Jing Fang stated in the "Book of Changes": If one raises troops and fights indiscriminately, killing the innocent, this is a breach of the law, and heaven will unleash disasters. Frost will come that kills crops in summer, and in winter, there will be frost that kills wheat. If one kills without considering the reasons, this is unrighteous, and there will be early frost in summer.
Now, let’s examine some historical occurrences. In July of the fifth year of the Northern Wei Dynasty, it frosted in Jizhou. On the day of the seventh month of the first year of the Northern Wei Shizu Taiyan, a heavy frost killed all the vegetation. In the fourth month of the sixth year of the Northern Wei Gaozong's reign, there was frost once more. In the seventh month of the third year of the Northern Wei Tahe, heavy frost occurred in Yongzhou, Shuozhou, Fuhan, Tujing, Bogulu, Dunhuang, and Qiuchi, resulting in the death of all beans and seedlings. In the fourth month of the sixth year of Tahe, frost also occurred in Yingchuan County. In the third month of the seventh year of Tahe, frost occurred in Sizhou, killing all soybeans. In the fourth month of the ninth year of Tahe, frost appeared in Yongzhou and Qingzhou. In June, frost also occurred in Luozhou, Sizhou, Xiangzhou, as well as Lingqiu and Guangchang in Sizhou. In the eighth month of the fourteenth year of Tahe, frost fell in Fenzhou. In the fourth month of the first year of the Northern Wei Shizong Jingming, frost occurred in Xiazhou, killing the grass. In the sixth month of Dinghai, frost fell in Jianxing County, killing the grass. In the eighth month of Yihai, strong winds and heavy frost swept through Yongzhou, Bingzhou, Shuozhou, Xiazhou, Fenzhou, and Zhengping and Pingyang in Sizhou. In the third month of the second year of Jingming, frost occurred in Qizhou, killing the mulberry trees and wheat. In the third month of the fourth year of Jingming, frost occurred in Yongzhou, killing the mulberry trees and wheat. On the same day, frost appeared in Qingzhou, killing the mulberry trees and wheat. In the fifth month of the first year of Zhengshi, frost occurred in Wuchuan Town. In the sixth month of Xinmao, frost fell in Huaisuo Town. In the seventh month of Wuchen, frost appeared in Dongqinzhou. In the eighth month of Gengzi, frost occurred in Hezhou, killing the crops. In the fourth month of the second year of Zhengshi, frost was reported in Qizhou. In the fifth month of Renshen, frost was reported in Hengzhou and Fenzhou, killing the crops. In the seventh month of Xinsi, frost occurred in Binzhou and Qizhou.
On the day of Yimwei, there was frost in Dunhuang.
On the day of Wuxu, there was frost in Hengzhou.
In the third year of Zhengshi, June Bingshen, there was frost in Anzhou.
In the fourth year of Zhengshi, March Yichou, there was a series of frosts in Binxian.
In April of the year Yimao, there was frost in Dunhuang.
In August, there was frost in Hezhou.
In the first year of Yongping, March Yiyu, there was frost in Qizhou and Binxian.
On the day of Jichou, there was frost in Bingzhou.
In April Wuwu, there was frost in Dunhuang.
In the second year of Yongping, in April Xinhai, there was frost in Wuzhou Town.
In the fourth year of Yanchang, in March Guihai, there was frost in all eight states of Henan.
In July 477 AD, there was frost in eleven states in Henan and the north.
The "Hongfan Lun" says: Thunder is yang, clouds are yin. There can only be thunder with clouds, there can only be a ruler with subjects. Thunder depends on clouds, a ruler depends on subjects; this reflects the principle of yin and yang. Therefore, thunder without clouds signifies that the ruler is alone, without subjects.
In July 478 AD, there was thunder in the northeast without clouds. In the following year in July, there was a thunder-like sound coming from the northeast. On a certain day in February 481 AD, a sound came from the northeast, extending southward and rumbling like thunder; it sounded twice and then stopped.
After this, on a certain day in October 484 AD, a sound like a big drum came from the north and moved northwest.
The "Hongfan Lun" also says: Yang energy governs for one hundred and eighty-three days, yin energy also governs for one hundred and eighty-three days; thunder comes out of the ground for one hundred and eighty-three days, then goes back into the ground for one hundred and eighty-three days, then comes out again; this is the natural law. Therefore, when thunder sounds normal, all things are peaceful; when thunder sounds abnormal, all things suffer disasters. It is the same for a country: when the ruler is in good health, the country is peaceful; when the ruler is in trouble, the country suffers. Thunder occurring when it shouldn't is completely unreasonable.
In the year 485, on an unspecified day in October, it rained with thunder and lightning. In the year 487, on certain days in October and November, there was thunder. In the year 488, on a certain day in November, there was a thunderstorm in the Yuzhou region. On another day that same month, Yuzhou experienced another heavy thunderstorm, with water pooling three inches deep on level ground. In the year 491, on an unspecified day in October, there was thunder. In the year 494, on a certain day in November, there was thunder and lightning in the Youzhou region, casting a red glow over the city. In the year 496, on a certain day in November, there was thunder in Liangzhou, sounding seven times. In the year 497, on a certain day in December, there was thunder at night, sounding nine times. In the year 498, on a certain day in November, there was thunder and lightning in the four regions of Qin, Qi, Jing, and Shuo. In the year 499, on a certain day in January, there was thunder.
The "Spring and Autumn Annals" recorded that the temple of Yibo was struck by lightning, and Zuo Qiuming believed that the Zhan family was hiding something. Liu Xiang believed that Yibo was a hereditary minister, which was a warning from heaven, indicating that ministers should not be hereditary to avoid monopolizing power.
In April of the year 502, the east wing of the Hall of Heavenly Peace was struck by lightning. The emperor was furious and ordered that the east and west wings of the hall be demolished with a battering ram. Consequently, the emperor met an untimely death soon after.
In the year 479, on a night in November, there was thunder and lightning. In the year 488, on a certain day in May, the southern end of the roof of the East Temple's middle gate was struck by lightning.
Ban Gu stated that an emperor who does not treat his subjects generously cannot be considered a wise ruler. A person's appearance, speech, gaze, and demeanor must all be guided by their inner self; if all four are flawed, one becomes confused and irrational, thereby inviting disaster.
In the year 474 AD, on the Gengzi day of the first month, Luoyang experienced a misty rain that covered the ground like fog. In the year 502 AD, on the day of Bingxu in the eleventh month, the thick fog in Luoyang shrouded the sky for six days without clearing. Even on the evening of Jiazi day, it was still as dense as smoke, making people's noses uncomfortable. In the year 503 AD, on the day of Jichou in the second month, a yellow mist covered the ground in Qinzhou. In the same year, on Jiyu day in August, murky fog was everywhere. In the year 504 AD, on the day of Xinsi in August, Liangzhou also experienced misty rain resembling fog. In the year 506 AD, on the night of Jichou in the first month, a dense fog enveloped the night, initially black before turning red. In the year 507 AD, on the day of Xinchou in the first month, there was a misty fog. On the day of Renshen in the ninth month of the same year, a black fog pervaded. On the day of Jiaxu in the second month of the year 508 AD, a yellow fog pervaded. At that time, Gao Zhao was favored due to his status as an in-law, and his brothers were all appointed as marquis, just like the five marquises of the Han Dynasty.
The climate was warm all year round, and Liu Xiang and Ban Gu believed that it was abnormal for there to be no frost in winter and for plants not to wither. Jing Fang in the "Yi Zhuan" said: "Summer heat hurts people, and only when everything matures in winter can there be results." In August of the year 480 AD, the fruit trees in Hualin Garden were all in bloom. In August of the year 500 AD, the peach and plum trees in Zhongshan were all in bloom. In September of the year 501 AD, the fruit of the jujube tree at the house of Qi Yuan in Youzhou all ripened, fell off overnight, and then the flowers and leaves grew back, returning to a spring-like scene within seven days. In November of the year 504 AD, the peach and plum trees in Dongqinghe County, Qizhou, were all in bloom. On the day of Xinhai in the leap tenth month of the year 508 AD, the pear trees in the capital city were all in bloom. The "Hong Fan Zhuan" states: "Abandoning the law, suppressing meritorious officials, killing the crown prince, and making a concubine into a wife will lead to fires." This suggests that fire, when mismanaged, can turn into a disaster.
In the spring of the year 3 AD, a great fire broke out in Feiru, burning nearly all the homes of officials and commoners, with only the statues in the two temples to the east and west and the buildings storing the statues remaining unscathed. On Wuyin Day in May 504, a swamp in Qinxian County, Hanoi, spontaneously ignited, and the fire gradually spread over more than a hundred steps, taking five days to extinguish. On the day of Yisi in March 502, the ancestral hall at Hengyue caught fire. In May 520, the Goudu Forbidden Garden caught fire too. In the summer of 528, there was also a fire underground in Qiuxian County, Youzhou.
In the spring of the year 3 AD, a great fire occurred in Yingzhou, destroying more than three thousand households. What a tragedy!
In the second month of the third year of Yongxi, the nine-story pagoda of Yongning Temple also caught fire. At that time, many people claimed they saw the pagoda soaring into the East Sea. "The Yongning Temple pagoda, where the divine image resides, if heaven decrees: Yongning faces disaster, Wei will not be at peace. The Bohai Sea is the fief of Qi's King Xianwu; if the divine returns to the sea, it signifies that the Qi state will rise." This suggests that when disaster strikes Yongning Temple, the Wei Dynasty will be doomed; the Bohai Sea is the fief of Qi's King Xianwu, and the return of the divine to the sea indicates that the Qi state will prosper.
In March, the southern gate of the Sanji Temple in Bingzhou also caught fire. These fires, one after another, are really unsettling.
In the autumn of the fourth year of Tianping, the Eastern Gate of the Changhe Gate in Ye City caught fire.
In the winter of the third year of Wuding, there was even a spontaneous fire at the base of the Xihe River in Fenzhou, with hot air rising; this is really bizarre!
On the night of the first month of the second year of Shiguang, a black mist appeared in the southeast direction of the sky, one zhang wide and ten zhang long. It was said to be a sign of an impending war. Sure enough, in February, Murong Kesi rebelled in Beiping.
In the first month of the third year of Huangxing, a wide black cloud appeared several miles wide near the Yellow River and Jishui, covering Dongyang City, as dark as it gets. Later, Dongyang City collapsed. That black cloud was downright terrifying!
In the third year of Jingming, in the ninth month, there was black mist everywhere. On the day of Jia Chen, Yangzhou defeated Xiao Yan's general Zhang Xiao and beheaded two thousand. It seems that this black mist heralds the victory of war.
In the second year of Taihe, in the eleventh month, on the night of Ding Wei, three streams of white mist emerged from the ground, which turned into yellow and red colors in a moment, shining brightly; truly miraculous!
In the sixteenth year, in the ninth month, in the evening, red vapor appeared in the northwest direction, twenty zhang long and eight to nine feet wide, vanishing in an instant.
In the first year of Yanchang, in the third month, red vapor appeared in the sky, from the Mao hour to the Xu hour.
In the first year of Zhengguang, in the eleventh month, on the night of Xin Wei, red vapor appeared in the northwest direction, extending all the way to the horizon, like fire. It was visible in Liangzhou but not seen in the capital.
In the third year, in the ninth month, on the night of Jia Chen, red vapor appeared in the northwest direction, extending east and west like flames. This is a sign that the North Town is about to rebel!
In the fifth year, in the fifth month, during the Gui You hour, red vapor appeared in the north, extending east and west to the horizon, like flames.
In the third year of Yong'an, in the eleventh month, on the night of Ji Chou, red vapor appeared, resembling mist, extending diagonally from the southwest corner of the Xianyang Palace steps to the corridor, about one zhang high, like a red curtain, and did not disappear from the Wei hour to the Xu hour. The emperor was furious upon seeing it, and later he died suddenly. This is too terrifying!
In the third year of Tianping, in the first month, during the Ji Hai hour, red vapor appeared in the east, about three zhang long, and disappeared three hours later.
In the third year of Yong'an, one afternoon in June, a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky: there was a green vapor in the Chen direction, about four feet wide, starting from the east side of the mountain and extending northwest, vanishing into thin air. At the same time, black, red, and yellow clouds appeared in the northwest direction, resembling a mountain peak, with a four-foot-wide green vapor at the top, extending southeast, also stopping in mid-air, where the two vapors intersected. The vapor in the southeast direction dissipated first, followed by the vapor in the northwest direction. This was interpreted as a sign that the emperor was nearing death.
Ban Gu explained: "Night demons" refer to the appearance of clouds and wind together, creating a hazy scene, which is very similar to normal wind. Warm weather with strong winds can lead to the breeding of pests such as moths and locusts. On the last day of the sixth month of the first year of Zhengshi, it was as dark as night. On a certain day in August, it was also as dark as night during the day. Liu Xin believed that improper behavior shows a lack of seriousness. When the upper class acts arrogantly and the lower class resorts to violence, it leads to a rise in negative energy, crop damage from floods, food shortages, and chaos caused by evil deeds, leading to severe consequences. Another explanation is that because the people endured many punishments, their appearance became distorted. Ban Gu believed that disasters affecting livestock are referred to as "huo," indicating the severity of the disaster; if disasters befall humans, it is called "zhuang zhuang," describing people looking emaciated and in a terrible situation. In the third year of Yongxing, a person in the Wulan area developed bone growths on their body, shaped like sheep horns, over a foot long. In May of the sixteenth year of Taihe, the Shangshu Li Chong reported that the daughter of Li Banhu from Wuji County in Zhongshan County, Dingzhou, grew nine hairs under her right thumb nail on September 20th last year, and by October 20th, they had grown to one foot two inches long. On a day in November of the second year of Xiping, the report from Bingzhou stated that Han Sengzhen's daughter Lingji from Qixian was born from her mother's right rib. Empress Dowager Ling ordered her to be sent to the imperial court. On a day in May of the first year of Zhengguang, huge footprints appeared in Xiacaixian, Nanyanzhou, totaling seven steps, each step measuring one foot eight inches long and seven inches five points wide. In the autumn of the third year of Yanxing, a woman in Xiurong County gave birth four times, resulting in a total of sixteen boys. On a day in November of the third year of Yong'an, a woman in the capital gave birth to a child with one head, two torsos, four arms, four legs, and three ears.
In the sixteenth year of Taihe, on a certain day in November, Emperor Gaozu and the monk Daodeng went together to the Ministry of Imperial Attendants. After sunset, around the sixth watch, they saw a ghost wearing a yellow top and pants standing at the door wanting to come in. The Emperor thought it was a person, so he shouted at it, and it retreated. The Emperor asked the people around, and everyone claimed they hadn't seen it; only the Emperor and Daodeng saw it.
In the second year of Huangxing in October, a severe plague broke out in Yuzhou, and around fourteen to fifteen thousand people died.
In the third year of Yongping in April, there was a severe plague in the counties of Chang and Xiangling in Pingyang. From January to April, two thousand seven hundred and thirty people died. It's truly frightening to think so many people died!
In the nineteenth year of Taihe in June, it was reported in Xuzhou that a bronze statue eight feet tall was sweating profusely; this is quite bizarre!
During the Yong'an, Putai, and Yongxi years, the golden statue of Dingguang in the Jingcheng Pingdeng Temple also sweated several times. Every time, there was a major event in the country, and everyone considered it an ominous sign and were filled with fear.
In the third year of Yong'an in February, in the capital, there were two bronze statues in a household in the capital, each over a foot long. One of them had four white hairs under its chin, and the other had a black hair on its cheek. This is equally peculiar!
In the "Hongfan Lun," it says: "The dragon is a scaly creature, born in water. Clouds are also symbols of water. When the yin energy is at its peak, these signs will appear. If the emperor does not follow the moral principles of humanity and disrupts the heavenly principles, calamities of usurpation and murder will follow." This book says that the dragon is an animal in the water, and clouds are also symbols of water. When the yin energy is at its peak, these signs will appear. If the emperor does not follow the moral principles of humanity and disrupts the heavenly principles, calamities of usurpation and murder will follow.
In the third month of the third year of Shizu Shen, two white dragons were seen in a well in the capital.
In the second month of the sixth year of Zhenjun, on the day of Bingchen, a white dragon appeared in a well in the capital. Dragons are divine creatures, but appearing in a well is an omen of Shizu's impending doom!
In the first year of Zhengguang of Suzong in August, a creature resembling a black dragon appeared, running from the south to Xuanyang Gate, then jumped up, passed through the gate tower, and ran out. This heralds the decline of the Wei Dynasty!
In the second year of Emperor Zhuang's reign, during Yong'an, a dragon appeared in a well in Jinyang and lingered for an extended period. This was an ominous sign that Emperor Zhuang would meet a sudden death in Jinyang. On Jia Yin day in April of the first year of the former Emperor Fei Tai's reign, a dragon's traces were seen exiting from the west side of Xuan Yang Gate before returning to the city. The next day, on Yi Mao day, the ministers entered the palace to offer their congratulations to the emperor, who said, "When the country is to prosper, we must listen to the opinions of the people; when the country is to decline, we must heed the will of Heaven. However, both the ruler and the subjects should practice self-discipline in governance; relying solely on these auspicious signs is not enough to ensure the prosperity of the nation." The emperor's words were quite reasonable.
The "Hong Fan Lun" states: "The horse is a symbol of soldiers; when there are threats of invaders, the horse may display unusual behavior." The horse symbolizes military affairs; if it exhibits unusual behavior, it indicates that war is imminent.
On the day of Xin Wei in November of the second year of Emperor Su's Xiping, a foal was sent from Hengzhou; its tail was fleshy and one foot long, but its hindquarters were hairless. In September of the first year of Zhengguang, the official horses in Woye Town contracted a parasitic disease, leading to the deaths of fourteen or fifteen horses. These parasites looked like crickets, measuring less than five inches, and were the thickness of chopsticks.
The "Hong Fan Lun" cites the "I Ching" saying: "Kun is the cow," meaning that when the earth is chaotic, the cow will exhibit strange phenomena, which is called a cow disaster. One interpretation suggests that the ancestral temple is on the verge of destruction, while another suggests that difficulties in transportation can also lead to problems with the cow.
In the second year of Emperor Shi's Jingming, in May, Jizhou reported that in Chang Le County, a cow gave birth to a calf with two faces, two mouths, three eyes, and three ears. This was utterly astonishing! The "Hong Fan Lun" states: If the emperor is not wise, it will lead to political failure.
In the twenty-third year of Emperor Gao's Taihe, in March, Sizhou reported that in Yangqu County, a lamb was born with two bodies, one male and one female, three ears, and eight legs. Shortly thereafter, Emperor Gao passed away, and six regents subsequently began to consolidate power.
In the first year of Emperor Shi's Zhengshi, in July, Shanshan Town sent a lamb with two bodies and eight legs. In the following year, in January, Shanshan Town sent yet another lamb, also with eight legs.
In the fifth month of the fourth year of Yanchang, a lamb was reported in the town of Bogulü with six legs and two tails. Jing Fang mentioned in "Chuan" that all monsters and anomalies with multiple legs are due to the wickedness of those in power. Jing Fang also stated in "Yi" that monsters refer to pigs giving birth to human-headed, pig-bodied offspring, which indicates that chaos and destruction are imminent for that place.
In the first year of Gaozu's reign in Yanjing, in the ninth month, relevant authorities reported that Wang Rang, the governor of Yuzhou and Duke of Linhuai, reported that a pig had given birth to piglets with two bodies and eight legs.
In the fourth year of Shizong's reign in Jingming, in the ninth month, Liangzhou reported that a dog had mated with a pig.
In the fourth year of the Zhengshi period, in August, piglets born in the capital had four ears, two bodies, and eight legs.
In the seventh month of the fourth year of Yanchang, Xuzhou reported that piglets born in Yangping Garrison had heads and faces like humans, with a flesh bun on their heads and no fur on their bodies. This is an omen of the impending downfall of Empress Ling and the young ruler!
In "Hongfan Lun," Jing Fang mentioned in "Chuan" that chicks and small livestock are like small ministers; horns symbolize weapons, and being above them represents the majesty of the king. These small ministers are poised to cause chaos by exploiting the king's authority, which is a disaster of poor governance.
In the first year of Gaozu's reign in Taihe, in the fifth month, relevant authorities reported that there were two hens with horns in the capital, with combs resembling horns, unlike any other chickens. At that time, Empress Wen was in power, which was a sign of her favoring petty people and trusting treachery.
In the first year of Shizong's reign in Zhengshi, in April, a chick appeared in Henan that had four legs and four wings (as specifically recorded in "Cui Guang Zhuan").
In August, Sizhou reported that in Hanoi, a family was raising a chick that had an extra head near its tail, with a mouth and eyes. Both heads had two pairs of wings growing out from the back of the neck, and the two legs walked side by side. This was a portent of Shizong's increasing reliance on petty officials and the rise of corruption in governance.
In the twelfth month of the fourth year of Yan Chang, it was reported in Luozhou that a hen owned by Chang Jiao, the governor of Wei Xing, had a fleshly horn on its head the size of a date pit, about one and three-tenths inches long, with hair about an inch and a half long on the horn. In January of 520 AD, two chickens raised in the home of General Lan Dou, a rooster and a hen, both had two horns on their heads, with feathers of mixed colors, standing taller than their combs. At that time, Empress Ling was in power and held all authority. The "Hong Fan Lun" states: "The penalty for failing to see clearly and hear well." We will not explain this ancient text; just keep the original. In November of 532 AD, a white owl was captured in the capital. On the day of Jimao in August of 521 AD, a bald eagle was caught in the palace. In April of 522 AD, someone brought a strange duckling, which had one head, two bodies, four legs, four wings, and two tails. In March of 532 AD, a male pheasant flew into the Ministry of Appointments and was captured in the hall. The "Hong Fan Lun" also states: "Brutal punishments profit the lower classes; insatiable greed leads to mobilizing the masses; taking cities and governing towns while losing the hearts of the people will lead to harm from pests." This sentence will also be kept in the original. In July of 525 AD, a locust plague occurred in the Dunhuang region, and almost all the autumn crops were eaten. In July of 526 AD, grasshoppers plagued Qingzhou and Yongzhou, which caused significant crop damage. In August, seven states, including Xuzhou, East Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Jizhou, Pingzhou, Yuzhou, and Guangzhou, as well as four towns: Pingyuan, Fangtou, Guang'a, and Linji, experienced locust plagues. In April of 527 AD, locusts also caused a disaster in Xiangzhou and Yuzhou. In March of 528 AD, locusts caused a disaster in Jizhou, (the name of the state appears to be missing here), and Xiangzhou. In April, seven states, including Jizhou, Guangzhou, Youzhou, Sizhou, Yongzhou, Qizhou, and Pingzhou, experienced locust plagues. On the day of Yisi in June, locusts caused a disaster in Xiangzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and Qingzhou. In October of 536 AD, on the day of Guisi, a locust plague occurred in the region of Fuhan, causing damage to crops.
In May of the year 530 AD, locusts swarmed the provinces of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Xuzhou, Yanzhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou. In March of the year 533 AD, a widespread locust infestation occurred in Hezhou, leading to a complete loss of the wheat harvest. In May, locusts struck Guangzhou; in June, a large-scale locust disaster occurred in Hezhou; in July, locusts plagued Donglai County. In June of the year 534 AD, locusts struck the provinces of Shazhou and Sizhou. In April of the year 537 AD, the province of Qingzhou was afflicted by a pest known as the steppe worm, damaging jujube flowers. In August, the counties of Jingzhou, Hezhou, Liangzhou, and Sizhou faced a variety of pest invasions, including rats, locusts, and bandworms.
In June of the year 538 AD, Liangzhou experienced a locust disaster. In May of the year 540 AD, the province of Qingzhou was once again afflicted by the steppe worm, damaging jujube flowers.
This passage records the locust disasters and other pest infestations that occurred frequently in various regions during the Northern Wei period, from the first year of Zhengguang to the fifth year of Yongping, spanning nearly thirty years, causing significant damage to agricultural production. These records reflect the enormous challenges brought about by the social environment and climate change at the time.
In July, locust disasters swept through the capital city; the sight was truly horrifying! In August, the provinces of Qingzhou, Qizhou, and Guangzhou also suffered from locust disasters, with two-thirds of the crops devoured in the fields, resulting in heavy losses!
In the first year of Xiping in June, the provinces of Qingzhou, Qizhou, Guangzhou, and South Qingzhou were hit by locusts again, adding to the misfortunes! In the first year of Tian'an in June, an extraordinary event took place in Yanzhou: a battle between black ants and red ants, with the battlefield measuring sixty paces long and four inches wide; the red ants suffered total defeat, their bodies littering the fields. The black ants occupied the north, while the red ants occupied the south. By November, the governor of Yanzhou, Bi Zhongjing, dispatched envoys to surrender to the court, and the court appointed General Weyuan to oversee their surrender, defeating the rebel leaders Zhou Kai and others.
In the seventh month of the tenth year of Taihe, Zhang Wanshou, the governor of Bingzhou, reported that during the fourth month, a peasant named Jia Richeng in Jianxing Huzhe County discovered that the silkworms had woven their silk into a curtain, inside it was something rolled up that resembled a ribbon, four feet long and three inches wide, thin, with two yellow cocoons attached, shaped like footprints.
In the third month of the second year of Zhengshi, there was an incident in Xuzhou where silkworm moths injured more than one hundred and ten people, with over twenty deaths, which was quite terrifying.
Ancient people explained such insect-related disasters as "abnormal changes," which meant unusual phenomena. During the reign of the founding emperor, a large tiger appeared in Henan and lay by the river for three months before leaving. The following year, a large number of crickets and white deer crossed the Yellow River. The year after that, the Yellow River's water turned blood-red, which was interpreted as an omen for the downfall of the Wei Chen clan. Later, people threw all the members of the Wei Chen clan into the river, and the place was never troubled again.
In the first month of the first year of Yuanxiang, a wolf wandered into the city and was captured near Kashi. In the twelfth month of the fifth year of Wuding, a leopard was caught on the north city bronze platform.
In the fifth month of the first year of Taihe, a fox demon came out to cut people's hair. Empress Wenming was in power at the time, and this was regarded as an ominous sign that led to various political troubles.
In the spring of the second year of Xiping, strange occurrences of fox demons cutting people's hair started happening in the capital, causing fear among the populace. On the day of Renshen in June, Empress Ling summoned all those who had their hair cut and had Liu Teng, the commander of Chongxun Wei, beat them outside Qianqiu Gate, similar to what happened during the Taihe era.
It is said in books that if officials such as princes, governors, and county magistrates from other regions oppress the people cruelly and cause them to suffer, white rats will appear.
In the second month of the third year of Yongxing, a man named Zhao Wen in the capital had a white rat appear in his house, which he offered to the court. That spring, another white rat was caught in Beiyuan, but it died shortly after. Upon dissection, they found three small white rats inside its belly.
In March of a certain year, the emperor went to the West Palace and caught a small white mouse there. In August, the palace steward Zhang An also caught a small white mouse. In May of the second year of Shenrui, the emperor went hunting in the Penglun Mountains and caught another small white mouse; on the other side of Pingcheng, three were caught at the same time! In June, Pingcheng caught two more. In August, Prince Kui of Yuzhang also caught a small white mouse. In November of the first year of Taichang, a person in the capital caught a small white mouse and presented it to the emperor. In June of the second year, two small white mice were caught in the Zhongshan area. In March of the third year, another small white mouse was caught in the capital. In November, another small white mouse was caught in the capital. In August of the third year of Shizong's reign, Shiguang, someone in Xiangzhou and Weijun also caught a small white mouse. In August of the first year of Taiyan, someone from Yanmen presented a small white mouse. In August of the twenty-third year of Gaozu's Taihe era, another small white mouse was caught in the capital. In May of the fourth year of Shizong Jingming, another small white mouse was caught in the capital. In June of the first year of the Zhengshi era, another small white mouse was caught in the capital. A report from Sizhou stated that a small white mouse had been caught and sent.
