The Ming Dynasty emperor was named Rui, whose courtesy name was Yuanzhong. He was the crown prince under Emperor Wen. He was favored by the founding emperor from a young age and often accompanied him. At the age of fifteen, he was granted the title of Marquis of Wude; in the second year of Huangchu, he was granted the title of Duke of Qi, and in the third year, he was promoted to the Prince of Pingyuan. Because his mother was executed, he had not been appointed as the heir before. In the seventh year of Huangchu, in the fifth month of summer, the emperor fell seriously ill, and he was then appointed as the crown prince. On the day of Dingsi, he ascended the throne as the emperor and issued a general amnesty. He honored the Empress Dowager as the Grand Empress Dowager, the Empress as the Empress Dowager, and the ministers were also granted titles based on their merits. On the day of Guiwei, his mother, Lady Zhen, was posthumously honored with the title of Empress Wenzhao. On the day of Renchen, his younger brother Rui was appointed as the Prince of Yangping.
In August, Sun Quan attacked Jiangxia County, where the governor Wen Pin died defending the city. Some officials in the court suggested sending troops for rescue, but the emperor replied, "Sun Quan is skilled in naval warfare; his daring to abandon his ships and land for attack is to catch us by surprise. At present, both sides are at a standoff, with the defending side having double the strength; he certainly won't hold out for long." Previously, the emperor sent the Imperial Secretary, Xun Yu, to the front lines for consolation. Xun Yu arrived in Jiangxia and gathered troops from various counties along the way, along with a thousand infantry and cavalry he brought, lighting torches on the mountain, scaring Sun Quan away.
On the day of Xinsi, the emperor appointed his son, Jiong, as the Prince of Qinghe. Generals from Wu, Zhuge Jin, Zhang Ba, and others invaded Xiangyang. The Grand Marshal Sima Xuanwang led the army to defeat them, killing Zhang Ba; General Cao Xiu, known for his conquests in the East, also defeated another army of Sun Quan at Xunyang. Rewards were distributed based on their merits. In the winter of October, the Prince of Qinghe, Jiong, passed away. In December, Zhong Yao was appointed Grand Tutor, General Cao Xiu was appointed Grand Marshal, General Cao Zhen was appointed Grand General, Minister of Works Hua Xin was appointed Grand Commandant, Minister of Works Wang Lang was appointed Minister of Works, General Chen Qun, who guards the army, was appointed Minister of Works, and General Sima Xuanwang, who pacifies the army, was appointed General of Chariots and Cavalry.
In the spring of the year 227 AD, in the first month of the lunar calendar, the emperor made sacrifices to Emperor Wu in the countryside, honoring Emperor Wu as a deity alongside the Heavenly Emperor; the emperor also made sacrifices to Emperor Wen in the Mingtang, honoring Emperor Wen as the companion of the Supreme Emperor. Subsequently, the government separated the southern region of Jiangxia Commandery and established the position of Commandant of Southern Jiangxia. At this time, Qu Ying of Xiping Commandery rebelled, killing the magistrate of Linqiang and the magistrate of Xidu. The court dispatched generals Hao Zhao and Lu Pan to suppress the rebellion, which led to Qu Ying's death.
On the eighth day of the second month, the emperor personally engaged in plowing the fields, symbolizing the importance of agriculture. On the twelfth day of the second month, the emperor built a temple for Empress Wen Zhao in Ye City. On the eighteenth day of the second month, the emperor made sacrifices to the sun in the eastern suburbs. On the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month, the court began issuing Wu Zhu coins, which was a significant development. On the seventh day of the fifth month, the emperor began the construction of ancestral shrines, a project that would take considerable time. In August, the emperor offered sacrifices to the moon in the western suburbs. On the twenty-seventh day of the tenth month, the emperor trained the army in the eastern suburbs to bolster national defense. At that time, the king of Yanqi also sent his son to serve at the court. In November, the emperor named Lady Mao as empress. To celebrate, the court awarded all adult males in the country two additional ranks of nobility. For those elderly and widowed individuals facing financial difficulties, the court provided food assistance to them. In December, the emperor elevated Empress Mao's father, Mao Jia, to the rank of marquis, promoting him as a gesture of respect. As the year drew to a close, troubling news arrived as the governor of Xincheng, Meng Da, rebelled. The emperor ordered Sima Yi, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, to suppress him.
In the spring of the year 228 AD, in the first month, Sima Yi captured Xincheng and killed Meng Da, and sent his head back to the court. The court merged the three counties of Shangyong, Wuling, and Wuxian around Xincheng into Shangyong Commandery, and also established Xixian as a separate Xixian Commandery, reorganizing the administrative divisions.
That Zhuge Liang came to attack our border with his troops, and the people of Tianshui, Nan'an, and Anding counties surprisingly turned against us and sided with Zhuge Liang. We dispatched General Cao Zhen to command the army in Guanzhong to confront him. General Zhang He defeated Zhuge Liang at Jieting and gave him a thorough thrashing. Zhuge Liang fled in disgrace, and the three counties returned to calm. On the day of Dingwei, the emperor took a trip to Chang'an. On the day of Dingyou in April, he returned to Luoyang Palace. Incidentally, those who had committed crimes, except for those sentenced to death, were all granted pardons. On the day of Yisi, the emperor honored those who had excelled in battle, granting them titles and land, each with their own distinct rewards. In May, there was a severe drought.
In June, the emperor declared, "We must prioritize Confucianism and cultivate talent, as this is the foundation for governing the country and ensuring stability! Recently, there have been too many charlatans among the Confucian scholars; how can we promote the teachings of the sages well? Quickly select outstanding scholars; those who are talented can serve as attendants and palace attendants. Each county should also pay attention; when selecting talent, we should prioritize those well-versed in the Confucian classics." In September, General Cao Xiu led his troops to Wan and fought against Wu's Lu Xun at Shiting, resulting in a defeat. On the day of Yiyu, the emperor named Prince Mu as the King of Fanyang. On the day of Gengzi, Grand Marshal Cao Xiu passed away. In October, the emperor requested that each court minister and official recommend an outstanding general. In November, the Minister of Works, Wang Lang, also passed away. In December, Zhuge Liang laid siege to Chencang once more, and Cao Zhen sent General Fei Yao and others to resist. Gongsun Yuan, the nephew of Liaodong Prefect Gongsun Gong, usurped his uncle's position and took over as Liaodong Prefect.
In the fourth month of the summer of the following year, Prince Yuncheng Li passed away. On the day of Guimao in June, Prince Mu of Fanyang also passed away. On the day of Wushen, the Great Chancellor of the Grand Ancestor was posthumously honored with the title of Grand Emperor, and his wife, Lady Wu, was honored as the Grand Empress.
In autumn, July, the emperor issued an edict, saying, "According to the rites and laws, if the empress does not have a son to inherit the throne, she should choose a suitable heir from the royal family to inherit the ancestral temple, in order to follow the orthodox and fair principles. How can personal feelings be considered! Emperor Xuan of Han posthumously honored his father as Emperor Kao after Emperor Zhao; Emperor Ai ascended the throne with the help of powerful relatives, while Dong Hong and others misled the court by citing the example of the fall of Qin, which truly harmed the state and its people! Emperor Ai not only honored Emperor Gong and built a temple for him in the capital, but also favored the concubines, elevating their status to that of the favored concubines in Changxin Palace, placing their tablets in the main hall alongside the four empresses in the Eastern Palace, exceeding the limits; even heaven would not bless him. He did not listen to the advice of Dan, Zhongzheng, and others, ultimately leading to the burning deaths of Ding and Fu. Since then, this misguided practice has continued to be imitated. Previously, Duke Wen of Lu committed sacrilege, and Xia Fu took responsibility for it; the State of Song violated the rites, and Hua Yuan was criticized for it. Therefore, I order all ministers and relevant departments to deeply learn from historical lessons. If in the future a vassal inherits the throne, they must understand the principles of being a ruler and a queen; if anyone dares to flatter the emperor or establish improper titles that disrupt the orthodoxy, such as honoring the father as Emperor Kao or honoring the mother as Empress Dowager, then those ministers should be executed without mercy! These words should be inscribed on golden tablets, placed in the ancestral temple, and included in the laws."
In winter, October, the Pingwang Pavilion was renamed the Tingsong Pavilion. The emperor often said, "Judging cases affects the lives of the people!" Every time a major case was to be judged, he personally attended trials at the Tingsong Pavilion.
At first, the ancestral shrines in Luoyang had not yet been completed, so the ancestral tablets were kept in the shrines in Ye City. In the eleventh month, the shrines in Luoyang were finally completed, and the Emperor dispatched Grand Minister Han Ji to Ye City to welcome the ancestral tablets of the Founding Emperor, the Grand Empress Dowager, the Martial Emperor, and the Literary Emperor. On the Jichou day in the twelfth month, the ancestral tablets were welcomed back to Luoyang and placed in the newly built shrines.
On the Guimao day, the King of the Da Yuezhi, Bo, sent envoys to present tribute, and the Emperor conferred upon him the title of King of the Great Yuezhi in alliance with Wei.
In February of the year 234 AD, the Emperor issued a decree saying: "The literary styles in this world will change with the trends of the times. Since the chaos of war, Confucian studies have been neglected, and the younger generation's pursuit of progress does not adhere to the teachings of the sages. Is it that education has been lacking, or that when promoting talent, moral character is not emphasized? I command all officials and clerks to thoroughly study a classic text, capable of governing the people. Scholars will be examined, and those with outstanding results will be promptly promoted and appointed; those who are superficial and neglect the fundamentals should be dismissed!" On the Wuzi day in the same year, the Emperor issued yet another decree for the Grand Tutor and the Three Excellencies to carve the literary works of the Literary Emperor onto stone tablets and place them outside the Grand Shrine. On the Guisi day, General Cao Zhen was appointed Grand Marshal, General Sima Yi was appointed Grand General, and the Governor of Liaodong, Gongsun Yuan, was appointed Cavalry General.
In April, Grand Tutor Zhong Yao passed away. In June, the Empress Dowager passed. On Bing Shen day, the court abolished the Shangyong commandery. In July, the coffin of Empress Wu Xuan, Bian Shi, was buried in Gaoling. The Emperor ordered Grand Marshal Cao Zhen and Grand General Sima Yi to launch an attack on the Shu Kingdom. In August, the Emperor set out on an eastern tour and sent envoys with offerings to Mount Song. On Yi Wei day, the Emperor arrived at Xuchang Palace. In September, heavy rains caused flooding in the Yi, Luo, Yellow, and Han Rivers, and the Emperor ordered Cao Zhen and his troops back to the capital. In October, the Emperor returned to Luoyang Palace. On Geng Shen day, the Emperor issued a decree: "Those whose crimes don't warrant the death penalty may be allowed to atone based on the circumstances." In November, the Tai Bai star was in opposition to the year star (celestial phenomenon). In December, the Emperor ordered Empress Wen Zhao, Zhen Shi, to be reburied at Chaoyang Mausoleum. On Bing Yin day, the Emperor ordered the officials to recommend virtuous and talented individuals.
In January of the year 235 AD, the Emperor personally plowed the fields in Jitian. In March, Grand Marshal Cao Zhen passed away. Zhuge Liang led troops to attack Tianshui, and the Emperor ordered Grand General Sima Yi to go and resist. From October of the previous year to March of this year, there was no rain. On Xin Si day, the Emperor ordered a large-scale rain prayer ritual. In April, Xianbei leader Kebineng brought his people and Dingling leader Dadan'er to Youzhou to present tribute of fine horses. The court reinstated the title of Protector of the Xiongnu. In July, due to Zhuge Liang's retreat, the Emperor rewarded them with titles and promotions according to their merits. On Yi You day, Crown Prince Cao Yin was born, and the court issued a general amnesty.
In August, the emperor issued a decree saying, "In ancient times, the feudal lords paid homage to the emperor to enhance their mutual affection and coordinate relations among nations. The late emperor left a decree, not wishing for the princes to remain in the capital, because the emperor was still young at that time, and the empress dowager was overseeing state affairs. This was to prevent future troubles that could affect the rise and fall of the nation! It has been twelve years since I last saw you, my princes, and I truly miss you! Therefore, I command each prince and noble of the royal family to send their eldest legitimate son to pay their respects. As for the young monarchs and empress dowagers in the palace, their matters shall be managed according to the late emperor's decree, and I will make this intention clear in the decree." On the Yiyou day in November, the moon was in opposition to the Xuanyuan star; on the final day of the Wuxu month, a solar eclipse took place; on the Jiachen day in December, the moon again opposed the Zhen star; on the Wuwu day, Grand Commandant Hua Xin passed away.
In the second month of spring of the sixth year, the emperor issued a decree again, stating, "In ancient times, emperors enfeoffed feudal lords to serve as barriers to defend the royal family. As stated in the Book of Songs, 'With virtuous conduct and peace, the heir will guard the city.' The Qin and Han dynasties inherited the system of the Zhou dynasty; some were strong and some were weak, but none could grasp the balance well. The Wei dynasty was established, and the various kings established their realms according to the circumstances of the time, without fixed rules, and thus cannot serve as lasting examples. Therefore, when re-enfeoffing the feudal kings, they should all be based on counties as states." On the day of Guichou in the third month, the emperor began his eastern tour, visiting and comforting the elderly, widows, and orphans along the way, and giving them food and cloth; on the day of Yihai, the moon again passed by the Xuanwu star. On the day of Renyin in the fourth month, the emperor arrived at the Xuchang Palace; on the day of Jiazi, the first fruits of the harvest were presented at the ancestral temple. In the fifth month, the emperor's son, Yin, passed away, posthumously honored as the Ai King of Anping. In the seventh month, General Dong Zhao, known for eliminating barbarians, was appointed as the Minister of Works. In the ninth month, the emperor arrived at the Mobei Palace, renovated the Xuchang Palace, and built the Jingfu Hall and Chengguang Hall. In the tenth month, General Tian Yu, known for eliminating barbarians, led his troops to defeat the Wu general Zhou He at Chengshan, killing him. On the day of Bingyin in the eleventh month, the planet Jupiter was visible during the day; a star appeared near the Yi constellation, close to the Great Wall star. On the day of Gengyin, Prince Cao Zhi, known as Chen Si, passed away. In the twelfth month, the emperor made his way back to the Xuchang Palace.
In the first month of the year 229 AD, the Qinglong era was officially inaugurated. On the Jia Shen day, Qinglong made an unexpected appearance in the Mobo Well in Jiaxian County! On the fourteenth day of the second month, the emperor personally went to Mobo to see this Qinglong, and subsequently changed the era name, renaming Mobo as Longbei, granting local men a promotion of two ranks. This year, widowers, widows, and orphans were exempt from taxes. On the first day of the third month, the emperor ordered the court ministers to each recommend a talented and virtuous person. On the seventh day of the fifth month, the emperor ordered sacrifices at the ancestral temple to the deceased generals Xiahou Dun, Grand Marshal Cao Ren, and Cavalry General Cheng Yu. On the eleventh day of the fifth month, Prince Rui of Beihai died. On the first day of the intercalary month, a solar eclipse occurred. On the fourteenth day of the intercalary month, the emperor ordered that those female members of the imperial clan who were not princesses be appointed as local leaders. It was also ordered that mountain and river deities not mentioned in the sacrificial records were to be no longer worshipped. In June, a section of the Jushi, a part of the Luoyang Palace, caught fire.
The leader of the Baosai Xianbei, Budugen, and the rebellious Xianbei leader Kebineng secretly colluded. The governor of Bingzhou, Bi Gui, reported that he wanted to send troops, both to deter Kebineng and to appease Budugen. After reading the memorial, the emperor said, "Budugen must feel that he was misled by Kebineng and is likely feeling uncertain. Now, if Bi Gui sends troops, it will only scare these two groups into uniting as a single force. How can we deter them then?" The emperor quickly ordered Bi Gui to be cautious and not to cross the border or venture beyond Juzhu Mountain. When the imperial edict arrived, Bi Gui had already stationed his troops at Yin Guan and sent generals Su Shang and Dong Bi to pursue the Xianbei people. Kebineng sent his son with over a thousand cavalry to confront Budugen's tribe, but they encountered Su Shang and Dong Bi at Loufan, fought a battle, and Su Shang and Dong Bi were defeated and killed. All of Budugen's tribe fled beyond the border and joined Kebineng in harassing the border. The emperor sent General Qin Lang to lead the central army to defeat them, and the Xianbei people fled to the north desert.
In September, the leader of the rebellious Baosai Xiongnu in the Anding region, Hubaojuzhi, was pursued by General Hu Zun and others sent by Sima Xuanwang. He was defeated and subsequently surrendered. In October, Daihua Langni, the leader of Budugen's tribe, and others surrendered in Bingzhou, and so Qin Lang led his troops back to the capital. In December, Gongsun Yuan killed the envoys Zhang Mi and Xu Yan sent by Sun Quan and sent their heads, and was subsequently appointed as the Grand Marshal of Le Lang.
In the spring of the year 222 AD, on the second day of the second month in the year of Yiwei, the planet Venus was in conjunction with Mars. On the day of Guiyou, the emperor sent a decree stating: "Whipping is used to punish lazy and negligent officials, but recently many innocent people have died because of this. Therefore, the severity of the whipping punishment should be reduced, and this regulation should be established." On the day of Gengyin in the third month, the Duke of Shanyang died, and the emperor wore mourning clothes to honor him, and also sent envoys to take care of the funeral arrangements. On the day of Jiyou, the court declared a general amnesty. In the fourth month, a severe epidemic broke out, and the Chonghua Hall was also set ablaze. On the day of Bingyin, the emperor ordered officials to sacrifice to the Temple of Emperor Wen with the most lavish offerings. The Duke of Shanyang was posthumously granted the title of Emperor Han Xiaoxian, and was buried according to the rituals of the Han dynasty.
This month, Zhuge Liang mobilized his troops from Xiegu and camped in Weinan, while Sima Yi led the army to resist. The emperor sent a decree to Sima Yi, stating: "You just need to defend the city and weaken the enemy's morale. Zhuge Liang's advance is facing difficulties, and if he retreats without finding an opponent, eventually, his supplies will dwindle, and he will gain nothing from plundering, so he will naturally retreat. When he retreats, pursue him and strike when he tires, and you will achieve complete victory."
In May, the planet Taibai can be seen during the day. Sun Quan led his troops to Chao Lake, attacking Hefei's new city, and sent Lu Yi and Sun Shao to lead over ten thousand troops to the Huai River and Mian River basins. In June, General Man Chong led his troops to resist. Man Chong wanted to capture the new city and force Sun Quan to retreat to Shou Chun, but the emperor disagreed, stating, "Emperor Guangwu of the Han Dynasty once sent troops to occupy Yueyang and eventually defeated Wei Xiao. The late emperor established Hefei to the east, defended Xiangyang in the south, and secured Qishan in the west. Every time the enemy attacked, they were defeated under these three cities. These places are all strategic locations that must be contested. Even if Sun Quan attacks the new city, he is unlikely to succeed. Order all soldiers to defend the city; by the time I arrive, Sun Quan will likely have already fled." On the day of Renyin in July, the emperor personally set out on a dragon boat to the east. Sun Quan was attacking the new city, and General Zhang Ying and others resisted stubbornly. The emperor's army had not yet arrived, and Sun Quan fled before the new city, hundreds of miles away, while Lu Yi, Sun Shao, and others also retreated. The courtiers believed that the Grand General was locked in a stalemate with Zhuge Liang, creating a tense situation, so the emperor should go west to Chang'an. The emperor said, "Sun Quan has fled; Zhuge Liang will surely be frightened. The Grand General can control the situation; I don't need to worry." So the emperor continued his march and arrived in Shou Chun, reviewed the generals' achievements, and rewarded them accordingly. On the day of Jiwei in August, the emperor reviewed the army, rewarded the soldiers of the six divisions, and sent envoys to boost the morale of the troops in Hefei and Shou Chun. On the day of Xinsi, the emperor returned to the Xuchang Palace. Sima Yi and Zhuge Liang confronted each other, surrounding each other for several days. Zhuge Liang issued several challenges, but Sima Yi chose to ignore them. Eventually, Zhuge Liang died, prompting the Shu army to retreat.
In the winter of the tenth month, on the day of Yi Chou, the moon obscured the Zhenxing and Xuanyuan stars. "The moon obscured Zhenxing and Xuanyuan"; on the day of Wu Yin, the moon again obscured the Taibai star. "Wu Yin, the moon obscured Taibai." In the eleventh month, there was an earthquake in the capital, coming from the southeast direction, with faint sounds heard, and the roof tiles shook. In the twelfth month, the court ordered relevant departments to review death penalty cases, resulting in a reduction of death sentences.
On the day of Wu Zi in the third year of the reign, Sima Yi was appointed Grand Commandant. "Appointing Grand General Sima Xuanwang as Grand Commandant." On the day of Ji Hai, the court reinstated the Shuofang Commandery. "Ji Hai, reinstating the Shuofang Commandery." That year, the capital also faced a major epidemic. On the day of Ding Si, the Empress Dowager died. "Ding Si, the Empress Dowager died." On the day of Yi Hai, a meteor shower occurred in Shouguang County. "Yi Hai, meteor shower in Shouguang County." On the day of Geng Yin in the third month, Empress Wende Guo was buried, with her tomb constructed according to the Empress's specifications to the west of Shouyanglingjian. "In the third month of Geng Yin, buried Empress Wende Guo, built the tomb to the west of Shouyanglingjian according to the final specifications."
At that time, the court was engaged in large-scale construction of the Luoyang Palace, constructing Zhaoyang Hall, Taiji Hall, and Zongzhang Hall. The common people were hindered in their farming due to the palace construction. Upright ministers such as Yang Fu and Gaotang Long repeatedly counseled the emperor, although he did not fully adopt their opinions, his attitude was relatively accommodating. "At that time, the construction of Luoyang Palace was in progress, with Zhaoyang and Taiji Halls being constructed, and the Zongzhang Hall erected. The common people lost farming time, and the upright ministers Yang Fu, Gaotang Long, and others repeatedly advised, although their advice was not fully heeded, they were often treated with respect."
In the seventh month of autumn, the Chonghua Hall in Luoyang caught fire. On the eighth day of the eighth month, Cao Fang was appointed as the Prince of Qi, and Cao Xun was appointed as the Prince of Qin. On Ding Si, the emperor returned to Luoyang Palace. The court ordered the reconstruction of the Chonghua Hall, renaming it the Jiulong Hall. On the tenth month of winter, Prince Cao Gun of Zhongshan passed away. On Ren Shen, Venus appeared during the day. On the eleventh day of November, the emperor stayed at the Xuchang Palace. In the fourth year of February, Venus appeared during the day again, and the moon passed Venus and Xuanyuan stars, entering and exiting the Taiwei Palace. In the summer of the fourth month, the court established the Chongwen Observatory, recruiting talented writers to enhance its ranks. On the day of Yi Mao in May, Dong Zhao, the Minister of Works, passed away. On Ding Si, the Sushen tribe offered a tribute of arrows.
On the sixth month of Ren Shen, the emperor issued a decree saying, "During the time of Yu Shun, drawings were used to warn the people, and the people were deterred from committing crimes; during the Zhou Dynasty, although there were many punishments, they were rarely used. As the last emperor, I reminisce about the governance of past dynasties. Alas, the gap between the two eras is simply too vast! Nowadays, laws and regulations are increasing, the number of lawbreakers is also increasing, and the punishments are becoming heavier, but evil deeds still run rampant. In the past, I commuted many death sentences, thinking of saving the lives of the people; this is my heartfelt intention! However, in the county prisons, there are still hundreds of death row inmates in a year. Is it because my guidance has been lacking, leading the people to easily break the law? Or are the harsh laws still in existence, becoming traps for the people? The relevant departments should discuss and aim to be more lenient when sentencing death row inmates, handling cases in a more lenient and simple manner. Those who request clemency, some of them have not even had time to submit their petitions before the cases are judged. This isn't a proper investigation to uncover the truth! I hereby order court and prison officials nationwide that in cases where death sentences are imposed, except for treason and murder, they must promptly inform the families of the condemned. If someone requests clemency, allow them to submit their clemency requests together, and I will consider how to spare their lives. Make this decree public so everyone knows my intentions."
In the seventh month of autumn, the king of Goguryeo sent the heads of those who killed the envoy Sun Quan, including Hu Wei, to Youzhou. On the first day of the seventh month, Tai Bai Venus occurred with Xuan Yuan Da Xing (this is an astronomical event). On the sixth day of the tenth month, the emperor returned to the Palace of Luoyang. On the seventh day of the tenth month, a star blazed in the Big Dipper (this is an astronomical event), and on the eighth day of the tenth month, another star appeared in the east (this is an astronomical event). On the sixteenth day of the eleventh month, a comet appeared, occurring with the Eunuch Tian Ji Xing (this is an astronomical event). On the fourteenth day of the twelfth month, the Minister of Works Chen Qun passed away. On the sixteenth day of the twelfth month, the emperor went to Xuchang Palace.
In the first month of the first year of Jingchu, on the seventh day, Shanchi County reported the appearance of a yellow dragon. The relevant departments then submitted a memorial, suggesting that the Wei Kingdom had gained control of the world, and that the first month of Jianchou (January) should be considered the beginning of the year. In the third month, the calendar was determined, and the era name was changed to Mengxia, with April as the new starting month. It was decreed that yellow would be the primary color for clothing, white animals should be used for sacrifices, black horses with white spots should be used for military actions, large flags should be red, and white flags should be used for court meetings. The Taihe calendar was rebranded as the Jingchu calendar. Although the seasons and months were different, the rituals, ceremonies, and other observances continued to follow the Jianchou calendar.
In early May, I returned to Luoyang Palace. A few days later, the court issued a general amnesty. In June, an earthquake struck the capital, terrifying the populace. Chen Jiao was appointed Minister of Works, and Wei Zhen was appointed Minister of Construction. In addition, the court merged Weiyang County from Weixing Prefecture, Anfu County from Xijun Prefecture, and Shangyong County into a new Shangyong Prefecture, directly abolishing Xijun Prefecture and transferring Xixian to the jurisdiction of Weixing County.
Some officials in the court proposed that Emperor Wu of Cao Wei, the founder of the Wei Dynasty, who rectified chaos and restored order, should be honored with the "Dance of Wu Shi"; Emperor Wen of Cao Wei, the ancestor of the Wei Dynasty, who received the mandate from heaven, should be honored with the "Dance of Xian Xi"; and our emperor, the illustrious ancestor of Cao Wei, who governed the country with wisdom, should be honored with the "Dance of Zhang Bin"! The temples of these three ancestors must be preserved for eternity, never to be dismantled! Regarding the other four temples, they should adhere to the practices of the temples of Houji, King Wen, and King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty, being rebuilt from generation to generation.
At the beginning of July, Situ Chen Jiao died. Sun Quan sent general Zhu Ran with twenty thousand troops to lay siege to Jiangxia Commandery. Hu Zhi, the Inspector of Jingzhou, led his troops to engage them and drove Zhu Ran away. At first, Sun Quan even sent envoys by sea to contact Goguryeo, planning a surprise joint attack on Liaodong! In response, the court dispatched Guanqiu Jian, the Inspector of Youzhou, along with an army and troops from the Xianbei and Wuhuan tribes to station at the southeastern border of Liaodong. They also sent a decree to summon Gongsun Yuan. However, Gongsun Yuan chose to rebel, and Guanqiu Jian led troops to suppress him. Unfortunately, they were met with ten days of relentless rain, causing the Liao River to swell significantly. The court had no option but to order Guanqiu Jian to pull back his troops. Nevertheless, Koulou Dun, the Chanyu of the Wuhuan, and Wang Hu, the Wuhuan Commander from the west of Liaoxi, surrendered along with their men to Guanqiu Jian. Later, the court granted amnesty to all Liaodong soldiers and civilians who had been coerced into following Gongsun Yuan's rebellion. Strangely, on that day, Venus was seen in broad daylight! Seeing Guanqiu Jian withdraw his troops, Gongsun Yuan declared himself king, taking the title King of Yan. He even set up a complete system of officials and changed his reign title to "Year One of Shaohan."
The emperor ordered the construction of ocean-going ships in the four provinces of Qingzhou, Yanzhou, Youzhou, and Jizhou. In September, the people of Jizhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, and Yuzhou suffered from floods. The emperor sent officials to investigate the situation regarding drownings, property losses, and to provide relief for the affected people. On Gengchen day, Empress Mao passed away. In winter, on the tenth day of the tenth month, the moon was afflicted by the comet. On Guichou day, Empress Mao was buried in Minling. On Yimao day, a circular mound was constructed south of Luoyang. On the winter solstice of Renzi day in the twelfth month, sacrificial rites began. On Dingsi day, Linju, Yicheng, Jingyang, and Yi counties were separated from Xiangyang, and a Southern Commandant was established. On Jiwei day, a proposal was submitted to construct a temple for Empress Wenzhao in the capital. At the same time, Yueyang County was placed under the jurisdiction of Yiyang County in Xiangyang. In the spring of the second year, the emperor ordered Grand Marshal Xuan Wang to lead the army to attack Liaodong. On Guimao day in February, Han Ji was appointed as the Minister of Works. On Guichou day, the moon was again afflicted by the comet. In the summer, on Gengzi day in April, Han Ji passed away. On Renyin day, ten counties from Pei State were designated to establish Ruyin County. Song County and Kuxian in Chen County were transferred to Qiaoxian. Pei, Zhuqiu, Gongqiu, Pengcheng Fengguo, and Guangqi were consolidated into the Kingdom of Pei. On Gengxu day, a general amnesty was announced. On Yihai day in May, the moon was again afflicted by the comet. In June, Hudu County was abolished and Anle County was reestablished. In the autumn of August, King Mangzhong of the Shaodang Qiang and others revolted. The Governor of Liangzhou led the troops from various counties to suppress the rebellion, and Zhu Yi was killed. On Guichou day, a comet appeared in Zhangsu.
In the year 236 AD, Sima Yi led an army to besiege Gongsun Yuan in Xiangping (now Liaoyang, Liaoning), winning a decisive victory. He sent Gongsun Yuan's severed head to the capital and gradually pacified the various commanderies in the Haidong region (now Liaoning, Jilin, Korean Peninsula). In the winter of that year, in November, the court rewarded those who contributed to the campaign against Gongsun Yuan. Beginning with Grand Commandant Sima Yi, he and others were granted additional fiefs or titles with varying rewards. Initially, the Emperor planned to send Sima Yi to attack Gongsun Yuan with an army of forty thousand. Many officials believed that forty thousand troops would be excessive and that logistics would be hard to manage. However, the Emperor said, "This campaign will cover four thousand miles. While we can employ surprise tactics, we also need sufficient military support. We cannot just focus on saving money." Therefore, it was decided to march with forty thousand troops. After Sima Yi arrived in Liaodong, it rained heavily, delaying the planned attack. Some officials believed that Gongsun Yuan could not be defeated in the short term and suggested recalling Sima Yi. However, the Emperor said, "Sima Yi stays composed in times of crisis, is skilled at adapting to changing situations, and defeating Gongsun Yuan is only a matter of time." The outcome unfolded just as the Emperor had anticipated.
In the year 237 AD, Wei Zhen was appointed Minister of Works, and Cui Lin was appointed Minister of Ceremonies. During the intercalary month, the moon obscured Spica, a bright star. On the day of Yichou in the twelfth month, the Emperor fell seriously ill and was confined to bed. On the day of Xinsi, the Empress was enthroned. The Emperor ordered all men in the country to be promoted by one rank and extended assistance to vulnerable groups such as widows, widowers, and orphans. Cao Yu, the Prince of Yan, was appointed Grand General, but he was dismissed on Jiashen Day and was succeeded by General of the Guards, Cao Shuang.
Earlier, in 233 AD (the third year of Qinglong), in Shou Chun (now Shouxian, Anhui), a farmer's wife claimed to be sent by a celestial being called Deng Nv, claiming she was sent to serve the emperor, dispel evil spirits, and bring blessings. She gave people water to drink and used water to cleanse wounds, healing many. As a result, the court built her a residence in the palace and praised her with an edict, showing her great favor and support. However, when the emperor fell ill, the water she provided him had no effect, and she was subsequently executed.
In 238 AD (the third year), in the first month of Dinghai, Grand Commandant Sima Yi returned to Henei (now part of present-day Henan). The emperor immediately sent a fast horse to summon him to Luoyang, led him into his bedroom, held his hand, and said, "My illness is serious; I entrust the future to you. You must assist my young son together with Cao Shuang. Seeing you, I can die without regrets!" Sima Yi knelt down, weeping in anguish. That day, the emperor died in Jiafu Hall at the age of thirty-six. On Guichou, the emperor was interred at Gaoping Mausoleum.
Historical records state that Emperor Ming Cao Rui was composed and decisive, had the resolve to act on his own convictions, fully demonstrating the authority of an emperor. However, at that time, the people were suffering, and the nation was fractured, and he did not prioritize repairing and consolidating his ancestors' achievements, but instead hastily sought to emulate Qin Shihuang and Emperor Wu of Han, engaging in extensive construction projects and erecting palaces, which contradicted his lofty ambitions and was indeed regrettable!
