1
李璮小字松壽，濰州人，李全子也。 或曰璮本衢州徐氏子，父嘗為揚州司理參軍，全蓋養之為子云。 太祖十六年，全叛宋，舉山東州郡歸附，太師、國王孛魯承制拜全山東淮南楚州行省，而以其兄福為副元帥。 太宗三年，全攻宋揚州，敗死。 璮遂襲為益都行省，仍得專制其地。 朝廷數徵兵，輒詭辭不至。 憲宗七年，又調其兵赴行在，璮親詣帝言曰：「益都乃宋航海要津，分軍非便。」 帝然之，命璮歸取漣海數州。 璮遂發兵攻拔漣水相連四城，大張剋捷之功。
Li Tan, styled Songsou, was from Weizhou and was the son of Li Quan. Some accounts hold that he was originally a Xu from Quzhou, whose father had served as judicial administrator in Yangzhou and whom Li Quan adopted as his son. In Taizu's sixteenth year, Li Quan defected from the Song and submitted the Shandong prefectures. The Grand Tutor and King Pelu, exercising imperial authority, appointed him regional commissioner for Shandong, Huainan, and Chuzhou, with his elder brother Fu as deputy marshal. In Taizong's third year, Quan attacked the Song at Yangzhou, was defeated, and died. Tan then inherited the Yidu commission and continued to rule the territory as he saw fit. Whenever the court called for troops, he found excuses and did not report. In Xianzong's seventh year the court again ordered his forces to the capital. Tan went in person and said, "Yidu is a critical Song maritime choke point; splitting the army would be unwise." The emperor agreed and ordered him to go back and take several prefectures in the Lianhai region. He marched out, seized four linked cities including Lianshui, and loudly advertised his triumphs.
2
中統元年，世祖即位，加璮江淮大都督。 璮言：「近獲生口，知宋調兵將攻漣水。 且諜見許浦、射陽湖舟艦相望，勢欲出膠西，向益都，請繕城塹以備。」 詔出金符十、銀符五授璮，以賞將士有功者，且賜銀三百錠，降詔獎諭。 蒙古、漢軍之在邊者，咸聽節制。 璮復揚言：「宋呂文德合淮南兵七萬五千，來攻漣水，且規築堡以臨我。 及得賈似道、呂文德書，辭甚悖傲。 知朝廷近有內顧之憂，必將肆志於我。 乞選將益兵，臣當帥先渡淮，以雪慢書之辱。」 執政得奏，諭以「朝廷方通和議，邊將惟當固封圉。 且南人用間，其詐非一，彼既不至，毋或妄動」。 璮乃上言：「臣所領益都，土曠人稀，自立海州，今八載，將士未嘗釋甲，轉輓未嘗息肩，民力凋耗，莫甚斯時，以一路之兵，抗一敵國，衆寡不侔，人所共患。 賴陛下神武，既克漣、海二州，復破夏貴、孫虎臣十餘萬之師。 然臣豈敢恃此必敵人之不再至哉！ 且宋人今日西無掣肘，宜得并力而東。 若以水陸綴漣，而遣舟師遵海以北，擣膠、萊之虛，然後帥步騎直指沂、莒、滕、嶧，則山東非我有矣，豈可易視而不為備哉。 臣昨追敵至淮安，非不能乘勝取揚、楚，徒以執政止臣，故臣不敢深入。 若以棗陽、唐、鄧、陳、蔡諸軍攻荊山，取壽、泗，以亳、宿、徐、邳諸軍，合臣所統兵，攻揚、楚，則兩淮可定。 兩淮既定，則選兵以取江南，自守以寬民力，將無施不可，此上策也。」 因上將校馮泰等功第狀，詔以益都官銀分賞之。
In the first year of Zhongtong, when Shizu ascended the throne, Tan was made Grand Commander of the Jianghuai region. Tan reported, "We have lately taken prisoners who say the Song are massing troops to attack Lianshui. Spies also report warships massed at Xupu and Sheyang Lake, poised to break out of Jiaoxi toward Yidu. I ask that the walls and ditches be repaired in preparation." The court issued ten gold tallies and five silver tallies for Tan to reward meritorious troops, granted three hundred ingots of silver, and sent a commendatory edict. All Mongol and Han forces on the frontier were placed under his command. Tan again claimed that the Song general Lü Wende had assembled seventy-five thousand Huainan troops to attack Lianshui and was planning to build forts to threaten his position. Letters from Jia Sidao and Lü Wende that he obtained were brazenly insulting. They know the court has lately been preoccupied with internal troubles and will surely turn on us in earnest. I ask that you choose commanders and reinforce the army; I will lead the crossing of the Huai myself to avenge this insult." The chief ministers replied that the court was negotiating peace and frontier commanders should hold the border, telling him: The southerners are skilled in deception; if they have not yet attacked, do not stir rashly." Tan then memorialized: "The Yidu circuit I hold is thinly peopled. For eight years since we took Haizhou my men have never doffed their armor and the transport trains have never stopped; the people are exhausted as never before. One circuit's army against an entire enemy state is a hopeless mismatch, as everyone knows. Thanks to Your Majesty's prowess we have taken Lian and Hai and routed Xia Gui and Sun Huchen's force of more than a hundred thousand. Yet how dare I assume the enemy will not return! The Song are no longer tied down in the west and can now concentrate and strike eastward. If they pin us at Lian by land and sea, send a fleet north along the coast to raid undefended Jiao and Lai, then march infantry and cavalry on Yi, Ju, Teng, and Yi, Shandong will be lost. How can we treat that lightly or fail to prepare? When I pursued the enemy to Huai'an I could have pressed on to Yang and Chu, but the chief ministers held me back, so I did not dare advance further. If the Zaoyang, Tang, Deng, Chen, and Cai armies strike Jingshan and take Shou and Si, while the Bo, Su, Xu, and Pi armies join my command to attack Yang and Chu, both Huai regions can be secured. Once the two Huai are secure, chosen troops can take Jiangnan while we hold our ground and spare the people; then every military move will succeed. That is the best plan." He also submitted a merit roll for officers such as Feng Tai, and the court ordered Yidu official silver distributed as rewards.
3
二年正月，璮言于行中書省，以宋人聚兵糧數十萬，列艦萬三千艘于許浦，以侵內郡，而宣撫司轉輸不繼，恐一旦水陸道絕，緩急莫報。 請選精騎，倍道來援，表裏協攻，乘機深入，江淮可圖也。 既而來獻漣水捷，詔復獎諭，仍給金符十七、銀符二十九，增賜將士。 庚寅，璮輒發兵修益都城塹，且報宋人來攻漣水，詔遣阿朮、哈剌拔都、愛仙不花等悉兵赴之，仍諭度宜益兵赴調。 璮遂請節制諸道所集兵馬，且請給兵器，中書議與矢三萬，詔給矢十萬。
In the first month of the second year Tan told the Branch Secretariat that the Song had massed hundreds of thousands of troops and rations and lined up thirteen thousand ships at Xupu to raid inner districts, while Pacification Commission supply lines were failing; he feared that if land and sea routes were cut he could not report emergencies. I ask for picked cavalry sent at forced march to reinforce us, so we can strike together from within and without, press deep while the chance lasts, and take the Jianghuai. He soon reported victory at Lianshui; the court commended him again and issued seventeen gold tallies and twenty-nine silver tallies with added rewards for the troops. On the gengyin day Tan mobilized on his own to repair Yidu's walls and reported a Song attack on Lianshui. The court sent Azhu, Harabatu, Aixianbuhua, and others with full forces and told Du Yi to reinforce the mobilization as needed. Tan then asked to command troops gathered from all circuits and for weapons; the Secretariat proposed thirty thousand arrows, but the edict granted one hundred thousand.
4
三年四月，又以宋賈似道誘緫管張元、張進等書來上。 蓋璮專制山東者三十餘年，其前後所奏凡數十事，皆恫疑虛喝，挾敵國以要朝廷，而自為完繕益兵計，其謀亦深矣。 初以其子彥簡質于朝，而潛為私驛，自益都至京師質子營。 至是，彥簡遂用私驛逃歸。 璮遂反，以漣、海三城獻于宋，殲蒙古戍兵，引麾下具舟艦，還攻益都。 甲午，入之，發府庫以犒其黨，遂寇蒲臺。 民聞璮反，皆入保城郭，或奔竄山谷，由是自益都至臨淄數百里，寂無人聲。
In the fourth month of the third year he again submitted letters from the Song minister Jia Sidao trying to win over commanders-in-chief Zhang Yuan, Zhang Jin, and others. Tan had ruled Shandong autonomously for more than thirty years. Dozens of memorials he sent were bluffs and threats, using the Song to extort the court while he fortified and armed himself—his designs ran deep. He had earlier sent his son Yanjian to court as a hostage, but secretly maintained a private courier line from Yidu to the hostage quarters in the capital. Now Yanjian used that private route to escape home. Tan then rebelled, surrendered the three Lian-Hai cities to the Song, wiped out the Mongol garrisons, and led his fleet back to attack Yidu. On the jiawu day he entered the city, opened the treasuries to reward his followers, and raided Putai. When the people heard of the rebellion they fled into walled towns or scattered into the hills, and for several hundred li from Yidu to Linzi the countryside fell silent.
5
癸卯，帝聞璮反，遂下詔暴其罪。 甲辰，命諸軍討璮。 己酉，以璮故，戮中書平章王文統。 壬子，璮盜據濟南。 癸酉，命史樞、阿朮帥師赴濟南。 璮帥衆出掠輜重，將及城，官軍邀擊，大敗之，斬首四千級，璮退保濟南。 五月庚申，築環城圍之； 甲戌，圍合。 璮自是不得復出，猶日夜拒守，取城中子女賞將士，以悅其心； 且分軍就食民家，發其蓋藏以繼，不足，則家賦之鹽，令以人為食。 至是，人情潰散，璮不能制，各什伯相結，縋城以出。 璮知城且破，乃手刃愛妾，乘舟入大明湖，自投水中，水淺不得死，為官軍所獲，縛至諸王合必赤帳前。 丞相史天澤言：「宜即誅之，以安人心。」 遂與蒙古軍官囊家并誅焉。
On the guimao day the emperor learned of the rebellion and issued an edict listing Tan's crimes. On the jiachen day he ordered all armies to suppress Tan. On the jiyou day, because of Tan's rebellion, Grand Councillor Wang Wentong of the Secretariat was executed. On the renzi day Tan seized Jinan. On the guiyou day Shi Shu and Azhu were ordered to march on Jinan. Tan led his men out to raid supply trains near the city; government troops intercepted him, inflicted a crushing defeat with four thousand heads taken, and Tan fell back to defend Jinan. On the gengshen day of the fifth month they built a ring wall to besiege the city; On the jiaxu day the encirclement closed. Tan could no longer break out but still held day and night, giving the city's sons and daughters to his officers as rewards to keep their loyalty; He also sent troops to live off civilian households, seized hidden stores to keep supplies going, and when that failed levied salt per household and ordered cannibalism. By then morale collapsed beyond Tan's control; men banded in tens and hundreds and lowered themselves from the walls to escape. Knowing the city would fall, Tan killed his favorite concubine with his own hand, took a boat onto Daming Lake, and threw himself into the water; the lake was shallow and he survived, was captured, bound, and brought before Prince Qubilai's tent. Chancellor Shi Tianze said, "He should be executed at once to reassure the people." He was then executed together with the Mongol officer Nangia.
6
王文統字以道，益都人也。 少時讀權謀書，好以言撼人。 遍干諸侯，無所遇，乃往見李璮。 璮與語，大喜，即留置幕府，命其子彥簡師事之，文統亦以女妻璮。 由是軍旅之事，咸與諮決，歲上邊功，虛張敵勢，以固其位，用官物樹私恩，取宋漣、海二郡，皆文統謀也。
Wang Wentong, styled Yidao, was from Yidu. In youth he studied works of strategy and loved to sway people with his rhetoric. He petitioned lords everywhere without success, then went to see Li Tan. Tan was delighted at their talk, kept him in his headquarters, had his son Yanjian study under him, and Wentong gave his daughter to Tan in marriage. Thereafter all military matters went through him; each year he reported frontier victories, inflated enemy threats to secure his position, used public goods to buy private loyalty, and the capture of the Song prefectures Lian and Hai was his doing.
7
世祖在潛藩，訪問才智之士，素聞其名。 及即位，厲精求治，有以文統為薦者，亟召用之。 乃立中書省，以緫內外百司之政，首擢文統為平章政事，委以更張庶務。 建元為中統，詔諭天下，立十路宣撫司，示以條格，欲差發辦而民不擾，鹽課不失常額，交鈔無致阻滯。 尋詔行中書省造中統元寶交鈔，立互市于潁州、漣水、光化軍。 是年冬，初行中統交鈔，自十文至二貫文，凡十等，不限年月，諸路通行，稅賦並聽收受。
While Shizu was still heir apparent he sought men of talent and had long heard of Wentong. When he took the throne and threw himself into reform, someone recommended Wentong and he was summoned at once. He established the Secretariat to govern all departments, made Wentong its first Grand Councillor, and charged him with overhauling administration. The era was named Zhongtong; edicts went out to establish Pacification Commissions in ten circuits with regulations so corvée could be met without harassing the people, salt revenues kept steady, and paper currency kept flowing. Soon the Branch Secretariat was ordered to issue Zhongtong treasure notes and open trade markets at Yingzhou, Lianshui, and Guanghua Army. That winter Zhongtong notes were first issued in ten denominations from ten cash to two strings, valid everywhere without expiry, and accepted for taxes.
8
明年二月，世祖在開平，召行中書省事禡禡與文統，親率各路宣撫使俱赴闕。 世祖自去秋親征叛王阿里不哥于北方，凡民間差發、宣課鹽鐵等事，一委文統等裁處。 及振旅還宮，未知其可否何若，且以往者，急於用兵，事多不暇講究，所當振其紀綱者，宜在今日。 故召文統等至，責以成效，用游顯、鄭鼎、趙良弼、董文炳等為各路宣撫司，復以所議條格詔諭各路，俾遵行之。 未幾，又詔諭宣撫司，并達魯花赤管民官、課稅所官，申嚴私鹽、酒醋、麯貨等禁。
The following second month, while Shizu was at Kaiping, he summoned Branch Secretariat chief Mamma and Wentong and had all circuit Pacification Commissioners come to court with him. Since the previous autumn Shizu had been campaigning north against the rebel prince Ariq Böke; all corvée, salt, iron, and related levies were left entirely to Wentong and his colleagues. When the army returned he did not yet know how well these measures had worked; wartime urgency had left much undone, and the time to restore discipline was now. He therefore summoned Wentong and demanded results, appointed You Xian, Zheng Ding, Zhao Liangbi, Dong Wenbing, and others as circuit Pacification Commissioners, and reissued the regulations for all circuits to follow. Soon another edict told Pacification Commissions, darughachi, civilian officials, and tax officers to enforce bans on private salt, liquor, vinegar, and yeast products.
9
文統為人忌刻，初立中書時，張文謙為左丞。 文謙素以安國利民自負，故凡講論建明，輒相可否，文統積不能平，思有以陷之，文謙竟以本職行大名等路宣撫司事而去。 時姚樞、竇默、許衡，皆世祖所敬信者，文統諷世祖授樞為太子太師，默為太子太傅，衡為太子太保，外佯尊之，實不欲使朝夕備顧問於左右也。 默嘗與王鶚及樞、衡俱侍世祖，面詆文統曰：「此人學術不正，必禍天下，不可處以相位。」 世祖曰：「若是，則誰可為者？」 默以許衡對，世祖不懌而罷。 鶚嘗請以右丞相史天澤監修國史，左丞相耶律鑄監修遼史，文統監修金史。 世祖曰：「監修階銜，俟修史時定之。」
Wentong was jealous by nature; when the Secretariat was first set up Zhang Wenqian was Left Chancellor. Wenqian prided himself on serving state and people and constantly disputed Wentong's proposals; Wentong brooded until he found a way to remove him, and Wenqian was sent off to handle Pacification affairs in Daming and other circuits. Yao Shu, Dou Mo, and Xu Heng were men Shizu trusted; Wentong had him appoint them Grand Tutor, Grand Mentor, and Grand Guardian of the Heir—honors in name meant to keep them from daily counsel at court. Mo once attended Shizu with Wang E, Yao Shu, and Xu Heng and denounced Wentong to his face: "This man's learning is unsound; he will ruin the realm and must not hold the chancellorship." Shizu asked, "If so, who can?" Mo named Xu Heng; Shizu was displeased and ended the audience. Wang E once proposed that Right Chancellor Shi Tianze supervise the dynastic history, Left Chancellor Yelü Zhu the Liao history, and Wentong the Jin history. Shizu replied, "Supervisory titles will be fixed when the histories are actually compiled."
10
又明年二月，李璮反，以漣、海三城獻于宋。 先是，其子彥簡，由京師逃歸，璮遣人白之中書。 及反書聞，人多言文統嘗遣子蕘與璮通音耗。 世祖召文統問之曰：「汝教璮為逆，積有歲年，舉世皆知之。 朕今問汝所策云何，其悉以對。」 文統對曰：「臣亦忘之，容臣悉書以上。」 書畢，世祖命讀之，其間有曰：「螻蟻之命，苟能存全，保為陛下取江南。」 世祖曰：「汝今日猶欲緩頰於朕耶？」 會璮遣人持文統三書自洺水至，以書示之，文統始錯愕駭汗。 書中有「期甲子」語，世祖曰：「甲子之期云何？」 文統對曰：「李璮久蓄反心，以臣居中，不敢即發，臣欲告陛下縛璮久矣，第緣陛下加兵北方，猶未靖也。 比至甲子，猶可數年，臣為是言，姑遲其反期耳。」 世祖曰：「無多言。 朕拔汝布衣，授之政柄，遇汝不薄，何負而為此？」 文統猶枝辭傍說，終不自言「臣罪當死」，乃命左右斥去，始出就縛。 猶召竇默、姚樞、王鶚、僧子聰及張柔等至，示以前書曰：「汝等謂文統當得何罪？」 文臣皆言「人臣無將，將而必誅」。 柔獨疾聲大言曰：「宜剮！」 世祖又曰：「汝同辭言之。」 諸臣皆曰：「當死。」 世祖曰：「渠亦自服朕前矣。」
In the second month of the following year Li Tan rebelled and surrendered the three Lian-Hai cities to the Song. Earlier his son Yanjian had escaped from the capital; Tan sent word to the Secretariat. When news of the rebellion arrived, many said Wentong had sent his son Rao to exchange messages with Tan. Shizu summoned Wentong and said, "You taught Tan to rebel; everyone has known it for years. I ask what your plans were—tell me everything." Wentong replied, "I have forgotten; let me write it all out and submit it." When he finished writing, Shizu had it read aloud; it included, "If this wretch's life is spared, I guarantee to take Jiangnan for Your Majesty." Shizu said, "Do you still think you can talk your way out?" Just then Tan's messenger arrived from Ming River with three letters from Wentong; when they were shown him, Wentong turned pale and broke into a sweat. The letters mentioned a "jiazi appointment"; Shizu asked, "What does the jiazi date mean?" Wentong answered, "Li Tan long planned rebellion but dared not act while I was at court. I meant to tell Your Majesty to arrest him, but you were still campaigning in the north. The jiazi day was still years away; I said that only to delay his rebellion." Shizu said, "Enough. I raised you from the ranks and gave you power; I treated you generously—what grievance made you do this?" Wentong still hedged and would not say his crime deserved death; attendants were ordered to remove him, and only then did he go out to be bound. He then summoned Dou Mo, Yao Shu, Wang E, the monk Zicong, Zhang Rou, and others, showed them the document, and asked, "What punishment does Wentong deserve?" The civil officials said, "A subject who rebels must die." Zhang Rou alone shouted, "He should be dismembered!" Shizu said, "Say it together." All said, "Death." Shizu said, "He has already submitted before me."
11
文統乃伏誅。 子蕘，并就戮。 詔諭天下曰：「人臣無將，垂千古之彝訓； 國制有定，懷二心者必誅。 何期輔弼之僚，迺蓄姦邪之志。 平章政事王文統，起由下列，擢置台司，倚付不為不深，待遇不為不厚，庶收成效，以底丕平。 焉知李璮之同謀，潛使子蕘之通耗。 邇者獲親書之數幅，審其有反狀者累年，宜加肆市之誅，以著滔天之惡。 已於今月二十三日，將反臣王文統并其子蕘，正典刑訖。 於戲！ 負國恩而謀大逆，死有餘辜； 處相位而被極刑，時或未喻。 咨爾有衆，體予至懷。」 然文統雖以反誅，而元之立國，其規模法度，世謂出於文統之功為多云。
Wentong was then executed. His son Rao was executed with him. An edict went to the realm: "Rebellion by a minister violates eternal law; our dynastic rule is clear: double-dealing means death. Who could expect a chief counselor to nurse treachery? Grand Councillor Wang Wentong rose from humble ranks to the highest office; the trust and favor shown him were abundant, in hopes he would bring great peace. Yet he conspired with Li Tan and sent his son Rao to pass secret messages. Recent letters in his own hand prove years of treason; he deserves public dismemberment to mark his monstrous crime. On the twenty-third of this month the rebel Wang Wentong and his son Rao have been duly executed. Alas! Betraying imperial favor to plot rebellion, death still leaves guilt unpaid; a chancellor put to extreme punishment may puzzle the age. Hear this, all my people, and know my deepest mind." Yet though Wentong died a traitor, posterity largely credits him with shaping the Yuan state's institutions and scope.
12
會兵起汝、潁，天下皆震動，帝屢詔宗王，以北方兵南討。 阿魯輝帖木兒知國事已不可為，乃乘間擁衆數萬，屯于木兒古兀徹之地，而脅宗王以叛。 且遣使來言於帝曰：「祖宗以天下付汝，汝何故失其太半，盍以國璽授我，我當自為之。」 帝聞，神色自若，徐曰：「天命有在，汝欲為則為之。」 於是降詔開諭，俾其悔罪，阿魯輝帖木兒不聽。 乃命知樞密院事禿堅帖木兒等擊之。 行至稱海，起哈剌赤萬人為軍。 其人素不習為兵，而一旦驅之使戰，既陣，兵猶未接，皆脫其號衣，奔阿魯輝帖木兒軍中，禿堅帖木兒軍遂敗績，單騎還上都。
When rebellion broke out in Ru and Ying the realm was shaken, and the emperor repeatedly ordered the princes to march southern campaigns with northern troops. Arugh Temür saw the dynasty could not be saved, seized the moment to gather tens of thousands at Mu'er Gu'uji, and forced princes into rebellion. He sent envoys telling the emperor, "Our forefathers gave you the realm and you have lost more than half of it. Hand me the imperial seal and I will rule myself." The emperor heard this calmly and said slowly, "Heaven's mandate endures; do as you will." He then sent edicts urging repentance, but Arugh Temür would not heed them. He ordered Privy Council director Toqash Temür and others to attack him. Reaching Chinghai, he raised ten thousand Kharchin as an army. They were not trained soldiers and were suddenly sent to battle; before the lines met they stripped their uniforms and defected to Arugh Temür. Toqash Temür's force was routed and he fled alone to Shangdu.
13
至正二十一年，更命少保、知樞密院事老章，以兵十萬擊之，且俾阿魯輝帖木兒之弟忽都帖木兒從征軍中，遂大敗其衆。 阿魯輝帖木兒遂謀東遁。 其部將脫驩知其勢窮，乃與宗王囊加、玉樞虎兒吐華擒阿魯輝帖木兒送闕下，帝命誅之。 於是加老章太傅，脫驩知遼陽行樞密院事，仍以忽都帖木兒襲封陽翟王，而宗王囊加等，悉議加封。 尋又詔加封老章和寧王，以嶺北行省丞相知行樞密院事，俾鎮北藩云。
In Zhizheng 21 he sent Junior Guardian and Privy Council director Lao Zhang with one hundred thousand men, including Arugh Temür's brother Qutu Temür in the army, and they crushed the rebel force. Arugh Temür then planned to flee eastward. His officer Toqan, seeing defeat was near, joined Princes Nangia and Yushu Huer Tuhua in seizing Arugh Temür and sending him to court, where the emperor ordered his execution. Lao Zhang was made Grand Tutor, Toqan director of the Liaoyang Branch Privy Council, Qutu Temür enfeoffed as Prince of Yangdi, and Princes Nangia and others were all considered for enhanced titles. Soon Lao Zhang was further enfeoffed as Prince of Hening, made Liaobei Branch Secretariat chancellor acting Privy Council director, and charged with guarding the northern frontier.