That guy Hou Jing, after declaring himself emperor, even went to Yuan Qiu to sacrifice to heaven, but he couldn't even walk steadily; it was obvious he wouldn't last long. Sure enough, it wasn't long before he was finished. Emperor Yuan of Liang defeated Hou Jing and dealt with Xiao Ji, and then he started to become arrogant and complacent. His suspicious nature caused his ministers to become disloyal. After three years as emperor, he was overthrown by Western Wei and ultimately died under mysterious circumstances.
Every time Chen Houzhu held a sacrifice to heaven and the ancestral temple, he pretended to be sick to skip out on it. A certain Zhang Hua, the governor of Jianning, submitted a memorial advising him, saying, "You go to the palace with three concubines to sacrifice to the ancestral temple yet pretend to be ill; this is not a show of reverence for the divine!" Upon hearing this, Chen Houzhu became furious and had Zhang Hua killed. He often indulged in feasting and revelry with close friends like Jiang Zong and Kong Fan in the palace, completely disregarding hierarchy, calling them "intimate guests," and spent his days drinking and composing poetry, entirely neglecting state affairs. Secretary Fu Can submitted a memorial advising him, saying, "As an emperor, you should respectfully serve heaven, care for the people, restrain your desires, stay away from treacherous and petty individuals, avoid luxury and indulgence, and diligently attend to state matters. Only then can you bring blessings to the world and your descendants. Your Majesty, you have recently become obsessed with wine and pleasure, disregarding heaven and the ancestral temple, while currying favor with demons and monsters. You surround yourself with petty individuals, allowing eunuchs to wield power, seeing honest folks as enemies and the common people as nothing more than weeds. The palace is overflowing with silks and satins, while the common people are suffering and corpses litter the streets. Heaven is angry, the people are resentful, and you've been abandoned by everyone. I fear that the royal spirit of the southeast will soon vanish!" Chen Houzhu ignored all of this, growing more arrogant and indulgent by the day, and before long, the state was destroyed.
Hou Andu, the Sikong of the Chen dynasty, believing he had played a significant role in stabilizing the state, became increasingly proud and arrogant. At every banquet, he would drink excessively and sit cross-legged. He once said to Emperor Wen, "How can I compare to my days as the Prince of Linchuan?" He also took over the water pavilion in Hualin Garden, partying there with his wives, concubines, and guests, which Emperor Wen found detestable. Ultimately, Hou Andu met his demise. In the fifth year of the Wuding reign of the Eastern Wei dynasty, when Emperor Wenxiang of the Northern Qi was still the heir apparent, Gao Huan died. He kept the news a secret and went to Ye City to meet the Wei Emperor. The Wei Emperor hosted a banquet for him, and Emperor Wenxiang even danced at the banquet. After he ascended the throne, he went to Ye City to meet the Wei Emperor again, displaying a lackadaisical attitude at the banquet. Those with insight could tell he didn't have long to live. As a result, he was killed by bandits soon after. During Gao Huan's rule, Gao Ang, the Minister of Works, went to the Prime Minister's office to handle affairs. As soon as he reached the door, the gatekeeper stopped him. Gao Ang was furious and actually shot the gatekeeper with an arrow, yet Gao Huan chose not to punish him. Not long after, he was killed by Western Wei. The last ruler of the Northern Qi dynasty was cornered by the Zhou army and fled to Ye City to rally his troops. Huluxiao Qing suggested that the last ruler personally comfort the soldiers; ideally, he should tearfully deliver a few stirring words to boost morale. Huluxiao Qing even coached him on what to say, and the last ruler agreed. However, when he faced the soldiers, he said nothing and instead burst into hearty laughter, making everyone around him laugh too. The soldiers fumed, "If even the commander-in-chief acts like this, why should we risk our lives?" As a result, everyone lost their will to fight and were quickly captured by the Zhou forces.
Emperor Yang of Sui considered himself exceptionally talented and always looked down on all the heroes. He once told his ministers, "Do people think I only possess this vast empire because I inherited it from my ancestors? Even if I compete fairly with those scholars and officials, I could still be emperor!" He believed that none of the talented individuals of his time could hold a candle to him. The Book of Documents states, "Those who believe no one is stronger than themselves will ultimately perish." With his arrogance and underestimation of the enemy, how could his country avoid destruction? He also liked to speak with a Wu dialect and ultimately died in Jiangdu, just like Duke Xiang of Lu who died in the palace of Chu.
In the seventh year of the Tianjian era of Emperor Wu of Liang, it began to rain in July and continued until October. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states, "When the yin energy accumulates too much, it will lead to floods." At that time, Emperor Wu waged wars for several consecutive years, and that year he launched a large-scale northern expedition. Although the army won some battles, the soldiers were exhausted and the people were grumbling, which was a manifestation of the accumulation of yin energy.
In the twelfth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, heavy rain fell continuously in August. At that time, Wang Shuling of Shixing was arrogant and overbearing, which indicated a strong presence of yin energy. The following year, Emperor Xuan died, and the later emperor ascended the throne. During the mourning period, Shuling assassinated the later emperor, but palace attendants saved him, allowing him to narrowly escape death. Shuling fled the palace and caused chaos in the Eastern Court. The later emperor ordered Xiao Mohe to quell the rebellion, resulting in the deaths of over a thousand people.
In the fifth year of the Wuding era of Eastern Wei, there was heavy rain for more than seventy days in autumn, which foreshadowed the conspiracy against Emperor Wen of the Later Qi by Yuan Jin and Liu Siyu.
On the day of Gengzi in the sixth month of the third year of the Heqing era of Northern Qi, it rained heavily day and night, continuing until the day of Jiachen. Floods inundated the Shandong region, and many people perished from starvation. That year, the Turks invaded Bingzhou, and ethnic minorities caused chaos, which was also a reflection of celestial phenomena.
In the third year of the Tian Tong era of Northern Zhou, heavy rain fell for a long time in October. This was a result of Empress Hu's debauchery.
In July of the seventh year of the Northern Zhou's Wu Ping era, there was heavy rain, and floods caused the people to be displaced. At that time, Luo Tipo, Han Changluan, and others were in power, which was a consequence of the petty officials' rule.
In the third year of the Later Zhou Jian De, in the seventh month, there was continuous rain for thirty consecutive days. During this time, Wang Zhi, the governor of Wei Prefecture, secretly plotted a rebellion. Just as the emperor was residing in Yunyang Palace, Wang Zhi attacked the Suzhang Gate with his subordinates, but was defeated by Yuchi Yun. The rain stopped that day.
In the second year of the Liang Dynasty, in the third month, there was a heavy snowstorm, with three feet of snow accumulating on the ground. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "The usual omen is rain, but if the rain is exceptionally heavy, it is unusual. Rain represents yin energy, while snow is an even greater manifestation of concentrated and intensified yin energy. These are all omens of ministers not being loyal and concubines not being obedient." At that time, Wen Senglang, the governor of Yizhou, rebelled against the Wei Dynasty, which perfectly exemplified the saying about disloyal ministers.
In the third year of Datong, in the seventh month, it even snowed in Qingzhou, harming the crops. At that time, Li Ben, the governor of Jiaozhou, raised an army to rebel, claiming to be emperor and establishing a system of officials. The court sent troops to fight him but was unable to win.
In December of the tenth year, there was another heavy snowstorm, with three feet of snow accumulating on the ground. At that time, the princes Wang Lun of Shaoling, Wang Yi of Xiangdong, and Wang Ji of Wuling wielded power nearly equal to that of the emperor; they were all arrogant and overbearing, and the crown prince was very displeased with them, but the emperor could not control them. Heaven could sense trouble brewing, but the emperor remained oblivious. Later, when Hou Jing rebelled, these princes all led their troops, ostensibly to support the emperor, but in reality, they had no intention of saving him; instead, they fought among themselves, leading to the downfall of the state.
In the second year of the Eastern Wei Xinghe, in the fifth month, it even snowed! At that time, Gao Huan was the chancellor; he mobilized over a hundred thousand soldiers to build Ye City, and the common people were filled with grievances, reflecting widespread public discontent.
In the fourth year of Wuding, in February, there was a heavy snowfall that froze many people and livestock to death, and the roads were strewn with frozen corpses. At that time, the Later Qi regime was implementing tyranny, and Bu Luoqi revolted, attacking several states and causing many deaths.
In the second year of Heqing under Later Qi, in February, there was heavy snowfall followed by several days of rain. In an area over a thousand miles north and south, the snow accumulated several feet deep on flat ground, and frost fell during the day! At that time, the Turkic Khagan Mu Gan and the Zhou army invaded Bingzhou, killing countless officials and common people, making the death toll incalculable.
In the second year of Tiantong, in November, there was heavy snowfall; in the first month of the third year, there was heavy snowfall again, with two feet of snow on flat ground; in the first month of the third year of Wuping, it snowed heavily again! During that time, Consort Feng Shufei and Lu Lingxuan controlled the court, and the atmosphere was thick with ominousness, which is why heaven frequently sent warnings, and thunderstorms were abnormal.
In the first year of Taijian under the Chen dynasty, in July, there was a heavy rain with thunder that shook the sky! The Huabiao at Wan'an Tomb was struck by lightning, the pagoda at Huiri Temple was likewise struck by lightning, and a woman was killed by lightning under the heavy gate of Waguansi Temple. Jing Fang mentioned in "Yifei Hou": "When thunder and lightning strike the hills, it is because of violating the teachings of ancestors; when thunderfire kills people, it is because the ruler listens to slander and kills the upright." At that time, Cai Jingli rose to power through treachery, while the Right Minister Lu Shan was demoted due to false accusations, ultimately falling ill from worry and dying.
In the third month of the tenth year, the armory was struck by lightning. At that time, the emperor particularly loved to wage war, engaging in continuous warfare in the north for several years, which left the national treasury depleted and the soldiers exhausted. After finally conquering Huainan, he set his sights on attacking Pengcheng and Bianzhou. Mao Xi strongly advised against it, but the emperor failed to understand and resumed large-scale warfare. As a result, the army commanded by Wu Mingche was utterly defeated, and the territory of Huainan was also lost. The armory, where weapons were stored, was struck by lightning, serving as a warning from heaven, implying that the troops should be withdrawn to allow the common people to live in peace and stability. However, the emperor did not grasp this and continued his military campaigns. In June of that year, the pagoda of Taihuang Temple, the Luopan of Zhuangyan Temple, the eastern wing of Chongyang Pavilion, and the main gate of Honglu Mansion were all struck by lightning! Taihuang Temple and Zhuangyan Temple were places where the Chen state revered Buddhism, Chongyang Pavilion was a place where the emperor often feasted and entertained, and Honglu Mansion was where diplomatic ceremonies were handled. These places were all struck by lightning in the same year; this was a divine warning, signaling that the country's prestige had already diminished. Failing to prioritize self-cultivation and moral integrity, the state would inevitably have to rely on Buddhism and Taoism for mere survival, indulging in pleasure, abandoning rituals, ultimately leading to the fall of the state. The rulers and ministers of the Chen dynasty completely failed to grasp this. By the time the later ruler took power, various disasters occurred one after another. He grew fearful and went to Taihuang Temple to serve as a servant, hoping to seek divine blessings, yet he ignored state affairs, indulged in wine and lust, abandoned rituals and laws, neglected diplomatic relations with neighboring countries, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Chen dynasty.
In the summer of the first year of Qi Wuping, the pillar at the south gate of Prime Minister Duan Xiaoxian's residence was struck by lightning. Jing Fang noted in the "Book of Changes": "If lightning strikes a minister's main door or house, treacherous officials will be executed within three years." The following year, He Shikai was killed.
In the winter of the fourth year of the Wuding era of Eastern Wei, wood ice unexpectedly fell from the sky. Historical texts state: "This is caused by excessive yin energy that condenses and remains still. Wood represents lesser yang energy and symbolizes the noble ministers of the court. If a noble minister is about to encounter trouble, the yin energy invades the wood, causing it to suffer from the cold first, which explains why wood ice falls. Wood ice is also called 'jie,' which means weapon, indicating that there will be chaos in the realm." At that time, Hou Jing, the Minister of Works, controlled Henan, and coincidentally, the emperor was in poor health. Emperor Wenxiang was worried that Hou Jing might rebel, so he summoned him. Consequently, Hou Jing did raise an army and rebel. The governors of Yuzhou (Gao Yuancheng), Xiangzhou (Li Mi), and Guangzhou (Bao Xian) were all captured and humiliated by Hou Jing. Wasn't this a sign that trouble was looming for the noble ministers? Later, the Left Minister Murong Shaozong fought Hou Jing in Guoyang, capturing and executing fifty thousand.
In the second year of the Tianbao era of Later Qi, wood ice fell for three days. Previously, King Qinghe, Yue, was falsely accused by Gao Guiyan and died from depression that year. In the winter of the first year of Wuping, wood ice also fell; in February of the following year, it rained wood ice again. At that time, He Shikai, the Minister of the Interior, monopolized power. In July of the same year, Wang Yan of Langya, the Grand Tutor, forged an edict and killed him. The General-in-Chief, Kudi Fuliang, and the Right Minister of the Interior, Feng Zicong, were executed as a result of their ties to Wang Yan. In September, Wang Yan himself also died.
In the sixth and seventh years, wood ice fell continuously in both spring and winter for several years. That year, the Zhou army invaded Jinyang and pacified Yedu. The Later Emperor fled to Qingzhou, and the court officials either died or scattered; many states and counties were affected by the war, and the casualties were countless.
In April of the first year of the Da Tong era of the Liang Dynasty, a severe hailstorm occurred. Historical texts state: "Hail is a sign of yin energy invading yang energy." At that time, the emperor often dressed as a servant, was obsessed with Buddhism, and was completely under the influence of the monks.
In the second year of the Tai Jian era of the Chen Dynasty, heavy hail fell in June; in April of the tenth year, another heavy hail fell; in September of the thirteenth year, hail fell again. At that time, King Shixing, Shuling, was arrogant and tyrannical, secretly gathering loyalists and plotting treason, while the emperor was very fond of him, so heaven sent three signs to warn him. However, the emperor never grasped the warning. When the emperor died, Shuling indeed rebelled.
Empress Dowager Lou of the Later Qi was bedridden, and her nightgown inexplicably floated up by itself. Not long after, she died.
In his later years, Emperor Wenxuan liked to wear beautiful clothes, dressing flamboyantly, and often wore barbarian clothing to go incognito, wandering in the markets. This "makeup" was a women's adornment, representing feminine matters; the emperor dressing like a minister was not a good omen. As a result, after Emperor Wenxuan died, the crown prince ascended the throne but was soon deposed and became the King of Jinan. Moreover, the Qi family came from Yanshan, and his wearing of barbarian clothing signified a desire to return to traditional attire, which was an omen of the fall of the Qi state! The emperor wearing splendid garments was a troubling sign, and going incognito in common clothes resembled a repeat of the fall of the Qi state.
The Later Emperor had a particular fondness for palace maids making headpieces that resembled hair buns from coarse white fabric from the region of Yue, and he also used white covers for his carriage. Both of these items were commonly associated with funerals! Indeed, the Later Emperor was destroyed by Emperor Wu of Zhou, and both he and his son were killed.
During the Wuping era, the Later Emperor built a "village of the poor" in the palace gardens, dressing in tattered clothes and pretending to beg for amusement. He also had many people wear black clothes, tying each other up to play. As a result, the Later Emperor was defeated by the Zhou Dynasty, captured in Chang'an, and died there; his concubines lived in hardship, even resorting to selling candles just to get by.
In the first year of Later Zhou's Daxiang era, the emperor's ceremonial robe was adorned with twenty-four ornamental tassels, and everything, including carriages, flags, and music, was organized in units of twenty-four. The guards wore colorful uniforms, which included red and purple. He ordered that all carriages throughout the empire were to use large wooden wheels without spokes. Court officials were not allowed to wear jade ornaments, and women were required to paint their eyes black and their eyebrows yellow. He also constructed funeral-like tents, allowing the five queens to live separately inside, with sacrificial vessels placed in front of the tents for ancestral rituals, which the emperor personally presided over by reading the sacrificial texts. He had five chariots carry the queens while he walked behind them with the guards. Even more bizarrely, he hung chickens upside down from the chariot and threw broken tiles onto it to see what sounds they made for amusement. These were all signs of malevolence! Not long after, the emperor died suddenly, and power fell into the hands of the Sui Dynasty, which altered the laws of the Zhou Dynasty.
During the Kaihuang era, in the households of Wang Yong of Fangling and Wang Shiji of Yiyang, the women wore headscarves that were identical in style to the military flags. Women represented the yin, and so did the officials, and their headscarves resembling military flags foreshadowed imminent military disaster for the officials! Indeed, Wang Yong of Fangling was later killed, and Wang Shiji was also executed.
During the Kaihuang era, someone submitted a memorial stating that for several years, the chickens did not flap their wings when they crowed, as if something was hindering them under their armpits, preventing their feathers from being raised. This indicated that upheaval was imminent among the officials. The emperor ignored this memorial. The "Yifei Hou" states: "When chickens crow without flapping their wings, there will be great harm to the country." Later, many officials were killed, many princes were deposed, and the crown prince was imprisoned as well.
In the early years of the Sui Dynasty, there were many roosters crowing all over the country, all crowing at night. There was a man named Jing Fang who, based on the book "Yifeihou," said, "When roosters crow at night, it indicates that an urgent order will be issued." He also said, "If roosters crow in the evening, disaster will befall the people; if roosters crow at night when it's quiet, there will be war; if roosters crow in the middle of the night, there will be a large-scale bloodshed event." As a result, after the mid-term of the Sui Dynasty, there were many state affairs, insufficient funds, and Emperor Yang of Sui issued urgent orders, increased taxes, and forced local officials to complete tasks, and the common people were struggling to get by. They took up arms as bandits, wars continued, and there were deaths everywhere.
During the Kaihuang period, something disturbed the palace maids in the imperial palace's Yeting every night. The palace steward reported this to Emperor Wen of Sui. Emperor Wen of Sui said, "The palace gates are heavily guarded, how did it get inside? It must be a spirit!" He then warned the palace maids, "If you encounter it, chop it down!" Later, something that looked human climbed onto the bed at night, and the palace maid drew a knife and chopped it, as if cutting through dry bones. It fell off the bed and ran away; the palace maid chased after it, and it ended up drowning in the pond. The next day, Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the pond to be drained, and a large turtle over a foot long with cuts on its shell was found. Emperor Wen of Sui ordered the turtle's execution, and such occurrences never happened again. It is said that turtles are spiritual creatures of the water, symbolizing intrigue and deception, which confirmed the incident of the Prince of Jin flattering in the palace and seeking to have children.
In the second year of the Chen Zhenming era, in April, countless rats swarmed from the banks of Caizhou into the Stone Huai, running all the way to both sides of Qingtang. After a few days, these rats all died and floated into the river, near Qingxiang. Jing Fang said in "Yifeihou," "Rats gathering in groups for no reason, not digging holes and gathering together, indicate that the ruler is going to die." Not long after, the Chen Dynasty perished.
In the autumn of the sixth year of Chen Tianjia, Yixian Hall mysteriously collapsed, located near Jinxi Wood. At that time, Emperor Chen was heavily engaged in construction, building the Xiande Hall and four other palaces, claiming they were magnificent beyond compare, but the common people became unemployed as a result, resulting in the wood losing its integrity. Yixian Hall, a name meaning "to respect the elderly and honor the virtuous," collapsed for no reason, as if heaven was warning Emperor Chen: your extravagance and neglect of capable individuals are pointless! Emperor Chen did not understand and died the following year.
In the first year of Zhenming, in June, the Water Hall in the palace was constantly filled with sounds like saws cutting wood, and then the Water Hall inexplicably collapsed. In July, the Zhuque Ship also sank mysteriously. At that time, Emperor Chen was busy renovating the gardens but neglected the sacrifices to the ancestral temple. The Water Hall was a place for recreation, and the Zhuque Ship was the national gateway; their destruction seemed to be a warning from heaven to Emperor Chen: the palaces are ruined, and the roads are blocked. Emperor Chen still did not understand and was ultimately destroyed by the Sui Dynasty, with palaces and temples turning into ruins.
Emperor Qi Xiaozhao wanted to kill Yang Yin, and while riding in a carriage to court, the pole of his sedan chair mysteriously snapped as he entered the eastern gate. The emperor was very angry about this and died more than a year later.
In the third year of Heqing, the beams and columns of the official offices in Changguang County unexpectedly peeled away as if shedding skin. The governor felt it was inauspicious and ordered them to be cut down, but the next day, it happened again. Changguang was originally the emperor's fief, and the wood changing on its own was a bad omen! That year, the emperor died.
In the seventh year of Wuping, in the autumn, Empress Mu was going to Jinyang and first went to the Northern Palace to bid farewell to Empress Dowager Hu. When she arrived at the palace gate, her seven-treasure carriage mysteriously sank into the ground, with the ox's four legs sinking in. That year, Northern Qi was destroyed, and the empress was captured and taken to Chang'an.
These events illustrate a recurring theme of divine warnings and the dire consequences of neglecting responsibilities and wise counsel.
In the sixth year of the Jian De era of the Later Zhou, the Qingcheng Gate suddenly collapsed. The color blue symbolizes the East, representing the Eastern Palace (the place where the crown prince resides). At that time, the crown prince lacked dignity and propriety, and the collapse of the Qingcheng Gate was an omen of his incompetence. The emperor did not understand this, and the following year, the crown prince ascended to the throne and indeed became a tyrant. The downfall of the Zhou Dynasty began here.
During the Daye era, King Yang Jian of Qi built a house in the Eastern Capital, and the newly constructed palace beams broke for no reason. At that time, the emperor had no designated heir, and people believed that Yang Jian should succeed to the throne. The ministers in court were all hoping for him, which made him arrogant and unruly; he even sought the advice of fortune tellers and engaged in superstitious rituals. The palace beams breaking for no reason indicated that the wood had lost its essence, a sign of treachery! Heaven warned him through this ominous sign, but he did not awaken to it, and later he was indeed punished by the emperor.
The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" says: "When he is warned but ignores it, it's called misgovernance. His crime is usurpation, his punishment is a prolonged drought, leading to ultimate distress. Sometimes evil poems will arise, and sometimes there will be pestilence, like caterpillars; sometimes there will be calamities involving dogs. Thus, tongue-related diseases will occur, and there will be auspicious or inauspicious signs in white. Only the wood element can restrain the metal element."
King Liang Wuling usurped the throne and proclaimed the era name Tianzheng. The Marquis of Yongfeng, Xiao Huan, said: "Your Majesty, this is not feasible! Previously, Huan Xuan's era name was Daheng, and wise men believed 'it will end in February,' and indeed Huan Xuan's downfall occurred in mid-spring. Today is Tianzheng; the meaning of 'zheng' is 'to stop'; can it last?" As expected, he indeed failed a year later.
Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi wanted to hold the crown ceremony for Crown Prince Gao Yin and ordered Xing Zicai to choose a courtesy name for him. Xing Zicai chose the courtesy name "Zhengdao" for him. Emperor Wenxuan said, "The character 'Zheng' includes the character for 'stop'; does my son have to stop and not move forward?" Xing Zicai wanted to change it, but the emperor did not allow it, saying, "This is the will of heaven!" Then Emperor Wenxuan turned to Gao Yan, King of Changshan, and said, "When the time comes, you will have control, but do not kill anyone!" After Emperor Wenxuan's death, Crown Prince Gao Yin succeeded to the throne, which ultimately led to Gao Yin's assassination by Gao Yan, who declared himself emperor.
During the reign of Emperor Wucheng, the Left Chancellor, Shi Kai, advised the emperor, "Since ancient times, emperors all eventually turn to dust. What difference is there between Yao, Shun, Jie, and Zhou when all is said and done? Your Majesty should enjoy happiness to the fullest while young and strong. A day of happiness is better than a thousand years. Don't waste your efforts on frugality!" Emperor Wucheng was pleased and became even more indulgent in wine and women. Shi Kai not only led the emperor astray but also misused his power, and was eventually killed by the Chief Imperial Secretary.
During the Wuping period of Northern Qi, the Chen army attacked Pengcheng, which caused Emperor Gao Wei great anxiety. Han Changluan, the attendant, advised him, "Even if we lose Henan, you can still become the ruler of the Kingdom of Gaochang! Now that Huainan is lost, what's there to worry about? Life is short, so seek happiness and stop worrying!" Gao Wei was delighted and became even more indulgent in wine and women, neglecting the affairs of the state. Before long, Northern Qi was conquered by the Zhou dynasty.
In the seventh year of Wuping, Emperor Gao Wei of Northern Qi was defeated by the Zhou army, fled to Ye City, declared himself the retired sovereign, passed the throne to Crown Prince Gao Heng, and changed the era name to Longhua. People at the time interpreted the characters of "Longhua" and pronounced it as "descending death." As a result, Gao Wei indeed surrendered to the Zhou dynasty and soon died.
Emperor Wu of Zhou changed the era name to Xuanzheng, and Emperor Xiao Kui of the Liang dynasty broke down the characters of "Xuanzheng" and pronounced it as "Yuwen perishes." In June of that year, Emperor Wu of Zhou indeed died.
During the time when Emperor Xuan of the Northern Zhou was in the Eastern Palace, he did not follow the rules, and Emperor Wu often beat him. Once he ascended the throne, he touched his scars and cursed, "You died too late!" He also renamed the era "Great Elephant," and Xiao Kui split the two characters of "Great Elephant" to read as "Emperor's Tomb." The following year, Emperor Xuan died.
In the early years of the Kaihuang era, King Liang, Xiao Cong, changed the era name to "Broad Fortune." The people of Jiangling whispered to each other, "'Fortune' implies the army is in retreat; does our monarch want to be driven away by the army?" Later, when Xiao Cong went to the capital to pay his respects, he was held captive and did not return. His uncle, Xiao Yan, led the people in a rebellion, and the Liang state was ultimately destroyed.
Emperor Wen named his several sons as follows: the Crown Prince was named Yong, Prince Jin was named Ying, Prince Qin was named Jun, and Prince Shu was named Xiu. When he first became emperor, someone submitted a petition saying, "'Yong' is at most a strong individual, 'Ying' is the best among thousands, 'Jun' is the best among tens of thousands. These are just common praises and not fitting names for an emperor." The emperor dismissed it at the time. At that time, many people with the surname Yang were related to the Ying surname, and someone advised, "Yang Ying, when read backwards, sounds like 'Ying Yang' (disaster)!" The emperor was very unhappy upon hearing this and quickly changed the names. Later, his sons Yong, Jun, and Xiu were all deposed, and Yang Guang became emperor, ultimately losing the throne, fulfilling the prophecy of the "Disaster of the Yang Clan."
When Emperor Yang became emperor, he changed the era name to "Great Undertaking." Those in the know warned it was a bad omen, saying, "The two characters 'Great Undertaking' when split apart mean 'Great Suffering is Coming!'" Before long, chaos erupted across the land, engulfed by wars and disasters.
Emperor Yang often casually remarked to his secretary, Yu Shinan, "I don't like others advising me. If those high-ranking and famous people advise me, they're just seeking their own fame, which I can't stand. As for those of lower status, I may tolerate them to some extent, but ultimately I won't really listen to them. Do you understand what I mean?" At that time, people discussed that in ancient times, wise kings ruled the world with sharp insight and keen perception, and even set up places where people could speak their minds freely, and even established wooden plaques for people to write critical opinions, to facilitate advisors, fearing that their loyal counsel might go unheard. In this way, blessings spread throughout the world and passed down to future generations. But this emperor hated candid advice and suppressed advisors; could he endure? In the end, he was indeed assassinated.
In the first year of the Tianjian era of the Liang Dynasty, there was a severe drought, and a dou (a traditional Chinese measure of volume) of rice cost five thousand coins, causing many people to starve to death. "If a monarch excessively uses yang energy, raises troops, exhausts the people and wastes resources, undertakes major construction projects, disregards the life and death of the people, and the people are full of complaints, and the monarch cannot control himself internally, it will lead to an overabundance of yang energy, imbalance, and a decline in yin energy. Excessive yang energy will lead to drought." Initially, the emperor raised troops in Xiangyang, defeated Zhang Chong, defeated Chen Bozhi, pacified Jiankang, fought many battles before and after, and the people were exhausted. After he became emperor, he continued to fight with the Wei Kingdom, which contributed to the drought as well.
In the twelfth year of the Taijian era of the Chen Dynasty, it did not rain until April. Prior to this, the Zhou army looted the northern Huai region, and the army led by Prince Shuling of Shixing was defeated, and the northern Huai region fell into the hands of the Zhou Dynasty, which contributed to the drought as well.
In the year 537 AD, during the Eastern Wei Dynasty, there was a severe drought in several places such as Binzhou, Sizhou, Fenzhou, Jianzhou, Jinzhou, Jiangzhou, Qinzhou, and Shanzhou, and many people fled due to famine. That year, Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu of Qi) fought against Western Wei in Shayuan and lost, leading to the deaths of countless individuals.
From the winter of 548 to the spring of 549 AD, there was a severe drought. Prior, the Western Wei army invaded Luoyang, and Gao Huan personally led his troops to battle against them at Mangshan, resulting in the death of tens of thousands of people.
In the summer of 552 AD, there was another severe drought. Prior, many troops were sent to build over 400 miles of the Great Wall, exhausting the common people.
In the spring of 556 AD, there was a drought. Prior to this, hundreds of thousands of people were sent to build the three super luxurious towers of Jinfengtai, Shengyingtai, and Chongguangtai, living in extravagance while disregarding the plight of the common people, which was a warning from heaven!
In April of 557 AD, there was a severe drought in five provinces to the west of Bingzhou and Jinzhou. That year, troops were dispatched to construct Zhiguan. However, the Turkic army of 200,000 men dismantled the Great Wall and even looted Hengzhou.
In the spring of 561 AD, there was a drought. At that time, a large number of people were mobilized to build the Daming Palace.
After 584 AD, the capital Chang'an frequently experienced droughts. During this time, the capital was moved to Longshoushan, and palaces were built, leaving the common people utterly exhausted, which was once again a warning from heaven!
In 608 AD, there was a severe drought in Yanzhou, Daizhou, and several counties on the border. Hundreds of thousands of people were sent to build the Great Wall, and the emperor personally inspected the border defenses. Many people starved and froze to death along the way due to a lack of work opportunities.
In 612 AD, there was a nationwide drought, causing the common people to flee in all directions. The emperor mobilized the national army to personally attack Goguryeo, resulting in the deaths of most of the soldiers from freezing and starvation. In 617 AD, there was another severe drought nationwide. During this time, all provinces, counties, and townships dispatched people to repair the city walls, regardless of age or gender.
On June 8, 504 AD, Emperor Wu of Liang was giving a sermon at Chongyang Palace when a monk named Zhigong suddenly started dancing, singing, and playing music. He then began to weep and composed a five-character poem: "Joyous for over thirty, sorrowful for fifty miles! Just look at eighty-three, disasters arise from the land. Flatterers deceive, traitors destroy the noble. If you don't believe my words, the dragon will rise in treachery. Even in the midst of horses, there is more sorrow than joy."
During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty, from the Tianjian era to the Taiqing era, the country enjoyed over thirty years of peace and stability, and the Jianghuai region was tranquil. However, in the second year of Taiqing, Taicheng fell, and Emperor Wu had reigned for forty-eight years, which corresponded to the prophecy in the poem of "fifty li." On August 13 of the first year of Taiqing, Hou Jing came to surrender from Xuanhu, which is north of Danyang, referred to in the poem as "Zi Di." Emperor Wu believed Zhu Yi's words and accepted Hou Jing's surrender. The rebellion of Hou Jing began in the year of Wuchen, and, by the year of Wuchen, Emperor Wu died from excessive worry. On April 8, ten years later, Monk Zhigong wrote another poem at a large gathering: “The tail-less dog begins to go mad, wanting to die yet not dying, biting and injuring people, self-destructing in an instant. The calamity lies in your shadow, dying in the Three Xiangs region, lying dead without anyone to bury.” Hou Jing's nickname was "Dogzi," and he initially surrendered from Xuanhu, which was ancient Runan; south of Baling is a place called Three Xiangs, where Hou Jing was defeated.
During the Tianjian era, the recluse Tao Hongjing of Maoshan also wrote a five-character poem predicting this disaster: “Yifu is reckless, Pingshu sits and talks idly; unexpectedly, Zhaoyang Palace suddenly becomes the palace of the Chanyu.” By the Datong era, the court officials were only concerned with discussing metaphysics and neglected political affairs. "Yifu" and "Pingshu" were both high-ranking ministers at that time. After Hou Jing's rebellion, he actually moved into Zhaoyang Palace.
In the Datong era, a nursery rhyme circulated among the people: “The white horse with a black mane comes from Shouyang.” Later, when Hou Jing broke through Danyang, he rode a white horse, and the reins of the horse were made of black silk.
In the early years of the Chen Dynasty, another nursery rhyme emerged: “The yellow horse and the blue steed come from the bank of Shouyang. When they arrived, it was the end of winter, and when they left, it was the beginning of spring breeze.” Later, Chen Baxian was indeed defeated by Han Qintian. Han Qintian's nickname was Huang Ban, and when he broke through Jiankang, he also rode a blue steed, and the timing echoed with what was said in the nursery rhyme.
During the Chen Dynasty, Wang Xianzhi's "Peach Leaf Song" was popular everywhere in Jiangnan. The lyrics were: "Peach leaves, peach leaves, crossing the river without oars. There is no suffering in crossing, I will welcome you myself." This song was very popular. Later, when the Jin Dynasty attacked the Chen Dynasty, they camped under the Peach Leaf Mountain. When Han Qinhut crossed the river, General Ren Mannu even led the way, aiding the Northern Army's smooth advance.
Emperor Chen Shubao of the Chen Dynasty built the Qiyun Temple, and the common folk sang songs to mock him: "Qiyun Temple, bandits come without end." The Qiyun Temple was not even completed when the Sui Dynasty's army arrived, and Chen Shubao was captured. This song truly came to pass!
During Chen Shubao's reign, in the Zhenming period, he wrote a new song, with particularly sad lyrics, and even had the palace beauties learn to sing it. The lyrics were: "Jade trees in the backyard, flowers do not bloom for long." People at the time believed this was an ominous omen, thinking that the Chen Dynasty was about to perish. This song also came true, and shortly after, the Chen Dynasty fell.
When Emperor Gao Huan of the Northern Qi Dynasty had just moved the capital to Ye City, there was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "Poor little green bird, flying into Ye City. The nest isn't even built yet, looking up, lost hometown. Sending letters to their wives and mothers, admiring the new bride." This green bird referred to Emperor Wei Xiaojing, the son of Prince Qinghe, who later married Gao Huan's daughter. Before the palace in Ye City was completed, Gao Huan usurped the throne, just like the green bird being chased away before it could build its nest. Wei Xiaojing died shortly after, and Gao Huan's daughter, Empress Wenxuan, later married Yang Yin. At that time, Gao Huan's wife, Empress Lou, was still alive, so the nursery rhyme mentioned "sending letters to their wives and mothers." The "new bride" refers to the overthrown empress.
In the Wuding period, another nursery rhyme appeared: "The hundred-foot high pole is broken, the lamp at the bottom of the water goes out." "High" refers to the royal family of the Northern Qi with the surname Gao, and "Cheng" is the name of Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng. Five years later, Emperor Shunwu Gao Huan died, which fulfilled the line about "the high pole is broken." Seven years later, Emperor Wenxiang Gao Cheng was assassinated, fulfilling "the lamp at the bottom of the water goes out."
During the Tianbao years, a man named Lu Fahe wrote on a wall: "A ten-year emperor is still acceptable, a hundred-day emperor is as hasty as fire, a year-long emperor is replaced in succession." Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi died after ten years of reign, the deposed Emperor Gao Yin was only emperor for a little over a hundred days before being deposed, and Emperor Xiaozhao Gao Yan also died after a year of reign; this nursery rhyme indeed came true!
In the first year of Wuping, another nursery rhyme emerged: "The fox cuts its tail, you want to remove me, I remove you." In April of that year, King Hu Changren of Longdong wanted to send an assassin to kill He Shikai, but the plan was exposed, and he instead ended up being framed and killed by He Shikai. This nursery rhyme also came true!
Two years later, the children started singing the nursery rhyme: "He Shikai, on July 30, will take you to the South Platform." After singing, the children clapped their hands together and said, "Kill him!" Then, on July 25, Inspector General Wang Yan of Langya captured He Shikai and sent him to the South Platform for execution. In the same year, another nursery rhyme appeared: "In July, harvesting rice is hurt early, in September, eating cake is just right. In October, washing the rice urn, in November, Zhao Laozhi is ousted." This nursery rhyme refers to He Shikai being killed in July, Wang Yan of Langya dying in September, and Zhao Yanshen being appointed as the governor of Xiyanzhou in November.
As the Wuping period was drawing to a close, a nursery rhyme became popular: "The yellow flower is about to fall, the clear cup is only filled for drinking." At that time, Empress Mu and her son acted inappropriately and interfered in state affairs, causing a lot of trouble for everyone. Empress Mu's nickname was Huanghua (yellow flower), and this nursery rhyme foretold the downfall of the Qi dynasty, just like the yellow flower was about to wither.
In Ye City, there is still a children's rhyme that goes: "A broom made of gold and a handle of jade, sweeping the palace to welcome the western family." Not long after, the army of the Zhou Dynasty invaded Ye City.
When the Zhou Dynasty was just established, another children's rhyme appeared: "At the top of the poplar tree, the golden rooster crows, only the uncle has no nephew." This refers to Gao Wei, the last ruler of Northern Qi, who was the nephew of Emperor Gao Yang of Northern Qi. After he abdicated, he died, while his uncles were all very powerful.
Regarding Emperor Xuan of Zhou, there was an occasion when he danced and sang with the palace maids in the middle of the night, singing: "Knowing my life is short, I roam the night with a candle." As a result, he died just three years after becoming emperor.
By the tenth year of the Kaihuang era, Emperor Gaozu traveled to Bingzhou, where he hosted a banquet for King Qin and his son Zixiang. Emperor Gaozu even spontaneously composed a four-line poem: "How few are the beauties, their jade-like faces fleeting. One morning the flowers fall, white hair is hard to remove. Next year and the year after, who has and who has not." As a result, Zixiang died the following year, and eighteen years later, King Qin also died.
In the eleventh year of the Daye era, Emperor Yang of Sui set off from the capital to the Eastern Capital. Upon reaching Changle Palace, he became extremely drunk and excitedly wrote a five-line poem. The last two lines were: "Only a heart longing to return, no longer aided by the wind's force." He had the beauties in the palace recite these lines repeatedly, while he wept profusely, and even the servants attending him sighed along. After that, Emperor Yang went to Jiangdu and wrote another five-line poem: "Seeking to return but unable to leave, truly experiencing a springtime fate. The birds urge drinking, the plum blossoms mock death." This poem was written in March, and he was killed that same month, truly fulfilling the line "becoming a spring encounter!" That year, bandits rose up, and the roads were completely blocked. Emperor Yang became frightened and completely gave up on returning to the capital. He even dreamed of two young men singing: "Staying is death, leaving is death. Better to take a boat across the river." So he ordered the construction of a palace in Danyang, planning to settle there. Unfortunately, before the palace could be completed, he died.
In the Daye period, there was a nursery rhyme circulating among the people: "Peach and plum, swans and geese circling Yangshan, winding through the flowered woods. Speak not carelessly, who says it’s allowed?" Later, Li Mi was arrested by the government because he was involved in Yang Xuangan's rebellion. He escaped on the way, secretly recruited a group of bandits, broke out from Yangcheng Mountain, attacked Luokou Warehouse, and then stationed in the garden. "Speak not carelessly, it's Li Mi," referring to Li Mi; "Yuwen Huaji self-proclaimed Emperor of Xuguo," Yuwen Huaji also proclaimed himself emperor, but was soon defeated. "Who says it's allowed" reflects the people's uncertainty at that time.
In the first year of the Datong era of Emperor Liang, Prince Shaoling Xiao Lun had two raccoon dogs fighting on the roof beams of his bedroom during the day, and he caught them when they fell. In the Taiqing period, when facing the rebellion of Hou Jing, Xiao Lun led his troops to rescue Taicheng. When they reached Zhongshan, a bear that had just woken up from hibernation suddenly appeared and bit the horse Xiao Lun was riding. This was truly a "curse of the pests"! Later, Xiao Lun was defeated by Wang Sengbian, fled to Nanyang, and was eventually killed by Western Wei.
During the Datong era of Emperor Liang, every night, foxes would always howl under the palace, and it took several years for it to stop. Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" says: "Wild beasts roar, the city is empty." Soon after, the country fell into chaos, with nearly all the residents of Danyang City dead or wounded.
In the early years of the Zhenming era of the Chen Dynasty, a fox ran under the emperor's bed, but it couldn't be captured. Jing Fang's "Yifeihou" says: "Fox enters the ruler's chamber, the chamber is not inhabited." Shortly thereafter, the Chen Dynasty fell.
In September of the year 548, a leopard entered the southern gate of Ye City and was killed on the spot. In August five years later, the leopard returned to Tongjue Terrace. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" states: "When wild beasts enter the city, even running to the imperial road and the gates of the officials' residences, it is a great omen of disaster; the ruler will die." That year, the Eastern Wei suffered a crushing defeat at the Battle of Yubi, and Gao Huan also died from illness.
In 550, a rabbit ran out from the temple of the Later Qi. Jing Fang's "Yi Fei Hou" says: "When a rabbit runs to the royal family, the ruler will die." The temple is a place where ancestral deities reside. Five years later, the Zhou army invaded Ye City, and the Later Qi Emperor fled in panic.
As the Wu Ping era of the Later Qi was nearing its end, there were many wolves in Bingzhou and Sizhou, and they even ate people. The "Hong Fan Wu Xing Zhuan" states: "Wolves are greedy and violent beasts, mostly white, and symbolize military disasters. Wolves are also like dogs, foretelling dog calamities." Jing Fang's "Yi Zhuan" also states: "If the ruler is unjust, disasters will befall the people, and they can only preserve their lives by hiding in the deep mountains. Wolves eating people is a sign of such disasters." At that time, the emperor favored sycophants and was greedy and cruel himself, harming the people, which was indeed the realization of the omen of wolves eating people. Later, he was indeed destroyed by the Zhou army, which also confirmed the omen of military disaster.
During the Wu Ping era, footprints of children suddenly appeared outside the gate of Shuozhou, and dirt was piled up to resemble a city wall. People found it strange and investigated carefully, only to discover that it was the work of a fox spirit, and later this malevolent presence spread to Bingzhou and Ye City. This was similar to the situation when the leopard entered the city in the third year of Wuding. That year, Prince Sihao of Nanan raised an army to rebel, heading straight for Bingzhou, but was defeated by the imperial army. Zheng Zirao, Yang Fahao, and other rebels also rose up in the Shandong region.
In the year 557, there were reports of dogs mating with women in Ye City and Dunqiu at the same time. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" states: "Different species should not mate, yet they have; this is a sign of chaos. The mating of dogs and humans foretells disasters involving dogs." Dog disasters signify an excess of yang energy and a loss of the people's trust. At that time, the emperor was indifferent to state affairs, and his grace did not benefit the common people.
During the reign of the Later Emperor, he even granted titles to dogs, with female dogs receiving the title of 'madam' and being assigned soldiers to serve them, eating fine rice and sleeping on soft beds with delicate quilts. Heaven truly must be blind to grant nobility to dogs, which only reinforced the omen of dog disasters. It seemed that Heaven was saying, "You ministers are all like dogs." The Later Emperor did not understand this principle, leading to the downfall of the state.
In the year 560, a dog gave birth to puppies, but the lower half of its body was divided in two, with two tails and six legs. Dogs are fierce creatures, armed with claws and fangs, symbolizing soldiers. At that time, Yuwen Hu conspired with Hou Fu, Hou Long'en, and others to rebel. The split in the dog's rear was indeed the fulfillment of this omen.
In the first year of the Daye era, many dogs in the Yanmen region lost their owners, running wild in groups in the fields, resembling wolves, even attacking and biting people, and it took several years for this to settle down. The texts say: "Dogs are meant to guard homes; now they have lost their masters, which indicates that the ministers are disobedient. The dogs' appearance has started to resemble that of wolves, and the wolf's fur is white; this is a sign of impending war!" Later, the emperor engaged in endless military campaigns and forced labor, as if Heaven was sending him a warning: "Stop the forced labor, or the dogs meant to guard homes will rebel!" But the emperor did not listen, insisting on repairing the Great Wall and interfering in the affairs of the Western Regions and Liaodong, resulting in widespread discontent among the populace. Ultimately, an incident transpired in Jiangdu, and even his own guards turned against him.
In the second year of Liang Datong, white fur grew in the fields, measuring two feet long; this was seen as a good omen. Sun Sheng felt this was a sign of the people's hardship. Previously, there had been a large-scale mobilization of the people to repair the Fushan Weir, which cost a huge amount of money. Just when it seemed nearly finished, it collapsed multiple times, and the people were weary of forced labor, with sighs and complaints heard everywhere.
In the first year of Qi Heqing, in September, a lot of hair appeared in the fields at the foot of the Great Wall in Cangzhou, both white and black, measuring four to five inches long; this too seemed like a good omen. At that time, the workers were busy repairing the Great Wall, and the palace was also constructing three platforms, exhausting the common people.
In July of the sixth year of Kaihuang, a hairy rain fell in the capital, with strands resembling hair in the rain, some over three feet long and others six or seven inches. The "Yifei Hou" by Jing Fang stated: "Hair falling from the sky indicates a great famine for the nation." In Guanzhong, there was a severe drought at that time, and rice prices soared.
In the early years of the Tian Tong era of the Later Qi, a jade disc emerged on the Taishan Fengshan altar, which was yet another good omen. Taishan was a place for emperors to change dynasties, and the jade disc was used in sacrificial rites; its emergence indicated a change of dynasties was imminent. Eventually, the Qi state fell, and the territory returned to the Zhou dynasty. Emperor Gaozu accepted the abdication of the Zhou, unifying the world, which all came to pass as the sacrifices at Taishan had foretold.
In the third year of Wuping, the phrase "Qi is doomed" appeared on the blue stone wall below Baishui Rock. Someone changed it to "Shang Yan," and the later ruler thought this was an auspicious sign, with all the civil and military officials coming to congratulate him. As a result, the Zhou army soon invaded, and the later ruler indeed fled from Yecheng.
In the seventeenth year of Kaihuang, more than ten stones fell from the sky between Wuan and Fuyang. The "Hongfan Wuxing Zhuan" stated: "If stones fall from the sky, the ruler will be in danger." Seven years later, the emperor died.
In the final years of Kaihuang, Gaozu buried two small stones in the palace as a marker for where his bed would be. Before long, these two stones transformed into jade. Liu Xiang said: "Jade is the most precious; cheap things turning into valuable ones indicate a change is coming." By the end of the Daye era, bandits were rampant, boldly declaring themselves kings and emperors.
In the thirteenth year of the Sui Dynasty, a stone was discovered in Xiping County with the inscription "The Emperor will reign for a thousand years." The court ministers were all ecstatic and rushed to offer their congratulations. However, some wise individuals voiced their concerns, saying, "The phrase 'reign for a thousand years' is usually said after death. To claim this now is a sign that disaster is on the horizon." Indeed, the following year, Emperor Yang of Sui was killed. In the twelfth year of the Daitong reign of the Liang Dynasty, the entrance to the tomb at Que'a inexplicably shifted, a sign of wood triumphing over metal. The movement of the stone hinted at a coming relocation. It appeared to be a divine warning: the tomb would eventually be ownerless, and the stone would be taken away by others. Later, the Liang Dynasty indeed fell. In the fourth year of Heqing of the Later Qi, stones in the palace jumped up and collided with each other. Sui Meng analyzed that the stones' movements in the palace foreshadowed a rebellion by the emperor's closest aides. Later, the Zhou Dynasty's army marched east, and favored courtiers such as Wei Xiangyuan, Qi Fugui, his brothers, and Han Jianye all defected and joined forces with the Zhou Dynasty. In the first month of the twelfth year of Daitong of the Liang Dynasty, two demon-queller statues were dispatched to the tomb. The left demon-queller with double horns arrived at the tomb without incident. The demon-queller with a single horn on the right was about to depart, but it suddenly jumped three times in succession on the carriage, snapping the carriage pole! After changing carriages and continuing on, before it had traveled two miles from the tomb, it jumped three times again! With each jump, everyone on the carriage was lifted three to four feet into the air, and the carriage wheels sank three inches deep into the ground! This was yet another sign of wood triumphing over metal! As Liu Xiang once noted, "When the people's trust is lost, orders go unheeded, and words fall on deaf ears," it is because the metal energy is disturbed. Stones represent ministers, and this jumping stone was a sign of ministers rebelling! In his later years, Emperor Wu of Liang neglected state affairs, focusing only on reciting Buddhist scriptures and discussing metaphysics with his officials. The court was in chaos, orders were not executed, and words were not accepted, ultimately leading to the Hou Jing rebellion.
In the first year of the Jiande era of the Zhou Dynasty, a stone statue was discovered in Puyang County. The county officials intended to take it to the prefecture and strip off the gold from its surface. However, on the way, the statue leapt off the cart and fell to the ground not once, but twice. Eventually, they secured the statue to the side of the cart with a thick rope, but the rope snapped, causing the statue to tumble down once more. At that time, the emperor had recently conquered the Qi Kingdom and was launching attacks on Huainan, constantly engaged in warfare. The people were worn out; this marked a significant loss of public support!
