#Zhao Huan Ran

[shookethdev]

a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

NAKU 🫵

[eyenaku]

Ji ji fu ji ji

a o e i i er ai ei ao ou an en ang eng ong i ia iao ie iu ian in iang ing iong u ua uo uai ui uan un uang ueng ü üe üan ün a o e er ai ao ou an en ang eng yi ya yao ye you yan yin yang ying yong wu wa wo wai wei wan wen wang weng yu yue yuan yun b ba bo bai bei bao ban ben bang beng bi biao bie bian bin bing bu p pa po pai pei pao pou pan pen pang peng pi piao pie pian pin ping pu m ma mo me mai mei mao mou man men mang meng mi miao mie miu mian min ming mu f fa fo fei fou fan fen fang feng fu d da de dai dei dao dou dan den dang deng dong di diao die diu dian ding du duo dui duan dun t ta te tai tei tao tou tan tang teng tong ti tiao tie tian ting tu tuo tui tuan tun n na ne nai nei nao nou nan nen nang neng nong ni niao nie niu nian nin niang ning nu nuo nuan nü nüe l la le lai lei lao lou lan lang leng long li lia liao lie liu lian lin liang ling lu luo luan lun lü lüe g ga ge gai gei gao gou gan gen gang geng gong gu gua guo guai gui guan gun guang k ka ke kai kei kao kou kan ken kang keng kong ku kua kuo kuai kui kuan kun kuang h ha he hai hei hao hou han hen hang heng hong hu hua huo huai hui huan hun huang z za ze zi zai zei zao zou zan zen zang zeng zong zu zuo zui zuan zun c ca ce ci cai cao cou can cen cang ceng cong cu cuo cui cuan cun s sa se si sai sao sou san sen sang seng song su suo sui suan sun zh zha zhe zhi zhai zhei zhao zhou zhan zhen zhang zheng zhong zhu zhua zhuo zhuai zhui zhuan zhun zhuang ch cha che chi chai chao chou chan chen chang cheng chong chu chua chuo chuai chui chuan chun chuang sh sha she shi shai shei shao shou shan shen shang sheng shu shua shuo shuai shui shuan shun shuang r re ri rao rou ran ren rang reng rong ru rua ruo rui ruan run j ji jia jiao jie jiu jian jin jiang jing jiong ju jue juan jun q qi qia qiao qie qiu qian qin qiang qing qiong qu que quan qun x xi xia xiao xie xiu xian xin xiang xing xiong xu xue xuan xun

[craftercat]

Who are your favourite female regents of Ancient China throughout the eras you know? Could you explain why and order them in accordance to your favourites? Sorry if this is being demanding.

My ranking of powerful empresses in the era I know (I'm expanding it to empresses who had political relevance)

Wu Zetian (Tang/Zhou), if we'll allow female emperors. Self-explanatory. She wasn't exactly a nice person, but god was her life epic.

Empress Dowager Feng (Northern Wei) - She created the equal field system which lasted into the Tang dynasty, encouraged the sinicisation reforms, and she basically shaped the cultural and economic policies of the Sui and Tang dynasty.

Empress Dugu Qieluo (Sui) - I think her political contributions were mostly positive. She did promote Yang Guang as crown prince, but I've already explained he did seem like a better option.

Empress Zhangsun (Tang) - I like her for her strength of character, giving honest advice to Li Shimin and helping with the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

Empress Liu E (Han Zhao) - Basically an early version of Empress Zhangsun.

Empress Lou Zhaojun (Northern Qi) - She seems to have tried her best to balance the conflict within her family, and she was able to advise Gao Huan.

Empress Dowager Luo (Cheng Han) - Fighting in battle kind of automatically puts you high on this list.

Empress Duan Yuanfei (Later Yan) - She had the intelligence to realise Murong Bao was not that good. However besides that she didn't do much.

Empress Liu (Shi Le's wife): She helped in military decisions and tried to plot against Shi Hu.

Princess Qi (Dai) - Ultimately we know nothing of her actual rule, only her scheming to get there, but the 女国 thing is cool.

Empress Liu Jingyan (Chen) - She ruled as regent for a short time for Chen Shubao. Given how incompetent Chen Shubao turned out to be, she was probably better than him.

Empress Chu Suanzi (Jin) - I've already explained her regencies. She did promote some decent officials, but her lack of action against Huan Wen puts her down.

Empress Zheng Yingtao (Later Zhao) - She didn't do much as empress dowager besides not wanting Ran Min to be killed.

Empress Liu (Later Zhao, Shi Hu's wife) - She did become regent but she was killed very quickly.

Empress Lu Huinan (Liu Song) - Like the ones mentioned above, she didn't do much politically. Also she might have been having an affair with her own son.

Empress Fu Xunying (Later Yan) - She didn't do much politically, but the extent to which Murong Xi favoured her is quite frankly completely ridiculous.

Empress Kezuhun (Former Yan) - She was corrupt and Former Yan declined during her reign. Empress Kezuhun's poor rule was a major factor in Fu Jian's conquest of Former Yan.

Empress Hu (Northern Wei) - I've already explained her in a separate post, but she wasn't competent.

Empress Jia Nanfeng (Jin) - She is described as having a terrible moral character, even if it's partly slander, and her political regime was unstable.

[movielosophy]

Professional Single | taking picture

[michyeosseo]

Looks like a lot of stories happened in the span of yesterday.

[drwcn]

CQL!AU: Everyone is an orphan except Wei Wuxian, and the Twin Jades are dark practitioners. Needless to say, that changes things. (canon what canon) 

Master Post

~

[1-3]

[1] Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan were the ones who died early. Wei Changze returned to Lotus Pier to become the guardian and regent of his best friend’s son and heir. 

Lotus Pier was black and white. Lifeless. 

That was the first thought that crossed Cangse Sanren’s mind when she and Wei Changze docked at the port, swords in hand, and their little son in toll. 

The people mourned. Posts were temporarily closed, the market suspended. Windows and doors of their bustling riverside town were firmly shut, with white and black drapes hanging from its sills and fluttering in the wind. 

Jiang Fengmian and Yu Ziyuan were dead. Two young cultivators, parents, taken from this world too young, gone before their time. 

“A-Ying, come child,” Cangse extended a hand to the boy who glanced around at the unfamiliar place with timid curiosity. 

“A-niang, what’s going on?” 

“No questions. You must behave yourself today.” Cangse brought her son closer to her, watching her husband’s usually smiling, gentle face pull taut into a mask that betrayed none of the grief he felt underneath. He held himself taller today, shoulders pulled back, spine rod-straight and jaws clenched. She’d forgotten, after all these wonderful years of travelling the world with their family, that this place was once his home. 

“Er’shixiong,” a man greeted them at the pier, flanked by a party of younger Jiang disciples, all appropriately garbed with white sashes around their waist. “Cangse-daozhang.” 

They had spoken in depth about returning. Cangse knew there was nothing she could do to stop him; Changze’s devotion to Jiang Fengmian ran deeper than she understood. It was never herself that Yu Ziyuan should’ve resented; though however misplaced Madam Yu’s jealousy had been, it was a moot point now.  

Chang’ge, I will not ask you to choose between your love for him and your promise to me. If Lotus Pier is where you wish to go, I will go with you. I cannot promise however that I will always stay. That — is not my nature. 

Thank you, Wumei*. I understand. 

They found Jiang Wanyin, the little lord, and his sister Jiang Yanli, in their mourning robes, kneeling and crying before their parents’ funeral altar.  

Wei Changze sunk to his knees beside them, and folded his body until his forehead hit the ground. “Shixiong,” he spoke to the spirits. “I’ve come back.” 

“Who are you?!” The boy Jiang Cheng, five-years-old and hurting, blurted out rudely through his tears. His sister held him from behind and gave a trembling nod of deference to the older man. 

“Wei-shishu.”  

Beside her, clinging to her skirt, Wei Ying looked up and asked quietly, “A-niang, are we going to stay?” 

Cangse Sanren, the favoured fifth pupil of Baoshan Sanren herself, smiled down quietly at her only child and smoothed back his hair. “Yes, A-Ying we will. Lotus Pier is home now.” 

(JC 5 yro; WWX 5 yro; JYL 8 yro)

[2] When Qingheng-jun’s respected mentor died - murdered - he made a very different choice. He turned his back on his clan and his responsibilities, and escaped into the wild with the woman he loved. They were just an ordinary family, living away from the chaos in a paradise of their own. But even Eden eventually falls, and nothing gold ever stays... 

Take A-Huan and A-Zhan and go! Do not stop until you are safe. Do not turn around. Do not come back. 

Shijie! You’re injured! Let me help you - 

Zhao Ming! Zhao Zhuliu, you listen to me: their names, Lan Xichen for the older, and Lan Wangji for the younger. It’s what their father and I wanted for them. 

Shijie - jiejie - 

Now go! Go! 

A-Niang, come with us! A-Niang, don’t go!! A-Niang!!! 

The forest burned like the autumn sun at dusk descending from the sky, red and golden and glorious. A single figure stood amongst the flames, corpses littered at her feet. Bichen fell from her grip, barely making a sound as it landed against dampened earth, soaked with Lan blood.  Those who fought her were dead, but she feared that she did not have long either.

“Rong-gege,” Qiu Baiti collapsed onto her hands and dragged her body towards the man who lay still amongst the carnage, arrows piercing his front, his sword Shuoyue still clutched tight in his left hand. 

Lifeless eyes remained open, as though he could not rest. 

“Rong-gege,” Baiti called helplessly, crawling to him and laying her head down against his chest. There used to be a heartbeat there, and if she closed her eyes, she could almost hear it again. “Wait, don’t go without me...” 

She was so tired and bled from so many places. It was not until a sharp cry and a familiar face descended from the sky that Qiu Baiti realized the inferno which surrounded her was not yet hell. 

"Qiu-jiejie!" Cangse rushed forth, almost tripping over the corpse of a dead Lan disciple in her haste. “Lan-da’ge, he -” A horrified gasp drowned the rest of her words. 

“Cangse...you’re here...” 

Cangse gathered her bosom sister into her arms and immediately drew upon a torrent of spiritual energy from her core, channeling them into her fingertips to heal her friend. She could tell that whatever combat Qiu Baiti had been through, it had already taken the little life inside her, and now hers was following it to the other side.   

“Hold on, I can save you - hold on -”

“Cangse - Cang - stop, it’s too late.” Qiu Baiti lay limp there.  

Death, it drew near, but she was ready. She closed her eyes as a slip of tear escaped beneath her lashes. "I did this to him, to all of them... if I hadn't...it’s all my fault. I was the one they wanted; he was just trying to protect me. A-Huan, A-Zhan...."

Trembling and in near hysterics, Cangse sobbed, “No, don’t say that! Where are the boys?” 

“Safe. A-Ming has them...you mustn’t tell anyone. Not anyone, promise me. Not even Lan Qiren. Especially Lan Qiren... Rong-gege trusts his brother, but I - I - promise me - promise -” Qiu Baiti gasped for breath, gurgling blood in her throat with each laboured attempt. 

“Qiu-jiejie, please - don’t - I - I promise.” 

“Good...Cangse...” Qiu Baiti clutched her hand and smiled, a crimson wound cutting across her pale, beautiful face. “Good.” 

And then she died, with the red of the forest flames still in her eyes. 

Cangse held her friend - dear, damned, dead - and allowed a scream to tear through herself. From the depth of her grief, she released a pulse of unrestrained spiritual energy that rippled through the dense woods as though the storm of her anguish could not be contained. And like a measly candle-light assaulted by the winter wind, the forest fire was extinguished in an instant. 

The sun was gone, and the night was dark.  All was quiet, but there was no peace to be found. 

 Cangse buried Lan Cenrong and Qiu Baiti in two unmarked graves side by side beneath a tall oak tree. She sifted through the bodies and the grime and collected the spiritual weapons they left behind — Shuoyue, Bichen, Liebing (cracked in two places) and the strings of Qiu Baiti’s shattered guqin — and stored them away in her qiankun pouch. She hoped one day that she would find Zhao Zhuliu and the sons Lan Cenrong and Qiu Baiti had left behind, and return these items to their rightful owners. 

It was not until three years later, not too far from her shifu Baoshan’s sacred temple nestled in the snowy mountain peak, where Jiang Yanli had been brought to strengthen her health and train as Cangse’s direct disciple, that Cangse perchance came across Zhao Ming again. 

He was accompanied by two youngsters, two beautiful jade-like children who called him jiufu. Cangse was not surprised in the least to find that both of them have learned the technique for which their mother and jiujiu were hunted: the core-melting hand. 

(LXC 9, LWJ 6 -> LXC 12, LWJ 9 ) 

[3] They called her “The Little Queen”. Wen Qing never wanted to be Sect Master, or Deputy Sect Master, or Regent Sect Master. She just wanted to live quietly with A-Ning and Wen-popo and study the art of healing that her parents practiced. But alas, life had other plans. 

Wen Qing was a month short of her tenth birthday when her life changed forever. 

Wen Ruohan, her father’s older cousin, who’d always been close with her family, had come to visit Dafan. Wen-bobo didn’t have siblings, and her father Wen Ruotian was as close as a brother to him, more than any other Wen descendent of their time. 

Wen Qing liked Wen Ruohan well. He was doting and found her intelligent. Her parents chose the simple village life, but they often spent New Years and holy days at Nevernight at Sect Master Wen’s behest and invitation.  

When Wen Ruohan came to Dafan and told her folks that there was a piece of the Yin Iron inside the Stone Fairy, her father had been eager to help, though weary he was of those powers he could not understand. 

He’d been right to be afraid. 

The extraction had gone horribly wrong, and the rebound of dark energy had eviscerated all those near by, her mother, her father, and Wen Ruohan himself. It was by the skin of her teeth that Wen Qing managed to yank her baby brother Wen Ning out of the way. Then, without thinking, she caught the vile, wretched thing as it sailed through the air. It landed in the palm of her hands, and there she stood, regarded with fear and bewonderment from all those in witness as the cursed item, which burned the life out of cultivators much older and seasoned than her, quieted in her small hands. 

The Elders said she had...a nature affinity. For what, they could not say. 

Wen Qing was brought back to Nevernight and given the name Yuefan: to exceed mortality. Within days, the heavy crown of Sect Master of Qishan Wen was placed on her head. 

It was then that she learned that her Wen-bobo, with no inclination to marry and bind himself to another, did not leave behind a legitimate heir. His young sons, 4-year old Wen Xu and 2 year-old Wen Chao were born to him by women of ill repute.  They were kind, good boys, but they were infantile and illegitimate. Wen Qing felt for them, but she could not change their fate. So for the time being, she accepted what she had to. 

The adults did what they could for her, but there was no one in the cold, vast palace of Nevernight to mind her or nurture her. She stood alone upon the towers where the eternal flames, fuelled by Qishan Wen’s combined spiritual energy, burned in their iron brazier, and watched over the lush volcanic mountain range that was hers to govern and protect. Those beneath her - servants, disciples - feared her and her unknown powers. Those advising her - Elders, mentors - had their own agendas. In any case, they stopped seeing her as a child the minute she held the Yin Iron in her hands and lived to tell the tale. 

It was a secret, they told her. She must guard it well. 

The Chief Cultivator Jin Guangshan sent his ambassadors to congratulate her succession. Gusu’s Lan Qiren and Qinghe’s Nie Heqiu both arrived consecutively to pay their respects to their ten-year-old colleague and fellow Sect Master. 

There was a momentary rumble amongst the Wen Elders about whether Nie Heqiu’s older son Nie Mingjue would be a good match for her someday, but as he too was set to inherit, the idea was put aside as quickly as it was brought up. 

Then came Yunmeng’s regent Wei Changze, bringing along an entourage of Jiang disciples and a boy one year her junior, the son he conceived with the revered Cangse Sanren. 

Wei Wuxian. 

Wen Qing liked him enough. He was spontaneous, agreeable, and clever, and he found her aloofness fun to provoke. They would’ve both been satisfied with the arrangement had she not met Yunmeng Jiang’s young Jiang-zongzhu some years later, and had he not crossed paths with the vengeful and infamous Lan Wangji. 

But life, as the gods have planned it, must have its mysteries. 

(WQ 10, WWX 9) 

TBH?  

Note: 

Wumei - fifth sister, Wei Changze’s nickname for Cangse. 

Details of Cangse and Wei Changze’s name as well as Qingheng-jun and Madam Lan’s name can be found here .

jiufu 舅父 - maternal uncle, formal.  

[bookofjin]

Annals of Zhengshi 3 (506)

An heir is born. More war with Xiao Yan. From WS008

[Zhengshi 3, 9 February 506 – 28 January 507]

3rd Year, Spring, 1st Month, dingmao, New Moon [9 February], the august son was born. A great amnesty Under Heaven.

On renshen [14 February], the Inspector of Liang# and Qin Provinces, Xing Luan continuously routed the Di thieves, and vanquished Wuxing.

Xiao Yan's Inspector of Ji Province, Huan He, entered to rob Nanqing Province. The provincial army struck and chased him off.

A commoner of Qin province, Wang Zhi, and others assembled a multitude of 2 000 and titled himself Duke Wang [or “King-Duke”?]. Soon after he pushed forward the Master of Accounts of Qin Province, Lü Gou'er, as ruler, with the year titled Jianming [“Establishing Clarity”].

On jimao [21 February], Yang Jiqi and his brothers led each other in surrender.

2nd Month, bingchen [30 March], a decree said:

Formerly, Yu [I.e Shun of Yu] warned the facing followers, and gloriously talked many times on bringing forward. Zhou relied on admonishing assistants, the kingly watchtower was certainly probing. We are reverently continuing the vast foundation, humbling [Our] breast to the treasured series. Pondering at ease on the myriad achievements, in one day there are ten thousand circumstances. Hence [We] look towards loyal speech, humbly seeking the frank and straight. And yet good plans do not advance, guidelines are dawn up without knowledge. How is it what is spoken of as sustaining in accord with the primal head, correcting and saving that which does not measure up?

Can decree to the Kings, Dukes, and below, that they who have admirable plans and deep strategies, straight speech and loyal admonitions, who profit the state and benefit the people, who rectify the times and hones the customs, together be made to take responsibility for affairs and put forth memorials, and nobody to fall back on turning away.

On wuwu [1 April], decreed the General of Guards of the Right, Yuan Li, and others to chastise Lü Gou'er.

On yichou [8 April], the General who Pacifies the South, Chen Bozhi, routed Xiao Yan's Inspector of Xu province, Chang Yizhi, at Liangcheng.

This Month [10 March – 8 April], Yan's general Xiao Bing led a multitude of 50 000 to rob Huaiyang.

3rd Month, jisi [12 April], due to military battalions being greatly active, decreed to cease the various constructions.

On jimao [22 April], decreed the Inspector of Jing province, Zhao Yi, and the General who Pacifies the South, Xi Kangsheng, to proceed to Huaiyang.

The King of Leliang, Changming, was convicted of killing a person, and bestowed death. The state was abolished.

On wuzi [1 May], named the august son Chang.

On gengyin [3 May], the General who Pacifies the South, the State-Founding Duke of Qujiang county, Chen Bozhi, ran south from Liangcheng.

Summer, 4th Month, yiwei [8 May], decreed to cease with the salt pool prohibitions.

On jiachen [17 May], decreed to dispatch envoys to tour and comfort the northern border's chieftains and commoners.

On gengxu [23 May], used the King of Zhongshan, Ying, as General who Conquers the South, Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs of the Yang and Xu Circuits, to be responsible for assigning border generals.

Xiao Yan's Inspector of Jiang province, Wang Maoxian, robbed Jing province, and stationed at Henan City. Decreed the General who Pacifies the South, Yang Dayan, to chastise him.

On xinyou [3 June], he greatly routed him. Beheaded his General who Assists the State, Wang Hua, and more than 2 000 miscreants. He advanced to attack Henan City. Maoxian ran off and scattered. He pursued the flight until the Han River, and took his Wucheng.

General Yuwen Fu plundered Yan's Si province, took prisoner more than a thousand mouths, and turned back.

5th Month, yichou [7 June], New Moon, decreed the Masters of Writing to help the households from Yiyang that had begun to adhere.

On bingyin [8 June], a decree said:

To cover the bones and bury the corpses was the order and norm of the ancients; to obey the propitious time and cultivate the order is the court's persistent formula. Now the seasonal dew is not descending, and the spring crops are already dried out. There are some who are orphaned, aged, hungry or sick, without people's support and aid, and because of that it causes their death, who are exposed and desiccated in ditches and trenches. The Commandant of the Luoyang section relies on the law to put them in coffins and bury them.

On renshen [14 June], Xiao Yan's general Zhang Huishao entered to rob, and captured Suyu.

On yihai [17 June], Yan's general Xiao Rong captured Liangcheng.

On xinsi [23 June], Yan's general Wei Rui captured Hefei City.

On renwu [24 June], decreed the Master of Writing Yuan Yao to lead a multitude south and chastise.

On guiwei [25 June], since Qin and Long were not yet at peace, decreed the General who Conquers of West, Yu Jin to have the authority and measures for the various armies.

On jichou [1 July], Yan's generals also captured Yangshi and Huoqiu Cities.

6th Month, xinchou [13 July], they also captured Xiaoxian Defence Post.

On yisi [17 July], the Geneal who Calms the West, Yuan Li, greatly routed the Qin thieves, beheaded the thieves' leader, Wang Zhi, five people, and put on display six thousand heads.

On dingwei [19 July], the provisional General who Pacifies the South, Xi Kangsheng, routed Xiao Yan's general Zhang Huishao, and beheaded his Inspector of Xu province, Song Hei.

On dingsi [29 July], decreed the Master of Writing Xing Luan to set out and chastise Xu and Yan.

Autumn, 7th Month, bingyin [7 August], Yan's general Huan He robbed Gushan, and captured Gucheng.

On gengchen [21 August], Yuan Li greatly routed the Qin thieves, and took the surrender of Lü Ji'er and his kings and dukes, more than thirty people. Qin and Jing# provinces were pacified.

On wuzi [29 August], the King of Zhongshan, Ying, greatly routed Yan's Inspector of Xu province, Wang Bo'ao at Yinling, beheaded his generals, twenty-five people, and took captive more than five thousand heads.

On jichou [30 August], decreed to issue out from Ding, Ji, Ying, Xiang, Jiang, and Si# provinces a hundred thousand people to aid the southern army.

8th Month, renyin [12 September], the General who Calms the East, Xing Luan, routed Xiao Yan's general Huan He at Gushan, and cut off more than ten thousand heads. General Yuan Heng separately vanquished Gucheng, and beheaded Yan's General of the Best of the Army, Huan Fangqing. Army Director Bi Zuxiu separately vanquished Mengshan, and behead Yan's Dragon-Prancing General, Jiao Daoyi, and others. The beheaded thieves and those who had gone into the Yi [River] and died were more than four thousand people. Yan province was pacified.

On yiyou [19 September], decreed the General who Pacifies the South, the King of Anle, Quan, to supervise the rear and issue out the various armies to proceed to South of the Huai.

On renxu [2 October], a limited amnesty for Jing#, Qin, Qi#, Liang, and He provinces.

9th Month, guiyou [13 October], Xing Luan greatly routed Yan's army at Suyu, and beheaded his great general Lan Huaigong and others, more than forty people. Zhang Huishao abandoned Suyu. Xiao Bing abandoned Huaiyang, and fled south. The pursuit beheaded several ten thousand. Xu province was pacified.

On jichou [29 October], the King of Zhongshan, Ying, greatly routed Yan's army South of the Huai. Yan's Great General of the Centre Army, the King of Linchuan, Xiao Hong, Archer-Servant of the Right of the Masters of Writing, Liu Tan, Inspector of Xu province, Chang Yizhi, and others abandoned Liangcheng to run eastward along the Huai. Pursued the flight in stages until Matou. Yan's General of the Best of the Army and Defence Master, Zhu Siyuan, abandoned the city to escape in the dark. Seized and sent off more than forty of Yan's generals, and beheaded and captured more than fifty thousand officers and soldiers. Ying thereupon attacked Zhongli.

The state of Gaoli dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

Xiao Yan dispatched thirty thousand generals, officers and men to rob Yiyang.

On dingyou [6 November], they escaped in the night and ran. The Inspector of Ying province, Lou Yue, pursued, struck, and routed them.

On wushen [17 November], the state of Ruanruan disp envoys to court with tribute.

On jiwei [28 November], the General who Conquers the Miscreants, Zhao Xia, greatly routed Yan's multitude at Dangcheng's mulberry plains [?].

11th Month, jiazi [3 December], the Emperor made the King of Jingzhao, Yu, the King of Qinghe, Yi, the King of Guangping, Huai, and the King of Runan, Yue, discuss the Classic of Filial piety at the Shiqian [“Model Potency”] Hall.

On gengyin [29 December], a decree said:

In the past year, Longyou fanned rebellion, the combined frontier were not commoners. Among them there still were soldiers able to defend themselves, not content with schism and chaos. Ill winds recognize the upstanding, the good there can be commended. The Masters of Writing can distinguish and measure, repay and reward, to exhibit the sincerely righteous.

This Month [1 December – 30 December], in Liang# province twice routed the rebellious Lao.

[phanique]

Ancient Love Poetry Novel Differences

I will be updating this post with the differences between the novel and the drama. Do note that certain differences might be due to timeline changes so the novel has just yet to mention things instead.

I will go according to the chapters of the novels as a reference.

Chapter 1

- Gu Jun technically did marry Wu Huan but was busy finding ways to grow the egg that Wu Huan eventually left him and married Mu Guang

- The only people left of the God Realm after Hun Dun Zhi Jie was only Wu Huan, Mu Guang and Gu Jun (though Bo Xuan is already hinted)

Chapter 2-10

- Okay so technically the four main gods were said to have survived and are also somewhere in the Heavenly Realm

- Qing Mu in the novel when he met Hou Chi was definitely more cold where he only followed Hou Chi and Feng Ran as she had the same bracelet as him

- Qing Mu only met Hou Chi at Liao Wang Shan and not at the banquet so he did not use a sword to chase after Hou Chi

- Hou Chi thus also was kinder to Qing Mu in a sense

- Liao Wang Shan has a barrier set up that prevents most people from entering easily

- Yao Jie (Demon Realm? idk what they call it in the English translation) also has a barrier set up that immortals higher than Shang Jun also have a hard time entering

- When Qing Mu brought Hou Chi into the Demon Realm, she shrank to the size of her young self as her powers were too weak to withstand against the strength of the barrier of Demon Realm

- Feng Ran sort of ships them from the start, she was not worried when Hou Chi left with Qing Mu

- Hou Chi remained as her younger self for more than a month with Qing Mu as they travel through the Demon Realm

- What happened at the banquet where the two immortals lied remains the same but how it happened went slightly differently

- Feng Ran's back story is explained better in the novel

- Feng Ran also has not appeared before immortals in the Heavenly Empire for more than 8000 years (number might be wrong) so only some people knew how she looked like

(Not really a difference but technically Jing Jian and Hou Chi are half-siblings based on what they know so the novel did mention that a little more while the drama made me feel that they were more of strangers.)

Between Chapter 1-33ish

- Heavenly Empress did not appear that early in front of Hou Chi in the novel, she only appeared when Jing Zhao gave her Dragon Fire thing to Mu Qing to save him

- Jing Jian also did not go to the Demon Realm and got binded with Feng Ran

- Jing Jian technically became good friends with them when he went to train at Yuan Ling Zhao Zhe and met the 3 headed dragon

[s0ngslyrics]

易欣 - 你的选择 Yi xin - Ni de xuan ze

看着你慢慢离开我的视线 kan zhuo ni man man li kai wo de shi xian 才明白原来这份爱情已走远 cai ming bai yuan lai zhe fen ai qing yi zou yuan 而我还相信有永恒的诺言 er wo huan xiang xin you yong heng de nuo yan 既然爱已到了痛的边缘 ji ran ai yi dao liao tong de bian yuan 就算为我们留住时间 jiu suan wei wo men liu zhu shi jian 也换不回相爱的那一天 ye huan bu hui xiang ai de na yi tian 沧海桑田 谁为谁而改变 cang hai sang tian shui wei shui er gai bian 心甘情愿 却不见我们的永远 xin gan qing yuan que bu jian wo men de yong yuan 爱与被爱同样是受伤害 ai yu bei ai tong yang shi shou shang hai 谁先不爱谁先离开 shui xian bu ai shui xian li kai 留下的人 满身伤痕 liu xia de ren man shen shang hen 你的选择 没有错 ni de xuan ze mei you cuo 我欠你的太多 wo qian ni de tai duo 受伤的心 找不到解药 shou shang de xin zhao bu dao jie yao 怎么愈合 zen me yu he 你的选择 躲不过 ni de xuan ze duo bu guo 泪水的折磨 lei shui de zhe mo 宁愿解脱 一个人 ning yuan jie tuo yi ge ren 独自漂泊 du zi piao bo

[fuyonggu]

Biography of Sima Jiong (Book of Jin 59)

齊武閔王冏，字景治，獻王攸之子也。少稱仁惠，好振施，有父風。初，攸有疾，武帝不信，遣太醫診候，皆言無病。及攸薨，帝往臨喪，冏號踴訴父病為醫所誣，詔即誅醫。由是見稱，遂得為嗣。元康中，拜散騎常侍，領左軍將軍、翊軍校尉。趙王倫密與相結，廢賈后，以功轉遊擊將軍。冏以位不滿意，有恨色。孫秀微覺之，且憚其在內，出為平東將軍、假節，鎮許昌。倫篡，遷鎮東大將軍、開府儀同三司，欲以寵安之。

Sima Jiong was styled Jingzhi; his posthumous title was Prince Wumin ("the Martial and Pitied") of Qi. He was the son of Prince Xian ("the Presented") of Qi, Sima You. Even as a child, Sima Jiong won acclaim for his kind and benevolent attitude and enjoyed being generous; he had the same spirit as his father.

Before Sima You's death, although he had become ill, Emperor Wu did not really believe that he was sick. So he sent the imperial doctors to examine and diagnose Sima You, and they declared that he was not ill. When Sima You then passed away and Emperor Wu went to attend the mourning service, Sima Jiong was in a fit of grief, declaring that the doctors had given false reports about Sima You's illness. Emperor Wu ordered the doctors put to death, and Sima Jiong won renown for this act and was permitted to inherit his father's title as Prince of Qi (although he was not the eldest son).

During the Yuankang reign era (291-300), Sima Jiong was appointed as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance, as acting General of the Left Army, and as Colonel Who Supports The Army. The Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun, secretly formed ties with him.

For his role in helping to depose Jia Nanfeng (in 300), Sima Jiong was appointed as General of Roaming Assault. But Sima Jiong was not satisfied by this position, and he often looked resentful. When Sun Xiu realized this, he was afraid to keep Sima Jiong too close at hand, so he had him sent away as General Who Pacifies The East and Credential Holder and had him garrison Xuchang.

When Sima Lun usurped the throne (in 301), he appointed Sima Jiong as Grand General Who Guards The East and granted him the privilege of a Separate Office with equal ceremonial to the Three Excellencies, in order to mollify and appease him.

冏因眾心怨望，潛與離狐王盛、潁川王處穆謀起兵誅倫。倫遣腹心張烏覘之，烏反，曰：「齊無異志。」冏既有成謀未發，恐或泄，乃與軍司管襲殺處穆，送首於倫，以安其意。謀定，乃收襲殺之。遂與豫州刺史何勖、龍驤將軍董艾等起軍，遣使告成都、河間、常山、新野四王，移檄天下征鎮、州郡縣國，咸使聞知。揚州刺史郗隆承檄，猶豫未決，參軍王邃斬之，送首於冏。冏屯軍陽翟，倫遣其將閭和、張泓、孫輔出堮阪，與冏交戰。冏軍失利，堅壘自守。會成都軍破倫眾于黃橋，冏乃出軍攻和等，大破之。及王輿廢倫，惠帝反正，冏誅討賊党既畢，率眾入洛，頓軍通章署，甲士數十萬，旌旗器械之盛，震於京都。天子就拜大司馬，加九錫之命，備物典策，如宣、景、文、武輔魏故事。

Sima Jiong was planning to take advantage of the anger and resentment of the people against Sima Lun, and he secretly plotted with Wang Sheng of Lihu and Wang Chumu of Yingchuan to rise up with soldiers to overthrow Sima Lun. But at the same time, Sima Lun had sent one of his confidantes, Zhang Wu, to keep a close eye on Sima Jiong. When Zhang Wu returned to the capital, he reported, "The Prince of Qi has no ulterior motives against you." And since Sima Jiong's plans were not yet complete, he was afraid that the plot might leak out. So he joined with his Army-Marshal, Guan Xi, to kill Wang Chumu, then sent Wang Chumu head to Sima Lun in order to allay his concerns. However, once Sima Jiong's plan was complete, he arrested Guan Xi and killed him.

Then Sima Jiong raised an army, together with the Inspector of Yuzhou, He Xu, the Dragon-Soaring General, Dong Ai, and others. He sent word around to inform others of his plot: the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong, the Prince of Changshan, Sima Ai, and the Prince of Xinye, Sima Xin.

Sima Jiong sent out a proclamation of his intentions to every general or minister, to all the Generals Who Conquer, Generals Who Guard, Inspectors, Administrators, Prefects, and Interior Ministers, so that everyone might know what his designs were.

When the Inspector of Yanzhou, Chi Long, received Sima Jiong's proclamation, he was hesitant and could not decide whether to support him or not. But one of his Army Advisors, Wang Sui, beheaded Chi Long and sent his head to Sima Jiong.

Sima Jiong camped his army at Yangdi. Sima Lun sent his generals Zhang Hong, Lü He, and Sun Fu to march out through Eban, where they met Sima Jiong in battle. Sima Jiong had the worst of the fighting, so he withdrew into his defenses and fortified his ramparts. But in the meantime, Sima Ying's army routed Sima Lun's forces at Huangqiao. So Sima Jiong led his army out again and attacked Lü He and the others, this time greatly routing them.

Once the Princes had finished deposing Sima Lun and restoring Emperor Hui to the throne and Sima Jiong had completed his executions of Sima Lun's partisans in villainy, Sima Jiong led his troops into Luoyang, where he made arrangements for accommodating his troops. He had hundreds of thousands of armored soldiers, with a full panoply of flags and banners and military gear, and the capital region trembled.

Emperor Hui appointed Sima Jiong as Grand Marshal and granted him the Nine Bestowments. He was granted regent authority to handle all canons and policies, just as Sima Yi, Sima Shi, Sima Zhao, and Emperor Wu had once wielded such power on behalf of the government of Wei. 

冏於是輔政，居攸故宮，置掾屬四十人。大築第館，北取五穀市，南開諸署，毀壞廬舍以百數，使大匠營制，與西宮等。鑿千秋門牆以通西閣，後房施鐘懸，前庭舞八佾，沈於酒色，不入朝見。坐拜百官，符敕三臺，選舉不均，惟寵親昵。以車騎將軍何勖領中領軍。封葛<方與>為牟平公，路秀小黃公，衛毅陰平公，劉真安鄉公，韓泰封丘公，號曰「五公」，委以心膂。殿中御史桓豹奏事，不先經冏府，即考竟之。於是朝廷側目，海內失望矣。南陽處士鄭方露版極諫，主簿王豹屢有箴規，冏並不能用，遂奏豹殺之。有白頭公入大司馬府大呼，言有兵起，不出甲子旬。即收殺之。

Sima Jiong thus acted as regent over the government. He lived in Sima You's old palace, and selected forty assistants and subordinates for himself. He greatly expanded the rooms and buildings of his palace, extending the estate north to reach the Five Grains Market and south to connect with the various government offices. He demolished hundreds of homes and buildings in the process. He ordered the Grand Architect to lay out his palace to be on the same scale as Emperor Hui's residence at the Western Palace. He bored a hole through the Qianqiu Gate to make a direct path to the Western Pavilion, and he hung up bells in his rear chambers and arrayed dancers in eight rows (an imperial privilege) in his front hall. He indulged himself in wine and sensual pleasures, not bothering to attend court.

Sima Jiong appointed various ministers without any ceremony, just granting the appointments from where he sat, and he issued commands to the Three Bureaus of the government simply by a mark. And in his selections and promotions, he was not impartial, but only favored those who were close to him and familiar. He appointed the General of Chariots and Cavalry, He Xu, as General Who Leads The Army of the Center. He also appointed Ge Yu as Duke of Mouping, Lu Xiu as Duke of Xiaohuang, Wei Yi as Duke of Yinping, Liu Zhen as Duke of Anxiang, and Han Tai as Duke of Fengqiu; they came to be known as the "Five Dukes", and all of them were Sima Jiong's close companions.

The Secretary of the Central Hall, Huan Bao, submitted a petition without first sending it to Sima Jiong's office for review, for which he was submitted to interrogation. From then on, the court ministers all glanced about in fear, and everyone within the Seas lost hope in Sima Jiong.

A recluse of Nanyang, Zheng Fang, submitted an essay harshly remonstrating with Sima Jiong (his essay is listed below). And one of the Registrars, Wang Bao, often warned Sima Jiong against what he was doing (his essays and biography are in the Biographies of Loyal Ministers). But Sima Jiong did not follow either of their advice, and he even arranged to have Wang Bao killed.

A white-haired gentleman ran into the office of the Grand Marshal, exclaiming that there would be an uprising soon, before the next Jiazi year (in 304). He was arrested and killed.

冏驕恣日甚，終無悛志。前賊曹屬孫惠復上諫曰：惠聞天下五難，四不可，而明公皆以居之矣。捐宗廟之主，忽千乘之重，躬貫甲胄，犯冒鋒刃，此一難也。奮三百之卒，決全勝之策，集四方之眾，致英豪之士，此二難也。舍殿堂之尊，居單幕之陋，安囂塵之慘，同將士之勞，此三難也。驅烏合之眾，當凶強之敵，任神武之略，無疑阻之懼，此四難也。檄六合之內，著盟信之誓，升幽宮之帝，復皇祚之業，此五難也。大名不可久荷，大功不可久任，大權不可久執，大威不可久居。未有行其五難而不以為難，遺其不可而謂之為可。惠竊所不安也。自永熙以來，十有一載，人不見德，惟戮是聞。公族構篡奪之禍，骨肉遭梟夷之刑，群王被囚檻之困，妃主有離絕之哀。曆觀前代，國家之禍，至親之亂，未有今日之甚者也。良史書過，後嗣何觀！天下所以不去于晉，符命長存於世者，主無嚴虐之暴，朝無酷烈之政，武帝餘恩，獻王遺愛，聖慈惠和，尚經人心。四海所系，實在於茲。今明公建不世之義，而未為不世之讓，天下惑之，思求所悟。長沙、成都，魯、衛之密，國之親親，與明公計功受賞，尚不自先。今公宜放桓、文之勳，邁臧、劄之風，芻狗萬物，不仁其化，崇親推近，功遂身退，委萬機于二王，命方岳於群後，燿義讓之旗，鳴思歸之鑾，宅大齊之墟，振泱泱之風，垂拱青、徐之域，高枕營丘之籓。金石不足以銘高，八音不足以讚美，姬文不得專聖於前，太伯不得獨賢於後。今明公忘亢極之悔，忽窮高之凶，棄五嶽之安，居累卵之危，外以權勢受疑，內以百揆損神。雖處高臺之上，逍遙重仞之墉，及其危亡之憂，過於潁、翟之慮。群下竦戰，莫之敢言。惠以衰亡之余，遭陽九之運，甘矢石之禍，赴大王之義，脫褐冠胄，從戎于許。契闊戰陣，功無可記，當隨風塵，待罪初服。屈原放斥，心存南郢；樂毅適趙，志戀北燕。況惠受恩，偏蒙識養，雖復暫違，情隆二臣，是以披露血誠，冒昧幹迕。言入身戮，義讓功舉，退就鈇鑕，此惠之死賢於生也。冏不納，亦不加罪。

Sima Jiong only grew more arrogant by the day, and he never did reform his desires. 

A former official from the office of Bandit Management, Sun Hui, also wrote a letter to Sima Jiong remonstrating with him. He wrote, 

"I have heard that Your Highness has faced five hardships to reach your current position, and I am familiar with four truths about the impermanence of power. Yet Your Highness remains unconcerned about any of these things. 

"To set aside your gravity as keeper of your family’s ancestral temple and lay down your majesty of being lord of a domain of a thousand chariots in favor of personally donning armor and helmet and braving risks and facing dangers was the first hardship Your Highness undertook. To muster a band of three hundred fellows, devise plans for decisive and total victory, assemble soldiers from every corner, and gather together brave heroes was the second. To abandon the hallowed halls of your palace and dwell in the wretched conditions of a soldier's tent, peacefully enduring the noise and filth of the camp and sharing the labor and toil of the generals and soldiers was the third. To organize a flock of conscripts, prepare them to resist the fearsome might of the enemy, devise for them genius plans of martial prowess, and temper them with courage and resolve was the fourth. And to send out proclamations in every direction, gain the trust of sworn allies, restore the deposed Emperor to the throne, and revive the imperial fortunes was the fifth. 

"At the same time, I observe these truths: even a great reputation cannot ensure one's position, even great merits cannot secure one in office, even great influence cannot be wielded forever, and even great authority cannot be counted to last.

"Yet Your Highness does not recognize the extent of these five hardships you faced to get where you are, nor do you acknowledge these four truths. I cannot help but be concerned for you.

"In the eleven years since the start of the Yongxi era (in 290), there have been no instances of public virtue, but only reports of slaughter. The imperial clan has suffered the disasters of usurpations and struggles for power, and imperial relatives have inflicted punishments and executions against their own flesh and blood; princes have endured the indignities of jail cells and prison carts, and consorts have lamented their fates of being cut off and set aside. Indeed, in all of history, though we read of states that suffered disasters and close relatives that warred among themselves, never has there been a situation as dire as this one. If the historians be honest about our faults, how will our descendants ever bear to read about them? 

"Why then has the realm not abandoned Jin, and why has the Mandate not passed from our dynasty? Only because the ruler has not exhibited tyranny and severity and the court has not governed with violence and cruelty, because of the enduring grace of Emperor Wu and the lasting love of Prince Xian (Sima You). It was their sage benevolence and their kindly magnanimity which bound the hearts of the people toward Jin. And these are the things which secure the support of all those within the Four Seas.

"Now although Your Highness displayed an unparalleled sense of righteousness when you led your uprising against the usurper, still you have failed to show an equivalent sense of peerless virtue by yielding your position afterwards. The realm wonders at the reasons for this, and they seek an answer. Furthermore, the Princes of Changsha (Sima Ai) and Chengdu (Sima Ying) have the same close bond to one another as the ancient lords of Lu and Wey, they are the immediate family members of the Emperor (as his younger brothers), and when one considers whom among the three of you accomplished the most during the recent campaign and deserved the greatest rewards, it is difficult to be certain that Your Highness has an undisputed claim to supremacy. By continuing what you are currently doing, Your Highness will be giving up the good achievements of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin when they selflessly rescued the royal family of Zhou from peril, and treading the same path as Zang and Zha instead. Straw dogs and all the beings of creation are not treated any differently out of any consideration of benevolence.

"Your Highness should honor your relatives and yield in favor of those near in stature to you, considering that your work is complete and withdrawing from the center. Entrust affairs to the two Princes, while you supervise the heirs of the various feudal lords. Display the banner of your righteous intention to yield power and sound the call of your wish to return to your noble fief, dwell within your domain as lord of the great Qi region, catch the spirit of the billowing wind, take the areas of Qingzhou and Xuzhou into your hands, and stand proud at your post at Yingqiu. If you do these things, then even gold will not be a good enough medium to record the greatness of your achievements and even the Eight Sounds will not be sufficient tunes to sing your praises; Ji Wen (King Wen of Zhou) would no longer have the sole claim for sagacity, nor Taibo for worthiness.

"But if you forget the dangers of the great precipice you are standing upon and heedlessly ascend towards the summit, you would be abandoning the security of the Five Peaks and making your position as precarious as a stack of eggs. Without, your power and authority would invite suspicion, and within, your reputation among the officials would suffer. Even if you were to venture to the top of a high terrace or seclude yourself behind rows of walls, I would still presume to fear for your safety, even more now than at the time of Yingchuan and Yangdi (during the uprising). Your subordinates quiver with fear for you, but none dare say a word. 

"Now who am I, Sun Hui, to tell you these things? Nothing but a sad remnant in fact. But inviting the onset of calamity and welcoming the perils of the slings and arrows, I once rushed to Your Highness's righteous call; casting aside my common clothes and putting on my helmet, I followed your army to Xu (Xuchang). Of great and glorious deeds in the line of battle, I have none to claim. Yet I followed you through the wind and dust of those days, and I am prepared to receive punishment in addressing you now. Though Qu Yuan was exiled, his heart was always with Ying in the south; though Yue Yi fled to Zhao, his thoughts were always with Yan in the north. Can it be any different with me, who has received your grace and was blessed with your recognition and your care? Though it may seem that I go against your wishes, I am your man through and through; I am baring my flesh to show the sincerity of my blood, and it is thus that I offer you such unpalatable advice. Having presented my words, I am prepared for my punishment. If by writing these things I can convince you to righteously yield power and to secure your achievements, I go to the chopping block willingly, for it would be a worthy end to my life."

Though Sima Jiong did not accept Sun Hui's advice, neither did he punish him.

翊軍校尉李含奔于��安，詐云受密詔，使河間王顒誅冏，因導以利謀。顒從之，上表曰：王室多故，禍難罔已。大司馬冏雖唱義有興復皇位之功，而定都邑，克寧社稷，實成都王勳力也。而冏不能固守臣節，實協異望。在許昌營有東西掖門，官置治書侍御史，長史、司馬直立左右，如侍臣之儀。京城大清，篡逆誅夷，而率百萬之眾來繞洛城。阻兵經年，不一朝覲，百官拜伏，晏然南面。壞樂官市署，用自增廣。輒取武庫秘杖，嚴列不解。故東萊王蕤知其逆節，表陳事狀，而見誣陷，加罪黜徙。以樹私黨，僭立官屬。幸妻嬖妾，名號比之中宮。沈湎酒色，不恤群黎。董艾放縱，無所畏忌，中丞按奏，而取退免。張偉惚恫，擁停詔可，葛旟小豎，維持國命。操弄王爵，貨賂公行。群奸聚黨，擅斷殺生。密署腹心，實為貨謀。斥罪忠良，伺窺神器。臣受重任，蕃衛方嶽，見冏所行，實懷激憤。即日翊軍校尉李含乘驛密至，宣騰詔旨。臣伏讀感切，五情若灼。《春秋》之義，君親無將。冏擁強兵，樹置私黨，權官要職，莫非腹心。雖復重責之誅，恐不義服。今輒勒兵，精卒十萬，與州征並協忠義，共會洛陽。驃騎將軍長沙王乂，同奮忠誠，廢冏還第。有不順命，軍法從事。成都王穎明德茂親，功高勳重，往歲去就，允合眾望，宜為宰輔，代冏阿衡之任。

The Colonel of 翊軍, Li Han, fled from the capital to Chang'an, the base of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong. He lied and said he had received a secret edict from Emperor Hui, calling on Sima Yong to punish Sima Jiong, and that Li Han had been sent to Sima Yong to help facilitate the plot.

Sima Yong believed Li Han. He submitted a petition to the court: "The imperial family has suffered from many incidents of late, and disasters and difficulties continue to plague us. Although the Grand Marshal, Sima Jiong, may claim the credit of having called an uprising and restoring the Emperor to the throne, in truth it was thanks to the Prince of Chengdu's efforts that the capital region was pacified and the altars of state were secured. Yet Sima Jiong, not content to observe his proper duties as a minister and subject, has begun to harbor nefarious intentions.

"At Sima Jiong's army camp at Xuchang, he set up eastern and western Ye Gates like one sees at the Emperor's palace, and on his staff there, those whom he appointed as Secretaries of Recordskeeping, as Chief Clerks, or as Marshals all hovered about him with the same ceremony that residents of the palace would show towards the Son of Heaven. During the campaign, although the capital had already been entirely purged and the usurpers and traitors punished before his arrival, Sima Jiong still led an army of a million soldiers to infest the walls of Luoyang. He has kept his troops garrisoned there for an entire year by now. He never attends court, but makes the government ministers bow and perform obeisance before him, while he sits serenely facing south (in imitation of the Emperor). He has torn down buildings of the Music Bureau and the marketplace purely to expand and broaden his own estate. He has helped himself to the stored equipment of the Arsenal, and he has imposed martial law on the city without any sign of lifting restrictions. The former Prince of Donglai, Sima Ruí (Sima Jiong’s elder brother), recognized that Sima Jiong had betrayed his duties, and he presented a petition to the court listing Sima Jiong's offenses, but he was only met with slander and infamy, until he was charged with a crime and suffered demotion and exile. Sima Jiong has presumed to fill the government ministries with his own partisans and minions, and he grants his favored lovers and floozies titles comparable to those used in the Emperor's harem. He freely indulges himself in wine and in sensual pleasures, showing no regard for the common people. He allows his henchman Zong Ai to do whatever he pleases without any hesitation or suspicion, for though the government receives complaints about Zong Ai's behavior, he always gets let off from any charge. He permits a nobody like Zhang Wei to determine whether imperial edicts shall be allowed to go out or not, and he entrusts a miscreant like Ge Yu with control of the state. He hands out noble titles as he pleases, and bribes change hands freely and openly. He surrounds himself with a rogues' gallery, and he makes the call on who will live or who will die. His closest confidantes think only of how to enrich themselves. And he has slandered and punished good and worthy people, while gazing with longing towards the sacred instruments of power.

"I was assigned a serious charge and am responsible for protecting and defending a strategic area of the realm. But as I have witnessed Sima Jiong's actions, I have nursed a sense of righteous indignation. Then this very day, the Colonel of 翊軍, Li Han, secretly came to me by courier horse to present to me the imperial will and decree. When I bowed before him to hear the reading of this edict, which called upon me to raise my banners and turn against my own flesh and blood, my feelings were assailed and all my senses were aflame. And is it not a principle of the Spring and Autumn Annals that one may never war against their liege or their kinfolk? Yet Sima Jiong has a powerful army at his beck and call, he has placed his favorites into positions of power, and not a one of the important offices of state exists but is filled by one of his cronies. So though in turning my sword against Sima Jiong I would be committing a serious crime which deserved death, still I am afraid I could no longer in good conscience accept what he has done.

"Thus I am now marching at the head of a hundred thousand elite soldiers. May the provincial commanders join me in this loyal and righteous cause and combine their forces with mine at Luoyang. I ask that the General of Agile Cavalry and Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, likewise prove his loyalty and sincerity by removing Sima Jiong from power and sending him back to his estate. Anyone who refuses to heed the imperial order shall be dealt with by military law. 

"The Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, is wise, virtuous, luxuriant, and friendly; his achievements are lofty and his deeds profound. When he departed the capital last year and yielded his power, he gained the hopes and admiration of all. He is suited to serve as regent over the government. Let him take up the role of A-Heng (Yi Yin) in Sima Jiong's stead."

顒表既至，冏大懼，會百僚曰：「昔孫秀作逆，篡逼帝王，社稷傾覆，莫能禦難。孤糾合義眾，掃除元惡，臣子之節，信著神明。二王今日聽信讒言，造構大難，當賴忠謀以和不協耳。」

When Sima Yong's petition arrived at Luoyang, Sima Jiong was terrified. He summoned the ministers and said to them, "When Sun Xiu plotted his treason before and usurped and oppressed the Emperor and the Princes, the very altar of state was nearly toppled, and no one else was able to stand against such difficulties. I was the one who gathered together soldiers to begin an uprising, and I was the one who swept away and purged the chief evil. I have maintained my duty as a subject and as a son, and the spirits can attest to my trustworthiness. Yet now these two Princes have returned my trust with slander and are causing great trouble. Gentlemen, I shall depend on your loyal advice for how to reconcile with these wayward foes." 

司徒王戎、司空東海王越說冏委權崇讓。冏從事中郎葛旟怒曰：「趙庶人聽任孫秀，移天易日，當時喋喋，莫敢先唱。公蒙犯矢石，躬貫甲胄，攻圍陷陣，得濟今日。計功行封，事殷未遍。三臺納言，不恤王事，賞報稽緩，責不在府。讒言僭逆，當共誅討，虛承偽書，令公就第。漢、魏以來，王侯就第甯有得保妻子者乎！議者可斬。」於是百官震悚，無不失色。

The Minister Over The Masses, Wang Rong, and the Minister of Works and Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue, advised Sima Jiong to resign his authority and honor the others by yielding his position. 

But Sima Jiong's Attendant Officer of the Palace Gentlemen, Ge Yu, angrily told them, "The commoner of Zhao (Sima Lun) heeded and employed Sun Xiu, and he abused his authority; Heaven and Earth themselves changed based purely on his whims. Everyone talked and talked about doing something back then, but no one else dared to speak up first. It was our lord who braved the slings and arrows, personally wearing armor and helmet and attacking the enemy lines and breaking their formations, and who brought us to this happy day. Considering the rewards he has received for all that he has done on behalf of the state, one could argue that he has still not gotten all that he deserves. 

"For members of the Three Bureaus to say such things shows how much you disregard the Prince's affairs. It is no fault of his that rewards for others have been slow in coming. Besides, those who speak slander and stir up chaos should all be put to death. How can you heed the empty orders of this presumptuous letter and command our lord to retire to his estate? And through all the time of Han and Wei, what prince or noble that retired to his estate has ever been able to protect his wife and children? Anyone who suggests such a thing out to be beheaded." 

The ministers were greatly disturbed and trembling, and all of them turned pale.

長沙王乂徑入宮，發兵攻冏府。冏遣董艾陳兵宮西。乂又遣宋洪等放火燒諸觀閣及千秋、神武門。冏令黃門令王湖悉盜騶虞幡，唱云：「長沙王矯詔。」乂又稱：「大司馬謀反，助者誅五族。」是夕，城內大戰，飛矢雨集，火光屬天。帝幸上東門，矢集御前。群臣救火，死者相枕。明日，冏敗，乂擒冏至殿前，帝惻然，欲活之。乂叱左右促牽出，冏猶再顧，遂斬於閶闔門外，徇首六軍。諸黨屬皆夷三族。幽其子淮陵王超、樂安王冰、濟陽王英于金墉。暴冏屍於西明亭，三日而莫敢收斂。冏故掾屬荀闓等表乞殯葬，許之。

The Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai, rushed into the palace, then raised troops to attack Sima Jiong's office. Sima Jiong sent Zong Ai to array troops west of the palace. Sima Ai also sent Song Hong and others to set fire to and burn down the various pavilions and the Qianqiu and Shenwu Gates.

Sima Jiong ordered the Prefect of the Yellow Gate, Wang Hu, to steal all the Zouyu Banners and display them (thus compelling all soldiers to cease fighting) while announcing, "The Prince of Changsha has forged an imperial decree." 

But Sima Ai also spread the message, "The Grand Marshal has plotted rebellion, and anyone who helps him will have their families executed to the fifth degree."

That night, there was great fighting within the city; flying arrows poured down like rain, and the glow of the fires outshone the heavens. Emperor Hui was at the Shangdong Gate when a flurry of arrows came his way. His ministers were trying to put out the fires, and they fell down dead in heaps.

By the next day, Sima Jiong had been defeated. Sima Ai brought Sima Jiong to the Front Hall. Emperor Hui, feeling sad for him, wished to let him live, but Sima Ai ordered those around him to lead Sima Jiong away, even as Sima Jiong kept looking back. Sima Ai beheaded Sima Jiong outside the Changhe Gate, and displayed his head to the six armies (of the capital soldiers).

Those who were in league with Sima Jiong were executed with their families to the third degree. The Princes of Huailing, Le'an, and Qiyang, Sima Jiong's sons Sima Chao, Sima Bing, and Sima Yīng, were imprisoned at the Jinyong fortress.

Sima Jiong's body was left publicly exposed at Ximing Terrace, and for three days no one dared to claim the body for burial. Then Sima Jiong's former subordinates, Xun Kai and others, petitioned to be allowed to hold a mourning for Sima Jiong and to bury him, and their request was granted.

初，冏之盛也，有一婦人詣大司馬府求寄產。吏詰之，婦人曰：「我截齊便去耳。」識者聞而惡之。時又謠曰：「著布袙腹，為齊持服。」俄而冏誅。

Earlier, when Sima Jiong had been at his zenith, a woman had visited the Grand Marshal's office to ask for some supplies. When the officials had scolded her, she had said, "I'll just make things nice and tidy and then go." This disturbed some people, for they recognized that the term she had used, 截齊, could be interpreted as "cut down (the Prince of) Qi".

And there had also been a ditty going around: "Wrap the cloth 'round the middle bit, to make it all (or, Qi) nice and fit (or, to submit)." And indeed, it wasn't long before Sima Jiong was executed.

永興初，詔以冏輕陷重刑，前勳不宜堙沒，乃赦其三子超、冰、英還第，封超為縣王，以繼冏祀，曆員外散騎常侍。光熙初，追冊冏曰：「咨故大司馬、齊王冏：王昔以宗籓穆胤紹世，緒于東國，作翰許京，允鎮靜我王室。涎率義徒，同盟觸澤，克成元勳，大濟潁東。朕用應嘉茂績，謂篤爾勞，俾式先典，以疇茲顯懿。廓士殊分，跨兼吳楚，崇禮備物，寵侔蕭、霍，庶憑翼戴之重，永隆邦家之望。而恭德不建，取侮二方，有司過舉，致王於戮。古人有言曰：'用其法，猶思其人。'況王功濟朕身，勳存社稷，追惟既往，有悼於厥心哉！今復王本封，命嗣子還紹厥緒，禮秩典度，一如舊制。使使持節、大鴻臚即墓賜策，祠乙太牢。魂而有靈，祗服朕命，肆寧爾心，嘉茲寵榮。」子超嗣爵。

At the beginning of the Yongxing reign era (305), an edict was issued declaring that Sima Jiong's offenses had not been serious enough to merit the harsh punishment that he had received, and that due to his earlier good deeds, his lineage should not be snuffed out. Thus his three sons Sima Chao, Sima Bing, and Sima Yīng were all pardoned and allowed to return to their estates, and Sima Chao was appointed as Prince of a county in order to continue Sima Jiong's lineage. Sima Chao eventually served as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance Without Assignment.

At the beginning of the Guangxi reign era (306), Sima Jiong was posthumously honored with a decree by Emperor Hui.

"I declare the following regarding the late Grand Marshal and Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong:

"The late Prince might have quietly and meekly inherited the fief which he was due. Yet rather than sequester himself in his eastern domain (at Qi), he sent forth his proclamation from Xujing (Xu or Xuchang), and fully acted to protect our royal family and quell the disturbance of the imperial household. Zealously leading forth his followers for a righteous cause and forging an alliance at Lake Chu, he achieved successes and performed the greatest of deeds, and was very accomplished at Yingdong (eastern Yingchuan?). I ought to have responded to these things with congratulations for his exceptional performance, thanking him for his loyal and faithful service, and honoring him according to the ancient standards, thereby ensuring and glorifying his legacy. He ought to have been granted a fief even grander than those once held by Han's Princes of Wu and Chu, and he ought to have been honored with such exceptional courtesy and respect that he would have rivaled the favor enjoyed by Xiao He or Huo Guang. The great assistance and protection which he provided us entitled him to the everlasting admiration of the royal clan and the state.

"Yet the Prince failed to practice virtue, he incurred the enmity of two of his peers, the officials pressed him for his faults, and in the end he was executed. The ancients had a saying: 'Enforce the law, but think of the accused.' How much less can I ignore this sentiment when it was thanks to the Prince's deeds that I remained safe and the fortunes of state were preserved? And how tragic, how heart-rending it seems that only posthumously may his achievements be recognized!

"I hereby restore the Prince to his former title as Prince of Qi, and command that his son and heir be permitted to return and to inherit this title. The salary and privileges, canons and systems associated with the title shall all be as they once were. And I hereby send the Commissioner Bearing Credentials and Grand Diplomat to convey my words to the tomb of the late Prince and to offer a Grand Sacrifice to his spirit. If the dead are still aware of what takes place in this world, then may they take note of my command; may the spirit of the late Prince feel peace in his heart and be joyful of this favor and honor."

Sima Jiong's son Sima Chao thus inherited his title as Prince of Qi.

永嘉中，懷帝下詔，重述冏唱義元勳，還贈大司馬，加侍中、假節，追諡。及洛陽傾覆，超兄弟皆沒于劉聰，冏遂無後。太元中，詔以故南頓王宗子柔之襲封齊王，紹攸、冏之祀，曆散騎常侍。元興初，會稽王道子將討桓玄，詔柔之兼侍中，以騶虞幡宣告江、荊二州，至姑孰，為玄前鋒所害。贈光祿勳。子建之立。宋受禪，國除。

During the Yongjia reign era (307-311), Emperor Huai also issued an edict which again praised Sima Jiong for having the chief accomplishment of having sounded the call to rise up against Sima Lun. Emperor Huai posthumously restored Sima Jiong's rank as Grand Marshal, and he also appointed him as a Palace Attendant and a Credential Bearer and gave him his posthumous name (Wumin).

When Luoyang fell (to Han-Zhao, in 311), Sima Chao and his brothers were all lost to Liu Cong, leaving Sima Jiong without any descendants.

During the Taiyuan reign era (376-396), Emperor Xiaowu issued an edict appointing Sima Rouzhi, the son of the late Prince of Nandun, Sima Zong, as Prince of Qi in order to continue Sima You's and Sima Jiong's lineage. Sima Rouzhi rose in office as high as Cavalier In Regular Attendance. At the beginning of the Yuanxing reign era (402), when the Prince of Kuaiji, Sima Daozi, was about to campaign against the rebel general Huan Xuan, an edict was issued appointing Sima Rouzhi as a Palace Attendant, and he was sent out with the Zouyu Banners to command the soldiers of Jiangzhou and Jingzhou (under Huan Xuan's command) to stand down. But when Sima Rouzhi came to Gushu, he was killed by Huan Xuan's vanguard. He was posthumously appointed as Superintendent of the Crown Prince's Household.

Sima Rouzhi's son Sima Jianzhi inherited the title Prince of Qi. But after Liu Yu accepted the abdication of the Jin dynasty and established the Song dynasty (in 420), Sima Jianzhi's fief was abolished.

鄭方者，字子回，慷慨有志節，博涉史傳，卓犖不常，鄉閭有識者歎其奇，而未能薦達。及冏輔政專恣，方發憤步詣洛陽，自稱荊楚逸民，獻書於冏曰：「方聞聖明輔世，夙夜祗懼，泰而不驕，所以長守貴也。今大王安不慮危，耽于酒色，燕樂過度，其失一也。大王檄命，當使天下穆如清風，宗室骨肉永無纖介，今則不然，其失二也。四夷交侵，邊境不靜，大王自以功業興隆，不以為念，其失三也。大王興義，群庶競赴，天下雖甯，人勞窮苦，不聞大王振救之令，其失四也。又與義兵歃血而盟，事定之後，賞不逾時，自清泰已來，論功未分，此則食言，其失五也。大王建非常之功，居宰相之任，謗聲盈塗，人懷忿怨，方以狂愚，冒死陳誠。」冏含忍答之云：「孤不能致五闕，若無子，則不聞其過矣。」未幾而敗焉。

Zheng Fang was styled Zihui. He was a passionate man with a sense of duty and ambition, and he waded through and absorbed all the Histories and Annals. He was exceptionally talented and zealous, and those in his district who knew him all sighed in admiration of how much he stood out. Yet he never held office, because there was no one able to recommend him.

When Sima Jiong held power over the government and abused his authority, Zheng Fang was so moved with indignation that he set out by foot to visit Luoyang. Styling himself a wanderer from Jing and Chu, he presented a letter to Sima Jiong.

"I have heard that when the sage and wise steer the affairs of the age, day and night they are always careful and cautious, nor do they get carried away in their joy. Thus do they preserve and defend their honor. Yet you, Great Prince, are currently relaxed and not thinking of any danger, sinking into the depravity of wine and sensual pleasures and overindulging yourself in feasting and music; this is your first fault. You ought to be as respectful to the realm as the pure wind, and there should not be the slightest distance between yourself and your kinfolk and your flesh and blood, yet there currently is; this is your second fault. The barbarians are pressing in from every side and the borders are unstable, yet you consider that you have already accomplished enough and you take no notice of these things; this is your third fault. When you launched your uprising, all the people rushed to your banner, yet although there is now peace in the realm, the people continue to suffer endlessly, and I have heard nothing of any orders from you on how their burdens might be lifted; this is your fourth fault. And you made a covenant with blood-smeared lips and pledged to those that supported you in your uprising that after things had been completed, rewards would not be slow in coming, yet although the evil has already been purged, there have been no discussions of merit or distributions of rewards; you have eaten your words, and this is your fifth fault.

"Great Prince, you have achieved uncommon deeds, and you now occupy the role of chief minister of the state. Yet you allow slander and rumor to swirl around you and you do nothing while people bear anger and hatred against you. Though it be rash and foolish of me, still I would risk death to demonstrate my sincerity to you."

Sima Jiong bit his tongue and only responded, "I had no idea of my five shortcomings. If not for you, Sir, I would never have heard of them."

It was not long before Sima Jiong was destroyed.

史臣曰：冏名父之子，唱義勤王，摧偽業于既成，拯皇輿於已墜，策勳考績，良足可稱。然而臨禍忘憂，逞心縱欲，曾不知樂不可極，盈難久持，笑古人之未工，忘己事之已拙。向若采王豹之奇策，納孫惠之嘉謀，高謝袞章，永表東海，雖古之伊、霍，何以加焉！

The Historian's Appraisal: Sima Jiong was the son of a famous father, he sounded the call to rise up and rallied the Princes to his banner, he smashed Sima Lun's false designs and kept them from fruition, and he rescued Emperor Hui from falling into oblivion. Truly his actions and deeds were excellent and worthy of praise. Yet afterwards, when he himself stood at the brink of destruction, he failed to heed the danger, but only indulged his heart's desires and did whatever he wished. Did he not know that pleasure cannot go unbridled, or a host of difficulties left unchecked? Was it not ironic that he mocked the ancients who never finished their work, not realizing that his own achievements had been undone? If only he had plucked out the fine plan offered by Wang Bao or accepted the good advice provided by Sun Hui, by magnanimously yielding his imperial splendor at the capital and going out to his fief on the Eastern Sea, where his lineage might have endured! If he had done that, could even Yi Yin or Huo Guang have surpassed him?

贊曰：偉哉武閔！首創宏謨。德之不建，良可悲夫！

Crown Prince Li Xian of Tang's Appraisal: 

Pity the magnificent Prince Wumin!

His deeds were bold, his plans so keen!

Alas, his virtues he did not keep

And thus for this good man we weep.

[the-archlich]

I have opinions.

If we’re all being honest, there’s virtually no chance that the next Dynasty Warriors game will actually include anything after the fall of Shu (Zhong Hui’s revolt being a bit of an exception.) Since the story is often framed as the plucky heroes of Shu fighting the evil armies of Wei, most fiction doesn’t really care about the outcome after Shu has been defeated. But this war had another 15 years in the tank. What would that look like, and how might it be adapted for a DW style game?

As always, I have opinions.

You can read my articles about the conflict between Jin and Wu on my other blog. I planned to write more, but then the ZZTJ translations went on lockdown so we’ll stop with Wu’s end.

The Two Emperors: https://classicalamateur.wordpress.com/2019/11/09/the-two-emperors/

The War Against the North: https://classicalamateur.wordpress.com/2019/11/24/war-against-the-north/

The End of the Era: https://classicalamateur.wordpress.com/2020/02/08/end-of-the-era/

BATTLES

These are the major battles between Wu and Jin (and certain rebels), the ones that would be needed to finish the story of the era.

The Siege of Yong’an (264)

By spring of 264, Wei conquered Shu and Zhong Hui’s rebellion had been put down. The Sima had no more opposition within Wei, but Wu was still a danger. The Wu emperor Sun Xiu knew that if Wei (later Jin) controlled all of Shu, Wu’s chances of survival grew dramatically slimmer. So he sent an army under Bu Xie (later reinforced by Lu Kang) to capture whatever he could in Shu.

Yong’an controlled the passage between Jing and Yi. Although most of the military was led away from the city during Shu’s downfall, a small garrison remained under the command of a minor local officer named Luo Xian. Having just sworn loyalty to Wei he refused to let the Wu army pass. For six months he held off Bu Xie and Lu Kang. Eventually, Hu Lie led a flanking attack against Xiling (Bu Xie’s headquarters), which forced the Wu army to retreat. With the victory at Yong’an, Wei’s control over all of Shu was secured.

Over the next few months, things changed dramatically in Wei and Wu. Sun Xiu passed away and, after some complex maneuvers, was replaced by Sun  Hao as the new emperor. Sima Zhao passed away, leaving Sima Yan in charge of Wei. He soon dethroned Cao Huan and officially founded the Jin dynasty. For a short time, Sun Hao and Sima Yan made peace with each other, exchanging envoys and making diplomatic overtures.

The Battle of Niutun (266)

While Sun Hao was initially popular with his ministers, this popularity faded quickly due to his cruelty, superstition, and other undesirable traits. In winter of 266, a mountain bandit named Shi Dan kidnapped Sun Hao’s brother Sun Qian and marched on Jianye, intending to enthrone Sun Qian as the new emperor. At the time, Sun Hao had relocated the capital to Wuchang and left Zhuge Ding and Ding Gu in charge of Jianye. These two intercepted Shi Dan at Niutun, where they defeated him. This was a minor rebellion but an excellent way to introduce Zhuge Jing and show resentment building against Sun Hao.

Sun Hao’s Campaign (268)

Although Sun Hao and Sima Yan conducted diplomatic relations with each other, this peace broke apart in winter of 268, when Sun Hao launched a large invasion of Jin. He sent Shi Ji (son of Zhu Ran) to attack Jiangxia (likely the city of Shiyang) while Chancellor of the Righ Wan Yu marched on Xiangyang. Meanwhile, Ding Feng was sent to besiege Hefei while Sun Hao personally led an army against Shouchun. Sima Wang was sent to reinforce Hu Lie in Jing while Shi Bao commanded the defenses in Yang along with Sima Jun.

Sima Wang and Hu Lie defeated Wan Yu easily enough, forcing Shi Ji’s retreat as well. Ding Feng met with no success at Hefei and conducted relatively peaceful negotiations with Shi Bao to arrange a border instead. Having won in Jing, Sima Wang then marched east to intercept Sun Hao, who was quickly forced to retreat.

This was a significant campaign. It was broad in scope and was the last significant offensive Wu ever initiated.

The Jiao War (268-271)

During this time, a second war raged in the far south. This conflict began in 264, when Wu’s executor of Jianzhi was killed by a subordinate who defected to Wei. The neighboring commanderies of Jiuzhen and Ji’nan also submitted to Wei. Sima Zhao appointed the former Shu official Huo Yi over these territories. Shortly after this Sima Yan and Sun Hao made peace, so Jin (at the time Wei) temporarily held these territories. But when peace broke down, war over the  southern regions resumed.

Initially the campaign went poorly for Wu. The commander of Wu’s southern armies, Xiu Ze, was unsuccessful in his attempts to retake the lost territories and was killed in battle at Gucheng late in 268. Jin was able to expand its sphere of control, claiming Yulin as well as a foothold in Hepu. Additional armies were sent under one Xue Xu to reestablish control throughout 269 and 270 but these efforts met with no success.

This changed in 271 when Xue Xu’s subordinate Tao Huang defeated and killed Jin’s commander in Jiuzhen. He then defeated Jin’s largest army in Jiaozhi (probably at Longbian). On the back of this momentum, Tao Huang quickly overcome the remaining Jin forces and secured the submission of local leaders, bringing the south once again under Wu’s control.

The Tufa Rebellion (270)

In 269, Sim Yan created Qin province in the northwest and appointed Hu Lie as its inspector. In 270, a Xianbei leader named Tufa Shujineng led a rebellion against Jin in the province. At the time, all of the northwest was under the command of Sima Liang, an uncle of Sima Yan. He sent Hu Lie to defeat the rebels and ordered a subordinate named Liu Qi to advance as well. However Liu Qi refused to advance, leaving Hu Lie isolated. He was subsequently killed in battle with Shujineng.

Sima Liang was blamed for this failure and stripped of office. Du Yu was appointed as the new inspector to replace Hu Lie but ran into conflict with Sima Liang’s replacement. He was accused of false charges and sent to the capital for trial; meanwhile Sima Liang’s replacement attacked the Tufa and was defeated. Sima Jun replaced him.

The rebellion spread in the next year. The tribes in Beidi (Liang province) joined the Tufa rebellion. The local inspector led an army against them but was defeated and killed at Mount Qing. Meanwhile, a large group of Xiongnu revolted as well, under the leadership of one Liu Meng. He was less successful than the Tufa and suffered a loss in Bing province in winter of 271. In spring of the next year, he was defeated again, this time by Hu Fen - Hu Lie’s brother. One of Liu Meng’s subordinates assassinated him and surrendered. Although the Xianbei remained in revolt, the Xiongnu were temporarily suppressed.

The Battle of Xiling (272)

In autumn of 272, internal conflict in Wu led to one of the last major battles of the period. Bu Chan, who controlled Xiling, defected to Jin. Yang Hu led Jin’s armies to assist him, while Lu Kang commanded Wu’s counter-attack.

Lu Kang quickly moved to surround Bu Chan at his main fortress, but he didn’t lay siege immediately. Instead he built fortifications of his own and prepared to repel the Jin troops. Meanwhile Yang Hu advanced on Jiangling, hoping to force Lu Kang to withdraw to defend it. Lu Kang destroyed a nearby dam to flood the area, slowing Yang Hu’s advance. Meanwhile, Jin’s main force arrived at Xiling but Lu Kang was able to drive them away. Lu Kang was then able to besiege Xiling at will, and he took it quickly. Yang Hu was unable to overcome Jiangling and, with Bu Chan killed and Xiling in Lu Kang’s hands, he retreated.

This was a major victory for Wu, especially when coupled with their success in Jiao and Jin’s losses in the northwest. This was a bleak time for Jin, when it seemed like they suffered losses everywhere despite the strength of their state. However, matters would ultimately turn in their favor. The next several years saw deep political divides in both states, resulting in numerous deaths. However, these events don’t work well in a DW style game and are best discussed elsewhere.

The Battle of Wuwei (276-278)

In 276, Sima Jun was given expanded authority over the northwest to deal with the Tufa revolt. He was assisted by Wen Chu, son of Wen Qin. In 277 they led a series of skirmishes against the Xianbei rebels, earning Jin’s first victories over the Tufa. In 278, however, the Inspector of Liang province led soldiers of his own against the rebels but failed. The local tribes of his army rejected his authority, and he was killed by Tufa Shujineng’s forces in battle at Wuwei. So despite the victories earned by Sima Jun and Wen Chu, the rebellion continued. Tufa Shujineng began plundering Liang, with no one seemingly able to stop him.

In 279, a commander of the palace guards named Ma Long was sent to Liang to do battle with the Tufa. He fought a series of skirmishes against the Xianbei as he marched across Liang, with his superior weaponry generally proving victorious. Ma Long eventually fought his way to Wuwei, where he and Tufa Shujineng fought a climactic final battle. Ma Long was victorious and Shujing was executed. So the rebellion that terrorized the northwest for a decade finally came to an end.

The Fall of Wu (279-280)

In winter of 279, Sima Yan ordered Jin’s armies to conquer Wu. This was a massive campaign best broken into two different phases. First, Jin’s armies secured control over Jing province. This consisted of several armies led by Hu Fen, Du Yu, and one Wang Rong attacking key points in Jing, including Xiakou, Jiangling, and Wuchang. Meanwhile, a man named Wang Jun (who gained fame after defeating a minor rebellion in Yi province) led a large naval force down the Great River, smashing through Wu’s defenses. Many of Wu’s soldiers defected to Jin, and the local commanders were quickly defeated. Only a general named Wu Yan (who gained fame during the battle of Xiling) held out.

In the east, Jin’s armies were led by Sima Zhou and a general named Wang Hun. Sun Hao organized an army under Chancellor Zhang Ti, and the most prominent commander of this force was Zhuge Jing (who defeated the rebels around Jianye in 266 and fought at Hefei with Ding Feng in 268). Despite some initial success, they were defeated by Wang Hun’s subordinate Zhou Jun near Banqiao. Zhang Ti was killed in battle, while Zhuge Jing was able to fight his way free. As Jin’s forces continued to advance on Jianye, Sun Hao sent several more armies against them, but these commanders and soldiers quickly deserted. In the end, Wang Jun sailed into Jianye and Sun Hao surrendered, bringing an end to Wu and reuniting the land.

These eight battles describe the most important campaigns between 264 and 280, the lost years of the story. (Though you could probably get by without Niutun if need be.) While it misses the internal politics that devastated the courts of both states, that sort of thing doesn’t really work very well in Dynasty Warriors anyway.

CHARACTERS

Obviously there are ton of people I’d like to include, but I’m going to focus in on the ones who are a.) absolutely vital to this part of the story and b.) aren’t one-hit wonders (like Ma Long). Those who were important outside of this specific era get precedence.

Jin

Some of the existing Jin characters would still be around for parts of this narrative. Jia Chong and Wen Chu would be present throughout the whole thing, while Wang Yuanji and Sima Zhao would be around for some of the early parts.

Hu Lie. A hero of many battles, particularly prominent during the fighting at Shouchun and the conquest of Shu, as well as several major battles depicted here. It’s frankly strange that he isn’t included already.

Hu Fen. As above, Hu Fen served with distinction in several key battles: In Liaodong, at Didao, at Shouchun, against Liu Meng, and in the conquest of Wu. Again, it’s strange that he’s not already part of the cast.

Du Yu. An in-law of the Sima family, Du Yu was a major court figure. He was also a participant in Shu’s conquest, the fighting against the Tufa, and a primary commander in the conquest of Wu.

Sima Jun. He became an imperial attendant as a child (because he was close in age to Cao Fang) and later held several substantial positions in his family’s regime. He appears to have fought at Lake Chao and against Guanqiu Jian. He definitely fought against Sun Hao in 268 and several campaigns against the Tufa in the northwest.

Sima Wang. A major figure of the family. He held a series of minor appointments in his younger years and probably participated in his family’s operations against Cao Shuang and Guanqiu Jian. He was later transferred to the northwest, where he fought witn Jiang Wei. He helped repel Sun Hao in 268 and passed away not long after that.

Wu

Of the current cast, only Ding Feng would be around for any of this. And while I can’t begin to list every Wu character I’d want to add, the ones most important for this tale would be as follows.

Lu Kang. One of Wu’s last successful commanders. He served with distinction in several battles, especially at Shouchun. He was a major figure in all of Wu’s wars and politics during this last era, and his connection to existing characters like Lu Xun makes him an easy choice. (Plus, one time in ROT3K VIII he and I fought the whole world together and won. That’s my boy.)

Zhuge Jing. In some ways the lone survivor. Son of Zhuge Dan, he was a significant general in Wu, fighting in most of their important conflicts at the end.

Bu Chan. It’s a little hard to pin down his exact career, but we can assume he was involved in all the fighting in Jing. His defection triggered a conflict that was too significant to ignore.

Wu Yan. A hero at Xiling and one of the last Wu commanders left standing. The Wu narrative needs someone like him to help bring it to a close.

Tao Huang. The conqueror of the south. Although he doesn’t have much relevance outside of that, this is Dynasty Warriors so it’s easy enough to justify him in battles in the north before that, and to have him show up in the final campaign. Another survivor of Wu’s end; with Zhuge Jing and Wu Yan he gives the faction enough people to finish the tale.

There are tons of others I could mention but these are the ones I consider the strongest and most important candidates. With these characters and these battles, you can tell the final chapter of the story and actually bring it to a close in a way that makes sense.

[wengvy210615]

8/10/19 2219

*Weng & Vy Love Story 1*

Ying gai chong shen me shi hou shuo qi ne? Wo he wo de laopo 2015 nian 3 yue duo de shi hou ren shi de. Hen kuai de wm jiu zai yi qi le. Wm shi zai ktv ren shi de. Wo di yi yan kan dao wo laopo de shi hou, bu zhi dao wsm, jiu yi jing you yi zhong shuo bu chu de gan jue. Shi xi huan? Shi “yi jin zhong qing” (di yi yan jiu ai shang na zhong) ? You le di yi ci de zuo tai guo hou, wo jiu kai shi yi zi qu zhao ta le, xie ta de zhong, zai ktv li mian wm de hui yi zhen de ye shi man duo de. Kai shi de shi hou, yw man man jiu hen ai le, suo yi hui kai sho chi chu ah, mummy bu gei wo xie ta ah, zai ta zuo gong fang gong nong dao mei you jing shen qu zuo gong le ah, hen xiang ta ting gong ah, agent ah, hen duo hen duo de wen ti; zhong jian hai man2 de laopo gen wo tan bai le ta yq de dx. Ah roi ah, ah meng ah, ta de di 1 ge ai ren (🐕), 1 night stand...... ke shi shuo ye qi guai, wo ke yi bu jie yi zhe xie guo qu, shui ran xing hen tong, ke shi xz xiang qi lai zhen de jue de qi guai , ru guo shi yi ge zheng chang de nan zi, ting dao zhe xie guo hou yg hui jie yi de, nan dao na shi hou wo yj jiang ai ta le? (Xz wo hui zhe yang shuo, yw you ji hui de hua, wo hui man man xie guan yu 4 nian ban hou de xz fa sheng de dx)

Uh dui le, zai ren shi bu jiu de shi hou, wm hai mei you zhen zhen de zai yi qi, ke shi you yi tian, bei wo fa xian ta gei ren booking chu qu le, qi shi na shi hou wo you da suan jiu zhe yang fang qi liao de, wo send le msg gei ta, wo dao xz hai ji de wo xie shen me, “ta gs wo ta bu neng ji xu xie wo de zhong le, yao qu py jia ji xu he jiu he wan” “qi shi wo yj dong fa sheng shen me shi le, yw Amy bao gao gei wo ting, ni de hao npy yao booking chu qu le” wo gs le laopo wo zhi dao shen me shi le, ta hen jing zhang, gs wo jiao wo deng ming tian zhao shang, ta gen wo jie shi. Na yi wan de gj zhen de hen bu hao shou, wo dao xz dou hai ji de qing qing chu chu, yi xiang dao ta he bie de nan zi yi qi lam tinh, wo zhen wan de xin tong dao........ ke shi di er tian da gai 10 dian duo zhao shang, ta jiu msg wo le, wen wo zai gm zhe xie na xie, ran hou ta jiao wo xiang xin ta, yi zhen wan ta mei you he na ge nan zi fa sheng shen me, yw ta zuo xi dao hong. Wo xiang xin le ta........ guo hou 11 yie duo, ta kai shi ting gong le! Wo nu li le 1 ge duo yue cai cheng gong quan ta ting gong, wei le wei lai de wm.

Gang kai shi zai yi qi de shi hou, wm mei tian dou yao nian zai yi qi; ru guo you yi tian wo shuo zai kl mei you hui lai furong zai ta fang gong, ta jiu hui bu gao xing le, sha po. You shi hou hai hui huai yi wo zai 61 qu wan hahaha. Na shi hou de ta zhen de hen ai wo de, xiao xiao shi ta jiu hui chi chu, sheng qi le. Hen xiang nian na shi hou de ta ah. Zhen de hen xiang nian...wm mei tian yao tou, wo deng ta fang gong. Ta zuo gong jiu hao xiang wo ye zuo gong na yang. Zui zhao dao ktv de shi wo, you shi hou zui ci zhou de ye shi wo. Hui jia wo men mei tian dou lam tinh, bao zhe jing jing yi qi shui. Na shi hou wo tian2 zai KL lai hui seremban, ni wen wo lei ma? “Lei” zhen de lei. Ke shi na shi hou , wo jue de fei chang kai xin. Qi shi wo xiang shuo de shi, dao xz wo hai shi yi yang de xin, qi shi laopo mei you fa xian, wo zhen de mei you zen yang bian guo, zen yang shuo ne? Qi shi wo hui lai jia li zuo gong yi hou, wo mei tian dou jia hen duo, hen yuan de che, you shi hou. Hao xiang jin tian wo qu le 3 ge di fang, dou shi bu jin de di fang, jin tian yj jia le cha bu duo 150km le. Ke shi qi shi you shi wo zhen de lei, ke shi laopo shuo yao qu Penang ah, KL pao pao ah, shui ran lei, he you xiang yao xiu xi, ke shi zui hou wo hai shi you pei laopo he er zi qu wan de. Penang 4 ge duo zhong, yi ge ren jia wan, zhen de shi you lei de ah 😅 ke neng laopo yi hou zi ji hui jia che le jiu hui mb. Wo xiang shuo de shi, qi shi 4 nian ban li, wo de xin dui laopo zen yang, wo zhen de dong de. Wan shang fang gong hui lai, wo bu shi bu xiang bang laopo song huo, shi zhen de you lei; wan shang hui lai, wo bu shi bu gen laopo shuo hua, qu nian 2018 nian laopo sheng le bany shi 2017 nian 9 yue. Na zhen nian 2018 nian li mian fa sheng le hen duo dx. Zhe ge yao zai guo hou de story ji xu. Hao la, wengvy story jin tian dao zhe bian. -2319-

[angrywolfbouquetlove]

張禾禾【逃之夭夭】( Tao Zhi Yao Yao )我掏出真心卻換來毒藥，留下我一個人 ，獨自受苦煎熬【動態歌詞 Lyrics】

收聽更多音樂↓↓↓ Listen to more music↓↓↓

YouTube : 想念音樂頻道

【動態歌詞 Lyrics】

張禾禾 - 逃之夭夭 作詞：邢榕 作曲：邢榕 編曲：文魁 監製：邢榕 製作人：文魁 鋼琴：文魁 吉他：文魁、劉選吉 貝斯：文魁、劉選吉 鼓：CHRIS TRZCINSKI 和聲編寫：文魁 和聲：文魁 錄音師：文魁 混音師：王路遙 出品人：梁斌 OP：溶洞音樂

你突然選擇逃跑 沒任何預兆 是不是我太渺小 太恃寵而驕 我整片天都灰掉 想過一了百了 昨天我還在你懷裡 逍遙 誰把你心偷跑 美夢全碎掉 我像個跳梁小丑 在左顧右瞧 我以為我能得到 以為你是最好 我掏出真心卻換來毒藥 你逃之夭夭 不知到哪兒去找 留下我一個人 獨自受苦煎熬 你可知我曾在 空無一人街道 瘋了一樣尋找 哭的控制不了 哦 你逃之夭夭 不知到哪兒去找 留我獨自預料 愛的太過可笑 恍惚之間看到 追到天涯海角 一切都是徒勞 過眼雲霄 你突然選擇逃跑 沒任何預兆 是不是我太渺小 太恃寵而驕 我整片天都灰掉 想過一了百了 昨天我還在你懷裡 逍遙 誰把你心偷跑 美夢全碎掉 我像個跳梁小丑 在左顧右瞧 我以為我能得到 以為你是最好 我掏出真心卻換來毒藥 你逃之夭夭 不知到哪兒去找 留下我一個人 獨自受苦煎熬 你可知我曾在 空無一人街道 瘋了一樣尋找 哭的控制不了 哦 你逃之夭夭 不知到哪兒去找 留我獨自預料 愛的太過可笑 恍惚之間看到 追到天涯海角 一切都是徒勞 過眼雲霄 哦 你逃之夭夭 不知到哪兒去找 留我獨自預料 愛的太過可笑 恍惚之間看到 追到天涯海角 一切都是徒勞 過眼雲霄

【Pinyin lyrics】

Zhang He He ( Tao Zhi Yao Yao )

Ni Tu Ran Xuan Ze Tao Pao Mei Ren He Yu Zhao Shi Bu Shi Wo Tai Miao Xiao Tai Shi Chong Er Jiao Wo Zheng Pian Tian Dou Hui Diao Xiang Guo Yi Liao Bai Liao Zuo Tian Wo Hai Zai Ni Huai Li Xiao Yao Shei Ba Ni Xin Tou Pao Mei Meng Quan Sui Diao Wo Xiang Ge Tiao Liang Xiao Chou Zai Zuo Gu You Qiao Wo Yi Wei Wo Neng De Dao Yi Wei Ni Shi Zui Hao Wo Tao Chu Zhen Xin Que Huan Lai Du Yao Ni Tao Zhi Yao Yao Bu Zhi Dao Na Er Qu Zhao Liu Xia Wo Yi Ge Ren Du Zi Shou Ku Jian Ao Ni Ke Zhi Wo Ceng Zai Kong Wu Yi Ren Jie Dao Feng Le Yi Yang Xun Zhao Ku De Kong Zhi Bu Liao O Ni Tao Zhi Yao Yao Bu Zhi Dao Na Er Qu Zhao Liu Wo Du Zi Yu Liao Ai De Tai Guo Ke Xiao Huang Hu Zhi Jian Kan Dao Zhui Dao Tian Ya Hai Jiao Yi Qie Dou Shi Tu Lao Guo Yan Yun Xiao Ni Tu Ran Xuan Ze Tao Pao Mei Ren He Yu Zhao Shi Bu Shi Wo Tai Miao Xiao Tai Shi Chong Er Jiao Wo Zheng Pian Tian Dou Hui Diao Xiang Guo Yi Liao Bai Liao Zuo Tian Wo Hai Zai Ni Huai Li Xiao Yao Shei Ba Ni Xin Tou Pao Mei Meng Quan Sui Diao Wo Xiang Ge Tiao Liang Xiao Chou Zai Zuo Gu You Qiao Wo Yi Wei Wo Neng De Dao Yi Wei Ni Shi Zui Hao Wo Tao Chu Zhen Xin Que Huan Lai Du Yao Ni Tao Zhi Yao Yao Bu Zhi Dao Na Er Qu Zhao Liu Xia Wo Yi Ge Ren Du Zi Shou Ku Jian Ao Ni Ke Zhi Wo Ceng Zai Kong Wu Yi Ren Jie Dao Feng Le Yi Yang Xun Zhao Ku De Kong Zhi Bu Liao O Ni Tao Zhi Yao Yao Bu Zhi Dao Na Er Qu Zhao Liu Wo Du Zi Yu Liao Ai De Tai Guo Ke Xiao Huang Hu Zhi Jian Kan Dao Zhui Dao Tian Ya Hai Jiao Yi Qie Dou Shi Tu Lao Guo Yan Yun Xiao O Ni Tao Zhi Yao Yao Bu Zhi Dao Na Er Qu Zhao Liu Wo Du Zi Yu Liao Ai De Tai Guo Ke Xiao Huang Hu Zhi Jian Kan Dao Zhui Dao Tian Ya Hai Jiao Yi Qie Dou Shi Tu Lao Guo Yan Yun Xiao

[fayewonglibrary]

Episode 4 of “Phantacity” (2018)

Faye Wong and Leah Dou are like sisters

Since the premiere of “Phantacity”, it has become a must-see summer variety show. Last week, Faye Wong and Leah Dou caused much discussion. We got to see another side of Faye other than her aloofness!

Since her debut, Faye Wong’s straightforward nature has not changed. This time on “Phantacity”, He Jiong asked her why she decided to come on the show. She directly replied: “Because it’s easy. (relaxing/effortless).”

Daughter Leah Dou also inherited her mother’s interview style. When she was asked the same question on stage, she hesitated before answering: "My mom told me to come.” Similarly causing laughter in the audience.

Next, Leah’s performance did not disappoint. Faye’s protective nature came out and she excitedly evaluated her daughter as: “Very good!”  The mother-daughter interactions with no regard to their age difference is enviable!

It’s not just the way the two get along, but also their appearance. When the two stood together, there was no age difference. It didn’t look like mother and daughter. They look like sisters! In the next year, Faye Wong will be 50 years old and her daughter is in her early 20s.

SOURCE:  ELLE CHINA // TRANSLATED BY: FAYE WONG FUZAO

------------------------------------------------------------------  

Faye Wong & Matilda Tao’s friendship

In the 4th episode of “Phantacity”, Matilda Tao was the first female friend of Faye Wong to appear on the show.

Matilda was surprised by the change in her friend and said: “I am curious what made Faye Wong change from an iceberg to a volcano?” Faye retorted: “I have never been an iceberg.”

Faye’s famous circle of friends is known as “Class One Grade Six”, which includes Zheng Jun, Na Ying, Vicki Zhao Wei, etc.

However, Matilda Tao is not in this group. Even their previous interactions are only from interview programs. Faye’s definition of this relationship is “huo jiu jian” (live long enough to eventually see). The last time the two met was many years ago. At that time, Matilda gave Leah a watch. When Faye accepted the gift, she said bluntly that Leah would not take care of the watch. But now time has passed, and the child who would not take care of the watch has become a performer on “Phantacity.” It has been more than ten years.

Faye Wong is famously a difficult person to interview in the entertainment industry. Only saying a few words in a long duration of time. Matilda was able to get her to open up and she was also called the host who has interviewed Faye Wong the most times.

In fact, Matilda does not hold back. At the 15th Taiwan Golden Melody Awards Ceremony, Matilda said: “Thanks to Faye Wong, who is in the middle of filming 2046, for finding time to come to the awards ceremony” (meaning that Faye made a goodwill gesture to give face). But Faye innocently said: "It already completed filming….” The whole audience laughed. Matilda said: “I had better not interview you.”

However, Matilda and Faye are close. After Faye divorced Dou Wei, Matilda directly asked Faye if she wanted to find her daughter a father.

Faye said she never thought about it. Her daughter has her own father. She is looking for her partner. It’s only Matilda who dares to ask questions like this.

The friendship between Matilda and Faye is based on interviews, which topics may be filled with rumors. Whenever Faye went to Taiwan for promotions, she would go on Matilda’s program, and even her autograph sessions were hosted by her. Matilda knew well that Faye was shy. She tried her best to create an atmosphere and Faye also learned to cooperate with her.

Matilda once joked that if Takuya Kimura wanted to find Faye to chat, he just had to ask where the bathroom was. This caused Faye to laugh and laugh, and she did not mind.

Matilda also pretended to make accidents on her shows. In the presence of Faye, she reported on news of Nicholas Tse. If it was anyone else, Faye might have gotten upset. But for Matilda, Faye smiled and said: “I know you did it on purpose, but I don’t mind.” This may be the embodiment of love.

Faye has always believed that she is not good with words. She was always afraid of being misinterpreted and worried that she might offend people. She simply refuses to interview most of the time. In her conversations with Matilda, every time she got stuck, she would say, “You understand what I mean.” Matilda would immediately explain, which can be considered the best interviewer and response.

However, Matilda has also not been able to control her big mouth. After Faye and Li Yapeng divorced, Matilda once joked that Nicholas Tse’s wish will come true in the New Year. The following year, Faye and Nic were reunited. It was speculated that Matilda knew something for a long time. However, Faye did not care and did not let their relationship become uncomfortable.

SOURCES: ENT.PEOPLE.COM & SOHU // TRANSLATED BY: FAYE WONG FUZAO

------------------------------------------------------------------  

Faye Wong shares the stage with daughter Leah Dou on ‘PhantaCity’

What does Faye Wong have to say about her daughter Leah Dou’s performance on the show?

Faye Wong took fans by surprise when she made her reality show debut last month in a programme called ‘PhantaCity’ produced by Hunan TV. She marked the music reality show’s premiere with a one-take only performance of The Cranberries’ ‘Dream’s before a live TV audience, and future guests on the show are expected to do the same.

After the singer’s much hyped about appearance on the programme, viewers expressed their hopes to see Leah Dou, Faye’s daughter who is also a budding singer, guest on the programme with her mum.

And they got just what they wished for last week.

In the latest episode, Leah took to the stage with an enchanting rendition of ‘Huan Yue’. After her 10-minute long performance, she was joined on stage by her mother who had ran over to give her a hug.

The 49-year-old was said to have lost composure when she saw her daughter’s performance and appeared nervous at the start of the song. According to China media, the mother-of-two could barely hold it in and excitedly rushed up the stage after the performance was over.

Both mother and daughter showed off their close relationship when they bantered on stage with Faye calling her daughter ‘Miss Dou’ and Leah calling her mum ‘big sister’.

When it was time for her to critique on Leah’s performance, Faye gave a glowing review, saying, “In any case, I’m really satisfied!”

Unlike her usual cool stage persona, the diva drew laughter from the crowd with her unusually jittery and excited behaviour, even after being told repeatedly to ‘calm down’ by the show’s host He Jiong.

Leah is Faye’s first daughter with Chinese rocker Dou Wei; she has another daughter, Li Yan, with ex-husband Li Yapeng.

SOURCE:  ASIAN BUZZ

[bookofjin]

Annals of Zhengshi 1 (504)

The correct start of Wei's Zhengshi era.

[Zhengshi 1, 1 February 504 – 18 February 505]

1st Year of Zhengshi[“Correct Start”], Spring, 1st Month, gengxu [3 February], the Inspector of Jiang province, the Duke of Qujiang, Chen Bozhi, routed Xiao Yan's general Zhao Zuyue at Dongguan [“Eastern Pass”].

On bingyin [19 February], a great amnesty, and changed the year.

2nd Month, wuzi [12 March], Xiao Yan's general Jiang Qingzhen assaulted and captured Shouchun's outer walls. The provincial army struck and ran him off.

On dingyou [21 March], the Army Director of Yang province, Liu Sizu, greatly routed Yan's multitudes at Shaoyang, and seized his General of the Best of the Army, the State-Founding Marquis of Shaoyang county, Zhang Huishao, [his] General of Valiant Cavalry, the State-Founding Baron of Qiyang, Zhao Jingyue, and others, ten generals, the beheaded and captured numbered several thousand.

3rd Month, renshen [25 April], Yuan Ying routed Yan's general Wang Sengbing at Fancheng.

Summer, 4th Month, xinmao [14 May], the state of Gaoli dispatched envoys to court to present.

5th Month, dingwei, New Moon [30 May], the Grand Tutor, the King of Beihai, Xiang, due to his crimes was deposed to be a commoner.

6th Month [28 June – 27 July], due to a drought, cleared away the music and decreased meals.

On guisi [15 July], a decree said:

We not being virtuous, that government and punishment have much diverged, and heat and drought for successive ten-days, the capital domain has dried out and gone to ruin, are among the responsibilities of mine, from dawn to dusk [We are] bereft in our breast.

There are ministers that can conform to and rest on the old standards, and respectfully act on the Six Affairs: Prisons are unjustly blogged up, fairly assess and judge them. Numerous governors dismissed from duty, evaluate and apply refining and cultivating. The orphaned and solitary are hemmed in by adversity, where they are help them survive. Conscription service and taxes are many and bothersome, for all do dispense with and scrutiny them. The worthy and good speak frankly and straight, use the rites to advance them. The greedy cause damage and the sycophants flatter, timely do set aside and demote them. Men and women are bitter and set apart, must cause them to be brought together and meet. Declare to Us [your] thoughts about it.

On jiawu [16 July], the Emperor due to the drought personally offered sacrifices at the Grand Temple.

On wuxu [20 July], decreed to erect temples to Dan of Zhou and Yi and Qi at Shouyang Mountain.

On gengzi [22 July], due to the drought saw the excellencies, ministers and below, to call attention to find faults in the duties of one's own person. Also recorded [those] in the Imperial City who were imprisoned. Deaths by cutting off and downwards all were decreased by one grade. The convicted to whipping and caning were thoroughly all forgiven.

Autumn, 7th Month, guichou [4 August], Xiao Yan's Defence Master of Jiaocheng, Chai Qingzong, came to surrender. Li Chong greatly routed the leader of the various Man, Fan Su'an.

8th Month, bingzi [27 August], Yuan Ying routed Xiao Yan's general Ma Xianpin at Yiyang.

Decreed the Prefect of Luoyang when there were great affairs to listen face-to-face and set it forth in a memorial [?].

On yiyou [5 September], Yuan Ying attacked Yiyang and took it. He seized and sent off Xiao Yan's General of the Best of the Army, Cai Ling'en, and others, more than ten generals.

On xinmao [11 September], Ying again greatly routed Yan's generals, and carried on to clear Sanguan [“Three Passes”].

On dingyou [17 September], ennobled Yuan Ying as King of Zhongshan.

On wuxu [18 September], Song Wan of the Western Qiang led 4 000 households to adhere inside.

9th Month, bingwu [26 September], decreed [those] who were in the garrisons and defence posts hemming the south and north sides of the Huai, all were ordered on reaching autumn to sow wheat, and in spring to plant foxtail millet and rice in accordance with what was suitable for their land. Water and land in multiple use, would surely cause the ground to have no neglected profits, and the troops to have no surplus power. By the time reaching the coming harvest, it would cause public and private to succeed together.

Also decreed the various provinces were to dispense with and stop conscript labour and service, and did not get to contravene when they were to summon or issue out.

On jiazi [14 October], decreed for Xiao Yan's General of the Best of the Army and Overseer of Si provine Affairs, Cai Ling'en and others seized by the King of Zhongshan, Ying, to select and arrange according to talent.

On yichou [15 October], Xiao Yan's Inspector of Huo province, Tian Daolong, and Inspector of Yi province, Zhang Zongzhi, dispatched envoys to adhere within.

The Ruanruan transgressed the frontier. Decreed the Supervisor of the Left, Yuan Huan, to chastise them.

Winter, 10th Month, yiwei [14 November], decreed to put an end to the crowd of officials' white clothes recruitment of functionaries.

11th Month, wuwu [7 December], a decree said:

The wise kings of ancient times founded a heritage and handed down the management, they calmed the people and installed transform, there were nobody who did not honour and establish “glue and hierarchy” schools, began teaching the state's descendants, to brightly circulate the Three Rites, and honour and clarify the Four Procedures, and made the Way be unimpeded among the crowd of nations, their manners flowed over the ten thousand roofs. Since the august foundation moved edifice, the brilliant residence in the central sector, army and state have applied themselves abundantly, there have not yet been time to organize and establish. To politely talk of thinking about it, is to be shamed by the ancients' zeal. Can direct to have the ministers rely on Han and Wei's old compositions, and lay out and restore the state's schools.

12th Month, bingzi [25 December], used the parks, pastures and public fields to divide up and bestow on the households moved from Dai.

On jimao [28 December], decreed the crowd of subjects to discuss and settle the statutes and orders.

On jihai [17 January], travelled to favour Yi Pass.

Intercalary Month, guimao, New Moon [21 January], Xiao Yan's Acting on the Affairs of Liang# province, Xiahou Daoqian, occupied Hanzhong to come and surrender. Provisionally made use of the Master of Writing Xing Luan General who Garrisons the West, to lead the multitudes to hurry to him.

On yichou [12 February], Great General of Agile Cavalry, the King of Gaoyang, Yong, became Minister of Works. The Prefect of the Masters of Writing, the King of Guangyang, Jia, had added Ceremony Similar to the Three Ministers.

[phanique]

I am currently rewatching some parts of Ancient Love Poetry before I start reading the novel. The novel has 96 chapters which I do think I can finish in a week given the time I have.

As I watch the drama I thought about a few questions such as who is the most responsible for the mess, who is the saddest/suffered the most so I kind of want to discuss this.

Who is the most responsible for this mess?

I would be focusing on the things that happened after Hun Dun Zhi Jie as I felt that before Hun Dun Zhi Jie, the main things were Xuan Yi who everyone knew was evil already and Hun Dun Zhi Jie itself.

The main villain after Hun Dun Zhi Jie was definitely Wu Huan but I also want to discuss what lead her to this stage and who actually gave her the way to be this way.

I think a main key point was that did no one notice her change when she started developing thoughts of how she should be superior, I guess everyone was just busy looking at Shang Gu developing Hun Dun power that they forgot about her?

Next who allowed her?

I personally would find a few people who should have intercepted early.

Firstly, I would say Mu Guang has one the the biggest chance of intercepting because I do think that he should have actually find out what caused the hatred between the immortals and demon group. I do think there was some prejudice before Hun Dun Zhi Jie like they did with Gu Jun but as the Heavenly Emperor, shouldn't you know best about what happened?

Also, even when he started suspecting her, I felt that he believed in Wu Huan too much given that he is her husband but I would say that he is less rational than a Heavenly Emperor should be.

Secondly, her kids. Honestly, how does one sibling be so different from the other two. Like Jing Yang has caused so much war between the two groups but Mu Guang did not do anything? Was he not in the knowing? Jing Zhao too, I do not see where she gets her hatred of demon group personally when they have not touched your loved ones unlike Feng Ran.

Who is the saddest / suffered the most?

I actually have a hard time deciding between Jing Jian and Tian Qi so I might put the two on par.

Firstly, Jing Jian on one hand has to resolve the anger between his mother and his siblings and on the other hand someone he loves. He was actually quite firm with his mother unlike Mu Guang who still believed Wu Huan to a certain degree. He also sacrificed himself and technically died under his mother's hands.

Secondly, Tian Qi liked Shang Gu but is unrequited. Yue Mi who was his good friend/potential lover died too. Zhi Yan died too. His demon group also suffered a lot under the Heavenly Emperor rule.

Thirdly, Feng Ran maybe. Lost her caretaker, lost Jing Jian. Technically unwelcomed in both Heavenly Empire and demon group.

Fourthly, I would actually say is Mu Guang even though I also did say he does hold some responsibility. I would say that he never expected things to turn out this way. At his last few moments he actually told Wu Huan, "what will always remain right is that you are my wife, the mother to my child", he still loves Wu Huan deeply regardless of what she did, even to the end which I am really surprised since I would expect that he could not even love her.

Fifthly, Yuan Qi. I would not say that he 'suffered' but his upbringing is really sad in a way. He was 'abandoned' from birth, his father did not (could not) acknowledge him while his mother was in coma for hundreds of years (if I remember correctly). When Shang Gu woke up, she only recognised him as his son and not nephew. However, after Bai Jue sacrificed himself, she decided to kneel for 500 years. So I would say that Yuan Qi only got his mother by his side for maybe 10 years at most. Sure, Bai Jue did visit him as Feng Ran but as his father, it was only that moment. (I actually felt that while Shang Gu kneeling is sad, I felt a little more sad more Yuan Qi.)

That would be all for some of my thoughts. There is also one moment that made me sort of laugh where Shang Gu sort of made Wu Huan as non-living thing and Jing Zhao actually cursed Shang Gu that she would be lonely forever etc, at that moment I was like dude Shang Gu already is with how cold Bai Jue is to her if you did not have eyes Jing Zhao.

Hopefully I will finish the novel soon, will upload more on that!