Shi Jilong is Shi Le's cousin. Because his name violated the taboos associated with the ancestral temple, everyone referred to him as "Zi." His grandfather was named Shi Xie, and his father was named Shi Koumi. Shi Le's father died when he was young, and Shi Jilong was born when Shi Le was very young, so some people regarded him as Shi Le's younger brother. When he was six or seven years old, a fortune teller said, "This child looks unique, with strong bones, and will be rich and noble in the future." During the Yongxing period, he became separated from Shi Le. Later, Liu Kun sent Shi Le's mother, Wang Shi, and Shi Jilong to Gebei. At that time, Shi Jilong was seventeen years old.
He was naturally cruel, enjoyed hunting, roamed everywhere, had no stable lifestyle, especially excelled in archery, often using living targets for practice, and was considered a menace in the army. Shi Le told Wang Shi that he wanted to kill him, but Wang Shi said, "Even a strong young bull can pull a broken cart." By the age of eighteen, Shi Jilong had become somewhat more restrained. He was seven and a half feet tall, agile, and skilled in riding and archery, unrivaled at that time. Generals and relatives both respected and feared him, and Shi Le held him in high regard, appointing him as the General for Conquering Barbarians. He also arranged for him to marry General Guo Rong's sister.
But Shi Jilong was infatuated with his male lover Zheng Yingtao, and even killed Guo Shi, then married a daughter of the Cui family from Qinghe. As a result, Zheng Yingtao falsely accused her, leading to her execution. He was extremely cruel in his actions. As long as there were brave and talented people in the army who were similar to him, he would go to great lengths to eliminate them, and he killed numerous people. During the siege and conquest, he did not distinguish between good and bad, and killed soldiers and civilians in batches, leaving almost no survivors. Although Shi Le repeatedly admonished and advised him, he continued to act on his own whims. However, he maintained strict control over the army with ease, and no one dared to disobey him. He commanded the battles and was invincible, which led Shi Le to trust him increasingly and entrusted him with the power of war.
Shi Le first served as an official in Xiangguo, and was later appointed as the Prefect of Wei County, stationed at the San Tai of Yecheng. Later, he was also appointed as the Marquis of Fanyang. Subsequently, Shi Le became the Grand Chanyu and King of Zhao, and was appointed as the deputy of the Chanyu, commanding the Imperial Guard. He was then promoted to the position of Zhongshu Shilang and Kaifu, and finally granted the title of Duke of Zhongshan. After Shi Le declared himself emperor, he was appointed as the Grand Commandant and Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and was enfeoffed as a king with a fief of ten thousand households.
Shi Jilong thought he had made great contributions and believed that after Shi Le declared himself emperor, the title of Grand Chanyu was rightfully his, only to find it was given to Shi Le's son, Shi Hong. Shi Jilong harbored deep resentment and privately told his son, Shi Sui: "Since the emperor declared himself in Xiangguo, he has always calmly followed the advice of others, while I have always been in the thick of battle, risking my life. For more than twenty years, I have pacified Liu Yue in the south, repelled Suo Tou in the north, pacified Qilu in the east, and pacified Qinyong in the west, thirteen provinces in total. I was the one who established the Great Zhao. The position of Grand Chanyu should rightfully belong to me, yet it was handed to that young upstart. Thinking about it keeps me up at night and ruins my appetite. After the emperor's death, the entire Shi Le family won't survive!"
In the first year of Xiankang, Shi Jilong deposed Shi Hong, the son of Shi Le, and the ministers in the court advised him to proclaim himself emperor. Shi Jilong issued a decree saying, "The royal family has faced many difficulties, Haiyang (referring to Eastern Jin) has abandoned the country, and the great cause of the world is heavy, so I have no choice but to accept everyone's recommendation. I have heard that those who are in harmony with the Dao of heaven and earth are called emperor, and those who embody the virtues of both gods and men are called emperor. I dare not use the title 'emperor', so let’s call it 'King of Zhao' in response to the mandate of heaven and the expectations of the people." He then granted amnesty throughout the country and changed the era name to Jianwu. He appointed Kui An as the Grand Commandant and Minister of Writing, Guo Yin as Minister of Works, Han Xi as Supervisor of the Left of the Masters of Writing, Wei Gai, Feng Mo, Zhang Chong, and Cao Xian as Masters of Writing, Shen Zhong as the attendant, Lang Kai as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, Wang Bo as Minister of the Palace Library, and other civil and military officials were also given rewards. He appointed his son Shi Sui as the crown prince. Shi Jilong believed that the emperor should come from the northeast according to prophecies, so he prepared a ceremonial procession and returned from the capital to fulfill the prophecies, and set up a waystation in Liuxiang, Yingtao in Tangtao. In Xuzhou, Shi Jilong's subordinate Zhu Zong killed the Inspector of Xuzhou, Guo Xiang, and led Pengcheng to surrender to Shi Jilong. Shi Jilong sent General Wang Lang to attack him, and Zhu Zong fled to Huainan. After becoming emperor, Shi Le neglected state affairs and spent all his time on extravagant palace construction. He couldn’t be bothered to handle matters like receiving reports from officials, selecting local officials, and performing sacrifices at the ancestral temples, only personally overseeing warfare and sentencing. Once, the birdwatching platform he had built collapsed, and he even killed Ren Wang, the steward responsible for the construction. He then had it rebuilt, making it twice as large as before.
Once, Shi Le personally led his troops south to attack Liyang, but retreated upon reaching the Yangtze River, which caused a great panic in the capital, Luoyang. He then sent Shi Yu to attack Zhonglu, followed by surrounding Huan Xuan, who was stationed in Xiangyang. Mao Bao, Wang Guo, Wang Qianqi, and others led the Jingzhou army to provide assistance, setting up camp at Zhangshan. After attacking for over a month, Shi Yu's army faced famine and disease outbreaks, forcing them to retreat.
Shi Le collected substantial taxes, and transporting grain was troublesome. He ordered that the national treasury must receive one million hu (a traditional Chinese measure of grain) each year, with the rest stored near water.
Jin Dynasty general Chunyu An attacked Shi Le's troops in Langye Fei County, capturing many soldiers and horses before returning.
Shi Le's favored concubine, Liu Zhi, also known as Shi Sui, initially won Shi Le's favor through witchcraft, and later raised Shi Sui, gaining Shi Le's favor. She accepted bribes, intervened in politics, and amassed considerable power, introducing many high-ranking officials. Eventually, Shi Le appointed her as the Lady of Yicheng.
Shi Le ordered that those who committed crimes could atone for their crimes with money or grain, to be delivered to the waterfront warehouse at market prices. Eight counties in Jizhou were struck by hail, resulting in severe crop damage. Feeling a sense of responsibility, Shi Le ordered the warehouses to be opened and distributed the grain to allow the people to replant. In areas that were particularly hard-hit by the disasters, he even waived taxes for a year.
Shi Le planned to move to Yecheng, and the minister suggested that the Grand Minister go and worship the ancestral temple. Shi Le said, "In ancient times, when doing great things, one must worship the ancestral temple, but there is no need to worship the state deities. The minister can study it carefully and then tell me." So the ministers suggested that the Grand Commandant go and worship the state deities, and Shi Le agreed. When they arrived at the palace in Yecheng, there happened to be a heavy rain, and Shi Le was very happy, so he pardoned criminals below the death penalty. The Director of Ceremonial invented a compass chariot, and Shi Le thought his design was clever, so he granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei and rewarded him with many things. He also stipulated that officials above the rank of Cavalier Attendant could ride in carriages, while nobles could ride in secondary chariots, driving four horses with dragon flags, each with eight streamers, and they could also ride in carriages during the monthly court meetings.
At that time, the Qiang tribe leader, Bao Judayou, had yet to surrender, so Shi Le sent his son Prince Zhanwu Bin to lead twenty thousand elite soldiers, along with the armies of Qinzhou and Yongzhou, to attack him. Shi Le inspected Changle and Weiguo and found that there were fields lying fallow and mulberry trees unattended, so he demoted the local officials responsible.
In 336 AD, Shi Hu sent his tooth gate general Zhang Mi to transport five bronze statues from Luoyang to Yecheng, including Zhong Ju, Jiu Long, Weng Zhong, Tong Tuo, and Fei Lian. One of the large bronze bells sank into the river, so three hundred people were recruited to dive into the water, tied with bamboo ropes and pulled up by a hundred oxen and several deer. In order to transport them, a giant ship was specially made, and special four-wheeled carts with tracks that were four feet wide and two feet deep were used to transport these bronze statues to Yecheng. Shi Hu was particularly pleased, so he declared a general amnesty lasting two years and rewarded officials with provisions and textiles, and the people were all elevated one rank.
Shi Hu also issued a decree, stating: the assessment conducted every three years for promotions or demotions is a rule set by ancient sage kings, and it is crucial for the success of national governance. Wei was the first to implement the Nine Rank System of officials, conducting a review every three years; although it was not perfect, it served as a standard for selecting officials based on moral character. Since then, this system has been used without change. When the late emperor ascended the throne, he reaffirmed this system with a yellow paper. During the selection of officials, the role of the officials responsible for selections became crucial. It has been three years since the last review, so orders were given for relevant departments to conduct a new selection, ensuring transparency and fairness, so that officials at all levels can be properly appointed. The Ministry of Personnel may use the Nine Rank System from the Jin Dynasty as a lasting standard for selecting officials. After the selection process, it must be reviewed by the Secretariat and the Chancellery before being executed with the approval of the Three Departments. This decree must be codified into law, and if the officials selected do not fulfill their duties, the Imperial Censor can impeach them.
Suo Tou Yuju led thirty thousand soldiers to surrender to Shi Hu, who ennobled Yuju and thirteen others as marquises, assigning their subordinates to six states including Jizhou and Qingzhou. At that time, various corvées were heavy, wars were ongoing, and prolonged drought led to soaring food prices, where one jin of gold could only be exchanged for two dou of rice. The common people could not eat or dress properly, resulting in a very harsh existence. Shi Hu also accepted Feiqiao's suggestion to build a stone bridge on the river south of Ye City, which cost a huge sum but was never completed, which led to the starvation of many laborers, forcing the project to be halted. Shi Hu then ordered local officials to lead young adults to gather acorns in the mountains and fish in the water to support the elderly and weak, but these resources were confiscated by the powerful, leaving the common people without any benefits. He also ordered wealthy families to support the poor and officials below the rank of courtiers to provide food relief for disaster victims, but corrupt officials embezzled the aid, leaving the people without relief; despite the facade of assistance, it ultimately had no real impact.
Finally, Shi Hu changed the official title of "Zhidang" to "Longteng" and stipulated wearing red hats. According to reports, Shi Le built the Taiwu Palace in Xiangguo and also constructed the East and West Palaces in Ye City, which were now completed. The foundation of the Taiwu Palace stood two zhang and eight chi high, decorated with beautiful stones, and a cellar was dug underneath, housing five hundred guards. The hall measures seventy-five steps in length from east to west and sixty-five steps in length from north to south, featuring a roof of lacquered tiles, golden tiles, silver pillars, and jade walls adorned with pearl curtains, truly exquisite and luxurious. He also built nine Lingfeng platforms behind the Xianyang Hall, specifically for housing selected women from the common folk. There are over ten thousand women in the harem surrounded by treasures, and eighteen levels of female officials are set up in the palace to instruct the palace maids in astronomy and archery. A female imperial astronomer was also appointed on the Lingfeng platform to observe celestial phenomena and validate the male imperial astronomer's findings. In addition, there are female music bands, ceremonial guards, and various skilled craftsmen in the harem, matching the scale of the external forces. He also ordered the prohibition of private study of astrology and divination in various counties and states, with death as the penalty for violators!
Next, the Left Colonel Cheng Gongduan constructed a towering torch at the end of Chonggang, over ten zhang high, featuring fire basins atop and people standing below, connected by ropes. Shi Le tested it and was quite pleased. At this time, his Grand Guardian Kuian and others, including five hundred civil and military officials, urged Shi Le to proclaim himself emperor and ascend the throne. As they were entering the palace, oil from the courtyard torch suddenly spilled onto those below, resulting in the deaths of seven individuals. Shi Le was enraged and had Cheng Gongduan killed at the Changhe Gate.
Then, Shi Le imitated the systems of the Yin and Zhou dynasties, proclaimed himself the Great Zhao Heavenly King in the third year of Xiankang, held a grand coronation ceremony in the southern outskirts, and granted a general amnesty. He also posthumously honored his ancestor Shi Beibao as Emperor Wu, and his father Shi Koudao as Emperor Taizong Xiaohuang. He appointed his wife Zheng Shi as Empress Tianwang, and his son Shi Sui as Crown Prince Tianwang. The original princes were downgraded to dukes of counties, and the vassal kings were demoted to county marquises, with other officials' ranks also adjusted.
Finally, over five hundred households in Taiyuan rebelled and sought refuge with the Black Qiang. On the outskirts of Wuxiang County, there was a man named Han Qiang who accidentally unearthed a dark jade seal while digging. This jade seal measured only four inches and seven tenths, featuring a turtle-shaped knob and engraved with gold inscriptions. Han Qiang presented this treasure to Shi Le in Ye City.
Shi Le was overjoyed and promptly appointed Han Qiang as the Cavalry Captain, elevating his entire family’s status. Kui An and others then began to persuade Shi Le to declare himself emperor, saying, "We have closely analyzed the destiny of the Great Zhao. This dark turtle symbolizes the essence of water, and jade is the most precious material in stones. The size of this jade seal, four inches and seven tenths, symbolizes the seven policies (sun, moon, five stars), and the size specifications also conform to the standards of the four poles (heaven and earth in all directions). This is a divine mandate for you, and there can be no further delay! Please quickly have the historiographers select an auspicious day, prepare the ceremony, and we implore you at the risk of our lives to accept the title of emperor!"
Upon receiving this memorial, Shi Le wrote back, saying, "You are praising me too much, making me feel quite embarrassed. This is something I never expected. Please cease this discussion at once! It is now the start of the spring planting season, and celebrations are not allowed outside the capital." Then, Wang Bo, the Minister of the Central Secretariat, composed a poem titled "Ode to the Dark Seal" to extol this jade seal. Shi Le was well aware that this jade seal had been created during Shi Hong's reign, and Han Qiang just happened to find it.
Shi Sui has been immersed in alcohol and women since he became the head of the officials, indulging in extravagance and debauchery, behaving lawlessly. Sometimes he would go to the fields to play, leaving his official seal hanging on a tree; sometimes he would sneak out of the palace at night to assault the wives and concubines of ministers. If he found any of the beautiful palace maids unsatisfactory, he would have them beheaded, cleaned, and displayed on a plate for all to see. He would also engage in affairs with the beautiful nuns in the palace, then kill them, cook their flesh along with beef and mutton, and share the meal with those around him, wanting them to savor the taste. He was very fond of He Jian Gong Shi Xuan and Le An Gong Shi Tao, which made Shi Sui extremely resentful, wishing to eliminate them as soon as possible. Shi Le was immersed in the pleasures of the harem, and his punishments had spiraled out of control. Shi Sui believed that these matters should be reported to Shi Le, so he reported these matters. Shi Le angrily said, "These are just trivial matters; what's there to report?" Later, when Shi Le heard some bad news, he angrily asked Shi Sui, "Why didn't you report this?" He then rebuked him and struck him with a cane several times a month. Shi Sui, filled with resentment, privately confided in his confidants Wu Qiong, Chang Sheng, and Li Yan, "Emperor Shi Le is behaving terribly; I want to follow the example of Modu Chanyu, are you with me?" Li Yan and the others were too scared to answer. Shi Sui pretended to be sick and did not attend court, taking more than five hundred civil and military officials from the palace to Li Yan's villa to drink. He told Li Yan and the others, "I want to go to Jizhou to kill Shi Xuan; whoever doesn't comply will be executed!" After walking a few miles, the cavalry scattered in all directions. Li Yan knelt and pleaded, but Shi Sui, being drunk, chose to return. When Shi Sui's mother Zheng heard about this, she discreetly sent someone to reprimand him. In a fit of rage, Shi Sui killed the messenger. When Shi Le heard that Shi Sui was sick, he dispatched his trusted female secretary to check on him. Shi Sui called the female secretary, spoke with her, then suddenly drew his sword and killed her.
Shi Le was furious and interrogated Li Yan and the others. Li Yan explained the whole story. Shi Le executed over thirty people, including Li Yan. Shi Le imprisoned Shi Sui in the East Palace but later pardoned him and allowed him to visit the East Hall. After Shi Sui attended court, he immediately left without even offering thanks. Shi Le sent someone to inquire of Shi Sui, "The Crown Prince should be present at court; why did you leave so quickly?" Shi Sui left without looking back. Shi Le was enraged, deposed Shi Sui as Crown Prince, and demoted him to a commoner. That night, Shi Le killed Shi Sui, his wife Zhang, and their twenty-six children, burying them in a single coffin. He also killed more than two hundred of Shi Sui's trusted followers in the palace. Shi Le demoted Zheng to the position of East Sea Empress, appointed Shi Xuan as Crown Prince, and Shi Xuan's mother Du Zhaoyi as Empress Dowager.
Next, let’s discuss Hou Ziguang from Anding. When he was young, he was quite handsome and claimed to be the son of the Buddha, who came from the Great Qin Kingdom to become the king of a minor Qin Kingdom. Later, he changed his name to Li Ziyang, joined the ranks of the Red Eyebrow Army, and the leader of the Red Eyebrow Army found his mysterious demeanor quite intriguing, believing he had signs of prophecy. The leader of the Red Eyebrow Army believed in him and even married his two daughters to him. Together, they manipulated people and incited widespread panic.
Next, Fan Jing, Zhu Long, Yan Chen, Xie Lezi, and others from Jingzhao gathered thousands of followers at Mount Dunan. Li Ziyang proclaimed himself the "Great Yellow Emperor" and changed the era name to "Longxing." The leader of the Red Eyebrow Army became the Left and Right Prime Minister, Zhu Long and Yan Chen became the Left and Right Grand Marshal, and Xie Lezi became the Grand General. Later, General Zhenxi Shi Guang killed Li Ziyang. Strangely, no blood flowed from Li Ziyang's neck, and even after more than ten days, his face still looked like that of a living person.
On the other side, Shi Le (Ji Long) was preparing to attack Duan Liao of the Xianbei in Liaoxi. He recruited thirty thousand elite soldiers and generals, all appointed as Dragon Rising Commanders. Duan Liao sent his brother Qu Yun to attack Youzhou, causing Youzhou's governor Li Meng to flee to Yijing. Shi Le appointed Tao Bao as General of Henghai, Wang Hua as General of Crossing the Liao, commanding a hundred thousand naval troops from Piaoyu Crossing; Zhi Xiong as Grand General of Longxiang, Yao Yizhong as Champion General, leading a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry as vanguard, all attacking Duan Liao together. Shi Le's army arrived at Jintai, and Zhi Xiong launched a direct assault on Jicheng, with over forty cities surrendering to Shi Le, including Ma Bao, the Prefect of Fuyang, Daixiang Zhang Mu, Beiping Xiang Yang Yu, and Shanggu Xiang Hou Gan. Zhi Xiong attacked Anci and killed their chief Nalouqi. Fearing for his safety, Duan Liao abandoned Yingcheng and fled to Miyun Mountain. Duan Liao's left and right historians Liu Qun, Lu Chen, and Sima Cui Yue sealed the treasury and sent envoys to surrender. Shi Le sent generals Guo Tai and Ma Qiu to lead twenty thousand light cavalry to chase Duan Liao, caught up with them, fought in Miyun, captured Duan Liao's mother and wife, killing over three thousand of his men. Duan Liao alone fled into the rugged mountains and sent his son Qite Zhen with a letter of surrender and valuable horses, which Shi Le accepted. Then, Shi Le relocated over twenty thousand households of Duan Liao to four provinces of Yongzhou, Sizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou, promoting capable individuals. Prior to this, the Northern Chanyu Yihui had been ousted by the Xianbei leader Dunna. After securing Liaoxi, Shi Le dispatched Li Mu to defeat Dunna and restore Yihui. Shi Le entered the palace of Liaoguo, rewarding everyone based on their contributions.
Murong Huang and Duan Liao had a bit of a disagreement, so they sent someone to swear allegiance to Shi Le, claiming that Duan Liao should be dealt with, hoping that Shi Le would bring troops to attack together. When Shi Le's army arrived at Lingzhi, Murong Huang did not send troops, so Shi Le wanted to attack him. At that moment, the Indian monk Fotudeng advised Shi Le, stating, "The Yan Kingdom is a country blessed by the heavens and should not be invaded." Shi Le angrily said, "With my forces, what city could possibly withstand me? Who can resist my army? That little Murong Huang, where can he possibly escape to?" The Grand Historian Zhao Lan strongly urged Shi Le, warning that "The Yan Kingdom is protected by the Year Star; sending troops will definitely not be beneficial and will surely bring disaster." Shi Le became furious, struck Zhao Lan, and demoted him to the position of Feirudang County magistrate. Shi Le continued to attack Jicheng, but after over ten days, he still hadn’t taken it. Murong Huang sent his son Murong Ke to issue a challenge at dawn, and it seemed as if dark clouds were gathering from every direction. Shi Le was taken aback and fled in a panic, leaving his helmet and armor behind. So Shi Le called Zhao Lan back to reclaim his position as Grand Historian. On his way back from Lingzhi, Shi Le passed through Yijing and sensed that the city was well-fortified, so he ordered it to be razed. Then, he went to Shi Le's tomb to pay his respects, summoned his officials in front of Jiande Hall in Xiangguo, and rewarded them based on the merits of both civil and military officials. After returning to Ye City, Shi Le threw a lavish banquet and distributed the captives among the officials.
Shi Le planned to attack Changli and sent Cao Fu to lead the Qingzhou army across the Liao River to station at Tadun City. However, due to a lack of water, they were forced to retreat and ultimately settled on an island. Shi Le supplied them with over three million hu of grain. He also used three hundred ships to carry three hundred thousand hu of grain to Goguryeo and sent Wang Dian, the Zhong Lang Jiang of Dian Nong, to lead over ten thousand people in farming by the seaside. He ordered Qingzhou to build one thousand ships. Shi Le then dispatched Shi Xuan with twenty thousand troops to attack Humo Tou, the Xianbei leader of Shuofang, defeated them, and beheaded over forty thousand.
Eight counties in Jizhou were struck by a severe locust plague, and the officials requested that the local officials be punished. Shi Le said, "This is a result of my mismanagement—my fault—but I won't shift the blame onto the local officials. Isn't that the opposite of taking responsibility, like Great Yu and King Tang did? The officials did not provide timely and correct advice, did not assist my work properly, yet blamed innocent people, which only increased my responsibility. Therefore, you will be stripped of your official position but will continue to serve as officials!"
Shi Le appointed his son Situ Tao as a high-ranking official, bestowed upon him a golden bell and a yellow battle-axe, and allowed him to ride in the nine-dragons carriage.
Previously, Shi Le sent Xiangcheng Gong Shegui and Shangyong Gong Rigui to lead the army to guard Chang'an. These two Gui family officials reported to General Zhenxi, Shi Guang, that Shi Guang was secretly associating with a faction and plotting something nefarious. Shi Le was furious, pursued Shi Guang to Ye City, and had him killed.
Duan Liao pulled a fast one in Miyun Mountain, sending men to feign surrender. Shi Le believed it to be true and sent General Ma Qiu to meet Duan Liao in Miyun. He specifically instructed Ma Qiu, "Treat the person pretending to surrender with the same caution as you would an enemy; be careful, General!" Duan Liao also sent someone to tell Murong Huang, "Shi Le is both greedy and dim-witted. I am pretending to surrender now; he will not suspect. If you ambush him with heavy troops, you can easily take him down." Murong Huang then had his son Murong Ke ambush in Miyun. Ma Qiu led thirty thousand troops to meet Duan Liao but was blindsided by Murong Ke, losing nearly seventy percent of his troops, and Ma Qiu himself fled in embarrassment. Upon hearing this, Shi Le was both shocked and furious. He was eating at the time and spat out his food, then removed Ma Qiu from his post.
Following this, Shi Le ordered the appointment of Confucian scholars in various counties and states. Earlier, he had established scholars across various schools, and now he added national scholars and assistants. Shi Le used the method of selecting officials from the Ministry of Personnel to push respected elders out to remote areas, while the children from powerful families could land good positions at a young age. He even demoted the Imperial Physician Wei, whose full name is uncertain. He also appointed his son Shi Xuan as the Grand Chanyu and hoisted the imperial banner for him.
Shi Le appointed Kui An as the Grand Commander of the campaign, leading five generals and seventy thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and the northern border areas. Shi Min defeated Shi Le's forces at Mianyin, and General Cai Huai died. Zhu Bao, a subordinate of Shi Xuan, defeated Shi Le's forces at Baishi, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands. Shi Le's general Zhang Heduo captured Zhu Cheng, defeated Jin General Mao Bao to the west of Zhu Cheng, and killed tens of thousands of people. Kui An subsequently captured Hutin, and Jin generals Huang Chong and Zheng Jin surrendered to him. Kui An finally plundered the belongings of seventy thousand households before making his return.
At that time, Shi Le's relatives were arrogant and corrupt, openly accepting bribes. Shi Le found this troubling and promoted Li Ju, an imperial censor, to Deputy Imperial Censor, whom he trusted. From that point on, all officials became fearful, and the states and counties became more disciplined. Shi Le said, "I heard that good officials are like ferocious beasts, striding confidently down the streets, making even jackals and wolves cower. This is indeed true!"
Zhenyuan Wang reported that some noble families in Yongzhou and Qinzhou had been fulfilling military service since their relocation to the east. As distinguished families, they should be exempt from military service. Shi Le agreed. From then on, people from seventeen surnames including Huang, Hu, Liang, Wei, Du, Niu, and Xin were granted exemption from military service and restored to their original status. They were appointed based on their abilities, and those who wished to return to their hometowns were allowed to do so. This exemption did not extend to others.
Shi Le's son, Shi Hu, sent Li Nong to guard Lingshi, appointing him as the Imperial Commissioner, overseeing military affairs in the northwest of Liaoxi, as well as the General Conqueror of the East and the Governor of Yingzhou. He held several significant official positions!
At that time, there happened to be a severe drought, and a rare phenomenon of a white rainbow arching the sun appeared in the sky. Emperor Shi Hu issued a decree, saying, "I have been the emperor for six years, but have failed to respond to celestial phenomena and have failed to show kindness to the people, which has led to these unusual celestial signs. Therefore, let all officials submit petitions, lift the ban on the Western Mountains, and except for the required annual payment of reeds and fish salt, no other resources are allowed to be exploited! Dukes and marquises are not allowed to encroach on the mountains and valleys privately or seize the interests of the people!" He also issued a decree saying, "Previously, in order to develop the iron industry in Fengguo and Minchi, some criminals were sent to serve as laborers as a temporary measure. But this has become a norm, leading to public discontent. From now on, all exiles of criminals must be approved by me and cannot be arranged arbitrarily! All prisoners in the capital's prison, as long as they are not murderers, should be released!" As soon as he finished issuing the decree, it started raining.
Shi Hu planned to attack Murong Huang, so he ordered the provinces of Sizhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Youzhou, Bingzhou, and Yongzhou to gather fifty thousand troops in Ye City, prepare ten thousand ships to transport 1,100,000 hu of grain to Anle City for war. He also relocated ten thousand households from Liaoxi, Beiping, and Yuyang to Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Yongzhou, and Luozhou.
After Shi Hu became emperor, all appointments of officials had to be approved by the Ministry of Personnel before being reported to the emperor for a decision. If suitable candidates were not found, the blame would fall on the reviewing official, while the secretaries and advisors were exempt from accountability. The Minister of Personnel, Liu Zhen, felt this was wrong and against the principle of selecting talents, so he spoke out. Shi Hu was very angry upon hearing this, but in the end, he promoted Liu Zhen, appointed him as Grand Minister of Splendor, and rewarded him with a gold seal and purple ribbon.
Shi Hu arrived at Wanyang and held a grand military review at Yaowu Field.
As a result, Murong Huan took the opportunity to attack Youzhou and Jizhou, plundering over 30,000 households before making his escape. Due to poor command, the governor of Youzhou, Shi Guang, was recalled and questioned. Shi Hu also rewarded the recruit Xin Mi with several items, including a few staffs, clothes, and 500 hu of grain, and ordered the construction of a mansion for him in Pingyuan. At first, Li Shou sent Li Hong from the Jin court to find Shi Le, and even wrote a letter to Shi Le pleading for leniency, with the letter addressed to "Prince Zhao Shi Jun." Shi Le was quite displeased about this and brought the matter before his ministers for discussion, but their opinions varied. The Minister of the Secretariat, Wang Bo, said: "Now Li Hong is vowing to die. If he is allowed to return to Shu Han, he will definitely lead his family to surrender to us and integrate into our rule. If that’s the case, we could seize Liangzhou and Yizhou without a single soldier, able to attack when necessary and defend as needed. Why should we worry about someone desperate to escape? Li Shou claims to be as mighty as the sun and moon, even dominating a region. If we issue an edict to him now, would he dare go against us? It would make us a laughingstock among other ethnic groups. We should write him a reply and send him some arrows to show him that our strength from afar will surely reach him." So Shi Le sent Li Hong back, giving him plenty of supplies. Then, Shi Le appointed Shi Tao as the Grand Commandant, and Crown Prince Xuan alternated with him in receiving reports from the Imperial Secretaries. From Youzhou to Bailang Mountain, efforts were made to cultivate the land.
Zhang Jun feared Shi Le's might, so he sent his subordinate Ma Sheng to pay a visit to Shi Le. Shi Le was initially happy, but after reading Ma Sheng's memorial, he found the tone overly arrogant and wanted to kill him. The attendant Shi Pu quickly said, "What worries His Majesty is the Eastern Jin (referring to the Eastern Jin Dynasty); what does Zhang Jun's territory in Hebei even matter! If Ma Sheng is killed now, we will definitely have to go to fight Zhang Jun, splitting the southern expeditionary forces into two fronts, and the rulers and officials of Jianye (the capital of the Eastern Jin Dynasty) will be able to live a few more years. Winning a battle isn't a true measure of skill; losing will be laughed at by other minority groups. It's better to treat him well. If he changes his mind and apologizes, and lets his officials submit, what more could we possibly want? If he remains stubborn, there's still time to launch an attack." Shi Le then relented.
After Li Hong arrived in Shu Han, Li Shou wanted to show off, so he ordered, "An envoy from the Jie people has come to pay tribute and presented a bow." Shi Le was very angry upon hearing this, stripped Wang Bo of his rank and reduced him to a commoner, but allowed him to continue serving as the Director of the Palace, now dressed in plain white.
Shi Le, the emperor of Later Zhao, was hell-bent on waging war, but there were few horses in his country. As a result, he ordered a ban on private horse breeding by the populace. Anyone caught hiding horses faced immediate execution! Consequently, he confiscated over forty thousand horses from the populace to strengthen his military. He also vigorously built palaces, constructing over forty pavilions in Ye City, as well as building palaces in Chang'an and Luoyang, employing over four hundred thousand workers! He also ordered the four prefectures of Henan to prepare for military action in the south, while Bingzhou, Shuozhou, Qinzhou, and Yongzhou readied supplies for a western campaign. The provinces of Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou even mobilized thirty to fifty thousand soldiers, with around five hundred thousand people engaged in arms production across these provinces! The nobles and officials jumped into the fray, preoccupied with making money while the populace was left with no means to survive. Seven out of every ten families were living in poverty. To make matters worse, one hundred seventy thousand boatmen lost their lives to floods and wild animals, with almost a third perishing! A man named Li Hong, sensing the mounting resentment, claimed to be the fulfillment of a prophecy, formed a faction, and appointed himself to numerous official positions, but when his scheme was exposed, he was executed, resulting in the punishment of thousands of families.
Shi Le was particularly fond of hunting, going out early every day and returning late at night. He often went incognito to personally inspect the progress of the projects. Under his command was an advisor named Wei Xiao, who advised him: "I heard that children from wealthy families dare not sit under the eaves, let alone you being the emperor; you should not go to dangerous places. Although you are talented and have the world under your control, heaven is on your side, so there's no need to worry. However, even the Dragon King has been trapped, and the Sea God has suffered. I beg you to stay in the palace less, think more about these risks, do not forget the safety of the people, and do not always think about building palaces. If one day a madman rebels, even if you are powerful, you will not have time to react; even the smartest strategies won't help! Since ancient times, wise monarchs have built palaces during the idle farming season, without delaying the farming season. But now you are carrying out construction during the busy farming season; the people can’t farm, and complaints are widespread. This isn’t how a benevolent ruler should behave! Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty was also a wise monarch, and Zhongli stopped the labor in Deyang with just a few words. Although I do not have such great abilities, I still want to give you some advice. You are more powerful than previous emperors; you should consider these issues." After hearing this, Shi Le felt it made sense and rewarded Wei Xiao with food and cloth. But he went on with his large-scale construction projects anyway.
Zhang Li, that old bastard, became the Minister of War, in charge of the military power of the entire nation, but he was currying favor with that bastard Shi Xuan. He said to Shi Xuan, "Now those princes and ministers have too many troops at their disposal. We should cut down their forces and concentrate our power to assert dominance over the world." Shi Xuan, who had always disapproved of Shi Tao's power, found this particularly appealing and ordered Zhang Li to submit a memorial to reduce the officials and soldiers of those princes and ministers. The princes of Qin, Yan, Yiyang, and Le Ping had 197 officials and 200 soldiers immediately cut. The military strength of the other princes and ministers was slashed by two-thirds, and the remaining 50,000 soldiers were all reassigned to the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace. This infuriated the princes, marking the start of a major disaster!
Next, General Zhang Ju was sent to Yanmen Pass to campaign against Suo Touyuju, and he won the battle. The court ordered, "For each conscript, they must be provided with supplies for five people, one carriage, two oxen, fifteen hu of rice, and ten bolts of silk. If the conscription task is not completed, there will be executions!" This is clearly in preparation for the southern expedition to Jiangnan! The common people were so impoverished they could barely afford food. They sold their children to meet the quotas, but it still wasn't enough. Many people starved to death on the way, with people dying daily, and the conscription seemed endless. At this time, a strange event occurred in Qingzhou, where the stone statue from the north of Pingling City in Jinan ran overnight to Shanshigou in the southeast of the city, leaving behind the footprints of thousands of wolves and foxes, forming a path with their footprints. When Shi Le heard this, he was overjoyed and said, "This stone statue is me! Running from the north of the city to the southeast, this is a divine sign that I am destined to pacify Jiangnan! It cannot be violated; next year all the troops from the states and counties will be gathered for me, and I will personally lead the southern expedition to fulfill this good omen!" The ministers all congratulated him, and more than 170 people even wrote a song of praise called "Huang De Song." During that time, there were many strange occurrences, such as a large stone on Mount Tai burning for eight days before extinguishing; a large stone in the East China Sea standing up on its own, with blood flowing from the side; the stones in the western mountains of Ye City also bleeding from the cracks, with a length of over ten meters and a width of over two meters; the ancient sages depicted in the Taiwu Hall murals all took on the appearance of barbarians, and after more than ten days, their heads shrank into their shoulders. Shi Le was furious, and Fotu Cheng was so frightened that he broke down in tears. Liu Ning captured the cities of Wudu and Didao. Shi Xuan also led the troops to defeat the Xianbei Hu Gutu, beheading thirty thousand enemies.
Shen Bian, this guy, has won the trust and favor of Shi Le (Jilong), and Shi Xuan is also closely tied to him. Shen Bian is smart, capable, and eloquent, and he has taken control of military and state affairs. Shi Le hardly reviews memorials anymore; Shi Xuan is caught up in wine and women, while Shi Tao is into hunting. Life-and-death decisions hinge entirely on Shen Bian's word. As a result, his power is immense; everyone, both inside and outside, has to heed him. Most provincial governors and officials below the rank of Nine Ministers owe their positions to him. They have to bow to him respectfully when they see him, and only about a dozen people, including Zheng Xi, Wang Mo, Lu Chen, and Cui Yue, dare to treat him as an equal.
Shi Le also requisitioned over 14,000 war horses from the provinces and distributed them to the troops at Yaowu Pass, and the original owners won't be able to get them back for a year. General Yu Wen Gui of Zhenbei sent Duan Liao's son, Duan Lan, to surrender and brought tens of thousands of fine horses. Shi Le appointed General Zhang Fudu of Pingxi as the commander to lead 30,000 troops in an attack on Liangzhou. After crossing the Yellow River, his army clashed fiercely with General Xie Ai of Zhang Jun in the western region, resulting in a crushing defeat for Zhang Fudu.
Although Shi Le was foolish, cruel, and unreasonable, he had some interest in Confucianism. He sent scholars to Luoyang to transcribe the stone inscriptions and had them proofread the scriptures stored in the Secretariat. National Teacher Nie Xiong annotated the "Gu Liang Chunqiu" and promoted it among the scholars. The Yan Duke Shi Bin was obsessed with wine, women, and hunting, often riding into the palace drunk. The General of the Northern Expedition Zhang He Du believed that border defense should be strengthened and advised Shi Bin several times. Shi Bin became furious and humiliated Zhang He Du. When Shi Le heard about this, he was furious and ordered Shi Bin to receive one hundred lashes, sending the Chief of Ceremonies to supervise him. Shi Bin still acted recklessly, but the Chief of Ceremonies enforced the laws strictly to keep him in check. In a fit of rage, Shi Bin murdered the Chief of Ceremonies. Shi Bin also wanted to kill Zhang He Du, so Zhang He Du quickly bolstered his defenses, reported to Shi Le, and Shi Le sent the Secretary Zhang Li to lead the cavalry to capture Shi Bin. Shi Bin was whipped three hundred times, stripped of his official title, sent home, and over ten of his confidants were executed. In the early years of Jianyuan, Shi Le hosted a banquet for his ministers in the front hall of Taiwu, where hundreds of white geese landed south of the horse trail. Shi Le ordered them to be shot, but not a single one was struck. At that time, Shi Le was about to campaign in all directions, with millions of troops from various states coming. The Imperial Historian Zhao Lan privately advised Shi Le, "The white geese are landing in the palace courtyard; it would be unwise to go to war!" Shi Le believed his words and lifted the state of readiness after a grand military parade at Xuanwu Pavilion. Duke Bin was appointed as the Commissioner, Privy Councilor, Grand Marshal, and Secretary of the Secretariat. Left and Right Generals of Rongzhao and Yao Wu were appointed, with their ranks above those of the Left and Right Guards. The East Palace also appointed Left and Right Commanders, whose ranks were higher than those of the Four Commanders. In addition, Upper and Middle Grand Masters of Splendid Happiness were established, with ranks higher than those of the Left and Right Grand Masters of Splendid Happiness. A Garrison General was also appointed, with a rank higher than that of the Cavalry General.
At that moment, Shi Xuan became more and more arrogant and tyrannical, but no one dared to speak up to Shi Le. General Wang Lang addressed Shi Le, "It is the dead of winter with heavy snowfall, but the Crown Prince has ordered the felling of timber for the palace to be transported to the Zhang River, which involves tens of thousands of workers. The common people are in an uproar! Your Majesty should seize the chance to put a stop to this while you’re out enjoying yourself." Shi Le listened to his words and acted accordingly. Later, when Shi Xuan learned of Wang Lang's report, he was furious and plotted to kill him, but couldn’t find a valid excuse.
Coincidentally, during a celestial event, Zhao Lan took the opportunity to advise Shi Le, "The Maostar is associated with the Zhao clan, and the presence of Venus foretells disaster for its master. The Fangstar symbolizes the emperor, so this disaster is significant! A court minister with the surname Wang should be chosen to bear this misfortune." Shi Le asked, "Who can bear it?" Zhao Lan pondered for a long moment before answering, "There is no one of higher rank than General Wang." Shi Le was hesitant to harm Wang Lang but harbored suspicions against him, so he said, "Name someone of lesser rank." Zhao Lan said, "The only other candidate is Wang Bo, the Minister of the Central Secretariat." Shi Le then ordered an investigation into Wang Bo’s prior recommendations to dispatch Li Hong and his mishandling of the Ku Shi incident, had him executed, and tossed him and his four sons into the Zhang River to appease the misfortune foretold by the celestial event. Later, Shi Le believed that Wang Bo had been wronged, posthumously promoted him to Minister of Works, and granted his grandson the title of marquis.
General Yin Nong besieged Fancheng, the city of Murong Huang, but withdrew without capturing it. Shi Le subsequently demoted Yin Nong to commoner status.
It is said that suddenly a white rainbow appeared in the sky, coming out from Taishé, passing through Fengyang Gate, extending southeast all the way to the horizon, and it took more than ten quarters of an hour to disappear. Shi Le (Ji Long) ordered a decree to be written, saying: "In ancient times, a wise ruler governed the world, first and foremost with fairness and justice in governance, fundamentally governing based on benevolence; only then will the world be peaceful, and the people will live in contentment. My abilities are limited, yet I must govern the many nations, every day with great care and effort, striving to learn from the virtues of ancient wise rulers. Therefore, I have issued orders multiple times to reduce taxes and forced labor, allowing the common people to rest and recover, hoping for their peace and contentment, also hoping for the blessings of heaven. However, since my middle age, disasters have increased, astronomical anomalies, abnormal climate, all due to the people's grievances; heaven has sent calamities! Although it is due to my poor governance, it is also because the various ministers have not assisted me. In the past, the Prime Minister of the State of Chu governed wisely, and the floods quickly receded; the Minister of the State of Zheng enforced the rule of law, and disasters naturally disappeared. These are all wise and virtuous officials; they were able to resolve crises, while you ministers each have your own ideas, putting the country and its people at risk, watching the country’s rise and fall while doing nothing. How can I rely on you ministers and officials! You all need to share your opinions honestly and openly, without concealing anything!" Then, he ordered Fengyang Gate to be closed, only to be opened on New Year's Day. He also established two sacrificial sites at Lingchang Crossing, offering sacrifices to heaven, earth, and the five cardinal directions. Li Shou led the surrender of Jiànníng, Shàngyōng, Hàngù, Bāzhēng, and Zǐtóng prefectures to Shi Le.
Previously, Shi Le attempted to build a river bridge in Lingchangjin, using stones as bridge piers. Regardless of the size of the stones, once they were placed in the river, they would float away with the water flow. Despite spending more than five million in manpower and resources, the bridge was never finished. Shi Le sent people to make offerings to the river god by sinking a jade bi into the river. As a result, shortly after, the jade bi that had sunk actually floated back to the riverbank, followed by an earthquake. The river water surged, and the viewing platform on the bridge collapsed, crushing around a hundred people to death. Furious, Shi Le ordered the execution of all the craftsmen, which finally brought the work to a halt.
Shi Xuan and Shi Tao were appointed by Shi Le to important positions, and the two of them reported directly to Shi Le every day about matters of life and death, with Shi Le not inquiring at all. Situ Shenzhong advised, stating, "Reward and punishment, and criminal law, are powers that only the emperor can wield. This title and authority are crucial and must never be delegated to others. This is done to prevent evil and eradicate the seeds of calamity, and also to set an example. The crown prince is the heir to the country, serving by the emperor's side every day, and has no time to attend to state affairs at all. There are countless examples of common people causing failures due to meddling in state affairs; the lessons from the Yin and Shang dynasties are clear for us to see. We should learn from them and not repeat the mistakes. Moreover, if power is too widely distributed, chaos can easily ensue. The rebellion of Zi Tui during the Zhou dynasty and the disaster of Shu Duan in Zheng were all stemming from favoritism towards the wrong people, which ultimately led to chaos in the country and suffering for families. I hope Your Majesty will heed this warning!" However, Shi Le did not listen at all.
Prince Zhanshi Sun Zhen asked Shizhong Cui Yue, "I have an eye ailment; is there any way to cure it?" Cui Yue and Sun Zhen were on good terms, so he joked, "Just soak your eyes in water, and you'll be fine." Sun Zhen said, "How can eyes be soaked in water?" Cui Yue replied, "Your eyes are big and bright, perfect for soaking in water!" Sun Zhen got really mad and went to tell Shi Xuan about it. Shi Xuan, the son of Shi Le, who bore the least resemblance to him and had deep-set eyes, was furious when he heard about this and ordered the execution of Cui Yue and his son. Sun Zhen, who was favored by Shi Xuan, often took part in court politics. After Cui Yue was killed, the court ministers both feared and resented him.
Shi Le's son, the Duke of Yiyang, Shi Jian, was stationed in Guanzhong at the time. He imposed heavy taxes that caused unrest in the region. His friend Li Song advised Shi Jian, suggesting that long-haired officials should pluck their hair to make tassels for their hats, and the leftover hair could be used by palace maids. The Chief Historian reported this to Shi Le, and he was furious. He sent Zhang Li to Guanzhong to investigate and confirmed the truth, recalled Shi Jian back to Ye City, arrested Li Song and threw him in prison, and then sent Shi Bao to guard Chang'an. Shi Le also mobilized 160,000 soldiers from Yongzhou, Luozhou, Qinzhou, and Bingzhou to construct the Weiyang Palace in Chang'an.
Shi Le originally liked hunting. Later, as he became increasingly overweight and could no longer ride horses, he built a thousand hunting carts. The cart pole was three zhang long, the cart body was eight chi high, and the net, a type of hunting tool, stood seven chi high. There were also forty carts specifically used to capture prey. He even constructed a multi-story building on the carts, with two stories and three levels, and scheduled a time for large-scale hunts. Officials were dispatched to oversee the hunting from Lingchang in Jinan to Xingyang, east to Yangdu. Anyone who dared to violate the hunting range would face the death penalty. The officials exploited the situation, falsely accusing people of breaking the hunting ban to seize their beautiful women and prized horses. As a result, hundreds of families were executed, and the people in the Haidai and Heji regions were suffering immensely.
Shi Le also sent two hundred and sixty thousand people to construct the Luoyang Palace. He also requisitioned over twenty thousand cattle for the use of officials in Shuozhou.
He also increased the ranks of female officials. The Crown Prince's Eastern Palace established twelve ranks, and over seventy countries ruled by the nobles also established nine ranks of female officials. He had previously mobilized over thirty thousand young women between the ages of thirteen and twenty, divided into three ranks, and then distributed them to various places. In order to please him, local counties and prefectures desperately sought beautiful young women, even forcibly taking over nine thousand married ones. If the wives of commoners were attractive, powerful individuals would threaten them, which drove many to take their own lives. Shi Xuan and other officials also secretly conscripted nearly ten thousand individuals. These people were eventually sent to the palace in Ye City. Shi Le personally selected these women in the palace, delighted, and even appointed twelve envoys as marquises. From the beginning of the mobilization to Ye City, the total number of individuals who were killed by their husbands or abducted and subsequently murdered by Shi Le exceeded three thousand. Rebellions erupted throughout Jingzhou, Chuzhou, Yangzhou, and Xuzhou. Over fifty local officials who failed to quell the unrest were arrested and executed. Lu Ming, a high-ranking official, was executed for advising Shi Le. Since then, court officials fell silent, focused solely on preserving their positions and salaries. Shi Le frequently took a thousand women on horseback tours. They all wore purple headscarves, bright satin trousers, belts with gold and silver inlays, and colorful boots, playing and watching horse races. At the horse racing events, colorful edicts were displayed in the mouths of wooden phoenixes, spinning and soaring as if in flight. He also dispatched Ma Qiu, the Inspector of Liangzhou, and others to launch an attack on Zhang Chonghua.
Zhu Gui, the Minister of Rites, had a strained relationship with the Imperial Secretary Yan Sheng. On a day when there was a torrential downpour that caused road collapses, Yan Sheng took the opportunity to report Zhu Gui to the Emperor, accusing him of not properly repairing the roads and badmouthing court affairs. As a result, Shi Le, known as Ji Long, became angry and had Zhu Gui killed.
Afterwards, Shi Le implemented a series of new laws, criminalizing private discussions and casual remarks. Any reports from subordinates about their superiors or servants about their masters were taken seriously and met with harsh punishment. This resulted in rampant abuse of power, causing fear among the court officials, who grew increasingly cautious and stopped speaking out. No one dared to report any significant matters anymore.
When Zhu Gui was arrested, Champion General Fu Hong stepped forward to advise Shi Le, saying, "I've heard that wise rulers lead their realms with simplicity, simple palaces, frugal lifestyles, and minimal reliance on punishment. In contrast, rulers of fallen empires had extravagant palaces, indulged in extravagance, frequently killed their officials, and harmed the people, which led to their swift demise. The palaces in Xiangguo and Yecheng are already opulent enough, so what are the palaces in Chang'an and Luoyang? You are consumed by hunting and indulgence, echoing the reasons for the downfall of past dynasties! You've even amassed thousands of hunting vehicles, maintained tens of thousands of hunting beasts, seized the wives and daughters of the common people, and filled the harem with countless concubines! Minister Zhu Gui was a loyal and devoted official by your side, and yet you want to punish him with torture just because the roads weren't repaired properly. This is a failure in your governance! Look, it has been raining heavily for seventy days and only stopped for two days. Even with a million ghost soldiers, the roads can't be fixed, let alone by mere mortals! How will history judge you for your misuse of power? What will the people think of you? I urge you to halt these wasteful projects that burden the people, cut back on the number of concubines in the harem, pardon Zhu Gui, and align with the people's will!"
After Shi Le heard Fu Hong's words, although he felt unhappy, he was somewhat intimidated by Fu Hong's influence. As a result, he merely pretended to ignore him, didn't take any action against Fu Hong, and he only halted the projects in both capitals.
