1
孝惠皇帝諱衷，字正度，武帝第二子也。 泰始三年，立爲皇太子，時年九歲。 太熙元年四月己酉，武帝崩。 是日，皇太子即皇帝位，大赦，改元爲永熙。 尊皇后楊氏曰皇太后，立妃賈氏爲皇后。
Emperor Hui, whose personal name was Sima Zhong and courtesy name Zhengdu, was Emperor Wu’s second son. In 267, when he was nine years old, he was named heir apparent. In the fourth month of the first year of Taixi, on the day jiyou, Emperor Wu died. That same day the heir apparent ascended the throne, ordered a general amnesty, and adopted the reign title Yongxi. Empress Yang was elevated to empress dowager, and his consort Lady Jia was installed as empress.
2
夏五月辛未，葬武皇帝於峻陽陵。 丙子，增天下位一等，預喪事者二等，復租調一年，二千石已上皆封關中侯。 以太尉楊駿爲太傅，輔政。
In the fifth lunar month of summer, Emperor Wu was interred at the Junyang imperial tomb. On the next day, court ranks were advanced one step nationwide, two for those engaged in the funeral, taxes and corvée were waived for a year, and every official from prefect upward received the noble title marquis within the passes. Grand Commandant Yang Jun was appointed grand tutor to oversee state affairs at the young emperor’s side.
3
秋八月壬午，立廣陵王遹爲皇太子，以中書監何劭爲太子太師，吏部尚書王戎爲太子太傅，衛將軍楊濟爲太子太保。 遣南中郎將石崇、射聲校尉胡奕、長水校尉趙俊、揚烈將軍趙歡將屯兵四出。
In the eighth month, Sima You, prince of Guangling, was named crown prince; He Shao became his grand preceptor, Wang Rong his grand tutor, and Yang Ji his grand guardian. Shi Chong, Hu Yi, Zhao Jun, and Zhao Huan were sent out at the head of garrison forces in every direction.
4
冬十月辛酉，以司空石鑒爲太尉，前鎮西將軍、隴西王泰爲司空。
In the tenth month, Shi Jian rose from minister of works to grand commandant, while Prince Tai of Longxi, lately general who had guarded the west, took the ministry of works.
5
永平元年春正月乙酉朔[1]，臨朝，不設樂。 詔曰：「朕夙遭不造，淹恤在疚。 賴祖宗遺靈，宰輔忠賢，得以眇身託于群后之上。 昧於大道，不明于訓，戰戰兢兢，夕惕若厲。 乃者哀迷之際，三事股肱，惟社稷之重，率遵翼室之典，猶欲長奉先皇之制，是以有永熙之號。 然日月踰邁，已涉新年，開元易紀，禮之舊章。 其改永熙二年爲永平元年。」 又詔子弟及群官並不得謁陵。 丙午，皇太子冠，丁未，見于太廟。
On the new moon of the first month of spring in the first year of Yongping [1], the emperor held court without music. An edict ran: “From boyhood I have known bereavement I did not choose; mourning has long weighed upon me. Thanks to the spirits of my forebears and to loyal, capable ministers, this slight frame has been set above the princes of the blood. I am dim to the great Way, slow to take instruction, and I tremble through the day, alert at night as though disaster were at hand. In the confusion after my father’s death, the chief ministers, mindful of the altars of state, followed precedent for a minor on the throne and meant to keep his late Majesty’s institutions; that is why the reign was called Yongxi. Yet the seasons have turned, a new year has begun, and ritual expects a fresh reign title at such a renewal. Let the second year of Yongxi be renamed the first year of Yongping.” With that the edict ended. A further edict forbade imperial clansmen and officials to visit the imperial tombs. The crown prince came of age with the capping ceremony one day and was presented at the ancestral temple the next.
6
二月甲寅，賜王公已下帛各有差。 癸酉，鎮南將軍楚王瑋、鎮東將軍淮南王允來朝。 戊寅，復置祕書監官。
In the second month, princes, dukes, and officials down the scale received graded gifts of silk. Prince Wei of Chu, who held the southern command, and Prince Yun of Huainan, who held the eastern command, arrived for audience at court. The directorship of the Palace Library was restored.
7
三月辛卯，誅太傅楊駿，駿弟衛將軍珧，太子太保濟，中護軍張劭，散騎常侍段廣、楊邈，左將軍劉預，河南尹李斌，中書令蔣俊，東夷校尉文淑，尚書武茂，皆夷三族。 壬辰，大赦，改元。 賈后矯詔廢皇太后爲庶人，徙于金墉城，告于天地宗廟。 誅太后母龐氏。 壬寅，徵大司馬、汝南王亮爲太宰，與太保衛瓘輔政。 以秦王柬爲大將軍，東平王楙爲撫軍大將軍，鎮南將軍、楚王瑋爲衛將軍，領北軍中候，下邳王晃爲尚書令，東安公繇爲尚書左僕射，進封東安王。 督將侯者千八十一人。 庚戌，免東安王繇及東平王楙，繇徙帶方。
In the third month Yang Jun and his entire faction were put to death: his brother Yang Yao, Yang Ji, Zhang Shao, Duan Guang, Yang Miao, Liu Yu, Li Bin, Jiang Jun, Wen Shu, and Wu Mao, with every branch of their families extirpated. A general amnesty followed, and the reign title was changed again. Empress Jia forged an edict that stripped the empress dowager of her title, confined her in the Jinyong fortress, and had the act proclaimed to Heaven, Earth, and the imperial shrines. The dowager’s mother, Lady Pang, was executed. Prince Liang of Runan was recalled from the grand marshal’s post to serve as grand steward alongside Grand Guardian Wei Guan as coregent. Prince Jian of Qin took the supreme military command; Prince Mao of Dongping became general who soothes the army; Prince Wei of Chu became general of the guards and colonel of the northern camp; Prince Huang of Xiapi headed the secretariat; Duke Yao of Dong’an became its senior deputy and was raised to prince of Dong’an. One thousand eighty-one officers of commander rank or above were ennobled as marquises. Princes Yao and Mao were stripped of their posts, and Yao was banished to Daifang on the Korean frontier.
8
夏四月癸亥，以征東將軍、梁王肜爲征西大將軍、都督關西諸軍事，太子少傅阮坦爲平東將軍、監青徐二州諸軍事。 己巳，以太子太傅王戎爲尚書右僕射。
Prince Xiong of Liang was shifted from the eastern to the western theater as area commander beyond the passes, while Ruan Tan was sent to pacify the east and oversee the armies of Qing and Xu. Wang Rong moved from tutoring the heir apparent to the right vice directorship of the secretariat.
9
五月甲戌[2]，毗陵王軌薨。 壬午，除天下戶調綿絹，賜孝悌、高年、鰥寡、力田者帛，人三匹。
Prince Gui of Piling died in the fifth month [2]. The silk portion of the poll tax was remitted nationwide, and three bolts of silk went to each exemplar of filial piety, each venerable elder, each solitary widower or widow, and each diligent farmer.
10
六月，賈后矯詔使楚王瑋殺太宰、汝南王亮，太保、菑陽公衛瓘。 乙丑，以瑋擅害亮、瓘，殺之。 曲赦洛陽。 以廣陵王師劉寔爲太子太保，司空、隴西王泰錄尚書事。
In the sixth month Empress Jia forged orders that sent Prince Wei of Chu to murder Prince Liang of Runan, the grand steward, and Duke Wei Guan of Ziyang, the grand guardian. On the yichou day Prince Wei was executed for having murdered Liang and Guan without authorization. Luoyang received a limited amnesty. Liu Shi became grand guardian to the crown prince, and Prince Tai of Longxi, still minister of works, took charge of secretariat business.
11
秋七月，分揚州、荊州十郡爲江州。
Ten commanderies split from Yang and Jing were formed into a new Jiang Province.
12
八月庚申，以趙王倫爲征東將軍、都督徐兗二州諸軍事； 河間王顒爲北中郎將，鎮鄴； 太子太師何劭爲都督豫州諸軍事，鎮許昌。 徙長沙王乂爲常山王。 己巳，進西陽公羕爵爲王。 辛未，立隴西世子越爲東海王。
Prince Lun of Zhao was named general who conquers the east and given joint command over Xu and Yan; Prince Yong of Hejian became a northern camp general and garrisoned Ye; He Shao, the heir apparent’s grand preceptor, took command in Yu Province from a base at Xuchang. Prince Yi of Changsha was re-enfeoffed as prince of Changshan. Duke Yang of Xiyang was raised to princely rank. Yue, heir of the house of Longxi, was created prince of Donghai.
13
冬十二月辛酉，京師地震。
The capital shook in an earthquake in the twelfth month.
14
是歲，東夷十七國、南夷二十四部並詣校尉內附。
Seventeen eastern barbarian states and twenty-four southern tribes presented themselves to the frontier colonels and asked to submit.
15
二年春二月己酉，賈后弒皇太后于金墉城。
In the second lunar month of the second year Empress Jia had the empress dowager killed inside the Jinyong fortress.
16
秋八月壬子，大赦。
A general amnesty was proclaimed in the eighth month.
17
九月乙酉，中山王耽薨。
Prince Dan of Zhongshan died in the ninth month.
18
冬十一月，大疫。
A severe epidemic struck in the eleventh month.
19
是歲，沛國雨雹，傷麥。
Hailstorms in Pei damaged the wheat crop that year.
20
三年夏四月，滎陽雨雹。
In the fourth month of the third year hail fell on Xingyang.
21
六月，弘農郡雨雹，深三尺。
Hongnong was struck by hail that piled three feet deep in the sixth month.
22
冬十月，太原王泓薨。 [3]
Prince Hong of Taiyuan died in the tenth month. See editorial note 3.
23
四年春正月丁酉朔，侍中、太尉、安昌公石鑒薨。 [4]
On New Year’s Day of the fourth year Duke Shi Jian of Anchang, who was palace attendant and grand commandant, died. See editorial note 4.
24
夏五月，蜀郡山移，淮南壽春洪水出，山崩地陷，壞城府及百姓廬舍。 匈奴郝散反，攻上黨，殺長吏。
In the fifth month landslides rearranged hills in Shu, while Shouchun in Huainan flooded as the ground gave way, ruining walls and homes. The Xiongnu leader Hao San rose in revolt, struck Shangdang, and slew the ranking officials there.
25
六月，壽春地大震，死者二十餘家。 上庸郡山崩，殺二十餘人。
A violent earthquake at Shouchun in the sixth month killed more than twenty families. A mountain slide in Shangyong claimed more than twenty lives.
26
秋八月，郝散帥眾降，馮翊都尉殺之。 上谷居庸、上庸並地陷裂，水泉涌出，人有死者。 大饑。
Hao San surrendered with his followers in the eighth month, whereupon the Fengyi commandery captain had him killed. The ground split open at Juyong in Shanggu and in Shangyong commandery, geysers burst through the fissures, and people were killed. Famine spread across the realm.
27
九月丙辰，赦諸州之遭地災者。 甲午，枉矢東北竟天。
On the bingchen day in the ninth month, amnesty was extended to every province hit by the earthquakes. A “crooked-arrow” comet streaked across the northeastern sky from horizon to horizon on the jiawu day.
28
是歲，京師及郡國八地震。
The capital and eight commanderies reported earthquakes that year.
29
五年夏四月，彗星見于西方，孛于奎，至軒轅。
In the fourth month of the fifth year a comet blazed in the west from the Kui asterism toward Xuanyuan.
30
六月，金城地震。 東海雨雹，深五寸。
Jincheng was shaken by an earthquake in the sixth month. Hail in Donghai piled five inches deep.
31
秋七月，下邳暴風，壞廬舍。
A violent windstorm in Xiapi tore down houses in the seventh month.
32
九月，雁門、新興、太原、上黨大風，傷禾稼。
Gales across Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, and Shangdang in the ninth month flattened the standing grain.
33
冬十月，武庫火，焚累代之寶。
Fire consumed the imperial armory in the tenth month, destroying heirlooms gathered over many reigns.
34
十二月丙戌，新作武庫，大調兵器。 丹楊雨雹。 有石生于京師宜年里。
On the bingxu day in the twelfth month work began on a new armory and a major requisition of weapons was ordered. Hailstorms struck Danyang. A stone was said to have “sprouted” in Yifang ward inside the capital.
35
是歲，荊、揚、兗、豫、青、徐等六州大水，詔遣御史巡行振貸。
Great floods inundated six provinces—Jing, Yang, Yan, Yu, Qing, and Xu—and the court sent censors on circuit with grain loans for relief.
36
三月，東海隕霜，傷桑麥。 彭城呂縣有流血，東西百餘步。
Late frost in Donghai in the third month damaged the mulberries and wheat. Blood is said to have flowed from the ground for over a hundred paces east to west in Lü county, Pengcheng.
37
夏四月，大風。
High winds swept the realm in the fourth month of summer.
38
五月，荊、揚二州大水。 匈奴郝散弟度元帥馮翊、北地馬蘭羌、盧水胡反，攻北地，太守張損死之。 馮翊太守歐陽建與度元戰，建敗績。 徵征西大將軍、趙王倫爲車騎將軍，以太子太保、梁王肜爲征西大將軍、都督雍梁二州諸軍事，鎮關中。
Jing and Yang provinces were overwhelmed by flood in the fifth month. Du Yuan, Hao San’s brother, led Qiang and Lushui Hu allies from Fengyi and Beidi in revolt, stormed Beidi, and killed Prefect Zhang Sun in the fighting. Ouyang Jian, prefect of Fengyi, met Du Yuan in battle and suffered a rout. Prince Lun of Zhao was recalled from the western command to the capital post of general of chariots and cavalry, while Prince Xiong of Liang took his place as general-in-chief in the west with authority over Yong and Liang and a mandate to hold the Guanzhong frontier.
39
秋八月，雍州刺史解系又爲度元所破。 秦雍氐、羌悉叛，推氐帥齊萬年僭號稱帝，圍涇陽。
Inspector Xie Xi of Yong Province was defeated again by Du Yuan in the eighth month. Di and Qiang across Qin and Yong rose as one, acclaimed Qi Wannian as emperor, and laid siege to Jingyang.
40
冬十月乙未，曲赦雍、涼二州。
Yong and Liang received a limited amnesty on the yiwei day in the tenth month.
41
十一月丙子，遣安西將軍夏侯駿、建威將軍周處等討萬年，梁王肜屯好畤。 關中饑，大疫。
Xiahou Jun and Zhou Chu were sent against Qi Wannian in the eleventh month while Prince Xiong of Liang held a supporting camp at Haozhi. Famine and plague ravaged the Guanzhong heartland.
42
七年春正月癸丑，周處及齊萬年戰於六陌，王師敗績，處死之。
Zhou Chu fell fighting Qi Wannian at Liumo in the first month of the seventh year when the imperial army was routed.
43
夏五月，魯國雨雹。
Hailstorms struck the Lu princedom in the fifth month.
44
秋七月，雍、梁州疫。 大旱，隕霜，殺秋稼。 關中饑，米斛萬錢。 詔骨肉相賣者不禁。 丁丑，司徒、京陵公王渾薨。
Plague broke out in Yong and Liang in the seventh month. Drought and untimely frost wiped out the autumn harvest. In the starving Guanzhong heartland a bushel of grain cost ten thousand cash. An edict lifted the ban on kin selling one another to survive. Duke Wang Hun of Jingling, the minister of education, died on the dingchou day.
45
九月，以尚書右僕射王戎爲司徒，太子太師何劭爲尚書左僕射。
Wang Rong advanced from right vice director to minister of education, and He Shao from the heir apparent’s grand preceptor to left vice director of the secretariat in the ninth month.
46
八年春正月丙辰，地震。 詔發倉廩，振雍州饑人。
The earth shook on the bingchen day in the first month of the eighth year. The court ordered state granaries opened to feed the starving population of Yong Province.
47
三月壬戌，大赦。
A general amnesty was proclaimed on the renxu day in the third month.
48
夏五月，郊禖石破爲二。
In the fifth month the sacred stone at the suburban altar to the progenitor-god cracked clean in two.
49
秋九月，荊、豫、揚、徐、冀等五州大水。 雍州有年。
Massive floods inundated the five provinces of Jing, Yu, Yang, Xu, and Ji in the ninth month. Yong Province alone enjoyed a good harvest that year.
50
九年春正月，左積弩將軍孟觀伐氐，戰于中亭，大破之，獲齊萬年。 徵征西大將軍、梁王肜錄尚書事。 以北中郎將、河間王顒爲鎮西將軍，鎮關中； 成都王穎爲鎮北大將軍，鎮鄴。
In the first month of the ninth year Meng Guan, general of the left strong crossbow corps, struck the Di at Zhongting, shattered their host, and took Qi Wannian alive. Prince Xiong of Liang was recalled from the western command to take charge of secretariat business. Prince Yong of Hejian was promoted from northern camp general to general who guards the west and ordered to hold the Guanzhong frontier; Prince Ying of Chengdu received the northern supreme command and took up headquarters at Ye.
51
夏四月，鄴人張承基等妖言署置，聚黨數千。 郡縣逮捕，皆伏誅。
In the fourth month Zhang Chengji of Ye and his confederates spread seditious prophecies, set up a bogus administration, and rallied several thousand followers. County and prefectural officers rounded them up, and every ringleader went to the block.
52
六月戊戌，太尉、隴西王泰薨。
Prince Tai of Longxi, the grand commandant, died on the wuxu day in the sixth month.
53
秋八月，以尚書裴頠爲尚書僕射。
In the eighth month Pei Wei advanced from ordinary minister to vice director of the secretariat.
54
冬十一月甲子朔，日有蝕之。 京師大風，發屋折木。
A solar eclipse darkened the sky on the new moon of the eleventh month. A violent gale struck the capital, ripping roofs away and snapping trees.
55
十二月壬戌，廢皇太子遹爲庶人，及其三子幽于金墉城，殺太子母謝氏。
On the renxu day in the twelfth month Crown Prince Sima You was stripped of his title and imprisoned with his three sons in the Jinyong fortress, while his mother Lady Xie was put to death.
56
永康元年春正月癸亥朔，大赦，改元。 己卯，日有蝕之。 丙子，皇孫𧇃卒。
The new moon of the first month of Yongkang brought a general amnesty and a new reign title. The sun was eclipsed on the jimao day. On the bingzi day the young imperial grandson Sima Zang (written 𧇃 in the text) died.
57
二月丁酉，大風，飛沙拔木。
A sand-laden gale uprooted timber on the dingyou day in the second month.
58
三月，尉氏雨血，妖星見于南方。 癸未，賈后矯詔害庶人遹于許昌。
Weishi was said to have been drenched in blood-red rain, and an ominous star shone in the southern sky. On the guiwei day Empress Jia used forged orders to murder the deposed heir Sima You at Xuchang.
59
夏四月辛卯，日有蝕之。 癸巳，梁王肜、趙王倫矯詔廢賈后爲庶人，司空張華、尚書僕射裴頠皆遇害，侍中賈謐及黨與數十人皆伏誅。 甲午，倫矯詔大赦，自爲相國、都督中外諸軍，如宣文輔魏故事，追復故皇太子位。 丁酉，以梁王肜爲太宰，左光祿大夫何劭爲司徒，右光祿大夫劉寔爲司空，淮南王允爲驃騎將軍。 己亥，趙王倫矯詔害賈庶人于金墉城。
Another solar eclipse occurred on the xinmao day in the fourth month. On the guisi day Princes Xiong and Lun forged an edict that deposed Empress Jia; Zhang Hua and Pei Wei were killed, and Jia Mi with dozens of his partisans went to the execution ground. The next day Prince Lun forged a general amnesty, named himself chancellor and commander-in-chief on the model of Sima Yi and Sima Zhao, and posthumously reinstated the murdered crown prince. Prince Xiong became grand steward, He Shao minister of education, Liu Shi minister of works, and Prince Yun of Huainan general of agile cavalry on the dingyou day. On the jihai day Prince Lun had the deposed Empress Jia killed inside the Jinyong fortress.
60
五月己巳，立皇孫臧爲皇太孫，尚爲襄陽王。
Sima Zang was named heir apparent’s son and successor, while his brother Shang was created prince of Xiangyang, on the jisi day in the fifth month.
61
六月壬寅，葬愍懷太子于顯平陵。 撫軍將軍、清河王遐薨。 癸卯，震崇陽陵標。
Crown Prince You, posthumously titled the Lamented Heir, was laid to rest at Xianping mausoleum on the renyin day. Prince Xia of Qinghe, who held the title general who soothes the army, died. Lightning shattered the stele at Emperor Wu’s Chongyang mausoleum on the guimao day.
62
九月，改司徒爲丞相，以梁王肜爲之。
The ninth month saw the office of minister of education renamed chancellor, with Prince Xiong of Liang appointed to the post.
63
冬十月，黃霧四塞。
Yellow fog blanketed the landscape for days that tenth month.
64
十一月戊午，大風飛沙石，六日乃止。 甲子，立皇后羊氏，大赦，大酺三日。
From the wuwu day a six-day sandstorm drove grit through the air until it finally lifted. Lady Yang was enthroned as empress on the jiazi day, the realm was amnestied, and the court ordered three days of public celebration.
65
十二月，彗星見于東方。 益州刺史趙廞與略陽流人李庠害成都內史耿勝、犍爲太守李密、汶山太守霍固、西夷校尉陳總，據成都反。
A comet blazed in the eastern sky during the twelfth month. Zhao Xin, the Yi inspector, joined the displaced leader Li Kuang in murdering Geng Sheng and the other local officials, then seized Chengdu and rose in revolt.
66
永寧元年春正月乙丑，趙王倫篡帝位。 丙寅，遷帝于金墉城，號曰太上皇，改金墉曰永昌宮。 廢皇太孫臧爲濮陽王。 五星經天，縱橫無常。 癸酉，倫害濮陽王臧。 略陽流人李特殺趙廞，傳首京師。
On the yichou day in the first month of Yongning, Prince Lun of Zhao seized the throne. The next day the true emperor was bundled off to the Jinyong fortress as a nominal “supreme emperor,” and the compound was renamed Yongchang Palace. The heir’s son Sima Zang was demoted to prince of Puyang. All five naked-eye planets were seen wheeling across the daytime sky in disorderly paths. Prince Lun had Sima Zang, now prince of Puyang, murdered on the guiyou day. The refugee leader Li Te slew Zhao Xin and forwarded his head to Luoyang.
67
三月，平東將軍、齊王冏起兵以討倫，傳檄州郡，屯于陽翟。 征北大將軍、成都王穎，征西大將軍、河間王顒，常山王乂，豫州刺史李毅，兗州刺史王彥，南中郎將、新野公歆，皆舉兵應之，眾數十萬。 倫遣其將閭和出伊闕，張泓、孫輔出堮阪以距冏，孫會、士猗、許超出黃橋以距穎。 及穎將趙驤、石超戰于湨水，會等大敗，棄軍走。
In the third month Prince Jiong of Qi, general who pacifies the east, mobilized against Prince Lun, circulated a call to arms through every province, and camped at Yangzhai. Princes Ying, Yong, and Yi, the Yu and Yan inspectors Li Yi and Wang Yan, and Duke Xin of Xinye all marched to join him, fielding hundreds of thousands of men. Prince Lun sent Lü He through the Yique pass, Zhang Hong and Sun Fu over the E ridge to block Prince Jiong, and Sun Hui, Shi Yi, and Xu Chao from Huang Bridge to stop Prince Ying. At the Ju River Zhao Xiang and Shi Chao, serving Prince Ying, routed Sun Hui’s army, which broke and ran.
68
閏月丙戌朔，日有蝕之。
The intercalary month opened with a solar eclipse on the bingxu new moon.
69
夏四月，歲星晝見。 冏將何勖、盧播擊張泓於陽翟，大破之，斬孫輔等。 辛酉，左衛將軍王輿與尚書、淮陵王漼勒兵入宮，禽倫黨孫秀、孫會、許超、士猗、駱休等，皆斬之。 逐倫歸第，即日乘輿反正。 群臣頓首謝罪，帝曰：「非諸卿之過也。」
Jupiter shone visible in broad daylight during the fourth month. He Xu and Lu Bo, under Prince Jiong, crushed Zhang Hong at Yangzhai and executed Sun Fu among others. On the xinyou day Wang Yu and Prince Cui of Huailing forced the palace gates, seized Sun Xiu and Prince Lun’s other confederates, and put them all to the sword. Prince Lun was sent home under guard, and the emperor was restored to the throne that same day. The ministers prostrated themselves in apology, but the emperor told them, “None of this was your doing.”
70
癸亥，詔曰：「朕以不德，纂承皇統，遠不能光濟大業，靖綏四方； 近不能開明刑威，式遏姦宄，至使逆臣孫秀敢肆凶虐，窺間王室，遂奉趙王倫饕據天位。 鎮東大將軍、齊王冏，征北大將軍、成都王穎，征西大將軍、河間王顒，並以明德茂親，忠規允著，首建大策，匡救國難。 尚書漼共立大謀，左衛將軍王輿與群公卿士，協同謀略，親勒本營，斬秀及其二子。 前趙王倫爲秀所誤，與其子等已詣金墉迎朕幽宮，旋軫閶闔。 豈在予一人獨饗其慶，宗廟社稷實有賴焉。」 於是大赦，改元，孤寡賜穀五斛，大酺五日。 誅趙王倫、義陽王威、九門侯質等及倫之黨與。
On the guihai day an edict began: “Lacking virtue, I yet inherited the throne, and I have not been able to extend the great enterprise or bring peace to the four quarters of the realm; Near at hand I failed to make law and majesty clear enough to stop treason, so the rebel Sun Xiu could brutalize the court, tear at the royal house, and help Prince Lun of Zhao seize the throne by force. General-in-chief who guards the east Prince Jiong of Qi, general-in-chief who conquers the north Prince Ying of Chengdu, and general-in-chief who conquers the west Prince Yong of Hejian are men of shining virtue and eminent kinship whose loyal counsel stood the test; they first devised the great plan that delivered the state from disaster. Minister Sima Cui framed the decisive plot; Wang Yu, general of the left guards, with the high ministers acting in concert, led their household troops into the palace and slew Sun Xiu together with his two sons. The former Prince Lun of Zhao was deceived by Sun Xiu; he and his sons had already reached the Jinyong compound to bring me out of confinement and were turning their carriages toward the Changhe Gate. How could the blessing rest on me alone? The ancestral shrines and the altars of soil and grain have truly depended on them.” With the edict closed, the court ordered a general amnesty, a new reign title, five hu of grain for every widow, widower, and orphan, and five days of public feasting. Prince Lun, Prince Wei of Yiyang, Marquis Zhi of the Nine Gates, and the rest of Lun’s clique were put to death.
71
五月，立襄陽王尚爲皇太孫。
In the fifth month Prince Shang of Xiangyang was named heir to the throne.
72
六月戊辰，大赦，增吏位二等。 復封賓徒王晏爲吳王。 庚午，東萊王蕤、左衛將軍王輿謀廢齊王冏，事泄，蕤廢爲庶人，輿伏誅，夷三族。 甲戌，以齊王冏爲大司馬、都督中外諸軍事，成都王穎爲大將軍、錄尚書事，河間王顒爲太尉。 罷丞相，復置司徒官。 己卯，以梁王肜爲太宰，領司徒。 封齊王冏功臣葛旟牟平公，路季小黃公，衛毅平陰公，劉真安鄉公，韓泰封丘公。
The wuchen day in the sixth month brought a general amnesty and a two-grade promotion for every official. Prince Yan of Bintu was restored to the old Wu princedom. Prince Rui of Donglai and Wang Yu conspired to topple Prince Jiong; when the plot surfaced, Rui was reduced to commoner rank while Wang Yu and three degrees of his kin were executed. Prince Jiong became grand marshal and commander-in-chief, Prince Ying general-in-chief with charge of the secretariat, and Prince Yong grand commandant on the jiaxu day. The chancellorship was abolished and the ministry of education revived. Prince Xiong of Liang was named grand steward while retaining the ministry of education on the jimao day. Prince Jiong’s lieutenants Ge Yu, Lu Ji, Wei Yi, Liu Zhen, and Han Tai were each enfeoffed as district dukes for their part in the coup.
73
秋七月甲午，立吳王晏子國爲漢王，復封常山王乂爲長沙王。
On the jiawu day in the seventh month Sima Guo, son of Prince Yan of Wu, was created prince of Han, and Prince Yi was moved back from Changshan to the Changsha princedom.
74
八月，大赦。 戊辰，原徙邊者。 益州刺史羅尚討羌，破之。 己巳，徙南平王祥爲宜都王。 下邳王韡薨。 以東平王楙爲平東將軍、都督徐州諸軍事。
A general amnesty was declared in the eighth month. Frontier exiles were pardoned on the wuchen day. Luo Shang, inspector of Yi, campaigned against the Qiang and broke their host. Prince Xiang of Nanping was reassigned to the Yidu princedom on the jisi day. The prince of Xiapi, Sima Wei, passed away. Prince Mao of Dongping was named general who pacifies the east with command over all Xu military affairs.
75
九月，追東安王繇復其爵。 丁丑，封楚王瑋子範爲襄陽王。
In the ninth month the late Prince Yao of Dong’an was posthumously rehabilitated and his title restored. Sima Fan, son of the late Prince Wei of Chu, was created prince of Xiangyang on the dingchou day.
76
冬十月，流人李特反於蜀。
The displaced leader Li Te rose in revolt in Shu during the tenth month.
77
是歲，郡國十二旱，六蝗。
Twelve commanderies suffered drought and six were hit by locust swarms that year.
78
太安元年春正月庚子，安東將軍、譙王隨薨。
Prince Sui of Qiao, general who pacifies the east, died on the gengzi day in the first month of Tai’an.
79
三月癸卯，赦司、冀、兗、豫四州。 皇太孫尚薨。
The four metropolitan provinces—Si, Ji, Yan, and Yu—received an amnesty on the guimao day in the third month. The heir’s son, Prince Shang, died.
80
夏四月，彗星晝見。
A comet shone in daylight during the fourth month.
81
秋七月，兗、豫、徐、冀等四州大水。
Catastrophic floods struck Yan, Yu, Xu, and Ji in the seventh month.
82
冬十月，地震。
The earth shook in the tenth month.
83
十二月丁卯，河間王顒表齊王冏窺伺神器，有無君之心，與成都王穎、新野王歆、范陽王虓同會洛陽，請廢冏還第。 長沙王乂奉乘輿屯南止車門，攻冏，殺之，幽其諸子于金墉城，廢冏弟北海王寔。 大赦，改元。 以長沙王乂爲太尉、都督中外諸軍事。 封東萊王蕤子炤爲齊王。
On the dingmao day Prince Yong memorialized that Prince Jiong was plotting usurpation; he and Princes Ying, Xin, and Xiao converged on Luoyang demanding that Jiong be dismissed and sent home. Prince Yi of Changsha seized the South Halting-Carriage gate with the emperor, stormed Prince Jiong’s position, slew him, penned Jiong’s sons in the Jinyong fortress, and degraded Prince Shi of Beihai. The court proclaimed a general amnesty and adopted a new reign title. Prince Yi of Changsha was named grand commandant and commander-in-chief of every army. Sima Zhao, son of Prince Rui of Donglai, was installed as prince of Qi to replace the extirpated line.
84
二年春正月甲子朔，赦五歲刑。
The new year opened with remission of all penal labor sentences up to five years.
85
三月，李特攻陷益州。 荊州刺史宋岱擊特，斬之，傳首京師。
Li Te overran Yi Province in the third month. Song Dai, the Jing inspector, defeated Li Te, took his head, and sent it to Luoyang.
86
夏四月，特子雄復據益州。
Li Te’s son Li Xiong recovered Yi Province from Jin forces in the fourth month.
87
五月，義陽蠻張昌舉兵反，以山都人丘沈爲主，改姓劉氏，僞號漢，建元神鳳，攻破郡縣，南陽太守劉彬，平南將軍羊伊，鎮南大將軍、新野王歆並遇害。
In the fifth month the Yiyang chieftain Zhang Chang rebelled, set up Qiu Shen of Qiuchen as a bogus Han emperor surnamed Liu with reign Shenfeng, overran towns, and killed Prefect Liu Bin, General Yang Yi, and Prince Xin of Xinye.
88
六月，遣荊州刺史劉弘等討張昌于方城，王師敗績。
Liu Hong and other Jing commanders marched against Zhang Chang at Fangcheng in the sixth month and were routed.
89
秋七月，中書令卞粹、侍中馮蓀、河南尹李含等貳於長沙王乂，乂疑而害之。
In the seventh month Prince Yi suspected Bian Cui, Feng Sun, Li Han, and others of divided loyalty and had them killed.
90
張昌陷江南諸郡，武陵太守賈隆、零陵太守孔紘、豫章太守閻濟、武昌太守劉根皆遇害。 昌別帥石冰寇揚州，刺史陳徽與戰，大敗，諸郡盡沒。 臨淮人封雲舉兵應之，自阜陵寇徐州。
Zhang Chang’s rebels swept the southland, and Prefects Jia Long, Kong Hong, Yan Ji, and Liu Gen all died defending their posts. Shi Bing, another of Zhang Chang’s generals, struck Yang Province, shattered Inspector Chen Hui’s army, and cleared every commandery in the region. Feng Yun of Linhuai rose in support of Zhang Chang and marched from Fuling into Xu Province.
91
八月，河間王顒、成都王穎舉兵討長沙王乂，帝以乂爲大都督，帥軍禦之。
In the eighth month Princes Yong and Ying marched against Prince Yi of Changsha, whom the emperor named supreme commander to meet them in the field.
92
庚申，劉弘及張昌戰於清水，斬之。
On the gengshen day Liu Hong caught Zhang Chang at the Qing River and took his head.
93
顒遣其將張方，穎遣其將陸機、牽秀、石超等來逼京師。 乙丑，帝幸十三里橋，遣將軍皇甫商距方于宜陽。 己巳，帝旋軍于宣武場。 庚午，舍于石樓。 天中裂，無雲而雷。
Zhang Fang came at the head of Prince Yong’s host, while Lu Ji, Qian Xiu, and Shi Chao advanced for Prince Ying against Luoyang. The emperor rode to the Thirteen-Li bridge and ordered Huangfu Shang to hold Zhang Fang at Yiyang on the yichou day. By the jisi day the imperial camp had withdrawn to the Xuanyang parade ground. He spent the gengwu night at the Stone Tower. A fissure seemed to open in the heavens, and thunder rolled under a cloudless sky.
94
九月丁丑，帝次于河橋。 壬午，皇甫商爲張方所敗。 甲申，帝軍于芒山。 丁亥，幸偃師。 辛卯，舍于豆田。 癸巳，尚書右僕射、興晉侯羊玄之卒，帝旋于城東。 丙申，進軍緱氏，擊牽秀，走之。 大赦。 張方入京城，燒清明、開陽二門，死者萬計。 石超逼乘輿于緱氏。
The court camped at the great bridge over the Yellow River on dingchou in the ninth month. Huangfu Shang lost to Zhang Fang on the renwu day. The imperial host took position on Mang Mountain on the jiashen day. He moved the camp to Yanshi on the dinghai day. The emperor billeted at the Bean Fields camp on the xinmao day. Yang Xuanzhi, marquis of Xingjin and right vice director, died on the guisi day, and the sovereign drew back to the eastern suburbs. On bingshen the host struck Qian Xiu at Gongshi and drove him off. A general amnesty was issued. Zhang Fang broke into Luoyang, fired the Qingming and Kaiyang gates, and left tens of thousands dead in the streets. Shi Chao cornered the emperor’s escort at Gongshi.
95
冬十月壬寅，帝旋于宮。 石超焚緱氏，服御無遺。 丁未，破牽秀、范陽王虓于東陽門外。 戊申，破陸機于建春門，石超走，斬其大將賈崇等十六人，懸首銅駝街。 張方退屯十三里橋。
The sovereign re-entered the palace on renyin in the tenth month. Shi Chao put Gongshi to the torch and destroyed almost every piece of the imperial train. Outside the Dongyang Gate the loyalists broke Qian Xiu and Prince Xiao of Fanyang on dingwei. At the Jianchun Gate on wushen Lu Ji’s line collapsed, Shi Chao bolted, and sixteen of his senior commanders including Jia Chong were executed, their heads displayed along Copper Camel Street. Zhang Fang pulled back to the Thirteen-Li bridge.
96
十一月辛巳，星晝隕，聲如雷。 王師攻方壘，不利。 方決千金堨，水碓皆涸。 乃發王公奴婢手舂給兵廩，一品已下不從征者、男子十三以上皆從役。 又發奴助兵，號爲四部司馬。 公私窮踧，米石萬錢。 詔命所至，一城而已。
A meteor blazed across the daytime sky with a thunderclap on xinsi in the eleventh month. Imperial troops stormed Zhang Fang’s earthworks and were thrown back. Zhang Fang cut the Qianjin dike and drained every millpond that powered the city’s mills. Slaves from noble households were set to grinding army rations by hand, and every boy thirteen or older not already under arms was dragooned into labor. More bond servants were drafted into four provisional “Sima” brigades. State and gentry alike were ruined, and rice sold for ten thousand cash a stone. Imperial authority now extended barely beyond the walls of a single city.
97
壬寅夜，赤氣竟天，隱隱有聲。 丙辰，地震。 癸亥，東海王越執長沙王乂，幽於金墉城，尋爲張方所害。 甲子，大赦。 丙寅，揚州秀才周玘、前南平內史王矩、前吳興內史顧祕起義軍以討石冰。 冰退，自臨淮趣壽陽。 征東將軍劉準遣廣陵度支陳敏擊冰。 李雄自郫城攻益州刺史羅尚，尚委城而遁，雄盡有成都之地。 封鮮卑段勿塵爲遼西公。
Crimson aurora smothered the heavens on the renyin night, throbbing with a low roar. The earth shook on the bingchen day. Prince Yue of Donghai arrested Prince Yi, locked him in Jinyong, and left him to be murdered by Zhang Fang’s men shortly afterward. A general amnesty followed on the jiazi day. On bingyin Zhou Qi, Wang Ju, and Gu Mi mobilized gentry militia from the lower Yangzi to march against Shi Bing. Shi Bing fell back from Linhuai toward Shouyang. Liu Zhun, general who conquers the east, sent Chen Min, the Guangling grain officer, in pursuit of Shi Bing. Li Xiong marched from Pi against Luo Shang; Luo Shang fled and abandoned the province, and Li Xiong seized the whole Chengdu plain. Duan Wuchen of the Xianbei was invested as duke of Liaoxi.
98
二月乙酉，廢皇后羊氏，幽于金墉城，黜皇太子覃復爲清河王。
Empress Yang was cast into Jinyong on yiyou in the second month, and Crown Prince Tan was reduced once more to prince of Qinghe.
99
三月，陳敏攻石冰，斬之，揚、徐二州平。
Chen Min killed Shi Bing in the third month, and calm returned to Yang and Xu.
100
河間王顒表請立成都王穎爲太弟。 戊申，詔曰：「朕以不德，纂承鴻緒，于茲十有五載。 禍亂滔天，姦逆仍起，至乃幽廢重宮，宗廟圮絕。 成都王穎溫仁惠和，克平暴亂。 其以穎爲皇太弟、都督中外諸軍事，丞相如故。」 大赦，賜鰥寡高年帛三匹，大酺五日。 丙辰，盜竊太廟服器。 以太尉顒爲太宰，太傅劉寔爲太尉。
Prince Yong asked the throne to name Prince Ying of Chengdu as heir apparent. On the wushen day an edict began: “Fifteen years have passed since I, unworthy, inherited the great mandate. Disaster has mounted to the skies, rebels have followed one after another, I was cast into the inner palace in disgrace, and the sacrifices nearly failed altogether. Prince Ying of Chengdu is gentle, generous, and just, and he has crushed the violence that tore the realm. Let him therefore be named imperial younger brother and heir, commander of every army, while retaining the chancellorship. A general amnesty followed, three bolts of silk went to each destitute elder, and the capital celebrated for five days. Robbers plundered the ritual regalia from the Grand Temple on bingchen. Prince Yong moved from grand commandant to grand steward, and Liu Shi from grand tutor to grand commandant.
101
六月，新作三城門。
Work finished on three new city gates in the sixth month.
102
秋七月丙申朔，右衛將軍陳眕以詔召百僚入殿中，因勒兵討成都王穎。 戊戌，大赦，復皇后羊氏及皇太子覃。 己亥，司徒王戎、東海王越、高密王簡、平昌公模、吳王晏、豫章王熾、襄陽王範、右僕射荀藩等奉帝北征。 至安陽，眾十餘萬，穎遣其將石超距戰。 己未，六軍敗績于蕩陰，矢及乘輿，百官分散，侍中嵇紹死之。 帝傷頰，中三矢，亡六璽。 帝遂幸超軍，餒甚，超進水，左右奉秋桃。 超遣弟熙奉帝之鄴，穎帥群官迎謁道左。 帝下輿涕泣，其夕幸于穎軍。 穎府有九錫之儀，陳留王送貂蟬文衣鶡尾，明日，乃備法駕幸于鄴，唯豫章王熾、司徒王戎、僕射荀藩從。 庚申，大赦，改元爲建武。
At dawn on the bingshen new moon Chen Zhen of the right guards tricked the whole bureaucracy into the hall and launched a coup against Prince Ying. Empress Yang and Crown Prince Tan were restored on wuxu under a general amnesty. On jihai Wang Rong, Prince Yue, Prince Jian, Sima Mo, Prince Yan, Prince Chi, Prince Fan, and Xun Fan convoyed the emperor north. The army swelled past a hundred thousand at Anyang, where Prince Ying sent Shi Chao to bar the road. At Dangyin on jiwei the imperial army collapsed, arrows riddled the imperial coach, the courtiers fled, and Ji Shao died shielding the throne. The sovereign took three hits in the cheek and lost six of the dynasty’s jade seals in the rout. Starving, he fell into Shi Chao’s lines; Chao gave him water while attendants found late peaches. Shi Chao’s brother Shi Xi escorted the emperor toward Ye, where Prince Ying knelt with his entire staff along the road. He stepped down from the coach in tears and spent the night in Prince Ying’s encampment. Prince Ying’s compound already displayed the nine-summons regalia; the prince of Chenliu sent the full accoutrements of investiture, and on the following day the emperor entered Ye with complete state panoply, attended only by Prince Chi, Wang Rong, and Xun Fan. The reign was renamed Jianwu on gengshen amid another general amnesty.
103
八月戊辰，穎殺東安王繇。 張方復入洛陽，廢皇后羊氏及皇太子覃。 匈奴左賢王劉元海反於離石，自號大單于。 安北將軍王浚遣烏丸騎攻成都王穎于鄴，大敗之。 穎與帝單車走洛陽，服御分散，倉卒上下無齎，侍中黃門被囊中齎私錢三千，詔貸用。 所在買飯以供，宮人止食于道中客舍。 宮人有持升餘糠米飯及燥蒜鹽豉以進帝，帝噉之，御中黃門布被。 次獲嘉，市粗米飯，盛以瓦盆，帝噉兩盂。 有老父獻蒸雞，帝受之。 至溫，將謁陵，帝喪履，納從者之履，下拜流涕，左右皆歔欷。 及濟河，張方帥騎三千，以陽燧青蓋車奉迎。 方拜謁，帝躬止之。 辛巳，大赦，賞從者各有差。
Prince Yao of Dong’an was executed by Prince Ying on wuchen in the eighth month. Zhang Fang returned to Luoyang and stripped the empress and crown prince of their titles once more. Liu Yuan, the Xiongnu worthy king of the left who is known as Yuanhai, rose at Lishi and proclaimed himself great chanyu. Wang Jun, general who pacifies the north, hurled Wuhuan horse against Prince Ying at Ye and shattered his army. Prince Ying and the emperor bolted toward Luoyang in one cart, servants and luggage lost along the way; court eunuchs lent three thousand cash from their belts under emergency warrant. They bought meals from wayside kitchens, and the palace ladies slept in posting houses. One maid offered a bowl of gritty rice with dried garlic and salted beans; he ate it and slept under a eunuch’s quilt. At Huojia he bought two bowls of rough rice from a street vendor in a clay dish. An old farmer gave him a steamed fowl, which he gratefully accepted. At Wen, intending to worship at the tombs, he lost his shoes, borrowed a guard’s pair, and wept so bitterly that every retainer wept with him. Zhang Fang met him mid-river with three thousand riders and a chariot hung with a bronze fire mirror and blue canopy. Zhang Fang kowtowed, but the emperor raised him with his own hands. A general amnesty on xinsi came with graded rewards for everyone who had stayed with the throne.
104
冬十一月乙未，方請帝謁廟，因劫帝幸長安。 方以所乘車入殿中，帝馳避後園竹中。 方逼帝升車，左右中黃門鼓吹十二人步從，唯中書監盧志侍側。 方以帝幸其壘，帝令方具車載宮人寶物，軍人因妻略後宮，分爭府藏。 魏晉已來之積，掃地無遺矣。 行次新安，寒甚，帝墮馬傷足，尚書高光進面衣，帝嘉之。 河間王顒帥官屬步騎三萬，迎于霸上。 顒前拜謁，帝下車止之。 以征西府爲宮。 唯僕射荀藩、司隸劉暾、太常鄭球、河南尹周馥與其遺官在洛陽，爲留臺，承制行事，號爲東西臺焉。 丙午，留臺大赦，改元復爲永安。 辛丑，復皇后羊氏。 李雄僭號成都王，劉元海僭號漢王。
Zhang Fang asked leave to escort the sovereign to the shrines on yiwei in the eleventh month, then hijacked the court and marched west to Chang’an. Zhang Fang rammed his own coach into the throne hall while the emperor fled into the rear bamboo copse. He was forced into the carriage with twelve marching musicians and only Lu Zhi at his elbow. With the emperor under his roof, Zhang Fang was told to ready wagons for concubines and imperial treasure; his men then abducted palace women and tore the vaults apart in a scramble for loot. Generations of hoarded wealth from Wei and Western Jin vanished overnight. At Xin’an a frostbit ride threw him from his horse; Gao Guang of the ministry of the household gave him a face-wrap and earned the emperor’s praise. Prince Yong rode to Bashang with thirty thousand men to greet the column. Prince Yong knelt in the road, but the emperor stepped down to raise him. The prince’s western headquarters became the temporary palace. Vice director Xun Fan, metropolitan superintendent Liu Tun, minister of ceremonies Zheng Qiu, and Henan intendant Zhou Fu stayed in Luoyang with the remnant bureaucracy, acting in the emperor’s name as the paired “east and west” headquarters. The Luoyang remnant proclaimed amnesty on bingwu and restored the reign title Yongan. Empress Yang was reinstated on xinchou. Li Xiong styled himself prince of Chengdu at his stronghold, while Liu Yuan called himself prince of Han.
105
十二月丁亥，詔曰：「天禍晉邦，冢嗣莫繼。 成都王穎自在儲貳，政績虧損，四海失望，不可承重，其以王還第。 豫章王熾先帝愛子，令問日新，四海注意，今以爲皇太弟，以隆我晉邦。 以司空越爲太傅，與太宰顒夾輔朕躬。 司徒王戎參錄朝政，光祿大夫王衍爲尚書左僕射。 安南將軍虓、安北將軍浚、平北將軍騰各守本鎮。 高密王簡爲鎮南將軍，領司隸校尉，權鎮洛陽； 東中郎將模爲寧北將軍、都督冀州，鎮于鄴； 鎮南大將軍劉弘領荊州，以鎮南土。 周馥、繆胤各還本部，百官皆復職。 齊王冏前應還第，長沙王乂輕陷重刑，封其子紹爲樂平縣王，以奉其嗣。 自頃戎車屢征，勞費人力，供御之物皆減三分之二，戶調田租三分減一。 蠲除苛政，愛人務本。 清通之後，當還東京。」 大赦，改元。 以河間王顒都督中外諸軍事。
On the dinghai day in the twelfth month an edict began: “Heaven scourges Jin, and no son of mine survives to succeed. Prince Ying proved unfit while heir apparent and has forfeited the trust of the realm, so he must be stripped of the succession and sent home to his fief. Prince Chi of Yuzhang, the late emperor’s favorite, grows in reputation every day, and he shall be named imperial younger brother and heir to steady the house of Jin. Minister of Works Prince Yue is appointed grand tutor to work beside Grand Steward Yong in guiding the throne. Wang Rong shall join in supervising policy, and Wang Yan shall take the left vice directorship of the secretariat. Generals Xiao, Jun, and Teng are ordered to hold their existing commands. Prince Jian of Gaomi becomes general who guards the south and acting metropolitan superintendent at Luoyang. Sima Mo moves to general who guards the north with Ji Province command, based at Ye. Liu Hong, general-in-chief who guards the south, keeps order in Jing Province. Zhou Fu and Miao Yin go back to their posts, and every minister returns to duty. Prince Jiong ought long ago to have been sent to his domain, and Prince Yi suffered a cruel death, so enfeoff his son Shao as prince of Leping to preserve his line. Because armies have marched again and again, palace supplies are cut by two-thirds, and the poll tax and land rent are each reduced by a third. Harsh statutes are swept away so the people may return to their fields. Once peace is restored, the court will return to Luoyang.” The edict ended with a general amnesty and a new reign title. Prince Yong of Hejian received overall command of every army.
106
二年春正月甲午朔，帝在長安。
On the new moon of the first month of the second year the sovereign still sat at Chang’an.
107
夏四月，詔封樂平王紹爲齊王。 丙子，張方廢皇后羊氏。
An edict in the fourth month restored the Qi princedom for Prince Shao of Leping. Zhang Fang stripped Empress Yang of her title again on bingzi.
108
秋七月甲午，尚書諸曹火，燒崇禮闥。 東海王越嚴兵徐方，將西迎大駕。 成都王穎部將公師藩等聚眾攻陷郡縣，害陽平太守李志、汲郡太守張延等，轉攻鄴，平昌公模遣將軍趙驤擊破之。
Secretariat offices caught fire on jiawu in the seventh month and consumed the Chongli gate. Prince Yue of Donghai massed troops in Xu, preparing to march west and escort the emperor home. Gong Sifan and other officers of Prince Ying plundered the north, slew Li Zhi and Zhang Yan, and besieged Ye until Duke Mo’s general Zhao Xiang broke them.
109
八月辛丑，大赦。 驃騎將軍、范陽王虓逐冀州刺史李義。 揚州刺史曹武殺丹楊太守朱建。 李雄遣其將李驤寇漢安。 車騎大將軍劉弘逐平南將軍、彭城王釋于宛。
A general amnesty was proclaimed on xinchou in the eighth month. Prince Xiao of Fanyang, general of agile cavalry, expelled Prefect Li Yi from Ji. Cao Wu, inspector of Yangzhou, executed Zhu Jian, prefect of Danyang. Li Xiong sent Li Xiang to raid Han’an. Liu Hong, general-in-chief of chariots and cavalry, drove Prince Shi of Pengcheng from Wan.
110
九月庚寅朔，公師藩又害平原太守王景、清河太守馮熊。 庚子，豫州刺史劉喬攻范陽王虓於許昌，敗之。 壬子，以成都王穎爲鎮軍大將軍、都督河北諸軍事，鎮鄴。 河間王顒遣將軍呂朗屯洛陽。
On the gengyin new moon Gong Sifan killed Wang Jing and Feng Xiong. Liu Qiao defeated Prince Xiao at Xuchang on gengzi. On renzi Prince Ying was named general who stabilizes the army, given Hebei command, and ordered to Ye. Prince Yong posted Lü Lang in Luoyang.
111
冬十月丙子，詔曰：「得豫州刺史劉喬檄，稱潁川太守劉輿迫脅驃騎將軍虓，距逆詔令，造構凶逆，擅劫郡縣，合聚兵眾，擅用苟晞爲兗州，斷截王命。 鎮南大將軍、荊州刺史劉弘，平南將軍、彭城王釋等，其各勒所統，徑會許昌，與喬并力。 今遣右將軍張方爲大都督，統精卒十萬，建武將軍呂朗、廣武將軍騫貙、建威將車刁默等爲軍前鋒，共會許昌，除輿兄弟。」 丁丑，使前車騎將軍石超； 北中郎將王闡討輿等。 赤氣見于北方，東西竟天。 有星孛于北斗。 平昌公模遣將軍宋冑等屯河橋。
On bingzi in the tenth month an edict cited Liu Qiao’s memorial accusing Liu Yu of coercing Prince Xiao, defying the throne, raising troops, and installing Gou Xi at Yanzhou. Liu Hong, Prince Shi, and the rest were ordered to march on Xuchang with Liu Qiao. Zhang Fang was named supreme commander at the head of one hundred thousand men, with Lü Lang, Qian Chu, and Diao Mo among his van, to join the Xuchang operation against Liu Yu and his kin.” On dingchou the former chariot-and-cavalry commander Shi Chao was ordered forward; Wang Kan of the northern camp was to strike Liu Yu’s faction. Crimson aurora stretched across the northern sky from east to west. A comet brushed the Northern Dipper. Duke Mo posted Song Zhou at the Yellow River bridge.
112
十一月，立節將軍周權詐被檄，自稱平西將軍，復皇后羊氏。 洛陽令何喬攻權，殺之，復廢皇后。
Zhou Quan faked orders, called himself general who pacifies the west, and briefly restored Empress Yang. Prefect He Qiao killed Zhou Quan and deposed the empress again.
113
十二月，呂朗等東屯滎陽，成都王穎進據洛陽，張方、劉弘等並桉兵不能禦。 范陽王虓濟自官渡，拔滎陽，斬石超； 襲許昌，破劉喬于蕭，喬奔南陽。 右將軍陳敏舉兵反，自號楚公。 矯稱被中詔，從沔漢奉迎天子，逐揚州刺史劉機、丹楊太守王曠。 遣弟恢南略江州，刺史應邈奔弋陽。
Lü Lang held Xingyang while Prince Ying took Luoyang; Zhang Fang and Liu Hong would not engage. Prince Xiao crossed at Guandu, took Xingyang, and slew Shi Chao; then struck Xuchang, routed Liu Qiao at Xiao, and drove him to Nanyang. Chen Min of the right guards rebelled and proclaimed himself duke of Chu. He forged a palace order to escort the emperor from the Han and Mian valleys and ousted Liu Ji and Wang Kuang. His brother Hui raided Jiangzhou and put Inspector Ying Miao to flight toward Yiyang.
114
甲子，越遣其將祁弘、宋冑、司馬纂等迎帝。
On jiazi Prince Yue sent Qi Hong, Song Zhou, and Sima Zuan to escort the emperor.
115
三月，東萊㡉令劉柏根反，自稱㡉公，襲臨淄，高密王簡奔聊城。 王浚遣將討柏根，斬之。
In the third month Liu Baigen, magistrate of the Donglai the cited text district, rebelled as “duke of the cited text,” seized Linzi, and drove Prince Jian of Gaomi to Liaocheng. Wang Jun’s general destroyed Liu Baigen.
116
夏四月己巳，東海王越屯于溫。 顒遣弘農太守彭隨、北地太守刁默距祁弘等于湖。
Prince Yue encamped at Wen on jisi in the fourth month. Prince Yong sent Peng Sui and Che Diaomo to stop Qi Hong at Hu.
117
五月，枉矢西南流。 范陽國地燃，可以爨。
A “crooked-arrow” meteor streaked southwest in the fifth month. Soil in Fanyang smoldered hot enough to cook food.
118
壬辰，祁弘等與刁默戰，默大敗，顒、穎走南山，奔于宛。 弘等所部鮮卑大掠長安，殺二萬餘人。 是日，日光四散，赤如血。 甲午又如之。
On renchen Qi Hong routed Che Diaomo; Princes Yong and Ying fled to the hills south of Wan. Qi Hong’s Xianbei troopers sacked Chang’an and killed more than twenty thousand. That day the sun’s light scattered blood-red in every quarter. The same crimson light returned on jiawu.
119
己亥，弘等奉帝還洛陽，帝乘牛車，行宮藉草，公卿跋涉。 戊申，驃騎、范陽王虓殺司隸校尉邢喬。 己酉，盜取太廟金匱及策文各四。
On jihai Qi Hong convoyed the emperor to Luoyang in an ox-cart on straw bedding while nobles walked. Prince Xiao executed Metropolitan Commandant Xing Qiao on wushen. Thieves stole four gold caskets and four patent bundles from the Grand Temple on jiyou.
120
六月丙辰朔，至自長安，升舊殿，哀感流涕。 謁于太廟。 復皇后羊氏。 辛未，大赦，改元。
On the sixth month’s new moon he returned from Chang’an, entered the old hall, and wept. He worshiped at the Grand Temple. Empress Yang was restored again. Xinwei brought a general amnesty and a new reign title.
121
秋七月乙酉朔，日有蝕之。 太廟吏賈苞盜太廟靈衣及劍，伏誅。
A solar eclipse fell on the yiyou new moon of the seventh month. Jia Bao was executed for stealing ritual robes and swords from the temple.
122
八月，以太傅、東海王越錄尚書，驃騎將軍、范陽王虓爲司空。
In the eighth month Prince Yue took the secretariat and Prince Xiao became minister of works.
123
九月，頓丘太守馮嵩執成都王穎，送之于鄴。 進東嬴公騰爵爲東燕王，平昌公模爲南陽王。
Feng Song of Dunqiu captured Prince Ying and sent him to Ye. Sima Teng became prince of Dongyan and Sima Mo prince of Nanyang.
124
冬十月，司空、范陽王虓薨。 虓長史劉輿害成都王穎。
Prince Xiao of Fanyang, minister of works, died in the tenth month. Liu Yu, Prince Xiao’s chief clerk, killed Prince Ying.
125
十一月庚午，帝崩于顯陽殿，時年四十八，葬太陽陵。
He died in the Xianyang Hall on gengwu in the eleventh month at forty-eight sui and was buried at Taiyang mausoleum.
126
帝之爲太子也，朝廷咸知不堪政事，武帝亦疑焉。 嘗悉召東宮官屬，使以尚書事令太子決之，帝不能對。 賈妃遣左右代對，多引古義。 給事張泓曰：「太子不學，陛下所知。 今宜以事斷，不可引書。」 妃從之。 泓乃具草，令帝書之。 武帝覽而大悅，太子遂安。 及居大位，政出群下，綱紀大壞，貨賂公行，勢位之家，以貴陵物，忠賢路絕，讒邪得志，更相薦舉，天下謂之互市焉。 高平王沈作釋時論，南陽魯褒作錢神論，廬江杜嵩作任子春秋，皆疾時之作也。 帝又嘗在華林園，聞蝦蟆聲，謂左右曰：「此鳴者爲官乎，私乎？」 或對曰：「在官地爲官，在私地爲私。」 及天下荒亂，百姓餓死，帝曰：「何不食肉糜？」 其蒙蔽皆此類也。 後因食䴵中毒而崩，或云司馬越之鴆。
Even as heir apparent the whole court knew he could not govern, and Emperor Wu harbored the same doubt. When Eastern Palace officials tested him with secretariat cases, he could not answer. Lady Jia had her people feed him answers full of classical tags. Attendant Zhang Hong said, “Your Majesty knows the heir does not study; he should be judged on practical matters, not book learning.” Lady Jia agreed. Zhang Hong drafted replies for the heir to copy. Emperor Wu read the copies with delight, and the heir’s position was saved. On the throne power passed to favorites, law collapsed, offices were sold, great houses trampled commoners, honest men were shut out, flatterers traded posts, and the realm called it mutual barter. Wang Chen, Lu Bao, and Du Song wrote satires that scourged the age. In Hualin Garden he heard frogs and asked whether they served in office or were private commoners. A courtier answered that frogs on public land were officials and the rest were private. When famine emptied the roads he asked why the hungry did not eat meat porridge.” Such was the fog in which he lived. He later died of poisoned cakes—some blamed Prince Sima Yue.
127
史臣曰：不才之子，則天稱大，權非帝出，政邇宵人。 褒姒共叔帶並興，襄后與犬戎俱運。 昔者，丹朱不肖，赧王逃責，相彼凶德，事關休咎，方乎土梗，以墜其情。 溽暑之氣將闌，淫鼃之音罕記，乃彰嗤笑，用符顛隕。 豈通才俊彥猶形于前代，增淫助虐獨擅于當今者歟？ 物號忠良，于茲拔本，人稱祅孽，自此疏源。 長樂不祥，承華非命，生靈版蕩，社稷丘墟。 古者敗國亡身，分鑣共軫，不有亂常，則多庸暗。 豈明神喪其精魄，武皇不知其子也！
The annalist writes: Heaven loomed vast over an unworthy son; the scepter never rested in his hands; petty men held the state. As Bao Si and Prince Dai of the Gong line once together unhinged the Zhou house, so the queen of Xiang and the Dog Rong brought parallel disaster. Dan Zhu’s folly and King Nan’s flight show how vicious temperaments, no stronger than clay idols, still decide weal and woe. When summer’s damp heat lifted, the croak of greedy frogs faded—only mockery marked the fall. Were wise men only found in antiquity while today’s court bred aides to cruelty alone? Loyalty was only a label while roots rotted; men were called demons while poison welled from the same spring. Changle brought no blessing, Chenghua an untimely end; the people were cast adrift and the altars lay in ruins. Ancient falls came from riot or from mediocrity. Did the spirits desert him, or did Emperor Wu simply fail to know his child?
128
贊曰：惠皇居尊，臨朝聽言。 厥體斯昧，其情則昏。 高臺望子，長夜奚冤。 金墉毀冕，蕩陰釋冑。 及爾皆亡，滔天來遘。
The encomium: Kind Hui held the throne and heard petitions. His mind was dim, his judgment dark. He watched from a tower for an heir through endless unjust nights. Crown princes perished at Jinyong; armor was shed in blood at Dangyin. When all was lost, Heaven’s deluge closed over him.
129
校勘記
Editorial collation section.
130
永平元年是年三月又改元「元康」，依例應作「元康元年」。 此仍作「永平」，則三月改元後應出「元康」年號，使讀者明白自此以下至九年皆「元康之年」。 紀文此處既用「永平」，下文又不出「元康」，似自此至九年皆屬「永平」矣。 此爲史例之失。
The note argues the third-month rename should read Yuankang, not Yongping. The chronicle should insert Yuankang after the rename. Without Yuankang the years read as one long Yongping. The compilers call this a flaw in annalistic practice.
131
五月甲戌五月癸未朔，此「甲戌」及下「壬午」均在四月，「五月」二字疑衍。
The collation doubts “fifth month” before jiaxu and renwu.
132
太原王泓薨本書太原成王輔傳「泓」作「弘」。 且弘時已改中丘王。
The annals write the princely name with the water-radical form of hong, while the biography of Prince Cheng of Taiyuan uses the sun-radical form. The prince had already been moved to the Zhongqiu title.
133
安昌公石鑒薨《通鑑考異》：本傳封昌安縣侯。 斠注：以石 〈其少〉 、石定二墓碣證之，「安昌」當作「昌安」。
Zizhi tongjian kaoyi cites his biography as marquis of Chang’an county. A truncated collation gloss citing evidence about the Shi surname breaks off mid-sentence in the received text. 〈A damaged bracketed gloss whose surviving words mean roughly 'its lesser [remainder lost]' is preserved in the collation.〉 Epitaphs for two men surnamed Shi, including Shi Ding, show that Anchang is a scribal transposition and should read Changan.