The emperor of Northern Zhou, named Yuwen Wei, with the courtesy name Rengang, was the firstborn son of Emperor Wucheng. His mother, Empress Hu, once dreamed she was sitting in a jade basin on the sea, as the sun fell beneath her skirt, and shortly after, she became pregnant. On the fifth day of the fifth month in the seventh year of the Tianbao era, Yuwen Wei was born at his mansion in Bingzhou. He was strikingly handsome from a young age, and Emperor Wucheng especially favored him, designating him as the crown prince. After Emperor Wucheng ascended to the throne, on the bingxu day of the first month in the second year of the Dana era, Yuwen Wei was made the crown prince. In the fourth year of the Heqing era, Emperor Wucheng abdicated the throne in his favor.
In the summer of the first year of the Tian Tong era, on the fourth month, the Emperor officially ascended the throne in the Jinyang Palace, granting a general amnesty and renaming the fourth year of Heqing as the first year of Tian Tong. The next day, on the fifth day of the month, the Emperor appointed He Baoren as Grand Tutor, Hou Mochenxiang as Grand Guardian, Wang Run as Minister of Personnel, Wang Rui as Minister of War, and Wang Xiaowan as Prefect of the Masters of Writing. On the sixth day, he also appointed Wei Can as Grand Commandant, Holuoguang as Grand General, Lou Rui as Grand Commandant, and Zhao Yanshen as Left Chancellor. On the twentieth day of the sixth month, a comet appeared in the northeast of Wenchang, initially about the size of a hand, gradually stretching to over ten feet long, disappearing after a hundred days. On the seventh day, the Emperor Wu Cheng dispatched Wang Jigao as an envoy to the Chen Kingdom. On the eighth day of the seventh month, the Emperor Wu Cheng ordered the appointment of a Water Commissioner. On the twelfth day of the eleventh month, the Emperor Wu Cheng returned from Jinyang. On the twentieth day, he went hunting in the northern suburbs; on the twenty-eighth day, in the southern suburbs; on the thirtieth day, in the western suburbs; on the first day of the twelfth month, the Emperor Wu Cheng went to Jinyang; on the fifth day, the Emperor returned from Jinyang; on the seventh day, the relevant departments proposed renaming 'Emperor Gaozu Wenxuan' to 'Emperor Weizong Jinglie'. That year, Goryeo, Khitan, and Mohe all sent envoys to pay tribute, and there was a major epidemic in the Henan region. In a certain year (Bing Xu year, that year), on the first few days of the first lunar month, the Emperor went to the Yuanqiu to offer sacrifices. A few days later (Gui Si day), a grand sacrifice was held at the ancestral temple, with the Emperor ordering varied punishments for offenders. A few days later (Bing Shen day), Minister of Personnel Wei Jin was promoted to Right Chancellor. A few days later (Geng Zi day), the Emperor went to Jinyang for leisure.
At the beginning of the second month (Gengxu day), the former emperor returned from Jinyang. Then, on Renzi day, the Chen Kingdom sent envoys to offer tributes as a gesture of friendship. On the early days of the third month (Yisi day), the former emperor ordered the bestowal of the Three Platforms to the Xingsheng Temple. Due to a drought disaster, the emperor ordered a reduction in the punishments for offenders. In April, the emperor of the Chen Kingdom, Chen Wendi, passed away.
On the early days of the fifth month (Yiyou day), Prince Wuxing, concurrently serving as the Left Supervisor of the Secretariat, was appointed as the Prefect of the Secretariat. A few days later (Jihai day), the emperor conferred titles of kings to several of his sons: Dongping King (Yan), Qian King (Ren Hong), Beiping King (Ren Jian), Gaoping King (Ren Ying), and Huainan King (Ren Guang). In June, the former emperor ordered Wei Daoru, the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, to visit the Chen Kingdom.
By August, the former emperor returned to Jinyang. On the early days of the tenth month (Yimao day), the emperor adjusted the positions of a group of high officials: Hou Mochen was appointed as the Grand Tutor, Prince Rencheng was appointed as the Grand Protector, Lou Rui was appointed as the Grand Marshal, Prince Fenyi was appointed as the Grand Commandant, and Han Zunian was appointed as the Minister of Works. In November, heavy snow fell, and the emperor's garments were stolen from the ancestral temple! On the early days of the twelfth month (Yichou day), the Chen Kingdom sent envoys to offer tributes once again.
That year, Prince Xiaowan of Hejian was killed. Envoys from both the Turkic and Mohe tribes came to offer tributes. This year marked the first year of the Tianhe era of the Zhou Dynasty.
In a certain year (specific year not mentioned in the original text), in the early days of the first month, the former emperor returned from Jinyang. A few days later, heavy snow fell, with accumulations reaching two feet! Afterwards, the former emperor ordered officials in the capital and at various levels to recommend talents: officials of the third rank and above were to recommend three individuals each, officials of the fifth rank and above were to recommend two individuals each, and officials of the seventh rank and above as well as certain positions were to recommend one individual each. Unfortunately, the Nine Dragons Hall in the Yegong Palace caught fire, spreading to the west corridor.
On the first day of the second month, the emperor held a crown ceremony, declared a general amnesty, and promoted all artisans by four ranks and all officials by two ranks. In April, the Grand Empress Dowager sent Sima Youzhi as an envoy to the state of Chen. In May, the Grand Empress Dowager appointed King Yan of Dongping as the Minister of Personnel. On that day, a fierce wind blew, the sky turned dark, trees were blown down, and many houses were damaged. In June, the Grand Empress Dowager appointed King Renji as the King of Xihe, King Renyue as the King of Lelang, King Renjian as the King of Yingchuan, King Renya as the King of Anle, King Rentong as the King of Danyang, and King Renqian as the King of Donghai. In the intercalary month of June, the Left Chancellor Hulü Jin passed away. The next day, the Grand Empress Dowager appointed King Yan of Dongping to be in charge of the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel, Zhao Yanshen as the Minister of the Left, and Lou Dingyuan and Xu Zhicai as the Left and Right Deputy Ministers. In August, the Grand Empress Dowager made large-scale adjustments to the positions of court officials, appointing King Jie of Rencheng as the Grand Preceptor, King Run of Fengyi as the Grand Marshal, Duan Shao as the Left Chancellor, Heba Ren as the Right Chancellor, Houmochen Xiang as the Grand Chancellor, Lou Rui as the Grand Tutor, Hulü Guang as the Grand Protector, Han Zunian as the Grand General, King Rui of Zhaojun as the Grand Commandant, and King Yan of Dongping as the Minister of Works. In September, the Grand Empress Dowager ordered the disbanding of certain miscellaneous households tied to temple institutions, placing them under the management of counties and treating them like ordinary commoners. Later, the Grand Empress Dowager went to Jinyang. In the autumn of that year, Shandong experienced severe flooding, leading to numerous starvation deaths and corpses littering the roads. In October, envoys from the Turkic Khaganate, Da Moyou, Shiwei, Baekje, Mohe, and other countries all came to offer tribute. In November, the Great Ming Hall in Jinyang was completed, which resulted in a general amnesty, with civil and military officials all being promoted by two ranks, and the taxes in Taiyuan County, Bingzhou were all exempted. Afterwards, the Grand Empress Dowager returned to the capital. In December, the Grand Empress Dowager posthumously conferred honors upon the late Left Chancellor, Prince Chen of Zhaojun, granting him worship in the Temple of Divine Martial.
In a certain year, during the first month, the emperor issued a decree, stating that he wanted ten people, including the late Prince of Qinghe, Yue, and the Prince of Hedong, Pan Xiangle, to jointly participate in the sacrificial rites at Shenwu Temple. Then, on a specific date, the emperor ordered Zheng Dahuh, who also held the position of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, to be sent as an envoy to the State of Chen.
On the third day of the third month, the emperor issued another decree, appointing the Minister of Rites, Dongping Wang Yan, as the Grand General, the Prince of Nanyang, Chuo, as the Minister of Works, Xu Xianshu as the Minister of Works, and the Prince of Guangning, Xiaoheng, as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing. This was quite a series of personnel changes!
On the twenty-ninth day of the fourth month, alas, a disaster struck. The Zhaoyang Hall in the Palace of Ye caught fire, and other palaces such as the Xuanguang Hall and Yaohua Hall were also burned. This fire was truly tragic! A few days later, on the day of Xinsi, the emperor went to Jin Yang to escape the summer heat. On the fifth day of the fifth month, the emperor adjusted the court officials again, appointing Hu Changren, the Right Minister of Rites, as the Left Supervisor, and Shikai, the Director of the Palace Library, as the Right Supervisor. On the day of Renxu, the emperor returned from Jin Yang. It had not rained since the first month, until this month of May. On the first day of the sixth month, it finally rained heavily! On the day of Jia Shen, a strong wind blew, snapping the trees. This month, a comet appeared in the vicinity of the Eastern Well star.
On the day of Bingshen in September, the Zhou dynasty sent envoys to negotiate peace with us, and the emperor sent the attendant Hushi Wenlue to return the visit to the Zhou dynasty. In October, on the day of Xinsi, the emperor adjusted the officials again, appointing the Prince of Guangning, Xiaoheng, as the Recorder of the Masters of Writing, Hu Changren as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Shikai as the Left Supervisor, and Tang Yong as the Right Supervisor. The changes in the government were truly dizzying! On the day of Rencen in November, the emperor sent Li Zhu, who also served as the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, as an envoy to the State of Chen. This month, the Prince of Ancheng in the State of Chen deposed his ruler, Bozong, and declared himself emperor.
On the twelfth day of the twelfth month of the Xinwei year, the former emperor passed away. On the day of Bingzi, the court declared a nationwide amnesty, promoting craftsmen by four ranks and court officials by two ranks. On the day of Wuyin, the former empress was posthumously honored with the title of Empress Dowager. On the day of Jiashen, the emperor ordered the dismantling of the spy system and the shutdown of workshops across the country. At the same time, palace maids from the Yeting, Jinyang, and Zhongshan palaces, as well as official servants from Yexia and the Tai Guan in Bingzhou, who were over sixty or suffering from illness, were allowed to retire. On the day of Gengyin, the emperor also ordered the pardon and return of those exiled due to their associations since the seventh year of Tianbao. That year, envoys from the Khitan and Mohe tribes came to pay tribute. In the first month of the year 566, the emperor ordered that the three platforms, including the Golden Phoenix, that had yet to be moved to the temple, be sent to the Daxing Temple. That month, the Governor of Dingzhou and Prince Boling, Ji, were executed. On the second day of the second month, the emperor ordered that all those facing palace punishment be exempted and reassigned as government laborers. He then ordered the prohibition of hunting falcons and hawks, as well as the trapping and release of those birds. A few days later, envoys from the Great Moro Kingdom arrived to pay tribute. Then, the Emperor re-designated the Prince of Dongping as the Prince of Langye. The Emperor also sent the attendant Chi Liechangcha to the Zhou Dynasty as an envoy. That month, the Grand Commandant, Prince Rui of Zhao County, was executed. On the third day of the third month, Xu Xianshou was appointed as the Grand Commandant, while Lou Dingyuan was demoted to the Minister of Works. That month, the Emperor visited Jinyang for leisure. On the second day of the fourth month, the Emperor ordered the conversion of the Shangshu Province in Bingzhou into the Daji Temple and the Jin Shrine into the Dachong Emperor’s Temple. A few days later, the Emperor returned from his visit to Jinyang.
At the beginning of July, the emperor ordered that those who erred should be punished based on the situation. A few days later, the emperor ordered officials to check on various states in Hebei, and in places that hadn't seen rain and were particularly dry, their taxes would be reduced. In early October, the emperor ordered a ban on brewing alcohol. In early November, the emperor promoted Hulü Guang to Grand Tutor, Wang Run to Grand Protector, and Wang Yan to Grand Marshal.
On a day in December, the emperor appointed Prince Changgong of Lanling as Minister of Personnel. He also appointed Wei Shou, the Director of the Palace Library, as Deputy Minister of Personnel. On the first day of the first month of the year 570 AD, the era name was updated. On this day, the Grand Preceptor, Governor of Bingzhou, and Prince Dong'an, Lou Rui, died. A few days later, on Wushen day, the emperor ordered the Imperial Attendant Pei Xianzhi to go to the state of Chen as an envoy.
On the ninth day of the second month, King Yuchang of Baekje was appointed Commissioner, Palace Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Duke of Fangjun, with his royal title unchanged. On the day of Jisi, the Grand Tutor and Prince of Xianyang, Hulü Guang, was appointed Deputy Prime Minister; the Governor of Bingzhou, Deputy Prime Minister, and Prince of Anding, Heba Ren, was appointed Minister of Personnel; the Governor of Jizhou, Prince of Rencheng, Jiang, was appointed Grand Preceptor. On the day of Bingzi, the court commuted the sentences of prisoners not facing the death penalty.
On Wuxu day in the leap month, the Minister of Personnel, Prince of Anding, Heba Ren, also died. On the eighth day of the third month, Xu Zhicai of Kaifu Yitong San Si was appointed Deputy Minister of Personnel. On the sixth day of the sixth month, Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning was appointed Minister of Works. On the day of Jiachen, due to the birth of the crown prince, the court granted a general amnesty, with officials getting a two-level promotion across the board, and craftsmen from various states being promoted by four levels. On the day of Jiyu, the emperor appointed Tang Yong from Kaifu Yitong San Si as Deputy Minister of Personnel.
On the 10th day of the 7th month, Emperor Xiaozhao appointed his son Yanji as the Prince of Chengyang, Yankang as the Prince of Dingling, and Yanzhong as the Prince of Liangjun. On the day of Jiayin, the Grand Secretary and Prince Langong of Lanling was appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and the Central Army Leader, Shi Kai, was appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. On Guihai, envoys from the Mohe came to pay tribute. On Guiyou, Prince Huashan was appointed as the Grand Tutor. On the 8th day of the 8th month, the Emperor departed for Jinyang.
On the 4th day of the 9th month, the Emperor appointed his son Heng as the Crown Prince. On the 8th day of the 10th month, Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning was appointed as the Minister of Works, while the previous Minister of Works was appointed as the Minister of the Masses, and Prince Sizong of Luowang was appointed as the Minister of Works, and Xiao Zhuang was appointed as the Prince of Liang. On the day of Wuzi, prisoners in Beizhou who were sentenced to death had their sentences reduced. On the day of Jichou, the posthumous title of Emperor Weizong Jinglie was revised to "Emperor Xianzu Wenxuan." On the 27th day of the 12th month, the Emperor's procession returned from Jinyang. The Emperor ordered Prime Minister Huluguang to repair the city defenses along the route of Jinzhou.
In the year 577 AD, on the 14th day of the 1st month, the Emperor sent Liu Huanjun, who concurrently served as the Cavalry Attendant, as an envoy to the Chen Kingdom. On the 15th day, King Yuchang of Baekje was appointed as the Commissioner and Governor of Dongqingzhou. On the 9th day of the 2nd month, Prince Langong of Lanling, who was the Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat, was appointed as the Grand Commandant, and Zhao Yanshen was relieved of his duties as Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat and reassigned as Minister of Works; Shi Kai was promoted to Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat; Xu Zhicai was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat; Tang Yong was promoted to Left Deputy; and Feng Zicong was promoted to Right Deputy.
On the ninth day of the fourth month, Grand Protector Langye Wang Yan was appointed as Grand Guardian. On the eleventh day, the Chen Kingdom sent envoys requesting an alliance to attack the Zhou Dynasty together, but the court refused. In the sixth month, Duan Shao launched an attack on Fenzhou, capturing it, and also captured the governor Yang Fu. On the seventh day of the seventh month, Grand Protector Langye Wang Yan falsely claimed to issue an imperial edict and killed the Minister of Personnel and Scholar Shi at the South Platform. On the same day, he also executed General Shi Di Fuyan, Palace Attendant Wang Zixuan and others. Minister of Works Feng Zicong was also executed within the palace. On the sixth day of the eighth month, the emperor traveled to Jinyang. On the eighth day of the ninth month, Prince Rencheng Wang Jie was appointed as Grand Chancellor, and Prince of Fengyi Wang Run was appointed as Grand Tutor. On the sixteenth day, Prime Minister Pingyuan Wang Duan Shao passed away. On the twenty-first day, different punishments were given to criminals below the death penalty in the territory of Bingzhou. On the twenty-third day, Grand Protector Langye Wang Yan was killed. On the twenty-fifth day, envoys from the Chen Kingdom came to pay tribute. In October, the capital region was dissolved and incorporated into the military headquarters. On the sixth day, the emperor returned from Jinyang. On the twentieth day of November, the emperor dispatched Palace Attendant Helian Ziyue as an envoy to the Zhou Dynasty. On the twenty-third day, Xu Zhou Xingtai Guangning Wang Xiaoheng was appointed as Minister of Personnel. On the twenty-seventh day, Minister Guangning Wang Xiaoheng was appointed as Minister of Works. On the thirtieth day, Prime Minister Huluguang was appointed as Prime Minister. In a certain year (specific year not mentioned in the text), on the first day of the first month, the emperor went to the southern suburbs to offer sacrifices. A few days later, the deceased Langye Wang Yan was posthumously titled as King of Chu. On a day in February, the Bodhisattva Wei was appointed as Grand Commandant. A few days later, Minister Gao Yuanhai was reassigned as Right Minister of Personnel. A few days later, Left Minister Tang Yong was promoted to Minister of Personnel, and Palace Attendant Zuting replaced Tang Yong as Left Minister. In this month, the emperor ordered the compilation of "Xuanzhou Yuan Yulan," which was later renamed "Shengshou Tang Yulan."
One day in March, the emperor ordered officials of fifth rank and above to recommend a talented individual each. In the same month, the Zhou Dynasty executed their Chancellor Yuwen Hu. In April, the Zhou Dynasty sent people to visit our dynasty. One day in July, the emperor executed the Left Prime Minister, Prince Huluguang of Xianyang, and his brother, the Governor of Youzhou, Marquis Hulufengle of Jingshan. One day in August, Empress Hulu was deposed and demoted to commoner status. Then, Prince Rencheng Jai was appointed as the Right Prime Minister, Prince Fengyi Run Wang as the Grand Marshal, Prince Lanling Zhanggong as the Grand General, Prince Guangning Xiaoheng as the Grand General, and Prince Ande Yanzong as the Minister of Works. Envoys were sent to the Zhou Dynasty to foster goodwill. A few days later, the Mu clan was appointed as empress. A few more days later, Prince Beiping Renjian was appointed as the Minister of the Left, Xu Jiliang as the Deputy Minister of the Left, and Prince Pengcheng Baode as the Deputy Minister of the Right. Later, the emperor went to Jinyang for a visit. In that month, the "Imperial Collection of the Holy Longevity Hall" was finally completed, and the emperor ordered it to be preserved in the historical archives. The book was later renamed "Imperial Collection of the Repairing Hall." In September, the Chen Dynasty sent envoys for tribute. In October, the emperor showed great mercy and released all prisoners sentenced to death or lesser sentences. One day, the Mu clan was appointed as empress, and a general amnesty was declared. One day in December, Empress Hu was deposed and demoted to commoner status. That year, Silla, Baekje, Wujie, and the Turks all sent envoys for tribute. This year was the first year of the Jiande era in the Zhou Dynasty.
In a certain year AD, in the first few days of January, the emperor appointed Gao Anagong as the Recorder of the Secretariat, equivalent to acting as the Minister of the Left. A few days later, Cui Xiang was sent as an envoy to the Chen Kingdom. In that month, the capital and Bingzhou Province faced disturbances from fox spirits, and many people had their hair shorn, which was quite alarming.
In early February, the emperor appointed Mu as the empress. Soon after, he established the Wenlin Academy to cultivate talent. In a few days, Ren Jian was appointed as the Minister of Rites. Later, the emperor went to Jinyang for leisure. This month, envoys from the Zhou dynasty arrived seeking marriage alliances. In early March, Xinzhou was attacked by bandits; the governor and his men were killed, and the governor of Nanyanzhou, Xianyu Shihong, led troops to suppress the rebellion. The emperor finally arrived in Jinyang.
In early April, the emperor generously rewarded his subjects, with Prince Langong being promoted to Grand Preceptor, Prince Chu promoted to Grand Marshal, General Weipusa promoted to Grand General, Prince Yanzong promoted to Grand Commandant, Prince Wuxing promoted to Minister of Personnel, and Zhao Yanshen promoted to Minister of Justice. A few days later, mysterious wheel marks appeared in the sacrificial place in the palace, with no one around, a truly strange occurrence! The emperor said it was an auspicious sign, celebrated extensively, and announced the news to the entire nation. This month, envoys from the Zhou dynasty came for marriage alliances again.
In early May, the emperor ordered the court historian to compile a new edition of the "Book of Wei." Mu Tipo was appointed as the Left Minister of the Secretariat, and Duan Xiaoyan was appointed as the Right Minister of the Secretariat. This month, Weipohu and Changsun Honglue engaged in battle with Wumingche of the Chen kingdom, resulting in a major defeat. Weipohu fled, Changsun Honglue died in battle, and both Qinzhou and Jingzhou were occupied by the Chen army. Wumingche pursued the victory, capturing Hezhou and Hezhou. This month, the emperor also executed Prince Langong.
In June, Wu Mingche besieged Shouyang. The Emperor went to the Southern Garden for leisure, but sixty officials succumbed to heatstroke. Gao Anagong was promoted to the position of Minister of Works. A few days later, the Emperor dispatched Wang Shiruo as an envoy to the Zhou Dynasty. In September, the Emperor went hunting to the east of Ye City. In October, Wu Mingche captured Shouyang. The Emperor executed numerous officials, including Cui Jishu, Zhang Diaohu, Liu Ti, Feng Xiaoyan, Pei Ze, and Guo Zun. Afterwards, the Emperor went to Jinyang. In December, Gao Anagong was promoted to Prime Minister of the Right. That year, both Goryeo and Mohe sent envoys to pay tribute, while the Turks sent representatives to propose marriage.
In the spring of a certain year, on the first day of the lunar New Year, the Emperor selected two palace maids, one named Eying, and the other also named Eying (presumably different individuals with the same name). In February, the Emperor's chariot returned from Jinyang. Oh no, trouble erupted when the Governor of Shuozhou and Prince Sihao of Nan'an rebelled! In a few days, the Emperor went back to Jinyang. Fortunately, Minister of Personnel Tang Yong defeated Sihao, who drowned himself, and his body and wife Li Shi were burned together. A few days later, the Emperor returned from Jinyang. A few days later, the Emperor appointed Tang Yong as Acting Minister of Personnel, effectively serving as the Minister of Personnel. In the summer of that year, in May, there was a severe drought, and a dead drought spirit, only two feet tall, with two eyes on its face and head, was discovered in Jinyang! Upon hearing this, the Emperor ordered a wooden model of the drought spirit to be made and sent to him. That summer, the Emperor ordered a general amnesty. Oh no, forces from the Chen Kingdom launched an attack on Huai Bei. In August during the autumn, the Emperor went back to Jinyang. In a few days, the Emperor appointed Gao Mei as Deputy Minister of Works. That same year, the Emperor also executed Prince Chu of Nanyang.
In the spring of the second year, on a day in March, the emperor returned to Jin Yang in his carriage. In a few days, a notorious thief named Zheng Zirao was executed in the city. This month, the Zhou Dynasty came to make peace with us. In the summer of that year, on a day in April, the emperor appointed Yang Xiuzhi, the Director of the Imperial Secretariat, as the Right Chancellor of the Ministry of Personnel. A few days later, envoys from the Mohe country came to offer tribute. In July of that summer, the emperor went to Jin Yang again. In August, six provinces including Ji, Ding, Zhao, You, Cang, and Ying suffered from flooding! That month, the Zhou army advanced into Luoyang, camped at Mang Mountain, and launched a fierce assault on Luoyang, even using fire ships to burn the pontoon bridge, severing Luoyang's ties with the outside world. On a day in the intercalary month, the emperor dispatched Prime Minister Gao Anagong from Jin Yang to confront the Zhou army. The Zhou army faced off against Gao Anagong in Heyang, but they fled in the middle of the night. A few days later, the emperor appointed Zhao Yanshen as the Minister of Works and Holu Aleruo as the Minister of War. A few days later, due to a shortage of military funds, the emperor imposed taxes on passes, ships, vehicles, forests, salt and iron, shops, and more, with different tax rates. At the same time, the prohibition on alcohol was lifted. In the first few days of January in the year 577 AD, the emperor ordered that those who had suffered from disasters and hunger since autumn and could no longer survive were to be handed over to major temples and wealthy families for assistance, so they could get by for the time being. A few days later, the emperor declared a general amnesty. Afterwards, the emperor's carriage finally arrived in Jin Yang.
One day in February, the government rounded up all unmarried women aged 14 to 20 to register in the provincial capital. If anyone was caught hiding, their family would face execution. A few days later, a fierce wind from the northwest uprooted houses and toppled trees, blowing for five days before finally dying down. On June 1st, the sky darkened as a solar eclipse occurred. Situ Zhaoyanshen died. In July, relentless heavy rain fell. Because of the flooding, the emperor sent people to provide aid to the displaced. In August, the emperor went to Jinyang. During this time, a wild chicken flew onto the emperor's throne and was captured, but the officials in charge were too afraid to report it to him. The emperor ordered the building of Handan Palace. In October, the emperor went hunting at Qilian Lake. Meanwhile, the Zhou army launched an attack on Jinzhou. A few days later, the emperor returned to Jinyang. Later, the emperor positioned his troops and faced off against King Xian of Qi from the Zhou Dynasty at Jiqi Plain. The two sides held off from battle until nightfall, at which point the Zhou army retreated. In November, Emperor Wu of Zhou pulled his troops back to Chang'an, leaving a small contingent behind in Jinzhou. Gao Anagong and others besieged Jinzhou. The emperor reached the outskirts of Jinzhou. One day in December, Emperor Wu of Zhou arrived to rescue Jinzhou. The two sides clashed in a major battle south of the city, and we faced a crushing defeat. The emperor was the first to flee, abandoning his army. The emperor returned to Jinyang, overcome with anxiety and fear, unsure of what to do next. Later, the emperor declared a general amnesty.
The emperor asked his ministers, "The Zhou army is too powerful, what should we do?" The ministers all said, "The mandate of heaven has not changed; victory and defeat are common in warfare; it has always been this way since ancient times. We should stop all kinds of taxes, pacify the court and the people, gather the remnants of defeated soldiers, fight with our backs against the wall, and protect the country!" The emperor hesitated and thought about fleeing north to Shuozhou. So, he left Prince Ande Yanzong, Prince Guangning Xiaoheng, and others to guard Jinyang. If Jinyang could not be defended, he planned to escape to the Turks. The ministers all disagreed, but the emperor did not listen. The Imperial officials He Baifu'en, Feng Fuxiang, Murong Zhongkui, and more than thirty other ministers serving the emperor secretly went over to the Zhou army. The emperor ordered the recruitment of soldiers, with Prince Ande Yanzong leading the left army and Prince Guangning Xiaoheng leading the right army. Yanzong went to see the emperor, who told him he wanted to go to Shuozhou. Yanzong pleaded and advised against it, but the emperor did not listen. The emperor secretly sent Wang Kangde and Qi Shao to escort the empress dowager and the crown prince to Shuozhou. The emperor visited the army camp south of the city to comfort the soldiers. He planned to escape in secret that night, but the generals disagreed. The next day, the emperor ordered a general pardon and changed the era name to Longhua. On the same day, Mutipo surrendered to the Zhou dynasty. The emperor appointed Prince Ande Yanzong as the Prime Minister to defend against the enemy, and Yanzong tearfully accepted the appointment. That night, the emperor secretly fled from Wulong Gate, wanting to escape to the Turks. Most of the officials who had followed him dispersed. General Meisheng Lang stopped the emperor's horse and advised him, so the emperor returned to Ye City. At that time, only Gao Anagong and a handful of others remained with the emperor; Prince Guangning Xiaoheng and Prince Xiangcheng Yandao later caught up, and a total of several dozen people traveled together. After a few days, Yanzong followed everyone's advice and ascended the throne in Jinyang, proclaiming the era of Dechang.
In a certain year (Gengshen year) AD, the emperor entered Ye City. The next day (Xinyou year), Yan Zong's army fought a battle with the Zhou forces in Jinyang, suffering a crushing defeat and being captured by the Zhou forces. The emperor ordered the recruitment of soldiers, promising rewards and promotions, but despite all the talk, nothing concrete happened. Prince Xiaoheng of Guangning suggested rewarding the soldiers with women and treasures from the palace, which did not sit well with the emperor. Hulü Xiaqing mediated the situation to help smooth things over, donning his armor to take charge of the situation, and suggested that the emperor personally comfort the soldiers. He even drafted a speech for the emperor, urging him to be heartfelt and generous to win people's hearts. However, when the emperor stepped out to speak to the crowd, he forgot the prepared speech completely and burst into laughter, prompting others to join in the laughter, leaving the soldiers utterly bewildered.
Afterwards, starting with the Grand Chancellor and extending downward, the positions of Grand Preceptor, Three Masters, Grand Marshal, Grand General, and other high-ranking officials were expanded and promoted. Some even juggled multiple positions at once, and there were so many it was hard to keep track.
Two days later (Jiazi day), the empress dowager made her way back from the north. The emperor summoned officials of the first rank and above to the Zhu Hua Gate, hosted a banquet and handed out paper and pens, and asked everyone for their thoughts on how to handle the Zhou Dynasty. The ministers chimed in with their opinions, but the emperor found it hard to make a decision. He then called upon ministers such as Gao Yuanhai, Song Shisu, Lu Sidao, and Li Delin to talk about passing the throne to the crown prince. Earlier, a fortune teller had predicted significant upheaval, so in line with the traditions of the Tian Tong Dynasty, the emperor handed the throne over to the young emperor.
The young emperor, Heng, is the emperor's eldest son. His mother is Empress Mu, who was born in June of the first year of Wuping in Ye City. In October of the same year, he was proclaimed Crown Prince. In the second year of Longhua, in the first month, the eight-year-old emperor ascended the throne, changing the reign to Chengguang, granting amnesty throughout the realm, bestowing the title of Grand Empress Dowager upon the Empress Dowager, while his father was named the Grand Emperor and his mother the Grand Empress. Then, the Yellow Gate Chamberlain Yan Zhitui, the Privy Councilor Xue Daoheng, and the Palace Attendant Chen Dexin advised the Grand Emperor to recruit soldiers and gather horses from beyond the river, plan carefully and, if necessary, escape to the Chen Kingdom. The Grand Emperor agreed. A few days later, the Grand Empress Dowager and the Grand Empress first set out from Ye City to Jizhou.
The Zhou army closed in, and the young emperor quickly fled east from Ye City. When the Zhou army reached Zimo Bridge, they set fire to the city's west gate. The Grand Emperor fled east with over a hundred riders and finally crossed the Yellow River to Jizhou. That day, the young emperor abdicated the throne in favor of the Grand Chancellor, Prince Rencheng Jie, and ordered the Palace Attendant Huluxiaoqing to deliver the abdication documents and the imperial seal to Yingzhou. However, Huluxiaoqing delivered these items directly to the Zhou Dynasty. Prince Rencheng also issued a decree, honoring the Grand Emperor as the Supreme Emperor and the young emperor as the Guardian King. The Grand Empress Dowager remained in Jizhou, with Gao Anagong remaining as regent. The Grand Emperor fled to Qingzhou with the Empress and the young emperor, accompanied by Han Changluan, Deng Yu, and several dozen others.
When he arrived in Qingzhou, the Grand Emperor immediately began planning to go to the state of Chen. As a result, Gao Anagong unexpectedly conspired with the Zhou army, planning to capture the King of Qi alive. They kept sending messages claiming that the Zhou army was far away and had already burned the bridges, so the Grand Emperor kept stalling. Unexpectedly, the Zhou army suddenly arrived in Qingzhou. The Grand Emperor was frantic, preparing to flee to Chen State, even stuffing gold into saddlebags and bringing along Han Changluan, Shufei, and a dozen others, fleeing to Deng Village south of Qingzhou. They were soon captured by the Zhou general Wei Chi Gang and taken to Ye City. Emperor Wu of Zhou even followed them with a set of rituals of loyalty between ruler and subject, escorting the Grand Emperor, the young emperor, and other princes to Chang'an, and granted the title of Duke of Wenguoguo to the Grand Emperor.
In the seventh year of Jiande, Emperor Wu of Zhou falsely accused him of conspiring to rebel with the governor of Yizhou, Mutipo, and executed him along with dozens of others, regardless of their age. Few descendants of the Qi royal family remained. During the reign of Daxiang, Yang Xiuzhi, Chen Deshin, and others requested the Duke of Sui to grant the Grand Emperor a proper burial. The Duke of Sui agreed and laid him to rest by the Hongdu River in the northern plains of Chang'an.
The Emperor was bright and clever from a young age and even learned to write articles as he grew older. He established the Wenlin Pavilion, attracting many scholars. However, he had a stutter, lacked any grand ambitions, and did not like to meet court officials. Unless they were very close favored courtiers, he would not speak to them at all. He was weak-willed and couldn't handle others staring at him, becoming angry and throwing tantrums. When ministers came to report to him, even the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers avoided making eye contact and had to report the situation briefly before quickly leaving. In times of disaster, theft, drought, and other events, he didn't hold anyone responsible; instead, he focused on setting up altars for sacrifices, claiming it was for cultivating virtue. He was deeply superstitious and had a strong belief in sorcerers, trusting unreliable methods of prayer.
At the beginning, King Langya raised an army to rebel, and some mistakenly reported that it was She Di Fuyan who had rebelled. The emperor remarked, "It must be Renwei (King Langya)!" After the death of Huluguan, many military officials recommended Gao Sihao as the Grand Marshal, but the emperor claimed, "Gao Sihao is planning to rebel," and he was proven right. The emperor felt increasingly proud and indulgent, thinking he could predict everything. He even composed a piece titled "Wu Chou," playing the pipa and singing along with more than a hundred people. The common folk referred to him as the "Wu Chou Emperor." Once, he saw a group of troublemakers outside the palace, and he had them all executed, even skinning some to inspect. He appointed Lu Lingxuan, He Shikai, Gao Anagong, Mutipo, and Han Changluan to help govern the realm. Chen Dexin, Deng Changying, and He Hongzhen also participated in court affairs. These people formed their own factions, promoted their allies, and purchased official positions with bribes. The emperor's misrule and the suffering of the people were beyond counting. In the palace, there were over ten thousand slaves, eunuchs, merchants, foreigners, commoners, entertainers, and fortune tellers who struck it rich; more than a hundred commoners were elevated to kings, far too many to keep track of. Almost a thousand people held ministerial positions, and the number of Yitong Sansi officials was staggering. There were over twenty military leaders, and when reviewing memorials, they simply wrote "as per the directive," without names, so no one knew who approved them. The ancestors of those high-ranking officials could receive posthumous promotions each year until they reached the highest rank. All the palace maids could be elevated to the rank of county princesses, with more than five hundred maids adorned in gold and silver, living extravagantly. One dress required thousands of bolts of fabric, a dressing table valued at a fortune. They constantly competed with each other, wearing outfits one day and tossing them aside the next.
He inherited the luxurious lifestyle of Emperor Wucheng, feeling that this was the way an emperor should be, and he ramped up the construction of palaces, gardens, and hunting grounds, as well as military and literary platforms. In the palace, he built Mirror Hall, Treasure Hall, and the Jade Hall, all adorned with exquisite paintings and carvings, featuring the finest craftsmanship of the era. He also built twelve palaces in Jinyang, even more magnificent than those in Ye City. His favored concubines were always changing, sometimes in favor, other times cast aside, in a continuous cycle. They worked by firelight at night, using hot water and mud in winter, and the craftsmen worked tirelessly day and night. He had a massive Buddha statue carved into the western mountain of Jinyang, burning over ten thousand pots of oil in a single night, illuminating the entire palace. He also built the Great Mercy Temple for Hu Zhaoyi, but before it was completed, he changed it to the Great Baolin Temple for Empress Mu, exhausting all his creativity, moving mountains and filling seas, and costing countless lives of people and livestock. His horses were pampered with blankets and fed more than ten different types of food, and during mating, a green tent was set up with lavish food and wine, which he personally supervised. His dogs dined on rice and meat. Horses and falcons were given titles equivalent to high-ranking officials, such as the Red Leopard Yitong, the Carefree County Lord, and the Lingxiao County Lord, which the Gao Si's Book of Good Thoughts refers to. Dogs riding on horses even had cushions to sit on, and fighting cocks were also given the title of Kaifu. Dogs, horses, chickens, and falcons all ate grain from the county. When raising falcons, they were first fed with dog meat, and a few days later, the dogs died. He even built a "Poor Village," dressing in rags and pretending to be a beggar to get food, and he also built a "Poor People's Market," personally buying and selling goods. He built fortresses on the borders, had soldiers dress in black to impersonate Qiang soldiers, to intimidate them, and he would personally lead the eunuchs in resistance, sometimes even really bending bows and shooting arrows. He rode a single horse on an eastern tour from Jinyang, galloping so fast that he returned with his clothes in disarray and hair flying. He also liked to do useless things, once spending an entire night hunting for scorpions, only to find three liters by dawn. He especially liked things that were out of season, demanding them urgently, needing them today and having them delivered tomorrow, letting those in power exploit the situation and take advantage of the people. Taxes became heavier, and corvée labor increased, leading the people to the brink of survival and draining the national treasury. He permitted those corrupt officials to sell titles and positions, some obtaining two or three counties, others obtaining six or seven counties, distributing fiefs and counties, even the local official positions were secretly appointed by the emperor, hence the existence of "Imperial Appointments for County Registrars" and "Imperial Appointments for County Magistrates." As a result, the officials in the states and counties were all wealthy merchants and tycoons, each greedy and indulgent, making it tough for the people to get by. From Ye City to various states and counties, there were excessive levies and miscellaneous taxes everywhere. These corvée labor and taxes had started during the reign of Emperor Wucheng, but became even more severe under his rule. However, he wasn't as debauched and shameless as Emperor Wucheng, and in this area, he was a bit better.
In the beginning, towards the end of the Qinghe era, Emperor Wucheng dreamed that a huge hedgehog broke through the city of Ye, so he sought to gather all the fat in the country to block it. Those who were knowledgeable believed that the name of the later ruler was very similar to that of the hedgehog, foreshadowing the destruction of the Qi state. At that time, women shaved their heads and wore wigs, looking fierce, like soaring birds. If viewed from the south, the top of their hairdos pointed west. This trend started in the palace and spread throughout the country, as if heaven was signaling that the ruler's hair was cut off and danger was imminent, so they had to escape to the west. At that time, the knife blades were very thin, called "Jinshi." When children played games, they liked swinging a rope on the ground with both hands and jumping up while singing "Gaomo," which signifies the end of the Gao dynasty. Therefore, the fall of the Qi state was foretold.
Speaking of Emperor Wudi, he was elegant and extraordinary, talented in governing the country and military affairs. Both civil and military officials devoted themselves to him wholeheartedly, a true emperor in the making! Unfortunately, he favored those incompetent people excessively, entrusted them with the power of the court, and indulged in a lavish lifestyle, leading to excess. Isn't this a sign of destruction? Later, strange celestial events occurred, and he passed the throne to his crown prince. Although he changed the reign title, in reality, he still had the ultimate authority. It might have appeared prosperous on the surface, but it actually contradicted the ancestral traditions. He was very clever, but it was all too easy for him to deceive the people. And the kings of Henan, Hejian, and Leling were all killed under mysterious circumstances, some for minor offenses, others out of the emperor's suspicion. Can this really be called "understanding the will of heaven and following its path"?
As for the Crown Prince, who later became the emperor, he was indecisive and easily swayed by unscrupulous individuals. From childhood to adulthood, he received an education that was fundamentally misguided. From infancy to inheriting the throne, he was surrounded by unscrupulous individuals who cut off all avenues for virtue. The ideas he was exposed to from a young age were all unorthodox and corrupt. Coupled with the instigation from the empress and palace eunuchs, he indulged in carnal pleasures, reveling in luxury and wallowing in debauchery. As the saying goes, "easily corrupted." When Emperor Wu was alive, the situation had already deteriorated significantly; he rarely met with ministers, ignoring state affairs, and entrusted all matters to those unscrupulous individuals. The eunuchs in the palace held great power in court, issuing ruthless decrees, ambitious and oppressive, exploiting the people, insatiably greedy, selling positions and imprisoning for their own profit. Even worse, he heavily relied on generals who brought disaster to the nation, killing loyal ministers and generals, signaling the decline of the state, on the brink of collapse. Zhou Wu Emperor seized the opportunity and swiftly annihilated the state; alas, truly lamentable! The fall of tyrants like Jie and Zhou happened in the blink of an eye; this is simply the way of the world! Zheng Wenzhengong Wei Zheng summarized: The founding emperor of Qi established his dominance through exceptional talent and strategy; his son, Emperor Wenxiang, employed astute tactics to quell rebellions and bring distant territories under control. At that time, a new ruler immediately succeeded after the death of the sovereign, and military campaigns were conducted in accordance with the law. In the Battle of Heyin, he defeated Yuwen Hu with ease, as if flipping his hand; in the Battle of Guoyang, he eliminated Hou Jing effortlessly, as one would pull out dead grass. As a result, Qi was able to intimidate its western neighbors and gain renown in the south, ensuring stability for the royal family and bringing peace to the eastern Xia region.
Emperor Wenxuan inherited the legacy built by his ancestors during a time of peace and prosperity, and due to its strategic location, he moved the capital to Wei County. He was cunning and versatile, employed unexpected wisdom, gathered talented individuals, and had a keen insight into the situation, and both civil and military officials served him faithfully. He took command of the army at the frontier, dispatched generals to guard the Yangtze River, defeated the Chanyu at Longcheng, welcomed the Changjun into Liangguo, and the nation was stable both domestically and internationally, with no border conflicts. The northern tribes halted their incursions, and the Qin State dared not look east. However, later on, he indulged excessively and abandoned all restraint, and even when he performed good deeds, he could not escape death, leaving behind enough harm to impact future generations. He was fortunate to have died peacefully in old age; however, his descendants did not enjoy lasting glory and wealth, which was to be expected.
When Emperor Xiaozhao ascended the throne, the country was in a critical survival situation, and he adopted a strategy of first compliance and then resistance, promoting education abroad and planning major initiatives domestically, with the aim of strengthening his rule and unifying the nation. Unfortunately, he did not live long enough to realize his ambitions. If fate had granted him more time, both the Qin and Wu States would have been stretched thin. When Emperor Wucheng ascended the throne, the nation was in decline, and the legacies of Emperors Xiaozhao and Wenxiang had vanished. By the time of the last emperor, there was internal disunity and external moral decay; the army faced defeat at Pingyang, and he was captured in Qingtu. The ways of fate are profound and unpredictable, and perhaps hard to articulate; success or failure ultimately hinges on human actions, and this is certainly a topic worth exploring.
During the heyday of the Qi state, it controlled a vast territory, stretching from the Fen River and Jin River in the west, to the Yangtze River and Huai River in the south, to the eastern coast and the northern desert. Of the six states, Qi controlled five and four of the nine provinces. When comparing the strengths of both sides, as well as the gains and losses of the state treasury, there's no need to elaborate on the advantages and disadvantages of each side. However, the strategic terrains of the Taihang Mountains and the Great Wall still remain, as do those of the Yangtze and Fenjin rivers. The state treasury has not seen a decrease in taxes, and there is no lack of soldiers and military forces. However, while previous generations of rulers managed to maintain surplus resources, the later ruler struggled to retain these resources. What accounts for this?
In previous generations, the rulers of the country were diligent and benevolent, loved the people, provided relief to disaster victims, and administered rewards and punishments fairly. They enabled the people to live and work in peace, shared both joys and hardships with the people, and thus were able to live and die with them. However, the later ruler was quite different. He was solely focused on his own pleasures, harmed the interests of the people, and sought personal gain for himself. He built luxurious palaces, indulged himself day and night in wine and women, and the palace was filled with extravagance. The signs of debauchery in the harem were evident both inside and out. He completely ignored state affairs, believing he could have and do whatever he pleased. He turned a deaf ear to loyal advice while easily falling for slander. He treated the people as mere weeds, committing crimes with the same ease as breathing. Deceitful villains held power, palace maids and eunuchs manipulated the court, selling offices and practicing tyranny. Loyal and righteous individuals were persecuted, while the sycophants rose to power and wealth. The wicked gained power, laws were in name only, with over a hundred people urging him to drink, and more than one seeking favor by currying favor. As a result, the country collapsed amidst internal strife and external rebellion. Everyone wanted to escape from the country, but the ruler indulged even further in his extravagance, believing he could deceive the people and mask his crimes with a façade of virtue. He initiated a war doomed to fail, and the foundation built over five generations crumbled in a single day. Isn't it true that what is carved in stone is hard to erase, while it's all too easy to destroy what has decayed?
I have also heard: Heaven is impartial, only favoring those with virtue; good timing is less important than a favorable location, and a favorable location is less important than harmony among people. From the time of Heqing to the end of Wuping, the State of Qi continuously carried out infrastructure projects, continuously sought beautiful concubines, exhausted their taxes, depleted their manpower, and lacked material supplies, and even the rivers and seas could not quench their insatiable desires. It's like a fire that is already roaring, yet still demands more fuel; even as things reach their end, they continue to commit wrongs to accelerate their own destruction, hoping to prevent the building from burning down and delay its inevitable collapse. This shows that the downfall of the State of Qi was caused by human folly, not by fate.
