Li Xiong, also known as Zhongjun, is the third son in the family. His mother, Luo Shi, once dreamed of two rainbows rising from their doorstep to the sky, one of which faded, and later gave birth to Li Dang. Later, while fetching water, Luo Shi suddenly felt as if she had fallen asleep and dreamed of a big snake coiling around her, which resulted in her becoming pregnant. She was pregnant with Li Xiong for fourteen months before giving birth. She often said that if one of her two sons died first, the other would surely become wealthy and powerful. True to her words, Li Dang died first. Li Xiong was eight cubits and three inches tall, handsome, and known for his spirited personality since childhood. He often roamed the countryside and was highly respected by those who were knowledgeable. There was a man named Liu Hua who understood the Dao and always told others, "People from Guanzhong and Longxi will migrate south; among the children of the Li family, only Zhongjun has an extraordinary aura and will definitely become an emperor in the future."
After starting a rebellion against Shu, he became emperor and proclaimed himself the Grand Commander, Grand General, and Governor of Yizhou, establishing the capital in Pi County. Luo Shang sent troops to attack Li Xiong, but Li Xiong defeated them. Li Xiang attacked Jianwei, cutting off Luo Shang's supply route. As Luo Shang's army was starving, Li Xiong pressed on, and Luo Shang had to leave his general, Luo Te, to defend the city and fled secretly at night. Luo Te opened the city gates to welcome Li Xiong, who then captured Chengdu. At that time, Li Xiong's army was very hungry, so he led them to Qi County to find food by digging wild yams for sustenance. The people of Shu fled in all directions, some running east to Jiangyang, and others south to the Seven Counties. Hearing that there was a hermit named Fan Changsheng living in seclusion on the Western Mountain, practicing cultivation, Li Xiong wanted to invite him to become emperor and to serve as his subject. Fan Changsheng firmly refused. Li Xiong then became humble and cautious, refraining from calling himself emperor and leaving all matters, big and small, to the brothers Li Guo and Li Li to handle. The two brothers served Li Xiong with great care.
All the generals strongly demanded that Xiong ascend to the throne, so he declared himself emperor in the first year of Yongxing, titled himself the King of Chengdu. He issued an amnesty, renamed the era Jianxing, abolished the laws of the Jin Dynasty, and established seven simple laws. He appointed his uncle Li Xiang as Grand Tutor, his eldest brother Li Shi as Grand Guardian, Li Li as Grand Commandant, Li Yun as Minister Over the Masses, Li Huang as Minister of Works, and Li Guo as Grand Preceptor. Other generals were also given corresponding official positions. He posthumously honored his great-grandfather Li Wu as the Marquis of Bajun, his grandfather Li Mu as the King of Xiang in Longxi, his father Li Te with the title of Emperor Jing, and his mother Lady Luo as the Queen Dowager.
Fan Changsheng rode a simple horse-drawn carriage from Xishan to Chengdu. Xiong personally greeted him at the door, respectfully invited him to sit in the seat of honor, appointed him as Prime Minister, and bestowed upon him the title of Fan Xian. Fan Changsheng advised Xiong to officially declare himself emperor, and Xiong officially declared himself emperor, issued an amnesty, changed the era name to Taiwu, posthumously honored his father Li Te with the title of Emperor Jing, with the temple name Shizu, and his mother Lady Luo as the Empress Dowager. He also promoted Fan Changsheng to be the Grand Teacher of Heaven and Earth, granted him the title of Marquis of Xishan, exempted his subordinates from military conscription, and all taxes were to be directly turned over to him. At that time, Shu Han had just been established, and the system was not yet perfect. Many generals relied on their merits and fought for official positions. The Minister of the Left Yan Shi wrote a memorial saying, "The country has set up a system, and the titles of meritorious officials should be in accordance with the old rules. According to the customs of the Han and Jin Dynasties, only the Grand Commandant and Grand Marshal can command troops; the Grand Tutor and Grand Guardian are positions for fathers and brothers, which are rational positions; the Minister Over the Masses and Minister of Works manage education and land affairs. The Qin Dynasty established the Prime Minister to oversee all government affairs. In the later period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the Grand General held political power. Now that the country has just been established, many things are not yet perfect, and the ranks of the generals were not uniform, but they were all vying for official positions, which does not align with historical precedents and should establish a system to serve as a standard." Xiong accepted his advice.
Li Guo, Li Yun and others led an army of 20,000 to attack Hanzhong, and the Governor of Liangzhou, Zhang Yin, fled to Chang'an. Li Guo and others captured Nanzheng and moved all the inhabitants of Hanzhong to Shu. Prior to this, there were several years of famine and plague in the south, which led to the deaths of more than 100,000 people. Li Yi, the Commandant of the Southern Yi Tribes, refused to surrender but was ultimately deceived into an attack by the Jianning people. Li Yi died due to illness, the city was captured, and over 3,000 warriors were killed, while over 1,000 women were escorted to Chengdu.
It is said that Li Li was holding onto Zitong at the time, but his subordinates, Luo Yang, Zhang Jingou, and others, betrayed Li Li and Yan Shi, and then offered Zitong to Luo Shang. Luo Shang stationed his generals at Yifu in Anhan in an attempt to force the Emperor of Chenghan, Li Xiong. Li Xiong led troops to attack Yifu but was unable to succeed.
At that time, Li Guo was guarding Baxi, but his subordinate, Wen Shuo, also killed Li Guo and offered Baxi to Luo Shang. Li Xiong then withdrew his troops and sent his general, Zhang Bao, to surprise attack Zitong, which was successfully captured. Coincidentally, Luo Shang passed away at this time, causing chaos in Bajun. Li Xiang attacked Fucheng and captured it, also capturing the Prefect of Zitong, Qiao Deng. Li Xiang pursued his victory, defeated Wen Shuo, and killed him. Li Xiong was particularly pleased upon hearing this, and upon hearing this, he pardoned all the people in his territory, renaming the era to "Yuheng."
Li Xiong's mother, Mrs. Luo, passed away. Li Xiong believed what the sorcerers said and followed many taboos, even hesitating to bury her. His subordinate, Sikong Zhao Su, strongly advised against this, but Li Xiong insisted on it. Li Xiang said to Shangguan Dun, the Sikong, "The current situation is still not very stable. I want to advise the emperor, but I'm afraid he won't listen. What do you think we should do?" Shangguan Dun said, "Everyone, from the emperor to commoners, must observe the three-year mourning period. Confucius said, 'Why wait for Emperor Gaozong's time? People in ancient times all did this.' However, since the Han and Wei dynasties, the world has been unstable, and ancestral sacrifices are very important. They cannot be left vacant for a long time, so it's enough to express grief." Li Xiang said, "Ren Hui is about to arrive soon. He is very decisive in his actions, and the emperor usually listens to him. When he arrives, let's advise together." When Ren Hui arrived, Li Xiang and he met with Li Xiong. Li Xiang took off his hat, crying as he begged Li Xiong to address state affairs urgently. Li Xiong wept and refused to comply. Ren knelt down and said, "The kingdom has just been established, and everything is waiting to be done. If there is no one in charge for a day, the realm will be thrown into chaos. In the past, King Wu wore armor to review the troops, and Duke Xiang of Jin wore mourning clothes to lead the troops into battle. It was not what they wanted, but it was necessary for the world. I hope Your Majesty can rise above your grief, prioritize the overall situation, and keep the world in eternal peace." Then he helped Li Xiong to his feet and urged him to change out of his mourning attire to attend to state affairs.
At this time, Li Xiong had already obtained Hanjia and Fuling, and people from afar gradually surrendered. Therefore, Li Xiong issued forgiving policies, granting amnesty and restoring the official positions of those who submitted. He was humble in his dealings with others, cared for the people, and appointed talented individuals to suitable positions. Yizhou was finally pacified. He also falsely proclaimed his wife Ren Shi as empress. The brothers of Di Prince Yang Nandi were defeated by Liu Yao, fled to Jiamei, and even sent their son as a hostage. Chen An, the bandit leader of Longxi, also surrendered to him.
Li Xiong sent Li Xiang to conquer Yue Xi, and the governor Li Zhao surrendered. Li Xiang then led his troops to attack Ningzhou Governor Wang Xun from Xiaohui, and Wang Xun had his general Yao Yue lead the troops to resist. As a result, Li Xiang's forces performed poorly, and amidst continuous heavy rain, they had to retreat, rushing to cross the Lu River, resulting in the deaths of many soldiers. Upon Li Zhao's arrival in Chengdu, Li Xiong treated him with great respect, allowing Li Zhao to decide on court etiquette and funeral ceremonies.
Later, Yang Nandi fled to Jiamei, and Li Xiong dispatched General Anbei Li Zhihou to pacify him, and also allowed his brother to return to Wudu. However, Yang Nandi took advantage of the difficult terrain and committed numerous offenses, so Li Zhi requested that action be taken against him. Li Xiong then sent Central Leading General Li Han and Generals Le Ci, Fei Tuo, Li Qian, and others to attack Xian via Baishui Bridge, and sent General Li Shou to urge Li Han's brother Li Wei to attack Yinpings. Yang Nandi sent troops to resist; Li Shou could not advance, while Li Han and Li Zhi advanced directly to Wujie. Yang Nandi's forces severed their escape route, surrounded them from all sides, captured Li Han and Li Zhi, resulting in the deaths of several thousand soldiers. Li Han and Li Zhi were sons of Li Dang, Li Xiong's brother. Li Xiong was profoundly saddened, went without food for several days, wept at the mere mention of them, and blamed himself profoundly.
Afterwards, Li Xiong planned to make Li Bang, the son of Li Dang, his crown prince. Li Xiong had over ten sons, and the ministers all wanted one of his biological sons to be the crown prince. Li Xiong said, "When we rebelled, we were only trying to protect ourselves; we never thought about becoming emperor. During the chaotic times and the decline of the Jin Dynasty, we all rose up together in rebellion, wanting to save the people from the brink of disaster. Consequently, everyone elected me emperor. The foundation of our family's legacy was established by the late emperor. My brother inherited the throne, which was decreed by fate. He was wise and insightful, destined to achieve great things, but unfortunately died young. Li Bang is kind, filial, and has been studious since childhood, and will surely become a pillar of the country in the future." Li Xiang and Situ Wang Da advised, "The late king designated the eldest legitimate son as the heir to prevent usurpation; this matter must be approached with caution. The ruler of the state of Wu abandoned his own son to make his brother the ruler, leading to the assassination of King Liao of Wu by Zhuan Zhu; Duke Xuan of Song did not appoint his own son as the successor, but instead appointed Duke Mu, ultimately leading to the rebellion of Song Duh. How can a nephew compare to a son? I hope Your Majesty will consider this carefully." Li Xiong did not listen and finally made Li Bang the crown prince. After Li Xiang stepped down, he said tearfully, "The chaos begins from now on!"
Zhang Jun sent a letter to Li Xiong, advising him to give up the title of emperor and become a vassal of the Jin Dynasty.
Li Xiong replied, "The reason I became emperor was because I was elected by the scholars and officials; I never really intended to be emperor! In my heart, I thought either to make great achievements for the Jin Dynasty or to be a general guarding the border, ending the wars and restoring peace to the court. However, the Jin Dynasty is currently in decline and has a poor reputation, and I have long hoped for its revival. Now that you have sent gifts, I understand your intentions; there's nothing more to discuss. I know you want me to emulate the practice of the Yi Emperor in the Chu-Han period; the principles outlined in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' likely reflect that." Zhang Jun admired Li Xiong's response, so he sent envoys to constantly contact the Shu Han.
Bajun was once in a state of emergency, saying that the army of Eastern Jin was coming. Li Xiong said, "I have always been worried that Shi Le will be arrogant and invade Langye, which left me quite uneasy. I never expected him to take the initiative to send troops; it's truly a pleasant surprise!" Li Xiong often spoke grandly, and there are many similar examples.
Due to the continuous chaos in the Central Plains, Li Xiong often sent envoys to the Jin Dynasty to offer tribute, wanting to divide the world with Emperor Mu of Jin. Zhang Jun occupied Qinzhou and Liangzhou. Previously, he sent Fu Ying to borrow a route from Shu Han to contact the capital, but Li Xiong did not agree. Zhang Jun sent Zhongzhong Zhang Chun to Shu Han to proclaim himself a vassal, under the pretext of borrowing a route. Li Xiong was delighted and said to Zhang Chun, "Your emperor is wise and outstanding, with challenging terrain and a powerful military. Why not proclaim himself emperor?" Zhang Chun said, "Our emperor's ancestors have served as loyal ministers and capable generals for generations, but they have not been able to wash away the country's shame and rescue the people from fire and water. He stays up all night and day, determined to restore the Eastern Jin dynasty in Langye. Therefore, people from thousands of miles away all rally behind him. In the future, he will surely achieve great accomplishments like Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin. How could he proclaim himself emperor?" Li Xiong felt a little embarrassed and said, "My ancestors were also subjects of the Jin Dynasty, and they fled here with the people of the Six Counties. They elected me, which is why I am here today. If Langye can revive Great Jin, I will lead my troops to support him." After Zhang Chun returned, he reported this to the capital, and the emperor was quite pleased.
After Li Xiang's death, his son Li Shou was appointed as Grand General and Commander of the Western Tribes, responsible for commanding Fei Hei and Ren in attacking Badong. Badong's Prefect Yang Qian was forced to retreat to Jianping. Li Shou also sent Fei Hei to attack Jianping again. The Jin Dynasty's military supervisor in Badong, Guan Qiu Ao, was compelled to retreat to Yidu. Li Xiong then sent Li Shou to attack Zhu Ti, with Fei Hei and Ang Pan leading the vanguard, and also sent General Ren to attack Muluo, cutting off the reinforcements from Ningzhou. The Inspector of Ningzhou, Yin Feng, surrendered, allowing Li Xiong to occupy the southern region. For this, Li Xiong granted amnesty to the local populace, sent Ban to pacify the indigenous tribes in Ningzhou, and appointed Ban as the pacification general.
In the eighth year of Xianhe, Li Xiong developed a sore on his head and died six days later at the age of sixty-one, after ruling for thirty years. He was posthumously given the title "Emperor Wu," with the temple name "Taizong" and the tomb name "Anduling."
It is said that this ruler was magnanimous and governed the country with straightforward laws, earning a great reputation. People like Di Fu Cheng and Wei Wen, who surrendered and later rebelled, even injuring Li Xiong's mother, were forgiven and well-treated upon their second surrender. Therefore, whether Han Chinese or minority groups, they all enjoyed peace and prosperity, and Li Xiong's reputation instilled fear across a vast area to the west. Amidst widespread chaos, only the Shu region remained peaceful, so many people flocked to his side.
The emperor also established schools and appointed official historians. Even during his leisure time, he always had a book in hand. He stipulated that adult men were required to pay three bushels of grain annually, while women paid half. Each household was also required to contribute a small amount of silk and cotton. There were very few corvée labor requirements, and the common people lived very comfortably. Every household could leave their doors open, and there was no theft or robbery among them.
However, the emperor was keen to attract talent from distant lands, but the treasury was running low. Therefore, many generals resorted to bribing officials with gold, silver, and jewels. Prime Minister Yang Bao advised, "Your Majesty, as the ruler of the world, you should recruit talents from all over; how can you exchange official positions for gold and silver?" The emperor humbly accepted the criticism.
Once, the emperor got drunk and even struck the Minister of Personnel and the Minister of Imperial Affairs. Yang Bao spoke up, saying, "The emperor should be dignified and majestic, and the vassals should also be respectful and cautious. How can the emperor get drunk and strike people?" The emperor immediately ceased his actions. Another time, when the emperor undertook a covert inspection, Yang Bao rode a horse and galloped past the emperor, spear in hand. The emperor asked why, and Yang Bao replied, "Managing the affairs of the realm is akin to riding this uncontrollable horse while wielding a spear. I am too anxious, afraid of getting hurt; too slow, afraid of losing control. That's why I galloped past, unable to control it." The emperor suddenly realized and immediately returned to the palace.
The emperor governed without a fixed system of rituals; officials did not have fixed salaries and ranks, and their attire was similar to that of commoners. During wars, there were no strict military orders or organized troops. There was no mutual courtesy after winning a battle, no mutual rescue after losing one. The focus was solely on looting and plundering. This was a key reason for his downfall. "The fall of Shu was attributed to this."
Ban Ju, the son of Ban Chao, was initially appointed General of Pingnan and later named crown prince. Ban Ju was modest, receptive to counsel, and highly respected esteemed Confucian scholars like He Dian and Li Zhao, whom he regarded as teachers. He also befriended scholars like Wang Gu, Dong Rong, and Wen Kui. He often said to them, "Look at the crown princes: Jin of Wei, and Sun Deng of Wu. Their writings and insights are exceptional, and every time I think of them, I feel ashamed. The noble virtues of the ancients are truly beyond our reach!" He was generous, kind, and always adhered to propriety. While the descendants of the Li family embraced extravagance, Ban Ju always reminded them to be frugal.
Whenever there were important discussions in the court, Emperor Li Xiong always allowed him to participate first. Ban Ju believed that the ancient equal-field system ensured land for both the rich and the poor. However, nowadays, the rich monopolize vast tracts of land, leaving the poor with no land to cultivate. The rich even sell the surplus land to the poor at high prices, which is not in line with the policy of great harmony that an emperor should implement! Li Xiong gratefully accepted his advice. Later, when Li Xiong fell ill, Ban Ju kept vigil by his bedside day and night. Li Xiong had suffered many wounds from his frequent battles when he was young, and this time he was severely ill, with festering wounds. His son Li Yue and others shunned him because of the filth. However, Ban Ju took it upon himself to tend to his wounds without a hint of embarrassment, wept each time he administered the medicine, and never changed his attire. His filial piety was profoundly moving.
After Li Xiong's death, Ban Ju inherited the throne of the false Shu and appointed Li Shou to be responsible for the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, assisting him in handling political matters. Ban Ju took care of the funeral arrangements, leaving the political affairs to be handled by Li Shou, He Dian, Wang Gui, and others. Li Yue was stationed in Jiangyang at the time, and because he felt deeply resentful that Ban Ju was not the biological son of Li Xiong, he hastily returned to Chengdu to mourn and hatched a plot with his younger brother Li Qi to assassinate Ban Ju. Li Wu advised Ban Ju to send Li Yue back to Jiangyang and then let him serve as the governor of Liangzhou, guarding the Jiameng Pass. However, Ban Ju felt that it was inappropriate to send Li Yue away before their father’s burial. He consistently displayed sincerity and kindness, harboring no ill will. At this time, two white mists appeared in the sky, and the Taishi Han Bao reported, "A sign of disaster has appeared in the palace; the danger comes from relatives." However, Ban Ju did not realize the danger. In the ninth year of Xianhe, Ban Ju was killed by Li Yue in the mourning hall while he was weeping at night. He was forty-seven years old at the time and had reigned for one year. Afterwards, Li Xiong's son Li Qi succeeded to the throne.
As for Shi Le's fourth son, Shi Shi, whose courtesy name was Jilong, he was intelligent and studious from a young age, capable of writing essays by the age of twenty. He was generous and receptive to the opinions of others, and initially served as the General of Establishing Might. Shi Le encouraged him to unite everyone through kindness and trust, along with his other brothers and relatives. While others could only muster a few hundred followers, Shi Shi successfully gathered over a thousand followers! Many of the people he recommended were accepted by Shi Le, so many officials in the provinces and counties owed their promotions to him.
After Shi Le's death, it was originally planned to name Shi Yue as emperor, but since Shi Yue was raised by Shi Shi's mother, Ren Shi, and was also very talented, the throne was instead given to Shi Shi. Shi Shi subsequently declared himself emperor, granted a general amnesty, changed the era name to Yuheng, and also executed Shi Le's brother, Shi Du. He sent Li Shou to attack Shi Du's brother, Shi Wu, in Fucheng. Realizing he could not win, Shi Wu surrendered to the Eastern Jin. Shi Shi conferred the title of King of Han upon Li Shou, as well as Governor of Liangzhou, Colonel of Eastern Qiang, Protector of the Middle Army, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat; his brother, Shi Yue, was appointed as King of Jianning, Grand Minister, Grand General, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Shi Shi also named his wife, Lady Yan, as empress, designated General Wei Yin as Right Prime Minister, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, and appointed Wang Gui as Minister of Works.
Believing he had achieved great success, Shi Shi began to look down on the old ministers and started to favor officials like Jing Qian, Yao Hua, and Tian Bao. Tian Bao had no talent, but Shi Le had recommended him as Shi Shi's successor, so Shi Shi trusted him. Internally, he relied on eunuchs like Xu Fu. The country's laws and regulations were dictated by a select few, and rewards and punishments, as well as criminal matters, were all decided by a few people, resulting in chaos within the government's operations. Later, Shi Shi falsely accused Li Zai, the Minister of Works and Duke of Wuling, of rebellion and had him imprisoned and executed.
Before this, the Jin dynasty's General Jianwei, Sima Xun, was stationed in Hanzhong. Shi Shi sent Li Shou to attack, which led to the capture of Hanzhong and the deployment of troops in Nanzheng.
Xiong Ziba, who had no prior illness, suddenly died, and rumors swirled that he had been poisoned during Emperor Cheng's reign. This caused widespread fear among the ministers, resulting in instability.
Inside the palace, a sudden downpour of fish began, all of them yellow. Stranger still, the pigs and dogs in the palace were mating. Emperor Cheng killed many people during his reign, seizing their wives, concubines, and property to bolster his harem. The palace and its surroundings were in chaos, with people on the streets looking at each other with fear in their eyes. Anyone who dared to speak up faced punishment, and everyone just wanted to survive. Emperor Cheng also had his general Li You from Anbei poisoned. Li You was the brother of Prince Shou. Consequently, Li Shou conspired with Yue, Jingqian, Tian Bao, Yao Hua, and others to launch an attack on Emperor Cheng, planning to stage a mutiny during the burning of the market bridge. Emperor Cheng also sent the eunuch Xu Fu to keep tabs on Li Shou's movements multiple times. After Li You's death, Li Shou was filled with fear and suspected that Xu Fu's frequent visits concealed ulterior motives. Thus, he led ten thousand troops, both infantry and cavalry, from Fu County to Chengdu, accusing Jingqian and Tian Bao of misrule and plotting a mutiny in Jinyang to eliminate the corrupt officials surrounding the emperor. He appointed Li Yi as his vanguard.
After Li Shou arrived in Chengdu, Emperor Chengdi and Yue were completely unprepared for his quick arrival. Li Shou easily captured Chengdu and set up his camp at the city gates. Emperor Chengdi sent an official to negotiate Li Shou's surrender, but Li Shou instead launched a formal accusation against the Prime Minister, Prince Jianning Yue, the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Jing Qian, the Masters of Writing Tian Bao and Yao Hua, the Palace Attendant Xu Fu, General Who Conquers the West Li Xia, and General Li Xi, accusing them of harboring treasonous intentions, plotting rebellion, and committing grave offenses, and demanded their execution. Emperor Chengdi agreed and had Yue and the others killed. Li Shou falsely claimed to have received orders from Empress Dowager Ren to depose Chengdi, reducing him to the rank of Duke of Qiongdu County, and imprisoned him in a secluded palace. Emperor Chengdi sighed and lamented, "The ruler of the realm has fallen to the status of a mere county duke. It would be better to die!" In the third year of the Xiankang era, Chengdi died by suicide at the age of twenty-five, after reigning for three years. He was posthumously titled Duke You. During his burial, he was honored with a phoenix carriage and a nine-streamer procession, with other rites performed in accordance with royal protocol. Emperor Chengdi's sons were all executed by Li Shou.
Shouzi was the son of Wukao, and he was intelligent and studious, and had an open mind. From a young age, he placed great importance on etiquette, which set him apart from the other Li brothers. He had great ambitions and believed he could shoulder heavy responsibilities. He was appointed as the Front General, responsible for military affairs in Bashu, and was later promoted to General of the East. At the age of nineteen, he invited the recluse Qiao Xiu to be his advisor, and humbly welcomed Qiao Xiu's candid advice. He achieved remarkable political success in Bashu and was deeply loved by the people. After the death of his father Wukao, Shouzi was promoted to Grand General, Grand Commander, Palace Attendant, and was granted the title of Duke of Fufeng. He also took part in managing the affairs of the Shangshu. Later, he was sent to campaign against Ningzhou, laying siege to the city for over a hundred days, ultimately bringing peace to all the counties. Emperor Liu Xiong was greatly pleased and bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Jianning. After Liu Xiong's death, Shouzi was tasked with assisting the young lord as per the posthumous edict. Upon the young lord's ascension to the throne, Shouzi was renamed King of Han, governing five counties in Liangzhou and holding the position of Governor of Liangzhou.
Shou Zi has a formidable reputation, and Li Yue, Jing Qian, and others regard him with great caution; Shou Zi is deeply concerned. He replaced Li Wu to guard Fucheng, and every time the court summoned him for an audience, he consistently wrote to say that the border conflicts were urgent, so he never attended court. Shou Zi noticed that Li Qi, Li Yue, and over ten other brothers were in their prime, all possessing strong military power. He feared for his own safety, so he repeatedly sought Gong Zhuang's hand in marriage. Although Gong Zhuang declined his proposal, he made several visits to see Shou Zi. At that time, Minshan experienced a landslide, and the river ran dry. Shou Zi felt anxious about this and frequently sought Gong Zhuang's advice on staying safe. Gong Zhuang had lost his father and uncle to murder, and he longed for revenge but found no opportunity, so he told Shou Zi, "General, if you can abandon small benefits and pursue great benefits, trade danger for safety, you could expand your territory and become a local lord, surpassing Huan Wengong in reputation, and your achievements will be passed down for generations!" Shou Zi followed his advice and secretly conspired with Changshi Luoyang Luo Heng and Baxi Jie Siming to seize Chengdu, and subsequently pledged allegiance to the court. He then issued a decree, recruited several thousand people, attacked Chengdu, and captured it. After seizing Chengdu, he allowed his troops to plunder and even raped and abducted Liu Xiong's daughter and other women of the Li clan, resulting in a massacre that took days to quell. Siming, Li Yi, Wang Li, and I advised Emperor Li Shou of Han to pledge allegiance to the Jin Dynasty, honoring him as General of the West, Governor of Yizhou, and King of Chengdu. However, Ren Diao, Sima Caixing, Shizhong Li Yan, and Zhang Lie urged Li Shou to declare himself emperor. Li Shou consulted a diviner, and the fortune teller said, "You can be emperor for a few years." Ren Diao was overjoyed and exclaimed, "One day is enough to be happy, not to mention a few years!" Siming countered, "Being emperor for a few years pales in comparison to being a vassal lord for centuries!" Li Shou said, "If I hear the truth of the Tao in the morning, then even if I die at night, it's worth it! What you said, Ren Hou, is the wisest course of action!"
In the fourth year of the Xiankang era, Li Shou usurped the throne, appointed Dong Jiao as chancellor, Luo Heng and Ma as his trusted aides, Li Yi, Ren Diao, and Li Hong as his supporters, and Jie Siming as his military advisor. He also invited Gong Zhuang to be his grand tutor, but Gong Zhuang firmly declined, ultimately agreeing to assist Li Shou in simple attire as a mentor and friend. Li Shou elevated a large number of overlooked talents to significant positions, posthumously honored his father Li Xiang as Emperor Xian, his mother Zan Shi as the Empress Dowager, his wife Yan Shi as the Empress, and his son Li Shi as the Crown Prince. Later, it was reported that Li Qian, the governor of Guanghan, was colluding with court officials to depose Li Shou. Li Shou had his son Li Guang and the officials take an oath in the palace, then transferred Li Qian to Hanjia as the governor. That night, a strong wind and heavy rain suddenly struck, resulting in the palace gates being struck by lightning. Filled with regret, Li Shou ordered the officials to speak their minds without holding back.
The emperor sent the Grand Commandant Wang Gu and the Chancellor Wang Guang to contact Shi Jilong. Before that, Shi Jilong had sent a letter, wanting to unite with Shu Han to attack the Jin Dynasty together and discuss how to divide the world. When Liu Chan heard this, he was overjoyed and immediately ordered the construction of ships and military preparations, ensuring all soldiers had provisions. He also appointed the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Ma Dang, as the commander of the six armies, entrusting him with a seal and a battle-axe, drilling the troops in the eastern suburbs, with more than 70,000 soldiers and a grand fleet sailing up the river. Upon reaching Chengdu, the river echoed with battle cries, and Liu Chan personally climbed the city tower to watch. The ministers cautioned him, saying, "Our country is small and has few soldiers. Wu and Kuaiji are far away and difficult to conquer!" Jie Siming also advised him earnestly. Liu Chan reluctantly allowed the ministers to weigh the pros and cons. Gong Zhuang then stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, will you ally with the barbarians or with the Jin Dynasty? The barbarians are like wolves! If the Jin Dynasty is destroyed, won't we have to submit to them obediently? The power disparity is too significant for us to contend for power! Just like the destruction of Yugu and Guoguo by the Fan clan, this serves as a clear lesson! Your Majesty, you must consider this carefully!" The other ministers all agreed with Gong Zhuang, kneeling and tearfully advising, and Liu Chan finally dispelled this idea, and the soldiers cheered. Next, the emperor sent the General of Zhen Dong, Li Yi, to conquer Zang Ke. Prefect Xie Shu defended the city and resisted for several days, but was unable to capture it. Ultimately, Li Yi ran out of supplies and had to withdraw his troops. Finally, Liu Chan appointed his crown prince as the Grand General, tasking him with overseeing the affairs of the Imperial Secretariat.
Shi Chong, this fellow, is generous and frugal, yet he had a penchant for engaging in power struggles, wanting to imitate the talented emperors, but failed to achieve his ambitions. At this moment, Li Hong and Wang Gu returned from Ye City, continuously praising Shi Le's power and influence, the stunning palace and the thriving prosperity of Ye City. Shi Chong also heard that Shi Le misused the law, and Wang Xun also controlled his subordinates through killings, and both managed their territories very well. Shi Chong, envious of them, began to mimic their methods, immediately killing anyone who made even the slightest mistake as a warning.
He also felt that the suburbs of Chengdu were desolate, the city itself was empty, with a shortage of craftsmen and tools, so he ordered all adult males from the surrounding counties to move to Chengdu to bolster the city’s population. He also grandly constructed the Shangfang Imperial Palace, recruited skilled craftsmen from all over to help build palaces, brought water into the city, in pursuit of luxury and indulgence. He also grandly constructed the imperial academy and built opulent banquet halls. The people were exhausted, and sighs echoed everywhere, with nine out of ten families harboring thoughts of rebellion. His Left Supervisor Cai Xing advised him repeatedly, but Shi Chong believed he was slandering him and promptly had him executed. Right Supervisor Li Yi also angered him with his frank advice, leading Shi Chong to finally erupt in anger, fabricating an excuse to imprison and execute him.
When Shi Chong was seriously ill, he constantly felt haunted by the spirits of Li Qi and Cai Xing. Eight years later, Shi Chong died at the age of forty-four, having reigned for five years. After his death, he was posthumously honored with the title "Emperor Zhaowen", the temple name "Zhongzong", and the tomb name "Anchang Tomb".
When Shou became king, he was particularly fond of learning and cherished talents. He was thought to be on the right path. Whenever he read stories of outstanding generals and wise ministers achieving great feats, he would recite and ponder them repeatedly, which enabled him to achieve repeated victories, expand territory, and establish a vast country. His father, Shou, highly esteemed him, and Shou was also loyal to his father, so people praised him as a wise minister. However, after Shou usurped the throne and became emperor, he began to change the ancestral worship system, declaring his father as the founder of the Han Dynasty and including himself and his father, Shou, in the worship at the Great Cheng Temple. He also wrote letters to the various tribal leaders he had allied with, overhauling various systems. The officials in the court, from the high-ranking officials to the lower officials, were mostly his own confidants. Those former officials who had followed Shou in the past, as well as the local scholars of the six counties, were marginalized and lost their positions. Later, when Shou fell ill, Si Ming and others sought to restore the royal family, but Shou disagreed. Li Yan from the Yue Yi region wrote a letter advising Shou to give up the title of emperor, restore the throne, and return to the right path. In anger, Shou killed him to send a message to Gong Zhuang and Si Ming. Gong Zhuang wrote seven poems in response, writing under the pseudonym Ying Qu to satirize Shou. After reading the poems, Shou said, "I grasp the meaning of these poems. If they were written by people today, they are truly the words of a wise man! If they were written by ancient people, they are just the kind of things dead people often say!" Shou always admired the actions of Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Ming of Wei, but felt ashamed to mention the period of his father and older brother's rule. Anyone who submitted a memorial was forbidden from mentioning their ancestors' achievements, as he constantly believed he was superior to them.
Shouchu's eldest son was named Shizi Ren. Initially, Shouchu's wife Yan Shi did not have a son. Later, Xiang killed Li Feng and married Li Feng's daughter off to Shouchu. It was then that Yan Shi, Shouchu's wife, gave birth to Shizi. Due to Shizi's handsome and elegant appearance, Qi (Shouchu's father) liked him very much and appointed him as the General of the Yijun and the Crown Prince of the Han. Shizi was approximately 2.36 meters tall, with a waist circumference of fourteen inches, and he was agile and flexible. People at the time regarded him as quite remarkable. Upon Shouchu's death, Shizi inherited his pseudo-emperor position, granted a general amnesty throughout the realm, renamed the era Taihe, and bestowed the title of Empress Dowager upon his mother Yan Shi and his wife Li Shi as the Empress.
The Imperial Historian Han Hao reported that the planet Mars was guarding the heart (a celestial omen) and suggested the abolition of ancestral sacrifices. Shizi ordered his ministers to discuss this matter. His Prime Minister Dong Jiao, and his Attendant Wang Gu and others believed that Jingwu, referring to Shouchu's father and elder brother, had laid the foundation and he had inherited the legacy of his ancestors, and they were close blood relatives, so they should not be alienated. Thus, Shizi ordered sacrifices to Tahe Xiong and gave them the same title—Han Wang.
It is said that Han Wang Guang, the Great General of Shu Han, had no son and wanted the Emperor to appoint him as the Crown Prince, but the Emperor did not agree. Ma Dang and Jie Siming thought that there were already too few brothers, and if anyone else was deposed, it would be even more dangerous, so they strongly urged the Emperor to agree to Han Wang Guang's request. The Emperor suspected that Ma Dang and his associates were colluding with Han Wang Guang, so he sent the Grand Guardian Li Yi to attack Han Wang Guang in Fucheng, and ordered Dong Jiao to apprehend Ma Dang and Jie Siming, kill them, and exterminate their families. Han Wang Guang was demoted to Marquis of Linquan and eventually committed suicide. Indeed, Ma Dang was quite cunning and very persuasive, and he was well-liked. Jie Siming also often spoke frankly and advised. From that point on, no one in the court dared to take charge or express their opinions.
Later, Li Yi rose in rebellion from Jinshou, and many Shu people followed him, with the army growing to over a hundred thousand. The emperor personally went to the city to defend it. Li Yi rode alone towards the city gate, where the guards shot him dead, which caused the rebel army to scatter. After killing Li Yi, the emperor declared a general amnesty and changed the era name to Jianing.
At first, there were no Lao people in the Shu region, but by this time, they had emerged from the deep mountains and headed north to Jianwei and Zitong. Their tribes were everywhere, with over a hundred thousand households, becoming a serious threat to the common people. The emperor was proud, stingy, lustful, and greedy, frequently killing and abducting wives, living a life of debauchery while neglecting state affairs. The military defenses were in disarray, and the territory shrank day by day. In addition to his luxurious lifestyle, he was suspicious and cruel, killing ministers, abusing the law, leaving everyone in a state of fear. He marginalized his father-in-law and old ministers, favoring only the corrupt sycophants around him, who abused their power. The emperor often stayed in the palace and rarely met with the ministers. Historians repeatedly warned him of impending disasters, yet he appointed Dong Jiao as Grand Tutor, ostensibly granting him a high office and wealth, but in reality, seeking to shift the blame onto him.
Grand Marshal Huan Wen led his troops to attack Li Shi. When they reached Qingyi, Li Shi quickly sent troops to bolster defenses and also sent Li Fu and Zan Jian with several thousand men to take a more direct route from Shanyang to Heshui to block Huan Wen. Everyone believed Huan Wen would take the land route, so they planned to set up an ambush in Jiangnan to wait for his army. However, Zan Jian, however, disagreed and led his troops to cross the river at Yuanyangqi in the north and head straight for Jianwei. As a result, Huan Wen went from Shanyang to Jiangnan, while Zan Jian arrived at Jianwei only to realize that he and Huan Wen had taken different routes, so he promptly crossed back over the river at Shatou Ferry. By the time Zan Jian arrived, Huan Wen had already set up camp ten miles outside Chengdu, and Zan Jian's forces had already been routed. When Huan Wen arrived at the city, he set fire to the gates of Chengdu. Li Shi's troops were filled with shock and fear, losing all will to fight. Li Shi's advisors, including Wang Ju, the chief of the imperial secretariat, and Chang Qu, the cavalier attendant, urged him to surrender. Li Shi consulted with Palace Attendant Feng Fu, who said, "When Wu Han attacked Shu Han, he killed the entire Gong Sun family. Now, the Jin Dynasty's order makes no mention of pardoning your family. Even if you surrender, your life may not be spared." That night, Li Shi fled from the east gate, escaping with Zan Jian to Jinshou, where they sent a surrender letter to Huan Wen, which read: "In the second year of the Jia Ning era, on the seventeenth day of the third month, Li Shi of Lueyang kneels down to accept his death sentence. I humbly beseech the General, acknowledging my ancestors' mistakes and my own folly, seeking refuge in the mountains of Shu. I, in my weakness, have failed to take action and have only brought trouble upon myself through reckless actions. I have caused trouble and taken risks, and my soldiers have acted foolishly and defied the will of heaven. I am ashamed and regretful, my spirit scattered, willing to accept punishment and end the military conflict. I bow down to the great Jin Dynasty, whose justice extends far and wide, showing mercy to all under the sun. Pressured and rushed, I surrender to the wilderness. I will arrive at Baishui City today, and I respectfully send this letter through the cavalier attendant Wang You, instructing the provinces to disarm. Like a fish stranded in a drying pond, awaiting its fate."
Li Shi arrived in a coffin, shackled, and surrendered at Huan Wen's camp. Huan Wen freed him from his shackles, burned the coffin, and relocated Li Shi, his younger brother Li Fu, cousin Li Quan, and more than ten other relatives to Jiankang, and appointed Li Shi as the Marquis of Guiyi. In the fifth year of Shengping, he died in Jiankang. He failed as emperor after ruling for five years.
Li Te initially rebelled in the first year of Huizong Tai'an, and by the time of Li Shi, it was already the sixth generation, spanning a total of forty-six years, and was ultimately extinguished in the third year of Emperor Mu's Yonghe era.
Historical records state that in the past, when the Zhou Dynasty was powerful, Gu Gong Danfu was concerned about the threat posed by the Qiang Rong; during the stable rule of the Han Dynasty, Emperor Xuan sent troops to pacify the Huangzhong region. Therefore, the troubles caused by these minority ethnic groups in the Central Plains have a long history, not to mention the Ba and Pu ethnic groups who coexist in large numbers, living by robbery, with fierceness as their custom. The Li Te family has been fierce and cunning for generations, long displaying the demeanor of a fierce hero. He sighed at the treacherous terrain of Jianmen Pass, intent on annexing the entire Shu Han region. As the Jin Dynasty's rule weakened and local lords grew indecisive, Li Te led his army to fight everywhere, with many rallying to his cause, quickly capturing the Shu Han region. He looted both Ba and Liang, leaving not a single grain in the fields, and white bones littered the Huayang region. All of this stemmed from the moral corruption of the Jin Dynasty's rulers, resulting in their downfall!
Li Xiong, born with outstanding talent, was widely praised for his exceptional abilities. After years of warfare, he ultimately established his power. He inherited Li Te's legacy, took control of the Ziyang territory, lowered taxes to win the people's favor, and implemented clear laws to gain the trust of the newly conquered regions. His talent was on par with Sun Quan. However, according to ancient customs, appointing the eldest son as the heir was considered the proper course, as there have been many successful examples in the past. Yet Li Xiong disregarded this principle for his own selfish gain, passing the throne to his illegitimate son Li Shou, along with the powerful army. Internal strife erupted shortly after Li Xiong's death, and Li Shou, who had not yet firmly secured the throne, faced the danger of being overthrown. While some may call it fate, it was also a consequence of Li Xiong's poor choices.
Li Ban faced calamities because of his kindness and generosity, whereas Li Shou swiftly fell into ruin due to his tyranny. They took different paths but ended up in the same failure. Li Shou seized the throne with the power of his family, engaged in military aggression and numerous crimes, even more brutal than the Chu country besieging the Han dynasty in the past. Yet, he somehow managed to survive—what luck! Li Ren inherited the throne and continued his incompetent and tyrannical rule, leading a broken army while daring to challenge powerful nations. By day he fought in armor like a cornered beast; sneaking away by night like a lost dog. In the end, Li Ren was beheaded, which was hardly surprising. His fate mirrored that of Liu Shan, which isn't all that bad in the grand scheme of things!
In conclusion, the Jin Dynasty's lax rule came to an end after 160 years. Heaven let Li Te lie low like a turtle before unleashing him to wreak havoc like a pack of dragons. Li Te took advantage of the chaos, occupying our Ba and Yong territories. The Li family ruled over five dynasties for nearly forty years, usurping power and ruling with incompetence and tyranny, generation after generation. This was all due to their lack of virtue; even in treacherous terrain, they couldn't safeguard themselves.
