Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty had a total of 28 sons, wow, that's a lot! His wife Empress Wenmu gave birth to the Crown Prince Ye and Prince Shang of Yuzhang; Lady Chen Shuyuan gave birth to Prince Xun of Jin'an; Lady Ruan Ronghua gave birth to Prince Sui of Anlu; Lady Xu Zhaorong gave birth to Prince Zishen; Lady He Shuyi gave birth to Marquis Fang of Songzi; Lady Shi Zhaohua gave birth to Prince Xu of Linhai; Lady Yin Guifei gave birth to Prince Luan of Shiping Xiaojing, and Prince Ren of Yongjia, who was a twin of Prince Zishen; Lady He Jieyu gave birth to Prince Zifeng; Lady Xie Zhaorong gave birth to Prince Zhen of Shi'an; Lady Jiang Jieyu gave birth to Prince Xuan; Lady Shi Zhaoyi gave birth to Prince Yuan of Shaoling, and Prince Yu of Qijing, who was a brother of Prince Luan of Shiping Xiaojing; Lady Jiang Meiren gave birth to Prince Ziheng; Lady Yang Jieyu gave birth to Prince Meng of Huainan and his twin brother, Prince Kuang, who was also born at the same time as Prince Xuan; there was also Prince Chan of Nanping, who was a twin with Prince Ren of Yongjia; Prince Yun of Jinling Xiaowang and Prince Ziwen, these two were brothers of Prince Luan of Shiping Xiaojing; Prince Yu of Luling, who was a twin with Prince Meng of Huainan; Prince Shi of Nanhai, who was a brother of Prince Luan of Shiping Xiaojing; Prince Xiao of Huaiyang, who was a twin with Prince Xuan; Prince Yong, who was a brother of Prince Zhen of Shi'an; Prince Qu, who was a twin with Prince Zifeng; Prince Qi, who was a twin with Prince Ziheng; Prince Si of Dongping, who was a brother of Prince Zhen of Shi'an; finally, Lady Du Ronghua gave birth to Prince Ziyue. Among them, Prince Sui of Anlu, Prince Chan of Nanping, and Prince Yu of Luling were later adopted. Several of these princes, including Prince Zishen, Zifeng, Xuan, Ziheng, Kuang, Ziwen, and Yong, died before they could receive their titles; Prince Qu, Qi, and Ziyue were also not crowned, and later were killed by Emperor Ming of the Song Dynasty, which is really unfortunate.
Prince Shang of Yuzhang, styled Xiaoshi, was the second son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the third year of Xiaojian, at the age of only six, he was appointed King of Xiyang, with a fief of 2,000 households. He also served as military governor of Nanxu and Yanzhou, the General of the North Central Army, and the Governor of Nanyanzhou. In the same year, he was promoted to the Governor of Yangzhou. In 454 AD, he was appointed General Who Pacifies the Army. Three years later, the court divided the western part of Zhejiang into the royal territories and the eastern part into Yangzhou, appointing him as the military governor of Jiangzhou, Poyang, Jin'an, and Jian'an, and also as the Governor of Yangzhou. In 457 AD, he was reappointed as Prince of Yuzhang, retaining the same territories as before, and also served as the Governor of Kuaiji. In 459 AD, he was granted the title of Envoy with Credentials and promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. In the same year, he was further honored as a Cavalier Attendant and retained his original position as Secretary of the Palace. A severe drought struck the east that year, causing many fields in Yinxian to lay fallow. The Emperor sent him to Yinxian to promote agricultural activities. He also established an academy, recruited students, appointed a Chief of the Confucian Temple, equivalent to that of a prefectural governor, a Chief of Literature, equivalent to the official position of a western court official, and two Study Assistants, equivalent to the roles of sacrificial officials. Later, when the former Emperor Fei, Liu Ziye, ascended the throne, he abolished the royal territories, restored the original administrative structure, and summoned him back to the court to serve as the military governor of Yangzhou and Nanxu, concurrently as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and relieved him of his duties as Governor of East Yangzhou, while keeping his other positions unchanged.
At the beginning, during the Xiaojian period, the emperor showed special favor to him because his mother was the brother of the crown princess. Later, his status declined somewhat due to the favor shown to Liu Ziluan's mother, the Prince of Xin'an. When he grew up, he became mediocre and violent, somewhat resembling the deposed emperor Liu Ziye. Emperor Taizong Liu Zixun killed the deposed emperor and, at the behest of the empress dowager, declared, "He is mischievous and evil to the utmost degree; his behavior goes against the natural order. Chu Yu, known for her promiscuity, is licentious and evil, violating the principles of ethics. Both of them can be executed in the mansion." At that time, he was only sixteen years old.
Chu Yu, the Princess of Shanyin, was conferred the title of Princess Chang of Kuaiji Commandery by the deposed emperor Liu Ziye, who granted her a fief of two thousand households, assigned her a retinue, and added twenty sword-bearing guards. Before she could formally accept the title, the deposed emperor was assassinated. Chu Yu, known for her promiscuity, took a fancy to the handsome Shu Yuan, a clerk in the Ministry of Personnel, and requested him to serve her for ten days, to which the deposed emperor consented. Although Shu Yuan complied, he resisted fiercely to the point of death, and Chu Yu had no way to deal with him.
Prince Jin'an, named Zixun, styled Xiaode, was the third son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the fourth year of Daming, at the age of five, he was appointed as the Prince of Jin'an, with a fief of two thousand households. He also served as the chief military officer in Nanyan Prefecture, Xuzhou Donghai region, General Who Conquers the Caitiffs, and the Governor of Nanyan Prefecture, holding several high-ranking official positions.
Seven years later, his official position changed again, becoming the military governor of Jinxi, Xincai, and Xiyang in Jiangzhou, Nanyuzhou, the former general, and the governor of Jiangzhou. Eight years later, his official position was promoted again, becoming the commissioner and military governor of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, North and South Qinzhou, as well as Jingling and Sui counties in Yingshou, with his official rank continuing to rise. Unfortunately, before he could take office, the Emperor died. So, he returned to Jiangzhou with the official attire of the garrison general, with his original official position unchanged. However, he had vision problems, so the Emperor Gao did not like him very much. In the first year of Jinghe, he was given the additional title of commissioner. At that time, the deposed Emperor was known for his volatile temper, cruelty, and had a reputation for executing many individuals. There was a man named He Mai, who used to be a military adviser, and when he was young, he liked to practice martial arts and even gathered a group of capable people. He Mai had married Princess Xinchai, the daughter of the Emperor Gao, as his wife. However, the deposed Emperor feigned the princess's death, murdering a palace maid to use as her stand-in for the funeral, and secretly hid the real princess in the harem. The deposed Emperor was very wary of He Mai, and He Mai was afraid of being killed, so he planned to launch a coup while the deposed Emperor was out, and to crown Prince Zixun of Jin'an as Emperor. Unfortunately, the plot was exposed, and the deposed Emperor personally led his guards to kill He Mai, and ordered eight ministers to report that Zixun and He Mai were conspiring to rebel. The deposed Emperor also personally wrote a letter to Zixun, saying, "He Mai wanted to kill me and crown you. Think about it yourself, how do you compare to Emperor Xiaowu? You decide for yourself!" Then he sent a man named Zhu Jingyun to give poison to Zixun, to kill him. When Zhu Jingyun reached the basin, he stopped and did not continue forward, but instead sent a letter to the chief official Deng Wan. Deng Wan and his allies then rallied troops alongside Zixun, declaring their intent to overthrow the deposed Emperor and restore the rightful ruler.
After Emperor Taizong suppressed the rebellion, he appointed his son Xihun as the General of the Chariots and Cavalry and bestowed the title of 'Three Excellencies.' However, Xihun and his men refused to accept the appointment and instead issued a proclamation in the capital declaring their independence. On the seventh day of the first month of the second year of Taishi, they proclaimed Xihun as emperor in Xunyang City, establishing the first year of the Yijia reign. They also set up various official positions, and many regions responded, creating a significant upheaval that reverberated throughout the country. That year, tribute items from across the regions were sent to Xunyang. Xihun sent General Sun Chongzhi and his men to occupy Zheqi, appointed Liu Hu, the Inspector of Yuzhou, to lead a large army to camp at Quewei, and placed General Yuan Yi in command of the troops. The imperial army camped at Qianxi, cutting off the food and supplies to Yuan Yi and his forces. Liu Hu sent troops to attack but suffered a major defeat, set fire to the camp, and fled. Upon hearing that Liu Hu had fled, Yuan Yi also abandoned his army and fled south. Shen Youzhi and his troops arrived in Xunyang, where they executed Xihun and his mother, and all those involved in the rebellion were exterminated. Xihun was merely eleven years old at the time of his death and was buried in Lushan, located in Xunyang.
Zifang, the Marquis of Songzi, courtesy name Xiaoliang, was the sixth son of Emperor Xiaowu of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. In the fourth year of Daming, at just five years old, he was appointed King of Xunyang, with a fief consisting of two thousand households, and was also appointed as the General of the Crown and the Prefect of Huainan and Xuancheng. Five years later, he was promoted to the Inspector of Yuzhou while maintaining his positions as General and Prefect of Huainan. In the sixth year, he was appointed as the Prefect of Xuancheng. In the seventh year, he was promoted to Right General, stepping down as Prefect of Xuancheng while retaining his other positions. In the first year of Yongguang during the reign of the Former Emperor, he was promoted to the Inspector of Dongyangzhou, while continuing to serve as General. In the first year of Jinghe, Dongyangzhou was disbanded, and Zifang assumed command of the military across the five counties of Kuaiji, Dongyang, Xin'an, Linhai, and Yongjia, as well as serving as the Prefect of Kuaiji.
After Emperor Taizong ascended the throne, he changed Zifang's title of "督" to "commander-in-chief," promoted him to General of the East Army, and kept his position as governor unchanged. Later, he summoned him to be a military governor and concurrently serve as the Grand Minister of Rites. His Chief of Staff, Kong Ji, refused the appointment, raised troops in rebellion, and supported Prince An of Jin. After Zixun ascended the throne, Zifang was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and appointed as Minister of the Palace. The regions of Sanwu and Jinling complied with Kong Ji's orders. Emperor Taizong sent General Wei, Prince of Baling, Xiu Ruo, to lead generals such as Wu Xi on an eastern expedition, winning every battle and gradually quelling the rebellion. Wang Yan, the Prefect of Shangyu, raised troops, killed Kong Ji, captured Zifang, and sent him back to the capital. The Emperor pardoned him but demoted him to Marquis of Songzi County, granting him a fief of one thousand households.
Xiu Ren, the Prince of Jian'an and Minister of Works, believed that the Zifang brothers might rebel in the future, so he advised the Emperor to eliminate them. The Emperor issued an edict, saying, "Unexpected disasters have always existed since ancient times; sometimes things cannot be explained logically, but a wise ruler will still act according to the law. I have quelled the rebellion and preserved the country, thinking about establishing a long-lasting foundation and taking on this heavy responsibility. I want to vigorously promote benevolent governance and strive to maintain brotherly harmony, but those evil forces incite trouble and conspire. From the southwestern border rebels to the eastern Xia invasion, the villains in the capital are secretly colluding with each other. The brothers Lu Xiuzhi are acting as the ringleaders of the plot, planning to launch a rebellion and even have their retainer Yan Long spy on the palace, intending to use the Feathered Forest Army to suppress. When the palace guards are weak, they will take advantage of the situation and launch a coup. Liu Zhi is on the border, planning to collude inside and outside, deliberately spreading rumors of northern enemy invasions, hoping to draw the army south of the Huai River. A few days ago, Xiu Fan was by the river, secretly planning to resist; fortunately, Heaven was on our side, and their conspiracy failed.
Their conspiracy has been exposed, and they should be punished according to the law. It's just that at the time, the chaos had not yet subsided, so they were temporarily tolerated. Now that the world is peaceful, loyalty and treachery should be distinguished. If minor offenses go unpunished, they will turn into great disasters. Therefore, they can be handed over to the authorities for legal action. Songzi Hou Zifang and others, these rebellious individuals, colluded with those traitors, secretly contacted the rebels in the south, and conspired with Liu Zhi and others to harm my life. Although their crimes are obvious and should be punished by law, after all, they are my relatives, and I truly find it hard to bear. Let's demote them to commoners and exile them to remote areas." So they were all executed, and Zifang was just eleven years old at that time.
Lu Xiuzhi and others were anxious following the death of Empress Chongxian, fearing that they would not be valued in the future and felt uneasy. Liu Zhi in Nanyanzhou had long harbored rebellious intentions. Yan Long, during the reign of Emperor Yuanjia of Taizu, had already served as a member of the Imperial Academy and as an imperial censor on the Southern Terrace. Emperor Shizu appointed him as a member and trusted him very much. During the Jinghe and Taishi periods, he held the titles of Yueqi Xiaowei and Right Army General. By this time, he had rebelled, leading to his execution by association.
The Prince of Linhai was named Sima Xu, with the style name Xiaolie, the seventh son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the fourth year of Daming, when he was five years old, he was appointed as the King of Liyang, with jurisdiction over two thousand households. At the same time, he was also appointed as the Champion General and the Prefect of Wuxing. The following year, he was reappointed as the Prince of Linhai, with the same territory as before. In the same year, he was promoted to the roles of Commissioner, Commander of Guangjiao and Xiangzhou, and General of the Shixing, Shian, and Linhe three counties, as well as General Conquering the Barbarians, General Pacifying the Yue, and Governor of Guangzhou. Before he assumed office, he was transferred to Jingzhou as the governor, with his military position unchanged. In the eighth year of Daming, his official title was elevated to Chief General.
Later, the former Emperor Fei ascended to the throne, and Sima Xu was appointed as the Commander of Military Affairs for the eight provinces of Jing, Xiang, Yong, Yi, Liang, Ning, North Qin, and South Qin, while retaining his position as Governor. After Emperor Ming ascended to the throne, he was removed from his post as the Commander of Yongzhou and appointed as General of the Guard and Intendant of Danyang. Not long after, he was reinstated to his original position and his official title was also elevated to General Who Pacifies the West. His Chief Clerk, Kong Daocun, disobeyed orders, rebelled, and supported Prince Sima Xun of Jin'an. Sima Xun proclaimed himself Emperor, and Sima Xu's position was elevated to Guard General and Chief of the Palace of Equal Rank. Eventually, Sima Xun was defeated and killed in battle, and when the forces of Wu Xi, Zhang Xingshi, and others arrived, Sima Xu was put to death at just eleven years old. He was buried in Baling.
Prince Xiaojing of Shiping was named Sima Luan, with the courtesy name Xiaoyu, the eighth son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the fourth year of Daming, at the age of five, he was appointed as the Prince of Xiangyang, with a territory comprising two thousand households. At the same time, he was also appointed as General of the Household of the East and Prefect of Wu Commandery. In the same year, he was reappointed as Prince of Xin'an, with the same territory as before. The following year, he was promoted to General of the Household of the North, Governor of South Xuzhou, and Prefect of Nanlangye. His mother, Yin Shuyi, was highly favored in the palace, and Sima Luan was also favored by the Emperor because of this, receiving nearly all the rewards and gifts bestowed by the Emperor in his residence. Upon taking office as Governor of South Xuzhou, Wu Commandery was also brought under his jurisdiction.
In the sixth year of the Ming era, his mother passed away. The emperor posthumously elevated Yin Shuyi to the status of noble consort, second only to the empress, with the posthumous title of Xuan Noble Consort. Her funeral was of high specifications, with a ceremonial carriage, tiger guards and sword bearers, nine canopy umbrellas on the imperial carriage, yellow flags on the left, feathered canopies, and musicians in the front and back. The emperor personally accompanied the funeral procession to the South Gate, and upon seeing the hearse, he was overcome with grief, and even the attendants were moved. The emperor cherished Yin Shuyi deeply and even wrote a poem imitating Han Wudi's "Li Furen Fu":
At that time, troubled by state affairs, I found myself idle all day, so I read the poems and songs of the previous dynasties. When I saw "Li Furen Fu," I felt an overwhelming sadness, silently reciting it for a long time, feeling sorrow in my heart.
I inspected the remaining classics of the Zhou Dynasty and roughly read the texts left by the Han Dynasty. I mourned the dilapidated new palace and looked at the desolate scene of Bitai today. I recited poems filled with longing and ordered a grand sacrificial ceremony. Although Li Furen's virtues are recorded in history, her tragic fate continues to haunt me. I pondered the cycles of rise and fall in the world and observed the changing patterns of clouds. Reflecting on cassia branches wilting in autumn, and regretting the cutting of jade flowers in spring. "Cassia branches breaking in the years, jade flowers shattered in thoughts of love." The palace stands tightly shut, cloaked in dust; emerald bamboo has withered, covered in moss. "Treasures draped in spring curtains, precious mats empty in summer bed curtains. Autumn platform desolate, blue smoke condensing, winter palace cold, vermilion fire clear." As the music fades, my longing remains unending. I drift between clouds and sunlight, wandering in the wind and moon. I envision her graceful steps on the Phoenix Terrace, recalling the music she played in the Luanque. I allow the water in the square pond to dry up as a testament to my grief; I let the water in the garden dry up to express my sorrow.
I recall the scene of her bidding me farewell early in the morning as I headed to court, as well as the scene of her seeing me off on my return to the palace in the evening. I traveled in a carriage from the southern lands to the palace gate, then from the northern ferry to Chengming Hall. I arrived at her modest residence and beheld her simple yet elegant room. As I looked at her descendants, sorrow washed over me; touching her daughter, my grief deepened. Though my sorrow has been fully expressed, how can I comfort your departed spirit? I will ensure your achievements are remembered for generations, adorning your attire with beautiful embellishments. I will hang banners in your honor at the shrine, granting you peace in the capital. Court officials will hold sacrifices for you according to the ritual, without any changes. I entered the hidden chamber where you were laid to rest, sensing the lingering chill in the palace. I will await the sight of the morning jade sheep and the evening crowing of the golden rooster. I will use clouds and incense to convey my longing, and the ringing of bells to express my sorrow. I will light the Seven Star lanterns on the frost-covered fields and plant twin bright flags in the wintry woods. I will plant beautiful trees on the misty mountain peaks and rare flowers in the deep springs. From the Investiture of the Gods to the Zhou Dynasty, history has always shown remarkable similarities. I will ensure your soul rests in peace, expressing my filial devotion and love for you. Your rewards will surely come, and your deeds will be recognized by the world. I have forsaken the luxury and pleasures of the Chu state and the temptations of the world beyond the East Gate. I am engulfed in sorrow, contemplating my past mistakes.
Oh, he's criticizing those officials again, saying, "It's written in the ceremony that the emperor has an empress and a consort. It's also mentioned in 'The Book of the Bow' that Emperor Shun was buried in Cangwu without his two wives. In the 'Hunyi', it's written that beneath the empress there are six palaces, three of which are occupied by ladies. So, these three concubines are also ladies. Just like the emperor has three dukes, the empress has three ladies. In the 'Zhouli', it's written that there are three dukes and eight ministers, while the vassals have seven ministers. The position of the three dukes is higher than that of the vassals, so the three concubines should therefore hold a higher status than the ladies of other states. Take a look at the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'; even though Zhongzi wasn't Duke Hui of Lu's legitimate wife, she was still enshrined in a separate palace; now the position of the noble consort is so high, she should have a separate temple built for her." The Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, Xu Yuan, also added, "The Noble Consort Xuan has already received special favor; her etiquette surpasses that of the other five palaces. Look into the ancient books; there is a solid basis for this. If a temple is to be built, a capable official from the Ministry of Works should be selected to take charge."
After the funeral, the emperor appointed Ziluan to take over his position, making him concurrently the Minister of Works, promoting him to the position of Grand Marshal and Minister of Works, assigning him a ceremonial guard unit, with the same etiquette as a prime minister. He was also appointed as the Military Commander of Southern Xuzhou. Eight years later, he was appointed as the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat while continuing to hold the position of Minister of Works. Later, when the usurper ascended the throne, he asked Ziluan to step down as Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, leaving only the position of Minister of Works and granting him the power of a regional commander. The emperor had always disliked Ziluan's favor, and when he had all the other ministers killed, he had him executed when he was just ten years old. Before his death, Ziluan said to those around him, "I hope I won’t be born into a royal family again in my next life." His full siblings perished as well, and they were all laid to rest in Jingkou.
After Emperor Li Shimin ascended to the throne, he issued a decree saying: "Even if wrongful acts happened a long time ago, they must be investigated, in order to express my sympathy and compassion; these feelings only grow stronger with time. Prince Li Luan of Xin'an, who showed extraordinary talent from a young age and was deeply favored by the emperor, was set to accomplish great things and make his family proud. However, he met a tragic end and died unfairly, which breaks my heart, and I will never forget. Therefore, he is posthumously honored with titles including Grand Commandant, Palace Attendant, Commander of Southern Xu and Yan Provinces, Minister of Works, and Governor of Southern Xu Province, restoring his original titles." The decree also stated: "Li Luan's twelfth daughter and second son also died in this cruel disaster, which makes my heart ache even more. Therefore, his daughter is posthumously honored as a County Princess, and his son Li Shi is posthumously honored as the King of Nanhai, with posthumous titles granted." The emperor continued: "To posthumously bestow titles on those wrongly killed, to commend their merits, this reflects our sense of justice and compassion and is an important ceremonial system. I want to follow the example of the ancients and govern the country wisely, so I will bestow grace widely, even to those from other backgrounds, not to mention my own family. Although Prince Li Luan of Xin'an passed away at a young age, he was exceptionally intelligent from a young age and highly esteemed among the princes. However, he fell victim to the brutal murder by Jinghe (referring to Li Jinghe), suffered a tragic fate, with no heir to carry on the legacy, and no one to honor the ancestors. Every time I think about it, it breaks my heart, and I can’t forget it. Therefore, I have decided to let Li Yannian, the son of Prince Jing Su of Jianping, inherit the title of Prince Shimin." So, the emperor posthumously honored Li Luan as Prince Shimin, with a fief of a thousand households, and relocated his tomb to Longshan in Moling County.
Li Yannian, courtesy name Dechong, died in the fourth year of Taishi at just four years old. He was posthumously titled Prince Chong. The following year, the emperor allowed Li Yanzhi, the son of Prince Changsha Li Zuan, to inherit the title of Prince Shiping, to continue the legacy of Li Luan. Li Yanzhi passed away in the third year of Shundi, and thus the title of Prince Shiping was abolished.
Prince Yongjia, named Sima Ren, courtesy name Xiahe, was the ninth son of Emperor Xiaowu.
In the year 361 AD, at the age of only five, he was appointed to various official positions: overseeing Yongzhou, Liangzhou, the four provinces of North and South Qin, as well as military affairs in Jingling County of Yingzhou and Sui County, while also serving as General of the North Central Army, Prefect of Ningman, and Governor of Yongzhou. He was titled Prince Yongjia, with a fief of two thousand households. He was later promoted to General of the East Central Army and Prefect of Wu County.
The following year, he was further promoted to Governor of Danyang. In the third year, he also took on the role of Chief Justice. When the former Emperor Fei ascended the throne, he was further appointed as General Who Subdues the Barbarians, continuing to serve as Chief Justice and Governor of Danyang. Not long after, he was sent to serve in a regional position as General of the Left and Governor of South Yanzhou.
In the year 330 AD, he was promoted to Governor of South Xuzhou, while retaining his military position. In 335 AD, he was promoted to General of the Central Army, concurrently holding the office of Minister of Ceremonies. Before he could take up this new position, he was reassigned as General Who Guards the Army. When peace was restored across the realm, he was appointed as Chief Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in the three provinces of Xiangzhou, Guangzhou, and Jiaozhou, General Who Pacifies the South, and Governor of Xiangzhou.
Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty sent Zhao Fugong to read the imperial edict to Ziren Xuan, saying, "Your family's reputation is not proper, and the country almost fell. The Song Dynasty has not perished yet because the heavens have favored me. The incompetent officials in the court are colluding and causing chaos in the world. If I hadn't focused on self-cultivation, family harmony, and good governance, the territory built by our ancestors would have been lost long ago, and you imperial family members would have fallen into the hands of the enemy. At that time, I had nearly twenty brothers, all of whom died, leaving only a few now. Only Situ (referring to Prince Jian'an Xiu Ren) is old and virtuous enough to assist me, maintaining the dignity of the royal family. Now, only Situ and I can rely on each other, but we are still unable to deal with those treacherous officials. Other princes are also unable to bear the heavy responsibility of governing the country. I have just one crown prince, and Situ also has only one young son. Prince Guiyang and Prince Baling also have no heirs, so we can only rely on you brothers to support one another and grow stronger, so that others won't dare to covet the royal family. You have been sensible since you were teenagers, but you are still young and weak, easily bullied. If I had not become emperor, how could the Liu imperial family have reached this point? You brothers are young and easily manipulated by bad people, almost rebelling with the common people. You should feel a sense of guilt. Now the country is peaceful, my blessings are beginning to show, and you are now in Xiangzhou. As you grow older, you should know right from wrong, always strive for the court, and your title will naturally increase with age. I treat you as my own children, so you should understand my good intentions and remember my imperial edict."
At that time, Prince Jian'an Xiu Ren was still in the south on a military campaign and had not returned. When he returned and reported to the emperor, he said he had made no contribution to the state and should be dealt with together. Before he could even meet the emperor, he was sentenced to death. He was only ten years old at the time.
Prince Zhaozhen of Shian, styled Xiaozhen, was the eleventh son of Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty. In the fifth year of Daming, at the age of five, he was appointed as Prince of Shian, with a fief of two thousand households, and was also appointed as Assistant General. Seven years later, he was promoted to General of Pacification, Inspector of the two provinces of Guangjiao, and Commander of the armies of Shixing, Shian, and Linhe counties, and Middle General of Pacification of the Yue, as well as Governor of Guangzhou. Despite his promotion, he did not take up his post in Guangzhou. Later, he was promoted to General Who Conquers the Barbarians, Prefect of Nan Pengcheng, and in charge of Shitou Garrison. In the first year of Jinghe, he was appointed as Intendant of Danyang, while keeping his military title. Shortly after, he was appointed as Governor of South Yanzhou, with his military title unchanged. In the second year of Taishi, he was promoted to Left General, Intendant of Danyang. Before he could take up his new post, he was executed by imperial decree at the tender age of ten.
Prince Shaoling, named Yuan, with the courtesy name Xiaoshan, was the thirteenth son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the sixth year of Daming, at the age of five, he was appointed as Prince of Shaoling, with a fief of two thousand households. By the eighth year of Daming, he was appointed as Chief of the Imperial Treasury, concurrently serving as Prefect of Qin County and Nanpei County. Shortly after, he was appointed as Champion General, concurrently serving as Prefect of Nanlangye County and Taishan County. In the first year of Jinghe, he was sent as Inspector of Xiangzhou, retaining his title as Champion General, but he did not take up his new post. Upon arriving in Xunyang, he encountered the rebellion led by Prince Zixun of Jin'an, so he did not take up his post in Xiangzhou. Later, he was promoted to General of Military Pacification. After the rebellion was suppressed, he was also executed by imperial decree at the age of only nine.
Prince Jing of Qi, named Yu, styled Xiaoying, was the fourteenth son of Emperor Xiaowu. He was born in the second year of Daming and died in the third year, later honored posthumously with a title.
Prince of Huainan, named Meng, courtesy name Xiaoguang, was the sixteenth son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the seventh year of Daming, he was granted the title of Prince of Huainan at the age of five, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. At that time, Emperor Wu renamed Nanliang County in Yuzhou as the Kingdom of Huainan, and abolished Huainan County and Xuancheng County in Nanyuzhou. Later, after the abdication of the former Emperor Xiaowu, these two counties were restored to their original names, while Prince Meng of Huainan retained his title over Huainan County, continuing to enjoy the fief of Huainan County. In the first year of Jinghe, he was appointed Champion General, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Nanlangye County and Pengcheng County. In the second year of Taishi, he was renamed Prince of Ancheng, with the same fief as before. However, before he could assume his duties, he was executed at the age of eight.
Prince of Jinling, named Yun, courtesy name Xiaozhu, was the nineteenth son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the sixth year of Daming, he was granted the title of Prince of Jinling at the age of four, with a fief of two thousand households. However, before he could take office, he died later that year.
Prince of Nanhai, named Shi, courtesy name Xiaoyou, was the twenty-second son of Emperor Xiaowu. In the seventh year of Daming, he was granted the title of Prince of Nanhai at the age of four, with a fief of two thousand households. However, before he could take office, he was murdered by the former Emperor in the first year of Jinghe, at the age of six. Later, after Taizong ascended the throne, he was posthumously granted additional titles.
Prince of Huaiyang, named Xiao, courtesy name Xiaoyun, was the twenty-third son of Emperor Xiaowu. He was born in the fifth year of Daming and passed away at the age of eight. He was later posthumously granted additional titles.
The son of the Prince of Dongping, known as Xiaoshu, was the twenty-seventh son of Emperor Xiaowu. He was born in the seventh year of Daming and was granted the title of Prince of Dongping, with a fief of two thousand households. He inherited the title from the previous Prince of Dongping, Xiu Qian. Xiu Qian's mother, Lady Yan, was known for her strict and cruel demeanor.
In the second year of the Taishi era, Xie Shi, the birth mother of Xiaoshu from Jingning Garden, submitted a memorial, saying: "The late Prince Xiuqian of Dongping Chong, intelligent and gifted, showed extraordinary abilities early on, but unfortunately died young without leaving descendants. Emperor Xiaowu ordered my son to be adopted as his heir, to inherit the throne and perform ancestral sacrifices, hoping to bring good fortune and blessings to future generations. However, Xiuqian's mother, Lady Yan, showed no love for my son, and her method of upbringing was utterly unreasonable, failing to fulfill the duties of an elder, and instead violated moral principles. When the previous Emperor, my husband, was alive, she pretended to be kind; shortly after his death, her true colors were revealed, even oppressing Empress Chongxian, causing distress and moral decay. Since then, she has become even more harsh and cruel, displaying arrogance and immorality in the family and the court, leaving a chill in the hearts of many. I cannot bear this suffering, and I humbly beseech the Emperor to revoke his decree and let my son return to me. Even if my son and I have endured great suffering in our lives, it would still be a good outcome." The Emperor granted her request. That same year, four-year-old Xiaoshu was tragically sentenced to death.
Prince Wuling, whose name was Zan and style name was Zhongfu, was the ninth son of Emperor Ming of Jin. He was born in the sixth year of Taishi. That year, Emperor Ming of Jin issued an edict, saying, "Although my grandfather Emperor Xiaowu held a noble position, his achievements were modest, governance was lax, and he was indulgent in wine and pleasures, living a luxurious and wasteful life, causing resentment to rise to unprecedented levels, bringing calamity to his descendants, and ultimately leading to disaster. My father Emperor Jing and Emperor Xiaowu made the same mistakes. Fortunately, my father was wise and capable, and was able to pacify the resentment and save the people. In order to honor our ancestors, continue and promote good family traditions, and because he is my brother, I have decided to appoint my ninth son Zhisui as Prince Wuling, granting him a fief of five thousand households." The edict also mentioned the need to strengthen the management of imperial women to prevent internal issues and explained the purpose of appointing a prince.
Later, in the fourth year of Emperor Fei of Jin, Prince Wuling was appointed as Commissioner, Commander of military affairs in the five provinces of Southern Xu, Yan, Qing, and Ji, North General, and Governor of Southern Xu Province, responsible for both military and local governance. In the first year of Emperor Shun of Jin, he was further promoted to Commissioner, Commander of military affairs in Yiyang of Yingzhou and Sizhou, General of the Front, and Governor of Yingzhou. In the second year of Shunming, Shen Youzhi laid siege to him, and he was then transferred to Commissioner of military affairs in the eight provinces of Jing, Xiang, Yong, Yi, Liang, Ning, Southern and Northern Qin, General of the Peaceful West, and Governor of Jingzhou, still responsible for military command. After Shen Youzhi was pacified, Prince Wuling went to take up his post in Jingzhou. That same year, he passed away at the young age of nine, and his principality was also revoked.
Historical records state: the princes of the Jin Dynasty fought for power and profit, ultimately leading to chaos in the realm, and the descendants of the Jin Dynasty's imperial family were killed as a result. Strength is not always better than weakness, and this is illustrated here.
