1
東昏侯寶卷字智藏，高宗第二子也。 本名明賢，高宗輔政後改焉。 建武元年，立為皇太子。
The Marquess of Eastern Darkness, Xiao Baojuan, styled Zhizang, was the High Ancestor's second son. He was first named Mingxian and took his new name after the High Ancestor began ruling as regent. Jianwu 1: he was installed as crown prince.
2
永泰元年
Yongtai 1
3
永泰元年七月己酉，高宗崩，太子即位。
Yongtai 1, seventh month, day jiyou: the High Ancestor died and the crown prince ascended.
4
八月丁巳，詔雍州將士與虜 （賊） 〔戰〕死者，復除有差。 又詔辨括選序，訪搜貧屈。 庚申，鎮北將軍晉安王寶義進號征北大將軍、開府儀同三司。 南中郎將建安王寶寅為郢州刺史。
Eighth month, day dingsi: an edict granted relief to Yongzhou troops who had died fighting the Northern Wei in battle their households graded exemptions from tax and corvée. Another edict ordered the ranks of official selection reviewed and sent agents to find the poor and oppressed. Day gengshen: Bao Yi, prince of Jin'an and general who guards the north, was raised to general who campaigns north with a grand marshal's staff. Bao Yin, prince of Jian'an and south central-gentleman, became inspector of Yingzhou.
5
冬十月己未，詔刪省科律。
Winter, tenth month, day jiwei: an edict ordered statutes cut back and simplified.
6
十一月戊子，立皇后褚氏，賜王公以下錢各有差。
Eleventh month, day wuzi: Empress Chu was enthroned; princes, dukes, and officials down the ranks received graded cash gifts.
7
永元元年
Yongyuan 1
8
永元元年春正月戊寅，大赦，改元。 詔研策秀、孝，考課百司。 辛卯，車駕祠南郊。 詔三品清資官以上應食祿者，有二親或祖父母年登七十，並給見錢。 癸卯，以冠軍將軍南康王寶融為荊州刺史。
Yongyuan 1, spring, first month, day wuyin: general amnesty and a new era name. An edict ordered the excellence and filial-piety examinations held and every ministry graded. Day xinmao: the emperor performed the southern suburban rite. An edict granted cash on the spot to third-rank clear-record officials and above on salary whose parents or grandparents had reached seventy. Day guimao: Bao Rong, prince of Nankang and champion general, took Jingzhou.
9
二月癸丑，以北中郎將邵陵王寶攸為南兖州刺史。 是月，太尉陳顯達敗績於馬圈。
Second month, day guichou: Bao You, prince of Shaoling and north central-gentleman, became inspector of South Yanzhou. That month Grand Commandant Chen Xianda suffered defeat at Maquan.
10
夏四月己巳，立皇太子誦，大赦，賜民為父後爵一級。 甲戌，以寧朔將軍柳惔為梁、南秦二州刺史。
Fourth month of summer, day jisi: Crown Prince Song was installed; the realm was amnestied; commoners serving as their fathers' heirs received one step in rank. Day jiaxu: Liu Yan, pacifying-the-north general, took Liang and South Qin.
11
五月癸亥，以撫軍大將軍始安王遙光為開府儀同三司。
Fifth month, day guihai: Yaoguang, prince of Shi'an and pacifying-army grand general, received a grand marshal's staff.
12
六月己酉，新除右衞將軍崔惠景為護軍將軍。 癸亥，以始興內史范雲為廣州刺史。 甲子，詔原雍州今年三調。
Sixth month, day jiyou: Cui Huijing, newly named right guards general, became protector-general of the army. Day guihai: Fan Yun, interior secretary of Shixing, took Guangzhou. Day jiazi: an edict waived Yongzhou's three annual levies for the year.
13
秋七月丁亥，京師大水，死者眾，詔賜死者材器，並賑卹。
Seventh month of autumn, day dinghai: a great flood struck the capital and many drowned; the court supplied coffins and goods to the dead and opened relief.
14
八月乙巳，蠲京邑遇水資財漂蕩者今年調稅。 又詔為馬圈戰亡將士舉哀。 丙 （午） 〔辰〕，揚州刺史始安王遙光據東府反，詔曲赦京邑，中外戒嚴。 尚書令徐孝嗣以下屯衞宮城。 遣領軍將軍蕭坦之率六軍討之。 戊午，斬遙光傳首。 己未，以征北大將軍晉安王寶玄為南徐、兖二州刺史。 己巳，尚書令徐孝嗣為司空，右衞將軍劉暄為領軍將軍。
Eighth month, day yisi: this year's tax assessments were waived for capital households whose goods the flood had swept away. Another edict ordered mourning for the officers and men killed at Maquan. Bing (chen) On bingchen, Yangzhou inspector Yaoguang, prince of Shi'an, seized the Eastern Palace offices and rebelled; the court proclaimed a partial amnesty in the capital and put inner and outer defenses on alert. Director Xu Xiaosi and the officials under him camped to defend the palace city. Xiao Tanzhi, protector-general of the army, was sent at the head of the six armies to crush the rebellion. Day wuwu: Yaoguang was executed and his head paraded. Day jiwei: Bao Xuan, prince of Jin'an and campaigning-north grand general, took South Xu and Yan. Day jisi: Xu Xiaosi, director of the masters of writing, became minister of works; Liu Xuan, right guards general, became protector-general of the army.
15
閏月丙子，以江陵公寶覽為始安王。 虜偽東徐州刺史沈陵降，以為北徐州刺史。
Intercalary month, day bingzi: Bao Lan, duke of Jiangling, was enfeoffed as prince of Shi'an. Shen Ling, the puppet eastern Xuzhou inspector of the Northern Wei, surrendered and was made inspector of North Xuzhou.
16
九月丁未，以輔國將軍裴叔業為兖州刺史，征虜長史張沖為豫州刺史。 壬戌，以頻誅大臣，大赦天下。 辛未，以太子詹事王瑩為中領軍。
Ninth month, day dingwei: Pei Shuye, assists-the-state general, took Yanzhou; Zhang Chong, chief administrator on the campaign-against-barbarians staff, took Yuzhou. Day renxu: after a spate of ministerial executions, the court proclaimed a general amnesty. Day xinwei: Wang Ying, crown prince household head, became central protector-general of the army.
17
冬十月乙未，誅尚書令新除司空徐孝嗣，右僕射新除鎮軍將軍沈文季。 乙巳，以始興內史顏翻為廣州刺史，征虜將軍沈陵為越州刺史。
Winter, tenth month, day yiwei: Xu Xiaosi, director of the masters of writing and newly made minister of works, was put to death, as was Shen Wenji, right vice director and newly made army-pacifying general. Day yisi: Yan Fan, interior secretary of Shixing, took Guangzhou; Shen Ling, campaign-against-barbarians general, took Yuezhou.
18
十一月丙辰，太尉江州刺史陳顯達舉兵於尋陽。 乙丑，護軍將軍崔慧景加平南將軍、督眾軍南討事。 丙寅，以冠軍將軍王鴻為徐州刺史。
Eleventh month, day bingchen: Chen Xianda, grand commandant and inspector of Jiangzhou, rose in arms at Xunyang. Day yichou: Cui Huijing, protector-general, was also named pacify-the-south general and put in charge of the southern punitive armies. Day bingyin: Wang Hong, champion general, took Xuzhou.
19
十二月癸未，以前輔國將軍楊集始為秦州刺史。 甲申，陳顯達至京師，宮城嚴警，六軍固守。 乙酉，斬陳顯達傳首。 丁亥，以征虜將軍邵陵王寶攸為江州刺史。
Twelfth month, day guiwei: Yang Jishi, former assists-the-state general, became inspector of Qinzhou. Day jiashen: Chen Xianda reached the capital; the palace was heavily guarded and the six armies stood on the defensive. Day yiyou: Chen Xianda was beheaded; his head was displayed. Day dinghai: Prince Bao You of Shaoling, general who pacifies the barbarians, took Jiang.
20
永元二年
Yongyuan 2
21
二年春正月壬子，以輔國將軍張沖為南兖州刺史。 庚午，詔討豫州刺史裴叔業。
Year two, spring, first month, day renzi: Zhang Chong, supporter-of-the-state general, took South Yan. Day gengwu: an edict went out to attack Pei Shuye, inspector of Yu.
22
二月癸未，以黃門郎蕭寅為司州刺史。 丙戌，以衞尉蕭懿為豫州刺史，征壽春。 己丑，裴叔業病死，兄子植以壽春降虜。
Second month, day guiwei: Xiao Yin, gentleman of the yellow gate, took Si. Day bingxu: Xiao Yi, commandant of the guard, took Yu and marched on Shouchun. Day jichou: Pei Shuye died; his nephew Zhi handed Shouchun to the northerners.
23
三月癸卯，以輔國將軍張沖為司州刺史。 乙卯，遣平西將軍崔慧景率眾伐壽春。 （夏四月） 丁未，以新除冠軍將軍張沖為南兖州刺史。 崔慧景於廣陵舉兵襲京師。 壬子，右衞將軍左興盛督京邑水步眾軍。 南徐州刺史江夏王寶玄以京城納慧景。 乙卯，遣中領軍王瑩率眾軍屯北籬門。 壬戌，慧景至，瑩等敗績。 甲子，慧景入京師，宮內據城拒守。 豫州刺史蕭懿起義救援。
Third month, day guimao: Zhang Chong, supporter-of-the-state general, took Si. Day yimao: Cui Huijing, general who pacifies the west, was dispatched to lead an army against Shouchun. (Summer, fourth month.) Day dingwei: Zhang Chong, newly made champion general, took South Yan. At Guangling Cui Huijing rebelled and marched on the capital. Day renzi: Zuo Xingsheng, right guards general, commanded the capital's river and land armies. Prince Bao Xuan of Jiangxia, inspector of South Xu, opened the capital to Huijing. Day yimao: Wang Ying, central army-inspector-in-chief, led the hosts to camp at North Hedge Gate. Day renxu: Huijing arrived; Wang Ying and his commanders were routed. Day jiazi: Huijing took the capital while the palace garrison held the inner city. Xiao Yi of Yu province rose in arms to relieve the siege.
24
〔夏四月〕癸酉，慧景棄眾走，斬首。 詔曲赦京邑、南徐兖二州。 乙亥，以新除尚書右僕射蕭懿為尚書令。 丙子，以晉熙王寶嵩為南徐州刺史。
[Summer, fourth month,] day guiyou: Huijing deserted his men and ran; his head was taken. An edict granted partial amnesty to the capital, South Xu, and Yan. Day yihai: Xiao Yi, newly relieved as right vice director of the masters of writing, became director. Day bingzi: Prince Bao Song of Jinxi took South Xu.
25
五月乙巳，以虜偽豫州刺史王肅為豫州刺史。 戊申，以桂陽王寶貞為中護軍。 己酉，江夏王寶玄伏誅。 壬子，大赦。 乙丑，曲赦京邑、南徐兖二州。 戊辰，以始安王寶覽為湘州刺史。
Fifth month, day yisi: Wang Su, the northerners' puppet inspector of Yu, was made inspector of Yu. Day wushen: Prince Bao Zhen of Guiyang became army protector. Day jiyou: Prince Bao Xuan of Jiangxia was put to death. Day renzi: a general amnesty was proclaimed. Day yichou: partial amnesty for the capital, South Xu, and Yan. Day wuchen: Prince Bao Lan of Shi'an took Xiang.
26
六月庚寅，車駕於樂遊苑內會，如三元，京邑女人放觀。 戊戌，以新除冠軍將軍張沖為郢州刺史，守五兵尚書陸慧曉為南兖州刺史。
Sixth month, day gengyin: the emperor feasted in Leyou Garden in the manner of the Three Prime days, and capital women were let out to view. Day wuxu: Zhang Chong, newly made champion general, took Ying; Lu Huixiao, acting minister of the five arms, took South Yan.
27
秋七月甲辰，以驃騎司馬張稷為北徐州刺史。
Seventh month of autumn, day jiachen: Zhang Ji, valiant-cavalry staff officer, took North Xu.
28
八月丁酉，以新除驃騎司馬陳伯之為豫州刺史。 甲申夜，宮內火。
Eighth month, day dingyou: Chen Bozhi, newly made valiant-cavalry staff officer, took Yu. On the night of day jiashen the palace burned.
29
冬十月己卯，害尚書令蕭懿。
Tenth month of winter, day jimao: Xiao Yi, director of the masters of writing, was assassinated.
30
十一月辛丑，以寧朔將軍張稷為南兖州刺史。 甲寅，西中郎長史蕭穎冑起義兵於荊州。
Eleventh month, day xinchou: Zhang Ji, general who pacifies the north, took South Yan. Day jiayin: Xiao Yingzhou, chief clerk of the west central corps, rose in arms in Jing.
31
十二月，雍州刺史梁王起義兵於襄陽。 戊寅，以冠軍長史劉繪為雍州刺史。
Twelfth month: the Prince of Liang, inspector of Yong, raised loyal troops at Xiangyang. Day wuyin: Liu Hui, champion army chief clerk, took Yong.
32
永元三年
Yongyuan 3
33
三年春正月丙申朔，合朔時加寅漏上八刻，事畢，宮人於閱武堂元會，皇后正位，閹人行儀，帝戎服臨視。 丁酉，以驃騎大將軍晉安王寶義為司徒，新除撫軍將軍建安王寶寅為車騎將軍、開府儀同三司。 甲辰，以寧朔將軍王珍國為北徐州刺史。 辛亥，車駕祠南郊，詔大赦天下，百官陳讜言。
Year three, spring, first month, day bingchen and the new moon: conjunction fell in the yin watch, eight marks before night's top; when the observances ended, palace women held the New Year court at Review-the-Troops Hall—the empress in her seat, eunuchs directing the rites, the emperor in armor looking on. Day dingyou: Prince Bao Yi of Jin'an, valiant-cavalry grand general, became grand tutor; Prince Bao Yin of Jian'an, newly made pacifying-army general, became general of chariots and cavalry with privilege equal to the three excellencies and an open staff. Day jiachen: Wang Zhenguo, general who pacifies the north, took North Xu. Day xinhai: the emperor offered at the Southern Altar, proclaimed a general amnesty, and received frank memorials from the hundred offices.
34
二月丙寅，乾和殿西廂火。 壬午，詔遣羽林兵征雍州，中外纂嚴。 乙酉，以威烈將軍胡元進為廣州刺史。
Second month, day bingyin: the west wing of Qianhe Hall burned. Day renwu: Feathered Forest guards were sent against Yong; martial law was proclaimed within and without the court. Day yiyou: Hu Yuanjin, fierce-awe general, took Guang.
35
三月己亥，以驃騎將軍沈徽孚為廣州刺史。 甲辰，以輔國將軍張欣泰為雍州刺史。 丁未，南康王寶融即皇帝位於江陵。 癸丑，遣平西將軍陳伯之西征。
Third month, day jihai: Shen Huifu, valiant-cavalry general, took Guang. Day jiachen: Zhang Xintai, supporter-of-the-state general, took Yong. Day dingwei: Prince Bao Rong of Nankang took the imperial throne at Jiangling. Day guichou: Chen Bozhi, pacify-the-west general, was dispatched west.
36
六月，京邑雨水，遣中書舍人、二縣官長賑賜有差。 蕭穎冑弟穎孚起兵廬陵。 戊子，曲赦江州安成、廬陵二郡。
In the sixth month floods struck the capital; secretariat attendants and the heads of the two capital counties were sent out with graded relief. Yingfu, younger brother of Xiao Yingzhou, rose in arms in Luling. Day wuzi: a partial amnesty for Ancheng and Luling in Jiang.
37
秋七月癸巳，曲赦荊、雍二州。 甲午，雍州刺史張欣泰、前南譙太守王靈秀率石頭文武奉建安王寶寅向臺，至杜姥宅，宮門閉，乃散走。 己未，以征虜長史程茂為郢州刺史，驍騎將軍薛元嗣為雍州刺史。 是日，元嗣以郢城降義師。
Seventh month of autumn, day guisi: a partial amnesty for Jing and Yong. Day jiawu: Zhang Xintai of Yong and the former southern Qiao administrator Wang Lingxiu led Stone City's officials and troops to march Prince Bao Yin of Jian'an on the capital; at Old Du's lodge they found the palace gates closed and broke away in flight. Day jiwei: Cheng Mao, chief administrator on the campaign-against-barbarians staff, took Ying; Xue Yuansi, valiant-cavalry general, took Yong. That day Xue Yuansi handed Ying city to the loyal army.
38
八月丁卯，以輔國將軍申冑監豫州事。 辛巳，光祿大夫張瓌鎮石頭。 辛未，以太子左率李居士總督西討諸軍事，屯新亭城。
Eighth month, day dingmao: Shen Zhou, assists-the-state general, was made acting inspector of Yu. Day xinsi: Zhang Gui, household minister, took post at Stone City. Day xinwei: Li Jushi, crown prince left leader, was named commander of the western campaign and camped at Xinting.
39
九月甲辰，以居士為江州刺史，新除冠軍將軍王珍國為雍州刺史，車騎將軍建安王寶寅為荊州刺史。 以輔國將軍申冑監郢州，龍驤將軍馬仙琕監豫州，驍騎將軍徐元稱監徐州。 是日，義軍至南州，申冑軍二萬人於姑熟奔歸。 戊申，以後軍參軍蕭璝為司州刺史，前輔國將軍魯休烈為益州刺史，輔國長史趙越嘗為梁、南秦二州刺史。 丙辰，李居士與義軍戰於新亭，敗績。
Ninth month, day jiachen: Li Jushi took Jiang; Wang Zhenguo, newly made champion general, took Yong; Prince Bao Yin of Jian'an, general of chariots and cavalry, took Jing. Shen Zhou was made acting inspector of Ying, Ma Xianbi of Yu, and Xu Yuancheng of Xu. That day the loyal army reached the south; twenty thousand of Shen Zhou's men at Gushu deserted to them. Day wushen: Xiao Gui, rear-army aide, took Si; Lu Xiulie, former assists-the-state general, took Yi; Zhao Yuechang, assists-the-state chief administrator, took Liang and South Qin. Day bingchen: Li Jushi met the loyal army at Xinting and was routed.
40
冬十月甲戌，王珍國與義軍戰於朱雀桁，敗績。 戊寅，寧朔將軍徐元瑜以東府城降。 青、冀二州刺史桓和入衞，屯東宮，己卯，〔以〕眾降。 光祿大夫張瓌棄石頭還宮。 於是閉宮城門自守。 庚辰，以驍騎將軍胡虎牙為徐州刺史，左軍將軍徐智勇為益州刺史，游擊將軍牛平為梁、南秦二州刺史。 李居士以新亭降，琅邪城主張木亦降。 義師築長圍守宮城。
Tenth month of winter, day jiaxu: Wang Zhenguo fought at the Zhuque bridge and was routed. Day wuyin: Xu Yuanyu, pacify-the-frontier general, surrendered the Eastern Palace fortress. Huan He, inspector of Qing and Ji, came in to guard the capital and camped at the Eastern Palace; on day jimao he surrendered with his troops. Zhang Gui abandoned Stone City and withdrew into the palace. The palace gates were closed and the court held on alone. Day gengchen: Hu Huya took Xu, Xu Zhiyong took Yi, and Niu Ping took Liang and South Qin. Li Jushi gave up Xinting, and Zhang Mu, chief of Langye fortress, followed suit. The loyal army threw a tight cordon around the palace.
41
十二月丙寅，新除雍州刺史王珍國、侍中張稷率兵入殿廢帝，時年十九。
Twelfth month, day bingyin: Wang Zhenguo, newly made inspector of Yong, and Zhang Ji, palace attendant, entered the hall with troops and deposed him—he was nineteen.
42
帝在東宮便好弄，不喜書學，高宗亦不以為非，但勗以家人之行。 令太子求一日再入朝，發詔不許，使三日一朝。 嘗夜捕鼠達旦，以為笑樂。 高宗臨崩，屬以後事，以隆昌為戒，曰：「作事不可在人後！」 故委任羣小，誅諸宰臣，無不如意。
Even as heir he had loved games and shunned his books; the High Ancestor did not reprove him, only urged the manners of a private household. He asked leave to attend court twice daily; an edict refused and fixed him at once every three days. He once hunted mice through the night until dawn and called it sport. Dying, the High Ancestor charged him with what came next and, citing Longchang as a warning, said: Never let your deeds lag behind others! So he put his trust in petty favorites, killed the great ministers, and had his will in everything.
43
性重澀少言，不與朝士接，唯親信閹人及左右御刀應敕等，自江祏、始安王遙光誅後，漸便騎馬。 日夜於後堂戲馬，與親近閹人倡伎鼓叫。 常以五更就臥，至晡乃起。 王侯節朔朝見，晡後方前，或際闇遣出。 臺閣案奏，月數十日乃報，或不知所在。 二年元會，食後方出，朝賀裁竟，便還殿西序寢，自巳至申，百僚陪位，皆僵仆菜色，比起就會，怱遽而罷。
Grave, silent, and withdrawn, he would not meet the court; only eunuchs and blade-bearers at his elbow won his trust. After Jiang Shi and Prince Yao Guang of Shi'an were killed he slowly learned to ride. Day and night he raced horses in the rear hall, roaring with eunuchs, singers, and dancers at his side. He usually slept from the fifth watch until dusk. Princes and marquises waiting on festival audiences were not received until after dusk, or were dismissed in the dark. Secretariat papers might wait a month or more for reply—or he could not be found at all. At the year-two New Year court he appeared only after his meal; the homage scarcely finished before he went back to sleep in the hall's west wing. From si to shen the hundred offices stood rigid and wan; when he roused himself the rite ended in a scramble.
44
陳顯達事平，漸出遊走，所經道路，屏逐居民，從萬春門由東宮以東至于郊外，數十百里，皆空家盡室。 巷陌懸幔為高障，置仗人防守，謂之「屏除」。 或於市肆左側過親幸家，環回宛轉，周遍京邑。 每三四更中，鼓聲四出，幡戟橫路，百姓喧走相隨，士庶莫辨。 出輒不言定所，東西南北，無處不驅人。 高鄣之內，設部伍羽儀，復有數部，皆奏鼓吹羌胡伎，鼓角橫吹。 夜出晝反，火光照天。 拜愛姬潘氏為貴妃，乘臥輿，帝騎馬從後。 著織成袴褶，金簿帽，執七寶縛矟，戎服急裝，不變寒暑，陵冒雨雪，不避坑穽，馳騁渴乏，輒下馬解取腰邊蠡器酌水飲之，復上馬馳去。 馬乘具用錦繡處，患為雨所沾濕，織雜綵珠為覆蒙，備諸雕巧。 教黃門五六十人為騎客，又選無賴小人善走者為逐馬，左右五百人，常以自隨，奔走往來，略不暇息。 置射雉場二百九十六處，翳中帷帳及步鄣，皆袷以綠紅錦，金銀鏤弩，牙瑇瑁帖箭。 郊郭四民皆廢業，樵蘇路斷，吉凶失時，乳婦婚姻之家，移產寄室，或輿病棄屍，不得殯葬。 有棄病人於青溪邊者，吏懼為監司所問，推置水中，泥覆其面，須臾便死，遂失骸骨。
Once Chen Xianda was put down he took to the roads, clearing every street he used. From Wanchun Gate east of the Eastern Palace to the open country, for tens and hundreds of li, homes were emptied house by house. Lanes were hung with curtains as tall barricades and manned with guards—this they called "screening out." Sometimes he would swerve left into a favorite's shop in the market and wind through the city until he had seen it all. Every three or four watches drums broke out everywhere, banners and halberds choked the streets, crowds ran yelling in his train, and no one could tell gentle from simple. He never announced where he was bound; in every direction he drove people from his path. Inside the barricades he arrayed guards and feather banners, with several bands playing martial airs, Qiang and Hu acts, horns, and transverse flutes. He rode out at night and came back by day, torches reddening the sky. He made his favorite Lady Pan an honored consort; she rode a litter and he followed on horseback. He dressed in patterned jacket-trousers and a gold-foil cap and bore a seven-jewel spear; armed and lightly clad, he ignored heat and cold, rain and snow, pits and traps alike. Parched in the saddle he would drop down, drink from the flask at his belt, and be off again. Brocade on saddle and bridle he feared would be ruined by rain, so he had covers woven of colored silks and beads, worked with every fancy device. He drilled fifty or sixty yellow-gate boys as mounted companions and picked street thugs who could run as horse-chasers; five hundred men always at his heels, racing without pause. He laid out two hundred ninety-six pheasant grounds; blinds, tents, and walking screens were lined in green and red brocade, crossbows chased in gold and silver, arrows tipped with ivory and tortoise shell. City and suburb alike ceased their trades; woodcutters vanished from the roads; weddings and funerals lost their season; households with infants or brides moved their goods and lodged away, or carted the sick and left the dead unburied. A sick man cast out beside Qing Stream was pushed into the water by an officer afraid of the inspector's questions; mud was smeared over his face, he died at once, and his bones were never recovered.
45
後宮遭火之後，更起仙華、神仙、玉壽諸殿，刻畫雕綵，青 〈青 〈疑〉〉 金口帶，麝香塗壁，錦幔珠簾，窮極綺麗。 縶役工匠，自夜達曉，猶不副速，乃剔取諸寺佛剎殿藻井仙人騎獸以充足之。 世祖興光樓上施青漆，世謂之「青樓」。 帝曰：「武帝不巧，何不純用瑠璃。」
After fire in the inner palaces, he raised again the halls Xianhua, Shendian, and Yushou, carved and painted in color—green 〈(lacquer; source corrupt here) 〈reading restored from parallel texts〉 lacquer, gilded trim at the openings, musk on the walls, brocade hangings and pearl blinds—splendor taken as far as it could go. Artisans were pressed to work night through dawn and still could not finish fast enough; they stripped the temple halls—coffered ceilings, ceiling immortals, riders on beasts—to make up the shortfall. The Founding Emperor's Xingguang Tower was finished in green lacquer; people called it the Green Tower. The emperor said, "Emperor Wu had no craft—why not build it all in glass?"
46
潘氏服御，極選珍寶，主衣庫舊物，不復周用，貴市民閒金銀寶物，價皆數倍。 虎魄釧一隻，直百七十萬。 京邑酒租，皆折使輸金，以為金塗。 猶不能足，下揚、南徐二州橋桁塘埭丁計功為直，歛取見錢，供太樂主衣雜費。 由是所在塘瀆，多有隳廢。 又訂出雉頭鶴氅白鷺縗，親幸小人，因緣為姦利，課一輸十，郡縣無敢言者。
For Lady Pan's dress and fittings only the choicest gems were taken; the wardrobe depots' old goods no longer sufficed, and gold and silver bought from townsfolk went for many times the common price. One amber bracelet cost one million seven hundred thousand. Wine tax in the capital was converted so payers brought gold instead of grain, for gilding work. Still it was not enough; Yang and South Xu were ordered to turn bridge timber, pond, and dam corvée into cash wages, levy ready money on the spot, and pay for the music office, wardrobe, and sundry costs. Ponds and canals throughout the realm were often wrecked and left derelict. He also ordered out pheasant-head caps, crane cloaks, and egret mourning dress; favored lackeys turned the orders into extortion—one item in, ten taken—and no district dared complain.
47
三年夏，於閱武堂起芳樂苑，山石皆塗以五采，跨池水立紫閣諸樓觀，壁上畫男女私䙝之像。 種好樹美竹，天時盛暑，未及經日，便就萎枯。 於是徵求民家，望樹便取，毀徹牆屋以移致之，朝栽暮拔，道路相繼，花藥雜草，亦復皆然。
Year three, summer: beside Review-the-Troops Hall he built the Fragrant Pleasure Park, painted the rockwork in five colors, set the Purple Pavilion and other belvederes over the pool, and had the walls painted with men and women in licentious disarray. He planted prized trees and bamboo; in midsummer heat they wilted within a day. Households were scoured: any tree in view was seized, walls and roofs demolished to transplant it; planted in the morning, pulled up at evening, the roads one long procession—and flowers and weeds fared no better.
48
又於苑中立市，太官每旦進酒肉雜肴，使宮人屠酤，潘氏為市令，帝為市魁，執罰，爭者就潘氏決判。
He opened a market in the park; each morning the imperial kitchen sent wine, meat, and side dishes; palace women played butcher and innkeeper; Lady Pan was market overseer, the emperor market boss—he held the rod, and quarrels went to Lady Pan to decide.
49
帝有膂力，能擔白虎橦，自製雜色錦伎衣，綴以金花玉鏡眾寶，逞諸意態。 所寵羣小黨與三十一人，黃門十人。 初任新蔡人徐世檦為直閤驍騎將軍，凡有殺戮，皆其用命。 殺徐孝嗣後，封為臨汝縣子。 陳顯達事起，加輔國將軍。 雖用護軍崔慧景為都督，而兵權實在世檦。 及事平，世檦謂人曰：「五百人軍主，能平萬人都督。」 世檦亦知帝昏縱，密謂其黨茹法珍、梅蟲兒曰：「何世天子無要人，但阿儂貨主惡耳。」 法珍等爭權，以白帝。 帝稍惡其凶強，以二年正月，遣禁兵殺之，世檦拒戰而死。 自是法珍、蟲兒用事，竝為外監，口稱詔敕； 中書舍人王咺之與相脣齒，專掌文翰。 其餘二十餘人，皆有勢力。 崔慧景平後，法珍封餘干縣男，蟲兒封竟陵縣男。
He was powerfully built and could carry a white-tiger beam; he designed his own parti-colored brocade show-robes set with gold flowers, jade mirrors, and a clutter of gems, strutting every fancy. His pet schemers were thirty-one men; ten were yellow-gate attendants. He first made Xu Shibang of Xincai direct-gate valiant-cavalry general; every killing ran through him. When Xu Xiaosi was put to death, Shibang was made viscount of Linru. At Chen Xianda's rising he was raised to supporter-of-the-state general. Cui Huijing was named commander, but real command stayed with Shibang. After victory Shibang told others, "A five-hundred-man captain can put down a ten-thousand-man commander." Shibang knew too that the emperor was muddled and reckless; in secret he told his clique Ru Fazhen and Mei Chong'er, "What reign ever lacked men the throne must have? Only the Old Fellow is a rotten master." Fazhen and the rest jockeyed for power and told the emperor. The emperor grew weary of his brutality; in year two, first month, he sent the guard to kill him—Shibang fought back and died. After that Fazhen and Chong'er ran affairs, both as outer supervisors, issuing orders in the emperor's voice; Palace secretary Wang Youzhi was their twin at court and held the brush alone. More than twenty others all had clout. When Cui Huijing fell, Fazhen became baron of Yugan and Chong'er baron of Jingling.
50
及義師起，江、郢二鎮已降，帝遊騁如舊，謂茹法珍曰：「須來至白門前，當一決。」 義師至近郊，乃聚兵為固守之計。 召王侯朝貴分置尚書都座及殿省。 又信鬼神，崔慧景事時，拜蔣子文神為假黃鉞、使持節、相國、太宰、大將軍、錄尚書、揚州牧、鍾山王。 至是又尊為皇帝。 迎神像及諸廟雜神皆入後堂，使所親巫朱光尚禱祀祈福。 以冠軍將軍王珍國領三萬人據大桁，莫有鬬志，遣左右直長閹竪王寶孫督戰，呼為「王長子」。 寶孫切罵諸將帥，直閤將軍席豪發憤突陣死，豪，驍將，既獘，眾軍於是土崩，軍人從朱雀觀上自投及赴淮死者無數。 於是閉城自守，城內軍事委王珍國。 兖州刺史張稷入衞京師，以稷為副，實甲猶七萬人。
When the righteous armies rose and Jiang and Ying had yielded, the emperor still rode out as ever and told Ru Fazhen, "Let them come to White Gate—we will finish it in one throw." When the loyalists were at the city's edge, he at last gathered men to hold the walls. Princes, nobles, and the great of court were called in and posted to the Secretariat benches and palace bureaus. He trusted spirits as well; in Cui Huijing's rising he had made the god Jiang Ziwen provisional golden-axe bearer, commissioner plenipotentiary, prime minister, grand tutor, grand general, recorder of the Secretariat, governor of Yang, and prince of Zhongshan. Now he was raised again—to emperor. The god's image and every shrine spirit were moved into the rear hall, and his pet shaman Zhu Guangshang was told to sacrifice for fortune. Wang Zhenguo, champion general, led thirty thousand to the Great Floating Bridge; no one wanted to fight; the emperor sent the eunuch Wang Baosun, a direct attendant, to drive the battle, nicknamed "Wang the eldest son." Baosun cursed the commanders; Xi Hao, valiant-cavalry general, stormed the enemy line in fury and was killed—Hao was a crack fighter, and with him gone the army broke; men leaped from Zhuque Tower or hurled themselves into the Huai till the dead could not be numbered. The city was closed for a last stand; inside the walls Wang Zhenguo held military affairs. Zhang Ji, inspector of Yan, came in to defend the capital and was made second in command; ready armor still came to seventy thousand.
51
帝烏帽袴褶，備羽儀，登南掖門臨望。 又虛設鎧馬齋仗千人，皆張弓拔白，出東掖門，稱蔣王出盪。 素好鬬軍隊，初使宮人為軍，後乃用黃門。 親自臨陳，詐被瘡，使人輿將去。 至是於閱武堂設牙門軍頓，每夜嚴警。 帝於殿內騎馬從鳳莊門入徽明門，馬被銀蓮葉具裝鎧，雜羽孔翠寄生，逐馬左右衞從，晝眠夜起如平常。 聞外鼓叫聲，被大紅袍登景陽樓屋上望，弩幾中之。 眾皆怠怨，不為致力。 募兵出戰，出城門數十步，皆坐甲而歸。 慮城外有伏兵，乃燒城傍諸府署，六門之內皆蕩盡。 城中閣道西掖門內，相聚為市，販死牛馬肉。 帝初與羣小計議，陳顯達一戰便敗，崔慧景圍城退走，謂義師遠來，不過旬日，亦應散去，敕太官辦樵米為百日糧而已。 大桁敗後，眾情兇懼，法珍等恐人眾驚走，故閉城不復出軍。 既而義師長圍既立，壍柵嚴固，然後出盪，屢戰不捷。
He wore black cap and riding kit, full escort, and climbed the South Flank Gate to watch. He staged a thousand armored horses in battle order, bows drawn and blades bare, marched them out the East Flank Gate, and announced that Lord Jiang was riding forth to clear the field. He had long loved war games: first palace women as soldiers, then eunuchs. He went to the line himself, feigned a wound, and had bearers haul him away. Now he pitched a camp gate and army station at Review-the-Troops Hall and kept sharp watch every night. He rode inside the halls from Fengzhuang Gate to Huiming Gate; his horse was caparisoned in silver lotus armor, bright feathers, kingfisher, and mistletoe; runners paced him on either side; he slept by day and lived by night as before. At the sound of drums and cries outside he threw on a great red robe, climbed to the roof of Jingyang Tower to see, and almost caught a bolt. Men grew slack and bitter and would not fight in earnest. Levies marched out, walked a few dozen steps past the gate, sat down in their armor, and marched home. Fearing troops in ambush beyond the walls, they torched the yamens along the ramparts until the six gates' inner wards were bare. In the cloistered lanes inside the Western Flank Gate they made a market and hawked the meat of dead oxen and horses. He and his cronies first reckoned that Chen Xianda would fall in one fight and Cui Huijing would ring the city and leave—that the loyal host, coming from far away, could not last ten days—and told the palace kitchens to lay in firewood and rice for a hundred days, no more. Once the Great Floating Bridge was lost, terror spread; Fazhen and his circle feared a stampede and sealed the gates, sending no one out again. Not until the loyal army had drawn a tight cordon and raised stout ramparts did they ride out to break it—and lost, again and again.
52
帝尤惜金錢，不肯賞賜，法珍叩頭請之，帝曰：「賊來獨取我邪？ 何為就我求物？」 後堂儲數百具榜，啟為城防，帝云擬作殿，竟不與。 又催御府細作三百人精仗，待圍解以擬屏除。 金銀雕鏤雜物，倍急於常。
He clung to coin above all and would not pay the troops; Fazhen kowtowed and pleaded, and the emperor said, "When the enemy comes, do they want only me? Why ask me for goods? Hundreds of palisade frames lay in the rear hall; someone asked to use them for the walls, but he said they were for a new hall and never let them go. He also hurried the imperial workshops for three hundred fine blades from the craftsmen, to furnish screens and fittings once the siege ended. Gold and silver trinkets, carved and chased, were ordered at double the ordinary pace.
53
王珍國、張稷懼禍及，率兵入殿，分軍又從西上閣入後宮斷之，御刀豐勇之為內應。 是夜，帝在含德殿吹笙歌作女兒子，臥未熟。 聞兵入，趨出北戶，欲還後宮。 清曜閤已閉，閹人禁防黃泰平以刀傷其膝，仆地。 顧曰：「奴反邪？」 直後張齊斬首送梁王。
Wang Zhenguo and Zhang Ji, dreading the blow would fall on them, marched into the hall; another column climbed the Western Upper Gallery into the inner quarters to sever escape; Feng Yongzhi of the imperial blades opened the way within. That night he was in Hede Hall, piping and singing girl-songs, not yet deep in sleep. At the sound of soldiers he bolted through the north door toward the inner palace. Qingyao Pavilion was barred; the eunuch guard Huang Taiping slashed his knee and he collapsed. He turned and cried, "Slaves rebel? Zhang Qi, direct attendant, took his head and sent it to the Prince of Liang.
54
宣德太后令曰：「皇室受終，祖宗齊聖，太祖高皇帝肇基駿命，膺籙受圖，世祖武皇帝係明下武，高宗明皇帝重隆景業，咸降年不永，宮車係晏。 皇祚之重，允屬儲元。 而稟質凶愚，發於稚齒。 爰自保姆，迄至成童，忍戾昏頑，觸途必著。 高宗留心正嫡，立嫡惟長，輔以羣才，閒以賢戚，內外維持，冀免多難，未及朞稔，便逞屠戮。 密戚近親，元勳良輔，覆族殲門，旬月相係。 凡所任仗，盡慝窮姦，皆營伍屠販，容狀險醜，身秉朝權，手斷國命，誅戮無辜，納其財產，睚眦之閒，屠覆比屋。 身居元首，好是賤事，危冠短服，坐臥以之。 晨出夜反，無復已極，驅斥氓庶，巷無居人，老細奔遑，寘身無所，東邁西屏，北出南驅，負疾輿屍，填街塞陌。 興築繕造，日夜不窮，晨構夕毀，朝穿暮塞，絡以隨珠，方斯已陋，飾以璧璫，曾何足道。 時暑赫曦，流金鑠石，移竹藝果，匪日伊夜，根未及植，葉已先枯，畚鍤紛紜，勤倦無已。 散費國儲，專事浮飾，逼奪民財，自近及遠，兆庶恇恇，流宂道路。 府帑既竭，肆奪市道，工商裨販，行號道泣。 屈此萬乘，躬事角抵，昂首翹肩，逞能橦木，觀者如堵，曾無怍容。 芳樂、華林，竝立闤闠，踞肆鼓刀，手銓輕重。 干戈鼓譟，昏曉靡息，無戎而城，豈足云譬。 至於居喪淫讌之愆，三年載弄之醜，反道違常之釁，牝鷄晨鳴之慝，於事已細，故可得而略也。 罄楚、越之竹，未足以言，校辛、癸之君，豈或能匹。 征東將軍忠武奮發，投袂萬里，光奉明聖，翊成中興。 乘勝席卷，掃清京邑，而羣小靡識，嬰城自固，緩戮稽誅，焂彌旬月，宜速勦定，寧我邦家。 可潛遣閒介，密宣此旨，忠勇齊奮，遄加蕩撲，放斥昏凶，衞送外第。 未亡人不幸，驟此百罹，感念存沒，心焉如割。 奈何！ 奈何！」 又令依漢海昏侯故事，追封東昏侯。 茹法珍、梅蟲兒、王咺之等伏誅。 豐勇之原死。
Empress Dowager Xuande proclaimed: "The throne passed in turn; our forebears were sages together. The High Ancestor laid the splendid foundation and took heaven's register; the Martial Ancestor carried Ming forward and ended Wu; the Luminous High Ancestor renewed the bright estate—each died young, the palace carriage halted at dusk. The weight of the realm rightly fell on the crown prince. Yet from baby teeth he showed a savage, witless nature. From nurse to grown boy he was savage, twisted, and dull—every step left a wound. The High Ancestor fixed on the true heir, set the eldest son of the proper line, backed him with able men and worthy kin, braced court and camp to spare the state—yet before a year was out the boy turned butcher. Kinsmen near and far, founding ministers and loyal aides—clans wiped out, gates sealed in blood, one month after another. Every man he trusted was a villain to the bone—camp riffraff and market butchers, faces foul and feral; he held the court in his fist and the realm by his whim, killed the guiltless for their gold, and over a trifle razed whole lanes. Though he wore the crown he loved low work—tall caps and short jackets for sitting and sleeping. He left at dawn and returned at night without end, drove the people from their lanes till no one dwelt there; young and old ran with nowhere to stand, driven east and west, north and south; the sick were carried, corpses shouldered—streets and alleys choked full. Building and repair knew no rest—raised by morning, torn down by night, dug at dawn, filled by dusk; even ropes of pearls seemed shabby, jade pendants hardly worth a word. In heat that melted metal and scorched stone he moved bamboo and fruit trees day and night alike; roots had not taken hold before leaves withered; spades and baskets never stopped. He emptied the treasury for frippery, robbed the people near and far, and the masses fled in terror along every road. When the coffers ran dry he looted the markets in the open; craftsmen, traders, and hawkers wept as they walked. The ruler of ten thousand chariots wrestled in person—head high, shoulders hunched, daring feats on the pole—while crowds packed like a wall and he never blushed. At Fangyue and Hualin he pitched market booths side by side, squatted in stalls, beat knives, and weighed goods in his palm. Weapons and drums roared night and day; a capital without an enemy—words fail the likeness. Debauch in mourning, childish games through three years of rule, breaches of rite and reversal of right, the hen that crows at dawn—these are small beside the rest and may be set aside. Strip every bamboo in Chu and Yue and you could not record it all; set him beside the tyrants Xin and Gui—he would still outdo them. The loyal, martial campaign-east general roused himself, cast his sleeve aside, and marched ten thousand li to serve the bright sage and lift the restoration. He swept the capital on the tide of victory, yet these small men would not see reason, clung to the walls, and stalled justice week after week—it is time to crush them and give the realm peace. Send trusted men in secret to proclaim this will; let the loyal and brave rise together, strike at once, drive out the blind and cruel, and guard him to the outer palace. I, who remain, am wretched to meet such hundredfold grief; thinking of the quick and the dead, my heart is torn. Alas! Alas!" She further ordered, on the Han model of Marquis Haihun, that he be posthumously titled Marquess of Eastern Darkness. Ru Fazhen, Mei Chong'er, Wang Xuanzhi, and the rest were put to death. Feng Yongzhi was spared execution.
55
【史論】
Historical appraisal
56
史臣曰：漢宣帝時，南郡獲白虎，獲之者張武，言武張而猛服也。 東昏侯亡德橫流，道歸拯亂，躬當翦戮，實啟太平，推閹竪之名字，亦天意也。
The historian writes: Under Han Emperor Xuan, Nan commandery took a white tiger; the man who caught it was named Zhang Wu—"Wu" for arms wide and the beast tamed. The Marquess of Eastern Darkness poured out vice; the Way turned to save the age; his own body had to fall to open peace—even the eunuchs' names, read backward, show heaven's hand.
57
贊曰：東昏慢道，匹癸方辛。 乃隳典則，乃棄彝倫，玩習兵火，終用焚身。
Appraisal: The Marquess of Eastern Darkness scorned the Way—another Gui beside Xin. He shattered the statutes, cast off the bonds of kin, toyed with the flames of war, and at last burned in them.