Pusan Zhongyi

Biography

Family Background and Early Years

Pusan Zhongyi's Jurchen personal name is recorded in Chinese as 乌者. He was born in 1115, which the biography identifies as the ninth year of Emperor Taizu's Tianfu era, at Balugu River in Shangjing Circuit. His family belonged to the Jin founding aristocracy. His great-great-grandfather Wolubu, great-grandfather 班睹, and grandfather 胡阑 were all early Jurchen nobles. His father, 仆散背鲁, held a hereditary mouke in the early Jin, rose to military commander of Posu Circuit, and later retired. The Pusan family had close ties to the imperial house: Zhongyi's paternal aunt was Empress Xuanxian of Emperor Taizu, Wanyan Aguda. His sister was later said to have been a consort of Emperor Shizong, but the History of Jin only states that Shizong's consort belonged to the Pusan clan and does not explicitly identify her as Zhongyi's sister; the relationship therefore remains uncertain.

Pusan Zhongyi was described as tall and imposing, with a long beard. From childhood he liked to discuss military affairs and was regarded as possessing broad strategic ability. In 1130, the eighth year of the Tianhui era, fighting between Jin and Song intensified in the Shaanxi region. At the age of sixteen he led the troops of his mouke with the main army under Wanyan Zongfu. During the march he shot a Southern Song commander, contributing to the enemy's rout. The command headquarters recorded his achievement and granted him an acting appointment as mouke.

Early Campaigns and Military Distinction

In 1140, the third year of the Tianjuan era, Wanyan Zongbi again campaigned in Henan and recommended Pusan Zhongyi for appointment as meng'an. In the attack on Jizhou, Pusan was first over the wall. In the fighting around Daming, he led his own troops in hard combat and defeated a Song force said to number over one hundred thousand. Wanyan Zongbi rewarded him with servants, horses and cattle, gold, silver, and colored silk.

In 1141, the fourth year of the Tianjuan era, Pusan accompanied Zongbi across the Huai River in attacks on Shouzhou, Luzhou, and other places and again distinguished himself. Zongbi praised him as “a man of exceptional courage and strategy, material for high command,” rewarded him with horses, cattle, and sheep, placed him in command of ten thousand imperial troops, specially promoted him to Ningyuan General, and allowed him to inherit his father's hereditary mouke.

Local Administration

In 1144, the fourth year of the Huangtong era, Pusan became Defense Commissioner of Bozhou, present-day Liaocheng in Shandong. Outside official duties he studied the Jurchen script and ancient calculation and, according to the source, became proficient within a month. During his administration he avoided hunting and pleasure outings and focused on government, bringing what was described as orderly rule to the commandery. On one occasion prisoners attempted to escape at night. While the officers panicked, Pusan remained calm and merely ordered the night watchmen to beat drums and sound calls. The prisoners thought dawn had arrived, abandoned their escape, and returned to the prison. When his administration was later evaluated, local people petitioned the imperial court to keep him in office, and the emperor granted the request.

In 1148, the eighth year of the Huangtong era, he became Associate Governor of Zhending and concurrently military commander of Hebei Western Circuit. He was then transferred to Pacification Commissioner of the Northwestern Circuit and afterward entered the central government as Minister of War.

Setbacks and Provincial Commands

In 1149, the ninth year of the Huangtong era, Wanyan Liang killed the emperor and took the throne, changing the era name to Tiande. A member of the Pusan clan recorded in Chinese as 仆散忽土 had participated in Wanyan Liang's seizure of power and consequently treated his colleagues arrogantly. At a banquet Pusan Zhongyi publicly insulted him. Wanyan Liang was displeased and sent Pusan out as military governor of Zhenwu Army, centered in present-day Daixian, Shanxi. During the summer a bandit known as Li Tieqiang attacked from the Huoshan area. Pusan, wearing only light clothing and accompanied by one mounted retainer, rode out to meet the attackers, shot several men, and drove the bandits away.

Pusan was later made Governor of Lintao and concurrently military commander of the Xiqin Circuit. Wanyan Liang told him that the Tao River region bordered Tibet and a neighboring frontier entity recorded in the source as 木波; raids from those directions had long harmed local people beyond the ability of county authorities to control, and because Pusan was an experienced general he was being entrusted with the post. The emperor gave him ceremonial clothing, a jade-fitted sword, and other gifts. After further evaluations Pusan was transferred to Pingyang and then to Jinan.

Southern Campaign and Service under Emperor Shizong

In 1161, the sixth year of the Zhenglong era, Wanyan Liang personally led a large southern campaign against the Southern Song. As Governor of Jinan, Pusan Zhongyi concurrently served as deputy campaign commander of the Hannan Route and captured Guanghua Army, whose seat lay northwest of present-day Laohekou, Hubei. In the same year Wanyan Yong, the Jin's Eastern Capital Regent and the future Emperor Shizong, proclaimed himself emperor and adopted the Dading era. Soon afterward Wanyan Liang was killed by his own men at Yangzhou and the Jin armies attacking Song halted their campaign and withdrew. Pusan entered court and became Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs.

Suppression of the Yelü Wo'wo Rebellion

In 1162, the second year of the Dading era, the Khitan Yelü Wo'wo proclaimed himself emperor and his rebellion expanded rapidly. Emperor Shizong initially ordered Right Deputy Marshal Wanyan Mouyan to lead the suppression, but Mouyan made little progress and allowed his son Xiege to behave violently in the army, undermining discipline. Pusan told the emperor that a small Khitan rebellion had not been extinguished promptly and was troubling the sovereign, and volunteered to risk his life to eliminate it. Shizong was pleased, recalled Mouyan, sent Xiege back to his native place, and appointed Pusan Chief Administrator and concurrently Right Deputy Marshal, enfeoffing him as Duke of Rong and granting an imperial sable robe, iron bow and arrows, sword, fully equipped horses, Anshan armor, and a gold tablet.

After Pusan reached the army, the Khitan forces captured Linghan, Tongchang, Huihe, and other counties and moved west. Pusan pursued them to Huadao in present-day southeastern Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, where the armies faced one another across a river. The Khitan crossed and attacked the Jin left wing, which fell back; the right wing came to its aid and the Khitan withdrew. Yelü Wo'wo kept his elite soldiers with him while sending the elderly, weak, women, children, baggage, and supplies west by another route, intending to regroup beyond the mountains. Pusan pursued them to Xianquan west of Niaoling, where the armies met at dusk amid dense fog. The source says that Pusan prayed that since the rebels were violent and slaughtered the innocent, Heaven should not aid evil but should clear the weather. After the sacrifice, the fog lifted. Pusan held the southern ridge with his left, arranged his line in a crescent formation, extended the right wing northward, and inflicted a severe defeat. The Jin captured Wo'wo's younger brother, thirty thousand? The source states thirty wan captives, more than one hundred thousand mixed livestock, and immense quantities of carts, tents, gold, and valuables, which Pusan distributed to the troops.

The remaining Khitan fled toward Xi territory. Pusan sent troops in pursuit and defeated them again at Qidu River, in the area of modern Huairou, Beijing. After the Jin army crossed Hunling, the Khitan collapsed at the sight of it and fled into Xi territory, while groups of surrendering people filled the roads. Emperor Shizong issued an edict praising the victory and sent imperial clothing, a rhinoceros-fitted sword, a rhinoceros belt, and other gifts. As Wo'wo's position collapsed, the Jin general Heshilie Zhining captured the Khitan commander Shaohezhu, released him, and ordered him to redeem himself by capturing Wo'wo. In the ninth month of 1162, Shaohezhu and his associates seized Yelü Wo'wo and surrendered him to Wanyan Sijing's army, ending the Khitan rebellion. Pusan returned to court, became Right Chief Minister, was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Yi, and received a jade belt.

Command on the Southern Front and the Longxing Peace

After Yelü Wo'wo's defeat, his associates Kuoli and Yelü Zhaba fled into Southern Song territory. The Song used their advice and captured Sizhou, Shouzhou, Tangzhou, Haizhou, and other places. Emperor Gaozong of Song had already transferred the throne to Emperor Xiaozong. Although Xiaozong sent envoys to Jin, he wished the two courts to deal with one another as equal states. Emperor Shizong placed Heshilie Zhining in charge of Song affairs and ordered Pusan, as chief minister responsible for military affairs, to reside at Nanjing, present-day Kaifeng, and supervise the generals.

Before Pusan departed, Shizong told him that if Song returned the occupied territory and restored the previous tribute arrangement, military operations could cease. On reaching Nanjing, Pusan reviewed the troops, stationed them at strategic points, and ordered the generals to maintain strict defenses. He instructed Left Deputy Marshal Heshilie Zhining to send a formal message to Song's military commissioner Zhang Jun demanding the return of occupied territory, preservation of the frontier, and restoration of the agreement that had existed since the Huangtong era, warning that otherwise war would follow. Zhang Jun replied that victories and defeats on the frontier were uncertain and proposed sending envoys to negotiate. By this time Jin troops had recovered Sizhou, Shouzhou, and Dengzhou. Pusan proposed demolishing their walls and relocating their populations to Suzhou, Bozhou, and Caizhou, but Emperor Shizong replied that the three prefectures were originally Jin territory and that recovering them was sufficient.

The army soon withdrew. When the Song commander Li Shifu captured Lingbi and Hong counties and then Suzhou, Pusan hurried to the front and directed a counterattack. Anticipating the rainy season, he had previously stored ten thousand bows and arrows in military depots. Jin and Song forces fought at Suzhou, Li Shifu was badly defeated, and Jin recovered the prefecture. The two sides then remained in confrontation. In 1164, the fourth year of the Dading era, Shizong ordered another campaign against Song. Pusan and Heshilie Zhining advanced by separate routes, defeating Song forces repeatedly and compelling Emperor Xiaozong to seek peace. In 1165, the fifth year of Dading, Jin and Song concluded the Longxing Peace. The Song emperor addressed the Jin ruler as an uncle, annual payments were set at two hundred thousand liang of silver and two hundred thousand bolts of silk, and the source states that the territories of Shang and Qin were ceded.

Later Years and Death

Pusan Zhongyi died in 1166, the sixth year of the Dading era, at the age of fifty-two. Emperor Shizong suspended court and granted him the posthumous name Wuzhuang. His son Pusan Kui and grandson Pusan Anzhen both became prominent Jin generals.

Major Activities

Military Contributions

Pusan Zhongyi spent much of his life on campaign. In his youth he fought under Wanyan Zongfu in Shaanxi and gained distinction by shooting a Song commander. He later followed Wanyan Zongbi against Song, was first over the walls at Jizhou, defeated a large Song force near Daming, and crossed the Huai in attacks on Shouzhou and Luzhou, winning Zongbi's praise as “material for high command.” Under Emperor Shizong he suppressed the Yelü Wo'wo rebellion and defeated the Khitan army at Xianquan, stabilizing the Jin's northern territories. On the southern front, he directed the larger strategic effort together with Heshilie Zhining and helped bring about the Longxing Peace.

Political Activities

Pusan's local administrations were portrayed as effective. As Defense Commissioner of Bozhou his governance was praised and local residents petitioned to retain him. As Governor of Lintao, he was charged with restraining incursions from Tibet and the neighboring frontier entity recorded as 木波. He later served in the central government as Minister of War, Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Chief Administrator, Right Chief Minister, and Left Chief Minister, participating in high-level Jin decision-making and becoming one of Emperor Shizong's principal ministers.

Travels and Places of Service

Pusan's career ranged widely across Jin territory. He campaigned in Shaanxi and Henan in his youth, served in Bozhou, Zhending, Lintao, Pingyang, and Jinan, joined a southern campaign reaching Guanghua Army in what is now Hubei, and in his later years resided at Nanjing, present-day Kaifeng, to supervise the southern armies. The source states that he ultimately died at the capital.

Relations with Contemporaries

Pusan maintained a close relationship with Wanyan Zongbi, who valued his abilities. He worked closely with Heshilie Zhining, another leading general of Emperor Shizong's reign, in suppressing the Khitan rebellion and directing the southern war. He was at odds with Wanyan Mouyan after Mouyan failed in the Khitan campaign. He also had a conflict with 仆散忽土, and publicly insulting him led to Pusan Zhongyi's assignment outside the court.

Personal Relations

• Family: paternal aunt Empress Xuanxian of Emperor Taizu of Jin; a sister possibly identified as a consort of Emperor Shizong, though this remains uncertain; son Pusan Kui and grandson Pusan Anzhen, both prominent Jin generals
• Patron and senior commander: Wanyan Zongbi, who appreciated his abilities and called him “a man of exceptional courage and strategy, material for high command”
• Sovereign: Emperor Shizong of Jin, who entrusted him with suppression of rebellion and the southern campaign, enfeoffed him as a duke, and appointed him chief minister
• Colleague: Heshilie Zhining, with whom he cooperated closely in the Khitan campaign and southern war
• Conflicts: 仆散忽土, whom he publicly insulted and because of whom he was sent out of court; Wanyan Mouyan, whose unsuccessful Khitan campaign Pusan replaced

Historical Assessment

Jin / Contemporary

• The History of Jin, Biography of Pusan Zhongyi, describes him as “large and imposing, with a long beard, fond of discussing warfare, and possessing broad strategy,” and records the praise that he had “exceptional courage and strategy, material for high command.”
• Emperor Shizong praised his established abilities after the defeat of the rebels and expressed great satisfaction at his destruction of their forces.
• Jin historical writers regarded him as a hereditary military noble whose achievements under Shizong in pacifying the Khitan and settling the peace with Song were among the greatest of his generation.

Song and Yuan Periods

• Southern Song writers generally viewed Pusan from an enemy perspective but still acknowledged his military ability; the source cites the Chronological Record Since the Jianyan Era as describing his use of troops as highly effective.
• Yuan compilers of the History of Jin characterized him as a commander of steady determination and strategic ability who adapted effectively in battle and credited him with the suppression of the Khitan and direction of peace negotiations.
• Yuan scholar Wang E's Remnants of Runan called him a famous Jin general relied upon by Emperor Shizong.

Ming and Qing Periods

• Wang Fuzhi discussed Pusan in On the Song, arguing that Emperor Shizong's possession of such a commander helped preserve Jin territory.
• Qing historian Zhao Yi, in Notes on the Twenty-Two Histories, called Pusan Zhongyi and Heshilie Zhining outstanding commanders of their age.
• The Qing imperial historical compilation cited in the source praised him for pacifying the Khitan and settling the peace, regarding these as achievements of importance to the state.

Modern Period

• Modern historians represented by Cai Meibiao and collaborators in a general history of China regard Pusan Zhongyi as one of the most outstanding commanders of Emperor Shizong's reign, whose suppression of the Yelü Wo'wo rebellion and leadership of the southern war helped stabilize Jin rule.
• Historian Deng Guangming, in work on issues in the Song–Jin wars, is cited as recognizing Pusan's important role in the Longxing Peace.
• Contemporary studies often characterize Pusan as combining courage and strategy and as a major mid-Jin military figure devoted to state service.