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bookofjin · 7 years ago

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Siege of Luoyang, 309

So this something I have been working on for some time, and ended up much longer than planned.

This post discus the attempts in 309 to take Luoyang by the armies of Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan had proclaimed himself Emperor of Han in 308 and now hoped to capture the capital of the crumbling Western Jin empire.

The sources

The two main extant sources for the so-called Sixteen States period are the Book of Jin (Jinshu晉書, JS) by Fang Xuangling et al, finished in 648 during the Tang empire, and the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government by Sima Guang (Zizhi tongjian資治通鑑, ZZTJ), finished 1084 during the Song empire.

The JS is written in the biographic-thematic style. The book's 130 scrolls are divided into four sections, the first three are the standard Basic Annals (benji本紀), Treatises (zhi志), and Biographies (liezhuan列傳). The fourth, the Yearly Annals (zaiji 載記), covers the last 30 scrolls of the book

The JS throughout treats the Jin rulers as the legitimate rulers, their northern rivals are all false usurpers, the titles and ranks they grant to their followers bogus pretensions. The zaiji hence cover those fourteen of the Sixteen States who claimed Heaven's favour to declare themselves kings and emperors in defiance of the Jin. The rulers of the last two maintained nominal allegiance to the Jin court, and so are rewarded with a place among the ordinary Biographies.

The JS is essentially a composite text created by selecting from and editing together older texts, now mostly lost. Most likely the main, if not the only, source for the zaiji was the Spring and Autumn of the Sixteen States (Shiliuguo chunqiu 十六國春秋, SLGCQ) by Cui Hong of the Northern Wei era (386 – 534). This book, in 100 scrolls, seems to have been written in basically a chronicle style (with some biographical elements), with a separate chronicle for each of the sixteen states. The SLCQ is no longer extant except in excerpts or indirectly through its use as a source by later books.

The ZZTJ is a universal history written in the chronicle style, the Jin are covered in Scrolls 79 – 118. Similarly to the JS, the ZZTJ has been created by abbreviating and editing together older texts. In his notes to his text, Sima Guang names several of the sources he has used, these include the JS and the SLGCQ, but also other now largely lost books such as Xiao Fangfeng's (528 – 549) Spring and Autumn of the Thirty States (Sanshiguo chunqiu 三十國春秋,SSGCQ) in 31 scrolls, and Sun Sheng's (302 - 373) Autumn of Jinyang (Jinyang qiu 晉陽秋, JYQ) in 22 scrolls. The JYQ, a chronicle of the Jin down to Emperor Ai (r. 361 – 365), was also used by the authors of the JS.

The ZZTJ also treat Jin as legitimate, following the so-called “line of abdication”, but the rulers of the Sixteen States are treated more neutral than the JS. Liu Yuan referred to in the text as the “Ruler of Han” (hanzhu漢主), and his family and followers by the ranks and titles they held under Han.

Comparing the JS and ZZTJ it is obvious that they share much of the same source material, but they have selected and abbreviated the material in different ways. The result is that some details have been preserved in one book but not the other. To get a comprehensive overview of the surviving source material it is therefore necessary to consult both.

The longest and most detailed by descriptions on Liu Cong's attempt to take Luoyang in 309 are found in the Yearly Annals of Liu Yuanhai in JS101 and a series of entries in ZZTJ87, we can probably assume the majority of these texts come from the SLGCQ. More summary accounts are found in the Basic Annals of Emperor Huai, JS005, and the Biography of Wang Mi, JS100, but these often contradict JS101 and ZZTJ.

Situation and opposing forces summer 309

In 309 the ruler of the Jin empire was Sima Chi, posthumously Emperor Huai, who had succeeded his brother Emperor Hui in 306. Real power was however in the hands of Sima Yue, King of Donghai, who had won the civil war among the Jin princes only to see the slide into chaos continue, and control of the provinces slipping away. In 307 Sima Yue had made his three brothers the military commanders of Xiangyang, Ye and Chang'an, but by summer 309 only one of these were still alive: Sima Mo, King of Nanyang, headquartered at Chang'an.

Liu Yuan is claimed by the sources to have been the grandson of the Xiongnu Southern Shanyu Yufuluo, but this seems questionable. We need not doubt though that he belonged to the Xiongnu royal clan, which had taken the Liu family name based on their past marriages with Han princesses. During the Jin civil wars he served Sima Ying, King of Chengdu. In 304 when Sima Ying was hard-pressed by his enemies' Xianbei cavalry, Liu Yuan offered to go back home and raise an army of Xiongnu in support of Sima Ying. Once back he initially took the title of Grand Shanyu, later the same year he proclaimed himself King of Han as the successor of Liu Shan.

Liu Yuan initially controlled a fairly limited territory, but in August 308 his forces captured Pingyang and Hedong commanderies. Liu Yuan then transferred his capital to Pingyang and proclaimed himself Emperor of Han. In the first half of 309 the armies of Han conquered Shangdang commandery from Jin's Inspector of Bing province, Liu Kun.

By this time Han's chief field commander seems to have been Liu Yuan's fourth son, Liu Cong, King of Chu. Among his subordinate generals the most notable was Wang Mi, a native of Donglai on the eastern coast (and so not a “barbarian”). In 306 Wang Mi had joined the local rebellion of Liu Bogen. When Bogen was defeated, he took refuge in the mountains and became a bandit leader. In 308 Wang Mi led his army west across the plains, sacked Xuchang and attacked Luoyang. When his attack on Luoyang failed, he crossed the He and pledged allegiance to Han. Liu Cong's other chief supporters tended to come from either the royal Liu clan, or the Huyan clan. Liu Yuan's mother came from the Huyan, and clearly this was an important clan, tightly connected with the Liu.

Launch of the first? campaign, defeat of Cao Wu.

Jin's 3rd Year of Yongjia, Han's 1st Year of Herui, 8th Month (21 September – 19 October 309), Liu Yuan ordered Liu Cong to attack Luoyang (ZZTJ) together with Wang Mi, and with his cousin Liu Yao and Zhao Gu as rear support (JS101, Note 1). The Han armies were by this point plundering Henei and Ji commanderies on the north bank of Yellow River, but attempting to cross the river here would have been too difficult in the face of the imperial Jin armies. Instead Liu Cong would cross closer to Pingyang, and then descend through the mountain passes to attack Luoyang from the west.

Sima Yue dispatched the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu (JS101, ZZTJ), with Generals Song Chou and Peng Mo (JS101), to stop him. Cao Wu positioned at Dayang (JS100) near the Shan pass, presumably to prevent Liu Cong from crossing. However Liu Cong defeated Peng Mo, who was killed (JS100), and the Jin army withdrew (JS100, JS101, ZZTJ).

(Note 1: Liu Cong is the only Han commander named by ZZTJ for this campaign. JS101 states the Han army was commanded by Liu Cong and Wang Mi, with Liu Yao and Zhao Gu as rear support. However JS100 states that while Cao Wu was at Danyang to confront Liu Cong, Pei Xian was at Baima to confront Wang Mi. One possibility is that Wang Mi only joined up with Liu Cong later.)

Battle at Yiyang, Liu Cong defeated in night attack, as told by JS101 and ZZTJ

After routing Cao Wu, Liu Cong crossed the He and advanced eastwards to arrive at Yiyang. Yiyang was located on the Luo river west of Luoyang.

Sima Mo (Note 2) dispatched an army from Chang'an commanded by Chunyu Ding and Lü Yi to stop Liu Cong, but in a battle at Yiyang they were also defeated (JS101). Liu Cong grew lax from his continuous victories, and failed to put his army camp in proper readiness.

In the 9th Month (20 October – 18 November) (ZZTJ), Jin's Grand Warden of Hongnong, Yuan Yan, feigned surrender, and attacked Liu Cong in a night raid. Liu Cong was greatly defeated and forced to withdraw (JS101, ZZTJ). It is said that Liu Yuan greeted the returning army clad in white (i.e. mourning) clothes (JS101), which implies that Liu Cong had retreated all the way back to Pingyang.

(Note 2: JS101 calls titles Sima Mo as Duke of Pingchang. This seems to be a simple mistake. Sima Mo had earlier been titled Duke of Pingchang, but in 306 was advanced to King of Nanyang.)

Junyi besieged by Liu Cong, conflicting information from JS005

JS005 has no entries for the 8th Month of Yongjia 3, which does not necessarily mean anything, as the benji chapters are very concise.

Under the 9th Month JS005 states that on 20 October), Liu Cong besieged Junyi. Cao Wu was dispatched to deal with him. On 31 October, the Jin army was defeated (JS005). JS005 then moves on to Liu Cong's siege of Luoyang, described in detail further below.

Junyi is a county in Chenliu, to the east of Luoyang. While it is not explicitly stated by JS005, 20 October was the first day of the 9th Month. Liu Cong could of course have moved east from Yiyang and bypassed Luoyang, but how does this fit in with his supposed defeat by Yuan Yan? I don't known. ZZTJ ignores these entries entirely.

Launch of the second campaign

In winter, the 10th Month [19 November – 17 December], Liu Yuan again sent Liu Cong together with Wang Mi, Liu Yao, Dragon Galloping General and King of Shi'an, and Liu Jing, King of Ruyin, to attack Luoyang with a cavalry army (Note 3). Huyan Yi, Great Minister of Works and Duke of Yanmen, with an infantry force was to provide rear support (JS101, ZZTJ). Based on later events, it seems he was stationed at Dayang. His task was probably then to protect Han communications across the He.

On 9 December Liu Cong once again arrived at Yiyang with his army, causing consternation in the Jin capital where they had not expect him to return so soon (ZZTJ). From Yiyang, Liu Cong continued east to Henan where he defeated a Jin army (JS101). It must have been around this time that Sima Yue returned to Luoyang from Puyang to defend the imperial capital. (JS005)

(Note 3: JS101 and ZZTJ call it 50 000 of the finest cavalry, JS100 puts it at 10 000 cavalry. It is probably best not to focus too much on these numbers.)

A long digression on Liu Tun, JS045 and JS100

Wang Mi's biography does not mention any reversals for the Han armies, or any need to relaunch the campaign, one possibility is that these details have been omitted from JS100's much briefer treatment. Instead JS100 simply states that Liu Cong, after defeating Cao Wu, crossed the Yellow River. Jin armies under the Minister of Retainers, Liu Tun, General Song Chou and others were sent against him without success. Liu Cong and Wang Mi then attacked Luoyang with 10 000 cavalry, and burnt the Two Schools.

Liu Tun had been Minister of Retainers since the time of Emperor Hui. As already described above, JS101 states that Liu Cong at the beginning of the first campaign defeated an army led by Cao Wu, Song Chou and Peng Mo. JS101 states Liu Cong that first defeated Cao Wu and Peng Mo, and Peng Mo was killed, and then defeated Liu Tun and Song Chou. It is possible that JS101 has merged the defeat of Cao Wu and Peng Mo and the defeat of Liu Tun and Song Chou into the common defeat of Cao Wu, Song Chou and Peng Mo. In this case Liu Tun's defeat must have taken place early in the first campaign before Liu Cong arrived at Yiyang. On the other hand I don't think there is any real reason why Song Chou could not have served under Cao Wu first, but being omitted from JS100, and then under Liu Tun later. In that case Liu Tun's defeat could have come much later.

Liu Tun has his own biography in JS045, but the relevant sections are difficult to reconcile with the other texts. First there is a story that Liu Tun once set off with a large retinue of guests and relatives for a visit to the family grave. The Prefect of Luoyang, Wang Leng, told Sima Yue that Liu Tun was planning to defect to Wang Mi, who came from the same commandery, Donglai, as him. Sima Yue sent some cavalry to chase after Liu Tun, to his shame when the truth came to light.

This episode is dated by JS045 to the time when Liu Cong and Wang Mi were in Hedong, which should place it somewhere between Han's capture of Hedong and Liu Cong's crossing of the Yellow River. One potential issue with the historicity of the whole episode is that it seems to require Sima Yue to have been in Luoyang. However JS005 gives the impression that Sima Yue was at Puyang for this whole period and only returned to Luoyang when the city was directly threatened.

JS045 follows this story with a summary of Liu Tun's career during the remainder of Emperor Huai's reign. When Liu Yao threatened Luoyang, Liu Tan was appointed General who Consoles the Army and commander of the capital's defences. Liu Yao withdrew. Liu Tun then moved to Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, but was shunted off by a suspicious Sima Yue into an essentially honorary court position. Later on he was restored to Minister of Retainers by Emperor Huai.

On first impression this straightforward enough, but again there are some issues. First of all I am not aware of any operations against Luoyang led by Liu Yao before the summer of 311, by which time Sima Yue was dead. It could of course refer to something otherwise unrecorded, but I think it is possible that it actually refer to Liu Cong's attack on Luoyang in 309, which Liu Yao took part in. It would make sense for someone like Liu Tun to be made commander of the defence of the capital in Sima Yue's absence. It would also fit with JS100's statement that Liu Cong defeated Liu Tun after crossing the He, JS045 has just omitted Liu Tun's defeat as irrelevant. I don't think it is a problem either that JS100 titles Liu Tun as Minister of Retainers rather than General who Consoles the Army, since his generalship was an emergency appointment.

This theory is however contradicted by JS005. According to JS005, Sima Yue's brother, Sima Jian, King of Gaomi and military commander at Xiangyang, died on 5 April 309. The court appointed the Supervisor of the Left of the Masters of Writing, Shan Jian, as military commander at Xiangyang to replace Sima Jian, and the Minister of Retainers, Liu Tun, as Supervisor of the Left to replace Shan Jian. If Liu Tun became Supervisor of the Left already in April 309, then he cannot have been Minister of Retainers when Liu Cong invaded in December 309. What I am not certain about is how soon after Sima Jian's death Liu Tun's appointment took place. Surely should have taken some time to pick a successor for Sima Jian and then for Shan Jian?

My theory is therefore, though involves a large amount of speculations and is also partly contradicted by the sources, that when Liu Cong unexpectedly appeared at Yiyang on 9 December, the court turned to Liu Tun to lead the defences. And it was an army under Liu Tun's command that Liu Cong defeated at Henan.

Siege of Luoyang, first phase

On 14 December, Liu Cong arrived with his army before Luoyang and camped outside the Ximing Gate (JS005, JS101, ZZTJ). That night the Jin launched a night attack, either led by the Army Protector Jia Yin (JS101) or Beigong Chun (ZZTJ). The Jin forces set out from the Daxia Gate (JS101) and attacked the Han encampments (ZZTJ) where they killed Han's General who Conquers the Caitiffs, Huyan Hao (JS101, ZZTJ, Note 4).

Next day, 15 December, Liu Cong withdrew south to the Luo river where he made a fortified camp (JS101, ZZTJ). On 18 December (Note 5) Huyan Yi was killed by his own men, and his forces dispersed from Dayang (ZZTJ). According to ZZTJ, Huyan Yi received the posthumous title of “Stern and Solemn” (guangmu), he might not have been the ideal boss.

After these reversals Liu Yuan ordered the army to return, however Liu Cong successfully argued that the Jin forces were small and that they should not let the deaths of Huyan Hao and Huyan Yi deter them from continuing the attack.

(Note 4: JS101 states that Huyan Hao's forces dispersed as a result, but this seems to be a conflation with the fate Huyan Yi's army, as described by ZZTJ.)

(Note 5: ZZTJ dates Liu Cong's move south to the Luo to renxu (day 59 in the 60-day cycle), Huyan Yi's death to yichou (day 2) and Liu Cong's excursion to Mount Song to wuyin (day 15), all in the 10th Month. However there was no yichou or wuyin days in Yongjia 3, Month 10, which should have ended on jiazi (day 1). I think the explanation for this is simply that Sima Guang's source has failed to record the start of the 11th Month between renxu and yichou. The first date actually recorded in the ZZTJ under the 11th Month is Liu Cong's return to Pingyang on jiashen (day 21). Everything fits perfectly if Huyan Yi's death and the trip to Mount Song are assumed to have taken place in the 11th Month.)

Siege of Luoyang, second phase

After presumably reorganizing his forces, Liu Cong returned to the renew the attack. This time he made camp outside the Xuanyang Gate, Liu Yao camped outside the Shangdong Gate, Wang Mi outside the Guangyang Gate, while Liu Jing attacked the Daxia Gate (JS101). Based on the positions of these gates, it seems the Han armies were now threatening Luoyang from all sides.

On 31 December Liu Cong went to personally pray at the holy Mount Song, he left behind Liu Li, King of Anyang and General who Pacifies the Jin, and Huyan Lang, General of the Best of the Army, to command the Han forces in his absence (JS101, ZZTJ). While this is not explicitly stated, I assume they were only put in command of the forces directly under Liu Cong at the Xuanyang Gate, and that Wang Mi and Liu Yao were still in command and present at their own camps.

Jin's Army Advisor to the Grand Tutor, Sun Xun suggested to Sima Yue that this would be the perfect opportunity for a counter-attack (ZZTJ). Sima Yue ordered Sun Xun, together with Generals Qiu Guang and Lou Pou, to sally out with a force of 3 000 men from his personal retinue (JS101). They set out from the Xuanyang Gate, and routed the Han army camped outside it. Huyan Lang was killed (JS005, JS101, ZZTJ), making him the third Huyan to fall. Liu Cong hurried back but it was too late. Liu Li feared he would take the blame and drowned himself in the river. (JS101, ZZTJ)

Wang Mi now, according to the common account of JS101 and ZZTJ, advised Liu Cong that it would be best to abandon the attack on Luoyang for now. The Jin defenders were still strong, provisions were few and the supply train was still at the Shan pass. Instead Liu Cong should return to Pingyang with Liu Yao and prepare a new army. Meanwhile Wang Mi would stay behind in Yan and Yu provinces and store up provisions, presumably by plundering. (JS101, ZZTJ) Liu Cong however, because his earlier request to continue, was reluctant to give up (ZZTJ).

Meanwhile back in Pingyang, Liu Yuan's astrologer Xuanyu Xiuzhi had divined that Luoyang would only fall in a xinwei year, and that the Han army would be defeated if it did not return. Liu Yuan then sent out his Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, Fu Xun, to summon Liu Cong to come back.

Siege of Luoyang, third phase? More contradictions from JS005

JS101 and ZZTJ end their account with Xuanyu Xiuzhi's prophecy and the summons from Liu Yuan. Liu Cong and Liu Yuan returned to Pingyang on 6 January 310 (ZZTJ). Based on JS005 however, it seems fighting might continued for a while after the battle at Xuanyang Gate. The author JS101 and ZZTJ's source might have left this out to not detract from Wang Mi's practical and Xuanyu Xiuzhi's mystic advise, or authors of JS005 might just have been confused and muddled things together.

JS005's treatment of the whole siege is as expected quite brief. According to it, sometime after Sima Yue's return to the capital, Liu Cong arrived at the Ximing Gate. Sima Yue and Liu Cong fought a battle outside the Xuanyang Gate and Liu Cong was defeated. As a brief summary nothing here contradicts JS101 or ZZTJ.

JS005 then says that the Jin sent the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Kan, and the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, against Liu Cong. However the Jin army was defeated and Wang Kan fled back to capital. Cao Wu certainly gets defeated a lot! Now I suppose if Liu Cong had moved some distance away from Luoyang, it would make sense to speak of his return to the capital afterwards. But it is more tempting to speculate that defeat is the same as Jin defeat dated to 31 October by JS005, and that this entry is a duplicate. However as discussed above, that battle is also difficult to fit in.

Next, says JS005, Liu Cong attacked Luoyang's Ximing Gate but did not prevail. Ignoring Wang Kan, if Liu Cong continued the siege after being defeated at Xuanyang Gate, he could certainly have moved his camp back outside the Ximing Gate. But if Wang Kan's defeat is a duplicate, this could be as well.

JS100 treats the whole siege very briefly. When Liu Cong and Wang Mi showed up outside Luoyang, Sima Yue resisted them at the Ximing Gate. The Han army was defeated and left. This suggest that the final battles of the siege took place at the Ximing Gate. However since the battle at the Xuanyang gate is ignored, it might as well refer to Liu Cong's arrival at the Ximing Gate at the beginning of the siege.

JS005 then says that in the 11th Month the Beg-to-Live leaders Li Yun and Bo Sheng led their army to the relief of Luoyang, and Liu Cong then withdrew and left. And with this we seem to be on safer ground.

Wang Mi defeated at Xinji. Li Yun and Bo Sheng's role in the end of the siege.

As he had advised, when Liu Cong abandoned the siege, Wang Mi did not accompany him back to Pingyang, but instead set out south through the Huanyuan pass to start the work of piling up provisions (JS101, ZZTJ). However Sima Yue sent out an army led by either Bo Sheng (JS101) or Li Yun (JS005) (Note 6), and they defeated Wang Mi at Xinji in Yingchuan (JS005).

If, as JS101 says, Sima Yue could sent Bo Sheng to chase after Wang Mi, it makes sense, as JS005 claims, that Li Yun and Bo Sheng had come to Luoyang with a relief army before Liu Cong's withdrawal. If this was the case, then real reason why Liu Cong had to retreat was the arrival of enemy reinforcements rather than Xuanyu Xiuzhi's prophecy. This however makes for less neat and instructive to the story.

(Note 6: Since Li Yun and Bo Sheng were both commanders in the same army, the disagreement between JS005 and JS101 on who led the Jin army at Xinji does not seem a critical problem.)

Postscript

Liu Yuan died of illness in 310. His oldest son and chosen successor, Liu He, ruled for only a few days before Liu Cong deposed him and enthroned himself as Emperor of Han. Liu Cong ruled until his own death in 318.

Sima Yue died 23 April 311 and what remained of the Jin empire crumbled quickly after that. On 13 July 311 Wang Mi and Liu Yao entered Luoyang, which by this point was ravaged by famine and almost undefended. They plundered the city and brought Emperor Huai a captive back to Pingyang. 311 was a xinwei year, so everything had predictably gone just as as Xuanyu Xiuzhi had predicted. Emperor Huai was eventually executed by Liu Cong in 313.

Following the fall of Luoyang, Wang Mi fell out with Shi Le, and was killed by him at a banquet in November 311.

Translations

Note that JS refers to Liu Yuan劉淵 as Liu Yuanhai 劉元海, his courtesy name, to observe the Tang taboo on 淵, the name of Tang Gaozu.

JS005, Basic Annals of Emperor Huai

9th Month [20 October – 18 November], bingyin [20 October 309], Liu Cong besieged Junyi. Dispatched the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu to punish him.

On the day dingchou [31 October], the royal regiments achieved defeat.

The King of Donghai, Yue, entered to defend the capital city. Cong arrived at the Ximing gate. Yue defended against him, and in a battle outside the Xuanyang Gate greatly routed him.

…

Sent the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Kan, and the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, to punish Liu Cong. The royal regiments achieved defeat. Kan fled and returned to the capital.

…

Liu Cong attacked Luoyang's Ximing gate, but did not overcome [it].

Winter, 11th Month, the Beg-to-Live leaders, Li Yun, Bo Sheng, and others led the multitudes to aid the Imperial Capital. Cong withdrew and left.

Yun and others again routed Wang Mi at Xinji.

九月丙寅，劉聰圍浚儀，遣平北將軍曹武討之。丁丑，王師敗績。東海王越人保京城。聰至西明門，越禦之，戰于宣陽門外，大破之。… 使車騎將軍王堪、平北將軍曹武討劉聰，王師敗績，堪奔還京師。… 劉聰攻洛陽西明門，不克。

冬十一月 … 乞活帥李惲、薄盛等帥眾救京師，聰退走。惲等又破王彌於新汲。

JS045, Biography of Liu Tun

Tun's wife had previously passed on, and was first buried in an accompanying tomb. His son Gengsheng [?] was newly married. In the family law, the wives had to do obeisance at the grave. The guests and relatives who followed along had several tens of vehicles. They loaded alcohol and food, and went.

Before this, the Prefect of Luoyang, Wang Leng, was trusted by Yue, and made light of Tun. Tun always desired to restrain him. Leng considered him an enemy. At the time Liu Cong and Wang Mi garrisoned Hedong, the Imperial District was endangered and in fear. Leng reported to Yue, stating Tun was a countryman of Mi and desired to throw in with him. Yue made ready cavalry wanting to pursue Tun. The Senior Clerk of the Right, Fu Xuan clarified Tun would not do so. Tun heard about it. He had not yet reached the grave when he turned around, and accordingly with proper righteousness called Yue into account. Yue was considerably ashamed.

When Liu Yao robbed the Imperial Capital, used Tun as General who Consoles the Army, Acting with the Tally, Commander-in-chief of All Army Affairs of the City Defences. Yao withdrew. He moved to Supervisor of the Masters of Writing.

Yue dreaded Tun for his long-time duties in supervision and managing, and also that he was admired in the multitudes' feelings, therefore used him as Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Right, acting Junior Tutor to the Heir-Apparent, concurrently Cavalier in Regular Attendance. Outwardly he showed honour and advancement, but in truth he took away his authority. Emperor Huai again decreed Tun to act as Commandant of Guards, concurrently Specially Advanced. Later he then used Tun as Minister of Retainers, concurrently Palace Attendant. Tun for five [times?, years?] was Minister of Retainers, he indeed united the reasons of matters and feelings [?].

暾妻前卒，先陪陵葬。子更生初婚，家法，婦當拜墓，攜賓客親屬數十乘，載酒食而行。先是，洛陽令王棱為越所信，而輕暾，暾每欲繩之，棱以為怨。時劉聰、王彌屯河北，京邑危懼。棱告越，云暾與彌鄉親而欲投之。越嚴騎將追暾，右長史傅宣明暾不然。暾聞之，未至墓而反，以正義責越，越甚慚。

及劉曜寇京師，以暾為撫軍將軍、假節、都督城守諸軍事。曜退，遷尚書僕射。越憚暾久居監司，又為眾情所歸，乃以為右光祿大夫，領太子少傅，加散騎常侍。外示崇進，實奪其權。懷帝又詔暾領衛尉，加特進。後復以暾為司隸，加侍中。暾五為司隸，允協物情故也。

JS100, Biography of Wang Mi

Emperor Huai dispatched the Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North, Pei Xian to stay at Baima to punish [Wang] Mi, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Kan, to stay at Dongyan to punish [Shi] Le, the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu to stay at Dayang to punish [Liu] Yuanhai. Wu's section General Peng Mo was defeated by Liu Cong and murdered. The multitude armies all withdrew.

Cong crossed the Yellow River. The Emperor dispatched the Colonel Minister of Retainers, Liu Tun, General Song Chou, and others to resist him. None were able to withstand. Mi and Cong used 10 000 cavalry to reach the Imperial Capital, and burnt the Two Schools. The King of Donghai, Yue, resisted in battle at the Ximing Gate. Mi and others were defeated and left.

懷帝遣北中郎將裴憲次白馬討彌，車騎將軍王堪次東燕討勒，平北將軍曹武次大陽討元海。武部將軍彭默為劉聰所敗，見害，眾軍皆退。聰渡黃河，帝遣司隸校尉劉暾、將軍宋抽等��之，皆不能抗。彌、聰以萬騎至京城，焚二學。東海王越距戰於西明門，彌等敗走。

JS101, Yearly Annals of Liu Yuanhai

Hence he instructed his son Cong and Wang Mi to advance and rob Luoyang, Liu Yao with Zhao Gu and others to be their rear support. The King of Donghai, Yue, dispatched the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, and Generals Song Chou, Peng Mo, and others to resist them. The kingly host achieved defeat. Cong and others pushed deep to reach Yiyang.

The Duke of Pingchang, Mo, dispatched generals Chunyu Ding, Lü Yi and others from Chang'an to punish them. They fought at Yiyang, Ding and others achieved defeat. Cong relied on continuous victory, and did not make preparations. The Grand Warden of Hongnong, Yuan Yan, feigned surrender. In a night raid, Cong's army was greatly defeated and turned back. Yuanhai in white clothes greeted the host.

That winter, he then greatly sent out soldiers. He dispatched Cong and Mi, with Liu Yao, Liu Jing and others to lead 50 000 of the finest cavalry to rob Luoyang. He sent Huyan Yi to lead foot soldiers to support them. They defeated the kingly host at [or “in”] Henan. Cong advanced to garrison at the Ximing Gate. The Army-Protector Jia Yin at night pushed [?] him, They fought at the Daxia Gate. He beheaded Cong's general Huyan Hao. His multitudes thereupon dispersed.

Cong turned around the army and went south. He walled up at the Luo river, and soon after advanced to garrison at the Xuanyang Gate. Yao garrisoned at the Shangdong Gate. Mi garrisoned at the Guangyang Gate. Jing attacked the Daxia Gate. Cong personally prayed at Song Peak, and ordered his generals, Liu Li, Huyan Lang, and others, to direct and stay with the army.

The King of Donghai, Yue, instructed Army Advisor Sun Xun, Generals Qiu Guang, Lou Pou, and others to lead 3 000 strong soldiers beneath the tent. They struck Lang from the Xuanyang Gate, and beheaded him. Cong heard and hurried back. Li feared Cong would punish him, took himself into the river and died.

Wang Mi spoke to Cong, saying:

Now [we] have already lost the advantage, Luoyang is still strong. Your Highness, it is not as good as turning back the host, and calmly be raising up in the rear. Your Subordinate will gather troops and store up grain in Yan and Yu. [I will] humbly listen for [?] and make ready for the rendezvous.

Xuanyu Xiuzhi again talked to Yuanhai, saying:

[When] the year is xinwei, [we] will obtain Luoyang. Now the airs of Jin are still abundant. [If] the Great Army does not return, it will surely be defeated.

Yuanhai swiftly dispatched the Gentleman of the Yellow Gates Fu Xun to summon Cong and others to turn back with the host.

Wang Mi set out from Huanyuan. Yue dispatched Bo Sheng and others to pursue and strike Mi. They fought at Xinji. Mi's host achieved defeat. Hence he gathered in the guard posts of Puban, and turned back to Pingyang.

於是命其子聰與王彌進寇洛陽，劉曜與趙固等為之後繼。東海王越遣平北將軍曹武、將軍宋抽、彭默等距之，王師敗績。聰等長驅至宜陽，平昌公模遣將軍淳于定、呂毅等自長安討之，戰于宜陽，定等敗績。聰恃連勝，不設備，弘農太守垣延詐降。夜襲，聰軍大敗而還，元海素服迎師。

是冬，復大發卒，遣聰、彌與劉曜、劉景等率精騎五萬寇洛陽，使呼延翼率步卒繼之，敗王師於河南。聰��屯于西明門，護軍賈胤夜薄之，戰于大夏門，斬聰將呼延顥，其眾遂潰。聰迴軍而南。壁於洛水，尋進屯宣陽門，曜屯上東門，彌屯廣陽門，景攻大夏門，聰親祈嵩嶽，令其將劉厲、呼延朗等督留軍。東海王越命參軍孫詢、將軍丘光、樓裒等率帳下勁卒三千，自宣陽門擊朗，斬之。聰聞而馳還。厲懼聰之罪己也，赴水而死。王彌謂聰曰：「今既失利，洛陽猶固，殿下不如還師，徐為後舉。下官當於袞豫之間收兵積穀，伏聽嚴期。」宣于脩之又言於元海曰：「歲在辛未，當得洛陽。今晉氣猶盛，大軍不歸，必敗。」元海馳遣黃門郎傅詢召聰等還師。王彌出自轘轅，越遣薄盛等追擊彌，戰于新汲，彌師敗績。於是攝薄阪之戍，還於平陽。

ZZTJ87, Yongjia 3

Autumn, 8th Month [21 September – 19 October], the Ruler of Han, Yuan, instructed the King of Chu, Cong, and others to advance and attack Luoyang. Decreed the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, and others, to resist him. All were defeated by Cong.

Cong pushed deep to reach Yiyang. He himself relied on continuous victory, he was negligent and did not make preparations.

9th Month [20 October – 18 November], the Grand Warden of Hongnong, Yuan Yan, feigned surrender. [He made] a night raid on Cong's army. Cong was greatly defeated and turned back.

…

Winter, 10th Month [19 November – 17 December], the Ruler of Han then dispatched the King of Chu, Cong; Wang Mi; the King of Shi'An, Yao; and the King of Ruyin, Jing, to lead 50 000 of the finest cavalry to rob Luoyang. The Great Minister of Works, Duke Gangmu of Yanmen, Huyan Yi, to lead foot soldiers to support them.

On bingchen [9 December], Cong and others reached Yiyang. The Imperial Court, due to the Han troops being recently defeated, did not expect them to arrive again and was greatly fearful.

On xinyou [14 December], Cong garrisoned Ximing Gate. Beigong Chun and others at night led more than a thousand brave soldiers to set out and attack Han's fortifications. He beheaded their General who Conquers the Caitiffs, Huyan Hao.

On renxu [15 December], Cong went south to garrison at the Luo river.

[11th Month,] On yichou [18 December], Huyan Yi was killed by his followers, his multitudes dispersed from Dayang and returned home.

Yuan commanded Cong and others to turn back with the host. Cong petitioned claiming that the Jin troops were few, that he could not for the reasons of Yi and Hao's deaths turn back the host. He firmly requested to stay and attack Luoyang. Yuan allowed it.

The Grand Tutor, Yue, defended himself in the encircled Luoyang [?].

On wuyin [31 December], Cong prayed at Song Mountain. He kept the General who Pacifies the Jin, King Ai of Anyang, Li, and the General of the Best of the Army, Huyan Lang, to direct and administer the staying army. The Army Advisor to the Grand Tutor, Sun Xun persuaded Yue to exploit the absence to set out and strike Lang. He beheaded him. Li took himself into the river and died.

Wang Mi spoke to Cong, saying:

Now the army has already lost the advantage. The defenders of Luoyang are prepared and still strong, the transport chariots are at Shan, the provisions and food do not provide for several days. Your Highness, it is not as good as to turn back to Pingyhang with the Dragon Galloping [General, Yao], bundle up food and send out soldiers, and furthermore be raising up in the rear. Your Subordinate likewise [will] gather soldiers and grain, and await instructions in Yan and Yu. Can it not likewise be done?

Cong himself, due to requesting to stay, did not yet dare to turn back.

Xuanyu Xiuzhi talked to Yuan, saying:

[When] the year is xinwei, then [we will] obtain Luoyang. Now the airs of Jin are still abundant. [If] the Great Army does not return, it will surely be defeated.

Yuan therefore summoned Cong and others to turn back.

…

11th Month, jiashen [6 January], Han's King of Chu, Cong, and King of Shi'an, Yao, returned home to Pingyang.

Wang Mi to the south set out [from] Huanyuan.

秋，八月，漢主淵命楚王聰等進攻洛陽；詔平北將軍曹武等拒之，皆爲聰所敗。聰長驅至宜陽，自恃驟勝，怠不設備。九月，弘農太守垣延詐降，夜襲聰軍，聰大敗而還。

…

冬，十月，漢主淵復遣楚王聰、王彌、始安王曜、汝陰王景帥精騎五萬寇洛陽，大司空鴈門剛穆公呼延翼帥步卒繼之。丙辰，聰等至宜陽。朝廷以漢兵新敗，不意其復至，大懼。辛酉，聰屯西明門。北宮純等夜帥勇士千餘人出攻漢壁，斬其征虜將軍呼延顥。壬戌，聰南屯洛水。乙丑，呼延翼爲其下所殺，其衆自大陽潰歸。淵敕聰等還師；聰表稱晉兵微弱，不可以翼、顥死故還師，固請留攻洛陽，淵許之。太傅越嬰城自守。戊寅，聰親祈嵩山，留平晉將軍安陽哀王厲、冠軍將軍呼延朗督攝留軍；太傅參軍孫詢說越乘虛出擊朗，斬之，厲赴水死。王彌謂聰曰︰「今軍旣失利，洛陽守備猶固，運車在陝，糧食不支數日。殿下不如與龍驤還平陽，裹糧發卒，更爲後舉；下官亦收兵穀，待命於兗、豫，不亦可乎！」聰自以請留，未敢還。宣于脩之言於淵曰︰「歲在辛未，乃得洛陽。今晉氣猶盛，大軍不歸，必敗。」淵乃召聰等還。

…

十一月，甲申，漢楚王聰、始安王曜歸于平陽。王彌南出轘轅，

#js005 #js045 #js100 #js101

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karonbill · 4 years ago

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CIW JavaScript Specialist 1D0-735 Questions and Answers

1D0-735 CIW JavaScript Specialist exam is now available, Certification exam 1D0-635 will be retired on December 31, 2021. PassQuestion provides high quality CIW JavaScript Specialist 1D0-735 Questions and Answers to help you understand the knowledge and experience required to pass CIW 1D0-735 exam. With the help of CIW JavaScript Specialist 1D0-735 Questions and Answers,it can help you prepare your exam more efficiently and you will practice questions for the exam exactly as they would occur in the actual 1D0-735 exam.

CIW JavaScript Specialist

The CIW JavaScript Specialist Certification is a vendor-neutral, entry-level Web development credential designed for web developers, software developers, application programmers, web designers, and UI/UX designers. This certification validates your skills to build client-side, platform-independent solutions that enhance the value of your website through interactivity. It tests candidates' ability to use JavaScript to communicate with users, modify the Document Object Model (DOM), control program flow, validate forms, animate images, create cookies, change HTML on the fly, and communicate with databases.

Exam Information

Exam Name:CIW Javascript Specialist Exam ID: 1D0-735 Number of Questions: 55 Passing Score: 70.91% Time Limit: 90 minutes Average Salary: $77,930

Exam DomainsDomain 1: Essential JavaScript Principles and Practices

1.1: Identify characteristics of JavaScript and common programming practices. 1.2: Work with variables and data in JavaScript. 1.3: Use JavaScript functions, methods, and events.

Domain 2: Intermediate JavaScript Programming Techniques

2.1: Debug and troubleshoot JavaScript code. 2.2: Use JavaScript statements to control program flow. 2.3: Use the JavaScript Document Object Model (DOM) 2.4: Use JavaScript language objects and create expressions. 2.5: Create and use custom JavaScript objects.

Domain 3: Applied JavaScript

3.1: Modify HTML with JavaScript. 3.2: Use JavaScript to develop interactive forms. 3.3: Address JavaScript security issues involving browsers and cookies.

Domain 4: JavaScript Technology Extensions

4.1: Implement JavaScript libraries and frameworks. 4.2: Use JavaScript and AJAX to create interactive Web applications. 4.3: Implementing Web APIs. (New Objectives)

View Online CIW JavaScript Specialist 1D0-735 Free Questions

Which of the following will correctly declare the courseNumber variable as a siring data type? A. var courseNumber = ''JS101''; B. var courseNumber = ''JS101''; C. var_courseNumber = JS101''; D. var courseNumber = JS101; Answer: C

What is the purpose of the break statement in JavaScript? A. To flush system memory B. To pause a program's execution C. To destroy unused variables D. To exit a control structure Answer: D

What is the best practice for testing code to pinpoint a logic error within a script? A.Test the code in the W3C code validator. B.Conduct a manual, line-by-line, code review. C.Check for console errors when loading the page. D.Insert watchpoints and comment out code blocks. Answer: D

What basis code is needed to define the JavaScript function avgGrades? A.Function avgGrades () {} B.avgGrades function () C.avgGrades (){ } D.var = function avgGrades () {} Answer: C

Considering the following code: Var 1 ; For (I = 1; I < 10; I ++) What part of the code fragment initializes the counter variable? A. i ++ B. i < 10; C. i = 1; D. Var 1; Answer: C

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tsureishi · 7 years ago

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Super blown away by my student’s reflection papers! I’m very impressed! “Fashion is a form of art that wants to voice out something.” Super proud to know my UP Diliman JS101 students get to appreciate fashion in a more academic and analytical approach! Kids, still waiting for the others to submit!

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stefanjase · 8 years ago

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Business calendar

Wednesday Services Cooperative Association: Houston CrossRoads Business Building Breakfast. 7:15-8:30 a.m., Corner Bakery Cafe, 9311-H Katy Freeway. Speaker: Jerry Cooper. Topic: The search for solutions. Cost: $25-$35. Information: Jerry Cooper, 832-452-8537. Job Search 101: Hosted by the Select Center for Economic Opportunity. 1-3 p.m., 3300 Chimney Rock, No. 102. Cost: Free. Topic: Maximizing your job fair experience. Registration: http://js101.org; 832-834-3324; or email [email protected]. Visit website for other workshops. from Business http://www.chron.com/business/article/Business-calendar-11259287.php

#Business

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lovingwonderlanddetective-blog1 · 8 years ago

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Business calendar - Houston Chronicle

Business calendar – Houston Chronicle

Monday Job Search 101: Hosted by the Select Center for Economic Opportunity. 1-3 p.m., 3300 Chimney Rock, No. 102. Cost: Free. Topic: Job search teams. Registration: http://js101.org; 832-834-3324; or email [email protected]. Visit website for other workshops. Wednesday Services Cooperative Association: Houston CrossRoads Business Building Breakfast. 7:15- 8:30 a.m., Corner Bakery Cafe,…

View On WordPress

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crazyplaya · 10 years ago

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vine

That person😳who ask for food🍟in a awkward way‼️ #js101

#js101

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bookofjin · 6 years ago

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Records of Liu Yuan

The core of this text is a translation of the Yearly Annals of Liu Yuanhai in JS101, but where they provide additional information, I have added parts from other texts, primarily the parallell accounts in WS095, TPYL119 & ZZTJ (all likely to derive from the same source as JS101), but also some bits and pieces from other places in the JS. Text I could not reconcile with the main account appears in {} brackets. Because he shares his name with the Tang founder, Li Yuan, Liu Yuan appear throughout in the JS as Liu Yuanhai. I have altered this to Liu Yuan throughout for consistency with the other texts.

Liu Yuan, courtesy name Yuanhai, was a Xiongnu of Xinxing. His personal name violates Gaozu [of Tang]'s temple taboo. His ancestor was an offshoot of the Xia princely clan named Chunwei. For generations they lived among the Northern Di, for more than a thousand years. Arriving at Modun, he assailed and routed the Eastern Hu, in the west he ran off the Yuezhi, in the north he [got] submission from the Dingling, in the interior he raided Yan and Dai. [He had] 40 000 archers. Gaozu of Han was troubled by him, he sent Liu Jing to give over the Princess to accordingly marry him, making a covenant as brothers. For that reason the sons and grandsons thereupon dared make their family name the Liu clan.

Beginning of Jianwu [25 – 56], the Wuzhuliuruodi Shanyu's son, the Aojianrizhu King of the Right, Bi, established himself as Southern Shanyu, and entered to live in Meiji in Xihe. The presently abandoned Shizuoguo city was precisely where the Shanyu moved his courtyard.

Middle of Later Han's Zhongping [184 -189], the Shanyu Qiangqu sent his son Yufuluo to command troops and assist the Han, to chastise and pacify the Yellow Turbans. It happened that Qiangqu was killed by the people of his state. Yufuluo used his multitudes to stay with the Han, and was established as Shanyu. During the chaos of Dong Zhuo, he robbed and plundered Taiyuan and Hedong, and camped in Henei.

Yufuluo died, his younger brother Huchuquan was established. He used Yufuluo's son Bao as Worthy King of the Left, this was precisely Yuan's father. He entered court. Wu of Wei because of that detained him, and made to divide his multitudes to be five sections. He used the Worthy King of the Left, Bao, as Leader of the Left Section. For his remaining leaders he always used the Liu clan as them.

In the middle of Taikang [280 -289], changed to set up Chief Commandants. The Left Section resided at Zishi in Taiyuan. The Right Section resided at Qi. The Southern Section resided at Puzi. The Northern Section resided at Xinxing. The Middle Section resided at Daling. The Liu clan, although divided to live in five sections, always resided in Jinyang at the banks of the Fen and Jian.

Bao's wife Ms. Huyan in the middle of Wei's Jiaping [249 – 254 AD] prayed for a child at Longmen. Soon after, there was a one big white fish, on top of it were two horns. With lifted fins and jumping scales it then came to the place of sacrifice. After a long time it then left. The shamans were all amazed by it, and said:

This is an auspicious omen.

That night she dreamt in the morning she was seeing the fish change into a person. In his left hand he held something as large as a chicken egg, its brilliant shine not ordinary. He gave [it] to Huyan, saying:

This here is the sun's essence, ingest to give birth to an honoured child.

She woke up and told Bao. Bao said:

A good signI formerly followed Zhang Jiong of Handan. His mother, Ms Situ [?] assessed [me], and said I would have honoured sons and grandsons. For three generations they would surely be greatly prosperous. [They] copy and resemble each other, it fits together.

13 Months after this she gave birth to Yuan. When Yuan was born, in his left hand there was writing which said “deep ocean” [Yuanhai淵海], thereupon they used it to name him.

In childhood he was noble and intelligent. At seven sui he came upon grieving his mother, he beat his breast, leaped, shouted and cried, his laments moved the nearby neighbourhood. The lineage clan and section group all together sighed in appreciation. At the time the Minister of Works, Wang Chang, heard and praised him, he both dispatched condolences and funeral gifts.

As a young child he was yet fond of studying, and did not rest day or night. He had as teacher Cui You of Shangdang. He practised Mao's Poetry, Mr. Jing's Changes, and Mr. Ma's Book of Documents. He was particularly fond of Mr. Zao's Traditions on the Spring and Autumn, and Sun and Wu's Principles of War, and in generally in everything recite them. In the History, Han and the various Masters he was without nothing in summarizing and looking over. He once spoke to the students of the same school, Zhu Ji: of Shangdang, Fan Long of Yanmen, and others, saying:

I always held in high regard the written transmittals, and often held low Sui and Lu for having no military ability, and Jiang and Guan for having no civil. The Way follows from a person's broadness, to have no knowledge of something is certainly the shame of a lordly man. The two masters coming upon the August Gao were not able to found a legacy of a marquisate. The pair of excellencies following Taizong were not able to begin being praised for local schools. How is it not a pity!

Hence he thereupon studied military affairs. He also in all crafts was marvellously cut above the multitudes. Reaching adulthood, he had ape arms and was good at shooting, his bodily strength and power surpassed ordinary people, his bearing and decorum was outstanding and imposing. He was 8 chi, 4 cun tall. His beard was more than 3 chi long, in the middle of it three red prominent hair, 3 chi, 6 cun long.

There were Cui Yizhi of Tunliu and Gongshi Yu of Xiangling and others, both good assessors of people. When they saw Yuan, they were surprised, and then in the assessment speech said:

This person's body and countenance is not ordinary, never seen by me [before].

Hence he was deeply honoured and respected, he pushed forward affection joined with grace. Wang Hun of Taiyuan with humble heart befriended him, and instructed his son Ji to do obeisance to him.

In the middle of the Xianxi [264 – 265 AD], he became a hostage son in Luoyang. King Wen of Jin profoundly welcomed him. Late in Taishi [265 – 274], Wang Mi of Donglai and others relied on him to connect with Hun. Hun also frequently told about him to Emperor Wu of Jin. The Emperor summoned and talked with him, and was greatly pleased with him. Afterwards he spoke to Wang Ji, saying:

Liu Yuan's appearance and countenance are fashionable and decorous, he is clever in conversation, perceptive and knowledgeable. Even Youyu and Midi has nothing to add.}

Ji replied, saying:

Yuan's decorous appearance, cleverness and perceptiveness is truly like the sagely purpose. As such his civil and military talents and capacity is superior to two masters in far-reaching. Your Majesty, suppose [we] rely on him accordingly for the affairs of the south-east, Wu and Kuai are not sufficiently pacified.

The Emperor considered it good. Kong Xun and Yang Yao advanced to say:

Your Subjects observe Yuan's talents, at present we fear we are without his equal. Your Majesty, suppose we make light his multitude, [it will be] insufficient accordingly to complete the affair. Suppose we make use of his power and authority, after the pacification of Wu, we fear him not then crossing north. He is not of our type of kin, and his heart is surely different. Yuan's talents and ability there are truly few who compares to. To rely on him accordingly with his original section, Your Subjects humbly have cold hearts for Your Majesty. Suppose [we] lift up the fastness of the Heavenly barrier to accordingly support him, is it not impossible?

The Emperor was silent.

Later Qin and Liang were overturned and lost. The Emperor inquired into the generals and leaders. Li Xi of Shangdang said:

Your Majesty, if indeed [you] are able to send out the multitudes of the Xiongnu's Five Sections, make use of Yuan with a single General's title, sound the drums and go west. Shujineng's head, we can point to the day when it will be displayed.

Kong Xun said:

Excellency Li's words are not the arrangement for completely ending our troubles.

Xi bursted out, said:

Considering the Xiongnu's strength and fearlessness, Yuan's understanding of troops, serving and proclaiming the sagely power, what is incomplete about it!

Xun said:

Yuan, if he is able to pacify Liang province, and behead Shujineng, [I] fear Liang province will soon have difficulties, that is all. When Jianlong obtained the rain cloud, he did not return to the pond.

The Emperor therefore desisted.

Later Wang Mi was going to return home east from Luoyang. Yuan bid him farewell at the banks of the Jiuqu. He wept and spoke to Mi, saying:

Wang Hun and Li Xi recognize [me] due to their countryside background, they always are raising up [my] insight. Slanderers in turn because of that then advance, and deeply dispute my desires, just sufficient to make [me] harmful. I had originally no thought on officialdom, only Your Honour clarified it. [I] fear death in Luoyang when the river and Master separates.

After that he with brave forbearance snorted and sighed, indulged in alcohol and long howls. The sound carried vibrantly, those sitting [there] had flowing tears from it. The King of Qi, You, at the time was at Jiuqu. When he heard it, he hurried off to inspect it, and saw Yuan was there. He talked to the Emperor saying:

[If] Your Majesty does not eliminate Liu Yuan, Your Subject fear Bing province will not be tranquil for long.

Wang Hun advanced to say:

When Yuan came of age, Hun made the lord and king guard and enlighten him. Moreover Great Jin just now manifests trust beyond the commonplace, embracing the far-away using virtue. How could it be that for suspicions without sprouts [you] kill a man and attending son, hence showing that Jin's virtue is limited.

The Emperor said:

Hun's words are correct.

It happened that his father Bao passed on. The Emperor used Yuan to replace him as Leader of the Left Section. At the end of Taikang [280 -289], changed Leader to be Chief Commandant, and used Yuan as Chief Commandant of the Northern Section. He clarified the penal law and prohibited the treacheries and perverted, made light of riches and was fond of giving, pushed forward integrity and connected with people. Of the Five Sections' eminent and outstanding nobody did not come. You and Ji's famous Ruists, the rear gates and flourishing gentlemen, who were not a thousand li away, likewise all travelled to him.

Yang Jun assisted the government. He used Yuan as General who Establishes Power and Great Chief Controller of the Five Sections, enfeoffed as Marquis of Hanguang district. At the end of Yuankang [291 – 299], he was charged with the section population rebelling and setting out from the frontier, and was dismissed from office. The King of Chengdu, Ying, was headquartered at Ye. Beginning of Yongning [301 – 302], he petitioned for Yuan to act as General who Soothes the Boreal and Overseer of the Army Affairs of the Five Sections.

Middle of Taian [302 – 303], Emperor Hui lost the government, the King of Qi, Jiong, the King of Chansha, Ai, together with the Ying and others, executed and exterminated themselves and each other. In the provinces and commanderies the faithless and presumptuous were rising up in a swarm. His granduncle the Chief Commandant of the Northern Section and Worthy King of the Right, Xuan, and others furtively discussed turning to rebellion, saying:

Formerly our ancestors made a covenant with the Han to be brothers, [their] worries and contentment similar to them. Since the fall of Han, the era of Wei and Jin has risen, and our Shanyu is only an empty title, without having a foot of land for patrimony. From [one of] the various Kings and Marquises, he has fallen to be similar to the registered households. Now our multitudes, though diminished, are still not reduced to 20 000, why is it [that we have] pulled back our hands and accepted to serve, for soon to exceed a hundred years!

Now the Sima clan's bones and flesh harm each other, in the Four Seas the tripods are boiling. To raise up the nation and restore the patrimony of Huhanxie, this is the time. The Worthy King of the Left, Yuan's bearing and capacity is beyond other people, his abilities and manners surpasses the generation. Suppose Heaven does not broadly honours the Shanyu, in the end it would not uselessly give birth to this man.

Hence they privately together pushed forward Yuan to be Great Shanyu. They therefore sent their partisan Huyan You to go to Ye and accordingly tell him about this plan. Yuan requested to go home to attend a funeral, Ying did not allow it. Yuan therefore ordered You to first return home, and tell Xuan and others to summon and assemble the Five Sections, and pull in and meet with the various Hu of Yiyang, to make sounds of obeying Ying, but actually betray him.

Ying became August Brother-Heir. He used Yuan as Colonel of Garrison Cavalry to the Brother-Heir. Emperor Hui attacked Ying, and stayed at Dangyin. Ying made use of Yuan as General who Assists the State and Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Affairs of the Northern City. When Emperor Hui had been defeated, he used Yuan as General of the Best of the Army, enfeoffed as Earl of Lunu. Soon after, the Inspector of Bing province, the Duke of Dongying, Teng, and the General who Calms the North and Inspector of You province, Wang Jun, raised troops to attack Ying. Ying's host fought and was defeated. Yuan spoke to Ying, saying:

Now the two garrisons tramples on restraint, with a multitude exceeding 100 000. [I] fear we will not be able to manage them with the personal guards and the nearby commanderies' gentlemen and people. Yuan will, Your Highness, return to explain to the Five Sections, assemble and gather a righteous multitude, and thereby hasten to the state's difficulties.

Ying said:

The multitudes of the Five Sections, can they protect and set out already or not? Allowing for you being able to send them out, the Xianbei and Wuhuan are strong and quick like the wind and clouds. How easily can it be done? I wish to serve the Driving Carriage and return to Luoyang, and avoid their spear points, calmly summon Under Heaven to arms, and govern them according to their opposition or loyalty. Lord, what are your thoughts?

Yuan said:

Your Highness is the son of the Martial August Emperor, and has special merits in the royal house. Your power and kindness shine in harmony, the Four Sea's reverent wind. Who would not consider to lose their lives and throw down their bodies for Your Highness? What is the difficulty in sending them out! Wang Jun is an upstart son and Dongying a distant cousin, how could they contend equally with Your Highness?

If Your Highness goes out alone from the Ye palace, and shows weakness to people, is it possible then to arrive in Luoyang? Suppose you reach Luoyang, power and authority will not be restored to Your Highness. A paper calling to arms is a foot-long letter, who will the person be who receives it!

Moreover the Eastern Hu's courage does not exceed the Five Sections. [I] wish Your Highness would encourage and console the multitude soldiers, calming them down and thereby quell them. [I] will, Your Highness, use two sections to destroy Dongying and three sections to put on display Wang Jun. You can point to the day when the heads of the two upstarts will be hanging up.

Ying was pleased and designated Yuan as Northern Shanyu, Assisting the Army Affairs of the Imperial Chancellor. Yuan arrived at Zuoguocheng. Liu Xuan and others elevated him to the title of Great Shanyu. Within twenty days the multitude was soon 50 000. He set his capital at Lishi. He dispatched the Yulu King of the Left, Hong, to lead 5 000 elite cavalry and meet up with Ying's general Wang Cui and resist the Duke of Dongying, Teng. But Cui had already been defeated by Teng, so Hong returned back with nothing done.

Wang Jun sent General Qi Hong to lead Xianbei and attack Ye. Ying was defeated, and held onto the Son of Heaven to run south to Luoyang. Yuan heard Ying had left Ye, he sighed and said:

Ying did not employ my words, on the contrary he is himself running from disaster. He truly has menial talents. However as I and him had words, I cannot but aid him.

Hence he instructed the Yulu King of the Right, Liu Jing, and the Dulu King of the Left, Liu Yannian, and others to lead 20 000 infantry and cavalry, and commanded them to punish the Xianbei. Liu Xuan and others firmly remonstrated, saying:

Jin is without the Way, slaves and lackeys govern us. Therefore the Worthy King of the Right's fierceness does not surpass his anger. Just now Jin's guide ropes are not spread. [If] the great affair is not followed through, the Worthy of the Right will smear [himself] with earth, to the Shanyu's shame.

Now in the Sima clan, father and son, elder and younger brother, are themselves [chopping] each other [like] fish meat, this is Heaven casting aside Jin's virtue and conferring it on us. [If] the Shanyu stores up virtue in his body, and is submitted to by the people of Jin, [he] soon will raise up our nation and tribe and restore the patrimony of Huhanxie. The Xianbei and Wuhuan are of our manners and type, and could be used as helpers, why would [we] resist them and aid [our] foes!

Now Heaven is acting through us and cannot be disobeyed. To disobey Heaven is not auspicious, to go against the multitudes is not helpful. [He who when] Heaven gives does not take, will in turn receive his calamity. [I] wish the Shanyu would not doubt.

Yuan said:

Good. [I] will be raising up the hill to the pinnacle mound, why would I make a hillock! As for Emperors and Kings, when where they regular? Yu the Great was born among the Western Rong, King Wen was born among the eastern Yu. Looking back, they were conferred for virtue, that was all. Now [I] see a multitude of more than 100 000, and anyone of us is a match for ten of the Jin. To strike the march and destroy chaotic Jin is like snapping deadwood, that is all. At best I can complete the legacy of Gao of Han, at worst I will be no less than the Wei clan. How is Huhanxie a sufficient course of action!

However, the people of Jin are not necessarily similar to us. Han had Under Heaven for many generations, kindness and virtue connection to the population's hearts. Thus though Zhaolie [lived] rough and rugged in the lands of a single province, he was yet able contend at an equal level Under Heaven. I am also a sister's child of the Han clan, sworn to be elder and younger brothers. When the older brother perishes, the younger carries on. Can we not do likewise? Now moreover, I can raise up Han, posthumously honour the Later Ruler, and thereby comfort the populace's expectations.

Xuan and others touched head to ground, saying:

[They] are not reaching up [to you].

1st Year of Yuanxi [304 AD], he moved to Zuoguocheng. The Jin people who [came from] the east to adhere were several ten thousand. Xuan and others sent up [to assume] the venerated title. Yuan said:

Now the Jin clan still exist, the Four Regions are not yet settled. [We] can look up to and honour the Exalted August's first regulations, and moreover designate [me] King of Han [while] for the moment delaying the tile of August Emperor. [When I] hear the cosmos is mixed into one [I] will once more discuss it.

10th Month [14 November – 10 December], he had an altar in the southern suburbs, and falsely ranked as King of Han. He sent down an order, saying:

Formerly our Grand Founder [taizu], the Exalted [gao] August Emperor used his divine martial ability to follow expectations, and broadly began the great patrimony. The Grand Ancestor [taizong], the Filial and Civil [xiaowen] August Emperor gave weight to using enlightened kindness, peace and prosperity was the Way of Han. The Generational Ancestor [shizong], the Filial and Martiaizul [xiaowu] August Emperor expanded the territory and repelled the yi, the territory exceeding the days of Tang. The Middle Ancestor [zhongzong], the Filial and Propagating [xiaoxuan] August Emperor, sought and lifted up the capable and outstanding, many scholars filled the court.

Hence the Way of our founder and ancestors strode pass the Three Kings, their achievements exalted as the Five Emperors. For that reason the foretold years were many times the Xia and Shang's, the foretold generations exceeded the Ji clan. But Yuan and Cheng had many crimes, Ai and Ping were briefly blessed. The traitorous subject Wang Mang overflowed Heaven and usurped disobediently.

Our Generational Founder [shizu], the Brilliant and Martial [guangwu] August Emperor was expansively endowed with sagely martial ability. He immensely restored the vast foundation, worshipped Han matched with Heaven, and did not neglect old matters, so that the Three Luminaries' obscurity were yet restored to clarity, the Three Receptacles' darkness were yet restored to visibility. The Manifesting Ancestor [xianzong], the Filial and Enlightened [xiaoming] August Emperor, and the Solemn Ancestor [suzong], the Filial and Articulating [xiaozhang] August Emperor, amassed eras, the blazing light twice revealed.

From He and An and afterwards, the august guide-ropes gradually decayed, Heaven's pace was hard and difficult, the state's government again and again cut off. The Yellow Turban seas boiled in the Nine Provinces, the crowd of eunuchs' poison flowed in the Four Seas. Dong Zhuo following that indulged his careless heedlessness, Cao Cao, father and son, fell rebels, were soon after.

For that reason Xiaomin let go and put aside the ten thousand states. Zhaolie strayed beyond Min and Shu, hoping the stoppage in the end would have exaltation, returning the carriage box to the old capital. How to assess Heaven not regretting the calamity, the Later Emperor was embarrassed and humiliated.

Since the altars of soil and grain were lost and ceased, the ancestral temple have not had blood to eat for forty years until this point. Now Heaven is coaxing its inner self, regretting the calamity to August Han, and making the Sima clan, father and son, elder and younger brother, repeatedly break and wipe out each other. The numerous multitudes are in the mud and soot, scattering to denounce and accuse.

This Orphan is now all at once pushed forward by the crowd of excellencies, to carry on offering to the Three Founders' legacy. Looking at [my] current crippled ignorance, [I] shiver in fear for collapsing in a shallow grave. However, as the great shame is not yet wiped away, the altars of soil and grain are without a host, with gall in the mouth and the roost cold, [I] will strive to follow the crowd's opinion.

He changed Jin's 1st Year of Yongxing to be the 1st Year of Yuanxi [“Inaugural Radiance”], there was a great amnesty Under Heaven. He posthumously venerated Liu Shan as the Filial and Cherished [xiaohuai] August Emperor. He established Gaozu of Han and below, three Founders and five Ancestors, as divine rules and worshipped them. He established his wife, Ms. Huyan as Queen, set up the hundred officials, and used the Worthy King of the Right, Xuan, as Imperial Chancellor, Cui You as Imperial Clerk Grandee, the Yulu King of the Left, Hong, as Grand Commandant, Fan Long as Great Herald, Zhu Ji as Grand Master of Ceremonies, Cui Yizhi of Shangdang and Chen Yuanda of the Rear Section both as Gentlemen of the Yellow Gates, his clan-child Yao as General who Establishes the Martial, the remainder were designated and conferred each proportionally. You firmly declined and did not go.

Cui You, courtesy name Zixiang, was a native Shangdang. As young he was fond of studying, he was discerning and enlightened in the Ruist methods, tranquil, peaceful, humble and withdrawn. From young to old his mouth not once spoke about wealth and profit. At the end of Wei, he was examined as Filial and Upright, and appointed Retainer of the Chancellor's Office. He set out to be Chief of Dichi, he was very kind in government affairs. He retired due to illness, and thereupon was disabled and sick.

At the beginning of Taishi [265 – 274], Emperor Wu favoured the succession from Emperor Wen's old office companions and staff, and attended on the family to designate a Palace Gentleman. Aged more than 70, he still esteemed studying and did not tire. He compiled a Chart of Mouring Clothes, which has come down through the ages. He passed on at home, at the time he was 93 years old.

12th Month [12 January 305 – 3 February], the Duke of Dongying, Teng, sent General Nie Xuan to chastise him, they fought at Daling. Xuan's host achieved defeat. Teng was afraid, he led more than 20 000 households of Bing province to go down East of the Mountain. Thereupon [the people who] lived there were robbed. Yuan dispatched his General who Establishes the Martial, Liu Yao, to rob Taiyuan, Xuanshi, Tunliu, Changzi and Zhongdu, all were lost to him.

He also dispatched the General of the Best of the Army, Qiao Xi, to rob Xihe. The Prefect of Jiexu, Jia Hun resisted steadfastly and did not surrender, saying:

I am a defender of Jin, [if I am] not able to maintain it, why cautiously seek to live therefore serving thieves and miscreants? How could I face accordingly to watch and breath in the world!

Xi was angry, apprehended and wanted to kill him. Xi's general Yin Song said:

[If] the General saves him, [he can] thereby convince [him] to serve the lord.

Xi did not listen and thereupon murdered him. Jia Hun's wife, Ms. Zong, had a beautiful figure and Xi desired to take her. Ms. Zong reviled him, saying:

Slave of the Tuge, how can you murder a person's husband then desire to assign [her] without decorum, how is this to you? Why do you not hurry and kill me!

Then she raised her head to Heaven and greatly wept. Xi thereupon murdered her. At the time she was (more than) 20 years old. Yuan heard about it, and greatly angered said:

If it is the Way of Heaven to be perceptive, the view of Qiao Xi has sown seeds!

When the pursuers returned, he demoted his salary four grades, collected Hun's corpse and buried it.

2nd Year} of Yuanxi [305 AD], Teng again dispatched Sima Yu, Zhou Liang, Shi Xian and others to chastise him. They stayed at Fencheng in Lishi. Yuan dispatched his General of the Tiger Teeth, Liu Qin, and others, with the Six Armies to resist Yu and others. They fought four times, and Yu was always defeated. Qin rearranged the battalions and returned.

This Year, at Lishi there was great famine. He moved to Liting, to thereby seek out the grain of the granaries and pantries. He kept his Grand Commandant, Liu Hong, and Army-Protector, Ma Jing, to defend Lishi. He sent the Great Minister of Agriculture, Bu Yu, to transport provisions to thereby give to them.

Yuan made one blade, 3 chi, 9 cun long, the writing said: “Wipe out the Traitors” in the clerical script.

3rd Year of Yuanxi [306 AD], Winter, 12th Month [1 January 306 – 30 January], used his General of the Van, Liu Jing as Envoy Holding Tally, Great Chief Controller of Conquering and Chastising. He intercepted and struck the Inspector of Bing province, Liu Kun, at Banqiao, and was defeated by Kun. Kun thereupon occupied Jinyang. His Palace Attendant Liu Yin and Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Right Wang Yu advanced to admonished Yuan, saying:

Your Highness, since [you] raised troops and onwards, bit by bit there has already been a single cycle, yet [we have] solely defended merely a region, the kingly power is not yet shaking. If indeed [you] were able to instruct the generals to set out in four directions and determine the moment with a single throw, to putg on display Liu Kun's head, settle East of the He, establish the title of Emperor, strike the drums to march and go south, overcome Chang'an then make the capital there, and use the multitudes of Guanzhong to roll up Luoyang, is like pointing to your palm, that is all. These were means by which August Emperor Gao created and began the vast foundation, overcoming and exterminating strong Chu.

Yuan was pleased and said:

This is in an Orphan's heart.

Yuan advanced to occupy Hedong. He attacked and robbed Puban and Pingyang, both were lost to him. Yuan thereupon entered to have his capital at Puzi. The counties, ramparts and fortifactions belonging to Hedong and Pingyang fully surrendered.

{WS001 & WS095: 11th Year [305 AD], Liu Yuan attacked Sima Teng. Teng again begged for troops. Emperor Huan personally led 10 000 light cavalry to save Teng, he beheaded Yuan's general Qiwu Tun. Yuan fled south to Puzi.

{JS062: Liu Yuan at the time was at Lishi, the distance between them was more or less 300 li Kun secretly dispatched to go among the assorted miscreants of his section. The surrendered were more than 10 000 groups. Yuan was very much afraid. He thereupon walled Puzi and settled there.}

4th Year of Yuanxi [307 AD], at the time Ji Sang raised up troops in Zhao and Wei. Luzhuyan of Shang commandery's Four Section Xianbei and the Di chieftain Shan Zhen both surrendered to him. Yuan thoroughly appointed them to offices and feudal ranks. Wang Mi of Donglai pulled in the troops to enter and rob Qing and Xu. The Inspector of Yan province, Gou Xi opposed, struck and greatly routed him. Mi spoke to his partisan Liu Ling, saying:

The Jin troops are still strong, going home there is no placefor burial. Liu Yuan formerly was a hostage son, I and him went around in the Imperial City. [We] deeply had affection and bond. Now [he has] declared [himself] King of Han. [I] want to return to him, can it be done?

Ling affirmed it. He dispatched envoys to come and surrender. He was designated Great General who Garrisons the East, Inspector of Qing province, and Duke of Donglai commandery.

4th Month [19 May – 16 June], {JS005: Summer, 5th Month [17 June – 16 July]} a leader of horse shepherds, Ji Sang, collected a multitude in rebellion, declared himself King of Zhao, and selected and set up provinces and commanderies. He defeated the Grand Warden of Wei commandery, Feng Song, and thereupon captured Yecheng and murdered the King of Xincai, Teng. He burnt the Ye palaces, the flames lasted ten days without extinguishing. He also killed the Forward Inspector of You province, Shi Xian, at Leling, and entered to plunder Pingyuan. The Duke of Shanyang, Liu Qiu, was murdered.

Autumn, 7th Month, jiyou [15 August], New Moon, the King of Donghai, Yue, advanced to garrison Guandu, to accordingly punish Ji Sang.

8th Month, jimao [14 September], New Moon, the General who Consoles the Army, Gou Xi [JS061], defeated Ji Sang at Ye.

9th Month, wushen [13 October], Gou Xi again routed Ji Sang, capturing his nine ramparts.

11th Month [11 December – 9 January 308], Shi Le and the Hu sections and others led the multitudes to come and surrender.

12th Month, wuyin [11 January 308], Tian Lan, Bo Sheng and others, natives of Bing province, beheaded Ji Sang at Leling.

1st Year of Yongfeng [308 AD] Spring, 1st Month [8 February – 8 March], the King of Han, Yuan, dispatched the General who Consoles the Army, Cong, and others, ten generals, to go south and occupy Taixing, and the General who Assists the Han, Shi Le, and others, ten generals, to go down east into Zhao and Wei.

{JS005: 3rd Month [8 April – 6 May], Liu Yuan invaded Ji commandery and roughly had the lands of Dunqiu and Henei.}

Wang Mi withdrew to assemble the absconded and dispersed. The multitudes were again greatly excited. Xi joned with them in battle, but was not able to overcome. Mi advanced the troops to rob Taishan, Lu state, Qiao, Liang, Chen, Runan, Yingchuan, Xiangcheng etc. commanderies

Summer, 4th Month, dinghai [19 May], he entered Xuchang, opened the offices and armories, and took the instruments and canes. At places that were lost and gone, he very much killed the wardens and prefects, and had a multitude of several ten thousand. The Imperial Court was not able to exercise authority. The various commandery Wardens wanted all to run away and leave. The Grand Tutor, [the King of Donghai,] Yue, dispatched his Marshal, Wang Bin, to lead 5 000 armoured soldiers to enter and guard the Imperial City.

5th Month [5 June – 4 July], Mi entered from Huanyuan, and defeated the Public Army at Yibei.

The Imperial District greatly shook. The palace and city gates were shut in daylight. The Minister over the Masses, Wang Yan, and others led the hundred officials to resist and defend.

On renxu [23 June], Mi arrived at Luoyang, he stayed at the Jinyang gate. A decree used Wang Yan [as] Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Conquering and Chastising.

On jiazi [25 June], Yan, together with Wang Bin and others, set out to fight.

On yichou [26 June], Mi burnt the Jianchun gate and went east. Yan dispatched the General of Guards of the Left, Wang Bing to pursue him. They fought at the 7 li Brook, and again defeated him. He therefore crossed the He to return to Yuan. He went with Wang Sang from Zhi Pass to Pingyang. Yuan heard and was greatly pleased. He dispatched his Palace Attendant and concurrent Imperial Clerk Grandee, Jiao Ying, to deliver a letter to Mi, which said:

Since the General has merit not of this generation, and surpasses the virtue of the times. Because of that [we] have this greeting, that is all. While waiting to gaze on the General's arrival, Your Orphan now has newly journeyed to the General's official residence, to straight away dust off the mat and cleanse the beakers, and respectfully wait on the General.

When Mi saw Yuan, he recommended declaring the venerated title. Yuan spoke to Mi, saying:

Your Orphan originally spoke to the General like Dou Zhougong, that was all. Now [you] truly are my Kongming and Zhonghua. Liezu had a saying: “I having the General is like the fish having water”.

Hence he appointed Mi Colonel Minister of Retainers, concurrently Palace Attendant and Specially Advanced. Mi firmly declined.

Autumn, 7th Month [3 August – 1 September], phoenixes assembled at Puzi. The Imperial Chancellor, Liu Xuan, and others, 64 people, sent up [to assume] the venerated title.

On jiachen [4 August], Liu Yuan robbed Pingyang. The Grand Warden, Song Chou, fled to the capital city. The Grand Administrator of Hedong, Lu Shu, battled powerfully and died there.

Winter, 10th Month, jiaxu [2 November], Liu Yuan usurped the title of August Emperor in the southern suburbs. A great amnesty and changed the inaugural to Yongfeng [“Eternal Phoenixes”].

11th Month [30 November – 28 December], used his son the General of Guards, He, as Great General, and the [General who] Consoles the Army, Cong, as Great General of Chariots and Cavalry. his junior kinsman the [General who] Establishes the Martial, Yao, as Dragon-Prancing Great General.

On bingwu [4 December], Han's Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs in the Centre and Outside, Great Marshal and acting Imperial Chancellor, the Worthy King of the Right, Xuan, passed on.

Liu Xuan, courtesy name Shize, was plain, blunt and with few words. He was fond of studying, and cultivated purity. His teacher was Sun Yan of Le'an. He was deeply focused on gathering thoughts, not resting day or night, and was fond of the Mao Poetry and Mr Zuo's Traditions. Yan always commended him, saying:

If Xuan had met Wu of Han, he would have exceeded Jin Midi.

When his studies were complete, he turned back. He did not set out from the village gates probably for several years. Always when reciting the Book of Han, when he reached the Biographies of Xiao He and Deng Yu, he not once did not turn around to chant them, saying:

A man of great talent, if he met the Two Founders, in the end he would not make the Two Excellencies alone hold first place in pleasing before [the ruler].

The Inspector of Bing province, Wang Guang, spoke about him to Emperor Wu. The Emperor summoned him to audience. He praised his divination replies, and because of that said:

When I had not yet seen Xuan, I said Guang's words were empty and that was all. Now I have seen him advancing and halting with manners and decorum, he can truly be said to be like a jade sceptre. Observing his natural quality, he is more than able to console and assemble his home section.

He therefore used Xuan as Chief Controller of the Right Section, and specially gave him a red cloth curved canopy. He managed the officials purely and respectfully, and for that the section cherished him.

Yuan became king [because of] Xuan's plans. For that reason he especially received respect and esteem, in merit and kinship he had no equal. In army and state, inside and outside, there was nothing he had not sole control of.

12th Month, yihai [2 January 309], Yuan used his Great General, Liu He, as Great Marshal, enfeoffed King of Liang, the Prefect of the Masters of Writings, Liu Huanle, as Great Minister over the Masses, enfeoffed King of Chenliu, the Empress' father, the Imperial Clerk Grandee, Huyan Yi, as Great Minister of Works, enfeoffed Duke of Yanzhou commandery. The imperial clan, considering the close and estranged as equals, were wholly enfeoffed kings of commanderies and counties. Those with a different family name, differentiated by their deeds and schemes, were all enfeoffed dukes and marquises of commanderies and counties.

1st Year of Herui [309 AD], Spring, 1st Month, xinchou [28 January], the Shimmering Deceiver [Mars] transgressed the Purple Eminence. The Prefect Grand Scribe, Xuanyu Xiuzhi, talked to Yuan, saying:

Your Majesty, although the dragon is rising and the phoenix soaring, and soon accepted the great instructions, yet the vestiges of Jin are not yet ended, the august dwellings are of slight account. The mishap of the Purple Palace is like a bell for the Jin clan. Before three years are gone, we will surely overcome Luoyang. Puzi is rough and steep, and not possible to keep calm for long. Pingyang's condition is to have purple vapours and is also the old capital of Taotang. [I] wish Your Majesty to above receive the empyrean apparition, and below to be in concord with the earthly omens.

In the middle of the Fen river there was obtained a jade signet. Its height was 1 cun, 2 fen, its area 4 cun. The writing said: “Has Newly [xin] Guarded It”, perhaps the signet of Wang Mang. Those who obtained it consequently added the three characters “The Abyssal [yuan] Seas [hai] Shines” and presented it. Yuan considered it providential for himself. A great amnesty and changed the inaugural to Herui [“River's Providence”].

3rd Month [28 March – 25 April], the General who Amasses the Crossbows of the Left, Zhu Dan, ran to Han. He set out and affirmed that Luoyang was isolated and weak, and urged Yuan to attack it. Yuan used Dan as Chief Controller of the Vanguard, and used the Great General who Wipes out the Jin, Liu Jing, as Great Chief-Controller. They commanded the troops to attack Liyang and overcame it. Dispatched the General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Kan, to strike them. The kingly host achieved defeated at Yanjin. They drowned more than 30 000 men and women in the He. Yuan heard about and angrily said:

How can Jing face to see Us again? And how is Heaven's Way able to look up on him? Those who it is my wish to eliminate is the Sima clan, that is all. How can people of no importance be at fault?

He demoted Jing to be General who Pacifies the Caitiffs. Wang Mi was sent to accompany Liu Yao to rob Henei, and also attacked Lizhang together with Shi Le.

{JS005: 3rd Month [28 March – 25 April], Liu Yuan robbed Liyang. … Summer, 4th Month [26 April – 25 May], the General who Amasses the Crossbows of the Left, Zhu Dan, ran to Liu Yuan.}

Summer, Yuan used Wang Mi as Palace Attendant, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Qing, Xu, Yan, Yu, Jing, and Yang provinces, Great General who Conquers the East and Shepherd of Qing province. He attacked Huguan together with the King of Chu, Cong, and used Shi Le as Chief-Controller of the Vanguard. Liu Kun dispatched the Army-Protectors Huang Su and Han Shu to relieve it. Cong defeated Shu at Xijian. Le defeated Su at Fengtian. In both cases they killed them. The King of Donghai, Yue, dispatched the Interior Clerk of Huainan, Wang Kuang, the Grand Warden of Anfeng, Wei Qian, and Generals Shi Rong and Chao Chao to chastise them. Kuang crossed the He, and wished to make a long chase and get in front. Rong said:

Those ones are exploiting the defiles to set out between them. Even if we had a multitude of several ten thousand, still this single army is only accepting the enemy. Or we make the Zu River to be a strength to thereby measure the shape and tendency, and afterwards plot against them.

Kuang angrily said:

Lord, do you wish to dispirit the multitudes!

Rong withdrew, and said:

Those ones are good at employing troops. Kuang is in the dark about the condition of affairs. We will now surely die.

Kuang and others went beyond Taixing. They caught up with Mi in battle between Gaodu and Changping. He greatly defeated them. The dead were six or seven out of ten. Chao and Rong died there. Cong thereupon routed Tunliu and Changzi. Altogether the beheaded and captured tallied 19 000. The Grand Warden of Shangdang, Pang Chun used Huguan to surrender to Han. Liu Kun used Chief Commandant Zhang Yi as acting Grand Warden of Shangdang. He occupied Xiangyuan. Yuan advanced Mi to Great General who Conquers the East, enfeoffed as Duke of Donglai.

5th Month [26 June – 23 July], enfeoffed his son Yu as King of Qi, and Long as King of Lu.

Wang Mi and Liu Yao, Shi Le and others attacked Wei commandery, Ji commandery and Dunqiu, and captured more than 50 fortifications. Again he and Le attacked Ye. The General who Calms the North, He Yu, abandoned the city and ran.

Autumn, 8th Month [21 September – 19 October], Yuan instructed his son Cong and Wang Mi to advance and rob Luoyang. Liu Yao with Zhao Gu and others to be their rear support. The King of Donghai, Yue, dispatched the Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North, Pei Xian to stay at Baima and chastise Mi, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Kan, to stay at Dongyan and chastise Le, the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, to stay at Dayang and chastise Yuan. Wu's section General, Peng Mo, was defeated by Cong, and was murdered. The multitude armies all withdrew. Cong crossed the Yellow River. Cong and others pushed deep to arrive at Yiyang. The Duke of Pingchang, Mo, dispatched Generals Chunyu Ding, Lü Yi and others from Chang'an to chastise him. They fought at Yiyang. Ding and others achieved defeat. Cong relied on his continuous victories, and did not make preparations.

9th Month [20 October – 18 November],}{JS101: the Grand Warden of Hongnong, Yuan Yan, pretended to surrender. In a night assault, Cong's army was greatly and turned back. Yuan wore white clothes to welcome the host.

{JS005: 9th Month, bingyin [20 October], Liu Cong besieged Junyi. Dispatched the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, to chastise him. On dingchou [31 October], the kingly host achieved defeat.

Winter, 10th Month [19 November – 17 December], Yuan again greatly sent out soldiers. He dispatched the King of Chu, Cong, Wang Mi, the King of Shi'an, Yao, and the King of Ruyin, Jing, to lead 50 000 spirited cavalry to rob Luoyang. The Great Minister of Works, Duke Gangmu of Yanmen, Huyan Yi, led foot soldiers to support them.

On bingchen [9 December], Cong and others arrived at Yiyang. The Imperial Court, since the Han troops were newly defeated, did not think they would arrive again, and were greatly afraid. {JS100: The Emperor dispatched the Colonel Minister of Retainers, Liu Tun, General Song Chou, and others to resist them, neither were able to withstand. Mi and Cong used 10 000 cavalry to arrive at the Imperial City, and burnt the two schools.}

On xinyou [14 December], Cong advanced to station at Ximing Gate. The Army-Protector Jia Yin at night pushed at him. Beigong Chun and others at night led more than 1 000 brave soldiers to set out and attack the Han fortifications. They fought at Daxia Gate and beheaded Cong's General who Conquers the Caitiffs, Huyan Hao. His multitudes thereupon scattered.

{JS005: Cong arrived at the Ximing Gate. Yue opposed him, fought outside of the Xuanyang Gate, and greatly routed him. Sent the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Kan, and the General who Pacifies the North, Cao Wu, to chastise Liu Cong. The kingly host achieved defeat. Kan and others fled back to the Imperial City.

On renxu [15 December], Cong turned around the army and went south, he fortified at Luo River. Soon after he advanced to station at the Xuanyang Gate. Yao stationed at Shangdong Gate. Mi stationed at Guangyang Gate. Jing attacked Daxia Gate.

On yichou [18 December], Huyan Yi was killed by his subordinates. His multitudes dispersed from Dayang and returned home. Yuan counselled Cong and others to turn back the host. Cong petitioned, claiming that the Jin troops were few and weak, he could not for the reasons of Yi and Hao's death turn back the host. He firmly requested to stay and attack Luoyang. Yuan allowed it. The Grand Tutor, Yue, was surrounded in the city and defended himself.

On wuyin [31 December], Cong personally prayed at Song Peak, he ordered the General who Pacifies the Jin, King Ai of Anyang, Liu Li, and the General of the Best of the Army, Huyan Lang, and others to supervise the kept behind army. The Army Advisor to the Grand Tutor, Sun Xun advised Yue to exploit the absence and set out. Yue instructed Xun, Generals Qiu Guang and Lou Pou, and others to lead 3 000 tough soldiers of his personal retinue, to go from Xuanyang Gate and strike Lang. They beheaded him. Cong heard and hurried to return. Li feared Cong would blame him, went into the river and died. Wang Mi spoke to Cong, saying:

Now we have lost our sharpness, and Luoyang is still strong. The transport carts are at Shan, provisions and food will not be provided for several days. Your Highness, it is not as good as returning the host, wrap up provisions and send out soldiers, and calmly be later taking the lead. Your Subordinate Official will gathering soldiers and amass grain within Yan and Yu, and humbly listen and make ready for the appointed time. Is it not also possible?

Cong himself requested to stay, not yet daring to turn back. Xuanyu Xiuzhi again talked to Yuan, saying:

When the year is xinwei, we will get Luoyang. Now Jin's vapours are still abundant. If the great army does not return home, it will surely be defeated.

Yuan hurried to dispatch the Gentleman of the Yellow Gates Fu Xun to summon Cong and others to return the host. [The next xinwei year was 311 AD.]

11th Month, jiashen [6 January], Cong and Yao, returned home to Pingyang.

{JS005: Winter, 11th Month [18 December – 16 January], the beg-to-live leaders Li Yun, Bo Sheng and others led the multitudes to relieve the Imperial City. Cong withdrew and ran.}

Wang Mi set out from Huanyaun. Yue dispatched Bo Sheng and others to pursue and strike Mi. They fought at Xinji. Mi's host achieved defeat. Hence he held on to the guard post of Baoban, and turned back to Pingyang. He then used 20 000 cavalry to rob the various counties of Xiangcheng. The various drifting people of Hedong, Pingyang, Hongnong and Shangdang who were in Yingchuan, Xiangcheng, Runan, Nanyang and Henan were several ten thousand families. They were not treated decorously by the people who originally lived there. Everyone burnt down the cities and towns, and killed the 20 000 shi and chief magistrates to accordingly submit to Mi.

12th Month [17 January – 15 February], Yuan used the King of Chenliu, Liu Huanle, as Grand Tutor, the King of Chu, Liu Cong, as Great Minister of Works, the King of Jiangdu, Liu Yannian, as Great Minister of Works. He dispatched the Chief Protector Great General, the King of Quyang, Xian, with the Great General who Conquers the North, the General who Calms the North, Zhao Gu, the General who Pacifies the North, Wang Sang, to go east and set out for Neihuang. Wang Mi petitioned the Senior Clerk of the Left, Cao Yi, [as] Acting General who Calms the East, and tour Qing province, and moreover to welcome his family. Yuan allowed it.

2nd Year {of Herui [310 AD], Spring, 1st Month, [16 February – 16 March],Yuan established Shan Zheng's daughter as August Empress, his son the Great Marshal, the King of Liang, He, as August Heir-Apparent. A great amnesty. Enfeoffed his son Ai as King of Beihai. Used the King of Changle, Liu Yang as Great Marshal.

Han's Great General who Garrisons the East, Shi Le, crossed the He, and uprooted Baima. Wang Mi again used 20 000 people to met up with Shi Le, and rob Chen commandery and Yingchuan. He stationed at Yangyao, and dispatched his younger brother Zhang to rob Xu and Yan together with Shi Le, consequently they routed Yue's army.

Summer, 4th Month [15 May – 13 June], Wang Jun's General Qi Hong routed Liu Yuan's Inspector of Ji province, Liu Ling, at Guangzong, and killed him.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], the King of Chu, Liu Cong, his junior cousin, the King of Shi'an, Yao, Shi Le, and the Great General who Calms the North, Zhao Guo, besieged the Grand Warden of Henei, Pei Zheng, at Huai, Decreed the General who Conquers the Caitiffs, Song Chou, to relieve it. Le and the Great General who Pacifies the North, Wang Sang, confronted and struck Chou, and killed him. {JS005: 9th Month [10 October – 7 November],} Yue Yang, a native of Henei, apprehended the Grand Warden, Pei Zheng, in rebellion, and surrendered to Shi Le. Yuan used Zheng as Assistant of the Left of the Masters of Writing.

8th Month [10 September – 9 October], gengwu [20 August], Yuan was bedridden with illness, and wanted to make plans for looking after responsibilities.

On xinwei [21 August], he used the King of Chenliu, Huanle. as Grand Steward, the King of Changle, Liu Yang, as Grand Tutor, the King of Jiangdu, Yannian, as Grand Guardian, the Minister over the Masses, the King of Chu, Cong, as Great Marshal and Great Shanyu. They were together to Record the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. He set up the Tribunal of the Shanyu west of Pingyang. He used his son, the King of Qi, Yu, as Great Minister over the Masses, the King of Lu, Long, as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, the King of Beihai, Ai, as Great General who Consoles the Army and acting Colonel Minister of Retainers, the King of Shi'an, Yao, as Great Chief Controller of Conquering and Chastising and acting Aide of the Left to the Shanyu, the Commandant of Justice, Qiao Zhiming, as Great General of the Best of the Army and acting Aide of the Right to the Shanyu, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee Liu Yin as Supervisor of the Left, Wang Yu as Supervisor of the Right, Ren Yi as Master of Writing of the Personnel Section, Zhu Ji as Overseer of the Palace Writers. The Army-Protector Ma Jing to act as General of Guards of the Left, the King of Yong'an, Anguo to act as General of Guards of the Right, the King of Anchang, Sheng, the King of Anyi, Yin, and the King of Xiyang, Xuan, all to act as Generals of Martial Guards, and divide direction over the forbidden troops.

Earlier, at the time when Sheng was young, he was not fond of studying books. He only read the Classic of Filial Piety and the Analects, saying:

Recite these [and you are] able to act, they are sufficient. Why use many to recite and then not act!

Li Xi saw him, and replied, saying:

Gazing at him it is like [I] can be at ease. When he arrives, the dignity is like a stern lord. He can be said to be a lordly man!

Yuan, because of his loyalty and sincerity, when approaching the end appointed him accordingly to a critical duty.

On dingchou [27 August], Yuan's illness was critical. He summoned Huanle, Yang and others to enter within the forbidden [chambers] to accept the testamentary decree to assist the government.

{JS005: 6th Month [13 July – 11 August],} jimao [29 August], Yuan passed away in the Brilliant Eminence Hall. He had held the throne for 6 years, his bogus posthumous title was Brilliant and Civil [guangwen] August Emperor, his temple title was Exalted Founder [gaozu]. The tomb was titled the Eternal Brilliance Mound [yongguang ling]. The Heir-Apparent, He, was enthroned.

#liu yuan

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bookofjin · 8 years ago

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Records of Liu Yuanhai

[From JS101. He probably was not actually Yufuluo’s grandson.]

Liu Yuanhai was a Xiongnu of Xinxing. He was a descendant of Modu. His name violates Gaozu [of Tang]'s temple taboo, for that reason of this he is called here by his courtesy name. [They both had the personal name Yuan淵]. Earlier, Gaozu of Han used a clan girl as Princess, to thereby marry Modu, agreed to be brothers. For that reason his sons and grandsons thereupon dared to surname their clan Liu.

At the beginning of Jianwu [25 – 56 AD], the Wuzhuliu Ruodi Chanyu's son, the Aojian Rizhu King of the Right, Bi, established himself as the Southern Chanyu, entering to reside at Meiji in Xihe. The present Zuoguocheng in Lishi is precisely were the Chanyu moved. [?]

In the middle of Zhongping [184 – 189 AD] the Chanyu Qianqu sent his son Yufuluo to command troops to assist the Han, and punish and pacify the Yellow Turbans. It happened that Qiangqu was killed by the people of the state. Yufuluo accordingly with his multitudes stayed with the Han, establishing himself as Chanyu. During the chaos of Dong Zhuo, [he] pillaged and plundered Taiyuan and Hedong, garrisoning in Henei.

When Yufuluo died, his younger brother Huchuquan was established, and used Yufuluo's son Bao as Worthy King of the Left. He was Yuanhai's father. Wu of Wei divided their multitudes into five sections, and used Bao as Chief of the Left Section. For the remaining section chiefs allways used the Liu clan for them. [?]

In the middle of Taikang [280 – 289 AD], changed to set up a Chief Commandant. The Left Section resided at Zishi in Taiyuan, the Right Section resided at Qi, the Southern Section resided at Puzi, the Northern Section resided at Xinxing, the Middle Section resided at Daling. The Liu clan, although divided to reside in five sections, all resided in Jinyang at the bank of the Fen brook.

Bao's wife Ms. Huyan in the middle of Wei's Jiaping [249 – 254 AD] prayed for a son at Longmen. Soon after, there was a big fish. On its head were two fishes. With lifted fins and jumping scales it then came to the sacrifice [?]. After a long time it then left. The shamans and mediums were all amazed by it, and said: “This is a auspicious omen!”

That night she dreamed that in the morning saw the fish change into a person. In the left hand he held a creature, big like half a chicken egg [?], the shining with a light not common. At this uncommon scene, he gave [it?] to Ms. Huyan, saying: “This is the essence of the Sun. Ingest it to beget to a worthy son.”

She woke and told Bao. Bao said: “A fortunate sign! I formerly followed Zhang Jiong of Handan's mother, Ms. Situ's judgement [?]. She said that I would have worthy sons and grandsonThe clouds we undertake to have valuable sons and grandsons, and for three generations there would surely be great glory. This resembles and fits the judgement like a tally.” Thus, after thirteen months, she begot Yuanhai. In his left hand was written his name, they therefore named him that.

As a boy he was brave and intelligent. At seven sui, he met with grieving for his mother. He beat his chest, jumped, shouted and yelled. Pity filled the neighbourhood. [?] The lineage, clan and section groups all together sighed in admiration and appreciation. At the time, the Minister of Works, Wang Chang [SGZ27] of Taiyuan, heard and was pleased with him. He both dispatched condolences and helped pay the funeral.

As a young child he excelled at studying, his teacher in affairs was Cui You [JS091] of Shangdang. He practised Mao's Poetry, Mr. Jing's Changes and Mr. Ma's Book of Documents. He particularly excelled in Mr. Zuo's Commentary to the Spring and Autumn and Sun and Wu's Principles of War. He knew the outline of all and chanted them [?]. The History [of Sima Quan], the [Book of] Han, and the Various Masters he could not but arrange and look at [?].

He once spoke to Zhu Ji and Fan Long [JS091], teachers of the same school, saying: “I always see in the books and commentaries, that the common and low follow the land without the martial, the falling flood without the civil [?]. The Way depending on people is vast [?], without knowledge of a single thing [?] , firmly the humiliation by a lordly master. The Two Teachers met the Exalted August and yet were not able to establish the profession of fief lords. The Pair of Excellencies belonged to the Great Lineage and yet were not able to begin the praise of village and hamlet schools [?]. What a pity!”

Hence he thereupon studied military affairs and subtly cut off from the masses. [?] He had “monkey arms” and was good at shooting. His bodily strength and power was beyond men. He had an admirable bearing and was big and strong, he was 8 chi 4 cun tall [c. 202 cm]. His beard was more than 3 chi long [c. 70 cm], in the midmost he had fine hair at three roots [?], 3 shi 6 cun long [c. 85 cm].

There was staying in the village [?] Cui Yizhi, Gongshi Yu of Xiangling and others, both good judges of people. When they saw Yuanhai, they were startled and they spoke to each other, saying: “This person's shape and appearance is not ordinary, not seen by me.” Hence they deeply honoured and respected each other [?]. and pushed split and join kindness. [?] Wang Hun [JS042] of Taiyuan humbled his heart to befriend him, [?] and instructed his son Ji [JS042] to bow to him.

In the middle of the Xianxi [264 – 265 AD], he became a hostage son in Luoyang. Emperor Wen deeply waited for him. Late in Taishi [265 – 274 AD], Hun again often spoke of him to Emperor Wu. The Emperor summoned and talked with him, and was greatly pleased with him. He spoke with Wang Ji, saying: “Liu Yuanhai has an admirable bearing and reflective [?]. Even You Yu and Midi would not add to him. [?]”

Ji replied: “Yuanhai has an admirable bearing and reflective is truly like the sagely purpose. His talents in the civil and martial and personal worth at the two son his martial and civil talents virtuous body to the two distant masters [?]. Your Majesty can similarly rely on him accordingly in the affairs of the south-east, where Wu happens to not be sufficiently pacified.” The Emperor called it good.

Kong Xun and Yang Yao advanced, saying: “Your Subjects have seen the talents of Yuanhai, and must now dread without this comparison [?]. Your Majesty is similarly light on his multitudes, they will not be sufficient to thereby complete affairs. If you make use of him for power and authority, after the pacification of Wu we fear he will not return and cross north. He is not of our kind, and his heart must surely be different. To rely on him thereby with the home section, Your Subjects have the audacity to have cold hearts for Your Majesty. If we recommend Heaven obstructing him firmly to thereby support him [?], is not this therefore not possible?” The Emperor quietly affirmed.

Later Qin and Liang were turned over and lost. The Emperor inquired after someone to command and lead. Li Xi of Shangdang said: “Your Majesty is truly able to send out the multitudes of the Xiongnu's Five Sections. Make use of Yuanhai with a single title of General [?]. When he strikes the drums and goes west, we can point to a time and it will be settled.”

Kong Xun said: “The words of Excellency Li will not exhaust and exterminate the reasons for suffering.”

Xi quickly affirmed, saying: “Using the strong and brave of the Xiongnu, Yuanhai's daybreak troops [?], soldiers, serving and spreading the sagely power, how do they not exhaustively do it?”

Xun said: “If Yuanhai is able to pacify Liang province and behead Shujineng, [I] fear Liang province will just then have difficulties and that is all. When Jiaolong obtained the rain clouds, it did not return to the middle of the pond.” The Emperor therefore desisted.

Later Wang Mi [JS100] came through Luoyang on his return east. Yuanhai saw Mi off at the bank of Jiuqu. Weeping, he spoke to Mi, saying: “Wang Hun and Li Xi use country twists [?] to see and recognize, each time addressing each other intelligently [?]. Slander between because of it and yet they advance. It is deeply not my desire, it is just sufficient to be injured. I originally had no thoughts of officialdom, only to satisfy beneath and clarify it. I fear I will die in Luoyang, eternally separated from the Masters. [?]”

Because that he earnest and indignant snorted and sobbed. He indulged in beer and long roars. The sound tuned brilliantly, [?] those sitting became running with tears from it. The King of Qi, You, was at that time at Jiuqu. He compared what he heard [?] and quickly dispatched to observe it. Seeing Yuanhai being there, he spoke to the Emperor, saying: “Your Majesty has not removed Liu Yuanhai. Your Subject fears Bing province will not be peaceful for long.”

Wang Hun advanced to say: “Yuanhai is tall. [?] Hun is Lord King protecting and clarifying him. [?] Moreover the Great Jin's regions display truly different customs. His breast is distant due to virtue. [?] If like this, why, without sprouting his suspicions, kill the attendant sons of the people [?], thereby showing that Jin's virtue is not great.” The Emperor said: “Hun speaks correctly in this.”

It happened that Bao passed on. Used Yuanhai to replace him as Chief of the Left Section. At the end of Taikang [280 – 289 AD], he was designated Chief Commandant of the Northern Section. He clarified the penal laws, forbid the evil and wicked, made light of wealth and excelled at giving, pushed forward the honest and connected with people. The Five Sections' talented heroes could not but come. [?] In You and Ji he was famous among Ruists well-known among scholars, afterwards schools for elegant gentlemen [?] were not for a distance of a thousand li [?], likewise everyone travelled to him.

When Yang Jun [JS040] assisted the government, he used Yuanhai as General who Establishes Power, Great Commander-in-Chief of the Five Sections, enfeoffed as Marquis of Guangwu district.

At the end of Yuankang [291 – 299 AD], he was incriminated in his section people rebelling and setting out for the passes, and was dismissed from office. [As a result of Han Duyuan's rebellion?] The King of Chengdu, Ying, was headquartered at Ye. He petitioned for Yuanhai to act as General who Tranquillizes the Boreal, and Overseer of the Army Affairs of the Five Sections.

When Emperor Hui lost control [?], bandits and thieves rose in swarms. Yuanhai's cousin, the former Chief Commandant of the Northern Sections and the Worthy King of the Left, Liu Xuan, and others furtively discussed it, saying: “Formerly our ancestral people had a covenant with Han to be brothers. The grief is exalted similarly to this [?]. From the perish of Han we have thereby come, and the Wei and Jin eras rose. Our Chanyu, only has an empty title, without repeatedly the patrimony of a foot of land. From the various kings and lords, [we] have declined to be like a bundle of households. Now the Sima clan's bones and flesh are destroying each other. Within the Four Seas the cauldrons bubble. To rise up the nation and return the patrimony; this is the time! The Worthy King of the Left Yuanhai's bearings is a receptacle cutting off ordinary people, he personally jumps over houses [?]. If Heaven does not restore the venerated Chanyu, in the end not the empty life of this people. [?]"

Hence they in private together pushed forward Yuanhai to be Great Chanyu. They therefore sent their faction member Huyan You to go to Ye, to thereby report the plan. Yuanhai requested to return to attend a funeral. Ying would not permit. He therefore ordered You to first to return, and report to Xuan and others to summon and assemble the Five Sections and to pull out and meet the various Hu of Yiyang. [He?] made sounds saying he were obeying Ying, but actually he was turning his back on him.

#js101

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bookofjin · 6 years ago

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Records of Liu He

Liu Yuan had died on 29 August. This is a compilation of the parallel texts in JS101 and ZZTJ087.

He, courtesy name Xuantai, was 8 chi tall. He was valiant, resolute, and had pleasing manners and decorum. He was fond of studying and as a youth was fully formed. He practised Mao's Poetry, Mr. Zao's Spring and Autumn, Mr. Zheng's Changes. When he became the designated successor, on the inside he had many suspicions of jealousy and steered his subordinates without kindness. When Yuanhai died, He inherited the bogus rank.

The Lineage Corrector, Huyan You, was the son of Yi. Yuan, since he was without talented acts, he as a result personally did not change his office. The Palace Attendants Liu Cheng had a long-standing hatred for the King of Chu, Cong. The Commandant of Guards, the King of Xichang, Rui, was ashamed he was not prepared for looking after the instructions. They therefore planned together, and did not assist in looking after the instructions. They advised He, saying:

The Former Emperor did not particularly plan for the light and weighty, and made the three kings collect strong troops on the inside. The Great Marshal grasps a hundred thousand tough soldiers to reside in the nearby suburbs. Your Majesty now readily was made to temporarily have the throne, that is all. The calamitous difficulties of this is not possible to estimate. Consider Your Majesty, to soon do something about it.

He was precisely You's sister's son, and he deeply trusted him.

On xinsi [31 August], at night, he summoned the [Generals who] Leads the Army, the King of Anchang, Liu Sheng, the King of Anyi, Liu Qin, Ma Jing, and others to inform them. Sheng said:

The Former Emperor still is in the funeral palace, the four kings are not yet opposed to authority. Now to suddenly in a single morning ourself [make] fish meat of each other, Your Subject fear people will not nourish Your Majesty's after-comers. The Four Seas are not yet settled, the great patrimony is just now like this. [I] wish Your Majesty will use first completing the Former Emperor's vast foundation as [your] aspiration, and moreover block [your] ears and not listen to these words of insane negligence. The Poetry states: “Why no other people? [They] are not as good as my same fathers [i.e. brothers].” Your Majesty, as soon as [you] do not trust the various younger brothers, then who can [you] trust!

Rui and You angrily said:

In the discussions of today the reasoning has not been divided. [General who] Leads the Army, what words are these!

Hence he instructed left and right to cut him down. When Sheng had died, Qin and Jing in fear said:

Be it Your Majesty's decree, Your Subject and others will die to serve, and will do notthing but succeed!

They therefore swore an oath with each other in the Eastern Hall.

On renwu [1 September], Rui led Ma Jing to attack the King of Chu, Cong, at the Tribunal of the Shanyu.You led the King of Yong'an, Liu Anguo, to attack the King of Qi, Yu, at the Office of the Minister over the Masses. He sent Cheng and the [General of] Martial Guards, Liu Qin, to attack the King of Lu, Long, and the Master of Writing Tian Mi and the the [General of] Martial Guards, Liu Xuan, to attack the King of Bohai, Ai.

Mi, Xuan and others took hold of A to cleave the gate bars and flee to Cong. Cong instructed soldiers in linked armour to accordingly attend to them. Rui knew Cong was prepared, and hurried to turn back. He met with You, Cheng and others to attack Long and Yu. You and Cheng feared for Anguo and Qin were disloyal, and beheaded them. That day, they beheaded Yu.

On guiwei [2 September], they beheaded Long.

On jiashen [3 September], Cong attacked the Ximing Gate, and overcame it. Rui and others fled to enter the Western Palace. The vanguard followed them.

On yiyou [4 September], they beheaded He in the Brilliant Eminence Western Chamber. They gathered Rui, You and Cheng, and put their heads on display at the thoroughfare.

#liu he

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bookofjin · 6 years ago

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Liu Yuan founds the fourth Han

Narrative and discussion

Situation autumn 304

Liu Yuan's earliest followers

Most of Liu Yuan's earliest followers who are mentioned by name in the sources came from the royal Liu clan, and initially carried traditional Xiongnu noble titles. According to JS097, below the Shanyu, the Xiongnu leaders were ranked as follows:

1-2: Worthy King賢王 of the Left and Right

3-4: Yili King奕蠡王 of the Left and Right

5-6: Yulu King於陸王 of the Left and Right

7-8: Jianshang King漸尚王 of the Left and Right

9-10: Shuofang King朔方王 of the Left and Right

11-12: Dulu King獨鹿王 of the Left and Right

13-14: Xianlu King顯祿王 of the Left and Right

15-16: Anle King安樂王 of the Left and Right

Worthy King of the Left (Rank 1), was usually reserved for the Shanyu's designated heir. The Liu Yuan biographies states that Liu Yuan had inherited this title from his father, Liu Bao.

JS102 states that when Liu Yuan was appointed Northern Shanyu, his son Liu Cong became Worthy King of the Right (Rank 2) - Liu Cong might have been Liu Yuan's most talented son, but he was not his firstborn. When Liu Yuan became to Great Shanyu, Liu Cong became Luli King鹿蠡王, I believe this title is the same as JS097's Yili King奕蠡王 (Rank 3-4)

Liu Xuan, Liu Yuan's uncle, was Worthy King of the Right, either from before or from Liu Yuan arriving at Lishi. Probably this is the reason for Liu Cong's apparent demotion.

Liu Hong was Yulu King of the Left (Rank 5)

Liu Jing was Yulu King of the Right (Rank 6)

Liu Yannian was Dulu King of the Left (Rank 11). TPYL preserves a snippet from his SLGCQ biography. Liu Yannian's parents died when he was 14 sui, so Yannian grew up with his uncle – he and Liu Yuan apparently were not close relatives. Later on Yannian's son Liangsun and his uncle's grandson were kidnapped by a man-eating (!?) thief, it seems both the uncle and the uncle's son had died by this point. When Yannian pursued and pressed the thief to release his cousin's son rather than his own, the thief released both.

Wang Yu

Among Liu Yuan's earliest followers was also one Wang Yu from Jingzhao in Guanzhong. Wang Yu has a biography in JS089, the collected biographies of the Loyal and Righteous. I believe his biography derives from the SLGCQ.

Wang Yu's parents died while he was still a child, and he was forced to seek hire as a sheep shepherd. But he became so distraught at not going to school that he lost the sheep he was supposed to look after. When the owner confronted him with it, Wang Yu offered to sell himself into slavery to pay for the sheep. A local gentleman, Xu Zizhang, was so impressed that he paid off the sheep and provided Wang Yu with the same education as his own children.

Wang Yu grew to a height of 8 chi, and his beard was 3 chi long. He married a niece of Xu Zizhang. The Grand Warden of the commandery, Du Xuan, appointed Wang Yu his Master of Accounts, this was one of the highest positions on the commandery staff.

Later on Du Xuan was demoted to Prefect of Wannian, a county in Jingzhao, the reason is not stated, but he apparently kept Wang Yu on his staff. When another county Prefect, Wang You came to visit him. Du Xuan did not go out to meet him in person but sent Wang Yu instead. Previously when Du Xuan was Grand Warden, he had been Wang You's superior, but now they were equal, and Wang You became angry that Du Xuan would not meet him in person. Wang Yu was furious and drew his sword, quoting the old saying “When the Lord is humiliated, the Subject dies.” Wang You, rather than humiliate his former lord, should try speaking to Wang Yu's blade instead. Wang Yu would have killed him if Du Xuan had not come down and begged him to stop.

Wang Yu was later recognized for his abilities by the Minister over the Masses, Wang Hun (sigh), and became a county Prefect. Wang Hun was Minister over the Masses from 290 until his death in 297. Sometime after that, Wang Yu joined Sima Ying at Ye, who appointed him General who Excites the Martial.

When Liu Yuan had been appointed Northern Shanyu and was about to leave for Lishi, Wang Yu advised Sima Ying that he should be sent along with him to press him on. Sima Ying agreed and appointed Wang Yu General who Rout the Caitiffs.

Early warfare against Sima Teng

There seems to have been some fighting between Liu Yuan and Sima Teng's forces after Liu Yuan's arrival at Lishi.

According to ZZTJ085, Liu Yuan dispatched the Yulu King of the Left, Liu Hong, with 5 000 elite cavalry to join up with Wang Cui, one of Sima Ying's generals, and resist Sima Teng. However Wang Cui was defeated before Liu Hong could reach him, so Liu Hong had to turn back without accomplishing anything.

According to WS001, Sima Teng asked the Tuoba Xianbei for help against Liu Yuan. In response, Tuoba Yitou came south with a host of 100 000 cavalry, surely a vastly exaggerated number, and routed Liu Yuan's forces in Xihe and Shangdang. WS001 dates this to after Liu Yuan taking the title King of Han at Lishi, but I believe this is an inaccuracy by WS001, and that it really refers to Liu Yuan becoming Shanyu. The other sources are all quite clear that Liu Yuan only became king after Emperor Hui's return to Luoyang.

The Tuoba in the early 4th century.

During the 3rd century the Tuoba branch of the Xianbei had settled in the former Han commandery of Yunzhong. In the early 5th century they would eventually conquer northern China found the Northern Wei empire. The history of Northern Wei is chronicled in the Weishu, written by Wei Shou during Northern Qi, a successor state of Northern Wei.

The early history of the Tuoba before the founding of Northern Wei is covered in the first scroll of the Weishu, titled the Preliminary Annals. Weishu and the Preliminary Annals have been roundly criticized for exaggerating the power of the Tuoba, and treating them as a dynastic empire rather than a tribal confederacy, including titling the Tuoba chieftains as emperors.

At the beginning of the 4th century leadership of the Tuoba was divided among three chiefs, Yitou (“Emperor Huan”), his younger brother Yilu (“Emperor Mu”) and their uncle Luguan (“Emperor Luguan”). Though WS001 considers Luguan the senior among them, Yitou may have been the one actually most powerful.

Fall of Sima Ying

Meanwhile, things had not gone well for Sima Ying. Wang Jun had appointed his Master of Accounts, Qi Hong, to lead his armies, and Qi Hong defeated all of Sima Ying's generals sent against him. As Sima Ying prepared to retreat to Luoyang, his remaining soldiers abandoned him. In the end Sima Ying fled with Emperor Hui and only small retinue. After an arduous journey, they arrived in Luoyang where they were greeted by Sima Yong's general Zhang Fang. Sima Ying's time as an independent actor was over.

Liu Yuan breaks with the Jin

We are told that when Liu Yuan heard of Sima Ying's defeat, he complained that Sima Ying was a man of small talents, who had ignored his advice and been defeated as a result. Still, he felt himself bound by his promise to help him. Liu Yuan therefore prepared to send Liu Jing and Liu Yannian with an army of 20 000 against the Xianbei.

At this point Liu Xuan protests against further allegiance to the Jin. The Jin have lost the Way, the Sima clan is tearing itself apart. Clearly Heaven has abandoned Jin, this is the moment for the Shanyu to restore the Xiongnu to independence.

In his reply, Liu Yuan asks why he should be content with just being Shanyu of the Xiongnu. Emperors have come from the barbarians in the past. He already have an army of 100 000, and one of the Xiongnu is worth ten of the Jin, destroying the Jin will be like snapping deadwood. At best he could become the new Emperor Gao, Liu Bang, the Han founder, at worst he'll be the new Cao Cao. The differences between the Xiongnu and the people of Jin could be a problem. However the Han still has a high reputation, as shown by how Liu Bei could hold out while controlling only a single province. Liu Yuan is himself descended from Han princesses, and in the past the Xiongnu Shanyus had sworn to be brothers with the Han Emperors. When the older brother dies, the younger brother inherits, Liu Yuan can take up the legacy of the Han and satisfy the people's expectations.

Yu the Great was the legendary founder of the Xia, while King Wen was the founder of the Zhou. I am not sure why Yu is said here to have come from the Western Rong and to have been born among the eastern Yu. Shiji claims Yu was the grandson of Emperor Zhuanxu while King Wen's ancestors came from the Wei valley.

Zhaolie, “Bright and Ardent” was the posthumous title bestowed on Liu Bei as Emperor of Han.

The Later Ruler is Liu Shan, Liu Bei's son and successor. Since he surrendered to Wei and died a retired pensioner of the Jin, he had never received a posthumous title as emperor. In his Sanguo Zhi, Chen Shou titles Liu Bei and Liu Shan as the Former and the Later Ruler as a way to recognize them as rulers without accepting their legitimacy as emperors.

Founding the Fourth Han

After this, Liu Yuan started the formal process of founding his new state of Han. He moved to Zuoguocheng, located not very far from Lishi, I guess due to that site's status as the former seat of the Southern Shanyu. There he built an altar at the southern suburbs and formally acceded as King of Han. His ascension document, quoted in JS101, is basically a mini-history of Han.

Taizu, Emperor Gao, Liu Bang (r. 202 – 195 BC), is of course the founder of the whole Han. He is often known as Gaozu, but that is strictly speaking not one of his official names.

Taizong, Emperor Xiaowen, Liu Heng (r. 180 – 157 BC) is credited as a benign ruler who brought stability to the realm after the fall of the Lü clan.

Shizong, Emperor Xiaowu, Liu Che (r. 141 – 87 BC), during his long reign the Han empire expanded in all directions. The ascension document states that he “repelled the yi”, most famous among these yi were of course the Xiongnu, Liu Yuan's own anscestors. Tang here refers to the legendary Emperor Yao.

Zhongzong, Emperor Xiaoxuan, Liu Xun (r. 74 – 49 BC), has a reputation as a hardworking emperor who promoted and listened to good officials.

The Three Kings I assume is synonymous with the Three August Ones, who together with the Five Emperors in traditional historiography were China's earliest ruler. These were succeeded by the Xia, Shang and then Zhou, whose ruling house was the Ji clan.

Emperor Yuan (r. 48 – 33 BC) and Emperor Cheng (r. 33 – 7 BC) were rather run of the mill emperors. The short reigned Emperor Ai (r. 7 – 1 BC) was succeeded by the child-emperor Emperor Ping “the Pacifying Emperor” (r. 1 BC – 5 AD). Emperor Ping's death opened the path for his regent Wang Mang (r. 9 – 23 AD) to end Western Han and found his own Xin empire.

Wang Mang's reign ended in natural disasters and rebellions. The chaos that followed ended with Liu Xiu, Shizu, Emperor Guangwu (r. 25 – 57), reuniting the empire and becoming the second Han founder.

The reign of his two successors, Xianzong, Emperor Xiaoming (r. 57 – 75) and Suzong, Emperor Xiaozhang (r. 75 – 88) were considered the golden age of Eastern Han. Emperors He (r. 88 – 106) and An (r. 106 – 125) again were pretty average rulers.

We then jump ahead to the Yellow Turban rebellion in 184 of course was a severe blow to Han. Criticizing the eunuchs and Dong Zhuo is obligatory. Since idea here is to continue the legacy of the Han, Cao Cao and his family are also cast as usurpers.

Liu Xie, Emperor Xiaomin (r. 189 – 220, d. 237) was the final Eastern Han emperor, who after sepnding most of his life as a puppet ruler, abdicated in favour of Cao Pi and Wei in 220. He is usually known as Emperor Xian, “the Presenting”, the posthumous title conferred on him by Wei. However, as Wei is to be considered illegitimate, he is here instead referred to by the posthumous title given him by Liu Bei: Xiaomin, the Filial and Dismayed Emperor.

As mentioned above, Zhaolie was Liu Bei's posthumous title, while Liu Shan did not have one, so he's referred to as the Later Emperor. Shu-Han fell to Wei in 263, 41 years before Liu Yuan taking the title of King of Han.

Liu Yuan also took other formal steps to found his new state. He proclaimed a general amnesty, adopted Yuanxi as his own reign title, and also gave Liu Shan the posthumous title of Emperor Xiaohuai.

He also built temples to the eight emperors highlighted as especially worthy in the ascension document, the three Founders and Five Ancestors. The first and second Founders are Emperors Gao – Taizu, and Guangwu - Shizu. The third founder is Liu Bei whose temple name was Liezu烈祖 – the “Ardent Founder”. There is some uncertainty when Liu Bei acquired this temple name, it is not recorded in the SGZ. It is possible therefore that it was Liu Yuan who first established Liuzu as Liu Bei's temple name. Curiously, Liezu is not recorded in JS101, not in the ascension document or elsewhere. Liu Yuan does however refer to Liu Bei as Liezu in JS100.

Liu Yuan also established his wife Ms. Huyan as Queen. Huyan was also the family name of Liu Yuan's mother. Note that Queen Huyan was not the mother Liu Cong. Cong's mother's family name was Zhang.

Appointments

JS101 also records appointments to the three highest court officials. It seems Liu Yuan followed the Western Han system for his court ranks, where the Imperial Chancellor ranked highest, followed by the Imperial Clerk Grandee and third the Grand Commandant.

Liu Xuan, the Worthy King of the Right, became Imperial Chancellor.

Cui You of Shangdang became Imperial Clerk Grandee. According to JS101, Cui You had been Liu Yuan's teacher, and must have been a very old man in 304. He has a biography in JS091 probably derived from the SLGCQ. Cui You had been an official at the end of Wei, eventually becoming magistrate of a minor county, but had to retire due illness and poor health. He however continued studying into his old age, compiling a Chart of Mourning Clothes. JS91 records that he declined the appointment as Imperial Clerk Grandee, and died at home on an unspecified date, aged 93.

Liu Hong, the Yulu King of the Left, became Grand Commandant.

ZZTJ085 lists some further appointments to some lower-level posts. I suspect most, if not all, of these appointments have been added from individual biographies. As such, some of these appointments may have taken place later.

Fan Long became Great Herald, Zhu Ji Grand Master of Ceremonies. These were two of the Nine Ministers. Fan Long of Yanmen and Zhu Ji of Shangdang had been fellow students of Cui Yu with Liu Yuan. Fan Long has a biography in JS091 probably derived from the SLGCQ. Fan Long lost both parents by the age of four and grew up with a distant kinsman. He became a scholar and wrote on the Spring and Autumn annals and the Rites. When the Jin civil wars broke out, Fan Long avoided involvement. He and his friend Zhu Ji were once walking in the mountains when they saw an old man. The old man asked what the two dukes were doing there, then he disappeared. Both Fan Long and Zhu Ji were later made dukes by Liu Yuan.

Cui Yizhi and Chen Yuanda became Gentlemen of the Yellow Gates. The Gentlemen of the Yellow Gates were attendants and advisors of the ruler.

Cui Yizhi of Tunliu in Shangdang is mentioned early in JS101 as one of the judges of characters who assessed Liu Yuan in his youth as an extraordinary person. I could find no other mention outside the ZZTJ of his appointment to Gentleman of the Yellow Gates.

Chen Yuanda was Xiongnu of the Rear Section. (The same as the Southern Section? Or maybe the Northern Section?) He as a biography appended to JS102, probably derived from the SLGCQ. His original family name was Gao, but apparently his birth month was in some way inauspicious to his father, so that it was changed to Chen. Chen Yuanda grew up orphaned and impoverished, but did still found the time to study.

His biography in JS102 is mostly a collection of stories involving him and Liu Yuan or Liu Cong. According to one, when Liu Yuan was Worthy King of the Left, he summoned Chen Yuanda, but Yuanda did not answer. When Liu Yuan became King of Han, people said that he would not get a new summoning now. Chen Yuanda replied that he had recognized Liu Yuan's worth a long time ago, but had not answered the summons because there was nothing he could have helped him with, a latter would surely arrive within two or three days. The summons from Liu Yuan came that evening. Another story records Chen Yuanda's answer to a question from Liu Yuan on why he had accepted a position as low as Gentleman of the Yellow Gates.

Liu Yao became General who Establishes the Martial. This introduces the final of the Han-Zhao rulers. Liu Yao has his own Yearly Annals in JS103. His early life as narrated there have many common elements with those of Liu Yuan and Liu Cong.

Liu Yao was a relative Liu Yuan, though the specific link, or even the name of Liu Yao's father is not recorded. It is told that at the age of eight sui he accompanied Liu Yuan on a hunt. When thunder shook the tree they were standing under, only Liu Yao of the party remained composed, which caused Liu Yuan to exclaim that his cousin was still alive. This cousin was presumably Liu Yao's deceased father. The precise word used for cousin here congxiong從兄 might even indicate that Liu Yao came from a senior branch of the family to that of Liu Yuan.

Liu Yao's height is recorded at a very impressive 9 chi, 3 cun (c. 225 cm!) which makes him the tallest man on record in the Jinshu. And when he was born with white eyebrows and a red shine to his eyes. Like Liu Yuan and Liu Cong, Liu Yao is said to have mastered both the civil and martial arts. He was was good with both the draft and clerical styles of calligraphy, a very strong archer, and could recite military books from memory.

One story tells that Liu Yao would scoff at Wu Han and Deng Yu, two generals instrumental in the founding of Eastern Han, and compare himself to Yue Yi, a statesman and general of the Warring States era, and Xiao He and Cao Shen, the famous chancellors from the founding of Western Han. But only Liu Cong agreed with Liu Yao's high estimation of himself, comparing him favourably to Shizu (Guangwu of Han) and Wu of Wei (Cao Cao).

As a youth, Liu Yao travelled to Luoyang, but was convected of an unspecified crime and sentenced to execution. He managed to escape and hid in Zhaoxian in Lelang in the far north-east. There he took up job as a county soldier until an amnesty allowed him to return.

At this point Liu Yao apparently thought that the times he lived in would not tolerate a man of his ability, so he hid in the Guancen Mountains, from where the Fen river springs, and spent his time playing the zither and reading books. One night, two boys came, claiming to be messengers from the King of Guancen, I assume the local mountain god, bringing a magic sword as a gift.

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bookofjin · 6 years ago

Text

Liu Yuan founds the fourth Han

Translations

WS001, Preliminary Annals

10th Year [of Emperor Zhao, 304 AD], Emperor Hui of Jin was detained at Ye by the King of Chengdu, Ying. The Xiongnu offshoot Liu Yuan rebelled at Lishi, titling himself King of Han. The Inspector of Bing province, Sima Teng came to request a host. Emperor Huan led more than 100 000 cavalry. The Emperor likewise at the same time greatly raised up to accordingly assist him. They greatly routed Yuan's multitudes in Xihe and Shangdang. It happened that Emperor Hui returned to Luo. Teng therefore bid farewell to the host. Emperor Huan swore a covenant with Teng at the east of the Fen [or “at Fendong”] and then returned. He therefore sent the Assistant Assessors Wei Xiong and Duan Fan to Leishi west of Canhe Slope to raise and set up a stele to accordingly record the act.

十年，晉惠帝為成都王潁逼留在鄴。匈奴別種劉淵反於離石，自號漢王。並州刺史司馬騰來乞師。桓帝率十餘萬騎，帝亦同時大舉以助之，大破淵眾於西河、上黨。會惠帝還洛，騰乃辭師。桓帝與騰盟於汾東而還。乃使輔相衛雄、段繁，於參合陂西累石為亭，樹碑以記行焉。

WS095, Biography of Liu Cong

Yuan spoke to Xuan and others, saying:

Emperors and Kings, when where they regular? I will at best be Gao of Han, at worst be Wu of Wei. But the people of Jin are not necessarily similar to us. Han had Under Heaven for many generations, kindness and virtue connection to the population's hearts. I am also a sister's child of the Han clan, sworn to be elder and younger brothers. When the older brother perishes, the younger carries on. Can we not do likewise? Now moreover, I can raise up Han, posthumously honour the Later Ruler, and thereby comfort the populace's expectations.

He therefore moved to Zuoguocheng. The far-away people who reverted to adherence were several ten thousand. He designated himself King of Han. He set up the hundred officials, with the year titled Yuanxi [“Inaugural Radiance”], and posthumously venerated Liu Shan as the Filial and Cherished [xiaohuai] August Emperor.

…

Yao, courtesy name Yongming, was orphaned young and was reared by Yuan. He quite understood books and registers, his aspirations were by nature not ordinary. He was powerful and brave, and was very strong. Iron 1 cun thick he could shoot at and pierce it. He was convicted in an affair and was to be executed, but absconded and hid in Zhaoxian, he took service as a county soldier. There happened to be an amnesty and he got to return home.

淵謂宣等曰：「帝王豈有常哉，當上為漢高，下為魏武。然晉人未必同我，漢有天下世長，恩德結於民心，吾又漢氏之甥，約為兄弟，兄亡弟紹，不亦可乎？今且可稱漢，追尊後主，以懷民望。」乃遷於左國城，遠人歸附者數萬。自稱漢王，置百官，年號元熙，追尊劉禪為孝懷皇帝。

…

曜，字永明。少孤，見養於淵。頗知書計，志性不恆。拳勇有膂力，鐵厚一寸，射而洞之。坐事當誅，亡匿朝鮮，客為縣卒，會赦得還。

JS004, Annals of Emperor Huan

The General who Calms the North, Wang Jun [JS039], dispatched Wuwan cavalry to attack the King of Chengdu at Ye, greatly routing him. Ying drove with the Emperor in a single chariot to flee to Luoyang, those submitting to the carriage divided and scattered, hustled and bustled above and below without presenting.

The Palace Attendants and Yellow Gates were presented from within [their] bags 3 000 cash, decreed to borrow and employ. By buying food they thereby supplied, the palace people stopped to eat in the middle of the road and in guest houses. The palace people had grasped a sheng with surplus husks from rice to eat and dried garlic and salted beans to thereby advance to the Emperor. The Emperor ate it. The Imperial Palace Yellow Gates were draped in cloth.

They lodged at Huojia and traded for unpolished and uncooked rice to eat, filling thereby earthen pots. The Emperor ate two cups. There was an old father presenting and offering chicken, the Emperor accepted it.

They arrived at Wen and wanted to pay visit to the Mounds. The Emperor lost his slipper[s] and accepted the slippers of a follower. The subordinates bowed with flowing tears. Left and right all blew their noses and sobbed.

When they crossed the He. Zhang Fang lead 3 000 cavalry and used a sun beacon green covered chariot to receive and welcome. Fang bowed to pay his respects, the Emperor personally stopped him.

On xinsi [1 October], a great amnesty, bestowed those who followed each proportionately.

安北將軍王浚遣烏丸騎攻成都王穎于鄴，大敗之。穎輿帝單車走洛陽，服御分散，倉卒上下無齎，侍中黃門被囊中齎私錢三千，詔貸用。所在買飯以供，宮人止食于道中客舍。宮人有持升餘粇米飯及燥蒜鹽豉以進帝，帝啖之，御中黃門布被。次獲嘉，市粗米飯，盛以瓦盆，帝啖兩盂。有老父獻蒸雞，帝受之。至溫，將謁陵，帝喪履，納從者之履，下拜流涕，左右皆歔欷。及濟河，張方帥騎三千，以陽燧青蓋車奉迎。方拜謁，帝躬止之。辛巳，大赦，賞從者各有差。

JS037, Biography of Sima Teng, King Wuai of Xincai

…

Ying was afraid. He held onto the Emperor to return to Luoyang, and advanced Teng in rank to General who Calms [the North?].

…

穎懼，挾帝歸洛陽，進騰位安將軍。

JS039, Biography of Wang Jun

…

He used the Master of Accounts, Qi Hong as the vanguard. He came across Ying's general Shi Chao at Pingji, struck and defeated him. Jun exploited the victory to thereupon overcome Yecheng. The multitude soldiers brutally plundered and the dead were very many. The Xianbei greatly carried off the wives and girls. Jun instructed that those who dared to be holding onto [them] in secret would be beheaded. Hence those who were drowned in the Yi river were 8 000 people. The black-haired commoners' bitter poison started with this.

…

以主溥祁弘為前鋒，遇穎將石超於平棘，擊敗之。浚乘勝遂克鄴城，士眾暴掠，死者甚多。鮮卑大略婦女，浚命敢有挾藏者斬，於是沉於易水者八千人。黔庶荼毒，自此始也。

JS059, Biography of Sima Ying, King of Chengdu

…

The outriders arrived at Ye. Ying dispatched the Inspector of You province, Wang Cai, with Shi Chao, Li Yi and others to resist Jun. They were defeated by Jiezhu and others.

Within Ye they greatly shook in fear. The hundred companions fled and ran, the soldiers split up and scattered. Ying was afraid, he commanded several tens of riders of his personal followers, held the Son of Heaven close, and, together with a the Overseer of the Palace Writers, Lü Zhi, then ran. After five days they arrived in Luo. Jiezhu pursued to Zhaoge, but did not catch up and turned back.

…

候騎至鄴，穎遣幽州刺史王斌及石超、李毅等距浚，為羯朱等所敗。鄴中大震，百僚奔走，士卒分散。穎懼，將帳下數十騎，擁天子，與中書監慮志單車而走，五日至洛。羯朱追至朝歌，不及而還。

JS089, Biography of Wang Yu

(see http://bookofjin.tumblr.com/js089 for full translation)

…

When the King of Chengdu. Ying, was at Ye, he also used [Wang] Yu as General who Excites the Martial. At Liu Yuanhai becoming Northern Shanyu, Yu talked to Ying, saying:

Yuanhai is now leaving. Yu requests to be pressing him for Your Highness. If not done, [I] fear he will not arrive.

Ying made it so, and used Yu as General who Rout the Caitiffs. Yuanhai thereupon kept him, afterwards using him as Grand Tutor.

成都王穎在鄴，又以育為振武將軍。劉元海之為北單于，育說穎曰：「元海今去，育請為殿下促之，不然，懼不至也。」穎然之，以育為破虜將軍。元海遂拘之，其後以為太傅。

JS091, Biographies of Cui You and Fan Long

At the beginning of Taishi [265 – 274], Emperor Wu favoured the succession [?] from Emperor Wen's old office companions and staff, and attended on the family to designate a Palace Gentleman. Aged more than 70, he still esteemed studying and did not tire. He compiled a Chart of Mourning Clothes, which has come down through the ages. When Liu Yuanhai usurped the throne, he instructed him to be Imperial Clerk Grandee. He firmly declined and did not go. He passed on at home, at the time he was 93 years old.

崔遊，字子相，上黨人也。少好學，儒術甄明，恬靖謙退，自少及長，口未嘗語及財利。魏末，察孝廉，除相府舍人，出為氐池長，甚有惠政。以病免，遂為廢疾。泰始初，武帝祿敘文帝故府僚屬，就家拜郎中。年七十餘，猶敦學不倦，撰《喪服圖》，行於世。及劉元海僭位，命為御史大夫，固辭不就。卒於家，時年九十三。

Fan Long, courtesy name Songyan, was a native of Yanmen. His father Fang was Wei's Grand Warden of Yanmen. The pregnancy for Long lasted 15 months. When he was born then his father deceased. At the age of 4 sui, he also mourned his mother. The sound of his mournful shouts moved to anguish the travellers on the road. A lonely orphan, he had no relatives in mourning [?]. His distant clansman Fan Guang pitied and reared him. He received him [as if?] coming home, and taught him books, and had erected a sacrificial hall. Long was fond of studying and cultivated prudence, he served Guang like a father.

He had a broad and comprehensive understanding of the classics and records, overlooking nothing [?]. He put forth Spring and Autumn, Three Traditions, and compiled Three Rites, Good and Evil [in] the Ancestral Records, they considerably were ordering righteousness [?].

In the time of Emperor Hui, Under Heaven was about to be chaotic. Long hid his traces and did not obey the instructions of the province or commandery. In daytime he industriously ploughed and sowed, at night he recited the books and canons. He was quite versed in the esoteric calendar's teachings of yin and yang, and knew Bing province was about to have omens of vapours and malign auras. For that reason he more and more did not again set out to serve.

He was good friends with Zhu Ji of Shangdang. Once he wandered the mountains together with Ji. They saw an old man at the banks of a spent [?] mountain brook. The old man said:

You two Dukes, why are [you] at this place?

Long and others bowed to him. When they raised their heads to look at him, they no longer saw him. Later he and Ji depended on Liu Yuanhai. Yuanhai used Long as Great Herald and Ji as Grand Master of Ceremonies, both were enfeoffed as Dukes. Long died in the reign of Liu Cong. Cong bestowed Grand Teacher.

范隆，字玄嵩，鴈門人。父方，魏鴈門太守。隆在孕十五月，生而父亡。年四歲，又喪母，哀號之聲，感慟行路。單孤無緦功之親，疏族范廣愍而養之，迎歸教書，為立祠堂。隆好學修謹，奉廣如父。博通經籍，無所不覽，著《春秋三傳》，撰《三禮吉凶宗紀》，甚有條義。惠帝時，天下將亂，隆隱迹不應州郡之命，晝勤耕稼，夜誦書典。頗習祕歷陰陽之學，知并州將有氛祲之祥，故彌不復出仕。與上黨硃紀友善，嘗共紀遊山，見一父老於窮澗之濱。父老曰：「二公何為在此？」隆等拜之，仰視則不見。後與紀依于劉元海，元海以隆為大鴻臚，紀為太常，並封公。隆��于劉聰之世，聰贈太師。

JS101, Yearly Annals of Liu Yuanhai

…

Wang Jun sent General Qi Hong to lead Xianbei and attack Ye. Ying was defeated, and held onto the Son of Heaven to run south to Luoyang. Yuanhai said:

Ying did not employ my words, on the contrary he is himself running from disaster. He truly has menial talents. However as I and him had words, I cannot but aid him.

Now in the Sima clan, father and son, elder and younger brother, are themselves [chopping] each other [like] fish meat, this is Heaven casting aside Jin's virtue and conferring it on us. [If] the Shanyu stores up virtue in his body, and is submitted to by the people of Jin, [he] soon will raise up our nation and tribe and restore the patrimony of Huhanxie. The Xianbei and Wuhuan could be used as helpers, why would [we] resist them and aid [our] foes!

Yuanhai said:

Good. I will be raising up the hill to the pinnacle mound, why would I make a hillock! As for Emperors and Kings, when where they regular? Yu the Great set out from the Western Rong, King Wen was born among the eastern Yu. Looking back, they were conferred for virtue, that was all.

Now [I] see a multitude of more than 100 000, and anyone of us is a match for ten of the Jin. To strike the march and then destroy chaotic Jin is like snapping deadwood, that is all. At best I can complete the legacy of Gao of Han, at worst I will be no less than the Wei clan.

However the people of Jin are not necessarily similar to us. Han had Under Heaven for many generations, kindness and virtue connection to people's hearts. Thus though Zhaolie [lived] rough and rugged in the lands of a single province, he was yet able contend at an equal level Under Heaven. I am also a sister's child of the Han clan, sworn to be elder and younger brothers. When the older brother perishes, the younger carries on. Can we not do likewise? Moreover, I can raise up Han, posthumously honour the Later Ruler, and thereby comfort the people's expectations.

He therefore moved to Zuoguocheng. The far-away people who reverted to adherence were several ten thousand.

1st Year of Yongxing [304 AD], Yuanhai therefore had an altar in the southern suburbs, and falsely acceded as King of Han. He sent down an order, saying:

Formerly our Grand Founder [ta], the Exalted [gao] August Emperor used his divine martial ability to follow expectations, and broadly began the great patrimony. The Grand Ancestor [taizong], the Filial and Civil [xiaowen] August Emperor gave weight to using enlightened kindness, peace and prosperity was the Way of Han. The Generational Ancestor [shizong], the Filial and Martiaizul [xiaowu] August Emperor expanded the territory and repelled the yi, the territory exceeding the days of Tang. The Middle Ancestor [zhongzong], the Filial and Propagating [xiaoxuan] August Emperor, sought and lifted up the capable and outstanding, many scholars filled the court.

This Orphan is now all at once pushed forward by the crowd of excellencies, to carry on offering to the Three Founders' legacy. Looking at [my?] current crippled ignorance, [I] shiver in fear for collapsing in a shallow grave [?]. However, as the great shame is not yet wiped away, the altars of soil and grain are without a host, with gall in the mouth and the roost cold [?], [I] will strive to follow the crowd's opinion.

He therefore made an amnesty within his region, with the year titled Yuanxi [“Inaugural Radiance”], and posthumously venerated Liu Shan as the Filial and Cherished [xiaohuai] August Emperor. He established Gaozu of Han and below, three Founders and five Ancestors, as divine rules and worshipped them. He established his wife, Ms. Huyan, as Queen. He set up the hundred officials, using Liu Xuan as Imperial Chancellor, Cui You as Imperial Clerk Grandee, Liu Hong as Grand Commandant, the remainder were designated and conferred each proportionally.

…

王浚使將軍祁弘率鮮卑攻鄴，穎敗，挾天子南奔洛陽。元海曰：「穎不用吾言，逆自奔潰，真奴才也。然吾與其有言矣，不可不救。」於是命右於陸王劉景、左獨鹿王劉延年等率步騎二萬，將討鮮卑。劉宣等固諫曰：「晉為無道，奴隸御我，是以右賢王猛不勝其忿。屬晉綱未馳，大事不遂，右賢塗地，單于之恥也。今司馬氏父子兄弟自相魚肉，此天厭晉德，授之於我。單于積德在躬，為晉人所服，方當興我邦族，復呼韓邪之業，鮮卑、烏丸可以為��，奈何距之而拯仇敵！元海曰：「善。當為崇岡峻阜，何能為培塿乎！夫帝王豈有常哉，大禹出於西戎，文王生於東夷，顧惟德所授耳。今見眾十餘萬，皆一當晉十，鼓行而摧亂晉，猶拉枯耳。上可成漢高之業，下不失為魏氏。雖然，晉人未必同我。漢有天下世長，恩德結於人心，是以昭烈崎嶇於一州之地，而能抗衡於天下。吾又漢氏之甥，約為兄弟，兄亡弟紹，不亦可乎？且可稱漢，追尊後主，以懷人望。」乃遷於左國城，遠人歸附者數萬。

永興元年，元海乃為壇於南郊，僭即漢王位，下令曰：昔我太祖高皇帝以神武應期，廓開大業。太宗孝文皇帝重以明德，升平漢道。世宗孝武皇帝拓土攘夷，地過唐日。中宗孝宣皇帝搜揚俊乂，多士盈朝。是我祖宗道邁三王，功高五帝，故卜年倍於夏商，卜世過於姬氏。而元成多僻，哀平短祚，賊臣王莽，滔天篡逆。我世祖光武皇帝誕資聖武，恢復鴻基，祀漢配天，不失舊物，俾三光晦而復明，神器幽而復顯。顯宗孝明皇帝、肅宗孝章皇帝累葉重暉，炎光再闡。自和安已後，皇綱漸頹，天步艱難，國統頻絕。黃巾海沸於九州，群閹毒流於四海，董卓因之肆其猖勃，曹操父子凶逆相尋。故孝愍委棄萬國，昭烈播越岷蜀，冀否終有泰，旋軫舊京。何圖天未悔禍，後帝窘辱。自社稷淪喪，宗廟之不血食四十年于茲矣。今天誘其衷，悔禍皇漢，使司馬氏父子兄弟迭相殘滅。黎庶塗炭，靡所控告。孤今猥為群公所推，紹脩三祖之業。顧茲尪闇，戰惶靡厝。但以大恥未雪，社稷無主，銜膽棲冰，勉從群議。」乃赦其境內，年號元熙，追尊劉禪為孝懷皇帝，立漢高祖以下三祖五宗神主而祭之。立其妻呼延氏為王后。置百官，以劉宣為丞相，崔游為御史大夫，劉宏為太尉，其餘拜授各有差。

JS101, Biography of Liu Xuan

Yuanhai acceded as king at the advice of Xuan. For that reason he especially received honour, his merits among the relatives [?] had no equal, in the army and state, inside and outside, nobody did not esteem him.

元海即王位，宣之謀也，故特荷尊重，勛戚莫二，軍國內外靡不專之。

JS102, Biography of Chen Yuanda

Chen Yuanda, courtesy name Changhong, was a native of the Rear Section. His original family name was Gao, due his birth month hindering his father, he for that reason changed to be called Chen. As young he was faced with orphanage and impoverishment. He often personally ploughed while reciting books. He enjoyed the Way and walked chanting, in exuberant delight like that. Reaching age fourteen, he did not interact or communicate with people. Yuanhai was Worthy King of the Left. He heard about and summoned him, but Yuanda did not answer. When Yuanhai usurped the title, people spoke to Yuanda, saying:

Formerly Excellency Liu was submissive. You Lord disregarded [him] and did not look back. Now he is esteemed as the flying dragon. Are you, Lord, afraid?

Yuanda replied, saying:

Why are you saying that? His person's bearing and measures are prominent and outstanding, and he has the aspirations of caging and netting space and time. I firmly understood it a long time ago. As such in former days, although I did not go, it was due to destined time having not yet arrived. [I] was not able with no affairs to babble babble. He himself had accordingly confidence [?] in me. You Sir only just became aware of him. I fear it will not go beyond two or three days before the relayed letter will surely arrive.

That evening Yuanhai actually summoned Yuanda as Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. The person said:

You Lord is likely a sage!

When he had arrived, he was brought in for audience. Yuanhai said:

You Sir assented to come early. Why be a Gentlemen and that is all.

Yuanda said:

Your Subject has considered an allotment for his nature [?], the abundant allotments are brimming. [If] Your Subject early knocked the Heavenly Gates, maybe the Great King would bestow a place among the Nine Ministers or Receiver of Words. If these then are not allotments for Your Subject, Your Subject may ask accordingly for what he is worthy of! Thus due to curbing feelings, hemming and hawing, waiting for allotment and then arrive, [then] the Great King is without the slander of excessive bestowal, Your Small Subject avoids the calamity of summoning bandits, can this not be done!

Yuanhai was greatly pleased. While in his post, he was loyal and bold, frequently advancing with frank words. When he withdrew to edit a draft, even his sons and brothers did not get to know about it.

陳元達，字長宏，後部人也。本姓高，以生月妨父，故改云陳。少面孤貧，常躬耕兼誦書，樂道行詠，忻忻如也。至年四十，不與人交通。元海之為左賢王，聞而招之，元達不答。及元海僭號，人謂元達曰：「往劉公相屈，君蔑而不顧，今稱號龍飛，君其懼乎？」元達笑曰：「是何言邪？彼人姿度卓犖，有籠羅宇宙之志，吾固知之久矣。然往日所以不往者，以期運未至，不能無事喧喧，彼自有以亮吾矣。卿但識之，吾恐不過二三日，驛書必至。」其暮，元海果徵元達為黃門郎。人曰：「君殆聖乎！」既至，引見，元海曰：「卿若早來，豈為郎官而已。」元達曰：「臣惟性之有分，盈分者顛。臣若早叩天門者，恐大王賜處於九卿、納言之間，此則非臣之分，臣將何以堪之！是以抑情盤桓，��分而至，大王無過授之謗，小臣免招寇之禍，不亦可乎！」元海大悅。在位忠謇，屢進讜言，退而削草，雖子弟莫得而知也元海大悅。在位忠謇，屢進讜言，退而削草，雖子弟莫得而知也。。

JS103, Yearly Annals of Liu Yao

Liu Yao, courtesy name Yongming, was Yuanhai's clan-child. He was orphaned young and was reared by Yuanhai. While a child he was intelligent and discerning, and had unusual measures. At the age of eight sui, he accompanied Yuanhai hunting in the western mountains. It happened to rain, and they stopped beneath a tree. Suddenly thunder shook the tree, the nearby people could not but fall over. Yao's spirit and appearance remained self-composed. Yuanhai was astonished with him and said:

This our family's thousand li colt. Cousin is not dead!

He was 9 chi, 3 cun tall, his hands hung down beyond the knees. When he was born, his eyebrows were white and his eyes had a red shine. His beard and whiskers did not exceed a hundred roots, but all were 5 chi long. He by nature lifted up schemes and was eminently bright, he stood out from the crowd. He studied books and treatises with a broad outlook, he did not precisely consider sections or sentences. He was good at composing texts and was skilled with the draft and clerical scripts. His gallantry and martial ability exceeded other people, iron 1 cun thick he could shoot at and pierce it, at that time he was nicknamed as a divine archer. He was particularly fond of military books could recite roughly all of them from memory.

He often made light of and insulted Wu and Deng, and compared himself with Yue Yi, Xiao and Cao. At the time people did not agree with him, only Cong always said:

Yongming, to flow with Shizu and Wu of Wei, why are those excellencies sufficient to speak of!

As a youth he drifted to Luoyang. He was convicted in an affair and was to be executed, but absconded and hid in Zhaoxian. There befell an amnesty and he then returned home.

He himself, due to his appearance and quality being different from the multitudes, feared he would not be tolerated by the era. He hid his tracks in the Guancen Mountains, using the zither and books as his affairs. One night as he was dwelling idle, there were two servant boys who entered, knelt, saying:

The King of Guancen sends his Young Subjects to receive and pay respects to the August Emperor of Zhao.

They presented a single edged sword and set it up before them, bowed twice and left. He used a torch to inspect it. The sword was 2 chi long, its shine and polish was not ordinary, red jade made up the scabbard, on its backside there was an inscription which said: “The divine sword reigns, removes the multitudes' posion”. Yao thereupon wore it. The sword followed the four seasons and changed to have five colours.

劉曜，字永明，元海之族子也。少孤，見養於元海。幼而聰彗，有奇度。年八歲，從元海獵於西山，遇雨，止樹下，迅雷震樹，旁人莫不顛仆，曜神色自若。元海異之曰：「此吾家千里駒也，從兄為不亡矣！」身長九尺三寸，垂手過膝，生而眉白，目有赤光，鬚髯不過百餘根，而皆長五尺。性拓落高亮，與眾不群。讀書志於廣覽，不精思章句，善屬文，工草隸。雄武過人，鐵厚一寸，射而洞之，於時號為神射。尤好兵書，略皆闇誦。常輕侮吳、鄧，而自比樂毅、蕭、曹，時人莫之許也，惟聰每曰：「永明，世祖、魏武之流，何數公足道哉！」弱冠游于洛陽，坐事當誅，亡匿朝鮮，遇赦而歸。自以形質異眾，恐不容于世，隱迹管涔山，以琴書為事。嘗夜閑居，有二童子入跪曰：「管涔王使小臣奉謁趙皇帝，獻劍一口。」置前再拜而去。以燭視之，劍長二尺，光澤非常，赤玉為室，背上有銘曰：「神劍御，除眾毒。」曜遂服之。劍隨四時而變為五色。

TPYL045, Geography Part 10: Mountains of Hebei

The Records of Former Zhao states:

Liu Yuanhai's clan-child Yao, once escaped to hide in the mountains of Guancen. At night suddenly there were two servant boys who entered, knelt, and said:

The King of Guancen sends his Young Subjects to receive and pay respects to the August Emperor of Zhao.

They presented a single edged sword and set it up before them, bowed twice and left. He used a torch to inspect it. The sword was 2 chi long, its shine and polish was not ordinary, on its backside there was an inscription which stated: The divine sword worn [by] the ruler, removes the multitudes' poison”. Yao thereupon wore it. In the following season it changed to have five colours.

《前趙錄》云：劉元海族子曜，嘗隱避於管涔之山，夜忽有二童子入，跪曰：「管涔王使小臣奉謁趙皇帝，獻劍一口置前，再拜而去。以燭視之，劍長二尺，光輝非常，背有銘云「神劍」。服御除眾毒，曜遂服之，隨時變為五色也。

TPYL119, Regional Hegemons Part 3: Liu Yuan

Cui Hong's Spring and Autumn of the Sixteen States, Records of Former Zhao says:

…

Yuan said:

I will be raising up the hill to the pinnacle mound, why would I make a hillock! As for Emperors and Kings, when where they regular? Yu the Great was born among the Western Rong, King Wen was born among the eastern Yu. Looking back, they were conferred for virtue, that was all.

Now [I] see a multitude of more than 100 000, and anyone of us is a match for ten of the Jin. To strike the march and destroy chaotic Jin is like snapping deadwood, that is all. At best I can complete the legacy of Gao of Han, at worst I will be no less than the Wei clan. How is Huhanxie a sufficient course of action!

Xuan and others praised it as good.

1st Year of Yuanxi [304 AD], he moved to Zuoguocheng. The Jin people who [came from] the east to adhere were several ten thousand. Xuan and others sent up [to assume] the venerated title. Yuan said:

10th Month [14 November – 10 December], he had an altar in the southern suburbs, and falsely ranked as King of Han. He changed Jin's 1st Year of Yongxing to be the 1st Year of Yuanxi [“Inaugural Radiance”], there was a great amnesty Under Heaven. He posthumously venerated Liu Shan as the Filial and Cherished [xiaohuai] August Emperor, established the divine rulers of the three Ancestors and five Founders and worshipped them. He set up the hundred officials, using Liu Xuan as Imperial Chancellor, and designated and conferred each proportionally.

淵曰：「當為崇岡峻阜，何能為培螻乎！夫帝王豈有常哉，大禹生於西戎，文王生於東夷，顧惟德所授耳。今見眾十餘萬，皆一當晉十，鼓行摧亂晉，猶拉枯耳。上可成漢高之業，下不失為魏氏，何呼韓耶足道哉！」宣等稱善。

元熙元年，遷於左國城，晉人東附者數萬。宣等上尊號，淵曰：「今晉氏猶在，四方未定，可仰遵高皇初法，且稱漢王，權停皇帝之號，聽宇宙混一當更議之。」十月，為壇南郊，僣漢王位，改晉永興元年為元熙元年，大赦天下，追遵劉禪為孝懷皇帝，立三宗五祖之神主而祭之。置百官，以劉宣為丞相，拜授各有差。

TPYL119, Regional Hegemons Part 3: Liu Yuan

Cui Hong's Spring and Autumn of the Sixteen States, Records of Former Zhao says:

Liu Yao, courtesy name Yongming, was Yuan's clan-child. He was orphaned young and was reared by Yuan. While a child he was intelligent and discerning. He by nature lifted up schemes and was eminently bright, he stood out from the crowd. Iron 1 cun thick he could shoot at and pierce it. He was 9 chi, 3 cun tall, his hands hung down beyond the knees. When he was born, his eyebrows were white and his eyes had a red shine. His beard did not exceed a hundred roots, but all were 5 chi long.

崔鴻《十六國春秋·前趙錄》曰：劉曜，字永明，淵之族子。少孤，見養於淵。幼而聰慧，性托落高亮，與眾不群。鐵厚一寸，射而洞之。身長九尺三寸，手垂過膝，生而眉白，目有赤光，須不過百餘根，皆長五尺。

TPYL421, People's Doings Part 62: Righteousness, Middle

…

Cui Hong's Spring and Autumn of the Sixteen States, Records of Former Zhao says:

The King of Jiangdu, [Liu] Yannian, at the age of 15 mourned his two parents. He served his uncle and had a reputation for filial piety. His son Liangsun and first cousin once removed were seized by a man-eating thief [?]. Yannian pursued and requested them. The thief considered Liangsun to return home with Yannian. Yannian did obeisance and requested saying:

I as a young orphan was reared by my uncle. This is my uncle's orphaned grandson. [I] hope that [you will] consider my son to change with him.

The thief said:

You Lord is a righteous gentleman

He released him.

…

江都王延年，年十五喪二親，奉叔父孝聞。子良孫及弟從子為啖人賊所掠，延年追而請之。賊以良孫歸延年，延年拜請曰：「我以少孤為叔父所養，此叔父之孤孫也，愿以子易之。」賊曰：「君義士也。」免之。

ZZTJ085, Annals of Jin

…

He dispatched the Yulu King of the Left, Hong, to lead 5 000 elite cavalry and meet up with Ying's general Wang Cui and resist the Duke of Dongying, Teng. But Cui had already been defeated by Teng, so Hong returned back with nothing done.

Wang Jun and the Duke of Dongying, Teng, combined troops to strike Wang Bin, greatly routing him. Jun used the Master of Accounts, Qi Hong as vanguard. He defeated Shi Chao at Pingji, and exploited the victory to advance the army. Within Ye they greatly shook in fear. The hundred companions fled and ran, the soldiers split up and scattered. … Ying thereupon commanded several tens of riders of his personal followers, and together with Zhi served the Emperor in driving a calf chariot fleeing south to Luoyang.

…

Wang Jun entered Ye. The multitude soldiers brutally plundered and the dead were very many. He sent Jiezhu of the Wuhuan to pursue the Brother-Heir, Ying. He reached Zhaoge but did not catch up. Jun turned back to Ji. Since many of the Xianbei carried off people's wives and daughters, he instructed that if there were those who dared to be holding onto [them] in secret, they would be beheaded. Hence those who were drowned in the Yi river were 8 000 people.

The Duke of Dongying, Teng, requested a host from Tuoba Yitou to accordingly strike at Liu Yuan. Yituo and his younger brother Yilu combined troops to strike Yuan in Xihe, and routed him. He swore a covenant with at the east of the Fen, and then returned. The outriders arrived at Ye.

Liu Yuan heard the Brother-Heir, Ying, had left Ye, he sighed and said:

He did not employ my words, on the contrary he is himself running from disaster. He truly has menial talents. However as I and him had words, I cannot accordingly not aid him.

He commanded to send out troops to strike the Xianbei and Wuhuan. Liu Xuan and others remonstrated, saying:

The people of Jin's slaves and lackeys govern us. Now their bones and flesh harm each other. Thus Heaven rejects them and causes us to restore the patrimony of Huhanxie. The Xianbei and Wuhuan are of our manners and type, and could be used as helpers. Why would we strike them!

Yuan said:

Good. A man of great talent must become Gao of Han or Wu of Wei. Huhanxie, how is it enough to emulate him!

Xuan and others touched head to ground, saying:

[They] are not reaching up [to you].

…

Liu Yuan moved the capital to Zuoguocheng. The Hu and Jin who reverted to him were more and more multitudes. Yuan spoke to his crowd of subjects, saying:

Formerly Han had Under Heaven for a very long time, with kindness connecting to the population. I am a sister's child of the the Han clan, sworn to be elder and younger brothers. When the older brother perishes, the younger carries on. Can we not do likewise?

He therefore founded a state titled Han. Liu Xuan and others requested to elevate to the venerated title. Yuan said:

Now the Four Regions are not yet settled, moreover [we] can rely on the Exalted Founder and designate [me] King of Han.

Hence he acceded as King of Han. There was a great amnesty, and he changed the inaugural to be Yuanxi [“Inaugural Radiance”]. He posthumously honoured the Duke of Anle, Shan, as the Filial and Cherished [xiaohuai] August Emperor. He made Han's three Founders and five Ancestors divine rulers and worshipped them. He established his wife, Ms. Huyan, as Queen. He used the Worthy King of the Right, Xuan, as Imperial Chancellor, Cui You as Imperial Clerk Grandee, the Yulu King of the Left, Hong, as Grand Commandant, Fan Long as Great Herald, Zhu Ji as Grand Master of Ceremonies, Cui Yizhi of Shangdang and Chen Yuanda of the Rear Section both as Gentlemen of the Yellow Gates, his clan-child Yao as General who Establishes the Martial. You firmly declined and did not go.

Yuanda as young had aspirations for commitment. Yuan once summoned him, but Yuanda did not answer. When Yuan became King of Han, someone spoke to Yuanda, saying:

Are you, Lord, afraid?

Yuanda replied, saying:

I understood that person a long time ago. He likewise revealed the heart of mine. However [I] fear it will not go beyond three or two days before the relayed letter will surely arrive.

That evening Yuan actually summoned Yuanda. Yuanda served Yuan, frequently advancing with frank words. When he withdrew to edit a draft, even his sons and brothers did not get to know about it.

When Yao was born, his eyebrows were white and his eyes had a red shine. While a child he was intelligent and discerning, and made daring calculations. He was orphaned young and was reared by Yuan. Becoming adult, his deportment and appearance was remarkable and imposing. He by nature lifted up schemes and was eminently bright, he stood out from the crowd. He was fond of studying books and good at composing text. Iron 1 cun thick he could shoot at and pierce it. He often compared himself with Yue Yi and Xiao and Cao. At the time people did not agree with him, only Liu Cong esteemed him, saying:

Yongming, to flow with Shizu of Han and Wu of Wei, why are those excellencies sufficient to speak of!

遣左於陸王宏帥精騎五千，會穎將王粹拒東嬴公騰。粹已為騰所敗，宏無及而歸。

王浚、東嬴公騰合兵擊王斌，大破之。浚以主簿祁弘為前鋒，敗石超於平棘，乘勝進軍。候騎至鄴，鄴中大震，百僚奔走，土卒分散。... 穎遂將帳下數十騎與志奉帝御犢車南奔洛陽。

…

王浚入鄴，士眾暴掠，死者甚眾。使烏桓羯朱追太弟穎，至朝歌，不及。浚還薊，以鮮卑多掠人婦女，命：「有敢挾藏者斬！」於是沈於易水者八千人。

東嬴公騰乞師於拓跋猗㐌以擊劉淵，猗㐌與弟猗盧合兵擊淵於西河，破之，與騰盟于汾東而還。

劉淵聞太弟穎去鄴，歎曰：「不用吾言，逆自奔潰，真奴才也！然吾與之有言矣，不可以不救。」將發兵擊鮮卑、烏桓，劉宣等諫曰：「晉人奴隸御我，今其骨肉相殘，是天棄彼而使我復呼韓邪之業也。鮮卑、烏桓，我之氣類，可以為援，奈何擊之！」淵曰：「善！大丈夫當為漢高、魏武，呼韓邪何足效哉！」

…

劉淵遷都左國城，胡、晉歸之者愈眾。淵謂群臣曰：「昔漢有天下久長，恩結於民。吾，漢氏之甥，約為兄弟。兄亡弟紹，不亦可乎！」乃建國號曰漢。劉宣等請上尊號，淵曰：「今四方未定，且可依高祖稱漢王。」於是即漢王位，大赦，改元曰元熙。追尊安樂公禪為孝懷皇帝，作漢三祖、五宗神主而祭之。立其妻呼延氏為王后。以右賢王宣為丞相，崔游為御史大夫，左於陸王宏為太尉，范隆為大鴻臚，朱紀為太常，上黨崔懿之、後部人陳元達皆為黃門郎，族子曜為建武將軍；游固辭不就。

元達少有志操，淵嘗招之，元達不答。及淵為漢王，或謂元達曰：「君其懼乎？」元達笑曰：「吾知其人久矣，彼亦亮吾之心；但恐不過三、二日，驛書必至。」其暮，淵果徵元達。元達事淵，屢進忠言，退而削草，雖子弟莫得知也。

曜生而眉白，目有赤光，幼聰慧，有膽量，早孤，養於淵。及長，儀觀魁偉，性拓落高亮，與眾不群。好讀書，善屬文，鐵厚一寸，射而洞之。常自比樂毅及蕭、曹，時人莫之許也；惟劉聰重之，曰：「永明，漢世祖、魏武之流，數公何足道哉！」

ZZTJKY04

10th Month, Liu Yuan moved the capital to Zuoguocheng.

{Below it is said “In Lishi there was a great famine, he moved to Liting”, then thus Yuan was still at Lishi. Note that in Du You's Comprehensive Statutes: Lishi has the Southern Shanyu's courtyard at Zuoguocheng. As such, though Yuan moved to Zuoguo, he still was within the borders of Lishi county.}

Yuan acceded as King of Han.

{In the Annals of Emperors, Li Xiong and Liu Yuan were both designated kings in the 11th Month, after Emperor Hui entered Chang'an. In the Treatise on the States of Huayang, Li Xiong was designated in the 10th Month, one source writes 12th Month. The Thirty States, Spring and Autumn of Jin, and the Records of the Sixteen States all have it in the 10th Month. Now [I] follow them.}

十月劉淵遷都左國城〈下云「離石大饑，遷于黎亭」，則是淵猶在離石也。按杜佑《通典》：離石有南單于庭左國城。然則淵雖遷左國，猶在離石縣境內也。〉

淵即漢王位〈《帝紀》，李雄、劉淵稱王，皆在十一月惠帝入長安後。《華陽國志》，李雄十月稱王，一本作十二月。《三十國》、《晉春秋》、《十六國鈔》皆在十月。今從之〉

2 notes · View notes

bookofjin · 3 years ago

Note

Was Liu Xuan really Liu Yuan’s great-uncle?

So we are told at his first appearance in JS101. While, as is usually the case, there is no real way to verify if this is true, there doesn't appear to be any compelling reason to doubt it either.

0 notes

bookofjin · 7 years ago

Text

Early Life of Liu Yuan, Part 1

Split in two parts due to excessive length.

This post, hopefully the first in a series, covers the life of Liu Yuan, the founder of Han-Zhao from his portentous birth through his time as a hostage son in Luoyang.

The sources

There are four extant accounts of Liu Yuan's life, in the Book of Wei (Weishu魏書, WS) by Wei Shou, finished in 554 during the Northern Qi, in the Book of Jin (Jinshu晉書, JS) by Fang Xuangling et al, finished in 648 during the Tang, in the Imperial Overview from Taping (Taiping Yulan 太平御覽, TPYL) finished in 983 during the Song, and in the Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government (Zizhi tongjian資治通鑑, ZZTJ) by Sima Guang, finished 1084 also during the Song.

Even a cursory comparison of these four texts shows that they are very similar, This is almost certainly due to them sharing a common source, the Spring and Autumn of Sixteen States (Shiliuguo chunqiu 十六國春秋, SLGCQ) by Cui Hong of the Northern Wei era (386 – 534). This book, in 100 scrolls, seems to have been written in basically a chronicle style (with some biographical elements), with a separate chronicle for each of the sixteen states. The SLCQ is no longer extant except in excerpts or indirectly through its use as a source by later books.

Of the four extant sources, the WS is the oldest but also the shortest. Originally 131 scrolls long, this is a history of the Northern Wei in the biographic-thematic style, written during succeeding Northern Qi. Though primarily concerned with the Northern Wei and their Tuoba Xianbei ancestors, there are also summary accounts of the rulers of the Sixteen States, the Eastern Jin and the other southern dynasties. These are all treated as barbarian usurpers and pretenders.

Liu Yuan's biography is found in WS095. The WS's account is too brief to add much information not found in the longer texts, it is more valuable as an attestation earlier than the JS.

The JS is a history of Western and Eastern Jin in 130 scrolls, also in the biographic-thematic style. Written more than two centuries after the end of Eastern Jin, the JS is essentially a composite text created by selecting from and editing together older texts. The JS throughout treats the Jin rulers as the legitimate rulers, their northern rivals are all false usurpers. Hence those fourteen of the Sixteen States who dared declare themselves kings and emperors in defiance of the Jin are collected in the final 30 scrolls of the book, the Yearly Annals (zaiji 載記).

The life and reign of Liu Yuan is covered in JS101, the first of the zaiji. This is the longest of the four texts covering Liu Yuan's life, and for the part under consideration in this post near comprehensive by itself.

The TPYL is a large encyclopedia in 1 000 scrolls, divided into 55 topics with 5 364 articles. Like other such encyclopedias, the TPYL's articles are made up of quotations from older sources, most are now lost. There are many quotations from the SLGCQ in the TPYL I have found two relevant fragments on the early life of Liu Yuan – it is of course possible that I have missed something.

TPYL119, Regional Rulers 3: Liu Yuan: Biography sourced to Cui Hong's Spring and Autumn of Sixteen States, Records of Former Zhao.

TPYL142, Imperial Relatives 8: Liu Yuan of Former Zhao's mother Consort Huyan. Sourced to Cui Hong's Spring and Autumn of Thirty States, Records of Former Zhao. Largely repeats text also found in TPYL119.

The ZZTJ is a universal history written in the chronicle style. Similarly to the JS, the ZZTJ has been created by abbreviating and editing together older texts. In his notes to his text, Sima Guang names several of the sources he has used, these include the JS and the SLGCQ. Though ZZTJ is a chronicle, a biography of Liu Yuan can be put together the relevant sections. The sections of this post comes from ZZTJ80.

Commentary

(You may want to open a separate tab with the translations in Part 2.)

Yuanhai (JS): Liu Yuan shares his personal name with Li Yuan, Gaozu of Tang. To observe the taboo on the Tang founder's name, in the JS, Liu Yuan is therefore referred to as Liu Yuanhai throughout. There are a few places where the TPYL uses Yuanhai were Yuan seems more natural. Are some of its quotes of the SLGCQ through a Tang intermediary?

Earlier history of the Xiongnu

The founders of the Sixteen States came from many different peoples, and their biographies usually begins with a short recounting of their ancestors, in the case of Liu Yuan, the Xiongnu.

TPYL: His ancestor was an offshoot of the Xia princely clan named Chunwei. This line is a straight copy from opening of the Hanshu's account of the Xiongnu, which again has borrowed it (with some minor changes) from the Shiji.

Modun, by coincidence or not, conquered the steppes as Shanyu of the Xiongnu around the same time that Liu Bang, Gaozu of Han, united the Central States. In 200 BC Modun's Xiongnu inflicted a humiliating defeat on Han army under the personal command of Gaozu at the Battle of Baideng.

The Han then adopted a proposal by Lou Jing, renamed Liu Jing in reward. Han concluded a peace treaty with the Xiongnu which recognized the Han Emperor and the Xiongnu Shanyu as equals. The Han Emperor provided a Princess of the imperial Liu family to the Shanyu and also various gifts as tribute. The idea was to keep the peace with the Xiongnu, but also at the same time connect the Shanyu to the Emperor through family bonds and gradually win the Xiongnu over to the superiority of the Central States' civilization. This was the so-called “Peace and Affinity” system which lasted until Emperor Wu of Han went to war against the Xiongnu in 133 BC.

The Southern Shanyu

Succession from brother to brother is quite common in steppe history and precisely what happened when the Wuzhuliu Shanyu died in 13 AD. His son Bi was passed over in favour of his youngest brother Xian, and when Xian died in 18 AD to a middle brother, Yu. But when Yu died in 46 AD, his son Wudadihou became Shanyu, and when Wudadihou died only a few months later, he was succeeded by another of Yu's sons, Punu.

Bi was angry at being cut out of the succession, and offered alliance to Han. The offer was accepted and winter 48/49 Bi declared himself Shanyu. Bi however only gained the allegiance of a minority of the Xiongnu and stood little chance of prevailing against Punu. In 50 AD he did formal obeisance as a vassal ruler to the Han Emperor and entered Han territory with his people. From winter 50 AD he made his court at Meiji in Xihe commandery.

For the rest of Eastern Han, the Southern Shanyu at Meiji remained a Han vassal, acting as a buffer against the Northern Xiongnu and receiving quite considerable gifts in return. His adherents were allowed to settle in the commanderies of Bing province. At the same time Eastern Han's presence and power in the north-western provinces was in decline. The Treatise of Geography in the Houhanshu reveal a drastic drop in registered population in Bing province since the end of Western Han.

The Xiongnu from the end of Han to Western Jin

Qiangqu became Southern Shanyu in 179 AD. In 184 AD he sent his son Yufuluo with a force of Xiongnu to assist the Han against the Yellow Turbans. In 188 AD Emperor Ling ordered Qiangqu to raise troops against a former Han officials, Zhang Chun, who was using Xianbei to attack the frontier. The Xiongnu worried such conscriptions would become common, and killed Qiangqu.

Yufuluo was forced to flee the Xiongnu lands and came to Luoyang with his remaining followers. When Emperor Ling died in 189 AD, nobody had time for Xiongnu affairs any more, so he became a bandit lord, first based in Henei, and then at Pingyang in Hedong. Over the next years Yufuluo remained a minor players among the warlords at the end of Han until his death in 195 AD.

Yufuluo was succeeded as Shanyu by his brother Huchuquan, Yufuluo's son Bao became Worthy King of the Left, usually title of the Shanyu's designated heir. Huchuquan also failed to gain recognition among his father's people and set up a court-in-exile at Pingyang, his followers mostly lived along the Fen river. By this time Cao Cao (posthumously Emperor Wu of Wei) was in ascendancy, and in 216 AD Huchuquan came to his court at Ye submit.

Cao Cao kept Huchuquan as an honoured prisoner at Ye. When Huchuquan died some time after 220 AD, no new Shanyu was appointed. To govern the Xiongnu, Cao Cao instead divided the Xiongnu into Five Sections, each under a Leader. No doubt the purpose of this was to tighten Wei control of the Xiongnu in Bing province.

While there was no longer a Shanyu, the positions of Leaders of the Five Sections apparently remained hereditary within the old royal clan. The aristocracy of the Bingzhou Xiongnu was in any case becoming increasingly Sinicized. The royal clan adopted the Liu surname, which they justified by the old marriages to the Western Han princesses.

At an unspecified year during Western Jin's Taikang era (280 – 289 AD), the title of Leader was further changed to Chief Commandant. My guess is this was part of a policy of further integrating the Xiongnu leaders into the regular Western Jin administration.

The Five Sections of the Xiongnu

The account of the Xiongnu in JS097 lists the location each Chief Commandant of the Five Sections, and the strength of each section in the number of “encampments” (luo落):

Chief Commandant of the Left Section: Old Zishi county, with 10 000 encampments.

Chief Commandant of the Right Section: Qi county, 6 000 encampments.

Chief Commandant of the Southern Section: Puzi county, 3 000 encampments.

Chief Commandant of the Northern Section: Xinxing commandery, 4 000 encampments.

Chief Commandant of the Middle Section: Daling county, 6 000 encampments.

Bingzhou during Western Jin

The map shows that three out of five Chief Commandants were clustered together, representing 76% of the encampments reported by JS097.

Liu Bao

The sources state that Liu Yuan was the son of Liu Bao, Leader of the Left Section, Worthy King of the Left, and son of Yufuluo. This would make Liu Yuan the direct successor of the great Shanyus. However de Crespigny writes in A Biographical Dictionary (“Bao”, p. 10): “The modern scholar Tang Changru, however, has argued that this was no more than a propaganda attempt to identify Liu Yuan with the great imperial lineages of the past.”

I don't know specifics of Tang Changru's argument, but we can make our own analysis of the chronology:

Yufuluo died in 195, so Bao must have been born at that time at the very latest.

Liu Yuan was born in the early 250s.

Liu Bao died around 280 or a few years later.

It is not exactly humanely impossible that Bao was born around 195, became the father of Liu Yuan in his mid-late fifties, and died in his mid eighties, but it seems a bit unlikely.

Cai Wenji's biography in the HSS states that after the fall of Chang'an in 194 she was taken by the Southern Xiongnu's Worthy King of Left, and lived among the Xiongnu for 12 year to become the mother of two. I left this out because the Xiongnu king is not explicitly identified either as Bao or Yufuluo's son.

I might be mistaken here, but as far as I can tell no son of Yufuluo is ever mentioned in SGZ.

The simplest conclusion seems to be that Liu Bao might well be the name of Liu Yuan's father, but that this Bao was Yufuluo's son seems questionable.

Liu Yuan's portentous birth

The story is told in near identical detail in JS and TPYL. Judging by the number of such stories preserved in the zaiji section of the JS, the SLGCQ must have included a lot of supernatural and portentous stories. Sima Guang leaves them out of his ZZTJ, because he is a boring old Song era Confucian who hates fun. Prophetic dreams and other miraculous events surrounding the birth of the dynastic founder is in fact pretty much standard for the genre, and the lack of such stories for the Wei and Jin more an exception.

As the story is told, Liu Bao's wife, one Ms. Huyan, was praying for a son at Longmen when a large white fish jumped out to the amazement of the shamans (巫覡) present. On top of the large fish were two horns. I suppose the reader is the two horns to refer to Liu Cong and Liu Yao. My guess is that this detail has been added later after the fall of Former Zhao to a story originally intended to legitimize Liu Yuan's rule.

Later Ms. Huyan dreamed she saw the fish turned into a person. In his left hand he held the shining essence of the sun, and by swallowing she would give birth to an honoured child.

When she wakes up Liu Bao in the JS version offers his own prophecy: I formerly followed Zhang Jiong of Handan. His mother, Ms Situ assessed [me], etc. I did not really understand this sentence and my translation is just tentative. Maybe the TPYL editors did not either since they left it out. Zhang Jiong, I don't know who that its. Probably not relevant, but during the Warring States Handan was the capital of Zhao. Situ司徒 is a high official, the Minister Masses, but can I believe also be used as a family name (similarly to sima). Three generations: Liu Yuan, Liu Cong, Liu Yao.

Liu Yuan was then born after a miraculous 13 month pregnancy, in his left hand was written yuanhai 淵海 (according to TPYL). Because of that he received the name Yuan淵 (“vortex” or “abyssal sea”) and courtesy name Yuanhai元海(“Primordial Ocean”).

JS: In his left hand there was written his name. Thereupon they used it to name him. JS has to try getting the point across without actually writing the taboo 淵 character.

Liu Yuan's education

Finished with the portents, the texts then move on to establish Liu Yuan's credentials to rule in more mundane ways.

JS that Liu Yuan lost his mother at the age of seven sui, and mourned her deeply, it is all pretty generic. The Minister of Works, Wang Chang was impressed and offered condolences. Wang Chang also came from Bing province, from Jinyang in Taiyuan. His clan, Taiyuan Wang were among the absolute leading clans of the whole empire.

Liu Yuan studied the Classics under Cui You of Shangdang, among his schoolmates were Zhu Ji of Shangdang and Fan Long of Yanmen, all three northerners. Cui You and Fan Long have short biographies in JS091. Cui You had been a Wei official, but retired due to illness. He lived to decline appointment to Liu Yuan's government and died at the age of 93. Fan Long also became a scholarf and wrote on the Spring and Autumn and the Rites. He avoided government service during the chaotic reign of Emperor Hui, but when he and his friend Zhu Ji met an old man during a mountain hike, they joined Liu Yuan's government.

JS states that Liu Yuan studied and could recite Mr. Mao's Poetry, Jing Fang's Changes, Mr. Ma's Book of Documents, the Mr. Zuo's Traditions on the Spring and Autumn (Zuozhuan chunqiu), and Sun and Wu's Principles of War (Sun Wu bingfa 孫吳兵法). He had an overview of and could summarize Sima Xian's Historical Records, Ban Gu's Book of Han, and the various masters literature.

Mao Heng and Mao Chang's old text version of the Poetry became dominant during Eastern Han, to the point of displacing the others. The Mao Poetry is the only extant version today.

Jing Fang lived during the late Western Han. He was a specialist on the Changes which he interpreted mainly as a divination manual. Jing Fang influenced many later writers on divination, and his commentary on the Changes is still extant.

The Mr. Ma's Documents I assume refer to the commentary written by the Eastern Han scholar Ma Rong. Ma Rong was a proponent of the Old Text version of the Documents, and wrote his commentary based on the works of the earlier Eastern Han writers Jia Kui and Zheng Zhong.

The Zuo Traditions had originally been of secondary importance compared to the Gongyang and Guliang Traditions, but gained in prominence from Eastern Han onwards. During Western Jin, Du Yu wrote a very influential commentary, and created the modern arrangement where the Zuozhuan and Chunqiu are combined into one text.

The two classic military treatises of Master Sun and Master Wu were often paired together. Master Sun's Principles of War is probably the most famous Ancient Chinese text in the west today, but its supposed author, Sun Wu, who served King Helü of Wu (r. 514 – 496 BC) is rather an obscure figure. The Master Wu is attributed to the general Wu Qi (d. 381 BC) who served as a general and minister in the states of Lu, Wei and Chu during the Warring States era.

The Historical Records and the Book of Han basically founded the historiography of imperial China, there were no other histories (except the Chunqiu) of similar status.

Having thoroughly established that Liu Yuan was a civilized and literate man, educated in the Confucian, military, and historical classics, the next step is to legitimize Liu Yuan as a ruler in more physical terms.

It is told how Liu Yuan once, drawing on his knowledge of the histories, criticized two pairs of old Han officials. Sui He and Lu Jia who served Emperor Gao only had civil abilities. Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Jiang, and General Guan Ying who served Taizong, Emperor Wen of Han, only had military. Neither of the four were able to establish a lasting legacy.

Liu Yuan hence studied military affairs. He became strong and tall, good in archery and imposing in manners. His height is recorded at 8 chi, 4 cun (c. 200 cm), his beard was 3 chi long (c. 70 cm) and within the beard were three prominent hairs 3 chi 6 cun long (c. 85 cm). The zaiji in the JS records the height of quite a lot of people, more than all the rest of the JS combined. Liu Yuan's 8 chi, 4 cun makes him the fifth tallest man in the JS (jointly with two other people).

JS records that Cui Yizhi, from Tunliu in Shangdang, and Gongshi Yu, from Xiangling in Pingyang, assessed Liu Yuan as being an extraordinary person. Such assessments from physiognomist and judges of character are a pretty standard feature.

It is also said that Wang Hun of Taiyuan befriended him, and instructed his son, Wang Ji, to do obeisance to him. Wang Hun the famous Western Jin general and minister was in fact the son of Wang Chang, the Minister of Works which the JS records as sending his condolences to Liu Yuan's mother's funeral. Curiously the JS makes no mention of this connection, but it is hard to believe this is a coincidence. There seems to have some effort to connect Liu Yuan with the Taiyuan Wang.

Overall this and the previous section ticks off all the boxes to show that Liu Yuan was destined for greatness. He is born among miraculous portents, grows up tall and strong, and is recognized as an extraordinary person by judges of characters and famous people from the region. He is also filially pious and well educated, clearly, despite his Xiongnu ancestry, this is a civilized man and no barbarian. We can contrast this with Shi Le who, though he grew up in Shangdang, only took a Chinese name as an adult man, and was reportedly illiterate and had to have someone read the Hanshu to him.

Liu Yuan in Luoyang

The next major section deals with Liu Yuan's stay in Luoyang as a hostage, which is mainly told as through direct speech in a series of brief dialogues. Liu Yuan's friends and supporters generally praise his abilities and civilized behaviour, while his opponents warns that he remains a dangerous foreigner.

As usual, the longest account is found in the JS version. The second longest is the ZZTJ version. There are some differences between these two here that I am not sure is just further abbreviation in the ZZTJ. After being almost as detailed as the JS version up to this point, the TPYL version skips this part almost entirely, as if the editors realized their Liu Yuan article was getting far too long.

Liu Yuan came to Luoyang as a hostage son during the Xianxi era (264 -265) AD, the final years of Wei. He was welcomed by Sima Zhao, King Wen of Jin. At that time Liu Yuan was still a teenager, so I guess he grew the full length of his beard only later.

TPYL seems to say that Liu Yuan helped his friends, like Wang Mi from Donglai, to establish friendship with Wang Hun? More on Wang Mi later. In any case, personal connections certainly mattered a great deal for anyone seeking a career in government. JS, ZZTJ and TPYL all mention that Wang Hun recommended Liu Yuan to Emperor Wu. Sima Yan, Emperor Wu, formally replaced Wei as the first Emperor of Western Jin in February 266.

Thanks to Wang Hun, Liu Yuan gains a personal audience with the Emperor, and afterwards Emperor Wu is so impressed that afterwards, in a conversation with Wang Ji, he compares Liu Yuan favourably to Youyu and Jin Midi.

Youyu and Jin Midi were historical examples of foreigners who became civilized and served Chinese rulers. In the 7th Century BC, Yuyou was sent by his master, the King of the Rong, to the court of Duke Mu of Qin. Yuyou was impressed by Duke Mu, and Duke Mu managed to convince Youyu to change his loyalty to Qin. In 623 BC, Duke Mu defeated the Rong thanks to plans made by Youyu.

Jin Midi (134 – 86 BC) was a Xiongnu prince. As a result of intrigues and power struggles within the Xiongnu realm, he became a servant at the household of Emperor Wu of Han. There he so impressed Emperor Wu with his ability and personal quality that at the death of Emperor Wu in 87 BC, Jin Midi was named a junior regent of Emperor Zhao.

Wang Ji, Wang Hun's son, was a personal friend of Emperor Wu, and also his relative by marriage. He held the rank of Palace Attendant, as did Kong Xun and Yang Yao. In this capacity they were the Emperor's personal advisors and confidants, and could offer informal advise on various matters.

Wang Ji then praises Liu Yuan's civil and military abilities and suggests he could be employed in the south west where “Wu and Kuai are not sufficiently pacified” - I assume 會 is short for Kuaiji會稽 commandery. This of course refers to Sun Hao's state of Wu, the last obstacle to the reunification of the old empire.

Kong Xun and Yang Yao then step forward to protest in unison.The JS and the ZZTJ versions here seems to differ in substance and not just detail. In the JS version, Kong Xun and Yang Yao seems to argue that if they give Liu Yuan too few forces he will not accomplish anything, if they give him enough, Liu Yuan might just set himself up as the new lord of Wu. For he is of a different kin than them and not to be trusted.

In the shorter ZZTJ version, Kong Xun and Yang Yao just say that Liu Yuan is of a different kin etc. etc., and he is not capable enough for such a task anyway.

It is not entirely clear but especially JS version seems to imply that Wang Ji had proposed Liu Yuan for overall command in a war against Wu, but that just seem incredible, if nothing because Liu Yuan had no command experience at that point.

JS + TPYL: He is not of our type of kin, and his heart is surely different. This is a quote from the Zuo zhuan where it is part of an argument against Lu allying with semi-barbarous Chu against Jin.

The external setting of the next episode is the war against Tufa Shujineng. Shujineng was a leader among the western Xianbei who fought against the Jin for several years. The height of his successes seems to have come in spring 279 when JS003 says that “the miscreant leader Shujineng attacked and captured Liang province”. The Jin court dispatched Ma Long who by the end of the year had defeated and killed Shujineng.

JS and ZZTJ opens the story with Qin and Liang provinces “overturned and lost”, and Emperor Wu asking about suitable generals to send after Shujineng. Li Xi proposes Liu Yuan. If they give a General's title to Liu Yuan, says Li Xi, and send him with the Five Sections of the Xiongnu against Shujineng, the matter will soon be settled with Shujineng's head on display. It is again Kong Xun who comes out against Liu Yuan when he judges Li Xi's proposal less than perfect. When Li Xi protests that the Xiongnu are fierce and strong and Liu Yuan an able general, Kong Xun retorts that this is is precisely the problem. If they let loose the Xiongnu, then once Shujineng is defeated Liang province will be in even bigger trouble.

Li was a native of Tongdi in Shangdang, so we can add him to the list of Bingzhou people who recognized Liu Yuan's worth. I have posted a translation of his biography in JS041 earlier (http://bookofjin.tumblr.com/js041). Li Xi had earlier been Grand Tutor to the Heir-Apparent and then Supervisor of the Masters of Writing, before retiring in old age to the essentially honorary position of Brilliantly Blessed Grandee.

Li Xi's biography says that earlier when he was Supervisor, he had advised sending an army to Liang province, however the court decided the size of the border troubles did not the cost of sending an army there, and therefore did nothing. Later when Li Xi was proven right, the Imperial Court regretted not accepting his advise.

JS: When Jianlong obtained the rain cloud, he did not return to the pond. I am not familiar with the story Kong Xun refers to here, but Jianlong should be some kind of scaly dragon monster.

The first two stories about Liu Yuan in Luoyang are overall pretty similar. Someone from Bingzhou proposes to send Liu Yuan and the Xiongnu against the enemies of Jin. Kong Xun replies that the Xiongnu are too alien and dangerous, and the proposal is dropped. The third and last repeats many of the same arguments made in the previous two, but the setting is a bit different.

In this story, JS and ZZTJ differs the least, the ZZTJ versions is just more abbreviated. Liu Yuan was friends with Wang Mi from Donglai on the eastern coast. Wang Mi's grandfather and father had both been commandery wardens both Wang Mi is not recorded as holding any public office. We are not told why he had come to Luoyang. Maybe he had ambitions of career in the capital, as the TPYL seems to indicate he sought connections with Wang Hun.

Anyway, the story starts with Wang Mi about to go home east to Donglai and Liu Yuan comes to bid farewell. Liu Yuan complains that Wang Hun and Li Xi recognizes him, but every time they recommend him, slanderers claim he is a menace. Now that Wang Mi is leaving, death awaits him in Luoyang. As Liu Yuan attempts to drown his sorrows, his great wails are overheard by Sima You, the King of Qi. Sima You straight-away seeks out the Emperor to tell him that Liu Yuan must be eliminated or there is sure to be trouble in Bing later on. However Wang Hun, conveniently present, steps forward to say to kill a hostage on mere suspicions would hardly enhance the Jin government's outward image of trust and virtue. The Emperor agrees with Wang Hun.

During the breakup of Western Jin, Wang Mi first became a rebel and bandit lord, but later joined Liu Yuan and become one of his most important generals. Sima You (d. 283) was Emperor Wu's younger brother, and generally is portrayed very positively in the JS. He loses the argument here, but of course Liu Yuan did turn out to cause trouble in the end. From the beginning of Jin, Wang Hun held a succession of provincial and military posts, he was only recalled to the capital in 285, after Sima You had died. It is of course possible he happened to be visiting Luoyang when this incident took place.

As for the historicity of all of these stories, the answer I guess is maybe? I don't think we need to doubt that Liu Yuan spent several years in Luoyang as a hostage for his father's good behaviour. The rest is all quotations of direct speech, I don't think there is any way today to disprove these conversations took place. But I guess it all seems a bit too neat for me, and the foreshadowing a bit too heavy.

At some point after 279, but before the mid 280s when the Leaders of the Five Sections were made Chief Commandants, Liu Yuan's father Bao died, and Liu Yuan left Luoyang to replace him as Leader of the Left Section. But that will have to wait for a later post.

4 notes · View notes

bookofjin · 7 years ago

Text

Liu Yuan becomes Shanyu

This is Part 2 in a post series on the life and times of Liu Yuan, founder of Han-Zhao. Accompanying translations in next post.

Sources

See Part 1 for a more in-depth discussion of the sources used. I have also included snippets from a few relevant biographies from JS.

Liu Yuan as Leader and Chief Commandant of the Xiongnu

At some point after 279, Liu Yuan's father Bao died, and Liu Yuan left Luoyang to inherit his position as Leader of the Left Section. Later in the 280s when Leaders were changed to Chief Commandants, Liu Yuan became Chief Commandant of the Northern Section. I am not sure how much we should read into the change from the Left Section to the Right Section, but note that JS097 lists the Chief Commandant of the Left Section as managing 10 000 encampments and Chief Commandant of the Northern Section only 4 000.

Liu Yuan's time as Jin-approved/appointed Xiongnu leader is described in general laudatory terms. He improved the laws and punished misbehaviour, he was generous and charismatic. Not only Xiongnu nobles came to serve him, but also Chinese scholars from the neighbouring You and Ji provinces.

Emperor Wu of Jin died in 290, and his son, Sima Zhong, posthumously Emperor Hui, became Emperor of Jin. Emperor Hui suffered from some kind of mental disability that made him unable to rule. Real power was therefore in the hands of a regents. The failure of any of regents to decisively establish their own authority and legitimacy led to palace intrigues, coups and eventually civil war.

The first of these regents was Yang Jun, father of the Empress Dowager and Emperor Hui's maternal uncle. He appointed Liu Yuan General who Establishes Power and Great Chief Controller of the Five Sections, with the noble title of Marquis of Hanguang [“Han's Shining Light”] district. Great Chief Controller of the Five Sections would seem to imply some kind of overall authority over all the Xiongnu, but I am not sure if that was really the case. Yang Jun was trying to butter up his own regime, there would not necessarily have been any substance to the honours handed out.

In any case Yang Jun's regime was toppled already in 291, and for the rest of the decade real lay with Emperor Hui's Empress, Jia Nanfeng. This was the Yuankang era, 291 – 299. Nothing is told about Liu Yuan's relations with the Jin court during this time period until the “end of Yuankang” when he was dismissed from office for failing to control his followers, so much for his perfect government!

In JS004, the Annals of Emperor Hui, we can read that in 294 the Xiongnu Hao San (or “Haosan”) rebelled, and attacked Shangdang commandery where he killed the county magistrates. Hao San was killed later the same year by the Chief Commandant of Pingyi. However in summer 296 Hao San's younger brother Duyuan also rebelled. His followers included not only Xiongnu but also Qiang as well as other ethnicities. Duyuan defeated several commandery Wardens, and also the Inspector of Yong province. Duyuan's final fate is not recorded, in autumn that year the Di and Qiang peoples of Qin and Yong provinces under their leader Qi Wannian rose up against the Jin. Qi Wannian was finally defeated early in 299 after widespread destruction.

Though the Liu Yuan biographies are not specific on the troubles that led to his dismissal, it is easy to imagine that some of the warriors under his administration had gone to join Duyuan or Qi Wannian, or maybe just exploited the general chaos in the north-west to do some raiding and pillaging on their own.

After his dismissal, Liu Yuan went to serve Sima Ying, the King of Chengdu. Sima Ying was one of Emperor Hui's brothers and from spring 299 military commander at Ye. Sima Ying appointed Liu Yuan General who Soothes the Boreal, Overseer of the Army Affairs of the Five Sections. The second title again suggest overall military command of the Xiongnu, in this case I am certain Liu Yuan's command in practice would have been restricted to a portion of Sima Ying's troops at Ye. WS095 dates this appointment to the beginning of the Yongning era (300-301).

WS095, JS101: dismissed from office: That Liu Yuan could simply be dismissed from office suggest that he was treated more like an appointed official than a hereditary vassal ruler by the Jin court.

WS095, JS1010: petitioned: Formally Sima Ying does not have the authority to appoint Generals, he can only make recommendations to the court.

Early career of Liu Cong

At this point I would like to make a digression into the earlier careers of Liu Yuan's son Liu Cong and relative Liu Xuan.

Liu Cong was Liu Yuan's fourth son and future Emperor of Han. The story of his early life follows that of his father's quite closely, but is somewhat shorter. This may just be due to later abbreviations though. Liu Cong has his own Yearly Annals in JS102, as well as more abbreviated biographies in WS095 and TPYL119

It is said that Liu Yuan's wife, Ms. Zhang, once dreamt that the sun entered her chest. She woke up and told Liu Yuan about it. Liu Yuan claimed it as an auspicious omen, but cautioned her about speaking about it to others. 15 months later Liu Cong was born - his father had been born 13 months after his mother's a prophetic dream. That night there was an unnatural sunshine. Liu Cong's physical appearance was also unusual, a single glossy white hair grew from his left ear, 2 chi long.

Unsurprisingly, Liu Cong grew up to be an intelligent kid, and impressed his father's old school mate Zhu Ji. By the age of 14 sui he had finished his literary education, having thoroughly studied the classics and histories and also, more cursorily, the various philosophical schools. Like his fahter, he was particularly fond of Sun and Wu's Principles of War.

Unlike his father, Liu Cong is also credited with literary skills of his own. He is said to have been skilled at calligraphy, both the draft and clerical styles, and was the author of more than 100 chapters of poetry and 50 chapters of rhapsodies and hymns. At 15 sui he turned to military affairs. He was strong and good at shooting, reportedly able to bend a 300 jin [c. 66 kg] bow. He also earned the apparently obligatory praise from Wang Hun.

As a youth he travelled Luoyang and formed connections with the important people there. Unlike his father, there is no mention of Liu Cong being a hostage, maybe that practice had been abolished? Yue Guang and Zhang Hua are said to have been particularly impressed with him. Both were among leading scholar-officials of the day. Zhang Hua was Overseer of the Palace Writers and from 296 Minister of Works. Yue Guang eventually became Prefect of the Masters of Writing.

It is WS095 rather than JS102 which gives the most detailed account of Liu Cong's career as a Jin official. His first recorded appointed was as Master of Accounts for the Grand Warden of Xinxing commandery, Guo Yi. Master of Accounts was one of the highest posts in the regular commandery administration. He was then recommended as Good and Supportive which earned him an appointment in the capital as Detached Marshal of Valiant Cavalry, presumably some kind of military command.

Sima Jiong, the King of Qi, regent during the Yongning era, appointed Liu Cong Palace Commandant of State. At some point after that he left the capital to be Marshal of the Left Section, presumably as a subordinate of the Xiongnu Chief Commandant of the Left Section. This then seems to have been the first Xiongnu appointment that Liu Cong. In the Jin bureaucratic system the Marshal was usually a military commander's senior military staff officer, only behind the Senior Clerk, the civilian chief of staff, in rank.

From there Liu Cong moved to Chief Commandant of the Right Section, the same position as Liu Yuan had held earlier. Like his father, Liu Cong is described as a charismatic leader who gained the loyalty of the Xiongnu nobles and worthies. Like his father, Liu Cong also left his Xiongnu leadership position, the reason is not stated, to serve one of the Jin princes, Sima Yong, King of Hejian and military commander at Chang'an. WS095 titles Sima Yong as Grand Steward, a rank he held from May 304. Sima Yong appointed Liu Cong as Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the Chisha. Chisha赤沙 translates literally as “Red Sand”, but in JS097 is as a branch of the northern barbarians, so it seems this refers to a group of people rather than a place name.

Though Sima Yong and Sima Ying at Ye were still allies at this point, Liu Cong apparently feared that Sima Ying would suspect his father of divided loyalties and kill him if he stayed at Chang'an. So he abandoned Sima Yong and travelled to Ye were he entered Sima Ying's service as one of his vanguard commanders, as General who Amasses Crossbows of the Right.

Liu Xuan, the granduncle

Liu Xuan was one of Liu Yuan's early key supporters. He is described as Liu Yuan's granduncle. If we were to accept the sources' genealogy this would make him the brother of Yufuluo which is clearly absurd. Liu Yuan was about 50 years old when Liu Xuan enters the story, so that he was Liu Yuan's literal granduncle at all is also a bit of a stretch. But whatever their precise relations, Liu Xuan no doubt belonged to the Xiongnu aristocracy.

Liu Xuan has a short biography attached to JS101, mainly focusing on his life before joining up with Liu Yuan. This seems to have been a common pattern in sub-biographies from the SLGCQ. I believe the original SLGCQ was formatted as a year-by-year chronicle with biographies of important people inserted as short digressions, similar to still extant chronicle histories like the Houhanji and Jiankang Shilu. These biographies focus on the early lives because the rest are integrated into the main chronicle.

Liu Xuan's biography shares several common themes with Liu Yuan and Liu Cong's, but without the miraculous portents signalling the birth of an emperor. Liu Xuan is described as plain and blunt. He studied under one Sun Yan of Le'an. The Bibliography in Suishu 033 lists one Sun Yan, Overseer of the Private Library during Wei, as the author of commentaries on the Liji and the Erya. Perhaps this is the same person.

Liu Xuan was fond of the Mao Poetry and the Zuo zhuan, Sun Yan compared him favourably to Jin Midi. Having finished his studied, Liu Xuan returned home where he lived a private life for some time. He often read the Book of Han, and is said that a man of great talent would have been able to serve as the equal of Xiao He or Deng Yu. Xiao He was Chancellor for Gaozu of Han, and an important contributor to the founding of Western Han. Deng Yu was one Guangwu's highest ministers and similarly played a big role at the beginning of Eastern Han. Liu Xuan apparently thought himself a potential equal to these two. As a native of the Eastern Han period, Deng Yu does not have a biography in the transmitted text of Ban Gu's Hanshu. In Liu Xuan's times there existed several histories of Eastern Han. The extant Houhanshu, by Fan Ye, was however only written later, during the early 5th century.

Liu Xuan's life in retirement ended when his talents were recognized by the Inspector of Bing province, Wang Guang, and summoned to an audience with Emperor Wu of Jin. Afterwards Emperor Wu commented that Wang Guang's recommendation had not just been empty words and judged Liu Xuan more than able to govern his own native people.

Liu Xuan's biography in JS101 says that following the imperial audience, Liu Xuan was appointed Chief Controller (dudu都督) of the Right Section. But elsewhere it is stated that in the Jin system, each of the Xiongnu Five Sections was initially governed by a Leader (shuai 帥), changed during the 280s to a Chief Commandant (duwei都尉).

In WS095 Liu Xuan is called Chief Controller of the Northern Section.

In the main text of JS101, Liu Xuan is introduced as the old Chief Commandant of the Northern Section and Worthy King of the Left. The latter seems to be a simple mistake as Liu Xuan later in the same text is referred to as Worthy King of the Right.

In TPYL's article on Liu Yuan, Liu Xuan is Chief Commandant of the Northern Section and Worthy of the Right.

In ZZTJ Liu Xuan is Worthy King of the Right.

The change from the Right Section to Northern Section is not a problem. Liu Yuan was moved from Leader of the Left Section to Chief Commandant of the Northern Section, so it seems the Jin court was able to move the Xiongnu leadership around as regular officials.

I am not sure how much thought to put into Chief Controller vs. Chief Commandant. The simplest explanation is that Chief Controller is a mistake, and the text should read Chief Commandant. The mistake could originally have been made in the SLGCQ or one of its sources, and then continued by WS095 and JS101. The other possibility is that Chief Controller was a separate office from the Chief Commandant. It is not like we have an exhaustive treatise on the Xiongnu administration.

In JS101, Liu Xuan is called the old Chief Commandant of the Northern Section. As Liu Yuan's granduncle, he presumably was an older man (Liu Yuan was in his early 50s) so it would make some sense if he had retired from office holding. But when was he Chief Commandant? The Leaders of the five Sections were changed to Chief Commandants in the middle of Taikang (280 – 289), Liu Yuan became Chief Commandant of the Northern Section at the end of Taikang. In 290 or 291 Yang Jun appointed Liu Yuan General who Establishes Power and Great Chief Controller of the Five Sections. Did he then stopped being Chief Commandant, or where these just honorary titles held concurrently? Liu Yuan was in any case dismissed from office, whatever it was, at the end of Yuankang (291 – 291). According to JS102, Liu Cong also at some point was Chief Commandant of the Northern Section. If there really was a separate Chief Controller the picture would be less crowded, and there would be some precedence for a Great Chief Controller.

Worthy King of the Right was a traditional Xiongnu title, and among the Xiongnu kings second only to the Worthy King of the Left, a title held by Liu Yuan, which was reserved for the Shanyu's designated heir. Unless these titles have been retroactively added by the historians, it seems the old Xiongnu hierarchy of noble titles continued to exist in parallel with the Jin official appointments.

Liu Xuan's conspiracy

Sima Ying played a critical role in what we can call the middle phase of the Jin civil wars, where he and Sima Yong from their bases at Ye and Chang'an repeatedly joined forces to remove whoever held power at Luoyang.

Sima Lun, King of Zhao, deposed Empress Jia in May 300, and in February 301 had Emperor Hui's abdicate the throne in favour of himself. Two months later Sima Jiong, King of Qi, rose against Sima Lun from his base at Xuchang in alliance with Sima Ying and Sima Yong. After a short civil war Emperor Hui was restored to the throne on 1 June, and Sima Lun was executed.

After that, Sima Jiong moved to Luoyang and took control of the central government. However in January 303, Sima Yong and Sima Ying declared against him. Sima Ai, King of Changsha, turned on Sima Jiong from within Luoyang and killed him.

Sima Ai became the next regent, however in September 303 Sima Ying and Sima Yong once more joined forces against the capital. The resulting civil war lasted until January 304 when Sima Ai was taken captive in a coup led by Sima Yue, King of Donghai, and executed.

All these internal squabbles eroded the ruling family's legitimacy and the empire's stability. It was in this environment, we are told, that Liu Xuan formed a conspiracy with other prominent Xiongnu to restore Xiongnu independence.

In a speech attributed to Liu Xuan, he laments that formerly the Han Emperor and the Shanyu had formed a covenant as equals, but since then the Shanyu had been reduced to no more than a man from a common registered household, without a foot of land to rule as his own. However now the Sima clan are destroying each other, and the world is in turmoil. Moreover the Worthy King of the Left, Liu Yuan is a man of great ability, Heaven would not have brought forth such a man if not to seize such a moment and restore the Xiongnu to their lands.

Liu Xuan and the others decided they would make Liu Yuan their new Great Shanyu. The problem of course was that he was at Ye serving Sima Ying. So one of the conspirators, Huyan You, went to Ye to tell Liu Yuan about their scheme. Liu Yuan asked for leave to go home and attend a funeral, but Sima Ying refused to grant it, so Liu Yuan had to stay at Ye. He therefore ordered Huyan You to go home and tell Liu Xuan to assemble the Five Sections and pretend to obey Sima Ying.

This is just the sort of story that I find difficult to believe actually took place. It just seems too convenient in foreshadowing what happened after, and could only have been recorded after Liu Yuan had openly broken with Sima Ying.

Huyan: According to JS097, the Huyan clan were next in prominence and close advisors to the ruling Xiongnu clan. Liu Yuan's mother also came from this clan.

JS101: Pull in and meet with the various Hu of Yiyang: There was a Yiyang宜陽 county just west of Luoyang, but I am not sure if this really is the place referred to here.

The Battle of Dangyin

After the fall of Sima Ai, Sima Ying briefly came to Luoyang and was appointed Imperial Chancellor. He soon returned to his own power-base at Ye, he however left behind an army to garrison Luoyang. All important decision were sent to him at Ye for consultations. On 1 May 304 a decree announced Sima Ying's elevation to “Brother-Heir” (as he was the younger brother rather than the son of the Emperor). Liu Yuan in turn became Colonel of Garrison Cavalry to the Brother-Heir.

On 17 August there was a coup within Luoyang. Sima Yue took control of the Emperor, and expelled Sima Ying's troops from the city. On 20 August Sima Yue, with Emperor Hui in tow, marched north from Luoyang with his army to attack Sima Ying. In response, Sima Ying sent an army under his general Shi Chao to confront Sima Yue. Liu Yuan was appointed General who Assists the State and Controller of the Defence Affairs of the Northern City (or “Northern Walls”.

On 9 September Shi Chao defeated Sima Yue in battle at Dangyin. Sima Yue fled, his army scattered. Emperor Hui was spoils of war, Shi Chao brought him back with him to Ye. Sima Ying had prevailed, for now. Liu Yuan, though he had not taken active part in the fighting, was rewarded with appointment as General of the Best of the Army, and ennobled as Earl of Lunu (a county in Zhongshan commandery).

As far as we can tell then, Liu Yuan had served Sima Ying faithfully up to this point, and had been rewarded in step with his master's rise. Just just how highly placed Liu Yuan was among Sima Ying's followers is difficult to say. His name does not occur in Sima Ying's biography in JS059. I think we can assume he was at least a tier below Sima Ying's first ranked supporters.

Liu Yuan becomes Shanyu

Unfortunately for Sima Ying, the rest of the empire did not fall into line just because he had defeated Sima Yue and controlled the Emperor. To the north the General who Calms the North, Wang Jun, had up to this point stayed entirely outside the struggles among the Jin princes, and had instead been building up his own personal alliances with the Xianbei and Wuhuan leadership. According to JS039, Sima Ying sent his new Inspector of You province, He Yan, north with secret instructions to kill Wang Jun and take over his army. But this plan failed completely, it was Wang Jun who killed He Yan and appointed himself Inspector.

To the north-east the Inspector of Bing province, Sima Teng, Duke of Dongying, was Sima Yue's younger brother. Sima Teng and Wang Jun now became natural allies, and together they defeated Sima Ying's general Wang Bin. Wang Jun appointed his Master of Accounts, Qi Hong, as commander of his vanguard, which included a large amount of Xianbei and Wuhuan cavalry. Qi Hong defeated Sima Ying's generals sent after him one after the other.

At this point, with the situation increasingly dire, the Liu Yuan biographies narrates a dialogue between Liu Yuan and Sima Ying. It begins with Liu Yuan advising Sima Ying that he cannot resists the enemy's 100 000 men with the forces available at Ye, he instead requests to go home and raise the Xiongnu Five Sections in support of Sima Ying.

In his reply, Sima Ying doubts if Liu Yuan can really bring the Xiongnu to his side, and, if he does, if they really are capable of defeating the Xianbei and Wuhuan, who are swift and strong. Instead, Sima Ying suggests, they should bring the Emperor with them back to Luoyang to avoid the immediate danger, and then call the whole empire to arms.

Liu Yuan responds that Sima Ying is the son of Emperor Wu and revered through the world, while Wang Jun and Sima Teng are mere upstarts and distant relatives, there will not be any difficulties convincing the Xiongnu to follow him. (Sima Teng was grandson of one of Sima Yi's younger brothers.) But if Sima Ying shows weakness by fleeing Ye, he might not even reach Luoyang. And even if he does, how will his authority be restored? A call to arms is just a piece of paper! However, the Xianbei are no match for the Five Sections of the Xiongnu. If Sima Ying would stay and rally the troops, he, Liu Yuan, will use two of the Five Sections to destroy Sima Teng, and the other three to kill Wang Jun.

Sima Ying was pleased with this advise, he appointed Liu Yuan Northern Shanyu Assisting the Army Affairs of the Imperial Chancellor and sent him off. Liu Yuan arrived at Zuoguocheng, according to JS101 the same place as Meiji were Southern Shanyu had held court. There Liu Xuan and the other Xiongnu leaders hailed Liu Yuan as Great Shanyu. JS004 dates Liu Yuan's ascension to Great Shanyu to between 18 September and 1 October 304.

Liu Yuan set his headquarters at Lishi, within twenty days, we are told, his forces had grown to 50 000 men.

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