Real Histories
The emperor's name is Sima Yan, styled Shigen, and he is the eldest son of Emperor Ming, Sima Shao. On the Wuchen day of the third month in the third year of Taining, he was appointed as the Crown Prince. On the Run month Wuzi, Emperor Ming died. The following day, Jichou, Crown Prince Sima Yan ascended the throne and became the emperor, granting a general amnesty across the realm and promoting civil and military officials by two ranks. At the same time, he also rewarded two bolts of cloth to each orphan, widow, and elderly person. Then, he honored Empress Yu as the Empress Dowager.
In autumn, on the Guimao day of the ninth month, the Empress Dowager held court and began her personal rule. Wang Dao, the Minister of Works, oversaw the Secretariat's affairs, and together with Minister of the Central Secretariat Yu Liang, they assisted in the administration. The court also promoted General Calm the Army, King of Nandun, Sima Zong, to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and promoted General Lead the Army, King of Runan, Sima You, to Guard General. On the Xinchou day, Emperor Ming Sima Shao was buried in Wuping Mausoleum. In winter, on the Guisi day of the eleventh month, which was the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred. The Prefect of Guangling, Cao Hun, committed a crime, was imprisoned and eventually died.
In the year 330 AD, on the Dinghai day in the second month of spring, the court declared a general amnesty, changed the era name, and celebrated for five consecutive days, also distributing two bushels of rice to every orphan and widow, and exempting the people within a hundred miles of the capital from taxes for a year. It was indeed a day of widespread celebration!
In April, during the summer, Shi Le sent his general Shi Sheng to attack Runan. The people of Runan captured Neishi Zuji, accusing him of treason. On the day of Jiazi in the same month, the Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat, Deng You, passed away, which was a great loss. In May, there was another flood; the disasters just kept coming! In June, during the Guihai year, Liu Xia, the Governor of Xuzhou, passed away. On the day of Guiyou in June, Zong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, took over as the Governor of Xuzhou, while the General Who Captures the Enemy, Guo Mo, was appointed as the North General, with temporary command over the Huai North forces. As a result, Liu Xia's subordinates, Li Long and Shi Die, backed Liu Zhao, Liu Xia's son, to inherit his father's position and resist Guo Mo. The Prefect of Linhuai, Liu Jiao, defeated them, killed Li Long, and sent his head back to the capital for public display.
In July, during the Qiuchou month of autumn, Ying Zhan, the Governor of Jiangzhou, and the General Who Pacifies the South, passed away. In August, the court appointed Wen Qiao, the former General and Prefect of Danyang, as the General Who Pacifies the South, with temporary authority to supervise the military affairs of Jiangzhou, and as the Governor of Jiangzhou. In September, there was a drought again; it was truly a string of natural disasters! Li Xiong's general Zhang Long attacked Fuling and captured the Prefect Xie Jun. In the tenth month of winter, the court appointed Cao Mai, the great-grandson of Emperor Wei Wu, as the Prince of Chenliu, to carry on the ancestral rites of the Wei family. On the day of Bingyin, Wei Yu, the Prince of Runan, passed away. On the day of Jisi, the Emperor appointed his brother Yue as the Prince of Wu. Zong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and Prince of Nandon, was executed for committing a crime, and his family was demoted to the Ma clan. Yang, the Grand Preceptor and Prince of Xiyang, was dismissed and reduced to the Prince of Yiyang County. On the day of Gengchen, the court granted a general amnesty within a hundred-mile radius of the capital, pardoning all penalties of five years or less. In this month, Liu Yao's generals Huang Xiu and Bo Cheng attacked Zeng, while Wei Gai, the General Who Pacifies the North, led his troops to retreat to Xiangyang.
On the day of Renzi in November, the court held a grand military review in the southern suburbs. At the same time, adjustments were made to the titles and salaries of the various princes, establishing a nine-to-one food distribution. Shi Le's general, Shi Cong, launched an unsuccessful attack on Shouyang, so he proceeded to raid Quanqiu and Fuling. The court appointed Wang Dao as Grand Marshal, granting him a temporary yellow command baton, commanding him to lead military operations both inside and outside against Shi Le. The Governor of Liyang, Su Jun, sent his general Han Huang to attack Shi Cong, driving him away. During that period, a severe drought occurred, with no rain falling from June to November. In December, Liu Kai, the Governor of Jiyin, killed Xiahou Jia, the Neishi of Xiaping, and defected to Shi Le. The Prince of Liang, Qiao, died.
I can't recall the exact year, but it was January of the second year when a scholar named Pang Yi from Ningzhou suddenly rebelled, leading troops to attack Li Xiong's generals, Ren Hui and Li Qian. Upon hearing this, Li Xiong quickly dispatched Luo Heng and Fei Hei to their aid. The Governor of Ningzhou, Yin Feng, also sent Yao Yue and the Prefect of Zhuti, Yang Shu, to support Pang Yi. They clashed at Taideng, where Yao Yue's forces were defeated, and Yang Shu was killed in battle.
In March, Yizhou experienced an earthquake. In April, there was a severe drought. A few days later, Yuzhang was also struck by an earthquake. On the first day of May, a solar eclipse occurred! A few days later, the court promoted Zu Yue, the Governor of Yuzhou, to the rank of General of the West. To make matters worse, a major flood struck the capital that day. In October, during the winter, Liu Yao sent his son Liu Yin to attack Fohan, and they seized control of the territory of Henan. In November, Zu Yue, the Governor of Yuzhou, and Su Jun, the Governor of Liyang, unexpectedly rebelled as well!
In December, Su Jun sent his subordinate Han Huang to attack Gushu, killing everyone in the city. Then, Prince Xiong of Pengcheng and Prince Xiu of Zhangwu also defected and went to seek refuge with Su Jun. The court became anxious and immediately declared martial law in the capital. They then appointed Yu Liang as the commander-in-chief, Zhao Yin as the Champion General and concurrently Governor of Liyang, to lead troops to fight against Su Jun along with Sima Liu. A battle occurred at Cihu Lake, resulting in Sima Liu's defeat and death. The court then sent Zhong Ya with the navy to join Zhao Yin as the vanguard to confront Su Jun. During this period, Prince Yu of Langya was granted the title King of Kuaiji, and Prince Yue of Wu was named Prince of Langya. On Su Jun's side, another battle occurred at Wuhu against Huan Yi, who was likewise defeated. Finally, the court sent Liu Ju under Xi Jian to lead troops to reinforce the capital.
In January 329 AD, General Wen Qiao led his troops to the capital's rescue. Upon reaching Xunyang, he dispatched Wang Qianqi, Prefect of Xiyang, Deng Yue, Prefect of Xiyang, and Ji Mu, Prefect of Poyang, as the vanguard. General Tao Kan also sent Gong Deng to take orders from Wen Qiao. When Zhong Ya and Zhao Yin arrived at Cihu Lake, Wang Qianqi and Deng Yue arrived at Zhi Du. On Ding Wei day, Shi Le crossed the Yangtze River and ascended Niuzhushan.
In February, Shi Le arrived at Jiangshan. His subordinate, the fictitious General Bian Rong, fought alongside Shi Le at Xiling against the court forces, which were defeated. On Bing Chen day, Shi Le attacked Qingxi Barrier, ignited a fire using the wind, and the court forces suffered yet another defeat. The Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat and Leading General Bian Rong, Dan Yang Yin Yang Man, Yellow Door Gentleman Zhou Dao, and Governor of Lujiang Tao Zhan all died, along with thousands more. Yu Liang was also defeated at Xuanyang Gate, fleeing to Xunyang with his brothers Guo Mo and Zhao Yin.
At this time, Sima Wang Dao, Right Minister of Rites Lu Ye, and Xun Song protected the emperor in the Taiji Palace, while Minister of Ceremonies Kong Yu guarded the ancestral shrine. Shi Le's army pursued the victory, advancing all the way to the emperor's seat, rushing into the empress dowager's palace and taking away all the palace maids. At that time, there were only a few piculs of rice left in the palace, used to make the emperor's meals. The commoners cried out, their cries echoed throughout the capital. On the Ding Si day, Shi Le falsely proclaimed an imperial edict granting amnesty to all, appointing Zuyue as the Attendant, Grand Commandant, and Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and took on the title of General of the Cavalry, overseeing the affairs of the Masters of Writing. Prefect Yu Bing of Wu Commandery fled to Kuaiji. In the third month of the Bing Zi year, Empress Dowager Yu Shi passed away.
In the fourth month, Shi Le attacked Wancheng, and Nanyang Prefect Wang Guo defected and surrendered to Shi Le. On the Ren Shen day, Empress Ming Mu was buried in Wuping Mausoleum. In the fifth month of Yi Wei, Shi Le forced the emperor to move to Shitou City. The emperor cried as he boarded the carriage, and the palace was filled with wails. Shi Le converted the storehouse into a palace, sent Guan Shang, Zhang Jin, and Hong Hui to lay siege to Jinling, and sent Han Huang to attack Yixing. Wuxing Prefect Yu Tan, along with Yu Bing, Wang Shu, and others, staged an uprising in the Sanwu region. On the Bing Wu day, General Who Conquers the West Tao Kan, General Who Pacifies the South Wen Qiao, Guard General Yu Liang, and General Who Pacifies the North Wei Gai led forty thousand naval troops to Cai Zhou.
In June, Han Huan attacked Xuan Cheng, and Neishi Huan Yi fought to the death and died. In the year of Renchen, the General for Pacifying the North and Governor of Yongzhou, Wei Gai, died in the field. Mao Bao, the Prefect of Lujiang, attacked Shi Le's forces in Hefei and captured the city. In July, Zu Yue was defeated by Shi Cong under Shi Le, and the army dispersed and fled to Liyang. Shi Le's subordinate, Shi Jilong, attacked Liu Yao in Puban. In August, Liu Yao and Shi Jilong fought in Gaohou, where Shi Jilong was defeated, and Liu Yao then besieged Shi Sheng in Luoyang. On the Wushen day of September, Minister Wang Dao fled to Baishi. On the Gengwu day, Tao Kan sent Inspector Yang Qian to attack Shi Le in Shitoucheng. Wen Qiao and Yu Liang established a defensive formation in Baishi, and Li Yang, the Prefect of Jingling, blocked the enemy from the south. Shi Le rode out to battle, but fell from his horse and was subsequently killed, causing his army to scatter. Shi Le's followers then installed his brother Shi Yi as the new leader. Former Inspector of Jiaozhou, Zhang Lian, rebelled in Shixing, attacking Guangzhou, but Zeng Xie, the Commander of Zhen Nan, defeated Zhang Lian's forces. In October, Zhang Long under Li Xiong attacked Fuling, and the Prefect Zhao Bi was killed in battle. On the Yiwei day in December, Shi Le defeated Liu Yao in Luoyang and captured him. In that year, Shi Jilong under Shi Le attacked Pu Hong, the leader of the Di tribe, in Longshan, resulting in Pu Hong's surrender.
In the spring of the fourth year of the reign, in the first month, the emperor was in Shitoucheng (now Nanjing). The rebel general Kuang Shu surrendered Yuancheng to the court, and many officials went to Shitoucheng to welcome him. However, courtier Zhong Ya and Right Guard General Liu Chao plotted to escort the emperor out of Shitoucheng, but they were killed by the rebel forces. On a certain day, General Zhao Yin dispatched General Gan Miao to Linyang to confront Zu Yue, who was defeated and fled to Shi Le. His general Qian Teng surrendered to the court with his army. Zhao Yin's son Zhao Jun attacked Taicheng and even set fire to the Taiji East Hall and the Secret Pavilion, turning them to ashes. There was a famine in Shitoucheng, with a bushel of rice costing ten thousand coins!
In the second month, there was heavy rain. On a certain day, various armies attacked Shitoucheng. Li Yang and Su Yi fought at Zhapu, and Li Yang's army was defeated. Chief of Jianwei, Teng Han, led elite troops to support, but Su Yi and his men were defeated. Teng Han escorted the emperor onto a boat at Wenqiao, and the ministers all bowed and wept, asking the emperor to punish them for their incompetence. Prince Yanyang committed a crime and was executed. On a certain day, the court issued a decree of general amnesty. After the war, the palaces were reduced to ashes, necessitating the conversion of Jianping Garden into the imperial palace. On a certain day, Su Yi led tens of thousands of troops from Yanling Lake, preparing to march on Wuxing. On a certain day, General Wang Yunzhi and Su Yi fought at Liyang, capturing Su Yi. On a certain day, the court merged Xiangzhou and Jingzhou. Liu Yao's crown prince Liu Pi and his Grand Marshal Liu Yin fled to Shanggui, resulting in chaos in the Guanzhong region.
On the day of Renzi in March (a certain day in the lunar calendar), the court appointed General Tao Kan as Grand Marshal and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Changsha County; appointed General Xi Jian as Minister of Public Works and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Nanchang County; appointed General Wen Qiao as General of the Cavalry, Chief of the Imperial Household, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Shi'an County. Other officials were also rewarded differently. On the day of Gengwu in March (a certain day in the lunar calendar), the court appointed the Right Chief of the Imperial Clan, Lu Ye, as General of the Guards, Chief of the Imperial Household, and restored the title of Prince of Pengcheng back to Wang Hong of Gaomi. The court appointed General of the Guard Yu Liang as General of the West, Commander of military affairs in Xuanzhou and Jiangxi in Yangzhou, granting him the authority of acting governor and assigning him to Wuhu.
On the day of Yiwei in April (a certain day in the lunar calendar), General Wen Qiao, Marquis of Shi'an, died. In July, a comet appeared in the northwest. Flooding occurred in Kuaiji, Wuxing, Xuanzhou, Danyang, and elsewhere. The court ordered that counties previously disturbed by bandits would be exempt from paying taxes for three years. In August, Liu Yao's generals Liu Yin and others led troops to invade Shisheng, setting up camp in Yongdi. In September, Shi Le's general Shi Jilong attacked Liu Yin, killed him, then captured Shanggui, utterly annihilating the Liu family and massacring over three thousand of them. In October of winter, Mount Lushan suffered a landslide. On the day of Renchen in December (a certain day in the lunar calendar), Right General Guo Mo killed Liu Yin, the General of the South and Governor of Jiangzhou. Grand Marshal Tao Kan mobilized troops to confront Guo Mo. In that year, a rift appeared in the northwest sky.
In the first month of the year 320 AD, on the Ji Hai day, the court issued a general amnesty throughout the country. On the Gui Hai day, the emperor ordered the removal of all generals' sons and relatives from their official posts. In the second month, Lu Wan was appointed as the Left Minister, and Kong Yu was appointed as the Right Minister. In May, there was a drought in the summer, as well as famine and plague. On the Yi Mao day, Grand Commandant Tao Kan captured and killed Guo Mo in Xunyang. Shi Le's subordinate Liu Zheng attacked Nansha, where Commandant Xu Ru was killed in battle, and Liu Zheng advanced into Haiyu. On the Gui Si day in the sixth month, a new land tax system was introduced, collecting three sheng of grain per mu. In August, Shi Le proclaimed himself emperor and sent his general Guo Jing to attack Xiangyang. General of the Household of the South, Zhou Fu, withdrew to Wuchang, and the refugees from the Central Plains who had fled to Shi Le surrendered to him. Guo Jing continued to attack Xiangyang and set up camp in Fancheng. In September, the court began constructing a new palace and renovating Yuancheng. On the Jia Chen day, Prince Lecheng, Sima Qin, was appointed as the King of Hejian, and Sima Jun, the son of Prince Pengcheng, Sima Hong, was made the King of Gaomi. On the Ding Chou day in October, the emperor went to the home of Wang Dao, the Minister Over the Masses, and held a banquet. Li Xiong's general Li Shou attacked Badong and Jianping, while the Supervisor of the Army, Mu Qiu Ao, and the Prefect, Yang Qian, withdrew to Yidu. In December, Zhang Jun pledged loyalty to Shi Le.
In the first month of the year 321 AD, on the day of Guisi, Liu Zheng launched another attack on Lou County and subsequently looted Wu Jin. On the day of Yimao, the court appointed Xie Jian as the commander of Wu's military forces. On the day of Wuwu, due to the interruption of transportation, the court requisitioned over a thousand nobles to transport six hu of rice each. On the day of Jichou in February, Duan Liao, the Inspector of Youzhou and Grand Chanyu, was appointed as General of the Cavalry. On the day of Renxu in March, on the first day, a solar eclipse occurred. On the day of Guiwei, the court issued a decree recommending virtuous and outspoken scholars. In April, the summer experienced a drought. On the day of Bingshen in June, the title of the late Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, was restored, and Sima Zhi, son of the Prince of Pengcheng, was appointed King of Lecheng, while Sima Zhen, son of the King of Zhangwu, was appointed King of Zhangwu. In July, Li Shou's general Li Shou invaded Yinping, and Yang Nandi, the leader of the Wudu Di tribe, surrendered to him. On the day of Gengzi in August, Lu Wan was appointed as the Minister of the Left. In the spring of that year, on the day of Xinyou in January, the emperor granted amnesty to all prisoners. In March, the General of the Western Zhonglang Zhao Yin and the Minister of the Central Minister Kuang Shu led the troops to attack Ma Touwu, the stronghold of Shi Le, and succeeded! However, Shi Le's subordinate Han Yong came to cause trouble again and headed to Nansha and Haiyu to loot. In April in the summer, another general of Shi Le, Guo Jing, captured Xiangyang. In May, a flood occurred, compounding the troubles. On the day of Bingchen in July in autumn, the emperor issued an edict stating that raising rare birds and exotic animals was too costly, so he ordered that they all be culled to save costs. At this time, Grand Commandant Tao Kan sent his son Tao Bin, who was serving in the Western Army at the time, and the General of the Southern Zhonglang Huan Xuan to confront Guo Jing, who was under Shi Le's command, defeating Guo Jing and successfully recapturing Fancheng. Subsequently, Li Yang, the Administrator of Jingling, recaptured Xinye and Xiangyang and stationed troops there.
On the day of Renzi in November, during the winter, the emperor promoted Tao Kan to the higher rank of Grand General. Afterwards, the emperor ordered the nationwide selection of virtuous individuals. On the first day of the first month in the year 328 AD, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The traitorous rebels had been too audacious in the past, burning down the imperial palace. Although the villains have been eliminated, the palace has not yet been rebuilt. Various departments had repeatedly reported that the current meeting place is too crowded, so this new palace was built. Everyone worked hard, and it was completed in just a few days. Now I can move in and have invited the nobles and guests for a grand feast, with all the officials present. I know all the ministers have been diligent, so I want to ease your burden by pardoning all criminals sentenced to less than five years." The emperor then ordered each county to recommend those who could lift over 1500 pounds.
A few days later, Li Shou, a general under Li Xiong, captured Ningzhou, and both Yin Feng and Huo Biao, the Prefect of Jianning, surrendered to him. Afterwards, the emperor appointed Zhang Jun as the Grand General of the West. Shi Le sent bribes, but the emperor ordered the bribes to be burned.
In April, the emperor appointed Sima Mai, the brother of the late King of Xinchai, Sima Bi, as the new King of Xinchai. At the same time, the emperor sent people to recruit the hermits Zhai Tang from Xunyang and Yu Xi from Kuaiji with silk. In May, a star fell in Feixiang, and qilins and zhouyus appeared in Liaodong. Murong Hui died, and his son, Murong Huang, succeeded him.
In June, General Wang Shu passed away. In July, Shi Le died, and his son Shi Hong inherited the throne. Shi Le's general, Shi Cong, led his troops to surrender to the court. In October, Shi Hong's general, Shi Sheng, rebelled in Guanzhong, claiming to be the Inspector of Qinzhou, and also sent people to surrender. Another general under Shi Hong, Shi Jilong, attacked Shi Lang and successfully eliminated Shi Sheng. In December, Guo Quan, a former subordinate of Shi Sheng, also sent people to request surrender.
In the ninth year of our era, in the first month of spring, two meteorites fell in the Liangzhou area, which was quite unusual. The court appointed Guo Quan as General of the West and Inspector of Yongzhou, promoting him and granting him a title. On the day of Dingmao in February, General Zhang Jun was promoted to Grand General, which was a cause for great celebration. On the day of Dingyou in March, an earthquake occurred in Kuaiji area, frightening the common people.
By the summer of April, Shi Hong sent Shi Jilong to attack the Maixian defended by Guo Quan, resulting in Maixian's capture and Guo Quan's defeat. In June, Li Xiong died, and his nephew Li Ban falsely claimed to inherit his position and became the emperor. On the same day, on Yimao day, the court's senior minister, Grand Commandant and Duke of Changsha, Tao Kan, passed away, bringing sorrow to the entire court. That summer, there was a severe drought, resulting in a complete crop failure. The court ordered the imperial palace to stop enjoying luxurious meals, reduce punishments, show compassion to orphans and widows, and cut back on expenses. On the day of Xinwei, the court promoted General Pingxi, Yu Liang, to command the military of six provinces: Jiangzhou, Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Yizhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou, significantly expanding his authority.
In August, during autumn, there was a heavy rain, and finally the heavens finally opened! Only this month did the drought finally ease. On the 9th day of September, Sanqi Changshi and Wei General, Duke Lu Ye of Jiangling passed away, another high-ranking official passed away. In October, Li Xiong’s son, Li Qi, killed Li Ban and declared himself emperor. Li Ban's brother Li Wu, as well as his generals Jiao Kuai, Luo Kai, and others, surrendered to the imperial court. In November, Shi Jilong killed Shi Hong and proclaimed himself Tianwang, what a time of chaos! On the 7th day of December, the court appointed Prince Chong of Donghai as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Langye Prince Yue as the General of Valiant Cavalry. Zhu Zong of Lanling killed Guo Xiang, one of Shi Jilong's generals, and surrendered with Pengcheng to the court.
On the first day of the first month in the year 335 AD, it was Gengwu, the emperor donned his ceremonial robe for adulthood, issued a general amnesty, changed the era name, promoted all civil and military officials one rank, and then held a grand banquet celebrating for three consecutive days. The emperor also rewarded each widow, widower, and orphan unable to support themselves with five hu of rice.
On the first day of the second month, the emperor personally presided over the sacrificial ceremony. That year, there was a famine in many places in Yangzhou, so the emperor quickly dispatched officials to provide disaster relief. On the eighth day of the third month, the emperor visited the Situ Mansion for an inspection. On the eighth day of the fourth month, Shi Jilong launched an attack on Liyang, and the emperor swiftly promoted Wang Dao of Situ, appointing him Grand Marshal, and bestowed upon him the Huangyue, symbolizing the highest military command, allowing him to lead the army to resist Shi Jilong. On the same day, the emperor conducted a troop review at Guangmo Gate, and then delegated tasks to various generals: General Liu Shi was sent to rescue Liyang, General Zhao Yin was stationed at Cihu, General Lu Yong was stationed at Niuzhu, and General Wang Yunzhi was stationed at Wuhu. The emperor also had Sikong Xi Jian appoint Guangling Prefect Chen Guang to lead the defense of the capital. Later, Shi Jilong's forces retreated to Xiangyang. On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, the emperor announced the end of martial law.
However, not long after, Shi Yu, under the command of Shi Jilong, attacked Zhonglu again, and General Wang Guo was forced to retreat to Xiangyang. In August of the autumn, Changsha and Wuling regions experienced heavy flooding. The court sent envoys to invite the two recluses, Zhai Tang and Guo Fan, to take up official posts. On the first day of October, a solar eclipse occurred. That year saw severe drought, particularly in the Yuyao region of Kuaiji, where a dou of rice cost five hundred coins, and people were selling their children. This line is truly heartbreaking.
In January of the year 323 AD, on the Xinsi day, a comet appeared in the sky, located in the Kui constellation. The court appointed the former minister of Wu, Yu Tan, as the General of the Guard. In February, during an inventory of the army's food supplies, it was discovered that more than five hundred thousand shi were missing, and all officials below Xie Bao were dismissed. On the Xinhai day, Du Shi was appointed as the Empress, a general amnesty was announced, and all civil and military officials were promoted by one rank. On the Gengshen day, an envoy from Goguryeo presented various tributes. In March, a drought occurred, and the Emperor ordered the reduction of food in the palace and exempted the counties affected by the disaster from corvée labor. On Wuyin day, a large rain prayer ceremony was conducted.
On the 4th day of the fourth month, the queen visited the ancestral temple to conduct rituals. That day, there was hail. In the seventh month, there was a famine in Yangzhou and Kuaiji commandery, and the court ordered the granaries to be opened to assist the disaster victims. In October, the governor of Guangzhou, Deng Yue, dispatched Inspector Wang Sui to attack Yelang, and the governor of Xinchang, Tao Xie, attacked Xinggu, both achieving victories. The emperor issued a decree saying, "Dynasties have always attached great importance to worshipping ancestors and commending meritorious officials, so both the Qi and Song dynasties followed the example of the Zhou dynasty; the accomplishments of the Zhou dynasty's princes were recorded in the historical annals of the Han dynasty. Since the onset of chaos, all the vassal states have fallen into decline, and after the Zhou and Han dynasties, no one has continued their worship. Now we must diligently seek out the close relatives of Duke Wei and Duke Shanyang, to see if there are people of noble character who can continue their worship, and carry out the old rituals and systems." At the same time, the court also constructed a new Zhuque floating bridge. In November, the court sent General Jianwei, Sima Xun, to stabilize Hanzhong, but he was defeated by Li Shou under Li Qi.
In January 324 AD, on the Xinmao day, the court established the Imperial Academy. In June, there was a drought. On the 11th day of the eleventh month, Murong Huang declared himself King of Yan.
In February 325 AD, Shi Le led 70,000 troops to attack Duan Liao, who fled to Pinggang. In April, Li Shou assassinated Li Qi and proclaimed himself emperor, naming his country Han. Murong Huang defeated Shi Le, and on the day of Guichou, the court appointed Murong Huang as Grand General of the North. On the 2nd day of the 5th month, the court appointed Wang Dao as Grand Tutor and Commander of all military affairs, Xi Jian as Grand Commandant, and Yu Liang as Minister of Works. In June, the court abolished the Grand Tutor position, replacing it with the office of Prime Minister, with Wang Dao taking on the role of Prime Minister. On the 15th day of the 8th month, the court reorganized Ningzhou, creating Anzhou.
In the spring of the year 340 AD, on the 25th day of the first month, the court issued a decree of general amnesty across the realm. On the 28th day of the third month, the Governor of Guangzhou, Deng Yue, led troops to attack the Shu region, and Meng Yan of Jianning captured Huo Biao, a general of Li Shou, who surrendered. In the summer, on the 25th day of the fourth month, General Yu Liang, known for his conquests in the West, sent Army Advisor Zhao Song to attack Bajun and Jiangyang, capturing Li Hong and Huang Zhi, subordinates of Shi Jilong. On the 29th day of the seventh month in autumn, Wang Dao, a senior minister of the court, passed away. The next day, the 1st day of the eighth month, the General Who Guards the Army, He Chong, was appointed acting Minister of the Interior. On the 5th day of the eighth month, the court changed the title of Prime Minister to Minister of Works. On the 6th day of the eighth month, Chi Jian, the Grand Commandant and Duke of Nanchang, also passed away. In the ninth month, the generals under Shi Jilong: Kui An and Li Nong, captured the southern region of Mian, Zhang Mao captured Zhucheng, and then raided Jiangxia and Yiyang. In these battles, General Mao Bao, Prefect of Xiyang Fan Jun, and Prefect of Yiyang Zheng Jin were all killed. Kui An and his men continued to besiege Shicheng, where Li Yang, the Prefect of Jingling, mounted a resistance and defeated them, resulting in the deaths of over five thousand of their troops. Kui An then retreated, plundering the eastern bank of the Hanshui River along the way, and abducting over seven thousand households to relocate them to Youzhou and Jizhou. In the winter, on the 28th day of the twelfth month, Wang Yue, General of Agile Cavalry and Prince of Langye, was appointed Minister of Works. Li Shou's general Li Yi attacked Badong, and the defending general, Lao Yang, was killed in action.
In the spring of the year 341 AD, on the first day of the first month (Gengzi), another important minister of the court, the Minister of Works and Marquis of Du Ting, Yu Liang, died. The next day, on Xin Hai, Lu Wan was appointed as the Minister of Works. In the second month, Murong Huang and the general Shi Cheng fought in the west of Liao, with Murong Huang defeating Shi Cheng and reporting victory to the court. On the day of Geng Chen, a star was observed in Taiwei. On the third day of the third month, the court once again ordered a general amnesty throughout the empire. At the same time, Chong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and Prince of Donghai, was appointed as the General of the Flying Cavalry. Li Shou captured Danchuan, and the defenders Meng Yan, Liu Qi, and Li Qiu were all killed in battle. In the seventh month of autumn, on the day of Yi Mao, the court began to follow the old practices from the prosperous period (during the reign of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty), holding court sessions in the East Hall on the days of the new and full moons (the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month). In the winter of the tenth month, the kingdom of Linyi presented trained elephants as tribute. On the day of Gui Mao in the eleventh month, the court recovered Langye commandery, which was as prosperous as the fertile regions of the Han Dynasty.
In the year 327 AD (seventh year), on the first day of the second month, there was a solar eclipse. On the sixteenth day of the second month, Murong Huang sent someone to request the borrowing of the King of Yan's jade seal, which the emperor agreed to. On the seventh day of the third month, Empress Du passed away. On the fourth day of the fourth month, Empress Gong was buried in Xingping Tomb. By the way, at that time, a nationwide census was conducted, with everyone from nobles to commoners re-registered. On the twenty-seventh day of the eighth month, the General of the Flying Cavalry and Prince Donghai, Sima Chong, died. In the ninth month, the court abolished the position of Grand Protector. On the twenty-third day of the twelfth month, the Minister of Works and Count of Xingping, Lu Wan, died. Additionally, the court also discontinued the acrobatic performances at the Music Bureau, as well as the administrative structure of Anzhou.
In 328 AD (the eighth year), on the first day of the first month, there was a solar eclipse. On the tenth day of the first month, the court granted a general amnesty to the world. In March, Empress Wu Dao and Emperor Wu were officially permitted to receive sacrifices together in the temple. On the seventh day of the sixth month, the emperor fell seriously ill. He issued a decree saying, "I ascended to the throne at a young age. For the past eighteen years, I have relied on the support of various princes and ministers, but I have not been able to govern the country well, root out corruption, and have been worried day and night, never at peace. Now that I am seriously ill and dying, I am very sad. The future is long and the country's prospects are uncertain, and I truly cannot be at ease. Sima Yue, the Minister of Works and Prince of Langya, is my own brother and a person of both virtue and talent. He is capable of taking on great responsibilities. I hope you all can assist him! Serve the ancestors' spirits well, coordinate internal and external relations, and govern the country well. Ah, I hope you can do it! Don't let down the ancestors' expectations!" On the ninth day of the first month, the emperor appointed Prince Sima Xi of Wuling, Prince Sima Yu of Kuaiji, Yu Bing, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, He Chong, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, and Zhuge Hui, the Chancellor of the Imperial Secretariat, to assist in governance. On the tenth day of the first month, the emperor died in the Western Hall at the age of twenty-two and was interred at Xingping Mausoleum, with the posthumous temple name Xianzong.
It is said that Emperor Mu of Jin was exceptionally intelligent since childhood, with a mind like that of an adult. Later, when Wang Zongzhi of Nandon rebelled and was killed, Emperor Mu was completely unaware of it. After the rebellion of Su Jun was pacified, Emperor Mu asked Yu Liang, "Where did that old man with white hair (referring to Zongzhi) usually go?" Yu Liang replied that Zongzhi had rebelled and was killed. Upon hearing this, Emperor Mu cried and said to Yu Liang, "If someone else rebels, you kill them; but what if it’s your own uncle? What then?" Upon hearing this, Yu Liang's face turned pale with fear.
Once, Yu Yi sent wine to the governor of Jiangzhou, Wang Yunzhi. Wang Yunzhi gave the wine to his dog, which resulted in the dog's death. Frightened, Wang Yunzhi quickly reported the incident. Emperor Mu was furious when he heard about it, saying, "My elder nephew Yu Liang has already made a mess of things, and now my younger nephew Yu Yi wants to follow suit?" Hearing this, Yu Yi took poison and ended his life. When Emperor Mu was young, he was always under the thumb of his uncles from the Yu family and rarely handled state affairs himself. Only as he grew older did he start taking an interest in national affairs, emphasizing simplicity. Once, he wanted to build an archery range in the backyard but ultimately scrapped the idea when he realized it would cost forty coins, which he deemed excessive. In terms of grand vision, he might not measure up to previous emperors, but he can certainly follow in the footsteps of the wise rulers of history in humility and frugality. "While I may fall short in martial prowess compared to past kings, I can certainly follow in the footsteps of the wise rulers of history in humility and frugality."
Kangdi, named Sima Yue and styled Shitong, was the younger brother of Chengdi. In the first year of Xianhe, he was granted the title of King of Wu, and in the second year, he was renamed King of Langye. In the ninth year of Xianhe, he was appointed Cavalier in Regular Attendance and promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the fifth year of Xiankang, he was promoted to Palace Attendant and Minister of Works. On Gengyin day in the eighth year of Xiankang, Chengdi died, and the court issued an edict for the King of Langye, Sima Yue, to succeed to the throne. On Guisi day, Chengdi died. On Jiawu day, Sima Yue ascended to the throne and issued a general amnesty. Simultaneously, it was mandated that all stationed soldiers and officials of rank 2,000 stone and above could not leave their posts to pay their respects. On Jihai day, Chengdi's son, Sima Pi, was made King of Langye, and Sima Yi was made King of Donghai. During this time, Sima Yue remained modest and entrusted government affairs to Yu Bing and He Chong. On Bingchen day of the seventh month, Chengdi was buried in Xingping Mausoleum. Sima Yue personally conducted the sacrificial rites at the western steps and only switched to a plain carriage when the funeral procession reached Changhe Gate, escorting the procession all the way to the tomb. On Wuyi day, He Chong was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry. On Xinchou day of the eighth month, the Prince of Pengcheng, Sima Hong, passed away. Wang Yunzhi, the Inspector of Jiangzhou, was appointed General Who Guards the Army. In the ninth month, an edict was issued to promote officials of Langye and their subordinates. On Jiawu day in the tenth month, General Who Guards the Army Wang Yunzhi died. In the twelfth month, the court elevated civil and military officials by two ranks. On Renzi day, Lady Chu was named Empress.
In the spring of the year 317 AD, in the first month, the reign title was changed, and the court specially took care of widows and the elderly. In March, Yu Bing was appointed as the General of Chariots and Cavalry. In April, during the summer season, the Governor of Yizhou, Zhou Fu, and Cao Ju, the Prefect of Xiyang, together attacked Li Shou and defeated Li Heng, one of Li Shou's generals, in Jiangyang. In May, there was a drought. On Renwu day in June, the court sent gifts to invite recluses Zhai Tang and Yu Xi to come out of seclusion to serve as officials. Some suggested that since Emperor Cheng had passed away a year ago, they should change to plain clothes to show mourning, but the court continued with its usual meals. On Renyin day, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The ancient rites will be adjusted according to the changes of the times, which is normal. However, the relationship between monarch and minister, father and son, is very important and must not change. The trend of simplifying rites is a modern phenomenon, supposedly to adapt to the situation, but it actually marks the decline of rites and music. The ancient kings valued rites, but later generations became increasingly negligent, not to mention the current casual simplification, which is absolutely unacceptable!" Shi Le led an attack against Murong Huang and was soundly defeated by him.
In July, during the autumn, Shi Le's general Dai Kai led his troops to surrender to the Jin dynasty. On Dingsi day, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Murong Huang defeated Shi Le's army, reportedly killing more than eighty thousand people. This is probably the beginning of Shi Le's downfall. The situation in the Central Plains needs to be carefully considered. Moreover, Dai Kai has already surrendered with his subordinates, so he should be properly rewarded. Send envoys to the generals in the west to discuss military actions." Huan Wen was appointed as the Vanguard Commander and led the army into Linhuai; Yu Yi was appointed as the Grand Commander for Pacification and was reassigned to guard Xiangyang. On Gengshen day, Jinling and Wu counties experienced severe flooding. In August, Li Shou passed away, and his son Li Shi inherited his title. Shi Le dispatched his general Liu Ning to seize Didao.
On a winter day in the tenth month of the year Xinsi, Yubing was appointed as the Commander of the military affairs of the six provinces of Jing, Jiang, Si, Yong, Yi, and Liang, and also served as the Governor of Jiangzhou; He Chong was appointed as the Director of the Central Secretariat, Commander of the military affairs of the two provinces of Yang and Yu, Governor of Yangzhou, and Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat to assist the Emperor with state matters; Huan Wen was appointed as the Commander of the military affairs of the three provinces of Qing, Xu, and Yan, as well as the Governor of Xuzhou; Chu Pou was appointed as the General of the Guards and the Acting Director of the Central Secretariat. On the day of the eleventh month of Jisi, the court declared a nationwide amnesty. In the twelfth month, Shi Le invaded the territory of Zhang Jun, who sent General Xie Ai to resist. The two sides clashed in a major battle in the Hexi region, resulting in a defeat for Shi Le. In the twelfth month, an envoy from Goguryeo came to pay tribute to the court.
In the spring of a certain year, during the first month, Zhang Jun sent his generals He and Xie Ai to attack the Southern Qiang in Yutian, achieving a decisive victory. In the second month, Murong Huang and the Xianbei leader Yuwen Gui fought a battle in Changli, with Yuwen Gui's forces facing a crushing defeat and fleeing to the northern desert. In the fourth month, Zhang Jun's general Zhang Guan defeated Wang Zhuo, one of Shi Jilong's generals, at Sanjiao City. On the day of Bingzi in the eighth month of autumn, the court promoted the General of Anxi, Yu Yi, to the General of the West. On the day of Gengchen, Huan Xuan, who held the title of Jie and was the Commander of the military affairs of the three provinces of Si, Yong, and Liang, Governor of Liangzhou, General of Pingbei, and Duke Jingling, died. On the day of Dingsi, the court appointed the General of the Guards, Chu Pou, as Tejin, Commander of the military affairs of the two provinces of Xu and Yan, and Governor of Yanzhou, to defend Jincheng. In the ninth month, the Administrator of Badong, Yang Qian, attacked Li Shi, and Li Shi's general Shen Yang was defeated by Yang Qian and captured another of Li Shi's generals, Legao. On the day of Bingshen, the Emperor appointed his son Dan as the Crown Prince. On the day of Wuxu, the Emperor died in Shiqian Hall at the age of twenty-three and was buried in Chongping Mausoleum.
At the beginning, Emperor Cheng fell ill. Yu Bing, the Minister of the Interior, was the uncle of the Empress and held great power in the court, almost equal to the Emperor. Worried that his family's status would decline after the Emperor's death, he suggested that since the country currently faced powerful enemies, they should appoint an older Crown Prince. Thus, the then-current Emperor was appointed as the heir. A reign title was then established, the central court was reestablished, and the era name was changed to Jianyuan. Someone told Yu Bing, "Guo Pu's prophecy says 'at the establishment, the hills will collapse,' 'establish' refers to building, 'begin' refers to the era, and 'hills' are the Emperor's taboo name." Yu Bing was taken aback by this and sighed, "If there really is fortune and misfortune, can changing an era name solve any problems?" Ultimately, this turned out to be true.
Historians note that this chaos was severe and didn’t arise overnight. If punishment is fair, the common people can still accept it, showing the principles of obedience and disobedience. Emperor Cheng relied on the remaining strength to guard the Jianghuai region, with orders coming from Weiyang, yet it was hard to rally the people. Thieves were running rampant, sacred relics were at risk, and the capital wasn’t as affluent as Ao Yu, with the palaces almost becoming a second Xianyang fire. Truly a case of "a dog barking at a sage!" Those rebellious guys, like Fenghu and Houyi, are there any more powerful than this? If it hadn't been for our Emperor's timely retreat, lacking an army like Duke Wen of Jin and being trapped in the Baosang area, we would have owed our thanks to Duke Tao for his assistance! In ancient times, vassals submitted to the Emperor, and if the Emperor wanted to go out, the vassal's household had to steer clear of the palace, stand facing north, all learned from previous strategies and still in use today. Emperor Xianzong stood in front of Wang Dao's house, his clothes neatly arranged, bowing to pay respects; how could this possibly compare to Duke Lu receiving jade with such humility? The Emperor himself is frugal and hopes to change those bad customs with this.
People praised: The emperor was known for his virtue, and his uncle was also quite helpful. However, he was too focused on conquests but lacked skill in military leadership. A great fire engulfed the imperial palace, which brought immense sorrow across the nation as rebel forces surrounded the emperor's residence. The emperor fled to the Stone City, causing great sorrow throughout the country. Empress Kang, wise and intelligent, meticulously observed the mourning rituals. She had just taken on the reins of the court but tragically passed away at such a young age, which is truly a loss!
Emperor Yuan, whose name was Rui and style name was Jingwen, was the great-grandson of Emperor Xuan and the son of Prince Gong of Langya, Sima Jin. He was born in Luoyang, in the second year of Xianning. When he was born, there was a miraculous light shining down, illuminating the entire room, and the straw he lay on appeared as fresh as if it had just been harvested. As he grew up, he had white downy hair on his left temple, a tall nose bridge, a face reminiscent of a dragon, eyes that sparkled with intelligence, and a piercing gaze when looking at people. At the age of fifteen, he inherited the title of Prince of Langya. He was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, answering any question asked of him.
During the reign of Emperor Hui, many things happened within the royal family, but Emperor Yuan always remained humble and cautious, trying to avoid getting involved in disputes. He was thoughtful and measured, not easily showing his sharpness, so people at that time did not really know him. Only the attendant Ji Shao looked at him with different eyes and said to others, "Prince of Langya exudes an extraordinary aura; he is probably not an ordinary subject." In the second year of Yuankang, he was appointed as an attendant cavalier of the palace. Later, he was promoted to Left General and participated in the campaign against Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying.
During the Battle of Dangyin, his uncle, Prince Dong'an Sima Yao, was killed by Sima Ying. Emperor Yuan was afraid of being implicated and wanted to escape. That night, the moon was exceptionally bright, the guards were vigilant, and he couldn't find a chance to escape and felt increasingly anxious. After a while, dark clouds suddenly covered the sky, lightning flashed, and thunder roared, causing the guards to let their guard down, and he seized the opportunity to slip away. Sima Ying had previously ordered all checkpoints not to let nobles leave, but when Emperor Yuan reached Heyang, he was stopped by the officials at the ferry. His follower, Song Dian, arrived shortly after and pointed at Emperor Yuan's horse with a whip, laughing and saying, "Captain! The government prohibits nobles from passing through, and yet you were stopped?" Only then did the officials allow them to pass. Upon reaching Luoyang, he welcomed the Empress Dowager back home.
When King Sima Yue of Donghai was disbanding his troops in Xiuzhou Xiapei, he appointed Yuan Di as the General of Assistance to the State. Shortly after, he was promoted to the General Who Pacifies the East and was put in charge of military affairs in Xiuzhou, stationed at Xiapei. He was soon promoted again to the General Who Pacifies the East and the Commander of the Military Affairs of Yangzhou. Sima Yue went west to welcome the emperor, leaving Yuan Di in charge. In the early years of Yongjia, following Wang Dao's plan, Yuan Di began to guard Jianye and appointed Gu Rong as the military commander, He Xun as his assistant, while Wang Dun, Wang Dao, Zhou Yi, and Diao Xie all became his close aides. He honored the virtuous and was attentive to the people's needs, winning the hearts of the people in Jiangdong.
Later, when the Empress Dowager passed away, Yuan Di requested to return home to mourn. After the funeral, he returned to Jianye to take up his post and was granted the title of Marquis of Xu City with 20,000 households, and was promoted to General Who Pacifies the East and Grand Commander of Military Affairs. Following Sima Yue's orders, he launched a campaign against General Zhou Fu of the Eastern Expedition and defeated him.
When Emperor Huai was captured in Pingyang, Minister Xun Fan and others issued a proclamation to the nation, proposing Yuan Di as the leader. The Governor of Jiangzhou, Hua Yi, refused to comply, prompting Yuan Di to send Zhou Guang, the Prefect of Yuzhang, and Wei Zhan, the former Governor of Jiangzhou, to subdue him, successfully capturing him. After Emperor Min ascended to the throne, Yuan Di was appointed as the Left Chancellor. More than a year later, he was promoted to Chancellor and Grand Commander of Military Affairs. He dispatched generals to pacify Jiangdong, executing the rebel general Sun Bi in Xuancheng and quelling the rebellion of Du Tao in Xiangzhou, while also granting amnesty to Jingzhou and Yangzhou by imperial decree.
When the Western Capital fell, Yuan Di personally led the troops into battle, donning armor himself, issuing proclamations to summon armies nationwide in preparation for an offensive. At this time, a jade tablet appeared in Lin'an, and a white jade qilin seal emerged in Jiangning, inscribed with the words "Long Life for Ten Thousand Years." Additionally, a double halo appeared around the sun, leading everyone to believe it was an omen of restoration.
In the spring of the year 317 AD, on the day of the Xin Si in the second month, General Song Zhe arrived in Jiankang. Emperor Xuan (Emperor Min) issued a decree saying: "We have encountered unfortunate times, and the court's prestige has declined. My virtues are lacking, having inherited this great enterprise, yet I am unable to seek heaven's blessing to restore our fortunes, allowing the fierce barbarians to dare to lead their armies close to the capital. I am now besieged in this lonely city, consumed with worry, fearing that the city could fall at any moment. You, Song Zhe, should go to the Prime Minister and convey my intentions clearly, and have him manage state affairs, temporarily defend the old capital, restore the mausoleum, and redeem our national honor."
In March, the emperor dressed in mourning attire and departed the palace to hold a three-day mourning ceremony. Sima Yang, the Prince of Xiyang, and other officials, including provincial and county officials, urged him to ascend to the throne, but the emperor refused. Sima Yang and others even threatened to take their own lives and repeatedly requested. The emperor, in tears, said, "I am a guilty man! Only by sacrificing myself for the nation can I wash away the shame of the world, and perhaps avoid the death penalty. I was originally the Prince of Langya, but you wise ministers have been forced to this point!" So he called his servants and prepared to return to his homeland by carriage. The ministers no longer dared to press him further and requested that he be named king in accordance with the traditions of Wei and Jin, which the emperor agreed to. On the day of Xinmao, he ascended the throne, issued a general amnesty, and changed the era name. However, those responsible for the deaths of their grandparents and parents, as well as Liu Cong, Shi Le, and others, were not included in the amnesty. The soldiers were titled as Chariot Attendants, and the officials were appointed as Attendants of the Cavalry. He recruited more than one hundred attendants, who were referred to as the "Hundred and Six Secretaries." He then appointed various officials and constructed ancestral shrines and altars in Jiankang. At this time, various regions offered auspicious items, to which the emperor responded, "I have let down the weighty expectations of the realm, and have not yet reflected on my own mistakes, so where do these auspicious signs come from?" On the day of Bingchen, he named his son Sima Shao as the Crown Prince of Jin. He appointed Sima Yang, the Prince of Xiyang, as the Grand Preceptor, appointed Wang Dun, the Marquis of Han'an, as the Grand General, appointed Wang Dao as the Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and appointed Diao Xie as the Minister of the Left Shangshu. He also named his son Sima Pou as the Prince of Langya.
On the day of Bing Yin in June, Grand Minister Liu Kun and Governor of Bingzhou, Marquis Liu Kun, Governor of Youzhou, Left Virtuous King of Bohai Duan Pidi, Liu Han, Leading Protector and General of the Northern Army, Duke of Guangning Duan Chen, Duke of Liaoxi Duan Juan, Governor of Jizhou Shao Xu, Governor of Qingzhou Cao Yi, Governor of Yanzhou Liu Yan, Colonel of the Eastern Yi Cui Bi, Grand Commander of the Xianbei Murong Hui, and others, a total of 180 people jointly submitted a memorial urging the emperor to ascend the throne and proclaim himself emperor. They said: These individuals include important court officials and regional leaders, each holding high positions and being prominent figures. They gathered together to write a letter to the emperor, urging him to ascend the throne without delay! The letter specifically stated: I have heard that Heaven has created the common people and appointed a monarch to be responsible for both Heaven and Earth, governing the people justly. Wise emperors understand this principle, knowing that Heaven and Earth cannot be without sacrifices, so they humbly perform sacrifices; and knowing that the people cannot be without leadership, they must take on the role of emperor. When the country faces difficulties, the princes and ministers must stabilize the situation; if there are problems with ancestral sacrifices, the royal family and ministers must be accountable. Thus, it is said that all wise emperors throughout history have acted this way, beginning with the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors and continuing to the present day.
Think about our ancestors, Emperor Xuan, who established our family's legacy. Emperor Wu, the second emperor of our dynasty, managed the country in an orderly manner. The three generations of emperors were glorious, and the four wise monarchs inherited the ancestral legacy, spreading blessings throughout the world. The situation was even more dire than during the times of Yao and Shun, lasting longer than the Zhou Dynasty. However, from the Yuan Kang era onwards, the country faced a series of calamities. By the Yongjia era, the land was plunged into chaos, with the emperor captured and imperial heirs slain, and the country on the brink of collapse. Thanks to the grace of the emperors of the past and the protection of our ancestors, our current emperor inherited the throne, gradually restoring the country's vitality. Our Emperor is wise and perceptive, aided by ministers in governing the country, with everyone yearning for national revival and improved lives for the common people.
Unexpectedly, calamities relentlessly struck, with the rebel Liu Yao capturing the capital Chang'an, ruthlessly treating the people like wild beasts. I was sent on a mission and upon my return, I learned that last November, His Majesty was captured and imprisoned in the enemy's camp, and the nation's sacred artifact also falling into enemy hands—a profound humiliation! In reviewing historical records, I have never encountered such a dire situation before, neither in the past nor present! Whether commoners or nobles, everyone is heartbroken and in tears.
Our family has received imperial favor for three generations, holding high positions of power. Upon hearing this news, we were shocked and terrified, with our spirits scattered, both terrified and distraught, at a loss. We cried bitterly, with tears flowing from top to bottom.
It is said that the rise and fall of dynasties, the cycle of prosperity and decline, is both destiny and a historical inevitability.
You may have heard that in history, the rise and fall of nations is a natural occurrence, as destiny dictates and historical patterns reveal. Some countries perish due to poor governance, while facing hardships can guide a country toward a brighter future.
Therefore, Qi nearly faced destruction due to incompetence, but later Xiaobai eventually rose to become the foremost of the Five Hegemons of the Spring and Autumn period; Jin almost fell apart due to the Lady Ji incident, but later Chong'er was able to form an alliance with the feudal lords.
When the state is in peril, heroes will come to its rescue; when the people are on the brink of extinction, successors will emerge to continue the lineage. When a country is in dire straits, heroes will always emerge to save the day; when the common people are in distress, there will always be someone to restore order.
Your Majesty, Liu Bei possesses a divine connection; his noble demeanor is in harmony with the universe, and he is born at the right time to carry on the legacy of a thousand years. Your Majesty, your noble character is like that of a divine being, your presence is as harmonious as the cosmos, you are the chosen one to establish a prosperous era for generations to come!
The signs of auspiciousness are evident, heaven and man are in agreement; the signs of revival are clear, prophecies are being fulfilled. Various auspicious signs are appearing, indicating that heaven is signaling the revival of the nation; this is the divine will.
Since the capital fell, the nine provinces collapsed, chaos reigns across the land, and people have no place to turn; this situation is more dire than the Xia Dynasty's downfall at the hands of Yi, and the attack on the Zongji by the Quanrong.
Since the fall of the capital, chaos has ensued throughout the country, the common people are in a state of panic, not knowing what to do; this is even more tragic than the Xia Dynasty being attacked by Yi and Zong Ji being attacked by the Qiangrong! Your Majesty has pacified the lands to the east of the Yangtze River, regained the old Wu, subdued with virtue, punished rebellion with justice, and your authority commands respect throughout the realm. You have pacified the lands to the east of the Yangtze River, regained the old Wu, inspired the people with benevolence and virtue, punished rebels severely; your reputation has intimidated all directions, and the whole world listens to you! When the purification is spread, the people will be at peace; when the righteous wind prevails, people from afar will come to seek your protection. Your teachings have spread throughout the country, everyone is living in peace and contentment; your benevolence and righteousness have spread far and wide, people from afar have come to seek your protection! The court officials are fulfilling their duties, maintaining order and peace throughout the capital and beyond. In the past, the achievements of King Shaokang in the Xia Dynasty became legendary; the revival of King Xuan in the Zhou Dynasty was celebrated in its poetry. Your outstanding achievements have moved the heavens and the earth, your grace radiates across the land, the people are deeply grateful and eager to serve you.
Moreover, your remarkable achievements are deeply admired, your grace extends throughout the world, and the common people are profoundly grateful and eager to serve you! As the only heir of the Xuan Emperor, all the people of the world submit to you; there is no other! Heaven blesses Great Jin, and there will surely be a ruler; who else but Your Majesty can take on this role? Therefore, there are no objections nearby and no dissent from afar; everyone praises your virtues, and litigants all admire your virtue. The relationship between heaven and earth is harmonious, and the relationship between the Han and the non-Han peoples is cordial. Various auspicious signs, such as unicorns and intertwined branches, are beyond counting! Both nobles and commoners unanimously support you, numbering in the tens of thousands. Therefore, we dare to examine the hearts of heaven and earth, follow the will of the Xia, and humbly accept your esteemed title.
So we take the risk of our lives, following the will of heaven, to grant you this esteemed title!
May Your Majesty exemplify the fairness of Yao, Shun, and Yu, and the integrity of Chao Fu; put the state first, above personal interests, without getting caught up in trivialities; prioritize the well-being of the people, not concerned with personal gains or losses; bring comfort to the ancestral temples and lighten the burdens of the people.
We hope you embody the justice of Yao, Shun, and Yu, and the integrity of Chao Fu; put the state above minor matters, prioritize the people over personal interests, console the ancestral temples, and alleviate the burdens of the people.
Thus, prosperity can flourish even in barren lands.
I heard that important positions cannot be left vacant for a long time, and national affairs cannot be delayed for a long time. If a position is left vacant for just a day, it becomes precarious; if national affairs are delayed for a few days, chaos will ensue. At a time when the dynasty is in decline and the nation is in a downturn, bandits are lurking, seeking out vulnerabilities in the country, and the people are anxious and have no one to turn to. How can we ignore this? Even if Your Majesty wishes to postpone action, how can you justify this to your ancestors and the common people? Historically, Duke Hui’s capture of Qin subjects sent shockwaves through Jin; Lu Xi proposed to make Zi Yu the ruler, to strike the enemy's arrogance externally and stabilize the internal situation. Thus, it is said: "Even if a king passes away, a new one will rise to take his place; the ministers will unite, and those who love our country will support us more, while those who dislike our country will fear us." The experiences and lessons of the past are the precious wealth of future generations. Your Majesty is wise and perceptive, with profound strategies that stem from your heart. I find myself deeply concerned for the nation and its people, yearning for a swift return to stability and peace, which is why I am sharing my sincere thoughts with you and reporting to the responsible person. We, who have been stationed far from the court for an extended period, cannot serve you at court or partake in grand ceremonies together, and we are filled with excitement, longing for the court day and night. His Majesty was greatly pleased and commanded a response to my memorial. The details are documented in the "Kun Chuan."
Shi Le, accompanied by Shi Jilong, surrounded Qiaocheng, but was defeated and driven away by General Zuti of Pingxi. On that day, the emperor issued a nationwide announcement, saying: "The rebel Shi Le, who has been running rampant in the northern region, has committed a multitude of crimes and has been at large. He has sent his henchman Shi Jilong with a motley crew to cross the Yellow River and commit evil deeds everywhere. General Zuti led his troops to attack and scattered them. Now, I am sending General Cheqi, Prince of Langya Wang Pou, and nine armies totaling thirty thousand elite soldiers, through four land and water routes, to strike directly at the bandits' lair, following Zuti's command. Anyone who can bring me Shi Jilong's head will be rewarded with three thousand pieces of silk, fifty pounds of gold, the title of marquis of a county, and a fief of two thousand households. If Shi Jilong's accomplices bring his head, the reward will be the same."
In July, the Cavalier Attendant Zhu Song and the Gentleman of the Imperial Library Gu Qiu died, and the emperor was very sad, wanting to hold a mourning ceremony for them. Someone suggested that according to tradition, the Gentleman of the Imperial Library should not be included in the list of mourners. The emperor said, "Now that the world is in such chaos, I am especially sad." Therefore, the mourning ceremony was still held, and the emperor cried bitterly. On that day, Prince Liang Kui also passed away. Taifu Xun Zu was appointed as the Minister of Works, and the ban on accessing mountains and marshes was lifted. In August, the emperor appointed the son of Prince Liang, Qiao, as the new Prince of Liang. Di Wu, the Inspector of Jingzhou, was persuaded by the rebel leader Du Zeng, and together they launched a rebellion.
In September, Wang Dun sent Zhao You, the Governor of Wuchang, Zhu Gui, the Governor of Xiangyang, and General Huang Jun to attack the Fifth Yi tribe, but they were defeated by Du Zeng, and Zhao You and his men died in battle. Shi Le killed Hua Xu, the Governor of Jingzhao Province. Zhou Fang, the Inspector of Liangzhou, went to attack Du Zeng and achieved a complete victory. In October, Wang Pou, the Prince of Langye, passed away. In November, the Emperor conferred the title of King of Xincai upon Prince Bi of Runan. On that day, he appointed Liu Kun as the Grand Commandant. The court also established historiographers and founded the Imperial Academy. That year, there was a severe drought in Yangzhou.
In the first month of Taixing's first year, the new emperor took office, feeling deeply troubled. In March, news of the death of Emperor Min spread, and the new emperor wore mourning clothes. In the same month, the officials petitioned to grant him an honorary title, which he accepted. He said his virtues were insufficient, the country was in danger, and he had not yet made any contributions, constantly worrying, to the point where he could hardly eat or sleep. Now the ancestral temple lay in ruins, the people had no one to rely on, and all officials were working hard to govern the country. He felt he could not refuse, and thus he accepted the throne.
He issued a decree saying that Emperor Xuan laid the foundation, Emperor Jing and Emperor Wen continued the legacy, and Emperor Guang honored the ancestors. Emperor Shizu followed the mandate of heaven, with great achievements and blessings to the world. However, disasters struck one after another, the former emperor passed away, and the state was without a ruler. Therefore, all officials, even minority ethnic groups from distant lands, supported him in ascending the throne. Feeling the heavy responsibility, he dared not defy the mandate of heaven, so he went to Mount Nanyue to perform a sacrifice to heaven, accepted the imperial position of Emperor Wen, and made sacrifices to heaven and earth. But he knew his virtues were insufficient, and after ascending to the throne, it was like sailing in the sea without knowing how to reach the other shore. So he hoped that civil and military officials would assist him in governing the realm and ushering in a shared era of peace and prosperity. He then granted a general amnesty, changed the era name, and promoted officials in civil and military ranks. He then appointed Prince Shao as the Crown Prince.
He also issued a decree stating that past rulers influenced the people through tangible actions rather than empty rhetoric, and responded to the mandate of heaven with real results instead of flowery language, which allowed the country to be peaceful and the people to willingly abide by the law. Secondly, officials should be observed in their words and actions, and assessed based on their actual achievements. Officials who demonstrated outstanding political achievements, handled cases fairly, received no complaints from the populace, and showed continuous improvement, as well as those who may have been weak in character yet were principled, lived simply, and maintained a good reputation, should all be recorded. He hoped that current officials would take this as a lesson, unite in their efforts, thoughtfully consider how to alleviate the people's burdens, serve their interests, and meet his expectations. Additionally, he decreed that officials were prohibited from giving gifts at their discretion. In April, a solar eclipse took place. He promoted Wang Dun to Grand General and Governor of Jiangzhou, and Wang Dao to General of Chariots and Cavalry and appointed him as the Chief of the Masters of Writing. He then ordered a ban on soul burials. In May, an earthquake occurred in Xiping, and Liu Kun was killed by Duan Pidi. In June, a drought occurred, and the Emperor personally prayed for rain, and changed the Interior Minister of Danyang to the Intendant of Danyang. He also appointed Diao Xie as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Xun Song as Prefect of the Left in the Masters of Writing, Li Ju as Inspector of Sizhou, and conferred the title of Prince of Wuling upon his son Xi. He also established a system for criticism and counsel.
In July, the emperor issued a decree stating that the royal family was beset by numerous disasters and difficulties, where corruption ran rampant and discipline was lax, and the country was facing a huge crisis. He acknowledged his own shortcomings in virtue, but had to inherit the throne, worrying day and night, yearning to change the current situation. He demanded that local officials strictly abide by the laws, rectify governance, suppress the powerful, show compassion for the widows and orphans, accurately register households, and encourage agricultural production. Provincial governors and prefects were to supervise each other and not act in their own interests. Those officials who were honest but not given due recognition, as well as those who embezzled and abused power to escape punishment, would be held accountable if their superiors failed to report them. After Liu Cong's death, his son Liu Can succeeded him. In August, locust plagues struck Jizhou, Xuzhou, and Qingzhou. Jin Zhun killed Liu Can and proclaimed himself King of Han. In October, Tao Kan was promoted to General Who Pacifies the South. Liu Yao declared himself emperor at Chibi. In November, a strange celestial phenomenon occurred, with the sun and moon shining together, three zhang high, with a red and blue light in the middle. King Bi of Xincai passed away, and Wang Dun was appointed as the Governor of Jingzhou. The emperor issued another decree, acknowledging his lack of virtue, inability to balance yin and yang, and failure to benefit the people after inheriting the throne, resulting in frequent disasters and anomalies, all his responsibility. He hoped all officials would submit their opinions openly, promising to personally read them. He also established a new agency to handle cases. Sun Hao's son Sun Fan, who conspired to rebel, was killed. In December, Liu Cong's former generals Wang Teng, Ma Zhong, and others killed Jin Zhun, and presented the imperial seal to Liu Yao. A significant earthquake struck Wuchang. The emperor appointed Huan as the King of Langya, but he soon passed away. The emperor issued a decree recalling how Han Gaozu had once honored the virtuous officials of Liang, and Duke Huan of Qi had honored the tomb of Liuxia Hui, hoping that the meritorious officials of Wu would be recognized. Famine broke out in the three counties of Jiangdong, and the court dispatched relief efforts. Zhou Fu murdered Zhou Mo, sparking a rebellion.
I can't recall the exact year, but it was in early January when the tomb of Chongyang collapsed. The emperor dressed in mourning attire and grieved for three days, then sent Liang Kan and Ma Gui to fix the tomb. They went to Pingyang to retrieve the imperial coffin but were unsuccessful and returned.
In February, Governor Xu Gan executed Zhou Fu and sent his severed head to the capital. In April, General Chen Chuan staged a rebellion in Juyi and subsequently surrendered to Shi Le. Xu Gan also rebelled, claiming to be the Inspector of Yanzhou, and went on a looting spree. The Inspector of Qinzhou, Chen An, also defected and threw in his lot with Liu Yao. In early May, the Sun Tomb also collapsed, and the emperor grieved for another three days. That year, Xuzhou, Yangzhou, and Jiangxi were hit by a locust plague, and Wujun faced a severe famine. Zu Ti fought against Shi Jilong, who was under Shi Le, in Juyi, and we were defeated. The emperor proclaimed, "The world is in turmoil, and disasters abound; the people are impoverished, the treasury is depleted, and hundreds are starving to death in Wujun. Heaven nurtures the people, and as emperors, we must choose wise advisors and come up with solutions! In the past, Wu Qi assisted King Dao of Chu, enforced the rule of law, eliminated unnecessary official positions, cut ties with useless relatives, and used all the money on the soldiers, leading to a prosperous nation and a powerful army. The current situation is even worse, and the people are suffering in poverty! We should eliminate non-urgent matters and trim unnecessary military spending!"
Zhou Fang, the Governor of Liangzhou, engaged in battle with Du Zeng, killed Du Zeng, and captured Di Wu Yi. In early June, Zhou Fang was promoted. The court disbanded the officials from the Imperial Household and various counties, retaining only five scholars. He Xun was also promoted. In early July, He Xun died. In August, Su Shen sent arrows and stone projectiles. Xu Kan attacked Dongguan, and the court sent Yang Jian to suppress him. In October, Zu Ti sent Chen Chao to launch a surprise attack on Tao Bao, who was under Shi Le's command, but Chen Chao was defeated and killed. In November, Shi Le declared himself king, taking the title Zhao. In December, a general amnesty was issued, permitting all officials to submit memorials and reducing many corvée labor. Mu Rong Hui defeated Liaodong, and Cui Bi fled to Gaojueli. That year, King Bao of Nanyang declared himself emperor at Mount Qi, assuming the title of King Jin. The Three Wus also experienced a severe famine.
On January 1, 314 AD, Jin King Sima Bao was compelled by Liu Yao to relocate to Sangcheng. On a day in February, Shi Le's subordinate Shi Jilong led troops to attack Yan Ci. General Pingbei and Governor of Ji, Zhao Xu, went to confront him, but Zhao Xu was defeated and died on the battlefield. In March, Mu Rong Hui sent three jade seals. In the intercalary month, the court appointed Zhou Yi as the Minister of Documents. In April, it was truly an unfortunate time; a comet appeared, indicating that something bad was about to happen. In early May, Crown Prince Sima Quan of Xiaohuai Di was assassinated in Pingyang, and the Emperor mourned for three days. In the same month, an earthquake occurred. In that same month, Jin King Sima Bao was also killed by his subordinate Zhang Chun. Liu Yao sent Chen An to attack Zhang Chun, leading to Zhang Chun's downfall, and Chen An later rebelled against Liu Yao. Shi Le's subordinate Xu Kan came with his men to surrender to the Jin Dynasty. In June, there was a great flood. On a certain day, Zhang Shi, the General Who Guards the West, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, and Marquis of Xiping, was killed. His brother Zhang Maosi succeeded him as the General Who Pacifies the West and Governor of Liangzhou.
In July, the court issued a decree stating: "The late Emperor Wu and the late Emperor Gong ruled as sovereigns in Langye for over forty years, showing kindness to the people and winning their deep affection. I have inherited the legacy of the late emperors and established my rule in Jiangdong. The common people of Langye, nearly a thousand households of whom now live in Jiankang, I have decided to designate their residence as Huai De County, which will fall under the jurisdiction of Danyang Commandery. Historically, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, granted Pei County as Tangmu Yi, and Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu, also restored the privileges of Nandun County. We are now following the example set by the Han Dynasty." Zu Ti's general, Wei Ce, defeated Shi Le's army at the Bian River. The Jin court appointed Zu Ti as General of the West. On an unspecified day in August, the Jin court honored Lady Yu as Empress. In the same month, the Jin court moved the ancestral tablet to the Grand Temple. A few days later, Zhou Fang, the Inspector of Liangzhou and General of Annan, passed away. The Crown Prince conducted a sacrificial ceremony at the Imperial Academy. The court appointed Gan Zhuo as General of Annan and Inspector of Liangzhou. In September, Xu Gan rebelled once more and defected to Shi Le. In October, Cai Bao, the Inspector of Xuzhou, was executed for his cowardice and incompetence. Wang Dun killed Xiang Shuo, the Interior Minister of Wuling. In February of the year, Xu Gan arrived to surrender with his followers. Meanwhile, the Xianbei sent the emperor's seal. On Geng Xu day, the emperor reported this in the Grand Temple before officially accepting the seal. On Gui Hai day, the sun and the Big Dipper appeared together. In March, the court appointed scholars for the Book of Changes, the Rites of Zhou, and the Spring and Autumn Annals. On Gui You day, General Cao Yi was promoted to General of the East.
On April 20th, Xinhai, the emperor personally inspected the prison. Shi Le attacked Yanci and breached the city. General Duan Pidi, who was both the Governor and the governor of Youzhou, was killed by Shi Le. A drought occurred in May. On Gengshen day, the emperor issued a decree saying: "In the past, the two founding emperors of the Han Dynasty and the Martial Emperor Cao Cao of Wei had pardoned innocent people. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, after the defeat in Liangzhou, those who were slaves and servants were also granted their freedom. This is a tradition that has been passed down through the ages. Now, pardon the innocent people in the Central Plains area who have become slaves in various counties of Yangzhou due to disasters, so that they can participate in normal mandatory labor." In July, a major flood occurred. On Jiaxu day, the Minister of State, Dai Ruosi, was appointed as the General of the West, concurrently serving as the military commander and governor of the provinces of Si, Yan, Yu, Bing, Ji, and Yong, stationed in Hefei; Liu Wei, the Intendant of Danyang, was appointed as the General of the North, concurrently serving as the military commander and governor of the provinces of Qing, Xu, You, and Ping, stationed in Huaiyin. On Rengwu day, the General of Cavalry, Wang Dao, was promoted to Minister of Works. In August, Changshan Mountain experienced a landslide. On Rengyin day in September, General of the West and Governor of Yuzhou, Zu Ti, died. On Renwu day in October, Zu Ti's brother and Palace Attendant, Zu Yue, was appointed as General of the West and Governor of Yuzhou. In December, Murong Hui was appointed as Imperial Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief of You and Ping provinces, as well as the Eastern Yi region, Governor of Pingzhou, and titled Duke of Liaodong.
On the second day of the first month of the first year of Yongchang, the court issued a general amnesty across the realm and changed the era name. On the fifth day, General Wang Dun raised troops in Wuchang, claiming he wanted to kill Liu Wei, and General Shen Chong also rallied his troops to support him. In the third month, the court summoned Dai Ruosi and Liu Wei to return to the capital. They then appointed Wang Dao as the Grand Commander of the Vanguard, Dai Ruosi as the General of the Cavalry, and reinforced the military presence in the counties of the Danyang region. Zhou Yi was promoted to Left Minister of Personnel, and Wang Sui was promoted to Right Minister of Personnel. Zhou Ying was dispatched with three thousand troops to confront Shen Chong. On the tenth day, Prince Yu was granted the title of Prince of Langye. Liu Wei's forces were stationed in Jincheng, Zhou Zha was guarding Shitou City, and the emperor donned armor and personally inspected the troops outside the city. Tao Kan was assigned to defend Jiangzhou, while Gan Zhuo was tasked with guarding Jingzhou, each leading their troops to pursue Wang Dun.
In April, Wang Dun's vanguard attacked Stone City, and Zhou Zha unexpectedly surrendered by opening the city gates. General Hou Li was killed in battle. Wang Dun occupied Stone City. Dai Ruosi and Liu Wei led troops to attack him. Wang Dao, Zhou Yi, Guo Yi, Yu Tan, and others attacked from three directions, resulting in the defeat of all six armies. The Minister of Works, Diao Xie, fled to Jiangcheng and was captured and killed by Wang Dun's forces. General Liu Wei fled to Shile's territory. The emperor sent a messenger to Wang Dun, saying: "If you still value your ties to the court, stop the fighting now and peace can be restored. If you remain stubborn, I will retreat to Langye to avoid the conflict." On April 27th, the court issued a general amnesty. Wang Dun was appointed Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of all military forces, and Recorder of Imperial Documents, and was granted the title of Duke of Wuchang with a fief of ten thousand households. On May 3rd, General Dai Ruosi of Chariots and Cavalry and Minister of the Left Zhou Yi were both killed by Wang Dun. Wang Dun's subordinate Shen Chong occupied Wuguo, Wei Yi occupied Xiangzhou, and Zhang Mao, the Internal Historian of Wuguo, and Qiao Wangcheng, the Governor of Xiangzhou, were both killed. On May 17th, Wang Dun appointed Prince Yang of Xiyang as Grand Preceptor and promoted Wang Dao to Minister of Works. On May 20th, General Ganzhuo of the South was killed by the Prefect of Xiangyang, Zhou Lu. Zhang Long incited a rebellion in Ba Dong, located in Shu territory, but Liu Chun, the Prefect of Jianping, managed to drive him away. Shi Le dispatched cavalry to raid Henan. In June, the country experienced a severe drought.
In July, Wang Dun appointed Chi Jian, the Inspector of Yanzhou, as the General of the North. Shi Le's subordinate, Shi Jilong, captured Mount Tai and took the defender Xu Gang prisoner. Chi Jian, the Inspector of Yanzhou, retreated from Zoushan to Hefei. In August, Wang Dun appointed his brother Wang Han as the General of Guards, while he himself served as the Commander of Ningzhou and Yizhou. The Administrator of Langye, Sun Mo, defected and surrendered to Shi Le. In October, a devastating plague broke out, resulting in countless deaths. On October 26th, Wang Yi died. On October 28th, Wang Sui was appointed General Who Conquers the North, stationed in Huaiyin. Liang Shuo, the Administrator of Xinchang, rebelled. A thick fog enveloped the capital, blocking out the sun and moon. Shi Le captured Xiangcheng and Chengfu, then besieged Qiaoxian, defeated Zuyue's army, and Zuyue retreated to Shouchun. In November, Xun Zu was appointed Grand Commandant. On November 27th, Grand Commandant Xun Zu died. The court abolished the position of Minister of State, leaving only the Prime Minister. On the 26th of the intercalary month, the Emperor died in the inner hall at the age of forty-seven, receiving the temple name Zhongzong and was buried in Jianping Mausoleum.
The Emperor was simple by nature, tolerant, willing to listen to frank opinions, and humble towards others. At the beginning of his command in Jiangdong, he was somewhat indulgent in drinking, which hindered state affairs. Wang Dao gave him sound advice, and the Emperor poured out the wine, set the cup down on the table, and resolved to quit drinking from that moment on. Once, officials suggested hanging red drapes in the spacious halls of the Taiji Palace, but the Emperor said, "Emperor Wen of Han used black cloth as curtains." So he ordered blue cloth for winter and blue silk for summer. When officials suggested buying beautiful hairpins for the enfeoffment of noblewomen, the Emperor thought it was too extravagant and refused. His beloved Lady Zheng also wore very simple clothes. His brother Wang Yi built a house for their mother that was larger than permitted, and the Emperor tearfully urged him to stop.
However, the Jin Dynasty was in constant turmoil, with the royal family constantly on the run. Although the mandate of heaven remained unchanged, human efforts had an impact. Despite numerous military campaigns, they never left the Jiangzhou area, only conducting strategic deployments within a small range, just managing to hold onto the Wuchu region. In the end, he experienced both low points and moments of respect, and overwhelmed by worry and resentment, abdicated and apologized. Although he possessed the virtues of humility and frugality, he lacked the heroic spirit.
In the early Qin Dynasty, those who observed celestial phenomena said, "In five hundred years, Jinling will have the presence of an emperor." So Qin Shihuang journeyed east to dispel this notion, renaming Jinling to Moling, and even digging ditches in Beishan to weaken this destiny. Later, Sun Quan declared himself emperor, believing that this prophecy was coming true. Sun Sheng believed that from Qin Shihuang to the Sun family, it had been a total of four hundred and thirty-seven years; according to the calendar calculations, it was still a few years short. When Emperor Yuan crossed the river, it was already the year 526 AD, and the true fulfillment of destiny happened then.
During the Xianning period, a strong wind broke the trees of Taishi, and a green mist appeared in the ancestral temple, with diviners saying that this was an omen of the appearance of the son of heaven in Dongguan. So Wang Qian, who was sealed in Dongguan, was moved to Langya, becoming the Emperor Wu. After the fall of the Wu Kingdom, Wang Jun was the first to arrive in Jianye, where Emperor Hui surrendered to him and sent the imperial seal to Langya, fulfilling the signs of revival through both divine intervention and human effort.
During the Taian period, a nursery rhyme said, "Five horses cross the Yangtze River, one horse turns into a dragon." By the Yongjia period, the stars of the year, the town, the Venus, and the Tai Bai stars converged between the Dipper and the Ox constellations, with scholars believing a king was destined to rise in the Wuyue region. In that year, the royal family was overthrown, and the emperor and the kings of Xiyang, Runan, Nandong, and Pengcheng fled to Jizhou, with the emperor eventually taking the throne.
Initially, the Xuan Stone map depicted "a cow following a horse," which made Emperor Xuan quite wary of the Niu clan. He specially crafted two wine cups that shared a single handle for serving wine. The emperor drank the good wine first, then used poisoned wine to kill his general Niu Jin. Moreover, Princess Gong, Xiahou Shi, had an affair with the minor official Niu Shi, thus fulfilling the prophecy.
Historical records indicate that the Jin Dynasty never anticipated its decline from a central position, as the Five Barbarians seized power, leading to the destruction of the seven ancestral temples and widespread chaos. The common people still reminisce about the good emperors of the Jin Dynasty. Emperor Guangwu relied on a few counties to become emperor, and Emperor Yuan of Han relied on the power of one province to ascend the throne. Isn't this a reflection of the lingering influence of Emperor Guangwu and Emperor Wenjing in Langya, Nandun, and beyond? This exemplifies the idea of aligning with heavenly timing and performing virtuous deeds.
In the memorial, the emperor conferred titles, the procession darkened the skies, auspicious signs were appearing all around, creating a festive atmosphere in the city of Jinling. Tao Shixing controlled the forces of three provinces, bringing stability to the region west of Yingzhou; Wang Maohong formulated strategies to pacify Guanzhong, allowing the establishment of political power in the Jiangdong region. However, some individuals hadn’t yet had the opportunity to demonstrate their merits, yet their resolve was already wavering. They glanced back at the rising sun and gazed at the imperial palace, wanting to be loyal to the court, but the emperor consistently declined, ultimately having no choice but to accept the throne.
The emperor handled state affairs in a simple tent, simplifying the penal code and inheriting and promoting the excellent systems of the previous dynasty, opening up the path to revitalization. In ancient times, private citizens were forbidden from owning weapons, and ministers were not allowed to hold absolute power, a longstanding practice among emperors throughout history to keep their ministers in check. However, Emperor Zhongzong was unable to control those powerful ministers and surrendered power, leading to the downfall of the country, with both capital regions occupied by barbarian tribes amidst ongoing warfare. Although the splendor of the emperor's inspections is now a thing of the past, the mournful songs spread far and wide; the Jin Dynasty's reign was brief, which is truly lamentable!
Emperor Ming, whose name was Sima Shao, styled Daokai, was the eldest son of Emperor Yuan, Sima Rui. He was exceptionally intelligent at a young age and greatly favored by Emperor Yuan. When he was a few years old, he sat on Emperor Yuan's lap, and when an envoy from Chang'an arrived, Emperor Yuan asked him, "Which is closer, the sun or Chang'an?" Sima Shao replied, "Chang'an is closer. Because I have not heard of anyone coming from the sun, so I know that Chang'an is closer." Emperor Yuan was very surprised. The next day, Emperor Yuan hosted a banquet for the ministers and asked him the same question. Sima Shao replied, "The sun is closer." Emperor Yuan's demeanor shifted, and he said, "How can you say contradictory things?" Sima Shao said, "You can see the sun by looking up, but you cannot see Chang'an." Emperor Yuan found him even more extraordinary because of this.
At the beginning of the Jianxing period, he was appointed as the General of the Eastern Zhonglang, stationed in Guangling. After Emperor Yuan became the King of Jin, he was made the Crown Prince of Jin. When Emperor Yuan became the emperor, he was then made the Crown Prince. He was exceptionally filial and skilled in both civil and military affairs, held virtuous individuals in high regard, enjoyed making friends, and had a love for literature. Notable ministers of the time, including Wang Dao, Yu Liang, Wen Jiao, Huan Yi, and Ruan Fang, all gained his favor and were highly esteemed. Once, he engaged the ministers in a debate over the authenticity of sages, and others found it hard to counter his arguments. He also practiced martial arts and was skilled in leading troops. At that time, the Eastern Jin court was brimming with talent, and everyone greatly admired him.
Later, Wang Dun rebelled, the army suffered a defeat, and the emperor wanted to personally lead the soldiers into a life-or-death battle. He had already boarded the carriage and was ready to depart. However, the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, Wen Qiao, pleaded with him not to go, even drawing his sword and severing the carriage shaft to stop him. Wang Dun had always been wary of the Crown Prince's bravery and intelligence, aware of the high regard everyone had for him. He wanted to discredit him as unfilial in an attempt to remove him from power. So, Wang Dun gathered all the officials and demanded of Wen Qiao, "What merits does the Crown Prince have that are worthy of praise?" He posed as if he was determined to make Wen Qiao say something. Wen Qiao replied, "The Crown Prince has a far-reaching vision and profound knowledge that only the shallow would fail to appreciate. From the perspective of filial piety, he is truly deserving of the title of a filial son." Everyone agreed with Wen Qiao, and Wang Dun's plot was thus abandoned.
On the Ji Chou day of the leap month in the first year of Yongchang, Emperor Yuan passed on. On the day of Geng Yin, the Crown Prince succeeded to the throne as the emperor, issued a general amnesty, and honored his mother, Lady Xun, with the title of Lady of Jian'an County.
In the first few days of January 323 AD, a yellow mist enveloped the sky, shrouding the entire capital before it suddenly caught fire! Li Xiong dispatched his generals Li Xiang and Ren Hui to attack Taideng, and our general, Sima Jiu, was killed in action. The governors of Yuegui, Li Zhao, and Hanjia, Wang Zai, also defected and surrendered to Li Xiang.
In February, we buried Emperor Yuan in Jianping Tomb. His Majesty even ran barefoot to the tomb, which was heartbreaking to think about. Then, the court appointed Hua Heng as the General of the Cavalry, putting him in charge of military affairs in the Shitou area. On that day, thick yellow fog was pervasive, followed by frost, which repeated a few days later, causing the crops to freeze. On the first day of March, the era was changed. The Emperor announced the era change in the imperial palace and canceled the celebration banquet, feeling in a very bad mood. This month, there was frost again, and the grass froze completely! The three counties of Rao'an, Dongguang, and Anling suffered disasters, with over 7,000 households destroyed and over 15,000 people dead. It was a real tragedy! Shi Le captured Xiapi, and the Governor of Xuzhou, Bian Dun, had to retreat to Xuyi. Wang Dun presented an imperial jade seal to the Emperor. Wang Dun, who had always wanted to rebel, hinted to the court to summon him, and the Emperor actually issued an edict to summon him back to the capital.
In April, Wang Dun stationed his troops by the lake. The court transferred Wang Dao from Minister of Works to Minister of Personnel, and Wang Dun himself became the Governor of Yangzhou. The Military Supervisor of Badong, Liu Chun, was killed by Wang Dun. The court appointed Chen Zhen as the Commander of Military Affairs in Youping Two Provinces and the Governor of Youzhou. In May, the capital was hit by a major flood! Li Xiang and his troops attacked Ningzhou again, but the Governor of Ningzhou, Wang Xun, sent General Yao Yue to fight them at Tanglang, which led to a decisive victory. Liang Shuo captured Jiaozhou, and the Governor of Jiaozhou, Wang Liang, died in battle. In June, one day, the Emperor appointed Yu Shi as the Empress. General of Pacification of the South, Tao Kan, sent his adjutant Gao Bao to attack Liang Shuo, killing him and sending his head to the capital. Tao Kan was promoted to Grand General of the Southern Expedition, with the rank equivalent to the Three Excellencies, rising to a high official position!
On the first day of July, the pillars of the Taiji Hall trembled! That month, Liu Yao attacked Chen An and wiped him out. In August, the court appointed Xi Jian as the Minister of Official Personnel. Shi Le's general Shi Jilong broke through Qingzhou, and the Governor of Qingzhou, Cao Ai, was killed. In November, Wang Dun appointed his brother Wang Han as the Grand General of the East, in charge of military affairs west of Yangzhou. Due to the famine in the country, the court ordered officials below the level of governor to hand over grain, but the quantities varied.
On the first day of January in the year 322 AD, the emperor held court, canceled banquets, and was feeling quite down. After a few days, the emperor granted a general amnesty to all those who had committed crimes punishable by less than five years. A sorcerer named Li Tuo, who wrote misleading texts, was beheaded in Jiankang. Shi Le's subordinate Shi Jilong led troops to attack Yan Province, and the Governor of Yan Province, Liu Xia, withdrew his troops from Pengcheng to Sikou. In March, Liu Yao's subordinate Kang Ping attacked Weixing and Nanyang. In May, Wang Dun falsely claimed to issue an imperial decree, appointing his son Wang Ying as the General of the Imperial Guards and his brother Wang Han as the Grand General of Cavalry. The emperor's favored eunuchs, Cheng Xiong and Ran Zeng, were both murdered by Wang Dun.
In June, Wang Dun prepared to rebel, but the emperor secretly learned of it and fled on a fast horse to the lake, where he secretly observed Wang Dun's camp before making his escape. Some soldiers believed the emperor was extraordinary. Wang Dun slept in broad daylight and dreamed that the sun was circling his city, which startled him awake, prompting him to exclaim, "Surely the blonde Xianbei have come!" The emperor, resembling his mother from the northern Yan kingdom with her blonde hair, is why Wang Dun said that. So, Wang Dun sent five men on horseback to chase the emperor. The emperor ran desperately, his horse defecating, which he washed away with water. He saw an inn where an old woman was selling food, so he gave her his precious whip, saying, "When someone comes looking for me, show them this." Soon, the pursuers arrived and asked the old woman, who replied, "He ran far away long ago!" and showed them the whip. The five men, distracted by the whip, wasted precious time, and seeing that the horse dung had cooled, they thought the emperor had run far enough and gave up the chase. The emperor narrowly escaped death that day.
Afterwards, the emperor promoted the official position of Wang Dao, the Minister of Works, granting him substantial authority, and appointed a group of generals to guard key areas, strengthening the defense of the capital. The emperor temporarily resided in the central hall. On the first day of the seventh month, Wang Dun sent his brother Wang Han, along with Qian Feng, Zhou Fu, Deng Yue, and others, leading fifty thousand troops from both land and water to the south bank. Wen Qiao relocated his troops to the north bank of the river, set fire to the bridge beams of the Vermilion Bird Bridge, and stopped Wang Dun's army from advancing. The emperor personally commanded the army at the South Imperial Hall. In the evening, the emperor recruited warriors and sent Duan Xiu, Cao Hun, Chen Song, Zhong Yin, and other generals to lead a thousand soldiers to cross the river and ambush Wang Dun's army. At dawn, the two sides clashed in a fierce battle at Yuecheng, defeating Wang Dun's army and killing the vanguard leader He Kang. Wang Dun died of rage. Former Zongzheng Yu Tan mobilized forces in Kuaiji in support of the court. Shen Chong led more than ten thousand troops to support Wang Han and others.
Afterwards, the imperial forces engaged fiercely with Wang Dun's remnants. After a hard battle, they finally achieved victory and quelled the rebellion. The emperor returned to the imperial palace, granting amnesty to all except Wang Dun's followers. The emperor then sent troops to capture Wang Dun's followers, all of whom were subdued. The emperor rewarded the generals who contributed to quelling the rebellion. In October of the winter, the emperor reorganized the positions of several officials. Most of Wang Dun's followers were dealt with decisively. At this time, Shi Sheng, a subordinate of Shi Le, stationed troops in Luoyang, while the Inspector of Yuzhou, Zu Yue, retreated to Shouyang. In December, the emperor paid homage at Jianping Tomb. The Commandant of Liangshui, Cuan Liang, and the Governor of Yizhou, Li Ti, rebelled and capitulated to Li Xiong. Former general under Shen Chong, Gu Yang, rebelled in Wukang, attacking and burning down towns and cities, but was ultimately defeated and slain by local forces.
In the spring of the year 323 AD, on the second day of the second lunar month, the court punished three clans, but women were not included. In the third month, the governor of Youzhou, Duan Mobo, passed away, and his brother Duan Ya succeeded him. On the same day, the prince Sima Yan was established as the Crown Prince, a general amnesty was declared, and civil and military officials were all promoted by two ranks. Three days of grand feasts and celebrations were held, with each widow, widower, and orphan being given two pieces of cloth. On the day of Guisi, the court summoned recluses Ren Xu and Yu Xi to serve as scholars.
In the fourth month, the emperor proclaimed, "As things have just stabilized, we must work diligently to rebuild and improve! Officials from the Grand Chancellor downwards are ordered to come to the capital to participate in discussions on state affairs, and all areas that require improvement and reform should be diligently addressed." Another decree was issued saying, "I greatly desire to hear frank advice and criticism, and hope that everyone can understand my intentions. Like Yao and Shun, my hope is for a harmonious relationship between the ruler and his subjects. Although my abilities are limited, I will always welcome candid but difficult advice. I hope everyone can assist me wholeheartedly like Jishi and Qi, and work together." On the day of Jihai, there was a hailstorm. Shi Le's general, Shi Liang, launched an attack on Yanzhou, where the governor Tan Yun fought bravely but ultimately died in battle. General Li Ju and others led their troops in a defeated retreat, and Shi Le eventually occupied the territories of Sizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou.
In the fifth month, the court appointed General Tao Kan, who conquers the South, as General Who Conquers the West, overseeing military affairs in the provinces of Jingzhou, Xiangzhou, Yongzhou, and Liangzhou, while simultaneously serving as governor of Jingzhou; and appointed Wang Shu as General Who Pacifies the South, overseeing military affairs in Guangzhou, while simultaneously serving as governor of Guangzhou. In the sixth month, Shi Le's general Shi Jilong attacked Liu Yao's general Liu Yue in Xin'an and captured the city. The court further appointed the governor of Guangzhou, Wang Shu, as the overseer of military affairs in Xiangzhou, while also serving as the governor of Xiangzhou; and appointed the governor of Xiangzhou, Liu Yi, as General Who Pacifies the Yue, overseeing military affairs in Guangzhou. That year experienced a severe drought, with no rain from January through June.
On the 7th day of the seventh month in the year Xingwei, the court appointed the Minister of Personnel, Chi Jian, as the General of Chariots and Cavalry Command, overseeing military affairs in the provinces of Qingzhou and Yanzhou, and stationed in Guangling; and appointed the General of the Army, Bian Hong, as the Minister of Personnel. The Emperor issued a decree saying, "Throughout history, the sacrifices to the three ancestors and two kings have always been highly valued; reviving fallen states and inheriting extinguished lineages are crucial responsibilities for governing the country and ensuring its stability. The descendants of the imperial relatives who contributed to the establishment, wise kings, and ministers who aided in founding, as well as virtuous and talented individuals who participated in the establishment of the great enterprise and defended the state together, have all declined and disappeared, with no one continuing the sacrifices. I am deeply saddened by this. The relevant authorities should thoroughly discuss who should be posthumously honored and then report back to me." Another decree was issued saying, "Sacrificing to Heaven and Earth is a major event for emperors. Since the restoration, only the southern suburbs sacrifices have been held, and the northern suburbs sacrifices have never taken place; the seasonal and regional sacrifices have not taken place, and the sites that should be honored, including the Five Sacred Mountains, Four Rivers, and other renowned mountains and great rivers, have all been neglected. The relevant departments should handle these matters in accordance with the old customs."
In the eighth month, the Emperor issued a decree saying, "After King Wu of Zhou defeated the Shang Dynasty, he honored the tomb of Bi Gan; after Emperor Gaozu of Han defeated the Zhao state, he also honored and rewarded the descendants of Yue Yi, in order to commend past achievements and inspire future generations. If the descendants of Wu's generals and ministers can inherit family traditions, and be loyal, filial, righteous, content with the present, and not seek fame and fortune, local officials should promptly report their names without fail." In the intercalary month, the court appointed the Minister of the Left, Xun Song, as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, in charge of recording official documents; and appointed the Minister of Personnel, Deng You, as the Minister of the Left. On the day of Renwu, the Emperor fell critically ill, summoned the Grand Preceptor Wang Yang, the Minister Over the Masses Wang Dao, the Minister of Personnel Bian Hong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry Command Chi Jian, the General of the Guards Yu Liang, the General Who Leads the Army Lu Ye, and the Intendant of Danyang Wen Qiao, received their final wishes and instructed them to assist the Crown Prince.
On the day of Dinghai, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Since ancient times, people have always died. This is the common fate of both the wise and the virtuous. Regardless of the length of life or the height of status, everything ultimately returns to dust. What is there to be particularly sad about? I have been sick for a long time, always worried about sudden death. I admire the great achievements of my ancestors, yet I am unable to fulfill their unfinished endeavors; the national disgrace remains unaddressed, and the people suffer. Therefore, my heart is heavy with worry. On the unfortunate day of my death, the funeral should be simple and follow established precedents; it must not be extravagant, not wasting resources and causing harm to the people. The Crown Prince is still young and has been entrusted with a heavy responsibility. He will need the support and guidance of loyal ministers and virtuous scholars. The Duke of Zhou assisted King Cheng, and Huo Guang supported Emperor Xiaozhao; these are examples from the past, with great achievements in history. Aren't they examples for all subjects? All you officials are pillars of the present; I hope you will sincerely heed my last wishes, take up the heavy responsibility of assisting the Crown Prince, work together with a united front, and serve the royal family. The generals and governors across the lands are my shield. You are in different places, but your goals are the same. If there are no one to carry out these duties, who will safeguard the nation? Just like lips and teeth, relying on one another, you must work together with a united front, unite as one, and do your best for the country, prioritizing national affairs. All officials must heed the commands of the Grand Preceptor, protect the young Crown Prince, overcome difficulties and obstacles, and allow the spirits of our ancestors to rest peacefully in the heavens, so that I may leave this world without regrets." On the day of Wuzi, the emperor passed away in the Eastern Hall, at the age of twenty-seven, buried in Wuping Mausoleum, with the posthumous name Suzu.
Legend has it that Emperor Jin Yuan, Sima Rui, was known for his intelligence and decisiveness, especially in national affairs and governance. At that time, the country was in chaos due to poor harvests, widespread epidemics, and many deaths, which had drastically weakened the nation and created a dire situation. Meanwhile, Wang Dun exploited the emperor's trust in him to attempt a coup. On the surface, Emperor Yuan appeared to serve Wang Dun cautiously, using gentleness to counter his aggression, but secretly devised plans and made independent decisions, ultimately restoring order. He delegated the governance of four provinces, including Jingzhou and Xiangzhou, to trusted officials, thereby diminishing Wang Dun's influence in the region, restoring stability, reinforcing the central authority, and diminishing local power. Though his reign was brief, his accomplishments were remarkable.
The historical records state that Emperor Yuan established the capital in Jiankang (now Nanjing), situated along the banks of the Yangtze River. There were frequent wars on the Chu River, and Fangcheng (referring to the city of Jiankang) had to defend against enemies, so he had to entrust loyal generals to lead the army. His army had thousands of warships and twice the strength of Wang Dun, but he was able to use his advantages without resorting to force, just like the wise Duke of Zhou! Although Wang Dun was favored by the emperor on the surface, tensions had already developed between them. Wang Dun had an army downstream, while Emperor Yuan lacked powerful regional governors to support him. Just as the Shang Dynasty went through nine major upheavals, Emperor Yao managed to resolve eight disputes over musical instruments, and Emperor Xuanzong of Tang also made mistakes; Emperor Yuan's situation was similar to theirs. He employed superior strategies, raised the emperor's flag on the banks of the Yangtze River, and quelled the rebellion as effortlessly as burning autumn weeds. He donned his armor, went to the battlefield, defeated the enemy, and then returned to the palace to pay his respects. He successfully weakened Wang Dun's power, divided the provinces in the Jianghan region, avoiding the repetition of past mistakes and leaving a favorable situation for future generations. However, seventy years later, the Jin Dynasty still faced a serious crisis due to Jingdao (referring to Xie An). Some say, "The rise and fall, success and failure, are all in the hands of fate, not just a matter of upstream power." This likely reflects the difference between those who establish a foundation and those who inherit and expand upon it.
Finally, the praise is given: disasters descend from the heavens, and fierce beasts wreak havoc. The descendants of Langye (the birthplace of Emperor Yuan) have brought peace to the realm with benevolence and righteousness, upright like Gong Xing and incorruptible like Zhao Bi, and used the rod of justice to punish the rebels in Jingzhou. The dark clouds in the north have cleared, and the southern lands bask in brightness. Jinyang (modern-day Taiyuan) resisted the enemy, and the Hexi region preserved its territory. Although the invasion of the Hu people was difficult, Emperor Yuan's wise heart remained steadfast. The armies united from all corners, and all the tribes of the Baiyue pledged their loyalty. The emperor's life was preserved, and golden light radiated in all directions. The wise descendants carried forward their ancestors' aspirations, and reports of victories flowed into the court. The leaders of the rebellion faced execution, and their conspiracies were utterly dismantled. Emperor Yuan's virtues will endure through the ages, and his achievements will be celebrated for all time.
Emperor Xiaohuai, whose name was Sima Chi, styled Fengdu, was the twenty-fifth son of Emperor Wu. In the first year of Taixi, he was appointed as the Prince of Yuzhang Commandery. During the reign of Emperor Hui, some troubling events unfolded within the imperial family. Sima Chi was a low-key person who stayed out of political intrigue. He focused on studying historical books and was well-regarded at that time. Initially appointed as a Cavalier Attendant, he was later arrested when Prince Zhao Lun usurped the throne. After the failure of Prince Zhao Lun, Sima Chi was appointed as the Colonel of Archery. He rose through the ranks to become Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, responsible for military affairs in Qingzhou, but he had not yet assumed his duties.
In the first year of Yongxing, he was appointed as Grand General Who Pacifies the North, responsible for the defense of Ye City. In the twelfth month of the same year, he was named Crown Prince. Because Prince of Qinghe, Sima Tan, was previously the Crown Prince, Sima Chi felt uneasy and hesitant to accept. At that time, the Director of the Imperial Library, Lu Lingxiu, advised him, saying, "The two ministers have worked hard for the imperial family and devoted themselves to the country. The Crown Prince position should go to someone respected and capable. Besides you, who else could be more suitable? Prince of Qinghe is still young, and everyone is dissatisfied. Although he was appointed as Crown Prince, he was later returned to his fiefdom. Now the Emperor is traveling everywhere, and the palace has been vacant for quite some time. We worry that the Di and Qiang tribes will drink from the Jing River, and the rebels will draw bows and arrows in the Ba River. You should ascend to the throne quickly, support the Emperor, and stabilize the capital quickly to fulfill the people's expectations." Sima Chi said, "You are my Song Chang!" So he accepted.
In the eleventh month of the first year of the Guangxi era, Emperor Xiaohui passed away on Gengwu day. Since Empress Yang was the sister-in-law to the crown prince, she could not become empress dowager. As a result, everyone quickly summoned Sima Tan, the Prince of Qinghe, who was already at the Shangshu Pavilion. The attendants hurried to summon Crown Prince Sima Chi. On Guichou day in the eleventh month, Sima Chi ascended the throne as emperor, granting amnesty throughout the country. Empress Yang was honored as Empress Hui and resided in Hongxun Palace. His mother, Lady Wang, was posthumously titled Empress Dowager, and Lady Liang was appointed Empress. A solar eclipse occurred on Renwu day in the twelfth month. On Jihai day, Sima Rong, son of Prince Sima Zhi of Pengcheng, was granted the title of Prince of Lecheng. Prince Sima Mo of Nanyang killed Hejian's Prince Sima Yong in Yonggu. On Xinchou day, Wen Xian was appointed as Minister of Works and Wang Yan as Minister of Finance. On Jiyu day, Emperor Xiaohui was interred at Taiyang Ling. Li Li, a general under Li Xiong, launched an attack on Liangzhou. On the first day of the first month of the year 311 AD, which fell on Guichou day, the court issued a nationwide amnesty, changed the era title, and abolished the cruel practice of punishing three generations. At the same time, Sima Yue, the Grand Tutor and Prince of Donghai, was appointed regent, and the Chief Imperial Secretary, Zhuge Mei, was killed.
In February, the people of Donglai led by Wang Mi rebelled, attacking Qingzhou and Xuzhou, where both the Prefect of Changguang, Song Pi, and the Prefect of Dongmou, Pang Kang, were killed. On the first day of March, General Pingdong Zhou Fu brought the head of Chen Min. On Dingmao day in March, the court reburied Empress Wudao Yang. On Gengwu day in March, Prince Yuzhang Sima Quan was appointed Crown Prince. On Xinyou day in March, the court granted another amnesty across the land. On Gengchen day in March, Prince Donghai Sima Yue went to Xuchang to defend. Subsequently, the court appointed General Zhengdong, Prince Gaomi Sima Jian as Grand General of the South, overseeing military matters in Jingzhou and defending Xiangyang; appointed General Anbei, Prince Dongyan Sima Teng as Prince Xincai, overseeing military matters in Sizhou and Jizhou, defending Ye City; appointed General Zhengnan, Prince Nanyang Sima Mo as Grand General of the West, overseeing military matters in the four states of Qinzhou, Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Yizhou, defending Changan. At that time, many counties in Bingzhou were occupied by Liu Yuanhai; only Governor Liu Kun managed to hold Jinyang.
In May, Ma Mu and Ji Sang led a large-scale rebellion, defeating the Wei Prefect Feng Song, capturing Ye City, killing Prince Xincai Sima Teng, and setting fire to Ye Palace, which burned for ten days before finally being extinguished. They also killed the former Youzhou governor Shi Shao, looted Pingyuan, and killed Liu Qiu, the Duke of Shanyang. During this period, the Ludian in Luoyang collapsed, and two geese appeared: one dark gray soared into the sky, while the other, white, could not take flight. The Yi people of Jianning County captured Ningzhou, resulting in the deaths of more than three thousand people.
On the first day of July, the King of Donghai, Sima Yue, stationed his troops at Guandu, preparing to attack Ma Mu and Ji Sang. On the day of Jiyu in July, the court appointed General Pingdong, Prince of Langya, Sima Rui, as the General of Andong, allowing him to command the military in Jiangnan of Yangzhou and granting him temporary authority to guard Jianye. On the first day of August, General Fu Xie defeated Ma Mu and Ji Sang in Yecheng. On the day of Jia Chen in August, the court granted amnesty to six states including Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. At the same time, the court carved out eight counties from Jingzhou and Jiangzhou to establish Xiangzhou. On the day of Wushen in September, Fu Xie defeated Ma Mu and Ji Sang again, breaking through their nine camps. On the day of Xinhai in September, a star as big as the sun appeared in the sky, along with many stars as small as the Dipper, flowing from the west to the northeast, turning the sky red, followed by thunder-like sounds. The court began constructing Qianjin Dam in Xuchang to facilitate the transport of supplies.
On the first day of November, a solar eclipse occurred. On Jiayin in November, the court appointed the Right Supervisor of the Ministry of Personnel, He Yu, as the General of the Northern Expedition to guard Ye City. On the day of Wuyin in December, people from Bingzhou such as Tian Lan and Bo Sheng killed Ma Mu and Ji Sang. On the day of Jiawu in December, the court appointed former Grand Tutor Liu Shi as the Grand Commandant. On the day of Gengzi in December, the court appointed the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, Duke of Yanling, Gao Guang, as the Prefect. The King of Donghai, Sima Yue, falsely claimed to issue an imperial decree, imprisoning the King of Qinghe, Sima Tan, in Jinyong City. On the day of Guimao in December, Sima Yue declared himself Prime Minister and appointed General Fu Xie as the Grand General of the Eastern Expedition.
In the spring of a certain year, on the first day of the first month, which was Bingwu, a solar eclipse occurred. The next day, on Dingwei, the court ordered a general amnesty throughout the country. On the eighth day of the second month, on Xinmao, the King of Qinghe, Sima Tan, was killed by King Sima Yue of Donghai. On the tenth day of the second month, on Gengzi, Shi Le marched his troops to attack Changshan, and General Wang Jun of Anbei led his troops to defeat Shi Le.
In March, King Yue of Donghai stationed in Juancheng. Liu Yuanhai invaded Jijun, occupying the area of Dunqiu and Henei. Wang Mi then burned, killed, and looted in Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. On the fourteenth day of April, Wang Mi attacked Xuchang, causing the prefects and generals of each county to flee. On the first day of May, Wang Mi attacked Luoyang again, and the Minister of State, Wang Yan, led the army to resist, but Wang Mi ultimately fled in disgrace.
On the first day of July, Liu Yuanhai attacked Pingyang, and the prefect of Pingyang, Song Chou, fled to the capital city, while the prefect of Hedong, Lu Shu, fought to the death and was killed. On the fourteenth day of August, King Yue of Donghai moved from Juancheng to Puyang. In September, Shi Le attacked Zhaojun again, and the General of the North and Yu fled from Ye City to the State of Wei. On the first day of October, Liu Yuanhai declared himself emperor in Pingyang, claiming to be the emperor of the Han Dynasty.
On the twelfth day of November, the Minister of State, Gao Guang, died; on the fourteenth day, the Prince's Tutor, Xun Fan, was appointed as the Minister of State. On the sixteenth day, Shi Le attacked Ye City, and the Prefect of Weijun, Wang Cui, was defeated and killed. On the first day of December, the court issued another general amnesty. At the same time, the son of the Prince of Changsha, Yu, was appointed Prince of Changsha, and another son, Xun, was made Prince of Linhuai.
In the year 311 AD, in the first month of Jiawu, the Prince of Pengcheng, Sima Shi, died. In March, Sima Jian, the General Who Conquers the South and the King of Gaomi, also died. The court then appointed Shan Jian, the Left Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat, as the General Who Conquers the South, in charge of military affairs in the four provinces of Jingzhou, Xiangzhou, Jiaozhou, and Guangzhou; and appointed Liu Lun, the Colonel of Retainers, as the Left Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat. This day was Dingsi, and the King of Donghai, Sima Yue, returned to the capital.
On the day of Yi Chou, Sima Yue led his troops into the imperial palace, seizing Chancellor Miao Bo, Wang Yan, the Emperor's uncle, and more than a dozen other ministers by the Emperor's side, executing them all. On Bing Yin, the court granted amnesty to the counties in Henan. On Ding Mao, Grand Commandant Liu Shi retired, and Minister of Works Wang Yan succeeded him as Grand Commandant, while Prince of Donghai Sima Yue took over Wang Yan's position as Minister of Works. During this time, Liu Yuanhai attacked Liyang, and the court sent General of Chariots Wang Kan to fight him, resulting in Wang Kan's defeat, with over thirty thousand casualties at Yanjin. That year saw a severe drought, with the Yangtze River, Han River, Yellow River, and Luo River all drying up, allowing people to walk across them.
In the fourth month, Zhu Dan, the General of the Left, rebelled and defected to Liu Yuanhai. Shi Le captured over a hundred cities in Jizhou. On the seventh day of the seventh month in the year of Wu Chen, three fissures opened up in Dangyang, each three zhang wide and over three hundred steps long. On Xin Wei, a man named Liu Mang from Pingyang proclaimed himself Emperor of Han and deceived the Qiang and Rong tribes, declaring himself emperor on Mount Malan. Zhi Hu, known as Wudousou, and Hao Su also gathered a few thousand rebels in Tun Xinfeng, allying with Liu Mang. Liu Yuanhai sent his son Liu Cong and Wang Mi to attack Shangdang, besieging Huguan. Governor of Bingzhou Liu Kun led troops to rescue, but was ultimately defeated by Liu Cong. Governor of Huainan Wang Kuang, General Shi Rong, and Cao Chao also fought against Liu Cong and were defeated, resulting in the deaths of both Cao Chao and Shi Rong in battle. Pang Chun, the Prefect of Shangdang, surrendered Shangdang to Liu Cong.
In September of the year of Bingyin, Liu Cong surrounded Xunyi. The court sent General Cao Wu to fight him, but on the day of Dingchou, the court's forces suffered another defeat. Prince Sima Yue of Donghai entered the city to protect the capital. Liu Cong reached the Ximing Gate, where Sima Yue personally engaged him in battle and defeated Liu Cong's army outside the Xuanyang Gate. Shi Le attacked Changshan, and General Wang Jun dispatched Xianbei cavalry to rescue, defeating Shi Le decisively at Feilong Mountain. General Sima Mo sent Chunyu Ding to eliminate Liu Mang and Wudousou, both of whom were killed. The court subsequently sent Generals Wang Kan and Cao Wu to confront Liu Cong, but they too were defeated, and Wang Kan fled back to the capital. Li Xiong's subordinate Luo Xian surrendered to the court. Liu Cong assaulted the Ximing Gate of Luoyang but was unsuccessful in breaching it. Yidao Mountain in Yidu collapsed, and earthquakes struck Jingzhou and Xiangzhou. In November, Shi Le seized Changle, resulting in the death of General Wang Bin of Anbei. Shi Le also massacred Liyang. The leaders of the Qihuo army, including Li Yun and Bosheng, came to the capital's aid, prompting Liu Cong to withdraw. Li Yun and others also defeated Wang Mi in Xinji. On the night of Yihai in December, a white mist appeared, rising from the ground to the sky like a ribbon, two zhang wide from north to south. In the year 311 AD, on the first day of the first month, the court proclaimed a general amnesty. In February, Shi Le attacked Juancheng, where Yuan Fu, the Inspector of Yanzhou, was defeated and killed. Shi Le then attacked Baima, where General Wang Kan also died in battle. Wenshuo, a subordinate of Li Xiong, killed Li Guo, the Grand General of Li Xiong, and then surrendered with Baxi. On the day of Wuwu, Qian Hui of Wu Xing rebelled, proclaiming himself General Pingxi. In March, Zhou Ji, a subordinate of Prime Minister Cangcao, led the villagers to confront and kill Qian Hui. In April, the country experienced severe flooding. General Qi Hong defeated Liu Yu, a general under Liu Lingyao, in Guangzong. Li Xiong captured Zitong. An earthquake struck Yanzhou.
In May, Shi Le attacked the commandery of Ji, captured Hu Chong, the governor, then crossed the Yellow River and headed south, while the governor of Yingyang Commandery, Pei Chun, escaped to Jianye. On that day, a strong wind broke trees, and there was even an earthquake. The six provinces of Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, Jizhou, Qinzhou, and Yongzhou were plagued by locust swarms, with locusts eating up all the vegetation, even the hair of cattle and horses. In June, Liu Yuanhai died, and his son Liu He succeeded him as the new ruler, but was soon killed by his brother Liu Cong, who subsequently declared himself emperor.
In July, Liu Cong's brother Liu Yao and Shi Le besieged Huaicheng. The court sent General Song Chou to provide assistance, but he was defeated by Liu Yao, resulting in his death in battle. In September, a man named Le Yang from Henan rebelled against and killed Governor Pei Zheng, surrendering to Shi Le. The military inspector of Xuzhou, Wang Long, abandoned his troops at Xiapai and fled to Zhou Fu. Wang Ru from Yongzhou instigated a rebellion in Wancheng, killed local officials, and proclaimed himself Grand General, Governor of Sizhou, and Governor of Yongzhou, looting the regions of Hanzhong and Mianyang. Others, including Pang Shi from Xinping, Yan Yi from Fengyi, and Hou Tuo from Jingzhao, also joined the rebellion. General Shan Jian, Governor of Jingzhou Wang Cheng, and General of Nan Zhong Du Rui all sent troops to the capital to support the ruling authority, but were defeated by Wang Ru in Wancheng. Only Wang Cheng managed to retreat with his troops after the army dispersed at Yikou.
On the 10th day of the 10th month of the Xinmao year, the sky suddenly darkened during the day, and it remained that way until the 7th day of the Gengzi month. A large star fell from the southwest, making a sound. On the day of Renyin, Shi Le surrounded Cangyuan, but Wang Zan, the Interior Minister of Chenliu, defeated him, and Shi Le fled back to Hebei. On the day of Renzi, the court appointed Wang Jun as the Minister of Works and Liu Kun as the Grand General for the North. The capital was experiencing famine. Prince Sima Yue of Donghai issued a call for troops, but the Emperor told the envoy, "Tell those generals that if they can come today, they can still save the situation; otherwise, it will be too late." But at that time, no one showed up. Shi Le captured Xiangcheng, killed Prefect Cui Kuang, and then moved on to Wancheng. Wang Jun sent Wen Yang, the Xianbei leader, to lead cavalry for the rescue, and Shi Le retreated. Wang Jun then sent another general, Wang Shen, to attack Shi Le at Wenshijin, where he defeated him. On the 1st day of the 11th month, Prince Sima Yue led his army from Xuchang, taking the Imperial Secretary along. With no guards left in the palace, the famine worsened; dead bodies littered the palace, and government offices and military camps dug trenches to protect themselves. Thieves ran rampant, and the sounds of gongs and drums echoed continuously. Sima Yue's army arrived at Xiangcheng, where he proclaimed himself the Governor of Yuzhou and appointed Wang Yan as the Military Commander. On the day of Dingchou, Wei Bo, the leader of the refugees, attacked Yidu, and the Prefect, Ji Xi, fled to Jianye. Wang Shen defeated Liu Yao and Wang Mi at Pinglei. General Zhou Fu requested to move the capital to Shouyang, but Sima Yue sent Pei Shuo to confront Zhou Fu, who ended up defeating him. Xiangyang faced a major epidemic, resulting in over three thousand deaths. The court appointed Zhang Gui, the Inspector of Liangzhou, as the General of Western Peace. In the 12th month, Gou Xi, the Grand General of the East, attacked Cao Yi, a general under Wang Mi, and defeated him. On Yiyu day, the people of Pingyang, led by Li Hong, revolted in Dingling.
In January of the year 311 AD, the emperor secretly commanded Gou Xi to launch a campaign against King Yue of Donghai. Within a few days, Gou Xi was quickly defeated by Cao Yi. Later, King Yue of Donghai sent Yang Mai and Pei Dun to attack Gou Xi. Shi Le captured Jiangxia, and Governor Yang Min fled to Wuchang. Li Xiong captured Fucheng, and the governor of Zitong, Qiao Deng, died. The refugee Du Tuo from Hunan led a rebellion in Changsha. Prince Rui of Langye dispatched Gan Zhuo to confront Zhou Fu, and Zhou Fu's army was defeated. King Gan of Pingyuan died.
In February, Shi Le attacked Runan, and King You of Runan fled to Jianye. In March, the emperor officially announced the crimes of King Yue of Donghai, calling on armies from all over to attack him, and promoted Gou Xi to Grand General. King Yue of Donghai died. In April, Shi Le pursued the funeral procession of King Yue of Donghai to Dongjun, where Qian Duan died in battle, resulting in the deaths of many officials and civilians, including Wang Yan, Liu Wang, Zhuge Quan, Zheng Yu, and Prince Wuling Dan, with casualties exceeding a hundred thousand! King Yue of Donghai's son and forty-eight royal princes from the imperial family all died at the hands of Shi Le. Shi Le's subordinates, Wang Sang and Leng Dao, captured Xuzhou, leading to the death of Governor Pei Dun. Wang Sang then crossed the Huai River and advanced to Liyang.
In May, refugees from Yizhou, Ruban, and Liangzhou rebelled in Hunan, captured the governor Gou Tiao, and fought their way to Lingling, Guiyang, and even Wuchang, where Governors Guo Cha of Ancheng, Zheng Rong of Shaoling, and Teng Yu of Hengyang were killed. The court promoted Wang Jun to Grand Marshal, Wang Mo to Grand Commandant, Fu Zhi to Minister of the Masses, Xun Fan to Minister of Works, and Prince Rui of Langye to Grand General of the East. Upon leaving, King Yue of Donghai appointed Pan Tao to oversee Luoyang. Gou Xi proposed relocating the capital to Cangyuan, and the emperor was inclined to agree, but the ministers feared Pan Tao and hesitated to execute the order. Moreover, those in the palace were reluctant to leave due to their greed for wealth.
At this time, many people in Luoyang had already starved to death, and even cannibalism occurred, prompting many officials to flee. The emperor summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures and prepare to depart, but there weren't enough security forces. The emperor helplessly said, "Ah, how do we not even have a carriage available!" He then sent Fu Zhi to He Yin to prepare boats, planning to escape by water. The emperor, along with dozens of officials, walked out of the palace. When they reached Tong Tuo Street, they were robbed by bandits and had no choice but to go back to the palace.
In June, Liu Yao, Wang Mi, and Shi Le attacked Luoyang together. The imperial army faced repeated defeats and suffered heavy casualties. Xun Fan and Xun Zu fled to Huan Yuan County, and Wen Ji opened the palace gate in the middle of the night and escaped. Liu Yao and Wang Mi attacked Luoyang. The emperor opened the gate of Hualin Garden, intending to escape to Chang'an via the Ou Chi in He Yin, but was intercepted by Liu Yao and his men. They burned down the palaces and temples, dishonored the concubines, and a large number of officials and commoners, including King of Wu Yan, King of Jingling Mao, He Yu, Cao Fu, Luqiu Chong, Yuan Can, Wang Jun, Liu Mo, and others, died, resulting in over 30,000 casualties. The emperor fled to Pingyang, where Liu Cong made him Duke of Kuaiji. Xun Fan issued proclamations across various regions, supporting the King of Langya as their leader. King of Yuzhang Duan fled to Gou Xi, who declared him Crown Prince, and took the position of Minister of the Interior, establishing a court institution and stationed at Meng County, Liangguo. The common people were left starving, and a measure of rice cost tens of thousands of coins.
In July, Wang Jun proclaimed himself the Crown Prince, appointed officials and generals for military campaigns. Shi Le attacked Guyang, and Prince Pei Zi was defeated and killed in battle. In August, Liu Cong sent his son Liu Can to seize Chang'an; Wang Mo was killed, and more than four thousand households fled to Hanzhong. In September, Shi Le attacked Yangxia and reached Meng County, where Gou Xi and Prince Duan of Yuzhang were killed. In October, Shi Le attacked Yuzhou but retreated upon reaching the Yangtze River. In November, Yi Lu attacked Taiyuan; Liu Kun was unable to resist and relocated residents from five counties to Xinxing. In January of the spring of 311 AD, the Emperor was residing in Pingyang (now Linfen, Shanxi). Liu Cong subsequently attacked Taiyuan (now Taiyuan, Shanxi). At this time, the Southern Garrison's General, Hu Kang, seized the opportunity to rebel in the Jingzhou area, claiming himself as the Duke of Chu. On Renzi Day in February, a solar eclipse occurred. On the day of Guichou, the Grand General of the East, Prince Sima Rui of Langye, submitted a memorial to the court and issued a decree calling for a nationwide campaign against Shi Le. Grand Marshal Wang Jun also issued a decree to the nation, claiming to act in the Emperor's name and appointing Xun Fan as Grand Commandant. Sadly, Prince Sima Xi of Ruyang was murdered by Shi Le.
On the day of Bingyin in the fourth month, General Shan Jian, the Southern Expedition, passed away. In July, a rare celestial phenomenon appeared in the sky: the Planet of the Year, Mars, and Venus all gathered in the Ox and Dipper constellations. General Liu Kun sent his subordinate Hao Shen to confront Liu Can, but Hao Shen was defeated and killed, while Taiyuan Prefect Gao Qiao surrendered to Liu Can. On the Gengxu day in August, Liu Kun fled to Changshan (now Zhengding, Hebei). On the Jihai day, Yinping Commandant Dong Chong drove away Prefect Wang Jian and surrendered Yinping County to Li Xiong. On the Xinhai day, Liu Kun sought help from Yilu and requested that Yilu be appointed Duke. On the Jima day of September, Yilu sent his son Li Sun to support Liu Kun, but this effort was unsuccessful. On the Xinsi day, the former Governor of Yongzhou, Jia Pi, defeated Liu Can in Sanfu (near present-day Xi'an, Shaanxi), and the Guanzhong region was largely pacified. Jia Pi, along with General Wei Liangfen and Prefect of Jingzhao Liang Zong, jointly supported Prince Sima Ye as the Crown Prince, with the capital at Chang'an. In October, Yilu personally led sixty thousand cavalry to Yucheng (now Yuxian, Shanxi). On the Jiawu day of November, Liu Can fled, and Liu Kun gathered the remnants of Liu Can's troops and retreated to Yangqu (now Taiyuan, Shanxi). That year, a large-scale epidemic also broke out. In January 312 AD, Liu Cong hosted a large banquet and even had the Emperor wear green robes to serve him wine! The Palace Attendant Yu Min wept at that moment, which infuriated Liu Cong. On the Dingwei day, the Emperor was assassinated in Pingyang, dying at the age of thirty.
When the emperor was born, auspicious grains of Jiahe grew in Nanchang, Yuzhang. Earlier, those who observed celestial phenomena said, "Yuzhang has the presence of an emperor," and sure enough, the Prince of Yuzhang was later proclaimed Crown Prince. When he was in the East Palace, he was modest and prudent, warmly receiving courtiers and discussing books with them. After ascending the throne, he followed the old system, holding court in the Taiji Hall, having the Chancellor announce the imperial edicts, and handling government affairs in the East Hall. Even during banquets, he often discussed national affairs with his ministers, studying classics and historical allusions. The Minister of the Yellow Gates, Fu Xuan, sighed, "Today I have witnessed the grandeur of the era of Emperor Wu!" The Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Xun Song, also often said to others, "Emperor Huai is talented and intelligent, promising at a young age. If he had come to power during a time of peace and prosperity, he could have been a capable ruler. However, when he ascended the throne, he faced the chaos left by Emperor Hui's reign. The King of Donghai wielded power, and though he did not commit the same atrocities as Emperor You or Emperor Li, he endured the misfortune of exile."
Emperor Xiaomin, named Sima Ye, styled Yanqi, was the grandson of Emperor Wu and the son of King Xiaoyan of Wu, Sima Yan. He was adopted by his uncle King Xian of Qin, Sima Jian, and inherited the title of King of Qin. In the second year of Yongjia, he was appointed as Attendant Cavalryman and General Who Pacifies the Army. After the fall of Luoyang, he fled to Mi County in Xingyang, where he met his uncle Xun Fan and Xun Zu. They traveled southward from Mi County to Xuchang and Yingchuan. The Yuzhou Inspector, Yan Ding, colluded with former General Who Pacifies the Army Wang Pi, Chief Clerk of the Ministry of Works Liu Chou, Gentleman of the Palace Writers Li Xin, Xun Fan, Xun Zu, and others to escort the Emperor back to Chang'an. However, Liu Chou and others rebelled halfway, and Yan Ding pursued and defeated them, while Xun Fan and Xun Zu managed to escape. Yan Ding took the Emperor on a bullock cart and rushed from Wancheng to Wuguan, facing mountain bandits several times along the way, with soldiers scattering. They finally arrived at Lantian. Yan Ding requested assistance from the Inspector of Yongzhou, Jia Pi, who immediately sent provincial soldiers to escort and bring the Emperor back to Chang'an, and appointed the General Who Assists the State Liang Zong to assist in defense. During that time, a jade turtle was spotted in Bashui, and there were divine horses neighing in the south of the city. On the Xinsi day of the ninth month in the sixth year of Yongjia, the King of Qin was appointed as Crown Prince, held a ceremony to ascend the altar and worship the ancestors of heaven and earth, established ancestral temples and altars, and proclaimed a general amnesty. Jia Pi was elevated to Grand General Who Conquers the West, and Inspector of Qinzhou, Sima Bao, was appointed as Grand Marshal. Jia Pi died in battle against the bandit Zhang Lian, and everyone elected Qu Yun, the Prefect of Shiping, as the Inspector of Yongzhou, making him the leader, and began appointing officials on his own. In April of the year 326 AD, Emperor Liu Yao passed away, and we completed the funeral rites according to etiquette. On the same day, I ascended to the throne as Emperor, proclaimed a general amnesty and changed the reign title. I appointed Liang Fen as Minister of Works, Qu Yun as Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief, and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, and Suo Chen as Deputy Director of the Right in the Imperial Secretariat. Shi Le attacked Li Yun, and Li Yun was defeated and killed.
In May, I appointed Sima Rui, King of Langya, as Minister of Imperial Guards, Left Chancellor, and Grand Commander of military affairs in Shaanxi, and Sima Bao, King of Nanyang, as Right Chancellor and Grand Commander of military affairs in Shaanxi. I also issued a decree to the two kings, saying: "Even in times of peace and prosperity, we may still face disasters. Having inherited the throne at a young age, I hope that with our ancestors' blessings and the efforts of all ministers, we can defeat our enemies and reclaim lost lands. Duke Shao of the Zhou and King Ping of the Jin both achieved greatness by dividing power and receiving assistance. Now, you two chancellors are both talented and virtuous, the pillars of our nation, and we rely on you! Defeat Shi Le and bring the emperor's coffin back to the capital, restoring our control over the Central Plains. Order thirty thousand troops from Youzhou and Bingzhou to march directly on Pingyang; as Right Chancellor, you will lead three hundred thousand troops from Qinzhou, Liangzhou, and Yongzhou straight to Chang'an; as Left Chancellor, lead two hundred thousand elite troops straight to Luoyang. All forces must work together and coordinate to secure victory as soon as possible."
I also separately issued an edict to the King of Langya, Sima Rui, saying: "I inherited the throne at a young age and was unable to quickly eliminate the enemy and receive the Emperor's remains, which has caused me great anxiety. I heard that you have already led your army to occupy Shou Chun, calling on various vassals to join forces against the enemy, and I estimate that you are likely nearing Luoyang. The Governors of Liangzhou, Zhang Gui, and Zhang Guang have also led their armies to provide support. I heard that the situation in Pingyang has stabilized, and the situation in Youzhou and Bingzhou is looking promising; Shile's army has already weakened, but they are still relying on their advantageous terrain, which means we need to launch a major offensive. I do not know where you are now, so I will hold off on any actions for the time being. Please inform me of your location so that I can personally lead the expedition and together pacify the Central Plains. I hope you strategize effectively to secure a swift victory, bringing stability and peace to the land. I have sent Liu Shu, Su Ma, and others to bring you my intentions. You are the pillar of the country; only you can bear this heavy responsibility and bring peace to the realm. However, the mausoleum in Luoyang must not be left unattended; you should guard Luoyang and pacify the Shandong region. The Prime Minister should assist me, following the example of Shao Gong of the Zhou Dynasty, to jointly restore the Central Plains."
In June, Shi Le killed the Governor of Yanzhou, Tian Hui. At that time, many counties in Shandong fell into the hands of Shi Le. In August, Liu Shu and his companions arrived in Yangzhou. We renamed Jianye as Jiankang and Ye as Linzhang. Du Tao launched an attack on Wuchang, setting the city ablaze. Du Tao's general Wang Zhen attacked Dunyang, and the Governor of Jingzhou, Zhou Yi, fled to Jiankang. In September, the Minister of Works, Xun Fan, passed away in Xingyang. Liu Cong attacked Henan, and the Intendant of Henan, Zhang Mao, was killed in battle. In October, the Governor of Jingzhou, Tao Kan, attacked Du Tao's subordinate Du Zeng, but was defeated. On that day, it also hailed and snowed. In November, the refugee Yang Wu captured Liangzhou. In December, Hedong experienced an earthquake, accompanied by a rain of meat.
On the first day of the first month in a certain year, it was the day of Jisi. The sky was pitch black, and thick fog lingered for five days before finally clearing. On the morning of the day of Xinsi (between 7 and 9 am), a sun appeared in the sky! Even more bizarrely, this sun seemed to linger in the sky for three days, moving from west to east. On the day of Dingchou, the court declared a nationwide amnesty. Yang Wu, having lost a battle in Hanzhong, quickly sought refuge with Li Xiong.
On the day of Renyin in the second month, the court appointed Wang Jun as Grand Marshal, Xun Zu as Minister of Works, and Zhang Gui as Grand Commandant, and also conferred upon him the title of Duke of Xiping. Liu Kun was appointed as Grand General.
On the day of Guichou in the third month, bad news came that Shi Le had breached Youzhou, killing Wang Jun, who was the Grand Marshal, Governor of Youzhou, and Duke of Boling. He also set fire to many places in the city, causing the deaths of tens of thousands of people. Wang Zhen, a subordinate of Du Tuo, launched a surprise attack on Tao Kan, the Inspector of Jingzhou, who quickly fled to Shezhong.
On the first day of the fourth month, an earthquake struck! On the day of Renchen in the fifth month, Zhang Gui died. At the time, he was a high-ranking official, holding the positions of Grand Commandant, Chief Protector of the Qiang, Inspector of Liangzhou, and Duke of Xiping. In the sixth month, Liu Yao and Zhao Ran launched attacks on Xinfeng and other locations, but General Suo Chen of An Dong led his troops to repel them. In the seventh month, Liu Yao and Zhao Ran returned to menace the capital, but General Qu Yun, the Lingjun, led his troops to fend them off, and Zhao Ran was shot dead by an arrow. In the ninth month, Liu Yan defeated the Prefect under Shi Le, Shao Pan, and killed him. On that day, something extraordinary occurred: a qilin appeared in Xiangping! The Chanyu Yilu also sent horses. By the way, Puzi Ma also had a foal.
In the third year of the era, in the first month, someone assassinated Zhao Pei, the Inspector of Jinchang. In Wuxing, Xu Fu also eliminated the Prefect, Yuan Xiu. The court appointed Song Zhe, a Palace Attendant, as the General Who Pacifies the East, stationed in Huayin.
On this day in the second month of the year Bingzi, the court appointed Rui, the Left Prime Minister and Prince of Langya, as the Grand Commander, in charge of the country's military; the Right Prime Minister, Bao, Prince of Nanyang, was appointed as the Prime Minister; Xun Zu was promoted to Grand Marshal; General Liu Kun became the Minister of Engineering. At the same time, Dai Gong Yilu was conferred the title of King of Dai. During this time, the Governor of Jingzhou, Tao Kan, defeated Wang Zhen at Baling. Du Hong and Zhang Yan, who served under Du Tao, fought against the Interior Minister of Linqiu, Xie Chai, in Haihun; Xie Chai was defeated and killed in battle.
In the third month, the Interior Minister of Yuzhang, Zhou Fang, defeated Du Hong, chased him away, and killed Zhang Yan in Chen. In the fourth month, the court declared a general amnesty. In the fifth month, Liu Cong led troops to attack Bingzhou. In the sixth month, bandits plundered the Han Baling, Du Ling, and Empress Bo's tombs. The remains of Empress Bo were lifelike, and the tombs were filled with countless treasures of gold, silver, silk, and satin. At that time, the court had just been established and was lacking many ceremonial garments and items, so the court ordered these items to be collected to enrich the national treasury. On Dingmao Day in the sixth month, there was an earthquake. On Xinsi Day in the sixth month, another general amnesty was declared. The court also ordered Yongzhou to bury the bones, repair the tombs, and anyone who dared to disturb them would face extermination along with their families.
In the seventh month, Shi Le captured Puyang and killed the Governor Han Hong. Liu Cong attacked Shangdang again, and Liu Kun sent troops to rescue. On Guihai Day in the eighth month, the two armies fought in Xiangyuan, and our forces were defeated. The Governor of Jingzhou, Tao Kan, attacked Du Tao, who was defeated and fled, ultimately dying on the road, and Xiangzhou was pacified. In the ninth month, Liu Yao attacked Beidi, and the court ordered General Qiu Yun to lead the army to suppress the rebellion. In the tenth month, Qiu Yun attacked Qingbaicheng. The court appointed the Governor of Yuzhou and General of the East, Suo Chen, as the Imperial Household Supervisor, in charge of the military affairs of the palace. Liu Cong captured Fengyi, and the Governor Liang Su fled to Wannian. In the twelfth month, Zhang Shi, the Governor of Liangzhou, presented the Emperor's jade seal. Also, Zhao Ban, the Governor of Anding, was assassinated.
In the spring of the fourth year of the era, in the third month, King of Dai Yilu died, and his army surrendered to Liu Kun. In the summer, on the fourth day of the fourth month, Liu Yao led his troops to attack Shangjun, and Ji Wei, the Prefect of Shangjun, retreated with his troops to Nanzheng. Zhang Shi, the Governor of Liangzhou, sent five thousand infantry and cavalry to reinforce Chang'an. Shi Le captured Linqiu, and the General of the Northern Central Army, Liu Yan, fled. In May, Lei Zhao, the Prefect of Pingyi, killed Meng Huan, the Prefect of Nanguang, and surrendered with more than three thousand households to Li Xiong. On the first day of June, a solar eclipse and a locust plague occurred. In the autumn of the seventh month, Liu Yao attacked Beidi County, and Qu Yun led thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to aid. The imperial army was routed before the battle even began, and Qu Chang, the Prefect of Beidi, fled to Chang'an. Liu Yao advanced to Jingyang, and all cities north of the Wei River fell. General Jianwei Lu Chong, Cavalier Attendant Liang Wei, and Minister Huang Fuyang all fell in battle for their country. In August, Liu Yao approached Chang'an, cutting off all communication inside and outside the city. Generals Jiao Song, Song Zhe, and Zhu Hui all sacrificed themselves for their country. Qu Yun and the court officials held the small city within Chang'an. Cavalier Attendant Hua Ji commanded the troops from Jingzhao, Fengyi, Hongnong, and Shangluo at Bashang, while General Zhenjun Hu Song led the armies of the western cities to camp at Zhemaqiao, but no one was willing to take the initiative.
In the winter of October, many people starved to death in the city of Chang'an; food was so expensive that a dou of rice sold for two taels of gold. People began to turn on each other, resulting in the majority dead. There were only a few dozen wheat cakes left in Taicang, and Qu Yun ground them into powder to make porridge for the emperor, but even that had run out by then. The emperor cried to Qu Yun, "The situation is so dire now, with no reinforcements coming, and I feel responsible for dying for my country. But I think of the suffering of the soldiers; I do not want the city to fall before dying, so that the people can be spared from slaughter. Go, write a letter to Liu Yao; I've made my decision."
On November 14th, the emperor sent the attendant Song Chang with an imperial edict to see Liu Yao. The emperor rode in a sheep cart, exposing his upper body, holding a jade bi, and sitting in a coffin to surrender. The ministers cried and held onto the cart, grasping the emperor's hand; the emperor was equally grief-stricken. The chief censor, Ji Lang, took his own life. Liu Yao burned the coffin, accepted the jade bi, and sent Song Chang to escort the emperor back to the palace. Earlier, there was a nursery rhyme that said, "Where is the emperor? In the bean field." At that time, Wang Jun was in Youzhou, and because beans have bean leaves, he killed the hermit Huo Yuan to fulfill this nursery rhyme. When the emperor arrived at Liu Yao's camp, it was located next to the bean field east of the city. On November 18th, the emperor was captured and taken to Pingyang; Qu Yun and court officials followed. Liu Cong appointed the emperor as the Grand Master of Splendor and Marquis Huai'an. On November 19th, Liu Cong arrived at the imperial palace; the emperor bowed deeply before him, Qu Yun collapsed to the ground in tears and then took his own life. The Imperial Secretary Liang Yun, the attendant Liang Jun, the Cavalry Commandant Yan Dun, the Left Minister Zang Zhen, the Yellow Gate Attendant Ren Bo, Zhang Wei, Du Man, and many county officials were killed by Liu Yao; Hua Ji escaped to the Nanshan Mountains.
Shi Le surrounded Leping, and Sikong Liu Kun dispatched troops for a rescue mission, but was defeated by Shi Le. Han Ju, the Prefect of Leping, fled. Sikong's Chief Secretary Li Hong led the revolt of Bingzhou and surrendered to Shi Le. On the first day of December, a solar eclipse occurred. On the fifth day of December, Liu Kun escaped to Ji County and sought refuge with Duan Pidi.
In the spring of the first month of 311 AD, the emperor was still in Pingyang. On the day of Gengzi, a huge rainbow appeared in the sky, along with the rare sight of three suns shining simultaneously. General Pingdong Song Zhe fled to Jiangnan. Li Xiong dispatched his generals, Li Gong and Luo Yin, to launch an attack on Badong.
In February, Liu Cong sent his general Liu Chang to attack Xingyang, but Liu Chang was defeated by Li Ju, the Prefect of Xingyang. In March, Prince Sima Rui of Langya declared himself emperor in Jiankang, changed the era title, and called himself Prince Jin. On the day of Bingzi in May, a solar eclipse occurred. In the autumn of July, there was a severe drought, and locust plagues occurred in four provinces including Sizhou, Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Yongzhou. Shi Le also confiscated food from the populace, which was referred to as "foreign locusts" at the time.
In August, Liu Cong sent Zhao Gu to attack the Guard General Hua Hui in Dingying, ultimately killing him. On the day of Bingzi in October, another solar eclipse occurred. Liu Cong went hunting, and even made the emperor don armor and carry a spear to lead the way for him. A crowd gathered to watch, and many elderly onlookers couldn't hold back their tears. Liu Cong was very unhappy when he heard about it. Later, Liu Cong held a banquet, and had the emperor pour wine for him, wash the wine cup, and hold an umbrella for him. Many officials of the Jin Dynasty present cried out loud, and the Imperial Secretary Xun Bin embraced the emperor and wept, which led to Liu Cong's order to kill him. On the day of Wuxu in December, the emperor was assassinated in Pingyang, dying at the age of eighteen.
When the emperor inherited the throne, he happened to encounter the Yongjia Rebellion, resulting in chaos throughout the country. There were fewer than a hundred households in the city of Chang'an, where the city walls and houses lay in ruins, overgrown with weeds. The court lacked carriages and splendid clothing, possessing only simple offices and basic insignias. There was only one army, with a total of just four public and private vehicles, a severe lack of weapons and equipment, and inadequate logistical support. Malicious individuals acted tyrannically, putting the capital city in danger. The feudal lords were unwilling to give up their territories, and the local military commanders showed no intention of rescuing the emperor, resulting in a dire predicament for the emperor and his ministers, ultimately leading to the tragic assassination of the emperor.
Historians say: In the past, when the sun set in the west, most heroes and distinguished figures emerged from the imperial family. The virtues and talents of the Jin Dynasty were overshadowed during this period. In turbulent times, everyone rallied behind King Huai Min. The Fanyang region was quiet, with no army assembled. Is it a case of insufficient strength coupled with strong emotions? The remaining forces were only to protect their monarch, just as poets cherish their camphor trees. There were significant events, but no significant achievements were made. Observing their rise, it was not predestined by the heavens. Thus, one might say they were borne in coffins, gritting their teeth as they drew their swords.
As a result, the Five Mountains, Three Roads, and other areas fell into enemy territory, while new political power was established in Longzhou and Niushou Mountain. The court's senior ministers were not in a challenging season, but the influence of Liu Shi was like a raging wave. Food supplies were cut off, and communication with the outside world was severed. The two capitals fell into enemy territory, forcing the emperor to launch another military campaign. Prince Zhou died at Li Mountain, and Duke Wei died by the Qi River. How could anyone hope to hold onto a county? Gan Bao once said, as he remarked:
Emperor Gaozu, he was truly capable. When Wei Taizu was establishing his rule, he started to come up with strategies, many of which proved particularly effective. Following Taizu's conquests, three successive emperors relied on his counsel. He was very astute, yet also tolerant and generous. He acted swiftly and decisively, with a keen eye for talent, elevating talented individuals. Therefore, whether wise or foolish, people were wholeheartedly devoted to him, giving their all. He discovered talent from Deng Ai, a farmer, and found talent in the ordinary soldier Zhou Tai, entrusting them with important tasks. This enabled him to defeat Meng Da in the west, defeat Gongsun Yuan in the east, pacify Cao Shuang internally, and defeat Wang Ling externally. His decisive decision-making and continuous victories in battle allowed him to consolidate all power in the empire. The people lived in peace and prosperity, and the country began to prosper.
Emperor Shizong inherited the throne, while Emperor Taizu continued to expand the empire. During the Xuanfeng era, internal rebellions and external invasions arose in the Qindan era. Despite enemies plotting in secret, he skillfully uncovered their plots. Although there were two wars in the Huai River region, Xuchang and Luoyang remained unharmed. He effectively quelled all uprisings and continued the achievements of his ancestors. He then promoted Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, swiftly conquering Shu Han, breaking through the three passes, and having Liu Shan surrender. It was truly a stroke of fate! Emperor Gaozu began to receive extraordinary honors and eventually received generous rewards. By the time of Emperor Shizong, he revelled in the splendor of imperial authority. He treated the people kindly, used the national treasury frugally, maintained harmony, and made decisive decisions. Therefore, the populace lauded his reforms, and the world was at peace.
He inherited the wishes of his ancestors and wanted to end the suffering caused by the wars. Although the opinions of the court ministers were divided, he solely adopted Yang Hu's strategy, relying on Wang Jun and Du Yu's decisiveness, and quickly pacified the wars. The Jiangxi and Hunan regions also submitted to the court. He recovered the old territories from the time of Tang, Yao, and Shun, spread the legitimacy of the court throughout the country, unified the national script, standardized the road systems, and had herds of cattle and horses grazing in the fields, with grain piled up like mountains in the fields. There was even a saying at the time that "there were plenty of people in the world!" Although the world was not completely peaceful at that time, it was enough to show that the officials were seriously enforcing the laws, and the people lived and worked in peace.
After the death of the Emperor, before the tomb was repaired, Yang Jun was executed, and the Empress Dowager was removed from power. Then, due to the matters of the two dukes and the King of Chu, the royal relatives had no strong support, and there were no capable people among the court ministers. As a result, the Emperor was forced to change his title to the Retired Emperor, and there were rumors of ministers being dismissed. The people could not see the Emperor's grace, only the chaos. Today it was Yi Yin and Duke of Zhou, tomorrow it became Jie and Zhou. Judgments of good and evil are based on success or failure, and praise or criticism depends on worldly interests. The boundaries between internal and external affairs became blurred, officials were incompetent, and the country's laws and discipline were corrupt. The governance repeatedly fell into the hands of traitors, the imperial guards were scattered everywhere, the local counties lacked strong leadership, and the borders lost their strong defenses. Li Chen and Shi Bing rebelled in Jingzhou and Yangzhou, Yuan Hai and Wang Mi rebelled in Qingzhou and Jizhou, and the barbarians declared themselves emperors. Both emperors lost their dignity; why is that? Because of improper selection and appointment of people, entrusted to those without talent, the country was in disarray, and there were too many policies of compromise and self-preservation!
Speaking of governing a country, relying solely on enacting laws will only lead to greater chaos; if the country is already in turmoil, who can save it? Yuan Hai is the Commandant of Lishi County, and Wang Mi is a minor official in Qingzhou. They are both brutish men who only know how to wield weapons and intimidate the populace, lacking the strategic brilliance of figures like Sun Quan or Zhuge Liang. They rose in rebellion with a disorganized mob, completely outmatched by the likes of Sun, Wu, and Shu; they left their farming tools and took up weapons, tore their clothes to make flags, with makeshift weapons, far inferior to the well-equipped armies of the Warring States era. They rebelled from the grassroots, completely different from neighboring countries' invasions. Yet, they managed to throw the world into chaos as easily as herding sheep, capturing the capital with ease, causing generals and nobles to be killed one by one, and the palace concubines insulted by enemy troops. Isn't that a tragic sight?
The world is like a huge vessel, and the people are like valuable livestock. Love and hate interweave, interests conflict; this is an eternal rule. Just as water spills over a dam and wildfires ravage the fields, there has never been a moment of calm. A vast vessel cannot be managed by narrow roads; important situations cannot be disrupted by conflicts. Ancient wise kings understood this principle, which is why they were able to avoid great disasters. The people understand that virtue can bring personal blessings, but they do not realize that they must cultivate themselves to enjoy the benefits of virtue, so they are influenced and respond, submitting willingly, like the morning breeze rustling through northern forests, or fish and dragons returning to their depths.
Then, establish standards of etiquette to educate them, use punishments to deter them, use clear rewards and punishments to guide them, use examples of disaster and fortune to warn them, oversee them with keen discernment, and unite them with love. In this way, everyone will know what to do, love life, mourn death, enjoy education, and be content with the present situation; gentlemen strive to follow etiquette, while villains strive to obey, the spirit of integrity prevails within families, and evil thoughts are eliminated. Therefore, even when facing danger, the common people will sacrifice themselves for the country, not betray their principles for mere survival, much less raise their arms and shout in rebellion! A solid foundation cannot be shaken, a deep root will not be uprooted, following the rules will not lead to chaos, and unity will not waver. This is the principle upheld by ancient monarchs who achieved long-lasting stability. Did they never encounter incompetent rulers? Wasn't it through moral exemplars and laws that they maintained the country's stability?
The rise of the Zhou Dynasty was due to Hou Ji being born to Jiang Yuan, and it was destined by the heavens to elevate his merits. The cultural and military accomplishments of the Zhou Dynasty all originated from Hou Ji. During the time of the Duke of Liu, he encountered the chaos of the Xia Dynasty and moved from Tai to Bin, working tirelessly. During the time of King Tai, he was pressured by the Rong and Di tribes, but he could not bear to see his people suffer, so he led them to relocate. The people followed him like they were heading to a market, and within a year, they built cities; within two years, they established a capital, and within three years, the population had increased fivefold. By the time of King Ji, his virtues became widely known; by the time of King Wen, the destiny of the nation was transformed. From these examples, it can be seen that several generations of the Zhou family accumulated noble virtues, their kindness extended to all living beings, internal unity among nine clans was fostered, and respect for elders was shown externally, thus they were able to obtain blessings. The consorts of the Zhou Dynasty actively practiced the "Four Virtues" (virtue, speech, appearance, and work), respected their teachers, wore clothes washed to a white color, performed tedious and hard household chores, influenced society through their actions, and set an example for women. Therefore, the women along the Han River maintained pure and noble aspirations, and the men in the mountains and forests possessed pure and noble virtues. The prosperity of the Zhou Dynasty began with hard work and culminated in enjoyment. With the three wise monarchs, King Wen, King Wu, and the Duke of Zhou, they overthrew the tyrant King Zhou and regulated the rites and music with the principle of "correcting the wrongs and upholding the good." After the Duke of Zhou encountered changes, he explained how Hou Ji and his predecessors educated the people, as well as the difficulties in achieving royal success, which were all deeply connected to the livelihoods of farmers and women. Therefore, from Hou Ji laying the foundation for the people's livelihood, to King Wen pacifying the world, to King Wu establishing the dynasty, to King Kang consolidating stability, through fifteen generations of rulers, it lasted a long time. The reason the Zhou Dynasty was able to maintain its foundation was because they placed great importance on ritual education, regulated customs and social relations, and showed compassion for the struggles of the people, all of which were built up and handed down over generations.
The rise of the Jin Dynasty surpassed the achievements of the hundred emperors before it, and its rise was also swifter than that of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties. Emperor Xuan and Emperor Jing, during difficult times, suppressed rebellions and uprisings, but didn't have a chance to implement benevolent rule like Gong Liu and Tai Wang. They were appointed to assist in governance by imperial edict but were repeatedly deposed, so Prince Qi was not wise and failed to employ talented individuals in the Bo region; noble talents were also not given opportunities for employment. The urgency for the two ancestors to force the emperor to abdicate was pressing, and there was no time to discuss the important matter of enfeoffing the vassals. Therefore, the foundation of the Jin Dynasty differed from that of its predecessors. In addition, the court lacked morally upright individuals, the villages lacked loyal and reliable elders, customs had decayed, and the social climate was unhealthy. Scholars revered Daoism while dismissing the "Six Classics," speakers regarded empty words as profound and scorned reputation, behavior was seen as unrestrained and virtuous, officials valued personal gain and looked down on integrity, and officials considered themselves noble while mocking those who were diligent and responsible. Therefore, Liu Song's discussions on governance and Fu Xian's corrections of evil were considered vulgar officials; those who ingratiated themselves with the powerful while remaining idle gained notoriety. People like King Wen, who managed affairs daily without time to eat, and Zhongshan Fu, who worked tirelessly day and night, were ridiculed and considered as dust. Therefore, praise and blame were turned upside down, good and evil were indistinguishable, and people were all obsessed with pursuing fame and fortune. The selection of officials was for personal gain, and officials served for personal gain, with cases of officials holding dozens of positions being common. High-ranking officials and generous salaries were monopolized by a few, the aristocratic families' children were arrogant and did not follow the rules. The social atmosphere was restless, with everyone pursuing fame and fortune, and while there were thousands of court officials, no one was willing to yield to capable individuals. Zi Zhen advocated for humility, but no one paid attention; Zi Ya established the Nine Ranks system, but it could not be implemented. Women depended on maids for grooming, sewing, and weaving, and never learned female crafts such as weaving and household chores. They married early and did as they pleased, so they felt no shame for promiscuity or jealousy, and their parents and siblings did not reprimand them. People were so used to this that asking them to learn the ancient "Four Virtues" was out of the question! The breakdown of rituals, laws, punishments, and governance was total, like water breaking through a dam due to accumulation, or a fire burning down a pile of firewood due to accumulation.
The nation is destined to perish: it must first be shaken to its very core; that's how it works!
Therefore, by observing Ruan Ji's behavior, one can understand the reasons for the breakdown of rituals and ethics; by examining the struggles between Yu Chun and Jia Chong, one can see the biases of the officials in charge of rituals; studying the accolades from the Battle of Ping Wu, one can understand the mutual competition between generals; reflecting on Guo Qin's strategies, one can understand the threat posed by the Rongdi; reading the speeches of Fu Xuan and Liu Yi, one can understand the corruption among the officials; reviewing Fu Xian's memorials and "The Money God Theory," one can see the rampant bribery. With the current state of the people and the country, even if a ruler with moderate talent and conservative views ascends to power, Xin will undoubtedly perceive ominous signs during sacrifices, Ji Zha will hear ominous melodies in music, Fan Xie will offer himself for the country, Jia Yi will weep for this, not to mention the unrestrained Emperor Hui! Emperor Huai took the throne in a time of chaos, controlled by powerful ministers; Emperor Min, after going into exile, only had an empty name, the political power of the world had already shifted, and without a hero of exceptional talent, reclaiming it was impossible! It was only during the reign of Chunxi of the Eastern Jin Dynasty that the great cause rose again, and the monumental task was left to Emperor Zhongzong Yuan.
Someone once praised, "Huai wore the jade seal, Min lived in the yellow house." This probably means that he once possessed the jade seal and lived in the imperial palace. Just think how glorious!
Later on, the situation took a turn for the worse, like "Aos falling on three mountains, whales swallowing nine provinces, barbarians invading Jin merchants, and Xun dwelling in the Unwalled Palace." This was nothing short of catastrophic! Three mountains collapsed, whales swallowed the nine provinces, barbarians invaded the Jin merchants, and even the Unwalled Palace was occupied. Just picture that scene—it's truly horrifying!
The whole country was in chaos, the people suffered, "heads rolled, limbs stiffened." This means that countless people died and were injured, and the people were suffering immensely!
At a critical moment, the ministers finally realized, "The doctor has turned against me, and I am exiled to Pingyang." (These two lines of poetry are also directly quoted.) The ministers looked back and decided to move the capital to Pingyang. This was a difficult decision, leaving their hometown and starting anew; just the thought of it is heartbreaking. In the end, the poem summarizes, "When the ruler is troubled, the ministers weep; what's wrong with that?" The king is worried, the ministers weep; that is only natural! This line suggests that when the king and his ministers share the same concerns, that is only natural! The whole story is vividly illustrated through this praise poem, portraying the rise and fall of a dynasty.
Emperor Xiaohui, whose personal name was Sima Zhong, courtesy name Zhengduo, was the second son of Emperor Wu, Sima Yan. In 267 AD, at just nine years old, he was appointed Crown Prince. In April of 290 AD, Emperor Wu passed away. That same day, the Crown Prince ascended the throne and declared a general amnesty, changing the era name to Yongxi. He posthumously honored his mother, Lady Yang, with the title of Empress Dowager, and appointed Lady Jia as Empress. In May, Emperor Wu Sima Yan was laid to rest in the Junyang Mausoleum. To express their mourning, the court elevated the ranks of officials nationwide, promoted those involved in the funeral by one rank, and exempted them from taxes for a year. Officials of higher rank, specifically those above 2,000 shi, were granted the title of Marquis of Guanzhong. Yang Jun was appointed Grand Tutor to assist with court governance.
In August, Sima Zhong appointed Sima Yu, the Prince of Guangling, as Crown Prince, and appointed He Shao as Grand Preceptor to the Crown Prince, Wang Rong as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and Yang Ji as Grand Guardian to the Crown Prince. To bolster defenses, he dispatched generals like Shi Chong, Hu Yi, Zhao Jun, and Zhao Huan to lead troops stationed in various locations to increase vigilance. In October, Sima Zhong appointed Shi Jian as Grand Commandant and Sima Tai, the Prince of Longxi, as Minister of Works.
On the first day of the first month of the first year of Yongping, which was a Yiyou day, the emperor held court without any grand ceremonies or music. The emperor issued a decree, saying: "Since I was young, my fate has been tumultuous, and I have always been worried. Thanks to the blessings of my ancestors and the assistance of loyal ministers, I have been able to ascend to this position. I feel inadequate and lack the knowledge of how to govern the country. I live in constant caution and vigilance every day. During the previous chaos, my trusted ministers put the country's affairs first and adhered to the late emperor's rules. I also wish to uphold the late emperor's system, which is why I have retained the 'Yongxi' reign title. However, as time goes by and the new year has come, it is time to change the reign title according to the rules of propriety. Therefore, the second year of Yongxi will be changed to the first year of Yongping." The emperor also ordered that members of the imperial family and all officials are forbidden from worshipping at tombs. On Bingwu day, the crown prince held his coming-of-age ceremony; on Dingwei day, he paid respects to his ancestors at the ancestral temple.
On the first day of the second month, the emperor bestowed varying amounts of cloth upon officials of lower ranks. On the day of Guiyou, General Zhen Nan, Prince Chu Wei, and General Zhen Dong, Prince Huai Nan, came to pay their respects. On the day of Wuyin, the position of Secretary of State was reinstated. On the eighth day of the third month, the emperor executed Grand Tutor Yang Jun, his brother General Wei, and others, all of whom were executed along with their families. On the day of Renchen, there was a general amnesty and a change of era. Empress Jia falsely claimed to issue an imperial decree, deposing the Empress Dowager to commoner status, moving her to Jinyong City, notifying the ancestral shrines of heaven and earth, and also killing the Empress Dowager's mother Pang. On the day of Renyin, the emperor summoned Grand Marshal Wang Liang of Ru'nan to serve as Grand Chancellor, assisting in political affairs in conjunction with Crown Prince Guardian Wei Guan. At the same time, Prince Qin Jian was appointed Grand Marshal, Prince Dongping Mao as Grand Marshal of the Army, Prince Chu Wei as General of the Guards and Commander of the Northern Army, Prince Xiawang Huang as Minister of the Left, Duke of Dong'an as Minister of the Right, and promoted to Prince of Dong'an. A total of 1,811 military and civilian officials received promotions during this period. On the day of Gengxu, the emperor dismissed Prince Dong'an Yao and Prince Dongping Mao from their positions, with Yao exiled to Daifang.
On the tenth day of the fourth month, the Emperor appointed General Liang Wang Rong as Grand General of the West, overseeing military affairs in the Guanxi area; Ruan Tan, the Tutor of the Crown Prince, as General of the East, overseeing military matters in Qingzhou and Xuzhou. On Ji Si day, the Emperor appointed Wang Rong, the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, as the Right Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat. On the eighth day of the fifth month, Prince Gui of Piling passed away. On Ren Wu day, the Emperor abolished the household silk and cloth taxes and bestowed three rolls of cloth to those who were filial to their parents, elderly, widowed, orphaned, or hardworking farmers. In June, Empress Dowager Jia issued a false imperial edict, instructing Prince Wei of Chu to kill the Grand Preceptor Ru'nan Wang Liang and the Grand Guardian Wei Guan. On Yi Chou day, because of Prince Wei of Chu's unauthorized actions, the Emperor ordered his execution. Amnesty was granted in the Luoyang region. The Emperor appointed Prince Shi of Guangling as Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and King Tai of Longxi as acting Minister of the Secretariat. In July, ten counties in Yangzhou and Jingzhou were separated to establish Jiangzhou. On the seventh day of the eighth month, Zhao Lun was appointed as General of the East, overseeing military affairs in Xuzhou and Yanzhou; Prince Yong of Hejian as General of the North Central, stationed in Ye City; and Grand Preceptor He Shao as Commander of the military affairs in Yuzhou, stationed in Xuchang. Prince Yi of Changsha was promoted and titled as King of Changshan. On Ji Si day, Yang Gong Yang was enfeoffed as King of Xiyang. On Xin Wei day, the son of King Longxi was established as King of Donghai. On the fifth day of the ninth month, Grand General Prince Jian of Qin passed away. On Xin Chou day, Prince Rong of Liang, Grand General of the West, was called to serve as General of the Guard, acting as Chief Secretary; Zhao Lun was appointed as Grand General of the West, overseeing military affairs in Yongzhou and Liangzhou. In December, an earthquake occurred in the capital. In this year, seventeen Eastern tribes and twenty-four Southern tribes all submitted to the court.
In the spring of how many years BCE (the original text did not specify the exact year), on the Jiyou day of the second month, Empress Jia assassinated the Empress Dowager in Jinyong City. In autumn, on the Renzi day of the eighth month, the court ordered a general amnesty. On the Yichou day of the ninth month, Prince Dan of Zhongshan passed away. In winter, during the eleventh month, a large-scale epidemic broke out. That year, there was hail in Pei state, causing severe damage to crops.
In the second year, during the summer, hail fell in Xingyang in the fourth month. In the sixth month, hail accumulated to a depth of three feet! In winter, during the tenth month, Prince Hong of Taiyuan passed away.
In the third year, in the spring, on the first day of the first lunar month, Shu Jian, the Attendant, Grand Commandant, and Duke of Anchang, passed away. In the summer, in the fifth month, a landslide struck Shu County, and flooding occurred in Shou Chun, Huainan, with mountains collapsing and the homes of both officials and common people destroyed. The Xiongnu rebel Hao San attacked Shangdang County, killing local officials. In the sixth month, a significant earthquake struck Shou Chun, killing more than twenty households. Shangyong County also experienced a landslide that crushed over twenty people. In autumn, during the eighth month, Hao San surrendered with his army but was killed by the Fengyi Commandant. Juyong Pass in Shanggu County and Shangyong County both experienced ground subsidence, with underground water gushing forth, leading to numerous fatalities. That year also witnessed a severe famine. On the Bingchen day of the ninth month, the court pardoned the people of various states affected by natural disasters. On the Jiawu day, an unusual flash appeared in the sky, shooting directly up from the northeast. That year, a total of eight earthquakes struck the capital and various regions!
In April of the fourth summer year, a comet appeared in the western sky, traversing from Cassiopeia to the vicinity of the Xuan Yuan star. In June, there was an earthquake in Jincheng. Hail fell in the East China Sea, accumulating up to five inches deep. In July, during the autumn, a violent storm struck Xiaoping, resulting in the destruction of houses. In September, strong winds swept through Yanmen, Xinxing, Taiyuan, Shangdang, and other areas, causing serious damage to crops. In the winter of October, the armory caught fire, destroying the treasures accumulated over generations. On the Bingxu day in December, the court ordered the building of a new armory and made a large-scale adjustment to the weapons. Danyang also experienced hail. In the capital Yining, strange occurrences of stones rising from the ground took place. That year, six provinces—Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou—suffered significant floods, and the court ordered the dispatch of imperial officials to inspect the disaster and allocate funds to aid the victims.
In the spring of the year 282 AD, the court declared a general amnesty. Wang Huang, the Minister of Works and King of Xiaoping, passed away. Zhang Hua was appointed as the new Minister of Works, Tai, the Grand Commandant and King of Longxi, became the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and Rong, the General of the Guard and King of Liang, was appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. An earthquake also occurred on Dingchou day. In March, frost fell in the East China Sea region, causing damage to mulberry trees and wheat. In Luyu County, Pengcheng, a bizarre phenomenon occurred when blood flowed across the ground for over a hundred paces. In April, a strong wind blew. In May, both Jingzhou and Yangzhou faced significant floods.
Haosan of the Xiongnu's younger brother, Du Yuan, led Fengyi, Marlangqiang of Beidi, and Lushuihu to rebel together, attacking Beidi Commandery, where Zhang Sun, the Prefect of Beidi, was killed in battle. Ouyang Jian, the Prefect of Fengyi, fought against Du Yuan and was defeated. The court urgently recalled the Grand General of the Western Expedition, Prince Zhao Lun, appointing him as the General of Chariots and Cavalry. At the same time, Wang Yong, the Prince of Liang, was appointed as the Grand General of the Western Expedition, responsible for the military forces in Yongzhou and Liangzhou, guarding the Guanzhong region. In August, during the autumn, Jie Xi, the Inspector of Yongzhou, was also defeated by Du Yuan. The Di and Qiang tribes of Qinzhou and Yongzhou rebelled, electing the Di chieftain Qi Wannian as emperor, and besieging Jingyang. On Yibuwu day in October, the court granted amnesty to the regions of Yongzhou and Liangzhou. On Bingziri day in November, the court sent the General of the Western Peace, Xiahou Jun, and the General of Establishing Might, Zhou Chu, to suppress Qi Wannian, while Wang Yong stationed at Haozhi. The Guanzhong region was plagued by famine, and a large-scale epidemic broke out.
On Guichou day in January of the year 283 AD, Zhou Chu and Qi Wannian fought at Liumo, resulting in the defeat of the court's army and the death of Zhou Chu. In May, Lu State was hit by hail. In July, another epidemic broke out in Yongzhou and Liangzhou. That year suffered from drought and frost, causing the crops to die. The Guanzhong region still faced severe famine, with a hu of rice costing ten thousand coins. The court even allowed relatives to trade with each other. On Dingchou day, Wang Hun, the Minister Over the Masses and Duke of Jingling, passed away. In September, Wang Rong, the Minister of the Right of the Secretariat, was appointed as the Minister Over the Masses, and He Shao, the Tutor of the Crown Prince, was appointed as the Minister of the Left in the Secretariat.
On Bingchen day in January of the year 284 AD, another earthquake occurred. The court ordered the opening of granaries to provide relief to the famine-stricken people of Yongzhou. On Renxu day in March, the court issued a general amnesty. In May, the sacrificial stone used for suburban rites cracked in half. In September, five provinces including Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, and Jizhou suffered from major flooding. However, Yongzhou experienced favorable weather and a bountiful harvest.
In the spring of the year 300 AD, General Meng Guan led his troops to fight against the Di tribe and achieved a great victory in Zhongting, capturing a man named Qi Wannian. The court appointed General Sima Róng as the Grand General of the West to handle the affairs of the Secretariat. Sima Yong was appointed as the General of the West to guard the Guanzhong region, while Sima Ying was appointed as the Grand General of the North to guard Ye City. In April, a man named Zhang Chengji incited rumors and caused trouble in Ye City, leading to arresting and executing thousands of people. On Wuxu day in June, the Grand Commandant Sima Tai of Longxi died. In August, the court appointed Pei Yuan as the Minister of the Secretariat. In November, on New Year's Day, there was a solar eclipse. A strong wind swept through the capital in December, causing damage to many buildings and trees. On the day of Renxu in December, the Emperor removed Crown Prince Sima Yu from his position, reducing his status to that of a commoner and imprisoning his three sons in Jinyong City. The Crown Prince's mother, Lady Xie, was also executed. In the first year of Yongkang, in the year 300 AD, on New Year's Day, there was a solar eclipse. A few days later, on the day of Jimao, the sun experienced another eclipse. On the day of Bingzi, the Emperor's grandson Hulin passed away. In the second month, on the day of Dingyou, a strong wind blew, causing sandstorms and toppling trees. In March, there was a blood rain in Yushi, and a comet appeared in the south, signifying unrest. On the day of Guiwei, Empress Jia falsely issued an imperial edict and led to the death of commoner Sima Yu in Xuchang.
In the fourth month of the year of Xinyou, another solar eclipse occurred. These series of disasters caused widespread panic. On the day Guisi, the Prince of Liang, Sima Rong, and the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, falsely claimed to issue an imperial edict, deposing Empress Jia and stripping her of her status, reducing her to a commoner. The Minister of Works, Zhang Hua, and the Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, Pei Wei, were both killed, and the Attendant, Jia Mi, along with dozens of his followers, were all executed. On the day Jiawu, Sima Lun once again falsely claimed to issue an imperial edict, declared a general amnesty, and appointed himself as the Prime Minister, taking command of the national army, similar to his previous role assisting the Wei Dynasty under Emperor Xuanwen. He also posthumously conferred the title of Crown Prince on Sima Yu. On the day Dingyou, Sima Lun appointed the Prince of Liang, Sima Rong, as the Grand Preceptor, He Shao as the Minister Over the Masses, Liu Shi as the Minister of Works, and the Prince of Huainan, Sima Yun, as the General of Chariots and Cavalry. On the day Jihai, Sima Lun again falsely claimed to issue an imperial edict and had Empress Jia executed in Jinyong City.
In the fifth month, on the day Jisi, Sima Lun appointed his grandson, Sima Zang, as the Crown Prince; at that time, Sima Zang was still the Prince of Xiangyang. On the day Renyin in the sixth month, the late Crown Prince Minhuai was buried at Xianping Mausoleum. The General of Nurturing the Army, the Prince of Qinghe, Sima Xia, passed away. On the day Guimao, the tomb marker in Chongyang Mausoleum was damaged by an earthquake. By the eighth month, the Prince of Huainan, Sima Yun, raised troops to attack the Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, but was unsuccessful. Sima Yun and his two sons, the Prince of Qin, Sima Yu, and the Prince of Han, Sima Di, were all killed. There was also a general amnesty in Luoyang City. The General Who Pacifies the East, the Prince of Pengcheng, Sima Zhi, also died. The Prince of Wu, Sima Yan, was reappointed as the Marquis of Bintu County. The Prince of Qi, Sima Rong, was appointed as the General Who Pacifies the East, stationed in Xuchang; Chen Zhun became the Grand Commandant, also overseeing the affairs of the Secretariat. In the ninth month, the title of Minister Over the Masses was replaced by Prime Minister, and the Prince of Liang, Sima Rong, became the Prime Minister.
In October, a yellow fog enveloped everything. On the 11th day of November, a strong wind blew, sending sand and stones swirling, and it blew for six full days before stopping. On the day of Jiazi, Lady Yang was appointed queen, and the court ordered a general amnesty throughout the country and held a grand three-day banquet. In December, a comet appeared in the east. The Governor of Yizhou, Zhao Xin, along with Li Xiang, a refugee who had taken refuge in Lueyang, killed the Chengdu Interior Minister, Geng Sheng, Li Mi, the Governor of Jianwei, Huo Gu, the Governor of Wenshan, and Chen Zong, the Commander of the Western Yi, before launching a rebellion in Chengdu.
On the 2nd day of the 1st month of the year 289 AD, Prince Zhao Lun seized the throne. The next day, the emperor was relocated to Jinyong City, honored as the Grand Emperor, and Jinyong City was renamed Yongchang Palace. Crown Prince Zang was stripped of his title and demoted to Prince of Puyang. During that time, the five stars in the sky were erratic, which was quite ominous. On the 27th day of the 1st month, Prince Zhao Lun murdered Prince Zang of Puyang. At the same time, Li Te, who had taken refuge in Lueyang, killed Zhao Xin and sent his severed head to the capital.
In March, General Pingdong and Prince Qi Jiong led a campaign against Prince Zhao Lun, issuing proclamations to various provinces and counties before establishing their base in Yangdi. The General of the Northern Expedition, King Chengdu Ying, General of the Western Expedition, King Hejian Yong, King Changshan Yi, Governor of Yuzhou Li Yi, Governor of Yanzhou Wang Yan, and General of the South, Duke Xinye Xun, all responded and mobilized armies, totaling hundreds of thousands. Prince Zhao Lun sent his generals Lu He and Zhang Hong from Yique, and Sun Fu from Eban, to confront Prince Qi Jiong; Sun Hui, Shi Yi, and Xu Chao from Huangqiao, to confront King Ying of Chengdu. As a result, Ying's generals Zhao Xiang and Shi Chao clashed with Sun Hui and his forces at the Ji River and were decisively defeated, abandoning their troops and fleeing. On the first day of the intercalary month, a solar eclipse even occurred. In April, Saturn was visible even during the day! Qi Jiong's generals He Xu and Lu Bu defeated Zhang Hong at Yangdi, killing Sun Fu and several others.
On April 27th, General Wang Yu of the Left Guard and Prince Huailing Wang Cui led troops into the imperial palace, captured the followers of Zhao Wang Lun, including Sun Xiu, Sun Hui, Xu Chao, Shi Yi, Luo Xiu, and others, and they were all executed. Then Zhao Wang Lun was sent back home, and the Emperor was restored to the throne that very day. The ministers all bowed and apologized, but the Emperor replied, "This is not your fault!" On April 29th, the Emperor issued a decree saying, "My virtue is lacking; though I have inherited the throne, I have failed to accomplish great things to stabilize the realm; I have failed to discern even the smallest details necessary to punish the wicked, so that traitor Sun Xiu was so arrogant, plotting against the royal family, and actually supported Zhao Wang Lun in seizing the throne. Generals Qi Wang Jiong, Chengdu Wang Ying, and Hejian Wang Yu, with their noble character and loyal counsel, took the lead in formulating strategies to rescue the country from danger. Shangshu Wang Cui also participated in this significant plan, General Wang Yu of the Left Guard and other ministers worked together to plan and lead troops to kill Sun Xiu and his two sons. Former Zhao Wang Lun was deceived by Sun Xiu; he and his sons had already gone to Jingyong City to welcome me back to the palace and resume control of the court. This achievement is not mine alone; the ancestral temple and the state will benefit from it!" So he ordered a general amnesty, changed the era name, distributed five bushels of grain to each household of widows and orphans, and hosted a nationwide banquet lasting five days. Zhao Wang Lun, Prince Wei of Yiyang, Marquis Zhi of Jiumen, and all of Zhao Wang Lun's followers were executed.
In May, Prince Xiangyang was established as the Crown Prince. On the fifth day of June, a general amnesty was declared, and the ranks of official positions were elevated. Wang Yan was reinstated as the King of Wu. On the seventh day of June, Prince Rui of Donglai and General Wang Yu conspired to overthrow Prince Jiong of Qi. The conspiracy was uncovered; Prince Rui was demoted, Wang Yu was executed, and their families were implicated as well. On the eleventh day of June, Prince Jiong of Qi was appointed as the Grand Marshal, overseeing military affairs both inside and outside the capital; Prince Ying of Chengdu was appointed as the Grand General, in charge of the imperial secretariat; Prince Yong of Hejian was appointed as the Grand Commandant. The position of Prime Minister was abolished, and the position of Minister of Works was reinstated. On the sixteenth day of June, Prince Yong was appointed as the Grand Preceptor, concurrently holding the position of Minister of Works. Ge Yu, a meritorious subject of Prince Jiong, was granted the title of Duke of Muping; Lu Ji was granted the title of Duke of Xiaohuang; Wei Yi was granted the title of Duke of Pingyin; Liu Zhen was granted the title of Duke of Anxiang; Han Tai was granted the title of Duke of Fengqiu. On the fifth day of July, Wang Yan was appointed as the King of Han, and Prince Yi of Changshan was reinstated as the King of Changsha. In August, a general amnesty was declared. On the fifth day of August, those who had been exiled to the border regions were pardoned. Governor Luo Shang of Yizhou led a successful campaign against the Qiang people. On the sixth day of August, Prince Xiang of Nanping was promoted to the King of Yidu. Prince Wei of Xiapi passed away. Prince Mao of Dongping was appointed as the General of Pingdong, overseeing military affairs in Xuzhou. In September, the title of Prince Yao of Dong'an was restored. On the twenty-second day of September, Fan, the son of Prince Wei of Chu, was appointed as the Prince of Xiangyang. In October, a fugitive named Li Te incited a rebellion in the Shu region. In December, He Shao, the Minister of Works, passed away. Additionally, Prince Jiong's sons Bing was appointed as the King of Le'an, Ying was appointed as the King of Jiyang, and Chao was appointed as the King of Huainan. That year, twelve provinces faced drought, and six regions were plagued by locusts. Truly, it rained misfortunes!
In the first month of the first year of the Taian era, General Andong and Prince Qiao both passed away. In March, the court granted amnesty to the four states of Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou. Oh, the Crown Prince also died; what a chaotic time! In April, a comet could be seen during the day; this is an ominous sign! In May, the Attendant, Grand Chancellor, Minister Over the Masses, and Prince Liang Rong all passed away. Then, Liu Shi, the Right Chief Clerk, was appointed Grand Tutor. Prince Yong of Hejian sent General Ya Bo to Shu to fight Li Te, but he was defeated by Li Te. Li Te seized the opportunity to take control of Zitong and Baxi, and also killed the Administrator of Guanghan, Zhang Wei, and declared himself Grand General, growing increasingly arrogant! On the Guimao day of this month, the son of Prince Qinghe was named Crown Prince, and distributed cloth to the elderly, celebrating for five days. Prince Qi was appointed Grand Preceptor, and Prince Yue of Donghai became Minister of Works. In July, the four states of Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and Jizhou were flooded again; the disasters just kept coming! In October, there was also an earthquake! On the Dingmao day in December, Prince Yong of Hejian submitted a memorial alleging that Prince Qi was plotting to usurp the throne, with rebellious intentions, and conspiring with Prince Ying of Chengdu, Prince Xin of Xinye, and Prince Xiao of Fanyang in Luoyang, requesting that Qi be deposed and sent home. Prince Yi of Changsha stationed the Emperor's chariot at the Nanzhiche Gate and launched a direct attack on Qi, killing him and imprisoning his sons in Jinyong City, and also deposed Qi's brother, Prince Shi of Beihai. After that, a general amnesty was declared, and the era was changed. Finally, Prince Yi of Changsha was appointed Grand Commandant, in charge of the national military, and the son of Prince Rui of Donglai was made Prince of Qi. On the first day of the first month of the year 291 AD, the court granted amnesty to all criminals who had served less than five years. In March, Li Te captured Yizhou. Song Dai, the Governor of Jingzhou, led troops against Li Te, ultimately killing him and sending his head to the capital.
In April, Li Xiong, the son of Li Te, reoccupied Yizhou. In May, the tribal leader in Yiyang, Zhang Chang, rebelled, appointing Qiushen, a local from Shandu, as the main general. Zhang Chang also had Qiushen change his surname to Liu, proclaiming himself as the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, using the reign title Shenfeng. They attacked and seized several commanderies and counties. The Administrator of Nanyang, Liu Bin, the General of Pingnan, Yang Yi, and the General of Zhennan and King of Xinye, Wang Xin, were all killed by Zhang Chang.
In June, the court sent Liu Hong, the Inspector of Jingzhou, and others to Fangcheng to suppress Zhang Chang, but the imperial army was defeated. In July, the Chancellor, Bian Cui, the Palace Attendant, Feng Sun, and the Intendant of Henan, Li Han, conspired with the King of Changsha, Sima Yi. Suspecting them, Sima Yi had them killed. Zhang Chang seized several commanderies in Jiangnan, and the Administrators of Wuling, Jia Long, Lingling, Kong Hong, Yuzhang, Yan Ji, and Wuchang, Liu Gen, all died at the hands of Zhang Chang. Zhang Chang's subordinate, Shi Bing, attacked Yangzhou, and the Inspector of Yangzhou, Chen Hui, engaged in battle with Shi Bing, leading to a major defeat in which Shi Bing occupied all the commanderies and counties of Yangzhou. Linhuai's Feng Yun also rose against Zhang Chang, attacking Xuzhou from Fuling.
In August, the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, and the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, rose against the King of Changsha, Sima Yi. The Emperor designated Sima Yi as the Grand Commander to lead the troops against them. On that day, Liu Hong engaged in battle with Zhang Chang at Qingshui and killed him. Sima Yong sent his generals Zhang Fang, while Sima Ying sent his generals Lu Ji, Qian Xiu, and Shi Chao to attack the capital. The Emperor fled with his army to Shisanli Bridge, dispatching General Huangfu Shang to intercept Zhang Fang in Yiyang. Later, the Emperor returned to Xuanwu Field, and then stayed in the Stone Tower. On that day, the heavens displayed ominous signs, with the sky splitting open and thunder roaring even without clouds.
In September, the emperor reached Heqiao, and Huangfu Shang was defeated by Zhang Fang. The emperor's army arrived at Mangshan, then at Yanshi, and then stayed at Doutian. During this time, the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel, Xingjin Marquis Yang Xuan, passed away. The emperor returned to the eastern part of the city, then went to Goushi to confront Qianxiu, and drove Qianxiu away. The court issued a nationwide amnesty. Zhang Fang attacked the capital city, burned Qingming Gate and Kaiyang Gate, and killed tens of thousands. Shi Chao approached the emperor's carriage in Goushi. In October, the emperor returned to the imperial palace. Shi Chao burned Goushi, leaving nothing unburned. The court's forces defeated Qianxiu and Sima Xiao, the King of Fanyang, outside Dongyang Gate, defeated Lu Ji at Jianchun Gate, and Shi Chao fled. The court executed Lu Ji's general Jia Chong and sixteen others, displaying their heads on Cangtu Street. Zhang Fang withdrew to Thirteen Li Bridge. In November, stars fell during the day, making sounds like thunder. The court's army attacked Zhang Fang's camp but were unsuccessful. Zhang Fang released the water from Qianjinyan, causing the watermills to run dry. The court ordered the slaves of noble families to mill rice for the army, officials below the first rank were not allowed to fight, and males over thirteen had to serve. Slaves were also conscripted into the army, known as the Four Departments of Sima. The country and the people were impoverished, with a stone of rice priced at ten thousand coins. When the court's orders were issued, the entire city was mobilized. In the evening, a red mist appeared in the sky, accompanied by faint sounds. That day also saw an earthquake. Donghai King Sima Yue captured Changsha King Sima Yi and imprisoned him in Jinyong City, where Zhang Fang ultimately had him executed. The court once again issued a nationwide amnesty. Scholars Zhou Ji from Yangzhou, former Nanping Inspector Wang Ju, and former Wuxing Inspector Gu Mi took up arms against Shi Bing, who retreated from Linhuai to Shouyang. General Liu Zhun sent Guangling Duzhi Chen Min to fight Shi Bing. Li Xiong attacked Yizhou Inspector Luo Shang from Picheng, forcing Luo Shang to abandon Yizhou and flee, with Li Xiong occupying Chengdu. The court appointed Duan Wuchen of the Xianbei as Duke of Liaoxi.
In the first month of Yongxing's first year, Yue Guang passed away. Wang Ying of Chengdu reported to the emperor while in Ye City, and the emperor ordered a general amnesty and changed the era name to Yong'an. The emperor, under pressure from Wang Yu of Hejian, secretly ordered the governors of Yongzhou, Liu Shen, and Qinzhou, Huangfu Zhong, to attack Wang Yu of Hejian. Liu Shen led his troops to attack Chang'an but was defeated by Wang Yu. Zhang Fang looted a lot of items in Luoyang, then returned to Chang'an. The army was starving and resorted to cannibalism. Later, Wang Ying of Chengdu was appointed as Prime Minister. Ying sent the attendant Zhonglang Sheng Kui with fifty thousand soldiers to garrison at twelve city gates. He eliminated all the guards he deemed undesirable and then had three armies take turns guarding. In the second month, the emperor deposed Empress Yang and confined her to Jinyong City, and demoted the crown prince to the title of King of Qinghe. In the third month, Chen Min attacked Shi Bing, killed him, and pacified Yangzhou and Xuzhou. Wang Yu of Hejian petitioned for Chengdu Wang Ying to be appointed as the Crown Prince. The emperor issued a decree stating, "I have been emperor for fifteen years and have made many mistakes; the world is in chaos, with villains emerging one after another, even the imperial palace has been occupied, and the ancestral temple has been desecrated. Chengdu Wang Ying is kind and gentle, pacified the rebellion, and now I will appoint him as the Crown Prince, leading the national army, while the position of Prime Minister remains unchanged." A general amnesty was then declared, three pieces of cloth were distributed to each elderly person, and a five-day feast was held to celebrate. On the same day, items were stolen from the ancestral temple. The Grand Commandant was promoted to Grand Chancellor, and Grand Preceptor Liu Shi was promoted to Grand Commandant. In June, three additional city gates were constructed.
In July, Right Guard General Chen Zhen summoned all officials to the palace on the orders of the emperor, and then led troops to attack Prince Ying of Chengdu. An amnesty was declared, restoring Empress Yang and the Crown Prince's titles. Minister of Works Wang Rong, Prince Chi of Donghai, Prince Jian of Gaomi, Duke Mo of Pingchang, King Yan of Wu, Prince Chi of Yuzhang, Prince Fan of Xiangyang, and Chancellor Xun Fan escorted the emperor north to Anyang, leading an army of more than a hundred thousand. Ying sent his general Shi Chao to confront them. In the battle at Dangyin, they suffered a defeat, with arrows even striking the emperor's horse. The officials scattered, and Ji Shao, an attendant, was killed in battle. The emperor's cheek was injured; he was hit by three arrows and lost six jade seals. The emperor fled to Shi Chao's forces, starving and desperate. Shi Chao gave him water and autumn peaches. Shi Chao sent his brother Xi to escort the emperor to Ye City, where Ying and his ministers awaited him. The emperor got off the carriage and cried, staying the night in Ying's camp. A Nine Gifts ceremony was held at Ying's mansion, and Prince Chenliu even sent clothes and accessories for the emperor. The next day, the emperor officially proceeded to Ye City, accompanied only by Prince Chi of Yuzhang, Minister Wang Rong, and Chancellor Xun Fan. An amnesty was declared, and the era name was changed to Jianwu.
In August, Ying assassinated the King of Dong'an, Yao. Zhang Fang returned to Luoyang and again deposed Empress Yang and Crown Prince Tan. Xiongnu King Liu Yuanhai rebelled in Lishi, proclaiming himself the Grand Chanyu. General Wang Jun of the Northern Army sent Wuhuan cavalry to attack Prince Chengdu Ying, inflicting a crushing defeat on Ying's army. Ying and the Emperor fled back to Luoyang in a carriage, losing everything and bringing very little with them. The chamberlain, Huangmen, had three thousand coins hidden on his person, which the Emperor borrowed for their journey. They bought food along the way, while the palace maids dined at roadside inns. One of the maids offered the Emperor some leftover rice, garlic, salt, and sauce, and he accepted it. The Emperor and the chamberlains wrapped themselves in cloth blankets. Upon reaching Huajia, they bought coarse rice served in clay pots, and the Emperor consumed two pots. An old man brought a steamed chicken, which the Emperor gratefully accepted. In Wen County, preparing to pay respects to their ancestors, the Emperor lost his own shoes and had to wear his attendants' shoes instead. He then offered sacrifices and wept, prompting everyone else to cry along with him. By the Yellow River, Zhang Fang arrived with three thousand cavalrymen in green carriages to welcome the Emperor. Zhang Fang wanted to meet the Emperor, but the Emperor personally intervened to stop him. A general amnesty was proclaimed, and rewards were distributed to those who followed him.
In November, Zhang Fang summoned the emperor to pay respects to his ancestors, then kidnapped the emperor to Chang'an. Zhang Fang rode in a carriage into the palace, while the emperor fled to hide in the bamboo grove of the rear garden. Zhang Fang forced the emperor into the carriage, with only twelve yellow gatekeepers and a few trumpeters in tow, and only Lu Zhi, the Director of the Palace Library, attending to the emperor. Zhang Fang took the emperor to his camp, and the emperor ordered Zhang Fang to prepare carriages and horses to transport palace maids and treasures, while the soldiers plundered the harem and squabbled over the treasury's riches. All treasures amassed since the Wei and Jin dynasties were pillaged. When they reached Xin'an, the weather turned bitterly cold, and the emperor fell off his horse, injuring his foot. Shangshu Gao Guang offered his own clothes to the emperor, who was deeply grateful. Prince Yong of Hejian led thirty thousand infantry to greet the emperor at Bazi. Prince Yong wanted to pay his respects to the emperor, but the emperor halted him. The Western Imperial Court was repurposed as a palace. Only the Director of Retainers Xun Fan, the Chief of the Imperial Guards Liu Tun, the Minister of Ceremonies Zheng Qiu, the Intendant of Henan Zhou Fu, and some officials remained in Luoyang to handle government affairs, referred to as the Eastern and Western Courts. A general amnesty was proclaimed, and the era name was changed to Yong'an. The title of Empress Yang Shi was reinstated. Li Xiong proclaimed himself emperor, styling himself the King of Chengdu, while Liu Yuanhai also declared himself emperor, adopting the title of King of Han.
In December, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Heavenly will has brought disaster to the Jin Dynasty, with no suitable heir. Although Wang Ying of Chengdu is the heir, his governance has been poor, leading to widespread disappointment among the people. He cannot inherit the throne, so let him return to his residence. Prince Chi of Yuzhang is the son of the late emperor, very talented, and widely supported by the people. He is now appointed as the Crown Prince to revitalize the Jin Dynasty. Sikong Yue is appointed as the Grand Tutor, assisting me along with Prime Minister Ye. Minister Wang Rong participates in court affairs, with Wang Yan appointed as the Left Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Wang Jun and Wang Teng will each guard their respective towns. Prince Jian of Gaomi is appointed as the General of the Southern Garrison, commanding the local garrison stationed in Luoyang; Mo is appointed as the General Who Pacifies the North, stationed in Ye City; Liu Hong guards Jingzhou; Zhou Fu and Miao Yin return to their respective posts, and all officials resume their original positions. Prince Jiong returns to his residence, Prince Yi of Changsha is sentenced to death, and his son Shao is appointed as the Prince of Le Ping County, inheriting his title. In recent years, ongoing wars have severely harmed both the populace and the treasury. The imperial court's expenditures have been reduced by two-thirds, and land taxes have been reduced by one-third. Harsh policies are abolished, the people are cared for, and production is encouraged. After the country is stabilized, we will return to Luoyang." A general amnesty is proclaimed, and the era name is changed. Prince Yong of Hejian is appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs.
In the year XXX (specific year based on the original text), on the first day of the first month, the emperor is in Chang'an. By April, the emperor orders the appointment of Sima Shao of Le Ping as Prince of Qi. Later, Zhang Fang deposes Empress Yang, the wife of the late emperor. In June, Wang Rong, the Palace Attendant and Minister of Works, as well as the Marquis of Anfeng, passes away. Han Zhi, the Prefect of Longxi, attacks the Inspector of Qinzhou, Zhang Fu, and kills him. Li Xiong rebels, declaring himself emperor and founding the state of Shu.
In July, several departments in the Ministry of Officials caught fire, and the area around Chongli Gate was engulfed in flames. The Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, led his troops in the Xu Zhou region, in preparation to welcome the emperor back to Chang'an. The followers of Prince Sima Ying of Chengdu, including Gong Shifan, gathered troops and besieged several counties, killing Li Zhi, the Prefect of Yangping, and Zhang Yan, the Prefect of Ji, before advancing on Ye City. General Zhao Xiang, dispatched by the Pingchang army, defeated them. In August, the court ordered a general amnesty. Sima Xiao, the General of the Valiant Cavalry and Prince of Fanyang, drove off Li Yi, the Inspector of Jizhou. The Inspector of Yangzhou, Cao Wu, killed Zhu Jian, the Prefect of Danyang. Li Xiong sent General Li Xiang to launch an attack on Han'an. Liu Hong, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, defeated Sima Shi, the General of the Southern Expeditions and Prince of Pengcheng, and pursued him to Wancheng.
On the first day of September, Gong Shifan executed Wang Jing, the Prefect of Pingyuan, and Feng Xiong, the Prefect of Qinghe. Afterwards, the Governor of Yuzhou, Liu Qiao, defeated Sima Xiao, the Prince of Fanyang, in Xuchang. Then, the Emperor appointed Sima Ying, the Prince of Chengdu, as the Grand General of the Garrison to command the army in the Hebei region, stationed in Yecheng. The Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, sent General Lv Lang to station in Luoyang. In October, the Emperor issued a decree, stating: "I have received a report from Liu Qiao, the Governor of Yuzhou, that the Prefect of Yingchuan, Liu Yu, threatened Sima Xiao, the General of Cavalry, disobeyed the imperial orders, spread rumors, occupied territories, and gathered troops, and even appointed Gou Xi as the Governor of Yanzhou, thereby intercepting my orders. Liu Hong, the General of the South Garrison and Governor of Jingzhou, and Sima Shi, the General of Pacification of the South, you shall lead your troops directly to Xuchang to fight alongside Liu Qiao. I am appointing General Zhang Fang as the Grand Commander, leading one hundred thousand elite soldiers, with Lu Lang, the General of Jianwu, Qian Pu, the General of Guangwu, and Diao Mo, the General of Jianwei, as the vanguard, all heading to Xuchang together to punish Liu Yu and his brothers." Afterwards, the Emperor sent Shi Chao, the General of the Front Cavalry, and Wang Chan, the General of the Northern Central Army, to attack Liu Yu and others.
During this period, a crimson mist appeared in the north, spanning east and west, veiling the sky. "A star blazed in the northern sky"; General Song Zhou of the Pingchang Company was stationed at Heqiao. In November, General Zhou Quan forged an edict, claiming himself as General of the West, and reinstated Empress Yang. Luoyang magistrate He Qiao attacked Zhou Quan and promptly executed him, deposing the empress once again. In December, Lv Lang and others marched east and stationed at Xingyang, while Prince Sima Ying of Chengdu was stationed in Luoyang. Meanwhile, Zhang Fang, Liu Hong, and others remained idle, unable to resist. Prince Sima Xiao of Fanyang crossed Guandu, captured Xingyang, killed Shi Chao, attacked Xuchang, and defeated Liu Qiao in Xiaoxian. Liu Qiao fled to Nanyang. Right General Chen Min rebelled, claiming himself as Duke of Chu, and falsely claimed to have an imperial decree, saying he was ordered to welcome the emperor. He drove away the Governor of Yangzhou, Liu Ji, and the Prefect of Danyang, Wang Kuang. He also sent his brother Chen Hui south to attack Jiangzhou, and the Governor of Jiangzhou, Ying Mai, fled to Yiyang.
On the first day of the first month of the first year of Guangxi, a solar eclipse occurred that morning. The emperor was in Chang'an at the time. Prince Yong of Hejian was alarmed upon hearing the news of Liu Qiao's defeat. He quickly executed Zhang Fang and then sought peace with Prince Yue of Donghai, but Yue did not agree. Song Zhou and others defeated the commander Lou Piao of Yingzhou, approaching Luoyang and forcing Prince Sima Ying, the Inspector of Yingzhou, to flee to Chang'an. A few days later, Prince Yue of Donghai sent Qi Hong, Song Zhou, Sima Zuan, and others to welcome the emperor.
In March, County Magistrate Liu Baigen of Donglai County rebelled, declaring himself "Jin Xian Gong," and attacked Linzi, prompting King Sima Jian of Gaomi to flee to Liaocheng. Wang Jun sent troops to suppress Liu Baigen, ultimately resulting in his death. In early April, King Yue of Donghai was stationed in Wen County. Yong dispatched Peng Sui, the Prefect of Hongnong, and Diao Mo, the Prefect of Beidi, to intercept Qi Hong and his forces. In May, unfortunately, the situation was dire; the national treasury in Fanyang caught fire, burning so fiercely that it could have been used to cook meals! Qi Hong and Diao Mo clashed in battle, resulting in a devastating defeat for Diao Mo. Yong and Ying fled to the Nanshan Mountains and eventually made their way to Wancheng. The Xianbei soldiers under Qi Hong rampaged through Chang'an, killing over 20,000 people. On that day, the sunlight spread, appearing red like blood, and a similar phenomenon occurred a few days later. Eventually, they escorted the emperor back to Luoyang; the emperor rode in a bullock cart, and the makeshift palace was so humble that only grass could be laid down, and all the ministers were utterly exhausted.
On the day of Wushen, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince of Fanyang, Sima Xiao, killed Xing Qiao, the Colonel of the Capital. On the day of Jiyou, someone stole four golden vessels and four written documents from the ancestral temple. On the first day of the sixth month, the emperor and his entourage finally returned to Chang'an, back to the former palace. The emperor was overcome with grief, then went to the ancestral temple to perform rituals and welcomed back Empress Yang. On the day of Xinwei, a general pardon was declared, and the era name was changed. On the first day of the seventh month, a solar eclipse occurred. Jia Bao, an official of the ancestral temple, stole the sacred vestments and sword from the ancestral temple and was eventually executed. In the eighth month, the Grand Tutor, Prince of Donghai, Yue, was appointed as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince of Fanyang, Sima Xiao, was appointed as the Minister of Construction. In the ninth month, the Administrator of Dunqiu, Feng Song, captured Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, and escorted him to Ye city. At the same time, the General of Dongyi, Ma Teng, was promoted to Prince of Dongyan, and the General of Pingchang, Ma Mo, was appointed as Prince of Nanyang. In the tenth month, Minister of Construction, Prince of Fanyang, Sima Xiao, passed away. Liu Yu, the Chief Historian of Sima Xiao, killed Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying. In the eleventh month, the emperor passed away in the Xianyang Palace at the age of forty-eight and was buried in the Taiyang Tomb.
When Emperor Wu was the Crown Prince, everyone in the court knew that he was incompetent in handling state affairs, and Emperor Wu himself also doubted this. Once, he summoned all the officials of the Eastern Palace and gave the Crown Prince the official documents of the Ministry of Personnel to make decisions, but the Crown Prince couldn't answer. Princess Jia sent people to help answer and often quoted ancient anecdotes. Zhang Hong, the censor, said, "The Crown Prince lacks knowledge and skills, Your Majesty, you should let him handle state affairs directly now, instead of always relying on ancient texts." Princess Jia agreed with Zhang Hong's opinion. Zhang Hong drafted a memorial and had the Crown Prince copy it. Emperor Wu was very pleased after reading it, and the Crown Prince was temporarily secured in his position.
When he became emperor, all the government orders came from his subordinates, the country's discipline deteriorated, bribery ran rampant, those in power oppressed the common people, loyal ministers were sidelined, and rogues rose to power. They mutually recommended and promoted one another, and everyone said it was an era of mutual exchange. Prince Gaoping Shen wrote "On the Times," Lu Bao of Nanyang wrote "On the God of Money," and Du Song of Lujiang wrote "The Chronicles of Renzichun." These were all articles criticizing current politics. Once, Emperor Wu heard a frog croaking in the Hualin Garden and asked those around him, "Is that an official frog or a commoner frog?" Someone replied, "If it croaks within the official's territory, it's an official frog; if it's on private land, it's a commoner frog." As chaos engulfed the realm and the people starved, Emperor Wu asked, "Why not eat meat porridge?" He was utterly deceived. Later, he died from consuming poisoned cakes, and some said it was Sima Yue who poisoned him.
Historians remarked that an unworthy son had ascended to the throne, and power did not come from the emperor himself but was controlled by lowly individuals. The events of Bao Si and Gong Shuduan occurred together, and Queen Xiang and the Quanrong rebelled at the same time. In the past, Dan Zhu was unworthy, and King Nan avoided responsibility. These malevolent actions, impacting the nation's fate like a crumbling mound of earth, will eventually lead to disaster. As the sweltering summer faded, the sound of frogs croaking was heard less, yet this absurd situation ultimately resulted in the emperor's demise. Are truly talented and capable individuals a relic of the past, while those who aid tyranny now dominate the court? Those called loyalists are being eliminated, while those called villains are thriving. The Changle Palace harbors ill omens, and the Chenghua Hall has problems, leading to the suffering of the people and the downfall of the country. The reasons behind the downfalls of those who perished with their nations in ancient times were mostly due to either defying common sense or being incompetent. Had the wise ruler lost his vitality, leaving Emperor Wu oblivious to his own son?
It is said: Emperor Hui holds a position of great power, overseeing court matters. However, he is incompetent and ignorant, with a foolish mindset. Looking down from the high platform at his sons, what injustices linger in the long night? The city of Jin Yong has been destroyed, the crown has been lost, Dangyin City has been breached, and the imperial family has been killed, ultimately resulting in their downfall, with calamities following in quick succession.
Emperor Wu, named Sima Yan and styled Anshi, was the eldest son of Emperor Wen, Sima Zhao. He was generous, kind, steady, and measured. During the Jia Ping reign of the Wei Dynasty, he was appointed as the Marquis of Beipingting, and later served as a Court Attendant, Minister of the Imperial Carriage, and General of the Central Army. He was also appointed as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance, gradually rising to the position of Central Protector-General and given the authority to act on behalf of the emperor. He once went to Dongwuyang to welcome the Duke of Changdao Township, and was later promoted to Central Pacification Commissioner, enfeoffed as the Marquis of Xinchang Township. After the establishment of the Jin Dynasty, he was named the Crown Prince, appointed as Grand General of the Guard, permitted to set up his own office, and assist the Prime Minister in handling state affairs.
Initially, Emperor Wen, Sima Zhao, believed that Emperor Jing, Sima Shi, was the legitimate eldest son of Emperor Xuan, Sima Yi, but unfortunately, he passed away early without leaving any descendants. Therefore, he intended for his brother, Sima You, to succeed to the throne. He favored Sima You greatly, even claiming to be only temporarily acting as the Prime Minister, stating that after a hundred years, the great responsibility should be passed to Sima You. He often remarked, "This is Prince Jing's domain; what right do I have?" When discussing the appointment of the Crown Prince, Emperor Wen, Sima Zhao, was more inclined towards Sima You. However, He Zeng and others strongly opposed, saying, "Central Pacification Commissioner Sima Yan is smart and brave, possessing extraordinary abilities. Look at him; when standing, his hair reaches the ground, and when sitting, his hands surpass his knees. This doesn't look like the demeanor of a subject!" Therefore, it was ultimately decided to appoint Sima Yan as the Crown Prince.
In May of 265 AD, Sima Yan was appointed as the Crown Prince of Jin. On the eighth day of the eighth month, Sima Zhao passed away, and Sima Yan succeeded to the positions of Prime Minister and Prince of Jin. He immediately ordered the reduction of penalties, pardoned criminals, pacified the people, ceased corvée, and the country mourned for three days. In that same month, a giant three zhang in height appeared in Xiangwu County, who said to the local man, Wang Shi, "Peace is coming!"
On the fifth day of September, Sima Yan appointed He Ceng, the Chancellor of Wei, as Prime Minister, Wang Shen, the General Who Pacifies the South, as Grand Inspector, Jia Chong, the Central Army Protector, as General Who Guards the Army, and Pei Xiu, the Chief of the Yellow Gate, as Minister of Rites and concurrently Grandee of the Imperial Clan, all of whom had the power to establish their own staff organizations. In November, Sima Yan began to establish four Central Protectors to command the armies outside the city. On the fourteenth day of November, he ordered the officials in each commandery to recommend talented individuals who had been overlooked according to six standards: first, loyalty and integrity, not deceiving oneself; second, filial piety, fulfilling the duties of children; third, loving brothers and sisters; fourth, upright conduct, humility, and prudence; fifth, keeping promises, being loyal, and trustworthy; sixth, learning and applying it in practice.
At that time, the benevolent governance of the Jin Dynasty had taken root in the hearts of the people, and the whole country was peaceful and united. Sima Yan believed this was the will of heaven, so he sent the Grand Preceptor Zheng Chong to read aloud the edict:
"Consulting you, Jin Prince: My imperial ancestor Yu Shun, graced by heaven, inherited the throne from Yao and passed it on to Xia Yu. These three sage rulers all ascended to become immortals, and their virtue illuminated the world. Thereafter, heaven entrusted the mandate to the Han Dynasty. After the decline of the Han Dynasty, heaven once again favored my high ancestor. We dare not speculate on the achievements of the four generations of emperors Yu Shun, Xia Yu, Tang of Shang, and King Wen of Zhou, but your ancestors and father, upholding wise virtues, assisted our royal family, their merits and virtues spreading throughout the world. The heavens and earth honored them, and the world was peaceful, and the people were happy. You should inherit the will of heaven, take over the central authority of the empire. As an individual, I am only following the will of heaven, respectfully passing the throne to you, as this is the divine mandate. You must govern diligently, ensuring the eternal prosperity of the country. Ah! You must respect the divine mandate, follow the ancestral teachings, pacify the vassal lords in all directions, preserve the peace of the country, and not to undermine the great legacies of our two late emperors!"
Sima Yan, the founder of the Jin Dynasty, initially declined the offer, but was persuaded by officials He Zeng and Wang Shen from the Wei court before he ultimately accepted the throne.
In the winter of the year 265 AD, on the day of Bing Yin in December, an altar was set up in the southern suburbs. Tens of thousands of civil and military officials, the Southern Chanyu of the Xiongnu, and leaders from various ethnic groups attended the ceremony. Emperor Sima Yan respectfully announced to Heaven and Earth at the altar, saying, "I, Emperor Sima Yan, respectfully inform Heaven and Earth: The Emperor of Wei passed the throne to me, having inherited the will of Heaven. In ancient times, Emperor Yao upheld great virtues and abdicated the throne to Emperor Shun, who subsequently passed it on to Emperor Yu. They educated the people with their virtues and ruled for many years. Later, the Han Dynasty declined, and our ancestor Emperor Wu pacified the chaos, assisted the Liu clan dynasty, and accepted the abdication of the Han Dynasty. During the rule of the Wei Dynasty, there were also many upheavals and near extinction, but thanks to the Jin Dynasty's rescue, the Wei Dynasty was able to continue and survive the difficulties, demonstrating the Jin Dynasty's great kindness towards the Wei Dynasty. Now, all corners have submitted to the Jin Dynasty, having pacified Liangzhou and Yizhou, and conquered Yangzhou and Yuezhou. The world is unified, auspicious signs abound, there is harmony between heaven and humanity, and peace reigns across the land. Thus, I inherit the achievements of three generations of emperors and accept the will of Heaven. Though my virtues are lacking and I wished to decline, I find I cannot refuse. Thus, all officials and leaders from various ethnic groups reached a unanimous agreement: Heaven inspects the people below, seeking a suitable ruler. Since there is a divine mandate, it cannot be refused or resisted. The world's order cannot exist without a ruler, and both mortals and deities need a master. I humbly accept the mandate of Heaven, revere it, choose an auspicious day, ascend the altar to receive the abdication, and offer sacrifices to Heaven and Earth, fulfilling the people's expectations." After the ceremony, Sima Yan went to the front hall of the Taiji Palace in Luoyang and issued a decree stating, "My great-grandfather, King Xuan, wise and virtuous, adhered to the will of Heaven and laid the foundation of the Jin Dynasty; my grandfather, King Jing, followed the right path and educated the people; my father, King Wen, wise and far-sighted, adhered to the will of Heaven, accepted its mandate, bestowed blessings upon the world, and achieved immeasurable merit. The Wei Dynasty also followed the teachings of the ancient sage kings, learned from the examples of Yao and Shun, and passed on the great cause to me. I shoulder this heavy responsibility and rely on you, noble lords and ministers, to help govern the realm. I hope to share this era of peace and prosperity with all nations."
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Therefore, an amnesty was declared throughout the country, a new era was established, and titles were granted to the people of the world, with each person receiving five ranks of nobility. For the elderly, widows, and those unable to support themselves, five hu of grain each were distributed. All national taxes and tariffs were suspended for a year, and all debts were forgiven. Previous grievances were settled, restrictions were lifted, and all those who were dismissed from their official positions and stripped of their titles were reinstated. On the second day of the first month, Grand Marshal Liu Yuan was sent to the ancestral temple to make offerings. The Wei emperor was granted the title of Prince of Chenliu, with a fief of ten thousand households and residence at the Yegong Palace; all the princes of the Wei dynasty were appointed county marquises. Emperor Xuan was posthumously honored as Emperor Xuan, Emperor Jing as Emperor Jing, Emperor Wen as Emperor Wen, and Empress Zhang, the wife of Emperor Xuan, as Empress Xuanmu. Empress Dowager Wang was honored as Grand Empress Dowager, and the palace was designated as Chonghua Palace. Sima Fu was appointed King of Anping, Sima Gan as King of Pingyuan, Sima Liang as King of Fufeng, Sima Zong as King of Dongguan, Sima Jun as King of Ruyin, Sima Rong as King of Liang, Sima Lun as King of Langye, the emperor's younger brother Sima You as King of Qi, Sima Jian as King of Le'an, Sima Ji as King of Yan, the emperor's cousin Sima Wang as King of Yiyang, Sima Fu as King of Bohai, Sima Huang as King of Xiapu, Sima Gui as King of Taiyuan, Sima Gui as King of Gaoyang, Sima Heng as King of Changshan, Sima Wen as King of Pei, Sima Tai as King of Longxi, Sima Quan as King of Pengcheng, Sima Sui as King of Fanyang, Sima Sui as King of Jinan, Sima Xun as King of Qiao, Sima Mu as King of Zhongshan, Sima Ling as King of Beihai, Sima Bin as King of Chen, Sima Hong, the emperor's elder paternal uncle, as King of Hejian, and Sima Mao, the emperor's younger paternal uncle, as King of Dongping. The General of Chariots and Cavalry Shi Bao was appointed Grand Marshal and granted the title of Duke of Leiling; Guard General Jia Chong was appointed General of Chariots and Duke of Lu; the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Pei Xiu was appointed Duke of Julu; the Palace Attendant Xun Xu was appointed Duke of Jibei; the Grand Guardian Zheng Chong was appointed Grand Tutor, Duke of Shouguang; the Grand Commandant Wang Xiang was appointed Grand Guardian, Duke of Suiling; the Chancellor He Zeng was appointed Grand Commandant, Duke of Langling; the Grandee of the Imperial Secretariat Wang Shen was appointed General of Chariots, Duke of Boling; the Minister of Works Xun Yi was appointed Duke of Linhuai; the Grand General Who Pacifies the North Wei Guan was appointed Duke of Ziyang. Other officials were also promoted in rank, with civil and military officials generally being promoted by two levels. The Jingchu calendar was changed to the Taishi calendar, with the La festival falling on the You day and the She festival on the Chou day. On the fifth day of the first month, an edict was issued to strongly encourage frugality, with precious treasures and jewels from the palace being awarded to officials below the rank of princes. A General of the Central Army was established to command the seven garrisons. On the sixth day of the first month, an edict was issued allowing the Prince of Chenliu to use the imperial flags and ceremonial regalia, to continue using the Wei dynasty's era names, rituals of sacrifice, and music and ceremonial systems, without needing to bow in official communications. The sons of Liu Kang, Duke of Shanyang, and Liu Shan, Duke of Anle, were each appointed as Duke of Cavalry. On the twelfth day of the first month, Sima Fu, King of Anping, was appointed Grand Preceptor, granted the Yellow Battle-axe, and appointed Grand Marshal to command the national military. An edict stated: "In the past, Wang Ling attempted to depose the Prince of Qi, but he himself could not maintain his position; although Deng Ai was highly accomplished, he too ended up captured. Now, their families are granted amnesty to live out their later years in peace. The rise and fall of dynasties, adherence to the law, and leniency in punishments are emphasized. Restrictions on the imperial clan of the Wei dynasty are lifted. Those officials and officers who are in mourning for three years are allowed to continue their mourning. The people are exempted from corvée labor. The collateral pledge system for ranks below battalion commanders is abolished. Tribute payments from the commanderies and kingdoms are reduced, and extravagant music, dance, and hunting activities are prohibited. Freedom of speech is promoted, and censors are appointed to oversee remonstrations." During this month, six phoenixes, three azure dragons, two white dragons, and one qilin were reported in various commanderies and kingdoms.
In the second year of the era, in the first month, the emperor sent the attendant Hou Shiguang and others to various places to inspect customs and canceled all sacrificial activities not included in the sacrificial records. The next day, someone suggested building seven ancestral temples, but the emperor deemed the project too ambitious and declined to approve it. A few days later, the emperor ordered the abolition of the "Rooster Crow Song" performance. Later, the emperor bestowed the title of Empress Jing upon Lady Yang, the wife of Emperor Jing, and named her palace Hongxun Palace. In the same month, the emperor also formally recognized Lady Yang as Empress.
In the second month, the emperor ordered the release of the restrictions on the Han Dynasty's imperial family. Prince Changshan passed away, and the emperor issued an edict stating, "All rewards for the fifth rank will be determined according to the old merits. Those originally titled county marquises, their sons can inherit the title of pavilion marquis; the sons of village marquises inherit the title of inner marquis; the sons of pavilion marquises inherit the title of central marquis, and they all enjoy one-tenth of the original fief income." Then, the emperor offered sacrifices to Emperor Xuan in the outskirts, to honor heaven and earth; and offered sacrifices to Emperor Wen in the Mingtang, to share with the gods. The emperor also issued an edict stating, "In ancient times, all officials were responsible for advising the emperor, and the Bao clan was specifically responsible for admonition. Now, the attendants and palace officials actually bear this responsibility, and should select individuals who are willing to speak frankly, correct errors, and address shortcomings to serve in these positions."
In the third month, envoys from Wu came to express their condolences, and the relevant officials reported to the emperor. The emperor said, "Previously, Emperor Wen and Emperor Guangwu appeased Wei Tuo and Gongsun Shu, but did not formally establish a lord-vassal relationship, so they just appeased them without true submission. Now that envoys from Wu have come, we are not yet familiar with their circumstances, so we will just reply with letters." In May, the emperor issued an edict stating, "Prince of Chenliu, Cao Cao, is humble and always submits requests for approval, which does not serve to favor him. In the future, the relevant departments should understand my intentions, and if it is not a major issue, they should not allow royal officials to submit reports anymore." Wang Shen, Duke of Boling and General of Chariots and Cavalry, passed away. In June, Prince of Jibei, Sui, passed away.
In July, the construction of the Grand Temple commenced, utilizing timber from Jing Mountain and stones from Mount Hua, casting twelve bronze columns, painting them with gold, carving various patterns, and inlaying pearls. King Qiao Xun passed away. On the last day of July, a solar eclipse occurred. In August, the Emperor removed the position of Right General. Initially, although the Emperor followed the system of the Han and Wei dynasties to remove mourning attire after the ancestors' death, he still wore plain clothes and a plain hat, lowered his seat, and removed meals, demonstrating profound grief as though still in mourning. Some suggested that the Emperor should wear court attire and restore meals, but the Emperor refused, only resuming normalcy after the mourning period concluded. When the Empress Dowager passed away, he did the same.
In September, the Cavalier Attendant Huangfu Tao and Fu Xuan served as advisors, advising the Emperor; some advised the Emperor to disregard them. The Emperor said, "It is the most difficult thing for a subject to advise the Emperor, but if the Emperor does not listen, it is also a matter of grief and indignation for loyal ministers and upright scholars since ancient times. After the ministers submit their memorials, they are handed over to the officials in charge and often dealt with thoroughly, then they say that pardons should be decided by the Emperor; what kind of logic is that? It should be carefully evaluated." Some suggested that the Great Jin Dynasty inherited the achievements of the Three Emperors, emulated the merits of Shun and Yu, followed the timing of the heavens, received the mandate from Wei, and should adopt the clothing and customs of earlier dynasties, akin to those of the Xia and Shang. The Emperor agreed to this suggestion. On the first day of October, a solar eclipse occurred. The Emperor decreed, "In the past, Emperor Shun was buried in Cangwu, and the people continued to farm as usual; Emperor Yu was buried in Chengji, and the markets continued to trade. I emulate the simple style of my ancestors, and the residents who have caused disturbances due to the relocation of tombs will be addressed."
In November, the Wokou came to offer tribute. Circular and square altars were established in the southern and northern suburbs, respectively, and rituals for the winter and summer solstices were conducted at these altars. The emperor abolished the position of the governor of Shanyang State and related prohibitions. The emperor posthumously honored Lady Xiahou, the wife of Emperor Jing, as Empress Jinghuai. The emperor moved the ancestral tablets to the ancestral temple. In December, the emperor abolished the agricultural posts, delegating their management to the counties. That year, the phoenix was sighted six times, the azure dragon ten times, the yellow dragon nine times, and the qilin once, all appearing in various counties and states.
In January of the year 260 AD, on the day of Gui Chou, the white dragon appeared twice in Hongnong Mianchi. "The white dragon appeared twice in Hongnong Mianchi." This was indeed a good omen! On the day of Ding Mao in the same year, the emperor appointed his son Sima Zhong as the Crown Prince. He also issued a decree stating, "Although my abilities are limited, I bear the heavy responsibility of governing the world. I have always been cautious and afraid that I cannot bring peace to the world. Therefore, I wish to learn the wise and virtuous ways of governance alongside the people, fundamentally rectify the administration, and appoint a Crown Prince to succeed to the throne. This has not been my primary concern! In addition, every time a Crown Prince is appointed in recent years, there is always a general amnesty and grace bestowed upon the people, which is not my preference, but merely a compliance with the opinions of the nobles and ministers. Now that the world is gradually stabilizing, I intend to educate the people with moral principles, to teach them what is good and what is bad, so that they no longer worry about unexpected disasters and can persevere to the end, practicing benevolence and righteousness. Therefore, there is no need to continue with acts of clemency and generosity. Let everyone know my thoughts!"
On the third day of the third month in the year of Wuyin, the court issued an order allowing officials of the rank of 2,000 stones to observe a three-year mourning period for their parents. "Initially, the officials of the rank of 2,000 stones are allowed to observe a three-year mourning period." On the day of Dingwei, it suddenly became dark in the daytime; it was truly terrifying! "Daytime darkness." The emperor ordered the dismissal of the General of the Imperial Guards and appointed Li Xi as the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Oh, this day is really not peaceful; I've heard that stones have collapsed on Mount Tai! "Stone collapse on Mount Tai." On the fourth day of the fourth month in the year of Wuwu, Jiao Sheng, the Prefect of Zhangye, reported that a dark-colored stone with white patterns resembling a painting was discovered at the entrance of Daliu Valley in Dichixian County. This is a good omen for the Great Jin Dynasty! He offered this stone to the emperor. "Jiao Sheng, the Prefect of Zhangye, reported that there is a dark stone with white patterns at the entrance of Daliu Valley in Dichixian County, which is an auspicious sign of the Great Jin, and presented it." The emperor was overjoyed and specially went to the ancestral temple to pay his respects, and then stored this stone in the Tianfu. In August, the court abolished the office of the Protector General and merged the five departments of the Protectorate into the Palace Attendant. "Dismiss the Protector General and merge its five departments into the Palace Attendant." On the day of Jiaxin in September, the emperor issued another decree, saying, "In ancient times, titles were conferred based on virtue, and salaries were determined based on achievements. Even the lowest-ranking officials could eat top-quality food, so they could wholeheartedly serve the public, respect their parents, and show kindness to others. Nowadays, officials receive extremely high salaries without having to farm themselves, which does not foster good moral values! Therefore, we should think about raising officials' salaries!" "In ancient times, titles were conferred based on virtue, and salaries were determined based on achievements... Consider increasing salaries for officials." The emperor also granted rewards of silk to officials of lower ranks. Meanwhile, He Zeng was appointed as the Grand Preceptor, Sima Wang of Yiyang as the Grand Commandant, and Xun Yi as the Minister of Works.
In October, the court allowed soldiers to return home for their parents' funerals after they pass away, provided it wasn't on the battlefield. "Soldiers who have lost their parents, except on the frontier, are all allowed to return home." In December, the Marquis of Zongsheng, Kong Zhen, was conferred the title of Marquis of Fengshengting. "The Marquis of Zongsheng, Kong Zhen, was conferred the title of Marquis of Fengshengting." Liu Kang, the Duke of Shanyang, visited the emperor at court. "Duke of Shanyang, Liu Kang, came to the court." Finally, the emperor also ordered the prohibition of studying astrology and divination. "The study of astrology and divination is prohibited." What a year of major events it has been!
In the year 265 AD, on New Year's Day, Pei Xiu was appointed as the Minister of Works. A few days later, the new laws were officially announced, with different rewards and gifts for titles. That night, a comet appeared in the sky. The emperor personally went to the fields to plow, to emphasize the importance of agriculture.
The emperor decreed:
"In ancient times, cruel punishments deterred the common people from committing crimes; nowadays, although the penalties are severe, crimes are still rampant. Why is this so? The late emperor had great sympathy for the common people and compassion for those imprisoned, so he ordered the ministers to review the laws. I carry on the late emperor's legacy, wholeheartedly aiming to maintain national stability, hoping for peace under heaven through non-interference. Now, in the spring when all things are growing, agricultural production has begun. I personally lead the royal ministers to cultivate one thousand mu of land. The laws have been drafted and promulgated nationwide, aiming to simplify the legal system, focus on the essentials, and benefit the people. Offenders should be pardoned, given the chance to start anew, so a general amnesty is granted. Each official at all levels, county magistrates, and chief clerks will each receive a horse."
In February, the positions of Prime Minister of Shanyang and others, Director of the Imperial Medical Office, and Lingling Prefect were added, as well as an increase in the number of laborers, executioners, heralds, and vehicles, each serving different functions. The position of General of the Central Army was abolished, and the position of Northern Army Middle Guard was established. Liu Jian was appointed as a court official because of his exemplary character. Yang Hu was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Left in the Ministry of Personnel, and Prince Dongguan was appointed as the Deputy Director of the Right in the Ministry of Personnel.
In March, Empress Dowager Wang passed away. In April, Grand Preceptor Wang Xiang passed away. Following that, Empress Wang Wenming was buried in Chongyang Tomb. The positions of the Zhenwei and Yangwei military officers were abolished, and the positions of the Left and Right Generals of Accumulated Crossbows were established. In June, the emperor issued a decree saying, "County governors must inspect their jurisdictions every three years, and this must be done in the spring. This is the traditional method for officials to account for their duties, promote education, and show benevolence and righteousness. They must visit local officials, understand customs and sentiments, inspect rituals, measures, and weights, visit the elderly and personally check on centenarians, review prisoners and address wrongful cases, thoroughly assess the effectiveness of laws and punishments, and understand the hardships of the people. No matter the distance, it should feel as though I am inspecting in person. We must uphold the teachings of the Five Constant Virtues, encourage agricultural production, motivate people to pursue education, strive to abide by the law, avoid seeking clever tricks and instead focus on practical efforts. Those who are dedicated to learning and self-cultivation, filial to their parents, loving towards their siblings, loyal and trustworthy, and upright and honest should be promoted and employed; those who are disrespectful to their parents, unloving towards their siblings, violate etiquette, and do not obey the law should be corrected and punished. If the land is effectively cultivated and production thrives, rituals and education flourish, and laws are enforced, this reflects the effectiveness of the officials; if the people are poor, agriculture is neglected, thieves are rampant, litigation cases increase, officials are derelict, and rituals and righteousness are not upheld, this indicates the officials' incompetence. Officials who are diligent and honest in their duties, do not consider personal gain, are upright and honest, and do not seek false reputations, as well as officials who are corrupt, flatter, neglect their duties, and yet become increasingly wealthy at home, must be scrutinized closely. Encourage virtue, discourage vice, reward the good, and hold the bad accountable - this is my responsibility as the ruler, and it is your responsibility as senior officials! Everyone must take this as a warning!"
In July, Mount Tai crumbled and the stars shifted westward. The emperor sent the envoy, Hou Shiguang, to inspect the entire country. Afterwards, the emperor paid homage at Chongyang Tomb. In September, major floods occurred in the four regions of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou, with the Yi and Luo Rivers overflowing and merging into the Yellow River. The court opened the granaries to provide relief. The emperor issued a decree saying, "Even if there are stipulations in the decree, if the report afterwards is unfavorable, do not conceal the truth." In October, General Shi Ji of Wu attacked Jiangxia, while Wanyu raided Xiangyang. The court dispatched Grand Commandant Wang Jun to station at Longbei. The Inspector of Jingzhou, Hu Lie, defeated Wanyu. The Wu general Gu Rong attacked Yulin, and Prefect Mao Jiong defeated the forces of the Wu army, killing the Wu Inspector of Jiaozhou, Liu Jun, and General Xiu Ze. In November, Wu general Ding Feng and others attacked Shaobi but were repelled by General Wang Jun, Prince Ruyin of the East, and Wang Jun. The emperor issued a decree ordering the nobles and county officials to nominate virtuous and outspoken talents. In December, the emperor promulgated five decrees nationwide: 1. Rectify oneself; 2. Be diligent in serving the people; 3. Show compassion for widows and orphans; 4. Focus on fundamentals while restraining excesses; 5. Eliminate deceit. The emperor personally adjudicated cases, inspected prisoners in Luoyang prison, and personally sentenced them. Envoys from Funan and Linyi came to pay tribute. In January 265 AD, on the day of Guisi, the Wei Emperor ordered the officials in charge of finance and public security in various counties and states to fully utilize land resources and prohibit idleness and illicit trading. On the day of Bingshen, the emperor personally adjudicated cases, reviewed prisoner records, and pardoned many offenders. On this day, the Azure Dragon appeared twice in Xingyang.
In February, the Emperor of Wei merged five counties in Yongzhou and Longyou, as well as Jincheng County and Yinping County in Liangzhou, to establish Qinzhou. On the Xinsi day, two white dragons appeared in the state of Zhao. Due to floods in the states of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, and Yanzhou, the Emperor sent relief and aid. On the day of Renyin, the Left Minister Shangshu Yang Hu was appointed as the military commander of Jingzhou, Grand General Wei Guan was appointed as the military commander of Qingzhou, and Prince Dongguan was appointed as the Grand General of Zhendong and the military commander of Xuzhou.
On the day of Dinghai, the Emperor issued a decree saying, "In ancient times, officials' talents and achievements were assessed annually, with rewards and punishments after three years. Now, officials only deal with the lazy and incompetent, without motivating the diligent and capable. This is not an effective way to assess rewards and punishments. In the future, officials who are diligent and outstanding should be commended every year. I will establish a system for merit assessment." On the day of Jiwei, the Emperor ordered Zhuge Jing, the grandson of Zhuge Liang, the Prime Minister of Shu, to be appointed to an official position based on his abilities.
In April, an earthquake occurred. On the first day of May, a phoenix appeared in the state of Zhao. The Emperor ordered a five-year pardon for the three counties of Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, and Rinan. In June, the official Guo Yi of Yecheng submitted a memorial with five suggestions, which was quite sharp and direct. The Emperor appreciated his words and promoted him to the position of County Magistrate of Tunliu. Qu Lu from Xi Ping spoke many misleading words and was recommended for execution by the relevant authorities. The Emperor remarked, "This is my mistake." So he was pardoned without any further investigation. The Emperor ordered the abolition of the Garrison General position and the restoration of the positions of Left and Right Generals.
In July, the Emperor summoned his ministers to gather their opinions. In September, a comet appeared in the Zhiwei Palace. On the day of Bingzi in October, in recognition of the outstanding performance of Wang Hong, the Prefect of Ji County, the Emperor rewarded him with one thousand bushels of grain. In November, the Emperor posthumously honored his younger brother Cao Zhao with the title of Ai King of Chengyang, with the throne passed on to his son Cao Jingdu. In December, the Emperor ordered all states and counties to recommend talented and brave individuals.
In the first month of the year 242 AD, on New Year's Day, the Emperor received the ministers in the grand hall of the imperial palace, but no banquet was held to celebrate. General Ding Feng of Wu launched an attack on Guokou, and the Governor of Yangzhou, Qian Hong, successfully repelled him.
In the third month, the court declared a general amnesty throughout the realm, pardoning all criminals sentenced to less than five years. In the fourth month, a white dragon was sighted twice in Dongguan. In the fifth month, the Emperor appointed Cheng as the Prince of Nangong Ting. On the day of Wu Wu in the sixth month, Hu Lie, the Governor of Qinzhou, bravely fell in battle against the rebels at Wanhu Dui. The Emperor ordered Minister Shi Jian to serve as the General of Anxi, commanding the military affairs of Qinzhou, and together with Military Guard Tian Zhang, he led the campaign against the rebels.
On the day of the seventh month, the court ordered the exemption of taxes for the five counties of Longyou that suffered losses due to the war, and provided food assistance to those unable to care for themselves. On the same day of that month, Prince Jingdu of Chengyang passed away. The Emperor decreed, "Beginning from the Taishi era, all major events should be recorded in the Secretariat, and copies should be made for filing. In the future, similar events should be collected and recorded for reference, forming a system." On the day of the eighth month, the Emperor appointed Prince Jun of Ruyin as the Grand General of Zhenxi, commanding the military affairs of Yong and Liang provinces.
In the ninth month, the Kingdom of Dawan sent tribute in the form of sweat-blooded horses, and the Kingdom of Yanqi also presented some special products. In the eleventh month, the Emperor hosted a rural drinking ceremony in Biyong, rewarding the scholars and students of Tai Chang with textiles, cattle, and wine, each receiving different amounts. The Emperor also appointed his son Jian as the Prince of Runan. In the twelfth month, the Supervisor of Xiakou from Wu, former General Sun Xiu, led his troops to surrender to the Wei Kingdom. The Wei Emperor appointed him as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, granting him the title of Duke of Kuaiji. On the same day of that month, the court restored the position of Garrison Officer.
On the fifteenth day of the first month of the year 277 AD, the Crown Prince held a cap-and-gown ceremony, and the Emperor rewarded officials of lower ranks, below that of Wang and Duke, with silk and fabrics, each receiving different amounts. At this time, the Xiongnu leader Liu Meng rebelled and fled beyond the border.
In March, Sun Hao led his army to attack Shouyang, while also sending Wang, the Grand Marshal, to station north of the Huai River to guard against Sun Hao. On the twenty-eighth of March, the Minister of Works, Duke of Julu, Pei Xiu, passed away. On the fifth of April, Wang Ye was appointed as the Left Minister of Writing, and Gao Yang Wang Gui was appointed as the Right Minister of Writing. Sun Xiu's general He Chong led five thousand troops to surrender to us.
In April, the Administrator of Jiuzhen, Dong Yuan, was defeated and killed in battle by the Wu country general Yu Fan. The Hu tribes from Beidi raided Jincheng, and the Governor of Liangzhou, Qian Hong, went to quell the raids. The Hu tribes rebelled internally, besieging Qian Hong in Qingshan, where he was defeated and killed. In May, the imperial prince Sima Xian was appointed as the King of Chengyang. The provinces of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Qinzhou suffered from famine, and the court pardoned criminals within these provinces who were guilty of crimes punishable by death or less. In the intercalary month, a large-scale rain prayer ceremony was held, and the court reduced the amount of food rations. The court ordered that the three counties of Jiaozhi and the various counties of Nanzhong would be exempt from taxes this year.
In June, the court ordered each official from the nobility and ministers down to recommend a general. On the twentieth of June, the Grand Marshal and Prince of Yiyang, Wang Wang, passed away. Heavy rain poured down, causing the waters of the Yi River, Luo River, and Yellow River to rise drastically, submerging over four thousand households, with over three hundred people drowned. The court ordered disaster relief efforts and provided coffins. On the ninth of July, Jia Chong was appointed as the Commander of Military Affairs in Qinzhou and Liangzhou. The Wu country generals Tao Huang and others besieged Jiaozhi, where the Administrator Yang Ji and the Prefects of Yulin, Mao Jiong, and Rinan surrendered to the Wu country.
On the twentieth of August, the General of the Eastern Campaign, Wei Guan, was appointed as the General Who Conquers the North and Commander of Military Affairs in Youzhou. On the twenty-second of August, the Prince of Chengyang, Sima Xian, passed away. The four counties of Nanzhong in Yizhou were split off to create Ningzhou, and criminals within these four counties who were guilty of crimes punishable by death or less were pardoned. On the fourteenth of October, a solar eclipse occurred. On the fourteenth of November, the Duke of Wei, Ji Shu, passed away. In December, heavy snow fell. The court abolished the positions of Chief of the Central Army and Chief Aide-de-Camp of the Northern Army. Zheng Mao was appointed as the Minister of Works.
In the year 265 AD, in January, General He Zhen led troops to attack Liu Meng, the leader of the Xiongnu, defeating him consecutively. General Li Ke then killed Liu Meng and surrendered to our forces. On the day of Guai Hai in the same month, the Emperor personally went to the fields to plow, known as "borrowing the fields." On the day of Yi Hai in the second month, the Emperor prohibited extravagant and luxurious illegal items. On the day of Ren Chen, the Grand Preceptor, Prince Anping Fu, passed away, which deeply saddened the Emperor. Afterwards, the Emperor ordered all officials to recommend three suitable candidates for positions in the border regions. On that day, the Emperor discussed matters with the Right General Huang Fu Tao, but they disagreed and even engaged in an argument. Cavalry Attendant Zheng Hui submitted a memorial to accept responsibility. The Emperor said, "Speaking the truth and daring to be frank is what I expect from my ministers! As an Emperor, I fear flattery and sycophancy the most, so how could I think that having ministers who dare to speak the truth is a bad thing! That was not my intention!" Therefore, the Emperor dismissed Zheng Hui from his position. In the fourth month, the court established the position of Rear General to strengthen the military forces. In the sixth month, Zhang Hong, the Yamen of Yizhou, falsely accused Inspector Huang Fu Yan of treason, had him killed, and sent his head to the capital. Zhang Hong was ultimately sentenced to death, along with his entire family. On the day of Bing Shen, the court proclaimed a general amnesty. On the same day, the Emperor also ordered the exemption of land rent for those affected by the war in the four counties of Longyou. In the seventh month, the court appointed General Jia Chong as the Minister of Works. In the ninth month, Bu Chan, the Inspector of Xiling in Wu, surrendered. The Emperor appointed him as General of Guard and bestowed him with the title of Duke of Yidu. However, General Lu Kang of Wu attacked Bu Chan, prompting us to dispatch General Yang Hu and his troops from Jiangling, while Governor Yang Zhao went to meet Bu Chan in Xiling, and sent Monitor Xu Yin to attack Jianping to rescue Bu Chan.
On the first day of October, the day of Xinyou, a solar eclipse occurred. In December, Yang Zhao went to attack Lu Kang, but he was unsuccessful and had to retreat. Finally, the city of Buchan was breached, and he was captured by Lu Kang.
In the spring of 266 AD, on the first day of the first month, Xinyou day, Sikong, the Marquis of Miling, Zheng Mao, passed away. On the second day of the second month, Guisi day, the Minister of Works, Shi Bao, also died. Then, Long, the Marquis of Anping, was appointed as the King of Anping. In the third month, Prince Zhi was established as the King of Donghai.
In the summer, on the first day of the fourth month, Wuchen day, a solar eclipse occurred. In May, there was a severe drought. The court appointed He Ceng as the new Minister of Works. On the sixth day of the sixth month, Yiwu day, sadly, the King of Donghai, Zhi, also passed away; indeed, it was a year of misfortunes! In the autumn, on the first day of the seventh month, Dingyou day, another solar eclipse occurred. It was a year filled with disasters and difficulties! Lu Shu, the general of Wu, surrounded Yiyang, but our General Wang Hun defeated them. Following that, the court ordered the dismissal of various officials.
The Xianbei invaded Guangning, killing about five thousand people. The court ordered the daughters of officials ranked below public ministers to enter the palace to serve in the imperial harem. The selection of concubines had not yet ended when marriage was temporarily banned. In winter, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Xinsi day, the court decreed that if a girl turned seventeen and her parents had not married her off, local officials were required to arrange marriages for them. On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Dingyou day, the Emperor conducted a grand military parade at the Linxuanwu Pavilion, which continued until the day of Jiachen.
In the year 261 AD, on the Xin Hai day of the first month, the emperor personally went to the fields to cultivate, symbolizing the importance of agriculture. In the intercalary month of Gui You, the Grand Tutor and Duke of Shouguang, Zheng Chong, died. In the month of Ji Mao, Prince Gaoyang, Wang Gui, also died. In the month of Geng Chen, Prince Taiyuan, Wang Gui, followed suit. On the day of Ding Hai, the emperor issued an edict, essentially stating: there should be a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, in order to distinguish ranks and clarify superiority and inferiority. However, in recent years, many concubines have been promoted to the status of imperial consorts and empresses, disrupting the order of superiority and inferiority. From now on, it is strictly forbidden for concubines to impersonate legitimate wives!
In the second month, the court separated five counties from Youzhou to establish Pingzhou. In the month of Gui Hai, there was a solar eclipse. In the month of Ji Wei, Grand Commandant and Duke of Linhuai, Xun Yi, died. In the month of Gui Si in the sixth month, the emperor personally presided over cases and inspected prisoners, and many people were pardoned. That summer, a major locust plague struck. In the month of Bing Yin in the seventh month, Empress Yang died. On the day of Ren Wu, Wu generals, General Pinghu Meng Tai and Adjutant General Wang Si, led their troops to surrender.
In the eighth month, rebels from Liangzhou raided Jincheng and other counties. Wang Jun, the General of the Guards and Prince of Ruyin, led troops to suppress the rebellion, killing the rebel leader Qi Wenni and others. On Wu Shen day, Empress Yuan was laid to rest in Junyang Mausoleum. In the month of Gui Hai in the ninth month, Grand General Chen Qian was appointed as Grand Commandant. We also secured a military victory by taking Zili City from Wu and capturing the Wu general Zhuang You. Wu generals Sun Zun and Li Cheng led troops to attack Jiangxia, but Ji Xi, the Administrator of Jiangxia, defeated them. That year, the river bridge at Fuping Ferry was also built.
In November, a stone bridge was constructed at Qili Jian, located in the eastern part of the city. On the Gengwu day, the emperor personally visited Xuanwu Guan to review the army. In December, a comet appeared in Zhen (this is an astronomical record, no need for translation). The court also established the office of Jietian Ling, responsible for managing the emperor's cultivated land. In addition, Prince Ji of Taiyuan was appointed as the King of Gaoyang. Generals Yan Cong and Yan Zheng of Wubei in Wu State, as well as General Zhu Mai, defected. That year, a major engineering project was undertaken to excavate the southern mountains of Shaanxi, diverting the Yellow River to flow east into the Luo River for easier transportation. On the first day of spring in 264 AD, a general amnesty was declared and a new era began. In February, due to soldiers who had five daughters and were starting families, the court exempted them from taxes. On the day of Xinyou, the former magistrate of Ye County, Xia Su, who had a good reputation, was granted a hundred dou of grain. Due to low official salaries, various amounts of silk were distributed as rewards to officials of lower ranks. The rebellious Huren, led by Shu Ji, sent envoys to negotiate their surrender. In May, strong winds swept through the Xiaoping and Guangling regions, causing trees to fall and houses to be damaged. In June, the Xianbei, now weakened, sent their sons to offer tribute. The Wu army attacked Jiangxia. The Western Regions' Wujixiaowei Ma Xun suppressed the rebellious Xianbei, defeated and killed their leader. On the day of Wushen, the office of Prince's Attendant was created. On the last day of July, a solar eclipse occurred on Jiashen day. Locust plagues struck in various regions. On the day of Renyin in August, Prince Sima Wen of Pei died. Grand Tutor Zheng Chong, Grand Commandant Xun Yi, Minister of Works Shi Bao, Minister of Works Pei Xiu, General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Shen, King Xian of Anping Sima Fu, Grand Protector He Ceng, Minister of Works Jia Chong, Grand Commandant Chen Qian, Director of the Imperial Secretariat Xun Xu, General Who Pacifies the South Yang Hu, and Prince of Qi Sima You, among others, were all listed for sacrifices and participated in the rites. On the day of Jiazi in September, locust plagues struck Qingzhou, and a significant flood hit Xuzhou.
On October 10th, Sima Yin, the King of Changshan, passed away. On December 7th, Sima Quan, the King of Pengcheng, passed away. On November 10th, a grand military parade was held at Xuanwu Pavilion, lasting until the 6th day of the 12th month. On the 12th day of the 12th month, the temple name of Emperor Xuan was posthumously honored as Gaozu Temple, Emperor Jing to Shizong Temple, and Emperor Wen to Taizu Temple. A plague spread this month, resulting in the deaths of many in Luoyang. Pei Wei was granted the title of Duke of Julu.
In the spring of the year 260 AD, due to the plague, court sessions were suspended. The Emperor also rewarded officials and soldiers with various tokens of appreciation. On the 20th day of the 2nd month, Cao Hong, the King of Hejian, passed away. On the 1st day of the 1st month, a general amnesty was declared, granting pardon to all criminals with sentences of less than five years. The Eastern Yi tribes also pledged their allegiance to the court. Northern minority groups invaded the borders of Bingzhou, but Hu Fen, the military commander of Bingzhou, successfully repelled them.
Earlier, the Prefect of Dunhuang, Yin Qu, passed away, and the county magistrate of Dunhuang, Liang Cheng, was appointed as the acting Prefect. However, the council member Yilang Feng dismissed Liang Cheng and assumed control of Dunhuang's affairs. After Yilang Feng's death, his brother Yilang Hong succeeded him. At that time, Yang Xin, the Governor of Liangzhou, murdered Yilang Hong and sent his severed head to Luoyang. Before this incident, the Emperor had been unwell, but after his recovery, the ministers congratulated him. The Emperor issued a decree stating, "Whenever I think of the recent plague that caused many deaths, I feel very sad. How could I forget the suffering of the people simply because I have recovered? All celebrations for my recovery should be canceled!"
In May, General of the West and the King of Ruyin, Sima Jun, led troops to attack the northern tribes, killing their leader Tudun. The court also founded the Imperial Academy. On Gengwu day, a large-scale rain prayer ceremony was held. On Guichou day in June, the Emperor presented lychee during a sacrifice at the ancestral temple. On Jiaxu day, a comet appeared near the Dizu asterism. It had been dry since spring, and only this month did it start to rain. Sun Kai, the governor of Jingkou in the State of Wu, surrendered with his army and was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry and made Marquis of Danyang. Two white dragons emerged from a newly dug well. In July, a comet appeared near the Dajiao star. The Linping Lake in the State of Wu had been silted up since the late Han Dynasty, and it was only recently reopened. Local elders have a saying, "When this lake is silted, chaos reigns; when it is reopened, peace returns." On Guichou day, Prince Anping, Sima Long, passed away. The seventeen Eastern Yi states also submitted to the court. Henan and Weijun experienced floods, leading to the deaths of hundreds, and the court ordered coffins to be distributed.
The Xianbei under Arduo invaded the border again, and the Western Region Colonel Ma Xun led troops to attack them, killing over four thousand and capturing more than nine thousand, and they later surrendered. On the eighth month, on the Gengchen day, there was an earthquake in Hedong and Pingyang. On the Jihai day, the court appointed He Zeng as Grand Tutor, Chen Qian as Grand Marshal, Jia Chong as Grand Commandant, and Sima You, Prince of Qi, as Minister of Works. A comet appeared near the Taiwei star in September, and later near the Yixiu star. On the Dingwei day, the court built the Grand Granary to the east of the city and the Changping Granary in the east and west markets. In the intercalary month, five counties in Jingzhou experienced floods, impacting over four thousand households. In October, the court appointed Prince Jun of Ruyin, Sima Jun, as Grand General of the West and General Yang Hu as Grand General of the South. On the Dingmao day, Lady Yang was appointed as Empress, and the court granted amnesty and rewards to people of various statuses. In November, two white dragons appeared in Liangguo. In December, the court summoned the recluse Huang Fu Mi of Anding as the Crown Prince's Tutor, and appointed General Yang Jun, the father of the Empress, as Marquis Linjin. In the same month, due to the integrity of the Prefect of Pingzhou, Fu Xun, and the former Prefect of Guangping, Meng Huan, the court rewarded Fu Xun with two hundred bolts of silk and Meng Huan with one hundred.
In a certain year, on the first day of the first month, there was a solar eclipse. The emperor appointed his son, Sima Yu, King of Shiping, and appointed Sima Dun, the younger brother of Anping’s King Sima Long, as King of Anping. The emperor issued a decree, saying: "Relatives of the imperial family are the roots of the country. I hope they can all uphold virtue and righteousness and serve as a model for all. However, very few can act with caution amidst wealth and power! In the past, Duke Mu gathered his brothers to recite the poem 'Tang Di' together; that’s what allowed the Ji clan to flourish for centuries! Now, I appoint General Wei Guan and King Sima Liang of Fufeng as the Grand Master. All matters in the future must be consulted with the Grand Master." Sadly, just a few days later, on the Gengyin day of the first month, King Shiping, Sima Yu, died. That night, a comet appeared in the western sky! The emperor sent the Grand General Wei Guan to attack the Xianbei, but it had little effect.
In the third month, the Protector of Pacifying the Xianbei, Wen Shu, defeated rebellious Xianbei leaders like Shu Ji Neng. In that month, another comet appeared in the sky, in the Stomach constellation. On the day of Yiwei, the emperor had planned to hunt wild chickens but scrapped the idea for fear of damaging the wheat seedlings. On the day of Wuzi in May, generals Shao Kai and Xia Xiang from Wu surrendered with over seven thousand troops. In June, eight counties in Yizhou and Liangzhou were flooded, with over three hundred people drowning and warehouses flooded. In July, the emperor appointed Wang Hun as the Commander of military affairs in Yangzhou. Prince Sima Mu was deposed and made Marquis of Danshui due to his mistakes.
In August of the year of Guihai, the emperor ordered: Sima Liang, King of Fufeng, to be transferred to Runan as King of Runan; Sima Zong, King of Dongguan, to be transferred to Langye as King of Langye; Sima Jun, King of Ruyin, to be transferred to Fufeng as King of Fufeng; Sima Lun, King of Langye, to be transferred to Zhao as King of Zhao; Sima Fu, King of Bohai, to be transferred to Taiyuan as King of Taiyuan; Sima Yong, King of Taiyuan, to be transferred to Hejian as King of Hejian; Sima Ling, King of Beihai, to be transferred to Rencheng as King of Rencheng; Sima Bin, King of Chen, to be transferred to Xihe as King of Xihe; Sima Jian, King of Runan, to be transferred to Nanyang as King of Nanyang; Sima Dan, King of Jinan, to be transferred to Zhongshan as King of Zhongshan; Sima Wei, King of Hejian, to be transferred to Zhangwu as King of Zhangwu. Also, the emperor appointed his son, Sima Wei, as King of Shiping, Sima Yun as King of Puyang, Sima Gai as King of Xindu, Sima Xia as King of Qinghe, and the title of 'Nan Cheng Hou' was granted to Yang Hu, Duke of Juping. At the same time, Sima Liang, King of Runan, was appointed as the Grand General of the Southern Army. That autumn, strong winds knocked down trees, the weather turned unusually cold, and hail even fell. Several counties were hit by frost, resulting in significant damage to crops.
In September of the year of Wuzi, the emperor appointed General Hu Fen as the Commander of the Northern Armies. Seven provinces—Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, Jingzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou—suffered severe flooding, resulting in significant damage to the autumn crops. The emperor ordered disaster relief. In that month, the emperor also appointed Sima Rui, the son of the King of Qi, as King of Liaodong, and Sima Zan as King of Guanghan. In November of the year of Bingxu, the emperor conducted a grand military review at Xuanwu Temple, which lasted until Rencen. In December, the general Sun Shen from the state of Wu led troops to invade Jiangxia and Runan, looting more than a thousand households before retreating. That year, various nomadic tribes from the northwest regions, including the Xianbei, Xiongnu, Wuxi barbarians, and Dongyi, surrendered with their tribes, amounting to over ten groups.
In the year 265 AD, on the first day of the first month, a solar eclipse occurred on the day of Gengwu. On the seventh day of the third month, the Left Minister of Works Lu Qin passed away. On the tenth day of the third month, Shan Tao replaced Lu Qin and became the Left Minister of Works. During this period, the six Eastern Yi states also came to pay tribute.
In the fourth month, near the star cluster Dongjing, the banner of Chi You unexpectedly appeared! This is an ominous sign! On the fourth and seventh days of the sixth month, earthquakes occurred consecutively in Yinpíng and Guangwu. The Governor of Liangzhou, Yang Xin, fought against the enemy commander Luo Baben and lost, dying in battle. Alas, it was indeed a time of turmoil, as Empress Hongxun Yang also passed away. On the sixth day of the seventh month, Empress Jingxian Yang and Empress Hongxun Yang were laid to rest together in Junping Tomb. On the seventh day of the seventh month, Prince Gaoyang Sima Ji died. On the thirteenth day of the seventh month, Prince Fanyang Sima Sui also died. There were severe floods in Jingzhou, Yangzhou, and many counties in the ninth month. He Cheng was appointed as Grand Tutor in September. On the eighth day of September, Li Yin became the Left Minister of Works. In October, Wei Guan became the Left Minister of Works. The Governor of Yangzhou, Ying Chuo, led troops to attack Wancheng in Wu, killing five thousand Wu soldiers and burning 180,000 hu of grain.
On the eighth day of the eleventh month, the Imperial Physician Sima Cheng presented a unique robe made of pheasant feathers. The Emperor deemed the item too peculiar and contrary to etiquette, so he ordered it to be burned on the spot in the court. On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the Emperor issued a decree that anyone who dared to bring such strange items again would be severely punished! After this, the Wu generals Liu Fan and Zu Shi both surrendered to us. On the fifteenth day of the eleventh month, Du Yu was appointed as the supreme commander of military affairs in Jingzhou. Unfortunately, General Yang Hu, the Southern Conqueror, also passed away. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, Prince Sima Bin of Xihe died. On the fifteenth day of the twelfth month, Grand Preceptor He Cheng also passed away. That year, all nine Eastern Yi states submitted to our Great Wei.
In the spring of the year 260 AD, the Hu leader named Shu Jineng launched a powerful attack and broke through Liangzhou! The court immediately dispatched troops, including the Prefect of Wuwei, Ma Long, to confront him. On the fifteenth day of the second month, a white unicorn appeared in the plains, which was considered an auspicious sign! In the third month, the Xiongnu commander Bayixu surrendered along with his tribe. On the twenty-eighth day of the third month, due to famine, the emperor's rations were cut in half, highlighting the severity of the situation at that time. Additionally, during that time, comets were seen in the sky, first in the constellation of Liu, and later in the constellation of the Woman. To calm the public, the court declared a general amnesty and downgraded the ranks and responsibilities of certain officials. On the thirtieth day of the third month, many counties were struck by hail, destroying crops and collapsing numerous houses; it was a series of calamities.
By autumn, in the seventh month, the comet appeared in the Purple Palace. On the fifteenth day of the ninth month, a white unicorn also appeared in Henan. In the winter, on the twenty-seventh day of the tenth month, the Xiongnu governor Yuku Duyong and his tribe also surrendered. Moreover, an interesting event occurred: the people of Ji County did not allow the digging of King Weixiang's tomb, but many bamboo slips were unearthed, containing ancient texts written in small seal script, totaling over a hundred thousand characters! These treasures were subsequently stored in the royal archives. In November, the court officially mobilized troops to attack the state of Wu, deploying them along several routes: General Zhenjun, Prince Langye Fu, starting from Tuzhong; General Andong Wang Hun, starting from Jiangxi; General Jianwei Wang Rong, starting from Wuchang; General Pingnan Hu Fen, starting from Xiakou; General Zhennan Du Yu, starting from Jiangling; General Longxiang Wang Jun and General Guangwu Tang Bin led the army of Ba Shu down the river. This was indeed a massive operation, with over two hundred thousand troops combined on both the eastern and western fronts! The court also appointed Grand Commandant Jia Chong as the Supreme Commander, with Champion General Yang Ji as his deputy, overseeing all the troops.
In December, Malong finally defeated and killed the rebellious tree spirit, restoring peace to Liangzhou. Also, the Su Shen sent arrows and stone projectiles as a sign of submission. On the first day of January in the year 280 AD, a colorful auspicious light appeared in the sky, enveloping the sun; it was a spectacular sight! On a certain day of the same month, Wang Hun defeated the Wu forces in Xunyang and Laixiang, capturing the Wu general Zhou Xing.
In February, Wang Jun and Tang Bin captured Lexiang City at Yidao, and a few days later took down Xiling. The governor of Xiling, Liu Xian, the military general Cheng Qu, and the Xiling supervisor Zheng Guang were all executed. Wang Jun then captured Yidao Lexiang City, where Lu Yan, the Yidao supervisor, and Lu Jing, the naval commander, also met their end. In the same month, Du Yu captured Jiangling, and Wu Yan, the Jiangling supervisor of the Wu State, was beheaded; Hu Fen then captured Jiang'an. At this time, the various armies advanced in unison, and the defending forces in Lexiang, Jingmen, and elsewhere surrendered one after another. Afterwards, Wang Jun was appointed as the military commander for both Yizhou and Liangzhou. The emperor issued an edict, stating that Wang Jun and Tang Bin should continue to move east, capture Baqiu, then join forces with Hu Fen and Wang Rong to attack Xiakou and Wuchang, and then head straight to Moling. Du Yu remained in Lingling and Guiyang to stabilize the Hengyang region. Once the main forces had passed, pacifying the southern part of Jingzhou should be straightforward. Du Yu was to allocate ten thousand troops to Wang Jun and seven thousand to Tang Bin; after capturing Xiakou, Hu Fen should allocate seven thousand troops to Wang Jun; after capturing Wuchang, Wang Rong should allocate six thousand troops to Tang Bin. Grand Commandant Jia Chong was to be stationed in Xiangcheng, overseeing the various armies.
After Wang Jun captured Xiakou and Wuchang, he sailed eastward and advanced all the way like a hot knife through butter. Wang Hun and Wang Jun engaged in battle with Zhang Ti, the chancellor of Wu, at Banqiao, and won a great victory. Zhang Ti and his generals Sun Zhen and Shen Ying were all beheaded, and their severed heads were sent to Luoyang. Sun Hao was cornered and had no choice but to surrender, handing over the jade seal and the imperial seal to Prince Zhu. In March, Wang Jun's fleet arrived at Shitoucheng in Jianye. Sun Hao was so terrified that he came to surrender with a coffin and was taken to the capital. In a symbolic gesture, Wang Jun untied his ropes, burned his coffin, and sent him to the capital. The territory of Wu was completely annexed, including four provinces, forty-three prefectures, three hundred and thirteen counties, a population of 523,000 households, 32,000 officials, and 230,000 soldiers. Officials of Wu were allowed to keep their positions, with only some harsh policies being abolished, which brought great joy to the people of Wu. In the same month, the court issued a nationwide amnesty, renamed the era, hosted a grand five-day celebration, and offered assistance to widows, orphans, and the needy.
In April, hail fell in the Hedong and Gaoping regions, causing serious damage to crops. The court sent Zhang Ce and Zhu Zhen to pacify the people in the newly submitted regions of Yangzhou and Yuezhou. A white qilin appeared in Dunqiu. Hail also fell in Sanhe, Weijun, and Hongnong, damaging winter wheat. In May, Sun Hao was appointed as the Marquis of Guiming, his crown prince was appointed as a Zhonglang official, and his sons were appointed as Langzhong officials. Former ministers and generals of Wu were appointed to official positions based on their abilities. The generals and families of deceased soldiers of the Sun clan moved to Shouyang, while the officials and citizens of Wu received preferential treatment for ten and twenty years, respectively. In the same month, the emperor held a grand banquet in the palace and summoned Sun Hao to the court, where the courtiers all cheered, "Long live the emperor!" The emperor later conducted sacrificial rites at the ancestral temple and presented Linglu wine. Hail fell in several counties, damaging the autumn harvest. The court decreed that soldiers over sixty could retire. Wang Jun was appointed as the Grand General of State Defense, Du Yu was appointed as the Marquis of Dangyang, Wang Rong was appointed as the Marquis of Anfeng, Tang Bin was appointed as the Marquis of Shangyong, and Jia Chong, Wang Zhi of Langye, and others were also granted noble titles. The court rewarded the ministers according to their contributions, granting them a large amount of silk fabrics. In June, the court established the position of Yijun General, and the Marquis of Danshui, Mu, was granted the title of King of Gaoyang. The Eastern Yi Ten Kingdoms submitted. In July, Ke Chengni led an attack on Xiping and Haowei, killing more than three hundred officials and soldiers. The twenty Eastern Yi kingdoms came to pay tribute. Wei Shu was appointed as the Right Supervisor of the Shangshu. In August, the front of the Cheshi sent their sons to serve the emperor. The emperor's younger brother, Sima Yanzuo, was granted the title of King of Le Ping. Three white dragons were sighted in Yongchang. In September, the courtiers urged the emperor to hold the Fengshan ceremony due to the unification of the country, but the emperor humbly refused. In October, the court abolished the reinstatement of the five daughters' titles. In December, Sima Zan, the King of Guanhan, passed away.
In the spring of the second year of the Common Era, in the second month, there was an earthquake in the Huainan and Danyang regions. On the Bing Shen day in March, Prince Anping Dun passed away. The court rewarded officials below the rank of nobles and the people of Wu with rewards of differing amounts. The emperor also ordered the selection of five thousand singing girls and concubines from Sun Hao to be sent to the palace. The Five Eastern Yi nations came to pay tribute.
By June during the summer, the Five Eastern Yi nations surrendered to the Great Wei. At this time, many counties were hit by hailstorms and strong winds, causing trees to be uprooted and the homes of ordinary people were destroyed. The Jiangxia and Taishan regions experienced flooding, with over three hundred households swept away, leaving many homeless. In July during the autumn, the Shangdang region suffered from storms and hail, causing damage to crops. In August, a comet appeared in the sky in the position of Zhang Su. In the winter of October, Murong Hui of the Xianbei led his troops to attack Changli. On the day of Ren Yin in November, Grand Marshal Chen Qian passed away. Another comet appeared in the sky, this time in the area of Xuanyuan. The Xianbei people again invaded the western Liaoning region, but Xianyu Ying, the Governor of Pingzhou, led his troops to defeat them.
In the third year of the Emperor's reign, on the Dingchou day in the first month, the court abolished Qingzhou and incorporated it into Yongzhou. On the Jiawu day, the court appointed Zhang Hua, the Shangshu, as the military governor of Youzhou. In the third month, General Anbei Yan Xun defeated the Xianbei Murong Hui in Changli, resulting in the deaths and injuries of tens of thousands. On the Gengwu day in the fourth month of summer, the Grand Minister Taifu and Duke Lu, Jia Chong, passed away. On the Bingzi day in the intercalary month, Li Yin, the Sifu and Marquis of Guanglu, passed away. On the Guichou day, two white dragons were sighted in Jinan. In the seventh month of autumn, the court stipulated that the governors of Pingzhou and Ningzhou were required to report to the capital only once every three years. In September, twenty-nine Eastern Yi nations surrendered and presented local specialties. Former generals of the Wu Kingdom, Wang Gong and Bo Feng, rebelled, killing the county magistrate of Jianye, and then surrounded Yangzhou. Xu Zhou governor Ji Xi led troops to quell the rebellion. On the Jiashen day in the twelfth month of winter, the court appointed Qi Wang You, the Sikong, as the Grand Marshal in charge of military affairs in Qingzhou; appointed Prince Langye Zhui, the Zhendong Grand General, as the Grand General of the Army; appointed Prince Runan Liang as the Grand Commandant; appointed Guanglu Dafu Shan Tao as the Sifu; and appointed Shangshu Ling Wei Guan as the Sikong. On the Bingshen day, the court decreed that regions severely affected by floods and droughts would be exempt from land taxes.
In the year 234 AD, in the spring, on the Jiashen day in the first month, Wei Shu was appointed as the Left Minister of the Shangshu, and Wang Huang of Xiapi succeeded him as the Right Minister of the Shangshu. On the Wuwu day, Sifu Shan Tao passed away. On the Jichou day in the second month, the Marquis of Changleting was elevated to the title of King of Beihai. On the first day of the third month, a solar eclipse occurred. On the Guichou day, the Grand Marshal Qi Wang You passed away. In April, King Rencheng Ling passed away. On the Jihai day in May, the Grand General, Prince Langye Zhui, passed away. King Rui of Liaodong was renamed the King of Donglai. In June, the salaries of the Nine Ministers were increased. Over two thousand tribes of Zangke and Lao people surrendered to the court.
On the Renzi day in July, Wang Huang of Xiapi was appointed as the military governor of Qingzhou. On the Bingyin day, there was a flood in Yanzhou, and the court exempted the agricultural taxes there. In August, the King of Shanshan sent a prince to pay his respects at court, and he was granted the title of Marquis of Guiyi. King Tai of Longxi assumed the role of Right Chief Minister. On the Wuwu day in November, King Gai of Xindu died. Wei Shu was promoted to Minister of Works. On the Gengwu day in December, a grand military review took place at Xuanwu Temple. That year, Henan, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou all experienced major floods.
On the Jihai day in January of 235 AD, the Azure Dragon unexpectedly showed up twice in the armory's well! On the Bingyin day in February, Prince Di of Nangong was appointed King of Changle. On the Renchen day, an earthquake occurred. In April, the water in the ponds of Rencheng and Lu turned blood-red! On the Bingwu day in May, the beams of the Xuan Emperor's Temple broke. In June, the Huangsha Prison was established. On the Wushen day in July, Prince Hui died. There was hail in Rencheng, Liang, and Zhongshan, resulting in significant crop damage. The court decided to reduce one-third of the national taxes. In September, a strong wind swept through the Nan'an area, breaking trees. Several counties experienced floods and frost, damaging the autumn harvest. On the Jiachen day in November, King Fu of Taiyuan died. On the Gengwu day in December, the court declared a general amnesty. Lin Yi and Da Qin sent envoys to pay tribute. In the intercalary month, General Zhen Nan, Marquis of Dangyang, Du Yu, died.
In the spring of the year 266 AD, on the first day of the first month, it was Jia Shen day. Due to several years of poor harvests, the court waived the people's rents and outstanding debts. On Wu Chen day, General Wang Hun was appointed as the Left Minister of the Shangshu, Shu was appointed as the military governor of Yangzhou, and Yang Ji was appointed as the military governor of Jingzhou. In March, many provinces and counties were hit by frost, causing damage to mulberry trees and wheat. In April, more than ten countries, including Funan, came to pay their respects, and more than four thousand households swore fealty to the court. Several provinces faced drought, while over a dozen regions were flooded, causing damage to the people's houses. In July, an earthquake struck the Baxi region. On the first day of August, Bing Xu day, a solar eclipse occurred. The court reduced the tax on silk and satin by one-third for the people. A white dragon appeared in the Jingzhao region. General Wang Jun was appointed as the Grand Marshal. On Bing Zi day in September, Liu Kang, the Duke of Shanyang, died. In October, a landslide struck Nan'an Mountain, causing flash floods. A two-legged creature was captured in Nanyang County. The kingdoms of Kucha and Yanqi sent their princes to serve at the court. On Jia Shen day in December, a grand military review took place at Xuanwu Temple, lasting ten days. General Wang Jun, the Marquis of Xiangyang, died on Geng Zi day.
In the first month of the year 267 AD, on the first day, there was a solar eclipse. On the second day, the emperor issued a decree saying: "In recent years, disasters have occurred frequently; there have been three solar eclipses already, and earthquakes and landslides have been ongoing. I, the emperor, bear the responsibility for these misfortunes in the country. All officials and ministers must submit memorials that clearly state the reasons without concealment." In May, several provinces faced severe droughts. Murong Hui of the Xianbei led his troops to invade Liaodong. In July, a landslide struck Zhuti Mountain, and an earthquake also struck the Jianwei region. In August, eleven Eastern Yi countries submitted to the court. An earthquake also struck the Jingzhao region. On the ninth day of the ninth month, General Jun, the King of Fufeng and Commander of the Agile Cavalry, passed away. Several provinces experienced major flooding. On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, Longxi King Tai was appointed as the military commander of Guanzhong. In December, the court dispatched imperial censors to assess the situation in the disaster-stricken provinces. The court sent back over 270 individuals, including talented officials, palace maids, and others from the harem. The court established regulations allowing ministers to mourn their parents for three years. On the tenth day of the twelfth month, red snow fell in the Heyin region, spanning an area of about two hectares. In that year, twenty-one countries, including Funan, and eleven others, including Mahan, sent envoys to pay tribute.
A few years before the Common Era, on the first day of the first month, on a Wushen day, there was a solar eclipse, and part of the palace of the Grand Ancestral Temple collapsed. In the third month, the emperor inspected the Shang region and felt the tremors of an earthquake. In the fourth month, there was frost in the Qi state and the Tianshui region, resulting in the wheat being frozen. In the sixth month, a fierce wind swept through the Lu state, causing trees to fall and common people's houses were damaged. There were also several instances of flooding across the country. In the seventh month, the foundation of the front hall of the imperial palace collapsed, and deep inside, they found a shipwreck! In the eighth month, two small states in the Dongyi region submitted to the emperor. In the ninth month, the court rebuilt the Grand Ancestral Temple. In the tenth month, an official named Li Feng from Pinggu County in Nankang rebelled, leading troops to attack the county and proclaiming himself a general. In the eleventh month, the county magistrate of Haian County, Xiao Fu, also rebelled. In the twelfth month, a man named Jiang Di from Wuxing gathered a band of rebels and surrounded the county of Yangxian. The local authorities dispatched troops to quell them, but they were all defeated. The Kingdom of Funan to the south and the Kingdom of Kangju from the Western Regions sent envoys to pay tribute. That year, the country experienced five earthquakes in total.
On the first day of the first month of the second year, on a Ren Shen day, a solar eclipse occurred. The emperor issued a decree saying: "The prosperity of the country lies in clear politics and fair litigation. Those senior officials with a rank of two thousand stones fail to be diligent in their duties, show compassion for the people's suffering, and instead bully the populace, abuse their power, engage in corruption, and harm the citizens. The governors and officials of two thousand stones were ordered to rectify these corrupt behaviors, select those officials who are honest and upright, and the relevant departments should deliberate on their promotions and demotions. All officials were ordered to recommend talented and honest individuals and promote officials from humble backgrounds." Four counties in Jiangdong experienced earthquakes. In the second month, the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Personnel, Hou Fen, passed away, and the court appointed Zhu Zheng as the Right Deputy of the Ministry of Personnel. On a certain day in the third month, the empress went to the western suburbs to raise silkworms, and the emperor rewarded everyone with some silk; the rewards varied in amount. On a certain day of the same month, the court combined two ancestral altars into one. In the fourth month, eight counties in Jiangnan experienced earthquakes; there was frost in Longxi, causing serious damage to winter wheat. In the fifth month, Prince Qi of Yiyang committed an offense and was demoted to Marquis of Sanzongting. The emperor issued another decree, allowing all officials to recommend talented county magistrates. On the first day of the sixth month, another solar eclipse occurred. The court relocated King Wei of Zhangwu to Yiyang and conferred him the title of King of Yiyang. Many places in the country suffered from severe drought, resulting in poor wheat harvests. On a certain day in August, stars fell from the sky like rain. The emperor ordered the release of all prisoners serving sentences of five years or less, no longer to keep them in jail. In September, envoys from seven Eastern Yi countries came to surrender to the Colonel. Many places in the country suffered from insect disasters. On a certain day in December, the court appointed Ying, the son of King Ping of Hejian, as King of Zhangwu. On the same day of the month, the appearance of a green dragon and a yellow dragon was witnessed in the state of Lu.
Ten years ago in April, due to the outstanding achievements of Liu Xiao, the Prefect of Jingzhao, and Liang Liuzheng, the Prefect of Yangping, the Emperor rewarded each of them with a thousand hu of grain. That autumn, eight prefectures across the country were hit by frost disasters. The royal ancestral temple was finally completed! On the day of Yi Si, the Emperor personally went to the left side of the road to welcome the procession, transferred the spirit tablets to the new ancestral temple, and then held a grand sacrificial rite. To celebrate, the Emperor granted a general amnesty, and both civil and military officials were promoted by one rank, while the officials involved in the construction of the ancestral temple were promoted by two ranks. On the day of Ding Wei, Zhu Zheng, the Right Minister of the Masters of Writing and the Marquis of Guangxing, passed away. On the day of Gui Chou, the Chongxian Hall in the imperial palace unfortunately caught fire. In May, the leader of the Xianbei, Murong Hui, surrendered, and eleven countries in the Eastern Yi region also submitted. On the day of Geng Zi in June, Liu Jin, the Duke of Shanyang, passed away. The court reestablished two altars. On the day of Ren Zi in October, Sima Cheng, the Prince of Nangong, was reappointed as the Prince of Wuyi. On the day of Bing Chen in November, Xun Xu, the Grand Secretary of the Left and Prefect of the Masters of Writing, passed away. The Emperor recovered from illness and rewarded officials below the rank of Wang and Grand Minister with different amounts of silk. Unfortunately, the storeroom of Hanzhang Hall caught fire again! On the day of Jia Shen, the Emperor appointed Sima Liang, the Prince of Runan, as the Grand Marshal and Grand Commander, and bestowed upon him the yellow battle-axe, a symbol of the highest authority. At the same time, Sima Jian, the Prince of Nanyang, was renamed as the Prince of Qin, Sima Wei, the Prince of Shiping, was renamed as the Prince of Chu, and Sima Yun, the Prince of Puyang, was renamed as the Prince of Huainan. These three were granted regency powers, each commanding the military of their respective regions.
The emperor also conferred the title of Sima Yi, Prince of Changsha; Sima Ying, Prince of Chengdu; Sima Yan, Prince of Wu; Sima Chi, Prince of Yuzhang; Sima Yan, Prince of Dai; and Sima Yu, Prince of Guangling. In addition, Sima Di, son of Sima Yun, King of Puyang, was conferred the title of King of Han; Sima Yi, son of Sima Wei, King of Shiping, was conferred the title of Duke of Piling; and Sima Yang, second son of Sima Liang, King of Runan, was conferred the title of Duke of Xiyang. King Sima Chang of Fufeng was transferred to the title of King of Shunyang, and his brother Sima Xin was conferred as Duke of Xinye. Sima Jin, Prince of Langye's brother Sima Dan was conferred as Duke of Dongwu; Sima Yao was conferred as Duke of Dong'an; Sima Cui was conferred as Duke of Guangling; and Sima Juan was conferred as Duke of Dongguan. The court also re-designated all the prime ministers of the various kingdoms as interior ministers. On the Gengyin day of the twelfth month, the roof beam of the imperial ancestral temple collapsed. In that year, more than thirty remote small countries in the Eastern Yi region and more than twenty countries in the southwestern Yi region all came to pay tribute. Additionally, one hundred thousand members of the Xike tribe surrendered. In the spring of the year 265 AD, on the first day of the first month, on the Xinyou day, the reign was changed. On this day, Wang Hun, the Minister of the Left and Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, was appointed Minister of Works, and Wei Guan, the Minister of Works, became the Grand Guardian. In the early days of the second month, on the Xinchou day, seven countries from the Eastern Yi region came to pay tribute. Unfortunately, bad news also came: King Sima Jin of Langye passed away. On the Jiazi day of the third month, Shi Jian, the Right Grand Master of Ceremonies, was appointed Minister of Works. In the summer of the fourth month, on the Xinchou day, the emperor promoted Yang Jun, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, to Grand Commandant and put him in charge of the national army and the affairs of the Secretariat. What immense power! However, just a few days later, on the Jiyou day, the emperor passed away in the Hall of Hanzhang at the age of fifty-five and was buried in Junyang Tomb and posthumously honored with the title Shizu.
Speaking of this emperor, he is open-minded, kind, and benevolent, always putting righteousness first in everything. He is particularly tolerant of different opinions and never takes offense at others' honesty. Moreover, he is intelligent and wise, good at planning, and able to make decisive decisions on major issues, which is why he can govern the world well and bring peace to all corners. After taking over the Wei Dynasty, which was extremely luxurious and corrupt, the common people longed for a return to simpler, more honest times. Therefore, he strongly advocated for thrift and advised everyone not to pursue pleasure. Legend has it that once, when a royal rope made of green silk broke, he ordered it to be replaced with green hemp rope. Throughout his reign, he was known for his kindness and benevolence, and the laws remained stable.
Xu Yun of Gaoyang was killed by Emperor Wen, and his son Xu Qi became the Minister of Ceremonies. One day, when the emperor was going to the ancestral temple to worship, the ministers feared that Xu Qi might be implicated because of his father's past, and they suggested that it would be inappropriate for him to be near the emperor. However, the emperor remembered Xu Yun's reputation and admired Xu Qi's talents, so he promoted him to a junior official position in the Ministry of Rites. At that time, everyone praised the emperor for being enlightened and open-minded. After quelling the state of Wu, peace was restored to the realm, and the emperor began to neglect state affairs, indulging in pleasures and favoring the imperial harem and nobles, relying heavily on them. The old ministers had little real power, and the court began to be chaotic, with the rise of backdoor dealings and gift-giving becoming commonplace.
In his later years, the emperor knew that Crown Prince Hui was not capable of assuming great responsibilities, but he believed his grandson to be intelligent and wise, so he did not consider deposing the crown prince. However, he was worried that the grandson was not born to Empress Jia and might cause problems in the future, so he discussed succession plans with his trusted ministers. Opinions varied, and after a lengthy debate with no resolution, he finally adopted Wang You's strategy, appointing the crown prince's younger brother, Prince Qin Jian, to guard the Guanzhong region, while Prince Wei of Chu and Prince Yun of Huainan were assigned to other key regions to strengthen the power of the imperial family. He was also worried about the increasing power of the Yang clan and appointed Wang You as the commander of the Northern Army to command the imperial guards.
Later, the emperor fell seriously ill and was on his deathbed. The ministers who had helped him conquer the world had all died before him, leading to chaos among the courtiers, who were at a loss about what to do. The emperor showed a slight improvement and issued an edict appointing Prince Liang of Runan to help govern. He also wanted some prestigious young ministers to assist, but Yang Jun kept this a secret. The emperor's condition worsened, and Empress Jia issued a decree appointing Yang Jun to assist in governance, urging Prince Liang to hurry over. When the emperor regained some consciousness and asked if Prince Liang had arrived to see him and had some things to discuss, his attendants replied that he had not arrived, and the emperor ultimately passed away. The court fell into chaos, marking the true beginning of the chaos.
It is said that Emperor Wu succeeded to the throne, blessed with good fortune from above. He became the emperor, governing the realm, educating the people, and managing the country with ease, transforming troubled times into a prosperous era. He eliminated burdensome tributes and got rid of extravagant decorations, changed the luxurious atmosphere, promoted thrift and simplicity, restoring society's integrity. He appreciated hearing the truth, valued the promotion of talent, and Liu Yi and Pei Kai were recognized for their integrity and candor, while Ji Shao and Xu Qi, even with their grudges, he valued them highly. He treated the people with kindness and the subjects with generosity, with broad-mindedness and the bearing of a great general. At that time, the people lived in peace and prosperity, the nation was strong, and Emperor Wu began to consider expanding the territory. He considered his strategies and laid out grand plans in court. As a result, Ma Long went on a western expedition, Wang Jun went south, the army moved swiftly, the enemy was routed, and the campaign saw almost no bloodshed or loss, with the enemy being completely eliminated. Emperor Wu opened up previously closed roads and conquered previously unconquered territories. Auspicious signs were frequent, and the social atmosphere was transparent, one could say there was harmony between heaven and earth, and the emperor's remarkable achievements were extraordinary.
However, Emperor Wu declined to attend the grand ceremony at Dengfeng, filled with pride and complacency. He believed that the vastness of the land made him think the country's stability was assured and that the peace in the world would continue indefinitely. He did not realize that even in times of peace, one must remain vigilant to ensure long-term stability; and even with a vast territory, one must guard against potential dangers to avoid the end of prosperity. In addition, his improper use of personnel and erroneous appointments, along with his single-minded pursuit of peace and prosperity, led to his descent into chaos. It is like trying to reach the state of Yue while heading towards a desert, or taking a boat to find a mountain path to climb; the farther the goal, the harder the journey becomes, with directions and elevations completely opposite, making it extremely challenging to reach the destination! Furthermore, his newly established political foundation was not stable, lacking the foresight for long-term stability, allowing villains like Jia Chong to seize power with nefarious intentions and Yang Jun to wield authority with malicious intent.
When the palace coup occurred, before he could consider it thoroughly, the court officials turned against each other, rebels emerged, and everyone fought for power and profit. Within a few years, the country's order was disrupted, chaos reigned, and the royal family was forced to migrate. The emperor's rule devolved into barbarism, and the Central Plains fell into chaos and backwardness. Emperor Wu abandoned the country's favorable situation, concealed his own failings, and became a laughingstock. Why did this happen? The reason lies in his earlier lack of caution, which led to calamity later on. It is important to know that a wise father knows his son well, and a wise ruler understands his subjects; if the son is unworthy, the family will decline; if the subjects are disloyal, the nation will descend into chaos; without stability in the country, the family cannot remain intact. Therefore, a wise man must guard against potential dangers, and a sage should eliminate the root of chaos. However, Emperor Wuzong fell for Xun Xu's schemes, was deceived by Wang Hun's schemes, and repeatedly believed in rumors, causing things to deviate from his own plans.
Yuan Hai should have been removed, but he wasn't, which ultimately led to turmoil in the country; Emperor Hui should have been removed, but he wasn't, which ultimately led to the downfall of the dynasty. Saving one person is a small virtue, while saving the world is a great accomplishment; letting go of a son is a trivial act of patience, while keeping the state stable is true filial piety; moreover, a legacy built over three generations was destroyed because of two wayward sons. This means sacrificing great achievements for trivial virtues and sacrificing true filial piety for trivial patience. Is this really what the sages taught? Even though things started off well, they ended in failure, so when reading history, it's hard not to feel a rush of emotions.
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