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帝紀第五
Annals V.
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孝懷帝
Emperor Huai (the Filial).
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孝懷皇帝諱熾，字豐度，武帝第二十五子也。 太熙元年，封豫章郡王。 屬孝惠之時，宗室構禍，帝沖素自守，門絕賓遊，不交世事，專玩史籍，有譽于時。 初拜散騎常侍，及趙王倫篡，見收。 倫敗，爲射聲校尉。 累遷車騎大將軍、都督青州諸軍事。 未之鎮。
The Filial Emperor Huai was named Sima Chi, styled Fengdu, the twenty-fifth son of Emperor Wu of Jin. In Taixi 1 (290 CE) he was invested as Prince of Yuzhang. During the reign of Emperor Hui, as kinsmen of the house tore one another apart, he lived quietly and kept his distance, shut his doors to visitors, took no part in public life, and immersed himself in the histories, winning praise for it at the time. He first received appointment as Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary; when Sima Lun of Zhao seized power, he was arrested. After Lun’s fall he was made Colonel of the Archers Who Shoot by Sound. He rose through several posts to General of Chariots and Cavalry and area commander over Qingzhou. He never took up the Qingzhou command.
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光熙元年十一月庚午，孝惠帝崩。 羊皇后以於太弟爲嫂，不得爲太后，催清河王覃入，已至尚書閣，侍中華混等急召太弟。 癸酉，卽皇帝位，大赦，尊皇后羊氏爲惠皇后，居弘訓宮，追尊所生太妃王氏爲皇太后，立妃梁氏爲皇后。
In the eleventh month of Guangxi 1 (306), on gengwu, Emperor Hui died. Empress Yang could not be styled empress dowager while the heir apparent was her brother-in-law, so she pressed Prince Qinghe, Sima Tan, to come forward; he had already reached the Secretariat offices when Attendants-in-Ordinary such as Hua Hun hurriedly called for the heir apparent instead. On guiyou he ascended the throne, ordered a general amnesty, elevated Empress Yang to the title Empress Hui with residence in Hongxun Palace, gave his late mother Lady Wang the posthumous rank of empress dowager, and made Lady Liang empress.
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十二月壬午朔，日有食之。 己亥，封彭城王植子融爲樂城縣王。 南陽王模殺河間王顒于雍谷。 辛丑，以中書監溫羨爲司徒，尚書左僕射王衍爲司空。 己酉，葬孝惠皇帝于太陽陵。 李雄別帥李離寇梁州。
Twelfth month: new moon on renwu; a solar eclipse was observed. On jihai Sima Rong, son of Prince Pengcheng Sima Zhi, was invested as Prince of Lecheng county. Sima Mo of Nanyang put Sima Yong of Hejian to death at Yonggu. On xinchou Wen Xian was appointed Minister of Education and Wang Yan Minister of Works. On jiyou Emperor Hui was interred at the Taiyang imperial tomb. Li Li, a lieutenant of Li Xiong, attacked Liangzhou.
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永嘉元年春正月癸丑朔，大赦，改元，除三族刑。 乙太傅、東海王越輔政，殺御史中丞諸葛玫。
Spring, first month of Yongjia 1 (307): new moon on guichou; general amnesty, new era name, and repeal of the “three clans” extermination penalty. On jisi Grand Mentor Sima Yue of Donghai took the reins of government and had Censor-in-Chief Zhuge Mei put to death.
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二月辛巳，東萊人王彌起兵反，寇青、徐二州，長廣太守宋羆、東牟太守龐伉並遇害。
Second month, xinsi: Wang Mi of Donglai rebelled and struck Qing and Xu; Song Pi of Changguang and Pang Kang of Dongmou were killed in the fighting.
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三月己未朔，平東將軍周馥斬送陳敏首。 丁卯，改葬武悼楊皇后。 庚午，立豫章王詮爲皇太子。 辛未，大赦。 庚辰，東海王越出鎮許昌。 以征東將軍、高密王簡爲征南大將軍、都督荊州諸軍事，鎮襄陽； 改封安北將軍、東燕王騰爲新蔡王、都督司冀二州諸軍事，鎮鄴； 以征南將軍、南陽王模爲征西大將軍、都督秦雍梁益四州諸軍事，鎮長安。 幷州諸郡爲劉元海所陷，刺史劉琨獨保晉陽。
Third month, new moon on jiwei: Zhou Fu, General Who Pacifies the East, forwarded Chen Min’s severed head. On dingmao Empress Yang the Martyr (posthumously “Martial”) was given a second burial. On gengwu Sima Quan, Prince of Yuzhang, was named heir apparent. On xinwei a general amnesty was ordered. On gengchen Sima Yue of Donghai moved his headquarters to Xuchang. Sima Jian of Gaomi, General Who Conquers the East, was promoted to General Who Conquers the South, given overall command in Jingzhou, and posted to Xiangyang; Sima Teng of Dongyan, General Who Guards the North, was transferred to the title Prince of Xincai, given command over Si and Ji, and stationed at Ye; Sima Mo of Nanyang, General Who Conquers the South, became General Who Conquers the West with command over Qin, Yong, Liang, and Yi, and took up duty at Chang’an. Liu Yuan’s forces overran Bingzhou; Inspector Liu Kun alone kept a foothold at Jinyang.
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夏五月，馬牧帥汲桑聚衆反，敗魏郡太守馮嵩，遂陷鄴城，害新蔡王騰。 燒鄴宮，火旬日不滅。 又殺前幽州刺史石尟于樂陵，入掠平原，山陽公劉秋遇害。 洛陽步廣里地陷，有二鵝出，色蒼者沖天，白者不能飛。 建寧郡夷攻陷寧州，死者三千餘人。
Summer, fifth month: Ji Sang, overseer of the imperial studs, rebelled, routed Feng Song of Wei, seized Ye, and slew Prince Sima Teng of Xincai. The palaces at Ye were set ablaze and burned for ten days straight. He also executed former Youzhou inspector Shi Xian at Leling, raided into Pingyuan, and killed Liu Qiu, duke of Shanyang. In Luoyang’s Buligu lane the earth opened; two geese emerged—one gray shot skyward while a white one could not leave the ground. Yi tribesmen in Jianning overran Ningzhou, leaving over three thousand dead.
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秋七月己酉朔，東海王越進屯官渡，以討汲桑。 己未，以平東將軍、琅邪王睿爲安東將軍、都督揚州江南諸軍事、假節，鎮建鄴。
Autumn, seventh month, new moon on jiyou: Sima Yue of Donghai marched to Guandu to strike Ji Sang. On jiwei Sima Rui of Langye—already a General Who Pacifies the East—was promoted to General Who Guards the East, given command of military affairs in Yangzhou south of the river with ceremonial axes, and posted to Jianye.
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八月己卯朔，撫軍將軍苟晞敗汲桑於鄴。 甲辰，曲赦幽、幷、司、冀、兗、豫等六州。 分荊州、江州八郡爲湘州。
Eighth month, new moon on jimao: Gou Xi, General Who Supports the Army, routed Ji Sang at Ye. On jiachen six northern provinces received a selective amnesty. Eight commanderies from Jing and Jiang were carved out as a new Xiangzhou.
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九月戊申，苟晞又破汲桑，陷其九壘。 辛亥，有大星如日，小者如斗，自西方流於東北，天盡赤，俄有聲如雷。 始修千金堨於許昌以通運。
Ninth month, wushen: Gou Xi smashed Ji Sang again and overran his nine stockades. On xinhai enormous meteors—one bright as the sun, others like cups—streaked from west to northeast, reddening the heavens, followed moments later by thunderous noise. Work began on the Qianjin diversion weir at Xuchang to ease supply lines.
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冬十一月戊申朔，日有蝕之。 甲寅，以尚書右僕射和郁爲征北將軍，鎮鄴。
Winter, eleventh month, new moon on wushen: eclipse of the sun. On jiayin He Yu, Right Vice Director of the Secretariat, was posted as General Who Conquers the North at Ye.
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十二月戊寅，幷州人田蘭、薄盛等斬汲桑于樂陵。 甲午，以前太傅劉寔爲太尉。 庚子，以光祿大夫、延陵公高光爲尚書令。 東海王越矯詔囚清河王覃于金墉城。 癸卯，越自爲丞相。 以撫軍將軍苟晞爲征東大將軍。
Twelfth month, wuyin: Tian Lan, Bo Sheng, and other Bingzhou irregulars executed Ji Sang at Leling. On jiawu former Grand Mentor Liu Shi was appointed Grand Commandant. On gengzi Gao Guang, Grand Master of Splendid Carriage and duke of Yanling, became Director of the Secretariat. Sima Yue of Donghai used a forged rescript to lock Prince Qinghe Sima Tan inside Jincheng. On guimao Yue took the title of chancellor for himself. Gou Xi was promoted to General Who Conquers the East.
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二年春正月丙子朔，日有蝕之。 丁未，大赦。
Spring, second year of Yongjia, first month, new moon on bingzi: solar eclipse. On dingwei a general amnesty was declared.
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二月辛卯，清河王覃爲東海王越所害。 庚子，石勒寇常山，安北將軍王浚討破之。
Second month, xinmao: Sima Tan of Qinghe was murdered on Sima Yue of Donghai’s orders. On gengzi Shi Le struck Changshan and was beaten by Wang Jun, General Who Guards the North.
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三月，東海王越鎮鄄城。 劉元海侵汲郡，略有頓丘、河內之地。 王彌寇青、徐、兗、豫四州。 夏四月丁亥，入許昌，諸郡守將皆奔走。
Third month: Sima Yue of Donghai shifted his base to Juancheng. Liu Yuan pushed into Ji commandery, overrunning Dunqiu and Henei. Wang Mi ravaged Qing, Xu, Yan, and Yu. Summer, fourth month, dinghai: he broke into Xuchang and every local commander fled.
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五月甲子，彌遂寇洛陽，司徒王衍帥衆禦之，彌退走。
Fifth month, jiazi: Wang Mi pressed on Luoyang; Minister of Education Wang Yan led the defense and drove him back.
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秋七月甲辰，劉元海寇平陽，太守宋抽奔京師，河東太守路述力戰，死之。
Autumn, seventh month, jiachen: Liu Yuan struck Pingyang; Song Chou abandoned the city for the capital; Lu Shu of Hedong resisted to the death.
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八月丁亥，東海王越自鄄城遷屯于濮陽。
Eighth month, dinghai: Sima Yue relocated his army from Juancheng to Puyang.
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九月，石勒寇趙郡，征北將軍和郁自鄴奔于衛國。
Ninth month: Shi Le hit Zhao commandery; He Yu, General Who Conquers the North, bolted from Ye toward Weiguo.
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冬十月甲戌，劉元海僭帝號于平陽，仍稱漢。
Winter, tenth month, jiaxu: Liu Yuan declared himself emperor at Pingyang while keeping the dynastic name Han.
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十一月乙巳，尚書令高光卒； 丁卯，以太子少傅荀籓爲尚書令。 己酉，石勒寇鄴，魏郡太守王粹戰敗，死之。
Eleventh month, yisi: Gao Guang, Director of the Secretariat, died; On dingmao Xun Fan, junior tutor to the heir, succeeded him as Director of the Secretariat. On jiyou Shi Le assaulted Ye; Wang Cui of Wei commandery fell in battle.
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十二月辛未朔，大赦。 立長沙王乂子碩爲長沙王，尟爲臨淮王。
Twelfth month, new moon on xinwei: general amnesty. Sima Shuo, son of the late Prince Changsha Sima Yi, was confirmed as Prince of Changsha, while his brother Sima Xian was invested as Prince of Linhuai.
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三年春正月甲午，彭城王釋薨。
Spring, third year, first month, jiawu: Prince Pengcheng Sima Shi died.
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三月戊申，征南大將軍、高密王簡薨。 以尚書左僕射山簡爲征南將軍、都尉荊湘交廣等四州諸軍事，司隸校尉劉暾爲尚書左僕射。 丁巳，東海王越歸京師。 乙丑，勒兵人宮，於帝側收近臣中書令繆播、帝舅王延等十餘人，並害之。 丙寅，曲赦河南郡。 丁卯，太尉劉寔請老，以司徒王衍爲太尉。 東海王越領司徒。 劉元海冠黎陽，遣車騎將軍王堪擊之，王師敗績於延津，死者三萬餘人。 大旱，江、漢、河、洛皆竭，可涉。
Third month, wushen: Sima Jian of Gaomi, General Who Conquers the South, died. Shan Jian became General Who Conquers the South with command over Jing, Xiang, Jiao, and Guang; Liu Tun took his old post as Left Vice Director of the Secretariat. On dingsi Sima Yue came back to Luoyang. On chouhai he marched troops into the palace, arrested over a dozen men at the emperor’s side—among them Secretariat Director Miao Bo and the emperor’s uncle Wang Yan—and had them executed. On bingyin Henan commandery alone was pardoned. On dingmao Liu Shi asked to retire; Wang Yan, Minister of Education, was named Grand Commandant. Sima Yue of Donghai added the portfolio of Minister of Education. Liu Yuan drove on Liyang; Wang Kan, General of Chariots and Cavalry, was sent to stop him but the court army was shattered at Yanjin with over thirty thousand casualties. A terrible drought emptied the Yangzi, Han, Yellow, and Luo until people could wade across.
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夏四月，左積弩將軍朱誕叛奔於劉元海。 石勒攻陷冀州郡縣百餘壁。
Summer, fourth month: Zhu Dan, general of the left strong crossbow corps, defected to Liu Yuan. Shi Le overran more than a hundred walled settlements in Ji province.
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秋七月戊辰，當陽地裂三所，各廣三丈，長三百餘步。 辛未，平陽人劉芒蕩自稱漢後，誑誘羌戎，僭帝號於馬蘭山。 支胡五斗叟郝索聚衆數千爲亂，屯新豐，與芒蕩合黨。 劉元海遣子聰及王彌寇上黨，圍壺關。 幷州刺史劉琨使兵救之，爲聰所敗。 淮南內史王曠、將軍施融、曹超及聰戰，又敗，超、融死之。 上黨太守龐淳以郡降賊。
Autumn, seventh month, wuchen: three great fissures opened at Dangyang, each ten meters across and hundreds of paces long. On xinwei Liu Mangdang of Pingyang posed as heir to Han, rallied Qiang and Rong bands, and declared himself emperor on Malan Mountain. The “five-bushel” chieftain Hao Suo mustered thousands at Xinfeng and allied with Mangdang. Liu Yuan dispatched Liu Cong and Wang Mi against Shangdang and put Huguan under siege. Bingzhou inspector Liu Kun’s relief column was routed by Liu Cong. Wang Kuang of Huainan and generals Shi Rong and Cao Chao clashed with Liu Cong, lost again, and Rong and Chao were killed. Pang Chun, grand administrator of Shangdang, yielded the city to the enemy.
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九月丙寅，劉聰圍浚儀，遣平北將軍曹武討之。 丁丑，王師敗績。 東海王越入保京城。 聰至西明門，越禦之，戰于宣陽門外，大破之。 石勒寇常山，安北將軍王浚使鮮卑騎救之，大破勒於飛龍山。 征西大將軍、南陽王模使其將淳于定破劉芒蕩、五斗叟，並斬之。 使車騎將軍王堪、平北將軍曹武討劉聰，王師敗績，堪奔還京師。 李雄別帥羅羨以梓潼歸順。 劉聰攻洛陽西明門，不克。 宜都夷道山崩，荊、湘二州地震。
Ninth month, bingyin: Liu Cong invested Junyi; Cao Wu, General Who Pacifies the North, was ordered out against him. On dingchou the government troops were crushed. Sima Yue of Donghai withdrew into Luoyang to hold the city. Liu Cong reached the western Ximing Gate; Yue met him in battle outside Xuanyang Gate and broke his army. Shi Le struck Changshan; Wang Jun’s Xianbei horse relieved the town and trounced Shi Le at Mount Feilong. Sima Mo’s general Chunyu Ding destroyed Liu Mangdang and Hao Suo and sent in their heads. Wang Kan and Cao Wu were sent against Liu Cong but the court army collapsed; Wang Kan raced back to Luoyang. Luo Xian, another of Li Xiong’s commanders, came over with Zitong commandery. Liu Cong assaulted the Ximing Gate of Luoyang without success. Landslides struck Yidao in Yidu; Jing and Xiang were shaken by earthquakes.
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冬十一月，石勒陷長樂，安北將軍王斌遇害。 因屠黎陽。 乞活帥李惲、薄盛等帥衆救京師，聰退走。 惲等又破王彌于新汲。
Winter, eleventh month: Shi Le seized Changle and killed Wang Bin, General Who Guards the North. He then put Liyang to the sword. Li Yun and Bo Sheng, leaders of the refugee “Qihuo” bands, marched to lift the siege of Luoyang and forced Liu Cong to pull back. They routed Wang Mi again near Xinji.
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十二月乙亥，夜有白氣如帶，自地升天，南北各二丈。
On yihai that winter a pale band of light lifted from earth to sky, about forty feet across from north to south.
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四年春正月乙丑朔，大赦。
Spring of the fourth Yongjia year opened with a new moon on yichou and a general amnesty.
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二月，石勒襲鄄城，兗州刺史袁孚戰敗，爲其部下所害。 勒又襲白馬，車騎將軍王堪死之。 李雄將文碩殺雄大將軍李國，以巴西歸順。 戊午，吳興人錢璯反，自稱平西將軍。
Shi Le struck Juancheng in the second month; Yuan Fu, inspector of Yanzhou, lost the fight and was slain by his men. Shi Le hit Baima next, and Wang Kan, general of chariots and cavalry, fell there. Wen Shuo, one of Li Xiong’s commanders, assassinated Li Guo, Li Xiong’s grand general, then turned Ba commandery over to the Jin court. On wuwu Qian Huang of Wuxing rose in revolt and proclaimed himself General Who Pacifies the West.
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三月，丞相倉曹屬周玘帥鄉人討璯，斬之。
In the third month Zhou Qi, attached to the chancellor’s granary bureau, rallied local militia, crushed Qian Huang, and took his head.
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夏四月，大水。 將軍祁弘破劉元海將劉靈曜于廣宗。 李雄陷梓潼。 兗州地震。
Summer brought catastrophic flooding. At Guangzong Qi Hong broke the army of Liu Lingyao, a lieutenant of Liu Yuan. Li Xiong’s forces occupied Zitong. Yanzhou was shaken by an earthquake.
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五月，石勒寇汲郡，執太守胡寵，遂南濟河，滎陽太守裴純奔建鄴。 大風折木。 地震。 幽、幷、司、冀、秦、雍等六州大蝗，食草木，牛馬毛皆盡。
In the fifth month Shi Le swept through Ji, captured Hu Chong, forded the river south, and drove Pei Chun of Xingyang all the way to Jianye. A violent gale snapped trees across the region. The earth trembled again. Locusts swarmed six northern provinces, stripping vegetation bare and even consuming the hair off livestock.
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六月，劉元海死，其子和嗣偽位，和弟聰殺和而自立。
Liu Yuan died in the sixth month; his son Liu He briefly held the Han throne until Liu Cong murdered him and seized power.
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秋七月，劉聰從弟曜及其將石勒圍懷，詔征虜將軍宋抽救之，爲曜所敗，抽死之。
That autumn Liu Yao and Shi Le invested Huai; Song Chou was sent to break the siege but was crushed by Liu Yao and killed.
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九月，河內人樂仰執太守裴整叛，降于石勒。 徐州監軍王隆自下邳棄軍奔于周馥。 雍州人王如舉兵反于宛，殺害令長，自號大將軍、司雍二州牧，大掠漢沔，新平人龐寔、馮翊人嚴嶷、京兆人侯脫等各起兵應之。 征南將軍山簡、荊州刺史王澄、南中郎將杜蕤並遣兵援京師，及如戰于宛，諸軍皆大敗； 王澄獨以衆進至沶口，衆潰而歸。
In the ninth month Le Yang of Henei mutinied, took Pei Zheng hostage, and went over to Shi Le. Wang Long, Xuzhou’s overseer of troops, threw away his army at Xiapi and ran to Zhou Fu. Wang Ru of Yongzhou rebelled at Wan, slaughtered local officials, declared himself grand general and governor of Si and Yong, ravaged the Han River basin, while Pang Shi, Yan Yi, and Hou Tuo rose in support from neighboring commanderies. Shan Jian, Wang Cheng, and Du Rui dispatched relief columns toward Luoyang, only to meet disaster at Wan against Wang Ru; only Wang Cheng pushed on as far as the Yi ford before his men collapsed and he retreated alone.
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冬十月辛卯，晝昏，至於庚子。 大星西南墜，有聲。 壬寅，石勒圍倉垣，陳留內史王贊擊敗之，勒走河北。 壬子，以驃騎將軍王浚爲司空，平北將軍劉琨爲平北大將軍。 京師饑。 東海王越羽檄徵天下兵，帝謂使者曰：「爲我語諸征鎮，若今日，尚可救，後則無逮矣。」 時莫有至者。 石勒陷襄城，太守崔曠遇害，遂至宛。 王浚遣鮮卑文鴦帥騎救之，勒退。 浚又遣別將王申始討勒于汶石津，大破之。
From xinmao through gengzi in the tenth winter month the sky stayed unnaturally dark at noon. A huge meteor streaked southwest with a thunderous roar. On renyin Wang Zan of Chenliu drove Shi Le away from Cangyuan and sent him fleeing north of the river. On renzi Wang Jun was named Minister of Works while Liu Kun was elevated to grand general still charged with guarding the north. Famine gripped Luoyang. Sima Yue called up the empire by urgent courier; the emperor sent word through the envoy, “Tell the regional commanders that if they march now we may yet be saved—wait, and they will arrive too late.” Not one of them came. Shi Le seized Xiangcheng, executed Cui Kuang, and pressed on to Wan. Wang Jun detached Wen Yang’s Xianbei horse to the rescue, and Shi Le drew off. Wang Shenshi was sent to ambush Shi Le at the Wenshi crossing and broke his army there.
41
十一月甲戌，東海王越帥衆出許昌，以行臺自隨。 宮省無復守衛，荒饉日甚，殿內死人交橫，府寺營署並掘塹自守，盜賊公行，枹鼓之音不絕。 越軍次項，自領豫州牧，以太尉王衍爲軍司。 丁丑，流氐隗伯等襲宜都，太守嵇晞奔建鄴。 王申始攻劉曜、王彌于瓶壘，破之。 鎮東將軍周馥表迎大駕遷都壽陽，越使裴碩討馥，爲馥所敗，走保東城，請救于琅邪王睿。 襄陽大疫，死者三千餘人。 加涼州刺史張軌安西將軍。
On jiaxu Sima Yue marched out of Xuchang at the head of the army, mobile secretariat in tow. The imperial compound was left undefended, starvation deepened until the corridors filled with the dead, every yamen threw up its own earthworks, robbery ruled the avenues, and alarm drums beat without pause. Sima Yue stopped at Xiang, claimed the Yuzhou governorship for himself, and put Grand Commandant Wang Yan in charge of staff work for the expedition. On dingchou Kui Bo’s refugee Di band struck Yidu, forcing Grand Administrator Ji Xi to escape to Jianye. At the Ping redoubt Wang Shenshi turned back Liu Yao and Wang Mi. Zhou Fu, general who guarded the east, asked to move the throne to Shouyang; Sima Yue answered by sending Pei Shuo, who was beaten, penned in the eastern enceinte, and forced to appeal to Sima Rui of Langya for rescue. Plague ravaged Xiangyang, killing over three thousand people. Zhang Gui, inspector of Liangzhou, received the added rank of General Who Pacifies the West.
42
十二月，征東大將軍苟晞攻王彌別帥曹嶷，破之。 乙酉，平陽人李洪帥流人入定陵作亂。
In the twelfth month Gou Xi smashed Cao Yi, a subordinate of Wang Mi. On yiyou Li Hong of Pingyang marched landless refugees into Dingling and stirred revolt there.
43
二月，石勒寇汝南，汝南王祐奔建鄴。
Shi Le struck Runan in the second month and drove Prince Runan Sima You south to Jianye.
44
三月戊午，詔下東海王越罪狀，告方鎮討之。 以證東大將軍苟晞爲大將軍。 丙子，東海王越薨。
On wuwu an edict denounced Sima Yue of Donghai and summoned the provinces to move against him. Gou Xi, already grand general who conquered the east, was promoted to supreme field command over the loyalist armies. On bingzi Sima Yue of Donghai died—on campaign, away from the capital.
45
四月戊子，石勒追東海王越喪，及於東郡，將軍錢端戰死，軍潰，太尉王衍、吏部尚書劉望、廷尉諸葛銓、尚書鄭豫、武陵王澹等皆遇害，王公已下死者十餘萬人。 東海世子毗及宗室四十八王尋又沒于石勒。 賊王桑、冷道陷徐州，刺史裴盾遇害，桑遂濟淮，至於歷陽。
On wuzi Shi Le ran down Sima Yue’s burial cortège in Dong commandery, shattered the escort at the cost of Qian Duan’s life, and slaughtered Wang Yan, Liu Wang, Zhuge Quan, Zheng Yu, Prince Wuling, and hosts of nobles—well over a hundred thousand dead in all. Sima Pi, Yue’s heir, and forty-eight imperial princes were rounded up by Shi Le soon after. Wang Sang and Leng Dao overran Xuzhou, murdered Pei Dun, crossed the Huai, and advanced on Liyang.
46
五月，益州流人汝班、梁州流人蹇撫作亂于湘州，虜刺史苟眺，南破零、桂諸郡，東掠武昌，安城太守郭察、劭陵太守鄭融、衡陽內史滕育並遇害。 進司空王浚爲大司馬，征西大將軍、南陽王模爲太尉，太子太傅傅祗爲司徒，尚書令荀籓爲司空，安東將軍、琅邪王睿爲鎮東大將軍。
In the fifth month Ru Ban and Jian Fu, refugees from Yi and Liang, mutinied in Xiangzhou, seized Gou Tiao, swept through the southern counties, raided Wuchang, and killed Guo Cha, Zheng Rong, and Teng Yu. Wang Jun became grand marshal, Sima Mo grand commandant, Fu Zhi minister of education, Xun Fan minister of works, and Sima Rui of Langya grand general who guarded the east.
47
東海王越之出也，使河南尹潘滔居守。 大將軍苟晞表遷都倉垣，帝將從之，諸大臣畏滔，不敢奉詔，且宮中及黃門戀資財，不欲出。 至是饑甚，人相食，百官流亡者十八九。 帝召羣臣會議，將行而警衛不備。 帝撫手歎曰：「如何會無車輿！」 乃使司徒傅祗出詣河陰，修理舟楫，爲水行之備，朝士數人導從。 帝步出西掖門。 至銅馳街，爲盜所掠，不得進而還。
Before leaving, Sima Yue had left Pan Tao, Henan’s governor, to hold Luoyang. Gou Xi urged relocation to Cangyuan; the emperor was inclined to agree, yet high officials, intimidated by Pan Tao, stalled the order while eunuchs and palace staff hoarded treasure and refused to budge. Starvation turned to cannibalism; nine officials in ten had already fled the city. The emperor called a council to depart, only to find no escort ready. He wrung his hands and cried, “Is there truly not a single carriage for the Son of Heaven?” He sent Fu Zhi downriver to Heyin to fit out boats while a handful of ministers went ahead as escort. He then left on foot by the western postern of the inner palace. At Tongtuo Street robbers stripped the party; unable to press on, he turned back.
48
六月癸未，劉曜、王彌、石勒同寇洛川，王師頻爲賊所敗，死者甚衆。 庚寅，司空荀籓、光祿大夫荀組奔轘轅，太子左率溫幾夜開廣莫門奔小平津。 丁酉、劉曜、王彌入京師。 帝開華林園門，出河陰藕池，欲幸長安，爲曜等所追及。 曜等遂焚燒宮廟，逼辱妃后，吳王晏、竟陵王楙、尚書左僕射和郁、右僕射曹馥、尚書閭丘沖、袁粲、王緄、河南尹劉默等皆遇害，百官士庶死者三萬餘人。 帝蒙塵于平陽，劉聰以帝爲會稽公。 荀籓移檄州鎮，以琅邪王爲盟主。 豫章王端東奔苟晞，晞立爲皇太子，自領尚書令，具置官屬，保梁國之蒙縣。 百姓饑儉，米斛萬餘價。
On guiwei the three warlords struck the Luoyang basin and shattered every Jin force sent against them. On gengyin the Xun brothers bolted for Huanyuan while Wen Ji broke out through Guangmo Gate under cover of dark toward Xiaoping ford. On dingyou Liu Yao and Wang Mi poured into Luoyang. The emperor slipped out through Hualin Garden toward the Heyin lotus pools, hoping to reach Chang’an, but Liu Yao’s riders caught him. They fired the palaces and temples, violated the women of the harem, and cut down Prince Wu, Prince Jingling, He Yu, Cao Fu, Lüqiu Chong, Yuan Can, Wang Kun, Liu Mo, and tens of thousands more. The captive sovereign was marched to Pingyang, where Liu Cong humiliated him with the title duke of Kuaiji. Xun Fan’s call to arms recognized Sima Rui of Langya as head of the alliance. Prince Yuzhang Sima Duan reached Gou Xi, who enthroned him as a rival heir, assumed the directorate of the secretariat himself, built a full bureaucracy, and entrenched at Meng in Liang. Grain sold for more than ten thousand cash a hu as the people starved.
49
秋七月，大司馬王浚承制假立太子，置百官，署征鎮。 石勒寇穀陽，沛王滋戰敗遇害。
That autumn Wang Jun used emergency powers to name a crown prince and staff a shadow court with regional commands. Shi Le attacked Guyang and killed Prince Pei Sima Zi in the fighting.
50
八月，劉聰使子粲攻陷長安，太尉、征西將軍、南陽王模遇害，長安遺人四千餘家奔漢中。
Liu Can stormed Chang’an in the eighth month, slew Sima Mo, and sent four thousand refugee households streaming into Hanzhong.
51
九月癸亥，石勒襲陽夏，至於蒙縣，大將軍苟晞、豫章王端並沒于賊。
On guihai Shi Le swept through Yangxia to Meng, capturing Gou Xi and Prince Yuzhang alive.
52
冬十月，勒寇豫州，諸軍至江而還。
In the tenth month Shi Le probed Yuzhou and withdrew his columns only when they neared the great river.
53
十一月，猗盧寇太原，平北將軍劉琨不能制，徙五縣百姓於新興，以其地居之。
Yilu struck Taiyuan that eleventh month; unable to hold him, Liu Kun evacuated five counties into Xinxing commandery and resettled the people on Yilu’s old grazing grounds.
54
六年春正月，帝在平陽。 劉聰寇太原。 故鎮南府牙門將胡亢聚衆寇荊土，自號楚公。
The sixth year opened with the emperor still a prisoner at Pingyang. Liu Cong renewed his offensive against Taiyuan. Hu Kang, once a gate captain on the southern frontier, mustered bandits in Jing and proclaimed himself duke of Chu.
55
二月壬子，日有蝕之。 癸丑，鎮東大將軍、琅邪王睿上尚書，檄四方以討石勒。 大司馬王浚移檄天下，稱被中詔承制，以荀籓爲太尉。 汝陽王熙爲石勒所害。
A solar eclipse fell on renzi in the second month. On guichou Sima Rui petitioned Luoyang—still nominally Jin—and called the realm to arms against Shi Le. Wang Jun claimed a palace rescript and named Xun Fan grand commandant over the whole north. Sima Xi of Ruyang died at Shi Le’s hands.
56
夏四月丙寅，征南將軍山簡卒。
On bingyin Shan Jian, general who conquered the south, died.
57
秋七月，歲星、熒惑、太白聚于牛斗。 石勒寇冀州。 劉粲寇晉陽，平北將軍劉琨遣部將郝詵帥衆禦粲，詵敗績，死之，太原太守高喬以晉陽降粲。
That summer Jupiter, Mars, and Venus converged on the northern dipper. Shi Le ravaged Ji province again. Liu Can besieged Jinyang; Liu Kun’s deputy Hao Shen died in a failed relief; Gao Qiao then handed the city to Liu Can.
58
八月庚戌，劉琨奔于常山。 辛亥，陰平都尉董沖逐太守王鑒，以郡叛降于李雄。 辛亥，劉琨乞師于猗盧，表盧爲代公。
On gengxu Liu Kun abandoned Taiyuan for Changshan. On xinhai Dong Chong of Yinping expelled Wang Jian and defected with the commandery to Chengdu. That same xinhai Liu Kun begged cavalry from Yilu and secured him the ducal title over Dai.
59
九月己卯，猗盧使子利孫赴琨，不得進。 辛巳，前雍州刺史賈疋討劉粲於三輔，走之，關中小定，乃與衛將軍梁芬、京兆太守梁綜共奉秦王鄴爲皇太子於長安。
On jimao Yilu’s son Lisun tried to reach Liu Kun but was blocked on the march. On xinsi Jia Min, the old Yongzhou inspector, threw back Liu Can around Chang’an; with Liang Fen and Liang Zong he stabilized Guanzhong long enough to enthrone Prince of Qin Sima Ye as heir at the western capital.
60
冬十月，猗盧自將六萬騎次于盆城。
Yilu himself led sixty thousand horsemen to a halt at Pencheng.
61
十一月甲午，劉粲遁走，劉琨收其遺衆，保于陽曲。
On jiawu Liu Can broke off the siege; Liu Kun collected the wreckage of his army and held Yangqu.
62
是歲大疫。
A terrible plague swept the north that year.
63
七年春正月，劉聰大會，使帝著青衣行酒。 侍中庾珉號哭，聰惡之。
At a New Year banquet Liu Cong forced the Jin emperor to don indigo servant dress and wait on his guests with the wine. Yu Min wept at the sight; Liu Cong took offense.
64
丁未，帝遇弑，崩于平陽，時年三十。
On dingwei the captive emperor was murdered at Pingyang at the age of thirty.
65
帝初誕，有嘉禾生于豫章之南昌。 先是望氣者云「豫章有天子氣」，其後竟以豫章王爲皇太弟。 在東宮，恂恂謙損，接引朝士，講論書籍。 及卽位，始遵舊制，臨太極殿，使尚書郎讀時令，又於東堂聽政。 至於宴會，輒與羣官論衆務，考經籍。 黃門侍郎傅宣歎曰：「今日復見武帝之世矣！」 秘書監荀崧又常謂人曰：「懷帝天姿清劭，少著英猷，若遭承平，足爲守文佳主。 而繼惠帝擾亂之後，東海專政，無幽厲之釁，而有流亡之禍。」
At his birth a stalk of lucky grain was reported in Nanchang, Yuzhang commandery. Court astrologers had long warned that Yuzhang bore imperial omens—omen fulfilled when the prince of that commandery was named grand heir to the throne. As heir apparent he lived unassumingly, welcomed officials of the court, and spent his time in conversation over the classics. Once emperor he revived precedent: he held audience in the Taiji Hall for the seasonal reading from the calendar, then shifted deliberations to the eastern gallery. Even at feasts he pressed his ministers on policy and tested their learning against the classics. Fu Xuan, an attendant at the yellow gates, exclaimed, “It is as if we were back in Emperor Wu’s day!” Xun Song, who oversaw the palace library, would tell anyone who would listen that Sima Chi had been brilliant and disciplined as a young man and would have made a fine conservator on the throne in tranquil times. Instead he inherited Hui’s chaos, while Sima Yue of Donghai pulled the strings—no tyranny on the scale of the late Zhou kings, yet the dynasty still stumbled into exile and ruin.”
66
孝愍帝
Emperor Min (the Filial).
67
孝愍皇帝諱鄴，字彥旗，武帝孫，吳孝王晏之子也。 出繼後伯父秦獻王柬，襲封秦王。
The Filial Emperor Min was Sima Ye, styled Yanqi, Emperor Wu’s grandson and the son of Prince Wu the Filial, Sima Yan. He was transferred to the succession of his deceased uncle Sima Jian, Prince Xian of Qin, and took the princedom of Qin.
68
永嘉二年，拜散騎常侍、撫軍將軍。 及洛陽傾覆，避難於滎陽密縣，與舅荀籓、荀組相遇，自密南趨許潁。 豫州刺史閻鼎與前撫軍長史王毗、司徒長史劉疇、中書郎李昕及籓、組等同謀奉帝歸於長安，而疇等中塗復叛，鼎追殺之，籓、組僅而獲免。 鼎遂挾帝乘牛車，自宛趣武關，頻遇山賊，士卒亡散，次于藍田。 鼎告雍州刺史賈疋，疋遽遣州兵迎衛，達于長安，又使輔國將軍梁綜助守之。 時有玉龜出霸水，神馬鳴城南焉。
In Yongjia 2 (308) he received the ranks of cavalier attendant-in-ordinary and general who supports the army. After the fall of Luoyang he fled to Mi in Xingyang, joined his uncles Xun Fan and Xun Zu, and pressed south from Mi toward the Xu–Ying corridor. Yan Ding of Yuzhou, Wang Pi, Liu Chou, Li Xin, and the two Xuns agreed to shepherd the throne to Chang’an; Liu Chou’s faction turned on them en route, Yan Ding ran them down and executed them, and only the Xun brothers got away. Yan Ding then bundled the sovereign into an ox-cart, struck out from Wan for Wu Pass through repeated ambushes until his escort melted away and they stalled at Lantian. Yan Ding sent word to Jia Min of Yongzhou, who rushed troops to convoy them into Chang’an and detached Liang Zong to stiffen the garrison. Portents attended their arrival: a jade tortoise rose from the Ba waters and a “spirit” horse screamed below the southern ramparts.
69
六年九月辛巳，奉秦王爲皇太子，登壇告類，建宗廟社稷，大赦。 加疋征西大將軍，以秦州刺史、南陽王保爲大司馬。 賈疋討賊張連，遇害，衆推始平太守麹允領雍州刺史，爲盟主，承制選置。
Sixth year, ninth month, xinsi: Prince of Qin Sima Ye was proclaimed heir apparent, the suburban altar rites were performed, the dynastic temple and earth altars were founded, and a general amnesty followed. Jia Min was promoted to grand general who conquers the west, while Sima Bao of Nanyang, inspector of Qinzhou, became grand marshal. Jia Min died fighting Zhang Lian’s band; the survivors made Qu Yun of Shiping provisional inspector of Yongzhou and league chief with full powers to fill offices.
70
五月壬辰，以鎮東大將軍、琅邪王睿爲侍中、左丞相、大都督陝東諸軍事，大司馬、南陽王保爲右丞相、大都督陝西諸軍事。 又詔二王曰：「夫陽九百六之災，雖在盛世，猶或遘之。 朕以幼沖，纂承洪緒，庶憑祖宗之靈，羣公義士之力，蕩滅凶寇，拯拔幽宮，瞻望未達，肝心分裂。 昔周邵分陝，姬氏以隆； 平王東遷，晉鄭爲輔。 今左右丞相茂德齊聖，國之昵屬，當恃二公，掃除鯨鯢，奉迎梓宮，克復中興。 令幽、幷兩州勒卒三十萬，直造平陽。 右丞相宜帥秦、涼、梁、雍武旅三十萬，徑詣長安。 左丞相帥所領精兵二十萬，徑造洛陽。 分遣前鋒，爲幽幷後駐。 赴同大限，克成元勳。」
On renchen Sima Rui of Langya became palace attendant, left chancellor, and supreme commander for everything east of the passes, while Sima Bao of Nanyang became right chancellor and supreme commander for the west. A paired rescript told both men that even golden ages can suffer the cosmic “nine hundred six” catastrophe. The boy emperor avowed his youth, invoked the ancestors, and begged the ministers to destroy the invaders and bring back the captive court from Pingyang—goals still unrealized and heartbreaking. The edict recalled how the Zhou dukes split the realm at the passes and the Ji line prospered; how King Ping’s eastward move relied on Jin and Zheng as pillars. Now both chancellors were kinsmen of rare virtue who must scour the realm of rebels, recover the late emperor’s bier, and complete the restoration. You and Bing were to drive three hundred thousand veterans straight at Pingyang. The right chancellor was to lead three hundred thousand troops from Qin, Liang, Liang, and Yong straight to Chang’an. The left chancellor would take two hundred thousand elite troops of his own command toward Luoyang. Vanguard units would cover the rear of the northern thrust. All were to strike on the same timetable and share the glory of renewal.”
71
又詔琅邪王曰：「朕以沖昧，纂承洪緒，未能梟夷凶逆，奉迎梓宮，枕戈煩冤，肝心抽裂。 前得魏浚表，知公帥先三軍，已據壽春，傳檄諸侯，協齊威勢，想今漸進，已達洛陽。 涼州刺史張軌，乃心王室，連旗萬里，已到洴隴； 梁州刺史張光，亦遣巴漢之卒，屯在駱谷：秦川驍勇，其會如林。 間遣使適還，具知平陽定問，云幽幷隆盛，餘胡衰破，然猶恃險，當須大舉。 未知公今所到，是以息兵秣馬，未便進軍。 今爲已至何許，當須來旨，便乘輿自出，會除中原也。 公宜思弘謀猷，勖濟遠略，使山陵旋反，四海有賴。 故遣殿中都尉劉蜀、蘇馬等具宣朕意。 公茂德昵屬，宣隆東夏，恢融六合，非公而誰！ 但洛都陵廟，不可空曠，公宜鎮撫，以綏山東。 右丞相當入輔弼，追蹤周邵，以隆中興也。」
A separate message to Sima Rui confessed the throne’s helpless youth and shame at failing to ransom Luoyang. It cited Wei Jun’s report that Sima Rui had seized Shouchun, issued calls to the provinces, and was thought to be nearing Luoyang. Zhang Gui of Liangzhou, it said, had marched his standards clear across the northwest to the Ping–Long frontier; Zhang Guang of Liangzhou had stacked Ba and Han soldiers in the Luogu defile, while Qin’s warriors gathered thick as trees. Fresh couriers from Pingyang reported You and Bing strong while the barbarians weakened but still entrenched—only a major offensive would root them out. Without knowing Sima Rui’s exact position, Chang’an had held its own army back to rest and fodder the horses. Once his location was known, the young emperor would ride out himself to help clear the heartland. He urged Sima Rui to enlarge his strategy so the imperial tombs could be recovered and the empire given hope. Palace commandants Liu Shu and Su Ma were dispatched to deliver this in full. Sima Rui, as close kin of proven talent, was told that only he could reunify east and west. Yet Luoyang’s shrines could not be abandoned, so he must secure the east while Sima Bao came in as the western pillar to match the Zhou–Shao model of old.”
72
六月，石勒害兗州刺史田徽。 是時，山東郡邑相繼陷于勒。
Shi Le executed Tian Hui, inspector of Yanzhou, in the sixth month. One Shandong prefecture after another toppled to Shi Le that season.
73
秋八月癸亥，劉蜀等達于揚州。 改建鄴爲建康，改鄴爲臨漳。 杜弢寇武昌，焚燒城邑。 弢別將王真襲沔陽，荊州刺史周顗奔于健康。
Autumn, eighth month, guihai: Liu Shu’s embassy reached Yangzhou. The court renamed Jianye as Jiankang and Ye as Linzhang. Du Tao torched Wuchang and its suburbs. Wang Zhen, a lieutenant of Du Tao, struck Mianyang and drove Zhou Yi of Jingzhou east to Jiankang, though the place name in the text is miscopied as a homophone for the usual form Jiankang.
74
九月，司空荀籓薨于滎陽。 劉聰寇河南，河南尹張髦死之。
Ninth month: Xun Fan died at Xingyang on the road west. Liu Cong swept Henan and killed Zhang Mao, the capital district’s governor.
75
冬十月，荊州刺史陶侃討杜弢黨杜曾於石城，爲曾所敗。 己巳，大雨雹。 庚午，大雪。
Winter, tenth month: Tao Kan of Jingzhou attacked Du Zeng at Shicheng for Du Tao’s faction and lost badly. On jisi hailstones drummed down. On gengwu a blizzard buried the roads.
76
十一月，流人楊武攻陷梁州。
Eleventh month: the refugee chief Yang Wu seized Liangzhou.
77
十二月，河東地震，雨肉。
Twelfth month: Hedong shook and a shower of flesh fell from the sky.
78
二年春正月己巳朔，黑霧著人如墨，連夜，五日乃止。 辛未，辰時日隕于地。 又有三日相承，出於西方而東行。 丁丑，大赦。 楊武大略漢中，遂奔李雄。
Second year, spring, new moon on jisi: soot-black mist clung to travelers for five days and nights. On xinwei at dawn observers reported the sun “dropping” to earth. Three solar disks were also seen in a line, rising in the west and drifting east. On dingchou a general amnesty was issued. Yang Wu plundered Hanzhong, then defected to Li Xiong in Shu.
79
二月壬寅，以司空王浚爲大司馬，衛將軍荀組爲司空，涼州刺史張軌爲太尉，封西平郡公，幷州刺史劉琨爲大將軍。
Second month, renyin: Wang Jun became grand marshal, Xun Zu minister of works, Zhang Gui grand commandant and duke of Xiping, Liu Kun grand general.
80
三月癸酉，石勒陷幽州，殺侍中、大司馬、幽州牧、博陵公王浚，焚燒城邑，害萬餘人。 杜弢別帥王真襲荊州刺史陶侃於林鄣，侃奔灄中。
Third month, guiyou: Shi Le overran Youzhou, executed Wang Jun of Boling with his full string of titles, fired the cities, and left ten thousand dead. Wang Zhen ambushed Tao Kan at Linzhang and chased him into the shallows of the Zhen River, the graph in the text being a variant for the usual river name.
81
夏四月甲辰，地震。
Summer, fourth month, jiachen: another earthquake.
82
五月壬辰，太尉、領護羌校尉、涼州刺史、西平公張軌薨。
Fifth month, renchen: Zhang Gui died at his post in Liangzhou.
83
六月，劉曜、趙冉寇新豐諸縣，安東將軍索綝討破之。
Sixth month: Suo Chen drove Liu Yao and Zhao Ran away from Xinfeng.
84
秋七月，曜、冉等又逼京都，領軍將軍麹允討破之，冉中流矢而死。
Seventh month: Qu Yun broke their second thrust on Chang’an; Zhao Ran fell to an arrow.
85
九月，北中郎將劉演克頓丘，斬石勒所署太守邵攀。 丙戌，麟見襄平。 單于代公猗盧遣使獻馬。 蒲子馬生人。
Ninth month: Liu Yan of the center army recovered Dunqiu and killed Shao Pan, Shi Le’s puppet governor. On bingxu a “unicorn” was reported at Xiangping. Yilu, Xiongnu chanyu and duke of Dai, sent tribute horses. At Puzi a mare foaled something shaped like a human child.
86
三年春正月，盜殺晉昌太守趙佩。 吳興人徐馥害太守袁琇。 以侍中宋哲爲平東將軍，屯華陰。
Third year, spring: robbers murdered Zhao Pei of Jinchang. Xu Fu of Wuxing assassinated Yuan Xiu, the local governor. Song Zhe was posted as general who pacifies the east at Huayin.
87
二月丙子，進左丞相、琅邪王睿爲大都督、督中外諸軍事，右丞相、南陽王保爲相國，司空荀組爲太尉，大將軍劉琨爲司空。 進封代公猗盧爲代王。 荊州刺史陶侃破王真於巴陵。 杜弢別將杜弘、張彥與臨川內史謝摛戰于海昏，摛敗績，死之。
Second month, bingzi: Sima Rui took supreme command over every army; Sima Bao became chief minister; Xun Zu and Liu Kun swapped the grand commandant and minister of works portfolios. Yilu was promoted from duke to king of Dai. Tao Kan smashed Wang Zhen near Baling. Du Hong and Zhang Yan met Xie Chi of Linchuan at Haihun; Xie Chi was killed in the rout.
88
三月，豫率內史周訪擊杜弘，走之，斬張彥於陳。
In the third month Zhou Fang, interior governor of Yuzhang, routed Du Hong and executed Zhang Yan at Chen.
89
夏四月，大赦。
Summer, fourth month: general amnesty.
90
五月，劉聰寇幷州。
Fifth month: Liu Cong struck Bingzhou again.
91
六月，盜發漢霸、杜二陵及薄太后陵，太后面如生，得金玉彩帛不可勝記。 時以朝廷草創，服章多闕，敕收其餘，以實內府。 丁卯，地震。 辛巳，大赦。 敕雍州掩骼埋胔，修復陵墓，有犯者誅及三族。
Sixth month: tomb robbers broke into the Western Han mausolea at Ba and Du and Empress Bo’s vault—her corpse seemed lifelike—and looted incalculable treasure. The rump court, starved for regalia, seized what survived of the grave goods for the palace storehouses. On dingmao the earth shook. On xinsi another general amnesty followed. Yongzhou was told to gather scattered remains, restore the imperial tombs, and punish tomb raiders with three-clan extermination.
92
秋七月，石勒陷濮陽，害太守韓弘。 劉聰寇上黨，劉琨遣將救之。
Seventh month: Shi Le seized Puyang and slew Han Hong. Liu Cong besieged Shangdang while Liu Kun dispatched a relief column.
93
八月癸亥，戰于襄垣，王師敗績。 荊州刺史陶侃攻杜弢，弢敗走，道死，湘州平。
Eighth month, guihai: the government troops lost a major battle at Xiangyuan. Tao Kan ran Du Tao to ground; Du Tao died fleeing, and Xiangzhou was quieted.
94
九月，劉曜寇北地，命領軍將軍麹允討之。
Ninth month: Liu Yao hit Beidi and Qu Yun was sent to intercept him.
95
冬十月，允進攻青白城。 以豫州牧、征東將軍索綝爲尚書僕射、都督宮城諸軍事。 劉聰陷馮翊，太守梁肅奔萬年。
Winter, tenth month: Qu Yun pushed on to Qingbai City. Suo Chen, who governed Yuzhou and held the title general who conquers the east, was named vice director of the secretariat and put in charge of all troops defending the palace enclosure. Liu Cong overran Fengyi; Liang Su escaped to Wannian.
96
十二月，涼州刺史張寔送皇帝行璽一紐。 盜殺安定太守趙班。
Twelfth month: Zhang Shi forwarded a cord of the mobile imperial seal from Liangzhou. Brigands murdered Zhao Ban of Anding.
97
四年春三月，代王猗盧薨，其衆歸于劉琨。
Fourth year, spring, third month: Yilu died; his tribesmen joined Liu Kun.
98
夏四月丁丑，劉曜寇上郡，太守籍韋率其衆奔于南鄭。 涼州刺史張寔遣步騎五千來赴京都。 石勒陷廩丘，北中郎將劉演出奔。
Summer, fourth month, dingchou: Liu Yao stormed Shang commandery and Ji Wei led his men south to Nanzhong. Zhang Shi dispatched five thousand foot and horse toward Chang’an. Shi Le snapped up Linqiu; Liu Yan abandoned his post.
99
五月，平夷太守雷照害南廣太守孟桓，帥二郡三千餘家叛，降于李雄。
Fifth month: Lei Zhao of Pingyi slew Meng Huan of Nanguang, then led three thousand families of both districts over to Li Xiong.
100
六月丁巳朔，日有蝕之。 大蝗。
Sixth month, new moon on dingsi: the sun was eclipsed. Locusts blotted out the countryside.
101
秋七月，劉曜攻北地，麹允帥步騎三萬救之。 王師不戰而潰，北地太守麹昌奔于京師。 曜進至涇陽，渭北諸城悉潰，建威將軍魯充、散騎常侍梁緯、少府皇甫陽等皆死之。
Seventh month: Liu Yao pressed Beidi, and Qu Yun marched thirty thousand men to its relief. The court army never offered battle; Qu Chang of Beidi bolted for Chang’an. Liu Yao pushed to Jingyang, the north-bank towns folded, and Lu Chong, Liang Wei, Huangfu Yang, and their comrades died holding the line.
102
八月，劉曜逼京師，內外斷絕，鎮西將軍焦嵩、平東將軍宋哲、始平太守竺恢等同赴國難，麹允與公卿守長安小城以自固，散騎常侍華輯監京兆、馮翊、弘農、上洛四郡兵東屯霸上，鎮軍將軍胡崧帥城西諸郡兵屯遮馬橋，並不敢進。
Eighth month: Liu Yao tightened the noose on Chang’an. Relief columns under Jiao Song, Song Zhe, and Zhu Hui converged, but Qu Yun and the high ministers could only cling to the inner citadel. Hua Ji camped east at Bashang with four commanderies’ militia, Hu Song blocked the western approaches at Zhema Bridge—and still no one closed with the enemy.
103
冬十月，京師饑甚，米斗金二兩，人相食，死者太半。 太倉有麴數餅，麹允屑爲粥以供帝，至是復盡。 帝泣謂允曰：「今窘厄如此，外無救援，死于社稷，是朕事也。 然念將士暴離斯酷，今欲因城未陷爲羞死之事，庶令黎元免屠爛之苦。 行矣遣書，朕意決矣。」
By the tenth winter month grain sold for two liang of gold a dou, cannibalism spread, and well over half the population inside the walls was dead. A few hard cakes remained in the imperial granary; Qu Yun shaved them into gruel for the throne until even that scrap was gone. The boy sovereign wept to Qu Yun: “There is no succor beyond these walls; if I must die for the dynasty, that is my burden alone. Yet I cannot bear to watch my soldiers ground down further; while a surrender might still spare the people inside, I will accept the shame of yielding before the walls give way. Send the letter, then. My decision stands.”
104
十一月乙末，使侍中宋敞送箋于曜，帝乘羊車，肉袒銜壁，輿櫬出降。 羣臣號泣攀車，執帝之手，帝亦悲不自勝。 御史中丞吉朗自殺。 曜焚櫬受壁，使宋敞奉帝還宮。 初，有童謠曰：「天子何在豆田中。」 時王浚在幽州，以豆有藿，殺隱士霍原以應之。 及帝如曜營，營實在城東豆田壁。 辛丑，帝蒙塵于平陽，麹允及羣官並從。 劉聰假帝光祿大夫、懷安侯。 壬寅，聰臨殿，帝稽首于前，麹允伏地慟哭，因自殺。 尚書梁允、侍中梁濬、散騎常侍嚴敦、左丞臧振、黃門侍郎任播、張偉、杜曼及諸郡守並爲曜所害，華輯奔南山。 石勒圍樂平，司空劉琨遣兵援之，爲勒所敗，樂平太守韓據出奔。 司空長史李弘以幷州叛，降于勒。
On yiwei of the eleventh month Song Chang carried his capitulation to Liu Yao; Sima Ye then rode out in the humiliating sheep-cart, shirtless with the surrender jade between his teeth and a coffin carried ahead as token of submission. Ministers sobbed, seized the wheels, and clutched his sleeves until he too broke down. Ji Lang, palace attendant and censor-in-chief, killed himself rather than see the surrender. Liu Yao burned the funeral bier, accepted the ritual jade, and sent Song Chang to convoy the emperor back inside. A street rhyme had long asked where the emperor had gone—to “the beanfields.” Wang Jun in Youzhou, playing at prophecy, murdered the hermit Huo Yuan because “bean” and “Huo” sounded alike. In the end the Jin ruler was driven to Liu Yao’s stockade at Doutian, east of Chang’an—exactly the “beanfield” the rhyme named. On xinchou the captive court reached Pingyang; Qu Yun and the ministers trailed behind in chains. Liu Cong ennobled him as marquis of Huai’an with a sinecure as grand master of splendid carriage. Next day at Liu Cong’s levee Sima Ye kowtowed while Qu Yun threw himself down, howled, and cut his own throat. Liang Yun of the secretariat, Liang Jun at court, Yan Dun, Cang Zhen, Ren Bo, Zhang Wei, Du Man, and a string of local governors fell to Liu Yao’s executioners; only Hua Ji broke away toward the southern hills. Shi Le ringed Leping; Liu Kun’s relief failed; Han Ju abandoned the city. Li Hong, chief clerk under Liu Kun, mutinied in Bingzhou and opened the province to Shi Le.
105
十二月甲申朔，日有蝕之。 己未，劉琨奔薊，依段匹磾。
Twelfth month, new moon on jiashen: another eclipse of the sun. On jiwei Liu Kun rode north to Ji to place himself under Duan Pidi’s protection.
106
五年春正月，帝在平陽。 庚子，虹霓彌天，三日並照。 平東將軍宋哲奔江左。 李雄使其將李恭、羅寅寇巴東。
The fifth year began with the emperor still a hostage at Pingyang. On gengzi rainbows bridged the heavens and three suns glared at once—another ill omen. Song Zhe gave up the north and ran south of the river. Li Xiong ordered Li Gong and Luo Yin against Badong.
107
二月，劉聰使其將劉暢攻滎陽，太守李矩擊破之。
Liu Chang’s column against Xingyang was smashed by Li Ju.
108
三月，琅邪王睿承制改元，稱晉王于建康。
Third month: at Jiankang Sima Rui of Langya assumed interim authority, adopted a new era name, and took the title Prince of Jin.
109
夏五月丙子，日有蝕之。
Summer, fifth month, bingzi: the sun was eclipsed.
110
秋七月，大暑，司、冀、青、雍等四州螽蝗。 石勒亦競取百姓禾，時人謂之「胡蝗」。
Seventh month: a killing heat, while Si, Ji, Qing, and Yong swarmed with locusts and katydids. Shi Le’s foragers stripped the fields so thoroughly that folk called them the “barbarian locust.”
111
八月，劉聰使趙固襲衛將軍華薈于定潁，遂害之。
Eighth month: Zhao Gu ambushed Hua Hui at Dingying and killed him.
112
冬十月丙子，日有蝕之。 劉聰出獵，令帝行車騎將軍，戎服執戟爲導，百姓聚而觀之，故老或歔欷流涕，聰聞而惡之。 聰後因大會，使帝行酒洗爵，反而更衣，又使帝執蓋，晉臣在坐者多失聲而泣，尚書郎辛賓抱帝慟哭，爲聰所害。
Winter, tenth month, bingzi: eclipse. Liu Cong humiliated his captive by making him ride point in full armor at the hunt while crowds gawked; old men wept openly, and Liu Cong began to loathe him. At a later banquet he forced Sima Ye to wait tables, then hold a parasol over the revel; when Xin Bin clung to the emperor and wept, Liu Cong had him cut down.
113
十二月戊戌，帝遇弑，崩于平陽，時年十八。 帝之繼皇統也，屬永嘉之亂，天下崩離，長安城中戶不盈百，牆宇頹毀，蒿棘成林。 朝廷無車馬章服，唯桑版署號而已。 衆唯一旅，公私有車四乘，器械多闕，運饋不繼。 巨猾滔天，帝京危急，諸侯無釋位之志，征鎮闕勤王之舉，故君臣窘迫，以至殺辱云。
On wuxu in the twelfth month Liu Cong’s assassins finished Sima Ye at Pingyang; he was eighteen. Sima Ye inherited the throne after Yongjia’s disaster: Chang’an held fewer than a hundred families, its battlements in ruins and thickets choking the lanes. There were no carriages, seals, or silks—only names painted on mulberry planks for “offices.” The garrison was a single brigade, the palace could muster four carts, arsenals stood empty, and supply trains never arrived. While rebels towered like a flood and the capital starved, no prince stirred from his fief and no general marched to the rescue—so sovereign and minister were cornered into surrender, insult, and death.
114
史臣曰：昔炎暉杪暮，英雄多假于宗室。 金德韜華，顛沛共推于懷愍。 樊陽寂寥，兵車靡會，豈力不足而情有餘乎？ 喋喋遺萌，苟存其主，譬彼詩人，愛其棠樹。 夫有非常之事，而無非常之功，詳觀發迹，用非天啓，是以輿棺齒劍，可得而言焉。 于時五嶽三塗，並皆淪寇，龍州、牛首，故以立君。 股肱非挑戰之秋，劉石有滔天之勢，療饑中斷，嬰戈外絕，兩京淪狄，再駕徂戎。 周王隕首於驪峰，衛公亡肝於淇上，思爲一郡，其可得乎！ 干寶有言曰：
The annalists remark that at the twilight of Han, power had leaned heavily on imperial kinsmen. When Jin’s “metal” virtue dimmed, both Huai and Min inherited collapse. Armies never linked at Fanyang—was it mere weakness, or something worse? The rump court clung to its prince the way the ode clung to the lord of Shao’s pear-trees. Extraordinary crisis met no extraordinary response; tracing how authority ebbed shows no mandate of Heaven—only the shame of surrender, coffin and jade between the teeth. Every sacred peak and every choke-point had fallen to invaders; omens at Longzhou and Ox-Head were cited to justify enthroning a boy on the run. The dynasty’s limbs were unfit for battle while Liu Yuan and Shi Le swelled like a flood; relief failed within, allies failed without; Luoyang and Chang’an fell to barbarians, and two emperors rode out to disaster. They likened the age to King You’s end at Li Mountain and the martyr duke of Wei on the Qi—no one could pretend a single prefecture would suffice. Gan Bao observed:
115
昔高祖宣皇帝以雄才碩量，應時而仕，值魏太祖創基之初，籌畫軍國，嘉謀屢中，遂服輿軫，驅馳三世。 性深阻有若城府，而能寬綽以容納； 行任數以御物，而知人善采拔。 故賢愚咸懷，大小畢力。 爾乃取鄧艾于農隙，引州泰於行役，委以文武，各善其事。 故能西禽孟達，東舉公孫，內夷曹爽，外襲王淩。 神略獨斷，征伐四克，維御羣后，大權在己。 于是百姓與能，大象始構。
Sima Yi rose under Cao Cao with genius enough to steer three reigns of Wei. He seemed all moats and battlements within, yet he could embrace men generously; he governed by stratagem but knew talent and promoted it well; so clever and simple alike served him loyally. He pulled Deng Ai from the furrows and Zhou Tai from labor gangs and gave each a command that fitted him. Thus he seized Meng Da, broke Gongsun Yuan, destroyed Cao Shuang, and ambushed Wang Ling. His campaigns succeeded by ruthless calculation until all power sat in his hands. The people accepted his rule and the Sima edifice rose.
116
世宗承基，太祖繼業，玄豐亂內，欽誕寇外，潛謀雖密，而在機必兆； 淮浦再擾，而許洛不震：咸黜異圖，用融前烈。 然後推轂鐘鄧，長驅庸蜀，三關電埽，而劉禪入臣，天符人事，於是信矣。 始當非常之禮，終受備物之錫。 至于世祖，遂享皇極。 仁以厚下，儉以足用，和而不弛，寬而能斷，故民詠維新，四海悅勸矣。 聿修祖宗之志，思輯戰國之苦。 腹心不同，公卿異議，而獨納羊祜之策，杖王杜之決，役不二時，江湘來同。 掩唐虞之舊域，班正朔於八荒，天下書同文，車同軌，牛馬被野，餘糧委畝，故于時有「天下無窮人」之諺。 雖太平未洽，亦足以明吏奉其法，民樂其生矣。
Emperor Ming and Emperor Wu carried the Sima mandate forward even as Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin convulsed the interior and Zhuge Dan with Wen Yang shook the Huai frontier—each conspiracy, for all its secrecy, had bled warning signs long before it broke. Huainan rose twice, yet the heartland held because dissent was crushed early. Zhong Hui and Deng Ai opened Shu; the three passes fell like lightning; Liu Shan surrendered—proof that Heaven and men favored the Simas. They began with extraordinary honors and ended with the full imperial regalia. Emperor Wu at last took the throne. He ruled with kindness, thrift, balance, and firm judgment until the empire sang of renewal. He meant to heal the wounds of the long wars. Despite divided councils he followed Yang Hu and Wang Jun, and in two campaigns Wu fell. He restored the ancient heartland, unified script and axle-width, filled the fields with grain and herds—so men said there were no beggars in the realm. Even if perfect peace never arrived, officials still obeyed the code and commoners still trusted their lives to it.
117
武皇旣崩，山陵未乾，而楊駿被誅，母后廢黜。 尋以二公、楚王之變，宗子無維城之助，師尹無具瞻之貴，至乃易天子乙太上之號，而有免官之謠。 民不見德，惟亂是聞，朝爲伊周，夕成桀蹠，善惡陷於成敗，毀譽脅於世利，內外混淆，庶官失才，名實反錯，天綱解紐。 國政迭移於亂人，禁兵外散于四方，方岳無鈞石之鎮，關門無結草之固。 李辰、石冰傾之於荊楊，元海、王彌撓之於青冀，戎羯稱制，二帝失尊，何哉？ 樹立失權，託付非才，四維不張，而苟且之政多也。
Hardly was Wu’s tomb sealed when Yang Jun died and the empress mother was cast aside. Then came the coup of the “two dukes” and the Prince of Chu: no prince buttressed the throne, no chief minister commanded respect, titles turned mockeries, and street songs mocked dismissed grandees. Morals inverted overnight; office became a lottery of profit; inside and outside the court no one matched his title, and the bonds of order snapped. Rebels seized the levers of power, imperial guards were farmed out, governors had no real armies, and frontier gates stood open. Li Chen and Shi Bing wrecked the southeast, Liu Yuan and Wang Mi the northeast; Xiongnu and Jie took command while two Jin emperors lost their throne—why? Because power had been rooted in the wrong men, talent was mismatched to office, the four social ties hung slack, and patchwork policy piled on patchwork policy.
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夫作法於治，其弊猶亂； 作法於亂，誰能救之！ 彼元海者，離石之將兵都尉； 王彌者，青州之散吏也。 蓋皆弓馬之士，驅走之人，非有吳先主、諸葛孔明之能也； 新起之寇，烏合之衆，非吳蜀之敵也； 脫耒爲兵，裂裳爲旗，非戰國之器也； 自下逆上，非鄰國之勢也。 然而擾天下如驅羣羊，舉二都如拾遺芥，將相王侯連頸以受戮，后嬪妃主虜辱於戎卒，豈不哀哉！ 天下，大器也； 羣生，重畜也。 愛惡相攻，利害相奪，其勢常也。 若積水于防，燎火于原，未嘗暫靜也。 器大者，不可以小道治； 勢重者，不可以爭競擾。 古先哲王知其然也，是以扞其大患，禦其大災。 百姓皆知上德之生己，而不謂浚己以生也，是以感而應之，悅而歸之，如晨風之鬱北林，龍魚之趣藪澤也。 然後設禮文以理之，斷刑罰以威之，謹好惡以示之，審禍福以喻之，求明察以官之，尊慈愛以固之。 故衆知向方，皆樂其生而哀其死，悅其教而安其俗； 君子勤禮，小人盡力，廉恥篤於家閭，邪辟消於胸懷。 故其民有見危以授命，而不求生以害義，又況可奮臂大呼，聚之以干紀作亂乎！ 基廣則難傾，根深則難拔，理節則不亂，膠結則不遷，是以昔之有天下者之所以長久也。 夫豈無僻主，賴道德典刑以維持之也。
Institutions framed in order can still decay into chaos; but institutions born from chaos cannot be mended by anyone. Liu Yuan was only a garrison captain at Lishi; Wang Mi a minor scribbler in Qingzhou. They were horsemen and runners, not Liu Bei or Zhuge Liang; their hosts were new-minted rabble, no match for Wu or Shu veterans; they grabbed hoes for spears and rags for flags—no Warring States arsenal; they were peasants turned upside down, not rival kingdoms of old. Yet such men herded the realm like sheep, pocketed both capitals like chaff, strung up the entire nobility, and outraged the women of the palace—how bitter a sight! The empire is a great vessel; the people are a weighty herd. Love contends with hate, gain with loss—that tension never rests. It is water pent behind a levee or flame on dry grass—never still. A great realm cannot be ruled by petty tricks; a grave crisis cannot survive factional greed. The ancient sages knew it, and so they met great peril with great remedies. When the people believe the throne nurtures rather than drains them, they rally as fish to deep water or wind to the grove. Then rites teach, punishments warn, examples guide, fortune and misfortune are explained, wise officers appointed, and mercy shown to bind hearts. The people know where to turn: they cherish life, honor death, trust his teaching, and settle in his ways; gentlemen polish conduct, commoners give their strength, shame roots in every lane, and wicked thoughts fade. So men will die for duty rather than live by betraying it—let alone riot for private ends! Broad foundations, deep roots, clear principle, firm bonds—that is how old dynasties endured. Even weak rulers endured when ritual and law still held.
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昔周之興也，後稷生於姜嫄，而天命昭顯，文武之功起於后稷。 至於公劉，遭夏人之亂，去邰之豳，身服厥勞。 至於太王，爲戎翟所逼，而不忍百姓之命，杖策而去之。 故從之如歸市，一年成邑，二年成都，三年五倍其初。 至於王季，能貊其德音； 至于文王，而維新其命。 由此觀之，周家世積忠厚，仁及草木，內隆九族，外尊事黃耇，以成其福祿者也。 而其妃后躬行四教，尊敬師傅，服瀚濯之衣，修煩辱之事，化天下以成婦道。 是以漢濱之女，守潔白之志，中林之士，有純一之德，始於憂勤，終於逸樂。 以三聖之知，伐獨夫之紂，猶正其名教，曰逆取順守。 及周公遭變，陳后稷先公風化之所由，致王業之艱難者，則皆農夫女工衣蝕之事也。 故自后之始基靖民，十五王而文始平之，十六王而武始居之，十八王而康克安之。 故其積基樹本，經緯禮俗，節理人情，恤隱民事，如此之纏緜也。
The Zhou line began with Hou Ji, child of Jiang Yuan, when Heaven’s favor was already plain—the martial kings only completed what he started. Gong Liu fled Xia turmoil from Tai to Bin and bore every hardship himself. Tai Wang abandoned the valley rather than sacrifice his people to the Rong and Di. The clans flocked after him; within three years his settlement had grown fivefold. King Ji carried his virtuous name to the border peoples. King Wen renewed Heaven’s charge to the Zhou. Generation after generation the Zhou stored up loyalty and kindness, care for kin and respect for age, until fortune itself answered their virtue. Their queens modeled the four virtues, dressed plainly, worked at women’s tasks, and set the standard for every household. So maidens by the Han kept their honor and recluses their integrity, moving from hardship to peace. Even when the sage kings overthrew Di Xin, they framed the deed in classical language—conquest as correction. The Duke of Zhou’s admonitions traced royal legitimacy through furrow and loom, not through idle pomp. The chronicle counts kings from Hou Ji to Wen, Wu, and Kang—each reign laying another layer of order. That is how Zhou built a state: patient attention to ritual, sentiment, and the livelihood of the meanest subject.
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今晉之興也，功烈於百王，事捷於三代。 宣景遭多難之時，誅庶孽以便事，不及修公劉、太王之仁也。 受遺輔政，屢遇廢置，故齊王不明，不獲思庸於亳； 高貴沖人，不得復子明辟也。 二祖逼禪代之期，不暇待參分八百之會也。 是其創基立本，異於先代者也。 加以朝寡純德之人，鄉乏不貳之老，風俗淫僻，恥尚失所，學者以老莊爲宗而黜《六經》，談者以虛蕩爲辨而賤名檢，行身者以放濁爲通而狹節信，進仕者以苟得爲貴而鄙居正，當官者以望空爲高而笑勤恪。 是以劉頌屢言治道，傅咸每糾邪正，皆謂之俗吏； 其倚杖虛曠，依阿無心者皆名重海內。 若夫文王日旰不暇食，仲山甫夙夜匪懈者，蓋共嗤黜以爲灰塵矣。 由是毀譽亂于善惡之實，情慝奔于貨欲之塗。 選者爲人擇官，官者爲身擇利，而執鈞當軸之士，身兼官以十數。 大極其尊，小錄其耍，而世族貴戚之子弟，陵邁超越，不拘資次。 悠悠風塵，皆奔競之士，列官千百，無讓賢之舉。 子真著《崇讓》而莫之省，子雅制九班而不得用。 其婦女，莊櫛織紝皆取成於婢僕，未嘗知女工絲枲之業，中饋酒蝕之事也。 先時而婚，任情而動，故皆不恥淫泆之過，不拘妒忌之惡，父兄不之罪也，天下莫之非也。 又況責之聞四教於古，修貞順於今，以輔佐君子者哉！ 禮法刑政於此大壞，如水斯積而決其提防，如火斯畜而離其薪燎也。 國之將亡，未必先顛，其此之謂乎！
Jin’s rise was swifter and more dazzling than Xia, Shang, or Zhou. Sima Yi and Sima Shi cut down rivals for expediency; they could not pause to mimic Zhou’s slow nurturing of the people. Regency meant endless coups: Sima Jiong of Qi proved a poor steward, nothing like the Duke of Zhou at Boqin; Cao Mao, the “noble and elevated” emperor, was only a boy-tragedy and never truly ruled. The two Sima founders hurried the Wei–Jin transition; they could not wait on ancient ritual niceties. Their foundation was laid in haste and steel, not in Zhou-style patience. Worse followed: court and countryside alike abandoned classical restraint—Qingtan wit replaced the Odes, cynicism replaced integrity, and office became a scramble for place. Liu Song’s policy papers and Fu Xian’s moral lectures earned only the sneer “petty official”; men who drifted through conversation without conviction were hailed as sages. Diligence like King Wen’s or Zhong Shanfu’s drew mockery, not respect. Reputation parted from reality, and every heart chased profit. Patronage sold posts; incumbents sold favors; grandees stacked ten offices on one back. Great families leapfrogged the queue while small fry grabbed any scrap of authority. The roads swelled with office-seekers, yet no one stepped aside for talent. Liu Shi’s essay on yielding and Liu Song’s nine-grade reform were ignored in practice. Ladies knew only slaves’ labor for their finery and never touched loom or kettle. Early marriage and open intrigue drew no rebuke from kin or gossip from neighbors. Who could demand of them the classical wife’s virtues? Law and ritual collapsed like a dammed flood or a stacked bonfire breaking loose. Dynasties rot from within long before the walls fall—so it was here.
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故觀阮籍之行，而覺禮教崩馳之所由也。 察庾純、賈充之爭，而見師尹之多僻； 考平吳之功，而知將帥之不讓； 思郭欽之謀，而寤戎狄之有釁； 覽傅玄、劉毅之言，而得百官之邪； 核傅咸之奏、《錢神》之論，而𧡺寵賂之彰。 民風國勢如此，雖以中庸之才，守文之主治之，辛有必見之於祭祀，季劄必得之於聲樂，范燮必爲之請死，賈誼必爲之痛哭，又況我惠帝以放蕩之德臨之哉！ 懷帝承亂得位，羈於強臣，愍帝奔播之後，徒廁其虛名，天下之政旣去，非命世之雄才，不能取之矣！ 淳耀之烈未渝，故大命重集於中宗元皇帝。
One has only to read Ruan Ji’s life to see how teaching of the rites unraveled. The Yu–Jia feud exposed the moral bankruptcy of the high ministers. The conquest of Wu showed commanders scrambling for credit, not glory shared. Guo Qin had warned that barbarians on the border would devour Jin if left unchecked. Fu Xuan and Liu Yi laid bare official corruption in plain words. Fu Xian’s court papers and Lu Bao’s satire showed bribery ruling every appointment. Even a mediocre caretaker could not have saved such a polity; the omens were as plain as in Xin You’s day—and Emperor Hui was no caretaker. Huai was a prisoner of warlords, Min a refugee with a hollow crown; only a world-shaking champion could have picked up the pieces. Heaven’s fire still smoldered in the south, where Yuan Di refounded the dynasty.
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贊曰：懷佩玉璽，愍居黃屋。 鼈墜三山，鯨吞九服，獯入金商，穹居未央。 圜顱盡仆，方趾咸僵。 大夫反首，徙我平陽。 主憂臣哭，于何不臧！
The verse runs: Huai clasped the imperial jade; Min mounted the yellow-canopied cart of state. Portent and disaster: omens failed, invaders filled the palace wards, and steppe rulers sat in the Han halls. Every class of subject fell—none escaped the slaughter. Bound nobles were marched to captivity in Pingyang. Sovereign and servant wept together—what blessing could remain?