釋氏稽古略 1.602

1.602

Prince Li of Changsha, Ai, fought repeatedly against General-in-Chief Ying. In the first month, Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai (a grandson of Emperor Xuan's younger brother), worried that affairs would not succeed, secretly conspired with various generals in the palace; at night they seized Ai, sent him to a separate department, and informed the Emperor. An edict was issued removing Ai from office and placing him in Jinyong City. Yue, wishing to kill Ai to cut off the hopes of the masses, sent someone to secretly notify Zhang Fang. Fang brought Ai to his camp and killed him. General-in-Chief Ying entered the capital, then returned to garrison Ye. An edict appointed Ying as Chancellor and granted Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai, the provisional post of Director of the Imperial Secretariat. Ying memorialized appointing Lu Zhi as Director of the Palace Secretariat to assist in signing and administering the affairs of the Chancellor's office. Sima Yong, Prince of Hejian, returned to garrison Chang'an. In the second month, Chancellor Ying memorialized the deposition of Empress Yang, confining her in Jinyong City. He deposed Crown Prince Tan to become Prince of Qinghe. An edict made Ying Crown Younger Brother; the imperial carriages, garments, and appurtenances were all moved to Ye. Ying became increasingly arrogant and extravagant by the day, and his favorites wielded power, greatly disappointing the masses. Sima Yue, Prince of Donghai and Minister of Works, plotted with Chen Zhen, former general under Ai and General of the Right Guard, to punish him. Sima Yong, Prince of Hejian, sent Zhang Fang to garrison Luoyang, but Ying repelled him; from this, a rift arose between Yong and Ying. In the seventh month, on the wuxu day, Empress Yang and Crown Prince Tan were restored. On the jihai day, Yue and others escorted the Emperor to punish Ying. Ying dispatched Shi Chao leading a host of fifty thousand to engage them in battle. The imperial entourage suffered a crushing defeat at Dangyin. The civil and military officials and personal attendants all dispersed. Ji Shao, Attendant-in-Ordinary, wearing his court robes, dismounted, mounted the imperial carriage, and shielded the Emperor with his own body. Ying's soldiers slashed Shao, his blood spattering the Emperor's robes. The Emperor fell into the grass and lost the six imperial seals. The Emperor went to Ye and visited Ying's camp; Minister of Works Yue fled to Xiapi. In the eighth month, Crown Prince Tan and Empress Yang were deposed once more. Duke Teng of Dongying, the younger brother of Minister of Works Yue, together with Wang Jun, joined forces to attack Ying's general Wang Bin and routed him thoroughly. Ye was shaken greatly. The officials fled, and the soldiers scattered. Lu Zhi advised Ying to escort the Emperor back to Luoyang. Yong's general Zhang Fang, commanding troops, monopolized court governance; Crown Younger Brother Ying could no longer participate in state affairs. Zhang Fang remained in Luoyang for a long time, his soldiers plundering and looting, and the public mood was in an uproar. In the eleventh month, Zhang Fang abducted the Emperor and relocated the capital to Chang'an. The soldiers plundered and contested the state treasuries; the reserves accumulated since the Wei and Jin were swept clean without remainder. The Emperor arrived in Chang'an and reinstated Empress Yang. An edict ordered Crown Younger Brother Ying to return to his private estate as Prince of Chengdu. Prince Chi of Yuzhang was newly established as Crown Younger Brother. The Emperor had twenty-five brothers; at that time, only Ying, Chi, and Prince Yan of Wu were still alive. Yan's talents were mediocre and inferior; Chi was modest, unpretentious, and fond of learning. Therefore, Grand Preceptor Yong established him (from the Imperial Annals).