Xiao Daocheng, styled Shaobo, was born in Wujin, Jiangsu. When he was young, the eastern part of Wujin was designated as Lanling County, so he later self-styled himself as a Lanling native. His father, Xiao Chengzhi, often fought alongside the clan leader, Xiao Sihua, and eventually became a Sima under Xiao Sihua, gaining official rank through military achievements and serving as a Right Army general under Liu Yilong.
Daocheng loved fighting from a young age and initially performed menial tasks in the army, frequently participating in battles and being involved in them. He served as a junior officer in campaigns against nomadic tribes and earned recognition for his hard work and dedication. When Xiao Sihua was stationed in Xiangyang, he took Daocheng with him to oversee the garrison troops. Daocheng was later promoted to an officer in the Right Army, often fighting on the borders, and he even engaged in skirmishes with border civilians, suffering a significant defeat at Tan Di. When Liu Jun became emperor, he assigned Daocheng a few ceremonial positions, eventually appointing him as the Prefect of Jianye. After Liu Jun's death, his son Liu Ziye appointed Daocheng as Rear Army General and General of the Hall.
After Liu Ziye died, Liu Yu became emperor and appointed Daocheng as General of the Right Army. At that time, Liu Ziye's brother, Prince Xun of Jianzhou, and others, such as Prince Fang of Kuaiji, rebelled. Liu Yu appointed Daocheng as the General of the Protectorate to quell the rebellion in the east, and he swiftly quelled the rebellious counties. The Prefects of Jinling, Yuan Biao, Gu Chen of Wu County, and Wang Yunsheng of Wuxing all deserted their posts and fled. At this point, the Prefect of Xuzhou, Xue Andu, sent his nephew, Suo'er, to lead a contingent of elite troops across the Huai River to attack Daocheng, who successfully repelled them. For his achievements, Daocheng was granted the title of Marquis of Xiyang, with a fief of six hundred households. Later, Zixun sent Zhang Yan, the Grand Historian of Linchuan, to attack from the east, intending to create chaos in the Jiangnan region. Liu Yu sent Daocheng to lead three thousand men to resist Zhang Yan alongside Shen Siren, and Zhang Yan was ultimately repelled. Zhang Yong and Shen Youzhi faced a severe defeat at Pengcheng, and Liu Yu appointed Daocheng as Champion General, commanding the army, holding the seal, and stationed at Huaiyin.
Liu Yu's son Liu Yu died, and he appointed Dao Cheng as the Right Guard General and concurrently served as the Minister of War, increasing his troops by five hundred, enabling him to participate in state affairs alongside the Minister of State Yuan, the Protector General Zhu Yuan, and the Commander Liu Xuan. Later, Dao Cheng was removed from the position of Minister of War and reassigned as the Chamberlain, stationed at Shitou City. Liu Xiufan raised an army in rebellion, claiming to punish Wang Daolong and others, preparing thoroughly and launching a fierce attack. Dao Cheng and his allies led the troops in resistance. Once the rebellion was quelled, Dao Cheng was appointed as the Regular Attendant, Deputy Commander, Governor of the five provinces of Nanyan, Yan, Xu, Qing, and Ji, General of the Town Army, and Inspector of Nanyan Province, retaining the title of marquis. Later, he was promoted to duchy, with his fief increasing to two thousand households.
Emperor Liu Yu became increasingly tyrannical, which had become intolerable! Xiao Daocheng, along with Wang Jingze and Yang Yufu, teamed up to overthrow Liu Yu. They then proclaimed Liu Yu's brother Liu Zhun as emperor, renaming the era to Shengming; this was the first year of Taihe. Xiao Daocheng was transferred to East City to serve as a garrison commander, bringing fifty fully armed soldiers with him to the palace, and his official rank rose rapidly, quickly accumulating titles, including Chamberlain, Minister of Construction, Director of the Ministry of Rites, General of the Cavalry, holding authority, Commander, and Inspector. He was also granted the title of Duke of Jingling, with a fief of five thousand households and thirty sword-bearing guards, and was later also appointed as the Inspector of Yuzhou and Sizhou.
The governor of Jingzhou, Shen Youzhi, rebelled and sought to confront Xiao Daocheng. Xiao Daocheng, leading his troops back to the capital, marched straight into the palace. The Minister of State, Yuan Can, was stationed at Shitou City at the time. He, along with the Minister of Personnel Liu Bing and former governor of Xiangzhou Wang Yun, conspired against Xiao Daocheng and secretly wrote to Shen Youzhi, urging him to act swiftly, working together from within and without. In the end, they were unsuccessful; both Yuan Can and his son died, Liu Bing and his son escaped over the wall to Eyan Lake, and Wang Yun ran to the arena, all of whom were captured. Shen Youzhi fled to Xiakou, was defeated, and, along with his third son, a scholar named Taihe, rode south to Huarong County, where the father and son hanged themselves. As a consequence of this event, Xiao Daocheng was promoted, becoming the Grand Commandant, with his fief increased to eight thousand households, and his guards increased to one hundred, allowing him to bring one hundred fully armed soldiers into the palace.
Xiao Daocheng's ambitions were clear to all. The courtier Wang Jian wanted to find an opportunity to advise him, so he took the opportunity to speak with Xiao Daocheng. Xiao Daocheng said, "Speak plainly; I am following the rules as we speak!" Although his tone was very firm, Wang Jian noticed that he was actually quite pleased beneath the surface. Wang Jian secretly maneuvered behind the scenes to elevate Xiao Daocheng, granting him the yellow imperial axe, permitting him to lead the national army, while concurrently appointing him as governor of Yangzhou. He was allowed to wear a sword and shoes when entering the court, to meet the emperor without the need to kneel or bow, and was assigned one chief historian and one general on each side, as well as four personnel each for the middle secretary, clerk, and staff. He retained his previous titles of courtier, Grand Commandant, General of the Cavalry, Minister of State, and governor of Southern Xuzhou. Xiao Daocheng feigned reluctance to accept these special privileges, saying he did not want them, but in reality, he eagerly accepted all of them without hesitation: wearing a sword and shoes in the court, entering the audience without bowing, and not needing to perform the usual courtesies—he took full advantage of every one.
Later, he was promoted to the position of Prime Minister, in charge of all officials, and was granted the title of Duke of Qi, with the nine honors, as well as receiving the imperial seal and ceremonial cap. His status exceeded that of the princes. He was also appointed as Prime Minister, given a green silk sash, and held the positions of General of the Cavalry, Governor of Yangzhou, and Prefect of Nanxu Province. Xiao Daocheng constructed the Qi Platform, established various officials, converted the Eastern Palace into the Qi Palace, and further granted him control over ten counties, elevating him from duke to king. Before long, he seized the throne and appointed Liu Zhun as the King of Ruyin, who died shortly thereafter. What a fierce battle it was! The Emperor ordered Prince Jia of Liangjun to lead two armies from Huaiyin, General Yuan Cao to lead three armies from Guangling, and General Xue Hu to lead three armies from Shouchun to confront the rebel Daocheng. They first captured Daocheng's Matou Garrison and emerged victorious! On the other side, Daocheng sent his Inspector of Xuzhou, Cui Wenzhong, to assault Chamei Garrison, where he also achieved success! Upon hearing this, the Emperor quickly sent Minister You Minggen to deal with him. The Emperor also mobilized several armies: General Lang Datan with three armies from Xucheng, General Bai Tu'ou with two armies from Haixi, General Yuan Tai with two armies from Liankou, General Feng Yan with three armies from Jiaocheng, and General Heluo from Xiaca County. At the same time, under the command of the Inspector of Liangzhou, Cui Huijing, his subordinate Pei Shubao led troops to attack Wuxing Pass, but was defeated by Yang Shu, the leader of the Di tribe, and was forced to retreat to Nanzheng in disgrace.
Prince Jia of Liangjun defeated the general Lu Shaozhi and Xuan Yuandu of Daocheng at Xushan. When the garrison of Xia Cai saw the situation was unfavorable, they immediately abandoned the city and fled. The emperor appointed Wang Fengxi of Changli as the commander of the Western Route, directing him to set out from Yiyang together with General Huan Dan of the Southern Expedition; General He Luo of the Southern Garrison moved east from Xia Cai to Zhongli; and the guerrilla general Huan Kang of Daocheng suffered defeat in Huaiyang. The governor of Yuzhou, Yuan Chongzu, attempted to attack Xia Cai but was also defeated by Wang Fengxi of Changli. Prince Jia of Liangjun won this battle handsomely, capturing more than twenty thousand people, all of whom were escorted back to the capital. Daocheng also sent a rear guard officer named Che Senglang to pay tribute, hoping to ease relations.
Earlier, Liu Zhun had dispatched envoys Yin Lingdan and Gou Zhao to the court, but before they returned, Daocheng rebelled and declared himself emperor. After Che Senglang arrived in the capital, the court ranked him below Yin Lingdan, which led to a dispute over precedence that escalated into a fight in the court, with Che Senglang ultimately being killed on the spot! The emperor ordered that he be given a proper burial and then sent the funeral procession back.
With Daocheng dead, his son Ze continued the rebellion and declared himself emperor, renaming the era to Yongming. Ze also sent envoys to pay tribute, first dispatching General of Cavalry Liu Zuan and former General Zhang Mo; eight years later, he sent cavalry attendants Sima Xian and Yu Xi; nine years later, he sent General of State Liu Zuan and Tongzhilang Pei Zhaoming as tribute; and ten years later, he sent Pei Zhaoming and the champion officer Sima Dizhizhi as tribute. This guy really never learns!
When Emperor Ming of Qi was a young prince, he was notoriously extravagant. His father, Emperor Gao of Qi, often considered deposing him, but fortunately, Wang Jingze intervened to prevent that from happening. Emperor Ming was particularly obsessed with wealth and often told people, "Only Cui Huijing knows I'm poor." One time, he went to the residence of Liu Quan, the governor of Yizhou, for a nap. When he woke up, Liu Quan personally brought in a golden bathing basin, which was three feet wide, and beside it stood a beautiful concubine holding a golden bathing bottle filled with four liters of water, saying it was for him to wash his face. Emperor Ming accepted it without a second thought. His obsession with wealth was clearly evident. He also had an insatiable appetite for hunting, and General Handan Qi in the palace couldn't stand it any longer, so he submitted a formal complaint against it, but this led to his execution by Emperor Ming.
After a few years, in the year 477 AD, Emperor Ming sent Colonel Yan Youming of the Pingnan Army and Attendant Liu Sixiao to offer tribute. In the year 478 AD, the Prince of Badong, Xiao Xiang, killed Chief of Staff Liu Yin and Marshal Xi Gongmu, and even planned to assassinate Emperor Ming, but was taken down by Xiao Shunzhi, the Governor of Dan Yang. In February of the year 479 AD, Emperor Ming sent Censor Pei Zhaoming and Gentleman Xie Jun to offer tribute; in September, he sent Army Colonel Xiao Chen and Fan Zhen to offer tribute. In the year 480 AD, Emperor Ming once again sent Xiao Chen and Army Colonel Fan Yun to offer tribute, and also sent Yu Bi, the Chariot and Cavalry Officer, and He Xian, the Deputy of Nan Yu Prefecture, to offer tribute. In the year 481 AD, Wang Huan, the Governor of Yanzhou, and Liu Xingzu, the Historian of the Southern Barbarians, accused each other of some crimes. Emperor Ming imprisoned Liu Xingzu and ordered him to be escorted back to Jianye. As a result, Wang Huan killed Liu Xingzu in prison, and then couldn't explain how he met his end, and then he died too. Emperor Ming was enraged when he heard this, and sent General Cao Daogang and Governor Cao Hu of Liangzhou to arrest Wang Huan. Wang Huan refused to engage and locked the gates. Marshal Huang Yao in the city led his troops to assault Wang Huan, killing him. Wang Huan's son, Wang Su, the Secretariat, and his brother Wang Bing surrendered.
Emperor Ming's son Xiao Changmao died, so he appointed his grandson Xiao Zhaoye, the Prince of Nanjun, as the Crown Prince. Later, Emperor Ming fell into unconsciousness for a time. His son, the Prince of Jingling, Ziliang, was in the hall at the time, while Crown Prince Xiao Zhaoye had not yet arrived. Wang Rong, the Palace Attendant, blocked the Eastern Palace officials at the gate of the Ministry of Rites, intending to declare the Prince of Jingling emperor. Just then, Emperor Ming woke up, and Xiao Zhaoye entered the hall. Realizing the Prince of Jingling had no chance, Wang Rong took off his armor and returned to the Ministry of Rites.
Zhi passed away, and Zhao Ye ascended to the throne. A few days later, he arrested Rong and handed him over to the Court of Judicial Punishment for execution. Zhao Ye was raised by his uncle Zi Liang since he was young. However, he was especially good at disguising himself, harboring many bad ideas in his heart, associating with a group of dubious friends, sharing meals and living together. His wife, He Shi, even chose a few attractive ones from among them to have affairs with. They secretly found wealthy merchants and defrauded them of countless riches. While living with Zi Liang, he was careful not to be too reckless. Later, when Zi Liang moved to the Western Residence, Zhao Ye lived alone in the West State. Every night, he secretly opened the back door and took those dubious friends to various yamen to eat, drink, and engage in debauchery. For all those who did not engage in legitimate business, he promoted them, promising that they would become high-ranking officials in the future. Then he immediately inscribed their official titles on yellow paper and carefully stored them in their chests.
Zhao Ye's teachers, Shi Renzu and scribe Hu Tianyi, learned of this and discussed, "If we tell the people in the palace about this, I'm afraid it won't end well; if we say he was beaten by someone in the yamen, or injured by something, it wouldn't just be his misfortune; his entire family would suffer. We are both over seventy years old, what do we have to lose at our age?" A few days later, Renzu and Tianyi both committed suicide.
Zhao Ye's father, Chang Mao, from illness to death, Zhao Ye had been serving by his side, overcome with grief, crying more bitterly than custom allows. Following the funeral, he returned to his quarters and joyfully feasted with his close friends, a lavish spread of delicious food was laid out. Following the funeral, he was named Crown Prince.
He had made a hole between his mother's room and the He family's room and built a small loft inside. Every time he went in, he stayed for a very long time before coming out. Later, Zhu Wen arrived at the Eastern Palace, and Zhao Ye went to meet him. When they met, Zhao Ye cried so much that it took him a long time to recover. Zhu Wen quickly dismounted and picked him up, showing him particular fondness.
It is said that earlier, when he was in Xizhou, Zhao Ye had a sorceress named Yang pray for him in the hope of becoming emperor sooner. After his father died, he attributed his success to Yang and held her in even higher regard. Yang's son, Min, was quite handsome, and He especially liked him. Zhao Ye called Yang "Mother." Since Liu (referring to Empress Dowager Liu) took power, a folk song known as "Yang Po's Song" has circulated, probably because of this.
After arriving at the Eastern Palace, Zhu Wen fell ill and had Yang pray for him every day. As a result, Zhu Wen died soon after. Zhao Ye wrote a letter to He, with a large character "喜" prominently displayed on the paper, surrounded by thirty-six small "喜" characters. Zhu Wen trusted that he could shoulder great responsibilities and told him, "For the past five years, the affairs of state have been entrusted to the prime minister, so you have worked hard. After five years, do not rely on others anymore." When Zhu Wen was dying, he held Zhao Ye's hand and said, "Ah Nu, if you miss me, do your work well." He said it twice before passing away.
At this time, his son Zhu Youliang was in the Ministry of Personnel. Zhao Ye was a little afraid, so he sent the Tiger Guard Langjiang General Pan Shu with one hundred soldiers to guard the steps on the west side of the Taiji Hall as a precaution. When preparing for Zhu Wen's funeral, Zhao Ye also summoned the musicians to perform. Although the musicians were all very afraid, yet they all wept openly. Once the mourning attire was donned, he sent the other princes back. Zhu Youliang pleaded to remain a few more days, until Zhu Wen was buried, but Zhao Ye refused his request.
Zhaoye, that brat, has always liked raising dogs and riding horses. Less than ten days after becoming emperor, he had the Wan Hall, which the late Emperor Xiao Ze had built for him, torn down and used the wood from the hall to help the eunuch Xu Longju build his house. Then, he set up a horse stable there and ended up taking a big fall while riding, bumping his forehead. He then played sick and didn't attend court for several days. He also kept a bunch of precious eagles and hunting dogs, feeding them the best meat every day.
When Emperor Xiao Ze was buried, before the funeral carriage even left the gate, Zhaoye pretended to be sick and returned to the palace. As soon as he entered, he had music blaring, with drums blaring so loudly that they could be heard both inside and outside the palace. At that time, Minister Wang Jingze asked the shooting officer Xiao Tanzhi, "Isn't this a bit much? Isn't he jumping the gun?" Xiao Tanzhi replied, "What's this? I estimate that soon the cries in the palace will drown out the music!" After Xiao Ze was buried, Zhaoye sneaked out of the palace and wandered around the city streets and alleys. He often visited his parents' tomb and played petty games with some local punks, getting into all sorts of trouble, doing so every day with great enthusiasm. He handed over all matters of state, big and small, to the Minister of Works, Xiao Luan.
While he was alive, Emperor Xiao Ze had stashed away a good amount of cash, with five hundred million in the national treasury and three hundred million in the inner treasury, not to mention a mountain of gold, silver, treasures, fabrics, and silks. However, under Zhaoye's reign, he blew through more than half of it in less than a year, giving rewards to the guards and soldiers around him. By the time he was deposed, the national treasury was bone dry. While in the palace, Zhaoye also wore weird outfits, sometimes he wore a purple cotton robe and other times a red-flowered outfit, and a flashy brocade hat.
Once, a new era name, Longchang, was adopted. Then, Zhou Fengshu, the Huangmenlang, was appointed as the Champion General and the Governor of Qingzhou. Zhou Fengshu was particularly skilled at flattering, and Emperor Zhaoye favored him greatly, which made Zhou Fengshu more and more arrogant. He was not afraid of anything and went in and out of the palace every day with twenty single-edged blades, and the guards didn’t dare to say a word. He often told people, "Zhou's sword doesn't know you lot!"
There was also a man named Xu Longju, who started as a palace attendant in the Eastern Palace (probably an official serving the prince) and won the emperor's favor with his flattery, specializing in shady dealings to curry favor with the emperor. He was behind all the despicable acts that Zhaoye carried out. Zhaoye even arranged for beautiful women and musical instruments for Xu Longju, letting him stay in Hanzhang Hall, decked out in a yellow hat and a mink coat, sitting on the south side of the desk, dealing with memorials for Zhaoye, serving just like Emperor Zhaoye.
Xiao Luan was always looking to take Xu Longju out, and Yang Min and her son were also captured and executed. Yang Min and her son were Zhaoye's favorite concubines, enjoying an incredibly high level of favor, with rewards that were countless. Yang Min was the He family's male favorite, often serving the emperor in the palace. Initially, Xiao Luan sent Weiwei Xiao Chen and Zhengbei Ziyi Xiao Tanzhi to take Yang Min into custody, but the He family sat with Zhaoye, crying and begging, saying, "Yang Lang is still young and hasn’t done anything wrong; how can he be executed unfairly?" Xiao Tanzhi whispered to Zhaoye, "There’s more to this than meets the eye, and it shouldn’t get out." Zhaoye then asked the He family to step outside for a moment. Only then did Xiao Tanzhi speak up, "Everyone's saying out there that Yang Min is having an affair with the Empress, and the rumors are rampant. This sort of thing has never happened before; it might ruin a great matter." Zhaoye had no choice but to go along with it, but just as he issued the order for amnesty, the person had already been killed.
After the Governor of Yizhou, Liu Quan, returned from his post, he was arrested and sentenced to death for not providing enough gifts to Zhao Ye. Liu Quan's younger brother, the Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat Liu Zeng, requested to die in place of his brother, thus saving his life but was sentenced to life imprisonment. Zhao Ye also took his father's favorite concubine, Huo Shi, as his own and brought her into the palace. Xiao Luan wanted to overthrow Zhao Ye and led troops into the palace. At that moment, Zhao Ye was in bed with Huo Shi when he heard the sound of soldiers; he drew his sword to fight back against Xiao Luan, but was killed, along with more than a dozen guards who also perished.
Speaking of Xiao Luan, his younger brother, Xiao Zhaowen, held several high-ranking official positions, serving as the Grand Commandant, Commander of Yangzhou and Nanxuzhou, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Governor of Yangzhou. He was also granted thirty warriors as guards and titled D
Then, he sent the Central Protector General Wang Xuanmiao to execute Xiao Zhaowen's Governor of Nanyanzhou, Xiao Zijing (Prince of Anlu), and ordered the Governor of Yuzhou, Wang Guangzhi, to execute the Governor of Jiangzhou, Xiao Zimao (Prince of Jin'an). Next, he also executed the Governors of Xiangzhou, Xiao Rui (Prince of Nanping), Yingzhou, Xiao Qiu (Prince of Jinxi), and Nanyuzhou, Xiao Jian (Prince of Yidu). As for Xiao Luan, he received further promotions, put on the yellow imperial robe, and was appointed as the Commander of all military forces, Grand Tutor, Chief General, and Governor of Yangzhou; his guard increased to forty men, and the ceremonial procession became even more luxurious, commanding an imposing presence! He could attend court wearing shoes and a hat, without having to bow, and did not need to introduce himself to the emperor; he was also granted the title of Prince of Xuancheng, with a fief of five thousand households; he retained his previous titles as Envoy with Special Authority, Director of the Central Secretariat, and Chief of the Secretariat. He also had Xiao Zhaowen's Prince of Guiyang, Xiao Shuo, Prince of Xiyang, Xiao Jun, Prince of Jiangxia, Xiao Feng, Prince of Luling, Zi Qing, Prince of Jian'an, Zi Zhen, and Prince of Baling, Zi Lun, executed. Finally, Xiao Luan reduced Xiao Zhaowen's status to King of Hailing, and shortly thereafter, Xiao Zhaowen passed away. It was then that Xiao Luan officially proclaimed himself emperor.
Xiao Luan, whose courtesy name was Jingqi, was greatly favored by his uncle Xiao Daocheng, who preferred him over his other sons. In the later years of Xiao Ze’s reign, Xiao Luan served as the Left Chief Minister, and Xiao Ze trusted and relied on him greatly. After Xiao Ze died, Xiao Luan took control of the court. He first killed Xiao Zhaoye, then became tyrannical and brutally murdered Xiao Ze’s descendants. Later, Xiao Luan himself became emperor; that was during the 18th year of the Taihe era, and he changed the era name to Jianwu. It’s worth noting that, at that time, Liu Langzhi, the Grand Master of the Imperial Horse, and Liu Quzhi, the General of the Guerrilla Forces, were both dismissed and imprisoned for neglecting their nephew, which caused his mother to remarry. People at the time considered this a betrayal of loyalty, and all of this actually stemmed from Xiao Luan's tyrannical rule.
This guy Cao Hu, occupying Xiangyang as a governor, had the audacity to want to surrender! The emperor ordered General Xue Zhend to take four other generals to Xiangyang to take over. Grand General Liu Chang departed from Yiyang, Xu Province Governor Yuan Yan departed from Zhongli, Pingnan General Liu Zao started from Nanzheng, and the emperor personally led troops south to suppress. In the 19th year, that old coot Wang Lang, originally the founding marquis of Longyang County, came scurrying over from Guoyang to surrender. General Yuan Li scored a major victory over the enemy and captured their Ningzhou governor Dong Man. After the emperor crossed the Huai River, he also took a spin around Bagong Mountain. Traveling east along the Huai River, departing from Zhongli, they were about to reach the banks of the Yangtze River when Minister Feng Dan passed away, making the emperor order a retreat and send envoys to the Yangtze River to denounce Xiao Luan's crimes.
That bastard Xiao Luan even killed some of his own sons: Prince Ming of Xiyang, Prince Han of Nanhai, and Prince Zhen of Shaoling!
In the twenty-first year, the emperor once again led his troops to campaign against Xiao Luan. The former general Han Liwan, the governor of Yiyang Wang Sizhi, rear general Zhao Zuyue, and fourteen other generals under Xiao Luan all surrendered. We inflicted a crushing defeat on Xiao Luan's army on the north bank of the Yangtze River and captured their general Wang Fubao and others. The emperor then conducted an inspection along the eastern bank of Mianshui before returning to court. Xiao Luan's general Wang Tan led over ten thousand troops to harass South Qingzhou, but was decisively defeated by Cui Sengyuan, the commander of Huangguo Fort, and all his troops were captured. Cui Sengyuan also captured Xinye City and killed Liu Ji, Xiao Luan's assistant general and governor of Xinye. Xiao Luan's commanders, including Cai Daofu, the commander of Huyang Fort, Cheng Gongqi, the commander of Zheyang Fort, military commander Hu Song, Huang Yao, the commander of Wuyin Fort and assistant general as well as governor of the two counties of Xirunan and Yiyang, Bao Ju, the general and military commander, and Xi Qian, the governor of Nanxiang, all deserted their troops and fled. Huang Yao and Bao Ju were captured. Xiao Luan also executed several of his sons: Wang Xuan of Hedong, Prince Yue of Linhe, Prince Wen of Xiyang, Prince Min of Hengyang, Prince Jian of Xiangdong, Prince Xia of Nanjun, Prince Zhao Xiu of Baling, and Prince Zhao Can of Guiyang. The emperor personally led a large army to Nanyang and attacked Wanfeng City, quickly capturing it! Fang Boyu, the champion general and governor of Nanyang, surrendered outright. Then, in Dengcheng, he dealt a major defeat to Xiao Luan's Pingbei General Cui Huijing and Huangmen Lang Xiao Yan, resulting in the deaths and capture of over twenty thousand people. Xiao Luan was struck with fear and fell even more ill. With no choice but to grant a general amnesty, he changed the era name to Yongtai. At this time, his Grand Marshal Wang Jingze raised an army in Kuaiji to rebel against him. Xie Tiao, the advisor of the Northern Town, informed him of this, but ultimately, Wang Jingze was defeated and met his end.
Luan had died, and his son Bao Juan usurped the throne to become emperor. In the spring of the twenty-third year of his reign, Bao Juan renamed the era to Yongyuan and sent his Grand Commandant, Chen Xianda, along with Cui Huijing, to attack Maquancheng. The emperor also ordered former General Yuan Ying to suppress the rebels. Bao Juan also dispatched troops to Shunyang, and the emperor ordered General Murong Pingcheng to lead the cavalry into battle. Chen Xianda successfully captured Maquancheng, and the emperor personally led the army south to pacify the rebellion, also ordering General Jia, the Prince of Guangyang, to block Junkou. Unfortunately, Chen Xianda was defeated, and he fled under cover of night with his remaining soldiers, with his Left General Zhang Zishun being killed. The rebel leaders Cai Daofu and Cheng Gongqi escaped from Shunyang with tens of thousands of troops.
Bao Juan was incompetent and cruel, heeding the slanderous words of petty officials, resulting in utter chaos in the court. His Prince of Shi'an, Yaoguang, attempted to rebel from the East Palace but was unsuccessful and was killed. Bao Juan also executed Right Supervisor Xiao Tanzhi, Left Guard General Cao Hu, and Army General Liu Xuan. He also executed Minister of Works Xu Xiaosi, Left Supervisor Shen Wenji, and former Military Advisor Shen Zhaolu. His Grand Commandant and Jiangzhou Governor, Chen Xianda, also rebelled against Jianye but was ultimately unsuccessful and met his demise.
It is said that in the early years of Jingming, the rebel Bao Juan heard that the Prefect of Yuzhou, Pei Shuye, surrendered to him and was overjoyed. Therefore, Bao Juan sent his subordinate, Xiao Yi, the Commander of the Imperial Guards, to serve as the General of Capturing the Enemy and the Prefect of Yuzhou, leading troops to attack Shouyang, with the army camped at Xiaoxian. The court quickly dispatched military commander Li Huan, as well as commanders Xikangsheng and Yang Dayan, leading a large army to march towards Shouyang. Prince Xiao Xie of Pengcheng was appointed as the General of Cavalry, and the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Su, led a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry to quickly support. On the other side, Bao Juan also sent Hu Song and Li Jushi to lead troops to defend at the Dead Tiger, and let Chen Bozhi's navy advance upstream along the Huai River to threaten Shouchun. As a result, Xiao Xie and Wang Su decisively defeated them, decimating their forces and killing tens of thousands. Chen Bozhi then went to harass Huainan, only to be defeated by Xiao Xie at Feikou. Tian Yizong, the Prefect of Yuzhou, also achieved victory, defeating Bao Juan's generals Wu Ziyang and Liu Yuanchao in Changfeng.
Bao Juan then sent his attendant Cui Huijing to lead troops from Guangling by water to support Shouyang. However, when Cui Huijing saw the sight of Bao Juan, who was both mad and brutal, he felt a lack of security. Once he received full command authority, he set off immediately. His son, Cui Jue, was serving as a direct chamberlain in the court at that time and secretly agreed on a time with his father. When Cui Huijing arrived in Guangling, his son Cui Jue immediately fled. As a result, Cui Huijing turned back after marching for several dozen miles in Guangling. At that time, Guangling's defenses were weak, and Sima Cuigong accepted him, so Cui Huijing crossed the Yangtze River with his troops and launched a direct assault on Jianye. Bao Juan could only retreat into the city and defend it. Later, Xiao Yi, the Prefect of Yuzhou sent by Bao Juan, defeated Cui Huijing, capturing and executing him.
After Huijing died, Baojuan became so arrogant and reckless that he ran out to play every day. He particularly enjoyed mingling with women like Ru Fazhen and Mei Chong'er, as well as the guards and imperial troops responsible for delivering orders, even those holding the imperial sword, whom the common people referred to as "the Sword Edict." Baojuan often wore military gear and rode his horse to these people's homes to eat, drink, and have fun. Whenever there was a wedding or funeral at their homes, Baojuan had to crash the parties, and he was particularly anxious about being spotted by anyone, so he always drove the common people away, blocking off the roads and leaving behind nothing but empty houses. He had no set destination, and the officials were too scared to cross him, so they kept shuffling people around haphazardly, sending some this way and others that way. In the morning, he would say he was going here, only to change his mind by nightfall and go there instead. The officials ran back and forth, the roads filled with shouting, and the common people were terrified, crying out as martial law was declared all around, completely unaware of where Baojuan was heading. If there were sick people on the road, no matter if anyone was carrying them or not, they had to be hurriedly moved; if they couldn’t be carried, they had to drag themselves along the ground. Those officials even resorted to brutality, and many were outright beaten to death. Baojuan didn't return to the palace until midnight, and his subordinates took the opportunity to raid the homes of the wealthy, leaving them completely looted. Even the family of Wang Jingbin, the former governor of Wei Xing, who had just died and hadn't been buried yet, was driven away, unable to stay guard. By the time the family returned, rats had gnawed Wang Jingbin's eyes clean—a frequent occurrence! Baojuan's lawlessness escalated, and even the highly accomplished Minister Xiao Yi fell victim to his jealousy and was killed, along with Xiao Yi's brother, Wei Wei Qing, Xiao Chang. The emperor dispatched General Chun Jun and the governor of South Yu Province, Xi Foyou, to lead thirty thousand troops to besiege Baojuan's ally, General Hu Jinglue of Beixin Cai and Anfeng. As a result, they captured Jian'an City and apprehended Hu Jinglue.
Bao Juan's subordinate Xiao Yan, the Governor of Yongzhou, occupied Xiangyang and rebelled, while Xiao Yingzhou, the official in charge of Jingzhou, also responded to Xiao Yan. In March, Xiao Yingzhou betrayed Bao Juan and supported Prince Baorong of Nankang as emperor. Thus, Baorong usurped the throne. Xiao Yingzhou became the Attendant and Minister of State; Xiao Yan became the Left Chancellor, Commander-in-Chief of the Expeditionary Forces, and Grand General of the East, retaining his original titles. Xiao Yingzhou suggested that Bao Juan be appointed as the Marquis of Yuyang County, but Baorong disagreed and appointed him as King of Fuling. Xiao Yingzhou also held the position of military commander across eight provinces while serving as the Governor of Jingzhou. Xiao Yan was granted the Yellow Seal (symbolizing the highest military authority). Xiao Yan's army arrived at Miankou, and Yingzhou closed the city gates.
It is said that Bao Juan killed Prince Xiaozhou of Baling, Marquis Xiaoxiu of Yongxin, and Chamberlain Xiaoyin. He grew increasingly tyrannical and incompetent, causing discontent among the people. At this time, Wang Lingshu, the Prefect of Nanqiao, and others led troops to welcome Bao Juan's brother Bao Ying at Shitou City. The civil and military officials in the city also joined in, and even the common people followed along empty-handed, amounting to tens of thousands of people. However, when night fell, the city gates closed, preventing their entry. Xiao Yan's army arrived in Jianye, and the various regions abandoned Bao Juan and surrendered to Xiao Yan.
Xiao Yan's army entered the palace. Bao Juan was playing the sheng and singing "Daughters" in the Hande Hall, still lying there, not yet asleep. Upon hearing soldiers outside, he hurriedly ran from the North Gate, trying to return to the harem, only to find the door of the Qingyao Pavilion closed. A eunuch named Huang Taiping injured his knee with a knife, which caused Bao Juan to fall to the ground, shouting, "I am rebelling!" Zhang Qi then directly chopped off his head and presented it to Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan posthumously titled Bao Juan as the "Duke of Donghun," and relegated his wife and children to commoner status. Xiao Yan also had Bao Juan's brother, Prince Xiangdong Xiao Baozhang, killed, along with Prince Shaoling Xiao Baoyou, Prince Jinxi Xiao Baosong, and Prince Guiyang Xiao Baozhen; only Prince Jian'an, Xiao Baoyin, came to surrender to him. Xiao Yan then forced Xiao Baorong to abdicate the throne in favor of him, bestowing the title of King of Baling upon Xiao Baorong and allowing him to reside in Gushu. Not long after, Xiao Baorong died unexpectedly. As for Xiao Yan, his style name was Shuda, also from Wujin in Jinling. His father, Xiao Shunzhi, was the Grand Master of Ceremonies under Xiao Ze. Xiao Yan was frivolous in his youth but was known for his sharp wit. He served as the Registrar of the Military Bureau under Wang Jian and gradually rose in rank to become the Yellow Gate Attendant of Xiao Luan and the Prince's Chief Attendant. In the twenty-second year of Taihe, Emperor Gaozu Xiao Daocheng marched south to battle and ordered various armies to besiege Xiangyang. Xiao Yan also led troops to support, but was defeated by General Yu Wenfu of the Wuwei, fleeing alone on horseback.
After Xiao Luan's death, Xiao Yan was appointed as the General Who Assists the State and Governor of Yongzhou, at the time of Xiao Luan's death. Xiao Luan's son, Xiao Baojuan, ascended the throne, executed Xiao Yan's brother, Xiao Yi, and sent Liu Shanyang, the Prefect of Baxi County and Zitong County, to attack Xiao Yan in the west, claiming to support various counties, but actually intending to eliminate Xiao Yan in secret. However, upon arriving in Jingzhou, Liu Shanyang was killed by Xiao Yingzhou.
In the second year of the Jingming era, Xiao Yan and Xiao Yingzhou joined forces to support Xiao Baojuan's younger brother, Xiao Baorong, as the emperor of Jingzhou, declaring it a "mid-year renewal," and then mobilized troops to confront Xiao Baojuan. In December of that year, they captured Jianye and executed Xiao Baojuan and his entire family. Xiao Yan was appointed Grand Marshal, Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and Governor of Yangzhou, and was granted the title Duke of Jian'an County with a fief encompassing ten thousand households. Three years later, he ascended to the position of Prime Minister and Governor of Yangzhou, was granted the title of Prince of Liang, and awarded ten counties.
Xiao Yan later usurped the throne and declared himself emperor, establishing the Liang Dynasty and changing the reign title to Tianjian. In May, the garrison commander Dang Fazong of Xiaoxian Garrison in Yangzhou attacked Xiao Yan's Daxian Garrison, defeated him, and captured his General Longxiang, Zhu Pu'sa, and sent him to the capital. Xiao Yan then dispatched General Zhang Xiao to attack Yangzhou, but he was defeated by the Yangzhou army, resulting in over two thousand casualties. In March of the fourth year of his reign, the governor of Yangzhou, Prince Rencheng Xiao Cheng, sent the garrison commander Qidao Xian of Changfeng Garrison to attack Xiao Yan's Yinshan Garrison, defeating him and killing his General Longxiang, Duke Meixingzu. He then launched an attack on Baigao Garrison, defeating them as well, killing Xiao Yan's General Ning Shuo, Wu Daoshuang, and others, and capturing several thousand troops. Xiao Yan then dispatched his Chief of Staff, Pan Boliang, to garrison troops in Huailing, while the governor of Xuzhou, Sima Mingsu, took control of Jiushan. Xiao Cheng dispatched troops to defeat them all, killing Pan Boliang and capturing Sima Mingsu. Xiao Yan's general Wu Ziyang attacked Baisha and was defeated by Prince Zhongshan Xiao Ying, resulting in over a thousand casualties. Later, Zhai Yuan, the governor of Liangzhou and Marquis of Pingyang County, and Chen Huya, the governor of Xuzhou and Marquis of Yongchang County, both surrendered to him. In January 477 AD, Xiao Yan's general Zhao Zuyue was stationed at Dongguan when he was caught off guard by Chen Bozhi, the governor of Jiangzhou, resulting in a complete defeat.
In February, another general of Xiao Yan, Jiang Qingzhen, launched a surprise attack outside Shouchun city, hoping for a surprise. Unfortunately, Shouchun's defending army reacted quickly and drove him away. At the same time, Prince Yuen Ying of Zhongshan was besieging Xiao Yan's army in Zhongli. Xiao Yan quickly sent his champion general Zhang Huishao to Zhongli to deliver supplies. However, they were intercepted halfway by Wang Zu and Liu Sizu sent by Prince Cheng of Rencheng, leading to a chaotic battle. Zhang Huishao was taken prisoner, along with ten other generals including the valiant cavalry general Zhao Jingyue, with thousands of soldiers lost. Zhang Huishao was Xiao Yan's brother-in-law! Xiao Yan quickly wrote a letter to beg for mercy. Some in the court wanted to make an example of this, while others argued for a show of force while also seeking to reassure the populace. In the end, it was decided to release Zhang Huishao and the others.
In March, Yuen Ying defeated Xiao Yan's general Wang Sengbing in Fancheng. In August, Yuen Ying continued to attack Xiao Yan's Yiyang, captured Yiyang, defeated Xiao Yan's general Ma Xianpin, and captured over a dozen generals, including champion general Cai Ling'en. In September, the governors of Huozhou and Yizhou, Tian Daolong and Zhang Zongzhi, both sent envoys to surrender to Xiao Yan.
In December, Xiao Yan, along with Xiahou Daoqian, the official from Liangzhou and Qinzhou, occupied Hanzhong and surrendered to the court. The court dispatched Minister Xing Luan with troops to take control. By April of the following year, Xing Luan achieved consecutive victories over Xiao Yan's army, advancing all the way to Jian'ge, and brought General Fan Shinan back to the capital. Xing Luan also sent Wang Zu to defeat other generals under Xiao Yan, killing Xiao Yan's General Feng Wenhao among others. In June, Xiao Yan sent General Wang Chaozong to harass the border, but he was soundly defeated by Xue Zhen, the Inspector of Yangzhou, who captured and killed over three thousand enemy soldiers. In July, Wang Zu secured another significant victory against Xiao Yan's forces, killing over thirty enemy generals, including the Inspectors of Qinzhou and Liangzhou, Lu Fangda and Wang Mingda, and capturing more than two thousand five hundred enemy soldiers. In September, Xiao Yan's Inspector of Xiangzhou, Yang Gongze, led troops to attack Shouchun but was decisively defeated by the Inspector of Yangzhou, Yuan Song, resulting in thousands of enemy casualties.
In the first month of a certain year, Chang Yizhi, the Inspector of Xuzhou from Southern Liang, led troops to attack Liangcheng, while Wang Maoxian, the Inspector of Jiangzhou, attacked Jingzhou and set up camp in Henan City. Our court sent General Chen Bozhi to engage Chang Yizhi and General Yang Dayan to engage Wang Maoxian, both of whom scored impressive victories! Chen Bozhi and Yang Dayan defeated them thoroughly, directly killed Wang Maoxian's General Wang Hua, and captured and killed nearly two thousand men. Wang Maoxian, terrified, fled to the banks of the Han River, with five cities along the route falling under our control. Meanwhile, General Yuwen Fu was engaged in battle in Sizhou, capturing more than a thousand enemy soldiers.
In May, the Liang army launched another invasion. Xiao Ming attacked Huaiyang, Zhang Huishao attacked Suyu, Xiao Mi attacked Liangcheng, and Wei Rui attacked Hefei. Our General Pingnan, Xi Kangsheng, fought a battle with Zhang Huishao and directly killed Song Hei, the Governor of Xuzhou under Zhang Huishao. In July, the Liang army's Governor of Xuzhou, Wang Boaao, attacked Yinling but was soundly defeated by King Ying of Zhongshan, who killed twenty-five generals and captured or executed over five thousand. The Liang army also stationed Huan He at Gushan, Chang Fangqing at Gucheng, and Jiao Daoyi at Mengshan.
In August, our General Andong, Xing Luan, defeated Huan He; General Yuan Chang captured Gucheng; and Commander Bi Zuxiu captured Mengshan. In this battle, the Liang army suffered over four thousand casualties due to deaths, captures, or drownings. The Liang army dispatched Zhang Huishao to Suyu and Xiao Ming to Huaiyang. In September, Commander Xing Luan achieved another great victory, killing more than thirty Liang generals, including the great general Lan Huaigong. Seeing the situation was dire, Zhang Huishao and Xiao Ming abandoned their camp and fled south, and we pursued them, capturing tens of thousands. The Liang army's central commander, King Xiao Mi of Linchuan, Right Minister Liu Tan, and Governor Chang Yizhi of Xuzhou were all camped at Liangcheng but suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of King Ying of Zhongshan. Xiao Mi and the others abandoned Liangcheng and fled east along the Huai River. We chased them to Matou, where the Liang army's champion general, Zhu Siyuan, also fled the city. This time, we captured more than thirty Liang generals and killed over fifty thousand.
In October, the Liang army's General Zhenglu, Ma Xianyun, attacked Yiyang with thirty thousand troops but was repelled by Lou Yue, the governor of Yingzhou, with the local forces.
In October of the year 68 AD, a man named Bai Zaosheng rebelled in Xuanhu City, and the court dispatched several generals to assist in quelling the rebellion. Consequently, the emperor directly appointed General Xing Luan to lead the troops against the rebels, and soon Bai Zaosheng was killed, along with several generals who had participated in the rebellion, and more than three thousand rebels were captured. Initially, when Bai Zaosheng began his rebellion, the emperor sent an official named Dong Shao to persuade him to surrender, but Dong Shao was captured by Bai Zaosheng and handed over to the rebel leader. That rebel leader proved to be quite astute, giving Dong Shao a lot of money and requesting him to negotiate peace with the court, expressing a willingness to cede the Suyu region to the court and indicating a desire to coexist peacefully. At that time, opinions within the court were divided; the emperor felt that although the rebel leader's words sounded nice, he had not submitted, so he refused. By December, the rebel Zhang Ning launched an attack on Chuzhou but was subsequently defeated and captured by King Ying of Zhongshan. Another rebel leader, Ma Xianjun, seized control of Jinshan but was driven out by Lou Yue, the governor of Yingzhou.
In January of the year 69 AD, King Ying of Zhongshan won another battle, capturing the rebel stronghold of Changboshu and inflicting tens of thousands of casualties; he then seized Wuyang Pass, taking twenty-six rebel generals, including Ma Guang, Peng Weng, Xu Yuanxiu, and others, and capturing over seven thousand individuals; afterwards, he attacked Huangxian West Pass, and the rebel leaders Ma Xianjun and Li Yuanlu, realizing the situation was dire, fled the pass.
In March of 71 AD, the citizens of Langya County, led by Wang Wanshou, killed the rebel General Liu Zha and more than forty other soldiers, then surrendered the city to the imperial court. The Inspector of Xuzhou, Lu Chang, sent Zhang Tianhui to reinforce the troops, but the rebels in Yuzhou dispatched two armies to intercept them, leading to a battle. The imperial army coordinated with Wang Wanshou's forces, killing and capturing hundreds. The imperial court then sent Fu Wenji to defend the city, but the rebels sent Zhang Ji and Ma Xianjun to besiege it. The court sent Lu Chang to provide assistance, but Fu Wenji surrendered to the rebels after running out of supplies, and Lu Chang ultimately did not win and returned in disgrace.
In February of 477 AD, Xu Xuanming from Yuzhou beheaded General Zhang Ji, the Northern General of Yan Town and the Inspector of Qing and Ji Provinces, and sent the head to the court, which led to Qing and Ji Provinces submitting to the imperial court.
In June of 478 AD, Xiao Yan sent troops to attack Jiushan, but Huan Shuxing, the Inspector of Jingzhou, delivered a decisive defeat, killing his generals Cai Lingsun, Xi Shixing, and Lan Cisun. In February of 479 AD, Ren Taihong, the Inspector of Ningzhou under Xiao Yan, attacked Guancheng, but Cheng Xingsun, the Chief of Yizhou, routed them.
In January of 480 AD, Xiao Yan sent his Governor Wang Dingshi of Hengnong and others to harass the border, but the Commander Yuan Zhi defeated them, killing Wang Dingshi and capturing all the soldiers. Zhao Zuyue, the Inspector of Yuzhou under Xiao Yan, secretly occupied Xieshi with tens of thousands of troops. The court ordered General Cui Liang and General Li Ping to attack, resulting in the death of Zhao Zuyue, and his head was sent to the capital. Zhang Qi, the Inspector of Hengzhou, attacked Yizhou, but Chuan Shuyanjian, the Inspector of Yizhou, confronted him, killing Zhang Qi's general Ren Taihong, while Zhang Qi himself fled.
At first, Xiao Yan always wanted to deploy troops at the border, looking for opportunities to attack, but each time he was defeated by the court's generals. Although he always thought about attacking, his strength did not allow it. Later, Xiao Yan built a dam at Fushan, intending to use it to destroy Shouchun. The emperor ordered General Xiao Baoyin, who was stationed in the south, to lead troops to suppress him, which led to a great defeat of Xiao Yan's army north of the Huai River. By September in the autumn, the dam collapsed by itself, and towns and villages along the Huai River were swept away by the flood, resulting in over a hundred thousand people being swept out to sea.
In 479 AD, Xiao Yan renamed the era "Puyuan." By 481 AD, Xiao Yan's student, Duke Zhengde of Xifeng, first surrendered to the court and then later fled back. Xiao Yan was initially very angry and changed Zhengde's surname to "Bei" as a sign of disgrace, but later reverted it back and granted him the title of King of Linhe. In September 483 AD, Xiao Yan's generals Pei Sui and Yu Hong attacked outside Shouchun, but they were repelled by Changsun Zhi, the governor of Shouchun.
In January 499 AD, Yuan Fasi, the governor of Xuzhou, rebelled in the south of the city, and Xiao Yan sent Prince Xiao Zong of Yuzhang to guard Pengcheng. Xiao Zong was the illegitimate son of Xiao Baojuan. After Xiao Yan captured Jianye, he married Wu, the mother of Xiao Baojuan. Wu was already pregnant at that time and later gave birth to Xiao Zong. Xiao Yan treated him like his own son and cherished him greatly. As Xiao Zong grew up, his mother secretly told him the truth about his origins. Thus, Xiao Zong conspired to betray Xiao Yan. While stationed in Pengcheng, when Xiao Yan dispatched a large army against him, Xiao Zong simply surrendered. Other generals loyal to Xiao Yan attempted to flee but were captured, with over ten thousand taken prisoner. When Xiao Yan first heard this news, he wept and fainted, overwhelmed with shame and regret. However, he also claimed it was due to Xiao Zong being ill and that it was caused by wind and cold, which people at the time found quite laughable.
In March, Xiao Yan sent his Grand Historian Xi Xiurou, Sima Yuyu, and Jiang Pingluo, the Prefect of Shangyong, to attack Zhicheng. The Liangzhou Governor, Fu Shuyan, led his troops to defeat them, capturing and executing three thousand people, while Xi Xiurou and the others retreated. In April, Xiao Yan's Governor of Yizhou, Xiao Yuanyou, surrounded the fort of Xiaojianshu with Fan Wenji and others. Bing Qiu, the Governor of Yizhou, sent his son Bing Da, and Commander Wei Zijian sent General Chunyu Dan to counterattack. In May, Chunyu Dan and others defeated Fan Wenji, capturing and executing twenty thousand people, including twelve generals such as Xiao Shilong, while Fan Wenji fled. That year, Xiao Yan also changed the reign title to Datong.
In July of 500 AD, Xiao Yan's generals Yuan Shu, Zhan Sengzhen, and others attacked Shouchun. They also approached Xinye, and the court ordered Commander Wei Chengzu to go and defeat them, which he did. In February of 501 AD, Xiao Yan's general Cheng Jingjun attacked Pengcheng, but Commander Cui Xiaofen led various generals to repel them.
In the first year of Jianyi, he sent his general Cao Yizong to attack Jingzhou, but they suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of our Commander Fei Mu, with Cao Yizong being captured and taken back to the capital. Legend has it that when Erzhu Rong entered Luoyang, Prince Yuan Hao of Beihai fled to him. He then proclaimed Yuan Hao as the Emperor of Wei, providing him with troops and allowing his valiant general Chen Qingzhi to escort him.
In the summer of the second year of Yong'an, Yuan Hao finally entered Luoyang, which led to our emperor leading troops to attack, defeating them thoroughly. Only Chen Qingzhi managed to escape. All others were captured. By the intercalary month, the governor of Bazhou, Yan Shixin, also defected to the rebel leader. The rebel leader sent Xiao Wan, Zhang Hong, and others to provide reinforcements. Consequently, our commander Yuan Jingxia led the armies of Yizhou and Liangzhou to fight him. In the first month of the third year of Yong'an, Yan Shixin was killed, and the rebel leader's army collapsed; Xiao Wan and the others were also killed, with over ten thousand prisoners captured.
In the spring of the first year of Putai, the governor of Southern Qingzhou, Ru Huailang, sent his subordinate He Bao with three thousand infantry and cavalry to attack the rebel leader's garrison in Langya, capturing his general Yunhui and the governors of Xu and Yan provinces, Shen Yu, and killing his fierce general and the governor of Qizhou, Liu Xiangru.
In the summer of the first year of Yongxi, the rebel leader sent his son, Prince Ye Yuan Shu, and the governor of Qiaozhou, Zhu Wenkai, to occupy Qiao City, but as a result, Fan Zihu, the acting governor of the Southeast Circuit, defeated them, capturing Yuan Shu, Zhu Wenkai, and others, and escorting them back to the capital.
In October 534, a man named Ji Geng marched in confidently into the Shanfu area with his army, but was repelled by Commander Cao Zhongni, who also killed their officers Shen Da and Min Zhuang.
In the second year, in the first month, General Zhan Sengzhen of Xiao Yan came to harass Nanyan Prefecture again, but was defeated by the troops in the prefecture. The acting governor Yuan Yan also delivered a severe defeat to Zhan Sengzhen and his men in Xiangcheng, capturing their governor Yang (name missing here). In February, Chen Qingzhi, the governor of Sizhou, and Tian Pu, the governor of Yingzhou, led troops to invade, but Yao Xiong, the governor of Yuzhou, drove them away. In May, Huang Daoshi, the governor of Renzhou under Xiao Yan, came to create chaos in Beijiyin, and Ren Xiang dispatched troops to defeat him. In October, Liang Bingjun, a general of Xiao Yan, attacked Shanfu, and Ren Xiang secured another significant victory, capturing and killing over ten thousand enemies. In November, Xiao Gong, the governor of Yongzhou under Xiao Yan, sent the general Liu Zhongli to attack Jingzhou, but Wang Yuangui, the governor of Jingzhou, defeated them at Niu Yin, killing their generals Zhang Zhi and Wang Shixing. That year, Xiao Yan also renamed the era to Zhongdatong.
In May 536, Yao Xiong, the governor of Yuzhou, attacked Xiao Yan's Baigoudai Town, won the battle, and captured their Beiping Prefect, Gou Yuankuang. In October, the acting governor Hou Jing broke through Xiao Yan's Chucheng and captured their Chu Prefecture governor Huan He and his brother. In September 537, Chu Ziyan, the governor of Qing and Ji Prefectures under Xiao Yan, attacked Yucheng, but Lu Jingyuan, the governor of South Qingzhou, successfully drove him away.
First, Governor Fu He of Yizhou surrendered to Xiao Yan of Southern Liang, who provided him with benefits and asked him to speak favorably to King Xianwu of Qi, wanting to improve relations with the Qi Kingdom. King Xianwu of Qi, pleased with the peaceful border, agreed. In the winter of the fourth year, Xiao Yan sent officials Zhang Gao, Liu Xiaoyi, and Cui Xiao to offer tribute to Qi. Two years later, in the summer, he sent Shen Shanqing and Liu Yan to offer tribute. In the spring of the second year of the Xinghe era, he sent Liu Bao and Liu Jingyan to offer tribute. That winter, he sent Lu Yanzhi and Shen Jinghui to offer tribute. That year, Xiao Yan changed his era name to Datong. In the summer of the third year, he sent Ming Shaoxia and Xie Zao to offer tribute. In the spring of the fourth year, he sent Yuan Xia and He Wenfa to offer tribute. That winter, he sent Liu Xiaosheng and Xie Jing to offer tribute. In the summer of the first year of the Wuding era, he sent Shen Zhong and Yin Deqing to offer tribute. That winter, he sent Xiao Que and Lu Mian to offer tribute. In the autumn of the third year, he sent Xu Junfang and Yu Xin to offer tribute. In the summer of the fourth year, he sent Xiao Cui and He Demao to offer tribute. In the spring of the fifth year, he sent Xie Lin and Bao Zhi to offer tribute. The Qi court also sent envoys to visit. For more than ten years, the southern border remained quite peaceful.
Six years later, Xiao Yan changed his era name to Zhong Datong, and in the same year changed it to Taiqing. That year, Minister Hou Jing staged a rebellion and sent people to contact Xiao Yan, asking for help. Xiao Yan was swayed by Hou Jing's flattering words and stopped offering tribute to the Qi Kingdom. Xiao Yan's son and court officials strongly advised against this, saying it was not the right thing to do, but Xiao Yan did not listen. Instead, he sent his nephew, the Governor of Yuzhou, Marquis Zhenyang Xiao Yuanming, and the Governor of Beiyanzhou, Hu Guisun, to attack Xuzhou in support of Hou Jing and to block the Sishui River, causing flooding in Pengcheng. King Wenxiang of Qi dispatched Murong Shaozong, Gao Yue, Pan Xiangle, and others to lead an army against them. Murong Shaozong issued a proclamation to the people within Xiao Yan's domain, the contents of which were as follows:
The heavens and earth converge, ushering in a prosperous era. In the cosmic order, there are inherent laws, and all things are in a constant state of change. Everything possesses a spirit, coexisting in harmony and symbiosis; they manifest forms and move forward together. Therefore, the profound virtues operate subtly, and the highest virtues spread widely. The people enjoy them every day without knowing it, and the nations receive blessings without realizing it. This goes beyond merely altering their ideologies, unifying their codes of conduct, or helping them understand the laws of the universe, but also ensuring that the sun and moon shine impartially, the rain and dew nurture equally, governing the realm towards a peaceful and prosperous age, allowing the people to live in peace and contentment.
Since the chaos of the Jin Dynasty and the decline of the Jin Dynasty, the Central Plains have become a battlefield, and the people have become casualties of war, enduring great suffering. The Wei Emperor, holding the authority of the Heavenly Emperor and bearing the blessings of heaven, arrived from the north in a cloud chariot and headed south in a dragon chariot. Responding to divine inspiration, he rescued the suffering populace, eliminated evildoers, prevented floods, stabilized the realm using divine artifacts, promoted both martial and cultural virtues, and restored peace and stability to the people. Even the distant desert frontiers and barren regions, not documented in historical texts or referenced in the "Wilderness Classics," have all submitted and admired the wisdom of the Central Plains, rejoicing in the implementation of the Great Way.
Only the Jiangnan and Baiyue regions still obstruct the dissemination of education, not because of the people's shortcomings, but due to their own circumstances. Since the Jin Dynasty, Liu Xiao and his faction have perpetrated numerous injustices, occupying a region, declaring themselves emperors, and doing as they pleased. Our ancestors ruled the realm with a focus on the people's welfare, valuing warfare, never easily believing in counselors' schemes, or abusing the soldiers' strength, only sending envoys to persuade surrender and giving them some land. They constructed lofty platforms, only to quickly relinquish the throne, and we even gave them canes to enjoy their old age, not genuinely concerned for their well-being.
Xiao Yan has been reckless and irresponsible since he was young, lacking any principles and disdaining rulers and family. He has always relished causing trouble and watching others suffer, hating honest people and disliking righteous deeds, adept at exploiting the weaknesses of others and outsmarting them. He is good at deceiving ignorant people, boasting and bullying the common people; he incites evil individuals, using force to display his power. He flatters and curries favor, speaks eloquently, and pleases those in power, ultimately tarnishing his officialdom and disrupting the country's order.
By the time Xiao Yan became incompetent and intolerable to his subordinates, he had no intention of submitting to the Northern Dynasty, instead losing all sense of humanity and disregarding moral principles. He worships demons and monsters, spouts nonsense, raises troops to attack the capital, poisons the emperor, oppresses orphans and widows, and harms the people. Even the heavens turn a blind eye to the wicked. Xiao Yan lives in luxury at home while being cruel and ruthless abroad. He drives exhausted soldiers, forces the common people to fight, and sends troops south to the Five Ridges and north to the Nine Rivers, with the army stationed long-term. Countless lives are lost in battle, with cries echoing constantly, an endless stream of wounded soldiers, and the people living in dire conditions, their status reduced to that of mere weeds.
Therefore, those unruly youths revel in cruelty, sly villains are insatiably greedy, exploiting the people until they are drained to the marrow; they squeeze the people until they are emaciated. The threat of a fierce tiger pales in comparison to him, the calamity of a hungry wolf cannot compare to him; the suffering of the people is unbearable, leaving them with nowhere to turn.
Xiao Yan is both pretentious and deceitful, constantly resorting to various underhanded tactics. His heart is filled with malice, yet he poses as a wise advisor to the world; he is restless within, yet he feigns tranquility and a lack of action. He embarks on massive construction projects, building temples and pagodas, erecting luxurious palaces, decorated in gold and splendor, indulging in extreme extravagance, exhausting the people and wasting resources. He lashes out at the common folk, exploiting their sweat and blood; as they carry stones, their cries echo through the heavens, and even after their deaths, they are still said to have ascended to immortality.
Despite his shallow intelligence, Xiao Yan is oblivious to his own limitations; he attempts to divert the waters of the Tongbai River, only to bring harm upon himself; he wipes out the descendants of the Qi state, only to become the leader of his enemies. Throughout history, few have ever been like him. He deposed his eldest legitimate son and appointed a dim-witted son as his heir; factional power ran rampant, leading to infighting and widespread grievances, and the people eagerly hoped for his swift downfall.
It has been over a hundred years since then, and the Wang family has repeatedly failed, leading to the ceaseless sound of war chariots and alarms, culminating in a tragic defeat that incited the wrath of the gods and shook the heavens and the earth. At this time, the old Prime Minister, Qi Xianwu Gao Wang, witnessing the tragic state of the world, was filled with immense grief and anger, akin to the wrath of thunder. He rallied the people with his noble character and fulfilled his mission with great integrity. He formulated a plan to restore the nation and establish hegemony, not just for revenge.
Therefore, he demonstrated extraordinary wisdom and military talent, sweeping through the enemy forces, upholding the monarch, and stabilizing the country. The emperor inherited this foundation, possessing insight as clear as a mirror, his principles aligned with the mandate of heaven, and his virtue akin to that of a deity. Later, with a heavy heart, the emperor summoned his ministers to discuss the ceasefire, removed his hat to express a desire for peaceful coexistence. As a result, ships and vehicles came and went, both waterways and roadways flourished, each checkpoint responding to the others, creating a scene of prosperity. The emperor felt relieved, as if rejuvenated, without needing to wait long for the appearance of lambs and deer.
Although these beautiful plans and long-term goals began with me, stopping the war and comforting the people ultimately benefited everyone. The emperor's credibility is as crucial as spring is to the seasons; how can a monarch be inconsistent? Writing it down but not following through, isn't that something to be ashamed of?!
Hou Jing came from a humble background, was a nobody, and started off as an ordinary soldier. Later, due to his diligence in running errands, he gained Erzhu Rong's favor. Though it was somewhat opportunistic, he finally obtained an official position. When the Northern Wei dynasty was flourishing, there were rebellions everywhere, and those despicable criminals were all foreigners. Hou Jing relied on others' support to become their confidant. His master showed him kindness, but he was also caught up in the disaster of annihilation. Although he was unable to repay his master's kindness with his life, he at least should have shown sorrow and proven his loyalty through actions. However, he quickly changed his loyalties and willingly became a servant to someone else. Gao Huan appreciated his minor loyalty and overlooked his flaws, promoting him to a minor official role in military affairs. Hou Jing gradually accumulated experience through military operations and was heavily relied upon due to his ability to command in battle. After the pacification of Guanzhong, Hou Jing was involved in the planning of many military operations. Since Henan was not a strategic location, he dispatched a small contingent to show their presence, with little practical effect, merely to assert their presence. Hou Jing was responsible for most military matters, commanding and arranging troops. Despite his limited abilities, he grew increasingly arrogant, violating military discipline, growing paranoid, and secretly plotting conspiracies, ultimately leading him to rebellion.
He is ungrateful, disregarding moral principles and human relationships, committing all sorts of heinous acts, and will surely fail in the end. He cast aside his mother like old shoes, left behind his brother like trash, and his children were all abandoned; his wife and nephews followed him into exile. He talks a good game, but he's completely insincere, like a jester trying to pull the wool over people's eyes. Who does he think he's fooling? He is like a ferocious and vile beast, as cunning and deceitful as a snake and a rat, but even worse than them. Later, Hou Jing sought refuge with Western Wei, and Gao Huan gave him a position, rescuing him from the siege and allowing him to survive. However, not long after, Hou Jing once again showed his ungratefulness, rebelled again, committing atrocious crimes, and had nowhere left to run. He fled to Jinling, then known as Jiankang, the capital of the Southern Dynasties, where the military was weak, making it an ideal spot for his treachery. He used all kinds of lies to deceive others; a traitor's only concern is survival, so he doesn't care about anything else. The officials of the Southern Dynasties were solely concerned with their own interests, with a bumbling emperor and inept courtiers. Hou Jing easily captured Jiankang, plundering the treasures of the Southern Dynasties, just as he would seize the treasures and lands of others, with no sense of shame whatsoever. If people can't show basic courtesy, how can the country thrive? This ancient saying can be boiled down to a single sentence, which simply means: if individuals don’t understand courtesy, how can the country thrive? It underscores the link between personal development and national well-being. This echoes the saying, "cultivate oneself, manage the family, govern the country, and bring peace to the world." Personal character is the foundation, and for a country to be strong, the quality of its people must be high.
Therefore, although this ancient text is short, the principles it conveys are profound and deserve our deep reflection. It is not only applicable to ancient times but is equally relevant today. In a society where everyone is polite and respects one another, that society will naturally be more harmonious and beautiful. Conversely, if everyone is selfish and impolite, that society will become chaotic.
"The people without courtesy, how can they govern a country!" This saying has served as a wake-up call for us for thousands of years, reminding us to be polite in our interactions and to cultivate ourselves, contributing our part to building a better society. This is not just a matter of personal morality; it is a significant issue related to the future of the nation and the people.
It's said that the rise and fall of nations follow a larger trend, and success or failure has its signs. There is no need to have exceptional vision like Li Zhu, nor to have keen hearing and sight like Zi Ye; I will simply share my views and discuss my strategies. Currently, the court is in good order, the emperor is wise, and the people live and work in peace, with everything flourishing. Although the prime minister has passed away, Yi Zhi has succeeded him, skilled in both literature and warfare, and exuding great authority. He has attracted talented individuals from across the land, gathering a group of elites who fight with the ferocity of thunder and lightning, riding horses and shooting arrows, unstoppable.
In the past, the Ruo Ruo faced war and chaos, becoming fragmented and fighting alone, seeking our help. Out of compassion, the nation sympathized with their plight, doing its utmost to assist them in restoring their homeland, providing them with supplies, and helping them rebuild their businesses, laying a solid foundation. We have practiced benevolent governance towards them, with great generosity, and they, in turn, are grateful and loyal, coming from afar to pay their respects and seek marriage alliances, as if they were returning home. The territory of Ruo Ruo is close to the Yellow River, neighboring us, with miles of ice and snow as far as the eye can see. The north wind is fierce, making it the perfect time to wear fur coats; the harsh winter is truly the best time for warm clothing.
The Tuyuhun are ambitious, repeatedly raising troops, invading the Hexi Corridor, and setting their sights on Longxi. They rely on a powerful army, trying to seize the opportunity. In addition, Dugu Ruoyuan is consolidating his military power in Guanzhong and plundering the region, while the Black Otter is stirring in the north and west. The court is besieged on all sides, worn thin, and lacks the resources for an eastern campaign. Moreover, the autumn winds are fierce, the country boasts a well-prepared defense, with dangerous passes, natural barriers, elite warriors, and invincible generals. Furthermore, Baoju was defeated north of Heyin, and the Black Otter fled in disarray at Mangshan; their defeat was catastrophic, nearly annihilating them. They are ignoring the basics and launching reckless offensives; this presents us with a chance for a decisive victory, aided by the heavens!
What I've said is the truth, as certain as the sun and moon, known by all, not mere rumors. Based on this assessment, the truth is clear: Hou Jing's words are all false lies.
Speaking of the Jing family, they originally hailed from the countryside; caught in troubled times, they scraped by as minor officials managing a few townships. They should have been content, but he was restless, always wanting to climb higher. This isn't a game; it could end disastrously. I heard he wants to abandon his current small estate and go to Pengcheng to join that old scoundrel. That old scoundrel is ruthless and is scheming again, and this kid actually went to help, trying to encroach on others' lands, gathering the suffering populace, using the Huai River as a defensive line, planning to occupy the area long-term, declare himself king, and rule until death. Alas, it's all because of the clam and snipe fighting that we little guys are the ones who suffer.
As for that false emperor, he is incompetent and tyrannical, utterly incapable of maintaining harmony. His cruelty and ruthlessness intensify with age. He harbors treacherous rebels, showing utter disregard for his promises, acting with arrogance and tyranny. Even Heaven is poised to punish him, as the people voice their grievances. He is drafting the populace as cannon fodder, invading the region of Xuzhou, constructing fortifications, occupying rivers, and pursuing trivial gains. How much longer can this be tolerated? War is imminent, and there is no choice but to initiate nine campaigns.
Those elite soldiers, well-equipped and fiercely brave, surge to the battlefield one after another, where smoke hangs thick and the sounds of battle echo through the air. These seasoned warriors are like tigers leaping down the mountain, swift as the wind and lightning. They advance southward like an unstoppable force. Not only are the people of the Three Wu regions stricken with fear, even the fish in the river are scattering in terror. Riding this momentum, they will soon achieve victory. However, corruption is rampant in the court, military power is concentrated outside, the atmosphere is toxic, and the next generations are weak and frivolous. A ruthless and cunning figure like Xiao Lun is bound to have accomplices; a disillusioned person like Xiao Yu might also gather assassins. The court, both internally and externally, is on the brink of collapse, making this the ideal moment for a counteroffensive!
The actions of the shogunate's military emphasize etiquette, justice in battle, pacifying the people, and punishing criminals, and this makes sense. Those who can seize opportunities, judge the situation, rise quickly, establish merit, and turn danger into safety will never be forgotten by the court; the court will never forget them and will definitely treat them even better. If there are still those who dare to resist where the military might reaches, they will be easily eliminated, all killed, as easily as stepping on mud. Now, the generals who understand etiquette and justice, the soldiers who are as fierce as leopards, tigers, bears, and lynxes, harbor deep resentment towards those who betray their trust and defect, disregarding omens, refusing advice, and actually starting a war. Everyone is furious, as if seeking revenge; they are ready to shed blood without hesitation. On the day the battle begins, it feels like divine intervention; the enemy is in chaos and unable to form an army. Those who distort facts and have low morale, facing our army, are as ridiculous as cockroaches in armor or maggots lifting their tails. I fear that when the two armies clash, the enemy will be destroyed like weeds, so I’m writing this letter ahead of time to clarify my intentions. Nobility isn’t something you’re born into; their fate is in their own hands. Now is your chance to achieve greatness and for brave men to gain titles. Even winter ice can melt; opportunities are short-lived, so everyone, str
In December, Shao Zong, Gao Yue, and others defeated Yan Zhong at Hanshan, capturing Yuan Ming, Gui Sun, and others, beheading 50,000 captives. The number who froze, drowned, or burned to death was countless. The leaders of Yanzhou felt ashamed and remorseful. Six years later, they sent an envoy named Yang Zhensun to request peace talks and deliver a condolence letter to King Wenxiang of Qi. King Wenxiang wanted to use both grace and power to win them over, agreed to their request, but did not respond to the condolence letter. Therefore, Yanzhou sent the attendants Xie Tang and Xu Ling to the court to present tribute.
Before Xiao Yi and his associates returned, Hou Jing led his troops over, secretly colluding with Xiao Yan's disciple, Linhe Wang Xiao Zhengde, promising to install him as emperor. When Hou Jing arrived at Hengjiang, Xiao Yan sent Xiao Zhengde to resist, but Xiao Zhengde welcomed Hou Jing with open arms. After crossing the river, Hou Jing immediately made Xiao Zhengde emperor and quickly marched towards Jianye (modern-day Nanjing).
Xiao Yan has a particular fondness for flattery, and the older he gets, the more serious it becomes. If someone says the country is strong, he gets angry; if someone says the court is failing, he is happy. So his ministers and guards follow his lead; no one dares to speak the truth. When Hou Jing was preparing to cross the river, the troops along the way reported the situation, but the chief military officer, Zhu Yi, feared offending Xiao Yan and thought Hou Jing couldn't come, so he didn't report at all. As a result, when Hou Jing reached Zihu (modern-day Chaohu, Anhui), Xiao Yan was shocked and quickly ordered his son Xiao Gang to guard the imperial government, handing all military affairs to Xiao Jizhi. He forced the civilians into the city, but the people ended up looting each other, and he found himself unable to control the situation.
Xiao Yan ordered the release of the prisoners from the two smelting factories, Lin Yu and Jing Mao, as well as the criminals from the Shangfang Bureau, Qianshu, and the prisons of Jiankang and Tingwei, in order to help defend the city. However, these prisoners set the smelting factories on fire before scattering and fleeing. Xiao Yan, in desperation, had no choice but to station officials of lower ranks at the city gates; he also gathered all the temple funds into Juyang Hall to serve as military expenses. When Jing Gong's army arrived, they immediately surrounded the city, set fire to it, dug trenches and built earthen mounds for the siege. Xiao Yan also constructed earthen mounds within the city for defense. He ordered civil and military officials to transport earth, with each person tasked with carrying twenty stones of earth. The nobles took it upon themselves to carry the earth up to the city walls. While some reinforcements from other regions did arrive, Jing Gong's siege was too tight, severing all communication. Xiao Yan sent troops out to fight several times, but they were all captured by Jing Gong.
Later, a child came up with an idea to transmit messages using the method of flying kites. They made a rope several thousand zhang long, tied a paper eagle to one end of the rope, tied the message to the back of the "eagle," and wrote a message in the "eagle's" mouth: "Whoever delivers this 'eagle' to the troops will be rewarded with one hundred taels of silver!" Then they released several "eagles" from the Taiji Palace, carried by the northwest wind. Duke Jing sent people to shoot them down on horseback, but they failed to shoot them down. The city was starving, and people resorted to cannibalism; a dou (a traditional measure) of rice cost eighty thousand coins, and the rice for sale was mixed with human flesh along with beef and horse meat. Soldiers set up stalls in front of the Deyang Palace to sell meat, where killing a cow could fetch three thousand bolts of silk, and selling a dog could bring in two hundred thousand coins. Everyone was catching rats and sparrows to eat, but eventually, they had caught all the rats and sparrows, and the dead piled up like mountains. Initially, someone stole fish from the city's ponds, and Duke Yan was furious and wanted to hand them over to the court, but soon, starvation claimed everyone, and no one cared anymore! This situation is truly a sight to behold, and it's heartbreaking!
Emperor Jing had been besieging Jiankang for a long time without success. Although Xiao Yan had numerous external reinforcements, they each acted independently without unified command, being jealous of one another and refusing to attack with full force. Only Xiao Yan's son, Prince Shaoling Xiao Lun, engaged in a decisive battle at Zhongshan, but ended up defeated and fleeing. Emperor Jing was running low on supplies, so he employed a trick to lure Xiao Yan into seeking peace. Xiao Yan believed him and ceded four prefectures in Jiangxi to Emperor Jing, granting him the title of Prince of Shouyang and sending envoys to pay tribute. After the two sides swore a blood oath, Emperor Jing feigned a withdrawal of his troops to Shitou City. Xiao Yan commanded his army to comply with the decree, but they initially resisted until Emperor Jing issued a second order. Xiao Yan then ordered his reinforcements to supply Emperor Jing with three hundred ships, but Emperor Jing deemed it insufficient, so Xiao Yan gave him two hundred more. Xiao Yan's subordinates, Marquis Yong'an Xiao Que and General Zhaowei Zhao Wei, were both valiant commanders, which made Emperor Jing wary of them. Emperor Jing told Xiao Yan, "Xiao Que and Zhao Wei have been insulting me from across the riverbank, saying, 'If the Emperor makes peace with you, we will never let you off the hook!' I dare not move now. If you can bring these two men into the city, I will lift the siege." Xiao Yan dispatched messengers to summon Xiao Que and the others, but they declined to come. Xiao Yan personally penned a letter to the army, stating, "If Xiao Que does not come, he will face military justice!" Xiao Que and the others had no choice but to go to Jiankang.
During the summer, Emperor Jing said to Xiao Yan, "I just received news from the west that the northern army has captured Shouchun and Zhongli. I have nowhere to run now and would like to temporarily take refuge in Guangling and Qiaozhou. After I recover Shouchun and Zhongli, I will return these two states to you." Xiao Yan reluctantly agreed once more. On the surface, Emperor Jing said he wanted to negotiate peace, but secretly he was biding his time to strike. Xiao Yan and his officials believed Emperor Jing's lies and put away all their weapons. It was only later that they realized they had been tricked, hurriedly preparing only to find themselves in an even worse predicament. The city grew increasingly perilous, and with no options left, Xiao Yan had no choice but to send envoys to meet Emperor Jing again. Emperor Jing falsely claimed, "It's too hot now; I can't leave. I ask to remain in the capital to serve the court!" Then he launched a relentless full-scale attack and eventually broke through Jiankang City in March of the seventh year.
After Sima Jing arrived in Jianye, he commanded his soldiers to pillage the city, emptying the warehouses. Sima Jing then took a few hundred cavalry to see (Sima) Yan, weeping and pleading to have Sima Yan adopt him as a father and asking Sima Yan to take control. He also had Zhengde Tong write a letter to Sima Yan saying, "Previously, I was captured by you, and you made me govern the world. I had no choice but to oversee state affairs temporaril
Sima Yan had been besieged by Sima Jing for over a hundred days. Wang Yi, the Inspector of Jingzhou, and Wang Ji, the Inspector of Yizhou, each led troops to defend, helplessly watching their father in danger, yet they did not come to his aid. After Sima Jing crossed the river and captured Jianye, the people of Jiangnan, along with Sima Yan's nobles and royal relatives, were plundered by Sima Jing's army. Some were sold and traded among themselves, and those who ended up in other countries numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Alongside deaths from famine and disease, corpses littered the land, and the Jiangzuo region became a wasteland.
At first, Xiao Yan was deeply devoted to Buddhism and Taoism. He constructed Tongtai Temple in Jianye, built Guangzhai Temple at his old residence, and established Da Aijing Temple at the foot of Zhongshan Mountain. Simultaneously, he built over a thousand temples. These temples were extremely exquisite and cost a fortune, which the common people could no longer endure. One time, he held a vegetarian feast and even offered himself to serve as a slave to the Tongtai Temple. The court officials submitted petitions three times requesting the emperor to revoke the order, prompting the civil and military officials to pool their resources to redeem Xiao Yan. Every time he worshipped Buddha, Xiao Yan would remove his monk robes and don a kasaya. He also mandated that the nobility observe Buddhist precepts, and for those who were devout in their faith, he would grant them the title of Bodhisattva. When the ministers submitted memorials, they referred to him as the "Bodhisattva Emperor." The governors and prefects under Xiao Yan's jurisdiction were required to pay tribute upon taking office. If the tribute was abundant, they were deemed competent; if it was scarce, they were considered lazy. Consequently, these local officials desperately extorted the populace, lining their own pockets, keeping numerous concubines, and indulging in lavish food and drink while wearing gold and silver. The common people were overwhelmed with grievances, making life unbearable. He also conscripted soldiers, who were forced to wear shackles, or else they would all flee. The nobility was even more extravagant, with numerous brothers, sisters, wives, and concubines constantly exchanging gifts with one another. The social atmosphere was corrupt, and the national order had completely descended into chaos. Although Xiao Yan personally adhered to the precepts and did not use livestock for ancestor worship, people secretly said that despite his usurpation of the throne, there were no offerings at the ancestral temple. Before Xiao Yan's downfall, his Tongtai Temple faced calamity, and the stone qilin at his grandfather's tomb went missing. Those with foresight sensed that his downfall was imminent. Later, Xiao Jing established Xiao Yan's son, Xiao Gang, as emperor, but soon after, he had him executed. Xiao Yan's relatives also met a brutal fate.
In historical records, it is said that Xiao Yan and Xiao Daocheng, father and son, fought for power and gain, like snails battling, constantly vying for power. Some only became emperors for a few years, some did not even live to a ripe old age, yet they proclaimed themselves as kings and tyrants in the Jianghuai region, thinking of themselves as exceptional. This is something unheard of in history. In ancient times, Goujian paid tribute for peace and was able to ensure the survival of his state, while King Fuchai's aggression ultimately led to his death and the fall of his state. Comparing the Xiao father and son with the two states of Wu and Yue, isn't that a stark contrast?
