1
資治通鑑第120卷。 【宋紀二】起閼逢困敦,盡強圉單閼,凡四年。。 太祖文皇帝上之上元嘉元年(甲子,公元四二四年)。 春,正月,魏改元始光。。 丙寅,魏安定殤王彌卒。。 營陽王居喪無禮,好與左右狎暱,遊戲無度。 特進致仕范泰上封事曰:「伏聞陛下時在後園,頗習武備,鼓鞞在宮,聲聞於外。 黷武掖庭之內,喧嘩省闥之間,非徒不足以威四夷,只生遠近之怪。 陛下踐祚,委政宰臣,實用高宗諒暗之美; 而更親狎小人,懼非社稷至計,經世之道也。」 不聽。 泰,寧之子也。。 南豫州刺史廬陵王義真,警悟愛文義,而性輕易,與太子左衛率謝靈運、員外常侍顏延之、慧琳道人情好款密。 嘗云:「得志之日,以靈運、延之為宰相,慧琳為西豫州都督。」 靈運,玄之孫也,性褊傲,不遵法度,朝廷但以文義處之,不以為有實用。 靈運自謂才能宜參權要,常懷憤邑。 延之,含之曾孫也,嗜酒放縱。 徐羨之等惡義真與靈運等游,義真故吏范晏從容戒之,義真曰:「靈運空疏,延之隘薄,魏文帝所謂『古今文人類不護細行』者也; 但性情所得,未能忘言於悟賞耳。」 於是羨之等以為運、延之構扇異同,非毀執政,出靈運為永嘉太守,延之為始安太守。。 義真至歷陽,多所求索,執政每裁量不盡與。 義真深怨之,數有不平之言,又表求還都。 咨議參軍廬江何尚之屢諫,不聽。 時羨之等已密謀廢帝,而次立者應在義眞; 乃因義眞與帝有隙,先奏列其罪惡,廢為庶人,徙新安郡。 前吉陽令堂邑張約之上疏曰:「廬陵王少蒙先皇優慈之遇,長受陛下睦受之恩,故在心必言,所懷必亮,容犯臣子之道,致招驕瓷之愆。 至於天恣夙成,實有卓然之美,宜在容養,靈善掩瑕,訓盡議方,進退以漸。 今猥加剝辱,幽徙遠郡,上傷陛下常棣之篤,下令遠近恇然失圖。 臣伏思大宋開基造次,根條未繁,宜廣樹籓戚,敦睦以道。 人誰無過,貴能自新; 以武皇之愛子,陛下之懿弟,豈可以其一眚,長致淪棄哉!」 書奏,以約之為梁州府參軍,尋殺之。。 夏,四月,甲辰,魏主東巡大寧。。 秦王熾磐遣鎮南將軍吉毘等帥步騎一萬,南伐白苟、車孚、崔提、旁為四國,皆降之。。 徐羨之等以南兗州刺史檀道濟先朝舊將,威服殿省,且有兵眾,乃召道濟及江州刺史王弘入朝; 五月,皆至建康,廢立之謀告之。。 甲申,謝晦以領軍府屋敗,悉令家人出外,聚將士於府內; 又使中書舍人邢安泰、潘盛為內應。 夜,邀檀道濟同宿,晦悚動不得眠,道濟就寢便熟,晦以此服之。。 時帝於華林園為列肆,親自沽賣,以與左右引船為樂,夕,游天淵池,即龍舟而寢。 乙酉詰旦,道濟引兵居前,羨之等繼其後,入自雲龍門; 安泰等先誡宿衛,莫有御者。 帝未興,軍士進殺二侍者,傷帝指,扶出東閣,收璽綬,群臣拜辭,衛送故太子宮。。 侍中程道惠勸羨之等立皇弟南豫州刺史義恭。 羨之等以宜都王義隆素有令望,又多符瑞,乃稱皇太后令,數帝過惡,廢為營陽王,以宜都王辰承大統,赦死罪以下。 又稱皇大後令,奉還璽綬; 並廢皇后為營陽王妃,遷營陽王於吳。 使檀道濟入守朝堂。 王至吳,止金昌亭; 六月,癸丑,羨之等使邢安泰就弒之。 王多力,突走出昌門,追者以門關踣而弒之。。 裴子野論曰:古者人君養子,能言而師授之辭,能行而傅相之禮。 宋之教誨,雅異於斯,居中則任僕妾,處外則近趨走。 太子、皇子,有帥,有侍,是二職者,皆台皁也。 制其行止,授其法則,導達臧否,罔弗由之; 言不及於禮義,識不達於今古,謹敕者能勸之以吝嗇,狂愚者或誘之以凶慝。 雖有師傅,多以耆艾大夫為之; 雖有友及文學,多以膏粱年少為之; 具位而已,亦弗與游。 幼王臨州,長史行事; 宣傳教命,又有典簽; 往往專恣,竊弄威權,是以本枝雖茂而端良甚寡。 嗣君沖幼,世繼奸回,雖惡物丑類,天然自出,然習則生常,其流遠矣。 降及太宗,舉天下而棄之,亦暱比之為也。 嗚呼! 有國有家,其鑒之矣!。 傅亮帥行台百官奉法駕迎宜都王於江陵。 祠部尚書蔡廓至尋陽,遇疾不堪前; 亮與之別。 廓曰:「營陽在吳,宜厚加供奉; 一旦不幸,卿諸人有弒主之名,欲立於世,將可得邪!」 時亮已與羨之議害營陽王,乃馳信止之,不及。 羨之大怒曰:「與人共計議,如何旋背即賣惡於人邪?」 羨之等以遣使者殺前廬陵王義真於新安。。 羨之以荊州地重,恐宜都王至,或別用人,乃亟以錄命除領軍將軍謝晦行都督荊、湘等七州諸軍事、荊州刺史,欲令居外為援,精兵舊將,悉以配之。。 秋,七月,行台至江陵,立行門於城南,題曰「大司馬門」。 傅亮帥百僚詣門上表,進璽紱,儀物甚盛,宜都王時年十八,下教曰:「猥以不德,廖降大命,顧己兢悸,何以克堪! 輒當暫歸朝廷,展哀陵寢,並與賢彥申寫所懷。 望體其心,勿為辭費。 府州佐史並稱臣,請題榜諸門,一依宮省; 王皆不許。 教州、府、國綱紀宥所統內見刑,原逋責。。 諸將佐聞營陽、廬陵王死,皆以為疑,勸王不可東下。 司馬王華曰:「先帝有大功於天下,四海所服; 雖嗣主不綱,人望未改。 徐羨之中才寒士,傅亮布衣諸生,非有晉宣帝、王大將軍之心明矣; 受寄崇重,未容遽敢背德。 畏廬陵嚴斷,將來必不自容; 以殿下寬睿慈仁,遠近所知,且越次奉迎,冀以見德; 悠悠之論,殆必不然。 又,羨之等五人,同功並位,孰肯相讓! 就懷不軌,勢必不行。 廢主若存,慮其將來受禍,致此殺害; 蓋由貪生過深,寧敢一朝頓懷逆志! 不過欲握權自固,以少主仰待耳。 殿下但當長驅六轡,以副天人之心。」 王曰:「卿復欲為宋昌邪!」 長史王曇首、南蠻校尉到彥之皆勸王行,曇首仍陳天人符應。 王乃曰:」諸公受遺,不容背義。 且勞臣舊將,內外充滿,今兵力又足以制物,夫何所疑! 乃命王華總後任,留鎮荊州。 王欲使到彥之將兵前驅,彥之曰:「了彼不反,便應朝服順流; 若使有虞,此師既不足恃,更開嫌隙之端,非所以副遠邇之望也。」 會雍州刺史褚叔度卒,乃遣彥之權鎮襄陽。。 甲戌,王發江陵,引見傅亮,號泣,哀動左右。 既而問義真及少帝薨廢本末,悲哭嗚咽,侍側都莫能仰視。 亮流汗沾背,不能對; 乃布腹心於到彥之、王華等,深自結納。 王以府州文武嚴兵自衛,台所遣百官眾力不得近部伍。 中兵參軍朱容子抱刀處王所乘舟戶外,不解帶者累旬。 魏主還宮。。 秦王熾磐遣太子暮末帥征北將軍木弈乾等步騎三萬,出貂渠谷,攻河西白草嶺、臨松郡,皆破之,徙民二萬餘口而還。。 八月,丙申,宜都王至建康,群臣迎拜於新亭。 徐羨之問傅亮曰:「王可方誰?」 亮曰:「晉文、景以上人。」 羨之曰:「必能明我赤心。」 亮曰:「不然。」。 丁酉,王謁初寧陵,還,止中堂。 百官奉璽綬,王辭讓數四,乃受之,即皇帝位於中堂。 備法駕入宮,御太極前殿,大赦,改元,文武賜位二等。。 戊戌,謁太廟。 詔復廬陵王先封,迎其柩及孫修華、謝妃還建康。。 庚子,以行荊州刺史謝晦為真。 晦將行,與蔡廓別,屏人問曰:「吾其免乎?」 廓曰:「卿受先帝顧命,任以社稷,廢昏立明,義無不可。 但殺人二兄而以之北面,挾震主之威,據上流之重,以古推今,自免為難。」 晦始懼不得去,既發,顧望石頭城,喜曰:「今得脫矣!」。 癸卯,徐羨之進位司徒,王弘進位司空,傅亮加開府儀同三司,謝晦進號衛將軍,檀道濟進號征北將軍。。 有司奏車駕依故事臨華林園聽訟。 詔曰:「政刑多所未悉; 可如先者,二公推訊。」。 帝以王曇首、王華為侍中,曇首領右衛將軍。 華領驍騎將軍,朱容子為右軍將軍。。 甲辰,追尊帝母胡婕妤曰章皇后。 封皇弟義恭為江夏王,義宣為竟陵王,義季為衡陽王; 仍以義宣為左將軍,鎮石頭。。 徐羨之等欲即以到彥之為雍州,帝不許; 征彥之為中領軍,委以戎政。 彥之自襄陽南下,謝晦已至鎮,慮彥之不過己。 彥之至楊口,步往江陵,深布誠款,晦亦厚自結納; 彥之留馬及利劍、名刀以與晦,晦由此大安。。 柔然紇升蓋可汗聞魏太宗殂,將六萬騎入雲中,殺掠吏民,攻拔盛樂宮。 魏世祖自將輕騎討之,三日二夜至雲中。 紇升蓋引騎圍魏主五十餘重,騎逼馬首,相次如堵。 將士大懼,魏主顏色自若,眾情乃安。 紇升蓋以弟子於陟斤為大將,魏人射殺之; 紇升蓋懼,遁去。 尚書令劉絜言於魏主曰:「大檀自恃其眾,必將復來,請俟收田畢,大發兵為二道,東西並進以討之。」 魏主然之。。 九月,丙子,立妃袁氏為皇后; 耽之曾孫也。。 冬,十月,吐谷渾威王阿柴卒。 阿柴有子二十人,疾病,召諸子弟謂之曰:「先公車騎,以大業之故,捨其子拾虔而授孤; 孤敢私於緯代而忘先君之志乎! 我死,汝曹當奉慕瑰為主。」 緯代者,阿柴之長子; 慕瑰者,阿柴之母弟、叔父烏紇提之子也。 阿柴又命諸子各獻一箭,取一箭授其弟慕利延使折之,慕利延折之; 又取十九箭使折之,慕利延不能折。 阿柴乃諭之曰:「汝曹知之乎? 孤則易折,眾則難摧。 汝曹當戮力一心,然後可以保國寧家。」 言終而卒。。 慕瑰亦有才略,撫納秦、涼失業之民及氐、羌雜種至五六百落,部眾轉盛。。 十二月,魏主命安集將軍長孫翰、安北將軍尉眷北擊柔然,魏主自將屯柞山。 柔然北遁,諸軍追之,大獲而還。 翰,肥之子也。。 詔拜營陽王母張氏為營陽太妃。。 林邑王范陽邁寇日南、九德諸郡。。 宕昌王梁彌匆遣子彌黃入見於魏。 宕昌,羌之別種也。 羌地東接中國,西通西域,長數千里,各有酋帥,部落分地,不相統攝; 而宕昌最強,有民二萬餘落,諸種畏之。。 夏主將廢太子瑰而立少子酒泉公倫。 瑰聞之,將兵七萬北伐倫。 倫將騎三萬拒之,戰於高平,倫敗死。 倫兄太原公昌將騎一萬襲瑰,殺之,並其眾八萬五千,歸於統萬。 夏主大悅,立昌為太子。 夏主好自矜大,名其四門:東曰招魏,南曰朝宋,西曰服涼,北曰平朔。。 太祖文皇帝上之上元嘉二年(乙丑,公元四二五年)。 春,正月,徐羨之、傅亮上表歸政,表三上,帝乃許之。 丙寅,始親萬機。 羨之仍遜位還第,徐佩之、程道惠及吳興太守王韶之等並謂非宜,敦勸甚苦,乃復奉詔視事。。 辛未,帝祀南郊,大赦。。 己卯,魏主還平城。。 二月,燕有女子化為男。 燕主以問群臣,沿書左丞傅權對曰:「西漢之末,雌雞化為雄,猶有王莽之禍。 況今女化為男,臣將為君之兆也。」。 三月,丙寅,魏主尊保母竇氏為保太后。 密後之殂也,世祖尚幼,太宗以竇氏慈良,有操行,使保養之。 竇氏撫視有恩,訓導有禮,世神德之,故加以尊號,奉養不異所在。。 丁巳,魏以長孫嵩為太尉,長孫翰為司徒,奚斤為司空。。 夏,四月,秦王熾磐遣平遠將軍叱盧犍等,襲河西鎮南將軍沮渠白蹄於臨松,擒之,徙其民五千餘戶於枹罕。。 魏主遣龍驤將軍步堆等來聘,始復通好。。 六月,武都惠文王楊盛卒。 初,盛聞晉亡,不改義熙年號,謂世子玄曰:「吾老矣,當終為晉臣,汝善事宋帝。」 及盛卒,玄自稱都督隴右諸軍事、征西大將軍、開府儀同三司、秦州刺史、武都王,遣使來告喪,始用元喜年號。。 秋,七月,秦王熾磐鎮南將軍吉毘等南擊黑水羌酋丘擔,大破之。。 八月,夏武烈帝殂,葬嘉平陵,廟號世祖; 太子昌即皇帝位。 大赦,改元承光。。 王弘自以始不預定策,不受司空; 表讓彌年,乃許之。 乙酉,以弘為車騎大將軍、開府儀同三司。。 冬,十月,丘擔以其眾降秦,秦以擔為歸善將軍; 拜折衝將軍乞伏信帝為平羌校尉以鎮之。。 癸卯,魏主大舉伐柔然,五道並進。 長孫翰等從東道出黑漠,廷尉卿長孫道生等出白、黑二漠之間,魏主從中道,東平公娥清出栗園,奚斤等從西道,出爾寒山。 諸軍至漠南,捨輜重,輕騎,繼十五日糧,度漠擊之。 柔然部落大驚,絕跡北走。。 十一月,以武都世子玄為北秦州刺史、武都王。。 初,會稽孔寧子為帝鎮西咨議參軍,及即位,以寧子為步兵校尉; 與侍中王華並有富貴之願,疾徐羨之、傅亮專權,日夜構之於帝。 會謝晦二女當適彭城王義康、新野侯義賓,遣其妻曹氏及長子世休送女至建康。 帝欲誅羨之、亮,並發兵討晦,聲言當伐魏,取河南,又言拜京陵,治行裝艦。 亮與晦書曰:「薄伐河朔,事猶未已,朝野之慮,憂懼者多。」 又言:「朝士多諫北征,上當遣外監萬幼宗往相咨訪。」 時朝廷處分異常,其謀頗洩。。 太祖文皇帝上之上元嘉三年(丙寅,公元四二六年)。 春,正月,謝晦弟黃門侍郎㬭馳使告晦,晦猶謂不然,以傅亮書示咨議參軍何承天曰; 「計幼宗一二日必至。 傅公慮我好事,故先遣此書。」 承天曰:「外間所聞,鹹謂西討已定,幼宗豈有上理!」 晦尚謂虛妄,使承天豫立答詔啟草,言伐虜宜須明年。 江夏內史程道惠得尋陽人書,言「朝廷將有大處分,其事已審」,使其輔國府中兵參軍樂冏封以示晦。 晦問承天曰:「若果爾,卿令我雲何?」 對曰:「蒙將軍殊顧,常思報德。 事變至矣,何敢隱情! 然明日戒嚴,動用軍法,區區所懷,懼不得盡。」 晦懼曰:「卿豈欲我自裁邪?」 承天曰:「尚未至此。 以王者之重,舉天下以攻一州,大小既殊,逆順又異。 境外求全,上計也。 其次以腹心將兵屯義陽,將軍自帥大眾戰於夏口; 若敗,即趨義陽以出北境,其次也。」 晦良久曰:「荊州用武之地,兵糧易給,聊且決戰,走復何晚!」 乃使承天造立表檄,又與衛軍咨議參軍琅邪顏邵謀舉兵,邵飲藥而死。。 晦立幡戒嚴,謂司馬庾登之曰:「今當自下,欲屈卿以三千人守城,備御劉粹。」 登之曰:「下官親老在都,又素無部眾,情計二三,不敢受此旨。」 晦仍問諸將佐:「戰士三千足守城否?」 南蠻司馬周超對曰:「非徒守城而已,若有外寇,可以立功。」 登之因曰:「超必能力,下官請解司馬、南郡以授之。」 晦即於坐命超為司馬,領南義陽太守; 轉登之為長史,南郡如故。 登之,蘊之孫也。。 帝以王弘、檀道濟始不預廢弒之謀,弘弟曇首又為帝所親委,事將發,密使報弘,且召道濟,欲使討晦。 王華等皆以為不可,帝曰:「道濟止於脅從,本非創謀。 殺害之事,又所不關。 吾撫而使之,必將無慮。」 乙丑,道濟至建康。。 丙寅,下詔暴羨之、亮、晦殺營陽、廬陵王之罪,命有司誅之,且曰:「晦據有上流,或不即罪,朕當親帥六師為其過防。 可遣中領軍在彥之即日電發,征北將軍檀道濟駱驛繼路,符衛軍府州,以時收翦,已命雍州刺史劉粹等斷其走伏。 罪止元兇,餘無所問。」。 是日,詔召羨之、亮。 羨之行至西明門外,謝㬭正直,遣報亮云:「殿內有異處分。」 亮辭以嫂病暫還,遣信報羨之,羨之還西州,乘內人問訊車出郭,步走至新林,入陶灶中自經死。 亮乘車出郭門,乘馬奔兄迪墓,屯騎校尉郭泓收之。 至廣莫門,上遣中書舍人以詔書示亮,並謂曰:「以公江陵之誠,當使諸子無恙。」 亮讀詔書訖,曰:「亮受先帝布衣之眷,遂蒙顧托。 黜昏立明,社稷之計也。 欲加之罪,其無辭乎!」 於是誅亮而徙其妻子於建安; 誅羨之二子,而宥其兄子佩之。 誅晦子世休,收系謝㬭。。 帝將討謝晦,問策於檀道濟,對曰:「臣昔與晦同從北征,入關十策,晦有其九,才略明練,殆為少敵。 然未嘗孤軍決勝,戎事恐非其長。 臣悉晦智,晦悉臣勇。 今奉王命以討之,可未陳而擒也。」 丁卯,征王弘為侍中、司徒、錄尚書事、揚州刺史,以彭城王義康為都督荊、湘等八州諸軍事、荊州刺史。。 樂冏復遣使告謝晦以徐、傅及㬭等已誅。 晦先舉羨之、亮哀,次發子弟凶問,既而自出射堂勒兵。 晦從高祖征討,指麾處分,莫不曲盡其宜,數日間,四遠投集,得精兵三萬人。 乃奉表稱羨之、亮等忠貞,橫被冤酷。 且言:「臣等若志欲執權,不專為國,初廢營陽,陛下在遠,武皇之子尚有童幼,擁以號令,誰敢非之! 豈得溯流三千里,虛館七旬,仰望鸞旗者哉! 故廬陵王,於營陽之世積怨犯上,自貽非命。 不有所廢,將何以興! 耿弇不以賊遺君、父,臣亦何負於宋室邪! 此皆王弘、王曇首、王華險躁猜忌,讒構成禍。 今當舉兵以除君側之惡。」。 秦王熾磐復遣使如魏,請用師於夏。。 初,袁皇后生皇子劭,後自詳視,使馳白帝曰:「此兒形貌異常,必破國亡家,不可舉。」 即欲殺之。 帝狼狽至後殿戶外,手撥幔禁之,乃止。 以尚在諒暗,故秘之。 閏月,丙戌,始言劭生。。 帝下詔戒嚴,大赦,諸軍相次進路以討謝晦。 晦以弟遯為竟陵內史,將萬人總留任,帥眾二萬發江陵,列舟艦自江津至於破塚,旌旗蔽日,歎曰:「恨不得以此為勤王之師!」。 晦欲遣兵襲湘州刺史張邵,何承天以邵兄益州刺史茂度與晦善,曰:「邵意趣未可知,不宜遽擊之。」 晦以書招邵,邵不從。。 二月,戊午,以金紫光祿大夫王敬弘為尚書左僕射,建安太守鄭鮮之為右僕射。 敬弘,廙之曾孫也。。 庚申,上發建康。 命王弘與彭城王義康居守,入居中書下省; 侍中殷景仁參掌留任; 帝姊會稽長公主留止台內,總攝六宮。。 謝晦自江陵東下,何承天留府不從。 晦至江口,到彥之已至彭城洲。 庾登之據巴陵,畏懦不敢進; 會霖雨連日,參軍劉和之曰:「彼此共有雨耳; 檀征北尋至,東軍方強,唯宜速戰。」 登之恇怯,使小將陳祐作大囊,貯茅懸於帆檣,雲可以焚艦,用火宜須晴,以緩戰期。 晦然之,停軍十五日。 乃使中兵參軍孔延秀攻將軍蕭欣於彭城洲,破之。 又攻洲口柵,陷之。 諸將鹹欲退還夏口,到彥之不可。 乃保隱圻。 晦又上表自訟,且自矜其捷,曰:「陛下若梟四凶於廟庭,懸三監於降闕,臣便勒眾旋旗,還保所任。」。 初,晦與徐羨之、傅亮為自全之計,以為晦據上流,而檀道濟鎮廣陵,各有強兵,足以制朝廷; 羨之、亮居中秉權,可得持久。 及聞道濟帥眾來上,惶懼無計。。 道濟既至,與到彥之軍合,牽艦緣岸。 晦始見艦數不多,輕之,不即出戰。 至晚,因風帆上,前後連咽; 西人離沮,無復鬥心,戊辰,台軍至,忌置洲尾,列艦過江,晦軍一時皆潰。 晦夜出,投巴陵,得小船還江陵。。 先是,帝遣雍州刺史劉粹自陸道帥步騎襲江陵,至沙橋; 周超帥萬餘人逆戰,大破之,士眾傷死者過半。 俄而晦敗問至。 初,晦以粹善,以粹子曠之為參軍; 帝疑之,王弘曰:「粹無私,必無憂也。」 及受命南討,一無所顧,帝以此嘉之。 晦亦不殺曠之,遣還粹所。。 丙子,帝自蕪湖東還。。 晦至江陵,無它處分,唯愧謝周超而已。 其夜,超捨軍單舸詣到彥之降。 晦從散略盡,乃攜其弟遯等七騎北走。 遯肥壯,不能乘馬,晦每待之,行不得速。 己卯,至安陸延頭,為戍主光順之所執,檻送建康。。 到彥之至馬頭,何承天自歸。 彥之因監荊州府事,以周超為參軍; 劉粹以沙橋之敗告,乃執之。 於是誅晦、㬭、遯及其兄弟之子,並同黨孔延秀、周超等。 晦女彭城王妃被發徒跣,與晦訣曰:「大丈夫當橫屍戰場,奈何狼藉都市!」 庾登之以無任,免官禁錮; 何承天及南蠻行參軍新興王玄謨等皆見原。 晦之走也,左右皆棄之。 唯延陵蓋追隨不捨,帝以蓋為鎮軍功曹督護。。 晦之起兵,引魏南蠻校尉王慧龍為授。 慧龍帥眾一萬拔思陵戍,進圍項城。 聞晦敗,乃退。。 益州刺史張茂度受詔襲江陵; 晦敗,茂度軍始至白帝。 議者疑茂度有貳心,帝以茂度弟邵有誠節,赦不問,使還。。 三月,辛己,帝還建康,征謝靈運為秘書監,顏延之為中書侍郎,賞遇甚厚。。 帝以慧琳道人善談論,因與議朝廷大事,遂參權要,賓客輻湊,門車常有數十兩,四方贈賂相系,方筵七八,座上恆滿。 琳著高屐,披貂裘,置通呈、書佐。 會稽孔覬嘗詣之,遇賓客填咽,暄涼而已。 覬慨然曰:「遂有黑衣宰相,可謂冠屨失所矣!」。 夏,五月,乙未,以檀道濟為征南大將軍、開府儀同三司、江州刺史,到彥之為南豫州刺史。 遣散騎常待袁渝等十六人分行諸州郡縣,觀察吏政,訪求民隱; 又使郡縣各言損益。 丙午,上臨延賢堂聽訟,自是每歲三訊。。 左僕射王敬弘,性恬淡,有重名; 關署文案,初不省讀。 嘗預聽訟,上問以疑獄,敬弘不對。 上變色,問左右:「何故不以訊牒副僕射?」 敬弘曰:「臣乃得訊牒讀之,正自不解。」 上甚不悅,雖加禮敬,不復以時務及之。。 六月,以右衛將軍王華為中護軍,待中如故。 華以王弘輔政,王曇首為上所親任,與己相埒,自謂力用不盡,每歎息曰:「宰相頓有數人,天下何由得治!」 是時,宰相無常官,唯人主所與議論政事、委以機密者,皆宰相也,故華有是言。 亦有任侍中而不為宰相者; 然尚書令、僕,中書監、令,侍中,侍郎,給事中,皆當時要官也。。 華與劉湛、王曇首、殷景仁俱為侍中,風力局干,冠冕一時。 上嘗與四人於合殿宴飲,甚悅。 既罷出,上目遂良久,歎曰:「此四賢,一時之秀,同管喉脣,恐後世難繼也!」。 黃門侍郎謝弘微與華等皆上所重,當時號曰五臣。 弘微,琰之從孫也。 精神端審,時然後言,婢僕之前不妄語笑,由是尊卑大小,敬之若神。 從叔混特重之,常曰:「微子異不傷物,同不害正,吾無間然。」。 上欲封王曇首、王華等,拊御床曰:「此坐非卿兄弟,無復今日。」 因出封詔以示之。 曇首固辭曰:「近日之事,賴陛下英明,罪人斯得。 臣等豈可因國之災以為身幸!」 上乃止。。 魏主詔問公卿:「今當用兵,赫連、蠕蠕,二國何先?」 長孫嵩、長孫翰、奚斤皆曰:「赫連土著,未能為患。 不如先伐蠕蠕,若追而及之,可以大獲; 不及則獵於陰山,取其禽獸皮角以充軍實。」 太常崔浩曰:「蠕蠕鳥集獸逃,舉大眾追之則不能及,輕兵追之又不足以制敵。 赫連氏土地不過千里,政刑殘虐,人神所棄,宜先伐之。」 尚書劉絜、武京候安原請先伐燕。 於是魏主自雲中西巡至五原,因畋於陰山,東至和兜山。 秋,八月,還平城。。 詔殿中將軍吉恆聘於魏。 燕太子永卒,立次子翼為太子。。 秦王熾磐伐河西,至廉川,遣太子暮末等步騎三萬攻西安,不克,又攻番禾。 河西王蒙遜發兵御之,用遣使說夏主,使乘虛襲枹罕。 夏主遣征南大將軍呼盧古將騎二萬攻苑川,車騎大將軍韋伐將騎三萬攻南安。 熾磐聞之,引歸。 九月,徙其境內老弱、畜產於澆河及莫河仍寒川,留左丞相曇達守枹罕。 韋伐攻拔南安,獲秦秦州刺史翟爽、南安太守李亮。。 吐谷渾握逵等帥部眾二萬餘落叛秦,奔昂川,附於吐谷渾王慕瑰。。 大旱,蝗。。 左光祿大夫范泰上表曰:「婦人有三從之義,無自專之道。 謝晦婦女猶在尚方,唯陛下留意。」 有詔原之。。 魏主聞夏世祖殂,諸子相圖,國人不安,欲伐之。 長孫嵩等皆曰:「彼若城守,以逸待勞,大檀聞之,乘虛入寇,此危道也。」。 崔浩曰:「往年以來,熒惑再守羽林、鉤己而行,其占秦亡。 今年五星並出東方,利於西伐。 天人相應,不可失也。」 嵩固爭之,帝大怒,責嵩在官貪污,命武士頓辱之。 於是遣司空奚斤帥四萬五千人襲蒲阪,宋兵將軍周幾是由萬人襲陝城,以河東太守薛謹為鄉導。 謹,辨之子也。。 魏主欲以中書博士平棘李順總前驅之兵,訪於崔浩,浩曰:「順誠有籌略,然臣與之婚姻,深知其為人果於去就,不可專委。」 帝乃止。 浩與順由是有隙。。 冬,十月,丁巳,魏主發平城。。 秦左丞相曇達與夏呼盧古戰於嵻㟍山,曇達兵敗。 十一月,呼盧古、韋伐進攻枹罕。 秦王熾磐遷保定連。 呼盧古入南城,鎮京將軍趙壽生帥死士三百人力戰卻之。 呼盧古、韋伐又攻沙州刺史出連虔於湟河,虔遣後將軍乞伏萬年擊敗之。 又攻西平,執安西將軍庫洛干,坑戰士五千餘人,掠民二萬餘戶而去。 仇池氐楊興平求內附。 梁、南秦二州刺史吉翰遣始平太守寵咨據武興。 氐王楊產遣其弟難當將兵拒咨,咨擊走之。。 魏主行至君子津,會天暴寒,冰合,戊寅,師輕騎二萬濟河襲統萬。 壬午,冬至,夏主方燕群臣,魏師奄至,上下驚擾。 魏主軍於黑水,去城三十餘里。 夏主出戰而敗,退走入城。 門未及閉,內三郎豆代田帥眾乘勝入西宮,焚其西門; 宮門閉,代田逾宮垣而出。 魏主拜代田勇武將軍。 魏軍夜宿城北,癸未,分兵四掠,殺獲數萬,得牛馬十餘萬。 魏主謂諸將曰:「統萬未可得也,它年當與卿等取之。」 乃徙其民萬餘家而還。。 夏弘農太守曹達聞周幾將至,不戰而走。 魏師乘勝長驅,遂入三輔。 會幾卒於軍中,蒲阪守將東平公乙斗聞奚斤將至,遣使詣統萬告急。 使者至統萬,魏軍已圍其城; 還,告乙斗曰:「統萬已敗矣。」 乙斗懼,棄城西奔長安,斤遂克蒲板。 夏主之弟助興先守長安,乙斗至,與助興棄長安,西奔安定。 十二月,斤入長安,秦、雍氐羌皆詣斤降。 河西王蒙遜及氐王楊玄聞之,皆遣使附魏。。 前吳郡太守徐佩之聚黨百餘人,謀以明年正會於殿中作亂,事覺,壬戌,收斬之。。 營陽太妃張氏卒。。 秦征南將軍吉毘鎮南漒,隴西人辛澹帥戶三千據城逐毘,毘走還枹罕,澹南奔億池。。 魏初得中原,民多逃隱。 天興中,詔采諸漏戶,令輸繒帛; 於是自佔為紬繭羅觳戶者甚眾,不隸郡縣,賦役不均。 是歲,始詔一切罷之,以屬郡縣。。 太祖文皇帝上之上元嘉四年(丁卯,公元四二七年)。 春,正月,辛巳,帝祀南郊。。 乙酉,魏主還平城。 統萬徙民在道多死,能至平城者什才六七。。 己亥,魏主如幽州。 夏主遣平原公定帥眾二萬向長安。 魏主聞之,伐木陰山,大造攻具,再謀伐夏。。 山羌叛秦。 二月,秦王熾磐遣左丞相曇達招慰武始諸羌,征南將軍吉毘招慰洮陽諸羌。 羌人執曇達送夏; 吉毘為羌所擊,奔還,士馬死傷者什八九。。 魏主還平城。。 乙卯,帝如丹徒,己巳,謁京陵。 初,高祖既貴,命藏微時耕具以示子孫。 帝至故宮見之,有慚色。 近侍或進曰:「大舜躬耕歷山,伯禹親事水土。 陛下不睹遺物,安知先帝之至德,稼穡之艱難乎!」。 三月,丙子,魏主遣高涼王禮鎮長安。 禮,斤之孫也。 又詔執金吾桓貸造橋於君子津。。 丁丑,魏廣平王連卒。。 丁亥,帝還建康。。 戊子,尚書右僕射鄭鮮之卒。 秦王熾磐以輔國將軍段暉為涼州刺史,鎮樂都; 平西將軍麴景為沙州刺史,鎮四平; 寧朔將軍出連輔政為梁州刺史,鎮赤水。。 夏,四月,丁未,魏員外散騎常侍步堆等來聘。。 庚戌,以廷尉王徽之為交州刺史,征前刺史杜弘文。 弘文有疾,自輿就路; 或勸之待病癒,弘文曰:「吾杖節三世,常欲投軀帝庭,況被征乎!」 遂行,卒於廣州。 弘文,慧度之子也。。 魏奚斤與夏平原公定相持於長安。 魏主欲乘虛伐統萬,簡兵練士,部分諸將,命司徒長孫翰等將三萬騎為前驅,常山五素等將步兵三萬為後繼,南陽王伏真等將步兵三萬部送攻具,將軍賀多羅將精騎三千為前候。 素,遵之子也。 五月,魏主發平城,命龍驤將軍代人陸俟督諸軍鎮大磧以備柔然。 辛巳,濟君子津。。 壬午,中護軍王華卒。。 魏主至拔鄰山,築城,捨輜重,以輕騎三萬倍道先行。 群臣鹹諫曰:「統萬城堅,非朝夕可拔。 今輕車討之,進不可克,退無所資,不若與步兵、攻具一時俱往。」 帝曰:「用兵之術,攻城最下。 必不得已,然後用之。 今以步兵、攻具皆進,彼必懼而堅守。 若攻不時拔,食盡兵疲,外無所掠,進退無地。 不如以輕騎直抵其城,彼見步兵未至,意必寬弛; 吾羸形以誘之,彼或出戰,則成擒矣。 所以然者,吾之軍士去家二千餘里,又隔大河,所謂『置之死地而後生』者也。 故以之攻城則不足,決戰則有餘矣。」 遂行。。 六月癸卯朔,日有食之。。 魏主至統萬,分軍伏於深谷,以少眾至城下。 夏將狄子玉降魏。 言:「夏主聞有魏師,遣使召平原公定,定曰:『統萬堅峻,未易攻拔。 待我擒奚斤,然後徐往。 內外擊之,蔑不濟矣。』 故夏主堅守以待之。」 魏主患之。 乃退軍以示弱,遣娥清及永昌王健帥騎五千西掠居民。。 魏軍士有得罪亡奔夏者,言魏軍糧盡,士卒食菜,輜重在後,步兵未至,宜急擊之。 夏主從之。 甲辰,將步騎三萬出城。 長孫翰等皆言:「夏兵步陳難陷,宜避其鋒。」 魏主曰:「吾遠來求賊,惟恐不出。 今既出矣。 乃避而不擊,彼奮我弱,非計也。 遂收眾偽遁,引而疲之。 夏兵為兩翼,鼓噪追之,行五六里,會有風雨從東南來,揚沙晦冥。 宦者趙倪,頗曉方術,言於魏主曰:「今風雨從賊上來,我向之,彼背之,天不助人; 且將士飢渴,願陛下攝騎避之,更待後日。」 崔浩叱之曰:「是何言也! 吾千里制勝,一日之中,豈得變易! 賊貪進不止,後軍已絕,宜隱軍分出,奄擊不意。 風道在人,豈有常也!」 魏主曰:「善!」 乃分騎為左右隊以掎之。 魏主馬蹶而墜,幾為夏兵所獲; 拓跋齊以身捍蔽,決死力戰,夏兵乃退。 魏主騰馬得上,刺夏尚書斛黎文,殺之,又殺騎兵十餘人,身中流矢,奮擊不輟,夏眾大潰。 齊,翳槐子玄孫也。。 魏人乘勝逐夏主至城北,殺夏主之弟河南公滿及兄子蒙遜,死者萬餘人。 夏主不及入城,遂奔上邽。 魏主微服逐奔者,入其城; 拓跋齊固諫,不聽。 夏人覺之,諸門悉閉; 魏主因與齊等入其宮中,得婦人裙,系之槊上,魏主乘之而上,僅乃得免。 會日暮,夏尚書僕射問至奉夏主之母出走,長孫翰將八千騎追夏主至高平,不及而還。。 乙巳,魏主入城,獲夏王、公、卿、將、校及諸母、后妃、姊妹、宮人以萬數,馬三十餘萬匹,牛羊數千萬頭,府庫珍寶、車旗、器物不可勝計,頒賜將士有差。。 初,夏世祖性豪侈,築統萬城,高十仞,基厚三十步,上廣十步,宮牆高五仞,其堅可以厲刀斧。 台榭壯大,皆雕鏤圖畫,被以綺繡,窮極文采。 魏主顧謂左右曰:「蕞爾國而用民如此,欲不亡,得乎!」。 得夏太史令張淵、徐辯,復以為太史令。 得故晉將毛修之、秦將軍庫洛干,歸庫洛干於秦,以毛修之善烹調,用為太官令。 魏主見夏著作郎天水趙逸所為文,譽夏主太過,怒曰:「此豎無道,何敢如是! 誰所為邪? 當速推之!」 崔浩曰:「文士褒貶,多過其實,蓋非得已,不足罪也。」 乃止。 魏主納夏世祖三女為貴人。。 奚斤與夏平原公定猶相拒於長安。 魏主命宗正娥清、太僕丘堆帥騎五千略地關右。 定聞統萬已破,遂奔上邽; 斤追至雍,不及而還。 清、堆攻夏貳城,拔之。。 魏主詔斤等班師。 斤上疏言:「赫連昌亡保上邽,鳩合餘燼,未有蟠據之資; 今因其危,滅之為易。 請益鎧馬,平昌而還。」 魏主不許。 斤固請,乃許之,給斤兵萬人,遣將軍劉拔送馬三千匹,並留娥清、丘堆使共擊夏。。 辛酉,魏主自統萬東還,以常山王素為征南大將軍、假節,與執金吾桓貸、莫雲留鎮統萬。 雲,題之弟也。。 秦王熾磐還枹罕。。 秋,七月,己卯,魏主至柞嶺。 柔然寇雲中,聞魏已克統萬,乃遁去。。 秦王熾磐謂群臣曰:「孤知赫連氏必無成,昌險歸魏,今果如孤言。」 八月,遣其叔父平遠將軍渥頭等入貢於魏。。 壬子,魏主還至平城,以所獲頒賜留台百官有差。。 魏主為人,壯健鷙勇,臨城對陣,親犯矢石,左右死傷相繼,神色自若; 由是將士畏服,鹹盡死力。 性儉率,服御飲膳,取給而已。 群臣請增峻京城及修宮室曰:「《易》云:『王公設險,以守其國。』 又蕭何云:『天子以四海為家,不壯不麗,無以重威。』」 帝曰:「古人有言:『在德不在險。』 屈丐蒸土築城而朕滅之。 豈在城也? 今天下未平,方須民力,土功之事,朕所未為。 蕭何之對,非雅言也。」 每以為財者軍國之本,不可輕費。 至於賞賜,皆死事勳績之家,親戚貴寵未嘗橫有所及。 命將出師,指授節度,違之者多致負敗。 明於知人,或拔干於卒伍之中,唯其才用所長,不論本末。 聽察精敏,下無遁情,賞不遺賤,罰不避貴,雖所甚愛之人,終無寬假。 常曰:「法者,朕與天下共之,何敢輕也。」 然性殘忍,果於殺戮,往往已殺而復悔之。。 九月,丁酉,安定民舉城降魏。。 氐王楊玄遣將軍苻白作圍秦梁州刺史出連輔政於赤炎。 城中糧盡,民執輔政以降。 輔政至駱谷,逃還。 冬,十月,秦以驍騎將軍吳漢為平南將軍、梁州刺史,鎮南漒。。 十一月,魏主遣司馬公孫軌兼大鴻臚,持節策拜楊玄為都督荊、梁等四州諸軍事、梁州刺史、南秦王。 及境,玄不出迎; 軌責讓之,欲奉策以還,玄懼而郊迎。 魏主善之,以軌為尚書。 軌,表之子也。。 十二月,秦梁州刺史吳漢為群羌所攻,帥戶二千還於枹罕。。」
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 120. 【Song Records 2】 From the year Yanfeng Kundun through Qiangyu Shan'ge—four years in all. Yuanjia 1, first year of the reign of Emperor Wen—above, part one (jiazi; 424 CE). In spring, in the first month, Northern Wei adopted the new reign title Shiguang. On bingyin day, Mi, Prince Shang of Anding in Wei, died. The Prince of Yingyang failed to observe mourning decorum, delighted in familiar intimacy with his attendants, and indulged in unrestrained amusements. Fan Tai, who held the rank of specially advanced and had retired from office, submitted a sealed memorial: "I have learned that Your Majesty often drills in military exercises in the rear garden; drums and martial music resound within the palace and can be heard beyond its walls. To parade arms within the inner palace and raise a din at the gates of the Secretariat will not overawe the four quarters; it can only breed astonishment near and far. When Your Majesty first took the throne, you entrusted affairs to your chief ministers, in the fine spirit of Gaozong's mourning seclusion; yet now you draw close to petty men instead—I fear this is no sound policy for the altars of state, nor a way to govern the age." The emperor did not listen. Fan Tai was a son of Fan Ning. Liu Yizhen, Prince of Luling and governor of South Yuzhou, was bright and fond of letters, but light and unserious in character; he kept close, affectionate company with Xie Lingyun, commander of the crown prince's left guard, Yan Yanzhi, attendant at large, and the monk Huilin. He once said, "When my day comes, I shall make Lingyun and Yanzhi chief ministers, and Huilin military governor of West Yuzhou." Xie Lingyun was a grandson of Xie Xuan—proud, impatient, and heedless of rules. The court valued him only for his literary gifts and did not count him fit for practical affairs. Lingyun believed his talents entitled him to a share in high power and nursed a constant grievance. Yanzhi was a great-grandson of Yan Han and was given to drink and dissolute conduct. Xu Xianzhi and his colleagues resented Yizhen's intimacy with Lingyun and the others. Fan Yan, a former officer under Yizhen, cautioned him gently. Yizhen replied, "Lingyun is shallow and ungrounded, Yanzhi petty and mean—just the sort Emperor Wen of Wei had in mind when he said that writers ancient and modern alike are careless of small conduct; yet in what our temperaments share, we cannot help speaking freely in mutual delight." Thereupon Xianzhi and his colleagues decided that Lingyun and Yanzhi were stirring faction and slandering the government; Lingyun was posted as administrator of Yongjia and Yanzhi as administrator of Shi'an. After Yizhen reached Liyang he made many demands, and those in power each time weighed his requests and refused to grant all he wanted. Yizhen nursed a deep resentment, spoke repeatedly of injustice, and also submitted a memorial asking to return to the capital. He Shangzhi of Lujiang, a staff adviser, remonstrated again and again, but Yizhen would not listen. By then Xianzhi and his colleagues had already plotted in secret to depose the emperor, and the man next in line for the throne should have been Yizhen; so, using the rift between Yizhen and the emperor, they first memorialized listing his offenses, stripped him of rank to commoner status, and banished him to Xin'an commandery. Zhang Yuezhi of Tangyi, former magistrate of Jiyang, submitted a memorial: "The Prince of Luling in youth enjoyed the late emperor's gracious favor, and as a man has received Your Majesty's warm kindness; therefore what is in his heart he must speak, and what he feels he must make plain. He may have overstepped a subject's duty and drawn the charge of arrogant insolence. Yet his natural gifts have long been formed, and he truly has outstanding qualities. He ought to be nurtured with patience, his virtues cherished and his flaws overlooked, instructed fully and guided by every proper means, advanced or restrained by gradual steps. To heap disgrace upon him now and banish him in seclusion to a distant commandery wounds Your Majesty's deep brotherly bond above and leaves men near and far alarmed and without counsel below. Your servant reflects that the Song, in the haste of founding, has not yet put down deep roots; it is fitting to extend the imperial kindred broadly and bind them in harmony by right principle. Who among men is without fault? What matters is the power to reform; as a son beloved of Emperor Wu and Your Majesty's worthy younger brother—how can a single fault condemn him to lasting ruin!" When the memorial was received, Yuezhi was appointed a staff officer in the Liangzhou headquarters—and soon afterward was put to death. In summer, in the fourth month, on jiachen day, the Wei emperor made an eastern tour to Daning. Qifu Chipan, King of Qin, sent the southern-pacifying general Ji Pi and others at the head of ten thousand infantry and cavalry on a southern campaign against the four states of Baigou, Chefu, Cuiti, and Pangwei; all surrendered. Xu Xianzhi and his colleagues, because Tan Daoji of South Yanzhou was a veteran general of the previous reign who commanded respect in the palace offices and held troops, summoned Daoji and Wang Hong, governor of Jiangzhou, to court; in the fifth month both reached Jiankang, and the plot to depose the emperor and enthrone another was revealed to them. On jiashen day, Xie Hui, finding the headquarters of the directorate of the guards in disrepair, sent all his household outside and assembled officers and soldiers within the compound; he also stationed the secretaries Xing Antai and Pan Sheng inside as collaborators. That night he invited Tan Daoji to lodge with him. Hui was restless and could not sleep, but Daoji lay down and slept soundly at once—whereupon Hui came to respect him. At this time the emperor had set up rows of market stalls in the Hualin Garden and sold goods himself, amusing himself with his attendants by towing boats; in the evening he roamed the Tianyuan Pool and went straight to sleep on the imperial dragon boat. At dawn on yiyou day, Daoji led troops in the van while Xianzhi and the others followed, entering through the Yunlong Gate; Antai and the others had already warned the night guards, and none offered resistance. The emperor had not yet risen. Soldiers rushed in, killed two attendants, wounded the emperor's finger, helped him out to the eastern pavilion, took the seals and cords of office, the officials bowed in farewell, and guards escorted him to the former crown prince's palace. Cheng Daohui, palace attendant, urged Xianzhi and his colleagues to enthrone the emperor's younger brother Yigong, governor of South Yuzhou. Xianzhi and his colleagues, because Prince Yilong of Yidu had long enjoyed a fine reputation and many auspicious signs had appeared, proclaimed an order of the empress dowager listing the emperor's offenses, deposed him as Prince of Yingyang, and on chen day installed the Prince of Yidu as heir to the throne, granting amnesty for all crimes short of death. They also proclaimed an order of the grand empress dowager returning the seals and cords of office; and at the same time reduced the empress to Princess of Yingyang and moved the Prince of Yingyang to Wu. They sent Tan Daoji in to hold the court hall. When the prince reached Wu he lodged at Jinchang Pavilion; in the sixth month, on guichou day, Xianzhi and his colleagues sent Xing Antai to assassinate him. The prince was very strong; he broke out through Chang Gate, and his pursuers struck him down with the gate bar and killed him. Pei Ziye remarked: In antiquity, when a ruler reared a son, once the child could speak a teacher was appointed to instruct him in speech; once he could walk, tutor and aide were appointed with the proper rites. Song practice in rearing heirs differed sharply from this: within the palace they relied on servant-girls and concubines; outside they kept runners and attendants close at hand. Crown princes and imperial sons had commanders and attendants—and both offices were filled by men of low rank. They controlled their movements, handed down rules and models, guided and conveyed praise and blame—nothing was done except through them; their speech never rose to ritual and righteousness, their understanding never reached present and past; the cautious might be urged toward miserliness, the reckless sometimes lured toward wickedness. Though there were masters and tutors, for the most part aged grandees filled those posts; though there were companions and literary scholars, for the most part pampered young men of good family filled those posts; they held title only and were not admitted to real companionship. When a young prince governed a province, the chief administrator conducted affairs; to proclaim and transmit orders there was also the registry clerk; who often acted with arbitrary license and secretly wielded authority—so that though the imperial house was numerous, upright and worthy princes were very few. Succession rulers were young and tender, and generation after generation inherited treacherous ways; though wickedness springs from nature, habit becomes second nature, and the current runs deep. Down to Emperor Taizong, who cast away all under Heaven—it too was the fruit of such intimate associations. Alas! Let those who hold a state and a clan take this as their mirror! Fu Liang led the officials of the traveling secretariat with the imperial equipage to welcome the Prince of Yidu at Jiangling. Cai Kuo, minister of the directorate of sacrifices, reached Xunyang but fell ill and could not continue; Fu Liang took leave of him. Kuo said, "The Prince of Yingyang is in Wu; he ought to be generously provided for; if misfortune should befall him, you gentlemen will bear the name of regicide—do you imagine you could still stand in the world!" By then Liang had already agreed with Xianzhi to kill the Prince of Yingyang; he sent an urgent message to stop it, but arrived too late. Xianzhi flew into a rage: "When men plot together, how can you turn at once and cast the blame on others?" Xianzhi and his colleagues then sent envoys to kill the former Prince of Luling, Yizhen, at Xin'an. Xianzhi, because Jingzhou was strategically vital and he feared that when the Prince of Yidu arrived another man might be placed there, urgently issued a recorded order appointing Xie Hui, director-general of the guards, acting commander of military affairs in Jing, Xiang, and seven other provinces and governor of Jingzhou, intending to keep him outside as a support; elite troops and veteran generals were all assigned to him. In autumn, in the seventh month, the traveling secretariat reached Jiangling, erected a traveling gate south of the city, and inscribed it "Gate of the Grand Marshal." Fu Liang led the hundred officials to the gate to submit a memorial presenting the seals and cords; the ceremonial display was magnificent. The Prince of Yidu was then eighteen. He issued an order: "Unworthy as I am, I have been undeservedly granted the great mandate; looking upon myself I tremble with fear—how could I bear it! I shall for the present return to court, pay mourning at the imperial tombs, and together with worthy ministers set forth what is in my heart. I hope you will understand my intent and spare me elaborate refusals. The staff officers of the prefecture and province all styled themselves subjects and asked to inscribe plaques on the gates after the palace model; the prince refused every request. He ordered that within the province, prefecture, and principality those under sentence in his jurisdiction be pardoned and overdue levies remitted. When the generals and staff officers learned that the Princes of Yingyang and Luling were dead, all were suspicious and urged the prince not to go east. Wang Hua, chief administrator, said, "The late emperor rendered great service to the realm and was obeyed throughout the four seas; Though the succession ruler had lost his way, popular esteem for the house had not changed. Xu Xianzhi is a man of middling talent from humble stock, Fu Liang a commoner and mere scholar—clearly they lack the ambition of Emperor Xuan of Jin or Grand General Wang; entrusted with a weighty charge, they could hardly dare to turn against their trust at once. They feared the Prince of Luling's stern decisiveness and knew they could not survive his rule; because Your Highness is known near and far for generous wisdom and humane kindness, and because they welcomed you out of turn, hoping thereby to show their virtue; the loose talk abroad is almost certainly wrong. Moreover, Xianzhi and the other five shared merit and rank equally—who among them would yield to another! Even if they harbored treasonous intent, the situation would not permit it. If the deposed ruler had lived, they feared future retribution and therefore brought about these killings; it sprang from an excessive fear for their lives—they would hardly dare in a single morning to harbor rebellious intent! They only wished to hold power and secure themselves, counting on a young ruler to depend on them. Your Highness need only drive straight on to answer the hearts of Heaven and men." The prince said, "Are you trying to play Song Chang again!" The chief administrator Wang Tanshou and the southern barbarian commandant Dao Yanzi both urged the prince to go east; Tanshou also cited heavenly and human portents. The prince then said, "These men received the late emperor's charge; they cannot be allowed to betray their trust. Moreover, meritorious ministers and veteran generals fill court and camp; our forces are sufficient to control affairs—what is there to doubt!" He then ordered Wang Hua to take charge of rear affairs and remain to guard Jingzhou. The prince wished to have Dao Yanzi lead troops as vanguard. Yanzi said, "If we know they will not rebel, we ought to go in court dress downriver; if there should be trouble, this force would not suffice and would only open a breach of suspicion—not the way to answer the hopes of near and far." It happened that Chu Shudu, governor of Yongzhou, died; he therefore sent Yanzi provisionally to hold Xiangyang. On jiaxu day the prince set out from Jiangling, summoned Fu Liang for audience, and wept aloud; his grief moved all who were near. He then asked the full story of Yizhen's death and the young emperor's deposition and demise, weeping and sobbing; none of those attending dared look up. Liang sweated until his back was soaked and could not reply; he then confided his inmost thoughts to Dao Yanzi, Wang Hua, and the rest and bound himself to them deeply. The prince had the civil and military officers of the prefecture and province guard him with strict troops; the hundred officials sent from the capital could not bring their forces near his ranks. Zhu Rongzi, staff officer of the central guard, held his blade at the door of the prince's boat and did not ungird his sword for many tens of days. The Wei emperor returned to the palace. Qifu Chipan, King of Qin, sent the crown prince Mumo at the head of the northern-campaigning general Muyigan and others with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry through Diaochu Valley to attack Baicao Ridge and Linsong commandery in Hexi; all were defeated, and more than twenty thousand households were relocated before they returned. In the eighth month, on bingshen day, the Prince of Yidu reached Jiankang; the officials welcomed and bowed at Xinting. Xu Xianzhi asked Fu Liang, "To whom may the prince be compared?" Liang said, "A man above Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing of Jin." Xianzhi said, "He will surely understand my loyal heart." Liang said, "Not so." On dingyou day the prince visited Chuning Mausoleum, returned, and stopped at the central hall. The hundred officials presented the seals and cords; the prince declined several times, then accepted and took the imperial throne at the central hall. With full imperial equipage he entered the palace, ascended the Hall of Supreme Ultimate, proclaimed a general amnesty, changed the era name, and raised civil and military ranks by two steps. On wuxu day he visited the imperial ancestral temple. An edict restored the Prince of Luling's former fief and brought back his coffin, together with Sun Xiuhua and Consort Xie, to Jiankang. On gengzi day the acting governor of Jingzhou, Xie Hui, was confirmed in office. As Hui was about to depart he took leave of Cai Kuo, dismissed others, and asked, "Will I escape harm?" Kuo said, "You received the late emperor's dying charge and were entrusted with the altars of state; to depose the benighted and establish the enlightened—righteousness permits no objection. But you killed his two elder brothers and set him on the throne; you hold the awe of a minister who startles his ruler and occupy the weight of the upper Yangzi—judging the present by antiquity, escape will be hard for you." At first Hui feared he would not be allowed to leave; once he had set out he looked back toward Stone City and said with joy, "Now I have escaped!" On guimao day Xu Xianzhi was advanced to Grand Minister, Wang Hong to Minister of Works, Fu Liang was given the open office with ritual equal to the Three Excellencies, Xie Hui was promoted to Defender General, and Tan Daoji to Northern Campaigning General. The relevant offices memorialized that the emperor should, according to precedent, attend at the Hualin Garden to hear lawsuits. An edict said, "In government and punishments there is much I do not yet understand; what may follow precedent, let the two excellencies examine and decide." The emperor made Wang Tanshou and Wang Hua palace attendants; Tanshou also headed the right guard. Hua headed the valiant cavalry, and Zhu Rongzi was made general of the right guard. On jiachen day the emperor's mother, Lady Hu, was posthumously honored as Empress Zhang. The emperor's younger brothers Yigong, Yixuan, and Yiji were enfeoffed as Prince of Jiangxia, Prince of Jingling, and Prince of Hengyang; Yixuan was also made Left General and stationed at Stone City. Xu Xianzhi and his colleagues wished at once to appoint Dao Yanzi to Yongzhou; the emperor did not permit it; Yanzi was summoned as director of the central guards and entrusted with military affairs. As Yanzi came south from Xiangyang, Xie Hui had already reached his post and feared Yanzi would not pass through his territory. When Yanzi reached Yangkou he went on foot to Jiangling and laid out his sincerity in full; Hui also received him warmly; Yanzi left horses, sharp swords, and famous blades with Hui, and Hui thereby grew greatly reassured. Keshenggai Khan of Rouran, hearing that Emperor Taizong of Wei had died, led sixty thousand cavalry into Yunzhong, killing and plundering officials and people and capturing Shengle Palace. Emperor Shizu of Wei personally led light cavalry against him and reached Yunzhong in three days and two nights. Keshenggai led his horsemen to surround the Wei emperor more than fifty ranks deep; riders pressed on the horses' heads, rank upon rank like a wall. Officers and soldiers were greatly afraid; the Wei emperor's countenance remained calm, and the men's hearts were thereby settled. Keshenggai had his nephew Yuzhijin as grand general; the Wei forces shot and killed him; Keshenggai was afraid and fled. Liu Jie, director of the Department of State Affairs, said to the Wei emperor, "Datan relies on his numbers and will surely come again; please wait until the harvest is complete, then raise a great force in two columns advancing east and west together to attack him." The Wei emperor approved. In the ninth month, on bingzi day, Consort Yuan was established as empress; she was a great-granddaughter of Yuan Danzhi. In winter, in the tenth month, Achai, Weiwang of Tuyuhun, died. Achai had twenty sons. When ill he summoned his sons and younger brothers and said, "Our late lord the chariot-and-horse general, for the sake of the great enterprise, set aside his son Shiqian and entrusted me; how dare I favor Weidai privately and forget our late lord's intent! When I die, you must take Mugui as lord." Weidai was Achai's eldest son; Mugui was the son of Achai's maternal younger brother and his uncle Wuheti. Achai also ordered each son to present one arrow, took a single arrow and gave it to his younger brother Muliyan to break; Muliyan broke it; then took nineteen arrows and had them broken together; Muliyan could not break them. Achai then instructed them, "Do you understand? One alone is easy to break; many together are hard to destroy. You must join your strength in one heart—only then can you preserve the state and secure the clan." When he had finished speaking he died. Mugui also had talent and strategy; he gathered displaced people of Qin and Liang and mixed Di and Qiang groups to the number of five or six hundred clans, and his following grew ever stronger. In the twelfth month the Wei emperor ordered the pacifying general Zhangsun Han and the northern-pacifying general Yu Juan to strike Rouran in the north; the Wei emperor personally led troops and encamped at Zhaoshan. Rouran fled north; the armies pursued and returned with great gains. Han was a son of Zhangsun Fei. An edict made Lady Zhang, mother of the Prince of Yingyang, Grand Princess of Yingyang. Fan Yangmai, king of Linyi, raided Rinan and the commanderies of Jiude and others. Liang Michong, King of Dangchang, sent his son Mihuang to pay court to Wei. Dangchang was a separate branch of the Qiang. Qiang lands adjoined China on the east and reached the Western Regions on the west, stretching several thousand li; each had its own chieftain, tribes holding separate territories without a single overlord; but Dangchang was the strongest, with more than twenty thousand clans, and the other tribes feared it. The Xia ruler was about to depose Crown Prince Gui and install his youngest son, Duke Lun of Jiuquan. Gui heard of it and marched north with seventy thousand troops to attack Lun. Lun mustered thirty thousand cavalry to resist; they fought at Gaoping, and Lun was defeated and killed. Lun's elder brother Chang, Duke of Taiyuan, led ten thousand cavalry against Gui, killed him, absorbed his eighty-five thousand men, and returned to Tongwan. The Xia ruler was greatly pleased and made Chang crown prince. The Xia ruler loved to boast of his greatness; he named his four gates Summoning Wei to the east, Attending Song to the south, Subduing Liang to the west, and Pacifying the North to the north. Yuanjia 2, second year of the reign of Emperor Wen—above, part one (yichou; 425 CE). In spring, in the first month, Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang submitted memorials returning power to the throne; after three submissions the emperor consented. On bingyin day he began personally to attend to affairs of state. Xianzhi still resigned and returned home; Xu Peizhi, Cheng Daohui, and Wang Shaozhi, governor of Wuxing, all said it was wrong and pressed him hard; he then accepted the edict and resumed office. On xinwei day the emperor sacrificed at the southern suburb and proclaimed a general amnesty. On jimao day the Wei ruler returned to Pingcheng. In the second month a woman in Yan transformed into a man. The Yan ruler asked his ministers; Fu Quan, left assistant director of the Secretariat, replied, "At the end of Western Han, hens turned into roosters, and still Wang Mang's disaster followed. How much more now that a woman has become a man—this is an omen that your subject will become ruler." In the third month, on bingyin day, the Wei ruler honored his foster mother Lady Dou as Grand Empress Dowager of Fostering. When Empress Mi died, Shizu was still young; Emperor Taizong, finding Lady Dou kind, good, and upright in conduct, entrusted her with his upbringing. Lady Dou cared for him with affection and guided him with propriety; Shizu held her in gratitude and therefore bestowed on her an honorific title, maintaining her support as before wherever she resided. On disi day Wei appointed Zhangsun Song Grand Minister, Zhangsun Han Minister over the Masses, and Xi Jin Minister of Works. In summer, in the fourth month, Qifu Chipan, King of Qin, sent the distant-pacifying general Chilu Jian and others to attack Juqu Baiti, southern-pacifying general of Hexi, at Linsong, captured him, and relocated more than five thousand households to Fuhan. The Wei ruler sent the dragon-charger general Bu Dui and others on a friendly mission, restoring diplomatic ties. In the sixth month Yang Sheng, the Cultured Literary King of Wudu, died. Previously, when Sheng heard that Jin had fallen, he kept the Yixi era name unchanged; he told his heir Xuan, "I am old; I shall die a subject of Jin—you serve the Song emperor well." When Sheng died, Xuan took the titles director of all military affairs of Longyou, great general on the western campaign, open office with ritual equal to the Three Excellencies, governor of Qinzhou, and King of Wudu; he sent envoys to announce the death and only then adopted the Yuanshi era name. In autumn, in the seventh month, Qifu Chipan's southern-pacifying general Ji Pi and others attacked Qiu Dan, chieftain of the Black Water Qiang, to the south and routed him thoroughly. In the eighth month the Martial Fierce Emperor of Xia died, was buried at Jiaping Mausoleum, and received the temple name Shizu; Crown Prince Chang ascended the throne. He proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the era name to Chengguang. Wang Hong, because he had not taken part in the original plot, refused the post of Minister of Works; he submitted memorials declining it year after year before permission was granted. On yiyou day Hong was made chariot-and-horse general with open office and ritual equal to the Three Excellencies. In winter, in the tenth month, Qiu Dan surrendered with his followers to Qin; Qin made him General Who Returns to Goodness; and appointed the breaking-campaign general Qifu Xindi colonel pacifying the Qiang to garrison the region. On guimao day the Wei ruler launched a major campaign against Rouran, five columns advancing together. Zhangsun Han and others took the eastern route through the Black Desert; Court Director Zhangsun Daosheng and others emerged between the White and Black deserts; the Wei ruler took the middle route; Duke of Dongping E Qing went out from Liyuan; Xi Jin and others took the western route from Erhanshan. When the armies reached the southern desert they abandoned baggage trains, traveled light with fifteen days' rations, crossed the desert, and attacked. The Rouran tribes were thrown into panic and fled north without a trace. In the eleventh month Wudu's heir Xuan was made governor of North Qinzhou and King of Wudu. Previously, Kong Ningzi of Kuaiji had served as the prince's western-staff advisory aide; when the emperor took the throne he made Ningzi commandant of the infantry; Kong and Palace Attendant Wang Hua both coveted wealth and rank; they resented Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang for monopolizing power and day and night whispered against them to the emperor. It happened that two daughters of Xie Hui were to marry Prince Yikang of Pengcheng and Marquis Yibin of Xinye; he sent his wife Lady Cao and his eldest son Shixiu to escort the brides to Jiankang. The emperor planned to execute Xianzhi and Liang and also dispatch troops against Hui; he gave out that he would attack Wei and recover Henan, and also spoke of visiting the imperial tombs and fitting out transport ships. Liang wrote to Hui, "The punitive expedition into the north of the river is still unfinished; throughout court and country anxiety runs high." He also wrote, "Court gentlemen have mostly remonstrated against the northern expedition; the emperor is likely to send Chief Surveillance Officer Wan Youzong to consult." By then the court's movements were unusual, and the plot leaked rather openly. Yuanjia 3, third year of the reign of Emperor Wen—above, part one (bingyin; 426 CE). In spring, in the first month, Zhan, younger brother of Xie Hui and palace attendant at the yellow gate, sent a messenger at full speed to warn Hui; Hui still disbelieved it and showed Fu Liang's letter to the advisory aide He Chengtian, saying; "Youzong should arrive within a day or two. Master Fu feared I would make trouble, and therefore sent this letter first." Chengtian said, "What is heard outside is that the western expedition is settled—how could Youzong have reason to come upriver!" Hui still thought it empty talk and had Chengtian prepare in advance a draft reply to the imperial edict, saying the barbarian campaign should wait until next year. Cheng Daohui, internal administrator of Jiangxia, received a letter from a man of Xunyang saying "the court is about to take drastic measures—the matter is already settled"; he had Yue Tong, aide-de-camp of the Protectorate of the State, seal it and show it to Hui. Hui asked Chengtian, "If it is really so, what do you tell me to do?" He replied, "I have received the general's especial regard and always think to repay your kindness. The crisis is upon us—how dare I hide what I know! But if tomorrow there is martial alert and military law is invoked, what little I can say here may not be enough." Hui, afraid, said, "Do you wish me to take my own life?" Chengtian said, "It has not yet come to that. With the weight of an emperor's throne, to raise all under Heaven against one province—the scale is already unequal, and right and wrong likewise differ. Seeking safety beyond the borders is the best course. Next best is to have trusted generals garrison troops at Yiyang while you yourself lead the main force to fight at Xiakou; if defeated, hurry to Yiyang and break out through the northern frontier—that is the second-best course." After a long while Hui said, "Jingzhou is a land made for war; troops and grain are easy to supply—we can fight first, and flight would come none too late!" He then had Chengtian draft manifestos and memorials, and also consulted with the defender-general's advisory aide Yan Shao of Langya about raising troops; Shao took poison and died. Hui raised banners and declared martial alert; he said to Chief Administrator Yu Dengzhi, "We are about to go downstream; I wish to impose on you to hold the city with three thousand men and guard against Liu Cui." Dengzhi said, "My aged parents are in the capital, and I have never had troops under my command; my heart wavers—I dare not accept this commission." Hui then asked the officers, "Are three thousand warriors enough to hold the city?" Southern Barbarian Chief Administrator Zhou Chao replied, "Not merely to hold the city—if an external enemy comes, one can win merit." Dengzhi thereupon said, "Chao is surely capable; I ask to resign as chief administrator and governor of Nanjun and confer both posts on him." Hui then appointed Chao chief administrator on the spot and made him acting governor of Southern Yiyang; he transferred Dengzhi to chief clerk while keeping him governor of Nanjun as before. Dengzhi was a grandson of Yu Yunzhi. The Emperor knew that Wang Hong and Tan Daoji had never been part of the plot to depose and kill the princes, and that Hong's younger brother Tanshou enjoyed his personal trust. As the crisis approached, he secretly sent word to Hong and summoned Daoji, intending to send him against Xie Hui. Wang Hua and the others all said it was inadvisable. The Emperor said, "Daoji was only coerced into following; he was not originally the author of the plot. The killings, moreover, did not involve him at all. If I reassure him and put him to use, there will be nothing to fear." On yichou, Daoji arrived at Jiankang. On bingyin, an edict was issued exposing the crimes of Xianzhi, Liang, and Hui in killing the Princes of Yingyang and Luling, ordering the proper offices to execute them, and declaring: "Hui holds the upper Yangtze; he may not submit at once—I shall personally lead the six armies to block his crossing. Dispatch the Central Army Inspector Dao Yanzhi to set out at once by forced march; the Northern Expedition General Tan Daoji is to follow in rapid relays along the route; send orders to the Defender-General's offices and the provinces to destroy them without delay; Liu Cui, governor of Yong Province, and others have already been ordered to cut off every route of escape. Punishment is limited to the ringleaders; no one else will be questioned." That same day, an edict summoned Xianzhi and Liang. Xianzhi, on his way to outside the Ximing Gate, met Xie Yan on duty and sent word to Liang: "There is an unusual disposition within the palace." Liang pleaded that his sister-in-law was ill and he must return briefly; he sent a messenger to warn Xianzhi. Xianzhi went back to Xizhou, rode an inner-court inquiry carriage out of the city, walked on foot to Xinlin, entered a pottery kiln, and hanged himself. Liang rode out through the city gate in a carriage, then mounted a horse and galloped to his elder brother Di's tomb; Colonel of the Garrison Cavalry Guo Hong seized him. At the Guangmo Gate, the Emperor sent a Palace Secretariat Attendant to show Liang the edict and added: "In view of your loyalty at Jiangling, your sons shall come to no harm." After reading the edict through, Liang said, "I received the late Emperor's favor when he was still in common dress, and thus received his dying charge. To remove the dim and establish the bright—that was a plan for the altars of state. If you wish to attach guilt to me, is there no pretext!" Thereupon Liang was executed and his wife and children were exiled to Jian'an; Xianzhi's two sons were executed, but his elder brother's son Peizhi was spared. Hui's son Shixiu was executed, and Xie Yan was arrested and imprisoned. The Emperor was about to campaign against Xie Hui and asked Tan Daoji for strategy. He replied, "Your servant once campaigned north with Hui; of the ten stratagems for entering the pass, Hui had nine—his talent and design are clear and practiced; he has scarcely an equal. Yet he has never won decisive victory with an isolated army; military affairs are probably not his strength. I know Hui's intelligence completely; Hui knows my courage completely. Now, receiving Your Majesty's command to campaign against him, he can be captured before battle is even joined." On dingmao, Wang Hong was summoned as Palace Attendant, Grand Mentor, Director of the Department of State Affairs, and governor of Yang Province; Prince Pengcheng Yikang was made commander-in-chief of military affairs over Jing, Xiang, and seven other provinces, and governor of Jing Province. Yue Tong again sent envoys to inform Xie Hui that Xu, Fu, Yan, and the others had already been executed. Hui first observed mourning for Xianzhi and Liang, then issued notifications of the violent deaths of kinsmen; afterward he personally went to the archery hall to muster troops. Hui had followed the Founding Emperor on campaign; in command and disposition his measures were always exactly right—within days men rallied from far and near, and he raised thirty thousand elite troops. He then submitted a memorial declaring Xianzhi, Liang, and the others loyal and true, cruelly and wrongfully condemned. And he said, "If we truly wished to seize power and did not act solely for the state, when Yingyang was first deposed, Your Majesty was far away, and among Emperor Wu's sons there were still young children—if we had gathered them and issued orders in their name, who would have dared oppose us! How could we have traveled upstream three thousand li, lodged in empty halls for seventy days, gazing up at the imperial banners! The late Prince of Luling, in the reign of Yingyang, accumulated grievances and offended his sovereign—he brought ruin upon himself. If one does not remove some, how can one raise up others! Geng Yan did not leave rebels to his lord and father—what debt do I owe the House of Song! All this is because Wang Hong, Wang Tanshou, and Wang Hua are rash, jealous, and suspicious—they slandered and brought calamity. Now we must raise troops to remove the evil at the ruler's side." King Qiwu Chiqian of Qin again sent envoys to Wei, requesting to deploy troops against Xia. Earlier, Empress Yuan bore the prince Shao; afterward she examined him closely and sent a fast rider to tell the Emperor, "This child's appearance is abnormal; he will surely ruin the state and destroy the family—he must not be made heir." She immediately wished to kill him. The Emperor hurried in disarray to outside the rear hall door, pushed aside the curtain with his hand and forbade it, and only then was she stopped. Because he was still in mourning seclusion, he kept it secret. In the intercalary month, on bingxu, the birth of Shao was first announced. The Emperor issued an edict of martial alert and a general amnesty; the armies advanced in succession to campaign against Xie Hui. Hui appointed his younger brother Dun interior minister of Jingling, left ten thousand men under him for overall retention duties, and led twenty thousand men from Jiangling; he arrayed ships from the Jiang crossing to Pozhong—the banners blotted out the sun—and sighed, "I only regret that these cannot serve as an army to rescue the throne!" Hui wished to dispatch troops to strike Zhang Shao, governor of Xiang Province. He Chengtian, because Shao's elder brother Maodu, governor of Yi Province, was on good terms with Hui, said, "Shao's inclinations are not yet known—it is inadvisable to attack him hastily." Hui tried to win Shao by letter; Shao would not follow. In the second month, on wuwu, Wang Jinghong, Grand Master of the Gold Seal and Purple Tassel, was made Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, and Zheng Xianzhi, governor of Jian'an, was made Right Vice Director. Jinghong was a great-grandson of Yi. On gengshen, the Emperor set out from Jiankang. He ordered Wang Hong and Prince Pengcheng Yikang to remain and guard the capital, entering and dwelling in the lower offices of the Secretariat; Palace Attendant Yin Jingren shared in managing retention duties; the Emperor's elder sister, the Princess of Kuaiji, remained within the palace precinct and supervised the Six Palaces overall. Xie Hui went east from Jiangling; He Chengtian remained at headquarters and did not follow. When Hui reached the river mouth, Dao Yanzhi had already reached Pengcheng Isle. Yu Dengzhi held Baling but, fearful and timid, dared not advance; As heavy rain fell for days on end, Staff Officer Liu Hezhi said, "Both sides share the same rain; General Tan the Northern Expedition will soon arrive—the eastern army is only growing stronger; we must fight at once." Dengzhi, craven, had a junior officer Chen You make great sacks, fill them with thatch, and hang them from masts and sails, claiming they could burn ships; fire required clear weather—thus to delay the battle. Hui agreed; he halted the army for fifteen days. He then sent Central Army Staff Officer Kong Yanxiu to attack General Xiao Xin at Pengcheng Isle and defeated him. He also attacked the stockade at the isle mouth and took it. The generals all wished to retreat to Xiakou; Dao Yanzhi would not permit it. They therefore held Yinfan. Hui again submitted a memorial pleading his own case and also boasting of his victory, saying, "If Your Majesty would execute the Four Evils in the ancestral temple courtyard and hang the Three Overseers at the surrendered gate, your servant will then rein in the host, turn the banners, and return to guard my post." Earlier, Hui together with Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang had made a plan for self-preservation: they thought that with Hui holding the upper Yangtze and Tan Daoji garrisoned at Guangling, each having strong troops, they would be enough to control the court; with Xianzhi and Liang holding power at the center, they could endure long. When they heard that Daoji was leading troops upstream, they were fearful and without plan. Once Daoji arrived and joined Dao Yanzhi's army, they towed ships along the shore. Hui at first saw that the number of ships was not great and treated them lightly, not going out to fight immediately. By evening, as wind filled the sails they came upstream, bow to stern in unbroken succession; the western men were scattered and dispirited, with no will to fight left. On wuchen the imperial army arrived at the tail of Jizhi Isle, deployed ships and crossed the river—the army of Hui all collapsed at once. Hui went out by night, fled to Baling, obtained a small boat, and returned to Jiangling. Earlier, the Emperor had ordered Liu Cui, governor of Yong Province, to lead infantry and cavalry by the land route to strike Jiangling, and he reached Shaqiao; Zhou Chao led more than ten thousand men to meet him in battle and routed him; more than half of the troops were killed or wounded. Before long, news of Hui's defeat arrived. Earlier, Hui, regarding Cui as trustworthy, had made Cui's son Kuangzhi a staff officer; the Emperor was suspicious; Wang Hong said, "Cui has no private interests—there is surely no cause for worry." When he received orders for the southern campaign, he gave no thought to personal concerns; the Emperor praised him for this. Hui also did not kill Kuangzhi but sent him back to Cui. On bingzi, the Emperor returned east from Wuhu. When Hui reached Jiangling, he made no other dispositions but only apologized to Zhou Chao in shame. That night, Chao abandoned the army, took a single boat, and went to Dao Yanzhi to surrender. Hui's followers scattered and were nearly gone; he then took his younger brother Dun and six other riders and fled north. Dun was stout and could not ride a horse; Hui waited for him each time, and they could not travel fast. On jimao, they reached Yantou in Anlu and were seized by the garrison commander Guang Shunzhi, who sent them in a cage cart to Jiankang. When Dao Yanzhi reached Matou, He Chengtian came in and surrendered on his own. Yanzhi then took charge of the Jing Province headquarters and appointed Zhou Chao as an aide-de-camp; Liu Cui reported the defeat at Shaqiao, and Yanzhi had Zhou Chao arrested. Thereupon Xie Hui, Xie Can, and Xie Dun were put to death, together with their brothers' sons and fellow conspirators Kong Yanxiu, Zhou Chao, and the rest. Xie Hui's daughter, the Princess of Pengcheng, hair loose and barefoot, bade Hui farewell, saying, "A great man ought to fall dead on the battlefield—why end up strewn in disarray through the streets of the capital!" Yu Dengzhi was stripped of office and confined for dereliction of duty; He Chengtian, Wang Xuamo of Xinxing, acting aide-de-camp for the southern barbarians, and the others were all pardoned. When Hui fled, everyone around him deserted him. Only Yanling Gai stayed with him to the end; the Emperor made Gai staff officer and supervisor of the Pacification Army. When Hui raised troops, he sought support from Wang Huilong, the Wei commandant of the southern barbarians. Huilong led ten thousand men, took the Silin garrison, and advanced to besiege Xiangcheng. When he heard that Hui had been defeated, he withdrew. Zhang Maodu, governor of Yi Province, received orders to strike Jiangling; By the time Hui was defeated, Maodu's army had only just reached Baidi. Some suspected Maodu of divided loyalty, but the Emperor, because Maodu's younger brother Shao had shown loyal integrity, pardoned him without inquiry and ordered him to return. In the third month, on xinji, the Emperor returned to Jiankang, summoned Xie Lingyun as Director of the Secretariat and Yan Yanzhi as Vice Director of the Central Secretariat, and treated them with great favor. Because the monk Huilin was skilled at debate, the Emperor discussed major affairs of state with him, and Huilin came to share in power and influence. Guests converged on him; there were often dozens of carriages at his gate; gifts and bribes poured in from every quarter; seven or eight square banquets were laid out, and the seats were always full. Lin wore high clogs, draped himself in a sable fur robe, and kept an office clerk and secretary at hand. Kong Yi of Kuaiji once called on him and found the hall packed with guests; Lin greeted him only with a remark about the weather. Yi said with indignation, "We now have a monk in black serving as chancellor—cap and clogs have truly lost their proper place!" In summer, in the fifth month, on yiwei, Tan Daoji was made Great General on the Southern Campaign, given an open office with ritual equal to the Three Excellencies, and appointed governor of Jiang Province; Dao Yanzhi was made governor of South Yuzhou. Sixteen men including Attendant-in-Ordinary Yuan Yu were sent out separately to the provinces, prefectures, and counties to observe official conduct and inquire into the people's hidden grievances; The prefectures and counties were also ordered each to report what should be cut back or expanded. On bingwu, the Emperor personally heard cases at the Hall for Extending Worth, and thereafter held three such sessions each year. Wang Jinghong, Vice Director of the Left, was by nature tranquil and disinterested and enjoyed a great reputation; He never even looked through the documents of the offices under his charge. Once, when he was present at a hearing of cases, the Emperor questioned him about a doubtful criminal matter, and Jinghong did not answer. The Emperor's face darkened and he asked those around him, "Why were the interrogation documents not copied for the Vice Director?" Jinghong said, "Even when I did receive the interrogation documents and read them, I simply could not understand them." The Emperor was very displeased; though he continued to treat Jinghong with courtesy, he no longer consulted him on current affairs. In the sixth month, Wang Hua, Right Guard General, was made Central Army Protector while retaining his post as Attendant-in-Ordinary. Hua saw that Wang Hong was helping govern the realm and that Wang Tanshou enjoyed the Emperor's personal trust on a level with himself; feeling his own strength and ability were not fully used, he often sighed and said, "There are suddenly several chancellors—how can the realm ever be well governed!" At that time the chancellorship had no fixed office; whoever the ruler discussed affairs of state with and entrusted with secrets counted as a chancellor—hence Hua's remark. Some men held the post of Attendant-in-Ordinary yet were not chancellors; Yet the Director and Vice Director of the Secretariat, the Supervisor and Director of the Central Secretariat, Attendants-in-Ordinary, Vice Directors, and Supervising Secretaries were all important offices of the day. Hua, together with Liu Zhan, Wang Tanshou, and Yin Jingren, all served as Attendants-in-Ordinary; in force of character and administrative capacity they were the ornament of the age. The Emperor once feasted and drank with the four men in the Hall of Union and was greatly pleased. When they had withdrawn, the Emperor gazed after them for a long time and sighed, "These four worthies, the finest of their time, together hold the reins of state—I fear later ages will find them hard to match!" Xie Hongwei, Vice Director at the Yellow Gate, together with Hua and the others, were all men the Emperor valued; at the time they were called the Five Ministers. Hongwei was a grandnephew of Xie Yan. His spirit was composed and his bearing careful; he spoke only when the occasion called for it, and before maids and servants he never spoke or laughed lightly—wherefore high and low, great and small, revered him as a god. His cousin Xie Hun set great store by him and often said, "Hongwei is distinct without harming things, alike without injuring integrity—I find no fault in him." The Emperor wished to ennoble Wang Tanshou, Wang Hua, and the others; he struck the imperial couch and said, "This seat—were it not for you brothers, there would be no today." He then produced the enfeoffment edict and showed it to them. Tanshou firmly declined, saying, "In recent affairs, we have relied on Your Majesty's clear wisdom, and the guilty have been brought to justice. How could we turn the realm's disaster into our own good fortune!" The Emperor thereupon stopped. The Wei emperor issued an edict asking the high ministers, "We are about to use the army—between Helian and Rouran, which state should be attacked first?" Zhangsun Song, Zhangsun Han, and Xi Jin all said, "Helian is settled on the land and cannot yet become a threat. It would be better first to campaign against Rouran; if we pursue and overtake them, we can gain a great prize; if we do not overtake them, we can hunt on Yin Mountain and take its beasts, hides, and horns to fill out military stores." Minister of Ceremonies Cui Hao said, "Rouran are birds that gather and beasts that flee; if a great host pursues them it cannot overtake them, and if light troops pursue them they are not enough to control the enemy. The Helian clan's territory is no more than a thousand li; their government and punishments are cruel and savage, abandoned by men and gods alike—they should be attacked first." Minister of the Secretariat Liu Jie and Marquis of Wujing Anyuan asked to campaign against Yan first. Thereupon the Wei emperor personally toured west from Yunzhong to Wuyuan, hunted on Yin Mountain, and went east as far as Mount Hedou. In autumn, in the eighth month, he returned to Pingcheng. An edict ordered Palace Army General Ji Heng to go on a mission of courtesy to Wei. Yong, crown prince of Yan, died; the second son Yi was established as crown prince. Chiqian, King of Qin, campaigned against Hexi, reached Lianchuan, and sent the crown prince Mumo and others with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Xi'an; they did not take it, and then attacked Fanhe. Mengsun, King of Hexi, sent troops to resist him and also sent envoys to persuade the Xia ruler to seize the opportunity and strike Bohan. The Xia ruler sent Great General on the Southern Campaign Hulugu with twenty thousand cavalry to attack Yuanchuan and Chariot-and-Horse General Wei Fa with thirty thousand cavalry to attack Nan'an. When Chiqian heard of it, he withdrew and returned. In the ninth month he moved the old and weak within his borders and livestock to the Jiao River, the Mo River, and the Naihan River, leaving Left Chancellor Tanda to guard Bohan. Wei Fa attacked and took Nan'an, capturing Qin Governor of Qinzhou Zhai Shuang and Nan'an Administrator Li Liang. Wokui and others of Tuyuhun led more than twenty thousand households of their tribes to rebel against Qin, fled to Angchuan, and attached themselves to Murong Mugui, King of Tuyuhun. There was a great drought and a plague of locusts. Fan Tai, Grandee of Splendid Happiness of the Left, submitted a memorial saying, "A woman has the three obediences and no way of acting on her own. The women of Xie Hui's household are still in the Directorate of Palace Manufactories—may Your Majesty take note." An edict pardoned them. When the Wei emperor heard that Xia Shizu had died and his sons were contending with one another so that the people of the state were unsettled, he wished to campaign against them. Zhangsun Song and the others all said, "If they hold their cities and wait at ease for our weary force, and Datan hears of it and seizes the opportunity to raid us, that is a perilous course." Cui Hao said, "Since last year Mars has twice guarded Yulin and moved along Gouji; the omen reads that Qin will perish. This year the five planets all appear in the east—favorable for a western campaign. Heaven and man correspond—this opportunity must not be lost." Song stubbornly argued against it; the Emperor grew furious, rebuked Song for corruption in office, and ordered warriors to humiliate him publicly. Thereupon he dispatched Minister of Works Xi Jin leading forty-five thousand men to strike Puban, and Zhou Ji, General of the Song Army, leading ten thousand men to strike Shancheng, with Hedong Administrator Xue Jin as guide. Jin was a son of Xue Bian. The Wei emperor wished to put Li Shun of Pingji, Doctor of the Central Secretariat, in overall command of the vanguard army; he consulted Cui Hao, who said, "Shun truly has stratagems, but I am related to him by marriage and know well that in decisive action he is swift to advance or withdraw—he cannot be wholly entrusted." The Emperor thereupon stopped. From this Hao and Shun bore a grudge against each other. In winter, in the tenth month, on dingsi day, the Wei emperor departed from Pingcheng. Qin's left chancellor Tanda fought Xia's Hulügu at Mount Changmang, and Tanda's army was defeated. In the eleventh month, Hulügu and Weifa advanced to attack Fuhan. King Chi Pan of Qin relocated to Baodinglian. Hulügu entered the South City, but Zhao Shousheng, garrison-general of the capital, led three hundred death-defying soldiers and fought fiercely to drive him back. Hulügu and Weifa again attacked Shazhou governor Chulian Qian on the Huang River; Qian sent Rear General Qifu Wannian to strike and defeat them. They again attacked Xiping, seized Kuluo Gan, pacifying-general of the west, buried alive more than five thousand warriors, plundered more than twenty thousand civilian households, and withdrew. Yang Xingping of the Chouchi Di sought to submit to the court. Ji Han, governor of Liang and South Qin, sent Shiping administrator Chong Zi to occupy Wuxing. Di king Yang Chan sent his younger brother Nandang to lead troops against Zi; Zi struck and drove him off. When the Wei emperor reached Junzi Ford, the weather suddenly turned bitterly cold and the river froze over; on wuyin day his army crossed with twenty thousand light cavalry to raid Tongwan. On renwu day, the winter solstice, the Xia ruler was feasting his ministers when Wei forces suddenly arrived; court and camp alike were thrown into alarm. The Wei emperor encamped at Black Water, more than thirty li from the city. The Xia ruler sallied out to fight and was defeated, then fled back into the city. Before the gate could be closed, Inner Gentleman of the Third Rank Dou Daitian led his men in on the momentum of victory, entered the West Palace, and burned its west gate; when the palace gates closed, Daitian climbed over the palace wall and escaped. The Wei emperor appointed Daitian Brave Warrior General. The Wei army encamped north of the city overnight; on guiwei day they divided into four columns to plunder, killing and capturing tens of thousands and seizing more than one hundred thousand cattle and horses. The Wei emperor said to his generals, "Tongwan cannot be taken yet; another year I shall take it with you." He then relocated more than ten thousand of their households and withdrew. Cao Da, Xia's administrator of Hongnong, heard that Zhou Ji was approaching and fled without fighting. The Wei army pressed the victory and drove deep, entering the Three Assistants. Ji happened to die in camp; Yidou, Duke of Dongping and Puban's defending general, heard that Xi Jin was approaching and sent an envoy to Tongwan to report the emergency. When the envoy reached Tongwan, Wei forces had already besieged the city; on his return he told Yidou, "Tongwan has already fallen." Terrified, Yidou abandoned the city and fled west to Chang'an; Jin thereupon captured Puban. The Xia ruler's younger brother Zhuxingxian was defending Chang'an; when Yidou arrived, he and Zhuxingxian abandoned the city and fled west to Anding. In the twelfth month Jin entered Chang'an, and the Di and Qiang of Qin and Yong all came to Jin to surrender. Helan Mengsun, king of Hexi, and Di king Yang Xuan, hearing of this, both sent envoys to submit to Wei. Former Wu commandery administrator Xu Peizhi gathered a faction of more than a hundred men and plotted to raise a revolt in the palace at the next New Year assembly; the plot was discovered, and on renxu day he was arrested and executed. Grand Consort Zhang of Yingyang died. Qin's southern-campaigning general Ji Pi garrisoned Nanchang; Xin Dan of Longxi led three thousand households to seize the city and drive Pi out; Pi fled back to Fuhan, and Dan fled south to Yichi. When Wei first gained the Central Plains, many people hid from registration. In the Tianxing era an edict collected unregistered households and required them to pay silk tribute; thereupon very many declared themselves silk-weaver households of gauze, cocoon silk, crepe, and patterned silk, exempt from county jurisdiction, and taxation and corvée became uneven. This year an edict abolished the practice entirely and assigned such households to the counties. Yuanjia 4, fourth year of the reign of Emperor Wen—above, part one (dingmao; 427 CE). In spring, in the first month, on xinsi day, the Emperor sacrificed at the Southern Altar. On yiyou day the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng. Many of the people relocated from Tongwan died on the road; only six or seven out of ten reached Pingcheng. On jihai day the Wei emperor went to Youzhou. The Xia ruler sent Duke Ding of Pingyuan to lead twenty thousand men toward Chang'an. When the Wei emperor heard of this, he felled trees on Yin Mountain, built siege equipment on a large scale, and again planned a campaign against Xia. The mountain Qiang rebelled against Qin. In the second month King Chi Pan of Qin sent left chancellor Tanda to summon and reassure the Qiang of Wushi, and southern-campaigning general Ji Pi to summon and reassure the Qiang of Yaoyang. The Qiang seized Tanda and sent him to Xia; Ji Pi was routed by the Qiang and fled back; eight or nine out of ten of his men and horses were killed or wounded. The Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng. On yimao day the Emperor went to Dantu; on jisi day he visited Jingling. Earlier, after Gaozu had risen to eminence, he had his farming tools from humble days stored away to show his descendants. When the Emperor reached the old palace and saw them, he looked ashamed. Some of those close at hand stepped forward and said, "Great Shun personally plowed on Mount Li, and Lord Yu personally attended to water and earth. If Your Majesty does not behold these relics, how can you know the late Emperor's supreme virtue and the hardship of tilling and sowing!" In the third month, on bingzi day, the Wei emperor sent Prince Li of Gaoliang to garrison Chang'an. Li was a grandson of Jin. An edict also ordered Commandant of the Capital Guard Huan Dai to build a bridge at Junzi Ford. On dingchou day Prince Lian of Guangping in Wei died. On dinghai day the Emperor returned to Jiankang. On wuzi day Right Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs Zheng Xianzhi died. King Chi Pan of Qin appointed state-supporting general Duan Hui governor of Liangzhou and garrisoned him at Ledu; he appointed pacifying-general of the west Qu Jing governor of Shazhou and garrisoned him at Siping; and northern-pacifying general Chulian Fuzheng governor of Liangzhou and garrisoned him at Chishui. In summer, in the fourth month, on dingwei day, Bu Dui, supernumerary attendant cavalier at large of Wei, and others came on a diplomatic mission. On gengxu day Wang Huizhi, director of the Court of Judicial Review, was made governor of Jiaozhou, and former governor Du Hongwen was summoned. Hongwen was ill but set out on the road in a sedan chair; some urged him to wait until his illness healed; Hongwen said, "I have borne the imperial staff through three reigns and have always wished to give my body to the imperial court—how much more when I am summoned!" He set out and died at Guangzhou. Hongwen was a son of Huinuo. Xi Jin of Wei and Duke Ding of Pingyuan of Xia faced off at Chang'an. The Wei emperor wished to exploit the opening to campaign against Tongwan; he selected troops and trained soldiers, assigned the generals, ordered Minister of Education Zhangsun Han and others to lead thirty thousand horsemen as vanguard, Wusu of Changshan and others to lead thirty thousand infantry as rear guard, Prince Fukang and others to lead thirty thousand infantry escorting siege equipment, and General He Duoluo to lead three thousand elite horsemen as advance scouts. Su was a son of Zun. In the fifth month the Wei emperor set out from Pingcheng and ordered Dragon-Charger General Lu Hou of Dai to oversee the armies and garrison the Great Desert against Rouran. On xinsi day he crossed Junzi Ford. On renwu day Central Palace Guard Wang Hua died. The Wei emperor reached Balin Mountain, built a fort, left the baggage train behind, and raced ahead with thirty thousand light cavalry at forced march. All the ministers remonstrated, saying, "The walls of Tongwan are strong and cannot be taken quickly. To campaign against it now with a light force—if we advance we cannot overcome it, and if we retreat we shall have no supplies—it would be better to go together with the infantry and siege equipment all at once." The Emperor said, "In the art of war, storming walled cities is the worst option. Only when there is no other choice should it be used. If we advance now with both infantry and siege engines, they will surely be alarmed and dig in. If we fail to take it quickly, our provisions will run out and our troops will be exhausted; with nothing to plunder outside, we will have nowhere to advance or retreat. Better to send light cavalry straight to their city; when they see the infantry has not yet arrived, they will surely let their guard down; I will feign weakness to lure them out; if they venture out to fight, we can capture them. The reason is that my soldiers are more than two thousand li from home, cut off by a great river—they are in what is called "death's ground," where men fight to live. Thus they are not enough for storming cities, but more than enough for a decisive battle." With that he set out. On the first day of the sixth month, guimao, there was a solar eclipse. The Wei emperor reached Tongwan, divided his army and hid them in a deep valley, and with a small force rode up to the city walls. The Xia general Di Ziyu surrendered to Wei. He reported, "When the Xia ruler heard a Wei army was coming, he sent a messenger to summon the Duke of Pingyuan, Ding. Ding said, 'Tongwan is strong and steep and will not be easy to take. Wait until I capture Xi Jin, then I shall come at my leisure. Attacking from within and without, we cannot fail to succeed.' So the Xia ruler dug in and waited." The Wei emperor was troubled by this. He withdrew his army to feign weakness and sent E Qing and Prince Yongchang, Tuoba Jian, leading five thousand cavalry west to raid the countryside. A Wei soldier who had committed an offense fled to Xia and reported that the Wei army had run out of grain, the soldiers were eating vegetables, the baggage train was still behind, and the infantry had not yet arrived—they should attack at once. The Xia ruler took his advice. On jiachen, he led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry out of the city. Changsun Han and others all said, "The Xia infantry formation is hard to break—better to avoid their charge." The Wei emperor said, "I came from afar seeking the enemy and feared only that they would not come out. Now that they have come out. To shrink from them now—making them bold while we look weak—is no strategy at all. He gathered his forces, feigned retreat, and drew them on to wear them down. The Xia troops split into two wings and pursued with drums and shouts; after five or six li, wind and rain blew in from the southeast, whipping up sand until the sky went dark. The eunuch Zhao Ni, who knew something of divination, told the Wei emperor, "The wind and rain are coming from the enemy's side; we face into it while they have it at their backs—Heaven is not helping us; Our officers and soldiers are hungry and thirsty; I beg Your Majesty to withdraw the cavalry and wait for another day." Cui Hao rebuked him: "What kind of talk is that! We marched a thousand li to win this battle—how can we change plans in a single day! The enemy is pressing forward without stopping and their rear is cut off—we should hide part of our army and strike them by surprise. Wind favors whoever seizes it—nothing is fixed!" The Wei emperor said, "Excellent!" He then split his cavalry into left and right wings to pin the enemy. The Wei emperor's horse stumbled and threw him; he was nearly captured by Xia troops; Tuoba Qi shielded him with his own body and fought with desperate fury until the Xia troops fell back. The Wei emperor remounted, ran through the Xia Minister of Works Heli Wen and killed him, then cut down more than ten horsemen; though an arrow struck him, he fought on without pause, and the Xia army broke in complete rout. Qi was the great-great-grandson of Xuan, son of Yihuai. The Wei pressed their victory and pursued the Xia ruler to the north of the city, killing his younger brother the Duke of Henan, Man, and his nephew Mengsun; more than ten thousand were killed. The Xia ruler could not reach the city in time and fled to Shanggui. The Wei emperor, dressed plainly, pursued the fugitives and entered the city; Tuoba Qi pleaded with him but was ignored. The Xia realized what was happening and shut every gate; The Wei emperor went into the palace with Qi and the others, seized a woman's skirt, tied it to a spear, and climbed it to escape—barely making it out alive. At dusk, the Xia Vice Director of the Masters of Writing, Wen Zhi, escorted the Xia ruler's mother in flight; Changsun Han led eight thousand cavalry in pursuit of the Xia ruler to Gaoping but failed to catch him and turned back. On yisi, the Wei emperor entered the city and took captive Xia royalty, nobles, ministers, generals, officers, royal mothers, empresses and consorts, sisters, and palace women by the tens of thousands, along with more than three hundred thousand horses, tens of millions of cattle and sheep, and storehouse treasures, chariots, banners, and goods beyond reckoning; he distributed rewards to his officers and soldiers according to rank. Earlier, the Xia emperor Shizu had been extravagant by nature; he built the city of Tongwan ten ren high, with foundations thirty paces thick and ten paces wide at the top; the palace walls stood five ren high, hard enough to sharpen knives and axes against them. Its terraces and pavilions were vast, carved and painted throughout, draped in brocades and embroideries—a riot of ornament. The Wei emperor turned to those around him and said, "A tiny realm, yet it drove its people like this—could it hope not to perish!" He captured the Xia Directors of Astronomy, Zhang Yuan and Xu Bian, and reappointed them to their old offices. He took the former Jin general Mao Xiuzhi and the Qin general Kuluo Gan; he sent Kuluo Gan back to Qin and, because Mao Xiuzhi was a gifted cook, made him Chief of the Imperial Kitchen. The Wei emperor read a text by the Xia Copying Director Zhao Yi of Tianshui that lavishly praised the Xia ruler and angrily said, "This scoundrel is utterly lawless—how dare he write like this! Who wrote this? Find out at once!" Cui Hao said, "Men of letters in praise and blame often go beyond the truth; they likely had no choice—it is no crime worth punishing." The emperor relented. The Wei emperor took three daughters of the Xia emperor Shizu as honored consorts. Xi Jin and the Xia Duke of Pingyuan, Ding, were still locked in stalemate at Chang'an. The Wei emperor ordered the Director of the Imperial Clan, E Qing, and the Grand Servant Qiu Dui to lead five thousand cavalry to raid the lands west of the pass. When Ding heard that Tongwan had fallen, he fled to Shanggui; Jin pursued as far as Yong but failed to catch him and turned back. Qing and Dui attacked the Xia city of Ercheng and captured it. The Wei emperor ordered Jin and the others to withdraw. Jin memorialized, saying, "Hedie Chang has fled to Shanggui and is gathering what remains of his force; he does not yet have the strength to dig in and hold out; Strike him now while he is vulnerable and destroying him will be easy. I ask for more armor and horses so I can finish off Chang and then return." The Wei emperor refused. Jin pressed his request until the emperor agreed, gave him ten thousand troops, sent General Liu Ba with three thousand horses, and kept E Qing and Qiu Dui to join him in attacking Xia. On xinyou, the Wei emperor set out east from Tongwan; he made Prince Changshan, Su, General Who Subdues the South with discretionary powers, and left him with the Commandant of the Guard, Huan Dai, and Mo Yun to garrison Tongwan. Mo Yun was the younger brother of Ti. The King of Qin, Juqen, returned to Fuhan. In autumn, the seventh month, on jimao, the Wei emperor reached Zhaling. The Rouran raided Yunzhong, but when they heard Wei had taken Tongwan, they withdrew. The King of Qin, Juqen, told his ministers, "I knew the Hedie clan would never succeed; Chang rashly defied Wei, and now it has turned out exactly as I predicted." In the eighth month, he sent his uncle, the General Who Pacifies the Distance, Wotou, and others to present tribute to Wei. On renzi, the Wei emperor returned to Pingcheng and distributed the spoils among the officials left at the capital according to rank. The Wei emperor was sturdy, fierce, and bold; in siege and battle he personally braved arrows and stones, and though those around him fell wounded and dead in succession, his face never changed; Because of this his officers and soldiers stood in awe of him and fought with all their strength. He was frugal by nature; for dress, equipage, food, and drink he took only what he needed. The ministers asked to fortify the capital and build palace halls, saying, "The Book of Changes says, 'Kings and dukes establish defenses to guard their states. Xiao He also said, 'The Son of Heaven takes the four seas as his home; if the palace is neither grand nor splendid, it cannot inspire awe.' The Emperor said, "The ancients said, 'Security lies in virtue, not in walls. Helian Bobo built walls of steamed earth, and I destroyed him anyway. What do walls matter? The realm is not yet at peace and still needs the people's strength; grand construction projects are what I have not undertaken. Xiao He's reply was not elegant speech." He always held that wealth is the foundation of army and state and must not be spent lightly. As for rewards and gifts, they went only to families with merit earned in death for the cause; kin and favorites never received anything without cause. When he ordered generals to take the field he personally set out plans and dispositions; those who disobeyed often met defeat. He was clear in knowing men and sometimes raised the capable from the ranks, valuing only what their talents could do, without regard to origin. His hearing and scrutiny were keen; below him nothing could be hidden. Rewards did not overlook the lowly, punishments did not avoid the noble—even those he loved most were never spared in the end. He often said, "The law is what I share with all under Heaven—how dare I treat it lightly." Yet by nature he was cruel and decisive in killing; often he had already killed and then repented. In the ninth month, on dingyou day, the people of Anding surrendered the whole city to Wei. Yang Xuan, king of the Di, sent the general Fu Baizuo to besiege Chulian Fuzheng, Qin's governor of Liangzhou, at Chiyan. When grain in the city was exhausted, the people seized Fuzheng and surrendered. Fuzheng reached Luogu Valley and fled back. In winter, in the tenth month, Qin made Wu Han, valiant cavalry general, Southern-pacifying General and governor of Liangzhou, stationed at Nanqiang. In the eleventh month the Wei emperor sent the marshal Gongsun Gui, also grand master of splendid happiness, bearing credentials to invest Yang Xuan as commander of all military affairs in Jing, Liang, and four other provinces, governor of Liangzhou, and King of Southern Qin. When he reached the border, Xuan did not come out to welcome him; Gui rebuked him and was about to return with the credentials; Xuan was afraid and went out to the suburbs to welcome him. The Wei emperor approved of this and made Gui director of the masters of writing. Gui was a son of Gongsun Biao. In the twelfth month Wu Han, Qin's governor of Liangzhou, was attacked by various Qiang groups and led two thousand households back to Fuhan.”