1
塔本，伊吾廬人。 人以其好揚人善，稱之曰揚公。 父宋五設托陀，托陀者，其國主所賜號，猶華言國老也。 塔本初從太祖討諸部，屢厄艱危。 復從圍燕，征遼西，下平灤、白霫諸城。 軍士有妄殺人者，塔本戒之曰：「國之本，民也。 殺人得地，何益於國。 且殺無罪以堅敵心，非上意。」 太祖聞而喜之，賜金虎符，俾鎮撫白霫諸郡，號行省都元帥，管內得承制除縣吏，死囚得專決。 久之，徙治興平。 興平兵火傷殘，民慘無生意。 塔本召父老問所苦，為除之，薄賦斂，役有時。 民大悅，乃相與告教，無違約束，歸者四集。 塔本始至，戶止七百，不一二年，乃至萬戶。 出己馬以寬驛人； 貸廉吏銀，其子錢不能償者，焚其券。 農不克耕，亦與之牛，比歲告稔，民用以饒。 庚寅，詔益中山、平定、平原隸行省。 甲午，盜李仙、越小哥等作亂，塔本止誅首惡，宥其詿誤。 癸卯立春日，宴群僚，歸而疾作，遂卒。 是夕星隕，隱隱有聲。 遺命葬以紙衣瓦棺。 贈推誠定遠佐運功臣、太師、開府儀同三司、上柱國，追封營國公，謚忠武。 子阿裏乞失鐵木兒。
Taben was a native of Iwu Lu. Because he delighted in commending others' virtues, people called him Lord Yang—the "Promoter." His father was Song Wushe Tuotuo; tuotuo was a title granted by their ruler, corresponding to the Chinese office of guolao, elder statesman of the realm. Taben first followed Taizu in the subjugation of the tribes, and time and again found himself in mortal danger. He served again in the siege of Yan, the Liaodong campaign, and the reduction of Pingluan, Baihui, and the other towns. When soldiers killed civilians without cause, Taben warned them: "A state rests upon its people. What good does it do the realm to win land by slaughtering the populace? Besides, executing the innocent only steels the enemy's will—and that is not what our lord intends." When Taizu heard this he was delighted. He granted Taben a gold tiger tally and charged him with pacifying the Baihui districts, with the title Grand Marshal of the Branch Secretariat. Within his jurisdiction he could appoint county officials on his own authority and pass final judgment on capital cases. In time his seat of government was moved to Xingping. Xingping lay in ruins from war, and the people were so destitute they could scarcely keep body and soul together. Taben called the village elders to learn their grievances, lifted them where he could, reduced taxes and levies, and regulated labor service so it came only at proper seasons. The people rejoiced, urged one another to keep the rules, and refugees streamed back from every direction. When Taben first arrived the register showed only seven hundred households; within a year or two there were ten thousand. He supplied his own horses to spare the relay couriers; lent silver to upright officials, and when their heirs could not repay the debt he burned the notes. Farmers who lacked oxen to plow received cattle from him as well; harvest after harvest was reported bountiful, and the people grew prosperous. In the gengyin year an edict placed Zhongshan, Pingding, and Pingyuan under the branch secretariat. In the jiawu year bandits led by Li Xian and Yue Xiaoge rebelled; Taben put only the chief culprits to death and pardoned those drawn in by mistake. On the First Day of Spring in the guimao year he entertained his officials; he fell ill after returning home and died. That night a star fell, accompanied by a low rumble. He directed that he be buried in paper shrouds and a tile coffin. Posthumously he was honored as Meritous Subject Who Sincerely Settles the Far and Assists the Dynasty, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Master with Ceremonial Parity with the Three Excellencies, Upper Pillar of the State; enfeoffed as Duke of Ying with the temple name Zhongwu, Loyal and Martial. His son was Aliqishitemuer.
2
阿裏乞失鐵木兒，嗣父職，為興平等處行省都元帥。 其為治一遵先政，興學養士，輕刑薄徭，雖同僚不敢私役一民。 從大軍伐高麗有功。 歲丙辰卒。 贈宣忠輔義功臣、榮祿大夫、平章政事、柱國，追封營國公，謚武襄。 子阿臺。
Aliqishitemuer inherited his father's office as Grand Marshal of the branch secretariat for Xingping and the surrounding districts. In office he followed his father's policies to the letter—founded schools, supported scholars, eased punishments and lightened levies—so that even his colleagues would not press a single commoner into private service. He served with distinction in the great campaign against Goryeo. He died in the bingchen year. Posthumously he received the title Meritous Subject Who Proclaims Loyalty and Assists Righteousness, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, Junior Grand Councillor, and Pillar of the State; he was enfeoffed as Duke of Ying with the temple name Wuxiang, Martial and Assisting. His son was Atai.
3
阿臺，當襲父職，適罷行省為平灤路總管府，丁巳，憲宗命阿臺為平灤路達魯花赤。 始至，請蠲銀、鹽、酒等稅課八之一，細民不征。 世祖即位，來朝，賜金虎符。 諸侯王道出平灤，供給費銀七千五百兩，戶部不即償，阿臺自陳上前，盡取償以歸。 置甲乙籍，籍民丁力，民甚便之。 至元十年，進階懷遠大將軍。 歲饑，發粟賑民。 或持不可，阿臺曰：「朝廷不允，願以家粟償官。」 於是全活甚眾。 僚屬始至，阿臺必遺之鹽、米、羊畜、什器，曰：「非有他也，欲其不剝民耳。」 姻族窮者，月有常給； 民有喪不能葬者，與之棺槨、布帛、資糧。 灤為孤竹故國，乃廟祀伯夷、叔齊，以勵風俗。 二十一年，進昭武大將軍。 二十四年，乃顏叛，獻馬五百匹佐軍，世祖大喜。 已而得乃顏銀甕，亟以賜之。 二十五年入朝，以疾卒。 賜宣力功臣、資德大夫、中書右丞、上護軍，追封永平郡公，謚忠亮。 子叠裏威失。
Atai was heir to his father's position, but the branch secretariat had just been abolished in favor of the Pingluan Route Pacification Commission; in the dingsi year Emperor Xianzong named Atai Darughachi of Pingluan Route. On taking office he petitioned for an eighth of the taxes on silver, salt, wine, and similar items to be waived, and that the poorest households be exempted entirely. When Shizu came to the throne, Atai presented himself at court and received a gold tiger tally. When feudal lords traveled through Pingluan, provisioning them cost 7,500 taels of silver, which the Ministry of Revenue failed to repay promptly. Atai appealed directly to the emperor and secured full reimbursement. He instituted A and B household registers that recorded each family's labor capacity, to the great convenience of the populace. In the tenth year of the Zhiyuan era he was promoted to General Who Cherishes the Far. When famine struck he opened the granaries to feed the people. When some objected, Atai said: "If the court refuses, I will make good the state's stores from my own household grain." In this way he saved a great multitude from starvation. Whenever a new subordinate arrived, Atai would send him salt, rice, livestock, and household goods, saying: "I do this for one reason only—that you need not squeeze the people." Poor relatives by marriage received a regular monthly stipend; and commoners who could not afford funerals were supplied with coffins, cloth, and provisions. Luan was the homeland of ancient Guzhu, and he erected temples to Bo Yi and Shu Qi to uphold local morals. In the twenty-first year he was advanced to Illustrious Martial General. In the twenty-fourth year, when Nayan rebelled, he contributed five hundred horses to the imperial forces, to Shizu's great delight. When Nayan's silver urn was captured soon after, the emperor at once presented it to him. In the twenty-fifth year he came to court and died of illness there. He was honored as Meritous Subject Who Proclaims Power, Grand Master of Assisting Virtue, Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, and Upper Guardian of the Army; posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Yongping with the temple name Zhongliang, Loyal and Bright. His son was Dieliweishi.
4
叠裏威失，少好讀書，成宗時入宿衛，授河西廉訪司僉事，拜監察御史，遷淮西廉訪副使，召為中書左司員外郎，改樞密院參議，升判官。 延祐四年，授翰林侍講學士，出為河間路總管。 屬歲饑，出俸金及官庫所積賑之，活數十萬人。 河間當水陸要沖，四方供億皆取給焉，叠裏威失立法調遣，民便之。 復建言增置便習弓馬尉一人，益邏兵之數，於是盜賊屏息。 陵州群凶為官民害，悉收系死獄中。 後升遼陽行省參知政事。 子鎖咬兒哈的迷失。
Dieliweishi was a devoted reader from boyhood. Under Chengzong he joined the palace guard, then served as Vice Commissioner of the Hexi Surveillance Commission, Investigating Censor, and Vice Commissioner of the Huaixi Surveillance Commission before being called to the Left Secretariat as Vice Director, then to the Bureau of Military Affairs as Consultant and eventually Vice Director. In the fourth year of Yanyou he was made Hanlin Attendant Lecturer and posted as Pacification Commissioner of Hejian Route. When famine came he spent his own salary and the reserves in the government warehouses on relief, saving hundreds of thousands of lives. Hejian stood at a critical land-and-water crossroads from which supplies for the entire realm were drawn. Dieliweishi devised regulations for their distribution, greatly easing the burden on the people. He also proposed appointing an additional Assistant for Archery and Horsemanship and increasing patrol forces, after which banditry subsided entirely. A band of criminals in Ling Prefecture had been terrorizing officials and commoners alike; he rounded them up and confined them in the death row prison. He was later promoted to Vice Councillor of the Liaoyang Branch Secretariat. His son was Suoyaoerhadimishi.
5
鎖咬兒哈的迷失，年十二，宿衛英宗潛邸，掌服御諸物。 英宗即位，拜監察御史。 至治元年春，詔起大剎於京西壽安山，鎖咬兒哈的迷失與御史觀音保、成珪、李謙亨上章極諫，以為東作方始，而興大役，以耗財病民，非所以祈福也。 且歲在辛酉，不宜興築。 初，司徒劉夔妄獻浙右民田，冒出內帑鈔六百萬貫，丞相帖木叠兒分取其半，監察御史發其奸，由是疾忌臺諫。 至是，帖木叠兒之子瑣南為治書侍御史，密奏曰：「彼宿衛舊臣，聞事有不便，弗即入白，今訕上以揚己之直，大不敬。」 帝乃殺鎖咬兒哈的迷失與觀音保，杖珪、謙亨，黥之，竄諸遐裔。 泰定初，贈鎖咬兒哈的迷失資德大夫、御史中丞、上護軍，追封永平郡公，謚貞湣。 賜其妻子鈔五百貫、良田千畝，仍詔樹碑神道。
At twelve Suoyaoerhadimishi joined the guard of Yingzong's household when the latter was still heir apparent, overseeing robes and imperial accoutrements. When Yingzong took the throne he was made Investigating Censor. In the spring of the first Zhizhi year an edict called for a great monastery on Shou'an Mountain west of the capital. Suoyaoerhadimishi joined Censors Guanyinbao, Cheng Gui, and Li Qianheng in a forceful memorial of protest: spring planting had only just begun, yet a vast public works project would drain the treasury and burden the people—hardly the way to win heaven's favor. Moreover, the xinyou year was an inauspicious time for building. Earlier, Minister of Works Liu Kui had fraudulently presented civilian land in western Zhejiang, drawing six million strings of cash from the imperial treasury; Grand Councillor Temuder took half for himself. When the investigating censors exposed the scheme, he grew to hate the remonstrance offices. By then Temuder's son Suonan had become Associate Investigating Censor and secretly memorialized: "These men are former palace guards; learning of the project they did not report it promptly, but now insult the throne to parade their own righteousness—an act of gross disrespect." The emperor had Suoyaoerhadimishi and Guanyinbao put to death, flogged Gui and Qianheng, branded them, and exiled them to the far reaches of the empire. Early in the Taiding reign Suoyaoerhadimishi was posthumously honored as Grand Master of Assisting Virtue, Censor-in-Chief, and Upper Guardian of the Army, and enfeoffed as Duke of Yongping with the temple name Zhenmin, Upright and Lamented. His widow and children received five hundred strings of cash and a thousand mu of fertile land, and an edict commanded a memorial stele on the spirit path.
6
哈剌亦哈赤北魯
Halayihachibeilu
7
哈剌亦哈赤北魯，畏兀人也。 性聰敏，習事。 國王月仙帖木兒亦都護聞其名，自唆裏迷國徵為斷事官。 月仙帖木兒卒，子八兒出阿兒忒亦都護年幼，西遼主鞠兒可汗遣使據其國，且召哈剌亦哈赤北魯，至則以為諸子師。 八兒出阿兒忒聞太祖明聖，乃殺西遼使，更遣阿憐帖木兒都督等四人使西遼。 阿憐帖木兒都督者，哈剌亦哈赤北魯婿也。 具語以其故，於是與其子月朵失野訥馳歸太祖，一見大悅，即令諸皇子受學焉。 仍令月朵失野訥以質子入宿衛。 從帝西征。 至別失八里東獨山，是城空無人，帝問：「此何城也？」 對曰：「獨山城。 往歲大饑，民皆流移之它所。 然此地當北來要沖，宜耕種以為備。 臣昔在唆裏迷國時，有戶六十，願移居此。」 帝曰：「善。」 遣月朵失野訥佩金符往取之，父子皆留居焉。 後六年，太祖西征還，見田野墾辟，民物繁庶，大悅。 問哈剌亦哈赤北魯，則已死矣。 乃賜月朵失野訥都督印章，兼獨山城達魯花赤。 月朵失野訥卒，子乞赤宋忽兒，在太宗時襲爵，賜號答剌罕。 子四人：曰塔塔兒，曰忽棧，曰火兒思蠻，曰月兒思蠻。
Halayihachibeilu was an Uyghur. He was clever by nature and readily mastered official business. King Yuexiantemuer Yiduohu, having heard of him, summoned him from Suolimi to serve as judicial officer. After Yuexiantemuer's death his son Baerchuaert Yiduohu was still a boy; the ruler of Western Liao, Khan Ju'er, sent agents to occupy the kingdom and summoned Halayihachibeilu, who on arrival was appointed tutor to the royal sons. Learning of Taizu's wisdom and sagacity, Baerchuaert killed the Western Liao envoy and dispatched Alintiemuer Dudu and three others as envoys to Western Liao. Alintiemuer Dudu was the son-in-law of Halayihachibeilu. He laid out the whole story, then rode with his son Yueduoshiyene to join Taizu, who was delighted at their first meeting and at once set them to instruct the imperial princes. He also required Yueduoshiyene to join the palace guard as a hostage. He accompanied the emperor on the western campaign. At Dushan east of Bieshibali they found the city deserted. The emperor asked, "What place is this?" He answered, "Dushan City. In recent years famine had driven the people away to other regions. Yet this lies on the main route from the north and ought to be farmed as a forward base. When I was in Suolimi I had sixty households; I would gladly resettle them here." The emperor said, "Excellent." He sent Yueduoshiyene with a gold tally to bring them; father and son both stayed to settle the place. Six years later, when Taizu returned from the west, he found the fields under cultivation and the population thriving, and was delighted. He asked after Halayihachibeilu, only to learn that he had already died. He then granted Yueduoshiyene a commander's seal and appointed him Darughachi of Dushan City as well. After Yueduoshiyene's death his son Qichisonghuer inherited the rank under Taizong and received the title Darqan. He had four sons: Tatuer, Huqian, Huoersiman, and Yueersiman.
8
阿鄰帖木兒，善國書，多聞識，歷事累朝，由翰林待制累遷榮祿大夫、翰林學士承旨。 英宗時，以舊學日侍左右，陳說祖宗以來及古先哲王嘉言善行。 翻譯諸經，紀錄故實，總治諸王、駙馬、番國朝會之事。 天歷初，北迎明宗入正大統，一見歡甚，顧左右曰：「此朕師也。」 天歷三年，進光祿大夫、知經筵事。
Alintiemuer was adept in the Uyghur script and deeply learned; serving successive reigns, he rose from Hanlin Attendant Drafting Official to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Hanlin Academician Expositor. Under Yingzong he attended daily as an elder scholar, recounting the worthy words and deeds of the founding ancestors and the sage kings of antiquity. He translated canonical texts, recorded historical matters, and managed audiences for princes, imperial sons-in-law, and foreign tributaries. Early in the Tianli reign, when Mingzong was escorted from the north to take the throne, he was delighted at their first meeting and told those around him, "This is my teacher." In the third Tianli year he was advanced to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Director of the Classics Lectures.
9
子曰沙剌班，曰禿忽魯，曰六十，曰咱納祿。 沙剌班，累拜中書平章政事、大司徒、宣政院使。
His sons were Shalaban, Tuhulu, Liushi, and Zanalu. Shalaban rose through repeated appointments as Junior Grand Councillor, Grand Minister of Education, and Commissioner of the Commission for Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs.
10
塔塔統阿
Tatatonga
11
塔塔統阿，畏兀人也。 性聰慧，善言論，深通本國文字。 乃蠻大敭可汗尊之為傅，掌其金印及錢谷。 太祖西征，乃蠻國亡，塔塔統阿懷印逃去，俄就擒。 帝詰之曰：「大敭人民疆土，悉歸於我矣，汝負印何之？」 對曰：「臣職也，將以死守，欲求故主授之耳。 安敢有他！」 帝曰：「忠孝人也！」 問是印何用，對曰：「出納錢谷，委任人材，一切事皆用之，以為信驗耳。」 帝善之，命居左右。 是後凡有制旨，始用印章，仍命掌之。 帝曰：「汝深知本國文字乎？」 塔塔統阿悉以所蘊對，稱旨，遂命教太子諸王以畏兀字書國言。 太宗即位，命司內府玉璽金帛。 命其妻吾和利氏為皇子哈剌察兒乳母，時加賜予。 塔塔統阿召諸子諭之曰：「上以汝母鞠育太子，賜予甚厚，汝等豈宜有之，當先供太子用，有餘則可分受。 帝聞之，顧侍臣曰：「塔塔統阿以朕所賜先供太子，其廉介可知矣。」 由是數加禮遇。 以疾卒。 至大三年，贈中奉大夫，追封雁門郡公。 子四人：長玉笏迷失，次力渾迷失，次速羅海，次篤綿。
Tatatonga was an Uyghur. He was clever and articulate, with a thorough command of the Uyghur script. The Great Khan of the Naiman honored him as tutor and entrusted him with the gold seal and the treasury. During Taizu's western campaign the Naiman kingdom fell; Tatatonga fled with the seal hidden on his person but was captured shortly afterward. The Emperor interrogated him: "The Naiman people and their lands have all submitted to me. Where do you think you are going with that seal?" He answered: "It is my duty. I mean to guard it with my life and deliver it only to my former master. I would never dream of anything else!" The Emperor said: "A man of true loyalty!" He asked what purpose the seal served. Tatatonga replied: "It governs the treasury and granaries, authorizes appointments—every transaction relies on it as proof of legitimacy." The Emperor was pleased and had him stay close at hand. From then on imperial decrees were stamped with the seal for the first time, and Tatatonga was entrusted with its custody. The Emperor asked: "Do you have a thorough mastery of your people's writing?" Tatatonga answered with everything he knew and satisfied the Emperor, who then charged him with teaching the crown prince and the princes to write Mongolian in the Uyghur script. At Taizong's accession Tatatonga was appointed keeper of the inner palace jade seal, gold, and silks. His wife Wuheli was made wet nurse to Prince Qarachar, and he received frequent additional grants. Tatatonga gathered his sons and told them: "Because your mother nursed the crown prince, the Emperor has been lavish in his gifts. You must not keep such riches for yourselves. See to the prince's needs first; only what remains may be divided among you. When the Emperor heard of this he said to his attendants: "Tatatonga uses my gifts first for the prince—that shows how upright and scrupulous he is." From then on the Emperor repeatedly singled him out for honors. He died of an illness. In Zhida 3 he was posthumously created Grand Master for Distinguished Service and enfeoffed as Duke of Yanmen. He had four sons: the eldest Yahumishi, then Lihunmishi, then Suluhai, and the youngest Dumian.
12
玉笏迷失，少有勇略，渾都海叛於三盤，時玉笏迷失守護皇孫脫脫營壘，率其眾與渾都海戰，敗之。 追至只必勒，適遇阿藍答兒與之合兵，復戰，玉笏迷失死之。
Yahumishi showed courage and tactical skill even as a young man. When Qunduqai rebelled at Sanpan, Yahumishi was defending the camp of the imperial grandson Toto; he led his forces against Qunduqai and routed him. He pursued the enemy to Jibile, where Alanar reinforced Qunduqai's army. They fought again, and Yahumishi was killed.
13
力渾迷失，有膂力，嘗獵於野，與眾相失，遇盜三人，欲奪其衣，力渾迷失搏之，盡仆，遂縛以還。 帝召見，選力士與之角，無與敵者。 帝壯之，賜金，令行宿衛。
Lihunmishi was immensely strong. Once while hunting he became separated from his companions and was set upon by three robbers who tried to take his clothing. He fought them, knocked all three to the ground, bound them, and marched them back in captivity. The Emperor summoned him before the court and pitted him against the palace's strongest wrestlers; none could defeat him. Impressed, the Emperor rewarded him with gold and appointed him to the imperial bodyguard.
14
速羅海，襲父職，仍命司內府玉璽金帛。
Suluhai succeeded to his father's post and was again entrusted with the inner palace jade seal, gold, and silks.
15
嶽璘帖穆爾
Yuelintiemuer
16
嶽璘帖穆爾，回鶻人，畏兀國相暾欲谷之裔也。 其兄仳理伽普華，年十六，襲國相、答剌罕。 時西契丹方強，威制畏兀，命太師僧少監來臨其國，驕恣用權，奢淫自奉。 畏兀王患之，謀於仳理伽普華曰：「計將安出？」 對曰：「能殺少監，挈吾眾歸大蒙古國，彼且震駭矣。」 遂率眾圍少監，斬之。 以功加號仳理傑忽底，進授明別吉，妻號赫思叠林。 左右有疾其功者，譖於其王曰：「少監珥珠，先王寶也，仳理伽普華匿之，盍急索勿失。」 其王怒，索寶甚急。 仳理伽普華度無以自明，乃亡附太祖，賜以金虎符、獅紐銀印、金螭椅一、衣金直孫校尉四人，仍食二十三郡。 繼又賜銀五萬兩。 以弟嶽璘帖穆爾為質。 仳理伽普華以疾卒。
Yuelintiemuer was a Uyghur, descended from Tun Yugu, chancellor of the Uyghur kingdom. His elder brother Bilijiahua succeeded at sixteen to the offices of state chancellor and darughachi. At that time the Western Liao held the Uyghurs in tight subjection and sent the Grand Preceptor Shaojian to govern the country. He ruled with arrogant caprice and lived in lavish self-indulgence. The Uyghur king was deeply troubled and asked Bilijiahua: "What can we do?" He answered: "Kill Shaojian, bring our people over to the Great Mongol State, and the Liao will be thrown into panic." He then led his men to surround Shaojian and cut off his head. For this service Bilijiahua received the added title Bili Jiehudi, was promoted to Mingbieji, and his wife was granted the title Hesidielin. Envious courtiers slandered him to the king: "The pearl earrings Shaojian wore were heirlooms of the former king. Bilijiahua has concealed them—seize them at once before they vanish." The king flew into a rage and pressed the demand fiercely. Unable to prove his innocence, Bilijiahua fled to Taizu and submitted. Taizu rewarded him with a gold tiger tally, a silver seal with lion tassel, a gold dragon chair, four guards in gold-trimmed livery, and the revenues of twenty-three commanderies. He was later given fifty thousand taels of silver as well. His younger brother Yuelintiemuer was left at court as a hostage. Bilijiahua died of an illness.
17
李楨，字幹臣。 其先，西夏國族子也。 金末，楨以經童中選。 既長，入為質子，以文學得近侍，太宗嘉之，賜名玉出幹必阇赤。 從皇子闊出伐金，帝命之曰：「凡軍中事，須訪楨以行。」 及下河南諸郡，闊出遣楨偕吉登哥往唐、鄧二州數民實，兵余歲凶，流散十八九。 楨至，賑恤饑寒，歸者如市。 十年，從大將察罕下淮甸。 楨以功佩金符，授軍前行中書省左右司郎中。 楨奏尋訪天下儒士，令所在優贍之。 十三年，師圍壽春，天雨不止，楨言於察罕曰：「頓師城下，暑雨疫作，將有不利。 且城久拒命，破必屠之，則生靈何辜。 請退舍數里，身往招之。」 從之。 楨遂單騎入敵壘，曉以利害，明日，與其將二人率眾來降。 以功賜銀五千兩。 楨表言：「襄陽乃吳、蜀之要沖，宋之喉襟，得之則可為他日取宋之基本。」 定宗嘉其言。 庚戌，賜虎符，授襄陽軍馬萬戶。 丙辰，憲宗命楨率師巡哨襄樊。 戊午，帝親征，召楨同議事。 秋九月，卒於合州，年五十九。
Li Zhen, courtesy name Ganchen. His family were descendants of the Western Xia imperial house. In the waning years of the Jin dynasty he was chosen in the classics prodigy examination. When he grew to adulthood he was sent as a hostage to the Mongols. His literary talent won him a place close to the throne. Taizong was impressed and granted him the Mongol name Yuchu Ganbishchi. When he followed Prince Kuochu in the war against the Jin, the Emperor instructed: "On every military matter consult Zhen before you act." After the southern Henan districts fell, Kuochu dispatched Zhen with Jidengge to Tang and Deng to assess the population. Between the ravages of war and successive bad harvests, nearly nine tenths of the people had fled. When Zhen arrived he organized relief for the hungry and the cold, and refugees returned in droves. In year ten he followed General Chaghan in the conquest of the Huai basin. For his service Zhen received a gold tally and was appointed director of the left and right departments of the Field Secretariat. Zhen submitted a memorial asking that scholars be sought out across the empire and given generous support wherever they were found. In year thirteen, as the army lay siege to Shouchun under unending rain, Zhen told Chaghan: "Keeping troops idle beneath the walls while summer rains breed plague will end badly. And the city has resisted for so long that if we storm it we will slaughter indiscriminately—what have the civilians done to deserve that? Pull the army back a few li and let me go alone to negotiate their surrender." Chaghan assented. Zhen rode unescorted into the enemy camp, laid out the costs and benefits of resistance, and the next day two of their commanders came over with the garrison. For this achievement he was rewarded with five thousand taels of silver. Zhen wrote to the throne: "Xiangyang guards the route between Wu and Shu—it is the throat of Song territory. Holding it would give us the base we need for a future campaign against the Song." Dingzong praised the proposal. In gengxu he received a tiger tally and was made commander of the Xiangyang military household. In bingchen Mizong ordered Zhen to lead troops on patrol around Xiangyang and Fancheng. In wuwu the Emperor led the campaign in person and summoned Zhen to council. He died at Hezhou in the ninth month of autumn, at the age of fifty-nine.
18
速哥，蒙古怯烈氏，世傳李唐外族。 父懷都，事太祖，嘗從飲班術尼河水。 速哥為人外若質直，而內實沈勇有謀，雅為太宗所知。 命使金，因俾覘其虛實，語之曰：「即不還，子孫無憂不富貴也。」 速哥頓首曰：「臣死，職耳。 奉陛下威命以行，可無慮也。」 帝悅，賜所常御馬。 至河，金人閉之舟中，七日始登南岸，又三旬乃達汴。 及見金主，曰：「天子念爾土地日狹，民力日疲，故遣我致命，爾能共修歲幣，通好不絕，則轉禍為福矣。」 謁者令下拜，速哥曰：「我大國使，為爾屈乎！」 金主壯之，取金卮飲之酒曰：「歸語汝主，必欲加兵，敢率精銳以相周旋，歲幣非所聞也。」 速哥飲畢，即懷金卮以出。 速哥雖佯為不智，而默識其地理厄塞、城郭人民之強弱。 既復命，備以虛實告，且以所懷金卮獻。 帝喜曰：「我得金於汝手中矣。」 復以賜之。 始下令征兵南伐。 兵至河北岸，方舟欲渡，金軍陳於河南，帝令儀衛導速哥居中行，親率偏師乘陣西策馬沙河。 會睿宗軍亦由襄、鄧至，兩軍夾攻之。 及金亡，詔賜金護駕士五人，曰：「此以旌汝為使之不辱也。」 昔使過崞州，崞人盜殺其良馬，至是，兼以崞民賜之。 歲乙未，帝從容謂速哥曰：「我將官汝，西域、中原，惟汝擇之。」 速哥再拜曰：「幸甚！ 臣意中原為便。」 帝曰：「西山之境，八達以北，汝其主之。 汝於城中構大樓，居其上，使人皆仰望汝，汝俯而諭之，顧不偉乎！」 乃以為山西大達魯花赤。 受命方出，有回回六人訟事不實，將抵罪，遇諸途，急止監者曰：「姑緩其刑，當入奏。」 復見帝曰：「此六人者，名著西域，徒以小罪盡誅之，恐非所以懷遠人也。 願以賜臣，臣得困辱之，使自悔悟遷善，為他日用，殺之無益也。」 帝意解，召六人謂之曰：「生汝者速哥也，其竭力事之。」 至雲中，皆釋之。 後有至大官者。 其寬大愛人多類此。 卒年六十二。 贈推忠翊運同德功臣、太師、開府儀同三司、上柱國，追封宣寧王，謚忠襄。
Suge was a Mongol of the Qilie clan, a family that traced its descent to a Tang imperial consort's kin. His father Huaidu had served Taizu and once shared a drink from the Onon River at his side. Suge seemed plainspoken and blunt on the surface, but he was inwardly shrewd, courageous, and clever—and Taizong knew his worth. Taizong sent him as envoy to the Jin and charged him to scout their strengths and weaknesses. "Even if you never come back," he said, "your descendants will want for nothing." Suge kowtowed and replied: "Death is simply my duty. I go bearing Your Majesty's authority—there is nothing to fear." The Emperor was pleased and gave him his own riding horse. At the Yellow River the Jin locked him aboard a boat; seven days passed before he was allowed ashore on the south bank, and another month before he reached Kaifeng. When he faced the Jin emperor he said: "Our khan sees your territory shrinking and your people worn down, and has sent me with this message: restore the tribute payments and keep the peace, and you may yet turn calamity into fortune." An attendant ordered him to prostrate himself. Suge said: "I am envoy of a great power—do you expect me to kowtow to you?" The Jin emperor was impressed. He raised a gold cup and drank to Suge: "Tell your khan that if he wants war, I will meet his best troops in battle. As for tribute—that word means nothing to me." Suge finished his drink, tucked the gold cup into his robe, and walked out. Suge played the fool, but all the while he memorized the mountain passes, the fortifications, and the strength of every city and garrison. On his return he gave a full intelligence report and presented the gold cup he had carried off. The Emperor laughed: "You have put Jin in the palm of my hand." Then he gave the cup back to Suge. Only then did the Emperor order the levies for the southern invasion. When the army reached the north bank and readied boats to cross, Jin troops lined the south bank. The Emperor put Suge at the head of the center column under full ceremonial escort, while he himself led a flanking force west along the Sha River. Prince Regent's army came up through Xiang and Deng, and the two Mongol forces caught the Jin in a pincer. After the Jin fell, the Emperor granted him five golden bodyguards, saying: "This marks how proudly you bore our standard as envoy." Years earlier, passing through Guo on his embassy, locals had stolen and killed his best horse. Now he was given the people of Guo as compensation. In the yiwei year the Emperor said to Suge at ease: "I am about to give you a post—choose for yourself between the Western Regions and China proper." Suge bowed twice and said: "I am deeply honored! I would prefer the Central Plains." The Emperor said: "The territory west of the mountains, north of Bada—that is yours to govern. Build a great tower in your city and live at the top, so everyone looks up to you while you look down and give your orders—is that not splendid?" He was made Grand Darughachi of Shanxi. He had barely left the palace with his commission when he encountered six Muslim merchants convicted of a fraudulent lawsuit and about to be punished. He stopped their guards on the spot: "Hold the execution—I must speak to the Emperor." He returned to the Emperor and said: "These six are well known across the Western Regions. To slaughter them over a petty offense is no way to win distant peoples to our rule. Give them to me instead. I will humble and discipline them until they repent and reform—they may yet prove useful. Executing them serves no purpose." The Emperor relented and called the six before him: "Suge gave you your lives. Serve him faithfully." Once they reached Yunzhong he set them all free. Some of them later rose to high office. His generosity and humane concern for others were characteristic in this way. He died at sixty-two. He was posthumously created Meritous Loyal Supporter of the Dynasty, Grand Preceptor, Grand Guardian with ceremonial equal to the Three Excellencies, and Upper Pillar of the State; enfeoffed posthumously as Prince Xuanning with the temple name Loyal Helper.
19
子六人：曰長罕，曰玉呂忽都，曰撒合裏都，曰忽蘭，曰忽都兒不花，曰不花。 長罕、玉呂忽都、撒合裏都，皆從兀魯赤太子出征，以戰功顯。
He had six sons: Chaghan, Yuluhudu, Sagelidu, Hulan, Quduerbuhua, and Buhua. Chaghan, Yuluhudu, and Sagelidu all campaigned under Prince Uruchi and won fame in battle.
20
忽蘭之母以後戚故，得襲職。 鉏強植弱，均役平刑，闔郡賴以安輯。 乙未之抄戶籍也，前賜崞人已入官籍，更賜山西戶三百。 西方多盜，郡縣捕不得，則法當計所失物直倍償，郡縣苦之。 有甄軍判者，率群盜往來阜平、曲陽間，殺人渾源界而奪之財。 縣以失捕當償，忽蘭曰：「此大盜也，縣豈能制哉！」 即遣千人捕甄殺之，剿捕其餘黨，其害乃除。 忽蘭性純篤，然酷好佛，嘗施千金修龍宮寺，建金輪大會，供僧萬人。 卒年四十二。 贈太保、金紫光祿大夫、上柱國，追封雲國公，謚康忠。
Hulan inherited the post through his mother, who was related to the imperial consort's family. He checked the powerful, protected the weak, equalized labor service and made punishments more equitable—and the whole commandery lived in peace under his rule. During the yiwei household census the Guo families earlier granted him had already been entered on the official rolls, so he was given three hundred Shanxi households in addition. Banditry was rampant in the west, and whenever counties failed to make arrests the law required them to compensate victims at double the value of stolen goods—a burden the local administrations bitterly resented. One bandit chief, Zhen Junpan, led a gang that ranged between Fuping and Quyang, murdering travelers on the Hunyuan frontier and plundering their goods. Faced with liability for the failed arrest, Hulan said, "This man is a major brigand—the county is in no position to bring him to heel!" He immediately sent a thousand men after Zhen, killed him, hunted down the remaining accomplices, and at last rid the region of the scourge. Hulan was upright and sincere by nature, but devoted to Buddhism: he once gave a thousand ounces of gold to restore Longgong Temple, convened a great Golden Wheel Dharma assembly, and fed ten thousand monks. He died at the age of forty-two. After his death he was honored as Grand Preceptor, given the titles of Gold-and-Purple Light Grand Master and Supreme Pillar of State, enfeoffed posthumously as Duke of Yun, and granted the temple name Kangzhong—"Peaceful and Loyal."
21
子天德於思，穎悟過人，世祖聞其賢，令襲父爵，養母完顏氏以孝聞。 自中山北來，適有邊釁，天德於思督造兵甲，撫循其民，無有寧息，形容盡瘁。 帝聞而嘉之，賜馴豹、名鷹，使得縱獵禁地，當時眷顧最號優渥。 卒年三十九。 贈太傅、儀同三司、上柱國，追封雲國公，謚顯毅。 子孫世多顯貴云。
His son Tiandesiyu was unusually quick and clever. When Shizu learned of his merit he ordered him to succeed to his father's title; he cared for his mother, Lady Wanyan, and won renown for his filial devotion. On his journey north from Zhongshan a border crisis erupted. Tiandesiyu oversaw the forging of arms and armor and looked after the people without a moment's respite, until he was worn to the bone. The emperor praised his service and rewarded him with a trained leopard and a prized hawk, with license to hunt in the imperial preserves—no courtier of the day enjoyed richer favor. He died at thirty-nine. He was posthumously honored as Grand Tutor with the rank equal to the Three Excellencies and as Supreme Pillar of State, enfeoffed as Duke of Yun, and given the temple name Xianyi—"Illustrious and Resolute." His descendants, it is said, remained prominent for generations.
22
忙哥撒兒
Manggesaer
23
忙哥撒兒，察哈劄剌兒氏。 曾祖赤老溫愷赤，祖搠阿，父那海，並事烈祖。 及太祖嗣位，年尚幼，所部多叛亡，搠阿獨不去。 皇弟槊只哈撒兒陰擿之去，亦謝不從。 搠阿精騎射，帝甚愛之，號為默爾傑，華言善射之尤者也。 帝嘗與賊遇，將戰，有二飛鶩至，帝命搠阿謝之。 請曰：「射其雄乎？ 抑雌者乎？」 帝曰：「雄者。」 搠阿一發墜其雄。 賊望見，驚曰：「是善射若此，飛鳥且不能逃，況人乎！」 不戰而去。 從征乃蠻，敵率銳兵鼓而進，搠阿按兵屹不動，敵止。 俄復鼓而進，搠阿亦不動，敵卒疑畏不敢前。 太祖征蔑裏吉，兵潰，搠阿與其弟左右力戰以衛帝。 會兀良罕哲裏馬來援，敵乃引退。 那海事太祖，備歷艱險，未嘗形於言，帝嘉其忠，且念其世勛，詔封懷、洛陽百七十五戶。
Manggesaer belonged to the Chaghar Jala'ir clan. His great-grandfather Chilaun Qiqi, his grandfather Shuo'a, and his father Nhai had all served the founding emperor. When Taizu came to power he was still young; most of his followers deserted, but Shuo'a alone stayed loyal. Taizu's brother Jochi Qasar tried secretly to persuade him to abandon the young lord, but Shuo'a refused to go. Shuo'a was a master of mounted archery, and the emperor cherished him, giving him the Mongol title Mo'erjie—"Supreme Archer," the finest marksman of the age. Once, as the emperor was about to engage bandits, two ducks flew overhead and he ordered Shuo'a to bring them down. Shuo'a asked, "Shall I take the drake? Or the hen?" "The drake," the emperor said." Shuo'a loosed a single arrow and dropped the drake. The bandits saw it and cried out in alarm: "A man who shoots like that—if birds cannot escape him, what chance have we!" They withdrew without a fight. On campaign against the Naiman, the enemy advanced with elite troops drumming for battle; Shuo'a held his line rock-steady until the enemy halted. When they drummed and charged a second time Shuo'a still did not stir; at last the enemy, unnerved, held back. During Taizu's campaign against the Merkits, when the army broke, Shuo'a and his brother fought on either flank to shield the emperor. Ulanhan Zheli arrived with reinforcements in the nick of time, and the enemy pulled back. Nhai served Taizu through every peril without once complaining; the emperor commended his loyalty and, recalling generations of service, granted him one hundred seventy-five households in Huai and Luoyang.
24
忙哥撒兒事睿宗，恭謹過其父。 嘗從攻鳳翔，首立奇功。 定宗升為斷事官，剛明能舉職。 憲宗在藩邸，深知其人。 從征斡羅思、阿速、欽察諸部，常身先諸將，及以所俘寶玉頒諸將，則退然一無所取。 憲宗由是益重之，使治藩邸之分民。 間出遊獵，則長其軍士，動如紀律。 雖太后及諸嬪御小有過失，知無不言，以故邸中人咸敬憚之。 乃以為斷事官之長，其位在三公之上，猶漢之大將軍也。 既拜命，出帳殿外，欹橐坐熊席，其僚列坐左右者四十人。 忙哥撒兒問曰：「主上以我長此官，諸公其為我言，當以何道守官？」 眾皆默然。 又問之，有夏人和斡居下坐，進曰：「夫劄魯忽赤之道，猶宰之刲羊也，解肩者不使傷其脊，在持平而已。」 忙哥撒兒聞之，即起入帳內。 眾不知所為，皆咎和斡失言。 既入，乃為帝言和斡之言善。 帝召和斡，命之步，曰：「是可用之才也。」 和斡由是知名。
In Ruizong's service Manggesaer showed a deference and diligence that exceeded even his father's. At the siege of Fengxiang he distinguished himself with the campaign's first great feat of arms. Dingzong raised him to chief judicial officer; stern, fair, and capable, he discharged his office well. While still a prince, Xianzong knew Manggesaer well and trusted his character. In the campaigns against Rus, the Alans, the Cumans, and the other tribes he always led from the front; when looted gems were divided among the commanders he alone declined his share. Xianzong thought all the more highly of him and entrusted him with the subjects assigned to the princely household. Even on hunting outings he led the troops in strict discipline. He spared no one in the princely household—not even the empress dowager or the consorts when they erred in small matters—and for that everyone within its walls both respected and feared him. He was made chief of all judicial officers, with rank above the Three Excellencies—the Mongol equivalent of a Han Grand General. After accepting the appointment he stepped outside the tent palace, set his quiver aside, and seated himself on a bearskin; forty of his lieutenants arranged themselves on either side. Manggesaer asked, "Our lord has put me at the head of this office. Tell me, gentlemen—by what rule should a man keep such a post?" No one answered. When he pressed the question again, a Chinese adviser named Hefo, who sat among the junior ranks, spoke up: "The jarquchi's art is like a butcher dressing a sheep: when you cut the shoulder you must not slice the spine—the whole trick is even-handedness." Hearing this, Manggesaer rose at once and went inside the tent. The others, baffled, blamed Hefo for having spoken out of turn. Inside, he told the emperor that Hefo's answer was admirable. The emperor called Hefo in, had him walk before him, and said, "Here is a man worth employing." From that day Hefo made his name.
25
定宗崩，宗王八都罕大會宗親，議立憲宗。 畏兀八剌曰：「失烈門，皇孫也，宜立。 且先帝嘗言其可以君天下。」 諸大臣皆莫敢言。 忙哥撒兒獨曰：「汝言誠是，然先皇后立定宗時，汝何不言耶？ 八都罕固亦遵先帝遺言也。 有異議者，吾請斬之。」 眾乃不敢異，八都罕乃奉憲宗立之。 憲宗之幼也，太宗甚重之。 一日行幸，天大風，入帳殿，命憲宗坐膝下，撫其首曰：「是可以君天下。」 他日，用牸按豹，皇孫失烈門尚幼，曰：「以牸按豹，則犢將安所養？」 太宗以為有仁心，又曰：「是可以君天下。」 其後太宗崩，六皇后攝政，竟立定宗。 故至是，二人各舉以為言云。
After Dingzong's death Prince Batu Khan summoned the royal clans to council to choose Xianzong as successor. Üitübär argued, "Shiremün is the late emperor's grandson—he is the rightful choice. And Ögedei himself once declared that the boy could govern the empire." The senior ministers all held their tongues. Manggesaer alone replied, "You speak truth—but where was this argument when the late empress enthroned Dingzong? Batu Khan, for his part, is likewise obeying the late emperor's dying words. Let any man who objects step forward, and I shall ask that his head be taken." No one dared oppose him, and Batu enthroned Xianzong. When Möngke was still a boy, Ögedei favored him greatly. Once, caught in a gale on the road, Ögedei took shelter in his tent, set young Möngke on his knee, stroked the boy's head, and said, "This child can one day rule the world." On another occasion Ögedei had a huntress leopard used to pin a quarry; Shiremün, still small, asked, "If you hold the mother down, who will suckle her cubs?" Ögedei took this as proof of a compassionate heart and again declared, "This child can rule the world." Yet after Ögedei's death the Sixth Empress Dowager seized power and enthroned Dingzong instead. That is why each side now invoked Ögedei's words in support of its candidate.
26
憲宗既立，察哈臺之子及按赤臺等謀作亂，刳車轅，藏兵其中以入，轅折兵見，克薛傑見之，上變。 忙哥撒兒即發兵迎之。 按赤臺不虞事遽覺，倉卒不能戰，遂悉就擒。 憲宗親簡其有罪者，付之鞫治。 忙哥撒兒悉誅之。 帝以其奉法不阿，委任益專。 有當刑者，輒以法刑之，乃入奏，帝無不報可。 帝或臥未起，忙哥撒兒入奏事，至帳前，扣箭房，帝問何言，即可其奏，以所禦大帳行扇賜之。 其見親寵如此。
After Möngke's accession, Chagatai's faction and Alchidei conspired rebellion, smuggling weapons into the council inside hollowed wagon poles; when one pole snapped and the blades fell out, Keshijie witnessed it and raised the alarm. Manggesaer at once marched out to meet them. Caught unprepared, Alchidei's party could not mount a fight and was taken entire. Möngke personally marked out the guilty and handed them over for trial. Manggesaer had every one of them put to death. Because he enforced the law without partiality, the emperor relied on him more absolutely than ever. He executed sentence first and reported afterward—and the emperor never once refused his judgment. Even when the emperor had not yet risen, Manggesaer would come to the tent door, tap the quiver rack for admittance, state his business, receive instant approval, and be rewarded with the imperial processional fan from the great tent. Such was the confidence and favor he commanded.
27
癸丑冬，病酒而卒。 帝以忙哥撒兒當國時，多所誅戮，及是，咸騰謗言，乃為詔諭其子，略曰：
He died in the winter of guichou, broken by illness brought on by drink. Manggesaer's stern justice had made him many enemies, and after his death slander ran wild; the emperor therefore addressed an edict to his sons, in substance as follows:
28
汝高祖赤老溫愷赤暨汝祖搠阿，事我成吉思皇帝，皆著勞績，惟朕皇祖實褒嘉之。 汝父忙哥撒兒，自其幼時，事我太宗，朝夕忠勤，罔有過咎。 從我皇考，經營四方。 迨事皇妣及朕兄弟，亦罔有過咎。 暨朕討定斡羅思、阿速、穩兒別裏欽察之域，濟大川，造方舟，伐山通道，攻城野戰，功多於諸將。 俘厥寶玉，大賚諸將，則退然無欲得之心。 惟朕言是用，修我邦憲，治我蒐田，輯我國家，罔不咸乂。 惟厥忠，雖其私親，與朕嬪御，小有過咎，一是無有比私。 故朕皇妣，迨朕昆弟，無不嘉賴。 朝之老臣、宿衛耆舊，無不嚴畏。 錄其勤勞，命為劄魯忽赤，治朕皇考受民，布昭大公，以辨獄慎民，爰作朕股肱耳目，眾無嘩言，朕聽以安。
Your great-grandfather Chilaun Qiqi and your grandfather Shuo'a served Genghis Khan with conspicuous merit, and my imperial grandfather honored them accordingly. Your father Manggesaer served Ögedei from boyhood with unwavering loyalty day and night, and never once fell short. He followed my father Tolui in the conquest of the four quarters. In service to my mother and to us brothers he was equally beyond reproach. In my campaigns against Rus, the Alans, and the Urals Cumans—in crossing great rivers, building fleets, cutting roads through mountains, besieging cities and fighting in the open field—he outstripped every other commander. When plunder was divided among the generals he alone showed no eagerness to take his share. He carried out my word alone—reforming the laws, governing the hunt, putting the realm in order—until nothing was left unsettled. So loyal was he that when even his own relatives—or my consorts—erred in small matters, he showed them no favor. My mother and all of us brothers came to depend on him and praise his service. Veteran ministers and the old guard alike stood in awe of him. In reward for his service I made him chief jarquchi over the subjects my father had entrusted to the throne—proclaiming impartial justice, deciding cases, and guarding the people. He became my hands, my eyes, my ears; the court fell silent, and I governed in peace.
29
自時厥後，察哈臺阿哈之孫，太宗之裔定宗、闊出之子，及其民人，越有他誌。 賴天之靈，時則有克薛傑者，以告於朕。 汝父肅將大旅，以遏亂略，按赤臺等謀是用潰，悉就拘執。 朕取有罪者，使辨治之，汝父體朕之公，其刑其宥，克比於法。 又使治也速、不裏獄，亦克比於法。
After that, Chagatai's grandson, Ögedei's line through Dingzong and Kuo-chu's sons, and their followers all turned against the throne. Heaven sent Keshijie to bring me word of their plot. Your father marched at the head of a great force to crush the rebellion; Alchidei's conspiracy collapsed, and the plotters were seized. I singled out the guilty for trial; your father embodied my justice, meting out punishment and mercy according to the law. He tried the cases of Yesü and Buri with the same fidelity to law.
30
惟爾脫歡、脫兒赤：自朕用汝父，用法不阿，兄弟親姻，咸麗於憲。 今眾罔不怨，曰「爾亦有死耶」，若有慊誌。 人則雖死，朕將寵之如生。 肆朕訓汝，爾克明時朕言，如是而有福，不如是而有禍。 惟天惟君，能禍福人； 惟天惟君，是敬是畏。 立身正直，制行貞潔，是汝之福； 反是勿思也。 能用朕言，則不墜汝父之道，人亦不能間汝矣； 不用朕言，則人將仇汝、伺汝、間汝。 怨汝父者，必曰「汝亦與我夷矣」，汝則殆哉。 汝於朕言，弗慎繹之，汝則有咎； 克慎繹之，人將敬汝畏汝，無間伺汝，無慢汝怨汝者矣。 又，而母而婦，有讒欺巧佞構亂之言，慎勿聽之，則盡善矣。
To you, Tuohuan and Tuo'erchi: from the day I put your father in office he showed no favor in judgment—brothers and in-laws alike fell under the law. Now the mob mutters everywhere, "Will you die too?"—as though the executions had been personal vendettas. Though your father is gone, I shall honor him as though he still lived. Hear my counsel: heed these words and fortune will follow; defy them and ruin will come. Heaven alone and the throne alone can raise a man up or cast him down; therefore fear Heaven and fear your sovereign. Upright conduct and a clean life are your protection; do not even entertain the alternative. Follow my word and you will uphold your father's legacy, and no man will be able to turn the court against you; reject it, and men will hate you, spy on you, and work to destroy you. Those who hated your father will say, "You shall be destroyed along with me," and you will be in grave danger. If you do not weigh my words carefully, you will bring blame upon yourself; but if you heed them well, people will honor and fear you, none will find occasion against you, and none will despise or hate you. And whether from your mother or your wife, beware of slander, deceit, and cunning words meant to sow discord—refuse to listen, and all will be well.
31
至順四年，追封忙哥撒兒為兗國公。 子四人：長脫歡，次脫兒赤，次也先帖木爾，次帖木兒不花。 脫歡為萬戶，無子。 脫兒赤子明禮帖木兒，累官翰林學士承旨，從征乃顏有功。 明禮帖木兒子咬住，咬住子也先，延徽寺卿。 也先帖木兒子曰哈剌合孫。 帖木兒不花子曰塔術納，曰哈裏哈孫，曰伯答沙。
In the fourth year of Zhishun, Manggesaer was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Yan. He had four sons: Tuohuan, Tuoerchi, Yesiantiemuer, and Temuerbuhua. Tuohuan held the rank of myriarch and left no sons. Tuoerchi's son Minglitiemuer rose to Hanlin Academician Expositor and distinguished himself in the campaign against Nayan. Minglitiemuer's son was Yaozhu; Yaozhu's son Yexian became Director of the Yanhui Temple. Yesiantiemuer's son was Halahesun. Temuerbuhua's sons were Tashuna, Halihasun, and Bodasha.
32
伯答沙為人清慎寬厚，號稱長者。 其歿也，貧無以為斂，人皆嘆其廉。 詔贈推忠佐理正德秉義功臣、開府儀同三司、太師、上柱國，追封威平王。
Bodasha was upright, prudent, and magnanimous, and was known as a man of exemplary character. At his death he was too poor even to afford a proper burial, and all praised his integrity. By edict he was honored as Meritous Subject Who Promotes Loyalty and Assists Governance with Upright Virtue and Righteous Conduct, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Master with Ceremonial Parity with the Three Excellencies, Upper Pillar of the State, and posthumously enfeoffed as Prince of Weiping.
33
三子：長馬馬的斤，次潑皮，次八郎。 八郎期而孤，其母乞咬契氏二十而寡，守節不他適。 八郎後為大宗正府劄魯忽赤，能繼其先。 有成立者，母氏之教也。
He had three sons: Mamadejin, Popi, and Balang. Balang lost his father while still a boy; his mother Lady Qiyaoqi was widowed at twenty and remained faithful without taking another husband. Balang later served as Jarquchi in the Grand Council for Princes and upheld his family's legacy. His success was owed to his mother's teaching.
34
孟速思
Mengsusi
35
孟速思，畏兀人，世居別失八里，古北庭都護之地。 幼有奇質，年十五，盡通本國書。 太祖聞之，召至闕下，一見大悅，曰：「此兒目中有火，它日可大用。」 以授睿宗，使視顯懿莊聖皇后分邑歲賦。 復事世祖於潛藩，日見親用。 憲宗崩，孟速思言於世祖曰：「神器不可久曠，太祖嫡孫，唯王最長且賢，宜即皇帝位。」 諸王塔察兒、也孫哥、合丹等，咸是其言。 世祖即位，眷顧益重。 南征時，與近臣不只兒為斷事官。 及諸王阿裏不哥叛，相拒漠北，不只兒有二心，孟速思知之，奏徙之於中都，親監護以往，帝以為忠。 數命收召豪俊，凡所引薦，皆極其選。 詔與安童並拜丞相，固辭。 帝語安童及丞相伯顏、御史大夫月魯那演等曰：「賢哉孟速思，求之彼族，誠為罕也。」 孟速思為人剛嚴謹信。 蚤居帷幄，謀議世莫得聞。 至元四年卒，年六十有二。 帝尤哀悼，特謚敏惠。 武宗朝，贈推忠同德佐理功臣、太師、開府儀同三司、上柱國，追封武都王，改謚智敏。 子九人，多至大官。
Mengsusi was an Uyghur whose family had long lived at Bieshibali, site of the ancient Protectorate of Beiting. As a boy he showed exceptional talent; by fifteen he had mastered the Uyghur script completely. When Taizu heard of him he summoned him to court and was delighted at first sight. "This boy has fire in his eyes," he said; "one day he will serve in great matters." He placed him in Ruizong's service to supervise the annual revenues of Empress Xianyi Zhuangsheng's allotted estates. He later served Shizu when the latter was still heir apparent, and day by day won greater trust. When Xianzong died, Mengsusi urged Shizu: "The throne cannot remain empty. Among Taizu's legitimate grandsons, you alone are eldest and most worthy—you should take the throne without delay." Princes Qachar, Yesunge, Hedan, and others all agreed. After Shizu took the throne his favor toward Mengsusi only deepened. During the southern campaign he served alongside the intimate attendant Buzhier as judicial officer. When Prince Alibuge rebelled and the court faced him in the northern steppe, Mengsusi discovered that Buzhier was wavering in his loyalty. He memorialized to move Buzhier to Zhongdu and personally escorted him there; the emperor took this as proof of Mengsusi's fidelity. He was repeatedly charged with recruiting talented men, and every candidate he recommended was of the finest quality. He was ordered to serve as Grand Councillor alongside Antong but firmly declined. The emperor told Antong, Grand Councillor Bayan, Censor-in-Chief Yuelunayan, and the others: "Mengsusi is a man of rare merit—among his people such talent is hard to find." Mengsusi was stern, rigorous, and utterly trustworthy. Long before he had served within the command tent, yet his counsel never reached the outside world. He died in the fourth year of the Zhiyuan era, at the age of sixty-two. The emperor mourned him deeply and granted the posthumous name Minhui, Keen and Gracious. Under Wuzong he was posthumously honored as Meritous Subject Who Promotes Loyalty and Joint Virtue in Assisting Governance, Grand Preceptor, and Grand Master with Ceremonial Parity with the Three Excellencies, Upper Pillar of the State; enfeoffed as Prince of Wudu with the temple name changed to Zhimin, Wise and Keen. He had nine sons, many of whom attained high rank.