Xiao Baojuan, courtesy name Zhicang, was the second son of Emperor Gaozong of the Song dynasty. Originally named Xiao Mingxian, his name was changed by Emperor Gaozong after he came to power. In the first year of the Jianwu era, he was appointed Crown Prince.
In the seventh month of the first year of Jianwu, Emperor Gaozong died, and Crown Prince Xiao Baojuan ascended to the throne as Emperor.
In the eighth month, he ordered various compensations to be provided to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in battle against enemies in Yongzhou, based on their circumstances. He also ordered a careful investigation to see if there were any poor people who had been wronged. In the same month, Prince Jin'an Xiao Baoyi was promoted to General of the Northern Conquest and was also given the title of Chief of the Imperial Secretariat. Prince Jian'an Xiao Baoyin was appointed Inspector of Yingzhou. In the winter, in the tenth month, he ordered the simplification of legal texts.
In the eleventh month, Xiao Baojuan appointed Lady Chu as Empress and rewarded officials below the rank of king with varying amounts of money. In the first month of the first year of Yongyuan, there was a general amnesty and a change of reign title. The Emperor ordered an assessment of the performance and filial piety of officials. He went to the southern suburbs to offer sacrifices to heaven and earth. He also ordered that officials of the third rank or above who had parents or grandparents over the age of seventy should receive additional funds. Prince Nangang Xiao Baorong was appointed Inspector of Jingzhou in the month of Guimao.
In the second month of Guichou, Prince Shaoling Xiao Baoyou was appointed Inspector of Nanyanzhou. In the same month, Grand Commandant Chen Xianda suffered defeat at Maquan. In the fourth month of Jisi, Xiao Baojuan appointed Xiao Song as Crown Prince, issued a general amnesty, and promoted the common people by one rank to honor their fathers. On the day of Jiaxu, Liu Gan was appointed Inspector of Liangzhou and Nanqinzhou.
In the early days of the fifth month, the Emperor appointed General Who Calms the Army Prince Yaoguang as Chief of the Imperial Secretariat, with an additional promotion. One day in June, the newly appointed General of the Right Guard, Cui Huijing, was reassigned as General Who Protects the Army. On the same day, Fan Yun, the Interior Minister of Shixing, was appointed Inspector of Guangzhou. The next day, the Emperor issued a decree stating that there would be three movements in Yongzhou this year.
On a day in July during autumn, there was a major flood in the capital, and many people died. The emperor ordered the distribution of wood and tools to the families of the deceased and provided aid to the disaster victims. On a day in August, the emperor exempted the capital's residents from this year's taxes due to the flood. He also ordered a mourning ceremony for the soldiers who died in battle at the cavalry stables. Shortly after, on another day in August, the governor of Yangzhou, Prince Yáoguāng of Shì'ān, staged a rebellion in the Eastern Palace! The emperor quickly ordered a general amnesty for the capital, imposed martial law nationwide, and stationed officials, led by the Minister of Personnel, Xú Xiàosì, and other officials, in the palace. The emperor also sent General Xiāo Tǎnzhī to lead six armies to suppress him.
In a few days, Yáoguāng was killed, and his head was sent to the capital. Then, the emperor appointed General of the Northern Expedition, Prince Bǎoxuán of Jìn'ān, as the new governor of Southern Xuzhou and Yanzhou. On the same day, Minister of Personnel Xú Xiàosì was promoted to the position of Minister of Works, and General of the Right Guard, Liú Xuān, replaced Xiāo Tǎnzhī as the general in command. On a day in the intercalary month, the emperor appointed Duke Bǎo Lǎn of Jiānglíng as the new Prince of Shì'ān. The former puppet governor of Eastern Xuzhou, Shěn Líng, was appointed as the governor of Northern Xuzhou.
In September, the emperor appointed General of the State, Péi Shūyè, as the governor of Yanzhou, and Chief of Staff for Barbarian Pacification, Zhāng Chōng, as the governor of Yùzhou. Afterwards, because many ministers had been executed during this period, the emperor decided to grant amnesty to all under heaven. A few days later, the Prince's Attendant, Wáng Yīng, was appointed as the General of the Central Army. On a day in October in winter, the emperor unexpectedly ordered the execution of Minister of Personnel and Minister of Works, Xú Xiàosì, as well as the Right Deputy Marshal and Garrison General, Shěn Wénjì. On the same day, the emperor appointed the Interior Minister of Shìxīng, Yán Fān, as the governor of Guǎngzhōu, and General of the Pacification of the Barbarians, Shěn Líng, as the governor of Yuèzhou.
On the 11th day of the eleventh month, the old man Chén Xiǎndá rebelled in Xúnyáng, becoming the Grand Commandant and Governor of Jiāngzhōu, but ultimately, he was still a traitor!
The next day, on Yi Chou, the court swiftly appointed Cui Huijing as the General of Pingnan and sent him south to quell the rebellion. On Bing Yin, Wang Hong was dispatched to Xuzhou as governor. By the end of December, Yang Ji was appointed governor of Qinzhou. On Jia Shen, Chen Xianda arrived in the capital, prompting heavy palace security and the army to be on high alert. On Yi You, Chen Xianda was executed, and his head was displayed publicly. On Ding Hai, the court sent Prince Baoyou of Shaoling to Jiangzhou as governor, likely to handle the aftermath.
In the spring of the second year, on Ren Zi in the first month, Zhang Chong was appointed governor of Nanyanzhou. On Geng Wu, the court ordered the campaign against Pei Shuye, the governor of Yuzhou. In the second month, on Gui Wei, Xiao Yin was appointed governor of Sizhou. On Bing Xu, Xiao Yi was appointed governor of Yuzhou and was sent to attack Shouchun. On Ji Chou, Pei Shuye died of illness, leading his nephew Pei Zhi to surrender Shouchun.
In early March, Zhang Chong was appointed governor of Sizhou, holding the title of Fuguo General. A few days later, General Cui Huijing of Pingxi was dispatched to attack Shouchun. A few days later, the newly appointed Champion General Zhang Chong became governor of Nanyanzhou. Cui Huijing revolted in Guangling and marched directly toward the capital! The court promptly ordered Right Guard General Zuo Xingsheng to lead the troops in defense of the capital. The governor of Nanxuzhou, Prince Wang Baoxuan of Jiangxia, unexpectedly opened the city gates to greet Cui Huijing! The court then sent General Wang Ying of the Central Army to station troops at the North Lijing Gate, but when Cui Huijing launched his attack, Wang Ying and his troops were defeated. Cui Huijing stormed into the capital, while those in the palace held the walls. Governor Xiao Yi of Yuzhou led his troops to rescue the emperor.
In April, Cui Huijing was defeated in battle and fled, and was beheaded. The court ordered a pardon for the capital, Nan Xu, and Yan Zhou. Xiao Yi was then appointed as the Minister of State, and Jinxi Wang Baosong became the provincial governor of Nan Xu. In May, Wang Su, who had been posing as the provincial governor of Yu Zhou, was officially appointed as the provincial governor of Yu Zhou. Prince Baoben of Guiyang became the commander of the Central Guard. Prince Baoxuan of Jiangxia was executed. A general amnesty was then declared, and the capital, Nan Xu, and Yan Zhou were pardoned again. Prince Baolan of Shi'an became the provincial governor of Xiangzhou.
In June, the Emperor held a grand banquet at Leyou Garden, which was lively like the ancient Sanyuan Festival, and the women of the capital gathered to watch. Zhang Chong was appointed as the provincial governor of Yingzhou, and Lu Huixiao replaced him as the provincial governor of Nan Yan. In July, Zhang Ji became the provincial governor of North Xu. In August, Chen Bozhi became the provincial governor of Yu Zhou. That night, a fire broke out in the palace! In October, Minister of State Xiao Yi passed away.
In November, Zhang Ji became the provincial governor of Nan Yan again. Xiao Yingzhou rebelled in Jingzhou. In December, Prince Liang rebelled in Xiangyang. Liu Hui was appointed as the provincial governor of Yongzhou.
On the first day of the first month of a certain year (specific year to be supplemented based on historical records), on the day of Bing Shen, which was the conjunction of the new moon (the new moon was conjunct after the hour of Yin, between 3-5 am) and after the eighth quarter (a quarter being about 15 minutes, totaling 2 hours), the major event in the palace had taken place. Following that, a grand New Year's ceremony was held at the Yuewu Hall, with the Empress seated at the center, eunuchs in charge of various ceremonies, and the Emperor inspecting the proceedings in military attire. The next day, on the day of Ding You, Prince Jin'an Baoyi was appointed as the Grand General of the Cavalry and concurrently as the Minister of Works, while the newly appointed General of the Guard, Prince Baoyin of Jian'an, was promoted to the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and also appointed as the Grand Councilor. On the day of Jia Chen, Wang Zhengguo was appointed as the General of Ning Shuo and concurrently as the provincial governor of North Xu. On the day of Xin Hai, the Emperor went to the southern suburbs to perform sacrifices, and then issued a decree for a general amnesty, and officials presented petitions and accusations.
On the 2nd day of the second lunar month, oh no, trouble has struck! The west wing of the Ganhe Hall caught on fire! This is a big deal. On the 9th day of the fifth month, the emperor ordered the Imperial Guards to march to Yongzhou to quell the unrest, leading to nationwide tension as everyone prepared for battle. In March, Shen Huifu was appointed as the Governor of Guangzhou, and Zhang Xintai was appointed as the Governor of Yongzhou. Prince Baorong of Nankang proclaimed himself emperor in Jiangling. Afterwards, Chen Bozhi was sent on a western expedition. In the sixth month, the capital was hit by heavy rains, and the court dispatched aid to the disaster-stricken areas, with relief efforts adjusted based on the situation. Xiao Yingzou's brother, Xiao Yingfu, led a rebellion in Luling. The court granted amnesty to Ancheng and Luling counties in Jiangzhou. In the seventh month, the court granted amnesty to Jingzhou and Yongzhou. Zhang Xintai and Wang Lingshow, along with the troops from Shitou City, backed Prince Baoyin's bid for the imperial palace but found the gates closed, forcing them to retreat. Cheng Mao was appointed as the Governor of Yingzhou, Xue Yuansi was appointed as the Governor of Yongzhou, and Xue Yuansi surrendered Yingcheng to the rebels that very day. In the eighth month, Shen Zhou was appointed as the Military Supervisor of Yuzhou. Zhang Gui defended Shitou City. Li Jushi was appointed commander of the Western Front and stationed at Xinting City. In the ninth month, Li Jushi was appointed as the Governor of Jiangzhou, Wang Zhenguo was appointed as the Governor of Yongzhou, and Prince Baoyin was appointed as the Governor of Jingzhou. Shen Zhou oversaw Yingzhou, Ma Xianpin oversaw Yuzhou, and Xu Yuancheng oversaw Xuzhou. On that day, the rebels advanced into Nanzhou, and Shen Zhou's twenty thousand troops retreated from Gushu. Xiao Gui became the Governor of Sizhou, Lu Xiulie was appointed as the Governor of Yizhou, and Zhao Yue had previously served as the Governors of Liangzhou and Nanqinzhou. Li Jushi clashed with the rebels at Xinting but was ultimately defeated.
In October, Wang Zhenguo engaged in battle with the Zhuque Hang and the rebel forces, but was defeated. Xu Yuanyu surrendered the city of Dongfu. Huan He led the troops from Qingzhou and Jizhou to the capital to support the emperor, stationed in the East Palace, and later surrendered as well. Zhang Gui abandoned Shitou City and returned to the palace. Then the palace gates were shut tight and heavily guarded. Hu Huya was appointed as the governor of Xuzhou, Xu Zhiyong was appointed as the governor of Yizhou, and Niu Ping was appointed as the governor of Liangzhou and South Qinzhou. Li Jushi surrendered in Xinting, and the lord of Langye, Zhang Mu, also surrendered. The rebel army surrounded the imperial palace.
On the Bingyin day in December, Wang Zhenguo, the newly appointed governor of Yongzhou, and Zhang Ji, an attendant, led troops into the imperial palace, deposing the emperor, who was just nineteen at the time.
This emperor, since childhood, played recklessly in the East Palace, not liking to study at all. His father, Emperor Gaozong, was also indifferent, just advising him to behave properly. He even ordered the crown prince to attend court twice a day, but when the crown prince ignored him, the emperor issued a decree changing it to once every three days. It's said he once caught rats until dawn and thought it was quite amusing. When Emperor Gaozong was dying, he entrusted his affairs to others, citing Emperor Longchang as a cautionary tale, saying, "One must not lag behind in doing things!" Thus, he favored those lesser-known individuals, executed a number of ministers, and anything he wanted to do, he could accomplish.
The Emperor has a rather dull and reticent personality. He does not interact with court officials, only forming close ties with trusted eunuchs and the guards by his side. Since Jiang Ji and Prince Shi'an Yaoguang were killed, he took up horse riding. Every night, he rides horses in the palace, sings and dances with the eunuchs and musicians, plays drums and gongs, making quite a racket. He goes to sleep at dawn every day, sleeping until the afternoon. The officials are supposed to pay their respects to him as per protocol, but they have to wait until the afternoon to see him, sometimes being sent away long after dark. Memorials sent to the Imperial Secretariat and the Chancellery can take over ten days to a month for approval, with no one even knowing where the Emperor is. During the New Year celebrations, he only makes an appearance after his meal, and right after the congratulatory ceremony wraps up, he goes back to his western sleeping quarters to sleep, from around 9 AM to 3 PM, with all the officials standing around, looking exhausted and pale. When the morning court disperses, they all rush away in a panic.
After the Chen Xianda incident calmed down, the Emperor gradually began to travel around. He cleared the streets of common folks wherever he went. From the Wanchun Gate, along the East Palace to the east, all the way to the outskirts, for miles on end, every home was deserted. Tall curtains were hung as barriers across the main streets, and soldiers were stationed to keep watch, a practice called "screening out." Sometimes, the Emperor would pass by the homes of some imperial relatives and nobles on the left side of the market, taking a winding path through the whole capital.
Whenever it reaches the third and fourth watch of the night, the sound of drums echoed everywhere, flags and weapons blocking the roads, causing the common people to flee in all directions in fear, following the emperor's procession. Civil and military officials were bewildered about where the emperor was headed, with people being driven in all directions. Inside the barriers, there were ceremonial guards and several bands playing music from the Western Regions and the Hu people, drums and horns sounding together, creating a lively atmosphere. When the emperor went out at night and returned during the day, the flames lit up the entire sky. The emperor appointed his beloved Pan Shi as his noble concubine, while he rode in a carriage, with the emperor on horseback behind him. The emperor was clad in armor and undeterred by cold or heat, wind or snow, not avoiding bumps and holes, galloping at breakneck speed, dismounting when thirsty to drink from a gourd at his waist, then remounting to continue riding.
The emperor's horse gear was lavishly adorned with brocade, protected from rain with covers made of brocade and pearls, very exquisite. The emperor also trained fifty to sixty imperial guards as cavalry, selecting some rascals skilled in running as pursuit riders, surrounded by over five hundred people who were constantly running back and forth, with hardly any time to rest. The emperor also established two hundred and ninety-six pheasant shooting grounds, with tents and barriers draped in green and red brocade, crossbows decorated with gold and silver, quivers made of tortoiseshell, everywhere luxurious. The people outside the capital neglected their livelihoods, the paths for gathering firewood were obstructed, important events were delayed, families of pregnant women, newlyweds, and newborns had to move and seek refuge in other households, some even left the sick abandoned by the roadside, unable to afford time for burial.
Reports suggest that some officials, fearing retribution from their superiors, shoved sick individuals into the river at Qingxi, covering their faces with mud, and soon the patients died, with their bodies never found.
After the fire in the harem, the emperor rebuilt Xianhua Palace, Shenxian Palace, Yushou Palace, and others. These palaces were decorated with carved beams and painted rafters, glistening with gold and jade, truly extravagant! Look at the roofs, doors, and windows, all made of turquoise, with musk scent wafting from the walls, and curtains made of brocade cascading down, pearl curtains cascading down; it is truly magnificent! In order to meet the deadline, the craftsmen worked day and night, but still fell behind schedule. The emperor even ordered the removal of decorations from the caisson ceilings and figures of immortals riding beasts on the pagodas of various temples. Emperor Shizu coated the Xingguang Building in blue lacquer, so people called it the "Blue Building." The emperor also said, "Emperor Wu is really stupid, why not use colored glaze?" Pan's every need—clothing, food, shelter, and transport—was met with the finest treasures! The palace discarded all old clothes, and whatever the palace needed, they seized from both officials and commoners, with prices skyrocketing! Take, for instance, a string of tiger soul bracelets valued at an astonishing 1.7 million! In order to gild the palace, even the tax revenue from alcohol sales in the capital was converted to gold payments! Yet, it still wasn't enough; the emperor ordered that the construction costs for bridges and dams in Yangzhou and Nanxu provinces were to be shared per capita, directly collecting cash to cover the expenses of the Taile Bureau and the empress's wardrobe. Consequently, many bridges and dams in those regions fell into disrepair. He even demanded hats made from pheasant feathers, cloaks from crane feathers, and mourning garments from egret feathers... Those who had a good relationship with the emperor took advantage of the situation to make money, charging taxes at ten times the normal rate, and local officials dared not say a word.
In the summer of the third year, next to the Yuewu Hall, a Fangleyuan Garden was built. The stones were painted in vibrant colors, purple pavilions and palaces were constructed on the pond, and the walls were adorned with lewd depictions of couples! The garden was planted with precious flowers, plants, and trees, but that summer was particularly hot, and they all withered shortly after being planted! So, the emperor ordered the common people to dig up the trees from their homes and send them to the palace, tearing down people's houses to bring the trees to the palace! Planting in the morning and pulling out in the evening, the roads were a chaotic mess of trees and flowers! A market was also built in the garden, with the palace sending food and drink every morning for the palace maids to sell. Pan Shi was the market manager, and the emperor was in charge of the market, responsible for punishing violators; if there was a fight, Pan Shi would be in charge of the judgment. The emperor was incredibly strong, able to carry the White Tiger flag, and made various colorful silk clothes himself, adorned with gold flowers, jade mirrors, and various treasures, dressing up in a fancy manner. He surrounded himself with thirty-one cronies, including ten Huangmen guards. At first, he appointed Xu Shiheng from Xincai as the General of the Direct Cavalry and listened to Xu Shiheng's orders in all matters of killing. After Xu Xiaosi was killed, the emperor appointed Xu Shiheng as the Marquis of Linru County. When Chen Xianda rebelled, Xu Shiheng was promoted to Assistant General. Although he appointed Hu Jun Cui Huijing as the commander on the surface, the real military power lay with Xu Shiheng. After the situation was resolved, Xu Shiheng told others, "I led a five hundred-man army and managed to subdue a commander with tens of thousands of troops!" Xu Shiheng also knew that the emperor was indulgent and incompetent, so he secretly said to his accomplices Ru Fazhen and Meichong'er, "What emperor doesn’t have important figures around him? It’s just that we’re a bunch of troublemakers!"
Fa Zhen and his associates vied for power and profit, and reported Xu Shijian to the emperor. The emperor gradually became fed up with their brutal arrogance, so in the first month of the following year, he sent the imperial troops to kill Xu Shijian, who was killed in the struggle. Since then, Ru Fazhen and Mei Chong'er seized power, both becoming high-ranking officials, issuing false imperial edicts everywhere; the imperial secretary Wang Xuan conspired with them, specifically handling documents. The other twenty-plus people also held considerable influence. After Cui Huijing's rebellion was suppressed, Fa Zhen was granted the title of Baron of Yugan County, while Chong'er was granted the title of Baron of Jingling County. When the righteous army rose up, both Jiangzhou and Yingzhou surrendered. The emperor remained obstinate, and he told Ru Fazhen, "We'll fight to the death only when the righteous army reaches the Baimen Gate!" As the righteous army approached the outskirts, the emperor started to devise defense strategies, summoning officials and ministers to assign them to the Ministry of Personnel and the palace. He was also superstitious; during Cui Huijing's rebellion, he deified Jiang Ziwen as a false emperor, Grand Commandant, Chancellor, Grand Preceptor, Grand General, Recorder of the Ministry of Personnel, Governor of Yangzhou, and King of Zhongshan. Now, he has elevated Jiang Ziwen to the status of emperor.
He brought the statue of Jiang Ziwen and other temple statues into the palace, and had his trusted shaman Zhu Guangshang pray for blessings. The emperor ordered General Wang Zhenguo to lead 30,000 troops to guard Daheng, but the soldiers lacked morale. The emperor then sent his eunuch Wang Baosun to supervise the battle, referring to him as "Wang's eldest son." Wang Baosun scolded the generals, and General Xi Haofen bravely charged into battle but was killed. After the brave General Xi Haofen died, the army disintegrated, and many soldiers leapt from Zhuque Temple or into the Huai River to take their own lives, resulting in countless casualties. Therefore, the emperor ordered the city to be locked down and fortified, and military command in the city was handed over to Wang Zhenguo. Governor of Yanzhou Zhang Ji led troops to the capital to support the emperor, and the emperor appointed Zhang Ji as his deputy, with 70,000 elite troops at his disposal. The emperor, wearing a black hat and in full ceremonial regalia, stood atop the South Yezheng Gate, gazing out. He also put on a show with a thousand armored horses and a ceremonial procession, all armed with bows and arrows, marching out from the East Yezheng Gate, claiming that it was King Jiang leading the charge. The emperor always enjoyed toying with the army, initially conscripting palace maids as soldiers, and later using the Yellow Gate Guards. He personally oversaw the battle at the front lines, even feigning injury and having himself carried off.
At this time, he established a military camp in the Yuewu Hall and kept strict guard every night. The emperor rode a horse in the palace, entering from the Fengzhuang Gate to the Huiming Gate. The horse was adorned with armor made of silver lotus leaves and was decorated with various feathers, including those of kingfishers. Guards followed on both sides, sleeping during the day and getting up at night as usual. Hearing the sound of killing outside the city, the emperor, wearing a red robe, ascended to the rooftop of Jingyang Tower to survey the scene and nearly got struck by a crossbow bolt. Everyone was weary and not putting in their full effort. Recruiting soldiers for battle, the soldiers sat down just a few dozen paces from the city gate and didn't even bother to take off their armor before heading back. The emperor was worried about an ambush outside the city, so he ordered the destruction of the government buildings near the city walls, burning everything within the six gates. The pavilions in the city and the West Gate became markets for selling the meat of slaughtered cattle and horses. The emperor began discussing matters with the petty officials, thinking that the rebel army would likely disperse within ten days to two weeks, so he ordered the preparation of a hundred days' worth of food. After the defeat at Daheng, the populace was in a state of panic, and Fazhen and others were afraid that the people would flee in panic, so they closed the city and did not send out troops. Later, the rebel army completely surrounded Jiankang, digging trenches, setting up fences, and defending tightly. Only then did the emperor send out troops, resulting in repeated defeats. The emperor was notoriously miserly and refused to grant rewards. Fazhen knelt down to request rewards, but the emperor said, "The bandits are attacking me, why should they ask me for things?" In the palace, there were hundreds of wooden boards stored, originally intended for repairing city defenses, but the emperor intended to use them for palace construction, which ultimately never materialized. He urged the imperial household to make three hundred fine weapons, meant for dealing with dissenters once the siege was lifted. Gold, silver, jewelry, and various carved items became even scarcer than before. Wang Zhenguo and Zhang Ji, fearing for their own safety, led troops into the palace, with some troops entering the harem from the West Shangge, cutting off the escape route, with Yudao Fengyong acting as an informant.
That night, the emperor was playing the sheng, a traditional Chinese wind instrument, and singing in the Handedian. Before he had fallen asleep, he suddenly heard soldiers breaking in and quickly fled through the north gate, hoping to return to the harem. The Qingyao Pavilion was already closed, and the eunuch Huang Taiping wounded the emperor in the knee with a knife, causing him to fall to the ground. The emperor asked, "Are you staging a rebellion?" Then, Zhang Qi beheaded the emperor and presented his head to the Prince of Liang. Empress Xuande ordered, "Several emperors from the royal family have died one after another. Our ancestors were all wise emperors. The founding emperor Gaozu established the foundation, ordained by heaven. The martial emperor Wuzhuo was brave and skilled in battle; the Ming emperor Gaozong strengthened and developed the nation. Unfortunately, they all died young, leaving the throne vacant. The responsibility of inheriting the throne is significant and should rightly fall on the heir. However, he has been foolish and cruel since his childhood, raised by a wet nurse, growing up to be arrogant and unreasonable, with a notorious reputation. Emperor Gaozong painstakingly named his eldest son as the crown prince, with many talented individuals supporting him, as well as relatives and ministers jointly maintaining order, in hopes of avoiding chaos. But before the situation could improve, he began to indiscriminately slaughter the innocent. Relatives, friends, meritorious officials, and good generals were all wiped out by him in just a few short months. He surrounded himself with only wicked individuals, mostly butchers and thugs from the military, with fierce looks, yet they held great power in court, determining the fate of the country, killing innocents at will, seizing their properties and slaughtering entire families at the slightest provocation.
As the emperor, he enjoys such trivial matters, dressing in tattered clothes and lounging around carelessly. He goes out early and returns late every day, tirelessly driving the people away, forcing the common people to flee in all directions, homeless, with refugees and corpses littering the streets, blocking the way. He embarks on massive construction projects, constructing palaces around the clock, building them one day and demolishing them the next, adorning them with pearls and finding it insufficient, wanting to use jade and jasper for decoration, with utter disregard for moderation. In the sweltering summer heat, he insists on transplanting bamboo and fruit trees, day and night; before the roots are even planted, the leaves start to wither, with exhausted workers scurrying about. He recklessly squanders the national treasury, obsessed with these superficial embellishments, forcing the people to pay up, instilling fear in the common folk everywhere, driving them to flee. When the treasury runs dry, he resorts to seizing merchants' money, leaving them crying out and fleeing in all directions.
He actually served as the emperor, yet personally participated in lowly activities like wrestling. He held his head high, shrugged his shoulders, boasted of his strength, played with wooden objects, and the venue was packed with spectators, yet he felt no shame whatsoever. The Fang Le Palace and Hualin Garden have turned into markets, with stalls everywhere, butchering pigs and sheep, and he personally weighed them on the scale. The clamor of weapons and soldiers was incessant, day and night; although there was no war, the city seemed to be at war. As for his indulgence in pleasure during funerals, three years of indulgence against all reason, and other immoral acts, these matters are too numerous to detail. The bamboo of Chu and Yue cannot contain his crimes, surpassing even Xia Jie and King Zhou of Shang. General Zhengdong is loyal and valiant, leading his troops across a thousand miles, assisting the wise ruler and achieving great success. He pursued and cleared the capital, but the villains remained unrepentant, clinging to the city, having already delayed for over ten days; they should be swiftly eliminated to restore order. You can secretly send someone to convey my orders, letting the loyal and brave soldiers go out together, quickly suppress the rebellion, expel the evil, and escort them to another place. The families of the deceased have suffered so much misfortune; thinking of them, my heart feels like it's being sliced by a knife. Ah! What to do! What to do!" The Empress Dowager gave orders again, in line with the example of the Haihun Marquis of the Han Dynasty, posthumously honoring the East Marquis. Rufen Zhen, Meichong'er, Wang Xuan and others were executed, and Feng Yong also died. Historical records show that during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, a white tiger was captured in Nangong, and the one who captured the tiger was named Zhang Wu, showing he was brave and strong enough to tame fierce beasts. The East Marquis (Xiao Baojuan) was debauched and tyrannical, throwing the court into chaos. Xiao Yan raised troops to pacify the chaos, personally taking risks, making decisive moves, and ultimately ushering in an era of peace and prosperity. Even the names of those eunuchs who were overthrown felt like they were fated by heaven.
It is said: Dong Hun Hou was debauched and tyrannical, just like Xia Jie and Shang Zhou. He overturned laws and traditions, discarded ethics and morality, became obsessed with warfare, and ultimately met a fiery end. "Dong Hun is slow in his ways, like Gui and Fang Xin. He undermines the rules, discards the norms, toys with war, and ultimately meets a fiery end."
