Zhang Shi, courtesy name Anxun, was from the Wushi clan of Anding. His father, Zhang Gui, was a significant figure who held the position of Gentleman of the Imperial Horse. At the time, the Jin Dynasty was in chaos, and Zhang Gui secretly sought to establish his own authority in the Hexi region. He requested the court to appoint him as the Governor of Liangzhou, and the court appointed him to numerous official titles, including holding the imperial decree, Protector of the Qiang, and Governor of Liangzhou. During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, Zhang Gui even sent local delicacies to the court. Later, the Jin Dynasty promoted him to the title of General of Anxi and Marquis of Anle, with a fief of one thousand households. In the fifth year of the Yongjia era, he was appointed General of Zhenxi and Commander of military affairs in Longyou, and was granted the title of Marquis of Bacheng. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted again to Grand General of Cavalry and Chariots and held the position of Minister of State, equivalent to the Three Excellencies. After Emperor Min ascended the throne, Zhang Gui was further promoted to the position of Minister of Works and granted the title of Duke of Xiping, with a fief of three thousand households. He later served as Grand Minister and Chief of State, ultimately becoming the Governor of Liangzhou.
Zhang Gui was getting old and in poor health, so he let his son Zhang Shi take over as the General in Charge of the Frontier to assist him in managing Liangzhou. Not long after, Zhang Gui passed away due to chronic cold illness. His two sons took over the province's affairs and kept the news under wraps, leaving everyone in the dark about the situation. Zhang Gui had some knowledge of astronomy, and every time there was trouble with bandits in the province, he would lie in bed gazing at the sky and say, "It's all good; they won't cause any trouble." And he turned out to be right. After Zhang Shi succeeded his father in managing Liangzhou, Emperor Min appointed him as Envoy with Authority, Commander of the Military Affairs of Liangzhou, General of the Western Middle, Governor of Liangzhou, and Protector of Qiang Cavalry, as well as Duke of Xiping. Later, when Liu Yao captured Chang'an, Zhang Shi declared himself Imperial Attendant, Minister of Works, Grand General, and Governor of Liangzhou, making decisions on his own. At that time, the world was in chaos, and around 80 to 90 percent of the population in Guanzhong perished, but Liangzhou remained safe and sound. Because of his strong influence, Zhang Shi grew increasingly arrogant and tyrannical. In the fourth year of Emperor Pingwen, he was killed by his own subordinates, including Yan Sha. Rumors circulated that "the snake's cannon, the snake's cannon, the head of the public falls to the ground without feeling." A headless figure that looked like a person appeared on the beam of Zhang Shi's house and lingered for a long time before disappearing. Zhang Shi disliked this and was killed shortly afterward. His brother Zhang Mao succeeded him as the Governor of Liangzhou.
Zhang Mao, known as Chengxun, also gave himself a slew of official titles, including Envoy with Authority, Commander of the Military Affairs of Liangzhou, General Pacifying the West, Protector of Qiang Cavalry, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Xiping. He also had over
Once upon a time, there was a man named Zhang Jun, whose courtesy name was Gongting. He gave himself a bunch of official titles, such as Grand Commandant, Grand General, Protector of the Qiang Tribes, Governor of Liang Province, and Duke of Xiping. He even sent people to the court to present tribute. During the reign of Emperor Yang of Sui, a man from Longxi named Xin Yan surrendered to him with Fuhan, expanding Zhang Jun's territory to the Henan region, all the way to Dida, where he ruled in conjunction with Shi Le.
Zhang Jun built a city to the south, and inside it, he constructed a dazzlingly opulent palace called Qianguang Hall. He also built palaces on the east, south, west, and north sides of the city. The eastern one was the Yiyang Green Hall, the southern one was the Zhuoyang Red Hall, the western one was the Zhengde White Hall, and the northern one was the Xuanwu Black Hall. The clothing and items in the palaces were matched according to color and season, demonstrating a keen eye for detail. Various government offices next to the palaces were also distinguished by color. His extravagant spending made life miserable for the common folks, who grumbled incessantly.
Zhang Jun also planned to farm rocky land, but his subordinate, a military officer named Suo Fu, quickly advised him, "You shouldn't go against nature or mess with the natural order. Look at ancient figures such as Hou Ji who sowed various grains without cultivating rocky land, or Yu the Great who managed water without going against the flow. If you now want to turn rocks into farmland, transport soil to grow crops, it would cost a hundred stones to farm each acre, but you'd only get three stones back. It's a losing game no matter how you look at it, and I am truly worried." When Zhang Jun heard this, he got really mad and dropped Suo Fu down to a small-time official in Yiwu.
Later, at the site of the broken Hu, a stone fell from the sky, scorched and shattered, producing a sound like drums that echoed for seven hundred miles! At the spot where the stone fell, black smoke billowed from the ground, thick and heavy, and the smoke twisted like a red whirlwind. Zhang Jun was unruly in his youth, often sneaking out at night to cause trouble in the city, and the local youth picked up his bad habits. He was also particularly greedy, constantly scheming to annex the Qinlong region. He lent grain and cloth to the common people, charging double the interest after a year; if anyone failed to pay, he would sell their land and homes.
First, let's carve up Liangzhou: Wuwei, Wuxing, Xiping, Zhangye, Jiuquan, Jiankang, Xihai, Xijun, Huanghe, Jin Xing, and Guangwu make up eleven counties to form Liangzhou, with my son Chonghua appointed as governor. Jin Xing, Jincheng, Wushi, Nan'an, Yongjin, Daxia, Wucheng, and Hanzhong make up eight counties to form Hezhou, with Zhang Guan as the governor. Dunhuang, Jinchang, Gaochang, along with the Protector of the Western Regions, the Wujixiao Wei, and the Great Protector of Yumen, these three counties and camps together formed Shazhou, with Yang Xuan as the governor. As for me, I secretly elevated myself to Grand Commander, Great General, and Acting King of Liang, while overseeing these three states. Then I established a bunch of official positions: ritual scholar, physician, nobleman, attendant, and envoy, etc., with titles similar to those of the court, just slightly modified. I also initiated the six-ritual dance, employing leopard-tail banners, carriages, equestrian attire, and flags, all exactly like the emperor.
Guibao Liangzhou, Yin Dan relied on his own power to establish a foothold in Liangzhou. However, I was wary of the Yin family's strong influence, so I forced Yin Dan's brother, Yin Jian, to commit suicide, which severely tarnished my reputation among the populace. Later, I died from illness, and by the time of my death, Yin Jian had already received an official title and nobility from me. This happened in the ninth year of the founding of the country. My son Chonghua succeeded my position.
Chonghua, whose courtesy name was Tailin, unofficially awarded himself the titles of Imperial Envoy, Grand General, Duke of Taiwei, Protector of the Qiang, Duke of Liangzhou, Duke of Xiping, and Prince of Liang. Shi Hu sent Ma Qiu to lead troops across the river to build a city at Changzui, and Liangzhou became tense. Sima Zhang Dan recommended the chief scribe Xie Ai to Chonghua, who appointed him. As soon as Xie Ai took action, he killed Ma Qiu's general Qi Mu'an and others, capturing and executing fifteen thousand people. Chonghua also sent people to the court to pay tribute, while he proclaimed himself Chancellor and King of Liang, concurrently holding the governorships of Qin, Yong, and Liang. Later, Chonghua died, and his son Yao Ling ascended to the throne.
At that time, Yao Ling was just ten years old. He declared himself Grand Marshal and Governor of Liangzhou, and appointed Chonghua's brother Zuo as General of the Guard to assist in governance. This Zuo first gained the favor of Chonghua's mother, Madam Ma, then secretly told her that Yao Ling was too young and that an older person should take charge, to which Madam Ma agreed. As a result, Yao Ling was deposed, and Zuo seized control. Not long after, Yao Ling was killed by Zuo.
Zuo, styled Taibo, after becoming the leader, named himself Grand General, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Liang, acting with complete impunity! He committed heinous acts, even assaulting the unmarried daughters of Emperor Chonghua. The common people of Liangzhou were deeply dissatisfied and wrote a poem titled "The Weeds on the Wall" to express their dissatisfaction. It is said that when Emperor Chonghua was on the verge of death, many locusts suddenly appeared outside the Anchang Gate, crawling along the walls. The Captain Chang Ju advised Emperor Chonghua, saying, "Locusts are Zuo's nickname, and they are crawling backwards; this is a terrible omen! We must quickly eliminate this calamity!" However, Emperor Chonghua said, "This is a sign of prosperous descendants; how could this possibly be a disaster? Only a few days prior, I dreamed that Zuo succeeded me and assisted the Crown Prince, just like the Duke of Zhou assisted King Cheng!" In the end, Zuo ultimately killed Emperor Chonghua.
He proclaimed himself Liang Wang, built ancestral shrines, and established a large number of official positions. He even changed the era name to "Year of Peace" and sent people to pay tribute. Later, he conferred even more royal titles upon himself, acting lawlessly! He committed indiscriminate killings in Jiuquan, killing Xie Ai. The official Ding Qi advised him not to be so arrogant, but ended up having his head chopped off. He abolished many sacrificial rites, resulting in the desolation of the land. He also established five deputy generals specifically to oversee the people's immoral behavior. He decreed that officials below the fourth rank were forbidden from wearing silk, and that commoners were forbidden from having slaves, riding horses, or using carriages, causing widespread resentment among the populace. Later, a strange light appeared in the sky, like a canopy, with a sound like thunder, terrifying the townsfolk. Frost even fell in midsummer! A deity claiming to be "Xuanming" appeared, speaking to people, and Zuo went to consult him every night, believing that the deity could bring him benefits. Everyone could see that Zuo was heading for disaster, but he only became more oppressive and tyrannical.
The following year, Zhang Guan, the governor of Hezhou, raised an army to rebel against Zuo, and the valiant general Song Hun also came to help. Song Hun attacked Guzang, and Zuo sent the palace attendant Suo Fu to fight Zhang Guan. A man named Wang Luan said, "This battle is sure to be lost!" He also listed three major crimes of Zuo. Zuo accused him of spreading malicious words to confuse the public and had him killed. Before his death, Wang Luan said, "After I die, the outside army will suffer defeat, and the king will be killed in the palace!" Zuo did not believe him at all. Song Hun reached the city of Guzang, and General Zhao Chang and his men opened the city gates to welcome Song Hun. Once inside the palace, they shouted "Long live!" Zuo believed Zhao Chang and his men could defeat Song Hun and came out to reward them. As a result, Zhao Chang stabbed Zuo in the forehead with a spear, and Zuo hurriedly fled, and was ultimately killed by the cook Xu Hei, with his body thrown by the roadside. The townsfolk all cheered "Long live!" Zhang Guan and others supported the young son of Emperor Chonghua, Xuanjing, to inherit the throne.
Xuan Jing, styled Yuan An, proclaimed himself as the envoy with the authority to command, the Grand Commander, the General, and the King of Liang. He appointed Zhang Guan as the Minister of State and the Governor of Liangzhou, in charge of government affairs; he appointed Song Hun as the Deputy Minister of Personnel.
Li Guan was particularly suspicious and strongly opinionated, rewarding and punishing solely based on his whims, completely disregarding any rules or systems. An official named Yin Xun advised him, saying, "A tiger can eat meat just three days after birth; it doesn’t need anyone to teach it!" The implication was that officials should adhere to principles and not rely solely on personal preferences. Consequently, no one dared to offer him advice again.
Later, Li Guan rode out of the city with Xuan Jing, and the three bridges north of the city had all collapsed. Li Guan was extremely angry and began to hand out money every day to win people over, but at the same time, murders occurred daily in the city, showing no signs of stopping. Nearly 90% of households were thinking about rebellion. Stranger still, a pond suddenly appeared on the large tomb in the Eastern Garden; the vast eastern marsh caught fire, burning for several miles. Li Guan then killed those like Niu Xuan, who had previously been his enemies, claiming he was doing it to quell the disasters of water and fire. He even planned to kill everyone with the surname Song and then depose Xuan Jing to take the throne hi
Song Hun was appointed as the General of the Cavalry and the Minister of State by Xuan Jing. Unfortunately, Song Hun fell ill and passed away shortly thereafter, and his brother Song Xuan'an took over the administration. During this time, there was a severe drought, and everyone was praying for rain. Xuan'an wanted to go to Shishan to pray for rain, but his brother's name clashed with the era name of Emperor Shizong. Some said, "It is said that those who climb this mountain will suffer the ruin of their families." Xuan'an retorted, "That's nonsense!" He went ahead and rode up the mountain, but his horse got spooked and fell, injuring its leg. Mysteriously, the pillars of the Yushi Prefecture caught fire and snapped; some said, "'Pillar' has wood on the left and master on the right; the character for 'Song' also has wood in it. The wood has burned, indicating the decline of the Song family, while the master can be preserved. This is a sign of impending disaster, and we need to be careful!" Additionally, Xuan'an's five horses lost their manes and tails overnight; some said, "'Tail' has 'corpse' underneath; the hair is gone, but the corpse remains. This is a sign of extinction!" Xuan'an, however, said, "Good luck and bad luck are up to fate; what can I do about it?" Before long, Xuan'an's general Zhang Yong rose in rebellion and killed him, wiping out the whole Song clan. Earlier, there were rumors saying, "The one who exterminated the Song family is Tian Tzu (referring to Zhang Yong)."
Zhang Yong, also called Zhang Ye, was infamous for his brutal punishments, and there were those both inside and outside the court who wanted to rebel. Seizing the opportunity of public discontent, Zhang Yong's son Zhang Tianxi raised an army and killed Zhang Yong, becoming the General of Champions and assisting in the administration. Xuan Jing's stepmother, Guo Shi, felt that Zhang Tianxi had too much power and hatched a plot with distant relatives of the Zhang family to eliminate him. After the plot was exposed, Zhang Tianxi killed Xuan Jing and proclaimed himself emperor.
It is said that there was a man named Liu Tianxi, whose courtesy name was Chunjia and who was nicknamed Gongchun. He held high official positions, such as Grand Commandant, Grand Governor, Grand General, Protector of the Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, and Prince of Liang, not missing any of them. This man is like a fire burning in the mud, appearing fierce on the outside, but actually rotten to the core. He was arrogant and licentious, showing no concern for the lives of ordinary people. On New Year's Day, he got completely drunk with his young wife, and when the ministers came to pay their respects, he didn't even glance at his own mother. One of his subordinates, Chief Clerk Zhang Lv, couldn't bear to see this, advised him kindly, and even asked him to go see the emperor, but Liu Tianxi paid him no mind. Later, Fu Jian sent the general Gou Chang to attack Liangzhou, and Liangzhou was quickly defeated, and Liu Tianxi surrendered directly to Gou Chang. Earlier, a folk song was circulating: "Liu's new wife sifts rice, Shi's new wife cooks millet, the ladle is clean, the sifter is Zhang'er, and Zhang'er eats with his mouth wide open." At that time, kids in Guzang and other counties sang this song, which told of Liu Yao and Shi Hu's failed attempts to attack Liangzhou, and ultimately, Fu Jian conquered Liangzhou. After Liu Tianxi arrived in Chang'an, Fu Jian made him a Minister. Later, Fu Jian suffered a defeat in Shou Chun, and Liu Tianxi fled to Jiankang.
Let's talk about Qifu Guoren of the Xianbei people. He was from Longxi. His ancestors migrated south from the northern steppes. For five generations, his family had been annexing other tribes, and their power grew stronger and stronger. His father, Qifu Sifan, led the tribe to surrender to Fu Jian and was granted the title of Southern Chanyu (a title for tribal leaders) and also served as General of the West, guarding Yongshichuan Valley. After Qifu Sifan died, Qifu Guoren inherited his position. Later, when Fu Jian attacked Sima Changming, he appointed Qifu Guoren as the Front General, allowing him to lead the cavalry in the vanguard. After Fu Jian's defeat, Qifu Guoren's uncle Butui rebelled in Longyou, and Fu Jian sent Qifu Guoren to suppress him. To everyone's surprise, Butui welcomed the opportunity and surrendered to Qifu Guoren, gathering people from various tribes and quickly amassing more than a hundred thousand troops. By the time of our founding Emperor Taizu, Qifu Guoren was granted the titles of Grand Commander, Great General, and Great Chanyu, and he also served as the governor of Qinzhou and Hezhou, adopting the era name Jianyi. He established official offices, dividing the territory into eleven commanderies, and built the capital in Tongshi City.
After Guoren died, his brother Qianguo took over all affairs, bestowing upon himself the titles of Grand Commander, Great General, Great Chanyu, and King of Henan, and changed the era name to Taichu, then appointed a bunch of officials. Initially, they lived in Dengguo, but later moved to Jincheng. The southern gate of Jincheng collapsed, and Qianguo was quite unhappy, so he moved to Yuanchuan. Shortly after, he was defeated by Yao Xing and fled to Fuhan, and eventually surrendered to Yao Xing. Yao Xing appointed him as the Inspector of Hezhou and granted him the title of Marquis of Guiyi. After some time, he returned to Yuanchuan.
This time, Qianguo had a change of heart, betrayed Yao Xing, and declared himself King of Qin, setting up a bureaucratic system and changing the era name to Gengshi. He also sent people to seek aid, and Taizong agreed. Later, Qianguo went into hiding in the Wuxi region, where he was assassinated and was subsequently killed by his nephew Gongfu. His son Chipan killed Gongfu and became the leader himself.
Chì Pán, who called himself Grand General and King of Henan, changed his reign title to Yongkang. Later, he attacked Tūfā Yùtán and defeated him in Lèdū, then secretly proclaimed himself King of Qin, appointed officials, and changed his reign title to Jianhong. After that, he sent his Minister of Works Mò Hú and General of Archers Qǐfú Yòuyín with two hundred pounds of gold to offer tribute, requesting the court's assistance in fighting Hèlián Chāng, and Emperor Shìzǔ agreed. When Emperor Shìzǔ had subdued Tǒngwàn, Chì Pán sent his uncle General Píngyuán Nítóu and his brother General Ānyuǎn Dùzhì to the capital, and also sent Deputy Minister of the Imperial Secretariat Wáng Kǎi and Chancellor's Assistant Wū Nètián to present local products as tribute. After Chì Pán died, his son Mùmò succeeded him.
As night fell, this person named Mùmò, styled Ānshíbá, later changed the reign title to Yǒnghóng. His Minister of Works Xīn Jìn from Longxi once played with Mùmò in the back garden, and while playing with a slingshot to shoot birds, accidentally injured Mùmò's mother's face. For this, Mùmò killed Xīn Jìn's entire family, which included twenty-seven members from five families.
Mùmò's brother Shūluó wanted to have an affair with Mùmò's left consort Tūfā. When Mùmò found out, he immediately put a stop to it. Fearing accountability, Shūluó colluded with his uncle Shíyǐn to kill Mùmò. Tūfā secretly took the keys from the residence to help Shūluó open the door, but took the wrong keys by mistake
The late dynasty's rule was cruel and tyrannical, leading to internal and external troubles, and the common people revolted one after another, all yearning for chaos in the world. Later, Helian Ding forced him into a corner, and Mu Mo had no choice but to send Wang Kai and Wunetian to seek help from the Northern Wei Emperor Taiwu, Tuoba Tao. Tuoba Tao agreed to grant him land west of Anding and east of Pingliang as his fief. Mu Mo then set the city ablaze, destroying its treasures, and led fifty thousand households to flee to Gaotian Valley, only to be blocked by Helian Ding and had to retreat to Nanan. Tuoba Tao sent someone to welcome him, and Mu Mo's guard general, Jibi Gu, advised him not to move. Mu Mo followed his advice. Helian Ding sent his Northern Ping Duke Wei Dai to lead ten thousand troops to attack Nanan, where famine struck, leading to desperate acts of cannibalism. In the fourth year of the Shenwu era, Mu Mo surrendered with more than five hundred clan members and was escorted to Shanggui.
Tufa Wugu was a Xianbei person; his family had migrated from the northern frontier to Hexi for eight generations. The land they occupied extended east to the wheat fields and Qiantun, west to Shiluo, south to the Jiao River, and north to the edge of the desert. After Tufa Wugu's ancestor, Pigu, died, his son Shoutian succeeded him. His mother gave birth to him while wrapped in a quilt, which is why he was named Tufa, as it means covered by a quilt in their language. His fifth-great-grandfather, Shuji, was a formidable figure with great strategy. During the Taishi era of the Jin dynasty, he killed the Qinzhou governor Hu Lie at Wandui and defeated the Liangzhou governor Su Yu at Jinshan. During the Xianning years, he also beheaded the Liangzhou governor Yang Xin at Danling, completely occupying Liangzhou. He was eventually killed by his subordinate Megu, and his brother Wuwan succeeded him. Wuwan's great-grandson Sifu Qian gradually rose to power and was Tufa Wugu's father.
Wu Gu died, and his younger brother Li Lugu took over. At first, Lu Guang appointed Wu Gu as the Governor of Yizhou and the King of the Left. But Wu Gu self-appointed many titles, such as Grand Commander, Grand General, Grand Chanyu, and King of Xiping, and even gave himself the era name "Taichu." During the Tianxing era, he changed his name to King Wuwei, relocated to Ledu, established numerous official positions, including Cavalry General, and divided counties. Eventually, while drunk, Wu Gu fell off his horse and injured his ribs, jokingly saying, "I almost made Lu Guang and his son happy!" He died shortly thereafter.
His younger brother Li Lugu took over, who held the titles of Governor of Liangzhou and Duke of Xiping at that time. He relocated his capital to Xiping, changed the era name to "Jianhe," and sent envoys to offer tribute. He sent his younger brother Natan, the Cavalry General, to resist Lu Zuan. Lu Zuan's army was elite, and Li Lugu's soldiers were frightened. Natan sat calmly on a Hu bed to calm everyone down. Then, he donned his armor and charged at Lu Zuan, defeating him and killing over two thousand of Lu Zuan's troops. Li Lugu also secretly established numerous official positions, ranging from Prime Minister to various others.
Li Lu died, and Nuo Tan took over, self-proclaimed King of Liang. He moved back to Le Du, with the era name "Hong Chang," and sent people to pay tribute. During the Tian Ci years, Nuo Tan pretended to surrender to Yao Xing, who appointed him as the governor of Liangzhou, which allowed Nuo Tan to seize Gu Zang. Later, he fought against Ju Qu Meng Xun at Jun Shi but was defeated by Meng Xun. He was also defeated by He Lian Qu Gai at Yang Wu and fled to Nan Shan with a few thousand cavalry, barely escaping capture. Worried about attacks from both sides, he relocated everyone within a three-hundred-mile radius to Gu Zang. Seizing the opportunity, Yao Xing sent Yao Bi to lead troops to the outskirts of Gu Zang. Nuo Tan drove his cattle and sheep to the wilderness, and Yao Bi's army seized the cattle and sheep. Nuo Tan took the opportunity to counterattack, scoring a major victory against Yao Bi, who had to retreat. Nuo Tan then promoted himself again as the King of Liang, set up various official positions, and changed the era name to "Jia Ping."
In the Yong Xing era, he led troops to attack Ju Qu Meng Xun but was defeated by Meng Xun at Qiong Quan, fleeing back to Gu Zang on horseback by himself. Fearing annihilation by Meng Xun, he moved to Le Du again. Meng Xun surrounded Le Du, and Nuo Tan built houses and farmed within the city, preparing for a prolonged resistance. Later, he sent his son Bao Zhou as a hostage to Meng Xun, who subsequently withdrew his forces.
In the beginning, Nuo Tan led his cavalry against the Yifu tribe and captured many prisoners. Meanwhile, Qifu Chipan seized the opportunity to launch a surprise attack on Ledu City, capturing the city and taking Nuo Tan's son Hutai, along with many others, as prisoners. Upon hearing this news, Nuo Tan was deeply distressed and exclaimed, "If I go back and surrender to Qifu Chipan, won't I become his slave? How can I bear the thought of my wife and children being in his hands!" He then led the remaining soldiers westward, but his men soon scattered. Nuo Tan sighed deeply and lamented, "Meng Xun and Chipan have both submitted to me before, and now I have to go back and surrender to them. This is utterly humiliating! The world is so vast, yet I have nowhere to turn; it’s truly unbearable!" In the end, he let out a deep sigh and said, "I’m getting old; rather than living like this, I’d rather see my wife and children one last time before I die." So, he surrendered to Qifu Chipan, who welcomed him quite courteously and appointed him as the General of Cavalry. However, a little over a year later, Qifu Chipan poisoned him.
Li Kuo, courtesy name Xuan Sheng, whose childhood name was Chang Sheng, was a Daoist practitioner from Longxi and a descendant of the Han Dynasty general Li Guang. His great-grandfather Li Rou was a minister of state and a commander in the Jin Dynasty, and the Governor of Beidi; his grandfather Li Tai was a general under Zhang Zuo; his father, Li Chang, died young, and Li Kuo was born posthumously. During the years of Huang Shi, Duan Ye, the governor of Jiankang under Lü Guang, declared himself the governor of Liangzhou and appointed Meng Min, the governor of Dunhuang, as the inspector of Shazhou, while Li Kuo was appointed as the county magistrate of Xiaogu. After Meng Min's death, the military guards of Dunhuang, including Dun Qian, supported Li Kuo as the General of Ning Shuo and governor of Dunhuang. Lü Guang privately declared himself the King of Liang, and Li Kuo pretended to be formidable when he met Lü Guang, who then appointed him as the General of Zhenxi. During the Tianxing years, Li Kuo promoted himself to Grand Commander, General, Protector of Qiang, and governor of the two provinces of Qin and Liang, and he also self-styled as the Duke of Liang, renamed the era to Gengzi, resided in Dunhuang and regularly sent envoys for tribute. During the years of Tianzi, he changed the era name to Jianchu and moved to Jiuquan, where he paid tribute on time every year. After Li Kuo's death, his son Li Xin inherited his position.
Speaking of a person named Xin, he had quite a few self-styled titles: Grand Commander, General, Protector of Qiang, Governor of Liangzhou, Duke of Liang, and he even declared his own era as the first year of Jiaxing, truly remarkable! He once achieved a decisive victory at Xie Zhi Jian over Juqu Mengxun, capturing over seven thousand people, and also sent envoys for tribute, truly awe-inspiring!
Word got around that Juqu Mengxun was marching south to attack Qifu, so Xin immediately led his troops to attack Zhangye. His mother, Lady Yin, upon hearing this, was extremely anxious and hurriedly advised him, saying, "Son, our country has just been established, our territory is small, and our population is few. Mengxun is a tough opponent; we're no match for him at all! Look at him over the past few years, always scheming, with grand ambitions to conquer the world. He's got everything going for him—timing, the lay of the land, and the people's support. We must know our limits; keep in mind the lessons from the 'Spring and Autumn Annals,' and remember our ancestors' teachings: 'Be cautious in warfare, protect the territory and the people, and act when the time is right.' Do you remember? If you really want to go to war, it won't just be a loss; it could mean the end for our country!" Xin would not listen at all and led thirty thousand foot soldiers and cavalry to the east, arriving at Dudu Gorge. Mengxun confronted him at Haoxie and fought a battle with Xin at Huaicheng, where Xin suffered a crushing defeat. His subordinates advised him to quickly return to Jiuquan, but Xin replied, "I ignored my mother's orders and came here to embarrass myself. If I don't kill this barbarian, how can I face my mother!" He steeled himself and went into battle again, but was defeated again at Liaoqian and ultimately killed by Mengxun, with Jiuquan also falling into Mengxun's hands.
Before Xin's defeat, some odd things happened. A large snake slithered right up to the front of Xin's Gongde Hall, at which point two wild chickens suddenly burst out. In the palace, crows and magpies fought over a nest in a large tree, and eventually, the magpie got pecked to death by the crow. An elder from Dunhuang, Ling Guzhi, even had a dream in which someone in a white headscarf and official robes said, "The south wind blows, blowing the tall trees. Tongzhui, you cannot hit the wheel hub." Then he just vanished. Xin's childhood name was Tongzhui, which hinted at his coming doom.
Xin, the governor of Dunhuang, declared himself the governor of Dunhuang after Xin's death, calling himself the Champion General and the Inspector of Liangzhou. Juqu Mengxun attacked Xun, building dikes on three sides and flooding the city. Xun wanted to surrender, but Mengxun refused to accept it. After the city fell, Xun committed suicide, and Dunhuang also fell into Mengxun's hands. As for Xin's elder brother, Fan Zibao, what happened to him later is recorded elsewhere.
Juqu Mengxun's ancestors were from the Xiongnu, specifically the Left Juqu, and later adopted their official title as their surname. His hometown is near Lushui in Linsong. Mengxun was particularly clever, very adaptable, and knowledgeable about astronomy, which drew many Hu people to his side. Lü Guang killed his uncle, the governor of Xiping, Luo Qiu, and enraged, Mengxun raised an army of over ten thousand and set up camp at Jingshan. He and his cousin, Nan Cheng, the governor of Jinchang, supported Duan Ye, the governor of Jiankang, as their leader, giving him the titles of Envoy, Grand General, Dragon-Soaring General, Governor of Liangzhou, and Duke of Jiankang, while renaming the era to the First Year of Divine Seal. Duan Ye appointed Mengxun as the governor of Zhangye and granted him the title of Marquis of Linchi, while Nan Cheng was made General of National Defense, entrusting them with key military and political responsibilities.
Duan Ye declared himself king, calling himself the King of Liang, and promoted Mengxun to the position of Left Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, but he felt a bit uneasy about Mengxun's reputation, so he secretly distanced himself from him. By the fourth year of Tianxing, feeling unsettled, Mengxun requested to become the governor of Anxi. To stir things up, Mengxun secretly accused Nan Cheng of treason, which resulted in Duan Ye killing Nan Cheng. Mengxun feigned tears and told everyone that he wanted to avenge Nan Cheng. Nan Cheng had treated everyone well, and they all had feelings for him, so upon hearing Mengxun's words, they wept and rallied behind him. Thus, Mengxun raised an army to attack and kill Duan Ye, declaring himself the leader, self-appointing as Envoy, Grand General, and Duke of Zhangye, renaming the era Yong'an, and residing in Zhangye.
During the Yongxing era, Meng Xun captured Guzang, moved there, renamed the era to the first year of Xuanshi, declared himself the King of Hexi, and established a comprehensive bureaucratic system, including all levels of officials. He also frequently sent envoys to pay tribute. Once, Meng Xun was resting on a newly constructed platform, and a eunuch named Wang Huaizu actually attacked Meng Xun with a knife, injuring his foot! Meng Xun's wife, Lady Meng Xun, immediately caught Wang Huaizu and killed him. Later, Meng Xun heard that Liu Yu had defeated Yao Hong, which infuriated him. A scribe spoke up in his presence, and Meng Xun said, "You dare to act so arrogantly before me after hearing that Liu Yu has crossed the pass!" He then killed the scribe, demonstrating his ruthlessness. In the Taichang era, Meng Xun defeated Li Xin and subsequently conquered Dunhuang, and then renamed the era to Chengxuan.
Once upon a time, the court sent Minister Zong Shu and Chamberlain Gao Meng to present tribute, and then submitted a memorial to the emperor, which essentially conveyed: "Your Majesty, you are naturally wise and enlightened, your virtue exceeds that of all the emperors before you, and your grace extends to all things in heaven and earth, ushering in a golden age that surpasses the three sage kings. However, this golden age is not without its trials and tribulations, and peace has yet to be achieved in various parts of the world. Although we fly the banner of the court, the world has not yet been fully unified. Thanks to heaven's blessing, you, a wise ruler, are in charge of the world, and with your commands, localities have transformed. The common folk feel incredibly lucky, and everyone across the nation is very happy. My abilities are limited, and I have no great contributions; I am fortunate to witness this flourishing era and only wish to do my utmost to serve the court. I am so happy that I could just about die happy, finally seeing this prosperous age, hoping to enjoy my later years in peace under this great era. In the past few tributes, envoys went one after another, but those who left have not returned, and there has been no news at all. I don't know if they encountered dangers on the road, preventing the memorial from reaching you. I'm worried and at a loss. In the past, when Deputy Minister Guo Zhi and others returned, they brought back your imperial edict, which made me truly feel your kindness and filled me with hope for the future. Now, the most difficult times have passed, and the golden age is just getting started. The court's amnesty policies are improving, and it is becoming more tolerant towards distant subjects. You still remember this old minister, ensuring that I, a loyal subject from afar, am not forgotten, and I am truly grateful to the point of tears!
I have received a letter from the officials, which analyzes the current situation and encourages me with the story of Dou Rong knowing his fate. I feel a mix of joy and fear. Why? Because my abilities are limited, yet I am blessed by your grace, hoping that my humble sincerity may reach your ears and earn your kindness. If all the nations of the world come to pay their respects and all the officials come to congratulate, then my tribute will seem insignificant. But now the world is still not at peace, my aspirations remain unfulfilled, and I have submitted memorials repeatedly, yet my heart is still uneasy. My memorial has not yet reached you, and I can only wait here anxiously. I have closely observed various omens and interpreted celestial signs, discovering that no dynasty rivals the Wei dynasty, and no emperor compares to you. From a young age, you have displayed wise qualities, ascending to the throne at an early age; your accomplishments in civil and military affairs are on par with those of Cheng and Kang, and your moral teachings surpass those of Wen and Jing. You are poised to cast a wide net to govern the realm and shower grace upon all corners. Moreover, now that the Qin and Long regions have recently emerged from turmoil, it is precisely the time for old ministers to serve.
Wow, this imperial decree is really long! Let's go through it one step at a time. "Later, the emperor sent someone to bring Meng Xun's son to the palace to serve." The emperor is winning hearts by bringing their son into his inner circle. "The emperor also sent Li Shun with the imperial edict to confer upon Meng Xun the title of honorary general, and additionally promoted him to the positions of Shizhong, military governor of Liangzhou and the Qiang and Rong tribes in the Western Regions, Taifu, General of the West Expedition, and Governor of Liangzhou, ultimately bestowing upon him the title of King of Liang." That's quite a hefty reward! Positions keep rising one after another, and in the end, he is even conferred a kingly promotion along with extra titles. "The imperial decree states: 'Our royal ancestors, starting from the Yellow Emperor Xuanyuan, have always governed the world, conquered the Rong and Di tribes and the Huaxia, shining brilliantly, never declining.'" This introduction kicks off with a family history—very impressive!
"When it came to my great ancestors, they rose in response to the heavenly mandate, achieved great feats, unified the country, and were entrusted with establishing the Wei Dynasty." This is all about praising one's own ancestors' remarkable contributions.
"When it came to Emperor Taizong, he further expanded the territory, solidified the foundation, governed with clarity, and ensured the people lived in peace and prosperity." Continuing to extol one's ancestors, each generation surpassing the last.
"I inherited the foundation of my ancestors and wanted to further expand the territory, but the situation is turbulent, with wars everywhere." Now it's about oneself, facing challenges.
"The Helian clan is causing chaos in the west, and the Datan are causing chaos in the north; various ethnic minorities are relying on difficult terrains to rebel, and even the Jianghuai region has not been completely pacified." The situation is quite dire!
"So, I fought from the east to the west, personally leading multiple campaigns." It's no easy feat for the emperor to lead the battles personally!
"Thanks to the protection of my ancestors and the bravery of the soldiers, we were able to defeat the enemy and intimidate those barbarians, gradually bringing stability to the world." This victory was hard-fought!
"You (Meng Xun) have long seen through the situation; your strategic vision is far-reaching, and you fought alongside me, achieving great merit." This marks the beginning of praise for Meng Xun—now the key point is here!
"In this era, usurpers and treacherous ministers are causing chaos everywhere, those who occupy land proclaim themselves kings, and those who possess the people's loyalty self-title, completely disregarding the principle of submission to the Son of Heaven." This shifts back to analyzing the situation, underscoring Meng Xun's contributions.
"And yet you understand the greater righteousness, adhere to the laws, pay tribute with treasures, and even sent your son to serve me." The emperor is quite pleased with Meng Xun's performance.
"Your contributions and virtues are very significant, and your achievements will be remembered for generations. Your ancestors and father possessed land and people, and in terms of contributions and virtue, you are no less than others of your time; in terms of family background, you also come from a hereditary nobility." This truly gives Meng Xun the recognition he deserves!
"In ancient times, emperors rewarded talented individuals and granted land and citizens to their meritorious subjects, allowing them to become a supporting force for the nation. King Cheng of Zhou granted Jiang Taigong in the East Sea, while King Xiang conferred Jin Wengong in Nanyang." This uses history as an example to justify conferring kingship.
"So, I grant you the seven prefectures of Wuwei, Zhangye, Dunhuang, Jiuquan, Xihai, Jincheng, and Xiping in Liangzhou, thus making you the King of Liang." Finally, we get to the point: conferring kingship!
"Accept this land, conduct sacrifices with white millet, establish graves and altars, and become a vassal of the State of Wei. Your rise and fall will be closely tied to the rise and fall of Wei." This kingship is a serious matter; the responsibilities are immense!
"The greater the merit, the higher the rank; the greater the virtue, the greater the responsibility. I will also let you participate in state affairs, offer strategies, and lead military campaigns, enabling you to wield my authority." This power is indeed substantial!
"You will lead the army, instilling fear throughout the Hexi Corridor, expanding territory to the west, pacifying border regions, from Qiongfai in the north to Yongmin in the south, from the Kunlun Mountains in the west to the Yellow River in the east; you will be responsible for these campaigns as well as assisting the royal family." This task is quite formidable!
"I will also allow you to establish your own state: appointing generals and officials, with the authority to appoint and dismiss civil officials below the rank of governor and military officials below the rank of general; you can use the emperor's banners and have a ceremonial guard when traveling, just like the feudal lords of the early Han." This treatment is simply top-tier VIP!
"Remember the time, fulfill your duties, obey my commands, assist me in governing the world, ensure that the nine virtues are upheld, do not disappoint my expectations, and let your merits shine for generations, bringing honor to our royal ancestors." The final paragraph conveys admonition and expectation. "This was drafted by Cui Hao." Signature.
Meng Xun renamed the era to Yihe in the first year of his reign. In April of the second year of Yanhe, Meng Xun died. The court dispatched officials to oversee his funeral and posthumously conferred upon him the title of King Wuxuan. Meng Xun was known for his lechery, paranoia, and extreme ruthlessness, often resorting to murder. His household was in disarray, lacking any semblance of order.
His third son, Mu Jian, took over the territory, declared himself King of Hexi, and sent envoys to the court to seek formal recognition. Previously, Emperor Shizu had dispatched Li Shun to marry Meng Xun's daughter, but Mu Jian, honoring his father's wishes, sent her to the capital, where she was appointed as the Right Consort. Mu Jian then changed the era name to Chenghe in his first year. Emperor Shizu dispatched Li Shun to pay a visit to Mu Jian, bestowing upon him numerous official titles: Attendant, Commander of Liangshahe Three Provinces, Commander of the Western City Qiang and Rong troops, General of Chariots and Cavalry, Household Deputy of the Three Excellencies, Commandant of the Western Rong, Governor of Liangzhou, and King of Hexi. Mu Jian felt it was excessive to receive so many rewards without having earned any merit, so he retained Li Shun as an advisor and requested the court to bestow upon him the era names An and Ping, but the Emperor declined his request.
Mu Qian married Princess Wu Wei, the sister of Emperor Shizu, and sent his minister Song Yao to convey his gratitude, along with five hundred horses and five hundred jin of gold. Song Yao also submitted a petition requesting titles for both the princess and Mu Qian's mother. After discussion, the court determined that, according to tradition, as the son's status rises, the mother's status naturally elevates, and the wife's title is derived from her husband. Therefore, Mu Qian's mother was to be titled Empress Dowager of Hexi, the princess could be referred to as queen in Hexi, and upon her return to the capital, she would still be called princess, which the emperor agreed to. Mu Qian then sent General Juqu Pangzhou to the capital to pay his respects, and Emperor Shizu sent his attendant Gu Bi and Minister Li Shun to bestow various garments of different ranks upon Mu Qian's attendants. Mu Qian's heir, Feng Tan, also arrived in the capital to serve the emperor, and only then did Mu Qian personally come to the capital to pay his respects. In 400 AD, the emperor sent Minister He Duoluo to Liangzhou to assess the situation and uncover the truth. Although Mu Qian in Liangzhou seemed to be loyal to the court and paid tribute regularly, he was, in fact, dissatisfied and frequently engaged in covert activities. Therefore, the emperor resolved to personally lead an army to subdue him.
Then, the emperor instructed the ministers to draft a stern edict to censure Mukhan's numerous offenses: "You superficially accept our authority, but secretly act as a king; this constitutes the first offense! You fail to report your population, household registrations, and maps to the court, and the tribute products are not submitted to the agricultural department; this constitutes the second offense! You have accepted our title, but appointed officials privately, attempting to curry favor with both sides while monopolizing benefits; this constitutes the third offense! You know the court wants to pacify the border, but willfully disobey the imperial decree, exploit merchants and barbarians, and block traffic; this constitutes the fourth offense! You boast of the Western Rong's might, bragging arrogantly; this constitutes the fifth offense! You hold fiefdoms and refuse to come to court to see the emperor; this constitutes the sixth offense! You are attached to the rebellious barbarians in the north, collude with the hostile forces in the south, rely on the military in the valleys, engaging in wrongdoing; this constitutes the seventh offense! You exceed the designated timeframe for conscription, arbitrarily invoke the pretext of suppression and pacification; this constitutes the eighth offense! You hope for the enemy to be strong, wish for our downfall, insult the court's envoys, and do not follow the rules in tribute; this constitutes the ninth offense! You marry a royal princess, enjoying greater favor than the loyal officials, but indulge your desires, even committing incest with your sister-in-law; this constitutes the tenth offense! You flout marital ethics, openly conspire to poison the princess; this constitutes the eleventh offense! You vigilantly monitor the court officials, control the important passageways, treating them as adversaries; this constitutes the twelfth offense!"
As a subject, having committed so many crimes, is there any hope for your forgiveness?! First we advise, then we punish; this is the tradition of emperors throughout history. If you can personally lead your officials, sincerely come to meet us, and kneel before us and confess your sins, this is the best choice; if the army presses in, surrendering with your hands up is another option. If you stubbornly hold onto the city, you'll only end up dead, and your people will be a laughingstock! You need to think this through and find a way to save yourself!
When the officials crossed the Yellow River, the governor of Muxian asked, "What are you here for?" After hearing Yao Dingguo, the Left Minister's advice, he refused to go out of the city to welcome them, instead seeking help from the Rouran and sending his brother Dong to lead over ten thousand troops to resist the imperial army in the south of the city, which ended in defeat. When the emperor's chariot arrived in Guzang, he sent envoys to persuade Muxian to surrender. Hearing that the Rouran had invaded the area of Shanwudi, Muxian gambled that the emperor would withdraw his troops, so he slammed the city gates shut and prepared to fight to the last breath.
Muxian's nephew Zuyu surrendered and told the emperor about Muxian's situation, so the emperor led his army to attack. Muxian's other nephew Wannian also surrendered with his soldiers. The city was breached, and Muxian and his civil and military officials all knelt with their hands tied, pleading for the emperor's mercy, and the emperor ordered them to be freed. Later, the emperor moved more than thirty thousand families from Liangzhou to the capital.
Earlier, during the Taiyan era, an old man disappeared after dropping a letter at the east gate of Dunhuang City. The letter contained eight characters: "In the thirtieth year of Liang Wang, if seven years." In addition, on a stone discovered after a thunderstorm, there was an inscription: "In the thirtieth year of Hexi, broken stone, joyful seven years." Daishi, the name of a mountain, collapsed next to the sacrificial site in the southern mountains of Guzang, causing the road to collapse. Mu Qian asked General Dong Lai, "Does the sacrificial site have any awareness?" So he destroyed the sacrificial site, cut down trees, and opened up a passageway. After becoming Liang Wang, Mu Qian was indeed overthrown in seven years, just as predicted.
Mu Qian engaged in an affair with his sister-in-law, Li Shi, and the three brothers each took turns doting on her. Li Shi and Mu Qian's sister also poisoned the princess together. The emperor swiftly dispatched doctors on horseback to save the princess, who eventually recovered. The emperor wanted to arrest Li Shi, but Mu Qian refused to hand her over, infuriating the emperor by giving her a lot of money to move to Jiuquan. After the city of Liangzhou was captured, the emperor continued to regard her as his brother-in-law's wife. After Li Shi's mother passed away, the emperor buried her with honors befitting a queen mother and arranged for thirty households to guard the tomb for Meng Xun. Finally, the emperor appointed Mu Qian as the General of the West, without any change to his title.
At the beginning, before the troops entered the city, Mu Qian had the treasury opened, taking out all the gold, silver, jewels, and rare treasures, leaving it unlocked. The common folk seized the opportunity to loot everything, without regard for wealth or status. The authorities were unable to apprehend the thieves. In the eighth year of Zhenjun, it was reported that Mu Qian's relatives and the warehouse guards were implicated, and the emperor conducted a thorough investigation into the matter, searched Mu Qian's residence, and recovered all the concealed wealth.
Later, someone reported that the father and son of Muxian had raised a lot of poisons, secretly causing the deaths of more than a hundred people; his sisters had no shame in their promiscuity and believed in cults. Years ago, there was a monk named Tanwuchen who claimed to be able to use ghosts to cure diseases and help women have more children. He had an affair with Princess Mantou of Shanshan. After the scandal was uncovered, he fled to Liangzhou. Mong Xun was very fond of him and even called him a "saint." Tanwuchen taught women about intimacy, and Mong Xun's daughter and daughter-in-law both learned from him. When Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei heard about this, he sent people to bring Tanwuchen to him. Mong Xun refused to release him, and the truth eventually came to light. Tanwuchen was interrogated and executed. The Emperor then ordered the execution of Consort Zu Qu's family, only sparing Wan Nian and his ancestors due to their earlier surrender.
In the same year, it was reported that Muxian was still secretly in contact with his former subjects, plotting a rebellion. The Emperor ordered Minister Cui Hao to the Princess's residence to execute Muxian. Muxian bid farewell to the Princess before finally committing suicide. He was buried with royal rituals and was posthumously honored with the title of Ai King. After the Princess's death, the Emperor ordered them to be buried together. The Princess had no sons, only a daughter who, thanks to her close ties with her uncle, inherited her mother's title and became the Princess of Wuwei.
Mong Xun's son, Mong Bing, styled Jiyi, was appointed as the Governor of Dongyongzhou by the Emperor because of his father's connections. Mong Bing was sly and treacherous, and during the reign of the true emperor, he conspired with the Shu people of Hedong, Xue Andu, to rebel. When they arrived in the capital, they were captured and executed by his brothers.
Wannian and his ancestors were all vanguards. Wannian was appointed as General of Anxi and King of Zhangye, while his ancestors were bestowed the title of Duke of Guangwu. Later, Wannian became the Governor of Jizhou and Dingzhou, but was executed for plotting against the state, dying alongside his ancestors.
At first, Mu Qian was defeated, and his brother, the Governor of Leidu, An Zhou, fled to Tuyuhun. Emperor Taiwu of Northern Wei sent General Xijuan to pursue him. Mu Qian's other brother, the Governor of Jiuquan, Wuhui, fled to Jinchang, so Emperor Taiwu dispatched Yiyang Gong Yuanjie to defend Jiuquan.
During the reign of Zhenjun, Wuhui besieged Jiuquan. Yuanjie underestimated the threat and went outside the city to negotiate with Wuhui, only to be captured. Yuanjie's subordinates banded together to defend the city, while Wuhui continued the siege until their food supplies were exhausted, and Jiuquan eventually fell. Wuhui then attempted to attack Zhangye but was unsuccessful and retreated to Lingsong before ultimately retreating. Emperor Taiwu issued a decree to reprimand him. At that time, King Jian of Yongchang was stationed in Liangzhou. Wuhui sent his lieutenant Liang Wei to meet King Jian, requesting permission to surrender Jiuquan to him, and also offered Yuanjie and the captured soldiers to King Jian's army.
In the spring of the following year, Emperor Taiwu sent someone with the emperor's edict and a ceremonial staff to appoint Wuhui as the Grand General of the West Expedition, Governor of Liangzhou, and King of Jiuquan. Not long after, as Wuhui plotted another rebellion, Emperor Taiwu sent General Xijuan of the Southern Army to besiege Jiuquan, ultimately capturing the city.
Without hesitation, he planned to cross the Liusha River and send An Zhou to attack Shanshan in the west. The king of Shanshan was very afraid and wanted to surrender, but Wei's messenger happened to persuade him to resist. An Zhou then fought continuously with the Shanshan army, but failed to capture it, so he retreated to the east city. In the third year of spring, the king of Shanshan fled to Qiemu, and his son followed An Zhou, resulting in chaos within Shanshan. He then crossed the Liusha River without hesitation, and as a result, half of the soldiers died due to lack of water, but he still occupied Shanshan.
Before this, the Prefect of Gaochang, Kan Shuang, was attacked by Tang Qi, Li Bao's uncle. Upon hearing that No Hesitation had arrived in Shanshan, he sent envoys to pretend to surrender, hoping to make No Hesitation and Tang Qi attack each other. He left An Zhou to defend Shanshan and headed northeast to Gaochang. At this time, the Rouran killed Tang Qi, and Kan Shuang refused to surrender to him. No Hesitation then sent Wei Xingnu to deceive Kan Shuang, leading to the massacre of Gaochang. Kan Shuang fled to the Rouran. No Hesitation then stayed in Gaochang.
In the fifth year of summer, No Hesitation died of illness, and An Zhou succeeded him. Later, Gaochang was annexed by the Rouran.
Historians note that the power of the Zhou Dynasty had declined, and the seven vassal states fought each other, all wanting to divide the Central Plains and seize the throne. At this point, individuals like Zhang Shi were like being sandwiched outside the crowd, with the territory all being desolate battlefields, everyone fighting fiercely with an ambition to never back down, unaware of their own limitations; truly overestimating themselves!
In the end, these individuals, like poisonous snakes and fierce beasts, killed each other, and they were all eliminated, which was only to be expected.
