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卷三 魏書三 明帝紀

Volume 3: Book of Wei 3 - Annals of Emperor Ming

Chapter 3 of 三國志 · Records of the Three Kingdoms
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1
姿 使 鹿 鹿使鹿
Emperor Ming—personal name Rui, courtesy Yuanzhong—was the crown prince of Emperor Wen (Cao Pi). From infancy Cao Cao (posthumously Emperor Wu of Wei) doted on the boy and kept him constantly at his side. 〈The Wei Shu relates that even as a small child he showed unusual promise; Cao Cao marveled and told him, "You will be the foundation for three generations of my line." At banquets and assemblies he was brought in with the adults, standing beside Palace Attendants and senior ministers inside the curtain. He was studious and well read, with a particular eye for law and jurisprudence.〉 At fifteen he received the title Marquis of Wude; in Huangchu 2 he was made Duke of Qi, and in Huangchu 3 Prince of Pingyuan. Because his birth mother had been put to death, he was not immediately named successor. 〈The Wei Lue records that Empress Guo had no children, so Emperor Wen ordered her to adopt the boy as her own. He still burned with resentment over the unjust fate of his natural mother. In time he had no choice but to honor Empress Guo; each day he sent senior attendants to ask after her, and she, childless herself, responded with growing affection. Cao Pi saw the boy's discontent and for a time considered naming another son—the Prince of Jingzhao—as heir, so Rui went long without the crown prince's title. The Wei Mo Zhuan tells how he once joined his father on a hunt and came upon a doe and fawn. Cao Pi killed the doe and ordered the boy to shoot the fawn; Rui refused: "You have already slain the mother—I cannot bring myself to kill the young." He burst into tears. Cao Pi lowered his bow and was struck by the boy's character; from then on his mind was set on making Rui his heir.〉 In the fifth month of summer in the seventh year of Huangchu, as Cao Pi lay dying, Rui was at last named crown prince. On dingsi he ascended the throne and issued a general amnesty. The empress dowager was elevated to grand empress dowager, and the empress became empress dowager. Officials were ennobled according to their merit. 〈The Shi Yu notes that Rui had kept to himself before his accession; once on the throne, the whole court was eager to see what kind of ruler he would be. A few days in, he held a private, day-long interview with only Liu Ye, the Palace Attendant. Others strained to overhear; when Liu Ye emerged, they pressed him: "Well? What is he like?" Liu Ye replied: "In the mold of Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of Han—perhaps a notch below in sheer ability."〉 On guiwei he posthumously ennobled his mother Lady Zhen as Empress Wenzhao. On renchen his younger brother was invested as Prince of Yangping.
2
退
That August Sun Quan struck Jiangxia; Grand Warden Wen Pin refused to yield. The court wanted to dispatch a relief force, but the emperor objected: "Sun Quan lives on the water—he only braves a land attack to catch us off guard. He is already tied down by Wen Pin; besiegers wear down faster than defenders, and Sun Quan will not linger." The court had already sent Imperial Clerk Xun Yu to comfort the borderlands; when he reached Jiangxia he mustered county troops along his route, took a thousand of his escort up a ridge, and lit signal fires—whereupon Sun Quan broke off the siege and withdrew.
3
西西鹿 西 宿 姿 西 西
In the first month of spring, Taihe 1, he offered the suburban sacrifice to Emperor Wu (Cao Cao) as Heaven's counterpart and honored Emperor Wen in the Bright Hall as God's counterpart. The southern portion of Jiangxia was split off and placed under a new southern Jiangxia commandant. Qu Ying rose in Xiping, murdered the magistrate of Linqiang and the chief of Xidu; Generals Hao Zhao and Lu Pan were sent to crush the revolt and executed him. On xinwei in the second month the emperor performed the spring plowing rite in the sacred field. On xinsi a temple for Empress Wenzhao was dedicated at Ye. On dinghai he performed the rite to the sun at the eastern suburban altar. In the fourth month of summer, on yihai, the five-zhu coin was put into circulation. On jiashen work began on the imperial ancestral shrine. In the eighth month of autumn he sacrificed to the moon at the western suburban altar. On bingyin in the tenth winter month he reviewed the army at the eastern suburbs. The ruler of Yanqi sent a royal son to the Wei court as hostage-attendant. In the eleventh month Lady Mao was enthroned as empress. Every male subject received two steps in rank; grain was granted to widowers, widows, orphans, and others unable to fend for themselves. In the twelfth month the empress's father, Mao Jia, was made a full marquis. When Grand Warden Meng Da rebelled at Xincheng, Sima Yi was ordered to lead the punitive expedition. 〈The Sanfu Juelu introduces "Bo Lang," a Liangzhou native registered as Bu Lingxiu. The gloss identifies him as Meng Ta of Fufeng—Bo Lang was his nickname. This was under Emperor Ling of Han. Eunuch Zhang Rang dominated the court; a steward-slave ran his household. Meng Ta could not get ahead in office, so he poured his fortune into bribing that steward, sealed the tie with a marriage—and ruined himself over several years. The slaves were all ashamed; they asked what he desired, and he said, "I wish to obtain your company's bows to me." Indebted to him by then, they agreed. Clients mobbed Zhang Rang's gate—hundreds of carriages—yet many waited days without an audience. Meng Ta arrived last; the stewards rushed out, bowed at his carriage, and ushered only him straight through the gate. The crowd assumed he was Zhang Rang's intimate and showered him with gifts. Meng Ta passed every gift on to Zhang Rang, who was delighted. A hu of wine sealed the deal—he received appointment as governor of Liangzhou. Meng Ta's son was Meng Da, who went to Shu while young. His career in Shu is told in Liu Feng's biography. The Wei Lue records that in Yan Kang 1 Meng Da brought over four thousand households of followers and surrendered to Wei. At the time of Emperor Wen, when [the king of Wei] had first assumed the princely rank, he had long known of Da's existence; hearing of his coming, he was greatly pleased and ordered eminent ministers with judgment to go observe him; they returned saying "He has the talent of a general," others saying "He has the capacity of a minister"; the king esteemed Da all the more. He wrote back at once: "My recent order barely hinted at my meaning—why? Think of Yi Yin leaving Shang for Zhou, Baili Xi quitting Yu for Qin, Yue Yi slipping away as legend tells, Wang Zun reading the times—they saw how dynasties rise and fall, so artists painted them and historians enshrined them. They say your gifts are ample and your stature uncommon—you belong in a brilliant reign and merit a place in the histories. Now that you have crossed into clear water I rejoice; I wait toward the west as toward an old friend, and every line I write follows gladly. Yu Qing won Zhao's premiership on his second audience; Chen Ping became Liu Bang's companion after one meeting—I cherish you more than those tales warrant, so I send horses from my own stable as a token." The letter went on: "Now the seas within are settled and clear, the ten thousand li are unified, the three frontiers have no alarm of dust and wind, and the central realm has no danger of barking dogs. Therefore nets are loosened and prohibitions broadened; the age is treated without suspicion, and official posts stand empty with no initial qualification required. When you come, heed my meaning—do not clog the roads with kin and wagons and frighten observers. If you want a meeting, settle your troops and rear echelon first, then come east at an easy pace with a light escort." When Meng Da reached Qiao, his bearing at audience was poised and his eloquence striking—all eyes were on him. Soon after Cao Pi went out in a small carriage, took Meng Da's hand, clapped his back, and joked, "You aren't Liu Bei's assassin, are you?" Then he pulled Meng Da into the carriage beside him. He named him irregular palace attendant and concurrent grand warden of Xincheng, charging him with the southwest. Some ministers felt he was rewarded too lavishly and unsuited to frontier command. The king replied, "I trust him—it is like shooting mugwort with a mugwort arrow," meaning little threat. Meng Da had enjoyed Cao Pi's favor and been close to Huan Jie and Xiahou Shang; when Cao Pi died both men were already gone, and Meng Da—long a wanderer on the frontier—grew uneasy. Zhuge Liang learned of his anxiety and secretly courted him with repeated letters; Meng Da answered back. Shen Yi of Weixing, who despised Meng Da, secretly reported a Shu conspiracy—the emperor dismissed it. Sima Yi sent staff officer Liang Ji to watch him and pressed him to come to court. Panicked, Meng Da rose in revolt. Gan Bao records Meng Da sighing atop Baima Pass when he first took Xincheng: "Liu Feng and Shen Dan held a thousand li of strongholds—and lost them all."〉
4
In the first month of spring in the second year of Taihe, Sima Yi took Xincheng, executed Meng Da, and sent his head to the capital. 〈The Wei Lue says Sima Yi turned Meng Da's general Li Fu and nephew Deng Xian, who opened the gates to Wei troops. After sixteen days under siege Meng Da fell; his head was burned at the great crossroads in Luoyang.〉 Shangyong, Wuling, and Wu were carved out of Xincheng as a new Shangyong commandery; Xi county became Xi commandery.
5
退 使 使 西 使 便 使 便 穿 退 西
Zhuge Liang struck the frontier; Tianshui, Nan'an, and Anding rose for him. 〈The Wei Shu states: At this time court ministers did not know what plan to pursue; the Emperor said, "Liang relies on mountains as fortifications; now he has come himself—it already accords with the Art of War's technique of luring the enemy. Moreover Liang craves the three commanderies; he knows advance and does not know retreat; if we use this moment, our crushing Liang is certain." He mustered fifty thousand horse and foot to meet Zhuge Liang.〉 Cao Zhen was placed in command west of the pass and ordered forward. Zhang He of the right wing crushed Zhuge Liang at Jieting. Zhuge Liang retreated and the three commanderies were recovered. On dingwei the imperial progress reached Chang'an. 〈The Wei Lue records the Emperor's bulletin to all under heaven and proclamation distributed to Yizhou, stating: "Liu Bei betrayed grace and fled of himself into Ba and Shu. It brands Zhuge Liang as a traitor who fled to villains—poison to gods and men, doomed by his own crimes. Outwardly he plays regent; inwardly he hoards power. Liu Shan and his kin are holding hollow shells of towns. His arrogance toward Yizhou and cruelty to its people have turned Li Lang, Dangqu, Gao Ding, and the Qingqiang tribes against him. Like wearing a coat inside out or trimming toes for shoes, he ruins Shu yet boasts of skill. He campaigns from the bottom of a well and marches in hoofprints—utter folly. Since Our accession the borders have been quiet; We pitied a realm long wasted by war and hoped to succor the old and the young, reform customs through rites and music, and train armies between harvests—We scarcely counted Zhuge Liang a concern. Yet Zhuge Liang clings to the rash bravado of Li Xiong and spurns Jing Han's counsel to weigh the enemy's moral strength; he sweeps up officials and commoners and plunders Qishan for advantage. The imperial host struck; Ma Su and Gao Xiang broke and ran at the first sight of Wei banners. Wei's champions drove the rout across heaps of dead—Zhuge Liang, that provincial pedant, quailed before Our armies. Every crack regiment burned to pursue without pause. All lands owe allegiance to the throne, but armies leave wasteland in their wake—We would not see honest villagers perish alongside wicked courtiers. So We publish this warning in good faith: reconsider your allegiance and do not stay chained to a doomed insurrection. All Shu generals, officials, soldiers, and commoners whom Liang has coerced—from ministers on down—may surrender with bound hands.〉" On dingyou in the fourth summer month the court returned to Luoyang. 〈The Wei Lue reports rumors of the emperor's death and a plot among the entourage to enthrone Cao Zhi, Prince of Yongqiu. The capital—from Empress Dowager Bian to the senior ministers—was panic-stricken. When the emperor came back, everyone watched his face for a sign. Lady Bian wept and laughed by turns and wanted the rumor traced; the emperor replied, "The whole realm was whispering it—where would I begin?"〉 Noncapital convicts were offered amnesty. On yisi rewards for the campaign against Zhuge Liang were handed out—titles and added households according to merit. May brought severe drought. In the sixth month an edict stated: "To honor the learned and esteem scholarship is the root of royal instruction. If the wrong men hold chairs in the academies, how can the sage's teaching be made clear? Choose outstanding erudites fit to serve as palace attendants. Command every province to send up candidates grounded first in the classics." That autumn, in the ninth month, Cao Xiu marched to Wan and met Lu Xun at Shiting—the Wei army was routed. On yiyou Prince Mu received the title Prince of Fanyang. On gengzi Grand Marshal Cao Xiu passed away. In the tenth winter month each senior minister was to nominate one proven commander. In November Minister of Education Wang Lang died. In December Zhuge Liang surrounded Chencang; Cao Zhen dispatched Fei Yao and others to hold the line. 〈The Wei Lue explains that Hao Zhao had already fortified Chencang. When Zhuge Liang came he invested Hao Zhao but could not break the defense. Hao Zhao of Taiyuan (courtesy Bodao) was a formidable soldier who rose from unit commander to frontier general and kept the Hexi corridor quiet for over a decade. When Liang besieged Chencang, he had Zhao's fellow townsman Jin Xiang outside the walls shout persuasion at a distance; Zhao answered Xiang from the tower, saying, "Wei statutes on rewards and punishments—those you have mastered; You know what kind of man I am. He had received too much from Wei and owed too much to his clan—there was nothing to discuss but death before surrender. He told Jin to tell Zhuge Liang to attack whenever he pleased." Jin relayed the reply; Zhuge Liang sent him back to argue that resistance was hopeless against such odds. Hao Zhao answered, "My mind is made up. I recognize you—my arrows will not." Jin withdrew. Zhuge Liang, counting tens of thousands against Hao Zhao's thousand and assuming relief would be slow, pressed the assault with ladders and rams. Hao Zhao answered with fire arrows; the ladders blazed and every man on them died. He counterweighted stone rollers with ropes and smashed the rams. Zhuge Liang raised hundred-foot towers, packed the ditch with earth to close with the walls, and Hao Zhao threw up an inner barrier behind the first. Zhuge Liang mined toward the town; Hao Zhao dug a counter-trench and blocked him. Twenty days of storm failed; when Wei reinforcements neared, Zhuge Liang lifted the siege. The court praised Hao Zhao's defense and enfeoffed him as a full marquis. When [Zhao] returned, the Emperor received him in audience to console and praise him; turning to Central Document Director Sun Zi he said, "Your home region yet has such forthright men—if generals burn this bright, what more have We to fear? He planned to promote him further. Soon afterward [Zhao] died of illness; his dying instructions warned his son Kai: "In serving as a general I learned how impossible it is to be a general. He had plundered graves for siege timber and knew rich tombs brought the dead nothing. He ordered a plain shroud—no finery. The living have homes; the dead need none. We lie far from the family graves—bury me wherever you must."〉" Gongsun Yuan ousted his uncle Gongsun Gong as Liaodong governor and was confirmed in the post.
6
In the fourth summer month of the third year of Taihe, Prince Li of Yuancheng died. On guimao in the sixth month Prince Mu of Fanyang died. On wushen Cao Teng was posthumously titled Emperor Gao and Lady Wu as Empress Gao.
7
使殿
In autumn, seventh month, an edict stated: "By ritual, when the queen has no heir one selects a collateral son to continue the great shrine—then one ought to uphold the legitimate succession and serve public righteousness; how could one still look to private kinship? When Emperor Xuan followed Emperor Zhao on the throne he unjustly titled his father "emperor. Emperor Ai's advent unleashed Dong Hong's Qin-style sophistries—honoring a common father as emperor, twin temples in the capital, elevating a minor concubine beside the empress dowager—until Heaven turned away and worthy advisers like Shi Dan were silenced while the Ding and Fu clans burned. Later Han repeated those mistakes one reign after another. The fault for Duke Wen's illicit sacrifices fell on Xiafu Ji. Song's breach of ritual drew criticism upon Hua Yuan. Ministers are to treat past errors as a solemn warning. If an emperor ever rises from a princely house he must honor his ritual adoption above blood ties. Flatterers who urge illicit imperial honors on birth parents will die at the ministers' hands. The decree was cast on golden slips, lodged in the ancestral shrine, and written into law."
8
The Pingwang watchtower became the "Listening to Litigation" tower. The Emperor often said, "Prisons are the life-blood of the realm"; whenever he judged great criminal cases he habitually visited the tower to hear them in person.
9
使
Until Luoyang's temple stood empty, the ancestral tablets stayed at Ye. When construction finished in the eleventh month, Han Ji fetched the tablets from Ye; they reached Luoyang on twelfth-month jichou and were enshrined. 〈Pei Songzhi notes Huangchu 4: twin temples were planned—one sharing Cao Teng with a collateral ancestor, another immortal shrine for Cao Cao. The absence of a "high ancestor" tablet reflects destruction after generational limits ran out. Early Wei therefore maintained four generations of close ancestors only. The seven-temple system came only with Jingchu 1. Sun Sheng approved: rites demand honoring tablets like living lieges—moving them to Luoyang was proper.
10
調使調
On guimao the Kushana lord Bodiao sent tribute and received the title "Yuezhi king allied to Wei."
11
退 使 使
In the fourth year, spring, second month, on day renwu an edict stated: "The age's plainness or refinement follows teaching in changing. War had extinguished classical studies—young men chased careers outside the canon. Had moral education failed—or did appointments ignore virtue? Court clerks who prove mastery of one classic and aptitude for magistracy—after examination promote the top scorers at once. Dismiss every candidate of empty cleverness who neglects the roots of learning." On wuzi the Grand Tutor and three dukes were told to engrave Cao Pi's Dian Lun and set the stele before the temple gates. On guisi Cao Zhen became grand marshal, Sima Yi grand general, and Gongsun Yuan general of chariots and cavalry. Grand Tutor Zhong Yao died in the fourth summer month. On wuzi in the sixth month Lady Bian, the grand empress dowager, died. On bingshen Shangyong commandery was suppressed. In the seventh autumn month Empress Dowager Wuxuan was laid beside Emperor Wu at Gaoling. He sent Cao Zhen and Sima Yi west against Shu. On xinsi he began an eastern tour and offered a black ox at Mount Song. 〈The Wei Shu adds that at Fanchang Zang Ba officiated as grand commandant and sacrificed at the Wei enthronement mound. Pei cites Han Ji: Emperor Zhang once ordered sacrifice at an old accession terrace. Pei wonders why one worships an empty platform when Heaven is not confined to bricks—precedent does not clarify the rite. On yiwei the progress reached Xuchang. September floods on the Yi, Luo, Yellow, and Han forced the Shu expedition to turn back. On yimao in the tenth winter month the court was back in Luoyang. On gengshen noncapital crimes could be redeemed for graded fines." In November Venus passed Jupiter—an ominous conjunction. On twelfth-month xinwei Lady Zhen was moved to Chaoyang tomb. On bingyin ministers were told to nominate worthy candidates.
12
使
In the eighth month an edict stated: "In antiquity the feudal lords paid court visits—that was how they thickened kinship ties and harmonized the myriad states. Cao Pi had barred imperial brothers from the capital lest regencies invite faction—the policy guarded against gradual usurpation. Twelve years without seeing his brothers—the emperor confessed how sorely he missed them. Each prince and dynastic marquis was to send one legitimate heir to the capital for audience. Whenever a child emperor and a dowager ruled, the old rule would apply and be spelled out in law." On yiyou in the eleventh month the moon occluded the brightest star in the Xuanyuan constellation. Month-end on the wuxu cycle brought an eclipse of the sun. On twelfth-month jiachen the moon passed Saturn. On wuwu Grand Commandant Hua Xin died.
13
使
While peacekeeping Xianbei chief Buzhugen secretly dealt with rebel chief Kebineng, Bing governor Bi Gui sought to threaten Kebineng abroad and reassure Buzhugen at home. The Emperor reviewed the memorial and said, "Buzhugen believes himself enticed by Kebineng and harbors doubt toward himself. Dispatching troops would only scare both factions into uniting—hardly a policy of divide and rule." He wired Bi Gui that no column was to advance beyond Gouzhu. The order arrived too late—Bi had already moved to Yinguan and sent Su Shang and Dong Bi in pursuit. Kebineng's son escorted Buzhugen's people with a thousand horse and met the Wei generals at Loufan—both Wei commanders died. Buzhugen's people bolted through the passes and joined Kebineng in border raids. Qin Lang led the central host against them and drove the tribes into the northern sands.
14
姿
That autumn Anding's peacekeeping Xiongnu chiefs rose; Sima Yi sent Hu Zun to crush and accept their surrender.
15
祿使 祿 祿 祿 使 便 西 祿使
In the tenth winter month Xianbei leaders under Buzhugen submitted at Bingzhou and Qin Lang withdrew. 〈The Wei Shi Chunqiu identifies Qin Lang as Yuanming of Xinjin. The Xiandi Zhuan adds that his father Qin Yilu served Lu Bu as envoy to Yuan Shu and married a Han princess. His first wife Lady Du stayed behind in Xiapi. During Lu Bu's siege Guan Yu begged Cao Cao for Lady Du; Cao Cao suspected her beauty and kept her when the city fell. After surrendering, Qin Yilu was made magistrate of Zhi. When Liu Bei fled to Xiaopei, Zhang Fei followed him; passing by he said to Yilu, "Another man took your wife while you hold office for him—how can you be so dull-witted! Come away with us?" Qin Yilu followed a few miles, tried to turn back, and Zhang Fei cut him down. Lang was raised by his mother in the duke's palace; Taizu greatly loved him; whenever seated among guests he said to them, "Is there anyone who loves a foster son as I do? The Wei Lue says he drifted among the princes yet offended neither Cao Cao nor Cao Pi. Emperor Ming brought him inside as valiant-cavalry general and attendant—always at the emperor's stirrup. Mingdi loved harsh justice—minor faults earned death; Qin Lang never checked him nor recommended good men, yet the emperor loved him for it. He called him by his pet name Asu, showered gifts, and built him a palace mansion. Everyone knew he was useless, but proximity to the throne brought bribes equal to a noble's fortune. His son Qin Xiu, blunt and upright, later served as Jin Wudi's erudite. The Wei Lue pairs Qin Lang with Kong Gui among favorite sycophants. Kong Gui, courtesy Shulin, came from Tianshui. Early in Jian'an he ran errands for Yang Qiu to Cao Cao and won appointment as commandant of cavalry. Slick and skilled at weiqi and kickball, he became Cao Cao's constant companion. He watched Cao Cao's moods and slipped in requests when he was merry—winning gifts until he lived like a lord. Once Cao Cao favored him, Cao Pi and the other princes courted him too. Seeing Cao Cao hesitate between heirs and favor Cao Zhi of Linzi, Kong Gui shifted to Cao Zhi and snubbed Cao Pi—who never forgave him. Cao Pi became king before he could settle scores with Kong Gui. Huangchu 1 brought routine promotion to commandant of the coachmen. He took Western Regions bribes to fix appointments. Exposed, he was arrested and executed. Yu Huan warns that rulers must not sell offices nor ministers take empty pay—else integrity rots within and without. Favorites who flatter the throne create honor without virtue and salaries without merit—no wonder honest men fade and knaves multiply. If even cautious Cao Cao and strict Mingdi bred such men, what of lesser courts?
16
使
In December Gongsun Yuan sent Sun Quan's envoys Zhang Mi and Xu Yan's heads to Luoyang and received grand marshal and Duke of Lelang. 〈Bi Gui reportedly offered a 350-year-old Xianbei slave of Fan Mingyou who ate and spoke like any man. The slave said: "Huo Xian was Guang's junior wife after his principal wife died. Fan Mingyou's wife was a daughter of Huo Guang's first wife." The Bowuzhi tells of a glutton in the capital who ate for ten and grew immobile. His father, a transferred official, left him to be fed by county hosts. Within two years he beggared the whole district. The Fu Zi records a living woman unearthed from a Taiyuan tomb. Sent to Luoyang, she remembered nothing of her past. The mound's trees were only thirty years old—had she lain underground three decades? Or had she revived overnight when grave robbers broke in?
17
使 殿 使使使 祿 使 祿 西 退祿
On yiwei in the second spring month Venus passed Mars. On day guiyou an edict stated: "The whip as official punishment exists to correct slackness and negligence; yet recently many innocents have died under it. Flogging rules were to be softened and codified." On third-month gengyin Emperor Xian died; Mingdi mourned in white and sent officers to manage the rites. On jiyou came a general amnesty. Summer brought a terrible plague. Fire destroyed Chonghua Hall. On bingyin officials sacrificed an ox at Cao Pi's shrine. The abdicated Han sovereign received posthumous title Emperor Xiaoxian and a Han-style burial. 〈The Xiandi Zhuan adds that Mingdi wore mourning, wept with his ministers, and sent He Qia and Cui Lin to officiate. An edict stated: "The affairs of the Five Emperors lie remote; Confucius greatly praised Yao and Shun's lofty, vast deeds because abdication is the fine affair of great sages. It praised Emperor Xian for seeing Han's mandate expire and yielding to Cao Pi. Cao Pi had let him keep Han rites and calendar as Yao had indulged Shun. It cited Yao's death—universal grief and silenced music—to justify imperial funeral honors. The court had proposed mere kingly rites—Mingdi asked whether that honored Cao Pi's promise. He therefore elevated the duke to Emperor Xiaoxian." He ordered the Grand Commandant to report with one bull at Emperor Wen's temple, saying: "Rui has heard that ritual turns back to the root and seeks good fortune, not forgetting its beginning—therefore former ages' rulers honored forebears and kin according to degree. Officials had ranked the funeral as for a mere king. Mingdi insisted Emperor Xian had knowingly surrendered the mandate to Wei. Huangchu had preserved Han ritual inside the duchy—like Shun and Yu's precedent. He praised the abdication as the clearest act of yielding. He cited the Classic of Poetry and Documents on filial succession and loyal commemoration. He vowed to fulfill his father's compact with the abdicated house. He granted posthumous title, patent, and ribbons. Ministers would officiate, engineers build the mausoleum, and Han-era funeral standards applied throughout. The minister of agriculture funded officials' funeral expenses. A new Duke of Shanyang would continue the Han line as Wei's ceremonial ally." Thereupon the patent read: "Alas—of old August Heaven sent calamity upon Han, enabling the rebellious minister Dong Zhuo to spread his fierce cruelty, burn and destroy the capital, and seize and move the great chariot. Chaos followed across the realm. The Han emperor fled west, then settled at Luoyang. He sought advisers, moved court to Xu, and relied on Cao Cao. Eighteen years of campaigns crushed the warlords and pacified the nine provinces. He rewarded merit by founding Wei. It hymned Cao Pi's virtue, cosmology, and right to the throne. Cao Pi needed no Yao-Shun ceremony—Heaven crowned him. The mandate passed to Mingdi himself. It praised Yao's abdication to Shun as the model of righteous transfer. Seven cycles later Han's mandate returned to Wei. It stacked mythical parallels to praise the abdication's perfection. Who but a cosmic harmony of Han and Wei could achieve such virtue? Mingdi framed the posthumous honors as fulfilling his father's pledge to Emperor Xian. May the spirit approve this bounty. Alas—the ritual cry of mourning." On eighth-month renshen he was buried at Shanling in Shanyang with an endowed tomb precinct. At the funeral Mingdi donned tin-hemp mourning and wept as for a true parent. His heir's grandson, Marquis Kang of Guishi, succeeded as Duke of Shanyang.
18
退 使 使 使
Zhuge Liang emerged from Xie Valley onto the Wei south bank; Sima Yi confronted him. An edict told Sima Yi: "Only hold fast behind walls to blunt his edge; when he advances he cannot achieve his aim, when he retreats none will fight him—a long halt exhausts grain and plunder yields nothing—then he must flee. Strike him in retreat while your men are fresh—that is total victory." 〈The Wei Shi Chunqiu says Zhuge Liang taunted Sima Yi with letters and women's hats. When Sima Yi tried to fight, Xin Pi arrived with an imperial staff and held him to the defensive. Sima Yi asked Zhuge Liang's envoy only about diet and workload—not war. The envoy replied: "Lord Zhuge rises early and sleeps late; for punishments of twenty strokes or more he personally reviews each; He ate only a few sheng of grain a day." Sima Yi answered: "He is killing himself—how long can he last?"〉
19
滿 西 退 西 使
In May Venus appeared in daylight. Sun Quan threatened Hefei while Lu Xun and Sun Shao drove up the Huai. In June Man Chong marched to meet him. Chong wished to abandon New City's defense and lure the bandits to Shouchun—the Emperor did not consent and said: "Of old Emperor Guangwu of Han sent troops to seize Lüeyang and in the end defeated Wei Ao; the late Emperor set Hefei on the east, defended Xiangyang on the south, fortified Mount Qi on the west—whenever bandits came they were crushed below those three cities because those grounds had to be contested. Sun Quan could not crack New Hefei even if he tried. Hold the walls—Mingdi would sail east himself and expected Sun Quan to run." On autumn renyin Mingdi took the dragon fleet east; Sun Quan fled before the imperial host neared, and Wu's generals followed. Courtiers wanted the emperor to rush west to Zhuge Liang's front. The Emperor said: "Quan has fled—Liang's courage is broken—the Grand General controls him—We have no worry. He proceeded to Shouchun and handed out battle honors. On jiwei he reviewed the armies and sent gifts to Hefei and Shouchun. On xinsi the court returned to Xuchang.
20
退
Sima Yi refused Zhuge Liang's taunts and stayed entrenched. Zhuge Liang's death broke the siege.
21
On winter yichou the moon passed Saturn and Xuanyuan. On wuyin the moon occulted Venus. November brought a southeast earthquake to Luoyang. In December capital statutes were trimmed to spare more convicts.
22
西
On wuzi in spring of the third year of Qinglong Sima Yi became grand commandant. On jihai Shuofang commandery was revived. Plague ravaged Luoyang. On dingsi Empress Dowager Guo died. On yihai a meteorite struck Shouguang. In third-month gengyin Lady Guo was buried west of Shouyang per her modest burial wishes. 〈Gu Kaizhi tells of a woman revived from an ancient Zhou tomb. She looked about twenty. Empress Dowager Guo adopted her at Luoyang. When the empress dowager died a decade later, the girl grieved herself to death within a year.
23
殿 殿 殿 使 殿 使 西 姿 輿
Luoyang's palace sprouted Zhaoyang, Taiji, and the Zongzhang viewing tower. Palace labor stole the sowing season; Yang Fu and Gaotang Long protested relentlessly—Mingdi heard them out politely if not obediently. 〈The Wei Lue describes Taiji and a ten-zhang Zongzhang tower topped by a phoenix. Fanglin Garden gained pools for boating and song. Eight courts housed ranked concubines whose stipends mirrored the civil list. He ran the court from the harem—six female clerks vetted memorials while thousands of attendants filled the inner palace. They plumbed the Gu past Jiulong Hall with jade-faced wells and bronze dragon fountains. Ma Jun built a south-pointing carriage and water-powered automata. New Year's shows aped Western Han pageantry; screens rose outside Changhe Gate. Zhang Mao noted wars abroad while Mingdi poured the treasury into ornament. also registering gentlewomen already married to clerks and commoners and returning them to assign to soldiers—having permitted ransom with captives of matching age, yet also selecting the fair ones for the Rear Palace—thereupon he memorialized: "Your servant humbly sees the edict—all gentlewomen married to non-gentlemen are altogether registered and seized to match warriors—this is indeed expedient for the moment yet not the best of great transformation. He asked leave to explain. The emperor and his people were equally sons of Heaven. Ritual separates gifts to nobles and commoners. Moving clerks' wives to soldiers was like stealing a brother's bride—it skewed parental fairness. Ransom rules beggared households buying stand-in slaves. Officials skimmed beauties for the harem and foisted plain women on the troops. Neither new husbands nor robbed husbands ended content. A ruler who forfeits popular goodwill courts ruin. Field armies drained the treasury—harem excess and consort clans cost half as much again. Han Wudi's extravagance worked only in a unified empire. Forty years of war had left Wei's people bleeding and weary. Wu and Shu still threatened the throne. Mingdi chased luxury while foes watched—vanity armed the enemy. Choosing Han Wudi over Yao's austerity was a mistake. Cut waste, feed soldiers' families, fill granaries, mend arms—that was his remedy. Spend rightly and Wu and Shu would surrender without another battle. Wise rule would let generals rest. Zhang Mao cited his earlier promotion for frank counsel. Silence now would brand his own essays hypocrisy. At fifty he feared dying disloyal if he stayed mute." When the memorial had passed through, the Emperor looked to left and right and said, "Zhang Mao relies on fellow-townsmen ties. He routed it to petty bureaucrats and forgot it. Zhang Mao, courtesy Yanlin, was a native of Pei.
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殿 殿 西 西 宿 西 鹿 使宿滿
After Chonghua burned, on gengwu he named Princes Fang and Xun of Qi and Qin. On dingsi the court returned to Luoyang. Chonghua rose again as Jiulong Hall. On winter jiyou Prince Gun of Zhongshan died. On renshen Venus shone at noon. On dingyou in November he moved court to Xuchang. 〈A Zhangye flood allegedly revealed a tortoise-shaped chart stone. Seven stone horses—some riders, some unfinished. Jade fittings and inscriptions surrounded it. Carvings placed omens on four sides—azure beasts and horses. One legend read 'Highest Three Heaven Kings.' Another prophetic string promised Wei would fall to 'great metal'—catering to Jin propaganda. The omens stacked 'center' and 'metal' glyphs. Shapes echoed trigrams and constellations. The Shi Yu adds a rooster carving. Han scholars allegedly predicted a 'punish Cao' stone in the west. Pei Songzhi ties Willow Valley stones from Jian'an through Taihe to Wei-Jin legitimacy. In the third year of Taishi, Jiao Sheng re-measured the glyphs against older rubbings. The cracks promised Jin ('metal') would supplant Wei. Another flood tale etched 'punish Cao' on a river stone. Mingdi had 'punish' carved to 'calculate' and buried the omen—stones multiplied overnight in legend. By Western Jin the omens supposedly shone like jade.
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Spring omens: Venus by day, lunar occultations, and entry into Taiwei. Summer founded Chongwen Hall for literati. On yimao in May Dong Zhao died. On dingsi Sushen envoys brought birch-bark arrows.
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使 使
On day renshen in the sixth month an edict stated: "The You Yu clan painted images and the people did not offend; the Zhou people set punishments aside and did not use them. Living after late kings, Mingdi mourned how far his justice fell short of antiquity. More laws bred more crime—punishment multiplied without ending fraud. He had already eased capital statutes to spare lives. Yet hundreds still died in jail yearly—was teaching weak or the law still a snare? He ordered reviews before execution so mercy pleas could reach the throne. Death sentences needed kin notified and clemency petitions bundled with court findings—except treason and murder. The edict was published empire-wide."
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礿
On Jingchu renchen Shanzhi reported a yellow dragon omen. 〈Phonetic gloss for the place-name character (fanqie: shi plus li).〉 Officials argued Wei held 'earth' phase and should begin the year in jianchou (twelfth month). They reset the calendar so summer's first month opened the year. 〈Cao Pi had kept Han's calendar after abdication. As heir Mingdi had already argued new dynasties need new calendars. He stalled until scholars renewed the debate with divided opinions. He relied on classical antiquity; on jiazi day an edict stated: "The Grand Ultimate moves the three luminaries and five planets above; primordial breath turns the three systems and five phases below—ascending, descending, circling—when ended then again beginning. Confucius' Annals honored three competing calendar starts. Wei matched the earth 'tong'—year must begin in jianchou. Canon backed the reform. Qinglong 5 month 3 became Jingchu 1 month 4."〉" Court dress yellow, victims white, war horses black-maned white, banners scarlet for court and white for martial display. 〈Pei notes earth element dictated yellow robes. Animal and banner colors followed Yin precedent under jianchou. The Record of Rites states: "The Xia dynasty esteemed black—therefore military affairs rode black horses and victims used dark blood; Yin favored white horses and white victims. Zhou preferred sorrel mounts and chestnut victims." Zheng Xuan states: "The Xia took jianyin as correct—things' born color is black; Yin's white matched sprouting under jianchou. Zhou's red matched buds under jianzi. Han' glosses as white—the Zhou Yi cites white horses.' The Zhou li Director of Chariots' duty: 'Raise great scarlet for court'—great white for going to war—thus Zhou used orthodox-color banner at court and former dynasties' banner for war. Wei inverted Zhou: white at peace, scarlet in war—per Yin. [Calendar heading:] Amendment. 〈From the Dahe calendar treatise.〉 It reads 〈to the Jingchu calendar treatise.〉 Seasonal rites still tracked the old dipper month despite civil date shift.
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On jisi in May the court returned to Luoyang. On jichou came amnesty. On sixth-month wushen Luoyang quaked. On jihai Chen Jiao became minister of education and Wei Zhen minister of works. On dingwei new Shangyong commandery was carved from three counties. Xi commandery was folded and its seat joined Weixing.
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Cao Cao's temple music was Wushi. Cao Pi's shrine used Xianxi. Mingdi claimed Liezu with Zhangwu choreography. Three eternal shrines plus rotating four—mirroring Zhou geneology rules. 〈Sun Sheng scolds premature temple honors. Living rulers should not name themselves founding ancestors. Sun Sheng compares Mingdi to notorious precedents of vanity.
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殿 西使 殿 輿 使穿 使 使
Four northern provinces mass-produced war junks. September floods brought imperial grain relief. On gengchen Empress Mao passed away. On winter dingwei the moon occulted Mars. On guichou Lady Mao was buried at Minling. On yimao he shaped southern Weisu hill into Heaven's round altar. 〈The Wei Shu records an edict: "Emperors receiving mandate all reverently inherit Heaven and earth to manifest spirits; honor sacrificial succession to display merit—therefore former dynasties' canons once fixed, the suburban and ancestral temple system is complete. Han sacrifices had been patchwork since the book burning. Ancient recovery remained flawed. Wei claimed descent from Shun—Heaven's altar honored Shun as counterpart. Earth's altar paired Lady Yi. Southern suburb matched Cao Cao. Northern suburb matched Lady Bian. The Bright Hall paired Cao Pi with High God." Jin later fused the dual earth-heaven sites. Winter solstice renzi saw the first new ritual. On dingsi four Xiangyang counties—Linju, Yicheng, Jingyang, and Yi (graph splits across sentences)—were partitioned. 〈Phonetic gloss for the county name (fanqie: qi plus ji syllables).〉 Those four counties formed southern Xiangyang command. On jiwei officials asked a capital shrine for Lady Zhen. Ru and Ye moved from Xiangyang to Yiyang. 〈Wei looted Han bronze monuments from Chang'an. The dew dish snapped; giants stayed at Ba. They recast bronze into two Wengzhong statues by Sima Gate. Monumental dragon and phoenix bronzes flanked the inner court. Ministers packed earth for an imperial hunting mound in Fanglin. Legend says the Han bells shattered en route and wept bronze tears. The Wei Lue records Staff Counselor of the Minister of Education Dong Xun of Hedong memorializing: "Your servant has heard ancient straight officers exhausted speech for the state and did not avoid death. He named Zhou Chang and Liu Fu's blunt analogies. True advisers brave death for the realm's sake. Decades of war had beggared families. Monuments wasted labor far beyond useful building. Senior ministers stayed mute fearing a young emperor's wrath. High ministers rode in splendor—why humiliate them? Making nobles haul dirt ruined dignity for toys. He quoted Analects on mutual ritual. Without mutual duty the state fails. Silence breeds cosmic disorder and traitors. Who else would speak truth to power? Dong Xun called his life negligible. He wrote through tears, ready to die. He begged mercy for his eight sons." He purified himself before submitting. When it had passed through the Emperor said, "Does Dong Xun not fear death! Censors wanted him arrested—the emperor spared him. Dong Xun later ruled Beiqiu honestly.
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使 宿退
Jingchu 2 opened with Sima Yi's Liaodong expedition. 〈Gan Bao's Jin Ji states: The Emperor asked Sima Yi, "How do you estimate Yuan will plan to await you? Sima Yi replied: "If Yuan abandons the city and flees beforehand—that is the best plan; Second: defend the Liao River. If he only sits in Xiangping, we will bag him like game." Which of the three stratagems will he choose?" Sima Yi expected Yuan to lack foresight—long supply lines would force him to hold the Liao first, then the walls." How long is the full campaign?" He replied: "Go one hundred days, attack one hundred days; One hundred back plus sixty rest—twelve months all told." Wei Mingchen Zou records Palace Attendant He Zeng's memorial: "Your servant has heard former kings in establishing law must be wholly cautious—therefore when establishing offices and granting appointment they set deputy assistants; when deploying hosts and appointing generals they establish overseers and seconds; when proclaiming orders and dispatching envoys they set deputies; when facing the enemy and crossing blades they assign chariot companions on the right—by these means they exhaust planning thought and guard against safety-peril shifts. Seconds cover emergencies—true defense runs deep. Han followed the same rule. Han Xin had Zhang Er as deputy against Zhao. Ma Yuan took Liu Long on the southern campaign. Precedent fills the histories. Liaodong was four thousand li—Yuan might flee and drag out time. Mortals need a second-in-command for a distant war. Northern officers lacked clear chain under Sima Yi—crisis could bring chaos. He urged sending a senior deputy to Sima Yi's camp. A backup commander contained risk." The note identifies Guanqiu Jian as that deputy.
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宿 西 便
Autumn: Shaodang Qiang rose; Liangzhou forces killed Zhuyi. On guichou a comet streaked through Zhang. 〈The Han Jin Chunqiu states: The historian reported to the Emperor: "This is Zhou's field division—Luoyi dreads it. The court staged grand apotropaic rites. September: Shu's Yinping governor mutinied against the Qiang. Guo Huai sent Wang Yun and You Yi against Liao Dun. Huai memorialized: "Yun and Yi divided troops east and west of the mountain, surrounding the bandits' outer ring—victory within dawn. The Emperor said: "Military momentum hates splitting." He ordered consolidation before the edict arrived. Too late—You Yi was routed. Wang Yun fell to a stray shaft.
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On bingyin Sima Yi took Xiangping and shipped Yuan's head south. Winter rewards went to Sima Yi and subordinates. The Liaodong expedition began with forty thousand men. Critics called forty thousand excessive. The Emperor said: "A four-thousand-li expedition—even if called using strangeness—still must rely on strength—ought not slightly reckon labor expense." Forty thousand went east. Rain stalled the siege; courtiers wanted recall. The Emperor said: "Sima Yi masters emergencies and controls changes—capturing Yuan can be awaited counted days. Events unfolded exactly as predicted.
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使 殿 便 使 使
On renwu Wei Zhen headed education and Cui Lin works. Intercalary month: lunar occultation of Antares. Twelfth-month yichou Mingdi took to bed. On xinsi he named an empress. General ranks and grain like earlier reigns. Cao Yu briefly held grand general—then Cao Shuang replaced him on jiashen. 〈Cao Yu was to share power with Xiahou Xian, Shuang, Zhao, and Lang. Liu Fang and Sun Zi feared Cao Yu's regency while he blocked access. A bedside shuffle left only Cao Shuang when Yu stepped out. Liu Fang alerted Sun Zi. Zi said: "We cannot move." Fang said: "Both enter the cauldron—what cannot be done?" They suddenly advanced to see the Emperor—weeping said: "Your Majesty's breath is faint—if there is misfortune—to whom will You entrust all under heaven?" The Emperor said: "Have you not heard—employ Prince of Yan?" Fang said: "Your Majesty forgets the late Emperor's edict—feudal kings must not assist government. He smeared Zhao and Lang for flirting with nurses. He compared Cao Yu to classic usurping eunuchs. He warned of weak heir and foreign foes. Mediocre regents would doom the state." Hearing Fang's words the Emperor grew greatly angry and said: "Who can be appointed?" Fang and Zi thereupon raised Shuang to replace Yu—also stated "ought to order Sima Yi to join consultation"—the Emperor consented. Cao Zhao protested the coup—brief halt. Fang and Zi overruled Zhao twice. "We need your seal in your own hand." The Emperor said: "I am desperately tired—cannot." Fang then mounted the bed—grasped the Emperor's hand—forced it to write—thereupon carried it out—shouting loudly: "There is an edict dismissing Prince of Yan Yu and others from office—may not linger in the palace. The princely regents were sent home weeping.
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A Shouchun woman claimed divine possession—Qinglong 3. Her water supposedly healed. The court housed and praised her. When Mingdi sickened her magic failed—she was executed.
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使 便西 殿 殿
In the third year, spring, first month, on day dinghai Grand Commandant Sima Yi returned to He interior—the Emperor by relay horse summoned him—led him into the bedchamber—grasped his hand saying: "My illness is severe—I entrust later affairs to you—you shall assist the young son together with Shuang. Seeing Sima Yi fulfilled his last wish." Sima Yi kowtowed in tears. 〈The Wei Lue states: After the Emperor followed Liu Fang's plan summoning Sima Yi—he personally drafted the edict—when sealed—turned calling the usual palace messenger: "Bixie come! Hand this edict to the grand commandant." The runner Bixie dashed away. Cao Yu had already routed Sima Yi toward Guanzhong. Conflicting orders brought Sima Yi racing to Luoyang. After consoling finished he summoned Qi and Qin two princes to show Sima Yi—separately pointing at Qi prince telling Sima Yi: "This is the one—look carefully—do not mistake! Young Fang embraced Sima Yi. Fang was eight, the Qin prince nine. The Emperor grasped Sima Yi's hand—eyeing the crown prince said: "Death then again can be endured—I endure death awaiting you—you shall assist this together with Shuang. Sima Yi invoked Cao Pi's trust."〉 He died that day in Jiafu Hall. 〈The lying-in-state was before Jiulong Hall. He was thirty-six by civil reckoning. 〈Pei argues Mingdi died at thirty-four not thirty-six. Calendar reform inflated his recorded age. On guichou he went to Gaoling tomb.
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貿 簿 姿 使
〈Wei Shu praises his majestic presence. As heir he studied books and avoided faction. His reign mixed meritocracy and decisive war policy. He memorized every clerk's dossier. He read mountains of plebeian petitions. Sun Sheng describes his appearance and stutter. He sidelined regents to frontier posts. He tolerated blunt advisers. Sun Sheng laments weak princes and lost power to Sima.
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Chen Shou praises his ruler's spine. Chen Shou faults palace building over restoring unity.
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