← Back to 魏書

卷97 島夷桓玄 海夷馮跋 島夷劉裕

Volume 97: Huan Xuan of the Daoyi People, Feng Ba of the Haiyi, Liu Yu of the Daoyi

Chapter 103 of 魏書 · Book of Wei
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 103
Next Chapter →
1
Huan Xuan of the Daoyi, Feng Ba of the Haiyi, and Liu Yu of the Daoyi.
2
Huan Xuan of the Daoyi, whose courtesy name was Jingdao, was originally from Longkang in Qiao commandery in the state of Chu. He was the son of Huan Wen, Grand Marshal of the usurping Jin regime. Wen favored him and on his deathbed named him his successor. At the age of seven he inherited the title Duke of Nan commandery. In the fifth year of Dengguo, he was appointed attendant to the crown prince of Emperor Xiaowu, Sima Changming. Xuan's temperament was unconventional, and he aspired to make a name for himself as a bold champion. Because the court believed Wen had shown signs of tyrannical ambition, Xuan and his brothers were deliberately sidelined. Xuan was posted out as Administrator of Yixing, where he could not advance his ambitions. Before long he resigned his office.
3
使 使
At the beginning of Huangshi, Sima Dezong, Emperor An, took the throne. The Prince of Kuaiji, Sima Daozi, seized power and placed his trust in the Vice Minister of Works Wang Guobao, who was widely hated. Xuan persuaded Yin Zhongkan, Inspector of Jing province, to propose Wang Gong, Inspector of Yan province under Dezong, as leader of the alliance to move against Guobao. Zhongkan agreed. Wang Gong's envoy was traveling the same route; the parties met on the road, agreed to launch a joint campaign, and both submitted memorials calling for armed rebellion. Before long they had defeated Wang Guobao and his faction. At the beginning of Tianxing, Dezong appointed Xuan Bearer of the Staff of Authority, supervisor of military affairs in Jiao and Guang provinces, General Who Establishes Might, Central Commander Who Pacifies the Yue, and Inspector of Guang province.
4
使 西
Later Wang Gong again joined forces with Yu Kai, Inspector of Yu province under Dezong, to raise troops against Wang Yu, Inspector of Jiang province, and the brothers Sima Shangzhi. Xuan, General of the Flying Dragon Yang Quanqi, Yin Zhongkan the Inspector of Jing province, and others led their armies to support Gong. Xuan and his allies advanced on Stone City. At that time Sima Yuanxian, Dezong's General Who Conquers the Barbarians, still held Stone City with his army and lined up warships to block the mouth of the Huai River. Daozi marched out with his army and was about to encamp at the Central Hall when horses suddenly stampeded. The troops fell into chaos, and a great many men and horses plunged into the river. Order was not restored for some time. Xuan and his allies did not realize how weak the capital at Jianye was, and when Wang Gong was soon defeated Xuan grew deeply alarmed and withdrew his army to Cai Isle. Liu Laozhi, Wang Gong's chief of staff, led the Northern Headquarters army and encamped at Xinting. Dezong then appointed Huan Xiu Inspector of Jing province, Zhongkan Inspector of Guang, Xuan Inspector of Jiang, Quanqi Inspector of Yong, and the former inspector Xi Hui Minister of Works. As Zhongkan marched his army south, he sent messengers through Xuan's camp proclaiming: "Unless you disperse and return home, when our main force reaches Jiangling we will slaughter every last one of you." Zhongkan's subordinate general Liu Xixian, who commanded two thousand men under Quanqi, abruptly led his troops away. Xuan and his allies were seized with panic and fled in disarray. Yu Kai likewise abandoned his forces and fled to Zhongkan's southern army. Xuan pressed forward in light boats to pursue Zhongkan. At Xunyang his allies named him leader of the alliance, and he took up position at Xiakou. Dezong further appointed Xuan commander over four commanderies in Jing province and made Xuan's elder brother Huan Wei, Duke of Xichang, General Who Assists the State and Colonel of the Southern Man. By favoring the Huan brothers, he hoped to weaken the hold of the Jing and Yong regions on power.
5
便 西 [1] 紿[2] 使退
Earlier Jing province had been ravaged by floods, and Zhongkan's granaries were empty. Xuan exploited this weakness to attack him, first dispatching troops to strike Baling. Guo Quan, Inspector of Liang province, was traveling to his post when he met Xuan on the road. Xuan pressed him into service as vanguard. Setting out from Xiakou, Xuan wrote to Zhongkan: "I am about to advance up the Mian River to destroy Quanqi and will halt my army at the river mouth. If you remain loyal to me, kill Yang Guang. If you do not, I will lead my army down the Yangtze." He also wrote separately to Huan Wei, instructing him to act as an inside contact on a set date. Wei panicked and showed the letter to Zhongkan. Zhongkan reassured him and sent him back, but that night had him arrested. Zhongkan dispatched Yin Mai, General of the Flying Dragon, Liu Shanmin, General Who Quells Might, and others at the head of seven thousand troops to the West River mouth. [1] When Xuan learned that Mai had arrived, he again led his personal guard with his partisan Fu Yongdao to attack. Mai and his forces were defeated and fled. Xuan halted at Baling, absorbed their troops, and took over their grain stores. He then defeated Yang Guang at Xiakou. Having lost the stores at Baling and with all his generals defeated, Zhongkan found Jiangling in turmoil. Famine gripped the city, and even sesame seeds were pressed into service as provisions. When Zhongkan first received Xuan's letter, he urgently summoned Quanqi. Quanqi replied: "Jiangling has no food. How can we stand against the enemy? Come join me, and together we will hold Xiangyang." Zhongkan still commanded a full army and could not simply abandon the city and flee. Fearing that Quanqi would not come, he deceived him: "We have been gathering supplies lately; [2] we already have enough grain to feed tens of thousands for a hundred days." Quanqi believed him and led eight thousand infantry and cavalry to Jiangling. When they arrived, Zhongkan could offer his army nothing but plain cooked rice. Quanqi flew into a rage and cried: "We are ruined!" Without even meeting Zhongkan, he had his men fire across at Xuan from the ships. Xuan's army returned fire, and Quanqi then withdrew. Xuan then crossed his army at Matou and ordered his forces forward. He defeated and killed Zhongkan, along with Yang Guang, Quanqi, Yin Daohu, and Zhongkan's staff officer Luo Qisheng and others.
6
[3] 便使 西 西
Dezong appointed Xuan Bearer of the Staff, commander of military affairs in the eight provinces of Jing, Si, Yong, Qin, Liang, Yi, Ning, and Jiang plus eight commanderies in Yang and Yu, [3] General of the Rear, and Inspector of both Jing and Jiang provinces. Xuan handsomely rewarded his followers, appointing his chief clerk Bian Fanzhi Administrator of Nan commandery and entrusting him with his most confidential responsibilities. He then blockaded the upper Yangtze and barred merchant traffic. Dezong issued an edict: "The stripling Huan Xuan, unworthy son of the late Grand Marshal, was treacherous from youth and unrepentant in manhood. He conspired with Wang Gong, raised troops against the court, and gathered forces from three directions with the aim of seizing the imperial throne. Thanks to the august power of our ancestors and the wise strategy of the chief ministers, the loyal rose up and the guilty were destroyed. Xuan and his allies, reckless and bereft of strategy, turned their boats and fled like startled birds. The court should have seized the moment to destroy the source of treachery. Conflicting opinions at the time confused imperial policy, royal authority was undermined, and rewards were granted to the wrong men. The court still hoped Xuan would repent and accept correction, but his wolfish heart never changed and his insolence only grew. He carved out the Jiang and Xiang regions, wielded unchecked power over Jing and Ying, forged imperial orders, and held the power of life and death in his own hands. He even spoke vilely and without restraint to the Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Mi, plotting vicious harm and an assault on the capital. His disloyalty was plain in his written words; and his treasonous conduct grew more evident by the day. If this can be tolerated, what outrage cannot?! Let the nine punishments be proclaimed to restore order to the realm. Yuanxian, Minister of Works and General of the Rear, is appointed Grand Commander of the punitive expedition, commander of military affairs in eighteen provinces, General of Agile Cavalry, with ritual honors equal to the Three Excellencies." Liu Laozhi was appointed vanguard, acting General Who Conquers the West with provisional authority over Jiang province; and Sima Shangzhi was ordered to advance up the Mian River.
7
When Xuan heard of Yuanxian's deployments, he was deeply alarmed and considered holding Jiangling. His chief clerk Bian Fanzhi urged him to march east. Xuan hesitated, but Fanzhi pressed him insistently. Xuan left Huan Wei to guard Jiangling and led his army eastward. Reaching Xiakou, he raised his standard and issued a proclamation:
8
We charge Sima Yuanxian, Inspector of Yang province: his violent and cruel nature has grown since childhood; he has violated ritual and destroyed moral instruction, and from his earliest years he has been steeped in wickedness. During mourning he showed not a day of grief. He wore mourning garb on night expeditions, played music and drank wine in the midst of bereavement, pursued pleasures on the day of greatest mourning, and plundered Wang Guobao's concubines so that the palace stood empty overnight. This was the beginning of his accumulated evil, shocking to all who witnessed it.
9
使
When the Prince Regent fell ill, he felt no fear. Rejoicing in disaster, he seized power, forcibly took Yang province, and father and son were implicated together in the same charges. Once he held sole power, he often acted with dangerous violence. Fearing the Prince Regent would learn of his conduct, he cut off his access to information. Reports of wrongdoing never reached him, while flatterers' praise arrived daily. He entrusted the weight of state affairs to base minions, and national statutes and court governance fell into chaos. He also instructed the Minister of Works to have everyone pay full ceremonial respect to the Duke who Records Affairs. The position of Duke who Records Affairs does not warrant such full ceremonial respect. Merely to aggrandize himself, he violated court ritual. When rebel bandits ran rampant and armies were destroyed and people slaughtered, he made himself Commander and his intimates Inspectors. On days when demotion was called for, he promoted them instead. At such a young age, his conduct was unmatched in history. When the chief minister punished wrongdoing, Yuanxian alone was removed from the Record. He pushed blame and shifted punishment onto others; from antiquity onward, no usurpation or rebellion had ever been so extreme.
10
使 宿 調
His taking of concubines nearly followed the full six rites of marriage. He made the Vice Minister of Works his matchmaker and his chief clerk his guest-receiver. His favorites feasted gluttonously and were congratulated as if they were the empress. This is what is meant by a disloyal heart that reveals itself in every act. On the eighth-day Buddha-viewing festival he seized people's sons and daughters, lodged in private homes, and assaulted wives and concubines. Since the days of Qing Feng, only now has such drinking in another man's house been seen; and since Emperor Ling of Jin, there has suddenly been the punishment of dismemberment. He executed on whim, tore gentlemen apart, and at Zhicheng men were beheaded after he merely took a nap. He enfeoffed a four-year-old bastard son as lord of Donghai. After the cruelty at Wuxing, he imposed levies such as these once more. The rise of rebel bandits stems in truth from this stripling. During mourning he sought the finest foods; Sun Tai supplied his meals; and when he wished to roam at night, Sun Tai provided his carriage as well. Tai relied on Yuanxian's power to wield authority and favor. Though he was eventually executed, many had already been corrupted by him. He imposed harsh levies of musician households, wrongly condemned many, and through forced relocation and exile left the region nearly depopulated by death and desertion. He changed the era name to Yuanxing, taking it as his own auspicious sign. Wang Mang's usurpation was never more clearly echoed than in this. When obstruction reaches its limit, prosperity must follow. Heaven has filled him with poison. What is unrighteous cannot endure. To seize disorder and overthrow the doomed—truly the moment is now. The civil and military officers of the three armies, indignant and eager, march forth.
11
退 殿
Xuan had also lost the loyalty of the people of Jing and Chu, and his campaign lacked popular support. Though his army was strong, he feared his troops would not fight willingly and constantly considered turning back. After he passed Xunyang without encountering the eastern army, his resolve steadied. He then beat the drums and advanced, marching straight to Gushu and capturing Liyang. Liu Laozhi sent his son Jingxuan to Xuan to offer surrender. Xuan was delighted and held a banquet with Jingxuan. When Xuan reached Xinting, Yuanxian abandoned his boats, withdrew into the Hall of the National University, and drew up his formations before the Xuanyang Gate. Yuanxian wished to take Dezong out to battle, but panic spread through the army with reports that Xuan had already reached the southern bridge. The troops turned back toward the palace. When they reached the Central Hall, the army collapsed and scattered. Yuanxian fled to the Eastern Palace with only Zhang Fashun on a single horse following him. Xuan was then appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary, commander of all armies at home and abroad, Chancellor, Recorder of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, Governor of Yang province, and concurrent Inspector of Xu province, with his titles in Jing and Jiang provinces and his dukedom unchanged; and granted provisional use of the yellow axe, feather canopy, drums and pipes, and twenty guards bearing patterned swords. He appointed left and right Chief Secretaries and four Attendants of the Masters of Writing; Two hundred armored guards were authorized to enter the audience hall. Thereupon he arrested Sima Daozi and handed him over to the Court of Judicial Review, stripped him of rank, and banished him to Ancheng commandery; He killed Yuanxian and his sons, as well as Sima Shangzhi, Inspector of Yu province, Yuan Zun, Gentleman of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhang Fashun, and others. He also eliminated Yu Kai at Yuzhang. He banished Shangzhi's brothers—Huizhi, Governor of Danyang, and Yunzhi, General Who Supports the State—as well as the sons of Guobao and Wang Xu, to Jiao and Guang provinces. He appointed Liu Laozhi Administrator of Kuaiji, intending thereby to strip him of his military command. Earlier, after Jingxuan had surrendered, he had accompanied Xuan into the Eastern Palace; at this time he asked to return home. Xuan hoped Laozhi would accept the appointment, and so allowed him to depart. When Jingxuan arrived, Laozhi knew he could not escape. He planned a surprise attack on Xuan, but his followers deserted him. He fled north of Banpu and hanged himself on Xinzhou. His severed head was sent to Jiankang. Jingxuan fled across the Yangzi to the north bank.
12
西 殿
Xuan reported to Dezong, proclaimed a general amnesty, and changed the era name to Dading. Xuan resigned the chancellorship, his jurisdictions over Jing, Jiang, and Xu provinces, and the post of Recorder of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. He was then reassigned as Grand Marshal, commander-in-chief at home and abroad, Governor of Yang province, concurrent General Who Pacifies the West, and Inspector of Yu province; with a green ribbon bearing red tassels, along with the imperial robe and cap, the privilege of wearing sword and shoes in the emperor's presence, exemption from quickening pace when entering court and from having his name called in formal addresses, sixty additional guards bearing patterned swords, and authorization for two hundred armored guards to enter the audience hall. Xuan then established his base at Gushu. Before long he built enormous estates and indulged in reckless hunting, issuing and revoking edicts at whim. Arrogant, extravagant, and driven by every appetite, his cliques grew entrenched and threw the court and realm into chaos. All matters of state were referred to him; minor affairs were decided by Huan Qian, Left Vice Director, and Bian Fanzhi, Governor of Danyang. Xuan levied crushing taxes on the wealthy households of the Three Wu region to feed the starving populace, yet still could not staunch the famine. The eastern commanderies, having been plundered by armies, suffered famine afterward, and vast numbers perished. The registered population of the Three Wu region was cut in half; in Kuaiji only thirty or forty percent remained; in Linhai and Yongjia the dead and displaced nearly wiped out the populace entirely. The old wealthy families dressed in silks and adorned themselves with gold and jade, then barred their gates and died together within.
13
使
Xuan enfeoffed himself as Duke of Yuzhang commandery, with a fief of seven thousand five hundred households in Ancheng; and later as Duke of Guiyang commandery, with an estate of two thousand five hundred households; while his original title as Duke of Nan commandery remained unchanged. Before long he poisoned Sima Daozi to death. Xuan stripped away Dezong's provisions for imperial maintenance, reducing everything to the barest and shabbiest, nearly leaving him in hunger and cold. Although he had not yet committed regicide, the norms of ruler and subject had been utterly destroyed. He was promoted to Grand General, granted drums, pipes, and feather canopy before and behind his carriage, and exempted from having his name called when presenting memorials. He also petitioned to lead the armies in person and order regional forces from all directions to reconquer Guanzhong and Luoyang; Dezong refused. Xuan in fact had neither the resources nor the ability for such a campaign and loved nothing but grand rhetoric. Unable to act, he claimed he stopped because the emperor had so ordered. Having no other plan, Xuan had campaign garments and curios made in advance, along with traveling kits for his books and paintings. Someone remonstrated: "This campaign will surely meet no resistance; supply trains can carry everything needed—there is no need to manufacture more." Xuan replied: "My books, paintings, garments, and curios should always stay close at hand. War is perilous—if mishap strikes, they must be light enough to move quickly." The crowd all laughed at him.
14
便 西 祿
Of those Xuan truly relied upon, only Huan Wei remained. He had earlier planned to recall Wei to serve as his second-in-command. When Wei died, Xuan grew deeply fearful and apprehensive. For years Xuan had brooded that his father's imperial enterprise was nearly complete, yet he himself, still young, had failed to carry forward what had been begun, and he harbored constant resentment. When Emperor Xiaowu died, he already plotted to seize power across the realm. Having taken Jiankang, he no longer had any intention of remaining subordinate. When Wei died, fearful that he stood alone and exposed, he grew all the more eager to complete his usurpation quickly. Bian Fanzhi and his circle, fearing a turn of events yet eager for their own gain, all urged him forward. By then Yin Zhongwen and others had already drafted the investiture documents. Dezong advanced Xuan to Chancellor of State with authority over all government affairs, enfeoffing him as Prince of Chu over ten commanderies—Nan, Nanping, Yidu, Tianmen, Lingling, Guiyang, Yingyang, Hengyang, Yiyang, and Jianping—with the full ritual of the nine bestowments, while his titles as Governor of Yang, General Who Pacifies the West, and Inspector of Yu remained unchanged. He dispatched Wang Mi, Minister of Works, to present the seals and cords of Chancellor of State, and Sima Zun, Household Minister of the Principality of Wuling, to deliver the Prince of Chu's seal and investiture charter. Dezong had earlier sent the entire bureaucracy to press their petitions, and also announced that he would come in person to urge acceptance. In the twelfth month Dezong abdicated in Xuan's favor, proclaimed a general amnesty within his domain, and adopted the era name Yongshi. At first he wished to adopt the era name Jianshi. The Left Assistant Director Wang Nazhi said: "Jianshi was the era name of Sima Lun, Prince of Zhao under Jin." It was therefore changed to Yongshi, coinciding again with the year when Wang Mang first rose to prominence.
15
殿 使輿
When Xuan entered the Jiankang palace, a headwind blew fierce and swift, and banners, regalia, and ceremonial ornaments all toppled flat. That month was bitterly cold; that day was especially severe. He imposed harsh policies while occasionally granting petty favors. He welcomed Huan Wen's spirit tablet and installed it in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Xuan had always traveled without restraint; for once he did not go out. In the hall he hung a crimson canopy with gold bands and hanging tassels, closely resembling Wang Mang's carriage canopy. Rites at the Imperial Ancestral Temple and suburban altar each lasted only two days. Moreover, his temple sacrifices did not honor his remote ancestors, because the names and ranks of his forebears above his great-grandfather were obscure, and so they were not installed in the temple. Because Wang Mang had been ridiculed in earlier histories for establishing nine temples, Xuan countered with a single temple only. He also demolished the minor Jin ancestral shrines to make way for new terraces and towers. The seasonal offerings for his concubine mother had no fixed place of worship. In slighting his ancestors and neglecting his kin, contemporaries knew he would not endure. That month, while Xuan was traveling south of the water, a whirlwind tore away his ceremonial canopy. He also planned to build a great palanquin seating thirty people, carried by two hundred bearers. Xuan grew arrogant, dissolute, and recklessly indulgent, heedless of affairs of state. Memorials piled up unread; or he micromanaged petty matters himself, annotating attendants in his own hand and appointing clerks at whim, issuing regulations without order until responsible officials could not keep pace. He hunted day and night, leaving civil and military officers exhausted. Attendants on immediate duty tethered their horses inside the palace compound; and officials supposedly off duty were kept behind for construction labor. Court officials were worn to exhaustion, the common people drained of strength, and rebellion stirred in eight out of every ten households.
16
使[4]西 西 使 西 使
Liu Yu, Administrator of Pengcheng, seized the moment to behead Huan Xiu, Inspector of Xu province, at Jingkou. Together with Liu Yi of Pei and He Wuji of Donghai, he gathered troops and crossed the Yangzi. Xuan appointed Huan Qian commander of the punitive campaign and summoned all palace attendants to remain within the inner quarters. Xuan moved back to the Upper Palace, with all officials following on foot. He proclaimed an amnesty in Yang, Yu, Xu, Yan, Qing, and Ji provinces. He sent Wu Fuzhi, Administrator of Dunqiu, and Huangfu Fu, General of the Right Guard, north to block Liu Yu at Jiangcheng. Liu Yu beheaded Wu Fuzhi, advanced to Luoluo Bridge, and displayed Huangfu Fu's severed head. Outwardly fierce, inwardly timid, when Xuan heard both generals had fallen, his mind went blank and his plans collapsed. He spent his days with shamans and Daoist priests performing occult rites of suppression. He then asked the assembly: "Am I about to be defeated?" Cao Jing, Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, replied: "The spirits are angry and the people resentful—I am truly afraid." Xuan said: "Popular resentment I understand—but why should the spirits be angry?" He replied: "You displaced the Jin ancestral temples, leaving them adrift without a home; and the Great Chu's sacrifices do not honor its ancestors. That is why they are angry." Xuan said: "Why did you not remonstrate with me?" He replied: "The gentlemen on your carriage all thought this an age of Yao and Shun—how could I dare remonstrate?" Xuan stationed Huan Qian and He Tanzhi at the Eastern Side Gate [4] and Bian Fanzhi west of Fuzhou Mountain, with combined forces of twenty thousand. He also sent Yu Zhenzhi of the Martial Guard with elite troops and fine weapons to reinforce them. Qian and the others suffered a crushing defeat. Xuan loudly announced he was going to battle, led his sons and nephews out through the Southern Side Gate, and fled west to Stone City. He had earlier ordered Yin Zhongwen to prepare boats at the crossing; they then fled south together. For a full day they had nothing to eat. When attendants brought coarse porridge, he could not swallow it. Xuan's son Sheng, five or six years old, clutched his father's chest and patted him; Xuan was overcome with grief. Xuan took Dezong with him from Xunyang to Jiangling, where Huan Shikang, General of the West, received them. He pitched canopy tents south of the city, installed a full bureaucracy, appointed Bian Fanzhi Vice Director of the Masters of Writing and Yin Zhongwen Inspector of Xu, and assigned the rest to prominent posts. Xuan told his attendant ministers: "You have all risen to high office and attend my person. The usurpers in the capital will soon be begging forgiveness at the army gates. When they see you enter Stone City again, it will be like meeting people descended from the clouds." After his flight and defeat, fearing lax discipline, Xuan killed on whim and without cause, growing even more brutal than before. When Yin Zhongwen remonstrated, Xuan flew into a rage: "Emperor Gao of Han and Emperor Wu of Wei nearly met defeat—it was only their generals who lost. The heavens were ill-omened, so I moved the capital back to old Chu—yet petty men in their folly stir up troubles without cause. I must now correct them with severity; it is not yet time for leniency." The prefects of Jing and Jiang provinces, seeing Xuan adrift in defeat, all sent memorials expressing unrest. Xuan rejected them all and instead ordered each locality to submit congratulations on the move of the capital. On the road Xuan composed his own imperial diary of his resistance to Liu Yu, claiming his strategy had been flawless and blaming his generals' disobedience for the defeat. He had no time to discuss military affairs, devoting himself only to reciting and copying the text for posterity.
17
Liu Yu dispatched Liu Yi, General Who Conquers Champions, from Jiankang in pursuit. Xuan's army suffered repeated defeats. Xuan kept light boats rigged along the side of his flagship, so his troops had no will to fight. Xuan abandoned his army and fled; the rest broke and scattered in turn, and he returned to Jiangling with Dezong. Earlier Xuan had left Dezong's wife and children at Baling. Yin Zhongwen, aboard the same vessel, urged Xuan to take another ship to rally the scattered forces, then escorted Dezong's wife back to Jiankang. When Xuan entered Jiangling, Feng Gai, Administrator of Nanping, urged him to renew the fight. Xuan planned to flee to Hanzhong and seek refuge with Huan Xi, Inspector of Liang. He made ready to depart at night, but the city was already in chaos and his orders went unheeded; he took some hundred trusted followers out the north gate. At the gate his own men hacked at his face in the dark; they turned on one another, and the dead filled the road. Xuan barely made it to his ship. Dezong entered the seat of Nan Commandery. Even after boarding, Xuan still meant to flee to Hanzhong. Mao Xiuzhi, Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry, persuaded him to flee into Shu, and he sailed upriver with Shi Kang and others. At Meihui Isle, Fei Tian and other officers of Yizhou ambushed him with a hail of arrows. Xuan was hit by arrows; his son Sheng pulled each one out as it struck. Feng Qian, Protector of Yizhou, drew his sword and boarded Xuan's vessel. Xuan cried: "Who are you to dare kill the Son of Heaven!" Qian replied: "I mean only to kill the usurper who stole the throne." He beheaded Xuan and Shi Kang and the rest, executed Sheng in the Jiangling market, sent Xuan's head to the capital, and had it displayed at the Vermilion Bird Gate.
18
[5]
After Xuan's defeat, Huan Qian went into hiding in Ju. Huan Zhen fled to the Huarong shore, secretly rallied several thousand followers, and at dawn stormed and seized Jiangling. Huan Qian likewise rallied his forces and marched out. When Zhen arrived he asked after Xuan's son Sheng; told that Sheng was dead, he wanted to kill Dezong, but Qian held him back with all his strength. They then held mourning for Xuan and gave him the posthumous title Martial Lament Emperor. Qian led the officials in restoring Dezong. Zhen appointed himself Commander-in-Chief of Eight Provinces, General Who Pacifies the Army, and Inspector of Jing;[5] Qian resumed his former office and was also made Inspector of Jiang and Yu. Later Mao Qi, Inspector of Yizhou under Dezong, killed Huan Xi in Hanzhong. Huan Zhen attacked Jiangling and was slain by Tang Xing. The rest of his kin and followers were either captured on the spot or fled beyond the borders; within a few years they were all wiped out.
19
Feng Ba of the Haiyi, courtesy name Wenqi, childhood name Qizhifa, was originally from Xindu in Changle. Murong Yong declared himself at Changzi and appointed Ba's father An as a general. When Yong was destroyed by Murong Chui, An moved east to Changli and settled at Changgu. Ba could drink a full dan of wine without losing his composure. His younger brothers Sufu, Pi, and Hong were all swaggering ruffians who cared nothing for propriety; Ba alone was respectful, cautious, and diligent in the fields. Once they had settled in Changli, they adopted the local barbarian ways.
20
殿 使
Later Murong Xi usurped the title, appointed Ba Left Supervisor in the Palace, and gradually promoted him to General of the Guards Gentlemen of the Household. Later he was implicated in an affair and fled. Before long, Xi's rule became cruel and the people could not endure it. Ba plotted with his elder cousin Wanni and twenty-three others; he and his two younger brothers rode in a carriage driven by a woman, slipped into Longcheng, and hid in Sun Hu's room to kill Xi. They then set up Gao Yun, Duke of Xiyang, as ruler. Ba became Palace Attendant, General-in-Chief Who Campaigns North, Opening Office with the Same Ceremonies as the Three Excellencies, and Duke of Wuyi; all affairs were decided by Ba and his brothers. At the beginning of Taizong's reign, Yun was killed by his attendants. Ba then set himself up as Prince of Yan, established the offices, and named his era Taiping; this was Yongxing 1. Ba conciliated and accepted the Khitan and other tribes, and many came over to him.
21
使忿使
Emperor Taizong sent the envoy Yu Shimmen to address him; Ba detained him—the full account appears in Shimmen's biography. In the third year of Taichang, a red mist at Helong blotted out the sun from dawn to mid-afternoon. Ba's Grand Astrologer Zhang Mu read it as a martial omen and warned Ba: "Great Wei rules all under heaven, yet our envoys are cut off. Neighboring states have always kept channels open. To defy righteousness and invite wrath is the road to ruin. A great army may come at any moment and swallow us whole. Return the Wei envoy and resume tribute." Ba refused. Emperor Taizong ordered Zhangsun Daosheng, General Who Conquers the East, to march against him with twenty thousand men. Ba barred the gates and held out; the Wei army failed to take the city and withdrew.
22
In the second year of Shenjue, Ba fell ill. His eldest son Yong had already died; he named his second son Yi heir apparent, gave him charge of state affairs, and mobilized troops against any emergency. Ba's concubine Lady Song plotted to put her son Shouju on the throne and deeply resented Yi. She told him: "The lord's illness is nearly cured—why are you ruling in his place?" Yi withdrew. Lady Song cut off contact between inside and outside, using eunuchs to relay messages. Yi, Ba's other sons, and the great ministers were not allowed to visit the sickroom; only Hu Fu, Palace Attendant, could enter and leave, and he alone controlled the palace guard. As Ba's illness worsened, Fu feared Lady Song would succeed in her plot and appealed to Ba's younger brother Wentong, who marched his troops into the palace. Ba died of fright; Wentong seized the throne. Yi led his forces into battle, was defeated, and died. Ba had more than a hundred sons; Wentong killed them all.
23
Younger Brother Wentong
24
Wentong was Ba's youngest brother; his birth name violated the taboo of Emperor Xianzu's temple name. When Gao Yun declared himself, he appointed Wentong General Who Conquers the East and Central Army Commander, with the title Duke of Ji. When Ba took the throne, Wentong became Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, was re-enfeoffed as Duke of Zhongshan, retained command of the guards, held sway over court and camp alike, and rose to Minister of Education. Once he had seized power, he opened relations with Liu Yilong of Song.
25
忿
In the first year of Yanhe, Emperor Shizu marched against him in person; Wentong barred the gates and held out. The six commanderies of Yingqiu, Liaodong, Chengzhou, Lelang, Daifang, and Xuantu all surrendered; Emperor Shizu relocated more than thirty thousand households to Youzhou. Guo Yuan, Master of Writing under Wentong, urged him to submit, send a daughter as tribute, accept vassal status, and preserve the ancestral shrine. Wentong replied: "I am already guilty in their eyes, and their anger is plain. Submission means death. Better to hold our ground and seek another way out."
26
西 使 西西
Earlier Wentong had deposed his first wife Lady Wang, removed the heir Chong to garrison Feiru, and named Wang Ren, son of his later Murong wife, as heir. Chong's younger brothers Lang, Duke of Guangping, and Miao, Duke of Leling, said to each other: "The Mandate belongs elsewhere; our house is ruined, and Murong intrigue will bring disaster upon us." They fled to Liaoxi and urged Chong to surrender; Chong agreed. At that time Emperor Shizu sent the Palace Attendant Wang De to explain the stakes; Chong sent Miao to court. Emperor Shizu sent Acting Grand Herald Li Ji with credentials to appoint Chong Acting Credential Holder, Palace Attendant, Commander-in-Chief of Eastern Yi forces in You and Ping, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Chief Protector of the Eastern Yi, and Governor of You and Ping, enfeoffing him as King of Liaoxi with charge of his state's Masters of Writing and the revenues of ten Liaoxi commanderies. By imperial commission he could provisionally appoint civil officials as Masters of Writing and inspectors, and military officers down to General Who Conquers the Barbarians. Wentong sent his general Feng Yu to besiege Chong; Emperor Shizu ordered Prince Jian of Yongchang to lead the relief forces. Feng Yu also surrendered Fancheng; more than three thousand households were relocated, and the army withdrew.
27
西滿西 宿
Wentong sent his Master of Writing Gao Yang to beg pardon and offer his youngest daughter for the imperial harem. Emperor Shizu agreed and summoned his son Wang Ren to court, but Wentong refused to send him. His Regular Palace Attendant Liu Xun warned Wentong: "We have sealed a marriage alliance, yet sent no hostage prince. If Wei mounts a full campaign, we face destruction. Behind the barrier of towering mountains, Liu Shan still surrendered with jade seal in hand; across the barrier of the Yangzi, Sun Hao still bowed to fate. How much more when Wei is stronger than Jin ever was and Yan weaker than Wu or Shu—send the heir now to honor the great power's command. Then rally the scattered, show generous mercy, open the granaries to feed the hungry, and urge farming to secure the autumn harvest—so the realm, though imperiled, may yet be saved and the dynasty preserved." Wentong flew into a rage and had him executed. Emperor Shizu again ordered Prince Pi of Leping and others to attack; their position shrank daily, and court and camp alike were gripped by fear. Wentong's Minister of Ceremonies Yang Yan again urged him to beg pardon and submit, and send Wang Ren to court at once. Wentong said: "I cannot bring myself to that. If all fails, I will move east to Goguryeo and plan our next move." Yan replied: "Wei brings the hosts of all under heaven against this one corner—in my view, we are bound to collapse. Besides, Goguryeo are barbarians whose word cannot be trusted; they may seem friendly at first, but in the end they will betray us. If you do not act now, it will be too late for regret." Wentong would not listen and secretly asked Goguryeo to receive him. In the second year of Taiyan, Goguryeo sent Generals Gelu and others to escort him. Entering Helong, they stripped off their rags and seized Wentong's fine arms to equip their men. Wentong then took the city's men and women with him into Goguryeo. Earlier wolves had circled the city howling by night for a full year; rats had massed west of the city for miles; marching to the water, those in front carried horse dung in their mouths, each biting the tail ahead to cross; the army camp burned for ten days; wherever one touched the ground maggots swarmed for more than a month; and at Helong white hair sprouted a foot and two inches long.
28
使 忿
When Wentong reached Liaodong, Goguryeo sent an envoy to greet him: "Lord Feng of Longcheng, come to this wilderness—are your men and horses weary?" Wentong, shamed and furious, answered as a sovereign and rebuked them; Goguryeo lodged him at Pingguo, then moved him to Beifeng. Wentong had always despised Goguryeo; he still governed, punished, and rewarded as if in his own realm. Goguryeo seized his attendants and held Wang Ren hostage. Wentong brooded on his grievance and plotted to flee south. Emperor Shizu again demanded Wentong from Goguryeo; Goguryeo killed him at Beifeng, and more than ten of his sons and grandsons died with him. Wentong's sons Lang and Miao. Lang's son Xi is treated in the biography of the empress's kin.
29
輿
Liu Yu of the Daoyi, courtesy name Deyu, was from Dantu in Jinling. His ancestry is unknown; he claimed descent from Pengcheng, or else that his family name was originally Xiang and was changed to Liu—none of which can be verified, so he bore no genealogical tie to the Liu clans of Congting and Anshang. Yu's family was poor; he lived at Jingkou and made his living selling straw sandals. He was rough and fierce, barely literate, ruined himself at dice, and was held in contempt. He once owed thirty thousand in community funds to Diao Kui, consultant to the Rapid Cavalry general, and for a long time failed to repay. Kui, disgusted by his conduct, recorded the debt and pressed for payment; Wang Mi, chief clerk to the Rapid Cavalry general, paid it for him, and only then was the matter closed. He was a drifter without a shred of propriety.
30
In the second year of Tianxing, the Jin usurper Sima Dezong sent Liu Laozhi, General Who Assists the State, east against Sun En; Yu enlisted and became Laozhi's staff officer. When En raided Haiyan in the north, Yu pursued and defeated him; for this he was promoted to General Who Establishes Might and Administrator of Xiapi. When Liu Laozhi marched against Huan Xuan, Yu served on his staff. When Laozhi surrendered, Yu became staff officer under Huan Xiu, Xuan's cousin and Central Army commander. When Sun En died, his followers made En's brother-in-law Lu Xun their leader. Xuan sent Yu against him; Yu defeated Xun at Dongyang and Yongjia, and Xun fled by sea. Yu was appointed Administrator of Pengcheng.
31
宿 使西 使
When Huan Xuan deposed Dezong and seized the throne, Yu secretly plotted rebellion with his brother Daogui, Liu Yi, and He Wuji. Huan Xiu's younger brother Sinzu held Guangling; Daogui and Liu Yi had already served on his staff. At the start of Tiansi, Yu and He Wuji waited at dawn for the gates to open, led their men, and killed Huan Xiu, Xuan's Inspector of Xu, at Jingkou. That same day Liu Yi and Daogui killed Sinzu, rallied their forces, and crossed the Yangzi. Xin Huxing, Administrator of Henei, Wang Yuande, Administrator of Hengnong, and Tong Houzhi, General Who Quells Might, also rose against Xuan that same day. Yi's elder brother Mai was in Jianye; Yi sent Zhou An to fetch him, but Mai, afraid, informed Xuan. Xuan sent Wu Fuzhi, Administrator of Dunqiu, and Huangfu Fu, General of the Right Guard, north to resist. Yu camped at Zhuli and met Fuzhi at Jiangcheng. Grasping a long blade, he charged into the enemy line and killed Fuzhi, then advanced to Luoluo Bridge and killed Fu as well. Xuan posted Huan Qian at Dongling and Bian Fanzhi west of Fuzhou Mountain; Yu defeated them both. Terrified, Xuan fled south across the Yangzi with his sons and nephews. Yu seized Stone City, appointed Wang Mi Director of the Masters of Writing and Governor of Yang, set up a rear capital, and took control of the bureaucracy. Yu became Bearer of the Staff of Authority, commander of eight provinces, General Who Pacifies the Army, and Inspector of Xu. He ordered Daogui and others to pursue Xuan. Yu had his allies sign a roster of ranks, sent Wang Gu and other Masters of Writing to welcome Dezong, and burned Huan Wen's spirit tablet outside the Xuanyang Gate. He soon executed Wang Yu, Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, along with his sons Sui, Na, and others. Yu installed Sima Zun as Grand General with imperial commission and lodged him in the Eastern Palace; every official from the highest rank down bowed before him. He proclaimed a general amnesty, excluding Xuan and his followers. That night Wang Mi fled. Liu Yi argued that because Mi had personally removed Dezong's seal and cord, he deserved death. Yu, remembering that Mi had once repaid his debt, pleaded for his life and sent Meng Chang, Governor of Danyang, to fetch him.
32
殿
Wuji and Daogui reached Sangluo Isle and defeated Huan Xuan. The generals advanced and took Xunyang; Yu was made Commander-in-Chief of Jiang province. Liu Yi defeated Xuan again at Zhengrong Isle; Xuan abandoned his army and fled alone by boat, dragging Dezong with him to Jiangling. Yu took office as Inspector of Qing and sent a hundred armed men into the palace hall. Yi and the others pacified Baling; Dezong was restored at Jiangling and the era name changed to Yixi. On returning to Jianye, Yu was offered Palace Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and command of all armies; he declined with feigned modesty. He was also offered the directorship of the Masters of Writing and again pretended to refuse. He then withdrew to garrison Dantu, was made commander of sixteen provinces, took charge of Yan as well, and gave up Qing.
33
Lu Xun seized Guangzhou; Yu nonetheless appointed him Inspector of Guang, with his lieutenant Xu Daofu of Langya as Chancellor of Shixing.
34
Yu was also made commander of Jiao and Guang provinces. He was enfeoffed as Duke of Yuzhang with ten thousand households and thirty thousand bolts of silk. [7] He was made Palace Attendant and promoted to Rapid Cavalry General [8] with the ceremonial rank of the Three Excellencies. Yu was further promoted to Governor of Yang and Director of the Masters of Writing, with his seat in the Eastern Headquarters. Yu sent Liu Jingxuan against Shu; defeated by Qiao Daofu, Jingxuan was dismissed and Yu demoted himself to Central Army General while keeping his headquarters.
35
At the start of Yongxing, Murong Chao raided north of the Huai, captured Liu Qianzai, Administrator of Yangping, and Zhao Yuan, Administrator of Jinan, and carried off more than a thousand households. Yu marched against Chao, sacked Guanggu, captured him, executed three thousand nobles and officials, took more than ten thousand captives and two thousand horses, and razed the walls. Chao was sent to Jianye and executed.
36
歿 便 退 退
While Yu was on campaign, Xu Daofu urged Lu Xun to strike at the opening; Xun agreed, and the prefects of Nankang, Luling, Yuzhang, and other commanderies all fled. He Wuji, Inspector of Jiang, marched to Yuzhang and was killed in battle. The court debated moving Dezong north across the Yangzi. Xun raided Hunan, defeated Liu Daogui at Changsha and Liu Yi at Sangluo Isle, and swept down the river. Meng Chang and Zhuge Changmin urged Yu to escort Dezong across the Yangzi; Yu refused. Chang, convinced all was lost, killed himself. Yu mobilized the populace to fortify Stone City. When Daofu arrived, he wanted to burn the boats at White Stone Ford near Xinting and press upstream at once. Lu Xun said: "The main army has not yet arrived, yet Meng Chang has already killed himself in despair. Jianye must be near collapse. We need only hold our ground and wait—victory is assured." He encamped at Cai Isle. Xun led tens of thousands up the south bank to Danyang, burned Jingkou, Jincheng, and Guniu, and raided Tuzhong, Jiangning, and Wuhu. Xun appointed Ruan Ci Inspector of Yu; Shang Jing and Mao Xiuzhi, Administrator of Xuancheng, defeated him at Guniu, captured his baggage train, and Ci retreated. Yu was made Grand Marshal, Director of the Secretariat, and bearer of the imperial axe; he accepted the axe. Lu Xun, refusing battle, told Daofu: "Our army is exhausted. Let us fall back on Xunyang, seize Jing together, and with two-thirds of the realm contest the lower Yangzi—we may yet prevail." He withdrew south from Cai Isle. Yu sent Wang Zhongde, General Who Assists the State, and others in pursuit. Yu also sent Sun Jigao, General Who Establishes Might, by sea to strike Panyu. Yu himself led the fleet south. Jigao sailed day and night and suddenly appeared at Panyu. Xun had not guarded the sea route; when the fleet appeared, his men panicked. Jigao attacked from all sides with full force and sacked the city. Lu Xun's father Gu and Chief Clerk Sun Jianzhi fled by light boat to Shixing.
37
Xun and Daofu marched downriver; Yu's armies attacked and drove them back to Xunyang. Xun meant to flee to Yuzhang and threw up barricades at Zuoli. Yu's armies pressed the attack; Xun fled alone by boat to Guangzhou, and Daofu retreated to Shixing. On his return Yu was made Grand General and Governor of Yang with twenty ceremonial guards, his other offices unchanged. Daofu held the mountain ravines at Shixing; Liu Fan and others attacked. Daofu poisoned his wife and children, then killed himself. At Panyu Xun rallied troops against Jigao; Liu Fan sent Shen Tianzi against him, and Xun fled. The remnants took the mountain route, seized Hepu, and held it. Advancing on Jiaozhi, they met Du Huidu, Inspector of Jiao, who defeated them repeatedly; Xun drowned himself.
38
便 便
Yu appointed himself Grand Marshal and Director of the Secretariat. Yu executed Xie Hun, Left Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, and Liu Fan, Inspector of Yan. With power consolidated, Yu turned against his allies. Liu Yi, Inspector of Jing, was bold and held the upper Yangzi; Yu feared him and marched against him, sending Wang Zhen'e to strike Jiangling. Zhen'e reached the Yuzhang mouth and burned Yi's fleet. Yi's troops could not hold; Zhen'e galloped into the outer city. Yi was ill and barred himself in the inner city. Zhen'e burned the gates and attacked; Yi's men broke and fled. Yi fled out the north gate and hanged himself by the road; his body was displayed in the market and his sons and nephews executed. At Jiangling Yu executed Xi Sheng, Colonel of the Southern Man, Xie Shao, consultant to the Guard Army, and others. Born humble and outside the gentry, once Yu seized power he killed at will to terrify his subordinates. First, remembering Diao Kui's humiliation, he executed Kui's brothers; then because Wang Yu, Xie Hun, Xi Sheng, and others enjoyed great renown, he killed them all. He split Jing to create Xiang province and took overall command himself. Back at the Eastern Headquarters, Yu summoned Zhuge Changmin for a private talk, then had stalwarts emerge from behind the curtain, seize him at his seat, and strike him dead beside the couch. He too was killed because his talent aroused Yu's jealousy.
39
殿
Sima Xiuzhi, Inspector of Jing province, had won considerable popular support, and Liu Yu feared him inwardly. In the second year of Shenjue, Yu led troops against him, sending the Dragon Cavalry General Kuai En and others as the vanguard. Yu took office as Inspector of Jing and received the imperial axe. Lu Zongzhi, Inspector of Yong, led his son Gui to join Xiuzhi at Jiangling. Gui's army was defeated; he fled with Xiuzhi to Xiangyang. Yu took the post of Colonel of the Southern Man himself. Xiuzhi and his followers fled to Yao Xing of Later Qin. Yu was made Grand Tutor and Governor of Yang; he might wear sword and shoes in the hall, enter court without hastening, and be addressed without his personal name in memorials; he was given left and right chief clerks, marshals, and four attendant gentlemen; his other privileges remained unchanged. Yu also became General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Xu and Yan, gained oversight of Southern Qin, and soon command of all armies.
40
西 西 [9] 西
Yu meant to overthrow the Jin usurpers; fearing he lacked public support without foreign glory, he marched west against Yao Hong. He took office as General Who Campaigns West and Inspector of Si and Yu, soon also Northern Yong, gained imperial banners and drums, and forty ceremonial guards. His son Yifu became Central Army General, supervised affairs at headquarters, and received a band of drums and pipes. Liu Muzhi was moved from Right to Left Vice Director and made army secretary of the Guard and Central Army headquarters;[9] he entered the Eastern Headquarters and took charge of court and camp. Muzhi told Wang Zhen'e, Dragon Cavalry General: "The lord entrusts Guanzhong to you—do not fail him." Zhen'e replied: "If I do not take Xianyang, I swear never to cross the Yangzi again—and if the nine bestowals do not come, that will be your fault as well." Yu led his armies to Pengcheng and was made General Who Pacifies the North and Inspector of Xu. He sent Shen Linzi from Bian into the Yellow River; Tan Daoji and Wang Zhen'e marched from the Huai-Fei region, and Wang Zhongde crossed by boat into the river. Dezong enfeoffed Yu as Duke of Song with ten commanderies, made him Chancellor, and bestowed the nine imperial gifts, following the usurpers' precedent of Wei and Jin. Wang Zhen'e advanced to Yiyang and seized Tong Pass alone; Shen Linzi encamped at Shancheng from Xiangyi, and Yao Hong's generals could not hold. When Yu marched west up the Yellow River, Emperor Taizong sent Generals E Qing and Zhangsun Song to encamp on the bank. Yu sent Zhu Chaoshi and Liu Rongzu across the river; Zhangsun Daosheng defeated them and killed their general Yang Feng. Yu sent Wang Zhongde and Zhao Lunzhi with Shen Tianzi through Wu Pass to camp at Qingni. Shen Linzi crossed the Qin Mountains and joined Tianzi at Yao Willow City. Yao Hong led tens of thousands but withdrew without a fight. Yu reached Tong Pass. Zhen'e reached Wei Bridge and defeated Hong's army at Heng Gate. Yu entered Chang'an, took Yao Hong captive, and executed him in the Jianye market. Yu appointed his son Yizhen Inspector of Yong and garrisoned him at Xianyang. Yu was promoted to Prince of Song with ten more commanderies, a full bureaucracy installed on the old model. Yu returned to Pengcheng.
41
退 西
Helian Qubug raided north of the Wei; Yizhen sent Shen Tianzi against him. Tianzi withdrew to the heights; Zhen'e came to consult, and Tianzi killed him in the tent, then executed seven of his brothers and kin. Tianzi galloped back and said, "Zhen'e harbors rebellious intent"; Wang Xiu, Yizhen's Chief Clerk, seized and beheaded him. Yizhen and his attendants broke the law constantly; Wang Xiu restrained them. They resented him and told Yizhen: "With Guanzhong's defenses and ample supplies, Xiu means to rebel—you must act first." Yizhen sent his attendants to kill Xiu. Hearing this, Yu appointed Zhu Lingshi Inspector of Yong. Yizhen left Chang'an for the east; his generals plundered greedily and camped at Bashang. Helian Chang pursued them; at Qingni Yizhen was routed. Kuai En and Mao Xiuzhi were captured; Duan Heng, whose name violated Gaozu's taboo, fled alone on horseback with Yizhen. Zhu Lingshi abandoned Chang'an and fled to Wang Jingxian at Cao Cao's old fort; the city fell, and he was captured and killed.
42
When Dezong died, Yu installed his brother Dewen and added ten commanderies to his own domain. Yu sent Fu Liang to Jianye to summon him to court. Dewen abdicated; Yu declared the Song dynasty and changed the era to Yongchu, in the fifth year of Taichang. Once Yu had usurped the throne he repeatedly sought peace; Emperor Taizong agreed. In the sixth year Yu sent Shen Fan, Suo Jisun, and others to court with tribute. In the fifth month of the seventh year Yu died.
43
退
His son Yifu seized the throne. Finding his courtesy lacking, Emperor Taizong sent Duke Xi Jin of Shanyang with twenty thousand troops across the Yellow River at Huatai. Mao Dezu, Yifu's Inspector of Si, sent Zhai Guang with three thousand troops to resist. Xi Jin raided Chenliu with a thousand cavalry; Administrator Yan Ling surrendered. He attacked Huatai; Wang Jingdu, Administrator of Dong, fled, and his marshal Yang Zan was killed. Dezu sent Dou Yingming to attack the baggage train at Shiji. Xi Jin routed Guang at Tulu and pressed on to Hulao. Yifu sent Du Yuan and Wang Zhongde, Inspector of Xu, to camp at Hulu. Emperor Taizong ordered Duke Sunjian of Ping'an to camp at the Si mouth; Xu Yan, Inspector of Yan, abandoned Yincheng and fled, and the Taishan commanderies abandoned their garrisons. Emperor Taizong ordered Gongsun Biao to attack Hulao again; Yifu sent Tan Daoji to relieve it. In the eighth year Yifu changed the era name to Jingping. Xi Jin attacked Jinyong; Wang Juanzhi, Administrator of Henan, fled. Emperor Taizong toured south to Ye. Xi Jin returned from Jinyong to besiege Hulao. Emperor Taizong ordered Sunjian east against Qing; Zhu Kui held Dongyang, and Yuan Miao, Administrator of Jinan, fled from Liangzou to join him. Xi Jin attacked Yingchuan; Li Yuande, the administrator, fled to Xiangcheng. Jin sent cavalry against five Gaoping counties and carried off more than two thousand households. Sunjian withdrew because of the summer heat. Tan Daoji and Wang Zhongde moved toward Qing but dared not advance. Emperor Taizong reached Hulao, visited Luoyang, and crossed north of the river. Jin took Hulao and captured Dezu, Zhai Guang, Dou Ba, and others; Liu Cui, Inspector of Yu, held Xiangcheng and dared not advance. Jin sent troops to Xuchang; Suo Yuande, Administrator of Yingchuan, fled to Xiangcheng; then besieged Ruyang; Wang Gongdu, the administrator, broke out and fled; then took Shaoling and carried off more than ten thousand people.
44
殿
At the start of Shiguang, Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui monopolized the court, seized Prince Yizhen of Luling, exiled him to Xin'an, and killed him. Yifu was brutal and lost the Mandate; Xianzhi's troops entered the palace while Yifu was boating at Hualin. They killed his attendants, dragged him out, and deposed him as Prince of Yingyang. He was exiled to Wu and killed at Jinchang Pavilion.
45
使 使殿 殿 殿
They installed Yifu's younger brother Yilong, Inspector of Jing, and proclaimed the era Yuanjia. He sent Zhao Daosheng to court with tribute. In the second year Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang tried to return power to Yilong; he refused. In the third year Yilong believed Wang Hua and executed Xianzhi and Fu Liang, then sent Tan Daoji against Xie Hui, Inspector of Jing. Hui marched east to depose Yilong, claiming to punish Wang Hua, and defeated Dao Yanzhi. When he heard Daoji was coming, Hui's army collapsed. Hui fled to Jiangling, then north with his brother Dun; at Yantou in Anlu he was captured by Guang Shunzhi and executed at Jianye. In the eighth month Yilong sent Ji Heng to court with tribute. In the second year of Shenjue he sent Sun Hengzhi to court with tribute. In the third year he sent Tian Qi to court with tribute.
46
使 使 使
Soon he sent his General of the Right Dao Yanzhi, General Who Pacifies the North Wang Zhongde, and Zhu Lingxiu, Inspector of Yan, with a naval force into the river, while the Rapid Cavalry General Duan Heng raided Hulao. he sent Liu Dewu, Inspector of Yu, and Prince Yixin of Changsha to Pengcheng as reinforcements. Dao Yanzhi attacked Que'ao and sent detachments toward Hulao and Luoyang. Emperor Shizu ordered the Henan armies to withdraw north of the river to lure them on. Soon An Pi crossed at Meng Ford and attacked Jinyong; Du Ji fled; they took Hulao and killed Yin Chong, Inspector of Si. Sunjian routed Zhu Lingxiu and pursued to Hulu. In the fourth year Pi attacked Huatai; Yanzhi and Wang Zhongde burned their boats, abandoned their armor, and fled to Pengcheng. Yilong sent Tan Daoji to relieve Huatai; Sunjian and Zhangsun Daosheng attacked. Daoji reached Gaoliang Mountain; Pi took Huatai and captured Zhu Xiuzhi; Daoji fled to Licheng and escaped by night. Xiao Sihua, Inspector of Qing, abandoned his post and fled to Pingchang; the people burned the grain at Dongyang. In the fifth month of Yanhe 1, Yilong again sent Zhao Daosheng to present tribute. In the second month of the second year, an edict ordered Song Xuan, Acting Regular Attendant of Scattered Cavalry, to go as envoy to Yilong and also to arrange a marriage for the imperial crown prince. In the ninth month, Yilong sent Zhao Daosheng to present one trained elephant as tribute. In the third month of Taiyan 2, Yilong sent envoys together with Yuan Shao to present tribute. Yilong feared his Minister of Works Tan Daoji, and so executed him. As Daoji was about to die, he took off his headcloth, threw it to the ground, and said, “You have destroyed your Great Wall of ten thousand li.” In the third month of the third year, Yilong sent his Regular Attendant of Scattered Cavalry Liu Xibo to court with tribute and also to discuss presenting betrothal gifts. In the sixth month, Yilong’s daughter died, so the marriage did not take place. In the eleventh month of the fifth year, Yilong sent Huang Yannian to present a trained elephant. At the beginning of the Zhenjun era, Yilong moved his younger brother Yikang, General-in-Chief, to Yuzhang. In the second year, Fu Lingyu of Badong, a Consulting Officer of the Dragon-Surging command, went to Yilong to plead Yikang’s case. Yilong was furious, arrested Lingyu, and killed him. In the fourth month, Yilong sent the envoy Huang Yannian to court with tribute. In the twelfth month, Yilong again sent Huang Yannian to court with tribute.
47
西[11]西
That year, Liu Zhendao, Yilong's Inspector of Liang province, and his general Pei Fangming attacked Yang Nandang; Nandang abandoned Chouchi and fled with his wife and children. In the third year Emperor Shizu ordered Prince Sima Chuzhi of Langya against him. Gu Bi, General Who Pacifies the West,[11] and Yuan Ji ambushed Hu Chongzhi, Inspector of Qin, at Zhuoshui, captured him, and the remnants fled to Hanzhong. Yilong installed Wendé as Inspector of Qin and King of Wudu at Jialu; Bi pacified them. Yilong then executed Zhendao and Fangming.
48
使 西 使 使
In the fifth year Yilong sent tribute envoys again. In the sixth year Kong Xixian, talented but unemployed, and Fan Ye, Grand Tutor of the Heir, despised for his family's debauchery, plotted with Xixian and Xie Zong to kill Yilong and install his brother Yikang. Xu Chenzhi, Governor of Danyang, informed; they executed Ye and exiled Yikang to Ancheng under guard. In the seventh year the armies raided seven counties including Jiyin and Jinxiang and drove off the people of Qing and Ji. Gai Wu of Beidi rebelled; Yilong made him General Who Pacifies the West and Inspector of Yong, Duke of Beidi, to stir trouble in Yong; the armies crushed him. Yilong loved petty schemes, stirred the borders, built lavish mountain parks, and oppressed the people—the south suffered bitterly. In the first month of the ninth year Yilong sent peacocks as tribute.
49
使 忿 使 駿殿[12]
In the second month of the eleventh year Emperor Shizu planned to hunt at Yunmeng and asked Yilong not to interfere; Yilong agreed. On his southern tour, Yilong's border cities barred their gates; enraged, Emperor Shizu attacked Xuancheng. He sent envoys to comfort those who submitted; those who resisted were killed. The administrators of Runan, Nandun, Ruyang, and Yingchuan all fled. Prince Jun of Wuling sent Liu Taizhi, Zang Zhaozhi, and others with a thousand cavalry to Ruyang; Prince Ren of Yongchang defeated them,[12] killed Taizhi and Zhaozhi, and captured Tianzuo.
50
駿 [13] [15] 退 退 退
Yilong sent Wang Xuemo with Shen Qingzhi and Shen Tan up the river; Xiao Bin and Jun advanced by land and sea; Zang Zhi led Wang Fanghui, Liu Kangzu, and Liang Tan against Xu and Luo; Prince Shuo of Nanping held Yu. [13] Prince Yigong of Jiangxia commanded all armies; Liu Xiuzhi led Yang Wende and Liu Hongzong toward Qian-Long; Xiao Sihua sent Du Tan and Liu Deyuan toward Wu Pass. Yilong forced princes, officials, and the wealthy to fund the war from private wealth; the people resented it. From Southern Yan, Qing, Ji, Yan, and Yu, three to five men per household were drafted;[14] they were assigned to the ranks; from Yang, Southern Xu, Yan, and Jiang, one quarter of wealthy households as well. [15] Shen Yuanji hastened to the Si mouth; Xiao Bin reached Que'ao; Wang Xuemo sent Wang Baohui against Huatai; Xiao Shuo sent Liang Tan against Xiaosuo. Emperor Shizu relieved Huatai, routed Wang Baohui, and Xuemo fled to Que'ao. Xiao Bin posted Shen Tan, Liang Tan, and Yuan Huzhi at Liangdang and withdrew to Lixia. When the emperor crossed the river, Liang Tan fled, leaving armor heaped like hills. The emperor left Huatai, passed Que'ao; Yilong sent Prince Dan of Jingling with Xue Andu and Liu Yuanjing through Lushi against Hongnong. An edict ordered Zhang Ti, Inspector of Luo, to lead troops across Xiao; He Nan, garrison commander of Pucheng, crossed the river at Fenglingdui; and Du Daosheng, Inspector of Qin, reached Wenxiang. Yuanjing fled.
51
西 駿退 [16] 使西
In the eleventh month the emperor came from Dong'an Mountain to Xiapi; Cui Xieli, garrison commander of Zou Mountain, surrendered. Prince Jian of Chu and Marquis Du Daojun of Nankang advanced to Liucheng. Ma Wengong reached Xiaocheng and Ji Xuanjing Liucheng as scouts; seeing the imperial armies, both withdrew. Prince Ren of Yongchang took Xuancheng, captured Zhao Huai, pacified Xiangcheng, and seized the Wei Wu garrison. He attacked Shouyang, camped at Sun Shu'ao's tomb,[16] and raided Matou and Zhongli. Liu Kangzu marched to Shouyang, met Ren, and was routed; Ren buried his army alive, killed Kangzu, displayed his head at Shouchun, and captured Hu Shengzhi and Wang Luohan. Soldiers dragged the heads around the city three times and heaped them west of the wall as high as the ramparts. Liu Shuo burned the outer wards and barred the gates. The emperor reached Xuyi and the Huai-Si region. Yilong sent Zang Zhi to Xuyi, camping north of the city. The six armies crossed upstream; Hu Chongzhi camped on the heights; Mao Xizuo held the ford before the city. The armies attacked both forces, killed Chongzhi and Xizuo and thousands more; the rest drowned. The people of Huainan surrendered en masse. Prince Na of Gaoliang marched from Shanyang; Prince Ren from Hengjiang at Shouyang; all before them collapsed. The emperor climbed Guabu, built reed rafts, and feigned crossing the Yangzi. Terrified, Yilong planned to flee to the southeast. The people of Jianye stood ready to flee with packs on their shoulders. Yilong sent Huang Yannian to the camp with tribute and a peace offer, proposing a marriage alliance. Emperor Shizu deemed forced marriage improper; he accepted peace but refused the bride.
52
使
When Yilong planned invasion, Jiang Zhan and Xu Chenzhi approved, but the heir Shao, Xiao Sihua, and Shen Qingzhi warned: "Tan Daoji and Dao Yanzhi returned empty-handed; today's forces are weaker—do not move rashly." Zhan and the others were present; Yilong had them debate with Qingzhi. Qingzhi said: "Governing a state is like running a household—ask the farmer about plowing, the weaver about weaving. You plan war with pale scholars—how can it succeed?" Yilong laughed and ignored Qingzhi. He climbed Stone City tower, worried, and sighed: "If only Tan Daoji were alive!" Shao blamed Jiang and Xu. Yilong said: "This was my decision—not theirs."
53
使
In the first month of Zhengping, Emperor Shizu feasted at Guabu and ordered withdrawal. Hundreds of thousands north of the river submitted. They took six provinces; the slaughter and plunder were beyond counting. The north was devastated and the realm in turmoil. Fearing Yikang, Yilong had him killed and buried as a marquis. Ashamed, Yilong blamed his generals, demoted Yigong, and dismissed Xiao Bin and Wang Xuemo. In the tenth month Yilong sent Sun Gai with tribute.
54
[17]退 退
In Xing'an,[17] Xiao Sihua and Zhang Yong attacked Que'ao; the Wei armies routed them. Sihua sent Yuan Huzhi, General Who Establishes Might, to Liang Mountain to meet the army; Han Mao, Master of Writing, led cavalry to counterattack them, and Sihua withdrew to Migou. Yilong sent Zang Zhi toward Xiao-Shan and Liu Xiuzhi and Yang Wende through Ziwu Pass. Zhangsun Lan routed them; Xiuzhi barely escaped. Zhi, Yuanjing, and Andu reached Guancheng and were routed in turn.
55
便使
That year Shao and Prince Xiuming of Shixing had a witch curse Yilong; exposed, Yilong was devastated and neglected government. He debated deposing Shao and killing Xiuming, summoning Xu Chenzhi, Jiang Zhan, and Wang Sengchuo repeatedly. Sengchuo said: "Hesitation breeds chaos—cut ties by duty, not petty tenderness. Or be open as before—do not invite trouble and mockery for ages to come." Yilong said: "You speak boldly—but this demands careful thought. When I killed Yikang, people said I had no mercy left." Sengchuo added: "Posterity will say you could kill a brother but not a son." Yilong fell silent.
56
[18] 殿 殿 西 使 殿殿 駿 西 駿使 駿 駿 駿駿 使 駿 駿 西
Xiuming's mother Pan was favored; Yilong told her the plot. Pan begged mercy; refused, she told Xiuming. Xiuming warned Shao; knowing he would be deposed, Shao summoned Chen and Zhan Shu'er[18] and Zhang Chaozhi and more than two thousand armored men. He summoned Yuan Shu, Yin Zhongsu, Wang Zhengjian, and Xiao Bin. Shao said: "The court believes slander and will depose me. I am innocent and will not accept this. Tomorrow I enter the hall—you must follow." He bowed to each in turn. All were stunned into silence. Yuan Shu said at last: "Nothing like this in history—think again." Shao's face darkened; his men were told to obey. The next morning he killed Shu. At Wanchun Gate Shao told the guards: "I have imperial orders—help hurry the rear ranks." He forged an edict: "Lu Xiu rebels—hold the gate and march in to punish him." The soldiers believed him. Chaozhi and a dozen men entered the Cloud Dragon Gate and rushed to Hanzhang Hall with drawn swords. Yilong was speaking privately with Xu Chenzhi at night; no guards stood at the doors. Yilong shielded himself with a couch; blades struck and severed all five fingers. Chaozhi killed Yilong; Xu Chenzhi died in the melee. Shao sent men to seize and kill Jiang Zhan. Xiuming was in the Western Quarter and marched to the Central Hall. Shao had Xiuming's mother killed. That day Shao took the throne and issued an edict: "Xu and Jiang murdered the emperor; I marched too late—my heart is broken. The villains are punished, the realm secured. Let all under heaven be renewed—proclaim amnesty and change the thirtieth year of Yuanjia to the first year of Taichu." Shao’s younger brother Jun was then Inspector of Jiang province. Earlier, because the Man of Xiyang had rebelled, Yilong had ordered Shen Qingzhi, Infantry Commandant of the Eastern Palace; Liu Yuanjing, Governor of Xiangyang; and Zong Que, Consulting Officer of the Minister of Works’ Central Troops, all to campaign against them. Jun went out and halted at Wuzhou, where he beheaded Shao’s envoy at the army gate. Situ Yixuan, Zang Zhi, Inspector of Yong province, and Lu Shuang, Inspector of Si province, raised troops together. Jun made Shen Qingzhi, Liu Yuanjing, and Zong Que the vanguard. Jun’s Consulting Officer Yan Jun was put solely in charge of military planning. When Shao buried Yilong, he claimed illness and did not go out. When Zang Zhi’s son Dun fled, Shao gathered all the princes and great ministers and moved them inside the city, shifted the people of the south bank across the Huai, and drove nobles and commoners alike under compulsion, throwing Jianye into confusion. Jun and the others set out from Xunyang. When their proclamation arrived, Shao moved several of Jun’s sons to the Attendant-in-Ordinary office and Yixuan’s sons to the Great Granary building, guarding them with soldiers; he had his generals Lu Xiu, Wang Luohan, and others make preparations by water and land, while Xiuming and Xiao Bin served as his chief planners; and he burned and cleared away the boats in the Huai. Jun reached Nanzhou and halted at Piaozhou. He ordered Liu Yuanjing and the others to attack Shao; Shao’s forces collapsed, and he fled back to the palace. Yigong rode alone to Jun and urged him to take the throne. Shao was furious and sent Xiuming to the western offices to kill Yigong’s son Lang, Prince of Nanfeng, and twelve others.
57
駿 駿 駿[20] [21] 駿
Jun seized the throne at Xinting. They captured Shao and Xiuming, displayed their heads, exposed their corpses in the market, then cast them in the water; wives and concubines were executed with them. A popular rhyme ran: "Gazing at Jianye—the little river runs backward; first a son kills his father, then a brother kills his brother." In Xingguang, Jun changed the era to Xiaojian. Zhou Lang memorialized Jun:[20] "Among officials today, seven in ten households divide property while parents still live; among commoners, five in eight divide estates between father and son. At worst they ignore one another in danger and cold, and slander runs rife[21] beyond counting. The prohibitions should be made clear to change this custom." Customs were so corrupt, but Jun could not reform them.
58
使 使 便 駿 使 [23] 西 駿
Zang Zhi urged Prince Yixuan of Nan Commandery: "Great talent and merit that terrify the throne—few in history survive intact. Act before others, while you still can." Yixuan summoned Lu Shuang, Xu Yibao, and Lu Xiu to rise by autumn. Shuang, drunk, proclaimed Jianping, named Yixuan emperor, and sent for his brother Yu at Jianye. Jun learned from this that Shuang had rebelled. Alarmed, he wanted to send for Yixuan, but Prince Dan of Jingling argued firmly against it. He then sent Wang Xuemo, Left Guard General, to lead troops against Shuang, and Liu Yuanjing, Army Commander, and Shen Qingzhi, Pacifying Army General, against Yixuan. Zhi garrisoned Dalei, warned Yixuan, and submitted a memorial to punish Yuanjing. He sent troops to Zhi[22] and ordered Shuang to join him on the river. Xuemo camped at Liang Mountain. Yixuan marched to Xunyang and descended with Zhi. Zhu Xiuzhi, Inspector of Yong, refused to join Yixuan. Zang Zhi proposed, "If ten thousand men seize Southern Province, Liang Mountain will be cut off in the middle; ten thousand to hold Liang Mountain, and Xuemo will not dare move. I will sail the outer river straight to Stone City—that is the best plan." Yixuan nearly agreed; Liu Chenzhi said: "Zhi won't take the vanguard[23]—his intent is suspect. Strike Liang Mountain with full force first—that is the safe course." Yixuan held back. Yixuan sent Chenzhi to Zhi to attack the eastern rampart. Yixuan advanced from Wuhu to Liang Mountain and camped on the west bank. Xuemo held against Zhi; Yuan Huzhi[24] and Xue Andu routed them again. Yixuan's army collapsed; they burned their fleet with the wind. Yixuan shut his ships and wept, then fled. At Jiangling Zhu Chaomin welcomed him in state dress, but his men deserted; Chaomin handed him to the executioners. Zhu Xiuzhi killed him in prison.
59
駿 駿 駿西
In Tai'an year two Jun changed the era to Daming. At Xinting Jun built Zhongxing Temple; a monk of strange aspect appeared and all were startled. Asked his name, he said Huiming, from Tian'an Temple. He vanished; the temple was renamed Tian'an. By Tian'an Pengcheng had returned to Wei. In year four Yin Xiaozu raided Jizhou; Feng Wenwen drove him off and Pi Baozi struck him east of Qing. In year five Baozi raided to Gaoping and returned with great booty.
60
駿 駿 駿 輿 便 駿 退 駿
Jun feared Prince Dan of Jingling, Inspector of Southern Yan, who had won popular loyalty. Uneasy, Dan fortified his city and stockpiled grain and arms. Jun demoted Dan to marquis and sent Yuan Lang and Dai Mingbao against him. Dan's troops killed Yuan Lang. Dan wrote to Jun: "When the usurper rebelled I sided with you—that was loyalty. When the chancellor rebelled and Zang and Lu joined, all were afraid. You urged me to accept the throne; I refused until I could refuse no more. Who saved the realm—was it not mine? You heaped honors on me—Rapid Cavalry, Yang—in a month. You gave me Xu and Yan and saw me off in person. I hoped we would grow old together in peace. Yet you believed slander and sent men to attack me. I cannot accept unjust execution—I disobey. I now lead my troops to defend Xu and Yan. What fortune that we share royal blood? What crime makes us strangers? I will fight to the death; victory will come soon. The Right Army and Wuchang were killed though innocent. What fault brings this upon me? Your palace scandals are beyond counting. Facing the paper my grief chokes me; I cannot say all I mean." Jun sent Shen Qingzhi and personally encouraged the troops with gold and silk. Qingzhi was defeated; most of his men were wounded. Jun in fury meant to march himself. After a long siege he took the city, killed Dan, and sent his head. Dan's mother Yin and wife Xu killed themselves. Thousands in the city were killed; some were flogged first. Heads were heaped on the south bank of Stone City; on stormy nights laments were heard.
61
駿 駿 駿使 使 駿駿 駿使 駿 駿 滿[25] 駿
Jun violated his mother Lady Lu; the scandal spread widely. Yan Jun mocked him; Jun killed him in shame and rage. In Heping year one Jun sent Ming Sengao with tribute. In year two he sent Yin Xian with tribute. Jun's Inspector of Yong province, Xiumao, Prince of Hailing, plotted to eliminate Jun, but his staff officer Yin Xuanqing beheaded Xiumao. Gentry of mixed rank were demoted to soldiers; many fled and became bandits. Shen Huaiwen remonstrated in vain. In year three he sent Yan Linghu with tribute. Shen Huaiwen was executed for his remonstrances. When concubine Yin died Jun made her Noble Consort Xuan. Her funeral on Dragon Mountain had imperial honors. The funeral regalia exceeded anything seen before. After Yin's death Jun neglected government in grief. He drank at her spirit couch and could not leave. Such was his obsession. In year four he hunted at Bangkou and Manshan[25] with his mother, indulging lust. In year five the three Wu starved; kin sold each other; the dead were countless. That year Jun died.
62
駿 駿 駿 使 便
His son Ziye succeeded, vicious by nature. His dying mother summoned him; he refused: "The sickroom is full of ghosts." His mother cried: "I should have cut him from my womb!" In year six he changed the era to Yongguang. He made the eunuch Hua Yuan'er his constant companion. Dai Faxing restrained him; Yuan'er resented him. Hearing Faxing was the "true emperor," Ziye killed him. Yuanjing and Shibo plotted to depose Ziye; Qingzhi betrayed them. Ziye had Yigong dismembered and made "ghost-eye dumplings" of his eyes in honey. He killed Yuanjing, Shibo, and their kin. He changed the era to Jinghe. Ziye abandoned mourning and wore silks. He made Stone City the Changle Palace, the eastern city the Weiyang Palace, the northern residence the Jianzhang Palace, and the southern residence the Changyang Palace. Ziye hated Jun and wished to destroy his tomb. He opened the tomb of Jun's favorite Yin. He destroyed Xin'an Temple and meant to kill the nuns. He sent envoys to kill his Prince of Xin'an Ziluan; at death Ziluan sighed: "I only wish in the next life not to be born in a king's house again!" Prince Yichang of Yiyang, afraid, asked to return to court. Ziye said: "Yiyang rebels; I will kill him." Fasheng fled to Pengcheng. Ziye sent Shen Qingzhi against Yichang. When Fasheng reached Pengcheng, Yichang armed his men, but the commanderies would not follow him; knowing the affair could not succeed, he fled.
63
使 駿駿 駿
Ziye violated his aunt, called her Lady Xie, and made her Noble Consort and Lady. He added extraordinary honors: tiger guards with swords and halberds, escort cries when she went out and entered, and imperial carriages and dragon banners above those of the Noble Consort. She was Yilong's tenth daughter, the Princess of Xincai. He staged a funeral but kept her. Then his elder sister the Princess of Shanyin, greatly favored and indulged in lust, said to Ziye: "Though you and I differ in sex, we both spring from the late emperor. Your six palaces number in the hundreds while I have but one husband—how uneven; it can be like this." He gave her thirty lovers and princely rank. He made Chu Yuan serve the princess. In Yu's temple he mocked: "This one captured emperors alive." Of Yilong he said: "His son cut off his head." Of Jun he said: "He lusted without discrimination." Turning to attendants he said: "The fellow had a big flat nose—why not make it flat?" He had the painter flatten Jun's nose. Their debauchery is unmatched in records. Ziye also killed Shen Qingzhi and He Mai, Consulting Staff Officer of the Pacifying Army and the husband of the Princess of Xincai.
64
調
Yu, Prince of Xiangdong, Xiuren, Prince of Jian'an, and Xiuyou, Prince of Shanyang, were constantly under suspicion, and Ziye intended to kill them all. Xiuren jested with him and survived. Yu and Xiuyou were large men, so Ziye put them in cages and named them from the cages; because Yu was especially fat, he called him "Pig King." He brought a pregnant concubine to court hoping for an heir. He summoned Lady Jiang; she refused. Ziye said: "If you do not obey I will kill your three sons." She still refused; he flogged her and killed her sons. The shamans said, "Xiang province has the aura of a Son of Heaven"; Ziye planned to go south to suppress it, and before leaving he wanted to kill all his uncles. Yu plotted with Ruan Tianfu to depose him. Ziye went to Hualin to shoot at ghosts. Tianfu told Zhu You, Shou Jizhi, Jiang Chanzi, and others; Jizhi drew his blade and advanced, Chanzi behind him. Ziye shot at Jizhi and missed; Jizhi beheaded him.
65
西
After killing Ziye, Yu was frantic with uncertainty. Xiuren pressed Yu to take the throne. Shoeless, Yu ascended the Western Hall in imperial regalia, summoned the ministers, and issued orders on every matter. He killed Zishang and the Princess of Shanyin, whom Ziye had favored. In the twelfth month he seized the throne and proclaimed Taishi.
66
使 [26][27] 殿 [28]便輿 駿 駿[29]輿 [30]駿
Ziye had warned his brother Zixun: "I hear you plotted with He Mai to depose me—do you match Xiaowu in strength? I will soon send you medicine." Deng Wan, Zixun's Chief Clerk, and Tao Liang, Recording Officer and Staff Officer, raised troops. They sent their partisan Yu Boqi out to encamp at Dalei,[26] and Sun Chongzhi, Administrator of Badong, reached Pingshi;[27] he and Tao Liang together commanded the vanguard. Yu, unaware of the revolt, promoted Zixun to General of Chariots and Cavalry. At Xunyang Wan threw down the commission: "Open the main gate—why the side entrance!" He raised troops with Tao Liang and set up headquarters at Sanger. [28] Yuan Yi urged Zixun to ascend; Wan installed him at Jiangzhou as emperor, era Yijia. Zixun appointed Yuan Yi, Wan, and Zhang Yue; provinces received new ranks. Yu sent Wang Xuemo, Shen Youzhi, and Liu Ling against him. Hearing of rebellion, Yu panicked until Xiuren offered to lead the vanguard. Youzhi reached Jiangzhou and killed Zixun. Fearing Zifang and his brothers, Yu and Xiuren killed Jun's kin and framed the princes. He killed Jun's sons Zisui, Zifang, Zixu,[29], Ziren, Zizhen, Ziyuan, Zimeng, Zichan, Ziyu, Ziqi, Ziqi, Ziyue, and Zidun. [30] Of Jun's twenty-eight sons, all were now dead—kin slaughter at its worst.
67
西 [31]西
Yu's Administrator of Southern Xincai, Chang Zhenqi, submitted a petition requesting surrender; Xianzu ordered Yuan Shi, Duke of Xihe, and Zhang Qiongqi, Marquis of Jingzhao, to lead troops to aid him. In Huangxing year one Yu sent Bei Si and Cui Xiaobai with tribute. Yu had sent Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi to fetch Xue Andu. Andu requested surrender. Xianzu sent Wei Yuan and Kong Bogong with twenty thousand cavalry. Yong and his forces. In repeated battles, Song dead by blade and frost were beyond counting. [31] Bi Zhongjing surrendered; Xu, Yan, Huai west, Qing, and Qi followed. Youzhi and Liu Mi raided Pengcheng; Shen Zuan held Wuyan. Andu held several commanderies. Youzhi was defeated at Xiapi and fled. Earlier, Shen Wenxiu, Inspector of Qing, and Cui Daogu, Inspector of Ji, had both requested submission; an edict ordered Murong Baiyao, General Who Campaigns South, to lead troops to aid them. They rebelled and rejoined Yu. Baiyao besieged them. In year two he took Licheng and captured Daogu. Yu sent Li Feng with tribute. Wenjing sailed to relieve Qing; Baiyao took Buqi. He soon took Dongyang. Yu sent Wang Xijuan with tribute. In month six of year four Yu sent Liu Hang with tribute.
68
宿
In the first year of Yanxing, Yu hunted pheasants at Yanshan; Xiuyou followed behind and became separated from his attendants. Yu sent Shou Jizhi with stalwarts in pursuit of Xiuyou, kicked him from his horse, pulled him down and killed him, then proclaimed loudly: "The Rapid Cavalry fell from his horse and died." He poisoned Xiuren at the Secretariat quarters.
69
殿
Under Yu the people suffered while palaces were rebuilt. Soldiers were promoted without merit. Tianfu and favorites held unchecked power. Tianfu's men were marketplace flatterers in high office. Discipline collapsed and the people groaned. He recruited private troops. Ranks collapsed; many wished to flee north.
70
祿
Yu appointed Yuan Shutong, his Inspector of Si province, as Inspector of Yi province. Shutong extorted heavily; the goods he brought back from Shu were worth more than several thousand in gold. Knowing Yu loved wealth, he first sent half his household property, but Yu still thought it too little. Shutong was imprisoned until he paid more. He sent all his wealth and was released. Shutong was called the "ransom inspector." He entertained himself with naked women in court. Lady Wang hid her face in silence. Yu raged: "Why will you not look!" Wang said: "This is no amusement for kin to share. Their joy is not this." Yu drove her out. In his later years Yu became fond of ghosts and spirits and observed many taboos. In speech and documents, hundreds or thousands of words suggesting calamity, defeat, death, mourning, or anything similar had to be avoided; anyone who violated this was punished or killed. He changed the written form of the word 騧 by writing 瓜 beside the horse radical, because 騧 resembled the character 禍, "calamity." He joked he lent the Southern Park for three hundred years. Such were his ways. He feared the name Xuanyang Gate. Seeing his mother's corpse enraged him; dozens were executed. None felt safe. He sacrificed to earth gods when moving furniture. He dismembered attendants who displeased him. War and empty treasuries beggared officials. He ordered ninety copies of every luxury object. The people were crushed.
71
He killed Jizhi for his boldness. He degraded Xiuren and Xiuyou's families. Xiuyou's mother and wife were executed. He sent Tian Lian and Zu De with tribute. He killed Prince Xiuruo of Baling. He changed the era to Taiyu. He sent Tian Lian and Liu Huixiu with tribute. He killed Wang Jingwen fearing his clan.
72
Yu died; his son Yu seized power as Yuanhui. Yu sent envoys with tribute.
73
[33] 殿 耀
Prince Xiufan of Guiyang rebelled at Xunyang;[33] Xiao Daocheng marched to Xinting. Zhang Gou'er killed Xiufan; his head was lost in transit. Xiufan's partisans then falsely said: "Your Highness is still at Xinting." People rushed to welcome the false report. Rebels raided Xinting and freed prisoners. Mobs burned the Eastern Palace gate. Chen Xianda defeated Quan Jingyuan. He pacified the gates and killed Moluan. Yu sent Ming Tanhui and Jiang Shantu with tribute. In year five he sent Li Zu and Yu Changyao with tribute.
74
殿
Jingsu rebelled at Jingkou; Daocheng's generals killed him.
75
使 便 便 耀殿 殿 殿
He tried to poison his mother. Attendants stopped him: "If you do this, Your Majesty should observe mourning and could no longer go out in mischief." Yu said: "Your words make great sense." He stopped. Yu was known as Li's son and called himself General Li. Yu's General of the Direct Palace Guard Shen Bozong, Infantry Commandant Zhu You, Left Chief Clerk to the Minister of Education Shen Bo, and others plotted to depose Yu. Yu personally led the Feathered Forest troops in a surprise attack, wielded spear and javelin himself, and killed Bo and the others with his own hands; even the infants of their households were all hacked apart. Yu rampaged day and night with armed thugs, killing and robbing like ghosts. Jianye barred its gates in terror. He tortured dozens daily with hammers and blades. He needed bloodshed to be happy. He rode donkey carts with silver fittings through the palace. He wore short trousers and swords. He slept with camp women and gave them gifts. He drank in taverns, sang, and slaughtered stolen livestock. All feared him. He slept drunk in a felt tent. Yufu and Wannian beheaded him in his sleep. Fengbo sent the head to Daocheng through Jingze. Daocheng led several dozen attendants, claimed Yu was returning, opened Chengming Gate, entered the hall, and announced the Empress Dowager's order deposing Yu as Prince of Cangwu and installing Yu's younger brother Zhun, Prince of Ancheng and Inspector of Yang.
76
Yu stole pregnant concubines and killed the mothers of the sons he raised. Zhun was Xiufan's son.
77
Shen Youzhi rebelled against Daocheng. Zhun changed the era to Shengming. He sent envoys with tribute and mourning notice. Yuan Can and others plotted against Daocheng with Youzhi as ally. Wang Xun exposed the plot; all were killed. Zhun sent He Xian and Kong Yuan with tribute. In year three month one he sent Yin Lingding and Gou Zhaoxian. Zhun abdicated to Daocheng. Daocheng seized power; Zhun died soon after as Prince of Ruyin.
78
The historian judges: Xuan, Feng, and Liu were rebels beyond measure—perhaps the nature of southern lords. 〈Doubt〉 Such cruelty and folly—was it the nature of the southern realms?
79
Collation notes
80
西西 西
Collation: "Mai" should be "Kui" per Jin shu 84. 〈West River mouth transposed〉" Jin shu 84 Yang Quanqi biography and 99 Huan Xuan biography also mention Zhongkan's younger cousin Kui; here "Mai" is likely a corruption of "Kui."
81
"Recently collected": all editions corrupt "recently" to "north," which is unintelligible; it is now corrected according to Jin shu 84, Yang Quanqi's biography, and Zizhi tongjian 111. 〈3503 pages〉 Corrected.
82
Dezong made Xuan Bearer of the Staff, Commander-in-Chief of the eight provinces Jing, Si, Yong, Qin, Liang, Yi, Ning, and Jiang, and of the military affairs of Yang, Yu, and eight commanderies. Jin shu 99, Huan Xuan's biography, says: "He was advanced to command eight provinces and the eight commanderies of Yang and Yu." Yang and Yu were not wholly under his command, only their eight subordinate commanderies; the word "and" after Yang and Yu is therefore likely interpolated. "Xuan had Huan Qian and He Danzhi encamp at the Eastern Gate."
83
使 西
Below in Liu Yu's biography and Jin shu Huan Xuan biography "Eastern Gate" is "Eastern Mound"; Song shu 1 Emperor Wu annals has "Eastern Mound mouth." Zizhi tongjian 113 〈3563 pages〉 also has "Eastern Mound"; Hu note: "Eastern Mound is northeast of Fuzhou Mountain." At that time Huan and He with Bian Fanzhi combined twenty thousand to resist Liu Yu; Bian was west of Fuzhou Mountain, Huan and He east—hence "hosts combined twenty thousand." "Eastern Gate" should be "Eastern Mound mouth." Here "Eastern Gate" should be Eastern Mound mouth, corrupted from mention of Xuan leaving the Southern Gate.
84
西 西西西西
Zhen made himself Commander-in-Chief of Eight Provinces, Pacifying Army General, Inspector of Jing. Bai na edition leaves blank for "Pacifying Army"; southern editions have "Pacifying Army"; Jin shu 74 Huan Yi appendix Huan Zhen biography has "Pacifying West." For the military title of an Inspector of Jing, men of higher seniority and standing usually additionally held "General Who Pacifies the West" and were later advanced to "General Who Campaigns West." Since Jing was also called Western Province, the text likely should read "General Who Pacifies the West." Or the original "Pacifying" was intact and later someone supplied "Army." But without other supporting evidence, the text here provisionally follows the southern edition.
85
Gradually promoted to Guard Central Army General. Beishi 93 Feng Ba biography has "Guard Central General." Per this book 95 Murong Chui appendix Murong Xi biography and Jin shu 125 Feng Ba annals: "Central Guard General." "Only Jin shu 124 Murong Xi annals has Guard Central General, matching Beishi Feng Ba; yet Imperial Readings 125 Sixteen Kingdoms Spring and Autumn Later Yan Records Murong Xi still has Central Guard General." Jin shu 20 Offices Annals: "Wei Wendi established Central Guard General; Jin Wudi split into Left and Right Guard—Later Yan kept all three." Here it should be Central Guard General; first transposed to Guard Central, then "General" corrupted to "Colonel."
86
Missing "granted" before silk.
87
Right Vice Director Liu Muzhi as Left Vice Director, Army Secretary of Guard and Central Army headquarters. All editions "Right" as "Left." Song shu 2, Basic Annals of Emperor Wu, says that in the eighth month of Yixi 12: "Right Vice Director Liu Muzhi was made Left Vice Director, overseeing the headquarters of the Supervisor of the Army and Central Army." Song shu 42 agrees. This biography follows Song shu; "Left" is clearly wrong—corrected here. "Guard Army headquarters" refers to Yifu's "oversee Grand Marshal headquarters affairs"; "oversee" likely lost "oversee Guard."
88
殿 使 使殿 殿
Yu sent his Central Army General Shen Fan, Suo Jisun, and others on tribute. Song shu 95 Northern Wei biography has "Palace" for "Central Army." Rank argument. Palace General usage. Here "Central Army" must be corruption of "Palace."
89
西西西
General Who Pacifies the West Gu Bi. All editions transpose to "Pacifies West" as "West Pacifies"—now corrected per this book 28 Gu Bi biography.
90
Prince of Yongchang Ren defeated them. All editions "Ren" as "Wei"—now per this book 4b Emperor Shizu Taiping Zhenjun 11 month 2 and 17 Prince Yongchang Wang Jian appendix Ren biography.
91
Right General, Inspector of Yu province, Prince Shuo of Nanping: according to Song shu, juan 95, which preserves the Song proclamation; this account of the Song generals’ advance is drawn entirely from that proclamation. Proclamation says Shuo "leads all Jing-He forces, advancing on parallel tracks." Here under "Shuo" the text breaks off; read with what follows it seems Shuo and Yigong jointly commanded—text likely lost after "Shuo." Sentence break after "Shuo."
92
Collation: "three-five" levy was corrupted to "three Wu"; corrected. Song shu 95: "levy three-five militia of Southern Yan"—only Southern Yan named; text below likely lost. Zizhi tongjian 125 〈3947 pages〉 has "levy three-five militia of Qing, Ji, Xu, Yu, two Yan, six provinces"—this biography also lost Xu. Hu note: "Three-five means one in three households, two in five." The three-five levy was an old Jin institution; Jin shu 110, Murong Jun's annals, calls it "three-five soldier allocation," and this book's Zhengguang fifth-year eighth-month edict in Emperor Suzong's annals also says "three-five selection." Here "Wu" is a corruption of "five," and is now corrected.
93
滿滿
Yang, Southern Xu, Yan, Jiang wealthy households one quarter. Song shu 95: "households with assets over fifty million, monks over twenty million, all quarter redeemed." Here under "wealthy households" the asset clauses were lost; read with above it seems levying a quarter of wealthy households as soldiers.
94
Collation: "tomb" (zhong) was corrupted to "house" (jia); follow the bureau edition. Song shu 95 has "tomb." This book 19c Ren Chengzi appendix Cheng biography as Yang Inspector "on taking office sealed Sun Shu'ao's tomb." Beiqi shu 32 Wang Lin biography Zhu Yang letter to Xu Ling: "When Sun Shu died, still mulberry at Shao Dam." Wei’s Yang province was administered from Shouchun, and Shao Dam lay south of Shouchun. Tomb tradition. Follow bureau edition.
95
Chen Shu'er and Zhan Shu'er. All editions lack second "Shu'er" under Zhan; Song shu 99 Ferocity biography has it; below Zhan Shu'er appears twice with Chen—Zhan lost "Shu'er" by assimilation to Chen Shu'er. This biography is based on the Song shu and has been supplemented from that source.
96
Encamped at Piao Isle. Song shu 6 Emperor Xiaowu annals "Piao" as "Li." Jin shu 84 Liu Laozhi biography says Laozhi "led Northern Mansion civil and military to encamp at Lie Isle." Zizhi tongjian 112 〈3537 pages〉 The character read lie is written as li in some texts. Hu’s commentary notes that lie and li are close in sound, which is why the place was also called Li prefecture. Piao to Li. This means the character "Piao" here should be a corruption of "Li." "But Hu also cites Huan Chong leaving Jiankang with Xie An seeing him off to Li Isle—Jin shu commercial edition 74 Huan Chong biography has Piao Isle—Jin shu also varies; unchanged." It is known that Jin shu also has a variant reading for this character; the text is left unchanged here.
97
駿
Central Army headquarters Recording Officer Zhou Lang memorialized Jun. All editions "Lang" as "Yin." "Words in Song shu 82 Zhou Lang biography; styled Yili, not called Yin." "Yin" corrupted—corrected.
98
Also slander and harm between them. Song shu 82: "jealousy, slander, and harm between them." Collation: the character for "slander" is missing below "jealousy" and should be restored per Song shu 82.
99
Collation: the subject "Yixuan" is probably lost before the clause about sending troops to Zhi.
100
Collation: Song shu 74 lacks "not," but the narrative context may still require it. Collation: since Zhi explicitly sought a river assault on Stone City, "does not seek the vanguard" conflicts with his own plan. Collation: the negative "not" is probably an interpolation.
101
駿
Jun's general Yuan Huzhi. All editions lack "Yuan" before Huzhi. Above never named Yuan Huzhi—cannot say "Huzhi" alone; likely lost text—now supplemented per Song shu 68 Prince of Nan Commandery Yixuan biography.
102
滿駿 滿 駿 滿
He also toured Manshan in Huxian. Song shu 6, Basic Annals of Emperor Xiaowu, says that on the guisi day of the tenth month of Daming 7 Liu Jun "hunted at Guniu"; on the yiyou day of the eleventh month he "interrogated prisoners of Liyang, Yongshi, and Danyang"; on the guisi day he "drilled the navy at Liang Mountain"; in the twelfth month he reached Liyang on the bingwu day and on the jiwei day "set double gates at Bowang and Liang Mountain." No such place as "Huxian Manshan" on that route. The journey was actually in Southern Yuzhou; the Basic Annals of Emperor Xiaowu record under the jiaxu day of the ninth month of Daming 5: "The seat of Southern Yuzhou was moved from Huainan to Huxian." Huxian is Guniu. Here "Huxian" lost "Yu" above—should be "Yu Huxian." "Manshan" is corruption of "Liang Mountain." Liang Mountain at Liyang 〈modern He county, Anhui〉 opposite Huxian 〈modern Dangtu, Anhui〉 Wei Shou misread the geography.
103
Sent his partisan Yu Boqi to encamp at Dalei. All editions "Dalei" as "great lightning"; Song shu 84 Deng Wan biography has "Dalei." Dalei appears often in records—"lightning" is clearly wrong; corrected.
104
Administrator of Badong Sun Chongzhi reached Pingshi. Song shu 80 Prince of Jin'an Zixun biography and 84 Deng Wan biography both have "Chong" not "Zhong." "Zhong" is likely shape-corruption.
105
Set up headquarters at Sanger. Song shu Deng Wan biography "er" as "wei"; Zizhi tongjian 130 〈4092 pages〉 same as Song shu; Hu note: "Sangwei is the tail of Sangluo Isle." Likely "er" corrupted.
106
Prince of Linhai Zixu. All editions "Xu" as "Zhen." Song shu 6 Xiaowu annals, 8 Mingdi annals, 80 Fourteen Sons of Xiaowu all have "Zixu." "Zhen" is shape-corruption—corrected.
107
駿
Ziqi, Ziqi, Ziyue, Zidun. Song shu 80 sequence "Ziqi" as "Ziqu"; no "Zidun." Collation: "Zidun" is probably a duplicate of "Zixu" with one character corrupted.
108
Collation: the account is documented in the Wei Yuan and Zhang Yong biographies. "Heads taken and frozen drowned" refers to Zhang Yong's Song army. Collation: a clause break is needed after "Yong and others" to avoid misreading who suffered the losses. Collation: punctuate with a new sentence after "Yong and others."
109
駿 使使使
Collation: this envoy notice concerns the ranks used under Emperor Xiaowu. 〈Song Emperor Xiaowu〉 Collation: from Emperor Xiaowu onward Song envoys to Wei were normally led by a Regular Attendant with a Regular Attendant as deputy, not two Extraordinary Attendants. Collation: if both envoys held the same rank, repeating both titles would be redundant. Upper "Extraordinary Attendant" should be "Regular Attendant" corruption.
110
Collation: Song shu shows Xiufan already at Xunyang as Jiang inspector, so "fled to Xunyang" is questionable. Collation: "fled" is probably a corruption of the preposition "at."
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →