The former Emperor, known as Prince Gong of Guangling, whose courtesy name was Xiuye, was the son of King Hui of Guangling, Xiao Yu. His mother's surname was Wang. He was steady and sensible from a young age, very knowledgeable and ambitious. As he grew up, he was particularly studious and very filial to his grandmother and birth mother, which was quite renowned at the time. During the reign of Zhengshi, he inherited the throne. During the reign of Yanchang, he was appointed as the Attendant Cavalry of the Palace. During the reign of Shengui, he was promoted to Cavalry Attendant of the Palace. In the second year of Zhengguang, he became an Attendant again, also serving as the Yellow Gate Attendant. Because Yuan Cha held power at the time, he feigned illness to avoid attending court. He feigned illness for a long time and later pretended to be mute. Five years later, he was appointed to the Golden Purple Imperial Household Grandee, and his Cavalry Attendant position was added. In the first year of Jianyi, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Rites.
Since the prince stopped speaking, he lived in Longhua Temple for a full ten years, cut off from the outside world. Towards the end of the Yong'an period, a certain Emperor Baizhuang claimed that the prince must have had ulterior motives for his silence; there were also rumors among the people that he had the demeanor of an emperor. The prince was afraid of trouble and fled to Shangluo. He was quickly apprehended and brought back to the capital, held for several days, and finally released due to lack of evidence. After Emperor Baizhuang died, Erzhu Shilong and his associates felt that Yuan Ye was distant from the emperor and not supported by the people, while the prince had always been low-key. They believed he was very deep and talented, so they planned to depose Yuan Ye and make him emperor. But they feared he would remain silent, so they sent the prince's trusted aides to gauge his intentions and even issued subtle threats. The prince ultimately replied, "Can the heavens speak?!" Erzhu Shilong and his associates were quite pleased.
In early February, Yuan Ye arrived at the south side of Mang Mountain, where Shi Long and others represented the emperor outside the Dongguo Gate to conduct the abdication ceremony. A large group of officials submitted memorials stating, "The rise and fall of the nation follows a pattern; concerns can prompt the emergence of wisdom. Thus, there are six chariots to welcome the emperor, and three stones symbolize auspicious omens. Your Majesty, you are wise and martial, governing the country effectively and truly winning the hearts of the people, truly embodying the harmony between heaven and humanity. Now that the state is stable and the world is at peace, you want to distance yourself, disregarding the suffering of the people, making everyone anxious and uncertain about what to do. We hope you can empathize with the people's feelings, remember the ancestral legacy, govern diligently and love the people, so that both the citizens and the spirits are satisfied." Yuan Ye replied, "I know my abilities are limited, which is why I declined. However, since all of you noble lords and ministers are so sincere, I cannot refuse. Now I accept your suggestion, but I feel I cannot bear this heavy responsibility!" The Grand Marshal Er Zhu Du Lu presented the jade seal, sash, and emperor's robes. Yuan Ye then took his seat in the royal carriage, surrounded by civil and military officials, entering the palace through the Jianchun Gate and Yunlong Gate, arriving in front of the Taiji Hall, where the ministers offered their congratulations. After the ceremony, Yuan Ye ascended to the Changhe Gate and issued a decree stating, "I have limited abilities, yet I must govern the world. I hope to share the peaceful and prosperous times with everyone. Therefore, I announce a sweeping amnesty, change the state name to Great Wei, and rename the second year of Jianming to the first year of the era of Putai. All officials collecting taxes and salt taxes will be dismissed, and all miscellaneous taxes will be abolished, with no changes to official positions. The silk and fabrics each region must provide will be reduced to four hundred and one bolts. All civil and military officials will be promoted four ranks; those who have not yet been assigned positions will also receive promotions; dismissed officials will be restored to their original positions and titles. The military personnel under King Er Zhu Zhao of Yingchuan, King Er Zhu Zhongyuan of Pengcheng, King Er Zhu Tianguang of Longxi, King Er Zhu Shilong of Leping, King Er Zhu Dulü of Changshan, King Qi Xianwu, and Hu Si Chun will all be promoted six ranks."
The next day, Yuan Ye issued another edict saying: "I have limited abilities, yet I find myself in a position above the nobility, and every day I tread carefully, always fearful, as if walking on thin ice. It is thanks to the blessings of my ancestors and the steadfast loyalty of my officials that we have avoided calamities. In ancient times, the Three Sovereigns were known as emperors, the Five Emperors as kings, and the Three Dynasties as rulers, all in accordance with the will of heaven. Since the fall of the Qin Dynasty, everyone has been competing for the title of emperor, forgetting the value of humility, becoming greedy and selfish, bringing calamity to future generations. My declaration of the title of emperor is already quite modest! Everyone, hurry and spread the word." This month, General Cui Zuchi Qinghe of Zhenyuan led over a hundred thousand troops from seven prefectures in Qingzhou to lay siege to Dongyang. Liu Ling, the Youzhou Inspector, raised an army in Jixian and rebelled. General Gao Qianyong and his brother Ao Cao conducted a night raid on Jizhou, capturing Inspector Yuan Yi, killing the military supervisor Sun Baiyao, and backing Feng Longzhi, the former governor of Henei, as the acting governor of Jizhou.
On a certain day in March, the emperor ordered that Prince Ye of Changguang be appointed as the King of Donghai. He then issued another decree: to restore the positions of Grand Tutor, General of the Cavalry, Governor of Qingzhou, and Duke of Lu, Wang Su, back to Grand Tutor; to promote Special Advisor, General of Carriage and Cavalry, and Duke of Pei, Wang Xin, to Grand Preceptor and Governor of Sizhou, and to confer upon him the title of King of Huaiyang; General of the Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, Governor of Xuzhou, and Duke of Pengcheng, Er Zhu Zhongyuan, along with General of the Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, Governor of Yongzhou, and Duke of Longxi, Er Zhu Tianguang, were all promoted to General; General of State Pillar, Governor of Bingzhou and Duke of Yingchuan, Er Zhu Zhao, was promoted to General of the Heavenly Pillar; General of the Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, Left Guard General, Grand Commander, Governor of Jinzhou, and Duke of Pingyang, Qi Xianwu Wang, was designated King of Bohai and was granted an increase of five hundred households to his fief; Special Advisor, General of Carriage and Cavalry, and Duke of Qinghe, Dan, was promoted to Chancellor of the Three Departments; Chamberlain, Grand Preceptor, General of the Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, Minister of Ceremonies, and Duke of Le Ping, Er Zhu Shilong, was promoted to Grand Guardian; Chancellor, former Minister of State, Duke of Changsun Zhi, was promoted to Grand Minister, while concurrently handling the affairs of the Ministry of Ceremonies; Chamberlain, General of the Cavalry, Chancellor of the Three Departments, and Duke of Zhao, Chen, was promoted to Grand Minister of Works. Changsun Zhi initially declined the position, but was later granted the titles of General of the Cavalry and Chancellor of the Three Departments.
In the following days, the emperor received the Right Deputy Minister of Works Yuan Luo and members of the royal family in Xianyang Hall, encouraging and comforting them. He then promoted General of the Chariots and Cavalry and Inspector of Beihua Province Gongsun Lue to the position equivalent to the Three Excellencies. He then ordered General of the Right Guard He Ba Sheng and an official from the Ministry of Works to recruit musicians and auxiliary workers to accompany the army on campaigns. Those who enlist will receive official positions, and those who bring their own horses will receive a further promotion. The emperor then promoted Chamberlain, General of the Guard, Prince of Xianyang Tan; General of the Guard, Left Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works, Prince Bao Zhu of Nanyang; Chamberlain, General of the East, Prince Xiu of Pingyang, all to the position equivalent to the Three Excellencies. Afterwards, the emperor ordered a reduction in the number of officials from the north coming to the capital and those already in the capital, reducing redundancies. Soon after, he appointed Commissioner, General of the Chariots and Cavalry, Inspector of Jingzhou He Ba Yue as equivalent to the Three Excellencies and Inspector of Qizhou; and appointed Commissioner, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Inspector of Weizhou Hou Mochen Yue as equivalent to the Three Excellencies and Inspector of Qinzhou.
The emperor also ordered a nationwide search for individuals with integrity, filial piety, benevolence, wisdom, loyalty, firm will, honesty, and trustworthiness, and to invite them to the capital with due respect. Those who were invited but did not come would be punished for showing disrespect. Liu Lingzhu led the army in battle against the official army near Anguo City, but was defeated by the Governor of Dingzhou, Hou Yuan, whose severed head was sent to the capital. Afterwards, the emperor promoted General Husi Chun and Guard General Yuan Shou to the honorary title of Yitong Sanji. The emperor also issued a decree saying, "We have recently rectified the chaos in the officialdom, streamlined personnel, and made judgments. We also have some sympathy for those who were demoted. Those who were demoted can be promoted by one level, all granted the position of general, and allowed to participate in the selection process to arrange suitable positions according to their abilities." That spring, the Champion General and Governor of South Qingzhou, Ru Huailang, sent his subordinate He Bao to lead three thousand troops to attack Xiao Yan's garrison in Langye, capturing Xiao Yan's Left Vice Minister, Yitong Sanji, Yunhui General, and Governor of Xuyan, Liu Xiangru. On the first few days of April, the emperor went hunting and archery at the Hualin Pavilion, and rewarded some items. At that time, some of the performers appeared a bit foolish, which the emperor found unseemly, so he ordered them to be removed. Shortly thereafter, the emperor went to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices. A few days later, the emperor appointed King Qi Xianwu to hold numerous high-ranking positions, including: Governor of Jizhou, General of the Cavalry, Yitong Sanji, Grand Commandant, Grand Governor, Grand Commissioner of Eastern Expeditions, and Governor of Jizhou; at the same time, he appointed Prince Anding Erzhu Zhihu as Yitong Sanji and Governor of Sizhou. He also appointed He Baosheng and Daye Bat to the rank of Yitong Sanji.
Afterwards, the emperor assessed a group of officials in Xianyang Hall, and those with insufficient ability were transferred elsewhere. King Longxi Erzhu Tianguang defeated Su Qinmingda and captured him to the capital where he was executed. Erzhu Yanbo was appointed as the Minister of Personnel. The emperor also decreed that the term "pseudo-Liang" should no longer be used, abolished the system of spies, and allowed normal communication between neighboring countries.
The emperor also reformed some official positions, including: Assistant Censor-in-Chief, Colonel of Infantry, Commandant of the Palace Guard, Director of the Imperial Guard, Censor, General of Archery, Palace Attendant, General of the Palace, Palace Gate Attendant, Commandant of the Palace Garrison, and Director of Ceremonies. These positions received salaries but had little actual power, and older officials who met the criteria could be transferred, while younger ones could apply for transfers. Officials of seventh rank or higher had to attend court every month, and if any department lacked personnel, suitable candidates would be selected from among them. Officials who had been prematurely retired could return to their original positions; those who had been demoted for minor offenses could be promoted by one rank.
Previously, the Prefect of Nanyang, Zhao Xiuyan, captured the Inspector Li Yan. One day in May, the people of Jingzhou killed Zhao Xiuyan and sent his severed head, then re-elected Li Yan as the Inspector. Erzhu Zhongyuan sent Wei Sengxu and others to suppress Cui Zuchi, capturing and killing him. One day in June, King Xianwu of Qi revolted against the Erzhu family in Xindu. He captured Yinzhou, killed the Inspector Erzhu Yusheng, and appointed Li Yuanzhong as the new Inspector of Yinzhou, stationed in Guang'a. The emperor personally addressed some wrongful convictions in Xianyang Hall. Finally, Erzhu Bi was promoted to the position of Ministerial Advisor.
In July, on the Ren Shen day, Erzhu Shilong and his men killed former Grand Preceptor Yang Chun and former Minister of Construction Yang Jin, along with their families. On the Bing Xu day, Minister of Construction Erzhu Yanbo resigned due to a drought. On the Wu Zi day, Erzhu Yanbo was dismissed from his positions as Palace Attendant and Supervisor of the Imperial Household. On the Geng Yin day, Erzhu Shilong was appointed as Palace Attendant, Grand Preceptor, Supervisor of the Imperial Household, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, King of Leping, and was additionally granted the title of Supervisor of the Three Dukes, ranking just below the First Minister.
On the Geng Zi day in August, the court decreed that Longxi King Erzhu Tianguang was permitted to recruit civil and military officials, and those with remarkable military achievements could be promoted by up to three ranks. Yingchuan King Erzhu Zhaodu led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry troops from Jingxing, heading straight for Yinzhou. Li Yuanzhong abandoned the city and retreated to Xindu. On the Bing Wu day, Kings Erzhu Dulv and Erzhu Zhongyuan from Changshan and Pengcheng respectively led their troops in rebellion. On the Ding Chou day in September, Lu Tong, Du De, and Qiao Ning were appointed as Supervisors of the Three Dukes. On the Ji Mao day, Erzhu Zhongyuan was appointed as Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of the Eastern Army, concurrently Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Chief of the Eastern Capital Commandery, and Grand Preceptor. On the Geng Chen day, Erzhu Tianguang was conferred the title of Commissioner-in-Chief, Grand General, Commander of the armies in Guanzhong, concurrently Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Chief of the Western Capital Commandery, and Grand Marshal. Mu Shao, the Inspector of Qingzhou and Supervisor of the Imperial Household, passed away. On the Gui Si day, the late Emperor was posthumously revered as the First Emperor, while Empress Wang was honored as the First Empress Dowager; the Emperor's younger brother Yongye was titled King of Gaomi, and the Emperor's son Zishu was titled King of Bohai.
On the Ren Yin day in October, King Xianwu of Qi abdicated in favor of Yuan Lang, who then declared himself Emperor in Xindu. In the third month of the following year, King Xianwu of Qi defeated Erzhu Tianguang and others at Hanling.
In April, on the Xinsi day, King Xian of Qi and the former emperor went to Mang Mountain together, sending Wei Langen to Luoyang to observe the former emperor's character. Wei Langen, jealous of the former emperor's virtues, returned and slandered him. Ultimately, he accepted Cui Xiang's suggestion to imprison the former emperor in Chongxun Buddhist Temple and established Prince Pingyang, Yuan Xiu, as the emperor. After being deposed, the former emperor wrote a poem:
"The red gates have long been a source of trouble, the purple extreme is not something to be toyed with. One can wait for the overturning, as change comes three times a year. Such is the fate; only by cultivating true nature can one endure."
It is said that at the beginning of the Taichang era, the emperor died outside the Ministry of Personnel; he was only thirty-five years old that year. Before his death, the emperor ordered all officials from various departments to gather, and then the Grand Minister of Ceremonies oversaw the emperor's funeral, to be conducted with the honors due to a prince, with nine tassels on the crown, a grand carriage, a yellow canopy, a military flag, and 120 sword-bearing ceremonial guards, as well as the two imperial guards and the Feather Forest Army, tasked with the ceremonial escort.
The emperor who succeeded him was named Lang, with the courtesy name Zhongzhe, the third son of King Zhangwu, Rong. His mother’s surname was Cheng. Lang was exceptionally intelligent and clever from a young age. In the second year of Yong'an, he was appointed as a registrar in the military office of the Prince of Luzhou, and later became the Deputy Minister of the Office of the Grand Chancellor. On the day of Wuzi in the first month of the second year of the Jianming era, he was appointed as the governor of Bohai County in Jizhou. Just as King Xian of Qi raised an army to revolt against those tyrants, everyone supported him as emperor.
On the day of Renyin in October, the Emperor ascended the throne in Xindu City, located to the west. A grand ceremony was held to offer sacrifices to Heaven, a general amnesty was declared, and the era was renamed Zhongxing. All civil and military officials received promotions, with a general increase of four ranks. Qi Xianwu was appointed as the Attendant, Prime Minister, Commander-in-Chief of all military affairs, Grand General, and Grand Chancellor, while also being granted an additional three thousand households of food estate. Gao Qianyong, who previously served as the Attendant, Military Governor, and Ambassador to Hebei, was appointed as the Attendant and Minister of Works. Gao Aocao, who previously held the position of General of the Northern Expedition and Imperial Guard Cavalry Attendant, was appointed as the General of the Cavalry, the equivalent of the Three Excellencies, and the Governor of Jizhou. Yuan Yi, the previous governor, was appointed as the equivalent of the Three Excellencies.
On the day of Jiyou, Erzhu Dulu, Erzhu Zhongyuan, Husi Chun, He Baosheng, Jia Xianzhi, and others gathered in Yangping, preparing to confront the righteous army. Qi Xianwu employed a strategy to sow discord among them, causing Erzhu Zhao to also suspect them. Ultimately, they were defeated and scattered, fleeing back to their hometowns. On the day of Xinhai, Qi Xianwu defeated Erzhu Zhao in Guang'a, capturing more than five thousand soldiers. The Emperor ordered all soldiers to be promoted by five ranks, and a promotion of two ranks for those who stayed behind. The Emperor also appointed Feng Longzhi, the General of the East and Minister of Personnel, as the imperial commissioner and ambassador to the Northern Road, granting him the authority to manage affairs as needed.
On the eleventh month of the Ji Si year, the emperor issued a decree saying: "The dynasty has just been established, and various systems are just starting to be put into place. The official ranks announced so far have not altered the old regulations. However, there are some people who, lacking understanding, are taking advantage of the situation, illegitimately promoting military ranks and falsely reporting official positions, claiming that they were granted by the previous court, and it's hard to rein them in. If we don't establish strict regulations, it will be impossible to prevent them from deceiving. Anyone who falsely reports their official position, once reported by others, will be punished under military law. If it is confirmed that they have falsely reported their official position, they will lose their position, be demoted to commoners, and be banned from holding office for life." On the day of Geng Chen, Qi Xianwu led his troops to attack Ye City. That year, the people of South Yanzhou pressured the former governor Liu Shiming into surrendering the city to Xiao Yan, and Xiao Yan sent his general Yuanshu to occupy Qiaocheng.
On the Ren Wu day in January 532 AD, we captured Ye City and took the governor Liu Dan prisoner. The emperor was delighted and commanded that all the soldiers be promoted and granted titles, with a total of ninety-seven people being promoted and given titles, each with varying ranks. The next day, on the day of Gui Wei, the emperor spoke again: "Since the establishment of our dynasty, the system is still imperfect, and most local officials are incompetent, with few truly capable ones, and the social climate is pretty corrupt. Those noble families are only interested in partying and enjoying life, and do not focus on their duties. Therefore, I toil day and night, constantly worrying about this issue. The relevant departments need to look into this thoroughly; only then can they honor my efforts!"
On the Xin Hai day of February, Emperor Xiaozhuang was posthumously titled Emperor Wuhua. On the Jia Zi day, King Xian of Qi was promoted to Grand Chancellor, General of the Pillar State, and Grand Tutor, with an additional grant of 30,000 households, making the total 60,000 households. On the Bing Yin day in March, King Wenxiang of Qi was promoted to General of the Cavalry and granted the title of Yi Tong San Si. On the Bing Zi day, Sun Teng, the Chamberlain, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Left Deputy Minister of Personnel, was also promoted to General of the Cavalry and granted the title of Yi Tong San Si. On the Ding Chou day, the Emperor made a personal visit to Ye City. On the Yi You day, the Emperor ordered all civil and military officials' families to come to Ye City. On the intercalary month Yi Wei day, Wei Jing, the General Anbei, Grand Master of Ceremonies, and Duke of Boye County, was promoted to General of the Cavalry and granted the title of Yi Tong San Si. On the Bing Shen day, General Wei, Jinzi Guanglu, the Grand Master of Ceremonies, and She Di Gan was also promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry and granted the title of Yi Tong San Si. On the Ren Yin day, Er Zhu Tianguang, Er Zhu Zhao, Er Zhu Dulü, and Er Zhu Zhongyuan set up camp south of the Huan River. On the Gui Chou day, King Xian of Qi set up camp at Zimo. On the Geng Shen day, Er Zhu Zhao led 3,000 light cavalry to launch a night raid on Ye City, intending to attack the west gate, but failed and retreated. On the Ren Xu day, King Xian of Qi achieved a great victory over Er Zhu Tianguang and others at Hanling, and the former Emperor's General of National Defense, He Ba Sheng, and Xu Province's Governor, Du De, both surrendered. Er Zhu Zhao fled to Bingzhou, Er Zhu Zhongyuan fled to Dongjun, while Er Zhu Tianguang and Er Zhu Dulü tried to flee to Luoyang. Grand Commander Hu Si Chun and Jia Xian Zhi returned ahead of schedule.
On the first day of April, Na Chun and his men were blocked on the river bridge; fearing punishment, they confessed voluntarily. Shortly after, Tian Guang and Du Lv were also arrested on the river bridge. Chang Sun Zhi, the Grand Chancellor of the Northwest Daxing Tai, and Du Jia Xianzhi led the cavalry into the capital, captured Erzhu Shilong and Erzhu Yanbo, and executed them publicly on the street; Tian Guang and Du Lv were escorted to King Qi Xianwu. A few days later, the former emperor, Hou Jing, who had been deposed and was the General of the Cavalry at the time, surrendered with his city. The court immediately promoted him, appointed him as the Yitong Sansi, and made him the Shangshu Puyi, Nandao Daxing Tai, and Governor of Jizhou. A few days later, Wei Langen was appointed as the General of the Cavalry and the Yitong Sansi. The next day, Gao Sheng was also promoted, serving as the Shangshu Puyi and Beidao Xing Tai, with responsibilities to be defined later. Erzhu Zhongyuan sought refuge with Xiao Yan. Erzhu Bi, the Governor of Qingzhou, was killed by his subordinate, Feng Shaolong, and his head was sent to the capital. Later, Xin Yong and Zhang Yue also surrendered their cities.
After some time, the emperor arrived in Heyang and abdicated the throne in a villa estate. In May of the following year, he was bestowed the title of Prince of Anding with a fief of ten thousand households. Later, after making a mistake, he died outside the Ministry of Personnel's office at the age of twenty. In the second year of the Yongxi era, he was buried at Yema Ridge, located southwest of Ye City. This emperor's name was Yuan Xiu, courtesy name Xiaoze, and he was the third son of Wang Yuanhuai, known as the Martial Ancestor of Guangping. His mother belonged to the Li clan. He had a calm demeanor, spoke little, and had an interest in military affairs. Initially, he was conferred the title of Duke of Ruoyang, served as a junior minister in the Imperial Secretariat, and was later promoted to Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. During the Jianyi period, he was appointed as a regular attendant, and shortly thereafter, he was promoted to General of Pingdong while concurrently serving as Minister of Rites. He then became General Zhendong and Minister of Imperial Clan Affairs. In the third year of the Yong'an era, he was granted the title of Prince of Pingyang. During the Putai period, he held the position of Grand Master of Ceremonies, General Zhendong, and Minister of the Three Departments of State, while concurrently holding the position of Right Vice Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, and later was further appointed as Grand Master of Ceremonies and Left Vice Minister in the Ministry of Personnel.
In the summer of the year 534, in April, King Anding felt his position was somewhat precarious and that he had not gained the support of the people nationwide, so he requested to abdicate. King Xianwu of Qi discussed this matter with his officials, and everyone unanimously agreed that the founding emperor could not be without an heir, so they collectively supported King Anding. On the day of Wuzi (a specific day in the lunar calendar), King Anding ascended the throne outside Dongguo City, then entered the palace through Dongyang Gate and Yunlong Gate, where he received the homage of his ministers in the Taiji Hall. After the ceremony, the emperor ascended to Changhe Gate and issued a decree saying: "The rise and fall of dynasties is all part of heaven's will, and no one can predict them. The Wei dynasty once unified the world, boasting a strong national power and vast territory, but later, calamities befell them. The Wei dynasty experienced numerous hardships, with rites and music collapsing and laws deteriorating. The mighty Zhou dynasty also fell to the Rong and Di; the once-majestic ancestral temple lay in ruins. The Hu and Jie seized the opportunity to sow chaos and rule brutally, killing kings and slaughtering the people, only focused on plundering, utterly devoid of satisfaction. Since the beginning of written history, such a tragedy has never been seen! The Grand Chancellor, King Gao Huan of Bohai, rose up to resist for the sake of the country, determined to wash away the national shame. Therefore, the army in Guang'a is brave and good at battle; the army in Ye City is indestructible. Recently, the northern Hu tribes united, strong in both troops and horses, gathering the national army and concentrating all elite forces. However, after a brief war, we quickly annihilated the enemy, capturing the principal culprits and those who committed treason. We marched across the Yellow River, cleared the Yiluo region, and the people are now living and working in peace, with social order restored to normal. At a time of national peril, we turned danger into safety, and after the country was fragmented, it was rebuilt. I have been entrusted with the throne and feel the weight of this responsibility; carrying this heavy burden feels like being thrown into deep water, unable to find direction. I hope to usher in a peaceful and prosperous era for our people, and thus I issue a decree of amnesty to the world. The second year of our revival will henceforth be known as the first year of Taichang." The decree also announced the reinstatement of Fan Zihu as the Imperial Censor Zhongwei and appointed him as the Left Minister of Personnel and the Grand Chancellor of the Southeast; meanwhile, Du De was appointed as the Commander of the Three Departments and the Inspector of Xuzhou to quell Yuan Shu.
King Xian of Qi submitted a petition, stating that the families who had made contributions to Gao Huan were persecuted and annihilated by the Er Zhu clan, and requested the emperor to restore them to their original status. Considering the change of dynasties, the emperor reappointed King Xian of Qi as Grand Chancellor, General of Tianzhu, and Grand Tutor, retaining the position of Governor of Dingzhou, and increased his fief by ninety thousand households, totaling one hundred fifty thousand households including his earlier fief. On Gengyin Day (a date in the lunar calendar), the emperor also promoted King Wenxiang of Qi to Chamberlain and awarded him the title of Governor with the same rank as the three offices, while all other official positions remained unchanged. On Renchen Day (a date in the lunar calendar), King Xian of Qi returned to Ye City, and the emperor held a farewell banquet for him at Qianpu Mountain.
On Bingshen Day in May, the former deposed emperor, King Guangling, passed away. The emperor appointed Prince Huaiyang, Xin, as Grand Tutor and conferred upon him the title of Prince of Pei; he appointed Prince Zhao, Chen, as Grand Guardian; Prince Qinghe, Dan, as Governor with the same rank as the three offices; Prince Nanyang, Baoju, as Grand Commander; Changsun Zhi as Grand Mentor; Yuan Luo as Minister of Documents, and Yuan Shijun as Minister of Personnel; they all held the same rank as the three offices.
On Wuxu Day, King Xian of Qi actively requested to resign from the position of General of Tianzhu, which the emperor accepted, reducing his fief by fifty thousand households, while other benefits remained unchanged.
On Chou Day, the previously dismissed Minister of Works, Gao Qianyong, was restored to office. On Yisi Day, the emperor went to Hualin Duting to host a banquet for the officials, offering various rewards. Suddenly, Tang Meng, the leader of the Imperial Guards, burst in to offer his congratulations. The emperor stated that he had violated palace guard regulations and punished him.
On the day of Dingwei, the Emperor issued a decree stating: "We must not take advantage of the lonely and helpless; this has been recorded in ancient texts. We must take good care of the elderly and orphans, so that this kindness may be remembered for generations to come. My abilities are limited, yet I must act as the parents of the common people, so I constantly think of their struggles and often find myself sighing. Now the country needs to be governed anew, starting with compassion for the lonely and the weak. If there are elderly people, sick individuals, or the homeless, the relevant departments must conduct thorough investigations and provide relief according to regulations."
The Emperor issued another decree stating: "The legal provisions must have a unified standard, so that the common people won't be tempted to act out; the law must establish two channels, so that officials can better exercise their powers. The laws and regulations from previous dynasties have been carried over to the present day and have become increasingly complex. These regulations are not suitable for all situations and cannot cover all aspects. Therefore, officials of the fourth rank and above should come to the capital to sort out these laws and regulations and formulate a set of unified measures. Any that aren’t relevant should be put on hold for now. The newly formulated regulations should not be mixed with the old ones. They must be concise and clear, avoiding unnecessary complexity."
On the day of Jiyou, King Dan of Qinghe was appointed as Minister of Works. On the day of Gengxu, the Emperor issued a decree stating: "Recently, there has been famine in the west, causing the common people to be displaced. Some have perished by the ditches, while others have starved to death on the roads, their bodies left to rot in the wilderness, leaving them for crows to pick at. Just thinking about it keeps me up at night. We should do our utmost to perform the burial rites for the bodies; we must also work hard to provide aid. Those who have been left to rot should be buried right there. Spread this command far and wide."
On the Yi Mao day, the emperor announced the lifting of martial law nationwide. On the first day of the sixth month of the Gui Hai year, the emperor addressed legal cases at Hualin Garden. On the day of Bing Yin, envoys from Rouran, Yeda, Goryeo, Khitan, and Khumo Hsi came to pay their respects. On the day of Ding Mao, Wang Baoju, the Prince of Nanyang, was demoted to Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry due to his mistake; his position as Duke was also revoked, but his title remained unchanged. He was sent home under the watch of the Imperial Guards. At the same time, the posthumous title of Emperor Wuhuai was revised to Emperor Xiaozhuang. On the day of Gui You, envoys from Rouran and Yeda came to pay their respects again.
On the day of Wu Yin, the emperor issued an edict for a large-scale promotion of officials nationwide. Officials in the capital were promoted four levels, soldiers who took part in the Volunteer Army were promoted six levels, officials in Ye City were promoted three levels, officials in Yizhou, Hebei, were promoted two levels, officials in Heqiao Jianyi were promoted five levels, and officials in Guanxi were promoted two levels. Those previously ennobled, promoted, and favored under Jianming and Putai were also acknowledged. On the day of Ji Mao, the emperor addressed legal cases at Xianyang Hall. On the day of Yi You, envoys from Goryeo, Khitan, and Khumo Hsi came to pay their respects again. On the day of Bing Xu, Husi Chun was restored to his previous position.
The emperor issued an edict saying, "Not long ago, corrupt officials were in power and acted recklessly, and the laws and regulations changed. In order to win over the people, they exempted taxes for ethnic minorities; however, they increased taxes on the common people, collecting ten times the original amount. This is simply deceiving both themselves and others! I am always concerned about the people, restless day and night. Now that agricultural production has just resumed, the people's livelihoods have not yet recovered. If taxes are collected according to the previous standards, it may be difficult to bear. Therefore, this year's taxes will be halved, and the original tax standards will be reinstated next year." On the day of Xin Mao, Jia Xiandu was appointed as Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry.
On the Yimao day of the seventh month, the emperor decreed: "During the Yong'an period, I have successfully raised the crown prince, so I am promoting their titles to celebrate the national holiday. Recently, after the rebellion was quelled, some individuals were posthumously honored. Now that the rebellion has been suppressed, the old system can be restored. Previous favors should be fulfilled according to the previous decree. The ranks of the princes should be restored to their former levels. The sacrifices at the Wenmu Temple should cease, and those who have already been enfeoffed should be posthumously recognized as per regulations." On the Gengzi day of the seventh month, Baoju was appointed Grand Commandant, who previously served as General of Chariots and Cavalry, Privy Treasurer, and King of Nanyang. On the Renyin day of the seventh month, King Qixianwu entered Fukou with his troops, while Gan Shedi led his troops into Jingxing to attack Erzhu Zhao. On the Yisi day of the seventh month, King Qixianwu escorted Erzhu Tianguang and Erzhu Dulü to the capital, where they were executed. On the Jiyou day of the seventh month, Fan Zihu was appointed Supervisor of the Palace Attendants, previously serving as Deputy Supervisor of the Left of the Imperial Secretariat and Chancellor of the Southeast. On the Gengxu day of the seventh month, the emperor appointed Gao Longzhi as Commissioner Bearing Credentials, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Supervisor of the Palace Attendants, concurrently Deputy Supervisor of the Left of the Imperial Secretariat, and Chancellor of the Northern Circuit, leading a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry to the Taihang Mountains to join forces with King Qixianwu. Gao Longzhi stepped down as Chancellor but remained the Chief Military Officer. King Qixianwu was stationed in Wuxiang. Erzhu Zhao conducted extensive looting in Jinyang before fleeing north to Xiurong. Bingzhou province was pacified.
In July, on the Yimao day, the emperor arrived at the Xianyang Palace to personally handle wrongful cases. On the Bingchen day in July, he appointed Wang Guiping of Donglai as Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and Minister of State, who had previously held the title of Grandmaster. This month, residents from Xiangzhou, led by Guo Qian, occupied Youzhou in rebellion, forcing Governor Yuan Yi to abandon the city and flee. The emperor ordered the acting general Hou Jing to lead the governor of Qizhou Wei Jing and the governor of Jizhou Ji Jun to quell the rebellion. The city was taken, and Guo Qian fled to Xiao Yan's territory. The Grand Governor of Southeast Road, Fan Zihu, secured a decisive victory against Xiao Yan's forces in Qiaocheng, capturing Yuan Shu, the Prince of Ye, and Zhu Wenkai, the governor of Qiaozhou.
On the day of Renxu in August (the first day of August), King Wenxiang of Qi came to pay his respects to the emperor and held an archery competition, bestowing different rewards to his subordinates. On the day of Dingmao in August, Yuan Ning was appointed as the King of Gaoping; previously, Yuan Ning was the General of the Western Central Command. On the day of Jiaxu in August, Li Yan was appointed as the Minister of the Three Offices; prior to this, Li Yan was the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the Left Minister of Rites. On the day of Gengyin in August, Cui Bing was appointed as the General of Cavalry and Minister of the Three Offices; Cui Bing had previously been the General of Chariots and the Left Minister of Rites. On the day of Xinmao in August, Gao Yue was appointed as the General of Cavalry and Minister of the Three Offices; Gao Yue had previously been the General of Chariots and the Right Minister of Rites. On the day of Guiwei in September, Feng Jin was appointed as the Minister of the Three Offices; Feng Jin had previously been the Attendant and the General of Cavalry and the Left Minister of Rites. On the day of Gengzi in September, the emperor went to the Hualin Pavilion, summoned Yuan Shu and all officials, foreign envoys, and generals, held a banquet and archery competition, with different rewards given. On the day of Guimao in September, He Ba Yun of Yan County was promoted to king. On the day of Yisi in September, the emperor traveled to Dushui, south past Luorui, and arrived at Chanjian. On the day of Jiyou in September, the emperor cultivated farmland in Beiyuan. On the day of Guichou in September, Wang Xin of Pei was appointed as the King of Guangling, while the son of the former Emperor Bo Hai, Prince Shu of Bohai, was reappointed as the King of Pei County. On the day of Jiayin in September, Feng Longzhi and Ren Xiang were appointed as the Minister of the Three Offices; both had previously been Attendants and Generals of Cavalry. Yuan Zhongjing was appointed as the General of Cavalry and the Minister of the Three Offices; he had previously been the General of Chariots and the Governor of Henan. On the day of Yimao in September, the emperor conducted a sacrificial ceremony at the royal mausoleum. On the day of Bingchen in September, the Ruo Ruo people and the state of Gaochang sent envoys to pay tribute. On the day of Gengshen in September, Li Shenjun and Lou Zhao were appointed as the General of Cavalry and Minister of the Three Offices; Li Shenjun had previously been the Guard General and the former Minister of Personnel, while Lou Zhao had previously been the General of the Army and the Right General of the Guards.
In November, on the Jiazi day, General Gao Zhongmi, the General of the Guards and the Governor of Guangzhou, was appointed as the Grand General of the Cavalry and Chariots and the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Dingmao day, General Pan Man, the Grand General of the Cavalry and Chariots and the Left Grand Master of the Guards, was appointed as the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Jimao day, General Gao Chen, the Grand General of the Cavalry and Chariots, and Left Grand Master of the Guards, was appointed as the Special Assistant, Cavalry, and the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Gengyin day, General Liu Gui, the Cavalry General and the Governor of Sizhou, was appointed as the Grand General of Cavalry and the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Jiawu day in November, General Hu Sidun, the Governor of Yangzhou, was appointed as the Grand General of Cavalry and the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Dingyou day, during the winter solstice, the Emperor conducted a sacrificial ceremony at the Round Mound. On the Wuxu day, officials were summoned to the Hall of Taiji. On the Jiachen day, King Lang of Anding and King Ye of Donghai were executed for their offenses. On the Yisi day, the Rouran state sent envoys to pay tribute. On the Jiyou day, the former Grand Minister, Prince Yue of Runan, was appointed as the Chamberlain, Grand General, and the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. That day, the funeral of Empress Dowager Hu was also conducted. In December, on the Bingyin day, Grand General Qijun, the Chief Censor, was appointed as the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Yihai day, Chamberlain Zhan, the Prince of Guangping, was appointed as the Grand General of Cavalry and the Equivalent to the Three Excellencies. On the Dinghai day, Grand General Prince Yue of Runan was executed. That day, a general amnesty was granted, the era name was changed from Taichang to Yongxing, and the title of Taizong was conferred, which was later revised to the first year of Yongxi.
On the first day of the first month of the second year, on the day of Gengyin, the emperor hosted a banquet for the officials in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. On the day of Jiawu, King Qi Xianwu set out from Jinyang to attack Er Zhu Zhao. On the day of Dingyou, Er Zhu Zhao suffered a great defeat at Chihong Ridge. He fled and ultimately committed suicide. On the day of Jihai, the emperor visited Lingyan Temple at Songgao Stone Cave. On the day of Gengzi, the emperor went to Lingyan Temple again and made charitable donations, rewarding each with varying rewards. On the day of Gengxu, Li Yan, an official of the Three Departments, passed away. On the day of Dingsi, the emperor posthumously honored him as Emperor Wumu, the empress dowager Feng as Empress Wumu, and the empress Li as the empress dowager. At the same time, he appointed Gao Yu, the general of cavalry and former governor of Cangzhou, as the Grand General of Cavalry and an official of the Three Departments. Xiao Yan's subordinates, the governor of Laozhou, Cao Feng, and the governor of East Jingzhou, Lei Nengsheng, led the entire city to surrender.
On the few days of the second month, Zhang Qiong was promoted. He was appointed as the Grand General of Cavalry and an official of the Three Departments, a significant promotion from his previous position as the General of Eastern Town, responsible for the affairs of Fenzhou. The next day, another person was promoted. The Minister of Works, Gao Qian Yong, was appointed as the envoy with special authority, the Grand General of Cavalry, and an official of the Three Departments, while Wang Tan of Xianyang replaced him as the Minister of Works.
On the first day of the third month, Jia Xianzhi also shared in the good fortune, being promoted to an official of the Three Departments, having already been the Grand General of Cavalry and the governor of Cangzhou. A few days later, the court issued an edict stating that due to A Zhi Luo's surrender, Qi Xian Wuwang was reappointed as the Grand Chancellor, granting him full authority to handle related matters. After that, Dou Tai was also promoted, appointed as the envoy with special authority, the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, an official of the Three Departments, and the governor of Xiangzhou, having previously been the governor of Yuzhou. Alas, the political landscape is ever-changing; Gao Qian Yong was executed for committing an offense, which is quite unfortunate. The King of Lu Jun, Su, also passed away at the age of… (the specific age is not mentioned in the original text).
Liang Jingrui was also promoted, rising from the position of envoy with special credentials, commander of the military affairs of the three provinces of Hewei, general of the cavalry, and hereditary governor of Hezhou to the position of Yitong Sansi. Finally, Prince Chen of Zhao County was appointed as Grand Marshal, with the ceremonial treatment of feathered banners and drum music, making his status quite grand; Wang Baoju of Nanyang was also promoted to Grand Marshal, Minister of State, and Secretary of State, with each position being higher than the last!
On the day of Wuchens in April, the emperor decreed that from the central three offices to all provinces, no officials could hold dual positions as chamberlains or serve in two official posts at the same time, and even those already appointed would have their positions revoked. This month, Geng Xiang from Qingzhou led troops to capture Jiaozhou, killing the governor Pei Can, and colluded with Xiao Yan.
On the day of Gengyin in May, the emperor issued another decree stating that all wrongful convictions and errors in cases reported for over a year would be concentrated in Hualin Garden for his personal review; if a case had been pending for over a year and the relevant departments had not reported it, the involved parties were permitted to appeal independently; if a case involved provinces or had been dragging on for several years, the Ministry of Personnel was to gather these cases and submit them. On the day of Renyin in May, Hou Yuan, who held the positions of envoy with special credentials, general of the cavalry, Yitong Sansi, and governor of Qizhou, was reassigned as Yitong Sansi again. On the day of Yisi in May, the emperor issued a decree stating: “Noble positions are of high status and rank; the positions of honorary officials are not low either. However, those clerks below oversee multiple departments, and their ranks are mixed, which undermines the regulations of the court. From now on, if officials in the capital are willing to accept lower-ranking positions, they can directly add the title of general of scattered troops; if they wish to resign from lower official positions, they can be reassigned as nobles or honorary officials, and cannot, as before, hold both scattered official titles and practical positions. Those who are specially promoted or granted titles are not included in this rule.” In the city of Dongxuzhou, commoners Wang Zao, Jian Shi, and others murdered Governor Cui Xiang and occupied the provincial city to seek refuge with Xiao Yan.
In June of the Year of Ren Shen, the Emperor appointed Fan Zihu, General of the Cavalry, to be the ambassador to the Qingjiao region, to oversee the governor of Jizhou and Grand General Cha Jun in their campaign against Geng Xiang. On June 2nd, the Emperor appointed Nian Xian, General of the Cavalry and acting head of Southern Yanzhou affairs, as Deputy of the Three Departments.
On a certain day in the autumn of a certain year, specifically July 7th, the Emperor ordered that Wan Qi Pu be appointed as General of the Cavalry and Deputy of the Three Departments. Wan Qi Pu had previously served as an envoy with special authority, General of the North, Grand General, and Governor of Qinzhou. The next day, on Ren Chen day, the Emperor promoted Prince Guangling Xin to Grand Marshal and Palace Attendant; he had previously served as Prime Minister and Governor of Sizhou. At the same time, Prince Zhao Jun Chen was promoted to Prime Minister, and both of them established their residences. On Geng Xu day, Wang Heba Yun of Yanzhou was appointed Grand Minister; he had previously served as Minister of Education.
On the second day of August, on Yi Chou day, King Wenxiang of Qi came to pay his respects to the Emperor, who threw a banquet for him at the Hualin Pavilion, and King Wenxiang's attendants received various rewards. On this day, the Emperor also promoted Sima Ziru to Deputy of the Three Departments; he had previously served as General of the Cavalry and former Governor of Southern Qizhou. On Wu Chen day, the Emperor personally escorted King Wenxiang of Qi to the Yellow River ferry before he returned. On Gui You day, King Xianwu of Qi submitted a petition requesting to resign from his royal title, which the Emperor did not approve; however, he requested a fief of 100,000 households and a reduction in his noble rank, and returned his medals and honors to the court, which the Emperor agreed to. On September 9th, Ren Zi day, Cui Xiaofen was appointed Deputy of the Three Departments; he had previously served as a Cavalry Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Left Minister of Grace.
In the winter of the sixth day of the tenth lunar month, on Guichou day, Qu Zijian was appointed as Yitong Sansi and promoted to Duke. He was previously the General of Wei, Governor of Guazhou, Duke of Tailin County, and King of Gaochang. On the tenth day of the eleventh month, on Guisi day, Di Zhen was appointed as the Grand Governor of Xuzhou and the East Dao Hengtai's Prefect, leading an army to campaign against East Xuzhou. He was previously the General of the North Expedition and the Governor of Yinzhou. On the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, on Dingsi day, the emperor went hunting on Mount Song; on Jisi day, he went to Wen Tang Hot Springs; on Dingchou day, the emperor returned to the imperial palace. In the third year, on the thirteenth day of the first month, on Renchen day, Qi Xianwu Wang defeated Feiyetou in Kuxie River in Hexi, captured their leader, Gedouling Yili, and relocated their tribe inland. In February, Dongliangzhou was harassed by the Yi tribe. The emperor sent Quan Qi, who carried the emperor's decree, served as the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and was also responsible for the affairs of Dong Yongzhou, to Dongliangzhou as the acting governor, leading troops to fight. A few days later, on Jiwu day, Xiao Yan, holding the emperor's order, voluntarily surrendered the city as the Governor of Yuzhou and the Prince of Nanchang. The emperor was delighted and promoted him to General of Annan, granting him the emperor's decree, and also bestowed upon him the title of Prince Yichang. Then, on Renxu day, the emperor granted a general amnesty, celebrating throughout the world! On Bingzi day, the emperor personally led the ceremony honoring Confucius, expressing respect for the teacher. On Xinsi day, the emperor went on a secret visit to Hongchi Pond and also visited the fields to experience the lives of the people. On Renwu day, the emperor promoted Yuan You, the former Governor of Xuzhou, to General of Wei, affording him the same privileges as Yitong Sansi. At the same time, the General of Cavalry and the Left General Yuan Bin were also promoted and bestowed the title of King of Yingchuan.
On March Renyin, Li Yu, who had previously held the positions of Palace Attendant and General of Chariots and Cavalry, was also promoted by the emperor to the rank of General of Cavalry, enjoying the same privileges as those in the Three Departments. This month, the emperor has certainly been busy promoting officials; it seems the court is brimming with talent, and the emperor is fair in his rewards and punishments!
On April Wuwu, the Khitan kingdom sent envoys to pay tribute. On Xinwei, Prince Ning of Gaoping was demoted to duke for an offense. On Bingzi, the Goryeo kingdom sent envoys to pay tribute as well.
On the day of Bingxu in May, the court increased the number of positions for the sons of noble families and additionally added six hundred auxiliary soldiers; the number of cavalry officials was also raised, with two hundred auxiliary soldiers assigned based on their rank, while the rank of cavalry officials was equivalent to that of a senior advisor. On the day of Xinmao, the emperor issued an edict stating: "The Great Wei dynasty occupies the throne of the Son of Heaven and governs vast territories. Looking back, we have experienced the ups and downs of fortune, stabilized the country, and from north to south, waged campaigns east and west, ultimately suppressing rebellions and restoring peace across the realm. However, the Wu region south of the Yangtze River has long been neglected due to its strategic terrain. Our great ancestor, Emperor Taiwu, once held a golden mirror to shine in all directions and sounded the jade drum to rally the troops; his martial prowess intimidated all, and those rebel forces crumbled like melting ice and snow. North of the Yangtze River has become the land of Wei. In recent years, the country has faced misfortunes, political unrest, and some villains have taken the opportunity to create chaos, seeking to undermine our Great Wei, with constant border conflicts and prefectures falling into ruin. I have been deeply troubled by this, restless day and night. If it were not for our elite troops and meticulous deployments, how could we restore the flourishing era of civil and military affairs and save the people from peril? I plan to personally command the troops to Pengcheng and Bianzhou, striving for a lasting resolution to defend our national territory. All officials, both inside and outside, must be prepared; I will issue a further decree on the exact timing for mobilization." At that time, treacherous officials like Hushi Chun, Yuan Pi, Wang Sizheng, and Wei Guang sabotaged the plans, secretly colluding with King Xianwu of Qi, using the pretext of attacking Xiao Yan to mobilize troops from various states in Henan during the height of summer, which sparked public discontent. This matter is recorded in the "Biography of Hushi Chun." On the day of Bingshen, the envoy authorized to issue edicts, the Palace Attendant, Grand Marshal, Minister of State, and Governor of the Prefectures, Prince Xin of Guangling, was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Left Army, and the Grand Tutor and Chief of the Secretariat, Changsun Zhi, was appointed as the Grand Commander of the Central Army across all fronts.
On the day of Dingyou, the emperor went to Hualin Duting, gathering the governor of the capital region and more than three thousand soldiers to show his appreciation. On the day of Gengzi, the emperor again went to Hualin Duting to address legal matters. On the day of Renyin, the emperor appointed Changsun Zhi as the Grand Commander of the Rear Guard. On the day of Dingmao in June, Grand Commander Yuan Zigong was stationed at Hu Yang, Prince of Ruyang Xian was stationed at Shi Ji, and Jiatong Sansi (Equivalent to Minister of Personnel) Jia Xianzhi led the governor of Yuzhou Husi Shou to march eastward to Jizhou. On the day of Gengwu, the Tuyuhun Kingdom sent envoys to offer tribute. On the day of Bingzi, the emperor issued a decree stating: "In recent years, our nation has faced numerous hardships, with constant wars, and the people have been displaced. Some soldiers have been loyal and selfless, sacrificing themselves for the country; some soldiers have fought bravely on the battlefield, fearless of death. Some of them have died in battle, their remains untraceable, and their contributions have not been recorded, nor have they received corresponding rewards. I have been unable to sleep at night, deeply troubled by this. A decree should be issued nationwide, permitting everyone to submit the names of soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the nation. If their relatives are not present, their friends can report on their behalf. The Ministry of Personnel Affairs should verify seriously and bestow posthumous honors as appropriate. This is the only way to slightly comfort their souls and express my sympathy." On the day of Gengchen, the envoy with the imperial edict, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Grand Commander of the Central Army Huli Shamen was appointed as the Director of the Ministry of Personnel Affairs.
On the first day of July in a certain year, it was the day of Xinsi. The Emperor specially promoted General Zhen Dong, former Grand Minister of Works, and Wang Chang of Taiyuan to the position of Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, also appointing him as the Grand Minister of the Three Dukes, significantly raising his rank. The next day, it was the day of Jichou, and the Emperor personally led over a hundred thousand troops and marched towards Heqiao. The Emperor appointed Husi Chun as the Grand Commander of the Vanguard, and shortly thereafter ordered him to defend Hulao Pass. At the same time, the Emperor ordered the Governor of Jingzhou, He Baosheng, to rush to the military camp. He Baosheng arrived with his troops along the banks of the Ruyu River. On the nineteenth day of July (the day of Gengzi), the Emperor promoted Yue Gong, the General of the West, and Governor of Qizhou, to the position of Grand Minister of the Three Dukes. On the twenty-sixth day of July (the day of Dingwei), the Emperor was compelled to leave Chang'an due to Husi Chun and his men. On the twenty-eighth day of July (the day of Jiyu), King Qi Xianwu entered Luoyang, and He Baosheng, realizing the situation was dire, quickly retreated back to Jingzhou.
On the first day of August (Jia Yin Day), the emperor promoted the Minister of Works, Gong, and King Dan of Qinghe to the positions of Grand Marshal, granting him full authority to handle court affairs, and he resided in the Ministry of War. On the fifth day of August (Xin You Day), King Xian of Qi went west to welcome the emperor. On the twelfth day of August (Wu Chen Day), the emperor issued a decree of amnesty, which stated: "From darkness comes light; chaos indeed lays the groundwork for governance; thus it aligns with the way of heaven and conforms to human affairs. Therefore, the fortunes of the Ji clan have waned, and they have diligently engaged in the loyalist efforts; the Liu clan is on the verge of collapse, with the northern army showing signs of defection. Let it be that this distant year can be honored, and may it bring blessings for generations to come. In the season of Yongxi, power and favoritism dominate the court, and petty officials are favored while the virtuous and capable suffer harm. Official positions are determined by wealth and status, and life and death in trials depend on money. The ancestral lineage drifts like a tassel, and the lives of the people are treated as disposable as weeds. The Grand Chancellor is positioned in Jin and Zheng, appointed by Huan Wen, raising troops in Fen River, and questioning the crimes in Yi and Luo. The conspirators fear the authority, oppressing the ruler to protect themselves, far from the Qin side. Although the imperial carriage moves, it has not yet returned to the court; however, the power and favoritism will be eradicated, and the world will wait with bated breath. Although Wei is old, its transformation is new, wishing to begin anew with the common people. Therefore, a great amnesty is granted to the world." Meanwhile, the acting governor Hou Jing led troops to attack Jingzhou, and He Ba Sheng was defeated, having no choice but to flee to Xiao Yan, a rival leader.
On the ninth day of September, the court appointed General Wei, concurrently the Governor of Henan, Yuan Zisi as an envoy, also making him the acting Minister of Personnel, and appointed the envoy with command, General of Cavalry, Minister of State, and General of the Army, Lou Zhao as the Grand Commander of the Western Route, instructing them to go west with accompanying officials to welcome the emperor's carriage. By the fourteenth day of September, Mao Hongbin, the garrison commander of Tongguan, rebelled but was defeated and captured by King Xian of Qi. On the same day, King Xian of Qi returned to Luoyang. Earlier this month, in East Qinghe, a man named Fu Xiao killed Governor Han Zijie and seized the county seat in rebellion. Later, when the amnesty was declared, he surrendered.
On a winter day in October, Hou Yuan, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and the General of the Imperial Guards, as well as the acting governor of Qingzhou Province, captured Dongyang, killed the governor, Wang Guiping, and sent his head to the capital. On a day in the twelfth lunar month, the Emperor was killed by Yuwen Hetuo; he was only twenty-five years old. Historians state that when the late Emperor was in Guangling, the country was in turmoil and further declined during his reign; Princess Pingyang was overly suspicious and jealous, which ultimately led to the ruin of the royal family. The Pu Tai period was relatively peaceful, but the Yongxi period was marked by numerous misdeeds. These are the reasons that led to the country's downfall, and the people turned their backs on them!
