Gao Huan's son, who later became Emperor Wenxiang of the Later Zhao dynasty, Gao Cheng, styled Zihui. He was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, and his father Gao Huan held him in high regard. In the first year of the Xingyuan reign of Emperor Xiaowu of Wei, Gao Cheng was appointed Crown Prince of Bohai. He studied under Master Du Xun, showing exceptional learning abilities that impressed Du Xun greatly. The following year, Gao Cheng was appointed as Imperial Attendant and Grand Master of the Imperial Clan, and married Princess Fengyi of Xiaojing Emperor, who was only twelve years old at the time but looked mature for his age. Gao Huan once tested him on current affairs, and he was able to analyze them flawlessly, impressing all those present. From then on, Gao Cheng was involved in military and state affairs.
In the first year of the Tianping era, Gao Cheng was further appointed as Commissioner, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Grand Preceptor, and Governor of Bingzhou. Three years later, he entered the court to assist in political affairs and was appointed as Chief of the Left and Right, and Grand Commander of the Capital. Although people at the time had heard of his talents and knowledge, they still doubted his young age. However, his decisive and strict handling of political affairs earned him respect across all levels of society, and they began to take him seriously. In the first year of the Yuanxiang era, he acted as the Minister of Personnel. Following Cui Liang, the Wei dynasty's official selection had been based on age and experience, but Gao Cheng reformed this system to focus on ability. He also streamlined the ranks of the Masters of Writing, selecting outstanding talents to supplement it. Those with talent and reputation, he promoted and utilized; even those who had not yet reached high positions were invited to his home as guests, where they frequently engaged in leisure activities together, such as archery and poetry, showcasing their talents and enjoying each other's company.
In the second year of Xinghe, Gao Cheng was promoted to Grand General, serving as the Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat and continuing to act as the acting Minister of Personnel Affairs. Since the Zhengguang era, the realm has been in turmoil, and few officials remained incorruptible. Gao Cheng recommended the Assistant Minister of Personnel, Cui Xian, to serve as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate, to hold accountable those powerful and corrupt individuals without hesitation. As a result, the social atmosphere improved and instances of corruption and bribery decreased. He also wrote his governance strategies on proclamations that were posted in the streets, and encouraged everyone to speak their minds and offer criticism of the government. He was tolerant of those who dared to submit memorials criticizing the court.
In November 550 AD, Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) went on a campaign to the west, fell ill, and returned to the capital. Gao Yang (Emperor Wenxiang) hurried to the military camp to attend to him, and they returned to Jinyang together.
On the day of Bingwu in January 551 AD, Gao Huan passed away, but this news was kept under wraps initially. On the day of Xinhai in January, the Minister of Construction, Hou Jing, rebelled in Henan, and the Prefect of Yingzhou, Sima Shiyun, opened the city gates to defect to him. Hou Jing also deceived and captured the Prefects of Yuzhou, Gao Yuancheng, Xiangzhou, Li Mi, and Guangzhou, Bao Xian. The court sent the Minister of Works, Han Gui, to lead troops to quell the rebellion.
On the day of Renshen in April, Gao Yang traveled to Ye City to pay his respects to the Emperor. On the day of Jisi in June, Han Gui and his troops returned to the capital from Yingzhou. On the day of Dingchou in June, Gao Yang returned to Jinyang and officially announced Gao Huan's death to the public, communicating Gao Huan's last wishes to the civil and military officials. On the day of Wuxu in July, Emperor Xiaojing of Wei issued a decree appointing Gao Yang as the Grand Chancellor, Commander-in-chief of all military forces, Recorder of the Imperial Secretariat, Grand Chancellor, and Prince of Bohai. Gao Yang submitted a request to resign from his official positions and declined the title of prince. On the day of Rengyin in July, Emperor Xiaojing of Wei issued a decree appointing the Duke of Taiyuan, Yuan Qin, to handle state affairs, and sent envoys to persuade Gao Yang.
On the Wuchen day in August, Gao Yang once again submitted a petition, explaining Gao Huan's last wishes before his death, requesting a reduction in the land and titles awarded to generals and local officials, with the specific amounts varying. On the Xinwei day in August, Gao Yang went to Ye city to meet the emperor, once again firmly declining the position of prime minister. Emperor Xiaojing of Wei issued a decree saying, "You are relied upon by the court and the people; the safety of the nation relies on you alone. We can't let you have your way, so we must insist that you accept it. We will restore your former title as Grand General, while leaving other official positions unchanged."
Many believed that Hou Jing still harbored intentions of marching north, but he had not yet received orders from the court. Furthermore, Hou Jing's general Cai Zundao had returned north, claiming that Hou Jing had expressed regret over his actions. Gao Yang found this credible and believed he could persuade Hou Jing to surrender, so he decided to write a letter to Hou Jing.
The former king and I have experienced many ups and downs together, relying on each other as orphans and widows. I have always valued this friendship; this bond is like the warmth in the cold winter. Those who serve the country, even if they endure hardships like a lacquered surface, as long as they can have a meal, can play a huge role, let alone my favor is even greater. I have always wished to entrust my descendants to you, hoping that we can become friendly families like the Qin and Jin dynasties, as close as the Liu and Fan families. But I heard that some people appear grateful to you on the surface, but secretly calculating against you, not walking the path of loyal ministers, but falling into the realm of rebels. Your strength is insufficient, and you are in a precarious situation. You seek help from the Yuwen family and ask for assistance from the Xiao family, hesitating and indecisive. Going to the Qin country, the people of Qin will not accept you; returning to the Wu country, the people of Wu will not believe you. Those with ill intentions fabricate all kinds of lies, making you suspicious and at a loss. Your recent actions have been very obvious; everyone is suspicious of you, and you should also be aware of it. Your family is under the control of the officials; they think the Li family has not yet perished and say you can rebel. I, as an orphan and a widow, have brought trouble, and heaven has dealt punishment, but I act impartially and sent a small number of troops to attack, and soon Nan Yanzhou and Yangzhou were recaptured. I originally wanted to pursue the victory and occupy Xianhu, but considering the hot weather, I decided to wait for the right time and ordered the troops to return, and wait for the opportunity to act again. Now the cold winter is about to end, and the white dew is coming. We rely on the blessings of the country's gods, and heaven has dealt punishment. Our weapons are excellent, morale is high, and we are united inside and out. I have repeatedly urged everyone to brave any challenge. If the two armies face each other, the dust will fly, and the victory will be brilliant. Smart people will avoid danger; wise people will turn danger into safety. I would rather others wrong me than wrong others; we must take a righteous path, giving those who have lost their way a chance to repent. If you can put down your weapons and come to see me, I will grant you Yuzhou and let you enjoy your old age. Your subordinates, civil and military officials, I will not pursue; they can keep their official positions, even if they retire, they will not lose their reputation. Now Wang Sizheng and others are all lone generals; their lives are in your hands. If you can get rid of them, I think you still have the strength. I will promote you and let you defend the border forever. Your family can be free from worry; your wife and children, I will also return to you. We are still close. You cannot seal Hangu Pass to the east or call yourself a lone ruler to the south; you are under the control of others, and your reputation is in tatters. Obtaining land without defending it, gathering troops without making them strong, will only make you bear the reputation of a rebel, and your family will suffer disaster, and your descendants will be cut off; you will regret it. Living between heaven and earth, shouldn't you have a clear conscience? I shouldn't have sent someone to advise you today, but I heard Cai Zun say, "Situ never intended to return to the west; he regrets it very much in his heart." I don't know if this is true or false. Good and bad luck, you should carefully consider it.
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My hometown is in the countryside; I don't have much talent. Later on, I came out to serve the country, worked for more than twenty years, and experienced many dangers and difficulties. How could I have avoided the hardships of life? In the end, I also gained wealth and glory. But once war is declared, why is there a need to resist the north? Actually, it is because of fear of war and worrying about bringing disaster!
At the end of the year before last, the king fell ill, and even the heavens did not help; prayers were useless. As a result, those treacherous officials seized power, and those around him turned against him. My wife and children at home were also besieged. When I returned to Changshe, I wanted to explain the situation in person. Before I could write a letter, someone came to kill me. The two sides faced each other with flags, very close. I kept sending messages, hoping to express my loyalty. But those generals were very arrogant, completely ignoring me, waving their weapons, determined to kill me.
They dug open the walls and let the water in, leaving only three walls standing. Everyone looked at each other, feeling that their lives were about to end. I really didn't want to die, so I rushed out to fight on the battlefield, was captured by the Qin army, and sent to cede land. I had no desire to do that! Animals fear death, but people yearn for life. I actually have no guilt; what wrongs did Huan Gong and Zhuang Gong ever do? Besides, the king treated me like a brother before. We worked together with one heart for the court; although our status was different, we shared the same joys and sorrows. I have been a prime minister and a minister, just like geese flying in a straight line.
Wealth and glory are blessings from heaven, earned through hard work. It's ridiculous to think about ending one's life by swallowing charcoal! Moreover, stealing from others is theft, and taking the court's salary is still taking something. Although the strength of the Wei Kingdom may be weakening, the mandate of heaven has not changed. I accept the rewards and reside in my own estate. What is there to criticize? Mocking me for not being like Dong Feng Han Guan, who is under the control of others, is like instructing a wise minister to mourn for the Ji family.
A country without a ruler lacks proper rites and laws. If actions are not in accordance with the law, how can we educate the people? I discreetly shared my wealth to support orphans and widows, fulfilled my responsibilities before I passed away, and left my home to the orphans. Who says this is a bad thing? You also say my strength is not enough for self-preservation, and my situation is precarious, like a house of cards. However, millions ultimately quelled ten rebellions. Although King Zhou of Shang won many battles, he eventually perished. The Battle of Yingchuan is a lesson from the Shang Dynasty.
The significance of matters lies in the people, not in mere objects. As long as one is loyal and trustworthy, even the weak can become strong. Challenges can lead to wisdom and virtue. What is there to fear in times of danger? Moreover, the roads in the Liang Kingdom are clear and open, and the people live in peace and happiness. They use rituals to entice us and offer high positions and generous salaries to win us over. They aim to unify the Five Sacred Mountains, govern the Four Seas, eliminate filth, and save the common people.
Controlling Ou Yue to the east and Qianlong to the west, the Wu Yue army is strong with thousands of soldiers. The Qin army and warhorses have one hundred thousand archers. When a strong wind blows, the dead tree will topple. As soon as the frost descends, the fruits of autumn will wither. If we are seen as weak, then who can truly be strong? It's unfair to accuse me of trying to please both sides and putting me in a difficult position between two countries!
In the past, Chen Ping betrayed the Chu State and surrendered to the Han Dynasty, and thus became powerful; Bailixi betrayed the Yu State and surrendered to the Qin State, which then dominated the region. The foolishness or wisdom of a ruler depends on the monarch, and success or failure depends on the people. As long as you adhere to rituals and laws, the heavens will surely bless you! Your letter mentioned that our army is elite, and we should set a date to march together, exaggerate the situation, and must fight to the death. However, the weather during the Cold Dew and White Dew seasons is similar, with autumn winds stirring up dust and horses galloping. You are only aware of the struggles among the northern powers, but not the alliances in the southwest. Focusing solely on immediate gains will lead you into a trap.
Leaving danger behind and moving towards stability, I now pledge my loyalty to the court and have successfully escaped the trap. They may laugh at my foolishness, but I will return the favor and mock your ignorance. Now, leading the armies of two nations, you march north like fierce bears and tigers, bravely advancing to reclaim the Central Plains. Jingzhou, Xiangyang, Guangling, and Yingchuan have already surrendered to Guanzhong, and Xiangcheng and Huzi have surrendered to Jiangnan. These are all our own achievements. We do not need your help.
However, there is more than one way to approach this situation, and there are many paths to reason. For you, the most prudent solution is to cede territory and pursue peace. With the three kingdoms established, Yan, Wei, Zhao, and Jin can sustain themselves, and Qi, Cao, Song, and Lu will belong to Daliang. In this way, I can support the Southern Dynasty, maintain friendly relations in the north, facilitate trade, avoid war, establish extraordinary achievements, and you can fulfill your ancestors' legacy, defend your own territories, enjoy peace and prosperity, allowing the people to live in contentment. Everyone will be secure.
Is this better than driving farmers off their land to farm, fighting in a situation where you are surrounded by enemies on three sides, being in a dilemma during war, or dancing on the edge of a knife? Even if Jiang Taigong were a general, he might still fail to protect himself. To achieve great things, one must submit to a wise ruler. In your letter, you mentioned that my wife and children are with the official Sikou, trying to use this to blackmail me and hoping I will return. This just shows how narrow-minded and short-sighted you are. In the past, Wang Ling submitted to the Han Dynasty and did not return even when his mother was detained; the former emperor was imprisoned by the Chu state but still calmly begged for food. Why should I worry about just my wife and kids?
Even if killing me would benefit you, you can't stop it. Killing me does not harm you, yet you still want to harm my family. My family is in your hands, so what does that have to do with me? I've thought about what you said and see some truth in it, so I will restate my views and explain the pros and cons in detail. In the past, I had a good relationship with the alliance leader, like a well-tuned instrument, but it was ruined by evil people and turned into enmity. Touching the strings of the instrument, holding the bow and arrow, I cannot help but feel sad. As I tear the silk to write this letter, what more can I say?
Wang looked through a book and asked who wrote it. Someone said, "It was written by Wang Wei, the Chancellor of Works." Wang said, "If Wang Wei has such talent, why didn't I know about it before?"
Wang wanted to sow discord between Jingzhou and Liang, so he wrote a misleading letter to Jingzhou, claiming that Jingyang had rebelled and planned to conspire with the west. People in the west caught wind of it, so Jingzhou instead conspired with the south. He leaked this letter to Liang, but the folks in Liang didn’t buy it.
In the year of Ren Shen (壬申), the Emperor of Eastern Wei and the old king were hunting in the east of Ye City, riding their horses at great speed. The commander of the guards, Wu Naluo, called out from behind, "Your Majesty, don't ride so fast, the Grand General is angry!" The old king, who had been drinking with the Emperor before, raised a large wine cup and said, "I offer this drink to Your Majesty." The Emperor of Eastern Wei, displeased, said, "Throughout history, no country has not perished; what's the point of me living!" The old king, furious, shot back, "Me! Me! Nonsense me!" He had Cui Jishu hit the Emperor three times before storming off. A little while later, he sent Cui Jishu to apologize. The Emperor of Eastern Wei rewarded Cui Jishu with silk brocade, but Cui Jishu was hesitant to accept it right away, so he asked the old king what to do, and the old king told him to take a part. The Emperor of Eastern Wei then gave him four hundred horses, saying, "This counts as a part too!" Unable to take the humiliation anymore, the Emperor of Eastern Wei recited a poem from Xie Lingyun: "Han Wangzi fought, Qin Emperor Lu Lian was ashamed. Originally from the people of Jiang and Hai, loyal and righteous, touching gentlemen." He then broke down in tears.
In March of the year Xinhai, Old Wang traveled south to Liyang, crossed the Yellow River to Hulao, and returned to Jinyang via the Taihang Mountains from Luoyang. Along the way, he left letters for the hundred officials to encourage and caution one another. Everyone in the court and the common folks felt moved and solemn. He also ordered court officials and local governors to recommend virtuous and brave people who could defend the border towns, regardless of their occupation. In June, Old Wang inspected the northern border towns and garrisons, offering aid and rewards as necessary.
In July, Emperor Xiaowu of Wei, Yuan Xiu, returned to Jinyang. On the Xinmao day of July, the twenty-second, the emperor ran into bandits on the road and sadly lost his life when he was just twenty-nine. He was buried in Juncheng Mausoleum. Later, Gao Yang, the Emperor Wenxuan of Qi, took the throne by force and posthumously honored him as Emperor Wenxiang, with the temple name Shizong. At that time, there was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "A hundred-foot high pole breaks, the lamp goes out under the water." Those who understood believed it was a sign of the emperor's impending death.
A few days ago, Cui Jishu inexplicably recited lines from Bao Zhao's poem outside the Beigong Gate in front of many ministers: "The general has passed away, and his soldiers are seldom found." He read with a mournful and sorrowful tone, crying uncontrollably, leaving everyone present feeling bewildered. Earlier, Lan Jing, the son of General Lan Qin of the Liang Dynasty, was captured by Eastern Wei. Emperor Xiaowu of Wei assigned him to the imperial kitchen as a chef. Lan Qin requested to redeem his son, but the emperor refused. Lan Jing requested again, and the emperor ordered Xue Fengluo, the steward of the imperial kitchen, to beat him severely, saying, "If you ever plead again, I’ll have you killed!" Lan Jing and six of his accomplices then plotted a rebellion. At that time, the emperor was managing state affairs at Baitang, located on the eastern side of the northern city, because he favored Princess Langye and wanted her to have easy access in and out, so the palace guards were arranged outside. The court historian reported that the stars symbolizing the chancellors were weak and dim, indicating that there would be changes within a month. The emperor remarked, "That kid just got a beating from me a few days ago; he’s just trying to scare me!" He was preparing to abdicate the throne and was discussing with Chen Yuankang, Cui Jishu, and others about dismissing certain officials and appointing new ones.
Lanjing was about to bring the food in, but the emperor pushed it aside and told those around him, "I dreamt last night that this servant was going to kill me; he should be executed." Hearing this, Lanjing placed the knife on the plate and pretended to eat. The emperor shouted angrily, "I haven't asked for food yet; why are you so eager to bring it up?" Lanjing brandished the knife and declared, "I’m going to kill you!" The emperor was so frightened that he injured his foot and crawled under the bed. The rebels flipped the bed over and ended up killing him. There had been a rumor that went, "Soft hats, panting under the bed," and now it seems that this rumor has come true. At that time, Duke Taiyuan Gao Yang was in the Shuangtang in the east of the city. He entered the palace to quell the rebellion, dismembered Lanjing and the others, and coated their heads in paint. The news of the emperor's death was kept under wraps, and Gao Yang publicly announced, "The servants have rebelled; the general was slightly injured, but it’s nothing to worry about."
