#bqs01

[bookofjin]

Annals of Shenwu, Part 1

[Because dynastic founders are fun. I have used the text in the Book of Northern Qi, but note that the original is actually lost, and the received text is basically just a copy paste from the Northern History. Also worth noting that the surviving histories of Northern Qi were written during the early Tang which was a continuation of the Qi’s rival state Zhou.]

Qi's Exalted Ancestor [gaozu], the Godly Martial [shenwu] August Emperor, family name Gao, name Huan, courtesy name Heliuhun, was a native of Xiu in Bohai. His 6th generation ancestor Yin was Jin's Grand Warden of Xuantu. Yin begot Qing. Qing begot Tai. Tai begot Hu. For three generations they served the Murong clan, When Murong Bao was defeated and the state was in chaos, Hu led the multitudes to revert to, and became General of the Right. Hu begot four sons, the third son was Mi. He served Wei, and his rank reached Attendant Imperial Clerk. He was convicted by the law and moved to reside at the Huaishuo Garrison.

Mi begot the August Late Father, Shu. He was by nature a thorough example [?], and did not engage in the family patrimony. He had his residence south of Baidao, several times there were marvels of red lights and purple vapour. The neighbouring people considered it unusual, and advised him to move his residences so as to escape them. The August Later Father said:

Who to know if it is good or bad?

He resided there in this way.

When Shenwu was born, the August Late Mother, Ms. Han, passed. He was raised at the family of elder sister of similar birth's husband, the garrison prison squad [trooper?] Wei Jing. Shenwu, since [his family] for amassed generations had been on the northern border, and for that reason practised their customs, thereupon had become similar to the Xianbei. As an adult he then was deep and serene, and had great measures, he made light of wealth and put weight in gentlemen, and was an exemplar of boldness and gallantry. His eyes had the finest shine, he had a long head and high cheek bones, his teeth were white like jade, as young he had the appearance of an outstanding person.

His family was poor, when he was betrothed to the Martial and Clarifying [wuming] August Empress, he first had a horse, and got to provide for the garrison as squad leader. The garrison general Duan Chang of Liaoxi often marvelled at Shenwu's countenance. He spoke, saying:

You Lord, have the talent for expansive achievements, and in the end will not be a follower.

He readily used sons and grandsons as confidants. When he became worthy, he posthumously conferred on Chang Minister of Works, and chose his son Ning and employed him.

Shenwu transferred from squad leader to be a postal messenger. He once drove to the relay station and passed by Jianxing. It was cloudy and foggy, and the day was dark. A thunderous sound followed it, and half the sun then cut off, like there was godly response. Always when he travelled the roads and streets, he came and went without the look of wind or dust. He also once dreamt he walked on a multitude stars and travelled. When he woke up, he was happy inside.

He was a postal messenger for six years. Always when he arrived in Luoyang, he provided the Foreman Clerk Ma Xiang [as] messenger. Xiang once used meat as meal for Shenwu. Shenwu by nature did not stand and eat, but sat down and advanced to it. Xiang considered him to be contemptuous of himself, and beat Shenwu with a bamboo cane 40 times.

When he returned from Luoyang, he gave away property so as to connect with retainers. His friends for that reason were astonished and asked him about it, He replied, saying:

When I arrived in Luoyang, the overnight guards and the Feathered Forest [soldiers] led each other to burn the Army Leader, Zhang Yi's home. The Imperial Court was afraid of their chaos and did not inquire into it. Since government is like this, affairs can be understood. How can valuables and things be a regular protection?

Since that, he therefore had aspirations of purifying and cleaning Under Heaven. He and the Affair Examiner of Huaishuo , Sima Ziru of Yunzhong, Liu Gui of Xiurong, and Jia Xianzhi of Zhongshan became friends in running about. Huaishuo's Clerk of the Households Bureau, [they and] Sun Teng, and the Clerk of the Outer Troops, Hou Jing likewise were friendly and connected with each other.

Liu Gui once obtained a single white hawk. He and Shenwu, and Wei Jing, Cai Jun, Ziru, Jia Xianzhi, and others, hunted in the irrigated countryside. They saw a single red hare, every time they grabbed it, it immediately got free, they followed until they had turned around the marsh. Within the marsh, there was a reed house, and [the hare?] was about to run and enter, when there was a dog which came out from within the house, and bit it. Hawk and hare both died. Shenwu was angry, and used a whistling arrow to shoot it, the dog was slain. Two people came out from within the house, and grasped Shenwu's lapels with extreme urgency. Their mother was blind in both eyes, she dragged her cane and scolded her two children, saying:

For what reason are you accosting great families!

She took out beer from within an earthen jar, and cooked a sheep as food for the guests. Following that she spoke of herself as good at assessing the hidden. She broadly stroked the various people, all were worthy. She then pointed to signal all would derive from Shenwu. She also said:

Ziru will hold successive rank, display wisdom but not come to a good end.

With the meal finished, they set out, travelling for several li, they turned back. Moreover when they inquired into it, then there were actually not a person's house, and therefore there was no person. Following that the various people were increasingly respected and exceptional.

1st Year of Xiaochang [525 AD], Du Luozhou of Rouxuan Garrison rebelled in Shanggu. Shenwu therefore followed him together with [those of] similar aspirations. He loathed his actions and affairs, and secretly plotted again him together with Wei Jing, Duan Rong and Cai Jun. They did not succeed, and were pursued by his cavalry. Wenxiang and Empress Yongxi of Wei were both young children. Empress Wuming was on top the ox embracing and carrying them. Wenxiang again and again fell off the ox. Shenwu pulled the bow, wanting to shoot him so as to take his leave and depart. The Empress shouted to Rong to seek for help, and relied on Rong to hurry down and take him and so escape.

Thereupon they ran to Ge Rong, and then again absconded to revert to Erzhu Rong in Xiurong. Before this, Liu Gui was serving Rong, he extolled and talked of Shenwu's excellence. Reaching this point, when he first got to see him, because he was worn out and haggard, he was not astonished with him. Gui therefore had Shenwu change clothes and again requested to see him.

Following that he accompanied Rong's stable. The stable had an evil horse, and Rong instructed to shear it. Shenwu then did not put on birdle or hobble and then sheared [it]. In the end it neither kicked nor bit. Once done he stood up and said:

To manage evil people is just like this horse.

Rong thereupon seated Shenwu beneath his couch, he screened off left and right, and inquired into the affairs of the time. Shenwu said:

[I] have heard Your Excellency has twelve valleys with horses, in their different appearance they are a crowd, how might these in the end be employed?

He replied, saying:

Just speak your mind.

Shenwu said:

Just now the Son of Heaven is ignorant and weak, the Empress Dowager is excessive and disorderly, perverse favourites monopolize the instructions, [yet] the imperial court does not act. Considering Your Enlightened Excellency's gallant military ability, to exploit the times, rise up and issue forth, chastise Zheng Yan and Xu He, and clean up the Emperor's sides. A hegemonic patrimony can raise the whip and succeed. This the mind of Heliuhun.

Rong was greatly pleased. They talked from the middle of the day until half into the night and then set out. Since then he always assisted in army planning.

Later he accompanied Rong to move to occupy Bing province. He butted into Pang Cangying of Yangyi [?], and came to a halt within a circular scorch [?]. Ever time he accompanied outside he returned. The host from a distance heard the action making a sound moving the earth. Cangying's mother several times saw at the circular scorch a red vapour, its radiance connected to the sky. Also, Cangying once at night wished to enter, there was a dark blue-green clothed  person who pulled out a blade, and shouted out, saying:

What is the reason for butting into the king!

When [his] speech ended, [he] was no longer seen. At first he considered it marvellous, and he secretly spied on him. He only saw a red snake coiling atop the bed, and then increasingly was startled and astonished. Following that he killed an ox and divided the meat, and substantially used it to be of service. Cangying's mother requested, that since Shenwu was a righteous master, and had got aspirations, to use their residence as a mansion, titling it as the southern residence. Although the gates and alleys were open and broad, the halls and eaves were eminent and elegant, its foundation were at the circular scorch, they used white stone to daub it, keeping and not destroying [it]. Arriving at the time of Wenxuan, it thereupon became a palace.

Then Rong used Shenwu as Chief Controller of the Close and True. At that time Emperor Ming of Wei, held ill feelings for Zheng Yan and Xu He, and pressured Empress Dowager Ling. He not yet dared to make arrangements, and secretly messaged Rong to raise up troops towards the interior. Rong used Shenwu as vanguard. When he arrived in Shangdang, Emperor Ming again secretly decreed to stop them.

When the Emperor violently expired, Rong thereupon entered Luo, and following that wanted to usurp the throne. Shenwu remonstrated, but feared he would not listen. He requested to cast a figure to divine it. The figure was not complete, and he there halted. Emperor Xiaozhuang was established. Due to his deeds in deciding strategy, he was ennobled Earl of Tongdi.

When Erzhu Rong struck Ge Rong, he ordered Shenwu to explain to the subordinates the thieves had separately declared as kings seven people [?]. Later he and the Acting Tribunal routed Yang Kan in Taishan. Soon after he and Yuan Tianmu routed Xing Gao in Ji'nan. He amassed to move to Third Grade Chieftain of the Garrison People, he often was inside Rong's tent. Rong once asked left and right, saying:

One day [when you] are without me, who can master the army?

Everyone praised Erzhu Zhao. [Rong] said

Of those who are here who properly can command 3 000 cavalry and so turn back, and is capable of replacing me as master the multitudes there is only Heliuhun, that is all.

Following that, he warned Zhao, saying:

You are not his match, and in the end will be his pierced nose.

[That is, he would be led around as if by a ring through his nose.]

Therefore he used Shenwu as Inspector of Jin province. Hence he greatly assembled and collected. Following that, Liu Gui bribed Rong's subordinate essential people, and fully obtained his minds. At the time in the province armoury a horn made noise by itself for no reason. Not much later, Xiaozhuang executed Rong.

When Erzhu Zhao wanted to raise troops and go to Luo from Jinyang, he summoned Shenwu. Shenwu sent the Senior Clerk, Sun Teng, to answer that since the Jiang Shu and the Fen Hu wished to rebel, it was impossible to make allowances to depart. Zhao resented him. Teng returned with the instructions. Shenwu said:

Zhao is raising troops to violate the sovereign, this one is a great thief. I will not be able to serve him for long.

From then he began to have plans for plotting against Zhao.

When Zhao entered Luo, he apprehended Emperor Zhuang and went north. Shenwu heard about, and was greatly alarmed. He again sent Sun Teng to pretend to congratulate Zhao. Following that, he secretly spied on the place where Xiaozhuang was, wanting to threaten [?] thereby to raise up righteousness, but without result. He therefore used a letter to explain it, telling that it was improper to apprehend the Son of Heaven and thereby receive an evil name within the seas. Zhao did not accept, and killed the Emperor. Then he and Erzhu Shilong and others established the King of Changguang, Ye, and changed the inaugural to Jianming [“Establishing Clarity”, in 530]. He ennobled Shenwu as Duke of Pingyang commandery.

When Gedouling Bufan of the Feiyetou entered Xiurong and pressured Jinyang, Zhao called on Shenwu. Shenwu was about to depart. Heba Yanguo'er requested to delay the march to thereby ruin him. Shenwu therefore turned to delaying and halting, explaining that since the He had no bridge, he did not manage to cross. Bufan's army was abundant, and Zhao fled in defeat.

Earlier, when Xiaozhuang executed Erzhu Rong, he knew his faction would surely have traitorous plans, he therefore secretly counselled Bufan to order an assault on their rear. When Bufan had defeated Zhao and others, since the troops' strength were thriving daily, Zhao again requested help from Shenwu. Shenwu on the inside was plotting against Zhao, but then worried about the difficulty in removing Bufan afterwards [?]. Therefore he and Zhao with their full strength routed him. Fan died. He was deeply gracious to Shenwu, and they swore to be brothers.

At the time Shilong, Dulü, and Yanbo together were in charge of the court's government. Tianguang occupied Right of the Passes. Zhao occupied Bing province. Zhongyuan occupied the eastern commanderies. Each held close troops to be violent. Under Heaven suffered from them.

Those of Ge Rong's multitudes who entered Bing and Si¤ were more than 200 000, they were , insulting and violent to the allied Hu [?], all did not rely on living. Great and small, 60 out of 200 rebelled, executed half of the barbarians, like grass they stole without stop [?]. Zhao worried about, and asked about plans to Shenwu. Shenwu said:

When the Six Garrison rebellion was destroyed, [we] could not fully kill [them]. [We] ought to select as kings those of long-standing belly and heart to secretly cause [us] to control them. Suppose there are transgressors, [we can] straight-away convict their leaders, then those we convict will be few.

Zhao said:

Good, who can do it?

Heba Yun at the time was at their seat, he requested Shenwu. Shenwu beat him with his fists, breaking off one his teeth, saying:

In the time when lived the Pillar of Heaven, slaves submit to live apart like hawks and dogs. In the present day Under Heaven calmly set up to be king. Yet Ajuni [?] dares to defraud subordinates and deceived superiors, [I] request to kill him.

[Erzhu Rong's official title had been  Pillar of Heaven Great General.]

Zhao considered Shenwu to be sincere, and thereupon accordingly entrusted it to him. Shenwu considered Zhao to be drunk, and feared that after he sobered up someone would cause him to suspect disloyalty- Thereupon he set out, and circulated words that he had accepted appointment to command the provincial garrison troops, and they cold assemble east of the Fen to receive orders. He therefore erected his headquarters at Yangqu Stream, and arranged the sections and divisions.

There was someone who knocked at the army gates, with red head-cloth and long robes, declaring himself the Master of Gengyang Relay Station [?], he asked for a privy left and right. When he inquired into it, then it was due to [his] strong reputation [?]. Often at the markets in Bing province, there were those who joined together to kill people. He therefore appointed him to be his trusted friend.

The troops and soldiers had a long-standing loathing for Zhao, and were delighted with Shenwu. Hence there were nobody who did not all arrive. Not much later, he again sent Liu Gui to request from Zhao, that since Bing and Si¤ for several years had had frosts and droughts, the surrendered households were digging up yellow rats and eating them, everyone's faces had no colour of life in them, when walking they polluted the lands of people and state, he requested to order them to seek food East of the Mountains, wait for them to be warm and full, and then settle and allot them. Zhao followed his opinion. His Senior Clerk, Murong Shaozong, remonstrated, saying:

Impossible, now the four regions are in disorder and disarray, people in their breasts have disloyal expectations. Furthermore, Excellency Gao is gallant and scheming, and also hold close great troops. Might it be impossible to do it?

Zhao said:

While burning incense, we made a weighty oath. What is there to worry about.

Shaozong said:

Brothers by relation are still so difficult to trust, why discuss burning incense!

At the time everyone around Zhao were already accepting Shenwu's gold, and falsely accused Shaozong of having an old grudge with Shenwu. Zhao therefore  incarcerated Shaozong and urged Shenwu to set out. Shenwu therefore set out from Jinyang for Fukou. On the road he happened to meet Erzhu Rong's wife, the Senior Princess of Beixiang, who had come from Luoyang with 300 horses. He fully carried off and exchanged them [?]. Zhao heard, and therefore released Shaozong and asked him about it. Shaozong said:

Still smack and grasp to hit the thing.

Hence he himself pursued Shenwu. When he arrived Xiangyuan, it happened that the Zhang River had brutally swelled, and the bridge was destroyed. Shenwu, separated by the river, bowed and said:

The intention for borrowing the Princess's horses did not have other reasons but to prepare for the bandits East of the Mountain, that is all. The King accepting the Princess's words, has himself come to bestow a pursuit. Now to cross the river and die is not the answer, these multitudes would readily rebel.

Zhao himself avowed having not these thoughts, and because of that crossed with light cavalry, He and Shenwu sat inside the tent. He avowed forgiveness, and thereupon gave him a blade and stretched out his head, to make Shenwu cut it off himself. Shenwu with great tears, said:

Since the Pillar of Heaven passed away from betrayal, Heliuhun more and more has asking in admiration, wishing for the Great House a thousand ten thousand years, to thereby extend with full strength its operations. Now nearby people's schemes have reached this. Great House, why endure again putting out such words!

Zhao threw the blade to the ground, thereupon they killed a white horse and swore an oath, pledging to be brothers. They stayed overnight, drinking to through the night.

Wei Jing hid strong soldiers, wishing to apprehend Zhao. Shenwu bit his arm to stop them, saying:

[If we] kill him now, his partisans will surely run and return to gather and join together. The troops are hungry and the horses lean, and cannot support each other. Suppose the noble and the valiant rise up sharply, then the damage will multiply considerably. It is not as good moreover as setting [them?] up. Zhao, though unyielding in victory, is yet vicious, cunning without plans, it is not sufficient to plot.

At dawn, Zhao returned to his encampent, and also summoned Shenwu. Shenwu was about to get on his horse and go to him when Sun Teng dragged his clothes and so stopped him. Zhao was cut off by the river and freely laid out accusations, then hurried back to Jinyang.

Zhao's heart and belly thought of the worthy leadership of the surrendered households and families amassed separately to make an encampment [?]. Shenwu pretended to be friendly with them, saw the swords in their belts, and because of that captured them to thereby kill their followers. The followers fully dispersed. Hence the multitude solders were altogether pleased, and multiple times desired to adhere and follow.

Earlier, during Wei's Zhenjun era [440 – 451], those of the Inner School had memorialised, telling that Shangdang had the vapour of the Son of Heaven, saying there was at Huguan a Dawanag [“Great King”] Mountain. Emperor Taiwu hence toured south so as to completely undertake it, he piled up stones as three mounds, cleaved its northern Fenghuan [“phoenix”] Mountain so as to ruin its shape. Later there were people of Shangdang who lived in Jinyang, it was called the Shangdang quarter. Shenwu actually lived there. When it came to this march, he dwelt at Dawang Mountain for sixty days and then advanced.

When he was about to set out for Fukou, he several times bound together bundles, things of fine measure, and did not agree to invasions and transgressions. When he was about to pass by wheat country, Shenwu immediately walked and led the horse. Near and fear heard about it, and praised Same Ceremonies Gao's generals and troops were orderly and respectful, and turned their hearts to him. Thereupon he marched forth, and stationed at Ye, he requested provisions from the Inspector of Xiang province, Liu Dan. Dan did not provide. There were rice paid in taxes to the army encampments, Shenwu took it for himself.

[bookofjin]

Annals of Shenwu of Qi, Part 2

[From BQS01]

[Putai 1, 3 February 531 – 22 January 532]

Wei's 1st Year of Putai, 2nd Month [4 March – 2 April 531], Shenwu went from the army to stay at Xindu. Gao Qian and Feng Longzhi opened the gates so as to wait on [him]. Thereupon he possessed Ji province. That Month, Erzhu Dulü deposed Yuan Ye, and established Emperor Jiemin, wishing to bridle and halter Shenwu.

3rd Month [3 April – 1 May], he then reported to Emperor Jiemin, and ennobled Shenwu as King of Bohai, and summoned him to make him enter for audience. Shenwu declined.

4th Month, guimao [5 May], also additionally conferred on him Great Acting Tribunal of the Easter Circuit, and First Grade Chieftain of the Garrison People.

Pang Cangying came running from Taiyuan. Shenwu used him as Gentleman of the Acting Tribunal. Soon after used him as Inspector of An province.

Shenwu, since he had gone East of the Mountains, he raised soldiers and repaired armour, and forbid intrusions and plundering. The hundred families returned their hears. He therefore pretended there was a letter, telling that Erzhu Zhao wanted to use the people of the Six Garrisons to pair with the Qihu as private troops, the multitudes were all anxious and resentful. He also had Bing province's token, and summoned troops to chastise the Buluoji.

He sent out ten thousand people, and was about to dispatch them. Sun Teng and Wei Jing were requesting to stop for five days, they did like this twice. Shenwu personally saw them off in the suburbs, he wiped away tears to clasp them in parting. People all shouted their grief, the sound of weeping moved the ground. Shenwu then explained to them, saying:

We are all lost village guests, properly similar to a single family. [If you] unthinkingly are going uo then you will be recruited and summoned. [Those] who have already gone straight westward will die, [those] left behind with the army at the appointed time also will die, [those] matched with the peopl of state also will die, why is it like this!

The multitudes said:

There is only to make rebellion, that is all.

Shenwu said:

To rebel is truly an urgent plan, [we] must push forward one man to be the leader.

The multitudes wanted to serve Shenwu. Shenwu said:

Your home districts are difficult to manage, did [you] not see Ge Rong? Though a multitude of s million, he had no punishments or laws, in the end he was himself turned to dust and wiped away. Now to use me as the leader will be different from before. [You will] not get to cheat the Han boys, [you will] not get to violate army orders. [If you] living and dying rely on me, then it is possible. If not so, and [you] are not able to do it, you will be the laugh of Under Heaven.

The multitudes all bowed down, dead or alive only to follow the instructions. Shenwu said that if so it could not be avoided.

Next day, he hammered an ox and feasted the soldiers, and to explain thereby thoughts of chastising the Erzhu. Feng Longzhi advanced to say:

[This is] a single moment in a thousand years, all of Heaven favours [it] considerably.

Shenwu said:

To chastise the thieves is great obedience, to aid the times is a great legacy. I, though [I] have no martial ability, will hence die to support it. Who dares to chide it!

6th Month, gengzi [1 July], he founded righteousness at Xindu, but still had not made evident him turning on the Erzhu clan.

When Li Yuanzhong together with Gao Qian pacified Yin province, they cut off Erzhu Yuzheng's head, and came to pay visit. Shenwu touched his chest and said:

Today rebellion is decided.

He therefore used Yuanzhong as Inspector of Yin province.

At that time, the troops' power had been raised, he therefore held aloft and petitioned descriptions of the crimes of the Erzhu clan. Shilong and others secreted the petition and did not pass it through.

8th Month [28 August – 26 September], Erzhu Zhao attacked and captured Yin province. Li Yuanzhong came running.

Sun Teng since, he was separated and cut off from the Imperial Court, and did not have the power to establish the Son Heaven, then there was nothing by which multitudes' expectations were bound together.

10th Month, renyin [31 October], he received the King of Zhangwu, Rong's son, the Grand Warden of Bohai, Lang, as August Emperor, the year titled Zhongxing [“Middle Flourishing”]. This was the Deposed Emperor.

At that time, Dulü and Zhongyuan stayed at Yangping. Erzhu Zhao met up with them. Shenwu employed Dou Tai's strategy, and let loose converted spies. Dulü and Zhongyuan did not battle and turned back. Shenwu then defeated Zhao at Guang'e.

11th Month [25 November – 23 December], he attacked Ye. The Inspector of Xiang province, Liu Dan, encircled in the city, firmly defended. Shenwu raised an earth mountain, and dug out a path in the ground, now and again erecting great pillars. At a single time burnt them, and the walls sunk into the ground. Ma Xiang at the time was Prefect of Tangyin. Shenwu shouted to him, saying:

Chief Ma!

Xiang was ashamed and fled.

[Yongxi 1, 23 January 532 – 9 February 533]

1st Year of Yongxi [“Eternal Splendour”], 1st Month, renwu [8 February], he took Ye City and occupied it.

The Deposed Emperor advanced Shenwu to Great Imperial Chancellor, Pillar of State Great General, and Grand Master. At that time, Qing province established righteousness. The Great Chief Controller, Cui Lingzhen, and the Great Chief Controller, Geng Xiang, both dispatched messengers to revert and adhere. The Acting on the Affairs of Fen province, Liu Gui, abandoned the city and came to surrender.

Intercalary 3rd Month [21 April – 19 May], Erzhu Tianguang from Chang'an, Zhao from Bing province, Dulü from Luoyang and Zhongyuan from Dong commandery met together at Ye, their multitudes were declared to be 200 000. They counted on the Huan River and the army. Jiemin used Zhangsun Chengye as Great Acting Tribunal with overall supervision over them.

Shenwu ordered Feng Longzhi to defend Ye, and himself set out and halted at Zimo. At the time the horses were not fully 2 000, and the infantry did not reach 30 000, the multitudes were few and did not resist. Therefore at Hanling he made circular formation, and joined together cattle and donkeys so as to block the return road. Hence the generals and soldiers all had aspirations of dying, on four sides they hurried to strike them.

Erzu Zhao called Shenwu to account for betraying him. Shenwu said:

Originally when [we] joined forces, [we] together assisted the royal house. Now, where is the Emperor?

Zhao said:

In the Yong'an era [528 – 530], he unjustly murdered the Pillar of Heaven. I am repaying the enemy, that is all.

Shenwu said:

I in former days personally heard the Pillar of Heaven's plans. You was standing before the doorway. How [do you] get to say [he] was not rebellious? Moreover, when a lord to kill his subject, what is there to repay? At the present day it is righteous to break off [with you].

Then he engaged him in battle, and greatly defeated him

Erzhu Zhao addressed Murong Shaozong with imploring heart, saying:

[I] did not employ Your Excellency's words, and so it came to this!

He wanted a quick flight. Shaozong turned around the banners and sounded the horns, gathered and assembled the scattered soldiers. He made good the army's appearance, and then went up west. Gao Jishi pursued the fleeing with seven cavalry, he went passed Yema Ridge, and came upon Zhao. Gao Ang looked at him from afar, but did not see [him]. He wept and said:

[I] grieve for my younger brother!

Late in the night, Jishi returned, blood filled his sleeves.

Husi Chun through force marches had previously occupied the He Bridge.

Earlier, 1st Year of Putai, 10th Month [26 October – 24 November 531], the Year Star [Jupiter], the Shimmering Deceiver [Mars], the Quelling Star [Saturn], and the Great White [Venus] gathered in the Turtle Beak and Triaster [constellations], their colour were very bright. The Grand Clerk divined and said there would be a king flourishing. At that time Shenwu was rising up at Xindu. Reaching this point he then routed Zhao and others.

4th Month [20 May – 18 June], Husi Chun apprehended Tianguang and Dulü, and sent them off to Luoyang. Zhangsun Chengye dispatched the Chief Controllers Jia Xianzhi and Zhang Huan to enter Luoyang. They apprehended Shilong and Yanbo, and beheaded them. Zhao ran to Bing province. Zhongyuan ran to Liang# province, and thereupon died there. At the time the fell vermin had been eliminated, the Imperial Court was celebratory and content.

Earlier, in the previous month before the battle was fought, there was a native of Zhangwu, Zhang Shao who in the middle of the night he suddenly encountered several cavalry about to pass over [?] the walls, until one great general was in front. He directed Shao to be the army's guide towards Ye, and said those who aided and accepted the instructions would remove the cruel thieves. Shao turned around to look at them, the troops could not be counted, they were orderly, fast, and without sound. When they was about to arrive at Ye, they then let go of him. Reaching the day of the battle, the people in the Erzhu clan's armies saw deployed outside soldiers and horses convering from four directions. Perhaps godly aid.

Soon after Shenwu arrived at Luoyang, he deposed the Jiemin and the Zhongxing Ruler, and established Xiaowu. When Xiaowu had taken the throne, he conferred on Shenwu Great Imperial Chancellor, Pillar of Heaven Great General, Grand Master, and Hereditary Inspector of Ding province, and increased his fief to a combined total of 150 000 households. Shenwu declined Pillar of Heaven, and reduced the households to 50 000.

On renchen [17 June], he returned to Ye. The Wei Emperor bid farewell at Qianfu Mountain. He held his hand and then they parted.

7th Month, renyin [26 August], Shenwu led the host for a northern attack on Erzhu Zhao. Feng Longzhi told him:

Palace Attendants Husi Chun, Heba Sheng, Jia Xianzhi, and others in the past served the Erzhu, [and then] all of them turned around and bit [them]. Now they are in the Imperial Capital, to favour and rely [on them] is surely to build disaster and discord.

Shenwu very much considered him correct. He therefore returned Tianguang and Dulü to the Imperial City, and beheaded them.

Thereupon he entered from Fukou. Erzhu Zhao plundered Jinyang, and went north to guard Xiurong. Bing province was pacified. Shenwu, since Jinyang was protected on four sides, therefore established the Great Imperial Chancellor's Office and settled his dwellings there. When Erzhu Zhao had arrived in Xiurong, he divided the troops to defend the strategic points, and set out to enter to rob and seize.

Shenwu spread noise about chastising him, the host set out and then stopped several times, Zhao's thinking became negligent. Shenwu guessed that he at the beginning of the year would hold a feast, and dispatched Dou Tai with finest cavalry to race towards him, in a day and a night they travelled 300 li. Shenwu supported them with the great army.

[Yongxi 2, 10 February 533 – 29 January 534]

2nd Year, 2nd Month [11 March – 9 April], Dou Tai soon arrived at Erzhu Zhao's courtyard. Because of the feast, the army people were resting and careless, and did not see Tai's army, they were surprised and ran. He pursued and routed them at Chihong Peak. Zhao hanged himself. Shenwu personally presided over a substantial burial for him. Murong Shaozong, with Erzhu Rong's wife and children and the remaining multitudes guarded themselves at Wutu City. They surrendered. Shenwu, due to his righteousness in the past, waited on him with considerable lavishness.

At Shenwu's entry into Luo, Erzhu Zhongyuan's section subordinates, the Chief Controllers, Qiao Ning and Zhang Ziqi [came] from Huatai to revert to the instructions. Shenwu, since they had been aiding chaos, and moreover several had turn over and around, beheaded both of them. Husi Chun because that on the inside could not calm himself. Therefore, he and the King of Nanyang, Baoju, the General of Martial Guards, Yuan Pi, and Wei Guang and Wang Sizheng sowed discord between Shenwu and the Wei Emperor. The Retainer Yuan Shibi also memorialised that Shenwu when accepting directives was greatly disrespectful. For these reasons, the Wei Emperor was in two minds with [?] Heba Yue.

Earlier, in the time of Xiaoming [r. 515 – 528], downwards from Luo a pair of cymbals struck each other, a song told about it, saying:

When the copper cymbal strikes the iron cymbal, the House of Yuan's era is about to end.

Those who were fond of affairs considered the two cymbals[ba拔] to speak of the Tuoba [拓拔] and Heba [賀拔], and said it was an omen they together were about decline and fail.

At the time, the Minister of Works, Gao Qian secretly reported to Shenwu, and told him about the Wei Emperor's duplicity. Shenwu sent a sealed submission. The Wei Emperor killed him. He also dispatched the Inspector of Dongxu province, Pan Shaoye, to secretly direct the Grand Warden of Changle, Pang Cangying to order him to kill his younger brother Ang. Ang had previously heard his older brother had died. He used a lance to stab the pillar, hidden strong soldiers apprehended Shaoye on the road. He found the written directive in the collar of his long robes, and came running. Shenwu embraced his head, wept and said:

The Son of Heaven has unjustly murdered the Minister of Works!

He hurriedly made to use white military pennants to recompense his family adherents.

At the time Qian's second younger brother Shen was at Guang province, he was strict and stern in government affairs, also his accompanying section subordinates took and accepted [?]. The Wei Emperor sent to replace him. Zhen heard about the difficulties, and wanted to run to Liang. His adherents said:

Your Excellency's house's achievements are weighty, surely it is not [as good?] as [you] brothers catching up with each other.

He therefore wrecked his clothes and pushed forward a deer chariot to return home to Bohai. He happened to meet the messengers, that likewise came running. Hence there was a crack between the Wei Emperor and Shenwu.

The Azhiluo miscreants during the Zhengguang era [520 - 525] and earlier, had often declared themselves vassals. Since then the Wei court had had many affairs, and all of them rebelled. Shenwu dispatched messengers to recruit and receive them. They readily adhered earnestly. Before this, a decree, since the robbers and thieves had been pacified, abolished the Acting Tribunals. Reaching this point, since the [those with] different customs were reverting in surrender, again conferred on Shenwu Great Acting Tribunal. In the following moments their settlements were allotted.

Shenwu often gave them grain and silk, opinion considered it to be expenditure to no effect and without benefit, Shenwu did not agree, he consoled and comforted like before. Their chieftains, Tuchen and others [?], felt the kindness, all followed where he pointed and signalled. They saved Cao Nie, and took Moqi Shouluoyu, greatly collecting their employment.