2
Yao Xing, courtesy Zilüe, was the firstborn of Yao Chang. Under Fu Jian he served as attendant to the crown prince. While Yao Chang was raising troops in the pastures, Yao Xing slipped out of Chang'an through danger to join him and was named heir. Yao Chang habitually left him in charge of the rear whenever he marched. As regent in Chang'an he combined stern authority with generous rule. With Liang Xi, Fan Xu, and other staff he kept debating the classics despite the war, and the capital gentry took his example.
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Yao Xing hid his father's death, posting Yao Xu at Anding, Yao Shuode at Yinmi, and his brother Yao Chong in Chang'an. Yao Shuode's officers warned him: "Your prestige and army outstrip everyone; at a moment of succession the throne will fear you—that is no way to stay safe. Flee to Qinzhou and wait on events." Yao Shuode replied, "The heir is open-minded; he will not mistrust us. Fu Deng still lives; civil war would repeat the folly of the two Yuans and hand victory away. I would rather die than do it." When he reported in, Yao Xing honored him richly and sent him back to his post.
4
Yao Xing took the title grand general, appointed Yin Wei and Di Bozhi, and marched against Fu Deng. Liu Jinu of Xianyang held Bishi fort in revolt; Yao Xing stormed it and took him prisoner. Fu Deng moved from Liumo toward the broken bridge while Yao Xiang of Shiping blocked him from Mawei fort. Fearing Fu Deng's numbers, Yao Xing rode out with elite horse and sent Yin Wei to reinforce Yao Xiang. Yin Wei followed Yao Xiang's advice and held the ruined bridge. As Fu Deng stormed Yin Wei's line, Yao Xing sent Di Bozhi with a warning: "The sage general wins without fighting—this is such a case. Fu Deng is desperate; stand fast and do not risk a rash clash." Yin Wei answered, "The late king has just died and morale wavers; if we do not strike now and crush Fu Deng, all is lost. I will stake my life on this." He gave battle, shattered Fu Deng, and left two or three tenths of the enemy dying of thirst; that night Fu Deng's army melted away and he fled to Yong. Only then did Yao Xing proclaim his father's death and don mourning. In Taiyuan 19 he declared himself emperor at Huaili, amnestied his realm, took the reign name Huangchu, and moved to Anding.
5
Fu Deng had left Fu Guang at Yong and his son Fu Chong at Hu Kong; both bolted when they heard of his defeat. Fu Deng retreated to Pingliang and climbed Maomao Mountain with his survivors. Yao Xing advanced from Anding to Jingyang and slew Fu Deng south of the range. He disbanded Fu Deng's troops to the plow. He resettled thirty thousand Yinmi households in Chang'an, split the great camp into four armies, and assigned commanders.
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Qiang Xi, general who pacifies the south, and Yang Duo rebelled, made Dou Chong their leader, and stirred the region. Yao Xing marched to suppress them; at Wugong Yang Duo's nephew Liangguo killed him and surrendered. Dou Chong's brother Zhangwu turned on him, and Dou Chong fled to Qiang Xi. Qiang Xi took two thousand households to Qinzhou when he learned Yao Xing was coming. Dou Chong ran to the Qian valley; the Di chief Qiu Gao seized him and handed him over. Dou Tong, Dou Chong's cousin, brought his men to Yao Xing.
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He made Yao Xu prince of Jin, Yao Shuode prince of Longxi, and ennobled Jing together with meritorious subjects Yin Wei, Qi Nan, Yang Fosong, and others as dukes or marquises.
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He posthumously titled his concubine-mother Lady Sun empress dowager and enshrined her with the ancestors.
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Yang Sheng of Qiuqi submitted and received tally, general who guards the south, and duke of Qiuqi. Yuezhi Jiegui brought twenty thousand households from Qifu Gangui to Yao Xing, who settled them at Chengji and titled him general who guards the west, duke of Pingxiang.
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Yao Shuode crushed the Pingliang Hu Jin Bao at Luocheng. Jiang Ru of Shanggui had seized his county and called himself inspector of Qinzhou. Yao Shuode marched in; Jiang Ru surrendered. He named Yao Shuode governor of Qinzhou and colonel of the eastern Qiang at Shanggui. Jiang Ru was summoned to the secretariat. Qiang Xi and Lüeyang magnate Quan Gancheng besieged Shanggui with thirty thousand men until Yao Shuode routed them. Qiang Xi ran to Qiuqi and then passed through to Jin. Yao Shuode marched west; Quan Gancheng yielded.
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After Murong Yong had been destroyed by Murong Chui, Liu Gong of Hedong and others held out until Yao Xing sent Yao Xu. Liu Gong barred the Yellow River; Yao Xu could not ford. Xue Qiang held Yang's redoubt and guided Yao Xu across at Longmen into Puban. Liu Gong submitted when outflanked. Six thousand households from Xinping and Anding were resettled at Puban.
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Lady She died; Yao Xing mourned past all measure and ignored routine state business. His ministers urged Han and Wei practice: end mourning at burial. Li Song argued, "The three kings and five emperors kept different mourning rites. Filial rule is the hallmark of sage-kings; the emperor should follow his heart to teach the realm. After the funeral he should hold court in undyed hemp to show the empire how a son grieves." Yin Wei countered, "Han and Wei set the court precedent. Li Song twists custom; hand him to the judges for overstepping. Bury the empress dowager, then end mourning as we first proposed." Yao Xing said, "Li Song is loyal and filial—what crime is that? Yin Wei would toss the classics for Han expediency—is that what we expect of ministers? We will follow Li Song's advice."
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Xue Bo fled beyond the passes; Hu of Shang commandery and Erchuan joined him and besieged Yao Xiang at Jincheng. Yao Xing sent Yao Chong and Yin Wei. Xue Bo raced from Sanjiao; Yao Chong checked him but supplies failed and the army starved. Yin Wei told Yao Chong, "Mizhi Gaodi, Du Cheng, and other magnates have stalled the grain convoys and left the army starving—they should face clear penal law." They were beheaded. The clans panicked and forwarded over five hundred thousand measures of grain. Yao Xing took twenty thousand men against Xue Bo, who abandoned his troops and fled to Moyuyu of Gaoping; Moyuyu seized him and sent him in.
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興下書禁百姓造錦繡及淫祀。
He banned commoners from weaving fancy silks and from illicit shrines.
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He struck Hucheng; Tao Zhongshan and Dong Mai of Jin surrendered. He took Shancheng and Shangluo. Yao Chong failed at Jinyong against Xiahou Zongzhi but sacked Baigu and moved more than twenty thousand refugee households of Xihe Yan Yan, Hedong Pei Qi, Han Xi, and others, then returned.
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興下書，令士卒戰亡者守宰所在埋藏之，求其近親為之立後。
He ordered battlefield dead buried locally and heirs found for each soldier.
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興留心政事，苞容廣納，一言之善，咸見禮異。 京兆杜瑾、馮翊吉默、始平周寶等上陳時事，皆擢處美官。 天水姜龕、東平淳于岐、馮翊郭高等皆耆儒碩德，經明行修，各門徒數百，教授長安，諸生自遠而至者萬數千人。 興每於聽政之暇，引龕等於東堂，講論道藝，錯綜名理。 涼州胡辯，苻堅之末，東徙洛陽，講授弟子千有餘人，關中後進多赴之請業。 興敕關尉曰：「諸生諮訪道藝，修己厲身，往來出入，勿拘常限。」 於是學者咸勸，儒風盛焉。 給事黃門侍郎古成詵、中書侍郎王尚、尚書郎馬岱等，以文章雅正，參管機密。 詵風韻秀舉，確然不群，每以天下是非為己任。 時京兆韋高慕阮籍之為人，居母喪，彈琴飲酒。 詵聞而泣曰：「吾當私刃斬之，以崇風教。」 遂持劍求高。 高懼，逃匿，終身不敢見詵。
Yao Xing governed attentively and welcomed counsel; sound advice won favor. Du Jin, Ji Mo, Zhou Bao, and others who wrote on policy won high posts. Elder scholars such as Jiang Kan, Chunyu Qi, and Guo Gao taught in Chang'an; students who came from afar numbered in the tens of thousands. Between audiences Yao Xing debated metaphysics with them in the east hall. Hu Bian of Liangzhou, at the end of Fu Jian's time, moved east to Luoyang and lectured to more than a thousand disciples; many later students of Guanzhong went to him to seek instruction. He told the gate wardens, "Scholars who inquire into the Way and arts, cultivating and disciplining themselves, coming and going—do not restrain them with ordinary limits." Learning flourished and Confucian study spread. Gentleman attendant at the yellow gate Gucheng Shen, gentleman attendant of the palace secretariat Wang Shang, gentleman of the secretariat Ma Dai, and others, because their compositions were elegant and correct, took part in managing confidential affairs. Gucheng Shen carried himself like a lone crane and made the kingdom's conscience his business. Wei Gao of Jingzhao aped Ruan Ji, playing music and drinking during his mother's mourning. Gucheng Shen wept and said, "I will cut him down myself to exalt custom and instruction." He seized a sword and hunted Wei Gao. Wei Gao hid and never again faced him.
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Yao Xing's general Yang Fosong took Luoyang.
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He decreed that anyone sold into slavery during the famine should be freed. After eclipses and omens he demoted himself from emperor to king and cut every official's rank one step. Fifty-three ministers led by Zhao Min begged, "Your Majesty's merit matches august heaven and your work saves the four seas—though Cheng Tang and King Wu are not enough for comparison. You mean to reunify the south and complete the sacred mountain rites—do not spurn heaven's mandate with false modesty!" Yao Xing answered, "Even Tang of Yin and Yu of Xia capped the hundred kings in virtue, yet still observed modest restraint and did not occupy the supreme height—how can I, dull and dim, dwell there!" He had the demotion proclaimed at the shrines, amnestied the realm, and took the reign name Hongshi. He gave grain and cloth to the destitute and staffs to elders over seventy. Zhou Ban and Li Qingshan died for corruption; the provinces took notice. North of the Huai and Han, cities offered hostages after Luoyang fell.
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Wei Hua, Xiahou Gui, and Pang Tiao brought ten thousand refugees from Xiangyang to Yao Xing. At court he asked Wei Hua, "Since Jin moved south, peace has long reigned—how are government and custom now?" Wei Hua said, "Jin's emperor is a figurehead: factions rule, law grows harsh, and luxury spreads. Since Huan Wen and Xie An, no ruler has balanced firm and mild rule." Yao Xing named him director of the secretariat.
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He traveled to Hedong. He received Yao Xu with familial warmth. He ennobled the heirs of old ministers such as Yao Luai and Zhao Edi. He called for talent recommendations and scrapped bad laws. Bian Xi urged simpler military regulations. Yao Xing read it and deemed it good, then adjusted the code by the Sun-Wu method of swearing in the host. He opened a law academy in Chang'an for county clerks. Graduates returned home to try cases. Unresolved suits went to the supreme judge. He heard appeals in person and was said to leave no innocent jailed.
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Yao Shuode struck Qifu Gangui while Yao Xing reinforced him, taking thirty-six thousand prisoners and sixty thousand horses. His troops did not loot; the people loved them. At Fuhan he rewarded every rank down to the ranks.
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Moyuyu meant to raid Anding while Yao Xing was away until Huangfu Xu stopped him. Moyuyu brooded and plotted Huangfu Xu's murder.
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乞伏乾歸以窮蹙來降，拜鎮遠將軍、河州刺史、歸義侯，復以其部眾配之。
The beaten Qifu Gangui submitted and was rearmed as inspector of Hezhou.
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Generals could leave the front for parents' funerals unless posted at vital passes. Active officers got a hundred days' mourning leave. Border commanders who abandoned post without relief were prosecuted. He repatriated 237 Jin captive officers to Jianye.
33
Wei attacked Moyuyu, who fled to Qinzhou with Helian Bobo. Wei reached Wating and threw Chang'an into panic; every gate shut. Erchen of Pingyang raided Hedong. Yao Xing therefore drilled and instructed his troops, held a grand review west of the city, and summoned especially brave men into the palace. He debated war on Wei with his council. All advised against it; he would not listen. Colonel Director of Retainers Yao Xian came forward and said the emperor was the realm's bulwark and should not campaign in person, but should send the generals with court-approved strategy. A king must expand the realm and crush rebels," Yao Xing replied.
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He launched Yao Ping at Wei and Yao Shuode at Lü Long. He staged a massive relief column for Yao Ping from Xingcheng, Guanzhong, Hedong, and Luoyang. He ordered Moyuyu to provisionally garrison Shanggui, the Central Army commander and Duke of Guangling Lian to garrison Luoyang, and Yao Xian and Director of the Secretariat Yao Huang to assist crown prince Hong on duty in the west palace.
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Yao Shuode crushed Lü Long at Guzang. Lü Ta brought twenty-five thousand men from the east garden. Before this, Tufa Lugu occupied Xiping, Juqu Mengsun occupied Zhangye, and Li Xuansheng occupied Dunhuang, holding one another in stalemate with Lü Long. Now all three submitted.
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Meanwhile Yao Shuode was consolidating Liangzhou for a long siege of Lü Long. Lü Long capitulated. Yao Shuode's discipline won the west: no looting, honors to sages.
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興徙河西豪右萬餘戶于長安。
He resettled ten thousand Hexi notables in Chang'an.
41
Jin officers fleeing Huan Xuan sought Yao Xing. He asked them, "Though Huan Xuan bears the name of Jin minister, in truth he is Jin's bandit—how do his talents and measure compare with his father's? Could Huan Xuan finish what he started?" Yuan Qianzhi said, "Huan Xuan relies on inherited capital and dominates Jing and Chu; because the Jin court lost government, he stole the chief minister's post. He was cruel, jealous, and nepotistic—nothing like his father. Seizing power without genius, he would only pave the way for a real founder. Heaven offers you the south—strike quickly." Yao Xing made Yuan Qianzhi grand minister of agriculture. Yuan Qianzhi took a southern frontier command instead.
42
He made Lady Zhang empress and sons dukes. He sent the acting Grand Herald Liang Fei, with Zhang Gou of Xinping as deputy, to appoint Tufa Nutan General of Chariots and Cavalry and Duke of Guangwu, Juqu Mengsun General Who Guards the West, Inspector of Sha Province, and Marquis of Xihai, and Li Xuansheng General Who Pacifies the West and Marquis of Gaochang.
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Zhao Yao went to Jincheng; Wang Songfen rode to help Lü Long. Wang Songfen fell to Tufa Wenzhen and was sent to Nutan. Tufa Nutan returned the general and blamed his brother.
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興下書，錄馬嵬戰時將吏，盡擢敘之，其堡戶給復二十年。
He promoted Mawei veterans and twenty years' tax relief for their forts.
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Jin's Administrator of Shunyang Peng Quan surrendered his commandery to Xing; Xing sent Yang Fosong with five thousand cavalry and his Inspector of Jingzhou Zhao Yao to receive him; they then took Nanxiang, captured General Who Establishes Might Liu Song, raided as far as Liang, and returned. Xi Que fetched Lü Chao as hostage. Lü Long asked to relocate inland before Tufa Nutan. Qi Nan led forty thousand men to escort Lü Long east. Qi Nan installed Wang Shang at Guzang and deported the Lü clan to Chang'an. Juqu Mengsun sent tribute through his brother. Wang Shang won Liangzhou with justice. Northern tribes sent tribute.
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Huan Xuan asked for two captives back. Yao Xing kept Xin Gongjing and warned He Danzhi, "Huan Xuan does not reckon the calendar's turn and will plot usurpation; heaven has not forgotten Jin—there is sure to be a righteous rising; as I see it, he will in the end fall. If you hurry there now, you are sure to meet his defeat; we will meet again before long." Earlier Xin Gongjing had refused to bow; Yao Xing had offered him office. I will be Jin's ghost, not your minister," Xin replied. Yao Xing jailed him. Xin Gongjing then escaped over the wall.
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Yao Xing dispatched Yao Shuode, Yao Liancheng, and Yao Shoudou with thirty thousand men against Yang Sheng. Yao Shoudou came through Dangchang while Yao Liancheng moved up from Xiabian. Yang Sheng sent Yang Shou against Liancheng and nephew Yang Bin against Shoudou. Yao Shoudou routed and captured them wholesale. Yang Shou's party surrendered in fear. Yao Shuode withdrew.
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Yao Xing heard Kumārajīva preach at the imperial cloister. Kumārajīva found earlier Chinese versions full of mistakes. With eight hundred monks Yao Xing retranslated the Great Perfection of Wisdom, comparing Kumārajīva's Sanskrit to old Chinese. They issued over three hundred further fascicles of scripture and śāstra. The current canon is largely Kumārajīva's work. Court and countryside turned Buddhist; five thousand monks gathered at Chang'an. He built a stūpa and a prajñā platform; a thousand monks meditated daily. The provinces followed: nine families in ten were Buddhist.
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Huan Xuan's kinsmen and He Danzhi fled to Yao Xing after Liu Yu restored Jin. Liu Yu and Yao Xing exchanged peace envoys through Yao Xian. Jin asked for Nanxiang; Yao Xing agreed. Ministers objected; Yao Xing said, "The good under heaven is one; Liu Yu, outstanding from humble beginnings, aids and supports the Jin house—why should I begrudge several commanderies and not complete his beauty!" He yielded twelve prefectures including Nanxiang and Shunyang.
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Yang Sheng submitted hostages after repeated defeats. Yang Sheng received full honors as governor of Yi and marquis of Wudu. Lian Ju took Chenggu and deported three thousand Hanzhong families.
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Guo Nen told Yao Xing, "In the Xu-Hai years a lone bandit will arise in the northwest—you should beware his edge. Armies rise like shifting sand, dead like tangled hemp; warhorses will long gather at Longtou; Xianbei and Wuhuan will not dwell in peace; the dynasty will tire itself rushing to commands." Healing springs appeared then proved false. False prophetesses were executed.
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禿髮傉檀獻興馬三千匹，羊三萬頭。 興以為忠於己，乃署傉檀為涼州刺史，征涼州刺史王尚還長安。 涼州人申屠英等二百餘人，遣主簿胡威詣興，請留尚，興弗許。 引威見之，威流涕謂興曰：「臣州奉國五年，王威不接，銜膽棲冰、孤城獨守者，仰恃陛下威靈，俯杖良牧惠化。 忽違天人之心，以華土資狄。 若傉檀才望應代，臣豈敢言。 竊聞乃以臣等貿馬三千匹，羊三萬口，如所傳實者，是為棄人貴畜。 苟以馬供軍國，直煩尚書一符，三千餘家戶輸一匹，朝下夕辦，何故以一方委此奸胡！ 昔漢武傾天下之資，開建河西，隔絕諸戎，斷匈奴右臂，所以終能屠大宛王毋寡。 今陛下方布政玉門，流化西域，奈何以五郡之地資之犬嚴狁，忠誠華族棄之虐虜！ 非但臣州裏塗炭，懼方為聖朝旰食之憂。」 興乃遣西平人車普馳止王尚，又遣使喻傉檀。 會傉檀已至姑臧，普以狀先告之。 傉檀懼，脅遣王尚，遂入姑臧。
Tufa Nutan presented Yao Xing three thousand horses and thirty thousand sheep. Thinking it loyalty, Yao Xing swapped Wang Shang for Tufa Nutan as governor of Liangzhou. More than two hundred men of Liangzhou, including Shentu Ying, sent chief clerk Hu Wei to Yao Xing, begging to retain Wang Shang; Xing refused. Hu Wei wept and said, "My province has served the state five years without royal majesty drawing near; those who hold gall and dwell on ice, alone guarding a solitary city, look up to Your Majesty's awesome spirit and down to a good shepherd's kindly rule. Now you hand Chinese land to barbarians. If Tufa Nutan were fit to rule, I would be silent. Rumor says you sold us for livestock—that values animals over people. A requisition could raise the horses; why give a province to aliens? Emperor Wu built Hexi to break the Xiongnu and take Dayuan. You mean to civilize the west yet you feed five commanderies to Xianyun and abandon Chinese loyalty! Liangzhou will burn and the court will pay." Yao Xing sent Che Pu to recall Wang Shang and wrote Tufa Nutan. Che Pu met Tufa Nutan already at Guzang. Tufa Nutan forced Wang Shang out and took Guzang.
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Wang Shang was jailed for hiding Lü concubines and killing fugitives. Zong Chang, Zhang Mu, Bian Xian, and Hu Wei petitioned for Wang Shang:
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Liangzhou is a frontier ever under threat. After the Zhangs fell, virtue died; the Lü regime rotted while predators circled. The people suffered; the west was fire. Your grace reached us like a cleansing wind. Wang Shang took a dying province, lived simply, shared hardship, and restored farming. Then he struck rebels and cleared the land. Rebels melted like frost; they fell like leaves—no need of gale. How could Dingyuan alone be lofty, or Yingping alone beautiful! Just as he succeeded, you recalled him and wasted his work. Who could not grieve?
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He served abroad without fault though reward was thin. Twenty days in Chang'an—no summons, only slander. South terrace jailed him for Pei and Bo He though heaven knows better. Pei is an old widow in her own home—no concubine of Wang Shang. Bo He was a deserter; killing him secured the border. At worst one palace maid is missing. His service outweighs petty faults. Judges nitpick and forget his labor—sages wept for less.
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且尚之奉國，曆事二朝，能否效於既往，優劣簡在聖心，就有微過，功足相補，宜弘罔極之施，以彰覆載之恩。
Wang Shang served two regimes; pardon small slips for great deeds.
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We westerners had no path under past tyrants. Your virtue let us take office. We come with heavy hearts—hear us.
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興覽之大悅，謂其黃門侍郎姚文祖曰：「卿知宗敞乎？」 文祖曰：「與臣州裏，西方之英雋。」 興曰：「有表理王尚，文義甚佳，當王尚研思耳。」 文祖曰：「尚在南台，禁止不與賓客交通，敞寓於楊桓，非尚明矣。」 興曰：「若爾，桓為措思乎？」 文祖曰：「西方評敞甚重，優於楊桓。 敞昔與呂超周旋，陛下試可問之。」 興因謂超曰：「宗敞文才何如？ 可是誰輩？」 超曰：「敞在西土，時論甚美，方敞魏之陳、徐，晉之潘、陸。」 即以表示超曰：「涼州小地，寧有此才乎？」 超曰：「臣以敞余文比之，未足稱多。 琳琅出於昆嶺，明珠生於海濱，若必以地求人，則文命大夏之棄夫，姬昌東夷之擯士。 但當問其文彩何如，不可以區宇格物。」 興悅，赦尚之罪，以為尚書。
Yao Xing read the memorial and was greatly pleased; he asked Yao Wenzu about Zong Chang. He is our countryman and a western star." This petition for Wang Shang is brilliant—Wang Shang must have drafted it." Yao Wenzu said, "Wang Shang is at the south terrace, forbidden to traffic with guests; Zong Chang lodges with Yang Huan—clearly Wang did not write it." Yang Huan then?" Yao Wenzu said, "The west ranks Zong Chang very high, above Yang Huan. Zong Chang formerly associated with Lü Chao—Your Majesty may try asking him." He asked Lü Chao, "How is Zong Chang's literary talent? Who is his peer?" Lü Chao said, "In the western lands contemporary opinion esteems him greatly; he matches Chen Lin and Xu Gan of Wei, Pan Yue and Lu Ji of Jin." He showed the memorial: could Liangzhou produce this?" Lü Chao said, "Compared to his other writings this does not count for much. Genius is not geography—Yu and Wen Wang came from humble ground. Judge the prose, not the map." Yao Xing freed Wang Shang and named him director of the secretariat.