The emperor had thirteen sons, you know. His favorite consort, Lady Yao, gave birth to Emperor Shizong, while the concubines in the harem bore him a number of sons: Duke Xian of Song, also known as Xian Xian, Emperor Xiaomin, Emperor Gaozu, King Zhi of Weila, King Xian of Qiyang, King Zhao of Zhan, King Jian of Qiaoxiao, King Chun of Chenhuo, King Sheng of Yueye, King Da of Daizhao, Duke Tong of Jikang, and King You of Tengwen. Among them, the deeds of King Xian of Qiyang are recorded separately.
Duke Xian of Song, whose courtesy name was Mi'e Tu, was exceptionally intelligent from a young age; by the age of ten, he could recite the "Classic of Filial Piety," "Analects," and "Book of Songs." Later, he studied the "Book of Rites" and "Book of Documents" with Emperor Shizong. In the sixteenth year of the Datong era, he was granted the title of Duke of Wuyi, with a fief of two thousand households. He also married the daughter of Emperor Wen of Wei, but unfortunately, his wife died. In the first year of He Ding, the court posthumously honored him as General of the Pillar State, giving him the authority to issue imperial edicts, Senior Teacher, Grand Marshal, Grand Governor, overseeing military affairs in ten provinces including Qing and Xu, and promoted him to Duke of Song, with his fief increasing to ten thousand households. Unfortunately, he had no sons, so his third son, Shizong, succeeded to his title.
Shizong, whose courtesy name was Qianbian, was promoted to king in the third year of Jiande. During the Daxiang era, he was suspected of plotting a rebellion. Later, he was executed by Emperor Wen of Sui, and his kingdom was also abolished.
King Zhi of Weila, whose courtesy name was Douluo Tu, was granted the title of Duke of Qin County in the third year of Emperor Gong of Wei, with a fief of one thousand households. In the early years of Wucheng, he was sent to govern Puzhou, appointed as General, and then promoted to Duke of Wei, with his fief increasing to ten thousand households. By the early years of Baoding, he became the Governor of Yongzhou, subsequently promoted to General of the Pillar State, then transferred to Grand Minister of Works, and finally sent to Xiangzhou as the governor.
During the Tianhe era, Chen Chao, the governor of Xiangzhou, surrendered the entire province to the Northern Zhou under Hua Jiao's leadership. The court then ordered Wang Zhi to lead Lu Tong, the Duke of Suide, General Tian Hong, Quan Jingxuan, Yuan Ding, and others to provide military support, and they fought a battle at Dunkou against Chen Chao's generals Chunyu Liang and Wu Mingche. As a result, Wang Zhi's army was defeated, and Yuan Ding died in Jiangnan. Wang Zhi was dismissed from his position due to this defeat. Wang Zhi was the great-grandson of his great-grandmother, a boastful, cunning, greedy, and cruel man with no sense of decorum. Because Duke Jin Hu was in power at the time, Wang Zhi betrayed the emperor and colluded with Duke Jin Hu. After the defeat at Dunkou, he was furious about his dismissal and asked the emperor to remove Duke Jin Hu, hoping to take his place. The emperor originally wanted to get rid of Duke Jin Hu, so he conspired with Wang Zhi on this matter. After Duke Jin Hu was executed, the emperor appointed Qi Wang Xian as the Grand Chancellor.
Wang Zhi did not obtain the position of Grand Marshal he desired and felt quite upset, so he again requested the emperor to make him Grand Marshal, thinking he could control the army and monopolize power. The emperor saw through his intentions and said to him, "You should arrange your brothers by age; do you want to be at the back?" Thus, he was only appointed as Grand Tutor. By the third year of Jiande, he was promoted to the rank of king. Initially, when the emperor gave Wang Zhi the chance to choose his residence, he was dissatisfied after checking out many official buildings and finally settled on the abandoned Zhiqi Fo Temple, wanting to live there. Qi Wang Xian told him, "Your children have grown up; the place you live in should be spacious. This temple is too small and not suitable." Wang Zhi replied, "I can't even fit in here; why should I worry about the kids!" Qi Wang Xian found this odd and started to suspect him.
Once, Wei Wang Zhi once went hunting with the emperor. He acted recklessly, and the emperor became very angry and beat Wei Wang Zhi in front of everyone. From that moment on, Wei Wang Zhi's resentment grew deeper. Later, when the emperor went to Yunyang Palace, Wei Wang Zhi raised an army in the capital to rebel against the emperor and attacked Suzhang Gate. The military officer Yuchi Yun closed the city gates to defend, and Wei Wang Zhi was unable to breach the defenses. (The specific account can be found in the "Biography of Yuchi Yun.") Wei Wang Zhi then fled, was pursued, captured in Jingzhou, stripped of his noble status, and confined to a side hall. Before long, he again harbored thoughts of rebellion and was subsequently executed, along with his ten sons, who were named He, Bin, Sai, Xiang, Jia, Mi, Jin, Qianli, Qianzhao, and Qiancong, all of whom were also killed, and Wei Wang Zhi's title was revoked.
Zhao Wang Zhao, whose courtesy name was Doulu Tu, was exceptionally bright from a young age, read many books, and had a passion for writing. He emulated the writing style of Yu Xin, and most of his writings were often ornate and gentle. In the third year of Emperor Gong of Northern Wei, he was bestowed the title of Duke of Zhengping, with a fief comprising one thousand households. During the early reign of Emperor Wu of Northern Zhou, he was elevated to Duke of Zhao, with a fief of ten thousand households. During the Baoding era, he was appointed as the Grand General of Pillar State and served as the governor of Yizhou Province. In the inaugural year of Jiande, he was appointed Grand Minister of Works, and was later promoted to Grand General. Three years later, he was elevated to the title of king. Four years later, he was appointed as the Governor of Yongzhou. When the Zhou army campaigned eastward, Zhao Wang Zhao served as the overall commander of the three armies. In the fifth year of Jiande, he followed Emperor Wu of Zhou in a military campaign to the east, leading ten thousand infantry and cavalry from Huagu to launch an attack on Fenzhou of Northern Qi. After Fenzhou was subdued, he was promoted to Upper Pillar State General. After the subjugation of Dongxia, he served as the marching commander and, alongside King Qi, launched an attack against the Qihu. Zhao Wang Zhao captured the bandit leader Liu Meiduo alive and had him executed, pacifying the Hu bandits. During the Xuan Zheng period, he was appointed Grand Preceptor.
In the fifth month of the first year of the Elephant Era, the court issued an edict granting land to 10,000 households in Xiangguo County, Mingzhou to Prince Zhaozhao as his fiefdom. Prince Zhaozhao then went to take up his fief. The following year, Emperor Xuan of Zhou was in poor health and summoned Prince Zhaozhao, as well as the princes of Chen, Yue, Dai, and Teng, to the capital. By the time they arrived, Emperor Xuan had already passed away. Emperor Wen of Sui took charge of the government and treated Prince Zhaozhao and the others with special favor, permitting them to attend court without performing the kneeling ritual, wear swords, and enter the palace wearing shoes. Emperor Wen of Sui planned to move the Nine Tripods of the Zhou dynasty, and Prince Zhaozhao secretly plotted to seize power in order to save the state. He invited Emperor Wen of Sui to his residence for a banquet held in his bedroom. Prince Zhaozhao's sons, Yuan and Guan, as well as his brothers-in-law Lu Feng and trusted aide Shi Zhou, were already waiting nearby, wearing swords at their sides. He also hid weapons under the curtains and mats, with soldiers lying in wait in the backyard. Most of Emperor Wen's attendants were outside the hall, with only Yang Hong, Yuan Zhou, Yuan Wei, and Tao Che sitting next to the door. Prince Zhaozhao repeatedly sliced melons for Emperor Wen using his sword, who did not suspect anything. Yuan Zhou sensed something was amiss and rushed in, drawing his sword. Prince Zhaozhao personally offered a toast to Yuan Zhou with a large wine cup and asked him to fetch some water from the kitchen. Yuan Zhou ignored him. Prince Teng arrived shortly after, and Emperor Wen went down to welcome him. Yuan Zhou took the opportunity to whisper to Emperor Wen, "Something is wrong, you should leave quickly!" Emperor Wen and Prince Teng sat down, and shortly after, they took their leave. Eventually, the plot was uncovered, and Prince Zhaozhao was accused of treason. In the autumn of that year, Prince Zhaozhao and his sons, Duke Deguang Yuan, Duke Yongkang Guan, Duke Yue Xi Ganxi, his younger brothers Ganling and Gankeng were all executed, and the Zhao state was abolished. The collection of writings by Prince Zhaozhao, comprising ten volumes, gained widespread recognition.
Duke Qiao, whose personal name was Jian and courtesy name was Houyouto, was conferred the title of Duke of Qiao in the early years of Wucheng, governing a fief of ten thousand households. In the Tianhe period, he was appointed Grand General. Not long after, he was promoted to Zhuguo (柱国) and then assigned to Yizhou as its governor. In the third year of the Jiande era, he was promoted to king. In the fifth year, during the court's eastern expedition, he served as the commander of the Left Army in his previous role, attacking Yonggu City and successfully capturing it. He then pacified Bingzhou and Yecheng, after which he was appointed Grand Chancellor. In the same year, when the Qihu Rebellion broke out, the court issued an edict appointing Jian as the acting commander to suppress the rebels alongside Prince Xian of Qi. A Hu leader, calling himself "Tianzhu," occupied the Hedong region. Jian led his troops to storm his camp, killing three thousand. He passed away in February of the first year of Xuanzheng. His son Qianyun succeeded him on the throne. During the Dading period, Qianyun was murdered by Emperor Wen of Sui, and the state of Qiao was disbanded.
Chen Huo Wang, whose name was Chun and courtesy name Yinzhi Tu. In the early years of Wucheng, he was granted the title of Duke of Chen, with a fief consisting of ten thousand households. During the Baoding period, he was appointed Inspector of Qizhou and promoted to the rank of General. He once went on a mission to the Turks to welcome the Empress and was later appointed Grand General. He was soon promoted to Duke and assigned to govern Qinzhou, and later reassigned to govern Shanzhou, commanding General Tian Hong of Yanmen in the conquest of nine cities, including Yiyang, in the Qi State. In the third year of Jiande, he was elevated to the rank of King. In the fourth year, the army set out eastward, with Chun serving as the commander of the vanguard forces. Due to the Emperor's illness, the army returned to the capital city. In the fifth year, the army set out eastward once more, and the court decreed that Chun should serve as the commander of the vanguard, leading twenty thousand infantry to secure the vital routes for a thousand miles. After pacifying Bingzhou, he was promoted to Senior Duke and appointed Governor of Bingzhou. During the Xuanzheng era, he was appointed Governor of Yongzhou and later elevated to Grand Tutor. In May of the first year of Daxiang, he was granted a fief of ten thousand households in Jinan and went to settle there. The next year, he returned to the capital for an audience. At that time, Emperor Wen of Sui held absolute power and began to eliminate the royal family, leading to the deaths of Chun, his eldest son Qian, his younger brother Hugongrang, and several others, which resulted in the dissolution of the Chen State.
Yueyewang Sheng, also known by his courtesy name Lijiu Tu, was initially appointed as the Duke of Yue, governing a territory of ten thousand households. He eventually rose to the position of king. In the third year of Jiande, he was made king; in the fourth year, he served as the commander of the rear guard in the war against the Qi state; in the fifth year, he also participated in the eastern expedition, capturing several cities including Gaoxian in the Qi state. After pacifying Bingzhou, his official position was promoted to Senior Pillar of the State; after pacifying Ye City, he was appointed as the governor of Xiangzhou. In the first year of Xuanzheng, he entered the imperial court, taking on the role of Grand Chancellor. Later, Liu Shuolugan, the leader of the Hu people in Fenzhou, led a rebellion, and he was dispatched by the court to quell the rebellion. In the first year of Daxiang, he was promoted to Grand Preceptor, and later served as the Grand Protector. In the same year, the court granted him the fief of the two counties of Wudang and Anfu in Fengzhou, totaling ten thousand households, and he traveled to his fief to assume his duties. The following year, upon his return to the capital in autumn, he was assassinated by Emperor Wen of Sui, and his five sons—Chen, Cong, Hui, Lin, and Xin—were also executed, and his fief was subsequently revoked.
Dai Shao Wang Da, also known by his courtesy name Du Jin Tu, had a decisive personality and was skilled in horseback riding and archery. In the early years of the Wu Cheng era, he was granted the title of Duke of Dai, with a territory comprising ten thousand households. In the first year of Tianhe, he was appointed as Grand General and Earl of the Right Palace, and later served as Left Zongwei. In the early years of Jian De, he was promoted to the position of Pillar of the State and took on military affairs in Jinghuai and other fourteen states and ten defenses, as well as serving as the Governor of Jingzhou. During his tenure in Jingzhou, he made significant political achievements, and Emperor Wen of Sui personally wrote a letter to commend him. The governor of Fengzhou, Cai Ze, was found guilty of corruption and bribery, with solid evidence. However, executing him would be inappropriate; if he were to be pardoned according to the law, it would go against the court's wishes. Therefore, Da ordered a thorough investigation by the relevant departments and then secretly reported to the court, ultimately resolving the matter, yet he never mentioned it. This reflects his cautious and meticulous approach to handling affairs. Wang Da was frugal, never indulging in lavish meals, and had only a few concubines, who all wore simple clothing. He was not greedy for wealth, nor did he accumulate savings in his fief. His subordinates advised him, but he calmly replied, "A true gentleman concerns himself with national affairs, not with poverty; why trouble oneself over such matters?" In the third year of Jian De, he was conferred the title of king, and later served as the governor of Yizhou. During Emperor Wen's eastern campaign, he was the commander of the right army. Qi Shufei, Lady Feng, was the most favored concubine of the last king of Qi. After the fall of Qi, she was captured, and since Wang Da was not known for his interest in women, Emperor Wen awarded her to him. After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, Wang Da was promoted to Senior Pillar of the State. In the first year of Daxiang, he was appointed as Grand Right Minister. That same year, the court granted him ten thousand households from Shangdang County in Luzhou as his fief, and he went there to take office. He returned to the capital the following year, and that winter, Emperor Wen of Sui had him killed; his heir Zhi and his brother, Duke Fan Guo Zhuan, were also executed, and his fief was subsequently revoked.
Duke Jingkang, whose given name was Tong and courtesy name was Qushuatui. When Emperor Wucheng of the Northern Zhou first ascended to the throne, he was granted the title of Duke of Jing, ruling over ten thousand households. He died in October of the sixth year of Tianhe. His son Xuan inherited the title. By the third year of Jiande, Xuan's title was elevated to king. During the Daxiang era, he was killed by the Emperor Wen of Sui, and the state of Jing was subsequently abolished.
Duke Tengwen, named You, courtesy name Ergutu. From a young age, he enjoyed reading classics and history and was skilled in writing. When Emperor Wucheng of the Northern Zhou first ascended to the throne, he was granted the title of Duke of Teng, ruling over ten thousand households. Near the end of the Tianhe period, he was appointed as the Grand General. In the early years of Jiande, he was promoted to the Grand General of the State of Zhu. In the third year of Jiande, his title was elevated to king. In the sixth year of Jiande, he took on the role of Commander of the Marching Army and, together with Prince Xian of Qi, campaigned against the Qihu people. You defeated the leader of the Qihu, Mu You, and his followers, killing eight thousand enemies. After his triumphant return, he was appointed Governor of Heyang. In the first year of Xuanzheng, he was promoted to the Grand General of the Upper Zhu. In the same year, the Northern Zhou attacked the Chen state, and the court appointed You as commander-in-chief, leading the army. In May of the first year of Daxiang, the court also granted him ten thousand households from the Xinye County of Jingzhou as part of the territory of Teng. You traveled to the state. The following year, he went to the capital to pay his respects to the emperor. That winter, he was killed by the Emperor Wen of Sui, and his son Duke Huaide, his brother Duke Jiguo, his brothers Li and Xi, and others were all killed, and the state of Teng was also abolished. The writings of You were widely circulated at that time.
Emperor Xiaomin had only one son. Lady Lu gave birth to a son, who was known as King Ji Li, with the personal name Kang.
Kang of Ji, styled Qianding. In the early Baoding period, he was appointed Duke of Ji, with a territory comprising ten thousand households. In the third year of Jiande, his title was elevated to King. He was appointed military commander over five states, including Lishi, and as the military commander of the two fortresses of Daxiao Jian, concurrently serving as governor of Lizhou. Kang was proud and arrogant, was unruly, and placed great trust in his subordinates, including Lu Yi, which led him to secretly manufacture weapons and plot treason. The imperial secretary Pei Rong advised him, but he did not listen and even killed Pei Rong. In the fifth year of Jiande, the court sentenced Kang to death. His son Ji succeeded his title. During the Dading era, he was killed on the orders of Emperor Wen of Sui, and the title of Ji was subsequently revoked.
Emperor Ming had three sons. Xu Fei gave birth to Prince Bilawang Xian for him, and the concubines in the harem gave birth to Prince Fengwang Zhen and Prince Songwang Shi.
Prince Bilawang Xian, styled Qianyang. In the fourth year of Baoding, he was granted the title of Duke of Bi. In the third year of Jiande, his title was elevated to King. He was sent to serve as governor of Huazhou, and later promoted to governor of Jingzhou, and then promoted to the Great General of Zhuguo. During the Xuanzheng era, he returned to the capital as the Grand Minister of Works. In the first year of the Daxiang era, he was promoted to the Grand General of Zhuguo, the Governor of Yongzhou, and the Grand Preceptor. In the second year, Emperor Xuan died. Xian was very capable and prestigious. He feared that Emperor Wen of Sui would annihilate the Northern Zhou royal family, so he often spoke indiscreetly. He was later executed on the orders of Emperor Wen of Sui, and his sons Hongyi, Gongdao, Shunang, and others were all killed, and the title of Bi was subsequently revoked.
Prince Fengwang Zhen, whose personal name was Qianya, was initially granted the title of Duke of Feng. In the third year of Jiande, he was promoted to King. In the first year of the Daxiang era, he served as the Grand Chancellor. He was later executed on the orders of Emperor Wen of Sui, and his son Dewen, the Duke of Jiyin County, was also implicated, and his title was revoked.
Emperor Wen of Sui had seven sons: Empress Li gave birth to Emperor Xuan and Prince Han Zan; Princess Shehan gave birth to Prince Qin Zhi and Prince Cao Yun; Princess Feng gave birth to Prince Dao Chong; Lady Xue gave birth to Prince Cai Dui; Princess Zheng gave birth to Prince Jingyuan.
Han Wang Zang, courtesy name Qianyi, was initially granted the title of Duke of Han. In the third year of Jiande, he was promoted to king and also served as Zhu Guo. In the late years of the Daxiang era, when Emperor Wen of Sui came to power and sought to align with public sentiment, he elevated Han Wang Zang to the position of Senior Zhu Guo and Right Chancellor. It seemed that he was highly esteemed, but in reality, he was not given real power. Once the situation in the realm stabilized, he was reassigned as Grand Preceptor. Soon after, he was also killed by Emperor Wen of Sui, and his son Duke Huaiyang Daode, along with his brothers Daozhi and Daoyi, were also implicated, leading to the loss of their titles and lands.
Qin Wang Zhi, courtesy name Qianxin, was initially granted the title of Duke of Qin. In the third year of Jiande, he was promoted to king and served as Senior Zhu Guo, Grand Chancellor, and Right Minister. He was later also killed by Emperor Wen of Sui, and his son Duke Zhongcheng Jingzhi, along with his brother Jingren and others, were implicated, leading to the loss of their titles and lands.
Cao Wang Yun, courtesy name Qianshi, was initially granted the title of Duke of Cao. In the third year of Jiande, he was promoted to king. Dao Wang Chong, courtesy name Qianren, was made king in the sixth year of Jiande. Cai Wang Dui, courtesy name Qianjun, was made king in the sixth year of Jiande. Jing Wang Yuan, courtesy name Qianyi, was made king in the first year of Xuanzheng. Jing Wang Yuan, along with Princes Cai Dui, Dao Chong, and Cao Yun, were all killed by Emperor Wen of Sui, leading to the loss of their titles and lands.
Emperor Xuan had three sons to his name. Empress Zhu bore Emperor Jing; Wang Ji bore Prince Ye Kan; and Huangfu Ji bore Prince Ying Shu. Prince Ye Kan was granted the title of king in the second year of Daxiang. Prince Ying Shu was also granted the title of king in the second year of Daxiang. Both were later executed by Emperor Wen of Sui, leading to the loss of their titles and lands.
The historical texts state: In the past, those who were knowledgeable believed that the Zhou Dynasty implemented a five-rank system for titles, which lasted for eight hundred years, whereas the Qin Dynasty's system of prefectures and counties lasted only two generations before it fell. Although signs of success and failure can be traced, the principles of right and wrong can also be interpreted in various ways; people tend to cling to established norms and resist change, and instances of restoring old systems are also uncommon. This is largely due to writers being preoccupied with the pursuit of fame and fortune, and those in charge of government affairs are also unwilling to easily change their way of work, so thorough research into methods of adapting to change has not been fully realized. Let's try to analyze it:
It is often said that the rise and fall of dynasties, the methods of governing the country are not singular; wise monarchs and sage ministers also have their own methods, and this is not meant to be contrarian, all for the sake of governing the country well. Why do I say this? Before the Shang and Zhou Dynasties, a five-rank system was implemented, and after the Qin and Han Dynasties, it transitioned to a prefecture and county system. Different eras bring different social customs, which in turn lead to different governance methods; likewise, policies and measures can vary significantly across regions. It's like waging war every day; how can one achieve monumental victories like the Battle of Gaixia? And the teachings of the Jixia Academy may not be applicable to the Chengzhou Dynasty. Therefore, developing policies based on real conditions is the foremost task of governance; understanding public sentiment and crafting corresponding educational policies is the key to long-term success.
Furthermore, the feudal lords and the appointment of governors, the selection of virtuous and capable individuals, and the appointment of local officials may seem different in method on the surface, but the purpose is the same. When the country is strong, everyone enjoys peace and prosperity together; when the country is weak, everyone faces difficulties together. Shared security and well-being depend on virtue and integrity; without these, there can be no moral education of the people. Shared hardships are crucial to the nation's survival; without a strong army, it is impossible to quell rebellions. Therefore, Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin valued rituals; although the country experienced a period of decline, it ultimately regained strength. Lord Wen and Lord Tao resigned from their official positions; although the country was once chaotic, it eventually revived. Thus, the vassal states of the Zhou Dynasty were not all from the same family; the ministers of the Jin state were not of a single clan. Were Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin more powerful than other lords, or were Lord Wen and Lord Tao wiser than other officials? No, it was their greater power that made it easier for them to achieve success; those with less power found it difficult to be loyal to the country.
From this, it can be seen that the feudal system and the appointment of governors are different governance methods throughout history; military power and status are key to the nation's safety and security! Emperor Gaozu stabilized the Guanzhong region, managing countless affairs, leaving him little time to arrange his own affairs after death, let alone consider establishing a feudal barrier. The political ministers of the Jin Dynasty, on the other hand, formed their own factions, and although the world seemed peaceful on the surface, the country was secretly in crisis. Emperor Gaozu eliminated powerful opponents and wanted to implement good political strategies, but he overlooked the need to strengthen the nation's long-term plans, instead favoring his trusted ministers, resulting in deep internal conflicts. From then on, the foundation of the Jin Dynasty was laid with the seeds of corruption.
After Emperor Xuan ascended to the throne, he became tyrannical. He first eliminated dissidents and conducted a thorough purge of the royal family. Even his uncle, a half-brother, who was talented in both civil and military affairs and deeply loved by the people, could not escape dismissal from his position and exile to the borderlands. Those who once held high office are now mere commoners. The princes who once ruled over vast territories are now reduced to the status of commoners. Therefore, the powerful officials seized the opportunity to create chaos, while the strategists seized the chance to scheme, usurping power and positions as easily as reaching into a pocket, and eliminating nobles as effortlessly as clearing away weeds. Such cruelty has never been witnessed in history! Isn't this simply because destruction is far easier than creation? If Emperor Xuan could draw lessons from the governance strategies of the Ji and Liu clans, learn from the ways of the sages, appoint capable relatives and strategically place them both within and outside the court, balancing their roles according to their abilities and connections, then their power would be enough to stabilize the court, but not enough to cause chaos. With the national cause established, there would be no room for chance. Even if the emperor sleeps like a baby, the ministers would remain dedicated to their duties, the country would be stable for a long time, and the people would live in peace and prosperity. How could the royal family be permitted to wield such power that they covet the throne?
