Prince Zhan of Changguang (長廣王湛)

Overview

The translated histories identify Prince Zhan of Changguang as an official, royal family member, ruler, and statesman. This record brings together 72 passages from 12 chapters across 1 history, with names, dates, relationships, offices, and events preserved as source-backed claims.

Names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Personal	Prince Zhan of Changguang	長廣王湛	Chángguǎng wáng Zhàn
Childhood	Buluoqi	步落稽
Alternate	Changguang	長廣
Posthumous name	Emperor Wucheng	武成皇帝	Wucheng huangdi
Title	Emperor Wucheng	武成皇帝
Title	Emperor Wucheng	武成帝	Wucheng Di
Personal name	Emperor Wucheng	武成	Wucheng
Posthumous	Emperor Wucheng	武成	Wucheng
Temple name	Emperor Xiaozong	世祖	Shìzǔ
Personal name	Gao Zhan	高湛
Personal name	Gao Zhan	高湛	Gao Zhan
Personal	Gao Zhan	高湛
Personal	Gao Zhan	高湛	Gao Zhan
Personal	Gao Zhan	高湛	Gāo Zhàn
Personal name	Gao Zhan	高湛	Gāo Zhàn
Title	Prince of Changguang	長廣王
Title	Prince Zhan of Changguang	長廣王湛
Title	Retired Emperor	太上皇帝
Temple name	Shizu	世祖	Shizu
Temple	Shizu	世祖	Shizu
Temple name	Shizu	世祖
Posthumous name	Wucheng	武成
Temple name	Wucheng	武成	Wucheng
Posthumous	Wucheng	武成
Temple name	Wucheng	武成帝	Wucheng di
Temple	Wucheng	武成	Wucheng
Temple	Wucheng	武成	Wǔchéng
Title	Wucheng	武成	Wǔchéng
Posthumous	Wucheng	武成	Wucheng
Given name	Zhan	湛
Given name	Zhan	湛	Zhan
Title		武成	Wǔchéng

Identity

Historicity: Historical
Identification: Named
Sex: Male

Sex: male
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0045, beiqishu:007:s0001, beiqishu:009:s0033, beiqishu:031:s0193, beiqishu:047:s0202, beiqishu:048:s0063
Sex: male
Strongly inferred · beiqishu:014:s0047, beiqishu:035:s0139, beiqishu:040:s0010

Roles

Official
Royal Family Member
Ruler
Statesman

Life and dates

Death

Source Date: Text: 武成崩，年三十二 · Western Year: c. AD 568 · Age: 32
Explicit · beiqishu:049:s0144
Manner: died / 崩 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 世祖崩 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · beiqishu:048:s0066
Place: Qianshou Hall of Ye Palace / 鄴宮乾壽堂 · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天統四年十二月辛未 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0119
Statement: died
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0168
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0101, beiqishu:040:s0036

Age

Age: 32 · Reckoning: sui · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天統四年十二月辛未 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0119
Age: 32 · Reckoning: source-stated
Explicit · beiqishu:049:s0144
Age: 8 · Reckoning: sui · Source Date: Text: 帝時年八歲
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0004

Attested activity

Source Date: Text: Wucheng reign · Western Interval: Start: AD 561 · End: AD 565
Strongly inferred · beiqishu:009:s0033, beiqishu:009:s0101
Source Date: Text: 世祖崩 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit · beiqishu:048:s0066, beiqishu:048:s0084
Source Date: Text: 世祖踐祚 · Western Interval: Start: AD 561 · End: AD 565
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:040:s0010
Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0045
Source Date: Text: 乾明初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0007
Source Date: Text: 元象中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 538 · End: AD 539
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0005
Source Date: Text: 大寧二年 · Western Year: AD 562
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:009:s0034, beiqishu:009:s0044
Source Date: Text: 大寧元年冬十一月癸丑 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0014
Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0006
Source Date: Text: 天統五年二月甲申 · Western Year: AD 569
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0120
Source Date: Text: 天統元年 · Western Year: AD 565
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:025:s0086
Source Date: Text: 天統元年 · Western Year: AD 565
Explicit · beiqishu:040:s0028
Source Date: Text: 天統四年十二月辛未 · Western Year: AD 568
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0119
Source Date: Text: 孝昭崩 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:035:s0139
Source Date: Text: 武成 · Western Interval: Start: AD 561 · End: AD 568
Explicit · beiqishu:048:s0063
Source Date: Text: 武成 · Western Interval: Start: AD 561 · End: AD 568
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:049:s0096
Source Date: Text: 武成即位 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:038:s0071, beiqishu:038:s0072
Source Date: Text: 武成時 · Western Interval: Start: AD 561 · End: AD 565
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:031:s0193
Source Date: Text: 河清三年春正月庚申朔 · Western Year: AD 564
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0062
Source Date: Text: 河清二年 · Western Year: AD 563
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0085
Source Date: Text: 河清二年春正月乙亥 · Western Year: AD 563
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0041
Source Date: Text: 河清元年春正月乙亥 · Western Year: AD 562
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0018
Source Date: Text: 河清四年四月丙子 · Western Year: AD 565
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0114
Source Date: Text: 河清四年春正月癸卯 · Western Year: AD 565
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0099
Source Date: Text: 皇建二年十一月 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0102
Source Date: Text: 皇建初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:007:s0009
Source Date: Text: 皇建末 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0047
Source Date: Text: 顧命武成 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit event contextual date · beiqishu:047:s0202

Family

Immediate source-linked family. Drag to pan, scroll or pinch to zoom, and select a person to open their record.

Betrothed to Princess Linhe (鄰和公主)
Kinship Term: betrothed / 聘 · Union Category: betrothal · Relationship State: formed
Parent of Gao Wei (高緯)
Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: bore the Last Emperor / 產後主 · Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Sibling of Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Kinship Term: born of the same mother / 同胞 · Shared Parentage: full · Line: paternal
Kinship Term: younger brother / 弟 · Subject Relative Age: elder
Kinship Term: same mother / 同胞 · Shared Parentage: full
Kinship Term: younger brother by the same mother / 母弟 · Shared Parentage: full · Subject Relative Age: younger · Subject Role: younger-brother · Object Role: elder-brother
Child of Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: conceived Wucheng / 孕武成 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Parent of Daughter of Emperor Wucheng (帝女)
Kinship Term: emperor's daughter / 帝女 · Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: daughter / 帝女 · Parentage: biological
Parent of Gao Yan (高儼)
Kinship Term: emperor's son / 皇子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Parent of Gao Chuo (高綽)
Kinship Term: emperor's son / 皇子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Child of Empress Dowager (皇太後)
Kinship Term: Empress Dowager / 皇太后
Spouse of Empress Hu of Wucheng (胡氏)
Union Category: primary-marriage
Kinship Term: Empress Hu of Wucheng / 武成皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage
Spouse of Empress Hu (胡皇后)
Kinship Term: empress / 皇後 · Union Category: marriage · Subject Role: wife · Object Role: husband
Kinship Term: empress / 皇后 · Union Category: primary-marriage · Relationship State: formed
Child of Gao Huan (高歡)
Kinship Term: father / 父 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: father · Object Role: son
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological · Subject Birth Order: 9 · Subject Role: son · Object Role: father
Child of Empress Dowager Lou (婁太后)
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological · Subject Role: mother · Object Role: son
Child of Empress Dowager Wuming (武明皇太后)
Kinship Term: son / 子 · Parentage: biological
Kinship Term: mother / 母 · Parentage: biological
Kin of Gao Xiaoyu (孝瑜)
Kinship Term: Prince of Henan / 河南王孝瑜
Child of Gao Yang (高洋)
Kinship Term: son / 子

Origins and identity

Statement: ninth son of Emperor Shenwu
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0001

Career and standing

Label: Grand Marshal / 大司馬 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0045
Label: Grand Marshal / 大司馬 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0007
Label: Grand Tutor / 太傅 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0008
Label: Chief Minister of the Secretariat / 尚書令 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0006
Label: Right Chancellor / 右丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建元年 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0074
Label: Right Chancellor / 右丞相 · Action: appointed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0009
Label: held troops at Ye / 在鄴主兵 · Action: assigned
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0049
Label: Inspector of Bing Province / 幷州刺史 · Action: concurrent · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0007
Label: Minister over the Masses / 司徒 · Action: concurrent · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0006
Label: Grand Commander / 太尉 · Action: transferred · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0006
Title: Duke of Changguang Commandery / 長廣郡公 · Action: enfeoffed · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 元象中 · Western Interval: Start: AD 538 · End: AD 539
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0005
Title: Retired Emperor / 太上皇帝 · Action: received · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 河清四年 · Western Year: AD 565
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0116
Title: Prince / 王 · Action: advanced · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天保初 · Western Year: AD 550
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0006
Status: ordered-punishment · Action: had Yuanhai slandered by He Shikai beaten sixty strokes and rebuked him · Other Person Id: Gao Yuanhai (高元海)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0085, beiqishu:014:s0086, beiqishu:014:s0087, beiqishu:014:s0088
Action: succeeded
Explicit · beiqishu:047:s0204
As: Emperor Wucheng / 武成帝 · Authority Person Id: Lou Zhaojun (婁昭君)
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0033
Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大寧元年冬十一月癸丑 · Western Year: AD 561 · Place: Southern Palace / 南宮
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0014
Statement: ascended the throne · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建末 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0083, beiqishu:014:s0084
Event: took the throne after being recalled by testamentary edict
Explicit · beiqishu:049:s0097, beiqishu:049:s0098
Action: abdicated · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 河清四年四月丙子 · Western Year: AD 565
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0114
Action: abdicated
Explicit · beiqishu:040:s0028

Places and affiliations

Polity Name: Northern Qi / 北齊 · Relation: ruled
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0014
Place: Yongping Mausoleum / 永平陵 · Relation: buried-at · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 天統五年二月甲申 · Western Year: AD 569
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0120
Place: Jinyang / 晉陽 · Relation: traveled-to · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 河清元年 · Western Year: AD 562
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0018
Place: Ye / 鄴 · Relation: guarded · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 皇建初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0010
Place: Ye / 鄴 · Relation: stationed-at
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0138

Learning and skills

Belief: divination / 卜 · Relation: consulter · Other Person Id: Zheng Daoqian (鎮道謙)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0077
Belief: divination / 占候 · Relation: consulter · Other Person Id: Pan (潘)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0080, beiqishu:014:s0081

Works and attributed material

Kind: promise · Role: addressee · Action: was promised the position of imperial younger brother by Xiaozhao before the coup against Yang Yin · Other Person Id: Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0048
Kind: edict · Role: issuer · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 大寧元年 · Western Year: AD 561
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0016
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Tang Yong (唐邕)
Explicit · beiqishu:040:s0107
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Other Person Id: Zhang Yao (張耀)
Explicit · beiqishu:025:s0088
Kind: speech · Role: speaker · Quoted: true
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0073, beiqishu:009:s0077

Events and relationships

Kind: political · Role: consulter · Action: consulted Yuanhai on a plan to secure himself, then hesitated and could not adopt his stratagem · Other Person Id: Gao Yuanhai (高元海)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0060, beiqishu:014:s0061, beiqishu:014:s0062, beiqishu:014:s0063, beiqishu:014:s0064, beiqishu:014:s0065, beiqishu:014:s0066, beiqishu:014:s0067, beiqishu:014:s0068, beiqishu:014:s0069, beiqishu:014:s0070, beiqishu:014:s0071, beiqishu:014:s0072, beiqishu:014:s0073, beiqishu:014:s0074, beiqishu:014:s0075, beiqishu:014:s0076
Kind: personal · Role: perpetrator · Action: forced Empress Li and killed Shaode · Other Person Id: Li Zu'e (李祖娥)
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0073, beiqishu:009:s0077, beiqishu:009:s0078
Kind: political · Role: target of scheming · Action: had his power divided between Kudi Fulian and Hulu Fengle, but kept Fulian while barring Fengle from duty
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0050, beiqishu:014:s0051
Kind: political · Role: conspirator · Action: joined Prince Xiaoyu of Henan in a feigned hunt to plot in secret · Other Person Id: Gao Xiaoyu (孝瑜)
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0052
Kind: personal · Role: perpetrator · Action: killed Prince of Leling · Other Person Id: Prince of Leling (樂陵王)
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0092
Kind: political · Role: co-conspirator · Action: plotted to execute ruling ministers · Other Person Id: Emperor Xiaozhao (孝昭帝) · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 乾明初 · Western Year: AD 560
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0008
Kind: ritual · Role: actor · Action: refused mourning dress after mother died
Explicit · beiqishu:009:s0044, beiqishu:009:s0045
Kind: political · Role: guardian · Action: remained on guard at the capital while Xiaozhao visited Jinyang
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0047
Kind: military · Role: commander · Action: southward campaign from Jinyang · Date Context: Source Date: Text: 河清三年十二月丁巳 · Western Year: AD 564
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0090
Kind: political · Role: successor-designate · Action: summoned to take the throne
Explicit · beiqishu:006:s0102, beiqishu:006:s0153

Assessments and attributes

Assessment: had the measure of an emperor; elevated bearing and far-reaching judgment · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0121
Assessment: intimate with base underlings; licentious extravagance in the palace · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0122
Assessment: transmitted throne in empty ornament not proper precedent; wrongly killed princes · Provenance: Mode: historian-judgment
Explicit · beiqishu:007:s0123, beiqishu:007:s0124
Kind: emotional-state · Statement: was very discontent when Bainian was made crown prince instead of him
Explicit · beiqishu:014:s0049

References in the histories

Open any source group to read the Chinese and English passage in context.

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

Open chapter

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

Open chapter

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

Open chapter

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 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.