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夏國下
Western Xia, Part Two
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秉常，毅宗之長子，母曰恭肅章憲皇后梁氏。 治平四年冬即位，時年七歲，梁太后攝政。
Bingchang, the eldest son of Emperor Yizong, was born to Empress Gongsu Zhangxian, née Liang. He came to the throne in the winter of 1067, at the age of seven, with Empress Dowager Liang acting as regent.
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熙甯元年三月，遣新河北轉運使、刑部郎中薛宗道等來告哀，神宗問殺楊定事，宗道言殺人者先已執送之矣，乃賜詔慰之。 並諭令上大首領數人姓名，當爵祿之，俟崇貴至，即行冊禮。 及崇貴至，雲定奉使諒祚，常拜稱臣，且許以歸沿邊熟戶，諒祚遺之寶劍、寶鑒及金銀物。 初，定之歸，上其劍、鑒而匿其金銀，言諒祚可刺，帝喜，遂擢知保安。 既而夏人失綏州，以爲定賣己，故殺之。 至是事露，帝薄崇貴等罪而削定官，沒其田宅萬計。
In March 1068, the Xia court sent Xue Zongdao, the new Hebei transport commissioner and a director in the Bureau of Punishments, to announce the late emperor's death. When Shenzong asked about the murder of Yang Ding, Zongdao replied that the killers had already been seized and handed over; the emperor then issued a message of condolence. The envoys were also told to submit the names of several senior Xia leaders so they could be enfeoffed and salaried, and that the formal investiture would proceed as soon as Chonggui arrived. When Chonggui arrived, it emerged that Yunding had served as an envoy to Liangzuo, had regularly prostrated himself and styled himself a subject, and had promised to return allegiant tribes along the border; Liangzuo had rewarded him with a precious sword, a precious mirror, and gold and silver gifts. When Yang Ding had returned earlier, he had presented the sword and mirror but kept the gold and silver secret, claiming that Liangzuo could be assassinated; the emperor was delighted and promoted him to command Bao'an prefecture. Later the Xia lost Suizhou and concluded that Ding had betrayed them, so they put him to death. When the matter came to light, the emperor treated Chonggui and the others leniently but stripped Ding of his rank and confiscated his estates—tens of thousands of mu in all.
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二年二月，遣河南監牧使劉航等冊秉常爲夏國主。 三月，夏人入秦州，陷劉溝堡，殺範願。 既而進誓表，乞班誓詔，及請以安遠、塞門二砦易綏州。 初，朝議欲官爵夏之首領，計分其勢，郭逵以爲彼必不受詔，且彼既恭順，宜布以大信，不當誘之以利。 秉常果不奉詔，遣都羅重進來言曰：「上方以孝治天下，奈何反教小國之臣叛其君哉！」 于是前議遂罷。 乃賜誓詔，而綏州待得二砦乃還。 夏主受冊而二砦不歸，且欲先得綏州，遣罔萌訛以誓詔來言。 及趙高往交地，萌訛對以朝廷本欲得二砦，地界非所約。 高曰：「若然，安遠、塞門二牆墟耳，安用之！」 遂罷，詔城綏州。 八月，表請去漢儀，復用蕃禮，從之。 十月，遣使來謝封冊。
In February 1069, the Song dispatched Liu Hang, superintendent of Henan pastures, and others to invest Bingchang as ruler of Xia. In March, Xia troops raided Qinzhou, captured Liugou Fort, and killed Fan Yuan. They then submitted a sworn memorial asking for a copy of the oath edict and offering to trade the forts of Anyuan and Saimen for Suizhou. Earlier the court had considered enfeoffing Xia leaders to divide their power, but Guo Kui argued that they would never accept such an edict and that, since they were already submissive, the Song should show them great trust rather than tempt them with rewards. Bingchang refused the edict and sent Duluo Chongjin to protest: "Your Majesty governs the realm through filial piety—how can you teach the subjects of a small state to rebel against their sovereign?" With that, the earlier proposal was abandoned. The Song then issued the oath edict, but agreed to return Suizhou only after receiving the two forts. The Xia ruler accepted investiture but withheld the two forts and insisted on receiving Suizhou first, sending Wangmeng'e with the oath edict to press the point. When Zhao Gao went to deliver the territory, Wangmeng'e replied that the court had wanted the two forts all along and that border demarcation had never been part of the deal. Gao retorted: "If that is so, Anyuan and Saimen are nothing but two ruined walls—what use would they be?" Talks collapsed, and the court ordered Suizhou fortified. In August, the Xia memorialized to abandon Chinese court ritual and restore Tangut custom; the request was granted. In October, envoys arrived to thank the Song for the investiture.
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三年五月，夏人號十萬，築鬧訛堡。 知慶州李復圭合蕃、漢兵才三千，逼遣偏將李信、劉甫、種詠等出戰，信等訴以衆寡不敵，復圭威以節制，親畫陣圖方略授之，兵進，遂大敗。 復圭懼，欲自解，即執信等而取其圖略，命州官李昭用劾以故違節制，詠庾死獄中，斬信、甫，配流郭貴。 復出兵邛州堡，夜入欄浪、和市，掠老幼數百； 又襲金湯，而夏人已去，惟殺其老幼一二百人，以功告捷，而邊怨大起矣。 八月，夏人遂大舉入環慶，攻大順城、柔遠砦、荔原堡、淮安鎮、東谷西穀二砦、業樂鎮。 兵多者號二十萬，少者不下一二萬，屯榆林，距慶州四十里，遊騎至城下，九日乃退。 鈐轄郭慶、高敏、魏慶宗、秦勃等死之。
In May 1070, the Xia, claiming a force of one hundred thousand, built Naoe Fort. Li Fugui, prefect of Qingzhou, had only three thousand tribal and Han troops combined. He forced his deputies Li Xin, Liu Fu, and Zhong Yong into battle; when they protested that they were hopelessly outnumbered, Fugui overrode them with his authority, drew up the battle plan himself, and sent them forward—to a crushing defeat. Terrified and eager to shift blame, Fugui arrested Xin and the others, seized their battle plans, and had the prefectural official Li Zhaoyong charge them with deliberate disobedience. Zhong Yong died in prison; Li Xin and Liu Fu were beheaded; Guo Gui was exiled. Xia forces sallied again from Qiongzhou Fort, raided Lanlang and Heshi by night, and seized several hundred old and young captives; and struck at Jintang, but the Xia had already withdrawn, so they killed only a hundred or two of the elderly and children left behind, reported a victory, and thereby provoked fierce resentment along the frontier. In August, the Xia launched a major offensive into Huanqing, attacking Dashun City, Rouyuan Fort, Liyuan Fort, Huai'an Town, the East and West Valley forts, and Yele Town. The larger columns claimed two hundred thousand men, the smaller no fewer than ten or twenty thousand. They encamped at Yulin, forty li from Qingzhou, with scouting parties reaching the city walls, and did not withdraw until the ninth day. The commandants Guo Qing, Gao Min, Wei Qingzong, Qin Bo, and others were killed.
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四年正月，種諤謀取橫山，領兵先城囉兀，進築永樂川、賞逋嶺二砦。 分遣都監趙璞、燕達築撫寧故城，及分荒堆三泉、吐渾川、開光嶺、葭蘆川四砦與河東路修築，各相去四十餘里。 二月，夏人來攻順寧砦，復圍撫寧，折繼世、高永能等擁兵駐細浮圖，去撫寧咫尺，囉兀兵勢尚完。 種諤在綏德節制諸軍，聞夏人至，茫然失措，欲作書召燕達，戰怖不能下筆，顧轉運判官李南公涕泗不已。 于是新築諸堡悉陷，將士千餘人皆沒。 初，朝議以諤新築囉兀城，去綏德百餘里，偏梁險狹，難于饋餉，且城中無井泉，遣李評、張景憲往視之，未至而撫寧陷，遂詔棄囉兀城。 五月，燕達以戍卒輜重歸自囉兀，爲夏人邀擊，達多失亡。 九月，夏遣使入貢，且以二砦易綏州，乞如舊約，詔不允。
In the first month of 1071, Zhong E set out to seize the Hengshan region, first fortifying Luowu and then advancing to build forts at Yongle Stream and Shangbuling. He sent supervisory commissioners Zhao Pu and Yan Da to rebuild the old city of Funing and to erect four new forts—at Huangdui, Sanquan, Tuhunchuan, Kaiguangling, and Jialuchuan—in coordination with the Hedong circuit, each roughly forty li apart. In February, the Xia attacked Shunning Fort and again besieged Funing. Zhe Shishi, Gao Yongneng, and others held their forces at Xifutu, almost within sight of Funing, while the garrison at Luowu remained intact. Zhong E was at Suide directing the armies. When he learned the Xia had arrived, he panicked. He tried to write to summon Yan Da but shook so badly he could not hold the brush, and turned to the transport vice-commissioner Li Nangong in tears. All the newly built forts then fell, and more than a thousand officers and soldiers were lost. The court had already judged that Luowu, more than a hundred li from Suide along narrow, treacherous ridges, was hard to supply and lacked wells. Li Ping and Zhang Jingxian were sent to inspect it, but before they arrived Funing fell and the court ordered Luowu abandoned. In May, Yan Da withdrew the garrison and baggage from Luowu and was ambushed by the Xia, suffering heavy casualties. In September, Xia envoys came with tribute and again offered the two forts for Suizhou, asking that the old agreement be honored; the court refused.
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五年正月，夏鈐轄結勝爲麟州步將王文郁戰降，授供奉官。 久之，謀竄歸，事覺，詔聽其去。 六月，夏人還荔原堡逃背熟戶嵬通等七十八人。 閏七月，遣部將景思立、王存以涇原兵出南路，王韶由東谷徑趨武勝，未至十餘里，逢夏人戰，遂至其城，瞎藥棄城夜遁，大首領曲撒四王阿南珂出奔，乃城武勝。 十二月，遣使進馬贖《大藏經》，詔賜之而還其馬。
In the first month of 1072, the Xia commandant Jiesheng was defeated and surrendered to Wang Wenyu, an infantry officer at Linzhou, and was appointed a palace attendant. After some time he plotted to escape back to Xia; when the plot was discovered, the court allowed him to leave. In June, the Xia returned seventy-eight allegiant tribespeople who had fled from Liyuan Fort, including Weitong. In the intercalary seventh month, subordinate generals Jing Sili and Wang Cun advanced with Jingyuan troops along the southern route while Wang Shao struck directly through East Valley toward Wusheng. Within ten li they met Xia forces in battle, reached the city, and drove out Xiayao, who fled by night. The great chieftain Qusa and Prince Ananke fled as well, and the Song then fortified Wusheng. In December, envoys presented horses seeking to obtain the Buddhist canon; the court granted the canon and returned the horses.
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八年三月，夏人以索蕃、漢部盜人畜投南界者，牒熙河經略司請高太尉赴三岔堡會議，牒稱大安二年。 乃詔鄜延經略司，令牒宥州問妄稱年號，且牒非其地分邊臣會議，皆違越生事，是必夏主不知，請問之。 夏人進奉山陵後期，詔令先至永厚陵設祭後至闕奉慰。 帝謂輔臣曰：「元昊昔僭號，遣使上表稱臣，其辭猶遜。 朝廷不先詰其所以然而遽絕之，縱邊民蕃部討虜，故元昊嘗自謂爲諸羌所立不得辭，朝廷不得命，不得已而變。 西師亟戰輒敗，天下騷然，仁宗悔之。 當元昊僭書來，獨諫官吳育謂難以中國叛臣處之，或可稍易以名號，議者皆以爲不然，卒困中原，而後歲賜，封冊爲夏國主，良可惜哉！」
In March 1085, the Xia sent a note to the Xihe frontier commissioner demanding the return of tribal and Han rustlers who had driven stolen livestock across the border, and requesting that Grand Marshal Gao meet them at Sancha Fort. The note was dated to the second year of their Da'an reign era. The court ordered the Fuyan frontier commissioner to send a dispatch to Youzhou questioning their presumptuous use of a reign title and their summoning of Song frontier officials outside their jurisdiction—acts that overstepped protocol and provoked trouble. The emperor assumed Bingchang must be unaware and ordered an inquiry. The Xia mission for the imperial funeral arrived late; the court ordered them to perform rites at Yonghou Mausoleum first and only then present condolences at court. The emperor told his chief ministers: "When Yuanhao first claimed an imperial title, he still sent envoys with a memorial styling himself a subject—and the language was deferential. The court never asked why he had done so but cut him off at once and let border tribes raid him. Yuanhao could then claim the Qiang had forced the title on him, that the Song had refused to negotiate, and that he had changed course only because he had no choice. Western campaigns were fought again and again, only to fail again and again; the realm was thrown into turmoil, and Emperor Renzong came to regret the policy. When Yuanhao's presumptuous letter arrived, only the remonstrance official Wu Yu argued that he could hardly be treated as a Chinese rebel and that his title might be adjusted slightly. Everyone else disagreed. In the end the central plains were worn down, and only then came yearly gifts and investiture as ruler of Xia—a grievous waste."
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元豐二年六月，夏人自滿堂川入大會平，殺防田人馬，兵官李浦等逼逐出塞。 九月，綏德把截楊永慶聲徼循邊而掩取蕃部首級，詐言斬犯邊人，詔毀永慶出身文字，送西京編管。
In June 1079, Xia forces entered from Mantang Stream into Dahui Plain, killed field-guard troops and their horses, and were driven back across the border by Li Pu and other officers. In September, the Suide border guard Yang Yongqing pretended to patrol the frontier while ambushing tribesmen for heads, falsely claiming they were border raiders. The court destroyed his appointment records and confined him at the Western Capital.
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四年四月，有李將軍清者，本秦人，說秉常以河南地歸宋，國母知之，遂誅清而奪秉常政。 鄜延總管種諤乃疏秉常遇弑，國內亂，宜興師問罪，此千載一時之會。 帝然之，遂遣王中正往鄜延、環慶，稱詔募禁兵，從者將之。 詔熙河李憲等，以秉常見囚，大舉征夏； 及詔諭夏國嵬名諸部首領，能拔身自歸及相率共誅國仇，當崇其爵賞，敢有違拒者誅九族。 八月，中正及諤言涇原、環慶會兵取靈州，復討興州，麟府、鄜延先會夏州，取懷州渡會興州。 憲總七軍及董氈兵三萬，至新市城，遇夏人，戰敗之。 王中正出麟州，禡辭自言代皇帝親征，提兵六萬，才行數里，即奏已入夏境，屯白草平九日不進。 環慶經略使高遵裕將步騎八萬七千、涇原總管劉昌祚將卒五萬出慶州，諤將鄜延及畿內兵九萬三千出綏德城。 九月，諤圍米脂，夏人來救，戰于無定川，大破之，斬首五千級。 十月，遂克米脂，降守將令分訛遇，進攻石州。 中正以河東軍渡無定河，循水北行，地皆沙濕，士馬多陷沒，遂繼諤趨夏州，而民皆潰，軍無所得。 遵裕至清遠軍，攻靈州，夏人決黃河灌營，復抄絕餉道，士卒凍溺死，余兵才萬三千人，遂歸。 夏人追戰，將官俞平死之。 中正至宥州奈王井，糧盡，士卒死亡者已二萬，乃引軍還。 諤兵無食，會大雪死，遂潰，入塞者才三萬人。 昌祚遇夏人于磨臍隘，夏之拒者二三萬人，昌祚乃分兵渡葫蘆河，奪其隘，與統軍國母弟梁大王戰，遂大破之。 憲營于天都山下，焚夏之南牟內殿並其館庫，追襲其統軍仁多㖫丁，敗之，擒百人，遂班師。 涇原總兵侍禁魯福、彭孫護饋餉至鳴沙川，與夏人三戰，敗績。 初，夏人聞宋大舉，梁太后問策于廷，諸將少者盡請戰，一老將獨曰：「不須拒之，但堅壁清野，縱其深入，聚勁兵于靈、夏而遣輕騎抄絕其饋運，大兵無食，可不戰而困也。」 梁後從之，宋師卒無功。
In April 1081, a man known as General Li Qing, originally from Qin, urged Bingchang to return the Henan region to the Song. When the queen mother learned of this, she executed Qing and stripped Bingchang of power. The Fuyan commander Zhong E memorialized that Bingchang had been assassinated and the realm was in turmoil, urging that the Song raise an army to punish the crime—"a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity." The emperor agreed and sent Wang Zhongzheng to Fuyan and Huanqing with orders to recruit palace troops and lead them into the field. Li Xian of Xihe and others were ordered, on the grounds that Bingchang was imprisoned, to launch a major campaign against Xia; and Xia tribal leaders were told that those who defected or joined in executing the usurpers would be richly rewarded, while anyone who resisted would have his entire clan put to death. In August, Zhongzheng and Zhong E proposed that Jingyuan and Huanqing unite to take Lingzhou and then strike Xingzhou, while the Lin-Fu and Fuyan columns should rendezvous at Xiazhou, seize the Huaizhou crossing, and join at Xingzhou. Li Xian commanded seven armies plus thirty thousand troops under Dong Zhan, reached Xinshi City, met the Xia in battle, and defeated them. Wang Zhongzheng marched from Linzhou. In a ritual invocation he claimed to be campaigning in the emperor's place, led sixty thousand men, and after only a few li reported that he had already entered Xia territory. He then camped at Baicao Plain for nine days without advancing. Gao Zunyu, frontier commissioner of Huanqing, led eighty-seven thousand infantry and cavalry; Liu Changzuo, commander of Jingyuan, led fifty thousand troops from Qingzhou; and Zhong E led ninety-three thousand from Fuyan and the capital region out of Suide. In September, Zhong E besieged Mizhi. When the Xia came to relieve the city, he routed them at the Wuding River and took five thousand heads. In October they captured Mizhi; the defender Lingfen'eyu surrendered, and the army advanced on Shizhou. Zhongzheng led Hedong troops across the Wuding and marched north along the river through sand and mire, losing many men and horses. He then followed Zhong E toward Xiazhou, but the populace had fled and the army gained nothing. Zunyu reached Qingyuan Army and attacked Lingzhou. The Xia breached the Yellow River to flood his camp and cut his supply lines. Soldiers died of cold and drowning until only thirteen thousand remained, and he withdrew. The Xia pursued and killed the officer Yu Ping. Zhongzheng reached Naiwang Well in Youzhou with his provisions exhausted and twenty thousand soldiers already dead, then turned back. Zhong E's army ran out of food; heavy snow killed many more, and the force collapsed. Only thirty thousand men made it back inside the passes. Liu Changzuo met the Xia at Moyao Pass, where twenty or thirty thousand defenders blocked him. He split his force to cross the Hulu River, seized the pass, defeated the Xia commander—the queen mother's younger brother, the Great King Liang—and routed the enemy. Li Xian camped below Tiandu Mountain, burned the Xia's Nanmou inner palace and storehouses, pursued their commander Renduo Xiding, defeated him, took a hundred prisoners, and withdrew. The Jingyuan officers Lu Fu and Peng Sun escorted supplies to Mingsha River, fought the Xia three times, and were defeated each time. When the Xia learned of the great Song mobilization, Empress Dowager Liang asked the court for counsel. The younger generals all urged battle, but one veteran alone said: "Do not meet them head-on. Fortify the walls, clear the countryside, let them penetrate deep, concentrate your best troops at Lingzhou and Xiazhou, and send light cavalry to cut their supply lines. A great army without food can be broken without a pitched battle." The empress dowager followed his advice, and the Song campaign ended in failure.
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五年正月，遼使涿州遺書云：「夏國來稱，宋兵起無名，不測事端。」 神宗報以「夏國主受宋封爵，昨邊臣言，秉常見爲母黨囚辱，比令移問事端，其同惡不報。 繼又引兵數萬侵犯我邊界，義當有征。 今彼以屢遭敗衄，故遣使詭情陳露，意在間貳，想彼必以悉察。」 夏人聞此，遂不至。 五月，沈括請城古烏延城以包橫山，使夏人不得絕沙漠。 遂遣給事中徐禧、內侍押班李舜舉往議。 禧復請于銀、夏、宥之界築永樂城。 永樂依山無水泉，獨種諤極言不可，禧率諸將竟城之，賜名銀川砦； 禧等還米脂，以兵萬人屬曲珍守之。 永樂接宥州，附橫山，夏人必爭之地。 禧等既城去，九日，夏人來攻，珍使報禧，乃挾李舜舉來援，而夏兵至者號三十萬，禧登城西望，不見其際，宋軍始懼。 翌日，夏兵漸逼，禧乃以七萬陣城下，坐譙門，執黃旗令衆曰：「視吾旗進止！」 夏人縱鐵騎渡河，或曰：「此號'鐵鷂子'，當其半濟擊之，乃可有逞，得地則其鋒不可當也。」 禧不聽。 鐵騎既濟，震盪衝突，大兵從之，禧師敗績。 將校寇偉、李思古、高世才、夏儼、程博古及使臣十餘輩、士卒八百餘人盡沒。 詔李憲、張世矩往援，及令括遣人與約退軍，當還永樂地。 夏人進侵，及縣門，潰歸城者，決水砦爲道以登，夏人因之，奔歸于城者三萬人皆沒。 夏兵圍之者厚數里，游騎掠米脂。 將士晝夜血戰，城中乏水已數日，鑿井不得泉，渴死者大半，括等援兵及饋運皆爲夏大兵所隔。 夏人呼珍來講和，呂整、景思義相繼而行，夏人髡思義囚之，而城圍者已浹旬矣。 夜半，夏兵環城急攻，城遂陷。 高永能戰沒，禧、舜舉、運使李稷皆死于亂兵，惟曲珍、王湛、李浦、呂整裸跣走免，蕃部指揮馬貴獨誓死持刀殺數十人而沒。 是役也，死者將校數百人，士卒、役夫二十余萬，夏人乃耀兵米脂城下而還。 宋自熙寧用兵以來，凡得葭蘆、吳保、義合、米脂、浮圖、塞門六堡，而靈州、永樂之役，官軍、熟羌、義保死者六十萬人，錢、粟、銀、絹以萬數者不可勝計。 帝臨朝痛悼，而夏人亦困弊。 夏西南都統、昴星嵬名濟乃移書劉昌祚曰：
In the first month of 1082, a Liao envoy at Zhuozhou wrote: "The Xia have come to us reporting that Song has raised troops without cause; the outcome is unpredictable." Shenzong replied: "The ruler of Xia holds Song enfeoffment. Our frontier officials report that Bingchang is imprisoned and humiliated by his mother's faction. We have ordered an inquiry, and his accomplices have not responded. They then led tens of thousands of troops to invade our borders. A punitive campaign is fully justified. Having suffered repeated defeats, they now send envoys with deceitful accounts meant to sow discord between us. We trust you will see through this." When the Xia heard this reply, they did not come. In May, Shen Kuo proposed fortifying old Wuyan City to envelop the Hengshan region and block the Xia from crossing the desert. The court sent Xu Xi, a recipient of edicts, and Li Shunju, an inner attendant director, to oversee the plan. Xi further proposed building Yongle City on the border of Yin, Xia, and You. Yongle stood on mountainous ground without springs. Zhong E alone protested vigorously, but Xi overruled him and built the city anyway, naming it Yinchuan Fort; Xi and the others returned to Mizhi, leaving ten thousand troops under Qu Zhen to hold the fort. Yongle adjoined Youzhou and lay against the Hengshan region—ground the Xia were certain to fight for. Nine days after Xi and the others departed, the Xia attacked. Qu Zhen sent for help, and Xi brought Li Shunju to reinforce. The Xia force was said to number three hundred thousand. Xi climbed the west wall and could not see where their lines ended; the Song troops began to panic. The next day, as the Xia closed in, Xi drew up seventy thousand men below the wall, sat in the gate tower with a yellow flag, and shouted: "Watch my flag for advance and halt!" The Xia sent iron cavalry across the river. Someone warned: "These are the 'Iron Hawks'—strike them while half are still crossing or you cannot stop them once they reach the bank." Xi refused to listen. Once the iron cavalry had crossed, they charged with devastating force, the main Xia army followed, and Xi's force was routed. The officers Kou Wei, Li Sigu, Gao Shicai, Xia Yan, and Cheng Bogu, more than ten envoys, and over eight hundred soldiers were all killed. Li Xian and Zhang Shiju were ordered to reinforce the garrison, and Shen Kuo was told to negotiate withdrawal on the promise that the Yongle territory would be returned. The Xia pressed the attack to the county gate. Fleeing soldiers breached the water fort to climb back inside, and the Xia poured through after them. All thirty thousand men who had rushed back into the city were lost. The Xia siege lines stretched for several li, and scouting parties raided Mizhi. Officers and soldiers fought day and night. The city had been without water for days; wells were dug but no springs found, and more than half the garrison died of thirst. Shen Kuo's relief troops and supply trains were all cut off by the main Xia force. The Xia summoned Qu Zhen to negotiate. Lü Zheng and Jing Siyi went in turn; the Xia shaved Siyi and imprisoned him. The siege had already lasted ten full days. At midnight the Xia launched an all-out assault around the walls, and the city fell. Gao Yongneng was killed in battle; Xu Xi, Li Shunju, and transport commissioner Li Ji died in the rout. Qu Zhen, Wang Zhan, Li Pu, and Lü Zheng escaped barefoot and bareheaded. The tribal officer Ma Gui alone swore to die fighting, killed dozens with his blade, and fell. In this disaster several hundred officers died, along with more than two hundred thousand soldiers and laborers. The Xia paraded their army below Mizhi and withdrew. Since the Xining campaigns began, the Song had taken six forts—Jialu, Wubao, Yihe, Mizhi, Futu, and Saimen—yet the Lingzhou and Yongle campaigns alone cost six hundred thousand lives among regular troops, allegiant Qiang, and militia. Money, grain, silver, and silk expended in the tens of thousands defied reckoning. The emperor mourned the losses at court, while the Xia were exhausted as well. Weiming Ji, Southwest Supreme Commander of Xia and holder of the Maoxing title, sent a letter to Liu Changzuo that read:
12
中國者，禮樂之所存，恩信之所出，動止猷爲，必適于正。 若乃聽誣受間，肆詐窮兵，侵人之土疆，殘人之黎庶，是乖中國之體，爲外邦之羞。 昨者朝廷暴興甲兵，大窮侵討，蓋天子與邊臣之議，爲夏國方守先誓，宜出不虞，五路進兵，一舉可定。 故去年有靈州之役，今秋有永樂之戰，然較其勝負，與前日之議，爲何如哉！
China is the seat of rites and music, the source of grace and good faith; in all one's movements, plans, and deeds, one ought to adhere to what is right. To heed slander, accept alienation, resort to trickery, and exhaust the realm in war—to invade another's territory and slaughter its people—is to betray the spirit of China and bring shame upon all border states. When the court suddenly mobilized its armies and pressed the attack, the emperor and his frontier ministers reasoned that since Xia was still honoring its earlier pledges, a surprise assault on five fronts would finish the war in a single stroke. Hence last year's campaign at Lingzhou and this autumn's battle at Yongle—yet when one weighs the results against what was said beforehand, how do they compare?
13
朝廷于夏國，非不經營之，五路進討之策，諸邊肆撓之謀，皆嘗用之矣。 知徼幸之無成，故終于樂天事小之道。 況夏國提封一萬里，帶甲數十萬，南有于闐作我歡鄰，北有大燕爲我強援，若乘間伺便，角力競鬥，雖十年豈得休哉！ 即念天民無辜，受此塗炭之苦，國主自見伐之後，夙夜思念，爲自祖宗之世，事中國之禮無或虧，貢聘不敢怠，而邊吏幸功，上聰致惑，祖宗之盟既阻，君臣之分不交，存亡之機，發不旋踵，朝廷豈不恤哉！
The court has not lacked schemes against Xia—the five-route offensive and frontier harassment tactics have all been tried already. Recognizing that gambles for quick victory would fail, the court ultimately adopted the wiser path of accepting Heaven's will and showing forbearance toward a smaller neighbor. Xia's domain spans ten thousand li, with hundreds of thousands under arms; Khotan is our ally to the south, and Great Yan a powerful supporter to the north. If both sides kept seizing every opening to fight, could even ten years bring an end to war? Remembering that the common people are innocent victims of this devastation, our ruler Bingchang has grieved day and night ever since the attack began. From our ancestors' time we have scrupulously observed the rites owed to China, never slackening tribute or diplomatic missions—yet frontier officials seeking glory have misled the throne, ancestral covenants lie broken, and no bond remains between ruler and subject. The crisis of survival hangs over us in an instant—is the court truly unmoved?
14
至于魯國之憂，不在顓臾，隋室之變，生于楊感。 此皆明公得于胸中，不待言而後喻。 今天下倒垂之望，正在英才，何不進讜言，辟邪議，使朝廷與夏國歡好如初，生民重見太平，豈獨夏國之幸，乃天下之幸也。
Lu's peril did not come from Zhuanyu itself; the Sui dynasty's fall began with Yang Gantong's rebellion—allusions you already grasp. Your Excellency already understands these things inwardly—no explanation is needed. The world now looks to men of talent as to a saving rope—why not speak frankly, reject corrupt counsel, and restore cordial relations between the court and Xia so the people may know peace again? That would be a blessing not for Xia alone, but for all under Heaven.
15
昌祚上其書，帝喻答之。
Liu Changzuo forwarded the letter, and the emperor understood and wrote a reply.
16
六年二月，夏人大舉圍蘭州，已奪西關門，鈐轄王文鬱集死士七百，夜縋城而下，持短兵突營，遂拔去。 五月，復來，圍九日，大戰，侍禁韋禁死之，乃解去。 閏六月，遣使謨個、咩迷乞遇來貢，表曰：「夏國累得西蕃木征王子書，稱南朝與夏國交戰歲久，生靈荼毒，欲擬通和。 緣夏國先曾請所侵疆土，不從； 以此未便輕許。 西蕃再遣使散入昌郡、丹星等到國，稱南朝語言計會，但當遣使齎表，自令引赴南朝。 切念臣自曆世以來，貢奉朝廷，無所虧怠，至于近歲尤甚歡和。 不意憸人誣間，朝廷特起大兵，侵奪疆土城砦，因茲構怨，歲致交兵。 今乞朝廷示以大義，特還所侵，倘垂開納，別效忠勤。」 乃賜詔曰：「頃以權強，敢行廢辱，朕用震驚，令邊臣往問，匿而不報，王師徂征，蓋討有罪。 今遣使造庭，辭禮恭順，仍聞國政悉復故常，益用嘉納。 已戒邊吏毋輒出兵，爾亦其守先盟。」 遂詔陝西、河東經略司，其新復城砦，徼循毋出三二里，夏之歲賜如舊。
In February of the sixth year (1083), the Xia besieged Lanzhou in force and had already taken the West Gate. Controller Wang Wenyu rallied seven hundred volunteers, lowered them from the walls by rope at night, and sent them with short weapons into the enemy camp, driving the besiegers off. In May they returned, besieged the city for nine days, and fought a major battle in which palace attendant Wei Jin was killed before the Xia withdrew. In the intercalary sixth month, envoys Mog'e and Miemiqiyu arrived with tribute bearing a memorial: "Xia has received letters from the Tibetan prince Muzheng stating that the Southern Court and Xia have warred for years to the people's ruin, and urging that we seek peace. Because Xia had previously asked for the return of seized territory and been refused, we did not dare agree too readily. The Tibetans sent envoys again—San, Ruchangjun, Danxing, and others—who said the Song had agreed in principle that Xia should simply send envoys with a memorial and they would escort them to the Southern Court. We reflect that from generation to generation we have paid tribute to the court without fail, and in recent years have especially sought good relations. Yet schemers spread slander, the court raised a great army, seized our territory and fortresses, and thus bred enmity and yearly warfare. We now beg the court to act with righteousness and restore what was taken; if you graciously accept us, we shall prove our loyalty anew." The court replied with an edict: "Recently, abusing your power, you deposed and humiliated your ruler. We were deeply alarmed and sent frontier officials to inquire, but you concealed the truth and gave no answer. The imperial army marched to punish the guilty. Now you send envoys to court with reverent, compliant words, and we hear that your government has returned to its former order. We gladly accept this. We have ordered frontier officials not to launch raids; you must likewise honor your former pledges." An edict went to the Shaanxi and Hedong frontier commissioners: patrols from newly recovered fortresses were not to go beyond two or three li, and Xia's annual gifts would continue as before.
17
七年正月，圍蘭州，李憲戰卻之。 六月，攻德順軍，巡檢王友戰死。 九月，圍定西城，燒龕穀族帳，遂以十月至靜邊，鈐轄彭孫敗之，殺其首領仁多㖫丁。 十二月攻清遠，隊將白玉、李貴死之。
In the first month of the seventh year (1084), the Xia besieged Lanzhou, but Li Xian repulsed them. In June they attacked Deshun garrison, and inspector Wang You was killed in the fighting. In September they besieged Dingxi and burned the Kan'gu tribal camps. In October at Jingbian, Controller Peng Sun routed them and killed their chieftain Renduo Xiding. In December they attacked Qingyuan, where squad commanders Bai Yu and Li Gui were killed.
18
元祐元年二月，始遣使入貢。 五月，遣鼎利、罔豫章來賀哲宗即位。 六月，復遣訛囉聿來求所侵蘭州、米脂等五砦。 使未至，蘇轍兩疏請因其請地而與之。 司馬光言：「此邊鄙安危之機，不可不察。 靈夏之役，本由我起，新開數砦，皆是彼田，今既許其內附，豈宜靳而不與？ 彼必曰：'新天子即位，我卑辭厚禮以事中國，庶幾歸我侵疆，今猶不許，則是恭順無益，不若以武力取之。 '小則上書悖慢，大則攻陷新城。 當此之時，不得已而與之，其爲國家之恥，無乃甚于今日乎？ 群臣猶有見小忘大，守近遺遠，惜此無用之地，使兵連不解，爲國家之憂。 願決聖心，爲兆民計。」 時異議者衆，唯文彥博與光合，遂從之。 秋七月乙丑，秉常殂，時年二十六。 在位二十年，改元乾道二年，天賜禮盛國慶五年，大安十一年，天安禮定一年。 諡曰康靖皇帝，廟號惠宗，墓號獻陵。 子乾順立。
In February 1086, Western Xia sent its first tribute envoys. In May, envoys Dingli and Wang Yuzhang came to congratulate Zhezong on his accession. In June they sent Eluoyu again to demand the return of five seized fortresses including Lanzhou and Mizhi. Before the envoy arrived, Su Che memorialized twice urging that the Song grant the requested territory. Sima Guang said: "This is a critical moment for frontier security and cannot be ignored. The Lingzhou and Xia campaigns were our doing. The new fortresses sit on their land. Having accepted their submission, how can we refuse to return it? They will say: 'A new emperor reigns; we offered humble words and lavish gifts, hoping our seized lands would be returned. If we are still refused, obedience avails nothing—it is better to take them by force. At minimum they will send insolent memorials; at worst they will storm our new fortresses. If we are forced to surrender the land then, will the humiliation not far exceed what we face today? Some ministers still fixate on petty gains, neglect the larger picture, cling to useless ground, and perpetuate endless war—a grave burden on the state. I pray Your Majesty will decide firmly for the sake of the people." Many dissented, but only Wen Yanbo agreed with Sima Guang, and the court followed their advice. On the yichou day of the seventh month, Bingchang died at the age of twenty-six. He had reigned twenty years under the era names Qiandao (two years), Tiancili Tiansheng Guoqing (five years), Da'an (eleven years), and Tian'an Liding (one year). His posthumous title was Emperor Kangjing, his temple name Huizong, and his tomb Xianling. His son Qian Shun succeeded him.
19
乾順，惠宗之長子也。 母曰昭簡文穆皇后梁氏，生三歲即位。 元祐元年十月，以父殂，遣使呂則罔聿謨等來告哀。 詔自元豐四年用兵所得城砦，待歸我陷執民，當畫以給還。 乃遣金部員外郎穆衍充祭奠使，供備庫使張楙充吊慰使。 夏遣使進馬、駝來賀興龍節。
Qian Shun was the eldest son of Emperor Huizong (Bingchang). His mother was Empress Zhaojian Wenmu, née Liang; he came to the throne at the age of three. In the tenth month of 1086, after his father's death, he sent envoys including Lü Zewang Yumo to announce the mourning. The court decreed that fortresses seized since the Yuanfeng campaigns of 1081 would be returned once Xia repatriated captured Song subjects and borders were demarcated. The Song dispatched Muyan, vice director of the Jin Department, as condolence envoy, and Zhang Mao, commissioner of the Provisionery Store, as comforting envoy. Xia sent envoys with horses and camels to celebrate the Xinglong Festival.
20
二年正月，遣權樞密院都承旨公事劉奉世爲冊禮使，崇儀副使崔象先副之，冊乾順爲夏國主，仍節度、西平王。 三月，夏遣大使映吳嵬名諭密、副使廣樂毛示聿等詣太皇太后進駝、馬以謝奠慰。 七月，夏人攻鎮戎軍諸堡，劉昌祚等禦之而退。
In the first month of 1087, Liu Fengshi, acting director of Palace Secretariat affairs, was sent as investiture envoy with Cui Xiangxian as deputy to invest Qian Shun as ruler of Xia, retaining his titles as military commissioner and King of Xiping. In March, Xia dispatched chief envoy Yingwu Weiming Yumi and deputy Guangle Maoshiyu to the Grand Empress Dowager with camels and horses to thank the Song for sending condolence envoys. In July the Xia attacked forts of Zhenrong garrison; Liu Changzuo and others repulsed them.
21
三年三月，攻德靖砦，諸將米贇、郝普戰死。 詔劉昌祚以涇原萬人駐德順軍，熙河五千人駐通遠軍，據秦鳳要害，以爲犄角。 夏人遂攻龕穀砦，砦兵及東關堡巡檢等戰不利，死者幾百人。
In March of the third year they attacked Dejing Fort, where generals Mi Yun and Hao Pu were killed. Liu Changzuo was ordered to station ten thousand Jingyuan troops at Deshun and five thousand Xihe troops at Tongyuan, securing key Qin-Feng positions in mutual support. The Xia then attacked Kan'gu Fort. The garrison and inspectors at Dongguan Fort fought poorly, with nearly several hundred killed.
22
四年二月，始遣使謝封冊。 六月，稍歸永樂所獲人，遂以葭蘆、米脂、浮圖、安疆四砦與之，而畫界未定。 遣崇儀使董正叟、如京使李玩押賜夏國生日禮物及冬服。 七月坤成節、十二月興龍節皆遣使來賀。
In February of the fourth year, Xia first sent envoys to thank the court for the investiture. In June Xia gradually returned captives taken at Yongle, and the Song ceded the four fortresses of Jialu, Mizhi, Fotu, and Anjiang—but the border had not yet been fixed. Dong Zhengshou and Li Wan were dispatched to deliver birthday gifts and winter clothing to Xia. Envoys came to celebrate both the Kunqi Cheng Festival in July and the Xinglong Festival in December.
23
五年六月，夏人來言，畫疆界者不依綏州內十里築堡鋪供耕牧、外十里立封堠作空地例，以辨兩國界。 詔曰：「已諭邊臣如約，夏之封界當亦體此。」 冬，攻蘭州之質孤、勝如堡，既而遣使來賀正旦。 六年七月，遣使來賀坤成節。 九月，圍麟、府三日，殺掠不計，鄜延都監李儀等盡沒。
In June of the fifth year, Xia complained that border demarcation did not follow the Suizhou precedent: ten li inside for farming posts, ten li outside for boundary markers as neutral ground. The court replied: "We have ordered our frontier officials to comply. Xia should observe the same standard." That winter they attacked the Zhigu and Shengzhu forts near Lanzhou, then sent envoys to celebrate New Year's Day. In the seventh month of the sixth year, envoys came to celebrate the Kunqi Cheng Festival. In September they besieged Linzhou and Fuzhou for three days, slaughtering and plundering without count; Fuyan supervisor Li Yi and his men were wiped out.
24
七年，屢攻綏德城，以重兵壓涇原境。 留五旬，大掠，築壘于沒煙峽口以自固。 游師雄請自蘭州李諾平東抵通遠定西、通渭之間，建汝遮、納迷、結珠龍三砦及置護耕七堡，以固藩籬； 穆衍請于質孤、勝如二堡之間，城李諾平以控要害。 議未決，秦鳳都監康謂以爲：「夏之所以未臣附而屢肆兵者，以我勢分于堤備，兵未練而賞罰失當耳。 若擇銳結伍，伺彼之動，聚則先擊，散則復襲，則彼分而我聚，以衆擊寡，可得志也。」 詔謂詣闕，而下其事于諸道。
In the seventh year they repeatedly assaulted Suide and massed heavy forces along the Jingyuan frontier. They remained fifty days, raided extensively, and built fortifications at Moyan Pass to secure their position. You Shixiong proposed building three new forts—Ruzhe, Nami, and Jiezhulong—between Linuoping (Lanzhou) and Tongwei, plus seven garrison-farming forts, to strengthen the frontier fence; Muyan proposed fortifying Linuoping between the Zhigu and Shengzhu forts to hold the strategic ground. While debate continued, Qin-Feng supervisor Kang Wei argued: "Xia keeps raiding because our forces are spread thin on static defense, troops are poorly trained, and rewards and punishments are mishandled. Select elite troops in tight units, watch their movements, strike when they mass and harass when they scatter—we concentrate while they divide, and can prevail with superior numbers." Kang Wei was summoned to court, and his proposal was circulated to the frontier circuits.
25
八年四月，復遣使以蘭州一境易塞門二砦，詔數其違順不常而卻其請。
In April of the eighth year, Xia again proposed swapping the Lanzhou region for two Saimen forts; the court rebuked their inconsistency and refused.
26
紹聖元年二月，夏進馬助太皇太后山陵。 復遣使再議易地，詔不允。
In February 1094, Xia sent horses to assist with the Grand Empress Dowager's burial. They sent envoys again to negotiate a land swap; the court refused.
27
三年九月，大入鄜延，西自順寧、招安砦，東自黑水、安定，中自塞門、龍安、金明以南，二百里間相繼不絕，至延州北五里。 十月，忽自長城一日馳至金明，列營環城，國主子母親督桴鼓，縱騎四掠。 知麟州有備，復還金明，而後騎之精銳者留龍安。 邊將悉兵掩擊不退，金明乃破。 守兵二千八百人惟五人得脫，城中糧五萬石、草千萬束皆盡，將官皇城使張俞死之。 既還，留一書置漢人頸上，曰：「貸汝命，爲我投于經略使處。」 其言曰：「夏國昨與朝廷議疆場，惟有小不同，方行理究，不意朝廷改悔，卻于坐團鋪處立界。 本國以恭順之故，亦黽勉聽從，遂于境內立數堡以護耕，而鄜延出兵，悉行平蕩，又數數入界殺掠。 國人共憤，欲取延州，終以恭順，止取金明一砦，以示兵鋒，亦不失臣子之節也。」 延帥呂惠卿上于樞密院而不以聞。 初，哲宗聞夏人來寇，泰然笑曰：「五十萬衆深入吾境，不過十日，勝不過一二砦須去。」 已而果破金明引退。
In September of the third year, Xia invaded Fuyan in force—from Shunning and Zhao'an in the west to Heishui and Anding in the east, and from Saimen, Long'an, and Jinming in the center—a two-hundred-li line of raiders reaching to within five li of Yanzhou. In October they swept from the Great Wall to Jinming in a single day, encircled the city, and Qian Shun and his mother personally beat the war drums as cavalry pillaged in every direction. Finding Linzhou well defended, they withdrew to Jinming, leaving elite rear guards at Long'an. Frontier generals massed every available soldier in a relentless counterattack—and Jinming fell. Of 2,800 defenders only five escaped. Fifty thousand shi of grain and ten million bundles of fodder were seized. Commandant Zhang Yu was killed. On departing they hung a letter on a Chinese captive's neck: "We spare your life—carry this to the frontier commissioner." The letter read: "Xia and the court were negotiating the border over minor differences when the Song abruptly reneged and marked the boundary at our farming posts. In deference we complied and built farming forts within our territory, yet Fuyan troops razed them and repeatedly crossed the border to kill and pillage. Our people, enraged, wished to seize Yanzhou; out of continued deference we took only Jinming to demonstrate our military strength—yet still observe the conduct proper to a vassal state." Fuyan commander Lü Huiqing forwarded the letter to the Bureau of Military Affairs but did not inform the emperor. When Zhezong first heard of the invasion, he smiled calmly and said: "Even if five hundred thousand Xia troops penetrate deep into our territory, within ten days they can take at most a fort or two and must withdraw." And so it proved: they seized Jinming and withdrew.
28
四年正月，涇原都鈐轄王文振率諸將破沒煙峽新砦，斬獲三千餘級。 二月，夏復以七萬衆攻綏德，鄜延將兵戰退之。
In the first month of the fourth year, Jingyuan commander Wang Wenzhen led his generals in breaking the new fort at Moyan Pass, killing or capturing more than three thousand. In February the Xia returned with seventy thousand men to attack Suide; Fuyan troops fought and repulsed them.
29
元符元年十二月，涇原折可適掩夏西壽統軍嵬名阿埋、監軍妹勒都逋，獲之。 彗星見，乾順赦國中。
In December 1098, Zhe Keshi of Jingyuan ambushed Xia generals Weiming Ami and Meile Dubo and took them prisoner. A comet appeared, and Qian Shun declared an amnesty throughout the realm.
30
二年正月，國母梁氏薨，遼遣使蕭德崇來爲夏人議和。 乃復書謂：若果出至誠，深悔謝罪，當徐度所宜，開以自新之路。 五月，夏蘭會正鈐轄革瓦孃以部落來降，授內殿崇班，賜銀、絹、緡錢各三百。 七月，環州種樸徼赤羊川，獲賞囉訛乞家屬百五十余口，孳畜五千。 夏人千餘騎來追，戰卻之，擒監軍訛勃囉及首領淚丁訛遇。 詔令赴闕，存恤訛乞家屬，又遣人持其家信號往招之。 九月，夏人來告國母哀，因上表謝過。 詔夏主：「省所上表，能抗章引慝，已諭邊臣，我疆彼界，毋相侵犯。」 已而夏以二千騎出浮圖岔來戰，供奉官陳告、差使李戭死之。 閏九月，古邈川部族叛，熙河將王湣率兵掩擊。 翌日，夏人馬數萬圍湣等，力戰敗之，擒其鈐轄嵬名乞遇； 統制苗履又戰于青唐峗，夏人敗績。 十二月，遂遣令能、嵬名濟等進誓表曰：「臣國久不幸，時多遇凶，兩經母党之擅權，累爲奸臣之竊命。 頻生邊患，增怒上心，釁端既深，理訴難達。 幸凶黨伏誅，稚躬反正。 遐馳懇奏，陳前咎之所歸； 乞紹先盟，果淵衷之俯納。 故班詔而申諭，獲貢誓以輸誠，謹當飭疆吏而永絕爭端，戒國人而常遵聖化，違約則凶咎再降，背盟則基緒非延。 約束事條，恭依處分。」 詔報曰：「爾以凶黨造謀，數幹邊吏，而能悔過請命，祈紹先盟。 念彼種人，均吾赤子，措之安靜，乃副朕心。 嘉爾自新，俯從厥志，爾無爽約，朕不食言。 自今已往，歲賜仍舊。」
In the first month of the second year, Queen Mother Liang died, and Liao sent Xiao Dechong to negotiate peace for Xia. The Song replied that if Xia showed genuine remorse and apologized deeply, the court would consider how to open a path to renewal. In May, Xia officer Gewaniang of Lanhui submitted with his tribe; he was made Inner Hall Honored Attendant and given three hundred taels of silver, bolts of silk, and strings of cash. In July, Zhong Pu of Huan Prefecture raided Chiyangchuan, capturing over 150 members of the Shangluo Eqi family and five thousand head of livestock. Over a thousand Xia cavalry pursued; Zhong Pu fought them off and captured supervisor Eboluo and chieftain Leiding Eyu. The captives were ordered to the capital; the Eqi families were cared for, and messengers bearing their tokens were sent to win them over. In September, Xia envoys came to announce Queen Mother Liang's death and submitted a memorial apologizing for past offenses. The court addressed the Xia ruler: "We have read your memorial. Your willingness to submit a formal confession has been noted, and frontier officials have been told that neither side is to violate the other's border." Soon afterward, two thousand Xia cavalry sallied from Fotu Pass to attack; the palace attendant Chen Gao and the envoy Li Yan were killed. In the intercalary ninth month, tribes of Gumiaochuan rose in revolt, and Wang Min, a general of Xihe, led a surprise strike against them. The next day tens of thousands of Xia horsemen encircled Wang Min and his men; after a hard fight the Song forces routed them and captured the Xia chief controller Weiming Qiyu; Regimental commander Miao Lü fought again at Qingtang Pass and put the Xia to rout. In the twelfth month the Xia sent Ling Neng, Weiming Ji, and others with a sworn memorial: "Our state has long been ill-fated, beset again and again by disaster. Twice the queen mother's clan seized power; again and again treacherous ministers usurped command. Frontier incidents multiplied and imperial anger grew; the breach ran so deep that our just grievances could scarcely reach you. Fortunately the wicked faction has been executed, and I, still young, have set matters right. I sent this urgent petition from afar, showing where past fault truly lay; I begged to renew our former pact, and your deep benevolence graciously consented. You issued an edict of instruction and accepted our sworn tribute as proof of loyalty. We shall strictly restrain frontier officers and forever end quarrels, and warn our people always to obey your civilizing rule. Break the pact and disaster will fall again; betray the alliance and our dynasty will not endure. As for the stipulated terms, we respectfully submit to your judgment." The court replied: "Though an evil faction plotted rebellion and repeatedly provoked our frontier officers, you have repented and begged for mercy, asking to restore the old alliance. Those tribesmen are as much Our children as any other; to keep them in peace is what We desire. We approve your reform and grant your request. Keep the pact and We shall keep Our word. Henceforth the annual stipends shall continue as before."
31
三年正月，哲宗崩，徽宗即位。 九月，夏遣使來奠慰及賀即位。 十月，復遣使來賀天寧節。
In the first month of the third year of Yuanyou, Emperor Zhezong died and Emperor Huizong succeeded him. In the ninth month Xia sent envoys to offer condolences and to congratulate the new emperor on his accession. In the tenth month they sent envoys again to congratulate the court on the Tianning Festival.
32
建中靖國元年，乾順始建國學，設弟子員三百，立養賢務以廩食之。
In 1101, Qianshun founded a national academy with three hundred student places and established the Bureau for Nurturing Worthies to feed them from the granaries.
33
崇甯三年，蔡京秉政，使熙河王厚招夏國卓羅右廂監軍仁多保忠，厚云：「保忠雖有歸意，而下無附者。」 章數上，不聽。 京愈責厚急，乃遣弟詣保忠許，還爲夏之邏者所獲，遂追保忠赴牙帳。 厚以保忠縱不爲所殺，亦不能復領軍政，使得之，一匹夫耳，何益于事。 京怒，必令金帛招致之。 夏乃點兵，延、渭、慶三路各數千騎出沒，聲言假兵于遼矣。 三年，遼以成安公主嫁乾順。
In 1104, with Cai Jing in power, he ordered Wang Hou of Xihe to win over Ren Duobaozhong, Xia supervisor of the Zuoluo Right Wing. Hou reported, "Baozhong may wish to come over, but no one beneath him will follow." Hou memorialized repeatedly, but the throne would not heed him. Cai Jing pressed Hou harder still. Hou sent his younger brother to treat with Baozhong; on the way back the brother was seized by Xia scouts, and Baozhong was summoned to the royal camp. Hou argued that even if Baozhong were spared, he could never again hold command; as a defector he would be a private man of no use. Cai Jing was furious and demanded that gold and silk be used to lure him in. The Xia mobilized troops, and from Yan, Wei, and Qing each sent several thousand horsemen to raid the borders, claiming they had borrowed forces from Liao. In the third year of Chongning, Liao gave the Princess of Cheng'an in marriage to Qianshun.
34
四年，詔西邊能招致者，毋問首從，賞同斬級令，用京計也。 陶節夫在延州，大加招誘，乾順遣使巽請，皆拒之，又令殺其牧放者。 夏人遂入鎮戎，略數萬口，執知鄯州高永年而去，又攻湟州，自是兵連者三年。 大觀元年，始遣人修貢。
In the fourth year an edict promised that on the western frontier anyone who induced a defection, whether leader or follower, would be rewarded on the same scale as for enemy heads—Cai Jing's policy. At Yan Prefecture Tao Jiefu stepped up recruitment and enticement. Qianshun sent envoys with conciliatory pleas, all refused; Tao also ordered Xia herdsmen killed. The Xia then raided Zhenrong, carrying off tens of thousands of people and capturing Gaoyongnian, prefect of Zhengzhou, before withdrawing; they also attacked Huangzhou. From then on fighting continued for three years. In 1107 the Xia at last sent envoys to restore tribute.
35
政和四年冬，環州定遠大首領夏人李訛𠼪以書遺其國統軍梁哆㖫曰：「我居漢二十年，每見春廩既虛，秋庾未積，糧草轉輸，例給空券，方春未秋，士有饑色。 若卷甲而趨，徑搗定遠，唾手可取，定遠既得，則旁十餘城不攻而下矣。 我儲谷累歲，闕地而藏之，所在如是，大兵之來，鬥糧無齎，可坐而飽也。」 哆㖫遂以萬人來迎。 轉運使任諒先知其謀，募民盡發窖穀，哆㖫圍定邊，失所藏。 越七日，訛𠼪遂以其部萬余歸夏。 乾順築臧底河城，遂詔河東節度使童貫爲陝西經略以討之。
In the winter of 1114, Li Exiang, a senior Xia chieftain at Dingyuan in Huan Prefecture, wrote to his country's commander Liang Duoxie: "I have lived on Song soil for twenty years. Every spring the granaries stand empty; every autumn the bins are still unfilled. Rations and fodder arrive only as worthless chits, and long before harvest the men go hungry. If we march at once and strike Dingyuan directly, it will fall at a touch; once Dingyuan is ours, a dozen neighboring towns will surrender without a fight. I have cached grain for years in buried pits all through the region. When your army comes it need bring no battle rations; you can eat your fill without moving." Duoxie then marched out with ten thousand men to receive him. Transport commissioner Ren Liang learned of the scheme in advance and mobilized the people to dig up every hidden cache. Duoxie besieged Dingbian but found his stores gone. Seven days later Exiang crossed back to Xia with more than ten thousand of his followers. Qianshun built Zangdihe Fort, and the court appointed Hedong military commissioner Tong Guan frontier commissioner of Shaanxi to attack him.
36
五年春，遣熙河經略劉法將步騎十五萬出湟州，秦鳳經略劉仲武將兵五萬出會州，貫以中軍駐蘭州，爲兩路聲援。 仲武至清水河，築城屯守而還。 法與夏人右廂軍戰于古骨龍，大敗之，斬首三千級。 貫奏凱，皆遷秩。 秋，仲武、王厚復合涇原、鄜延、環慶、秦鳳之師攻夏臧底河城，敗績，死者十四五，秦鳳第三將全軍萬人皆沒。 厚懼，厚賂貫而匿之。 冬，夏人以數萬騎略蕭關而去。
In the spring of the fifth year Liu Fa, Xihe frontier commissioner, led one hundred fifty thousand infantry and cavalry out of Huangzhou; Liu Zhongwu, Qin-Feng frontier commissioner, led fifty thousand men out of Huizhou; Tong Guan held Lanzhou with the central army to support both columns. Zhongwu reached the Qingshui River, built a fort, left a garrison, and withdrew. Fa met the Xia Right Wing at Gugulong, routed them, and took three thousand heads. Tong Guan reported a triumph, and all the commanders were promoted. That autumn Zhongwu and Wang Hou combined troops from Jingyuan, Fuyan, Huanqing, and Qin-Feng to assault Zangdihe Fort and were crushed; four or five men in ten died, and the entire ten-thousand-man contingent of Qin-Feng's third commander was lost. Wang Hou, terrified, bribed Tong Guan lavishly to hide the disaster. In winter tens of thousands of Xia horsemen raided Xiaoguan and withdrew.
37
六年春，劉法、劉仲武合熙、秦之師十萬攻夏仁多泉城，三日不克，援後期不至，城中請降，法受其降而屠之，獲首三千級。 種師道以十萬衆復攻臧底河城，克之。 十一月，夏人大舉攻涇原靖夏城。 時久無雪，夏先使數萬騎繞城，踐塵漲天，兵對不睹，乃潛穿壕爲地道入城中，城遂陷，復屠之而去。
In the spring of the sixth year Liu Fa and Liu Zhongwu led one hundred thousand Xi and Qin troops against Rendoquan Fort. After three days without success, with relief overdue, the town offered surrender; Fa accepted, then slaughtered the population and took three thousand heads. Zhong Shidao with one hundred thousand men attacked Zangdihe Fort again and took it. In the eleventh month the Xia launched a major attack on Jingxia Fort in Jingyuan. Snow had long failed to fall. The Xia first sent tens of thousands of horsemen to circle the fort, raising dust until the armies could not see one another; then they secretly dug under the moat and tunneled into the town. The fort fell; they massacred it again and withdrew.
38
宣和元年，童貫復逼劉法使取朔方。 法不得已，引兵二萬出，至統安城，遇夏國主弟察哥郎君率步騎爲三陣，以當法前軍，而別遣精騎登山出其後。 大戰移七時，前軍楊惟忠敗入中軍，後軍焦安節敗入左軍，朱定國力戰，自朝及暮，兵不食而馬亦渴死多。 法乘夜遁，比明，走七十里，至盍朱峗，守兵見，追之，墜崖折足，爲一別瞻軍斬首而去。 是役死者十萬，貫隱其敗而以捷聞。 察哥見法首，惻然語其下曰：「劉將軍前敗我于古骨龍、仁多泉，吾常避其鋒，謂天生神將，豈料今爲一小卒梟首哉！ 其失在恃勝輕出，不可不戒。」 遂乘勝圍震武，劉仲武、何灌等赴之，乃解去。 震武在山峽中，熙、秦兩路不能餉，自築三歲間，知軍李明、孟清皆爲夏人所殺。 初，夏人陷法軍，圍震武，欲拔之。 察哥曰：「勿破此城，留作南朝病塊。」 乃自引去。 而宣撫司受解圍之賞者數百人，實自去之也。 諸路所築城砦皆不毛，夏所不爭之地，而關輔爲之蕭條，果如察哥之言。 十月，夏遣使來賀天寧節，投以誓詔，不取。 貫不能屈，但迫館伴強之，使持還，及邊，遂棄之而去。 賈炎得而上之，貫始大沮。
In 1119 Tong Guan again forced Liu Fa to conquer Shuofang. Fa had no choice but to march out with twenty thousand men. At Tong'an Fort he met Chaoge Langjun, the Xia ruler's brother, drawn up in three formations of infantry and cavalry to block Fa's vanguard while elite horsemen climbed the hills to take him from the rear. The battle raged for seven hours. Vanguard commander Yang Weizhong was beaten back into the center; rear commander Jiao Anjie was driven into the left wing. Zhu Dingguo fought from dawn to dusk while the men went unfed and horses dropped from thirst. Fa fled by night. By dawn he had run seventy li to Hezhu Pass; garrison troops saw him, gave chase, and he fell from a cliff and broke his leg. A scouting detachment cut off his head and withdrew. One hundred thousand men died in the campaign; Tong Guan hid the defeat and reported a victory. Chaoge saw Liu Fa's head and, grieving, told his officers: "General Liu once crushed us at Gugulong and Rendoquan. I always shunned his spearpoint, thinking him a general sent by Heaven—who dreamed a common soldier would carry off his head today! His mistake was to trust in past victory and march out lightly. Let that be a warning." He then pressed on to besiege Zhenwu. Liu Zhongwu, He Guan, and others hurried to its relief, and he broke off the siege and withdrew. Zhenwu stood in a mountain gorge that the Xi and Qin routes could not supply. In the three years since its founding, garrison commanders Li Ming and Meng Qing were both killed by the Xia. When the Xia had shattered Fa's army they first besieged Zhenwu, intending to take it. Chaoge said, "Do not take this fort. Leave it as an ulcer on the Southern Court's flank." Then he withdrew on his own. Yet several hundred men in the Pacification Commission were rewarded for relieving the siege, though the Xia had simply marched away. Forts raised on every route stood on barren ground the Xia never contested, while the capital region grew desolate—just as Chaoge had predicted. In the tenth month Xia envoys came to congratulate the Tianning Festival and offered a sworn edict; the Song refused to take it. Tong Guan could not compel acceptance but ordered the escorts to force it into the envoys' hands for the return journey; at the border they cast it aside and left. Jia Yan recovered the document and reported it to the throne; only then was Tong Guan thoroughly humiliated.
39
欽宗即位，遣使來賀正旦。 先是，金人滅遼，粘罕遣撒拇使夏國，許割天德、雲內、金肅、河清四軍及武州等八館之地，約攻麟州，以牽河東之勢。 靖康元年三月，夏人遂由金肅、河清渡河取天德、雲內、武州、河東八館之地。 四月，陷震威城，兵馬監押朱昭死之。 繼而金貴人兀室以數萬騎陽爲出獵，掩至天德，逼逐夏人，悉奪有其地。 夏人請和，金人執其使。
When Emperor Qinzong succeeded, Xia sent envoys to congratulate him on New Year's Day. Earlier, after the Jurchens overthrew Liao, Nianhan sent Samu to Xia, promising the four garrisons of Tiande, Yunnei, Jinsu, and Heqing and eight districts including Wuzhou, and proposing a joint attack on Linzhou to pin down the eastern Shanxi front. In the third month of 1126 the Xia crossed from Jinsu and Heqing and seized Tiande, Yunnei, Wuzhou, and the eight eastern Shanxi districts. In the fourth month they took Zhenwei Fort; garrison supervisor Zhu Zhao was killed. Soon afterward the Jurchen commander Wushi, with tens of thousands of horsemen pretending to go hunting, fell on Tiande, routed the Xia, and seized the whole region. The Xia sued for peace; the Jurchens held their envoy.
40
二年正月，以主客員外郎謝亮爲陝西撫諭使兼宣諭使，從事郎何洋爲太學博士，持詔書賜乾順。 亮西入關，鄜延經略使王庶遺亮書曰：「大夫出疆，有可以安社稷、利國家者，專之可也。 夏國爲患小而緩，金人爲患大而急。 方其挫銳熙河，奔北鄜延，秋稼未登，兵士困餓。 閣下苟能仗節督諸路協同義舉，雖未足盡雪舊恥，亦可驅逐渡河，全秦奠枕，徐圖恢復矣。」 亮不能用，遂由環慶入西夏。 慶曆後，夏國主嘗以賓禮見使者，亮至，乾順乃倨然見之，留居幾月，始與約和罷兵。 亮歸，而夏之兵已躡其後，襲取定邊軍。
In the first month of 1127, Chief Clerk for Receiving Guests Xie Liang was named Shaanxi Soothing Commissioner and Imperial Proclaimer, and Staff Gentleman He Yang was made Erudite of the Imperial Academy; they carried an edict for Qianshun. As Liang entered the pass, Fuyan frontier commissioner Wang Shu wrote him: "A minister abroad may act on his own authority whenever the altars of state and the nation's good require it. The Xia menace is minor and distant; the Jurchen menace is grave and immediate. Their best troops have been broken in Xihe and are fleeing north toward Fuyan; the autumn grain is not yet in, and the men are worn out and hungry. If you would take the imperial commission and rally the routes in a common effort, you might not wipe out every old shame, but you could drive the enemy back across the river, secure all of Qin, and slowly plan reconquest." Liang would not follow this counsel and entered Western Xia by way of Huanqing. Since the Qingli reign Xia rulers had usually received envoys as honored guests. When Liang arrived, Qianshun received him haughtily, detained him for months, and only then agreed to peace. Liang started back, but Xia troops were already on his trail and struck Dingbian Command.
41
明年，亮還行在。 二月，金帥婁宿連陷長安、鳳翔，隴右大震。 夏人諜知關陝無備，遂檄延安府言：「大金割鄜延以隸本國，須當理索，敢違拒者，發兵誅討之。」 帥臣王庶檄報曰：「金人初犯本朝，嘗以金肅、河清畀爾，今誰與守？ 國家以奸臣貪得，不恤鄰好，遂至于此。 貪利之臣，何國無之，豈意夏國躬蹈覆轍！ 比聞金人欲自涇原徑搗興、靈，方切寒心，不圖尚欲乘人之急。 幕府雖士卒單寡，然類皆節制之師，左支右吾，尚堪一戰。 果能辦此，何用多言。」 因遣諜間其用事臣李遇，夏人竟不出。 是歲，開封尹宗澤奏疏請北伐，且言乞遣辯士西說夏國，東說高麗，俾出助兵。
The next year Liang returned to the temporary court. In the second month the Jurchen commander Lousu took Chang'an and Fengxiang in succession, and Longyou was thrown into alarm. Xia scouts found Guan-Shaan undefended and notified Yan'an Prefecture: "Great Jin has ceded Fuyan to us. We mean to reclaim it. Whoever resists will be attacked." Commander Wang Shu answered: "When the Jurchens first struck our dynasty they gave you Jinsu and Heqing. Who holds them now? Our court, through greedy traitors who scorned neighborly ties, has been brought to this pass. Every state has men who crave profit. We never thought Xia would repeat the same folly! We hear the Jurchens mean to drive through Jingyuan toward Xing and Ling—that alone is enough to chill the blood. Did you imagine we would still be prey for you? Our headquarters may be thin, but the men are mostly regular troops under direct command. Spread as we are, we can still stand one fight. If you mean to try, words are wasted." He sent agents to sound out the Xia minister Li Yu. In the end the Xia did not move. That year Kaifeng intendant Zong Ze memorialized urging a northern campaign and asked that skilled envoys be sent west to win Xia and east to win Goryeo to send troops.
42
三年，知樞密院事張浚使川、陝，謀北伐，欲通夏國爲援，奏請國書，詔從之。 七月，浚西行，復以主客員外郎謝亮假太常卿，權宣撫處置司參議官，再使夏國。
In 1129 Chief Councilor Zhang Jun went to Sichuan and Shaanxi to plan a northern offensive and sought an alliance with Xia; he asked for an imperial letter and the throne agreed. In the seventh month, as Zhang Jun moved west, Xie Liang was again named acting Minister of Rites and provisional adviser to the Pacification Commission and sent once more to Xia.
43
四年正月，浚遣亮往，迄不得其要領而還。 十月，環慶路統制慕洧叛，降于夏國。
In the first month of 1130 Zhang Jun dispatched Liang again; he came back without securing any clear commitment. In the tenth month Huanqing regimental commander Mu Wei rebelled and went over to Xia.
44
紹興元年二月，同州觀察副使劉惟輔棄德順軍輸款于夏，夏人拒不受。 八月，詔以夏本敵國，毋復班曆日。 十一月，川、陝宣撫副使吳玠始遣人通夏國書。
In the second month of 1131, Tongzhou observation vice-commissioner Liu Weifu abandoned Deshun Army and offered allegiance to Xia; the Xia would not take him in. In the eighth month an edict declared that because Xia remained a former enemy state, the court would no longer send it the official calendar. In the eleventh month Sichuan-Shaanxi Pacification vice-commissioner Wu Jie first sent messengers with letters to Xia.
45
二年九月，呂頤浩言：「聞金、夏交惡，夏國屢遣人來吳玠、關師古軍中，宜令張浚通問，以撢其情。」 是歲，餘睹謀結燕雲之人圖女直，粘罕覺，欲誅之，余睹父子遁入夏國，夏人以其兵少不納。 四年十二月，吳玠奏夏國數通書，有不忘本朝意。 五年，乾順改元大德。
In the ninth month of 1132 Lü Yihao said: "I hear Jin and Xia are estranged and Xia has repeatedly sent men to the camps of Wu Jie and Guan Shigu. Zhang Jun should be told to open contact and learn their intentions." That year Yuduo plotted with men of Yan and Yun against the Jurchens. Nianhan discovered the scheme and moved to kill him; Yuduo and his son fled into Xia, but the Xia, judging their following too small, refused them entry. In the twelfth month of 1134 Wu Jie reported that Xia had sent repeated letters suggesting it had not forgotten the Song court. In 1135 Qianshun proclaimed the Dade era.
46
七年正月，吳璘奏西蕃三十八族首領趙繼忠來歸，用可扼西夏右臂。 十月，偽齊知同州李世輔謀執金帥撒里曷歸宋，不克，遂奔夏。 世輔父母親族在延安者，金人殺之無遺類。
In the first month of 1137 Wu Lin reported that Zhao Jizhong, leader of the thirty-eight Tibetan tribal groups in the west, had defected—a move that could pin Xia's right flank. In the tenth month Li Shipu, Tongzhou prefect under the puppet Qi regime, tried to capture the Jurchen commander Salihe and defect to Song. When the attempt failed he fled to Xia. The Jurchens slaughtered every member of Shipu's family still in Yan'an—parents, kin, and all.
47
九年，夏人陷府州。 靈芝生于後堂高守忠家，乾順作《靈芝歌》，俾中書相王仁宗和之。 乾順以世輔爲靜難軍承宣使、鄜延岐雍等路經略安撫使。 世輔請兵，將報延安之役，夏主俾先討別種酋豪號「青面夜叉」者，世輔擒之以報。 乾順乃爲出兵，遣文臣王樞、武臣𠼪訛等隨之。 世輔軍至延安，撒里曷走耀州，世輔購得害其父母者，殺之東城。 聞金人降赦，歸宋河南地，乃說王樞等降宋。 𠼪訛不從，世輔抽刀斫之，不中； 遂縛樞，命王晞韓護送行在。 五月丙午，世輔以其衆三千人歸宋，授世輔護國承宣使、樞密行府前軍都統制，賜名顯忠。
In 1139 the Xia took Fuzhou. A spirit fungus appeared at Gao Shouzhong's home in the rear hall. Qianshun wrote an "Ode to the Lingzhi" and ordered Chief Councillor Wang Renzong to compose a matching response. Qianshun made Shipu commissioner of the Jingnan Army and pacification commissioner for the Fuyan, Qiyong, and allied frontier routes. Shipu asked for an army to settle scores over Yan'an. The Xia ruler told him first to deal with a tribal chieftain known as "Green-Faced Yaksha." Shipu captured the man and reported back. Qianshun then mobilized an army and sent the civil envoy Wang Shu and the military officer Zhaoe to accompany him. Shipu's army reached Yan'an and Salihe fled to Yaozhou. Shipu tracked down his parents' killer, bought him out, and had him executed at the eastern gate. Learning that the Jurchens had issued a peace amnesty returning Henan to Song, he persuaded Wang Shu and the others to defect. Zhaoe refused. Shipu drew his sword and struck at him but missed. He bound Wang Shu and ordered Wang Xi and Han Hu to escort him to the temporary court. On the bingwu day in the fifth month Shipu came over to Song with three thousand men. He was made Protect-the-State military commissioner and chief front commander under the Military Affairs field headquarters, and given the name Xianzhong.
48
六月四日，乾順殂，年五十七。 在位五十四年，改元天儀治平四年，天祐民安八年，永安三年，貞觀十三年，雍寧五年，元德八年，正德八年，大德五年。 諡曰聖文皇帝，廟號崇宗，墓號顯陵。 子仁孝嗣。
On the fourth day of the sixth month Qianshun died at fifty-seven. He had reigned fifty-four years under the eras Tianyi Zhiping (4 years), Tianyou Min'an (8), Yong'an (3), Zhenguan (13), Yongning (5), Yuande (8), Zhengde (8), and Dade (5). His posthumous title was Emperor Shengwen, his temple name Chongzong, and his tomb Xianling. His son Renxiao ascended the throne.
49
十年，夏改元大慶。 三月，詔胡世將與夏人議入貢，夏人不報。
In 1140 Xia proclaimed the Daqing era. In the third month the court ordered Hu Shijiang to discuss tribute with Xia; the Xia gave no answer.
50
十一年六月，夏樞密使慕洧弟慕濬謀反，伏誅。 仁孝上尊號曰制義去邪。 十一年九月，夏國饑。
In the sixth month of 1141 Mu Jun, younger brother of Xia Chief Councilor Mu Wei, plotted a revolt and was put to death. Renxiao took the honorific title "Regulating Righteousness and Expelling Wrong." In the ninth month of 1141 famine struck Xia.
51
十三年三月，地震，逾月不止； 地裂，泉湧出黑沙。 歲大饑，乃立井裏以分振之。 十三年，夏改元人慶。 始建學校于國中，立小學于禁中，親爲訓導。
In the third month of 1143 earthquakes shook the land for more than a month without cease; The earth split open and springs poured out black sand. Famine ran severe that year, and relief stations were set up by district to distribute grain. In 1143 Xia proclaimed the Renqing era. Xia founded schools across the realm and an elementary school within the palace, where the ruler taught in person.
52
十四年，彗星見坤宮，五十餘日而滅，占其分在夏國。
In 1144 a comet appeared in the Kun asterism and shone for more than fifty days before fading. Diviners read its allotted fate as falling on Xia.
53
十五年八月，夏重大漢太學，親釋奠，弟子員賜予有差。
In the eighth month of 1145 Xia enlarged the Great Han Imperial Academy. The ruler performed the libation rite in person, and student stipends were distributed by rank.
54
十六年，尊孔子爲文宣帝。
In 1146 Confucius was ennobled as Emperor Wenxuan.
55
十七年，改元天盛。 策舉人，始立唱名法。
In 1147 Xia proclaimed the Tiansheng era. Policy-examination graduates were for the first time ranked and announced by name at court.
56
十八年，復建內學，選名儒主之。 增修律成，賜名《鼎新》。
In 1148 the inner academy was restored and leading scholars were appointed to head it. A revised legal code was completed and named the Dingxin ("Newly Forged").
57
二十八年，始立通濟監鑄錢。
In 1158 the Tongji coin-mint was established.
58
二十九年，歸宋官李宗閏上書言：「夏國副使屈移，嘗兩使南朝，以爲衣冠禮樂非他國比。 怨金人叛盟，奪其所與地。 此其情可見。 壬子歲，粘罕嘗聚兵雲中以窺蜀，夏人謂將圖己，舉國屯境上以待其至。 今誠遣辯士往說之，夏國必不難出兵，庶足爲吾聲援，以圖恢復。」 書奏，不報。
In 1159 the Song defector Li Zongrun wrote: "The Xia vice-envoy Quyi, who had twice been envoy to the Southern Court, said that in robes and ritual music Xia had no peer among other states. He resents the Jurchens for breaking their pact and taking back the territory they had given Xia. His feelings are plain enough. In 1132 Nianhan had massed troops at Yunzhong as though preparing to strike Shu. The Xia, fearing they were the target, mustered the entire country on the border to await him. If we truly send persuasive envoys now, Xia should not refuse to march—and their forces could give us the shouting allies we need to recover lost territory." The memorial went in but drew no reply.
59
三十年，夏封其相任得敬爲楚王。
In 1160 Xia made chief minister Ren Dejing Prince of Chu.
60
三十一年，立翰林學士院，以焦景顏、王僉等爲學士，俾修實錄。 金主亮犯四川，宣撫使吳璘檄西夏，俾合兵討之。
In 1161 the Hanlin Academy was founded, with Jiao Jingyan, Wang Qian, and others as academicians charged to compile the Veritable Records. When Jin emperor Hailing invaded Sichuan, Pacification Commissioner Wu Lin ordered Xia to join in a joint attack.
61
三十二年，夏國移置中書、樞密于內門外。 大禁奢侈。 始封制蕃字師野利仁榮爲廣惠王。 夏人聞金人南侵，以騎兵二千至蔡園川及馬家才、禿頭嶺，將分道入攻，宣撫使吳璘命鎮戎軍守將秦弼說諭之。 金兵敗，夏人乃還。
In 1162 Xia relocated the Central Secretariat and Bureau of Military Affairs just outside the inner palace gate. Lavish spending was strictly banned. Yeli Renrong, the master of the Tangut script, was first made Prince of Guanghui. Hearing that the Jurchens were marching south, two thousand Xia horsemen reached Caiyuanchuan, Majiacai, and Tutouling and prepared to split up for an attack. Pacification Commissioner Wu Lin had Zhenrong garrison commander Qin Bi talk them out of it. After the Jin defeat the Xia withdrew.
62
乾道三年五月，夏國相任得敬遣間使至四川宣撫司，約共攻西蕃，虞允文報以蠟書。 七月，得敬間使再至宣撫司，夏人獲其帛書，傳至金人。
In the fifth month of 1167 Xia chief minister Ren Dejing sent a secret agent to the Sichuan Pacification headquarters proposing a joint strike against the Tibetans. Yu Yunwen answered with a wax-sealed reply. In the seventh month Ren Dejing's agent returned to the Pacification headquarters. The Xia seized his silk letter and forwarded it to the Jurchens.
63
四年，夏改元乾祐。 得敬以謀篡伏誅。 淳熙十二年二月，諜報故遼國大石牙林假道于夏以伐金，密詔利西都統制吳挺與制置使留正議之。
In 1168 Xia proclaimed the Qianyou era. Ren Dejing was executed for plotting to seize the throne. In the second month of 1185 scouts reported that Dashi Ya of the defunct Liao would pass through Xia to attack Jin. A secret edict told Western Army commander Wu Ting and Commissioning Agent Liu Zheng to decide how to respond.
64
十三年四月，復詔挺結夏國。 當時論議可否及夏人從違，史皆失書。
In the fourth month of 1186 the court again ordered Wu Ting to cultivate ties with Xia. What was debated, whether Song approved or not, and whether Xia agreed or refused—all of this the histories fail to record.
65
紹熙四年九月二十日，仁孝殂，年七十。 在位五十五年，改元大慶四年，人慶五年，天盛二十一年，乾祐二十四年。 諡曰聖德皇帝，廟號仁宗，陵號壽陵。 子純佑嗣。
On the twentieth day of the ninth month of 1193 Renxiao died at seventy. He had reigned fifty-five years under the eras Daqing (4 years), Renqing (5), Tiansheng (21), and Qianyou (24). His posthumous title was Emperor Shengde, his temple name Renzong, and his tomb Shouling. His son Chunyou ascended the throne.
66
純佑，仁宗長子也，母曰章獻欽慈皇后羅氏。 仁宗殂，即位，時年十七。 明年改元天慶。
Chunyou was Renzong's eldest son. His mother was Empress Zhangxian Qinci of the Luo clan. When Renzong died he succeeded at seventeen. The next year he proclaimed the Tianqing era.
67
開禧二年正月二十日廢，遂殂，年三十。 在位十四年，諡曰昭簡皇帝，廟號桓宗，陵號莊陵。 鎮夷郡王安全立。
On the twentieth day of the first month of 1206 he was deposed and soon died at thirty. He had reigned fourteen years. His posthumous title was Emperor Zhaojian, his temple name Huanzong, and his tomb Zhuangling. Prince Anquan of Zhenyi was placed on the throne.
68
安全，崇宗之孫，越王仁友之子。 開禧二年正月，廢其主純佑自立，明年改元應天。
Anquan was Chongzong's grandson and Prince Yue Renyou's son. In the first month of 1206 he deposed Chunyou and seized the throne. The next year he proclaimed the Yingtian era.
69
嘉定四年八月五日，安全殂，年四十二。 在位六年，改元應天四年，皇建二年。 諡曰敬穆皇帝，廟號襄宗，陵號康陵。 有子曰承禎。 齊國忠武王彥宗之子大都督府主遵頊立。
On the fifth day of the eighth month of 1211 Anquan died at forty-two. He had reigned six years under the eras Yingtian (4 years) and Huangjian (2). His posthumous title was Emperor Jingmu, his temple name Xiangzong, and his tomb Kangling. He had a son named Chengzhen. Zunxu, son of Prince Zhongwu Yanzong of Qi and chief of the Grand Capital Area, was enthroned.
70
七年夏，左樞密使萬慶義勇遣二僧齎蠟書來西邊，欲與共圖金人，復侵地，制置使黃誼不報。
In the summer of 1214 Left Chief Councilor Wan Qingyiyong sent two monks with wax-sealed letters to the western frontier proposing a joint strike against the Jurchens to recover lost lands. Commissioning Agent Huang Yi gave no answer.
71
其後金人南遷，議徙都長安，遣元帥赤盞以重兵宿鞏州。 夏主畏其侵迫，乃遣樞密使都招討甯子寧、忠翼赴蜀閫議夾攻秦、鞏； 聶子述俾利西安撫丁焴答書，飭將吏嚴兵以待。 時嘉定十二年三月也。 子述尋罷去，焴持議不可輕動，師不可出。 十二月，甯子寧遣使復申前說，且責我以失期，時安丙再開宣閫，許之，命利州副都統制程信任其責。
Later the Jurchens shifted south, considered moving their capital to Chang'an, and stationed Marshal Chizan with a large army at Gongzhou. Fearful of being squeezed, the Xia ruler sent Chief Councilor and Grand Pacification Commissioner Ning Zining and the officer Zhongyi to the Sichuan headquarters to propose a joint assault on Qinzhou and Gongzhou. Nie Zishu had Western Pacification commissioner Ding Yu reply and ordered officers and clerks to keep their forces ready under strict guard. This was the third month of 1219. Nie Zishu was soon dismissed. Ding Yu maintained that Song must not move rashly and that no army should march. In the twelfth month Ning Zining sent envoys to repeat the proposal and scold Song for missing the deadline. An Bing had by then reopened the Pacification headquarters; he agreed and put Deputy Lizhou commander Cheng Ren in charge.
72
十三年八月，甯子甯以師期來告，丙遂決意出師，以奏劄聞諸朝，不待報可，命將大舉，卒無功。 夏人甯子寧、嵬名公輔亦率其衆歸國。
In the eighth month of 1220 Ning Zining confirmed the campaign date. An Bing then decided to march, notifying court by memorial without waiting for approval and ordering a major offensive—and achieved nothing. The Xia generals Ning Zining and Weiming Gongfu also marched their troops home.
73
十四年正月，丙回利州。
In the first month of 1221 An Bing returned to Lizhou.
74
十六年，遵頊自號上皇，傳位于其子德旺。
In 1223 Zunxu took the title of retired emperor and handed the throne to his son Dewang.
75
寶慶二年春，遵頊殂，年六十四。 改元光定十三年。 諡曰英文皇帝，廟號神宗。
In the spring of 1226 Zunxu died at sixty-four. He had ruled for thirteen years under the Guangding era. His posthumous title was Emperor Yingwen and his temple name Shenzong.
76
丙戌七月，德旺殂，年四十六。 改元乾定四年。 廟號獻宗。
In the seventh month of 1226 Dewang died at forty-six. He had ruled four years under the Qianding era. His temple name was Xianzong.
77
清平郡王之子南平王睍立，二年丁亥秋，爲大元所取，國遂亡。
Li Xian, Prince of Nanping and son of the Prince of Qingping, took the throne. In the autumn of 1227 the Yuan seized him and the Xia state was destroyed.
78
夏之境土，方二萬餘里，其設官之制，多與宋同。 朝賀之儀，雜用唐、宋，而樂之器與曲則唐也。
Xia's territory stretched more than twenty thousand li on a side; its bureaucracy largely mirrored Song's. Court rites combined Tang and Song forms, but instruments and melodies followed Tang models.
79
河之內外，州郡凡二十有二。 河南之州九：曰靈、曰洪、曰宥、曰銀、曰夏、曰石、曰鹽、曰南威、曰會。 河西之州九：曰興、曰定、曰懷、曰永、曰涼、曰甘、曰肅、曰瓜、曰沙。 熙、秦河外之州四：曰西寧、曰樂、曰廓、曰積石。 其地饒五穀，尤宜稻麥。 甘、涼之間，則以諸河爲溉，興、靈則有古渠曰唐來，曰漢源，皆支引黃河。 故灌溉之利，歲無旱澇之虞。
On both sides of the Yellow River there were twenty-two prefectures in all. South of the river were nine prefectures: Ling, Hong, You, Yin, Xia, Shi, Yan, Nanwei, and Hui. West of the river were nine prefectures: Xing, Ding, Huai, Yong, Liang, Gan, Su, Gua, and Sha. Beyond the Xi and Qinhe frontier were four prefectures: Xining, Yue, Kuo, and Jishi. The soil was rich in all five grains and especially favored rice and wheat. Between Gan and Liang irrigation came from local rivers; at Xing and Ling ancient canals named Tanglai and Hanyuan, all fed by branches of the Yellow River, still served the fields. Thanks to irrigation, the harvests were rarely threatened by drought or flood.
80
其民一家號一帳，男年登十五爲丁，率二丁取正軍一人。 每負擔一人爲一抄。 負贍者，隨軍雜役也。 四丁爲兩抄，余號空丁。 願隸正軍者，得射他丁爲負贍，無則許射正軍之疲弱者爲之。 故壯者皆習戰鬥，而得正軍爲多。 凡正軍給長生馬、駝各一。 團練使以上，帳一、弓一、箭五百、馬一、橐駝五，旗、鼓、槍、劍、棍棓、炒袋、披氈、渾脫、背索、鍬䦆、斤斧、箭牌、鐵爪籬各一。 刺史以下，無帳無旗鼓，人各橐駝一、箭三百、幕梁一。 兵三人同一幕梁。 幕梁，織毛爲幕，而以木架。 有炮手二百人號「潑喜」，陟立旋風炮于橐駝鞍，縱石如拳。 得漢人勇者爲前軍，號「撞令郎」。 若脆怯無他伎者，遷河外耕作，或以守肅州。
Each household counted as one tent. A boy became an adult male at fifteen, and for every two adult males one regular soldier was levied. Each porter made up one chao unit. Provision bearers were auxiliaries who marched with the army. Four adult males formed two chao units; any men left over were called idle males. Men who wanted to join the regular army could draw lots to assign another adult male as their porter; if none could be found, they were allowed to draw a weaker regular soldier for the duty. Strong men therefore all trained for battle, and most ended up in the regular ranks. Every regular soldier was issued one war horse and one camel. Regiment trainers and higher ranks received one tent, one bow, five hundred arrows, one horse, five camels, and one each of flag, drum, spear, sword, club, grain-roasting bag, felt cloak, felt boat, back rope, hoe and mattock, axe, arrow shield, and iron claw fence. Below prefect rank there were no tents, flags, or drums; each man carried one camel, three hundred arrows, and one curtain beam. Three soldiers shared one curtain beam. A curtain beam was a wool tent stretched over a wooden frame. Two hundred gunners called Poshi mounted whirlwind catapults on camel saddles and lobbed fist-sized stones. Brave Han recruits formed the vanguard, known as Zhuangling Lang. Men who were frail, timid, and without other skills were sent to farm beyond the river or to garrison Suzhou.
81
有左右廂十二監軍司：曰左廂神勇、曰石州祥祐、曰宥州嘉甯、曰韋州靜塞、曰西壽保泰、曰卓囉和南、曰右廂朝順、曰甘州甘肅、曰瓜州西平、曰黑水鎮燕、曰白馬強鎮、曰黑山威福。 諸軍兵總計五十余萬。 別有擒生十萬。 興、靈之兵，精練者又二萬五千。 別副以兵七萬爲資贍，號禦圍內六班，分三番以宿衛。 每有事于西，則自東點集而西； 于東，則自西點集而東； 中路則東西皆集。 用兵多立虛砦，設伏兵包敵，以鐵騎爲前軍，乘善馬，重甲，刺斫不入，用鉤索絞聯，雖死馬上不墜。 遇戰則先出鐵騎突陣，陣亂則衝擊之，步兵挾騎以進。 戰則大將居後，或據高險。 其人能寒暑饑渴。 出戰率用只日，避晦日，齎糧不過一旬。 弓，皮弦； 矢，沙柳竿。 惡雨雪。 晝舉煙揚塵，夜篝火以爲候。 不恥奔遁，敗三日，輒復至其處，捉人馬射之，號曰「殺鬼招魂」，或縛草人埋于地，衆射而還。
There were twelve left- and right-wing army inspectorates: Left Wing Shenyong, Shizhou Xiangyou, Youzhou Jianing, Weizhou Jingsai, Xishou Baotai, Zhuoluo Henan, Right Wing Chaoshun, Ganzhou Gansu, Guazhou Xiping, Heishui Zhenyan, Baima Qiangzhen, and Heishan Weifu. All told, the armies numbered more than five hundred thousand men. There were also one hundred thousand capture troops. At Xing and Ling another twenty-five thousand elite troops were kept in training. Another seventy thousand troops served as provision support in the Six Inner Guard Companies of the Imperial Enclosure, rotating in three shifts for palace guard duty. When action was needed in the west, troops were mustered in the east and marched west; when in the east, they were mustered in the west and marched east; on the central route troops were drawn from both east and west. In battle they often erected decoy camps and hid ambush forces to envelop the enemy. Armored cavalry led the way on fine horses in heavy mail impervious to thrust and slash; hook ropes bound rider to mount so that even a dead horse would not drop him from the saddle. In combat armored cavalry struck first; once the enemy line broke they drove the charge while infantry pressed forward alongside the riders. In battle the commander stayed to the rear or held high, defensible ground. They could endure cold and heat, hunger and thirst. They usually took the field on odd-numbered days, avoided the last day of the lunar month, and carried no more than ten days' rations. Their bows used leather strings; their arrows had shafts of desert willow. Rain and snow were their bane. By day they signaled with smoke and dust; by night with beacon fires. They did not regard retreat as shameful. Three days after a defeat they would return to the battlefield, seize people and horses and shoot them in a rite called Slaying Ghosts and Summoning Souls, or bind straw figures, bury them, have the troops shoot at them, and then withdraw.
82
篤信機鬼，尚詛祝，每出兵則先卜。 卜有四：一、以艾灼羊脾骨以求兆，名「炙勃焦」； 二、擗竹于地，若揲蓍以求數，謂之「擗算」； 三、夜以羊焚香祝之，又焚穀火布靜處，晨屠羊，視其腸胃通則兵無阻，心有血則不利； 四、以矢擊弓弦，審其聲，知敵至之期與兵交之勝負，及六畜之災祥、五穀之凶稔。 俗皆土屋，惟有命者得以瓦覆之。
They were deeply devoted to spirits and omens, practiced curses and prayers, and always divined before taking the field. Divination had four forms: first, burning moxa on a sheep's spleen bone to read the omen, called Zhibojiao; second, splitting bamboo on the ground as one would cast yarrow stalks to obtain a number, called Pisuan; third, at night burning incense over a sheep and praying, then burning grain and cloth in a quiet place, slaughtering the sheep at dawn—if its intestines were clear the army would meet no obstacle, but blood in the heart meant ill fortune; fourth, striking the bowstring with an arrow and reading the sound to learn when the enemy would come, whether battle would go well, and whether livestock and the five grains would prosper or fail. Ordinary houses were earthen; only persons of rank might roof theirs with tile.
83
論曰：拓跋氏考諸前史可見也。 自赤辭納款于貞觀，立功于天寶，思恭以宥州著節于咸通，夏雖未稱國，而王其土久矣。 子孫曆王五代。 宋興，太祖即西平王加彝興太尉，德明在祥符間已追帝其父于國中。 逮元昊始顯稱帝，厥後因之，與金同亡。
Commentary: The history of the Tuoba clan can be traced in earlier records. From Chizi's submission in the Zhenguan era and his service under Tianbao to Sigong's celebrated defense of Youzhou in the Xiantong era, Xia had not yet proclaimed itself a kingdom, yet it had long ruled its own soil as kings. Their descendants held royal title through five dynasties. When the Song rose, Emperor Taizu at once made Yixing, Prince of Xiping, Grand Commandant; by the Xiangfu era Deming had already posthumously enthroned his father as emperor at home. Only when Yuanhao openly took the imperial title did the practice become explicit; thereafter it continued until Xia fell together with Jin.
84
概其曆世二百五十八年，雖嘗受封冊于宋，宋亦稱有歲幣之賜、誓詔之答，要皆出于一時之言，其心未嘗有臣順之實也。 元昊結髮用兵，凡二十年，無能折其強者。 乾順建國學，設弟子員三百，立養賢務； 仁孝增至三千，尊孔子爲帝，設科取士，又置宮學，自爲訓導。 觀其陳經立紀，《傳》曰：「不有君子，其能國乎？」 今史所載追尊諡號、廟號、陵名，兼采《夏國樞要》等書，其與舊史有所抵牾，則闕疑以俟知者焉。
In all they endured two hundred fifty-eight years. Though they sometimes accepted Song investiture, and Song spoke of annual payments and sworn replies, these were words of the moment; at heart they never truly submitted. Yuanhao had borne arms since youth; for twenty years none could break his power. Ganshun founded a National Academy with three hundred student places and established the Office for Nurturing Worthies; Renxiao raised enrollment to three thousand, honored Confucius as emperor, instituted civil examinations, and founded a palace school in which he personally instructed. Judging by their establishment of the classics and institutions, the Commentary asks: "Without worthy men, could they have sustained a state?" The posthumous titles, temple names, and tomb names given here, supplemented from the Essentials of the Xia State and other works, are left in doubt wherever they conflict with earlier histories, pending further knowledge.