Annals of Song, Volume 12

In the twelfth year of the Song dynasty, the year yisi, covering one year.

Emperor Ming of the Song dynasty, the middle superior.

In the first year of the Taishi reign (yisi, 465 AD).

In spring, the first month, on the day of yimao, the Deposed Emperor changed the reign title to Yongguang and issued a general amnesty.

In the second month, on the day of jiayin, the Deposed Emperor placed the Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Yu, under house arrest in the palace, appointed him Minister of Education, and retained him as Attendant-in-Ordinary and Master of Documents, but gave him no actual duties. He was enfeoffed as the Prince of Donghai with a fief of two thousand households.

Initially, when the Deposed Emperor was in the Eastern Palace as the Crown Prince, he often committed faults, and Emperor Shizu disciplined him strictly. After Emperor Shizu died, the Deposed Emperor wanted to act as he pleased. During the mourning period, he was able to restrain himself. But after Emperor Shizu was buried and he ascended the throne, the officials inside and outside the court slightly relaxed. The Deposed Emperor then began to indulge himself, delighting in wandering about, feasting, and making merry without restraint. He drew close to his attendants and often engaged in debauchery with them. The Prince of Shixing, Liu Ziluan, had been deeply favored by Emperor Shizu, and the Deposed Emperor had always harbored jealousy. On the day of bingshen, the Deposed Emperor sent someone to poison Liu Ziluan. Liu Ziluan’s full siblings, the Prince of Nanhai, Liu Zihan, and the Princess of Lin’an, Liu Ziyun, were also killed. Before his death, Liu Ziluan said sorrowfully and indignantly, “I wish never to be born into a royal family in the next life!” His subordinates and trusted followers were also executed.

Because Emperor Shizu had ranked the Prince of Xin’an, Liu Ziluan, first among the brothers, the Deposed Emperor harbored deep resentment. He demolished Emperor Shizu’s tomb, the Jingning Mausoleum, and also planned to dig up the Jinghe Mausoleum (Emperor Shizu’s tomb). The Grand Astrologer considered that doing so would be unfavorable to the Deposed Emperor himself, so he desisted.

Earlier, when the Gold-and-Purple Grand Master of the Palace, Xie Zhuang, composed the elegy for Consort Yin, he wrote, “She matches the standards of the Gate of Yao.” The Deposed Emperor thought this compared Consort Yin to Emperor Wu of Han’s Consort Gouyi, harbored a grudge, and planned to kill him. Someone said to the Deposed Emperor, “Death is unavoidable for everyone; the only difference is whether suffering comes sooner or later. Xie Zhuang alive now is of no benefit to you; dead, he would only enhance his reputation. Why rush to kill him?” The Deposed Emperor then stopped.

The Deposed Emperor posthumously honored Consort Yin, Emperor Shizu’s favored consort, as Empress, cast a posthumous title document for her, and wrote the words himself. He often visited Consort Yin’s tomb to mourn.

In the third month, on the day of yiyou, the Deposed Emperor transferred the Inspector of Yuzhou, the Prince of Shanyang, Liu Xiuyou, to serve as Inspector of Jingzhou. The Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, General of the Town Army, and General of the Leading Army, Wang Xuanmo, was appointed General of Chariot and Cavalry, Opener of the Three Bureaus, Commander of Military Affairs for Southern Xu and Southern Yan Provinces, and was sent out of the capital to garrison Pengcheng. He also appointed the General of the Leading Army, Liu Zunkao, as Vice Director of the Left of the Department of State Affairs.

On the day of jiachen, the Inspector of Guangzhou, Yuan Tanyuan, was appointed as Consultant to the Prince of Jian’an, Liu Xiuren, and ordered to return to the capital. Yuan Tanyuan was the younger brother of Yuan Yi.

When the Deposed Emperor was in the Eastern Palace, his attendant Zhang Yan had been deeply trusted. After the Deposed Emperor ascended the throne, Zhang Yan concurrently managed the treasury, deceived superiors and subordinates, acted arbitrarily and arrogantly, accepted bribes, and determined rewards and punishments with a single word. The court officials all feared him.

The Deposed Emperor summoned all his uncles, who were serving as regional governors, back to the capital, confined them in the palace, beat and humiliated them, treating them like slaves. He was especially harsh toward the Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Yu, the Prince of Jian’an, Liu Xiuren, and the Prince of Shanyang, Liu Xiuyou. Because the three were corpulent, he locked them in bamboo cages and weighed them. Liu Yu, being the fattest, was called the “Pig Prince”; Liu Xiuren was called the “Killing Prince”; and Liu Xiuyou was called the “Thief Prince.” Because these three were older, the Deposed Emperor feared them most and often carried weapons himself, keeping them by his side. Among them, the Prince of Donghai, Liu Yi, had low moral character and was called the “Donkey Prince.” The Prince of Guiyang, Liu Xiufan, and the Prince of Baling, Liu Xiuruo, were still young and thus able to move freely.

The Deposed Emperor once stripped Liu Yu naked, made him lie in a mud pit to eat like a pig, and fed him. He repeatedly wanted to kill his three uncles, but thanks to Liu Xiuren’s cleverness and humor, who used jokes to please the Deposed Emperor, they were spared.

The concubine of the Commandant of Justice, Liu Meng, the Princess of Linchuan, was the Deposed Emperor’s aunt. The Deposed Emperor summoned the General of the Left Guard, Liu Daolong, and ordered him to get the Princess of Linchuan drunk with wine, then had Liu Daolong humiliate her. The Deposed Emperor also killed the three sons of the Prince of Nanping, Liu Shuo.

The Deposed Emperor brought the Princess of Xincai, Liu Yingmei (the wife of the General of Pacifying the Caitiffs, He Mai), into the rear palace, established her as a Lady, and changed her surname to Xie. He falsely claimed the princess had died, killed a maidservant, sent her body to He Mai’s household, and buried her with the rites for a princess. He Mai had always been unrestrained and kept many warriors. The Deposed Emperor often traveled incognito and visited He Mai’s home for amusement. He Mai felt indignant and secretly befriended brave men, planning to kill the Deposed Emperor when he came. The plot was exposed. In the fifth month, on the day of jiazi, the Deposed Emperor personally led troops to kill He Mai.

The Deposed Emperor was extremely arrogant and lacked the propriety of an emperor. When he went out on excursions, Shen Qingzhi once admonished him. The Deposed Emperor said to Shen Qingzhi, “I have been on the throne for only a short time, yet I have already been admonished many times.” Shen Qingzhi replied, “Since ancient times, loyal words have always been unpleasant to the ear; how could a ruler not listen to admonitions?” The Deposed Emperor was very displeased.

After Empress Wenmu (Wang Xianyuan) died, the Deposed Emperor visited her tomb and said to his attendants, “The Empress should have died earlier; that would have been better.” He often entered the Imperial Ancestral Temple and, pointing to the portrait of Emperor Gaozu (Liu Yu), said, “He was a great hero, who captured several emperors.” Pointing to the portrait of Emperor Taizu (Liu Yilong), he said, “He was not bad either, but in his later years, his son cut off his head.” Pointing to the portrait of Emperor Shizu (Liu Jun), he said, “He had a red nose; why can’t I see it?” He immediately ordered the painter to paint a red nose on Emperor Shizu’s portrait.

The Deposed Emperor killed the Lady Wang (Liu Ziluan’s wet nurse), who was the aunt of the Prince of Xin’an, Liu Ziluan, then cut off her left arm, gouged out her breasts, and minced her flesh. The Deposed Emperor also cut open the belly of a pregnant woman to see whether the fetus was male or female.

The Deposed Emperor once went to Shen Qingzhi’s home for amusement. Shen Qingzhi was a veteran court official with high prestige. The Deposed Emperor said to Shen Qingzhi, “You are old; why haven’t you died yet? I have prepared a coffin and burial goods for you.” Shen Qingzhi then realized the Deposed Emperor wanted to kill him.

Initially, the Deposed Emperor planned to kill Shen Qingzhi, but was dissuaded by Cai Xingzong. Cai Xingzong said, “Now the state faces many difficulties, and this is the time to employ talent. Moreover, Shen Qingzhi has rendered meritorious service to the state and enjoys high prestige; how can you casually kill him?” The Deposed Emperor did not listen. Shortly afterward, the Deposed Emperor sent Shen Qingzhi’s cousin’s nephew, Shen Youzhi, to deliver poisoned wine to Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi refused to drink it, so Shen Youzhi smothered him with a quilt. When Shen Qingzhi died, he was eighty years old. His son Shen Wenshu wanted to flee but feared that the entire clan would be exterminated, so he drank the poisoned wine and also died. The Deposed Emperor publicly claimed that Shen Qingzhi had died of illness, posthumously appointed him Attendant-in-Ordinary and Grand Commandant, with the posthumous title Duke Zhongwu. The funeral was conducted with great splendor.

The Deposed Emperor also killed Wang Zao, the brother of Empress Wang (Wang Xianyuan). Wang Zao was the son of Wang Jingwen. The Deposed Emperor also killed the Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs, Yan Shibo; the Commandant of Justice, Liu Deyuan; and the General of the Central Army, Wang Kun.

In autumn, the seventh month, the Deposed Emperor appointed the Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Inspector of Southern Xu Province, Wang Jingwen, as Vice Director of the Left of the Department of State Affairs.

The Deposed Emperor established his sister, the Princess of Shanyin, Liu Chuyu, as the Princess of Kuaiji. The princess was the Deposed Emperor’s elder sister, and she was lewd. She said to the Deposed Emperor, “Although Your Majesty and I are of different genders, we are both the flesh and blood of the late emperor. Your Majesty has a harem of tens of thousands, while I have only one consort—this is too unfair.” So the Deposed Emperor selected thirty paramours (male favorites) for the princess. The princess was further promoted to the Princess of Kuaiji with a fief of two thousand households. The princess’s husband, the Commandant of the Imperial Equipage, He Ji, was appointed Attendant-in-Ordinary. He Ji was the son of He Yan.

In the eighth month, the Deposed Emperor appointed the General of the Leading Army, Liu Zunkao, as Grand Master of the Palace of the Left.

The Deposed Emperor’s uncles were all confined in the palace. Liu Xiuren, Liu Xiuyou, and Liu Yu were especially fat, and the Deposed Emperor made them perform menial tasks in the palace like servants. He once used a wooden trough to hold rice, mixed several dishes together, then dug a pit in the ground, filled it with muddy water, and made Liu Yu lie down and eat like a pig. He also repeatedly wanted to kill them, but thanks to Liu Xiuren’s humor and jokes to please him, they were spared.

In the spring, the first month, on the yisi day of the new moon, the Deposed Emperor changed the reign title to Yongguang and granted a general amnesty. On the bingwu day, the Northern Wei also granted a general amnesty. In the second month, on the dingchou day, the Northern Wei ruler went to the Loufan Palace. Since the Xiaojian reign period, people had been privately casting inferior coinage, causing commercial trade to be unable to proceed normally. On the gengyin day, two-zhu coins were recast, but their form and size became even smaller and thinner. Whenever official coinage was issued, the common people immediately imitated it, casting coins that were even thinner and smaller, without rims or edges, and without polishing; they were called "lei-zi" coins. In the third month, on the yisi day, the Northern Wei ruler returned to Pingcheng. In the summer, the fifth month, on the guimao day, the Northern Wei Emperor Gaozong passed away. Initially, the Northern Wei Emperor Shizu had expanded the territories in all directions, greatly depleting the state's resources. Coupled with internal calamities, the court and the realm were in a state of desolation. After Emperor Gaozong ascended the throne, he adapted to the changing circumstances, pacified the people by maintaining tranquility, and extended his benevolent rule both within and without, thereby restoring popular confidence. On the jiawu day, the Crown Prince Tuoba Hong ascended the imperial throne, granted a general amnesty, and honored the Empress as Empress Dowager. Emperor Xianzu was then twelve years old. The Shizhong, General of Chariot and Cavalry, Grand General-in-Chief Yi Hun, monopolized power. He issued a false imperial edict and killed Shangshu Yang Baoping, Duke of Pingyang Jia Airen, and Duke of Nanyang Zhang Tiandu within the palace. The Shizhong, Situ, Duke of Pingyuan Lu Li was recuperating from an illness at the Dai Commandery hot springs. Yi Hun sent the Siwei Jian Mu Duohou to summon him back to the capital. Mu Duohou said to Lu Li: "Yi Hun harbors intentions of usurpation. Now that the late emperor has passed away, Your Highness, with your lofty virtue and great prestige, is precisely what the treacherous minister fears. You should pause for a while to observe the situation. Once the court is stable, it will not be too late to enter the capital." Lu Li replied: "How could one hear of the death of one's lord and father and, fearing disaster, not hasten to the funeral?" Thereupon, he immediately sped on horseback to Pingcheng. Yi Hun's actions were often illegal, and Lu Li frequently argued with him. On the wushen day, Yi Hun also killed Lu Li and Mu Duohou. Mu Duohou was the younger brother of Mu Shou. On the jiyou day, the Northern Wei appointed Yi Hun as Taiwei and Lu Shangshu Shi, the Prince of Dong'an Liu Ni as Situ, and the Shangshu Zuo Puye from Dai, Heqinu, as Sikong. The Dianzhong Shangshu, Duke of Shunyang, Tuoba Yu, plotted to kill Yi Hun, but Yi Hun killed him. On the renzi day, the Northern Wei appointed the Prince of Huainan, Tuoba Ta, as General of the Western Campaign, Grand General-in-Chief, with ceremonial regalia equal to the Three Excellencies, to guard Liangzhou. In the sixth month, the Northern Wei lifted the prohibition on alcohol. On the renwu day, Liu Yuanjing was additionally appointed as Inspector of Southern Yu Province, and Yan Shibo was additionally appointed as Governor of Danyang. In the autumn, the seventh month, on the guisi day, the Northern Wei appointed Taiwei Yi Hun as Chengxiang, with a status above all the princes; all matters, great and small, were decided by Yi Hun. The Deposed Emperor was impatient and cruel in his youth. When he first ascended the throne, he still feared the Grand Empress Dowager, the high ministers, and Dai Faxing, and did not dare to act recklessly. After the Grand Empress Dowager died, the emperor grew older and wished to take action, but Dai Faxing always restrained him, saying: "Does Your Majesty wish to become the Prince of Yingyang?" The emperor gradually became resentful. The emperor favored the eunuch Hua Er'er and bestowed countless rewards upon him, but Dai Faxing often reduced them, so Hua Er'er hated him. The emperor sent Hua Er'er outside to listen for popular rumors. Hua Er'er said to the emperor: "Outside, everyone says, 'There are two Sons of Heaven in the palace: Dai Faxing is the true Son of Heaven, and Your Majesty is the false one.' Moreover, Your Majesty dwells deep within the palace and has no contact with people outside. Dai Faxing has formed a single faction with the Grand Commandant, Yan Shibo, and Liu Yuanjing. Their visiting retainers often number in the hundreds, and all scholars and commoners, both in and out of the court, fear and submit to them. Dai Faxing was a close attendant of Emperor Xiaowu and has been in the palace for a long time. Now he has joined forces with others; I deeply fear that this throne may no longer belong to Your Majesty." The emperor then issued an edict dismissing Dai Faxing from his post and sending him back to his hometown, and then exiled him to a remote commandery. In the eighth month, on the xinyou day, Dai Faxing was ordered to die, and Chao Shangzhi was relieved of his post as Zhongshu Sheren. The Yuanwai Sanqi Shilang from the East Sea, Xi Xiandu, had also been favored by Emperor Shizu. He often supervised engineering and corvée labor, and his oversight was harsh and cruel, his beatings vicious and poisonous, causing the people great suffering. The emperor once joked: "Xi Xiandu is a scourge on the common people; he should be eliminated." The attendants immediately echoed him, and then announced an imperial decree to kill him. The Shangshu You Puye, concurrently holding the posts of Weiwei Qing and Governor of Danyang, Yan Shibo, had long occupied a position of power and influence. The world's elite gathered around him like spokes converging on a hub. He was arrogant, extravagant, and licentious, and was hated by the scholar-officials. The emperor wished to personally handle court affairs. On the gengwu day, he appointed Yan Shibo as Shangshu Zuo Puye, removing him from his posts as Weiwei Qing and Governor of Danyang. He appointed the Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, Wang Yu, as You Puye, to divide Yan Shibo's power and responsibilities. Yan Shibo only then began to feel fear. Initially, Emperor Shizu was suspicious and jealous, and all the princes and high ministers trembled with fear, holding their breath, and dared not associate freely with one another. After Emperor Shizu's death, the Grand Commandant Liu Yigong and others congratulated each other, saying: "Today we are finally free from the fear of a violent death!" Just after the burial period for Emperor Shizu had ended, Liu Yigong, along with Liu Yuanjing, Yan Shibo, and others, engaged in song, dance, and music, drinking to their hearts' content, day and night without stopping. The emperor was deeply resentful. After killing Dai Faxing, all the high ministers were shocked and terrified, each feeling insecure. Thereupon, Liu Yuanjing and Yan Shibo secretly plotted to depose the emperor and establish Liu Yigong as emperor. They gathered day and night to plan, but hesitated to act. Liu Yuanjing told Shen Qingzhi about their secret plan. Shen Qingzhi had never been on close terms with Liu Yigong, and moreover, Yan Shibo often made decisions on court affairs alone, without consulting Shen Qingzhi. He had once said to the Lingshi: "Minister Shen is merely a claw and tooth of His Majesty; how can he participate in state affairs!" Shen Qingzhi therefore bore a grudge. He then reported their secret plot. On the guihai day, the emperor personally led the Imperial Guard to attack Liu Yigong and killed him, along with his four sons. The emperor dismembered Liu Yigong's body, cut open his abdomen and intestines, gouged out his eyes, and soaked them in honey, calling them "ghost-eye zongzi." He also sent an envoy under a false imperial edict to summon Liu Yuanjing, with troops following behind. Liu Yuanjing's attendants rushed to tell him, "The weapons are different from usual." Liu Yuanjing knew disaster had come. He went inside to bid farewell to his mother, then donned his court robes and rode in his carriage to answer the summons. His younger brother, the Cheqi Sima Liu Shuren, donned his armor and led his strong warriors, intending to resist, but Liu Yuanjing earnestly stopped him. After exiting the lane, a large body of soldiers arrived. Liu Yuanjing got out of the carriage to die, his expression calm. He was killed along with his eight sons, six younger brothers, and all his nephews. Yan Shibo was captured on the road and killed, along with his six sons. The Tingwei Liu Denian was also killed. The reign title was changed to Jinghe, and all civil and military officials were promoted two ranks. An envoy was sent to kill the Inspector of Xiang Province, the Heir Apparent of the Prince of Jiangxia, Liu Boqin. From then on, all officials from the Dukes and Ministers on down were beaten and dragged about like slaves. Initially, when the emperor was in the Eastern Palace, he had many faults. Emperor Shizu wanted to depose him and establish the Prince of Xin'an, Liu Ziluan, as Crown Prince. The Shizhong Yuan Yong vigorously praised the "Crown Prince's love of learning and daily progress," and Emperor Shizu desisted. The emperor therefore felt grateful to Yuan Yong. After killing the various Dukes and Ministers, the emperor wanted to promote Yuan Yong and entrust him with handling court affairs. He promoted him to Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel. Both Yuan Yong and the Shangshu Zuo Cheng Xu Yuan were granted the title of County Marquis for their merit in killing Liu Yigong and others. Xu Yuan was skilled at flattery and sycophancy, and had read many books and histories. Since the early Yuanjia reign period, he had served at the emperor's side, participating in consultations. He was adept at pandering and embellished his words with elegant literary phrases, thus gaining the trust and favor of Emperor Taizu. During the Daming reign period, he was entrusted with particularly important duties. At that time, most of the old hands in the Dianzhong and Shangshu Sheng had been killed or driven away. Only Xu Yuan, skilled at adapting and ingratiating himself, never offended the emperor. The Deposed Emperor treated him even more generously, and no one among the courtiers could compare. Whenever the emperor went out, he often rode in the same carriage with Shen Qingzhi and the Princess of Shanyin, and Xu Yuan was also among them. The Princess of Shanyin was the emperor's elder sister, married to the Fuma Duwei He Ji. He Ji was the son of He Yan. The princess was particularly lascivious and unrestrained. She once said to the emperor: "Though Your Majesty and I are of different sexes, we are both born of the late emperor. Your Majesty has a harem of tens of thousands of consorts, while I have only one Fuma. This is extremely unfair." The emperor then provided the princess with thirty male favorites (mianshou) as attendants, and promoted her title to Princess of Kuaiji Commandery, with a stipend equal to that of a Commandery Prince. The Buliang Lang of the Ministry of Personnel, Chu Yuan, had a handsome appearance. The princess asked the emperor to let him serve her, and the emperor agreed. Chu Yuan served the princess for ten days, suffering great duress, and only escaped by swearing he would die. Chu Yuan was the son of Chu Zhanzhi. The emperor ordered that portraits of the ancestors be painted separately in the Imperial Temple. When the emperor entered the temple, he pointed to the portrait of Emperor Gao, Liu Yu, and said: "He was a great hero; he captured several Sons of Heaven alive." Pointing to the portrait of Emperor Taizu, Liu Yilong, he said: "He was not bad either, but in his later years he was beheaded by his son." Pointing to the portrait of Emperor Shizu, Liu Jun, he said: "He had a big bulbous nose. Why wasn't his bulbous nose painted?" He immediately summoned the painter and ordered him to add a bulbous nose to the portrait. He appointed the Prince of Jian'an, Liu Xiuren, as Inspector of Yong Province, and the Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Yu, as Inspector of Southern Yu Province, but both were kept in the capital and not sent to their posts. On the jiaxu day, he appointed the Situ, Inspector of Yang Province, and Prince of Yuzhang, Liu Zishang, to concurrently hold the post of Shangshu Ling. On the yihai day, he appointed the Duke of Shixing, Shen Qingzhi, as Shizhong and Taiwei; Shen Qingzhi firmly declined. He summoned the Inspector of Qing and Ji Provinces, Wang Xuanmo, to be Lingjun Jiangjun. The Northern Wei buried Emperor Wencheng at Jinling, with the temple name Gaozong. In the ninth month, on the guisi day, the emperor went to Hushu, and on the wuxu day, returned to Jiankang. The Prince of Xin'an, Liu Ziluan, had been favored by Emperor Shizu, and the emperor was jealous of him. On the xinchou day, he sent an envoy to order Liu Ziluan to die, and also killed his uterine younger brother, the Prince of Nanhai, Liu Zishi, and his uterine younger sister. He had the tomb of Consort Yin excavated. He also wanted to excavate the Jingning Mausoleum, but the Grand Astrologer said it would be unlucky for the emperor, so he stopped. Initially, the Jinzi Guanglu Daifu Xie Zhuang had composed a dirge for Consort Yin, which said: "She matches the model of the Yao Gate." The emperor considered that Xie Zhuang had compared Consort Yin to the Lady Gouyi and wanted to kill him. Someone advised the emperor: "Death is something everyone experiences; the pain of a moment is not enough to trouble him. Xie Zhuang grew up in a wealthy and noble family. Now, if you imprison him in the Shangfang prison, let him know the suffering of the world, and then kill him, it will not be too late." The emperor complied. The Inspector of Xu Province, the Prince of Yiyang, Liu Chang, had always been disliked by Emperor Shizu. Among the people, there were often rumors that Liu Chang was about to rebel. In this year, the rumors became especially intense. The Deposed Emperor often said to his attendants: "Since I ascended the throne, I have not yet carried out a military mobilization; it makes me feel depressed!" Liu Chang sent the Dianqian Qu Fasheng with a memorial to Jiankang, requesting an audience at court. The emperor said to Qu Fasheng: "The Prince of Yiyang plotted rebellion with the Grand Commandant; I was just about to attack him. Now that he knows to request a return to court, very good!" He also repeatedly questioned Qu Fasheng: "The Prince of Yiyang plotted rebellion; why did you not report it?" Qu Fasheng, terrified, fled back to Pengcheng. The emperor therefore mobilized troops. On the jiyou day, he issued an edict to attack Liu Chang, and placed the capital and its environs under martial law. The emperor personally led the army to cross the Yangzi River, ordering Shen Qingzhi to command the various armies as the vanguard. When Qu Fasheng reached Pengcheng, Liu Chang immediately gathered his troops and rebelled. He issued proclamations to the various commanderies within his jurisdiction, but none of them accepted his orders. They killed Liu Chang's envoys, and his subordinate officers and civil officials all had different intentions. Liu Chang knew the undertaking could not succeed. He abandoned his mother and wife, took his favorite concubine, and that night, with several dozen cavalrymen, opened the northern gate and fled to the Northern Wei. Liu Chang was quite learned and could write essays. The people of the Northern Wei valued him. They gave him a princess in marriage, appointed him as Shizhong, General of the Southern Campaign, Fuma Duwei, and granted him the title of Prince of Danyang. The Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, Yuan Yong, had initially enjoyed the emperor's favor and trust, but soon lost his favor, and his treatment was suddenly reduced. The emperor ordered the relevant department to impeach him for his crimes, and he was allowed to act in his post as a commoner. Yuan Yong was terrified and, under a pretext, requested a transfer to an outlying post. On the jiayin day, Yuan Yong was appointed as Du of the military affairs of Yong and Liang, and other provinces, and Inspector of Yong Province. Yuan Yong's maternal uncle, Cai Xingzong, said to him: "The celestial portents for Xiangyang are ominous; how can you go there?" Yuan Yong replied: "When a white blade is before you, you do not concern yourself with a stray arrow. On this journey, I only hope to escape the tiger's mouth alive. Besides, the ways of Heaven are distant; why must they all be fulfilled?" At that time, the Prince of Linhai, Liu Zixu, was the Du of the military affairs of Jing and Xiang, and other provinces, and Inspector of Jing Province. The court appointed Cai Xingzong as Liu Zixu's Zhangshi and Administrator of Nan Commandery, acting in the affairs of the Fu and province. Cai Xingzong declined to go. Yuan Yong urged Cai Xingzong, saying: "The situation at court is plain for all to see. The ministers within the court do not know if they will see the evening. Now, my uncle is going out to garrison the area west of the capital, acting for the eight provinces. I am in the Xiangyang and Hanshui region, with a superior strategic position and strong military forces, close to Jiangling, with unimpeded water and land communications. If something happens at court, we can jointly establish the achievements of Duke Huan of Qi and Duke Wen of Jin. How is this better than being controlled by a cruel and mad ruler, facing unpredictable disaster? Now that you have the opportunity and do not take it, if later you again request a transfer to an outlying post, how could you obtain it!" Cai Xingzong said: "I come from a humble family and have risen through the ranks gradually. My relationship with the ruler is very distant, so I am unlikely to encounter disaster. Within the palace and the court, no one can protect themselves; there will surely be a change. If the internal turmoil is quelled, the external troubles may be unpredictable. You want to seek safety outside; I want to avoid disaster inside. Let each of us follow our own intentions—is that not also good!" Yuan Yong then set off in a state of distress, still fearing pursuit. When he reached Xunyang, he said happily: "Now I have escaped disaster." Deng Wan was the Zhenjun Zhangshi and Administrator of Xunyang for the Prince of Jin'an, Liu Zixun, acting in the affairs of Jiang Province. Yuan Yong associated with him intimately, beyond the ordinary. Whenever they had leisure, they would talk all day and all night. Yuan Yong and Deng Wan came from different family backgrounds, but those who saw them knew they had different intentions. Soon afterward, Cai Xingzong was appointed as Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel. On the wuwu day, martial law was lifted. The emperor then crossed the Yangzi River from Baixia to Guabu. Shen Qingzhi again memorialized, requesting permission for the people to privately cast coins. From then on, the coinage became chaotic and debased. A thousand coins in length were less than three inches, and their size was proportionate; they were called "goose-eye coins." Those even worse were called "thread-ring coins." When strung together with thread, they would not sink in water and would break at a touch. The market no longer used counting by number; a hundred thousand coins would not fill one hand, and a dou of rice cost ten thousand coins. Commercial trade could not be conducted. In the winter, the tenth month, on the bingyin day, the emperor returned to Jiankang. The emperor's maternal uncle, the Administrator of Dongyang, Wang Zao, had married Emperor Shizu's daughter, the Princess of Linchuan. The princess was jealous and slandered Wang Zao before the emperor. On the jimao day, Wang Zao was imprisoned and executed. The Administrator of Kuaiji, Kong Lingfu, had achieved good results wherever he served. He offended the emperor's close attendants, and they slandered him. The emperor sent an envoy to beat Kong Lingfu to death with a whip, and also killed his two sons. The Ningshuo Jiangjun He Mai, the son of He Yu, had married the emperor's aunt, the Princess of Xincai. The emperor took the princess into the inner palace and called her Xie Guifei. He falsely claimed the princess had died, killed a palace maid, and sent her to He Mai's home for burial, holding a funeral ceremony. On the gengchen day, he honored Xie Guifei as a Furen. He bestowed upon her a carriage with luan bells and dragon flags, and when she went out, the roads were cleared and guards were posted. He Mai had always been chivalrous and heroic, and had raised many death-defying retainers. He plotted to take advantage of the emperor's excursion to depose him and establish the Prince of Jin'an, Liu Zixun, as emperor. The plot was exposed. In the eleventh month, on the renchen day, the emperor personally led troops to kill He Mai. Initially, after Shen Qingzhi reported the secret plot of Yan Shibo and Liu Yuanjing, he actively cultivated closeness with the emperor and repeatedly offered frank remonstrances. The emperor gradually became displeased. Shen Qingzhi, fearing calamity, closed his gates and did not receive guests. He once sent his attendant Fan Xian to the Shangshu of the Ministry of Personnel, Cai Xingzong. Cai Xingzong told Fan Xian to say to Shen Qingzhi: "You close your gates and refuse guests—is this to avoid the numerous petitioners who seek favors? But someone like me, Cai Xingzong, is not one who seeks anything from you. Why should I also be refused?" Shen Qingzhi sent Fan Xian to invite Cai Xingzong. Cai Xingzong went to see Shen Qingzhi and took the opportunity to urge him, saying: "In the recent actions of the ruler, the way of human relations has been utterly lost. There is no hope that he will cultivate virtue and reform himself. Now, the only one he fears is you. The people look up to and rely upon only you. Your prestige and might have long been renowned, and the world is convinced by you. Now, the entire court is in turmoil, and everyone feels danger. If you but raise your arm and shout, who would not respond! If you hesitate and wish to sit by and watch success or failure, not only will great disaster befall you sooner or later, but the heavy responsibility of the world will also fall on you alone! I have received your special regard, so I dare to speak frankly. I hope you will carefully consider your course of action." Shen Qingzhi said: "I am well aware of the present danger and difficulty, and that I cannot protect myself. But I can only serve the state with utmost loyalty, unwavering from beginning to end, and entrust everything to Heaven. Moreover, I am old and retired at home, and my military strength is suddenly insufficient. Even if I wished to act, it would be difficult to succeed." Cai Xingzong said: "Now, those who harbor schemes and wish to rise up are not seeking merit, reward, or wealth; they merely want to escape death from one morning to the next! The generals in the palace are only waiting for news from outside. If one person first makes the move, then in an instant the great matter can be settled. Moreover, you have commanded troops through several reigns, and your former subordinates are spread throughout the palace and the various departments. Many have received your favors. Shen Youzhi and others are your family's sons and younger brothers—do you worry they will not obey! Furthermore, your retainers and adherents are all warriors from the three Wu regions. The Dianzhong Jiangjun Lu Youzhi is from your hometown. He is currently heading east to attack the rebels and possesses a great quantity of armor and weapons. He is still at Qingxi and has not yet departed. Take his equipment and distribute it to your subordinates, and let Lu Youzhi lead them as the vanguard. I, in the Shangshu Sheng, will naturally lead the hundred officials, following the precedents of former dynasties, to select another worthy man to serve the altars of state. The great affair of the world can be settled immediately. Moreover, the various actions of the court are rumored among the people to have your participation. If you do not decide now, there will surely be someone who acts before you, and you will not escape the disaster of being implicated. I have heard that the ruler has repeatedly visited your mansion, staying drunk and lingering. I have also heard that he dismisses his attendants and enters your private chambers alone. This is an opportunity that comes once in ten thousand generations; it cannot be missed!" Shen Qingzhi said: "I am grateful for your heartfelt words. But this is a great matter; it is not something I can do. When it comes to that point, I will simply embrace my loyalty and die." The Inspector of Qing Province, Shen Wenxiu, was the son of Shen Qingzhi's younger brother. He was about to proceed to his garrison, leading his personal troops out of the capital to camp at Baixia. He also urged Shen Qingzhi, saying: "The ruler is so violent and mad; disaster will occur soon. Yet our whole family has received his favor and trust, and the whole world thinks we are of one mind with him. Moreover, this man's love and hate are unpredictable, and his suspicions and cruelty are especially severe. Unpredictable disaster is unavoidable, whether we advance or retreat. Now, relying on the strength of these troops, dealing with him would be as easy as turning over one's hand. Opportunities are rare and cannot be missed." He urged him repeatedly, even weeping, but Shen Qingzhi never complied. Shen Wenxiu then departed. When the emperor killed He Mai, he estimated that Shen Qingzhi would certainly come to remonstrate. He therefore had the bridges over the Qingxi River closed in advance to block him. When Shen Qingzhi heard of it, he did indeed go, but could not proceed and returned. The emperor then sent Shen Qingzhi's cousin's son, the Zhige Jiangjun Shen Youzhi, to give Shen Qingzhi poison. Shen Qingzhi refused to drink it, so Shen Youzhi smothered him with a quilt. He was then eighty years old. Shen Qingzhi's son, the Shizhong Shen Wenshu, wanted to flee. Fearing that he would be dismembered like the Grand Commandant Liu Yigong, he said to his younger brother, the Zhongshu Lang Shen Wenji: "I can die; you can take revenge." He then drank the poison that had been intended for Shen Qingzhi and died. His younger brother, the Mishu Lang Shen Zhaoming, also hanged himself. Shen Wenji brandished his sword, spurred his horse, and galloped away. The pursuing soldiers dared not approach closely, and he managed to escape. The emperor falsely claimed that Shen Qingzhi had died of illness, posthumously appointed him as Shizhong and Taiwei, with the posthumous title of Zhongwu Gong, and gave him a grand funeral with full ceremonial honors. The Lingjun Jiangjun Wang Xuanmo repeatedly urged the emperor with tears, remonstrating that his punishments and executions were too excessive. The emperor was enraged. Wang Xuanmo was a veteran general with great prestige. Along the road, there were rumors that Wang Xuanmo had already been killed. Cai Xingzong had once served as Administrator of Dongyang. Wang Xuanmo's Dianqian Bao Farong had his home in Dongyang, and Wang Xuanmo sent Bao Farong to Cai Xingzong's place. Cai Xingzong said to Bao Farong: "The Lingjun Jiangjun must be extremely anxious and afraid." Bao Farong said: "The Lingjun Jiangjun has recently hardly eaten, and does not sleep at night. He often says that the men sent to arrest him are already at the gate, and that he may not be safe at any moment." Cai Xingzong said: "If the Lingjun Jiangjun is anxious and afraid, he should think of a plan. How can he sit and wait for disaster to come!" He then had Bao Farong urge Wang Xuanmo to take action. Wang Xuanmo had Bao Farong decline, saying: "This is not easy to carry out, but I will certainly not reveal your words." The Youwei Jiangjun Liu Daolong was favored by the emperor and was in sole charge of the Imperial Guard. Cai Xingzong once accompanied the emperor on a night excursion with him. When Liu Daolong passed by Cai Xingzong's carriage, Cai Xingzong said: "Master Liu! Lately I have wanted to find a quiet place to talk." Liu Daolong understood his meaning, pinched Cai Xingzong's hand, and said: "Lord Cai, do not say more!" On the renyin day, Lady Lu was established as Empress. She was the daughter of Lu Daoqing, the younger brother of the Grand Empress Dowager. The emperor was wary of all his uncles. Fearing they might become a source of trouble outside, he gathered them all in Jiankang, confined them within the palace, beat and humiliated them, without any regard for human decency. The Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Yu, the Prince of Jian'an, Liu Xiuren, and the Prince of Shanyang, Liu Xiuyou, were all corpulent. The emperor had bamboo cages made, put them inside, and weighed them. Because Liu Yu was especially fat, he called him the "Pig Prince"; he called Liu Xiuren the "Killing Prince," and Liu Xiuyou the "Thief Prince." Because the three princes were older, the emperor especially hated them, often keeping them by his side, never leaving them. The Prince of Donghai, Liu Yi, was by nature mediocre and foolish, so he was called the "Donkey Prince." The Prince of Guiyang, Liu Xiufan, and the Prince of Baling, Liu Xiruo, were still young, so they were treated with relative ease. The emperor once used a wooden trough to hold rice, mixed in various foods, dug a pit in the ground, filled it with muddy water, stripped Liu Yu naked, put him in the pit, and made him eat from the trough with his mouth, for his amusement. He tried to kill the three princes a dozen times. Liu Xiuren was very resourceful; each time he used witty and flattering words to persuade the emperor, and thus they managed to delay. The Shaofu Liu Meng's concubine was pregnant and near her delivery date. The emperor brought her into the inner palace, waiting for her to give birth to a boy, intending to make him Crown Prince. Liu Yu once offended the emperor's will. The emperor stripped him of his clothes, bound his hands and feet, ran a pole through them, and had men carry him to the Grand Provisioner, saying: "Today I will kill the pig!" Liu Xiuren laughed and said: "The pig should not die yet." The emperor asked why. Liu Xiuren said: "Wait until the Crown Prince is born, then kill the pig to take his liver and lungs." The emperor's anger then subsided, and he said: "For the time being, hand him over to the Tingwei." After a night, he released him. On the dingwei day, Liu Meng's concubine gave birth to a son. The emperor called him a prince, and for this reason granted a general amnesty, bestowing upon those who were heirs to their fathers a rank of nobility. The emperor also, because Emperor Taizu and Emperor Shizu were both the third among their brothers, and the Inspector of Jiang Province, the Prince of Jin'an, Liu Zixun, was also the third, hated him. Taking advantage of He Mai's conspiracy, he sent his attendant Zhu Jingyun to deliver poison to order Liu Zixun to die. Zhu Jingyun arrived at Penkou and halted, not proceeding. Liu Zixun's Dianqian Xie Daomai, Zhushuai Pan Xinzhi, and Shishu Chu Lingsi heard of it and galloped to report to the Zhangshi Deng Wan, weeping as they asked for a plan. Deng Wan said: "I am a humble southerner, who received the special kindness of the late emperor, who entrusted his beloved son to me. How could I begrudge the lives of my whole family of a hundred? I will surely repay him with death. The young ruler is benighted and cruel; the altars of state are in peril. Although he is the Son of Heaven, his actions are those of a tyrant. Now I will lead the civil and military officials straight to the capital city, and together with all the Dukes and Ministers, I will depose the benighted ruler and establish an enlightened ruler." On the wushen day, Deng Wan, under the false orders of Liu Zixun, ordered his troops to be placed on alert. Liu Zixun, in military attire, came out to handle affairs. He summoned his subordinates and had Pan Xinzhi orally announce the orders to inform the assembled men. None in the four seats responded. The Lushi Canjun Tao Liang first requested to die as the vanguard, and all the others expressed their compliance with the orders. Thereupon, Tao Liang was appointed as Ziyi Canjun, concurrently in charge of the central army, and overall commander of the military forces. Gongcao Zhang Shen was appointed as Ziyi Canjun, in command of building ships and vessels. The Administrator of Nanyang, Shen Huaibao, the Administrator of Minshan, Xue Changbao, the Prefect of Pengze, Chen Shaoqong, and others were all appointed as generals. Initially, the emperor ordered Jing Province to escort the former Junzhangshi and acting prefectural administrator of Jing Province, Zhang Yue, to Penkou. Deng Wan, under the false orders of Liu Zixun, removed his cangue and shackles, welcomed him in his own carriage, and appointed him as Sima. Zhang Yue was the younger brother of Zhang Chang. Deng Wan and Zhang Yue together managed all internal and external affairs. They sent General Yu Boqi to lead five hundred men to cut off Dàléi, prohibiting merchants, travelers, and all official and private missions from passing. They sent envoys to conscript able-bodied men from the various commanderies and collect weapons. Within ten days, they obtained five thousand armored soldiers, marched out, and camped at Dàléi, building fortifications on both banks of the river. They also appointed the Administrator of Badong and Jianping commanderies, Sun Chongzhi, as Ziyi Canjun, concurrently in charge of the central army, to jointly command the forward army with Tao Liang. They issued proclamations far and wide. On the wuwu day, the emperor assembled all his consorts and princesses, lined them up before him, and forced his attendants to humiliate them. The consort of the Prince of Nanping, Liu Shuo, Lady Jiang, did not comply. The emperor, enraged, killed Lady Jiang's three sons: the Prince of Nanping, Liu Jingxian; the Prince of Luling, Liu Jingxian; and the Marquis of Annan, Liu Jingyuan. He also had Lady Jiang flogged a hundred times. Before this, there had been a popular rumor that a Son of Heaven would emerge from Xiang. The emperor planned to make a southern tour of Jing and Xiang provinces to suppress this rumor. The next morning, he intended to kill the Prince of Xiangdong, Liu Yu, first, and then set out. Initially, after the