Emperor Wucheng (武成帝)

Overview

Emperor Wucheng was a Fourth emperor of Northern Qi, who reigned from AD 561 to 565.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal name	Gao Zhan	高湛	Gao Zhan
Childhood name	Buluoqi	步落稽
Posthumous name	Retired Emperor	太上皇帝
Temple name	Emperor Xiaozong	世祖	Shìzǔ

Life and dates

Death

c. AD 568 武成崩，年三十二
Age 32
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 144
AD 565 世祖崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 87
AD 568 世祖崩
died 崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 66
AD 568 天統四年十二月辛未
At Qianshou Hall of Ye Palace 鄴宮乾壽堂
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 119
died
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 168
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 101; Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 36

Age

32
AD 568 天統四年十二月辛未 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 119
32
Reckoning Source stated
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 144
8
帝時年八歲 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 4

Attested activity

AD 559 天保十年十一月乙卯
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
AD 560 乾明元年二月己亥
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 35
AD 561 to AD 565 Wucheng reign
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 33, 101
AD 568 世祖崩
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passages 66, 84
AD 561 to AD 565 世祖踐祚
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 10
AD 560 乾明元年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 45

Show 25 more source-backed claims

AD 560 乾明初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 7
AD 538 to AD 539 元象中
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 5
AD 562 大寧二年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 34, 44
AD 561 大寧元年冬十一月癸丑
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 14
AD 550 天保初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 6
AD 569 天統五年二月甲申
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 120
AD 565 天統元年
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 86
AD 565 天統元年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 28
AD 568 天統四年十二月辛未
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 119
AD 561 孝昭崩
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 35, passage 139
AD 561 to AD 568 武成
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 63
AD 561 to AD 568 武成
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 49, passage 96
AD 561 武成即位
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 38, passages 71-72
AD 561 to AD 565 武成時
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 31, passage 193
AD 564 河清三年春正月庚申朔
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 62
AD 563 河清二年
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 85
AD 563 河清二年春正月乙亥
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 41
AD 562 河清元年春正月乙亥
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 18
AD 565 河清四年四月丙子
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 114
AD 565 河清四年春正月癸卯
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 99
AD 561 皇建二年十一月
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 102
AD 560 皇建初
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 9
AD 561 皇建末
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
AD 561 to AD 565 皇建至天統
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 13, passages 76, 87
AD 561 顧命武成
Dated from the passage context · Book of Northern Qi 47, passage 202

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Betrothed to Princess Linhe (鄰和公主)
betrothed 聘 · Betrothal
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 3
Parent of Gao Wei (高緯)
bore the Last Emperor 產後主
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 100; Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 21
Sibling of Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
born of the same mother 同胞 · Full siblings · paternal line
younger brother 弟
same mother 同胞 · Full siblings
younger brother by the same mother 母弟 · Full siblings
Sources vary in certainty · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 102; Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47; Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 1
Child of Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
conceived Wucheng 孕武成
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 40; Book of Northern Qi 7, passages 1, 28
Parent of Daughter of Emperor Wucheng (帝女)
emperor's daughter 帝女
daughter 帝女
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 46
Parent of Gao Yan (高儼)
emperor's son 皇子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 79
Parent of Gao Chuo (高綽)
emperor's son 皇子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 79
Child of Empress Dowager (皇太後)
Empress Dowager 皇太后
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 61
Spouse of Empress Hu (胡皇后)
empress 皇後
Primary marriage
Empress Hu of Wucheng 武成皇后 · Primary marriage
empress 皇后 · Primary marriage
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 48, passage 63; Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 97, 99; Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 21
Child of Gao Huan (高歡)
father 父
son 子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 1
Child of Empress Dowager Wuming (武明皇太后)
son 子
mother 母
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 102
Kin of Gao Xiaoyu (孝瑜)
Prince of Henan 河南王孝瑜
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 52
Child of Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi (文宣帝)
son 子
Strongly inferred · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47

Key source chapters

Origins and identity

ninth son of Emperor Shenwu
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 1

Career and standing

Grand commandant 太尉
AD 559 天保十年十一月乙卯 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
Grand marshal 大司馬
AD 560 乾明元年二月己亥 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 35
Recorder of the Masters of Writing in Bingzhou 幷省錄尚書事
AD 560 乾明元年二月己亥 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 35
Grand tutor 太傅
AD 560 乾明元年二月戊申 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 39
Metropolitan commander of the capital region 京畿大都督
AD 560 乾明元年二月戊申 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 39
Grand Marshal 大司馬
AD 560 乾明元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 45

Show 22 more source-backed claims

Grand Marshal 大司馬
AD 560 乾明初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 7
Grand Tutor 太傅
AD 560 乾明初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 8
Chief Minister of the Secretariat 尚書令
AD 550 天保初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 6
Right Chancellor 右丞相
AD 560 皇建元年 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 74
Right Chancellor 右丞相
AD 560 皇建初 · Appointed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 9
held troops at Ye 在鄴主兵
Assigned
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 49
Inspector of Bing Province 幷州刺史
AD 560 乾明初 · Concurrent
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 7
Minister over the Masses 司徒
AD 550 天保初 · Concurrent
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 6
Minister over the masses 司徒
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
Grand Commander 太尉
AD 550 天保初 · Transferred
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 6
Duke of Changguang Commandery 長廣郡公
AD 538 to AD 539 元象中 · Enfeoffed
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 5
Retired Emperor 太上皇帝
AD 565 河清四年 · Received
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 116
Prince 王
AD 550 天保初 · Advanced
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 6
Prince of Changguang 長廣王
Held
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 5, passage 27
Had Yuanhai slandered by He Shikai beaten sixty strokes and rebuked him
Ordered punishment · With Gao Yuanhai (高元海)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 85-88
Succeeded
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 47, passage 204
As Emperor Wucheng 武成帝 · Authority Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 33
AD 561 大寧元年冬十一月癸丑
At Southern Palace 南宮
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 14
ascended the throne
AD 561 皇建末
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 83-84
Event took the throne after being recalled by testamentary edict
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 49, passages 97-98
Abdicated
AD 565 河清四年四月丙子
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 114
Abdicated
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 28

Places and affiliations

Polity Name Northern Qi 北齊 · Relation Ruled
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 14
AD 569 天統五年二月甲申
At Yongping Mausoleum 永平陵 · Relation Buried at
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 120
AD 562 河清元年
At Jinyang 晉陽 · Relation Traveled to
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 18
AD 560 皇建初
At Ye 鄴 · Relation Guarded
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 10
At Ye 鄴 · Relation Stationed at
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passage 138

Learning and skills

Belief divination 卜 · Relation Consulter · With Zheng Daoqian (鎮道謙)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 77
Belief divination 占候 · Relation Consulter · With Pan (潘)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 80-81

Works and attributed material

Was promised the position of imperial younger brother by Xiaozhao before the coup against Yang Yin
Promise · Addressee · With Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 48
AD 561 大寧元年
Edict · Issuer
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 16
Speech · Speaker · With Tang Yong (唐邕)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 40, passage 107
Speech · Speaker · With Zhang Yao (張耀)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 25, passage 88
Speech · Speaker · Direct quotation
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 73, 77
Speech · Speaker
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 13, passage 192

Events and relationships

Consulted Yuanhai on a plan to secure himself, then hesitated and could not adopt his stratagem
Political · Consulter · With Gao Yuanhai (高元海)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 60-76
Forced Empress Li and killed Shaode
Personal · Perpetrator · With Li Zu'e (李祖娥)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 73, 77-78
Had his power divided between Kudi Fulian and Hulu Fengle, but kept Fulian while barring Fengle from duty
Political · Target of scheming
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passages 50-51
Joined Prince Xiaoyu of Henan in a feigned hunt to plot in secret
Political · Conspirator · With Gao Xiaoyu (孝瑜)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 52
Killed Prince of Leling
Personal · Perpetrator · With Prince of Leling (樂陵王)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passage 92
Plotted to execute ruling ministers
AD 560 乾明初 · Political · Co conspirator · With Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 8

Show 4 more source-backed claims

Refused mourning dress after mother died
Ritual · Actor
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 9, passages 44-45
Remained on guard at the capital while Xiaozhao visited Jinyang
Political · Guardian
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 47
Southward campaign from Jinyang
AD 564 河清三年十二月丁巳 · Military · Commander
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 90
Summoned to take the throne
Political · Successor designate
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 6, passages 102, 153

Assessments and attributes

Assessment had the measure of an emperor; elevated bearing and far-reaching judgment · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 121
Assessment intimate with base underlings; licentious extravagance in the palace · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passage 122
Assessment transmitted throne in empty ornament not proper precedent; wrongly killed princes · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 7, passages 123-124
was very discontent when Bainian was made crown prince instead of him
Emotional state
Directly stated · Book of Northern Qi 14, passage 49

References in the histories

Search passages

History

78 passages

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 5Volume 5 Annals 5: Emperor Fei · 3 passages

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十一月乙卯，以右丞相、咸陽王斛律金爲左丞相，以錄尚書事、常山王演爲太傅，以司徒、長廣王湛爲太尉，以司空段韶爲司徒，以平陽王淹爲司空，高陽王湜爲尚書左僕射，河間王孝琬爲司州牧，侍中燕子獻爲右僕射。 In the eleventh month, on the yimao day, Hulu Jin, Prince of Xianyang and right chief minister, was appointed left chief minister; Prince Yan of Changshan, recorder of the Masters of Writing, became grand tutor; Prince Zhan of Changguang, minister over the masses, became grand commandant; Duan Shao, minister of works, became minister over the masses; Prince Yan of Pingyang became minister of works; Prince Shi of Gaoyang became left vice-director of the Masters of Writing; Prince Xiaowan of Hejian became governor of Sizhou; and Yanzi Xian, palace attendant, became right vice-director.

二月己亥，以太傅、常山王演爲太師、錄尚書事，以太尉、長廣王湛爲大司馬、幷省錄尚書事，以尚書左僕射、平秦王歸彥爲司空，趙郡王叡爲尚書左僕射。 In the second month, on jihai, Prince Yan of Changshan, then grand tutor, was appointed grand preceptor and recorder of the Masters of Writing. Prince Zhan of Changguang, then grand commandant, became grand marshal and recorder of the Masters of Writing in the Bingzhou administration. Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, left vice director of the Masters of Writing, became minister of works, and Prince Rui of Zhaojun became left vice director.

戊申，以常山王演爲大丞相、都督中外諸軍、錄尚書事，以大司馬、長廣王湛爲太傅、京畿大都督，以司徒段韶爲大將軍，以前司空、平陽王淹爲太尉，以司空、平秦王歸彥爲司徒，彭城王浟爲尚書令。 On the wushen day, Prince Yan of Changshan was appointed grand chief minister, commander of all armies, and recorder of the Masters of Writing. Prince Zhan of Changguang, grand marshal, became grand tutor and metropolitan commander of the capital region. Duan Shao, minister over the masses, became great general; Prince Yan of Pingyang, formerly minister of works, became grand commandant; Prince Guiyan of Pingqin, minister of works, became minister over the masses; and Prince You of Pengcheng became director of the Masters of Writing.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 6Volume 6 Annals 6: Emperor Xiaozhao · 6 passages

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長廣王湛為大司馬、錄幷省尚書事，解京畿大都督。 Prince Zhan of Changguang was appointed grand marshal and recorder of the Masters of Writing in the Bingzhou administration, and was relieved of the capital-region command.

帝時以尊親而見猜斥，乃與長廣王期獵，謀之於野。 Because his rank and kinship made him suspect, Xiaozhao was being pushed aside. He therefore arranged a hunt with Prince Zhan of Changguang and plotted with him in the field.

戊子，以太傅、長廣王湛為右丞相，以太尉、平陽王淹為太傅，以尚書令、彭城王浟為大司馬。 On wuzi, Prince Zhan of Changguang, then grand tutor, became right chancellor; Prince Yan of Pingyang, then grand commandant, became grand tutor; and Prince You of Pengcheng, director of the Masters of Writing, became grand marshal.

右丞相、長廣王湛研機測化，體道居宗，人雄之望，海內瞻仰，同胞共氣，家國所憑，可遣尚書左僕射、趙郡王叡喻旨，征王統茲大寶。 Prince Zhan of Changguang, right chancellor, understands hidden workings and change, embodies the Way, and stands foremost among the clan. The whole realm looks to him as a hero among men. Born of the same mother and sharing the same breath, he is the support of house and state. Send Prince Rui of Zhaojun, left vice director of the Masters of Writing, to convey my intent and summon him to take charge of the throne.

及輿駕在晉陽，武成鎮鄴，望氣者云鄴城有天子氣。 When the emperor was at Jinyang and Wucheng (Gao Zhan) held Ye, geomancers declared that Ye possessed the aura of imperial destiny.

遣使詔追長廣王入纂大統，手書云：「宜將吾妻子置一好處，勿學前人也。」 He dispatched envoys with an edict summoning the Prince of Changguang to succeed him, writing in his own hand: "See that my wife and children are placed somewhere safe; do not do as those before you did."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 7Volume 7 Annals 7: Emperor Wucheng · 4 passages

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世祖武成皇帝，諱湛，神武皇帝第九子，孝昭皇帝之母弟也。 Emperor Wucheng, Gao Zhan, posthumous title Shizu, was the ninth son of Emperor Shenwu and the full younger brother of Emperor Xiaozhao.

於是群公上尊號為太上皇帝，軍國大事咸以奏聞。 The lords then offered him the title Retired Emperor, and all major military and state affairs continued to be submitted to him.

天統四年十二月辛未，太上皇帝崩於鄴宮乾壽堂，時年三十二，諡曰武成皇帝，廟號世祖。 In the twelfth month of the fourth year of the Tiantong era, on the xinwei day, the retired emperor died in the Qianshou Hall of the Ye Palace. He was thirty-two years old. He was posthumously titled Emperor Wucheng, with the temple name Shizu.

論曰：武成風度高爽，經算弘長，文武之官，俱盡其力，有帝王之量矣。 The appraisal says: Wucheng had an elevated bearing and far-reaching strategic judgment. Civil and military officials alike gave him their full efforts, and he possessed the measure of an emperor.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 9Volume 9 Biographies 1: Empresses and Consorts · 12 passages

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孝昭帝崩，太后又下詔立武成帝。 When Emperor Xiaozhao died, the empress dowager again issued an edict enthroning Emperor Wucheng.

孕武成則夢龍浴於海； when she conceived Gao Zhan she dreamed of a dragon bathing in the sea;

及后崩，武成不改服，緋袍如故。 When the empress dowager died, Wucheng did not change his garments and kept his crimson robe as before.

武成踐祚，逼后淫亂，云：「若不許，我當殺爾兒。」 When Wucheng took the throne, he forced the empress into illicit relations, saying, "If you do not consent, I shall kill your son."

始渡汾橋，武成聞后有奇藥，追索之不得，使閹人就車頓辱。 As the procession first crossed the Fen Bridge, Wucheng heard that the empress possessed a wondrous medicine. When his pursuit failed to obtain it, he sent eunuchs to her carriage to subject her to gross humiliation.

武成既殺樂陵王，元被閟隔，不得與家相知。 After Wucheng killed the Prince of Leling, Empress Yuan was shut away in isolation and could no longer communicate with her family.

武成崩，尊為皇太后，陸媼及和士開密謀殺趙郡王叡，出婁定遠、高文遙為刺史。 When Wucheng died she was honored as Empress Dowager; Nurse Lu and He Shikai secretly plotted to kill Prince Rui of Zhao Commandery and sent out Lou Dingyuan and Gao Wenyao as governors.

初武成時，後與諸閹人褻狎。 In Wucheng's time the empress had been familiar with the eunuchs.

武成寵倖和士開，每與后握槊，因此與后姦通。 Wucheng favored He Shikai; he often played polo with the empress, and through this came to commit adultery with her.

自武成崩後，數出詣佛寺，又與沙門曇獻通。 After Wucheng's death she often went out to Buddhist temples, and again had relations with the monk Tanxian.

布金錢於獻席下，又挂寶裝胡床於獻屋壁，武成平生之所御也。 She spread gold coins beneath Tanxian's mat and hung upon the wall of Tanxian's room a precious decorated barbarian couch that Wucheng had used in life.

武成時，為胡后造真珠裙袴，所費不可稱計，被火所燒。 Under Wucheng a pearl-embroidered skirt and trousers had been made for Empress Hu at immeasurable cost, only to be consumed by fire.

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 13Volume 13 Biographies 5: Gao Chen; Gao Rui (Northern Qi); Gao Yue (Northern Qi); Gao Mai · 3 passages

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孝昭臨崩，預受顧托，奉迎世祖於鄴，以功拜尚書令，別封浮陽郡公，監太史，太子太傅，議律令。 When Gao Yan faced death he received the imperial testament in advance, welcomed Gao Zhan at Ye, and for his service was appointed director of the masters of writing; he was separately enfeoffed duke of Fuyang Commandery, made supervisor of the grand astrologer, grand preceptor to the crown prince, and charged with deliberating on the code of laws.

世祖崩，葬後數日，叡與馮翊王潤、安德王延宗及元文遙奏後主云：「和士開不宜仍居內任。」 When Gao Zhan died, several days after the burial, Rui, together with Prince of Fengyi Gao Run, Prince of Ande Gao Yanzong, and Yuan Wenyao, memorialized the Last Emperor, saying, "He Shikai should not continue to hold an inner appointment."

後歸彥反，世祖知其前譖，曰：「清河忠烈，盡力皇家，而歸彥毀之，間吾骨肉。」 Later when Guiyan rebelled, Gao Zhan knew his earlier slander and said, "Prince of Qinghe was loyal and fierce, exerting himself for the royal house — yet Guiyan destroyed him and came between my flesh and bone."

Book of Northern Qi, Chapter 14Volume 14 Biographies 6: Guangping Gongcheng; Yangzhou Gong Yongle; Di Zhangbi; Prince of Xiangle, Xiang Guo; Prince of Shangluo, Si Zong; Zi Yuanhai; Di Sihao; Prince of Pingqin, Guiyan; Prince Pu of Wuxing; Changle, Governor of Lingshan; Sizi Fuhu · 21 passages

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皇建末，孝昭幸晉陽，武成居守，元海以散騎常侍留典機密。 At the end of the Huangjian era, Gao Yan visited Jinyang while Gao Zhan remained on guard; Yuanhai, as regular attendant of the scattered cavalry, stayed behind to manage confidential affairs.

初孝昭之誅楊愔等，謂武成云：「事成，以爾為皇太弟。」 When Gao Yan first executed Yang Yin and the others, he had told Gao Zhan, "When the affair succeeds, I will make you imperial younger brother."

及踐祚，乃使武成在鄴主兵，立子百年為皇太子，武成甚不平。 When he ascended the throne, he made Gao Zhan hold troops at Ye and established his son Bainian as crown prince — Gao Zhan was very discontent.

先是，恒留濟南於鄴，除領軍厙狄伏連為幽州刺史，以斛律豐樂為領軍，以分武成之權。 Before this, the Prince of Ji'nan had always been kept at Ye; Kudi Fulian was made governor of You Province, and Hulu Fengle was made commander of the army — both to divide Gao Zhan's power.

武成留伏連而不聽豐樂視事。 Gao Zhan kept Fulian but would not allow Fengle to assume his duties.

鳧翁，謂雄雞，蓋指武成小字步落稽也。 "Duck old man" means rooster — it pointed to Gao Zhan's childhood name Buluoqi.

武成先咨元海，並問自安之計。 Gao Zhan first consulted Yuanhai and also asked for a plan to secure himself.

武成曰：「豈我推誠之意耶？」 Gao Zhan said, "Is this truly the meaning of my open-hearted sincerity?"

武成卽留元海後堂。 Gao Zhan kept Yuanhai in the rear hall.

夜漏未曙，武成遽出，曰：「神算如何？」 Before dawn Gao Zhan hurried out and said, "What is your divine calculation?"

武成大悅，狐疑，竟未能用。 Gao Zhan was greatly pleased but hesitated, and in the end could not adopt it.