660 chin
among those congratuling on Sep.24 (Sung shih 38:17b; Chin shih 12:
15b).
It became soon apparent that the Chinese could not win the war.
On Aug.29, 1207, they requested peace. On Oct.21, the Southern Sung
sent a Gentleman-of-the-Palace of the Left Office who was received
at the Chin court on Nov.25. He brought a letter which proposed
that the Southern Sung emperor would refer to the Chin emperor as
uncle and that the annual tribute would be raised. The Jurchen made
it a condition that Han T’o-chou be handed over. Ning-tsung decided
on a compromise. Han T’o-chou was dismissed and by Ning-tsung’s
secret orders killed. A letter informed the Chin court of these events
on Dec.11 (Sung shih 38:18a; Chin shih 12:15b, 16a)
In the 12th month (Dec./Jan., 1208) of the Chinese year 1207,
Ning-tsung sent a negotiator to the Chin court (Sung shih 38:19a).
On the New Year’s Day of Jan.19, 1208, there were again no
mutual congratulations (Chin shih 12:16b).
On Jan.30. 1208, the Southern Sung court was informed that the
Jurchen insisted that the head of Han T’o-chou be delivered to them.
Ning-tsung complied (Sung shih 39:1a).
In the 1st month (Jan./Feb.) of 1208, Ning-tsung sent an envoy to
the Chin court, and on Feb.22, another envoy presented a letter (Sung
shih 39:1a; Chin shih 12:7a).
On Apr.7, 1208, Chin agreed to a peace treaty in which the annual
Southern Sung tribute was raised to 300,000 ounces of silver and
300,000 bolts of silk. On Aug.23, Chang-tsung sent an oath letter to the
Southern Sung court, confirming the peace (Chin shih 12:17a, 18b).
On Nov.5, 1208, Ning-tsung received a Chin envoy in audience
(Sung shih 39:2b).
On Nov.24, 1208, Sung envoys to the Chin court congratulated on
the birthday of Chang-tsung according to the new schedule.^76 They had
received their orders on July 22 (Sung shih 39:2a; Chin shih 12:18b).
On Nov.26, 1208, a Master of Writing of the Ministry of House-
holds and other Chin envoys arrived at the Southern Sung court to
congratulate on the birthday of Ning-tsung.^77 They had received their
orders on Nov.8 (Sung shih 39:3a; Chin shih 12:18b).
(^76) The celebration of Chang-tsung’s birthday had on July 9, 1208 been shifted
from the 1st day of the 9th month to the 15th day of the 10th (Chin shih 12:18b).
(^77) It fell on Nov.28.