Chen Annals 3
Zizhi Tongjian, Volume 169, Chapter 169 [Chen Records 3] From the year Zhaoyang Xieqia to the year Rouzhao Yamao, a total of four years.
Emperor Shizu Wen, Tianjia reign, fourth year (Guiwei, 563 CE).
Spring, first month. Northern Qi appointed the Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, Wei Shou, concurrently as Acting Chief Administrator of the Department of State Affairs. At that time, the Northern Qi ruler drank heavily all day, entrusting all court affairs to Attendant-in-ordinary Gao Yuanhai. Gao Yuanhai was vulgar, and the emperor also despised him; because Wei Shou had long been renowned for his literary talent, he was employed. But Wei Shou was timid and weak, avoiding matters, and soon, due to flattery and indulgence, he committed a crime and was stripped of his official status. The Inspector of Yanzhou, Bi Yiyun, wrote a letter to Gao Yuanhai, discussing and narrating current affairs. When Gao Yuanhai entered the palace, he carelessly lost the letter. Secretariat Drafter Li Xiaozhen picked it up and memorialized it. The emperor consequently distanced himself from Gao Yuanhai. He appointed Li Xiaozhen concurrently as Secretariat Drafter and summoned Bi Yiyun back to court. He Shikai further slandered Gao Yuanhai with false accusations. The emperor struck Gao Yuanhai sixty times with a horsewhip, reprimanding him, saying: "In the past, you taught me to rebel, using a younger brother against an elder brother—how unrighteous! Using the Yecheng army to resist Bingzhou—how unwise!" He sent him out as Inspector of Yanzhou.
On the day Jiashen, Zhou Di's forces scattered. He escaped by crossing over the mountain ridges and fled to Jin'an, relying on Chen Baoying. The government army conquered Linchuan, capturing Zhou Di's wife and children. Chen Baoying provided Zhou Di with military resources, and Liu Yi also sent his son Liu Zhongchen to follow Zhou Di.
Yu Ji wrote a letter to Chen Baoying, advising him with ten points, saying: "Since Heaven grew weary of the Liang dynasty's virtue, heroes have risen one after another, each believing himself capable of winning the empire. Yet the one who eliminated the cruel and pacified the chaos, making the four seas happy to support him, is the Chen clan. Is this not because the destined order has its, and is solely bestowed by Heaven? This is the first point. As for the strength of Wang Lin and the power of Hou Tian, advancing, they were sufficient to shake the Central Plains and contend for supremacy with the empire; retreating, they were enough to dominate south of the Yangzi and claim dominance in a corner. Yet, whether by deploying a single army or relying on the persuasion of one scholar, Wang Lin crumbled like earth and tiles, throwing himself into a foreign state. Hou Tian knocked his head and begged for mercy, entrusting his life to the court. This is again Heaven using the Chen clan's might to remove calamities. This is the second point. Now, General, relying on the heavy responsibility of a princely relative, possessing the numerous followers of the southeast, serving the sovereign with utmost loyalty, and joining forces to aid the king—how is this not a merit surpassing Dou Rong, favor exceeding Wu Rui, with enfeoffed lands, facing south and calling himself a lone ruler! This is the third point. The sage court abandons flaws, does not remember faults, and treats people generously. As for Yu Xiaoqing, Pan Chunduo, Li Xiaoqin, Ouyang Wei, and others, all are entrusted with the responsibilities of the heart and belly, employed as claw-tooth ministers. Their minds are open, without the slightest resentment. Moreover, General's faults are not like Zhang Xiu's, and his crimes differ from Bi Chen's. Why worry about danger and ruin? How can he lose wealth and honor? This is the fourth point. Now, Northern Zhou and Northern Qi are on friendly terms with our state as neighbors; there are no external worries. Concentrating troops for a unified effort will not take long. This is not the time for Liu Bang and Xiang Yu to contend, nor the situation for Chu and Zhao to form vertical and horizontal alliances. How can one calmly fold his hands and sit discussing matters like King Wen of Zhou? This is the fifth point. Moreover, General Liu, with his wolf-like gaze fixed on one side, has suffered repeated defeats. His reputation and strength are both depleted, and his courage has declined and been frustrated. His generals and commanders are indecisive, only seeking profit. Who can don armor and grasp weapons, make a long drive deep into enemy territory, tether horses and bury wheels, disregard personal safety, and take the lead? This is the sixth point. How does General's strength compare to Hou Jing's? How do General's followers compare to Wang Lin's? Emperor Wu eliminated Hou Jing earlier, and the current emperor destroyed Wang Lin later—this is Heaven's timing, not human effort. Moreover, after the wars, the common people all detest chaos. Who can abandon tombs, leave wives and children, risk ten thousand deaths without regard for long-term plans, and follow General amid drawn blades? This is the seventh point. Looking at previous eras, Ziyang and Jimeng fell one after another; Yushan and Youqu encountered danger and ruin in succession. Heaven's mandate is to be feared; mountains and rivers are hard to rely on. Moreover, how can General, with a few commanderies, resist the empire's army? With the status of a feudal lord, defy the Son of Heaven's command? Can the strong and weak, the obedient and rebellious, be mentioned in the same breath? This is the eighth point. Furthermore, those not of our kind surely have different hearts; those who do not love their own kin, how can they extend love to others? General Liu himself received the state's noble rank, and his son married a princess. Yet he still abandoned heavenly relations without regard, turned his back on the enlightened ruler and stood alone. At the time of danger and ruin, can he share worries and hardships and not betray General? As for when the army is exhausted and strength depleted, fearing execution and coveting rewards, there will surely be plots like Han and Wei at Jinyang, or situations like Zhang and Chen at Jingxing. This is the ninth point. The northern army has come from ten thousand li to fight; its edge is irresistible. General fights on his own territory, with many concerned about their rear routes. The many and few are not equal; generals and commanders are not matched. The army lacks a righteous reason for action; matters arise without proper timing. To raise troops in this way, I do not know what benefit there is. This is the tenth point. For General's consideration, it would be better to sever the marriage alliance with the Liu clan. Send your son to court as a hostage, lay down arms and cease military activities, and comply entirely with imperial decrees. Now, the princes are still young, and the imperial sons are small. All members of the imperial clan receive favor and support. Moreover, with General's territory, General's talent, General's reputation, and General's power, if he can strictly observe the rites of a vassal, face north and call himself a subject, how can he not be compared to Liu Ze in terms of achievements! Yu Ji, feeling grateful and embracing loyalty, unconsciously utters wild words. Even if I suffer the punishment of axe and execution block, I will accept it as sweet as sugar." Chen Baoying, after reading the letter, was greatly angered. Someone said to Chen Baoying: "Duke Yu's illness is gradually worsening; his words are often erroneous." Chen Baoying's anger then slightly subsided. Also, because Yu Ji had popular support, he treated him with leniency.
Northern Zhou's Duke Liangcao, Houmo Chen Chong, accompanied the Northern Zhou ruler to Yuanzhou. The emperor returned to Chang'an suddenly at night, and people privately found it strange. Houmo Chen Chong said to his close associates: "I recently heard from a diviner that the Duke of Jin is unlucky this year. Now the emperor suddenly returns to the capital at night—it is merely because the Duke of Jin has died." Someone exposed this. On the day Yiyou, the emperor assembled the dukes at the Dade Hall, personally reprimanded Houmo Chen Chong face to face. Houmo Chen Chong, in fear, apologized. That night, the Grand Chancellor Yuwen Hu sent envoys leading troops to Houmo Chen Chong's mansion, forced him to commit suicide, and buried him according to standard rites.
On the day Renchen, the Inspector of Gaozhou, Huang Faju, was appointed Inspector of South Xuzhou, and the Grand Warden of Linchuan, Zhou Fu, was appointed Inspector of South Yuzhou.
The Northern Zhou ruler ordered the Commandant of Judicial Officials, Tuoba Di, to draft the "Great Code" in fifteen chapters. In the second month, on the day Gengzi, it was proclaimed and implemented. Its punishments: first, the bastinado, from fifteen strokes to fifty strokes; second, the whip, from sixty strokes to one hundred strokes; third, penal servitude, from one year to five years; fourth, exile, from 2,500 li to 4,500 li; fifth, death penalties, including strangulation, hanging, decapitation, exposure of the head, and dismemberment—altogether twenty-five grades.
On the day Gengxu, the Minister of Works and Inspector of South Xuzhou, Hou Andu, was appointed Inspector of Jiangzhou. On the day Xinyou, Northern Zhou issued an edict: "The Grand Chancellor, Duke of Jin, is a brother by blood and holds the position of chief counselor. From now on, in imperial edicts and all officials' documents, no one shall refer to the duke by his personal name." Yuwen Hu submitted a memorial firmly declining.
In the third month, on the day Yichou, the first day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.
Northern Zhou issued an edict ordering the Minister of Works, Hulü Guang, to oversee 20,000 infantry and cavalry to build the Xunchang City at Zhiguan Pass; also, to construct a 200-li section of the Great Wall and establish twelve garrison posts.
On the day Bingxu, Northern Zhou appointed the Acting Chief Administrator of the Department of State Affairs, Zhao Yanshen, as Left Chief Administrator.
Summer, fourth month. On the day Yimin, Northern Zhou appointed the Pillar of State, Daxi Wu, as Grand Guardian.
The Northern Zhou emperor was about to inspect the Imperial Academy and appointed the Grand Preceptor, Duke Yan of Yan, Yuchi Jin, as the Sanlao (Elder of Three Virtues). Yuchi Jin submitted a memorial firmly declining, but was not permitted, and was then granted the "Staff of Extended Years." On the day wuwu, the emperor visited the Imperial Academy. When Yuchi Jin entered the gate, the emperor greeted him with a bow between the gate and the screen, and Yuchi Jin returned the bow. The relevant officials set up the Sanlao's seat at the central pillar, facing south. The Grand Preceptor Yuwen Hu ascended the steps and placed a small table. Yuchi Jin ascended the mat, sat facing south, leaning on the table. The Grand Marshal Doulu Ning ascended the steps and adjusted his shoes. The emperor ascended the steps, stood before the screen facing west. The officials presented food; the emperor knelt to arrange the sauce dishes and personally bared his arm to carve the meat. After Yuchi Jin finished eating, the emperor personally knelt to offer him a goblet for rinsing his mouth. After the officials withdrew, the emperor stood facing north to inquire about the principles of governance. Yuchi Jin rose, stood behind his seat, and replied: "Wood becomes straight when corrected by the ink line; a ruler becomes sagely when he accepts remonstrance. A sagely ruler humbly accepts advice to understand gains and losses, and only then can the realm be at peace." He further said: "One may dispense with grain and troops, but one cannot dispense with trust; I hope Your Majesty will keep faith and not lose it." He continued: "If merit is always rewarded and crime always punished, then those who do good will advance daily, and those who do evil will desist daily." He added: "Words and actions are the foundation of establishing oneself; I hope Your Majesty will think thrice before speaking and deliberate nine times before acting, so as not to err. The faults of the Son of Heaven are like an eclipse of the sun or moon—no one is unaware of them. I hope Your Majesty will be cautious." The emperor bowed twice in acceptance of the instruction, and Yuchi Jin returned the bow. After the ceremony concluded, he withdrew.
The Minister of Works, Hou Andu, relying on his merit, was arrogant and willful. He repeatedly gathered civil and military men for horse archery and poetry composition. At his home, guests often numbered up to a thousand. Many of his subordinate generals did not observe the law; once they were investigated and arrested, they would flee and take refuge with Hou Andu. The emperor had a stern disposition and harbored resentment against him, but Hou Andu was unaware. Whenever he submitted memorials or reports, after sealing them, if there were unfinished matters, he would open them to write himself: "Also reporting such and such." While attending banquets, when drunk, he would sometimes sit with legs splayed or lean slovenly. Once, attending the Luminous Garden Purification Feast, he said to the emperor: "How does this compare to when you were the Prince of Linchuan?" The emperor did not answer. Hou Andu repeated this several times. The emperor said: "Although this is by Heaven's decree, it is also due to your excellency's strength." After the feast, Hou Andu requested the loan of tents and water decorations, intending to take his wives and concubines to feast in the imperial hall. The emperor permitted it, but was deeply displeased. The next day, Hou Andu sat on the imperial throne, with his guests in the positions of officials, raising cups to offer toasts. It happened that the Chongyun Hall caught fire; Hou Andu led his soldiers in armor into the hall. The emperor greatly detested this and secretly made preparations.
When Zhou Di rebelled, the court discussed that Hou Andu should be sent to suppress him, but the emperor instead sent Wu Mingche. He also repeatedly sent imperial commissioners to investigate Hou Andu's subordinates, searching for and arresting deserters and rebels. Hou Andu sent his Biejia (assistant officer) Zhou Hongshi to entrust himself to the Sheren (Secretary) Cai Jingli and to inquire about palace affairs. Cai Jingli recorded these matters and reported them fully, then, to curry favor with the emperor, claimed that Hou Andu was plotting rebellion. The emperor, fearing Hou Andu would not answer a summons, therefore appointed him as the Inspector of Jiangzhou.
In the fifth month, Hou Andu returned from Jingkou to Jiankang, leading his troops into Stone City. In the sixth month, the emperor summoned Hou Andu for an audience at the Jiade Hall and held a banquet. He also gathered his subordinate generals in the Shangshu court, arrested Hou Andu on the spot, and imprisoned him in the western wing of the Jiade Hall. He then arrested his generals, confiscated their horses and weapons, and released them. Thereupon, he produced Cai Jingli's memorial, showed it to the court, and issued an edict proclaiming his crimes. The next day, he ordered Hou Andu to commit suicide, but pardoned his wife and children and provided funds for his funeral.
Earlier, when Emperor Gao was at Jingkou, he once feasted with the generals. Du Sengming, Zhou Wenyu, and Hou Andu offered toasts, each boasting of his military achievements. Emperor Gao said: "You are all good generals, but each has shortcomings. Duke Du has great ambition but unclear insight; he is intimate with subordinates but arrogant toward superiors. Duke Zhou does not choose his friends and is overly trusting. Marquis Hou is arrogant and dissolute without restraint, frivolous and indulgent in his will. None of you have a way to preserve yourselves." In the end, it all happened as he said.
On the day yimao, the Northern Qi ruler sent the concurrent Sanshou Changshi Cui Ziwu on a diplomatic mission to Chen.
The Northern Qi Shizhong and Kaifu Yitong Sansi, He Shikai, was favored by the Northern Qi ruler. Whether the Northern Qi ruler handled state affairs at court or held banquets and gave rewards in the inner palace, he could not be without He Shikai for even a moment. Sometimes He Shikai did not go home for several days, entering the palace several times a day; at other times, after sending him home, he would soon be summoned back. Before he even arrived, messengers were dispatched in rapid succession to urge him on. With all sorts of sycophantic and flattering behavior, his favor never waned, and the rewards he received, both before and after, were incalculable. Whenever he attended the ruler, his words, expressions, and actions were extremely vulgar and lewd. Day and night, there was no longer any decorum between ruler and subject. He once said to the ruler: "From ancient times, all emperors have turned to dust and ashes. What difference is there, in the end, between Yao and Shun and Jie and Zhou? Your Majesty should take advantage of your youth and vigor to indulge in pleasure and act freely. One day of enjoyment is worth a thousand years. Leave all state affairs to the great ministers—why worry about not getting things done? Do not trouble yourself with diligence and thrift!" The ruler was extremely pleased. Thereupon, he entrusted Zhao Yanshen with managing official ranks, Yuan Wenyao with managing finances, Tang Yong with managing the outer army and cavalry, and Xindu native Feng Zicong and Hu Changcan with managing the Eastern Palace. The ruler attended court once every three or four days, merely writing a few words, saying almost nothing, and withdrawing inside after a short while. Hu Changcan was the son of Hu Sengjing.
The ruler had He Shikai play the "Woshuo" game with Empress Hu. The Prince of Henan, Kangxian Wang Gao Xiaoyu, admonished: "The empress is the mother of the realm—how can she play hand games with a subject!" Gao Xiaoyu also said: "The Prince of Zhaojun, Gao Rui, his father died an unnatural death; he should not be kept close." Therefore, Gao Rui and He Shikai together slandered him. He Shikai said that Gao Xiaoyu was extravagant and overstepped his rank, while Gao Rui said, "In Shandong, people only know of the Prince of Henan, not of Your Majesty." The ruler thus became suspicious of him. Gao Xiaoyu privately spoke with the consort Erzhu, and when the ruler heard of this, he became enraged. On the day gengshen, he forced Gao Xiaoyu to drink thirty-seven cups of wine. Gao Xiaoyu was corpulent, with a waist measuring ten spans. The ruler ordered his attendant Lou Ziyan to take him out in a carriage and poisoned him in the carriage. When they reached the Xihua Gate, he became restless and drowned himself in the water. He was posthumously appointed Grand Commandant and Lushangshushi. Among the princes in the palace, none dared to make a sound; only the Prince of Hejian, Gao Xiaowan, wailed loudly and left.
In autumn, the seventh month, on the day wuchen, the Northern Zhou ruler visited Yuanzhou.
In the eighth month, on the day xinchou, the Northern Qi ruler converted the Santai Palace into the Daxing Sheng Temple.
In the ninth month, on the day renxu, the Inspector of Guangzhou, Yangshan Mugong Ouyang Wei, died. An edict ordered his son Ouyang He to inherit his title.
On the day jiazi, the Northern Zhou ruler ascended Mount Long from Yuanzhou.
Zhou Di again crossed the Dongxing Ridge to invade. On the day xinwei, an edict ordered the Protector of the Army, Zhang Zhaoda, to lead troops to attack him.
On the day bingxu, the Northern Zhou ruler went to Tongzhou.
Earlier, the Northern Zhou people wanted to join forces with the Tujue Muhan Khagan to attack Northern Qi, promising to marry his daughter as empress. They sent the Yubo Dafu Yang Jian and the Zuowubo Taiyuan native Wang Qing to negotiate. When the Northern Qi people heard of this, they became afraid and also sent envoys to seek marriage with the Tujue, offering very generous gifts. The Muhan Khagan, coveting the wealth of Northern Qi, wanted to seize Yang Jian and others and hand them over to Northern Qi. Yang Jian, learning of this, rebuked the Muhan Khagan, saying: "In the past, the Grand Ancestor (Yuwen Tai) together with the Khagan fostered good neighborly relations. Several thousand Rouran tribesmen came to surrender. The Grand Ancestor handed them all over to the Khagan's envoys to satisfy the Khagan's wishes. How can you now suddenly think of turning your back on kindness and forgetting righteousness? Are you not ashamed before the gods?" The Muhan Khagan looked despondent for a long time, then said: "Your words are correct. My mind is made up. We should together pacify the eastern rebels, and then I will send my daughter." Yang Jian and the others returned to report.
The high officials requested the mobilization of one hundred thousand troops to attack Northern Qi. The Zhuguo Yang Zhong alone believed that ten thousand cavalry would suffice. On the day wuzi, Yang Zhong was sent with ten thousand infantry and cavalry, along with the Tujue, to attack Northern Qi from the northern route. The Grand General Daxi Wu was also sent with thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to march from the southern route, exiting Pingyang, with a rendezvous at Jinyang.
In winter, the eleventh month, on the day xinyou, Zhang Zhaoda decisively defeated Zhou Di. Zhou Di escaped and hid in the mountains and valleys. The common people all concealed him, and even under threat of execution, none would reveal his whereabouts.
In the twelfth month, on the day xinmao, the Northern Zhou ruler returned to Chang'an.
On the day bingshen, a general amnesty was granted to the realm.
Zhang Zhaoda advanced his army across the mountains, heading straight for Jian'an to attack Chen Baoying. An imperial edict was issued ordering Yi Xiaoqing, the governor of Yizhou, to lead the forces from Kuaiji, Dongyang, Linhai, and Yongjia to rendezvous from the eastern route.
That year, sacrifices to Shizhao Lie Wang began in Jiankang, using the rites of the Son of Heaven.
Yang Zhong of Northern Zhou captured over twenty cities from Northern Qi. Northern Qi forces defended the strategic passes of Xingling, but Yang Zhong defeated them. The three khans of the Tujue—Muke, Ditou, and Buli—led a hundred thousand cavalry to join forces. On the day of Jichou, they launched a three-pronged invasion from Hengzhou. At that time, heavy snow fell continuously for several dozen days, covering an area stretching over a thousand li from north to south, with snow several feet deep on level ground. The ruler of Northern Qi rushed from Yecheng day and night, arriving at Jinyang on the day of Wuwu. Hulü Guang stationed thirty thousand infantry and cavalry at Pingyang. On the day of Jiwei, the Northern Zhou army and the Tujue approached Jinyang. The Northern Qi ruler, fearing their strength, donned his battle armor and fled eastward with his palace women, intending to evade them. Zhao Commandery Prince Gao Rui and Hejian Prince Gao Xiaowan stopped his horse's bridle and remonstrated. Gao Xiaowan requested that the army be entrusted to Gao Rui's command, asserting that it would surely be well-ordered. The emperor heeded this, ordering that the advance and retreat of the six armies all follow Gao Rui's direction, and appointed Duan Shao, the governor of Bingzhou, to oversee overall command.
Emperor Wen of the Chen Dynasty, Tianjia fifth year (Jiashen, 564 CE)
Spring, first month: Northern Qi appointed Prince Gao Jie of Rencheng as Grand Marshal.
Ruler Gao Zhan of Northern Qi went to Jinyang.
In spring, the first month, on the gengshen day (new moon), Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi ascended the northern wall; the army was in splendid order. The Turks reproached the Zhou, saying, "You claimed Qi was in chaos, therefore we came to punish them. Now the Qi men have iron in their eyes—how can we withstand them!" The Zhou used infantry as the vanguard, descending from the Western Mountains to a point about two li from the city. The Northern Qi generals all wanted to attack them, but Duan Shao said, "The strength and momentum of infantry are naturally limited. The snow is already deep; it is inconvenient to engage them in battle. It is better to array our forces and wait for them. They will be weary while we are rested, and defeating them is inevitable." When the Zhou army arrived, the Qi forces committed all their elite troops, beating drums and shouting as they charged. The Turks, shocked and terrified, led their army back up the Western Mountains and refused to fight. The Zhou army was utterly defeated and withdrew. The Turks led their army out of the passes, letting their soldiers plunder freely. North of Jinyang, for over seven hundred li, neither people nor livestock were spared. Duan Shao pursued them but dared not press too close. When the Turks reached the Xingling Pass, the road was icy and slippery, so they spread felt to cross. The Hu horses, cold and weak, had no hair below the knees. By the time they reached the Great Wall, nearly all the horses had died; they cut down their lances to use as staffs and hobbled back.
Dawu Wu reached Pingyang, unaware that Hulü Guang had already withdrawn. Hulü Guang wrote to him, saying, "The swan goose is already soaring in the vast sky, while the net-spreader still gazes at the marshes and ponds." When Dawu Wu received the letter, he also returned. Hulü Guang pursued him, entered Zhou territory, captured over two thousand men, and then withdrew.
Hulü Guang paid court to Emperor Wucheng at Jinyang. Because the emperor had just suffered a great enemy incursion, he embraced Hulü Guang’s head and wept. Prince Ren, Gao Cheng, remonstrated, saying, "How could it come to this!" Only then did Emperor Wucheng stop.
Originally, during the reign of Emperor Xianzu Wenxuan of Northern Qi, the Zhou often feared that the Qi army would cross west of the Yellow River. Every winter, they would defend the river and break the ice. By the time of Emperor Shizu Wucheng’s accession, favored ministers held power, and court governance gradually fell into disorder. The Qi, on the contrary, broke the ice to guard against Zhou forces approaching. Hulü Guang worried about this, saying, "The state once harbored the ambition to annex Guanzhong and Longyou. Now it has come to this—does it only know how to indulge in sensual pleasures!"
On xinsi, Emperor Wen of Chen performed the suburban sacrifice at the Northern Suburb.
In the second month, on the gengyin day (new moon), a solar eclipse occurred.
Originally, Emperor Xianzu of Northern Qi ordered the officials to revise the Linzhi Ge of Northern Wei into the Qi Code, but it was long unfinished. At that time, military and state affairs were numerous, and judgments rarely followed the legal provisions. This became customary, known as "handling matters by changing the precedents." When Emperor Shizu Wucheng ascended the throne, he wanted to reform this abuse, so he urged those revising the laws and ordinances to complete them. At this point, it was finished: the Code had twelve chapters, and the Ordinances had forty scrolls. The names of punishments were of five kinds: first, the death penalty—the heaviest being drawing and quartering, next beheading, next decapitation, next strangulation; second, banishment—sending the criminal to serve as a soldier at the border; third, penal servitude—from five years down to one year; fourth, flogging—from one hundred strokes down to forty; fifth, caning—from thirty strokes down to ten; altogether fifteen grades. Among these, for officials within the scope of banishment, as well as the old, young, eunuchs, the mentally impaired, and those who committed negligent offenses and should atone with goods, all used silk in place of gold. In the third month, on xinyou, it was promulgated and put into effect, and a general amnesty was granted accordingly. From then on, officials began to abide by the law. They also ordered members of official families to constantly study the laws, so most Qi people understood the legal provisions.
They further ordered that commoners at age eighteen receive land and pay taxes and levies, at twenty serve as soldiers, at sixty be exempted from labor service, and at sixty-six return the land and be exempted from taxes and levies. An adult male received eighty mu of open land, a woman forty mu; slaves were treated the same as freemen; oxen received sixty mu of land. In general, a husband and wife paid one bolt of silk, eight liang of floss, two dan of field rent, and five dou of charity rent; slaves paid half the amount of freemen; oxen paid two chi of silk, one dou of field rent, and five sheng of charity rent. Field rent was sent to the capital, charity rent to the commandery to prepare for floods and droughts.
On jisi, a group of bandits from Northern Qi, numbering several dozen led by Tian Zili, jointly seized the Grand Tutor, Prince Pengcheng Jingsi, Gao You, to be their leader. Pretending to be imperial messengers, they went straight to Gao You’s residence, entered the inner chambers, and claimed to have an imperial edict. They pulled Gao You onto a horse and threatened him with drawn blades, intending to take him to the Southern Hall. Gao You shouted loudly and refused to submit; the bandits killed him.
On gengchen, the Zhou state ordered all officials to hold tablets.
Northern Qi appointed Hulü Guang as Situ, and Prince Wuxing, Gao Pu, as Shangshu Zuo Puye. Gao Pu was the son of Gao Guiyan’s elder brother. On jiashen, Prince Fengyi, Gao Run, was appointed Sikong.
In summer, the fourth month, on xinmao, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi sent the concurrent Sanqi Changshi, Huangfu Liang, to Chen on a diplomatic mission.
On gengzi, the Zhou ruler sent an envoy to Chen on a diplomatic mission.
On guimao, Zhou appointed the Duke of Deng, He’nan native Dou Chi, as Dazongbo. In the fifth month, on renxu, Zhou enfeoffed Zhou Shizong’s (Yuwen Yu) son, Yuwen Xian, as the Duke of Bi.
On jiasi, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi returned to Yecheng.
On renwu, Northern Qi appointed Prince Zhao, Gao Rui, as Lushu Shangshi, and the former Situ, Lou Rui, as Taiwei. On jiashen, Duan Shao was appointed Taishi. On dinghai, Prince Ren, Gao Cheng, was appointed Da Jiangjun.
On renchen, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi went to Jinyang.
Zhou appointed the Taibao, Dawu Wu, as the Governor of Tong Prefecture.
In the sixth month, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi killed the Prince of Leling, Gao Bainian. At that time, a white rainbow encircled the sun in a double ring, and also pierced horizontally without reaching; a red star appeared. Emperor Wucheng wanted to use Gao Bainian to suppress this anomaly. It happened that a man from Boling, Jia Dezhou, was teaching Gao Bainian to write. Gao Bainian once wrote several characters for "imperial edict." Jia Dezhou sealed them up and submitted them. Emperor Wucheng, enraged, sent someone to summon Gao Bainian. Knowing he could not escape death, Gao Bainian cut off the jade pendant from his belt and left it for his consort, Hulü Shi, then appeared before Emperor Wucheng in the Liangfeng Hall. Emperor Wucheng made him write the character for "edict," and when it matched what Jia Dezhou had submitted, he ordered his attendants to beat him with clubs. He then had them drag him around the hall while beating him; the ground was covered with blood wherever he passed. When he was nearly dead, he was beheaded and thrown into a pond, turning the water all red. The consort, holding the jade pendant, wailed and refused to eat; after a month, she also died, the jade pendant still in her hand, her fist clenched so tightly it could not be opened. Her father, Hulü Guang, personally pried it open.
On gengyin, Zhou changed the title of Yubo to Nayan.
Originally, when Zhou Taizu followed He Bayue in Guanzhong, he sent someone to Jinyang to welcome the Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu. Yuwen Hu’s mother, Lady Yan, and the Zhou ruler’s (Yuwen Yong) aunt were both left in Jinyang, and the Qi placed them in the Zhongshan Palace. By the time Yuwen Hu came to power, he sent secret envoys into Qi to search for them, but there was no news. Qi sent an envoy to Yubi, requesting trade. Yuwen Hu wanted to seek news of his mother and aunt, so he sent the Sima Xia Daifu, Yin Gongzheng, to Yubi to talk with the Qi envoy; the envoy was very pleased. The governor of Xun Prefecture, Wei Xiaokuan, captured a man from east of the pass, then released him, and sent a letter explaining that the Western Court wished to establish friendly relations. At this time, because their previous attack on Jinyang had not achieved their aims, the Zhou planned to invade Qi again with the Turks. When the Qi ruler, Emperor Wucheng, heard this, he was very frightened, agreed to return Yuwen Hu’s mother to the west, and requested peace. He first sent the aunt back.
In autumn, the eighth month, on dinghai (new moon), a solar eclipse occurred.
Zhou sent the Zhuguo, Yang Zhong, to lead an army, join with the Turks, and invade Qi. They reached the Northern River and then returned.
On wuzi, Zhou appointed the Duke of Qi, Yuwen Xian, as Governor of Yong Prefecture, and Yuwen Gui as Da Situ. In the ninth month, on dingsi, the Duke of Wei, Yuwen Zhi, was appointed Da Sima. In recognition of the meritorious service of the founding ministers, they enfeoffed the Kaifu Yitong Sansi, Duke of Longxi, Li Bing, as Duke of Tang, and the Taiyu Zhong Daifu, Duke of Changle, Ruogan Feng, as Duke of Xu. Li Bing was Li Hu’s son; Ruogan Feng was Ruogan Hui’s son.
On yichou, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi enfeoffed his sons, Gao Chuo as Prince of Nanyang, and Gao Yan as Prince of Dongping. Gao Yan was the same-mother younger brother of the heir apparent, Gao Wei.
The Turks invaded Northern Qi’s You Prefecture with an army of over one hundred thousand, entered the Great Wall, plundered extensively, and then returned.
When the Zhou imperial aunt returned, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi had someone write a letter on behalf of the Duke of Jin’s mother, Yuwen Hu, recounting several incidents from Yuwen Hu’s childhood, and also sent a brocade robe she had woven as a token. The letter said: "Your mother and I have encountered a fortune that occurs only once in a thousand years. Thanks to the great virtue of Qi, pitying the aged, they have shown kindness and allowed a meeting. Even birds, beasts, plants, and trees cling to mother and child. What crime have I committed to be separated from you? And now what blessing can I hope to see you again? Speaking of this, grief and joy mingle; I die and come back to life. Everything in the world can be obtained if sought, but a mother and child in different states—where can they be sought? Even if you are honored as a prince and duke, and wealthy beyond the mountains and seas, you have an old mother, eighty years old, drifting a thousand li away, about to die at any moment. I cannot have even a brief moment of meeting, nor a single day of sharing. In cold, I cannot receive your clothes; in hunger, I cannot receive your food. Though you exhaust glory and splendor and shine in the world, what good is that to me? Before today, you were unable to fulfill your duty of support; let the past not be discussed. From today onward, the remnant of my life depends solely on you. Under the heavens and above the earth, there are spirits and gods. Do not think that because it is dark and hidden, you can deceive and cheat!"
When Yuwen Hu received the letter, he was overcome with grief and could not control himself. His reply said: "The world is divided; I have encountered calamity. Leaving my mother’s knee has already been thirty-five years. All born receiving the essence of heaven and earth know the feelings between mother and child. Who is like me, Sabao (Yuwen Hu’s infant name), so unfilial? The son is a duke and minister, the mother is a captive and slave. In summer, I cannot see my mother’s heat; in winter, I cannot see her cold. I do not know if she has clothes or not, or if she is hungry or full. It is as if she has vanished beyond heaven and earth, and I cannot obtain a moment’s news. Nursing this grievance and pain, I will end this life. If there is knowledge after death, I hope to serve my mother in the underworld! I never expected that Qi would open a net of mercy and bestow kindness, informing me that my mother and my fourth aunt have both been granted release. On first hearing this decree, my soul flew away; I cried out to heaven and beat the earth, unable to control myself. Qi’s vast virtue has already moistened me. For a family or a state, trust and righteousness are fundamental. I anticipate that the appointed time should already have a date. Once I can see my mother’s beloved face, I will forever fulfill the wish of my life. To restore the dead to life and grow flesh on whitened bones—can any grace surpass this? To carry a mountain cannot bear its weight."
The Qi people kept Yuwen Hu’s mother and had her write another letter to Yuwen Hu, demanding a generous reward. This exchange went back and forth many times. At that time, Duan Shao was at the frontier defending against the Turks. Emperor Wucheng sent the Huangmen, Xu Shirong, by relay carriage, carrying the Zhou letter, to consult Duan Shao. Duan Shao believed: "The Zhou are fickle and have no trustworthiness. The recent battle at Jinyang shows this. Yuwen Hu outwardly poses as the Chancellor, but in fact he is the ruler. He seeks peace for his mother’s sake, yet does not send a single envoy. If we send his mother based solely on a transferred document, it would probably show our weakness. It is better to temporarily agree on the surface, and only send her after the alliance is firmly established—then it will not be too late." Emperor Wucheng did not listen and immediately sent her back.
When Lady Yan arrived in Zhou, the entire court celebrated. The Zhou ruler granted a general amnesty. All supplies and offerings were extremely lavish. At every seasonal festival and sacrifice, the Zhou ruler led all the relatives in performing family rites, raising cups to toast her.
The Turks returned from You Prefecture, halted north of the frontier, gathered the troops of various tribes, and sent an envoy to inform Zhou that they wanted to attack Qi together according to the previous agreement. In the intercalary ninth month, on yisi, the Turks invaded Qi’s You Prefecture.
The Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, had just been reunited with his mother and did not want to attack Qi. But he also feared that if he betrayed the agreement with the Turks, it would create border troubles. Unwillingly, he mobilized the twenty-four armies, as well as the scattered troops of the left and right wings from Qin, Long, Ba, Shu, and the surrendered Qiang and Hu, totaling two hundred thousand men. In winter, the tenth month, on jiazi, the Zhou ruler, in the ancestral temple, bestowed on Yuwen Hu the battle-ax. On dingmao, he personally reviewed the army at Shayuan. On guichou, he returned to the palace.
Yuwen Hu’s army reached Tong Pass. He sent the Zhuguo, Yuchi Jiong, to lead one hundred thousand elite troops as the vanguard, heading straight for Luoyang. The Da Jiangjun, Quan Jingxuan, led the troops of the southern mountains toward Xuanhu. The Shaoshi, Yang Biao, marched out from Zhiguan.
Zhou Di again emerged from Dongxing. The Governor of Xuancheng, Qian Su, who was defending Dongxing, surrendered the city to Zhou Di. The Governor of Wu Prefecture, Chen Xiang, led troops to attack him. Chen Xiang’s army was utterly defeated, and Zhou Di’s power revived.
The Governor of South Yu Prefecture, the Xifeng Marquis of Tuo, Zhou Fu, led his forces to attack Zhou Di. He reached Dingchuan and confronted Zhou Di. Zhou Di deceived Zhou Fu, saying, "In the past, I worked with you with one heart and one mind. How could I have any intention to harm you? Now I am willing to confess my crimes and return to court, revealing my true feelings through you. Allow me first to come forward and swear an oath together." Zhou Fu agreed. As soon as he ascended the oath platform, he was killed by Zhou Di.
Chen Baoying occupied the two commanderies of Jian’an and Jin’an, setting up palisades on water and land to resist Zhang Zhaoda. Zhang Zhaoda engaged him but was unsuccessful. He then occupied the upper reaches, ordered his soldiers to cut trees and make rafts, and set up battering rams on them. Just then, heavy rain caused the river to rise. Zhang Zhaoda released the rafts to ram Chen Baoying’s water palisades, completely destroying them. He then sent troops to attack his infantry. Just as the battle began, Emperor Wen of Chen sent General Yu Xiaoqing, who arrived by sea route just in time, and they combined forces to exploit the opportunity. In the eleventh month, on jichou, Chen Baoying was utterly defeated and fled to Pukou. He said to his son, "If I had followed Minister Yu’s (Yu Ji) plan earlier, I would not have come to this." Zhang Zhaoda pursued and captured him, along with Liu Yi and his clan and followers. They were sent to Jiankang and beheaded. Liu Yi’s son, Liu Zhenchen, was spared because he had married a princess. Chen Baoying’s guests were all executed.
When Emperor Wen of Chen heard that Yu Ji had once remonstrated with Chen Baoying, he ordered Zhang Zhaoda to send him to Jiankang with courtesy. After meeting him, he consoled him, saying, "Guan Ning (a metaphor for Yu Ji, a famous scholar who fled to Liaodong at the end of the Eastern Han), are you well?" He appointed him as the Zhangshuji of the Prince of Hengyang.
The Zhou Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, advanced and camped at Hongnong. On jiawu, Yuchi Jiong reached Luoyang. The Governor of Yong Prefecture, the Duke of Qi, Yuwen Xian, the Governor of Tong Prefecture, Dawu Wu, and the Commander-in-Chief of Han Prefecture, Wang Xiong, camped at Mangshan.
On wuxu, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi sent the concurrent Sanqi Changshi, Liu Ti, to Chen on a diplomatic mission.
Originally, the Zhou general Yang Biao served as Governor of Shao Prefecture, defending the eastern border for over twenty years. He fought many battles with Qi and never lost, so he grew contemptuous of Qi. After he set out from Zhiguan, he led his troops deep into enemy territory alone and did not set up defenses. On jiachen, the Northern Qi Taiwei, Lou Rui, led troops in a sudden attack, thoroughly defeated Yang Biao’s army, and Yang Biao surrendered to Qi.
Quan Jingxuan besieged Xuanhu. In the twelfth month, the Northern Qi Yuzhou Dao Xingtai and Governor of Yu Prefecture, Prince of Taiyuan Wang Shiliang, and the Governor of Yong Prefecture, Xiao Shiyi, both surrendered their cities. Quan Jingxuan sent Kaifu Guo Yan to guard Yu Prefecture, Xie Che to guard Yong Prefecture, and sent Wang Shiliang, Xiao Shiyi, and a thousand surrendered soldiers to Chang’an.
The Zhou built earthen mounds and dug tunnels to attack Luoyang but could not take it in thirty days. The Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, ordered the generals to dig a trench to cut off the road to Heyang, blocking Qi’s relief forces, and then attack Luoyang together. The generals believed that the Qi troops would certainly not dare to move, so they only set up scouts.
Northern Qi sent the Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong, and the Da Jiangjun, Hulü Guang, to rescue Luoyang. They feared the Zhou army’s strength and did not dare advance. Emperor Wucheng summoned the Governor of Bing Prefecture, Duan Shao, and said to him, "Luoyang is in danger. Now I want to send the Prince (of Lanling) to rescue it. The Turks are to the north, and we also need to defend against them. What is to be done?" Duan Shao replied, "The northern barbarians’ border incursions are like a skin disease. Now the western neighbor is spying and pressing us—that is a disease of the heart and stomach. Please allow me to accept the edict and go south." Emperor Wucheng said, "My intention is also thus." He then ordered Duan Shao to command one thousand elite cavalrymen and set out from Jinyang. On dingsi, Emperor Wucheng himself also set out from Jinyang for Luoyang.
On jiwei, the Northern Qi Taizai, Prince Pingyuan Jingyi, Gao Yan, died.
Duan Shao set out from Jinyang. After marching for five days, he crossed the Yellow River. Just then, there were days of continuous fog. On renxu, Duan Shao reached Luoyang, led three hundred cavalry from his camp, and ascended the Mang slope with the generals to observe the Zhou army’s situation. When they reached Taihe Valley, they encountered the Zhou army. Duan Shao immediately galloped to report to the various camps, summoned the cavalry, and formed a battle line to await the Zhou. Duan Shao was the left army, the Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong, was the center army, and Hulü Guang was the right army. The Zhou had not expected their arrival and were all fearful and uneasy. Duan Shao called out to the Zhou from a distance, saying, "You, Yuwen Hu, just got his mother, and now you come to invade. Why?" The Zhou replied, "Heaven sent us; what is there to ask!" Duan Shao said, "The Way of Heaven rewards good and punishes evil. It must have sent you to die!" The Zhou used infantry in front and advanced up the mountain to fight. Duan Shao fought and retreated, luring them on. When their strength was exhausted, he then dismounted and attacked. The Zhou army was utterly defeated, collapsing at once. Many fell into streams and valleys and died.
The Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong, led five hundred cavalry and broke into the Zhou army, reaching the foot of Jinyong City. Those on the wall did not recognize him. Gao Changgong took off his helmet and showed his face; only then did the defenders send crossbowmen to rescue him. The Zhou troops below the city also lifted the siege and fled, abandoning their tents. From Mangshan to Gushui, for thirty li, military supplies and equipment lay scattered over the mountains and marshes. Only the Duke of Qi, Yuwen Xian, Dawu Wu, and the Duke of Yongzhong, Wang Xiong, remained in the rear, holding their troops and fighting.
Wang Xiong charged into Hulü Guang’s formation. Hulü Guang retreated, and Wang Xiong pursued him. Hulü Guang’s attendants all scattered, leaving only one servant and one arrow. Wang Xiong, holding his lance, was less than a zhang from Hulü Guang and said to him, "I pity you and will not kill you. I will capture you alive and present you to the Son of Heaven." Hulü Guang shot Wang Xiong in the forehead. Wang Xiong, clutching his horse, fled and died upon reaching his camp. The army became even more fearful.
The Duke of Qi, Yuwen Xian, comforted and urged them on, and the men’s spirits calmed somewhat. At night, he gathered the troops and wanted to wait until dawn to fight again. Dawu Wu said, "The Luoyang army is routed; the men are shaken and terrified. If we do not return quickly under cover of night, by tomorrow we will not be able to return. I have been in the army for a long time and fully understand the situation. You are young and inexperienced. How can you abandon several battalions of soldiers to the tiger’s mouth!" So they withdrew. Quan Jingxuan also abandoned Yu Prefecture and fled.
On dingmao, Emperor Wucheng of Northern Qi arrived at Luoyang. On jisi, he appointed Duan Shao as Taizai, Hulü Guang as Taiwei, and the Prince of Lanling, Gao Changgong, as Shangshu Ling. On renshen, Emperor Wucheng went to Hulao, then from Huatai to Liyang. On bingzi, he arrived at Yecheng.
Yang Zhong led his troops from Woye to rendezvous with the Turks. Military rations could not be supplied, and all the generals were worried, at a loss. Yang Zhong then summoned the chiefs of the Ji Hu and seated them all. He pretended to send the Governor of He Prefecture, Wang Jie, leading troops beating drums, to arrive and say, "The Grand Chancellor (Yuwen Hu) has already pacified Luoyang and wants to join with the Turks to punish those among the Ji Hu who do not submit." All those seated were terrified. Yang Zhong comforted and dismissed them. Then the various Hu, one after another, delivered provisions, with wagons and grain piled up like a mountain. Just then, the Zhou army withdrew, and Yang Zhong also returned.
The Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, originally had no strategic ability. This campaign was not from his own heart, so he achieved no merit. He and the generals kowtowed and apologized. The Zhou ruler comforted and pardoned them.
In this year, the Shandong region of Northern Qi suffered a great flood. The number of people who died of starvation could not be counted.
The King of Dangchang, Liang Miding, repeatedly invaded the Zhou border. The Zhou Da Jiangjun, Tian Hong, attacked and destroyed him, setting up his territory as Dang Prefecture.
Spring, the first month, on the guimao day (the 5th), Northern Qi appointed the Prince of Rencheng, Gao Jie, as Grand Marshal. The Northern Qi ruler went to Jinyang.
Second month, on the xinchou day (the 24th), Northern Zhou dispatched Chen Gong Yuwen Chun, Xu Gong Yuwen Gui, Shenwu Gong Dou Yi, and Nanyang Gong Yang Jian, fully equipped with the empress’s ceremonial guard, attendants, and traveling palace, leading 120 palace women, to the Turkic Khagan’s tent to welcome the princess as a bride. Dou Yi was the elder brother’s son of Dou Chi.
On the bingyin day (the 19th), Northern Zhou appointed the pillar of state, Anguo Gong Li Mu, as Grand Minister of Works, and Suide Gong Lu Tong as Grand Minister of Justice.
On the renshen day (the 25th), the Northern Zhou ruler went to Qizhou.
Summer, the fourth month, on the jiayin day (the 8th), Chen appointed the Prince of Ancheng, Chen Xu, as Minister of Works. Chen Xu, relying on his status as the emperor’s younger brother, wielded power that overwhelmed both court and country. The direct soldier Bao Sengrui, relying on Chen Xu’s influence, engaged in unlawful acts. The Imperial Censor-in-Chief, Xu Ling, submitted an impeachment against him, leading the officials of the Censorate, holding the case documents, into the court. Emperor Wen of Chen, seeing Xu Ling’s solemn and dignified official attire and demeanor, also composed himself, straightening his posture. Xu Ling stepped forward and read the impeachment document. At that time, Chen Xu was standing in attendance in the hall. He looked up at the emperor, sweating and losing color from fear. Xu Ling ordered the palace censor to lead Chen Xu down from the hall. Emperor Wen of Chen consequently removed Chen Xu from his positions as Attendant-in-Ordinary and Director of the Palace Secretariat. The court officials were awed into respect.
On the bingwu day (the 8th), the Northern Qi Grand General, the Prince of Dong’an, Lou Rui, was dismissed from office for an offense.
The Northern Qi Director of the Editorial Service, Zu Ting, had literary talent and multiple skills, but his nature was careless and frivolous, and his conduct was improper. He had once served as the Central and External Bureau Administrator under the late emperor Gao Huan. During a banquet, a golden poluo cup was lost, and it was found in Zu Ting’s topknot. He also committed the crime of stealing 3,000 shi of official grain, was flogged 200 times, and was sent to the armor workshop for penal servitude. During the reign of Emperor Xianzu Gao Yang, Zu Ting served as Secretary of the Palace Library. He stole the Huain Bianlüe encyclopedia and other stolen goods, for which the punishment should have been death by strangulation, but he was stripped of his official rank and reduced to commoner status. Although Emperor Xianzu hated his repeated violations of the law, he loved his talent and skills and allowed him to serve on duty in the Palace Secretariat.
At the time when Emperor Shizu Gao Zhan was the Prince of Changguang, Zu Ting presented him with walnut oil and took the opportunity to say: “Your Highness has an extraordinary physiognomy. I, Xiaozheng (Zu Ting’s courtesy name), dreamed that Your Highness ascended to heaven on a dragon.” The Prince of Changguang said: “If this really comes true, I will surely make you, elder brother, rich and honored.” After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he promoted Zu Ting to Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat and then to Palace Attendant. Zu Ting, together with He Shikai, engaged in treacherous and flattering conduct.
Zu Ting privately said to He Shikai: “Your Grace’s favor is unmatched from ancient times to the present. But once the emperor passes away, what plan do you have for a good end?” He Shikai then asked him for advice. Zu Ting said: “You should persuade the sovereign: ‘The sons of Emperor Wenxiang, Emperor Wenxuan, and Emperor Xiaozhao were not established as crown princes. Now it is appropriate to have the crown prince ascend the throne early to confirm the distinction between ruler and subject.’ If this succeeds, the empress dowager and the young ruler will both be grateful to you. This is a foolproof plan. Please subtly hint this to the sovereign, making him roughly understand, and I, Zu Ting, will then submit a memorial from outside to detail the argument.” He Shikai agreed.
Just at that time, a comet appeared. The Grand Astrologer memorialized: “The appearance of a comet is an omen of removing the old and establishing the new; it should correspond to a change of sovereign.” Zu Ting then submitted a memorial, saying: “Although Your Majesty is the Son of Heaven, you have not yet attained the utmost honor. You should pass the throne to the crown prince, thus conforming to the Way of Heaven.” He also presented the precedent of Emperor Xianzu of Northern Wei, Tuoba Hong, passing the throne to his son. The Northern Qi ruler followed his advice.
On the bingzi day, he sent Grand Mentor Duan Shao, holding the imperial seal and ribbon, to pass the throne to the crown prince, Gao Wei. The crown prince ascended the throne in the Jinyang Palace, granted a general amnesty, and changed the reign era to Tiantong. He also issued an edict establishing the crown prince’s consort, the Lady Hulü, as empress. Then the various nobles and high officials honored Emperor Shizu with the title of Retired Emperor, and all military and state affairs were reported to him. He sent the Vice Director of the Palace Secretariat, Feng Zicong, and the Left Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs, Hu Changcan, to assist and instruct the young ruler, entering and leaving the palace, and being specifically responsible for presenting and transmitting edicts. Feng Zicong was the younger sister’s husband of Empress Hu.
Zu Ting was appointed as Secretary of the Palace Secretariat, with additional appointment as Yitong Sansi (honorary third-rank office), and was deeply favored and trusted, valued by both the Retired Emperor and the young ruler’s two palaces. On the dingchou day, Northern Qi appointed He Bayun as Grand Preceptor, Houmo Chen Xiang as Grand Guardian, the Prince of Fengyi, Gao Run, as Minister of Education, the Prince of Zhao Commandery, Gao Rui, as Minister of Works, and the Prince of Henan, Gao Xiaowan, as Director of the Department of State Affairs. On the wuyin day, he appointed the Prefect of Yingzhou, Wei Can, as Grand Commandant, Hulü Guang as Grand General, the Prince of Dong’an, Lou Rui, as Grand Commandant, and the Left Deputy Director of the Department of State Affairs, Zhao Yanshen, as Left Director of the Department of State Affairs.
Fifth month, the Turks sent envoys to Northern Qi, beginning diplomatic relations with Northern Qi.
Sixth month, on the jisi day, the Northern Qi ruler sent the concurrent Palace Attendant Regular Attendant, Wang Jigao, to Chen on a diplomatic mission.
Autumn, the seventh month, on the xinsi day, a solar eclipse occurred.
Emperor Wen of Chen sent the Area Commander-in-Chief, Cheng Lingxi, to attack Zhou Di from Poyang via another route, and defeated him. Zhou Di, along with over ten of his followers, fled into mountain caves. Over time, his followers also grew weary of the hardship. Later, Zhou Di secretly sent someone to Linchuan to buy fish and pickled fish. The Prefect of Linchuan, Luo Ya, captured this person and had him capture Zhou Di to atone for his crime. He then sent trusted braves to follow him into the mountains. The man lured Zhou Di out to hunt, and the braves ambushed him by the roadside, emerging to kill him. On the bingxu day, Zhou Di’s head was sent to Jiankang.
On the gengyin day, the Northern Zhou ruler went to Qinzhou. In the eighth month, on the bingzi day, he returned to Chang’an.
On the jimao day, Chen established the imperial prince Chen Bogu as the Prince of Xinan, Chen Bogong as the Prince of Jin’an, Chen Boren as the Prince of Luling, and Chen Boyi as the Prince of Jiangxia.
Winter, the tenth month, on the xinhai day, Northern Zhou changed the Hangu Pass city into Tongluo Defense, appointing the Prefect of Jinzhou, He Ruodun, as Prefect of Zhongzhou, to guard Hangu Pass.
He Ruodun, relying on his talent, acted willfully. Seeing that his contemporaries had all become Grand Generals, while he alone had not obtained this post, and additionally, from the Xiangzhou campaign, he had returned with his army intact and thought he should have been rewarded, but instead was stripped of his rank and reduced to commoner status, he therefore spoke resentfully to the imperial envoy. The Duke of Jin, Yuwen Hu, was greatly angered, summoned him back, and forced him to commit suicide. Just before his death, He Ruodun said to his son He Ruobi: “My ambition was to pacify the Jiangnan region, but now I have not achieved it. You must fulfill my unfulfilled wish. I died because of a disaster from my tongue; you must deeply ponder this.” Then he pierced He Ruobi’s tongue with an awl, drawing blood to admonish him.
Eleventh month, on the guiwei day, the Northern Qi Retired Emperor arrived at Yecheng.
When Emperor Shizu of Northern Qi, Gao Zhan, was the Prince of Changguang, he was often beaten by Emperor Xianzu Gao Yang and harbored constant resentment. Emperor Xianzu, whenever he saw Zu Ting, often called him “thief,” so Zu Ting also resented Emperor Xianzu. Moreover, wanting to curry favor with Emperor Shizu, Zu Ting said to him: “Emperor Wenxuan, Gao Yang, was violent in nature; how can he be called ‘Wen’ (civil)? Since he did not establish the foundation, how can he be called ‘Zu’ (ancestor)? If Emperor Wenxuan is called ‘Zu,’ what should Your Majesty be called after ten thousand years?” Emperor Shizu followed his words. On the jichou day, he changed the posthumous title of Emperor Xianwu to Emperor Shenwu, with the temple name Gaozu, and Empress Xianming to Empress Wuming. He ordered the relevant departments to re-deliberate on the posthumous title of Emperor Wenxuan.
Twelfth month, on the yimao day, Chen established the imperial prince Chen Boli as the Prince of Wuling.
On the renxu day, the Northern Qi Retired Emperor went to Jinyang.
On the gengwu day, Northern Qi changed the posthumous title of Emperor Wenxuan to Emperor Jinglie, with the temple name Weizong.
Emperor Shizu Wen, Tiankang era, first year (Bingxu, 566 AD).
In the spring, in the first month, on the ji mao day, there was a solar eclipse. On the gui wei day, Northern Zhou granted a general amnesty and changed the reign title to Tianhe. On the xin mao day, the Northern Qi ruler performed the suburban sacrifice at the Circular Mound; on the gui si day, he performed the xia sacrifice in the Ancestral Temple. On the bing shen day, Northern Qi appointed the Minister of Personnel, Wei Jin, as Right Pu Ye. On the ji hai day, the Northern Zhou ruler performed the Plowing Ceremony. On the geng zi day, the Northern Qi ruler went to Jinyang. Northern Zhou dispatched the Minor Controller of State, Du Gao, on a diplomatic mission. In the second month, on the geng xu day, the Northern Qi Retired Emperor returned to Yecheng. On the bing zi day, a general amnesty was granted, and the reign title was changed. In the third month, on the ji mao day, Chen appointed the Prince of Ancheng, Chen Xu, as Shang Shu Ling. On the bing wu day, the Northern Zhou ruler performed the suburban sacrifice in the southern outskirts. In the summer, in the fourth month, a grand rain-seeking sacrifice was held. Emperor Wen of Chen fell ill, and the affairs of all government departments were ordered to be jointly decided by Shang Shu Pu Ye Dao Zhongju and Wu Bing Shang Shu Kong Huan. Kong Huan was the great-grandson of Kong Xiuzhi. The Emperor's illness worsened. Kong Huan, Dao Zhongju, together with the Si Kong, Shang Shu Ling, and Inspector of Yangzhou, the Prince of Ancheng, Chen Xu, the Minister of Personnel, Yuan Shu, and the Secretariat Drafter, Liu Shizhi, entered the palace to attend to the imperial medicine. Yuan Shu was the son of Yuan Junzheng. The heir apparent, Chen Bozong, was weak in character. The Emperor worried that he would be unable to hold the throne and said to Chen Xu, "I wish to follow the precedent of Wu Taibo in yielding the throne." Chen Xu knelt and prostrated himself, weeping, and firmly declined. The Emperor also said to Dao Zhongju, Kong Huan, and others, "Now the empire is divided into three powers, locked in a tripod-like confrontation. The affairs of the four seas are weighty and numerous, requiring a mature ruler. I wish to emulate in recent times the example of Duke Cheng of Jin (who succeeded his elder brother), and in ancient times to revive the system of brother succeeding brother, as in the Shang dynasty. You should understand my intention." Kong Huan, weeping, replied, "Your Majesty's dietary imbalance has caused you discomfort, but recovery will not be long in coming. The Crown Prince is in his prime, and his sage virtue grows daily. The Prince of Ancheng is Your Majesty's own younger brother, fully capable of taking on the role of the Duke of Zhou as regent. If Your Majesty harbors thoughts of deposing the Crown Prince, we, your ministers, dull and stupid as we are, truly dare not receive this command." The Emperor said, "The legacy of the upright ministers of ancient times is again seen in you, Sir." He then appointed Kong Huan as Supervisor of the Heir Apparent's Household.
Your servant Sima Guang remarks: A minister serving his ruler should follow the circumstances to perfect the ruler's virtue and correct or rescue his evil deeds. Kong Huan, serving in the Chen dynasty, held a position of utmost trust and was responsible for deciding matters of great ritual import. If he believed that the words of Shizu (Emperor Wen) were not sincere, then he should have argued face-to-face like Dou Ying, or remonstrated forthrightly at court like Yuan Ang, nipping the seeds of usurpation in the bud before they could sprout. If he believed that Shizu's words were sincere, then he should have requested a public edict, proclaimed it to the court and the country, so that Shizu might have the fame of Duke Xuan of Song (who passed the throne to his brother), and that Gaozong (Emperor Xuan of Chen) might not have the infamy of King Ling of Chu. If not that, if he considered the Crown Prince the rightful heir, immovable, and wished to protect and support him for his safety, then he should have exhausted his loyalty and integrity, defending him with his very life, like Xun Ji of Jin or Fei Yi of Zhao. How could it be that while the ruler still lived, he anticipated his intentions to curry favor, and after the ruler died, when a powerful minister usurped the state, he was unable to save it, and when the succeeding ruler lost the throne, he was unable to die for him! This is the very height of sycophantic treachery. Yet Shizu called him a "legacy of uprightness" and entrusted the young ruler to him—how absurd is that!
On the gui you day, Emperor Wen of Chen died. The Emperor had risen from hardship and difficulty, understanding the suffering of the common people. He was by nature discerning, frugal, and simple. Every night he would send men to inquire into matters outside the palace gates, handling matters one after another without cease. He ordered those who transmitted the night watches in the palace to always drop the watch tally onto the stone steps of the hall, making it ring with a clanging sound, saying, "Even if I am asleep, I want this to wake me."
The heir apparent, Chen Bozong, ascended the throne and granted a general amnesty. In the fifth month, on the ji mao day, the Empress Dowager was honored as Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress was honored as Empress Dowager. On the yi you day, Northern Qi appointed the concurrent Zuo Pu Ye, the Prince of Wuxing, Gao Pu, as Shang Shu Ling. The Dragon-Salmon King of Tuyuhun, Mo Chang, led his tribe to submit to Northern Zhou. Northern Zhou established this area as Fuzhou. On the geng yin day, Chen appointed the Prince of Ancheng, Chen Xu, as General of the Agile Cavalry, Si Tu, Lu Shang Shu Shi, and Commander of All Military Affairs Within and Beyond the Capital. On the ding you day, the General of the Central Army, Kai Fu Yi Tong San Si, Xu Du, was appointed Si Kong. The Minister of Personnel, Yuan Shu, was appointed Zuo Pu Ye. The Grand Administrator of Wuxing, Shen Qin, was appointed You Pu Ye. The Censor-in-Chief, Xu Ling, was appointed Minister of Personnel.
Xu Ling believed that, since the end of the Liang dynasty, the selection and appointment of officials had been largely indiscriminate. He therefore wrote a document for everyone to see, saying: "Emperor Yuan of Liang succeeded the years of famine and disaster following Hou Jing's rebellion. Grand Commandant Wang (Sengbian) followed the calamity and defeat of the fall of Jingzhou. Thus, the selection and use of officials reached a nadir of chaos. In the Yong'an era (reign title of Emperor Jing of Liang), when our dynasty (Chen) was first established, silver was difficult to obtain, while the yellow appointment papers were easy to issue. Official ranks were temporarily used to substitute for money and silk. As a result, officials like Yuan Wai and Chang Shi were everywhere on the roads, and posts like Zi Yi and Can Jun were countless in the markets. Could this have been the proper intention of the court's statutes and regulations? Now, with our caps, robes, rites, and music flourishing day by day, how can we continue with these old habits? This is not in line with reason and expectation!" Everyone was very convinced by his words.
On the ji hai day, Northern Qi established the Retired Emperor's sons: Gao Hong as Prince of Qi'an, Gao Rengu as Prince of Beiping, Gao Renying as Prince of Gaoping, and Gao Renguang as Prince of Huainan. In the sixth month, Northern Qi dispatched the concurrent San Qi Chang Shi, Wei Daoru, on a diplomatic mission. On the bing yin day, Chen buried Emperor Wen in the Yongning Mausoleum, with the temple name Shizu.
In the autumn, in the seventh month, on the wu yin day, Northern Zhou constructed the city of Wugong and other cities to station troops. On the ding you day, Chen established Lady Wang as Empress. In the eighth month, the Northern Qi Retired Emperor went to Jinyang. The Man people of Xinzhou in Northern Zhou, led by Ran Lingxian, Xiang Wuzi Wang, and others, rebelled, occupying Bixia Gorge. They captured Baidi City, and their partisans linked up over a stretch of more than two thousand li. Northern Zhou dispatched Kai Fu Yi Tong San Si Yuan Qi and Zhao Gang, among others, to attack them one after another, but they were never able to subdue them. In the ninth month, the Northern Zhou Emperor Wu issued an edict ordering Kai Fu Yi Tong San Si Lu Teng to command Kai Fu Yi Tong San Si Wang Liang and Sima Yi to attack them.
Lu Teng's army camped at Tangkou. Ran Lingxian held the strategic points on the south bank of the Yangzi River, establishing ten cities. He made alliances with the Man of Sanyang far away to gain their support, while he himself led his elite troops to firmly defend Shuicheng (Water-Log City). Lu Teng gathered his generals to discuss the plan. All the generals wanted to first attack Shuicheng, then strike at Jiangnan. Lu Teng said, "Ran Lingxian relies internally on the fortress-like strength of Shuicheng, and externally on the assistance and support of the Man of Sanyang. His supplies and grain are ample, his weapons and armor are excellent. Attacking his tight fortifications with our isolated and deep-penetrating army—if we fail to take the city in one battle, it will only boost his morale. It is better to station the army at Tangkou, first attack Jiangnan, cut off his wings, and then advance on Shuicheng. That is the strategy for victory." He then sent Wang Liang to lead troops across the Yangzi River. Within ten days, they captured eight cities south of the river, taking prisoners and those who surrendered by the thousands each. Then, Lu Teng secretly recruited brave men, sending them by multiple routes to attack Shuicheng. The Man chieftains Ran Boli and Ran Anxi had long-standing feuds with Ran Lingxian. Lu Teng persuaded and lured them, bribing them with gold and silk, and used them as guides. Beside Shuicheng was Shisheng City, which Ran Lingxian had his brother's son, Ran Longzhen, defend. Lu Teng secretly bribed Ran Longzhen, who then surrendered his city. The troops of Shuicheng scattered. Over ten thousand heads were taken, and more than ten thousand people were captured. Ran Lingxian fled but was pursued, captured, and beheaded. Lu Teng piled up the corpses beside Shuicheng to form a jingguan (a mound of enemy dead to display martial prowess). After this, whenever the various Man groups saw this jingguan, they would wail loudly and dared not rebel again.
Xiang Wuzi Wang held Shibei City, and sent his son, Xiang Baosheng, to hold Shuangcheng (Twin City). After Shuicheng was pacified, Lu Teng repeatedly sent people to urge them to surrender, but they still refused. Lu Teng advanced and attacked, capturing them all. The various Xiang chieftains were all beheaded, and more than ten thousand households were taken captive. The original seat of Xinzhou was at Baidi City. Lu Teng moved it north of Ba Chen Tan, and appointed Sima Yi as the Inspector of Xinzhou.
The junior minister of personnel, Xin Ang, a native of Longxi, was sent on a mission to Liangzhou and Yizhou, and also tasked with supervising the transport of military provisions for Lu Teng. At that time, the people of Lin, Xin, Chu, and He provinces mostly gathered in rebellion. Xin Ang explained to them the consequences of good and evil, and those who came to submit did so as if returning home. He then ordered the elderly and weak to carry grain on their backs, while the strong bore weapons for defense, and everyone was willing to serve him. On his return journey, he encountered a rebellion by the people of Wanrong Commandery in Bazhou, who besieged the commandery city and blocked the mountain paths. Xin Ang said to his attendants: "The fierce and treacherous are running rampant. If we wait to report to the court, the isolated city will surely fall. If it benefits the people, I may act on my own authority." Thereupon, he recruited men from Tongzhou and Kaizhou, obtaining three thousand. Traveling day and night, they caught the rebels by surprise and charged straight into their camp. The rebels, believing a great army had arrived, scattered at the sight, and the commandery was preserved. The Northern Zhou court commended him and appointed him governor of Quzhou.
In winter, the tenth month, Northern Qi appointed Houmo Chen Xiang as Grand Preceptor, Prince Ren Cheng, Gao Xie, as Grand Protector, Lou Rui as Grand Commander-in-Chief, Prince Feng Yi, Gao Run, as Grand Commandant, and Han Zunian, Chief of the Open Palace Equipages, as Minister of Education. On the day gengshen, the deposed Emperor of Chen performed sacrifices in the Grand Temple. In the eleventh month, on the day yihai, Northern Zhou sent an envoy to offer condolences. On the day bingxu, the Northern Zhou ruler inspected the new cities at Wugong and other places. In the twelfth month, on the day gengshen, he returned to Chang'an.
Gao Xiaoxiao, Prince of Hejian of Northern Qi, resented the ruling ministers. He made a straw man and shot arrows at it. He Shikai and Zu Ting slandered him to the Retired Emperor, saying: "The straw man was imitating Your Majesty's body. Furthermore, when the Turks previously came to Bingzhou, Gao Xiaoxiao took off his helmet and threw it to the ground, saying, 'Am I an old woman, that I need to wear this thing!' This remark was directed at Your Majesty. Also, during the Northern Wei period, there was a ballad: 'Plant grain south of the River, it grows north of the River; on the tip of a white poplar tree, a golden cock crows.' 'South of the River' and 'north of the River' refer to Hejian (Gao Xiaoxiao's fief). Gao Xiaoxiao is about to erect a golden cock and proclaim a general amnesty." The Retired Emperor was quite suspicious.
It happened that Gao Xiaoxiao had obtained a Buddha's tooth, which he kept in his residence, and it emitted light at night. The Retired Emperor heard of this and sent men to search, finding several hundred lances and banners filling the storehouses. The Retired Emperor considered these implements of rebellion and had him arrested and interrogated. Among his concubines was one surnamed Chen, who was not favored. She falsely accused Gao Xiaoxiao, saying: "Xiaoxiao often paints Your Majesty's portrait and weeps before it." But the portrait was actually of Emperor Wenxiang (Gao Cheng). The Retired Emperor was enraged and sent the military guard He Lian Fuxuan to beat him with the butt-end of a whip. Gao Xiaoxiao cried out, "Uncle!" The Retired Emperor said, "How dare you call me uncle!" Gao Xiaoxiao replied, "Your servant is the direct grandson of Emperor Shenwu, the direct son of Emperor Wenxiang, and the nephew of Emperor Xiaojing of Wei—why can I not call you uncle!" The Retired Emperor grew even angrier, broke both of his shin bones, and executed him. Prince Ande, Gao Yanzong, wept for him, and his tears were red. Gao Yanzong also made a straw man, beat it with a whip, and interrogated it, saying: "Why did you kill my brother!" This was reported by a servant, and the Retired Emperor had Gao Yanzong thrown to the ground and struck him two hundred times with a horsewhip, nearly killing him.
In this year, Northern Qi granted the surname Gao to Yuan Wenyao, Palace Attendant and Director of the Secretariat. Soon after, he was promoted to Left Vice Director of the Department of State Affairs. Since the end of Northern Wei, most county magistrates were appointed from among menial servants, so the scholar-official class considered serving as a county magistrate shameful. Yuan Wenyao believed that the county magistrate was the foundation of governing the people, so he requested a reform of the selection system. He secretly selected sons of noble families, issued an edict to appoint them, and, fearing they might appeal, gathered them all at the Shenwu Gate. He had Prince Zhao, Gao Rui, read the imperial decree and call out their names, giving them generous encouragement and instructions before sending them to their posts. The appointment of scholar-officials as county magistrates in Northern Qi began from this time.