In the "Five Elements Chronicles," it says: "Simplify ancestral sacrifices, do not pray for sacrifices, abolish sacrifices, violate the natural order, then water will not nourish the land downstream." This means that when water loses its essence, it can become a disaster. The book also says: "Hearing without listening is a failure to strive for progress. Severe transgressions will lead to prolonged punishment in the form of cold, ultimately leading to poverty. Sometimes, there are monsters and demons causing chaos, sometimes, there are fish plagues, sometimes, there are outbreaks of swine fever, sometimes, there are diseases affecting the ears, sometimes, there are ominous disasters and auspicious omens. Ultimately, all of this stems from the imbalance of water and fire." The "fish plague" mentioned in the text is explained by Liu Xin as disasters caused by pests like locusts.
In the sixth month of the fourth year of Emperor Wen of Wei, there was heavy rain. The Yi River and Luo River overflowed, flooding Luoyang's city gates. Thousands of households were swept away, and many lives were lost. When Emperor Wen ascended to the throne, he moved the capital from Ye City to Luoyang. He focused on building palaces but neglected to construct ancestral temples. The tablet honoring his father, the founding emperor, was still left in Ye City. He casually performed sacrifices at Jian Shi Palace and did not return to Ye City until the Huangchu era. The sites for sacrifices, including the Circular Mound Altar, Square Altar, Southern and Northern Suburbs, and the Altar of Land and Grain, were never formally established. This reflects the consequences of simplifying ancestral temples and neglecting sacrifices. As Jing Fang noted in the "Commentary on the Book of Changes": "Those who wield power oppressively know that retribution is inevitable. Such abuse will lead to punishment that cuts off all blessings, resulting in disasters like floods. These floods drown people, with rainwater, frost, fierce winds, and a yellowed sky. Even in times of hunger, disasters persist; this is termed 'Greatness'. Floods claim lives; those who escape disaster are virtuous, a state referred to as 'Madness'. Floods, water flows drown people; after floods, the ground breeds insects; merely locking up criminals fails to address the issue; this is termed 'Chasing the Untrue'. Floods, cold water drowns people; pursuing punishment alone does not resolve the issue; this is known as 'Neglect'. Floods, poor harvest of grains; even a major defeat fails to resolve the issue; this is termed 'All Yin'. Floods, floodwaters surge into cities, frost descends, and crops perish."
Sun Quan of the Wu Kingdom, in the summer of the eighth year of the Chiwu era, a flood struck Chaling County, sweeping away over two hundred households; in the autumn of the thirteenth year, a major flood occurred in Danyang County and other counties. After thirty years as emperor, Sun Quan had failed to establish seven ancestral temples in Jianye, with the ancestral rituals left unperformed. During the Jiahe period, ministers requested to follow the late emperor's sacrificial rites, but Sun Quan did not agree. Although he performed a southern suburban sacrificial rite in his later years, there was no record of any northern suburban sacrifices. Moreover, he did not perform worship at the renowned mountains and rivers of the Wu and Chu regions, including the Three Rivers of the Yangtze, the Five Lakes of Taihu, Hengshan, Huoshan, and Mount Kuaiji; instead, he offered sacrifices to the demon god of Luoyang in hopes of protection. It seemed as though heaven was punishing Sun Quan for neglecting ancestral worship and sacrifices, trying to make him realize his mistake.
In the year 276 AD, strong winds and floods struck once more, with strange occurrences happening one after another! That winter, Sun Hao went to perform a southern suburban sacrifice, pondering whether heaven was sending him a warning. After the sacrifice, he fell ill and died the following April. Some believe Sun Hao placed too much trust in informants, and despite Lu Kai's significant contributions and the secure position of his son Sun He, he still met a tragic end. This mirrors the case of Emperor An of Han, who believed slander and dismissed Yang Zhen, resulting in the crown prince's downfall. Furthermore, during the Chiwu period (Sun Hao's reign), there were almost annual wars, leading to widespread discontent among the populace. In the autumn of the eighth year, General Ma Mao and others staged a rebellion.
In September of the year 238 AD, during the reign of Wei Ming Emperor Cao Rui, it rained excessively. Ji, Yan, Xu, and Yu provinces were all flooded, and many people drowned, losing all their possessions. Since ascending the throne, Cao Rui lived a life of luxury and debauchery, seizing young women, even taking the wives of ministers, indulging in extravagant construction projects, neglecting agriculture and military affairs, indulging in lust, and his behavior only worsened. His decrees disregarded the agricultural calendar, causing people to starve, and he even increased corvee labor. The flooding was divine retribution for his failure to manage water disasters.
In the summer of the year 250 AD, during the reign of Sun Liang of Wu, there was a flood. Sun Liang ruled for four years before building a temple for his father, Sun Quan. Even after Wu's fall, they failed to bestow posthumous titles or properly honor their ancestors, disrupting the proper order of ancestral worship. Sun Liang, Sun Xiu, and Sun Hao even abolished the suburban sacrifices twice, neglecting the worship of gods. This was the consequence of their disrespect for ancestral temples and neglecting the worship of gods. At that time, Sun Jun held power, a sign of decline.
In May of the year 263 AD, during the reign of Sun Xiu of Wu, heavy rain caused springs to gush out. Despite significant efforts to repair Pu Li Tang in previous years, it led to a loss of manpower and resources, failed harvests, soldier casualties and desertions, which even led to internal conflicts and widespread grievances among the people, all attributed to an excess of Yin energy. Sun Xiu favored Zhang Bu while alienating Sheng Chong and others, a sign that the people of Wu were on the brink of rebellion. On the day of August in the year 264 AD, heavy rain poured down again, accompanied by thunder and lightning, causing springs to gush forth once more.
In September of the fourth year of Emperor Wu of Jin's Taishi reign, the four provinces of Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou suffered from severe flooding. In June of the seventh year, heavy rains caused floods in the Yellow River, Luo River, Yi River, and Qin River, leading to the deaths of over two hundred people. After ascending to the throne, the emperor did not bestow posthumous titles upon his ancestors. In the second year of Taishi, he also abolished the seats of the Five Emperors at the Mingtang in the southern suburbs, renaming them all to the Supreme Emperor of the High Heavens, consolidating them into a single seat. He also streamlined the rituals for worshipping the deities of heaven and earth. This mirrored the practices of Emperor Cheng of Han, both sought to simplify ancestral temples and minimize sacrificial activities. Up until this year, Yao Lanni and Bai Hu Wen Qinliang had killed Governor Hu Lie and Qian Hong, and then sent Tian Zhang to attack Yao Lanni. Simultaneously, Sima Wang led a large army to defend against Sun Hao of the Wu Kingdom to the north of the Huai River. There were wars both inside and outside the country, and famine in the western regions, leading to widespread discontent among the populace. Alas, this is all a result of the prevailing negative influences! It wasn't until the early years of Xianning that posthumous titles were finally conferred upon the ancestors; and in the early years of Taixi, the seats of the Five Emperors were reinstated.
In the first year of Emperor Wu of Jin's Xianning era, in the ninth month, there was a flood in Xuzhou. In the second year, in the seventh month on the Guihai day, there was a sudden flood in Weinan, Henan, resulting in over a hundred deaths. In the eighth month, Jingzhou's counties also faced major floods, submerging several areas. Last year, during the selection of concubines, all the virtuous young women had to show up at the palace, where the emperor personally selected them based solely on their beauty, regardless of their character. Those who hid and did not participate in the selection faced punishment for disrespect. Officials and nobles were all worried, and people criticized this matter, seeing it as a sign of an excess of yin energy. In the third year of Xianning, in the sixth month, eight locations in Yizhou and Liangzhou experienced major floods, leading to over three hundred deaths. In the seventh month, there was a flood in Jingzhou; in the ninth month, there was a flood in Shiping commandery; and in the tenth month, seven provinces including Qingzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou all experienced major floods. At that time, powerful officials like Jia Chong were growing increasingly oppressive, while honest individuals were being marginalized. In the fourth year of Xianning, in the seventh month, more than twenty locations across Sizhou, Jizhou, Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou saw major floods. In the year 281 AD, in the second year of Emperor Wu of Jin's Taikang era, in the sixth month, there were floods in Taishan and Jiangxia. The Taishan flood submerged over three hundred households and claimed over six thousand lives, and there were also casualties in Jiangxia. At that time, shortly after the pacification of the Wu kingdom, Wang Jun faced unfair criticism despite his significant contributions, while Xun and Jia, who had contributed little, received generous rewards. Five thousand women were also abducted from the Wu kingdom and sent to the harem. This might have been a warning from above.
In July of 284 AD, twenty provinces and prefectures, such as Sizhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Jingzhou, and Yangzhou, were hit by severe floods, resulting in severe crop damage, collapsed homes, and numerous fatalities. In March of 286 AD, fifteen states and counties, including Qingzhou, Liangzhou, Youzhou, and Jizhou, were struck by flooding. In September of 287 AD, eight states and counties in the western regions, including Anding, also suffered from major floods. In June of 288 AD, another eight states and counties were hit by flooding. The relentless floods have inflicted unbearable suffering on the common people.
In the second year of Emperor Hui of Jin, also known as 292 AD, a flood also occurred. In May of 295 AD, the Yingchuan and Huainan regions were hit by severe floods; in June, the Chengyang and Dongguan regions were struck by severe flooding, resulting in many deaths; and five states, including Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Yuzhou, were also affected by flooding. At this point, Emperor Hui had reigned for five years, but had yet to conduct a grand ancestral worship ceremony, nor had he personally participated in many of the ancestor worship rituals. He streamlined the ancestral worship ceremonies and even abolished some of the penalties for worship. Ban Gu once said: "When an emperor takes the throne, he must worship the heavens, the earth, and the mountains and rivers. If he disrespects the spirits and goes against the will of heaven with his policies, disasters such as heavy fog, storms, and floods will occur; rivers will overflow, wreaking havoc on cities and villages, drowning countless people, and water will lose its function of nourishing all things."
In May 296 AD, there were floods in Jingzhou and Yangzhou again. According to Dong Zhongshu, the floods were a sign of excessive yin energy. During this time, Empress Jia misused her power by favoring the Jia and Guo families. These floods were likely a warning from heaven about Empress Jia's tyranny. In May 298 AD, the well water in Jinyong City overflowed. A similar strange event occurred during Emperor Cheng of Han's reign, and Ban Gu believed it was a sign of Wang Mang's usurpation. Later, when Zhao Lun usurped the throne, this omen came true. Zhao Lun deposed Emperor Hui, and in Jinyong City, the well water overflowed, truly a sign from heaven! In September 298 AD, floods occurred in five provinces including Jingzhou, Yangzhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, and Jizhou. During this time, Empress Jia grew increasingly tyrannical, and Han Mi became more arrogant, ultimately leading to the death of the Crown Prince, followed by the extermination of their family shortly thereafter. In April 299 AD, the palace well water boiled over. In July 300 AD, floods occurred in the Nanyang and Donghai regions. At that time, Prince Qi Jiong held all the power, another sign of excessive yin energy. In July 301 AD, floods occurred in four provinces including Yanzhou, Yuzhou, Xuzhou, and Jizhou. Court officials were embroiled in power struggles, showing no interest in assisting the emperor. In April 310 AD, floods occurred in the Jiangdong region. At that time, Wang Dao and others were secretly planning to enthrone a new ruler, a sign of excessive yin energy. In June 327 AD, there were floods again. At this point, Wang Dun was already plotting rebellion, acting arrogantly and with contempt, and was ultimately put to death. In July 328 AD, floods occurred again. The following year saw the Battle of Stone City. In May 329 AD, floods occurred in Jingzhou, as well as Danyang, Xuancheng, Wuxing, and Shouchun. In May 329 AD, floods occurred in Danyang, Xuancheng, Wuxing, and Shouyang. At that time, Wang Dun persecuted loyal officials; his power was overwhelming, but he was eventually executed.
In May of the year 344 AD, there was a great flood. At that time, the emperor was still young, and the empress dowager was in charge of the government. Yu Liang, with his royal connections and good reputation, handled political affairs in the palace. This was a sign of a decline of yin over yang! On the day of Wuzi in May of 344 AD, the capital also suffered a major flood. That winter, Su Jun rebelled, causing chaos in the capital. In July of 347 AD, areas such as Danyang, Xuancheng, Wuxing, and Kuaiji also experienced major floods. That winter, Guo Mo rebelled, and the armies of Jingzhou and Yuzhou joined forces to quell his rebellion, taking six months to pacify the unrest. In May of 347 AD, there was once again a major flood. At that time, the young and frail emperor was under the regency of the empress dowager, with the power of the court in the hands of the ministers. Again, a sign of a decline!
In August of the year 345 AD, Changsha and Wuling regions experienced major floods. In March of that year, Shi Hu's cavalry reached Liyang, and in April, they besieged Xiangyang. The court then appointed Wang Dao as Grand Marshal, allowing him to recruit troops; and sent Zhao Yin, Lu Yong, Liu Shi, Wang Yunzhi, and Chen Guang as five generals to lead their respective armies to guard various regions. The people were in despair, and life was unbearable—yet another sign of excessive Yin!
In May of the year 350 AD, there was a major flood. At that time, the young and frail emperor was under the regency of the empress dowager; and the generals and ministers in the court were all vying for power, similar to the situation in the early years of Xianhe. In May of 351 AD, there was once again a major flood. In May of 352 AD, there was a major flood. On the night of Jia Chen in July of 353 AD, a flood rushed into Shitoucheng, causing the death of several hundred people. Last year, Yin Hao dismissed Cai Mo due to personal grievances, but both the court and the people disapproved. Moreover, with the young emperor in power, Yin Hao and Huan Wen found themselves at odds with each other, recruiting soldiers and horses, each vying for power— all indicators of a decline! Some also say that the flood rushing into Shitoucheng was a sign that there would be unrest in Jiangyou region. After that, generals such as Yin Hao, Huan Wen, Xie Shang, and Xun Xian fought continuously for many years.
In May of the year 358 AD, there was another major flood. At that time, Huan Wen wielded significant power in the court, and warfare had become his daily routine. By April of the year 360 AD, there was another major flood.
In June of the year 366 AD, Kyoto experienced a major flood, with water several feet deep on the flat ground; even the Imperial Ancestral Temple was flooded. The ropes on the Zhuque waterway snapped, causing three boats to rush directly into the Yangtze River. The counties of Danyang, Jinling, Wugu, Wuxing, and Linhai also experienced major flooding, with all the rice fields flooded, leaving the common people starving. Four years prior to this, Huan Wen suffered significant defeats in a failed northern campaign; five years later, he went to conquer Huainan and only succeeded after more than a year of fighting. The people were grumbling, and there were reasons for their discontent.
On the Renwu day of December in 376 AD, floodwaters rushed into the Stone City. The following year, a bandit named Lu Song led hundreds of people into the imperial palace, plundering weapons from three armories, but was eventually subdued by General Mao An.
In June 378 AD, there was a major flood. At that time, Emperor Xiaowu was still young, and the court was in the hands of the ministers. In 380 AD, there was another major flood. The year before, the Di tribe captured Xiangyang and even reached Guangling. The court was forced to relocate the common people living along the Yangtze and Huai Rivers to the south. People from three provinces were left unemployed, and there were starving individuals everywhere. Although Xie Xuan managed to defeat the rebels, the fighting continued. The people were full of grievances, and justifiably so. In June 381 AD, three provinces—Jingzhou, Jiangzhou, and Yangzhou—experienced major floods. In the summer of 385 AD, there was another major flood. In 383 AD, Fu Jian was defeated, and since then, the court has been constantly fighting in the central plains, with endless conscription and warfare. The people were full of grievances, and justifiably so. In December 388 AD, floodwaters from the Taosu River surged into Shitoucheng. The following year, the Dingling and Xianbei tribes invaded Sizhou and Yanzhou, leaving the west and north in turmoil. In July 390 AD, Yanzhou experienced a major flood. At that time, conflicts in the river regions were ongoing, frequent warfare, and the people were overburdened. On the Jia Yin day of June in 392 AD, floodwaters from the Taosu River surged into Shitoucheng again, destroying the main waterway, sweeping away boats and causing many deaths. Floodwaters also surged into Jingkou Xipu, causing casualties. The tidal surge in Yongjia County rose dramatically, resulting in numerous fatalities across four coastal counties. Four years later, the emperor passed away, and Wang Gong came to attack the capital, where substantial troops were mobilized for defense. In July 394 AD, Jingzhou and Pengcheng experienced major floods, leading to widespread crop destruction. In 395 AD, Jingzhou and Pengcheng experienced major floods again. On the Geng Mao day of May in 396 AD, there was another major flood. At that time, the court was rife with corruption, and the common people were deeply dissatisfied.
In the year 400 AD, in May, there was a major flood in Jingzhou; it was truly catastrophic! Just like the previous year, Yin Zhongkan led his troops to attack the capital, and this spring he killed Chi Hui. This seems to exemplify the principle of "Yin flourishing and Yang declining"! However, Yin Zhongkan also ended up failing and facing a grim fate. In the year 402 AD, in May, there was another major flood! At that time, Sima Yuanxian was showing off his power in the capital, Huan Xuan was dominating the west, and Sun En was causing trouble in the east; it was like a replay of "Yin flourishing and Yang declining"!
In December of the year 404 AD, Huan Xuan seized the throne and became emperor. In the second month of the following year, on a night in February, the Yangtze River surged, directly flooding into Shitoucheng (modern-day Nanjing). At that time, the envoys and merchants delivering tributes, along with thousands of boats, were swept away. Ships were destroyed and people perished, with bodies everywhere, a sight too horrific to endure! Although the Yangtze River frequently experienced flooding along its banks, it had never been this severe! In March, the rebels captured the capital, Huan Xuan fled, and eventually his whole family was wiped out. On the first night of February in 405 AD, the Yangtze River flooded into Shitoucheng once more, drowning many people and destroying many boats.
In December of 406 AD, the Yangtze River flooded into Shitoucheng once more! In December of 407 AD, on the same day, the Yangtze River flooded into Shitoucheng again! The following year, Luo Huan's father, Luo Huan, secretly conspired with Huan Yin, Yin Zhongwen, and others to rebel, and Liu Zhi also planned a rebellion, resulting in the downfall of many families. In May of 408 AD, there was a major flood! In December of 409 AD, the Yangtze River flooded into Shitoucheng once more! The following year, the army marched north to suppress the Xianbei. In May of 411 AD, there was a major flood! On the day of Yi Chou later that year, Lu Xun arrived at Cai Zhou. In June of 413 AD, there was a major flood! In May of 414 AD, there was a major flood! In May of 415 AD, there was a major flood! On the day of Wu Yin, the ground collapsed at Ximing Gate, gushing out a large amount of water, breaking the city gate and threshold! In July, a strong wind blew in the northern Huai region, causing a flood and leading to numerous fatalities. In July of 416 AD, there was a major flood, submerging the Imperial Ancestral Temple, and all officials went to rescue the victims. The following year, the army advanced north to quell the enemies in Guanzhong and along the Yellow River.
In June of the fifth year of Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, there was a major flood in the city of Nanjing. Two years later, General Dao Yan led troops to manage the Yellow River. In May of the eleventh year of Yuanjia, the city of Nanjing experienced another major flood. In the thirteenth year of Yuanjia, General Tan Daoji was killed. In June of the twelfth year of Yuanjia, the five counties of Danyang, Huainan, Wu, Wuxing, and Yixing all experienced major floods, and the people in Nanjing had no choice but to travel by boat. In May of the eighteenth year of Yuanjia, the Yangtze River rose dramatically, flooding many homes and destroying crops. The following year, General Pei Fangming led troops from Yongzhou and Liangzhou to attack Chouchi. In the nineteenth and twentieth years of Yuanjia, several counties in the east experienced major floods. In May of the twenty-ninth year of Yuanjia, the city of Nanjing experienced another major flood.
In August of the first year of Emperor Xiaojian of the Song Dynasty, Kuaiji County experienced a massive flood, with the flat land being submerged eight feet deep! Two years later, northern minority tribes invaded Qingzhou and Jizhou, and the court sent the Imperial Guards to fight. In May of the first year of the Daming era under Emperor Dawu, Wuxing and Yixing counties experienced major floods. In August of the fourth year of Daming, Yongzhou experienced a major flood. That year, South Xuzhou and South Yanzhou also experienced major floods.
In June of the first year of Emperor Yuanhui of the Song Dynasty, Shouyang experienced a major flood.
In July of the first year of Emperor Shundi's reign, Yongzhou experienced a major flood, which was even worse than the floods during Guan Yu's time in Fancheng! In the second month of Shengming, overnight in Yiyi Mountain in Yuan County, fifty-two locations suddenly flooded, destroying many houses and submerging the city's residents. On the first day of July, the flood surged into Shitou City (Nanjing), submerging the city's residents.
The constant cold of the common people, Liu Xin believes that "heavy rain and snow, or even snow falling before the season, or large hail, frost freezes all the crops to death; these are all punishments brought by the constant cold." Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "When a person of virtue encounters danger, this is called violating the mandate of heaven, and abnormal cold will appear. The punishment is too heavy; when it should be hot, it is very cold, lasting for six days, and hail will fall. When bad people should be punished but are not punished, this is referred to as harboring bandits, and it will be cold for seventy-two days, freezing the birds. When honest people begin to depart, it signifies suffering; the cold will kill plants without frost, and floods will emerge. Fighting beyond one's capability is called insulting the mandate of heaven; although it rains in the cold, the crops do not grow well."
On the first day of September in the third year of Jiahe, a frost occurred, and the crops were damaged. Liu Xiang said: "Killing ministers is not decided by the monarch himself, but by the officials." At that time, the chief official Lu Yi of Wu Kingdom was arrogant and domineering, similar to the situation of Shi Xian during the reign of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty, which led to the frost. The book of Ban Gu recorded that it was on the second day of September, while Chen Shou said it was the first day; regardless, frost should not harm crops. Later, Lu Yi was also punished. The "Book of Changes" by Jing Fang stated: "Raising troops to kill indiscriminately is a violation of the law; disasters are frost, which damages millet in summer and wheat in winter. Killing without asking for reasons is not righteous; before summer, frost will have thunder and strong winds, before winter, it will rain, and then frost will fall, and the frost will be sharp-edged. When virtuous people encounter difficulties, frost will adhere to the trees and not fall to the ground; evil people rely on the law, which is evil, and frost will appear in the grass roots and soil cracks; executing without proper education is an act of tyranny, and frost will appear underground."
In July of the fourth year of Jiahe, there was hail and frost. Liu Xiang said: "Hail is caused by the oppression of Yin energy on Yang energy." At that time, Lv Yi held power, engaged in defamation of important officials, framed the innocent, and harmed everyone from the crown prince downwards. However, he was instead ennobled and received favor. This is similar to the situation in the "Spring and Autumn Annals," where the prince's tyranny led to natural disasters like rain and hail. Emperor An of Han believed malicious gossip, executed innocent people without distinction, and also experienced hail. Dong Zhongshu said: "Whenever there is hail, it is because someone holds power and enacts tyranny."
In the fourth year of Chiwu during Sun Quan's reign, in January, there was a heavy snowfall, with snow three feet deep on the ground, causing many birds and animals to freeze to death. That summer, General Quan Cong and three other generals attacked Huainan and Xiangyang, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand men. Later, Sun Quan believed slander and harshly criticized Lu Yi, who died in a fit of rage. This is similar to the situation of heavy snowfall during the reigns of Emperor Jing and Emperor Wu of Han. In the eleventh year of Chiwu, in April, there was hail. At that time, Sun Quan believed slander and wanted to depose the crown prince. Later, Zhu Ju and Qu Huang were demoted for disobeying Sun Quan's wishes, Chen Xiang was exterminated for offering honest advice, and the crown prince was eventually deposed. This signals peril and an overzealous punishment of the virtuous.
In the sixth year of Taishi during Emperor Wu of Jin's reign, there was a heavy snowfall in winter; in the seventh year of Taishi, in December, there was another heavy snowfall. The following year, Bu Chan and Yang Zhao were defeated in battle, with heavy casualties. In the ninth year of Taishi, in April, there was frost. At that time, Jia Chong's close followers held power, similar to the situation of frost during the reigns of Duke Ding of Lu and Emperor Yuan of Han.
In August of the year 277 AD, the crops in Pingyuan, Anping, Shangdang, and Qinquan were destroyed by frost, leading to a complete loss of harvest! Also in August of the year 277 AD, a violent storm and hail struck the Hejian region, causing the crops in several counties to be destroyed, leading to significant losses. Shortly after, the court dispatched troops to attack Wu, and General Ma Long led crack troops to suppress the rebellion in Liangzhou.
On May 16th, 279 AD, hail fell in Julu and Wei counties, damaging the crops of wheat and barley and other crops; on the 19th, hail also fell on the Yanmen Pass, devastating the autumn crops. On June 10th, 279 AD, hail fell in several places including Jizhou, Guangping, Chenliu, and Xingyang; on the 14th, another hailstorm hit, this time severely damaging over 1,300 hectares of autumn wheat harvest and destroying over 130 houses; on the 17th, hail fell in the Anding area; on July 2nd, Wei county was hit by hail again; on the 28th of the intercalary month, hail fell in the Xinxing area; on August 10th, hail fell in the Hedong and Hongnong areas, destroying all three types of bean crops harvested in autumn.
In March 280 AD, frost and hail fell in the Shanxi Hedong and Gaoping areas, causing damage to mulberry trees and wheat. In April, rain and hail fell in Henan, Hebei, Shanxi Hedong, Wei county, and Hongnong areas, damaging wheat and beans. In May, rain and hail hit Shandong Dongping, Pingyang, Shangdang, Yanmen, and Jinan areas, resulting in no harvest for rice, wheat, and various types of beans.
On Gengwu day in April 280 AD, we can find the exact date by checking the almanac; several counties in the capital region, including Dongping and Fanyang, experienced rain and hail; on the day of Guiyou, several counties in the capital region once again encountered rain and hail. At that time, Wang Jun made great achievements, but powerful court officials were vying for power, and the emperor hesitated to make a decision, which truly reflects the saying "when yin prevails, yang declines"!
In the year 281 AD, on the day of Xinyou in the second month, frost fell in the Jinan and Langya regions, which damaged the wheat; on the day of Renshen, it rained and snowed in Langya again, causing further damage to the wheat; on the day of Jiawu in the third month, frost fell in the Hedong region, damaging the mulberry trees. On Bingxu day in May 281 AD, the wheat in the Chengyang, Zhangwu, and Langya regions was affected; on the day of Gengyin, rain and hail fell in Shanxi Hedong, Lean, Shandong Dongping, Jiyin, Hongnong, Puyang, Qiguo, Dunqiu, Weijun, Hebei Henan, Jiji, and Shangdang regions, which destroyed all crops. In June of the year 281 AD, sixteen counties were struck by rain and hail. In December of the year 282 AD, there was heavy snowfall.
In July 284 AD, on Yimao day, rain and hail fell in Zhongshan and Dongping regions, destroying all the autumn crops; on Jiachen day in July, rain and hail fell in Zhongshan again; in September, there was heavy snowfall in the Nan'an region, causing trees to break. In February of the year 285 AD, frost fell in Donghai, which damaged the mulberry trees and wheat. On Wuchen day in March of the year 285 AD, frost fell in four counties including Linzi in Qijun, eight counties including Liangzou in Lean, eight counties including Linyi in Langya, six counties including Yicheng in Hejian, and four counties including Beixincheng in Gaoyang, damaging the mulberry trees and wheat. In June of the year 285 AD, rain and hail fell in the Xingyang, Jiji, and Yanmen regions. In April of the year 287 AD, frost fell in the Qiguo and Tianshui regions; in December, there was heavy snowfall. In January of the year 288 AD, a strong wind swept through the capital region, followed by rain and hail, leading to the collapse of houses and uprooting of trees; in April, frost fell in Longxi region. In April of the year 289 AD, frost was recorded in eight counties.
In August of the year 292 AD, hail fell in Peixian and Tangyin counties; the hail was incredibly fierce! By April of the year 293 AD, Xingyang was also affected, with hail falling; Hongnong Lake and Huayin were even worse, with hail measuring up to three feet thick! At that time, Empress Jia was arrogant and lawless, just as bad as Lady Lu Huan described in the "Spring and Autumn Annals," which was all attributed to excessive yin energy!
In June of the year 295 AD, there was hail in the East Sea region, with hailstones five inches in diameter; in December, there was hail in Danyang as well. To make matters worse, Danyang Jianye also saw a heavy snowfall that December! By March of the year 296 AD, there was even frost in the East Sea region, killing all the crops, including mulberry trees and wheat. In May of the year 297 AD, Lu State experienced hail; in July, both Qinzhou and Yongzhou experienced frost, killing all the crops. On March 18th of the year 299 AD, there was frost in Henan, Xingyang, and Yingchuan, causing serious damage to rice crops; in May, there was also hail. At this time, Empress Jia became even more brazen and tyrannical, and in winter, Emperor Hui finally deposed her.
In July of the year 299 AD, there was hail in Xiangcheng. At that time, Prince Qi Jiong held all power. In October, Xiangcheng, Henan, Gaoping, and Pingyang were struck by hailstorms, breaking trees and destroying crops. On the first day of the eighth lunar month of the year 300 AD, there was hail and snow. Liu Xiang once said: "Hail during hot weather is due to excessive Yin energy; snow during cold weather is due to weak Yang energy." Snow at this time is not a good sign, suggesting the ineptitude of those in power!
In December of the year 307 AD, snow fell three feet deep, blanketing the ground! In October of the year 313 AD, there was another heavy snowfall.
In November of the year 314 AD, there was a thunderstorm in Kuaiji region, with lightning and thunder. In the evening, red light appeared in the northwest direction. That night, there was both thunderstorm and lightning. The next day, it snowed heavily! Liu Xiang once said: "Thunder usually starts in February and ends in August." Thunder and lightning in this month suggest that Yang energy is out of balance. After the thunder and lightning, heavy snow fell the next day; all of these are abnormal occurrences! At that time, Liu Yao declared himself emperor in Pingyang, Li Xiong declared himself emperor in Shu, the world was divided, and the Western Capital (Chang'an) was isolated, truly a sign of the king's loss of virtue!
In March of the year 318 AD, Chengdu was hit by hail, causing deaths. In March of the year 319 AD, Haiyan County experienced hail. At this time, Wang Dun was conspiring to rebel.
In December of the year 320 AD, there was a heavy snowfall in the provinces of Youzhou, Jizhou, and Bingzhou. In December of the year 323 AD, there was another heavy snowfall in the same provinces. On April 4, 324 AD, the capital experienced a hailstorm, freezing even sparrows and swallows to death. On March 3, 325 AD, there was hail again; on March 9, there was frost; and in April, there was another hailstorm. That same year, Emperor Jin Ming passed away, which led to the outbreak of the Su Jun Rebellion. In March 346 AD, there was hail. At that time, Emperor Jin Cheng was still a child, and the ministers held the political power. In August 349 AD, it snowed in Chengdu, and on that day, Li Xiong passed away. On January 1, 348 AD, hail fell the night after the Empress conducted a ritual at the ancestral temple. In August 350 AD, there was another heavy snowfall. At that time, the political power was in the hands of the military generals, and there was a strong undercurrent of negativity, echoing the dominance of Jisun Su during Duke Zhao of Lu's era, as noted in the "Spring and Autumn Annals." Liu Xiang said: "Rain represents yin energy, and snow is the epitome of yin within yin energy. If these phenomena appear at unusual times, they signal that something bad is likely to happen."
In August of the year 357 AD, there was a heavy snowfall in Jizhou Province, resulting in the deaths of many people and horses. In June of the year 359 AD, there was a violent thunderstorm in Linzhang, with hailstones the size of steamed buns. In May of the year 364 AD, there was snowfall in Liangzhou. In the following year, in August, General Zhang Guo, along with Zong Hun and others, attacked and defeated Zhang Zuo, and installed Zhang Xuanliang, the younger brother of Zhang Yaoling, as the new leader. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" states: "Summer snow signals that subjects may rebel." In April of the year 365 AD, it snowed on the day of Ren Shen; thunder was heard on the day of Wu Wu in December; thunder was heard again on the day of Ji Wei. At that time, Jin's Emperor Mu was still a child, and the Empress Dowager held power, with court affairs in the hands of the ministers. "In the third year of the Yonghe reign, in August, there was heavy snow in Jifang, and many people and horses froze to death. In the fifth year of the Yonghe reign, in June, Linzhang was hit by a violent thunderstorm, with hailstones the size of steamed buns. In the tenth year of the Yonghe reign, in May, there was snowfall in Liangzhou. In the following year, in August, General Zhang Guo led Zong Hun and others to attack and defeat Zhang Zuo, and installed Zhang Xuanliang, the younger brother of Zhang Yaoling. Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" states: "Summer snow warns of subjects causing chaos." In the eleventh year of the Yonghe reign, in April on the day of Ren Shen, it snowed; in December on the day of Wu Wu, there was thunder; on the day of Ji Wei, there was thunder. At that time, the emperor was young, the Empress Dowager held power, and the government was controlled by the ministers. In January of the second year of the Shengping reign, heavy snow fell."
In the year 366 AD, on the Jiyou day in April, there was hail; in December, there was a heavy snowfall. At that time, Emperor Xiaowu of Jin was still young, and political power was in the hands of the generals. "In the second year of Taiyuan in April of Jiyou, there was rain and hail; in December, there was heavy snow. At that time, the emperor was young and weak, and the government was in the hands of the generals." In the year 377 AD, on the Jichou day in April, there was hail. At that time, there were continuous battles in the Central Plains region, and military service was required every year. "In the twelfth year of Taiyuan in April of Jichou, there was hail. At that time, there were issues in the Central Plains, and military service was required every year." In the year 380 AD, on the Guimao day in May, hail fell in Shangyu. "In the twentieth year of Taiyuan in May of Guimao, hail fell in Shangyu." In the year 381 AD, on the Dinghai day in April, there was hail. At that time, Madam Zhang was favored, and the emperor died suddenly, leading to much discussion among the people. "In the twenty-first year of Taiyuan in April of Dinghai, there was hail. At that time, Madam Zhang was favored, and the emperor died suddenly, leading to much discussion among the people." In December of the year 381, it snowed continuously for 23 days. At that time, the young emperor who had just ascended the throne was still young, and the prime minister held power. "In the twenty-first year of Taiyuan in December, it snowed for twenty-three days continuously. At that time, the young emperor was in power, and the prime minister held power." In the second year of Long'an of Emperor An of Jin, in the month of Yimao in March, there was a hailstorm. That autumn, Wang Gong and Yin Zhongkan raised troops to rebel, but were eventually killed. This was a warning from heaven! In the twelfth month of the second year of Yuanxing of Emperor An of Jin, it was extremely cold, much colder than usual. At this time, Huan Xuan usurped the throne, causing great suffering among the people and political chaos, which were all signs of divine omens! The downfall of the Jin Dynasty was because they were too weak, while Huan Xuan was the opposite. Just like what Liu Xiang said: "There were no cold years when the Zhou Dynasty declined, and no hot years when the Qin Dynasty fell." This illustrates the point! In the third year of Yuanxing in the first month of Jia Shen, there was hail, snow, and thunder! Thunder and hail cannot occur on the same day; this is a sign of divine punishment! In February, a rebellion broke out, and Huan Xuan was defeated. In the fourth month of the third year of Yuanxing in the month of Bingwu, there was hail and rain in Jiangling, as Emperor An was fleeing.
In the first year of Jin'an Emperor Yixi, in the fourth month of Ren Shen, there was sleet. At that time, the world was still not unified, and battles were being fought everywhere, with the thunder of war drums echoing across the land. In the fifth year of Yixi, in the third month of Ji Hai, there was heavy snowfall. In the fifth year of Yixi, in the fifth month of Gui Si, there was sleet in Liyang; in the ninth month of Ji Chou, there was sleet in Guangling. In the second year of Yixi, Lu Xun advanced to Cai Zhou. In the fifth year of Yixi, in the ninth month of Ji Chou, there was sleet in Guangling again! In the sixth year of Yixi, in the first month of Bing Yin, there was snow accompanied by thunder. In the sixth year of Yixi, in the fifth month of Ren Shen, there was sleet again. In the eighth year of Yixi, in the fourth month of Xin Wei, there was sleet; in the sixth month of Gui Hai, there was sleet again, accompanied by strong winds that uprooted many houses. That autumn, Liu Fan and others were killed. In the tenth year of Yixi, in the fourth month of Xin Mao, there was sleet again.
In the ninth year of Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, in the spring, sleet fell in the capital, with Liyang and Xuyi being particularly affected, resulting in the death of many animals. In the eighteenth year of Emperor Wen, in the third month, there was sleet again. In the twenty-fifth year, twenty-five tribes of invaders invaded Qingzhou. In the twenty-fifth year of Emperor Wen, in the first month, the accumulated snow turned into ice, causing severe cold. In the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Wen, in the fifth month, Xuyi experienced sleet, with hailstones as big as eggs! In the thirtieth year, the country fell into chaos, with battles everywhere.
In the first year of Southern Dynasties' Xiaowu Emperor, in the twelfth month of Geng Yin, there was heavy snow, with snow accumulation of over two feet on flat ground. In the following year, minority ethnic groups from the north invaded Jizhou, and the court sent the Imperial Guards north to suppress them.
In the fifth year of Emperor Taishi of the Wei Dynasty, in the fourth month of Ren Chen, there was sleet in the capital.
In the third year of Emperor Houfei of the Liu Song Dynasty, in the fifth month of Yi Mao, there was sleet in the capital.
During the early reign of Emperor Ming of the Northern Wei Dynasty, in the Jingchu period, the east bridge of Luoyang City, the floating bridge of the Luo River, and the Huan Ying all experienced lightning strikes on the same day; shortly after, the wooden flying crow used to observe wind direction in the west city was also struck by lightning. At that time, labor was heavy, and not long after, the emperor died.
During the eighth year of the Chiwu reign of Sun Quan, the palace gate columns were damaged by thunder; the bridge pillars of Nanjin Bridge were also damaged. This was a significant event!
On the first day of the twelfth month of the first year of the Jianxing era, there was a strong wind, thunder, and lightning, and it also rained thunderstorms that month, similar to the previous incident. Eventually, Sun Liang also met a tragic fate; this emperor's reign, tsk tsk...
During the sixth year of Taikang, on the first day of the twelfth month, there was thunder and lightning in Huainan County. The following year, on the first day of the twelfth month of the seventh year of Taikang, there was also thunder and lightning in the Pilin area, and Dai Liang, the Salt Commander of Nansha Si, specifically reported this incident. Later on, in the twelfth month of the tenth year of Taikang, there was thunder and heavy rain in Lujiang and Jian'an. The weather was truly ominous...
In the first month of the sixth year of Yongkang, a landmark five hundred steps southwest of Chongyangling was damaged by thunder, shattering into over seventy fragments! At that time, Empress Jia held power, framed ministers, and favored relatives, similar to the situation when the tomb of Emperor Huan of Han was struck by lightning. Later, Empress Jia was also killed, which could be seen as divine retribution. In the same year, on the first day of the tenth month of the second year of Yongxing, there was thunder and lightning again.
In the tenth month of the fourth year of Yongjia, Jin Huaidi also encountered thunderstorm conditions.
On the first day of the seventh month of the second year of Yongchang, the pillar of the Taiji Palace was struck by lightning. In the same year, in the eleventh month, there was thunder, rain, and lightning in Kuaiji and Wu counties; the frequency of which was alarming!
On the first day of the seventh month of the first year of Taining, the pillar of the Taiji Palace was struck by lightning again!
In the first month of the first year of Xianhe, there was heavy rain in Kuaiji County, accompanied by thunder and lightning. In the sixth month of the third year of Xianhe, the thunder shook the sky in Linhai area, breaking ten pillars of the county government's small house, and even causing casualties! This thunder was truly fearsome! On the second day of the ninth month, the Kuaiji area experienced thunder and lightning again. In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Xianhe, Wu County, Kuaiji, and Danyang all experienced thunderstorm conditions; this is truly unprecedented!
In the seventh year of the Yonghe reign of Emperor Jin Mu, on the day of Renwu in the tenth month, thunder and lightning occurred together. In the first year of the Shengping reign of Emperor Jin Mu, on the day of Gengxu in the eleventh month, there was thunder; a few days later, on the day of Yichou, there was thunder again! In the fifth year of the Shengping reign, on the day of Gengwu in the tenth month, thunder was heard coming from the southeast.
During the reign of Emperor Jin Xiaowu, in the fifth year of Taiyuan, on the day of Jiayin in the sixth month, lightning struck the four pillars of Hanzhang Hall! In the twelfth month of the fifth year of Taiyuan, rumbling thunder was heard from the south. In the seventh month of the fourteenth year of Taiyuan on the day of Jiayin, the pillar on the west side of Xuanyang Gate was also struck by lightning!
In September 402 AD, there was a mix of rain, thunder, and lightning. Four years later, in 406 AD, Empress Yong'an returned from Baling and was about to enter the palace in a grand manner, but suddenly thunder struck from the sky, killing both people and horses, which was truly frightening! In November 407 AD, a strong wind blew from the northwest, followed by thunder. In June 408 AD, lightning struck the Tai Temple, damaging the decorations on the east side, as well as the walls and pillars. In January 409 AD, thunder was followed by snow. In December of the same year, there was another loud thunder. In November 412 AD, thunder struck for two consecutive days.
In November 424 AD, there was thunder again. In June 425 AD, lightning struck the Tai Temple again, with the decorations on the east side damaged once more, along with the walls and pillars. Isn't that quite a coincidence! In January 426 AD, there was rumbling thunder, accompanied by snowfall. In October 427 AD, there was thunder. In December 428 AD, there was thunder. In November 429 AD, thunder was accompanied by falling snowflakes. In 434 AD, the marker at the entrance of Chuning Tomb was struck by lightning four times, all the way down to the ground. In 437 AD, the Grand General, Prince Yikang of Pengcheng, was deposed. From that point on, a tragic internal strife began, which was truly lamentable!
In September 454 AD, there was thunder. In September 458 AD, there was thunder. In October 460 AD, there was thunder. In November 460 AD, there was thunder. In November 461 AD, there was thunder. In November 462 AD, there was thunder.
In September 477 AD, thunder rumbled continuously for several days. On February 24, 478 AD, lightning struck Jianyang Gate.
Next, let's talk about a strange thing: In March of the year 299 AD, there was a sound similar to a cow's moo in Xuchang City. In December of the same year, the crown prince was deposed and imprisoned in Xugong. According to the records of the "Spring and Autumn Annals," the coffin of Duke Wen of Jin emitted a sound similar to a cow's moo, which Liu Xiang interpreted as a sign of malevolent spirits. His explanation was: "Such a sound symbolizes anger, indicating that there will be intense conflicts and wars." This closely parallels later events. The following year, Empress Jia sent the imperial guard Sun Lü to kill the crown prince with a mortar and pestle, and the sound was heard outside.
When Su Jun was in Liyang, the drums in the military camp started to beat by themselves, as if someone were beating them. Su Jun personally went up and smashed the drums, saying, "If this kind of thing happens in my hometown, the city would be deserted." Not long after, he rebelled and was eventually annihilated. This was a punishment for not heeding warnings, as the ominous drum sound foretold a disaster. In the later period of Shi Hu, nine miles northwest of Luoyang City, a stone bull stood on a bluestone pedestal and suddenly let out a cry that could be heard forty miles away. Shi Hu sent people to smash off the ears and tail of the stone bull and secured its four feet with iron nails.
On the first day of March in the fifteenth year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Xiaowu of Jin, a thunderous sound came from the northeast. According to Liu Xiang's writings, it says: "Thunder must be accompanied by clouds, just like a monarch relies on his subjects." If thunder occurs without clouds, it signifies that the ruler is neglecting the people, a sign that the people will rebel. Later, the emperor passed away, and chaos gradually descended upon the realm, with Sun En and Huan Xuan attacking Jiankang successively.
In Xiajiashan, Changcheng County, Wuxing, there is a stone drum measuring over ten feet in length and about three feet in diameter, with a round stone base underneath. When it sounds like a golden drum, there will be turmoil in the Three Wu regions. During the Long'an reign of Emperor An of Jin, this stone drum sounded loudly, and indeed, the rebellion of Sun Lingshu occurred later.
After saying this, let's talk about the strange phenomenon of fish: In the fourth year of the reign of King Jiaping of Wei Qi, in May, two fish appeared on the roof of the armory. This is a bad omen! Wang Su said, "Fish live in water, but they run to the roof. This kind of scaly creature has left its natural habitat. This probably indicates that a chaotic war is about to happen!" Later, the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Dongguan occurred. Gan Bao also believed that this was a precursor to the noble Duke Xiang encountering military disaster. Both of these views are consistent with Ban Gu's perspective.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, two carp appeared on the roof of the armory. Gan Bao said, "The armory is a place for storing weapons; fish have scales, and they also belong to the category of weapons. Fish belong to Yin, while the roof, exposed to sunlight, belongs to Yang. The appearance of fish on the roof signifies that the most Yin entity will unleash military disaster upon the most Yang entity." In the early period of Emperor Hui, Yang Jun was killed, the Empress Dowager was deposed, and the palace was riddled with arrows. During the Yuan Kang period, Empress Jia falsely accused the Crown Prince, and soon he was also killed and deposed. In the span of ten years, the Empress Dowager faced two crises, all of which validated the earlier omens. From then on, disasters continued; Jing Fang said in "Yiyao": "Fish leaving water and flying to the road, war is about to happen."
Next, let's talk about the locust plague: In July 222 AD, a major locust plague occurred in the Hebei region, and the common folk were starving. Some people referenced Cai Yong's viewpoint, saying that the locust plague was caused by the greed and cruelty of those in power. At that time, Sun Quan had just surrendered to Cao Wei, and Cao Pi, Cao Cao's son, seized the opportunity to lead troops against him because Sun Quan participated in the Battle of Xiling, but Sun Quan changed his mind again and betrayed Cao Wei once again.
In June 265 AD, another wave of locusts struck. At that time, the ruling officials were Xun Yi and Jia Chong, both of whom were quite incompetent and indifferent to the people's suffering, focused only on their own interests.
In May of the year 310 AD, a massive locust plague occurred, spreading from Youzhou, Bingzhou, Sizhou, and Jizhou all the way to Qinzhou and Yongzhou, where all the grass, trees, and livestock were completely consumed. At that time, chaos engulfed the land, and the common people could only rely on fishing and hunting to barely survive. Whether they could survive or not depended entirely on the capriciousness of Sima Yue and Gou Xi, who were both particularly ruthless and had no method in governing the country.
In June of the year 317 AD, another locust plague occurred. The previous year, the Xiongnu people had invaded the Beidi and Fengyi counties several times, and the court sent troops to resist. However, they ended up clashing with Liu Yao and suffered a defeat, leading to the fall of Chang'an, the Western Capital.
In June of the year 318 AD, a locust plague broke out in Helixiang County of Lanling Commandery, where every crop was devoured. On the day of Yimao in the same year, the Dongguan area also suffered from a locust plague, impacting an area of three hundred li, resulting in total crop failure. In July, the four counties of Donghai, Pengcheng, Xiapai, and Linhuai also faced locust plagues, with all crops and legumes completely consumed. In August, locusts in Jizhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou provinces ate up all the green grass, persisting into the following year. At that time, the Central Plains were in chaos, with a series of uprisings erupting in quick succession. In May of the year 319 AD, the autumn wheat in Huailing, Linhuai, Huainan, Anfeng, and Lujiang counties was once again ravaged by locusts. On the day of Guichou in May of the year 320 AD, a locust plague struck the southern regions of Xuzhou and Yangzhou again, leading to the starvation of many common folk in Wu. The previous year, Wang Dun had taken on the position of Governor of Jingzhou, and his reign of terror began at that time. In the early months of that year, the Governor of Xuzhou, Cai Bao, led his troops to launch an attack on Zhou Fu.
In August of the year 375 AD, a locust disaster struck in Yanzhou. At that time, the Dingling people raided Yanzhou and Yuzhou, while the Xianbei people approached Henan. The court continuously called up troops for battle. In May of the year 376 AD, locusts flew in from the south and gathered in Tangyi County, causing crops to suffer from disasters once again. That spring, the court mobilized two thousand households of soldiers from Jiangzhou, along with six to seven thousand family members, to protect the court's army and the Eastern Palace. However, most of the people ultimately scattered. Border generals continued to fight and kill.
Pig Disaster: (The original text is retained here without translation)
In the year 270 AD, when Sun Hao was in power, a wild boar broke into the camp of the Right Sima Ding Feng. This was a bad omen! Later, Ding Feng was ordered to attack Guyang, but he not only lost but also returned in defeat. Sun Hao was furious and had Ding Feng's guide killed. When Sun Hao led his troops north, Ding Feng, Wan Yu, and others privately discussed, "If we reach Huali, we must each escape for our lives!" This plan was leaked. Although Ding Feng had already died by then, Sun Hao still pursued the failure at Guyang and killed Ding Feng's son Ding Wen, and the whole family was exiled. This was indeed the consequence of the wild boar's intrusion! Gong Sui once said, "When wild beasts from the mountains and fields run into the palace, the palace will be empty." This is so similar to what happened to Ding Feng!
Between the years 311 and 313 AD, in Shou Chun City, a pig was born with two heads but it died shortly thereafter. Zhou Fu went to see this pig. At that time, some people who understood divination secretly said, "Pigs are livestock from the north, symbolizing the Hu and Di people. Two heads indicate a lack of leadership; being born and dying immediately indicates that things cannot be accomplished. This serves as a warning from heaven not to entertain thoughts of monopolizing the world, otherwise, one will be finished!" Zhou Fu did not understand these words and still wanted to establish an emperor and command the vassals, but he was quickly defeated by Emperor Yuan. This fulfilled the omen of the pig with two heads! Shi Le then crossed the Huai River, and the majority of the common people perished.
In the year 314 AD, a pig was born with eight legs. This serves as a punishment for those who ignore warnings! Jing Fang said in the "Book of Changes": "Whenever a monster appears, it symbolizes the corresponding events. Having many legs indicates that it is bearing evil things." Afterwards, Liu Kui launched a coup.
In June of the year 331 AD, a commoner's sow in Qiantang gave birth to two piglets, both with human faces resembling Hu people, but with bodies of pigs. Jing Fang said in "Yi Yao": "When a pig gives birth to a pig with a human head, chaos and destruction will follow." These piglets born to the sow are truly peculiar!
In April of the year 374 AD, a pig with one head, two bodies, and eight legs appeared in Jiankang City. Thirteen years later, another pig in a household in Jiankang City also gave birth to a piglet with one head, two bodies, and eight legs. It was identical to the case in 314 AD! Later, Prime Minister Shen Mi neglected state affairs, favored cronies, gradually corrupted the country's morals, and ultimately led to chaos in the country.
**Black Omens:**
In December of the year 311 AD, black mist filled the air. This is an ominous sign!
In March of the year 447 AD, Emperor Wen of Song, Liu Yilong, went to Jingkou. Suddenly, black mist rose to the sky, signaling an impending war. The following year, the northern invaders reached Guabu and drank horses by the Yangtze River.
**Fire and Water:**
Content not provided, unable to translate.
In June of the year 284 AD, the ponds in Rencheng and the state of Lu turned red like blood. Liu Xiang said that this was because water near a fire disaster was influenced by the evil energy of fire. This likely serves as a divine warning for those who ignore counsel. Jing Fang's explanation in the "Book of Changes" was: "Indulging in beauty, virtuous people retreat, the country is in danger, and this bizarre phenomenon of water turning red will manifest."
In February of the year 360 AD, a pond in Liangzhou City caught fire; by April of the year 361 AD, the Ganzhou Marsh (Ganzhou Lake) also caught fire. These disasters stem from water being tainted by the malevolent force of fire! The following year, Zhang Tianxi killed the Chief Military Officer Zhang Yong. Zhang Yong was a significant official in the court.
In October of the year 402 AD, the waters of Linping Lake in Qiantang turned red. Huan Xuan suggested to the officials of Wu County that this was an auspicious omen and they should celebrate at once. However, Huan Xuan soon met with failure.
