Tang Annals 3

Comprehensive Mirror to Aid in Government, Volume 187: Tang Annals 3, from the first month of the jiyi year to the tenth month, less than one full year.

Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Shenyao Dasheng Guangxiao, the Supreme Sovereign, second year of the Wude era (jiyi, 619 CE).

In the spring, on the renyin day of the first month, Wang Shichong appointed all the prominent Sui officials and famous scholars as officials in the Grand Commandant's office, including Du Yan and Dai Zhou. Dai Zhou was from Anyang. Sui General Wang Long, leading Garrison General Zhang Zhenzhou, Water Bureau Deputy Director Su Shichang, and others, arrived at the Eastern Capital with troops from south of the mountains. Wang Shichong monopolized all court affairs; matters great and small all fell under the Grand Commandant's office. The provincial and departmental offices were all desolate and quiet. Wang Shichong set up three placards outside his office gate: one seeking men of literary talent and knowledge who could manage current affairs; one seeking men of martial bravery and strategic ability who could break through enemy lines; and one seeking men with unresolved grievances or oppression who could not get their cases heard. Consequently, hundreds of people submitted memorials daily. Wang Shichong received them all, personally reviewed them, and treated them with comfort and instruction. Everyone was pleased, thinking their words were heeded and their advice followed, but in the end, nothing was implemented. Down to the soldiers and servants, Wang Shichong used sweet words to please them, but had no actual favors to bestow. Sui Cavalry Commander Dugu Wu was favored and employed by Wang Shichong. His cousin, Court Secretary for the Imperial Clan Dugu Ji, together with Vice Director of the Forestry Department Yang Gongjin, former Chief Clerk of Bohai Commandery Sun Shixiao, Infantry Commander Liu Xiaoyuan, Li Jian, and Cui Xiaoren, plotted to summon Tang troops. They had Cui Xiaoren persuade Dugu Wu, saying, "Prince Wang merely puts on a show of sentiment to please the foolish commoners, but he is vulgar, narrow-minded, greedy, and cruel, and disregards old friends and relatives. How could he achieve a great enterprise! The prophetic diagrams and writings indicate that the Li family should rule, as everyone knows. The Tang rose from Jinyang and now controls all within the passes. Their troops move without stopping, and heroes flock to them like shadows. Moreover, they treat people with openness, promote the good, reward merit, and do not dwell on past wrongs. With such a position of strength contending for the empire, who can oppose them! We have entrusted ourselves to the wrong person and sit waiting for destruction. Now Ren Gui's army is near Xin'an, and he is an old friend of ours. If we send a secret messenger to summon him, have him arrive at the city wall at night, and we act together as internal agents to open the gates and welcome him, the matter cannot fail." Dugu Wu agreed. The plan was leaked, and Wang Shichong executed them all. Yang Gongjin was the son of Yang Da. On the guimao day, Li Shimin, the Prince of Qin, was ordered to garrison Changchun Palace. Yuwen Huaji attacked Yuan Baozang, the Chief Administrator of Weizhou, but could not capture it after forty days. Wei Zheng went to persuade Yuan Baozang, and on the dingwei day, Yuan Baozang surrendered the entire prefecture. On the wuwu day, Li Shentong, the Prince of Huai'an, attacked Yuwen Huaji at Weixian. Yuwen Huaji could not resist and fled east to Liaocheng. Li Shentong captured Weixian, killing and capturing over two thousand people, then led his troops in pursuit of Yuwen Huaji to Liaocheng and laid siege. On the jiazi day, Chen Shuda was appointed as Neiyan. On the bingyin day, Zhang Shanxiang, the governor of Yizhou appointed by Li Mi, came to surrender. Zhu Can had a force of two hundred thousand, plundering between the Han and Huai Rivers, moving constantly. He would attack and capture prefectures and counties, and when the stored grain was not yet exhausted, he would move on. When leaving, he would burn all remaining supplies. He did not engage in agriculture, and the people starved to death, their bodies piling up like mountains. When Zhu Can had nowhere else to plunder and the army ran out of food, he taught his soldiers to cook and eat women and infants, saying, "Nothing tastes better than human flesh. As long as there are people in other states, why worry about hunger!" Sui Assistant Editorial Director Lu Congdian and Secretariat Drafter Yan Minchu had been demoted to Nanyang. Zhu Can initially received them as guests, but later, when there was no food, their entire families were eaten. Yan Minchu was the son of Yan Zhitui. He also levied the weak from various fortified settlements to supply his army, causing the settlements to rebel one after another. The wealthy Hao Yang Shilin and Tian Zan from Huai'an raised troops to attack Zhu Can, and all the prefectures responded. Zhu Can fought them at Huaiyuan and was utterly defeated, fleeing with several thousand remnants to Jutan. Yang Shilin's family had been chieftains of the southern barbarians for generations. At the end of the Sui, Yang Shilin served as a commandant in the Yingyang Garrison. He killed the commandery official and took over the commandery. After expelling Zhu Can, on the jisi day, he led the four commanderies east of the Han River and sent an envoy to Li Yuan, the Prince of Lu, the Chief Administrator of Xinzhou, to request surrender. An edict appointed him Chief of the Xianzhou Circuit. Yang Shilin appointed Tian Zan as Chief Clerk. Initially, after Wang Shichong killed Yuan Wendu and Lu Chu, he feared the people's hearts were not yet won over, so he continued to flatter and serve the Emperor of the Huangtai era with great humility and respect. He also requested to become the adopted son of Empress Dowager Liu, honoring her as Empress Dowager Shengsheng. Later, he gradually became arrogant. Once, after receiving food at a palace banquet, he returned home and vomited violently, suspecting he had been poisoned. From then on, he no longer attended court audiences. The Huangtai Emperor knew that he would never be a loyal subject but was powerless to control him. He could only take colorful goods from the inner treasury in large quantities to make banners and flowers, and also brought out various clothing and playthings, ordering monks to distribute them to the poor to seek blessings. Wang Shichong sent his partisans Zhang Ji and Dong Jun to guard the Zhangshan and Xianfu gates, ensuring that not a single item from the palace could be taken out. That month, Wang Shichong had someone present a seal and a sword, and also claimed that the Yellow River had cleared, all to impress the masses as his own auspicious omens. The Tang Emperor sent Jinzi Guanglu, Jin Xin Xiaomo from Wugong, to pacify the border commanderies, but he was captured by Liang Shidu. Xin Xiaomo reviled him severely, and Liang Shidu killed him. In the second month, an edict posthumously granted him the title of Duke of Wuchang County, with the posthumous name of Zhong. The land, tax, and corvée laws were initially established: each adult male was to pay two shi of grain, two bolts of silk, and three liang of floss silk; beyond this, no additional levies were to be imposed arbitrarily. On the bingxu day, an edict stated: "All members of the imperial clan holding office shall rank above their colleagues; those without office shall be exempt from corvée labor. In each prefecture, one zongshi shall be appointed to oversee them, and they shall be organized separately into units." When Zhang Side arrived in Liangzhou, Li Zhao summoned his ministers for a court discussion, saying: "The Tang Son of Heaven is my cousin. Now he has taken the throne in the capital. Members of the same clan should not contend for the empire. I wish to relinquish my imperial title and accept his official rank. Is that acceptable?" Cao Zhen said: "The Sui lost the deer, and the whole empire pursued it. How many have called themselves kings or emperors! The Tang Emperor rules in Guanzhong; the Liang Emperor rules in Heyou. They do not inherently interfere with each other. Moreover, since you have already become the Son of Heaven, how can you demean yourself again? If you truly wish to serve the greater power with a smaller one, please follow the precedent of Xiao Cha serving Western Wei." Li Zhao agreed. On the wuxu day, Li Zhao sent Left Shangshu Cheng Deng Xiao to appear at court, presenting a letter in which he called himself "Your Majesty's cousin, the Great Liang Emperor, your subject Zhao," but he did not accept any official title. The Tang Emperor was angered, detained Deng Xiao without release, and began discussing the raising of troops to attack. Initially, when Emperor Yang of Sui personally campaigned against Tuyuhun, Tuyuhun Khan Fuyun led several thousand horsemen to flee to the Dangxiang. Emperor Yang made his hostage son Murong Shun the ruler, ordering him to lead the remaining people, but he was unable to enter their former territory and returned. Just then, chaos broke out in China, and Fuyun returned to reclaim his old lands. After the Tang Emperor received the abdication, Murong Shun returned to Chang'an from Jiangdu. The Tang Emperor sent an envoy to make peace with Fuyun, asking him to attack Li Zhao and promising to send Murong Shun back. Fuyun was pleased, raised troops to attack Li Zhao, and repeatedly sent envoys to pay tribute and request Murong Shun. The Tang Emperor sent him back. In the intercalary month, Zhu Can sent an envoy to request surrender. An edict appointed Zhu Can as the King of Chu, allowing him to set up his own officials and act as he saw fit. Yuwen Huaji used precious treasures and goods to entice the various pirates of Haiqu. The pirate leader Wang Bo led his followers to join him and together they defended Liaocheng. Dou Jiande said to his subordinates: "I am a Sui subject, and Sui was my ruler. Now Yuwen Huaji has assassinated his sovereign, making him my enemy. I cannot but punish him!" So he led his troops towards Liaocheng. Li Shentong, the Prince of Huai'an, attacked Liaocheng. Yuwen Huaji ran out of food and requested surrender, but Li Shentong refused. Assistant Pacification Commissioner Cui Shigan advised Li Shentong to accept, but Li Shentong said: "The soldiers have been exposed to the elements for a long time. The rebels have run out of food and are at their wit's end. Their capture is imminent. I should take the city by force to display the nation's might and then distribute their treasures and silks to reward the troops. If I accept their surrender, what will I use for military rewards!" Cui Shigan said: "Now Dou Jiande is approaching. If Yuwen Huaji is not defeated first, we will be attacked from both inside and outside, and the army will surely be defeated. It is easy to take the city without a fight. Why covet treasures and silks and refuse to accept surrender!" Li Shentong was angered and imprisoned Cui Shigan in the army. Soon, Yuwen Shiji brought grain from Jibei, and Yuwen Huaji's army was somewhat revitalized. He then resisted again. Li Shentong urged his troops to attack. The Governor of Beizhou, Zhao Jun, climbed the battlements and was the first to ascend. Li Shentong, jealous of his achievement, withdrew his troops and stopped fighting. Zhao Jun cursed loudly and descended, and the city could not be taken. When Dou Jiande's army was about to arrive, Li Shentong led his troops away. Dou Jiande fought successive battles with Yuwen Huaji, heavily defeating him. Yuwen Huaji again held out in Liaocheng. Dou Jiande unleashed his troops in a fierce assault from all sides. Wang Bo opened the gates and welcomed them. Dou Jiande entered the city and captured Yuwen Huaji alive. He first paid his respects to Sui Empress Xiao, addressing her as his subject in all words, and donned plain clothes to weep for Emperor Yang with full mourning. He took the imperial seal and the ceremonial regalia, comforted and preserved the Sui officials, then arrested the rebels Yuwen Zhiji, Yang Shilan, Yuan Wuda, Xu Hongren, and Meng Jing. He assembled the Sui officials and beheaded them, displaying their heads outside the military camp. He placed Yuwen Huaji and his two sons, Yu Wenchengji and Yu Wenchengzhi, in a prison cart and took them to Xiangguo, where they were executed. When Yuwen Huaji was about to die, he had no other words, only saying, "I have not failed the Prince of Xia!" Whenever Dou Jiande won a battle or captured a city, he distributed all the acquired wealth among his soldiers, taking none for himself. He also did not eat meat, subsisting on vegetables and coarse grain. His wife, Lady Cao, did not wear fine silks, and he employed only a dozen or so maidservants. When he defeated Yuwen Huaji and obtained over a thousand Sui palace women, he immediately disbanded them. He appointed Sui Vice Director of the Chancellery Pei Ju as Left Puye, in charge of personnel selection; Military Board Vice Director Cui Junsu as Shizhong; Director of the Palace Buildings Bureau He Chou as Minister of Works; Right Bureau Director Liu Tiao as Left Cheng; Yu Shinan as Vice Director of the Chancellery; and Ouyang Xun as Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Ouyang Xun was the son of Ouyang He. The rest were assigned offices according to their abilities and entrusted with government affairs. Those who did not wish to stay and wanted to go to Guanzhong or the Eastern Capital were allowed to do so, and were provided with supplies and grain, and troops to escort them to the border. There were still nearly ten thousand Sui Swift Cavalry, and they were also released, each allowed to go where they wished. He also made peace with Wang Shichong and sent an envoy to present a memorial to the Sui Huangtai Emperor, who enfeoffed him as the Prince of Xia. Dou Jiande had risen from among the bandits, and although he had established a state, there were no cultural systems or laws. Pei Ju established court rituals and legal codes for him. Dou Jiande was very pleased and frequently consulted him on ceremonies. On the jiachen day, the Tang Emperor assessed and ranked his ministers, placing Li Gang and Sun Fuga first. He then held a grand banquet and said to Pei Ji and others: "The Sui dynasty lost the empire because its ruler was arrogant and its ministers sycophantic. Since I ascended the throne, I have always sought remonstrance with an open mind. Yet only Li Gang has been nearly fully loyal, and Sun Fuga can be called honest and straightforward. The rest still follow the corrupt customs, merely lowering their brows. Is this what I hope for! I regard you as beloved sons; you should regard me as a kind father. You must speak your minds fully and not hide anything." He then ordered them to set aside the formalities of ruler and subject and enjoy themselves until they dispersed. He sent former Censor-in-Chief Duan Que as an envoy to Zhu Can. Initially, when the Tang Emperor was Deputy Director of the Palace Administration under the Sui, Yuwen Shiji was the Director of the Imperial Carriage Service, and the Tang Emperor was on good terms with him. When Yuwen Shiji followed Yuwen Huaji to Liyang, the Tang Emperor personally wrote an edict summoning him. Yuwen Shiji secretly sent a family servant via a side road to Chang'an, and also sent a gold ring through an envoy. When Yuwen Huaji was at Weixian and his military situation was becoming increasingly difficult, Yuwen Shiji advised him to surrender to the Tang, but Yuwen Huaji refused. Neishi Ling Feng Deyi advised Yuwen Shiji to go to Jibei to supervise the requisition of military grain to observe the situation. After Yuwen Huaji proclaimed himself emperor, he appointed Yuwen Shiji as the King of Shu. After Yuwen Huaji died, Yuwen Shiji and Feng Deyi came from Jibei to surrender. At that time, Yuwen Shiji's younger sister was a Zhaoyi, so he was granted the rank of Shang Yitong. The Tang Emperor, because Feng Deyi was a former Sui official who was flattering and untrustworthy, sternly rebuked him and dismissed him, sending him to his residence. Feng Deyi used a secret strategy to seek an audience with the Tang Emperor. The Tang Emperor was pleased and soon appointed him as Neishi Sheren, and quickly promoted him to Vice Director. On the jiayin day, Sui Yiling Commandery Assistant Xu Shao of Anlu led Qian'an, Wuling, Liyang, and other commanderies to surrender. Xu Shao had been a classmate of the Tang Emperor in his youth. An edict appointed Xu Shao as the Chief Administrator of Xiazhou and granted him the title of Duke of Anlu. On the bingchen day, Xu Shiji was appointed as Chief Administrator of Lizhou. On the dingsi day, Swift Cavalry General Zhang Xiaomin led a hundred elite soldiers in an attack on Wang Shichong's Sishui City. They entered the outer city and sank one hundred and fifty grain ships. On the jiwei day, Wang Shichong invaded Guzhou. Wang Shichong appointed Qin Shubao as General of the Dragon and Hawk, and Cheng Zhijie as General, treating them both generously. However, the two disliked Wang Shichong's deceitfulness. Cheng Zhijie said to Qin Shubao: "Prince Wang's character is shallow and narrow, and he loves to talk nonsense and make vows. He is nothing but an old witch. How could he be a ruler to bring order out of chaos!" When Wang Shichong fought against the Tang army at Jiuqu, Qin Shubao and Cheng Zhijie both led their troops in the battle formation. Together with several dozen of their followers, they galloped west for over a hundred paces, dismounted, and bowed to Wang Shichong, saying: "We have received your special favor and deeply wish to repay it. But Your Highness is suspicious by nature and loves to listen to slander. This is not a place for us to entrust ourselves. Now we cannot continue to serve you. Please allow us to take our leave from this point." They then mounted their horses and came to surrender. Wang Shichong did not dare to pursue them. The Tang Emperor ordered the two to serve under Li Shimin, the Prince of Qin. Li Shimin had long heard of their reputations and treated them with great courtesy, appointing Qin Shubao as Commander of the Cavalry and Cheng Zhijie as Commander of the Left Three Armies. At that time, among Wang Shichong's fierce generals were also Swift Cavalry General Li Junxian of Wu'an, and General of the Southern Expedition Tian Liuan of Linyi. They also detested Wang Shichong's character and led their troops to surrender. Li Shimin placed Li Junxian by his side and appointed Tian Liuan as Commander of the Right Four Armies. Wang Shichong imprisoned Li Yude's elder brother Li Houde at Huojia. Li Houde, together with the defending general Zhao Junying, drove away Yinzhou Chief Administrator Duan Dashu and surrendered the city. Li Houde was appointed Chief Administrator of Yinzhou. Dou Jiande captured Xingzhou, taking Chief Administrator Chen Junbin prisoner. The Tang Emperor sent Palace Supervisor Dou Yan and Right Guard General Yuwen Xin to assist Li Yuanji, the Prince of Qi and Chief Administrator of Bingzhou, in defending Jinyang. Dou Yan was the son of Dou Kang and had married the Tang Emperor's daughter, the Princess of Xiangyang. Li Yuanji was by nature arrogant and extravagant, with several hundred male and female servants and retainers. He loved to have them don armor and play at attacking and fighting. Many were killed or injured, and Li Yuanji himself was also wounded. His wet nurse, Chen Shanyi, remonstrated bitterly with him, but Li Yuanji, in a drunken rage, ordered strong men to beat her to death. Li Yuanji was fond of hunting, carrying over thirty carts of nets. He once said, "I would rather go three days without food than one day without hunting." He frequently went hunting with Dou Yan, trampling the people's crops. He also allowed his attendants to rob the people of their goods, shoot arrows at people on the main roads, and watch them dodge the arrows. At night, he would open the gates of his residence and engage in debauchery in other people's homes. The people were filled with resentment. Yuwen Xin remonstrated with him repeatedly but was ignored, so he submitted a memorial detailing the situation. On the renxu day, Li Yuanji was dismissed from office for his crimes. On the guihai day, the Chief Administrator of Zhizhou, Li Yude, captured thirty-one of Wang Shichong's fortified settlements in Henei. On the yichou day, Wang Shichong sent his nephew Wang Junkuo to invade Zhizhou. Li Yude repelled him, killing over a thousand of his men. Li Houde returned home to care for his parents, leaving Li Yude to defend Huojia. Wang Shichong gathered his forces and attacked. On the dingmao day, the city fell, and Li Yude, together with his three younger brothers, all died in battle. On the jisi day, Li Gongyi surrendered Yongqiu and was appointed Chief Administrator of Qizhou, with his clan brother Li Shanging as the Chief Administrator of Qizhou. Sui Vice Minister of Personnel Yang Gongren followed Yuwen Huaji to Hebei. After Yuwen Huaji's defeat, Wei Prefecture Chief Administrator Yuan Baozang captured him. On the jisi day, he was sent to Chang'an. The Tang Emperor had known him before and appointed him Vice Director of the Chancellery, and soon after, Chief Administrator of Liangzhou. Yang Gongren was familiar with border affairs and understood the true and false of the Qiang and Hu peoples. The common people and the barbarians were all pleased with him. From the Congling Mountains eastward, they all came to court and paid tribute. Shibi Khan of the Eastern Turks led his people across the Yellow River to Xiazhou. Liang Shidu raised troops to join him, giving Liu Wuzhou five hundred horsemen, intending to invade Taiyuan via Gouzhu. Just then, Shibi died. His son Shibobi was young and could not be established, so his younger brother Xilifu, the Jieliduo Khan, was set up as Chuluo Khan. Chuluo appointed Shibobi as Nibushi and had him reside in the east, north of Youzhou. Previously, the Tang Emperor had sent Right Wuwei General Gao Jing with gifts on a mission to Shibi. When he reached Fengzhou, he heard of Shibi's death and was ordered to store the gifts in the local treasury. When the Turks heard of this, they became angry and wanted to invade. Fengzhou Chief Administrator Zhang Changsun sent Gao Jing with the gifts out of the border, presenting them as condolences on behalf of the court, and the Turks then withdrew. In the third month, on the gengwu day, Liang Shidu invaded Lingzhou, but Chief Clerk Yang Ze repelled him. On the renshen day, Wang Shichong invaded Guzhou, and Chief Administrator Shi Wanbao was unsuccessful in battle. On the gengchen day, Sui Beihai Commandery Chief Clerk Zheng Qianfu, Wendeng County Magistrate Fang Huizheng, and the pirate leaders Wang Bo from the Donghai, Qi, Dongping, Rencheng, Pinglu, Shouzhang, and Xuchang commanderies all surrendered their territories. When Wang Shichong invaded Xin'an, he outwardly showed an intention to attack, but in reality, he summoned his civil and military officials who were attached to him to discuss accepting the abdication. Li Shiyin strongly opposed this, saying: "The reason the four quarters are rushing to submit to the Eastern Capital is that Your Highness can revive the Sui dynasty. Now, not even one part of the nine provinces has been cleared, yet you hastily assume the imperial title. I fear that people from distant places will all think of rebelling!" Wang Shichong said, "You are right!" Chief Clerk Wei Jie, Yang Xu, and others said: "The destiny of the Sui dynasty has run its course; this is quite clear. Extraordinary matters should not be discussed with ordinary people." Grand Astrologer Le Derong said: "In former years, a long star appeared, which was an omen of removing the old and establishing the new. Now the Jupiter is in the constellations Jiao and Kang. Kang is the field of Zheng. If you do not quickly comply with the Heavenly Way, I fear the kingly aura will decline." Wang Shichong agreed. External Military Clerk Dai Zhou said to Wang Shichong: "The relationship between ruler and minister is like that between father and son; their joys and sorrows are the same. It would be better for Your Highness to exhaust your loyalty to the state, and then both the family and the state will be at peace." Wang Shichong pretended to approve but dismissed him. When Wang Shichong discussed receiving the Nine Bestowments, Dai Zhou again firmly remonstrated. Wang Shichong was angered and sent him out as Chief Administrator of Zhengzhou, ordering him to guard Hulao Pass with his nephew Wang Xingshu. He then had Duan Da and others inform the Huangtai Emperor, requesting that Wang Shichong be granted the Nine Bestowments. The Huangtai Emperor said: "Recently, the Duke of Zheng pacified Li Mi and was already appointed Grand Commandant. Since then, there have been no special achievements. Wait until the empire is slightly more peaceful, and then discuss it again; it will not be too late." Duan Da said: "The Grand Commandant wants it." The Huangtai Emperor stared at Duan Da and said, "As you wish!" On the xinsi day, Duan Da and others, using an edict from the Huangtai Emperor, appointed Wang Shichong as Chancellor, granted him the authority of the Yellow Axe, placed him in charge of all officials, advanced his title to King of Zheng, granted him the Nine Bestowments, and allowed the Zheng state to establish officials from the Chancellor and below. Initially, Yuwen Huaji had appointed Sui Minister of the Court of Judicial Review Zheng Shanguo as Minister of Civil Office. Zheng Shanguo followed him to Liaocheng and directed the battle for Yuwen Huaji, during which he was struck by a stray arrow. When Dou Jiande captured Liaocheng, Wang Cong seized Zheng Shanguo and rebuked him, saying: "You come from a family of famous officials and were a high minister of the Sui dynasty. Why did you serve a regicide and fight so hard, suffering wounds to this extent!" Zheng Shanguo was deeply ashamed and wanted to commit suicide, but Song Zhengben rushed to stop him. Dou Jiande did not treat him with courtesy either, so he fled to Xiangzhou. Li Shentong, the Prince of Huai'an, sent him to Chang'an. On the gengwu day, Zheng Shanguo arrived. The Tang Emperor treated him with great courtesy, appointing him Left Shuzi and Acting Neishi Shilang. Li Yuanji, the Prince of Qi, secretly instructed the elders of Bingzhou to petition the court to allow him to remain. On the jiashen day, Li Yuanji was again appointed Chief Administrator of Bingzhou. On the wuzi day, all five prefectures of Huainan sent envoys to surrender. On the xinmao day, Liu Wuzhou invaded Bingzhou. On the renchen day, Yingzhou Chief Administrator Deng Hao attacked Gao Kaidao and defeated him. On the jiawu day, Wang Shichong sent his general Gao Bi to invade Yizhou. The Eastern Capital Taoist Huan Fasi presented Wang Shichong with the Kongzi Bifang Ji, saying, "The Chancellor is destined to succeed the Sui as Son of Heaven." Wang Shichong was overjoyed and appointed Huan Fasi as Remonstrance Advisor. Wang Shichong also collected various birds, wrote words on silk, tied them to the birds' necks, claiming they were prophetic mandates, and released them. Those who caught such birds and presented them were also granted official ranks. Then Duan Da, using the Huangtai Emperor's command, granted Wang Shichong special honors. Wang Shichong presented a memorial declining three times, while the hundred officials urged him to accept. A station was set up in the capital for this. Nayan Su Wei was old and could not attend court. Wang Shichong, because Su Wei was a prominent Sui minister, wanted to use him to impress the scholars and commoners. Whenever he urged the throne, he always placed Su Wei's name first. On the day he received the special honors, he had Su Wei supported and placed above the hundred officials, then sat facing south and accepted them. In the summer, in the fourth month, Liu Wuzhou led the Turkic troops and camped at the Yellow Snake Ridge, with very strong military momentum. Li Yuanji, the Prince of Qi, sent Chariot and Horse General Zhang Da to probe the enemy with one hundred infantry. Zhang Da declined, saying the troops were too few to go, but Li Yuanji forced him to go. After arriving, the entire force was annihilated. Zhang Da was resentful. On the gengzi day, he led Liu Wuzhou to attack Yuci, capturing it. Sanji Changshi Duan Que was fond of alcohol. He was sent with an edict to Jutan to comfort Zhu Can. On the xinchou day, while drunk, he insulted Zhu Can, saying, "I hear you like to eat people. What do people taste like?" Zhu Can said, "Eating a drunk person is like eating pork pickled in lees." Duan Que became angry and cursed, saying, "You mad bandit, when you come to court, you will only be a slave. How can you still eat people!" Zhu Can seized Duan Que and several dozen of his attendants in his seat, boiled them all, and gave them to his attendants to eat. He then slaughtered Jutan and fled to Wang Shichong, who appointed him General of the Dragon and Hawk. Wang Shichong ordered Chief Clerk Wei Jie, Yang Xu, and others, together with Grand Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Kong Yingda of Hengshui, to draft the ceremonies for the abdication. He sent Duan Da, Yun Dingxing, and over ten others to inform the Huangtai Emperor, saying: "The Mandate of Heaven is not constant. The virtue of the King of Zheng is very great. We wish Your Majesty to follow the path of Yao and Shun." The Huangtai Emperor drew his knees up to the table and said angrily: "The empire was the empire of the Great Ancestor. If the Sui dynasty's destiny has not ended, these words should not be uttered lightly. If the Mandate of Heaven has already changed, why trouble with abdication! You gentlemen are either old servants of our ancestors or hold high positions in the government. Since you have said this, what else can I hope for!" His expression was stern, and those present in court broke out in sweat. After the court session, he went to the Empress Dowager and wept. Wang Shichong again sent someone to say to him: "Now the empire is not yet at peace. It is necessary to establish an older ruler. When the four quarters are settled, I will certainly return the throne to you, as I have previously sworn." On the guimao day, Wang Shichong proclaimed the Huangtai Emperor's order, abdicating to Zheng. He sent his elder brother Wang Shiyong to imprison the Huangtai Emperor in the Hanliang Hall. Although there were three memorials of refusal and an edict urging him to accept, the Huangtai Emperor was unaware of them. He also sent various generals to lead troops into the palace to clear the palace city, and then sent magicians to use peach-soup and reed-fire to purify the palace. Sui generals, commandery officials, and bandit leaders surrendered in succession. An edict appointed Wang Bo as Chief Administrator of Qizhou, Fu De as Chief Administrator of Jizhou, Zheng Qianfu as Chief Administrator of Qingzhou, Qi Gongshun as Chief Administrator of Huaizhou, and Wang Xiaoshi as Chief Administrator of Cangzhou. On the jiachen day, the Grand Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, Lang Chuzhi of Xinle, was sent to pacify Shandong, and Secretariat Director Xia Houduan was sent to pacify Huainan. On the yisi day, Wang Shichong, with the full imperial regalia, entered the palace and ascended the throne as emperor. On the bingwu day, a general amnesty was declared, and the reign title was changed to Kaiming. On the dingwei day, Sui Imperial Guard General Chen Leng surrendered Jiangdu and was appointed Chief Administrator of Yangzhou. On the wushen day, Wang Shichong established his son Wang Xuan as the Crown Prince, Wang Xuan as the King of Han, and the remaining nineteen brothers and clan members as kings. He honored the Huangtai Emperor as the Duke of Luguo. He appointed Su Wei as Grand Preceptor, Duan Da as Minister of Education, Yun Dingxing as Grand Commandant, Zhang Jin as Minister of Works, Yang Xu as Neiyan, Wei Jie as Neishi, Wang Long as Left Puye, Wei Ji as Right Puye, Wang Shiyong, the Prince of Qi, as Shangshu Ling, Yang Wang as Minister of Personnel, Du Yan as Deputy Minister of Personnel, and Zheng Ting as Censor-in-Chief. Wang Shiyong was Wang Shichong's elder brother. He also appointed Assistant Erudite of the Directorate of Education, Lu Deming of Wu, as teacher to the King of Han, and had Wang Xuan go to his house to perform the ceremony of presenting dried meat. Lu Deming was ashamed of this, deliberately took badou powder, and lay down claiming to be ill. When Wang Xuan entered and knelt by his bed, Lu Deming had diarrhea in front of him and ultimately did not speak to him. Lu Deming's given name was Lang, but he was known by his courtesy name. Wang Shichong set up couches in several places, including below the palace gates and at the Xuanwu Gate, with no fixed seat. He personally received memorials and petitions. Sometimes he would ride out unaccompanied through the marketplaces without clearing the road; the common people merely stepped aside. Wang Shichong would slow his horse's pace and say to them: "In former times, the Son of Heaven was secluded deep within the nine layers of the palace, and matters below could not reach him. Now I, Wang Shichong, am not coveting the Heavenly Throne; I only wish to rescue the age from peril. I am like a prefectural governor, personally examining all affairs. I should discuss court affairs with the common people. I still fear there are gates and restrictions, so now I have set up my seat outside the gates to hear court cases. You should all speak your minds fully." He also ordered the Western Court Hall to receive complaints of injustice and the Eastern Court Hall to receive direct remonstrances. Consequently, several hundred people submitted proposals and memorials daily. As the documents became numerous and difficult to review, after a few days, he no longer came out. When Dou Jiande heard that Wang Shichong had proclaimed himself emperor, he broke off relations with him and began to set up the imperial banners and flags. When going out, he had outriders clear the road; when entering, the path was cleared. His edicts were called "imperial decrees." He posthumously honored Sui Emperor Yang as Emperor Min. When the Prince of Qi, Yang Jian, died, he had a posthumous son, Yang Zhengdao. Dou Jiande established him as the Duke of Yun, but still relied on the Turks to strengthen his military power. Sui Princess Yicheng sent envoys to welcome Empress Xiao and Princess Nanyang. Dou Jiande sent over a thousand horsemen to escort them, and also sent Yuwen Huaji's head to Princess Yicheng. On the bingchen day, Liu Wuzhou besieged Bingzhou. Li Yuanji, the Prince of Qi, resisted and repelled him. On the wuwu day, an edict ordered Chief Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Li Zhongwen to lead troops to relieve Bingzhou. Wang Shichong's general Qiu Huaiyi was stationed in the Neishi Province. He summoned the King of Yue, Wang Jundu, the King of Han, Wang Xuan, and General Guo Shiheng to drink wine, play chess, and cavort with singing girls and concubines. Attending Censor Zhang Yungu impeached them. Wang Shichong was furious and ordered his bare-handed men to seize Wang Jundu and Wang Xuan and slap their ears several dozen times. He also ordered them to be taken to the Eastern Upper Pavilion and flogged several dozen times each. Qiu