The Sui Ruler Raises An Army To Conquer Chen; The Prince Of Jin Wins Glory And Schemes To Seize The Succession

The poem reads:
Prosperity fades like passing clouds; great deeds alone endure.
Bold plans would prop the sinking sun; great hearts disdain inferior men.
In troubled times, the worthy hide their talents; when fortune turns, heroes hasten to serve their sovereign.
Strange that history cannot record them all; thus the colored brush relates these wondrous tales.

The realms of greatest wealth, highest rank, and utmost pleasure delight the heart when spoken of, please the ear when heard, and gratify the eye when seen. Yet within them lie the seeds of decline and ruin. If they do not leave an infamous name for a thousand years, they surely become a subject of ridicule. The Palace of Guanwa and the Bronze Sparrow Terrace have provoked countless poets and scholars to sigh and mock. Only heroes from humble origins, who do not devote their lives to wine and women but endure hardship and obscurity, can repair or renew the ruin wrought by others. Their names may endure as long as heaven and earth. Though their fame comes later, their character is formed long before.

Consider the sun and moon: their nature is bright, and even when obscured by mist, their light ultimately shines through. Yet people fail to recognize such men. Even those who later praise them in writing speak only of their achievements, not of their days of obscurity. They forget that pines and cypresses possess the form of towering trees from birth, while young tigers and leopards already have the spirit to devour oxen. These early circumstances are all the more remarkable to recount. Before naming this man, I shall briefly describe the times in which he lived. Then I shall bring him forth and compose a history containing extraordinary matters unknown to the world. As the verses say:

Only amid tangled difficulties is a tool’s sharpness known;
Only when the blade parts a broad thigh is its mastery seen.
Since human resolve can overcome Heaven’s will,
Let extraordinary talent be summoned to end disorder.

From ancient times, decline has been followed by renewal: Yu, Xia, Zhou, Qin, Han, the Three Kingdoms, and the two Jin dynasties. After the five princes crossed the Yangtze during the Jin dynasty, the realm was divided in two, beginning the period called the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In the south, Liu Yu usurped Jin and founded Song; Xiao Daocheng usurped Song and founded Qi; Xiao Yan usurped Qi and founded Liang; and Chen Baxian usurped Liang and founded Chen. Though each adopted a dynastic title, claimed legitimate succession, and called its ruler emperor, its territory was limited and its power weak, confined to the lands south of the Yangtze.

In the north, during the Jin dynasty, the Central Plains had fallen to various non-Han rulers: Liu Yuan of Han, Shi Le of Zhao, Fu Jian of Qin, Murong of Yan, and Tuoba Gui of Wei. This was called the Upheaval of the Five Barbarians, giving rise to the Northern Dynasties. After further turmoil, Wei divided into Eastern and Western Wei. Gao Yang, son of Gao Huan, usurped one and renamed it Qi; Yuwen Tai seized the other and renamed it Zhou. Zhou subsequently destroyed Qi, uniting the lands north of the Yangtze.

During this period, a man named Yang Jian arose in Zhou. His childhood name was Narayan. He came from Huayin in Hongnong Commandery and was an eighth-generation descendant of Yang Zhen, Grand Commandant of Han. His father, Yang Zhong, had joined Yuwen Tai’s campaigns, received the surname Puliuru, and been enfeoffed as Duke of Sui for his military achievements.

When Yang Jian was conceived, his mother, Lady Lü, dreamed of a blue dragon coiled upon her belly. At birth, his eyes shone like morning stars, and strange markings on his hand formed the character 王, meaning “king.” Yang Zhong and his wife recognized these as extraordinary signs.

Later, an elderly Buddhist nun told his mother:

“This child is destined for indescribable greatness, but he must be separated from his parents if he is to grow to adulthood. I am willing to raise him.”

His mother entrusted the boy to her care. The nun, however, lived alone in her hermitage and had to ask her neighbors to watch him whenever she went out.

One day, while the nun was away, an elderly neighbor entered the hermitage and took Yang Jian in her arms. Suddenly, she saw two horns growing from his head and scales appearing across his body, making him resemble a dragon. Startled, she cried, “A monster!” and dropped him to the ground.

Just then, the nun returned. She hurriedly picked him up and lamented:

“You have frightened my child and delayed his becoming emperor by several years!”

Indeed, when Heaven intends to unite the realm, it must bring forth a true sovereign.

Over the following years, Yang Jian grew up. The nun returned him to his family and died not long afterward. Later, Yang Zhong also died of illness, and Yang Jian inherited his father’s position as Duke of Sui.

Emperor Wu of Zhou found Yang Jian’s imposing and unusual appearance deeply suspicious and repeatedly sent physiognomists to examine him. They recognized that great fortune awaited him, but all contrived to protect him.

Knowing of Emperor Wu’s suspicions, Yang Jian arranged for one of his daughters to marry the Crown Prince, thereby strengthening his position.

When Emperor Wu died, the Crown Prince succeeded him as Emperor Xuan. Whenever Emperor Xuan traveled, he entrusted Yang Jian, as his father-in-law, with governing the capital in his absence. Emperor Xuan was weak and incompetent, while Yang Jian had already established a powerful following. He eventually usurped Zhou, established the Sui dynasty, and proclaimed the first year of the Kaihuang era.

As the verses say:
Wang Mang, as imperial father-in-law, displaced the Liu house;
Cao Cao, through his daughter’s marriage, brought down Han.
From ancient times, ambitious usurpers have followed the same path;
Never treat a realm as something so easily exchanged!

Upon taking the throne, the Sui ruler made Lady Dugu his empress and his eldest son, Yang Yong, Crown Prince. His second son, Yang Guang, was enfeoffed as Prince of Jin.

He devoted himself to governance, attending court early and finishing late. Moreover, Empress Dugu was exceedingly fierce and jealous, which helped keep him from pursuing other women.

Among his civil ministers were Li Delin, Gao Jiong, and Su Wei; among his military commanders were Yang Su, Li Yuan, Heruo Bi, and Han Qinhu. With an able ruler and worthy ministers, Sui gradually conceived the ambition of expanding its territory and uniting the lands south of the Yangtze.

Had the ruler of Jiangnan likewise governed diligently and employed talented men, it would have been uncertain which side would prevail.

Unfortunately, founders of dynasties are generally industrious, while their successors tend toward ease. Founding rulers favor the upright and shun flatterers; their successors dislike seasoned men and prefer the young. Mediocre rulers allow themselves to be controlled by others, while those possessing some ability refuse to be directed.

Chen Shubao, the ruler of Chen, was intelligent and gifted. Unfortunately, having been born into the Southern Dynasties, he had inherited their taste for refined but feeble elegance and delighted in composing poetry.

He also encountered two Eastern Palace officials, Kong Fan and Jiang Zong, who possessed some literary talent but lacked integrity.

As the old saying goes, “Poetry is wine’s companion, and wine is lust’s matchmaker.”

With little else to occupy him, Shubao passed his time composing verse, drinking wine, enjoying women in bed, and adorning terraces and ponds. He cultivated a life of pleasure and sought enjoyment whenever possible.

Upon ascending the throne, far from changing his ways, he indulged his inclinations still further. He promoted Jiang Zong to the position of Pushe and appointed Kong Fan Minister of the Bureau of Justice.

Ruler and ministers alike neglected state affairs, spending their days at banquets and exchanging poems.

Among the attendants of Consort Gong, the Chen ruler discovered a beauty named Zhang Lihua. Her hair was six feet long and so lustrous that it reflected objects. She was intelligent, graceful, and elegant in manner. Her faint smiles and slight frowns were captivating, and her beauty delighted the eye. She anticipated the emperor’s wishes and pleased him with her gentle charm.

She possessed another admirable quality: she willingly recommended other palace women for imperial favor.

Thus the two Noble Consorts, Gong and Kong; the two Beauties, Yu and Li; the two Shuyuan, Zhang and Xue; Lady Yuan, the Zhaoyi; Lady He, the Jieyu; and Lady Jiang, the Xiurong, all received the emperor’s favor in turn.

How could the Chen ruler find time to attend to affairs of state?

Even when he examined memorials from his officials, he would recline against a cushion with Zhang Lihua seated on his lap, and the two would discuss and decide matters together.

What far-reaching judgment could a woman possess? Inevitably, palace attendants exploited the opportunity to accept bribes and usurp authority.

Furthermore, Kong Fan formed a fictive brother-and-sister relationship with Noble Consort Kong, securing imperial favor and monopolizing power. Before long, people knew only Jiang and Kong, scarcely remembering the ruler of Chen himself.

Fragrance accompanies songs from crimson lips;
Golden goblets bear the traces of wine.
Amid a splendid banquet of silks,
The bright candlelight is obscured.

With so many beauties gathered around him, pearl ornaments and jade pendants were needed to complement their delicate brows and graceful faces; embroidered jackets and brocade coverlets to suit their slender waists and peach-blossom cheeks. Rare mountain delicacies and seafood, served in gold and jade vessels, befitted their exquisite dancing and singing. Magnificent chambers, jeweled terraces, embroidered screens, and carved couches were required for their pleasures.

All these things had to be obtained from the people.

This gave rise to a band of cruel and ruthless men: Shi Wenqing, Shen Keqing, Yang Huilang, Xu Zhe, and Ji Huijing. They scoured mountains and seas for treasures, oppressing and impoverishing the people.

Before the Guangzhao Hall, they constructed three great pavilions: Linchun, Jieqi, and Wangxian. Each rose dozens of zhang high and contained scores of spacious rooms.

Their railings, window frames, and doors were made of agarwood, inlaid with gold, jade, pearls, and kingfisher feathers. Pearl curtains hung outside, while inside stood jeweled beds and tables, brocade canopies, and green silk hangings.

The fashionable men and women of the time were particularly skilled at ornamentation.

Strange rocks were purchased from Taihu, Lingbi, and the two Guang regions and piled up to imitate Mount Penglai. Water was channeled around these artificial hills to form ponds, with patterned stone banks and white stone bridges. Rare flowers and unusual plants were interspersed throughout.

As the verses say:

Only the imperial gardens could compare;
Even the Epang Palace could not surpass them.

The Chen ruler occupied Linchun Pavilion; Zhang Lihua lived in Jieqi Pavilion; and Noble Consorts Gong and Kong occupied Wangxian Pavilion.

The three pavilions were linked by elevated passages and winding corridors, allowing their occupants to move freely between them. Not a day passed without excursions and banquets.

Outside the inner palace, Kong Fan, Jiang Zong, and literary attendants such as Wang accompanied the emperor. Inside were female scholars, including Yuan Dashe.

When the wine had flowed freely, the emperor ordered his consorts, female scholars, Jiang Zong, Kong Fan, and the others to compose and exchange poems. The Chen ruler and Zhang Lihua judged their compositions and awarded prizes. The most beautiful verses were set to music.

At every banquet, several thousand palace maids were selected to sing in shifts. Lamps burned through the night as the revelers drank until dawn.

The splendor and extravagance of these scenes cannot be fully described.

As the verses say:

Ten million coins spent without a thought,
All to purchase a moment’s pleasure.
Cups brim with the people’s very fat;
The banquet consumes their flesh.
Daily rejoicing fills the palace,
Daily desolation haunts the streets.
Still they complain the daylight is too short,
And dance drunkenly until the moon descends.