1
Emperor Wucheng, Gao Zhan, posthumous title Shizu, was the ninth son of Emperor Shenwu and the full younger brother of Emperor Xiaozhao. Handsome in bearing and striking in appearance, he was especially beloved by Emperor Shenwu. While Emperor Shenwu was working to bring distant peoples into allegiance, he betrothed the prince to the daughter of Anluochen, the Rouran crown prince, who was given the title "Princess Linhe." The prince was then eight years old. His dress was dignified and his manner calm and composed, and both Chinese and foreigners alike expressed admiration. During the Yuanxiang era, he was made Duke of Changguang Commandery. At the opening of the Tianbao era, he was raised to princely rank, made Chief Minister of the Secretariat, soon also given concurrent appointment as Minister over the Masses, and then transferred to Grand Commander. At the start of the Qianming era, Yang Yin and his faction secretly kept their distance and were wary of him, but nevertheless made him Grand Marshal and Inspector of Bing Province. After he and Emperor Xiaozhao plotted to execute the ruling ministers, he was made Grand Tutor, Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat, and Metropolitan Commander of the Capital Region. At the opening of the Huangjian era, he was promoted to Right Chancellor. When Emperor Xiaozhao went to Jinyang, the prince remained at Ye as a trusted kinsman, and all government affairs were entrusted to him. In the second year, Emperor Xiaozhao died. His testamentary edict summoned the prince to succeed to the throne. Upon reaching Jinyang Palace, mourning rites were begun at Chungde Hall. The Empress Dowager ordered the responsible offices to proclaim the testamentary edict. Left Chancellor Hulu Jin led the hundred officials in earnest urging, and after three presentations the prince consented.
2
大寧元年冬十一月癸丑，皇帝即位於南宮，大赦，改皇建二年為大寧。 乙卯，以司徒、平秦王歸彥為太傅，以尚書右僕射、趙郡王叡為尚書令，以太尉尉粲為太保，以尚書令段韶為大司馬，以豐州刺史婁叡為司空，乙太傅、平陽王淹為太宰，以太保、彭城王浟為太師、錄尚書事，以冀州刺史、博陵王濟為太尉，以中書監、任城王潛為尚書左僕射，以幷州刺史斛律光為右僕射，封孝昭皇帝太子百年為樂陵郡王。 庚申，詔大使巡行天下，求政善惡，問人疾苦，擢進賢良。 是歲，周武帝保定元年。 河清元年春正月乙亥，車駕至自晉陽。 辛巳，祀南郊。 壬午，享太廟。 丙戌，立妃胡氏為皇后，子緯為皇太子。 大赦，內外百官普加汎級，諸為父後者賜爵一級。 己亥，以前定州刺史、馮翊王潤為尚書左僕射。 詔斷屠殺以順春令。
In winter, in the eleventh month of the first year of Daning, on guichou, the emperor took the throne in the Southern Palace, proclaimed a general amnesty, and renamed the second year of Huangjian as Daning. On the yimao day, the emperor reshuffled the highest offices: Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, Minister over the Masses, became Grand Tutor; Prince Rui of Zhao Commandery, Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, became Chief Minister of the Secretariat; Grand Commandant Wei Can became Grand Guardian; Duan Shao became Grand Marshal; Lou Rui became Minister of Works; Prince Yan of Pingyang became Grand Minister; Prince You of Pengcheng became Grand Preceptor and Recorder of the Affairs of the Secretariat; Prince Ji of Boling became Grand Commandant; Prince Qian of Rencheng became Left Vice Director of the Secretariat; Hulu Guang became Right Vice Director of the Secretariat; and Emperor Xiaozhao's crown prince Bainian was made Prince of Leling Commandery. On gengshen, senior envoys were ordered to tour the realm, investigate good and bad government, ask after the people's suffering, and promote worthy talent. That year corresponded to the first year of Baoding under Emperor Wu of Zhou. In spring, in the first month of the first year of Heqing, on yihai, the emperor returned from Jinyang. On xinsi, he performed the sacrifice at the Southern Suburb. On renwu, he offered sacrifice in the Grand Ancestral Temple. On bingxu, Consort Hu was made empress and his son Wei was made crown prince. A general amnesty was proclaimed. Officials throughout the government were advanced in rank, and heirs carrying on their fathers' lines received one noble grade. On jihai, Prince Run of Fengyi, formerly Inspector of Ding Province, was appointed Left Vice Director of the Secretariat. An edict forbade slaughter, in keeping with the spring ordinances.
3
On the dingwei day of the second month, Grand Preceptor and Prince Yan of Pingyang was appointed Inspector of Qing Province, Grand Tutor, and concurrent Minister over the Masses; Commander-in-Chief, Imperial Preceptor, and Prince Gao Guiyan of Pingqin was made Grand Preceptor and Inspector of Ji Province. On the yimao day, Concurrent Chief Minister of the Secretariat and Prince Jun of Rencheng was appointed Minister over the Masses. An edict dispatched Cui Zhan, Regular Attendant, on a diplomatic mission to Chen.
4
In the fourth month of summer, on the xinchou day, Empress Dowager Lou died. On the yisi day, the Inspector of Qing Province reported that on the gengyin day of that month the Yellow and Ji Rivers had run clear. Because the Yellow and Ji Rivers had cleared, the second year of Daning was renamed Heqing, and sentences of criminals were reduced, each according to the circumstances of his case.
5
In the fifth month, on the jiashen day, Empress Wuming was jointly entombed at Yiping Mausoleum. On the jichou day, Right Vice Director of the Secretariat Hulu Guang was made Chief Minister of the Secretariat.
6
In the seventh month of autumn, Grand Preceptor, Inspector of Ji Province, and Prince Gao Guiyan of Pingqin seized the province in rebellion. An edict ordered Grand Marshal Duan Shao and Minister of Works Lou Rui to suppress and capture him. On the yiwei day, Gao Guiyan, his three sons, and twenty followers were beheaded in the capital marketplace. On the dingyou day, Grand Marshal Duan Shao was made Grand Tutor; Minister of Works Lou Rui was made Minister over the Masses; Grand Tutor and Prince Yan of Pingyang was appointed Grand Preceptor; Chief Minister of the Secretariat Hulu Guang was made Minister of Works; Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince and Prince Rui of Zhao Commandery was made Chief Minister of the Secretariat; and Director of the Secretariat and Prince Xiaowan of Hejian was made Left Vice Director of the Secretariat. On the guihai day, the emperor proceeded to Jinyang. Envoys from Chen came on a diplomatic visit.
7
冬十一月丁丑，詔兼散騎常侍封孝琰使於陳。
In the eleventh month of winter, on the dingchou day, an edict dispatched Concurrent Regular Attendant Feng Xiaoyan as envoy to Chen.
8
十二月丙辰，車駕至自晉陽。
In the twelfth month, on the bingchen day, the emperor returned from Jinyang.
9
是歲，殺太原王紹德。
That year, Prince Shaode of Taiyuan was killed.
10
In the second year, on the yihai day of the first month of spring, the emperor issued an edict for a court examination of xiucai scholars in the hall of audience. Junior Tutor to the Crown Prince Wei Shou was made Concurrent Right Vice Director of the Secretariat. On the jimao day, Concurrent Right Vice Director Wei Shou was dismissed from office for fawning and indulgence. On the dingchou day, Empress Wuming was given paired sacrifice at the Northern Suburban Altar. On the xinmao day, the emperor went to the Capital Pavilion to review prisoners and reduced the sentences of criminals in the capital, each according to the circumstances of his case.
11
In the third month, on the yichou day, an edict ordered Minister of Works Hulu Guang to supervise soldiers of the Five Garrisons in building a fortress at Zhiguan. On the renshen day, the Shiwei sent envoys to pay court tribute. On the bingxu day, Concurrent Right Vice Director Zhao Yanshen was made Left Vice Director of the Secretariat.
12
夏四月，幷、汾、晉、東雍、南汾五州蟲旱傷稼，遣使賑恤。 戊午，陳人來聘。
In the fourth month of summer, insects and drought damaged crops in the five provinces of Bing, Fen, Jin, East Yong, and South Fen; envoys were dispatched to provide relief. On the wuwu day, envoys from Chen came on a diplomatic visit.
13
五月壬午，詔以城南雙堂閏位之苑，廻造大總持寺。
In the fifth month, on the renwu day, an edict ordered the park south of the city at the intercalary-position Twin Halls to be converted into the Great Zongchi Monastery.
14
In the sixth month, on yisi, Qi Province reported that eight dragons had been seen ascending to Heaven at the mouths of the Ji and Yellow rivers. On yimao, Concurrent Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary Cui Ziwu was sent as envoy to Chen. On gengshen, Prince Xiaoyu of Henan, Governor of Si Province, died.
15
秋八月辛丑，詔以三臺宮為大興聖寺。
In the eighth month of autumn, on the xinchou day, an edict ordered Santai Palace to be converted into Daxingsheng Monastery.
16
In the twelfth month of winter, on the guisi day, envoys from Chen came on a diplomatic visit. On the jiyou day, the Northern Zhou general Yang Zhong led more than two hundred thousand men, including the Turk Ashina Muhan, from Heng Province in three columns, killing and plundering officials and commoners. At this time heavy rain and snow continued for months. For more than a thousand li north and south the flat ground lay under several feet of snow; frost fell in daytime; and blood rained at Taiyuan. On the wuwu day, the emperor reached Jinyang. On the jiwei day, the Northern Zhou army pressed Bing Province. They also sent Great General Daxi Wu with tens of thousands of troops to East Yong and Jin Province, coordinating with the Turks.
17
是歲，室韋、庫莫奚、靺羯、契丹並遣使朝貢。
That year the Shiwei, Kumo Xi, Mojie, and Khitan all sent envoys bearing tribute.
18
In spring of the third year, on the gengshen day—the first of the month—the Northern Zhou army reached the walls, drew up in battle order, and fought west of the city. The Northern Zhou army and the Turks were routed; the dead, both men and livestock, lay heaped together for hundreds of li without a break. An edict ordered Prince Duan Shao of Pingyuan to pursue the enemy beyond the border and then withdraw.
19
In the third month, on the xinyou day, the new statutes and ordinances were issued and a general amnesty was proclaimed. On the jisi day, assassins murdered Grand Preceptor Prince You of Pengcheng. On the gengchen day, Minister of Works Hulu Guang was appointed Minister over the Masses, and Palace Attendant Prince Pu of Wuxing was appointed left vice-director of the Masters of Writing. On the jiashen day, Director of the Masters of Writing Prince Run of Fengyi was appointed Minister of Works.
20
夏四月辛卯，詔兼散騎常侍皇甫亮使於陳。
In the fourth month of summer, on the xinmao day, an edict appointed Acting Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry Huangfu Liang envoy to Chen.
21
In the fifth month, on the jiazi day, the emperor returned from Jinyang. On the renwu day, Director of the Masters of Writing Prince Rui of Zhao Commandery was appointed recorder of the affairs of the Masters of Writing, and the former Minister over the Masses Lou Rui was appointed grand commandant. On the jiashen day, Grand Tutor Duan Shao was appointed Grand Preceptor. On the dinghai day, Grand Commandant Prince Jun of Rencheng was appointed grand general. On the renchen day, the emperor set out on an imperial progress to Jinyang.
22
In the sixth month, on the gengzi day, torrential rain fell day and night without letup until the jiachen day, when it finally stopped. That month a rumor spread in Jinyang of ghost soldiers on the march, and the people vied to beat copper and iron to drive them off. Prince Bainian of Leling was executed. Lady Yuwen was returned to Northern Zhou.
23
In the ninth month of autumn, on the yichou day, the princes Chuo and Yan were enfeoffed as Prince of Nanyang and Prince of Dongping, respectively. That month Lady Yan was returned to Northern Zhou. Envoys from Chen came on a diplomatic visit. The Turks raided You Province, crossed the Great Wall, carried off plunder, and withdrew.
24
In the intercalary month, on the yiwei day, an edict dispatched twelve envoys to inspect flood-ravaged provinces and exempt them from land tax and corvée levies. On the yisi day, the Turks raided You Province. Northern Zhou armies marched out in three columns, sending the generals Yuchi Jiong against Luoyang, Yang Biao through Zhiguan Pass, and Quan Jingxuan toward Xuanhu.
25
In the eleventh month of winter, on the jiawu day, Yuchi Jiong and his fellows besieged Luoyang. On the wuxu day, an edict appointed Acting Regular Attendant of the Scattered Cavalry Liu Ti envoy to Chen. On the jiachen day, Grand Commandant Lou Rui routed the Northern Zhou army at Zhiguan Pass and took Yang Biao prisoner.
26
In the twelfth month, on yimao, Wang Shiliang, Inspector of Yu Province, surrendered his city to the Zhou general Quan Jingxuan. On dingsi, the emperor set out south from Jinyang on campaign. On jiwei, Prince Yan of Pingyang, the Grand Minister, died. On renxu, Grand Preceptor Duan Shao routed Yuchi Jiong and the others, relieving the siege of Luoyang. On dingmao, the emperor reached Luoyang. He remitted a year of taxes for the parts of Luo Province traversed by the Zhou army and pardoned prisoners in the provincial seat whose sentences were death or less. On jisi, Duan Shao was made Grand Minister, Hulu Guang was made Grand Commandant, and Prince Changgong of Lanling, Inspector of Bing Province, was made Chief Minister of the Secretariat. On renshen, the emperor reached Wulao, passed through Huatai, and stopped at Liyang, reducing punishments for offenders along his route. On bingzi, the emperor returned from Luoyang.
27
是歲，高麗、靺羯、新羅並遣使朝貢。 山東大水，饑死者不可勝計，詔發賑給，事竟不行。
That year Goguryeo, Mojie, and Silla all sent envoys bearing tribute. Catastrophic flooding struck the region east of the mountains, and famine deaths were beyond counting. An edict ordered relief grain to be distributed, but in the end nothing was done.
28
29
In the second month, on the jiayin day, an edict appointed Jin Zhenxing, king of Silla, bearer of the imperial staff, colonel of the Eastern Yi, Duke of Lelang commandery, and King of Silla. On the renshen day, because the harvest had failed, the sale of wine was banned. On the jimao day, an edict reduced officials' grain rations at every rank, each by a fixed amount.
30
三月戊子，詔給西兗、梁、滄、趙州，司州之東郡、陽平、清河、武都，冀州之長樂、渤海遭水潦之處貧下戶粟，各有差。 家別鬥升而已，又多不付。 是月，彗星見； 有物隕於殿庭，如赤漆鼓帶小鈴； 殿上石自起，兩兩相對。 又有神見於後園萬壽堂前山穴中，其體壯大，不辯其面，兩齒絕白，長出於唇，帝直宿嬪御已下七百人咸見焉。 帝又夢之。
In the third month, on the wuzi day, an edict granted grain to poor households in flood-stricken districts of Western Yan, Liang, Cang, and Zhao provinces; the eastern commanderies of Dong, Yangping, Qinghe, and Wudu in Sizhou; and Changle and Bohai in Jizhou, each according to a fixed scale. Each household received only a few pecks and sheng at most, and even that was often never delivered. That month a comet appeared. Something fell in the palace courtyard, shaped like a red-lacquered drum hung with small bells. Stones in the hall rose by themselves, pairing off face to face. A spirit also appeared in a mountain cave before the Wanshou Hall in the rear garden. Its body was enormous, its face impossible to make out, and its two teeth were bone-white and thrust out beyond the lips. The emperor and all seven hundred palace women on night duty, down to the lowest ranks, beheld it. The emperor dreamed of it as well.
31
In summer, in the fourth month, on wuwu, Lou Rui, Grand General and Prince of Dong'an, was dismissed over an affair. On yihai, envoys from Chen came to court. The Grand Astrologer reported a celestial anomaly whose omen pointed to a change of ruler. On bingzi, Grand Minister Duan Shao, concurrently Grand Commandant, was sent with the credentials to convey the imperial seals and ribbons and transfer the throne to the crown prince. A general amnesty was proclaimed, the era was changed to Tiantong, and officials were advanced and punishments reduced by graded degrees. A further edict made the crown prince's consort, Lady Hulu, empress. The lords then offered him the title Retired Emperor, and all major military and state affairs continued to be submitted to him. When he first prepared to hand over the government, he sent Zishang, an Inner Cansheng, by relay post to carry the edict to Ye. As Zishang left Jinyang, he saw a rider following him who suddenly vanished; before Zishang reached Ye, the news had already spread. In the twelfth month of the fourth year of the Tiantong era, on the xinwei day, the retired emperor died in the Qianshou Hall of the Ye Palace. He was thirty-two years old. He was posthumously titled Emperor Wucheng, with the temple name Shizu. In the second month of the fifth year, on the jiashen day, he was buried at Yongping Mausoleum.
32
論曰：武成風度高爽，經算弘長，文武之官，俱盡其力，有帝王之量矣。 但愛狎庸豎，委以朝權，帷薄之間，淫侈過度，滅亡之兆，其在斯乎？ 玄象告變，傳位元子，名號雖殊，政猶己出，跡有虛飾，事非憲典，聰明臨下，何易可誣。 又河南、河間、樂陵等諸王，或以時嫌，或以猜忌，皆無罪而殞，非所謂知命任天道之義也。
The appraisal says: Wucheng had an elevated bearing and far-reaching strategic judgment. Civil and military officials alike gave him their full efforts, and he possessed the measure of an emperor. Yet he was intimate with base underlings and entrusted them with court power, while within the palace chambers his licentious extravagance exceeded all bounds. The signs of ruin lay precisely there, did they not? Celestial signs announced change, so he passed the throne to his eldest son. The title changed, but government still came from him; the act was empty ornament, not proper precedent. With Heaven watching clearly from above, it could hardly be deceived. Moreover, the princes of Henan, Hejian, Leling, and others all died guiltless, some from the suspicions of the moment and some from jealous fear. This was hardly the meaning of knowing the mandate and yielding to the Way of Heaven.