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[bookofjin]

Liu Yuan founds the fourth Han

Translations

WS001, Preliminary Annals

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

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

WS095, Biography of Liu Cong

Yuan spoke to Xuan and others, saying:

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

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

…

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

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

…

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

JS004, Annals of Emperor Huan

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JS037, Biography of Sima Teng, King Wuai of Xincai

…

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

…

穎懼，挾帝歸洛陽，進騰位安將軍。

JS039, Biography of Wang Jun

…

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

…

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

JS059, Biography of Sima Ying, King of Chengdu

…

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

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

…

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

JS089, Biography of Wang Yu

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

…

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

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

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

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

JS091, Biographies of Cui You and Fan Long

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

JS101, Yearly Annals of Liu Yuanhai

…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yuanhai said:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

…

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

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

JS101, Biography of Liu Xuan

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

元海即王位，宣之謀也，故特荷尊重，勛戚莫二，軍國內外靡不專之。

JS102, Biography of Chen Yuanda

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

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

Yuanda replied, saying:

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

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

You Lord is likely a sage!

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

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

Yuanda said:

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

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

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

JS103, Yearly Annals of Liu Yao

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TPYL045, Geography Part 10: Mountains of Hebei

The Records of Former Zhao states:

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

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

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

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

TPYL119, Regional Hegemons Part 3: Liu Yuan

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

…

Yuan said:

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

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

Xuan and others praised it as good.

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

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

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

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

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

TPYL119, Regional Hegemons Part 3: Liu Yuan

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

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

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

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

…

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

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

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

The thief said:

You Lord is a righteous gentleman

He released him.

…

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

ZZTJ085, Annals of Jin

…

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

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

…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Yuan said:

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

Xuan and others touched head to ground, saying:

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

…

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are you, Lord, afraid?

Yuanda replied, saying:

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

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

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

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

遣左於陸王宏帥精騎五千，會穎將王粹拒東嬴公騰。粹已為騰所敗，宏無及而歸。

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

…

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

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

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

…

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

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

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

ZZTJKY04

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

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

Yuan acceded as King of Han.

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

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

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