Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty had twenty-six sons, among whom Empress Yang gave birth to Prince Liu Gui of Piling, Emperor Hui Liu Chan, and Prince Liu Jian of Qin. The sons of Lady Shenmei were Prince Liu Jing of Chengyang, Prince Liu Wei of Chuyin, and Prince Liu Yi of Changsha. Lady Xu gave birth to Prince Liu Xian of Chengyang; Lady Kui gave birth to Prince Liu Zhi of Donghai; Lady Zhao gave birth to Prince Liu Yu of Shiping; Lady Zhao again gave birth to Prince Liu Yan of Dai'ai; Lady Li gave birth to Prince Liu Yun of Huainan and Prince Liu Yan of Wuxiao; Lady Yan Baolin gave birth to Prince Liu Gai of Xindu; Lady Chen gave birth to Prince Liu Xia of Qinghe; and several concubines gave birth to Prince Liu Mo of Ruyin; Lady Cheng gave birth to Prince Liu Ying of Chengdu; Lady Wang gave birth to Emperor Xiao Hua Liu of Cognomen; Empress Yang gave birth to Prince Liu Hui of Bohai. The remaining eight sons, whose mothers are not recorded, all died young and were not granted titles or posthumous honors; therefore, they will not be discussed further. As for Prince Liu Wei of Chuyin, Prince Liu Yi of Changsha, and Prince Liu Ying of Chengdu, they all have separate records.
Prince Liu Gui of Piling, whose courtesy name was Zhengze, was initially titled as the Cavalry Captain, but he died at the age of two. In the tenth year of the Taikang era, he was posthumously honored, and Liu Yi inherited his title.
King Xian of Qin, Liu Jian, styled Hongdu, was calm and perceptive, very knowledgeable and courageous. In the sixth year of the Taishi era, he was promoted to King of Runan. In the early years of the Xianning era, he was transferred to the position of King of Nanyang, appointed as Left General, Commander of the Right Army, and Cavalry Attendant. Emperor Wu of Han once visited Xuanwu Field for inspection and had Liu Jian review the military records of thirty-six military units. Liu Jian immediately spotted errors, which impressed Emperor Wu, who favored him above his other sons. Living in the former mansion of King Xian of Qi as Left General, Liu Jian was highly esteemed and favored, drawing attention from everyone. He was known for his kind but unassuming nature and lack of eloquence. In the tenth year of the Taikang era, he was transferred to the state of Qin, with a fief that included eighty thousand households. At that time, other kings in the Central Plains had fiefs of fifty thousand households, but because Liu Jian shared the same mother as the Crown Prince, he received special treatment. He was later promoted to General Who Guards the West, Colonel of the Western Tribes, and granted a ceremonial seal, traveling to his fiefdom alongside the Kings of Chu and Huainan. When Emperor Hui ascended the throne, Liu Jian paid his respects and was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry, Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, eventually rising to Grand General. After Yang Jun was killed and Liu Jian's maternal family was wiped out, he was deeply worried and repeatedly asked to return to his fief under the pretense of the Emperor's orders, but Liu Liang, the King of Runan, kept him at court to help with governance. Later, both Liu Liang and King of Chu, Liu Wei, were assassinated, and many believed Liu Jian had foreseen it. In the year 291 AD, he passed away at the young age of thirty, greatly mourned by everyone. His funeral was conducted with the same grandeur as that of King Wen of Qi, with music performed in the temple. As he left no sons, the son of King Huainan, Yun, was chosen to inherit his title, but both he and Yun were later assassinated. In 296 AD, he was posthumously given the title of Mourning King. Later, the son of King Wu, Yan, was chosen to succeed him. After the death of Emperor Huai, Yan succeeded to the throne, but the kingdom soon collapsed.
Chengyang Huaiwang Jing, whose courtesy name was Jingdu, was the son adopted by his uncle Chengyang Ai Wang Zhao. He was enfeoffed in the year 279 and passed away the following year. Donghai Chongwang Zhi, whose courtesy name was Jingdu, was enfeoffed in May of the year 283. After the untimely death of Shang Wang, Zhi inherited Zhao's title, but was later killed that year at the age of three. Shiping Ai Wang Yu, whose courtesy name was Jundu, was enfeoffed in the year 287 and passed away in the same year at the age of seven. Since he had no sons, he designated his cousin Di, the son of Huainan Wang Yun, as his heir. In the year 294, he was renamed Han Wang, but was later killed by Zhao Wang Lun. Huainan Zhongzhuang Wang Yun, whose courtesy name was Qindu, was enfeoffed as Puyang Wang in the year 287, serving as the Colonel of the Yue Cavalry. In the year 294, he was renamed Huainan Wang, remaining in the same territory, and also serving as the military commander of Yangzhou and Jiangzhou, Grand General of the Eastern Garrison, and acting as an imperial envoy. In the year 299, he traveled to the capital to pay his respects. Initially, when Minghuai Wang was deposed, some proposed that Yun be appointed as crown prince. This coincided with Zhao Wang Lun's deposition of Jia Hou, so a decree was issued appointing Yun as the General of the Valiant Cavalry, while his duties as commander and Central Guard remained unchanged. Yun was recognized for his calm demeanor and decisive nature, and he was greatly admired by the palace guards.
Simaren had long wanted to usurp the throne, and Ji Yun had seen through his intentions long ago. Ji Yun pretended to be sick and continued to feign illness to avoid taking up the position, secretly training loyalists and plotting to eliminate Simaren. Simaren was quite fearful of him, so he promoted him to the position of Grand Commandant, putting on a show of valuing him, but in reality, he aimed to strip him of his military power. Simaren sent an imperial censor to pressure Ji Yun, arresting all of Ji Yun's officials and accusing him of treason. Furious at this news, Ji Yun discovered that the imperial decree had been issued by Sun Xiu! His anger mounting, he immediately arrested the imperial censor with the intent to execute him. The censor, terrified, fled, only to leave his two assistants to face execution. With a grim expression, Ji Yun declared to those around him, "Prince Zhao wants to destroy my family!" He then led his army, along with seven hundred loyal soldiers, straight into action, shouting, "Prince Zhao has rebelled! I’m going to confront him—those who support Prince Huainan, raise your left arm!" Consequently, many rallied to his side.
Jia Yunzheng was about to enter the palace, but the Left Deputy Minister of Personnel, Wang Yu, quickly closed the Dongye Gate, so Jia Yun could not enter and had to surround the residence of Sima Lun. The soldiers brought by Jia Yun were all formidable figures from Huainan, all skilled swordsmen. The two sides fought, resulting in over a thousand casualties. The Crown Prince's Left General, Chen Hui, also led the soldiers from the East Palace to rally support in the palace. Jia Yun set up a formation in front of the Chenghua Gate, with crossbows firing in unison as arrows rained down on Sima Lun. The Chief Scribe, Sima Qi, in order to protect Sima Lun, used his own body to block the arrows, but was shot in the back and died. Sima Lun's officials all hid behind trees, with hundreds of arrows striking each tree, from early morning until late afternoon. Chen Hui's brother, Chen Huai, who served as Minister of Personnel, sent people to display flags, trying to persuade them to stop fighting. Sima Lun's son, Sima Qian, who was a Palace Attendant in the Ministry of the Interior, secretly contacted some brave men, promising them riches and status. So Sima Lun sent Sima Duhu, Fu Yin, with four hundred cavalry to charge out of the palace, holding blank wooden plaques, pretending to bear an imperial decree to support King Huainan Jia Yun. Jia Yun was completely unaware, opened his camp to welcome them, got off the carriage to receive the decree, only to be killed by Fu Yin. He was just twenty-nine at the time. At first, Sima Lun's army was defeated, and the word spread that "Sima Lun has been captured!" The people rejoiced. Later, when they learned of Jia Yun's death, they all sighed. Jia Yun's three sons were all killed, and the number of people wiped out because of Jia Yun was in the thousands.
After Luen was killed, Prince Qi, Sima Jiong, submitted a memorial to the emperor, saying, "Prince Huainan, who was loyal and filial, sincere, and concerned for the country and the people, selflessly devoted himself to the campaign against the rebels and was on the verge of victory. Unfortunately, a tragic turn of events led to his sudden death, and the rebels cruelly killed his three sons, causing immense grief. When we rose up to fight the rebels, the people of Huainan spontaneously organized, with more than ten thousand people. Everyone was filled with righteous indignation and heartbreak over the loss of their ruler, shedding tears as they spoke. I request that Xi Chao inherit the title of Prince of Huainan to comfort both the deceased and their living family." The emperor then ordered the reburial of Prince Huainan with high honors, posthumously appointing him as Grand Minister. Later, Sima Jiong failed, and Xi Chao was imprisoned in Jinyang City. Subsequently, Sima Xiang, son of Prince Wu (Sima Yan), was appointed as Prince of Huainan and designated as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. When Luoyang City was breached, Sima Xiang was also killed by Liu Cong.
King Dai Ai, Sima Yan, styled Hongdu, was granted his title in the tenth year of Taikang. He had been in poor health since childhood and never took up residence in his fiefdom, remaining in the palace instead. He died without a son, so he designated the son of Prince Chengdu, Sima Ying, Sima Kuo, as his successor, renaming him King Zhongdu, and later, both of them died.
King Xindu, Sima Gai, styled Xuandu, was granted his title in the third year of Xianning and died in the fourth year of Taikang at just twelve years old. He had no sons, so his kingdom was abolished.
King Kang of Qinghe, Sima Xia, whose courtesy name was Shendu, was handsome and graceful, and Emperor Wu liked him very much. After receiving his title, he was adopted by his uncle, Sima Zhao, King Ai of Chengyang. In the tenth year of the Taikang era, he was appointed as the King of Bohai Commandery and served as Right General, Cavalry Commandant, and General of the Front. In the early years of Yuankang, he was promoted to General of the Guards and appointed as a Palace Attendant. Sima Xia was tall but weak-willed and morally ambiguous. He preferred to stay at home and was not sociable with the gentry. When Sima Wei, the Prince of Chu, rebelled, Sima Xia was sent to arrest Wei Guan. Wei Guan's former subordinate, Rong Hui, ended up slaughtering all of Wei Guan's descendants, and Sima Xia was unable to stop him, which drew public criticism. He died in the first year of Yongkang, at the age of twenty-eight. He had four sons: Tan, Yao, Quan, and Duan, with Tan succeeding him as king.
After the death of the Crown Prince, Prince Qi Jiong submitted a memorial saying: "The Eastern Court is vacant, and there is still no successor. For the important matters of the realm and the emperor's territory, a crown prince must be established to strengthen the foundation of the empire. The imperial harem is still not pregnant, so we cannot expect to arbitrarily choose someone to inherit the throne in the future. This is not the wish of our ancestors, nor is it a long-term plan for the country. According to established customs, a brother's son is like one's own son, so when Emperor Cheng of Han had no son, the throne was passed to King Dingtao; when Emperor Xiaohedi had no heir, Emperor An inherited the throne. This is a precedent established by previous emperors, and it has been done like this for generations. Prince Tan of Qinghe is intelligent and wise beyond his years; he is the legitimate son of Lady Zhou, the principal consort of King Kang. Among the grandchildren of the late emperor, he is considered a direct descendant. In the past, Lady Bo was wise and virtuous, and her son Emperor Wen was able to inherit the throne. Tan's maternal grandfather also had a high reputation, and he should take on the solemn duty of honoring our ancestors and inheriting the imperial throne to meet the expectations of the people. Although Tan has several brothers, they can support him without hindering his claim to the throne. I have conferred with Grand General Ying and all the ministers, and they all concur with this proposal. Please adhere to the proper rituals and select a day for his ascension to the throne." Thus, Prince Tan was appointed as the Crown Prince.
Later, Prince Yuyi of Hejian forced the Emperor to move the capital, recommended Prince Ying of Chengdu as the Crown Prince, abolished Tan, and reinstated him as the Prince of Qinghe. When Tan was the Crown Prince of Qinghe, the golden bell he wore suddenly moved on its own, like a little bug. His grandmother, Dowager Empress Chen, thought this was an ominous sign, so she destroyed and sold it. The fortune-teller said that the golden bell was a sign of prosperity for the Jin Dynasty, and Tan was a descendant of the imperial family, so this was seen as a bad omen! Destroying and selling it foreshadowed Tan's downfall and a tragic end. In the early years of the Yongjia period, former Northern Army lieutenant Lu Cheng and Chen Yan, the director of Finance, conspired to support Tan as the Crown Prince. After the plot was exposed, Tan was imprisoned in Jinyang City. He was killed shortly thereafter; at just fourteen, his funeral was conducted with commoner rites.
Yue Yi was initially titled King of Xincai, but after Tan's death, he was reinstated as Prince of Qinghe. Quan was initially titled King of Shangyong, but after Emperor Huai ascended the throne, he was renamed King of Yuzhang. Two years later, he was appointed Crown Prince. After Luoyang was captured, he died at the hands of Liu Cong.
Initially, Prince Sima Duan of Guangchuan was named Crown Prince, then renamed King of Yuzhang. He was treated like a prince and appointed as a cavalier attendant, General Who Pacifies the South, Commander of the Jiangzhou Army, and given an honorary title. After arriving at his fief, he arrived just as Luoyang was being attacked and fled to Gou Xi. Gou Xi declared him Crown Prince, but sadly, he was overthrown by Shi Le just seventy days later.
Prince Ai of Ruyin, Sima Mo, known as Lingdu, died in the seventh year of Taikang at the age of eleven. Since he left no heirs, his kingdom was dissolved.
Sima Yan, styled Pingdu, was granted his title in the tenth year of Taikang. He governed the three counties of Danyang, Wuxing, and Wu, holding the positions of Captain of Archery and General of the Rear Army. He allied with his brother, Sima Yun, the King of Huainan, to attack Zhao Lun. However, King Sima Yun was defeated, and Sima Yan was captured. King Zhao Lun intended to kill him, but with Fu Zhi's intervention and the urging of other officials, Sima Yan was demoted to the status of a county king and later relocated to Daijun as a prince. After King Zhao Lun's death, Sima Yan was restored to his original title and appointed as Grand General of the Upper Army, and as a palace attendant. During the Yongjia period, Sima Yan was promoted to Grand Commandant and Grand General. He was known for his respectful and cautious demeanor, but his abilities were considered mediocre, making him the least talented among Emperor Wu's sons. He suffered from a respiratory illness since childhood, and his eyesight deteriorated over time, which eventually prevented him from attending court. After Luoyang fell, Sima Yan was killed as well, at the age of thirty-one. Emperor Min posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Grand Guardian. He had five sons, with the name of the eldest son not recorded, who died alongside him. The remaining four sons were Sima Xiang, Sima Ye, Sima Gu, and Sima Yan. Sima Xiang inherited the title of King Sima Yun of Huainan; Sima Ye later became Emperor Min; Sima Gu was first titled as King of Han, then changed to King of Jinnan; Sima Yan was initially named King of Xindu, later changed to King of Jiyin, and also served as an Imperial Attendant. They were all killed by rebels.
King Sima Hui of Bohai, styled Sidu, passed away in the fifth year of Taikang at the age of two, and was posthumously granted additional titles.
Emperor Yuan had six sons: Lady Xun gave birth to Emperor Ming and Prince Xiaowang Sima Pou; Concubine Jieyu gave birth to Prince Ai of Donghai Sima Chong; Lady Wang gave birth to Prince Wei of Wuling Sima Xi; Lady Zheng gave birth to Prince Daowang of Langya Sima Huan and Emperor Jianwen.
Prince Xiaowang of Langya, whose personal name was Pou and style was Daocheng. His mother Xun was of humble origin and entered the palace. Emperor Yuan assigned Concubine Yu to look after her. Pou initially inherited the title of Marquis of Changleting, and later was granted the title of Duke of Xuancheng and appointed as Rear General. When Emperor Yuan became Prince of Jin, court officials suggested the establishment of a crown prince. Emperor Yuan thought Pou was capable and even more impressive than Emperor Ming, so he casually said to Wang Dao, "Choosing a crown prince should focus on virtue, not just age." Wang Dao replied, "The Crown Prince and the Duke of Xuancheng are both exceptionally handsome, so the choice should be based on age." Therefore, the Crown Prince position was ultimately decided. Later, Langya's fief was granted to Pou, allowing him to inherit the title of Duke of Gong, which included a total of 52,000 households, and he was appointed as Cavalry Commandant, Envoy Extraordinary, Commander of the Military Affairs of the three provinces of Qing, Xu, and Yanzhou, and was summoned back to the capital. In the first year of the Jianwu era, Pou died at the young age of eighteen. The court posthumously promoted him to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and also posthumously granted him the title of Palace Attendant. After his wife Lady Shan passed away, they were laid to rest together, and Emperor Mu posthumously named Pou as Grand Preceptor. His son, Prince Ai of Anguo, took over but also died within a year.
King Ai of Donghai, named Chong and styled Daorang. When the son of King Yue of Donghai, Pi, died at the hands of Shi Le under uncertain circumstances, Emperor Yuan permitted Chong to inherit Pi's title, designating him the Crown Prince of Donghai and adding Pi Ling County to his fief, which increased it by ten thousand households. Later, he was reappointed as the Marquis of Xiapai and Lanling, with King Yue's consort, Lady Pei, becoming his Empress Dowager, and he was appointed as the Chief Commandant of Changshui. He carefully selected officials to support him, appointing Liu Dan from the Pei Kingdom as Marshal, Yu Yi from Yingchuan as Chief Clerk, and Gu He from Wu County as Registrar. In the early years of Yongchang, he was promoted to General of the Central Army and appointed as a Cavalry Attendant. It was only after the Empress Dowager of Donghai passed away that Pi's body was found. Chong succeeded to the throne as King of Donghai, adding Xingyang to his fief, and he was later promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and subsequently to General of Elite Cavalry. In the seventh year of Xiankang, he passed away at thirty-one, and the court posthumously appointed him as Palace Attendant, Grand General of Elite Cavalry, and Regular Attendant of the Ceremonial Guards, but he had no sons.
As Emperor Cheng of Han neared death, he issued a decree stating, "King Ai has no sons, and there is no one to succeed the country. I am very saddened! Let the young Liu Yi inherit the title of King of Donghai after King Ai." Due to the long distance, Xingyang was removed, and Lincuan County was added to the Donghai Kingdom. Later, Emperor Ai ascended to the throne, and Liu Yi was titled as King of Langye, resulting in the Donghai Kingdom being left without an heir. Liu Yi later became emperor, was deposed by Huan Wen, and then reinstated as King of Donghai, and later demoted to Duke of Haixi, leading to the final end of the Donghai Kingdom. In the third year of Long'an, Emperor An issued a decree appointing Liu Yanzhang, the second son of the loyal King of Kuaiji, as King of Donghai, as a great-grandson of King Ai, with his fief moved to Wuxing County. Unfortunately, he was later killed by Huan Xuan, leading to the abolition of the Donghai Kingdom.
Wuling Prince Liu Xi, styled Daoshu, was adopted by Prince Wuling Liu Zhe and was granted a fief in the first year of Taixing. In the early years of the Xianhe period, he was appointed as a Cavalry Attendant. Later, when Xiangdong Commandery was added to the Wuling Kingdom, he was appointed as the General of the Guard and then promoted to General Who Guards the Army, while still holding the position of Cavalry Attendant. After Emperor Kang ascended the throne, he was further appointed as a Palace Attendant and given the title of Special Advisor. During the Jianyuan period, he served as the Supervisor of the Masters of Writing. After Emperor Mu ascended the throne, he was promoted to Grand General Who Guards the Army and later elevated to Grand Preceptor. During the Taihe period, he was honored with the privilege of carrying a feathered canopy and having music played for him, and he was allowed to attend court without kneeling, wear shoes in the palace, and carry a sword in the palace. However, he declined each of these honors.
Liu Xi had little formal education but possessed great military talent, which provoked the jealousy of Huan Wen. After Emperor Jian ascended the throne, Huan Wen accused Liu Xi in a report, saying, "Although Liu Xi comes from the imperial family and enjoys wealth and glory, he does not follow the king's laws and cultivate his character; instead, he gathers frivolous people and harbors fugitives. He is also cruel and ruthless, mistreating the people. Yuan Zhen's rebellion is also connected to him. Recently, he has been suspicious and fearful, perhaps planning a rebellion. I request the removal of Liu Xi from his official position, let him return to his fief, also remove the official position of his son Liu Zong, and relieve his son Liu Feng of his duties as a Cavalry Attendant." After being dismissed from his post, Liu Feng sent 85 horses and 300 people as gifts to Huan Wen. Huan Wen then forced Prince Xincai, Liu Huang, to falsely accuse himself, Liu Xi, Liu Zong, as well as the Gentleman of the Palace Writers Yin Juan, the Chief Steward of the Grand Preceptor Yu Qian, the Clerk Cao Xiu, and the Aide Liu Qiang of plotting rebellion. He then arrested them all and handed them over to the Judicial Court, requesting their execution. Emperor Jian disagreed, so Huan Wen requested for Liu Huang to be exiled to Xin'an Commandery, with all his family members accompanying him, while Yin Juan and others were executed as a clan punishment, and Liu Huang was exiled to Hengyang Commandery.
In the year 376 AD, (King) Xi passed away in Xin'an at the age of sixty-six. Emperor Xiaowu mourned for three days and personally went to the West Hall, decreeing, "I am deeply saddened and will personally receive his coffin. At the same time, I will change the burial arrangements for his Concubine Ying and the late Crown Prince Liang Wang, and ensure that all family members are returned." He issued another decree: "The late Prince of Wuling (King) Xi, of noble character and able to reflect on himself. How can I let him die without a title! He is posthumously granted the title of Prince of Xinning County, with a fief of one thousand households." (King) Xi had three sons: Zong, (King) Feng, and Zun. Zun inherited the family line. Zong was posthumously appointed to the position of Ge Shi Zhong, and (King) Feng was appointed as a cavalier. Twelve years later, the title of King of Wuling was restored to (King) Xi, and Zong and (King) Feng also regained their original positions, with (King) Feng inheriting the title of King of Liang.
King of Liang (King) Feng, styled Xianming, was adopted by King Qiao of Liang and held the position of Grand Herald of Yong'an. Later, he was deposed along with his father (King) Xi. After (King) Feng's death, his son He inherited the title. During the Taiyuan era, the title of King of Liang was restored. After He's death, his son Zhenzhi inherited the title. Later, Huan Xuan usurped the throne, and the people of Liang remained loyal, supporting Zhenzhi's escape to Shouyang. After Huan Xuan's failure, Zhenzhi returned to the court. The Grand General Wuling Wang ordered, "King of Liang Zhenzhi, with upright conduct, unshaken in the face of danger, always upholding justice, bearing a heart of loyalty and righteousness, rushed to the court. During the chaos in Shouyang, he was able to stay resolute in adversity, and was specially appointed as a cavalier." Later, his official positions continued to rise, becoming a General of the Agile Cavalry, Left Guard General, and Minister of Ceremonies. When Liu Yu attacked Yao Hong, he requested Zhenzhi to serve as his military adviser. Liu Yu wanted to weaken the power of the royal family, so he falsely accused Zhenzhi, leading to his downfall.
Prince Zhongjing, whose name was Zun and courtesy name was Maoyuan. When he first inherited the title of Xin Ning Prince, he was only twelve years old. When he received the appointment, he cried uncontrollably, and even those around him were moved. The famous general Huan Yi once visited him, and Zun asked, "How did someone from the Huan family get into my home?" The guard explained, "Huan Yi and Huan Wen are distant relatives, so there is no problem with them meeting." Zun said, "I heard that someone with the surname 'Mu' was beside him, and I wanted to kill him, let alone someone from the Huan family!" He showed extraordinary intelligence from a young age. Later, Xi Wang was posthumously named Wuling Wang, and Zun inherited the title of Wuling Wang, successively serving as the Cavalier, the Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, the Minister of Ceremonies, and the General of the Central Army. When Huan Xuan came to power, he appointed Zun as the Grand Master of Golden Purple Illuminated Virtue. After Huan Xuan usurped the throne, Zun was demoted to the Marquis of Pengze and sent back to his fiefdom. When he reached Shitoucheng, the Huai River rose at night, the boat broke, and he couldn't leave for a while. At that moment, an uprising broke out, and Zun returned to his mansion. The court announced that Zun had received a secret decree, allowing him to take charge of the court, appointing him as the Imperial Attendant and Grand General, moving him to the Eastern Palace. Both the court and the public held him in high regard. He began to mobilize officials, issue edicts, and personally issue orders. After Emperor An was restored, he appointed Zun as the Grand Preceptor and added twenty sword-bearing guards. In the fourth year of Yixi, Zun passed away at the age of thirty-five. The court awarded him a set of Dongyuan Wenming secret instruments, a set of court dress, a set of formal attire, one million cash, one thousand bolts of cloth, posthumously elevated him to the rank of Grand Preceptor, and granting him a lavish burial. His son, Prince Ding, succeeded him and was appointed as the Cavalier. After Ding's death, his son Qiu ascended to the title. After the Song Dynasty was established, the title of Wuling Prince was abolished.
The King of Langye, named Huan, courtesy name Yaozu. His mother was highly favored, and the Emperor Yuan loved him dearly. Initially, he inherited the title of Marquis of Changleting from his uncle, the Marquis Hun, and later was appointed as Marquis Xianyiting. The Grand Minister of Works, Diao Xie, submitted a memorial saying, "In the past, the Marquis of Linzi in the Wei Kingdom appointed Xing Yu as his steward and Liu Zhen as his heir. Now that the marquis is still young, we should select someone with both virtue and talent to assist him." Emperor Yuan decreed, "The Marquis of Linzi is a marquis of ten thousand households, and Zhi Shao has literary talent, able to play with Youtian Su and others. My child is still young and weak; how can he compare to him! Giving him the title of king is not because of favoring my young son, but because my brother should have someone to inherit the title, so I had no choice. Stewards and heirs, as long as they can handle sacrificial affairs, that should suffice. How can we let talents be constrained by these useless positions!" When Huan fell seriously ill, Emperor Yuan cancelled his evening meal and then decreed to appoint him as the King of Langye, inheriting the title of King Gong. He passed away shortly after, at the young age of two.
The Emperor was deeply saddened and prepared for his burial. Because Huan had already been appointed as a vassal king, the Emperor held a coming-of-age ceremony for him, ordered the construction of mourning gates and cypress trees, prepared funeral attire for auspicious and inauspicious occasions, and built a tomb, which was a monumental undertaking that burdened the people and drained the treasury. In response to these extravagant preparations, Sun Xiao, the Right Attendant of Langye, submitted a memorial offering counsel:
I heard that rituals and laws were highly valued by the ancient kings, that have strict rules regarding auspicious and inauspicious ceremonies, and everything must be kept within limits. Therefore, during times of peace and prosperity, extravagance and indulgence should be avoided, and in times of disaster or famine, thriftiness must be pursued. Ceremonies and banquets should be grand to showcase the significance of rituals; funerals and burials should express sorrow and respect. When those in power avoid wastefulness and extravagance, the common people will not suffer from poverty. Therefore, excessive spending on lavish funerals is considered inappropriate by gentlemen, while extreme frugality is praised by Confucius as being in accordance with etiquette. Wasting money and resources harms society, as criticized by the ancients; simplicity and thrift are praised by sages. As the saying goes, the actions of the superior affect the inferior, just like how the wind blows down the grass. The actions of the capital city are emulated by all, so it is important to promote education and law enforcement carefully. Your Majesty, soaring to the heavens and ascending to the throne, you have revived the weak and saved the corrupt. Your wise and humble heart aspires to simplicity, adhering to tradition and striving for thrift. However, there is an undue emphasis on decoration that is not warranted by the rituals, which troubles me greatly. Coffins, carriages, banners, and other items are traditional in rituals and should not be abolished. But the use of cypress used for funeral decorations, which is not part of the traditional rituals, can be omitted on sunny days and is unnecessary on rainy days, making it an area where savings are most needed. If this was only needed temporarily in Langya country, the expenses would not be too great, and I should not have spoken out since I am just a court official. However, now that nobles and officials reside in Taizhou, everyone is adopting the customs of the capital. For every funeral, large amounts of wood and bamboo pieces are required, with expensive decorations on the sides of the funeral doors using fine bamboo and wood pieces. This excessive decoration is not appropriate for expressing sorrow and should be simplified.
I looked through the "Book of Rites," which mentions that during a ruler's funeral, a zhu (a type of musical instrument) is placed between the coffin and the outer coffin, a hu (a type of vessel) is placed by a senior official, and a ding (a type of ceramic vessel) is placed by a scholar. The distinction between the hu and the ding indicates that the zhu is far more valuable. The outer coffin surrounds the inner coffin and is not usually very large. As the saying goes, a funeral is about burial, and burial should be deep and secure. If the outer coffin is too large, it will not be easy to ensure its stability, which offers no benefit to the deceased and merely wastes resources. In times of famine, funeral ceremonies should be simplified, as this is a fundamental principle of governance. Even with current simplifications, today's ceremonies are still more extravagant than those of the past, which is a great pity! Also, according to etiquette, the coffin is supposed to be moved to the ancestral temple before burial, and then buried at the gravesite. On the day of the funeral, mourning rituals and sacrificial offerings should be performed. This way, the coffin will not be left overnight at the gravesite. The sages do not grieve for their loved ones buried in the ground, but hold sacrificial offerings in the funeral hall because the gravesite is not a resting place for the spirits. These days, it's common to first erect a temporary shelter on the burial mound, then move the coffin to the side of the gravesite, which goes against proper etiquette. Matters that do not conform to etiquette shouldn't be used to teach the public.
As a foolish and humble person, I dare to propose reforming past mistakes, which may seem arrogant and ignorant, as I am unaware of the taboos. However, today the world has decayed to an unprecedented degree. The ancestral temples and altars are now located in the remote regions of Jiangbei, and the situation is dire. Coupled with drought, the people are suffering and struggling, not only lacking food and clothing, but even facing the threat of death. This is a pressing issue that should greatly concern Your Majesty, causing great anxiety. Now is the time to correct the bad social customs and change the status quo, yet it demands labor and financial resources for extensive construction of unnecessary projects, which I find hard to accept. Langya County is the largest county in the realm; if we can eliminate those improper practices and adhere to ancient rituals, it would exemplify the simplicity of our holy dynasty. Even if my suggestion seems minor, I hope it can still make a difference.
The memorial was submitted, but I received no response. In the first year of Yongchang, the emperor appointed Jianwen's younger brother as the King of Langya. Later, in the second year of Xianhe, Emperor Kang was also appointed King of Langya. After Emperor Kang ascended the throne, Emperor Ai was appointed King of Langya once more. After Emperor Ai became emperor, Emperor Fei became King of Langya. After Emperor Fei ascended the throne, Emperor Jianwen acted as the proxy for the King of Langya's sacrifices. When Emperor Jianwen took the throne, there were no successors left for the King of Langya. Before his death, Emperor Jianwen appointed his youngest son, Daozi, as the King of Langya. In the seventeenth year of Taiyuan, Daozi was made King of Kuaiji, and Emperor Gong became King of Langya. After Emperor Gong ascended the throne, the Langya Kingdom was dissolved.
Emperor Jianwen had seven sons: the Empress bore the Crown Prince Dao Sheng of Kuaiji and Prince Yu Sheng; Hu Shuyi bore Prince Yu of Lincuan and Prince Zhu Sheng; Wang Shuyi bore Prince Tianliu; and Li Furen bore Emperor Xiaowu and Prince Daozi of Kuaiji. Yu Sheng, Zhu Sheng, and Tianliu all died young, and I won’t go into further detail about them here.
Huiji Si Shizi Daosheng, whose courtesy name was Yanchang. When his father was the King of Huiji, he was appointed as the Crown Prince and also served as a Cavalier Attendant and an Imperial Secretary. He had a rough personality, lacked moral cultivation, often behaved rudely, and eventually died in despair at the age of twenty-four, leaving no descendants. Later, Emperor Xiaowu had a daytime dream of Daosheng and Prince Yu of Linchuan. Prince Yu said, "Big brother is starving, enduring hardship." After speaking, he disappeared. Emperor Xiaowu was very saddened, so he allowed Xun, the great-grandson of King Yang of Xiyang, to inherit Daosheng's title. Xun had previously served as the Prefect of Wuxing, and when Liu Yu attacked Guanzhong, he served as a Military Advisor. At that time, the power of Emperor Xiaowu was already declining, and Xun, being a relative of the imperial family and handsome, was killed along with Prince Jing of Liang.
Prince Yu of Linchuan, courtesy name Shenren, was intelligent from a young age. When Daosheng was initially rebuked by the emperor for his rudeness, Yu repeatedly advised him to be cautious. Daosheng did not listen, and Yu even cried for this, which was greatly appreciated by Emperor Jianwen. At the age of seventeen, Yu passed away. Much later, he was posthumously titled the Xian Crown Prince. During the Ningkang period, he was posthumously appointed as Left General, promoted to Cavalier Attendant, posthumously appointed as Prince of a commandery, and his title was passed on to Bao, the great-grandson of Prince Wei of Wuling. His mother, Hu Shuyi, was posthumously honored as the Grand Consort of Linchuan.
As for Bao, he held high positions such as Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat, Minister of Ceremonies, Left General, Cavalier Attendant, and Protector General, all of which are quite impressive. After the establishment of the Song Dynasty, he was later honored as a Senior Grandee and later downgraded to Marquis of Xifeng with a fief of one thousand households.
Let’s discuss Daozi, the Prince of Kuaiji, whose courtesy name was Daozi. He was the son of Xiaowang of Langye. Xie An admired him for his humility when he was young. At the age of ten, he was appointed as the Prince of Langye, with a fief of 17,651 households, and also managed 59,140 households in Kuaiji, which made him extraordinarily wealthy! In the early years of Taiyuan, he was appointed as Cavalier Attendant and General of the Central Army, and later promoted to General of the Agile Cavalry. The court ministers then memorialized, saying, "Daozi is close to wise men and upright in character. He should be appointed as Minister of Personnel." Daozi humbly declined. He was then entrusted with the important task of recording six matters of the Imperial Secretariat, and soon after was granted the privilege of opening a government office, and appointed as Minister of Personnel.
After Xie An's death, the Emperor issued a decree saying, "With the loss of such a wise and capable minister, the situation inside and outside the country is still unstable. Only someone like Daozi, with both virtue and talent, can pacify both internal and external affairs and stabilize the situation. Therefore, Daozi, Minister of Personnel and Prince of Langye, is appointed as Inspector of Yangzhou, with authority over all military affairs in and around Yangzhou. The civil and military officials of the Guard were to obey the orders of the General of the Agile Cavalry." Daozi still declined. A few years later, he was appointed as Inspector of Xuzhou and Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. The ministers once again memorialized, saying, "He should be elevated to Prime Minister and Governor of Yangzhou, and granted the Yellow Battle-Axe and the feathered ceremonial baton." Daozi still declined.
At that time, Emperor Xiaowu was completely indifferent to state affairs, only focused on singing and drinking with Wang Dao. The palace maids and monks were his close favorites, secretly wielding power in the court. Those who received the emperor's favor were recommended by insignificant eunuchs. Most of the local officials were Wang Dao's own people. After Wang Dao became the governor of Yangzhou, his power was immense, and everyone sought to curry favor with him. The Minister of the Central Secretariat, Wang Guobao, was a meek and obsequious man, especially favored by Wang Dao. Official promotions were based on bribery, and politics and law were a complete mess. Wang Dao was also superstitious about Buddhism, living extravagantly and wastefully, causing great suffering to the people. Since the first year of Taiyuan, Wang Dao partied day and night, neglecting state affairs with unkempt hair and bleary eyes.
Huan Xuan once went to visit Wang Dao, who was drunk and surrounded by guests. Wang Dao pointed at Huan Xuan with widened eyes and said, "Huan Wen wanted to rebel before he died, what's going on?" Huan Xuan was so terrified he could barely get up, drenched in sweat. Chief Secretary Xie Zhong quickly stepped in, saying, "The late Emperor Huan Wen deposed the incompetent ruler and established a wise one, his accomplishments were greater than those of Yi Yin and Huo Guang. These wild rumors should be ignored." Wang Dao nodded and raised his glass to Huan Xuan, who finally felt brave enough to stand up. After this incident, Huan Xuan felt even more unsettled and developed a deep-seated resentment towards Wang Dao.
It is said that at that time, the court was a mess. There was a general named Xu Rong, who was from Kuaiji. He wrote to the emperor saying: those officials, from the clerks in the government offices to the military officers in the palace, even servants and maids, as long as they can establish some connections, they can become county magistrates and prefects. These people were originally low-ranking folks with no connections, yet they could call the shots and leave the work to the junior officials. Monks, nuns, and wet nurses are all eager to place their relatives and friends in official positions, taking bribes and handing out positions like it's nothing. They do not have the abilities of Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, but they imitate the ancients and act arrogantly. This is the first problem.
I heard that Buddhism emphasizes purity and inaction, with the Five Precepts as the fundamental doctrine, abstaining from alcohol and lust. But now, those who believe in Buddhism are all behaving recklessly, indulging in alcohol and lust, which goes against the teachings of Buddhism. You don't have to kill someone yourself to cause harm. If political education is ineffective and punishments are abused, the common folks will suffer too, which will harm the mandate of heaven. Thieves do not necessarily steal things themselves, just like when Jiang Yi's mother lost her cloth, the responsibility lay with the magistrate. Right now, the emperor's orders are all over the place, and robbery and theft are rampant everywhere. Good leadership is key to keeping things running smoothly down below. In the past, I suggested reforming the administration, but everyone had their own ideas, and in the end, nothing was adopted. This is the fifth disaster.
Now, monks and nuns gather in groups, strutting around in their robes at the market, not even able to keep the basic Five Precepts, let alone the profound teachings of Buddhism! Those who are misled by Buddhism are eager to flatter them, even seizing the property of the common people, claiming it's charity when it's really not. He also suggested the crown prince should move to the Eastern Palace to hit the books and work on his character. However, when his letter got to the emperor, it was totally brushed off.
Fan Ning, the Zhong Shulang, submitted a memorial criticizing the current shortcomings, causing the emperor to gradually become dissatisfied with Sima Daozi, but continued to treat him favorably on the surface. Sima Daozi's nephew Guobao, due to his flattery of Sima Daozi, led Xu Ning to request the emperor to dismiss him. Guobao became afraid, so he had Miaoyin, the sister-in-law of Yuan Yuezhi from Chen Jun, write a letter to the prince's mother, Chen Shuyuan, claiming that Guobao was very loyal and should be reinstated. Upon hearing this, the emperor became furious and ordered Yuan Yuezhi's execution. Guobao became even more afraid and falsely accused Xu Ning to the emperor. The emperor, left with no choice, wept and demoted Xu Ning to Yuzhang as the governor. From then on, Sima Daozi became even more tyrannical.
Zhao Ya, originally an entertainer, and Ru Qianqiu, a former thief-catcher in Qiantang County, both rose through flattery. Xie An promoted Zhao Ya to be the governor of Weijun and Ru Qianqiu to be a consultant in the Cavalry. Zhao Ya built a house on the east side for Xie An, which involved extensive construction work—digging mountains, creating ponds, and planting trees and bamboo—that consumed vast resources. Xie An even had palace staff open a tavern by the water to serve drinks, and he and his confidants often went there by boat to drink and enjoy themselves.
Once the emperor visited Xie An's home and saw the artificial mountain in the house, he said, "Having a mountain in the mansion for everyone to admire is indeed nice. However, the construction is too extravagant; this doesn’t set a good example for the people!" Xie An had no response and could only agree repeatedly, while the officials serving by his side dared not say a word. After the emperor returned to the palace, Xie An told Zhao Ya, "If the emperor finds out that this mountain is made of rammed earth, you will definitely die!" Zhao Ya said, "As long as you’re here, I won’t dare to die!" So they pressed on with their extravagant construction, growing even bolder. As for Ru Qianqiu, he sold official positions, exploited the people, and amassed untold wealth.
Xie An, due to the Empress Dowager's favoritism, was treated like family, so he often behaved boorishly and inappropriately after drinking, taking advantage of his favoritism. The Emperor grew increasingly frustrated with him, but out of respect for the Empress Dowager, he could only continue to promote him. Later, Wen Ren Shi, the magistrate of Boping County, filed a memorial accusing: "The Cavalry Advisor and Military Counselor Ru Qianqiu, assisting the Prime Minister, born in a humble background, yet he is arrogant and domineering, selling official positions and titles. His son, Shouling, became the magistrate of Lean County, corrupt and greedy, notorious for his misdeeds, and fled in fear of punishment, but received no punishment, shamelessly returning to the county to resume his post. Additionally, Ru Qianqiu's relatives and lackeys ran rampant, disrupting court affairs across the region. The people are starving despite the abundance of food, and the deaths from starvation are continuous, all because the people are impoverished and the taxes are heavy. General Zhenwu, Yu Heng, stirred up trouble in the capital, and the registrar, Dai Liangfu, earnestly advised him, but was imprisoned and almost lost his life. Yu Heng was angry due to drunkenness, and Dai Liangfu was cast aside for his loyalty and integrity. Those powerful courtiers established their own little fiefdoms, placing their cronies in key positions, which does not benefit the country, but instead undermines national interests."
After seeing the memorial, the Emperor's anger intensified, but because of the Empress Dowager's relationship, he didn't dare to take action against Xie An, so he sent Wang Gong to Yanzhou, Yin Zhongkan to Jingzhou, Wang Xun as the Minister of Works, and Wang Ya as the tutor of the Crown Prince, to bolster the imperial family's power and subtly keep Xie An in check. Xie An also increasingly depended on Wang Xu, escalating the factional struggle, and friendships dwindled. The Empress Dowager frequently intervened, but Xie An remained unrepentant.
Xu Miao was the closest person to the emperor, with only Wang Daozi being closer. Xu Miao felt that he should have a serious talk with the emperor, so he spoke softly and gently to him: "In the past, Emperor Wen of Han was so wise that he even regretted killing the King of Huainan; even Emperor Taizu, who was so clever, felt guilty because of the affair concerning the King of Qi. Matters between brothers really need to be handled with extreme caution!" The emperor listened and continued to trust Wang Daozi as before.
At that time, someone wrote a poem called "Poem in the Clouds," subtly criticizing the court by saying: "The Prince is indulging in wine and women, issuing orders at whim. It took hundreds of years to capture bandits, and he is still meddling in court affairs. Wang Kai follows the rules, but the national treasures are being sought after everywhere. Prince Cheng of Jingzhou, although generous, behaves recklessly, making him hard to describe; virtuous individuals such as Wang Xun, Wang Gong, Xu Miao, and Dai Kui all have commendable qualities. Why not invite them to assist the court? Dai Kui adheres to principles and has a noble character; why not use him?"
When Emperor Gong became the King of Langya, Wang Daozi was appointed as the ruler of Kuaiji, leading 59,000 households in Xuan Cheng. After Emperor An ascended the throne, officials suggested: "Wang Daozi should be promoted to Grand Tutor, Governor of Yangzhou, Director of the Palace Library, given the Yellow Seal, and granted special privileges." Wang Daozi firmly declined and even resigned from the position of Inspector of Xuzhou. However, the emperor had to seek his counsel on all major internal and external matters. When the emperor reached adulthood, Wang Daozi apologized with a kowtow and handed over power to Wang Guobao. From then on, Wang Guobao held significant power, overshadowing the court. Wang Gong then raised troops in a bid to confront Wang Guobao. Wang Daozi, afraid, handed Wang Guobao over to the court officials and had Wang Guo Xu, Wang Guobao's cousin, killed to appease Wang Gong, which led him to withdraw his troops. Wang Daozi requested to resign from the positions of Commander-in-Chief and Recorder of the Imperial Book to offer his apologies to the public, but the emperor refused his request.
Yuan Xian, also known as Daozi Shizi, was only sixteen years old at the time and became a chamberlain. He looked down on Gong (referring to Emperor Gong, Sima Dewen) and asked Daozi (referring to Huan Xuan) to deal with him. So Huan Xuan appointed Yuan Xian as General Who Conquers the Enemy and also assigned him the civil and military officials of the Wei Palace and Xuzhou.
Coincidentally, at that time, Daozi's wife passed away, and the emperor issued a decree saying, "The Princess of Kuaiji, honorable and virtuous, incomparable to others, I treated her like family. Now her funeral must be grandly held, following the standards set by the late Empress Mu of Langye. Yuan Xian has always been filial, and I trust him very much. His filial piety is genuine, and his grief is profound. However, he did not neglect his official duties due to family matters, which aligns with the principles outlined in the 'Yangqiu.' Nor did he let personal feelings interfere with court protocols, which aligns with the etiquette of previous dynasties. As you can see, Minzi even wore mourning clothes to court, and Shan Wang had no choice but to submit. This is all because of the natural expression of grief when a close relative passes away. Wise people will act in accordance with etiquette and consider the timing. After the funeral of the princess, Yuan Xian can return to work as usual."
At that time, Wang Gong was powerful and influential, with power spreading both inside and outside the court. Xie An (Daozi) was extremely afraid and sought the support of Qiao Wang Sima Shangzhi as his confidant. Shangzhi said to Xie An, "The power of those regional forces is too strong, and the prime minister's power is relatively weak. We should secretly cultivate our own power to protect ourselves." Xie An thought it made sense and sent Wang Gong's Sima Wang Yu to serve as the Inspector of Jiangzhou to keep an eye on Wang Gong. He also held discussions day and night with Shangzhi and others, searching for weaknesses in various places.
Wang Gong learned of Xie An's plan and once again raised troops under the pretext of attacking Sima Shangzhi. The governors of Jingzhou, Yin Zhongkan, Yuzhou, Yu Kai, and Guangzhou, Huan Xuan, all responded to Wang Gong. Xie An sent someone to persuade Yu Kai, saying, "Our previous relationship was so good; we're as close as brothers! We drank together in the military camp and swore brotherhood oaths. Have you forgotten all that? Are you really abandoning old friends for new alliances, forgetting the shame Wang Gong brought upon you? What wealth and glory will you have then? Disaster will soon be upon you!"
Upon hearing this, Yu Kai was furious and said, "When Wang Gong went to mourn, the Prince (Xie An) was worried and didn't know what to do. I saw the situation was urgent, so I immediately led troops to go. Last year's incident, I was also following orders. I've served the Prince faithfully and never let him down. Since we can't resist Wang Gong and instead have to kill the state's treasure (referring to Xie An), who would dare to serve the monarch after this! I, Yu Kai, will never slaughter the people for someone else. I will join forces with others to fight against the treacherous officials, worried I won't receive official positions and titles?" At that time, Yu Kai had already agreed to Wang Gong's call and was recruiting troops and horses. When this letter was sent back, both the court and the people were very worried, so they tightened security both inside and outside the palace.
Xie Shi (Yuan Xian) rolled up his sleeves and passionately said to Xie An, "Last year's failure to attack Wang Gong led to the current situation. If we satisfy his demands again, disaster will fall upon Taizai (Xie An)!" Xie An indulged in fine wine daily and left everything to Xie Shi. Although Xie Shi was young, he was exceptionally intelligent, knowledgeable, ambitious, and accountable, shouldering the nation's security. Sima Shangzhi stood by to assist him. People in the court at that time said that Xie Shi possessed the heroic spirit reminiscent of Emperor Jinming's Sima Shao. Therefore, the court appointed Xie Shi as the Commander of the Expeditionary Forces, leading generals Wang Xun, Xie Yan, Huan Zhi Cai, Mao Tai, Gao Su, and others to attack Wang Gong and ultimately eliminate him.
Yang Quanqi, Huan Xuan, and Yin Zhongkan had returned to Shitoucheng! Yuan Xian, this kid, raced back to the capital like a whirlwind through the bamboo, quickly sending Dan Yangyin Wang Kai, Poyang Prefect Huan Fangzhi, Xinchai Historian He Si, Yingchuan Prefect Wen Xiang, and Xin'an Prefect Sun Tai, along with tens of thousands of people from the capital, to hold the line at Shitoucheng and confront them!
Just as Daozi was about to leave the palace for the central hall, several startled horses suddenly bolted into the camp, causing chaos and trampling many people, some falling into the river and drowning; it was a tragic scene! Hearing that Wang Gong had been killed, Yin Zhongkan was terrified and fled west with Huan Xuan to Xunyang. Chaos reigned both inside and outside the court. The Emperor quickly ordered Yuan Xian to enter the palace with one hundred fully armed soldiers, promoted him to Cavalier Attendant and Chief of the Palace Secretariat, and also made him the Chief of the Central Army, maintaining his previous positions as military governor and commander of the expedition.
King Sima Daozi of Kuaiji fell ill and spent his days in a drunken stupor. Yuan Xian saw his chance to take power. He persuaded the emperor to dismiss Daozi from his posts as Governor of Yangzhou and Minister of Personnel. Daozi, who was drunk at the time, did not notice Yuan Xian's conspiracy.
Yuan Xian, young yet wielding significant power, was worried about others' gossip, so he appointed Prince Langye as Minister of Personnel and took the position of Governor of Yangzhou himself. When Daozi sobered up, he found out he had been dismissed and was furious but felt powerless.
Zhang Fashun, a talented writer from Kuaiji who served as the Prefect of Lujiang, became Yuan Xian's strategist. He helped Yuan Xian forge alliances, and many high-ranking officials from Huan Qian and below tried to curry favor with him. Yuan Xian was ruthless and quick to resort to violence, ignoring Zhang Fashun's advice multiple times.
He also ordered slaves from the eastern counties to serve as soldiers, called "Le Shu," and sent them to serve in the capital, leading to widespread discontent and suffering among the people. Later, Sun En took advantage of this and rebelled. The court granted Daozi greater power and made Yuan Xian the commander of the central army to suppress Sun En. Yuan Xian was also appointed as the Registrar of the Imperial Secretariat.
However, Daozi remained obsessed with wine and women, leaving all matters to Yuan Xian. At that time, Daozi was referred to as "the Eastern Registrar" while Yuan Xian was known as "the Western Registrar." Yuan Xian's mansion was bustling with carriages and horses, while Daozi's mansion was so deserted it seemed a perfect spot for setting a bird trap. Yuan Xian lacked wise advisors or true friends around him, did not listen to advice, and only liked to hear flattery. Some saw him as a hero, others as a playboy, which led him to believe he was invincible, further indulging in luxury and excess.
The emperor rewarded Yuan Xian for his contributions in pacifying the rebellion by appointing his mother, Lady Kuaiji, and granting her a gold seal and purple sash. After Luoyang was captured, Daozi felt ashamed of the destruction of the imperial tombs and requested to resign and go back to his hometown, but the emperor did not approve. After the Empress Dowager passed away, the emperor ordered Daozi to enter the palace by carriage. Yuan Xian urged the court officials to pay their respects to him, claiming his esteemed virtues and high rank, and all the officials bowed to him.
Amid ongoing wars and an empty treasury, officials from the rank of Minister of Works and below were only allocated seven liters of grain per day, while Yuan Xian continued to take advantage of the people and became incredibly wealthy, surpassing even the imperial family. After Xie Yan was killed by Sun En, Yuan Xian requested to be appointed as the Inspector of Xuzhou, and was granted the titles of Palace Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Supervisor of the Left, and Commander of the Sixteen States, and his son Yuan Yanzhang was made the Prince of Donghai. Shortly after, due to strange celestial occurrences, Yuan Xian was relieved of his duties as the Director of the Imperial Secretariat and was appointed as the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat.
Sun En arrived in Jingkou, and Yuan Xian prepared defenses in Shitoucheng, leading the troops to resist, but suffered defeat after defeat. Daozi, that old man, had no good options, so he went to Jianghou Temple every day to pray, hoping for the gods' protection. Later, Sun En escaped to Beihai, and Huan Xuan controlled the upper reaches of the Yangtze River again, writing him a letter that said, "The bandits have reached the outskirts, but because of the wind and rain, they couldn’t launch an attack or set anything ablaze; they left only after running out of food. It’s not that they can’t beat us! When the national treasure passed away, Wang Gong did not seize the opportunity to take over the court's power, which shows he didn’t underestimate you, but you said he was disloyal. Now, among the high-ranking and prestigious figures in the court, how many of them can we really trust? It’s not that we haven’t won any battles; the key is that we don’t trust them! Only the right people can truly trust each other; how can we trust those who only look out for themselves with important tasks? What used to be done day in and day out has led to this situation now. You hold a high position, so you need to be careful with your words; blessings can come fast, but if you offend someone, it could bring trouble your way. Those ministers in the court definitely have their own opinions, but they are just worried about getting caught up in it. I am serving in a distant place, that’s why I’m sharing this with you." Yuan Xian was shocked after reading the letter.
Zhang Fashun said to Yuan Xian: "Huan Xuan comes from a prestigious family and has always harbored ambitions. Now he has also merged with the Yin and Yang families, dominating the Jingchu region. However, the Huan family has always been based in the west, which makes him vulnerable to manipulation by others. The only territories under his control are the Three Wu. Sun En's rebellion has thrown the eastern region into chaos, leaving the people starving and short on funds. Huan Xuan will definitely take advantage of this situation. I'm really worried about this!" Yuan Xian asked, "What should we do?" Zhang Fashun replied, "Huan Xuan has just taken control of Jingzhou, and the people's sentiments are still unsettled. He is busy pacifying the people and has no time for anything else. Now is the perfect time to deal with him. Let's send troops to attack him, with Liu Laozhi leading the vanguard and you leading the main army. Huan Xuan's head will surely be on our banner!" Yuan Xian thought it made sense and sent Zhang Fashun to discuss with Liu Laozhi in Jingkou. However, Liu Laozhi appeared hesitant and reluctant. After returning, Zhang Fashun said to Yuan Xian, "From Liu Laozhi's expression, he will definitely not sincerely help us. It's better to recall him and eliminate him; otherwise, it will be a disaster!" Yuan Xian did not listen to him.
Dao Zi has moved up the ranks! He has become a Privy Councilor and Grand Tutor, accompanied by four senior staff: Left and Right Chief Scribes, Sima, and Palace Attendant. The grandeur is extraordinary, with all ceremonies and rituals conducted to the highest standards. His cavalry generals and their staff, civil and military officials, have all been assigned directly to the Grand Tutor's residence. Yuan Xian has also been promoted to Privy Councilor, Cavalry General, and Grand Governor, in charge of military affairs in eighteen provinces, and is on equal footing with the Three Departments. The Emperor has also given him the Yellow Battle-Axe, a symbol of military authority, and twenty sword-wielding guards to go and fight Huan Xuan. Consequently, he appointed Liu Laozhi to lead the vanguard.
Fa Shun said to Yuan Xian, "The fight we are waging doesn't have much of a deterrent effect! The Huan brothers are always acting as informants for Huan Xuan. We should immediately kill them to isolate the Jing and Chu regions and intimidate the enemy! Even if things don't go as planned, Liu Laozhi is with the army. If he betrays us, we're done for! We might as well have Liu Laozhi take out the Huan brothers to show we're serious! If he doesn't comply, we'll have to deal with him ourselves!" Yuan Xian replied, "Without Liu Laozhi, how can we deal with Huan Xuan? Moreover, killing a general at the beginning of a battle will surely cause unrest. The risk is too great!" At that time, Yangzhou was experiencing a famine, food supplies weren't getting through, and Huan Xuan had cut off the river supply routes. Merchants were too scared to do business, so both the people and the army were short on food and clothing, and had to make do with coarse grains and wild vegetables.
The army was about to set off. Huan Xuan's cousin, the Cavalry General Shi Sheng, rushed to inform Huan Xuan. When Huan Xuan reached Xunyang, he issued a proclamation to the capital accusing Yuan Xian of various crimes. Shortly after, Huan Xuan arrived in Xiyang. The Emperor, dressed in armor, said farewell to Yuan Xian at Xichi. Just as Yuan Xian boarded the ship, Huan Xuan arrived at Xinting. Realizing the situation was dire, Yuan Xian quickly abandoned the ship and fled to the National Academy. The next day, Huan Xuan's army formed up outside Xuanyang Gate, and most of Yuan Xian's officials had fled. Reports suggested that Huan Xuan had reached Daheng, and Liu Laozhi actually surrendered to Huan Xuan! Yuan Xian rushed to Xuanyang Gate, and Liu Laozhi's aide Zhang Changzhi led troops to pursue. Yuan Xian's forces were in disarray. Yuan Xian fled to the Prime Minister's residence, with only Zhang Fashun at his side. Yuan Xian asked Daozi what to do, but Daozi just cried and remained silent. Huan Xuan sent the Grand Tutor's Attendant Mao Tai to capture Yuan Xian, brought him to Xinting, bound him to the bow of the ship, and berated him. Yuan Xian exclaimed, "It was all Wang Dan and Zhang Fashun's fault!" So, Yuan Xian was delivered to the Minister of Justice, and he and his six sons were all killed. Huan Xuan subsequently reported, "Daozi is a drunkard and a libertine, is unfilial, and deserves death!" The Emperor subsequently exiled him to Ancheng County and appointed the Imperial Censor Du Zhulin to guard him. Nevertheless, Huan Xuan still ordered him poisoned, and he died at the age of thirty-nine. The Emperor wept in the Western Hall for three whole days.
After the failure of Emperor Xuanzong, the Grand Marshal and Prince Wuling, following the emperor's orders, proclaimed: "The previous Grand Tutor Gong Aheng and his son have had close ties with the royal family for two generations, and his virtue is unmatched in the realm. During his tenure as General of the Chariot and Cavalry, he assisted the emperor in court and fought in all directions, making great contributions and establishing a foundation for the nation's stability. Unfortunately, misfortunes struck him, and his death brought immense grief to the people, even stirring the spirits, causing endless sorrow and heartbreak. Now that the imperial family has been restored, we should honor the merits of our ancestors, uphold national integrity, and inherit the customs and systems of the previous dynasty. Therefore, the Grand Tutor should be posthumously appointed as Prime Minister, given special honors, and handled in accordance with the precedent of King Xian of Anping. The General of the Chariot and Cavalry should be posthumously appointed as Grand Commandant, and be granted the ceremonial music and regalia. The Prime Minister's tomb is currently in poor condition and needs to be repaired; the southern road must be repaired first to receive his coffin. The Grand Commandant's grave should also be relocated. Please instruct the Court Historian to select an auspicious day and determine the new burial site." So, Sima Xun, the Palace Attendant and Regular Attendant, was dispatched to Ancheng to escort Daozi's coffin. At that time, the bandits had not yet been subdued, preventing timely completion of the funeral arrangements.
In the first year of the Yixi era, they were finally interred together in the queen's tomb. Yuan Xian was posthumously honored with the title "Loyal." The son of Baozi, the King of Linchuan, Xiu Zhi, inherited Daozi's title, and Queen Wang was honored as the Empress Dowager. During the Yixi period, someone claimed to be Yuan Xian's son, Xiuxi, claiming that he had fled the chaos of war to a barbarian region and had only recently returned. The Empress Dowager requested that he be adopted as her son, so Xiu Zhi relocated to another residence. Liu Yu suspected foul play and sent people to investigate; it was discovered that the impersonator was a servant of Sangqi Lang, Teng Xian, and he was ultimately executed. The Empress Dowager never learned the truth and wept bitterly. Later, Xiu Zhi was reinstated as her adopted son. After Xiu Zhi's death, he was posthumously honored with the title Daowang, and with no sons to inherit, his title was subsequently revoked.
Historical records indicate that the reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Eastern Jin ended because, although he studied the regulations of the previous dynasty, examined the wise ancient kings, made oaths to defend the realm, achieving both civil and military successes that rivaled those of the states of Lu, Wei, Ying, and Han; the territory was consolidated, interlocking like teeth, and connected with the states of Wu, Chu, Qi, and Dai. However, he erred in his selection of personnel, entrusting the nation's affairs to incompetent individuals, and he never lamented the country's lack of strategy. Guo Qin foresaw the signs of danger and crisis.
When Emperor Xiaowu passed away, before the soil on his grave had even dried, national disasters followed one after another, and the court's governance became slack and lax. To make matters worse, the chaos of the Eight Princes unfolded again, rebellions broke out all over the country, barbarians invaded, and the emperor was forced into a corner. The beautiful palaces and gardens turned to ashes in the flames of war; the magnificent carriages were buried under dust. As a result, the vast territories opened up by Emperor Yu fell into the hands of wolves; the once-glorious legacy of the Zhou Dynasty sank into oblivion amidst chaos and destruction. Alas! The fate of the nation has come to an end, the mandate of heaven had run its course, ultimately leading to this state! Upon careful examination of historical records, such a tragic situation has never been heard of before.
When Emperor Daozi was in power, he appeared to be close to wise and capable individuals, appointing senior ministers, but in reality, he indulged in pleasure and easily believed in slander. This allowed elderly women to usurp the power of the court, and wicked individuals to control the fate of the country, leading to the breakdown of rituals and music, ultimately resulting in the country's demise. Huan Wen took on the heavy responsibility of the nation from a young age, ruling with tyranny, disrespecting his sovereign, and with his meager talents, he fought against villains and enemies, ultimately leading to the country's demise. Isn't this a grave injustice? Therefore, Huan Wen is to Emperor Xiaowu in the same way that Sun Qiang is to Emperor An, and Daozi is to Wu Zixu as he is to the Eastern Jin Dynasty. Throughout history, dynasties valued princes to strengthen the royal family; the Eastern Jin Dynasty enfeoffed relatives as kings, but in reality, it planted the seeds of chaos. As the Book of Songs states, "Hold virtue in tranquility, the descendants maintain the city. Do not let the city fall, do not be fearful alone." The city walls have already collapsed, so fear is justified! The downfall of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, rife with chaos and disaster, stems from this very reason.
It is said: The emperor's sons are being feudalized, and this will lead to calamity. The edicts are corrupt, and disasters continue to strike. Qin Xian is perceptive and astute, while Qinghe remains introspective. Huainan is both loyal and brave, and Xuancheng is discerning. Daozi's foolishness leads to misfortune, resulting in the nation's downfall.
