Speaking of Liangzhou, the territory is quite extensive, which encompasses Longxi, Hanyang, Wudu, Jincheng, Anding, Beidi, Wuwei, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Dunhuang, along with the vassal states of Zhangye and Juyan. Back then, the Liangzhou region had a complex web of powers, including the Governor of Liangzhou, Zhang Shi, the Xianbei Qifu Guoren, the Xianbei Tufa Wugu, the self-styled Liang King Li Gao, and the Lu Water Hu Juqu Mengxun, each one a local warlord.
Zhang Shi, styled Anxun, was from the Wushi in Anding. His father, Zhang Gui, was a notable figure who served as Cavalry Attendant. Amid the chaos of the Jin Dynasty, Zhang Gui secretly tried to establish himself in the Hexi region, so he sought the position of Governor of Liangzhou from the court, and was also appointed as the Commissioner and Protector-General of the Qiang. During Emperor Huan's reign, Zhang Gui even sent envoys to the court with local specialties. Later, the Jin Dynasty appointed him General of the West and Marquis of Anle Township, granting him a fief of one thousand households. In the fifth year of Yongjia, he was appointed General Who Pacifies the West by the Jin Dynasty, Commander of the various armies in Longyou, and Marquis of Bache. Not long after, he was promoted to Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and appointed as a Palace Attendant and a General of the Household. When Emperor Min succeeded to the throne, he further promoted him to Minister of Works, Marquis of Xiping, with a fief of three thousand households. Finally, he became a Palace Attendant, Grand Commandant, and Governor of Liangzhou, with authority over tens of thousands of people. As Zhang Gui aged and his health worsened, he allowed his son Zhang Shi to become the Grand General of the Guards, assisting him in handling Liangzhou affairs. Not long after, Zhang Gui passed away due to years of illness, and his two sons took over the administration of Liangzhou, keeping silent about external news, and no one was aware of the exact details. Legend has it that Zhang Gui was knowledgeable about astronomy, and whenever bandits stirred up trouble in Liangzhou, he would lie in bed and look up at the sky, saying, "They won’t do any real harm." And indeed, it came true.
Zhang Shi took over his father's position, and the Emperor appointed him as Commissioner of the Imperial Edict, Commander of Military Affairs of Liangzhou, General of the Guards of the West, Governor of Liangzhou, Leader of the Qiang Cavalry, and Duke of Xiping. Later, when Liu Yao captured Chang'an, Zhang Shi declared himself as Palace Attendant, Minister of Works, Grand Commander, and Governor of Liangzhou, acting independently. At that time, the country was in utter chaos, with the people in the Qin and Yong regions suffering heavy casualties, with eight or nine out of every ten people perishing. Only Liangzhou remained safe and unharmed. Zhang Shi, relying on his powerful influence, grew increasingly arrogant and tyrannical. In the fourth year of Emperor Ping Wen's reign, he was assassinated by his own subordinates, including Yan Sha. There were whispers that "the snake's head falls to the ground, unaware." A headless apparition appeared on the beam of Zhang Shi's house and disappeared after a long time. Zhang Shi loathed this apparition, and not long after, he died. His brother, Zhang Mao, then took over his position.
Zhang Mao, styled Chengxun, held many official titles, privately signing his titles as Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs of Liangzhou, General Who Pacifies the West, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Xiping. He executed more than a hundred individuals, among them Yan Sha, and sent envoys to the court for tribute. His wife's brothers, Jia Mo and his sibling, conspired against him, only to be killed by Zhang Mao. Later, fearing for his life, Zhang Mao surrendered and was appointed Grand Tutor and King of Liang by Liu Yao. Zhang Mao died without a son, and his adopted son, Zhang Jun, inherited his titles.
Zhang Jun, styled Gongting, conferred upon himself numerous official titles, calling himself Commissioner, Grand General, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Xiping, and he too sent envoys to the court for tribute. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, the people of Longxi, under the leadership of Xin Yan, surrendered to him, enabling Zhang Jun to exert control over the territory extending to Dida, where he delineated borders with Shi Le.
Zhang Jun built a city in the southern part and constructed the Palace of Modesty inside. This palace was incredibly luxurious and extravagant, using all kinds of rare materials and extremely exquisite craftsmanship. He also built four palaces around the Palace of Modesty; the eastern one was called Yiyang Green Palace, the southern one was called Zhuyang Red Palace, the western one was called Zhengde White Palace, and the northern one was called Xuanwu Black Palace. Clothes, accessories, and utensils were all matched according to color and season, and next to the palace stood the Zhishe Temple, which was also categorized by color. His extravagance and wastefulness led to widespread complaints among the common people. Zhang Jun also planned to cultivate rocky land, but his military advisor, Suo Fu, cautioned him, saying, "In governing a country, one must not go against the principles of heaven, nor destroy the virtues of the earth. In the past, Hou Ji planted all kinds of grains without cultivating rocky land; and Yu the Great dredged rivers without going against the flow. Now you want to turn stones into farmland, transport soil, and plant crops; consider the costs: it would take over a hundred stones of grain to cultivate just one acre, while the harvest would only yield three stones. This is truly concerning!" Zhang Jun was angry when he heard this and demoted Suo Fu to the position of prefect in Yiwu. Later, in a place called Po Hu, a stone fell from the sky; the stone burned and shattered, producing a drum-like sound that could be heard seven hundred miles away. Where the stone fell, black smoke billowed from the ground, thick and ominous, with a red whirlwind at the top of the smoke column. Zhang Jun had always been unruly since his youth, often sneaking out at night in the city to cause trouble, influencing many young people to adopt his bad habits. He was also particularly greedy and even wanted to attack the Qin Long area. He lent grain and cloth to the common people, demanding double the interest after a year. Those who couldn’t repay the interest found their land and homes sold off by him.
First, Liangzhou was divided into eleven counties: Wuwei, Wuxing, Xiping, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiankang, Xihai, Xijun, Huanghe, Jinxing, and Guangwu, with Zhang Chonghua serving as the governor; Hezhou comprised eight counties: Jinxing, Jincheng, Wushi, Nan'an, Yongjin, Daxia, Wucheng, and Hanzhong, with Ning Rong serving as the governor; Shazhou consisted of three counties: Dunhuang, Jinchang, and Gaochang, as well as the Western Regions Protectorate, Wuji Colonel, and Yumen Grand Protectorate, with Yang Xuan appointed as the governor. Zhang Jun self-appointed as Grand Governor, Grand General, and Pretender King of Liang, overseeing the affairs of these three provinces. He also created various official titles such as Libationer, Langzhong, Daifu, Sheren, and Yezhe, with titles resembling those of the court, albeit with slight modifications. He performed the Liuyi dance, displayed leopard-tail flags, and dressed in the same chariots, horses, and banners as the emperor.
Initially, Zhang Gui had preserved Liangzhou, with Yin Dan also making significant contributions. However, Zhang Jun, fearing the influence of the Yin family, forced Yin Jian, Yin Dan's brother, to commit suicide, which led to significant embarrassment for him. Zhang Jun fell ill and passed away, expressing regret over his treatment of Yin Jian. This event took place in the ninth year of the dynasty's establishment, and his son Zhang Chonghua succeeded him.
Zhang Chonghua, whose courtesy name was Tailin, also took on titles such as Commissioner, Grand Governor, Grand Commandant, Protector General of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, Duke of Xiping, and Pretender King of Liang. Shi Hu sent Ma Qiu to lead troops across the river and build a city at Changzui, striking fear across Liangzhou. Sima Zhang Dan recommended the chief clerk Xie Ai to Zhang Chonghua, who employed him. Xie Ai proved to be exceptionally capable, directly killing Ma Qiu's generals and capturing and executing fifteen thousand people. Zhang Chonghua also dispatched envoys to the court and proclaimed himself Prime Minister, King of Liang, and concurrently Governor of Qin, Yong, and Liang. Eventually, Zhang Chonghua died, and his son Zhang Yaoling succeeded him.
Zhang Yaoling was only ten years old at the time. He declared himself to be the Grand Marshal and Governor of Liangzhou, and appointed his brother Zhang Zuo as the General of the Guard to assist him. Zhang Zuo manipulated their mother, Madam Ma, and privately told her that Yaoling was too young and should have someone older as the leader, which she agreed to. As a result, Zhang Zuo deposed Yaoling and usurped the leadership. Not long after, Zhang Yaoling was killed by Zhang Zuo.
Zuo, style name Taibo, after taking power, appointed himself as the Grand General, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Liang, acting with utter disregard for authority! He was particularly cruel, even exploiting the unmarried daughters of Emperor Chonghua. The people of Liangzhou were overwhelmed with grievances and even wrote a poem "Qiangci" to express their dissatisfaction; alas, it was truly tragic! Years ago, during the later years of Emperor Chonghua's reign, many locusts suddenly appeared outside Anchang Gate, climbing up the walls, which was seen as an ominous sign! The Commandant at the time, Chang Ju, advised Emperor Chonghua, saying, "The locusts are Zuo's nickname, and now they are climbing upside down; this spells disaster! Get rid of this kid quickly!" However, Emperor Chonghua replied, "This signifies prosperity for future generations; how could it be a disaster? I even dreamed yesterday that Zuo was in power and planned to let him assist the Crown Prince, just as the Duke of Zhou assisted King Cheng!" Ultimately, Zuo betrayed Emperor Chonghua and took his life.
He declared himself the King of Liang, established ancestral temples, set up a bureaucracy, renamed the era "Year One of Peace," sent envoys to offer tribute, and even bestowed upon himself a higher royal title. He brutally slaughtered innocent people in Jiuquan, including Xie Ai. When his advisor Ding Qi warned him against his arrogance, he had Ding Qi executed! He abolished the worship of numerous deities, which led to the desiccation of the land. He also appointed five officials to keep a close watch on the common folk, resulting in their oppression. He prohibited officials below the fourth rank from wearing silk and even forbade the common people from owning slaves or horses and carriages. The common people despised him! Later, a canopy-like light appeared in the sky, with thunderous sounds that shook the city and even brought frost in midsummer! A god calling himself "Xuanming" appeared and spoke to the people, promising benefits to those who prayed to him at night. Many were taken in by his promises, including Zuo, who, despite knowing his impending doom, continued his evil deeds.
In the following year, the Hezhou Provincial Governor, Zhang Gui, rebelled, and General Xiaoqi Song Hun came to his aid. Song Hun attacked Guzang, and Zuo sent his attendant Suo Fu to fight Zhang Gui. Wang Luan, however, predicted that they would lose the battle and listed three major crimes of Zuo. Furious, Zuo had Wang Luan executed for his predictions. Before his death, Wang Luan warned, "After I die, you will lose the war, and you will die at home!" Zuo dismissed his warning. Song Hun reached the gates of Guzang, where Zhao Chang and his men welcomed him, shouting long live the Emperor! Thinking Zhao Chang and his men could defeat Song Hun, Zuo came out to reward them, only to be mortally wounded in the forehead by Zhao Chang. Zuo attempted to escape but was ultimately killed by the cook Xu Hei, and his body was left in the street. The townspeople cheered. Zhang Gui and his allies then backed the young son of Emperor Chonghua, Xuan Jing, as the new ruler.
Xuan Jing, styled Yuan'an, declared himself the Imperial Commissioner, Grand Commander, Grand General, and King of Liang. He appointed Zhang Gui as the Minister of State and Governor of Liangzhou to oversee government affairs, and appointed Song Hun as the Minister of Records.
Li Guan is a peculiar man with a suspicious nature, and his rewards and punishments are dictated by personal whims, showing no regard for rules. There was a doctor named Yin Xun who advised him, saying, "A tiger can eat meat three days after birth without being taught by anyone!" This implies that officials should take some responsibility instead of always deferring to you. Consequently, no one dared to speak up to him anymore. Li Guan and Xuan Jing rode out of the city together, and all three bridges north of the city had collapsed. Li Guan was very angry, so he began to distribute wealth daily to win the people's favor. On the surface, everything seemed peaceful; however, behind the scenes, he was killing people daily, and the bloodshed never ceased. The common folk were harboring thoughts of rebellion, with at least nine out of ten families considering it. Even stranger, a pond suddenly emerged at the East Yuan tomb, and the marshlands east of the city unexpectedly caught fire, consuming several miles. To explain these bizarre occurrences, Li Guan executed those he had previously despised, like Niu Xuan, claiming it was to quell the disasters of water and fire. In reality, he plotted to eliminate everyone with the surname Song, then get rid of Xuan Jing and crown himself emperor. Earlier, there was a place called Yugi in Taibai County where a fortune teller predicted a military disaster would occur, so Li Guan sought to use these events to ward off the evil spirits. Eventually, Song Hun led his forces to take down Li Guan. Before taking his own life, Li Guan murdered his wife and over thirty children.
Xuan Jing appointed Song Hun as the Grand General of Cavalry and the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. Not long after, Song Hun fell seriously ill and passed away, and his younger brother, Song Xuan'an, took over the administration. In that year, there was a severe drought, and everyone prayed for rain at Daishishan. Song Xuan'an wanted to go to Daishishan to pray for rain, but his brother's name was considered taboo by Emperor Shizong. Some people said, "They say that anyone who climbs this mountain will bring disaster upon their family." Song Xuan'an replied, "That can't possibly be true!" However, when he rode up the mountain, his horse was injured and fell. The pillars of the Yushi Court spontaneously burned and collapsed, and some said, "The character for 'pillar' has 'wood' on the left and 'master' on the right; the character 'Song' also contains a wood character, so if the wood burns, it means the downfall of the Song clan, but the master (the emperor) can be preserved. This is a serious omen; we must be cautious!" Additionally, the five horses he rode suddenly lost their manes and tails overnight, and some said, "The character for 'tail' contains the character for 'corpse' at the bottom, so if the hair falls off but the corpse remains, it is a sign of destruction!" Song Xuan'an said, "Good and bad fortune are in the hands of fate, what can I do about it?" Not long after, Song Xuan'an's Sima Zhang Yong rebelled and exterminated the entire Song clan. Earlier rumors suggested that the one who brought down the Song family was Tian Tuzi (Zhang Yong's nickname). Zhang Yong, whose nickname was Zhang Ye, had taken too many lives, leading to discontent both inside and outside the court. Zhang Yong's son, Zhang Tianxi, took advantage of the dissatisfaction of the people and killed Zhang Yong, becoming the Champion General and assisting in the administration. Xuan Jing's concubine, Lady Guo, believed that Zhang Tianxi wielded too much power, so she conspired with distant relatives of the Zhang family to kill him. The conspiracy was uncovered, and Zhang Tianxi killed Xuan Jing and subsequently declared himself emperor.
Tian Xi, also known as Chun Gu, was a high-ranking official who held many titles such as Commissioner, Grand Commander, Grand General, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, and Prince of Liang. He was arrogant and licentious, caring little for the lives of the common people. On New Year's Day, he feasted and drank with his concubines, not even bothering to visit his own mother when ministers came to pay their respects. Zhang Lu, a mid-level official at the time, could not bear to see this and advised Tian Xi to meet the Emperor, but Tian Xi ignored him completely.
Later, when Fu Jian conquered the Former Liang Dynasty and sent Gou Chang to attack Liangzhou, Tian Xi surrendered to Gou Chang as Liangzhou fell quickly. In earlier years, there was a folk song that circulated: "Mrs. Liu sifts rice, Mrs. Shi cooks meat, the child is starving, Zhang eagerly devours it." Children in Guzang and surrounding areas sang this song, referring to how Liu Yao and Shi Hu were unable to seize Liangzhou, which was eventually taken by Fu Jian with Tian Xi surrendering. Tian Xi was appointed as a Minister by Fu Jian when he arrived in Chang'an. However, after Fu Jian suffered defeat at Shou Chun, Tian Xi quickly fled to Jiankang.
Qifu Guoren, a member of the Xianbei people, hails from Longxi. His ancestors migrated from the northern regions beyond the desert. For five generations, his family continuously annexed other tribes, increasing their power. His father, Qifu Sifan, surrendered to Fu Jian and was appointed as the Southern Chanyu, later becoming the General of the West, guarding Yongshichuan. After Qifu Sifan's death, Qifu Guoren inherited his legacy. Later, when Fu Jian launched an attack against Sima Changming, Qifu Guoren became the front general, leading the cavalry as the vanguard. After Fu Jian's defeat, Qifu Guoren's uncle, Butui, rebelled in Longyou, and Fu Jian sent Qifu Guoren to suppress him. Unexpectedly, Butui welcomed Qifu Guoren and proclaimed him as the leader, recruited troops, and gathered more than 100,000 soldiers! During the reign of Emperor Taizu, Qifu Guoren was appointed as the Grand Commander, Grand General, Grand Chanyu, and also became the Governor of Qinzhou and Hezhou. He declared himself Nian Jianyi, established government offices, divided the territory into eleven counties, and built Tongshi City as the capital. After Guoren's death, his brother Qian Gui took over all affairs, appointed himself as the Grand Commander, Grand General, Grand Chanyu, and King of Henan, changed the era name to Taichu, and appointed a number of officials. Later, they moved to Jincheng, but the south gate collapsed on its own, which displeased Qian Gui. He then moved the capital to Yuanchuan. Not long after, he was defeated by Yao Xing, fled to Fanghan, and ultimately surrendered. Yao Xing appointed him as the Governor of Hezhou and bestowed upon him the title of Duke Guiyi. After a while, he returned to Yuanchuan.
Qian Gui wavered again, betrayed Yao Xing, proclaimed himself King of Qin, set up a new administrative system, and renamed the era to Gengshi. He even sent someone to seek help, and our Emperor Taizong consented. Later, Qian Gui fled to Wuxi to live in hiding, but was eventually captured and beheaded, his head displayed publicly. He was ultimately slain by his nephew Gong Fu. His son, Chipan, avenged him by killing Gong Fu and took over as the leader.
Chipan followed in his father's footsteps, proclaiming himself Grand General and King of Henan, renaming the era to Yongkang. Later, he attacked the Tufa Nutan of Leidu, defeated him, and then followed in his father's footsteps by proclaiming himself King of Qin, establishing a new system of officials, and renaming the era to Jianhong. He also sent his secretary Mo Hu and General Qifu Youyin with two hundred catties of gold to offer tribute, requesting our help in fighting Helian Chang, which our Emperor Shizu consented to. After Emperor Shizu subdued the region, Chipan sent his uncle, General Nitou of Pingyuan, and his younger brother Anyuan General Du Zhi to the capital, along with Chancellor Wang Kai and Minister of the Interior Wuneitan, who brought various local specialties. After Chipan's death, his son Mu Mo inherited his position.
As night fell, the man named Mu Mo, courtesy name Anshiba, later renamed the era to Yonghong. He had a man named Xin Jin under him, who once accidentally struck Mu Mo's mother in the face while playing with a slingshot in the garden. In retaliation, Mu Mo killed Xin Jin's entire family, amounting to twenty-seven individuals.
At the end of the day, Mu Mo's younger brother Shu Luo was secretly plotting to have an affair with Mu Mo's wife, Lady Tu Fa Shi. When Mu Mo learned of this, he immediately stopped him. Fearing for his life, Shu Luo conspired with his uncle She Yang to murder Mu Mo. Tu Fa Shi secretly took the key from the mansion to enter, but mistakenly took the wrong key. The gatekeeper found out and told Mu Mo, who subsequently executed everyone involved in the conspiracy. Mu Mo intended to whip She Yang, but She Yang said, "I owe you my life, but I won't accept your whipping!" Enraged, Mu Mo disemboweled She Yang and threw the body into the river. Bai Yang, harboring grievances against Mu Mo, was also executed.
Mu Mo's rule was cruel and tyrannical, instilling terror among the populace both within and outside the court. The populace rebelled in droves, all yearning for chaos to reign. Driven to desperation, Mu Mo sent Wang Kai and Wu Ne Tian to seek help from Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei. Taiwu promised to give him the land west of An Ding and east of Ping Liang. So Mu Mo set the city ablaze and looted its treasures, fleeing with fifty thousand households to Gao Tian Valley. However, they were blocked by He Lian Ding and were forced to retreat to Nan An. Emperor Taiwu dispatched envoys to greet him, and Mu Mo's guard general Ji Pi counseled him against relocating the capital, a suggestion he heeded. He Lian Ding sent his Northern Ping Duke Wei Dai to lead ten thousand troops to attack Nan An, resulting in severe famine and even incidents of cannibalism within the city.
In the fourth year of the Shen era, Mu Mo surrendered along with over five hundred clan members and was subsequently escorted to Shang Gui.
Xianbei chieftain Wuguo, whose ancestors migrated from the northern regions to the Hexi Corridor eight generations ago, had a territory that stretched from the wheat fields and Qiantun in the east to Wet Luo in the west, from Jiao River in the south to the desert in the north. After Wuguo's death, his son Shoutian inherited his position. Shoutian was born under the blanket while his mother was pregnant, thus he was named "Tufa," which means "blanket" in their language. Their ancestor, Shuji, was renowned for his skill and strategy. During the Tai Shi era of the Jin Dynasty, he assassinated Hu Lie, the Governor of Qinzhou, at Wanhu Dui, and defeated Su Yu, the Governor of Liangzhou, at Jinshan. During the Xianning period, he killed Yang Xin, the Governor of Liangzhou, at Danling and occupied the entire Liangzhou. Eventually, he was killed by his subordinate, Magu, and his brother, Wuman, succeeded him. Wuman's great-grandson Sifu Jian gradually grew in power and was the father of Wuguo.
After Wuguo's death, his brother, also named Wuguo, took over. Initially, Lü Guang appointed Wuguo as the Governor of Yizhou and Left Virtuous King. However, Wuguo awarded himself numerous titles, such as Grand Marshal, Grand General, Grand Chanyu, and Xiping King, and even created a reign title called "Taichu" for himself. During the Tianxing period, he also appointed himself as the King of Wuwei, moved to Ledu to live, established numerous official positions, divided counties, and made it resemble an independent kingdom. Later, Wuguo fell from his horse while intoxicated, injuring his ribs, and jokingly remarked, "I nearly gave Lü Guang and his son a scare!" Not long after, he passed away.
His younger brother Li Luogu took over as the Governor of Liangzhou and the Duke of Xiping. Li Luogu relocated his headquarters to Xiping, renamed his reign to "Jianhe," and even sent envoys to pay tribute. He sent his younger brother, the General of Cavalry, Nutan, to resist Lu Zuan. Lu Zuan's army was well-equipped and strong in combat, which terrified Li Luogu's soldiers. Nutan remained calm, dismounted, and sat on a nomadic stool, boosting the morale of his troops. Then, he personally put on armor and defeated Lu Zuan's army, killing more than two thousand enemy soldiers. Li Luogu also followed his brother's example and established a complete bureaucratic system, from prime minister to lower officials, not missing a single one.
After Li Luogu's death, Nutan took over and proclaimed himself the King of Liang. He then returned to Ledu, changed the reign title to "Hongchang," and also sent envoys to pay tribute. During the Tianci era, Nutan feigned surrender to Yao Xing. Yao Xing believed him and appointed him as the Governor of Liangzhou. As a result, Nutan turned the situation around and seized control of Guzang. Later, he fought against Juqu Mengxun in Junshi and was defeated by Mengxun. After that, he was defeated by Helian Qugai in Yangwu, fleeing to the Nanshan Mountains with several thousand cavalry, narrowly avoiding being caught up. Nutan, fearing attacks from enemies on both sides, relocated the population within a three hundred li radius to Guzang. Taking advantage of this, Yao Xing sent Yao Bi to attack Guzang, arriving at the city walls. Nutan drove the cattle and sheep to the wilderness, luring Yao Bi's army to plunder. Nutan seized the opportunity, defeating the enemy forces one by one, and decisively defeated Yao Bi's army, forcing Yao Bi to retreat in defeat.
Nutan again proclaimed himself the King of Liang, appointed officials, and renamed the era to "Jiaping." During the Yongxing period, he concentrated his forces against Juqu Mengxun but was defeated by Mengxun at Qiongquan and fled back to Guzang by himself. Fearing being wiped out by Mengxun, he relocated to Ledu. Mengxun surrounded Ledu with his troops, so Nutan began building houses, farming, and preparing for a prolonged resistance within the city. Later, Nutan sent his son Baozhou to serve as a hostage, and Mengxun withdrew his troops.
At first, Nutan led his cavalry against the Yifu tribe and emerged victorious, capturing many prisoners. However, Qifu Chipan took advantage of this and attacked Ledu, capturing the city along with Nutan's son Hutai and many others. Upon hearing this news, Nutan said, "If I surrender to Chipan, I’ll be nothing more than his slave. How can I bear to see my wife and children in his hands?" So he fled west with the remaining troops, but they quickly scattered. Nutan said again, "Mengxun and Chipan used to submit to me, but now I have to surrender to them. This is just too humiliating! The world is so big, but I have nowhere to turn. This is just too painful!" Then he sighed and said, "I am already old. I should go see my wife and kids one last time before I die." Finally, he surrendered to Qifu Chipan. Chipan treated him exceptionally well, like an honored guest, and bestowed upon him the title of Grand General of Cavalry, granting him the title of Duke of Zounan. However, more than a year later, Chipan had him poisoned. Nutan's youngest son, He, later escaped, and this event is documented.
Li Hao, also known as Xuan Sheng and nicknamed Chang Sheng, was a native of Longxi, known as Di Dao, and a descendant of General Li Guang of the Han Dynasty. His great-grandfather Li Rou was the Chancellor and Prefect of Beidi in the Jin Dynasty; his grandfather Li Tai was a General under Zhang Zuo; his father Li Chang died young, and Li Hao was born posthumously. In the Huangshi era, the Prefect of Jiankang under Lu Guang, Duan Ye, declared himself Governor of Liangzhou and appointed Meng Min, the Prefect of Dunhuang, as the Inspector of Shazhou. Li Hao was appointed as the County Magistrate of Xiaogu. After Meng Min's death, Dunqian and others in the Dunhuang garrison proclaimed Li Hao as General of Ning Shuo and Prefect of Dunhuang. Lu Guang declared himself the King of Liang, and Li Hao feigned fear of Lu Guang, so Lu Guang appointed him General of Zhenxi. During the Tianxing period, Li Hao secretly declared himself Grand Commander and Grand General, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Qin and Liang Provinces, taking the title of Liang Gong, and even established his own era, naming it "Gengzi," living in Dunhuang and sending envoys to pay tribute. During the Tianci period, he changed his reign to "Jianchu" and moved to Jiuquan, sending tribute every year on time. After Li Hao's death, his son Li Xin succeeded him.
Xin, also known as Shiye, self-appointed as Grand Commander, Grand General, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, and Liang Gong, and declared the first year of his reign as Jiaxing. He once defeated Juqu Mengxun at Jiezhijian, capturing over seven thousand enemies. He also sent envoys to the court to pay tribute.
Word spread that Juqu Mengxun was moving south to attack the Qifu tribe, so Xin immediately took his troops east to attack Zhangye. His mother, Lady Yin, advised him, "Your newly established country has a small territory and few people. Juqu Mengxun is brave and a skilled warrior; he’s no match for him. I've seen him plotting and scheming to conquer others for years. Right now, everything seems to be going in his favor. You need to think about your own strength and the lessons from the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' and the ancestral wisdom: 'be cautious in war, protect your land and people, and wait for the right moment to act.' Remember that? How could you forget? If you insist on going to war, not only will your army fail, but your country will be lost too!" Xin did not listen to her advice and took thirty thousand infantry and cavalry east, arriving at Dukou Gorge. Juqu Mengxun set out from Haodun to intercept Xin; they clashed at Huaicheng, and Xin was defeated. His advisors urged him to head back to Jiuquan, but Xin said, "I've already disobeyed my mom and come here to embarrass myself. If I can’t take down this barbarian, how can I face my mom when I get back?" So he ordered his soldiers to fight again, but was defeated again at Liaoquan, ultimately being killed by Juqu Mengxun, with Jiuquan falling into Mengxun's hands. Before Xin's defeat, some strange things happened: a big snake slithered into the palace through the south gate, arriving in front of Xin's Gongde Hall, and two wild chickens burst out; in the palace, crows and magpies were squabbling over nests in a big tree, and the crow killed the magpie. "The south wind moves, blowing the tall trees. The Hu Tong tree is not suitable for a hub." Xin's childhood nickname was Tongzui, and these omens came true as he met his end in battle.
Xin's younger brother, Dunhuang Prefect Xun, proclaimed himself Champion General and Governor of Liangzhou while in Dunhuang. Juqu Mengxun attacked Xun's Dunhuang, constructing levees on three sides to flood the city. Xun requested to surrender, but Mengxun refused. After the city fell, Xun committed suicide, and Dunhuang was occupied by Mengxun. Xin's older brother Fan Zibao later participated in the country's struggles, and his deeds are recorded elsewhere.
Juqu Mengxun, descended from the Left Juqu of the Xiongnu, later adopted his official title as his surname. His hometown was near Lushui in Linsong. Mengxun was quite shrewd, resourceful, and knowledgeable in astronomy, so many Hu people listened to him. Later, Lü Guang killed his uncle, Luoqiu, the Prefect of Xiping. Mengxun raised a force of over ten thousand people and camped at Jinshan. He and his cousin, Nancheng, the Prefect of Jinchang, backed Duan Ye, the Prefect of Jiankang, as their leader and granted him many titles: Imperial Protector, Grand Commander, Dragon-riding Grand General, Governor of Liangzhou, Duke of Jiankang, and changed the era name to Shengxi. Duan Ye appointed Mengxun as Prefect of Zhangye, titled him Marquis of Linchi, and Nancheng became the General of State, delegating important military and political affairs to them.
Duan Ye proclaimed himself king, called Liang King, and promoted Mengxun to Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretary. But he was wary of Mengxun's reputation and power, so he started distancing himself from him. In the fourth year of Tianxing, Mengxun became increasingly uneasy and voluntarily requested to become the Prefect of Anxi. To incite anger, Mengxun secretly accused Nancheng of treason, and Duan Ye indeed killed Nancheng. Mengxun pretended to cry and told everyone he sought vengeance for Nancheng. Nancheng was well-liked, and everyone was angry, crying with Mengxun, and then followed him. Ultimately, Mengxun rebelled and killed Duan Ye, bestowing upon himself numerous titles, including Imperial Protector, Grand Commander, Grand General, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Zhangye, changing the era name to Yong'an before finally settling in Zhangye.
During the Yongxing years, Meng Xun captured Guzang and moved there. He then renamed the era to the first year of Xuanshi, declared himself the King of Hexi, and set up a complete bureaucratic system, from high officials down to minor aides. He also often sent envoys to pay tribute. One day, Meng Xun was sleeping on a newly built platform when a eunuch named Wang Huaizu stabbed his foot with a knife. Meng Xun's wife, Meng Shi, immediately seized Wang Huaizu and killed him. Later, Meng Xun heard that Liu Yu had defeated Yao Hong, which infuriated him. A junior official spoke up in front of him, and Meng Xun said, "You still dare to act so arrogant in front of me after hearing that Liu Yu has crossed the pass!" He then had the junior official killed, demonstrating just how ruthless he could be. In the Taichang years, Meng Xun defeated Li Xin and then took Dunhuang, and later renamed the era to Chengxuan.
Oh, speaking of this matter, the Emperor sent Minister of Rites Zong Shu and Left Chief Attendant Gao Meng to present tribute, and also wrote a memorial. In this memorial, it said: Your Majesty, you are naturally intelligent and wise, with virtues surpassing all emperors in history. Your grace extends to all things in heaven and earth, surpassing the flourishing eras of the past. However, achieving peace in the world is not easy; there is still unrest in various regions. Although we have conquered many places, the country has not been unified yet. Thanks to the blessings from heaven, the throne has fallen into your hands. Your good policies have caused changes throughout the country, and the common people are delighted! I have limited abilities and no significant contributions, yet I am fortunate to witness this prosperous era. I hope to live long enough to witness the peace of this prosperous era, relying on your protection until death. In the previous tribute missions, envoys went missing, and I worry about dangers on the road and whether the tribute can reach your hands. I am anxious and feel at a loss. When Guo Zhi and others returned, they brought back the imperial edict, which was an immense grace! Now that the world is just beginning to stabilize and there is much work to be done, Your Majesty's care for us old ministers makes me feel grateful and not abandoned. Later, people from Shanghu also arrived, bringing a letter from the court officials analyzing the current situation and using the story of Dou Rong to advise the Emperor. I feel both excitement and fear. Why? Because of my limited abilities, yet I have gained the Emperor's trust. I hope my loyalty can touch heaven and bring blessings to the Emperor. If all nations come to pay tribute, how wonderful it would be! I could be the first to congratulate Your Majesty! But now the world is still in turmoil, and my wish has not been fulfilled. I have written several memorials, feeling increasingly restless as I have not received your response.
I carefully observed various auspicious signs, made predictions based on celestial phenomena, and found that no dynasty can match our Wei Dynasty, and no emperor can compare to you! You have been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, and at a young age, you ascended to the throne. Your achievements rival those of King Cheng and King Kang, and your governance is comparable to the reign of Emperor Wen and Emperor Jing. You will surely be able to govern the realm with your benevolence, bringing peace to the land, especially in the Qinlong region, which has suffered turmoil; it's time for the veteran ministers to dedicate themselves.
Wow, this imperial decree is really long! Let's go through it sentence by sentence.
"Later, Meng Xun sent his son An Zhou to serve as an aide." An aide is a high-ranking attendant by the emperor's side.
"Emperor Shizu appointed Li Shun, who also serves as the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, to present Meng Xun with a temporary authority token." A temporary authority token is like a temporary authorization.
"With appointments as attendant, Commander of military affairs in Liangzhou and the Western Regions, Grand Tutor, General Who Conquers the West, Governor of Liangzhou, and finally titled as Prince of Liang." This is impressive! Each position surpasses the last in rank and power.
"The decree reads: 'Our imperial ancestors trace their lineage back to the Yellow Emperor...'" (Poetry excerpt, not translated here)
The following paragraphs praise the contributions of Meng Xun's ancestors for three generations, as well as Meng Xun's own contributions to the country. It mentions his keen awareness of the times, foresight, and his significant achievements in battle alongside the emperor. The emperor also mentions that the world is currently not peaceful, with many people proclaiming themselves as kings and not following the rules, yet Meng Xun demonstrates loyalty by offering tribute and sending his son to serve as an aide, truly a loyal minister!
"The seven counties of Wuwei, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Xihai, Jincheng, and Xiping in Liangzhou were granted the title of King of Liang." Therefore, the emperor appointed Meng Xun as the King of Liang, giving him control over the seven counties of Wuwei, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Xihai, Jincheng, and Xiping in Liangzhou! "Accept this land, use white grass (bai mao) to worship, establish ancestral temples, be the support of the Wei family, and rise and fall with Wei." This means that you accept this land, use white grass for worship, establish ancestral temples, be the vassal of our Wei kingdom, and your success or failure is closely related to the fate of Wei. "With greater merit comes a higher title and increased responsibility. The emperor also allowed Meng Xun to participate in court politics, strategize, lead troops into battle, and even act on behalf of the emperor in handling some matters." The greater the merit, the higher the title, and the greater the responsibility. The emperor also allowed Meng Xun to participate in court politics, strategize, lead troops into battle, and even act on behalf of the emperor in handling some matters. "He was appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Western Expedition, leading the army to expand the territory and assist the imperial family." He was appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Western Expedition, leading the army to expand the territory and assist the imperial family. "He was also tasked with establishing his own state: appointing generals and various officials, similar to the princes of the early Han Dynasty, granting him considerable autonomy." He was also tasked with establishing his own state, appointing generals and various officials, similar to the princes of the early Han Dynasty, granting him considerable autonomy.
"Reverently obeying the time, fulfilling one's duties, obeying only the imperial command, assisting in heavenly work, promoting the nine virtues of governance, not bringing shame to the position, using your actions to demonstrate virtue, and promoting the heroic spirit of our imperial ancestors." Ultimately, the emperor urged Meng Xun to work diligently, obey, assist the court, and honor his ancestors! "These are the words of Cui Hao." This is the edict drafted by Cui Hao.
In summary, this edict elevated Meng Xun to a very high position, with immense power, akin to that of a local lord.
Meng Xun changed the era name to Yihe in the first year of his reign. In April of the second year of Yanhe, Meng Xun passed away. The court sent people to oversee his funeral and posthumously bestowed upon him the title of King Wuxuan. Meng Xun was immoral, suspicious, and especially cruel, often resorting to arbitrary killings within his household.
His third son, Mu Jian, took over the territory, declared himself King of Hexi, and sent envoys to the court to request formal recognition. Previously, Emperor Shizu had sent Li Shun to marry Meng Xun's daughter, but Meng Xun passed away. Following his father's wishes, Mu Jian sent his sister to Chang'an, where she was granted the title of Right Consort. Mu Jian subsequently renamed the era to Chenghe in his first year of rule. Emperor Shizu sent Li Shun to meet with Mu Jian, granting him numerous titles: Palace Attendant, Commander of the Liangshahe Three Provinces, Commander of the Qiang and Rong tribes in the West City, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Privy Treasurer, Protector-General of the Western Rong, Governor of Liangzhou, and King of Hexi. Mu Jian received all these titles without having achieved anything, so he kept Li Shun by his side and even requested a title such as "Anping" from the court, but the emperor did not agree.
Mu Jian furthermore married Princess Wuwei, the sister of Emperor Shizu, and sent his minister Song Yao to express his gratitude, along with five hundred horses and five hundred jin of gold. Song Yao also submitted a memorial requesting titles be granted to the princess and Mu Jian's mother. After discussion, the court decided that a mother gains honor because of her son's elevated status, and a wife's title follows her husband's. As a result, Mu Jian's mother should be called the Empress Dowager of Hexi, and the princess could be called the Queen of Hexi, but would retain her title as princess in Chang'an. The Emperor agreed to this arrangement. Mu Jian then dispatched his general Juqu Pangzhou to Chang'an to pay his respects to the Emperor, who sent the Palace Attendant Gu Bi and Minister of Personnel Li Shun to bestow clothing of various ranks upon Mu Jian's attendants. Mu Jian's heir also traveled to Chang'an to meet the Emperor. Finally, Mu Jian himself went to Chang'an to meet the Emperor.
In the year 399 AD, the Emperor sent the Minister of Personnel He Duoluo to Liangzhou to assess the situation. Although Mu Jian claimed to be submissive to the court and offered tribute, he was secretly resentful and constantly scheming. Therefore, the Emperor decided to personally lead an expedition against him.
The emperor ordered the ministers to write a harsh letter of persuasion to Mu Qian, stating, "Although you superficially accept our era, you are secretly pursuing your own agenda; this is your first offense! You fail to report your household registration and maps to the court, and you do not hand over the tributes you collect to the agricultural department of the court; this is your second offense! You have accepted our title, but you are secretly appointing officials, trying to please both sides and take advantage of both; this is your third offense! You know that the court wants to pacify the border areas, but you deliberately defy the imperial edict, heavily tax merchants and foreigners, and obstruct transportation; this is your fourth offense! You boast about the might of your Western Rong, displaying arrogance and self-righteousness; this is your fifth offense! You self-appointing titles and refuse to come to court to see the emperor; this is your sixth offense! You collude with rebellious ethnic minorities in the north, attract enemies in the south, and rely on the army in the valleys to cause chaos everywhere; this is your seventh offense! You recruit soldiers beyond the prescribed deadline, falsely claiming to be conducting a campaign of suppression; this is your eighth offense! You hope for the enemy's victory, hope for our failure, disrespect court officials, and do not follow the rules in tribute; this is your ninth offense! You marry a princess of the royal family, enjoying treatment higher than even meritorious officials, but indulge your desires, even poisoning your own sister-in-law; this is your tenth offense! You violate the ethics of marriage, do not adhere to the morals of marriage, openly poison her, intending to kill the princess; this is your eleventh offense! You take precautions against court officials, fortify the passes and fortresses, treating them like enemies; this is your twelfth offense!"
With so many sins committed, is there any hope for your forgiveness?! First you surrender, then we’ll discuss your punishment; this is the tradition of emperors throughout history. If you can personally lead your ministers, sincerely come out to welcome us, kneel before our horses and ask for forgiveness, that would be your best bet; if our army has already arrived, surrendering with your hands up is also an option. If you stubbornly hold on to your mistakes and defend the city to the end, don’t say we didn’t warn you when we lay siege to the city. At that time, you’ll end up dead, and your family will be wiped out, going down in history as a criminal! You should think carefully and try to save yourself!"
After his troops crossed the Yellow River, Muxian asked, "What’s going on here?" He followed the advice of the Left Minister Yao Dingguo, refused to come out of the city to welcome them, reached out to the Rouran for help, and sent his brother Dong to lead over ten thousand soldiers to ambush the imperial army in the south of the city, but they ended up getting defeated. When the emperor's carriage arrived in Guzang, the emperor sent messengers to urge Muxian to surrender. Upon hearing that the Rouran were invading the area of Shanwudi, Muxian bet that the emperor would pull back his troops, so he decided to defend the city to the end.
Muxian's nephew Zuyue surrendered by climbing over the city walls and told the emperor everything that had happened. The emperor then led his army to attack Guzang. Muxian's other nephew Wannian also surrendered with his followers. They breached the city, and Muxian and his civil and military officials were tied up and begged the emperor for mercy. The emperor ordered them to be untied. Then more than thirty thousand households from Liangzhou were moved to the capital.
At the beginning, during the reign of Emperor Yan of the Later Liang dynasty, an old man dropped a letter at the east gate of Dunhuang City and then suddenly disappeared. The letter had eight characters: "In the 30th year of the Liang King, if it is seven years." Later, on a stone struck by lightning, there was an inscription in red writing: "In the 30th year of the Hexi, Hexi, breaking the stone belt, happy for seven years." The ‘stone belt’ refers to a mountain, next to the place of sacrifice in the southern mountains of Guzang, where the earth collapsed and the road was blocked. Mu Qian asked General Dong Lai, "Will the place of sacrifice have consciousness?" So the sacrificial altars were demolished, trees were cut down, and a road was opened for passage. After Mu Qian ascended to the throne as the Liang King, he was indeed destroyed in seven years, just as the letter said. Mu Qian had an affair with his sister-in-law Li Shi, and the three brothers took turns favoring her. Li Shi and Mu Qian's sister conspired to poison the princess, prompting the emperor to quickly send a doctor, who managed to save her. The emperor wanted to arrest Li Shi, but Mu Qian refused to hand her over and gave her a lot of money to stay in Jiuquan, making the emperor very angry. After the city of Guzang was broken, the emperor still regarded Li Shi as his sister’s son-in-law. Li Shi's mother died, and Mu Qian arranged her burial in accordance with royal customs. He also arranged for thirty households to guard the tomb for Meng Xun. Finally, the emperor appointed Mu Qian as the General of the Western Campaign, without any change to his title.
At the beginning, before the soldiers had entered the city, Mùjiān had his men pry open the government treasury, and people took the opportunity to grab gold, silver, jewelry, and rare treasures, leaving the door unlocked. The common people seized the opportunity to sneak in and loot, and nothing remained. The government did not catch the thieves. In the eighth year of the True King, someone reported him; the informants included his relatives and the guards of the treasury. The emperor eventually investigated the matter, searched his home, and uncovered all the hidden items. There were also allegations that Mùjiān and his son had stockpiled a large quantity of poison, secretly responsible for the deaths of over a hundred people; his sisters were all involved in cults, engaging in promiscuous relationships without any shame.
Earlier, a monk from the Jībīn Kingdom named Tánwúchèn appeared, claiming he could "heal with ghosts and help women conceive," and was involved with the sister of the King of Shànshàn, Màntóutuólín. After the truth came to light, he fled to Liángzhōu. Mèngxùn favored him greatly, even calling him a "sage." Tánwúchèn taught women some intimate matters, and Mèngxùn's daughter and daughters-in-law all went to learn. When Emperor Tàiwǔ of the Northern Wei Dynasty heard about this, he sent someone to summon Tánwúchèn. Mèngxùn refused to release him, and the truth only came to light after an investigation; Tánwúchèn was interrogated and executed. The emperor, upon learning of this, ordered the execution of Zhāoyí Jùqú's family; only Wànnián and Zǔyīn were spared execution due to their prior surrender.
That same year, someone reported that Mùjiān was still secretly colluding with former subjects, plotting rebellion, so the emperor commanded Sītú Cuīhào to execute Mùjiān at the Princess's residence. Mùjiān bid farewell to the princess and took his own life after a lengthy period, buried with royal honors, posthumously honored with the title of Mourning King. Following the princess's death, the emperor decreed that they be buried together. The princess had no sons, just one daughter, who, due to her close ties with the emperor's nephew, inherited her mother's title and became known as the Princess of Wuwei.
In the historical context of the Northern Wei Dynasty, Meng Xun's son, Meng Bing, whose courtesy name was Jiyi, thanks to his father's influence, was appointed as the Governor of Dongyongzhou by the Emperor. This man was cunning and deceitful, often resorting to treacherous schemes. During the reign of Emperor Zhenjun, he conspired with Xue Andu from Hedong to rebel. Upon arriving in the capital, his brothers were captured and subsequently executed.
Wannian and Zu were both officials in the military vanguard. Wannian was appointed as the General of Anxi, King of Zhangye, while Zu was appointed as the Duke of Guangwu. Later, Wannian became the Governor of Jizhou and Dingzhou, but was arrested for plotting a rebellion and executed along with Zu.
Initially, Mu Qian was defeated in battle, and his brother, the Prefect of Ledu, An Zhou, fled to the Tuyuhun. Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei sent General Zhen Nan, Xi Juan, to pursue him. Another brother of Mu Qian, Prefect of Jiuquan, Wu Hui, fled to Jinchang. Emperor Taiwu then sent Yuan Jie to guard Jiuquan.
During the reign of Emperor Zhenjun, Wu Hui surrounded Jiuquan City. Yuan Jie underestimated the situation and went out of the city to negotiate with Wu Hui, only to be captured. Yuan Jie's subordinates united and defended the city with unwavering resolve. Wu Hui continued to besiege the city, and when the supplies ran out, the city was eventually breached. Wu Hui then attempted to attack Zhangye, but failed and retreated to Linsong and then returned. Emperor Taiwu issued a decree chastising him. At that time, Prince Yongchang Jian was stationed in Liangzhou, so Wu Hui sent his lieutenant, Liang Wei, to meet with Prince Yongchang, requesting permission to surrender Jiuquan to him and sending Yuan Jie and the captured soldiers to Prince Yongchang's army.
In the spring of the following year, Emperor Taiwu sent a decree appointing Wu Hui as the Grand General of the West, Governor of Liangzhou, and King of Jiuquan. However, shortly thereafter, due to Wu Hui's renewed rebellion, Emperor Taiwu once again sent General Xi Juan to subdue Jiuquan, eventually capturing the city.
Without hesitation, he planned to cross the Lusha River and sent Anzhou to attack Shanshan to the west. An envoy from the Wei Kingdom advised him to resist, as the King of Shanshan was very afraid and wanted to surrender. Anzhou and the army of Shanshan fought continuously but did not win and retreated to the eastern city. In the third year of spring, the King of Shanshan fled west to Jumet, while his son followed Anzhou, causing chaos in Shanshan. Without hesitation, he crossed the Lusha River, and as a result, half of his soldiers perished due to lack of water, but he still occupied Shanshan.
Prior to this, the Governor of Gaochang, Kan Shuang, was attacked by Tang Qi, the uncle of Li Bao. Upon hearing that he was crossing into Shanshan, Kan Shuang sent envoys to feign surrender, hoping to provoke a conflict between him and Tang Qi. He left Anzhou to guard Shanshan and went northeast from Yanqi to Gaochang. At this time, the Rouran people killed Tang Qi, and Kan Shuang refused to surrender to him. He sent Wei Xingnu to deceive Kan Shuang, leading to the massacre of Gaochang, and Kan Shuang escaped to the Rouran. He then occupied Gaochang.
In the summer of the fifth year of his rule, he died of illness, and Anzhou succeeded him. Later, Gaochang was annexed by the Rouran Kingdom.
Historians say that the power of the Zhou Dynasty had waned, and the seven vassal states fought each other, all wanting to divide the Central Plains and vie for supreme power. At this point, people like Zhang Shi were like pawns caught in the middle of others, in nothing but a desolate battlefield, fighting each other, each aspiring to kingship and dominance, with utter disregard for the court, completely oblivious to the reality! In the end, these backstabbing individuals were all eliminated, as it should be.
