Annals of Song, Volume 6

Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 124, Annals of the Song, Part VI: From the Year Xuanmo Dunzang to the Year Roujia Yanmao, Five Years in Total.

Emperor Wen, Middle Part II, the 19th Year of the Yuanjia Era (Renwu, 442 AD).

In spring, the first month, on the day Jiashen, the Wei sovereign prepared the imperial chariot, went to the Daoist altar to receive the talismanic register, and all banners were entirely azure. From then on, whenever a Wei emperor ascended the throne, he received the talismanic register. Kou Qianzhi further memorialized requesting the construction of the Jinglun Palace, insisting it be built so high that the sounds of chickens and dogs could not be heard, desiring to approach the celestial spirits above. Cui Hao urged the Wei sovereign to build it; the project's costs amounted to tens of thousands, and after a year it was still not completed. Crown Prince Tuoba Huang remonstrated, saying: "The way of Heaven and man are different; the high and low each have their fixed station, and they cannot connect—this is the inevitable principle. Now we waste the treasury, exhaust the people, and do useless things—what will be the use of it? If it must be as Kou Qianzhi says, please use the ten-thousand-ren height of the Eastern Mountain to build it; the project would then be slightly easier." The Wei sovereign did not listen.

In summer, the fourth month, Juqu Wuhui led over ten thousand households, abandoned Dunhuang, and fled west to join Juqu Anzhou. Before they arrived, the King of Shanshan, Bilong, feared him, led his people fleeing to Qiemo, and his heir apparent surrendered to Anzhou. Juqu Wuhui then occupied Shanshan. His soldiers, crossing the drifting sands, more than half died of thirst. Li Bao, from Yiwu, led two thousand men to enter and occupy Dunhuang, repaired the city and offices, and gathered the old inhabitants. When Juqu Mujian was destroyed, the Liangzhou man Kan Shuang occupied Gaochang and styled himself Grand Administrator. Tang Qi, pressured by the Rouran, led his followers west to Gaochang, intending to seize its territory. The Rouran sent general Aruo in pursuit; Tang Qi was defeated and died. Tang Qi's younger brother, Tang He, gathered the remnants, fled, and sought refuge with the King of the Former Cheshi state, Yiluo. At that time, Juqu Anzhou was encamped at Hengjiecheng. Tang He captured it, then also took the cities of Gaoning and Baili, and sent an envoy to Northern Wei to request surrender. On the day Jiaxu, the Song Emperor Wen, because his illness had healed, issued a general amnesty.

In the fifth month, Pei Fangming and others arrived at Hanzhong. Together with Liu Zhendao, they divided their forces to attack Wuxing, Xiabian, and Baishui, capturing them all. Yang Nandang sent General of Established Fortitude, Fu Hongzu, to guard Langao, and ordered his son, General of Pacifying the Army, Yang He, to lead heavy troops as rear support. Pei Fangming fought with Fu Hongzu at Zhuoshui, heavily defeating the enemy and beheading Fu Hongzu. Yang He retreated. Pei Fangming pursued him to Chiting and again defeated him. Yang Nandang fled to Shanggui. The Song forces captured Yang Nandang's nephew, General of Established Fortitude, Yang Baochi. Yang Nandang appointed his son, Yang Hu, as Inspector of Yizhou, guarding Yinping. When Yang Hu heard that Yang Nandang had fled, he led his troops back. At Xiabian, Pei Fangming sent his son, Pei Suzhi, to intercept him. Yang Hu was captured, sent to Jiankang, and executed. Qiuci was pacified. The Song court appointed the Aide to the General of Pacifying the Army, Hu Chongzhi, as Inspector of Beiqinzhou to garrison the area. It established Yang Baochi as the heir of Yang Xuan, ordering him to guard Qiuci. Northern Wei sent the Prince of Zhongshan, Tuoba Chen, to welcome Yang Nandang to Pingcheng.

In autumn, the seventh month, the court appointed Liu Zhendao as Inspector of Yongzhou and Pei Fangming as Inspector of Liangzhou and Nanqinzhou. Pei Fangming declined the appointment and did not accept. On the day Bingyin, the Wei sovereign sent the General of Pacifying the West, Gu Bi, to supervise the armies of Longyou, along with the Palace Tiger Guard and the King of Wudu, Yang Baozong, to advance south from Qishan. The General of Subjugating the West, the Yuyang man Pi Baozi, together with the Prince of Langye, Sima Chuzhi, was to supervise the armies of Guanzhong, advancing west from Sanguan, to rendezvous at Qiuci. He also sent the Prince of Qiao, Sima Wensi, to supervise the armies of Luo and Yu, advancing south toward Xiangyang, and the General of Subjugating the South, Diao Yong, to advance east toward Guangling. Letters were also sent to Xuzhou, claiming they were avenging Yang Nandang. On the day Jiaxu, the last day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.

When Tang Qi attacked Kan Shuang, Kan Shuang sent an envoy to feign surrender to Juqu Wuhui, wanting to join him in attacking Tang Qi. In the eighth month, Juqu Wuhui led his people toward Gaochang. When he arrived, Tang Qi was already dead, and Kan Shuang had closed the gates and refused to defend. In the ninth month, Juqu Wuhui sent Wei Xingnu to attack Gaochang by night, massacred the city, and Kan Shuang fled to the Rouran. Juqu Wuhui occupied Gaochang and sent the Attendant-in-Ordinary, Fan Jun, to present a memorial to Jiankang. The Song court issued an edict appointing Juqu Wuhui as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Liang, He, and Sha Provinces, General of the Expeditionary Army, Inspector of Liangzhou, and Prince of Hexi.

In winter, the tenth month, on the day Jimao, Northern Wei established the imperial prince Tuoba Fuluo as Prince of Jin, Tuoba Han as Prince of Qin, Tuoba Tan as Prince of Yan, Tuoba Jian as Prince of Chu, and Tuoba Yu as Prince of Wu. On the day Jiashen, the Rouran sent an envoy to Jiankang.

In the twelfth month, on the day Xinsi, the Wei Prince of Xiangcheng and Filial Prince, Lu Luzhen, died. On the day Bingshen, the Song court issued an edict ordering Lujun to repair the Confucian Temple and school buildings, and exempted five households near the tomb from taxes and corvée, to be used for sweeping and sprinkling. Li Bao sent his younger brother Li Huaida and his son Li Cheng to present a memorial to Pingcheng. Northern Wei appointed Li Bao as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of the Western Frontier, General of the Pacifying the West, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Shepherd of Shazhou, and Duke of Dunhuang. He was permitted to temporarily appoint officials below the fourth rank according to his own authority.

The Inspector of Yongzhou, the Marquis of Jin'an and Xiang, Liu Daochang, died. Liu Daochang was skilled in governance; the people lived and worked in peace, and all affairs, large and small, were abundant. Therefore, the people composed the "Xiangyang Le Song." The mountain man barbarians, who had previously been uncontrollable, all came out and established villages along the Mian River, and the number of households flourished. When Liu Daochang died, the man pursued his funeral procession to the Miankou. Soon after, the various man rose up in great force. The Aide to the General of Subjugating the West, Zhu Xiuzhi, attacked them but was unsuccessful. The Song court issued an edict ordering the General of Established Might, Shen Qingzhi, to replace him; he killed or captured over ten thousand people.

The Wei sovereign ordered the Master of Writing, Li Shun, to rank the various ministers and grant them titles. Li Shun accepted bribes, and his grading was unfair. In this year, the Liangzhou man Xu Jie reported him. The Wei sovereign was greatly angered, and also considered that Li Shun had shielded the Juqu clan, personally deceiving the sovereign and misleading the state, so he ordered Li Shun to be executed by being given poison.

20th Year of the Yuanjia Era (Guiwei, 443 AD).

In spring, the first month, the Northern Wei general Pi Baozi and others attacked Lexiang. General Wang Huanzhi and others were defeated and killed. The Wei army advanced to Xiabian. General Qiang Xuanming and others were defeated and died. In the second month, Hu Chongzhi fought with the Wei army at Zhuoshui. Hu Chongzhi was captured by the Wei army, and the remaining troops fled back to Hanzhong. General Jiang Daozu was defeated and surrendered to Northern Wei. Northern Wei then captured Qiuci, and Yang Baochi fled. On the day Bingwu, the Wei sovereign went to the south of Mount Heng. In the third month, on the day Gengshen, he returned to the palace. On the day Renxu, the state of Wuluohou sent an envoy to Northern Wei.

Initially, when Northern Wei dwelled in the northern wilderness, they carved a stone temple, located northwest of Wuluohou, to worship their ancestors. It was seventy chi high and ninety bu deep. When the Wuluohou envoy arrived in Wei, he reported that the stone temple still existed. The Wei sovereign sent the Secretariat Drafter, Li Chang, to offer sacrifices at the stone temple. After carving the prayer text on the wall, Li Chang returned. The distance from Pingcheng was over four thousand li.

The Wei Duke of Hejian, Tuoba Qi, together with the King of Wudu, Yang Baozong, guarded the town of Luogu. Yang Baozong's younger brother, Yang Wende, urged Yang Baozong to close the strategic passes and defend himself, rebelling against Northern Wei. Someone reported this to Tuoba Qi. In summer, the fourth month, Tuoba Qi lured Yang Baozong into capture, sent him to Pingcheng, and had him killed. The former Aide to the General of the Eastern Town, Fu Da, and the Attendant of the Western Expedition, Ren Fei, and others then raised troops, established Yang Wende as their leader, occupied Baiya, divided their forces to capture various garrisons, and advanced to besiege Qiuci. Yang Wende styled himself General of Subjugating the West, Shepherd of Qin, He, and Liang Provinces, and Duke of Qiuci. On the day Jiawu, the Song court established the imperial prince Liu Dan as Prince of Guangling. On the day Dingyou, Northern Wei issued a general amnesty. On the day Jihai, the Wei sovereign went to Yinshan.

In the fifth month, the Northern Wei general Gu Bi dispatched the armies of Shanggui, Gaoping, and Qiancheng to attack Yang Wende. Yang Wende retreated. Pi Baozi, supervising the armies of Guanzhong, arrived at Xiabian. Hearing that the siege of Qiuci had been lifted, he wanted to turn back. Gu Bi sent a man to say to Pi Baozi: "The Song people, shamed by their defeat, will surely come again. If the army withdraws, raising another force will be difficult. It is better to train the soldiers, accumulate strength, and wait for them. Before autumn and winter are out, the Song army will surely come. Meeting the weary with ease, there is nothing that cannot be won." Pi Baozi followed this advice. Northern Wei appointed Pi Baozi as the Garrison General of Qiuci. Yang Wende sent an envoy to request aid.

In autumn, the seventh month, on the day Guichou, the Song court issued an edict appointing Yang Wende as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Beiqin and Yong Provinces, General of the Expeditionary Army, Inspector of Beiqinzhou, and King of Wudu. Yang Wende encamped at Jialucheng, making Ren Fei his Left Aide-de-Camp. Many of the Di people from Wudu and Yinping submitted to him. On the day Jiazi, the former Inspector of Yongzhou, Liu Zhendao, and the Inspector of Liangzhou and Nanqinzhou, Pei Fangming, were imprisoned and died because, after breaking Qiuci, they concealed gold, treasures, and fine horses.

In the ninth month, on the day Xinsi, the Wei sovereign went to the south of the Gobi Desert. On the day Jiachen, he abandoned his baggage and attacked the Rouran with light cavalry. He divided his army into four routes: the Prince of Le'an, Tuoba Fan, and the Prince of Jianning, Tuoba Chong, each led fifteen generals out the eastern route; the Prince of Leping, Tuoba Pi, supervised fifteen generals out the western route; the Wei sovereign himself took the central route; and the Prince of Zhongshan, Tuoba Chen, supervised fifteen generals as the rear support. When the Wei sovereign reached the Luhu Valley, he encountered the Chilien Khan. Crown Prince Tuoba Huang said to the Wei sovereign: "The enemy did not anticipate the sudden arrival of our great army. We should take advantage of their unpreparedness and attack swiftly." The Master of Writing, Liu Jie, strongly advised against it, arguing that the dust from the enemy camp was very thick, indicating a large number of men. If they went out onto the plain, they might be surrounded. It would be better to wait until all the armies had assembled before attacking. Tuoba Huang said: "The thick dust is because the soldiers are frightened and in disarray. How could there be this kind of dust above the camp?" The Wei sovereign hesitated and did not attack urgently. The Rouran fled. The Wei army pursued them to Stone River but did not catch them and turned back. Soon after, they captured a Rouran scout who said: "The Rouran did not realize the Wei army was coming. From top to bottom they were panicked, and they led their people fleeing north. After six or seven days, knowing there were no pursuers, they began to move slowly." The Wei sovereign deeply regretted this. From then on, all important military and state affairs were discussed with the Crown Prince.

Sima Chuzhi separately led troops to supervise the transport of military grain. The General of the Pacifying the North, Feng Ta, fled and surrendered to the Rouran, urging them to attack Sima Chuzhi to cut off the Wei army's food supply. Soon after, someone in the army reported that the ears of some donkeys had been cut off. The generals did not understand the reason. Sima Chuzhi said: "This must be an enemy spy who entered the camp to reconnoiter and cut off the ears as a token. The enemy will arrive soon; we should prepare quickly." So they cut wood to make a stockade, poured water over it, and let it freeze. The stockade had just been completed when the Rouran arrived. The ice was hard and slippery, and they could not attack. The Rouran then scattered and left.

In the eleventh month, General Jiang Daosheng, together with Yang Wende, led a combined force of 20,000 men to attack the Wei garrison at Zhuoshui. The Wei generals Pi Baozi and the Duke of Hejian, Tuoba Qi, came to its relief. Jiang Daosheng was defeated and died. On the day Jiazi, the Wei sovereign returned to Shuofang and issued an edict ordering the Crown Prince to assist in handling the myriad government affairs and to preside over the hundred officials. He also said: "The various ministers have labored long and should all retire to their estates with their titles, attending court and presenting themselves for audience at their convenience, feasting before me, discussing the Way and presenting plans, but should no longer be troubled with heavy duties. You should recommend worthy and talented men to fill the hundred offices."

In the twelfth month, on the day Xinmao, the Wei sovereign returned to Pingcheng.

21st Year of the Yuanjia Era (Jiashen, 444 AD).

In spring, the first month, on the day Jihai, the Song Emperor Wen plowed the sacred field and issued a general amnesty. On the day Renyin, the Northern Wei Crown Prince began to preside over the affairs of the hundred officials. The Emperor ordered the Attendant-in-Ordinary and Supervisor of the Secretariat, Mu Shou; the Director of the Masters of Writing, Cui Hao; the Attendant-in-Ordinary, Zhang Li; and Gu Bi to assist the Crown Prince in deciding the various government affairs. Those who submitted memorials were to call themselves subjects, and the rituals were the same as those for presenting a memorial to the throne. Gu Bi was loyal, cautious, upright, and straightforward. Once, because the Imperial Park at Shanggu was too large, he requested that more than half of it be cut off and given to the poor. He entered to see the Wei sovereign to present this matter. The Wei sovereign was playing chess with the Palace Attendant, Liu Shu, and his mind was not on Gu Bi. Gu Bi sat in attendance for a long time, unable to state his case. Suddenly he rose, grabbed Liu Shu by the head with his hand, dragged him down from the couch, pulled his ears, and beat his back, saying: "The court is not governed; it is indeed your fault!" The Wei sovereign's face changed color. He stopped the chess game and said: "Not listening to the presentation of business is my fault. What crime does Liu Shu have? Release him!" Gu Bi then reported the details of the matter. The Wei sovereign approved everything. Gu Bi said: "For a subject to be so discourteous is a great crime!" He went out to the palace gate, removed his cap, bared his feet, and begged to be punished. The Wei sovereign summoned him in and said: "I have heard that when building the altar of the soil, one may stumble and stagger during the construction, but when offering sacrifices, one must wear the ceremonial cap and attend to the rites, and the spirits will grant blessings. If this is so, what crime do you have? Put on your cap and shoes and return to your post. As long as there is something beneficial to the soil and grain or convenient for the people, do your utmost to carry it out, and do not hesitate."

The Crown Prince supervised and urged the people to farm. He ordered those without oxen to borrow oxen from others to plow, and to weed for the ox-owners as compensation. The general standard was: for every twenty-two mu plowed, weed seven mu. He also ordered the people to place markers with their names at the heads of their fields, so that diligence and laziness could be known, and prohibited drinking and games. As a result, cultivated land increased greatly.

On the day Wushen, the Wei sovereign issued an edict: "From princes and dukes down to commoners, anyone who privately supports shramanas or shamans in their homes shall be sent to the authorities. If they are not sent out by the fifteenth day of the second month, the shramanas and shamans shall be executed, and the master of the house shall be executed with his entire family." On the day Gengxu, he issued another edict: "The sons of princes, dukes, ministers, and grandees shall all attend the Grand Academy. The sons of artisans and merchants shall each study the profession of their fathers and elder brothers. They shall not establish private schools. Offenders: the teacher shall be executed, and the master of the house shall be executed with his entire family."

In the second month, on the day Xinwei, the Northern Wei Prince of Zhongshan, Tuoba Chen; the Grand Judge of the Interior, Xue Bian; the Master of Writing, Xi Juan; and five other generals were executed south of the capital because they were late for the attack on the Rouran.

Initially, the Northern Wei Master of Writing, Liu Jie, had long held power at the center. Relying on imperial favor, he acted arbitrarily, and the Wei sovereign came to detest him. When the planned attack on the Rouran was being prepared, Liu Jie admonished, saying: "The Ruru migrate irregularly. Previous campaigns have been toilsome and fruitless. It would be better to open up more farmland and accumulate grain, waiting for them." Cui Hao strongly urged the Wei sovereign to attack, and the Wei sovereign followed Cui Hao's advice. Liu Jie, ashamed that his advice was not taken, wanted the Wei army to fail. The Wei sovereign and the various generals had agreed to rendezvous at the Luhu Valley. Liu Jie falsely issued an edict changing the date. When the Wei sovereign reached the Luhu Valley, he wanted to attack the Rouran, but Liu Jie stopped him, telling him to wait for the generals. The Wei sovereign stayed in the Luhu Valley for six days. The generals did not arrive, and the Rouran therefore fled far away. The pursuit could not catch them. When the army returned, crossing the desert, the grain was exhausted, and many soldiers died. Liu Jie secretly had people alarm the Wei army and urged the Wei sovereign to abandon the army and return with light cavalry. The Wei sovereign did not listen. Liu Jie, because the campaign had been fruitless, requested that Cui Hao be punished. The Wei sovereign said: "The generals missed the rendezvous, and we encountered the enemy but did not attack. What crime does Cui Hao have?" Cui Hao reported Liu Jie's false edict to the Wei sovereign. When the Wei sovereign reached Wuyuan, he arrested Liu Jie and imprisoned him. When the Wei sovereign was on his northern campaign, Liu Jie had privately said to his close associates: "If the imperial chariot does not return, I will establish the Prince of Leping." Liu Jie heard that the Secretariat of the Right, Zhang Song, had prophetic charts at home. He asked: "The Liu clan should become king, succeeding the state. Is my name [on them]?" Zhang Song said: "There is the surname, but not the given name." When the Wei sovereign heard of this, he ordered the relevant authorities to investigate thoroughly. They searched Zhang Song's home and found the prophetic books. The matter implicated the Duke of Nankang, Tuoba Lin. Liu Jie, Zhang Song, and Tuoba Lin were all executed, and their families were exterminated. Over a hundred people died. Liu Jie, holding power and influence, delighted in overawing others. The generals, after defeating the enemy, had to share their spoils with him. After his death, his household was confiscated, and his property was worth tens of thousands. Whenever the Wei sovereign spoke of him, he gnashed his teeth.

On the day Guiyou, the Prince of Leping and Li, Tuoba Pi, died of worry. Initially, the Wei sovereign had built the White Terrace, over two hundred chi high. Tuoba Pi dreamed of ascending the White Terrace, looking around and seeing no one. He ordered the shaman, Dong Daoxiu, to perform divination. Dong Daoxiu said: "Greatly auspicious." Tuoba Pi showed a pleased expression. When Tuoba Pi died, Dong Daoxiu was also implicated and executed in the market. Gao Yun, hearing of this, said: "Those who perform divination should adhere to the images of the hexagrams and lines, encouraging loyalty and filial piety. When the prince questioned Dong Daoxiu, he should have said: 'Extreme height is kang. The Yijing says: "The dragon in kang has regret." It also says: "High but without the people." Both are inauspicious. The prince must not fail to be cautious.' This way, the prince would have been secure above, and he himself would have been preserved below. Dong Daoxiu did the opposite; his death was deserved."

On the day Gengchen, the Wei sovereign went to Lu. On the day Jichou, the Prince of Jiangxia, Liu Yigong, was advanced to Grand Commandant and concurrently Director of the Masters of Ceremonies. On the day Gengyin, the court appointed the Attendant-in-Ordinary and Chief of the Right Guard Army, Shen Yanzhi, as Chief of the Central Army, and the Chief of the Left Guard Army, Fan Ye, as Chief Steward for the Heir Apparent. On the day Xinmao, the court established the imperial prince Liu Hong as Prince of Jianping.

In the third month, on the day Jiachen, the Wei sovereign returned to the palace. On the day Guichou, the Wei sovereign sent the Director of Works, Zhangsun Daosheng, to garrison Tongwan.

In summer, the fourth month, on the day Yihai, the Northern Wei Attendant-in-Ordinary, Grand Preceptor, and Prince of Yangping, Du Chao, was killed by one of his subordinates.

In the sixth month, the people of the Northern Wei northern regions killed the General of Establishing Righteousness and Duke of Hengyang, Mo Gu, and led over five thousand tribes in fleeing north. Wei sent troops in pursuit to the south of the Gobi Desert, killed their chieftains, and moved the rest to be garrison households in Ji, Xiang, and Ding provinces.

The Tuyuhun king, Muliyan's elder brother's son, Weishi, plotted with a Wei envoy to surrender to Wei. Muliyan killed him. In this month, Weishi's younger brother, Chiliyan, and eight others fled to Northern Wei. Wei appointed Chiliyan as Prince of Guiyi.

Juqu Wuhui died. His younger brother, Juqu Anzhou, succeeded him.

Since Northern Wei entered China, although it used ancient rituals to sacrifice to Heaven, Earth, the ancestral temples, and the hundred spirits, it still followed old customs, and the sacrifices to the barbarian spirits were very numerous. Cui Hao requested that only fifty-seven places that conformed to the sacrificial code be retained, and all the rest, including duplicates and minor spirits, be abolished. The Wei sovereign followed this advice.

In autumn, the seventh month, on the day Guimao, the Northern Wei Inspector of Dongyongzhou, Juqu Bing, plotted rebellion and was executed.

In the eighth month, on the day Yichou, the Wei sovereign was hunting in Hexi. The Master of Writing, Gu Bi, was left in charge of the capital. An edict ordered that fat horses be provided for the hunting cavalry. Gu Bi gave them all weak horses. The Wei sovereign was enraged and said: "This brush-head slave dares to judge me! When I return to the court, I will first kill this slave!" Gu Bi's head was pointed, so the Wei sovereign often called him "Brush." Gu Bi's subordinates were terrified, fearing they would be executed along with him. Gu Bi said: "For me, a subject, not to allow the sovereign to indulge in hunting is a minor crime. Not to prepare against unforeseen events and to lack resources for the army and state is a great crime. Now the Ruru are still strong, and the southern are not yet destroyed. I use the fat horses for the army and the weak horses for the hunt; this is a long-term consideration for the state. Even if I die, what harm is there? Moreover, this was done by me alone; it is not your concern." When the Wei sovereign heard this, he sighed and said: "To have such a minister is a treasure of the state!" He bestowed upon him one set of clothes, two horses, and ten deer. Another day, the Wei sovereign was again hunting north of the mountain and captured several thousand elk. He issued an edict ordering the Master of Writing to dispatch five hundred ox-carts for transport. After the edict messenger had left, the Wei sovereign said to his attendants: "The Brush-lord will surely not give them to me. You might as well transport them yourselves using horses." So they set off. After traveling over a hundred li, they received a memorial from Gu Bi, which said: "Now the autumn grain is turning yellow, and hemp and beans cover the fields. Pigs and deer are stealing the food; wild geese and birds are consuming and damaging it. Added to this are losses from wind and rain. In the space of a morning or an evening, the loss triples. I request that you be lenient and allow the people to harvest and transport it." The Wei sovereign said: "Exactly as I said! The Brush-lord can be called a minister of the altars of state!"

The Wei sovereign sent the Gentleman Cavalier Attendant Extraordinary, Gao Ji, to Song on a diplomatic mission. On the day Wuchen, the Song court appointed the Inspector of Jingzhou and Prince of Hengyang, Liu Yiji, as General of the Northern Expedition, Kaifu Yitong Sansi, and Inspector of Nanyanzhou. It appointed the Prince of Nanqiao, Liu Yixuan, as Inspector of Jingzhou. Initially, the Song Emperor Wen, because Liu Yixuan was incompetent, did not want to use him. The Princess of Guiji repeatedly spoke for him, and the Emperor Wen, having no alternative, appointed him. He first bestowed an imperial edict warning him, saying: "Shihu has been in the west for a long time. Recently he has submitted a memorial requesting to return. Now I wish to permit it and appoint you in his place. Although Shihu has no special achievements, he is pure in self-conduct and frugal in expenditure, broad-minded, expects talent, does not indulge his subordinates, and has a reputation in the western lands. He is at peace with the scholars and commoners, and those who discuss matters have not yet suggested moving him. Now this change is made precisely because you and Shihu are of the same age, and I want each of you to try your abilities. After you go, if there is one thing in which you are inferior to him, it will cause great harm in the western Xia, and the blame for the replacement will surely be laid on me. This matter can easily be striven for; do not cause people to start discussions again." After Liu Yixuan arrived at his commandery, he was diligent in self-encouragement and affairs were also well-managed.

On the day Gengchen, the Grand Princess of Guiji died.

The Tuyuhun Chiliyan and others requested that Northern Wei send troops to punish the Tuyuhun king, Muliyan. The Wei sovereign sent the Prince of Jin, Tuoba Fuluo, to supervise the various armies and attack.

In the ninth month, on the day Jiachen, the Song court appointed Juqu Anzhou as Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Liang, He, and Sha Provinces, Inspector of Liangzhou, and Prince of Hexi. On the day Dingwei, the Wei sovereign went to the south of the Gobi Desert, preparing to attack the Rouran. The Rouran Chilien Khan fled far away, so the campaign was halted. The Chilien soon died. His son, Tuhezhen, succeeded him and took the title Chuluo Khan.

The Northern Wei Prince of Jin, Tuoba Fuluo, arrived at Ledu. He led his troops via a shortcut to attack the Tuyuhun, reaching the Daimuqiao. The Tuyuhun king, Muliyan, was greatly alarmed and fled to Bailan. Muliyan's elder brother's son, Shiyin, fled to Hexi. The Wei army beheaded over five thousand men. Muliyan's cousin, Funian, and others led 13,000 tribes in surrendering to Northern Wei.

In winter, the tenth month, on the day Jimao, the Song court appointed the General of the Left Army, Xu Qiong, as Inspector of Yanzhou, and the Aide to the General of the Grand Army, Shen Tian, as Inspector of Jizhou. The seat of Yanzhou was moved to Xuchang, and the seat of Jizhou was moved to Lixia. Shen Tian was the younger brother of Shen Mo.

In the twelfth month, on the day Bingxu, the Wei sovereign returned to Pingcheng.

In this year, the Shepherd of Shazhou, Li Bao, entered court at Northern Wei. The Wei people detained him and appointed him as Grand Judge of the Exterior.

The Grand Astrologer and Director of the Palace Music Bureau, He Chengtian, compiled the New Calendar of the Yuanjia Era and presented a memorial offering it. Using lunar eclipse oppositions to deduce the position of the sun, and checking with the culmination of stars, he knew that in the time of Yao, the winter solstice sun was in Xunü 10 degrees, but now it was in Dou 17 degrees. He also measured the sun's shadow and checked the two solstices, finding a difference of over three days, and knew that the winter solstice sun should now be in Dou 13 or 14 degrees. Therefore, he established a new method: the winter solstice was moved up three days and five hours, and the sun's position was moved four degrees from the old method. Also, because the moon has varying speeds, in the old calendar the conjunctions and lunar eclipses did not fall on the first or full moon. Now he used the waxing and waning to determine the remainder, in order to correct the dates of the first and full moons. The edict was sent to the outer court for detailed deliberation. The Grand Astrologer, Qian Lezhi, and others reported: "Everything is as He Chengtian has presented. Only the moon having three consecutive long months and two consecutive short months differs greatly from the old method. The old method should still be used." The edict approved this.

22nd Year of the Yuanjia Era (Yiyou, 445 AD).

In spring, the first month, on the day Xinmao, the new calendar began to be used. Initially, in the Han dynasty, Jing Fang, using the twelve pitch-pipes, found that zhonglü generated huangzhong upwards, but it was less than nine cun. He further elaborated this into sixty pitch-pipes. Qian Lezhi further elaborated it into three hundred and sixty pitch-pipes, with one pipe corresponding to each day. He Chengtian argued that the method of generating notes by alternately subtracting or adding one-third was a simple method of the ancients, just as the ancient calendar had 365 1/4 degrees in a celestial cycle. Jing Fang did not understand this and erroneously made sixty pitch-pipes. He therefore set new proportions: linzhong was 6 cun and 1 li long, then from zhonglü one could still obtain huangzhong. The twelve rotating gong modes would have their sounds without error.

On the day Renchen, the Song court appointed the Prince of Wuling, Liu Jun, as Inspector of Yongzhou. The Song Emperor Wen wanted to manage the Guanzhong and Yellow River regions, so he had Liu Jun garrison Xiangyang.

The Wei sovereign sent the Gentleman Cavalier Attendant Extraordinary, Song Yin, on a diplomatic mission.

In the second month, the Wei sovereign went to Shangdang, then west to Tujing. He attacked and moved rebellious Hu, assigning them to various commanderies and counties.

On the day Jiaxu, the Song court established the imperial princes: Liu Yi as Prince of Donghai, and Liu Chang as Prince of Yiyang.

In the third month, on the day Gengshen, the Wei sovereign returned to the palace.

Northern Wei issued an edict: "All doubtful cases shall be submitted to the Secretariat, to be judged using the meaning of the Classics."

In summer, the fourth month, on the day Gengxu, the Wei sovereign sent the General of the Expeditionary Army and Prince of Gaoliang, Tuoba Na, and others to attack the Tuyuhun king, Muliyan, at Bailan. The Inspector of Qinzhou and the Qin man Feng Yiwen, together with the General of Pacifying the Distant, Yi Wutou, attacked Muliyan's elder brother's son, Shigui, at Fuhan.

After Hexi was destroyed, the people of Shanshan, because their territory was adjacent to Northern Wei, were very afraid. They said: "If we let their envoys pass through, they will learn our strengths and weaknesses. Our destruction will be swift." So they blocked the roads, and whenever envoys passed, they plundered them. Therefore, the Western Regions were cut off for several years. The Wei sovereign sent the Gentleman Cavalier Attendant Extraordinary, Wan Dugui, to mobilize the troops west of Liangzhou to attack Shanshan.

In the sixth month, on the day Renchen, the Wei sovereign went on a northern inspection tour.

The Song Emperor Wen planned to attack Northern Wei. He abolished the Southern Yuzhou and merged it into Yuzhou. On the day Xinhai, he appointed the Inspector of Southern Yuzhou and Prince of Nanping, Liu Shuo, as Inspector of Y