Zhao Gong's 趙珙 (sometimes also referred to as Meng Gong 孟珙) Mengda beilu 蒙韃備錄 "A refined [report] of the Mongolian Tartars" is an eye-witnesses report of the Mongols' early conquest of the Jin empire 金 (1115-1234). Zhao himself had traveled north where he met Prince Muquli 木華黎 (1170-1223) attacking the northern Jin capital of Yanjing 燕京 (modern Beijing). Yet Zhao's book is not a pure event history but a full and comprehensive account of the social, administrative and economic system of the early Mongol empire, and of north China at that time in general.
The oldest extant version is to be found in the series Shuofu 說郛, one the base of which the early Republican scholar Wang Guowei 王國維 (1877-1927) made his commented edition Mengda beilu jianzheng 蒙韃備錄箋證. An older commentary was written by the Qing-period 清 (1644-1911) scholar Cao Yuanzhong 曹元忠 (1865-1923).
立國 | Liguo | The founding of the Mongol empire |
韃主始起 | Dazhu shi qi | The beginning of the khan's campaigns |
國號年號 | Guohao nianhao | Names and terms of the dynasty |
太子諸王 | Taizi zhuwang | The princes |
諸將功臣 | Zhujiang gongchen | The generals |
任相 | Renxiang | The ministers |
軍政 | Junzheng | The army |
馬政 | Mazheng | Providing horses |
糧食 | Liangshi | Providing food |
征伐 | Zhengfa | Campaigning |
官制 | Guanzhi | The administration |
風俗 | Fengsu | Customs |
軍裝器械 | Junzhuang qixie | Weapons and equipment |
奉使 | Fengshi | Court communication and procedures |
祭祀 | Jisi | Sacrifices |
婦女 | Funü | Females |
燕聚舞樂 | Yan zhong wuyue | Dancers and musicians of Yanjing |