← Back to 元史

卷一百十八 列傳第五: 特薛禪 孛禿 阿剌兀思剔吉忽里

Volume 118 Biographies 5: Texuechan, Beitu, Alawusitijihuli

Chapter 118 of 元史 · History of Yuan
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 118
Next Chapter →
1
Texuechan
2
祿
Suo'erhuodu, another son of Anchannayan, distinguished himself on campaign. Under Genghis Khan he received a distant appointment as Left Chancellor, was made commander of a thousand households, and was further awarded a gilt silver seal, five inscribed gyrfalcon round tallies, and six imperial relay vouchers. His son Aha, an imperial consort, led troops during Möngke's reign and seized Xuzhou. He was rewarded with one gold ingot, ten silver ingots, and silver saddle gear, and ordered to inherit his father's post. Under Kublai an edict declared: "The Hongjila chiliarch's relay vouchers and round tallies shall remain unchanged; Suo'erhuodu's shall be revoked." Suo'erhuodu's grandsons—including Boruosha, Bayan, Manzi, Tianshoubuhua, Dadubuhua, and Zhangji—as well as Aha's grandson Yesuda'er and Anchannayan's younger brother Ce had all been commissioned in Genghis Khan's time as chiliarchs of Mongol relay stations within their hereditary fief. Ce's son Harhasun earned the heroic title Batuur for defeating the Jin. Harhasun's grandson Duoluo'er was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness in 1267 and enfeoffed as Duke of Yi with a silver seal.
3
A descendant of Anchannayan's second son Bike, known as Chouhan, married Princess Taihupudu. During Renzong's reign he was made King of Anyuan and garrisoned Manglai with his forces.
4
Daerhan, another descendant of Texuechan, won military honors and received the Batuur title from Kublai along with an extra gold ingot. His son Bozhuer joined the campaign against Nayan, seized the rebel partisan Jinjianu, and was awarded a gold belt. Later there was Boshe, his grandson.
5
Anchannayan's grandson Nahe married Ögedei's daughter Princess Suo'erhahan. Huohuo's grandson Bozhuer married Princess Wokezhen. Among Texuechan's grandsons, Tuoluohe married Princess Buluhan and later Princess Kuokuolun. All of these men married imperial princesses and served as imperial consorts.
6
Among the women who became empresses—beginning with the Radiant and Assisting Sagely Queen—Xianzong's Chaste and Constant Empress Hudutai and her sister Yesu'er were daughters of Anchannayan's collateral descendant Manggechen. Kublai's Sagacious and Farsighted Virtuous Sacred Empress Chabi was the daughter of Anchannayan, loyal and martial King of Jining; another bore the taboo name Tiegulun and was Anchannayan's grandson Tuolian's daughter; the empress tabooed Nanbice, who later held the principal palace, was Nachen's grandson Xiantong's daughter. Chengzong's Chaste, Kind, Serene, and Gracious Empress Shiliandali was Woluochen's daughter. Shunzong's Sagely and Offering Meta-empress Daji—enrolled as Grand Empress Dowager by Wuzong in 1307, accorded extended honorifics under Renzong in 1315 and 1320, and eventually styled Grand Empress Dowager—was the daughter of Anchannayan's grandson Hundutiemuer. Wuzong's Kind, Merciful, and Sagely Empress Zhenge was Tuolian's son Bingbula's daughter; another, tabooed Sugeshili, was daughter of Anchannayan's collateral descendant Harzhi. Taiding's Empress Babuhan was Anchannayan's grandson Woluchu'er's daughter; those tabooed Bihan and Sugedali were both daughters of Tuolian's grandson Maizhuhan. Wenzong's Empress Budashili was daughter of the King of Diaoa'abulu. These were the Hongjila women who ascended to the throne as empresses.
7
禿
At first the Hongjila people lived along the Külüer, Undurjin, Dielemur, and Ergune rivers. In the jiaxu year, when Genghis Khan was at Diemieke'er, an edict divided territorial grants among Anchannayan and his younger brothers Huohuo and Ce, (nongtu means territorial demarcation.) As if to say, "Let Külüer and Undurjin serve as territorial grants for Anchannayan and Qasar." He instructed Anchannayan: 'You shall settle at Komuer Undur, Da'erna'er, Diemieke'er, and the like.' He told Ce: 'East of Ala humaqu, from Suanjinatou Mountain through Mu'ersutuo and Haiwailian to Azhier Hawundu and Haolaogolu—you shall dwell there. Your neighbor shall be the north bank of the Huluhu'er River, with Achitai as the boundary.' He further told Huohuo: 'East of Hawundu, between the Tu and Huang rivers—the lands of Huo'erchin and Qingzhou, bordering the Yiqiliesi—you shall settle there.' He also instructed Anchannayan's son Suoluhuodu: 'Because you and your father have served the state faithfully, you shall dwell east of Komuer Undur, from the Luoma River to Chishan, south along the Tu River, among the imperial people.' In 1270 the chiliarch Woluochen and his consort Princess Nangjiazhen petitioned the court: 'Our granted territory at Da'er Lake, three hundred li northeast of Shangdu, is our fief's summer encampment; we ask permission to build a walled town there.' The emperor approved. The new city was named Yingchang Prefecture. Twenty-two years later it was elevated to Yingchang Circuit. In 1295 Prince Jining Manzitai also married Princess Nangjiazhen; together they petitioned the emperor to build a town at their winter camp seven hundred li east of Yingchang Circuit, and again he agreed. In 1297 that city was named Quanning Circuit.
8
Beyond this stood the Prince's Tutorate. Below its six tutors were subordinate offices for revenue, artisans, hawking, military and civilian affairs, relay stations, garrison farms, rice paddies, and tobacco—more than forty agencies in all and more than seven hundred officers, all of which can be verified in the records. Their allotments of five-household silk and paper money included thirty thousand households granted to Jining Circuit in the bingshen year and forty thousand granted to Tingzhou Circuit in 1281—yielding somewhat more than twenty-two hundred jin of silk annually; and somewhat more than sixteen hundred ingots of paper money each year. This was their so-called annual stipend.
9
禿
○ Beitu
10
禿 使 禿宿 禿 禿 禿 禿 禿禿禿 禿 禿 禿 西 西
Beitu, of the Yiqiliesi clan, was a skilled mounted archer. Genghis Khan once secretly dispatched Shi'erchedan as an envoy to the Ergune River. Beitu recognized him as the emperor's envoy. At nightfall he detained him as a guest, slaughtered a sheep, and entertained him. When Shi'erchedan's horse was exhausted, Beitu lent him a fine mount. On his return journey Beitu treated him with even greater hospitality. Shi'erchedan reported all of this to the emperor, who was delighted and promised Beitu marriage to his younger sister Tiemulun. Beitu's clan then sent Yebujianai and others to Genghis Khan with this message: 'We hear that wherever your majesty and virtue reach, it is like clouds parting to reveal the sun or spring thawing the ice—we are overcome with joy.' The emperor asked, 'How much livestock does Beitu own?' Yebujianai answered, 'Thirty horses—we offer half as betrothal gifts.' The emperor grew angry. 'To haggle over property in marriage is the way of merchants. Someone once said that true unity of heart is rare. I am about to take the realm under Heaven—you are Yiqiliesi people; follow Beitu and serve me faithfully. What need is there for property!' In the end he gave him his younger sister in marriage. Soon afterward Zhachiladi Zhamuha, Tuoye, and others invaded with thirty thousand men. Hearing of this, Beitu sent Bolundai and Molitutu to report; then with Harali, Zhalawu, Ta'erhani, and others he attacked Tuoye's forces, seized their baggage train, and subdued their people. When the Naiman rebelled, the emperor summoned Beitu with troops and defeated them in a great battle. After his imperial sister-in-law died, the emperor gave him his daughter Huochenbieji in marriage and appointed Haribatai's son Yehuohulin to attend him bearing bow and arrows. Haribatai declared, 'My son will never be another man's servant—I would rather see him dead!' The emperor ordered Beitu to fight him. Haribatai sent Yuelie and others to resist at the Wantu River. Beitu charged forward, seized Yuelie, and stabbed Yehuohulin to death. Haribatai fled across the Zhuochi River but was captured again, and all his followers were slain. He followed the Grand Preceptor and King Muqali in campaigns across eastern and western Liao and was enfeoffed with Guan and Yi prefectures for his merit. He died of illness while campaigning against Western Xia. He was posthumously granted the titles Loyal and Upright in Supporting the Mandate, Grand Preceptor, Equal in Rank to the Three Excellencies, Consort Commandant, and Chief Pillar of State, advanced to King of Chang with the posthumous epithet Loyal Martial. His son Suo'erha inherited the title.
11
禿 禿
Suo'erha served Ögedei. With Muqali he captured Jiazhou and subdued its people, then sent Botu'erhazhuochijie to report the victory. The emperor said, 'Your father served the state with distinction—I knew him well. Now Suo'erha honors his forebears' achievements.' He was rewarded with gold brocade, a gold belt, and a seven-jeweled saddle, summoned to the Central Capital, and died of illness there. Suo'erha married Prince Woqi's daughter Princess Antu; their daughter became Möngke's empress.
12
His son Zhahuerichen accompanied Güyük on the punitive expedition against Wantu and distinguished himself. Ögedei had Imperial Prince Anchitai give him his daughter Princess Yesunzhen in marriage. At his death he was posthumously granted the titles Sincere in Supporting the Mandate, Grand Preceptor, Equal in Rank to the Three Excellencies, Consort Commandant, and Chief Pillar of State, and inherited the title King of Chang with the posthumous epithet Loyal and Tranquil.
13
Zhahuerichen had two sons. The elder, Yuelietai, married Prince Saiyinzhubu's daughter Princess Hadahan and fathered Tuobietai, who distinguished himself fighting Nayan. The younger was Hulian.
14
Hulian married Möngke's daughter Princess Boyaluohan. Later, when Tuheitie'muer rebelled, Kublai ordered Hulian and Shilieji to suppress him. After a full day of fighting Tuheitie'muer fled. The emperor praised Hulian and gave him Möngke's granddaughter Princess Bulanxi in marriage. After the Song were pacified, he was enfeoffed with Guangzhou. When Nayan and Shenglaha'er rebelled, Kublai was on campaign. Xuechejian and others fought repeatedly with Hadahan, and the emperor summoned Hulian. When Xuechejian and others fought at Chenghuoshiwen, Hadahan's forces were overwhelming; Hulian met them with two hundred men and defeated them. Hadahan and his men fled across the Nuoy River and retreated to their stronghold. The following summer the emperor ordered Hulian to campaign against them again. Between the Qulie'er and Ta'u'er rivers they fought a great battle, and the enemy forces all fled across the Ta'u River. More than a hundred fugitives hid in the valleys; Hulian immediately led two hundred men on foot in pursuit. Xuechejian tried to stop him, saying, 'Those fugitives cannot possibly travel on foot.' Hulian would not listen and went to slaughter them. Xuechejian reported the victory, and Hulian was rewarded with one gold ingot and five silver ingots. Another year later he campaigned again and encountered Hadahan at the Wula River. Hulian led a thousand men in a night raid on the enemy camp and killed them all. The emperor rewarded him with fifty thousand strings of paper money, one gold ingot, and ten silver ingots. At Hulian's death he was posthumously granted the titles Effecting Loyalty in Preserving Virtue in Supporting Transport and Assisting Governance, Grand Preceptor, Equal in Rank to the Three Excellencies, Consort Commandant, and Chief Pillar of State, and posthumously enfeoffed as King of Chang with the epithet Loyal and Proclaiming.
15
○ Alawusitijihuli
16
西使 使 使
Alawusitijihuli, of the Onggut tribe, traced his descent to the Shatuo of Yanmen. A remote ancestor named Bokuo had served for generations as chief of the tribe. The Jin had built mountain ramparts to divide north from south, and Alawusitijihuli garrisoned the strategic pass with an army. At that time the Naiman state lay to the northwest; its ruler, the Sun Khan, sent envoys proposing an alliance so they might together hold the northern frontier. Some of his tribesmen wished to accept, but Alawusitijihuli refused. He seized the envoys, presented six vessels of wine, and reported their entire plot to Genghis Khan. Wine was then unknown in the north. Genghis Khan drank three cups and stopped, saying, "A little of this rouses the spirit; too much disorders it." He sent the envoys back with five hundred horses and a thousand sheep as gifts, and agreed to join in attacking the Sun Khan. Alawusitijihuli arrived ahead of the main army. After the Naiman were defeated he joined the conquest of the Central Plains, again serving as guide, and led the army south beyond the border walls. Genghis Khan left Alawusitijihuli to govern his tribe, but he was killed by former dissenters among his people; his eldest son Buyanxiban died with him.
17
His wife Alihei fled with the infant Xueyaohe and nephew Zhenguo. By night they reached the border wall, persuaded the guards to haul them up by rope, and took refuge in Yunzhong. After Genghis Khan secured Yunzhong he found them through a reward offer and treated them generously. He posthumously enfeoffed Alawusitijihuli as King of Gaotang and Alihei as Princess of Gaotang. Because Xueyaohe was still young, he first enfeoffed the nephew Zhenguo as King of Beiping. When Zhenguo died his son Nieguotai inherited the title and married Tolui's daughter Princess Dumugan. He campaigned across the Jiang-Huai region and died on campaign; more than a thousand households of Xingzhou were granted for his funeral.
18
西
His son Junbuhua married Güyük's eldest daughter Princess Yelimishi. Aibuhua married Kublai's youngest daughter Princess Yuelie. At the start of the Zhongtong era he led troops against Arigü and defeated Kuobuhua at Antanhuo'erhuan. In the third year he besieged Li Tan at Jinan and held an entire front by himself. After the rebellion was suppressed he campaigned again in the northwest and defeated the rebel partisan Saliman at Kongulie. Aibuhua died. His son was Kuolijisi.
19
西 西 使婿 使 使
Kuolijisi was brave and resolute, skilled in military affairs, and deeply devoted to Confucian learning. He built a Hall of Ten Thousand Scrolls at his residence and daily discussed the classics, history, metaphysics, yin-yang theory, and numerology with scholars—mastering them all. He married Princess Hudeshimi and later Princess Aiyashili. When Imperial Prince Yebugan rebelled, Kuolijisi led more than a thousand elite horsemen in forced marches day and night and overtook him within ten days. It was midsummer. As battle was about to begin a strong north wind arose. His attendants urged delay, but Kuolijisi said, "A wind in summer heat—Heaven favors me." He charged into battle at the head of his horsemen, slaughtered the enemy force, and Yebugan fled with only a few riders. Kuolijisi was struck by three arrows that cut through his hair. On his triumphant return he was granted three jin of gold and fifteen hundred jin of silver. When Chengzong ascended the throne he was enfeoffed as King of Gaotang. When the northwest grew unsettled he petitioned the emperor to pacify it. After repeated requests the emperor consented. As he departed he swore, "Unless I pacify the northwest, my horse's head shall not turn south." In the summer of 1297 he met the enemy at Boyasi. His officers urged waiting for the main army, but Kuolijisi said, "A man serving his country does not wait on others!" He immediately arrayed his troops, beat the drums, and charged, routing the enemy and capturing several hundred officers and men to present as trophies. He was granted Kublai's own sable coat and precious saddle, seven hundred pieces of brocade silk, armor, halberds, bows, arrows, and other equipment. That autumn the princes and generals discussed border defense. All agreed: "The enemy has not campaigned in winter before; we may rest our troops at the frontier." Kuolijisi replied, "Not so. This autumn very few scouting parties have appeared. As the saying goes, when a fierce bird is about to strike it conceals itself—we cannot relax our guard." The others disagreed, but Kuolijisi alone kept his troops on strict alert. That winter the enemy did arrive in force. Kuolijisi won three battles in succession and pursued the fleeing enemy deep into difficult terrain. His rear guard failed to keep up, his horse stumbled, and he was captured. The enemy urged him to surrender, but he steadfastly refused. When they offered him a daughter in marriage he declared firmly, "I am the emperor's son-in-law—how could I marry again without his express command!" The enemy did not dare press him further. The emperor once sent his retainer Axisi as envoy to the enemy camp. Spotted in the crowd, Kuolijisi immediately asked after the emperors' health and then after his heir. Before he could finish speaking, attendants pulled Axisi away. The next day the envoy was sent back and not permitted to see him again. Kuolijisi died unbroken in spirit. In the ninth year he was posthumously enfeoffed as the Loyal and Offering King of Gaotang and granted the titles Loyal in Supporting the Mandate, Illustrious in Culture, Upright in Integrity, and Preserving Virtue, along with Grand Preceptor, Equal in Rank to the Three Excellencies, Chief Pillar of State, and Consort Commandant, and posthumously made King of Zhao. Princess Hudeshimi was posthumously made Grand Princess of Qi; Aiyashili was made Princess of Qi; both were further elevated to Princess of Zhao.
20
使
Because his son Shuan was still young, an edict appointed his younger brother Shuhunan as King of Gaotang. Shuhunan was talented and capable. He carefully preserved the family inheritance, governed the people well, and kept the realm at peace. Grieving his brother's martyrdom, he sent envoys to the capital requesting posthumous honors and asked Hanlin Academician Yan Fu to compose an inscription on stone. He raised Shuan with even greater care than his own sons, entrusted his brother's precious garments and heirlooms to reliable household retainers, and when Shuan came of age delivered them all to him. In 1309 Shuhunan was further enfeoffed as King of Zhao and immediately yielded the title to Shuan. The following year Shuan inherited the title King of Zhao and married the Jin Prince's daughter Princess Aladina'erala. One day he summoned his tutor Tuohuan and marshal Axisi and said, "My father's coffin lies at distant Boluo—where can his spirit rest? My grief is unbearable. If I may petition the throne to bring him home for burial in our ancestral grave, I shall die content." The two reported to Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs Yelijini, who informed the emperor. The emperor sighed long in grief and said, "Shuan is a filial son." He immediately granted Axisi a bottle of gold and dispatched nineteen men—including Tuohuan's son Shihudulu, Shuhunan's son Aluhudu, and judicial officer Yexian—by imperial relay. He also granted five hundred strings of paper money to the party. Prince of Qiyang Yuechicha'er and Chancellor Tuohuchubadulu dispatched five hundred soldiers to escort the party to the burial site. When the coffin was opened for the funeral rites the body appeared as if alive, and Kuolijisi was brought home for burial.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →