釋氏稽古略 2.66

2.66

Fu Jian was a Di person from Lüeyang. His father Hong served the Later Zhao as commander-in-chief. Taking advantage of the chaos among the Shi clan, he occupied the territory west of the Pass. In the sixth year of the Yonghe era of Emperor Mu of Eastern Jin, Hong died. In the eleventh month, his third son, Jian, entered Chang'an. Both the barbarians and the Chinese of Qin and Yong submitted to him. In the first month of the following year, Jian assumed the throne of Heavenly King. He named his state the Great Qin, took the title of Great Chanyu, and established the reign era of Huangshi. He dispatched envoys in various directions to inquire about the people's hardships, sought out men of outstanding talent, reduced oppressive taxes, abolished useless implements, and eliminated all of the Zhao's harsh policies that burdened the people. In the first month of the renzi year, Jian assumed the throne of Emperor. In the jiayin year, Xiong, Prince of Donghai, died. Xiong's son Jian inherited his title of nobility. Jian was exceedingly filial, broadly learned, and versatile. In the sixth month of the yimao year, [Fu] Jian died. He was given the posthumous title Emperor Jingming, with the temple name Gaozu. The crown prince Sheng succeeded to the throne and changed the reign era to Shouguang. Sheng was tyrannical and cruel, drinking wine night and day; handling affairs while drunk, he executed many people. For the ministers, securing a single day was like enduring ten years. In the sixth month of the dingsi year, the Grand Astrologer Kang Quan said to Sheng: 'Last night three moons appeared together, and a comet entered the Grand Subtlety and connected to the Eastern Well. There will be the disaster of subordinates plotting against the superior.' Sheng grew angry, took it as seditious talk, and beat Kang Quan to death. At night, Sheng said to a maidservant: 'Afa and his brother are not to be trusted either; tomorrow I should eliminate them.' The maid reported this to [Fu] Jian and Jian's elder brother Fa, Prince of Qinghe. Fa, together with Liang Pingle, Specially Advanced, and Qiang Wang, Specially Advanced, led several hundred brave men and secretly entered the Yunlong Gate. Jian and Lü Polou, Minister of the Masters of Writing, led three hundred men under their command, clamouring with drums as they advanced in succession. The palace guards all laid down their weapons and submitted to Jian. Jian's soldiers took Sheng and placed him in a separate chamber; Sheng was still asleep and drunk. They deposed Sheng, made him King of Yue, and soon executed him, granting him the posthumous title King Li. Jian offered the throne to his elder brother Fa. Fa said: 'You are the legitimate heir and are virtuous; it is proper that you be established.' Jian then abandoned the title of Emperor and took the title Heavenly King of Great Qin, changing the reign era to Yongxing. He posthumously honoured his father Xiong as Emperor Wenxuan, his mother Lady Gou as Empress Dowager, and his eldest son Hong as Crown Prince. He appointed his elder brother Fa, Prince of Qinghe, as Commander-in-Chief of Military Affairs Inside and Outside, Chancellor, and Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. All the princes had their noble titles demoted to dukes: his younger brother Rong became the Duke of Yangping, and his son Pi became the Duke of Changle. He promoted exceptional talents, restored neglected duties, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, relieved the destitute, offered rites to all the gods, established schools, commended chastity and righteousness, and continued extinguished lineages. The people of Qin were greatly pleased. In the jiwei year, he changed the reign era to Ganlu. In the jichou year, he changed the reign era to Jianyuan. The guizwei year was the eighth year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Wu of Eastern Jin and the nineteenth year of Qin's Jianyuan era. He launched a massive campaign to attack Jin; Jian suffered a great defeat and returned. In the fifth month of the yiyou year, Murong Chong of Western Yan attacked Chang'an. Jian personally supervised the battle; flying arrows covered his body, and his blood streamed profusely. Chong unleashed his troops to brutally sack the Guanzhong region; the roads were cut off, and for a thousand li there was no smoke [from hearths]. Jian fled to Mount Wujiang. Yao Chang, King of Later Qin, dispatched Wu Zhong, General of Agile Cavalry, to capture Jian. He strangled him at a Buddhist monastery in Xinping (which is Binzhou). Jian's son Pi fled from Ye toward Chang'an, reaching Jinyang; only then did he learn that Chang'an had not held and Jian was already dead. He then conducted mourning rituals and assumed the throne of Emperor, changing the reign era to Taiping. He posthumously gave Jian the title Emperor Xuanzhao, with the temple name Shizu. In the ninth month of the bingxu year, Murong Yong of Yan sent an envoy to Pi to ask for passage to return east. Pi did not permit it. Pi and Yong fought at Xiangling. Pi was defeated and plotted to make a surprise attack on Luoyang. At that time, Peng Gai, the General Who Manifests Awe, intercepted and killed Pi coming out from Shan. In the eleventh month, Fu Deng, the Prince of Nan'an of Qin, observed mourning for Pi and assumed the throne of Emperor, changing the reign era to Taichu. He posthumously honoured Pi as Emperor Aiping. By the jiawu year, which was the nineteenth year of the Taiyuan era of Emperor Wu of Jin, in the seventh month, Yao Xing, the ruler of Later Qin, went from Jingzhou in Shaanxi to Jingyang. He fought with Deng south of the mountains, captured Deng, and killed him. Deng's crown prince Chong fled to Huangzhong and assumed the throne of Emperor, changing the reign era to Yanhe. He posthumously honoured Deng as Emperor Gao. Chong was eliminated by the Yao clan of Later Qin. In all, it lasted forty-five years.