局使，監其軍。行至封丘而還。入自梁門，樞密副使合喜遇之，笑語撒合曰：「吾言信矣，當為我作主人。」蓋世俗酬謝之意也。明日，大兵遂合，朝廷置而不問。於是愛實上言曰：「撒合統兵三萬，本欲乘大兵遠至，喘息未定而擊之。出京才數十里，不逢一人騎，已畏縮不敢進。設遇大兵，其肯用命乎？乞斬二人以肅軍政。」不報。蓋合喜輩以京師倚此一軍為命，初不敢俾之出戰，特以外議哄然，故暫出以應之云。

Xiemao Aishi, styled Zhengzhi, was a policy-essay advanced scholar. In the Zhengda period he rose to Hanlin Academician Expositor and concurrently left bureau director. In Tianxing year one, first month, hearing the great army was coming, he made Inspector Jiagu Sahe commander with thirty thousand foot and horse to patrol the river crossings, with duty general clansman Changle, acting Inner Service director, to supervise. They reached Fengqiu and returned. Entering by the Liang Gate, Deputy Judge Hexi met them and laughed to Sahe: "I told you so—you must host me. This was worldly thanks and repayment. Next day the great army closed in, and the court ignored it. Aishi memorialized: "Sahe led thirty thousand meant to strike while the great army, far from home, had not caught breath. A few tens of li from the capital, without meeting a single rider, he already shrank back and dared not advance. If he met the great army, would he fight to the death? I beg execute both to stiffen discipline." No reply. Hexi and his circle relied on this army for the capital's life and dared not let it fight; they went out briefly only to answer public clamor.

衛紹、鎬厲二王家屬，皆以兵防護，且設官提控，巡警之嚴過於獄犴。至是，衛紹宅二十年，鎬厲宅四十年。正大間，朝臣屢有言及者，不報。愛實乃上言曰：「二族衰微，無異匹庶，假欲為不善，孰與同惡？男女婚嫁，人之大欲，豈有幽囚終世，永無伉儷之望，在他人尚且不忍，況骨肉乎！」哀宗感其言，始聽自便。未幾，有青城之難。

The Wei and Hao princely households were guarded by troops with overseers; patrol was stricter than a prison. By then the Wei house had been confined twenty years, the Hao forty. In Zhengda ministers repeatedly spoke of it without reply. Aishi memorialized: "The two clans have declined like commoners; who would join them in evil? Marriage is humanity's great desire—can they be shut in forever without spouses? Others would not bear it—how much less kin! Emperor Aizong was moved and at last allowed them freedom. Before long came the calamity at Qingcheng.

愛實憤時相非其人，嘗歷數曰：「平章白撒固權市恩，擊丸外百無一能。丞相賽不菽麥不分，更謂乏材，亦不至此人為相。參政兼樞密副使赤盞合喜粗暴，一馬軍之材止矣，乃令兼將相之權。右丞顏盞世魯居相位已七八年，碌碌無補，備員而已。患難之際，倚注此類，欲冀中興，難矣。」於是世魯罷相，賽不乞致仕，而白撒、合喜不恤也。

Aishi resented unfit chief ministers and once listed them: "Grand Councilor Bai Sa trades in favors by power; apart from ball games he can do nothing. Chief Minister Sai cannot tell beans from wheat; even with scarce talent he should not be chief minister. Acting councilor and Deputy Judge Chisan Hexi is brutal—fit for one horse army at most—yet holds civil and military power together. Right Vice Director Yansai Shilu has sat in office seven or eight years, achieving nothing—a placeholder. In peril to rely on such men and hope for restoration is hard. Shilu left the chief ministry, Sai begged retirement, while Bai Sa and Hexi paid no heed.

是年四月，京城罷攻，大兵退。既而以害唐慶事，和議遂絕。於是再簽民兵為守禦備。八月，括京城粟，以轉運使完顏珠顆、張俊民、曳剌克忠等置局，以推舉為名，珠顆諭民曰：「汝等當從實推唱，果如一旦糧盡，令汝妻子作軍食，復能吝否？」既而罷括粟令，復以進獻取之。前御史大夫內族合周復冀進用，建言京城括粟可得百餘萬石。朝廷信之，命權參知政事，與左丞李蹊總其事。先令各家自實，壯者存石有三斗，幼者半之，仍書其數門首，敢有匿者以升斗論罪。京城三十六坊，各選深刻者主之，內族完顏久住尤酷暴。有寡婦二口，實豆六斗，內有蓬子約三升，久住笑曰：「吾得之矣。」執而以令於眾。婦泣訴曰：「妾夫死于兵，姑老不能為養，故雜蓬粃以自食耳，非敢以為軍儲也。且三升，六斗之餘。」不從，竟死杖下。京師聞之股栗，盡投其餘於糞溷中。或白于李蹊，蹊顰蹙曰：「白之參政。」其人即白合周，周曰：「人云『花又不損，蜜又得成』。予謂花不損，何由成蜜？且京師危急，今欲存社稷耶？存百姓耶？」當時皆莫敢言，愛實遂上奏，大概言：「罷括粟，則改虐政為仁政，散怨氣為和氣。」不報。

In the fourth month of that year the siege of the capital was lifted and the great army withdrew. Then, because of the killing of Tang Qing, peace was broken off. Militia were again mustered for defense. In the eighth month grain in the capital was seized; Transport Commissioner Wanyan Zhuguo, Zhang Junmin, Yelazhangu, and others set up offices in the name of recommendation; Zhuguo told the people: "Report truthfully; if grain is exhausted and you are told to make wives and children army food, can you still be stingy? Soon the seizure order stopped and grain was taken again as tribute. Former Censor-in-Chief clansman Hezhou again hoped for advancement and said seizing capital grain could yield more than a million shi. The court believed him and made him acting councilor, with Left Vice Director Li Xi to oversee. Each household first reported its stores; adults kept three dou of beans, children half, the amount written on the door; concealment was punished by measure. Thirty-six wards each chose harsh overseers; clansman Wanyan Jiuzhu was especially cruel. A widow of two mouths had six dou of beans with about three sheng of grass seed mixed in; Jiuzhu laughed: "I have it. He seized her and announced it to the crowd. She wept: "My husband died in the army; my mother-in-law cannot be fed; I mixed chaff to eat—not for army stores. And it is three sheng, the remainder of six dou. He would not listen and she died under the staff. The capital trembled and threw the rest into privies. Someone told Li Xi; Xi frowned: "Tell the acting councilor. He told Hezhou; Hezhou said: "People say, 'The flower is unharmed and honey is still made. I say if the flower is unharmed, how is honey made? The capital is in peril—do you wish to preserve the altars of state? Or preserve the people?" None dared speak; Aishi memorialized: stop seizing grain, change cruel rule into humane rule and scattered resentment into harmony. No reply.

時所括不能三萬斛，而京城益蕭然矣。自是之後，死者相枕，貧富束手待斃而已。上聞之，命出太倉米作粥以食餓者，愛實聞之歎曰：「與其食之，寧如勿奪。」為奉御把奴所告。又近侍干預朝政，愛實上章諫曰：「今近侍權太重，將相大臣不敢與之相抗。自古僕禦之臣不過供給指使而已，雖名僕臣，亦必選擇正人。今不論賢否，惟以世胄或吏員為之。夫給使令之材，使預社稷大計，此輩果何所知乎。」章既上，近侍數人泣訴上前曰：「愛實以臣等為奴隸，置至尊何地耶！」上益怒，送有司。近侍局副使李大節從容開釋，乃赦之，出為中京留守，後不知所終。

What was seized did not reach thirty thousand hu, and the capital grew more desolate. From then the dead lay pillow to pillow; rich and poor waited to starve. The emperor ordered great-storehouse grain made into porridge for the hungry; Aishi sighed: "Better not to seize than to feed afterward. Attendant Ba Nu reported him. Inner attendants again interfered in government; Aishi remonstrated: "Inner attendants' power is too heavy; ministers and generals dare not resist. Since antiquity grooms and servants supplied and obeyed only; though called ministers, upright men must be chosen. Now without regard for worth they are taken only from noble houses or clerks. Talent for errands—yet the altars' great plans are entrusted to them—what do they know? When the memorial was in, several inner attendants wept before the emperor: "Aishi treats us as slaves—where does he place Your Majesty!" The emperor grew angrier and handed him to the authorities. Inner Service deputy Li Dajie secured his release; he was pardoned and made Zhongjing defender; later his end is unknown.

附:合周

Appendix: Hezhou

合周者，一名永錫。貞祐中，為元帥左監軍，失援中都，宣宗削除官爵，杖之八十。已而復用。四年，以御史大夫權尚書右丞，總兵陝西。合周留澠池數日，進及京兆，而大兵已至，合周竟不出兵，遂失潼關。有司以敵至不出兵當斬，諸皇族百餘人上章救之，上曰：「向合周救中都，未至而軍潰，使宗廟山陵失守，罪當誅，朕特寬貸以全其命。尋復重職，今鎮陝西，所犯乃爾，國家大法，豈敢私耶！」遂再奪爵，免死除名。至是，為參知政事。性好作詩詞，語鄙俚，人采其語以為戲笑。因自草《括粟榜文》，有「雀無翅兒不飛，蛇無頭兒不行」等語，以「而」作「兒」，掾史知之，不敢易也。京城目之曰「雀兒參政」。哀宗用而不悟，竟致敗事。

Hezhou, also named Yongxi. In Zhenyou he was left deputy army commander; failing to relieve Zhongdu, Emperor Xuanzong stripped rank and beat him eighty strokes. Before long he was used again. In the fourth year, as censor-in-chief he acted as right vice director of Revenue and commanded troops in Shaanxi. Hezhou lingered at Mianchi, advanced to Jingzhao, but the great army had arrived; he sent no troops and lost Tong Pass. Authorities said failure to march when the enemy came deserved death; more than a hundred of the clan memorialized; the emperor said: "When Hezhou went to relieve Zhongdu he did not arrive and the army collapsed, losing temples and tombs—a crime deserving death; I pardoned him. Soon he was again given heavy office; now garrisoning Shaanxi he offends thus—how can state law favor him!" His rank was again stripped, death remitted, name removed. By then he was acting councilor. He loved composing lyrics in vulgar language, and people quoted him in jest. He drafted the grain-seizure proclamation with lines such as "sparrows have no wings and cannot fly, snakes have no heads and cannot go," using colloquial "er"—clerks knew but dared not change it. The capital called him "Sparrow Acting Councilor." Emperor Aizong used him without understanding and affairs were ruined.

石抹世勣

Shimoshi Ji

石抹世勣，字景略。幼勤學，為文有體裁。承安二年，以父元毅死王事，收充擎執。五年，登詞賦、經義兩科進士第。貞祐三年，累官為太常丞，預講議所事。時朝廷徙河北軍戶河南，宰職議給以田，世勣上言曰：「荒閑之田及牧馬地，其始耕墾，費力當倍，一歲斷不能熟。若奪民素蒔者與之，則民將失所，且啟不和之端。況軍戶率無耕牛，雖或有之，而廩給未敢遽減。彼既南來，所捐田宅為人所有，一旦北歸，能無爭奪？切謂宜令軍戶分人歸守本業，收其晚禾，至春復還為固守計。」會侍御史劉元規亦言給田不便，上大悟，乃罷之。未幾，遷同知金安軍節度使。興定二年，選為華州元帥府參議官。初，右都監完顏合達行帥府於楨州，嘗以前同知平涼府事卓魯回蒲乃速為參議，及移駐華州，陝西行省請復用蒲乃速，令世勣副之。上曰：「蒲乃速但能承奉人耳，余無所長，非如世勣可任以事。華為要鎮，而輕用其人，或致敗事。」遂獨用世勣焉。尋入為尚書省左司郎中。元光元年，奪一官，解職。初，世勣任華州，有薦其深通錢谷者，復察不如所舉，未籍行止中。後主者舉覺，平章英王以世勣避都司之繁，私屬治籍吏冀改他職，奏下有司，故有是責。久之，起為禮部侍郎，轉司農，改太常卿。正大中，為禮部尚書，兼翰林侍講學士。

Shimoshi Ji, styled Jinglue. In youth he studied hard; his writing had form. In Chengan year two, because his father Yuanyi died in the king's service, he was enrolled as an attendant. In the fifth year he passed both the rhapsody and classics examinations. In Zhenyou year three he rose to vice director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and joined the Discussion Office. When the court moved Hebei army households to Henan, ministers deliberated giving them fields; Ji said: "Wasteland and horse pasture cost double to open—a year cannot ripen it. If you take what commoners have long planted, the people lose their place and discord opens. Army households mostly lack oxen; even if they have them, grain allowance cannot be quickly cut. Having come south, the fields and houses they left are others'—once they return north, how can there be no contention? I urge that army households be sent back in part to keep their occupations, gather late grain, and return in spring for defense. Attendant Censor Liu Yuangui also said giving fields was inconvenient; the emperor understood and stopped it. Before long he was made vice commissioner of the Jin'an Army military commission. In Xingding year two he was chosen staff officer of the Hua Prefecture commander's headquarters. Earlier Right Deputy Commander Wanyan Heda ran headquarters at Zhen and had used Zhuolu Huipu Naisu, former vice commissioner of Pingliang, as staff officer; when he moved to Hua, Shaanxi asked to use Pu Naisu again with Ji as deputy. The emperor said: "Pu Naisu can only flatter and has no other strength—not like Ji, who can be entrusted with affairs. Hua is a key garrison, and to use such a man lightly may ruin affairs. Ji alone was appointed. Soon he entered Revenue as left bureau director. In Yuanguang year one one office was stripped and he was dismissed. While Ji held Hua Prefecture someone recommended him as deeply versed in money and grain; re-inspection did not match and he was not entered in the conduct register. Later the responsible official reported it; Grand Councilor Prince Ying, because Ji wished to avoid capital bureau tedium, privately asked the conduct clerk to change his post—the memorial reached the authorities and brought this punishment. After long while he was raised vice director of Rites, transferred to Agriculture, then director of Imperial Sacrifices. In Zhengda he was director of Rites and concurrently Hanlin attendant expositor.

天興元年冬，哀宗將北渡，世勣率朝官劉肅、田芝等二十人求見仁安殿。上問卿等欲何言，世勣曰：「臣等聞陛下欲親出，切謂此行不便。」上曰：「我不出，軍分為二，一軍守，一軍出戰。我出則軍合為一。」世勣曰：「陛下出則軍分為三，一守、一戰、一中軍護從，不若不出為愈也。」上曰：「卿等不知，我若得完顏仲德、恆山公武仙付之兵事，何勞我出。我豈不知今日將兵者，官奴統馬兵三百止矣，劉益將步兵五千止矣，欲不自將，得乎？」上又指御榻曰：「我此行豈復有還期，但恨我無罪亡國耳。我未嘗奢侈，未嘗信任小人。」世勣應聲曰：「陛下用小人則亦有之。」上曰：「小人謂誰？」世勣歷數曰：「移剌粘古、溫敦昌孫、兀撒惹、完顏長樂皆小人也。陛下不知為小人，所以用之。」肅與世勣復多有言，良久，君臣涕泣而別。初，肅等求見，本欲數此四人。至是，世勣獨言之，於是哀宗以世勣行。自蒲城至歸德。明年六月，走蔡州，次新蔡縣之姜寨。

In the winter of Tianxing year one Emperor Aizong was about to cross north; Ji led Liu Su, Tian Zhi, and twenty court officers to seek audience at Ren'an Hall. The emperor asked what they wished to say; Ji said: "We hear Your Majesty wishes to go out in person and urgently think the journey inexpedient. The emperor said: "If I do not go out, the army is divided—one holds, one fights. If I go out, the army becomes one. Ji said: "If Your Majesty goes out, the army divides in three—one holds, one fights, one escorts—better not to go. The emperor said: "You do not know—if I could give military affairs to Wanyan Zhongde and Duke of Hengshan Wu Xian, why should I go out? Do I not know that today Guannu commands at most three hundred horse and Liu Yi at most five thousand foot—if I do not command myself, how can it be done? He pointed at the imperial couch: "On this journey there will be no return—I only regret destroying the state though I am guiltless. I have never been extravagant; I have never trusted petty men. Ji answered at once: "Your Majesty has also used petty men. The emperor said: "Petty men—who?" Ji enumerated: "Yelazhangu, Wenden Changsun, Wusa Re, and Wanyan Changle are all petty men. Your Majesty did not know they were petty men and therefore used them. Su and Ji spoke much more; after long while emperor and ministers wept and parted. When Su and the others sought audience they had intended to enumerate these four men. At this Ji alone named them, and Emperor Aizong took Ji along. From Pucheng to Guide. In the sixth month of the next year they fled to Cai Prefecture and halted at Jiang Stockade in Xincai County.

世勣子嵩，時為縣令，拜上于馬前，兵亂後父子始相見。上嘉之，授嵩應奉翰林文字，以便養親。蔡城破，父子俱死。嵩字企隆，興定二年經義進士。

Ji's son Song was then county magistrate and bowed before the emperor's horse; only after the turmoil did father and son first meet. The emperor commended it and appointed Song Hanlin attendant writer so he could support his parent. When Cai city fell, father and son both died. Song, styled Qilong, was a classics advanced scholar in Xingding year two.

贊曰：愛實言衛、鎬家屬禁錮之虐，京城括粟之暴，近侍干政之橫；世勣言河北軍戶給田之不便，親出渡河之非計；皆藥石之言也。然金至斯時，病在膏肓間矣，倉扁何施焉。其為忠讜，則不可廢也。

The appraiser says: Aishi spoke of imprisoning the Wei and Hao households, seizing grain in the capital, and inner attendants in government; Ji spoke of giving fields to Hebei army households and the emperor's crossing the river in person; all were harsh medicine. Yet when Jin had reached this hour the disease lay between heart and diaphragm—what could Bian Que do? As loyal remonstrance, it cannot be discarded.

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