Biography
Family Background and Early Career
Wanyan Saibu belonged to a collateral branch of the Jin imperial family and descended from Wanyan Baohuali, younger brother of Wanyan Hanpu, the dynastic progenitor. This lineage was a distant branch rather than part of the core imperial line. Saibu was physically imposing and was described as deep, loyal, and broadly capable in strategy. He began as a member of the imperial guard and, under Emperor Zhangzong, was selected for palace service. In the eighth month of 1190 he moved from Palace Guard General to Inspector of Ninghua Prefecture. His career then advanced steadily through such posts as deputy commander of the Wuwei Army, Military Commissioner of Huligai Circuit, commander of the Wuwei Army, and Left Deputy Chief Inspector of the Palace Command.
Commander in the Song-Jin Wars
In 1206, Senior Vice Councillor Pusan Kui led a major Jin offensive against Song, and Saibu commanded the right wing. Song general Huangfu Bin led tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry toward Cai by separate routes from Queshan and Baoxin. After learning that Guo Zhuo and Li Shuang had been defeated, he halted at the Qin River. Saibu was ordered to lead seven thousand cavalry with deputy commanders Puxian Wannu and Wanyan Dajibu to meet him. The river was swollen and Song troops held the bridge. Saibu and the commanders agreed on a night attack: Wanyan Dajibu crossed with cavalry on the right, Puxian Wannu attacked from the left, and Saibu led elite troops directly toward the bridge. The Song army collapsed. Jin forces pursued them to Chenze, reportedly taking twenty thousand heads and more than one thousand horses and other livestock. Saibu's noble rank was advanced and he received substantial gifts of gold.
Senior Minister under Emperor Xuanzong
In 1213, Saibu became Associate Signatory of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In 1215 he was transferred to govern Lintao Prefecture and concurrently serve as deputy military commander of Shaanxi Circuit. When Emperor Xuanzong received him, the emperor specifically urged him to devote himself to the state and referred to the previous failures of Wugulun Yanzhou, who had disregarded command restrictions. In the eighth month Saibu governed Fengxiang Prefecture and commanded the military forces of the circuit, and soon afterward became Right Deputy Supervisor of the Marshal's Office.
In 1216, Saibu fought Western Xia on the western frontier, captured Song's Mudou Pass, burned a bridge built by Western Xia across the border river at Laiqiang City, and twice defeated Western Xia forces at Jieyezi River and Che'er Fort. In 1217, after Southern Song failed to deliver annual payments and border incursions continued, Saibu was ordered to campaign south. At Xinyang in the fourth month he killed eight thousand Song troops, captured commander Zhou Guang, and seized several thousand horses. He then won six successive engagements at places including Longshan and Qilishan, crossed the Huai River, captured Guangshan, Luoshan, Dingcheng, and other counties, broke through two passes of Guangzhou, and reportedly killed more than ten thousand.
In the seventh month of 1217, Saibu proposed rebuilding the inner wall of Bianjing. He argued that the capital was the foundation of the realm, that an outer wall more than sixty li in circumference was difficult to defend in a sudden emergency, and that the old inner wall should be reconstructed during the agricultural off-season. He also suggested that prefectures in Henan and Shaanxi strengthen their fortifications according to local capacity. Emperor Xuanzong adopted the proposal.
Over the next several years Saibu continued to fight on the Song front. In the first month of 1218 he defeated Song troops at Tieshan, Shangshidian, and Tang County. In the fourth month he attacked Zaoyang by imperial order. When thirty thousand Song troops came out to fight, he feigned retreat, drew them forward, and counterattacked; more than three thousand were killed or drowned. In the seventh month he became military commander of East and West Shandong Circuit and concurrently Military Commissioner of the Wuning Army. In 1219 he captured Song's Baishi Pass, killing more than one thousand defenders; defeated Song troops at Qikou Granary; seized Xiaohu Granary with nine thousand shi of grain and more than three hundred thousand weapons and pieces of military equipment; and again defeated Song troops at Shihu Cliff.
Chancellorship and the Final Crisis
In 1220, Saibu was ordered to campaign in Hebei and receive surrenders. Huangfu Gui, acting administrator of Jin'an, and Xi Yongjian, magistrate of Zhengping County, surrendered with more than five thousand people and ten thousand shi of grain. Saibu memorialized that loyalist forces holding fortified settlements in Hebei should be publicly rewarded to encourage morale, and Emperor Xuanzong agreed. In the fourth month he was promoted to Vice Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs. In 1221 he was ordered to relieve Hedong, won repeated engagements, and recovered Jin'an and Pingyang. A censor later accused him of allowing troops to plunder, but the emperor did not pursue the matter because of his military achievements. In the fifth month of 1223 he recovered Hezhong. In the sixth month Emperor Xuanzong ordered the Court of Imperial Clan Affairs to restore Saibu to the imperial genealogy, explaining that he was originally of imperial blood but that his branch had accidentally fallen out of the register.
In the fifth month of 1224, Saibu became Senior Vice Councillor and soon afterward Right Chancellor of the Department of State Affairs. He was close to Participating Councillor Li Qi. When Li was demoted for an official offense to become governor of Jingluo, Saibu repeatedly recommended him, comparing him to Wei Zheng of the Tang; Li was thereby able to return as chancellor. In 1226, when Emperor Xuanzong's temple was completed and the court debated which meritorious officials should be enshrined there, Saibu served as Grand Master of Ceremonies. He argued that Chancellor Fuxing, who had died in service to the state, and Qijin, who had loyally defended Henan and welcomed the emperor, deserved enshrinement; the debate was settled accordingly.
In 1227, Personnel Bureau official Yang Juren submitted a sealed memorial arguing that chancellors should be carefully selected. Emperor Aizong believed a Personnel Bureau official should not interfere in such matters, and Left Chancellor Yanzhan Shilu also accused Yang of acting beyond his office. Saibu defended him, saying: “When the realm possesses the Way, even a commoner may offer words, much less a court official. Your Majesty possesses broad and generous virtue, and so even those who perhaps should not speak are willing to speak. If their words can be used, use them; if not, there is no need to display anger before your ministers.” Emperor Aizong approved.
In 1228, Saibu headed a branch Department of State Affairs at Jingzhao. He told the clerk Shang Heng that chancellors in antiquity had to be men of letters because they understood the way of governing. “What do I know,” he said, “that I should occupy this position? I fear that one day the historians will write that in such-and-such a year a certain man was made chancellor and the state then perished.” He then urged Shang Heng to draft a memorial requesting retirement.
In 1232, as Mongol armies approached Bianjing, Senior Vice Councillor Wanyan Baisa feared that any future peace mission or dispatch of a hostage would fall to the chief chancellor and strongly urged that Saibu take charge of the Department of State Affairs. Saibu was appointed Left Chancellor but soon retired again. That winter Emperor Aizong moved to Guide and recalled Saibu as Right Chancellor, Director of the Bureau of Military Affairs, and Left Deputy Marshal, enfeoffing him as Duke of Shou. Saibu accompanied the emperor and later again requested retirement.
In the seventh month of 1233, Emperor Aizong ordered Saibu to conduct affairs of the Department of State Affairs at Xuzhou. Short of provisions, Saibu sent Langzhong Wang Wanqing to join the armies of Xuzhou, Suzhou, and Lingbi in taking Yuanzhou, placing Marshal Guo En in overall command. Guo En was defeated below Yuanzhou in the ninth month. Saibu then ordered Zhuo Yi to attack Feng County. Ashamed of his defeat, Guo En feigned illness and refused to fight, then plotted with Hebei rebel commander Guo Yelü and others to defect to Guo Yong'an. In the tenth month, Guo Yelü and other mutineers tried to force Saibu to surrender to the Mongols. Saibu refused and hanged himself.