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History of Song: Biography of Meng Gong in Vietnamese History of Song: Biography of Du Gao |
History of Song chapter 412: Biography of Meng Gong (宋史孟珙傳•卷412)
1.孟珙，字璞玉，隨州棗陽人。四世祖安，嘗從岳飛軍中有功。嘉定十年，金人犯襄陽，駐團山，父宗政時爲趙方將，以兵禦之。珙料其必窺樊城，獻策宗政由羅家渡濟河，宗政然之。越翼日，諸軍臨渡佈陣，金人果至，半渡伏發，殲其半。宗政被檄援棗陽，臨陣嘗父子相失，珙望敵騎中有素袍白馬者，曰：「吾父也。」急麾騎軍突陣，遂脫宗政。以功補進勇副尉。
Meng Gong, style Pu Yu, was a native of Caoyang, Suizhou. His great-great-grand father (four generations earlier counting from his father) used to enlist in the army of Yue Fei and achieved some merits. In Jiading 10 (Feb/8/1217 đến Jan/27/1218), the Jin army encroached Xiangyang, they camped in mountain of Tuan (團山). At that time, his father Meng Zongzheng (宗政) was a general under the command of Zhao Fang (趙方), he led his troops to defend that place. Meng Gong predicted that the enemy had some intention on Fancheng (樊城). He offered a stratagem to his father Zongzheng: to cross the river from the port Luojia (羅家). Zongzheng thought that this was the right move. After several days, the whole army formed formation on the opposite bank, the Jin army arrived as predicted. Half-way crossing the river, they were ambushed and half of them lost their lives. Zongzheng was ordered by the emperor to reinforce Caoyang. Right at the moment when they engaged in battles, the father and son lost each other. Meng Gong saw that among the enemy cavalry, there was a man who dressed in white robe and rode a white horse, he said: "That is my father!" He hurriedly ordered his cavalry to furiously engaged in battle, and as such, his father Zongzheng was able to escape. For his achievement he was appointed to be the Second-in-command of the Courageously Advance Army.
2.十二年，完顏訛可步騎二十萬分兩路攻棗陽，環集城下，珙登城射之，將士驚服。宗政命珙取它道劫金人，破砦十有八，斬首千餘級，大俘軍器以歸，金人遁，以功升下班祗應。
In Jiading 12 (Jan/18/1219 đến Feb/5/1220), Wanyan Eke (完顏訛可) had 200,000 cavalry and infantry splitting into two roads to invade Caoyang. They surrounded the city and were below the walls. Meng Gong ascended on top of the wall and shot them, his men was flabbergasted and admired him. Meng Zongzheng ordered Gong to find a different rout to attack the Jin. He annihilated 18 camps, decapitated more than a thousand enemy's head, as well as captured a large quantity of military equipments before he returned. The Jin fled afterwards. For his success, he was promoted to be (?)
3.十四年，入謁制置使趙方，一見奇之，辟光化尉，轉進武校尉。十六年，以功特授承信郎。丁父憂，制置使起復之，珙辭，訖葬趣就職，又辭，轉成忠郎。理宗即位，特授忠翊郎，尋差峽州兵馬監押兼在城巡檢，京湖制置司差提督虎翼突騎軍馬，又辟京西第五副將，權管神勁左右軍統制。
In Jiading 14 (Jan/25/1221 đến Feb/12/1222), Meng Gong met and bowed to the Military Commissioner (制置使) Zhao Fang (趙方). At first sight, Fang could tell there was something extraordinary about him. He was appointed to be the Commander of Guanghua, then was transferred and promoted to be Wujin (進武) Commandant. In Jiading 16, he must attend the funeral of his father. The Military Commissioner Zhao Fang wished to employ him in his service, but Meng Gong (politely) refused. Zhao Fang then suggested that after the funeral mourning period ended, Gong should immediately assumed his duty, yet Gong once again declined. He was transferred to be (?). When the emperor Song Lizong (宋理宗) was enthroned, he was especially entrusted to be (?). Not long after this, he was appointed to be the Supervisor of Militia of Xiazhou (峽州), while also served as Executive Police Chief of the City. Then he was appointed to be the Military Governor of the Command Headquarter of Jinghu, Commander-in-Chief of the Tiger Wings Cavalry Army. He was then promoted to be the Fifth-Ranking Vice General of Jingxi, temporarily served as the Commandant of the Left and Right Wing of the Shenjing Army.
4.初，宗政招唐、鄧、蔡壯士二萬餘人，號「忠順軍」，命江海總之，衆不安，制置司以珙代海，珙分其軍爲三，衆乃帖然。紹定元年，珙白制置司創平堰于棗陽，自城至軍西十八里，由八疊河經漸水側，水跨九阜，建通天槽八十有三丈，溉田十萬頃，立十莊三轄，使軍民分屯，是年收十五萬石。又命忠順軍家自畜馬，官給芻粟，馬益蕃息。二年，升京西第五正將、棗陽軍總轄，本軍屯駐忠順三軍。明年，差京西兵馬都監。丁母憂。又明年，起復京西兵馬鈐轄、棗陽軍駐劄，仍總三軍。
Previously, Meng Zongzheng recruited more than 20,000 strong men from Tangzhou (唐), Dengzhou (鄧) and Saizhou (蔡). He called them the Loyal and Obedient Army (忠順軍). Jiang Hai was ordered to command them, but they were unruly. The Headquarter of Military Commissioner then led Meng Gong to replace Jiang Hai. Gong divided this army into three groups and they willingly followed his arrangement. In Shaoding 1, Meng Gong suggested establishing Pingyan (平堰) () in Caoyang to the Military Commissioner Zhao Fang, running 18 li from the city to the military headquarter, from the Ba Die river (八疊河) through the bank of Jian Shui (漸水). The water flows through nine mountains. They should build a "connecting to heaven" canal that was 83 zhang in width to irrigate 100,000 mu of farmland. They should establish 10 estates and three he, then the soldiers and civilians divided lands to till the field. That year, they were able to harvest 150,000 shi of food. The family of the Loyal and Obedient Army was ordered to raise horses themselves while officials would provide fodders. Horses increased in great number. In Shaoding 2 (Feb/8/1228 đến Jan/26/1229), Meng Gong was promoted to be the Fifth-Rank General, Commander of Caoyang Army. The Caoyang army stationed where the Loyal and Obedient Army was. The next year (Jan/16/1230 đến Feb/3/1231), he was appointed to be the Military Director in Chief of Jingxi. He had to attend the funeral of his mother as she passed away. He was then latter appointed to be the Military Administrator of Infantry and Cavalry of Jingxi, Caoyang Army Detached from Caoyang. He then assumed control of the three Loyal and Obedient Army as before.
() The name suggestes that this is a dike. 平 means to FLAT where as 堰 means a dike.
5.六年，大元將那顏倴盞追金主完顏守緒，逼蔡，檄珙戍鄂，討金唐、鄧行省武仙。仙時與武天錫及鄧守移剌瑗相掎角，爲金盡力，欲迎守緒入蜀，犯光化，鋒剽甚。天錫者，鄧之農夫，乘亂聚衆二十萬爲邊患。珙逼其壘，一鼓拔之，壯士張子良斬天錫首以獻。是役獲首五千級，俘其將士四百餘人，戶十二萬二十有奇，乃授江陵府副都統制，賜金帶。
In Shaoding 6, the general of the Great Yuan (Mongols) Nayan Benzhan () pursued the emperor of Jin Wanyan Shouxu (Jin Aizong) and approached Caizhou (蔡). Meng Gong was ordered to defend Ezhou (鄂) and attack the Branch Secretariat of Tangzhou (唐) and Dengzhou (鄧) of Jin named Wu Xian (武仙). At the time, Wu Xian, together with Wu Tianxi (武天錫) and the defender of Dengzhou (鄧) Yila Yuan formed a pincer attack on Song. They all wanted to defend Jin to their last breath. Their intention was to take Shouxu to Shu (Sichuan). As such, they encroached Guanghua (光化), their vanguard was very powerful. Wu Tianxi was originally a peasant of Dengzhou. He gathered 200,000 men during the chaotic time and became a threat to the border security (of Song dynasty). Gong approached his fortification and within just one sound of drums he was able to take it. The brave soldier Zhang Ziliang cut off Yang Tianxi's head and submitted to Meng Gong. In this battle, Gong was able to take 5000 heads, captured more than 400 generals and soldiers, together with 120,020 families. As such, he was promoted to be Vice Supreme Commandant of Jiangling and was bestowed a golden belt.
6.制置司檄珙問邊事，珙曰：「金人若向呂堰，則八千人不爲少，然須木查、騰雲、呂堰等砦受節制乃可濟。」已而劉全、雷去危兩部與金人戰於夏家橋，小捷。有頃，金人犯呂堰，珙喜曰：「吾計得矣。」亟命諸軍追擊呂堰，進逼大河，退逼山險，砦軍四合，金人棄輜重走，獲甲士五十有二，斬首三千，馬牛橐駝以萬計，歸其民三萬二千有奇。瑗遣其部曲馬天章奉書請降，得縣五，鎮二十二，官吏一百九十三，馬軍千五百，步軍萬四千，戶三萬五千三百，口十二萬五千五百五十三。珙入城，瑗伏階下請死，珙爲之易衣冠，以賓禮見。
The Headquarter of Military Comissioner (制置司) asked Gong about matters pertaining to border security, Gong replied that: "If the Jin attacked Lü Yan (呂堰), then our 8000 troops was a not small force, but we need to subject the three forts Mu Zha (木查), Teng Yun (騰雲) and Lü Yan to tight control so that they could come to assist each other." Not long after this, the subordinate commanders Liu Quan (劉全) and Lei Quwei (雷去危) fought with the Jin on the Xiajia bridge (夏家橋) and achieved a small victory. Then after this, the Jin army encroached Lü Yan, Meng Gong was happy and said: "My plan has worked out!" He immediately ordered the whole army to pursue and attack Lü Yan fort. Forward, they advanced to approach the great river. Backward, they retreated to get close to the rugged mountains. The army of all four forts joined force together. The Jin army abandoned their baggage trains and escaped. The Song army captured 52 armoured men, cut off 3000 heads, as well as more than 10,00 horses, cows and camels. Slightly more than 32,000 familes were returned. Yila Yuan ordered his subordinate Ma Tianzhang (馬天章) to submit a message expressing his wish to surrender. The Song was able to capture 5 counties, 22 towns, 193 officials, 1500 cavalrymen, 14,000 infantrymen, 35,300 families, 125,553 people. Gong entered the city, Yila Yuan bowed down to the steps and asked to be execute. Gong, however, let him change his cloth and treated him as a guest.
7.初，仙屯順陽，爲宋軍所撓，退屯馬蹬。金順陽令李英以縣降，申州安撫張林以州降，珙言：「歸附之人，宜因其鄉土而使之耕，因其人民而立之長，少壯籍爲軍，俾自耕自守，才能者分以土地，任以職使，各招其徒以殺其勢」制置司是之。七月己酉，仙愛將劉儀領壯士二百降，珙問仙虛實，儀陳：「仙所據九砦，其大砦石穴山，以馬蹬、沙窩、岵山三砦蔽其前；三砦不破，石穴未易圖也。若先破離金砦，則王子山砦亦破，岵山、沙窩孤立，三帥成禽矣。」珙翼日遣兵向離金，廬秀執黑旗帥衆入砦，金人不疑爲宋軍，乃分據巷道，大呼縱火，掩殺幾盡。是夜，壯士楊青等搗王子山砦，護帳軍酣寢，王建入帳中，斬金將首囊佩之，平明視之，金小元帥也。
Before this, Wu Xian stationed his army in Shunyang (順陽) and was harassed by the Song army. He thus retreated to Madeng (馬蹬). The District Magistrate of Jin named Li Ying surrendered his district, the Military Commissioner Zhang Lin also brought his prefecture to the Song. Meng Gong said: "Regarding those who have come to surrender and submit, we should return their lands to them so that they can till the field. We should let them elect their leaders among themselves. Those who are young but strong should be registered to be subjected to military duties, thus making it possible for them to self-sustain and defend themselves. Those who show talents should be assigned a plot of land and appointed them to be officials. Each of them would then recruit their own followers so that the power of those who newly come to submit would diminish." The Headquarter of Military Comissioners approved Meng Gong's opinion. In the seventh month, jiyou, Wu Xian's favourite general Liu Yi (劉儀) headed a group of 200 strong men coming to surrender. Meng Gong asked him about the actual situation of Wu Xian's army. Liu Yi said: "Wu Xian occupied nine forts. The greatest fort was called Shixue Shan (石穴山). This fort relied on three smaller forts Madeng (馬蹬), Shawo (沙窩), Hushan (岵山) to guard its front. If these three forts are not taken, then Shixue Shan great fort could not be easily assaulted. If we first take Lijin (離金) fort, then Wangzishan (王子山) would also fall into our hands. Once that is done, then the three forts Madeng, Shawo and Hushan could also be easily capture. The next day, Meng Gong ordered his troops to attack Lijin fort, their commanders Lu Xiu held the black banner to lead them into the fort. The Jin troops did not suspect that they were Song soldiers. They divided their forces to occupy the roadways and shouted loudly while setting fire to the fort. They killed almost everyone by surprise. That night, the strong man Yang Qing (楊青) harrassed Wangzishan fort. Those who guarded the fort were in deep sleep. Wang Jian (王建) entered their tents and cut off the head of the Jin general and put it in a bag. When the sun rises, he peek at it and realized that that was the head of a Vice Marshal.
8.丙辰，出師馬蹬，遣樊文彬攻其前門，成明等邀截西路，一軍圍訖石烈，一軍圍小總帥砦，火燭天，殺僇山積，餘逸去者復爲成明伏軍所得，壯士老少萬二千三百來歸。師還，至沙窩西，與金人遇，大捷。是日，三戰三克。未幾，丁順等又破默候里砦。珙召儀曰：「此砦既破，板橋、石穴必震，汝能爲我招之乎？」儀曰：「晉德與花腿王顯、金鎮撫安威故舊，招之必來。」乃遣德行，儀又請選婦人三百偽逃歸，懷招軍榜以向，珙從之。威見德，敘情好甚歡，介德往見顯，顯即日以書乞降。德復請珙遣劉儀候之。顯軍約五千，猶未解甲，珙令作栲栳陣；入陣，周視良久，乃去，如素所撫循；饗以牛酒，皆醉飽歌舞。珙料武仙將上岵山絕頂窺伺，令樊文彬詰旦奪岵山，駐軍其下，前當設伏，後遮歸路。已而仙衆果登山，及半，文彬麾旗，伏兵四起，仙衆失措，枕藉崖谷，山爲之赬，殺其將兀沙惹，擒七百三十人，棄鎧甲如山。薄暮，珙進軍至小水河，儀還，具言仙不欲降，謀往商州依險以守，然老稚不願北去，珙曰：「進兵不可緩。」夜漏十刻，召文彬等受方略，明日攻石穴九砦。丙辰，蓐食啟行，晨至石穴。時積雨未霽，文彬患之，珙曰：「此雪夜擒吳元濟之時也。」策馬直至石穴，分兵進攻，而以文彬往來給事。自寅至巳力戰，九砦一時俱破，武仙走，追及於鯰魚砦，仙望見，易服而遁。復戰於銀葫蘆山，軍又敗，仙與五六騎奔。追之，隱不見，降其衆七萬人，獲甲兵無算。還軍襄陽，轉修武郎、鄂州江陵府副都統制。
Bingchen, the army of Meng Gong approached Madeng fort. Gong ordered Fan Wenbin (樊文彬) to attack its front gate, Cheng Ming (成明) cut off the western path. An army was responsible for surrounding Qishilie (訖石烈) fort, another army was tasked with surrounding Xiaozongshi (小總帥) fort, fire brightened up the sky, enemy's bodies piled up like mountain. Those who fled fell into the ambush set up by Cheng Ming and were captured. 12,300 strong men came to surrender. The army returned and encountered the enemy in the west of Shawo fort. They scored a great victory. On that day, the army engaged three times and won all three. Not long after this, Ding Shun (丁順) captured Mohouli (默候里) fort. Meng Gong asked Liu Yi to come to ask: "This fort was now captured. Upon learning this, those in Banqiao (板橋) and Shixueshan fort would be deeply shaken, could you came there and called them to surrender on my behalf?" Liu Yi responded: "Jin De (晉德) and Huatui Wangxian (花腿王顯) were all acquaintances of the the Prison Guard An Wei (安威) of Jin. If these two came to ask for surrender, then An Wei would certainly come." Meng Gong asked Jin De to go first. Liu Yi then asked Gong to select 300 women to pretend to go back to surrender, carrying with them an announcement that calls for surrender. Meng Gong approved Liu Yi's suggestion. An Wei, upon meeting Jian De, was very happy and expressed his friendliness. An Wei introduced Jian De to Huatui Wangxian, Wangxian immediately wrote a letter of submission on that day. Jin De asked Meng Gong to let Liu Yi to meet Wangxian. Troops under Wangxian's command numbered some 5000, they had not submitted (literally put down their armours). Meng Gong ordered his men to form kaolao formation. He entered the formation, looking around for a while, and the left. He looks to be pleased as usual. Meng Gong set up a banquet with wind and and let the men of Wangxian to be both drunk and full, while letting them dancing and singing. Meng Gong predicted that Wu Xian might ascend the top of mount Huxian and stealthily scouted around. He ordered Fan Wenbin to capture that mountain top in the early morning of the next day and stationed his troops there. Wenbin set up an ambush in the front while cut off the retreat rout in the back. Not long after this, Wu Xian's troops ascended the moutain as expected. Waiting until they were half-way up on the mountain, Wenbin waved his flags and his soldiers rise up from all sides, Wu Xian's men were totally panic, their bodies piled up on each other on the mountain, dyeing it red with their blood. killing their general Wusha Re (兀沙惹), capturing 730 men. Their armours were thrown down like mountain. At sunset, Meng Gong ordered his army to advance to the Xiaoshui river (小水河). Liu Yi came back and reported that Wu Xian was not willing to surrender. He intended to arrive at Shangzhou (商州) and using the difficult terrain there to defend himself. Yet, those who were old or young were not willing to run to the north. Meng Gong said: "We could not afford to delay, march on!" In middle of the night, at ten ke (Chinese way of counting hours), Meng Gong summoned Fan Wenbin and informed him of the general strategy. The next day, they attacked Shixueshan fort and nine other forts. Bingchen, Gong's troops were allowed to eat breakfast at a very early hour, and they arrived at Shixueshan fort early in the morning. At that time, rain kept pouring non-stop, Fan Wenbin was worried about this. Meng Gong said: "This snowing night was the opportunity to capture Wu Yuanji (吳元濟) ()." He whipped his horse and rode to Shixueshan. He divided his army and assaulting the fort, Fan Wenbin was tasked with supporting the main army. They ferociously engaged in battle from yin (from 3 to 5am) till si (from 9am to 11am). All nine forts were captured at the same time. Wu Xian fled. Gong's army pursued them to Nianyu (鯰魚) fort. Wu Xian observed around, changed his attires and then fled. Two sides fought again in the Yinhulu mountain (銀葫蘆山, literally Silver Gourd Mountain), Wu Xian was defeated again. He fled with 5 or 6 cavalrymen. The Song pursued them but they all hid and the pursuers could not find out their whereabouts. 70,000 men of Wu Xian surrendered, Meng Gong's men captured so many armours that they lost count. His army then returned to Xiangyang (襄陽). He was transferred to serve as (?) and as Vice Supreme Commander of Jianglin and Ezhou.
9.大元兵遣宣撫王楫約共攻蔡，制置使謀於珙，珙請以二萬人行，因命珙盡護諸將。金兵二萬騎繇真陽橫山南來，珙鼓行而前，金人戰敗，卻走，追至高黃陂，斬首千二百級。倴盞遣兔花忒、沒荷過出、阿悉三人來迓，珙與射獵，割鮮而飲，馳入其帳。倴盞喜，約爲兄弟，酌馬湩飲之。金兵萬人自東門出戰，珙遮其歸路，掩入汝河，擒其偏裨八十有七人。得蔡降人，言城中饑，珙曰：「已窘矣，當盡死而守，以防突圍。」珙與倴盞約，南北軍毋相犯。決堰水，布虎落。倴盞遣萬戶張柔帥精兵五千人入城，金人鉤二卒以往，柔中流矢如蝟，珙麾先鋒救之，挾柔以出。撥發官宋榮不肅，將斬之，衆下馬羅拜以請，猶杖之。黎明，珙進逼石橋，鉤致生俘郭山，戰少卻。金人突至，珙躍馬入陣，斬山以徇，軍氣復張，殊死戰，進逼柴潭立柵，俘金人百有二，斬首三百餘級。翼日，命諸將奪柴潭樓。金人爭樓，諸軍魚貫而上。金人又飾美婦人以相蠱，麾下張禧等殺之，遂拔柴潭樓，俘其將士五百三十有七人。蔡人恃潭爲固，外即汝河，潭高於河五六丈，城上金字型大小樓伏巨弩，相傳下有龍，人不敢近，將士疑畏。珙召麾下飲，再行，曰：「柴潭非天造地設，樓伏弩能及遠而不可射近，彼所恃此水耳，決而注之，涸可立待。」皆曰：「堤堅未易鑿。」珙曰：「所謂堅者，止築兩堤首耳，鑿其兩翼可也。」潭果決，實以薪葦，遂濟師攻城，擒其兩將斬之，獲其殿前右副點檢溫端，磔之城下，進逼土門。金人驅其老稚熬爲油，號「人油炮」，人不堪其楚，珙遣道士說止之。
The army of the Great Yuan sent the Pacification Commissioner Wang Ji (王楫) come to Meng Gong's place to plan for a joint attack on Caizhou (蔡). The Military Commissioner discussed the matters with Meng Gong, Gong asked for 20,000 men for the campaign. As such, Gong was ordered to support all generals. 20,000 horsemen of Jin dynasty rode to the south from Zhenyang (真陽), Hengshan (橫山) (mountain Heng). Meng Gong sounded the drum and advanced, the Jin was defeated in battle and fled. The Song pursued them to Gaohangpi (高黃陂) (literally means high and yellow mountain slope). They collected 1,200 heads of the enemy. Nayan Benzhan ordered three men Tuhuate (兔花忒), Meiheguo (沒荷過) and Axi (阿悉) to welcome Meng Gong (to their camp). Gong went hunting with them, cutting fresh meat, drinking and riding up to their tent. Benzhan liked him and wished to become his sworn brother. He poured horse milk (for Meng Gong) and they drunk it together. The Jin numbered 10,000 men came out from the eastern gate to battle, Meng Gong cut off their retreating route, took them by surprise and crossed Ruhe (汝河) (river Ru), capturing 87 enemy subordinate generals. His troops captured a surrendered prisoner from Caizhou who said that the city already ran out of provisions. Gong said: "The situation inside is already desperate, they would defend themselves to their last breath, we ought to watch out for any attempt to break out." Meng Gong and Nayan Benzhan came to an agreement that the northern and souther army would not mix up together. They would drain the dike and set up wooden ramparts. Benzhan ordered the wanhu Zhang Ru (張柔) to lead an elite force numbered 5000 to enter the city. The Jin people used hooks to pull off two soldiers and dragged them away. Zhang Ru was hit by numerous arrows to the point where he looked like a hedgehog. Gong led the vanguard to rescue him. Gong grabbed Zhang Ru and escaped from the scene. The Dispatcher Ma Rong showed disrespect, Meng Gong almost had him execute, but the men dismounted and asked Gong to pardon him. Ma Rong was beaten by sticks later. As the sun was about rise, Gong's army approached Shiqiao (石橋) (literally means the stone bridge). His troops used hooks to capture alive Guo Shan (郭山). His army slightly backed off, the Jin suddenly rushed forth, Gong jumped on his horse and entered the enemy's formation. He cut off Guo Shan's head to make an example, which enlivened the fighting spirit of the army one more time, they fought without caring about their lives, and thus made an advance towards the tower Chaitan (柴潭樓) (literally the tower of the Chai swamp) while setting up wooden ramparts. They captured 200 Jin soldiers, decapitated 300 heads. The next day, Meng Gong ordered all generals to capture Chaitan tower. The Jin made an attempt to wrestle the tower from the Song, the generals took their turn to climb up the tower. The Jin sent forth women with makeups to distract their enemy, but Gong's subordinate Zhang Xi (張禧) slayed them all, thus the Song army captured the tower and 537 generals and soldiers from the enemy. The people of Caizhou counted on the artificial swamp as an obstacle. Outside was the Ruhe (river Ru). The swamp was higher than the river level 5 to 6 zhang. On top of the city wall were big and small towers shaped like the character "jin" (金) , in which hidden a large crossbow. Legend had it that there was a dragon down there, men did not dare to come close. The generals and soldiers were afraid of it. Meng Gong summoned his generals for a drink. After the second drink, he said: "The Chai swamp was not something formed by nature, the crossbow installed in the tower could only reach our troops from afar, tt was not effective in close distance. Our enemy only counted on this river. If we break the dike and drain the swamp, then it would be empty." All the generals said: "The dike was particularly sturdy, it was not easy to chisel it." Gong responded: "The reason why the dike was sturdy was because of its head and tail, if we chisel its two wings (or sides), then it will be broken." The swamp was indeed drained, the army used firewoods and grass to fill up the hole to cross the swamp and stormed the city. They captured two enemy generals and executed them. The Right Vice Place Inspectorate General Wen Duan also fell into the Song army hands. His body was torn to pieces below the city wall. The Song approached the city gate made of earth. The Jin cooked the old and young with boiling oil. They called it "human oil bun". The people could not withstand the pains inflicted to them. Meng Gong sent a Daoist priest to persuade them to stop this calamity.
10.端平元年正月辛丑，黑氣壓城上，日無光，降者言：「城中絕糧已三月，鞍靴敗鼓皆糜煮，且聽以老弱互食，諸軍日以人畜骨和芹泥食之，又往往斬敗軍全隊，拘其肉以食，故欲降者衆。」珙下令諸軍銜枚，分運雲梯布城下。己酉，珙帥師向南門，至金字樓，列雲梯，令諸將聞鼓則進，馬義先登。趙榮繼之，萬衆競登，大戰城上，降其丞相烏古論栲栳，殺其元帥兀林達及偏裨二百人。門西開，招倴盞入，江海執其參政張天綱以歸。珙問守緒所在，天綱曰：「城危時即取寶玉置小室，環以草，號泣自經，曰：『死便火我』，煙焰未絕。」珙與倴盞分守緒骨，得金諡寶、玉帶、金銀印牌有差。還軍襄陽，特授武功郎、主管侍衛馬軍行司公事。擢建康府都統制兼權侍衛馬軍行司職事。
Duanping 1, I, xinchou (February/1/1234), black smoke filled the city. Sunlight could not shine upon it (due to black smoke). A surrenderer said: "The city has run out of food for 3 months. Horse saddles and leather boots were all cooked. I also heard that the old and weak are eating each other, while soldiers day by day mix human and animal bones with parsley and mud to consume. Furthermore, they usually killed the whole squad of surrendered enemy troops and cut off their meat to eat. As such, a lot of people want to surrender." Meng Gong ordered the whole army to hold a metallic bit in their mouth (), passed on the siege ladders and distributed them under the city wall. Jiyou, Gong commanded his troops to head towards the southern gate. They approached the tower shaped like a character jin (金字樓), placed the ladder against the wall, and ordered all the generals to climb up upon the sound of drums. General Ma Yi (馬義) was the first to ascend to the top, then Zhao Rong (趙榮) followed him. Ten thousand soldiers rushed against each other to climb. A great battle occured on the city wall. The Grand Councilor Wugu Lunkaolao (烏古論栲栳) surrendered, the Marshal Wulinda (兀林達) and 200 subordinate commanders were killed in action. The western gate was opened so that Nayan Benzhan (and the Mongols) could enter the city. Jiang Hai (江海) captured the Vice Grand Councilor Zhang Tiangang (張天綱) and brought him back to Meng Gong. Gong asked where was the Jin emperor Wanyan Shouxu, Tiangang answered: "When the situation inside the city turns hopeless, our emperor brought jewels and pears to a small chamber, then surrounded himself with dried grass, shed tears and and hung himself. His last words were: "Once I died, burnt my own body." Fire and smoke kept burning afterwards." Meng Gong and Nayan Benzhan shared the ashes of the Jin emperor Wanyan Shouxu. They obtained the emperor's jade seal, a jade belt, gold and silver seals and command tokens. The army of Meng Gong returned to Xiangyang. He was especially appointed to be Military General of Merit, Metropolitan Cavalry Command in Charge. He was then elevated to Supreme Commandant of Jiankang Prefecture while concurrently and temporarily served as Administrative Official of the Metropolitan Cavalry Headquarter.
() The original word is 銜枚. 枚 means horse bit. These words were also employed by Ou Yangxiu in his poem "An Autumn Dirge". A translation of it could be found in Hebert Giles, A History of Chinese Literature, p.215-216. He rendered this phrase 銜枚疾走 as "bit in mouth"
11.太常寺簿朱楊祖、看班祗候林拓朝八陵，諜云大元兵傳宋來爭河南府，哨已及盟津，陝府、潼關、河南皆增屯設伏，又聞淮閫刻日進師，衆畏不前。珙曰：「淮東之師，由淮、泗溯汴，非旬餘不達，吾選精騎疾馳，不十日可竣事；逮師至東京，吾已歸矣。」於是晝夜兼行，與二使至陵下，奉宣御表，成禮而歸。制置司奏留珙襄陽兼鎮北軍都統制。鎮北軍者，珙所招中原精銳百戰之士萬五千餘人，分屯漅北、樊城、新野、唐、鄧間。俄令赴樞密院稟議，授帶御器械。二年，授主管侍衛馬軍司公事，時暫黃州駐劄，朝辭，上曰：「卿名將之子，忠勤體國，破蔡滅金，功績昭著。」珙對曰：「此宗社威靈，陛下聖德，與三軍將士之勞，臣何力之有？」帝問恢復，對曰：「願陛下寬民力，蓄人材，以俟機會。」帝問和議，對曰：「臣介胄之士，當言戰，不當言和。」賜齎甚厚。兼知光州，又兼知黃州。
The Chamberlain of Ceremonials (太常) and the Registrar of the Court (寺簿) Zhou Yangzu (朱楊祖) and the Apprentice Usher Lin Tuo (林拓) came to visit the mausoleums of eight emperors (of Northern Song dynasty). Intelligence reported that words passed among the Great Yuan (the Mongols) that the Song dynasty came to wrestle away Henan Prefecture from them. The advance vanguard has reached Meng Jin (盟津), Shaan Fu (陝府), Tong Guan (潼關). Henan augmented troops to set up ambushes. It was also heard that Huai (淮) general was scheduled to advance his army, but his soldiers were afraid and refused to go forward. Meng Gong said: "They army of Huaidong (淮東) which come from Huai river and Si (泗) river to reach Bianjing (汴) would not arrive there before a week. If I handpicked elite cavalry and let them move forward, then everything is done shorter than ten days. Once the army has already reached Dongjing (東京), my cavalry would have returned." As such, his force quickly marched night and day to meet the two ambassadors in the mausoleums, announced imperial edict, performed proper rituals and then returned. The Headquarter of the Military Commissioner submitted a memorial to request that Meng Gong remained in Xiangyang (襄陽) and concurrently served as the Supreme Commandant of the Zhenbei Army (鎮北). The Zhenbei army consisted of 15,000 soldiers who had gone through hundreds of battles and was recruited by Meng Gong in the Central Plain. They were divided to defend Chaobei (漅北), Fancheng (樊城), Xinye (新野), Tangzhou (唐) and Dengzhou (鄧). Not long after this, he was summoned to present his opinion at the Bureau of Military Affairs. He was appointed to be (?). Duanping 2, he served as Administrative Official of the Metropolitan Cavalry Headquarter in Charge. At the time, he was stationing his troops at Huangzhou (黃州), he came to the court to bid farewell to the emperor. The emperor said to him: "You are the son of a famous general. You have loyally and diligently served the state. With such achievements as breaking into Caizhou and exterminating the Jin, your merrits are apparent. "This is due to the august divinity of our state and your Majesty sagacious moral virtues. Comparing to the achievement of the whole army and its soldiers, I have not done much on my part." When the emperor asked about recovering lost lands (), Gong responded: "I wish that your Majesty should spare the people from arduity, conserve human and financial resource and wait for the right opportunity." When the emperor asked about whether the state should negotiate for peace with enemy, Gong replied: "I am a general, I only speak of war, not peace." The emperor awarded Meng Gong lavishly and let him serve concurrently as Magistrate of Guangzhou (光州) and Huangzhou (黃州).
12.三年，珙至黃，增埤浚隍，搜訪軍實，邊民來歸者日以千數，爲屋三萬間居之，厚加賑貸。又慮兵民雜處，因高阜爲齊安、鎮淮二砦，以居諸軍。創章家山、毋家山兩堡爲先鋒、虎翼、飛虎營。兼主管管內安撫司公事，節制黃、蘄、光、信陽四郡軍馬。
Duanping I, Meng Gong arrived at Huangzhou (黃). He ordered low walls to be increased in height while moats to be deepened in depth. Military provisions were also sought out and gathered. Frontier refugees arrived at his town numbering several thousands per day. He built 3000 huts to shelter them and spend a great deal of fund to relieve the people. He was afraid that troops and civilians mix up together. As such, he built two camps named Qi An (齊安) and Zhen Huai (鎮淮) on high ground in order to house his soldiers. He also established two forts named Zhangjiashan (章家山) and Wujiashan (毋家山) as outposts, asl well as Hu Yi (虎翼) (literally Tiger wings) and Fei Hu (飛虎) as military camps. He was in charge of the Military Comission Agency and administered the armies of four prefectures Huang (黃), Qi (蘄), Guang (光), and Xinyang (信陽)
13.大元兵攻蘄州，珙遣兵解其圍；又攻襄陽，隨守張龜壽、荊門守朱楊祖、郢守喬士安皆委郡去，復州施子仁死之，江陵危急。詔沿江、淮西遣援，衆謂無逾珙者，乃先遣張順渡江，珙以全師繼之。大元兵分兩路：一攻復州，一在枝江監利縣編筏窺江。珙變易旌旗服色，迴圈往來，夜則列炬照江，數十里相接。又遣外弟趙武等共戰，躬往節度，破砦二十有四，還民二萬。嘉熙元年，封隨縣男，擢高州刺史，忠州團練使兼知江陵府、京西湖北安撫副使。未幾，授鄂州諸軍都統制。
The army of the Great Yuan besieged Qizhou (蘄州), Meng Gong commanded his troops to relieve it. They then attacked Xiangyang (襄陽), the Grand Defender Zhang Guishou (張龜壽), the Defender of Jingmen Zhou Yangzu (朱楊祖) and the Defennder of Ying Qiao Shian (喬士安) all abandoned their districts and fled. Fuzhou (復州) Shi Ziren died in action. The situation is Jiangling was critical. The emperor ordered troops along Jiang (江) and Huaxi (淮西) came to rescue those places. Soldiers said that no one could surpass Meng Gong. He first ordered Zhang Shun to cross the river, Gong led the main army to follow. The Great Yuan divided their forces into two wings, one attacked Fuzhou (復州), one constructed rafts to cross Yangtze at Zhijiang (枝江), Jianli (監利縣) county. Meng Gong ordered his men to change the colour of their banners and clothes, let them march back and forth, at night holding torches to light up the river surface for several tens of li. He then commanded his cousin Zhao Wu (趙武) to attack together with him, personally directing his troops, eventually destroying 24 enemy forts, returned 20,000 people to their place. In Jiaxi I, he was promoted to be District Baron of Suizhou (隨縣男), and was elevated to be the Prefect of Gaozhou (高州刺史), Commissioner of Militiamen of Zhongzhou (忠州團練使) and Magistrate of Jiangling Prefecture (知江陵府), Vice Military Comissioner of Jingxi and Hubei (京西湖北安撫副使). Not long after this, he assumed the post of Supreme Commandant of all armies of Ezhou (鄂州諸軍都統制).
「西陵、建平，國之蕃表，旣處下流，受敵二境。若敵汎舟順流，舳艫千里，星奔電邁，俄然行至，非可恃援他部以救倒縣也。此乃社稷安危之機，非徒封疆侵陵小害也。臣父遜昔在西垂陳言，以為西陵國之西門，雖云易守，亦復易失。若有不守，非但失一郡，則荊州非吳有也。如其有虞，當傾國爭之。臣往在西陵，得涉遜迹，前乞精兵三萬，而主者循常，未肯差赴。自步闡以後，益更損耗。今臣所統千里，受敵四處，外禦彊對，內懷百蠻，而上下見兵財有數萬，羸弊日乆，難以待變。臣愚以為諸王幼沖，未統國事，可且立傅相，輔導賢姿，無用兵馬，以妨要務。又黃門豎宦，開立占募，兵民怨役，逋逃入占。乞特詔簡閱，一切料出，以補疆埸受敵常處，使臣所部足滿八萬，省息衆務，信其賞罰，雖韓、白復生，無所展巧。若兵不增，此制不改，而欲克諧大事，此臣之所深慼也。若臣死之後，乞以西方為屬。願陛下思覽臣言，則臣死且不朽。」
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