The "Five Elements Transmission" states: "Simplifying ancestral rites, neglecting prayers, abolishing sacrifices, and defying the will of heaven will result in water not nourishing the earth." This implies that when water loses its inherent qualities, disasters will follow. The book also says: "Hearing without understanding is akin to failing to think or plan. Serious offenses will result in harsh punishments, ultimately leading to poverty. Sometimes there will be evil spirits causing trouble, sometimes locusts will ravage, sometimes swine fever will spread, sometimes ear diseases will be prevalent, and sometimes ominous disasters will arise, including only fire and water disasters." Liu Xin explained in the "Transmission" that "fish plague" refers to the disaster of crustaceans, which is the locust plague.
In July of the first year of Yongyuan, there were nine major floods across the country, resulting in significant crop damage. Jing Fang said in the "Yi Zhuan": "Making unreasonable, arbitrary decisions will invite water disasters. These water disasters will bring torrential rains that can be deadly, hail, strong winds, and a yellow sky. Even if one is starving, they will not reduce their enjoyment; this is called 'Tai', and water disasters will kill people. Obstructing virtuous people is called 'Kuang'; water disasters will flood and kill people, and the land will be plagued by pests after the floods. Imprisoning offenders without trial is called 'Zhui Fei'; water disasters will freeze people to death. Investigating crimes without conducting trials is termed 'Bu Li'; water disasters will result in poor harvests. Not learning from significant defeats is referred to as 'Jie Yin'; water disasters will flood into towns, and hail will destroy crops." At that time, the young Emperor He was under the regency of Empress Dowager Dou. Her brother, Dou Xian, held real power, and his younger brothers were also in high positions of authority. They misused their power and oppressed the populace, ordering their subordinates to kill those who bore grudges against them. Eventually, the Dou family was eradicated.
In the sixth month of the twelfth year, a catastrophic flood occurred in the Yingchuan area, causing serious damage to the crops. At that time, Emperor He favored Lady Deng and secretly plotted to depose Empress Yin, who harbored resentment. Legend has it that Empress Gonghuai's funeral was not conducted with sufficient grandeur, and it was only after Empress Dou died that she was interred as Empress Liang in Xiling, while her three uncles were appointed as marquises, with special titles and countless monetary rewards.
In May of the first year of Yanping, thirty-seven catastrophic floods occurred across the country, causing serious damage to the crops. Dong Zhongshu said, "Water is a manifestation of excessive Yin energy." At that time, the Emperor was still in his infancy, and Empress Dowager Deng held power.
In October of the first year of Yongchu in Han Emperor An (107 AD), a sudden flash flood struck Xincheng, Henan, destroying the fields of the common people and causing springs to emerge in the areas that were washed away, with water depths of up to three zhang. At that time, Sikong Zhou Zhang and others conspired to depose the recently established Crown Prince because Empress Dowager Deng chose not to appoint Prince Liu Sheng as Crown Prince, opting instead for the Prince of Qinghe. By November, their conspiracy was uncovered, and Zhou Zhang and others were executed. That year, floods occurred in 41 counties across the country, and many common people were swept away by the flood. A prophecy foretold, "Water embodies the essence of Yin energy. When Yin energy is excessive and overflows, it indicates that villains are in power, jealous of the talented, forming cliques, oppressing the virtuous, and when villains gain power, floods will occur."
In the second, third, fourth, and fifth years, major floods occurred. In the sixth year, the water in the ponds in Hedong changed color, turning a blood-red hue. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng still wielded great power.
In the third year of Yangguang in Han Emperor An (12 AD), another catastrophic flood struck, killing many people and causing great damage to the crops. At that time, Emperor An fell victim to the slanderous whispers of Jiang Jing, Fan Feng, Wang Sheng, and others, removing Grand Commandant Yang Zhen from his position and deposing the Crown Prince.
In May of the first year of Jianchu in Han Emperor Zhi (145 AD), seawater overflowed into Le'an and Beihai, drowning many people and livestock. At that time, the Emperor was still a child, while Empress Dowager Liang wielded power.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Huan of Han (148 AD), in July, the capital was hit by a major flood. In the previous winter, Liang Ji wrongfully accused and executed the former Grand Commandant Li Gu and Du Qiao. In August of the third year, the capital experienced another major flood. At that time, Empress Liang was still in control of the court.
In the first year of the Yongxing era of Emperor Huan of Han (153 AD), in autumn, the Yellow River overflowed, destroying many houses and causing the deaths of many people and livestock. In the second year, in June, the water level of the Sishui River in Pengcheng rose and even flowed backward.
In the first year of the Yongshou era (155 AD), in June, the Luo River swelled, flooding up to the gates of Jinyang City and washing away many people and livestock. At that time, Empress Liang's brother Liang Ji held great power, suppressing loyal officials and acting arrogantly, with power that even surpassed the emperor's. Eventually, Liang Ji was executed.
In the eighth year of the Yanxi era (165 AD), in April, the Yellow River in Jibei cleared up. In the ninth year, in April, the Yellow River in Jiyin, Dongjun, Jibei, and Pingyuan also cleared up. Xiang Kai submitted a memorial saying, "The Yellow River symbolizes the princes; clear water represents the flourishing of yang energy. Does this mean only the princes can foresee the changes in the capital?" The following year, Emperor Huan of Han passed away, and the court installed Liu Hong, the Marquis of Jieduting, as the new emperor, who became Emperor Ling of Han.
In the first year of the Yongkang era (167 AD), in August, the six provinces experienced major floods, and the sea water in Bohai also caused widespread flooding, resulting in many deaths. At that time, Emperor Huan of Han lived extravagantly and engaged in superstitious activities. In November, he passed away without an heir to inherit the throne.
In the fourth year of the Jianning era of Emperor Ling of Han (171 AD), in February, the Yellow River cleared up. In May, there was a sudden mountain flood that destroyed over five hundred households.
In June of 178 AD, the sea water in Donglai and Beihai regions of Shandong surged, resulting in many deaths and widespread destruction. In the following autumn, the Luo River in Luoyang also flooded. In the summer of 180 AD, several states and counties experienced major floods, leading to considerable crop losses.
In the autumn of 184 AD, the Jincheng River flooded, flooding over twenty miles of land. In 188 AD, several provinces and counties experienced major floods. In September of 197 AD, the Han River overflowed, bringing hardship to the common people. It was a time of great chaos. In June of 205 AD, there was another major flood. In August of 209 AD, the Han River once again overflowed, causing calamity to the common people.
It's been really cold lately. In the winter of 184 AD, it was especially cold, with ice more than a foot thick in wells across the Beihai, Donglai, and Langye areas of Shandong. In June of 194 AD, it was as cold as winter, with a biting wind howling.
In June of 91 AD, several provinces and counties experienced hailstorms, with hailstones as big as eggs. At that time, the Emperor appointed the ruthless official Zhou Yu as the Chief of the Imperial Guard, and the punishments were severe. In 107 AD, there was hail. In 108 AD, there was hail again, with hailstones as big as eggs. In 109 AD, there was hail again, with hailstones goose egg-sized, devastating the crops. Liu Xiang attributed hail to the overpowering of yin energy over yang energy. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng held absolute power and controlled the court.
On a certain day in June of 104 AD, several provinces and counties experienced hailstorms, with hailstones as big as bowls and others the size of eggs, causing livestock to be killed. In April of 106 AD, twenty-one provinces and counties experienced hailstorms, with hailstones as big as eggs, causing severe damage to crops. At that time, Emperor An was misled by slander and unjustly executed many people. In 108 AD, there was hail again, with hailstones as big as eggs.
On a day in May of 157 AD, the capital was hit by hail, with hailstones as big as eggs. At that time, Emperor Huan unjustly killed innocent people and favored villains. In May of 160 AD, the capital was hit by hail again. At that time, Empress Dowager Deng lived extravagantly and wielded her power with arrogance. The following year, she was deposed and died of depression, and her entire family was executed.
In April of 167 AD, there was hail. In May of 169 AD, the Hedong region experienced hail. In June of 170 AD, there was hail again, with hailstones as big as eggs. At that time, the eunuchs and palace attendants controlled the court, resulting in rampant corruption and chaos. In April of 175 AD, hail struck again, wreaking havoc on the crops.
In June of the year 194 AD, there was a hailstorm in the Youfufeng region, with hailstones as big as a fist. In November of the year 91 AD, winter thunder was heard in several states and counties. Many royal princes who died young were secretly buried among the common people. That year, the emperor passed away, and the heir apparent only lived for a little over a hundred days before being declared emperor; the emperor's brother, who was ill, was given the title King of Pingyuan, but later died without leaving any descendants.
On the day of Yihai in September of the year 144 AD (first year of Emperor Shang of Han), thunder was heard in the Chenliu region, and there was even a meteor shower with a total of four stones falling from the sky.
In October of the year 107 AD (sixth year of Emperor An of Han), strange occurrences of winter thunder were reported in several counties. In the tenth month of the seventh year of Yongchu, there were more reports of winter thunder in several counties and states.
In October of the year 108 AD (first year of Yuanchu), several counties reported winter thunder. In October of the year 110 AD (third year of Yuanchu), winter thunder was reported in the Runan and Lelang regions. In October of the year 112 AD (fourth year of Yuanchu) and in October of the year 114 AD (sixth year of Yuanchu), several counties experienced winter thunder.
In October of the year 118 AD (first year of Yongning), several counties reported winter thunder. The same occurred in October of the year 120 AD. By the year 124 AD (fourth year of Yanguang), astonishingly, nineteen counties experienced winter thunder! During that period, the Empress Dowager was in power, and the emperor was unable to make decisions. After the Empress Dowager's death, Wang Sheng and Yan Xian brothers took control, and the emperor became even more detached from state affairs, leaving everything to his ministers.
In June of the year 147 AD (third year of Emperor Huan of Han), lightning struck the Xianling Mausoleum. Prior to this, Empress Liang had been misled by her brother Ji's slander and unjustly killed Li Gu and Du Qiao.
In October of the year 167 AD (sixth year of Emperor Ling of Han), winter thunder was heard in the Donglai region.
On the thirty-first of December in the year 187 AD (fourth year of Emperor Xian of Han), it rained accompanied by loud thunder and lightning, and even hail fell.
In 190 AD (the 3rd year of the Chu Ping era of Emperor Xian of Han), on the fifth day of the month of Bing Shen, as well as in 191 AD (the 4th year of the Chu Ping era), on the fifth day of the month of Gui You, strange phenomena of thunder without clouds occurred on both of these days.
Between 198 and 200 AD (the 7th-8th years of the Jian An era of Emperor Xian of Han), there was a large mountain in Liling County, Changsha, which frequently emitted loud sounds similar to the bellowing of cattle for several years. Later, bandits from Yuzhang Prefecture attacked Liling County, killing a large number of officials and civilians.
In 167 AD (the 2nd year of the Xi Ping era of Emperor Ling of Han), two giant fish appeared by the East Lai Sea, each measuring eight to nine zhang in length and over two zhang in height. The following year, Prince of Zhongshan Liu Chang and Prince of Rencheng Liu Bo both passed away.
In 96 AD (the 4th year of the Yong Yuan era of Emperor He of Han), a locust plague struck. In the fifth month of the 8th year of Yong Yuan, locust plagues also occurred in Henan and Chenliu regions, and in September, even the capital city was affected. In the 9th year of Yong Yuan, the locust plague persisted from summer to autumn. Prior to this, the Western Qiang region had rebelled multiple times, prompting the court to send generals to lead the Northern Army in suppression.
In 108 AD (the 4th year of the Yong Chu era of Emperor An of Han), a locust plague occurred in the summer. At that time, the Western Qiang region was in constant rebellion, and the imperial army was engaged in warfare for over a decade. In the 5th year of Yong Chu, locust plagues swept across the country during the summer. In the 3rd month of the 6th year of Yong Chu, the areas previously affected by the disaster saw the appearance of locust nymphs. In the summer of the 7th year of Yong Chu, another locust plague occurred. In 108 AD (the 1st year of the Yuan Chu era), locust plagues occurred in five commanderies. In 109 AD (the 2nd year of the Yuan Chu era), locust plagues occurred in twenty commanderies.
In June 121 AD (the 1st year of the Yan Guang era of Emperor Shun of Han), locust plagues occurred in multiple commanderies.
In 140 AD (the 5th year of the Yong Jian era of Emperor Shun of Han), locust plagues occurred in twelve commanderies. At that time, the Xianbei invaded Shuofang, prompting the court to send troops to suppress them.
In the 7th month of 136 AD, locust plagues occurred in the Yanshi region. In the previous winter, the Wuhuan people invaded the Shanan region, prompting the court to send troops to quell the invasion.
In July of the year 145 AD, locust plagues swept across all 32 provinces and states nationwide. At that time, Liang Ji wielded immense power, ignoring the law and solely pursuing his own ambitions. In June of the year 146 AD, the capital city was hit by a locust plague. In June of the year 147 AD, the capital city was hit by another locust plague. In May of the year 148 AD, the capital city was once again hit by locusts.
In the summer of the year 168 AD, seven provinces were hit by locust plagues. Prior to this, the Xianbei tribe had invaded the borders over thirty times. That year, the court dispatched Hu Huan, Xia Yu, and Zang Min to lead an army against the Xianbei. However, due to tight finances, the court had to increase taxes on counties to supply the army. As a result, none of the three armies accomplished anything significant, and less than half of the soldiers returned.
In the year 168 AD, the emperor issued an edict wondering: "Why have there been consecutive years of locust plagues lasting until winter?" Cai Yong replied: "I've heard from the 'Book of Changes' that if major projects aren't done on time, disasters will come from above, like locust plagues." The 'Secret Treatise of the River Diagram' states: "If the emperor is greedy, it will lead to political tyranny, cruel officials, and cruelty will lead to severe punishment and killings, resulting in locust plagues." At that time, court officials were all relocating to the West Garden and secretly offering gifts, hoping to make the West Garden their new residence.
In the summer of the year 194 AD, a massive locust plague broke out. At that time, the world was in turmoil. In May of the year 197 AD, a locust plague occurred.
