Lü Guang, also known as Shiming, was a Di person from Lüeyang. His ancestor Lü Wenhe moved from Pei County to Lüeyang during the early reign of Emperor Wen of the Han dynasty to escape the chaos of war. His family had been local gentry for generations. His father, Polou, served as a Grand Commandant under Fu Jian. Lü Guang was born in Fangtou, and on the night of his birth, a wondrous light appeared, so he was named "Guang" (light). At the age of ten, he played at war with the children in the village, and they all elected him as their leader. He led with confidence, and the children were all impressed. He did not like studying but enjoyed playing with eagles and riding horses. When he grew up, he was eight feet four inches tall, had two different colored eyes, and a birthmark on his left elbow. He was steady, generous, extraordinary and kept his emotions in check. At the time, few people understood him, but Wang Meng felt he was extraordinary and said, "This person is not ordinary." Wang Meng told this to Fu Jian, who promoted him to magistrate of Meiyang County, and the locals really took to him. He was later promoted to General of Eagle Rising.
Following Fu Jian's expedition against Zhang Ping, in the Battle of Tongbi, Lv Guang stabbed and killed Zhang Ping's adopted son Hao, and his reputation soared as a result. Fu Shuang rebelled in Qinzhou, and Fu Jian sent Yang Chengshi to suppress it, but he was defeated by Fu Shuang's general Gou Xing. Lv Guang and Wang Jian went to attack together. Wang Jian wanted a quick battle, but Lv Guang said, "Gou Xing has just defeated Yang Chengshi; he is riding high. We should be steady and wait for his weakness to show. Gou Xing is now pursuing victory; his supplies must be running out fast. Wait for him to retreat before attacking, and we can defeat him." Twenty days later, Gou Xing indeed retreated. The other generals didn't know what to do, and Lv Guang said, "Based on his cunning strategy, he will definitely attack Yumei. If we let him occupy Yumei, defend the city, cut off the road, and get supplies, it will be very detrimental to the country. We should send reinforcements quickly. If Gou Xing attacks the city, we must rush to his aid. If he flees, his supplies have run out, and we can completely eliminate him." Wang Jian followed his advice. Ultimately, Gou Xing's army was defeated. Later, he followed Wang Meng to eliminate Murong Wei and was appointed as the Marquis of Duting.
Fu Zhong was stationed in Luoyang and appointed Lv Guang as the Chief Historian. Later, Fu Zhong rebelled, and Fu Jian heard about it and said, "Lv Guang is loyal, devoted, and upright; he will definitely not participate." So he sent someone to bring Lv Guang back from Luoyang. Shortly after, Lv Guang was appointed as the Right Commander of the Crown Prince and was deeply respected by the Emperor. Li Yan in Shu gathered twenty thousand troops and launched an attack on Yizhou. Fu Jian appointed Lv Guang as General of Pacifying the Barbarians, leading troops to attack and eliminate Li Yan's army, and Lv Guang was promoted to Colonel of Infantry. Later, Fu Luo rebelled, and Lv Guang pacified it and was appointed as General of Valiant Cavalry.
Fu Jian defeated his enemies in Shandong, and his army was very powerful, so he wanted to conquer the Western Regions. He appointed Fu Guang as the envoy to lead the Western Expeditionary army, with generals Jiang Fei, Peng Huang, Du Jin, Kang Sheng, among others, a total of 70,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry to launch an attack on the Western Regions. He also appointed Dong Fang of Longxi, Guo Bao of Fengyi, Jia Qian of Wuwei, and Yang Ying of Hongnong as deputy generals of the Four Prefectures. Fu Jian's son, Fu Hong, took Fu Guang's hand and said, "Your appearance is extraordinary; you are destined for great fortune in the future. You must take care of yourself!"
When the army reached Gaochang, they heard that Fu Jian was fighting with the Jin country. Fu Guang wanted to wait and see the orders from the rear. His general Du Jin said, "You have already received the emperor's orders; you should hurry up and move on. What issues can't be resolved? Why delay here?" So Fu Guang continued to advance, reaching the desert region, where there was no water for more than 300 li, and the soldiers were frightened. Fu Guang said, "I heard that Li Guangli, with his sincere heart, moved the heavens, and then a spring gushed out. Surely we can move the heavens too? Heaven will definitely help us; everyone don't worry!" Soon after he finished speaking, a heavy rain fell, which accumulated three feet deep.
The army continued to advance to Yanqi, where King Ni Liu surrendered with the neighboring states. However, King Bo Chun of Kucha put up resistance against Fu Guang. Fu Guang stationed his army south of Kucha City, establishing camps every five li, digging deep trenches, building high walls, and setting up a large number of wooden dummy soldiers dressed in armor, placed on the ramparts. Bo Chun relocated the people from outside the city into the city, and the vassal kings defended their own cities.
At this time, the characters "巨霸" appeared on the inside of Fu Guang's left arm. In the evening, a massive black shape appeared outside the camp, resembling a broken dam, moving, with horns and eyes like lightning. By daybreak, the surroundings were covered in mist, and the object was gone. The next day, when we went to see where it had appeared, it was five li long from north to south, over thirty paces wide from east to west, with faint traces of scales on the ground, as if it had just been there. Fu Guang chuckled and exclaimed, "It's a black dragon!" Soon after, dark clouds gathered in the northwest, and a thunderstorm washed away the traces. Du Jin said to Fu Guang, "The dragon is a divine beast, a symbol of good fortune that a ruler can see. The Book of Changes says, 'Seeing a dragon in the field, it is beneficial to spread virtue.' This shows that General, your moral integrity is in harmony with the heavens and earth, and your virtue has moved the spirits. I hope the General continues to work hard and achieve even greater victories!" Fu Guang was very happy to hear this.
Speaking of which, we went to attack Kucha City again. That night, I dreamt of a golden elephant soaring over the city. I said, "This means that the Buddha and immortals have left Kucha, and the people of Kucha are finished!" We attacked the city fiercely, and King Baochun of Kucha had no choice but to gather all the treasures of his kingdom to seek help from the Xiongnu in the Western Regions.
The younger brother of the treacherous Hu people, Na Long, and the general Hou Jiangkui, marched grandly with over 200,000 cavalry, and also brought together the armies of kings from Wensu, Youtou, and other countries, totaling over 700,000 troops, to rescue Guizi. Every one of these Hu people was skilled in riding and archery, skilled in wielding long and large spears, with armor as strong as chain mail, with arrows that couldn't penetrate. They also used leather ropes as lassos, riding horses to lasso people, many were caught. Our soldiers were terrified of them. Many generals suggested that we set up camp and fortify each camp, confronting them steadily. I said, "We are outnumbered; if the camps are too far apart and the forces are dispersed, that is not a good strategy!" So, I linked the camps together in formation, using a tactic like a chain, with elite cavalry as a mobile force ready to fill any gaps. We fought a battle with them to the west of the city, delivering a crushing defeat, slaughtering over 10,000 enemies. Beichun fled in panic, taking his treasures with him, and over 30 small kings of various countries surrendered. Upon entering Guizi City, I rewarded the soldiers generously and even composed poems to express my ambitions. Seeing the magnificent palace of Guizi, I had the military officer Jingzhao Duan Ye write a poem as a satire of them. These Hu people, living in luxury, paying great attention to health, every household had Pumao wine, some could even fill a measure, stored for ten years without going bad; many soldiers were addicted to the wine, living in a drunken stupor. The kings of various countries were intimidated by my reputation, offering tributes and eager to curry favor with me. Later, I appointed Beichun's younger brother Zhen as the King of Guizi to stabilize the region. I pacified the Western Regions; my reputation and generosity were great, and the previously unruly Hu kings who had resisted me came from afar to surrender. The Emperor of the Han Dynasty rewarded me with the command insignia, which I reported to the court and then exchanged for new ones.
I heard that Zhang Gui had pacified the Western Regions and was appointed as the Governor, Cavalry Commander, Commander of all military affairs west of Yumen, General of Peaceful West, and Western Region Inspector. However, communication was cut off, and he became unreachable. After pacifying Kucha, Zhang Gui wanted to establish himself there. At this time, Kumarajiva was captured, and he advised Zhang Gui to return to the east. This event is documented in the "Chronicles of the Western Barbarians." So Zhang Gui hosted a banquet for civilian and military officials to discuss whether to return. Everyone agreed to return, so Zhang Gui followed their advice and returned with over 20,000 camels, a wealth of foreign treasures, peculiar curiosities, more than a thousand exotic animals, and tens of thousands of fine horses.
At this time, Yang Han, Governor of Gaochang under Fu Jian, told Zhang Gui that Liang Xi, the Governor of Liangzhou, was holding on to Gaotong and Yiwu Passes and would not listen to your orders. When Zhang Gui arrived in Gaochang, Yang Han surrendered with all the people in the county. Initially, Zhang Gui was put off by Yang Han upon hearing his words, and he also learned that Fu Jian had been defeated and that Chang'an was on the verge of being breached, so he wanted to stop the army's advance. Du Jin advised him, saying, "Liang Xi is eloquent but lacks decisiveness and will ultimately reject good advice. You needn't worry too much about him. I've heard their internal opinions are divided, so you should attack quickly. If the attack fails, let me take the blame!" Zhang Gui decided to heed his advice.
When Liang Xi arrived at Yumen Pass, he sent a decree blaming Zhang Gui for unilaterally ordering the army to return, and sent his son Liang Yin, along with General Yao Hao and Adjutant Wei Han, to lead fifty thousand troops to intercept Zhang Gui in Jiuquan. Zhang Gui also sent a decree to Liangzhou, blaming Liang Xi for not fulfilling his duty of support and listing his grave sins of obstructing the return of the army. Zhang Gui sent Peng Huang, Du Jin, Jiang Fei, and others as vanguards to attack Liang Yin, defeating Liang Yin's forces. Liang Yin recklessly fled east with a few hundred cavalry under his command, but was caught by Du Jin. As a result, the surrounding mountain tribes surrendered. The Administrator of Wuwei, Peng Ji, surrendered alongside Liang Xi. Zhang Gui entered Guzang and took on the roles of Governor of Liangzhou and Protector of the Qiang, recommending Du Jin as the General of Fuguo, Administrator of Wuwei, and granting him the title of Marquis of Wushi, with different rewards for other soldiers.
The Registrar of Guangzhou, Wei You, was a cunning and despicable person who had not been favored at court before. He conspired with Peng Ji to capture Liang Xi. As Wei gained favor at court, he falsely accused and killed more than ten literati, such as Administrator Yao Hao of Nan'an and Intendant Jing of Tianshui, causing widespread dissatisfaction and fostering disloyalty and discord. Later, Wei promoted Wei You to General of Ningyuan and Administrator of Jincheng. When Wei You arrived at Yunwu, he seized the outer city in a rebellion, and his cousin also occupied Zhan Yin in response. Wei sent General Wei Zhen to suppress Wei You's cousin, who was defeated and fled to Wei You, prompting Wei to dispatch General Jiang Fei to defeat Wei You's forces. Wei You fled to Xingcheng, inciting a rebellion among the people, with many Han and minority ethnic groups rallying to his cause. The Marshal under Jiang Fei, Zhang Xiang, and the Adjutant Guo Ya, planned to assassinate Jiang Fei and defect to Wei You's side, but their plot was uncovered, forcing them to flee.
After Fu Jian was defeated, Zhang Tianxi fled south, and his son Zhang Dayu was hidden by the Colonel of Water, Wang Mu. When Fu Jian returned to Chang'an, Wang Mu took Zhang Dayu and fled to Tufa Sifujian, who subsequently sent him to Wei'an. This month, several thousand people from Wei'an, including Jiao Song, Qi Su, and Zhang Ji, raised an army to support Zhang Dayu and captured Changsong County. General Du was sent to suppress them but was defeated by Zhang Dayu. Zhang Dayu then advanced towards Guzang, seeking a decisive battle. Wang Mu advised him: "Lu Guang has plenty of supplies, strong defenses, and elite troops. It's not beneficial to force a battle now. It would be wiser to first secure the Lingxi region, regroup our forces, gather supplies, and then advance eastward. We can pacify the rebellion within a year." Zhang Dayu ignored this advice and sent Wang Mu to request reinforcements from the counties in Lingxi. The Governor of Jiankang, Li Xi, the Commandant of Qilian, Yan Chun, and Yan Xi all raised troops in response. Zhang Dayu established his camp and fortified his position to the west of the city, while Wang Mu led thirty thousand troops and Tufa Sifujian's son to line up to the south of the city. Lu Guang launched an attack and defeated them, killing over twenty thousand, including Tufa Sifujian's son. Lu Guang told his generals, "If Zhang Dayu had listened to Wang Mu's advice, it would have been difficult to deal with him!" The generals replied, "How could Zhang Dayu not have thought of this! Heaven aims to secure your legacy for eight hundred years, so it made Zhang Dayu confused and abandon the correct strategy!" Lu Guang was very pleased to hear this and rewarded the soldiers with gold and silver. Zhang Dayu fled from Xijun to Lintao, plundering more than five thousand households and defending Jucheng. Lu Guang dispatched Peng Huang and Xu Jing to attack, successfully breaching Jucheng. Zhang Dayu fled to Guangwu, while Wang Mu fled to Jiankang. The people of Guangwu captured Zhang Dayu and executed him in the market of Guzang.
I heard that Fu Jian was murdered by Yao Chang. At that time, I was so angry that I cried and shouted. The entire army donned mourning attire and held a grand funeral for him in the south of the city, posthumously honoring him with the title of Emperor Wenzhao. Officials above the rank of Bai Shi had to observe mourning rituals for three months, and the common people had to cry for three days.
After that, I ordered a general amnesty, changed the era name to Tai'an, and bestowed upon myself a series of official titles: Imperial Commissioner, Palace Attendant, Grand Commander of the Central and Outer Armies, Commander-in-Chief of the Longyou and Hexi Armies, Grand General, Chief Protector of the Xiongnu, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Jiuquan. Quite impressive, wouldn't you agree? However, this brat Wang Mu took advantage of the situation and occupied Jiuquan, declaring himself Grand General and Governor of Liangzhou. He's really audacious! At that time, the price of food soared, with a dou of rice costing five hundred coins. The common people couldn't afford to eat, and far too many were starving to death. It was truly tragic! Kang Ning, the Prefect of Xiping, also revolted, proclaiming himself King of the Xiongnu and blocking the road with troops. I dispatched troops to quell his rebellion several times, but each attempt ended in failure.
When I first pacified Hexi, Du Jin put in a lot of effort, so I appointed him as the General Assistant of the State and the Prefect of Wuwei. Later, he became a commander, and his power grew stronger and stronger. His behavior and extravagance were almost as extravagant as the emperor's, nearly surpassing my own. My nephew Shi Cong came from Guanzhong, and I asked him, "What do the people in Guanzhong say about my governance?" Shi Cong said, "I only know of a Du Jin; I have never heard of your uncle!" I was taken aback, and later I had Du Jin killed. Once, I hosted a banquet for my officials, and after a few too many drinks, we started discussing political matters. At that time, I had very strict laws, and the officer Duan Ye said, "Harsh laws and severe punishments are not the actions of a wise king!" I said, "Shang Yang's laws were so harsh, yet he managed to unify the states; Wu Qi's strategies were ruthless, yet he made Chu dominate. Why is that?" Duan Ye said, "You are a wise ruler favored by the heavens, aiming to rule the world. Even if you follow the ways of Yao and Shun, there could still be pitfalls. How can you use the antiquated laws of Shang Yang and Shen Buhai to govern our land? This is not what the people here hope for!" Hearing this, I felt my expression change; I quickly apologized to him and then ordered myself to reflect, and began implementing a more lenient and straightforward policy. Meanwhile, Peng Huang conspired with Xu Jiong to rebel. The emperor intended to personally lead the troops to suppress them, but his generals advised, "Kang Ning is currently in the south, blocking the route and waiting for his chance! If Your Majesty heads west with the troops, Kang Ning will definitely take advantage and attack from Lingnan. If Peng Huang and Wang Mu are not dealt with, and Kang Ning attacks, it would put you in a tough spot, and the situation is extremely dangerous!"
The emperor said, "The situation you described is indeed the case. However, if we don't attack them, we'll just have to wait for them to attack us. Peng Huang and Wang Mu are colluding, and Kang Ning will also help them. If they attack us from both sides, we'll lose the city, and that would be disastrous! Now that Peng Huang has just rebelled, Kang Ning and his bond with them aren't that strong yet. It is easier to take them down while they are not prepared. Besides, success or failure lies with fate, so don't try to persuade me anymore!" The emperor then personally led thirty thousand soldiers and marched day and night to the battlefield. After arriving, they fought for twenty days, and the general under Peng Huang, Kou Yi, opened the city gates to welcome the emperor, which led to Peng Huang's death.
Wang Mu appointed his associate Suo Gu as the prefect of Dunhuang. Later, jealous of Suo Gu's fame, Wang Mu led troops to attack him. When the emperor heard about this, he said to his generals, "The two traitors are attacking each other; this is a perfect chance to capture them!" The emperor planned to lead the troops to attack them, but everyone felt it wasn't feasible. The emperor said, "Taking advantage of chaos to defeat the enemy is a classic military strategy. We can't pass up a chance for a decisive victory just because of the hardships of a long journey!" So the emperor led twenty thousand soldiers to attack Jiuquan, captured it, then moved on to Liangxing. Wang Mu fled east with his troops, but they scattered along the way. Wang Mu managed to escape to Xingma, where Prefect Guo Wen killed him and sent his head to the emperor.
At that time, Fu Jian proclaimed himself king in Jinze County, and many animals came to him. Fu Jian believed this was an auspicious sign, so in the fourteenth year of the reign of Emperor Xiaowu, he declared himself king of Sanhe and established various official positions, from Cheng Lang downwards, and issued a general amnesty throughout the realm, with the era name Linjia. His wife Shi Shi, son Fu Shao, and younger brother Fu De all rushed from Chouchi to meet him in the east of the city, where Fu Jian welcomed them and hosted a grand banquet for his courtiers. He also sent his sons, Left General Fu Ta and Central General Fu Zuan, to campaign against the northern foe, Piquin, achieving a resounding victory. Later, Fu Jian appointed Shi Shi as queen, his son Fu Shao as crown prince, and hosted a banquet for his courtiers in the new hall of the inner courtyard. Just as the ancestral temple was completed, he posthumously revered his great-grandfather as Duke Jing, his grandfather as Duke Gong, his father as King Jingzhao, and his mother as Consort Zhaolie.
During this time, Yang Ying, the Minister of the Interior, suggested following the system of the Three Dynasties, posthumously honoring Lv Shang as the ancestor, and building a permanent ancestral temple. Fu Jian agreed. That year, the inspector of Zhangye, Fu Yao, was sent to inspect subordinate counties, where he was murdered by the magistrate of Qiuchi, Yin Xing, and thrown into a disused well. Fu Yao appeared to Fu Jian in a dream, saying, "I am a minor official of Zhangye Commandery, sent to inspect various counties. As a result, the county magistrate of Qiuchi, Yin Xing, was corrupt and afraid I would expose him, so he killed me and threw me into a disused well in Nanting. I was dressed like this." Fu Jian woke up, the dream lingered vividly in his mind for a long time before fading. He sent someone to investigate and found it to be exactly as in the dream. Fu Jian was furious and ordered the execution of Yin Xing. Duan Ye, a court scholar, believed that Fu Jian failed to discern right from wrong, allowing virtuous and foolish people to mix together, so he feigned illness to retreat to Tianti Mountain and wrote sixteen poems titled *Nine Laments* and *Seven Satires* to satirize Fu Jian. Fu Jian found himself quite pleased after reading them.
Once upon a time, Peng Xiannian of the Southern Qiang launched an attack on Baitu, and General Sun Zhi hurriedly fled to Xingcheng. The emperor dispatched General Lv Fang and his younger brother, General Lv Bao, General Yang Fan, and General Dou Gou to march to Jincheng to suppress Qifu Gangui. Lv Fang camped in Hebei, and Lv Bao led troops across the Yellow River, but was defeated by Qifu Gangui, who killed Lv Bao in battle. Subsequently, General Lv Zuan and General Dou Gou led five thousand infantry and cavalry to the south to attack Peng Xiannian, suffering a crushing defeat at Panyi and returning defeated. The emperor personally led troops to suppress Qifu Gangui and Peng Xiannian, also sending Lv Zuan, Yang Gui, Juqu Luoqiu, and Liang Gong to attack from the southwest. Peng Xiannian was terrified and stacked stones at the Baitu ferry, using water as a defense, and stationed ten thousand elite soldiers at the river crossing. The emperor secretly dispatched General Wang Bao to the upstream ferry, crossing the Huang River at night. The emperor crossed the river at the stone embankment himself, captured Fohan, and Peng Xiannian fled on horseback to Gansong, after which the emperor withdrew his troops and returned to the court. At first, the emperor relocated the people of Xihai Prefecture to other counties, which sparked rumors: "Why does the horse from the north feel sad? Nostalgia is tiring. Why does the swallow hesitate? It wants to return to its old nest." Before long, the people began inciting one another, leading to their relocation to Xiheluodu. Everyone believed that even though Gaochang was in a remote western area, its location was strategically important and close to the barbarian regions, so it was crucial to send members of the imperial family to defend it. The emperor appointed his son Fu Fu as the Commissioner, General of the West, Commander of all military affairs west of Yumen, and Grand Protector of the Western Regions, to guard Gaochang, allowing some minister's sons to accompany him.
In the twenty-first year of the Taiyuan period, the emperor proclaimed himself as the Heavenly King, declared a nationwide amnesty, and changed the reign title to Longfei. He also bestowed titles of dukes and marquises on more than twenty of his sons and appointed Fu Shao as the crown prince. Wang Xiang was appointed as the Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat, and five others, including Duan Ye, were appointed as secretaries.
Well, Geng Gui, who was Ke's younger brother, came to seek refuge with Emperor Guang. Guang was furious upon reading the letter, which stated: "Geng Gui, this little brat, is ambitious and unpredictable! I am busy pacifying Qin and Zhao and leaving my mark in Kuaiji; how can I deal with this little troublemaker making a ruckus in Taonan! Besides, there’s still fighting among his brothers; this is a great opportunity we can't let slip by! Quickly order martial law nationwide; I will personally lead the troops to deal with him!"
This time, Emperor Guang sent his second brother with Lv Zuan leading Yang Gui and Dou Gou, a total of thirty thousand troops, both infantry and cavalry, to attack Jincheng. Geng Gui led twenty thousand troops to rescue. Emperor Guang also sent Wang Bao and Xu Jiong with five thousand cavalry to intercept Geng Gui. Seeing the odds stacked against him, Geng Gui was terrified and didn’t dare to move forward. Emperor Guang then dispatched Liang Gong and Jin Shisheng with more than ten thousand elite troops, marching from Yangwu Gorge to attack Geng Gui from the east alongside the Qinzhou Governor Mei Yi. Emperor Guang's brother, the Duke of Tianshui, also led troops from Fuhan to assault Lintao, Wushi, and Hekou, successfully capturing them. Lv Zuan captured Jincheng and also captured the Jincheng Prefect Wei Jian. Wei Jian glared at Emperor Guang and declared, "I’d rather die with honor than be your prisoner!" Emperor Guang respected his integrity and let him go.
Qian Gui was completely panicked, crying and sighing, saying, "It looks like whether I can survive or not depends on today!" So he used the strategy of spreading false information, claiming that his army had dispersed and all fled to the east. Lv Yanxin took it at face value and underestimated the enemy. His subordinate, Sima Gengzhi, quickly advised him, saying, "Qian Gui is a brave and shrewd man. He defeated Wang Guang and captured Yang Ding before using the strategy of luring the enemy into a trap with weak forces. Although it is just a small country, it cannot be underestimated! A trapped beast will fight back, let alone Qian Gui. How could he just scatter like that? Moreover, the messenger looked panicked and agitated, surely deceiving us! Now we should get our troops in formation and advance, closely coordinating infantry and cavalry, waiting for the arrival of other troops before eliminating him together!" But Lv Yan ignored the advice and was ultimately defeated by Qian Gui, leading to his death. Gengzhi and General Jiang Xian quickly gathered the scattered soldiers and stationed them in Fuhuan. Emperor Guang returned to Ganzhou.
It is said that the bald-headed Natan, who was getting old, believed the slander of bad people and had the Minister Jüqu Luoqiu and the Prefect of Sanhe, Jüqu Quzhou, killed. Luoqiu's son, Meng Xun, could not bear this and rebelled directly, killing the Protector of Zhongtian, Ma Sui, and capturing Linsong County. Then he camped with his troops in Jinshan, leaving the people in dire straits.
His cousin, Nancheng, was originally a general guarding Jinchang. When he heard that Meng Xun had rebelled, he quickly fled to the Tuyuhun area, inciting the minority ethnic groups to rebel together, quickly rallying a few thousand troops and attacking Fulu and Jian'an. As a result, Protector Zhao Ce defeated them, and Nancheng had to retreat to Lezhuai. Later, Lv Zuan defeated Meng Xun in Hugu. The Prefect of Jiuquan, Lei Cheng, led General Zhao Ce and Zhao Ling with more than ten thousand infantry and cavalry to suppress Nancheng in Lezhuai, but they were defeated, and both Lei Cheng and Zhao Ce were killed in action.
Nan Cheng went to attack Jiankang again and said a lot to the governor Duan Ye: "The rule of the Lü clan is failing, powerful officials are monopolizing power, the punishments are unfair, and the common people can't take it any longer. Cities in this province are rebelling one after another, the entire place is about to fall apart, and the common people are suffering, not knowing who to turn to. You are so talented; why be loyal to a regime that is about to perish? We are now rising in the name of justice, hoping you can lead us in this remote area and let the suffering common people receive your grace!" Duan Ye did not agree.
After more than twenty days of stalemate, the imperial reinforcements still had not arrived. There were people in Jiankang named Gao Kui and Shi Hui who said to Duan Ye: "Now we are in a solitary city, and the court is not sending troops to rescue us. Although you have the talent of Tian Dan, this is not Jimo. You must think of a way to turn this crisis into an opportunity!" Duan Ye already had a bad relationship with the court's officials Fang Gui and Wang Xiang, worried he might not be able to hold on much longer, so he agreed to Nan Cheng. Therefore, they enthroned Duan Ye as Grand Commander, General of Longxi, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Jiankang.
Tu Fa Nuo Tan sent Lv Zuan to attack Duan Ye, while Ju Qu Meng Xun seized the opportunity to advance on Lin Tao, bolstering Duan Ye's strength. The two armies clashed at Helili, and Lv Zuan's army suffered a crushing defeat.
Guo Jun, a master of astronomy, said to Wang Xiang, "There's going to be a major event in Liangzhou—a large-scale war is on the horizon. The Emperor is old and in poor health, the Crown Prince isn't up to much, and those powerful generals are ambitious. If anything happens to the Emperor, chaos is bound to follow. We’ve been around the court long enough to have stepped on some toes. If something happens, we will be implicated as well. King Tianhu has the strongest military strength, and many people in the palace are his men. I want to team up with you and make you the leader, so that everyone in the palace will be under our control. Once we take the city, we can figure out our next move at our leisure." Wang Xiang thought what he said made sense.
That night, they set fire to Guanghuan Gate, and people in the palace rallied to the cause, while Wang Xiang helped from within. After the plan was uncovered, Wang Xiang was killed. Guo Jun took over the East Palace and officially declared his rebellion. The Emperor quickly summoned Zhang Zuan back. The generals advised Zhang Zuan, "Word is that Guo Jun has come back with his troops and will definitely chase us down. If we sneak back tonight, we can dodge any future trouble." Zhang Zuan said, "Even though Guo Jun has the city and the troops, he’s not really that skilled. If we sneak back in the dead of night, it’ll look like we’re scared." So Zhang Zuan sent a message to Guo Jun, "Guo Jun has rebelled, I am returning to the capital now. If you’ve got the guts, come out and face me!" Then Zhang Zuan marched his troops back. Guo Jun didn’t have the guts to fight.
Zhang Zuan's Sima Yang Tong told his cousin Yang Huan: "Guo Yun is knowledgeable in astronomy; there must be a reason for his uprising. The area outside the city is no longer controlled by the court. What good would it do for Zhang Zuan to return to the capital now? I think we should kill Zhang Zuan, then elect you as the leader. Let's move west to attack Lu Hong, occupy Zhangye, and command various counties. This is a rare opportunity!" Yang Huan angrily said: "I've heard that ministers should serve their sovereign loyally until death. I haven't been able to save the country like Bao Xie did; how can I enjoy wealth and glory while adding troubles for the court? If Lu Hong is defeated, I will avenge him!" Fearful, Yang Tong fled to Fanhe and sought refuge with Guo Yun. Guo Yun dispatched troops to intercept Zhang Zuan at Baishi, resulting in Zhang Zuan's defeat. The Governor of Liangzhou, Shi Yuanliang, led five thousand troops to come to the rescue, and together with Zhang Zuan, they resisted Guo Yun's army, defeating Guo Yun and then entering Guzang. During his rebellion, Guo Yun captured the Emperor's eight grandsons in Dongyuan. After the defeat of his army, Guo Yun was furious. He threw the eight children onto the blades, dismembered them, used their blood to consecrate the flag, and swore an oath with the soldiers. The soldiers covered their eyes, unable to watch, while Guo Yun, however, remained calm. Guo Yun appointed Yang Gui as the leader, and Yang Gui declared himself Grand General, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Xiping, brimming with arrogance! Lu Zuan defeated Guo Yun's general, Wang Fei, west of the city, which severely weakened Guo Yun's forces, causing his power to begin declining.
The emperor wrote a letter to Yang Gui, saying, "Since the Qiang and Hu tribes have been in rebellion, and Guo Nuan has defected, there has been no news from the southern border. I heard that you were forced by Guo Nuan to become his accomplice. You were once a loyal and righteous person, with integrity akin to that of Shi Yu, capable of distinguishing right from wrong, comparable to ancient wise ministers. How could you be swayed by the slander of treacherous people and tarnish your own reputation? Pine and cypress trees are not afraid of frost and snow; a true gentleman does not fear danger, yet you have been bent like pine and cypress trees under a light frost, frightened like a rooster by the storm! Guo Nuan's soothsaying and divination may occasionally be accurate, but upon careful consideration, most of it is false. My ability to govern is limited, and I cannot extend my blessings to every corner, which is why chaos reigns throughout the land with constant rebellions. I hope you can work with me wholeheartedly to quell the rebellion. The granaries are overflowing with food in the treasury, and the soldiers arriving from the east are all valiant warriors, getting along well in peacetime and invincible in battle, more than enough to defeat Guo Nuan. Though we have a lord-vassal relationship, I regard you as my own son; I do not want you to leave behind a bad reputation." Yang Gui did not reply. Instead, he led twenty thousand troops northward to attack Guo Nuan. When they arrived at Guzang City, they camped to the north of the city. Seeing his strong and well-prepared forces, Yang Gui wanted to have a decisive battle with Guo Nuan, but Guo Nuan continually used astrology as an excuse to evade. Lu Hong was forced into a corner by Duan Ye, so the emperor sent Lu Zuan to assist him. Yang Gui discussed with his subordinates, "Lu Hong has ten thousand elite soldiers; if he joins forces with the emperor, we will be weakened. Allowing this fierce beast to remain unchecked will pose a significant threat in the future!" So he led his troops to intercept Lu Zuan, but was ultimately defeated. Guo Nuan heard that Yang Gui was defeated, so he fled to Weian and finally sought refuge with Qifu Gangui. Upon learning of Guo Nuan's flight, Yang Gui retreated south to Lianchuan.
The speed was too fast. He immediately declared his son, Shao, as the crown prince and himself as the abdicating emperor. Then he appointed Lv Zuan as the Grand Commandant and Lv Hong as the Chancellor. He said to Shao, "My illness is getting worse; I'm afraid I won't make it. Three strong enemies are eyeing us, looking for an opportunity to invade. After I die, let Zuan lead the army, and Hong handle court affairs. You must be humble and cautious; perhaps that is the only way to save the country. If you brothers suspect each other and cause internal strife, the downfall of the Jin and Zhao states will come swiftly." He also said to Zuan and Hong, "Shao's abilities are not enough to stabilize the chaos; he only became emperor because he is the eldest son. Now there are powerful enemies outside, and people's hearts are still unstable. You two brothers must unite to benefit future generations. If you fight each other, disaster will come swiftly." Zuan and Hong cried and said, "We dare not have any ulterior motives." Emperor Guang died in the third year of Long'an, at the age of 63, after reigning for ten years. He was posthumously titled Emperor Yiwu, with the temple name Taizu, and the tomb name Gaoling.
Lv Zuan, styled Yongxu, was Emperor Guang's eldest illegitimate son. He was skilled in archery and horse riding from a young age and enjoyed raising eagles and hunting dogs. During Fu Jian's reign, he entered the imperial academy to study, but he disliked studying and preferred to socialize with officials and nobles, indulging in the pleasures of life. After Fu Jian's defeat, he fled west to Shanggui, then came to Guzang, where he was appointed as the General of the Imperial Guard and granted the title of Duke of Taiyuan.
After Guang's death, Lv Shao secretly did not handle the funeral matters, sneaking into the spirit hall to weep openly before emerging. Lv Shao, fearing that Lv Zuan would harm him, relinquished his position to Lv Zuan, saying, "My elder brother has great achievements and is older; he should inherit the throne. I hope my elder brother won't suspect me." Lv Zuan said, "Although I am older, Your Majesty is the legitimate heir of the country, and we cannot break the rules due to personal reasons." Lv Shao insisted on giving up his position to Lv Zuan, but Lv Zuan refused to accept it.
When Lv Shao inherited the puppet emperor position, Lv Chao said to Lv Shao: "Lv Zuan has led the army for many years, with a reputation that intimidates everyone. He did not mourn at his father's funeral, walked with his head held high and his chest out, his eyes far-reaching. These actions are quite unusual. There may be a major change brewing. He should be removed early in order to stabilize the country." Lv Shao said: "I still remember the late emperor's instructions very clearly. We are deeply attached brothers. How could we possibly do such a thing? I am young and already bear such a great responsibility, relying on my two brothers to stabilize the country. Even if he wants to harm me, I will face death with courage and would never entertain such thoughts. Please don’t say such things." Lv Chao said: "Lv Zuan has always had a great reputation, and he is ruthless. If he is not removed now, we will definitely regret it in the future!" Lv Shao said: "Every time I think of the fate of the Yuan brothers, I am restless and heartbroken. I would rather sit and wait for death than do such a thing." Lv Chao said: "The wise man says we must know how to seize the opportunity. Your Majesty is currently indecisive. I fear that something serious is brewing!"
Later, Lv Zuan went to Zhanlu Hall to see Lv Shao, with Lv Chao standing beside Lv Shao, holding a knife, gesturing for Lv Shao to kill Lv Zuan, but Lv Shao did not agree. Initially, he just wanted to make Hong the crown prince, but after hearing about Shao in Chouchi, he abandoned that idea. Hong has been holding a grudge against Shao ever since. So, Hong secretly sent the Minister Jiang Ji to tell Zuan: "The late emperor has passed away, the emperor is young and inexperienced, and the elder brother manages all court affairs, with his prestige and benevolence known far and wide. Why not take a page from the book of how King Changyi was deposed and make the elder brother the emperor?"
Zuan led hundreds of warriors to scale the northern city wall and attack the Guangxia Gate that night; Hongze led the Eastern Park's army to attack the Hongfan Gate. Zuo Wei Qi was stationed at Rongming Guan and stopped them, asking, "Who are you?" Everyone replied, "Prince Taiyuan (referring to Zuan)." Qi said, "There is a major event in the country. The emperor has just ascended the throne. Prince Taiyuan, you are not taking the right path in the middle of the night, breaking into the imperial palace. Are you plotting rebellion?" With that, he drew his sword and struck Zuan on the forehead. Zuan's guards seized Qi, but Zuan interjected, "This man is righteous; do not kill him!" Shao sent General Lv Kai of Martial Valor to lead the army to resist at the Duan Gate, and Cavalry Commander Lv Chao led two thousand soldiers to provide support. Everyone typically feared Zuan, and as a result, they all dispersed.
Zuan entered through the Qingjiao Gate and ascended to the Qianguang Hall. Shao committed suicide in the Zige Pavilion, and Lv Chao fled to Guangwu. Zuan, fearing the might of Hong's forces, urged Hong to ascend the throne. Hong said, "I am Shao's younger brother, but I have inherited the throne. People's hearts are not convinced. I have already violated the late emperor's edict and feel ashamed before him in the afterlife. Now I am usurping my elder brother's position to become emperor. How can I show my face in this world? My elder brother is older, wise, and renowned. He should ascend the throne as soon as possible to stabilize the country." In the fourth year of Long'an, Zuan usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, changing the era name to Xianning, granting a general pardon, and posthumously bestowing the title of King of Yin upon Shao. He appointed Hong as the Imperial Commissioner, Privy Councilor, Grand Commander, Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, Grand Marshal, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Colonel-Director of Retainers, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, bestowing upon him the title of Marquis of Fanhe County. Others were also rewarded accordingly.
Zuan Duiqi asked, "Just now, you struck me. What was that about?" Qi Cong cried and said, "King Yin was appointed by the previous emperor. Although Your Majesty is following the will of Heaven, the people's hearts have not fully returned. I feared for Your Majesty's safety, which is why I acted as I did. What's wrong with that?" Zuan admired his loyalty and treated him kindly. Zuan sent a messenger to inform General Lü Fang in the East that "Lü Chao is indeed a loyal and valiant minister, but he lacks an understanding of the broader aspects of governance and the necessary strategies. It was his loyalty that helped the country navigate through its challenges. You can convey this to him." Lü Chao submitted an apology letter, and Zuan reinstated his title.
Lu Hong felt that he had made a great contribution and had a high status, but he was worried that Emperor Lu Zuan would not tolerate him, as Lu Zuan did indeed fear him. So Lu Hong led his troops to rebel in Dongyuan, enlisting Yin Wen and Yang Huan as his strategists, and also invited Zong Xie to join the action. Zong Xie said, "I am an old man who has received great favor from the late emperor, with high status and power. I am already unworthy, and now I am asked to participate in a rebellion; this is simply beyond me! Not to mention that I have no talent and insufficient military power, how can this battle be fought?" Lu Hong said, "You are a man of loyalty and righteousness, while I am the traitor!" He then attacked Lu Zuan with his troops. Lu Zuan sent the general Jiao Bian to fight Lu Hong, and Lu Hong's army was soundly defeated and retreated to Guangwu. Lu Zuan ordered the army to engage in rampant looting, rewarding the women of Dongyuan to the soldiers, and Lu Hong's wife and daughters were also insulted by the soldiers. Lu Zuan smirked as he asked his ministers, "How did today's battle go?" His attendant Fang Gui replied, "This is a calamity sent by heaven upon Liangzhou, caused by turmoil within the royal family. The late emperor had just died, the Prince of Yin was imprisoned, the mourning rites were still not over, and the Grand Marshal suspected the emperor, rebelled, and fought in the capital, with brothers killing each other. Although Lu Hong deserves punishment, this is also because Your Majesty lacks brotherly love. You should reflect on yourself, apologize to the people, but you have ordered widespread looting and insulted women. Lu Hong is the culprit; what wrong have the people done? Furthermore, Lu Hong's wife is your sister-in-law, Lu Hong's daughter is your niece, how can you allow those ruffian soldiers to insult them and reduce them to servitude? How can heaven and earth tolerate such things?" He broke down in tears as he spoke.
Lü Zuan's expression changed, apologized to Fang Gui, brought Lü Hong's wife and children to the Eastern Palace, and comforted them well. Lü Fang caught Lü Hong, imprisoned him, informed Lü Zuan, and Lü Zuan sent the strongman Kang Long to kill Lü Hong. This month, Lü Zuan appointed Lü Hong's wife Yang Shi as the queen, granted Yang Shi's father Yang Huan the title of Cavalier Attendant, Left Deputy Director of the Secretariat, Governor of Liangzhou, and made him the Marquis of Jincheng.
Fu Jian was planning to attack Tuoba Gui, and the Chancellor, Yang Ying, quickly advised him: "Hey, when mobilizing so many people for war, you must consider the timing, terrain, and morale! If the timing isn't right, even the wisest can't succeed. Tuoba Gui is currently united, and there are no contradictions in the country. There is simply no need for war! We should first train the army well, encourage everyone to farm, and when the time is ripe, then we can take him down with one move. In recent years, there have been too many wars, the treasury is drained, and the people are suffering. If we do not strengthen our foundation first, there will definitely be major problems in the future! You should take a step back and think of a solid plan!" Fu Jian did not listen. As a result, he crossed the Haodi River and suffered a major defeat by Tuoba Natan, so he had to turn to attack Zhangye.
This time, Jiang Ji came out again to advise: "It is now midsummer, and the common people are too busy to farm. The gains from the war are minimal, but the losses are great. Once the army reaches Lingxi, the enemy will definitely take the opportunity to attack our capital! You should withdraw the troops first and think of a solution later!" Fu Jian said, "Those savages have no real ambitions. When they hear that I am heading west, they will surely be scared and hide. If I strike now, victory will be easy!" So Fu Jian besieged Zhangye and also occupied the territory of Jiankang. However, when he heard that Natan was attacking Guzang, he quickly pulled back his troops.
Later, a man named Juanju dug up the tomb of the former Liang King Zhang Jun and found that Zhang Jun's body appeared to be alive. Numerous treasures were discovered, including pearl boxes, glass wine cups, white jade wine vessels, red jade flutes, purple jade flutes, coral whips, and horse brain bells. Fu Jian executed Juanju and over fifty of his household members, sent people to pay respects at Zhang Jun's tomb, and ordered the restoration of Zhang Jun's tomb.
A Taoist priest named Jumo Luoqipo appeared and said to Fu Jian, "Dragons appear many times, but pigs and dogs show strange signs, which foretells impending chaos due to a rebellion among subordinates! You should do more good deeds to align with the will of heaven!" Fu Jian listened to his words. By the way, this Qipo is another name for the Buddhist scripture translator Kumarajiva.
The emperor spent his days playing and hunting, excessively indulging in wine and women, neglecting state affairs. Taichang Yang Ying advised, "I have heard that heaven observes the human world and only values virtues. If virtues are cultivated well, heaven will bestow blessings, so the prosperous scenes of a flourishing age are embodied in you. Now that the great cause has been achieved, you should protect it with morality. Let the national spirit be renewed day by day, and pray for blessings for generations to come. Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, the territory has not been fully developed, and the governance of the Nine Provinces has not been fully established amidst the treacherous mountains. You should be diligent, vigilant day and night, govern the four directions, fulfill the will of the late emperor, and save the people from water and fire. Yet you excessively indulge in drinking, lead a disordered life, pursue pleasure, live in a dreamlike state, and disregard the enemy, and I worry for Your Majesty in private. The lavish feasts of Xia Jie and King You of Zhou's infamous trip to the Luo River are all lessons from the past for you! Having received the late emperor's favor, I dare not fear your wrath." The emperor said, "It's my fault! If there are not upright and loyal people like you, who will correct a foolish and cruel monarch!" Nonetheless, he persisted in his foolishness and cruelty, continuing to act as he pleased without remorse.
The emperor often got drunk with his companions and then went hunting in the hills. Palace censor Wang Hui and Minister Wang Ru hurriedly stopped him and advised, "A wealthy man's son shouldn't take risks, and you should also be cautious when traveling. How can you give up the safety of your carriage and take the risk of riding a horse? Accidents can happen at any time, and the consequences are unimaginable. We, as your humble subjects, really cannot rest assured and we risk our lives to offer you this advice. We hope Your Majesty will remember the story of Yuan Ang advising Emperor Wen of Han, so we don't end up with a bad reputation." The emperor still did not listen.
That said, the Governor of Liangzhou, Lv Chao, taking advantage of his powerful connections, recklessly killed the Xianbei man Si Pan. Si Pan was not satisfied, so he sent his brother, Qi Zhen, to report him. When the Governor of Liangzhou, Lv Zuan, heard about it, he immediately called Lv Chao to the capital for questioning. When Lv Chao arrived in Guzang (modern-day Wuwei), he was extremely nervous and quickly tried to seek support from the palace supervisor Du Shang. Lv Zuan was furious when he saw Lv Chao and yelled at him, "Do you really think you can fool me just because your brothers are tough? I’ll have to kill you to restore order!" Lv Chao was terrified and quickly knelt down, admitting his mistake without daring to utter a word.
Lu Zuan, feeling a bit calmed down, invited Lu Chao and a group of ministers to the inner hall to have a banquet. Lu Long kept toasting Lu Zuan constantly, and before long, Lu Zuan was drunk. In his drunken state, Lu Zuan excitedly urged Lu Chao and the others to board a carriage and wander around the palace. As they reached the east pavilion of Kunhua Hall, the carriage couldn't pass through. Lu Zuan personally, along with Dou Chuan and Luo Teng, leaned their swords against the wall and forcefully pushed the carriage through. Seeing an opportunity, Lu Chao grabbed a sword and stabbed Lu Zuan. Lu Zuan jumped off the carriage, caught Lu Chao, and was stabbed in the chest. Lu Chao then ran to Xuan De Hall. Dou Chuan and Luo Teng chased after him and fought with Lu Chao, but he killed them both.
Lu Zuan's wife, Lady Yang, quickly ordered the forbidden army to capture Lu Chao. However, Du Shang hid with his soldiers and did not dare to help. At that moment, General Wei Yiduo led his troops in, beheaded Lu Zuan, and posted notices everywhere saying: "Lu Zuan went against the late emperor's will, killed the crown prince, spent all his time drinking, chasing women, and hunting, associated with villains, harmed loyal subjects, and treated the common people like dirt. Fanhe Prefect Lu Chao, out of consideration for family ties and the safety of the state, has already dealt with Lu Zuan! Only then can the royal family's ancestral temple be stable, and the crown prince can seek revenge. Fellow citizens, let us celebrate this era of peace and prosperity together!"
Lu Ta and Lu Wei were both in the north city at the time. Someone told Lu Wei: "Liu Chao has rebelled, and the common people do not support him. You are the emperor's brother; now is the perfect time for you to rise up and suppress him! Jiang Ji and Jiao Bian are in the south city, Yang Huan and Tian Cheng are in the east palace; they're all your supporters, so what do you have to worry about?"
Upon hearing this, Lv Wei immediately organized the troops and said to Lv Ta, "Liu Long and Liu Chao, these two traitorous rebels who have usurped the throne, must be eliminated! Back when Tian Heng caused trouble, even Confucius, as a subject of a neighboring state, dared to speak directly to Duke Ai of Lu. Since this is a family matter, how can we just stand by?" Lv Ta was about to agree when his wife Liang Shi stopped him, saying, "Liu Wei and Liu Chao are both sons of the emperor. Why would you abandon Liu Chao to support Liu Wei and end up being the scapegoat?" Lv Ta replied, "Dealing with him would be too difficult. Besides, I am old and no longer capable."
Upon hearing these words, Liu Chao climbed the city wall and shouted to Lv Ta, "It is those slanderous troublemakers who are trying to sow discord and destroy me and my brother! I'm risking my life because I'm worried about the country's crisis, and that's why I'm taking desperate measures for the greater good of the country. Uncle, you should understand my predicament!" Liu Chao's brother, Liu Mai, was favored by Lv Wei, so he went to persuade Lv Wei, "Liu Long and Liu Chao are acting to save the country, eliminate traitors, and follow the people's will. They actually want to support you as the emperor! As the eldest son of the late emperor, the whole nation looks up to you, and there’s no opposition. Even if Liu Long and Liu Chao don’t see the bigger picture, they won’t let the illegitimate son inherit the throne, and they won’t have any ulterior motives. Please do not doubt them!" Lv Wei bought it and teamed up with Liu Long and Liu Chao. He rode into the city by himself and got captured and killed by Liu Chao.
During the three years of Liu Zuan's rule, he died in the first year of Yuanxing. After Liu Long usurped the throne, he posthumously bestowed the title of Ling Emperor upon Liu Zuan, with the tomb name Baishi Ling. At one point, Liu Zuan played chess with Kumarajiva, killed Kumarajiva's son, and shouted, "Cut off this barbarian's head!" Kumarajiva replied, "If you don’t cut off the barbarian’s head, he’ll cut off yours!" Liu Chao, nicknamed 'Barbarian,' eventually killed Liu Zuan. Long, styled Yongji, was the son of Lu Bao, the brother of Lu Guang. He was handsome and skilled in horseback riding and archery. After Lu Guang's death, he was appointed as the Northern Protector, and his rank and reputation grew. After Lu Chao killed Lu Zuan, he wanted to pass the throne to Long, who hesitated. Lu Chao said, "Right now, it’s like riding a dragon to the heavens—how can you back down now!" Thus, Long usurped the throne and declared himself king in the first year of Emperor Anxing. Lu Chao previously obtained a small tripod in Fanhe, believing it to be an auspicious sign, so he announced a general amnesty and renamed the era to Shending. He also posthumously honored his father Lu Bao as the Wen Emperor, his mother Wei Shi as the Empress Dowager, his wife Yang Shi as the Empress, and due to his brother Lu Chao's support, he appointed him as Commissioner, Attendant, and Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, Grand General of the State, Colonel Director of Retainers, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, granting him the title of Duke of Anding.
To establish his authority, many prominent figures were executed, causing panic among the people. An envoy from the Wei Kingdom, Jiao Lang, was sent to persuade Yao Xing of the Later Qin Dynasty, saying: "The Lü clan took control of this area during the chaos of the Qin Dynasty. Since the death of Emperor Wu (Lü Guang), his sons have been fighting each other, showing no regard for the welfare of the people and ruling with cruelty, resulting in widespread famine and displacement. Too many have died, crying out to the heavens in vain. We hope you can follow the example of your predecessors, take up the responsibility of restoring peace in this region, strike while they are weak, and administer the lands beyond the Yumen Pass. It is not difficult to seize power and achieve great deeds." He even sent his own wife as a hostage.
Yao Shuode then led his troops to Guzang. His general, Yao Guofang, said to him: "We only have three thousand soldiers with no reinforcements behind us; this is a risky move! We should show our strength and intimidate the enemy. They will resist desperately knowing we have come from afar, but we can crush them in a single battle." Yao Shuode followed his advice. Lü Chao led his troops into battle but suffered a crushing defeat, fleeing back to the city. Lü Long quickly gathered the scattered soldiers and defended the city.
That year, a comet blazed across the sky and sparrows fought in the ancestral temple, leading to the deaths of tens of thousands of sparrows. This was a bad omen! People in the east were getting restless, scheming for a rebellion. General Wei Yiduo incited them to overthrow Emperor Fu Long and Lü Chao. When the plot was discovered, over three hundred families were executed, resulting in a river of blood.
Ministers all suggested peace talks with Yao Xing, but Fu Long adamantly disagreed. Lv Chao advised him, saying: "This is like the unpredictable winds and clouds; there are times of prosperity and times of adversity. Didn't Sun Quan also bow to Cao Cao back then? Qiao Zhou also advised Liu Chan to surrender; these are all actions of a great man. There's no other way; the situation is bigger than any one person! The Fu family's foundation built over seven generations, the blessings bestowed upon the people for a hundred years, strong soldiers and horses, and numerous strategists are all at stake. Now that the Qin army is pressing on our borders, anyone with insight knows what to do. But you insist on your own opinion and don't listen to advice. If this keeps up, our country is doomed! The lessons of the past are clear; we cannot repeat the same mistakes! Why hold back a letter? Just send an envoy to negotiate peace. First, put your pride aside, stabilize the enemy, then slowly recuperate, develop, and grow; this is the best strategy!"
Fu Long said: "Although I am just an ordinary person, I now bear the heavy responsibility of the country. If I cannot protect the ancestral heritage, safeguard the state, and hand over the territory conquered by the founding ancestor, what face will I have to show my ancestors?" Lv Chao said again: "Even dragons can bend and stretch; you should understand the need to adapt to the situation! After fighting the enemy for so many years, the national treasury is empty, strong enemies are everywhere, and the people can't even eat. Even if Zhang Liang, Chen Ping, Han Xin, and Bai Qi were here, they wouldn't be able to help! Your Majesty should consider the overall situation; don't be stubborn! Even if you want to pass on the throne to future generations, it doesn't necessarily have to be through war. If fate has come to an end, protecting the family is the most important thing!" Fu Long was finally convinced and decided to surrender.
Therefore, Yao Xing appointed Fu Long as the Imperial Envoy, Grand General of the West, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Jiankang. Fu Long also sent his younger brother, son, as well as more than fifty households of former officials such as Murong Zhu, Yang Ying, Shi Nan, and Yan Song, as hostages to Chang'an, before finally settling the matter. Yao Xing's strategists said, "Fu Long controls the Hexi region with the wealth left by his late uncle. Although he is currently impoverished, he can still hold on. If he becomes prosperous in the future, it could spell trouble. Liangzhou is difficult to attack due to its terrain. It would be better to take them down while they are weak!" Yao Xing then sent people to Liangzhou to assess the situation.
Juqu Mengxun came to attack Liangzhou again, but the Governor of Liangzhou, Tufa Wuguo, defeated Mengxun. With no other choice, Mengxun had to seek peace and alliance, leaving behind tens of thousands of measures of grain to aid the starving people of Liangzhou.
However, the price of grain in Guzang city soared, with a dou of rice costing five thousand coins. The common people were unable to afford food, resulting in widespread violence and over one hundred thousand deaths from starvation. The city gates were closed during the day, cutting off the routes for gathering firewood and grass, and hundreds of people requested to leave the city to sell themselves into slavery every day, just to survive. Wuguo feared that Juqu Mengxun would use this opportunity to incite the people, so he simply killed all those who requested to leave the city, leaving the streets strewn with corpses.
Tu Fa Nu Tan and Ju Qu Meng Xun repeatedly attacked Liangzhou. Wu Gu felt overwhelmed with enemies closing in, so he sent his subordinate Chao with two hundred cavalrymen to seek help from Yao Xing of Later Qin, along with many treasures. Yao Xing then dispatched his general Qi Nan with forty thousand troops to meet Wu Gu. Upon arriving at Guzang, Wu Gu welcomed Qi Nan at the roadside, riding in a white carriage. Wu Gu then had his son Yin pray in the Guang Temple, expressing his gratitude for Yao Xing's past support and his intention to say farewell. This brought tears to the eyes of Yao Xing's troops. Wu Gu, along with ten thousand cavalry, followed Qi Nan to Chang'an. Yao Xing appointed Wu Gu as Cavalier Attendant and Chao as the Prefect of Anding, while promoting over thirty other officials. Eventually, Wu Gu was killed by Yao Xing for conspiring with his son Tu Fa Bi to rebel.
Lü Guang pacified Liangzhou in the twelfth year of Taiyuan during Emperor Xiaowu's reign, and declared himself emperor in the fifteenth year. He ruled for a total of thirteen years and was ultimately overthrown in the third year of Emperor An's reign.
Historical records state that after the decline of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, the central plains were in chaos. Fu Jian took advantage of the situation, seized power in the central plains, and became the overlord of the realm. Fu Shiming surrendered to the puppet regime and rose to the rank of general. With his talent and loyalty, he was entrusted with important tasks and led expeditions to various places. The iron cavalry, like a dark cloud, set out from Yumen Pass and advanced westward. Their sharp weapons gleamed brightly, achieving a splendid victory in the battle of Jinqiu. With the advantage of both timing and terrain, a small border area accomplished such a magnificent feat, deserving of admiration.
When the era of Yonggu arrived, the situation in the world changed, heroes rose, and Fu Jian led his troops back to the capital; some began to harbor covetous intentions. So he sought to win over six minority tribes, secretly eyeing the rule of the Central Plains dynasty; he also annexed five counties to strengthen his own power. He controlled the Yellow River and set up dangerous passes, relying on the desert as a barrier, believing he could establish a powerful hegemony for his descendants. However, before long, he became old and incompetent, politically inept, father and son estranged, and ultimately passed away; chaos erupted within the palace. His successors proved mediocre, allowing enemies to exploit the situation; Fu Hong and Fu Chao were vicious and cunning, becoming the root of the chaos; Fu Yongji was weak and incompetent, ultimately captured by the Yao clan.
In the past, Dou Rong surrendered to the Eastern Han, and his family prospered for generations; Wei Xiao resisted the court and eventually fell into disgrace. Yet, Fu Jian abandoned these successful experiences, repeated mistakes, and in just over a decade, led to the destruction of the country. Had he corrected his mistakes and returned to the right path, issuing a call to arms against the rebel army of the Eastern Jin dynasty and fighting against evil, then the lands of Yan and Qin could have been recovered, and he could achieve greatness akin to Huan Wen and Xie An; villains like Guo Niu and Duan Ye would not have had the opportunity to do evil, and forces like Meng Xun and Wu Gu would not have found a foothold. But he was blinded by an insatiable thirst for power, which is utterly absurd! The highest virtue in the universe is the preservation of life, and the greatest wealth of a sage is his position. If the wrong person occupies that position, disaster will soon come; if the position is occupied but the responsibilities are neglected, then disaster will surely come. The laws of heaven and earth are clear; how can such an abuse of power be tolerated?
In praise: Gold does not compete, treasures accumulate. Dividing the nine residences, gathering in the three Qin. The Lv family waits for an opportunity, deceiving both humans and gods. Destiny cannot be faked; ultimately, everything will come crashing down.
