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Book of Southern Qi, Volume 8, Annals 8 Emperor He was named Baorong, courtesy name Zhizhao; he was the eighth son of Emperor Gaozong. In the first year of Jianwu, he was enfeoffed as Prince of Sui Commandery, with a fief of two thousand households. In the third year, he became General Who Vanquishes the Foe and took charge of military affairs at the Shitou garrison. In the first year of Yongyuan, his enfeoffment was changed to Prince of Nankang, and he became Bearer of the Staff, commander of military affairs in Jing, Yong, Yi, Ning, Liang, Southern Qin, and Northern Qin provinces, General of the Western Household, and governor of Jing Province.
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二年十一月甲寅，長史蕭穎冑殺輔國將軍、巴西梓潼二郡太守劉山陽，奉梁王舉義。 乙卯，教纂嚴。 又教曰：「吾躬率晉陽，翦此凶孽，戎事方勤，宜覃澤惠。 所領內繫囚見徒，罪無輕重，殊死已下，皆原遣。 先有位署，卽復本職。 將吏轉一階。 從征身有家口停鎮，給廩食。 凡諸雜役見在諸軍帶甲之身，克定之後，悉免爲民。 其功效賞報，別有科條。」 丙辰，以雍州刺史梁王爲使持節、都督前鋒諸軍事、左將軍。 丁巳，以蕭穎胄爲右將軍、都督行留諸軍事。 戊午，梁王上表勸進。 十二月乙亥，羣僚勸進，並不許。 壬辰，驍騎將軍夏侯亶自京師至江陵，稱宣德太后令：「西中郎將南康王宜纂承皇祚，光臨億兆。 方俟清宮，未卽大號，可且封宣城、南琅邪、南東海、東陽、臨海、新安、尋陽、南郡、竟陵、宜都十郡爲宣城王，相國、荊州牧，加黃皞，置僚屬，選百官，西中郎府南康國並如故。 須軍次近路，主者詳依舊典，法駕奉迎。」 三年正月乙巳，王受命，大赦，唯梅蟲兒、茹法珍等不在赦例。 右將軍蕭穎胄爲左長史，進號鎮軍將軍，梁王進號征東將軍。 甲戌，以冠軍將軍楊公則爲湘州刺史。 甲寅，建牙于城南。 二月乙丑，以冠軍長史王茂先爲江州刺史，冠軍將軍曹景宗爲郢州刺史，右將軍邵陵王寶攸爲荊州刺史。 己巳，羣僚上尊號，立宗廟及南北郊。 甲申，梁王率大衆屯沔口，郢州刺史張沖拒守。 三月丁酉，張沖死，驃騎將軍薛元嗣等固城。 中興元年春三月乙巳，即皇帝位，大赦，改元。 文武賜位二等；鰥寡孤獨不能自存者穀，人五斛。 即永元三年也。 以相國左長史蕭穎冑為尚書令，晉安王寶義為司空，廬陵王寶源為車騎將軍、開府儀同三司，建安王寶寅為徐州刺史，散騎常侍夏侯詳為中領軍，領軍將軍蕭偉為雍州刺史。 丙午，有司奏封庶人寶卷為零陽侯，詔不許。 又奏為涪陵王，詔可。 乙酉，尚書令蕭穎冑行荊州刺史，假梁王黃鉞。 壬子，以征虜將軍柳惔為益、寧二州刺史。 己未，以冠軍將軍莊丘黑為梁、南秦二州刺史，冠軍將軍鄧元起為廣州刺史。
On jiayin, in the eleventh month of the second year, Chief Clerk Xiao Yingzhou killed Liu Shanyang, General of the Household for All Purposes and governor of Baxi and Zitong commanderies, and raised arms in support of the Prince of Liang. On yimao, an edict ordered troops mustered. Another edict said: "I am personally leading the host from Jinyang to cut down these criminals; with war at hand, mercy should be spread abroad. All prisoners and convicts in our jurisdiction, whatever the crime, down to and including capital offenses, are pardoned and released. Those who previously held office are restored to their former posts at once. Officers and clerks advance one rank. For soldiers on campaign whose families remain in garrison posts, rations are provided. All miscellaneous laborers now serving in the armies in armor, once the realm is settled, are wholly freed to civilian status. Rewards for merit are set forth in separate regulations." On bingchen, the Prince of Liang, governor of Yong Province, was appointed Bearer of the Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the Vanguard Armies, and General of the Left. On dingsi, Xiao Yingzhou was made General of the Right and commander of the rear and garrison forces. On wuwu, the Prince of Liang submitted a memorial urging advancement to the throne. On yihai of the twelfth month, the assembled officials urged him to take the throne, but he refused each time. On renchen, Swift-as-Steeds General Xiahou Dan arrived from the capital at Jiangling and announced an order of Empress Dowager Xuande: "The Western Palace Attendant, the Prince of Nankang, should succeed to the throne and rule the myriad people. The palace must first be cleansed before he assumes the imperial title; for now he is enfeoffed as Prince of Xuancheng over ten commanderies—Xuancheng, Nanlangye, Nandonghai, Dongyang, Linhai, Xin'an, Xunyang, Nanjun, Jingling, and Yidu—made chancellor and governor of Jing Province, granted yellow imperial regalia, with a full staff and officials chosen; the Southern Palace and the state of Nankang remain as before. When the army draws near on the main road, the responsible offices are to follow the old precedents and escort him with the imperial equipage." On yisi of the first month of year 3, the Prince accepted the mandate; a general amnesty was proclaimed, excluding only Mei Chong'er, Ru Fazhen, and the like. General of the Right Xiao Yingzhou was made left chief clerk and advanced to General Who Pacifies the Army; the Prince of Liang was advanced to General Who Subdues the East. On jiaxu, General Who Vanquishes the Foe Yang Gongze was made governor of Xiang Province. On jiayin, military banners were raised south of the city. On yichou of the second month, Wang Maoxian, chief clerk to the General Who Vanquishes the Foe, was made governor of Jiang Province; General Who Vanquishes the Foe Cao Jingzong was made governor of Ying Province; and General of the Right the Prince of Shaoling, Bao You, was made governor of Jing Province. On jisi, the assembled officials offered the honorific title, and the ancestral temple and the southern and northern suburban altars were established. On jiashen, the Prince of Liang led the main army to camp at Hankou; Ying Province governor Zhang Chong held the city in resistance. On dingyou of the third month, Zhang Chong died; General of Agile Cavalry Xue Yuansi and others held the city fast. In spring, on yisi of the third month of the first year of Zhongxing, he ascended the imperial throne, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name. Civil and military officials were granted two ranks; widowers, widows, orphans, and the childless who could not support themselves were given grain, five hu per person. This was the third year of Yongyuan. Xiao Yingzhou, left chief clerk to the Chancellor, was made Director of the Masters of Writing; Prince Baoyi of Jin'an was made Minister of Works; Prince Baoyuan of Luling was made General of Chariots and Cavalry with a staff office equal in ceremony to the Three Excellencies; Prince Baoyin of Jian'an was made governor of Xu Province; Palace Attendant Xiahou Xiang was made Commander of the Palace Guards; and General of the Palace Guards Xiao Wei was made governor of Yong Province. On bingwu, the responsible offices memorialized to enfeoff the commoner Baojuan as Marquis of Lingyang; the edict did not permit it. They again memorialized to make him Prince of Fuling, and the edict approved. On yiyou, Director of the Masters of Writing Xiao Yingzhou was made acting governor of Jing Province, and the yellow axe was provisionally granted to the Prince of Liang. On renzi, General Who Subdues Caitiffs Liu Tan was made governor of Yi and Ning provinces. On jiwei, General Who Vanquishes the Foe Zhuangqiu Hei was made governor of Liang and Southern Qin provinces, and General Who Vanquishes the Foe Deng Yuanqi was made governor of Guang Province.
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夏四月戊辰，詔曰：「荊、雍義舉所基，實始王迹。 君子勞心，細人盡力，宜加酬獎，副其乃誠。 凡東討衆軍及諸向義之衆，可普復除。」
In summer, on wuchen of the fourth month, an edict said: "The righteous rising in Jing and Yong, the very foundation of our royal enterprise, began with our kingly work. The gentleman labors in counsel, the common man in strength; rewards should be increased to match their sincere effort. All armies on the eastern expedition and all who have joined the righteous cause are granted a general restoration of rank."
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On yimao of the fifth month, the emperor visited the meditation hall of Zhulin Temple and feasted the assembled ministers. Baxi governor Lu Xiulie and Badong governor Xiao Huiyun's son Gui resisted the righteous army.
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In autumn, in the seventh month, Wu Ziyang, commander of the eastern army's thirteen divisions, came to relieve Ying Province and encamped at Jiahu. On dingyou, General Who Subdues the Barbarians Wang Maoxian routed him. On xinhai, Maoxian was made central guard commander. On dingmao, Sun Lezu, lord of Lushan, surrendered the city. On jiwei, Xue Yuansi, lord of Ying city, surrendered.
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九月乙未，詔梁王若定京邑，得以便宜從事。
On yiwei of the ninth month, an edict stated that if the Prince of Liang should pacify the capital, he might act at his discretion.
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On yiwei of the eleventh month of winter, General of the Household for All Purposes Li Yuanlü was made governor of Yu Province. On renyin, Director of the Masters of Writing and General Who Pacifies the Army Xiao Yingzhou died; Attendant at the Yellow Gate Xiao Dan was ordered to handle the affairs of Jing Province and the princely establishment. On dingsi, Xiao Gui and Lu Xiulie surrendered.
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On bingyin of the twelfth month, Jiankang was pacified. On jisi, the empress dowager ordered that the Prince of Liang be made grand marshal, supervisor of the Masters of Writing, general of agile cavalry, and governor of Yang Province, enfeoffed as Duke of Jian'an, with authority following the precedent of Prince Wuling of Jin when he held the imperial mandate; all officials were to pay him homage. On renshen, the enfeoffment was changed: Prince of Jian'an Bao Yin became Prince of Poyang. On guiyou, Minister of Works and governor of Yang Province, Prince of Jin'an Bao Yi, was made grand commandant and continued as minister of works. On jiaxu, twenty million cash and five thousand bolts each of cloth and silk were granted to the grand marshal. On yiyou, General of the Household for All Purposes Xiao Hong was made central guard commander.
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In spring, on wuxu of the first month of year 2, Empress Dowager Xuande presided at court and took up residence in the inner palace. The grand marshal, the Prince of Liang, relinquished his hold on the imperial mandate; homage was paid him as before. On jihai, General Who Pacifies the North Xiao Bing was made supervisor of Southern Yan Province. On renyin, the grand marshal was made commander-in-chief of all military affairs, inner and outer, with extraordinary honors added. On jiyou, Chief Clerk of the Grand Marshal Wang Liang was made acting director of the Masters of Writing. On jiayin, an edict advanced the grand marshal, the Prince of Liang, to chancellor with charge of all government, governor of Yang Province, enfeoffed as Duke of Liang over ten commanderies, granted the nine bestowals, the cap of distant travel, rank above all princes, and the chancellor's green reins. On jiwei, the newly appointed General of the Right Cao Jingzong was made governor of Ying Province.
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On renxu of the second month, Prince of Xiangdong Bao Ye was executed. On wuchen, an edict advanced the Duke of Liang to Prince of Liang and added ten more commanderies to his fief. On yiwei of the third month, the empress dowager ordered that the Liang kingdom be supplied with five million cash, five thousand bolts of cloth, and one thousand bolts of silk. On xinchou, Prince Baoyin of Poyang fled to the northern enemy; Prince Baoyou of Shaoling, Prince Baosong of Jinxi, and Prince Baozhen of Guiyang were executed. On jiawu, the Prince of Liang was ordered to wear a crown with twelve pendant strings, set up the Son of Heaven's banners, have warning calls when he went out and clearing calls when he entered, ride in the golden-root carriage drawn by six horses, prepare the five seasonal attendant carriages, establish the maotou and yunhan banners, use eight rows of dancers for music and dance, and set bells and racks in the palace-hung arrangement. The ennoblements and appointments of royal sons and daughters were all to follow the old rites. On gengxu, Xiao Xiu, chief clerk to the General Who Vanquishes the Foe, was made governor of Southern Xu Province, and Cai Daogong, newly appointed Commander of the Palace Guards, was made governor of Si Province. The imperial carriage returned east and reached Gushu. On bingchen, the throne was yielded to the Prince of Liang. On dingsi, Prince Baoyuan of Luling died. In summer, on xinyou of the fourth month, the abdication edict arrived, and the empress dowager withdrew to an outer palace. On dingmao, the Prince of Liang honored the emperor as Prince of Baling, housed him at Gushu, and had him use the Qi calendar, all according to precedent. On wuchen, he died at the age of fifteen. He was posthumously honored as Emperor He of Qi and buried in Gong'an Mausoleum.
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The historian says: Xia perished through Jie; Yin fell with Zhou of Shang; when sacrifices to Heaven were changed and the calendar revised, dynastic rule could not be prolonged. Yet when the imperial mandate gathers, a house may rise again in Western Chu; when the sacred vessel comes only for a season, though fate has its hidden workings, to bear the great title and glorious name is fortune still.
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贊曰：和帝晚隆，掃難清宮。 達機覩運，高頌永終。
In praise: Emperor He rose late; he swept away disaster and cleansed the palace. He discerned the turning of fortune and loftily sang praise that endured to the end.