佛祖歷代通載 20.3

20.3

(1. Dingwei) Emperor Gaozong (Gou). (His mother was Consort Wei. Emperor Huizong dreamed that King Qian Wusu of Wuyue entered his chamber, and soon thereafter the Emperor was born. He was enfeoffed as Prince of Kang. At the beginning of Jingkang, he served as an envoy to Woliubu's army. That winter, Woliubu came again. Gaozong received an imperial decree to serve as envoy again, with Geng Nanzhong accompanying him. Reaching Xiangzhou, the people blocked the road and begged him not to go. Reaching Cizhou, the garrison official Zong Ze and the people of Ci also stopped him. The governor of Xiangzhou also sent a wax-sealed letter saying that the Jurchens were sending cavalry to search for the Prince of Kang's whereabouts. He then returned to Xiangzhou and posted notices summoning troops to aid the king. An imperial decree appointed the Prince of Kang as Grand Marshal, with Wang Boyan and Zong Ze as vice-marshals, ordering them to lead troops swiftly to guard the throne. The Prince followed Boyan's advice, departed Xiangzhou through the northern gate, crossed the Yellow River, and reached Daming. Hearing that the capital had fallen, he asked to advance toward the capital, but Boyan disagreed, urging the Prince to move his forces to Dongping to place himself in safety. Nanzhong also agreed, so they moved east. The governor of Hejian, Huang Qianshan, also arrived leading troops, and they advanced to encamp at Jizhou. Scouts reported that Zhang Bangchang had been enthroned by the Jurchens and that the two emperors had traveled north. Bangchang welcomed Empress Dowager Meng of the Yuanyou era to oversee court affairs. Both civil and military officials urged Bangchang to step down; he wrote an autograph letter welcoming the Prince of Kang to the throne, announcing to court and country: ‘The Han house suffered misfortune after ten generations, yet it was fitting for Guangwu to bring about the restoration; Duke Xian of Jin had nine sons, yet Chong'er alone survived.’ He dispatched envoys to present memorials and to deliver Empress Meng's letter. Bangchang then arrived, prostrating himself on the ground, weeping bitterly, and requesting death. An envoy fleeing from Hebei arrived and presented an autograph letter from Daojun (Huizong), saying: ‘You may take the throne immediately and come rescue your parents.’ The Prince wept bitterly, bowed, and received it. He then hastened to Yingtian and ascended the throne.)