Volume 80 Biographies 70: Treacherous Officials

賊侯景熊曇朗周迪留異陳寶應

Treacherous Officials: Hou Jing, Xiong Tanlang, Zhou Di, Liu Yi, and Chen Baoying

侯景，字萬景，魏之懷朔鎮人也。少而不羈，為鎮功曹史。魏末北方大亂，乃事邊將尒朱榮，甚見器重。初學兵法于榮部將慕容紹宗，未幾紹宗每詢問焉。後以軍功為定州刺史。始魏相高歡微時，與景甚相友好，及歡誅尒朱氏，景以眾降，仍為歡用。稍至吏部尚書，非其好也。每獨曰：「何當離此反故紙邪。」尋封濮陽郡公。

Hou Jing, whose style name was Wanjing, came from Huaishuo garrison in the Northern Wei. As a young man he was wild and undisciplined, and held the post of garrison merit clerk. When the north fell into chaos at the end of the Wei dynasty, he entered the service of the frontier commander Erzhu Rong, who held him in high regard. He first studied warfare under Murong Shaozong, a general under Erzhu Rong; before long Shaozong was seeking his counsel on military questions. He later rose to governor of Dingzhou on the strength of his battlefield achievements. In Gao Huan's early days, before he became chancellor of Wei, he and Hou Jing were close friends. When Gao Huan overthrew the Erzhu clan, Hou Jing submitted with his forces and remained in Gao Huan's service. He eventually reached the post of Minister of the Civil Service, a role that did not suit him. He often muttered to himself: "When will I be rid of this damned paperwork?" Before long he was created Duke of Puyang.

歡之敗于沙苑，景謂歡曰：「宇文泰恃于戰勝，今必致怠，請以數千勁騎至關中取之。」歡以告其妃婁氏，曰：「彼若得泰，亦將不歸。得泰失景，于事奚益。」歡乃止。後為河南道大行台，位司徒。又言於歡曰：「恨不得泰。請兵三萬，橫行天下；要須濟江縛取蕭衍老公，以作太平寺主。」歡壯其言，使擁兵十萬，專制河南，仗任若己之半體。

After Gao Huan's defeat at Shayuan, Hou Jing urged him: "Yuwen Tai is drunk on victory and will surely grow careless. Give me a few thousand elite horsemen and I will ride into Guanzhong and take him." Gao Huan told his consort Lady Lou: "If he captures Yuwen Tai, he will not come back either. What good would it do to gain Yuwen Tai and lose Hou Jing?" Gao Huan dropped the idea. He later served as Grand Commissioner of the Henan Circuit with the rank of Minister over the Masses. He told Gao Huan again: "It galls me that I cannot lay hands on Yuwen Tai. Give me thirty thousand men and I will march wherever I please; I need only cross the Yangzi, seize that old man Xiao Yan, and install him as abbot of Taiping Temple." Gao Huan was stirred by this bold talk. He gave Hou Jing command of a hundred thousand troops and sole authority over Henan, trusting him as he would his own right hand.

景右足短，弓馬非其長，所在唯以智謀。時歡部將高昂、彭樂皆雄勇冠時，唯景常輕之，言：「似豕突爾，勢何所至」。及將鎮河南，請於歡曰：「今握兵在遠，奸人易生詐偽，大王若賜以書，請異於他者。」許之。每與景書，別加微點，雖子弟弗之知。

Hou Jing had a shortened right leg and was no master of bow or horse; everywhere he went he relied on cunning alone. Gao Huan's generals Gao Ang and Peng Le were the boldest warriors of the age, yet Hou Jing alone constantly scorned them, saying: "They rush like stampeding pigs—how far can that take them?" As he prepared to take up his post in Henan, he asked Gao Huan: "With my army stationed so far away, impostors can easily forge your orders. If you write to me, please mark your letters in a way no one else can imitate." Gao Huan agreed. Every letter Gao Huan sent to Hou Jing bore a secret mark—a tiny dot—even his own sons knew nothing of it.

及歡疾篤，其世子澄矯書召之。景知偽，懼禍，因用王偉計，乃乙太清元年二月遣其行台郎中丁和上表求降。帝召群臣議之，尚書僕射謝舉等皆議納景非便，武帝不從。初，帝以是歲正月乙卯於善言殿讀佛經，因謂左右黃慧弼曰：「我昨夢天下太平，爾其識之。」及和至，校景實以正月乙卯日定計，帝由是納之。於是封景河南王、大將軍、使持節、董督河南南北諸軍事、大行台，承制如鄧禹故事。

When Gao Huan fell gravely ill, his heir Gao Cheng forged a summons in his father's name. Hou Jing recognized the forgery and feared for his life. Following Wang Wei's counsel, in the second month of the first year of Taiping he sent his commissioner Ding He to the Liang court with a memorial offering to surrender. The emperor convened his ministers. Vice Director Xie Ju and others argued that accepting Hou Jing would be unwise, but Emperor Wu overruled them. Earlier that year, on the yimao day of the first month, the emperor had been reading sutras in Shanyan Hall when he told his attendant Huang Huibi: "Last night I dreamed the realm was at peace—mark my words." When Ding He arrived, it turned out Hou Jing had indeed settled on his plan on that very yimao day. The emperor took this as an omen and accepted the surrender. Hou Jing was then created King of Henan, Grand General, Bearer of the Staff of Authority, and Director of all military affairs north and south of the Henan region, with the rank of Grand Commissioner and authority to issue orders in the emperor's name, following the precedent set for Deng Yu.

高澄嗣事為勃海王，遣其將慕容紹宗圍景於長社。景急，乃求割魯陽、長社、東荊、北兗請救于西魏，魏遣五城王元慶等率兵救之，紹宗乃退。景復請兵于司州刺史羊鴉仁，鴉仁遣長史鄧鴻率兵至汝水，元慶軍夜遁，鴉仁乃據懸瓠。

Gao Cheng succeeded his father as Prince of Bohai and sent Murong Shaozong to besiege Hou Jing at Changshe. Desperate, Hou Jing offered to cede Luyang, Changshe, Dongjing, and Beiyan to Western Wei in return for aid. The Wei court sent Prince Yuan Qing of Wucheng with an army, and Murong Shaozong pulled back. Hou Jing also appealed to Yang Yaren, governor of Sizhou. Yang Yaren sent his chief clerk Deng Hong to the Ru River with reinforcements. Yuan Qing's army fled overnight, and Yang Yaren seized Xuanchi.

時景將蔡道遵北歸，言景有悔過志。高澄以為信然，乃以書喻景，若還，許以豫州刺史終其身，所部文武更不追攝，闔門無恙，並還寵妻愛子。景報書不從。澄知景無歸志，乃遣軍相繼討景。

About then Hou Jing's general Cai Daozun defected to the north and reported that Hou Jing wished to repent and return. Gao Cheng took this at face value and wrote to Hou Jing offering terms: if he came back, he could hold the governorship of Yuzhou for life; none of his officers would be prosecuted; his family would go unharmed; and his wife and children would be restored to him. Hou Jing wrote back refusing. Seeing that Hou Jing had no intention of returning, Gao Cheng sent army after army against him.

帝聞鴉仁已據懸瓠，遂命群帥指授方略，大舉攻東魏，以貞陽侯蕭明為都督。明軍敗見俘。紹宗攻潼州，刺史郭鳳棄城走。景乃遣其行台左丞王偉、左戶郎中王則詣闕獻策，請元氏子弟立為魏主。詔遣太子舍人元貞為咸陽王，須度江許即位，以乘輿之副資給之。

Learning that Yang Yaren held Xuanchi, the emperor ordered his generals to plan a major offensive against Eastern Wei, with Marquis Xiao Ming of Zhenyang as supreme commander. Xiao Ming's army was routed and he was taken prisoner. Murong Shaozong attacked Tongzhou; Governor Guo Feng abandoned the city and fled. Hou Jing sent his Grand Commissioner's left assistant Wang Wei and Left Household Bureau attendant Wang Ze to the capital with a proposal to install a member of the Yuan imperial clan as ruler of Wei. The court sent Crown Prince Attendant Yuan Zhen as Prince of Xianyang, authorized to take the throne once he crossed the Yangzi, with the full regalia of imperial investiture provided for him.

高澄又遣慕容紹宗追景，景退保渦陽，使謂紹宗曰：「欲送客邪？將定雄雌邪？」紹宗曰：「將決戰。」遂順風以陣。景閉壘，頃之乃出。紹宗曰：「景多詭，好乘人背。」使備之，果如其言。景命戰士皆被短甲短刀，但低視斫人脛馬足，遂敗紹宗軍。裨將斛律光尤之，紹宗曰：「吾戰多矣，未見此賊之難也。爾其當之。」光被甲將出，紹宗戒之曰：「勿度渦水。」既而又為景敗。紹宗謂曰：「定何如也。」相持連月，景食盡，誑其眾以為家口並見殺。眾皆信之。紹宗遙謂曰：「爾等家並完。」乃被髮向北斗以誓之。景士卒並北人，不樂南度，其將暴顯等各率所部降紹宗。景軍潰散，喪甲士四萬人，馬四千匹，輜重萬餘兩。乃與腹心數騎自硤石濟淮，稍收散卒，得馬步八百人。南過小城，人登陴詬之曰：「跛腳奴何為邪！」景怒，破城殺言者而去。晝夜兼行，追軍不敢逼。使謂紹宗曰：「景若就禽，公復何用？」紹宗乃縱之。

Gao Cheng sent Murong Shaozong after Hou Jing again. Hou Jing withdrew to Woyang and called out to Shaozong: "Are you here to see your guest off? Or to decide which of us is master?" Murong Shaozong replied: "I have come to fight." He drew up his battle line with the wind at his back. Hou Jing shut himself behind his walls, then sallied forth a moment later. Murong Shaozong warned: "Hou Jing is treacherous and loves to attack from the rear." He ordered his men to guard against it—and events proved him right. Hou Jing armed his men in short armor with short blades, ordering them to strike low at men's legs and horses' hooves—and routed Murong Shaozong's army. His adjutant Hulu Guang reproached him. Murong Shaozong said: "I have fought in countless battles, but never met an enemy as hard to beat as this one. You deal with him." Hulu Guang armored himself to ride out. Murong Shaozong cautioned him: "Do not cross the Wo River." He crossed anyway—and Hou Jing defeated him again. Murong Shaozong said to him: "Well? How did that work out?" The two armies faced each other for months. When Hou Jing's food ran out, he lied to his men, telling them their families had all been killed. They believed him. Murong Shaozong shouted across the lines: "Your families are all safe and unharmed." He let down his hair and swore by the Northern Dipper to prove it. Hou Jing's troops were northerners who had no wish to march farther south. Generals such as Bao Xian led their units over to Murong Shaozong one after another. Hou Jing's army broke and fled, losing forty thousand armored men, four thousand horses, and more than ten thousand wagons of supplies. With only a handful of trusted horsemen he crossed the Huai at Xiashi, slowly gathering stragglers until he had eight hundred men. Passing a small town to the south, townspeople climbed the walls and jeered: "What is a crippled slave doing here!" Enraged, Hou Jing stormed the town, killed the mockers, and marched on. He pressed on day and night without rest, and his pursuers did not dare close in. He sent a message to Murong Shaozong: "If you capture me, what use will Gao Cheng have for you afterward?" Murong Shaozong let him escape.

既而莫適所歸，馬頭戍主劉神茂者，為韋黯所不容，因是踣馬乃馳謂景曰：「壽陽去此不遠，城池險固，韋黯是監州耳。王若次近郊，必郊迎，因而執之，可以集事。得城之後，徐以啟聞，朝廷喜王南歸，必不責也。」景執其手曰：「天教也。」及至，而黯授甲登陴。景謂神茂曰：「事不諧矣。」對曰：「黯懦而寡智，可說下也。」乃遣豫州司馬徐思玉夜入說之，黯乃開門納景。景執黯，數將斬之，久而見釋。乃遣於子悅馳以敗聞，自求貶削。優詔不許。復求資給，即授南豫州刺史，本官如故。

With nowhere left to turn, Liu Shenmao, commander of Matou garrison—who had been driven out by Wei An—fell from his horse and rode up to Hou Jing: "Shouyang is not far. Its walls are strong. Wei An is only a supervising inspector, not a real governor. If you camp just outside the city, he will come out to welcome you—and you can seize him and make the place yours. Once you hold the city, report to the court at your leisure. They will be glad you have come south and will not punish you." Hou Jing seized his hand and cried: "Heaven itself has shown us the way!" But when they arrived, Wei An had armed his men and manned the battlements. Hou Jing told Liu Shenmao: "The plan has come to nothing." Liu Shenmao replied: "Wei An is timid and not very clever. He can be persuaded." Hou Jing sent Yuzhou administrator Xu Siyu into the city by night to win Wei An over—and Wei An opened the gates. Hou Jing seized Wei An and several times nearly had him executed before finally sparing him. He sent Yu Ziyue racing to the capital with news of his defeat and volunteered to accept demotion. A gracious edict declined his request. He asked for supplies again and was immediately confirmed as Governor of South Yuzhou, with all his former titles intact.

帝以景兵新破，未忍移易，故以鄱陽王範為合州刺史，即鎮合肥。魏人攻懸瓠，懸瓠糧少，羊鴉仁去懸瓠歸義陽。

Unwilling to displace Hou Jing so soon after his defeat, the emperor appointed Prince Fan of Poyang governor of Hezhou and posted him at Hefei. When Wei forces attacked Xuanchi, food ran short and Yang Yaren withdrew to Yiyang.

魏人入懸瓠，更求和親，帝召公卿謀之。張綰、朱異咸請許之。景聞未之信，乃偽作鄴人書，求以貞陽侯換景。帝將許之。舍人傅岐曰：「侯景以窮歸義，棄之不祥。且百戰之餘，寧肯束手受縶。」謝舉、朱異曰：「景奔敗之將，一使之力耳。」帝從之，復書曰：「貞陽旦至，侯景夕反。」景謂左右曰：「我知吳兒老公薄心腸。」又請娶于王、謝，帝曰：「王、謝門高非偶，可于朱、張以下訪之。」景恚曰：「會將吳兒女以配奴。」王偉曰：「今坐聽亦死，舉大事亦死，王其圖之。」於是遂懷反計。屬城居人，悉占募為軍士。輒停責市估及田租，百姓子女悉以配將士。又啟求錦萬疋為軍人袍，中領軍朱異議以禦府錦署止充頒賞，不容以供邊用，請送青布以給之。又以台所給仗多不能精，啟請東冶鍛工欲更營造，敕並給之。景自渦陽敗後，多所徵求，朝廷含弘，未嘗拒絕。

The Wei army occupied Xuanchi and renewed their offer of a marriage alliance. The emperor convened his ministers to discuss it. Zhang Chuo and Zhu Yi both urged acceptance. Hou Jing heard of this and did not trust it. He forged a letter purporting to come from Ye, proposing to exchange Marquis Xiao Ming of Zhenyang for Hou Jing. The emperor was ready to agree. Attendant Fu Qi objected: "Hou Jing came to us in desperation. To cast him aside would be ill-omened. And after a hundred battles, would he simply submit to capture?" Xie Ju and Zhu Yi countered: "Hou Jing is a beaten fugitive. One envoy is all it would take." The emperor sided with them and wrote back: "If Zhenyang arrives at dawn, Hou Jing will rebel by nightfall." Hou Jing told his attendants: "I knew those southern old men had hearts of stone." He also asked to marry into the great Wang and Xie families. The emperor replied: "The houses of Wang and Xie are too exalted for such a match. Look among families below the Zhu and Zhang lines." Hou Jing raged: "One day I will marry southern girls off to slaves!" Wang Wei said: "If you sit and wait, you die. If you rise in revolt, you may still die. Your Highness must choose." From that moment he began plotting rebellion. He conscripted every resident of the towns under his control. He suspended market taxes and land rents, and assigned commoners' sons and daughters to his officers and men. He petitioned for ten thousand bolts of brocade to clothe his troops. Central Palace Guard Commander Zhu Yi argued that imperial brocade was reserved for court rewards and could not be diverted to the frontier—blue cloth would have to suffice. Complaining that the weapons issued by the court were shoddy, he asked for smiths from the Eastern Forge to make new ones—and the court granted everything he requested. After his defeat at Woyang, Hou Jing's demands grew ever more extravagant—and the court indulged him without refusal.

是時貞陽侯明遣使還梁，述魏人請追前好，許放之還。武帝覽之流涕，乃報明啟當別遣行人。帝亦欲息兵，乃與魏和通。景聞之懼，馳啟固諫，帝不從。爾後表疏跋扈，言辭不遜。又聞遣伏挺、徐陵使魏，不知所為。

About then Marquis Xiao Ming of Zhenyang sent envoys back to Liang, reporting that the Wei court wished to restore friendly relations and would release him to return home. Emperor Wu read the report and wept; he replied to Xiao Ming that he would send envoys separately to arrange matters. The emperor also wished to end the fighting and opened peace talks with Wei. When Hou Jing heard of this he was alarmed; he sent urgent memorials vehemently protesting, but the emperor would not listen. Thereafter his memorials grew ever more arrogant and his language openly disrespectful. He also learned that Fu Ting and Xu Ling had been dispatched as envoys to Wei, and could not fathom what it meant.

元貞知景異志，累啟還朝。景謂曰：「將定江南，何不少忍。」貞益懼，奔還建鄴，具以事聞。景又招司州刺史羊鴉仁同逆，鴉仁錄送其使。時鄱陽王範鎮合肥，及鴉仁俱累啟稱景有異志。朱異曰：「侯景數百叛虜，何能為役。」並抑不奏聞，景所以奸謀益果。乃上言曰：「高澄狡猾，寧可全信。陛下納其詭語，求與連和，臣亦竊所笑也。臣行年四十有六，未聞江左有佞邪之臣，一旦入朝，乃致囂讟，寧堪粉骨，投命讎門。請乞江西一境，受臣控督；如其不許，即領甲臨江，上向閩、越。非唯朝廷自恥，亦是三公旰食。」帝使朱異宣語答景使曰：「譬如貧家畜十客五客，尚能得意，朕唯有一客，致有忿言，亦是朕之失也。」景又知臨賀王正德怨望朝廷，密令要結。正德許為內啟。

Yuan Zhen, aware of Hou Jing's treacherous designs, repeatedly petitioned to return to the capital. Hou Jing told him: "We are on the verge of pacifying the south—why not endure a little longer?" Yuan Zhen grew still more frightened, fled back to Jiankang, and reported the whole affair to the court. Hou Jing also tried to win over Yang Yaren, Inspector of Sizhou, to join his rebellion; Yaren instead captured his envoy and sent him to the court. At that time Prince Fan of Poyang held Hefei, and both he and Yang Yaren repeatedly warned the court that Hou Jing harbored rebellious intent. Zhu Yi said: "Hou Jing commands only a few hundred turncoat captives—what harm can he do?" Both warnings were suppressed and never reached the emperor—and so Hou Jing's treacherous plot grew ever bolder. He then submitted a memorial: "Gao Cheng is cunning and treacherous—how can he be trusted at all? Your Majesty accepts his deceitful talk and seeks peace with him—a policy I must confess I find absurd. I am forty-six years old. Never in my life south of the Yangzi have I been called a treacherous minister—yet the moment I enter court I am met with clamor and abuse. Am I to be ground to dust and cast my life into the enemy's camp? I beg to be granted one territory west of the Yangzi under my command and control; if this is refused, I will lead my troops to the river and march on Fujian and Guangdong. That would bring shame not only upon the court but also force the Three Excellencies to dine late with worry." The emperor had Zhu Yi convey this reply to Hou Jing's envoy: "Even a poor household that hosts ten or five guests can still treat them well. I have only one guest, yet I have earned his resentment—this too is my own failing." Hou Jing also knew that Xiao Zhengde, Prince of Linhe, nursed grievances against the court, and secretly sent agents to win him over. Zhengde agreed to open the gates from within when the time came.

二年八月，景遂發兵反，於豫州城內集其將帥，登壇歃血。是日地大震。於是以誅中領軍朱異、少府卿徐驎、太子左率陸驗、制局監周石珍為辭，以為奸臣亂政，請帶甲入朝。先攻馬頭、木柵，執太守劉神茂、戍主曹璆等。武帝聞之，笑曰：「是何能為，吾以折棰笞之。」乃敕：斬景者不問南北人同賞封二千戶兼一州刺史；其人主帥欲還北不須州者，賞以絹布二萬，以禮發遣。於是詔合州刺史鄱陽王范為南道都督，北徐州刺史封山侯正表為北道都督，司州刺史柳仲禮為西道都督，通直散騎常侍裴之高為東道都督，同討景，濟自曆陽。又令侍中、開府儀同三司邵陵王綸持節，董督眾軍。

In the eighth month of the second year, Hou Jing launched his rebellion. Within Yuzhou city he assembled his generals, ascended an altar, and swore a blood oath. That day the earth shook violently. He took as his pretext the execution of Zhu Yi, Central Palace Guard Commander, Xu Lin, Minister of the Privy Purse, Lu Yan, Left Leader of the Heir Apparent's Household, and Zhou Shizhen, Palace Regulations Supervisor—claiming that treacherous ministers were corrupting government, and demanding permission to enter the capital under arms. He first attacked Matou and Muzha, capturing Prefect Liu Shenmao, garrison commander Cao Qiu, and others. When Emperor Wu heard the news, he laughed and said: "What can he possibly do? I will whip him with a broken rod." He then issued an edict: whoever killed Hou Jing, regardless of origin north or south, would receive a fief of two thousand households and appointment as governor of one province; commanders who wished to return north and did not want a provincial post would receive twenty thousand bolts of silk and cloth and be sent home with full honors. The court appointed Prince Fan of Poyang, Governor of Hezhou, commander of the southern route; Marquis Zhengbiao of Fengshan, Governor of North Xuzhou, commander of the northern route; Liu Zhongli, Inspector of Sizhou, commander of the western route; and Pei Zhigao, Palace Attendant and Regular Cavalry General, commander of the eastern route—all to attack Hou Jing together, crossing the Yangzi from Liyang. Prince Lun of Shaoling was also appointed, bearing the imperial staff as Palace Attendant and Grand General with Honor Guard of the Three Offices, to supervise all the armies.

景聞之，謀于王偉。偉曰：「莫若直掩揚都，臨賀反其內，大王攻其外，天下不足定也。兵聞拙速，不聞工遲，令今便須進路，不然邵陵及人。」九月，景發壽春，聲雲遊獵，人不覺也。留偽中軍大都督王貴顯守壽春城，出軍偽向合肥，遂襲譙州。助防董紹先降之，執刺史豐城侯泰。武帝聞之，遣太子家令王質率兵三千巡江遏防。景進攻曆陽太守莊鐵，鐵遣弟均夜斫景營，戰沒。鐵母愛其子，勸鐵降。景拜其母，鐵乃勸景曰：「急則應機，緩必致禍。」景乃使鐵為導。

When Hou Jing heard this, he consulted Wang Wei. Wang Wei said: "Better to strike directly at the capital—let Linhe rebel within while Your Highness attacks from without, and the realm will fall easily. In war, clumsy speed beats refined delay. We must march at once, or Prince Lun of Shaoling will arrive with his forces." In the ninth month Hou Jing marched out from Shouyang, announcing that he was going hunting—and no one suspected a thing. He left Wang Guixian, his false Grand Commander of the Central Army, to hold Shouyang, marched out as if heading for Hefei, then suddenly struck Qiaozhou. Assistant defender Dong Shaoxian surrendered, and Hou Jing captured Marquis Tai of Fengcheng, the provincial governor. When Emperor Wu heard the news, he sent Wang Zhi, Steward of the Heir Apparent's Household, with three thousand troops to patrol the river and block any crossing. Hou Jing attacked Zhuang Tie, Prefect of Liyang. Tie sent his younger brother Jun to raid Hou Jing's camp by night, but Jun was killed in the fighting. Tie's mother, grieving her lost son, urged him to surrender. Hou Jing paid his respects to the mother, and Tie then urged him: "Strike while the moment is ripe; delay will bring disaster." Hou Jing then took Tie as his guide.

是時鎮戍相次啟聞，朱異尚曰：「景必無度江志。」蕭正德先遣大船數十艘偽稱載荻，實擬濟景。景至江將度，慮王質為梗，俄而質被追為丹陽尹，無故自退。景聞未之信，乃密遣覘之，謂使者：「質若退，折江東樹枝為驗。」覘人如言而返。景大喜曰：「吾事辦矣。」乃自採石濟，馬數百匹，兵八千人，都下弗之覺。

As garrison after garrison sent urgent reports, Zhu Yi still insisted: "Hou Jing surely has no intention of crossing the Yangzi." Xiao Zhengde had already sent dozens of large boats disguised as carrying reeds, actually intended to ferry Hou Jing across the river. When Hou Jing reached the Yangzi and was about to cross, he feared Wang Zhi would block him—but suddenly Zhi was recalled to serve as Governor of Danyang and withdrew for no apparent reason. Hou Jing heard the news but did not believe it. He secretly sent a scout and told the messenger: "If Zhi has withdrawn, break a tree branch east of the river as proof." The scout did as he was told and returned. Hou Jing was overjoyed. "My plan is complete," he said." He crossed from Caishi with several hundred horses and eight thousand troops—and the capital never noticed.

景出，分襲姑孰，執淮南太守文成侯寧，遂至慈湖。南津校尉江子一奔還建鄴。皇太子見事急，入面啟武帝曰：「請以事垂付，願不勞聖心。」帝曰：「此自汝事，何更問為。」太子仍停中書省指授，內外擾亂相劫不復通。於是詔以揚州刺史宣城王大器為都督內外諸軍事，都官尚書羊侃為軍師將軍以副焉。遣南浦侯推守東府城，西豐公大春守石頭，輕車長史謝禧守白下。

As Hou Jing marched out, he sent detachments to seize Gushu, captured Marquis Ning of Wencheng, Governor of Huainan, and pushed on to Cihu. Jiang Ziyi, Commandant of Nanjin, fled back to Jiankang. Seeing the crisis deepen, the Crown Prince went in person to Emperor Wu and said: "Please entrust affairs to me. I beg that Your Majesty need not trouble your sacred heart." The emperor replied: "This is your affair—why ask me?" The Crown Prince remained at the Secretariat issuing orders, but chaos within and without grew so fierce that all communication broke down. The court appointed Duke Daqi of Xuancheng, Governor of Yangzhou, commander of all military affairs within and without the capital, with Yang Kan, Minister of Justice, as Staff General to assist him. Marquis Tui of Nanpu was sent to hold Dongfu city, Duke Dachun of Xifeng to hold Shitou, and Xie Xi, Chief Clerk of the Light Chariots Office, to hold Baixia.

既而景至朱雀航，遣徐思玉入啟，乞帶甲入朝，除君側之惡，請遣了事舍人出相領解，實欲觀城中虛實。帝遣中書舍人賀季、主書郭寶亮隨思玉往勞之於板橋。景北面受敕，季曰：「今者之舉，何以為名？」景曰：「欲為帝也。」王偉進曰：「朱異、徐驎諂黷亂政，欲除奸臣耳。」景既出惡言，留季不遣，寶亮還宮。

Soon Hou Jing reached Zhuque Ford and sent Xu Siyu in with a petition asking to enter the capital under arms to purge evil at the sovereign's side, requesting that a palace secretary be sent out to receive him—his real aim was to scout the city's defenses. The emperor sent Palace Secretaries He Ji and Chief Clerk Guo Baoliang with Xu Siyu to greet Hou Jing at Banqiao. Hou Jing received the edict facing north. He Ji asked: "What name do you give this present enterprise?" Hou Jing said: "I intend to be emperor." Wang Wei stepped forward and said: "Zhu Yi and Xu Lin have flattered and corrupted government—we merely wish to remove treacherous ministers." Having spoken treason, Hou Jing detained He Ji and sent Guo Baoliang back to the palace.

先是，大同中童謠曰：「青絲白馬壽陽來。」景渦陽之敗，求錦，朝廷所給青布，及是皆用為袍，采色尚青。景乘白馬，青絲為轡，欲以應謠。蕭正德先屯丹陽郡，至是率所部與景合。建康令庾信率兵千餘人屯航北，及景至徹航，始除一舶，見賊軍皆著鐵面，遂棄軍走。南塘遊軍復閉航度景。皇太子以所乘馬授王質，配精兵三千，使援庾信。質至領軍府與賊遇，未陣便奔。景乘勝至闕下。西豐公大春棄石頭城走，景遣其儀同於子悅據之。謝禧亦棄白下城走。

Earlier, during the Datong era, a children's rhyme ran: "Green silk and white horse come from Shouyang." After his defeat at Woyang, Hou Jing had asked for brocade but received blue cloth from the court; now his men made robes from it, favoring the color green. Hou Jing rode a white horse with green silk reins, hoping to fulfill the rhyme. Xiao Zhengde had earlier been stationed in Danyang commandery; at this point he led his troops to join Hou Jing. Yu Xin, Magistrate of Jiankang, led over a thousand troops stationed north of the ford. When Hou Jing arrived and the bridges were cleared, only one boat remained. Seeing the rebel army all wearing iron masks, Yu Xin abandoned his troops and fled. The patrol from Nantang then closed the ford and let Hou Jing cross. The Crown Prince gave Wang Zhi his own horse, assigned him three thousand elite troops, and ordered him to reinforce Yu Xin. Wang Zhi reached the Commander's Headquarters, encountered the rebels, and fled before he could even form ranks. Hou Jing pressed his victory to the palace gates. Duke Dachun of Xifeng abandoned Shitou and fled; Hou Jing sent his General of the Household Yu Ziyue to occupy it. Xie Xi also abandoned Baixia and fled.

景遣百道攻城，縱火燒大司馬、東西華諸門。城中倉卒未有備，乃鑿門樓，下水沃火，久之方滅。賊又斫東掖門將入，羊侃鑿門扇刺殺數人，賊乃退。又登東宮牆射城內。至夜，簡文募人出燒東宮台殿遂盡，所聚圖籍數百廚，一皆灰燼。先是簡文夢有人畫作秦始皇，云：「此人復焚書」，至是而驗。景又燒城西馬廄、士林館、太府寺。明日，景又作木驢數百攻城，城上擲以石，並皆碎破。賊又作尖頂木驢，狀似槥，石不能破。乃作雉尾炬，灌以膏蠟，叢下焚之。

Hou Jing attacked the city from a hundred directions and set fire to the gates of the Grand Marshal's Office and the Eastern and Western Hu Gates. The city was caught unprepared. Defenders hacked away the gate towers and poured water down to douse the flames; only after a long while did the fire die out. The rebels hacked at the Eastern Side Gate to break in. Yang Kan smashed the gate panels and speared several men dead, and the rebels withdrew. They also mounted the Eastern Palace wall and shot into the city. By night Crown Prince Jianwen raised men to go out and burn the Eastern Palace halls and towers to ashes; hundreds of storehouses of books and records were reduced to cinders. Earlier Crown Prince Jianwen had dreamed of someone painting the First Emperor of Qin, who said: "This man will burn books again"—and now the dream was fulfilled. Hou Jing also burned the western horse stables, the Forest of Scholars Hall, and the Grand Treasury. The next day Hou Jing built hundreds of wooden siege towers to attack the wall; stones cast down from above shattered them all. The rebels then built pointed-roof wooden towers shaped like coffin lids, which stones could not break. The defenders made phoenix-tail torches soaked in grease and wax and dropped them in bundles to set the towers ablaze.

賊既不克，士卒死者甚多，乃止攻，築長圍以絕內外。又啟求誅朱異、陸驗、徐驎、周石珍等，城內亦射賞格出外，有能斬景首，授以景位，並錢一億萬，布絹各萬疋，女樂二部。莊鐵乃奔曆陽，紿言景已梟首。景城守郭駱懼，棄城走壽陽。鐵得入城，遂奔尋陽。

Unable to take the city and with many soldiers dead, Hou Jing stopped the assault and built a long encirclement to cut the city off from the outside world. He also petitioned for the execution of Zhu Yi, Lu Yan, Xu Lin, Zhou Shizhen, and others. The city posted reward notices outside the walls as well: whoever could cut off Hou Jing's head would receive his rank, a hundred million coins, ten thousand bolts each of cloth and silk, and two troupes of female musicians. Zhuang Tie fled to Liyang and falsely claimed that Hou Jing had already been beheaded. Guo Luo, Hou Jing's garrison commander, was terrified, abandoned the city, and fled to Shouyang. Tie entered the city and then fled on to Xunyang.

十一月，景立蕭正德為帝，即偽位，居於儀賢堂，改年曰正平。初童謠有「正平」之言，故立號以應之。識者以為正德卒當平殄也。景自為相國、天柱將軍，正德以女妻之。景又攻東府城，設百尺樓車，鉤城堞盡落。城陷，景使其儀同盧暉略率數千人持長刀夾城門，悉驅城內文武裸身而出，使交兵殺之，死者三千餘人。南浦侯推是日遇害。景使正德子見理及暉略守東府城。

In the eleventh month Hou Jing installed Xiao Zhengde as emperor. Zhengde took the false throne, dwelt in the Hall of Esteem for Worthies, and changed the era name to Zhengping. An earlier children's rhyme had spoken of "Zhengping," so he chose that era name to match it. Those who understood such omens took it to mean Zhengde would ultimately be utterly destroyed. Hou Jing made himself Chancellor and Pillar General; Zhengde gave his daughter to him in marriage. Hou Jing attacked Dongfu city again, deploying hundred-foot siege towers whose hooks tore down the battlements entirely. When the city fell, Hou Jing had his General of the Household Lu Huilue lead several thousand men with long swords flanking the gate, driving all civil and military officials out naked and setting soldiers upon them to kill. More than three thousand died. Marquis Tui of Nanpu was killed that day. Hou Jing had Zhengde's son Jianli and Lu Huilue hold Dongfu city.

初，景至都，便唱云：「武帝已晏駕」。雖城內亦以為然。簡文慮人情有變，乃請上輿駕巡城。上將登城，陸驗諫曰：「陛下萬乘之重，豈可輕脫。」因泣下。帝深感其言，乃幸大司馬門。城上聞蹕聲皆鼓噪，軍人莫不屑涕，百姓乃安。

When Hou Jing first reached the capital, he immediately proclaimed: "Emperor Wu is already dead." Even those inside the city believed it. Crown Prince Jianwen, fearing the people's hearts might turn, asked the emperor to tour the city in his carriage. As the emperor was about to mount the wall, Lu Yan remonstrated: "Your Majesty bears the weight of the realm—how can you expose yourself so lightly?" And he wept. The emperor was deeply moved by his words and went in person to the Great Sima Gate. When those on the walls heard the imperial procession, they burst into shouts of joy; not a soldier among them remained dry-eyed, and the common people were reassured.

景又於城東西各起土山以臨城，城內亦作兩山以應之，簡文以下皆親畚鍤。初，景至便望克定建鄴，號令甚明，不犯百姓。既攻不下，人心離沮，又恐援軍總集，眾必潰散，乃縱兵殺掠，交屍塞路。富室豪家，恣意裒剝，子女妻妾，悉入軍營。又募北人先為奴者，並令自拔，賞以不次。朱異家黥奴乃與其儕踰城投賊，景以為儀同，使至闕下以誘城內，乘馬披錦袍詬曰：「朱異五十年仕宦，方得中領軍。我始事侯王，已為儀同。」於是奴僮競出，盡皆得志。

Hou Jing raised earthen mounds east and west of the city to overlook the walls, and inside the city two corresponding mounds were built as well; from Crown Prince Jianwen downward, all took up spades themselves. At first, when Hou Jing arrived he expected to capture Jiankang at once; his orders were strict and clear, and he did not harm the common people. When the assault failed, morale collapsed, and fearing that relief armies would gather and his forces would scatter in rout, he unleashed his troops to kill and plunder until corpses piled up and blocked the roads. The wealthy and powerful were stripped at will; sons and daughters, wives and concubines were all taken into the army camps. He also summoned northerners who had previously served as slaves, promising to set them free and reward them with extraordinary promotions. A tattooed slave from Zhu Yi's household fled over the wall with his fellows to join the rebels. Hou Jing made him a General of the Household and sent him to the palace gate to tempt those inside. Mounted on a horse and draped in a brocade robe, he shouted abuse: "Zhu Yi served in office fifty years and only just became Central Army Commander. I have only just entered the service of the marquis-king and I am already a General of the Household. At that, slave boys scrambled to flee the city, every one of them getting what they wanted.

景食石頭常平倉既盡，便掠居人，爾後米一升七八萬錢，人相食，有食其子者。又築土山，不限貴賤，晝夜不息，亂加驅棰，疲羸者因殺以填山，號哭之聲動天地。百姓不敢藏隱，並出從之，旬日間眾至數萬。

After Hou Jing's supplies from the Changping granary at Shitou were exhausted, he began plundering the inhabitants. Rice then cost seventy or eighty thousand coins per liter, and people turned to cannibalism—some even ate their own children. He built more earthen mounds, conscripting nobles and commoners alike, driving them day and night without rest. The weak and exhausted were killed to fill the mounds, and the sound of lamentation shook heaven and earth. The common people dared not hide and all came out to obey; within ten days the workforce numbered in the tens of thousands.

景儀同範桃棒密貪重賞，求以甲士二千人來降，以景首應購，遣文德主帥前白馬游軍主陳昕夜踰城入，密啟言狀。簡文以啟上，上大悅，使報桃棒，事定許封河南王，鐫銀券以與之。簡文恐其詐，猶豫不決。上怒曰：「受降常理，何忽致疑。」朱異、傅岐同請納之。簡文曰：「吾即堅城自守，所望外援，外援若至，賊豈足平。今若開門以納桃棒，桃棒之意尚且難知，一旦傾危，悔無及矣。」桃棒又曰：「今止將所領五百餘人，若至城門，自皆脫甲。乞朝廷賜容。事濟之時，保禽侯景。」簡文見其言愈疑之。朱異以手捶胸曰：「今年社稷去矣。」俄而桃棒軍人魯伯和告景，並烹之。

Fan Taobang, a General of the Household under Hou Jing, secretly coveted the huge reward offered for Hou Jing's head and sought to defect with two thousand armored men. He sent Chen Xin, the Wende Chief Commander and former commander of the White Horse Mobile Corps, to climb the wall by night and report the plan in secret. Crown Prince Jianwen reported this to the emperor, who was greatly pleased and sent word to Taobang that when the deed was done he would be enfeoffed as King of Henan, and had a silver tally engraved and sent to him. Crown Prince Jianwen feared a ruse and hesitated, unable to decide. The emperor angrily said, "Accepting a surrender is only common sense—why do you suddenly doubt it? Zhu Yi and Fu Qi together urged that the surrender be accepted. Crown Prince Jianwen said, "We need only hold the city firm; what we await is outside relief, and once relief arrives the rebels will easily be crushed. If we open the gates now to admit Taobang, his intentions are still uncertain, and once catastrophe strikes it will be too late for regret. Taobang added, "I will bring only the five hundred or so men under my command, and when we reach the gate we will all doff our armor. I beg the court for permission. When the deed succeeds, I guarantee to capture Hou Jing." Crown Prince Jianwen grew only more suspicious upon hearing this. Zhu Yi struck his chest with his fist and said, "This year the dynasty is lost. Before long Lu Bohe, a soldier in Taobang's unit, informed Hou Jing, and both men were boiled alive.

至是，邵陵王綸率西豐公大春、新淦公大成、永安侯確、南安鄉侯駿、前譙州刺史趙伯超、武州刺史蕭弄璋、步兵校尉尹思合等馬步三萬，發自京口，直據鍾山。景黨大駭，咸欲逃散，分遣萬餘人拒戰。綸大敗之於愛敬寺下。

At this point Prince Lun of Shaoling led Marquis Dachun of Xifeng, Duke Dacheng of Xingan, Marquis Que of Yong'an, Marquis Jun of Nan'an, the former governor of Qiao Province Zhao Bochao, the governor of Wu Province Xiao Nongzhang, Infantry Commandant Yin Sihe, and others—thirty thousand horse and foot—setting out from Jingkou and taking up position on Zhongshan directly. Hou Jing's followers were terrified; all wanted to flee, but he sent out more than ten thousand men to give battle. Prince Lun routed them decisively below Aijing Temple.

景初聞綸至，懼形於色，及敗軍還，尤言其盛，愈恐，命具舟石頭將北濟。任約曰：「去鄉萬里，走欲何之？戰若不捷，君臣同死。草間乞活，約所不為。」景乃留宋子仙守壁，自將銳卒拒綸，陣於覆舟山北，與綸相持。會暮，景退還，南安侯駿率數十騎挑之。景回軍，駿退。時趙伯超陣于玄武湖北，見駿退，仍率軍前走。眾軍因亂，遂敗績。綸奔京口。賊執西豐公大春、綸司馬莊丘慧達、南合將軍鬍子約、廣陵令霍雋等來送城下，逼令云：「已禽邵陵王。」霍雋獨云：「王小失利，已全軍還京口，城中但堅守，援軍尋至。」語未卒，賊以刀傷其口，景義而釋焉。正德乃收而害之。是日，鄱陽世子嗣、裴之高至後渚，結營于蔡洲。景分軍屯南岸。

When Hou Jing first heard that Lun had arrived, fear showed plainly on his face. When the defeated troops returned and spoke all the more of Lun's strength, he grew still more afraid and ordered boats prepared at Shitou, intending to cross the river northward. Ren Yue said, "We are ten thousand li from home—where do you mean to run? If we do not win the battle, lord and minister will die together. I, Yue, will not be one to beg for life in the brush. Hou Jing then left Song Zixian to hold the walls, led crack troops himself to oppose Lun, and drew up his formation north of Fuzhou Mountain, where the two sides faced off. At dusk Hou Jing withdrew, and Marquis Jun of Nan'an led several dozen horsemen to challenge him. Hou Jing turned his forces about, and Jun withdrew. Zhao Bochao had been deployed north of Xuanwu Lake; seeing Jun withdraw, he at once led his army in flight. The armies fell into disorder and were routed. Lun fled to Jingkou. The rebels seized Marquis Dachun of Xifeng, Lun's chief of staff Zhuang Qiu Huida, General of Southern Combine Hu Ziyue, the magistrate of Guangling Huo Jun, and others, brought them before the city wall, and forced them to declare: "The Prince of Shaoling has already been captured. Huo Jun alone replied, "The prince met with a small setback and has already withdrawn the whole army to Jingkou; the city need only hold firm, and relief will soon arrive." Before he could finish speaking, the rebels slashed his mouth with a blade. Hou Jing, moved by his courage, released him. Zhengde then seized and killed him. That same day the heir Si of Poyang and Pei Zhigao reached Houzhu and set up camp at Caizhou. Hou Jing split his forces to garrison the south bank.

十二月，景造諸攻具及飛樓、橦車、登城車、鉤堞車、階道車、火車，並高數丈，車至二十輪，陳于闕前，百道攻城。以火車焚城東南隅大樓，因火勢以攻城。城上縱火，悉焚其攻具，賊乃退。是時，景土山成，城內土山亦成。乙太府卿韋黯守西土山，左衛將軍柳津守東土山。山起芙蓉層樓，高四丈，飾以錦罽，捍以烏笙，山峰相近。募敢死士，厚衣袍鎧，名曰：「僧騰客」，配二山，交矟以戰。鼓叫沸騰，昏旦不息。土山攻戰既苦，人不堪命，柳津命作地道，毀外山，擲雉尾炬燒其櫓堞。外山崩，壓賊且盡。賊又作蝦蟆車，運土石填塹，戰士升之樓車，四面並至。城內飛石碎其車，賊死積於城下。賊又掘城東南角，城內作迂城形如卻月以捍之，賊乃退。

In the twelfth month Hou Jing built every sort of siege engine—flying towers, ramming carts, wall-scaling carts, battlement-hooking carts, ramp carts, and fire carts—each several zhang high and some with as many as twenty wheels. He arrayed them before the palace gate and assaulted the city from a hundred directions. He used fire carts to burn the great tower at the city's southeast corner, then pressed the attack under cover of the flames. Defenders on the wall set counter-fires that burned all the siege engines, and the rebels withdrew. By then Hou Jing's earthen mounds were finished, and the corresponding mounds inside the city were finished as well. Second-rank Grand Steward Wei An held the western earthen mound, and Left Guard General Liu Jin held the eastern one. Lotus-shaped tiered towers four zhang high rose on the mounds, adorned with brocade felt and shielded with black bamboo screens, until the mound peaks stood almost face to face. They recruited dare-to-die warriors clad in heavy robes and armor, called "Monk Leapers," and posted them on the two mounds to fight spear against spear. Drums and battle cries roared without cease from dusk to dawn. Fighting on the earthen mounds was grueling and the men could bear no more, so Liu Jin ordered tunnels dug to undermine the outer mound and had pheasant-tail torches hurled to burn the enemy watchtowers and battlements. The outer mound collapsed and crushed nearly all the rebels beneath it. The rebels built "toad carts" to haul earth and stone and fill the moat, then sent warriors up tower carts that advanced from all four sides at once. Defenders inside the city hurled stones that shattered the carts, and rebel dead piled up below the wall. The rebels dug at the city's southeast corner, but defenders inside built a crescent-shaped inner wall to block them, and the rebels withdrew.

材官將軍宋嶷降賊，因為立計，引玄武湖水灌台城，闕前禦街並為洪波矣。又燒南岸居人營寺，莫不咸盡。司州刺史柳仲禮、衡州刺史韋粲、南陵太守陳文徹、宣猛將軍李孝欽等皆來赴援；鄱陽世子嗣、裴之高又濟江。柳仲禮營朱雀航南，裴之高營南苑，韋粲營青塘，陳文徹、李孝欽屯丹陽郡，鄱陽世子嗣營小航南，並緣淮造柵。及旦，景方覺，乃登禪靈寺門樓以望之。見韋粲營壘未合，度兵擊之，粲敗，景斬粲首徇城下。柳仲禮聞粲敗，不遑貫甲，與數十人赴之。遇賊，斬首數百，仍投水死者千餘人。仲禮深入，馬陷泥，亦被重創。自是賊不敢濟岸。

Materials Officer General Song Ni defected to the rebels and devised a plan to flood Taicheng by diverting the waters of Xuanwu Lake, turning the imperial avenue before the palace gate into a surging flood. He also burned the homes and monasteries of residents on the south bank until nothing remained. Liu Zhongli, governor of Si Province; Wei Can, governor of Heng Province; Chen Wenche, administrator of Nanling; Li Xiaoqin, General of Manifest Valor; and others all came to the rescue; The heir Si of Poyang and Pei Zhigao also crossed the river. Liu Zhongli encamped south of Zhuque Crossing, Pei Zhigao at Southern Park, Wei Can at Qingtang, Chen Wenche and Li Xiaoqin at Danyang Commandery, and the heir Si of Poyang south of Xiao Crossing—all building palisades along the Huai River. At dawn Hou Jing finally noticed and climbed the gate tower of Chanling Temple to survey them. Seeing that Wei Can's camps had not yet linked up, he sent troops to attack. Wei Can was defeated, and Hou Jing beheaded him and displayed his head below the wall. When Liu Zhongli heard that Wei Can had been defeated, he rushed to the scene with several dozen men without even stopping to don his armor. He met the rebels and cut down several hundred of them, while more than a thousand others drowned in the river. Zhongli pressed deep into the fight; his horse sank in the mud, and he too was gravely wounded. After that the rebels did not dare cross to the bank.

邵陵王綸又與臨城公大連等自東道集于南岸；荊州刺史湘東王繹遣世子方等、兼司馬吳曄、天門太守樊文皎赴援，營於湘子岸前；高州刺史李遷仕、前司州刺史羊鴉仁又率兵繼至。既而鄱陽世子嗣、永安侯確、羊鴉仁、李遷仕、樊文皎率眾度淮，攻破賊東府城前柵，遂營于青溪水東。景遣其儀同宋子仙緣水西立柵以相拒。景食稍盡，人相食者十五六。

Prince Lun of Shaoling again gathered on the south bank with Duke Dalian of Lincheng and others coming by the eastern route; Prince Yi of Xiangdong, governor of Jing Province, sent his heir Fangdeng, concurrent chief of staff Wu Ye, and the administrator of Tianmen Fan Wenjiao to the rescue, encamping before Xiangzi Bank; Li Qianshi, governor of Gao Province, and Yang Yaren, former governor of Si Province, also led troops that arrived in succession. Before long the heir Si of Poyang, Marquis Que of Yong'an, Yang Yaren, Li Qianshi, and Fan Wenjiao led their forces across the Huai, broke through the rebels' front palisade at Dongfu city, and encamped east of the Qingxi River. Hou Jing sent his General of the Household Song Zixian to build palisades along the west bank of the river to block them. Hou Jing's food supplies ran low, and fifteen or sixteen out of every ten men were eating human flesh.

初，援兵至北岸，眾號百萬。百姓扶老攜幼以候王師，才過淮，便競剝掠，征責金銀，列營而立，互相疑貳。邵陵王綸、柳仲禮甚於讎敵，臨城公大連、永安侯確逾於水火，無有鬥心。賊黨有欲自拔者，聞之咸止。

At first, when relief troops reached the north bank, their numbers were proclaimed at a million. The common people, old and young alike, waited to welcome the imperial army, but once the troops had crossed the Huai they immediately turned to plunder, extorting gold and silver. They camped in separate columns, eyeing one another with suspicion and disloyalty. Prince Lun of Shaoling and Liu Zhongli hated each other worse than sworn enemies; Duke Dalian of Lincheng and Marquis Que of Yong'an were at odds worse than fire and water; none of them had any heart for fighting. Rebel soldiers who had been ready to defect heard this and all abandoned the idea.

賊之始至，城中才得固守，平蕩之事，期望援軍。既而中外斷絕，有羊車兒獻計，作紙鴉系以長繩，藏敕於中。簡文出太極殿前，因西北風而放，冀得書達。群賊駭之，謂是厭勝之術，又射下之，其危急如此。是時城中圍逼既久，膝味頓絕，簡文上廚，僅有一肉之膳。軍士煮弩熏鼠捕雀食之。殿堂舊多鴿群聚，至是殲焉。初，宮門之閉，公卿以食為念，男女貴賤並出負米，得四十萬斛，收諸府藏錢帛五十億萬，並聚德陽堂，魚鹽樵采所取蓋寡。至是乃壞尚書省為薪，撤薦銼以飼馬，盡又食飰焉。禦甘露廚有幹苔，味酸鹹，分給戰士。軍人屠馬于殿省間鬻之，雜以人肉，食者必病。賊又置毒于水竇，於是稍行腫滿之疾，城中疫死者太半。初，景之未度江，魏人遣檄，極言景反復猜忍，又言帝飾智驚愚，將為景欺。至是禍敗之狀，皆如所陳，南人咸以為讖。

When the rebels first arrived the city had barely managed to hold, and everyone looked to the relief armies to sweep them away. Before long communication between inside and outside was cut off, and a man named Yang Che'er offered a plan: make paper kites tied to long ropes and hide imperial orders inside them. Crown Prince Jianwen went out before the Hall of Supreme Ultimate and released them on the northwest wind, hoping the messages would get through. The rebels were terrified, thinking it a sorcerous rite meant to defeat them, and shot the kites down. The city's peril was that extreme. By then the siege had dragged on so long that meat and savory foods were entirely gone; Crown Prince Jianwen's kitchen could offer only a single dish of meat. Soldiers boiled crossbow parts for broth, smoked rats, and caught sparrows to eat. The palace halls had once been full of pigeons; by now they had all been eaten. When the palace gates were first closed, the high officials turned their minds to food. Men and women, noble and common alike, went out to carry in rice until four hundred thousand hu had been gathered, and fifty billion in cash and silk from the treasuries was stockpiled in Deyang Hall; what could be obtained by fishing, salt-gathering, and foraging was very little. By then they were tearing down the Secretariat for firewood, pulling up straw bedding to feed the horses, and when that was gone they ate grain as well. The imperial Ganlu kitchen had dried moss with a sour, salty taste, which was divided among the soldiers. Soldiers slaughtered horses in the palace halls and sold the meat, mixing in human flesh; anyone who ate it was sure to fall ill. The rebels also poisoned the water channels, and a swelling sickness spread through the city until more than half the inhabitants had died of plague. Before Hou Jing had crossed the river, the Northern Wei had sent a proclamation declaring him treacherous, fickle, and cruelly suspicious, and warning that the emperor, feigning wisdom while fooling the foolish, would be taken in by Hou Jing. By now the disasters had unfolded exactly as the proclamation had warned, and southerners took it all as fulfilled prophecy.

時景軍亦饑，不能復戰。東城有積粟，其路為援軍所斷，且聞湘東王下荊州兵。彭城劉邈乃說景曰：「大軍頓兵已久，攻城不拔，今眾軍雲集，未易可破。如聞軍糧不支一月，運漕路絕，野無所掠，嬰兒掌上，信在於今。未若乞和，全師而反。」景乃與王偉計，遣任約至城北拜表偽降，以河南自效。帝曰：「吾有死而已，寧有是議。且賊凶逆多詐，此言雲何可信。」既而城中日蹙，簡文乃請武帝曰：「侯景圍逼，既無勤王之師，今欲許和，更思後計。」帝大怒曰：「和不如死。」簡文曰：「城下之盟，乃是深恥；白刃交前，流矢不顧。」上遲回久之，曰：「爾自圖之，無令取笑千載。」乃聽焉。

By then Hou Jing's army was starving too and could fight no longer. There was stored grain in the eastern city, but the route to it had been cut by relief armies, and word came that Prince Yi of Xiangdong was marching troops down from Jing Province. Liu Miao of Pengcheng then urged Hou Jing, "Our great army has been stalled for a long time and still has not taken the city. Now the relief armies are gathering like clouds and will not easily be defeated. I hear our army's grain will not last a month, the supply routes are cut, and there is nothing left to plunder in the countryside. Victory is as fragile as an infant in the palm—everything hangs on what we do today. Better to sue for peace and withdraw the army intact. Hou Jing then plotted with Wang Wei and sent Ren Yue to the north of the city to submit a memorial in feigned surrender, offering Henan in allegiance. The emperor said, "I am prepared to die—that is all. How could there be such a proposal? Moreover, the rebel is brutal, treacherous, and full of deceit — how can such words be trusted? Before long the city grew tighter with each passing day. Emperor Jianwen then petitioned Emperor Wu, saying, "Hou Jing is pressing the siege close, and with no royal relief army in sight, I now wish to sue for peace and plan what comes next." The emperor flew into a rage and said, "I would rather die than make peace." Jianwen said, "A treaty sworn beneath the city walls is a profound disgrace; yet when naked blades cross before one's eyes, who heeds flying arrows?" The emperor hesitated for a long time, then said, "Handle it yourself — just do not let us become a laughingstock for a thousand years." He then gave his consent.

景請割江右四州地，並求宣城王大器出送，然後解圍濟江。仍許遣其儀同於子悅、左丞王偉入城為質。中領軍傅岐議以宣城王嫡嗣之重，有輕言者請劍斬之。乃請石城公大款出送，詔許焉。遂于西華門外設壇，遣尚書僕射王克、兼侍中上甲鄉侯韶、兼散騎常侍蕭瑳與於子悅、王偉等登壇共盟。右衛將軍柳津出西華門下，景出其柵門，與津遙相對，刑牲歃血。

Hou Jing demanded the cession of four prefectures west of the Yangtze and also asked that Prince Daji of Xuancheng be sent out as hostage, after which he would lift the siege and cross the river. He also agreed to send his General of the Household Yu Ziyue and the Left Director Wang Wei into the city as hostages. Central Palace Guard Commander Fu Qi argued that given the importance of the Prince of Xuancheng as legitimate heir, anyone who spoke lightly of sending him out should be cut down on the spot. They then asked that Duke Dàkuǎn of Shicheng be sent out instead, and an edict approved the request. They then set up an altar outside the Western Splendid Gate and dispatched Grand Secretary Wang Ke, concurrent Palace Attendant Marquis Shao of Shangjia Township, and concurrent Palace Cadet Xiao Chao to ascend the altar with Yu Ziyue, Wang Wei, and the others to swear the alliance together. Right Guard General Liu Jin went out below the Western Splendid Gate; Hou Jing came out from his palisade gate and faced Jin from afar, slaughtering a beast and smearing blood to seal the oath.

南兗州刺史南康嗣王會理、前青冀二州刺史湘潭侯退、西昌侯世子彧率眾三萬至於馬卬洲，景慮北軍自白下而上，斷其江路，請悉勒聚南岸。敕乃遣北軍並進江潭苑。景又啟稱：「永安侯、趙威方頻隔柵詬臣，雲'天子自與爾盟，我終當逐汝'。乞召入城，即進發。」敕並召之。景遂運東城米於石頭，食乃足。又啟云：「西岸信至，高澄已得壽春、鍾離，便無處安足，權借廣陵、譙州，須征得壽春、鍾離，即以奉還朝廷。」

Prince Huili, heir of Nankang and governor of Southern Yan Province, Marquis Tui of Xiangtan, former governor of Qing and Ji Provinces, and the heir Yu of the Marquis of Xichang led thirty thousand men to Mapang Isle. Hou Jing, fearing the northern army would advance from Baixia upstream and cut his river route, asked that they all be mustered on the south bank. An edict then ordered the northern army to advance together into the Jiangtan Park. Hou Jing again submitted a memorial stating, "Marquis Yong'an and Zhao Weifang have repeatedly shouted abuse at me across the palisade, saying, 'The Son of Heaven made the alliance with you himself — I will still drive you out in the end. I beg that they be summoned into the city, and I will then advance and depart.' An edict summoned them both. Hou Jing then transported grain from the eastern city to Shitou, and his food supply was finally sufficient. He again submitted a memorial saying, "Word has come from the west bank that Gao Cheng has taken Shouchun and Zhongli; with nowhere to settle, I ask to borrow Guangling and Qiao Province temporarily — once Shouchun and Zhongli are recovered, I will return them to the court at once."

時荊州刺史湘東王繹師于武成，河東王譽次巴陵，前信州刺史桂陽王慥頓江津，並未之進。既而有敕班師，湘東王欲旋。中記室參軍蕭賁曰：「景以人臣舉兵向闕，今若放兵，未及度江，童子能斬之，必不為也。大王以十萬之師，未見賊而退，若何！」湘東王不悅。賁，骨鯁士也，每恨湘東不入援。嘗與王雙六，食子未下，賁曰：「殿下都無下意。」王深為憾，遂因事害之。

At the time Prince Yi of Xiangdong, governor of Jing Province, had his army at Wucheng; Prince Yu of Hedong was stationed at Baling; and Prince Chao of Guiyang, former governor of Xin Province, was encamped at the Yangtze crossing — yet none of them advanced. Shortly afterward an edict ordered the army to withdraw, and the Prince of Xiangdong wished to turn back. Senior Recorder of the Central Secretariat Xiao Ben said, "Hou Jing, a mere subject, raised troops against the capital; if you now disband your army, before he has even crossed the river a mere boy could cut him down — he would never do it. Your Highness leads a host of a hundred thousand yet retreats without having even seen the enemy — how can this be! The Prince of Xiangdong was displeased. Ben was a man of unyielding integrity who constantly resented that the Prince of Xiangdong did not come to the rescue. Once when playing double-sixes with the prince, before a piece was placed Ben said, "Your Highness shows no intention of making a move at all. The prince was deeply resentful and eventually had him killed on a pretext.

景既知援軍號令不一，終無勤王之效，又聞城中死疾轉多，當有應之者。既卻湘東王等兵，又得東城之米，王偉且說景曰：「王以人臣舉兵背叛，圍守宮闕，已盈十旬。逼辱妃主，陵穢宗廟，今日持此，何處容身？願且觀變。」景然之，乃表陳武帝十失。三年三月丙辰朔，城內於太極殿前設壇，使兼太宰、尚書僕射王克等告天地神只，以景違盟，舉烽鼓噪。初，城圍之日，男女十餘萬，貫甲者三萬，至是疾疫且盡，守埤者止二三千人，並悉羸懦。橫屍滿路，無人埋瘞，臭氣熏數里，爛汁滿溝洫。於是羊鴉仁、柳仲禮、鄱陽世子嗣進軍於東府城北。柵壘未立，為景將宋子仙所敗，送首級于闕下。景又遣於子悅乞和，城內遣御史中丞沈浚至景所。景無去意，浚因責之，景大怒，即決石闕前水，百道攻城，晝夜不息。

Hou Jing, having learned that the relief armies' orders were not unified and would ultimately bring no royal rescue, also heard that deaths and sickness in the city were steadily increasing and that there would surely be those ready to respond to him. Having already driven back the armies of the Prince of Xiangdong and others and having obtained grain from the eastern city, Wang Wei then urged Hou Jing, saying, "Your Highness, as a subject, raised troops in rebellion and have besieged the palace for more than ten weeks already. You have humiliated consorts and princesses and defiled the ancestral temple — with such a record, where can you find a place to live? I wish only to watch how events unfold for now. Hou Jing agreed with this and thereupon submitted a memorial listing ten faults of Emperor Wu. On the first day of the third month of the third year, the city set up an altar before the Hall of Supreme Pole and sent Acting Grand Minister and Grand Secretary Wang Ke and others to announce to Heaven, Earth, and the spirits that Hou Jing had violated the alliance; beacon fires were raised and drums and shouts resounded. At first, when the city was besieged, men and women numbered more than a hundred thousand, and those wearing armor thirty thousand; by this time plague had nearly wiped them out, and those defending the ramparts numbered only two or three thousand, all emaciated and weak. Corpses lay strewn across the roads with no one to bury them; the stench wafted for several li, and putrid fluid filled the ditches and drains. Thereupon Yang Yaren, Liu Zhongli, and the heir Si of Poyang advanced their armies north of Dongfu city. Before their palisades and fortifications were established, they were defeated by Hou Jing's general Song Zixian, and their heads were sent to the palace. Hou Jing again sent Yu Ziyue to beg for peace; the city dispatched Imperial Censor Shen Jun to Hou Jing's camp. Hou Jing had no intention of leaving; Jun therefore rebuked him, and Hou Jing flew into a rage. He at once released the water before the Stone Tower and attacked the city on a hundred fronts, day and night without cease.

丁卯，邵陵王世子堅帳內白曇朗、董勳華于城西北樓納賊。五鼓，賊四面飛梯，眾悉上。永安侯確與其兄堅力戰不能卻，乃還見文德殿言狀。須臾，景乃先使王偉、儀同陳慶入殿陳謝曰：「臣既與高氏有隙，所以歸投，每啟不蒙為奏，所以入朝。而奸佞懼誅，深見推拒，連兵多日，罪合萬誅。」武帝曰：「景今何在？可召來。」景入朝，以甲士五百人自衛，帶劍升殿。拜訖，帝神色不變，使引向三公榻坐，謂曰：「卿在戎日久，無乃為勞。」景默然。又問：「卿何州人？而來至此。」又不對。其從者任約代對。又問：「初度江有幾人？」景曰：「千人，」「圍台城有幾人？」曰：「十萬。」「今有幾人？」曰：「率土之內，莫非己有。」帝俛首不言。景出，謂其廂公王僧貴曰：「吾常據鞍對敵，矢刃交下，而意了無怖。今見蕭公，使人自懾，豈非天威難犯。吾不可以再見之。」出見簡文於永福省，簡文坐與相見，亦無懼色。

On dingmao, Bai Tanlang and Dong Xunhua, officers within the tent of the heir of the Prince of Shaoling Jian, admitted the rebels at the northwest tower of the city. At the fifth watch, the rebels raised flying ladders on all four sides and all ascended. Marquis Que of Yong'an fought fiercely alongside his elder brother Jian but could not drive them back; he then returned to the Hall of Cultured Virtue to report the situation. Before long Hou Jing first sent Wang Wei and General of the Household Chen Qing into the hall to offer apology, saying, "Your servant had a rift with the Gao clan and therefore came to submit; each memorial I submitted was not forwarded on your behalf, and so I entered the capital. Yet treacherous sycophants, fearing punishment, pushed back against me at every turn; after many days of continuous fighting, my crimes merit ten thousand executions. Emperor Wu said, "Where is Hou Jing now? Summon him here. Hou Jing entered the audience hall with five hundred armored soldiers as escort, wearing his sword as he ascended the hall. When the bow was completed, the emperor's expression did not change; he had Hou Jing led to the couch of the Three Dukes and said, "You have been long in the field — you must be weary. Hou Jing was silent. He asked again, "From which province are you? Yet you have come to this place. Again he did not answer. His follower Ren Yue answered in his stead. He asked again, "When you first crossed the river, how many men were there? Hou Jing said, "A thousand." "When you besieged Tàicheng, how many were there? He said, "A hundred thousand." How many are there now?" He said, "Within the four seas, none that is not already mine." The emperor bowed his head and said nothing. When Hou Jing went out, he said to his aide Wang Senggui, "I have often sat in the saddle facing the enemy with arrows and blades falling all around, yet my mind was utterly without fear. Now, seeing Lord Xiao, one is overcome with dread — is this not because the majesty of Heaven is hard to violate? I cannot see him again. He went out and saw Jianwen at Yongfu Palace; Jianwen sat to receive him and showed no fear either.

初，簡文寒夕詩云：「雪花無有蔕，冰鏡不安台。」又詠月云：「飛輪了無轍，明鏡不安台。」後人以為詩讖，謂無蔕者，是無帝。不安台者，台城不安。輪無轍者，以邵陵名綸，空有赴援名也。

Earlier, in a poem on a cold evening Jianwen wrote, "Snowflakes have no stem; the ice mirror rests on no terrace. In another poem on the moon he wrote, "The flying wheel leaves no track; the bright mirror rests on no terrace." Later people took these as poetic omens, saying that "no stem" meant no emperor. "Rests on no terrace" meant Tàicheng would not be secure. "The wheel leaves no track" referred to the Prince of Shaoling, whose name was Lun — he had only the name of coming to the rescue.

既而景屯兵西州，使偽儀同陳慶以甲防太極殿，悉鹵掠乘輿服玩、後宮嬪妾，收王侯朝士送永福省，撤二宮侍衛。使王偉守武德殿，於子悅屯太極東堂，矯詔大赦，自為大都督、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事，其侍中、使持節、大丞相、王如故。

Shortly afterward Hou Jing encamped his troops at Xizhou and sent the false General of the Household Chen Qing with armored men to guard the Hall of Supreme Pole; he plundered all the imperial regalia and playthings and the consorts of the inner palace, gathered princes and court officials and sent them to Yongfu Palace, and removed the guards of the two palaces. He had Wang Wei guard the Hall of Martial Virtue and Yu Ziyue encamp at the Eastern Hall of Supreme Pole; he forged an edict of general amnesty and appointed himself Grand Commander, Commander of All Armies at Home and Abroad, and Director of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, while his posts as Palace Attendant, Bearer of the Staff of Authority, Grand Chancellor, and Prince remained as before.

先是，城中積屍不暇埋瘞，又有已死未斂，或將死未絕，景悉令聚而焚之，臭氣聞十餘里。尚書外兵郎鮑正疾篤，賊曳出焚之，宛轉火中，久而方絕。景又矯詔征鎮牧守各復本位，於是諸軍並散。降蕭正德為侍中、大司馬，百官皆復其職。

Earlier, corpses had piled up in the city with no time to bury them; there were also those already dead but not yet encoffined, or not yet dead but still lingering — Hou Jing had them all gathered and burned, and the stench was smelled for more than ten li. Bao Zheng, an outer-army secretary of the Masters of Writing, was gravely ill; the rebels dragged him out and burned him. He writhed in the flames a long time before finally expiring. Hou Jing also forged an edict summoning the garrison commanders and regional governors each to resume his original post, whereupon all the armies dispersed. Xiao Zhengde was demoted to Palace Attendant and Grand Marshal, and all officials resumed their posts.

六月，景乃殺蕭正德於永福省，封元羅為西秦王，元景襲為陳留王，諸元子弟封王者十餘人。以柳仲禮為使持節、大都督，隸大丞相，參戎事。

In the sixth month Hou Jing killed Xiao Zhengde at Yongfu Palace, enfeoffed Yuan Luo as King of Western Qin and Yuan Jingxi as King of Chenliu, and enfeoffed more than ten sons and younger brothers of the Yuan clan as kings. Liu Zhongli was made Bearer of the Staff of Authority and Grand Commander, subordinate to the Grand Chancellor, participating in military affairs.

十一月，百濟使至，見城邑丘墟，於端門外號泣，行路見者莫不灑泣。景聞大怒，收小莊嚴寺，禁不聽出入。大寶元年正月，景矯詔自加班劍四十人，給前後部羽葆、鼓吹，置左右長史、從事中郎四人。三月甲申，景請簡文禊宴于樂游苑，帳飲三日。其逆党咸以妻子自隨，皇太子以下，並令馬射，箭中者賞以金錢。翌日向晨，簡文還宮。景拜伏苦請，簡文不從。及發，景即與溧陽主共據御床南面並坐，群臣文武列坐侍宴。

In the eleventh month envoys from Baekje arrived; seeing the city and towns in ruins, they wept outside the Duan Gate, and passersby who saw them all shed tears. When Hou Jing heard of this he was greatly enraged and seized the Lesser Zhuangyan Temple, forbidding anyone to enter or leave. In the first month of the first year of Dabao, Hou Jing forged an edict adding forty ceremonial swordbearers to his retinue, granting front and rear feathered canopies and martial music, and establishing four Left and Right Senior Recorders and Attending Gentlemen. On jiashen of the third month Hou Jing invited Jianwen to a spring purification feast at the Pleasure Tour Park, drinking in tents for three days. His rebel followers all brought their wives and children; from the crown prince downward, all were made to shoot on horseback, and those whose arrows hit the mark were rewarded with gold and cash. The next morning Jianwen returned to the palace. Hou Jing bowed prostrate and begged earnestly, but Jianwen would not agree. When they set out, Hou Jing at once sat facing south on the imperial couch together with the Lady of Liyang, while civil and military officials were arrayed in seats to attend the feast.

四月辛卯，景又召簡文幸西州，簡文禦素輦，侍衛四百餘人。景眾數千浴鐵翼衛。簡文至西州，景等逆拜。上冠下屋白紗帽，服白布裙襦。景服紫紬褶，上加金帶，與其偽儀同陳慶、索超世等西向坐。溧陽主與其母範淑妃東向坐。上聞絲竹，淒然下泣。景起謝曰：「陛下何不樂？」上為笑曰：「丞相言索超世聞此以為何聲？」景曰：「臣且不知，豈獨超世。」上乃命景起舞，景即下席應弦而歌。上顧命淑妃，淑妃固辭乃止。景又上禮，遂逼上起舞。酒闌坐散，上抱景於床曰：「我念丞相。」景曰：「陛下如不念臣，臣何至此。」上索筌蹄，曰：「我為公講。」命景離席，使其唱經。景問超世何經最小，超世曰：「唯觀世音小。」景即唱「爾時無盡意菩薩」。上大笑，夜乃罷。

On xinmao of the fourth month Hou Jing again summoned Jianwen to visit Xizhou; Jianwen rode a plain palanquin with more than four hundred guards. Several thousand of Hou Jing's troops bathed in iron armor as escort. When Jianwen reached Xizhou, Hou Jing and the others went out to bow in welcome. The emperor wore a white gauze cap with a brim and dressed in white cloth skirt and jacket. Hou Jing wore a purple silk jacket with a gold belt added, and sat facing west with his false General of the Household Chen Qing, Suo Chaoshi, and others. The Lady of Liyang sat facing east with her mother, Consort Fan Shufei. When the emperor heard string and bamboo music, he wept desolately. Hou Jing rose and apologized, saying, "Your Majesty, why are you not joyful? The emperor forced a smile and said, "Chancellor, tell me — what does Suo Chaoshi think this sound is? Hou Jing said, "Your servant does not know — how much less Chaoshi alone." The emperor then ordered Hou Jing to dance; Hou Jing at once left his seat and sang to the strings. The emperor looked toward Consort Shu and ordered her, but the consort firmly declined and he stopped. Hou Jing again performed obeisance and then forced the emperor to dance. When the wine was finished and the gathering dispersed, the emperor embraced Hou Jing on the couch and said, "I think of the Chancellor. Hou Jing said, "If Your Majesty did not think of your servant, how could your servant have come to this?" The emperor asked for a horseshoe and said, "I will expound for you." He ordered Hou Jing to leave his seat and had him chant scripture. Hou Jing asked Chaoshi which scripture was shortest; Chaoshi said, "Only the Lotus Sutra's chapter on Avalokiteśvara is shortest. Hou Jing then chanted "At that time the Bodhisattva Infinite Intent." The emperor laughed heartily, and the night finally ended.

時江南大饑，江、揚彌甚，旱蝗相系，年穀不登，百姓流亡，死者塗地。父子攜手共入江湖，或弟兄相要俱緣山嶽。芰實荇花，所在皆罄，草根木葉，為之凋殘。雖假命須臾，亦終死山澤。其絕粒久者，鳥面鵠形，俯伏床帷，不出戶牖者，莫不衣羅綺，懷金玉，交相枕藉，待命聽終。於是千里絕煙，人跡罕見，白骨成聚如丘隴焉。而景虐于用刑，酷忍無道，於石頭立大舂碓，有犯法者搗殺之。東陽人李瞻起兵，為賊所執，送詣建鄴。景先出之市中，斷其手足，刻析心腹，破出肝腸。瞻正色整容，言笑自若，見其膽者乃如升焉。又禁人偶語，不許大酺，有犯則刑及外族。其官人任兼閫外者位必行台，入附凶徒者並稱開府，其親寄隆重則號曰左右廂公，勇力兼人名為庫真部督。

At the time the south of the Yangtze suffered great famine, worst of all in Jiang and Yang provinces; drought and locusts followed one after another, the year's grain did not ripen, the common people fled, and the dead covered the ground. Fathers and sons joined hands and entered the rivers and lakes together, or brothers invited one another to climb the mountains together. Water caltrop and pondweed were exhausted wherever they grew; roots and leaves of grass and trees were stripped bare. Though they borrowed life for a moment, in the end they still died in the hills and marshes. Those who had gone without grain for a long time had faces like birds and bodies like swans; lying prostrate on bed curtains and not coming out through doors or windows, all wore silk and brocade, carried gold and jade, and lay piled upon one another, waiting for death to come. Thereupon for a thousand li cooking smoke vanished and human traces were rarely seen; white bones piled up like mounds and ridges. Yet Hou Jing was cruel in the use of punishments, savage and ruthless beyond measure; at Shitou he set up a great pestle and mortar, and those who violated the law were pounded to death. Li Zhan of Dongyang raised troops and was seized by the rebels and sent to Jiankang. Hou Jing first brought him out into the market, cut off his hands and feet, carved open his chest and belly, and broke out his liver and intestines. Zhan maintained a composed expression and spoke and laughed as if at ease; those who saw his gall said it was like a sheng in size. He also forbade people to speak in pairs and did not allow large banquets; offenders were punished together with their outer clans. Officials who held concurrent posts outside the capital were invariably styled Field Headquarters; those who joined the rebel faction were all called Opening Headquarters; those he trusted and favored heavily were called Left and Right Aide Generals; and men of exceptional courage and strength were named Treasury-True Department Commanders.

七月，景又矯詔自進位相國，封泰山等二十郡為漢王。入朝不趨，贊拜不名，劍履上殿，依漢蕭何故事。十月，景又矯詔自加宇宙大將軍、都督六合諸軍事，以詔文呈簡文。簡文大驚曰：「將軍乃有宇宙之號乎？」初，武帝既崩，景立簡文，升重雲殿禮佛為盟曰：「臣乞自今兩無疑貳，臣固不負陛下，陛下亦不得負臣。」及南康王會理之事，景稍猜懼，謂簡文欲謀之。王偉因構扇，遂懷逆謀矣。

In the seventh month Hou Jing again forged an edict promoting himself to Chancellor of State and enfeoffing him as King of Han over twenty commanderies including Taishan. He need not hasten when entering court, his name was not spoken when he bowed in praise, he wore his sword and shoes when ascending the hall — following the precedent of Xiao He of Han. In the tenth month Hou Jing again forged an edict adding to himself the title Grand General of the Universe and Commander of All Military Affairs in the Six Directions, and presented the edict text to Jianwen. Jianwen was greatly alarmed and said, "General, you even have a title of 'Universe'? At first, after Emperor Wu had passed away, Hou Jing installed Jianwen and ascended the Hall of Heavy Clouds to worship the Buddha in oath, saying, "Your servant begs that from now on neither side shall doubt the other; your servant will certainly not fail Your Majesty, and Your Majesty must not fail your servant either." When the affair of Prince Huili of Nankang occurred, Hou Jing grew somewhat suspicious and fearful and believed Jianwen intended to plot against him. Wang Wei thereupon fanned the flames, and Hou Jing then harbored treasonous designs.

二年正月，景以王克為太宰，宋子仙為太保，元羅為太傅，郭元建為太尉，張化仁為司徒，任約為司空，于慶為太師，紇奚斤為太子太傅，時靈護為太子太保，王偉為尚書左僕射，索超世為右僕射。于大航跨水築城，名曰捍國。

In the first month of the second year Hou Jing appointed Wang Ke as Grand Minister, Song Zixian as Grand Mentor, Yuan Luo as Grand Tutor, Guo Yuanjian as Grand Commandant, Zhang Huaren as Minister over the Masses, Ren Yue as Minister of Works, Yu Qing as Grand Preceptor, Hexi Jin as Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, Shi Linghu as Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent, and Wang Wei as Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing and Suo Chaoshi as Right Vice Director. At Dahuang he built a city spanning the water, named Defend-the-State.

四月，景遣宋子仙襲陷郢州刺史方諸。景乘勝西上，號二十萬，聯旗千里，江左以來，水軍之盛未有也。元帝聞之，謂御史中丞宗懍曰：「賊若分守巴陵，鼓行西上，荊、郢殆危，此上策也。身頓長沙，徇地零、桂，運糧以至洞庭，湘、郢非吾有，此中策也。擁眾江口，連攻巴陵，銳氣盡於堅城，士卒饑於半菽，此下策也。吾安枕而臥，無所多憂。」及次巴陵，王僧辯沈船臥鼓，若將已遁。景遂圍城。元帝遣平北將軍胡僧佑與居士陸法和大破之，禽其將任約，景乃夜遁還都。左右有泣者，景命斬之。王僧辯乃東下，自是眾軍所至皆捷。先是，景每出師，戒諸將曰：「若破城邑，淨殺卻，使天下知吾威名。」故諸將以殺人為戲笑，百姓雖死不從之。

In the fourth month Hou Jing sent Song Zixian to raid and capture Governor Fang Zhu of Ying Province. Hou Jing then pressed his advantage westward, proclaiming two hundred thousand men; his banners linked for a thousand li — since the founding of the Jiang-left regime, there had never been such a mighty fleet. When Emperor Yuan heard this he said to Imperial Censor Zong Lin, "If the bandits divide forces to hold Baling and advance west with drums beating, Jing and Ying will be in peril — that is the best plan. If he halts at Changsha, marches through Ling and Gui to seize territory, and transports grain as far as Dongting, then Xiang and Ying will no longer be mine — that is the middle plan. If he masses troops at the river mouth and attacks Baling in succession, his keen spirit will be exhausted against a strong city and his soldiers will starve on half rations — that is the worst plan. I can rest my head on my pillow and sleep — there is little to worry about. When he reached Baling, Wang Sengbian sank ships and stilled drums as if he had already fled. Hou Jing then besieged the city. Emperor Yuan dispatched General of Pacifying the North Hu Sengyou and layman Lu Fahe, who inflicted a great defeat and captured his general Ren Yue; Hou Jing then fled by night back to the capital. Those beside him who wept, Hou Jing ordered beheaded. Wang Sengbian then advanced eastward, and from this time wherever the armies went they were victorious. Earlier, whenever Hou Jing went out on campaign he admonished his generals, saying, "If you capture a city or town, kill cleanly and completely, so that all under Heaven may know my awesome name. Therefore the generals took killing people as sport and laughter, yet the common people would not submit even unto death.

十一月，景矯蕭棟詔，自加九錫，漢國置丞相以下百官，陳備物於庭。忽有鳥似山鵲翔于景冊書上，赤足丹觜，都下左右所無。賊徒悉駭，競射之，不能中。景又矯棟詔，追崇其祖為大將軍，父為大丞相，自加冕十有二旒，建天子旌旗，出警入蹕，乘金根車，駕六馬，備五時副車，置旄頭雲罕，樂舞八佾，鍾虡宮懸之樂，一如舊儀。尋又矯蕭棟詔禪位，使偽太宰王克奉璽紱於己。先夕，景宿大莊嚴寺，即南郊，柴燎於天，升壇受禪，大風拔木，旗蓋盡偃，文物並失舊儀。既唱警蹕，識者以為名景而言警蹕，非久祥也。景聞惡之，改為備蹕。人又曰，備于此便畢矣。有司乃奏改雲永蹕。乃以廣柳車載鼓吹，橐駝負犧牲，輦上置垂腳坐焉。景所帶劍水精摽無故墮落，手自拾取，甚惡之。將登壇，有兔自前而走，俄失所在。又白虹貫日三重，日青無色。還將登太極殿，醜徒數萬同共吹唇唱吼而上。及升御床，床腳自陷。大赦，改元為太始元年。方饗群臣，中會而起，觸扆墜地。封蕭棟為淮陰王，幽之。改梁律為漢律，改左戶尚書為殿中尚書，五兵尚書為七兵尚書，直殿主帥為直寢。

In the eleventh month Hou Jing forged an edict in the name of Xiao Dong, adding to himself the Nine Bestowals; the Han state established officials from Chancellor downward, and ceremonial objects were arrayed in the courtyard. Suddenly a bird like a mountain magpie flew over Hou Jing's investiture document, with red feet and a cinnabar beak — unlike any seen in the capital. The rebel followers were all terrified and competed to shoot at it but could not hit it. Hou Jing again forged an edict in Dong's name, posthumously honoring his grandfather as Grand General and his father as Grand Chancellor; he added to himself a crown with twelve tassels, established the Son of Heaven's banners and flags, went out with police and entered with clearance, rode the golden-root chariot drawn by six horses with five seasonal secondary chariots, set up miao and yunhan standards, music and dance in eight rows, bell and qing palace suspended music — all exactly like the old rites. Shortly afterward he again forged an edict in the name of Xiao Dong transferring the throne, sending the false Grand Minister Wang Ke to present the seal and ribbon to himself. The night before, Hou Jing lodged at the Great Zhuangyan Temple, then at the Southern Suburb he piled firewood and burned offerings to Heaven, ascended the altar to receive the abdication; a great wind uprooted trees, banners and canopies all toppled, and ceremonial objects all lost their proper form. When they chanted "jingbi" (clear the way), those who understood said that for one named Jing to speak of jingbi was no long-lasting omen. When Hou Jing heard this he hated it and changed it to beibi. People again said, "Bei here means finished." The officials thereupon memorialized to change it to yunyongbi. They then used broad-wheeled carts to carry martial music, camels to bear sacrificial victims, and on the palanquin placed a seat with hanging legs. The crystal pommel of the sword Hou Jing wore fell to the ground for no reason; he picked it up himself and was greatly displeased. As he was about to ascend the altar, a rabbit ran out from ahead and soon vanished. Also a white rainbow pierced the sun in three layers, and the sun turned pale and colorless. When he returned and was about to ascend the Hall of Supreme Pole, tens of thousands of ugly followers all blew on their lips and roared as they went up together. When he ascended the imperial couch, the couch legs sank of themselves. He proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the era name to the first year of Taishi. While feasting the officials he rose midway and bumped the screen, which fell to the ground. He enfeoffed Xiao Dong as King of Huaiyin and imprisoned him. He changed Liang law to Han law, changed Director of the Left Household to Director of the Palace, Director of the Five Armies to Director of the Seven Armies, and Chief of the Straight Hall to Chief of the Straight Quarters.

景三公之官，動置十數，儀同尤多。或匹馬孤行，自執羈絏。以宋子仙、郭元建、張化仁、任約為佐命元功，並加三公之位；王偉、索超世為謀主；于子悅、彭雋主擊斷；陳慶、呂季略、盧暉略、于和、史安和為爪牙：斯皆尤毒于百姓者。其餘王伯醜、任延和等復有數十人。梁人而為景用者，則故將軍趙伯超、前制局監姬石珍、內監嚴亶、邵陵王記室伏知命，此四人盡心竭力者。若太宰王克、太傅元羅、侍中殷不害、太常姬弘正等雖官尊，止從人望，非腹心任也。景祖名乙羽周，及篡以周為廟諱，故改周弘正、石珍姓姬焉。

Hou Jing's Three Dukes posts were often ten or more at a time, and Generals of the Household especially numerous. Some rode a single horse alone, holding their own reins. Song Zixian, Guo Yuanjian, Zhang Huaren, and Ren Yue were the chief founding merit-holders and all received Three Dukes rank; Wang Wei and Suo Chaoshi were the chief strategists; Yu Ziyue and Peng Jun handled judgments and executions; Chen Qing, Lü Jilüe, Lu Huilüe, Yu He, and Shi Anhe were his claws and fangs — all were especially poisonous toward the common people. Beyond these, Wang Bochou, Ren Yanhe, and others numbered several dozen more. Among Liang men who served Hou Jing, the former general Zhao Bochao, former Bureau Supervisor Ji Shizhen, Inner Supervisor Yan Dan, and Recorder of the Prince of Shaoling Fu Zhiming — these four gave their hearts and strength entirely. Men such as Grand Minister Wang Ke, Grand Tutor Yuan Luo, Palace Attendant Yin Bujie, and Grand Master of Ceremonies Ji Hongzheng, though high in office, were kept only for popular esteem and were not trusted as inner confidants. Hou Jing's grandfather was named Yiyu Zhou; when he usurped the throne he made Zhou a taboo for the ancestral temple, and so changed Zhou Hongzheng and Shi Zhen to the surname Ji.

王偉請立七廟，景曰：「何謂七廟？」偉曰：「天子祭七世祖考，故置七廟。」並請七世諱，敕太常具祭祀之禮。景曰：「前世吾不復憶，唯阿爺名摽，且在朔州，伊那得來噉是。」眾聞咸笑之。景党有知景祖名乙羽周者，自外悉是王偉制其名位。以漢司徒侯霸為始祖，晉征士侯瑾為七世祖。於是推尊其祖周為大丞相，父摽為元皇帝。

Wang Wei requested establishing seven ancestral temples; Hou Jing said, "What are seven temples? Wei said, "The Son of Heaven sacrifices to seven generations of ancestors, and so seven temples are established." He also requested the taboo names of seven generations and ordered the Grand Master of Ceremonies to prepare the sacrificial rites. Hou Jing said, "I no longer remember earlier generations; only my father's name was Biao, and he is still in Shuozhou — how could he come here to eat this? All who heard laughed. Among Hou Jing's faction only those who knew his grandfather's name Yiyu Zhou were real; beyond that all names and ranks were fabricated by Wang Wei. He took Hou Ba, Minister over the Masses of Han, as founding ancestor and Hou Jin, Recluse of Jin, as seventh-generation ancestor. Thereupon he honored his grandfather Zhou as Grand Chancellor and his father Biao as Founding Emperor.

于時景修飾台城及朱雀、宣陽等門，童謠曰：「的脰烏，拂朱雀，還與吳。」又曰：「脫青袍，著芒屩，荊州天子挺應著。」時都下王侯庶姓五等廟樹，咸見殘毀，唯文宣太后廟四周柏樹獨鬱茂。及景篡，修南郊路，偽都官尚書呂季略說景令伐此樹以立三橋。始斫南面十餘株，再宿悉枿生，便長數尺。時既冬月，翠茂若春。賊乃大驚惡之，使悉斫殺。識者以為昔僵柳起于上林，乃表漢宣之興，今廟樹重青，必彰陝西之瑞。又景床東邊香爐無故墮地，景呼東西南北皆謂為廂，景曰：「此東廂香爐那忽下地。」議者以為湘東軍下之征。

At the time Hou Jing was renovating Tàicheng and the Vermilion Bird, Xuanyang, and other gates; a children's song said, "The bulging-throat crow, brushing the Vermilion Bird, returns to Wu. Another said, "Cast off the green robe, put on straw sandals — the Son of Heaven of Jing Province ought to wear them." At the time the temple trees of princes, marquises, commoners, and five ranks in the capital were all seen destroyed; only the cypress trees around Empress Dowager Wenxuan's temple remained lush and flourishing. When Hou Jing usurped the throne he repaired the road to the Southern Suburb; the false Minister of Justice Lü Jilüe urged Hou Jing to cut these trees to build the Three Bridges. At first more than ten trees on the south side were cut; after two nights they all sprouted anew and grew several chi. Though it was already winter, they were green and lush as in spring. The rebels were greatly alarmed and hated this and had them all cut down and killed. Those who understood said that in the past the reviving willow in Shanglin Park foretold the rise of Emperor Xuan of Han; now the temple trees turning green again must proclaim the auspice of the west. Also the incense burner east of Hou Jing's couch fell to the ground for no reason; Hou Jing called east, south, west, and north all "side halls," and said, "How did this east-side-hall incense burner suddenly fall to the ground? Those who interpreted omens said this foretold the advance of the army of Xiangdong.

十二月，謝答仁、李慶等軍至建德，攻元頵、李占柵，大破之。執頵、占送京口，截其手足徇之，經日乃死。

In the twelfth month the armies of Xie Daren and Li Qing reached Jiande and attacked the palisades of Yuan Yun and Li Zhan, inflicting a great defeat. They captured Yun and Zhan and sent them to Jingkou, cut off their hands and feet and displayed them as warning; after a full day they died.

景二年，謝答仁攻東陽，劉神茂降，以送建康，景為大銼碓，先進其腳，寸寸斬之，至頭方止。使眾觀之以示威。

In the second year of Hou Jing, Xie Daren attacked Dongyang; Liu Shenmao surrendered and was sent to Jiankang; Hou Jing set up a great file and pestle, first feeding in his feet and chopping inch by inch until reaching the head before stopping. He had the crowd watch to display his power.

王僧辯軍至蕪湖，城主宵遁。侯子鑒率步騎萬餘人度州，並引水軍俱進。僧辯逆擊，大破之。景聞之大懼涕下，覆面引衾臥，良久方起，歎曰：「咄叱！咄叱！誤殺乃公。」

When Wang Sengbian's army reached Wuhu, the city lord fled by night. Hou Zijian led more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry across the province and brought the river fleet forward together. Sengbian met them and inflicted a great defeat. When Hou Jing heard this he was greatly afraid and wept; covering his face he pulled up the quilt and lay down; after a long while he rose and sighed, "Tut-tut! Tut-tut! I have killed my old man by mistake."

初，景之為丞相，居於西州，將率謀臣，朝必集行列門外，謂之牙門。以次引進，賚以酒食，言笑談論，善惡必同。及篡，恒坐內不出，舊將稀見面，咸有怨心。至是登烽火樓望西師，看一人以為十人，大懼。僧辯及諸將遂於石頭城西步上，連營立柵，至於落星墩。景大恐，遣掘王僧辯父墓，剖棺焚其屍。王僧辯等進營於石頭城北，景列陣挑戰，僧辯大破之。

At first, when Hou Jing was Chancellor he resided at Xizhou; his generals and strategists had to assemble in ranks outside the gate every morning — this was called the yamen. They were led in one by one, rewarded with wine and food, and spoke and laughed together — good and bad alike shared the same. After he usurped the throne he always sat inside and did not come out; his old generals rarely saw his face and all harbored resentment. By this time he ascended the beacon-fire tower to look at the western army and counted one man as ten; he was greatly afraid. Sengbian and the other generals then advanced on foot at the west of Shitou city, linking camps and erecting palisades as far as Falling Star Mound. Hou Jing was greatly terrified and sent men to dig up the grave of Wang Sengbian's father, open the coffin, and burn the corpse. Wang Sengbian and the others advanced their camp north of Shitou city; Hou Jing arrayed his forces and challenged them to battle, and Sengbian inflicted a great defeat.

景既退敗，不敢入宮，斂其散兵屯于闕下，遂將逃。王偉按劍攬轡諫曰：「自古豈有叛天子；今宮中衛士尚足一戰，寧可便走。」景曰：「我在北打賀拔勝，敗葛榮，揚名河朔，與高王一種人。來南直度大江，取台城如反掌，打邵陵王於北山，破柳仲禮于南岸，皆乃所親見。今日之事，恐是天亡。乃好守城，當復一決。」仰觀石闕，逡巡歎息久之。乃以皮囊盛二子掛馬鞍，與其儀同田遷、范希榮等百餘騎東奔。王偉遂委台城竄逸。侯子鑒等奔廣陵。王克開台城門引裴之橫入宮，縱兵蹂掠。是夜遺燼燒太極殿及東西堂、延閣、秘署皆盡，羽儀輦輅莫有孑遺。王僧辯命武州刺史杜崱救火，僅而得滅。故武德、五明、重雲殿及門下、中書、尚書省得免。

Hou Jing, having retreated in defeat, dared not enter the palace; he gathered his scattered troops and encamped below the palace gate, then prepared to flee. Wang Wei, hand on sword and holding the reins, remonstrated, "Since ancient times has there ever been one who betrayed the Son of Heaven? The palace guards are still enough for one battle — how can you flee at once? Hou Jing said, "In the north I fought Heba Sheng, defeated Ge Rong, and made my name in the Hebei region — I was a man of Gao Wang's kind. Coming south I crossed the great river straightaway and took Tàicheng like turning my hand; I struck the Prince of Shaoling at North Mountain and broke Liu Zhongli on the south bank — all this you saw with your own eyes. Today's affair, I fear, is Heaven's destruction. You had better hold the city well — we shall fight one more decisive battle. He looked up at the Stone Tower, hesitated, and sighed for a long time. He then put his two sons in leather bags and hung them from his saddle, and with more than a hundred horsemen including his General of the Household Tian Qian and Fan Xirong fled eastward. Wang Wei then abandoned Tàicheng and fled. Hou Zijian and others fled to Guangling. Wang Ke opened the gate of Tàicheng and led Pei Zhiheng into the palace; the troops were unleashed to plunder. That night lingering embers burned the Hall of Supreme Pole and the Eastern and Western Halls, the extended pavilions, and the secret archives — all to nothing; not a single piece of ceremonial regalia or imperial carriage remained. Wang Sengbian ordered Du E, governor of Wu Province, to fight the fire, and it was barely extinguished. Thus the Hall of Martial Virtue, the Five Brightnesses, the Heavy Clouds, and the Gate Department, Central Secretariat, and Masters of Writing were spared.

僧辯迎簡文梓宮升於朝堂，三軍縞素，踴於哀次。命侯瑱、裴之橫追賊於東，焚偽神主于宣陽門，作神主於太廟，收圖書八萬卷歸江陵。杜崱守台城，都下戶口百遺一二，大航南岸極目無煙。老小相扶競出，才度淮，王琳、杜龕軍人掠之，甚於寇賊，號叫聞於石頭。僧辯謂為有變，登城問故，亦不禁也。僉以王師之酷，甚于侯景，君子以是知僧辯之不終。

Sengbian received Jianwen's coffin and raised it to the audience hall; the three armies wore white hemp and wailed at the mourning station. He ordered Hou Tian and Pei Zhiheng to pursue the rebels eastward, burned the false spirit tablets at the Xuanyang Gate, made new spirit tablets in the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and sent eighty thousand scrolls of books and records back to Jiangling. Du E guarded Tàicheng; of the capital's registered households only one or two in a hundred survived, and gazing south across the Great Bridge one saw no smoke as far as the eye reached. Old and young supported one another and rushed out; just after crossing the Huai, the soldiers of Wang Lin and Du Kan plundered them worse than bandits, and their cries were heard at Shitou. Sengbian thought there had been a disturbance, ascended the wall to ask the reason, but did not forbid it either. All agreed that the cruelty of the royal army exceeded that of Hou Jing; men of discernment knew from this that Sengbian would not end well.

初，景之圍台城，援軍三十萬，兵士望青袍則氣消膽奪。及赤亭之役，胡僧佑以羸卒一千破任約精甲二萬，轉戰而東，前無橫陣。既而侯瑱追及，景眾未陣，皆舉幡乞降，景不能制。乃與腹心人數十單舸走，推墮二子于水，自滬瀆入海至胡豆洲。前太子舍人羊鯤殺之，送于王僧辯。

At first, when Hou Jing besieged Tàicheng, the relief army numbered three hundred thousand; soldiers who saw the green robes lost their spirit and courage. At the battle of Chiting, Hu Sengyou with a thousand exhausted troops broke Ren Yue's twenty thousand elite armored men; turning to fight eastward, no enemy line stood before them. Before long Hou Tian caught up; Hou Jing's host had not yet formed ranks when all raised banners begging to surrender, and Hou Jing could not control them. He then fled in a single small boat with several dozen trusted men, pushing his two sons into the water; from the Hudu channel he went out to sea and reached Houdou Isle. Yang Kun, former Attendant of the Heir Apparent, killed him and sent him to Wang Sengbian.

景長不滿七尺，長上短下，眉目疏秀，廣顙高顴，色赤少鬢，低視屢顧，聲散，識者曰：「此謂豺狼之聲，故能食人，亦當為人所食。」既南奔，魏相高澄悉命先剝景妻子面皮，以大鐵鑊盛油煎殺之。女以入宮為婢，男三歲者並下蠶室。後齊文宣夢獼猴坐御床，乃並煮景子於鑊，其子之在北者殲焉。

Hou Jing was less than seven chi tall, long above and short below; his brows and eyes were sparse and refined, his forehead broad and cheekbones high, his complexion ruddy with little beard; he looked downward and glanced about repeatedly, and his voice was scattered. Those who understood said, "This is what is called the voice of jackals and wolves — therefore he can devour men, and in turn will be devoured by men. After he fled south, Gao Cheng of Wei ordered that Hou Jing's wife and children first have their facial skin stripped off and then be killed by frying in a great iron cauldron of oil. The daughter was made a palace maid; boys three years old and above were all sent to the silkworm chamber. Later Emperor Wenxuan of Qi dreamed that a macaque sat on the imperial couch and had all of Hou Jing's sons boiled in a cauldron; Hou Jing's sons who remained in the north were exterminated.

景性猜忍，好殺戮，恒以手刃為戲。方食，斬人於前，言笑自若，口不輟餐。或先斷手足，割舌劓鼻，經日乃殺之。自篡立後，時著白紗帽，而尚披青袍，頭插象牙梳，床上常設胡床及筌蹄，著靴垂腳坐。或跂戶限，或走馬遨遊，彈射鴉鳥。自為天子，王偉不許輕出，於是鬱怏，更成失志，曰：「吾無事為帝，與受擯不殊。」及聞義師轉近，猜忌彌深，床前蘭錡自遶，然後見客。每登武帝所常幸殿，若有芒刺在身，恒聞叱咄者。又處宴居殿，一夜驚起，若有物扣其心。自是凡武帝所常居處，並不敢處。多在昭陽殿廊下。所居殿屋，常有鵂鶹鳥鳴呼，景惡之，每使人窮山野捕鳥。景所乘白馬，每戰將勝，輒躑躅嘶鳴，意氣駿逸；其有奔衄，必低頭不前。及石頭之役，精神沮喪，臥不肯動。景使左右拜請，或加棰策，終不肯進。始景左足上有肉瘤，狀似龜，戰應克捷，瘤則隱起分明；如不勝，瘤則低。至景敗日，瘤隱陷肉中。

Hou Jing was by nature suspicious and cruel, fond of killing, and constantly took hand-slaying as sport. While eating he would behead someone before him, speaking and laughing as if at ease, never pausing his meal. Sometimes he first cut off hands and feet, cut out the tongue and sliced off the nose, and killed the victim only after a full day. After he usurped the throne he often wore a white gauze cap yet still draped a green robe, with an ivory comb stuck in his hair; on his couch he always set a barbarian couch and horseshoe, sitting with boots on and legs dangling. Sometimes he stepped on the door sill, sometimes galloped about for amusement, shooting crows and birds. Since becoming Son of Heaven, Wang Wei would not allow him to go out lightly; he grew depressed and lost heart further, saying, "I became emperor for nothing — it is no different from being cast aside. When he heard the righteous army drawing nearer, his suspicion grew deeper; halberds were set to spin by themselves before his couch, and only then would he receive visitors. Whenever he ascended halls that Emperor Wu had often favored, it was as if thorns pricked his body; he constantly heard shouting and scolding. Also while dwelling in the Banquet Hall he startled awake one night as if something struck his heart. From this time he dared not dwell in any place Emperor Wu had often inhabited. He mostly stayed in the corridor of Zhaoyang Hall. In the halls where he dwelt, owls constantly cried; Hou Jing hated this and constantly sent men through mountains and wilds to capture birds. The white horse Hou Jing rode, whenever battle was about to be won, would stamp and neigh, its spirit fierce and swift; when there was defeat and rout, it always hung its head and would not advance. At the battle of Shitou its spirit was dejected; lying down it would not move. Hou Jing had those beside him bow and plead, or beat it with whips, but it still would not advance. At first on Hou Jing's left foot there was a flesh tumor shaped like a turtle; when battle should be victorious and he won, the tumor would rise clearly; if he did not win, the tumor would sink low. On the day of Hou Jing's defeat the tumor sank hidden into the flesh.

天監中，沙門釋寶志曰：「掘尾狗子自發狂，當死未死齧人傷，須臾之間自滅亡，起自汝陰死三湘。」又曰：「山家小兒果攘臂，太極殿前作虎視。」狗子，景小字，山家小兒，猴狀。景遂覆陷都邑，毒害皇家。起自懸瓠，即昔之汝南。巴陵有地名三湘，景奔敗處。其言皆驗。景常謂人曰：「侯字人邊作主，下作人，此明是人主也。」台城既陷，武帝嘗語人曰：「侯景必得為帝，但不久耳。破'侯景'字成'小人百日天子'，為帝當得百日。」案景以辛未年十一月十九日篡位，壬申年三月十九日敗，得一百二十日。而景以三月一日便往姑孰，計在宮殿足滿十旬，其言竟驗。又大同中，太醫令朱耽嘗直禁省，無何夢犬羊各一在御坐，覺而告人曰：「犬羊非佳物也，今據御座，將有變乎？」既而天子蒙塵，景登正殿焉。

During the Tianjian era the monk Baozhi said, "The tail-digging cur runs mad by itself; though not yet dead it bites and wounds men; in a moment it will perish of itself; rising from Ruyin it dies at Three Xiang. He also said, "The mountain lad indeed flings out his arms and glares like a tiger before the Hall of Supreme Pole." Cur" was Hou Jing's childhood name; "mountain lad" referred to his monkey-like appearance. Hou Jing thereupon overthrew and ruined the capital and poisoned the royal house. He rose from Xuanhuo — that is, the former Ruyin. In Baling there was a place called Three Xiang — where Hou Jing fled in defeat. His words all came true. Hou Jing often told people, "The character Hou has 'person' beside 'master' and 'person' below — this clearly means a human sovereign. After Tàicheng fell, Emperor Wu had once told people, "Hou Jing will surely become emperor, but not for long. Breaking apart the characters of 'Hou Jing' yields 'petty man, hundred-day Son of Heaven' — as emperor he should get a hundred days." According to the record, Hou Jing usurped the throne on the nineteenth day of the eleventh month of the xinwei year and was defeated on the nineteenth day of the third month of the renshen year — one hundred twenty days. Yet Hou Jing went to Gushu on the first day of the third month; counting time in the palace halls, it was fully ten weeks — his words indeed came true. Also in the Datong era, Imperial Physician Zhu Dan was once on duty in the forbidden precinct; before long he dreamed that a dog and a sheep each sat on the imperial seat; waking he told people, "Dogs and sheep are not good creatures; now they occupy the imperial seat — will there be upheaval? Before long the Son of Heaven suffered disgrace, and Hou Jing ascended the main hall.

及景將敗，有僧通道人者，意性若狂，飲酒噉肉，不異凡等。世間遊行已數十載，姓名鄉里，人莫能知。初言隱伏，久乃方驗。人並呼為闍梨。景甚信敬之。景嘗於後堂與其徒共射，時僧通在坐，奪景弓射景陽山，大呼云：「得奴已」。景後又宴集其黨，又召僧通。僧通取肉搵鹽以進景，問曰：「好不？」景答：「所恨大鹹。」僧通曰：「不鹹則爛。」及景死，僧辯截其二手送齊文宣，傳首江陵，果以鹽五斗置腹中，送于建康，暴之於市。百姓爭取屠膾羹食皆盡，並溧陽主亦預食例。景焚骨揚灰，曾罹其禍者，乃以灰和酒飲之。首至江陵，元帝命梟於市三日，然後煮而漆之，以付武庫。先是江陵謠言：「苦竹町，市南有好井。荊州軍，殺侯景。」及景首至，元帝付諮議參軍李季長宅，宅東即苦竹町也。既加鼎鑊，即用市南井水焉。景儀同謝答仁、行台趙伯超降于侯瑱，生禽賊行台田遷、儀同房世貴、蔡壽樂、領軍王伯醜。凶党悉平，斬房世貴于建康市，餘黨送江陵。初，郭元建以有禮于皇太子妃，將降，侯子鑒曰：「此小惠也，不足自全。」乃奔齊。

When Hou Jing was about to be defeated, there was a monk called Seng Tong the Wayfarer, whose mind seemed half mad; he drank wine and ate meat no differently from ordinary men. He had wandered the world for several decades; no one could know his name or native place. At first his words were obscure; only after long delay did they prove true. Everyone called him Acarya. Hou Jing trusted and revered him greatly. Once when Hou Jing was in the rear hall shooting with his followers, Seng Tong was present; he snatched Hou Jing's bow and shot at Jingyang Mountain, shouting loudly, "I've got the slave already." Later when Hou Jing again feasted and gathered his faction, he summoned Seng Tong again. Seng Tong took meat dipped in salt and offered it to Hou Jing, asking, "Is it good? Hou Jing answered, "The only regret is it is too salty." Seng Tong said, "If not salty it will rot." When Hou Jing died, Sengbian cut off both his hands and sent them to Emperor Wenxuan of Qi; his head was sent to Jiangling, and indeed five dou of salt were placed in the belly before sending it to Jiankang and exposing it in the market. The common people competed to take the flesh, mince it, and boil it in soup until all was eaten — even the Lady of Liyang was included in the feasting. Hou Jing's bones were burned and the ashes scattered; those who had suffered his calamity mixed the ashes with wine and drank them. When the head reached Jiangling, Emperor Yuan ordered it exposed in the market for three days, then boiled and lacquered and handed over to the armory. Earlier a song in Jiangling said, "Bitter Bamboo Lane — south of the market is a good well. The army of Jing Province kills Hou Jing. When Hou Jing's head arrived, Emperor Yuan entrusted it to the home of Consulting Censor Li Jichang — east of the house was precisely Bitter Bamboo Lane. When it was placed in the cauldron, they used precisely the well water south of the market. Hou Jing's General of the Household Xie Daren and Field Headquarters Zhao Bochao surrendered to Hou Tian; the rebel Field Headquarters Tian Qian, General of the Household Fang Shigui, Cai Shoule, and Palace Guard Commander Wang Bochou were captured alive. The vicious faction was entirely pacified; Fang Shigui was beheaded in the Jiankang market and the remaining rebels were sent to Jiangling. At first Guo Yuanjian, because he had shown courtesy to the crown prince's consort, was about to surrender; Hou Zijian said, "This small favor is not enough to save yourself. He then fled to Qi.

王偉，其先略陽人。父略，仕魏為許昌令，因居潁川。偉學通周易，雅高辭采，仕魏為行台郎。景叛後，高澄以書招之，偉為景報澄書，其文甚美。澄覽書曰：「誰所作也？」左右稱偉之文。澄曰：「才如此，何由不早使知邪？」偉既協景謀謨，其文檄並偉所制，及行篡逆，皆偉創謀也。

Wang Wei — his ancestors were men of Lueyang. His father Lue served Wei as magistrate of Xuchang and therefore settled in Yingchuan. Wei was thoroughly versed in the Book of Changes and excelled in literary elegance; he served Wei as a Field Headquarters secretary. After Hou Jing rebelled, Gao Cheng recruited him by letter; Wei wrote Hou Jing's reply to Cheng, and the prose was very fine. Cheng read the letter and said, "Who wrote this? Those beside him said it was Wei's writing. Cheng said, "With talent like this, why was he not made known to me sooner? Wei coordinated Hou Jing's stratagems; his proclamations and summons were all written by Wei, and the usurpation itself was all Wei's original plotting.

景敗，與侯子鑒俱走相失，潛匿草中，直瀆戍主黃公喜禽送之。見王僧辯，長揖不拜。執者促之，偉曰：「各為人臣，何事相敬。」僧辯謂曰：「卿為賊相，不能死節，而求活草間，顛而不扶，安用彼相。」偉曰：「廢興時也，工拙在人。向使侯氏早從偉言，明公豈有今日之勢。」僧辯大笑，意甚異之，命出以徇。偉曰：「昨及朝行八十里，願借一驢代步。」僧辯曰：「汝頭方行萬里，何八十里哉。」偉笑曰：「今日之事，乃吾心也。」前尚書左丞虞騭嘗見辱於偉，遇之而唾其面，曰：「死虜，庸復能為惡乎！」偉曰：「君不讀書，不足與語。」騭慚而退。及呂季略、周石珍、嚴亶俱送江陵，偉尚望見全，於獄為詩贈元帝下要人曰：「趙壹能為賦，鄒陽解獻書，何惜西江水，不救轍中魚。」又上五百字詩於帝，帝愛其才將舍之，朝士多忌，乃請曰：「前日偉作檄文，有異辭句。」元帝求而視之，檄云：「項羽重瞳，尚有烏江之敗；湘東一目，寧為赤縣所歸。」帝大怒，使以釘釘其舌於柱，剜其腸。顏色自若。仇家臠其肉，俛而視之，至骨方刑之。石珍及亶並夷三族。趙伯超，趙革子也。初至建鄴，王僧辯謂曰：「卿荷國重恩，遂復同逆。」對曰：「當今禍福，恩在明公。」僧辯又顧謝答仁曰：「聞卿是侯景梟將，恨不與卿交兵。」答仁曰：「公英武蓋世，答仁安能仰敵。」僧辯大笑。答仁以不失禮于簡文見宥，伯超及伏知命俱餓死江陵獄中。彭雋亦生獲，破腹抽出其肝藏，雋猶不死，然後斬之。

When Hou Jing was defeated, he fled together with Hou Zijian but lost contact; hiding in the grass, he was captured by the garrison commander of Zhidu, Huang Gongxi, and sent in. When he saw Wang Sengbian he made a long bow but did not prostrate. The guards urged him; Wei said, "Each serves as another's minister — what need for mutual courtesy. Sengbian said to him, "You served as the rebel's chancellor yet could not die for your principles, and now beg to live in the grass — when one has fallen, you do not help him up; of what use is such a chancellor?" Wei said, "Rise and fall depend on the times; skill and clumsiness depend on men. Had the Hou clan early followed Wei's words, would Your Excellency have today's power? Sengbian laughed greatly, thinking him very strange, and ordered him taken out for execution. Wei said, "Yesterday on the way to court I walked eighty li — I wish to borrow a donkey to ride instead. Sengbian said, "Your head will travel ten thousand li — what are eighty li?" Wei laughed and said, "Today's affair is exactly what I wished." Former Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing Yu Ji had once been insulted by Wei; meeting him he spat in his face and said, "Dead captive — can you still do evil? Wei said, "You do not read books — not worth speaking with." Ji withdrew in shame. When Lü Jilüe, Zhou Shizhen, and Yan Dan were all sent to Jiangling, Wei still hoped to be spared; in prison he composed a poem for a close associate of Emperor Yuan, saying, "Zhao Yi could write fu, Zou Yang knew how to submit books — why spare the waters of the western river and not save the fish in the ruts? He also submitted a five-hundred-character poem to the emperor; the emperor admired his talent and was about to spare him, but court officials were mostly jealous and petitioned, "Earlier Wei wrote a proclamation with unusual phrasing." Emperor Yuan sought it out and read it; the proclamation said, "Xiang Yu had double pupils, yet still suffered defeat at the Wu River; the Prince of Xiangdong has but one eye — how can he be the one to whom the Red Lands return? The emperor was greatly enraged and had nails driven through his tongue into a pillar and his intestines gouged out. His expression remained as before. Enemies sliced his flesh; bowing his head he watched until the bone was exposed before the punishment ended. Shizhen and Yan Dan were both exterminated to the third degree of kin. Zhao Bochao was the son of Zhao Ge. When he first reached Jiankang, Wang Sengbian said to him, "You bore the state's heavy grace yet again joined the rebellion. He answered, "Today's fortune and disaster depend on Your Excellency." Sengbian also turned to Xie Daren and said, "I hear you are Hou Jing's fierce general — I regret not having crossed arms with you." Daren said, "Your Lordship's martial valor covers the age — how could Daren look up to match an enemy?" Sengbian laughed greatly. Daren was spared because he had not failed in courtesy toward Jianwen; Bochao and Fu Zhiming both starved to death in Jiangling prison. Peng Jun was also captured alive; his belly was opened and his liver and viscera pulled out — Jun still did not die, and only then was he beheaded.

熊曇朗

Xiong Tanlang

熊曇朗，豫章南昌人也，世為郡著姓。曇朗跅弛不羈，有膂力，容貌甚偉。侯景之亂，稍聚少年，據豐城縣為柵，桀黠劫盜多附之。梁元帝以為巴山太守。魏克荊州，曇朗兵力稍強，劫掠鄰縣，縛賣居人，山谷之中，最為巨患。

Xiong Tanlang was a man of Nanchang in Yuzhang; for generations his clan was a leading surname of the commandery. Tanlang was unrestrained and unbridled, with physical strength and a very imposing appearance. During the chaos of Hou Jing he gradually gathered young men, occupied Fengcheng county as a palisade, and many fierce robbers and plunderers attached themselves to him. Emperor Yuan of Liang appointed him governor of Bashan. When Wei captured Jing Province, Tanlang's military strength grew somewhat stronger; he plundered neighboring counties, bound and sold residents, and in the mountain valleys became the greatest scourge.

及侯瑱鎮豫章，曇朗外示服從，陰欲圖瑱。侯方兒之反瑱也，曇朗為之謀主。瑱敗，曇朗獲瑱馬仗子女甚多。

When Hou Tian garrisoned Yuzhang, Tanlang outwardly showed submission but secretly intended to plot against Tian. When Hou Fang'er rebelled against Tian, Tanlang was the chief plotter. When Tian was defeated, Tanlang seized many of Tian's horses, weapons, women, and children.

及蕭勃踰嶺，歐陽頠為前軍。曇朗紿頠共往巴山襲黃法奭。又報法奭期共破頠，且曰：「事捷與我馬仗。」乃出軍與頠掎角而進。又紿頠曰：「余孝頃欲相掩襲，須分留奇兵。」頠送甲二百領助之。及至城下，將戰，曇朗偽北，法奭乘之，頠失援，狼狼退衄。曇朗取其馬仗而歸。

When Xiao Bo crossed the mountain range, Ouyang Bao was the vanguard. Tanlang deceived Bao into going together to Bashan to raid Huang Fashi. He also informed Fashi of a date to join in breaking Bao, saying, "If the affair succeeds, give me horses and weapons. He then sent out troops to advance pincer-fashion with Bao. He also deceived Bao, saying, "Yu Xiaoxiang intends to launch a surprise attack — you must leave a detachment of elite troops. Bao sent two hundred suits of armor to assist him. When they reached below the city and were about to fight, Tanlang feigned retreat; Fashi pursued him, Bao lost support, and fled in disarray. Tanlang took his horses and weapons and returned.

時巴山陳定亦擁兵立砦，曇朗偽以女妻定子，又謂定曰：「周迪、余孝頃並不願此昏，必須以強兵來迎。」定信之。及至，曇朗執之，收其馬仗，並論價責贖。

At the time Chen Ding of Bashan also held troops and established a fort; Tanlang falsely offered his daughter in marriage to Ding's son and also told Ding, "Zhou Di and Yu Xiaoxiang both do not wish this marriage — you must come with strong troops to welcome the bride. Ding believed him. When he arrived, Tanlang seized him, took his horses and weapons, and assessed a ransom price.

陳初以南川豪帥，曆宜新、豫章二郡太守。抗拒王琳有功，封永化縣侯，位平西將軍、開府儀同三司。及周文育攻餘孝勱于豫章，曇朗出軍會之，文育失利，曇朗乃害文育以應王琳。琳東下，文帝征南川兵，江州刺史周迪、高州刺史黃法奭欲沿流應赴，曇朗乃據城列艦遏迪等。及王琳敗走，迪攻陷其城。曇朗走入村中。村人斬之，傳首建鄴，懸於朱雀航，宗族無少長皆棄市。

At the beginning of Chen he was, as a magnate of the southern rivers, successively governor of Yixin and Yuzhang. For resisting Wang Lin he had merit and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yonghua with the rank of General of Pacifying the West and Opening Headquarters with Three Special Honors. When Zhou Wenyu attacked Yu Xiaoxun at Yuzhang, Tanlang sent out troops to join him; Wenyu was defeated and Tanlang then killed Wenyu to respond to Wang Lin. When Lin marched east, Emperor Wen mobilized southern river troops; Zhou Di, governor of Jiang Province, and Huang Fashi, governor of Gao Province, wished to follow the current to respond — Tanlang then held the city and arrayed ships to block Di and the others. When Wang Lin was defeated and fled, Di attacked and captured his city. Tanlang fled into a village. Villagers beheaded him and sent the head to Jiankang, where it was hung at the Vermilion Bird Bridge; the entire clan, young and old alike, was executed in the market.

周迪，臨川南城人也。少居山谷，有膂力，能挽強弩，以弋獵為事。侯景之亂，迪宗人周續起兵於臨川，梁始興王蕭毅以郡讓續，迪占募鄉人從之，每戰勇冠諸軍。續所部渠帥，皆郡中豪族，稍驕橫，續頗禁之，渠帥等乃殺續推迪為主。梁元帝授迪高州刺史，封臨汝縣侯。紹泰二年，為衡州刺史，領臨川內史。周文育之討蕭勃也，迪按甲保境，以觀成敗。

Zhou Di was a man of Nancheng in Linchuan. In youth he lived in the mountain valleys; with physical strength he could draw a strong crossbow and took hunting with bow and arrow as his occupation. During the chaos of Hou Jing, Di's clansman Zhou Xu raised troops in Linchuan; Prince Yi of Shixing, Xiao Yi, yielded the commandery to Xu; Di recruited fellow townsmen to follow him and in every battle was bravest among the armies. The chieftains under Xu's command were all leading clans of the commandery and gradually grew arrogant; Xu restrained them somewhat, and the chieftains thereupon killed Xu and pushed Di to be leader. Emperor Yuan of Liang appointed Di governor of Gao Province and enfeoffed him as Marquis of Linru. In the second year of Shaotai he became governor of Heng Province and concurrent interior minister of Linchuan. When Zhou Wenyu campaigned against Xiao Bo, Di held his army and guarded the borders, watching how success or failure would turn.

陳武帝受禪，王琳東下，迪欲自據南川，乃總召所部八郡守宰結盟，聲言入赴，朝廷恐其為變，因厚撫之。琳至盆城，新吳洞主余孝頃舉兵應琳。琳以為南川諸郡可傳檄而定，乃遣其將李孝欽、樊猛等南征糧餉。孝欽等與余孝頃逼迪，迪大敗之，禽孝欽、猛、孝頃送建鄴。以功加平南將軍、開府儀同三司。

When Emperor Wu of Chen received the abdication and Wang Lin marched east, Di wished to hold the southern rivers for himself; he summoned the governors and magistrates of eight commanderies under his command to swear alliance, proclaiming he would enter to assist — the court feared he would rebel and therefore treated him generously. When Lin reached Pencheng, Yu Xiaoxiang, cave lord of Xinwu, raised troops to respond to Lin. Lin thought the southern river commanderies could be settled by proclamation alone and sent his generals Li Xiaoqin, Fan Meng, and others south to gather provisions. Xiaoqin and the others with Yu Xiaoxiang pressed Di; Di inflicted a great defeat on them and captured Xiaoqin, Meng, and Xiaoxiang, sending them to Jiankang. For this merit he was promoted to General of Pacifying the South and Opening Headquarters with Three Special Honors.

文帝嗣位，熊曇朗反，迪與周敷、黃法奭等圍曇朗，屠之。王琳敗後，文帝征迪出鎮盆口，又征其子入朝，迪趑趄顧望並不至。豫章太守周敷本屬迪，至是與法奭率其部詣闕，文帝錄其破熊曇朗功，並加官賞。迪聞之不平，乃陰與留異相結。及王師討異，迪疑懼，乃使其弟方興襲周敷，敷與戰，破之。又別使兵襲華皎於盆城，事覺，盡為皎禽。

When Emperor Wen succeeded to the throne, Xiong Tanlang rebelled; Di with Zhou Fu and Huang Fashi besieged Tanlang and slaughtered him. After Wang Lin's defeat, Emperor Wen summoned Di to garrison Pencheng and also summoned his son to court — Di hesitated, looked about, and neither came. Governor of Yuzhang Zhou Fu had originally been under Di; by this time he and Fashi led their troops to the capital; Emperor Wen recorded their merit in breaking Xiong Tanlang and both received promotions and rewards. When Di heard this he was discontent and secretly allied with Liu Yi. When the royal army campaigned against Yi, Di grew suspicious and fearful and sent his younger brother Fangxing to raid Zhou Fu; Fu fought him and defeated him. He also separately sent troops to raid Hua Jiao at Pencheng; the affair was discovered and all were captured by Jiao.

天嘉三年，文帝乃使江州刺史吳明徹都督眾軍，與高州刺史黃法奭、豫章太守周敷討迪，不能克。文帝乃遣宣帝總督討之，迪眾潰，脫身踰嶺之晉安，依陳寶應。寶應以兵資迪，留異又遣第二子忠臣隨之。明年秋，復越東興嶺。文帝遣都督章昭達征迪，迪又散於山谷。

In the third year of Tiancheng, Emperor Wen sent Wu Mingche, governor of Jiang Province, to command the armies together with Huang Fashi, governor of Gao Province, and Zhou Fu, governor of Yuzhang, to campaign against Di — they could not overcome him. Emperor Wen then sent Emperor Xuan to command the campaign in chief; Di's host collapsed and he escaped alone over the mountains to Jin'an, relying on Chen Baoying. Baoying supplied Di with troops; Liu Yi also sent his second son Zhongchen to follow him. The next autumn he again crossed Dongxing Ridge. Emperor Wen dispatched Commander-in-Chief Zhang Zhaoda to campaign against Di; Di again scattered into the mountain valleys.

初，侯景之亂，百姓皆棄本為盜，唯迪所部獨不侵擾，耕作肆業，各有贏儲，政令嚴明，征斂必至。性質樸，不事威儀。冬則短身布袍，夏則紫紗襪腹。居常徒跣，雖外列兵衛，內有女伎，挼繩破篾，傍若無人。然輕財好施，凡所周贍，毫釐必均。訥於語言，而衿懷信實，臨川人皆德之。至是並藏匿，雖加誅戮，無肯言者。

At first, during the chaos of Hou Jing, the common people all abandoned their occupations to become bandits — only Di's territory was not disturbed; they plowed and worked their trades, each with surplus stores; government orders were strict and clear, and levies were always collected. By nature he was plain and unpretentious and did not affect imposing ceremony. In winter he wore a short body robe of cloth; in summer a purple gauze belly-wrap. He usually went barefoot; though outwardly he arrayed guards, inwardly he had female performers — twisting rope and splitting bamboo as if no one were present. Yet he was light with wealth and fond of giving; whatever he distributed to those around him was divided to the last hair. Slow of speech yet trustworthy in heart, the people of Linchuan all regarded him with virtue. By this time all hid him; though punishments were added, none would speak.

昭達仍度嶺與陳寶應相抗。迪復收合出東興，文帝遣都督程靈洗破之。迪又與十餘人竄山穴中。後遣人潛出臨川郡市魚鮭，臨川太守駱文牙執之，令取迪自效。誘迪出獵，伏兵斬之。傳首建鄴，梟於朱雀航三日。

Zhaoda still crossed the ridge to oppose Chen Baoying. Di again gathered forces and came out at Dongxing; Emperor Wen dispatched Commander Cheng Lingxi, who defeated him. Di again hid in a mountain cave with more than ten men. Later he sent someone secretly out to the Linchuan market to buy fish; Governor of Linchuan Luo Wenya seized him and ordered him to deliver Di in exchange for his life. He lured Di out to hunt and ambushed and beheaded him. The head was sent to Jiankang and exposed at the Vermilion Bird Bridge for three days.

留異，東陽長山人也，世為郡著姓。異善自居處，言語醞籍，為鄉里雄豪。多聚惡少，陵侮貧賤，守宰皆患之。仕梁，晉安、安固二縣令。

Liu Yi was a man of Changshan in Dongyang; for generations his clan was a leading surname of the commandery. Yi was skilled at comportment; his speech was refined and he was a local magnate. He gathered many young ruffians, bullied the poor and lowly, and the governors and magistrates all feared him. He served Liang as magistrate of Jin'an and Angu.

侯景之亂，還鄉里，占募士卒。太守沈巡援台，讓郡於異，異使兄子超監知郡事，率兵隨巡出都。及城陷，異隨梁臨城公大連，大連委以軍事。異性殘暴，無遠略，私樹威福，眾並患之。會景將宋子仙濟浙江，異奔還鄉里，尋以眾降子仙。子仙以為鄉導，令執大連。邵陵王綸聞之曰：「姓作去留之留，名作同異之異，理當同於逆虜。」侯景署異為東陽太守，收其妻子為質。行台劉神茂建義拒景，異外同神茂，而密契于景。及神茂敗，被景誅，異獨獲免。

During the chaos of Hou Jing he returned to his native place and recruited soldiers. Governor Shen Xun went to relieve Tàicheng and yielded the commandery to Yi; Yi had his elder brother's son Chao supervise commandery affairs and led troops following Xun out of the capital. When the city fell, Yi followed Duke Dalian of Lincheng of Liang, who entrusted him with military affairs. Yi was by nature cruel and violent, without far-reaching strategy, and privately built up personal power — all resented him. When Hou Jing's general Song Zixian crossed the Zhe River, Yi fled back to his native place and shortly afterward surrendered to Zixian with his host. Zixian made him a guide and ordered him to seize Dalian. When Prince Lun of Shaoling heard this he said, "The surname is written like the liu of 'stay or go,' the given name like the yi of 'same or different' — by right he should be the same as the rebel bandits." Hou Jing appointed Liu Yi Governor of Dongyang and held his wife and children as hostages. Grand Commissioner Liu Shenmao rose in loyal revolt against Hou Jing. Liu Yi pretended to join him while secretly maintaining ties with Hou Jing. When Shenmao was defeated, Hou Jing had him executed—but Liu Yi alone was spared.

景平後，王僧辯使異慰勞東陽，仍保據岩阻，州郡憚焉。魏克荊州，王僧辯以異為東陽太守。陳文帝平定會稽，異雖有糧饋，而擁擅一郡，威福在己。紹泰二年，以應接功，除縉州刺史，領東陽太守，封永嘉縣侯。又以文帝長女豐安公主配異第三子貞臣。

After Hou Jing's defeat, Wang Sengbian sent Liu Yi to reassure Dongyang—but Yi continued to hold mountain strongholds, and the surrounding prefectures feared him. When Wei captured Jingzhou, Wang Sengbian confirmed Liu Yi as Governor of Dongyang. When Emperor Wen of Chen pacified Kuaiji, Liu Yi sent grain as tribute—but he dominated his commandery and wielded power as he pleased. In the second year of Shaotai he was appointed Inspector of Jinyang and Governor of Dongyang for his support of the imperial campaign, and created Marquis of Yongjia. Emperor Wen's eldest daughter, Princess Feng'an, was married to Liu Yi's third son Zhenchen.

湘州平，文帝乃下詔揚其罪惡，使司空侯安都討之。異與第二子忠臣奔陳寶應。及寶應平，並禽異送都，斬建康市，子侄並伏誅，唯第三子貞臣以尚主獲免。

Once Xiangzhou was pacified, Emperor Wen issued an edict denouncing Liu Yi's crimes and dispatched Minister of Works Hou Andu to suppress him. Liu Yi fled with his second son Zhongchen to Chen Baoying. When Chen Baoying was defeated, both men were captured. Liu Yi was sent to the capital and executed in the Jiankang marketplace; his sons and nephews were all put to death, save his third son Zhenchen, who was spared for having married the princess.

陳寶應

Chen Baoying

陳寶應，晉安候官人也，世為閩中四姓。父羽，有材幹，為郡雄豪。寶應性反復，多變詐。梁時晉安數反，累殺郡將，羽初並扇惑成其事，後復為官軍鄉導破之，由是一郡兵權皆自己出。侯景之亂，晉安太守賓化侯蕭雲以郡讓羽，羽年老，但主郡事，令寶應典兵。時東境饑饉，會稽尤甚，死者十七八，而晉安獨豐沃，士眾強盛。

Chen Baoying came from Houguan in Jin'an commandery. His family was one of the four great clans of Fujian. His father Chen Yu was talented and forceful, a dominant power in the region. Chen Baoying was treacherous and changeable, skilled in deceit. Under the Liang, Jin'an rebelled repeatedly and commandery generals were killed again and again. Chen Yu first stirred up these revolts, then guided government troops to crush them—so that all military power in the commandery flowed through his hands alone. During Hou Jing's rebellion, Governor Xiao Yun of Jin'an, Marquis of Binhua, handed the commandery over to Chen Yu. Yu was elderly and handled only civil affairs, leaving Chen Baoying in command of the troops. Famine ravaged the east; in Kuaiji seven or eight people in ten died of hunger. Jin'an alone remained fertile and prosperous, its soldiers and people strong.

寶應娶留異女為妻，侯安都之討異，寶應遣師助之，又資周迪兵糧，出寇臨川。及都督章昭達破迪，文帝因命討寶應，詔宗正絕其屬籍。寶應據建安湖際逆拒昭達，昭達深溝高壘不與戰。但命為簰，俄而水盛，乘流放之，突其水柵，寶應眾潰。執送都，斬建康市。

Chen Baoying married a daughter of Liu Yi. When Hou Andu marched against Liu Yi, Chen Baoying sent troops to help him, supplied Zhou Di with provisions, and launched raids into Linchuan. When Commissioner Zhang Zhaoda defeated Zhou Di, Emperor Wen ordered an expedition against Chen Baoying and struck his name from the imperial clan registers. Chen Baoying held the shores of Jian'an Lake and resisted Zhang Zhaoda. Zhang Zhaoda dug deep trenches, raised high ramparts, and refused to engage. He had rafts built, and when the waters rose he sent them downstream to smash through Chen Baoying's water barriers. Chen Baoying's army broke and fled. Chen Baoying was captured, sent to the capital, and executed in the Jiankang marketplace.

【論】

Commentary

論曰：侯景起于邊服，備嘗艱險，自北而南，多行狡算。于時江表之地，不見干戈。梁武以耄期之年，溺情釋教，外弛藩籬之固，內絕防閑之心，不備不虞，難以為國。加以奸回在側，貨賄潛通，景乃因機騁詐，肆行矯慝。王偉為其謀主，飾以文辭，武帝溺于知音，惑茲邪說。遂使乘柎直濟，長江喪其天險，揚旌指闕，金墉亡其地利。生靈塗炭，宗社丘墟。於是村屯塢壁之豪，郡邑岩穴之長，恣陵侮而為暴，資剽掠以為雄。陳武應期撫運，戡定安輯。熊曇朗、周迪、留異、陳寶應等，雖逢興運，未改迷塗，志在亂常，自致夷戮，亦其宜矣。

The historian comments: Hou Jing rose from the frontier ranks, having known every hardship. Marching from north to south, he relied above all on cunning. In those days the lands south of the Yangzi had known no war. Emperor Wu of Liang, in his extreme old age, lost himself in Buddhism. He neglected the empire's outer defenses and abandoned all caution within. Unprepared for disaster, he could no longer hold the state together. Treacherous ministers surrounded him; bribes passed in secret. Hou Jing seized his chance, unleashed his cunning, and committed every outrage. Wang Wei served as his chief strategist, dressing treachery in fine phrases. Emperor Wu, charmed by a kindred spirit, fell prey to their deceit. Hou Jing crossed the Yangzi on rafts and the great river lost its natural barrier. He marched his banners toward the palace, and the capital's fortifications availed nothing. The people were plunged into misery; the dynasty lay in ruins. Then local strongmen in villages and walled hamlets, bandit chiefs in mountain lairs across the commanderies, bullied and plundered as they pleased, building power on robbery. Emperor Wu of Chen rose to meet the times, crushed the chaos, and restored order. Xiong Tanlang, Zhou Di, Liu Yi, Chen Baoying, and their kind—though they lived to see a new order arise, they did not abandon their rebellious ways. Intent on overturning the norm, they brought destruction on themselves. It was no more than they deserved.

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