#tuoba gu

[incorrectmedievalchina]

Murong Chui, negotiating with Tuoba Gui: We have Tuoba Gu. Give us ten thousand horses and he will be returned to you unharmed

Tuoba Gu: Whoa, whoa, wait, you think I’m only worth ten thousand horses?

Murong Chui:

Tuoba Gu: MAKE IT ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND–

Murong Chui: TUOBA GU STOP

[nemainofthewater]

Welcome to the 'Best Character with [X] surname' polls!

This is where I take several characters from different Chinese media (mostly cnovels and cdrama) and run a poll on which one is the 'best'. What does best mean? It's up to you! Whether you love them, are intrigued by their characters, love to hate them, or they're your '2 second blorbos whose personality you made up wholesale', these are all reasons for you to vote for your favs!

NB: the surnames are not exactly the same in all the cases, as often they will be a different character. I am, however, grouping them all together otherwise things got more complicated.

If you can't find a surname, it's because I couldn't find enough candidates (at least 3 from 3 distinct medias) to compete. Feel free to submit candidates!

I will be posting several polls at a time, so do come back and check this masterpost to remember which polls are ongoing, who the winners are, and who's coming up next!

Finished polls: Xing/Rong/Nan/Ren/Pan/Qu/Fu/Sui/Tan/You/Sima/Xuan/Chang/Xun/Shangguan/Jian/Qian/Shu/Xi/Yuwen/Cai/Sha/Yin/Ceng/Helian/Zeng/Lou/Mi/Ji/Ping/Tong/Tuoba/Ge/Murong/Hei/Niu/Tao/Si/Pang/Zi/Gongsun/Mao/Qing/Lian

Chi/Shan/Tian/Dao/Chao/Xin/Ran/Sang/Cang/Miao/Yao/Zang/Chong/Nangong/Kong/Hai/Deng/Kang/Jun/Chun/Gui/Peng/Gong/Dai/Bao/Bian/Leng/Xian/Kan/Hou/Shao/Kou/Zuo/Lai/Tie/Huan/Min/Xiong/Cen/Dou/Misc

There's only a certain number of hyperlinks that can be added per post, so the rest of the completed polls can now be found here

All the details of the individual polls under the readmore

An - posted 15/03/24 WINNER An Zhe

Bai - posted 28/02/24 WINNER Bai Fengxi

Baili - posted 22/03/24 WINNER Baili Qingmiao

Bao - posted 1/05/24 WINNER Bao Rongxing

Bi - posted 26/03/24 WINNER Bi Changfeng

Bian - posted 1/05/14 WINNER Bian Cheng

Cai - posted 7/04/24 WINNER Cai Quan

Cang - posted 23/04/24 WINNER Cang Jiumin

Cao - posted 8/02/24. WINNER - Cao Weining

Cen - posted 7/05/24 WINNEER Cen Xiao

Ceng - posted 8/04/24 WINNER Ceng Aiyu

Chang - posted 3/04/24 WINNER Chang Geng

Chao - posted 21/04/24 WINNER Chao Zi

Chen - posted 9/02/24 WINNER Chen Qingxu

Cheng - posted 10/03/24 WINNER Cheng Shaoshang

Chi - posted 19/04/24 WINNERS Chi Zhanggui and Chi Xiaochi

Chong - posted 25/04/24 WINNER Chong Ming

Chu - posted 12/03/24 WINNER Chu Wanning

Chun - posted 28/04/24 WINNER Chun Shen

Cui - posted 11/03/24 WINNER Madam Cui

Dai - posted 30/04/24 WINNER Dai Mubai

Dao - posted 20/04/24 WINNER Dao Mingsi

Deng - posted 27/04/24 WINNER Deng Kuan

Di - posted 16/02/24 WINNER Di Feisheng

Ding - posted 7/03/24 WINNER Ding Rong

Dong - posted 21/03/24 WINNER Dong Yi

Dongfang - posted 25/03/24 WINNER Dongfang Qingcang

Dou - posted 7/05/24 WINNER Dou Cheng

Du - posted 26/03/24 WINNER Du Cheng

Duan - posted 23/03/24 WINNER Duan Baiyue

Fan - posted 27/02/24 WINNER Fan Xian

Fang - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Fang Duobing

Fei - posted 20/03/24 WINNER Fei Du

Feng - posted 28/02/24 WINNER 'Other'

Fu - posted 31/03/24 WINNER Fu Yao

Gao - posted 13/02/24 WINNER Gao Xiaolian

Ge - posted 13/04/24 WINNER Ge Chen

Gong - posted 30/04/24 WINNER Gong Yu

Gongsun - posted 17/04/24 WINNER Gongsun Heng

Gu - posted 7/03/24 WINNER Gu Xiang

Guan - posted 17/03/24 WINNER Guan Hemeng

Gui - posted 29/04/24 WINNERS Gui Wen, Gui Yang, Gui Bai and 'Other'

Guo - posted 9/02/24 WINNER Guo Changcheng

Hai - posted 26/04/24 WINNER Hai Lanshi

Han - posted 17/03/24 WINNER Han Ying

Hao - posted 16/03/24 WINNER Hao Du

He - posted 22/03/24 WINNER He Xuan

Hei - posted 14/04/24 WINNER Hei Xiazi

Helian - posted 9/04/24 wINNER Helian Yi

Hong - posted 8/03/24 WINNER Hong Qigong

Hou - posted 3/05/24 WINNER Hou Bin

Hu - posted 6/03/24 WINNER Hu Tianying

Hua - posted 21/02/24 WINNER Hua Cheng

Huan - posted 6/05/24 WINNER Huan Xiaoyan

Huang - posted 20/03/24 WINNER Huang Shaotian

Huo - posted 25/02/24 WINNER Huo Xiuxiu

Ji - posted 11/04/24 WINNER Ji Xue

Jia - posted 18/03/24 WINNER Jia Kui

Jian - posted 4/04/24 WINNER Jian Buzhi

Jiang - posted 12/02/24 WINNER Jiang Cheng

Jiao - posted 27/03/24 WINNER Jiao Liqiao

Jin - posted 29/02/24 WINNER Jin Ling

Jing - posted 14/03/24 WINNER Jing Beiyuan

Jun - posted 28/04/24 WINNER 'Other"

Kan - posted 3/05/24 WINNER Kan Jian

Kang - posted 27/04/24 WINNER 'Other'

Kong - posted 26/04/24 WINNERS Kong Xiu and Alexis Kong

Kou - posted 4/05/24 WINNER Kou Baimen

Lai - posted 5/05/24 WINNER Lai Zhongshu

Lan - posted 23/02/24 WINNER Lan Wangji

Lei - posted 12/03/24 WINNER Lei Wujie

Leng - posted 2/05/24 WINNER Leng Yue

Li - posted 18/02/24 WINNER Li Lianhua

Lian - posted 18/04/24 WINNERS Lian Yufan and Lian Qiao

Liang - posted 13/03/24 WINNER 'Other'

Lin - posted 14/02/24 WINNER Lin Chen

Ling - posted 6/03/24 WINNER Ling Wen

Liu - posted 16/02/24 WINNER Liu Qingge

Long - posted 23/03/24 WINNER Long Zhi

Lou - posted 10/04/24 WINNER Lou Yao

Lu - posted 5/03/24 WINNER Lu Guang

Luo - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Luo Binghe

Ma - posted 13/03/24 WINNER Ma Xiuying

Mao - posted 17/04/24 WINNER Mao Panfeng

Mei - posted 14/02/24 WINNER Mei Changsu

Meng - posted 29/02/24 WINNER Meng Zhi

Mi - posted 10/04/24 WINER Mi Chong

Miao - posted 23/04/24 WINNER Miao Renfeng

Min - posted 6/05/24 WINNER Min Yunzhong

Ming - posted 26/02/24 WINNER Ming Yi

Misc - posted 7/05/24 WINNER Gongyi Xiao

Mo - posted 18/02/24 WINNER Mo Xuanyu

Mu - posted 22/02/24 WINNER Mu Nihuang

Murong - posted 13/04/24 WINNER Other

Nan - posted 29/03/24 WINNER Nan Feng

Nangong - posted 25/04/24 WINNER Nangong Si

Nie - posted 15/03/24 WINNER Nie Huaisang

Ning - posted 19/03/24 WINNER Ning Yingying

Niu - posted 14/04/24 WINNER Niu Chunmiao

Ouyang - posted 5/03/24 WINNER Ouyang Zizhen

Pan - posted 30/03/24 WINNER Pan Zi

Pang - posted 16/04/24 WINNER Pang Yizhi

Pei - posted 20/02/24 WINNER Pei Ming

Peng - posted 29/04/24 wINNER Peng Sanbian

Ping - posted 11/04/24 WINNER Ping An

Qi - posted 22/02/24 WINNER 'Other'

Qian - posted 5/04/24 WINNER Qian Jin

Qiao - posted 10/02/24 WINNER Qiao Wanmian

Qin - posted 16/03/24 WINNER Qin Banruo

Qing - posted 18/04/24 WINNER Qing Ge

Qiu - posted 25/03/24 WINNER Qiu Congxue

Qu - posted 30/03/24 WINNER Qu Lingfeng

Ran - posted 22/04/24 WINNERS Ran Lin and Ran Yun

Ren - posted 29/03/24 WINNER Ren Ruyi

Rong - posted 28/03/24 WINNER Rong Changqing

Ruan - posted 21/03/24 WINNER Ruan Nanzhu

Sang - posted 22/04/24 WINNER Sang Zan

Sha - posted 7/04/24 WINNER Sha Hualing

Shan - posted 19/04/24 WINNER Shan Gudao

Shang - posted 3/03/24 WINNER Shang Qinghua

Shangguan - posted 4/04/24 WINNER Shangguan Qin

Shao - posted 4/05/24 WINNER Shao Lin

Shen - posted 23/02/24 WINNER Shen Wei

Sheng - posted 4/03/24 WINNER Sheng Minglan

Sima - posted 2/04/24 WINNER Sima Yi

Shi - posted 8/03/24 WINNER Shi Qingxuan

Shu - posted 5/04/24 WINNER Shu Yanyan

Si - posted 15/04/24 WINNER Si Yilin

Song - posted 19/02/24 WINNER Song Lan

Su - posted 13/02/24 WINNER Su Zhe

Sun - posted 15/02/24 WINNER Sun Wukong

Sui - posted 31/03/24 WINNER Sui Zhou

Tan - posted 1/04/24 WINNER 'Other'

Tang - posted 12/02/24 WINNER Tang Fan

Tao - posted 15/04/24 WINNER Tao Ran

Tian - posted 20/04/24 WINNER Tian Qi

Tie - posted 5/05/24 WINNERS Tie Yinyi and Tie Miansheng

Tong - posted 12/04/24 WINNER Tong Lu

Tuoba - posted 12/04/24 WINNER Tuoba Yan

Wan - posted 24/03/24 WINNER Consort Wan

Wang - posted 26/02/24 WINNER Wang Pangzi

Wei - posted 8/02/24 WINNER Wei Wuxian

Wen - posted 2/03/24 WINNER Wen Kexing

Wu - posted 15/02/24 WINNER Wu Xie

Xi - posted 6/04/24 WINNER Xi Ping

Xia - posted 11/03/24 WINNER Xia Dong

Xian - posted 2/05/24 WINNERS Xian Ge and Xian Qing

Xiang - posted 19/03/24 WINNER Xiang Liu and Xiang Nanfang

Xiao - posted 20/02/24 WINNER Xiao Jingyan

Xie - posted 21/02/24 WINNER Xie Lian

Xin - posted 21/04/24 WINNER Xin Ziyuan

Xing - posted 28/03/24 WINNER Xing Zhi

Xiong - posted 7/05/24 WINNERS Xiong yipei and Xiong Chumo

Xu - posted 25/02/24 WINNER Xu Da

Xun - posted 3/04/24 WINNER Xun Feizhan

Xuan - posted 2/04/24 WINNER Xuan Shen'an | The Empress

Xue -posted 11/02/24 WINNER Xue Yang

Yan - posted 19/02/24 WINNER Yan Wushi

Yang - posted 3/03/24 WINNER Yang Wuxie

Yao - posted 24/04/24 WINNER Yao Zhen

Ye - posted 10/02/24 WINNER Ye Baiyi

Yi - posted 9/03/24 WINNER Yi Bichen

Yin - posted 8/04/24 WINNER Yin Yu

Ying - posted 17/02/24 WINNER Ying Hecong

You - posted 1/04/24 WINNER You Huo

Yu - posted 11/02/23 WINNER Yu Ziyuan

Yun - posted 1/03/24 WINNER Yun Biqiu

Yuan - posted 27/02/24 WINNER Yuan Boya

Yue - posted 4/03/24 WINNER Yue Qingyuan

Yuwen - posted 6/04/24 WINNER Yuwen Xuan

Zang - posted 24/02/24 WINNER Zang Ming

Zeng - posted 9/04/24 WINNER Zeng Xiangdong

Zhan - posted 10/03/24 WINNER Zhan Yunfei

Zhang - posted 17/02/24 WINNER Zhang Qiling

Zhao - posted 1/03/24 WINNER Zhao Yunlan

Zhen - posted 24/03/24 WINNER Zhen Ping

Zhi - posted 14/03/24 WINNER Zhi Xiu

Zhong - posted 27/03/24 WINNER Zhong Li

Zhou - posted 2/02/24 WINNER Zhou Zishu

Zhu - posted 9/03/24 Winner Zhu Hong

Zhuge - posted 18/03/24 WINNER Zhuge Liang

Zi - posted 16/04/24 WINNER 'Other'

Zuo - posted 5/05/24 WINNER Zuo Ran

[craftercat]

How did the Dai and Northern Wei dynasties operate their North and South departments?

During the time of Dai, the North and South departments were staffed with important tribal leaders, or "大人". In Tuoba Shiyijian's era, the leader of the North department was Tuoba Shiyijian's brother Tuoba Gu, and the leader of the South department was Tuoba Shiyijian's son Tuoba Shijun.

When Tuoba Gui restored Northern Wei, he kept the North and South departments, and these departments remained important even as he expanded the official system.

In 417, Tuoba Si created four additional main departments as well as the North and South departments. As well, he established three subordinate officials for the each member of the six departments.

[innerpalaces]

THE PRINCESS WEI YANG - 171 PART 2

CHAPTER 171: Spilt Water Cannot Be Recovered

Li Wei Yang said slowly: "Princess Pinting, you should help His Highness back. He is drunk."

The curtain was opened, and Princess Pinting stood outside the door. Her eyes met Tuoba Yu's, and she trembled a little for no reason. Then, she walked over quickly and wanted to help Tuoba Yu, but he waved her away: "Get out!"

Before Tuoba Yu came, he had already taken the antidote in advance, so that he could resist the aroma of the Ma Gu Powder. However, Princess Pinting changed the medicine and secretly sent it to Li Wei Yang. This obviously turned into a farce. Tuoba Yu really couldn't imagine where Princess Pinting had gotten such courage, and she actually dared to join forces with Li Wei Yang to deal with him!

Princess Pinting's beautiful face was filled with tears: "Your Highness, you are drunk, I will help you go back." When Tuoba Yu waved her away just now, his hand accidentally fell on the broken porcelain pieces, and left a bloody cut. But he was staring at her, and his eyes were as bright and quiet as the moonlight, but now they were full of hatred, and all that hatred was directed at Princess Pinting.

Pinting did this because she was worried that Tuoba Yu would be harmed. If he really did something irreversible, Li Wei Yang would not forgive him. If the matter got serious, it would only harm Tuoba Yu's reputation. Obviously, it took a lot of effort for him to get to this point, should she just watch everything about him be destroyed in one day? That's why she bribed the maid and secretly changed his medicine - she really didn't have a trace of selfishness. If Tuoba Yu liked any other woman in the world, she could bear the pain to let him marry her back, or even give her position away. But Li Wei Yang never liked him at all, and such reluctance would only make things worse! She had known clearly that doing this might arouse his resentment, but when faced with such a look, she was still so heartbroken that she couldn't even lift her head.

Li Wei Yang glanced at the two people, shook her head, and walked out of the door. The moment the curtain was lifted, Tuoba Yu looked at Li Wei Yang's back and suddenly laughed out loud: "Wei Yang, one day you will, after all, be mine! Even if you can refuse me, think about your mother and your brother, can they refuse?"

It was a threat, unabashed.

Li Wei Yang raised her lips and said, "It's hard to extricate yourself from love. Aren't you just using power to bully others and do whatever you want?"

If she is not strong enough, she will only be bullied and coerced.

Li Wei Yang turned back and looked at Tuoba Yu, with a completely unfamiliar, cold and decisive expression: "Your Highness, our covenant has been severed, and I will no longer be your friend!"

Tuoba Yu was stunned - she wanted to completely break with him and part ways?! He couldn't help but want to stand up, but he suddenly fell to the ground again. Pinting wanted to help him with tears in her eyes, but she didn't dare.

"Tuoba Yu, you'd better remember -" Li Wei Yang looked into his eyes coldly, "I don't like threats. Also, that position looks very close to you, but you will never be able to sit in it in your life. If you don't believe it, let's make a bet?"

As she said that, she smiled slightly, turned and left.

Tuoba Yu clenched his fist, Li Wei Yang, one day, I will make you surrender! One day, I will sit in that position!

Li Wei Yang went out and saw Zhao Yue rushing over with an anxious look on her face. She smiled and said: "No need to say it, I know everything."

Zhao Yue looked at Li Wei Yang up and down and said with concern: "Miss, are you okay?"

Li Wei Yang shook her head and said: "I'm okay, let's go."

"You aren't waiting for old master?" Zhao Yue was a little surprised.

"Him? He should be very drunk now, but he will wake up tomorrow morning." Li Wei Yang sneered and got on the carriage.

Early the next morning, Li Xiaoran saw Tuoba Yu in front of the imperial palace and wanted to go up to say hello. However, Tuoba Yu was surrounded by a group of fawning ministers. He couldn't say anything at all. Thinking of yesterday's failure, there was a wave of anxiety in his heart. This time at the imperial court, the Emperor summoned all the officials in the capital to attend. This must be to announce the candidate for crown prince!

If Tuoba Yu becomes the crown prince today, it will be even harder to please him in the future! Wei Yang, this damn girl, was truly a failure! He thought like this, looking at the confident smile on Tuoba Yu's face, he couldn't help but become even more angry with Li Wei Yang. If the old madam hadn't taken Minzhi back to her hometown to visit relatives a month ago, he would have forced the old lady to discipline that girl!

On the dragon throne, the Emperor sat majestically. After paying tribute to the monarch and his ministers, King Chaoyang stepped forward with a smile and said: "Your Majesty, the position of the crown prince has been vacant for a while now, which may shake the country's foundation. The candidate for the crown prince should be determined as soon as possible!" He is Tuoba Yu's father-in-law, of course he hopes that the Emperor will canonize the title and announce it to the world as soon as possible, so that his precious daughter will become a crown princess.

The Emperor glanced at Tuoba Yu. His face was very respectful, his attitude was neither arrogant nor impetuous, neither humble nor overbearing, but he could not hide the determination in his eyes. The Emperor sneered in his heart and slowly said: "I had the same intention a long time ago."

All civil and military officials in the dynasty knelt down to listen to the order, and the momentum was overwhelming. The eunuch in charge of the ceremony held out an imperial edict. Tuoba Yu looked at it and showed a smile. Wei Yang, did you see it? I will be the crown prince soon. Can you reject me? Can you resist the Emperor's order and God's will?

"The Emperor's edict is carried out by heaven: I ascended the throne when I was young, and it has been more than ten spring and autumn years since then. Unfortunately, as I get older, I fear it will not be long before I will be unable to attend to state affairs. In order to prevent the country from being without a master, in memory of the emergence of many good heirs and talented people in the nation, I have established a crown prince to consolidate the foundation of the country. The eighth son of the Emperor, Tuoba Cong, is handsome, dedicated to learning, possesses talents, and has a noble character. I canonize him now. Tuoba Cong is the crown prince, and all the princes and ministers are to assist him to strengthen the government. I also grant the title of Auxiliary Duke to Ji Kang, and also give him the title of Mentor to the young crown prince, to assist the crown prince with all his strength!"

Everyone was completely stunned. They looked at the Eighth Prince, who had always been inconspicuous, and Ji Kang, the elder brother of Consort Rou, who was always taciturn in the court. The two of them came out of the crowd and accepted the imperial edict with a smile. In shock, the hall fell into deathly silence.

King Chaoyang and Li Xiaoran were stunned when they heard the words "eighth son". When they heard the last words, they couldn't even close their mouths. Tuoba Yu, on the other hand, knelt on the spot in shock. Before he could put away the smile on his face, his father actually passed the throne to the Eighth Prince, his younger brother, who had never been outstanding! Seeing Tuoba Cong thanking him and seeing the fatherly smile on the Emperor's face, Tuoba Yu felt as if he was struck by lightning and couldn't believe such a fact! Why? How come! What on earth is this——

In a flash, he understood everything. The Emperor kept watching them fight with each other, but he himself continued to take back power from them, from the 200,000 soldiers to the power to directly dispatch the imperial army, and even included the 500,000 troops in the hands of Duke Jiang! It's all an act! Over the years, the Emperor has been doting on him, giving him hope, making him think that he is deeply favored, and making the Crown Prince and Tuoba Zhen full of jealousy. But in fact, although the Emperor likes him, but the person he likes more is the Eighth Prince! Therefore, he watched them fight each other, and even deliberately gave the 200,000 troops to him to provoke all kinds of crazy fights. However, no matter what they did, the Eighth Prince never participated and just stood by. On the side, he pretended to be a weak prince and watched quietly!

A scene from his childhood suddenly flashed through his mind. At that time, he once saw his father holding Consort Rou and sitting in the pavilion. There was no maid around. They were talking, and Consort Rou called his father's name. This memory is very vague, but for some reason now it emerges clearly. He finally understood why his father suddenly neglected Consort Rou after she was persecuted. He finally understood why Consort Rou remained standing despite all the changes in the palace. Because His Majesty's most beloved woman is Consort Rou! And the son he most hopes to ascend to the throne is Tuoba Cong! It's ridiculous, these people are fighting with their lives, but they are just preparing for Tuoba Cong's ascension to the throne! Previously, his father kept Tuoba Zhen alive in order to use up his last bit of value. If he really wanted to pass the throne to him, how could The Emperor let him bear the infamy of persecuting his siblings.

His hands were already stained with blood, but his eighth imperial brother was clean and spotless from beginning to end, silently learning the way of an Emperor to become soverign! The Emperor himself ascended by fighting his way to the throne, but when it came to his heir, he was cared for and protected in every possible way! Everything was foreshadowed a long time ago, but he was too impatient and stupid, and ignored the truth right in front of him! Ha, ha, ha, it's so ridiculous, it's simply – so ridiculous! Tuoba Yu's body swayed and he almost fainted. The smell of blood surged in his throat. He gritted his teeth and held it back so as not to spit it out on the spot.

In his chaotic mind, he suddenly remembered what Li Wei Yang said yesterday.

She said that although he was very close to that seat, it was a pity that he would never be able to sit on it!

It turned out that she had always known that he was a chess piece, but the person playing chess was the Emperor!

No, it should be said that he thought she had won over Consort Rou. Now it seems that Li Wei Yang's real ally is the Emperor——

Everyone stepped forward to congratulate Tuoba Cong. No matter how surprised they were, they had to accept this fact. Because Tuoba Yu no longer has imperial favor, he only has the 200,000 people from Duke Luo. But the Eighth Prince's sister, the Ninth Princess, is about to marry into the Luo family. Would Duke Luo be willing to rebel and support Tuoba Yu? It was absolutely impossible – thus, victory and defeat had been decided. Tuoba Yu instantly fell from his peak state of power to the ground. Not only that, he had lost, and there was no chance for him to make a comeback! The officials who were trying to curry favor with him a moment ago all rushed forward to curry favor with the new crown prince! And in the crowd, Tuoba Cong had a gentle smile on his face. However, his sharp facial features were exactly the same as the Emperor's.

Tuoba Yu's heart was full of hatred. He hated the Emperor, he also hated Li Wei Yang, and the person he hated even more was himself. He wanted to restrain himself, but his eyesight turned dark and his body was shaky. Li Wei Yang, Li Wei Yang, it turns out that your revenge is waiting here, for me to taste the feeling of falling from the clouds to hell without any effort, but I can't even say a word, because all this is my own choice! You are so cruel-hearted!

"Your Highness, you should go up and congratulate the Eighth Prince, no, it's the Crown Prince!" After all, King Chaoyang is very cunning. The Eighth Prince has just ascended to the position of Crown Prince, but there will be opportunities in the future, so there is no need to be so anxious. However, when he reminded Tuoba Yu, he saw that his face was extremely pale and frightening, and he quickly said: "Your Highness?!"

Tuoba Yu finally spurted out a mouthful of blood, and Chaoyang King was extremely shocked. However, Tuoba Yu covered his chest and suddenly laughed wildly——

On the carriage, Li Wei Yang looked in the direction of the capital and sighed. She didn't want Tuoba Yu to be embarrassed, although she always knew the Emperor's thoughts. In the past, Tuoba Zhen also understood the Emperor's thoughts after getting rid of the Crown Prince and Tuoba Yu. However, he chose to get rid of the Eighth Prince as well. This was because his heart was cold enough and he had never been decieved by the Emperor's fatherly love, so he didn't care and could plan to remove the fledgling Eighth Prince before the Emperor appointed him as  Crown Prince. But Tuoba Yu didn't know how to do it. He was too aloof and proud. Such a personality was inextricably related to the Emperor's deliberate cultivation. The biggest difference between him and Tuoba Zhen is that he cannot withstand so many failures, nor can he withstand so many deceptions, especially from the Emperor, his deeply respected father, the person he thought truly loved him.

Just like Consort Lian, who was favored by thousands of people. She must have never imagined that she was just a shield used by the Emperor to protect Consort Rou, just like the beloved concubines who disappeared in the past. In this world, everyone is trying their best to protect the one they love, but Tuoba Yu didn't expect that he was not the one being protected and loved.

"Miss, do we have to leave the capital?" Zhao Yue asked puzzledly, "We can bring the old madam and the young master back!"

Li Wei Yang smiled softly and said: "A cunning rabbit will die, and a dog will be cooked. Is this road aimed at others? His Majesty had long since noticed my father's actions. He wouldn't like this sort of fair weather minister, so this prime minister had already reached the end of his usefulness. Why should we be tied to him and suffer together?"

Zhao Yue was surprised and said: "Miss, did you ask the old madam to go back to her hometown to visit relatives because of-"

Li Wei Yang slowly looked at the scenery outside the window and said: "I hope they are safe." The old madam, Tan Shi, and Minzhi are all her relatives, but she has always kept a distance from them, for fear that because of her, someone will hurt them. But from now on, she can take good care of them without having to worry so much, Li Wei Yang thought and couldn't help but laugh. She had left a code message for Minde, asking him to come to her after handling matters, and she would be waiting. Yes, so many years have passed, and there will no longer be entanglement with sadness and despair. In front of them are ordinary and beautiful times, right?

The carriage drove for two full days before arriving at the courtyard that Li Wei Yang had prepared. Zhao Nan said from outside: "Miss, we're here."

Li Wei Yang got off the carriage and walked quickly to the courtyard, but when she reached the door, she suddenly stopped. Zhao Yue quickly followed and saw the scene in the yard. Then, she was stunned, and she shouted loudly: "Brother, big brother!"

Zhao Nan sensed that something was wrong and dashed over. When he looked at the scene inside the door, he saw Bai Zhi's corpse and blood all over the ground. Li Weiyang clenched her fists as she walked into the courtyard. Bai Zhi, Mo Zhu, and Luo Mama were all the people she was most familiar with. In the room, the old madam lady sat stiffly on her seat. Her chest had been penetrated by a sharp knife, while Tan Shi and Min Zhi were nowhere to be seen. Li Wei Yang covered her eyes with her hands, and tears flowed silently from between her fingers. She had never cried before. No matter how painful it was, no matter how difficult the road was, she was fearless, but now - She turned around suddenly and rushed out quickly, opening room after room, but she couldn't find Tan Shi or Minzhi. Those memories came back all of a sudden.

"Sister--" Minzhi called her affectionately before sending them away.

But she only glanced at him coldly, turned to Tan Shi and said, "Mother, take care of yourself."

Tan Shi looked at her daughter reluctantly and said, "You really don't want to go with us?"

She shook her head, but suddenly she found that her skirt was being pulled by someone. She lowered her head and the chubby Minzhi hugged her leg. Tan Shi was afraid that she would be angry and quickly came to pull him away, but Minzhi just held onto her skirt and burst into tears. A big piece fell down. She was clearly soft-hearted at that time, but she refused to coax him, and gently pushed him away. However, he accidentally fell to the ground and cried loudly. She bent down to hug him, but he suddenly stopped crying and hugged her neck. His body was still twitching and tears flashed in his eyes, but he didn't cry or make a fuss. She wiped his tears. Finally, she said cruelly: "If you continue to cry, sister will never visit you again."

However, Minzhi still clung to her and refused to let go. Tan Shi couldn't bear to see Li Wei Yang troubled anymore, so she finally took him away. She looked back at Wei Yang with red eyes: "We are waiting for you to come -"

Li Wei Yang nodded and looked at the old madam on the carriage not far away. The old madam just smiled faintly at her. She had passed the age where she could shed tears freely, but she was still smart and wise. When she heard Li Wei Yang begging them to leave the capital, she knew that things were about to change. Li Xiaoran was too stubborn. In order to preserve the last bit of blood of the Li family, the old madam had to make a decision.

The curtain fell, and the faces of relatives could no longer be seen...Li Wei Yang thought they would see each other again soon.

She didn't expect that God would give her a fatal blow when she was happiest.

Finally finding her mother's room, Li Wei Yang pushed it open. Tan Shi was lying on the ground and had stopped breathing. There was still a lingering smell of blood between the couches in the room. There is a shawl lying half on the table. It is brand new and embroidered with silk and bamboo. Madam Tan said that she would make a shawl for her to use in winter to keep her warm.

Li Wei Yang was startled and stumbled unconsciously. The threshold was so low, but it tripped her. A little more, and there she is... She stretched out her hand forward, and the moment her fingertips were almost touching Tan Shi's face, her limbs felt like they were filled with lead water and couldn't move, and the next moment she fell limp to the ground - so miserable, so unbearable. ——she couldn't stand up no matter what.

Zhao Yue also burst into tears and tried her best to help her, but for some reason, Li Wei Yang seemed to have no strength and Zhao Yue could not help her up at all. Zhao Yue was horrified. She had never seen the young lady like this. No matter what happened, she was always so calm and composed. But now, she seemed to be about to collapse——

"Miss—" Zhao Yue called her in fear.

Li Wei Yang remained motionless, as if she had forgotten to shed tears.

Zhao Yue called Li Wei Yang repeatedly, but she never spoke. Zhao Yue's heart suddenly fell into bottomless darkness. Is the lady——?

At this moment, there was a sudden voice that made Li Wei Yang's expression change.

"It's crying! It's Minzhi's crying! Isn't it! Zhao Yue, did you hear it?! It's Minzhi!" Li Wei Yang suddenly stood up, as if she suddenly came to life again, she held onto Zhao Yue's hand tightly, asking forcefully.

Zhao Yue was startled. She looked around, but she didn't see the young master at all: "Miss... maybe..." Maybe you heard wrong, but she didn't dare to say this.

Li Wei Yang let go of her and began to search everywhere, as if she was crazy. Zhao Yue looked on  worriedly, thinking that Li Wei Yang could not bear the blow. However, in the end, Li Wei Yang finally found him hidden in the corner of the rockery. She rushed over and hugged the shivering child, "Minzhi! Minzhi!"

Zhao Yue looked in surprise. She glanced at Zhao Nan, and both of them had incredulous expressions in their eyes. The fourth young master actually hid in the rockery. How could this happen? Judging from the corpses, the killers had been gone for a day and a night. Could it be that Minzhi had been hiding here and not moving at all?

Li Minzhi's small body was covered with many stains, and his big black eyes were full of tears. The moment he saw Li Wei Yang, there was no fluctuation in his gaze. He was still careful, crying softly, and hugging himself into a ball. Li Wei Yang hugged him tightly, as if holding the most precious treasure, Minzhi, Minzhi, fortunately you are alive, thank you for being alive——

A drop of tears fell from her closed eyes, until the tears finally filled her face. She only had Zhao Yue and Zhao Nan. All other guards were sent here to protect them, but they still couldn't protect them. Why, who is it? Who on earth killed the old madam and her biological mother!

Yuan Lie rode a fast horse all the way into the manor, rushing back like a fierce wind in such a hurry, he didn't even care about his injuries. In order to assassinate Duke Jiang, he worked hard and added countless wounds to his body, but so what, as long as he made Wei Yang happy, no matter how many injuries he suffered, he could save his life and come back to see her! Originally he was going all the way to the capital, but after he got the news, he immediately turned around and headed all the way to this secret villa. However, the moment he dismounted, he saw Zhao Nan kneeling on the ground. Immediately, he felt a bad premonition in his heart. He was more frightened than he had ever been before, and he couldn't even care about the surprise: "What happened!"

"Miss... Miss took the fourth young master away... I have searched all places around here, and even went back to the capital to inquire, but... found nothing... No one knows where Miss has gone -" Zhao Nan's face was full of guilt and remorse. After the accident, the young lady seemed to calm down and took care of the fourth young master wholeheartedly. He thought that the young lady had accepted things, so he relaxed his vigilance. He should have thought that under Li Wei Yang's calm appearance, she must have been determined to find the enemy who killed the old madam and her mother! And Zhao Yue was nowhere to be found, she must have followed her! He is really useless, he can't even guard such a big living person!

At this moment, Zhao Nan didn't even dare to raise his head to look at his master's face.

She left.

She didn't even wait for him to come back——

At that moment, Yuan Lie was so cold that he was trembling all over. He knew that she had left him and walked away, but he still couldn't bear to let go. Slowly, he curled up the corners of his mouth and gradually showed a smile. He looked firmly into the unknown distance, his dark eyes undulating, and his voice full of tenderness: "Wei Yang, I will find you, no matter where you are -"

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[cantalooprat]

Dinghai Fusheng Lu

What I Liked

the plot the character dynamics the romance the Pining and Yearning and Pain,,,,,, i thought i was gna get some fun kooky adventure abt saving the world not an Epic Adventure infused with Extensive Slow Burn and a generous helping of Angst

goddamn the nonconfession quotes this wn in general is so quotable and the tl is so beautiful to read

in general xiang shu/chen xing as a cp is so... sigh their dynamics, the way they banter and argue and get to know each other and eventually fall in love, ughhh the secret that chen xing kept abt his lifespan, how he was holding back from falling in love bc he couldn't just leave xiang shu behind, how xiang shu so desperately tried to keep chen xing alive, the i love you that's said in between the lines but never aloud, the moonshell bracelets... THE SLEDDING............ im so sad i love them shuxing invented love

the fact that this wn is literally one of those isekai style regression plot that goes "when chen xing woke up, he found himself 3 years before his death, on the journey to save the world... can he gather his companions and save all those he cared about? can he finally be lovey dovey with his martial god protector??" except it spends 2/3 of the story injecting the readers with Pain of the first cycle before the second cycle comes...

somewhere around the first half i was like, so this is what romantic joongdok is like huh. bc they rly gave that sort of vibe. the mc who puts the world above himself, who keeps running around? disappearing? and whenever he disappears it puts the ml in a frenzy lmao. and the ml, taciturn and tsundere but cares abt the mc beyond what words can describe. chen xing will light up the whole world with the heart lamp but chen xing himself is the light of xiang shu's world /crying

oh man the chars... tuoba yan my sweet eternal 2ml... xiao shan, shuxing's adopted son... xie an who i was rly sus abt but he lowkey became one of the best n most reliable team member, we stan an actual functioning adult... feng qianjun who rly impressed me when he chose gu qing over princess qinghe... everyone is so good!! characterized so well!!

i like that the main story basically ended w the implication that shuxing r undergoing their three-month long honeymoon in the middle of the wilderness which they will spend to bone for every. single. day.

What I Disliked

ok i do love happy endings but even i have to admit the regression was quite an asspull lmao

Quotes

"...It's truly a pity that thousands of years later, the seas have become mulberry fields, and though the land has not changed, the people have long since disappeared." (has big "osmanthus wine tastes the same as i remember but where are those who share the memories" vibes 💀 this is a sad quote but i cant help it...)

"...stay with me, and let's finish this journey, and I'll forever remember... in this world, there is someone who cares so much about me he would call in all of his friends and scatter away all of his family fortune... just so I can keep on living, and stay by my side." "I will also remember, that in this world, there was once someone... who was willing to burn up all of his mortal and immortal souls just to become a blazing lamp that shines gloriously upon this world." (ch 86)

"Let's go. Don't care about it anymore. Tomorrow, no matter what happens to the Central Plains, don't care about it anymore. Nod, and I'll take you away. Do you want to go?"

"The wind will still, and the snow will melt... Where you are is my place of solace." (ch 120)

Notes

have not had a quotes section in a long long while but i can't help it, some lines r just /chef's kiss

i should've screenshotted the quotes for easier archiving...

also keeping title as dinghai fusheng lu vs record bc tianbao is also lu n i like keeping things consistent lmao

[craftercat]

While the whole thing with Tuoba Gui and Tuoba Gu and Tuoba Shiyijian is confusing, the solution that Princess Helan married Tuoba Shiyijian is a more simple solution. It would explain the contradiction of Tuoba Han fathering a son after 371 when he was supposed to be long dead. And it would also explain why the southerners got confused and thought that Tuoba Gui was Tuoba Shiyijian's son - if he was both Tuoba Shiyijian's grandson and step-son.

And while the succession of Tuoba Gui is messy, I see no problem with Tuoba Si being Tuoba Gui's eldest son. The Songshu made many errors in Tuoba genealogy, so I don't see why it must be correct. And after looking at the historical account of his parents' marriage, I see no problem with this account either. Taking the cousin of Liu Xian as a concubine could have helped to integrate Liu Xian's followers into government beyond mere trophy-taking.

As well, I found it pretty clear in the Weishu that Tuoba Si was the intended heir, even before the incident of his mother's death. When Tuoba Gui gave his children titles, Tuoba Si was the only one created nominal prime minister in addition to their other titles. As well, the events surrounding the birth of Tuoba Dao seem to indicate that Tuoba Gui intended for him to be heir, such as his night summon to Tuoba Yi, who could have been a contender in his own right. I think he summoned Tuoba Yi at night to "test" Tuoba Yi's loyalty to the young heir.

The incident of his mother's death and Tuoba Si's escape from the palace is more messy than Tuoba Si's position as Tuoba Gui's heir, but to be honest I don't see a contradiction there either. I'm probably going to go into more detail in another article, but we know that there were omens as early as 404 that were interpreted by the court to signal the death of a important woman, and later these omens were interpreted to have signaled Lady Liu's death. While you don't have to take the "divination predicted everything" stories too seriously, the presence of three different divinations later linked to Lady Liu's death could suggest some kind of planning behind this death, that Tuoba Gui could have intended to have used them as extra justification.

The origin of the tradition of killing the mother of the crown prince are murky. The Weishu claims this to be an old tradition, but I don't believe this explanation. There are no women who are said to have died to this tradition before Lady Liu, so it was likely created in the Northern Wei era. The Nanqishu blames this tradition on Tuoba Si, but looking at the timeline, I don't think that Tuoba Si engaged in this tradition at all, let alone starting it. The Nanqishu makes even more errors than Songshu on Northern Wei history, and it's a southern account written more than a hundred years after Tuoba Si's death, so I don't see it is being very reliable. For it to be an "old tradition" it can't have started from Tuoba Jun or later, so I do see Tuoba Gui as being the most likely starting point. Tuoba Gui was known for his paranoia in his later years, and his mother's tribe had helped him a lot in his rise to power, so it makes sense for him to start the tradition.

I also don't see a real reason for Tuoba Si to have changed history in such a major way. When in Liu-Song, Liu Shao killed Liu Yilong, Liu Jun was the third son and killed both his older brothers to claim the throne. But Liu Shao was still hated enough by the time of Songshu to have his biography be in the Biography of the Two Murderers, the final biography of the Songshu. Liu Shao was clearly the intended heir, but his reign was considered illegitimate as he killed his father. From the depictions of Tuoba Liuxiu and Tuoba Shijun, we can see that Northern Wei had a similar view on patricide. So I think that even if Tuoba Shao were the intended heir, that his patricide of Tuoba Gui would invalidate his claim and make him illegitimate in the eyes of society. So Tuoba Si wouldn't need to alter records so radically.

I'll have to discuss Tuoba Gui's early years and Tuoba Si's early years in separate articles, because both of their formative years were difficult for them but are interesting to look into. But I don't see any significant problems in the official record of Tuoba Si's early years that must be corrected. However, the details of Tuoba Shao's downfall are rather vague, but I don't see how changing Tuoba Si's birth order fixes this. It takes a lot of effort to alter records in such a major way, and given Tuoba Shao's patricide, I don't see Tuoba Si receiving significant gain from doing so - Tuoba Si's killing of Tuoba Gui had already delegitimised him in the eyes of society. And I haven't really seen reputable people raising significant doubts about Tuoba Si's succession - it's most likely internet speculation, and there are a specific subset of history fans who get wrapped up in speculation and historical revisionism claims.

What's your opinion on 'revisionist' takes surrounding Tuoba Gui and Tuoba Si? For example, the claim that Tuoba Gui was actually Tuoba Shiyijian's son and falsified his age. And there have been opinions I've seen that Tuoba Si fabricated the cause of his mother's death, changed his name for legitimacy, and that Tuoba Shao was the intended heir.

There does seem to something odd going on with Tuoba Gui and his supposed cousins, but I'm not sure changing his age is the solution. I think that just creates new problems. I like better the suggestion that Shiyijian married Gui's widowed mother in some kind of levirate arrangement.

Events surrounding Tuoba Si's succession to the throne are a bit murky, but I'm not sure if the alternative theories really go beyond speculation. Speculation is fun of course.

[siumerghe]

The lineage of the Tang imperial house and its problems

By the time of the Sui-Tang era, a person’s culture played a more important role than his race. The ethnic origin of the Yang (楊) clan of the Sui and the Li clan of the Tang did not have much to do with their policies. They might well have descended from prominent Han families, but it is certain that these clans, a few generations back from the dynastic founders, had lived in the Wuchuan garrison, north of Yinshan (陰山) mountain for quite a long period of time. This historical fact seems to have given rise to the suspicion that the Sui and Tang imperial houses were of barbarian origin. 

The suspicion about the origin of the Li clan had existed from the very beginning of the dynasty, because they had once had the hu surname Daye (大野). The Buddhist monk Falin (法琳) declared before Taizong that the Tang imperial house originated from Xianbei Tuoba Dadu (達闍 i.e., Li in Chinese) which was a noble scion of Yinshan, i.e., a barbarian lineage. Although Taizong reprimanded Falin, during the war of unification an enemy, Dan Xiongxin (單雄信), called Taizong’s brother Yuanji (元吉) a hu child, and a Tang minister Sun Fuqie (孫伏伽) let slip that when Gaozu Li Yuan was a child his friends were all queue-haired because the royal family was deeply imbued with hu custom. 

The in-laws of the royal family were completely of the hu line. Li Yuan’s mother was a daughter of Dugu Xin (獨孤信), the Grand Marshal of the Northern Zhou, and a sister of Empress Dugu of Emperor Wen of the Sui, making Li Yuan nephew-in-law to Yang Jian (楊堅) and maternal cousin of Emperor Yang (煬帝). Li Yuan married the daughter of Dou Yi (竇毅), who was of the Xianbei line and a prefectural commander of the Sui. The mother of Empress Dou was the elder sister of Emperor Wu of the Northern Zhou, Senior Princess Xiangyang (襄陽長公主).

The lifestyles of Taizong and his crown prince Chengqian (承乾) were not much different from those of the hu people. During the incident of Xuanwu Gate (玄武門), Taizong killed his younger brother Yuanji and made Princess Yang, Yuanji’s wife, his own; Zhu Xi’s remark on this behavior is well known. Chengqian followed hu custom as well. He stole and slaughtered cattle and horses, and acted like a Turk qaghan, eating with his guards, wearing Turkic clothes, and speaking Turkic. 

During Zhenguan period when the Tang royal ancestral temple was being set up, the ministers were discussing who should be the progenitor, and Yu Zhining (于志寧) objected to the suggestion that it be Li Gao (李暠). If Li Gao was their true ancestor, why would the early Tang emperors not want the family of Li Bao of Longxi (隴西), who were descendants of Li Gao, included in the imperial clan lineage? And why did Gaozong further lower the family rank of Li Bao? Thus it has been argued that the ancestors of the Tang imperial house must have been a degraded household of the Lis of Zhaojun (趙郡), or had just borrowed the surname of Li of Zhaojun [Li of Zhaojun - one of the Four Great families of Shandong, very influential in the beginning of the Tang era]. Given the fact that Gaozong suppressed Li Bao and did not honor the lineage of Zhaojun Lis, it is most likely that the actual pedigree of the Tang imperial house was quite different from what it claimed to be and that it was ethnically non-Han Chinese.

The Tang was ruled by the Han people in name, but in reality was a multi-racial regime, so the Sui-Tang dynasty was still seen as a Xianbei state by the nomads of Eurasia or the people from the western regions, and Tang was called Taugas, Tamhaj, or Tabgaĉ which stood for Tuoba. The dynasties from the Dai (代) through Northern Wei and on to the Tang are separate according to the Chinese-style names for dynasties, but in fact form a continuous Tuoba state. Considering the continuity and commonality between these dynasties, placing them under the single heading of the Tuoba state seems appropriate. In this aspect, westerners from the fifth to the ninth century who called China Taugas, Tamhaj, or Tabgaĉ, were closer to the truth. Taizong’s acquisition of the title “Heavenly Qaghan” after the destruction of the Eastern Turks, Gaozong’s being addressed thus by nomadic rulers, and the fact that the majority of the early Sui-Tang imperial clan and high officials came from the military leaders of northern tribesmen, all provide further support to the Tuoba state argument.

Fabricating history and the rise of the zhonghua sovereign 

The imperial houses of Sui and Tang saw themselves as traditional Han Chinese, although they were genetically descendants of nomadic tribesmen such as the Xianbei and others. But no matter how they identified themselves and their dynasties, few saw them and their dynasties as purely Han Chinese. It is clear now that the Li house of the Tang did not descend from a renowned clan, even if they had been Han Chinese. 

Why then did the Tang imperial house want to fabricate a lineage to appear as if it had been one of the renowned Han aristocratic clans? Throughout Chinese history, a certain degree of sinicization has been necessary for anyone or anything alien to come to China and earn a place there. This was the case for Buddhism as well as Nestorian Christianity, but this did not mean they ceased to be Buddhism or Christianity. In addition to the issue of sinicization, the Wei-Jin-Northern and Southern Dynasties era was an age of pedigree. 

Chen Yinke (陳寅恪) has raised questions about Taizong’s re-publication of the History of the Jin and his ordering the writing of The Record of Clans and Lineages in the Zhenguan Reign Period (Zhenguan shizu zhi 貞觀氏族志), suggesting that the motive behind the omission, among the Sixteen Kingdoms, of Former Liang (前涼) and Western Liang (西涼) from the History of the Jin was the same as that behind The Record of Clans and Lineages in the Zhenguan Reign Period: namely to exalt the Li clan of the Tang and prove that they had a long and glorious pedigree. Many dynastic histories were written during Taizong’s reign; these were generally dynastic histories from after the era of the Three Kingdoms or from the History of the Jin, now re-written to conform to Tang legitimacy. The Tang imperial house strove to dispel the doubt that they originated from the Xianbei Tuoba tribe, and influenced the planning and compilation of dynastic histories, sometimes even down to the wording of the contents. 

First, let us look at the chronological records (zaiji 載記) of the History of the Jin. There are thirty chapters of chronological records in the book. The name originated from The Eastern Watch Records of the Han (Dongguan Hanji 東觀漢記), written by Ban Gu (班固) under order of Emperor Ming, and the number of thirty chapters seems to have been taken from the thirty chapters of biographies of feudal lords and eminent people (shijia 世家) in The Records of the Grand Historian. While the shijia is a record for each feudatory, the zaiji is a chronicle for the independent political entities in China which were not enfeoffed by the Chinese emperor. By including the Sixteen Kingdoms with the zaiji, Taizong set them in a different category and treated them as extraneous to the legitimate Jin dynasty, clearly taking the Han Chinese attitude of degrading alien regimes. 

The source for Taizong’s History of the Jin was The Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms by Cui Hong of the Northern Wei, and in this book one record was devoted to each state; notably, though, two states which were recorded in the Annals were omitted in the zaiji of the History of the Jin. They are Former Liang (301–76), which was established by a Han Chinese, Zhang Gui (張軌) of Anding (安定), and which occupied the Hexi corridor (河西回廊), and Western Liang (400–421) which was established by Li Gao of Longxi. The latter was the person later manipulated to become the ancestor of the Tang imperial house, and omitting him and his state was surely Taizong’s intention. 

Another example is the compilation of the History of the Southern Dynasties (南史) and the History of the Northern Dynasties (北史), which concealed two underlying intentions. The first was to tie the Southern Dynasties (南朝) and Northern Dynasties (北朝) into one term, the Southern and Northern Dynasties (南北朝). If Taizong had truly been in favor of the Han Chinese point of view, he could have given legitimacy to the Southern Dynasties; but he could not ignore his own racial origins in the Northern Dynasties, and thus merging the two was the better option. Second, by including the Sui dynasty, the unifier of China, among the Northern Dynasties, he wanted to minimize the credit they received for having accomplished that unification. 

Many histories were published in the early Tang. Taizong’s reign saw the compilation of the so-called History of the Five Dynasties, namely History of the Liang, History of the Chen, History of the Northern Qi, History of the Zhou, History of the Sui, and in 646 History of the Jin (these six historical works are known as the Six Histories). Then, during Gaozong’s reign, still under the shadow of Taizong, the History of the Southern Dynasties and the History of the Northern Dynasties were completed. Among the twenty-four histories that are considered official dynastic histories, eight—a third of the total—were published at this time. Taizong had opened up a new era in Chinese history publication by beginning the tradition of government-sponsored official history, and also by permitting the incumbent emperor to inspect the records about himself, something that had previously been forbidden, and giving instructions on how to write about the incident of Xuanwu Gate.

Taizong’s manipulation of history was along the same lines as Gao Huan (高歡) of the Northern Qi, who distorted history and transformed his family into the renowned Bohai Gao clan; but it was successful. Tang monarchs managed to transform themselves from racially and culturally hu rulers into zhonghua emperors to such an extent that people of later times accept without doubt that the Tang was a legitimate Chinese dynasty. 

Taizong’s satisfaction with the effectiveness of official histories is manifest in the edict ordering the re-publication of History of the Jin: “How great is the usefulness of historical books!”

Source:  From Barbarians to the Middle Kingdom: The Rise of the Title “Emperor, Heavenly Qaghan” and Its Significance by Han-je Park http://cces.snu.ac.kr/data/publications/jces3_2park.pdf

[wikiplanetblog-blog]

Black Giant: Fighting against Huaxin Boss

Black Giant: Fighting against Huaxin Boss Other Title: Fight Against playboy boss

Author: Tuoba Ruirui Genre: novel, serial, romance Release:  Chapter:

Description: In the Wu family, Master Lian knows no one, no one knows. In Wu Shi, Master Lian said you were wrong, then you are wrong. In Wu, don’t mess with Master Lian, otherwise, there will be only one word in the end-death. And Gu Xiaochen is very…

[craftercat]

There are two alternatives as to the history of Emperor Daowu of Northern Wei, one stating he was the son Tuoba Shi and Lady he or Tuoba Shiyijian and Princess Murong. Which one do you most subscribe too?

I will probably make an article at some point on this matter. The official history is the more popular version, but there are definitely some holes in it:

If Tuoba Gui was born posthumously to his father, how does he have a younger brother of the same mother?

Why do Tuoba Shi and Tuoba Shijun have almost exactly the same name, and we know very little about them besides their death (for Tuoba Shi) or their betrayal (for Tuoba Shijun)?

Why was Tuoba Gui so willing to turn on his uncles?

How was Tuoba Si born unusually late in life when Tuoba Gui was 21 when he was born?

However, there are a few questions raised by #2.

Where did the Helan clan come from, and why were they so powerful?

And did Princess Helan, Tuoba Gui's mother in official history, also not exist?

Why were the Murongs and Tuoba Gui so willing to turn on each other?

There are a few theories surrounding this. The Southern dynasties aren't the most reliable source when it comes to Northern Wei family history (see Consort Du and Tuoba Tao, and it also claims that Tuoba Tao killed Tuoba Huang which is... not the full story. They also transcribe Tuoba slightly differently as 托跋). You have to remember that they see the Northern Wei dynasty emperors as being barbarian usurpers.

However, unlike the others, this one does fix some problems in the Weishu records. So I have to lend it some credence.

One theory is that Princess Helan married another member of the Tuoba clan after Tuoba Shi's death. This would fix Tuoba Gu's origin. Murong Chui and Tuoba Gui were still related, so that would explain why he helped out Tuoba Gui. The betrayal of the Helans is because Tuoba Gui thought of them as being too powerful, after they assisted a rival tribe. This is Tuoba Gui we're talking about.

The assertion that Tuoba Gui was unusually old when he fathered Tuoba Si is unusual, as nothing was said about Tuoba Tao fathering Tuoba Huang at 20. Then again, given that later on, Tuoba Huang fathered Tuoba Jun at 12, Tuoba Jun fathered Tuoba Hong at 14, and Tuoba Hong fathered Yuan Hong at 13, 21 is late compared to those ages. Even his son Tuoba Si fathered his eldest son Tuoba Tao five years earlier in his life than Tuoba Gui.

Ultimately, it's impossible to prove one version over the other, as unlike most contradictions in the histories of Northern Wei and the history of the Southern dynasties, this one fixes problems. Another is the death of Tuoba Tao; the Southern dynasties do not record that he was killed by Zong Ai. In Northern Wei, the officials accused Zong Ai of killing Tuoba Yu, not Tuoba Tao. So it's possible that Zong Ai's regicide of Tuoba Tao was created to slander him.

[craftercat]

Do you think Tuoba Gui expected to go as far as he did against Later Yan?

Tuoba Gui had ambitions on Later Yan as early as 388. The biography of Tuoba Yi states that Tuoba Gui had plans against Murong Chui when he sent Tuoba Yi as an envoy that year, and that he sent Tuoba Yi to Later Yan to report on any internal weaknesses he could exploit. Tuoba Yi told him that Murong Chui was old, Murong Bao was weak and Murong De's talent would cause internal upheaval, and that Tuoba Gui could take advantage of Murong Chui's death to attack Later Yan. Tuoba Gui considered this correct.

In my opinion, I don't think that Tuoba Gui ever intended to be a loyal vassal to Murong Chui. That he was considering an attack on Later Yan as early as 388 suggests that Tuoba Gui had the intent to betray them probably as early as he accepted their alliance. Tuoba Gui was merely using the Murong clan to give him the power to eliminate the Tiefu Xiongnu and rival Xianbei tribes. With the defeat of the Helan tribe in 391, Tuoba Gui no longer needed Later Yan's help, while Murong Chui's sons realised that Tuoba Gui was too powerful, which led to the Tuoba Gu incident. However, because Murong Chui was still powerful, he entered an alliance with Western Yan, but this was much less intensive as the one with Later Yan.

As for how far Tuoba Gui expected to go with Later Yan, the campaign had many difficulties. The Helan, Hetulin and Hexi tribal alliance rebelled in Tuoba Gui's rear, the population resented him due to Canhe Slope, he faced supply issues, he had difficulties attacking all three cities of Zhongshan, Ye and Xindu, and to top it off, difficulties attacking the cities compounded with a major epidemic in the army meant that 50-60% of the army died in the campaign (I find the Weishu's 400,000 number exaggerated; Northern Wei at the time was too small to raise such a huge army. The Songshu's number of 100,000 is probably too small, I think the number would be around 200,000, between the values). The troubles were such that Tuoba Gui asked for a peace settlement with Murong Bao, but Murong Bao had refused. Zhongshan took seven months to fall, albeit with a period in the middle where Tuoba Gui had to withdraw due to supply issues, while Ye had not submitted after six months of siege.

Had it not been for lucky decisions from the defenders, Tuoba Gui may have been forced to retreat. The first is that Murong Bao withdrew into Zhongshan and did not send out his army to fight, the second is the political infighting between Murong Bao, Murong Lin, Murong Xiang and others, the third is Murong Bao's decision to retreat from Zhongshan, and the fourth is Murong Nong, who had previously been a meritorious general, making poor decisions that led to the fall of Bing province. The Murongs weakened themselves through infighting between clan members due to over-concentration of power within the clan.

Comparing the conquest of Hebei with the conquest of Henan, which shared several similarities with the Hebei expedition (plague, three key city targets, and long sieges), the defenders at Zhongshan were less active than the ones at Hulao. Murong Bao withdrew into Zhongshan and didn't leave the city to attack, but Mao Dezu led his army out of the city multiple times until Daxi Jin inflicted a major defeat on him and he was forced to retreat into Hulao and defend his walls. Huatai was less difficult than Tuoba Si believed (the Tuobas were still new to siege warfare, and Tuoba Si was impatient for the cities to fall) and Luoyang fell quickly as well. Taking Xindu and Ye was probably more difficult than taking Huatai and Luoyang. This could be because Murong Bao was another Xianbei while the defenders of Henan were Han from the south and more experienced in siege warfare, but the Henan siege tactics were more sophisticated than the Hebei ones. Of course, even if the challenges were bigger, Hebei was a much larger area of land, so there would be more difficulties naturally.

So what was Tuoba Gui's intention with Later Yan? I think he always intended to betray it, but the scope of land of Hebei he wanted was unclear. Tuoba Gui later had ambitions on Henan and made attacks on Liaoning, but he never actually conquered either region, so he may well have had ambitions for all of Hebei from 388. But it's really impossible to tell the full extent of his ambition in Hebei prior to Canhe Slope. Perhaps during the campaign he thought of stopping and later renewing attacks, but after peace fell through between him and Murong Bao, he had his mind set on conquering Zhongshan, as can be seen by his cold response to the plague.

[craftercat]

What knowledge have you gained about Tuoba Gui’s mother, Lady Helan?

She was the daughter of Helan Yegan. She was selected to enter Tuoba Shi's back palace due to having a beautiful appearance. After Tuoba Shi died, she gave birth to Tuoba Gui. She also gave birth to Tuoba Gu, though the identity of his father is not clear; it may have been Tuoba Shiyijian or one of Tuoba Shi's brothers.

When Dai fell, she, Tuoba Gui and the Dai ministers fled north. Soon, the Gaoche tribes raided the north, and she and Tuoba Gui fled by carriage. During the journey, the carriage lost the linchpin of the wheel, but they were still able to flee south.

Later, Liu Xian wanted to kill Tuoba Gui, perhaps as he was suspicious of the Dai tribes after other vassals rebelled against Fu Jian. Lady Helan got Liu Xian drunk and pretended to be friendly with him. She then startled the horses in the stables so that they screamed, while sending Tuoba Gui to her tribe.

In the morning, Liu Xian was called to look at the horses. Lady Helan pretended that Tuoba Gui (and Tuoba Gu) had been murdered, so Liu Xian did not pursue them. This allowed Tuoba Gui to escape to the Helan tribe.

When he was at the Helan tribe, Lady Helan's cousin Helan Yue gathered supporters for Tuoba Gui. Liu Xian wanted to kill Lady Helan, but she ran to Liu Xian's brother Liu Kangni, who was married to Tuoba Gui's aunt (her sister-in-law). She was able to escape and Liu Xian's tribe soon fell into chaos.

After Tuoba Gui declared himself Prince of Dai, her brother Helan Ran'gan had his troops surround the palace. Lady Helan persuaded Helan Ran'gan to leave and he gave up on his plan.

When Tuoba Gu was detained in Later Yan by Murong Chui, Lady Helan became ill with worry and eventually died in 396. She was later posthumously made empress and feasted to in the imperial temple, presumably by Tuoba Si, as he started the Northern Wei emperors honouring their mothers empress if they did not receive the title in their lifetime.

All in all, I think she was a mother who genuinely cared about her sons. Given he had a good mother, it's a shame Tuoba Gui turned out such a horrible father.

[craftercat]

How did Tuoba Gui rise to power?

Like anyone who does great things at a young age, he had a lot of help.

The Helan tribe and the assistance of Later Yan were instrumental in his rise to power. He needed Later Yan's assistance to fight various threats, such as Tuoba Kuduo. The Helan tribe helped him to escape Liu Xian and rally the Dai tribes to his cause.

However, he thought that the Helan tribe were too powerful and when they assisted a rival, he and Later Yan worked to attack them, and they were defeated. Tuoba Gui then turned to the rival Tiefu Xiongnu, led by Liu Weichen. He launched an attack against them, Liu Weichen was killed by his subordinates, and he murdered thousands of Liu Weichen's clansmen and associates.

The alliance between Later Yan and Wei was never going to be permanent. The Murongs were worried that Tuoba Gui was becoming too powerful, and Tuoba Gui wanted to be more than just a vassal. Their relationship broke down when the Murongs detained Tuoba Gu and demanded he be ransomed.

Eventually Later Yan and Wei went to war. Tuoba Gui was able to defeat Later Yan decisively at Canhe Slope, and on the advice of his generals slaughtered tens of thousands of Later Yan captives. However, Murong Chui was still around and launched an attack on Wei that started out as being very successful.

When he passed Canhe Slope, his soldiers were saddened by the sight of the dead. Murong Chui grew ill and anger and died. Tuoba Gui launched an attack on his son Murong Bao, who was much less competent. Murong Bao retreated to Zhongshan and prepared to defend it, which allowed Tuoba Gui to capture other places (Wang Shichong tried the same strategy with Luoyang, and it didn't work then either).

Tuoba Gui stalled at attacking Zhongshan and instead tried to establish himself in Ye and Xindu. Murong Bao believed that Murong Lin was attempting a coup against him and fled Zhongshan. Murong Xiang became the new leader. Because of the brutality at Canhe Slope, the people of Later Yan did not support him, so he was nicer to the people of Later Yan.

Murong Xiang was soon defeated by Murong Lin, but this disturbance weakened Zhongshan so it could no longer stand up to Northern Wei. It fell to Tuoba Gui, who executed those involved in Tuoba Gu's death but spared the populace.

After the successful campaign against Later Yan, Tuoba Gui was sufficiently powerful in the Central Plains that he declared himself an emperor, changing his title from Prince of Wei to Emperor of Wei.

[craftercat]

Are their any sort of historical mysteries about the Tuoba Xianbei Dai and Northern Wei dynasty? And if so what are they and what do you think are the truth behind these mysteries if you have any thoughts on them?

The origins of Tuoba Gui are murky. There have been theories about the relations between him, Tuoba Shiyijian, Tuoba Gu and Tuoba Yi. I think that the best theory would be that Princess Helan married Tuoba Shiyijian, and because they were related in multiple ways, this was covered up by Tuoba Gui as he became more familiar with Chinese custom. This would then explain why Tuoba Han supposedly had children after he died, and why the Southern dynasties believed Tuoba Gui to be Tuoba Shiyijian's son.

On the topic of imperial origins, some of the events surrounding the succession crisis after Tuoba Gui's death. For example, what was Helan Ni (or Hu) doing at the fires he lit? Why did Tuoba Shao become unpopular so quickly? What was the exact role of Consort Helan in all of this? I also find Tuoba Gui and Tuoba Si's fall-out a bit vague as well. Because of this vagueness, it leads a lot of room for historical speculation. I will write an entire article dedicated to this succession crisis, where I will explain my thoughts in more detail.

Cui Hao's death is another mystery. I do think that he did record secrets of the Tuoba family, for example that marriage between Tuoba Shiyijian and Princess Helan, but I also think that his political enemies played a role. Cui Hao had powerful enemies, including the crown prince Tuoba Huang. These enemies likely also included the Xianbei noble clans, as Cui Hao had tried to rank them as if they were Han noble clans, which they were insulted by. These enemies would then have worked together to turn Tuoba Tao against Cui Hao. But I will explain in more detail.

[bookofjin]

Biographies of Tuoba Shijun & Tuoba Yi

[From WS015. Modern historians have speculated if Tuoba Yi was actually Tuoba Gui’s brother.]

Shijun was August Emperor Zhaocheng's [r. 338 – 376] concubine-born oldest son. He was by nature witless, dull-witless, calm, patient and inhumane. In Zhaocheng's last year, Fu Jian dispatched his Duke Xintang, Fu Luo. and others to come and rob the southern frontier. Zhaocheng dispatched Liu Kuren to confront them in battle at Zi High Pass. Zhaocheng at the time was incapable, and was not able to personally direct the multitude armies. He therefore led the various sections to escape the difficulties at Yin Mountain, and crossed north of the desert. The Gaoche robbed and plundered on all directions, he then crossed south of the desert. Fu Luo's army had withdrawn, he therefore returned to Yunzhong.

Earlier, Zhaocheng, since his younger brother Gu had yielded the state, he therefore used half the section to confer on Gu. Gu passed on, his son Jin lost the post and was resentful in his breast, and wished to wait for a crack to make chaos.

At that time, August Emperor Xianming and King Ming of Qin, Han, were both previously demised. Taizu was 6 sui old. Zhaocheng was not well. Although Empress Murong's children, Epo and others, were of age, yet the command of the state was not yet decided. Jin because of that advised Shijun, saying:

The Emperor wants to establish the [children] born to Murong. He fears you will be a catastrophe, and wishes first to kill you. So in recent days and onwards, the various sons are dressed in armour, and at night grasp weapons of war and surround your dwelling, waiting for when to readily command to send out. I sympathizes and are telling [you].

At the time Fu Luo and others were still at Junzi Ferry, and at night there was often alerts and precautions. The various imperial sons clasped weapons by their side and fretted between the dwellings. Shijun looked and observed, and considered Jin's words to be true. He therefore led his subordinates to fully murder the various imperial sons. Zhaocheng likewise violently expired.

That night, the various imperial sons' wives and people ran to tell Fu Luo's army. Jian's general's Li Rou and Zhang Hao led the troops inside to pressure, the section followers left and scattered. Fu Jian heard about it, and summoned Yan Feng to ask about its reasons. He made a descriptive reply. Jian said:

The crimes Under Heaven are singular.

He therefore seized Shijun and Jin, and dismembered them by chariots in Chang'an's western market.

Shijun's grandson Wuqi ranked Inspector of Ding province. He was bestowed the feudal rank of Marquis of Linlü. He passed on. His son Liuzhuang was Marquis of Zhending.

The Clarifying [ming] King of Qin, Han, was August Emperor Zhaocheng's third son. As young he had lofty spirit. At the age of 15 he readily requested to led cavalry to campaign and chastise. The Emperor was impressed with him, and sent him to led 2 000 cavalry. When he reached adulthood, he commanded the troops, his commands and orders were strict and trustworthy. He patrolled around and campaigned and chastised, and often was overcoming and triumphing. 10th Year of Jianguo [347 AD], he passed on. When Taizu was enthroned [386 AD], he was posthumously conferred King of Qin, with the posthumous title Clarifying [ming].

His son Yi was 7 chi, 5 cun [~190 cm] tall, his looks and appearance were very imposing, with pleasing beard and whiskers, and had calculations and schemes. As young he was able to do the sword dance, and ride and shoot beyond other people. Taizu favoured the Helan section, he attended and accompanied in setting out and enter.

At the beginning of Dengguo [386 – 395], he was bestowed the feudal rank of Duke of Jiuyuan. He accompanied to rout the various sections, and had merit in planning battles. When Taizu was about to plot against Murong Chui, he dispatched Yi to display the covenant. Chui asked Yi the purpose behind Taizu not coming himself. Yi said:

[Our] ancestors and onwards have for generations occupied the northern lands, sons and grandsons have succeeded each other, and have not lost their past. Therefore the founder accepted Jin's calendar, his feudal rank called King of Dai. To the east [we] and Yan have been brothers for generations. Yi's receiving the instructions can arguably be said not to be a mistake.

Chui was impressed with his reply, and after that jokingly said:

My power is increasing [within] the Four Seas. Sir's ruler not seeing me himself, how [can you] say it is not a mistake?

Yi said:

Suppose Yan does not cultivate civil virtue, but wishes to use military power to strengthen yourself. So therefore the affairs of the home court's generals and leaders is not known by Yi.

When he returned back, he reported, saying:

When Chui is dead, then we can plot. Now it is just not possible.

Taizu with rising colour asked him about it. Yi said:

Chui's years are already setting, his son Bao is weak and without power and his planning is indecisive. Murong De carries himself with an air of talent, and is not a subject of a weak ruler. To pledge and rise up inside, this can be the plan for it.

Taizu considered it to be so. Later changed his fief to Duke of Pingyuan.

Taizu campaigned against Weichen. Yi set out along a separate road. He captured Weichen's corpse and transmitted the head to the Acting Palace. Taizu was greatly pleased and moved his fief to Duke of Dongping. He was instructed to direct the agricultural garrisons North of the He. From Wuyuan to Guyang outside the frontier,  he allotted farming grain and greatly obtained the people's heart.

At Murong Bao's robbing of Wuyuan, Yi administered and occupied Shuofang, and threatened his return journey. When Bing province was pacified, Yi's achievements were many. He moved to Prefect of the Masters of Writing.

He accompanied to besiege Zhongshan. At the defeat of Murong De, Taizu used Pulin's wife, Ms. Zhou to bestow on Yi, and also his pages, servants, wealth and valuables. He soon moved to Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs in the Centre and Outside and Imperial Chancellor of the Left. He advanced in fief to King of Wey.

Zhongshan was pacified. Then dispatched Yi to chastise Ye, he pacified it. Taizu wanted to return to Daidu. He set up an Acting Tribunal of Zhongshan, and decreed Yi as Provisional Prefect of the Masters of Writing to thereby headquarter it. Distant and near adhered in their breasts. Soon after summoned Yi as Imperial Chancellor to enter and assist.

He also accompanied on the campaign against the Gaoche. Yi separately accompanied north-west to rout their separate section. He also accompanied to chastise Yao Ping and had merit. He was bestowed tabby silk, cloth, floss silk, cattle, horses, sheep, etc. Yi's physical strength was beyond other people, his bow's strength  was maybe 10 shi. The Duke of Chenliu, Qian's spear was greatly claimed as unusual. At the time people talked of the King of Wey's bow, King Huan's lance.

When Shizu was just born [408 AD], Taizu was happy and at night summoned Yi to enter. Taizu said:

When Sir heard the nightly call, [you] then was not astonished or afraid?

Yi said:

Your Subject pushed forward sincerely to thereby serve Your Majesty. Your Majesty clarified and made known, Your Subject immediately calmed himself. Suddenly receiving the nightly decree, astonished with it, fear is truly not nothing.

Taizu reported then the birth of Shizu. Yi rose up and bowed, and then sang and danced. Thereupon they paired up to drink into the early dawn. He summoned the crowd of subjects to enter, and bestowed on Yi driving horses, driving belt, double-thread silk, brocades, etc.

Before this, Hou Ji of Shanggu [or “the Marquis of Shanggu, Ji?], Zhang Gun, Xu Qian of Dai commandery, and others who were famous in their time, and who had studied broadly the new and old, began to come and enter the state. They heard Yi received gentlemen, and first went to Yi. Yi was equally courteous to them, and they conversed together on the activities of their generations. He drew with his fingers the mountains and rivers, distinguished the walled towns, with successes and failures and strategic points. Qian and others sighed in deference, and spoke, saying:

The Duke of Pingyuan has great talents but does not scheme for the generation. We will attach ourselves to his tail.

Taizu considered Yi capable and admirable, and treated him with particular esteem. He several times favoured his mansion, with the rites of people of the same house. Yi bragged about his achievements and  was sure of his favour. Thereupon he and the Duke of Yidu, Mu Chong, planned to make chaos. He hid military gentlemen to wait for Taizu, and wished to be rebellious. Chong's son Suiliu was among the hidden soldiers. Taizu summoned him, wanting to have him do something [?]. Siuliu heard the summons and feared setting out, he went over the walls to report the circumstances. Taizu kept it secret and pardoned him.

6th Year of Tianci [509 AD], Heaven's patterns had many alterations. The divination stated:

There will be a traitorous subject, the prostrate corpse sheds blood.

Taizu hated it, and rather killed nobles and ministers, wishing to thereby satisfy and attending to Heaven's calamity. Yi on the inside could not calm himself, and escaped and ran on a single horse. Taizu sent people to pursue and apprehend him. Thereupon he was bestowed death and was buried with the rites of a commoner. Yi had 15 sons.

[bookofjin]

Annals of Taizu of Later Wei, Part 3

[From WS002. Covers 397 - 398.

After months of fighting, Zhongshan falls on 25 November 397, and Ye a few months later. Remnants of the Yan still remains. Murong Bao and his son Sheng are at Helong in Liaoxi, Murong De is at Guanggu in QIngzhou, which he conquers from a Jin-aligned warlord. But for the most part the war is at an end, and focus shifts to establish a more formal government for Wei.

In August 399, the capital of Wei is moved to Pingcheng, and over the next months various aspects of court ritual and state religion are established.

On 24 January 399, Tuoba Gui declares himself Emperor of Wei.

[Huangshi 2, 13 February 397 – 2 February 398]

2nd Year, Spring, 1st Month, jihai [13 February], New Moon, greatly hosted the crowd of subject at Lukou. Murong Bao dispatched his General of Guards of the Left, Murong Teng, to rob Boling. He killed the Grand Warden of Zhongshan and the various county Prefects and Chiefs of Gaoyang, and seized and plundered the tax transports.

At that time Xindu had not yet submitted, on gengshen [6 March], therefore advanced the army.

On renxu [8 March], guided the cavalry to besiege it. That night, Bao's Inspector of Ji province, the King of Yidu, Murong Feng, went over the walls to run and flee, and returned to Zhongshan.

On guihai [9 March], Bao's General who Assists the State, Zhang Xiang, and General who Protects the Army, Xu Chao, led the general, magistrates and below to offer up the city and surrendered.

Bao heard the Emperor favoured Xindu, he therefore hastened to Boling's Shenze, and garrisoned the Hutuo River. He dispatched his younger brother Helin to rob Yangcheng. He killed more than 300 of Changshan's defending troops. Bao thoroughly sent out precious treasure and palace people to summon and recruit the commanderies and counties. Many of the crowd of bandits and untrusty ones responded to him.

2nd Month, jisi [15 March], the Emperor advanced to favour Yangcheng.

On dingchou [23 March], the army was at Julu's Baisi fortifications, and overlooked the Hutuo River. That night, Bao's full multitudes violated the encampment. The fire reached the Acting Palace, troops scattered in terror. The Emperor got up in surprise, he did not reach his clothes and crown, but set out barefooted to strike the drums. Soon after, left, right, and the generals and soldiers within the army little by little came together.

The Emperor had made an usual deployment, he arranged signal fire outside of the encampment, and let loose the cavalry to sweep them away. Bao's multitudes were greatly defeated, the cut off heads tallied more than 10 000, and they seized his General Gao Chang and others, more than 4 000 people.

On wuyin [24 March], Bao left to Zhongshan. Captured his instruments, weaponry and supply wagons tallying several hundred thousand. Bao's Master of Writing, Min Liang, Overseer of the Private Writers, Cui Cheng, Grand Ordinary, Sun Yi, Attendant Steer Clerk Within the Halls, Meng Fu, and others also surrendered. Those who surrendered were assess and categorized, bestowed and designated posts and feudal titles each proportionally.

Xu Chao of Pingyuan assembled the multitudes to rebel at Pancheng. Decreed Xi Ru to arrest and behead him. The defending general of Bing province, Feng Zhen, led his kinsmen and the Tuhe to be disobedient. He wanted to attack the Inspector, Yuan Yan. Yan chastised and pacified him.

At the time of the deeds of Baisi there were rumours distant and near. The Helan section's leader Fulijian, the Hetulin section's leader Niwuni, and the Hexi section's leader Chinugen assembled partisans to rebel at Yinguan. The Duke of Nan'an, Yuan Shun, led an army to chastise, but did not overcome. The dead were several thousand. Decreed the General who Calms the Distant, Yu Yue to collect 10 000 cavalry, and turn back to chastise Chinugen and others, and exterminate them.

3rd Month, jiyou [24 April], the Chariot Drove to stay at Lunu. Bao dispatched envoys to seek peace, requested to send off Yuan Gu, ceded Changshan and westward to offer the state, and begged to defend Zhongshan and westward. The Emperor accepted it. Soon after Bao betrayed the covenant.

On xinhai [26 April], the Chariot Drove to stay at Zhongshan, and instructed the various generals to beseige it. That night, Bao's younger brother Helin commanded his wife and children to set out and flee for the western mountains. Bao saw Helin fleeing, and feared he would first take possession of Helong.

On renzi [27 April], at night, he thereupon commanded his wife, children, brothers, clan and kinsmen escape north with several thousand cavalry. Bao's generals Li Chen, Wang Ciduo, Zhang Chao, Jia Gui, and others came to surrender. Dispatched General Zhangsun Fei to pursue them. He arrived at Fanyang, did not catch up, and turned back. Within the city they together established Murong Pulin as the ruler.

Summer, 4th Month [13 May – 11 June], the Emperor, since the army's provisions were not yet secure, therefore decreed the Great General who Conquers the East, the Duke of Dongping, Yuan Yi, to give up the siege of Ye, and move to garrison Julu, and amass the land tax at Yangcheng.

Pulin sent out more than 6 000 foot soldiers to wait among and transgress on the various garrison troops. Decreed General Zhangsun Fei and others to challenge them with light cavalry. The Emperor used 5 000 tiger squads to cut across their rear, and cut off 5 000 heads, captured 700 people alive, pardoned and sent them off.

Summer, 5th Month, gengzi [14 June], greatly rewarded the merited subjects. The Emperor considered [the people] within the walls of Zhongshan to be compelled by Pulin, yet the Great Army was harassing, and while wishing to surrender, they had no path. He therefore secretly summoned and explained to them.

On jiachen [18 June], revealed the troops and flaunted their power to thereby display to [the people]  inside the walls. Instructed the various army multitudes to cease encircling, and move south, to thereby wait for their revolt.

On jiayin [28 June], used the Duke of Dongping, Yuan Yi, as Great General of Agile Cavalry, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs in the Centre and Outside, Shepherd of Yan, Yu, Yong, Jing, Xu and Yang provinces, Imperial Chancellor of the Left, enfeoffed as King of Wey. The Duke of Xiangcheng, Yuan Ti, was advanced in fief to be a King.

Autumn, 7th Month [10 August – 7 September], Pulin dispatched Zhang Xiang of the Wuhuan to lead more than 5 000 people to set out from the city and seek for food. He robbed Changshan's Lingshou, and killed and injured the magistrates and population. Helin entered Xiang's army from the Dingling state, followed his multitudes and then entered Zhongshan. He killed Pulin and established himself. The Emperor turned back to favour Lukou, he dispatched General Zhangsun Fei with 1 000 cavalry to assault Zhongshan, he entered its outer walls and then turned back.

8th Month, bingyin [8 September], New Moon, the Emperor advanced the army from Lukou to Changshan's Jiumen. At the time there was a great plague, many people, horses, and cattle died. The Emperor asked about the plague to the various generals. They replied, saying:

The living are just four or five out of ten.

At that time Zhongshan was still resisting and defending, and starvation and the plague equally found their way. The crowd of subordinates all together considered returning north. The Emperor knew about their opinion, and because of that spoke to them, saying:

This is assuredly Heaven's instructions, what might there be to do about it? [?] The people of the Four Seas, all can be with the state, they are for me to console them, that is all. Why rue for having no people!

The crowd of subjects therefore dare talk of it again.

Dispatched the Great General who Consoles the Army, the Duke of Lüeyang, Yuan Zun, to assault Zhongshan, he cut their plants and vegetables, entered the outer walls and turned back.

9th Month [8 October – 5 November], Helin was starved and impoverished, he led more than 30 000 people to to set out and rob Xinshi.

On jiazi [5 November], last day of the month, the Emperor advanced the army to chastise him. The Prefect Grand Scribe, Chao Chong memorialised, saying:

Inauspicious.

The Emperor said:

Why this interpretation?

He replied, saying:

In the past Zhou [of Shang] perished on jiazi. The military school fear it.

The Emperor said:

If Zhou perished on jiazi, was not Wu of Zhou victorious on jiazi?

Chong had nothing to reply.

Winter, 10th Month, bingyin [7 November], the Emperor advanced the army to Xinshi. Helin withdrew to block the Gu River, and relied on gradually dampen the marsh to thereby strengthen himself.

On jiaxu [15 November], the Emperor approached his encampment, fought at Yitai fortifications, greatly routed him, the cut off heads tallied more than 9 000. Helin fled on a single horse to the western mountains, and thereupon ran to Ye. Murong De killed him.

On jiashen [25 November], altogether the public officials who come to surrender, nobles minister, Masters of Writing, generals, magistrates, officers and soldies, were more than 20 000 people. His generals Zhang Xiang, Li Chen, Murong Wen, and others had previously come to surrender but soon after all had absconded and turned back. That day when they captured them again, all were forgiven and not interrogated. Captured his transmitted August Emperor's signet and ribbon, charts and books, office stores, and precious treasure. The registers classified several ten thousand. Distributed and bestowed on the merited subjects, generals and soldiers, each proportionally. Zhongshan was pacified.

On yiyou [26 November], the King Xiangcheng, Ti, passed away.

On dinghai [28 November], dispatched 30 000 cavalry to go to the King of Wey, Yi, commanding [him] accordingly to attack Ye.

This Year, the Xianbei Tufa Wugu privately appointed himself Great Shanyu and King of Xiping.

[Tianxing 1, 3 February 398 – 21 February 399]

1st Year of Tianxing [“Heaven's Fostering”], Spring, 1st Month [3 February – 3 March], Murong De fled to defend Huatai. Yi overcame Ye, and gathered its granaries and stores. Decreed to bestow on the generals and soldiers each proportionally. Yi pursued De until the He, but did not catch up and turned back.

On gengzi [9 February], the Chariot Drove from Zhong to travel to favour Changshan's Zhending, stayed at Zhao commandery's Gaoyi, and thereupon favoured at Ye. For those of the population who were aged or were unable to support themselves, decreed the commanderies and counties to aid and help them.

The Emperor arrived at Ye, he toured and climbed the terraces and pavilions, and widely inspected the palaces and walls, and perhaps had thoughts of settling the capital. He therefore set up an Acting Tribunal, and used the Dragon Galloping General, the Duke of Rinan, He Ba, as Master of Writing. He and the Assistant of the Left, Jia Yi, was to lead the gentlemen, magistrates and 5 000 troops to headquarter at Ye.

The Chariot Drove from Ye to return to Zhongshan, where he passed by he inquired and asked about the hundred families. Decreed that where Great Army had passed through the province or commandery, to remit wealth and rent for one year, and removed half of the population East of the Mountains's rents and taxes. The Chariot Drove and was about return north. Sent out 10 000 soldiers to arrange a straight road, from Wangdu's Tie Pass, cutting Heng High Pass into Dai, more than 500 li [?].

The Emperor worried that after he had turned back, East of the Mountains would have mishaps, he therefore set up an Acting Tribunal at Zhongshan, and decreed the Imperial Chancellor of the Left, and Maintaining Prefect of the Masters of Writing, the King of Wey, Yi, to headquarter at Zhongshan. The Great General who Consoles the Army, the Duke of Lüeyang, Yuan Zun, to headquarter at Bohai's Hekou.

The General of the Right Army, Yin Guo had previously supervised the taxes in Ji provinces. He heard the Emperor was about to turn back, and planned rebellion, wishing to assault Xindu. The General who Calms the South, Zhangsun Chong apprehended and sent him off. Beheaded him.

On xinyou [2 March], the Chariot Drove to set out from Zhongshan, and arrived at Wangdu's Yao Mountani. Moved 360 000 of the population and magistrates from the six provinces East of the Mountains and diverse Yi of the Tuhe and Gaoli, and more than 100 000 people of the hundred artisans and the skilful and clever, to thereby to supply the Imperial City.

The crowd of bandits of Boling, Bohai and Zhangwu rose up together. The Duke of Lüeyang, Yuan Zun, and others chastised and pacified them. The Grand Warden of Guangchuan, He Lu, killed the Inspector of Ji province, Wang Fu, and expelled and pressured the defending troops. He ransacked and plundered Yangping and Dunqiu commanderies, and thereupon crossed south over the He and ran to Murong De.

2nd Month [4 March – 2 April], the Chariot Drove from Zhongshan to favour Fan Palace. Changed selection for garrison guards. Decreed to give the new population that had moved within ploughing oxen, and calculated the fields people were to receive receive.

3rd Month [3 April – 1 May], the leader of the Lishi Hu, Huyantie, the leader of the Xihe Hu, Zhang Chong, and others assembled several thousand partisans and rebelled. Decreed the General who Calms the Distant, Yu Yue to chastise and pacify them. In Yuyang the crowd of robbers and Kunuguan Tao assembled the multitudes to revolt. Decreed the General of Central Resoluteness, Yi Wei, to chastise him. Summoned the Chancellor of the Left, the King of Wey, Yi, to return to the Imperial City. Decreed the Duke of Lüeyang, Zun, to replace him at headquarter at Zhongshan.

Summer, 4th Month, renxu [2 May], advanced Zun's fief to King of Changshan. The Duke of Nan'an, Yuan Shun, was advanced in fief to King of Piling. The General who Conquers the Caitiffs, the Duke of Liyang, Mu Chong, became Grand Commandant. The General who Calms the South, the Duke of Julu, Zhangsun Chong, became Minister Over the Masses. The Emperor sacrificed to Heaven in the Western Suburbs, the pennants and flags were added at it.

The Grand Warden of Guangping, the Duke of Liaoxi, Yuan Yilie, planned rebellion. [BS01: He and Han Qi, a native of the commandery, fabricated a false prophetic chart, wanting to assault Ye city.] He was bestowed death in the commandery, pardoned his wife and children.

Dong Qiang of the Fucheng Tuge, Hao Nu of Lushui in Xingcheng, Xue Yu of Shu in Hedong [?], and the Di leader Fu Xing each led their kind to adhere to the interior.

6th Month, bingzi [15 July], decreed to have the ministers memorialise on settling the state's title. The crowd of subjects memorialised, saying:

In the past, Zhou, Qin and earlier, for generations they resided in the lands form where they sprang. There were states and families, reaching the King Under Heaven, acceding and inheriting to have the title. From Han and onwards, put an end to marquises and appointed wardens, at the time there were no generational continuance. Those who responded to fortune and rose up, all did not owe it to wealth in population or land. Now the house of state has for generations succeeded each other, beginning the foundation in Yun and Dai. Your Subject and others consider it to be compliant to take the long distance. [We] should use Dai as the title.

The decree said:

Formerly Our distant ancestors controlled and managed an isolated commandery, taking the lead to arrange a far off state, and although treading with the rank of King, [they had] not yet settled the Nine Provinces. Coming to Our Person, assessing the seasons of a hundred eras, Under Heaven was divided and splintered and the various Hua lacked a ruler. The population's customs were though different, [We] consoled them by being virtuous and for that reason personally led the Six Armies, swept and pacified the Central Lands, the fell traitors were washed away and eliminated, disant and near led [each other] in submission. [We] ought to carry on with the previous title, using Wei to be it. Spread out the announcement Under Heaven so that everyone knows Our opinion.

Autumn, 7th Month [30 July – 28 August], moved the capital to Pingcheng, started laying out the palace houses, established the Ancestral Temple, and erected the Altars of Soil and Grain.

Kunuguan Tao of the Yuyang Wuhuan again gathered partisans to be robbers. Decreed the General of the Best of the Army, Wang Jian, to chastise and pacify him.

8th Month [29 August – 25 September], decreed to have the ministers to rectify the fiefs and imperial domain, regulate the suburban demesne, correct the pathways and streets, mark the roads and wards, level the five balance-weights, compare the five capacity measures, and settle the five length measures. Dispatched messengers on inspection journeys to the commanderies and states, to lift up and memorialise wardens and stewards who were not models, and personally look at and investigated demoting and promoting them.

9th Month [27 September – 26 October], the Wuhuan Zhang Xiang's son Chao gathered and united the ones who had absconded from the instructions, and assembled more than 3 000 families of partisans. He occupied Bohai's Nanpi, and titled himself Great General who Conquers the East, and King of the Wuhuan. He ransacked and plundered the counties and commanderies. Decreed General Yu Yue to chastise him.

10th Month [27 October – 24 November], raised up the Heavenly Patterns Hall.

11th Month, xinhai [17 December], decreed the Palace Gentleman of the Personnel Section to Masters of Writings, Deng Yuan, to codify palace arrangements, establish the feudal ranks and grades, settle the pitch pipes, and unite the tones and music. The Palace Gentlemen of the Board of Rites, Dong Mi to prepare the rites of the suburbs and temples, the Altars of Soil and Grain, court audiences, and hosts and banquets. The Palace Gentleman to the Three Excellencies, Wang De to settle the laws and orders, and declare protocols and prohibitions. The Prefect Grand Scribe, Chong Zao construct the celestial sphere and examine heavenly phenomena. The Master of Writing of the Personnel Section, Cui Xuanbo to bring them together and fit them.

Intercalary Month [25 December – 22 January], the Chancellor of the Left and Great General of Agile Cavalry, the King of Wey, Yi, and  the various Kings, Dukes, ministers and scholars went to the palace to send up a document which said:

Your Subject and others have heard when the eaves and ridge-pole resides in the centre, then the arrayed constellations are evenly in its shadow. When Emperors and Kings obey Heaven, then the crowd of princes admire their measures.

[We have] humbly pondered Your Majesty's virtue bringing together the Two Principles, the Way prominent three [times] five, the humane manners extending to the Four Seas, the abundant reforms pervading to the Great Expanse. The beneficence reaches the many insects and the mercy provides for the reeds by the road. Where gathered by the singers' songs are the Eight Exteriors returning [their] hearts. Where reached by the army's power are like the wind scattering grass. The ten thousand families are eagerly expectant, all together thinking of the connected instructions.

But the person treads humbly and unassuming, [he] withdraws himself and puts himself at the end. The precinct's rites are not yet manifest, lamenting clothes not yet arranged, it is not the means by which the sovereign assents to the will of August Heaven, and the subordinates assists with hearts for happily pushing forward. [We] ought to brilliantly esteem the sagely and ardent, and show the examples and standards for ten thousand generations. Your Subject and others respectfully brave death to so ask.

The Emperor declined three times, and then accepted it.

12th Month, jichou [24 January], the Emperor presided in the Heavenly Patterns Hall. The Grand Commandant and Minister over the Masses advanced with the imperial signet and ribbon. The hundred officials all together declared Ten Thousand Years [wansui]. A great amnesty, and changed the year [to Tianxing]. Posthumously venerated Emperor Cheng and downwards, and the Empresses, with posthumous titles. The music performed was the dance of August Beginnings.

Decree the hundred ministers to discuss and settle the sequence of the [Five] Agents. The Master of Writing Cui Xuanbo and others memorialised to follow the Earth's virtue, for the colour of the clothes to place above Yellow, for numbers to use five. The setting out sacrifices on a wei day, the year-end sacrifices on a chen day. [These sacrifices were associated with the Yellow Emperor.] To sacrifice using a white sacrificial animal. At the five suburbs to erect [places to divine] the airs. To circulate announcements and orders of the season. To respectfully transmit to the population the seasons. To follow the Principal [Month] of the Xia.

Moved from the 6 provinces and 22 commanderies the wardens and stewards, the distinguished and outstanding, magistrates and population, 2 000 families, to Dai commandery.

This Year, Lan Han killed Murong Bao, and established himself. Bao's son Sheng killed Han and usurped the establishment. Murong De declared himself King of Yan.

[bookofjin]

Annals of Taizu of Later Wei, Part 2

[From WS002, covers 391 - 396.

In 391 Tuoba Gui breaks with Murong Chui and allies with Murong Yong

In January 392, he destroys Liu Weichen and massacres Weichen’s family, only his younger son Bobo survives, in the Weishu he is known as Qugai, the “Bent Beggar”.

Murong Chui defeats Murong Yong in 394, and then in August 395 his son and heir Murong Bao invades Wei. But Tuoba Gui holds the right bank of the He against him, and when Bao finally retreats, he pursues him and defeats the Yan army at Canhe Slope on 7 December.

In April 396 Murong Chui invades Wei in person, but he falls ill and dies on the return journey, 70 years old, and Murong Bao hurries to secure his succession at the Yan capital of Zhongshan.

On 16 October 396 Tuoba Gui formally launches his invasion of Yan.]

[Dengguo 6, 3 March 391 – 9 February 392]

6th Year, Spring, 2nd Month [22 March – 19 April], favoured Niedie Stream.

3rd Month [20 April – 19 May], dispatched the Duke of Jiuyuan, Yuan Yi, the Duke of Chenliu, Yuan Qian, and others to go west and chastise the Chufu section, greatly routing them.

Summer, 4th Month [20 May – 17 June], sacrificed to Heaven.

6th Month [17 July – 15 August], Myrong Helin routed He Ne at Chicheng. The Emperor guided the troops to aid him. Lin withdrew and left.

Autumn, 7th Month, renshen [17 August], military exercises at Niuchuan. Travelled and turned back to Niudiechuan.

Murong Chui detained Yuan Gu and requested famous horses, the Emperor broke off with him. Therefore dispatched envoys to Murong Yong. Yong sent his Great Herald, Murong Jun, to serve, petition and recommend to advance to the venerated title.

That Month [16 August – 14 September], Weichen dispatched his son Zhilidi to set out for the Guyang Fortress. The invasion reached Heicheng.

9th Month [14 October – 12 November], the Emperor assaulted Wuyuan, and massacred it. He gathered their stored up grains and turned back to Niediechuan. To the north of Guyang fortress he set up a stone tabled recording the achievement.

Winter, 10th Month, wuxu [11 November], campaigned north against the Ruanruan. Pursued them, caught up with them south of the Great Wastes, beneath Chuang Mountain, greatly routing them. Distributed and bestowed the accompanying subjects each proportionally. The rulers of their eastern and western sections were Pihouba and Yunheti [?]. Beheaded the detached leader Wujiyu. The affair written of in the Biography of the Ruanruan.

11th Month, wuchen [11 December], returned to favour Niudiechuan.

On wuyin [21 December], Weichen dispatched his son Zhilidi to rob the southern section.

On jimao [22 December], the Chariot Drove to set out and chastise.

On renwu [25 December], greatly routed Zhilidi's army to the south of Tieqi Mountain. Captured his receptacles, weapons and supply wagons, and more than 200 000 cattle and sheep.

On  wuzi [31 December], crossed south over the He from Jinjin in Wuyan.

On xinmao [3 January], stayed where they were residing, Yueba City. Weichen, father and son, ran and escaped.

On renchen [4 January], decreed the various generals to pursue them. Captured Zhilidi.

12th Month [11 January – 9 February], captured Weichen's corpse, and beheaded it for display, and thereupon exterminated him. This is told in the Biography of Weichen. Weichen's younger son Qugai [the “Bent Beggar” aka Liu Bobo] absconded and fled to the Xuegan section. The Chariot Drove to stay at Yanchi.

From the He and southwards the various sections were thoroughly pacified. Registered their precious treasures, livestock and produce. There were more than 300 000 famous horses, more than 4 000 000 cattle and sheep. Distributed and bestowed on the great subjects each proportionally. Gathered Weichen's sons, brothers, clansmen and partisans, regardless of age, more than 5 000 people, and thoroughly killed them.

Mountain Hu chiefs Dafantui, Yeyiyu, and others led more than 3 000 families to surrender and adhere. Set out to reside at Mayi.

This Year, erected the Henan [“South of the He”] Palace.

[Dengguo 7, 10 February 392 – 28 January 393]

7th Year, Spring, 1st Month [10 February – 9 March], favoured Mugen Mountain, and thereupon stayed at Heiyan Pool. Hosted and feasted the crowd of subjects, and held audiences with the tribute envoys from the various states. Went north to Mei River.

3rd Month, jiazi [5 April], feasted the crowd of subjects at the river bank. Turned back to favour the Henan Palace.

The Western Section's Chief Man of the Qili [?], Maoxian, rebelled and ran. Dispatched the Chief Man of the Southern Section, Zhangsun Song to pursue and chastise, greatly routing him.

Summer, 5th Month [7 June – 5 July], distributed and bestowed to the various officials horses, cattle, and sheep, each proportionally.

Autumn, 8th Month [3 September – 2 October], travelled to favour south of the desert, continued building touring terraces [?].

Winter, 12th Month [30 December – 28 January], Murong Yong dispatched envoys to court with tribute.

This Year, imperial son Si was born.

[Dengguo 8, 29 January 393 – 16 February 394]

8th Year, Spring, 1st Month [29 January – 26 February], the Emperor toured south.

2nd Month [27 February – 28 March], favoured Guyang Spring [Plains?]. Went to Bailou.

3rd Month [29 March – 27 April], the Chariot Drove to campaign west against the Houlülin Section.

6th Month [26 June – 24 July], the Chariot Drove on a northern tour. Yong came to announce an urgency. Dispatched the Duke of Chenliu, Yuan Qian, and General Yu Yue to lead 50 000 cavalry go east beyond the He to save him. Routed the leader of the Leiba section, Liu Yao, and others, and moved their section section groups. Yuan Qian following that garrison at Xiurong. Murong Chui thereupon besieged Changzi.

Autumn, 7th Month [25 July – 23 August], the Chariot Drove to oversee and favour the new altar [?].

On gengyin [24 August], hosted the crowd of subjects, and again held military exercises.

Before this, Weichen's son Qugai had ran to the Xuegan section. Campaigned against them for not sending him off.

8th Month [22 September – 21 October], the Emperor campaigned south against the Xuegan section's leader Taixifo at Sancheng. It happened that they had previously set out to strike Cao Fu. The Emperor exploited the absence to slaughter their city. He captured Taixifo's son Zhenbao, moved his population and  turned back. Taixifo heard about it, he came to attend, but did not catch up, and thereupon ran to Yao Xing.

9th Month [22 October – 19 November], returned to favour the Henan Palace.

This Year, Yao Chang died.

[Dengguo 9, 17 February 394 – 5 February 395]

9th Year, Spring, 3rd Month [17 April – 15 May], the Emperor toured north. Sent the Duke of Dongping, Yuan Yi, to garrison agriculture in Wuyuan north of the He. Arrived outside of the Guyang Fortress.

Summer, 5th Month [15 June – 13 July], agriculture east of the He.

Autumn, 7th Month [13 August – 11 September], returned to favoured the Henan Palace.

Winter, 10th Month [10 November – 8 December], Shelun and others of the Ruanruan led the section groups to flee west. The affair written of in the Biography of the Ruanruan.

This Year, Yao Chang's son Yao Xing usurped the establishment, and killed Fu Deng. Murong Chui exterminated Yong.

[Dengguo 10, 6 February 395 – 26 January 396]

10th Year, Spring, 1st Month [6 February – 7 March], Taixifo returned from Chang'an to north of the high passes. In Shang commandery and westward, all submitted to him.

Summer, 5th Month [4 June – 3 July], favoured Yanchi.

6th Month [4 July – 1 August], returned to favour the Henan Palace.

Autumn, 7th Month [2 August – 31 August], Murong Chui dispatched his son Bao to come and rob Wuyuan, building ships and gathering the grain. The Emperor dispatched the Marshal of the Right, Xu Qian, to recruit troops from Yao Xing. The Duke of Dongping, Yuan Yi, moved to occupy Shuofang.

8th Month [1 September – 29 September], the Emperor personally trained the troops to the south of the He.

9th Month [30 September – 29 October], advanced the host. Overlooked the He and built Taigao ford [?]. There were continuous banners along the He for more than a thousand li from east to west.

At the time, the Duke of Chenliu, Yuan Qian and 50 000 cavalry was in the east, to thereby cut off their left. Yuan Yi and 50 000 cavalry was north of the He, to thereby forestall their rear. The Duke of Lüeyang, Yuan Zun 70 000 cavalry blocked their road to Zhongshan.

Winter, 10th Month, xinwei [23 November], Bao burnt the ships and escaped at night.

11th Month, jimao [1 December], the Emperor advanced the army across the He.

On yiyou [7 December], evening, arrived at Canhe Slope.

On bingxu [8 December], greatly routed them. This is told in the Biography of Bao. Captured alive their King of Chenliu, Shao, King of Liyang, Wonu, King of Guilin, Daocheng, the Duke of Jiyin, Yin Guo, the Heir to the King of Beidi, Zhong Kai, the Heir to the King of Anding, Yang Er, and beneath, civil and military officials, generals and magistrates, several thousand people. The tools and armour, supply wagons, army property, and diverse valuables tallied more than 100 000. From among the captive prisoners, selected those of them with talent and understanding, Jia Yi, Jia Gui, Chao Chong, and others, to discuss with them assisting in planning, the regulations setting forth the old and true. Distributed to and reward the great subjects, generals and officers each proportionally.

12th Month [28 December – 26 January], returned to favour Shengle in Yunzhong.

[Huangshi 1, 27 January 396 – 12 February 397]

1st Year of Huangshi [“August Beginnings”], Spring, 1st Month [27 January- 24 February], a great spring hunt at Dingxiang's Hu Mountain. Following that, went east to favour Shanwu's Northern Slope.

3rd Month [26 March – 23 April], Murong Chui came to rob Sangqian Stream. The Duke of Chenliu, Yuan Qian, had previously headquartered at Pingcheng. At the time the summoned troops had not yet assembled. Qian led [those] beneath his pennant to intercept and strike. He lacked profit and died  there. Chui thereupon arrived north-west of Pingcheng, he passed over the mountains and formed camp. He heard the Emperor was about to arrive, and therefore built walls to defend himself. He was very ill and thereupon escaped and left. He died in Shanggu. His son Bao concealed the mourning and turned. When he arrived at Zhongshan he therefore usurped the establishment.

Summer, 6th Month, guiyou [22 July], dispatched General Wang Jian and others with the Three Armies to chastise Bao's Grand Warden of Guangning, Liu Kangni, beheaded him, and moved his section groups. Bao's Grand Warden of Shanggu, Murong Pulin, gave up the commandery, and ran and fled.

On dinghai [5 August], the August Empress Dowager, Ms. He, expired.

That Month [22 July – 19 August], buried the Presenting and Clarifying [xianming] Empress Dowager.

Autumn, 7th Month [20 August – 18 September], the Marshal of the Right, Xu Qian, sent up a letter recommending advancing to the venerated title. The Emperor first established banners and flags of the Son of Heaven, when setting out and entering to give notice and clear way. Hence changed the inaugural [to Huangshi].

8th Month, gengyin [7 October], trained the troops in the eastern suburb.

On jihai [16 October], greatly raised up chastising Murong Bao. The Emperor personally directed the Six Armies' more than 400 000, set out south for Mayi, and passed over to Juzhu. There were banners, flags and spread out relay stations for more than 2 000 li. When they drummed to move and went forward, people's houses all shook. Separately decreed General Feng Zhen and others with the Three Armies to follow the eastern road and assault You province, and besiege Ji.

9th Month, wuwu [4 November], stayed at Yangqu, prevailed over the western mountains, and approached to observe Jinyang. Instructed the various generals to pull in the cavalry to surround and threaten, and when completed, to cease and turn back. Bao's Shepherd of Bing province, the King of Liaoxi, Nong, was greatly afraid, he commanded his wife and children to abandon the city and set out at night. Bing province was pacified.

Began to establish tribunals and bureaus, set up the hundred officials, and enfeoffed and designated Dukes, Marquises, Generals, Inspectors and Grand Wardens. For Gentlemen of the Masters of Writing and below fully employed civil personnel. The Emperor began to open up the Central Plains, keeping his heart to consoling and accepting. Of those scholars and grandees who went to the army gates, without regards to age, were all guided to enter and given audiences. There were questions for pervasive knowledge, and people got to fully [explain] themselves. If they were of hidden ability, they all got arranged for employment [?].

On jiwei [5 November], decreed the General who Assists the State, Xi Mu, to plunder the lands in Jinchuan. Captured Murong Bao's King of Danyang, Maide, and others, at Pingtao City.

Winter, 10th Month, yiyou [1 December], the Chariot Drove to set out for Jingxing. Sent the General of the Best of the Army, Wang Jian, and the General of the Left Army, Li Li with 50 000 cavalry as an advance force to open up the journey.

11th Month, gengzi [16 December], New Moon, the Emperor arrived at Zhending. From Changshan and eastwards, some of the wardens and stewards gave up the cites to flee and run away, some touched head to ground at the army gates. Only Zhongshan, Ye, and Xindu cities did not submit.

Separately decreed the Great General who Conquers the East, the Duke of Dongping, Yi, and 50 000 cavalry to go south and attack Ye. The General of the Best of the Army, Wang Jian, the General of the Left Army, Li Li, and others, to attack Xindu. During the army's movements, they did not do damage to people's mulberry and jujube trees.

On wuwu [3 January], advanced the army to Zhongshan.

On jiwei [4 January], guided the cavalry to besiege it. The Emperor spoke to the various generals, saying:

We are confident Bao is unable to set out and fight, he surely will rely on the walls to defend himself and cunningly delay for days and months. A quick attack will just wound the soldiers, a long defence will just expend the provisions. It is not as good as first pacifying Ye and Xindu, and afterwards turn back to take Zhongshan, when the plans are expedient.

Suppose we shift the army and leave for far away, then Bao will surely disperse the multitudes to seek food among the population. Like this, then people's hearts will stray and impede, and when we attack him, he will be easy to overcome.

The various generals proclaimed it good.

On dingmao [12 January], the Chariot Drove to favour Lukou City.

This Year, Sima Changming died. His son Dezong was usurpingly established. He dispatched envoys to court with tribute. Lü Guang usurped to declare himself Heavenly King, with the title Great Liang. He dispatched envoys to court with tribute.