Volume 102 Records 2: Liu Cong

劉聰

Liu Cong.

劉聰，字玄明，一名載，元海第四子也。母曰張夫人。初，聰之在孕也，張氏夢日入懷，寤而以告，元海曰：「此吉徵也，慎勿言。」十五月而生聰焉，夜有白光之異，形體非常。左耳有一白毫，長二尺餘，甚光澤。幼而聰悟好學，博士朱紀大奇之。年十四，究通經史，兼綜百家之言，《孫吳兵法》靡不誦之。工草隸，善屬文，著述懷詩百餘篇、賦頌五十餘篇。十五習擊刺，猿臂善射，彎弓三百斤，膂力驍捷，冠絕一時。太原王渾見而悅之，謂元海曰：「此兒吾所不能測也。」

Liu Cong, whose courtesy name was Xuanming and who was also known as Zai, was the fourth son of Liu Yuan (Yuanhai). His mother was Lady Zhang. While Cong was still in the womb, Lady Zhang dreamed that the sun slipped into her breast; when she woke and told Liu Yuan, he said, "That is a fortunate sign—but say nothing of it." Fifteen months later she bore Cong; that night a strange white glow appeared, and the child’s physique was unlike any ordinary infant’s. A single white hair more than two chi long grew from his left ear, bright and lustrous. Even as a boy he was bright, quick to understand, and eager to learn; the court scholar Zhu Ji regarded him as extraordinary. By fourteen he had mastered the canonical texts and histories and pulled together learning from every school; he knew every line of the military writings of Sun Wu by heart. He excelled at cursive and clerical calligraphy, wrote polished prose, and left behind over a hundred reflective poems and more than fifty rhapsodies and laudatory pieces. At fifteen he trained in spear thrusts and swordplay; long-armed and a superb bowman, he could bend a bow rated at three hundred jin, and his raw strength and swift daring had no peer in his day. Wang Hun of Taiyuan took one look and was delighted; he told Liu Yuan, "This son of yours is beyond my powers to measure."

弱冠游于京師，名士莫不交結，樂廣、張華尤異之也。新興太守郭頤辟為主簿，舉良將，入為驍騎別部司馬，累遷右部都尉，善於撫接，五部豪右無不歸之。河間王顒表為赤沙中郎將。聰以元海在鄴，懼為成都王穎所害，乃亡奔成都王，拜右積弩將軍，參前鋒戰事。元海為北單于，立為右賢王，隨還右部。及即大單于位，更拜鹿蠡王。既殺其兄和，群臣勸即尊位。聰初讓其弟北海王乂，乂與公卿泣涕固請，聰久而許之，曰：「乂及群公正以四海未定，禍難尚殷，貪孤年長故耳。此國家之事，孤敢不祗從。今便欲遠遵魯隱，待乂年長，復子明辟。」於是以永嘉四年僭即皇帝位，大赦境內，改元光興。尊元海妻單氏曰皇太后，其母張氏為帝太后，乂為皇太弟，領大單于、大司徒，立其妻呼延氏為皇后，封其子粲為河內王，署使持節、撫軍大將軍、都督中外諸軍事，易河間王，翼彭城王，悝高平王。遣粲及其征東王彌、龍驤劉曜等率眾四萬，長驅入洛川，遂出轘轅，周旋梁、陳、汝、潁之間，陷壘壁百餘。以其司空劉景為大司馬，左光祿劉殷為大司徒，右光祿王育為大司空。偽太后單氏姿色絕麗，聰蒸焉。單即乂之母也，乂屢以為言，單氏慚恚而死，聰悲悼無已。后知其故，乂之寵因此漸衰，然猶追念單氏，未便黜廢。又尊母為皇太后。

After he came of age he moved among the elite of Luoyang; every notable scholar sought his acquaintance, and men such as Yue Guang and Zhang Hua singled him out as extraordinary. Guo Yi, governor of Xinxing, appointed him chief clerk and nominated him as a promising commander; he rose through the ranks to marshal of an independent column of crack horsemen and eventually commandant of the western tribes’ right wing. He had a gift for winning men over, and the powerful families of the five Xiongnu divisions all rallied to him. The Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, had him recommended as a gentleman-general stationed at Chisha. Fearing that his father Liu Yuan, then at Ye, might fall victim to the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, Liu Cong fled into Ying’s camp instead; Ying named him a commander of the elite crossbow corps on the right and put him on the staff managing the forward armies. When Liu Yuan assumed the title of Northern Chanyu, he installed Liu Cong as the Wise King of the Right and brought him back with the tribal host to their western homeland. After Liu Yuan took the supreme title of Chanyu, Liu Cong was promoted to the rank of Luli king. Once he had disposed of his elder brother Liu He, his officials pressed him to mount the throne. At first Liu Cong tried to yield the throne to his younger brother Liu Yi, Prince of Beihai; Yi and the senior ministers wept and refused to accept until, after prolonged pleading, Liu Cong relented and said, "You urge me only because the realm is still unsettled and calamities heap upon one another—and because I happen to be the elder brother. When the dynasty itself is at stake, how could I refuse what you ask? I mean to follow the ancient precedent of Duke Yin of Lu: hold power only until Yi comes of age, then restore the succession to him in due form." In Yongjia 4 he took the imperial title, issued a general amnesty through his realm, and proclaimed the Guangxing era. He elevated Liu Yuan’s widow, Lady Shan, to empress dowager and his own mother, Lady Zhang, to dowager empress; he named Liu Yi heir presumptive as imperial younger brother while letting him retain the titles of great Chanyu and grand steward; he took Lady Huyan as empress and invested his son Liu Can as Prince of Henei with full credentials as commander who comforts the armies and director of all forces at court and in the field. Younger sons were ennobled as Liu Yi, Prince of Hejian; Liu Yi, Prince of Pengcheng; and Liu Kui, Prince of Gaoping. He sent Liu Can with Wang Mi, who commanded the eastern front, and Liu Yao, general of the Dragon-Soaring guards—forty thousand men in all—on a deep thrust into the Luoyang basin; they burst through the Huanyuan pass and swept across the lands between Liang, Chen, the Ru, and the Ying, reducing more than a hundred Jin stockades. He promoted Liu Jing from minister of works to grand marshal, named Liu Yin of the Household Rapid Horse on the left as grand steward, and Wang Yu of the Household Rapid Horse on right as chief minister of public works. The woman Jin still recognised as empress dowager, Lady Shan, was famously lovely; Liu Cong took her to his bed—a liaison counted as incest by Han ritual norms. Lady Shan was Liu Yi’s mother; Yi protested again and again until she died of shame and grief; Liu Cong mourned her obsessively. Empress Huyan understood full well what had happened, and Liu Yi’s standing at court ebbed away—but Liu Cong still clung to memories of Lady Shan and stopped short of stripping her posthumous honours. He also elevated his own mother to the rank of empress dowager.

署其衛尉呼延晏為使持節、前鋒大都督、前軍大將軍。配禁兵二萬七千，自宜陽入洛川，命王彌、劉曜及鎮軍石勒進師會之。晏比及河南，王師前後十二敗，死者三萬餘人。彌等未至，晏留輜重于張方故壘，遂寇洛陽，攻陷平昌門，焚東陽、宣陽諸門及諸府寺。懷帝遣河南尹劉默距之，王師敗於社門。晏以外繼不至，出自東陽門，掠王公已下子女二百餘人而去。時帝將濟河東遁，具船于洛水，晏盡焚之，還于張方故壘。王彌、劉曜至，復與晏會圍洛陽。時城內饑甚，人皆相食，百官分散，莫有固志。宣陽門陷，彌、晏入於南宮，升太極前殿，縱兵大掠，悉收宮人、珍寶。曜於是害諸王公及百官已下三萬餘人，于洛水北築為京觀。遷帝及惠帝羊后、傳國六璽於平陽。聰大赦，改年嘉平，以帝為特進、左光祿大夫、平阿公。

He named his minister of the guards, Huyan Yan, supreme commander of the forward armies with full imperial credentials. Twenty-seven thousand palace guards marched with him from Yiyang into the Luoyang basin while Wang Mi, Liu Yao, and the independent commander Shi Le were ordered to bring their columns into the same theatre. Before Yan even cleared Henan, Jin armies had lost twelve consecutive engagements and left thirty thousand corpses on the field. Wang Mi’s reinforcements had not yet arrived when Yan parked his supply train at Zhang Fang’s abandoned camp, struck Luoyang itself, broke through Pingchang Gate, and set the Dongyang and Xuanyang gates ablaze along with whole blocks of government offices. Emperor Huai ordered Liu Mo, governor of Henan, to hold the line, but Jin troops were routed at She Gate. Seeing no relief columns, Yan slipped out through Dongyang Gate, dragged off more than two hundred noble women and children, and withdrew. The emperor had boats readied on the Luo for an escape across the Yellow River; Yan burned every hull and pulled back to Zhang Fang’s old earthworks. When Wang Mi and Liu Yao finally arrived, they linked up with Yan for a full siege of Luoyang. Inside the walls starvation had driven men to cannibalism; officials fled their posts; no one still believed the city could hold. Xuanyang Gate gave way; Wang Mi and Huyan Yan poured into the southern palace, climbed the steps of the Taiji Hall, turned their soldiers loose to loot, and swept up every concubine and heirloom they could find. Liu Yao then massacred thirty thousand Jin nobles and ministers and piled their corpses into a trophy mound on the north bank of the Luo. They shipped Emperor Huai, Empress Yang—widow of Emperor Hui—and the six dynastic seals off to Pingyang. Liu Cong proclaimed a general amnesty, adopted the reign title Jiaping, and reduced the Jin sovereign to the hollow honour of senior adviser, grandee of the Household Rapid on the left, and Duke of Ping’a.

遣其平西趙染、安西劉雅率騎二萬攻南陽王模于長安，粲、曜率大眾繼之。染敗王師于潼關，將軍呂毅死之。軍至於下邽，模乃降染。染送模於粲，粲害模及其子范陽王黎，送衛將軍梁芬、模長史魯繇、兼散騎常侍杜驁、辛謐及北宮純等於平陽。聰以粲之害模也，大怒。粲曰：「臣殺模本不以其晚識天命之故，但以其晉氏肺腑，洛陽之難不能死節，天下之惡一也，故誅之。」聰曰：「雖然，吾恐汝不免誅降之殃也。夫天道至神，理無不報。」

He sent Zhao Ran and Liu Ya westward at the head of twenty thousand horsemen to strike Sima Mo, the Prince of Nanyang, in Chang’an; Liu Can and Liu Yao followed with the main host. Zhao Ran shattered the Jin army at Tong Pass; General Lu Yi fell in the fighting. When the column reached Xia Gui, Sima Mo capitulated to Zhao Ran. Zhao Ran forwarded Sima Mo to Liu Can, who executed him together with his son Sima Li, Prince of Fanyang; Liang Fen, Lu You, Du Ao, Xin Mi, Bei Gong Chun, and other captured officers were marched to Pingyang. Liu Cong flew into a rage when he learned Liu Can had killed Sima Mo. Liu Can replied, "I executed Sima Mo not because he belatedly acknowledged Heaven’s will, but because he was bone of the Sima house yet refused to die honourably during the Luoyang catastrophe—making him as guilty as any traitor alive." Liu Cong answered, "Even so, I suspect you have invited the curse that falls on those who butcher men who have already yielded. Heaven’s accounting is subtle—no deed escapes its reckoning."

署劉曜為車騎大將軍、開府儀同三司、雍州牧，改封中山王，鎮長安，王彌為大將軍，封齊公。尋而石勒等殺彌於己吾而並其眾，表彌叛狀。聰大怒，遣使讓勒專害公輔，有無上之心，又恐勒之有二志也，以彌部眾配之。劉曜既據長安，安定太守賈疋及諸氐羌皆送質任，唯雍州刺史麹特、新平太守竺恢固守不降。護軍麹允、頻陽令梁肅自京兆南山將奔安定，遇疋任子于陰密，擁還臨涇，推疋為平南將軍，率眾五萬，攻曜于長安，扶風太守梁綜及麹特、竺恢等亦率眾十萬會之。曜遣劉雅、趙染來距，敗績而還。曜又盡長安銳卒與諸軍戰于黃丘，曜眾大敗，中流矢，退保甘渠。杜人王禿、紀特等攻劉粲于新豐，粲還平陽。曜攻陷池陽，掠萬餘人歸於長安。時閻鼎等奉秦王為皇太子，入于雍城，關中戎晉莫不回應。

He confirmed Liu Yao as commander-in-chief of chariots and horse, with charter privileges matching the three highest ministers, governor of Yongzhou, and Prince of Zhongshan, stationed at Chang’an; Wang Mi became grand general and Duke of Qi. Soon afterward Shi Le ambushed Wang Mi at Yiwu, absorbed his troops, and memorialised the court accusing Wang Mi of treason. Liu Cong exploded with anger and sent envoys to rebuke Shi Le for murdering a pillar of state—proof, he said, of regicidal ambition—yet, wary that Shi Le might turn coat, he formally handed him Wang Mi’s soldiers. After Liu Yao seized Chang’an, Jia Ya of Anding and the Di and Qiang leaders all sent hostages; only Qu Te, Jin’s inspector of Yongzhou, and Zhu Hui, prefect of Xinping, refused to yield. Qu Yun and Liang Su had been retreating toward Anding from the Zhongnan slopes when they intercepted Jia Ya’s son near Yinmi; swinging back to Linjing, they proclaimed Jia Ya pacification general of the south and marched fifty thousand men against Liu Yao at Chang’an. Liang Zong of Fufeng, Qu Te, Zhu Hui, and others brought another hundred thousand to the rendezvous. Liu Yao sent Liu Ya and Zhao Ran to intercept them but both generals limped back in defeat. Liu Yao next threw every elite regiment left in Chang’an against the coalition at Huangqiu; his army collapsed, he himself took an arrow in the melee, and fled to fortify Ganqu. Wang Tu and Ji Te of Du county struck Liu Can at Xinfeng and forced him back to Pingyang. Liu Yao stormed Chiyang, dragged off ten thousand captives, and withdrew into Chang’an. Meanwhile Yan Ding enthroned Sima Ye, the Prince of Qin, as heir apparent at Yongcheng, and every Jin loyalist and tribal ally in Guanzhong rallied to the banner.

聰后呼延氏死，將納其太保劉殷女，其弟乂固諫。聰更訪之于太宰劉延年、大傅劉景，景等皆曰：「臣常聞太保自云周劉康公之後，與聖氏本源既殊，納之為允。」聰大悅，使其兼大鴻臚李弘拜殷二女為左右貴嬪，位在昭儀上。又納殷女孫四人為貴人，位次貴嬪。謂弘曰：「此女輩皆姿色超世，女德冠時，且太保於朕實自不同，卿意安乎？」弘曰：「太保胤自有周，與聖源實別，陛下正以姓同為恨耳。且魏司空東萊王基當世大儒，豈不達禮乎！為子納司空太原王沈女，以其姓同而源異故也。」聰大悅，賜弘黃金六十斤，曰：「卿當以此意諭吾子弟輩。」於是六劉之寵傾于後宮，聰稀復出外，事皆中黃門納奏，左貴嬪決之。

After Empress Huyan died, Liu Cong planned to marry daughters of his grand guardian Liu Yin; Prince Liu Yi protested vehemently. Liu Cong polled Liu Yannian, senior tutor, and Liu Jing, senior mentor; Liu Jing replied for them all: "The grand guardian himself traces his line to Duke Kang of Zhou’s Liu—the bloodline diverges long ago from Your Majesty’s imperial house, so the marriages raise no ritual offence." Delighted, Liu Cong ordered Li Hong, who doubled as minister of imperial audiences, to elevate two of Liu Yin’s daughters to senior concubines of the left and right, outranking even the "Shining Deportment" consorts. Four granddaughters of Liu Yin were brought in as honoured ladies just below those senior concubines. He asked Li Hong, "Every one of these girls combines incomparable beauty with virtue unmatched in our day; moreover Liu Yin and I are hardly kin in the ritual sense—does that set your mind at ease?" Li Hong answered, "His pedigree begins with Zhou; it diverges cleanly from your own sacred line—Your Majesty hesitates only because the surname Liu is shared. Recall Wang Ji of Donglai, Wei’s minister of works—the foremost scholar of his generation—did he not understand ritual? He married his son to a daughter of Wang Shen of Taiyuan precisely because the families shared a surname yet sprang from different ancestors." Liu Cong rewarded Li Hong with sixty jin of gold and said, "Repeat this argument to my kinsmen until they understand." Henceforth the six Liu ladies dominated the inner palace; Liu Cong seldom emerged from it; eunuchs relayed every memorial, and the senior concubine on the left handed down the rulings.

聰假懷帝儀同三司，封會稽郡公，庾瑉等以次加秩。聰引帝入宴，謂帝曰：「卿為豫章王時，朕嘗與王武子相造，武子示朕於卿，卿言聞其名久矣。以卿所制樂府歌示朕，謂朕曰：'聞君善為辭賦，試為看之。 '朕時與武子俱為《盛德頌》，卿稱善者久之。又引朕射於皇堂，朕得十二籌，卿與武子俱得九籌，卿贈朕柘弓、銀研，卿頗憶否？」帝曰：「臣安敢忘之，但恨爾日不早識龍顏。」聰曰：「卿家骨肉相殘，何其甚也？」帝曰：「此殆非人事，皇天之意也。大漢將應乾受曆，故為陛下自相驅除。且臣家若能奉武皇之業，九族敦睦，陛下何由得之！」至日夕乃出，以小劉貴人賜帝，謂帝曰：「此名公之孫，今特以相妻，卿宜善遇之。」拜劉為會稽國夫人。

Liu Cong conferred ceremonial parity with the three dukes on the captive Jin emperor, created him Duke of Kuaiji, and bumped men such as Yu Min through successive sinecures. At a banquet Liu Cong led Emperor Huai in and said, "When you were Prince of Yuzhang, I once visited Wang Ji—Wang Ji introduced me to you, and you told me you had admired his reputation for years. He showed me the yuefu lyrics you had written and said, ‘They say you excel at rhapsodies—write something for us to judge.’ ‘That day Wang Ji and I both presented our “Odes on Lofty Virtue,” and you pronounced them excellent again and again.’ Later Wang Ji led us to the imperial archery hall: I myself scored twelve hits while you and Wang Ji each scored nine; afterwards you presented me with a mulberry bow and a silver inkstone—do you remember any of that?" Emperor Huai replied, "How could I forget—only I regret that I did not then recognise Your Majesty’s dragon face." Liu Cong asked, "Why did your own kin tear one another apart so savagely?" The emperor answered, "That was scarcely of men’s doing—it was Heaven’s decree. The great Han is destined to receive the mandate; your majesty’s house simply cleared the path on its own. Had my family preserved Emperor Wu’s legacy and kept the nine branches at peace, how could Your Majesty ever have seized it!" Only at dusk did Liu Cong dismiss him, handing over the junior Lady Liu with the words, "She is the granddaughter of a celebrated minister; I give her to you as consort—cherish her." She was invested as consort of the Kuaiji princedom.

遣其鎮北靳沖寇太原，平北卜珝率眾繼之。沖攻太原不克，而歸罪於珝，輒斬之。聰聞之，大怒曰：「此人朕所不得加刑，沖何人哉！」遣其御史中丞浩衍持節斬沖。左都水使者襄陵王攄坐魚蟹不供，將作大匠望都公靳陵坐溫明、徽光二殿不成，皆斬於東市。聰游獵無度，常晨出暮歸，觀漁于汾水，以燭繼晝。中軍王彰諫曰：「今大難未夷，余晉假息，陛下不懼白龍魚服之禍，而昏夜忘歸。陛下當思先帝創業之艱難，嗣承之不易，鴻業已爾，四海屬情，何可墜之于垂成，隳之於將就！比竊觀陛下所為，臣實痛心疾首有日矣。且愚人系漢之心未專，而思晉之懷猶盛，劉琨去此咫尺之間，狂狷刺客息頃而至。帝王輕出，一夫敵耳。願陛下改往修來，則憶兆幸甚。」聰大怒，命斬之。上夫人王氏叩頭乞哀，乃囚之詔獄。聰母以聰刑怒過差，三日不食，弟乂、子粲並與切諫。聰怒曰：「吾豈桀、紂、幽、厲乎，而汝等生來哭人！」其太宰劉延年及諸公卿列侯百有餘人，皆免冠涕泣固諫曰：「光文皇帝以聖武膺期，創建鴻祚，而六合未一，夙世升遐。陛下睿德自天，龍飛紹統，東平洛邑，南定長安，真可謂功高周成，德超夏啟。往也唐虞，今則陛下，曆觀書記，未有此比。而頃頻以小務不供而斬王公，直言忤旨，便囚大將，游獵無度，機管不修，臣等竊所未解，臣等所以破肝糜胃忘寢與食者也。」聰乃赦彰。

He ordered Jin Chong, general who guards the north, to raid Taiyuan while Bu Xu, pacification general of the north, followed with reinforcements. Jin Chong failed to storm Taiyuan, blamed Bu Xu for the setback, and executed him on the spot. When Liu Cong heard the news he thundered, "Even I would not lightly punish that man—who is Jin Chong to strike him down!" He sent Hao Yan, chief of the censorate, with imperial insignia to execute Jin Chong. Sim Shu, Prince of Xiangling and superintendent of waterways, went to the block for failing to deliver fish and shellfish; Jin Ling, Duke of Wangdu and minister of public works, died for leaving the Warm Bright and Radiant Sign halls unfinished—both executions took place in the eastern marketplace. Liu Cong hunted without restraint, riding out at dawn and returning only after dark; he idled by the Fen watching fishermen haul nets and carried the revelry on by candlelight as though daylight never ended. Wang Zhang of the central army warned him: "The great crisis is unfinished and Jin still draws breath; instead of fearing the fate of the dragon who walked among fish in mortal garb, you linger abroad night after night. Remember how painfully your father forged this realm and how fragile its succession remains; the great enterprise now hangs on you while the world watches—how can you dash it on the verge of success! Day after day I have watched your behaviour in secret, and my heart has burned with grief. The common folk still divide their loyalty between Han and Jin, and Liu Kun camps within a stone’s throw—any zealot with a dagger could reach you before guards blink. When an emperor wanders abroad without care, a lone assassin is weapon enough. Turn from these ways and rule as you ought, and countless subjects will bless your name." Liu Cong erupted and ordered Wang Zhang executed. Lady Wang of the senior harem threw herself at his feet pleading mercy, so Liu Cong threw Wang Zhang into the imperial jail instead. Liu Cong’s mother stopped eating for three days to protest his violent rage; Prince Liu Yi and Crown Prince Liu Can joined her in blunt remonstrance. Liu Cong snarled, "Do I look like Jie, Zhou, King You, or King Li—why must you nag me like mourners at a funeral!" More than a hundred officers led by Grand Tutor Liu Yannian tore off their caps and wept: "Emperor Guangwen seized the mandate through sagely prowess and laid the foundations of your dynasty, yet he died before the realm was whole. Your Majesty rose by Heaven’s favour, restored the succession, crushed Luoyang in the east and Chang’an in the south—your achievements rival King Cheng of Zhou and your virtue outshines Qi of Xia. The age of Tang and Yao lies in the past; today it is Your Majesty who holds the mirror of sage-kings—and nowhere in the annals do we find a ruler who matched what you have achieved. Yet of late trivial supply failures cost princes of the blood their heads; one blunt warning landed a field marshal in chains; hunts never end while state business moulders—we lie awake nights trying to understand why our sovereign acts thus." Liu Cong relented and spared Wang Zhang.

麹特等圍長安，劉曜連戰敗績，乃驅掠士女八萬餘口退還平陽，因攻司徒傅祗於三渚，使其右將軍劉參攻郭默於懷城。祗病卒，城陷，遷祗孫純、粹並二萬餘戶於平陽縣。聰贈祗太保，純、粹皆給事中，謂祗子暢曰：「尊公雖不達天命，然各忠其主，吾亦有以亮之。但晉主已降，天命非人所支，而虔劉南鄙，沮亂邊萌，此其罪也。以元惡之種而贈同勳舊，逆臣之孫荷榮禁闥，卿知皇漢之德弘曠以不？」暢曰：「陛下每嘉先臣，不以小臣之故而虧其忠節，及是恩也，自是明主伐國吊人之義，臣輒同萬物，未敢謝生於自然。」

While Qu Te kept Chang’an under siege, Liu Yao lost battle after battle, swept eighty thousand souls back to Pingyang as booty, turned on Fu Di at Sanzhu, and detached Liu Shen to besiege Guo Mo in Huai. Fu Di died before the walls yielded; his grandsons Fu Chun and Fu Cui were marched north with twenty thousand households once the citadel capitulated. Liu Cong awarded Fu Di the posthumous title of grand guardian, named Fu Chun and Fu Cui palace advisers, and told Fu Chang: “Your father refused our mandate, yet he remained faithful to Jin—I grant him that. The Sima emperor has yielded the throne; destiny cannot be propped up by mortal hands—yet Fu Di ravaged our southern borderlands and terrified the frontier folk. That is his guilt. You heap honours on the bloodline of Jin’s worst ministers and let rebel spawn glitter within the palace—have you any idea how magnanimous our Han throne has already been?” Fu Chang answered: “You praise my father’s loyalty without letting lesser men stain his name—that is the mercy that marks a true conqueror. I stand mute before such kindness; I would not insult it with hollow thanks.”

聰遣劉粲、劉曜等攻劉琨于晉陽，琨使張喬距之，戰于武灌，喬敗績，死之，晉陽危懼。太原太守高喬、琨別駕郝聿以晉陽降粲。琨與左右數十騎，攜其妻子奔于趙郡之亭頭，遂如常山。粲、曜入于晉陽。先是，琨與代王猗盧結為兄弟，乃告敗于猗盧，且乞師。猗盧遣子日利孫、賓六須及將軍衛雄、姬澹等率眾數萬攻晉陽，琨收散卒千餘為之鄉導，猗盧率眾六萬至於狼猛。曜及賓六須戰於汾東，曜墜馬，中流矢，身被七創。討虜傅武以馬授曜，曜曰：「當今危亡之極，人各思免。吾創已重，自分死此矣。」武泣曰：「武小人，蒙大王識拔，以至於是，常思效命，今其時矣。且皇室始基，大難未弭，天下何可一日無大王也。」於是扶曜乘馬，驅令渡汾，回而戰死。曜入晉陽，夜與劉粲等掠百姓，逾蒙山遁歸。猗盧率騎追之，戰于藍穀，粲敗績，斬其征虜邢延，獲其鎮北劉豐。琨收合離散，保于陽曲，猗盧戍之而還。

Liu Cong sent Liu Can and Liu Yao against Liu Kun at Jinyang; Liu Kun committed Zhang Qiao to stop them at Wuguan, where Zhang died in rout and the city faced ruin. Taiyuan’s governor Gao Qiao and Liu Kun’s aide Hao Yu opened Jinyang’s gates to Liu Can. Liu Kun escaped with a handful of riders, his family in tow, first to Tingtou in Zhao and then into the hills of Changshan. Liu Can and Liu Yao marched into Jinyang unopposed. Liu Kun had long sworn fellowship with Tuoba Yilu, prince of Dai; beaten and desperate, he appealed to him for an army. Yilu dispatched tens of thousands under his sons Rilisun and Bin Liuxu and generals Wei Xiong and Ji Dan; Liu Kun scraped together a thousand survivors as scouts while Yilu closed in with sixty thousand horse from Langmeng. East of the Fen, Liu Yao clashed with Bin Liuxu, was thrown from the saddle, took an arrow through the flesh, and counted seven separate wounds. Fu Wu, a minor commander, pressed his mount on Liu Yao, who answered: “The army is breaking—every man already thinks of flight. These cuts go too deep—I am finished on this field.” Fu Wu wept: “You lifted me from dust; let me repay that debt now. The dynasty is newborn and peril still stalks us—the state cannot lose you for even one dawn!” They hoisted Liu Yao onto the charger, forced it through the Fen, then turned back and died covering his retreat. Liu Yao slipped into Jinyang after dark, looted with Liu Can, crossed Mengshan by night, and fled south. Tuoba Yilu chased them to Langu, shattered Liu Can’s line, took Xing Yan’s head, and bagged Liu Feng, the northern garrison commander. Liu Kun rallied his fugitives at Yangqu; Yilu left troops to stiffen the defence and rode home.

正旦，聰宴於光極前殿，逼帝行酒，光祿大夫庾瑉、王俊等起而大哭，聰惡之。會有告瑉等謀以平陽應劉琨者，聰遂鴆帝而誅瑉、俊，復以賜帝劉夫人為貴人，大赦境內殊死已下。立左貴嬪劉氏為皇后。聰將為劉氏起皇儀樓於後庭，廷尉陳元達諫曰：「臣聞古之聖王愛國如家，故皇天亦祐之如子。夫天生蒸民而樹之君者，使為之父母以刑賞之，不欲使殿屎黎元而蕩逸一人。晉氏暗虐，視百姓如草芥，故上天剿絕其祚。乃眷皇漢，蒼生引領息肩，懷更蘇之望有日矣。我高祖光文皇帝靖言惟茲，痛心疾首，故身衣大布，居不重茵；先皇后嬪服無綺彩。重逆群臣之請，故建南北宮焉。今光極之前足以朝群后、饗萬國矣，昭德、溫明已後足可以容六宮、列十二等矣。陛下龍興已來，外殄二京不世之寇，內興殿觀四十餘所，重之以饑饉疾疫，死亡相屬，兵疲於外，人怨於內，為之父母固若是乎！伏聞詔旨，將營皇儀，中宮新立，誠臣等樂為子來者也。竊以大難未夷，宮宇粗給，今之所營，尤實非宜。臣聞太宗承高祖之業，惠呂息役之後，以四海之富，天下之殷，尚以百金之費而輟露臺，歷代垂美，為不朽之跡。故能斷獄四百，擬于成康。陛下之所有，不過太宗二郡地耳，戰守之備者，豈僅匈奴、南越而已哉！孝文之廣，思費如彼；陛下之狹，欲損如此。愚臣所以敢昧死犯顏色，冒不測之禍者也。」聰大怒曰：「吾為萬機主，將營一殿，豈問汝鼠子乎！不殺此奴，沮亂朕心，朕殿何當得成邪！將出斬之，並其妻子同梟東市，使群鼠共穴。」時在逍遙園李中堂，元達抱堂下樹叫曰：「臣所言者，社稷之計也，而陛下殺臣。若死者有知，臣要當上訴陛下于天，下訴陛下于先帝。朱雲有云：『臣得與龍逢、比干游於地下足矣。』未審陛下何如主耳！」元達先鎖腰而入，及至，即以鎖繞樹，左右曳之不能動。聰怒甚。劉氏時在後堂，聞之，密遣中常侍私敕左右停刑，於是手疏切諫，聰乃解，引元達而謝之，易逍遙園為納賢園，李中堂為愧賢堂。

On New Year’s morning Liu Cong feasted in the Guangji Hall and made Emperor Huai pour wine for his captors; Yu Min and Wang Jun burst into tears—an insult Liu Cong could not abide. When informers claimed Yu Min meant to surrender Pingyang to Liu Kun, Liu Cong poisoned the captive emperor, executed Yu and Wang, promoted the Liu lady he had married to Huai to chief concubine, and declared a general amnesty short of death sentences. He crowned Lady Liu, his senior concubine of the left, as empress. Liu Cong meant to build an Imperial Splendour Tower for Empress Liu; Chen Yuanda, chief justice, warned: “The sage-kings loved their people as family—only thus did Heaven love the throne. Heaven bred the people and gave them a sovereign to be mother and father, wielding reward and punishment—not so one ruler could lounge in jewelled halls while common folk groaned outside. The Jin treated subjects like weeds; Heaven erased their mandate. Now they look to Han with upturned faces, praying for relief—the thirst for renewal has simmered for years. Our founding Emperor Guangwen burned with that burden—he wore hemp, refused double mats, and taught austerity by example. Even his consorts renounced brocade. Those twin palaces exist only because ministers wore him down. The Guangji court already hosts the realm; halls such as Zhaode and Wenming hold the harem—nothing more is needed. Since your accession you have razed both Jin capitals yet poured labour into forty new mansions while famine and plague stack corpses at the gates—troops stagger home empty-handed and the people curse your name. Is this guardianship? We hear you mean to raise the Imperial Splendour Tower now that a new empress sits—we would gladly sweat like sons for her sake. Yet disaster still stalks us and existing halls suffice—another tower now would be folly. Consider Han Wendi: after Lü’s chaos he inherited a rich empire yet refused a terrace costing only a hundred gold pieces—posterity still sings of his restraint. Hence his courts heard barely four hundred cases a year—true kin to Cheng and Kang. You hold hardly more ground than Wendi’s twin basins, yet your defence burden dwarfs anything the Xiongnu or Southern Yue ever posed! Wendi shrank from waste even in abundance; you court extravagance on a shoestring. That is why I risk execution to say it aloud.” Liu Cong snarled: “I govern the realm—since when does a rat dictate my roof? Kill him or lose the throne—choose! He commanded guards to drag Chen Yuanda, his wife, and children to the eastern market for execution and gibbeting—“Let every rat share their grave.” In the Li pavilion of Rambling Garden Chen Yuanda chained himself to a tree: “I spoke for the dynasty—and you kill me for it! If spirits endure I shall accuse you before Heaven and before Emperor Guangwen himself. Zhu Yun swore he would sooner walk the underworld with Gun and Bi Gan. What sort of ruler does that make you?” Chen had entered in fetters; he snapped them around the trunk so guards could not haul him away. Liu Cong’s rage boiled higher. Empress Liu, listening from the inner chambers, sent eunuchs to stay the swords, drafted her own blistering protest, and shamed Liu Cong into freeing Chen, apologising, and renaming the garden and hall to honour honest counsel.

時湣帝即位于長安，聰遣劉曜及司隸喬智明、武牙李景年等寇長安，命趙染率眾赴之。時大都督麹允據黃白城，累為曜、染所敗。染謂曜曰：「麹允率大眾在外，長安可襲而取之。得長安，黃白城自服。願大王以重眾守此，染請輕騎襲之。」曜乃承制加染前鋒大都督、安南大將軍，以精騎五千配之而進。王師敗于渭陽，將軍王廣死之。染夜入長安外城，帝奔射雁樓，染焚燒龍尾及諸軍營，殺掠千餘人，旦退屯逍遙園。麹允率眾襲曜，連戰敗之。曜入粟邑，遂歸平陽。

After Emperor Min took the throne in Chang’an, Liu Cong launched Liu Yao, Qiao Zhiming, and Li Jingnian against the city with Zhao Ran reinforcing them. Qu Yun clung to Huangbai city yet Liu Yao and Zhao Ran broke him repeatedly. Zhao Ran told Liu Yao, “Qu Yun is leading the main host outside; Chang'an can be attacked and taken. Break Chang’an and Huangbai collapses without a blow. Hold them here with your main column while I dart in with cavalry.” Liu Yao named Zhao Ran commander of the van and general who pacifies the south and gave him five thousand elite horsemen. Jin soldiers lost at Weiyang; Wang Guang died on the field. Zhao Ran infiltrated the outer wall by night, drove Emperor Min onto the Goose-Shooting Loft, torched the Dragon-Tail earthworks and barracks, butchered a thousand people, and by sunrise camped again in Rambling Garden. Qu Yun counterattacked Liu Yao and handed him a string of defeats. Liu Yao pulled back into Suyi and eventually retreated to Pingyang.

時流星起於牽牛，入紫微，龍形委蛇，其光照地，落於平陽北十里。視之，則有肉長三十步，廣二十七步，臭聞於平陽，肉旁常有哭聲，晝夜不止。聰甚惡之，延公卿已下問曰：「朕之不德，致有斯異，其各極言，勿有所諱。」陳元達及博士張師等進對曰：「星變之異，其禍行及，臣恐後庭有三后之事，亡國喪家，靡不由此，願陛下慎之。」聰曰：「此陰陽之理，何關人事！」既而劉氏產一蛇一猛獸，各害人而走，尋之不得，頃之，見在隕肉之旁。俄而劉氏死，乃失此肉，哭聲亦止。自是後宮亂寵，進禦無序矣。

A fireball crawled from the Ox asterism into the Purple Palace like a dragon and slammed down ten li north of Pingyang in blinding light. Men found a slab of flesh nine metres long, groaning audibly; the stench rolled into Pingyang without pause. Liu Cong, revolted, demanded blunt counsel: “My sins have summoned this horror—confess what you see.” Chen Yuanda and Zhang Shi answered: “Signs this grim strike quickly—we dread rivalry among three queen-consorts; dynasties fall from such storms—be warned.” Liu Cong snapped: “Cosmic clutter—leave mankind out of it!” Soon Empress Liu delivered a serpent and a monstrous cub that mauled servants and vanished, only to reappear beside the meteoric flesh. When the empress died the flesh dissolved and the crying stopped. From then on the inner palace dissolved into jealous chaos and the roster of night companions collapsed into disorder.

聰以劉易為太尉。初置相國，官上公，有殊勳德者死乃贈之。於是大定百官，置太師、丞相，自大司馬以上七公，位皆上公，綠綟綬，遠遊冠。置輔漢，都護，中軍，上軍，輔軍，鎮、衛京，前、後、左、右、上、下軍，輔國，冠軍，龍驤，武牙大將軍，營各配兵二千，皆以諸子為之。置左右司隸，各領戶二十餘萬，萬戶置一內史，凡內史四十三。單于左右輔，各主六夷十萬落，萬落置一都尉。省吏部，置左右選曹尚書。自司隸以下六官，皆位次僕射。置御史大夫及州牧，位皆亞公。以其子粲為丞相、領大將軍、錄尚書事，進封晉王，食五都。劉延年錄尚書六條事，劉景為太師，王育為太傅，任顗為太保，馬景為大司徒，朱紀為大司空，劉曜為大司馬。

Liu Cong named Liu Yi commander-in-chief. He invented the post of minister paramount—above ordinary dukes—to be granted only after death to men of legendary service. He rebuilt the ministries: grand tutor, chancellor, and five posts from grand marshal upward formed the Seven Supremes in green ribbons and travelling crowns. New banners—Assist Han, chief protector, central host, wings and rear guards, capital sentinels, dragon-soaring hosts—each held two thousand soldiers and went to a princeling. Twin metropolitan inspectors ruled forty-three interior scribes over two hundred thousand households apiece. The Chanyu’s adjutants governed hundred-thousand tribal cantons grouped under commandants of ten thousand tents. Personnel ministry vanished; twin bureaus of appointment took its place. Six ministries beneath the inspectors stood just under the palace vice-directors. He revived grand counsellor and provincial governors as near-dukes. Liu Can took chancellor’s seals, retained grand general and recorder titles, rose as Prince of Jin fed by five capital prefectures. Liu Yannian oversaw the Six Articles; Liu Jing, Wang Yu, Ren Yi, Ma Jing, Zhu Ji, and Liu Yao filled the elder statesmen’s chairs.

曜復次渭汭，趙染次新豐。索綝自長安東討染，染狃於累捷，有輕綝之色。長史魯徽曰：「今司馬鄴君臣自以逼僭王畿，雄劣不同，必致死距我，將軍宜整陣案兵以擊之，弗可輕也。困獸猶鬥，況于國乎！」染曰：「以司馬模之強，吾取之如拉朽。索綝小豎，豈能汙吾馬蹄刀刃邪！要擒之而後食。」晨率精騎數百，馳出逆之，戰於城西，敗績而歸，悔曰：「吾不用魯徽之言，以至於此，何面見之！」於是斬徽。徽臨刑謂染曰：「將軍愎諫違謀，戇而取敗，而復忌前害勝，誅戮忠良，以逞愚忿，亦何顏面瞬息世間哉！袁紹為之于前，將軍踵之于後，覆亡敗喪，亦當相尋，所恨不得一見大司馬而死。死者無知則已；若其有知，下見田豐為徒，要當訴將軍于黃泉，使將軍不得服床枕而死。」叱刑者曰：「令吾面東向。」大司馬曜聞之曰：「蹄涔不容尺鯉，染之謂也。」

Liu Yao bridged the Wei narrows while Zhao Ran dug in at Xinfeng. Suo Lin rode east from Chang’an; Zhao Ran, drunk on winning streaks, mocked him. Lu Hui urged caution: “Trapped inside the imperial periphery, Sima Ye’s court will fight like rats in a sack—hold your line and strike measured blows. Even cornered vermin bite—what of a kingdom!” Zhao Ran sneered: “I shattered Sima Mo like dry rot. Suo Lin is a strippling—hardly worth muddying my sword. I will cage him before supper.” At dawn he galloped west with picked riders, crashed against Suo Lin, fled bleeding, and moaned, “Lu Hui warned me—how do I face him now?” So he beheaded Lu Hui instead. At the block Lu Hui spat: “You refused wisdom, lost the field, then slew the faithful to salve your pride—have you no shame under Heaven! Yuan Shao murdered Tian Feng before defeat; you mirror him—ruin follows such men. I only regret missing Liu Yao’s reckoning. If oblivion waits beyond death—farewell; if not, I shall haunt you beside Tian Feng until you die without a deathbed.” He told the executioner: “Face me toward the east.” Liu Yao muttered, “A puddle cannot hold a carp—such is Zhao Ran.”

曜還師攻郭默於懷城，收其米粟八十萬斛，列三屯以守之。聰遣使謂曜曰：「今長安假息，劉琨遊魂，此國家所尤宜先除也。郭默小丑，何足以勞公神略，可留征虜將軍貝丘王翼光守之，公其還也。」於是曜歸薄阪。俄而徵曜輔政。

Liu Yao doubled back on Huai, seized eight hundred thousand hu from Guo Mo, and threw up three fortified depots. Liu Cong’s messengers told Liu Yao: “Chang’an still gasps and Liu Kun haunts the frontier—finish them before anything else. Guo Mo is a nuisance—hardly worth your genius. Leave Wang Yiguang, the campaign general of Beqiu, to bottle him up and come home.” Liu Yao broke camp and retired to Boban. Shortly thereafter Liu Cong summoned Liu Yao back to court to share the government.

趙染寇北地，夢魯徽大怒，引弓射之，染驚悸而寤。旦將攻城，中弩而死。

While Zhao Ran struck Beidi he dreamed Lu Hui drawing a bow against him; he woke drenched in sweat. When morning came and he moved to assault the city, a quarrel bolt cut him down.

聰以粲為相國，總百揆，省丞相以並相國。平陽地震，烈風拔樹髮屋。光義人羊充妻產子二頭，其兄竊而食之，三日而死。聰以其太廟新成，大赦境內，改年建元。雨血於其東宮延明殿，徹瓦在地者深五寸。劉乂惡之，以訪其太師盧志、太傅崔瑋、太保許遐。志等曰：「主上往以殿下為太弟者，蓋以安眾望也，志在晉王久矣，王公已下莫不希旨歸之。相國之位，自魏武已來，非復人臣之官，主上本發明詔，置之為贈官，今忽以晉王居之，羽儀威尊逾于東宮，萬機之事無不由之，置太宰、大將軍及諸王之營以為羽翼，此事勢去矣，殿下不得立明也。然非止不得立而已，不測之危厄在於旦夕，宜早為之所。四衛精兵不減五千，余營諸王皆年齒尚幼，可奪而取之。相國輕佻，正可煩一刺客耳。大將軍無日不出，其營可襲而得也。殿下但當有意，二萬精兵立便可得，鼓行向雲龍門，宿衛之士孰不倒戈奉迎，大司馬不慮為異也。」乂弗從，乃止。

Liu Cong made Liu Can minister of state with sweeping powers and merged the old chancellorship into the post. An earthquake rocked Pingyang while whirlwinds uprooted timber and stripped houses bare. A Guangyi woman delivered two-headed twins; her brother stole and devoured them and was dead three days later. With the new ancestral shrine complete, Liu Cong declared amnesty and renamed the era Jianyuan. Red rain splashed the Yanming Hall until smashed tiles piled finger-deep on the pavement. Alarmed, Liu Yi sought counsel from Lu Zhi, Cui Wei, and Xu Xia. They answered: “The throne made you heir apparent merely to quiet the court—the king’s eye has rested on Prince Jin for years, and every minister trims his sails to match. Ever since Wei times ‘minister of state’ has meant more than a servant’s title—your brother himself called it a mortuary honour—yet Prince Jin now fills it with panoply surpassing the crown prince’s. Policy flows through his hands while marshals and younger princes shore him up; the succession is lost. You may never mount the throne at all—peril could strike within hours—move before it does. Five thousand crack household troops remain at hand, and the other princely encampments are led by children—you can disarm them. Liu Can is careless; one assassin would suffice. The grand marshal rides out every morning—you could take his barracks by surprise. Raise twenty thousand elites, march on the Cloud-Dragon Gate, and the household corps will welcome you with lowered weapons; Liu Yao will not stand in your way.” Liu Yi would not move, and the conspiracy collapsed.

聰如中護軍靳准第，納其二女為左右貴嬪，大曰月光，小曰月華，皆國色也。數月，立月光為皇后。

Liu Cong called at Jin Zhun’s house and carried off his daughters as twin favourites, Moonlight and Moon Splendour, each a paragon of loveliness. Months later Moonlight wore the empress’s crown.

東宮舍人荀裕告盧志等勸乂謀反，乂不從之狀。聰於是收志、瑋、遐於詔獄，假以他事殺之。使冠威卜抽監守東宮，禁乂朝賀。乂憂懼不知所為，乃上表自陳，乞為黔首，並免諸子之封，褒美晉王粲宜登儲副，抽又抑而弗通。

Xun Yu of the heir’s household denounced Lu Zhi’s sedition and swore Liu Yi had refused. Liu Cong threw the three advisers into the imperial prison and killed them under false pretences. He set Bu Chou to cordon the eastern palace and forbade Liu Yi the New Year levee. Liu Yi pleaded in writing to become a commoner, surrender his sons’ fiefs, and hail Liu Can as successor; Bu Chou buried the memorial.

其青州刺史曹嶷攻汶陽關、公丘，陷之，害齊郡太守徐浮，執建威劉宣，齊魯之間郡縣壘壁降者四十餘所。嶷遂略地，西下祝阿、平陰，眾十餘萬，臨河置戍，而歸於臨淄。嶷於是遂雄據全齊之志。石勒以嶷之懷二也，請討之。聰又憚勒之並齊，乃寢而弗許。

Cao Yi of Qingzhou ripped through Wenyang and Gongqiu, killed Xu Fu of Qi, bagged Liu Xuan, and compelled forty forts from Qi to Lu to submit. He swept west through Zhu’e and Pingyin at the head of a hundred thousand warriors, threw bridgeheads along the Yellow River, and pulled back to Linzi. He now aimed to master the whole Shandong plain. Shi Le, scenting treason, begged for a campaign against him. Liu Cong dreaded letting Shi Le annex Qi and left the plea unanswered.

劉曜濟自盟津，將攻河南，將軍魏該奔於一泉塢。曜進攻李矩于滎陽，矩遣將軍李平師于成皋，曜覆而滅之。矩恐，送質請降。

Liu Yao forded the Meng crossing toward Henan while Wei Gai bolted into the Yiquan redoubt. He besieged Li Ju at Xingyang, crushed Li Ping’s relief column at Chenggao in an ambush, and scattered the Jin army. Li Ju panicked, handed over hostages, and capitulated.

時聰以其皇后靳氏為上皇后，立貴妃劉氏為左皇后，右貴嬪靳氏為右皇后。左司隸陳元達以三后之立也，極諫，聰不納，乃以元達為右光祿大夫，外示優賢，內實奪其權也。於是太尉范隆、大司馬劉丹、大司空呼延晏、尚書令王鑒等皆抗表遜位，以讓元達。聰乃以元達為御史大夫、儀同三司。

Liu Cong crowned three queens—Lady Jin as paramount consort, Lady Liu as senior left, another Lady Jin as senior right. Chen Yuanda thundered against the triple enthronement; Liu Cong answered by promoting him to a powerless grandee of the Household Rapid on the right. Fan Long, Liu Dan, Huyan Yan, and Wang Jian resigned en masse to force Yuanda’s reinstatement. Liu Cong restored him as chief censor with honours equal to the three elder ministers.

劉曜寇長安，頻為王師所敗。曜曰：「彼猶強盛，弗可圖矣。」引師而歸。

Liu Yao struck Chang’an again and again yet Jin drove him back each time. Liu Yao said, “They are still strong and cannot be plotted against.” He broke off and marched home.

聰宮中鬼夜哭，三日而聲向右司隸寺，乃止。其上皇后靳氏有淫穢之行，陳元達奏之。聰廢靳，靳慚恚自殺。靳有殊寵，聰迫于元達之勢，故廢之。既而追念其姿色，深仇元達。

Spirits keened through Liu Cong’s halls for three nights, then drifted toward the western inspectorate and fell silent. Chen Yuanda impeached the paramount consort for debauchery. Liu Cong cast her aside; she took her own life in humiliation. Once his favourite, she fell because Yuanda left him no face-saving alternative. Soon nostalgia for her beauty curdled into hatred for Yuanda.

劉曜進師上黨，將攻陽曲，聰遣使謂曜曰：「長安擅命，國家之深恥也。公宜以長安為先，陽曲一委驃騎。天時人事，其應至矣，公其亟還。」曜回滅郭邁，朝於聰，遂如蒲阪。

As Liu Yao advanced on Yangqu from Shangdang, Liu Cong’s messengers warned him: “Chang’an’s stubbornness shames the dynasty. Strike Chang’an first—hand Yangqu to the cavalry commander. Heaven and earth cry for vengeance—return immediately.” Liu Yao smashed Guo Mai on the way back, paid court at Pingyang, and encamped at Puban.

平陽地震，雨血於東宮，廣袤頃餘。

Another tremor shook Pingyang while red rain drenched a whole qing of the heir’s compound.

劉曜又進軍，屯於粟邑。麹允饑甚，去黃白而軍于靈武。曜進攻上郡，太守張禹與馮翊太守梁肅奔於允吾。於是關右翕然，所在應曜。曜進據黃阜。

Liu Yao pushed forward again and dug in at Suyi. Qu Yun, half dead of hunger, quit Huangbai for Lingwu. When Yao hit Shang commandery, Zhang Yu and Liang Su bolted for Yunwu. All western Guanzhong then hailed Liu Yao’s banners. He occupied the Huangfu heights.

聰武庫陷入地一丈五尺。時聰中常侍王沈、宣懷、俞容，中宮僕射郭猗，中黃門陵修等皆寵倖用事。聰游宴後宮，或百日不出，群臣皆因沈等言事，多不呈聰，率以其意愛憎而決之，故或有勳舊功臣而弗見敘錄，奸佞小人數日而便至二千石者。軍旅無歲不興，而將士無錢帛之賞，後宮之家賜齎及於僮僕，動至數千萬。沈等車服宅宇皆逾于諸王，子弟、中表布衣為內史令長者三十餘人，皆奢僭貪殘，賊害良善。靳准合宗內外諂以事之。

The imperial armoury yard collapsed fifteen chi into the ground. Wang Shen, Xuan Huai, Yu Rong, Guo Yi, and Ling Xiu traded on intimacy and seized the levers of power. Liu Cong vanished into the inner palaces for months; petitions flowed through his favourites, honours tracked private spite, veterans went unrewarded while sycophants leapt to top salaries in days. Armies marched yearly without pay while imperial in-laws scattered millions even on servants. They outsized true princes in coaches and villas; thirty cousins ruled counties despite mean birth—every one tyrannical and corrupt. Jin Zhun’s clan crawled before them at court and in camp.

郭猗有憾于劉乂，謂劉粲曰：「太弟于主上之世猶懷不逞之志，此則殿下父子之深仇，四海蒼生之重怨也。而主上過垂寬仁，猶不替二尊之位，一旦有風塵之變，臣竊為殿下寒心。且殿下高祖之世孫，主上之嫡統，凡在含齒，孰不系仰。萬機事大，何可與人！臣昨聞太弟與大將軍相見，極有言矣，若事成，許以主上為在太上皇，大將軍為皇太子。乂又許衛軍為大單于，二王已許之矣。二王居不疑之地，並握重兵，以此舉事，事何不成！臣謂二王茲舉，禽獸之不若也。背父親人，人豈親之！今又苟貪其一切之力耳，事成之後，主上豈有全理！殿下兄弟故在忘言，東宮、相國、單于在武陵兄弟，何肯與人！許以三月上巳因宴作難，事淹變生，宜早為之所。《春秋傳》曰：'蔓草猶不可除，況君之寵弟乎！ '臣屢啟主上，主上性敦友于，謂臣言不實。刑臣刀鋸之余，而蒙主上、殿下成造之恩，故不慮逆鱗之誅，每所聞必言，冀垂採納。臣當入言之。願殿下不泄，密表其狀也。若不信臣言，可呼大將軍從事中郎王皮、衛軍司馬劉惇，假之恩顧，通其歸善之路以問之，必可知也。」粲深然之。猗密謂皮、惇曰：「二王逆狀，主、相已具知之矣，卿同之乎？」二人驚曰：「無之。」猗曰：「此事必無疑，吾憐卿親舊並見族耳。」於是歔欷流涕。皮、惇大懼，叩頭求哀。猗曰：「吾為卿作計，卿能用不？」二人皆曰：「謹奉大人之教。」猗曰：「相國必問卿，卿但云有之。若責卿何不先啟，卿即答云：'臣誠負死罪，然仰惟主上聖性寬慈，殿下篤于骨肉，恐言成詿偽故也。 '」皮、惇許諾。粲俄而召問二人，至不同時，而辭若畫一，粲以為信然。

Guo Yi whispered to Liu Can: “The imperial younger brother still plots sedition—your father’s bitter enemy and the world’s bane. Yet the emperor’s mercy keeps him in post—if crisis strikes you will be first to fall. You are Guangwen’s lineal descendant—the realm pins its hope on you alone. The machinery of state is not a toy to share. Yesterday he promised the grand marshal: succeed and Father becomes a retired sovereign while the marshal inherits. He offered the guard marshal the great Chanyu’s throne—both military princes accepted. They command unquestioned hosts—what could stop them? They sink below beasts. Men who sell father and brother earn no loyalty. They borrow your steel today—do you imagine Father lives tomorrow? Your brothers at Wuling—the heir, the minister of state, the Chanyu—will never surrender their swords. They chose the spring festival banquet for the coup—move before plans ripen. As the Zuo says: “Weeds left to spread cannot be torn out—far less a king’s pampered brother.” I have warned the throne; brotherly fondness blinds him. I am a castrated survivor yet owe you both everything—so I brave imperial wrath. I will speak upstairs myself. Tell no one—petition him under seal. Summon Wang Pi and Liu Dun, win them with kindness, and they will confess.” Liu Can swallowed every word. Guo Yi cornered Wang Pi and Liu Dun: “Court and camp already know the princes plot—do you?” They blurted: “Nothing like that!” Guo Yi said: “Then you are doomed with your kin.” He broke into theatrical tears. Wang Pi and Liu Dun fell kowtowing for mercy. Jin Yi said, “I will devise a plan for you. Can you use it?” The two replied, “We respectfully obey your instruction.” Jin Yi said, “When the Minister of State questions you, simply say that it is so. If pressed why they stayed silent: “We deserve death—yet the emperor is gentle and you honour kin—so we feared crying wolf.” They swore compliance.” Liu Can questioned them apart; identical confessions convinced him.

初，靳准從妹為乂孺子，淫于侍人，乂怒殺之，而屢以嘲准。准深慚恚，說粲曰：「東宮萬機之副，殿下宜自居之，以領相國，使天下知早有所系望也。」至是，准又說粲曰：「昔孝成距子政之言，使王氏卒成篡逆，可乎？」粲曰：「何可之有！」准曰：「然，誠如聖旨。下官亟欲有所言矣，但以德非更生，親非皇宗，恐忠言暫出，霜威已及，故不敢耳。」粲曰：「君但言之。」准曰：「聞風塵之言，謂大將軍、衛將軍及左右輔皆謀奉太弟，克季春構變，殿下宜為之備。不然，恐有商臣之禍。」粲曰：「為之奈何？」准曰：「主上愛信于太弟，恐卒聞未必信也。如下官愚意，宜緩東宮之禁固，勿絕太弟賓客，使輕薄之徒得與交遊。太弟既素好待士，必不思防此嫌，輕薄小人不能無逆意以勸太弟之心。小人有始無終，不能如貫高之流也。然後下官為殿下露表其罪，殿下與太宰拘太弟所與交通者考問之，窮其事原，主上必以無將之罪罪之。不然，今朝望多歸太弟，主上一旦晏駕，恐殿下不得立矣。」於是粲命卜抽引兵去東宮。

Jin Zhun’s cousin served Liu Yi as concubine until he executed her for bedding a page—then mocked Zhun mercilessly. Humiliated, Jin Zhun urged Liu Can, “You should take the eastern palace’s share in state affairs and head the ministry yourself, so the realm knows where to look early on.” Later he added: “Emperor Cheng ignored Liu Xiang and handed Jin to Wang Mang—will you copy him?” Liu Can said, “How could that be acceptable!” Jin Zhun said, “Yes, it is truly as Your Highness says. I ache to counsel you—yet I am neither Liu Xiang nor royal kin—truth might cost my head.” Liu Can said, “Just say it.” Jin Zhun said, “I have heard rumors that the Grand General, the General of the Guards, and the Left and Right Assistants all plan to support the imperial younger brother and launch a coup at the end of spring. Your Highness should prepare for this. Refuse and you risk another prince who murders his father to seize the throne.” Liu Can asked, “What should be done?” Jin Zhun answered: “The emperor trusts Liu Yi too deeply—a blunt accusation may fail. Ease the heir’s house arrest and admit guests again so riffraff may flock to him. Liu Yi loves hosting gentlemen and will drop his guard; hangers-on will bait him toward treason. They are no Guan Gao—they burn bright, then bolt. Next I expose him on paper; you and the grand tutor arrest his circle and torture the truth free—the sovereign must convict him for “acting without orders.” Otherwise the elite already backs Liu Yi—once the emperor closes his eyes you lose everything.” Liu Can pulled Bu Chou’s guards off the heir’s compound.

聰自去冬至是，遂不復受朝賀，軍國之事一決於粲，唯發中旨殺生除授，王沈、郭猗等意所欲皆從之。又立市於後庭，與宮人宴戲，或三日不醒。聰臨上秋閣，誅其特進綦毋達，太中大夫公師彧，尚書王琰、田歆，少府陳休，左衛卜崇，大司農朱誕等，皆群閹所忌也。侍中卜幹泣諫聰曰：「陛下方隆武宣之化，欲使幽谷無考槃，奈何一旦先誅忠良，將何以垂之於後！昔秦愛三良而殺之，君子知其不霸。以晉厲之無道，屍三卿之後，猶有不忍之心，陛下如何忽信左右愛憎之言，欲一日屍七卿！詔尚在臣間，猶未宣露，乞垂昊天之澤，回雷霆之威。且陛下直欲誅之耳，不露其罪名，何以示四海！此豈是帝王三訊之法邪！」因叩頭流血。王沈叱幹曰：「卜侍中欲距詔乎？」聰拂衣而入，免幹為庶人。

Liu Cong stopped receiving ministers; Liu Can ruled in his name while eunuch edicts ordered promotions and killings—Wang Shen and Guo Yi dictated policy unchecked. He ran a bazaar in the inner palace and drank with concubines until he slept round the clock. From the autumn tower he butchered Qi Wuda, Gongshi Yu, Wang Yan, Tian Xin, Chen Xiu, Bu Chong, Zhu Dan—each targeted by the palace cabal. Attendant-in-Ordinary Bu Gan wept and remonstrated with Liu Cong, saying, “Your Majesty is just now enlarging the transforming rule of Emperors Wu and Xuan and wishes that no recluse should be left in the hidden valleys. How can you suddenly begin by killing loyal and good men? What will you hand down to later generations? Qin cherished the Three Worthies before executing them—wise men knew heaven had withdrawn its mandate. Even wicked King Li of Jin blanched at executing three nobles—will you butcher seven on court whisper? The warrant never left my hands—stay your wrath before Heaven recoils. If blood must flow, name their offences—else the empire calls this murder. Since when does a Son of Heaven skip trial?” He dashed his forehead open on the stones. Wang Shen barked: “Do you refuse the imperial brush?” Liu Cong swept inside and reduced Bu Gan to common status.

太宰劉易及大將軍劉敷、御史大夫陳元達、金紫光祿大夫王延等詣闕諫曰：「臣聞善人者，乾坤之紀，政教之本也。邪佞者，宇宙之螟螣，王化之蟊賊也。故文王以多士基周，桓靈以群閹亡漢，國之興亡，未有不由此也。自古明王之世，未嘗有宦者與政，武、元、安、順豈足為故事乎！今王沈等乃處常伯之位，握生死與奪於中，勢傾海內，愛憎任之，矯弄詔旨，欺誣日月，內諂陛下，外佞相國，威權之重，侔於人主矣。王公見之駭目，卿宰望塵下車，銓衡迫之，選舉不復以實，士以屬舉，政以賄成，多樹奸徒，殘毒忠善。知王琰等忠臣，必盡節于陛下，懼其奸萌發露，陷之極刑。陛下不垂三察，猥加誅戮，怨感穹蒼，痛入九泉，四海悲惋，賢愚傷懼。沈等皆刀鋸之餘，背恩忘義之類，豈能如士人君子感恩展效，以答乾澤也。陛下何故親近之？何故貴任之？昔齊桓公任易牙而亂，孝懷委黃皓而滅，此皆覆車於前，殷鑒不遠。比年地震日蝕，雨血火災，皆沈等之由。願陛下割翦凶醜與政之流，引尚書、御史朝省萬機，相國與公卿五日一入，會議政事，使大臣得極其言，忠臣得逞其意，則眾災自弭，和氣呈祥。今遺晉未殄，巴蜀未賓，石勒潛有跨趙魏之志，曹嶷密有王全齊之心，而復以沈等助亂大政，陛下心腹四支何處無患！復誅巫咸，戮扁鵲，臣恐遂成桓侯膏肓之疾，後雖欲療之，其如病何！請免沈等官，付有司定罪。」聰以表示沈等，笑曰：「是兒等為元達所引，遂成癡也。」寢之。沈等頓首泣曰：「臣等小人，過蒙陛下識拔，幸得備灑掃宮閣，而王公朝士疾臣等如仇讎，又深恨陛下。願收大造之恩，以臣等膏之鼎鑊，皇朝上下自然雍穆矣。」聰曰：「此等狂言恆然，卿復何足恨乎！」更以訪粲，粲盛稱沈等忠清，乃心王室。聰大悅，封沈為列侯。太宰劉易詣闕，又上疏固諫。聰大怒，手壞其表，易遂忿恚而死，元達哭之悲慟，曰：「人之云亡，邦國殄悴。吾既不復能言，安用此默默生乎！」歸而自殺。

Liu Yi, Liu Fu, Chen Yuanda, and Wang Yan petitioned: “Virtuous ministers are the pivot of state. Flatterers are cosmic pests chewing through the kingly way. The Zhou rose on many advisers; the Han fell on a mob of castrates—history repeats without fail. No sage reign handed steel to eunuchs—why imitate the worst Han disasters? Wang Shen holds ministerial seats yet plays creator—his whim replaces law; he fawns on throne and minister alike until his shadow equals yours. Nobles stare in dread; prefects grovel in dust; offices go to cliques; justice sells cheap; loyal throats are cut while knaves thrive. They struck Wang Yan because his virtue threatened their fraud. No deliberation—only blades—and Heaven darkens while the world shudders. They are castrated ingrates—never scholars who honour grace. Why favour such creatures? Why bind the realm to their whim? Qi fell on Yiya; Shu drowned in Huang Hao—the wreck lies plain ahead. Every recent portent traces to Wang Shen’s cabal. May Your Majesty cut away the ugly and wicked men who take part in government, bring in the Masters of Writing and censors to examine the myriad affairs at court, and have the Minister of State and the dukes and ministers enter every fifth day to deliberate on government. Then great ministers can speak to the utmost, loyal ministers can fulfill their intentions, the many disasters will cease of themselves, and harmonious qi will present auspicious signs. Enemies ring you while eunuchs rot the core—no limb escapes infection. Murder every healer and even Bian Que cannot cure the gangrene you invite. Strip their seals for trial.” Liu Cong flashed the paper at his favourites: “Yuanda has driven them mad.” He shelved the plea. They sobbed: “We were gutter scraps you lifted—now nobles hunt us and damn your name. Cook us alive if peace returns.” He shrugged: “Let them rant.” He polled Liu Can, who swore the eunuchs pure. Liu Cong joyfully raised Wang Shen to marquis. Liu Yi rushed back with a harder memorial. Liu Cong tore the memorial by hand; Liu Yi died in fury, and Yuanda wailed, “When a man perishes, the state withers. Silenced, why linger alive?” He retired and opened his veins.

北地饑甚，人相食啖，羌酋大軍須運糧以給麹昌，劉雅擊敗之。麹允與劉曜戰于磻石谷，王師敗績，允奔靈武。平陽大饑，流叛死亡十有五六。石勒遣石越率騎二萬，屯於并州，以懷撫叛者。聰使黃門侍郎喬詩讓勒，勒不奉命，潛結曹嶷，規為鼎峙之勢。

Cannibalism swept Beidi when a Qiang chief tried to feed Qu Chang—Liu Ya destroyed the convoy. At Panshi Gorge Liu Yao shattered Qu Yun’s army and chased him toward Lingwu. Half of Pingyang died or fled the hunger. Shi Le parked twenty thousand horsemen in Bingzhou to lure refugees back. Qiao Shi’s reprimand failed—Shi Le plotted with Cao Yi for a tripartite standoff.

聰立上皇后樊氏，即張氏之侍婢也。時四后之外，佩皇后璽綬者七人，朝廷內外無復綱紀，阿諛日進，貨賄公行，軍旅在外，饑疫相仍，後宮賞賜動至千萬。劉敷屢泣言之，聰不納，怒曰：「爾欲得使汝公死乎？朝朝夕夕生來哭人！」敷憂忿發病而死。

He crowned Zhang’s former maid Fan as paramount consort. Four official empresses plus seven seal-holders rotted protocol; armies rotted outside while favours splashed millions inside. Liu Fu’s tears bought only rage: “Want your prince buried? Must you nag like mourners?” Liu Fu wasted away and died.

河東大蝗，唯不食黍豆。靳准率部人收而埋之，哭聲聞于十餘里，後乃鑽土飛出，復食黍豆。平陽饑甚，司隸部人奔于冀州二十萬戶，石越招之故也。犬與豕交于相國府門，又交于宮門，又交司隸、御史門。有豕著進賢冠，升聰坐。犬冠武冠，帶綬，與豕並升。俄而鬥死殿上。宿衛莫有見其入者。而聰昏虐愈甚，無誡懼之心。宴群臣於光極前殿，引見其太弟乂，容貌毀悴，鬢髮蒼然，涕泣陳謝。聰亦對之悲慟，縱酒極歡，待之如初。

Hedong locusts devoured everything except millet and beans. Jin Zhun interred the clouds of insects; keening rolled ten li until they tore free and fed. Two hundred thousand households crossed into Jizhou answering Shi Yue’s call. Canine and swine coupled before Liu Can’s doors, the palace, and the inspectors. A hog crowned itself scholar-official and mounted the throne. A dog in warrior cap and sash joined it. They tore each other dead upon the hall. No sentry witnessed their entrance. Still Liu Cong sank deeper into tyranny without dread. He feasted ministers while Liu Yi stood broken-haired and begging forgiveness. They sobbed together, then drank deep as if nothing had changed.

劉曜陷長安外城，湣帝使侍中宋敞送箋於曜，帝肉袒牽羊，輿櫬銜璧出降。及至平陽，聰以帝為光祿大夫、懷安侯，使粲告於太廟，大赦境內，改年麟嘉。麹允自殺。

Song Chang carried Emperor Min’s surrender: the sovereign stripped, sheep-led, coffin before him, seal in mouth. In Pingyang Liu Cong titled him minister and marquis, Liu Can burned the news at the shrine, amnesty rang out, and the calendar read Linjia. Qu Yun fell on his sword.

聰東宮四門無故自壞，後內史女人化為丈夫。時聰子約死，一指猶暖，遂不殯殮。及蘇，言見元海於不周山，經五日，遂復從至昆侖山，三日而復返於不周，見諸王公卿將相死者悉在，宮室甚壯麗，號曰蒙珠離國。元海謂約曰：「東北有遮須夷國，無主久，待汝父為之。汝父後三年當來，來後國中大亂相殺害，吾家死亡略盡，但可永明輩十數人在耳。汝且還，後年當來，見汝不久。」約拜辭而歸，道遇一國曰猗尼渠余國，引約入宮，與約皮囊一枚，曰：「為吾遺漢皇帝。」約辭而歸，謂約曰：「劉郎後年來必見過，當以小女相妻。」約歸，置皮囊於機上。俄而蘇，使左右機上取皮囊開之，有一方白玉，題文曰：「猗尼渠余國天王敬信遮須夷國天王，歲在攝提，當相見也。」馳使呈聰，聰曰：「若審如此，吾不懼死也。」及聰死，與此玉並葬焉。

The eastern palace gates fell alone while women officials grew male whiskers. Prince Yue’s finger still pulsed—Liu Cong refused the coffin. He woke describing Liu Yuan on Buzhou, five days’ march to Kunlun, returning to halls named Mengzhuli crowded with fallen kings. Liu Yuan told Yue, “To the northeast there is the country of Zhexuyi, which has long been without a ruler and is waiting for your father to rule it. He comes in three years—after that kin butcher kin until a handful of Yongming sons remain. Go home—we reunite soon.” On his way home, Yue encountered a country called Yiniquyu. Its ruler led him into the palace, gave him a leather pouch, and said, “Give this to the Han emperor.” As Yue took leave and returned, the ruler told him, “When Lord Liu comes next year, he must visit me; I will give him my younger daughter as wife.” He laid the pouch by his couch. Soon he revived and had his attendants take the leather pouch from the couch and open it. Inside was a square piece of white jade inscribed, “The Heavenly King of Yiniquyu respectfully sends faith to the Heavenly King of Zhexuyi: in the year Sheti, we shall meet.” A courier rushed it to Liu Cong. Liu Cong said, “If this is truly so, I do not fear death.” The talisman joined him in the tomb.

時東宮鬼哭；赤虹經天，南有一歧；三日並照，各有兩珥，五色甚鮮；客星曆紫宮入於天獄而滅。太史令康相言於聰曰：「蛇虹見彌天，一歧南徹；三日並照；客星入紫宮。此皆大異，其徵不遠也。今虹達東西者，許洛以南不可圖也。一歧南徹者，李氏當仍跨巴蜀，司馬睿終據全吳之象，天下其三分乎！月為胡王，皇漢雖苞括二京，龍騰九五，然世雄燕代，肇基北朔，太陰之變其在漢域乎！漢既據中原，曆命所屬，紫宮之異，亦不在他，此之深重，胡可盡言。石勒鴟視趙魏，曹嶷狼顧東齊，鮮卑之眾星布燕代，齊、代、燕、趙皆有將大之氣。願陛下以東夏為慮，勿顧西南。吳蜀之不能北侵，猶大漢之不能南向也。今京師寡弱，勒眾精盛，若盡趙魏之銳，燕之突騎自上黨而來，曹嶷率三齊之眾以繼之，陛下將何以抗之？紫宮之變何必不在此乎！願陛下早為之所，無使兆人生心。陛下誠能發詔，外以遠追秦皇、漢武循海之事，內為高帝圖楚之計，無不克矣。」聰覽之不悅。

Spirits keened through the heir’s halls; a blood rainbow forked toward the south; triple suns glared with paired coronae; a wanderer star sliced the throne stars into the celestial jail. Kang Xiang said: “Rainbows coil sky-wide— three suns clash— omens assault the Purple Palace. Disaster follows swiftly. The arc from Xu to Luo bars conquest southward. The southern fork marks Li clan in Shu and Sima Rui in Wu—tripartite empire. Lunar omens favour northern khans—Han may wear the crown yet Yin’s curse stalks Pingyang. Heaven points at us alone—the palace stars convict our house. Shi Le circles Zhao–Wei; Cao Yi prowls Qi; Xianbei blanket Yan–Dai—greatness stirs on every frontier. Secure the east—ignore Bashu. They cannot strike northward—nor can we march south. Luoyang stands naked against Shi Le’s veterans; Xianbei could sweep from Shangdang while Cao Yi raises Qi—how do you answer that hammer?’ Does not the throne-star warn of just such a storm?’ Move before the mob reads doom in the sky. If Your Majesty issues an edict, outwardly following Qin Shi Huang and Han Wudi on their coastal expeditions and inwardly plotting as Han Gaozu did against Chu, nothing will fail to be overcome.” The emperor tossed the paper aside, furious.

劉粲使王平謂劉乂曰：「適奉中詔，云京師將有變，敕裹甲以備之。」乂以為信然，令命宮臣裹甲以居。粲馳遣告靳准、王沈等曰：「向也王平告云東宮陰備非常，將若之何？」准白之，聰大驚曰：「豈有此乎！」王沈等同聲曰：「臣等久聞，但恐言之陛下弗信。」於是使粲圍東宮。粲遣沈、准收氐羌酋長十餘人，窮問之，皆懸首高格，燒鐵灼目，乃自誣與乂同造逆謀。聰謂沈等言曰：「而今而後，吾知卿等忠於朕也。當念為知無不言，勿恨往日言不用也。」於是誅乂素所親厚大臣及東宮官屬數十人，皆靳准及閹豎所怨也。廢乂為北部王，粲使准賊殺之。坑士眾萬五千餘人，平陽街巷為之空。氏羌叛者十餘萬落，以靳准行車騎大將軍以討之。時聰境內大蝗，平陽、冀、雍尤甚。靳准討之，震其二子而死。河汾大溢，漂沒千餘家。東宮災異，門閣宮殿蕩然。立粲為皇太子，大赦殊死已下。以粲領相國、大單于，總攝朝政如前。

Liu Can sent Wang Ping to tell Liu Yi, “I have just received an inner edict that unrest is coming to the capital; arm yourselves and stand ready.” Liu Yi trusted the tale and mobilised his household corps. He raced to the eunuchs: “The heir arms for coup.” When Zhun reported it, Liu Cong cried in alarm, “Can this be so!” Wang Shen and the others chorused, “We had long heard of it, but feared Your Majesty would not believe us if we spoke.” Household troops surrounded Liu Yi. They tortured tribal leaders until they framed Liu Yi under glowing iron. Liu Cong told Shen and the others, “From now on I know you are loyal to me. Hold nothing back—I heed you now.” Blades fell on every friend Liu Yi had left. They stripped him to “Prince of the North” before Jin Zhun cut his throat. Mass graves swallowed fifteen thousand guards; the capital fell silent. Rebellious tribes mustered ten thousand camps—Jin Zhun rode against them. Swarms gnawed Pingyang, Ji, and Yong bare. Lightning struck Jin Zhun’s sons dead on campaign. Yellow River floods erased riverside hamlets. Portents razed the heir’s towers to shells. Liu Can took the heir’s seal amid general pardon. He retained ministerial and Chanyu powers unchanged.

聰校獵上林，以帝行車騎將軍，戎服執戟前導，行三驅之禮。粲言於聰曰：「今司馬氏跨據江東，趙固、李矩同逆相濟，興兵聚眾者皆以子鄴為名，不如除之，以絕其望。」聰然之。

He humiliated Emperor Min as herald for a royal hunt. Liu Can said to Liu Cong, “The Sima clan holds Jiangdong; Zhao Gu and Li Ju aid each other in rebellion, and all who raise troops take restoring Ye as their banner. It would be better to remove him and cut off their hope.” The emperor nodded.

趙固郭默攻其河東，至於絳邑，右司隸部人盜牧馬負妻子奔之者三萬餘騎。騎兵將軍劉勳追討之，殺萬餘人，固、默引歸。劉頡遮邀擊之，為固所敗。使粲及劉雅等伐趙固，次於小平津，固揚言曰：「要當生縛劉粲以贖天子。」聰聞而惡之。

Thirty thousand households bolted east with stolen mounts. Cavalry commander Liu Xun butchered ten thousand before the raiders withdrew. Liu Jie’s ambush collapsed. He sent Liu Can and Liu Ya to attack Zhao Gu; when they halted at Xiaoping Ford, Zhao Gu proclaimed, “I shall capture Liu Can alive and ransom the Son of Heaven.” Liu Cong seethed at the insult.

李矩使郭默、郭誦救趙固，屯於洛汭，遣耿稚、張皮潛濟，襲粲。貝丘王翼光自厘城覘之，以告粲。粲曰：「征北南渡，趙固望聲逃竄，彼方憂自固，何暇來邪！且聞上身在此，自當不敢北視，況敢濟乎！不須驚動將士也。」是夜，稚等襲敗粲軍，粲奔據陽鄉，稚館穀粲壘。雅聞而馳還，柵於壘外，與稚相持。聰聞粲敗，使太尉范隆率騎赴之，稚等懼，率眾五千，突圍趨北山而南。劉勳追之，戰于河陽，稚師大敗，死者三千五百人，投河死者千餘人。

Li Ju’s captains crossed by night to stab Liu Can. Wang Yiguang rode from Licheng with intelligence. He mocked: “Zhao Gu hides—who attacks? Father camps nearby—they would not cross! Stand down.” Night fell and Geng Zhi routed him; Liu Can bolted to Yangxiang starving his foe on captured grain. Liu Ya threw palisades around Geng Zhi. Fan Long’s rescue terrified Geng into a breakout. At Heyang Liu Xun drowned and hacked thirty-five hundred.

聰所居螽斯則百堂災，焚其子會稽王衷已下二十有一人。聰聞之，自投於床，哀塞氣絕，良久乃蘇。平陽西明門牡自亡，霍山崩。

Flames devoured twenty-one royal sons from Liu Ai downward. He fell senseless on the bed. West Gate bolts vanished while Huoshan mountain fell.

署其驃騎大將軍、濟南王劉驥為大將軍、都督中外諸軍事、錄尚書，衛大將軍、齊王劉勱為大司徒。

He appointed Liu Ji, Cavalry Grand General and Prince of Jinan, as Grand General, Commander-in-Chief of all armies within and without, and Recorder of the Masters of Writing; Liu Mai, Guard Grand General and Prince of Qi, became Grand Minister of Education.

中常侍王沈養女年十四，有妙色，聰立為左皇后。尚書令王鑒、中書監崔懿之、中書令曹恂等諫曰：「臣聞王者之立后也，將以上配乾坤之性，象二儀敷育之義，生承宗廟，母臨天下，亡配后土，執饋皇姑，必擇世德名宗，幽閒淑令，副四海之望，稱神祇之心。是故周文造舟，姒氏以興，《關雎》之化饗，則百世之祚永。孝成任心縱欲，以婢為后，使皇統亡絕，社稷淪傾。有周之隆既如彼矣，大漢之禍又如此矣。從麟嘉以來，亂淫於色，縱沈之弟女，刑余小丑猶不可塵瓊寢，汙清廟，況其家婢邪！六宮妃嬪皆公子公孫，奈何一旦以婢主之，何異象榱玉簀而對腐木朽楹哉！臣恐無福於國家也。」聰覽之大怒，使宣懷謂粲曰：「鑒等小子，慢侮國家，狂言自口，無復君臣上下之禮，其速考竟。」於是收鑒等送市。金紫光祿大夫王延馳將入諫，門者弗通。鑒等臨刑，王沈以杖叩之曰：「庸奴，復能為惡乎？乃公何與汝事！」鑒瞋目叱之曰：「豎子！使皇漢滅者，坐汝鼠輩與靳准耳，要當訴汝於先帝，取汝等於地下。」懿之曰：「靳准梟聲鏡形，必為國患。汝既食人，人亦當食汝。」皆斬之。聰又立其中常侍宣懷養女為中皇后。

Liu Cong crowned Wang Shen’s teenage ward left empress. Director Wang Jian, Cui Yizhi, and Cao Xun remonstrated, “We have heard that when a king establishes an empress, it is to pair her with Heaven and Earth, mirror the nurturing of the two principles, bear heirs for the ancestral temple, mother the realm in life and match the earth goddess in death, serve the imperial ancestresses, and choose a family of noble virtue and a gentle, virtuous lady who meets the hopes of the four seas and the hearts of the spirits. Zhou rose on royal marriages praised in the Odes. Han Chengdi’s slave-born empress ended his line. Glory and ruin teach the same lesson. Since Linjia lust rules—you stain the shrine with eunuchs’ kin—never a chambermaid queen! Noblewomen fill the harem—elevating maids mocks timber with termites. No fortune attends such matches.” Liu Cong read it and flew into a rage; he had Xuan Huai tell Liu Can, “Jian and those boys insult the state with reckless talk, forgetting all propriety between ruler and minister—put them to swift trial and execution.” They chained Wang Jian’s circle for beheading. Wang Yan never reached the throne hall. As they faced execution, Wang Shen tapped Wang Jian with his staff and said, “Worthless slave—can you do evil again? Old fool—what’s your grudge?” Wang Jian glared and rebuked him, “Brat! You and Zhun murdered Han—I’ll sue you underground.” Cui Yizhi said, “Jin Zhun’s voice and countenance both mirror a traitor—he will surely bring disaster to the state. Cannibals feast last.” Axes fell. Another maid-queen followed—Xuan Huai’s ward.

鬼哭於光極殿，又哭於建始殿。雨血平陽，廣袤十里。時聰子約已死，至是晝見。聰甚惡之，謂粲曰：「吾寢疾惙頓，怪異特甚。往以約之言為妖，比累日見之，此兒必來迎吾也。何圖人死定有神靈，如是，吾不悲死也。今世難未夷，非諒暗之日，朝終夕殮，旬日而葬。」徵劉曜為丞相、錄尚書，輔政，固辭乃止。仍以劉景為太宰，劉驥為大司馬，劉顗為太師，朱紀為太傅，呼延晏為太保，並錄尚書事；范隆守尚書令、儀同三司，靳准為大司空、領司隸校尉，皆迭決尚書奏事，

Spirits keened through twin throne rooms. Red rain slicked ten li around the capital. Dead Prince Yue walked under the sun. Deeply troubled, Liu Cong told Liu Can, “My illness wracks me and the omens are extreme. Visions vindicate my dead son’s prophecy. Spirits mean peace—I fear nothing. War is not yet ended—this is no time for long mourning. Wrap me from dusk to dawn and bury within ten days.” Liu Yao declined the regency. The Seven Seniors divided seals among Liu Jing, Liu Ji, Liu Yi, Zhu Ji, and Huyan Yan. Fan Long and Jin Zhun traded judicial duties.

太興元年，聰死，在位九年，偽諡曰昭武皇帝，廟號烈宗。

In the first year of Taixing, Liu Cong died after nine years on the throne; he received the posthumous title Emperor Zhaowu and the temple name Liezong.

劉粲

Liu Can.

粲字士光。少而俊傑，才兼文武。自為宰相，威福任情，疏遠忠賢，昵近奸佞，任性嚴刻無恩惠，距諫飾非。好興造宮室，相國之府仿像紫宮，在位無幾，作兼晝夜，饑困窮叛，死亡相繼，粲弗之恤也。既嗣偽位，尊聰后靳氏為皇太后，樊氏號弘道皇后，宣氏號弘德皇后，王氏號弘孝皇后。靳等年皆未滿二十，並國色也，粲晨夜蒸淫於內，志不在哀。立其妻靳氏為皇后，子元公為太子，大赦境內，改元漢昌。雨血於平陽。

His style was Shiguang. Brilliant in brush and blade. Power turned him cruel and deaf to truth. Palaces rose while peasants starved—he shrugged. He crowned three dowagers—Jin, Fan, Xuan, Wang—with flowery titles. Teen consorts filled his bed while kin lay unburied. Lady Jin became empress; Prince Yuangong heir; era Hanchang. Red rain washed Pingyang.

靳準將有異謀，私於粲曰：「如聞諸公將欲行伊尹、霍光之事，謀先誅太保及臣，以大司馬統萬機。陛下若不先之，臣恐禍之來也不晨則夕。」粲弗納。准懼其言之不從，謂聰二靳氏曰：「今諸公侯欲廢帝，立濟南王，恐吾家無復種矣。盍言之於帝。」二靳承間言之。粲誅其太宰、上洛王劉景，太師、昌國公劉顗，大司馬、濟南王劉驥，大司徒、齊王劉勱等。太傅朱紀、太尉范隆出奔長安。又誅其車騎大將軍、吳王劉逞，驥母弟也。粲大閱上林，謀討石勒。以靳准為大將軍、錄尚書事。粲荒耽酒色，遊宴後庭，軍國之事一決於准。准矯粲命，以從弟明為車騎將軍，康為衛將軍。

Jin Zhun, plotting rebellion, privately told Liu Can, “I hear the nobles mean to do as Yi Yin and Huo Guang did—first kill the grand guardian and me, then have the grand marshal direct affairs. Move before dusk.” Liu Can laughed it off. Fearing Liu Can would not heed him, Zhun told Liu Cong’s two Jin ladies, “Now the lords wish to depose the emperor and raise the Prince of Jinan—I fear our house will have no descendants left. Tell the emperor.” They whispered in bed. Blades fell on Liu Jing, Liu Yi, Liu Ji, Liu Mai. Zhu Ji and Fan Long bolted west. Prince Wu Liu Cheng died next. He drilled at Shanglin to face Shi Le. Zhun took marshal and recorder titles. Banquets hid Zhun’s dictatorship. Forged edicts promoted his cousins.

準將作亂，以金紫光祿大夫王延耆德時望，謀之於延。延弗從，馳將告之，遇靳康，劫延以歸。准勒兵入宮，升其光極前殿，下使甲士執粲，數而殺之。劉氏男女無少長皆斬於東市。發掘元海、聰墓，焚燒其宗廟。鬼大哭，聲聞百里。

He sounded elder Wang Yan. Wang Yan ran to alert the throne until Kang kidnapped him. Armoured guards dragged Liu Can from the throne and killed him. Every Liu—child or elder—died on the eastern block. Rebels opened the royal graves and torched the temples. Wailing ghosts shook the countryside for miles.

准自號大將軍、漢天王，置百官，遣使稱籓于晉。左光祿劉雅出奔西平。尚書北宮純、胡崧等招集晉人，保于東宮，靳康攻滅之。準將以王延為左光祿，延罵曰：「屠各逆奴，何不速殺我，以吾左目置西陽門，觀相國之入也，右目置建春門，觀大將軍之入也。」准怒，殺之。

Zhun crowned himself Han’s warrior-king, staffed a court, and sued Jin for recognition. Liu Ya bolted for Xiping. Bei Gong Chun and Hu Song held the heir’s compound until Zhun’s cousin stormed it. When Jin Zhun was about to make Wang Yan Left Guanglu Grandee, Yan cursed him, saying, “Tuge rebel slave, why do you not kill me quickly? Put my left eye at Xiyang Gate to watch the Minister of State enter, and my right eye at Jianchun Gate to watch the Grand General enter.” Zhun cut him down.

陳元達

Chen Yuanda.

陳元達，字長宏，後部人也。本姓高，以生月妨父，故改云陳。少面孤貧，常躬耕兼誦書，樂道行詠，忻忻如也。至年四十，不與人交通。元海之為左賢王，聞而招之，元達不答。及元海僭號，人謂元達曰：「往劉公相屈，君蔑而不顧，今稱號龍飛，君其懼乎？」元達笑曰：「是何言邪？彼人姿度卓犖，有籠羅宇宙之志，吾固知之久矣。然往日所以不往者，以期運未至，不能無事喧喧，彼自有以亮吾矣。卿但識之，吾恐不過二三日，驛書必至。」其暮，元海果徵元達為黃門郎。人曰：「君殆聖乎！」既至，引見，元海曰：「卿若早來，豈為郎官而已。」元達曰：「臣惟性之有分，盈分者顛。臣若早叩天門者，恐大王賜處於九卿、納言之間，此則非臣之分，臣將何以堪之！是以抑情盤桓，待分而至，大王無過授之謗，小臣免招寇之禍，不亦可乎！」元海大悅。在位忠謇，屢進讜言，退而削草，雖子弟莫得而知也。聰每謂元達曰：「卿當畏朕，反使朕畏卿乎？」元達叩頭謝曰：「臣聞師臣者王，友臣者霸。臣誠愚暗無可采也，幸邀陛下垂齊桓納九九之義，故使微臣得盡愚忠。昔世宗遙可汲黯之奏，故能恢隆漢道；桀紂誅諫，幽厲弭謗，是以三代之亡也忽焉。陛下以大聖應期，挺不世之量，能遠捐商周覆國之弊，近模孝武光漢之美，則天下幸甚，群臣知免。」及其死也，人盡冤之。

Chen Yuanda (style Changhong) hailed from the Rear Division tribes. Born under an ill omen for his father, he forsook the surname Gao for Chen. He hoed fields by day and books by night, humming verses—happy in obscurity. At forty he still kept to himself. Liu Yuan’s first summons went unanswered. Friends sneered when Liu Yuan took the throne: “Still too proud to answer?” He laughed: “Nonsense. That man aims to rope heaven and earth—I saw it years ago. I waited for destiny rather than beg idle posts—he forgives that. Watch—the courier comes inside three days.” That night the imperial summons arrived naming him a palace gentleman. Onlookers gasped: “A prophet!” Liu Yuan told him: “Early arrival would have won you higher rank.” Yuanda replied, “I consider that one's nature has its proper allotment; whoever exceeds that allotment falls. If I had knocked at the heavenly gate earlier, I fear Your Highness would have placed me among the Nine Ministers and the nayan. That is not my proper allotment; how could I bear it! For this reason I restrained my feelings and lingered, waiting until my allotment came. Your Highness avoids blame for granting beyond measure, and your petty minister avoids bringing on the disaster of rivals. Is this not acceptable?” Liu Yuan roared approval. He spoke truth and burned his drafts—even family never learned his memos. Liu Cong teased: “Which of us should tremble?” Yuanda kowtowed and replied, “I have heard that one who treats his ministers as teachers becomes a true king, and one who treats his ministers as friends becomes a hegemon. Let me be your Guan Zhong—you may yet profit from blunt counsel. When Emperor Wu endorsed Ji An’s blunt memorials from afar, Han’s greatness rose again. Jie and Zhou murdered counsellors while You and Li smothered dissent—and those dynasties vanished overnight. You ride heaven’s mandate—shun Xia’s cruelty, copy Han Wudi’s revival—and we all survive.” His death struck the realm as a crime.

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