Yangzhou, the site of the capital, sits in a land of great significance! During the Han and Wei dynasties, the governors were based in Shouchun, and during the Wu Kingdom period, eight governors were appointed, but there was no mention of a Yangzhou governorship whatsoever. It was not until the first year of Jin's Taikang era, after the Wu Kingdom was destroyed, that Zhou Jun began to govern the southern regions along the Yangtze River. Later, the Emperor took on the role of governor and crossed the Yangtze River to the south, thus making this area the outskirts of the capital, and its status suddenly became significantly elevated. The following counties governed by Yangzhou are: Danyang (Jiankang, Moling, Danyang, Liyang, Yongshi, Hushu, Jiangning, Jurong); Kuaiji (Shanyin, Yongxing, Shangyu, Yuyao, Zhuji, Shan, Yin, Shinin, Juzhang, Mao); Wu (Wu, Lou, Haiyu, Jiaxing, Haiyan, Qiantang, Fuyang, Yanguan, Xincheng, Jiande, Shouchang, Tonglu); Wuxing (Wucheng, Wukang, Yuhang, Dongqian, Changcheng, Yuqian, Lin'an, Guzhang, Anji, Yuanxiang); Dongyang (Changshan, Taimo, Wushang, Yongkang, Xin'an, Wuning, Feng'an, Dingyang, Suichang); Xin'an (Shixin, Yi, Suian, She, Haining); Linhai (Zhang'an, Linhai, Ninghai, Shifeng, Le'an); Yongjia (Yongning, Angu, Songyang, Hengyang, Lecheng).
Nan Xuzhou, whose capital is Jingkou. During the Wu Kingdom period, the position of Youzhou Shepherd was established here, with troops stationed. The waterway from Dantu leads directly to the Wuhui region, where Sun Quan was initially stationed. "Erya" states: "A towering place is called Jing." Present-day Jingkou is situated at the foot of the mountains, facing the sea, next to the Yangtze River, with its territory extending along the Yangtze River, somewhat reminiscent of Hejian County, holding a very important status. Since the Song Dynasty, this place has become a royal hometown, where many officials and nobles from Jiangnan reside, with fertile land and abundant resources. The counties under the jurisdiction of Nan Xuzhou include: Nandonghai County (Tan, Zhuqi, Xiangben, Licheng, Xixi, Dantu, and Wujin); Jinling County (Jinling, Wuxi, Yanling, Qu'a, Jiyang, Nansha, Haiyang); Yixing County (In the second year of Yongming, it was once assigned to Yangzhou, but was later restored to its original status.) (Yangxian, Linjin, Guoshan, Yixiang, Sui'an); Nanyangye County (Originally located in Jincheng, it was moved to Baixia during the Yongming period.)
First, let’s discuss Linyi, Jiangcheng, and Lanling. In the third year of Jianwu, Lanling was abolished. Qiaoxian County was founded in the second year of Jianyuan, set up by refugees from Pingyang County who settled in Linjiang County, later renamed Qiaoxian. In the first year of Yongming, Huaihua County was also abolished and incorporated into Qiaoxian. Next is Linhuai County, which, in reality, holds no real power; it's merely an empty shell.
Next come Haixi, Sheyang, Ling, Huaiyin, Dongyang, and Huaipu. Huaipu County was likewise abolished in the second year of Jianwu. The situation in Huailing County is similar, with Siwu and Wuyang; Wuyang County was merged into Taishan County in the third year of Jianwu. Zhencheng, Yangle, and Xuxian—these three counties were also abolished in the third year of Jianwu.
Nandongguan County, which includes Dongguan, Ju, and Gumu, saw Gumu County abolished in the third year of Jianwu. Nanclear River County falls under the jurisdiction of Nan Xuzhou and belongs to Jizhou, including Dongwucheng, Qinghe, Beiqiu, and Yimu; Yimu County was abolished in the second year of Jianwu.
In Nanpengcheng County, there are several places, including Pengcheng, Wuyuan, Fuyang, Fan, Xue, Kaiyang, Ao, Tong, Xiapi, Lü, Zhuqiu, and Beiling, which were abolished in the third and fourth years of Jianwu. Nangaoping County was established in the fifth year of the Song Taishi era, with its initial capital in Huaiyin and later moved to Huainan. Jiangtu County was also under its jurisdiction, ultimately becoming part of Nanxuzhou. Jinxiang and Gaoping are the counties under its jurisdiction.
Nanjinyin County includes three counties: Chengwu, Danfu, and Chengyang. Chengyang County was abolished during the third year of Jianwu. Nanpuyang County comprises Linqiu, Dongyan, Hui, Juancheng, and Yuci. Yuci County was abolished in the second year of Jianwu, and Juancheng County was transferred from Jiyang County in the third year of Jianwu.
Nanlu County was abolished in the second year of Jianwu, previously governing Lu, Fan, and Xi'an counties. Xi'an County was also abolished in the second year of Jianwu. Nanpingchang County was abolished in the third year of Jianwu, with Anqiu and Xinle counties. After the county was abolished, they both belonged to Dongguan County. Dongwu and Gaomi are also in this county.
Nantaishan County was also abolished in the third year of Jianwu. Nancheng County was first transferred to Pingchang County, but after Pingchang County was abolished, Nancheng County was also gone. Guangping County still exists. Nanjiyang County was dissolved in the third year of Jianwu. Kaocheng County was first transferred to Lu County, but after Lu County was abolished, Kaocheng County was also gone.
In Yuzhou, in the first year of Yongchang of Emperor Yuan of Jin, Governor Zuyue withdrew from Qiaoxian to Shouchun to escape attacks from the Hu people. Shouchun is the most significant city in the Huainan region, boasting a vast territory, fertile land, and rich resources. Since the Han and Wei dynasties, the Yangzhou governor has consistently regarded this location as the capital. Shouchun is located north of the Huai River, as noted in the "Tribute of Yu," which states "the Huai and Hai belong to Yangzhou."
Later, in the fourth year of Xianhe, Zuyue unexpectedly surrendered to the Hu. The court appointed Yu Liang as the governor, assigning him to Wuhu. Wuhu is located at the southern entrance of the Pu River into the sea, which has a strategically important terrain. Liu Bei once remarked to Sun Quan, "In the Jiangdong region, Jianye comes first, followed by Wuhu." Yu Liang aimed to reclaim the Central Plains, so he appointed Mao Bao as the governor and stationed him in Zhucheng, but was ultimately defeated by the Hu. Yuyi served as the governor of Jingzhou, stationed in Wuchang. At that time, many counties lost their territories, leaving thousands of people without a means of survival. Yuyi reported to the court, relocating refugees from Xiyang and Xincai to Xunyang to cultivate new farmland there.
In the fifth year of Emperor Mu's Yonghe reign, Wang Jia, the Yangzhou governor who had disguised himself as a Hu, surrendered to the court, while other governors relocated to offices in Liyang, Matou, and Qiaoxian, and did not return to their original posts. In the first year of Emperor Ai's Longhe reign, Yuan Zhen returned to Shou Chun. Unfortunately, Yuan Zhen was eventually defeated by Huan Wen, who subsequently appointed his son Huan Xi as the governor in Liyang. In the first year of Emperor Xiaowu's Ningkang reign, Huan Chong relocated his office to Gushu. In light of ongoing border conflicts, the court relocated part of the population from Qiaoxian and Liangguo to establish a new Nanchao County and Liang County in Huanchuan. Twelve years later, Huan Shiyan returned to Liyang. When Yu Zhun served as governor, he petitioned the court to streamline the administration, dismantling the newly established institutions and restoring the original framework.
In the second year of the Yixi era, Liu Yi was stationed in Gushu again. He reported to the court, saying, "Being the governor of Yuzhou is not easy! The west is desolate, close to the nomads; the north is bleak, and the locals are fierce. The locals don’t understand reason and only know how to fight. Deserters are everywhere, and we’re fighting every day. Over the past few years, there’s been a war nearly every month, and it’s impossible to manage with just these resources. So I’m requesting that General Zhang Chang take charge of the three counties of Huainan, Anfeng, and Liangguo." At that time, the border regions of Yuzhou were in chaos. In the twelfth year of the Yixi era, Liu Yiqing was stationed in Shouchun, and later, Shouchun became the administrative center of Yuzhou. He brought stability to the remote areas and defended against foreign invasions. The following are the counties under Yuzhou’s jurisdiction:
[Nan Ruyin County] (which abolished two counties of Nanchen Zuo County in the second year of Jianyuan)
Next is "〖Jinxi County〗: Xinye, Yin'an, Huaining, Nanloufan, Qixing, and Taihu Zuo." These are counties under Jinxi County, a total of six are listed. Jinxi County sounds quite grand. Next is "〖Yingchuan County〗: Linying, Shaoling, Nanxuchang, and Quyang," which consists of four counties. "〖Ruyang County〗: Wujin, Ruyang," Ruyang County has only two counties. "〖Liang County〗 (According to the First Year of Yongyuan, Liang County includes five counties: Suiyang, Xinji, Chen, Meng, and Chongyi.)" Of these place names, Chengfu is listed under Nanzhao in the Record of Yongyuan. Moving on, "〖Beichen County〗: Yangxia, Xihua, Changping, and Xiang." Beichen County consists of four counties. "〖Chenliu County〗: Junyi, Xiaohuang, and Yongqiu," Chenliu County has three counties. "〖Nandun County〗 (Not recorded in the First Year of Yongyuan) Hecheng, Nandun," Nandun County is not recorded in the First Year of Yongyuan, but Hecheng and Nandun are listed. "〖Southwest Dun County〗 (Governed by Zhou, Not recorded in the First Year of Yongyuan) Southwest Dun, Hecheng, Qiao, Pingxiang," Southwest Dun County is also not found in the First Year of Yongyuan, but it includes Southwest Dun, Hecheng, Qiao, and Pingxiang counties, and it is noted to be governed by Zhou.
"[Bei Liang Jun] (No record in the 'Yongyuan First Year Gazetteer') Bei Meng, Bei Chen", Bei Liang Jun, also not listed in the 'Yongyuan First Year Gazetteer', only includes Bei Meng and Bei Chen counties. "[Xi Ruyin Jun] Lou Fan, Ru Yin, Song, Chen, Ping Yu, Gu Shi, Xin Cai, Ru Nan, An Cheng", Xi Ruyin Jun includes more counties, totaling nine: Lou Fan, Ru Yin, Song, Chen, Ping Yu, Gu Shi, Xin Cai, Ru Nan, An Cheng, including several that are not recorded in the 'Yongyuan Gazetteer'. "[Bei Qiao Jun] Ning Ling, Qiao, Qi (classified under Nan Qiao in the 'Yongyuan Gazetteer')", Bei Qiao Jun; Qi County is classified under Nan Qiao in the 'Yongyuan Gazetteer'. In the final section, "[Ru Nan Jun] (No record in the 'Yongyuan First Year Gazetteer') Ju Yang, An Cheng", "[Bei Xin Cai Jun] Tong Yang, Xin Cai, Gu Shi, Bao Xin", "[Yi Yang Jun] Qi Si, Nan Xin Xi, Yi Yang, Shang Cai, Ping Yu", "[Chen Jun] Nan Chen, Chang Ping, Xiang, Xi Hua, Yang Xia", "[An Feng Jun] Yu Lou, Xin Hua, Shi Shui, Fu Yang, Kai Hua, Bian Cheng, Song Zi (listed under Bei Xin Cai in the 'Yongyuan Gazetteer'), An Feng", "[Guang Cheng Zuo Jun] Le An, Guang Cheng, Ru You", "[Bian Cheng Jun] (No record in the 'Yongyuan First Year Gazetteer')", "[Jian Ning Jun] Yang Cheng, Jian Ning", "[Qi Chang Jun]". This section enumerates several jun and their subordinate counties in one go, with a significant number, and discrepancies exist with the records of previous historical books. Overall, this resembles an ancient list of geographical names, some information is relatively complete, while some are more vague. Yang Tang, Bao Cheng, Qi Chang, and Yong Xing were initially part of Yingzhou. In the fourth year of Yong Ming, these three jun - Yang Tang Jun, Bao Cheng Jun, and Qi Chang Jun - were reassigned to another province. Yong Xing Jun is not mentioned, but it likely followed suit. Regardless, these places were originally part of one province, but later separated.
Nanyuzhou is known for its many stories. In the first year of the Ningkang era of the Jin Dynasty, Huan Chong was first the governor of Yuzhou in Gushu City, and later moved to another place, as recorded in the "Book of Jin." In the second year of the Yongchu era of the Song Dynasty, the eastern part of the Huai River was designated as Nanyuzhou, with its administrative center in Liyang, while the western part of the Huai River remained as Yuzhou. In the seventh year of the Yuanjia era, Nanyuzhou was abolished. In the first year of the Ming Dynasty, it was re-established with its administrative center in Gushu. In the second year of the Taishi era, the capital was moved to Liyang, then to Xuancheng in the third year, and abolished again in the fifth year. The area west of the Huai River was occupied by hostile forces. Seven years later, Nanyuzhou was re-established by carving out land from the eastern part of the Huai River. In the second year of the Jianyuan era, Emperor Taizu noted the scarcity of officials and residents in Xiyuzhou, which made management costly and challenging, so Nanyuzhou was abolished. The Left Supervisor Wang Jian submitted a memorial saying, "In my opinion, this area in Jiangxi is connected to Ruzhou and Yingzhou, with vast land and sparse population. The Xiongnu frequently invade, and only Shouchun can stop them. If the prefecture can find suitable officials, we will be able to be alerted when the enemy makes a move, and Yuzhou can be prepared for defense, so there is no need for Nanyuzhou. Even if the enemy suddenly attacks and we are not informed, the cavalry will not be stopped at Shouyang city, and sending troops from Liyang to rescue will be too late. Everything needs to be prepared from the beginning of a war. Without a permanent local official and well-trained army, temporary support is limited. It is a good policy to be prepared for danger in times of peace, as seen in the establishment of Nanyuzhou in the Jiangnan region multiple times. I heard that the tax and labor burden in Xiyuzhou is still manageable, but now Nanyuzhou and other counties have been assigned to Xiyuzhou, reducing the population even more and worsening the situation. What more can be said?" Emperor Taizu dismissed his advice.
In the second year of Yongming, Xuan Cheng and Huainan, along with Liyang, Qiao, Lujiang, and Linjiang from Yuzhou, were separated to establish Nan Yuzhou. Four years later, the Chief Clerk Shen Xian wrote a memorial saying: "Currently, the two Yuzhou are administratively divided, with Sang Meizi Pavilion serving as the boundary. Yingchuan and Ruyang fall within the territories of Nan Qiao and Liyang, thus belonging to West Yuzhou. Lujiang County is situated between Jinxi and Ruyin, and belongs to Nan Yuzhou. I propose transferring Yingchuan and Ruyang to Nan Yuzhou, while returning Lujiang to West Yuzhou." In the seventh year, the Deputy of Nan Yuzhou, Yin Mi, said: "Yingchuan and Ruyang have remained neglected for a long time, and the refugees are scattered in Qiao and Li. Now they have been given county names, but the tax revenue is minimal, and there are barely any officials at the provincial capital, merely names without any real benefits. It would be more reasonable for them to be managed by Qiao and Li, as they should rightfully belong to Nan Yuzhou. The two Yuzhou have been divided for so many years; Lujiang belongs to Nan Yuzhou, close to the Yangtze River, adjacent to Nan Qiao, and the taxes collected from the people can be easily transported to the provincial capital via the river, much more convenient than sending them to West Yuzhou. Lujiang County governs Linshu and Shixin Zuo County, abundant in bamboo, and the provincial capital can harvest bamboo, generating significant revenue. The provincial capital has just been established; unlike established provincial capitals, it lacks sufficient manpower in many areas, making it very much in need of Lujiang County. I urge you to adhere to the previous division method." The Secretary of State Council said: "Previously, there were concerns about border conflicts, so we changed the jurisdiction of the provinces and counties. Currently, the Huai River and Si River regions are no longer considered dangerous, therefore, their request should be granted." The emperor issued an edict granting their request.
Next is Xuancheng Prefecture, which has even more counties: Guangde County, Huai'an County, Wanling County, Guangyang County, Shicheng County, Lincheng County, Ningguo County, Xuancheng County, Jianyuan County, Jing County, and Anwu County. It's hard to remember all these names at once.
Then there is Liyang Prefecture, which is relatively straightforward, overseeing Liyang County, Longkang County, and Yongqiu County.
Nanqiao Prefecture governs Shansang County, Qi County, Beixuchang County, Fuyang County, Quyang County, and Jiaping County. However, the "Yongyuan Records" does not mention Beixuchang County, leading to some uncertainty regarding its existence.
The situation in Lujiang Prefecture is more complex. Shu County became the administrative center in the second year of Jianyuan, serving as the location of the prefectural government. Other counties include Lin County, Shixin County, Hecheng County, Xihua County, Lutingzu County, and Qiao County. The "Yongyuan Records" does not mention Hecheng County and Xihua County. Lutingzu County and Qiao County were transferred from Jinxing Prefecture and Nanqiao Prefecture in the second year of Jianyuan.
Finally, there is Linjiang Prefecture, which was established following the dissolution of Liyang Prefecture in the second year of Jianyuan, but Liyang Prefecture was later reestablished. Linjiang Prefecture oversees Wujiang County, Huaide County, and Zan County.
In conclusion, these are ancient administrative divisions that are no longer the same today. Many of these place names can no longer be found or have been changed, which really prompts reflection on the passage of time.
Speaking of Nanyanzhou, located in Guangling, this place was once a kingdom of the Han Dynasty. There is a Jiangdu Wharf there, where Emperor Wen of Wei launched his campaign against Wu. Seeing the surging river, he remarked, "This is how heaven divides the north and south!" Later, Emperor Yuan of Jin crossed the river and in the fourth year of Jianxing, declared his intention to launch a northern expedition. He even sent the Duke of Xuancheng to guard Xuzhou and Yanzhou, stationed in Guangling. Although he later returned to Jiangnan, this signaled the establishment of Guangling as a garrison town.
At that time, the common people suffered greatly from the ravages of war, fleeing in all directions. Many people ran to Guangling and took refuge in the homes of wealthy families. In the fourth year of Taixing during the reign of Emperor Yuan of Jin, the court ordered a census of these homeless refugees and arranged a place for them to stay. However, the problem was that the northern Jiangbei area was desolate and ruined, making it nearly impossible to carry out an accurate census. In the third year of Taining during the reign of Emperor Ming of Jin, Xi Jian was appointed as the Inspector of Yanzhou, stationed in Guangling, and later transferred back to Jingkou. After that, the seat of Yanzhou's administration kept shifting between Xuyi and Shanyang, with unpredictable changes. Huan Xuan also stationed Huan Hong in Guangling as the Inspector of Qingzhou. In the second year of Yixi, Zhuge Changmin took over from Huan Hong as the Inspector of Qingzhou and moved the capital to Shanyang. At that time, the Xianbei people were casting a covetous eye on the border, and Zhuge Changmin submitted a report, "These Xianbei people have been harassing the border for more than a decade, ruining cities and scattering the populace, and even the military camps along the border have fallen silent, with not a sound of chickens or dogs to be heard. Moreover, the Xianbei people are becoming more rampant, plundering everywhere." So Zhuge Changmin also retreated to Jingkou. In the late Jin Dynasty, Guangling was of strategic importance, as it controlled the Sanqi region, so the inspectors of Qingzhou and Yanzhou were stationed there.
In the first year of the Yongchu era of the Song Dynasty, the court abolished Qingzhou and merged it with Yanzhou. Three years later, Tan Daoji began serving as the governor of Nan Yanzhou, and Guangling officially became the capital. The terrain of this place is flat and open. Every autumn, when the moon is full and bright, the governors would often go to Hailing to watch the river's tide. Hailing lies across the river from Jingkou, the most magnificent stretch of the Yangtze River. In the first year of the Yongming era, Governor Liu Shilong reported: "The court's documents stipulate simplifying and consolidating the immigrant counties. Those refugees have no fixed abode, with households of ten and five scattered everywhere. The people of a county are dispersed in various places of the state, ranging from the west at the Huai River to the east at the seaside. Now, only the immigrant counties are abolished, while the desolate counties remain intact. People still live together as they did before. In this way, the regional division remains chaotic and unchanged. I believe it should be simplified and merged based on geography. If villages gather, with two to three hundred households, water wells and fields can be built, and the regional division will be relatively easy. Then we can consider it separately." Therefore, the six counties under Jiyin, the four counties under Xiaoping, the three counties under Huaiyang, and the four counties under Dongguan, because the residents are dispersed and lack permanent land, and officials lack designated office space, all lived in the villages. Once the capital was established, these counties were abolished, and the population was reallocated accordingly. The remaining counties include Guangling County (established in the fourth year of Jianyuan, which abolished the four counties of North Huaiyang, North Xiaoping, North Jiyin, and Dongguan). Hailing, Guangling, Gaoyou, Jiangdu, and Qining (established in the first year of Yongming), you’ve heard of these places, right? Hailing County comprises Jianling, Ninghai, Rugao, Linjiang, Putao, Linze, and Qichang (established in the first year of Yongming), along with Hai'an (abolished in the fifth year of Yongming, with its jurisdiction transferred to other counties). Shanyang County governs Dongcheng, Shanyang, Yancheng, and Zuoxiang; Xuyi County administers Kaicheng, Xuyi, Yangcheng, Zhidu, and Changle; Nanpei County oversees Peixian, Xiaoxian, and Xiangxian.
Beiyanzhou's original capital was located in Huaiyin. "Records of Geography" states that Huaiyin County belongs to Linhuai Prefecture, while "Records of Prefectures and Counties" states it belongs to Xiapi, and "Jin Taikang Land Records" states that it belongs to Guangling Prefecture. During the Yonghe period of Emperor Mu, Xun Xian, the General of the Northern Command, led a northern expedition against the Xianbei and said, "Huaiyin is an old military stronghold, strategically located with convenient land and water transportation, easy to observe the enemy's situation. The land here is fertile, suitable for cultivation, and can easily transport food by boat without any obstacles." So, a city was built here. In the second year of the Taishi era of the Song Dynasty, the north of the Huai River was lost, and a state was established here. In the fourth year of Jianyuan, the state capital was moved to Xuyi, which continued to govern Xuyi County. Previously, it was close to Qinghe and Sishui in the north, featuring rugged terrain in Linhuai Prefecture, abundant production of Yangping stone turtles, and bumper harvests of rice. Initially, Beiyanzhou only governed one county, Yangping County. In the seventh year of Yongming, Grand Master Lü Anguo submitted a memorial saying, "There are more than sixty people named Daishangbo in Beiyanzhou who appealed, 'We have lived here for generations, but now we are displaced. Although Huaiyin has been established, Yangping County is merely the capital of the state, and the state does not actually govern any land, merely residing within Shanyang Prefecture. We see that the three states of Sizhou, Xuzhou, and Qingzhou were all newly established and have actual jurisdiction over counties. Dongping County is an important region, a hub for scholars and literati. We hope to allocate a portion of small households between Shanyang Prefecture and Xuyi County, establish this county, attract refugees, and provide a home for local residents.' After careful review of the relevant data, I found that Dongping County originally belonged to this state. I was born and raised here, so I earnestly request the establishment of Dongping County." The emperor approved his request. The counties governed by Dongping County include: Yangping County (with its capital located in Shanyang) governs Taiqing, Yongyang, Anyi, and Fengguo; Dongping County governs Shouzhang (three hundred households relocated from west of Shanyang Prefecture), Huai'an (one hundred households relocated east of Zhidu and Pofu, and downstream of Huaiyin Town). In addition, there are Gaoping County, Jibei County, Taishan County, Xinping County, and Lu County. The remainder consists of desolate lands.
Speaking of the ancient Zhongli, it is located in the northern part of present-day Xuzhou. According to the records of the "Book of Han," Zhongli County belonged to Jiujiang Commandery; the "Book of Jin, Taikang Era Annals" states that Huainan Zhongli was established in the second year of the Taikang era, and the circumstances prior to that are unclear; the "Jin Di Ji" says it belongs to Huainan Commandery. During the early Taishi years of the Song Dynasty, Zhongli belonged to Nanyanzhou. In the first year of the Yuanhui era, a prefecture was established here, becoming a military stronghold along the Huai River. In the first year of the Yongming era, the five counties governed by North Xuzhou—Qiao County, Liang County, Wei County, Yangping County, and Pengcheng County—were abolished. The remaining counties included:
Zhongli County, with its county seat in Yan County, as well as Chaoge County, Yu County (in the first year of the Yongming era, a portion of Matou County was reassigned to Yu County), and Ling County (in the first year of the Yongming era, a portion of Matou County was reassigned to Ling County).
Matou County, Yiwu County (in the first year of the Yongming era, transferred from Qiao County; the next year, the governor Dai Sengjing merged Ji County into it).
Jiyin County, Dunqiu County (in the first year of the Yongming era, Dingtai County was abolished and merged into Dunqiu County), Suiling County, Leping County (in the first year of the Yongming era, transferred from Zhongli County), and Jian County (in the first year of the Yongming era, transferred from Zhongli County).
Xinchang County, Dunqiu County, Gushu County, and Weishi County.
Pei County, Xiang County, Xiao County, and Pei County.
Now let's talk about the situation in Qingzhou. In the early years of the Taishi period of the Song Dynasty, the area north of the Huai River was occupied by enemies, and it took six years to start governing Yuzhou. Yuzhou is situated on an island in the sea, spanning several hundred miles in circumference, with white deer on the island, rich land, and abundant fish and salt production. During Liu Shanming's tenure as governor, considering the dangerous situation in the sea, he opted not to construct tall city walls; instead, he erected stone walls only a few feet high. Later, Yuzhou became the capital of Qi County. In the first year of Jianyuan, the capital of Qi County was moved to Guabu, and Beihai County was moved to the original capital of Qi County, but the prefecture did not change. As a result of the wars, many areas became deserted, counties were left uninhabited, and only a handful of local residents remained. In the fourth year of Jianyuan, the capital was relocated to Qushan and later returned to its original site. The counties under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou are as follows:
Qi County (in the first year of Yongming, abolished Qin County and merged it into Qi County, with its capital located in Guabu), Linzi County (in the second year of Yongming, abolished Huacheng County and merged it into Linzi County), Qian County (abolished in the first year of Yongming), Xi'an County, Suyu County, Weishi County, Pinglu County, Changguo County, Tai County, Yidu County.
Beihai County, Duchang County (which was known as Yu County during the Song Dynasty, was renamed to its Han Dynasty name during the Jianyuan period), Guangrao County, Ganyu County, Jiaodong County, Juxian County, Xiami County, Pingshou County.
Dongguan County and Langye County (both with their administrative centers in Qushan), specifically Qiu County, South Dongguan County (established by refugees in the first year of Yongming), North Dongguan County.
Jizhou was established as a separate entity from Qingzhou in the ninth year of the Song Yuanjia era. Qingzhou governed nine counties, including Qi, Jinan, Le'an, Gaomi, Pingchang, Beihai, Donglai, Taiyuan, and Changguang, while Jizhou governed nine counties, including Guangchuan, Pingyuan, Qinghe, Leiling, Weijun, Hejian, Dunqiu, Gaoyang, and Bohai. During the early Tai Shi period, there were invasions by nomadic tribes, and many places were abandoned. The ones that still exist today were re-established after the Tai Shi period. These two regions were governed by the same official. Most counties no longer exist; only their names remain; refer to the "Book of Song, State and County Records" for more information. In the early years of Jianyuan, Donghai County was placed under the jurisdiction of Jizhou. Jizhou governed a total of one county:
**〖North Donghai County〗(with its capital located in Liankou)**
Xiangben, Tong, Xiapai, Houqiu, Qucheng.
Jiangzhou, the administrative center is located in Xunyang, situated at a strategic point along the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. In the first year of the Yuankang era of the Jin Dynasty, Emperor Hui decreed, "Jingzhou and Yangzhou are vast territories with sparse populations. It was suggested that the seven counties of Yuzhang, Poyang, Luling, Linchuan, Nankang, Jian'an, and Jin'an in Yangzhou be separated to establish a new province. The three counties of Xin'an, Dongyang, and Xuancheng were originally part of Yuzhang County, located in the northeast of Yuzhang County and far away, so they can continue to be under the jurisdiction of Yangzhou. Then, the ten counties of Wuchang, Guiyang, and Ancheng in Jingzhou are separated out, and since they are near the Yangtze River, this new province was named Jiangzhou, with the administrative center set in Yuzhang." Yu Liang served as the governor of Jiangzhou, overseeing six provinces. He believed that Jingzhou and Jiangzhou were fundamental, and after comparing the populations of the two provinces, he found that although the situation was complex, Jiangzhou actually bore more than half of the responsibility and was truly fundamental. Before his death, he recommended in a memorial that the administrative center of Jiangzhou be set in Xunyang, with Jiangzhou overseeing the two counties of Xincai and Xiyang from Yuzhou, and the administrative center set in Penceng, facilitating travel for the various counties along the Yangtze River. Later, Yu Yi moved the administrative center back to Yuzhang. After the Yixi era, the administrative center was once again relocated to Xunyang. He Wuji proposed in a memorial, "Jingling is too far from the administrative center, being three hundred li away from Jiangling. Many of the people of Sui'an County established in Jingzhou live in this place. The county seat is typically situated near Xiakou, and it is proposed to return Jingling County to Jingzhou. Also, the Hongnong County of Sizhou and the Songzi County of Yangzhou are both located in Xunyang, where people from both regions reside together, thus they should be governed collectively by Jiangzhou." Currently, Jiujian lies to the north of the administrative center, while Pengli Lake is to the east. The counties governed by Jiangzhou are as follows:
**[Xunyang County]**
Chaisang, Pengze
**[Yuzhang County]**
Nanchang, Xingan, Ai, Jiancheng, Jianchang, Wangcai, Xinwu, Yongxiu, Wuping, Kangle, Yuzhang, Fengcheng
**[Linchuan County]**
Nancheng, Linru, Xinjian, Yongcheng, Yihuang, Nanfeng, Dongxing, Anpu, Xifeng, all of which are under the jurisdiction of Luling County.
The places Shi Yang, Xi Chang, Dong Chang, Ji Yang, Ba Qiu, Xing Ping, Gao Chang, Yang Feng, and Sui Xing define the boundaries of Poyang County. Poyang, Yu Gan, Ge Yang, Le An, Guang Jin, and Shang Rao are all part of An Cheng County. Ping Du, Xin Yu, Yong Xin, Ping Xiang, Yi Yang, Guang Xing, and An Fu are part of Nan Kang County. Gan Zhou, Yu Du, Nan Ye, Ning Du, Ping Gu, Bei Yang, Qian Hua (In the eighth year of Yongming, Anyuan County was abolished and incorporated into other counties), along with Nan Kang, all belong to Nan Xin Cai County. Shen, Bao Xin, Yang Tang Left County, and Song are also part of Jian An County. Wu Xing, Jian An, Jiang Le, Shao Wu, Jian Yang, Sui Cheng, and Sha Cun fall under the jurisdiction of Jin An County. Guangzhou, overseeing the South China Sea, is located by the sea and serves as an important transportation hub. Although the population is small, it is home to various ethnic minorities who reside in the mountains and in high-rise buildings, unwilling to submit to the court. The source of the two rivers in the southwest is far away, and the court has established oversight specifically to manage suppression. Guangzhou's wealth could sustain ten generations without running out. Other local officials have their own accomplishments. Because Guangzhou is remote, the relatives of the court have not served as officials there; only Sui Wang Dan from the Song Dynasty ever served as governor of Guangzhou. Under Nan Hai County are: Fan Yu, Xi An, Bo Luo, Zeng Cheng, Long Chuan, Huai Hua, You Ping, Sui Ning, Xin Feng, Luo Yang, Gao Yao, An Yuan, and He Yuan. Dong Guan County oversees Huai An, Bao An, Hai An, Xin Le, Hai Feng, Qi Chang, Lu An, Xing Ning, and other places. Yi An County oversees Sui An, Hai Ning, Hai Yang, Yi Zhao, Chao Yang, Cheng Xiang, and other places. Xin Ning County oversees Bo Lin, Nan Xing, Lin Yan, Gan Quan, Xin Cheng, Wei Ping, Dan Die, Long Tan, Cheng Yang, Wei Hua, including areas that have recently surrendered, been pacified, and incorporated into the jurisdiction, as well as Ping Xiang.
Cangwu County administers areas including Guangxin, Ningxin, Fengxing, Funing, Suicheng, Dingliu, Huaixi, Mengling, Guangning, Dangkang, Qiaoning, and Sian.
Gaoliang County administers areas including Anning, Luozhou, Moyang, Xigong, Siping, Qinxiang, and Pingding.
Yongping County administers areas including Funing, Anyi, An, Luping, Yuanxiang, Suping, Buning, Leixiang, Kaicheng, Piping, Wu, and Linfengcheng.
Jinkang County, Xinhui County, Guangxi County, and so on, these county names have a distinctly historical ring, each one seems to emerge from ancient poetry. Weicheng, Ducheng, Furuan, Yuanxi... Penyun, Xinyi, Fengping, Chubin... Longxiang, Luoping, Binhua, Ningxiang... These names are melodious and feel like reading an ancient ballad.
Songkang County, Songlong County, Haichang County, these county names each possess unique characteristics, as if one can envision the prosperity of that era. Guanghua, Shimen, Hualong, Suidu... Pingxing, Zhaoxing, Chonghua, Jianning... Ninghua, Zhaohuai, Yongjian, Shihua... Each name is like a small story, telling the bits and pieces that once happened here.
Suijian County, Lechang County, Yulin County, the names of these places exude the unique charm of the South. Xinzhao, Sihui, Huameng, Huazhu... Shichang, Leshan, Songyuan, Yili... Bushan, Yuping, Alin, Jian'an... It feels like the mountains and waters of these places are steeped in endless stories.
Guilin County, Ningpu County, Jinxing County, these county names are majestic, reminiscent of magnificent mountains and rushing rivers. Wuxi, Tengxi, Tanping, Longgang... Anguang, Jianyang, Pingshan, Ningpu... Jinxing, Xizhu, Guilin, Zengyi... It's like being in the midst of mountains and waters, experiencing the awe-inspiring artistry of nature.
Qile, Qikang, Qijian, and Qixi counties are concise and clear, yet possess a unique charm. Xiping, Guanning, Zhen'an, Songping, Lekang, Chuning, Yongcheng—these names, though simple, leave a deep impression.
Lastly, there is Jiaozhou, located on Haizhang Island, in a remote location. Yang Xiong once said, "Jiaozhou is desolate, with water meeting the sky." Just imagine how desolate and mysterious it is! It is rich in resources, with all kinds of rare treasures, but at the same time, due to its remote location, the locals are fierce, and rebellions often occur. Jiuzhen, Wuping, and Xinchang counties are all under Jiaozhou's jurisdiction, and each name reflects a piece of history. Yifeng, Xupu, Songyuan, Gao'an, Wuding, Fengxi, Pingdao, Wuxing, Fanxin, Jianing, Fengshan, Xidao—these names seem to be telling us stories of what happened on this land of Jiaozhou.
Jiude County administers nine counties: Xianhuan, Puyang, Nanling, Duao, Yuechang, and Xi'an. Jinan County administers seven counties: Xijuan, Xianglin, Shouleng, Zhuwu, Bijing, Lurong, and Wulao. Jiaozhi County administers eleven counties: Longbian, Wuning, Wanghai, Julou, Wuxing, Xi Yu, Zhuniao, Nanding, Quyang, Haiping, and Leilou. Songping County administers three counties: Changguo, Yihuai, and Suining. Songshou County was established from Yuezhou in the second year of Jianyuan. Yichang County was established in the second year of Yongyuan by relocating Wotun.
Yuezhou, the administrative center of Linzhang Prefecture, was originally part of the northern region of Hepu County. There were many non-Han tribes hiding in the rugged mountains, frequently engaging in raids and resisting governance, with almost no registered residents. During the Taishi period of the Song Dynasty, the Inspector of the Western River, Chen Boshao, was hunting in the northern region when he saw two frightened blue bulls run into the grass, but his men were unable to catch them. He took note of the location and remarked, "This place will surely bring auspicious signs in the future." Therefore, Yuezhou was established there. Seven years later, six counties were established: Bailiang, Longsu, Yongning, Anchang, Fuchang, and Nanliu. A portion of land was also taken from the Guang, Jiao, and Zhu Niao counties and placed under the jurisdiction of Yuezhou. In the second year of Yuanhui, Chen Boshao was appointed as the governor of Yuezhou, officially establishing the prefectural seat, constructing city gates by cutting through mountains and rocks, and subduing the local tribes. The area was afflicted by miasma, which could be deadly. During the Han Dynasty, the governor of Jiaozhou would retreat to higher elevations during the summer heat. Now, the climate in Jiaozhou has improved, but the miasma in Yuezhou continues to be a serious problem. The governor of Yuezhou often had to lead troops into battle, with the primary responsibility being military campaigns.
Linzhang Prefecture governs seven counties: Zhangping, Dancheng, Laoshi, Rongcheng, Changshi, Dubing, and Huanduan. Hepu County oversees nine counties: Xuwen, Hepu, Zhulu, Xin'an, Jinshi, Dangchang, Zhufeng, Songfeng, and Songguang. Yongning Prefecture governs five counties: Dulu, Jin'an, Meng, Liaojian, and Liucheng. Bailiang Prefecture governs three counties: Bailiang, Shichang, and Songxi. Anchang Prefecture governs four counties: Wusang, Longyuan, Shiqiu, and Fulin. Nanliu Prefecture consists of only one county: Fangdu. Beiliu Prefecture was established in the sixth year of the Yongming era, with no subordinate counties. Longsu Prefecture consists of only one county: Longsu. Fuchang Prefecture governs three counties: Nanli, Yili, and Guiming. Gaoxing Prefecture governs eleven counties: Songhe, Ningshan, Gaoxing, Weicheng, Fu Luo, Nan'an, Guian, Chenlian, Gaocheng, and Xinjian. Sizhu Prefecture, Yantian Prefecture (which consists of only one county: Dutong), and Dingchuan Prefecture (which consists of only one county: Xingchang).
Speaking of it, let's first talk about Longchuan Prefecture. This place is actually a great region. Next up is Qining County, established in the second year of the Jianyuan era. It was formed by splitting off Xinyi County and Jianchu County from Yulin County. Qining County includes Kaicheng, Yanhai, Xinyi, and Jianchu Counties, and these names sound quite interesting.
Next, we have Yuezhong County and Mamen County. Mamen County oversees Zhongwu, Tianluo, Maling, and Sining Counties, and these names appear to be linked to geographic locations or historical figures.
Now, let’s talk about Fengshan County, which has just one Anjin County. There's also Wuchunli County, established in the sixth year of Yongming; interestingly, it has no counties under its jurisdiction!
Finally, we have Qilong County, which has quite a complicated history. At first, it was part of Jiaozhou, but then it changed to... (the original text is missing, unable to translate), and in the first year of Yongtai, it was renamed Qilong County and reorganized under... (the original text is missing, unable to translate) jurisdiction. In summary, the shifting jurisdiction of Qilong County can be quite a headache.
