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#Yu Jianwu
robertogreco · 1 year
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By burning incense [we] know the o’clock of the night, With graduated candle [we] confirm the tally of the watch.
Those are the words of sixth century poet Yu Jianwu referencing incense clocks.
The incense clock takes the basic concept—timing by combustion—and elevates it to a new level of gorgeous complexity. Examining the example held by the Science Museum, I was struck by its diminutive size: no larger than a coffee mug. Yet its small compartments are carefully packed with everything it needs to operate. In the bottom tray, you’ll find a bite-sized shovel and damper; above that, a pan of wood ashes for laying out the incense trail; then, stacked on top, an array of stencils for laying out the labyrinths. As Silvio Bedini, historian of scientific instruments, explains in his extensive study of the use of fire and incense for time measurement in China and Japan, the variety allows for seasonal variation: longer paths to be burned through the endless winter nights, while shorter ones serve for summer
[...]
To set the clock, start by smoothing the ashes with the damper until they are perfectly flat. Select your stencil, then use the sharp edge of the shovel to carve out a groove, following the pattern, and fill it with incense. Finally, cap it with the lacy lid to vent the smoke and control the flow of oxygen.
To track smaller intervals of time, place small markers at regular points along the path. Some versions had little chimneys dispersed across the lid, allowing the hour to be read based on which hole the smoke was venting through. And some users may have used different kinds of incense at different parts of the path, or inserted scented chips along the way, so that they could tell the time with just a sniff.
If you are interested in reading more about incense clocks, there is much more in the article the above passages come from including pointers to longer documents about them too.
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thejaymo · 2 years
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Keeping Time with Incense Clocks
As chronicled by Chinese poet Yu Jianwu, the use of fire and smoke for time measurement dates back to at least the sixth century CE.
The incense clock takes the form of a maze of incense, with a tiny ember slowly burning through it. Early in the Qing dynasty (1644–1911), incense clocks burned all night in Beijing’s tall drum tower, measuring out the time until the beating of the huge drum announced the end of the night watch.
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The incense clock takes the basic concept—timing by combustion—and elevates it to a new level of gorgeous complexity. Examining the example held by the Science Museum, I was struck by its diminutive size: no larger than a coffee mug. Yet its small compartments are carefully packed with everything it needs to operate. 
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writernotwaiting · 2 years
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Fire makes it better.
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gwydionmisha · 2 years
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kammartinez · 2 months
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kamreadsandrecs · 3 months
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fuyonggu · 6 years
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Book of Jin 109: Biography of Murong Huang
You should really read these entries as embedded in the relevent Zizhi Tongjian entries for the best context. This post is more to have everything included in one place. I didn’t include the Chinese text this time because of the length, especially for some of the petitions.
Murong Huang, styled Yuanzhen, was the third son of Murong Hui. He had a regal countenance with broad and even teeth, and he was seven chi eight cun tall. He was bold and resolute, as well as very crafty and cunning. He esteemed learning and the Classics, and he was skilled at reading the heavens. When Murong Hui became Duke of Liaodong, he selected Murong Huang as his heir.
At the beginning of the Jianwu reign era (~317), the Jin court appointed Murong Huang as Champion General, Worthy Prince of the Left, and Marquis of Wangping. He often led troops on campaign, and was invariably successful. At the end of the Taining reign era (~325), Murong Huang was further promoted to General Who Pacifies The North and Duke of Chaoxian.
When Murong Hui died (in 333), Murong Huang inherited his position. The Jin court appointed him as General Who Pacifies The North and provisional Inspector of Pingzhou, and he was granted authority over the domain.
Not long afterwards, Yuwen Qidegui was driven out of his domain by his subordinate Yuwen Yidougui, and he fled and died away from his land. Murong Huang led troops to attack Yuwen Yidougui. Yuwen Yidougui feared him and asked for peace, and so Murong Huang merely constructed the cities of Yuyin and Anjin on the border of their territory before returning.
Earlier, the General Who Establishes Might, Murong Huang's elder brother by his father's concubine, Murong Han, had proved himself to be a heroic and talented general, and so Murong Huang had long been jealous of him. His younger brothers by his own mother, the General Who Conquers The Caitiffs, Murong Ren, and the General of Broad Valor, Murong Zhao, had also greatly received his father's favor, and Murong Huang was also uneasy about them. Following Murong Hui's death, these brothers were all afraid that Murong Huang would not be able to put up with them. At this time, Murong Han fled to seek refuge with Duan Liao.
Murong Ren urged Murong Zhao to raise troops and depose Murong Huang. Murong Huang killed Murong Zhao, and sent envoys to discover the truth about Murong Ren's intentions. The envoys encountered Murong Ren as he was attempting to cross a river. Murong Ren then knew that his plot had been discovered, so he killed his brother's envoys and returned east to his base at Pingguo. Murong Huang sent the General Who Establishes Valor, his younger brother Murong You, his Marshal, Tong Shou, and others to campaign against Murong Ren. Murong Ren led all his forces to oppose them; Murong You and the others were defeated, and they were all lost to Murong Ren. The Prefect of Xiangping, Wang Bing, and the general Sun Ji rebelled against Murong Huang in Liaodong, while the Colonel of Eastern Yi Tribes, Feng Chou, the Army Protector, Yi Yi, the Chancellor of Liaodong, Han Jiao, the Administrator of Xuantu, Gao Xu, and others all abandoned their cities and fled back to Murong Huang’s base. Murong Ren thus controlled all territory beyond the Liao river. He proclaimed himself General of Chariots and Cavalry, Inspector of Pingzhou, and Duke of Liaodong. The Yuwen clan, Duan Liao, and other Xianbei clans all sought to aid him.
In the ninth year of Xianhe (334 AD), Murong Huang sent his Marshal, Feng Yi, to attack the Xianbei leader Mudi at Bailang, and sent his General Who Displays Might, Shu Yu, to attack the Wuhuan leader Xiluohou at Pinggang; both of these foes were killed.
Murong Huang's 材官, Liu Pei, attacked Duan Liao’s territory at Yilian, but he could not take it. Duan Liao thus attacked Tuhe, but Murong Huang sent Zhang Meng to attack him, and he defeated Duan Liao.
Duan Liao's younger brother Duan Lan and Murong Han attacked Liucheng. Murong Huang's Commandant, Shi Cong, attacked and defeated them. More than ten days later, Duan Lan and Murong Han again besieged Liucheng. Murong Huang sent his General Who Calms Distant Places, his younger brother Murong Hann, Feng Yi, and others as reinforcements. Murong Huang warned his brother, "The enemy army’s morale is high, and it will be difficult to engage their vanguard. You should be careful to keep your forces intact; do not lightly rush into battle. You must keep your soldiers together while you prepare your defensive arrangements, and only afterwards attack the enemy." But Murong Hann had a headstrong temperament, and he sent more than a thousand cavalry on ahead as the vanguard. Although Feng Yi ordered a halt, Murong Hann would not listen. They were defeated by Duan Lan, and more than half of his men were killed. Duan Lan then attacked Liucheng again, employing flying ladders and tunnels. He besieged the city for twenty days. Shi Cong then personally led his soldiers to march out and attack him, and he defeated Duan Lan, taking fifteen hundred heads. Duan Lan then retreated.
During this year (334), Emperor Cheng sent his envoys, Xu Meng, Lü Qiuxing, and others bearing staffs of authority to appoint Murong Huang as Grand General Who Guards The Army, Inspector of Pingzhou, Grand Chanyu, Duke of Liaodong, Credential Bearer, and Commander. He was granted the authority to wield authority over his domain and confer his own appointments on subordinates, just as Murong Hui had done before him.
Murong Huang campaigned in Liaodong, and he captured Xiangping. Murong Ren’s appointee as Prefect of Jujiu, Liu Cheng, surrendered that city to Murong Huang. A native of Xinchang, Zhang Heng, arrested the Xinchang county officials and also surrendered. The other officials appointed by Murong Ren were all executed, and the major families of Liaodong were divided up and relocated to the capital Jicheng. Murong Huang established the counties of Heyang, Wuci, and Xile before returning.
In the seventh year (335), the seventh month, Murong Huang made his son Murong Jun his heir.
At the beginning of the Xiankang reign era (~335), Murong Huang sent Feng Yi to surprise attack the Yuwen leader Yuwen Sheyi; Feng Yi captured many of the enemy before returning. Yuwen Sheyi led light cavalry to pursue Feng Yi and fought him at the Hun River, but was again defeated.
Murong Huang planned to campaign against Murong Ren using the water route (that is, across the Sea of Bohai). His ministers all remonstrated with him, believing that the water route was too perilous, and that he should take the land route instead. But Murong Huang said, "Up until now, the sea could never be traversed, but ever since Murong Ren's rebellion, it has frozen over three times. In former times, Emperor Guangwu of Han was able to achieve the grand design by crossing the frozen Hutuo River. When Heaven may be offering me such an opportunity, how can I refuse it? Thus have I decided, and let anyone who argues otherwise part with his head!"
(When Emperor Guangwu of Han was fleeing from his enemies, he once sent a subordinate ahead to the Hutuo River to see if it was frozen enough to cross over. Upon inspection, it was not frozen enough to support the army. But when the official returned, he lied and told Liu Xiu that it was. Miraculously, when Liu Xiu’s army reached the river, it had indeed frozen enough for his army to cross. It broke apart as the last of the cavalry crossed it, so his enemies could not pursue him.)
Murong Huang led the three armies from Changli out to march across the ice. Murong Ren had not been concerned about Murong Huang coming at him from such a direction, and so his scouts did not report the enemy’s arrival to him until Murong Huang was already within seven li of Pingguo. Murong Ren then rushed out to offer battle, but Murong Huang captured him. He killed Murong Ren and then returned.
Duan Liao sent his general Li Yong to surprise attack Wuxing at night. However, Li Yong encountered rain, and when he tried to retreat, Murong Huang's Commandant, Zhang Meng, pursued and attacked him, capturing him.
Duan Lan led tens of thousands of soldiers to camp at Qushuiting, preparing to attack Liucheng, while Yuwen Yidougui marched to attack Anjin, to support Duan Lan’s invasion. Murong Huang sent fifty thousand horse and foot to attack Yuwen Yidougui while leading another army to Liucheng, and Duan Lan and Yuwen Yidougui both retreated. Murong Huang sent Feng Yi with light cavalry to pursue, and Feng Yi attacked and defeated them, taking much of their equipment and twenty days’ worth of grain before returning. Murong Huang said to his generals, "These two villains must be ashamed that they retreated without any success, so they will certainly return to try again. We should lay an ambush in wait near Liucheng." He sent Feng Yi with cavalry to prepare ambushes on the roads through Mount Ma'er. When Duan Lan’s cavalry indeed arrived, Feng Yi attacked them from both sides, greatly defeating them, and killing the general Rong Bao.
Murong Huang sent his combined Chief Clerk, Liu Bin, and his Prefect of the Household Gentlemen, Yang Jing, to escort Xu Meng and the other Jin envoys back to Jiankang.
Murong Huang sent his heir Murong Jun to campaign against Duan Liao's cities, while Feng Yi attacked the Yuwen tribes; both achieved great victories and returned.
Murong Huang established the Woodblock of Accepting Remonstrations, as a means to receive candid criticism.
After shifting Changli commandary, Murong Huang built Haocheng east of Duan Liao’s territory at Yilian, and sent his general Lan Bo to guard it, in order to keep pressure on Yilian. He also built a fortress at Qushui, in order to support Lan Bo. When Yilian suffered from great famine, Duan Liao sent grain transports, but Lan Bo attacked and captured them.
Duan Liao sent his general Qu Yun to attack Xingguo, and Qu Yun fought a great battle against Murong Huang's general Murong Zun at the Wuguan River. But Qu Yun was defeated and killed, and Murong Zun captured his entire army.
Feng Yi and others argued that since Murong Huang performed such important duties on behalf of the realm but held so meager a title, he ought to assume greater title, and they urged him to proclaim himself Prince of Yan. Therefore, in the third year of Xiankang (337), Murong Huang assumed the title Prince of Yan, and proclaimed a general amnesty within his domain. He appointed Feng Yi as Chancellor of State and Han Shou as Marshal. Pei Kai, Yang Wu, Wang Yu, Li Hong, Du Qun, Song Gai, Liu Zhan, Shi Cong, Huangfu Zhen, Yang Xie, Song Huang, Ping Xi, Zhang Hong, and others were all granted their own various appointments. Murong Huang raised Wenchang Palace, and he rode in the Root of Gold chariot pulled by six horses, with orders shouted to make way whenever it was coming or going, just as had been done by Emperor Wu of Wei and Emperor Wen of Jin (Cao Cao and Sima Zhao) when they had overseen Han and Wei. He honored his wife Lady Duan as Princess, and his son Murong Jun as Crown Prince.
From de Crespigny's notes in To Establish Peace:
The Root of Gold chariot (jingen che) with six horses to pull it, together with the escort of chariots of the five seasons (wushi che: being five pairs of carriages, each painted and decorated in a colour, green/azure, red, yellow, white and black, to match the seasons of spring, summer, mid-year, autumn and winter according to the theories of the Five Powers wu xing), were likewise imperial prerogatives. See HHS 119/29, 3644, the Treatise of Carriages and Robes.
The Root of Gold is discussed by Mansvelt Beck, Treatises, 244-248. As he remarks at 247, there are only two occasions during Later Han that this "somewhat elusive" chariot is recorded as actually being used: for the capping ceremony of Emperor He in 91, and for Cao Cao at this time. ZZTJ commentary here quotes from a Treatise of Carriages and Robes compiled by Dong Ba, a scholar of that time who may, as Mansvelt Beck suggests, have been involved with the design, and the treatise of Sima Biao follows his description.
According to Dong Ba, the Root of Gold carriage had vermilion wheels, side-bars and hand-bar decorated with dragons and tigers, and a golden crow adorning the yoke. The canopy was covered with feathers, and the ribs ended in flowers. Above the carriage was a great banner of twelve streamers painted with images of the sun, the moon and flying dragons.
As Mansvelt Beck points out, the iconography, design and status of the carriage varied from one period to another: Cai Yong, writing a few years earlier, gives it golden wheels, different animals on the side-bars and no banners, another account refers to tinkling bells, reminiscent of the Phoenix Carriage (note 57 to Chuping 1), and JS 25, 754 and 759, where the Root of Gold and its ten associate chariots of five colours are described, says that the Root of Gold had again no banners.
Because of Duan Liao's constant threat on his border, Murong Huang sent his general Song Hui to Shi Hu to claim vassalage to Zhao, and to ask him to launch a campaign against Duan Liao. So Shi Hu gathered soldiers and advanced. Murong Huang led his forces to attack Duan Liao's cities north of Lingzhi. Duan Liao sent his general Duan Lan to come oppose Murong Huang, and they fought a great battle; Duan Lan was defeated, and thousands of his soldiers were killed. Murong Huang's forces captured more than five thousand households and returned to their territory. When Shi Hu arrived at Xuwu, Duan Liao fled to Mount Miyun.
Emperor Cheng again sent envoys to promote Murong Huang to Grand General Who Conquers The North, Governor of Youzhou, acting Inspector of Pingzhou, and Cavalier In Regular Attendance. His fief was increased to ten thousand households. He maintained his prior authority as Credential Bearer, Commander, Chanyu, and Duke.
After Shi Hu advanced and entered Lingzhi, he was angry that Murong Huang had not led his own army to meet him there. Shi Hu advanced to attack Murong Huang as well. When Shi Hu's army reached Jicheng, it had hundreds of thousands of soldiers, and it attacked the city on all sides. Thirty-six cities among the counties, commandaries, and garrisons betrayed Murong Huang and surrendered to Shi Hu. A stalemate lasted for more than ten days outside the city, and all those with Murong Huang urged him to surrender as well. But Murong Huang replied, "I aim to obtain the whole realm; why speak of surrendering?" Murong Huang sent his son Murong Ke and others to lead two thousand riders, and they marched out at dawn to attack. Shi Hu's soldiers were caught unawares, and they cast aside their armor and fled. Murong Ke then led his victorious riders in pursuit, and they killed or captured more than thirty thousand soldiers, and established several defensive works and camps before returning.
Duan Liao then sent a messenger falsely offering to surrender to Shi Hu, and asking him to send troops for aid. Shi Hu sent his general Ma Qiu with an army to receive Duan Liao. Murong Ke was waiting in ambush at Mount Miyun with seven thousand cavalry, and he greatly defeated Ma Qiu, capturing his Marshal, Yang Yu, and his general Xianyu Liang. Murong Ke combined his forces with Duan Liao's soldiers and returned.
Emperor Cheng again sent envoys to promote Murong Huang to Grand General Who Conquers The North, Governor of Youzhou, acting Inspector of Pingzhou, and Cavalier In Regular Attendance. His fief was increased to ten thousand households. He maintained his prior authority as Credential Bearer, Commander, Chanyu, and Duke.
Murong Huang's Directing General of the Front, Murong Ping, defeated Shi Hu's general Shi Cheng and others at Liaoxi; he killed the generals Huyan Huang and Zhang Zhi, and captured more than a thousand households before returning.
Duan Liao plotted rebellion, so Murong Huang executed him.
Shi Hu again sent Shi Cheng to attack Fancheng, but without success, so he advanced and took Guangcheng.
In the sixth year of Xiankang (340), in the second month, Murong Huang fought Shi Hu's general Shi Cheng at Liaoxi and defeated him. He sent word of his triumph to the capital.
Earlier, when Duan Liao had been defeated, his General Who Establishes Might, Murong Han, had fled to Yuwen Gui. However, because his military reputation was so widespread, he was still not safe there. So he pretended to be mad and drank to excess, let down his hair and chanted songs. Yuwen Gui believed in his acting and did not restrict his movements, and so he was able to travel about as he pleased. When he came to mountains or rivers, he would note their forms and think about the roads and strategic places that would be involved during any attack there; there was nothing that he failed to memorize. Murong Huang sent the merchant Wang Che to secretly observe Murong Han. When Murong Han saw Wang Che, he said nothing, only beat his breast. Wang Che came back and reported on this. Murong Huang mused, "Murong Han wishes to return." So he sent Wang Che to give Murong Han a bow and arrows. Murong Han then stole Yuwen Gui's prized horse, and returned along with his two sons.
Murong Huang planned to attack the Shi clan. He gathered his generals and told them, "Shi Hu has is concentrating his defenses at Anle and the other cities, so he must not have prepared any defenses north and south of them. So if we advance along side roads and appear where they will not expect us, we can completely rout northern Jizhou." So he led twenty thousand cavalry from Yeweng Pass, and charged straight for Ji. They crossed the Yellow River at Wusui Crossing, and entered into Gaoyang, where they burned all the gathered grain, and they forcibly relocated more than thirty thousand households from Youzhou and Jizhou.
Murong Huang sent Yang Yu, Tang Zhu, and others to build the city of Longcheng, and to construct a palace and an ancestral temple there, and he changed Liucheng into Longcheng County.
Although Murong Huang had proclaimed himself Prince of Yan, he still bowed to Jin authority, so he sent his Chief Clerk, Liu Xiang, to visit the Jin capital and proclaim an account of his triumphs, explain his intentions in taking the provisional titles, and advocate for a grand joint campaign to pacify the Central Plains. When Murong Huang heard that Yu Liang had died, and that his younger brothers Yu Bing and Yu Yi had inherited his authority and command, he composed a petition to the court stating:
"Based on my studies of the wise and the deluded sovereigns of past ages, those that were able to associate themselves with worthy people and establish them were the ones who achieved so much that they brought peace to their states, while those who surrounded themselves with mere partisans and the relatives of their empresses were the ones who always inflicted the disasters of ruin and shame upon their states. It was for that reason that, even though the King of Zhou considered the Earl of Shen to be his "worthy uncle", the Earl himself held a border command and did not wield control over court affairs.
"We might ponder several perilous examples to the contrary. If we consider King Zhaoxiang of Qin, although he was a worthy ruler himself, he entrusted affairs to his two uncles, and that brought his state to the brink of ruin. Coming to Emperor Wu of Han, he assigned great importance to his uncle Tian Fen, so that there was no important decision which Tian Fen did not have a hand in. But after Tian Fen's death, Emperor Wu gnashed his teeth in hatred at his memory. When Emperor Cheng of Han was still young and tender and unable to rule himself, court affairs were all led astray by his captivating wives, while the country was left in the unrestrained hands of his five uncles, and in the end these things led to Wang Mang usurping the imperial seat of power. Who does not feel bitter pain and anguish whenever they reflect upon these unhappy reigns?
"Even if a sovereign places affairs in the hands of one of their uncles who is indeed a worthy fellow, such as Marquis Rang (Wei Ran) or Wang Feng were, it still leads to an unacceptable situation; I have heard of there being two ministers, but never of there being two sovereigns. And if these uncles do not even possess talent, then it leads to the disasters of Dou Xian's and Liang Ji's grips on power. The good or bad outcomes of these situations was only natural. So whoever is able to remain on the right path can avoid such downfalls.
"Now Your Majesty is a renowned and naturally gifted sovereign, so your reign ought to have resulted in the uplifting of Jin's fortunes. But instead, the state has experienced many difficulties, besieged by adversity for which it was ill-prepared, and all these things have led to the current pain and suffering. If we retrace the causes for these events, we find that they were all because of the great honor shown to the late Minister Over The Masses, Yu Liang. When Yu Liang held the reins of power, he interfered in the government and purged his inferiors in the court, while he slighted and injured the generals on the border. This caused Su Jun and Zu Yue to let their resentments boil over, and they inflicted a terrible defeat against the state. That also led to Empress Dowager Yu becoming so agitated that she passed away in an instant. If it had not been for the protection of the state's altars and the assistance of the people and the spirits, then those rebels of wolfish hearts would have claimed the final victory!
"Past events must not be forgotten; they serve as examples to we the living. Yet even now, the Chief of the Palace Secretariat and General of the Left, Yu Bing, and his brothers still occupy the central offices of the court and hold the highest commands on the borders. These brothers are all arrayed such that there is no man or minister they do not influence. Your Majesty is deeply earnest, like the Weiyang poem, and Yu Bing and the others should be willingly heeding your wishes. I have often said that if a sovereign wishes to honor and exalt the family of his uncles, he would do best to grant them fiefs on the borders, and shower them with salaries and rewards while limiting their power and influence. By doing so, he shows them unparalleled honor above, while preventing any suggestion of partiality below. In such situations, will not they produce honor or disgrace on their own, and will good things not be said about them without needing to speak on their behalf?
"Consider that Yu Liang, only a single person, was yet able to bring about such terrible incidents despite the fame and reputation that he held. How much more is this the case now, when those who hold the same position are a bunch of no-names? Besides, the feelings of the people are easily led astray, and it is difficult to make your true intentions known to every household. Although Your Majesty might not mean to be partial to your uncles, who in all the realm will not accuse you of it?
"I myself enjoy nearly the same reputation and position that Yu Bing and his brothers do. Yet I serve in a distant outpost, and my own relatives in my fief enjoy favor or not purely as is suitable, in accordance with the circumstances of the times. Those who would still argue against and craft lies about my words may claim to be acting on behalf of Your Majesty, but really they are serving Yu Bing's designs. They criticize those who would accept my words, lest their own faults should cause them to lose favor. What use are they, who do not support one who is about to fall?
"In former times, Emperor Xuan of Han did not listen to Xu Fu's careful admonishments against the Huo clan, until he was eventually driven to the extent of having to purge the entire clan; the loyal were lumped in alongside the traitors, the investigation against them was not meticulous, and the provisions against them were not gradual. I might therefore say that all my words to you regarding the Yu clan are gradual provisions against them. But I fear that Your Majesty will not perceive my loyalty and will not follow my advice, so that when the day of disaster comes, it will be merely another case of 'burning yourself through your anger'.
"During the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, in all the petitions that Wang Zhang and Liu Xiang submitted commenting on the affairs of the realm, they never once pointed the finger at the Wang clan of Wang Feng or reprimanded them for their behavior. It was because of these omissions that some of their own sons suffered death, and others suffered punishments. Gu Yong and Zhang Yu likewise followed the trend and did not speak out against them, and although Gu Yong saved his own life, he earned the ridicule of posterity. If I let down my hair and defy convention, it is because I hold such a high role as general. Day and night, my sole concern is for the state, and I seek ways to repay it, whether that be by smiting its foes without or acting fully loyal and proper within. I present a strong argument in order to convey my sincerity, and to respond to the grace which the state has shown me. If even I do not say such things, who ought to?"
He also wrote to Yu Bing, stating:
"Sir, being the maternal uncle of the Emperor, you might be said to be occupying the 'Jiaofang wing of the Weiyang Palace' as a relative of the Empress Dowager. You occupy the highest offices of the state, and both internally and externally you execute the royal mandate. Furthermore, your brothers hold countless positions both as generals and as administrators of the provinces. The glory of your family's name spreads across the whole capital region. In all the reigns since the Qin and Han dynasties, whose family can compare with the great honor with which your own clan has been bestowed? From what I have seen, if through your achievements you ventured some great undertaking, you would certainly gain the same reputation as the Marquis of Shen. And if you perhaps hesitated from that step, it would only be to avoid following the same paths as Liang Ji or Dou Xian.
"Whenever I review the old histories and biographies of the sovereigns of old, I find examples of rulers who initially favored the families of their mothers and let them do as they pleased, even letting them wield authority over the government and cause turmoil in the court. In every such instance, such rulers granted these relatives exceptional honor at first, and yet in the end blamed them of a whole host of faults. So one might say that by initially favoring these relatives, such rulers led them to their doom. I have often faulted the sovereigns of these past ages for not having practiced the art of guarding against such undue budding favoritism. Why did they never endeavor to grant these relatives a plot of land somewhere, and charge them to serve in fiefs along the borders, so that they might support the state and one another together, like the Dukes of Qi and Chen once did for the Zhou dynasty? Had they done so, they would have been able to face south and be honored as rulers forever, and how could they have ever have had cause to worry about suffering demotion or disgrace?
"At the end of the Han dynasty, the imperial uncles Dou Wu and He Jin favored good people while being humble themselves. Worthy gentlemen supported them, and though they were endangered by the eunuchs, the whole realm sympathized with them. It was only because they were not prompt in carrying out their plans that they lost their lives and the state fell.
"At the moment, all the lands within the Four Seas are suffering from the most extreme adversity, and Zhongxia is overrun with presumptuous traitors. Families have their blood boil over in rage, and people are determined to avenge this disaster. Is this any time to lay comfortably on one's pillow in perfect comfort and while away the years in refined conversation?
"I myself may possess scant virtue, but I have been blessed to receive titles of office by His Late Majesty. Though I only command the people of a few commandaries, by their aid I have annexed and conquered strong enemies. I have devoted myself to constant warfare up until now, locked in battle with blades crossed; I have only one season of the year to attend to farming, for the other three are spent in military endeavors. Yet though I must lead my armies in constant campaigns without rest, my warehouses are overflowing with grain, my enemies fear for me grows by the day, and my territory expands ever larger. If even I am able to accomplish this much, how much could one accomplish if they possessed the might of the royal armies and the power of the imperial domain? Why then have you spent the same years in idle chatter?"
When Yu Bing saw the petition and the letter, he was very afraid. Worried that Murong Huang was too far away and isolated to be controlled, he sent in a memorial with He Chong and others asking that Murong Huang's proclaimed title of Prince of Yan be confirmed. Emperor Cheng sent his combined Grand Herald, Guo Xi, bearing a staff of authority to appoint Murong Huang as Palace Attendant, Grand Commander of military affairs north of the Yellow river, Grand General, and Prince of Yan, while still keeping his original titles as before. More than a hundred of Murong Huang's subordinates were also granted offices in recognition of their achievements.
The same year as Murong Huang wrote his letter to Yu Bing, he campaigned against Goguryeo. The King of Goguryeo, Go Soe, sued for peace, so Murong Huang returned. The following year, Go Soe sent his eldest son Go Jo to Murong Huang.
In the seventh year of Xiankang (341), Murong Huang moved his capital to Longcheng.
Murong Huang assembled an army of forty thousand strong soldiers, and marched through the southern narrows, campaigning against the Yuwen and Goguryeo. He also sent Murong Han and his own son Murong Chui to be vanguard commanders, and sent his Chief Clerk, Wang Yu, and others to lead another army of fifteen thousand, to advance along the northern route. The King of Goguryeo, Go Soe, believed that Murong Huang's army would come by the northern route, and so he sent his younger brother Go Mu with fifty thousand elite troops to guard the northern route, while he led his weaker troops defended the southern narrows. Murong Han and Go Soe fought a battle at Mudi, where Go Soe was greatly defeated. The victorious Yan troops advanced and entered Hwando, while Go Soe fled alone on horseback. Murong Huang dug up the tomb of Go Soe's father and took the body, along with Go Soe's mother, wife, and his treasures. The Yan troops rounded up more than fifty thousand men and women to bring back, and set fire to the palaces, before demolishing Hwando and returning home. The following year, Go Soe sent envoys to declare himself Murong Huang's subject, and they offered tribute. So Murong Huang returned the body of his father.
Yuwen Gui sent his Chancellor of State, Moqian Hun, to attack Murong Huang. The Yan generals asked that Murong Huang march out to fight him, but he refused. Moqian Hun believed that Murong Huang feared him, so he amused himself in drinking and hunting, and did not prepare defenses. Murong Huang said, "Moqian Hun's decadence has sealed his fate; now we can defeat him in one battle." He sent Murong Han to lead the cavalry to attack, and Moqian Hun was greatly defeated; he barely escaped with his life, while all of his soldiers were captured.
Murong Huang then personally led twenty thousand cavalry to campaign against Yuwen Gui, with Murong Han and Murong Chui leading the vanguard. Yuwen Gui sent his cavalry general Sheyigan to lead all his forces to oppose Murong Han. Murong Huang sent a rider to tell Murong Han, "Sheyi is bold and majestic; you should somewhat avoid him for now, and after he has grown arrogant, then you may get him."
But Murong Han replied, "Yuwen Gui's elite troops have all gathered here. If we can defeat them today, then Yuwen Gui will fall without any further effort from our soldiers. Sheyigan's reputation is only a mirage; we can easily defeat him. We should not restrain the zeal of our soldiers just for the sake of stroking the enemy’s ego."
So he launched a frontal assault and killed Sheyigan, and captured his whole army. Yuwen Gui fled far away, hiding in the northern deserts. Murong Huang reclaimed more than a thousand li of land, and relocated more than fifty thousand tribes of the Yuwen people to Changli. He renamed the name of Sheyigan's city to Weide. Those of good conduct were received with ceremony, and rewards and merits were distributed each accordingly.
Murong Huang distributed oxen among the poor families, and out of their produce, eighty percent was for the state, and twenty percent for themselves. For those that had oxen but no land, out of their produce, seventy percent was for the state, and thirty percent for themselves. Murong Huang's Recordskeeping Army Advisor, Feng Yu, remonstrated with him, saying:
"I have heard that the great ministers of the sage kings of old imposed only slight taxes and spread them out among the common people; they divided them into three sorts of farmland, and they taxed them only at a rate of one-tenth of their production. When people were cold, they clothed them; when people were hungry, they fed them. They provided families with the means to sustain themselves. Even when floods or droughts occurred, such things did not lead to disaster. Why was that? Because they were astute in selecting officials to oversee farming affairs, and they carried out their duties of encouraging and instructing the people in farming with full diligence. People were able to farm a full hundred 畝 of farmland without needing to harness the power of beasts of burden. Those people who applied themselves in farming were granted conspicuous rewards, while those who were negligent in farming still did not suffer any punishments. Offices were created as suited to the circumstances, and people were appointed as suited to their offices; those who held office were certain to fulfill their duties, and no one held an empty sinecure. Functions were adjusted based on the yearly need, and salaries were set accordingly. Even after providing for the salaries of the government officials, the Grand Storehouse was so full that three years' worth of farming produced a year's worth of surplus grain. With such stores in place, how could the public good have lacked for sufficient grain? What cause did the common people have for worry when floods or drought occured? But even as the ordinances of agricultural duties increased, none of the Prefects, Chiefs, and Two Thousand 石 salary officials had the desire to work towards the public good or harness the full bounty of their territories. This was why, when Emperor Guangwu of Han recognized this fact and saw how fallow and underutilized the fields were, he summoned such officials and killed them by the dozens, so that during the subsequent reigns of Emperors Ming and Zhang, the realm knew peace.
"Now ever since the Disaster of Yongjia, the common people have scattered as refugees; the Central Plains have been so barren and bare that there is no smoke from residences for a thousand li. Hunger and cold have chased after the people, flowing one after the other as though through ditches and channels. But His Late Highness (Murong Hui) was a man of divine martial talent and sage political calculation. Fully guarding his corner of the realm, he smashed the evil through his might and attracted the hopes of distant people through his virtue. This was why countless people of all kinds came from the Nine Provinces, traveling ten thousand li with their babes on their backs, to live under him, like little children coming to their loving father. So many refugees arrived that the population of his original territory swelled by more than ten times. With such an abundant population but such cramped land available, forty percent of them were left without any farmland.
"Your Highness is a man of heroic and sage character, and you have successfully expanded your late father's enterprise. In the south, you routed the mighty Zhao; in the east, you vanquished Goguryeo. You expanded our territory by three thousand li, and you increased our population by a hundred thousand households. Through your continued military successes in expanding and broadening the territory of the state, your deeds exceed those of the Western Earl (King Wen of Zhou). You would now do well to abolish and open up the various enclosures, in order to provide livelihoods for the refugees. Those people who are so destitute that they have no funds or property whatsoever should be granted cattle for tilling their fields. Since these people are Your Highness's own people, how could you view giving them cattle as losing the cattle? And those who have amassed great stores should have their stores distributed among the common people; no more than this would be needed. Then you will greatly fulfill the hopes of those living close to you, and the people of the Middle Kingdom will all 'turn out with baskets of rice and vessels of congee to welcome your host'; which of them would stand with Shi Hu?
"Even during the decadent ages of the Wei and Jin dynasties, the common people were still not taxed at such rates of seventy or eighty percent. Those who used both public land and government-provided cattle were only taxed at sixty percent, while keeping forty percent for themselves, and those who used public land but their own private cattle were only taxed at fifty percent. The common people were satisfied with this, and everyone was pleased and happy. Even so, I would not call their policies the methods followed by wise sovereigns. How then could I approve of even greater tax rates than theirs?
"Even sovereigns as wise as Yao and Tang of Shang were not spared from the threats of flooding or droughts. That is why every sovereign ought to dredge and tend to ditches and canals, and follow the irrigation principles of Zheng Bai, Xi Menbao, and Shi Qi. Then even during drought, one can provide water from canals, and even during floods, one can divert water through ditches. Those above will have no fear of the worries of the Yunhan poems, and those below will face no threat of affliction from floods.
"It was by force of arms that you defeated the people of Goguryeo, Baekje, and the Yuwen and Duan clans; it was not like the people of the Middle Kingdom, who respected your virtue and came to you. All of these conquered people cherish hopes of returning home again. There are nearly a hundred thousand households of them, yet they are all cramped together around the capital city. I fear that they might soon pose a serious threat to the state. You ought to divide them up, brothers from brothers and clans from dependents, and relocate them to the cities on our western border. Then nurture them with grace, restrain them with law, and prevent them from scattering among the residents, so that they may be of worth to the state.
"Since the Central Plains have not been pacified yet, suitable resources should be gathered and set in store. Yet there are now far too many offices and positions, and a great many indolent people. If even a single person does not plow, the state must address that much more hunger each year. Those who do plow are required to feed them, so that one person's effort is consumed by another. So when there are tens of thousands of such indolent people, the loss is that much greater. How could the common people provide for so many, and how could the state know peace? Your Highness may reflect upon all the many affairs of past and present and know that no matter of government poses so great a threat as this one. Those people who indeed have knowledge of the Classics and other texts, and those whose talents are suited to and needed for our cirumstances, should be placed in suitable positions which may be established for them. As for the others, let them plow for their own food and tend silkworms for their own clothing. This, too, is the natural order.
"Your Highness has sage virtue and broad insight, and your thirst for knowledge is so great that you 'seek learning from all, even those who merely cut grass and chop wood', so that none of your offenses are kept hidden from you. Formerly, your Army Advisor, Wang Xian, and your Councilor, Liu Ming, were both fully loyal and totally sincere in offering such words of remonstration to you. Although they may have touched some of your sore spots, this was never their intention. There were those who slandered them, petitioning that they had committed great offense and should be subjected to the law. Though Your Highness was forgiving and merciful enough to spare them from capital punishment, you still demoted them and barred them from further employment, banning them from the court. Their words were just the sort that Your Majesty most ought to accept; if you punished them so, you ought to have made clear for what arrogance or presumption on their part required it. If you seek honest advice but punish those who speak their mind, you would be like one who, wishing to go to Yue (in the south), heads north—you would never get what you wanted! Meanwhile, the Chief Clerk of the Right, Song Gai, and others of his sort are sycophants who would do anything to preserve themselves. They recriminate those who offer admonishments, at the slightest pretext; never delivering 'fishbone' remonstrations to you, they are jealous of those who do. Thus they seek to hide things from your ears and eyes, and are the epitome of treachery.
"Those who engage in the four livelihoods provide the resources of the state, and those who instruct and teach the people allow the state to flourish. More than anything else, those who are practiced in warfare or diligent in farming are the roots of the state; artisans and merchants are merely its branches. So only those people whose duties are critical to the army and the state should be retained in their offices, while the rest are sent back to farming. And those who, though studying the arts of war, have studied for three years without anything to show for it should also be sent back to farming, so that they do not fill up the great offices and thus block the way for intelligent and talented people.
"If the advice that I have offered here is good, I hope that you will carry it out as soon as possible; if it is not good, then may you execute me for my crimes. Thus may you demonstrate to the realm that the court heeds what is good like a flowing stream, while punishing evil rather than mingle with it. As for Wang Xian and Liu Ming, they are loyal ministers, and I hope that you will forgive their faults for their excessive remarks, and accept the bitter medicine of their devotion."
Murong Huang issued a command in response, in which he stated, 
"I have reflected upon Feng Yu’s remonstrations, and I fear that what he has said is the truth. A ruler requires the people for their state, and the people require grain for their survival. Yet although the farmers are the foundation of the state, the Prefects, Chiefs, and Two Thousand 石 salary officials do not honor the ordinances of the beginning of spring; they are negligent in attending to agriculture and they fail to encourage the people in their farming. Those who are especially lax in tending to their duties should be held accountable by law, in order to instill respect and discipline in their cities. Let the overseers look carefully into the local conditions and uncover the details, in order to report the full situation.
"The private enclosures shall all be abolished, and the land shall be given to those who have no farmlands or livelihoods. Those who are so destitute that they have no funds or resources at all and cannot provide for themselves shall each be granted one head of cattle. Those who have extra means and would like to obtain oxen from the state in order to tend fallow government farmland shall be taxed according to the old laws in Wei and Jin.
"The irrigation channels are beneficial to both the government and to private interests. Let the overseers maintain them as necessary, heeding the contours of the rivers and the landscape.
"The Central Plains have not yet been pacified, and there has been no end of military difficulties. Many people have thus been earnest and diligent in military service, so we cannot reduce the number of offices yet. Once we have overcome and pacified our wild and wicked foes, then more on that subject may be discussed.
"There are indeed numerous artisans and merchants. Let those who occupy assistant or subordinate offices or generalships be quickly sorted into the most critical offices, and those remaining be returned to farming. Students not engaged in teaching and instruction shall also be stripped of their positions and salaries.
"It is very difficult for a minister to admonish their ruler. Although some of what is said may be presumptuous, I should still put aside such things and only pick out what is good and follow it. As for Wang Xian and Liu Ming, although their crimes merited their expulsions, my pettiness is also to blame. I will restore them to their original posts, so that they may continue to reproach my mistakes. “Feng Yu has 'struggled with difficulty on difficulty', and proved that he truly understands the proper way to serve a ruler. Does the poem not say, 'no word goes unrewarded'? I reward him with fifty thousand gold. Let it be known both near and far: if anyone wishes to reproach me for my transgressions, let him not restrain himself, regardless of his status. Let nothing be held back."
Murong Huang personally conducted patrols through the commandaries and counties of his domain, and he encouraged and instructed the people in farming and silkworm cultivation. He also raised a palace at Longcheng.
At that time, a black dragon and a white dragon were seen at Mount Long. Murong Huang led a group of his officials to observe them, offering a grand sacrifice to them from more than a hundred paces away. The two dragons locked heads as they pranced and circled about, before untwining their horns and departing. Murong Huang was greatly overjoyed. When he returned to the palace, he declared a general amnesty within his domain, and named his newest palace Helong. He established the Longxiang (Dragon's Play) Buddhist shrine on the mountain.
Murong Huang appointed the sons and younger brothers of his great officials as High Students. He set up the Dongxiang School in the old palace, and he conducted the archery assemblies ceremonies. Every month he would go to observe the students, and test them to see who was superior and inferior. He himself was also refined and a good scholar, and would provide instruction; he took on his own apprentices, eventually reaching more than a thousand. He personally composed a work called the Grand Learning Sections, in the style of the Quick Mastery (by Han dynasty scholar Shi You, a compilation used to learn character writing and composition, similar to the later Three Character Classic), and he also compiled a work entitled Canon of Admonishments in fifteen chapters, which he used to teach his sons.
Murong Huang personally attended the Dongxiang School to test and examine the students there. He selected those who were most excellent and exceptional in interpreting the Classics and kept them as his close attendants.
During a long period of drought, Murong Huang exempted the common people from their land taxes.
Murong Huang abolished Chengzhou, Jiyang, Yingqiu, and other commandaries. He organized natives of Bohai commandary into Xingji county, natives of Hejian commandary into Ningji county, natives of Guanping and Wei commandaries into Xingping county, natives of Donglai and Beihai commandaries into Yuli county, and natives of Wu commandary into Wu county. All of these new counties were incorporated into the Yan princely fief.
Murong Ke attacked Goguryeo's city of Namso (Nansu) and took it; he left a garrison there and returned.
In the third year (347?), Murong Huang sent his sons Murong Jun and Murong Ke with seventeen thousand riders east to attack the Buyeo people, and they were successful, taking prisoner the king and more than fifty thousand of his people before returning.
Murong Huang once went hunting along the western borders of his domain. He was about to cross over the Yellow River when he saw an old man, who wore a cinnabar robe and rode a white horse. The old man raised his hand and gestured at Murong Huang, warning him, "This is no hunting ground. Prince, you should go back." But without telling anyone of what he had seen, Murong Huang crossed over the river, and spent several days hunting there. Eventually, he saw a white rabbit. He tried to shoot it from horseback, but his horse collapsed and injured him. Only then did he tell others what he had seen, about the old man and his warning. His attendants carried him back to the palace in a cart, and there he instructed Murong Jun on what should be done after his death.
In the fourth year of Yonghe (348 AD), Murong Huang passed away. He had reigned for fifteen years, and was fifty-one years old. When Murong Jun later became Emperor, he posthumously honored his father as Emperor Wenming.
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bookofjin · 4 years
Note
Were there any famous weapons during the period? I know Helian Bobo had a named sword, but I'd like to know if there were others
Well, here is what Tao Honging has to say about it in the Records of Swords and Blades, Old and New:
Liu Yuan of Former Zhao in the 2nd Year of Yuanxi [305 AD] made one blade, 3 chi 9 cun long, the writing said “Wipe out the Thieves” in the clerical script.
Shi Le of Former Zhao, in the 2nd Year of Jianping [331 AD] made one blade, using 500 metal and 10 000 labourers, from head to point 3 chi, 6 cun. The inscription said “Establish Peace” [jianping] in the clerical script.
At the time when Le was not yet honoured, he ploughed the earth and obtained one blade, the inscription said “Shi Clan's Splendour” in the seal script.
Shi Jilong [Hu] in the 14th Year of Jianwu [348 AD], made one blade, 5 chi long, the inscription said “August Emperor Shi Clan” in the clerical script.
Li Xiong of Later Shu in the 1st Year of Yanping [306 AD] made 500 blades, the text said “Mount the Horse” in the clerical script.
Zhang Shi of Former Liang made 500 blades, have none of the old blades, they are fully lost [?]. The writing said “Hegemon”.
Emperor Zhaocheng of Later Wei, Tuoba Jian, in the 1st Year of Jianguo [338 AD], at Chizhi City cast 10 stabbing blades, the metal were engraved with the letters Chizi.
Emperor Daowu, Gui, in the 1st Year of Dengguo [386 AD], at Song'e cast one sword, the inscription said “Zhen Mountain” in the clerical script.
Emperor Mingyuan, Si, in the 1st Year of Taichang [416 AD], made one sword, 4 chi long, the inscription on the back said “Taichang” [“Grand Ordinary”]. Arriving at the 1st Year of Zhenyuan [440 AD], there was a scholar of the Way that carried on Heaven' teachings and making plain. He had the Emperor make a sword, 3 chi, 6 cun long, in the clerical scrip. Following that changed the inaugural to Zhenjun [“True Lord”].
Emperor Xuanwu, Ke, in the 1st Year of Jingming [500 AD], at Bailu Mountain made one blade, the writing said “Bailu” [“White Deer] in the clerical script.
Fu Jian of Former Qin in the 4th Year of Ganlou [362 AD], made one blade, employing 5 000 labourers. The inscription said “Godly Skill” in the clerical script.
Murong Jun of Former Yan in the 1st Year of Yuanxi [352 AD], made 28 blades, the inscription said “28 Generals” in the clerical script.
Murong Chui of Later Yan in the 1st Year of Jianxing [386 AD], made 2 blades, 7 chi long, one male and one female, in the clerical script. If they were separated, they cried.
Yao Chang of Later Qin in the 1st Year of Jianchu [386 AD], made one blade the inscription said “Zhongshan” [“Middle Mountain”], 3 chi, 7 cun long, in the clerical script.
Qifu Guoren of Western Qin in the 3rd Year of Jianyi [387 AD], made one blade, the inscription said “Establishing Righteousness” [jianyi] in the clerical script.
Lü Guang of Later Liang in the 1st Year of Linjia [389 AD] made one blade, the inscription on the back said “Unicorn Excellence” [linjia], 3 chi, 6 cun long.
Tufa Wugu of Southern Liang in the 3rd Year of Taichu [397 AD], made one blade, narrow and small, 2 chi, 5 cun long, in a blue-green colour. The craftsman said: “At the time when it was made, [I] dreamt I saw one person wearing cinnabar-coloured clothes, who stated 'I am the Grand One God come to see you!' This blade when presented was certain to make a sound, later it fell into the possession of the Tujue Kaghan.
Murong Xuanming of Souther Liang in the 1st Year of Jianping [400 AD] made 4 blades, the writing said “Establish Peace” [jianping] in the clerical script.
Li Hao of Western Liang in the 1st Year of Yongjian [420 AD], made one pearl and gem blade, the inscription said “Hundred Victories” in the clerical script.
Juqu Mengxun of Northern Liang in the 3rd Year of Yong'an [403 AD], made 100 blades, the inscription said “Eternal Calm” [yong'an] in the clerical script.
Helian Bobo of Xia province in the 2nd Year of Longsheng [408 AD], made 5 blades, the back of the edge had a dragon-sparrow encircling, there was also gold inlaid to make the image of one dragon. 3 chi, 9 cun long, the inscription said:
“Sharp instrument of the past,
Wu and Chu's Zhanlu.
Great Xia's Dragon-Sparrow,
Best in fame and chief in divinity.
Can be cherishing distant,
Can be placating the near.
Like the wind scatters the grass,
Power to harness the Nine Wards.”
The King of Song, Liu Yu, crushed Chang'an, and obtained this blade. Later it entered Liang.
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bookofjin · 4 years
Text
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.
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Biography of Liu Xia
[From JS081]
Liu Xia, courtesy name Zhengchang, was a native of Yiyang in Guangping. He was by nature decisive and resolute, proficient with the bow and horse, open-minded and tolerant, brave and strong. Coming upon Under Heaven's great chaos, Xia became a fortification master, always striking the traitors. He led strong soldiers to trap the tough and snap the spears-points [?], the Ji region compared him to Zhang Fei and Guan Yu.
His countryman the Inspector of Ji province, Shao Xu [JS063], deeply esteemed him, and used a daughter to marry him. Thereupon he walled off between the He and the Ji, the traitors did not dare to pressure. Xia dispatched envoys between the roads to receive Emperor Yuan's rules and measures. The Imperial Court praised him, and with the imperial signet wrote to hearten and encourage, using him as Galloping Dragon General and Inspector of Pingyuan.
At the beginning of Jianwu [317 – 318], Emperor Yuan ordered:
Xia is loyal, brave, decisive and resolute, [his] righteous sincerity can be praised. Use Xia as Interior Clerk of Xiapi, General like before.
Earlier, a native of Pei, Zhou Jian, also named Fu, together with Zhou Mo of the same commandery, because of Under Heaven's chaos, were famous as fortification master, using robbing and confiscating as [their] affair. Mo surrendered to Zu Ti. Fu was angry. He thereupon raided and killed Mo, and used Pengcheng to rebel. Shi Le dispatched cavalry to assist him.
Decreed Xia to act as Interior Clerk of Pengcheng, and together with the Inspector of Xu province, Cai Bao [JS081], and the Grand Warden of Taishan, Xu Kan, punish Fu. They fought at Han Mountain, Fu was defeated and ran.
Decreed to move Xia to be Grand Warden of Linhuai. Xu Kan then rebelled. When the affair was pacified, used Xia as Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North and Inspector of Yan province.
At the beginning of Taining [323 – 326], he moved from Pengcheng to garrison Sikou. Wang Han rebelled. Xia and Su Jun [JS100] together hurried to the Imperial capitol. When Han was defeated, he accompanied the Intendant of Danyang, Wen Jiao [JS067] to chase Han, arriving in Huainan. Xia was rather carefree with the troops seizing and robbing. Jiao said:
The Way of Heaven [is] to help and accommodate, for that reason Wang Han was overwhelmed and sundered. [You] cannot follow chaos with making chaos.
Xia deeply explained himself and did obeisance to apologize.
The affair pacified, he was due to his merits enfeoffed Duke of Quanling, and moved to Cavalier in Regular Attendance, Overseer of the Army Affairs North of the Huai, Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North, Inspector of Xu Province, Acting with the Tally. He replaced Wang Sui to headquarter at Huaiyin.
The affair pacified, he was due to his merits enfeoffed Duke of Quanling, and moved to Cavalier in Regular Attendance, Overseer of the Army Affairs North of the Huai, Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North, Inspector of Xu Province, Acting with the Tally. He replaced Wang Sui to headquarter at Huaiyin.
1st Year of Xianhe [326 AD], he passed on. He was posthumously conferred General who Calms the North.
His son Zhao was young in years. Emperor Cheng used Xu province to confer on Xhi Jian, and used Guo Mo [JS063] as Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North, leading Xia's private troops. Xia's younger sister's husband Tian Fang, and Xia's former generals, Shi Die, Bian Xian, Li Long and others, were not delighted with being another's subordinates, and together established Zhao, inheriting Xia's former rank to thereby rebel.
Emperor Cheng dispatched Guo Mo and others to lead the various commanderies and punish them. Mo and others was just then at Shangdao [?], but the Grand Warden of Linhuai, Liu Jiao lead his officers and men, several hundred, for a surprise ambush on Xia's encampment. Die and others burst out and ran. He beheaded Tian Fang and Controller-Protector Bian Xian and others. [He? They?] pursued and beheaded Die and Long at Xiapi, and transmitted the heads to go to the palace. Xia's mother, wife, children, aides and assistants, generals and men, were altogether returned to Jiankang.
Xia's wife was brave and decisive, and had her fathers manners. Xia once was surrounded by Shi Jilong. His wife alone commanded several cavalry, and pulled out Xia to set out from among a multitude of ten thousand. When Tian Feng and others desired to make chaos, Xia's wife halted them. They did not follow. She therefore secretly raised a fire to burn the armour and weaponry completely up.
Zhao inherited the noble title, his official rank reached Cavalier in Regular Attendance. Zhao passed on, his son Ju inherited. He passed on, his son Zunzhi inherited. He passed on, his son Boling inherited. When Song accepted the abdication, the state was abolished.
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Biography of the Jin pretender Sima Rui
[From Weishu 096]
The Jin pretender Sima Rui, courtesy name Jingwen, was the son of the Jin general Niu Jin#. Earlier, Emperor Xuan of Jin begot the Great General, King Wu of Langye, Zhou. Zhou begot the Supervisor of the Extra Retinue, King Gong of Langye, Jin¤. Jin¤'s Consort, Ms. Xiahou of Qiao state, courtesy name Tonghuan, had faithless relations with Jin#, and thereupon begot Rui. For that reason [he?] pretended to the Sima family, continuing as Jin¤'s son. Because of that he spoke of himself as a native of Wen in Heinei.
He began as the King's Heir, and also inherited the feudal rnak. He was designated Cavalier in Regular Attendance, again moved to Colonel who Shoots at Sound and of Outriders, General of the Left and Right. He followed Emperor Hui of Jin to favour Linzhang [Ye]. His uncle Yao was killed by the King of Chengdu, Ying. Rui feared calamity, and thereupon ran to reach Luo. He welcomed his mother and together they returned to Chen state.
The King of Donghai, Yue, gathered troops at Xiapi, and made use of Rui as General who Assists the State. Yue planned to greet Emperor Hui in Chang'an, and again made use of Rui as General who Pacifies the East, Overseer of All Army Affairs of Xu province, and made him headquarter at Xiapi. He amassed promotion to General who Calms the East, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Yang province, Acting with the Tally. He undertook to quell Shouyang, still staying at Xiapi. When Yue in the west greeted Emperor Hui, he kept Rui to quell the rear, with the government and affairs of pacifying the east. He undertook to move to quell Jiangdong. His subordinate Chen Min made chaos. Rui, since his troops were few, stayed at Xiapi.
1st Year of Yongjia, Spring [19 February – 18 May 307], Min died.
Autumn [15 August – 11 November], Rui first arrived at Jinaye.
5th Year [311 AD], he was advanced to General who Garrisons the East, Opening Office with the Same Ceremonies as the Three Ministers, also using Kuaiji's 20 000 households to add to his fief, concurrently Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Yang, Jiang, Xiang, Jiao and Guang Provinces.
6th Month [20 July – 18 August 311], Wang Mi and Liu Yao robbed Luoyang. Emperor Huai favoured Pingyang. Jin's Minister of Works, Xun Fan, and Colonel Minister of Retainers, Xun Zu pushed Rui forward to be Master of the Covenant. Hence he straight-away changed and altered the commanderies and counties, making use of [or “falsely”?] setting up names and titles.
The Inspector of Jiang province, Hua Yi, and the Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the North, Pei Xian both did not follow him. Xian declared himself General who Garrisons the East and Commander-in-Chief of the Army of Affairs of Five Commanderies North of the Jiang, he and Yi joined as allies.
Rui dispatched the General of the Left, Wang Dun, the Generals Gan Zhuo, Zhou Fang and othesr to strike Yi, beheading him. Xian fled to Shi Le.
6th Year [312 AD], Rui called to arms the Four Regions, declaring he and Emperor Mu [would] punish Liu Yuan, in a great assembly at Pingyang.
1st Year of Jianxing [313 AD], Emperor Min of Jin used Rui as Palace Attendant, Imperial Chancellor of the Left and Great Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs East of Shan; Holding the Tally and King like before. Rui changed Jianye to be Jiankang.
7th Month [8 August – 6 September 313 AD], Rui, since the House of Jin was about to be exterminated, covertly had other ambitions, and therefore himself [made] a great amnesty, [with him] to be Great Commander-in-Chief and Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs in the Centre and Outside, and also to be Imperial Chancellor.
Rui announced orders but did not act, government affairs and punishments were excessive and cruel. He killed the Foreman Clerk Supervising Transport, Chunyu Bo. In the carrying out of punishment[s?], due to the blades wiped on the pillar, blood flowed atop the pillar for 2 zheng and 3 chi, just the head flew down 4 chi and 5 cun, it was straight like a string [?]. At the time people resented him.
At the beginning of Emperor Pingwen's reign [317 – 321], Rui declared himself King of Jin, changed the inaugural to Jianwu [Establishing the Martial], established Ancestral Temple and Altars of Soil and Grain, set up the hundred officials, and established his son Shao as Heir-Apparent. Rui, though King of Jin, yet sacrificed at the southern suburbs.
That Year, Rui usurped the enthronment to the great rank, changing it to be the 1st Year of Taixing [“Grand Prosperity”, 318 AD]. The rites of his imperial court, the regulations of his capital district, everything were guided and modelled from the ones of kings, planning to discuss the Central States. Thereupon the capital was in Danyang, because the place had formerly been Sun Quan's.
This was precisely the land the Tribute of Yu's Yang province, the distance to Luo 2 700 li. The land has many mountains and rivers, the sun birds' distant living place. Its soil is only mire and mud, its farm lands only the lowest of low, and it is said of it: “Island barbarians [daoyi島夷] dressed in plants”.
In the Rites of Zhou, the Zhifang clan directed the lands of Under Heaven, separating its nations and states, capitals and far-off towns. The  peoples of the Four Yi, Eight Man, Seven Min, Nine Mo, Five Rong and Six Di [tribes] with their wealth used the several needs [?] of the Nine Grains, Six Domestic Animals. The Zhou knew their advantages and misfortunes.
The south-east is called Yang province, its most important mountain is called Kuaiji, its marsh is called Juqu, its stream is called the Three Jiang, it irrigates the Five Lakes, its advantages are gold, tin and bamboo arrows, its people have two boys for five girls, its domestic animals ought to be birds [?], its grain ought to be rice.
In the time of Spring and Autumn, it was the land of Wu and Yue. Wu and Yue usurped the title to declare [themselves] Kings. Remote and far off in a single corner, they did not hear about the gentlemen of the Hua. Chu's Shengong Wuchen [who ]stole a wife and accordingly fled, taught them army columns. Afterwards therefore they understood warring and attacking.
For that reason they belatedly exchanged communications with the Central States. Their customs and manners were careless and impatient, they did not understand the rites' teachings, they abundantly decorated sons [?] and daughters to thereby summon drifting travellers. This was the manners of their land.
In the time of the Warring States then both were in Chu. Because the land was distant and relied on narrow passes, in chaotic generations then they were the first to rebel, in orderly generations they then were the last to submit. At the end of Qin, Xiang Yu rose up south of the Jiang. Because the King of Hengshan, Wu Rui was accompanied by the troops of the Hundred Yue [?], the King of Yue, Wuzhu, personally led the multitudes of Minzhong to thereby follow, exterminating Qin.
At the beginning of Han, enfeoffed Rui as King of Changsha, Wuzhu as King of Minyue, and also enfeoffed the King of Wu, Pi, at Zhufang. Disobedience and chaos followed each other, hurriedly seeing the barbarians wiped out. In the great chaos at the end of Han, Sun Quan thereupon divided possession of Wu and Shu with Liu Bei. Quan obstructed the Long Jiang, and endangered  the inner and outer limits of Heaven and Earth [?]. Rui because of the disturbances and chaos, straddled and had it.
The crown and belt of the Central Plain when calling for a person of Jiangdong, always considers them to be sons of badgers, similar in speech to foxes and badgers. Ba, Shu, the Man, the Liao, the Xi [?], the Li [?], Chu and Yue, bird voices and bird shouts, [their] words and speech are not similar. Monkeys, snakes, fish and turtle, [their] fondesses and desires are all different.
The mountains of the Jiang are far and wide, perhaps several thousand li. Rui restrained and harnessed it, and that was all. He was not able to establish obedience from its people. They have water fields and few land plants, they use nets and webs as their trade. They are ingenious, clever and attracted to profit, in kindness and righteousness they are lacking and weak. The houses have no hidden stores to regularly guard against starvation and cold. The land is hot and wet, and often has illnesses of swollen leaks. They partition the air from poisonous fog [?]. The dangers of the “Shooting Artisan”, the “Sand Louse” and the bamboo-snake, nowhere they do not have them [?].
Rui cut off to have the lands of Yang, Jing and Liang# provinces, because of their former lands, divided to set up ten or so provinces, and various commanderies and counties. The commanderies and counties' households and people reached not fully to a hundred.
He dispatched Han Chang to travel the sea and come to request peaceful relations. August Emperor Pingwen, due to his usurping the establishment [in] Jiangbiao, warded him off and did not accept it.
At that time, Rui's Great General, Wang Dun's lineage family monopolized power. He dominated heavily over Rui, and often was above and below [?], wholly without the division between lord and subject. Rui's Palace Attendant Liu Wei talked to Rui, saying:
The Wang clan is strong and large, [we] ought to gradually curb and diminish [it].
Dun heard and detested him.
In the time of Emperor Hui, Rui changed the year's name to Yongchang [永昌, “Eternal Splendour”, 322 AD]. Chang, Dun former headquarter was Wuchang. He therefore petitioned to Rui, saying:
Liu Wei previously was below the gates, and thereupon grasped power and favouritism. Now immediately advance the army, direct to punish the villainous recalcitrant. [We] ought to quickly cut off Wei's head, thereby apologizing to far and near. The morning displaying Wei's head, the various armies withdraws in the evening.
Formerly Tai Jia was not able to obey the canons of enlightened Tang, turning upside down his measures. Fortunately he accepted the teachings of Yi Yin. The Way of Yin again prospered [昌]. Lean on the wisdom to assuredly be one who first loses and later obtains [?].
Dun also moved the announcements for the provinces and commanderies, using Shen Chong as Great Commander-in-Chief, protecting the various armies of Eastern Wu. Rui therefore sent down a document, saying:
Wang Dun relies on favouritism, daring to indulge in deranged treason, comparing Us to Tai Jia, desiring to see [Us] imprisoned in the Tong palace. If this can be endured, what cannot be endured! Now [We] must personally lead the Six Armies, thereby executing the great traitor.
Rui's Superintendent of the Brilliantly Blessed, Wang Han, led his son Yu using a quick ship abandon Rui, reverting to Wuchang. Rui used his Minister of Works, Wang Dao, as Great Chief Controller of the Vanguard, the Master of Writing Lu Ye as Army Minister. He used the Inspector of Guang province, Tao Kan, as Jiang province, the Inspector of Liang# province, Gan Zhuo, as Jing province, and made them lead the multitudes to pull the tracks in Dun's rear. He used the Leader of the Right to the Heir-Apparent, Zhou Yan, lead the Central Army's 3 000 men to punish Shen Chong.
Dun arrived at Liezhou, and petitioned the Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Diao Xie's faction adherents ought to be added to the executed and slaughtered. Rui dispatched the General of the Right, Zhou Zha, to defend at Shitou. Zha secretly sent Dun a letter, promising when the army arrived [he would] be responding. Dun sent the Marshal Yang Lang and others to enter into Shitou, and Zha met with Dun.
Lang and others had occupied Shitou when Rui's General who Conquers the West, Dai Yuan, and General who Garrisons the North, Liu Wei, led the multitudes to attack them. Dai Yuan personally led the soldiers, drumming the multitudes [at] Lingcheng [?]. Soon the drums came to an end, Lang and others exploited it, Rui's army achieved defeat. Wei and Xie entered to see Rui. Rui dispatched them to escape calamity. The two men wept and set out. Wei turned back to Huaiyin, and later fled to Shi Le. Xie fled to Jiangcheng and was murdered by Dun's pursuing troops. Rui's host was defeated.
Dun used himself as Imperial Chancellor, Duke of Wuchang commandery, with an estate of 10 000 households. Court affairs, great and small, everything was notified and communicated to him. Dun arrested Dai Yuan and Rui's Supervisor of the Left of the Masters of Writing, Zhou Yi, both were beheaded at Shitou. Both were the hopes of Rui's court. Hence he changed and altered the hundred officials and the various province headquarters, his remaining shifts, moves, demotions and dismissals were a hundred or so. Sometimes he acted in the morning and changed in the evening, sometimes [after?] a hundred days or half a year. Those spoken of by Shen Chong, Qian Feng and others, favoured by Dun, were certain to be employed, those slandered were certain to die.
Dun wanted to return to Wuchang. His Senior Clerk Xie Kun said:
[If] Your Excellency does not [attend] court, [I] fear Under Heaven will secretly discuss.
Dun said:
You Lord is able to guard without change?
He replied, saying:
[When] Kun recently entered for audience, the ruler and sovereign placed himself on the mat to treat Your Excellency, awaiting [for you and him] to get to see each other, the palace and bureaus well-disposed, [I] certainly do not [have] expectations of worries. Suppose Your Excellency enters court, Kun requests to attend and accompany.
Dun said:
To rectify and kill you Lord and several hundred others, how would it diminish the imperial court?
Thereupon he did not attend court and departed.
Dun summoned the General who Calms the South, Gan Zhuo, and moved the King of Qiao, Cheng, to be Army Minister. Both did not follow. Dun dispatched his mother's nephew, the Colonel of the Southern Man, Wei Yi, to lead the Grand Warden of Jiangxia, Li Heng to attack Cheng at Linxiang. After ten days the city fell, and they brought Cheng to Wuchang. Dun's cousin Wang Yi sent traitors to greet him, murdering him in the middle of the army.
Before this, Wang Dun petitioned recommendations, the words and viewpoints were not humble. Rui accordingly showed it to Cheng, saying:
[When] Dun's words are like this, how [will he] be satisfied?
He replied, saying:
[If] Your Majesty do not soon trim him down, difficulties are about to arise.
Dun detested him.
The Grand Warden of Xiangyang, Zhou Lü assailed and killed Gan Zhuo
Rui feared pressure from Dun, and lived regularly in fretful distress. He became ill and died [on 3 January, 323]. His son Shao was falsely established, he changed the year to be called Taining [“Grand Tranquillity”, 323 AD].
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bookofjin · 7 years
Text
Sons of Sima Liang
[From JS059]
[Liang] had five sons: Cui, Ju, Yang, Zong and Xi.
Cui, courtesy name Maohong, passed on early.
Ju [d. 26 July 291], courtesy name Yanming, was designated Heir and became Colonel of Garrison Cavalry. He was murdered together with his father. He was posthumously conferred General who Regulates the Army, with posthumous title as the Mindful [huai] King. His son You was established. This was the Mighty [wei] King.
You [d. 326], courtesy name Yongyou, in the middle of Yong'an [304 AD] followed Emperor Hui on the northern conquest. When the Emperor moved to Chang'an, You returned to his state. When the Emperor returning to Luo, due to the southern conquest 800 troops were given to him, specially to set up four sections of Serrated Gates.
At the beginning of Yongxing [304 – 306], he led the masses to obey the King of Donghai, Yue [JS059]. At the punishment of Liu Qiao he had merits and was designated General who Spreads the Martial, using Yundu in Jiangxia to benefit his fief, combined with the former to 25 000 households.
When Yue conquered Ji Sheng, he petitioned to keep You, leading 3 000 troops, to defend Xuchang, with added drums and pipes, flags and banners. When Yue returned, You returned to his state. At the end of Yongjia [308 – 313], due to the congestion of bandits and thieves, he thereupon went south to cross the Jiang. [In 311, JS005] Emperor Yuan instructed him to be Army Consulting Libationer.
At the beginning of Jianwu [317 – 318], he became General of the Garrison Army. At the end of Taixing [318 -321], he acted as General of the Army of the Left. In the middle of Taining [323 – 326], he was advanced to the title of General of Guards, concurrently Cavalier in Regular Attendance. In the 1st Year of Xianhe [326 AD], he passed away. He was conferred Palace Attendant and Specially Advanced.
His son the Reverent [gong] King, Tong, was established. Due to the King of Nandun, Zong's plan to rebel, he was deposed. Afterwards Emperor Cheng was sad that Liang in one gate [?] had been exterminated and terminated. He decreed Tong again to have his fief, with promotion to Supervisor of the Private Writers and Palace Attendant. When he passed away, he was posthumously bestowed rank of Superintendent of the Brilliantly Blessed.
His son Yi was established. In office he reached Cavalier in Regular Attendance. When he passed away, his son Zun was established. At the beginning of Yixi [405 – 418], the Inspector of Liang# province, Liu Zhi, planned rebellion. He pushed forward Zun as sovereign. The affair leaked and he submitted to execution. Lian, son of [Zun's] younger brother Kai, held on to the establishment. When the Song received the abdication, the state was eliminated.
Yang [b. 284, d. 329] had the courtesy name Yannian. At the end of Taikang [280 -289], he was enfeoffed Duke of Xiyang county and designated Cavalier in Regular Attendance. At the murder of Liang [in 291], Yang was at the time 8 sui old. The General who Garrisons the South, Pei Kai [JS035], was his relative by marriage. He hid them to accordingly escape. In night he moved eight times, fo this reason he managed escape. When Wei was executed, he was advanced in feudal rank to King, successively Colonel of Foot Soldeirs and General of Valiant Cavalry of the Army of the Left.
At the beginning of Yuankang [291 - 299], he was advanced in fief to King of a commandery. At the beginning of Yongxing [304 - 306], he was designated a Palace Attendant. Due [being in] the King of Changsha, Ai's faction, he was deposed to be a commoner. When Emperor Hui returned to Luo, he again enfeoffed Yang, to be General who Calms the Army, also using Qisi and Xiling in Runan to benefit his state.
At the beginning of Yongjia [307 – 313], he was designated General of the Garrison Army, additionally Cavalier in Regular Attendance, acting as General of the Rear Army, again using Zhu and Qichun to benefit him, combined with the previous 35 000 households. Subsequently when the King of Donhai, Yue, set out east to Juancheng, he thereupon went south and crossed the Jiang.
When Emperor Yuan inherited the rule, he was further designated Great General who Calms Army, Opening Office, and given 1000 soldiers and 100 cavalry. It was decreed that he and the King of Nandun, Zong were to command the wandering people to thereby fill [?] the Central Provinces. West of the Jiang was desolate and distressed.
When Emperor Yuan walked the eastern steps, he was advanced to the rank of Palace Attendant and Grand Guardian [on 1 May 317]. Due to Yang's string of honours, when he headed meetings he specially had a raised dais [?]. At the beginning of Taixing [318 – 321], he Recorded the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, was put use to act as Great Master of the Imperial Clan, additionally with Feathered Preserve and Hewing Axes [guards?], a squad of 60 swordsmen, and was advanced to the rank of Grand Steward. At the pacification of Wang Dun, he acted as Grand Commandant.
When Emperor Ming was enthroned [in 323], due to Yang being the elder of the ancestral house, he specially bowed to him. Yang freely indulged  troops and soldiers' forcible confiscation. There were ministerial memorials excusing Yang's officials and, decrees did not inquiring into it.
When the Emperor was bedridden with illness [in 325], Yang and Wang Dao [jS065] similarly received testamentary instructions to assist Emperor Cheng. Since at the time the Emperor was an immature infant, decreed Yang to rely on the former affairs of King Xian of Anping, Fu. He set up a raised dais with screen above the hall. The Emperor personally welcomed and bowed [to him].
At the beginning of Xianhe [326 – 334], he was incriminated with his younger brother, the King of Nandun, Zong, dismissed from office, and demoted to be King of Yiyang county. When Su Jun [JS100] made chaos, Yang paid visit to Jun to make a statement of his merits. Jun was greatly pleased. A false decree returned Yang to his rank and title.
When Jun was pacified, he was given death [on 29 March 329]. His Heir Bo and Bo's younger brothers Chong and Xisong submitted to execution. The state was abolished. At the beginning of Xiankang [335 – 342], once again his dependants were registered, using Yang's grandson Min as Chief Commandant of the Imperial Equipage and Servant at Court.
Zong [d. November 326] had the courtesy name Yanzuo. In the middle of Yuankang [291 – 299], he was enfeoffed Marquis of Nandun county, then promoted in rank to be Duke. During the punishment of Liu Qiao [JS061] he had merits, was advanced in fief to King, adding to his estate 5 000, combined with his earlier 10 000 households, and was General who Conquers the Caitiffs.
He and elder brother Yang together went across the Jiang. When Emperor Yuan inherited the rule, he was designated Cavalier in Regular Attendance. When Emperor Min was at the Western Capital, he used Zong as General who Pacifies the East. When Emperor Yuan was enthroned, he was designated General who Calms the Army, acting as General of the Left. When Emperor Ming walked the eastern steps, he was concurrently Colonel of the Chang River, moved to General of the Guards of the Left. He was together Yu Yin intimate with the Emperor, commissioned accordingly with the forbidden battalion.
Zong, Wang Dao [JS065] and Yu Liang's [JS073] purposes and and inclinations were not similar. He joined and connected knights of little importance, to use as belly and heart. Dao and Liang together accordingly spoke of it [?]. The Emperor, due to Zong being connected by relation, always tolerated him.
Reaching the Emperor's sincere illness, Zong and Yin were privately planning for rebellion. Liang pushed open the door to enter [the Emperor's bedchamber?], rose to defend the bed [?] and with running tears spoke of them, the Emperor started to realize. [Zong] was moved to be General of Agile Cavalry,. Yin to be Great Corrector of Ancestry. Zong thereupon had a resentful appearance in his manner of speech.
At the beginning of Xianhe [326 – 334], the Palace Assistant Safeguarding Clerk Zhong Ya [JS070] impeached Zong with planning to rebel. Yu Liang sent the General of the Guards of the Right, Zhao Yin, to collect him. Zong used troops to resist in battle, and was killed by Yin. Then demoted his family to be the Ma clan, and moved his wife and sons to Jin'an, afterwards the origin for them. His three sons, Chuo, Chao and Yan, were deposed to be commoners.
Xi [d. 312] was in the beginning enfeoffed Duke of Ruyang. During the punishment of Liu Qiao he had merits and was advanced in rank to be King. At the end of Yongjia, he was lost to Shi Le.
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bookofjin · 7 years
Text
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.
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