Emperor Xiaozhuang, named Yuan Ziyou, was the third son of Prince Yuan Xie from Pengcheng. His mother was Consort Li. During the reign of Emperor Su of Northern Wei, Yuan Xie was granted the title of Duke of Wucheng for his military achievements in the Battle of Luyang. As a child, Ziyou served in the palace, attending to Emperor Su and doing some writing and drawing. As he grew up, he became particularly handsome, with a good temperament and great talent. He was later appointed as the Secretary of the Central Office and the City Gate Commander, also concurrently serving as the Deputy Minister of the Yellow Gate, and was highly favored by Emperor Su, often on duty in the palace. He was subsequently promoted to a Regular Attendant and Deputy Inspector General. In August of the second year of the Xiaochang era, he was granted the title of Prince of Changle. He was then promoted to the position of Palace Attendant and General of the Central Army. In October of the third year, due to matters concerning his brother, Prince Yuan Shao of Pengcheng, he was reassigned to the position of General of the Guard, Grand Minister of the Left, and Supervisor of the Central Secretariat, which clearly indicated that he was being pushed aside and effectively demoted.
In February of the first year of the Wutai era, Emperor Su died. General Er Zhu Rong was planning to enter the capital with plans to depose the emperor and put a new ruler in place. Because Emperor Xiaozhuang came from a prominent family and was beloved by the people, Er Zhu Rong secretly made contact with him. This led Er Zhu Rong to lead his troops into the capital, which likely involved some intrigue.
On the day of Bing Shen in April 528, the emperor and his brothers secretly crossed the Yellow River at night. The next day, on the day of Ding You, they met with Er Zhu Rong at Heyang. On the day of Wu Xu, the emperor crossed the Yellow River and took the throne. He granted his brother the title of King of Wushang and his younger brother the title of King of Shiping. At the same time, he appointed Er Zhu Rong as the Envoy with Special Authority, Palace Attendant, Commander of Military Affairs, Grand General, Minister of the Secretariat, General of the Army, and granted him the title of King of Taiyuan, giving him a lot of power. On the day of Ji Hai, officials came to welcome him, holding the imperial seal and ceremonial robes, getting the ceremonial retinue ready to welcome the new emperor by the river.
On the day of Gengzi, the emperor's carriage journeyed along the Yellow River to Taozhu. Erzhu Rong, who held military power, had his ambitions swell and went so far as to kill Empress Dowager Ling and the young emperor. He subsequently murdered Supreme King Shao, King Zheng of Shiping, Prime Minister King Yong, Minister of Works Gong Yuanqin, and numerous other officials, resulting in the deaths of over two thousand people. Erzhu Rong's army surrounded the emperor, forcing him to relocate to a makeshift tent. Later, Erzhu Rong expressed regret and apologized by bowing deeply. (From "Rong Zhuan") On the day of Xinchou, the emperor's carriage made its way back to the palace, and in the Taiji Hall, he issued a decree that stated: "The founding emperor responded to the mandate of heaven and soared like a dragon in the Yan region. Our family has been glorious for generations, inheriting the legacy of our ancestors. I had hoped to advance this great cause and ensure its lasting legacy, but I never anticipated facing such overwhelming challenges and drastic changes, resulting in the rise of chaos and strife, both from within and outside, a shortage of loyal and upright officials in the court, and widespread grievances among the populace, all attributed to the influence of women in power. Emperor Xiaoming, known for his gentle and kind nature, had always been patient, yet ultimately lost both the country and the people's trust. This has raised doubts among everyone."
I must take on this responsibility and inherit the throne; all loyal subjects are willing to support me. Wang Er Zhu Rong of Taiyuan, renowned for his unwavering loyalty and filial piety throughout the generations, accomplished outstanding deeds, raised troops in Jinyang, and gathered forces in the Heluo region to support my rise to the throne, shouldering this heavy responsibility. My virtues pale in comparison to those of Shaokang, and my governance methods are not on par with the previous dynasty. As a humble individual, I find myself tasked with governing the people, as if I am adrift in a vast ocean, uncertain of how to navigate. I hereby grant a great amnesty to the realm and declare the inaugural year of the Jianyi era. All soldiers who followed Wang of Taiyuan in battle will be promoted by five ranks; civil officials in the capital will be promoted by two ranks, and military officials by three ranks. Taxes will be suspended nationwide for three years. On the Renyin day, Er Zhu Rong submitted a memorial requesting to posthumously honor the Supreme King as Emperor. The kings and governors who died in the He Yin rebellion were all posthumously honored with the title of San Si, third-rank officials were posthumously honored with the title of Pushe, fifth-rank officials were posthumously granted the title of Governor, and officials below the seventh rank and commoners also received corresponding posthumous honors. The descendants of the deceased may inherit their titles. The Emperor approved the decree.
On the Guimao day, the Emperor appointed the former Grand Commandant Gong, Wang Jiyang, as Grand Teacher and Governor of Sizhou; appointed Wang Haofei of Beihai as Grand Tutor; appointed Li Yanshi as Grand Protector, promoting him to the title of King of Yangping; appointed Yuan Tianmu as Grand Commandant, bestowing upon him the title of King of Shangdang; appointed Yang Chun as Grand Minister; appointed Mu Shao as Grand Minister of Works, leading the Ministry of Personnel, and promoting him to the title of King; appointed Changsun Zhi as General of Cavalry and concurrently Minister of the Three Departments, promoting him to the title of King, later changing his title to King of Fengyi; appointed Yuan Chen as Minister of the Three Departments and Left Pushe of the Ministry of Personnel, granting him the title of King of Weijun; appointed Yuan Xu as King of Donghai; appointed Wang Gong of Guangling as Minister of the Three Departments. On the Jiachen day, the titles of the late Wang of Guangyang Yuan and the late Wang of Anle Jian were restored. Additionally, a number of individuals were conferred the title of King. On the Dingwei day, an edict was proclaimed to lift martial law across the nation. On the Gengxu day, Er Zhu Rong's second son Chaluo was granted the title of King of Liangjun. The Emperor issued a decree allowing the Rouran leader Anagui from adhering to the rites of lord and subject and not to refer to himself as a subject when writing memorials.
This month, the princes of Runan, Xiao Yue, Beihai, Xiao Hao, and Linhuai, Xiao Yu, have all defected to Xiao Yan. At the same time, Yuan Yuanda, the governor of Yingzhou, staged a rebellion in the southern part of the city. On the first day of May, General Er Zhu Rong led a large army to the north, and the court appointed Yuan Luo as the Right Assistant Minister of Personnel and designated him as the ambassador to the Eastern Road, with Yuan Xin, the General of the East, serving as his deputy, to inspect various regions and manage the promotion and demotion of officials, first conducting checks and then reporting back. After a few days, Er Zhu Rong returned to Jinyang, and the emperor bid him farewell at the foot of Mount Mang.
Later, the emperor issued a decree, saying, "Since the Xiaochang period, the laws and regulations have become a mess. Those who are loyal and honest harbor many grievances but have no place to voice them. Some people who work in accordance with the law are suspected and wronged; things that should pose no problem are being excluded and suppressed. Some officials are unfairly appointed, and the taxes and labor demands are excessively burdensome. There are too many such issues to mention. Those who appeal to the court but do not follow the proper procedures will gather at the east gate of Hualin. I will personally hear these false cases and resolve long-standing issues!" Then, the people of Qizhou, led by Jia Hao, revolted, launching a nighttime attack on the city and fleeing at dawn. Fan Zihu, the magistrate of Jinzhou, seized Tangzhou, killed Cui Yuanzhen, the magistrate of Tangzhou, and Li Yun, the executive, and sent their heads to the capital.
The emperor issued another decree to seek talented individuals with high moral standards, education, and fairness in their work. He instructed county magistrates, governors, and inspectors to recommend such individuals and write up reports for submission. If they could recommend three or more qualified candidates, the county magistrates, governors, and inspectors would be promoted by one rank; if the recommended candidates were unqualified, they would be demoted by one rank. Additionally, regarding previous military achievements, the highest title that could be conferred was General of the Expeditionary Forces. From now on, titles could continue to be conferred according to previous standards, allowing for the accumulation of merits for promotion. However, those who had returned with the emperor from the north were not included in this exception; they were not allowed to receive promotions out of turn or rewards outside the standard. Prior to this, Xiao Yan had sent his general Cao Yizong to attack Jingzhou. Therefore, the emperor appointed Fei Mu, General of the Central Army and Minister of Personnel, as envoy with authority and commander of the southern expeditionary forces, ordering him to oversee Jingzhou Inspector Wang Pi in the campaign against Cao Yizong.
On the first day of June, which was Dinghai, the emperor posthumously granted his brother the title of King of Chenliu and Duke of Zhen Ding County. A few days later, on Gengyin, the emperor appointed Li Qian as Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, also granting him high-ranking titles, including Assistant Minister of the Three Departments and Special Advisor. On the day of Xinyou, bad news arrived: Li Zhi, the Inspector of Southern Jingzhou, had rebelled in the southern part of the city.
In the Pingyuan area of Qizhou, Cavalry Attendant Gao Qianrong and his brother led a group of refugees in raising the banner of rebellion, defeating several local military forces. The emperor sent the Eastern Ambassador Yuan Xin to persuade them to surrender, and he was successful in convincing them to yield. This month, Ge Rong, having gone hungry, sent his subordinate Ren Bao south with over thirty thousand chariots to plunder, reaching Qingshui.
On the Gui-Mao day, the emperor appointed Guang, the heir to the King of Gaochang, as General for Pacifying the West and Governor of Guazhou, and also allowed him to inherit the titles of Duke of Tailin County and King of Gaochang. Then, the emperor appointed the Grand Marshal Wang Tianmu of Shangdang as the Grand Commander, tasking him with leading the northeastern troops against Ren Bao. As the war was still ongoing, the emperor left the main hall, canceled dinner, and personally supervised the battle. He also ordered a large-scale recruitment of soldiers, calling on those loyal and courageous individuals.
Those who spoke their minds and offered counsel, those who were willing to sacrifice for justice, those who could provide strategies for the country, and those loyal ministers and righteous men who stood up during times of crisis for the monarch and the state were summoned to Hualin Garden for a face-to-face discussion of national affairs. During this time, Xing Gao, the chief scribe of the Pingbei Prefecture in Youzhou, led over one hundred thousand refugee households from Hebei in a revolt in Beihai, Qingzhou, claiming the title of King of Han and changing the era name to "Tiantong." On the day of Wu-Shen, the emperor appointed Li Shuren as the Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry and as Yitong Sansi, tasking him with leading troops to suppress Xing Gao. The emperor also ordered Ji Ye to recruit recently discharged herdsmen, granting them a ninth-grade official position as long as they signed up for military service.
On the day of Ji-You, the emperor issued a new decree: those with private horses willing to join the army would be promoted by two ranks if they were officials and would be granted actual positions; if they were commoners, they would start at the lowest official rank and be promoted by two ranks, also receiving actual positions. Those with exceptional martial skills would receive similar rewards even without private horses; even if their martial skills weren't the best, as long as they excelled in skills such as archery, horseback riding, and spear throwing, and displayed exceptional courage, they would also start at the lowest official rank and be promoted by one rank, receiving actual positions. Those without ranks would start at the eighth grade and be promoted based on the previous criteria, receiving actual positions.
On the Xinhai Day, the emperor issued an edict saying: "I will personally lead the troops to quell the rebellion in the Yan and Zhao areas. Er Zhu Rong will command one hundred thousand elite troops as the left flank, Tian Mu will lead eighty thousand troops as the vanguard, Yang Chun will command one hundred thousand troops as the right flank, and Mu Shao will lead eighty thousand troops as the rear army." This month, Ge Rong's army retreated to the northern part of Xiangzhou.
On July 14 of a certain year, the emperor issued an order: officials of fourth rank and above who participated in battle would not receive additional promotions; officials of the fourth rank would be promoted one level if they participated. Military officials of third rank and above who participated in battle would allow fourth rank officials to be promoted one level. Officials of fifth rank and below would be handled according to previous regulations; if the total number of times they participated in battle and were promoted exceeded ten, they would be counted as fourth or third rank officials, with a maximum promotion of five levels.
On July 16, the emperor issued another order, appointing Tang Jingxuan, who previously acted as the governor of Dongjun, as the General of Command, allowing him to recruit two thousand displaced residents in Dongjun, cross the Yellow River, and set up camps at will to serve as a lookout force.
This month, King Xianwu of Qi pacified and persuaded the subordinates of Ge Rong in the northwest of Ye City to surrender, with seven self-styled kings and over ten thousand soldiers all surrendering. On July 21, the emperor promoted Er Zhu Rong to the position of General of the Pillar State and concurrently recorded the affairs of the Ministry of Personnel. On July 27, the Ministry of Personnel requested the issuance of standardized official clothing, swords, ribbons, and shoes to all officials. On July 28, Liu Ju from Guangzhou gathered thousands of people to rebel in Puyang, claiming to be the General of Imperial Might. This month, Wan Qichounu from Gaoping Town usurped power and established a new administrative system. This month, King Yù of Linhuai returned to the court from Jiangnan.
In August, Governor Yang Kan of Mount Tai, taking advantage of the terrain, allied with General Wang Bian of Xiao Yan to attack Yanzhou. On August 21, the emperor ordered Grand General Zong Zheng Zhen Sun and the governor of Nanguangzhou, General Zheng Xian, to jointly suppress Liu Ju in Puyang, quickly pacifying the rebellion. The emperor appointed the Chamberlain, General of Cavalry, and King Yù of Linhuai as the Three Lords of the Ceremonial Office. This month, Ge Rong led his army to besiege Xiangzhou.
On the first day of September, the emperor ordered Grand Marshal Gong Yu and King Tianmu of Shangdang to attack Ge Rong, with the army stationed south of Chaoge. On the fifth of September, Yuan Xin, the General of the Eastern Expedition and Governor of Qizhou, was appointed as the King of Pei County. On the eighth of September, Grand General Er Zhu Rong led seventy thousand cavalry and defeated Ge Rong at Fukou, capturing him, while the remaining rebels all surrendered. The five states of Jizhou, Dingzhou, Cangzhou, Yingzhou, and Yinzhu were subdued. On the eleventh of September, following the suppression of Ge Rong's rebellion, the emperor issued a general amnesty and changed the era name to Yong'an, marking its first year. On the seventeenth of September, the emperor appointed Er Zhu Rong, Grand General and King of Taiyuan, as the Grand Chancellor, overseeing military affairs outside of Hebei; Er Zhu Rong's sons, Duke Wen of Pingchang and Duke Wen of Changle, were both promoted to kings; and he appointed Minister Yang Chun as Grand Guardian, and King Hui of Chengyang as Minister.
On the day of Dinghai in October, Er Zhu Rong escorted Ge Rong to the capital. The emperor received him at Changhe Gate, where Ge Rong bowed and apologized, and was then executed in the crowded marketplace. On the day of Bingshen, the emperor appointed General of Pacification, Minister of Rites, and Crown Prince of Taiyuan, Puti, as envoy with special authority, Grand General of Cavalry, and Chancellor, promoting him several ranks. On the day of Dingyou, the emperor allocated ten thousand households to each of the seven counties as follows: Changle in Jizhou, Nanzhao in Xiangzhou, Boling in Dingzhou, Fuyang in Cangzhou, Liaoxi in Pingzhou, Shanggu in Yanzhou, and Yuyang in Youzhou, all granted to Er Zhu Rong, King of Taiyuan, as a reward. On the day of Wuxu, the emperor further conferred upon Er Zhu Rong the title of Grand Preceptor. On the day of Gengxu, the emperor appointed Chamberlain, General of the South, and Duke of Taiyuan, Yu Hui, to concurrently serve as Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, permitting him to lead troops in a campaign against Yang Kan alongside King Xianwu of Qi. On the day of Renzi, Grand Preceptor Ji, King of Jiangyang, passed away. On the day of Guichou, the emperor restored the noble title of the founding marquis of Jiaodong to Li Kan's ancestor, the King of Nanjun.
This month, General Li Shuren, the Cavalry Commander and Minister, went to Weishui to attack Xing Gao, but ended up defeated and returned in shame. However, there was a steady stream of victory reports from Grand General Fei Mu, who achieved a decisive victory over Xiao Yan's army and captured Xiao Yan's general, Cao Yizong, bringing him back to the capital. Xiao Yan's side was also quite tumultuous; he declared Prince Hao of Beihai as the Emperor of Wei, with the era name of Xiaoji, and he even went to Zhi City in Nanyanzhou to fortify his position. On the eleventh day of the Wuyin year, the emperor bestowed titles on the crown prince, Shao, as the King of Pengcheng, and the Prince of Chenliu, Kuan, as the King of Chenliu; Kuan's brother, Gang, was made the King of Fuyang, and Gang's brother, Zhi, was made the King of Linlv. The entire family was granted royal titles. On the Guihai day, King Xianwu of Qi and Acting Chancellor Yu Hui, along with Xu Yan's Acting Chancellor Cui Xiaofen and Grand General Diao Xuan, defeated Yang Kan in battle at Xiaqiu, and Yang Kan fled back to Xiao Yan's side. Yanzhou was also brought under control. On the Wuyin day, the emperor appointed Prince Tian Mu of Shangdang as the Grand General and Chancellor, inheriting the position of Inspector of Bingzhou. He also granted the title of King of Dong'an to former General and Grand Minister Yuan Ning. On the Gengzi day of the twelfth month, the emperor ordered Acting Chancellor Yu Hui to return and attack Xing Gao, with the army stationed at Lixia, where they prepared for battle. This year, the remaining followers of Ge Rong, led by Han Lou, again occupied Youzhou and rebelled.
In the first month of the following year, on the Jiayin day, the commander under Yu Hui, Peng Le, with over two thousand cavalry, defected to Han Lou, compelling Yu Hui to return to court.
On the first day of the second month, which was the Guiwei day, the emperor ordered that all the imperial guards who had earned military honors or had been injured be given priority for promotion. Later, on the Jiawu day, the emperor bestowed the title of Emperor Wenmu upon his father, with the temple name of Suzu, and honored his mother as Empress Wenmu.
During this time, there was an ordinary person in Yanzhou named Wang Qingzu, who actually raised an army in the Shangdang region and proclaimed himself emperor! This was a serious matter; General Er Zhu Rong led troops to capture him. Subsequently, on the Renyin day, the emperor issued an order appointing the Imperial Attendant, Prince Huiye of Jiyin, to concurrently serve as the Minister of the Executive Secretariat, instructing him to supervise Governor Li Delong and Qiu Daqian to ensure the Liang Kingdom is well-defended.
On the Renxu day of March, the emperor again ordered Generals Wang Tianmu of Shangdang and Wang Xianwu of Qi to jointly lead troops to attack Xing Gao. Xing Gao was likely another rebel, requiring the combined efforts of the two generals to deal with him.
On the tenth day of the fourth month of a certain year, the emperor transferred the spirit tablets of Emperor Suzong and Empress Wenmu to the Grand Ancestral Temple, and all court officials received a promotion of one rank. At the same time, a sweeping amnesty was declared, with death sentences reduced to exile, and all punishments below forced labor were exempted. A few days later, the emperor ordered that the soldiers under Er Zhu Rong stationed in Taiyuan be promoted by two ranks. Following this, Wang Tianmu of Shangdang and Wang Xianwu of Qi defeated Xing Gao in Jinan, and after Xing Gao surrendered, he was escorted to the capital for execution in public.
The troublemaker Yuan Hao captured Kaosheng City, taking the executioner Yuan Huiye and Governor Qiu Daqian prisoner. On the first day of May, Yuan Hao occupied the Liang Kingdom. The emperor appointed Yang Yu as the Grand Commander of the Southeast, commanding troops to garrison Xingyang; Er Zhu Shilong to guard Hulao; and Er Zhu Shicheng to guard Wanwa. To strengthen the military, the emperor decreed that anyone who donated private horses to the army would receive promotions and titles. After that, the emperor issued an order to recruit soldiers, just as they had done when mobilizing against Ge Rong. Immediately afterward, he ordered craftsmen and commoners to contribute horses, with rewards based on the amount contributed. Then, the court announced a state of martial law.
As a result, Yuan Hao captured Yingyang and took Yang Yu prisoner. Erzhu Shilong realized the situation was dire, so he directly abandoned Hulao and fled. The emperor led his troops north and first reached Henan. Yuan Hao then attacked Luoyang. The emperor quickly rewarded the meritorious officials, granting Yuan Zhi the title of King of Pingyuan and Yuan Zhi the title of King of Huashan, both were promoted to the rank of Yitong San Si. The good news was that Cui Xiaofen and Diao Xuan defeated Yuan Hao's rear army, killed their commander Hou Xuan, and captured three thousand prisoners. Erzhu Shilong was appointed governor of Xiangzhou to guard Ye City and manage local affairs. The emperor also ordered that officials over ninety in the Shangdang area be appointed as Sanpin county governors, those over eighty be appointed as Sipin county governors, and those over seventy be appointed as Wupin county governors.
Erzhu Rong returned to the army as soon as he met his eldest son and the emperor. Wang Tianmu of Shangdang crossed the Yellow River to join the emperor in Henan. On the sixth day of the sixth month, Fei Mu, the Yitong San Si, was killed by Yuan Hao. The imperial army recaptured Henan, killing Prefect Yuan Xi and Commander Zong Zhengzhensun.
One night in July 534, Erzhu Zhao and Heba Sheng led troops across the river at Xieshi, surprised Yuan Hao and King Yanming of Anfeng, and defeated their army, forcing Yuan Hao to flee in disgrace.
Two days later, the emperor returned to the Hualin Garden imperial palace, entered the Daxia Gate, and then announced a nationwide amnesty, and the whole country celebrated! Erzhu Zhao was promoted for his great achievements, was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry, and also took on the role of Minister of Ceremonies. The emperor also ordered the burning of the previous officials' records of achievements, claiming that many of those records were fabricated! However, if anyone's achievements were real and witnessed by all, they would be rewarded separately. The records of achievements of surrendered foreign envoys, border tribal leaders, and those who had not yet been rewarded for their previous achievements would be spared from burning this time. Soldiers from the north, civil and military officials who accompanied the emperor south, and those who had rebelled at Mazhu were all promoted by five ranks each; officials in Hebei were promoted by two ranks; officials who rebelled in Henan and those who welcomed the emperor, as well as those who escorted the emperor all the way, were also promoted by two ranks.
A few days later on, Erzhu Rong was appointed as Grand General of Tianzhu, with great pomp and circumstance. Then, a soldier named Jiang Feng from Linying County killed Yuan Hao and delivered his head to the capital. Subsequently, Tian Mu was appointed as Grand Preceptor, and Wang Wei of Chengyang was appointed as Grand Marshal.
The emperor then feasted Erzhu Rong, Tian Mu
In the historical context of the early eighth month, significant political and military events unfolded. On the first day of the eighth month, the emperor ordered that all public and private debts, no matter how small, even if just a single penny, must be fully repaid, and debt collection was strictly prohibited. In the same month, Li Yanshi was appointed as the Minister of State. Later, Yuan Tai Rong was appointed as the King of Dongyang. After that, Yang Chun retired from his position. Finally, the emperor appointed Xi Yi as the Grand General Tianzhu, and entrusted the likes of Erzhu Rong and Tianmu.
In September, Hou Yuan defeated and killed Han Lou in Jizhou, and Youzhou was brought under control. However, Wanqiu Chunv captured Dongqin City and killed the governor Gao Zilang.
In October, Xiao Zan was appointed Minister of State. In November, Dexing sent someone from Yingzhou to surrender. The emperor ordered all officials working outside the capital to return, with the exact timing to be announced later. After that, a batch of officials' positions were adjusted, with Prince Chengyang Hui, Xiao Zan, and Zhangsun Zhi respectively serving as Grand Preceptor, Grand Commandant, and Minister of State. In December, Zhang Jingyong, Li Lingqi, and Xiao Jinming all surrendered to Xiao Yan's forces.
In the third year of January, Zhangsun Shou, Yuan Jun, and others sent troops to join forces with Yuan Jingxia to attack Yan Shixin, which led to Yan Shixin's death. Xiao Wan, He Nanwei, and Chen Chou under Xiao Yan's command were defeated and fled; Xiao Wan was killed, and more than ten thousand people were captured. In the same month, Lu Wenxin, Wang She, and others killed the governor Yuan Taibin and rebelled, taking control of the city. Therefore, the court appointed Fan Zigu as the Governor, leading Jia Xianzhi and Yan Sida to suppress them. In February, the rebellion in Dongxuzhou was finally suppressed.
In March, Weichi Pusa under Wanqiu Chounu's command attacked Qizhou and was defeated by He Bayue and Zhu Hundao Yuan.
On the 14th of April, a Ding Si day, the emperor appointed the Shizhong (Imperial Attendant), Grand Commandant, and Prince of Danyang, Xiao Zan, to serve as Commissioner and Commander-in-Chief of the military forces in the three provinces of Qi, Ji, and Yan. That's quite a few titles! On the 14th, a Ding Mao day, the Governor of Yongzhou, Erzhu Tianguang, defeated Chounu and Xiao Baoyuan in Anding, captured them, and sent them to the capital. On the 22nd, a Jia Xu day, Guanzhong was pacified, and the emperor granted a general amnesty! Chounu was beheaded in the capital, while Xiao Baoyuan was executed in the Office of the Camel Drivers. On the 7th of the 6th month, a Wu Wu day, the emperor ordered those officials in the court who were related to the Hu clan to be demoted and returned to the common people. Oh, and one more thing, the country of Yeda sent a lion! This month, the son of the White Horse Dragon, Hu Wang Qingyun, actually proclaimed himself emperor in Shuiluo City and appointed himself a bunch of officials!
On the 7th of the 7th month, a Bing Zi day, Erzhu Tianguang captured Shuiluo City, captured Qingyun, and massacred all 17,000 residents of the city! On the 17th, a Gui Si day, Xiao Yanmin, Ge Qiu, and Bu Tangshi led their fortresses and armies to surrender to the court. On the 20th, a Geng Zi day, the General of Chariots and Cavalry and Yitong Sanqi, Li Shuren, was demoted to a commoner for committing an offense. On the 10th of the 9th month, a Xin Mao day, the General o
Some time ago during the Xiaochang era, the country was in chaos. The emperor was young, women were in power, and the country had no strong leadership. Erzhu Rong raised troops from Jinyang, claiming to fight for justice. He gathered various vassals at Mengjin to conquer the world together, and at first, he achieved quite a bit. However, his ambition was insatiable, and he quickly lost control. During the He Yin Incident, he committed atrocities, resulting in a bloodbath and the extermination of the royal family’s relatives. He purged both the court and the surrounding areas, abusing his power and nearly bringing the country to ruin! At that moment, the situation was dire, and there was no time to investigate his responsibility.
Later, Ge Rong rebelled, and Erzhu Rong led troops to suppress the rebellion in the south, trying to make up for his past misdeeds. When Yuan Hao attacked Luoyang, he led troops north to defend the king, once again making great achievements. In terms of accomplishments, he could indeed atone for his past sins. However, his power continued to swell, living in wealth and luxury. Logically, he should have been satisfied, but his ambition was like a bottomless pit, never satisfied. As things calmed down, he began to disregard the emperor, becoming increasingly outrageous. Those minor offenses were hardly worth mentioning; even if you wrote down all his crimes on bamboo slips, you wouldn’t finish!
He pretended to be loyal to the court on the surface, but secretly plotted wrongdoing, disregarding everyone and coveting the throne. He even wanted to destroy the crown, overthrow the court, and completely eliminate dissenters! Even the heavens could not tolerate it, and the people were full of complaints. Many officials who were oppressed by him came to report secretly. Therefore, he must be dealt with, and his crimes are unforgivable! There is also Yuan Tianmu, who originally belonged to the royal family and was not particularly well-known, but later participated in some righteous causes. However, he could not remain loyal to the court; but instead he wavered, siding with Erzhu Rong and helping him in his wicked schemes. Such people are simply unforgivable! They should all be punished and face the consequences.
Now that the mastermind has been eliminated, the heavens are satisfied, and the people are at peace, so there should be a general amnesty!
General Xi Yi and former Yanzhou Inspector Cui Yuan were sent to guard the northern central region. That night, the Minister Erzhu Shilong and his wife Princess Rong, with the Rong clan's army, set Xiyang Gate ablaze, then retreated to Heyin to set up camp. The next day, on the Ji Hai day, they attacked Heqiao, captured Xi Yi and the others on the way, and executed them; they occupied the city of Beizhong and then advanced towards the capital. The Emperor swiftly issued an edict appointing Erzhu Tianguang as the attendant and the inspector of Yongzhou, Guangzong County, as well as other military positions, and appointed Yang Jin as the envoy and supervisor of various military affairs in the provinces of Bing, Si, Yan, Heng, Yun, Shuo, Xian, Fen, and Wei, as well as the commander-in-chief of the northern region, to reorganize the forces in Bing and Si provinces.
On the day of Geng Zi, the Emperor issued another edict, summoning the veteran representatives of the Dai Kingdom to gather at Hualin Garden, stating his intention to personally select and promote them. At the same time, he appointed General Gao Ganyong as the attendant and the ambassador of Hebei, to enlist brave and capable soldiers.
On the first day of October, the emperor ordered the title of King of Nanyang to be conferred upon Yuan Baoju, Yuan Xiu as King of Pingyang, and Yuan Dan as King of Changle. He also promoted Li Shuren's official rank, allowing him to continue leading troops against Er Zhu Shilong. Wei Junwang Yuan Chen was renamed Zhao Junwang, and his son Zhao Junwang Yuan Zhi was renamed Pingchang Wang. Li Qian died. On the fourteenth, the court ordered the recruitment of troops to attack Heqiao, rewarding them with silk and official positions based on merit. On the fifteenth, a prince was born, and a general amnesty was declared, elevating all civil and military officials by two ranks. Wei Langen was appointed as the governor of Hebei, responsible for managing Xiangzhou, Yinzhao, and Sanzhou, all of which were under his command. On the twenty-second, Li Miao used fire boats to burn down Heqiao, and Er Zhu Shilong fled. On the twenty-third, the emperor ordered Yuan Zigong to lead ten thousand infantry and cavalry to depart from the west, while Yang Yu led generals including Li Kanxi with eight thousand valiant soldiers from the east to jointly attack Er Zhu Shilong. Yuan Zigong continued to garrison Dangu in the Taihang Mountains. Er Zhu Shilong arrived at Jianzhou, where Inspector Lu Xizhi mounted a defense, which resulted in the city's breach, and all the people inside were killed, with only Lu Xizhi managing to escape. Yuan Xiangong was appointed as the inspector of Jinzhou and concurrently served as the Left Minister, responsible for the campaign in the west, commanding Xue Shanle and others. On the twenty-sixth, the emperor ordered that due to Er Zhu Shilong's rebellion, the defenders in He Nei were promoted two ranks, and the soldiers were exempted from taxes for three years. On the thirty-first, Er Zhu Shilong halted at Gaodu in Jianxing, where Er Zhu Zhao rushed from Jinyang to meet him. They crowned Longguang King Yuan Ye as their leader, granted amnesty to their troops, renamed the era Jianming, and all soldiers were promoted by four ranks. Er Zhu Zhongyuan, the Xuzhou inspector, rebelled and led his troops to attack the capital.
On the first day of November, the Emperor ordered the appointment of Zheng Xianhu as Grand General and Grand Marshal, to assist Li Kanxi in his campaign against Erzhu Zhongyuan. On the third day, Changsun Zhi was appointed as Grand Minister of War, and Prince Yuyu of Linhuai was appointed as Minister of Works. On the fourth day, Erzhu Tianguang was granted the title of king and permitted to establish his own court. On the fifth day, Erzhu Zhongyuan captured Xiyanzhou and captured Governor Wang Yan. On the seventeenth day of November, He Baosheng was appointed as the Commander of the Eastern Expedition. On the twentieth day, Zheng Xianhu was also appointed as the Left Deputy of the Imperial Secretariat, becoming the head of the Secretariat, and together with He Baosheng, they attacked Erzhu Zhongyuan. On the twenty-first day, the Emperor ordered the removal of Wei Langen from his position in the Secretariat and appointed Xue Tan as the Deputy of the Northern Road, on standby for deployment. The Governor of Yuzhou, Yuan Chongli, killed Yin Daohe, who was acting on behalf of Yuzhou, and took control of Yuzhou. On the twenty-third day, He Baosheng and Erzhu Zhongyuan fought east of Huatai, with Erzhu Zhongyuan fleeing the scene after suffering defeat.
It is said that on the first day of the twelfth lunar month, Erzhu Zhao led his troops to attack Dangu, where Commandant Cui Bofeng was slain, and Commandants Yang Wenyi and Shi Wulong surrendered to Erzhu Zhao, while Grand Commander Yuan Zigong made his escape. The next day, Erzhu Zhao and Erzhu Dulv led cavalry to cross the river at Fuping Ferry and launched a surprise attack on the capital. The attack was so sudden that the Imperial Guards were caught off guard. The Emperor quickly fled from Yunlong Gate. Erzhu Zhao cornered the Emperor into fleeing to Yongning Temple, where he killed the Emperor's son, as well as the Minister of Works, Prince Linhuai Yuan Yu, and the Left Deputy, Prince Fanyang Yuan Hui. On that day, Yuan Ye declared a general amnesty. Erzhu Dulv stayed behind in the capital to maintain order. The next day, Erzhu Zhao moved the Emperor to Jinyang; and on the following day, the Emperor passed away in a three-tiered Buddhist temple in Jinyang, at the age of only twenty-four. Erzhu Zhao also had Prince Yuan Kuan of Chenliu executed.
This month, Gedouling Bufan and the fallen Han Chang from Hexi suffered a significant defeat at the hands of Erzhu Zhao in Xiurong. A man named Zhao Luozhou occupied the West City in Qizhou and led a rebellion, also supporting Erzhu Zhao. Prince Xiao Zan, the Governor of Danyang, was so frightened that he abandoned the city and fled. Zhao Xiuyan, the Governor of Nanyang, captured Li Yanzhi, the Governor of Jingzhou, and took control of Jingzhou's affairs himself. Later, in the second year of Zhongxing, he was posthumously titled Emperor Wuhuai, and in the first year of Taichang, he was posthumously titled Emperor Xiaozhuang, with the temple name Jingzong. In November, he was buried in Jingling.
Historical records indicate that from the end of Xiaochang, the Wei Dynasty was in turmoil, facing external invasions and internal rebellions, with the imperial throne nearly collapsing. Emperor Zhuang (Yuanzi You) secretly sought to change the situation by recruiting loyalists. Despite the critical situation at the time, he ultimately managed to save the country. The rebels were subdued, but power shifted to the Erzhu clan, who then abused their authority. It was a time when Erzhu Zhao was running out of strategies, and he should have acted with caution and diligence. However, he ignored long-term strategies and instead lived in fear of assassination, failed in planning, made poor appointments, harbored suspicions of others, and indiscriminately executed innocents, which ultimately led to his downfall. Alas! Have rebellions by people like Erzhu Zhao only occurred at the end of the Zhou Dynasty and the end of the Jin Dynasty? And what was the outcome? The temple name of Emperor Gaozu (Emperor Xiaowen) is no longer honored, while Emperor Wuxuan (Yuanke) still receives temple sacrifices. The fates of these three emperors illustrate that fortunes are not everlasting!
