The Sui Ruler Raises An Army To Conquer Chen; The Prince Of Jin Wins Glory And Schemes To Seize The Succession (3)

On New Year’s Day, in the first month of the second year of Zhenming, the ministers assembled at court.

The Chen ruler had spent the night drinking heavily and slept so soundly that he did not awaken until sunset.

Meanwhile, Heruo Bi had quietly led his troops across the Yangtze from Guangling. Han Qinhu, commanding five hundred elite soldiers, had crossed from Hengjiang and advanced directly upon Caishi.

The defending general, Xu Zijian, sent an urgent report and prepared to lead his men against the enemy.

Unfortunately, it was New Year’s Day, and his soldiers were all drunk. Not one could properly wield a spear or staff.

Xu Zijian had no choice but to abandon his men and hurry alone by boat to Shitou.

The Chen ruler was drunk, however, and Xu waited from morning until evening before receiving an audience.

The emperor merely replied:

“We shall discuss sending troops tomorrow.”

The following day was wasted in confusion.

Not until the fourth day of the month did he dispatch Xiao Mohe, Lu Guangda, and other generals to resist the invasion.

Xiao Mohe proposed attacking Heruo Bi immediately after his arrival at Zhongshan, before his forces could prepare.

Ren Zhong requested ten thousand elite troops and three hundred Golden-Wing warships to cut off the enemy’s retreat.

Both were excellent strategies, but the Chen ruler rejected them.

On the eighth day, the generals were ordered into fierce battle.

Only Lu Guangda fought desperately, killing more than three hundred of Heruo Bi’s soldiers.

Kong Fan fled as soon as his troops engaged the enemy, while Xiao Mohe was captured.

Ren Zhong escaped back to the capital. The Chen ruler did not rebuke him, but instead gave him two chests of gold and silver and ordered him to recruit soldiers for another battle.

Unexpectedly, when Ren Zhong reached Shizigang, he encountered Han Qinhu and surrendered with his troops. He then led the Sui commander into the city.

The soldiers and civilians inside fled in confusion, each seeking to save his own life.

The Chen ruler, however, remained seated foolishly upon his throne, awaiting reports of victory.

When he finally heard that the northern army had entered the city, he leaped from the imperial seat and prepared to flee.

Yuan Xian seized him and said:

“Your Majesty’s person is sacred. Remain properly dressed upon the throne, and surely they will not dare harm you.”

The Chen ruler replied:

“The enemy soldiers are coming! This is no place to remain!”

Breaking free, he fled into the rear palace and found Noble Consort Zhang and Noble Consort Kong.

“The northern soldiers have arrived! We must hide together and not become separated!”

He took Zhang by his left hand and Kong by his right and hurried away.

When they reached Jingyang Well, they heard the tumult of soldiers all around.

“It is over! We cannot escape. Let us die together!”

He prepared to throw himself into the well, but Xiahou Gongyun, an attendant of the rear palace, blocked the opening with his body.

The Chen ruler struggled with him for some time before all three fugitives finally jumped into the well.

Fortunately, winter was ending and spring beginning. The water in the well was shallow, so they scarcely became wet.

The Chen ruler said:

“Even if we escape discovery, how shall we ever get out?”

Victory songs replace the Flowers of the Rear Courtyard;
Flutes and drums give way to foreign war drums.
Today the imperial fortune of six dynasties ends;
How pitiful, the emperor has become a frog in a well!

The three hid for a long time before hearing a great commotion above them. Sui soldiers were searching the palace for jewels and women.

They found Empress Shen sitting calmly in her quarters, while the Crown Prince remained secluded behind closed doors. Only the Chen ruler was missing.

The soldiers searched everywhere.

A palace maid said:

“I saw him running toward the well. Could he have thrown himself in and drowned?”

Hearing this, the soldiers gathered around the well and peered inside.

It was deep and dark, but they could faintly discern someone below. They hurriedly lowered a grappling hook to catch him.

The Chen ruler dodged it, and the hook failed to catch hold.

At a loss, the soldiers began throwing stones into the well to test its depth, intending to descend and search.

When the Chen ruler saw the stones falling, he shouted:

“Do not strike me! Quickly lower a rope and pull me up!”

The soldiers immediately fetched a long rope and lowered the hook dozens of zhang.

After another considerable interval, they heard the Chen ruler call:

“Pull hard! I shall reward you with gold and jewels! Be careful not to lose your grip and injure me!”

At first, two men pulled, but could not raise him. Two more joined them, yet still they could not move the burden.

The soldiers remarked:

“He is an emperor, after all. His bones must be unusually heavy.”

Another said:

“He is certainly a fool!”

At last, they shouted together and hauled him up. To their astonishment, three people emerged, for the Chen ruler had tied himself to Noble Consort Zhang and Noble Consort Kong, which explained the great weight.

Everyone burst into laughter.

Wang Yuanfu, Prince of Song, wrote a poem:

Sui soldiers came, shaking the earth,
Yet the sovereign still rested at ease.
He should have known the world was narrow,
Less spacious than the well.
Beyond the towers, beacon fires shone white;
Beside the streams, blood stained the waters red.
Heartless was the waning moon,
Still hanging above the balustrade.

The soldiers surrounded the Chen ruler and escorted him before Han Qinhu.

The fallen emperor maintained a semblance of imperial dignity, greeting him with a formal bow.

That evening, Heruo Bi entered the city through the Outer Ye Gate and summoned the former emperor.

Seeing Heruo Bi’s imposing and stern appearance, the Chen ruler broke into a sweat, his legs trembling involuntarily.

Heruo Bi laughed.

“There is no need to be afraid. You may still become a Marquis Who Submits to His Fate!”

He ordered the Chen ruler to take the palace women and reside temporarily in the De Jiao Hall, while troops surrounded the building to guard it.