Liu Cong, styled Xuanming, also known as Liu Zai, was the fourth son of Liu Yuan, the Emperor of the Han state among the Xiongnu. His mother was Lady Zhang. Initially, when Liu Cong was still in his mother's womb, Lady Zhang dreamt that the sun fell into her arms, and upon waking, she told Liu Yuan about it. Liu Yuan said, "This is a good omen, do not tell anyone else." As a result, Liu Cong stayed in his mother's womb for a full fifteen months before being born, and on the night of his birth, there was a strange white light that appeared. He also looked different from others, with a white hair on his left ear, over two feet long and shimmering.
From a young age, Liu Cong was intelligent and studious, even leaving the scholar Zhu Ji in awe. At the age of fourteen, he had already become well-versed in the classics and various philosophical schools, and had an impressive command of "The Art of War" and "The Wuzi." He was also skilled in cursive and clerical script, had excellent writing skills, and had composed over a hundred poems and more than fifty essays. At the age of fifteen, he began practicing archery, demonstrating remarkable strength and precision, able to draw a three hundred-pound bow with great force and agility, establishing him as one of the finest archers of his time. When Taiyuan Wang Hun saw him, he was very impressed and said to Liu Yuan, "I really can't figure out this child!"
When I was twenty years old, I went to the capital to explore, and many notable figures sought my friendship, especially Le Guang and Zhang Hua. Later, the newly appointed prefect Guo Yi invited me to serve as his chief clerk and recommended me to be a good general, joining the court as the Marshal of the Xiqi Biebu, and eventually rising to the position of Right Captain. I excelled at managing interpersonal relationships, and the powerful and influential figures across the five departments were eager to heed my advice. Prince Yong of Hejian even put me forward for the position of General of Chisha.
Because I was worried that Yuan Hai would be killed by Wang Ying of Chengdu in Ye City, I fled to the residence of Wang of Chengdu, was appointed Right General of Crossbows, and participated in frontline combat. Yuan Hai became the Northern Chanyu, was titled King of Lu Li, and later followed me back to the Right Division. When Yuan Hai became the Great Chanyu, he killed his own brother, and the ministers urged him to claim the throne. I initially declined, wishing for my younger brother, King Bei Hai Yi, to take the throne. Yi and the ministers pleaded with me in tears, and after much hesitation, I agreed, saying, "Yi and the ministers think I am more suitable because the world is not yet peaceful and there are still many disasters. This is a matter of great national importance; how could I refuse? I want to follow the example of Duke Yin of Lu, and pass the throne to Yi when he grows up."
In the fourth year of Yongjia, I ascended the throne and declared myself emperor, granting amnesty to the world and changing the reign to Guangxing. I named Yuan Hai's wife, Lady Shan, as Empress Dowager, my mother, Lady Zhang, as Empress Dowager, Yi as Crown Prince, concurrently holding the positions of Great Chanyu and Grand Minister of State. I also appointed Yi's wife, Lady Hu Yan, as Empress, and designated their son, Can, as the Prince of Henei, naming him Imperial Envoy and General of Pacification, and organized the titles for the Kings of Hejian, Yipengcheng, and Kuigao Ping. I dispatched Can, Prince of Henei, General Mi of the East, General Liu Yao of Longxiang, and others to lead forty thousand troops straight to Luoyang, and then fought in the areas of Liangzhou, Chenzhou, Ruzhou, and Yingzhou, breaking through hundreds of fortresses. I also appointed Liu Jingsheng as Grand Marshal, Liu Yin as Grand Minister of State, and Wang Yu as Grand Minister of Works.
That fake Empress Dowager, Lady Shan, was especially beautiful, and I was quite taken with her. Lady Shan was Yi's mother, and Yi repeatedly advised me about her, which left Lady Shan feeling both ashamed and angry, ultimately leading to her death from distress. I only learned of this later, which caused my favoritism towards Yi to gradually wane, but I still held Lady Shan in high regard and did not dare to depose her. I also honored my mother as Empress Dowager.
The emperor appointed Huyan Yan, the Grand Commandant, as the commander-in-chief, the vanguard general, and the general of the former army, equipped him with twenty-seven thousand elite troops, and ordered him to enter Luochuan from Yiyang. He also commanded Wang Mi, Liu Yao, and the garrison Shi Le to lead their troops to meet him. After Huyan Yan arrived in Henan, the imperial army suffered twelve consecutive defeats, resulting in over thirty thousand casualties. Before Wang Mi and the others arrived, Huyan Yan left the supplies at the old camp of Zhang Fang, then attacked Luoyang, breached the Pingchang Gate, and set fire to the Dongyang, Xuanyang, and several other city gates and government temples. The emperor sent the Henan Intendant Liu Mo to resist, but the imperial forces were defeated at Shemen. Seeing that the reinforcements did not arrive, Huyan Yan left from Dongyang Gate, captured over two hundred women and children, ranging from nobles to commoners, and fled. At that time, the emperor was preparing to flee east across the Yellow River. He had prepared boats on the Luo River, but Huyan Yan set fire to all the boats before returning to Zhang Fang's old camp. After Wang Mi and Liu Yao arrived, they surrounded Luoyang with Huyan Yan. By this time, Luoyang was suffering from severe starvation; people were turning on one another, officials were fleeing, and no one was left with the will to resist. The Xuan Yang Gate was breached, and Wang Mi and Huyan Yan entered the palace, ordered his troops to plunder, and seized the palace maidens and treasures. Liu Yao then killed more than thirty thousand people from the nobles to the commoners, and piled up the bones to construct a monument north of the Luo River. He then relocated the emperor, Empress Yang, and the six imperial seals to Pingyang. Shi Le proclaimed amnesty throughout the realm, renamed the era Jiaping, and bestowed upon the emperor the titles of Special Envoy, Left Guanglu Doctor, and Duke of Ping'a.
In Chang'an, Shi Le sent General Zhao Ran, the Pingxi General, and General Liu Ya, the Anxi General, to lead twenty thousand cavalry to attack Sima Mo, the Prince of Nanyang. Shi Le and Liu Yao followed with a large army. Zhao Ran defeated the imperial army at Tongguan, and General Lu Yi of the court died in battle. After the army arrived at Xiagui, Sima Mo surrendered to Zhao Ran. Zhao Ran surrendered Sima Mo to Shi Le, who killed Sima Mo and his son, Prince of Fanyang, Sima Li. He then sent General Wei Liang Fen, Sima Mo's Chief Historian Lu Yao, Cavalier Attendant Du Ao, Xin Mi, Beigong Chun, and others to Pingyang. Shi Le was furious over Sima Mo's execution. He said, "I killed Sima Mo not because he did not know the current situation, but because as a relative of the Jin family, he did not die with honor in the time of crisis in Luoyang. This is the most despicable act, so I executed him." Shi Le added, "Even so, I am afraid that you will inevitably suffer the calamity of being killed as a surrender. Heaven's way is just, and there is no reason not to be repaid."
Liu Yao was appointed Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Privy Treasurer, Governor of Yongzhou, and was also renamed Prince of Zhongshan, stationed in Chang'an. At the same time, Wang Mi was appointed Grand General and titled Duke of Qi. Shortly thereafter, Shi Le and his allies killed Wang Mi at Jiwu, absorbed his army, and reported Wang Mi's rebellion. Upon hearing this, Sima Cong was enraged and sent envoys to rebuke Shi Le, questioning whether he harbored ambitions to usurp the throne by eliminating court officials. Sima Cong also feared that Shi Le had ulterior motives, so he supplemented Wang Mi's army to Shi Le.
After Liu Yao occupied Chang'an, the Prefect of Anding, Jia Pi, and some Di and Qiang tribes all sent hostages as a sign of submission; only the Governor of Yongzhou, Qu Te, and the Prefect of Xinping, Zhu Hui, refused to submit. The Protector of the Army, Qu Yun, and the County Magistrate of Pinyang, Liang Su, were planning to escape to Anding from the southern mountains of Jingzhao. They met Jia Pi's son on the way and were convinced to return to Linjing, where they elected Jia Pi as General of Pacification, leading fifty thousand troops to attack Chang'an. The Prefect of Fufeng, Liang Zong, along with Qu Te, Zhu Hui, and others, also led a hundred thousand troops to join forces. Liu Yao sent Liu Ya and Zhao Ran to resist, but they were defeated and had to retreat. Liu Yao then sent out all the elite troops of Chang'an to battle with the coalition forces at Huangqiu, resulting in a major defeat. Liu Yao was struck by an arrow and had to retreat to Ganqu. Meanwhile, Du Ren, Wang Tu, Ji Te, and others attacked Liu Can in Xinfeng, and Liu Can fled back to Pingyang. Liu Yao captured Chiyang, taking tens of thousands of people back to Chang'an. At that time, Yan Ding and others supported the Prince of Qin as the Crown Prince, entering Yongcheng, with people from the Guanzhong region rallying in response.
After the Empress, Hu Yan, died, Shi Le wanted to marry the daughter of the Grand Tutor, Liu Yin. His brother, Shi Yi, strongly opposed and urged him not to. Shi Le had to consult the Grand Preceptor, Liu Yannian, and the Grand Tutor, Liu Jing. Both Liu Yannian and Liu Jing said, "We have often heard the Grand Tutor himself say that he is a descendant of Duke Kang of the Zhou Dynasty, completely unrelated to your family, the Shi clan. It is perfectly fine for you to marry his daughter!" Upon hearing this, Shi Le was overjoyed and immediately had Li Hong, the Grand Herald, appoint Liu Yin's two daughters as Noble Consorts, ranking above the other Consorts. He also took in Liu Yin's four granddaughters as Consorts, ranking below the Noble Consorts. Shi Le then asked Li Hong, "These young ladies are all exceptionally beautiful and virtuous, not to mention Grand Tutor Liu Yin's unique relationship with me. What are your thoughts?"
Li Hong replied, "The ancestors of Grand Tutor Liu Yin trace back to the Zhou Dynasty, which is indeed different from the ancestors of your Shi family. Your hesitation is probably because you share the same surname as Liu. Moreover, the Minister of Works of Wei, Wang Ji, was a great scholar at that time. He understood etiquette. His son married the daughter of the Minister of Works of Taiyuan, Wang Shen, also because of the same surname, but different ancestors!" When Shi Le heard this, he was greatly pleased and rewarded Li Hong with sixty catties of gold, saying, "Tell my sons about this!" From then on, the six daughters of the Liu family received special favor in the harem. Shi Le himself rarely attended court sessions, and the Chief of the Central Yellow Gate handled all matters, with Lady Liu making the final decisions.
Oh, this Shi Le, feigning respect like Emperor Sima Rui, was appointed to the position of Sanqi (a high-ranking official) and even made the Duke of Kuaiji County. Others who joined Shi Le in his rebellion were also promoted. Shi Le took the Emperor out for drinks and said, "When you were Prince of Yuzhang, I once went to see you with Wang Wuzi. Wang Wuzi pointed at you and said to me, 'I've heard of this young man a long time ago!' You even asked me to show you the poems you had written and said, 'I heard you are good at writing poems; let me see your works.' At that time, Wang Wuzi and I wrote the 'Song of Great Virtue' for you, and you praised it for a long time! We even had an archery contest in the palace; I scored twelve rings, while you and Wang Wuzi only managed nine. I even gave you a boxwood bow and a silver grinding disc as a gift; do you remember?"
Emperor Sima Rui said, "How could I forget? I just regret not getting to know you earlier, this... noble person!" Shi Le said, "Isn't it too cruel for your brothers to kill each other?" Emperor Sima Rui replied, "This probably isn't something humans can control; it must be the will of heaven. The Great Han Dynasty must follow the divine mandate; the change of dynasties is why you're allowed to eliminate each other. Moreover, if my family could properly inherit Emperor Wu (Sima Yan)'s legacy, with a harmonious family, you wouldn’t have had a chance to rise to power!" It was not until the evening that the emperor was allowed to return, and Shi Le even gifted Concubine Xiao Liu to the emperor, saying, "She is from a noble family; I specially married her to you, and you must treat her well." Then Concubine Xiao Liu was appointed as Lady of Kuaiji.
Jin Chong was sent to attack Taiyuan, and General Bu Xiu led troops to reinforce. As a result, Jin Chong failed to capture Taiyuan. Instead, he falsely accused Bu Xiu, which directly led to Bu Xiu's death. When Shi Le heard about this, he was furious and cursed, "This is a person even I dare not punish; who does Jin Chong think he is!" So he sent the Chief Imperial Secretary Hao Yan with the emperor's decree to have Jin Chong killed. Left Capital Water Envoy Prince Xiangling Shu executed Jin Ling, the Grand Architect, for the poor construction of Wenming Hall and Huiguang Hall, which failed to meet the supply of fish and crabs.
Shi Le often went hunting endlessly, setting out in the morning and not coming back until night. He would often watch people fishing by the Fen River, even lighting candles to prolong the evening. General Wang Zhang of the Central Army could no longer stand by and watch, advising, "Now that we are facing a great enemy, we are just taking a temporary break. Your Majesty, aren't you afraid of repeating the mistakes of the past, being controlled by others like Emperor Xian of Han? You are still staying out late at night, indulging in pleasure! Your Majesty should think about the difficulties faced by the late emperor in establishing the dynasty and the challenges of inheriting the throne. The great cause is about to succeed; the common people are yearning for peace. How can you let everything fall apart at such a crucial time? I have been privately observing Your Majesty's actions, and it truly pains me! Moreover, the common people's sense of belonging to the Han Dynasty is not firm; they still have a strong nostalgia for the Jin Dynasty. Liu Kun is very close to us, and assassins could strike at any moment. If Your Majesty goes out easily, you could easily become a target. I hope Your Majesty can turn things around, so that the common people can be spared from disaster!" Upon hearing this, Shi Le was furious and ordered Wang Zhang to be killed. Wang Zhang's wife, Lady Wang, knelt down to plead, and only then did Shi Le decide to imprison Wang Zhang.
Shi Le's mother didn't eat for three days because Shi Le indiscriminately slaughtered innocent people. Shi Le's younger brother, Shi Yi, and his son, Shi Can, also cried and pleaded with Shi Le. Shi Le angrily said, "Am I the kind of person like Jie, Zhou, King You, or King Li? All you do is cry!" At this time, Shi Le's Grand Preceptor Liu Yannian and more than a hundred officials took off their hats, cried, and pleaded, "Emperor Guangwen laid a great foundation through his military prowess, but the world had not yet been completely unified when he passed away at a young age. Your Majesty, you are wise and martial; you succeeded to the throne and pacified Luoyang while stabilizing Chang'an. Your accomplishments are on par with King Cheng of Zhou and Emperor Xia. In the past, we had Tang Yao, Yu, and Shun; now we have Your Majesty. Even after flipping through history books, we can't find anyone who can match Your Majesty. However, recently, you have killed royal ministers over trivial matters, imprisoned ministers who spoke frankly, and have been indulging in hunting and pleasures, ignoring state affairs. We really don't understand why Your Majesty is doing this; that's why we are restless and worried!" Shi Le then pardoned Wang Zhang.
Emperor Shi Le of Later Zhao sent Ju Te to lay siege to Chang'an. Liu Yao fought several battles with Shi Le and lost them all. In desperation, Liu Yao had no choice but to lead back over 80,000 common people he had plundered to Pingyang. Then, he set out to confront Minister of Works Fu Zhi at Sanzhu and sent Right General Liu Can to attack Guo Mo at Huaicheng. As a result, Fu Zhi died of illness, Huaicheng fell, and Liu Yao relocated Fu Zhi's grandsons, Fu Chun and Fu Cui, along with over 20,000 households, to Pingyang.
Shi Le posthumously honored Fu Zhi as Grand Protector and appointed Fu Chun and Fu Cui as officials. Then Shi Le said to Fu Chang, son of Fu Zhi: "Although your father did not live to a ripe old age, he was always loyal to his lord, which I admire. However, when Liu Yao marched south, your father attempted to stop him, which disrupted the stability of the border and became his downfall. Although I am his enemy, I still honor him posthumously and have allowed his grandson to serve in the court. Do you see how generous my favor is as a ruler of Han-Zhao?"
Fu Chang replied: "Your Majesty always praises loyal subjects and will not erase their loyalty because of some villains. Your grace reflects the benevolence of a wise ruler for the people, and I can only obey the will of heaven, not daring to feel any resentment for this kindness."
Liu Cong sent Liu Can and Liu Yao to attack Liu Kun in Jinyang. Liu Kun sent Zhang Qiao to resist them, resulting in a battle at Wuguan where Zhang Qiao was defeated and killed, and the people of Jinyang were terrified. The Governor of Taiyuan, Gao Qiao, and Liu Kun's deputy Hao Yu surrendered to Liu Can. Liu Kun then fled with a handful of cavalry, along with his wife and children, to Tingtou in Zhaojun, and then fled to Changshan. Liu Can and Liu Yao entered the city of Jinyang.
Earlier, Liu Kun and Prince Yilu became sworn brothers, so he told Yilu about the defeat and requested troops for help. Yilu sent his son Rilisun, Binliuxu, General Weixiong, Jidan, and others with thousands of troops to attack Jinyang. Liu Kun also gathered over a thousand scattered soldiers to serve as guides. Yilu himself led sixty thousand troops to Langmeng. Liu Yao and Binliuxu fought on the east bank of the Fen River, with Liu Yao falling from his horse and sustaining seven arrow wounds. General Fu Wu gave his horse to Liu Yao. Liu Yao said, "The situation is critical; everyone is thinking of self-preservation. My injuries are so severe; I feel like I'm going to die here." Fu Wu cried and said, "I'm just a nobody; thanks to the king's favor and promotion, I have my position today. I have always wanted to serve the king; now is the time! Besides, the royal family has just been established, and the major threat hasn't been dealt with yet. How can the world do without you, my king?" So he helped Liu Yao onto the horse, urged him across the Fen River, then turned back to fight, and finally died in battle. Liu Yao entered Jinyang city, plundered the civilians with Liu Can and others at night, then crossed Meng Mountain to escape. Yilu chased them with cavalry, fought at Langu Valley, Liu Can was defeated, Xing Yan was beheaded, and Liu Feng was captured. Liu Kun gathered the scattered soldiers, held out against the enemy in Yangqu, and Yilu left after leaving troops to guard Yangqu.
On the first day of the first lunar month, Liu Chong held a banquet in the main hall of Guangji Palace, compelling the emperor to drink. Grand Officials Yu Min and Wang Jun rose and wept, which infuriated Liu Chong. At that moment, someone reported Yu Min and the others for plotting to support Liu Kun in Pingyang. Liu Chong then poisoned the emperor himself, killed Yu Min and Wang Jun, elevated the emperor's wife to the rank of noblewoman, and declared a general amnesty, pardoning all crimes except those punishable by death.
The emperor appointed Liu as the empress. The emperor wished to construct a palace named "Royal Bird" for Empress Liu, but the Minister of Justice, Chen Yuanda, stepped forward to advise, saying: "I have heard that ancient wise kings treated their country like their own home, so heaven blessed them as a father would bless his sons. Heaven created the people and gave them rulers so that the rulers could govern them with rewards and punishments like parents, rather than squandering the people's hard-earned labor for their own enjoyment. The Jin Dynasty was known for its brutality and tyranny, treating the people like weeds, so heaven brought about their downfall. Later, heaven favored the Han Dynasty, and the people longed for the country's revival. Our founding emperor was keenly aware of this truth; he was deeply troubled, so he wore coarse clothes and did not adorn his residence with luxurious carpets; the empress also wore modest attire. Your Majesty, you constructed the Northern and Southern Palaces only under the pressure of your courtiers. Now, the Hall of Light suffices for receiving courtiers and hosting foreign envoys; the Hall of Virtue and the Hall of Warmth are enough to accommodate the imperial concubines. Since you became emperor, you have quelled rebellions in Chang'an and Luoyang, built over forty palaces, and faced famines and plagues, with many deaths among the people and exhaustion in the army. The people are rife with grievances; can you still be seen as their parent? I heard that you want to build the 'Royal Bird' palace, and we, your ministers, are of course happy to serve you as you have just appointed the empress. However, I believe that the country is in crisis, the existing palaces are adequate for now, and building a new one should not proceed. I heard that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty inherited his grandfather's legacy and, after the extravagant reign of Empress Lü, halted the construction of a terrace after expending merely a hundred gold pieces. This became a celebrated tale throughout history, making him comparable to King Cheng and King Kang. Your territory is even smaller than two of Taizong's counties! The enemies you face extend beyond just the Xiongnu and Nanyue. Emperor Xiaowen ruled over a vast empire yet practiced frugality; with your small country, such extravagance is simply intolerable."
You see, I'm risking my head here; I really have no other option!
The emperor was furious: "I am the Son of Heaven, do I need a little rodent like you to manage the construction of a palace! If I don't kill you, this servant who disrupts my mood, when will my palace be completed! Guards, kill him, along with his wife and children, and display their heads in the East Market; let the rodents dwell in their holes!" At that time, Chen Yuanda was in the mansion of Li Zhongtang in Xiaoyao Garden, holding a tree and shouting: "I speak for the nation and its people, but the emperor wants to kill me. If the dead could know, I will definitely report to the emperor above and the former emperor below. As Zhu Yun once said, 'I can meet Long Feng and Bi Gan underground, that's enough.' Your Majesty, perhaps you should reflect on what kind of ruler you truly are!" Chen Yuanda had preemptively locked himself up, and when the emperor's guards came to seize him, he had already locked himself to a tree, and no one could move him. The emperor's fury intensified. Empress Liu was in the harem at the time, and upon hearing this, she secretly ordered the eunuchs to stop the execution, and then personally wrote a formal petition to counsel the emperor. Only then did the emperor's anger subside, release Chen Yuanda, apologize to him, renaming Xiaoyao Garden as Naxian Garden, and renaming Li Zhongtang as Kuixian Hall.
It is said that Emperor Min ascended the throne in Chang'an, and Shi Le sent Liu Yao with the officials Qiao Zhiming and Li Jingnian from the Sili to attack Chang'an, and also sent Zhao Ran to provide support. At that time, Grand Commandant Qu Yun was stationed at Huangbai City and was defeated several times by Liu Yao and Zhao Ran. Zhao Ran suggested to Liu Yao, "Qu Yun leads the main force outside; we can take Chang'an by surprise. If we take Chang'an, Huangbai City will naturally surrender. I hope Your Majesty will send a strong force to hold this position, and I will take the light cavalry to attack Chang'an." Liu Yao appointed Zhao Ran as the Vanguard Grand Commandant and Grand General of Annan on an interim basis, and gave him five thousand elite cavalry to attack. The imperial forces were defeated at Weiyang, and General Wang Guang was killed. That night, Zhao Ran stealthily entered the outer city of Chang'an, and Emperor Min hurriedly fled to Sheyan Tower. Zhao Ran set fire to Longwei and many military camps, killed and looted over a thousand people, and withdrew to Xiaoyao Garden the next morning. Qu Yun launched multiple attacks against Liu Yao, defeating him repeatedly. Liu Yao fled to Suyi and finally returned to Pingyang.
At this time, a meteor appeared in the sky, flying from Altair to Polaris, winding and circling like a dragon, with its light shining on the ground, landing ten miles north of Pingyang City. Upon closer inspection, it was a large piece of flesh, measuring thirty paces in length and twenty-seven paces in width, giving off a terrible stench that spread throughout Pingyang City, with cries constantly emanating from beside the flesh, day and night, without respite. Shi Le was extremely irritated by this situation, so he summoned all the ministers below the rank of nobles and asked, "My moral character is lacking, which has led to such strange occurrences. Speak up, do not hide anything." Chen Yuanda and Doctor Zhang Shi replied, "When stars change, disasters are about to befall. We are concerned that there may be a 'Three Empresses' situation in the harem, resulting in the downfall of the nation and the ruin of families. We hope Your Majesty will handle this matter with caution." Shi Le said, "This is simply the natural order of yin and yang, what does it have to do with human affairs!" But not long after, Liu Shi gave birth to a snake and a fierce beast, both of which injured people and ran away, unable to be found. After a while, they were found beside the fallen flesh. Shortly after, Liu Shi died, the flesh disappeared, and the crying stopped. Since then, the harem has been in chaos, with the emperor indulging his concubines indiscriminately.
Liu Cong appointed Liu Yi as Grand Commandant. Initially, the position of Prime Minister was established, which could only be awarded posthumously to those who had shown exceptional merit and virtue. In this way, the positions of all officials were determined. He also established positions such as Grand Preceptor and Chancellor, with a total of seven dukes, starting from the Grand Marshal rank and above, all with the rank of Senior Official, wearing green silk ribbons and far-traveling crowns.
He also established the positions of Deputy General of Han, Governor General, Central Army General, Upper Army General, Auxiliary Army General, Capital General, Guard General, Front Army General, Rear Army General, Left Army General, Right Army General, Upper Army General, Lower Army General, Deputy National General, Crown General, Dragon Cavalry General, and Wuya General, each camp with two thousand soldiers, all held by his sons. He also established the positions of Left and Right Imperial Commanders, each overseeing over two hundred thousand households, with one Inner Historian appointed for every ten thousand households, resulting in a total of forty-three Inner Historians. The Left and Right Assistants to the Chanyu each oversaw one hundred thousand households of the Six Yi, with one Commandant appointed for every ten thousand households. He abolished the Ministry of Personnel and established the Left and Right Selection Secretaries. The six official positions below the Imperial Commanders were all subordinate to the Puye. He also appointed the Grand Master of the Imperial Archives and Provincial Governors, with the rank equivalent to that of a Duke.
He appointed his son Liu Can as Prime Minister, concurrently holding the position of Grand General, overseeing the affairs of the Imperial Archives, and was granted the title of Prince of Jin with a fief of five capitals. Liu Yannian was in charge of the affairs of the six departments of the Imperial Archives, Liu Jing was appointed as the Grand Chancellor, Wang Yu was appointed as the Grand Tutor, Ren Yi was appointed as the Grand Protector, Ma Jing was appointed as the Grand Minister, Zhu Ji was appointed as the Grand Secretary, and Liu Yao was appointed as the Grand Marshal.
General Yao was stationed on the banks of the Wei River, while Zhao Ran established camp in Xinfeng. Suo Chan set out from Chang'an to the east to attack Zhao Ran. Having achieved several victories in the past, Zhao Ran underestimated Suo Chan. His Chief Strategist, Lu Hui, advised him: "Now that Sima Yefu and his son think they are close to the capital, the difference in strength is clear. They will definitely fight to the death, so the general should thoroughly organize the troops, prepare for battle before attacking, and not underestimate the enemy! Even a cornered beast will fight back, let alone an entire nation!" Zhao Ran, however, dismissively replied, "With Sima Yefu's limited strength, capturing him will be as easy as pulling a radish. As for Suo Chan, how could he ever soil my horse's hooves or blades! I must capture him before I can eat!"
The next morning, Zhao Ran led hundreds of elite cavalry troops and quickly charged out to confront Suo Chan. The result was a battle on the west side of the city, resulting in a crushing defeat. Zhao Ran bitterly regretted his decision and said, "I did not listen to Lu Hui's advice, which led to this situation. What face do I have left to show him?" He then went on to kill Lu Hui. As Lu Hui lay dying, he pointed at Zhao Ran and cursed him, "General, you are arrogant and refuse to listen to advice. Your reckless actions led to failure, and you harbor resentment towards those who advised you. You killed a loyal advisor out of rage. How can you hold your head up in this world? Yuan Shao did the same in the past, and now you are following in his footsteps. Ultimately, you will fail and perish. This is inevitable. My only regret is that I cannot face the Grand Marshal before I die. Once I am dead, I will know nothing. But if there is awareness after death, I will make sure to report to Tian Feng in the underworld, so that you will never find peace even in death!" Lu Hui then told the executioner, "Let me die facing east."
After General Yáo withdrew his troops, he attacked Guo Mo and seized eighty thousand hu of grain in Huaicheng, where he stationed three camps for defense. Emperor Jin Ming dispatched an envoy to Yáo, saying, "Chang'an is temporarily stable now that Liu Kun has died. This is the most pressing issue for the nation. Guo Mo is just a minor character and not worth your attention. You can leave General Beiqiu Wang Yiguang to guard Huaicheng and return." General Yáo then returned to Puban. Not long after, he was summoned back to assist in governing the court.
Later, Zhao Ran invaded the northern territories and dreamt one night that Lu Hui was furious and shot an arrow at him. Zhao Ran woke up in a panic. The next morning, as he was about to attack the city, he was struck by a crossbow bolt and died instantly.
Once Sima Cong became the Prime Minister, with immense power, consolidating control over the Prime Minister's Mansion and all the officials. That year, Pingyang experienced an earthquake, with fierce winds uprooting trees and causing houses to collapse. In Guangyi County, a man named Yang Chong had a wife who gave birth to twins. His brother secretly consumed the children, and three days later, he passed away. Sima Cong, whose family's ancestral temple had just been completed, ordered a general amnesty and changed the reign title. As a result, blood rain began to fall from the Yanyan Hall in the Eastern Palace, with the roof tiles pierced, reaching a depth of five inches.
Liu Yi, feeling very afraid, went to consult Grand Tutor Lu Zhi, Grand Tutor Cui Wei, and Grand Guardian Xu Xia for advice. Lu Zhi and the others said, "The Emperor previously wanted the Prince to be the Crown Prince to appease everyone, but in fact, the Emperor had long wanted to appoint Prince Jin. All the ministers in the court are looking forward to Prince Jin ascending the throne. The position of Prime Minister has not been an ordinary official role for courtiers since Emperor Wu of Wei. The Emperor originally viewed it as an honorary position, but now he has appointed Prince Jin to fill it. His grandeur and power surpass that of the Crown Prince. All major matters are decided by him, and he even has the Prime Minister, Grand General, and other princes serving him. The situation is very clear. The Crown Prince cannot be Crown Prince anymore.
What's worse is that the Crown Prince is in danger at all times and must find a solution quickly. The Imperial Guard has no less than five thousand elite soldiers, while the armies of the other princes are insufficient and can be taken over. The current Prime Minister is frivolous and arrogant, easily dealt with by an assassin. The Grand General leaves the palace every day, making his camp vulnerable to attack. If the Crown Prince resolves to act, he can quickly muster twenty thousand elite soldiers, marching straight toward the Yunlong Gate. The palace guards will definitely turn on each other, and the Grand Marshal won’t have to worry about any surprises." Liu Yi did not listen to them, and the matter passed.
Later, Sima Cong ran to the home of Jin Zhun, the Central Army Commander, and took Jin Zhun's two daughters as his concubines. The older one was named Yueguang, and the younger one was named Yuehua; both were stunningly beautiful. After a few months, Sima Cong established Yueguang as the empress. Xun Yu, the chamberlain of the Eastern Palace, persuaded Liu Yi to rebel, but Liu Yi ignored the advice and informed Sima Cong instead. So, Sima Cong arrested Lu Zhi, Cui Wei, and Xu Xia, and fabricated a reason to execute them. He also assigned Guan Wei Bu Chou to monitor the Eastern Palace, prohibiting Liu Yi from attending court to see the emperor. Liu Yi was filled with fear and anxiety, not knowing what to do, so he wrote a letter to the emperor requesting permission to retire to the countryside and to have his son's title stripped. He also strongly advocated for Prince Jin to be made the crown prince, but Sima Cong paid him no mind.
This young man, Cao Yi, seized Wenyang Pass and Gongqiu, killed Xu Fu, the Prefect of Qi County, and captured General Liu Xuan. More than forty counties in the Qi and Lu areas surrendered to him in fear. Then Cao Yi continued to advance, occupying Zhu'a and Pingyin, with over one hundred thousand troops stationed by the Yellow River, before finally returning to Linzi. Now he was brimming with ambition, eager to dominate the entire Qi kingdom. Shi Le, sensing that he posed a significant threat, requested the court to send troops to attack him. However, Emperor Sima Cong was afraid that Shi Le would take advantage of the situation to annex the Qi kingdom, so he shelved the matter and did not agree.
This scoundrel Liu Yao crossed the river at Mengjin, preparing to attack Henan. The Wei general was terrified and fled to hide in a place called Yiquanwu. Liu Yao attacked Xingyang, where Li Ju was located, and Li Ju sent General Li Ping to resist in Chenggao, but he was utterly defeated by Liu Yao. Li Ju was so frightened that he hastily sent hostages and requested to surrender.
Speaking of Sima Cong, he appointed his empress Jin Shi as the Empress Dowager, and appointed Lady Liu as the Left Empress and Lady Jin as the Right Empress. Suddenly, there were three empresses! Left Minister Chen Yuanda couldn't stand it and strongly advised against it, but Sima Cong didn't listen at all. He demoted him to Right Minister of Rites, pretending it was a promotion while actually taking away his power. This created a problem, as Grand Commandant Fan Long, Grand Marshal Liu Dan, Grand Marshal Huyan Yan, and Prefect Wang Jian all submitted their resignations, resigning in favor of Chen Yuanda. Sima Cong had no choice but to appoint Chen Yuanda as the Grand Inspector, also allowing him to concurrently serve as the Secretary of the Three Offices.
Liu Yao led his troops to attack Chang'an, but was defeated several times by the imperial army. Liu Yao saw that the situation was not good and said, "They are still very powerful, not easy to deal with!" So he led his army back.
In Sima Cong's palace, there were howls of ghosts and wolves every night, lasting for three days until the sound finally reached the Right Sili Temple and stopped. It turned out that Empress Dowager Jin Shi had done something wrong, and Chen Yuanda reported this matter. Sima Cong had no choice but to depose Jin Shi, who, filled with shame, took her own life. Jin Shi used to be very favored, but Sima Cong only deposed her because he couldn't withstand the pressure from Chen Yuanda. Later, he missed Jin Shi's beauty and hated Chen Yuanda even more.
Liu Yao led his troops to Shangdang and prepared to attack Yangqu. Sima Cong sent envoys to Liu Yao, saying, "Chang'an has set up an emperor without authorization; this is a great shame for the country! You should first attack Chang'an and leave the matter of Yangqu to the General of Chariots and Cavalry. The timing is right; hurry back!" After hearing this, Liu Yao first dealt with Guo Mai, then went to see Sima Cong, and finally went to Puban.
There was an earthquake in Pingyang, and there was a rain of blood in the East Palace that persisted for some time.
Liu Yao launched another attack, camping in Suyi. Qu Yun and his men were starving, so they abandoned Huangbai and fled to Lingwu. Liu Yao attacked Shangjun, where the prefect Zhang Yu and the prefect of Fengyi, Liang Su, both fled to Yunwu. The people of Guanzhong were in a state of panic, with many surrendering to Liu Yao. Liu Yao then captured Huangfu.
Look, the situation is terrible! The armory of Jin Min Emperor Sima Cong had collapsed to a depth of fifteen feet! At that time, several influential figures around Sima Cong, including Wang Shen, Xuan Huai, Yu Rong, Guo Yi, and Ling Xiu, all held great power and were favored by the emperor, controlling the court. The emperor spent his days indulging in the pleasures of the harem, sometimes not attending court for months. Ministers had to go through Wang Shen and others to reach the emperor, and many memorials never reached the emperor's hands. The emperor's moods were entirely at the mercy of Wang Shen and his cronies, so some loyal officials received no recognition or rewards, while corrupt officials quickly rose to high-ranking positions.
War continued year after year, yet the soldiers received no recognition or rewards. Even the servants in the harem received rewards, often amounting to millions of coins! The carriages, clothes, and houses of Wang Shen and his associates were more luxurious than that of the royal family. Their relatives, even if originally commoners, could rise to high-ranking positions. There were more than thirty such individuals! They lived in extravagant luxury, engaged in corruption, and oppressed the common people. Even Jin Zhun's family was eager to curry favor with them.
Guo Yi felt that Liu Yi was very dangerous, so he said to Liu Can, "The Crown Prince was unscrupulous even when the Emperor was alive. This is not only a deep grudge between your father and son but also a profound resentment felt by the common people! The Emperor, however, is exceptionally tolerant and did not strip the two brothers of their titles. I'm concerned for Your Highness! Besides, you are the grandson of the founding Emperor and the legitimate descendant of the Emperor. Who wouldn't rely on you? How can national affairs be entrusted to others? I heard a few days ago that the Crown Prince and General Wei had met and had a very friendly conversation. If their plans succeed, they intend to have the Emperor step down as the reigning Emperor and make General Wei the Crown Prince. Liu Yi also promised to let General Wei become the Grand Chanyu, and both princes agreed. With their positions secure and control of heavy troops, can they not succeed if they rebel? I believe the actions of these two princes are more despicable than those of animals! Betraying their own father, how can others be close to them? They are only chasing after short-term gains right now. After their success, will the Emperor still have good days? The bond between you and your brothers is undeniable. The Crown Prince, the Prime Minister, and the Chanyu are all in Wuling. How could they possibly cooperate with others? They plan to cause chaos at the March festival banquet. The longer this drags on, the more unpredictable things will become, so it's wise to prepare early. As the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' states, 'Even the spreading wild grass cannot be easily removed, let alone the favored younger brother of the monarch!' I have advised the Emperor many times, but the Emperor is kind-hearted and has a deep brotherly love, so he does not listen to me. Although I have experienced torture, I have received the grace of the Emperor and Your Highness, so I am not afraid to offend the imperial court. I will speak freely about what I hear, hoping it will be taken seriously. I intend to personally advise the Emperor and hope you won't disclose this but will report it discreetly instead. If you do not believe me, you can ask the attendants of General Wei, Wang Pi, and the Captain of the Wei Army, Liu Dun. Offer them some incentives, and they'll tell you the truth." Liu Can thought that Guo Yi made a lot of sense.
Guo Yi privately said to Wang Pi and Liu Dun, "The two lords' rebellion plan has already been known by the Emperor and the Prime Minister; were you involved?" The two were startled and said, "No!" Guo Yi said, "There's no mistake about this; I'm just worried that your relatives and friends will get dragged into this." Saying this, Guo Yi began to cry. Wang Pi and Liu Dun were terrified and fell to their knees, begging for mercy. Guo Yi said, "I can think of a way to help you; will you accept it?" Both of them said, "We will definitely follow your orders." Guo Yi said, "The Prime Minister will definitely ask you; just tell him the truth about this. If he asks why you didn't speak up sooner, say, 'We deserve the worst punishment, but considering the Emperor's benevolence and the deep brotherly bond of His Highness, we were afraid that speaking out would turn into a lie.'" Wang Pi and Liu Dun agreed. Liu Can soon called them in for questioning, and although they were questioned at different times, their answers were exactly the same, and Liu Can believed Guo Yi's words.
At first, Jin Zhun's cousin was the Crown Princess, but she ended up getting involved with a palace guard. The Crown Prince, enraged, killed her and constantly mocked Jin Zhun about it. Feeling embarrassed and angry, Jin Zhun went to Cao Can and said, "The Crown Prince is now in charge of so many matters in the Eastern Palace; he should step up as Prime Minister so everyone knows the Crown Prince is capable and responsible!"
Some time later, Jin Zhun said to Cao Can again, "In the past, King Xiaocheng did not listen to Zi Zheng's advice, and as a result, the Wang clan seized power. Can this be tolerated?" Cao Can said, "Of course not!" Jin Zhun said, "Exactly, the Emperor is wise. I honestly want to say a few words, but my status is lowly and I have no connection to the royal family. I'm worried that speaking the truth could get me into trouble, so I have been silent." Cao Can said, "Go ahead and speak." Jin Zhun said, "I have heard that there are rumors going around that the Grand General, the Guardian General, and the Left and Right Assistants all want to support the Crown Prince, planning to launch a coup in the spring. His Highness should be careful, or else, watch out for the fate of Bu Shangchen!" Cao Can asked, "What should we do then?"
Jin Zhun said, "The emperor currently favors the crown prince a lot. If you speak directly to the emperor, he might not believe you. I think we should first ease our guard on the Eastern Palace. Don’t chase away the crown prince’s guests; let those frivolous types keep mingling with him. The crown prince originally likes to interact with scholars and will definitely not be on guard against them. Those shallow folks are sure to stir up trouble and push the crown prince towards rebellion. However, these people are all impatient and not capable of pulling off anything significant, unlike Guan Gao who is capable. When the time’s right, I’ll reveal the crown prince’s wrongdoings to you, Your Highness, and then you and the Prime Minister can arrest and question those who hang out with the crown prince together, get to the bottom of it, and the emperor will surely punish the crown prince. Otherwise, many people are currently supporting the crown prince, and if the emperor were to pass away one day, Your Highness would be in danger!" So Cao Can ordered the withdrawal of the guards from the Eastern Palace. Since the winter of last year, Shi Le totally tuned out of state affairs, leaving all national matters to Shi Sui. Shi Le only dealt with final execution orders and appointing or dismissing officials, letting folks like Wang Shen and Guo Yi do whatever they wanted. Shi Le even opened a market in the harem, partying and having a blast with the palace maids, sometimes partying for three days and nights straight without waking up.
Later, Shi Le went up to the Autumn Pavilion and killed the special envoy Qi Wuda, Gong Shiyu, the Grand Master of the Palace Attendants, Minister Wang Yan, Tian Xin, Minister of Finance Chen Xiu, Left Guard Bu Chong, Minister of Agriculture Zhu Dan, and others. These people were all disliked by the eunuchs. The Palace Attendant Bu Gan cried and advised Shi Le, "Your Majesty is currently practicing good governance like Emperor Wu of the Xuan dynasty, wanting to bring peace to the world. How can you suddenly kill so many loyal ministers and capable generals? How will you justify this to future generations? In the past, although King Qin favored three wise ministers, he still killed them in the end, and everyone knows he ultimately failed to become a hegemon. Even Duke Li of Jin, who was known for his brutality, showed some reluctance in his heart after killing three ministers. Your Majesty, how can you believe the words of those around you and want to kill seven ministers in one day? The imperial decree is still with the officials, not yet announced. Please, Your Majesty, revoke the order and spare them! Furthermore, even if Your Majesty wants to kill them, not even giving them a charge, how can you explain this to the people of the world? Is this the way an emperor should handle things?" With that, Bu Gan banged his head until it bled. Wang Shen scolded Bu Gan, saying, "Palace Attendant Bu, are you trying to defy the emperor's order?" Shi Le angrily left, demoted Bu Gan to the status of a commoner.
Dazai Liuyi and the others petitioned the emperor, saying, "We have heard that good people are the foundation of a prosperous country and the basis of ruling the realm. Those evil men are like pests, the main culprits in destroying the country and the state. Therefore, King Wen established the foundation of the Zhou Dynasty with the help of many wise men, while Emperor Huan of Han and Emperor Ling of Han led to the downfall of the Han Dynasty due to their over-reliance on eunuchs. The rise and fall of a nation has always been governed by this principle. Throughout history, wise rulers have never allowed eunuchs to participate in court affairs. Emperors Wu, Yuan, An, and Shun are not good examples! Now, Wang Shen and his associates hold important official positions, wielding the power of life and death, with influence throughout the country. They love or hate whoever they want, arbitrarily alter imperial edicts, deceive and manipulate the emperor, feign loyalty before the emperor, and act hypocritically in front of the prime minister. Their power is almost equal to that of the emperor. When the nobles see them, their eyes widen in fear, court officials are subservient, and the selection of officials is manipulated by them. Talents are no longer chosen based on ability, but on relationships. Politics is driven by bribery, and they promote villains while harming the loyal and righteous. They fear that loyal ministers like Wang Yan will serve Your Majesty with unwavering dedication, and they are afraid these loyal ministers will expose their crimes, so they want to frame and kill them. If Your Majesty hastily executes loyal ministers without thorough investigation, it will provoke the heavens and grieve the spirits below, causing sorrow and fear among the people. Wang Shen and his associates have narrowly escaped execution, ungrateful and disloyal; how could they ever express gratitude or repay Your Majesty's kindness? Why are you so close to them, Your Majesty? Why do you trust them so much? Duke Huan of Qi trusted Yi Ya, leading to chaos in the country, and Emperor Xiaohuai trusted Huang Hao, leading to the country's destruction. These are lessons from the past; the warning signs are clear! The recent earthquakes, solar eclipses, bloody rains, and fires are all caused by Wang Shen and his associates. We hope Your Majesty can eradicate these wicked villains, let the Secretariat and the Imperial Censorate handle state affairs, allow the Prime Minister and the ministers to meet in the palace every five days to discuss political matters, and allow the ministers to voice their opinions freely. In this way, these disasters will naturally disappear, and the world will be at peace. Jin has not yet been pacified, Ba and Shu have not yet submitted, Shi Le secretly plans to annex the Zhao and Wei states, and Cao Ji secretly aims to become king, while Your Majesty trusts Wang Shen and his associates to help them rebel. Your Majesty is surrounded by enemies; there is danger everywhere! You killed Wu Xian, you killed Bian Que; we fear Your Majesty may meet the same fate as Duke Huan, and should you wish to seek treatment in the future, it may be too late! We implore Your Majesty to relieve Wang Shen and his associates of their official duties and entrust their handling to the appropriate authorities."
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Emperor Sima Cong listened to these words and pointed at Wang Shen and the others, saying, "These fellows were incited by Chen Yuanda and have lost their minds." He then dismissed them. Wang Shen and the others knelt down and cried, saying, "We, your humble subjects, are grateful for your recognition and are fortunate to serve in the palace. But the nobles and ministers hate us like enemies, and they despise you even more. Please accept our sacrifice and kill us as an offering to the heavens for your sake, so that the court can naturally be stabilized." Sima Cong replied, "That's all nonsense. What have you done to deserve such hatred?" He then went to ask Fang Can, who strongly praised Wang Shen and the others for their loyalty and righteousness, wholeheartedly serving the court. Sima Cong was pleased and appointed Wang Shen and the others as marquises.
Grand Preceptor Liu Yi also submitted a memorial opposing this decision. Sima Cong was furious, tore up the memorial with his hands, Liu Yi died from the stress, and Chen Yuanda cried sorrowfully, saying, "When people die, the country will decline. Since I can no longer speak, what's the point of being alive?" He then committed suicide.
The north was facing a severe famine, resulting in a staggering death toll from starvation and even reports of cannibalism. The Qiang tribe's leader led a large army to deliver food supplies to Qu Chang but was defeated by Liu Ya. Qu Yun fought a battle with Liu Yao in Panshi Valley, leading to the royal army's defeat. Qu Yun fled to Lingwu. Pingyang also suffered a severe famine, with over five-sixths of the population either refugees or starving. Shi Le sent Shi Yue with twenty thousand cavalry to station in Bingzhou, in an effort to pacify the rebels. Sima Cong sent Chamberlain for the Yellow Gate Qiao Shi to persuade Shi Le, but Shi Le paid no attention and secretly conspired with Cao Yi to create a three-way standoff.
Sima Cong appointed Fan Shi as the empress, who had originally been merely a maid of the Zhang family. Besides the four empresses, seven others donned the empress's seal and ribbon. Both inside and outside the court, there were no rules; flattery prevailed, bribery was rampant, the army fought outside, and famine and plague were continuous. Rewards in the harem frequently amounted to millions. Liu Fu repeatedly cried and advised Sima Cong, but Sima Cong completely disregarded him and angrily said, "Do you want me to kill your whole family? Stop crying every day!" Liu Fu succumbed to illness brought on by sorrow and indignation.
The locust plague was severe in the Hedong region, but the locusts did not eat millet and beans. Jin Zhun led his men to collect the locusts and bury them; the wails could be heard for over ten miles. Later, the locusts actually crawled out of the ground and started eating millet and beans again. The famine in Pingyang was dire, with two hundred thousand households fleeing to Jizhou due to Shi Yue's efforts to recruit them. It was astonishing that dogs and pigs were mating in front of the Prime Minister's mansion, even in front of the palace gates, and even in front of the Shili and Imperial Censor's gates. One pig even donned a Jin Xian crown and made its way to Sima Cong's seat; a dog wore a martial crown and a ribbon, and sat together with the pig. Soon, they fought to death in the hall, and the guards did not see how they entered. Sima Cong's incompetence and tyranny grew more pronounced, without a trace of fear.
He once entertained his courtiers in the front hall of Guangji Palace and also summoned his younger brother, Sima Cong, who appeared haggard and had white hair, crying as he pleaded for forgiveness. Sima Cong mournfully replied to him, then immersed himself in drinking and merrymaking, treating him just as he always had. Liu Yao seized the outer city of Chang'an, and Emperor Min dispatched Song Chang, the Palace Attendant, to deliver the imperial edict to Liu Yao. Emperor Min himself bared his torso, led a sheep, carried a coffin, and held a jade disc as he surrendered. After arriving in Pingyang, Sima Cong named Emperor Min the Grand Master of Splendor and Marquis of Huai'an, sent a messenger to inform the ancestral temple, granting amnesty across the region and changing the reign title to Linjia. Qu Yun took his own life.
The four gates of the Eastern Palace collapsed inexplicably, and then a female court historian inside the palace turned into a man! At that time, the Crown Prince Yue had already died, with his fingers still warm, so no one arranged his funeral. To everyone's surprise, Crown Prince Yue returned to life! He said he went to Mount Buzhou and met Yuan Hai. After staying at Mount Buzhou for five days, he followed Yuan Hai to Kunlun Mountain, and three days later, he returned to Mount Buzhou. He saw all the deceased kings, nobles, ministers, and generals there; the palace was magnificent, and this place was called the Mengzhuli Kingdom. Yuan Hai told Crown Prince Yue, "There is a country in the northeast called Zhe Xuyi; no one has been in charge for a long time, waiting for your father to take the throne. Your father will arrive here in three years, and when he arrives, the country will descend into chaos, and everyone will turn against one another; most of my family will die, only about ten of them will survive. You should go back now, come back next year, and you will see each other again soon." After bidding farewell to Yuan Hai, Crown Prince Yue returned home, and on the way, he encountered a country called Yini Quyu. They invited Crown Prince Yue into the palace and gave him a leather bag, saying, "This is for the Han Emperor." Crown Prince Yue politely declined, and they said, "Liulang (referring to Crown Prince Yue's father) will definitely come here next year, and then we will marry our daughter to him." Crown Prince Yue returned home and set the leather bag down on the loom. After a while, Crown Prince Yue fainted again. Upon waking, he instructed those around him to take the leather bag from the loom and open it. Inside was a square white jade inscribed with the words: "The Heavenly King of Yini Quyu Kingdom pays respects to the Heavenly King of Zhe Xuyi Kingdom; when the time comes, we shall meet." Crown Prince Yue quickly sent this jade to Emperor Han Ai, Liu Xin. Liu Xin remarked, "If this is true, then I fear no death!" Later, when Emperor Han Ai died, this jade was interred with him.
This story is truly bizarre! The gate of the Eastern Palace collapsed on its own, the Minister of Internal Affairs underwent a transformation, the Crown Prince died and was resurrected, then went to the country of Mengzhuli, met the immortal Yuanhai, and even received a token from the Tianwang of Yini Quyu... The white jade is engraved with "When we meet," likely indicating a connection between Emperor Han Ai and the country of Zhe Xu Yi. In the end, Emperor Han Ai buried the jade with him, bringing the story to a close. It involves immortals, spirits, resurrection, prophecies, and mysterious artifacts, truly astonishing. This is probably the charm of ancient legendary stories, full of mystery and imagination.
There are ghosts crying in the Eastern Palace; it's quite terrifying! A crimson rainbow appeared in the sky, extending all the way to the south, a strange sight; three suns appeared simultaneously, each with two halos, colorful and bright; there was also a comet that streaked through the Purple Micro Palace before vanishing near the Star of Heaven's Prison.
The Grand Historian Kang Xiang presented these unusual phenomena to the emperor, saying, "Look at this rainbow, spanning the sky, with a branch extending straight to the south; appearing all at once for three days; and a comet entering the Purple Palace. These are all very unusual signs, signifying that significant events are on the horizon! The rainbow spanning east and west suggests that the regions south of Luoyang and Xuchang are hard to conquer. The rainbow branch leading to the south indicates that the Li family will continue to occupy Bashu, Sima Rui will eventually control the entire Wu region, and the realm may be carved into three factions! The moon symbolizes the Hu tribes. Although the Han Dynasty currently occupies the two capitals and the emperor sits in the revered position of the Nine-Five, the Yandi in the north has risen as a new force. Could the moon’s changes affect the Han Dynasty? Although the Han Dynasty occupies the Central Plains and controls the various vassals, the phenomena in the Purple Palace also point to issues within the Han itself, the deeper implications are hard to articulate. Shi Le has his eyes on Zhao and Wei, Cao Yi is also eyeing Dong Qi, the Xianbei are spread across Yandi like stars in the sky, and places like Qi, Dai, Yan, and Zhao all harbor ambitions of world domination. I urge Your Majesty to pay attention to the Dongxia region, rather than solely focusing on the southwest. Wu and Shu lack the strength to push northward, just as the Great Han is unable to move south. The capital is weak in military strength, but Shi Le's army is strong. If he concentrates the elite troops of Zhao and Wei, and the cavalry of Yan comes from Shangdang, with Cao Yi leading the Three Qis' army following, how will Your Majesty defend against this? Could the phenomena in the Purple Palace hint at this situation? I urge Your Majesty to prepare in advance to prevent unrest among the people. If Your Majesty can issue an edict to follow the examples of Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of Han in surveying the coasts, and adopt Emperor Gaozu's strategy of confronting the Chu state from within, it is bound to succeed!" Cong read through the memorial and felt quite displeased.
Liu Can sent Wang Ping to tell Liu Yi, "I have just received the Emperor's secret edict, stating that there will be changes in the capital city, ordering everyone to prepare their armor just in case." Liu Yi took it seriously and ordered the officials in the palace to put on armor and be on standby. Liu Can quickly sent someone to inform Jin Zhun, Wang Shen, and others, "Wang Ping just reported that the Crown Prince is secretly preparing to rebel. What should we do about it?" Jin Zhun quickly reported to Emperor Sima Cong, who was taken aback and exclaimed, "How could this be happening!" Wang Shen and the others chimed in together, "We have heard about this a long time ago, but we were afraid you wouldn't believe us, Your Majesty." So Sima Cong sent Liu Can to surround the Crown Prince's palace. Liu Can sent Wang Shen and Jin Zhun to arrest more than ten leaders of the Di and Qiang tribes, interrogated them severely, hung them up, burned their eyes with hot irons, and finally, these leaders confessed to plotting a rebellion with Liu Yi. Sima Cong said to Wang Shen and the others, "From this point forward, I know you are loyal to me. Remember, speak the truth and do not regret not saying what you should have said before." So, Sima Cong killed dozens of ministers and officials who were close to Liu Yi; these were individuals that Jin Zhun and the eunuchs had always looked down upon. Liu Yi was stripped of his title as King of the North, and Liu Can secretly sent Jin Zhun to kill him. Nearly fifteen thousand people were killed, and the streets of Pingyang were empty. Over one hundred thousand Di and Qiang rebels prompted Sima Cong to appoint Jin Zhun as the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry to suppress them. At that time, Sima Cong's territory suffered a severe locust plague, especially in Pingyang, Jizhou, and Yongzhou. Jin Zhun went to suppress the rebellion, and both of his sons died from fright. The Yellow River and Fen River flooded, submerging thousands of households. The Crown Prince's palace also suffered devastation, with the palace gates and towers destroyed. Sima Cong appointed Liu Can as the Crown Prince, granted amnesty to all offenders sentenced to less than death, and appointed Liu Can as Prime Minister and Grand Chanyu, continuing to manage the affairs of the court.
Sima Cong went to Shanglin Park to hunt, and the general accompanying the emperor in his chariot wore armor, carried a spear, and led the way, performing the Three Drives ceremony (an ancient hunting ritual). Liu Can said to Sima Cong, "The Sima family now occupies Jiangdong, Zhao Gu and Li Ju collude with each other to rebel, and all those who rise up in arms are using the banner of your son, Sima Ye. It's better to get rid of Sima Ye to cut off their hope." Sima Cong agreed.
Zhao Gu and Guo Mo attacked Hedong, and they reached Jiangyi. More than 30,000 riders in the Right Sima Department stole horses and fled with their families to Zhao Gu and Guo Mo. General Liu Xun pursued and killed over ten thousand enemies before Zhao Gu and Guo Mo retreated. Liu Jie went to intercept the pursuit but was defeated by Zhao Gu. Sima Cong sent Liu Can and Liu Ya to attack Zhao Gu, stationed at Xiaopingjing. Zhao Gu announced, "We must capture Liu Can alive to rescue the emperor." Sima Cong was very angry upon hearing this.
Li Ju sent Guo Mo and Guo Song to rescue Zhao Gu. They stationed at Luoyang and then sent Geng Zhi and Zhang Pi to secretly cross the river and attack Liu Can, who serves under Shi Le. King Yiguang of Beiqiu learned of this situation from Licheng and quickly informed Can. Can said, "After General Shi Le crosses to the south, Zhao Gu will certainly be scared and flee everywhere. They won't have time to attack me, let alone cross the river! Besides, I heard that Shi Le himself is nearby; they certainly wouldn't dare to look north, let alone cross the river! There's no need to raise alarm among the troops."
As a result, that night, Geng Zhi and his men launched a surprise attack and defeated Can's army. Can fled to Yangxiang to defend himself, while Geng Zhi also seized the food in Can's camp. Upon hearing the news, Can hurried back and set up a barrier outside the camp to face off against Geng Zhi. Hearing of Can's defeat, Shi Le sent General Fan Long with cavalry to support him. Geng Zhi and his men, afraid, broke through with five thousand men and fled north towards the mountains. Liu Xun pursued them, and they clashed at Heyang. Geng Zhi's army was heavily defeated, with three thousand five hundred dead and over a thousand who committed suicide by jumping into the river.
A fire broke out at Chongsigong, Shi Le's residence, killing his son, Prince Kuaiji Liu Zhong, and twenty-one others. Upon hearing this news, Shi Le collapsed on the bed, overwhelmed with grief, unable to regain his composure for half a day. The bolt at the West Ming Gate in Pingyang fell off, and there was also a landslide in Huoshan.
Afterwards, Shi Le appointed Liu Ji as Grand General of the Cavalry and King of Jinan. He also named him Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs and Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat; Liu Mai as Grand General of the Guards, King of Qi, and Grand Minister of State.
Wang Shen was known to be a favorite of the emperor, and he had a daughter, fourteen years old, who was exceptionally beautiful. The emperor and Empress He were captivated by her and wanted to make her empress.
This left the ministers in a state of panic. Minister Wang Jian, Chancellor Cui Yi, and Minister Cao Xun, together submitted a memorial to advise the emperor, saying: "We have heard that the emperor is planning to select an empress who embodies the balance of yin and yang, who can continue the royal bloodline, and can be a virtuous and gentle mother to the realm. An empress must come from a noble family and be gentle and virtuous in order to live up to the expectations of the people and honor the ancestors. Take King Wen of Zhou, who married Lady Jiang, as an example; the country prospered, and the beautiful love songs in 'Guoju' stabilized the Zhou dynasty for hundreds of years. In contrast, Emperor Xiaocheng of Han was debauched and even made a palace maid empress, which led to the dynasty's downfall and nearly brought the country to ruin! Since the reign of Han Lingjia, the obsession with women has thrown the country into chaos. Now, Wang Shen's daughter, of such low birth that she's not even fit to be compared to a commoner, how can she enter the palace and taint the royal reputation? The concubines in the harem are all from prestigious families, yet you want to make a slave's daughter empress. It's like putting precious jade next to rotting wood—how absurd is that? We are worried that the country will suffer if this continues!"
The emperor and empress were enraged upon reading the memorial and immediately ordered Wang Shen to arrest Wang Jian and the others for insulting the state and spouting nonsense. Wang Jian and the others were swiftly arrested and dragged off to the execution ground.
At this time, Wang Yanyi, the Grand Master of Jin Ziguanglu, also wanted to advise, but the gatekeeper refused to let him in. Wang Jian was on the verge of execution, and Wang Shen picked up a stick to strike them, scolding, "You useless lackeys, what other mischief can you cause? What does it have to do with me!" Wang Jian stared at him and cursed, "You brat! You have made the Han Dynasty so chaotic; it's all caused by you rats and Jin Zhun! I will definitely expose you in the afterlife!" Cui Yizhi also said, "That Jin Zhun fellow, arrogant and domineering, will sooner or later become a disaster for the country. You harm others; now it's time for others to harm you!" Ultimately, Wang Jian and the others were all executed. What’s even more infuriating is that Empress He reinstated the daughter of the Central Attendant Xuan Huai as Empress.
The sound of ghosts crying first rang in the Hall of Extreme Brilliance and then in the Hall of Jian Shi. A blood rain fell over Pingyang, spreading for ten li. At this moment, Congzi's ghost must have perished, yet now it appeared in broad daylight. Shi Le (Cong) was very annoyed by this scene and said to his brother Shi Can, "I am bedridden and weak, experiencing strange occurrences. I used to think that what Cong said was deceptive, but I have been seeing him these days. This kid must have come to take me away. I never imagined spirits existed after death; if that's the case, I don't feel sorrowful about dying. The world is still in turmoil, not yet a time of peace and prosperity. I will die in the morning, be prepared for burial by evening, and buried in ten days." Then Shi Le appointed Liu Yao as Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Imperial Documents to assist in political affairs. Liu Yao firmly declined, and in the end, Shi Le gave up. He then appointed Liu Jing as Grand Preceptor, Liu Ji as Grand Marshal, Liu Yi as Grand Tutor, Zhu Ji as Grand Protector, and Hu Yan as Grand Guardian, all concurrently in charge of the affairs of the Imperial Documents; Fan Long was appointed as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and concurrently as the Equal of Three Excellencies, Jin Zhun was appointed as Grand Minister of Works and Chief Commandant of the Imperial Guard, and these officials took turns managing the memorials submitted to the Imperial Documents.
In the first year of Taixing, Shi Le died after nine years in power, posthumously honored as Emperor Zhaowu, with the temple title Liezong.
Shi Can, styled Shiguang, was outstanding and handsome when he was young, talented in both literature and martial arts. Since becoming prime minister, he became arrogant and domineering, eliminating dissidents, favoring sycophants, and exhibiting a cruel, ruthless temperament devoid of compassion, resisting counsel, and covering up his mistakes. He liked to build palaces, modeling his residence after the imperial Purple Palace. Although his time in power was brief, he worked tirelessly on construction, resulting in famine and poverty for the people, which led to rebellion and death, yet Shi Can remained indifferent. After inheriting the throne from Shi Le, he recognized Shi Le's empress, Jin Shi, as the Empress Dowager, Fan Shi as the Hongdao Empress, Xuan Shi as the Hongde Empress, and Wang Shi as the Hongxiao Empress. Jin Shi and the others were all under twenty years old, all of them stunning. Shi Can was completely engrossed in the pleasures of the harem, showing no interest in state affairs. He appointed his wife Jin Shi as the Empress, his son Yuangong as the Crown Prince, granted amnesty throughout the country, and changed the era name to Hanchang. Pingyang was once more drenched in blood.
That Jin Zhun fellow is up to no good, secretly telling Shi Chong, "I heard that those ministers want to emulate Yi Yin and Huo Guang, first eliminate the Grand Preceptor and us, and then let the Grand Marshal take control. If the Emperor doesn't act first, we'll be finished sooner or later!" Shi Chong ignored him completely. Realizing Shi Chong wasn't paying attention to him, Jin Zhun quickly told Jin Ming and Jin Kang, "Now those princes and ministers want to depose the Emperor and make the King of Jinan the new Emperor. Our Jin family will be completely finished in the future! We need to get this news to the Emperor fast!" Jin Ming and Jin Kang hurried to report to the Emperor.
As a result, Shi Chong had a large number of people killed, including Liu Jing, the King of Lu; Liu Yi, the Duke of Changguo; Liu Ji, the King of Jinan; and Liu Mai, the King of Qi. The Grand Preceptor Zhu Ji and the Grand Commandant Fan Long were so scared that they hurriedly fled to Chang'an. Shi Chong also had Liu Cheng, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and King of Wu, killed, who was, incidentally, the younger brother of Liu Ji, the King of Jinan! Shi Chong also held a grand military review at the imperial hunting grounds, planning to confront Shi Le. Then, Shi Chong promoted Jin Zhun to Grand General and put him in charge of the Secretariat. As for himself, Shi Chong indulged in pleasures of the flesh, spending his days reveling in feasts and entertainment within the palace, leaving all state affairs to Jin Zhun alone. Taking advantage of Shi Chong's name, Jin Zhun promoted his own brother, Jin Ming, to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Jin Kang to Guard General.
Jin Zhun, this ambitious man, was planning a rebellion. He recognized Wang Yan, the Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, for his esteemed reputation and went to discuss his plans with him. Wang Yan flatly refused and quickly rushed to report, but on the way, he ran into Jin Kang and was captured. Jin Zhun led his troops into the imperial palace, rushed to the Hall of Extreme Brilliance, and ordered his soldiers to seize Shi Chong. After scolding him severely, he had him killed. Members of the Liu clan, young and old alike, were beheaded and displayed in the East Market. He even dug up the graves of Yuan Hai and Shi Chong, burning down their ancestral shrines. The scene was so horrifying, the wails of the damned echoed for miles around!
Jin Zhun declared himself the Grand General and the Han Heavenly King, established several official positions, and sent people to the Jin State to pay homage. Liu Ya, the Left Guanglu, was so scared that he fled to Xiping. Shangshu Beigong Chun, Hu Song, and others joined forces with the people of the Jin State to defend the Eastern Palace, but were ultimately defeated by Jin Kang. Jin Zhun wanted Wang Yan to serve as the Left Guanglu Daifu, but Wang Yan shouted angrily, "You savage! You might as well just kill me! Hang my left eye on the West Sun Gate, as you enter the Xiangfu; hang my right eye on the Jianchun Gate, watching you enter the Grand General's Mansion!" Jin Zhun was furious and killed Wang Yan right then and there.
Chen Yuanda, styled as Changhong, was from the Houbei region. His original surname was Gao, but he changed it to Chen due to a conflict with his father. He was poor since childhood, often working the fields himself while studying, enjoying discussions on ethics and reciting poetry, finding great joy in it. He didn't socialize with anyone until he was forty. When Yuan Hai became the Left Noble King, he heard about him and invited him over, but Chen Yuanda paid him no mind. When Yuan Hai became emperor, someone said to Chen Yuanda, "Liu Bang invited you to be an official before, and you didn't go. Now that he is emperor, are you worried?" Chen Yuanda smiled and said, "What nonsense is this? He has remarkable vision and ambitions to unite the realm; I knew that long ago. I didn't go before because the time was not right; I couldn't just show up for no reason; he will understand naturally. Just wait and see; I bet that within two or three days, the court will summon me." That night, Yuan Hai indeed summoned Chen Yuanda to serve as a Huangmen Lang. Someone said, "You're truly a wise man!"
Chen Yuanda arrived at Yuan Hai's place, and after being introduced, Yuan Hai said, "If you had come earlier, why would you only be a low-ranking official?" Chen Yuanda replied, "I have always believed that everyone has their own destiny, and exceeding that limit can lead to misfortune. If I had sought refuge with you early, I fear you might have appointed me to a high position, like one of the Nine Ministers or a Chancellor, but that's not my destiny, and I wouldn't be able to handle it. So I've been patient, waiting for the right moment to come. This way, the king won't face criticism for my appointment, and I can steer clear of trouble. Isn't that good?" Yuan Hai was very pleased to hear this. Chen Yuanda was known for his loyalty and integrity at court, frequently offering counsel. Even after he retired to work alone in the fields, his own children had no idea what he was up to. Yuan Hai often said, "You should be the one fearing me, so why do I find myself afraid of you instead?" Chen Yuanda bowed and thanked him, saying, "I've heard that a monarch respecting his subjects is the true royal way, and a monarch and his subjects treating each other like friends is the hegemonic way. I’m truly just a fool with no talent, but thanks to Your Majesty for treating me with the same respect Duke Huan of Qi showed to the worthy, I, a lowly person, can be loyal. In the past, Emperor Wen of Han was able to accept the memorial of Ji An, and that's why the Han Dynasty thrived; while Jie and Zhou killed their advisers, King You and King Li suppressed speech, which is why the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties quickly perished. Your Majesty is a wise ruler, born at just the right time, who can learn from the lessons of the fall of the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and follow in the footsteps of Emperor Wu of Han to restore the Han Dynasty. Then the people will be fortunate, and we, as your subjects, can avoid disaster." After Chen Yuanda passed away, people mourned his loss.
