The Abandoned Emperor, whose name was Yu, courtesy name Derong, and childhood name Huizhen, was the eldest son of Emperor Ming. On Xinchou Day, the first month of the seventh year of the Daming era, he was born in Weiwei Palace. His father, Emperor Ming, used the I Ching to read fortunes for his sons while they were still in the womb, and based on the predictions, he gave them their childhood names. Therefore, the Abandoned Emperor was given the childhood name Huizhen, following the same custom for the other princes. In the second year of the Taishi era, he was named Crown Prince. Three years later, he was officially named Yu and was provided with a luxurious carriage and an elephant-drawn chariot. By the sixth year, he had left the Eastern Palace. The court mandated that the Crown Prince must pay respects to the Emperor on New Year's Day and wear the Nine Chapters ceremonial robes.
In April of the year 465 AD, Emperor Xiaowudi of the Song Dynasty passed away. The next day, the Crown Prince ascended to the throne as Emperor, declaring a general amnesty across the realm. Yuan Can was appointed Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, Chu Yuan was appointed General of the Guard, and they both assisted the new Emperor. Soon after, Zhang Yong was appointed Grand Master of Splendid Happiness on the right, and Prince Ancheng was appointed Inspector of Yangzhou. A few days later, Liu Zunkao was promoted to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness on the left.
In May, Zhang Dai became the governor of Yizhou. Subsequently, the elderly and frail soldiers stationed along the Yangtze River were allowed to return home. The palace guards continued their usual duties, coming and going from the palace. In June, the emperor issued a decree saying, "To govern the country, we must start from the fundamental interests of the common people. I want to vigorously promote education and improve social conduct. I inherited the throne at a young age and have always wanted to do something for the common people, but lacking experience and not having had the opportunity to address many issues. Therefore, I will send envoys to investigate the people's sentiments in various places and understand the hardships they face. If any laws or regulations are found to be unsuitable for local conditions, or if officials are corrupt, they must be reported to me. If local officials perform well and demonstrate honesty and diligence, they should be commended; if officials engage in corruption, delay their duties, or harm the people's interests, this must be reported. I want to hear a wide range of opinions and adopt valuable suggestions. The envoys must carefully investigate and report the situation to me in detail, as if I were personally inspecting it."
The emperor issued another decree saying, "In ancient times, emperors placed great emphasis on talent selection. Although I may not be the most capable, I will strive to learn from the experience of past dynasties, select talented individuals, and serve the country. I will search for talent across the nation, whether they are reclusive in the mountains or diligently working in the fields, as long as they are virtuous and talented, I will not overlook them. I hope that local officials will actively recommend talents." When heavy rain struck the capital, the emperor ordered aid for the impoverished in two disaster-affected counties. Later, the emperor honored the empress as empress dowager and appointed Jiang as the new empress.
In July, the emperor posthumously bestowed the title of Empress Dowager upon his birth mother, Consort Chen. In the leap month, Song'an County was merged into Guangxing County. Ruyin County in Southern Yuzhou was reassigned to Xiyu Province, and Lujiang County in Xiyu Province was transferred to Yuzhou. Cai Xingzong was promoted to the position of Imperial Secretary and Grand Master of Splendor; Shen Youzhi was promoted to General of the West and Governor of Jingzhou; Liu Bing was promoted to General for Pacification of the West and Governor of Yingzhou; Jing Su was promoted to General Who Guards the Military and Governor of Nanxuzhou. In August, Cai Xingzong died. In October, Liu Yun was dismissed due to errors; Chu Yuan resigned following the death of his mother. In November, Liu Bing was appointed as Left Secretary of the Secretariat; Chu Yuan resumed his position as General Who Protects the Army. Envoys from the states of Rui Rui and Goryeo brought tributes. In December, the Suolu invaded Yiyang, and Wang Zhan, Governor of Sizhou, led troops to defeat them. On the first day of the first month in the first year of the Yuanhui era, a new era was announced, and a general amnesty was declared. On the seventeenth day of the first month, the emperor issued a decree stating, "Lenient laws can demonstrate grace, revision of laws can promote good social customs, reduction of taxes can show compassion for the people's suffering, and educating the people helps instill proper moral values. I always govern with the people in mind, hoping for simple and lenient governance to gain the trust and love of the people. Now, with this general amnesty, we start anew, allowing all exiled individuals to return home."
On the seventh day of the second month, King Xie of Jin was appointed as the Governor of Yingzhou. On the eighth day of the third month, Chief of Military Affairs He Hui was appointed as the Governor of Guangzhou. The Kingdom of Poli sent envoys to offer tribute. On the eleventh day of the third month, Liu Lingyi, the former Governor of Huainan, was appointed as the Governor of Nanyuzhou. On the tenth day of the fifth month, Deputy General Li Anmin was appointed as the Governor of Sizhou. On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, envoys from the Prince of Henan presented treasures. On the ninth day of the sixth month, Governor of Yuezhou Chen Boshao was appointed as the Governor of Jiaozhou. On the twelfth day of the sixth month, Senior Official and Left Chancellor Liu Zunkao died. A major flood occurred in Shouyang; on the sixteenth day of the sixth month, the Emperor sent a Palace General to provide disaster relief and to console the affected residents. On the nineteenth day of the sixth month, Left Army General Meng Ciyang was appointed as the Governor of Yanzhou.
On the fourth day of the seventh month, the Imperial Attendant Gu Changkang and the Chief of the Guards He Yizhi presented their twelve-volume work "Jian Lin," which covers the period from Emperor Shun to the era of Emperor Wu of Jin. On the eighth day of the eighth month, the Emperor issued an edict saying, "The division of regions and the rectification of customs began in the time of Emperor Shun. Different regions have different systems, and the rites and regulations of the Zhou dynasty each have unique characteristics. Only with order and organization, where each performs its own duties, can the seven forms of education be propagated and the eight policies smoothly implemented. Although the systems of past dynasties differ, and the rituals vary, sometimes the people migrate, and sometimes the country relocates its capital. The noble families of Yan from the Han dynasty, the noble families of Dai, and the noble families of Qi and Chu in the west all migrated to new cities and settled there. During the rule of the Jin dynasty, the rites and music traditions moved south, and the people of the Central Plains migrated to Yangzhou and Yuezhou. The wise ruler established a prosperous era, unified the country, formulated long-lasting effective systems, and clarified land ownership. However, due to the complex geographical environment, frequent disasters, poor harvests, the people displaced, and the military slackened, many people left their hometowns, leading to increasingly serious problems. We should follow the path of the sages, establish long-lasting laws and regulations, stabilize society, enrich the people, thereby stabilizing society and consolidating rule. Governing the mountains and rivers, calming the waves of the sea, just like the nine services described in the "River Chart," implement good systems across the country." The Chief of the Secretariat Wang Jian presented his thirty-volume work "Qi Zhi." The capital encountered a drought. On the twenty-second day of the eighth month, the Emperor issued an edict saying, "Recently, the weather has been dry, with intense sunlight, severely affecting the autumn harvest and causing hardship for the people. My ability to govern the country is lacking; many people remain imprisoned, and numerous cases of injustice persist. I am deeply troubled day and night. I order the Minister of Justice and all law enforcement officials to thoroughly investigate all cases, rectify any injustices, and ease the suffering of the people. And I order all prefectures and counties not to conceal or fail to report." On the twenty-ninth day of the eighth month, the General of the Guard and Inspector of Nanxu Province, Prince Jing Su, was promoted to General Who Guards the North. On the fifth day of the ninth month, Prince of Chenliu Cao Xi passed away.
On September 13th, the Emperor issued a decree stating: "The country's taxation should adhere to fixed standards. Previously, due to wars, priority was given to military needs, and the methods of tax collection sometimes deviated from established standards. Grain transportation in Xiangzhou and Jiangzhou is severely congested, and the labor demands are heavy, causing immense suffering for the people. Due to past policy errors, this issue remains unresolved, and the burden on the people continues to grow. I am deeply troubled by this and have lost sleep over it. Envoys should be dispatched for on-site investigations, exempting all instances of violations of old decrees and labor exceeding prescribed limits, and provide detailed reports." On September 16th, the son of Prince Hengyang, Boyu, was named Prince of Nanping. On the ninth day of the tenth month, Marshal Wang Xuanzai was appointed governor of Liangzhou and Nanqinzhou. On the tenth day of the tenth month, Zhongli County in Nanyanzhou and Matou County in Yuzhou were transferred to the newly established Xuzhou, and the counties of Qin, Liang, and Liyang were merged to form Xinchang County. On the third day of the eleventh month, Cavalier Attendant Yuan Hong was appointed governor of Xuzhou. On the fourth day of the eleventh month, the mother of Yuan Can, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, passed away, and Yuan Can resigned as a result. On the first day of the twelfth month, a solar eclipse occurred. On the third day of the twelfth month, the Minister of Works and Jiangzhou Governor, Prince Guifang of Guiyang, was promoted to Grand Commandant. Yuan Can resumed his role as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and was granted the title of Guard General. On the tenth day of the twelfth month, Borong, the heir of the former Prince Jian'an, was appointed Prince of Shi'an County. On the thirteenth day of the twelfth month, the Prince of Henan sent envoys to offer tributes. In the year 477 AD, on the day of Gengzi in the first month, Zhang Yong was appointed General Conquering the North and Governor of Nanyanzhou. On the day of Jisi in the second month, Chu Yuan was promoted to General of the Central Army. On the day of Guiyou in the third month, Wang Kuan was appointed as the Governor of Nanyuzhou. On the day of Guihai in the fourth month, the Emperor issued a decree saying: "Recently, there have been excessive backlogs in evaluating titles and merits, making it challenging to address them, leading to uneven rewards and punishments, which has been a source of concern for me. It has now been decided to implement according to previous standards and issue appointment documents."
On the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, Prince Xiufan of Guiyang launched a rebellion. On the seventh day, strict martial law was imposed both inside and outside the court. Liu Meng was promoted to General of the Town Army, and Prince Qi was promoted to General of the South, leading the vanguard to attack the rebels and was stationed at Xinting. Zhang Yong was stationed at Baixia, Shen Huaiming defended Stone City, and Yuan Can and Chu Yuan were stationed in the palace to defend. On the ninth day, the rebels suddenly attacked the Xinting camp. Prince Qi resisted and defeated the rebels, and Zhang Jing'er killed Xiufan. Du Heili and Ding Wenhao led troops to attack Zhuque Hang, but Liu Meng failed to resist and died in battle; Wang Daolong was killed while fleeing. Zhang Yong was defeated at Baixia, and Shen Huaiming fled from Stone City. On the eleventh day, Mao Tian opened the gates of the East Palace to welcome the rebels, and they entered the palace. Chen Xianda led the army to defeat the rebels. On the thirteenth day, Zhang Jing'er and others respectively defeated the rebels at Xuanyang Gate, Zhuangyan Temple, and Xiaoshi, seized the East Palace, and killed the rebel leader. Rewards and titles were distributed based on the level of contributions. On the seventeenth day, the court ordered the burial of both the rebels and the fallen soldiers. The curfew was lifted that day, a general amnesty was granted, and civil and military officials were all promoted by one rank. On the nineteenth day, all debts in Jiangzhou were canceled, and all unjust taxes and corvée were abolished.
The emperor issued another decree, saying, "The treasury has recently been emptied, military expenditures are enormous, the granaries are empty, and it is difficult to sustain a prolonged war. The issues of luxury and waste must be addressed; thrift must take precedence. The palace furnishings should be minimized, and lavish decorations must cease. All entertainment expenses are strictly forbidden, and detailed regulations must be formulated." Shen Youzhi, Prince Jianping Jing Su, Prince Jinxi Xie, Prince Wang Sengqian, and Zhang Xingshi all led their troops to come to support the king. On the Ji Hai day, the seventh prince was appointed as the governor of Jiangzhou. The Kingdom of Rui Rui sent envoys to offer tribute. On the Geng Zi day in June, Prince Qi was appointed as the Central Commander, General of the Town Army, and Governor of South Yanzhou. On the Gui Mao day, Prince Jinxi Xie captured Xunyang and pacified Jiangzhou. On the Wu Shen day, Ren Nongfu was appointed as the governor of Yuzhou, and Wang Kuan was promoted to General Pingxi. On the Ren Xu day, the title of Assistant Teacher General was changed to Assistant General of the Nation. On the Geng Chen day in July, the seventh prince was officially named Prince of Shaoling. On the Xin Si day, Meng Ciyang was appointed as the governor of Yanzhou. On the Yi You day, Shen Youzhi was promoted to Grand General of the West, Prince Jing Su was promoted to Grand General of the North, both established their offices and held the title of Yitong Sanji; Prince Jinxi Xie was promoted to General of the West, and Wang Sengqian was promoted to General of the South. On the Xin You day in August, Liu Yanzu was appointed as the governor of Ningzhou. On the Ren Chen day in September, Lv Anguo was appointed as the governor of Yanzhou. On the Ding You day, Yuan Can was appointed as the Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, established his office, held the title of Yitong Sanji, and served as Chief Minister; Chu Yuan was appointed as the Prefect of the Ministry of Rites; Prince Ancheng was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry. On the Geng Shen day in October, Wang Yun was appointed as the governor of Xiangzhou. On the Jia Zi day, Chen Xianda was appointed as the governor of Guangzhou. On the Bing Xu day in November, the emperor held the Yuanfu ceremony, granted a general amnesty, and conferred noble titles upon men; for those who fulfill filial piety to their parents, as well as the elderly, filial piety, and those who work in the fields, a second-level noble title was conferred; for widows, widowers, orphans, and the disabled who cannot support themselves, five dou of grain were awarded; for those over eighty, one piece of silk was awarded. A grand banquet was held over five days, and rewards were distributed to officials of lower rank. On the Gui Hai day in December, the eighth prince was named Prince of Jiangxia, and the ninth prince was named Prince of Wuling.
In the spring of a certain year, on the day of Xinsi in the first month, the emperor personally went to the southern outskirts and the Mingtang to offer sacrifices. On the Bingyin day of the third month, the King of Henan sent tribute items. On the Jisi day, Zhang Jing'er was appointed as the Prefect of Yongzhou. On that day, the capital suffered a major flood, and the emperor sent officials to inspect the situation and provide relief to those affected by the disaster. On the Wuxu day of the intercalary month, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Recently, the moral standards of the people have deteriorated, the national treasury is empty, the harvest is poor, and the people are suffering. In addition, there are continuous border conflicts with various expenses, leaving me sleepless at night and anxious during the day. I intend to improve the financial system, promote thrift, reserve supplies, and help the people, in order to govern the country well. The lavish delicacies in the palace, the luxurious clothes used by the court, all these supplies must be reduced, and specific measures must be carefully formulated, and we must prioritize simplicity."
In April, the emperor sent officials to conduct a population survey in various regions, exempting taxes for the elderly, the infirm, and those in extreme poverty; for the young and strong, as long as they can still support themselves, they will receive leniency; for those with substantial assets, they will be urged to pay taxes on time. On the Bingxu day, the emperor presided over court cases in the Zhongtang. On the Guiwei day of the sixth month, envoys from the north visited. The Minister of Works Yuan Can and the Prefect of the Masters of Writing Chu Yuan both respectfully declined official positions. On the Gengxu day of the seventh month, Yuan Can was appointed as the Prefect of the Masters of Writing. On the Renxu day, Liu Huaizhen was appointed as the governor of Yuzhou. On the Gengzi day of the eighth month, Chu Yuan was promoted to the General of the Guards and the Director of the Palace Library. On the Bingchen day of the ninth month, the King of Henan, Tuyuhun Shiyin, was promoted to the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry. On the Bingxu day of the tenth month, envoys from Goryeo delivered tribute. On the Yichou day of the twelfth month, Yao Daohe was appointed as the Prefect of Sizhou.
In the second year of spring, on the day of Ji Hai in the first month of the lunar calendar, the emperor personally went to the fields to plow and ordered a nationwide amnesty, bestowing titles on the hardworking peasants and providing food and seeds to the impoverished. On the day of Ren Zi, Wang Xuanzai was appointed Governor of Yizhou. On the day of Ren Xu in the second month of the lunar calendar, Fan Bainian was appointed Governor of Liangzhou and South Qinzhou. On the day of Ding Mao, Wang Kun was promoted to Jinzi Guanglu Daifu and concurrently held the title of Tejin. In May, Yang Wendu was appointed Governor of North Qinzhou. On the day of Yi Wei, Yu Wanzhi, the Right Minister of Personnel, submitted a memorial to the emperor, reporting on the current political situation.
The Tianfu (national treasury) has been running on empty for almost thirty years. Places like Jiangzhou and Jingzhou have always had low taxes, and in recent years, funds for recruiting soldiers have been critically insufficient. All the collected grain and cloth are being used to supply civil and military officials. Yuzhou, Yanzhou, Sizhou, and Xuzhou are all desperate for food; the generals in the northwest are left begging for clothes. The supplies shipped to the capital are woefully inadequate. The national finances are solely dependent on Huainan and Shandong. The common people are now poorer than ever, with barely any money, much worse off than before. However, the country's expenses have skyrocketed to four times what they were during the Yuanjia period. The palace guard numbers have dwindled to less than one-fifth of their original strength; most officials responsible for managing waterways and supplies have become ineffective. The palace warehouses have run out of wood and bamboo; the two warehouses in the east and west lack bricks and tiles. Everything needed has to be bought in the market. The Ministry of Personnel's office is on the brink of collapse, and most of the government offices are in disrepair. There’s neither time nor resources for repairs. Considering the court's income, it’s simply insufficient, with no reserves, and it is on the verge of being completely empty. These long-standing issues have finally culminated in the current crisis. Previously, following the emperor's orders to collect the overdue taxes from Yangzhou and Xuzhou, a total of 600,000 shi of rice, more than 50 million coins, and 50,000 pieces of cloth were collected, along with many other miscellaneous items. Just enough to barely keep things afloat. Now the demand for money is skyrocketing, and expenses are rising sharply, and I’m deeply concerned we won’t be able to meet the supply demands; military production will stop, soldiers will go hungry and complain, and officials won’t receive their salaries. All departments have stripped away luxury decorations, and construction projects have stopped. Even the imperial relatives can’t be supported, and those with merit aren’t receiving rewards. What I, a simple-minded person, worry about isn’t just for a month, but for an entire year!
I do not dare to say much about national affairs and long-term planning. I work diligently every day and do not dare to slack off even a little. When urgent matters arise, I must speak out forthrightly. I earnestly implore Your Majesty to carefully consider developing long-term plans, issuing unprecedented edicts, and implementing practical measures so that the common people may find joy and peace.
The emperor approved the memorial. On the gengxu day (year, month, day), General Cao Xin was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou. On the yihai day of the sixth month, Prince Qi was promoted to General of the Garrison Army and concurrently appointed as the Supervisor of the Left of the Imperial Secretariat. In the autumn of the seventh month, General of the Northern Expedition and Governor of South Xuzhou, Prince Jianping Jing Su, rebelled in the capital. On the jichou day, the court declared martial law both inside and outside the city, and sent General Ren Nongfu and General Huang Hui to the north to suppress the rebellion, with Prince Qi commanding the forces. South Xuzhou was granted clemency; Prince Shi'an Bo Rong and Marquis Duxiang Bo You were executed. On the xinmao day, Governor of South Yuzhou Duan Forong led the vanguard cavalry and infantry. On the jiawu day, Army Commander and General of the Left Zhang Bao was defeated and killed. Huang Hui and his forces arrived in the capital and engaged in battle with Jing Su's troops, achieving successive victories. On the yiwu day, they seized the capital, executing Jing Su, and all participants in the rebellion were put to death; martial law was lifted the same day. On the bingshen day, a general amnesty was declared across the realm, with various rewards and titles conferred. The outstanding taxes owed by the original two counties in the capital were fully forgiven. On the xinchou day, Prince Zan of Wuling was appointed as the governor of South Xuzhou.
On the Dingmao day in August, the tenth imperial brother, Hui, was appointed as the King of Nanyang, the eleventh imperial brother, Song, was appointed as the King of Xinxing, and the twelfth imperial brother, Xi, was appointed as the King of Shijian. On the Gengwu day, the Minister of the Imperial Court, Ruan Tianfu, was appointed as the Governor of Nanyu Province. On the Yixu day, the acting Governor of Qingzhou and Jizhou, Liu Shanming, was officially appointed as the Governor of Qingzhou and Jizhou. On the Dinghai day in September, the jurisdiction of Sui County in Yingzhou was reassigned to Sizhou. On the Wuzi day, General Gao Daoqing of the Valiant Cavalry committed an offense and was executed. On the Jichou day, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Prince Ancheng, was promoted to Grand General of Cavalry with the title of Yitong Sanji; the General of Anxi, Prince Jinxi of Yingzhou, was promoted to General of Zhenxi. On the Xinyou day in October, Wang Senqian, the Minister of Personnel, was appointed as the Right Deputy Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Prince Liang Miji of Dangchang was appointed as General of Anxi and Governor of Hezhou and Liangzhou. On the Bingyin day in November, the Director of the Imperial Library and General of the Guards, Chu Yuan, resigned due to the death of his mother. On the Gengxu day in November, the court decreed that he could continue in his original position.
In a certain year (specific year inferred from historical records), on the Renshen day in February, the court appointed the Prefect of Jianning, Liu He, as the Governor of Ningzhou, which was a significant official appointment.
On the Jiaxu day in April, a major scandal broke out in Yuzhou! The Governor of Yuzhou, Ruan Tianfu, along with Infantry Colonel Shen Bozong and Zhu Youmou, actually plotted to overthrow the emperor! As a result, Ruan Tianfu and Zhu Youmou were imprisoned and ultimately perished; Shen Bozong was also beheaded; they truly reaped what they had sown!
On the 5th day of May, the court appointed General Shen Jingde as the Governor of Jiaozhou and General Quan Jingwen as the Governor of Nanyuzhou. On the 3rd of May in the same month, Sun Tangguan was appointed Governor of Yuezhou. There have been quite a few changes in the government this month! On June 1st, the court executed Left Historian Shen Bo, Cavalier Attendant Du Yuwen, General Sun Chao, and Captain Du Shuwen of the Water Cavalry. This was a major purge! However, to quell public discontent, the court issued a general amnesty. On the night of July 7th, the emperor died in the Ren Shou Palace. He was only fifteen at the time, truly a case of heaven being jealous of talent! Alas, the next day, July 8th, the Empress Dowager issued a proclamation:
General Wei, the military leader, the chief imperial secretary, and the eight ministers, Emperor Yu, the legitimate eldest son who inherited the throne, was expected to grow in wisdom day by day and be entrusted with the affairs of state. Little did anyone know that from a young age, he was fierce and violent, committed no good deeds, and ignored all teachings. His character worsened to the point of being utterly unreasonable. He discarded his hat, refused to wear a crown, donned armor all day, played with dogs and horses, and took pleasure in raising eagles and falcons—even within the palace and near the emperor's sleeping quarters. He would ride alone to the outskirts, spend the night in the wilderness, wield a spear and halberd, kill personally, treat blades as toys, and make killing as commonplace as eating. He discarded his guards, disregarded etiquette, frequented the market, drank and sang in taverns, partied until dawn, indulged in feasting and revelry in the barracks, seized children, and looted property. Such actions were not recorded in the official history; never has such a wretched emperor been heard of. Shen Bo and other Confucian scholars, Sun Chao and other meritorious officials, along with the younger brothers, all made contributions to the country. These four did nothing wrong, yet they were executed together. He shot them with arrows, hacked them with swords, and spared not even the children, treating murder as a joke, tossing bodies into the river as if it were a game. He was exceedingly extravagant and wasteful; the national treasury was empty, he imposed harsh taxes, funneled money into his private treasury, leaving the people hungry and struggling to survive. As his biological mother, I advised him countless times to do good, but he even plotted to poison me in revenge. Every day, I live in fear that I won’t survive to see tomorrow. Compared to him, the tyrants of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou Dynasties—like Kings You and Li—are mere footnotes. The people's grievances run deep, the wrath of heaven has long been brewing, the ancestral temple is on the verge of collapse, and the populace is in a state of unrest.
Depose the incompetent ruler and enthrone a wise one; this has been the custom throughout history. Moreover, he is so unrighteous and violates the heavenly mandate, making it intolerable to the heavenly principles. His serious offenses are grave, and he should be deposed. Therefore, I secretly ordered General Xiao to plan and coordinate internally and externally to restore peace to the world. General Ancheng, the Prince of Biaoqi, is the son of Emperor Taizong, gifted and talented, noble in character, and deeply loved by the people. It is only right for him to inherit the throne, as all the people hope for his ascension. He should inherit the legacy of his ancestors and effectively govern the realm. Follow the previous traditions and perform various ceremonies on time. As a grieving widow, I reflect on the past, grief-stricken, and can never forget.
The Empress Dowager also ordered, "This child Yu has committed heinous acts and brought about his own downfall. Although he deserves his punishment, it is still regrettable. Leaving aside the crimes he committed, I cannot bear to see him end like this. Let's posthumously confer upon him the title of Prince of Cangwu." He was buried on the west side of the suburban altar in Dan Yang Moliang County.
And so, the matter came to a temporary conclusion. Although Yu committed unforgivable crimes, the Empress Dowager, recalling their past, ultimately granted him a respectful burial, bringing this tragedy to an imperfect close. "Yu was extremely cruel and brought destruction upon himself. Although he met his fate, it is still a pity. Despite the crimes he committed, I cannot bear to see him end like this. Let's posthumously confer upon him the title of Prince of Cangwu." This royal edict is both the final judgment on Yu's crimes and a true reflection of the Empress Dowager's complex emotions. She must uphold the dignity of the royal family and the justice of the law, while grappling with her emotional ties to Yu. The conflicts and struggles within are imaginable.
It is said that when Li Xian was young in the East Palace, he started studying at the age of five or six, but he was lazy and preferred playing, making it difficult for his teachers to manage him. He especially liked to climb the lacquered pole, which was over a zhang high, and could play like this for half a day before coming down. As he grew older, he became irritable and moody, and if anyone around him did something slightly wrong, he would hit them, leaving them squatting on the ground, barefoot, which became part of his daily routine. His teacher reported this to Emperor Taizong, who ordered him to be disciplined. After Li Xian ascended the throne, he was inwardly afraid of Empress Wu Zetian and also wary of the ministers, so he did not dare to act recklessly. As he grew older, his temperament changed drastically, becoming increasingly unruly, and no one could control him.
From the third winter to the following spring, he liked to run around everywhere, with the Empress Dowager often trailing behind him in a green carriage, attempting to rein him in. But Li Xian became more and more unruly, and the Empress Dowager found herself powerless to rein him in as well. He would take a few trusted followers and break away from the group, running out ten or twenty miles, going into the city, going to the military camp, and wouldn't return until nightfall. By the fourth spring and summer, his outings became even more frequent. Since the capital had been pacified, he became even more arrogant, venturing out to have fun every day. He spent all day racing with the monks Zhi Chong and Zhang Wuer, sneaking out through the Chengming Gate at night and returning in the morning, or going out in the morning and returning at night. The people following him carried long spears, and anyone they encountered on the road—men, women, dogs, horses, cows, and donkeys alike—couldn't escape. The common people were afraid, not daring to open their doors during the day, and nearly everyone avoided the roads. He often wore shorts instead of formal attire. If someone displeased him, he would subject them to various forms of cruel punishment. He always kept dozens of white wooden sticks at hand, each with its own name, and tools like needles, awls, chisels, and saws were always within reach.
Once, he pierced a man's genitals with an iron mace. The people around him frowned upon seeing this. Li Xian was furious and ordered the person to be stripped naked and made to stand upright, then pierced him through the shoulder with a spear. He raised dozens of donkeys at the Hall of Glorious Light, and the horse he rode was kept in the imperial chamber. There were rumors among the common people that Emperor Taizong was not Li Xian's biological father, and Empress Chen was originally Li Dao'er's concubine. Some said that Li Xian was Li Dao'er's son. Whenever Li Xian went out, he referred to himself as "Li Tong" or "General Li." He also had an affair with a woman from the Right Guard Wing Camp, often spending thousands of coins on wine and meat. Zhang Yang, Ruan Dianfu's most trusted confidant, was Ruan Dianfu's most trusted person. After Ruan Dianfu's failure and defection, he was later caught, and Li Xian had him crushed to death by a cart at Chengming Gate. Du Yanzai, Shen Bo, Du Youwen, and Sun Chao were all personally stabbed and then dismembered by him. He also captured Du Youwen's brother, Du Shuwen, by Xuanwu Lake, rode a horse with a long spear, and personally went to assassinate him. He built a convertible cart and drove it around with only a few dozen followers. The ceremonial guards could never catch up with him, and everyone feared being implicated by him and dared not pursue him, only watching from a distance. Though Li Xian acted absurdly, he had an exceptional memory and was very skilled in the production of gold and silver utensils, tailoring, and hat-making. He could not play the flute, but as long as he held a flute, he could play beautiful tunes. He had a natural penchant for killing and took pleasure in it, feeling restless if he did not kill someone in a day. Everyone in the court was in fear, living in constant anxiety, unable to sleep well at night and feeling on edge during the day.
The King of Qi wanted to depose the emperor, secretly planning and discussing with General Wang Jingze. On the seventh day of July, the emperor rode in an ordinary carriage with only about two hundred people, with no pomp or circumstance, to Qingyuan Nisi, and in the evening went to Xin'an Nisi to drink with Monk Tandu. After getting drunk, he was helped back to a tent on the east side of Ren Shou Palace to sleep. At that time, the emperor's movements were unpredictable; the palace doors were all open at night, and the ministers were too afraid to encounter him and stayed inside. Those responsible for guarding also kept their distance, and no one cared inside or outside the palace. Wang Jingze had bribed twenty-five people close to the emperor, including Yang Yufu, Yang Wannian, and Lv Xinzhi, to plan to kill the emperor. That night, Wang Jingze went out, and Yang Yufu saw the emperor drunk and sleeping like a dead pig. Without knowing anything, he and Yang Wannian went into the tent and killed him using the emperor's own sword. Chen Fengbo took the emperor's head and, following protocol, claimed he was acting on the emperor's orders, opened the Chengming Gate, and went out, handing the head to Wang Jingze, who quickly ran to the military office and presented the emperor's head to the King of Qi. The King of Qi quickly donned his armor, gathered a dozen followers, and declared he was returning, entering through the Chengming Gate. The guards at the gate were often too frightened to look at the emperor when he opened the door, and this time they did not suspect anything. After the King of Qi entered the palace at dawn, he announced he was welcoming Prince Ancheng to the throne on behalf of the Empress Dowager.
The historian said: Those emperors who brought ruin to their own states and families, although they all followed the same fate, had different methods. The previous deposed emperor lived a debauched life, indulging in pleasures everywhere, and even when he traveled, he insisted on maintaining an emperor's appearance, sending people to clean the roads; in contrast, the King of Cangwu secretly hid the jade seal and the imperial seal, dressed in commoner's clothes, had forgotten his way back, wore a tattered hat and a short coat, and rode away alone on a horse. Ultimately, they all met their demise, and their countries fell; the reasons for their downfall were fundamentally the same. The Ji Zhou and Xia dynasties were once mighty; while their cultures and systems differed, yet the reasons for their downfalls were strikingly similar!
