釋氏稽古略 4.395

4.395

金正月初十夜。摘三面精銳軍備西城。天未明大軍至方大戰。南面宋兵萬餘以薄城矣。金主知城必破。乃詔大臣。遜位於東面總帥丞麟。丞麟西向固讓。金主自持符璽授之曰。朕所以付卿者。豈得己哉。以朕體肥不便鞍馬。城陷之後馳突必難。顧卿平昔以趫疾聞。且有將略可稱。萬一得免使祚胤不絕。此朕之志也。強以符璽。丞麟跪受之。金主退閑閤門而自縊之。宣徽使溫敦命東上閤門使事僕散斜不失。引後主丞麟陞正座。身披甲冑。立受百官拜禮成咸出迎大軍戰。南城之陴皆宋師旗幟四面鼓譟夾攻。聲震天地。守者開門縱大軍進。金兵巷戰久不能禦。退保子城。後主丞麟知主崩。率百官詣前拜泣。謂眾曰。先帝在位勤儉寬仁。圖復舊業有志不就。可哀而已。吾欲諡曰哀。酧酒未終。大軍已至城下攻急城陷。後主為亂軍所害國亡。諡金主哀者咸謂未盡也。廟號義宗。

In the Jin state, on the night of the tenth day of the first month, elite troops were drawn from three sides to defend the western wall. Before dawn, the Great Army arrived and a pitched battle commenced. Over ten thousand Song soldiers pressed close against the southern wall. The Jin ruler knew that the city would certainly fall, so he issued an edict to his high officials, abdicating in favor of Chenglin, the supreme commander of the eastern front. Chenglin faced west and firmly declined. The Jin ruler held the imperial tally and seal himself, conferring them upon him and saying: 'How could my entrusting this to you be of my own choosing? Because my body is heavy, I am unsuited for horseback; once the city falls, breaking through will surely be difficult. Yet you have always been known for agility and speed, and have commendable generalship. If, by some remote chance, you manage to escape and prevent the royal line from being severed, this is my wish.' Forcing the tally and seal upon him, Chenglin knelt and accepted them. The Jin ruler retired to the Leisurely Pavilion and hanged himself. The Commissioner of Palace Affairs Wendun ordered Pusan Xiebushe, who handled the affairs of the eastern Gate of Court Audience, to escort the Last Ruler Chenglin up to the throne. Wearing armor and helmet, he stood to receive the obeisances of the civil and military officials. When the ceremony was concluded, they all went out to meet the Great Army in battle. Along the parapets of the southern wall were the banners of the Song army; drums clamored on all four sides as they attacked in pincer movements, their roars shaking heaven and earth. The defenders opened the gates and let the Great Army enter. The Jin soldiers engaged in street fighting, but could not resist for long, and retreated to defend the inner city. The Last Ruler Chenglin, learning of the sovereign's demise, led the officials before his remains, weeping and bowing, and said to the multitude: 'While on the throne, the late emperor was diligent, frugal, broad-minded, and benevolent; he sought to restore our former domains, but his aspiration went unfulfilled. This is truly lamentable. I wish to give him the posthumous title of Ai ("the Lamented").' Before the libation of wine was finished, the Great Army had already reached the foot of the city and attacked fiercely; the city fell. The Last Ruler was slain by disordered troops, and the dynasty fell. As for posthumously titling the Jin ruler Ai, all considered it incomplete; his temple name was Yizong.