The Last Emperor, his name was Bo Zong, with the courtesy name Fengye, and his nickname was Yaowang. He was the eldest son of Emperor Shizu. He was born on the 15th day of the fifth month in the third year of Chengsheng in the Liang Dynasty. On the 5th day of the 2nd month in the second year of Yongding, he was titled Prince of Linchuan. Three years later, his father Shizu ascended the throne and became emperor. On the 8th day of the 8th month of Gengxu, he was appointed as the Crown Prince. Because the Liang Dynasty was chaotic at that time, the Eastern Palace had been burned down, so the Crown Prince lived in Yongfu Province.
In this way, he grew up in the midst of war since childhood. The Eastern Palace had been burned down, showing how chaotic the situation was at that time. His residence in Yongfu Province also reflected the embarrassment and helplessness of the royal family at that time. Just think, a Crown Prince actually had to live in Yongfu Province instead of the magnificent Eastern Palace; the disparity and helplessness of this situation is palpable.
On the 4th day of the 4th month in the first year of Tiankang, Emperor Shizu passed away. On that day, the Crown Prince ascended the throne in the Hall of Supreme Harmony and became emperor. He issued a decree saying, "A disaster has descended from the heavens; the great Emperor Daxing suddenly passed away, leaving the people in grief and sorrow. I feel unworthy of the throne I have inherited, and I am very uneasy, afraid that I may not be competent enough, and I must rely on my ministers to help me navigate my shortcomings. Therefore, I hereby declare a general amnesty!" He also ordered all civil and military officials to stay in their respective positions, and officials from afar to cease their journey to pay their respects.
In May of the year Ji Mao, the emperor honored the Empress Dowager as Grand Empress Dowager and the empress as Empress Dowager. On the day of Geng Yin, he appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, Minister of Works, Governor of Yangzhou, and newly appointed Minister of the Masters of Writing, Prince Xu of Ancheng, as Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, promoted him to Minister, concurrently appointed him as Recorder of the Masters of Writing, and Commander-in-chief of all military affairs. On the day of Ding You, General of the Central Army, Secretary of Works, Xu Du was promoted; General Who Guards the South, Secretary of Works, and Governor of Jiangzhou, Zhang Zhaoda was promoted to Attendant of the Palace and appointed as General Who Conquers the South; General Who Guards the East, Governor of East Yangzhou, Prince Boma of Shixing was promoted to General Who Conquers the East and granted the title of Secretary of Works; General Who Pacifies the North, Governor of South Xuzhou, Prince Boshan of Poyang was promoted to General Who Guards the North; Minister of Personnel Yuan Shu was promoted to Deputy Director of the Masters of Writing; General of the Cloud Banners and Prefect of Wuxing, Shen Qin was promoted to Deputy Director of the Masters of Writing; newly appointed General of the Central Army, Wu Mingche was promoted to General of the Army; newly appointed General of the Central Guard, Shen Ke was promoted to Guard General; General Who Pacifies the South, Governor of Xiangzhou, Hua Jiao was promoted to General Who Secures the South; Cavalier in Attendance and Chief Imperial Secretary, Xu Ling was promoted to Minister of Personnel. In June of the year Xin Hai, General Who Supports the Right, Chief Imperial Secretary, Wang Tong was promoted to General Who Secures the Right. In July of the year Ding You, the emperor appointed Wang Shi as Empress. In October of the year Geng Shen, the emperor led a procession to the ancestral temple for sacrifices. In November of the year Yi Hai, envoys from the Zhou dynasty arrived to offer condolences. In December of the year Jia Zi, envoys from Goryeo presented tribute.
In the first month of the Guangda era, which is the year 567 AD, the Left Minister Yuan Shu passed away. A few days later, the emperor issued a decree saying: "In the past, the heavens bestowed upon us the stability of the nation, and the glory of two imperial dynasties shone throughout the country. My abilities are limited, and there are many shortcomings in governing the country. Bearing this heavy responsibility feels like sailing in the vast sea. I hope all ministers can work diligently, and local officials can be honest and upright, so that the world can be peaceful and prosperous. Now that we have changed the era, the whole country is peaceful, and the court officials are all in place. I feel comforted in my heart, but also saddened by the passing of Yuan Shu. In order to express mourning and to bestow blessings, a general amnesty is granted, changing the year to Guangda from Tiankang, and rewarding those who honor their parents and toil diligently in agriculture with a promotion in rank."
A few days later, Wu Mingche was appointed as the Governor of Danyang. A few days later, the emperor personally went to the southern outskirts to conduct rituals. In the second month, General Xuan Yi, Yu Xiaoqing, rebelled and was subsequently executed. Later, Prince Boma of Shixing was appointed as the Grand General of Zhongwei, Huang Fabian was appointed as the General of Zhenbei and the Inspector of Southern Xuzhou, and Prince Boshan of Poyang was appointed as the General of Zhendong and the Inspector of Eastern Yangzhou. In the third month, Shen Qin was appointed as the Palace Attendant and the Minister of Works. In the fourth month, the planet Jupiter appeared during the day, which was quite an unusual phenomenon! In the fifth month, Wu Mingche was appointed as the General of Annan and the Inspector of Xiangzhou. Du Leng replaced him as the Commander-in-Chief. Hua Jiao, the General of Annan and Inspector of Xiangzhou, rebelled, and the court promptly dispatched Chunyu Liang to lead the army against him. In the sixth month, Xu Du was promoted and given a title, in charge of military defense in the capital, and led the army to attack Xiangzhou. In the intercalary month, Prince Bogu of Xin'an was appointed as the Governor of Danyang.
In July, the emperor appointed his son Zhi Ze as the crown prince and bestowed titles upon those who showed filial piety. Nobles, officials, and ministers all received rewards to varying degrees. In September, the emperor issued a decree stating, "The traitor Hua Jiao has committed grave offenses by supporting Xiao Kui in an attempt to overthrow the court. He has shown ingratitude and disregard for righteousness, and our forces swiftly attacked, defeating Hua Jiao's troops. His family members in Beili Shangfang should also be executed as a warning to others!" In the same month, an envoy from the kingdom of Baekje presented tribute. General Tuoba Ding of the Zhou kingdom led twenty thousand troops to attack Yingzhou, colluding with Hua Jiao. However, they were defeated by Chunyu Liang and Wu Mingche, with Tuoba Ding captured, alongside over ten thousand soldiers and four thousand horses taken as spoils, all sent to the capital. In October, the emperor granted amnesty to those in Xiangzhou and Bajun who had made mistakes because of Hua Jiao. The emperor personally went to the imperial ancestral temple to make sacrifices. In November, Shen Ke was appointed as General of the West and Inspector of Jingzhou. Wang Chong passed away. In December, Kong Yingzhe was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Fengshengting, responsible for worshipping Confucius.
In the spring of a certain year, on the first day of the first month, Prince Xiao Xu of Ancheng received a promotion, becoming the Grand Tutor and concurrently the Minister of Works. The emperor granted him special privileges, allowing him to wear a sword and attend court directly. At the same time, Zhang Zhaoda was promoted to General Who Conquers the South; Chunyu Liang was appointed as Palace Attendant, General of the Central Army, and concurrently the Treasurer of the Household; Wu Mingche was promoted to General Who Guards the South; and Cheng Lingxi was promoted to General Who Maintains the West. A few days later, the emperor issued a decree providing coffins, burial expenses, and condolences to the families of soldiers who lost their lives fighting Hua Jiao. Subsequently, Wuzhou was dissolved, and Poyang Commandery was reassigned to Jiangzhou. Unfortunately, we received the sad news of Sikong Xudu's passing.
In April, Venus appeared in the daytime, which was quite an unusual phenomenon! Not long after, Jin'an County in Dongyangzhou was separated to establish Fengzhou. In May, Prince Ancheng, Xiao Xu, presented a jade seal to the emperor. In June, a comet appeared in the sky, another sign! In July, the emperor personally went to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices. The Silla Kingdom sent envoys to present some items. The emperor appointed two of his younger brothers as kings, one called Prince Yongyang and the other called Prince Guiyang. In September, the kingdoms of Linyi and Langyaxi also sent envoys to offer tribute. Zhang Zhaoda was promoted to Grand General. At the end of the month, Venus appeared again in the daytime! In October, the emperor again personally went to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices.
In November, Shen Ke was promoted to Guard General; Huang Fabian was promoted to General of the West and Governor of Yingzhou; Chunyu Liang was promoted to General of the North and Governor of Southern Xuzhou. Then, Empress Dowager Cixun called all the ministers to court and declared: Commanders of the Central Army, Northern Commanders, General of the Right, Guard General, and the eight court officials: During the final years of the Liang Dynasty, the country was in chaos, and the common people were struggling to make ends meet. Emperor Wu, the founder, turned things around, restored order to the world, and brought back the normal social order, just like hanging up the three symbols representing heaven and earth again, completing the yin and yang, and continuing to develop and expand, ensuring that the people of the Central Plains could live and work in peace while the border areas remained stable; they worked diligently to govern the country, which resulted in the prosperity of the Great Liang Dynasty, comparable to the golden ages of the Shang and Xia Dynasties.
Before Bo Zong became emperor, he had no reputation while in the palace, but after ascending to the throne, he indulged in pleasure, engaged in wrongdoing, and lived a dissolute life without any remorse. The palace maids and concubines served him without restraint, taking turns in his bed. This was not just a simple matter of the clothing and carriages; it was a mockery of the ancestral temple. He even fathered a child during the mourning period and was criticized by the imperial censor. How could he possibly maintain his rule for seven hundred years? How will he bear the guilt of the deaths of three thousand people? He squandered gold and silver treasures to fill the harem, depleting the national treasury and military supplies even before the harvest. The Grand Tutor, entrusted by the emperor, had meticulously planned in his will, his loyalty evident, but before he could take action, he was gone the next day. The emperor openly opposed the Grand Tutor, rallying Liu Shizhi, Yin Buneng, and others to his cause. Han Zigao, a frivolous man, gained the emperor's trust and secretly plotted rebellion, inciting internal strife. Although Yuan Xiang prevented it, he only removed the emperor's wicked officials. The emperor summoned Yu Xiaoqing, who was close to the capital, and thus the instigator of the chaos was captured, dispelling the malevolent influence over the ancestral temple. The emperor secretly ordered Hua Jiao to lead troops to attack upstream as the country was on the brink of danger, almost falling into the hands of evildoers. He even recruited troops from distant regions, extending his influence to Yeli Ba, Xiang, and beyond, harassing Yixian and Shexian counties. He also ordered Ouyang He and others to attack Hengzhou, causing chaos in Lingnan, with the prolonged war. This was not merely a more serious crime than that of the Marquis of Changyi, nor just a worse reputation than that of Emperor Taihe. However, all those thieves are dead, and the demons have dispersed. One might have expected the emperor to repent for his past mistakes, yet he continued to suppress loyal officials, violate rituals and laws, be ungrateful, and be deeply entrenched in pleasure, with a single-minded desire to disrupt the court. Zhang Anguo, a small villain, was originally just a petty thief, but the emperor sent an envoy, Jiang Yu, to bring him from the capital and immediately established a government office, selecting his accomplices. The thief Hua Jiao's wife, Lady Lv, was condemned to slave labor, pounding rice, while Hua Jiao himself was demoted to a minor official, detained in Yongxiang, to conspire with relatives and friends to scheme for another uprising. Dang Zhuhou Faxi and others were all former subordinates of the Grand Tutor, frequently entering the court. The emperor used large sums of money to buy them, hoping they would cause trouble around him. Meanwhile, Dang Zhuhou Sun Tai and others were also secretly colluding, wielding significant influence and preparing to instigate a rebellion.
The royal family is blessed, the nation's fortune is enduring, and Heaven has touched the emperor's heart, leading him to a sudden realization. I have told you all these things; can you still endure it? Who can tolerate it? The ancestral foundation is on the verge of collapse; how can we continue to perform sacrifices and govern the people? Traditionally, he would be exiled, but now he can be specially granted the title of Prince of Linhai County and sent back to his fiefdom. The Grand Tutor, Prince Ancheng, is naturally benevolent and talented; both empresses hold him in high regard, and the heavens also favor him. Since the previous dynasty, he has been responsible for governing the country, applying both kindness and firmness, with rewards and punishments clear and his commands decisive. He quickly quelled the rebellions in Xiangzhou and Yingzhou, expanded the territory, and brought Jingzhou and Yizhou under the court's rule. Just as Tai Wu inherited the Shang Dynasty's realm and Zhongdu served the Han Dynasty, when it comes to accomplishments, who can match him? Moreover, auspicious jade seals have appeared on the land, and a long comet has appeared in the sky, signaling a transition from old to new, with auspicious signs appearing. Emperor Wen recognizes his son's abilities; like Emperor Yao, he passed the throne to his brother, and like Tai Bo, he relinquished power to his virtuous brother. Now he can realize his former aspirations, establish a wise monarch, strengthen the imperial ancestral temple, and ensure the long-term stability of the country. Internal and external affairs should be conducted according to the old system, in preparation for the emperor's return. As a widow, I have been unfortunate enough to face such troubles. If we do not act swiftly, the state is in grave danger; how can we honor our ancestors and bury them in Wuyuan? I pen these thoughts with a heavy heart. Today, the emperor has moved into a new palace. In the second year of Taijian, in the fourth month, he died at the age of nineteen.
The emperor was kind-hearted and benevolent, yet weak and ineffectual, lacking the ability to rule. The retired emperor (the founder of the dynasty) was always concerned that he would be unable to inherit the throne. As he was the eldest son, the issue of deposing him was extremely serious, so the retired emperor hesitated and procrastinated for several years. When the emperor was seriously ill and dying, the retired emperor summoned Gaozong, who would later become emperor, and said to him, "I wish to emulate the actions of Taibo." Initially, Gaozong did not grasp his intention, but he soon understood and, kneeling down in tears, firmly declined. Later, Empress Dowager Xuan acted on the retired emperor's wishes and deposed the emperor.
Historians noted that although the King of Linhai ascended to the throne, he was kind-hearted and benevolent, yet weak and ineffectual, unable to discern right from wrong, and his emotions remained inscrutable. He resembled Emperor Zhizhi and Emperor Hui of Han. The retired emperor recognized the significance of the throne and realized that he was unfit, so he emulated the example set by Emperor Yao and did not pass the throne to him.
