Emperor Xiaohuai, whose name was Sima Chi, styled Fengdu, was the twenty-fifth son of Emperor Wu. In the first year of Taixi, he was appointed as the Prince of Yuzhang Commandery. During the reign of Emperor Hui, some troubling events unfolded within the imperial family. Sima Chi was a low-key person who stayed out of political intrigue. He focused on studying historical books and was well-regarded at that time. Initially appointed as a Cavalier Attendant, he was later arrested when Prince Zhao Lun usurped the throne. After the failure of Prince Zhao Lun, Sima Chi was appointed as the Colonel of Archery. He rose through the ranks to become Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, responsible for military affairs in Qingzhou, but he had not yet assumed his duties.
In the first year of Yongxing, he was appointed as Grand General Who Pacifies the North, responsible for the defense of Ye City. In the twelfth month of the same year, he was named Crown Prince. Because Prince of Qinghe, Sima Tan, was previously the Crown Prince, Sima Chi felt uneasy and hesitant to accept. At that time, the Director of the Imperial Library, Lu Lingxiu, advised him, saying, "The two ministers have worked hard for the imperial family and devoted themselves to the country. The Crown Prince position should go to someone respected and capable. Besides you, who else could be more suitable? Prince of Qinghe is still young, and everyone is dissatisfied. Although he was appointed as Crown Prince, he was later returned to his fiefdom. Now the Emperor is traveling everywhere, and the palace has been vacant for quite some time. We worry that the Di and Qiang tribes will drink from the Jing River, and the rebels will draw bows and arrows in the Ba River. You should ascend to the throne quickly, support the Emperor, and stabilize the capital quickly to fulfill the people's expectations." Sima Chi said, "You are my Song Chang!" So he accepted.
In the eleventh month of the first year of the Guangxi era, Emperor Xiaohui passed away on Gengwu day. Since Empress Yang was the sister-in-law to the crown prince, she could not become empress dowager. As a result, everyone quickly summoned Sima Tan, the Prince of Qinghe, who was already at the Shangshu Pavilion. The attendants hurried to summon Crown Prince Sima Chi. On Guichou day in the eleventh month, Sima Chi ascended the throne as emperor, granting amnesty throughout the country. Empress Yang was honored as Empress Hui and resided in Hongxun Palace. His mother, Lady Wang, was posthumously titled Empress Dowager, and Lady Liang was appointed Empress. A solar eclipse occurred on Renwu day in the twelfth month. On Jihai day, Sima Rong, son of Prince Sima Zhi of Pengcheng, was granted the title of Prince of Lecheng. Prince Sima Mo of Nanyang killed Hejian's Prince Sima Yong in Yonggu. On Xinchou day, Wen Xian was appointed as Minister of Works and Wang Yan as Minister of Finance. On Jiyu day, Emperor Xiaohui was interred at Taiyang Ling. Li Li, a general under Li Xiong, launched an attack on Liangzhou. On the first day of the first month of the year 311 AD, which fell on Guichou day, the court issued a nationwide amnesty, changed the era title, and abolished the cruel practice of punishing three generations. At the same time, Sima Yue, the Grand Tutor and Prince of Donghai, was appointed regent, and the Chief Imperial Secretary, Zhuge Mei, was killed.
In February, the people of Donglai led by Wang Mi rebelled, attacking Qingzhou and Xuzhou, where both the Prefect of Changguang, Song Pi, and the Prefect of Dongmou, Pang Kang, were killed. On the first day of March, General Pingdong Zhou Fu brought the head of Chen Min. On Dingmao day in March, the court reburied Empress Wudao Yang. On Gengwu day in March, Prince Yuzhang Sima Quan was appointed Crown Prince. On Xinyou day in March, the court granted another amnesty across the land. On Gengchen day in March, Prince Donghai Sima Yue went to Xuchang to defend. Subsequently, the court appointed General Zhengdong, Prince Gaomi Sima Jian as Grand General of the South, overseeing military matters in Jingzhou and defending Xiangyang; appointed General Anbei, Prince Dongyan Sima Teng as Prince Xincai, overseeing military matters in Sizhou and Jizhou, defending Ye City; appointed General Zhengnan, Prince Nanyang Sima Mo as Grand General of the West, overseeing military matters in the four states of Qinzhou, Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Yizhou, defending Changan. At that time, many counties in Bingzhou were occupied by Liu Yuanhai; only Governor Liu Kun managed to hold Jinyang.
In May, Ma Mu and Ji Sang led a large-scale rebellion, defeating the Wei Prefect Feng Song, capturing Ye City, killing Prince Xincai Sima Teng, and setting fire to Ye Palace, which burned for ten days before finally being extinguished. They also killed the former Youzhou governor Shi Shao, looted Pingyuan, and killed Liu Qiu, the Duke of Shanyang. During this period, the Ludian in Luoyang collapsed, and two geese appeared: one dark gray soared into the sky, while the other, white, could not take flight. The Yi people of Jianning County captured Ningzhou, resulting in the deaths of more than three thousand people.
On the first day of July, the King of Donghai, Sima Yue, stationed his troops at Guandu, preparing to attack Ma Mu and Ji Sang. On the day of Jiyu in July, the court appointed General Pingdong, Prince of Langya, Sima Rui, as the General of Andong, allowing him to command the military in Jiangnan of Yangzhou and granting him temporary authority to guard Jianye. On the first day of August, General Fu Xie defeated Ma Mu and Ji Sang in Yecheng. On the day of Jia Chen in August, the court granted amnesty to six states including Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. At the same time, the court carved out eight counties from Jingzhou and Jiangzhou to establish Xiangzhou. On the day of Wushen in September, Fu Xie defeated Ma Mu and Ji Sang again, breaking through their nine camps. On the day of Xinhai in September, a star as big as the sun appeared in the sky, along with many stars as small as the Dipper, flowing from the west to the northeast, turning the sky red, followed by thunder-like sounds. The court began constructing Qianjin Dam in Xuchang to facilitate the transport of supplies.
On the first day of November, a solar eclipse occurred. On Jiayin in November, the court appointed the Right Supervisor of the Ministry of Personnel, He Yu, as the General of the Northern Expedition to guard Ye City. On the day of Wuyin in December, people from Bingzhou such as Tian Lan and Bo Sheng killed Ma Mu and Ji Sang. On the day of Jiawu in December, the court appointed former Grand Tutor Liu Shi as the Grand Commandant. On the day of Gengzi in December, the court appointed the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Duke of Yanling, Gao Guang, as the Prefect. The King of Donghai, Sima Yue, falsely claimed to issue an imperial decree, imprisoning the King of Qinghe, Sima Tan, in Jinyong City. On the day of Guimao in December, Sima Yue declared himself Prime Minister and appointed General Fu Xie as the Grand General of the Eastern Expedition.
In the spring of a certain year, on the first day of the first month, which was Bingwu, a solar eclipse occurred. The next day, on Dingwei, the court ordered a general amnesty throughout the country. On the eighth day of the second month, on Xinmao, the King of Qinghe, Sima Tan, was killed by King Sima Yue of Donghai. On the tenth day of the second month, on Gengzi, Shi Le marched his troops to attack Changshan, and General Wang Jun of Anbei led his troops to defeat Shi Le.
In March, King Yue of Donghai stationed in Juancheng. Liu Yuanhai invaded Jijun, occupying the area of Dunqiu and Henei. Wang Mi then burned, killed, and looted in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. On the fourteenth day of April, Wang Mi attacked Xuchang, causing the prefects and generals of each county to flee. On the first day of May, Wang Mi attacked Luoyang again, and the Minister of State, Wang Yan, led the army to resist, but Wang Mi ultimately fled in disgrace.
On the first day of July, Liu Yuanhai attacked Pingyang, and the prefect of Pingyang, Song Chou, fled to the capital city, while the prefect of Hedong, Lu Shu, fought to the death and was killed. On the fourteenth day of August, King Yue of Donghai moved from Juancheng to Puyang. In September, Shi Le attacked Zhaojun again, and the General of the North and Yu fled from Ye City to the State of Wei. On the first day of October, Liu Yuanhai declared himself emperor in Pingyang, claiming to be the emperor of the Han Dynasty.
On the twelfth day of November, the Minister of State, Gao Guang, died; on the fourteenth day, the Prince's Tutor, Xun Fan, was appointed as the Minister of State. On the sixteenth day, Shi Le attacked Ye City, and the Prefect of Weijun, Wang Cui, was defeated and killed. On the first day of December, the court issued another general amnesty. At the same time, the son of the Prince of Changsha, Yu, was appointed Prince of Changsha, and another son, Xun, was made Prince of Linhuai.
In the year 311 AD, in the first month of Jiawu, the Prince of Pengcheng, Sima Shi, died. In March, Sima Jian, the General Who Conquers the South and the King of Gaomi, also died. The court then appointed Shan Jian, the Left Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, as the General Who Conquers the South, in charge of military affairs in the four provinces of Jingzhou, Xiangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Guangzhou; and appointed Liu Lun, the Colonel of Retainers, as the Left Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat. This day was Dingsi, and the King of Donghai, Sima Yue, returned to the capital.
On the day of Yi Chou, Sima Yue led his troops into the imperial palace, seizing Chancellor Miao Bo, Wang Yan, the Emperor's uncle, and more than a dozen other ministers by the Emperor's side, executing them all. On Bing Yin, the court granted amnesty to the counties in Henan. On Ding Mao, Grand Commandant Liu Shi retired, and Minister of Works Wang Yan succeeded him as Grand Commandant, while Prince of Donghai Sima Yue took over Wang Yan's position as Minister of Works. During this time, Liu Yuanhai attacked Liyang, and the court sent General of Chariots Wang Kan to fight him, resulting in Wang Kan's defeat, with over thirty thousand casualties at Yanjin. That year saw a severe drought, with the Yangtze River, Han River, Yellow River, and Luo River all drying up, allowing people to walk across them.
In the fourth month, Zhu Dan, the General of the Left, rebelled and defected to Liu Yuanhai. Shi Le captured over a hundred cities in Jizhou. On the seventh day of the seventh month in the year of Wu Chen, three fissures opened up in Dangyang, each three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. On Xin Wei, a man named Liu Mang from Pingyang proclaimed himself Emperor of Han and deceived the Qiang and Rong tribes, declaring himself emperor on Mount Malan. Zhi Hu, known as Wudousou, and Hao Su also gathered a few thousand rebels in Tun Xinfeng, allying with Liu Mang. Liu Yuanhai sent his son Liu Cong and Wang Mi to attack Shangdang, besieging Huguan. Governor of Bingzhou Liu Kun led troops to rescue, but was ultimately defeated by Liu Cong. Governor of Huainan Wang Kuang, General Shi Rong, and Cao Chao also fought against Liu Cong and were defeated, resulting in the deaths of both Cao Chao and Shi Rong in battle. Pang Chun, the Prefect of Shangdang, surrendered Shangdang to Liu Cong.
In September of the year of Bingyin, Liu Cong surrounded Xunyi. The court sent General Cao Wu to fight him, but on the day of Dingchou, the court's forces suffered another defeat. Prince Sima Yue of Donghai entered the city to protect the capital. Liu Cong reached the Ximing Gate, where Sima Yue personally engaged him in battle and defeated Liu Cong's army outside the Xuanyang Gate. Shi Le attacked Changshan, and General Wang Jun dispatched Xianbei cavalry to rescue, defeating Shi Le decisively at Feilong Mountain. General Sima Mo sent Chunyu Ding to eliminate Liu Mang and Wudousou, both of whom were killed. The court subsequently sent Generals Wang Kan and Cao Wu to confront Liu Cong, but they too were defeated, and Wang Kan fled back to the capital. Li Xiong's subordinate Luo Xian surrendered to the court. Liu Cong assaulted the Ximing Gate of Luoyang but was unsuccessful in breaching it. Yidao Mountain in Yidu collapsed, and earthquakes struck Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. In November, Shi Le seized Changle, resulting in the death of General Wang Bin of Anbei. Shi Le also massacred Liyang. The leaders of the Qihuo army, including Li Yun and Bosheng, came to the capital's aid, prompting Liu Cong to withdraw. Li Yun and others also defeated Wang Mi in Xinji. On the night of Yihai in December, a white mist appeared, rising from the ground to the sky like a ribbon, two zhang wide from north to south. In the year 311 AD, on the first day of the first month, the court proclaimed a general amnesty. In February, Shi Le attacked Juancheng, where Yuan Fu, the Inspector of Yanzhou, was defeated and killed. Shi Le then attacked Baima, where General Wang Kan also died in battle. Wenshuo, a subordinate of Li Xiong, killed Li Guo, the Grand General of Li Xiong, and then surrendered with Baxi. On the day of Wuwu, Qian Hui of Wu Xing rebelled, proclaiming himself General Pingxi. In March, Zhou Ji, a subordinate of Prime Minister Cangcao, led the villagers to confront and kill Qian Hui. In April, the country experienced severe flooding. General Qi Hong defeated Liu Yu, a general under Liu Lingyao, in Guangzong. Li Xiong captured Zitong. An earthquake struck Yanzhou.
In May, Shi Le attacked the commandery of Ji, captured Hu Chong, the governor, then crossed the Yellow River and headed south, while the governor of Yingyang Commandery, Pei Chun, escaped to Jianye. On that day, a strong wind broke trees, and there was even an earthquake. The six provinces of Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, Jizhou, Qinzhou, and Yongzhou were plagued by locust swarms, with locusts eating up all the vegetation, even the hair of cattle and horses. In June, Liu Yuanhai died, and his son Liu He succeeded him as the new ruler, but was soon killed by his brother Liu Cong, who subsequently declared himself emperor.
In July, Liu Cong's brother Liu Yao and Shi Le besieged Huaicheng. The court sent General Song Chou to provide assistance, but he was defeated by Liu Yao, resulting in his death in battle. In September, a man named Le Yang from Henan rebelled against and killed Governor Pei Zheng, surrendering to Shi Le. The military inspector of Xuzhou, Wang Long, abandoned his troops at Xiapai and fled to Zhou Fu. Wang Ru from Yongzhou instigated a rebellion in Wancheng, killed local officials, and proclaimed himself Grand General, Governor of Sizhou, and Governor of Yongzhou, looting the regions of Hanzhong and Mianyang. Others, including Pang Shi from Xinping, Yan Yi from Fengyi, and Hou Tuo from Jingzhao, also joined the rebellion. General Shan Jian, Governor of Jingzhou Wang Cheng, and General of Nan Zhong Du Rui all sent troops to the capital to support the ruling authority, but were defeated by Wang Ru in Wancheng. Only Wang Cheng managed to retreat with his troops after the army dispersed at Yikou.
On the 10th day of the 10th month of the Xinmao year, the sky suddenly darkened during the day, and it remained that way until the 7th day of the Gengzi month. A large star fell from the southwest, making a sound. On the day of Renyin, Shi Le surrounded Cangyuan, but Wang Zan, the Interior Minister of Chenliu, defeated him, and Shi Le fled back to Hebei. On the day of Renzi, the court appointed Wang Jun as the Minister of Works and Liu Kun as the Grand General for the North. The capital was experiencing famine. Prince Sima Yue of Donghai issued a call for troops, but the Emperor told the envoy, "Tell those generals that if they can come today, they can still save the situation; otherwise, it will be too late." But at that time, no one showed up. Shi Le captured Xiangcheng, killed Prefect Cui Kuang, and then moved on to Wancheng. Wang Jun sent Wen Yang, the Xianbei leader, to lead cavalry for the rescue, and Shi Le retreated. Wang Jun then sent another general, Wang Shen, to attack Shi Le at Wenshijin, where he defeated him. On the 1st day of the 11th month, Prince Sima Yue led his army from Xuchang, taking the Imperial Secretary along. With no guards left in the palace, the famine worsened; dead bodies littered the palace, and government offices and military camps dug trenches to protect themselves. Thieves ran rampant, and the sounds of gongs and drums echoed continuously. Sima Yue's army arrived at Xiangcheng, where he proclaimed himself the Governor of Yuzhou and appointed Wang Yan as the Military Commander. On the day of Dingchou, Wei Bo, the leader of the refugees, attacked Yidu, and the Prefect, Ji Xi, fled to Jianye. Wang Shen defeated Liu Yao and Wang Mi at Pinglei. General Zhou Fu requested to move the capital to Shouyang, but Sima Yue sent Pei Shuo to confront Zhou Fu, who ended up defeating him. Xiangyang faced a major epidemic, resulting in over three thousand deaths. The court appointed Zhang Gui, the Inspector of Liangzhou, as the General of Western Peace. In the 12th month, Gou Xi, the Grand General of the East, attacked Cao Yi, a general under Wang Mi, and defeated him. On Yiyu day, the people of Pingyang, led by Li Hong, revolted in Dingling.
In January of the year 311 AD, the emperor secretly commanded Gou Xi to launch a campaign against King Yue of Donghai. Within a few days, Gou Xi was quickly defeated by Cao Yi. Later, King Yue of Donghai sent Yang Mai and Pei Dun to attack Gou Xi. Shi Le captured Jiangxia, and Governor Yang Min fled to Wuchang. Li Xiong captured Fucheng, and the governor of Zitong, Qiao Deng, died. The refugee Du Tuo from Hunan led a rebellion in Changsha. Prince Rui of Langye dispatched Gan Zhuo to confront Zhou Fu, and Zhou Fu's army was defeated. King Gan of Pingyuan died.
In February, Shi Le attacked Runan, and King You of Runan fled to Jianye. In March, the emperor officially announced the crimes of King Yue of Donghai, calling on armies from all over to attack him, and promoted Gou Xi to Grand General. King Yue of Donghai died. In April, Shi Le pursued the funeral procession of King Yue of Donghai to Dongjun, where Qian Duan died in battle, resulting in the deaths of many officials and civilians, including Wang Yan, Liu Wang, Zhuge Quan, Zheng Yu, and Prince Wuling Dan, with casualties exceeding a hundred thousand! King Yue of Donghai's son and forty-eight royal princes from the imperial family all died at the hands of Shi Le. Shi Le's subordinates, Wang Sang and Leng Dao, captured Xuzhou, leading to the death of Governor Pei Dun. Wang Sang then crossed the Huai River and advanced to Liyang.
In May, refugees from Yizhou, Ruban, and Liangzhou rebelled in Hunan, captured the governor Gou Tiao, and fought their way to Lingling, Guiyang, and even Wuchang, where Governors Guo Cha of Ancheng, Zheng Rong of Shaoling, and Teng Yu of Hengyang were killed. The court promoted Wang Jun to Grand Marshal, Wang Mo to Grand Commandant, Fu Zhi to Minister of the Masses, Xun Fan to Minister of Works, and Prince Rui of Langye to Grand General of the East. Upon leaving, King Yue of Donghai appointed Pan Tao to oversee Luoyang. Gou Xi proposed relocating the capital to Cangyuan, and the emperor was inclined to agree, but the ministers feared Pan Tao and hesitated to execute the order. Moreover, those in the palace were reluctant to leave due to their greed for wealth.
At this time, many people in Luoyang had already starved to death, and even cannibalism occurred, prompting many officials to flee. The emperor summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures and prepare to depart, but there weren't enough security forces. The emperor helplessly said, "Ah, how do we not even have a carriage available!" He then sent Fu Zhi to He Yin to prepare boats, planning to escape by water. The emperor, along with dozens of officials, walked out of the palace. When they reached Tong Tuo Street, they were robbed by bandits and had no choice but to go back to the palace.
In June, Liu Yao, Wang Mi, and Shi Le attacked Luoyang together. The imperial army faced repeated defeats and suffered heavy casualties. Xun Fan and Xun Zu fled to Huan Yuan County, and Wen Ji opened the palace gate in the middle of the night and escaped. Liu Yao and Wang Mi attacked Luoyang. The emperor opened the gate of Hualin Garden, intending to escape to Chang'an via the Ou Chi in He Yin, but was intercepted by Liu Yao and his men. They burned down the palaces and temples, dishonored the concubines, and a large number of officials and commoners, including King of Wu Yan, King of Jingling Mao, He Yu, Cao Fu, Luqiu Chong, Yuan Can, Wang Jun, Liu Mo, and others, died, resulting in over 30,000 casualties. The emperor fled to Pingyang, where Liu Cong made him Duke of Kuaiji. Xun Fan issued proclamations across various regions, supporting the King of Langya as their leader. King of Yuzhang Duan fled to Gou Xi, who declared him Crown Prince, and took the position of Minister of the Interior, establishing a court institution and stationed at Meng County, Liangguo. The common people were left starving, and a measure of rice cost tens of thousands of coins.
In July, Wang Jun proclaimed himself the Crown Prince, appointed officials and generals for military campaigns. Shi Le attacked Guyang, and Prince Pei Zi was defeated and killed in battle. In August, Liu Cong sent his son Liu Can to seize Chang'an; Wang Mo was killed, and more than four thousand households fled to Hanzhong. In September, Shi Le attacked Yangxia and reached Meng County, where Gou Xi and Prince Duan of Yuzhang were killed. In October, Shi Le attacked Yuzhou but retreated upon reaching the Yangtze River. In November, Yi Lu attacked Taiyuan; Liu Kun was unable to resist and relocated residents from five counties to Xinxing. In January of the spring of 311 AD, the Emperor was residing in Pingyang (now Linfen, Shanxi). Liu Cong subsequently attacked Taiyuan (now Taiyuan, Shanxi). At this time, the Southern Garrison's General, Hu Kang, seized the opportunity to rebel in the Jingzhou area, claiming himself as the Duke of Chu. On Renzi Day in February, a solar eclipse occurred. On the day of Guichou, the Grand General of the East, Prince Sima Rui of Langye, submitted a memorial to the court and issued a decree calling for a nationwide campaign against Shi Le. Grand Marshal Wang Jun also issued a decree to the nation, claiming to act in the Emperor's name and appointing Xun Fan as Grand Commandant. Sadly, Prince Sima Xi of Ruyang was murdered by Shi Le.
On the day of Bingyin in the fourth month, General Shan Jian, the Southern Expedition, passed away. In July, a rare celestial phenomenon appeared in the sky: the Planet of the Year, Mars, and Venus all gathered in the Ox and Dipper constellations. General Liu Kun sent his subordinate Hao Shen to confront Liu Can, but Hao Shen was defeated and killed, while Taiyuan Prefect Gao Qiao surrendered to Liu Can. On the Gengxu day in August, Liu Kun fled to Changshan (now Zhengding, Hebei). On the Jihai day, Yinping Commandant Dong Chong drove away Prefect Wang Jian and surrendered Yinping County to Li Xiong. On the Xinhai day, Liu Kun sought help from Yilu and requested that Yilu be appointed Duke. On the Jima day of September, Yilu sent his son Li Sun to support Liu Kun, but this effort was unsuccessful. On the Xinsi day, the former Governor of Yongzhou, Jia Pi, defeated Liu Can in Sanfu (near present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi), and the Guanzhong region was largely pacified. Jia Pi, along with General Wei Liangfen and Prefect of Jingzhao Liang Zong, jointly supported Prince Sima Ye as the Crown Prince, with the capital at Chang'an. In October, Yilu personally led sixty thousand cavalry to Yucheng (now Yuxian, Shanxi). On the Jiawu day of November, Liu Can fled, and Liu Kun gathered the remnants of Liu Can's troops and retreated to Yangqu (now Taiyuan, Shanxi). That year, a large-scale epidemic also broke out. In January 312 AD, Liu Cong hosted a large banquet and even had the Emperor wear green robes to serve him wine! The Palace Attendant Yu Min wept at that moment, which infuriated Liu Cong. On the Dingwei day, the Emperor was assassinated in Pingyang, dying at the age of thirty.
When the emperor was born, auspicious grains of Jiahe grew in Nanchang, Yuzhang. Earlier, those who observed celestial phenomena said, "Yuzhang has the presence of an emperor," and sure enough, the Prince of Yuzhang was later proclaimed Crown Prince. When he was in the East Palace, he was modest and prudent, warmly receiving courtiers and discussing books with them. After ascending the throne, he followed the old system, holding court in the Taiji Hall, having the Chancellor announce the imperial edicts, and handling government affairs in the East Hall. Even during banquets, he often discussed national affairs with his ministers, studying classics and historical allusions. The Minister of the Yellow Gates, Fu Xuan, sighed, "Today I have witnessed the grandeur of the era of Emperor Wu!" The Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Xun Song, also often said to others, "Emperor Huai is talented and intelligent, promising at a young age. If he had come to power during a time of peace and prosperity, he could have been a capable ruler. However, when he ascended the throne, he faced the chaos left by Emperor Hui's reign. The King of Donghai wielded power, and though he did not commit the same atrocities as Emperor You or Emperor Li, he endured the misfortune of exile."
Emperor Xiaomin, named Sima Ye, styled Yanqi, was the grandson of Emperor Wu and the son of King Xiaoyan of Wu, Sima Yan. He was adopted by his uncle King Xian of Qin, Sima Jian, and inherited the title of King of Qin. In the second year of Yongjia, he was appointed as Attendant Cavalryman and General Who Pacifies the Army. After the fall of Luoyang, he fled to Mi County in Xingyang, where he met his uncle Xun Fan and Xun Zu. They traveled southward from Mi County to Xuchang and Yingchuan. The Yuzhou Inspector, Yan Ding, colluded with former General Who Pacifies the Army Wang Pi, Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Works Liu Chou, Gentleman of the Palace Writers Li Xin, Xun Fan, Xun Zu, and others to escort the Emperor back to Chang'an. However, Liu Chou and others rebelled halfway, and Yan Ding pursued and defeated them, while Xun Fan and Xun Zu managed to escape. Yan Ding took the Emperor on a bullock cart and rushed from Wancheng to Wuguan, facing mountain bandits several times along the way, with soldiers scattering. They finally arrived at Lantian. Yan Ding requested assistance from the Inspector of Yongzhou, Jia Pi, who immediately sent provincial soldiers to escort and bring the Emperor back to Chang'an, and appointed the General Who Assists the State Liang Zong to assist in defense. During that time, a jade turtle was spotted in Bashui, and there were divine horses neighing in the south of the city. On the Xinsi day of the ninth month in the sixth year of Yongjia, the King of Qin was appointed as Crown Prince, held a ceremony to ascend the altar and worship the ancestors of heaven and earth, established ancestral temples and altars, and proclaimed a general amnesty. Jia Pi was elevated to Grand General Who Conquers the West, and Inspector of Qinzhou, Sima Bao, was appointed as Grand Marshal. Jia Pi died in battle against the bandit Zhang Lian, and everyone elected Qu Yun, the Prefect of Shiping, as the Inspector of Yongzhou, making him the leader, and began appointing officials on his own. In April of the year 326 AD, Emperor Liu Yao passed away, and we completed the funeral rites according to etiquette. On the same day, I ascended to the throne as Emperor, proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the reign title. I appointed Liang Fen as Minister of Works, Qu Yun as Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Suo Chen as Deputy Director of the Right in the Imperial Secretariat. Shi Le attacked Li Yun, and Li Yun was defeated and killed.
In May, I appointed Sima Rui, King of Langya, as Minister of Imperial Guards, Left Chancellor, and Grand Commander of military affairs in Shaanxi, and Sima Bao, King of Nanyang, as Right Chancellor and Grand Commander of military affairs in Shaanxi. I also issued a decree to the two kings, saying: "Even in times of peace and prosperity, we may still face disasters. Having inherited the throne at a young age, I hope that with our ancestors' blessings and the efforts of all ministers, we can defeat our enemies and reclaim lost lands. Duke Shao of the Zhou and King Ping of the Jin both achieved greatness by dividing power and receiving assistance. Now, you two chancellors are both talented and virtuous, the pillars of our nation, and we rely on you! Defeat Shi Le and bring the emperor's coffin back to the capital, restoring our control over the Central Plains. Order thirty thousand troops from Youzhou and Bingzhou to march directly on Pingyang; as Right Chancellor, you will lead three hundred thousand troops from Qinzhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou straight to Chang'an; as Left Chancellor, lead two hundred thousand elite troops straight to Luoyang. All forces must work together and coordinate to secure victory as soon as possible."
I also separately issued an edict to the King of Langya, Sima Rui, saying: "I inherited the throne at a young age and was unable to quickly eliminate the enemy and receive the Emperor's remains, which has caused me great anxiety. I heard that you have already led your army to occupy Shou Chun, calling on various vassals to join forces against the enemy, and I estimate that you are likely nearing Luoyang. The Governors of Liangzhou, Zhang Gui, and Zhang Guang have also led their armies to provide support. I heard that the situation in Pingyang has stabilized, and the situation in Youzhou and Bingzhou is looking promising; Shile's army has already weakened, but they are still relying on their advantageous terrain, which means we need to launch a major offensive. I do not know where you are now, so I will hold off on any actions for the time being. Please inform me of your location so that I can personally lead the expedition and together pacify the Central Plains. I hope you strategize effectively to secure a swift victory, bringing stability and peace to the land. I have sent Liu Shu, Su Ma, and others to bring you my intentions. You are the pillar of the country; only you can bear this heavy responsibility and bring peace to the realm. However, the mausoleum in Luoyang must not be left unattended; you should guard Luoyang and pacify the Shandong region. The Prime Minister should assist me, following the example of Shao Gong of the Zhou Dynasty, to jointly restore the Central Plains."
In June, Shi Le killed the Governor of Yanzhou, Tian Hui. At that time, many counties in Shandong fell into the hands of Shi Le. In August, Liu Shu and his companions arrived in Yangzhou. We renamed Jianye as Jiankang and Ye as Linzhang. Du Tao launched an attack on Wuchang, setting the city ablaze. Du Tao's general Wang Zhen attacked Dunyang, and the Governor of Jingzhou, Zhou Yi, fled to Jiankang. In September, the Minister of Works, Xun Fan, passed away in Xingyang. Liu Cong attacked Henan, and the Intendant of Henan, Zhang Mao, was killed in battle. In October, the Governor of Jingzhou, Tao Kan, attacked Du Tao's subordinate Du Zeng, but was defeated. On that day, it also hailed and snowed. In November, the refugee Yang Wu captured Liangzhou. In December, Hedong experienced an earthquake, accompanied by a rain of meat.
On the first day of the first month in a certain year, it was the day of Jisi. The sky was pitch black, and thick fog lingered for five days before finally clearing. On the morning of the day of Xinsi (between 7 and 9 am), a sun appeared in the sky! Even more bizarrely, this sun seemed to linger in the sky for three days, moving from west to east. On the day of Dingchou, the court declared a nationwide amnesty. Yang Wu, having lost a battle in Hanzhong, quickly sought refuge with Li Xiong.
On the day of Renyin in the second month, the court appointed Wang Jun as Grand Marshal, Xun Zu as Minister of Works, and Zhang Gui as Grand Commandant, and also conferred upon him the title of Duke of Xiping. Liu Kun was appointed as Grand General.
On the day of Guichou in the third month, bad news came that Shi Le had breached Youzhou, killing Wang Jun, who was the Grand Marshal, Governor of Youzhou, and Duke of Boling. He also set fire to many places in the city, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Wang Zhen, a subordinate of Du Tuo, launched a surprise attack on Tao Kan, the Inspector of Jingzhou, who quickly fled to Shezhong.
On the first day of the fourth month, an earthquake struck! On the day of Renchen in the fifth month, Zhang Gui died. At the time, he was a high-ranking official, holding the positions of Grand Commandant, Chief Protector of the Qiang, Inspector of Liangzhou, and Duke of Xiping. In the sixth month, Liu Yao and Zhao Ran launched attacks on Xinfeng and other locations, but General Suo Chen of An Dong led his troops to repel them. In the seventh month, Liu Yao and Zhao Ran returned to menace the capital, but General Qu Yun, the Lingjun, led his troops to fend them off, and Zhao Ran was shot dead by an arrow. In the ninth month, Liu Yan defeated the Prefect under Shi Le, Shao Pan, and killed him. On that day, something extraordinary occurred: a qilin appeared in Xiangping! The Chanyu Yilu also sent horses. By the way, Puzi Ma also had a foal.
In the third year of the era, in the first month, someone assassinated Zhao Pei, the Inspector of Jinchang. In Wuxing, Xu Fu also eliminated the Prefect, Yuan Xiu. The court appointed Song Zhe, a Palace Attendant, as the General Who Pacifies the East, stationed in Huayin.
On this day in the second month of the year Bingzi, the court appointed Rui, the Left Prime Minister and Prince of Langya, as the Grand Commander, in charge of the country's military; the Right Prime Minister, Bao, Prince of Nanyang, was appointed as the Prime Minister; Xun Zu was promoted to Grand Marshal; General Liu Kun became the Minister of Engineering. At the same time, Dai Gong Yilu was conferred the title of King of Dai. During this time, the Governor of Jingzhou, Tao Kan, defeated Wang Zhen at Baling. Du Hong and Zhang Yan, who served under Du Tao, fought against the Interior Minister of Linqiu, Xie Chai, in Haihun; Xie Chai was defeated and killed in battle.
In the third month, the Interior Minister of Yuzhang, Zhou Fang, defeated Du Hong, chased him away, and killed Zhang Yan in Chen. In the fourth month, the court declared a general amnesty. In the fifth month, Liu Cong led troops to attack Bingzhou. In the sixth month, bandits plundered the Han Baling, Du Ling, and Empress Bo's tombs. The remains of Empress Bo were lifelike, and the tombs were filled with countless treasures of gold, silver, silk, and satin. At that time, the court had just been established and was lacking many ceremonial garments and items, so the court ordered these items to be collected to enrich the national treasury. On Dingmao Day in the sixth month, there was an earthquake. On Xinsi Day in the sixth month, another general amnesty was declared. The court also ordered Yongzhou to bury the bones, repair the tombs, and anyone who dared to disturb them would face extermination along with their families.
In the seventh month, Shi Le captured Puyang and killed the Governor Han Hong. Liu Cong attacked Shangdang again, and Liu Kun sent troops to rescue. On Guihai Day in the eighth month, the two armies fought in Xiangyuan, and our forces were defeated. The Governor of Jingzhou, Tao Kan, attacked Du Tao, who was defeated and fled, ultimately dying on the road, and Xiangzhou was pacified. In the ninth month, Liu Yao attacked Beidi, and the court ordered General Qiu Yun to lead the army to suppress the rebellion. In the tenth month, Qiu Yun attacked Qingbaicheng. The court appointed the Governor of Yuzhou and General of the East, Suo Chen, as the Imperial Household Supervisor, in charge of the military affairs of the palace. Liu Cong captured Fengyi, and the Governor Liang Su fled to Wannian. In the twelfth month, Zhang Shi, the Governor of Liangzhou, presented the Emperor's jade seal. Also, Zhao Ban, the Governor of Anding, was assassinated.
In the spring of the fourth year of the era, in the third month, King of Dai Yilu died, and his army surrendered to Liu Kun. In the summer, on the fourth day of the fourth month, Liu Yao led his troops to attack Shangjun, and Ji Wei, the Prefect of Shangjun, retreated with his troops to Nanzheng. Zhang Shi, the Governor of Liangzhou, sent five thousand infantry and cavalry to reinforce Chang'an. Shi Le captured Linqiu, and the General of the Northern Central Army, Liu Yan, fled. In May, Lei Zhao, the Prefect of Pingyi, killed Meng Huan, the Prefect of Nanguang, and surrendered with more than three thousand households to Li Xiong. On the first day of June, a solar eclipse and a locust plague occurred. In the autumn of the seventh month, Liu Yao attacked Beidi County, and Qu Yun led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to aid. The imperial army was routed before the battle even began, and Qu Chang, the Prefect of Beidi, fled to Chang'an. Liu Yao advanced to Jingyang, and all cities north of the Wei River fell. General Jianwei Lu Chong, Cavalier Attendant Liang Wei, and Minister Huang Fuyang all fell in battle for their country. In August, Liu Yao approached Chang'an, cutting off all communication inside and outside the city. Generals Jiao Song, Song Zhe, and Zhu Hui all sacrificed themselves for their country. Qu Yun and the court officials held the small city within Chang'an. Cavalier Attendant Hua Ji commanded the troops from Jingzhao, Fengyi, Hongnong, and Shangluo at Bashang, while General Zhenjun Hu Song led the armies of the western cities to camp at Zhemaqiao, but no one was willing to take the initiative.
In the winter of October, many people starved to death in the city of Chang'an; food was so expensive that a dou of rice sold for two taels of gold. People began to turn on each other, resulting in the majority dead. There were only a few dozen wheat cakes left in Taicang, and Qu Yun ground them into powder to make porridge for the emperor, but even that had run out by then. The emperor cried to Qu Yun, "The situation is so dire now, with no reinforcements coming, and I feel responsible for dying for my country. But I think of the suffering of the soldiers; I do not want the city to fall before dying, so that the people can be spared from slaughter. Go, write a letter to Liu Yao; I've made my decision."
On November 14th, the emperor sent the attendant Song Chang with an imperial edict to see Liu Yao. The emperor rode in a sheep cart, exposing his upper body, holding a jade bi, and sitting in a coffin to surrender. The ministers cried and held onto the cart, grasping the emperor's hand; the emperor was equally grief-stricken. The chief censor, Ji Lang, took his own life. Liu Yao burned the coffin, accepted the jade bi, and sent Song Chang to escort the emperor back to the palace. Earlier, there was a nursery rhyme that said, "Where is the emperor? In the bean field." At that time, Wang Jun was in Youzhou, and because beans have bean leaves, he killed the hermit Huo Yuan to fulfill this nursery rhyme. When the emperor arrived at Liu Yao's camp, it was located next to the bean field east of the city. On November 18th, the emperor was captured and taken to Pingyang; Qu Yun and court officials followed. Liu Cong appointed the emperor as the Grand Master of Splendor and Marquis Huai'an. On November 19th, Liu Cong arrived at the imperial palace; the emperor bowed deeply before him, Qu Yun collapsed to the ground in tears and then took his own life. The Imperial Secretary Liang Yun, the attendant Liang Jun, the Cavalry Commandant Yan Dun, the Left Minister Zang Zhen, the Yellow Gate Attendant Ren Bo, Zhang Wei, Du Man, and many county officials were killed by Liu Yao; Hua Ji escaped to the Nanshan Mountains.
Shi Le surrounded Leping, and Sikong Liu Kun dispatched troops for a rescue mission, but was defeated by Shi Le. Han Ju, the Prefect of Leping, fled. Sikong's Chief Secretary Li Hong led the revolt of Bingzhou and surrendered to Shi Le. On the first day of December, a solar eclipse occurred. On the fifth day of December, Liu Kun escaped to Ji County and sought refuge with Duan Pidi.
In the spring of the first month of 311 AD, the emperor was still in Pingyang. On the day of Gengzi, a huge rainbow appeared in the sky, along with the rare sight of three suns shining simultaneously. General Pingdong Song Zhe fled to Jiangnan. Li Xiong dispatched his generals, Li Gong and Luo Yin, to launch an attack on Badong.
In February, Liu Cong sent his general Liu Chang to attack Xingyang, but Liu Chang was defeated by Li Ju, the Prefect of Xingyang. In March, Prince Sima Rui of Langya declared himself emperor in Jiankang, changed the era title, and called himself Prince Jin. On the day of Bingzi in May, a solar eclipse occurred. In the autumn of July, there was a severe drought, and locust plagues occurred in four provinces including Sizhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Yongzhou. Shi Le also confiscated food from the populace, which was referred to as "foreign locusts" at the time.
In August, Liu Cong sent Zhao Gu to attack the Guard General Hua Hui in Dingying, ultimately killing him. On the day of Bingzi in October, another solar eclipse occurred. Liu Cong went hunting, and even made the emperor don armor and carry a spear to lead the way for him. A crowd gathered to watch, and many elderly onlookers couldn't hold back their tears. Liu Cong was very unhappy when he heard about it. Later, Liu Cong held a banquet, and had the emperor pour wine for him, wash the wine cup, and hold an umbrella for him. Many officials of the Jin Dynasty present cried out loud, and the Imperial Secretary Xun Bin embraced the emperor and wept, which led to Liu Cong's order to kill him. On the day of Wuxu in December, the emperor was assassinated in Pingyang, dying at the age of eighteen.
When the emperor inherited the throne, he happened to encounter the Yongjia Rebellion, resulting in chaos throughout the country. There were fewer than a hundred households in the city of Chang'an, where the city walls and houses lay in ruins, overgrown with weeds. The court lacked carriages and splendid clothing, possessing only simple offices and basic insignias. There was only one army, with a total of just four public and private vehicles, a severe lack of weapons and equipment, and inadequate logistical support. Malicious individuals acted tyrannically, putting the capital city in danger. The feudal lords were unwilling to give up their territories, and the local military commanders showed no intention of rescuing the emperor, resulting in a dire predicament for the emperor and his ministers, ultimately leading to the tragic assassination of the emperor.
Historians say: In the past, when the sun set in the west, most heroes and distinguished figures emerged from the imperial family. The virtues and talents of the Jin Dynasty were overshadowed during this period. In turbulent times, everyone rallied behind King Huai Min. The Fanyang region was quiet, with no army assembled. Is it a case of insufficient strength coupled with strong emotions? The remaining forces were only to protect their monarch, just as poets cherish their camphor trees. There were significant events, but no significant achievements were made. Observing their rise, it was not predestined by the heavens. Thus, one might say they were borne in coffins, gritting their teeth as they drew their swords.
As a result, the Five Mountains, Three Roads, and other areas fell into enemy territory, while new political power was established in Longzhou and Niushou Mountain. The court's senior ministers were not in a challenging season, but the influence of Liu Shi was like a raging wave. Food supplies were cut off, and communication with the outside world was severed. The two capitals fell into enemy territory, forcing the emperor to launch another military campaign. Prince Zhou died at Li Mountain, and Duke Wei died by the Qi River. How could anyone hope to hold onto a county? Gan Bao once said, as he remarked:
Emperor Gaozu, he was truly capable. When Wei Taizu was establishing his rule, he started to come up with strategies, many of which proved particularly effective. Following Taizu's conquests, three successive emperors relied on his counsel. He was very astute, yet also tolerant and generous. He acted swiftly and decisively, with a keen eye for talent, elevating talented individuals. Therefore, whether wise or foolish, people were wholeheartedly devoted to him, giving their all. He discovered talent from Deng Ai, a farmer, and found talent in the ordinary soldier Zhou Tai, entrusting them with important tasks. This enabled him to defeat Meng Da in the west, defeat Gongsun Yuan in the east, pacify Cao Shuang internally, and defeat Wang Ling externally. His decisive decision-making and continuous victories in battle allowed him to consolidate all power in the empire. The people lived in peace and prosperity, and the country began to prosper.
Emperor Shizong inherited the throne, while Emperor Taizu continued to expand the empire. During the Xuanfeng era, internal rebellions and external invasions arose in the Qindan era. Despite enemies plotting in secret, he skillfully uncovered their plots. Although there were two wars in the Huai River region, Xuchang and Luoyang remained unharmed. He effectively quelled all uprisings and continued the achievements of his ancestors. He then promoted Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, swiftly conquering Shu Han, breaking through the three passes, and having Liu Shan surrender. It was truly a stroke of fate! Emperor Gaozu began to receive extraordinary honors and eventually received generous rewards. By the time of Emperor Shizong, he revelled in the splendor of imperial authority. He treated the people kindly, used the national treasury frugally, maintained harmony, and made decisive decisions. Therefore, the populace lauded his reforms, and the world was at peace.
He inherited the wishes of his ancestors and wanted to end the suffering caused by the wars. Although the opinions of the court ministers were divided, he solely adopted Yang Hu's strategy, relying on Wang Jun and Du Yu's decisiveness, and quickly pacified the wars. The Jiangxi and Hunan regions also submitted to the court. He recovered the old territories from the time of Tang, Yao, and Shun, spread the legitimacy of the court throughout the country, unified the national script, standardized the road systems, and had herds of cattle and horses grazing in the fields, with grain piled up like mountains in the fields. There was even a saying at the time that "there were plenty of people in the world!" Although the world was not completely peaceful at that time, it was enough to show that the officials were seriously enforcing the laws, and the people lived and worked in peace.
After the death of the Emperor, before the tomb was repaired, Yang Jun was executed, and the Empress Dowager was removed from power. Then, due to the matters of the two dukes and the King of Chu, the royal relatives had no strong support, and there were no capable people among the court ministers. As a result, the Emperor was forced to change his title to the Retired Emperor, and there were rumors of ministers being dismissed. The people could not see the Emperor's grace, only the chaos. Today it was Yi Yin and Duke of Zhou, tomorrow it became Jie and Zhou. Judgments of good and evil are based on success or failure, and praise or criticism depends on worldly interests. The boundaries between internal and external affairs became blurred, officials were incompetent, and the country's laws and discipline were corrupt. The governance repeatedly fell into the hands of traitors, the imperial guards were scattered everywhere, the local counties lacked strong leadership, and the borders lost their strong defenses. Li Chen and Shi Bing rebelled in Jingzhou and Yangzhou, Yuan Hai and Wang Mi rebelled in Qingzhou and Jizhou, and the barbarians declared themselves emperors. Both emperors lost their dignity; why is that? Because of improper selection and appointment of people, entrusted to those without talent, the country was in disarray, and there were too many policies of compromise and self-preservation!
Speaking of governing a country, relying solely on enacting laws will only lead to greater chaos; if the country is already in turmoil, who can save it? Yuan Hai is the Commandant of Lishi County, and Wang Mi is a minor official in Qingzhou. They are both brutish men who only know how to wield weapons and intimidate the populace, lacking the strategic brilliance of figures like Sun Quan or Zhuge Liang. They rose in rebellion with a disorganized mob, completely outmatched by the likes of Sun, Wu, and Shu; they left their farming tools and took up weapons, tore their clothes to make flags, with makeshift weapons, far inferior to the well-equipped armies of the Warring States era. They rebelled from the grassroots, completely different from neighboring countries' invasions. Yet, they managed to throw the world into chaos as easily as herding sheep, capturing the capital with ease, causing generals and nobles to be killed one by one, and the palace concubines insulted by enemy troops. Isn't that a tragic sight?
The world is like a huge vessel, and the people are like valuable livestock. Love and hate interweave, interests conflict; this is an eternal rule. Just as water spills over a dam and wildfires ravage the fields, there has never been a moment of calm. A vast vessel cannot be managed by narrow roads; important situations cannot be disrupted by conflicts. Ancient wise kings understood this principle, which is why they were able to avoid great disasters. The people understand that virtue can bring personal blessings, but they do not realize that they must cultivate themselves to enjoy the benefits of virtue, so they are influenced and respond, submitting willingly, like the morning breeze rustling through northern forests, or fish and dragons returning to their depths.
Then, establish standards of etiquette to educate them, use punishments to deter them, use clear rewards and punishments to guide them, use examples of disaster and fortune to warn them, oversee them with keen discernment, and unite them with love. In this way, everyone will know what to do, love life, mourn death, enjoy education, and be content with the present situation; gentlemen strive to follow etiquette, while villains strive to obey, the spirit of integrity prevails within families, and evil thoughts are eliminated. Therefore, even when facing danger, the common people will sacrifice themselves for the country, not betray their principles for mere survival, much less raise their arms and shout in rebellion! A solid foundation cannot be shaken, a deep root will not be uprooted, following the rules will not lead to chaos, and unity will not waver. This is the principle upheld by ancient monarchs who achieved long-lasting stability. Did they never encounter incompetent rulers? Wasn't it through moral exemplars and laws that they maintained the country's stability?
The rise of the Zhou Dynasty was due to Hou Ji being born to Jiang Yuan, and it was destined by the heavens to elevate his merits. The cultural and military accomplishments of the Zhou Dynasty all originated from Hou Ji. During the time of the Duke of Liu, he encountered the chaos of the Xia Dynasty and moved from Tai to Bin, working tirelessly. During the time of King Tai, he was pressured by the Rong and Di tribes, but he could not bear to see his people suffer, so he led them to relocate. The people followed him like they were heading to a market, and within a year, they built cities; within two years, they established a capital, and within three years, the population had increased fivefold. By the time of King Ji, his virtues became widely known; by the time of King Wen, the destiny of the nation was transformed. From these examples, it can be seen that several generations of the Zhou family accumulated noble virtues, their kindness extended to all living beings, internal unity among nine clans was fostered, and respect for elders was shown externally, thus they were able to obtain blessings. The consorts of the Zhou Dynasty actively practiced the "Four Virtues" (virtue, speech, appearance, and work), respected their teachers, wore clothes washed to a white color, performed tedious and hard household chores, influenced society through their actions, and set an example for women. Therefore, the women along the Han River maintained pure and noble aspirations, and the men in the mountains and forests possessed pure and noble virtues. The prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty began with hard work and culminated in enjoyment. With the three wise monarchs, King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of Zhou, they overthrew the tyrant King Zhou and regulated the rites and music with the principle of "correcting the wrongs and upholding the good." After the Duke of Zhou encountered changes, he explained how Hou Ji and his predecessors educated the people, as well as the difficulties in achieving royal success, which were all deeply connected to the livelihoods of farmers and women. Therefore, from Hou Ji laying the foundation for the people's livelihood, to King Wen pacifying the world, to King Wu establishing the dynasty, to King Kang consolidating stability, through fifteen generations of rulers, it lasted a long time. The reason the Zhou Dynasty was able to maintain its foundation was because they placed great importance on ritual education, regulated customs and social relations, and showed compassion for the struggles of the people, all of which were built up and handed down over generations.
The rise of the Jin Dynasty surpassed the achievements of the hundred emperors before it, and its rise was also swifter than that of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Emperor Xuan and Emperor Jing, during difficult times, suppressed rebellions and uprisings, but didn't have a chance to implement benevolent rule like Gong Liu and Tai Wang. They were appointed to assist in governance by imperial edict but were repeatedly deposed, so Prince Qi was not wise and failed to employ talented individuals in the Bo region; noble talents were also not given opportunities for employment. The urgency for the two ancestors to force the emperor to abdicate was pressing, and there was no time to discuss the important matter of enfeoffing the vassals. Therefore, the foundation of the Jin Dynasty differed from that of its predecessors. In addition, the court lacked morally upright individuals, the villages lacked loyal and reliable elders, customs had decayed, and the social climate was unhealthy. Scholars revered Daoism while dismissing the "Six Classics," speakers regarded empty words as profound and scorned reputation, behavior was seen as unrestrained and virtuous, officials valued personal gain and looked down on integrity, and officials considered themselves noble while mocking those who were diligent and responsible. Therefore, Liu Song's discussions on governance and Fu Xian's corrections of evil were considered vulgar officials; those who ingratiated themselves with the powerful while remaining idle gained notoriety. People like King Wen, who managed affairs daily without time to eat, and Zhongshan Fu, who worked tirelessly day and night, were ridiculed and considered as dust. Therefore, praise and blame were turned upside down, good and evil were indistinguishable, and people were all obsessed with pursuing fame and fortune. The selection of officials was for personal gain, and officials served for personal gain, with cases of officials holding dozens of positions being common. High-ranking officials and generous salaries were monopolized by a few, the aristocratic families' children were arrogant and did not follow the rules. The social atmosphere was restless, with everyone pursuing fame and fortune, and while there were thousands of court officials, no one was willing to yield to capable individuals. Zi Zhen advocated for humility, but no one paid attention; Zi Ya established the Nine Ranks system, but it could not be implemented. Women depended on maids for grooming, sewing, and weaving, and never learned female crafts such as weaving and household chores. They married early and did as they pleased, so they felt no shame for promiscuity or jealousy, and their parents and siblings did not reprimand them. People were so used to this that asking them to learn the ancient "Four Virtues" was out of the question! The breakdown of rituals, laws, punishments, and governance was total, like water breaking through a dam due to accumulation, or a fire burning down a pile of firewood due to accumulation.
The nation is destined to perish: it must first be shaken to its very core; that's how it works!
Therefore, by observing Ruan Ji's behavior, one can understand the reasons for the breakdown of rituals and ethics; by examining the struggles between Yu Chun and Jia Chong, one can see the biases of the officials in charge of rituals; studying the accolades from the Battle of Ping Wu, one can understand the mutual competition between generals; reflecting on Guo Qin's strategies, one can understand the threat posed by the Rongdi; reading the speeches of Fu Xuan and Liu Yi, one can understand the corruption among the officials; reviewing Fu Xian's memorials and "The Money God Theory," one can see the rampant bribery. With the current state of the people and the country, even if a ruler with moderate talent and conservative views ascends to power, Xin will undoubtedly perceive ominous signs during sacrifices, Ji Zha will hear ominous melodies in music, Fan Xie will offer himself for the country, Jia Yi will weep for this, not to mention the unrestrained Emperor Hui! Emperor Huai took the throne in a time of chaos, controlled by powerful ministers; Emperor Min, after going into exile, only had an empty name, the political power of the world had already shifted, and without a hero of exceptional talent, reclaiming it was impossible! It was only during the reign of Chunxi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty that the great cause rose again, and the monumental task was left to Emperor Zhongzong Yuan.
Someone once praised, "Huai wore the jade seal, Min lived in the yellow house." This probably means that he once possessed the jade seal and lived in the imperial palace. Just think how glorious!
Later on, the situation took a turn for the worse, like "Aos falling on three mountains, whales swallowing nine provinces, barbarians invading Jin merchants, and Xun dwelling in the Unwalled Palace." This was nothing short of catastrophic! Three mountains collapsed, whales swallowed the nine provinces, barbarians invaded the Jin merchants, and even the Unwalled Palace was occupied. Just picture that scene—it's truly horrifying!
The whole country was in chaos, the people suffered, "heads rolled, limbs stiffened." This means that countless people died and were injured, and the people were suffering immensely!
At a critical moment, the ministers finally realized, "The doctor has turned against me, and I am exiled to Pingyang." (These two lines of poetry are also directly quoted.) The ministers looked back and decided to move the capital to Pingyang. This was a difficult decision, leaving their hometown and starting anew; just the thought of it is heartbreaking. In the end, the poem summarizes, "When the ruler is troubled, the ministers weep; what's wrong with that?" The king is worried, the ministers weep; that is only natural! This line suggests that when the king and his ministers share the same concerns, that is only natural! The whole story is vividly illustrated through this praise poem, portraying the rise and fall of a dynasty.
