The emperor's name is Sima Yan, styled Shigen, and he is the eldest son of Emperor Ming, Sima Shao. On the Wuchen day of the third month in the third year of Taining, he was appointed as the Crown Prince. On the Run month Wuzi, Emperor Ming died. The following day, Jichou, Crown Prince Sima Yan ascended the throne and became the emperor, granting a general amnesty across the realm and promoting civil and military officials by two ranks. At the same time, he also rewarded two bolts of cloth to each orphan, widow, and elderly person. Then, he honored Empress Yu as the Empress Dowager.
In autumn, on the Guimao day of the ninth month, the Empress Dowager held court and began her personal rule. Wang Dao, the Minister of Works, oversaw the Secretariat's affairs, and together with Minister of the Central Secretariat Yu Liang, they assisted in the administration. The court also promoted General Calm the Army, King of Nandun, Sima Zong, to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and promoted General Lead the Army, King of Runan, Sima You, to Guard General. On the Xinchou day, Emperor Ming Sima Shao was buried in Wuping Mausoleum. In winter, on the Guisi day of the eleventh month, which was the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred. The Prefect of Guangling, Cao Hun, committed a crime, was imprisoned and eventually died.
In the year 330 AD, on the Dinghai day in the second month of spring, the court declared a general amnesty, changed the era name, and celebrated for five consecutive days, also distributing two bushels of rice to every orphan and widow, and exempting the people within a hundred miles of the capital from taxes for a year. It was indeed a day of widespread celebration!
In April, during the summer, Shi Le sent his general Shi Sheng to attack Runan. The people of Runan captured Neishi Zuji, accusing him of treason. On the day of Jiazi in the same month, the Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat, Deng You, passed away, which was a great loss. In May, there was another flood; the disasters just kept coming! In June, during the Guihai year, Liu Xia, the Governor of Xuzhou, passed away. On the day of Guiyou in June, Zong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, took over as the Governor of Xuzhou, while the General Who Captures the Enemy, Guo Mo, was appointed as the North General, with temporary command over the Huai North forces. As a result, Liu Xia's subordinates, Li Long and Shi Die, backed Liu Zhao, Liu Xia's son, to inherit his father's position and resist Guo Mo. The Prefect of Linhuai, Liu Jiao, defeated them, killed Li Long, and sent his head back to the capital for public display.
In July, during the Qiuchou month of autumn, Ying Zhan, the Governor of Jiangzhou, and the General Who Pacifies the South, passed away. In August, the court appointed Wen Qiao, the former General and Prefect of Danyang, as the General Who Pacifies the South, with temporary authority to supervise the military affairs of Jiangzhou, and as the Governor of Jiangzhou. In September, there was a drought again; it was truly a string of natural disasters! Li Xiong's general Zhang Long attacked Fuling and captured the Prefect Xie Jun. In the tenth month of winter, the court appointed Cao Mai, the great-grandson of Emperor Wei Wu, as the Prince of Chenliu, to carry on the ancestral rites of the Wei family. On the day of Bingyin, Wei Yu, the Prince of Runan, passed away. On the day of Jisi, the Emperor appointed his brother Yue as the Prince of Wu. Zong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and Prince of Nandon, was executed for committing a crime, and his family was demoted to the Ma clan. Yang, the Grand Preceptor and Prince of Xiyang, was dismissed and reduced to the Prince of Yiyang County. On the day of Gengchen, the court granted a general amnesty within a hundred-mile radius of the capital, pardoning all penalties of five years or less. In this month, Liu Yao's generals Huang Xiu and Bo Cheng attacked Zeng, while Wei Gai, the General Who Pacifies the North, led his troops to retreat to Xiangyang.
On the day of Renzi in November, the court held a grand military review in the southern suburbs. At the same time, adjustments were made to the titles and salaries of the various princes, establishing a nine-to-one food distribution. Shi Le's general, Shi Cong, launched an unsuccessful attack on Shouyang, so he proceeded to raid Quanqiu and Fuling. The court appointed Wang Dao as Grand Marshal, granting him a temporary yellow command baton, commanding him to lead military operations both inside and outside against Shi Le. The Governor of Liyang, Su Jun, sent his general Han Huang to attack Shi Cong, driving him away. During that period, a severe drought occurred, with no rain falling from June to November. In December, Liu Kai, the Governor of Jiyin, killed Xiahou Jia, the Neishi of Xiaping, and defected to Shi Le. The Prince of Liang, Qiao, died.
I can't recall the exact year, but it was January of the second year when a scholar named Pang Yi from Ningzhou suddenly rebelled, leading troops to attack Li Xiong's generals, Ren Hui and Li Qian. Upon hearing this, Li Xiong quickly dispatched Luo Heng and Fei Hei to their aid. The Governor of Ningzhou, Yin Feng, also sent Yao Yue and the Prefect of Zhuti, Yang Shu, to support Pang Yi. They clashed at Taideng, where Yao Yue's forces were defeated, and Yang Shu was killed in battle.
In March, Yizhou experienced an earthquake. In April, there was a severe drought. A few days later, Yuzhang was also struck by an earthquake. On the first day of May, a solar eclipse occurred! A few days later, the court promoted Zu Yue, the Governor of Yuzhou, to the rank of General of the West. To make matters worse, a major flood struck the capital that day. In October, during the winter, Liu Yao sent his son Liu Yin to attack Fohan, and they seized control of the territory of Henan. In November, Zu Yue, the Governor of Yuzhou, and Su Jun, the Governor of Liyang, unexpectedly rebelled as well!
In December, Su Jun sent his subordinate Han Huang to attack Gushu, killing everyone in the city. Then, Prince Xiong of Pengcheng and Prince Xiu of Zhangwu also defected and went to seek refuge with Su Jun. The court became anxious and immediately declared martial law in the capital. They then appointed Yu Liang as the commander-in-chief, Zhao Yin as the Champion General and concurrently Governor of Liyang, to lead troops to fight against Su Jun along with Sima Liu. A battle occurred at Cihu Lake, resulting in Sima Liu's defeat and death. The court then sent Zhong Ya with the navy to join Zhao Yin as the vanguard to confront Su Jun. During this period, Prince Yu of Langya was granted the title King of Kuaiji, and Prince Yue of Wu was named Prince of Langya. On Su Jun's side, another battle occurred at Wuhu against Huan Yi, who was likewise defeated. Finally, the court sent Liu Ju under Xi Jian to lead troops to reinforce the capital.
In January 329 AD, General Wen Qiao led his troops to the capital's rescue. Upon reaching Xunyang, he dispatched Wang Qianqi, Prefect of Xiyang, Deng Yue, Prefect of Xiyang, and Ji Mu, Prefect of Poyang, as the vanguard. General Tao Kan also sent Gong Deng to take orders from Wen Qiao. When Zhong Ya and Zhao Yin arrived at Cihu Lake, Wang Qianqi and Deng Yue arrived at Zhi Du. On Ding Wei day, Shi Le crossed the Yangtze River and ascended Niuzhushan.
In February, Shi Le arrived at Jiangshan. His subordinate, the fictitious General Bian Rong, fought alongside Shi Le at Xiling against the court forces, which were defeated. On Bing Chen day, Shi Le attacked Qingxi Barrier, ignited a fire using the wind, and the court forces suffered yet another defeat. The Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat and Leading General Bian Rong, Dan Yang Yin Yang Man, Yellow Door Gentleman Zhou Dao, and Governor of Lujiang Tao Zhan all died, along with thousands more. Yu Liang was also defeated at Xuanyang Gate, fleeing to Xunyang with his brothers Guo Mo and Zhao Yin.
At this time, Sima Wang Dao, Right Minister of Rites Lu Ye, and Xun Song protected the emperor in the Taiji Palace, while Minister of Ceremonies Kong Yu guarded the ancestral shrine. Shi Le's army pursued the victory, advancing all the way to the emperor's seat, rushing into the empress dowager's palace and taking away all the palace maids. At that time, there were only a few piculs of rice left in the palace, used to make the emperor's meals. The commoners cried out, their cries echoed throughout the capital. On the Ding Si day, Shi Le falsely proclaimed an imperial edict granting amnesty to all, appointing Zuyue as the Attendant, Grand Commandant, and Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and took on the title of General of the Cavalry, overseeing the affairs of the Masters of Writing. Prefect Yu Bing of Wu Commandery fled to Kuaiji. In the third month of the Bing Zi year, Empress Dowager Yu Shi passed away.
In the fourth month, Shi Le attacked Wancheng, and Nanyang Prefect Wang Guo defected and surrendered to Shi Le. On the Ren Shen day, Empress Ming Mu was buried in Wuping Mausoleum. In the fifth month of Yi Wei, Shi Le forced the emperor to move to Shitou City. The emperor cried as he boarded the carriage, and the palace was filled with wails. Shi Le converted the storehouse into a palace, sent Guan Shang, Zhang Jin, and Hong Hui to lay siege to Jinling, and sent Han Huang to attack Yixing. Wuxing Prefect Yu Tan, along with Yu Bing, Wang Shu, and others, staged an uprising in the Sanwu region. On the Bing Wu day, General Who Conquers the West Tao Kan, General Who Pacifies the South Wen Qiao, Guard General Yu Liang, and General Who Pacifies the North Wei Gai led forty thousand naval troops to Cai Zhou.
In June, Han Huan attacked Xuan Cheng, and Neishi Huan Yi fought to the death and died. In the year of Renchen, the General for Pacifying the North and Governor of Yongzhou, Wei Gai, died in the field. Mao Bao, the Prefect of Lujiang, attacked Shi Le's forces in Hefei and captured the city. In July, Zu Yue was defeated by Shi Cong under Shi Le, and the army dispersed and fled to Liyang. Shi Le's subordinate, Shi Jilong, attacked Liu Yao in Puban. In August, Liu Yao and Shi Jilong fought in Gaohou, where Shi Jilong was defeated, and Liu Yao then besieged Shi Sheng in Luoyang. On the Wushen day of September, Minister Wang Dao fled to Baishi. On the Gengwu day, Tao Kan sent Inspector Yang Qian to attack Shi Le in Shitoucheng. Wen Qiao and Yu Liang established a defensive formation in Baishi, and Li Yang, the Prefect of Jingling, blocked the enemy from the south. Shi Le rode out to battle, but fell from his horse and was subsequently killed, causing his army to scatter. Shi Le's followers then installed his brother Shi Yi as the new leader. Former Inspector of Jiaozhou, Zhang Lian, rebelled in Shixing, attacking Guangzhou, but Zeng Xie, the Commander of Zhen Nan, defeated Zhang Lian's forces. In October, Zhang Long under Li Xiong attacked Fuling, and the Prefect Zhao Bi was killed in battle. On the Yiwei day in December, Shi Le defeated Liu Yao in Luoyang and captured him. In that year, Shi Jilong under Shi Le attacked Pu Hong, the leader of the Di tribe, in Longshan, resulting in Pu Hong's surrender.
In the spring of the fourth year of the reign, in the first month, the emperor was in Shitoucheng (now Nanjing). The rebel general Kuang Shu surrendered Yuancheng to the court, and many officials went to Shitoucheng to welcome him. However, courtier Zhong Ya and Right Guard General Liu Chao plotted to escort the emperor out of Shitoucheng, but they were killed by the rebel forces. On a certain day, General Zhao Yin dispatched General Gan Miao to Linyang to confront Zu Yue, who was defeated and fled to Shi Le. His general Qian Teng surrendered to the court with his army. Zhao Yin's son Zhao Jun attacked Taicheng and even set fire to the Taiji East Hall and the Secret Pavilion, turning them to ashes. There was a famine in Shitoucheng, with a bushel of rice costing ten thousand coins!
In the second month, there was heavy rain. On a certain day, various armies attacked Shitoucheng. Li Yang and Su Yi fought at Zhapu, and Li Yang's army was defeated. Chief of Jianwei, Teng Han, led elite troops to support, but Su Yi and his men were defeated. Teng Han escorted the emperor onto a boat at Wenqiao, and the ministers all bowed and wept, asking the emperor to punish them for their incompetence. Prince Yanyang committed a crime and was executed. On a certain day, the court issued a decree of general amnesty. After the war, the palaces were reduced to ashes, necessitating the conversion of Jianping Garden into the imperial palace. On a certain day, Su Yi led tens of thousands of troops from Yanling Lake, preparing to march on Wuxing. On a certain day, General Wang Yunzhi and Su Yi fought at Liyang, capturing Su Yi. On a certain day, the court merged Xiangzhou and Jingzhou. Liu Yao's crown prince Liu Pi and his Grand Marshal Liu Yin fled to Shanggui, resulting in chaos in the Guanzhong region.
On the day of Renzi in March (a certain day in the lunar calendar), the court appointed General Tao Kan as Grand Marshal and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Changsha County; appointed General Xi Jian as Minister of Public Works and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Nanchang County; appointed General Wen Qiao as General of the Cavalry, Chief of the Imperial Household, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Shi'an County. Other officials were also rewarded differently. On the day of Gengwu in March (a certain day in the lunar calendar), the court appointed the Right Chief of the Imperial Clan, Lu Ye, as General of the Guards, Chief of the Imperial Household, and restored the title of Prince of Pengcheng back to Wang Hong of Gaomi. The court appointed General of the Guard Yu Liang as General of the West, Commander of military affairs in Xuanzhou and Jiangxi in Yangzhou, granting him the authority of acting governor and assigning him to Wuhu.
On the day of Yiwei in April (a certain day in the lunar calendar), General Wen Qiao, Marquis of Shi'an, died. In July, a comet appeared in the northwest. Flooding occurred in Kuaiji, Wuxing, Xuanzhou, Danyang, and elsewhere. The court ordered that counties previously disturbed by bandits would be exempt from paying taxes for three years. In August, Liu Yao's generals Liu Yin and others led troops to invade Shisheng, setting up camp in Yongdi. In September, Shi Le's general Shi Jilong attacked Liu Yin, killed him, then captured Shanggui, utterly annihilating the Liu family and massacring over three thousand of them. In October of winter, Mount Lushan suffered a landslide. On the day of Renchen in December (a certain day in the lunar calendar), Right General Guo Mo killed Liu Yin, the General of the South and Governor of Jiangzhou. Grand Marshal Tao Kan mobilized troops to confront Guo Mo. In that year, a rift appeared in the northwest sky.
In the first month of the year 320 AD, on the Ji Hai day, the court issued a general amnesty throughout the country. On the Gui Hai day, the emperor ordered the removal of all generals' sons and relatives from their official posts. In the second month, Lu Wan was appointed as the Left Minister, and Kong Yu was appointed as the Right Minister. In May, there was a drought in the summer, as well as famine and plague. On the Yi Mao day, Grand Commandant Tao Kan captured and killed Guo Mo in Xunyang. Shi Le's subordinate Liu Zheng attacked Nansha, where Commandant Xu Ru was killed in battle, and Liu Zheng advanced into Haiyu. On the Gui Si day in the sixth month, a new land tax system was introduced, collecting three sheng of grain per mu. In August, Shi Le proclaimed himself emperor and sent his general Guo Jing to attack Xiangyang. General of the Household of the South, Zhou Fu, withdrew to Wuchang, and the refugees from the Central Plains who had fled to Shi Le surrendered to him. Guo Jing continued to attack Xiangyang and set up camp in Fancheng. In September, the court began constructing a new palace and renovating Yuancheng. On the Jia Chen day, Prince Lecheng, Sima Qin, was appointed as the King of Hejian, and Sima Jun, the son of Prince Pengcheng, Sima Hong, was made the King of Gaomi. On the Ding Chou day in October, the emperor went to the home of Wang Dao, the Minister Over the Masses, and held a banquet. Li Xiong's general Li Shou attacked Badong and Jianping, while the Supervisor of the Army, Mu Qiu Ao, and the Prefect, Yang Qian, withdrew to Yidu. In December, Zhang Jun pledged loyalty to Shi Le.
In the first month of the year 321 AD, on the day of Guisi, Liu Zheng launched another attack on Lou County and subsequently looted Wu Jin. On the day of Yimao, the court appointed Xie Jian as the commander of Wu's military forces. On the day of Wuwu, due to the interruption of transportation, the court requisitioned over a thousand nobles to transport six hu of rice each. On the day of Jichou in February, Duan Liao, the Inspector of Youzhou and Grand Chanyu, was appointed as General of the Cavalry. On the day of Renxu in March, on the first day, a solar eclipse occurred. On the day of Guiwei, the court issued a decree recommending virtuous and outspoken scholars. In April, the summer experienced a drought. On the day of Bingshen in June, the title of the late Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, was restored, and Sima Zhi, son of the Prince of Pengcheng, was appointed King of Lecheng, while Sima Zhen, son of the King of Zhangwu, was appointed King of Zhangwu. In July, Li Shou's general Li Shou invaded Yinping, and Yang Nandi, the leader of the Wudu Di tribe, surrendered to him. On the day of Gengzi in August, Lu Wan was appointed as the Minister of the Left. In the spring of that year, on the day of Xinyou in January, the emperor granted amnesty to all prisoners. In March, the General of the Western Zhonglang Zhao Yin and the Minister of the Central Minister Kuang Shu led the troops to attack Ma Touwu, the stronghold of Shi Le, and succeeded! However, Shi Le's subordinate Han Yong came to cause trouble again and headed to Nansha and Haiyu to loot. In April in the summer, another general of Shi Le, Guo Jing, captured Xiangyang. In May, a flood occurred, compounding the troubles. On the day of Bingchen in July in autumn, the emperor issued an edict stating that raising rare birds and exotic animals was too costly, so he ordered that they all be culled to save costs. At this time, Grand Commandant Tao Kan sent his son Tao Bin, who was serving in the Western Army at the time, and the General of the Southern Zhonglang Huan Xuan to confront Guo Jing, who was under Shi Le's command, defeating Guo Jing and successfully recapturing Fancheng. Subsequently, Li Yang, the Administrator of Jingling, recaptured Xinye and Xiangyang and stationed troops there.
On the day of Renzi in November, during the winter, the emperor promoted Tao Kan to the higher rank of Grand General. Afterwards, the emperor ordered the nationwide selection of virtuous individuals. On the first day of the first month in the year 328 AD, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The traitorous rebels had been too audacious in the past, burning down the imperial palace. Although the villains have been eliminated, the palace has not yet been rebuilt. Various departments had repeatedly reported that the current meeting place is too crowded, so this new palace was built. Everyone worked hard, and it was completed in just a few days. Now I can move in and have invited the nobles and guests for a grand feast, with all the officials present. I know all the ministers have been diligent, so I want to ease your burden by pardoning all criminals sentenced to less than five years." The emperor then ordered each county to recommend those who could lift over 1500 pounds.
A few days later, Li Shou, a general under Li Xiong, captured Ningzhou, and both Yin Feng and Huo Biao, the Prefect of Jianning, surrendered to him. Afterwards, the emperor appointed Zhang Jun as the Grand General of the West. Shi Le sent bribes, but the emperor ordered the bribes to be burned.
In April, the emperor appointed Sima Mai, the brother of the late King of Xinchai, Sima Bi, as the new King of Xinchai. At the same time, the emperor sent people to recruit the hermits Zhai Tang from Xunyang and Yu Xi from Kuaiji with silk. In May, a star fell in Feixiang, and qilins and zhouyus appeared in Liaodong. Murong Hui died, and his son, Murong Huang, succeeded him.
In June, General Wang Shu passed away. In July, Shi Le died, and his son Shi Hong inherited the throne. Shi Le's general, Shi Cong, led his troops to surrender to the court. In October, Shi Hong's general, Shi Sheng, rebelled in Guanzhong, claiming to be the Inspector of Qinzhou, and also sent people to surrender. Another general under Shi Hong, Shi Jilong, attacked Shi Lang and successfully eliminated Shi Sheng. In December, Guo Quan, a former subordinate of Shi Sheng, also sent people to request surrender.
In the ninth year of our era, in the first month of spring, two meteorites fell in the Liangzhou area, which was quite unusual. The court appointed Guo Quan as General of the West and Inspector of Yongzhou, promoting him and granting him a title. On the day of Dingmao in February, General Zhang Jun was promoted to Grand General, which was a cause for great celebration. On the day of Dingyou in March, an earthquake occurred in Kuaiji area, frightening the common people.
By the summer of April, Shi Hong sent Shi Jilong to attack the Maixian defended by Guo Quan, resulting in Maixian's capture and Guo Quan's defeat. In June, Li Xiong died, and his nephew Li Ban falsely claimed to inherit his position and became the emperor. On the same day, on Yimao day, the court's senior minister, Grand Commandant and Duke of Changsha, Tao Kan, passed away, bringing sorrow to the entire court. That summer, there was a severe drought, resulting in a complete crop failure. The court ordered the imperial palace to stop enjoying luxurious meals, reduce punishments, show compassion to orphans and widows, and cut back on expenses. On the day of Xinwei, the court promoted General Pingxi, Yu Liang, to command the military of six provinces: Jiangzhou, Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Yizhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou, significantly expanding his authority.
In August, during autumn, there was a heavy rain, and finally the heavens finally opened! Only this month did the drought finally ease. On the 9th day of September, Sanqi Changshi and Wei General, Duke Lu Ye of Jiangling passed away, another high-ranking official passed away. In October, Li Xiong’s son, Li Qi, killed Li Ban and declared himself emperor. Li Ban's brother Li Wu, as well as his generals Jiao Kuai, Luo Kai, and others, surrendered to the imperial court. In November, Shi Jilong killed Shi Hong and proclaimed himself Tianwang, what a time of chaos! On the 7th day of December, the court appointed Prince Chong of Donghai as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Langye Prince Yue as the General of Valiant Cavalry. Zhu Zong of Lanling killed Guo Xiang, one of Shi Jilong's generals, and surrendered with Pengcheng to the court.
On the first day of the first month in the year 335 AD, it was Gengwu, the emperor donned his ceremonial robe for adulthood, issued a general amnesty, changed the era name, promoted all civil and military officials one rank, and then held a grand banquet celebrating for three consecutive days. The emperor also rewarded each widow, widower, and orphan unable to support themselves with five hu of rice.
On the first day of the second month, the emperor personally presided over the sacrificial ceremony. That year, there was a famine in many places in Yangzhou, so the emperor quickly dispatched officials to provide disaster relief. On the eighth day of the third month, the emperor visited the Situ Mansion for an inspection. On the eighth day of the fourth month, Shi Jilong launched an attack on Liyang, and the emperor swiftly promoted Wang Dao of Situ, appointing him Grand Marshal, and bestowed upon him the Huangyue, symbolizing the highest military command, allowing him to lead the army to resist Shi Jilong. On the same day, the emperor conducted a troop review at Guangmo Gate, and then delegated tasks to various generals: General Liu Shi was sent to rescue Liyang, General Zhao Yin was stationed at Cihu, General Lu Yong was stationed at Niuzhu, and General Wang Yunzhi was stationed at Wuhu. The emperor also had Sikong Xi Jian appoint Guangling Prefect Chen Guang to lead the defense of the capital. Later, Shi Jilong's forces retreated to Xiangyang. On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, the emperor announced the end of martial law.
However, not long after, Shi Yu, under the command of Shi Jilong, attacked Zhonglu again, and General Wang Guo was forced to retreat to Xiangyang. In August of the autumn, Changsha and Wuling regions experienced heavy flooding. The court sent envoys to invite the two recluses, Zhai Tang and Guo Fan, to take up official posts. On the first day of October, a solar eclipse occurred. That year saw severe drought, particularly in the Yuyao region of Kuaiji, where a dou of rice cost five hundred coins, and people were selling their children. This line is truly heartbreaking.
In January of the year 323 AD, on the Xinsi day, a comet appeared in the sky, located in the Kui constellation. The court appointed the former minister of Wu, Yu Tan, as the General of the Guard. In February, during an inventory of the army's food supplies, it was discovered that more than five hundred thousand shi were missing, and all officials below Xie Bao were dismissed. On the Xinhai day, Du Shi was appointed as the Empress, a general amnesty was announced, and all civil and military officials were promoted by one rank. On the Gengshen day, an envoy from Goguryeo presented various tributes. In March, a drought occurred, and the Emperor ordered the reduction of food in the palace and exempted the counties affected by the disaster from corvée labor. On Wuyin day, a large rain prayer ceremony was conducted.
On the 4th day of the fourth month, the queen visited the ancestral temple to conduct rituals. That day, there was hail. In the seventh month, there was a famine in Yangzhou and Kuaiji commandery, and the court ordered the granaries to be opened to assist the disaster victims. In October, the governor of Guangzhou, Deng Yue, dispatched Inspector Wang Sui to attack Yelang, and the governor of Xinchang, Tao Xie, attacked Xinggu, both achieving victories. The emperor issued a decree saying, "Dynasties have always attached great importance to worshipping ancestors and commending meritorious officials, so both the Qi and Song dynasties followed the example of the Zhou dynasty; the accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty's princes were recorded in the historical annals of the Han dynasty. Since the onset of chaos, all the vassal states have fallen into decline, and after the Zhou and Han dynasties, no one has continued their worship. Now we must diligently seek out the close relatives of Duke Wei and Duke Shanyang, to see if there are people of noble character who can continue their worship, and carry out the old rituals and systems." At the same time, the court also constructed a new Zhuque floating bridge. In November, the court sent General Jianwei, Sima Xun, to stabilize Hanzhong, but he was defeated by Li Shou under Li Qi.
In January 324 AD, on the Xinmao day, the court established the Imperial Academy. In June, there was a drought. On the 11th day of the eleventh month, Murong Huang declared himself King of Yan.
In February 325 AD, Shi Le led 70,000 troops to attack Duan Liao, who fled to Pinggang. In April, Li Shou assassinated Li Qi and proclaimed himself emperor, naming his country Han. Murong Huang defeated Shi Le, and on the day of Guichou, the court appointed Murong Huang as Grand General of the North. On the 2nd day of the 5th month, the court appointed Wang Dao as Grand Tutor and Commander of all military affairs, Xi Jian as Grand Commandant, and Yu Liang as Minister of Works. In June, the court abolished the Grand Tutor position, replacing it with the office of Prime Minister, with Wang Dao taking on the role of Prime Minister. On the 15th day of the 8th month, the court reorganized Ningzhou, creating Anzhou.
In the spring of the year 340 AD, on the 25th day of the first month, the court issued a decree of general amnesty across the realm. On the 28th day of the third month, the Governor of Guangzhou, Deng Yue, led troops to attack the Shu region, and Meng Yan of Jianning captured Huo Biao, a general of Li Shou, who surrendered. In the summer, on the 25th day of the fourth month, General Yu Liang, known for his conquests in the West, sent Army Advisor Zhao Song to attack Bajun and Jiangyang, capturing Li Hong and Huang Zhi, subordinates of Shi Jilong. On the 29th day of the seventh month in autumn, Wang Dao, a senior minister of the court, passed away. The next day, the 1st day of the eighth month, the General Who Guards the Army, He Chong, was appointed acting Minister of the Interior. On the 5th day of the eighth month, the court changed the title of Prime Minister to Minister of Works. On the 6th day of the eighth month, Chi Jian, the Grand Commandant and Duke of Nanchang, also passed away. In the ninth month, the generals under Shi Jilong: Kui An and Li Nong, captured the southern region of Mian, Zhang Mao captured Zhucheng, and then raided Jiangxia and Yiyang. In these battles, General Mao Bao, Prefect of Xiyang Fan Jun, and Prefect of Yiyang Zheng Jin were all killed. Kui An and his men continued to besiege Shicheng, where Li Yang, the Prefect of Jingling, mounted a resistance and defeated them, resulting in the deaths of over five thousand of their troops. Kui An then retreated, plundering the eastern bank of the Hanshui River along the way, and abducting over seven thousand households to relocate them to Youzhou and Jizhou. In the winter, on the 28th day of the twelfth month, Wang Yue, General of Agile Cavalry and Prince of Langye, was appointed Minister of Works. Li Shou's general Li Yi attacked Badong, and the defending general, Lao Yang, was killed in action.
In the spring of the year 341 AD, on the first day of the first month (Gengzi), another important minister of the court, the Minister of Works and Marquis of Du Ting, Yu Liang, died. The next day, on Xin Hai, Lu Wan was appointed as the Minister of Works. In the second month, Murong Huang and the general Shi Cheng fought in the west of Liao, with Murong Huang defeating Shi Cheng and reporting victory to the court. On the day of Geng Chen, a star was observed in Taiwei. On the third day of the third month, the court once again ordered a general amnesty throughout the empire. At the same time, Chong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and Prince of Donghai, was appointed as the General of the Flying Cavalry. Li Shou captured Danchuan, and the defenders Meng Yan, Liu Qi, and Li Qiu were all killed in battle. In the seventh month of autumn, on the day of Yi Mao, the court began to follow the old practices from the prosperous period (during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty), holding court sessions in the East Hall on the days of the new and full moons (the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month). In the winter of the tenth month, the kingdom of Linyi presented trained elephants as tribute. On the day of Gui Mao in the eleventh month, the court recovered Langye commandery, which was as prosperous as the fertile regions of the Han Dynasty.
In the year 327 AD (seventh year), on the first day of the second month, there was a solar eclipse. On the sixteenth day of the second month, Murong Huang sent someone to request the borrowing of the King of Yan's jade seal, which the emperor agreed to. On the seventh day of the third month, Empress Du passed away. On the fourth day of the fourth month, Empress Gong was buried in Xingping Tomb. By the way, at that time, a nationwide census was conducted, with everyone from nobles to commoners re-registered. On the twenty-seventh day of the eighth month, the General of the Flying Cavalry and Prince Donghai, Sima Chong, died. In the ninth month, the court abolished the position of Grand Protector. On the twenty-third day of the twelfth month, the Minister of Works and Count of Xingping, Lu Wan, died. Additionally, the court also discontinued the acrobatic performances at the Music Bureau, as well as the administrative structure of Anzhou.
In 328 AD (the eighth year), on the first day of the first month, there was a solar eclipse. On the tenth day of the first month, the court granted a general amnesty to the world. In March, Empress Wu Dao and Emperor Wu were officially permitted to receive sacrifices together in the temple. On the seventh day of the sixth month, the emperor fell seriously ill. He issued a decree saying, "I ascended to the throne at a young age. For the past eighteen years, I have relied on the support of various princes and ministers, but I have not been able to govern the country well, root out corruption, and have been worried day and night, never at peace. Now that I am seriously ill and dying, I am very sad. The future is long and the country's prospects are uncertain, and I truly cannot be at ease. Sima Yue, the Minister of Works and Prince of Langya, is my own brother and a person of both virtue and talent. He is capable of taking on great responsibilities. I hope you all can assist him! Serve the ancestors' spirits well, coordinate internal and external relations, and govern the country well. Ah, I hope you can do it! Don't let down the ancestors' expectations!" On the ninth day of the first month, the emperor appointed Prince Sima Xi of Wuling, Prince Sima Yu of Kuaiji, Yu Bing, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, He Chong, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, and Zhuge Hui, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, to assist in governance. On the tenth day of the first month, the emperor died in the Western Hall at the age of twenty-two and was interred at Xingping Mausoleum, with the posthumous temple name Xianzong.
It is said that Emperor Mu of Jin was exceptionally intelligent since childhood, with a mind like that of an adult. Later, when Wang Zongzhi of Nandon rebelled and was killed, Emperor Mu was completely unaware of it. After the rebellion of Su Jun was pacified, Emperor Mu asked Yu Liang, "Where did that old man with white hair (referring to Zongzhi) usually go?" Yu Liang replied that Zongzhi had rebelled and was killed. Upon hearing this, Emperor Mu cried and said to Yu Liang, "If someone else rebels, you kill them; but what if it’s your own uncle? What then?" Upon hearing this, Yu Liang's face turned pale with fear.
Once, Yu Yi sent wine to the governor of Jiangzhou, Wang Yunzhi. Wang Yunzhi gave the wine to his dog, which resulted in the dog's death. Frightened, Wang Yunzhi quickly reported the incident. Emperor Mu was furious when he heard about it, saying, "My elder nephew Yu Liang has already made a mess of things, and now my younger nephew Yu Yi wants to follow suit?" Hearing this, Yu Yi took poison and ended his life. When Emperor Mu was young, he was always under the thumb of his uncles from the Yu family and rarely handled state affairs himself. Only as he grew older did he start taking an interest in national affairs, emphasizing simplicity. Once, he wanted to build an archery range in the backyard but ultimately scrapped the idea when he realized it would cost forty coins, which he deemed excessive. In terms of grand vision, he might not measure up to previous emperors, but he can certainly follow in the footsteps of the wise rulers of history in humility and frugality. "While I may fall short in martial prowess compared to past kings, I can certainly follow in the footsteps of the wise rulers of history in humility and frugality."
Kangdi, named Sima Yue and styled Shitong, was the younger brother of Chengdi. In the first year of Xianhe, he was granted the title of King of Wu, and in the second year, he was renamed King of Langye. In the ninth year of Xianhe, he was appointed Cavalier in Regular Attendance and promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the fifth year of Xiankang, he was promoted to Palace Attendant and Minister of Works. On Gengyin day in the eighth year of Xiankang, Chengdi died, and the court issued an edict for the King of Langye, Sima Yue, to succeed to the throne. On Guisi day, Chengdi died. On Jiawu day, Sima Yue ascended to the throne and issued a general amnesty. Simultaneously, it was mandated that all stationed soldiers and officials of rank 2,000 stone and above could not leave their posts to pay their respects. On Jihai day, Chengdi's son, Sima Pi, was made King of Langye, and Sima Yi was made King of Donghai. During this time, Sima Yue remained modest and entrusted government affairs to Yu Bing and He Chong. On Bingchen day of the seventh month, Chengdi was buried in Xingping Mausoleum. Sima Yue personally conducted the sacrificial rites at the western steps and only switched to a plain carriage when the funeral procession reached Changhe Gate, escorting the procession all the way to the tomb. On Wuyi day, He Chong was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry. On Xinchou day of the eighth month, the Prince of Pengcheng, Sima Hong, passed away. Wang Yunzhi, the Inspector of Jiangzhou, was appointed General Who Guards the Army. In the ninth month, an edict was issued to promote officials of Langye and their subordinates. On Jiawu day in the tenth month, General Who Guards the Army Wang Yunzhi died. In the twelfth month, the court elevated civil and military officials by two ranks. On Renzi day, Lady Chu was named Empress.
In the spring of the year 317 AD, in the first month, the reign title was changed, and the court specially took care of widows and the elderly. In March, Yu Bing was appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry. In April, during the summer season, the Governor of Yizhou, Zhou Fu, and Cao Ju, the Prefect of Xiyang, together attacked Li Shou and defeated Li Heng, one of Li Shou's generals, in Jiangyang. In May, there was a drought. On Renwu day in June, the court sent gifts to invite recluses Zhai Tang and Yu Xi to come out of seclusion to serve as officials. Some suggested that since Emperor Cheng had passed away a year ago, they should change to plain clothes to show mourning, but the court continued with its usual meals. On Renyin day, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The ancient rites will be adjusted according to the changes of the times, which is normal. However, the relationship between monarch and minister, father and son, is very important and must not change. The trend of simplifying rites is a modern phenomenon, supposedly to adapt to the situation, but it actually marks the decline of rites and music. The ancient kings valued rites, but later generations became increasingly negligent, not to mention the current casual simplification, which is absolutely unacceptable!" Shi Le led an attack against Murong Huang and was soundly defeated by him.
In July, during the autumn, Shi Le's general Dai Kai led his troops to surrender to the Jin dynasty. On Dingsi day, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Murong Huang defeated Shi Le's army, reportedly killing more than eighty thousand people. This is probably the beginning of Shi Le's downfall. The situation in the Central Plains needs to be carefully considered. Moreover, Dai Kai has already surrendered with his subordinates, so he should be properly rewarded. Send envoys to the generals in the west to discuss military actions." Huan Wen was appointed as the Vanguard Commander and led the army into Linhuai; Yu Yi was appointed as the Grand Commander for Pacification and was reassigned to guard Xiangyang. On Gengshen day, Jinling and Wu counties experienced severe flooding. In August, Li Shou passed away, and his son Li Shi inherited his title. Shi Le dispatched his general Liu Ning to seize Didao.
On a winter day in the tenth month of the year Xinsi, Yubing was appointed as the Commander of the military affairs of the six provinces of Jing, Jiang, Si, Yong, Yi, and Liang, and also served as the Governor of Jiangzhou; He Chong was appointed as the Director of the Central Secretariat, Commander of the military affairs of the two provinces of Yang and Yu, Governor of Yangzhou, and Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat to assist the Emperor with state matters; Huan Wen was appointed as the Commander of the military affairs of the three provinces of Qing, Xu, and Yan, as well as the Governor of Xuzhou; Chu Pou was appointed as the General of the Guards and the Acting Director of the Central Secretariat. On the day of the eleventh month of Jisi, the court declared a nationwide amnesty. In the twelfth month, Shi Le invaded the territory of Zhang Jun, who sent General Xie Ai to resist. The two sides clashed in a major battle in the Hexi region, resulting in a defeat for Shi Le. In the twelfth month, an envoy from Goguryeo came to pay tribute to the court.
In the spring of a certain year, during the first month, Zhang Jun sent his generals He and Xie Ai to attack the Southern Qiang in Yutian, achieving a decisive victory. In the second month, Murong Huang and the Xianbei leader Yuwen Gui fought a battle in Changli, with Yuwen Gui's forces facing a crushing defeat and fleeing to the northern desert. In the fourth month, Zhang Jun's general Zhang Guan defeated Wang Zhuo, one of Shi Jilong's generals, at Sanjiao City. On the day of Bingzi in the eighth month of autumn, the court promoted the General of Anxi, Yu Yi, to the General of the West. On the day of Gengchen, Huan Xuan, who held the title of Jie and was the Commander of the military affairs of the three provinces of Si, Yong, and Liang, Governor of Liangzhou, General of Pingbei, and Duke Jingling, died. On the day of Dingsi, the court appointed the General of the Guards, Chu Pou, as Tejin, Commander of the military affairs of the two provinces of Xu and Yan, and Governor of Yanzhou, to defend Jincheng. In the ninth month, the Administrator of Badong, Yang Qian, attacked Li Shi, and Li Shi's general Shen Yang was defeated by Yang Qian and captured another of Li Shi's generals, Legao. On the day of Bingshen, the Emperor appointed his son Dan as the Crown Prince. On the day of Wuxu, the Emperor died in Shiqian Hall at the age of twenty-three and was buried in Chongping Mausoleum.
At the beginning, Emperor Cheng fell ill. Yu Bing, the Minister of the Interior, was the uncle of the Empress and held great power in the court, almost equal to the Emperor. Worried that his family's status would decline after the Emperor's death, he suggested that since the country currently faced powerful enemies, they should appoint an older Crown Prince. Thus, the then-current Emperor was appointed as the heir. A reign title was then established, the central court was reestablished, and the era name was changed to Jianyuan. Someone told Yu Bing, "Guo Pu's prophecy says 'at the establishment, the hills will collapse,' 'establish' refers to building, 'begin' refers to the era, and 'hills' are the Emperor's taboo name." Yu Bing was taken aback by this and sighed, "If there really is fortune and misfortune, can changing an era name solve any problems?" Ultimately, this turned out to be true.
Historians note that this chaos was severe and didn’t arise overnight. If punishment is fair, the common people can still accept it, showing the principles of obedience and disobedience. Emperor Cheng relied on the remaining strength to guard the Jianghuai region, with orders coming from Weiyang, yet it was hard to rally the people. Thieves were running rampant, sacred relics were at risk, and the capital wasn’t as affluent as Ao Yu, with the palaces almost becoming a second Xianyang fire. Truly a case of "a dog barking at a sage!" Those rebellious guys, like Fenghu and Houyi, are there any more powerful than this? If it hadn't been for our Emperor's timely retreat, lacking an army like Duke Wen of Jin and being trapped in the Baosang area, we would have owed our thanks to Duke Tao for his assistance! In ancient times, vassals submitted to the Emperor, and if the Emperor wanted to go out, the vassal's household had to steer clear of the palace, stand facing north, all learned from previous strategies and still in use today. Emperor Xianzong stood in front of Wang Dao's house, his clothes neatly arranged, bowing to pay respects; how could this possibly compare to Duke Lu receiving jade with such humility? The Emperor himself is frugal and hopes to change those bad customs with this.
People praised: The emperor was known for his virtue, and his uncle was also quite helpful. However, he was too focused on conquests but lacked skill in military leadership. A great fire engulfed the imperial palace, which brought immense sorrow across the nation as rebel forces surrounded the emperor's residence. The emperor fled to the Stone City, causing great sorrow throughout the country. Empress Kang, wise and intelligent, meticulously observed the mourning rituals. She had just taken on the reins of the court but tragically passed away at such a young age, which is truly a loss!
