Han Gaozu had nineteen sons in total: Empress Zhao gave birth to Emperor Wu and Prince Liu Yi of Yuzhang Wenxian; Consort Xie gave birth to Prince Liu Ying of Linchuan Xian and Prince Liu Huang of Changsha Wei; Lady Luo gave birth to Prince Liu Ye of Wuling Zhao; Lady Ren gave birth to Prince Liu Hao of Ancheng Gong; Lady Lu Xiu Yi gave birth to Prince Liu Qiang of Poyang and Prince Liu Qiao of Jinxi; Lady Yuan Xiu Rong gave birth to Prince Liu Shuo of Guiyang; Lady He gave birth to Prince Liu Jian of Shixing Jian and Prince Liu Kang of Yidu; Concubine Qu gave birth to Prince Liu Jun of Hengyang; Lady Zhang gave birth to Prince Liu Feng of Jiangxia and Prince Liu Xuan of Hedong; Lady Li gave birth to Prince Liu Rui of Nanping; and the ninth, thirteenth, fourteenth, and seventeenth sons all died in infancy. Additionally, Prince Liu Jun of Hengyang was later adopted by Prince Yuan.
Prince Liu Ying of Linchuan Xian, whose courtesy name was Xuanguang, was the third son of Han Gaozu. In the fourth year of Song Yuanhui, he began his career as a Zuo Lang in the Imperial Library, later promoted to Army Advisor (Fu Jun Xiang), and then appointed as the literary officer for the Prince of Nanyang. When the situation with Shen You was challenging, Gaozu, while in charge of Nanxuzhou, appointed Liu Ying as the General of Ning Shuo, stationed at Jingkou. After the situation was settled, Liu Ying was appointed as the Central Army Advisor, Langzhong, Assistant General, and Prefect of Huainan and Xuanzhou, though he never formally took these positions. Next, he was appointed as the Acting General, Supervisor of Southern Yanzhou, and Military Supervisor of Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, and Jizhou, with his role as General remaining unchanged. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the Yellow Gate Attendant, Leading Front General, and also restored to the positions of Champion General and Governor of Nanyanzhou, still serving as the Acting General overseeing the Five Provinces.
After the establishment of the Qi Dynasty, Emperor Ming of Song issued an edict to bestow titles upon Liu Ying and his brothers Liu Huang, Liu Ye, Liu Hao, Liu Qiang, Liu Shuo, and Liu Jian as founding county dukes, each with a fief of 1,500 households. Before the fiefs could be assigned, Gaozu ascended to the throne. Gaozu appointed Liu Ying as the Governor, commander of military affairs in eight provinces including Jing, Xiang, Yong, Yi, Liang, Ning, and North and South Qin, General Who Pacifies the West, Governor of Jingzhou, and bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Linchuan with a fief of 2,000 households, while also concurrently serving as Governor of Xiangzhou. Prince Liu Yi of Yuzhang was stationed in Shaanxi, so Liu Ying did not take up his post in Jingzhou. Later, Liu Ying was reassigned as Cavalier Regular Attendant, commander of military affairs in Yang and Nanxu provinces, General of the Front, and Governor of Yangzhou, while retaining his position as Governor. With the country newly established, Liu Ying, at a young age, governed Yangzhou with competence. His wise and capable governance was diligently executed by the local officials, and no one has matched his achievements since Prince Liu Yikang of Pengcheng in the Song Dynasty. He was appointed commander of military affairs in nine provinces including Jing, Xiang, Yong, Yi, Liang, Ba, Ning, and North and South Qin, bestowed the title of General Who Guards the West, Governor of Jingzhou, and retained his positions as Governor and Cavalier Regular Attendant, and was also provided with a ceremonial guard of honor. In response to national concerns, he resigned from his post as Cavalier Regular Attendant and was promoted to General Who Conquers the West. In the first year of the Yongming era, he returned to court as Palace Attendant and General of Cavalry. In the second year of the Yongming era, the court provided him with an ornate carriage. In the fifth year of the Yongming era, he was granted the title of Minister of the Three Excellencies. In the seventh year of the Yongming era, he passed away at the age of thirty-two. The court bestowed upon him valuable burial items from Dongyuan, a set of official robes, and an additional garment. He was posthumously appointed to the position of Minister of Works. He left behind nine sons, all granted the title of marquis.
His eldest son, Zijin, successively served as the governor of Dongyang County and Wuxing County, the Secretary, and the General of the Rear Army. In the first year of Yongyuan, he served as a Court Attendant, and later was promoted to the position of Left Minister of Personnel. He was reported by others because his cousin's husband, Zuri, failed to show him proper respect. Although this incident was buried, Zijin never held an official position again. After the Prince of Liang moved the capital to Jiankang, Zijin still wore the official robes of a Court Attendant. Later, he served in the Liang Dynasty as the Assistant General and the Governor of Gaoping. His second son, Zhiyou, was appointed as the Marquis of State Tomb. He entered officialdom at a young age, and later served as an imperial clerk, the Crown Prince's horse attendant, and the governor of Langye County and Jinling County, as well as the Yellow Gate Attendant. He enjoyed music and was skilled in various string and wind instruments. In the early Liang Dynasty, government accusations arose against his family due to scandals and murder cases, resulting in calls for punishment. Later, due to Zijin's rebellion, both brothers were executed.
Prince Huǎng of Changsha, whose courtesy name was Xuānmíng, was the fourth son of the founding emperor. He was strong in martial arts from a young age and deeply loved by the founding emperor. During the Song Dynasty, he became a Court Attendant upon reaching adulthood. Prince Shaoling wanted him to serve as a subordinate, but he refused. In the second year of Shēngmíng, he succeeded his brother Ying as the General of Ning Shuo and the governor of Huainan County and Xuancheng County. When the Shen You incident occurred, Huǎng picked up his bow and arrow, often following the military general on the streets of the capital, and people at that time said of him, "Dazzling like the fourth umbrella." That same year, he was promoted to the position of commissioner, overseeing military affairs in Yuzhou, Sizhou, and Xiyang in Yangzhou, and was appointed as the General of the West Central Army and Governor of Yuzhou.
When Emperor Zhu was in power, there was a man named Xiao Huan who always wanted to take charge, but was repeatedly obstructed by a minor official. In a fit of rage, Xiao Huan killed the official. When Zhu Yuanzhang heard about this, he became furious and ordered that Xiao Huan be punished. However, not long afterward, Xiao Huan was promoted and became the commander of military affairs in Southern Xu and Yan provinces, and also became the General of Southern Xu Province. His rank continued to rise. Later, when Zhu Di was the crown prince, he organized a military exercise at Wu Jin Ling and appointed Xiao Huan to lead the cavalry. When Zhu Yuanzhang heard about this, he was displeased. Xiao Huan later served as a palace attendant and military general. When the country was in mourning, he stepped down from his advisory role and was promoted to the position of military general. Before his death, Zhu Yuanzhang entrusted Xiao Huan to Zhu Di, asking him to stay by his side and not go elsewhere.
In the first year of Yongming, the emperor transferred the son of the Prince of Jingling, Prince Liang, who served as the governor of Southern Xu Province, to Nan Yan Province, and Xiao Huan took over his position as the commander of military affairs in Southern Xu and Yan provinces, as well as the General of Southern Xu Province. He later went to the capital and became a court official. At that time, it was mandated that royal princes could have no more than 40 bodyguards in the capital. Xiao Huan, who had a penchant for showiness, secretly brought back hundreds of bodyguards from Xu Province to the capital. When the imperial guards discovered this, they cast him into the river. Zhu Di had already forbidden royal princes from maintaining private armies, and when he heard about this incident, he was furious and prepared to punish Xiao Huan in accordance with the law. However, Prince Yuzhang knelt before Zhu Di and pleaded for mercy with tears, reminding him of the kindness Zhu Yuanzhang had shown to "Bai Xiang," which was Xiao Huan's nickname. Zhu Di was moved to tears. He remembered how Zhu Yuanzhang had warned him on his deathbed about the necessity of familial unity to avert the dynasty's downfall. Therefore, Zhu Di ultimately did not punish Xiao Huan severely.
However, Xiao Huan did not receive any special favor. At that time, people evaluated Zhu Di, saying he was better than Emperor Wen of Wei, but not as good as Emperor Ming of Han. Later, Xiao Huan was promoted to General of the Guards, then became the Prefect of Danyang, while holding positions as Palace Attendant and General of the Guards. He was later appointed as Palace Attendant and Protector-General, while still retaining his General of the Guards position. He was then promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, while still holding the position of Palace Attendant. He was also given a luxurious chariot and a band. Eight years later, Xiao Huan passed away at the young age of thirty-one. The court bestowed upon him a set of secret instruments from Dongyuan, a set of court attire, and a robe. He was posthumously granted the title of Grandee of the Imperial Household, with his official rank remaining the same as during his lifetime.
It is said that Emperor Yuan, the founder of the dynasty, once went to Zhongshan to enjoy the scenery, and Huan went with him. Huan used his lance to prod a dead tree branch on the roadside, and the Emperor asked a few attendants to help pull it out. The silver wire on the lance became entangled, but the lance couldn't be pulled out. The Emperor instructed Huan to try again, this time using his horse to pull with more force, and Huan was able to pull out the lance in one go. Every time fine horses were presented as tributes from remote states and counties, the Emperor had Huan train and ride them in Hualin Garden. The Emperor often said, "This is the talented man from my Rencheng fief!" Because of this, Emperor Yuan posthumously granted Huan the title of "Wei."
King Zhaowang of Wuling (武陵昭王), Sima Ye, styled Xuanzhao, was the fifth son of Emperor Taizu. His mother was Luo Shi, who was executed for a crime while following Emperor Taizu in Huaiyin. Sima Ye was only four years old at the time, but he demonstrated an adult-like longing for his mother, which endeared him to Emperor Taizu. He was initially appointed as General Champion and later promoted to General of Pacifying the Barbarians. Sima Ye was determined, clever, and an expert in chess. He also wrote poetry with other princes, drawing inspiration from Xie Lingyun's style, and presented them to the emperor. After reading them, the emperor said, "Among all these children, the twenty characters you composed are the best. However, Xie Lingyun's poetry is too free-spirited and lacks a strict structure. The poetry of Yan Yanzhi, Xie An, and Xie Heng deserves to be studied, with Yan Yanzhi's poetry coming in second." In the third year of Jianyuan, Sima Ye was appointed as the Governor of Kuaiji, Dongyang, Xin'an, Yongjia, and Linhai, while keeping his military title. The emperor also sent Confucian scholar Liu Zhuang to the county to explain the Five Classics to Sima Ye. After Emperor Shizu took the throne, Sima Ye was elevated to Left General and later reassigned as Minister of the Palace Library while still holding his military title. He was later promoted to Cavalier in Regular Attendance and Minister of Ceremonies. He served as Minister of the Palace Library again, and then promoted to Minister of the Ancestral Temple, while continuing as Cavalier in Regular Attendance.
Sima Ye did not receive the Emperor Shizu's favor, nor was he assigned to a local post, and he often offended the emperor with his words. Once, Emperor Shizu went to the eastern field of Prince Yuzhang, Sima Yi, to invite the princes, but did not summon Sima Ye. Sima Yi said, "The scenery is really beautiful; today I especially miss Prince Wuling (Sima Ye)." Only then did the emperor summon Sima Ye. Sima Ye was good at archery; he hit the bullseye several times in a row, then turned to the people around him and said, "How is my archery?" The emperor's expression was strange. Sima Yi said, "A Wu (Sima Ye's nickname) is not usually like this; today he relies on the emperor's prestige!" The emperor relaxed. Later, at the archery competition at Huayuan, the emperor had Sima Ye compete with others. Sima Ye shot six arrows, five hit the bullseye, and one hit the edge of the target, so the emperor rewarded him with 50,000 coins. Another time at a banquet, the emperor raised his glass and urged Sima Ye to drink, and Sima Ye said, "Your Majesty, you never treated me like this before." The emperor turned his face away and ignored him.
After a while, he was appointed as the Inspector of Jiangzhou, but still retained his position as Palace Attendant. The emperor thought that Li Ye was serving as an official outside and wanted to reward Li Ye's mansion to the princes. Li Ye said, "The previous emperor gave me this mansion so that I would have a place to mourn. If Your Majesty wants to exchange my mansion for a state office, I'd prefer not to." After more than a hundred days in office, Zhao Wozhi, who was in charge of documents, reported Li Ye's achievements and shortcomings, so the emperor recalled him to court and appointed him as Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel. Not long after, he was promoted to General and Grand Minister of State Ceremonials, but he never fulfilled his ambitions.
In winter, the court held a ceremony for festival greetings. The other princes had all arrived early, but only Li Ye arrived late. When the emperor heard that Li Ye had arrived, he summoned him and inquired about the reason for his tardiness. Li Ye said his ox was too weak to walk. The emperor then ordered the stable to provide him with a strong royal ox. He also instructed the officials in charge of reception to say, "From now on, if the princes cannot arrive on time for such ceremonies, they will not be allowed to enter the palace."
On official business, Li Ye passed by the mansion of Prince Liang of Jingling on a winter's day. He encountered a beggar and gave him his short coat. Prince Liang saw Li Ye wearing thin clothes and gave him a short coat. Li Ye said, "What is the difference between me and the person I just gave to!"
The Minister of Personnel, Wang Jian, visited Li Ye. Li Ye invited Wang Jian to eat, with just cabbage and fish for the meal. He even went so far as to name the mountain in the backyard "Shouyang Mountain," probably due to his dissatisfaction with his poverty.
Later, he was appointed as the Intendant of Danyang, while retaining his roles as Palace Attendant and General. From then on, he no longer had to delegate his responsibilities and could handle political affairs himself. He was later promoted to Palace Attendant and Guard General, and the court provided him with a luxurious carriage and two attendants. Before Emperor Shizong passed away, he appointed Li Ye as Guard General, bestowed upon him the honorary title of Wei Yitong San Si, and provided him with a band of musicians.
During the funeral period after the emperor's death, in the hall where the crown prince had yet to be appointed, the courtiers discussed and debated. Li Ye said among the crowd, "If the eldest son is to be chosen, it should be me; if the heir should be chosen, it should be the crown prince." Later, Prince Yulin was appointed as the crown prince and held great trust in Li Ye. In the first year of Longchang, Li Ye passed away at the age of twenty-eight. The court bestowed upon him precious items from the East Garden and court attire, posthumously conferred upon him the title of Minister of Works, retained his position as Palace Attendant, and provided him with a ceremonial staff and twenty sword-bearing guards.
Prince Gong of Ancheng, whose name was Xiao Hao, courtesy name Xuanyao, was the sixth son of Emperor Taizu. In the second year of Jianyuan, he was appointed as the General of Champions and stationed at Shitoucheng, responsible for military affairs. Four years later, he was appointed as the Commissioner, overseeing military affairs in Jiangzhou, Yuzhou, and Jinxi regions, as well as the General of the South Central Army and the Governor of Jiangzhou. In the first year of Yongming, his title was promoted to General Who Pacifies the Barbarians. The following year, he was appointed as the General of the Left Guard. Soon after, he was promoted to Grand Marshal, concurrently serving as Colonel of Infantry, and later transferred to the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. In the fifth year of Yongming, he was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Ancestral Temple, concurrently serving as General of Agile Cavalry. In the sixth year, he was appointed as the Governor of Nanxuzhou. In the ninth year, he was promoted to Cavalier Regular Attendant and Director of the Imperial Secretariat, also in charge of military affairs at Shitou Shu. Xiao Hao was known for his gentle personality, but he had fragile health and often suffered from illness, ultimately passing away in the summer at just twenty-four. Posthumously promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army, his title of Cavalier Regular Attendant remained unchanged.
Prince Poyang, whose name was Xiao Qiang and style name was Xuan Shao, was the seventh son of Emperor Taizu. In the fourth year of Jianyuan, Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, and Xiao Qiang was appointed as the commissioner with special authority, responsible for overseeing military affairs in Yongzhou, Liangzhou, North and South Qinzhou, Yingzhou Jingling, and Sizhou Suijun. His official titles were General of the Northern Central Army, Colonel of Ningman, and Governor of Yongzhou, which was a highly lucrative position. In the second year of Yongming, his title was promoted to General Conquering the Barbarians. Four years later, he was promoted to General of the Left Guard, then to Palace Attendant, and concurrently as Colonel of Infantry. In the seventh year of Yongming, he was promoted once more to General Conquering the Barbarians, while also serving as the Intendant of Danyang. Shortly after, he was further appointed as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance and promoted to General Who Pacifies the Army. Later, he was appointed as Governor of Jiangzhou while retaining his position as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. In the ninth year of Yongming, he began to personally handle the affairs of the prefecture. He was then appointed as the commissioner, responsible for overseeing military affairs in Jiangzhou, holding the title of General Who Pacifies the South, and was also assigned a historian while retaining his position as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. Prior to this, the Jiangzhou prefecture had been abolished for two years before being restored at this time. In the eleventh year of Yongming, he was appointed as General Who Leads the Army while retaining his position as Cavalier In Regular Attendance.
Xiao Qiang was known for his gentle and kind nature and was highly favored by Emperor Shizu. Serving as General Who Leads the Army was an unparalleled honor among the princes of the Qi dynasty. During his tenure, Xiao Qiang was always prompt in handling political affairs and was praised by the people at that time. When the emperor went on excursions, Xiao Qiang always wore armor and led the army to guard him, with the emperor's favor toward him being second only to that of Prince Yuzhang Xiao Yi. That year, the emperor even bestowed a beautifully decorated carriage upon him. In the first year of Longchang, Xiao Qiang was promoted to Right Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat while retaining his position as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. Shortly after, he was further appointed as Palace Attendant, General of the Valiant Cavalry, and awarded the titles of Chief of the Imperial Staff and Three Excellencies, along with military forces and a historian.
Ah, Zhang is a steady person who has earned the trust of King Yulin. At that time, King Yulin had some doubts about Emperor Gaozong and asked other princes about it. Only Zhang remained, and he was asked, "What do you think of Luan (referring to Gaozong)?" Zhang replied, "I hold the highest rank in the royal family and have also been favored by the late emperor. We princes are still young, and the only one in the court capable of handling significant responsibilities is Luan. Your Majesty, you need not worry." After King Yulin exited, he said to Xu Longju, "I want to join everyone in getting rid of Luan, but you disagree. I can't do it on my own. Let's hold off for now." In the end, King Yulin was deposed, and Zhang was completely unaware of it.
In the first year of Yanxing, Qiang was promoted and became the Minister of Personnel, while still holding the positions of Attendant and General of the Cavalry as before. Emperor Gaozong was stationed in the Eastern Palace at the time, with increasing power. Every time Qiang went to see him, Emperor Gaozong personally came down from his carriage to greet him, a gesture of great respect. When they discussed national and family affairs, they often ended up in tears, which deepened Qiang's trust in Emperor Gaozong. Many people in the palace were optimistic about Qiang and urged him to enter the palace with troops to assist Emperor Gaozong in governing. The Director of the Bureau, Xie Can, along with Prince Wang Zilong, said to Qiang, "Your Highness, all you need to do is arrive in a splendid carriage at the palace, place the Emperor in the court, and have the two princes—yourself and Prince Wang Zilong—at your side to issue commands. We will guard the city gates, and if anyone dares to disobey, the folks in the eastern city have been itching to hand Xiao Ling over to us!" Prince Wang Zilong wanted to quickly finalize the plan, but Qiang felt that all the troops from the Eastern Palace had already been transferred to the palace, and he worried the plan might fail, which made him hesitate. Liu Ju, the cavalry commander and a veteran minister from the late Emperor Sizuo's reign, went to see Qiang and knelt before him, urging him to take action. Qiang then prepared to set off for the palace, but ended up returning to bid farewell to his mother, Lady Lu, and didn't manage to leave before night fell. A few days later, Emperor Gaozong sent two thousand men to surround Qiang's residence, with the intent to kill him, and Xie Can and the others were also killed. Qiang was only 26 years old at the time. The princes who were killed were all besieged by the army in the dead of night, with some even breaking down doors and walls to ransack their homes.
Prince Shuo of Guiyang, style name Xuanlang, was the eighth son of Emperor Taizu. In the second year of Yongming, he was sent to serve as the Inspector of Nanxu Prefecture, stationed at Jingkou. Among the officials who guarded Jingkou throughout the ages, Shuo was the first to streamline the military organization. In the fourth year of Yongming, he was promoted to Cavalier Attendant. In the sixth year of Yongming, he was further promoted to Chancellor of the Secretariat, concurrently serving as Minister of Revenue. In the seventh year of Yongming, he once again served as Chancellor of the Secretariat, also holding the title of Cavalier Attendant. At that time, Prince Qiang of Poyang had a passion for literature, while Prince Shuo of Guiyang favored principles, and they were both known as "Pogui." In the tenth year of Yongming, Shuo was promoted to Grand Minister of Ceremonies, while still holding the position of Cavalier Attendant. Shuo was frail and suffered from chronic illness, often confined to bed. Emperor Shizu personally visited him, gifting him bed curtains and bedding. In the first year of Longchang, he was further promoted to General-in-Chief and was given an oiled felt-covered carriage, as well as two attendants. After Prince Poyang was murdered, Shuo was promoted to General of the Central Army and given the title of Chancellor of the State. However, Shuo felt uneasy and went to the Eastern Palace to see Emperor Gaozong, where he told those around him, "Just now, Lord Lu received me very warmly, trying to keep me here, but there was a look of guilt on his face; he must be planning to kill me!" In the dead of night, soldiers came for him, and he was killed. At that time, he was only twenty-five years old.
Jian Wang of Shixing, styled Xuanchè, was the tenth son of the Taizu. He was initially titled Guangxing Wang, but later changed his title because it was the same as the name of the county. In the second year of Yongming, Emperor Shizu appointed Jian as the Chief Commander of Military Affairs in Yining and Ningzhou, former General, and Governor of Yizhou. The people of Shifang County in Guanghan presented Jian with a Duyu, an ancient musical instrument. The Duyu stood three feet six inches tall, had a circumference of two feet four inches, was cylindrical, black as lacquer, and very thin. Atop the Duyu sat a copper horse, suspended by a rope, elevated more than one foot off the ground, then water was poured inside. A vessel containing water was placed under the Duyu, with a stalk of reed grass pointed at the center of the Duyu. Kneeling, he poured water while shaking the reed grass with his hands, producing a thunderous sound that echoed like thunder, clear and resonant. In ancient times, it was used to tune musical instruments. In the fifth year of Yongming, Jian presented a dragon horn, nine feet three inches long, bright red in color, with patterns on top. In the eighth year of Yongming, Jian was promoted to the title of Anxi General. The following year, he was appointed as a cavalier attendant, secretary, and responsible for military affairs at Shitou Shu. The Emperor, who had not seen him in a long time, specially visited Shitou Shu to host a banquet in his honor, rewarding him with many gifts. Not long after, he was promoted to Left Guard General but fell ill before he could assume his post. At that time, the Emperor was holding a celebration for the newly built Qingyang Lane Mansion of Prince Lin of Nankang, where he and the palace concubines were enjoying drinks and festivities. Tragically, he fell gravely ill at that time, and the Emperor sent people to visit him continuously, even ordering the banquet to be stopped. He passed away at the age of twenty-one. The Emperor posthumously conferred upon him the title of General of the Central Army, and all the previously conferred official positions were retained.
Wang Feng of Jiangxia, whose courtesy name was Xuanying, was the twelfth son of Emperor Taizu. In the fifth year of Yongming, he was appointed General Supporting the State, concurrently serving as the Governor of the Nan Pengcheng and Pingchang commanderies. He was later promoted to Cavalier Attendant. In the seventh year of Yongming, he was promoted to General of the Left Guard, concurrently serving as an Attendant to the Emperor, where he was in charge of military affairs in Shitou Shu. In the ninth year of Yongming, he was appointed Inspector in Xuzhou. After Emperor Yulin ascended the throne, he was again appointed as Cavalier Attendant. In the first year of Longchang, he returned to the court as an Attendant to the Emperor, concurrently serving as the General of Agile Cavalry, and shortly after, he was appointed as the Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Wang Feng was passionate about music and literature, and he was also very skilled in martial arts. When Emperor Gaozong executed the princes, Feng wrote a letter condemning Gaozong's atrocities, but those around him were too afraid to deliver it. Gaozong feared him greatly and didn't dare to arrest him at his residence, so he arranged for him to be appointed as a part-time sacrificial official at the ancestral temple, and then sent soldiers to capture him in the temple at night. As Feng was boarding the carriage, the soldiers attempted to board the carriage to guard him, but Feng managed to knock several of them down. Only then did the soldiers hesitate to approach, and ultimately, he was killed. He was just twenty years old at the time.
Nanping Wang Rui, styled Xuanyi, was the fifteenth son of Emperor Taizu. In the seventh year of Yongming, he was appointed as an Imperial Attendant and shortly after became the General of the Agile Cavalry. The following year, he was promoted to Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites. He was very diligent and conscientious in his duties at the court, never taking sick leave, which the Emperor highly valued. In the tenth year of Yongming, he was sent to govern Xiangzhou as its Governor and Commander-in-Chief, as a recognition of his merit. After Emperor Yulin ascended the throne, his title was elevated to General-in-Chief. In the first year of Yanxing, Emperor Gaozong ordered the execution of several royal princes and sent Pei Shuye to pacify Xunyang, while also dispatching additional troops to Xiangzhou. Rui's aide Zhou Boyu advised him to resist Pei Shuye, but because his forces were too weak, they did not dare to act rashly. As a result, Rui was killed at the age of nineteen. Zhou Boyu was subsequently imprisoned and executed.
Yidu Wang Kang, styled Xuanyan, was the sixteenth son of the Emperor. He initially served as a General of the Guards. In the tenth year of Yongming, he was promoted to Left Minister of the Ministry of Rites. In the eleventh year of Yongming, he was further promoted to the position of Commander-in-Chief, Commander of the Southern and Northern Provinces, General of the Crown Prince, and Governor of the Southern and Northern Provinces, stationed at Gushu. At that time, someone had desecrated the tomb of Huan Wen, daughter of the Grand Marshal of the Jin Dynasty, unearthing treasures such as golden silkworm cocoons, silver cocoons, and various jade items. Wang Kang sent his Chief Clerk Cai Yue to restore the tomb without disturbing anything. After Emperor Yulin ascended the throne, Wang Kang was appointed as General Who Subdues the Enemy. In the first year of Yanxing, he was killed at the age of eighteen.
Jinxi Wang Qiao, styled Xuanyou, was the eighteenth son of the Emperor. In the eleventh year of Yongming, he was appointed as General of the Agile Cavalry. In the first year of Longchang, he was sent to govern Yingsi as the Commander-in-Chief, Inspector of the Yingsi Provinces, General of the Crown Prince, and Governor of Yingsi. In the first year of Yanxing, he was promoted to General Who Subdues the Enemy. He was also killed shortly thereafter, at just sixteen.
Wang Xuan, styled Xuan Yin, was the nineteenth son of the emperor. In the first year of Longchang, he became General of the Agile Cavalry. Later, he was appointed as the Inspector of Xuzhou, and then promoted to the position of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. During Emperor Gaozong's reign, when the various princes were being executed, Wang Xuan was spared due to his young age and weak abilities. In the first year of Jianwu, Wang Xuan was appointed as a Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and General Who Guards the Army, and was also given soldiers to assist him.
During the Jianwu period, the descendants of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Wu lived in constant fear. Whenever Wang Xuan attended court, he would bow and lower his head, not daring to look directly at the emperor or stand up straight. Later, he was promoted to Palace Attendant and General of the Guards. As Wang Xuan grew slightly older, in the fourth year of Jianwu, the emperor executed Wang Yan, claiming that Wang Yan had conspired to support Wang Xuan, resulting in Wang Xuan being stripped of his official titles, placed under house arrest, and prohibited from contact with the outside world. In the first year of Yongtai, when the emperor fell gravely ill, Wang Xuan was killed, when he was only nineteen. Wang Xuan's two young sons were also killed. Among the many sons of Emperor Taizu, Wang Xuan was the only one who did not leave behind descendants, causing many to believe he had been wronged. Therefore, the officials Wang Yaoguang, Prince Zijin of Linyuan, Prince Zhaozhou of Jingling, Grand Commandant Chen Xianda, Prefect Xu Xiaosi, Deputy Director Shen Wenji, Chief Clerk Shen Yuan, Shen Yue, and Wang Liang jointly petitioned for justice for Wang Xuan. Initially, the emperor refused, but after their second petition, he finally agreed.
Historical records indicate that Cao Zhi, Prince of Chen, once stated, "Power lies in whose hands, even those with distant relations will be valued; power leaves whose hands, even those with close relations will be despised." Cao Jiong's analysis of the rise and fall of the Six Dynasties is quite insightful. Granting fiefs to princes, establishing ancestral temples and altars, essentially placed significant responsibilities on members of the imperial family.
The system of enfeoffing feudal lords has been constantly changing with the times. Officials can enter the court and become noble ministers and advisors to the emperor. Both the emperor and the feudal lords enjoy prestigious status, while official positions may vary, the number of ranks remains fixed. The fiefdoms and salaries are very generous, which can easily lead to suspicion. The dying wish of the emperor expressed deep concern for his legitimate heirs, reflecting his careful planning and leaving no regrets.
The reason he entrusted power to those less close to him was that the princes were still young and lacked the ability to handle various challenges at the time. Emperor Gaozu (Cao Cao) came from a commoner background and was cautious, so he entrusted important power to some distant ministers to form a strong force alongside his own children both inside and outside the court. This approach could placate those distant ministers and prevent them from aspiring to the throne, thereby consolidating his rule.
However, he did not foresee that concentrating power in the hands of a few would lead to controlling the many, ultimately resulting in internal strife within the clan. Cao Zhi's words were spot on!
Praise: The twelve princes under the founding emperor were originally appointed with Cao Zhi's involvement. Duke Xian and Duke Zhao were quick-witted; Duke Wei and Duke Jiang were talented; Duke Gong and Duke Jian were gentle; and Duke Poyang and Duke Guiyang were knowledgeable. These four young princes adhered to ancestral teachings and acted with caution.
