Zizhi Tongjian (Condensed Edition) (Volume 1 and Volume 2)

Author: (Song) Sima Guang
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-03-01
Features: Excerpt: 19 Emperor Xiaohou of Wei showed disrespect in his inner quarters. There were three nieces-in-law who did not marry, and when they were brought before him, he used them to reverse his decision. They were all enfeoffed as princesses. Princess Mingyue of Pingyuan was also the half-sister of Prince Baogui of Nanyang. She followed the emperor into the Guanzhong region. Prime Minister Tai ordered the Yuan clan and other princes to take Mingyue and kill her; the emperor was displeased and sometimes drew his bow or struck the table with his fist, thus further estranging himself from Tai. The princess was straightened and chased again. Then, she was helped and turned again. On the day of Guiwei, the emperor drank wine and was poisoned to death. He was twenty-five years old. Tai gathered the ministers to discuss who should be enthroned, and many recommended Prince Zan of Guangping. Zan was the younger brother of Emperor Xiaowu. The Minister of the Court, Prince Shun of Puyang, in a separate room, wept and said to Tai, “Gao Huan forced out the former emperor and installed a young heir to seize power. You should reverse his actions. Prince Guangping is too young; it would be better to install a mature ruler and support him.” Tai then enthroned Prince Baogui of Nanyang as the new emperor. Baogui was the grandson of Emperor Xiaowen and the son of Prince Yu of Jingzhao. The long, know two turns. Shun, was the great-grandson of Prince Sui of Changshan. According to records, there were three members of the Wei clan named Shun. When Taowu attacked Zhongshan, Shun wanted to establish himself in Pingcheng, still using the surname Tuoba at that time. Another Shun, the son of Prince Rencheng, scolded Gao Zhao at the door, advising Empress Ling to stop adorning herself and criticizing Xu He, known for his straightforwardness. Later, when he heard of the disaster at Heyin, he fled and died. This Shun was the great-grandson of Prince Sui of Changshan. Both had changed their surname to Yuan. Tai buried Emperor Xiaowu in the Buddhist temple of Cotaosi and mourned so intensely that he vomited blood and did not eat for several days. Shun, being a renowned scholar, was not punished.
20 When Heba Sheng was in Jingzhou, he recommended Wuwei General Duolu Xin as the Grand Commander. After the Eastern Wei took Jingzhou, the Wei court appointed Xin as the Grand Commander of the Military Affairs of the Three Jingzhongs, the Right Vice Minister of State, the Acting Grand Commander of the Southeast Circuit, and the Governor of Jingzhou to win over the people. The barbarian chief Fan Wuneng broke Shixiang Prefecture to support the Wei. Chief, read as ci you fan. The Annals of Differences say: “The Northern History records him as ‘Fan Dachen.’ I follow the Wei Book.” The Western Jingzhou Governor of Eastern Wei, Xin Zan, wanted to attack him. According to the Sui Annals, Xin Zan was then stationed in Rangcheng. Thus, Western Jingzhou was the same as Jingzhou, because Rangcheng was west of Eastern Jingzhou. The Circuit Acting Minister Li Guang advised, “Shixiang is surrounded by mountains on all sides, with only one city and deep, dangerous paths, surrounded by barbarian tribes. If we send too few troops, we cannot subdue the enemy; if we send too many, our own base will be weakened. If things go wrong, our reputation will be severely damaged, and once the people abandon us, the city will be hard to defend.” Xin said, “How can we let the enemy escape without fighting!” Guang replied, “Our priority is the heart of the matter; we have no time to deal with minor issues. I hear the Circuit army will arrive soon. You should only urge the nearby cities to strengthen their defenses, pacify the people, and wait for the reinforcements. Even if we lose Shixiang, it is not a great loss.” Xin did not listen and sent troops to attack, but they were defeated, and the generals fled without returning. The city people secretly called for Duolu Xin. When Xin arrived at Wutao—“Wutao” is likely a typo for “Wuguan.” The Eastern Wei sent the Governor of Hennong, Tian Banneng, to lead the barbarian tribes to resist Xin at Shixiang. They also sent Commander Zhang Qimin with 3,000 infantry and cavalry to attack Xin from behind. Xin told his troops, “We have fewer than a thousand soldiers, facing enemies on both sides—Tian Banneng in front and Zhang Qimin behind. If we turn to attack Qimin, the people of Shixiang will think we are retreating and will surely come to intercept us. It is better to attack Banneng first, defeat him, and then Qimin will collapse.” Xin then defeated Banneng and swiftly attacked Rangcheng. Xin Zan led his troops to fight but was heavily defeated and fled back to the city. Before the gates could close, he was defeated and fled again, the guards panicked and failed to lower the gates. Rang, read as qi you fan. Xin ordered Commander Wuquan Yang Zhong to lead the vanguard. Yang Zhong was the father of Emperor Wen of Sui. The Sui clan claimed descent from Yang Zhen of Huayin, but Yang Zhong was from Wuquan. The Sui clan traced its lineage as follows: “We are descended from Yang of Huayin in Hongnong. Yang Zhen, the Han Minister of State, had fourteen generations down to Emperor Wen. Zhen’s eighth-generation descendant, the Governor of Beiping, Xuan, had a son named Yuanshou, who was the Military Prefect of Wuquan in the early Wei period and settled in Shenwu Shuaili County. Yuanshou had a son named Huiju, who had a son named Lie, who had a son named Zhen, who had a son named Zhong.” Zhong scolded the guards, “The army is already here. If there are any among you who want to live, why don’t you flee!” The guards scattered. Zhong led his troops into the city, executed Xin, and the city surrendered. Zhong divided his forces to pacify the three Jingzhongs. After half a year, Eastern Wei generals Gao Aocao and Hou Jing arrived at the city with troops. Xin’s forces were too few to resist, so he and Yang Zhong fled to return to the Wei court. This laid the foundation for Heba Sheng and Xin to return to the Wei court. General, read as liang fan. Fewer, read as shi zhao fan. Zhang Zhenglang, Rong Zhaozu, Nie Chongqi, and Fei Zhao were involved in the proofreading.