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bookofjin · 3 years ago

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Rise of Sixteen States: 310

[Emperor Guangwen of Han dies. Shi Le travels south. Opposition to Li Xiong fractures.]

16 February 310 – 4 February 311

(Jin's 4th Year of Yongjia)

(Han's 2nd Year of Herui, 1st Year of Guangxing)

(Cheng's 3rd Year of Yanping)

(Liu Yuan)

2nd Year of Herui, Spring, 1st Month [16 February – 16 March], Liu Yuan installed his wife Ms. Shan as August Empress. His son, the King of Liang, He, became August Heir-Apparent, and there was a great amnesty. He ennobled his son Yi as King of Beihai, and used the King of Changle, Yang, as Great Marshal.

2nd Month [17 March – 15 April], Cao Ni from Daliang pulled in the troops and went east. Where he arrived everyone surrendered, and he thereupon overcame Dongping, and advanced to attack Langye.

Summer, 4th Month [15 May – 13 June], Wang Jun's general Qi Hong attacked Han's Inspector of Ji province, Liu Ling, at Guangzong, and killed him.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], the King of Chu, Cong, the King of Shi'an, Yao, Shi Le, and the Great General who Calms the North, Zhao Gu, besieged the Grand Warden of Henei, Pei Zheng, at Huai. Decreed the General who Conquers the Scoundrels, Song Chou, to aid Huai. Le and the Great General who Pacifies the North, Wang Sang, confronted and struck Chou, and killed him. The people of Henei apprehended Zheng to surrender. The Ruler of Han, Yuan, used Zheng as Assistant of the Left to the Masters of Writing. The Controller Commander of Henei, Guo Mo, gathered and ordered the remaining multitudes, and made himself a fortifications master. Liu Kun used Mo as Grand Warden of Henei.

On gengwu [20 August], Yuan was bedridden with illness, and wanted to make plans for looking after his responsibilities.

On xinwei [20 August], he used the King of Chenliu, Huanle, as Grand Steward, the King of Changle, Yang, as Grand Tutor, the King of Jiangdu, Yan, as Grand Guardian, the King of Chu, Cong as Great Marshal and Great Chanyu, and also to Record the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, and set up the seat of the Chanyu to the west of Pingyang. He used the King of Qi, Yu, as Great Minister over the Masses, the King of Lu, Long, as Prefect of the Masters of Writing, the King of Beihai, Yi, as Great General who Consoles the Army, acting as Colonel Minister of Retainers, the King of Shi'an, Yao, as Great Chief-Controller of Conquering and Chastising, to act as Left Supporter of the Chanyu, the Commandant of Justice, Qiao Zhiming, as Great General of the Best of the Army, to act as Right Supporter of the Chanyu, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Left, Liu Yin, as Archer-Servant of the Left, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee of the Right, Wang Yu as Archer-Servant of the Right, Ren Yi as Master of Writing of the Personnel Section, Zhu Ji as Overseer of the Palace Writers, Army-Protector Ma Jing to act as General of Guards of the Left, the King of Yong'an, Anguo to act as General of Guards of the Right. The King of Anchang, Sheng, the King of Anyi, Qin, and the King of Xiyang, Xuan all were to act as Generals of Martial Guards, and divide direction of the forbidden troops.

On dingchou [27 August], Yuan summoned the Grand Steward, Huanle, and others to enter within the forbidden quarters to receive the testamentary decree to assist the government.

On jimao [29 August], Yuan passed away in the Brilliant Pinnacle Hall.

9th Month, xinyou [10 October], he was buried in the Forever Brilliant Mound [Yongguangling]. His posthumous title was Brilliant and Civil [guangwen] August Emperor and his temple title Exalted Founder [gaozu].

(Liu He)

Liu He, courtesy name Xuantai, was eight chi tall. He was valiant, resolute and had a pleasing bearing and decorum, and he was fond of studying and quick to mature. He was familiar with Mao's Poetry, Mister Zuo's Spring and Autumn, and Mister Zheng's Changes. When he became the designated successor, he on the inside was very suspicions and spiteful, and he drove his subordinates without kindness.

When Yuan died, He inherited the bogus rank. The Lineage Corrector, Huyan You was the son of Yi. Yuan considered him without talent or action, and to the end of his life did not change his office. The Palace Attendant Liu Cheng had a long-standing hatred for the King of Chu, Cong. The Commandant of Guards, the King of Xichang, Rui, was ashamed he had not been part of the testamentary instructions. They therefore plotted with each other, and explained to He, saying:

The Previous Emperor did not think of plans for the light and the weighty, but made three kings control strong troops on the inside, and the Great Marshal grasp a millions soldiers and dwell in the nearby suburbs. Your Majesty now readily will become a throne lodger, and that is all. The calamitous difficulties of this are impossible to measure, [I] hope Your Majesty do something soon.

[Liu] He was precisely You's sister-son, and deeply considered it to be so.

On xinsi [31 August], at night, he summoned the King of Anchang, Sheng, the King of Anyi, Qin, and others, to announce to them. Sheng said:

The Previous Emperor is still in the coffin palace, and the four kings are not yet going against authority. Now to suddenly in a single morning make fish and meat of each other, Your Subject fear people will not eat Your Majesty's remnants. The Four Seas are not yet settled, the great legacy is just begun. [I] hope Your Majesty will consider above to put high completing the Emperor's vast foundation as his aspiration, and moreover block his hears and not listen to the words of this reckless negligence. The Poetry states: “Are there no other people? None as good as us of the same father.” If Your Majesty already does not trust the various younger brother, then who can be trusted!

You and Rui were furious with him, and said:

In the discussions of today, nothing of the the reasoning has been the twice,. What is the army leader talking about!

They instructed left and right to cut him down. When Sheng was dead, Qin fearfully said:

Indeed at Your Majesty's decree, Your Subject and others will die serving it, and never will not be of service.

Therefore there swore an oath with each other in the eastern hall.

On renwu [1 September], Rui led Ma Jing to attack the King of Chu at the Chanyu's Terrace. You led the King of Yong'an, Anguo, to attack the King of Qi, Yu, at the Minister over the Masses' Office. Cheng led the King of Anyi, Qin, to attack the King of Lu, Long. They sent the Master of Writing, Tian Mi, and the General of Marital Guards, Liu Xuan, to attack the King of Beihai, Yi.

Mi, Xuan, and others held close Yi, had people cut through gate bar, and ran to Cong. Cong instructed to put on armour to wait for them. Rui recognized that Cong was prepared. He hurried back to meet up with You, Cheng, and others to attack Long and Yu. You and Cheng feared Anguo and Qin had different aspirations, and beheaded them. That day they beheaded Yu.

On guiwei [2 September], they beheaded Long.

On jiashen [3 September], Cong attacked the Ximing Gate, and overcame it. Rui and others ran to enter the Southern Palace. The vanguard followed them.

On yiyou [4 September], they beheaded He in the Brilliant Pinnacle Western Chamber. They gathered Rui, You, and Cheng, and put their heads on display at the crossroads.

(Liu Cong)

When Cong had killed his older brother He, the crowd of subjects urged him to accede to the venerated throne. Cong at first yielded to his younger brother, the King of Beihai, Yi. Yi and the excellencies and dignitaries wept tearfully, and firmly requested it. Cong after a long while then allowed it, saying:

Yi and the crowd of excellencies correctly considers that the Four Seas are not yet settled, and calamities and difficulties are still many, and prefer Your Orphan, long and old in years, and that is all. In these affairs of house of state, Your Orphan dares to not merely follow. Now [I] readily intend to obey Yin of Lu from far away, wait for Yi to come of age, and “return [the government] to my son the enlightened lawgiver.”

(During the Spring and Autumn era, Duke Yin, the son of a concubine, had become the ruler of Lu as regent for his younger brother, the future Duke Huan. However, in the end Duke Yin was assassinated before he could step down. Cong's final sentence is a quote from the Documents, from the Duke of Zhou's speech when he handed over the government to King Cheng.)

1st Year of Guangxing, Autumn, Cong fraudulently acceded to the throne of August Emperor. There was a great amnesty within his domains, and he changed the inaugural to Guangxing [“Brilliant Flourishing”]. He venerated Yuan's wife, Ms. Shan, as August Empress Dowager, and his mother Ms. Zhang, as Imperial Empress Dowager. He used Yi as August Brother-Heir, to act as Great Chanyu and Great Minister over the Masses. He installed his wife, Ms. Huyan, as August Empress. Ms. Huyan was the junior cousin of Yuan's Empress. He ennobled his sons, Can as King of Henei, with appointment as Envoy Holding the Tally, Great General who Consoles the Army, Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs at Centre and Outside; Yi# as King of Hejian, Yi¤ as King of Pengcheng, and Kui as King of Gaoping.

Winter, 10th Month [8 November – 7 December], dispatched the King of Henei, Can, the Great General who Conquers the East, Wang Mi, the Dragon-Prancing General, Liu Yao, and others to lead a multitude of 40 000, to make a long drive and enter the Luo countryside. Thereupon they set out for Huanyuan. They went around between Liang, Chen, Ru, and Ying, and captured more than a hundred ramparts and fortifications.

11th Month [8 December – 5 January], Cong, since he himself had been installed out of sequence, was hostile to his older brother born by the principal wife, Gong. Following that, when Gong was asleep, [he?, they?] made a tunnel through his walls, stabbed and killed him.

He used the Minister of Works, Jing, as Great Marshal, the Brilliantly Blessed of the Left, Liu Yin, as Great Minister over the Masses, the Brilliantly Blessed of the Right, Wang Yu, as Great Minister of Works.

12th Month [6 January- 4 February], Empress Dowager Shan passed on.Shan was precisely Yi's mother, she was young of years with a beautiful appearance, Cong had sexual relations with her. Yi again and again talked about it. Ms. Shan was ashamed and indignant, and died. Cong grieved and mourned without end. Later he recognized her reasons, and Yi's favour following this gradually declined. However he still thought back on Ms. Shan, and was not yet ready to demote and depose him. He also venerated his mother Ms. Zhang as August Empress Dowager.

Empress Huyan talked to Cong, saying:

That when the father dies the son continues, is the regular way past and present. Your Majesty succeeded to Gaozu's legacy, why is there a Brother-Heir! A hundred years after Your Majesty, Can and his brothers will surely be without offspring.

Cong said:

So it is, I will deliberate it.

Ms. Huyan said:

[If] the affair is stalled, catastrophe is born. The Brother-Heir sees Can and his brothers gradually grow older, and will surely have intentions from unease. In the one out of ten thousand chance there is a mean person driving in wedges in his midst, it is not yet certain no calamity will issue out from the present day.

Cong in his heart considered it so. Yi's maternal uncle, the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee Shan Chong, wept and spoke to Yi, saying:

The far apart is not among the close. The Ruler and Sovereign is thinking of the King of Henei. Your Highness, why would he not renounce you!

Yi said:

At the end of the Herui era, the Ruler and Sovereign, since indeed there is a division between [those born to] the principal wife and a commoner, used the great rank to yield to Yi. Yi, since the Ruler and Sovereign's teeth are long, was pushing him forward and offering him [the throne]. Under Heaven is Gaozu's Under Heaven. When the older brother is at the end, the younger brother catches up, why would it be impossible! Can and his brothers were already strong, similar to the present day. Moreover, distance between sons and brothers, how is it the distance between close and far apart. How could the Ruler possibly have this thought!

(TPYL, quoting Cui Hong's SLGCQ: Liu Cong of Former Zhao's 1st Year, 10th Month, Cong's general Zhao Gu and Jin's General of Chariots and Cavalry Wang Shen opposed each other at Yan Ford. At the time there was yellow fog day and night, people could not see each other, and Gu's army was greatly defeated.)

(JS005: 10th Month … Wang Jun also dispatched his detached general Wang Shenshi chastised Le at Wenshi Ford, and greatly routed him.

11th Month: Wang Shenshi attacked Liu Yao and Wang Mi at Ping Rampart, and routed them.)

(Shi Le)

1st Year of Guangxing, 2ndMonth [17 March – 15 April], Shi Le and Yan Pi attacked Duquan and Yuanshi Ramparts, and captured them. Pin was hit by a drifting arrow and died. Le took combined command of his multitudes, He stealthily went from the Stone Bridge across the He, attacked and captured Baima, and buried more than 3 000 men and women.

He went east to assault Juancheng. The Inspector of Yan province, Yuan Fu, fought and was defeated, and was murdered by his section subordinates. Following that he attacked Cangyuan, captured it, and thereupon murdered Wang Kan. He crossed the He and attacked the various counties of Guangzong, Qinghe, Pingyuan, and Yangping. Those who surrendered Le were more than 90 000 mouths. He again went south to cross the He. The Grand Warden of Xingyang, Pei Chun, ran to Jianye.

Summer, in You, Bing, Si, Ji, Qi, and Yong provinces there was a great plague of locusts. They ate the grass and trees, and the cattle and horse hair are all gone.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], Liu Cong attacked Henei. Le led cavalry to meet up with him. He attacked the General of the Best of the Army, Liang Ju, at Wude. Emperor Huai dispatched troops to aid him. Le halted the various generals to defend Wude. He and Great General who Pacifies the North, Wang Sang, to confront Ju at Changling. Ju requested to surrender, Le would not allow it. Ju went over the walls and escaped, the army people apprehended him. Le hurried to go to Wude, buried more than ten thousand surrendered soldiers, counted out Liang Ju's crimes and murdered him. The kingly host withdrew and turned back. The various fortified places north of the He were greatly shaken, all requested to surrender, and sent off hostages to Le.

9th Month [10 October – 7 November], a native of Henei, Le Yang, seized the Grand Warden, Pei Zheng in rebellion, and surrendered to Le.

When Liu Yuan died, Liu Cong conferred on Lie Great General who Conquers the East, Inspector of Bing province, Duke of Ji commandery; Holding the Tally, Opening Office, Chief-Controller, Colonel, and King like before. Le firmly declined General, and he therefore desisted.

Wang Ru was a native of Xinfeng in Jingzhao. Earlier he was a provincial military functionary, coming across chaos, he drifted and moved to arrive at Wan. At the time various drifting people had been decreed to together be dispatched to go to back their home villages. Ru, since Guanzhong was wasted and withered, did not desire to return home. The General who Conquers the South, Shan Jian, and the Commander of the Gentlemen-at-Centre of the South, Du Rui, each dispatched troops to send him off, and shortened the appointed time to cause him to issue out. Ru thereupon secretly connected with the various who were undependable and young of years, and at night assaulting the two armies, routing them. Du Rui with all of his multitudes struck Ru. They fought at Nieyang, and Rui's army was greatly defeated.

Shan Jian was not able to withstand, and moved to station at Xiakou. Ru also routed Xiangcheng. Hence Pang Shi of Nan'an (or Xinping), Yan Ni of Pingyi, Hou Tuo of Chang'an, and others each led their partisans to attack the various cities and garrisons, and to great extent killed the prefects and chiefs in response to him. Within a short time, his multitudes reached forty or fifty thousand, and he declared himself Great General and nominal Shepherd of Si and Yong provinces.

Winter, 10th Month [8 November – 7 December], Liu Can led a multitude of 40 000 to rob Luoyang. Le kept behind the supply wagons at Zhongmen, and led 20 000 cavalry to meet up with Can at Dayang. They greatly defeated the kingly host at Mianchi, and thereupon arrived in the Luoyang countryside. Can set out for Huanyuan, and Le set out for Chenggao Pass.

On renyin [20 November], Le besieged Interior Clerk of Chenliu, Wang Zan, at Cangyuan. Zan struck and defeated him. Le fled north of the He to station at Wenshi Ford.

The King of Donghai, Yue, sent out a feathered proclamation to summon the troops Under Heaven. The Emperor spoke to the envoys, saying:

Make my speech to the various [Generals who] Conquers and Garrisons. At the present day [you] still can help. Later there will be nothing to come to.

At the time nobody had arrived.

Le wanted to go north and attack Wang Jun. It happened that Jun's general Wang Shenshi led the Xianbei of Liaoxi, more than 10 000 cavalry, to attack Zhao Gu to the north of the ford. Le therefore burnt the ships and abandoned the camp, pulled in the army and went toward Baimen, welcomed the supply wagons from Zhongmen, and arrived at Shimen. He crossed the He, and went south to attack the Inspector of Yu province, Feng Song, in Chen commandery, but did not overcome him. He advanced to attack the Grand Warden of Xiangcheng, Cui Kuang, at Fanchang, and murdered him.

(JS005: Shi Le captured Xiangcheng and the Grand Warden, Cui Kuang was murdered. Thereupon he arrived at Wan. Wang Jun dispatched the Xianbei Wen Yang to lead cavalry and save it. Le withdrew. Jun again dispatched the detached general Wang Shenshi to chastise Le at Wenshi Ford, and greatly routed him.)

Le wanted to press on to Nanyang. Wang Ru, Hou Tuo, Yan Ni, and others heard about it, and dispatched a multitude of 10 000 to station at Xiangcheng to resist Le. Le struck them, fully took prisoner their multitudes, and advanced to station north of Wan. At that time, Huo Tuo occupied Wan, and Wang Ru occupied Rang. Ru feared an attack by Le on himself, and sent off precious treasures, chariots, and horses, to entertain the host, to join together as brothers. Le likewise tolerated his stubbornness and allowed it. Ru and Hou Tuo were not at peace, and Ru advised Le, saying:

Hou Tuo, although referred to as a subject to Han, is in truth a traitor to Han. Ru is often afraid he will come to attack. Older Brother should prepare against him.

Le had a long-standing resentment for Tuo's changeability, but shied away from Ru's lips and teeth, and for that reason did not attack him. When he heard Ru's words, he was very pleased, and thereupon at night ordered the Three Armies to eat at their mattresses and attend on the instructions, and harness at cock-crow. Those who set out late were beheaded. At dawn he pressed down on the gates of Wan and attacked it. After twelve days he overcame them. Yan Ni led a multitude to save Tuo, but when he arrived it was to catch up, and he then surrendered to Le. Le beheaded Tuo, imprisoned Ni and sent him off to Pingyang, and fully combined their multitudes. His army's might was extensive and thriving.

Le went south to rob Xiangyang, he attacked and captured more than thirty ramparts and fortifications west of the Jiang. He kept behind Diao Ying to defend Xiangyang, and personally led 30 000 of the finest cavalry to turn back to attack Wang Ru, but shied away from Ru's vigorousness, and thereupon pressed on to Xiangcheng. Ru understood it, and dispatched his younger brother Li to lead 25 000 cavalry, falsely telling he was rewarding the army, but in truth wishing to assault Le. Le confronted, struck, and wiped him out, and then stationed west of the Jiang.

11th Month [8 December – 5 January], Emperor Huai loathed that the King of Donghai, Yue, monopolized authority, and therefore decreed to the Inspector of Qing province, Gou Xi, saying:

We, due to lacking virtue, and military chariots again and again rising up, above dread the bother to the ancestral temple, below sympathise with the constraints of the myriad masses, and must rely on the regions' peaks to be the state's fences and buttresses.

His Excellency's power is an awesome blazon, putting on display and beheading [Gongshi] Fan and [Ji] Sang, running off and bringing down [?] Qiao and [Lü] Lang. The followers of Wei Zhi then were executed and eliminated. How is it not exalted discernment and clarity in judgement? We made use of the consignments' completeness, and additionally, Wang Mi and Shi Le being worries for the altars of soil and grain, and for that reason there was a decree consigning control of six provinces, yet Your Excellency modestly divided up smaller nodes. Examining the disobedience to the great instructions, it is not what is spoken of as sharing worries with the state.

Now [We] again dispatch a decree to readily grant a proclamation to the six provinces, to unite together in a great undertaking, and cut away and eliminate the state's difficulties. [We] have declared Our thoughts on it.

Xi then circulated a proclamation to the various [Generals who] Conquers and Garrisons, the provinces and commanderies, saying:

Heaven's steps are difficult and dangerous, disasters and hardships flow full. Liu Yuanhai makes rebellion in Fenyin, Shi Shilong causes chaos in the Three Wei. They bit-by-bit eat the imperial domain, and overthrow and destroy the Ye capital. They join together ramparts near the suburbs, and keep shaking Yan and Yu. They have murdered three Inspectors and killed two Chief-Controllers; the commandery wardens, officials and chiefs buried and lost number several tens. The hundred families drift away, liver and brain stain the earth.

Xi, though trifling and negligible, shoulders the weight of the state, and thus is slowing the pace to the corners of the sea, guiding the drumsticks for the group of guards. The Mediocre One received the central decree, and was entrusted with East of the Passes, to supervise and control the various armies, and reverently accept the decreed instructions.

On the agreed upon date, the present month's second day, [I] undertook to go west and cross to Liyang, and on that day obtained the Grand Warden of Xingyang, Ding Ni's plain report on affairs. Li Yun, Chen Wu, and others aided Huai, and the various armies greatly fought with the Jie. All were routed and scattered. Huai city had already fallen when the Grand Warden of Henei, Pei Zheng, was seized by the traitors.

The overnight guards at the watchtower are depleted and the Son of Heaven suffers difficulty. The perils of the Ancestral Temple are very much those of a pile of eggs. At the day of accepting the tidings, [I] anxiously sighed with bathed breath.

Xi considers it to be that previous kings selected the foundations and clarified virtue, making using of dress and insignia, and by these means fenced and strengthened the royal house, and there was nothing that would lead to the city's ruination. Thus when the boats and oars were not strong, Huan of Qi called Chu to account. When King Xiang pressured the Di, Wen of Jin came to chastise.

In all cases to shelter and support the august house, to spread strength to the foundational court, even though trapped in the heat of boiling water, is the great righteousness which is sweet. In addition the shepherds of the various regions all receive glory and favour, their righteousness shared to end of their strength, and so repaying the state's kindness. Xi, though not martial, is at the head of initiating military action, feed the horses and wrap up provisions, to anticipate the regions quelling. All of us sharing the same oath ought to share in hurrying to the rescue. To display and set up a name for steadfastness lies in this act.

Shi Le obtained the circulated proclamation, and therefore in great anger said:

[I] swear to not live together with these thieves between Heaven and Earth.

(From “Le obtained” to here is taken from the “long” reconstruction of the SLGCQ. I couldn't figure out what the original source is.)

12th Month [6 January – 4 February], Cao Ni routed Langye and went north to attack the lands of Qi. Gou Chun shut the city to defend himself. Ni's multitudes shifted perfectly [?], with continuous encampments for several tens of li. Gou Xi turned back, climbed the walls, and looked at them, he had a fearful face. He and Ni fought continuous battles, every time he routed him.

(Presumably the city is Linzai, capital of Qing province?)

(Li Xiong)

5th Year of Yanping, at the time Li Xiong's Grand Steward Li Guo garrisoned Baxi. A man from his retinue, Wen Shi of Tianshui, killed Gao, and used Baxi to surrender to Luo Shang.

Earlier, Qiao Deng had gone to the [General who] Garrisons the South, Liu Hong, to request troops. Deng, courtesy name Shenming, was a native of Xichongguo in Baxi. He was Qiao Zhou's grandson. At the time Central Plains were in chaos, he was posted with Hong for three years, but was unable to obtain troops. Hong petitioned for Deng to be General who Spreads Fervour and Interior Clerk of Zitong, to righteously levy the population of the Three Ba, Shu, and Han as troops, to overcome and take the submission of the province's commanderies. He levied the drifting soldiers of Ba and Shu, and obtained 2 000 people.

The General who Pacifies the West, Luo Shang, had withdrawn to dwell in Ba commandery. Deng accompanied Shang to force the Yi army to chastise Xiong, but did not get it. He therefore left to attack Dangqu, beheaded Tuo, and ate his liver. The thieves of Baxi were routed, and he again went to Shang to seek an army.

Shang's advisers and assistants often considered it surely to be without profit. Deng was resentful and livid, and several times confronted and smashed them. He also increasingly made demands to Shang. Shang only looked down on him and that was all. It happened that Luo Yang killed Xiong's Grand Commandant, Li Li, and raised up Zitong to come and surrender. Deng advanced straight to Fucheng. Xiong himself attacked Deng, but was routed by Deng.

(The death of Li Li took place in 309, the previous year.)

Xiong's General who Pacifies the Robbers, Li Feng, was at Jinshou. Liang# province at first, since it was routed by Xiong, was not defended. However Qiao Deng at Fu, the Army Advisor who Pacifies the West, Xiang Fen, stationed at Yifu in Anhan, and the General who Smashes Charges, Zhang Luo, stationed at Pingwu, pressured Xiong.

Zhang Luo, advanced to occupy Heshui in Jianwei. In Ba and Shu they made a verse which said:

Qiao Deng governs Fucheng, Wen Shi is in Baxi, Zhang Luo defends Heshui. How will the Ba Di go forward?

The levied people were bringing down Xiong's leaders, and the thieves hence were on the verge of difficulties.

Xiong's general Zhang Bao's younger brother Quan was in Hong Qi's midst. Qiong dispatched Bao as a rebel as a deceit, promising to use him as replacement for Li Li. Bao was habitually nefarious and brave. He first killed a person, and afterwards ran to Zitong, and secretly connected with his heart and belly. It happened that Luo Shang dispatched messengers to placate and acknowledge Qi. Qi and outers set out to send off his messenger. Bao closed the city gates from behind them. Qi and others ran to Baxi. Xiong got Zitong, and designated Bao as Grand Commandant. Xiong himself attacked Xiang Fen, and Fen fled.

Luo Shang's original advisers and assistants resented Qiao Deng's self-important disrespect, and did not provide his army with food. Xiong knew Deng lacked food, and dispatched Xiang# to go and attack him. The troops were destitute and the soldiers hungry, but had pledged to die and did not withdraw. The multitudes likewise starved to death but there were none who left. Deng had earlier brought along Xiang#'s son Shou, wishing to use him to persuade Xiang#. As he was being attacked relentlessly, and rescue and assistance did not arrive, he returned Shou to Xiang#.

Autumn, 7th Month [12 August – 9 September], Luo Shang passed away in Ba commandery. Shang, courtesy name Jingzhi, also named Zhong, courtesy name Jingzhen, was a native of Xiangyang. He was successively Assistant Gentleman to the Masters of Writing, Grand Warden of Wuling and Runan. He moved to [Inspector] of Liang# province, and presided over the province.

A written decree appointed the Grand Warden of Changsha, Pi Su, as Inspector of Yi province, concurrent Colonel of the Western Yi, and General who Spreads Fervour, to be in charge of the righteous levies and the Pacifies the West Army, and take on to advance and govern the Three Passes.

At the time Li Xiang# was relentlessly attacking Qiao Deng. Pi Su arrived at Badong, and directed the Pacifies the West generals Zhang Shun and Yang Xian to relieve Deng. Luo Shang's son Yu was livid and resentful. Increasingly Deng's food transports were not supplied. Su when he arrived in Fu, wished to put in order [those who] who were carrying out affairs. [Those] who were carrying affairs were deeply afraid.

Winter, 12th Month [6 January – 4 February], Su arrived at Dianjiang in Ba commandery. Surrendered people, Zhao Pan and Yan Lan of Tianshui, at night killed Su. Su, courtesy name Taihun, was a native of Xiapi.

The Chief Commandant of Jianping, Bao Zhong, killed Luo Yu and Zhao Pan. Ba commandery was in chaos, Zhang Shun and Yang Xian turned back and did not rescue Qiao Deng. The officials of the Three Offices sent up for the Army Overseer of Badong and General of the Best of the Army, Han Song of Nanyang, to be Inspector and Colonel, seated in Badong.

(Zhang Gui)

(JS: At Linsong Mountain in Zhangye a rock had the “Gold Horse” [ 金馬] characters. It was worn and destroyed, and more or less possible to understand, but the Zhang [張] character was distinct and clear.)

(TPYL quoted the SLGCQ: At Linsong Mountain in Zhangye there was a rock like the “Zhangye” [張掖] characters. The “ye” [掖] was gradually destroyed, [but] the Zhang [張] character was distinct and clear.)

There was also an inscription which said:

Begin to take on Under Heaven, the Western Region calm for ten thousand years.

Guzang also had a dark stone with white dots forming the Twenty-Eight Lunar Lodgings. Auspicious grain with one stalk having nine ears was grown at Guzang.

At the time Under Heaven was already in chaos, and those who were sent to there with instructions did not arrive. Zhang Gui dispatched envoys to present tribute, year after year he did not give it up. The Imperial Court praised him, and again and again passed down letters with the imperial seal to placate and acknowledge him.

4th Year of Yongjia, 11th Month [8 December – 5 January], a yellow dragon set out from the Linqiang He, it issued out from the water and ascended into the sky. Its body was more than ten zhang long.

#chinese history #r16s

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starberry-cupcake · 4 years ago

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The Chinapuri finale and its montage aka censorship who?

I decided to do all of this in one post and read more, so that the 95% of my followers who are uninterested on this particular drama/source material can easily skip it. Here are 7 relationships showcased in the montage ranked and 2 bonus (a family relationship and an extra).

Note: I’ll speak about the relationships as they were portrayed, whichever the form of relationship chosen to display in this version. Also, I’m glad that everyone was aged up in this version, kinda wild but very much appreciated that some of these actors are my age or somewhere around there lol

#7 Lu Xia (Echizen Ryoma) and Qi Ying (Ryuuzaki Sakuno)

This drama was a bit more romantically-inclined in terms of these two than the anime/manga was, but some of that may be also influenced by them giving their version of Sakuno more room (which yay!) and having them be older.

For this to stand alone as a drama, it was a needed step, I believe. I found Lu Xia to be more vulnerable than Ryoma, he doesn’t feel quite as ~cool~ and it doesn’t take away from the character that he has moments showing internal struggle (in tennis as well as at home). These two were sweet and adorable, which gave the drama probably more of an expected appeal for a wider audience, to make it stand on its own as a drama and not only an anime adaptation.

#6 Yan ZhiMing (Inui Sadaharu) & Liu Lian (Yanagi Renji)

Kinda mad they didn’t do this for Fuji (Zhuo Zhi) and Saeki (Zuo Xiaohu) but they did good with these two. I didn’t know at first why they started to build up their relationship so early, but it ended up being a good emotional plot point during their match, which is, as we all know, a determining factor in Seigaku’s (Yu Qing) win against Rikkai (Hai Guang).

I don’t remember being as invested in their match in the anime as I was here, maybe I was just too focused on the Fuji match at that time, but what they did to build that game as a decisive point in the season finale was so well developed, I was impressed.

#5 He XingLong (Kawamura Takeshi) & Ya JiuXin (Akutsu Jin)

This is a relationship that can get complicated and even problematic if handled incorrectly. Akutsu’s journey through the anime is pretty long and takes a while for him to be on a healthier place, but the added element of aging the characters could have gone really wrong here if they had done him exactly as in the anime or manga. I think they did pretty well with the time they were given, showing his turmoil and learning curve.

XingLong was allowed to have a more in-depth journey being older and about to graduate, it made more sense for him here to think about his career at this stage and added the gravity of this being THE moment to decide whether to keep pursuing the sport or take over his dad’s restaurant (they even adapted the type of food they cook to match the cultural impact of the family-owned business, which was great).

I think the two complemented each other really well and worked interestingly together, in a way I didn’t think the drama was gonna give them time to do, so I’m really pleased.

#4 Qiao Chen (Momoshiro Takeshi) & Zhang BaiYang (Kaidoh Kaoru)

My younger self is thriving with this one being included tbh. These two were so much fun in the anime, two rivals and opposites that represented the future of the team upon their elders leaving.

I was surprised to see them so focused here, because it’s not a relationship most adaptations put emphasis on (their loss), but it paid off immensely by the time their game against Bunta and Jackal (Jin WenTai & Ke Jie) came around.

Kaidoh is a tough one to adapt most times, and they did him so well in this one, I think this is my favorite live action Kaidoh in any adaptation, and I’ve watched a whole bunch of tenimyu in my day. They really captured the ambiguity of his character, how he balances a tough exterior with a sensitive core. Qiao Chen maintained his feelings for Xu Xingzi (Tachibana Ann) but that didn’t stop them from showing these two every time they could.

#3 Mu Siyang (Tezuka Kunimitsu) & Ji Jingwu (Atobe Keigo)

Oh, these two. Hyotei (Xing Yao) wasn’t featured as much as one would probably expect (I’m a Fudomine fan and with Yu Feng I got more than I even was expecting, but I admit Hyotei is a riot and I always live my best life when they show up). Still, they did the Tezuka/Atobe match justice and then some.

Mu Siyang was incredibly compelling as Tezuka, and had a vulnerability to him that made me worry for his health more than I probably did for his anime counterpart. Maybe also the fact that he was older than his anime version yet looked younger than him made it sink more that his injury was something to worry about. I wish we had time to include anime!Tezuka’s issues with yips with Siyang, because I know the drama would have pulled it off, but that was further down the line in the story. Maybe for a season 2.

Anyway, the Atobe/Tezuka game is one of the best games in tenipuri history and the drama knew it. The game felt like it earned its gravity with the development of both Siyang’s injury and Ji Jingwu’s determination to play against him. Then they sprinkled the camp on top, as the anime does, with Ji Jingwu paying for his every expense and calling him to get updates, which is 100% canon compliant imo.

I feel like Ji Jingwu didn’t have enough room to be as much of Atobe as he could be, but then again, that’s not easy for anyone to pull off. Not even Kato Kazuki can do Junichi Suwabe as well as Junichi Suwabe.

#2 Bai ShiYan (Yukimura Seiichi) & Tian ZiLong (Sanada Genichirou)

So, it’s tough to feel for Rikkai (Hai Guang) at this point of the story. You learn about Yukimura’s health and it’s difficult, but you just met them and the first impressions haven’t been great.

However, the relationship between Sanada and Yukimura has always been something pivotal for the way the team is constructed (they were named that way for a reason, two parts of a same hero and all that) and they sustain the team in a way other teams don’t have to. They are the mom and dad of the team, the coaches, the leaders and the pillars. They have a balance of severity and permissiveness, of strictness and instinct. They are like a couple who has been married for 25 years.

How on Earth, I asked myself, will they achieve that with censorship on the way? I don’t know, but they did it, the mad bastards.

It really does come through 100% the importance of their relationship and the way in which the captain’s health affects the team and, more than anything, their vice captain. It reaches a crescendo during the final match, before ShiYan’s operation, and they manage to pull it off with the time they have.

Also, their scenes are like shot for a contemporary romance drama and I appreciate that vibe.

#1 Tang JiaLe (Kikumaru Eiji) & Chi DaYong (Oishi Shuichiro)

Oh boy. Look. I still own Golden Pair merchandise from my Days, ok? These two hold a special place in my heart. I saw actors who portrayed them grow up, succeed and pass away, sadly. I still sing Depend On Me sometimes. There is a cheerful vibe with these two, a sense of overcoming obstacles and finding balance, I don’t know. Fuji is my favorite character but these two are special in their way.

This freakin’ drama just went full on Golden Pair. The level of content was off the charts. The moment they came on the screen, the second they talked about their doubles, it was already setting the tone of how deep their relationship was going to go. I am a bit amazed that they avoided to get closed down for this ngl. And I appreciate the risk because it paid off.

They have a body language communication that is captured in every shot. Even when they’re not the focus of the scene, they’re close, touching or holding each other, arms around each other, hands on each other’s shoulders, grabbing each other’s clothes. When they fight, that language changes drastically, and the distance they take feels intense and cold. You go through it with them and the team shows it as well. There’s an entire episode I had screencaps of and never posted when the team falls apart because they do.

My favorite part, though, ironically, isn’t what they did with them together but what they did with them apart. They took time to develop them as individual characters with their own issues, their fears, their worries and weaknesses. They were allowed to be flawed and wrong and have to mend their ways.

What really got me and impacted me deeply was the fact that they chose DaYong to talk about mental health. They gave room to speaking about the physical implications of anxiety disorders and about how self esteem issues can give more magnitude to ongoing issues with your mental health. Again, the age of the characters being changed helped add a depth to some issues that get developed with more intensity in a drama of this kind, and the way in which it takes TIME to get resolved, it isn’t a one episode thing, it’s an underlying issue that spans the season...*chef’s kiss*

Even though there’s a specific tenimyu incarnation of these two that I hold dear and will always remember fondly, I think that Xu Ke and Zhu ZhiLing are the most successful and best portrayed live action Golden Pair I’ve ever seen.

Bonus that was in the montage but it’s specifically about a family relationship: The Zhuo Bros

I have said Fuji has always been my favorite and his relationship with Yuta as an older brother (albeit he’s not the eldest sibling like me) is one I always felt close to.

In the anime, the two have a rocky relationship that gets developed throughout, but the drama is very good at establishing not only Zhuo Yu’s (Fuji Yuta) self esteem issues, the subsequent use of that Guan Yue (Mizuki Hajime) does and Zhuo Zhi’s (Fuji Syusuke) attempts to breach the gap between the siblings, they also use it to develop Zhuo Zhi’s character and his reticence to show weakness.

It’s tough to get Fuji towards a place of vulnerability without breaking character, but they used family and the care he provides to his brother as a point to further his story, and I appreciate that a lot. They managed to build Zhuo Zhi up with this sibling bond as one of his core elements, and that gave a lot of dimension to his games and his character.

Bonus that wasn’t in the montage but I’m including in some capacity: Mu Siyang (Tezuka Kunimitsu) & Zhuo Zhi (Fuji Syusuke)

I thought these two deserved a place in the list, even if they weren’t grouped much in the montage, because the drama did make them share moments together that I feel gave more depth to their characters.

There was a very interesting moment in which they showed Mu Siyang and Zhuo Zhi establishing their differences when approaching tennis, and how serious Mu Siyang is about taking the team to victory. I think that strengthened the character as a captain to me, in a way that shows it rather than tells it, and allowed for his guidance to still be present when he wasn’t physically there. His determination ultimately influenced Zhuo Zhi to take things more seriously, and that was a pretty interesting development to see.

All in all, I should, at some point, go and do a serious review for MyDramaList but I wanted to leave in my blog how much I appreciated this adaptation. I wasn’t expecting much and I was delivered everything.

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