釋氏稽古略 2.75

2.75

In the third year of the Long'an era of the Jin, Huan Xuan, Duke of Nanjun (son of Huan Wen, Grand Minister of Works), being overbearing and violent, having already conquered Jing and Yong, submitted a memorial requesting to govern the two provinces of Jing and Jiang. The imperial court could not refuse. In the first year of the Yuanxing era, the imperial court dispatched Shangzhi, together with Yuanxian, Prefect of the Masters of Writing, and Liu Laozhi, General Who Subdues the North, to lead troops to punish Xuan at Jiangling. Xuan was greatly alarmed. Bian Fanzhi, Chief Clerk, settled the plan for Xuan and marshalled the troops to reach Xinting. Yuanxian's troops collapsed. Xuan entered the capital, assumed control of all administrative affairs, and executed Yuanxian and others. In the second month of the second year, Xuan was made Grand General. In the ninth month, Yin Zhongwen, Palace Attendant, and Bian Fanzhi, Cavalier Attendant Regular, secretly drafted the text for the Nine Bestowals and the imperial mandate, appointing Xuan as Chancellor, controller of all administrative affairs, enfiefing him with ten commanderies as King of Chu, and conferring the Nine Bestowals. In the eleventh month, an edict ordered Xuan, King of Chu, to perform the rites and music of the Son of Heaven. Bian Fanzhi drafted the abdication edict and sent Bao, Prince of Linchuan, to coerce the emperor into signing it. Wang Mi, Minister of Works, presented the imperial seals and ribbons, abdicating the throne to the Emperor of Chu. [The former emperor] went out to reside in the Yong'an Palace. The civil and military officials went to Gushu (the city of Yangzhou in Taiping Route, Jiangdong Circuit) to urge him to take the throne. In the twelfth month, Xuan ascended the throne of Emperor, naming the state Chu and establishing the reign era Yongsgi. He enfiefed the emperor as King of Pinggu. When Xuan entered the palace at Jiankang and ascended the imperial couch, the bed suddenly collapsed; Yin Zhongwen, Palace Attendant, said: 'This must be because your sagely virtue is so profound that the earth cannot bear it.' Xuan was greatly pleased. Xuan moved the emperor to Xunyang (which is Jiangzhou). In the second month of the third year of the Yuanxing era, Liu Yu, Grand Administrator of Xiapi, along with He Wuji, Liu Yi, and Meng Chang, Registrar of Qingzhou, rose to restore the Jin imperial house, advancing troops to Luoluo Bridge. Xuan secretly sent Yin Zhongwen to prepare boats at Shitou and fled south floating along the Yangzi River. Yu entered Jiankang, led all officials to welcome the imperial carriage, and executed those of Xuan's clan who were in Jiankang. When Xuan arrived at Xunyang, he coerced the emperor to travel west upriver. In the fourth month, Liu Yi and He Wuji launched a surprise attack and broke Xunyang city. Xuan, taking the emperor with him, fled west in a single boat and entered Jiangling, intending to flee to Hanzhong. Chaos broke out inside the city; Xuan was barely able to reach the boat. Wang Kangyan, Attendant Officer of Jingzhou, escorted the emperor into the commandery government office of Nanjun, where Wang Tengzhi, the Grand Administrator, led the civil and military officials to serve as palace guards. Xuan entered Shu and reached Meihuizhou. Encountering the funeral procession of Mao Fan, Inspector of Ningzhou, which turned to fight Xuan, arrows fell like rain. Peng Qian, Supervisor of Yizhou, drew his sword, struck Xuan, and beheaded him. In the second month of the first year of the Yixi era, the retainers in the temporary capital prepared the imperial carriage, welcoming the emperor from Jiangling back to Jiankang. Liu Yu was appointed Commander-in-Chief of Central Military Affairs, Liu Yi as General of the Left, He Wuji as Inspector of Yuzhou, and Liu Daogui as Inspector of Jingzhou. In the fourth month, Yu returned to garrison Jingkou. In the twelfth month of the twelfth year of the Yixi era, an edict appointed Liu Yu as Chancellor, controller of all administrative affairs, and Governor of Yangzhou, enfiefing him with ten commanderies as Duke of Song and providing the ceremony of the Nine Bestowals. Yu did not accept.