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列傳第六十七
Biographies 67
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酷吏○高閭山蒲察合住
Cruel Officials — Gao Lushan, Pucha Hezhu
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佞幸○蕭肄張仲軻李通馬欽高懷貞蕭裕胥持國
Favorites of Fortune — Xiao Yi, Zhang Zhongke, Li Tong, Ma Qin, Gao Huaizhen, Xiao Yu, Xu Chiguo
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太史公有言：「法家嚴而少恩。」 信哉斯言也。 金法嚴密，律文雖因前代而增損之，大抵多准重典。 熙宗迭興大獄，海陵翦滅宗室，鉤棘傅會，告奸上變者賞以不次。 於是中外風俗一變，咸尚威虐以為事功，而讒賊作焉。 流毒遠邇，慘矣。 金史多闕逸，據其舊錄得二人焉。 作《酷吏傳》。
The Grand Historian once said, "The Legalists are harsh and stinting in mercy." How true those words are. Jin law was severe. Though the statutes were revised from earlier codes, they largely followed the harshest precedents. Under Emperor Xizong great prosecutions arose again and again; under Emperor Hailing the imperial clan was cut down; charges were twisted to fit; and informers who denounced treason were rewarded with swift promotion. Court and country alike turned to cruelty as a mark of achievement, and slanderers flourished. The harm spread near and far — a dreadful state of affairs. Much of the Jin history is lost; from surviving older records only two such men can be named. Hence the compilation of the Biographies of Cruel Officials.
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高閭山
Gao Lushan
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高閭山，澄州析木人。 選充護衛，調順義軍節度副使，轉唐括、移剌都颭詳穩，改震武軍節度副使、曹王府尉，大名治中。 遷汝州刺史，改單州。 制禁不依法用杖決人者，閭山見之笑曰：「此亦難行。」 是日，特用大杖杖死部民楊仙，坐削一官，解職。 久之，降鳳翔治中，曆原州、濟州、泗州刺史，改鄭州防禦使，遷蒲與路節度使，移臨海軍、盤安軍、寧昌軍。 貞祐二年，城破死之。
Gao Lushan was from Ximu in Chen Prefecture. He entered service as an imperial guardsman, became deputy commissioner of the Shunyi Army, then held xiangwen posts under Tangguo and Yila Duzha, and later served as deputy commissioner of the Zhenwu Army, commandant of the Prince of Cao's household, and administrator of Daming. He was made prefect of Ru Prefecture, then transferred to Shan Prefecture. The law forbade beating people to death with cudgels outside proper procedure; Lushan laughed when he saw it and said, "That would be hard to enforce too." That very day he took an especially heavy staff and beat to death a local subject named Yang Xian; he was stripped of one rank and removed from office. After some time he was demoted to administrator of Fengxiang, then served as prefect of Yuan, Ji, and Si prefectures, became defense commissioner of Zhengzhou, was promoted to commissioner of the Puyu Circuit, and held commands over the Linhai, Pan'an, and Ningchang armies in turn. In the second year of Zhenyou, when the city was taken, he died in the fighting.
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蒲察合住
Pucha Hezhu
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蒲察合住，以吏起身，久為宣宗所信，聲勢烜赫，性複殘刻，人知其蠹國而莫敢言。 其子充護衛，先逐出之。 繼而合住為恆州刺史，需次近縣。 後大兵入陝西，關中震動。 或言合住赴恆州為北走計，朝廷命開封羈其親屬，合住出怨言曰：「殺卻我即太平矣。」 尋為禦史所劾，初議笞贖，宰相以為悖理，斬於開封府門之下。 故當時有宣朝三賊之目，謂王阿裏、蒲察咬住，合住其一也。
Pucha Hezhu began as a petty clerk. Long favored by Emperor Xuanzong, he wielded dazzling power; he was cruel by nature, and though everyone knew he was ruining the state, no one dared speak against him. His son, who had served as a guardsman, was expelled first. Hezhu was then appointed prefect of Heng Prefecture and waited his turn in a nearby county. Later, when the main Mongol forces entered Shaanxi, the Guanzhong region was thrown into turmoil. Rumors spread that Hezhu was going to Hengzhou to flee north. The court ordered Kaifeng to detain his family. Hezhu complained bitterly, "Kill me and the realm will be at peace." Censors soon impeached him. At first the court considered flogging and a fine, but the chief ministers judged that inadequate, and he was beheaded at the gate of the Kaifeng prefectural office. People at the time spoke of "the three villains of the Xuan court" — Wang Ali, Pucha Yaozhu, and Hezhu among them.
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興定中，駙馬僕散阿海之獄，京師宣勘七十余所，阿裏輩乘時起事以肆其毒，朝士惴惴莫克自保，惟獨吉文之在開封府幕，明其不反，竟不署字，阿海誅，文之亦無所問。
During the Xingding era, in the prosecution of the imperial son-in-law Pusan Ahai, more than seventy inquisitions were opened in the capital. Ali and his associates seized the moment to spread terror; court officials lived in fear and could not protect themselves. Only Ji Wenzhi of the Kaifeng prefectural staff, convinced that Ahai had not rebelled, refused to sign the documents. When Ahai was executed, Wenzhi was left untouched.
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咬住，正大初致仕，居睢陽，潰軍變，與其家皆被殺。
Yaozhu retired early in the Zhengda era and lived in Suiyang. When mutinous routed troops rose up, he and his entire household were killed.
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初，宣宗喜刑罰，朝士往往被笞楚，至用刀杖決殺言者。 高琪用事，威刑自恣。 南渡之後，習以成風，雖士大夫亦為所移，如徒單右丞思忠好用麻椎擊人，號「麻椎相公」。 李運使特立號「半截劍」，言其短小鋒利也。 馮內翰璧號「馮劊」。 雷淵為禦史，至蔡州得奸豪，杖殺五百人，號曰「雷半千」。 又有完顏麻斤出，皆以酷聞，而合住、王阿裏、李渙之徒，胥吏中尤狡刻者也。
Emperor Xuanzong favored harsh punishment from the start; court officials were often flogged, and some who spoke up were killed on the spot with blade or cudgel. When Gao Qi held power, he used punishments as he pleased. After the court moved south across the river, the habit took root; even scholar-officials caught the fever. Tushan Sizhong, the right vice censor-in-chief, liked to beat people with a hemp mallet and was nicknamed "Lord Hemp-Mallet." Transport Commissioner Li Teli was called "Half a Sword" — short in stature but sharp in cruelty. Hanlin Academician Feng Bi was known as "Feng the Chopper." As censor, Lei Yuan went to Caizhou, seized local bullies, and had five hundred men beaten to death; he was called "Lei Five Hundred." Wanyan Majin and others were likewise notorious for cruelty; but Hezhu, Wang Ali, Li Huan, and their like were the most cunning and vicious of all the clerks.
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世之有嗜欲者，何嘗不被其害哉。 龍，天下之至神也，一有嗜欲，見制于人，故人君亦然。 嗜欲不獨柔曼之傾意也，征伐、畋獵、土木、神仙，彼為佞者皆有以投其所好焉。 金主內蠱聲色，外好大喜功，莫甚于熙宗、海陵，而章宗次之。 《金史》自蕭肄至胥持國，得佞臣之尤者七人，皆被寵遇於三君之朝，以亡其身，以蠹其國，其禍皆始於此，可不戒哉。 作《佞幸傳》。
Whoever in this world indulges his desires has sooner or later been ruined by them. The dragon is the most numinous creature under Heaven; let it acquire a craving and others control it — and the same is true of rulers. Cravings are not only for soft pleasures; war, hunting, building projects, and quests for immortality — flatterers know how to feed every taste. Jin emperors were inwardly beguiled by pleasure and outwardly addicted to grand projects; none surpassed Xizong and Hailing, with Zhangzong close behind. From Xiao Yi to Xu Chiguo, the History of Jin names seven of the worst flatterers. All won favor under those three rulers, destroyed themselves, and ruined the state — every disaster began with indulgence. Is that not a warning? Hence the compilation of the Biographies of Favorites of Fortune.
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蕭肄，本奚人，有寵于熙宗，複諂事悼後，累官參知政事。 皇統九年四月壬申夜，大風雨，雷電震壞寢殿鴟尾，有火自外入，燒內寢幃幔。 帝徙別殿避之，欲下詔罪己。 翰林學士張鈞視草。 鈞意欲奉答天戒，當深自貶損，其文有曰：「惟德弗類，上幹天威」及「顧茲寡昧眇予小子」等語。 肄譯奏曰：「弗類是大無道，寡者孤獨無親，昧則於人事弗曉，眇則目無所見，小子嬰孩之稱，此漢人托文字以詈主上也。」 帝大怒，命衛士拽鈞下殿，榜之數百，不死。 以手劍剺其口而醢之。 賜肄通天犀帶。 憑恃恩幸，倨視同列，遂與海陵有惡。 及篡立，加大臣官爵，例加銀青光祿大夫。 數日，召肄詰之曰：「學士張鈞何罪被誅，爾何功受賞？」 肄不能對。 海陵曰：「朕殺汝無難事，人或以我報私怨也。」 於是，詔除名，放歸田裏，禁錮不得出百里外。
Xiao Yi was a Xi tribesman who won favor under Emperor Xizong and fawned on Empress Daohou, rising eventually to Vice Director of the Secretariat. On a stormy night in the fourth month of the ninth year of Huangtong, thunder shattered the roof ornaments of the imperial bedchamber and fire from outside set the inner curtains ablaze. The emperor moved to another hall and wished to issue a self-reproach edict. Hanlin Academician Zhang Jun was assigned to draft it. Jun meant to answer Heaven's warning with deep humility. His draft included such phrases as "my virtue is unlike [the norm], offending Heaven's majesty" and "considering my few and dim qualities, this insignificant young one." Yi translated and reported, "'Unlike' means utterly lacking in virtue; 'few' means alone and without kin; 'dim' means ignorant of affairs; 'minute' means blind; 'young one' is what one calls an infant — the Han are using written words to insult their sovereign." The emperor flew into a rage, had guards drag Jun from the hall, and had him beaten hundreds of strokes — yet he did not die. With his own sword he slashed Jun's mouth and had the body minced. Yi was rewarded with a belt of heaven-piercing rhinoceros horn. Relying on imperial favor, he looked down on his peers and earned Hailing's hatred. After usurping the throne, he raised the ranks of senior ministers, generally promoting them to Silver-Green Glory Grand Master. A few days later he summoned Yi and demanded, "For what crime was Academician Zhang Jun executed, and for what merit did you receive a reward?" Yi had no answer. Hailing said, "Killing you would be no difficult matter — but people might think I was settling a private grudge." An edict then struck his name from office, sent him home to his fields, and confined him within a hundred li.
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張仲軻
Zhang Zhongke
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張仲軻，幼名牛兒，市井無賴，說傳奇小說，雜以俳優詼諧語為業。 海陵引之左右，以資戲笑。 海陵封岐國王，以為書表，及即位，為秘書郎。 海陵嘗對仲軻與妃嬪褻瀆，仲軻但稱死罪，不敢仰視。 又嘗令仲軻倮形以觀之，侍臣往往令倮褫，雖徒單貞亦不免此。 兵部侍郎完顏普連、大興少尹李惇皆以贓敗，海陵置之要近。 伶人于慶兒官五品、大氏家奴王之彰為秘書郎。 之彰睾珠偏僻，海陵親視之，不以為褻。 唐括辯家奴和尚、烏帶家奴葛溫、葛魯，皆置宿衛，有僥倖至一品者。 左右或無官職人，或以名呼之，即授以顯階，海陵語其人曰：「爾複能名之乎？」 常置黃金茵褥間，喜之者令自取之，其濫賜如此。 宋余唐弼賀登寶位，且還，海陵以玉帶附賜宋帝，使謂宋帝曰：「此帶卿父所常服，今以為賜，使卿如見而父，當不忘朕意也。」 使退，仲軻曰：「此希世之寶，可惜輕賜。」 上曰：「江南之地，他日當為我有，此置之外府耳。」 由是知海陵有南伐之意。
Zhang Zhongke, nicknamed "Calf" as a boy, was a market-town ruffian who earned his living telling romance tales and adventure stories laced with comic patter. Hailing kept him at court for amusement. When Hailing was Prince of Qi he made Zhongke his document secretary; after his accession Zhongke became a secretary of the palace library. Hailing once behaved lewdly before Zhongke with his consorts; Zhongke could only cry that he deserved death and dared not look up. He once ordered Zhongke to stand naked for his inspection; attendants were often forced to strip, and even Tushan Zhen was not spared. Vice Minister of War Wanyan Pulian and Junior Administrator of Daxing Li Dun had both been ruined by bribery, yet Hailing kept them in key posts at his side. The actor Yu Qing'er was given fifth-rank office; Wang Zhizhang, a slave of the Dashi household, became a palace library secretary. Zhizhang's testicles were misshapen and protruded; Hailing personally inspected them and saw nothing indecent in it. The slaves Heshang of Tangguo Bian's household and Gewen and Gelu of Wudai's household were placed in the inner guard; some by favor rose to first rank. Some of those at his side held no office at all; if he called one by name he would at once grant a high rank and ask, "Can you name that rank again?" He often scattered gold among the cushions; those who pleased him were told to take what they wanted — such was the recklessness of his largesse. When the Song envoy Yu Tangbi came to congratulate Hailing on his accession and was about to return, Hailing sent a jade belt as a gift for the Song emperor with this message: "Your father often wore this belt. I bestow it now so that, as if you saw your father again, you will not forget my goodwill." When the envoy withdrew, Zhongke said, "That is a treasure rare in the world — a pity to give it away so lightly." The emperor said, "The lands south of the Yangtze will one day be mine; this is only stored in an outer treasury for now." From this people knew that Hailing intended to invade the south.
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俄遷秘書丞，轉少監。 是時，營建燕京宮室，有司取真定府潭園材木，仲軻乘間言其中材木不可用，海陵意仲軻受請托，免仲軻官。 未幾，複用為少監。 海陵獵於途你山，次於鐸瓦，酹天而拜，謂群臣曰：「朕幼時習射，至一門下，默祝曰：'若我異日大貴，當使一矢橫加門脊上。 '及射，果橫加門脊上。 後為中京留守，嘗大獵於此地，圍未合，禱曰：'我若有大位，百步之內當獲三鹿。 若止為公相，獲一而已。 '於是不及百步連獲三鹿。 又祝曰：'若統一海內，當複獲一大鹿。 '於是果獲一大鹿。 此事嘗與蕭裕言之，朕今複至此地，故拜奠焉。」 海陵意欲取江南，故先設禨祥以諷群臣，是以仲軻每先逢其意，導之南伐。
Soon he was promoted to deputy director of the palace library, then to junior director. While the Yanjing palaces were being built, officials took timber from the Tan Garden in Zhending Prefecture. Zhongke seized a chance to say the timber was unusable. Hailing suspected bribery and removed him from office. Before long he was reappointed junior director. Hailing hunted on Tuni Mountain and halted at Duowa. He poured a libation to Heaven and bowed, telling his ministers, "As a boy practicing archery I came to a gate and silently prayed: 'If I should one day rise to great honor, let one arrow lie across the ridge of the gate. When he shot, the arrow indeed lay across the ridge of the gate. Later, as commissioner of the Central Capital, he held a great hunt here. Before the beaters closed the ring he prayed, 'If I am to attain high rank, I shall take three deer within a hundred paces.' If I were only to become a chief minister, I would take but one. Before a hundred paces he took three deer in succession. He prayed again, 'If I unite the realm within the Four Seas, I shall again take one great deer.' And indeed he took one great deer. I once told Xiao Yu of this; I have come again to this place, and so I offer worship and libation." Hailing intended to seize the south. He staged auspicious signs to sway his ministers, and Zhongke always anticipated his intent and urged the southern campaign.
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貞元二年正月，宋賀正旦使施巨朝辭，海陵使左宣徽使敬嗣暉問施巨曰：「宋國幾科取士？」 對曰：「詩賦、經義、策論兼行。」 又問：「秦檜作何官，年今幾何？」 對曰：「檜為尚書左僕射中書門下平章事，年六十五矣。」 複謂之曰：「我聞秦檜賢，故問之。」
In the first month of the second year of Zhenyuan, when the Song New Year's envoy Shi Ju took leave at court, Hailing had Left Commissioner Jing Sihui ask him, "In how many examination categories does the Song state select scholars?" He answered, "Poetry and rhapsody, classical exegesis, and policy essays are all used together." He asked again, "What office does Qin Hui hold, and how old is he now?" He answered, "Hui is Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs and Grand Councilor; he is sixty-five." He added, "I have heard Qin Hui is a worthy man — that is why I asked."
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正隆二年，仲軻為左諫議大夫，修起居注，但食諫議俸，不得言事。 三年正月，宋賀正使孫道夫陛辭，海陵使左宣徽使敬嗣暉諭之曰：「歸白爾帝，事我上國多有不誠，今略舉二事：爾民有逃入我境者，邊吏皆即發還，我民有逃叛入爾境者，有司索之往往託辭不發，一也。 爾於沿邊盜買鞍馬，備戰陣，二也。 且馬待人而後可用，如無其人，得馬百萬亦奚以為？ 我亦豈能無備。 且我不取爾國則已，如欲取之，固非難事。 我聞接納叛亡、盜買鞍馬，皆爾國楊太尉所為，常因俘獲問知其人，無能為者也。」 又曰：「聞秦檜已死，果否？」 道夫對曰：「檜實死矣，陪臣亦檜所薦用者。」 又曰：「爾國比來行事，殊不似秦檜時何也？」 道夫曰：「容陪臣還國，一一具聞宋帝。」 海陵蓋欲南伐，故先設納叛亡、盜買馬二事，而雜以他辭言之。
In the second year of Zhenglong, Zhongke became Left Remonstrance Grand Master and compiled the imperial diary, but received only the remonstrance salary and was not allowed to remonstrate. In the first month of the third year, when the Song New Year's envoy Sun Daofu took leave, Hailing had Jing Sihui instruct him, "Tell your emperor: in dealings with our state you have often been insincere. I cite two examples. When your people flee into our territory, our border officials send them back at once; when our people flee into yours, your authorities make excuses and refuse to return them — the first matter. You secretly buy saddles and horses along the border to prepare for war — the second matter. Besides, horses are useless without men to ride them; a million horses are worthless if you lack the riders. Do you think we are unprepared? If I choose not to take your state, so be it; if I wish to take it, that will not be difficult. I hear that receiving defectors and buying horses on the sly are the work of your Grand Marshal Yang. Captives have told me about him — he is no threat." He added, "I have heard Qin Hui is dead — is it true?" Daofu answered, "Hui is indeed dead — and I myself was recommended by him." He added, "Your state's conduct of late is nothing like the Qin Hui era — why is that?" Daofu said, "Let me return home and lay out each of your points before the Song emperor." Hailing was already bent on invading the south; he had planted those two charges—harboring defectors and illicit horse-buying—then woven them into talk of other things.
19
海陵召仲軻、右補闕馬欽、校書郎田與信、直長習失入便殿侍坐。 海陵與仲軻論《漢書》，謂仲軻曰：「漢之封疆不過七八千里，今吾國幅員萬里，可謂大矣。」 仲軻曰：「本朝疆土雖大，而天下有四主，南有宋，東有高麗，西有夏，若能一之，乃為大耳。」 海陵曰：「彼且何罪而伐之？」 仲軻曰：「臣聞宋人買馬修器械，招納山東叛亡，豈得為無罪？」 海陵喜曰：「向者梁珫嘗為朕言，宋有劉貴妃者姿質豔美，蜀之華蕊、吳之西施所不及也。 今一舉而兩得之，俗所謂'因行掉手'也。 江南聞我舉兵，必遠竄耳。」 欽與與信俱對曰：「海島、蠻越，臣等皆知道路，彼將安往？」 欽又曰：「臣在宋時，嘗帥軍征蠻，所以知也。」 海陵謂習失曰：「汝敢戰乎？」 對曰：「受恩日久，死亦何避。」 海陵曰：「汝料彼敢出兵否，彼若出兵，汝果能死敵乎？」 習失良久曰：「臣雖懦弱，亦將與之為敵矣。」 海陵曰：「彼將出兵何地？」 曰：「不過淮上耳。」 海陵曰：「然則天與我也。」 既而曰：「朕舉兵滅宋，遠不過二三年，然後討平高麗、夏國。 一統之後，論功遷秩，分賞將士，彼必忘勞矣。」
Hailing called in Zhongke, the Right Supplementation Censor Ma Qin, the Collator Tian Yuxin, and the Regular Attendant Xishi to wait on him in the privy chamber. Hailing was discussing the Book of Han with Zhongke and said, "The Han domains stretched only seven or eight thousand li; our realm spans ten thousand li today—surely that is greatness." Zhongke said, "Our lands are vast, but the world still has four sovereigns—Song in the south, Goryeo in the east, Xia in the west. True greatness would be to unite them." Hailing asked, "What have they done wrong that I should attack them?" Zhongke said, "I hear the Song are buying horses, readying arms, and taking in defectors from Shandong—how can that be no offense?" Hailing brightened. "Liang Guan once told me the Song have a Noble Consort Liu of extraordinary beauty—Shu's Huarui and Wu's Xishi are nothing beside her. One campaign and I win both—what people call getting a bonus on the way. When the south hears I am marching, they will run for the ends of the earth." Qin and Yuxin answered together, "Sea islands, barbarian coasts—we know every road. Where could they flee?" Qin added, "When I served in Song I led campaigns against the southern tribes—that is how I know." Hailing turned to Xishi. "Would you dare fight?" He answered, "You have favored me for years; I would not shrink from death." Hailing said, "Do you think they will dare march out? If they do, will you truly stand and die against them?" After a long pause Xishi said, "Timid as I am, I would still face them as an enemy." Hailing asked, "Where would they march out from?" He said, "Nowhere but the Huai line." Hailing said, "Then Heaven has handed it to me." Then he said, "When I march to destroy Song it will take at most two or three years; then I will subdue Goryeo and Xia. After the realm is one, I will promote by merit and reward officers and men—they will forget their hardships."
20
四年三月，仲軻死。 冬至前一夕，海陵夢仲軻求酒，既覺，嗟悼良久，遣使者奠其墓。
In the third month of the fourth year, Zhongke died. On the night before the winter solstice Hailing dreamed Zhongke begging for wine. When he woke he mourned at length and sent an envoy to pour offerings at his grave.
21
李通，以便辟側媚得幸於海陵。 累官右司郎中，遷吏部尚書。 請謁賄賂輻輳其門。 正隆二年正月乙酉，詔左右司禦史中丞以下奏事便殿，海陵曰：「知子莫若父，知臣莫若君，朕嘗試之矣。 朕詢及人材，汝等若不舉同類，必舉其相善者。 朕聞女直、契丹之仕進者，必賴刑部尚書烏帶、簽書樞密遙設為之先容，左司員外郎阿裏骨列任其事。 渤海、漢人仕進者，必賴吏部尚書李通、戶部尚書許霖為之先容，左司郎中王蔚任其事。 凡在仕版，朕識者寡，不識者眾，莫非人臣，豈有遠近親疏之異哉。 苟奉職無愆，尚書侍郎節度使便可得，萬一獲罪，必罰無赦。」 頃之，拜參知政事。
Li Tong won Hailing's favor through clever compliance and ingratiating flattery. He rose through the ranks to Right Department Director, then was appointed Minister of Personnel. Petitioners and bribes crowded his gate. On yiyou of the first month of Zhenglong 2, an edict summoned officials from the Left and Right Departments and the Censor-in-Chief down to report at the privy chamber. Hailing said, "No one knows a son like his father, no one knows a minister like his lord—I have tested that. When I asked about talent, you either recommended your own kind or your friends. I hear Jurchen and Khitan seeking office all needed Minister of Justice Wudai and Privy Council Deputy Yaoshe to speak for them first, with Left Department Vice Director Aligulie handling the paperwork. Bohai and Han seeking office relied on Li Tong at Personnel and Xu Lin at Revenue for introductions, with Left Department Director Wang Wei running the process. Of everyone in office I know few and do not know many—yet are they not all my ministers? Why should nearness or kinship matter? Serve without fault and you may reach minister, vice-minister, or commissioner; commit an offense and punishment will be merciless." Before long he was made Vice Councilor.
22
海陵恃累世強盛，欲大肆征伐，以一天下，嘗曰：「天下一家，然後可以為正統。」 通揣知其意，遂與張仲軻、馬欽、宦者梁珫近習群小輩，盛談江南富庶，子女玉帛之多，逢其意而先道之。 海陵信其言，以通為謀主，遂議興兵伐江南。 四年二月，海陵諭宰相曰「宋國雖臣服，有誓約而無誠實，比聞沿邊買馬及招納叛亡，不可不備。」 遣使籍諸路猛安部族、及州縣渤海丁莊充軍，仍括諸道民馬。 於是，遣使分往上京、速頻路、胡裏改路、曷懶路、蒲與路、泰州、咸平府、東京、婆速路、曷蘇館、臨潢府、西南招討司、西北招討司、北京、河間府、真定府、益都府、東平府、大名府、西京路，凡年二十以上、五十以下者皆籍之，雖親老丁多，求一子留侍，亦不聽，五年十一月，使益都尹京等三十一人押諸路軍器於軍行要會處安置，俟軍至分給之。 其分給之餘與繕完不及者，皆聚而焚之。
Hailing, trusting in generations of power, meant to wage war on a vast scale and unite the realm. He once said, "Only when the world is one family can rule be called orthodox." Tong read his mind and, with Zhang Zhongke, Ma Qin, the eunuch Liang Guan, and other court favorites, lavished talk on Jiangnan's wealth—its people, its jade and silk—getting ahead of his desire and saying it first. Hailing believed them, made Tong his chief strategist, and began planning war against the south. In the second month of the fourth year Hailing told the chief ministers, "Song may bow, but their oaths are hollow; I hear they are buying horses on the border and taking defectors—we must prepare." He sent envoys to register meng'an tribes and Bohai households in every prefecture and county for service, and to seize civilian horses on every circuit. Envoys were then dispatched across Shangjing, Supin, Huligai, Helan, Puyu, Taizhou, Xianping, Dongjing, Basu, Hesuguan, Linhuang, the southwest and northwest pacification commissions, Beijing, Hejian, Zhending, Yidu, Dongping, Daming, and Xijing Circuit to register every man from twenty to fifty. Even families with aged parents and many sons were denied a single son left at home. In the eleventh month of the fifth year Yin Jing, prefect of Yidu, and thirty others were ordered to convoy weapons from every circuit to the army's staging points for issue when the troops arrived. Surplus stores and gear that could not be repaired in time were heaped up and burned.
23
六年正月，海陵使通諭旨宋使徐度等曰：「朕昔從梁王嘗居南京，樂其風土。 帝王巡狩，自古有之。 淮右多隙地，欲校獵其間，從兵不逾萬人。 汝等歸告汝主，令有司宣諭朕意，使淮南之民無懷疑懼。」 二月，通進拜右丞，詔曰：「卿典領繕完兵械，今已畢功，朕嘉卿忠謹，故有是命，俟江南事畢，別當旌賞。」
In the first month of the sixth year Hailing had Tong tell the Song envoys Xu Du and others, "I once followed Prince Liang and lived at Nanjing; I loved its country. Imperial tours are as old as kingship. There is open country south of the Huai where I wish to hunt; my escort will not exceed ten thousand. Go back and tell your emperor; let his officials announce my intent so the people of Huainan need not fear." In the second month Tong was promoted Right Vice Chancellor. The edict read, "You have overseen arms and armor to completion; I reward your loyalty with this post. When the southern campaign ends, further honors will follow."
24
四月，簽書樞密院事高景山為賜宋帝生日使，右司員外郎王全副之，海陵謂全曰：「汝見宋主，即面數其焚南京宮室、沿邊買馬、招致叛亡之罪，當令大臣某人某人來此，朕將親詰問之，且索漢、淮之地，如不從，即厲聲詆責之，彼必不敢害汝。」 海陵蓋使王全激怒宋主，將以為南伐之名也。 謂景山曰：「回日，以全所言奏聞。」 全至宋，一如海陵之言詆責宋主，宋主謂全曰：「聞公北方名家，何乃如是？」 全複曰：「趙桓今已死矣。」 宋主遽起發哀而罷。 海陵至南京，宋遣使賀遷都，海陵使韓汝嘉就境上止之曰：「朕始至此，比聞北方小警，欲複歸中都，無庸來賀。」 宋使乃還。
In the fourth month Privy Council Deputy Gao Jingshan was sent as birthday envoy to the Song emperor, with Right Department Vice Director Wang Quan as deputy. Hailing told Quan, "When you see the Song ruler, accuse him to his face of burning the Nanjing palaces, buying horses on the border, and harboring defectors. Demand that such-and-such ministers come here for me to question myself, and claim the Han and Huai lands. If he refuses, berate him loudly—they will not dare touch you." Hailing meant Quan to provoke the Song emperor and supply a pretext for invasion. He told Jingshan, "On your return, report everything Quan said." Quan reached Song and abused the emperor exactly as Hailing had instructed. The Song ruler said, "They say you come from a great northern house—how can you behave like this?" Quan shot back, "Zhao Huan is dead already." The Song ruler sprang up, broke into mourning, and the audience ended. When Hailing reached Nanjing the Song sent envoys to congratulate his move of the capital. He had Han Rujia meet them at the border and say, "I have only just arrived; I hear of trouble in the north and may return to the central capital—no need to congratulate." The Song envoys turned back.
25
於是，大括天下騾馬，官至七品聽留一馬，等而上之。 並舊籍民馬，其在東者給西軍，在西者給東軍，東西交相往來，晝夜絡繹不絕，死者狼籍于道。 其亡失多者，官吏懼罪或自殺。 所過蹂踐民田，調發牽馬夫役。 詔河南州縣所貯糧米以備大軍，不得他用，而騾馬所至當給芻粟，無可給，有司以為請，海陵曰：「此方比歲民間儲畜尚多，今禾稼滿野，騾馬可就牧田中，借令再歲不獲，亦何傷乎。」 及徵發諸道工匠至京師，疫死者不可勝數，天下始騷然矣。 調諸路馬以戶口為率，富室有至六十匹者。 凡調馬五十六萬餘匹，仍令本家養飼，以俟師期。
Then the court seized mules and horses empire-wide; officials of seventh rank and above might keep one horse, with more allowed by higher rank. Registered civilian horses in the east went to western armies and western horses to eastern ones; convoys crossed day and night without pause, and the dead littered the roads. Officials who lost too many animals, fearing punishment, sometimes took their own lives. Convoys trampled fields and pressed men into service as horse handlers and laborers. An edict reserved Henan's stored grain for the main army alone. Wherever convoys passed they had to be fed; when stores ran out officials appealed. Hailing said, "This region still has plenty in the barns, and the fields are full—let the animals graze the standing grain. Even two years without harvest would do no harm." When craftsmen were summoned from every circuit to the capital, plague killed untold numbers, and the realm began to boil. Horses were levied by household count; rich families surrendered as many as sixty. More than five hundred sixty thousand horses were levied, yet each household had to feed them until the army marched.
26
海陵因出獵，遂至通州觀造戰船，籍諸路水手得三萬餘人。 及東海縣人張旺、徐元反，遣都水監徐文等率師浮海討之，海陵曰：「朕意不在一邑，將試舟師耳。」 於是民不堪命，盜賊蜂起，大者連城邑，小者保山澤，遣護衛普連二十四人，各授甲士五十人，分往山東、河北、河東、中都等路節鎮州郡屯駐，捕捉盜賊。 以護衛頑犀為定武軍節度副使，尚賢為安武軍節度副使，蒲甲為昭義軍節度副使，皆給銀牌，使督責之。 是時，山東賊犯沂州，臨沂令胡撒力戰而死。 大名府賊王九等據城叛，眾至數萬。 契丹邊六斤、王三輩皆以十數騎張旗幟，白晝公行，官軍不敢誰何，所過州縣，開劫府庫物置於市，令人攘取之，小人皆喜賊至，而良民不勝其害。 太府監高彥福、大理正耶律道、翰林待制大穎出使還朝，皆言盜賊事。 海陵惡聞，怒而杖之，穎仍除名，自是人人不復敢言。
On a hunting excursion Hailing went to Tongzhou to inspect warship construction and registered more than thirty thousand sailors from every circuit. When Zhang Wang and Xu Yuan rebelled in Donghai County he sent Xu Wen of the Directorate of Waterways with a fleet to crush them. Hailing said, "I care nothing for one county—I am testing the navy." The people could endure no more; rebels swarmed—large bands seizing cities, small bands holding hills and marshes. He sent twenty-four Imperial Guards, including Puchain, each with fifty armored men, to garrison Shandong, Hebei, Hedong, Zhongdu, and other circuits and hunt bandits. Wanxi was made deputy commissioner of Dingwu, Shangxian of Anwu, and Puja of Zhaoyi; each received a silver plaque and orders to drive the hunt. Bandits in Shandong struck Yizhou; the magistrate of Linyi, Hu Sa, died fighting. At Daming, Wang Jiu and others seized the city; their force numbered tens of thousands. Khitan raiders such as Bianliujin and Wang San rode openly by day with a dozen men and banners; troops dared not stop them. They looted treasuries and piled goods in markets for the crowd to seize; the poor welcomed the bandits while the law-abiding suffered. Gao Yanfu of the Imperial Storehouse, Yelü Dao of the Court of Review, and Hanlin attendant Da Ying, returning from missions, all reported on the bandits. Hailing hated such news, had them beaten, and struck Da Ying from the rolls; after that no one dared speak.
27
海陵自將，分諸道兵為神策、神威、神捷、神銳、神毅、神翼、神勇、神果、神略、神鋒、武勝、武定、武威、武安、武捷、武平、武成、武毅、武銳、武揚、武翼、武震、威定、威信、威勝、威捷、威烈、威毅、威震、威略、威果、威勇三十二軍，置都總管、副總管各一員，分隸左右領軍大都督及三道都統制府。 置諸軍巡察使、副各一員。 乙太保奔睹為左領軍大提督，通為副大都督。 海陵以奔睹舊將，使帥諸軍以從人望，實使通專其事。
Hailing took personal command and divided forces from every circuit into thirty-two armies—Divine Strategy, Divine Might, Divine Swiftness, Divine Sharpness, Divine Perseverance, Divine Wings, Divine Courage, Divine Fruit, Divine Design, Divine Edge, and the Martial and Prestige series—each with a chief and deputy commander under the left and right frontier marshals and the three grand command offices. Each army received an inspector and deputy inspector. Yitaibao Benzhe became Left Frontier Grand Marshal; Tong became deputy grand marshal. Because Benzhe was a veteran general Hailing put him at the head of the armies to satisfy expectation, but Tong in fact ran everything.
28
海陵召諸將授方略，賜宴於尚書省。 海陵曰：「太師梁王連年南伐，淹延歲月。 今舉兵必不如彼，遠則百日，近止旬月。 惟爾將士無以征行為勞，戮力一心，以成大功，當厚加旌賞，其或弛慢，刑茲無赦。」 海陵恐糧運不繼，命諸軍渡江無以僮僕從行，聞者莫不怨咨。 徒單後與太子光英居守，尚書令張浩、左丞相蕭玉、參知政事敬嗣暉留治省事。
Hailing summoned his generals, issued strategy, and feasted them at the Ministry of State. Hailing said, "Grand Marshal Liang's southern campaigns dragged on for months year after year. This campaign will not be like his—at most a hundred days, at least a fortnight. Do not complain of the march; with one heart win the great victory and I will reward you richly. Slackness will be punished without mercy." Fearing supply lines would fail, he forbade servants on the crossing; every soldier who heard it groaned. Tushan Hou and Crown Prince Guangying stayed behind; Chief Minister Zhang Hao, Left Chancellor Xiao Yu, and Vice Councilor Jing Sihui remained to govern.
29
九月甲午，海陵戎服乘馬，具裝啟行。 明日，妃嬪皆行，宮中慟哭久之。 十月乙巳，陰晦失路，是夜二更始至蒙城。 丁未，大軍渡淮，至中流，海陵拜而酹之。 至宿次，見築繚垣者，殺四方館使張永鈐。 將至廬州，見白兔，馳射不中。 既而後軍獲之以進，海陵大喜，以金帛賜之，顧謂李通曰：「昔武王伐紂，白魚躍於舟中。 今朕獲此，亦吉兆也。」 癸亥，海陵至和州，百官表奉起居，海陵謂其使：「汝等欲伺我動靜邪？ 自今勿複來，俟平江南始進賀表。」
On jiawu of the ninth month Hailing mounted in armor and rode out. The next day the consorts followed; the palace wailed long. On yisi of the tenth month, under dark skies they lost the road and did not reach Mengcheng until the second watch. On dingwei the main force crossed the Huai; at midstream Hailing bowed and poured a libation. At camp he saw men building stockades and had Zhang Yongqian of the Four Directions Office executed. Near Luzhou he sighted a white hare, galloped to shoot, and missed. Soon the rear guard caught it and presented it. Hailing rejoiced, gave gold and silk, and told Li Tong, "When King Wu attacked Zhou a white fish leapt into his boat. Now I have this—it too is a lucky sign." On guihai he reached Hezhou; officials sent a health memorial. Hailing told the envoy, "Do you mean to spy on me? Do not come again until Jiangnan is pacified—then you may submit congratulations."
30
是時，梁山濼水涸，先造戰船不得進，乃命通更造戰船，督責苛急，將士七八日夜不得休息，壞城中民居以為材木，煮死人膏為油用之。 遂築台于江上，海陵被金甲登臺，殺黑馬以祭天，以一羊一豕投于江中。 召都督昂、副都督蒲盧渾謂之曰：「舟楫已具，可以濟江矣。」 蒲盧渾曰：「臣觀宋舟甚大，我舟小而行遲，恐不可濟。」 海陵怒曰：「爾昔從梁王追趙構入海島，豈皆大舟邪？ 明日汝與昂先濟。」 昂聞令己渡江，悲懼欲亡去。 至暮，海陵使謂昂曰：「前言一時之怒耳，不須先渡江也。」 明日，遣武平軍都總管阿鄰、武捷軍副總管阿撒率舟師先濟。 宿直將軍溫都奧剌、國子司業馬欽、武庫直長習失皆從戰。 海陵置黃旗紅旗於岸上，以號令進止，紅旗立則進，黃旗僕則退。 既渡江，兩舟先逼南岸，水淺不得進，與宋兵相對射者良久，兩舟中矢盡，遂為所獲，亡一猛安、軍士百余人。 海陵遂還和州。
Liangshan Marsh had run dry and the first warships could not move. Hailing ordered Tong to build new ones with brutal urgency; troops worked seven or eight days without rest, tearing down houses in the city for timber and boiling corpses for ship oil. A platform was raised on the river. Hailing in golden armor climbed it, sacrificed a black horse to Heaven, and threw a sheep and a pig into the water. He called Commander Ang and Deputy Commander Puluhun and said, "The fleet is ready—you may cross." Puluhun said, "The Song ships are huge; ours are small and slow—I fear we cannot cross." Hailing snapped, "When you followed Prince Liang chasing Zhao Gou to the islands, were all their boats large? Tomorrow you and Ang cross first." Ang, hearing he must cross first, was stricken with dread and thought of fleeing. At evening Hailing sent word to Ang, "That was a flash of temper—you need not cross first." The next day he sent A'lin, chief of the Martial Peace Army, and Asa, deputy of the Martial Swiftness Army, to lead the fleet across first. Palace Duty General Wendu Aola, Directorate of Education director Ma Qin, and Armory Regular Attendant Xishi all went into battle. Hailing posted yellow and red flags on the shore to command movement: advance when the red flag went up, fall back when the yellow flag dropped. Once across the river, two vessels pushed ahead toward the south bank but grounded in the shallows. They traded fire with Song forces for a long stretch until their arrows were spent; both boats were taken, with the loss of one meng'an and over a hundred troops. Hailing withdrew to Hezhou.
31
議定，通複入奏曰：「陛下親師深入異境，無功而還，若眾散於前，敵乘於後，非萬全計。 若留兵渡江，車駕北還，諸將亦將解體。 今燕北諸軍近遼陽者恐有異志，宜先發兵渡江，斂舟焚之，絕其歸望。 然後陛下北還，南北皆指日而定矣。」 海陵然之，明日遂趨揚州。 過烏江縣，觀項羽祠，歎曰：「如此英雄不得天下，誠可惜也。」
After the council concluded, Li Tong went in again and said, 'Your Majesty has led the army in person deep into enemy country and now withdraws with nothing gained. If the troops scatter in front while the foe presses from behind, that is no sure plan at all. Leave men south of the river while the imperial train heads north, and even your commanders will fall apart. The northern forces near Liaoyang may already be wavering. Send men across the river first, haul the boats in, and burn them—cut off any thought of going home. Only then should Your Majesty ride north. North and south will fall into place in a matter of days. Hailing agreed. The next day he marched for Yangzhou. At Wujiang he stopped at Xiang Yu's shrine and sighed, 'A hero like that—and still he never held the empire. What a waste.'
32
海陵至揚州，使符寶耶律沒答護神果軍扼淮渡，凡自軍中還至淮上，無都督府文字皆殺之。 乃出內箭飾以金龍，題曰禦箭，系帛書其上，使人乘舟射之南岸，其書言「宋國遣人焚毀南京宮室、及沿邊買馬、招誘軍民，今興師問罪，義在吊伐，大軍所至，必無秋毫之犯。」 以此招諭宋人。 於是，宋將王權亦縱所獲金軍士三人，齎書數海陵罪，通奏其書，即命焚之。
At Yangzhou he posted Yelü Meda and the Shenguo Army to hold the Huai ford. Any soldier coming back from the front without papers from headquarters was put to death. He had palace arrows fitted with golden dragons, marked Imperial Arrows, and silk messages bound to them shot across to the south bank. The text accused Song of burning the Southern Capital's palaces, buying horses, and luring border troops and civilians—hence this punitive campaign to right wrongs, with a pledge that his army would not harm so much as a hair of the people. Thus he tried to win over the Song side. Song general Wang Quan in turn freed three captured Jin troops carrying a bill of Hailing's crimes. Li Tong brought the document in—and immediately had it burned.
33
海陵怒，亟欲渡江。 驍騎高僧欲誘其黨以亡，事覺，命眾刃剉之。 乃下令，軍士亡者殺其蒲裏衍，蒲裏衍亡者殺其謀克，謀克亡者殺其猛安，猛安亡者殺其總管，由是軍士益危懼。 甲午，令軍中運鴉鶻船及糧船於瓜州渡，期以明日渡江，敢後者死。
Hailing flew into a rage and insisted on forcing a crossing at once. A bold cavalry monk named Gaoseng tried to coax his comrades into desertion. When the plot surfaced, Hailing had the troops hack him apart with their blades. He decreed a chain of blood: a deserter's puliyan died, a puliyan's mouke, a mouke's meng'an, a meng'an's zongguan. Terror in the ranks only deepened. On the day jiawu he ordered Yaohu craft and grain barges moved to the Guazhou ford, with crossing set for the morrow—delay meant death.
34
乙未，完顏元宜等以兵犯禦營，海陵遇弑。 都督府以南伐之計皆通等贊成之，徒單永年乃其姻戚，郭安國眾所共惡，皆殺之。 大定二年，詔削通官爵，人心始快。
On yiwei, Wanyan Yuanyi and his men struck the imperial encampment. Hailing was murdered. Headquarters blamed the southern war on Li Tong and his circle. Tanshi Yongnian was family by marriage; Guo Anguo was hated by all—each was executed. In Dading 2 an edict stripped Li Tong of rank and title, to the relief of the realm.
35
馬欽，幼名韓哥，嘗仕江南，故能知江南道路。 正隆三年，海陵將南伐，遂召用欽，自貴德縣令為右補闕。 欽為人輕脫不識大體，海陵每召見與語，欽出宮輒以語人曰：「上與我論某事，將行之矣。」 其視海陵如僚友然。 累遷國子司業。 海陵至和州，欲遣蒲盧渾渡江，蒲盧渾言舟小不可濟，海陵使人召欽，先戒左右曰：「欽若言舟小不可渡江，即殺之。」 欽至，問曰：「此舟可渡江否？」 欽曰：「臣得筏亦可渡也。」 大定二年，除名。 是日，起前翰林待制大穎為秘書丞。 穎在正隆間嘗言山東盜賊，海陵惡其言，杖之除名。 世宗嘉穎忠直，惡欽巧佞，故複用穎而放欽焉。
Ma Qin—nicknamed Han Ge in youth—had served in the south and knew its routes. In Zhenglong 3, with the southern campaign looming, Hailing called him up from magistrate of Guide to Right Subsidiary Remonstrator. Qin was flighty and blind to larger stakes. After every audience he would tell others, 'The Emperor and I talked over such-and-such—it's going to happen.' He treated Hailing like a fellow clerk. He rose step by step to Vice Director of the Directorate of Education. At Hezhou, when Hailing meant to send Pulu Hun across the river, Pulu Hun said the craft were too small. Hailing sent for Qin, telling his attendants beforehand, 'If he says the boats won't do, kill him.' Qin came in and was asked, 'Will these boats carry us across?' Qin answered, 'Give me a raft and I'd still go.' In Dading 2 he was dismissed and struck from the rolls. The same day Da Ying, formerly Hanlin Academician Awaiting Orders, was made Secretary Director. In the Zhenglong years Ying had warned of banditry in Shandong. Hailing took offense, had him beaten, and cashiered him. Emperor Shizong valued Ying's blunt honesty and loathed Qin's sly flattery—so Ying was brought back and Qin cast out.
36
高懷貞
Gao Huaizhen
37
高懷貞，為尚書省令史，素與海陵狎昵。 海陵久蓄不臣之心，嘗與懷貞各言所志，海陵曰：「吾志有三：國家大事皆自我出，一也。 帥師伐國，執其君長問罪於前，二也。 得天下絕色而妻之，三也。」 由是小人佞夫皆知其志，爭進諛說。 大定縣丞張忠輔謂海陵曰：「夢公與帝擊球，公乘馬沖過之，帝墜馬下。」 海陵聞之大喜。 會熙宗在位久，委政大臣，海陵以近屬為宰相，專威福柄，遂成弑逆之計，皆懷貞輩小人從臾導之。 海陵篡立，以懷貞為修起居注，懷貞故父濱州刺史贈中奉大夫。 懷貞累遷禮部侍郎。 大定二年，降奉政大夫，放歸田裏。 五年，與許霖俱賜起複，懷貞為定國軍節度使。 上戒之曰：「汝等在正隆時，奸佞貪私，物論鄙之。 朕念沒身不齒則無以自新。 若怙舊不悛，必不貸汝矣。」
Gao Huaizhen served as a clerk in the Department of State Affairs and had long been on familiar terms with Hailing. Hailing had long nursed treasonous designs. He and Huaizhen once traded confessions of what each wanted. Hailing said, 'I have three aims: first, that every weighty matter of state issue from my hand alone. Second, to march abroad, conquer, and drag enemy kings before me to answer for their crimes. Third, to take the finest women in the realm for my own.' Word spread among sycophants and small men; they rushed to feed his vanity. Zhang Zhongfu, assistant magistrate of Dading, told him, 'I dreamed you and the Emperor played cuju. You charged through on horseback and knocked him from his mount.' Hailing was delighted. Xizong had ruled long and left power to senior ministers. Hailing, a near kinsman, seized the chancellorship and the whip hand of favor, laying the groundwork for murder—urged on at every step by creatures like Huaizhen. Once Hailing seized the throne he made Huaizhen Compiler of the Imperial Diary and posthumously ennobled his late father, the former prefect of Bin, as Grand Master of Palace Attendance. Huaizhen climbed to Vice Minister of Rites. In Dading 2 he was reduced to Grand Master of Governance and sent back to his village. In Dading 5 he and Xu Lin were both recalled; Huaizhen was named military commissioner of the Dingguo Army. The Emperor warned him: 'Under Zhenglong you were treacherous, greedy, and obsequious. Opinion held you in contempt. I thought that unless you were given a second chance you could never reform. Cling to your old ways and I will not spare you.'
38
蕭裕，本名遙折，奚人。 初以猛安居中京，海陵為中京留守，與裕相結，每與論天下事。 裕揣海陵有覬覦心，密謂海陵曰：「留守先太師，太祖長子。 德望如此，人心天意宜有所屬，誠有志舉大事，顧竭力以從。」 海陵喜受之，遂與謀議。 海陵竟成弑逆之謀者，裕啟之也。
Xiao Yu, born Yaozhe, was a man of the Xi. He began as a meng'an at the Central Capital. When Hailing was posted there as military commissioner the two became allies and talked endlessly of the empire's future. Yu sensed Hailing's ambition and whispered, 'You are the former Grand Preceptor—Taizu's eldest son. Men and Heaven alike should look to you. If you mean to act, I will spend myself in your service.' Hailing welcomed him and they began to plot in earnest. It was Yu who first opened the path to regicide.
39
海陵為左丞，除裕兵部侍郎，改同知南京留守事，改北京。 海陵領行台尚書省事，道過北京，謂裕曰：「我欲就河南兵建立位號，先定兩河，舉兵而北。 君為我結諸猛安以應我。」 定約而去。 海陵雖自良鄉召還，不能如約，遂弑熙宗篡立，以裕為秘書監。
As Left Vice Chancellor, Hailing made Yu Vice Minister of War, then associate commissioner at the Southern Capital, then shifted him to the Northern Capital. Leading the mobile secretariat, he stopped at the Northern Capital and told Yu, 'I mean to raise my standard with the armies south of the river, secure the two He provinces first, then drive north. Rally the meng'an to answer when I call.' They set a date and he moved on. Recalled from Liangxiang, he could not keep his promise. He murdered Xizong, seized the throne, and made Yu Director of the Secretariat.
40
海陵心忌太宗諸子，欲除之，與裕密謀。 裕傾險巧詐，因構致太傅宗本、秉德等反狀，海陵殺宗本，唐括辯遣使殺秉德、宗懿及太宗子孫七十余人、秦王宗翰子孫三十餘人。 宗本已死，裕乃求宗本門客蕭玉，教以具款反狀，令作主名上變。 海陵既詔天下，天下冤之。 海陵賞誅宗本功，以裕為尚書左丞，加儀同三司，授猛安，賜錢二千萬，馬四百匹、牛四百頭、羊四千口。 再閱月，為平章政事、監修國史。 舊制，首相監修國史，海陵以命裕，謂裕曰：「太祖以神武受命，豐功茂烈光于四海，恐史官有遺逸，故以命卿。」 久之，裕為右丞相、兼中書令。 裕在相位，任職用事頗專恣，威福在己，勢傾朝廷。 海陵倚信之，他相仰成而已。
He feared Taizong's sons and plotted their ruin with Yu in secret. Yu was cunning and cruel. He framed the Grand Tutor Zongben, Bingde, and others for treason. Hailing executed Zongben; Tangutuo Bian's agents killed Bingde, Zongyi, more than seventy of Taizong's line, and thirty-odd descendants of Prince Qin Zonghan. After Zongben was dead, Yu found his retainer Xiao Yu, coached him to write a full confession of treason, and had him file the denunciation in his own name. When Hailing published the charges across the empire, the outrage was universal. For destroying Zongben he made Yu Left Vice Chancellor with the title Third-Rank Peer, named him meng'an, and showered him with twenty million cash, four hundred horses and oxen, and four thousand sheep. A month later he was Grand Councilor and supervisor of the national history. By custom the chief minister oversaw the histories. Hailing handed the task to Yu and said, 'Taizu took the mandate by divine force; his deeds fill the four seas. I fear something may be lost—hence you.' In time he rose to Right Chancellor and Director of the Secretariat. In office Yu acted with little restraint; power and favor pooled in him until he dominated the court. Hailing leaned on him utterly; other ministers merely assented.
41
裕與高藥師善，嘗以海陵密語告藥師，藥師以其言奏海陵，且曰：「裕有怨望心。」 海陵召裕戒諭之，而不以為罪也。 或有言裕擅權者，海陵以為忌裕者眾，不之信。 又以為人見裕弟蕭祚為左副點檢，妹夫耶律辟離剌為左衛將軍，勢位相憑藉，遂生忌嫉，乃出祚為益都尹，辟離剌為甯昌軍節度使，以絕眾疑。 裕不知海陵意，遽見出其親表補外，不令己知之，自是深念恐海陵疑己。 海陵弟太師袞領三省事，共在相位，以裕多自用，頗防閑之，裕乃謂海陵使袞備之也。 而海陵猜忍嗜殺，裕恐及禍，遂與前真定尹蕭馮家奴、前禦史中丞蕭招折、博州同知遙設、裕女夫遏剌補謀立亡遼豫王延禧之孫。 裕使親信蕭屯納往結西北路招討使蕭好胡，好胡即懷忠。 懷忠依違未決，謂屯納曰：「此大事，汝歸遣一重人來。」 裕乃使招折往。 招折前為中丞，以罪免，以此得詣懷忠。 懷忠問招折與謀者複有何人，招折曰：「五院節度使耶律朗亦是也。」 懷忠舊與朗有隙，而招折嘗上撻懶變事，懷忠疑招折反復，因執招折，收朗系獄，遣使上變。 遙設亦與筆硯令史白答書，使白答助裕以取富貴，白答奏其書。 海陵信裕不疑，謂白答構誣之，命殺白答於市。 執白答出宣華門，點檢徒單貞得蕭懷忠上變事入奏，遇見白答，問其故，因止之。 徒單貞已奏變事，以白答為請，海陵遽使釋之。
Yu was close to Gao Yaoshi and once repeated Hailing's private remarks to him. Yaoshi reported them and added, 'Yu nurses a grudge.' Hailing summoned Yu, warned him, and let the matter pass. When others accused Yu of hoarding power, Hailing judged it mere envy and paid no heed. He noticed that Yu's brother Xiao Zuo was Left Deputy Director of Palace Inspection and his brother-in-law Yelü Pili Left Guard General—a family bloc—and moved Zuo to prefect of Yidu and Pili to commissioner of Ningchang to quiet suspicion. Yu did not grasp Hailing's motive. Kin posted abroad without his knowledge fed his fear that the emperor already distrusted him. Hailing's brother Gun, Grand Preceptor, ran the Three Departments and shared power. He checked Yu's independence; Yu told Hailing that Gun was plotting against him. Hailing was suspicious and bloodthirsty. Fearful for his life, Yu joined the former prefect Xiao Feng's slave, former censor-in-chief Xiao Zhaozhe, Bozhou associate Yaoshe, and his son-in-law Elabu to place a grandson of the fallen Liao Prince of Yu, heir of Emperor Tianzuo. He sent Xiao Tunna to the northwestern pacification commissioner Xiao Haohu—known as Huaizhong. Huaizhong hesitated. 'This is grave,' he said. 'Send someone with real standing.' Yu dispatched Zhaozhe. Zhaozhe, once censor-in-chief, had been cashiered for crime—his disgrace was his passport to Huaizhong. Huaizhong asked who else plotted. Zhaozhe named Yelü Lang, commissioner of the Five Circuits. Huaizhong hated Lang already, and distrusted Zhaozhe for his earlier memorial on the Tadan revolt. He arrested Zhaozhe, jailed Lang, and sent word to the throne. Yaoshe wrote the clerk Bai Da, promising riches if he aided Yu. Bai Da turned the letter in. Still trusting Yu, Hailing took Bai Da's charge for slander and ordered him executed in the marketplace. As Bai Da was marched out the Xuanhua Gate, Director Tanshi Zhen arrived with Huaizhong's denunciation, met him on the way, heard his story, and stopped the execution. Zhen had already reported the plot; at his plea Hailing ordered Bai Da freed at once.
42
海陵使宰相問裕，裕即款伏。 海陵甚驚愕，猶未能盡信，引見裕，親問之。 裕曰：「大丈夫所為，事至此又豈可諱。」 誨陵複問曰：「汝何怨於朕而作此事？」 裕曰：「陛下凡事皆與臣議，及除祚等乃不令臣知之。 領省國王每事謂臣專權，頗有提防，恐是得陛下旨意。 陛下與唐括辯及臣約同生死，辯以強忍果敢致之死地，臣皆知之，恐不得死所，以此謀反，幸苟免耳。 太宗子孫無罪，皆死臣手，臣之死亦晚矣。」 海陵複謂裕曰：「朕為天子，若于汝有疑，雖汝弟輩在朝，豈不能施行，以此疑我，汝實錯誤。 太宗諸子豈獨在汝，朕為國家計也。」 又謂之曰：「自來與汝相好，雖有此罪，貸汝性命，惟不得作宰相，令汝終身守汝祖先墳壟。」 裕曰：「臣子既犯如此罪逆，何面目見天下人，但願絞死，以戒其餘不忠者。」 海陵遂以刀刺左臂，取血塗裕面，謂之曰：「汝死之後，當知朕本無疑汝心。」 裕曰：「久蒙陛下非常眷遇，仰戀徒切，自知錯繆，雖悔何及。」 海陵哭送裕出門，殺之，並誅遙設及馮家奴。 馮家奴妻，豫王女也，與其子穀皆與反謀，並殺之。 遣護衛龐葛往西北路招討司誅朗及招折，而屯納、遏剌補皆出走，捕得屯納棄市，遏剌補自縊死。
Hailing sent a chancellor to question Yu, who confessed outright. Hailing was stunned, still half in disbelief. He brought Yu before him and questioned him face to face. Yu said, 'A man does what he must. At this point, what is there to hide?' Hailing asked again, 'What grievance drove you to this?' Yu answered, 'Your Majesty consults me on everything—yet you posted Zuo and the others without telling me. Prince Gun at the mobile secretariat says I hoard power and keeps me at arm's length. I feared that was your will. You swore life and death with me and Tangutuo Bian. Bian's ruthlessness killed him—and I knew I might be next. I rebelled only to save my skin. Taizong's innocent sons died by my hand. My own death is overdue.' Hailing said again, 'I am emperor. Had I doubted you, could I not have moved against your kin in court? You misread me. Taizong's line was not yours alone to destroy. I acted for the realm.' He added, 'We have long been close. For old times' sake I spare your life—but never again as chancellor. Guard your family's graves till you die.' Yu said, 'After treason such as this, how could I face the world? Strangle me, and let it warn the disloyal.' Hailing stabbed his own left arm, smeared the blood on Yu's face, and said, 'When you are dead you will know I never truly doubted you.' Yu said, 'I enjoyed your extraordinary grace too long. I see my error now—but repentance comes too late.' Hailing wept as he saw Yu out the door, then had him killed, along with Yaoshe and Xiao Feng's slave. The slave's wife was a daughter of the Prince of Yu; she and her son Gu had joined the plot and were executed as well. He sent Imperial Guard Pang Ge to the northwestern pacification commission to kill Lang and Zhaozhe. Tunna and Elabu fled; Tunna was caught and executed in the market, and Elabu hanged himself.
43
屯納出走，過河間少尹蕭之詳，之詳初不知裕事，留之三日。 屯納往之詳茶紮家，茶紮遣人詣之詳告公引，得之，付屯納遣之他所。 茶紮家奴發其事，吏部侍郎窊產鞫之，之祥曰：「屯納宿二日而去。」 法家以之詳隱其間，欺尚書省，罪當贖。 海陵怒，命殺之，杖窊產及議法者，茶紮杖四百死。
Tunna fled past Hejian's junior administrator Xiao Zhixiang, who at first knew nothing of Yu's plot and sheltered him for three days. Tunna went to Zhixiang's retainer Chazha. Chazha sent word to Zhixiang, obtained Tunna, and sent him on elsewhere. A slave in Chazha's household exposed the matter. Vice Minister of Personnel Wachan investigated. Zhixiang said, "Tunna stayed two days and left." Legal officers ruled that Zhixiang had concealed the facts and misled the Department of State Affairs—a crime punishable by fine. Hailing ordered Zhixiang executed, had Wachan and the legal officers beaten, and had Chazha beaten four hundred strokes to death.
44
龐葛殺招折等，並殺無罪四人，海陵不問，杖之五十而已。 以裕等罪詔天下。 賞上變功，懷忠遷樞密副使，以白答為牌印雲。 高藥師遷起居注，進階顯武將軍。 藥師嘗奏裕有怨望，至是賞之雲。
Pang Ge killed Zhaozhe and others and four innocent men besides. Hailing ignored the excess and merely had him beaten fifty strokes. An edict announced Yu's crimes to the empire. Informers were rewarded: Huaizhong became deputy privy council commissioner, and Bai Da was made keeper of the seals. Gao Yaoshi was made compiler of the imperial diary and promoted to General of Manifest Martiality. Yaoshi, who had once reported Yu's discontent, was rewarded at last.
45
胥持國
Xu Chiguo
46
持國為人柔佞有智術。 初，李妃起微賤，得幸於上。 持國久在太子宮，素知上好色，陰以秘術幹之，又多賂遺妃左右用事人。 妃亦自嫌門地薄，欲藉外廷為重，乃數稱譽持國能，由是大為上所信任，與妃表裏，筦擅朝政。 誅鄭王永蹈、鎬王永中，罷黜完顏守貞等事，皆起于李妃、持國。 士之好利躁進者皆趨走其門下。 四方為之語曰：「經童作相，監婢為妃。」 惡其卑賤庸鄙也。
Chiguo was pliant, fawning, and clever in intrigue. Consort Li had begun in low station and won the emperor's favor. Chiguo had long served in the crown prince's household and knew the emperor's appetite for pleasure. He used secret arts to court him and bribed the consort's attendants lavishly. Ashamed of her low birth, the consort sought weight through the outer court and praised Chiguo's talents until the emperor trusted him utterly. Consort and favorite worked as one, and he dominated the government. The deaths of Princes Yongtao of Zheng and Yongzhong of Hao, the dismissal of Wanyan Shouzhen, and like crimes all began with Consort Li and Chiguo. Office-seekers greedy for profit flocked to his door. People said across the realm, "A classics boy for chancellor, a supervising maid for consort." The saying mocked their base and vulgar rise.
47
承安三年，禦史台劾奏：「右司諫張複亨、右拾遺張嘉貞、同知安豐軍節度使事趙樞、同知定海軍節度使事張光庭、戶部主事高元甫、刑部員外郎張岩叟、尚書省令史傅汝梅、張翰、裴元、郭郛，皆趨走權門，人戲謂'胥門十哲'。 複亨、嘉貞尤卑佞苟進，不稱諫職。 俱宜黜罷。」 奉可。 於是持國以通奉大夫致仕，嘉貞等皆補外。
In Chengan 3 the censorate impeached Zhang Fuheng, remonstrator of the Right Department; Zhang Jiazhen, supplementation drafter; Zhao Shu and Zhang Guangting, associate military commissioners; Gao Yuanfu, personnel chief; Zhang Yansou, penal vice director; and clerks Fu Rumei, Zhang Han, Pei Yuan, and Guo Ye—all runners at Chiguo's gate, mocked as the "Ten Sages of Xu's Gate. Fuheng and Jiazhen were the worst—obsequious climbers unfit for remonstrance. All should be removed from office." The throne approved. Chiguo retired as Grand Master of Governance for the Imperial Clan; Jiazhen and the others were sent to provincial posts.
48
頃之，起知大名府事，未行，改樞密副使，佐樞密使襄治軍於北京。 一日，上召翰林修撰路鐸問以他事，因語及董師中、張萬公優劣，鐸曰：「師中附胥持國進。 持國奸邪小人，不宜典軍馬，以臣度之，不惟不允人望，亦必不能服軍心，若回日再相，必亂天下。」 上曰：「人臣進退人難，人君進退人易，朕豈以此人複為相耶。 第遷官二階，使之致仕耳。」 尋卒於軍，諡曰「通敏」。 後上問平章政事張萬公曰：「持國今已死，其為人竟如何？」 萬公對曰：「持國素行不純謹，如貨酒平樂樓一事，可知矣。」 上曰：「此亦非好利。 如馬琪位參政，私鬻省醖，乃為好利也。」 子鼎，別有傳。
Soon he was named to administer Daming but, before he left, was made deputy privy council commissioner to assist Commissioner Xiang with troops at Beijing. One day the emperor summoned Hanlin compiler Lu Duo on another matter and asked him to compare Dong Shizhong and Zhang Wangong. Duo said, "Shizhong rose by clinging to Xu Chiguo. Chiguo is a treacherous petty villain, unfit to command armies. He will neither satisfy public expectation nor win the troops. If he becomes chancellor again after this campaign, he will ruin the realm." The emperor said, "Ministers find it hard to move men in or out; for a ruler it is easy. Do you think I would make him chancellor again? I will promote him two ranks and let him retire—that is all." He soon died on campaign; his posthumous title was Penetrating and Keen. Later the emperor asked Grand Councilor Zhang Wangong, "Chiguo is dead—what sort of man was he, after all?" Wangong answered, "He was never scrupulous—the Pingle Tower wine-selling affair shows that." The emperor said, "That is not true greed for profit. When Ma Qi was vice councilor and sold the provincial monopoly brew for himself—that was greed for profit." His son Ding is treated in a separate biography.