"The Emperor, his name is Fang Zhi, whose courtesy name is Hui Xiang and nickname is Fa Zhen. He is the ninth son of Emperor Shizu. In the third year of the Taiqing era, he was granted the title of Marquis of Xingliang. In the first year of Chengsheng, he was enfeoffed as the Prince of Jin'an, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. In the second year, he was appointed General Who Pacifies the South and Inspector of Jiangzhou. After the city of Jiangling was breached in November of the third year, Wang Sengbian, the Grand Commandant and concurrently Inspector of Yangzhou, and Chen Baxian, the Minister of Works and concurrently Inspector of Southern Xuzhou, decided to appoint the Emperor as Grand Preceptor, authorize him to handle state affairs, and welcome him back to the capital.
On the day of Guichou in the fourth year of the era, the Emperor set out from Xunyang and returned to the capital, taking residence in the court. Wang Sengbian was appointed Supervisor of the Secretariat, Director of the Imperial Secretariat, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Commander-in-Chief of all military forces. Chen Baxian was promoted and granted thirty sword-bearing guards. Hou Tian, the Inspector of Yuzhou, was appointed as Inspector of Jiangzhou, Xiao Xun, Inspector of Xiangzhou, was appointed Grand Commandant, and Xiao Bo, Chief of Guangzhou, was appointed Minister of Works. Zhang Biao, General Who Guards the East, was appointed Inspector of Yingzhou.
In March, the King of Shangdang from Northern Qi sent Xiao Yuanming to be the heir of the Liang Dynasty. Upon arriving at Dongguan, he fought against Pei Zhiheng, the Prefect of Wuxing, resulting in Pei Zhiheng's death in battle. The Grand Commandant, Wang Sengbian, set up camp at Gushu with his troops. In the fourth month, Lu Fahen, the Minister of Works, led Yingzhou to surrender to Northern Qi, and Hou Tian was ordered to quell the rebellion. On Xinchou day in July, Wang Sengbian received Xiao Yuanming and crossed the Yangtze River at Caishidu. On Jiachen day, Wang Sengbian entered the capital and appointed the Emperor as Crown Prince. On Jiachen day in September, Chen Baxian, the Minister of Works, rebelled, attacked and killed Wang Sengbian, and deposed Xiao Yuanming. On Bingwu day, the Emperor officially ascended the throne and declared himself emperor."
In the first year of Shaotai, in October, the emperor issued a decree saying: Our royal family has suffered misfortune, the capital has been lost, the court has been overthrown, the tomb of the late emperor has been relocated, the foundation of the country is unstable, and the people are displaced. It's incredibly tough to shoulder such a heavy responsibility at my young age! I cry every day, swearing to avenge this humiliation. Unable to sleep at night, my heart is in turmoil. The ministers all advise me to take up this heavy responsibility and continue the great achievements of the late emperor. To be honest, I am also very afraid and cannot bear this responsibility! I hope to rely on the blessing of the late emperor and the assistance of all the generals to eradicate the traitors and bring peace to the late emperor's spirit. Now that I have ascended the throne as emperor, revered my ancestors, and brought peace and prosperity to the people, this isn't just my doing. Therefore, I have changed the year to Shaotai in the fourth year of Chengsheng, granted amnesty to all, and promoted all civil and military officials by one rank inside and outside the court.
Then, the emperor appointed Yuanming as the Minister of State, granting him the title of Duke of Jian'an County and three thousand households of land. Next, Chen Baxian was appointed as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, General of Cavalry, and Governor of Yangzhou and Southern Xuzhou, while keeping his role as Minister of State. At that time, the Inspector of Zhenzhou, Du Gan, led his troops to attack Chen Qian, and the Prefect of Yixing, Wei Zai, also responded by raising troops. The emperor then appointed Xiao Xun as Grand Guardian, promoted Yuanming to Grand Tutor, Xiao Bo as Grand Commandant, and further promoted Wang Lin to General of Cavalry and appointed him as a household official. The emperor also elevated Concubine Xia to Empress Dowager, appointed Wang Shi as Empress, promoted Zhang Biao to Grand General of the East, Xu Sihui to Grand General of the North, and Ren Yue to Grand General of the South. The emperor commanded Chen Baxian to lead an expedition against Wei Zai.
A few days later, Ren Yue and Xu Sihui unexpectedly rebelled, taking advantage of the capital's weak defenses, and they occupied Shitou City. Wei Zai surrendered, leading to the pacification of Yixing. The emperor sent Zhou Wenyu to lead troops to support the Great Wall. The governors of Qi'anzhou, Zhai Zichong; Chuzhou, Liu Shirong; and Huaizhou, Liu Damo, all led their armies to join Ren Yue and entered Shitou City. Chen Baxian quickly returned to the capital. Xu Sihui and Ren Yue led their armies to Caishiji to welcome the reinforcements from Qi. The emperor dispatched Hou Andu to command the navy in intercepting them at Jiangning, which resulted in a major defeat for the rebels. Xu Sihui and Ren Yue escaped to Jiangxi. Zhai Zichong and the others requested to surrender and were subsequently returned to the north.
On the first day of the first month of the year 550 AD, which fell on the day of Wuyin, the court ordered a general amnesty. I conspired with Ren Yue, Xu Sihui, and others, and no one questioned it. The emperor also posthumously honored several sons of Emperor Jianwen. Previously, the Marquis of Yong'an inherited the title of Prince Shaoling and went to his fief with the queen. On the day of Guichou in the first month, General Zhendong and Governor of Zhenzhou, Du Gang, surrendered; the emperor sentenced him to death and also granted a pardon to Wuxing County. On the day of Jihai, Taibao and Marquis of Yifeng, Xiao Xun, inherited the title of Prince of Poyang. Zhang Biao, the Governor of Dongyangzhou, besieged Wang Huaizhen, the Prefect of Linhai, at Shanyan.
On the 10th day of the second month, the court sent Zhou Wenyu and Chen Qian to attack Kuaiji to subdue Zhang Biao. On the 12th day, Zhang Biao's chief clerk Xie Qi, Sima Shen Tai, and military officer Wu Baozhen opened the city gates and surrendered, allowing Zhang Biao to escape. The Prince of Linchuan was promoted to General of the Guards and concurrently appointed as the Palace Supervisor; the Prince of Guiyang was promoted to General of the Army. On the 13th day, in Ruoye Village, someone killed Zhang Biao and sent his head to the capital, resulting in the pardon of East Yangzhou. On the 15th day, Zhenzhou was disbanded, and Wuxing County was restored. On the 19th day, Xu Sihui and Ren Yue attacked Caishi Outpost, capturing the commander and Mingzhou Governor Zhang Huijun, who fled to Northern Qi. On the 1st day of the 20th month, due to the severe devastation inflicted by Du Kan and Zhang Biao in the east, the court sent special envoys to inspect. On the 23rd day of the third month, East Yangzhou was abolished, and Kuaiji County was restored. On the 25th day, the court ordered that both ancient and new coins could be used simultaneously across the country. On the 28th day, General Xiao Gui of Northern Qi set off from Zhakou to attack Liangshan, where Minister of Works Chen Baxian and military commander Huang Jiao intercepted the enemy, defeating the Qi army, and Xiao Gui retreated to Wuhu. The court sent Zhou Wenyu and Hou Andu to lead troops to defend Liangshan and resist the Qi army. On the 30th day of the fourth month, Minister of Works Chen Baxian submitted a request to go to Liangshan to appease the soldiers. On the 2nd day of the 29th day, Hou Andu led light troops to attack Northern Qi's Sima Gong in Liyang, achieving a resounding victory and capturing tens of thousands of enemy troops.
On the day of Guiwei in May, the Grand Tutor, Duke Jian'an Yuanming passed away. On the day of Gengyin, the Northern Qi army's land and naval forces entered Danyang County. On the day of Bingshen, they arrived at the old smelting site in Moling. The Emperor ordered Zhou Wenyu to station at Fangqiu, Xu Du to station at Mamu, and Du Leng to station at Daheng. On the day of Guihao, the Qi army occupied Ertang, and the Emperor's troops were stationed near the old fence gate that had belonged to Zhao Jian, with strict defenses both inside and out. On the day of Jiachun, the Qi army's ambush troops reached Jiangshan Longwei, then moved diagonally northwest towards Mofu Mountain, and arrived northwest of Xuanwu Temple. On the day of Yimao, Minister of Works Chen Baxian was appointed commander of the entire army, engaged in battle with the Qi army, secured a resounding victory, killed the Northern Qi's Governor of Beiyanzhou Du Fangqing and Xu Sihui's brother Xu Sizong, captured Xu Siyan, Xiao Gui, Dongfang Lao, Wang Jingbao, Li Xiguang, Pei Yingqi, Liu Guiyi, and several others, and all were executed. On the day of Wuwu, the court issued a general amnesty, and those soldiers who died on the battlefield were gathered for burial rites. Those without relatives were buried together. On the day of Xinyou, martial law was lifted.
On the seventh day of the seventh month in the Bingzi year, General of Chariots and Cavalry Chen Baxian was promoted to Situ, granted the title Director of the Imperial Secretariat, while his other official positions remained unchanged. On the day of Dinghai, Duke Hou Jian was promoted to Sikong. On the day of Jiyu in the eighth month, Grand Guardian Prince of Poyang Wang Xun died. On the day of Renyin in the ninth month, a new era was declared, granting an elevation in rank to filial sons and daughters who work hard on their farms. Those with special talents and outstanding behavior could be reported to the court from various regions. The newly appointed Situ Chen Baxian was promoted to Prime Minister, Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat, General of the Imperial Guard, Governor of Yangzhou Province, and granted the title Duke of Yixing. General of Central Command Wang Chong also served as Supervisor of the Palace. Minister of Personnel Affairs Wang Tong was promoted to Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat. On the day of Dingsi, Xu Du, Inspector of Yingzhou, was appointed as the Commander-in-Chief. On the day of Yimao in the eleventh month, the Yunlong Gate and Shenghu Gate were built. On the day of Renshen in the twelfth month, Grand Commandant, General Who Defends the South Xiao Bo was promoted to Grand Guardian and General of Valiant Cavalry. The newly appointed General of the Left Guard Ouyang Wei was appointed as General Who Secures the South and Inspector of Hengzhou. On the day of Renwu, General Who Pacifies the South Liu Fayu was promoted to General Who Secures the South. On the day of Jiawu, former Magistrate of Shouchang Liu Rui was granted the title Prince of Ruyin, former Zhenxi Law Officer and Military Advisor Xiao Shan were granted the title Prince of Baling, and they all paid homage to the empresses of the Song and Qi dynasties.
In the first month of the year 557 AD, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Confucius, you were born with divine wisdom and exalted virtue, inheriting the brilliance of the ancient kings and spreading your great teachings. More and more people in later generations admire you, and you have always been tireless in teaching your students. You are loyal and filial, bestowing benefits upon the people, establishing the rites and music traditions, your virtue surpassing that of all emperors throughout history. Even if Mount Tai were to crumble, you will not forget any elderly person; even if the Si River dries up, your teachings will last for thousands of years. Since our dynasty has faced difficulties, the worship of Confucius has not been conducted properly; the place dedicated to his worship has fallen into disrepair, the line of descendants has been severed, and the worship sites dedicated to Confucius are desolate. In reflecting on this, we feel both admiration and sorrow. Therefore, we must seek out Confucius' descendants in the State of Lu to come and pay homage to Confucius; at the same time, we must restore the Confucian Temple, enhance the worship ceremonies, and, in accordance with tradition, conduct worship ceremonies in spring, autumn, winter, and summer."
On the same day, the emperor issued another decree: "Each state must establish officials of integrity and fairness, evaluating talents according to established practices. Recommendations must not be accepted without proper consultation; all recommendations must be reviewed and stamped by officials of integrity and fairness before official positions can be granted. Careful examination must be conducted according to ranks, and outstanding talents must be selected. Although Jingzhou, Yongzhou, Qingzhou, and Yanzhou are temporarily isolated from the court, many officials reside in the Huaihai region, and their official positions should still be preserved. Although Kaizhou has already abolished its prefecture, it is still a large county with numerous talents, and a new prefecture can be created. Regarding the division of counties and their renaming as prefectures, appointments can be made locally without the need for new prefectures. When selecting officials of integrity and fairness, respected elders of high moral standing should be chosen, and they should also hold other official positions." The emperor appointed Wang Lin, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Palace Supervisor, as Minister of Works and Grand General of the Cavalry. The five counties of Xunyang, Taiyuan, Qichang, Gaotang, and Xincai were merged to form Xijiang Prefecture, with the prefectural seat located in Xunyang. The emperor issued another decree: "Members of the imperial family who serve the nation and continue the family legacy can now inherit their original titles." The emperor appointed Wang Tong, the Right Deputy Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, as the Deputy Supervisor of the Left. On the Ding Si day, the General of the West and the Inspector of Yizhou, Prince of Changsha, Wang Shao, was promoted to General Who Conquers the South.
On the 28th day of the second month of the lunar calendar, General Xu Du entered East Gate with his troops. Taibao and Guangzhou Governor Xiao Bo rebelled and sent the pretender generals Ouyang Wei, Fu Tai, and Xiao Zi as the vanguard, while the Governor of Nanjiang Prefecture, Yu Xiaoqing, also led troops to join them. The court commanded Generals Zhou Wenyu and Hou Andu to lead a sizable army south to quell the rebellion. On the 5th day of the third month, Xu Du reached Hefei and burned 3,000 warships of the Qi state. On the 19th day of the third month, Zhou Wenyu's army captured Ouyang Wei alive in Bashan. On the 28th day of the third month, Zhou Wenyu's vanguard Ding Fahong captured Fu Tai alive in Zhekou. The forces of Xiao Zi and Yu Xiaoqing were routed. On the 1st day of the fourth month, the newly appointed Minister of State Wang Lin was appointed as the Governor of Xiangzhou and Yingzhou. On the 2nd day of the fourth month, Governor of Dezhou Chen Fawu and former Governor of Hengzhou Tan Shiyan launched an attack and killed Xiao Bo in Shixing. On the 30th day of the fourth month, the court granted a general amnesty to the three provinces of Jiangzhou, Guangzhou, and Hengzhou; at the same time, no responsibility was pursued for those who were coerced by the rebels. On the 3rd day of the fifth month, new coins were minted, with a value of twenty for each coin. The Qi state sent envoys to request peace talks. On the 8th day of the fifth month, the exchange rate of the new coins was adjusted to ten for one coin. On the 9th day of the fifth month, the court halted the circulation of small denomination coins. Xiao Bo's former chief of staff, Lan Di, killed Tan Shiyan and was later killed by the fugitive Xiahou Mingche. The former secretary of Xiao Bo, Li Baozang, seized control of Guangzhou and instigated a rebellion. On the 10th day of the fifth month, Hou Andu led his troops to attack; Yu Xiaoqing deserted his troops and fled, Xiao Zi surrendered, and Yuzhang was pacified. On the 15th day of the fifth month, General Zhou Wenyu was elevated to the rank of General of Zhennan, and Hou Andu was promoted to General of Zhenbei; both received the title of Yitong Sansi. On the 16th day of the fifth month, General Xu Du was appointed as the Governor of Nanyu Prefecture. On the 20th day of the fifth month, Yu Xiaoqing sent envoys to the Prime Minister's office to negotiate their surrender.
On the first day of August in the year of Jia Wu, the court bestowed the position of Grand Preceptor upon Prime Minister Chen Baxian, permitting him to enter the court without bowing, without the need to be addressed by name during greetings, and granting him the privilege of carrying a feathered fan and ceremonial gong. On the day of Xin Chou in the ninth month, the court promoted the Prime Minister to the position of Chancellor, overseeing all officials, granting him the title of Duke of Chen in ten counties, and conducting a formal ceremony in accordance with the rites of the Nine Bestowments, presenting him with the seal and ceremonial sash, a distant-traveling cap, with a rank above that of a prince, and a green sash of the Chancellor. Officials of the Chen State were established. On the day of Wu Chen in the tenth month, the court further ennobled the Duke of Chen to the rank of King, increasing his territory to twenty counties. The King of Chen could wear a crown adorned with twelve tassels, use the imperial flag, ride a golden chariot with a dragon motif drawn by six horses, be accompanied by five auxiliary chariots, use a horsehair hat and a rare fur coat, perform the eight ceremonial dances, and have ceremonial bells and palace officials. The titles and ceremonies for the Queen, princes, and princesses were all carried out according to established traditions.
At this time, Chen Wang (Chen Baxian) descended like a divine warrior, bringing harmony to heaven and earth, illuminating the sun and moon. He saved a country in turmoil, rescuing a distressed populace. He conquered the east and suppressed rebellions, campaigned in the north against barbarians, his might reverberating across the seas, his grace extending to all nations. He restored abandoned music, revived interrupted rituals, renovated Confucian academies, and brought peace to the borders. Even the great achievements of Emperor Shun and King Yu seem pale in comparison to his. The tribute of white jade rings far exceeds that of the era of Emperor Shun; the jade hens offered surpass the glory of the Zhou Dynasty. Various rare treasures, auspicious signs, jade dew and sweet springs, flourishing grains and plants, all emerged abundantly across the countryside, heralding his virtues as they reached the heavenly court.
The heavens manifested their blessings, with the radiance of the sun and moon, all foretelling a change in dynasty, with Chen Wang's virtues reflected in various omens. Legal disputes were settled, the people rejoiced and danced, all following the will of heaven. Though I may be mediocre in talent and shallow in knowledge, having long understood this through witnessing the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history, how could I forget the laws and desires of the people through the ages? Therefore, I have decided to abdicate the throne and pass it on to Chen Wang, in accordance with the precedents set by ancient emperors Tang Yao, Yu Shun, and those of the Song and Qi dynasties.
After Chen Wang ascended the throne, he honored me as King of Jiangyin. I passed away at my outer residence at the age of sixteen and was posthumously named Emperor Jing. Historians have noted: During the waning years of the Liang Dynasty, the realm was in chaos, plagued by incessant warfare, and the mandate of heaven had faded. Emperor Jing, with his noble character, voluntarily abdicated the throne, a tale that will be remembered through the ages, representing a form of liberation.
In historical records, Wei Zheng, Duke of Zhengguo, evaluated Emperor Gaozu, saying: "Emperor Gaozu was naturally endowed with extraordinary courage and wisdom, surpassing even the ancients in intellect. His talents appeared innate, his knowledge was profound, and he was accomplished in both civil and military disciplines. He began as a scholar, characterized by his unrestrained nature. At that time, the world was shrouded in chaos and tyranny reigned. His family also suffered misfortune, so he gathered a righteous army to seek vengeance for his family. He believed that King Zhou of the Shang dynasty was ripe for overthrow, and when the time came, he soared like a dragon over Fan and Han, struck down Xiang and Ying with the speed of lightning, and eradicated the remnants of the Shang dynasty as effortlessly as shaking off dead leaves, removing a tyrant as easily as picking up a lost item. His remarkable talents and strategies defy description. He raised the banner of righteousness, was favored by heaven, bestowed blessings on the people, established a just and prosperous governance, dismantled the extravagance of the Shang dynasty, actively promoted culture and education, refined the systems of ritual, championed righteousness, advanced Confucianism, and integrated benevolence with military affairs, securing victories in both the court and on the battlefield. His reputation spread throughout the world, his benevolence was felt for generations, and war ultimately ceased, bringing peace to the world for decades. Since the Wei and Jin dynasties, such brilliance has never been seen."
However, he could not restrain his impulses, focused on superficial matters while neglecting the fundamentals, sought after fame, indulged in extravagance, vacillated between the thoughts of Confucius, Mencius, and the Mohist school, and became obsessed with Buddhism and Taoism. Sometimes he stayed up all night, sometimes he didn't eat all day, not for the purpose of promoting the great way and benefiting the people, but to show off his wisdom and deceive the ignorant. Furthermore, he did not forget about wealth and glory, humbly treating lowly servants; although he spoke grandly while belittling wealth and status, he still ultimately yearned for the noble position of an emperor. A person's greatest desires are food and sex, not in high positions, palaces, and towers, which are not essential to life. Although the dynasty's founder renounced his desires, he still longed for wealth and glory, obtained things that were hard to get, but remained fixated on what was easy to obtain, indicating a lack of wisdom. As his energy gradually waned, so did his virtue as an emperor; he listened to the words of flatterers, and the reins of power fell into the hands of treacherous officials, and no ministers had the courage to speak out. He was hot-tempered, and this worsened in his later years. He acted for profit, rejected honest advice, ignored warnings, opened the door to thieves, turned his back on old friends and made new enemies, ultimately leading to internal turmoil, calamity throughout the land, his untimely death, and immense suffering endured by the people, with civil and military officials dying in battle and ordinary people perishing in the chaos. Thinking of the sorrow in "Shu Li" from the Book of Songs is heart-wrenching; and then considering the tragedy in "Mai Xiu" is deeply sorrowful. Throughout history, comfort has always meant danger; the rise and fall, along with the speed of collapse, have been unprecedented. The Book of Changes says: "Heaven helps those who are sincere, and people help those who follow the natural order."
Wow, Liu Bang was in a really precarious situation back then; he almost didn't make it! He was too reckless, didn't listen to advice, didn't follow the right path, always rushed onto dangerous paths; even the heavens and people couldn't help him, it would have been a miracle if he had escaped that disaster!
Li Shimin was a brilliant and dashing man, well-read and articulate. However, his writing was overly ornate, lacking substance, focusing on the beauty of language at the expense of the text's meaning, and his melancholic sentiments influenced the social climate of the time. Compared with King Wen of Zhou and Emperor Wen of Han, it was a stark contrast! I've had a rough fate; I have experienced many hardships since I was young. Those rebellious characters were truly terrible, from being imprisoned to nearly meeting the same fate as Emperor Xin of the Shang Dynasty. It's enough to make anyone sigh! Oh heavens, what is happening?
In the early years, when the country was just beginning to be in turmoil and the war reached the capital, many feudal lords abandoned their titles and came to support the throne. As a royal relative, the Emperor Yuan bore important responsibilities, faced conflicts between monarchs, relatives, and officials, and held the position of commander. However, he did not bravely fight the enemy like those loyal warriors, but instead hesitated and only sought to protect himself, watching the situation unfold, mistakenly believing he was safe. He did not meet the same fate as Wang Mang or Dong Zhuo, who were quickly eliminated, but instead killed his own brothers first. He was suspicious and unreasonable, used deceitful words to cover up his mistakes, had a quick temper, and caused harm to many. Important generals and advisers were either imprisoned or executed. The courtiers were all fearful. He thought he was as stable as Mount Tai, believing nothing could defeat him, but he fell into the trap of deceitful people, leading to chaos in the Jingchu region. Although the culprits were dealt with, the country was still not stable, and neighboring countries to the west demanded retribution, calamities followed one after another. Heaven sought to punish, and this was carried out through others. How could fate and human actions be false? He was devoted to poetry and literature, but obsessed with extravagance, abandoning loyalty and integrity; he was decisive and brave, but killed his own family first before dealing with the enemy. He was well-versed in the Hundred Schools of Thought from the Six Classics, had the wisdom of Confucius and the capabilities of Duke Zhou, but this only fueled his arrogance and ultimately deepened the calamity, ultimately contributing to the fall of Jinling and the decline of Jiangling. How could he be blamed for his failure without wise advisers like Yi Yin or Huo Guang at his side?
