In the third year of Yonghe, Shi Le personally plowed the fields in his hometown Sangziyuan, while his wife Du Shi held a ritual for the God of Silkworms outside the city. Afterwards, Shi Le then went to Xiangguo to pay respects at his own tomb. At that time, the names of Shi Le, Shi Zun, Shi Jian, and Ran Min were well-known.
Shi Le appointed Shi Ning to be the General for the Western Expedition, leading more than 20,000 soldiers to support Ma Qiu. Zhang Chonghua surrendered with his 20,000 households. In the Hexi region, over ten thousand Di and Qiang tribes coordinated with Zhang Xu, which made Ma Qiu too afraid to advance. The Prefect of Jincheng, Zhang Chong, also surrendered to Shi Ning. Ma Qiu later arrived at Quliu, while Liu Ning and Wang Zhuo attacked Jinxing Wujie. Zhang Chonghua's generals, including Yang Kang, clashed with Liu Ning at Shafu, and Liu Ning retreated back to Jincheng after losing. Wang Zhuo captured Wujie, seized Zhang Chonghua's guards Cao Quan and Hu Xuan, and relocated over 7,000 households to Yongzhou. Shi Le then appointed Sun Fudu as the General of the Western Expedition, leading 30,000 infantry and cavalry to cross the Yellow River with Ma Qiu to attack Changzhou. Zhang Chonghua was very afraid and sent Xie Ai to fight, resulting in the defeat of Shi Le's army, forcing Ma Qiu to retreat back to Jincheng.
Shi Le and his father were both never satisfied and had no regard for etiquette. They occupied the territory of ten provinces, with countless treasures—gold, silver, precious stones, pearls, and exotic artifacts from foreign lands—yet they still felt it was not enough. They dug up the tombs of past emperors and sages just to loot their treasures. On the west side of Handan City, there was a tomb of Zhao Jianzi on Shizigang, which Shi Le ordered to be excavated. Initially, they dug up charcoal over ten feet deep, followed by a foot-thick wooden board, and then eight feet of thick wooden board before reaching spring water, which was incredibly refreshing. They used a winch and oxhide water bags to draw water, but after a month, the water still hadn't been exhausted, so they had no choice but to stop. He even sent people to excavate the tomb of Qin Shihuang and extract the bronze pillars to cast into objects.
There was a monk named Wu Jin, who said to Shi Le, "The fortunes of the Hu people are waning, the Jin Dynasty is going to be restored; we should harshly exploit the people of the Jin Dynasty and grind down their spirit." When Shi Le heard this, he ordered the official Zhang Qun to conscript 160,000 people from nearby provinces and ten thousand carts to transport soil to build the Hualin Garden and the Great Wall north of Ye City, covering an area of dozens of miles in length and width!
This made Zhao Lan, Shen Zhong, and Shi Pu anxious. They quickly wrote a letter to Shi Le, claiming that the signs in the heavens were ominous and the people were struggling to get by. They also advised Shi Le in person, speaking earnestly. When Shi Le heard this, he was enraged and bellowed, "This wall will be built today and collapse tomorrow; I won’t regret it!" He then forced Zhang Qun to work day and night, even working by candlelight at night. Three towers were built, with four gates, three of which were connected to the Zhang River, and the gates were made of iron. Unfortunately, when a storm hit, tens of thousands perished.
Meanwhile, Yangzhou also sent five large geese, with necks reaching a yard in length and voices that could be heard over ten miles away. Shi Le released them into Xuanwu Lake. Sixteen qilins and seven white deer were also sent from various places. Shi Le ordered the official Zhang Hezhu to properly train these exotic creatures, planning to harness them for pulling carts and showcasing them in the palace courtyard. He also had workers dig a waterway in the northern part of the city to bring water to the Hualin Garden. Ultimately, the city wall collapsed, crushing more than a hundred people.
Shi Xuan organized a large hunting event to pray for blessings from the mountains and rivers. The entourage was grand, in a carriage fit only for the emperor, adorned with feathered banners and imperial flags, accompanied by sixteen military units and eighteen hundred soldiers, setting off from Jinming Gate. While Shi Jilong brought his concubines to Lingxiao Pavilion, he watched from a distance and laughed heartily, saying, "Our father and son are living so comfortably; unless the sky falls, what is there to worry about? Let's just wait to enjoy our grandchildren and live happily!"
Shi Xuan's hunting activities dragged on endlessly, constructing temporary palaces everywhere, enclosing the prey within a hundred-mile radius, and capturing them all together at night. Civil and military officials had to kneel or stand guard, with watchtowers that shone like daylight. Shi Xuan even ordered over a hundred cavalrymen to hunt inside. Shi Xuan and his favored concubine, Xian De Meiren, watched from their carriage, enjoying themselves until every last bit of prey was caught. If any prey escaped, the pursuers would face punishment: officials would lose their horses and be forced to walk for a day, while non-officials would receive a hundred lashes. These strict rules terrified the officials and soldiers, leading to over ten thousand starving or freezing to death or suffering injuries. Shi Xuan's bows, horses, clothing, food, and shelter were all designated as "imperial property," and anyone who disrupted this order would face punishment for violating the ban. As he traveled through three provinces and fifteen counties, all the resources were plundered, leaving nothing in their wake.
Shi Jilong asked Shi Tao to embark on a hunting expedition from Bingzhou to Qin and Jin territory. Shi Xuan had long harbored a dislike for Shi Tao's favoritism, and this hunting trip deepened his jealousy. A eunuch named Zhao Sheng, who was favored by Shi Xuan but held in disdain by Shi Tao, secretly persuaded Shi Xuan to get rid of Shi Tao. Thus, their conspiracy to eliminate Shi Tao took shape.
Ma Qiu launched an attack against Zhang Mao, a general under Zhang Chonghua, defeating him in the Hedong and Shaanxi regions and beheading more than three thousand soldiers. Li Kui, the protector of Fuhan, surrendered along with seven thousand troops to Shi Jilong. South of the Yellow River, the Di and Qiang tribes surrendered.
Shi Tao built a grand hall named Xuanguang Hall in the office of the Grand Commandant, featuring a beam that measured nine zhang in length. Shi Xuan, upon seeing this, was enraged and ordered the execution of the craftsmen, even cutting the beam short. In retaliation, Shi Tao extended the beam by an additional ten zhang. Hearing of this, Shi Xuan's fury intensified, and he informed his trusted confidants, Yang Bei and Mou Cheng, "Shi Tao is far too arrogant, daring to challenge my authority! If you can kill him, I will inform the emperor that I shall grant you all of Shi Tao's territory. When Shi Tao is dead, the emperor will undoubtedly come to pay his respects, and we can seize the opportunity to succeed!" Yang Bei and the others readily agreed.
That day, a large area of yellow and black clouds appeared in the southeast, as large as several acres. Slowly, it split into three pieces, shaped like a piece of cloth, crossing the sky, dark and bluish in color. At sunset, it passed in front of the sun, and after the sun set, it split into seven paths, each spaced several dozen yards apart, with white clouds resembling fish scales interspersed in between. It disappeared only at midnight. Shi Taopin was knowledgeable about astronomy. Seeing this strange phenomenon, he felt very uncomfortable and said to the people around him, "This is no minor omen. There will definitely be assassins appearing in the capital. I wonder who will be in trouble?" That night, Shi Tao hosted a banquet for his subordinates at Dongming Temple, playing music and drinking. When the wine was flowing, he suddenly sighed and said, "People may not be around one day; parting is easy, but reuniting is hard. Everyone, please raise a glass to me, drink to my health, and make sure to get drunk. Who knows if we can meet again in the future? How can we not drink?" With that, he began to cry, and the people around him followed suit, ending up staying at the Buddhist temple. Shi Xuan sent Yang Pei, Mou Pi, Mou Cheng, Zhao Sheng, and others to climb into Shi Tao's residence using a makeshift rope ladder, killed Shi Tao, then removed the knives and arrows. The next day, Shi Xuan reported this to the emperor. When Shi Jilong heard the news, he was so terrified that it took him a while to regain his composure. He originally wanted to go and see for himself, but Sikong Li Nong advised him, "The one who killed Lord Qin is likely still in the palace. The situation is unclear now, so it's best not to go out." Shi Jilong then dispelled the idea. A lavish funeral was conducted at Taiwu Hall. Shi Xuan, sitting in a plain carriage with a thousand people, went to pay tribute to Shi Tao. However, he showed no signs of grief, merely laughing, and asked to open the coffin to see the corpse. After glancing at the body, he burst into laughter and walked away. Then, he arrested the Chief General's secretary, Zheng Jing, Yin Wu, and others, planning to shift the blame onto them.
Shi Le suspected that Xuan Wang had killed Tao Kan and wanted to summon him, but was afraid he wouldn't come, so he faked his mother’s critical illness. Xuan Wang never expected to be suspected, so he entered the palace and was taken into custody by Shi Le. During the Jianxing period, a man named Shi Ke testified: "On the night Tao Kan died, Xuan Wang stayed at Yang Pei's house in the East Palace. That night, Yang Pei and five others returned from outside and said to each other, 'The big plan has been set in motion; we only hope everyone can live a long life. What do we have to fear when wealth and honor are assured?' After speaking, they went inside. Shi Ke was hiding in the shadows and didn’t see Yang Pei. Shi Ke later made a secret escape. Shortly after, Yang Pei and two others came out searching for Shi Ke but found no trace of him. Yang Pei said, 'The people staying at the inn heard their conversation and must silence him for good. Now that he has escaped, the plan is about to come to fruition.' Shi Le quickly dispatched his men to apprehend them, capturing Yang Pei, Mou Pi, Zhao Sheng, and others. Yang Pei and Mou Pi soon managed to escape, while Zhao Sheng was captured and interrogated, ultimately confessing everything.
Shi Le was even more angry, locked Xuan Wang in the stockade, pierced his chin with an iron ring lock, and constructed a large wooden trough filled with gruel, feeding him like livestock. Shi Le also licked the blood from the knife and arrows that had slain Tao Kan, crying and shouting, his voice echoing throughout the palace. He piled up firewood on the north side of Ye City, erected a pole on top, and placed a Lu Dao blade atop the pole, tying it with a rope. He climbed up the ladder on the firewood pile and sent Xuan Wang to the pole. Tao Kan's trusted eunuchs, Hao Zhi and Liu Baba, removed his hair, cut off his tongue, hauled him up the ladder, and laid him atop the firewood pile. Hao Zhi tied his chin with a rope and strangled him with the Lu Dao, while Liu Baba severed his hands and feet, gouged out his eyes, and slit open his belly, just like the injuries Tao Kan had suffered. Fires were set ablaze on all sides, the flames reaching high into the sky. Shi Le and thousands of people, including the empress, climbed to the middle platform to watch. After the fire was extinguished, the ashes were scattered on the road in front of the palace gate. Nine people, including Xuan Wang's wife, were also killed. Xuan Wang's young son was merely a child, and Shi Le, deeply pained, held him close and wept. The child cried out, "This isn't my fault!" Shi Le wished to spare him, but the ministers opposed it, so he killed the child in his arms. The child clung to Shi Le's clothes, screaming. In that moment, no one could hold back their tears, and Shi Le fell ill from the ordeal.
Shi Le once again executed three hundred officials of lower ranks than Xuan Wang and fifty eunuchs; all of them were dismembered and thrown into the Zhang River. He defiled the Eastern Palace and used it to raise pigs and cows. More than one hundred thousand guards of the Eastern Palace were all dispatched to Liangzhou to serve on the frontier. Previously, the Cavalier Attendant Zhao Lan had warned Shi Le that there would be changes in the Central Palace and he should be on guard. After Xuan Wang executed Tao Kan, Shi Le suspected that he was aware of it but had not informed him, so he also killed him. Xuan Wang's mother, Lady Du, was demoted to commoner status. The noble consort, Lady Liu, daughter of the Minister of Works, was especially favored for her beauty and talent. Because her two brothers were favored by Xuan Wang and were also killed, Shi Le, captivated by her beauty, also took another daughter of Minister Qi into the Hualin Garden.
Shi Le (Ji Long) was considering the matter of establishing a crown prince. His Grand Commandant, Zhang Ju, suggested, "The Duke of Yan, Shi Bin, and the Duke of Pengcheng, Shi Zun, are both talented in civil and military affairs! Your Majesty, your health has declined, and the world has not yet been completely unified. Why not choose one of these two to be the crown prince?" Years ago, when Shi Le's general Zhang Chai attacked Shanggui, he captured Liu Yao's youngest daughter, who was just twelve and extraordinarily beautiful. Shi Le took her as a concubine and had a son named Shi Shi, who was appointed as the Duke of Qi.
At this time, Zhang Chai saw that Shi Le was getting older and often ill, so he considered making Shi Shi his successor, proposing that Lady Liu become the Empress Dowager, and he himself could control the power. He advised Shi Le, "Your Majesty, the crown princes you appointed previously all came from humble origins, which is why there were constant troubles. Now, you should choose a mother of noble status and a son who is filial to be the crown prince." Shi Le said, "Don't mention this for now; I already have someone in mind for the crown prince."
Later, Shi Le discussed the matter with his ministers in the East Hall, saying, "I want to cleanse my insides with three buckets of pure lime. My belly is dirty; that's why I ended up with such a vicious son. This kid wants to kill ministers before he even hits his twenties. Now Shi Shi is only ten years old; by the time he turns twenty, I expect I'll be old." So, Shi Le discussed with Zhang Ju and Li Nong and ordered the officials to write petitions to name Shi Shi as the crown prince. However, the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Cao Mo, refused to sign. Shi Le sent Zhang Chai to ask him the reason. Cao Mo knelt and said, "This is a major national issue; we can't appoint a child as emperor, so I can't sign." Shi Le said, "Cao Mo is a loyal minister, but he hasn't grasped my intent. Zhang Ju and Li Nong understand my intention; you go and explain to Cao Mo." In the end, Shi Le appointed Shi Shi as the crown prince and Liu Shi as the empress. Shi Le also summoned Tai Chang Tiao You and Guanglu Xun Du Gu to say, "I ask the two of you to assist the crown prince. I hope he can reform himself. I entrust the crown prince to you; you must teach him well." Then, Shi Le appointed Tiao You as the Grand Tutor and Du Gu as the Junior Tutor. Shi Le's illness improved later on, and in the fifth year of Yonghe, he proclaimed himself emperor in the southern suburbs, declared amnesty across the realm, and changed the era name to Taining. All officials were promoted by one rank, and his sons were all elevated to the rank of dukes. He also appointed the Minister Zhang Liang as the Right Deputy. Speaking of the soldiers in the Eastern Palace who were exiled, like Gao Li and others, there were more than ten thousand of them, who were to be sent to Liangzhou to guard the border. When they reached Yong City, they were not on the list of amnesty issued by the court, and the Governor of Yongzhou, Zhang Mao, received orders to send them over. This old man Zhang Mao was ruthless; he confiscated their horses, forcing them to walk and push the supply carts all the way to the border.
Gao Li, Liang Du, and their crew saw that the soldiers were seething with resentment, so they covertly planned to rebel and return to the east. They secretly sent the Hu messenger Xieduluwei to inform the soldiers guarding the border, and when the soldiers heard the news, they were ecstatic and cheering loudly. Liang Du declared himself the "Grand General of Jin Conquering the East," led the charge to capture Xianbian, compelled Zhang Mao to take on the roles of Grand Commandant and Grand Marshal, and even had him whisked away in a lavish carriage. General Liu Ning from Anding deployed troops to attack them but suffered a crushing defeat. The cities and garrisons between Qinzhou and Yongzhou were all captured, and many officials of 2,000 stones were slain as they advanced eastward. Gao Li and his crew were all formidable warriors with excellent archery skills, each capable of taking on a dozen opponents. Although they didn't have proper weapons, they seized whatever they could find and used large axes from the common people with handles extended to a yard in length, fighting like gods, invincible in battle. The border guards rallied behind them, and when they reached Chang'an, their army had grown to 100,000 strong. King Shi Bao of Yueping was defending Chang'an and deployed all his elite troops to resist, but they were swiftly defeated in a single clash. Liang Du then advanced east from Tongguan, heading straight for Luochuan.
Shi Le (Ji Long) appointed Li Nong as the Grand Commander, acting Generalissimo, to lead General Zhang He Du of the Wei, Expedition General Zhang Liang, Expedition General Shi Min, and others, commanding one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Liang Du. The two sides fought a battle in Xin'an, and Li Nong's army suffered defeats. They fought another battle in Luoyang and lost again, so they had to retreat to Chenggao County. Liang Du then raided the counties of Xingyang, Chenliu, and others to the east. Shi Le was alarmed and appointed Yan Wang Shi Bin as the Grand Commander, overseeing military affairs both inside and outside, leading ten thousand elite cavalry, along with Yao Yizhong, Fu Hong, and others to the east of Xingyang to engage Liang Du and ultimately defeat him, decapitating him and bringing his head back. They then pursued and wiped out the remaining followers of Liang Du.
Not long after, General Wang Gan of the Jin Dynasty captured Pei County. Ma Xu from Shiping rebelled in Luoshi Gegu and declared himself a general. Shi Bao launched an attack and defeated him, resulting in the deaths of over three thousand families.
It is said that the planet Mars (known as Yinghuo in Chinese) first collided with the "Corpse Accumulation" star, then with the "Mao" star and the moon, and finally ran to the north to collide with the "He Gu" star. Shortly thereafter, Shi Hu's (Ji Long) health deteriorated. He quickly appointed Shi Zun as the Grand General to defend the Guanzhong region; Shi Bin was appointed as the Prime Minister and also responsible for the Ministry of Personnel; Zhang Chai was appointed as the Grand General of the Guards, the General of the Army, and the Minister of Personnel, all of whom were entrusted by Shi Hu to assist in governance.
Liu Shi (the Empress of Shi Hu) was afraid that Shi Bin's regency would endanger her son, the Crown Prince, so she conspired with Zhang Chai to get rid of Shi Bin. At that time, Shi Bin was in Xiangguo, and Liu Shi sent someone to trick him, saying, "The Emperor is sick; you like hunting, so take a break." Shi Bin, who was lazy and had a particular fondness for drinking and hunting, immediately went to have fun upon hearing this. Liu Shi then falsely claimed to issue an imperial decree, accusing Shi Bin of disloyalty and unfilial behavior, stripped him of his position, and sent him back to his hometown, while also sending Zhang Chai's brother Zhang Xiong with five hundred Longteng soldiers to guard him. Shi Zun arrived in Ye City from Youzhou, accepted the imperial appointment, and was assigned thirty thousand troops from the Forbidden Army, but he left in tears.
On that day, Shi Hu's condition slightly improved, and he asked, "Has Shi Zun arrived?" The people around him said he had already left. Shi Hu said, "What a pity, I didn't get to see him." Shi Hu held court in the West Pavilion, with over two hundred Dragon Soaring generals and Central Commanders kneeling before him. Shi Hu asked, "What are your requests?" Some said that since the Emperor's health was poor, the Prince of Yan (Shi Bin) should be permitted to enter the palace to serve and lead the military; others requested that the Prince of Yan be named Crown Prince. Not knowing that Shi Bin had already lost his title, Shi Hu angrily demanded, "Is the Prince of Yan not in the palace? Bring him here!" The people around him said that the Prince of Yan was ill and could not enter the palace. Shi Hu said, "Quick, send a carriage to get him; I want to hand over the jade seal and imperial seal to him!" But no one went. Shortly afterwards, Shi Hu passed out.
Zhang Chai took the opportunity to have his younger brother Zhang Xiong and others falsely relay an order from Shi Hu to kill Shi Bin. Liu Shi then falsely conveyed an imperial edict, promoting Zhang Chai to Grand Protector, Commander-in-Chief of all forces, and Chief Minister, and also giving him a thousand soldiers and a hundred cavalry, mirroring Huo Guang's role in assisting the Han Dynasty. Privy Counsellor Xu Tong sighed and said, "A great disaster is coming, and I am powerless to stop it." After speaking, he took poison and committed suicide. Not long after, Shi Hu also died. Shi Hu reigned as emperor from the first year of Xiankang to the sixth year of Taihe, for a total of fifteen years.
So, at that time, everyone pretended to accept the situation, recognizing Liu Shi as Empress Dowager and granting her authority to rule, and promoting Zhang Chai to Prime Minister. Zhang Chai also suggested that Shi Zun and Shi Jian be made Left and Right Prime Ministers to keep them content, and Liu Shi agreed.
Then, Zhang Chai and Zhang Ju plotted to take out Li Nong. However, Zhang Ju had a good relationship with Li Nong, so he informed Li Nong of Zhang Chai's plan. Upon hearing this, Li Nong was frightened and quickly fled to Guangzong with more than a hundred cavalrymen, taking along tens of thousands of families to find refuge in Shangbai. Liu Shi then sent Zhang Ju and his troops to surround Li Nong with elite forces. Zhang Chai promoted Zhang Li to Garrison General, Overseer of all military affairs, and Colonel of the Imperial Guard, as his deputy. At that time, Ye City was overrun with thieves, looting and creating chaos everywhere.
Shi Zun heard that Ran Min had died, so he set up camp in Henei. Yao Yizhong, Fu Hong, Shi Min, Liu Ning, as well as the military guards Wang Luan, Wang Wu of Ningxi, Shi Rong, Wang Tie, and General Liyi Duan Qin, after pacifying Qinzhou and Luoyang, returned to the court and met Shi Zun in Li City. They said to Shi Zun, "Your Highness, you are old and wise; the late emperor held you in high regard. It's just that the late emperor became muddled in his final years and was deceived by Zhang Hai. Now the emperor and Zhang Hai are deadlocked, and the capital's defenses are vulnerable. If we bring Zhang Hai's crimes to light and march under the banner to attack him, who wouldn't open the city gates to welcome Your Highness?" Shi Zun listened to their advice. Governor Liu Guo of Luozhou and others also led the army from Luoyang to Li City. Shi Zun sent a letter to Ye City, which sent a chill down Zhang Hai’s spine. He quickly recalled the army supporting the emperor. Shi Zun arrived at Dangyin with an army of ninety thousand, with Shi Min at the forefront. Zhang Hai originally wanted to go out and resist, but the veteran Jie tribesmen said, "The emperor's son has come to mourn; we should go out to meet him. We can’t defend the city just for Zhang Hai!" They all scaled the walls and exited the city, and Zhang Hai couldn't stop them. Zhang Li led two thousand Longteng soldiers to open the city gates to welcome Shi Zun. Liu, feeling fearful, summoned Zhang Hai and cried, "The late emperor hasn’t even been buried yet, and disasters are happening one after another. Now the emperor is still young, entrusted to you, General, what’s your plan? If you give Shi Zun a higher rank, maybe it can calm this chaos." Zhang Hai was so scared he was at a loss, and could only nod in agreement. Liu then ordered the appointment of Shi Zun as Prime Minister, Grand Marshal, Grand Commander of the Armies, and Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat, granting him the Yellow Battle-axe, Nine Tails, and an increase of ten counties in his fiefdom, entrusting him with all the power.
Shi Zun arrived at the Anyang Pavilion. Zhang Chai, feeling afraid, came out to greet him, and Shi Zun ordered the arrest of Zhang Chai. Thus, Shi Zun, clad in armor, led his army into the palace through Fengyang Gate and came to the front of Taiwu Hall, weeping uncontrollably, expressing his sorrow before retreating to the East Pavilion. Zhang Chai was executed in Pingle Market, and his entire family was exterminated. The Liu family falsely claimed to transmit an imperial edict, stating, "The emperor is too young; the late emperor had privately designated him as his successor. The throne is too significant, and he is unfit to bear it. Let Shi Zun inherit the throne." Shi Zun feigned reluctance twice, but the ministers strongly urged him, and he accepted the throne, usurping the title of emperor from Taiwu Hall. He granted amnesty to the realm and halted the siege on the emperor. Shi Shi was appointed as the Prince of Qiao, with a fief of ten thousand households, treated him with the respect due to a subject, deposed the Liu family from their positions as empress dowager, and shortly after, executed them all. Shi Shi’s reign as emperor lasted only thirty-three days.
After Li Nong returned and offered his apologies, Shi Zun restored his official position and treated him as he had before. He honored Li Nong's mother, Lady Zheng, by naming her empress dowager, and his wife, Lady Zhang, as the empress. He appointed Shi Bin's son, Shi Yan, as the crown prince, Shi Jian as the attendant, Shi Chong as the grand guardian, Shi Bao as the grand marshal, Shi Kun as the grand general, and Shi Min as the grand general of internal and external military affairs, and assistant to the state, allowing him to assist in state governance. On that day, a sudden fierce wind arose, uprooting trees, and deafening thunder echoed across the sky, while hail the size of basins fell. Taiwu Hall and Huihua Hall caught fire; the palace's doors, windows, and loft were destroyed, and most vehicles, clothing, and belongings were incinerated. The flames soared, melting even gold and stone, burning for over a month before finally being extinguished. In Ye City, it rained blood.
At that time, Shi Chong was stationed in Jizhou. When he heard that Shi Zun had killed the emperor and declared himself emperor, he said to his subordinates, "Shi Shijie received the late emperor's order, but Shi Zun deposed and killed him, committing a heinous crime. I must declare a state of martial law throughout the city; I will personally march to attack him!" So, he left Ningbeishu to defend Youzhou and led fifty thousand troops to march from Jizhou to attack Shi Zun. Along the way, he issued proclamations of attack to Yan and Zhao, and the local armies rallied to his call. By the time they reached Changshan, the army had swelled to over one hundred thousand troops. When they reached Yuanxiang, Shi Chong received a pardon letter from Shi Zun. He said to those around him, "After all, he is my brother; the dead cannot be brought back to life. Why continue to kill each other? I plan to go back." His general Chen Xian advised him, "Shi Zun usurped the throne, killed his brother, and proclaimed himself emperor, committing a great crime. Although you plan to return north with the army, I will go south first to pacify the capital, capture Shi Zun, and then bring you back to the court." Shi Chong followed his advice. Shi Zun quickly dispatched Wang Zhuo with letters to persuade Shi Chong, but Shi Chong did not listen. Shi Zun appointed Shi Min as the commander of the attack, giving him the authority to lead one hundred thousand elite soldiers to attack Shi Chong. The two armies clashed at Pingji, and Shi Chong's forces suffered a devastating defeat. Shi Chong himself was captured at Yuanshi and put to death, and his over thirty thousand soldiers were also massacred. Shi Jilong was buried, and his tomb was named Xianyuan Tomb. He was posthumously honored with the title of Emperor Wu and the temple name Taizu. Wang Jia, the governor of Yangzhou under Shi Zun, oversaw the Huainan region's surrender to him. Chen Kui, the General of the Western Zhonglang of the Jin Dynasty, occupied Shou Chun. The General of the Northern Campaign, Chu Pou, led the army to attack Shi Zun. Upon reaching Xiapu, Shi Zun appointed Li Nong as the commander of the southern campaign, leading twenty thousand cavalry to intercept them. Chu Pou could not advance, so he retreated and stationed at Guangling. Upon hearing this, Chen Kui was filled with fear, so he burned the military supplies in Shou Chun, demolished the city walls, and fled.
Shi Bao was stationed in Chang'an at that time, planning to lead the army of Guanzhong to attack Ye City. However, his Left Chief Clerk, Shi Guang, and Sima Cao Yao strongly advised against it. Shi Bao was furious upon hearing their advice and immediately executed over a hundred of them. Shi Bao, a greedy and incompetent man, was looked down upon by the powerful and influential figures in Yongzhou. They knew he would not succeed, so they sent word to Sima Xun, the Inspector of Liangzhou in the Jin Dynasty.
After receiving the news, Sima Xun quickly mobilized his troops and set up camp at Xuangou, which was located about two hundred miles from Chang'an. He also sent Liu Huan, the Zhongzheng, to attack the Prefect of Jingzhao, Liu Xiu, and directly killed him. In the surrounding areas of Chang'an, those with power and influence executed local officials and took control of their fortresses, with more than thirty of them, forming a combined force of fifty thousand, all rallying to Sima Xun's call. Seeing this situation, Shi Bao was forced to abandon his plans to attack Ye City and dispatched Ma Qiu, Yao Guo, and their cavalry to confront Sima Xun.
Consequently, Sima Zun sent Wang Lang, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, to lead twenty thousand elite cavalry. Officially, it was a campaign against Sima Xun, but in reality, the goal was to capture Shi Bao. Wang Lang captured Shi Bao and immediately delivered him to Ye City. Sima Xun found himself blocked by Wang Lang and was forced to abandon the camp at Xuangou, instead capturing Wancheng. It was only after eliminating Yuan Jing, the Prefect of Nanyang, that he returned with his troops.
Initially, when Shi Zun returned from Li Cheng, he said to Shi Min, "Keep it going! If things work out, I will appoint you as the crown prince or prime minister." However, later, Shi Yan was appointed as the crown prince, which left Shi Min deeply disappointed. He believed he had played a significant role and sought to seize control of the court, but Shi Zun was wary of him and did not dare to trust him. Shi Min was appointed commander, gaining control over the nation's military. He won over the generals and soldiers in the palace and the former guards of the Eastern Palace, probably more than 10,000 people, by promoting them, granting them palace maids, and winning their loyalty. Shi Zun remained oblivious and instead chose to criticize them in official documents to suppress them, leading to widespread discontent. Later, Shi Zun fell for the schemes of Meng Zhun, the Minister of the Interior, and Wang Luan, the Left Guard General, growing increasingly suspicious of Shi Min and gradually weakening his military power. Shi Min's dissatisfaction grew, and Meng Zhun and the others advised Shi Zun to kill Shi Min. Shi Zun summoned Shi Jian and others to discuss matters in front of Empress Dowager Zheng. Everyone was in favor of killing Shi Min. Empress Dowager Zheng said, "If it hadn't been for Shi Min's efforts during the battle at Li Cheng, how could we be in our current situation? He is just a bit arrogant; we shouldn't kill him lightly." After Shi Jian left, he dispatched the eunuch Yang Huan to inform Shi Min. Shi Min then took Li Nong and the Right Guard General Wang Ji captive and secretly plotted to overthrow Shi Zun. He had Generals Su Hai and Zhou Cheng lead thirty soldiers to arrest Shi Zun at Ruyi Pavilion. At that moment, Shi Zun was playing chess with his wife and asked Zhou Cheng and the others present, "Who is rebelling?" Zhou Cheng said, "Prince of Yiyang, Shi Jian, wants to become emperor." Shi Zun replied, "Given my current situation, how long do you think you can support Shi Jian?" Thus, Shi Zun was killed in Kunhua Hall, and Empress Dowager Zheng, Crown Prince Shi Yan, Shangguo Zhang Fei, Minister of the Interior Meng Zhun, Left Guard General Wang Luan, and others were also executed. Shi Zun's reign lasted a mere one hundred and eighty-three days.
After Shi Jian seized power, he granted amnesty to the whole country. He appointed Shi Min as the Grand General and bestowed upon him the title of King of Wude; Li Nong as the Grand Marshal, and was also involved in managing the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel; Lang Kai as the Minister of Works; Qinzhou Governor Liu Qun as the Left Deputy of the Ministry of Personnel; and Lu Chen as the Minister of the Palace Library. Shi Jian sent Shi Bao, as well as the Minister of the Palace Library Li Song, and General Zhang Cai to Kunhua Palace at night to kill Shi Min and Li Nong, but they failed, resulting in chaos within the palace. Shi Jian, fearing Shi Min's rebellion, pretended not to know and killed Li Song and Zhang Cai at the West Zhonghua Gate at night, and also killed Shi Bao.
This scoundrel Shi Zhi colluded with Yao Yizhong, Fu Hong, and others in Xiangguo, and conspired to send letters to assassinate Min and Nong. Emperor Shi Jian then appointed Shi Kun as the Grand General, leading Zhang Ju and Hu Yan Sheng with seventy thousand infantry and cavalry to suppress Shi Zhi and his group. As a result, Shi Cheng, Shi Qi, and former Governor of Hedong, Shi Hui, who served under Shi Jian, also planned to kill Min and Nong, but were killed by Min and Nong instead.
General Longxiang Sun Fudu and Liu Zhu and others, with three thousand Jie soldiers concealed in Hutian, also wanted to kill Min and Nong. Meanwhile, Shi Jian remained in the imperial palace. Sun Fudu and more than thirty people wanted to rush into the palace to rebel. Shi Jian saw that Sun Fudu had destroyed the passage of the palace and inquired about the situation. Sun Fudu said, "Li Nong and others have rebelled and are now at the East Yemo Gate. I am prepared with my men, just coming to inform you." Shi Jian said, "You are a loyal subject; serve the court well. I am observing you from the palace; no need to worry about rewards." So Sun Fudu and Liu Zhu led their troops to attack Min and Nong, but were unsuccessful and instead stationed at Fengyang Gate. Min and Nong, with thousands of troops, smashed through the Jinming Gate and stormed into the palace.
Shi Jian was afraid that Min and Nong would kill him, so he quickly sent people to summon Min and Nong into the palace, opened the city gates to welcome them in, and said, "Sun Fudu has rebelled; you need to deal with him quickly!" Min and Nong led their troops to slaughter Sun Fudu and his followers, from Fengyang Gate to Kunhua Gate, the bodies piled up like mountains, and blood flowed like a river. Shi Jian ordered that any of the Six Yi (ethnic minorities) who dared to take up arms would be executed! Some of the Hu people burst through the city gates and fled, so many that they were uncountable. Shi Jian then sent the officials Wang Jian and Wang Yu, along with thousands of soldiers, to protect them at the Imperial Dragon Pavilion, providing them with food. He then ordered in the city, "Those who are loyal to the court may stay, while those who are not can leave freely!" The city gates were no longer monitored. People from within a radius of a hundred miles all streamed into the city, blocking the city gates as Hu and Jie people fled.
Min and Nong realized that the Hu people completely disregarded them, so they ordered all Zhao people in the city to bring the head of a Hu person to Fengyang Gate. Civil officials would be promoted three ranks, while military officials would be appointed as generals of the Tooth Gate. In just one day, tens of thousands of heads were severed. Min and Nong personally led the Zhao people in slaughtering the Hu and Jie, sparing neither gender nor age. Over two hundred thousand people perished, their bodies piled outside the city and devoured by wild dogs and jackals. Troops stationed throughout the region also received Min and Nong's orders to execute them. At that time, many of the high-nosed, bearded Hu people perished.
Once upon a time, Zhao Lu, General Zhang Ju, Commander Zhang Chun, Shi Yue, Shi Ning, and Zhang Ji, along with a host of other nobles and officials, fled to Xiangguo together with over ten thousand soldiers. Shi Kun proclaimed himself king in Jizhou, Shi Shen was stationed at Fukou, Zhang Heduo occupied Shidu, Duan Qin occupied Liyang, Yang Qun stationed troops at Sangbi, Liu Guo occupied Yangcheng, Duan Kang occupied Chenliu, Yao Yizhong occupied Hunqiao, and Fu Hong occupied Fangtou, each commanding tens of thousands of troops. Wang Lang and Ma Qiu subsequently fled from Chang'an to Luoyang. Ma Qiu received a secret imperial edict and executed several thousand Hu soldiers under Wang Lang. Wang Lang then fled to Xiangguo, while Ma Qiu led his troops to join Fu Hong.
Shi Kun, Zhang Ju, and Wang Lang mustered a combined army of 70,000 soldiers to attack Ye City, where Shi Min had only a little over a thousand cavalry to face them in the city's northern outskirts. Holding two long spears, Shi Min charged into the enemy's formation, throwing their ranks into disarray and killing over three thousand enemy soldiers right then and there. Shi Kun and his allies suffered a crushing defeat and retreated to Jizhou.
Shi Min and Li Nong mustered thirty thousand cavalry to confront Zhang Heduo, but Shi Jian secretly sent eunuchs to deliver a message to Zhang Shen and others, hoping to coordinate their attack on Ye City. The eunuchs informed Shi Min and Li Nong of this plan, which prompted them to hastily return to Ye City. They deposed Shi Jian, executed him, and wiped out all thirty-eight grandsons of Shi Jilong, effectively obliterating the Shi clan. Shi Jian's reign lasted a mere 103 days!
Shi Hun, the youngest son of Shi Jilong, fled to the capital with a few wives and concubines in the eighth year of Yonghe. The emperor ordered the court officials to hand them over, and shortly afterwards, they were killed in the bustling streets of Jiankang. Shi Jilong had thirteen sons in total, five of whom were killed by Ran Min, and the remaining eight killed each other. Shi Hun is now dead as well. It was predicted that the one destined to destroy the Shi clan would belong to the "Ling" generation, and later Shi Min was appointed as the Duke of Lanling. Shi Jilong became fearful upon hearing this and promptly changed Lanling to Wuxing County, but in the end, he ultimately fell to Shi Min. Shi Jilong declared himself emperor in the third year of Xianhe and was destroyed in the fifth year of Yonghe, having witnessed the reign of two emperors and the loss of four sons, he ended up with nothing to show for it. Min Yongceng, also known as Jinyu, was Shi Jilong's foster grandson. His father, Ran Zhan, style name Hongwu, originally surnamed Ran, named Liang, was from Neihuang, Wei County. His ancestors served as the Cavalry Commander of Liyang in the Han Dynasty, holding the position of Yamen official for generations. When Ran Zhan was young, Shi Le attacked Chenwu and captured the then twelve-year-old Ran Zhan, taking him in as an adopted son. Ran Zhan was brave and skilled in battle, with immense strength, always leading the charge. He later held the positions of General of Left Wing Archers and Marquis of Xihua. Min Yongceng had always been decisive and brave since childhood, and Shi Jilong treated him like his own grandson. As he grew up, he stood eight feet tall, adept at strategy and outstanding in martial arts. He was appointed as the General of Righteousness and later became the Marquis of Xiucheng, gradually rising in ranks to become the General of the Northern Central Army and the General of the Guard. When Shi Jilong was defeated in Changli, only Min Yongceng's army returned unscathed, and from then on, his reputation skyrocketed. After Shi Jilong's defeat in Liangdu, Min Yongceng's reputation became even more illustrious, and the veteran generals of the Hu and Xia dynasties regarded him with caution.
In the sixth year of Yonghe, Min Yongzeng killed Shi Jian. His ministers Shen Zhong, Lang Kai, and forty-eight others submitted a memorial to honor him as emperor. Min Yongzeng adamantly declined, recommending Li Nong instead. Li Nong insisted and pressured Min Yongzeng into usurping the throne in the southern suburbs, proclaiming himself emperor, granting a general amnesty, changing the era name to Yongxing, renaming the state as Da Wei, and restoring the Ran surname. He posthumously honored his ancestors as Emperor Longyuan, his father Ran Zhan as Emperor Gao, his mother Wang as Empress Dowager, his wife Dong as Empress, and his son Ran Zhi as Crown Prince. He appointed Li Nong as Grand Preceptor, Commander-in-Chief, and Chief Secretary, bestowing upon him the title of King of Qi, and Li Nong's sons as county dukes. He also enfeoffed his own sons Ran Yin, Ran Ming, and Ran Yu as kings. All civil and military officials were promoted by three ranks, each receiving different titles. He sent envoys to pardon the rebel armies in various regions, but received no replies.
Upon hearing of Shi Jian's death, Shi Zhi proclaimed himself emperor in Xiangguo, and the other six barbarian tribes occupying states and counties with military power all rallied to his cause. Min Yongzeng sent envoys to the Yangtze River to the Jin Dynasty, saying, "The barbarians have caused chaos in the Central Plains, which I have now subdued. If you are willing to join forces to suppress them, you can send troops." The Jin Dynasty offered no response. Later, Min Yongzeng killed Li Nong and his three sons, as well as the Governor Wang Mo, Palace Attendant Wang Yan, Palace Attendant Yan Zhen, Zhao Sheng, and others. The Jin Dynasty's governor of Lujiang, Yuan Zhen, attacked his stronghold at Hefei, captured the Nanman Colonel Sang Tan, relocated the inhabitants of Hefei, before withdrawing his troops.
Shi Zhi dispatched his prime minister Shi Kun with an army of one hundred thousand to attack Ye City, first seizing Handan. Shi Zhi himself was stationed in Nanliu State, where he planned to rendezvous with Shi Kun from Fanyang. Consequently, Ran Min inflicted a crushing defeat on Shi Kun at Handan, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands of soldiers. Shi Zhi then withdrew to Fanyang. At this time, Fu Jian entered Guanzhong from Fangtou. Zhang Heduo, Duan Qin, and Shi Zhi, alongside Jin Tun from Nanliu State, convened in Changcheng to prepare for a joint assault on Ye City. Ran Min appointed Liu Qun as the chief commander, who commanded Wang Tai, Cui Tong, Zhou Cheng, and others in leading a combined force of one hundred and twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to provide support from Huangcheng. Ran Min himself led eighty thousand elite soldiers to follow up, and the two sides clashed at Cangting. Zhang Heduo and his forces were decisively defeated, suffering twenty-eight thousand casualties, and Jin Tun was chased to Yin'an Township and beheaded, with all soldiers captured. Ran Min then made his way back to the capital. This time, Ran Min's army, numbering over three hundred thousand, with flags and drums extending for over a hundred miles, eclipsed even the height of the Shi family's power. "With over three hundred thousand troops, flags, drums, and banners stretching over a hundred miles," the spectacle was truly breathtaking! After returning triumphantly from Cangting, Ran Min held a grand victory banquet, restructured the nine schools of thought in accordance with established etiquette, appointed officials based on merit, leading to the promotion of many Confucian scholars. At that time, the social climate underwent a complete transformation, and people felt that the situation was similar to the early years of Wei and Jin. Murong Min led an army of one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry to assault Shi Zhi in Xiangguo, even appointing his son, Taiyuan Wang Yin, as the Grand Chanyu and the General of Cavalry, and assigning a thousand Xianbei soldiers as his subordinates. Wei You, the Gentleman of the Palace, strongly cautioned against it, but Murong Min flew into a rage and had Wei You and his entire family executed.
Murong Min attacked Xiangguo for more than a hundred days, building earthen mounds, digging tunnels, and even constructing houses to create the illusion of farming. Shi Zhi was so scared that he quickly relinquished his title as emperor and instead took on the title of King of Zhao, sending envoys to seek assistance from Murong Jun and Yao Yizhong. At this time, Shi Kun arrived from Jizhou to support Shi Zhi, and Yao Yizhong also sent his son Yao Xiang with thirty-eight thousand cavalry from Getou. Murong Jun sent General Yue Wan with thirty thousand troops from Longcheng, totaling more than one hundred thousand soldiers. Murong Min dispatched General Hu Mu to ambush Shi Zhi at Changlu and General Sun Wei to ambush Shi Kun at Huangqiu. Both were defeated, with nearly all of their forces wiped out; only Hu Mu and Sun Wei managed to escape.
As Shi Kun's army was about to arrive, Murong Min wanted to charge out to battle. General Wang Tai advised him, saying, "A strong bow is at the end of its tension; they are now relying on reinforcements. Now that the reinforcements have arrived, if you charge out to battle, won't you be caught in a pincer movement? You should defend the city and wait to see the situation, to diminish their morale. If His Majesty leads the troops personally, it could spell disaster! Absolutely do not go out to battle; let me lead the troops to destroy them!" Murong Min was inclined to heed his advice, but then a Taoist priest named Fa Rao suddenly appeared and said, "The Taibai Jingmao, it is time to strike down the Hu King; one battle can win a hundred battles, this opportunity must not be missed!" Murong Min rolled up his sleeves and proclaimed loudly, "I have decided to go to battle; anyone who dares to advise me again will face execution!" Thus, he committed all his forces.
Yao Xiang, Yue Wan, and Shi Kun surrounded Murong Min from three sides, while Shi Zhi attacked from behind, leading to a crushing defeat for Murong Min's forces. Murong Min sneaked away to the Xiangguo Palace and escaped to Ye City with a dozen cavalrymen. The surrendered Hu leaders, including Litekang, captured Ran Yin and Left Deputy Liu Qi, and they were all executed. Sikong Shipu, Shangshu Ling Xu Ji, Chariot and Cavalry General Hu Mu, Shizhong Li Lin, Zhongshu Jian Lu Chen, Shao Fu Wang Yu, Shangshu Liu Qin, Liu Xiu, and many other generals and soldiers perished, resulting in devastating casualties of over a hundred thousand people! Thieves roamed freely as famine gripped Sizhou and Jizhou, leading people to resort to cannibalism. After the death of Shi Jilong, Murong Min continued to squander the national treasury to win hearts, engaging in endless wars with the Qiang and Hu people, with battles almost every month. The refugees from Qingzhou, Yongzhou, Youzhou, and Jingzhou, along with millions of Di, Qiang, Hu, and other barbarian tribes, fought and robbed each other along the way. Coupled with hunger and plague, only about 20% of them made it home alive. The world had descended into chaos, and farming had come to a standstill. Murong Min was filled with regret, having Fa Rao and his son dismembered, and posthumously promoting Wei Jiao to Grand Minister of State. Shi Zhi dispatched Liu Xian with an army of seventy thousand to besiege Ye City. By that time, Min Zhan had already returned, but no one knew, creating panic both inside and outside the city, as everyone believed Min Zhan had perished. The Chief of Archery Zhang Ai advised Min Zhan to go outside the city to make offerings and soothe the people's fears, and Min Zhan followed his advice, calming the rumors.
Liu Xian's army was stationed at Mingguang Palace (Bright Palace), 23 miles away from Ye City. Min Zhan felt a great sense of fear, so he summoned General Shi Ning of the Valiant Cavalry, Wang Tai, to discuss countermeasures. Wang Tai was angry because Min Zhan had not listened to his suggestions before and pretended to be seriously injured, refusing to give any suggestions. Min Zhan went to ask him personally, but Wang Tai still insisted that he was very ill. Min Zhan was very angry, returned to the palace, and said to the people around him, "Banu (referring to Wang Tai), do I have to rely on you to make decisions? We must first eliminate those barbarians, and then kill Wang Tai!" So, he led all the troops into battle, defeated Liu Xian's army, pursued them to Yangping, where he beheaded over 30,000. Liu Xian was afraid and secretly sent someone to request surrender, saying he was willing to kill Shi Zhi to show loyalty. Min Zhan then withdrew his troops back to the city.
At this time, someone accused Wang Tai of recruiting Qin people and preparing to escape to Guanzhong. Min Zhan was furious, killed Wang Tai, and wiped out his entire family. Liu Xian indeed killed Shi Zhi and his Grand Preceptor Zhao Lu, along with more than ten others, sending their heads to Ye City, pleading with Min Zhan for mercy. General Shi Ning escaped to the Bairen. Min Zhan ordered that Shi Zhi's head be burned in the busy marketplace.
Liu Qi, Min Zhan's Inspector of Yanzhou, surrendered with Juancheng. Liu Xian led his army to attack Ye City again, but Min Zhan defeated him once more. Upon returning to Xiangguo, Min Zhan declared himself emperor and assumed the title of honor. Zhou Cheng, Inspector of Xuzhou, Wei Tong, Inspector of Yanzhou, Ran Yu, Governor of Yuzhou, and Le Hong, Inspector of Jingzhou, all surrendered with their cities. General Gao Chong of Pacification in the South and General Lu Hu, who Conquers the Barbarians, captured Zheng Xi, Inspector of Luozhou, and surrendered with the Sanhe region. Murong Biao seized Zhongshan, killed Min Zhan's General of Ningbei, Bai Tong, and Inspector of Youzhou, Liu Zhun, then surrendered to Murong Jun.
At that time, a yellow-red cloud appeared in the sky, rising from the northeast, stretching over a hundred feet. A white bird flew from the clouds towards the southwest, and fortune tellers predicted this was an ominous sign.
Liu Xian marched his forces to besiege Changshan, and the governor of Changshan, Su Hai, hurriedly sought assistance from Shi Min. Shi Min left his general Jiang Gan and others behind to assist Prince Zhi in defending Ye City and personally led eight thousand cavalry to rescue. Liu Xian's Grand Marshal, Prince Ning of Qinghe, surrendered to Shi Min in Zaoqiang. Shi Min integrated the remaining forces of Prince Ning, then attacked Liu Xian, defeated him and pursued him all the way to Xiangguo. Liu Xian's general Cao Fujv opened the city gate and surrendered, allowing Shi Min to enter the city, where he executed Liu Xian and over one hundred of his officials, and burned down the palaces of Xiangguo, forcibly relocating the common people to Ye City. Liu Xian's general Fan Lu commanded over a thousand troops and broke through the pass to escape to Fangtou.
By this time, Murong Jun had already conquered Youzhou and Jizhou, expanding his influence to Jizhou. Shi Min led his cavalry to intercept him and encountered Murong Ke at Weichang City. Shi Min's general Dong Run and cavalry general Zhang Wen counseled Shi Min, stating, "The Xianbei are currently formidable opponents; it's not easy to deal with them. We might as well avoid them first, allow their momentum to wane, and then attack again to achieve victory." Shi Min angrily replied, "I have already led troops to expedition, ready to pacify Youzhou and kill Murong Jun. Now that I have encountered Murong Ke, avoiding him will only invite scorn from others!" So he fought with Murong Ke and suffered ten defeats. Murong Ke used iron chains to tether the horses together, selected five thousand Xianbei soldiers who excelled in archery but lacked courage, and formed a square formation to charge. Shi Min rode a red steed named Zhu Long, which could travel a thousand miles a day. With a double-bladed spear in his left hand and a hook spear in his right hand, he charged forward, riding the wind, slaying over three hundred Xianbei soldiers.
Before long, a large contingent of cavalry from the Yan Kingdom arrived and surrounded Shi Min in multiple layers. Outnumbered, Shi Min broke through the encirclement and fled east on horseback. He ran over twenty miles before his horse collapsed. He was captured by Murong Ke, along with Dong Run, Zhang Wen, and others, who were also taken to Ji Zhou. Murong Jun brought Shi Min before him and asked, "You’re just a lowly servant by birth; what gives you the right to call yourself an emperor?" Shi Min replied, "The world is in chaos, and you barbarians—human in appearance but beasts at heart—still seek to seize power. I am a hero of my time; why shouldn’t I be emperor?" Furious, Murong Jun whipped Shi Min three hundred times before sending him to Longcheng to pay respects at the ancestral temples of Hui and Huang.
Murong Ping surrounded the city of Ye with his forces. Liu Ning and his younger brother Liu Chong escaped to Jinyang with three thousand cavalry, while Su Hai abandoned Changshan and fled to Xinxing. Many people starved to death in Ye City, and some even resorted to eating human flesh. At that time, almost all the concubines in Shi Hu's palace had been consumed. Since Ran Min was still young, Jiang Gan sent the attendant Miao Song and the official Liu Yi to surrender to the Jin Dynasty and requested troops to come to the rescue. The Governor of Puyang, Dai Shi, intercepted Liu Yi at Cangyuan and demanded the imperial seal. Liu Yi sent Miao Song back to Ye City to deliver a message, while Jiang Gan hesitated. Dai Shi then led over a hundred warriors into Ye City to assist in defending the Three Towers, tricking Jiang Gan into surrendering the imperial seal. Dai Shi claimed to send an escort to meet the grain convoy but secretly dispatched the imperial seal to the capital. Chief Commandant Ma Yuan of Changshui and General Tian Xiang of Longxiang opened the city gates and submitted to Murong Ping. Dai Shi, He Rong, and Jiang Gan all managed to escape from the city wall and fled to Cangyuan. Murong Ping captured Shi Min's wife, Dong Shi, the Crown Prince, Shi Zhi, the Grand Commandant, Shen Zhong, the Minister of Works, Tiao You, the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Nie Xiong, the Commandant of the Imperial Guard, Ji Pi, the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, Li Yuan, and other royal ministers to Ji City. The Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Wang Jian, the Left Deputy Director, Zhang Qian, and the Right Deputy Director, Lang Su, all took their own lives.
Shi Zun sent Shi Min to Longcheng, but was ultimately killed at Exing Mountain. The grass and trees within a seven-mile radius of Exing Mountain withered, locusts swarmed in abundance, and there was no rain from May all the way to December. Shi Zun sent people to conduct sacrifices for Shi Min, bestowing upon him the posthumous title of Martial Mourning Heavenly King, and on that day, heavy snow fell. This was in the eighth year of Yonghe.
Historical records state: Saving people from peril is the duty of an emperor; extreme cruelty and brutality are the hallmarks of barbarians. These chaotic figures have been a concern since ancient times. Even though they are kept at bay by the Great Wall, there is still fear of invasion. Moreover, they now dwell in the Central Plains, eyeing our court, capitalizing on our nation's turmoil, and seizing the opportunity presented by our nation's peril, they are responding one after another, picking up weapons, and disturbing social order!
Shi Le was a member of the Qiang ethnic group, and he was remarkably unattractive. However, Sima Jizi, the Prefect of Shangdang, recognized his extraordinary potential; Wang Yan in Luoyang also predicted his future rebellion. Later, during the reign of Emperor Hui, Sima Zhong, the country was divided, and Shi Le gathered a band of unruly followers, taking advantage of the chaos to attack and capture Luoyang, harming the people. At that time, Luoyang was in chaos, akin to a ship at sea facing monstrous waves stirred by a whale; the nobles and ministers found themselves in misfortune, like lost souls wandering in the desert. Could it be that heaven has forsaken the virtues of the Jin Dynasty, allowing this monster to rise?
However, just look at how Shi Le stays calm and collected on the battlefield, strategizing, brave in battle, coming up with clever tactics frequently, and radiating confidence. He has more charisma than Cao Cao and is more suave than Liu Kun. He killed Yuan Chao in Kuxian, accusing him of misgovernment; he killed Peng Zu in Xiangguo, accusing him of lacking loyalty to the emperor. In this way, he conquered Yan and Zhao, absorbed Han and Wei, seized the throne with his outstanding abilities, took over the old capital, and opposed the royal family. He shed his barbarian attire, donned Han clothing, abandoned military attire, and established schools. Neighboring countries feared his power and offered tributes for peace, while remote regions also followed suit. From the perspective of founding a country, who could compare to him? Although he was cruel and ruthless, he was definitely a standout figure of his time. Unfortunately, he chose the wrong heir, resulting in no one to take over, ultimately leading to his death and the destruction of his state, with his territory taken by others, which really shows how crucial it is to choose the right people.
Shi Le was ruthless, immoral, reckless from a young age, a wolf in sheep's clothing, a ruthless schemer. He harbored grudges and eventually seized power. He indulged in extravagance, went on a building spree, oppressed the people, perpetuated wars, enforced harsh laws, often resorting to executions, leaving ordinary folks suffering and with no way to seek justice; the savagery of the barbarians was downright terrifying! Later, suspicion between father and son, brothers turned enemies, led to infighting and became a laughingstock. Before the graves were even dry, calamity struck, with Zhang Chai rising in rebellion, Ran Min exterminating the Jie tribe, long-standing grudges turning into hatred, ultimately resulting in self-destruction, showing how karma works!
Go with the flow of nature, and you'll thrive; go against it, and you'll face destruction. Evil deeds will be punished; it's like a cycle. Shi Le harmed the people of the Jin Dynasty and eventually faced retribution; Ran Min killed the Jie people and also destroyed the Jie tribe. Evil deeds will not go unpunished; that's what they call karma!
Once upon a time, in this chaotic world, the Central Plains were in disarray, while the barbarians fought among themselves, causing darkness to envelop the sky and dust to blanket the earth. The dust was so thick that even the three stars in the sky were barely visible. That guy, Shi Le, was incredibly cunning, exploiting his powerful forces to commit all manner of atrocities. Leading bandits, burning, killing, and plundering, he committed heinous acts, conquering cities and territories—a true disaster for humanity. At first, he was merely the leader of a group of bandits, but later he claimed to be fighting for justice, deceiving the people. Despite his numerous wrongdoings, many people of the time viewed him as a hero.
It is said: The Central Plains were in disarray, while the barbarians fought among themselves. Dust flies over the Five Sacred Mountains, and mist covers the Three Peaks. Shi Le was cunning, exploiting chaos and overextended forces. Disaster and tyranny spread, plundering towns and slaughtering cities.
This guy, Shi Le, later usurped the throne and became emperor, leading a life of luxury and debauchery, notorious for his cruelty. And what was the outcome? He died, his country fell, all of it brought upon himself, receiving his just deserts!
Beginning as a mere bandit, ending with a tarnished reputation. Don’t dismiss him as wicked; he was also hailed as a hero of his time. Ji Long usurped the throne, spreading his tyranny. With his demise, the nation fell, all as a result of his own misdeeds.
