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卷一百二十九 列傳第十六: 來阿八赤 紐璘 阿剌罕 阿塔海 唆都 李恒

Volume 129 Biographies 16: Lai'abachi, Niulin, Alahan, Atahai, Suodou, Li Heng

Chapter 129 of 元史 · History of Yuan
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Chapter 129
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1
Lai'abachi
2
宿 宿 宿 西 退西
Lai'abachi was from Ningxia. His father Shusuhuli had submitted to Taizu, been chosen for the imperial guard, and later put in charge of the imperial kitchens. After Emperor Xianzong came to the throne he mounted a major campaign against Song and laid siege to Diaoyu Mountain. When he asked his generals how best to advance, Shusuhuli told him: "We already hold two-thirds of Sichuan. Only a few dozen prefectures south of the Ba River still hold out. Their territory is shrunken and their position weak; troops and grain all depend on the southeast, so they are fighting to the death to hold us off. Sichuan is rugged and hard to traverse. Chongqing and Hezhou are its outer defenses—newly built cities that lean on the terrain for strength. Keeping our army pinned beneath such strongholds brings no clear gain. Better to build camps between the two cities, pick fifty thousand elite troops, put veteran commanders in charge, and let them move in and out with the garrison at Chengdu, raiding whenever opportunity allows to pin down Song relief columns. Our forces could then strike while morale is fresh, use defectors as guides, and drive east by land and water through the smaller prefectures of Zhong, Fu, Wan, and Kui—taking their towns and people. When winter low water opens the Qutang Gorge, we can break into Jing-Chu, join the armies crossing the Yangzi from Ezhou, and settle the southeast in one campaign. Chongqing and Hezhou upstream, cut off and unsupported, would surrender or flee." The generals replied that storming cities would win glory in a moment, dismissed his plan as roundabout, and never adopted it. The court then picked the ablest men from the imperial guard and sent Abaqi to oversee Marshal Niulin's army, block Song reinforcements, and camp at Tongluo Gorge downstream from Chongqing, building cliff-side forts on both banks of the river. Song commander Gan Shun sailed up from Kuizhou to attack. Abaqi had stacked fuel at both forts. When the Song fleet came downstream he lit fires, beat drums, and rained arrows and stones upon them. The Song troops fought hard but gave way, pulled back to the west bank, and regrouped. At dawn they returned. Abaqi led elite troops down the cliffs while his ships pressed forward again. The Song army broke and fled; thousands were killed or wounded. The emperor was impressed and rewarded him with two silver ingots. When Emperor Xianzong died, Abaqi hurried north with his father to Yan. After Kublai took the throne he asked about the Sichuan campaign. Abaqi laid out what had happened and quoted his father's earlier advice. The emperor clapped his hands and said, "If we had followed that plan, would the southeast still be unconquered? When I was at Ezhou I waited every day for word from up the river."
3
西 使 使 使 使
In Zhiyuan 7, during the campaign against Xiangyang and Fancheng, arms and grain from Henan and the north were concentrated at Yiyang on the western Huai. Fearing Song raids, the court put Abaqi in charge of transport; he finished in two days. On his return the emperor was delighted and gave him a silver ingot. In year 14 the Imperial Kitchen Directorate was founded and he was made associate director with the rank of Grand Master of Palace Attendance. In year 18 he received the three-pearl tiger tally and was appointed pacification commissioner of Yidu and other circuits and grand marshal, with the rank of Grand Master for Court Audience. Ten thousand men were sent to dig the canal. Abaqi oversaw the work in person through summer and winter without pause. Two soldiers maimed their hands to avoid service. Abaqi reported them through the military bureau and branch secretariat and had them executed as a warning. When the canal was finished he was made transport commissioner for the Jiao-Lai sea route. In year 21 he was transferred to the Imperial Entertainments Office as associate controller. When eastern Liaodong grew restless he received a new tiger tally and was made pacification commissioner for the eastern campaign. Abaqi brought in those who submitted, offered them a fresh start, and soon the region was quiet from end to end. In year 22 he was made eastern pacification commissioner and grand marshal.
4
广 广 使
When Prince Zhennan marched on Annam, Abaqi was made right chancellor of the Huguang branch secretariat. At court Kublai took off his own robe and put it on him, and gave him a jade-and-gold belt, bow and arrows, and armor. In year 24 he became right chancellor of the Huguang branch department of state affairs, and was ordered to inspect troops and horses raised by the four provinces. In the ninth month he led a thousand Central Guard troops escorting the prince to Siming. The enemy held the passes. Abaqi picked elite troops, fought them at Nü'er Pass, and killed tens of thousands; the rest abandoned the pass and ran. The main army pushed inland to Jiaozhou, where Chen Rixuan evacuated the city and withdrew. Abaqi said, "They left their capital and hid in the hills because they mean to wait until we are worn down, then hit us. Most of our men are northerners. Malaria rises in late spring and summer. If we do not catch the enemy soon we cannot stay. Send troops to secure the country piece by piece, accept surrenders, forbid looting, and seize Rixuan quickly—that is the sound plan." Rixuan kept sending envoys offering surrender, hoping bribes would slow our advance. The generals believed him, repaired the city, and settled in to wait for him to come in. Time passed, supplies ran short, and Rixuan never surrendered. He massed troops at Zhudong and Anbang Harbor. Abaqi marched against them, met the enemy again and again, and fought day and night until they broke and fled. Then sickness swept the army and they could not advance. The tribal peoples rose again and every pass we had taken was lost, so withdrawal was debated. He picked infantry and cavalry from every unit to lead the march, fighting their way out with dozens of clashes each day. The enemy held the high ground and shot poisoned arrows. Men fought on with bandaged wounds while the army escorted the prince out of hostile country. Abaqi took three poisoned arrows; his head, neck, and thigh swelled, and he died.
5
His son Jiseng served as darughachi of the Udaida military colony commission. When Nayan rebelled he fought at Shuangcheng in Korea. He was transferred to be darughachi of Wan'an Army. He distinguished himself pacifying the Li peoples, was promoted to intendant of Leizhou circuit, and died in office. His grandson Wanbuzhehua was associate intendant of Chaozhou; followed by Tumanbuzhehua, Yexianbuzhehua, and Taibuzhehua.
6
○ Appendix: Niulin and Yesudai'er
7
宿 西西
Niulin was from Shandudai. His grandfather Boluodai had been in Taizu's guard, followed Taizong in the conquest of Jin, and garrisoned Henan. His father Tada'er served Emperor Xianzong in campaigns against the Alans and Cumans, earned distinction, and was made grand marshal. In the renzi year he led Shaanxi, Xihai, and Gongchang troops against Song and entered Sichuan. In guichou he and Commander Wang Tiange established Lizhou. In jiayin he attacked Diaomen, Li, Ya, and other towns. In yimao he took Chongqing and captured Song commander Zhang Shi. He died that same year.
8
使 怀
Niulin was tall and striking, possessed extraordinary strength, and was gifted in strategy. He often campaigned with his father. In dingsi Emperor Xianzong gave him ten thousand men to raid enemy territory. He left Lizhou down the Baishui, crossed Dahu Mountain, passed Liangshan, and reached Kuimen. In wuwu he returned to Diaoyu Mountain and marched to join Grand Marshal Adahu at Chengdu. Song commissioner Pu Zezhi sent Liu Zheng, Duan Yuanjian, and others to hold Jiangjian Ford on the Suining River and block the eastern route. Niulin's army arrived but could not cross. They fought from dawn to dusk, killed more than twenty-seven hundred men, and pushed on to Chengdu. The emperor heard and rewarded him with gold and silk. Pu Zezhi left Yang Dayuan to hold Jianmen and Lingquan Mountain and led Sichuan troops himself to retake Chengdu. Adahu died just then. Prince Abugan and generals including Tuolindai said, "Song pressure is growing daily. Once they hear our commander is dead they will throw everything at us, and we cannot meet that shock. We are far from court. Waiting for orders to appoint a new commander before we fight may be too late. Better to put Niulin in command. Surprise them and the enemy will surely break." All agreed, and Niulin was chosen to lead. Niulin led the generals to a great victory at Lingquan Mountain, pursued and captured Han Yong and executed him, and Pu Zezhi's army collapsed. He besieged Yunding Mountain City and cut off the Song army's retreat. The commander panicked, lost his bearings, and surrendered with his troops. When the city's food ran out the defenders killed their commander and surrendered. Chengdu, Peng, Han, Huai, Mian, and other prefectures were pacified, and the Wei and Mao tribes submitted as well. Niulin sent gold and silver, bamboo arrows, and silver-inlaid knives to court through Suke. The emperor gave him fifty taels of gold and on the spot confirmed him as grand marshal.
9
Niulin had only twenty thousand men. He left five thousand under Bayan Badulu to hold Chengdu and led fifteen thousand from Mahu toward Chongqing. That winter the emperor advanced to Dahu Mountain. Niulin marched from Chengdu with a reported fifty thousand foot and horse and two hundred warships. He sent Zhang Wei with five hundred men as vanguard by land and water, planned to seal the Chongqing River and sever Wu-Shu communications, and bridged the Zizhou crossing for his army. Thousand-household commander Andula took the fleet downstream while Niulin drove the army south. Supply trains stretched for a hundred li. With drums beating they crossed the Lu and sailed east. Pu Zezhi tried to block him on several roads; Niulin defeated every force he met. At Fu he built a pontoon bridge and camped on both banks to block Song reinforcements. Learning that the main army was ravaged by disease, he sent ten thousand cattle, dogs, and pigs as supplies. The following spring he reported to the emperor's camp, then campaigned in Si and Bo and captured an enemy general. Song general Lü Wenhuan attacked the Fu bridge. Chengdu had only just been secured; men and horses sickened in the climate, and Niulin was deeply worried. A secret order forced him into battle. He routed Lü Wenhuan, captured two of his generals and executed them, then withdrew. Lü Wenhuan attacked his rear; Niulin turned and drove him off.
10
西西
In Zhongtong 1, when Kublai took the throne, Niulin came to court and received a tiger tally, fifty taels of gold, twenty-five hundred taels of silver, and two horses. Niulin sent Liang Zaili to bring in the Li, Ya, Diaomen, Yanzhou, and Pianlin Pass tribes, winning more than twenty thousand Han and tribal households. Soon Suke was ordered to place western Sichuan and Shaanxi troops under Niulin, who garrisoned Qin, Gong, and Tangut territory. In year 3 Song general Liu Zheng surrendered Luzhou. Lü Wenhuan besieged the city until relief troops drove him off; Luzhou's people were then moved to Chengdu and Tongchuan. In year 4 Liu Zheng slandered him. Summoned to the Upper Capital and investigated, he was cleared and released. He died at Changping on the way back. His son was Yesudai'er.
11
使 寿 寿 使 使 使 西使西使
Yesudai'er matched his father in courage and wit. In Zhiyuan 11 he was presented at court and assigned to Huoduchi of the mobile military bureau to learn campaigning. During the siege of Jiading he took three thousand men to scout Sangu and Jiuding mountains, defeated Song commissioner Zan Wanshou, killed five hundred men, and for this was given a tiger tally and made darughachi of the Six Wings. Soon Zan Wanshou sent his officer Li Li to surrender Jiading, Sangu, Jiuding, Ziyun, and the other strongholds. He again followed Vice Commissioner Hudun downriver; city after city submitted at his approach. Hudun mustered twenty thousand men and joined Heda of the Eastern Sichuan mobile military bureau in the siege of Chongqing. More than a year passed without success, and the Emperor replaced Hudun with Vice Commissioner Buhua. Buhua brought more than ten thousand troops beneath the walls, and Yesudai'er led twenty-odd horsemen in an assault on the gate. Song commander Zhao An came out to fight; three times Yesudai'er rode into his ranks and twice seized fierce warriors and dragged them out alive. When the main army closed in from all sides, they took more than five hundred heads. Zhao An opened the gate and surrendered. Pacification Commissioner Zhang Yu fled but was pursued to Fuzhou and captured. Word of the victory reached court; the Emperor gave him a jade belt and five thousand strings of paper money, made him pacification commissioner over the Six Wings of Western Sichuan Mongol cavalry and newly submitted troops, promoted him to pacification commissioner of Sichuan's western circuit, and added the rank of grand marshal.
12
西 西使
The Luoshi Ghost Country and Yixibuxi rebelled, and an edict ordered Sichuan troops to join forces from Yunnan and Jiangnan to crush them. At Huiling Pass, Yixibuxi sent vanguard commanders Ama and Adou with tens of thousands to oppose them. Yesudai'er galloped into their ranks, seized Ama and Adou, brought them out, and executed them. Terrified, Yixibuxi surrendered with more than fifty thousand households under his command. For his service he was made right counsellor of the Western Sichuan branch secretariat and given gold, silk, a saddle, and bridle. The southwestern Yi chieftain Xiongzuo and the Duzhang barbarian Delanyou rebelled. Troops were sent to quell them, and he was reassigned as vice commissioner of the Sichuan mobile military bureau. That winter the Wumeng joined the Duzhang in a secret rebellion. An edict sent troops to join Bayadali of the Yunnan mobile bureau in a punitive campaign. Yesudai'er captured the Wumeng rebels. The Emperor gave him a jade belt and brocade robe, made him grand commander of the Mongol army, added a silver-marten fur coat, and posted him to garrison the Tangut frontier. He was promoted to associate commissioner of the Sichuan mobile military bureau while remaining at his post. When Chengzong took the throne, he was made left councillor of the Sichuan branch secretariat. Under Wuzong he moved from Sichuan to Yunnan, was given the added rank of left chancellor, and kept his councillor's post. On a southern campaign against rebel tribes he succumbed to malaria and died at Chengdu on the return march.
13
His younger brother Bala inherited the command of ten thousand in the Mongol army. After Bala died, his second son Baiyan inherited the post and was appointed left counsellor of the Sichuan branch secretariat; His eldest son Najatai rose to become left councillor of the Sichuan branch secretariat.
14
○ Alahan
15
西 西
Alahan was a Jala'ir Mongol. His grandfather Boqche served Taizu as a huo'erchi and later a bo'erchi, took cities and ground, and won repeated battlefield honors. When Taizong took the throne, Boqche still held his post and followed the campaign into Longbei and Shaanxi. He led from the front and died in battle. His father Yeliugan entered service young as captain of the guard to Prince Yelügi. In the yiwei year he followed Princes Kuochu and Hudutu south. For repeated merit he was made commander of ten thousand and then grand marshal of the empire's horse and foot forbidden troops. When the great general Chaghan died, Yeliugan took his command, was made grand marshal of all wings' horse troops, and led a great army against the Huai east and west. In the wuwu year he was killed fighting at Yangzhou. Alahan inherited command as grand marshal of all wings' Mongol cavalry. In the jiwei year he followed Shizu across the Yangzi as far as Ezhou and then turned back.
16
西
When Shizu ascended the throne, Alahan followed him to Moli, Erbai Borijin. When Prince Ariq Böke took up arms and marched south, Alahan routed the forces of Alandai'er and Qundaqai at Ximentu, pursued them into Hexi, and was rewarded with fifty liang of gold. In Zhongtong 3 Li Tan rebelled and seized Jinan; a great army was dispatched against him. Alahan defeated Tan at Laocangkou. After Tan was executed, Alahan was made grand marshal and given a gold tiger tally and silver seal.
17
西 寿沿 西 退 广 广使 使 使 寿 使
In the spring of Zhiyuan 4 he was promoted to commander of ten thousand upper rank and followed Grand Marshal Aju against Song. In the ninth month the army halted at Xi'anyang Bank below Xiangyang, met the Song in battle, and routed them. In year 5 the great army besieged Xiangyang and Fancheng. Alahan held Baizhang Mountain and Manhe Bank on the southern front through repeated clashes, and the Song could not break the siege. In the spring of year 10 Fancheng fell and Xiangyang surrendered. In the autumn of year 11 Chancellor Bayan and Aju joined at Xiangyang and dispatched Alahan with the wing armies to take Ying, Fu, and the other prefectures. In the tenth month they took the South Gate fort at Ying Prefecture. Bayan and Aju personally led cavalry to inspect Hanyang's walls, planning to cross the Yangzi at Hankou. Song elite troops held Hankou, so they sent Alahan with Mongol cavalry on forced marches. He broke Shawu fort, entered the river line, and took Ezhou. With judicial officer Yang Renfeng, Alahan raided east into Shouchang and seized four hundred thousand hu of rice. He then led the left wing downstream; every prefecture along the river submitted, and he set about pacifying the people. In the sixth month of year 12 he was made Generalissimo of Manifest Valor and commander of ten thousand upper rank over Mongol and Han troops, and encamped at Jiankang. Bayan was recalled to court; Alahan was left to run the secretariat and made assistant administrator with the rank of grand master of palace attendance. When Bayan returned to the army, the force was split into three columns and advanced together. Alahan took the western route through Lishui and Liyang, broke the Yingshu East Dam, and at Huyashan's Qingfeng embankment routed the Song, taking seven thousand heads. He also captured general Zhu Liang and seventy-two subordinate officers, beheading three thousand more. He fought the Song again, taking seven thousand heads and driving their relief force back more than ten li. He again defeated three Song commanders-in-chief and took three thousand heads. He overran Jianping County and killed its defending officials. He pressed the attack on Dusong Pass in Guangde Army. Earlier, Guangde's defender Zhang Ru had killed the envoys Lian Xixian and Yan Zhongfan at Dusong Pass. When Alahan halted at Shangbai in Anji, Ru came out to fight and was crushed: two thousand heads were taken, and deputy Feng Yi was captured alive and executed before the ranks. Ru fled; they pursued him and cut him down. In the spring of year 13 the Song surrendered the realm. Alahan was ordered, with Left Counsellor Dong Wenbing, to lead Gao Xing and others against Wen, Tai, Qu, Wu, Chu, Ming, and Yue in eastern Zhejiang and the Fujian commanderies, accepting the surrender of five hundred transport and judicial officials. Pursuing Song Prince Xi Zhao Yifu to Anfu County, they met his army of thirty thousand. Alahan led from the front; with Gao Xing, Sariman, and others he crossed the river and fought fiercely for more than forty li. They killed infantry commander Li Shida, captured Zhao Yifu and one hundred eighty of his officers — all were executed — and took five bronze seals and countless arms and supplies. Pu Shougen of Quanzhou surrendered. After Jiangnan was pacified he served as acting pacification commissioner of Jiangdong, retaining his assistant administrator's rank and gold tiger tally. In year 14 he went to court, was promoted to grand master for the good of the heir apparent and left counsellor of the branch secretariat, soon moved to right counsellor, and continued to oversee Jiangdong. In year 18 he was summoned as grand master of splendid happiness and left chancellor of the central secretariat, with charge of branch secretariat affairs. He commanded four hundred thousand Mongol troops for the Japan expedition and died at Qingyuan on the march. His son Baijiang inherited the post, rose to left councillor of the Jiang-Zhe branch secretariat, and still commanded his hereditary ten-thousand. After Baijiang died, his younger brother Yesudie'er inherited the command. Starting as commander of ten thousand of the left-hand Mongol army, he rose to left councillor of the Henan-Jiangbei branch secretariat and grand commander of the Shandong-Hebei Mongol army.
18
驿 西使 西 使 退 殿怀 沿 西 使
○ Atahai. Atahai was a Xundusi tribesman. His grandfather Tabai Badu'er was a fierce warrior. He once drank with Taizu at the Black River and was made commander of a thousand for his service. His father Bohua inherited the post and died in office. Atahai was imposing and magnanimous, with talent and strategy beyond ordinary men. After inheriting his thousand, he followed Uriyangqadai against Yunnan and always placed himself at the head of the line. When the army returned he entered service with Shizu at the prince's residence. In Zhiyuan 9 he was ordered to ride relay post and direct all forces against Xiangyang. After Xiangyang fell he was graded for merit and made general superior in stabilizing the state and vice commissioner of the Huai-West mobile military bureau. He built the eastern and western citadels at Zhengyang. In the fifth month of heavy rains, Song general Xia Gui exploited the swollen Huai and came to contest Zhengyang. Atahai met him in force; Gui fled, and they pursued to the walls of Anfeng before turning back. He was appointed right counsellor of the central secretariat with charge of military affairs. Crossing the Yangzi, he joined Bayan's army. He took Chizhou. In year 12 the army halted at Jiankang. Shi Zuzhong, acting defender of Zhenjiang, sent envoys offering surrender. Hearing this, Yangzhou's defender Li Tingzhi sent troops to break out and attack. Atahai marched to the rescue; the Song troops fled at his approach. Zhen and Tai still held for the Song. Zhenjiang commanded a vital junction but its walls were weak, so Atahai put up wooden palisades to protect the people. He also posted troops at Guazhou to cut off relief for Yangzhou. Song generals Zhang Shijie and Sun Huchen anchored a fleet below Jiaoshan with great show of force. Atahai and Councillor Aju took the south bank and directed a crushing victory. Song palace guard Zhang Yan and Pingjiang commander Liu Shiyong raided Lucheng. Atahai sent Commander of Ten Thousand Huaidu against them and killed Yan. In the tenth month the mobile military bureau was merged with the branch secretariat, and Atahai remained as right counsellor. He took Changzhou and accepted the surrender of Pingjiang and Jiaxing. In the first month of year 13 the armies converged on Lin'an. Song surrendered, and the boy emperor and empress dowager were brought to court. He was ordered back to Guazhou; with Aju he settled Huainan affairs and pacified the region. For fuller detail see the biographies of Bayan and Aju. In year 14 he was made grand master of glorious happiness, councillor, with charge of branch secretariat affairs. In the second month of year 15 he was summoned to court as grand master of splendid happiness and left chancellor of the branch secretariat, and moved his seat of government to Lin'an. In year 20 he was transferred to chancellor of the eastern expedition branch secretariat for the campaign against Japan. A storm wrecked the fleet and cost them seven or eight men in ten. In year 22 he served as acting associate commissioner of the Yangzi-coast mobile military bureau. In year 23 he administered Jiangxi secretariat affairs and came to court. In year 24 he accompanied the emperor on the campaign against Nayan. When the army returned he received court gentleman for attendance and lived in the capital. He died in the twelfth month of year 26 at fifty-six. Posthumously he was titled meritorious subject who extends loyalty, supports the dynasty, and exerts his strength, with honors matching a generalissimo who opens a government, grand preceptor, and supreme pillar of the state; enfeoffed as Prince of Shunchang Commandery with the posthumous name Wumin. His son Alima was vice commissioner of the Jiang-Huai mobile military bureau; he rose to become censor-in-chief of the Jiangnan mobile censorate and died.
19
○ Suodu Baijianu
20
宿 使 使 怀 使 广 广 广 使 殿 鹿 寿 使使 怀 广 广 使使 使 驿
Suodu belonged to the Jalair clan. Fierce and expert in war, he joined the imperial guard and won distinction campaigning against Huama. When Li Tan rebelled in Shandong, he served under Prince Habbichi in putting down the revolt. After returning he told the court, "Across the prefectures and counties, dissolute young men often slip along back trails to sell horses inside Song territory. I ask that their offenses be waived and they be enrolled as troops." The court agreed, yielding three thousand men. A thousand of them were assigned to Suodu as a qianhu command; he was ordered to hold Caizhou. In Zhiyuan 5, as Aju's forces besieged Xiangyang, Suodu was sent on patrol and took the Song outposts at Jingangtai, Shaojiwo, Qingjian, Dahong Mountain, Guizhou Cave, and other passes. He once ran into more than a thousand Song soldiers armed with bridles, bent on horse theft; Suodu routed them and cut down three hundred men. In year 6 the Song general Fan Wenhu anchored a fleet at Guanzitan; Chancellor Shi Tianze sent Suodu to drive him off. Promoted to zongguan, he was given eight hundred men from the Dongping garrison. In year 9, assaulting Fancheng, Suodu led the climb; the city fell. After Xiangyang capitulated he received five thousand more troops, along with bows and arrows, ceremonial dress, a gold saddle, silver, and other rewards. Called to court, he was made pacification commissioner for Ying, Fu, and neighboring districts. In year 11 he shifted his garrison to Gaogang in Yingzhou, beat a Song force, killed three hundred, and took nine officers prisoner. Marching with the main force across the river, he helped bring Ezhou and Hankou to submission. In year 12, after Jiankang surrendered, Vice Administrator Tachu sent Suodu in to rally the populace and appointed him Jiankang pacification commissioner. He took Pingjiang and Jiaxing in turn. He commanded the river force to rendezvous with Bayan at Mount Futing. With Song subdued, the court ordered Bayan to escort the Song emperor north and left Dong Wenbing as vice administrator at Lin'an, free to pick a deputy; Wenbing asked for Suodu, and the request was granted. Qu, Wu, and other prefectures were in revolt again. Wenbing told Suodu, "If Yanzhou falls, Lin'an is finished — go and hold the line there." He had been at Yanzhou only ten days when allied troops from Qu, Wu, and Hui attacked; Suodu beat them back and took Prefect Zhang and twenty-one others. He restored Wuzhou, shattered Song Supervisor Chen below Meiling, and left three thousand dead. He recovered Longyou County as well. Quzhou was tightly held, but Suodu personally led his troops up the walls in a roaring assault and took the city; Song Chancellor Liu Mengyan submitted. Assaulting Chuzhou, he killed seven hundred. He also took Songxi and Huai'an in Jianning Prefecture. In year 14 he was made Fujian circuit pacification commissioner, acting head of the southern campaign marshal's headquarters under Vice Administrator Tachu. Tachu ordered Suodu to march via Quanzhou and put to sea for a rendezvous at Fuchang, near Guangzhou. As he was about to leave, Xinzhou's defenders came pleading: "Without the marshal, Xinzhou cannot stand. Shaowu is massing troops and waiting for a chance to strike; if you reach there at dawn, their forces will be on us by nightfall." Suodu told his officers, "If we leave Shaowu standing, we'll be caught between two fires — Xinzhou won't be the only place we can't hold." He sent Commander Zhou and others to offer terms. Suodu pressed toward Jianning and met a Song army at Chong'an in full battle array. He sent his son Baijianu and Yang Tingbi with several columns to hit them from both flanks, while Commander Fan hid three hundred men at Zhugong Bridge and Yelü Da four hundred outside the north gate. Tingbi drove deep into the enemy line; the Song force broke and ran, and the ambush sprang up to cut them down — more than a thousand dead. Song Chancellor Wen Tianxiang and Nanjian commander Zhang Qing joined forces to strike Jianning; Suodu laid a night ambush and routed them. Pressing the fight to Nanjian, he beat Zhang Qing and took the city. At Fuzhou, Wang Jiweng handed over the city. At Xinghua Commandery, Commander Chen Zhan asked to surrender, then shut the gates and held out. Suodu rode up to the walls to parley; arrows and stones poured down like rain. He built siege towers and catapults and stormed the walls. Street fighting raged all day; more than thirty thousand were killed. Chen Zhan was taken, cut limb from limb, and displayed as a warning. Zhangzhou also held out. Suodu sent Baijianu ahead to join Tachu while he stayed to press the siege, killing several thousand before Prefect He Qing submitted. At Chaozhou, Prefect Ma Fa refused to yield. Afraid of missing the Fuchang rendezvous, Suodu broke off and moved on. In year 15 he reached Guangzhou; Tachu ordered him back to take Chaozhou. Ma Fa tightened the defense. Suodu filled ditches and moats, built siege ladders and covered assault carts, and hammered the walls day and night. Ma Fa sent men to burn the engines by night. After more than twenty fruitless days, Suodu promised the troops: "Whoever scales the wall first wins a noble title; serving officers get a promotion." Commander Uriangqadai went up first; the other officers followed. By evening the Song line had collapsed and Chaozhou was taken. He was made vice administrator and given charge of the Fuzhou branch secretariat. Called to court, the Emperor — with Jiangnan pacified and overseas campaigns in view — made him left vice chancellor at Quanzhou to summon the southern kingdoms. In year 18 he was reassigned as right vice chancellor with the Champa branch secretariat. In year 19 he put a thousand warships to sea from Guangzhou and invaded Champa. Champa came out to fight with an army said to number two hundred thousand. Suodu led his shock troops into the fight; killed and drowned, the enemy lost more than fifty thousand. He routed them again at Dalang Lake, leaving sixty thousand dead. Champa submitted. Suodu threw up wooden fortifications and opened land for farming. He subdued the minor peoples of Wuli, Yueli, and the rest, and stockpiled one hundred fifty thousand measures of grain for the troops. In year 21 Prince of Zhennan Toqan marched on Annam; Suodu was ordered to join him, routed Annamese forces at Thanh Hóa, took Nghệ An Pass, and won over ministers Zhang Xian and Zhao Xian. Toqan posted Suodu at Thiên Trường to live off local supplies, more than two hundred li from the main army. An order to withdraw came suddenly. Toqan marched back — and Suodu knew nothing of it. Annam sent word, but he refused to believe it — and when he reached the main camp, it was deserted. Annam cut him off at the Ganman River, and Suodu was killed in the fighting. When word reached court he was posthumously made grand master of glorious emolument, with the posthumous name Xiangmin. His son was Baijianu. In Zhiyuan 5 Baijianu served under Marshal Aju at the siege of Xiangyang, helped build the new fortifications, and won repeated distinction. In year 7, attached as a hostage-attendant to Prince Heda, he helped defeat Song forces at Guanzitan. In the fourth month of year 8, Song Marshal Fan Wenhu and others drove grain convoys to Xiangyang without pause, day and night. Baijianu sailed downstream to Lumen Mountain to choke the Song supply line, sallied against Fan Wenhu's force, and piled up victories until the Henan branch secretariat made him zongba commander. He later served under Chancellor Bayan and was promoted to seal keeper. At the assault on Ezhou, Song commander-in-chief Zhao Wu came out to fight; Baijianu drove deep into the enemy line and drove them back, taking several wounds. At Shayang he raised a siege ladder against the east corner tower, fought his way onto the wall, took the place, and captured flags, bows, and armor. At the new fort he was first over the wall and took it; Song Pacification Commissioner Wang abandoned the city and fled in the night. Bayan reported Baijianu's record to the throne. Kublai was delighted and said, "I will not forget this man's name. When the army returns I mean to use him well — and I do not break my word. For now give him a woman of good family and a silver bowl as a pledge of what is to come." He joined the siege of Hanyang and hauled boats from Shawukou into the Yangzi. Song commander-in-chief Xia Gui came out to fight. Baijianu and Andasun plunged into the enemy line and broke them; the Song force scattered. They crossed to the south bank and captured a great haul of ships and armor. The fighting carried to Huangzhou. At dusk he chased Xia Gui to Mount Baihu and did not return until midnight. Soon after he took Jinniuba as well. In the first month of year 12 he and Qianhu Xue Chigan took Jilong Cave; on the march back through Ruichang they ran into Xia Gui's broken troops and beat them again. Song had sent relief for Ruichang, but the county fell before they arrived. He hit the Song relief column again and recovered five Yuan soldiers whom Song had taken prisoner. At Jiangzhou, Song Pacification Commissioner Lü Shiqing surrendered the city. He secured Chizhou to the east and met Song Councillor Jia Sidao and Sun Huchen at Dingjiazhou, chasing them more than a hundred li, taking five warships with their flags and gear, capturing Song commander Wang Wenhu, and pacifying Huangchi. Raising Xu Prefecture, Baijianu led the van and routed the enemy at Nanni Lake, capturing three hundred warships. Taiping Prefecture submitted as soon as they appeared. This owed to his father Suodu, who had talked Jiankang into surrendering. Bayan then had Yezhili review the generals' achievements. Baijianu was rewarded with two silver ingots and kept on as zongba commander. He soon followed Bayan to court, was made a jinyiwei, given a silver tally, and confirmed as zongba commander. He distinguished himself at Danyang, Lücheng, and the fall of Changzhou. At Suzhou, Song Pacification Commissioner Wang handed over the city. Xiuzhou and Huzhou fell without a fight. The armies pressed the advantage straight to Lin'an, and the Song emperor came out to surrender. In year 13 he commanded newly submitted troops garrisoning Zhenjiang. Soon after he joined Pacification Commissioner Boluhuan in attacking Taizhou and Shouzhou, was wounded, and the assault was called off. Days later he and Wanhu Ye Leqian assaulted Taizhou's new fort. Baijianu, sick but forcing himself forward, was first over the wall and took it — and was wounded twice more. He then followed Aju in taking the Yangzhou region, captured Song commander-in-chief Li Tingzhi and commander Jiang Cai, and for his service was made a wulue general with a gold tally, appointed zongguan commander, and posted to Baima Lake in Gaoyou. The branch secretariat then had Baijianu inherit his father Suodu's posts as Ying-Fu pacification commissioner and Jiankang pacification commissioner, while he kept command of his own wing. Before long he pacified Fujian, securing the cities of Qu, Wu, Xin, and the rest. At Xin'an County he killed Song Supervisor Zhao and Prefect Zhan and took Vice Prefect Jiang prisoner. En route they met a She tribal force and routed it at once. They marched east with drums rolling, and Pacification Commissioner Shen yielded Jianning Prefecture. Nanjian Prefecture fell to their assault, and Zhang Qing and Nie Wenqing escaped. Proclamations alone brought Minqing and Huai'an counties into submission. At Fuzhou they were won over by a display of might and clemency, and Pacification Commissioner Wang came out leading his men to surrender. They seized Xinghua, taking Pacification Commissioner Chen and the White Order Commander-in-chief captive. A detachment attacked Donghua Township. Zhang Shijie held Quanzhou, but soon Baijianu put the fleet to sea and chased him to Jiazi Gate off Huizhou. He pushed on to Daguan Stockade in Tong'an County and won over every coastal county and town by proclamation. Bai Wangdan and Wuhu Chen surrendered with more than three thousand war junks. That winter, in the twelfth month, the two Song princes sent Ni Zhou with a formal surrender at the camp gate. The army then marched on Guangzhou, and prefectures and counties fell in succession. The following spring he withdrew his troops in good order, then on the return march captured Desheng and other fortified camps. At the Puxian River Nie Wenqing was beaten once more and driven off. Chaozhou was stormed and taken; Ma Fa and several others were executed, and Guangdong was pacified. In the third month he set out for court escorting Ni Zhou and the surrender memorial. Before he arrived, he was made General of Resolute Valor, given a tiger tally, and appointed commander of ten thousand households. In the seventh month he had audience at Shangdu and was promoted to general superior in stabilizing the state and pacification commissioner over the overseas fan domains, with concurrent charge of Fujian maritime trade. He kept command of his wing to garrison Fujian and soon added the posts of Fujian pacification commissioner and grand marshal. Fujian was then ravaged by floods. Baijianu spent his own money to buy rice for relief, and a great many of the poor were saved. In Zhiyuan 17 he went to court and was further made regular grand master, pacification commissioner, and grand marshal. In Zhiyuan 22 he followed his father Suodu against Annam. Suodu fought to the death; Baijianu then joined Toghon and pressed the Annam frontier by land and sea, winning distinction in every engagement. In Zhiyuan 25 he was summoned by courier to the Nanjing pacification commission and ordered to levy civilian horses from five circuits. In Zhiyuan 27 he was made chief administrator of Jiankang Circuit. When Wuzong came to the throne he was transferred to chief administrator of Zhenjiang Circuit. In Zhida 4 an old battle wound reopened and he died at home.
21
Li Heng
22
西 西 殿 西 使 西 使 广西 西使西使 使 广西广 西 广 使广 广 西 殿 西 使
Li Heng, courtesy name Deqing, came of the Yumi clan. At the end of Tang the family was granted the surname Li and for generations had been lords of Western Xia. When Taizu was securing the Hexi region, a son of the Xia ruler held Unal City. When the city fell he refused to submit and died. His son Weizhong was only seven. He asked to die with his father. The commander was astonished, took him, and presented him to Prince Hésà'ér, who kept and raised him. When the succeeding prince Yixiangge came to power, Weizhong took part in securing the Central Plains and won distinction. When the Prince of Zichuan received his fief, Weizhong was made darughachi and given a gold tally. Weizhong fathered Heng, who from childhood showed unusual promise. The princess consort raised him as if he were her own son. In Zhongtong 3 Heng was appointed ministerial adjudication officer, but he yielded the post to his elder brother. When Li Tan rebelled at Lianhai, Heng went with his father, left home, and reported the revolt. Tan was furious and threw Heng's whole household into prison. After Tan was executed he was released. Kublai praised his service, made him ordo chief administrator of Zilai Circuit, gave him a gold tally, and compensated him for the property his family had lost. In Zhiyuan 7 he became general of manifest martiality and wanhu of the Yidu-Zilai new army and joined the campaign against Song. Xiangyang's defender Lü Wenhuan sallied out from time to time, and Rear Guard Commander Fan Wenhu kept sending relief. Heng led his troops to build a fort at Wanshan, blocking the west side of the city and cutting its land route. Wenhuan also sent fishing boats across the Han to scout the Yuan lines. Heng ambushed and routed them, cutting the water route as well, then pressed the assault on Fancheng. In the spring of Zhiyuan 10 Heng crossed the Han with elite troops and was first over the wall from the south. Fancheng fell, and Xiangyang surrendered. When news of the victory reached the throne, the emperor gave him a treasured sword, promoted him to general of bright martiality, and granted a gold tiger tally. In Zhiyuan 11 Chancellor Bayan gathered the armies at Xiangyang and marched on Ying Prefecture. Song blocked the Han with a fleet. Bayan entered the river at Tang Harbor, bypassed Ying, and struck Shayang and Xincheng, leaving Heng to cover the rear and beat off the pursuit. At Yangluo Fort, Song commander-in-chief Xia Gui sent his son Song to fight. Heng was first into the enemy line and took an arrow in the forehead. Bayan tried to hold him back, but Heng fought all the harder and finally shot Song dead. The armies crossed the Yangzi. Heng fought the Song from dawn to mid-afternoon. Xia Gui was routed, and E Prefecture and Hanyang both fell. For his service he was promoted to general of manifest martial authority and given five hundred taels of silver. He then followed Bayan downstream to the east. In the spring of Zhiyuan 12 Song general Gao Shijie probed Han and Mian again, and Heng was sent back to hold E Prefecture. Local strongmen had gathered mobs and were raiding Jiangling. The branch secretariat ordered Heng to suppress them. He held his army still and simply called on them to surrender. More than one hundred thousand captives were taken and all released to return to civilian life; He also forbade his troops to loot, and though gifts piled up around him he accepted none. In Zhiyuan 12 he followed right counsellor Arighaiya to Dongting Lake and captured Gao Shijie. Yue Prefecture fell; they stormed Shashi and took it. Song commander-in-chief Gao Da surrendered Jiangling, and Heng was left to hold the city. Proclamations went out to Gui, Xia, Chen, Yuan, Jing, Li, and Changde, and all submitted. Soon he was moved to Changde to hold the gateway into Hunan. An edict soon ordered a three-pronged advance. Heng was made left vice grand marshal and marched into Jiangxi under Grand Marshal Sundutai. In the ninth month he established headquarters at Jiang Prefecture. The army halted at Jianchang County and captured Commander-in-chief Xiong Fei. They then besieged Longxing. Transport Commissioner Liu Pan offered to surrender, but Heng saw through the ruse and quietly prepared. Pan duly sent elite troops in a surprise strike. Heng routed them, killing or capturing nearly all, and Pan then surrendered. Fu, Rui, Jianchang, and Linjiang fell in turn. Someone in the army came into possession of letters from Song chancellor Wen Tianxiang to former officials and people of Jianchang. Heng burned them, and public feeling settled. They attacked Ji Prefecture; Prefect Zhou Tianji surrendered, and Gan and Nan'an were secured. Guangdong military commissioner Xu Zhiliang sent a sealed letter offering the fourteen prefectures under his command. Former Jiangxi commander-in-chief Huang Wanshi also surrendered Shaowu. The Longxing commandery had accused wealthy families of colluding with the enemy and executed one hundred thirty households. When Heng returned he reviewed the cases, found them innocent, and released them all. Song chancellor Chen Yizhong and his chief general Zhang Shijie enthroned Prince Yi in Fujian, and local leaders across the counties and prefectures raced to raise troops in support. Heng sent a general who routed Wu Jun's force at Nanfeng. Shijie sent Commander-in-chief Zhang Wenhu to join Wu Jun with one hundred thousand men, determined to retake Jianchang. Heng sent another general and defeated them at Dougang. Jun fled to Wen Tianxiang at Ruijin. They were beaten again, and Tianxiang withdrew to Ting Prefecture. He sent pacification commissioner Kong Zun in pursuit, routed Zhao Mengyin's army as well, and took Ting Prefecture. When the grand marshal headquarters was dissolved he was made general of resolute valor and associate manager of the Jiangxi pacification commission, promoted to general superior in stabilizing the state, appointed pacification commissioner of Fujian, and then transferred to pacification commissioner of Jiangxi. Tianxiang retook Ting Prefecture, marched out from Xingguo County, captured several towns in succession, and pressed the siege of Gan Prefecture hard. Someone suggested that since Tianxiang's family tombs were in Ji Prefecture, exhuming them would force his surrender. Heng said, "The imperial army is here to punish defiance. What principle is there in desecrating a man's graves?" He split off troops to relieve Gan and led elite forces in secret to Xingguo. Tianxiang fled. They pursued him to Kongkeng, took his wife and daughters, captured pacification commissioner Zhao Shishang and more than twenty of his officers, and accepted the surrender of two hundred thousand men. An edict ordered him to join right counsellor Alighan and left counsellor Dong Wenbing in pursuing Prince Yi. When the commanders debated their route, all favored rushing into Fujian. Heng said, "That will not do. If all our armies mass in Fujian, they will slip into Guangdong, and we will lose Meiling Pass and Jiangxi. We should strike from Guangdong and catch them in a pincer." The others agreed. At Meiling Pass they met the Song army as expected, routed them by surprise, and the Song force fled to Qiaozhou. In Zhiyuan 14 he was made vice grand councillor with charge of the Jiangxi branch secretariat. In Zhiyuan 15 Prince Yi died. Zhang Shijie, Lu Xiufu, and other military affairs chiefs enthroned Prince Wei and held out in the Guangdong prefectures. Heng was ordered to take the field as grand marshal of Mongol and Han armies to secure the region. Heng marched on Yingde Prefecture and Qingyuan County, defeated commander-in-chief Ling Zhen and transport commissioner Wang Daofu, and entered Guangzhou. Shijie and the others withdrew to Yamen Mountain. Grand Marshal Zhang Hongfan's fleet had not yet arrived, so Heng held his army in place and sent generals to secure Mei, Xun, and the other prefectures. Ling Zhen struck at Guangzhou again. Heng routed them; they abandoned their ships and fled into the water to their deaths. Three hundred vessels were captured, more than two hundred officers including Song Mai were taken, and the rest of their force was broken at Jiaotangyue. In the second month of Zhiyuan 16 Hongfan arrived from Zhang Prefecture and made straight for Yamen Mountain. Heng marched to join him with his command. Zhang Shijie massed more than a thousand warships, lashed them together with great ropes, and built a floating palisade for defense. Heng cut off their water supply, tightening the noose day by day. When they refused surrender he formed his men on the sterns of the ships, rowed upstream from the north, and smashed their palisade. The ropes gave way, but Shijie still fought to the death. From morning until late afternoon Hongfan drove the southern wing in a combined assault and broke them completely. Lu Xiufu drowned his wife and children in the sea, then took Prince Wei in his arms and leapt into the waves to his death. More than one hundred thousand followed them to their deaths. They captured the imperial seal, the women of the inner palace, and the civil and military officials. Their chief generals Zhai Guoxiu, Ling Zhen, and others laid down their arms and surrendered. After the burning and drowning, more than eight hundred ships were still recovered. That day black mist rolled over the sea. Someone fled south by boat, and Heng took him for Prince Wei. They pursued as far as Gao and Hua, but questioning prisoners revealed that Prince Wei was already dead—the fugitive was Shijie. Shijie too drowned soon after at Hailing Harbor. The Lingnan coast was fully pacified. Heng returned to court in triumph, and the emperor rewarded him lavishly. More than two hundred officers and soldiers were honored at a feast. In Zhiyuan 17 he was made grand master for excellent counsel and left counsellor of the central secretariat with charge of the Jing-Hu branch secretariat. He forbade the seizing of commoners as slaves and servant girls; He gave relief to the hungry in Changde, Li, Chen, Yuan, and Jing; and memorialized that registered hunters beyond one thousand households should all be released. In year 19 he asked to resign his military post; his eldest son Sanmu'er, associate controller of the Jiangxi pacification commission, succeeded him as commander of ten thousand. For the Champa campaign Heng was ordered to provide grain, arms, and a hundred warships. He stayed long in the fever country and came back ill. Soon he was ordered to follow Prince Zhennan against Annam. They rafted across the sea and captured Tianchang. Annam evacuated the realm and fled by sea. Heng sealed the palace treasuries, pursued them at sea, routed their fleet, took two hundred ships, and nearly captured the crown prince. In the height of summer sickness swept the army, rains swelled, and the camps were flooded. Some argued that Annam was about to submit and urged withdrawal. Heng could not change their minds, and the army turned back. Tribal troops routed the rear guard. The prince then put Heng in command of the rearguard, fighting all the way out. A poisoned arrow struck Heng's knee, and a soldier carried him forward. At Siming the poison took hold and he died, aged fifty. He was later posthumously made grand master of splendid happiness with silver-green sash and councillor of state, with the posthumous name Wumin; and again as meritorious minister who promotes loyalty and pacifies the distant, grand preceptor, and honorary three excellencies, posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Teng. His son Sanmu'er was councillor of the Jiangxi branch secretariat; Nangiazhen was commander of ten thousand of Yidu Zilai; Xundutai was associate controller of the Hunan pacification commission. His grandson Xiechegan was vice minister of war; Xiechetu was commander of ten thousand of Yidu Banyang.
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