1
列傳第七十逆臣○秉德本名乙辛唐括辯烏帶大興國徒單阿里出虎僕散師恭本名忽土徒單貞李老僧完顏元宜紇石烈執中本名胡沙虎
Biography 70: Traitorous Ministers — Bingde (born Yixin), Tangguo Bian, Wudai, Daxingguo, Tudan Aluchuhu, Pusan Sigong (born Hu Tu), Tudan Zhen, Li Laoseng, Wanyan Yuanyi, and Geshilie Zhizhong (born Hu Shahu).
2
昔者孔子作《春秋》而亂臣賊子懼，其法有五焉：微而顯，志而晦，婉而成章，盡而不汙，懲惡而勸善。 夫懲惡乃所以勸善也，作《逆臣傳》。
Long ago Confucius wrote the Spring and Autumn Annals, and disloyal ministers and wicked heirs trembled before it. Its artistry rests on five principles: the subtle made clear, intent recorded yet veiled, tactful yet fully formed, thorough yet unsullied, chastising wickedness to encourage virtue. To punish the wicked is to encourage the good — hence these biographies of traitorous ministers.
3
秉德，本名乙辛。 初為西南路招討使，改汴京留守。 丁母憂，起復為兵部尚書，拜參知政事。 皇統八年，與烏林答蒲盧虎等廉察郡縣，使還，拜平章政事。 廷議欲徙遼陽渤海人屯燕南，秉德及左司郎中三合議其事。 近侍高壽星在徙中，壽星訴于悼後，後以白帝，帝怒，杖秉德而殺三合。 是時熙宗在位久，悼後幹政，而繼嗣未立，帝無聊不平，屢殺宗室，箠辱大臣。 秉德以其故懷忿，乃與唐括辯、烏帶等謀廢立。
Bingde's original name was Yixin. He first served as pacification commissioner of the Southwest Circuit, then became guardian of Bianjing. After his mother's death he went into mourning, but was recalled to serve as Minister of War and appointed vice grand councilor. In the eighth year of Huangtong (1148), he joined Wulinadao Puluhu and others on an integrity inspection tour of the prefectures and counties. On his return he was made grand councilor. The court debated relocating the Bohai people of Liaoyang to garrison the region south of Yan; Bingde and Left Department Director Sanhe were assigned to plan the move. The intimate attendant Gao Shouxing was slated for relocation. He appealed to Empress Dowager Dao, who told the emperor. Enraged, the emperor had Bingde beaten and executed Sanhe. By then Emperor Xizong had reigned for many years. Empress Dowager Dao dominated politics, yet no heir had been named. Restless and ill at ease, the emperor repeatedly killed princes of the blood and flogged his senior ministers. Bingde nursed a grudge over this and joined Tangguo Bian, Wudai, and others in a plot to depose the emperor and set up another.
4
烏帶以其謀告海陵，海陵乃與秉德謀弑熙宗。 皇統九年十二月九日，遂與唐括辯、烏帶、忽土、阿里出虎、大興國、李老僧、海陵妹夫特廝，弑熙宗於寢殿。 秉德初意不在海陵，已弑熙宗，未有所屬，忽土奉海陵坐，秉德等皆拜稱萬歲。 殺曹國王宗敏、左丞相宗賢。 時秉德位在海陵上，因被杖怨望謀廢立，而海陵因之以為亂。 既立，以秉德為左丞相，兼侍中、左副元帥，封蕭王，賜鐵券，與錢二千萬、絹一千匹、馬牛各三百、羊三千。 久之，為烏帶所譖，出領行台尚書省事。
Wudai betrayed the plot to Hailing, who then conspired with Bingde to murder Emperor Xizong. On the ninth day of the twelfth month of Huangtong 9 (1149), they murdered Emperor Xizong in the sleeping hall — Tangguo Bian, Wudai, Hu Tu, Aluchuhu, Daxingguo, Li Laoseng, and Hailing's brother-in-law Tesi among them. Bingde had not originally meant to elevate Hailing. After the murder, with no successor yet chosen, Hu Tu seated Hailing on the throne, and Bingde and the rest all bowed and cried "Long live the emperor!" They killed Prince of Cao Zongmin and the left chief councilor Zongxian. Bingde still outranked Hailing. Nursing resentment from his beating, he again plotted to depose and replace him — and Hailing seized on this as proof of sedition. Once on the throne, Hailing made Bingde left chief councilor, palace attendant, and left vice commander-in-chief, enfeoffed him as Prince of Xiao, granted an iron certificate, and rewarded him with twenty million cash, a thousand bolts of silk, three hundred horses and oxen apiece, and three thousand sheep. Before long Wudai slandered him, and he was sent out to head the mobile imperial secretariat.
5
時秉德方在告，亟召之，限十日內發行。 會海陵欲除太宗諸子，並除秉德，以秉德首謀廢立，及弑熙宗下即勸進，銜之。 烏帶因言秉德與宗本謀反有狀，曰：「昨來秉德曾于宗本家飲酒，海州刺史子忠言，秉德有福，貌類趙太祖，秉德偃仰笑受其言。 臣妻言秉德妻嘗指斥主上，語皆不順。 及秉德與宗本相別時，指斥尤甚，且謂歷數有歸。 秉德招刑部侍郎漫獨曰'已前曾說那公事，頗記憶否'。 漫獨曰，'不存性命事何可對眾便說'。 似此逆狀甚明。」 海陵遣使就行台殺秉德，並殺前行台參知政事烏林答贊謀。
Bingde was then on bereavement leave; he was urgently recalled and told to depart within ten days. Hailing was moving to eliminate Taizong's sons and meant to remove Bingde as well. Bingde had led the plot to depose Xizong, yet after the murder had pressed Hailing to take the throne — a grudge Hailing never forgot. Wudai reported that Bingde and Zongben had clearly plotted rebellion. He said: "The other day Bingde drank at Zongben's house. Zizhong, prefect of Haizhou, told him he was blessed and looked like Emperor Taizu of Song. Bingde leaned back and laughed, pleased with the flattery. My wife says Bingde's wife once reviled the sovereign to his face — every word was seditious. When Bingde and Zongben parted, the abuse was even worse — they declared that the mandate had passed to them. Bingde called Vice Minister of Punishments Mandu aside and asked, "We discussed that matter before — do you still remember?" Mandu replied, "A matter of life and death — how could I speak of it openly before everyone?" Treason such as this is plain enough. 」Hailing sent agents to the mobile secretariat to execute Bingde, along with the former vice grand councilor Wulinadao Zanmou.
6
贊謀妻，秉德乳母也。 初，贊謀與前行台左丞溫敦思忠同在行台，思忠黷貨無厭，贊謀薄之，由是有隙，故思忠乘是並誣贊謀及其子，殺之。 贊謀不肯跪受刑，行刑者立而縊殺之。 海陵以贊謀家財奴婢盡賜思忠。
Zanmou's wife had been Bingde's wet nurse. Earlier Zanmou had served at the mobile secretariat alongside its former left vice director Wendun Sizhong, who was insatiably corrupt. Zanmou despised him, and they fell out. Sizhong seized the moment to frame Zanmou and his son and had them killed. Zanmou would not kneel for execution; the executioners strangled him standing. Hailing gave all of Zanmou's property and household slaves to Sizhong.
7
秉德與烏帶以口語致怨，既死遂並殺其弟特里、颭里，及宗翰子孫，死者三十餘人，宗翰之後遂絕。 世宗即位，追復秉德官爵，贈儀同三司。
Bingde and Wudai had quarreled bitterly. After Bingde's death they killed his younger brothers Teli and Zhali and wiped out Zonghan's descendants — more than thirty dead, and Zonghan's line was ended. When Emperor Shizong came to the throne, he posthumously restored Bingde's offices and enfeoffed him with the rank of Director with Threefold Parity.
8
初，撒改薨，宗翰襲其猛安親管謀克。 秉德死，海陵以賞烏帶，傳其子兀答補，大定六年，世宗憫宗翰無後，詔以猛安謀克還撒改曾孫盆買，遣使改葬撒改、宗翰于山陵西南二十里，百官致奠，其家產給近親以奉祭祀。
When Sagai died, Zonghan inherited his personally administered meng'an and mouke district. After Bingde's death Hailing rewarded Wudai with the district, which passed to his son Wudabu. In Dading 6 (1166), pitying that Zonghan had no heirs, Shizong returned the meng'an and mouke to Sagai's great-grandson Penmai, reburied Sagai and Zonghan twenty li southwest of the imperial tombs with full rites, and assigned their estates to close kin for ancestral sacrifice.
9
秉德既死，其中都宅第，左副元帥杲居之。 杲死，海陵遷都，迎其嫡母徒單氏居之。 徒單遇害，世宗惡其不祥，施為佛寺。
After Bingde's death his mansion at the Central Capital was taken over by the left vice commander-in-chief Gao. When Gao died, Hailing moved the capital and installed his birth mother, Lady Tudan, in the house. Lady Tudan was murdered there. Shizong found the place ill-omened and turned it into a Buddhist temple.
10
唐括辯
Tangguo Bian
11
唐括辯，本名斡骨剌。 尚熙宗女代國公主，為駙馬都尉。 累官參知政事、尚書左丞。 與右丞相秉德謀廢立，而烏帶以告海陵，海陵謂辯曰：「我輩不以匡救，旦暮且及禍。 若行大事，誰可立者？」 辯曰：「無乃胙王常勝乎？」 海陵問其次，辯曰：「鄧王子阿楞。」 海陵曰：「阿楞屬疏，安得立。」 辯曰：「公豈有意邪？」 海陵曰：「若不得已，捨我其誰。」 於是，旦夕相與密謀。 護衛將軍特思疑之，以告悼後曰：「辯等因間每竊竊偶語，不知議何事。」 悼後以告熙宗，熙宗怒，召辯責之曰：「爾與亮謀何事，將如我何。」 杖而遣之。 自是謀益甚。
Tangguo Bian's original name was Wogula. He married Emperor Xizong's daughter, Princess of Daiguo, and became commandant of cavalry-in-attendance. He rose to vice grand councilor and left vice director of the imperial secretariat. He plotted with the right chief councilor Bingde to depose the throne, but Wudai informed Hailing. Hailing told Bian: "If we do not intervene, disaster will strike us any day now. If we raise a coup, whom should we set up? 」Bian said: "What of the Prince of Zu, Changsheng? 」Hailing pressed for the next choice. Bian said: "Aleng, son of the Prince of Deng. 」Hailing said: "Aleng is too far from the line — he cannot be enthroned. 」Bian said: "Do you mean yourself? 」Hailing said: "If it must be done, who but me? 」From then on they plotted together day and night. Guard general Tesi grew suspicious and told Empress Dowager Dao: "Bian and his circle keep whispering together whenever they can — no one knows what they are plotting. 」The empress dowager told Emperor Xizong. Enraged, Xizong summoned Bian and demanded: "What are you and Liang plotting — what do you mean to do to me? 」He had him beaten and dismissed. From then on the conspiracy only deepened.
12
十二月九日，代國公主為其母悼后作佛事，居寺中，故海陵、秉德等俱會於辯家。 至夜，辯等以刀藏衣下，相隨入宮，門者以辯駙馬不疑，皆內之。 至殿門，直宿護衛覺之，辯舉刀呵之使無動。 既弑熙宗，立海陵，辯為尚書右丞相兼中書令，封王，賜錢二千萬、絹千匹、馬牛各三百、羊三千、並鐵券。 進拜左丞相。 父彰德軍節度使重國，遷東平尹。
On the ninth of the twelfth month, Princess of Daiguo was holding Buddhist rites for Empress Dowager Dao at a temple. Hailing, Bingde, and the others therefore met at Bian's house. At night Bian and the others concealed knives in their robes and entered the palace together. The gatekeepers, trusting Bian as the emperor's son-in-law, admitted them all. At the hall gate the night guards noticed them. Bian brandished his knife and ordered them not to move. After murdering Xizong and enthroning Hailing, Bian was made right vice director of the imperial secretariat and director of the secretariat, enfeoffed as prince, and rewarded with twenty million cash, a thousand bolts of silk, three hundred horses and oxen apiece, three thousand sheep, and an iron certificate. He was promoted to left chief councilor. His father Chongguo, military commissioner of the Zhangde Army, was transferred to prefect of Dongping.
13
初，辯與海陵謀逆，辯嘗言其家奴多可用者，海陵固已懷之。 及行弑之夕會於辯家，待興國出宮，辯因設饌，眾皆恇懼不能食，辯獨飽食自若，海陵由此知其忮忍，畏忌之，及即位，嘗與辯觀太祖畫像，海陵指示辯曰：「此眼與爾相似。」 辯色動，海陵亦色動，由是疑辯，益忌之。 及與蕭裕謀致宗本罪，並致辯嘗與宗本謀反，即殺之。
When Bian and Hailing first plotted treason, Bian had boasted that many of his household slaves were useful men — a remark Hailing never forgot. On the night of the murder they gathered at Bian's house, waiting for Daxingguo to leave the palace. Bian laid out a feast. The others were too terrified to eat; Bian alone ate his fill without concern. Hailing saw how ruthless he was and grew afraid of him. After his enthronement he once viewed Taizu's portrait with Bian and said, pointing: "These eyes look like yours. 」Bian's face changed — and so did Hailing's. From that moment Hailing suspected him and feared him all the more. When he and Xiao Yu framed Zongben, he also charged that Bian had once plotted rebellion with him — and had Bian killed at once.
14
重國坐奪官，正隆二年，起為沂州防禦使，改清州防禦使。 大定初，重國與徒單拔改俱以政跡著聞，歷安國、彰化、橫海軍節度使。
Chongguo lost his office because of the case. In Zhenglong 2 (1157) he was recalled as defense commissioner of Yizhou, then transferred to Qingzhou. Early in the Dading era Chongguo and Tudan Bagai were both noted for distinguished administration; he served in turn as military commissioner of the Anguo, Zhanghua, and Henghai armies.
15
後辯子孫上書，言辯死天德間，祖重國亦坐追削。 正隆初，重國已復官職，乞追復辯官爵。 是時，海陵已降為庶人，以辯與弑逆，不許。
Later Bian's descendants petitioned that Bian had died in the Tiande era and that their grandfather Chongguo had also been posthumously stripped of rank. By early Zhenglong Chongguo had regained his offices and asked that Bian's rank be posthumously restored. By then Hailing had been reduced to commoner status, but because Bian had joined the regicide, the request was denied.
16
烏帶妻唐括氏淫泆，舊與海陵通，又私其家奴閻乞兒，秉德嘗對熙宗斥其事，烏帶銜之未發也。 時海陵多忌，會有疾，少間，烏帶遂誣奏：「秉德有指斥語，曰：主上數日不視朝，若有不諱，誰當繼者？ 臣曰：主上有皇子。 秉德曰：嬰兒豈能勝天下大任，必也葛王乎」。 海陵以為實然，故出秉德，已而殺之，以秉德世襲猛安謀克授烏帶。 進右丞相。 烏帶與宗本有親，海陵以烏帶告秉德事，故宗本之禍烏帶獨免，遂以秉德千戶謀克及其子婦家產盡賜之。 進司空、左丞相、兼侍中。
Wudai's wife, Lady Tangguo, was dissolute — she had once been Hailing's lover and later took their slave Yan Qi'er as well. Bingde had denounced this to Emperor Xizong in open court. Wudai nursed a grudge but had not yet struck. Hailing was deeply suspicious. When he fell briefly ill, Wudai lodged a false report: "Bingde spoke treasonously, saying: 'The sovereign has not held court for days — if the worst should happen, who will succeed him? I said: 'The sovereign has sons.' Bingde said: 'How could an infant bear the empire — surely it must be the Prince of Ge?'" Hailing believed it and sent Bingde out of court, then killed him and gave Wudai Bingde's hereditary meng'an and mouke. He was promoted to right chief councilor. Wudai was kin to Zongben. Because he had informed on Bingde, he alone escaped when Zongben fell — and received Bingde's thousand-household mouke and all the property of his son and daughter-in-law. He was promoted to minister of works, left chief councilor, and palace attendant.
17
居數月，烏帶早朝，以日陰晦將雨，意海陵不視朝，先趨出朝，百官皆隨之去。 已而海陵御殿，知烏帶率百官出朝，惡之，遂落司空，出為崇義軍節度使。 後海陵思慕唐括容色，因其侍婢來候問起居，海陵許立為後，使殺烏帶。 海陵詐為烏帶哀傷，使其子兀答補佩金符乘驛赴喪，追封為王，仍詔有司送其靈車，賜絹三百為道途費。 納唐括于宮中，封貴妃。
A few months later, at an early session Wudai saw the sky dark and thought rain would keep Hailing from court. He left first — and the whole assembly followed. Hailing then took the throne and learned that Wudai had led the officials away. Offended, he stripped him of the rank of minister of works and sent him out as military commissioner of the Chongyi Army. Later Hailing pined for Tangguo's beauty. When her maid came to inquire after his health, he promised to make her empress — and had Wudai killed. Hailing feigned grief, sent Wudai's son Wudabu with the gold tally by relay to the funeral, posthumously enfeoffed Wudai as prince, and ordered officials to escort the bier and grant three hundred bolts of silk for the journey. He took Tangguo into the palace and made her noble consort.
18
兀答補襲猛安謀克。 大定六年，以猛安謀克還撒改曾孫，以阿魯補謀克授兀答補，終同知大興尹。 子瑭，本名烏也阿補，以曾祖阿魯補功，充筆硯祗候。
Wudabu inherited the meng'an and mouke. In Dading 6 the meng'an and mouke were returned to Sagai's great-grandson; Wudabu received the Alubu mouke in compensation and eventually became vice prefect of Daxing. His son Tang, born Wuye'abu, served as brush-and-ink attendant on account of his great-grandfather Alubu's merit.
19
大興國
Daxingguo
20
大興國，事熙宗為寢殿小底，權近侍局直長，最見親信，未嘗去左右。 每逮夜，熙宗就寢，興國時從主者取符鑰歸家，主者即以付之，聽其出入以為常。 皇統九年，海陵生日，熙宗使興國以宋司馬光畫像及他珍玩賜海陵，悼後亦以物附賜，熙宗不悅，杖興國一百。
Daxingguo served Emperor Xizong as a petty attendant of the sleeping hall and acting director of the Bureau of Intimate Attendance. He was the emperor's most trusted attendant and never left his side. Each night when Xizong retired, Daxingguo would take the tally-keys from the chief attendant and go home — the keys were routinely handed to him, and his comings and goings were taken for granted. In Huangtong 9, on Hailing's birthday, Xizong sent Daxingguo to present Hailing with a portrait of Sima Guang of Song and other treasures. Empress Dowager Dao added gifts of her own. Xizong was angry and had Daxingguo beaten a hundred strokes.
21
海陵謀弑，意先得興國乃可伺間入宮行大事，且度興國無罪被杖必有怨望心，可乘此說之，乃因李老僧結興國。 既而，知無異心可與謀，乃召至臥內，令解衣，欲與之俱臥，意有所屬者。 興國固辭不敢，曰：「即有使，惟大王之命。」 海陵曰：「主上無故殺常勝，又殺皇后。 乃以常勝家產賜阿楞，既又殺阿楞，遂以賜我。 我深以為憂，奈何？」 興國曰：「是固可慮也。」 海陵曰：「朝臣旦夕危懼，皆不自保。 向者我生日，因皇后附賜物，君遂被杖，我亦見疑。 主上嘗言會須殺君，我與君皆將不免，寧坐待死何如舉大事。 我與大臣數人謀議已定，爾以為如何？」 興國曰：「如大王言，事不可緩也。」 乃約十二月九日夜起事。 興國取符鑰開門，矯詔召海陵入。 夜二更，海陵、秉德等入。 熙宗常置佩刀於禦榻上，是夜興國先取投榻下，及亂作，熙宗求佩刀不得，遂遇弑。
Hailing plotted murder and knew he must win Daxingguo first — only then could he seize a moment to enter the palace. He reckoned that Daxingguo, beaten without cause, must bear a grudge — and approached him through Li Laoseng. Finding that Daxingguo had no treasonous intent of his own, he summoned him to his bedchamber, ordered him to undress, and tried to share his bed — seeking to bind him by intimacy. Daxingguo firmly refused. He said: "If you have a commission for me, I await only the Great King's command. 」Hailing said: "The sovereign murdered Changsheng for no reason — and murdered the empress as well. He gave Changsheng's estate to Aleng, then killed Aleng too — and gave it to me. I am deeply troubled — what can be done? 」Daxingguo said: "That is indeed worrisome. 」Hailing said: "The ministers live in daily fear — none can feel safe. On my birthday, because the empress added her gifts, you were beaten — and I fell under suspicion too. The sovereign once said he would have to kill you. Neither of us will be spared — better to raise a coup than sit and await death. Several ministers and I have already agreed on a plan — what do you say? 」Xingguo said: "As you say, Great King — this cannot wait." 」They fixed the night of the ninth of the twelfth month to strike. Xingguo seized the palace tally and keys, opened the gate, and forged an edict summoning Hailing inside. At the second watch, Hailing, Bingde, and the rest entered. Emperor Xizong usually kept his sword on the imperial couch. That night Xingguo removed it and tossed it under the bed. When the attack began, Xizong groped for his blade and found nothing — and was murdered.
22
海陵既立，以興國為廣甯尹，賜奴婢百口、犀玉帶各一、錢絹馬牛鐵券如其黨，進階金紫光祿大夫。 再賜興國錢千萬、黃金四百兩、銀千兩、良馬四匹、駝車一乘、橐駝三頭、真珠巾、玉鉤帶、玉佩刀、及玉校鞍轡。 天德四年，改崇義軍節度使，賜名邦基。 再授絳陽、武甯節度使，改河間尹。
After Hailing took the throne, he made Xingguo guardian of Guangning, rewarded him with a hundred servants, rhinoceros and jade belts, cash, silk, horses, oxen, and an iron certificate like the other conspirators, and promoted him to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Golden Seal and Purple Ribbon. He gave Xingguo another ten million cash, four hundred taels of gold, a thousand taels of silver, four fine horses, a camel carriage, three pack camels, a pearl headcloth, jade hook belt, jade sword, and jade-trimmed saddle and bridle. In Tiande 4 he became military commissioner of the Chongyi Army and was granted the name Bangji. He was next made military commissioner of Jiangyang and Wuning, then transferred to guardian of Hejian.
23
世宗即位，廢於家，凡海陵所賜皆奪之。 大定中，邦基兄邦傑自京兆判官還，世宗曰：「大邦傑因其弟進，濫廁縉紳，豈可復用。」 並罷其子弟與所贈父官。 及海陵降為庶人，詔曰：「大邦基與海陵同謀弑逆，逋誅至今，為幸多矣。」 遂磔於思陵之側。
When Emperor Shizong took the throne, Bangji was stripped of office and confined at home; every gift from Hailing was seized back. During Dading, Bangji's elder brother Bangjie returned from a post as Jingzhao prefectural aide. Emperor Shizong said: "Bangjie rose only through his brother and never deserved a place among the gentry — he must not serve again." 」Their sons and brothers were all dismissed, and the offices granted their father were revoked. When Hailing was reduced to commoner rank, an edict declared: "Bangji conspired with Hailing in regicide — to have escaped death this long was fortune enough." 」He was dismembered beside Siling.
24
徒單阿里出虎
Tudan Aluchuhu
25
徒單阿里出虎，會甯葛馬合窟申人，徙懿州。 父拔改，太祖時有戰功，領謀克，曷速館軍帥，皇統四年為兵部侍郎，歷天德軍節度使，改興中尹，與宗幹世為姻家。 皇統九年，阿里出虎與僕散忽土俱為護衛十人長。 海陵將弑熙宗，欲得二人者為內應，遂許以女妻阿里出虎子，而以逆謀告之。 阿里出虎素凶暴，聞其言喜甚，曰：「阿家此言何晚邪，廢立之事亦男子所為。 主上不能保天下，人望所屬惟在阿家，今日之謀乃我素志也。」 遂與忽土俱以十二月九日直禁中，海陵故以是夜二更入宮，至寢殿，阿里出虎先進刃，忽土次之，熙宗頓僕，海陵復刃之，血濺其面及衣。
Tudan Aluchuhu, from Gemahekuishen in Huining, was resettled at Yizhou. His father Bage won distinction under Emperor Taizu, served as company captain and commander of the Yisuguan army, became vice minister of war in Huangtong 4, held the Tiande Army command, then became guardian of Xingzhong — his family and Prince of Liao Zonggan's had been intermarried for generations. In Huangtong 9, Aluchuhu and Hu Tu both commanded units in the ten-man palace guard. When Hailing plotted to murder Emperor Xizong, he wanted the two as inside men — he promised his daughter to Aluchuhu's son and revealed the conspiracy. Aluchuhu was a brutal man. He was delighted and said: "Uncle, why wait so long? Overthrowing an emperor is men's work. The emperor cannot hold the realm; all eyes are on you, Uncle — this plot is exactly what I have wanted." 」He and Hu Tu drew palace duty on the ninth of the twelfth month. Hailing entered at the second watch that night. In the sleeping hall Aluchuhu struck first, Hu Tu second; Emperor Xizong fell, Hailing stabbed him again, and blood spattered Hailing's face and robes.
26
海陵既立，以阿里出虎為右副點檢，賜錢絹馬牛羊如其黨，子術斯剌尚榮國公主合女，加昭毅大將軍駙馬都尉。 天德二年，留守東京，加儀同三司。 八月，改河間尹，世襲臨潢府路斜剌阿猛安領親管謀克。 以憂去職，起復為太原尹，封王。
After Hailing took the throne, he made Aluchuhu right vice chief inspector and rewarded him like the other conspirators; his son Shusila married Princess Rongguo Heyue and was made General of Manifest Valor and chief consort commander. In Tiande 2 he stayed on as guardian of Dongjing and received honorary Three Excellencies rank. In the eighth month he became guardian of Hejian and inherited command of the Xielia militia in Linhuang Circuit with personal company captaincy. He resigned to mourn, was recalled as guardian of Taiyuan, and was enfeoffed as a prince.
27
阿里出虎自謂有佐立功，受鐵券，凶狠益甚，奴視僚屬，少忤其意輒箠辱無所恤。 嘗問休咎于卜者高鼎，遂以鼎所占問張王乞。 王乞以謂當有天命，阿里出虎喜，以王乞語告鼎。 鼎上變，阿里出虎伏誅，並殺其妻及王乞。 海陵使其子術斯剌焚其屍，投骨水中。
Aluchuhu counted his enthronement service a great deed and grew ever crueler with his iron certificate in hand. He treated subordinates like slaves and beat anyone who crossed him. He once asked the diviner Gao Ding about his fortune, then questioned Zhang Wangqi about Ding's reading. Wangqi declared that Heaven's mandate was at hand. Aluchuhu was delighted and told Ding what Wangqi had said. Ding reported the treason. Aluchuhu was executed, along with his wife and Wangqi. Hailing had Shusila burn the body and throw the bones into the river.
28
拔改自西京留守曆西南路招討使、忠順軍節度使，入為勸農使，復為河間尹，改臨洮尹，入為工部尚書，改興平軍節度使，濟南尹，卒。
Bage rose from guardian of the Western Capital through pacification commissioner of the Southwest Circuit and Zhongshun Army command, then promotion-of-agriculture commissioner, guardian of Hejian, guardian of Lintao, minister of works, Xingping Army commissioner and guardian of Jinan, where he died.
29
僕散師恭
Pusan Shigong
30
僕散師恭，本名忽土，上京老海達葛人。 本微賤，宗幹嘗周恤之，擢置宿衛為十人長。 海陵謀逆，以忽土出自其家，有恩，欲使為內應，謂之曰：「我有一言欲告君久矣，恐泄於人，未敢也。」 忽土曰：「肌肉之外，皆先太師所賜，苟有補于國王，死不敢辭。」 先太師，謂宗幹也。 海陵曰：「主上失道，吾將行廢立事，必得君為助乃可。」 忽土許之。
Pusan Shigong, born Hu Tu, came from Lao Haidage in Shangjing. Born low, he was taken in by Prince of Liao Zonggan, brought into the palace guard, and made a ten-man captain. When Hailing plotted treason, he meant to use Hu Tu — a man from Zonggan's household who owed him — as an inside man. He said: "I have long wanted to tell you something, but feared it would leak." 」Hu Tu said: "Everything I have beyond my own flesh came from the late Grand Preceptor — if it serves the king and state, I will not shrink from death." 」The "late Grand Preceptor" was Prince of Liao Zonggan. Hailing said: "The emperor has lost the Way. I mean to depose him and set up another — I need your help." 」Hu Tu agreed.
31
十二月九日，忽土直宿，海陵因之入宮。 至寢殿，熙宗聞步屣聲，咄之，眾皆卻立不敢動，忽土曰：「事至此，不進得乎？」 乃相與排闥而入。 既弑熙宗，秉德等尚未有所屬，忽土曰：「始者議立平章，今復何疑。」 乃奉海陵坐，眾前稱萬歲。 遂召曹國王宗敏至，即使忽土殺之。
On the ninth of the twelfth month Hu Tu stood night watch, and Hailing used that opening to enter the palace. At the sleeping hall Emperor Xizong heard footsteps and shouted. The others froze. Hu Tu said: "We have come this far — can we turn back?" 」Together they burst through the door. After the murder Bingde and the rest still had no candidate. Hu Tu said: "We agreed from the start to make the Chief Councillor emperor — why hesitate now?" 」They seated Hailing on the throne and cried "Long live the emperor!" They summoned Prince of Cao Zongmin and had Hu Tu kill him on the spot.
32
既即位，忽土為左副點檢，賜錢絹馬牛羊鐵券。 轉都點檢，改名師恭。 遷會甯牧，拜太子少師、工部尚書，封王。 頃之，以憂解職。 起復為樞密副使，進拜樞密使。 貞元三年，為右丞相。 正隆初，拜太尉，復為樞密使。 無何，以憂去，起復為太尉、樞密使。
After enthronement Hu Tu became left vice chief inspector and received cash, silk, horses, oxen, sheep, and an iron certificate. He became chief inspector and was renamed Shigong. He became pasture director of Huining, junior preceptor to the crown prince, minister of works, and a prince. Soon he resigned to mourn. Recalled from mourning, he became vice privy councilor, then privy councilor. In Zhenyuan 3 he became right chief councilor. At the start of Zhenglong he was made grand commandant and again privy councilor. Soon he left to mourn again, was recalled, and again held the posts of grand commandant and privy councilor.
33
海陵至汴京，賜忽土第一區，鄰甯德宮。 宮，徒單太后所居也，忽土時時入見太后。 及契丹撒八反，海陵命忽土與蕭懷忠北伐。 比行，忽土入辭甯德，太后與語久之。 海陵聞而惡之，疑其與太后有異謀。 是時，蕭禿剌、斡盧補與契丹撒八連戰皆無功，糧運不繼，乃退軍臨潢。 而撒八聞師恭以大軍且至，乃謀歸大石，沿龍駒河西去。 師恭至臨潢，追之不及。 海陵使樞密副使白彥敬等討撒八，師恭還，遣其子忽殺虎乘傳逆之，至則執而戮於市。 師恭臨刑，繩枚窒口不能言，但舉首視天日而已。 遂族滅之，並誅滅蕭禿剌、蕭賾、蕭懷忠家。
When Hailing reached Bianjing he gave Hu Tu a grand mansion next to Bingde Palace. Empress Dowager Tudan lived in that palace, and Hu Tu visited her often. When the Khitan rebel Saba rose, Hailing sent Hu Tu and Xiao Huaizhong north. Before marching, Hu Tu took leave at Bingde Palace and talked with the empress dowager at length. Hailing heard of it and grew suspicious — he feared Hu Tu and the empress dowager were plotting together. Xiao Tula and Wolubu fought Saba repeatedly without success. Supplies failed, and the army fell back to Linhuang. Hearing that Shigong was advancing with a large force, Saba meant to join Dashi and withdrew west along the Longju River. Shigong reached Linhuang but could not catch him. Hailing sent Vice Privy Councilor Bai Yanjing after Saba. Shigong was heading home when Hailing's son Husha Hu rode ahead by relay post, seized him, and had him executed in the marketplace. At the block Shigong's mouth was gagged — he could not speak, only lift his head to the sky. His entire clan was wiped out, along with the families of Xiao Tula, Xiao Ze, and Xiao Huaizhong.
34
大定初，皆復官爵。 及海陵降為庶人，師恭以預弑復削之。 世宗幸上京，過老海達葛。 師恭族人臨潢尹守中、定遠大將軍阿里徒等皆奪官。 二十八年，上謂宰相曰； 「海陵遣僕散師恭、蕭禿剌、蕭懷忠追撒八不及，皆坐誅，遂夷其族，虐之甚也。」 平章政事襄對曰：「是時臣在軍中，忽土、賾有精甲一萬三千有餘，賊軍雖多皆脅從之人，以氈紙為甲，易與也。 忽土等恇怯遷延，賊乃遁去。」 上曰：「審如是，則誅之可也。」 兄渾坦。
Early in Dading their offices and titles were restored. When Hailing was reduced to commoner rank, Shigong's honors were stripped again for his part in the regicide. When Emperor Shizong visited Shangjing, he passed through Lao Haidage. Shigong's kinsmen — Linhuang guardian Shouzhong, General of Dingyuan Ali Tu, and others — were all stripped of office. In the twenty-eighth year the emperor told his chief councilors: "Hailing sent Pusan Shigong, Xiao Tula, and Xiao Huaizhong after Saba. They failed to catch him, yet all were executed and their clans wiped out — that was brutal in the extreme." 」Chief Councilor Xiang replied: "I was in the field then. Hu Tu and Ze had over thirteen thousand well-armed men. Saba's force was mostly coerced followers in felt and paper armor — they would have been easy to defeat. Hu Tu and the others hung back in cowardice, and the rebels got away." 」The emperor said: "If that is so, then execution was justified." 」His elder brother was Huntan.
35
徒單貞
Tudan Zhen
36
徒單貞，本名特思，忒黑辟剌人也。 祖抄，從太祖伐遼有功，授世襲猛安。 父婆盧火，以戰功累官開府儀同三司。 貞娶遼王宗幹女，海陵同母女弟也。 皇統九年、貞與海陵俱弑熙宗。 海陵既立，以貞為左衛將軍，封貞妻平陽長公主，貞為駙馬都尉、殿前左副點檢。 轉都點檢，兼太子少保，封王。 改大興尹，都點檢如故。 俄授臨潢府路昏斯魯猛安。
Tudan Zhen, born Tesi, came from Teihepila. His grandfather Chao won distinction campaigning against Liao under Emperor Taizu and received an hereditary commandery command. His father Poluhuo rose through battlefield service to Right with Three Excellencies Rank Opening the Mansion. Zhen married a daughter of Prince of Liao Zonggan — Hailing's younger uterine sister. In Huangtong 9, Zhen and Hailing together murdered Emperor Xizong. After enthronement Hailing made Zhen left guard general, enfeoffed his wife as Princess Chang of Pingyang, and appointed Zhen chief consort commander and left vice chief inspector before the palace. He became chief inspector and junior guardian to the crown prince and was enfeoffed as a prince. He became guardian of Daxing while keeping the chief inspectorship. Soon he was made commander of the Hunslu militia in Linhuang Circuit.
37
居二年，海陵召貞勖之曰：「汝自幼常在左右，頗著微勞，而近日乃怠忽，縱有罪，樹私恩。 凡人富貴而驕，皆死征也。 汝若不制汝心，將無所不至，賜之死復何辭。 朕念弟襄及公主與朕同胞，故少示懲戒。」 貞但號泣。 即日解點檢職，仍為大興尹，復戒之曰：「今而後能以勤自勵，朕當思之。 不然，黜爾歸田里矣。」 逾月，復為都點檢、大興尹如故。 正隆二年，例封沈。 遷樞密副使，賜佩刀入宮，轉同判大宗正事。
After two years Hailing summoned Zhen and warned him: "You have been at my side since youth and done good service, yet lately you have grown slack — even when men deserve punishment, you show them private favor. Wealth and rank breed arrogance — and arrogance is a death warrant. If you cannot govern yourself, there is no limit to what you will do — and if I put you to death, what excuse would you have? I spare you only because my brother Xiang and the princess are my full siblings — consider this a warning." 」Zhen could only weep. That day he lost the chief inspectorship but kept the guardianship of Daxing. Hailing warned him again: "If you exert yourself hereafter, I will remember it. Otherwise I will strip you of office and send you home to the fields." 」Within a month he was restored as chief inspector and guardian of Daxing. In Zhenglong 2 he was enfeoffed as Prince of Shen. He became vice privy councilor, was granted a palace sword, and was made associate director of the Imperial Clan Bureau.
38
海陵將伐宋，詔朝官除三國人使宴飲，其餘飲酒者死。 六年正月四日立春節，益都尹京、安武節度使爽、金吾上將軍阿速飲於貞第。 海陵使周福兒賜土牛至貞第，見之以告，海陵召貞詰之曰：「戎事方殷，禁百官飲酒，卿等知之乎？」 貞等伏地請死，海陵數之曰：「汝等若以飲酒殺人太重，固當諫，古人三諫不聽亦勉從君命。 魏武帝《軍行令》曰'犯麥者死'。 已而所乘馬入麥中，乃割發以自刑。 犯麥，微事也，然必欲以示信。 朕為天下主，法不能行於貴近乎？ 朕念慈憲太后子四人，惟朕與公主在，而京等皆近屬，曲貸死罪。」 於是杖貞七十，京等三人各杖一百，降貞為安武軍節度使，京為灤州刺史，爽歸化州刺史。
As Hailing prepared to attack Song, he decreed that only envoys from the three states might drink at court — anyone else who drank would die. On the fourth of the first month in the sixth year — Beginning-of-Spring day — Yidu guardian Jing, Anwu commissioner Shuang, and Gold Guard general Asu drank at Zhen's house. Hailing sent Zhou Fu'er with the ceremonial clay ox to Zhen's house. Zhou saw them drinking and reported it. Hailing summoned Zhen and demanded: "War is imminent and drinking is forbidden — did you know?" 」Zhen and the others prostrated themselves and begged for death. Hailing rebuked them: "If you thought the penalty too harsh, you should have remonstrated — the ancients advised three times, and even when ignored still obeyed their ruler. As Emperor Wu of Wei wrote in his Army March Order: "Whoever tramples the wheat dies." Soon afterward his horse trampled the wheat, and he punished himself by cutting off his hair. Trampling wheat was a petty offense, yet he was determined to prove his word. I rule all under Heaven — shall the law fail to reach those nearest me? Empress Dowager Cixian had four sons; only the princess and I survive. Jing and the others are close relatives — I mercifully commute the death sentence." 」Zhen received seventy strokes; Jing and the other three a hundred each. Zhen was demoted to Anwu commissioner, Jing became prefect of Luan, and Shuang prefect of Guihua.
39
無何，拜貞御史大夫，以本官為左監軍，從伐宋。 至揚州，海陵死，北還。 見世宗於中都，詔以貞女為皇太子妃，除貞為太原尹，改咸平。 貞在咸平貪污不法，累贓巨萬，徙真定尹，事覺。 世宗使大理卿李昌圖鞫之，貞即引伏，昌圖還奏，上問之曰：「貞停職否？」 對曰：「未也。」 上怒，抵昌圖罪，復遣刑部尚書移剌道往真定問之，征其贓還主。 有司征給不以時，詔先以官錢還其主，而令貞納官。 凡還主髒，皆准此例。 降貞為博州防禦使，降貞妻為清平縣主。
Soon Zhen was made censor-in-chief and left army supervisor and marched against Song. At Yangzhou Hailing was killed, and the army turned north. He had audience with Shizong at the Central Capital. The emperor made Zhen's daughter crown princess, appointed Zhen guardian of Taiyuan, then transferred him to Xianping. At Xianping Zhen grew corrupt, amassing vast bribes. He was moved to Zhending, where the scandal broke. Shizong sent judicial review director Li Changtu to investigate. Zhen confessed at once. When Changtu reported back, the emperor asked: "Has Zhen been suspended?" 」"Not yet," he replied. 」Enraged, the emperor punished Changtu and sent Minister of Punishments Yelü Dao to Zhending to pursue the case and recover the plunder for its owners. Because recovery lagged, the court ordered victims repaid from public funds first, with Zhen to make restitution to the treasury. Henceforth all restitution to victims followed this rule. Zhen was demoted to defense commissioner of Bozhou; his wife was stripped to county mistress of Qingping.
40
頃之，遷震武節度使，遣使者往戒敕之，詔曰：「朕念卿懿戚，不待終考，更遷大鎮。 非常之恩不可數得，卿勿蹈前過。」 轉河中尹。 進封其妻為任國公主，賜黃金百兩、重彩二十端，賜貞擊球馬二匹。 改東京留守，賜玉吐鶻、弓矢，賜貞妻錢萬貫。
Soon he was made commissioner of Zhenwu, with an envoy sent to warn him: "As my kinsman by marriage, you are promoted to a major command before your term has ended. Such extraordinary grace cannot come twice — do not repeat your past mistakes." 」He was transferred to guardian of Hezhong. His wife was ennobled Princess of Renguo and given a hundred taels of gold and twenty bolts of brocade; Zhen received two polo horses. He became guardian of the Eastern Capital, was granted jade gyrfalcon fittings and bow and arrows, and his wife received ten thousand strings of cash.
41
有司奏：「海陵已貶為庶人，宗幹不當猶稱帝。」 於是，以宗幹有社稷功，詔追封為遼主，其子孫及諸女皆降，貞妻降永平縣主，貞自儀同三司降特進，奪猛安，不稱駙馬都尉。 再徙臨潢尹。
The ministries reported: "Hailing has been demoted to commoner rank — Prince of Liao Zonggan should no longer be addressed as emperor." 」Because Zonggan had saved the dynasty, he was posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Liao — but his descendants and daughters were all reduced in rank. Zhen's wife became county mistress of Yongping; Zhen fell from Director with Threefold Parity to Special Grand Master, lost his meng'an, and no longer bore the title of imperial son-in-law. He was transferred again, to guardian of Linhuang.
42
初，與弑熙宗凡九人，海陵以暴虐自斃，秉德、辯、忽土、阿里出虎以疑見殺，言以妻殞，裕、老僧以反誅，至是貞與大興國尚在。 而興國擯棄不用，獨貞以世姻籍恩寵，雖夫婦降削爵號，而世宗慮久遠，終不以私恩曲庇，久之，詔誅貞及其妻與二子慎思、十六，而宥其諸孫。 俄而，興國亦誅，皇統逆黨盡矣。
Of the nine who murdered Emperor Xizong, Hailing had destroyed himself through tyranny; Bingde, Bian, Hu Tu, and Aluchuhu were killed on suspicion; Yan died with his wife; Yu and Laoseng were executed for treason — only Zhen and Daxingguo survived. Daxingguo languished in disgrace; only Zhen, by marriage, still enjoyed favor. Though both spouses had lost their titles, Shizong would not indulge him forever — and after long consideration ordered Zhen, his wife, and sons Shensi and Shiliu executed, sparing the grandsons. Soon Daxingguo was executed too, and the Huangtong conspirators were extinct.
43
李老僧
Li Laoseng
44
李老僧，舊為將軍司書吏，與大興國有親，素相厚。 海陵秉政，興國屬諸海陵，海陵以為省令史。 及將舉事，使老僧結興國，興國終為海陵取符鑰，納海陵宮中成弑逆者，老僧為之也。 海陵既立，以老僧為同知廣甯尹事，賜錢千萬、絹五百匹、馬牛各二百、羊二千。
Li Laoseng had been a clerk in the Generals' Office. Related to Daxingguo, the two had long been close. When Hailing seized power, Daxingguo came under his command and was made a provincial clerk. When the assassination was planned, Hailing had Laoseng win over Daxingguo. Daxingguo finally surrendered the palace keys and admitted Hailing to commit the murder — Laoseng made it happen. After his enthronement Hailing made Laoseng associate guardian of Guangning and rewarded him with ten million cash, five hundred bolts of silk, two hundred horses and oxen apiece, and two thousand sheep.
45
久之，海陵惡韓王亨，將殺之，求其罪不可得，遂以亨為廣甯尹，再任老僧同知，使伺察亨，構致其罪。 亨喜博，及至廣甯，常與老僧博，待之甚厚。 老僧由是不忍致亨死罪，遲疑者久之。 海陵再使小底訛論促老僧，老僧乃與亨家奴六斤謀，殺亨獄中，語在亨傳。 及耶律安禮自廣寧還朝，海陵謂之曰：「孛迭三罪，伏其一已見觖望。 爾乃梁王故吏，若亨伏辜，必罪及親族，故榜殺之。」
Hailing grew to hate Prince of Han Heng and wanted him dead but could find no crime. He made Heng guardian of Guangning and reappointed Laoseng as his deputy, ordering them to watch Heng and fabricate charges. Heng loved gambling. At Guangning he often played with Laoseng and treated him with great warmth. Laoseng could not bring himself to destroy Heng and hesitated for a long time. Hailing sent the petty attendant Elun to press him again. Laoseng then plotted with Heng's slave Liujin to murder Heng in prison — the full account appears in Heng's biography. When Yelü Anli returned from Guangning, Hailing told him: "Biedie has three crimes — confessing to even one shows his resentment. You were a retainer of Prince of Liang Zongbi. If Heng had been lawfully executed, your kinsmen would have been implicated — so he was beaten to death instead."
46
海陵以老僧于亨有遲回意，遂降老僧為易州刺史。 久之，遷同知大興尹，賜名惟忠，改延安府同知，大定二年，與兵部尚書可喜謀反，誅。
Hailing judged Laoseng had wavered over Heng and demoted him to prefect of Yizhou. He was later made associate guardian of Daxing, given the name Weizhong, then associate prefect of Yan'an. In Dading 2 he joined Minister of War Kexi in a rebellion and was executed.
47
論曰：《書》曰：「王左右常伯、常任、准人、綴衣、虎賁。 周公曰：嗚呼，休茲知恤，鮮哉！」 穆王告伯冏曰：「慎簡乃僚，其無以巧言令色、便辟側媚，其惟起士。」 金人所謂寢殿小底猶周之綴衣，所謂護衛猶周之虎賁也，則皆群僕侍御之臣矣。 海陵弑逆，而大興國、忽土、阿里出虎為之扼擘，皆出於小底護衛之中，熙宗固不知恤之也。 一日，熙宗與近侍飲酒，會夜，稽古殿火，上欲往視，都點檢辭不失引帝裾止之，奏曰：「臣在此，陛下何患，願無親往。」 熙宗謂辭不失被酒，甚怒之，明日，杖而出之，已而思其忠，復見召用。 海陵與唐括辯時時屏人私語，護衛特思察其非常，海陵擠而殺之。 皇統末年，群臣解體，無尊君謹上之心，而群奸竊發，僕禦之臣不復有如辭不失、特思者矣。 《綿》之詩曰：「予曰有疏附，予曰有先後，予曰有奔走，予曰有禦侮。」 嗚呼，先後禦侮之臣，豈可少哉！
Commentary: The Book of Documents says, "At the king's side stand the regular ministers, administrators, assessors, robe-bearers, and tiger guards. The Duke of Zhou said: Alas, how rare is the man who truly grasps this principle of care!" 」King Mu told Bo Jiong: "Choose your officers carefully. Reject men of smooth words and pleasing faces, the glib and the fawning — seek only men of character." 」The Jin "petty attendants of the sleeping hall" correspond to the Zhou robe-bearers; their "palace guards" to the Zhou tiger guards — all mere servant-attendants of the throne. Hailing's murder was carried out by Daxingguo, Hu Tu, and Aluchuhu — all drawn from the petty attendants and guards. Emperor Xizong clearly failed to govern them with care. One night Xizong was drinking with his attendants when the Hall of Archaic Study caught fire. He started to go himself, but chief inspector Cibushi seized his robe and pleaded: "I am here — what danger threatens Your Majesty? Do not go yourself." 」Xizong thought Cibushi drunk and flew into a rage. The next day he had him beaten and expelled — then, remembering his loyalty, recalled him to service. Hailing and Tangguo Bian constantly dismissed attendants to whisper together. Guard Tesi sensed something wrong — Hailing drove him out and had him killed. By the end of Huangtong the court had lost all reverence for the throne. Conspirators moved in darkness, and no servant-attendant of Cibushi's or Tesi's caliber remained. The ode "Mian" says: "I spoke of distant supporters, of close allies, of messengers, of defenders against affront." 」Alas, ministers who stand near the throne and ward off danger — can they ever be too many?
48
完顏元宜
Wanyan Yuanyi
49
完顏元宜，本名阿列，一名移特輦，本姓耶律氏。 父慎思，天輔七年，宗望追遼主至天德，慎思來降，且言夏人以兵迎遼主，將渡河去。 宗望移書夏人諭以禍福，夏人乃止。 賜慎思姓完顏氏，官至儀同三司。
Wanyan Yuanyi, born Alie and also known as Yitelian, was originally of the Yelü clan. His father Shensi surrendered when Zongwang pursued the Liao emperor to Tiande in Tianfu 7 (1123), reporting that the Tangut were escorting the Liao emperor across the river to safety. Zongwang wrote to the Tangut explaining the consequences, and they desisted. Shensi received the Wanyan surname and rose to Director with Threefold Parity.
50
海陵伐宋，以本官領神武軍都總管，以大名路騎兵萬餘益之。 前鋒渡淮，拔昭關，遇宋兵萬餘於柘皋，力戰卻之。 至和州，宋兵十萬來拒，元宜麾軍力戰，抵暮而罷。 宋人乘夜襲營，元宜擊走之，黎明追及宋兵，斬首數萬，以功遷銀青光祿大夫。 海陵增置浙西道都統制，使元宜領之，督諸軍渡江，佩金牌，賜衣一襲。
When Hailing attacked Song, Yuanyi commanded the Divine Martial Army with more than ten thousand Daming cavalry added to his force. The vanguard crossed the Huai, took Zhaoguan, and at Zhegao routed more than ten thousand Song troops after a hard fight. At Hezhou a hundred thousand Song soldiers barred his path. Yuanyi fought hard until nightfall. Song forces raided by night; Yuanyi drove them off and at dawn pursued them, taking tens of thousands of heads. He was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness with Silver Seal. Hailing created the Zhexi chief command and put Yuanyi in charge of the river crossing, granting him a gold tablet and a suit of robes.
51
十月乙未黎明，元宜、王祥與武勝軍都總管徒單守素、猛安唐括烏野、謀克斡盧保、婁薛、溫都長壽等率眾犯御營。 海陵聞亂，以為宋兵奄至，攬衣遽起，箭入帳中，取視之，愕然曰：「乃我兵也。」 大慶山曰：「事急矣，當出避之。」 海陵曰：「走將安往。」 方取弓，已中箭僕地。 延安少尹納合斡魯補先刃之，手足猶動，遂縊殺之。 驍騎指揮使大磐整兵來救，王祥出語之曰：「無及矣。」 大磐乃止。 軍士攘取行營服用皆盡，乃取大磐衣巾裹海陵屍，焚之。 遂收尚書右丞李通、浙西道副統制郭安國、監軍徒單永年、近侍局使梁珫、副使大慶山，皆殺之。 元宜行左領軍副大都督事，使使者殺皇太子光英于南京。 大軍北還。
At dawn on yimwei of the tenth month, Yuanyi and Wang Xiang joined Tudan Shousu, Tangguo Wuye, Walubao, Lou Xue, Wendu Changshou, and others in attacking the imperial camp. Hearing the commotion, Hailing thought Song forces had struck. He leaped up — an arrow flew into the tent. He inspected it and exclaimed in shock: "These are my own men." 」Da Qing Shan said: "This is desperate — you must flee." 」Hailing said: "Flee — to where?" 」As he reached for his bow, an arrow struck him down. Yan'an deputy guardian Nahe Walubu struck first with his blade. Hailing's limbs still twitched — they strangled him to finish the job. Brave-cavalry commander Dapan rallied troops to rescue him. Wang Xiang came out and said: "Too late." 」Dapan halted. Soldiers looted the camp bare. They wrapped Hailing's body in Dapan's clothes and burned it. They seized vice grand councilor Li Tong, Zhexi deputy commander Guo Anguo, army supervisor Tudan Yongnian, intimate attendant director Liang Qiu, and deputy director Da Qing Shan — and executed them all. Yuanyi served as acting left army vice commander-in-chief and sent agents to murder Crown Prince Guangying at Nanjing. The main army marched north.
52
大定二年春，入見，拜御史大夫，詔曰：「高楨為御史大夫，號為正直，頗涉煩碎，臣下衣冠不正亦被糾舉。 職事有大於此者，爾宜勉之。」 未幾，拜平章政事，封冀國公。 賜玉帶、甲第一區，復賜姓完顏氏。
In spring of Dading 2 he had audience and was made censor-in-chief. The edict read: "Gao Zhen was known for integrity but grew finicky — even crooked caps earned his censure. Greater duties await — apply yourself to them." 」Soon he was made grand councilor and enfeoffed Duke of Ji. He received a jade belt, a top-ranked mansion, and the Wanyan surname once more.
53
往泰州路規措討契丹事，元宜使忠勇校尉李榮招窩斡，窩斡殺榮，詔追贈榮進官四階。 五月，上聞元宜將還，遣使止之。 契丹已平、元宜還朝，奏請益諸群牧鎧甲。 詔從之，每群牧益二十副。 元宜復請益臨潢戍軍士馬，詔給馬六百匹。 久之，罷為東京留守。 乞還所賜甲第，上從之，賜以襲衣、吐鶻、廄馬、海東青鶻。 未幾，致仕，薨於家。 上聞之，遣使致祭，賻贈甚厚。
Yuanyi was sent to Taizhou to organize the campaign against the Khitan. He dispatched guard officer Li Rong to summon Wohuo, who killed Rong. Rong was posthumously promoted four ranks. In the fifth month, hearing Yuanyi was heading back, the emperor sent orders to stay him. After the Khitan revolt was crushed Yuanyi returned and asked for more armor for the horse herds. The emperor agreed — twenty additional sets per herd. Yuanyi also requested more horses for the Linhuang garrison and received six hundred. He was eventually relieved and made guardian of the Eastern Capital. He returned the granted mansion; the emperor accepted and gave him court robes, gyrfalcon fittings, stable horses, and eastern-sea falcons. He retired soon after and died at home. The emperor sent envoys to mourn him with lavish funeral gifts.
54
大定十一年，尚書省奏擬納合斡魯補除授，上曰：「昔廢海陵，此人首入弑之，人臣之罪莫大於是，豈可復加官使？ 其世襲謀克姑聽仍舊。」 大定十八年，紮里海上言：「凡為人臣能捍災禦侮有功者，宜錄用之。 今弑海陵者以為有功，賞以高爵，非所以勸事君也。 宜削奪，以為人臣之戒。 臣在當時亦與其党，如正名定罪，請自臣始。」 上曰：「紮里海自請其罪以勸事君，此亦人之所難。」 遂以紮里海充趙王府祗候郎君。
In Dading 11 the Imperial Secretariat proposed promoting Nahe Walubu. The emperor said: "When Hailing was overthrown, this man struck first. No subject's crime is greater — how can he be promoted again? Let his hereditary company captaincy stand for now." 」In Dading 18 Zhali Hai memorialized: "Subjects who defend the throne against disaster and insult deserve recognition and office. Those who killed Hailing were rewarded with high rank — this does not encourage loyal service. Strip those rewards away as a warning to all subjects. I was among them. If accounts must be settled, begin with me." 」The emperor said: "Zhali Hai takes blame upon himself to teach loyalty — that is rare." 」Zhali Hai was made attendant in the Zhao Prince's household.
55
元宜子習涅阿補，大定二十五年為符寶祗候，乞依女直人例遷官，上曰：「賜姓一時之權宜。」 令習涅阿補還本姓。
Yuanyi's son Xinie Abu, a seal keeper in Dading 25, asked for promotion under Jurchen rules. The emperor replied: "The surname was a temporary honor." 」He was ordered to resume his original surname.
56
論曰：《春秋》書「齊公子商人弑其君舍」，又曰：「齊人弑其君商人。」 嗟乎，弑舍者商人也，弑商人者邴埸、閻職也。 海陵弑熙宗，完顏元宜弑海陵。 商人之弑也，邴埸、閻職去之。 海陵之弑也，元宜歸於世宗。 邴、閻賤役，元宜都將也，握君之親兵，窺利以弑之，其罪豈容誅乎，世宗僅能不大用之而已。 紮里海猶殺人而自首者也，在律，殺人未聞准首免罪而又予賞者也，況弑逆乎。 海陵弑五十三年，得有胡沙虎之事。
Commentary: The Spring and Autumn Annals reads, "Qi duke's son Shangren murdered his ruler She," and again, "The men of Qi murdered their ruler Shangren." 」Alas — Shangren killed She, and Bing Yi and Yan Zhi killed Shangren. Hailing murdered Xizong; Wanyan Yuanyi murdered Hailing. When Shangren fell, Bing Yi and Yan Zhi departed. When Hailing fell, Yuanyi returned to Shizong. Bing and Yan were lowly servants; Yuanyi commanded the capital guard, held the ruler's personal troops, and murdered him when he saw his chance. A crime like that surely deserved death — yet Shizong could do no more than keep him from high office. Zhali Hai killed a man and then surrendered himself. The law never exempts murder on confession, let alone rewards it — and this was regicide. Fifty-three years after Hailing's murder came Hu Shahu.
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紇石烈執中
Geshilie Zhizhong
58
紇石烈執中，本名胡沙虎，阿疏裔孫也。 徙東平路猛安。 大定八年，充皇太子護衛，出職太子僕丞，改鷹坊直長，再遷鷹坊使、拱衛直指揮使。 明昌四年，使過阻居，監酒官移剌保迎謁後時，飲以酒，酒味薄，執中怒，毆傷移剌保，詔的決五十。 未幾，遷右副點檢，肆傲不奉職，降肇州防禦使。 逾年，遷興平軍節度使。 丁母憂，起復歸德軍節度使，改開遠軍兼西南路招討副使。 俄知大名府事。 承安二年，召為簽樞密院事。 詔佐丞相襄征伐，執中不欲行，奏曰：「臣與襄有隙，且殺臣矣。」 上怒其言不遜，事下有司，既而赦之，出為永定軍節度使。 改西北路招討使，復為永定軍，坐奪部軍馬解職。
Geshilie Zhizhong, born Hu Shahu, was a descendant of Ashu. His clan was moved to a meng'an in Dongping Circuit. In Dading 8 he joined the crown prince's guard, then served as deputy director of the crown prince's stables. He became chief of the hawk-falcon office, then commissioner of that office and commanding general of the Direct Palace Guard. In Mingchang 4, while on embassy duty he passed through Zuju. The wine supervisor Yelü Bao came out late to greet him and served weak wine. Zhizhong flew into a rage, beat Yelü Bao, and was sentenced to fifty strokes of the rod. Soon he was made right vice director of the palace guards, but his arrogance and neglect of duty earned him demotion to defensive commissioner of Zhao Prefecture. A year later he was appointed military governor of Xingping Army. When his mother died he entered mourning, but was recalled to serve as military governor of Guide Army, then transferred to Kaiyuan Army as vice pacification commissioner of the Southwest Circuit. Before long he was appointed prefect of Daming. In Cheng'an 2 he was summoned to the Bureau of Military Affairs as a signing member. When ordered to assist Chief Councilor Xiang on campaign, Zhizhong refused and memorialized: "I bear a grudge against Xiang — he will kill me." The emperor, angered by his insolence, referred the matter to the courts, then pardoned him and sent him out as military governor of Yongding Army. He was made pacification commissioner of the Northwest Circuit, then returned to Yongding Army, but was dismissed for seizing his subordinates' horses.
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泰和元年，起知大興府事。 詔契丹人立功官賞恩同女直人，許存養馬匹，得充司吏譯人，著為令。 執中格詔不下，上責之曰； 「汝雖意在防閑，而不知朝廷自有定格，自今勿復如此煩碎生事也。」 乃下詔行之。
In Taihe 1 he was reinstated as prefect of Daxing. An edict granted Khitans who earned merit the same rewards as Jurchens, allowed them to keep horses, and permitted them to serve as clerks and interpreters — and made this law. Zhizhong withheld the edict. The emperor rebuked him: "You meant to guard against abuse, but the court already has fixed rules. Do not stir up such petty trouble again." The edict was then promulgated.
60
淶水人魏廷實祖任兒，舊為靳文昭家放良，天德三年，編籍正戶，已三世矣。 文昭孫勍詆廷實為奴，及妄訴毆詈，警巡院鞫對無狀，法當訴本貫。 勍訴於府，執中使廷實納錢五百貫與勍。 廷實不從，還淶水，執中徑遣鎖致廷實。 御史臺請移問，執中轉奏御史臺不依制，府未結斷，令移推。 詔吏部侍郎李柄、戶部侍郎粘割合答推問。 炳、合答奏御史臺理直，詔乃切責執中。
Wei Tingshi of Lishui, born Ren'er, had been freed from bondage in Jin Wenzhao's household. Registered as a principal household in Tiande 3, his family had been free for three generations. Wenzhao's grandson Qing called Tingshi a slave and falsely accused him of assault. The patrol office found no case; by law the suit belonged in Tingshi's home district. Qing brought the suit to the prefecture, and Zhizhong ordered Tingshi to pay Qing five hundred strings of cash. Tingshi refused, went home to Lishui, and Zhizhong sent men to drag him back in chains. When the Censorate asked to take the case, Zhizhong countered that it was breaking procedure by demanding a transfer before the prefecture had finished. The throne ordered Vice Ministers Li Bing and Niancan Hedda to investigate. Bing and Hedda found for the Censorate, and an edict sharply rebuked Zhizhong.
61
御史中丞孟鑄奏彈執中「貪殘專恣，不奉法令。 釋罪之後，累過不悛。 既蒙恩貸，轉生跋扈。 如雄州詐認馬，平州冒支俸，破魏廷實家。 發其塚墓，拜表不赴，祈雨聚妓，毆詈同僚擅令停職，失師帥之體，不稱京尹之任」。 上曰：「執中粗人，似有跋扈爾。」 鑄對曰：「明天子在上，豈容有跋扈之臣。」 上意寤，取閱奏章，詔尚書省問之。 由是改武衛軍都指揮使。
Censor-in-chief Meng Zhu impeached Zhizhong: "He is greedy, cruel, and lawless — he defies every statute. After each pardon he offended again without repentance. Spared by imperial grace, he grew bolder still. He falsely claimed horses at Xiong Prefecture, drew pay he was not owed at Ping Prefecture, and ruined Wei Tingshi's household. He opened graves, ignored summonses, gathered courtesans while praying for rain, beat and reviled colleagues and suspended them at will — conduct unworthy of a commander or a capital prefect." The emperor said: "Zhizhong is a rough man — a little overbearing, nothing more." Zhu answered: "With an enlightened ruler on the throne, how can an overbearing minister be tolerated?" The emperor saw the point, read the memorial himself, and ordered the Department of State Affairs to investigate. He was then transferred to commanding general of the Martial Guard Army.
62
平章政事僕散揆宣撫河南，執中除山東東西路統軍使。 揆行省汴京伐宋，升諸道統軍司為兵馬都統府，執中為山東兩路兵馬都統，定海軍節度使完顏撒剌副之。 執中分兵駐金城、朐山，請益發東平路兵屯密、沂、寧海、登、萊以遏兵沖，詔從之，時泰和六年四月也。
When Chief Councilor Pusan Kai was sent to pacify Henan, Zhizhong was made overall military commander of eastern and western Shandong. Kai set up a branch secretariat at Bianjing to attack Song, elevated circuit commands to supreme army headquarters, and made Zhizhong supreme commander of the two Shandong routes, with Wanyan Sala of Dinghai Army as his deputy. Zhizhong split his forces between Jincheng and Qushan and asked for more Dongping troops at Mi, Yi, Ninghai, Deng, and Lai to block the enemy advance. The request was granted — it was the fourth month of Taihe 6.
63
五月，宋兵犯金城，執中遣巡檢使周奴以騎兵三百禦之。 會宋益兵轉趨沭陽，謀克三合伏卒五十人篁竹中，伺宋兵過突出擊之，殺十數人，追至縣城，宋兵不敢出。 會周奴以兵入城，宋兵逾城走，三合已焚其舟，合擊大破之，斬首五百餘級，殺宋統領李藻，擒忠義軍將呂璋。
In the fifth month Song forces struck Jincheng. Zhizhong sent Patrol Commissioner Zhounu with three hundred horsemen to meet them. When Song reinforcements swung toward Shuyang, Commander Sanhe hid fifty men in bamboo thickets, sprang out as they passed, killed more than ten, and chased them to the county seat until they dared not emerge. Zhounu entered the city; the Song troops fled over the walls. Sanhe had already burned their boats, and together they routed the enemy — more than five hundred heads, Song commander Li Zao killed, and Loyal and Righteous Army general Lü Zhang captured.
64
十月，執中率兵二萬出清口，宋以步騎萬餘列南岸，戰艦百艘拒上流，相持累日。 執中以舟兵二千搏戰，遏宋舟兵，遣副統移剌古與涅率精騎四千自下流徑渡。 宋兵望騎兵登南岸，水陸俱潰。 追斬及溺死者甚眾，盡獲其戰艦及戰馬三百，遂克淮陰，進兵圍楚州。 遷元帥左監軍。 執中縱兵虜掠，上聞之，杖其經歷官阿里不孫，放還所掠。 未幾，宋人請和，詔罷兵。 除西南路招討使，改西京留守。
In the tenth month Zhizhong led twenty thousand men from Qingkou. Song lined more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry on the south bank and blocked the upper stream with a hundred warships. The two sides faced each other for days. Zhizhong pinned the Song fleet with two thousand boatmen while Vice Commander Yelü Guyuni led four thousand elite cavalry across downstream. When the Song saw cavalry reach the south bank, their land and river forces collapsed together. The slaughter by blade and drowning was immense. They seized every warship and three hundred horses, took Huaiyin, and marched to besiege Chuzhou. He was promoted to left supervising general of the marshals. Zhizhong let his men loot freely. When the emperor learned of it, he had Zhizhong's staff officer Alibusun beaten and the loot restored. Soon the Song sued for peace, and the throne ordered the armies withdrawn. He was made pacification commissioner of the Southwest Circuit, then defender of the Western Capital.
65
大安元年，授世襲謀克，復知大興府事，出知太原府，復為西京留守，行樞密院，兼安撫使。 以勁兵七千遇大兵，戰于定安之北，薄暮，先以麾下遁去。 眾遂潰。 行次蔚州，擅取官庫銀五千兩及衣幣諸物，奪官民馬，與從行私人入紫荊關，杖殺淶水令。 至中都，朝廷皆不問。 乃遷右副元帥，權尚書左丞。 執中益無所忌憚，自請步騎二萬屯宣德州，與之三千，令駐媯川。
In Da'an 1 he received hereditary commander status, served again as prefect of Daxing, then Taiyuan, then Western Capital defender, acting head of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and pacification commissioner. With seven thousand picked troops he met the Mongols north of Ding'an. At dusk he fled first with his personal guard. The army then broke and fled. Passing through Yu Prefecture he seized five thousand taels of silver from the treasury, cloth and goods, government and civilian horses, entered Zijing Pass with private followers, and beat the magistrate of Lishui to death. When he reached the Central Capital, the court asked no questions. He was then made right vice marshal and acting left vice director of the Department of State Affairs. Zhizhong grew bolder still. He asked for twenty thousand infantry and cavalry at Xuande Prefecture; he was given three thousand and told to camp at Guichuan.
66
崇慶元年正月，執中乞移屯南口或屯新莊，移文尚書省曰：「大兵來必不能支，一身不足惜，三千兵為可憂，十二關、建春、萬甯宮且不保。」 朝廷惡其言，下有司按問，詔數其十五罪，罷歸田里。
In the first month of Chongqing 1, Zhizhong asked to move to Nankou or Xinnzhuang and wrote the Department of State Affairs: "When the Mongols come we cannot hold. One man's life is nothing — but three thousand troops matter. The Twelve Passes, Jianchun, and Wanníng Palace will not survive." The court was outraged. Officials investigated, an edict listed fifteen crimes, and he was dismissed to his home.
67
明年，復召至中都，預議軍事。 左諫議大夫張行信上書曰：「胡沙虎專逞私意，不循公道，蔑省部以示強梁，媚近臣以求稱譽，骫法行事，枉害平民。 行院山西，出師無律，不戰先退，擅取官物，杖殺縣令。 屯駐媯川，乞移內地，其謀略概可見矣。 欲使改易前非。 以收後效，不亦難乎。 才誠可取，雖在微賤皆當擢用，何必老舊始能立功。 一將之用，安危所系，惟朝廷加察，天下幸甚。」 丞相徒單鎰以為不可用，參知政事絪跪奏其奸惡，乃止。 執中善結近幸，交口稱譽。 五月，詔給留守半俸，預議軍事。 張行信復諫曰：「伏聞以胡沙虎老臣，欲起而用。 人之能否，不在新舊。 彼向之敗，朝廷既知之矣。 乃復用之，無乃不可乎。」 遂止。
The next year he was recalled to the Central Capital to join military deliberations. Left Remonstrance Grandee Zhang Xingxin wrote: "Hu Shahu follows only his own will, scorns the ministries to show his power, flatters favorites for praise, bends the law, and wrongs common people. On the Shanxi branch secretariat he marched without discipline, fled before fighting, seized government goods, and beat a county magistrate to death. Camped at Guichuan, he begged to move inland — his intentions are plain enough. To expect him to mend his ways— and earn future merit — is that not a vain hope? Worthy talent should be promoted from any rank. Merit does not require age and long service. A general's appointment binds the fate of the realm. I beg the court to look closely — the empire would be the better for it." Chief Councilor Tudan Yi said he was unfit; Participation Councilor Yin knelt and exposed his crimes, and the appointment was stopped. Zhizhong cultivated the emperor's favorites, and they praised him in chorus. In the fifth month an edict granted him half a defender's salary and a seat in military councils. Zhang Xingxin remonstrated again: "I hear that because Hu Shahu is an old minister, you mean to recall him. Ability has nothing to do with seniority. The court already knows how he failed before. To employ him again — surely that cannot be right?" The appointment was halted.
68
上終以執中為可用，賜金牌，權右副元帥，將武衛軍五千人屯中都城北。 執中乃與其党經歷官文繡局直長完顏醜奴、提控宿直將軍蒲察六斤、武衛軍鈐轄烏古論奪剌謀作亂。 是時，大元大兵在近，上使奉職即軍中責執中止務馳獵。 不恤軍事。 執中方飼鷂，怒擲殺之，遂妄稱知大興府徒單南平及其子刑部侍郎駙馬都尉沒烈謀反，奉詔討之。 南平姻家福海，別將兵屯於城北，遣人以好語招之，福海不知，既至乃執之。
The emperor still found Zhizhong usable, granted him a gold tablet, made him acting right vice marshal, and gave him five thousand Martial Guard troops north of the Central Capital. Zhizhong then plotted rebellion with his faction: staff officer Wanyan Chounu of the Embroidery Bureau, Garrison Commander and Palace Guard General Pucha Liujin, and Martial Guard Controller Ugulian Duola. The Mongols were near. The emperor sent an attendant to the camp to rebuke Zhizhong for doing nothing but hunt. He neglected military affairs entirely. While feeding a hawk, Zhizhong angrily dashed it to the ground and killed it. He then falsely claimed that Daxing Prefect Tudan Nanping and his son Moilie, vice minister of justice and imperial son-in-law, were plotting rebellion, and marched under pretense of an imperial order to suppress them. Nanping's in-law Fuhai commanded separate troops north of the city. Zhizhong sent friendly words to summon him; Fuhai came unsuspecting and was seized.
69
八月二十五日未五更，分其軍為三軍，由章義門入，自將一軍由通玄門入。 執中恐城中出兵來拒，乃遣一騎先馳抵東華門大呼曰：「大軍至北關，已接戰矣。」 既而再遣一騎亦如之。 使徒單金壽召知大興府徒單南平，南平不知，行至廣陽門西富義坊，馬上與執中相見，執中手槍刺之墮馬下，金壽斫殺之。 使烏古論奪剌召沒烈，殺之。 符寶祗候鄯陽、護衛十人長完顏石古乃聞亂，遽召大漢軍五百人赴難，與執中戰不勝，皆死之。 執中至東華門，使呼門者親軍百戶冬兒、五十戶蒲察六斤，皆不應，許以世襲猛安、三品職事官，亦不應。 呼都點檢徒單渭河，謂河即徒單鎬也。 渭河縋城出見執中，執中命聚薪焚東華門，立梯登城。 護衛斜烈、乞兒、親軍春山共掊鎖開門納執中。 執中入宮，盡以其党易宿衛。 自稱監國都元帥，居大興府，陳兵自衛。 急召都轉運使孫椿年取銀幣賞金壽、奪剌及軍官軍士、大興府輿隸。 是夜，召聲妓與親黨會飲。 明日，以兵逼上出居衛邸，誘左丞完顏綱至軍中，即殺之。 執中意不可測，丞相徒單鎰勸執中立宣宗，執中然之。
On the twenty-fifth of the eighth month, before the fifth watch, he split his army into three columns — two through Zhangyi Gate and one he led through Tongxuan Gate. Fearing troops would sally from the city, Zhizhong sent a rider galloping to the Donghua Gate to shout: "The enemy has reached North Gate — battle is joined!" He sent a second rider to repeat the same cry. He sent Tudan Jinshou to summon Daxing Prefect Tudan Nanping. Nanping came unsuspecting to Fuyi Ward west of Guangyang Gate, met Zhizhong on horseback, was speared and thrown from his horse, and Jinshou finished him with a blade. He sent Ugulian Duola to summon Moilie and killed him. Seal attendant Zhenyang and Palace Guard decurion Wanyan Shigunai heard of the revolt, mustered five hundred Great Han Army troops, fought Zhizhong, and were all killed. At the Donghua Gate Zhizhong called the gatekeepers — centurion Dong'er and fifty-man commander Pucha Liujin. They would not answer, even when he promised hereditary meng'an rank and third-grade office. He summoned Capital Guard Director Tudan Weihe — Weihe was Tudan Hao. Weihe was lowered from the wall to meet Zhizhong, who ordered firewood piled to burn the Donghua Gate and ladders raised to scale it. Palace guards Xielie and Qi'er and personal guard Chunshan broke the lock together and opened the gate to Zhizhong. Zhizhong entered the palace and replaced every palace guard with his own men. He styled himself regent supreme marshal, took up residence at Daxing Prefecture, and surrounded himself with troops. He urgently summoned Transport Director Sun Chunnian to bring silver and goods to reward Jinshou, Duola, the officers and soldiers, and Daxing Prefecture's sedan bearers. That night he summoned singing girls and feasted with his confederates. The next day he forced the emperor from the palace to the guard residence, lured Left Vice Director Wanyan Gang to camp, and killed him on the spot. Zhizhong's intentions were unclear. Chief Councilor Tudan Yi persuaded him to enthrone Emperor Xuanzong, and Zhizhong agreed.
70
是時，莊獻太子在中都，執中以皇太子儀仗迎莊獻入居東宮。 召符寶郎徒單福壽取符寶，陳於大興府露階上。 盜用御寶出制，除完顏醜奴德州防禦使，烏古論奪剌順天軍節度使，蒲察六斤橫海軍節度使，徒單金壽永定軍節度使，雖除外官，皆留之左右。 其餘除拜猶數十人。 同時有兩蒲察六斤，其一守東華門不肯從亂者。 召禮部令史張好禮欲鑄監國元帥印，好禮曰：「自古無異姓監國者。」 乃止。 遣奉御完顏忽失來等三人，護衛蒲鮮班底、完顏醜奴等十人，迎宣宗於彰德。 使宦者李思忠弑上于衛邸。 盡撤沿邊諸軍赴中都平州、騎兵屯薊州以自重，邊戍皆不守矣。
Crown Prince Zhuangxian was then at the Central Capital. Zhizhong received him with full crown prince ceremony and installed him in the Eastern Palace. He summoned Seal Attendant Tudan Fushou to bring the imperial seals and tallies and displayed them on the open steps of Daxing Prefecture. Zhizhong forged edicts with the imperial seals, appointing Wanyan Chounu defense commissioner of Dezhou, Ugulian Duola military commissioner of the Shuntian Army, Pucha Liujin military commissioner of the Henghai Army, and Tudan Jinshou military commissioner of the Yongding Army — outer offices in name, but all kept at his side. Dozens more received appointments besides. There were two men named Pucha Liujin at the time; one guarded the Donghua Gate and refused to join the revolt. He summoned Ministry of Rites clerk Zhang Haoli to cast a regent-marshal seal. Haoli replied: "There has never been a regent who was not of the imperial surname." With that he abandoned the plan. He sent three palace attendants led by Wanyan Huslai, with ten guards including Puxian Bandi and Wanyan Chounu, to welcome Emperor Xuanzong at Zhangde. He had the eunuch Li Sizhong murder the emperor at the guard residence. He pulled every border army back to the Central Capital and Pingzhou, massed cavalry at Jizhou to strengthen his hand, and left the frontier undefended.
71
戊申，執中侍朝，宣宗賜之坐，執中就坐不辭。 無何，執中奏請降衛紹王為庶人，奏再上，詔百官議於朝堂。 太子少傅奧屯忠孝、侍讀學士蒲察思忠附執中議，眾相視莫敢言，獨文學田廷芳奮然曰：「先朝素無失德，尊號在禮不當削。」 於是從之者禮部張敬甫、諫議張信甫、戶部武文伯、龐才卿、石抹晉卿等二十四人。 宣宗曰：「辟諸問途，百人曰東行是，十人曰西行是，行道之人果適東乎、適西乎。 豈以百人、十人為是非哉？」 既而曰：「朕徐思之。」 數日，詔降為東海郡侯。
On wushen Zhizhong attended court. Emperor Xuanzong offered him a seat, and Zhizhong accepted without demur. Before long Zhizhong memorialized to demote Prince Shao of Wei to commoner rank. When he submitted it again, the emperor ordered the court to debate the matter in the hall. Junior Tutor Aotun Zhongxiao and Reader-in-Waiting Pucha Sizhong backed Zhizhong. The officials looked at one another in silence until Literary Officer Tian Tingfang spoke up: "The previous emperor was without fault; by ritual his title must not be removed." Twenty-four officials sided with him, among them Zhang Jingfu of the Ministry of Rites, Remonstrance Officer Zhang Xinfu, Wu Wenbo of the Ministry of Revenue, Pang Caiqing, and Shimojin Jinqi. Emperor Xuanzong said: "As when one asks passersby for directions — a hundred say go east, ten say go west — does the traveler in fact go east or west? Can right and wrong be settled by counting heads?" Then he added: "I will think on it." Days later an edict demoted him to Marquis of Donghai.
72
大元游騎至高橋，宰臣以聞。 宣宗使人問執中，執中曰：「計畫已定矣。」 既而讓宰執曰：「吾為尚書令，豈得不先與議而遽奏耶？」 宰執遜謝而已。
Mongol raiders reached Gaoqiao, and the chief ministers reported it. Emperor Xuanzong sent to ask Zhizhong, who replied: "The plan is already set." He then reproached the chief ministers: "As Director of the Masters in the Secretariat, how could you report to me without consulting me first?" The ministers could only apologize.
73
提點近侍局慶山奴、副使惟弼、奉御惟康請除執中，宣宗念援立功，隱忍不許。 元帥右監軍術虎高琪屢戰不利，執中戒之曰：「今日出兵果無功，當以軍法從事矣。」 高琪出戰復敗，自度不免，頗聞慶山奴諸人有謀，十月辛亥，高琪遂率所將颭軍入中都，圍執中第。 執中聞變，彎弓注矢外射，不勝，登後垣欲走，衣絓墮而傷股，軍士就斬之。 高琪持執中首詣闕待罪，宣宗赦之。 以為左副元帥。
Qingshannu, commissioner of the Palace Attendants Bureau, Deputy Commissioner Weibi, and Palace Attendant Weikang asked that Zhizhong be removed. Mindful of his service in enthroning him, Emperor Xuanzong held back and refused. Shuhu Gaoqi, right supervising commander of the marshalate, had lost repeatedly. Zhizhong warned him: "If today's sortie fails again, you will answer to military law." Gaoqi fought again and lost. Concluding he could not escape, and hearing that Qingshannu and others were plotting against him, on xinhai of the tenth month he marched his Zhan troops into the Central Capital and surrounded Zhizhong's mansion. Alerted to the mutiny, Zhizhong strung his bow and shot at the assailants but could not hold them off. He climbed the rear wall to flee, caught his robe, fell and injured his thigh, and soldiers cut him down. Gaoqi brought Zhizhong's head to court to accept punishment. Emperor Xuanzong pardoned him. Gao Qi was made left vice marshal.
74
執中之党呼于衢路曰：「颭軍反矣，殺之者有賞。」 市人從之。 颭軍死者甚眾，一軍皆恟恟，宣宗遣近侍撫諭之，詔有司量加賻贈，眾乃稍安。 明日，除特末也泰甯軍節度使，烏古論奮剌真授知濟南府事，徒單金壽真授知歸德府事，蒲察六斤真授知平陽府事。
Zhizhong's partisans cried in the streets: "The Zhan troops have rebelled! Kill them and be rewarded!" Townspeople joined in. Many Zhan soldiers were killed and the entire corps was in turmoil. Emperor Xuanzong sent close attendants to reassure them and ordered appropriate burial grants; the men gradually settled. The next day Temo ye was made military commissioner of the Taining Army; Ugulian Duola was formally installed as prefect of Jinan; Tudan Jinshou as prefect of Guide; and Pucha Liujin as prefect of Pingyang.
75
甲寅，左諫議大夫張行信上封事曰：「《春秋》之法，國君立不以道，若嘗與諸侯盟會，即列為諸侯。 東海在位已六年矣，為其臣者誰敢幹之。 胡沙虎握兵入城，躬行弑逆，當是時惟鄯陽、石古乃率眾赴援，至於戰死，論其忠烈，在朝食祿者皆當愧之。 陛下始親萬機，海內望化，褒顯二人，延及子孫，庶幾少慰貞魂，激天下之義氣。 宋徐羨之、傅亮、謝晦弑營陽王立文帝，文帝誅之，以江陵奉迎之誠，免其妻子。 胡沙虎國之大賊，世所共惡，雖已死而罪名未正，合暴其過惡，宣佈中外，除名削爵，緣坐其家，然後為快。 陛下若不忍援立之勞，則依仿元嘉故事，亦足以示懲戒。」 宣宗乃下詔暴執中過惡，削其官爵。 贈鄯陽、石古乃，加恩其子。 慶山奴、惟弼、惟康皆遷賞，近侍局自此用事矣。
On jiayin Left Remonstrance Grandee Zhang Xingxin submitted a sealed memorial: "The Spring and Autumn Annals hold that a ruler enthroned by improper means, if he has ever entered into league with the feudal lords, is listed among them. The Lord of Donghai reigned six years — which of his ministers would have dared challenge him? Hu Shahu marched into the city and murdered the emperor himself. Only Shanyang and Shigunai rallied men to his defense and died fighting. Measured against their loyalty, every salaried official at court should hang his head in shame. Your Majesty has just taken the reins; the realm looks to you for reform. Honor these two men and extend the favor to their descendants — that would comfort their loyal spirits and rouse the world's sense of duty. In the Song, Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui killed Prince Yingyang and enthroned Emperor Wen. Wen executed them but spared their families for the sincerity with which they had welcomed him at Jiangling. Hu Shahu was the realm's great traitor, hated by all. Though dead, his guilt has not been settled. Expose his crimes, proclaim them throughout the realm, erase his name, strip his titles, and punish his household — only then will justice be done. If Your Majesty cannot forget his service in putting you on the throne, the Yuanjia precedent would still serve as sufficient warning." Emperor Xuanzong then issued an edict denouncing Zhizhong's crimes and stripping his rank. Shanyang and Shigunai were posthumously honored, and their sons were rewarded. Qingshannu, Weibi, and Weikang were all promoted and rewarded — from then on the Palace Attendants Bureau held the reins of power.
76
論曰：金九主，遇弑者三，其逆謀者十人。 熙宗之弑，惟大興國一人世宗聲其罪而磔之思陵之側。 徒單貞雖誅。 未聞暴其罪狀，後以戚畹又復贈官追封。 余秉德、唐括辯等六人，皆以他罪誅，海陵之弑，其首惡為完顏元宜，則令終焉。 衛紹王之弑曰胡沙虎，不死于司敗之誅，而死于高琪之手。 古所謂弑君之賊人得而討之者，謂請於公上而致討焉。 如孔子之請討陳恆是也。 豈有如琪之擅殺而以為功者乎。 金之政刑，其亂若此，國欲不亡，其可得乎！
Commentary: Of the Jin's nine emperors, three were murdered; ten men plotted regicide. When Emperor Xizong was murdered, only Daxingguo was singled out by Emperor Shizong, who proclaimed his guilt and had him dismembered beside Siling. Tudan Zhen was executed, yet his crimes were never publicly exposed; later, as an imperial in-law, he was again ennobled and posthumously promoted. Yu Bingde, Tangguo Bian, and four others were all executed on other charges. In Hailing's murder the ringleader was Wanyan Yuanyi — who died peacefully in bed. Prince Shao of Wei's murderer was Hu Shahu. He did not die by lawful execution but was killed privately by Gao Qi. The ancients said that anyone may punish a ruler's murderer — meaning by petitioning the throne to execute justice. Confucius demanding punishment for Chen Heng is the model. How different from Qi, who killed on his own authority and was rewarded for it! When governance and justice had fallen so far, how could the Jin hope to survive?