Chapter 134 Chapter 133 Emperor Wen Liu Yilong

In July of the second year of Song Jingping in the Southern Dynasty (AD 424), in Jiangling (now Jiangling, Hubei), Liu Yilong, the third son of Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty of the Southern Dynasty Liu Yu and Yidu King Liu Yilong, the governor of Jingzhou, received a report. Come and welcome him back to the capital and join the emperor's lineage.Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang and others' abolishment and killing of Young Emperor Liu Yifu and Luling King Liu Yizhen had already spread to Jiangling. Liu Yilong and his colleagues were both sad and terrified.Fu Liang's visit today immediately caused panic and suspicion in the mansion.Although Liu Yilong, who is only 18 years old, is calm, his heart is like a galloping horse.He knew that Tan Daoji, Fu Liang, etc. were all ministers of Gu Ming, who were assisted by the late emperor's edict and held great power. They were not loyal and obedient to others, so they dared to abolish the emperor and kill the emperor.The reason why they set themselves up as emperors is that they are young, weak and easy to control.At this time, they had made careful arrangements for long-term power: Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang were in power at the center, Xie Hui went to Jingzhou, a military center, to serve as the governor, and the outside was a barrier, echoing inside and outside, and relying on each other. All they left was an empty emperor. That's all.But he also knew that Xu, Fu and the others had no intention of usurping the throne, so there would not be any serious danger for a while.So he decided to enter the capital and ascend the throne.

In order to reach the capital safely and ensure no worries, he made careful arrangements and ordered Sima Wang Hua to stay in Jingzhou.His confidant, Zhu Rongzi, who joined the army, guarded day and night outside the cabin door of the boat he was riding with a knife in his arms. He didn't take off his shirt all the way until Jiankang. In August, Liu Yilong and his entourage arrived in the capital, and the ministers greeted them at Xinting (now south of Nanjing).After paying homage to Ning Ling, the tomb of the first emperor Liu Yu, Liu Yilong came to the middle hall of Quanzuo Taixue in the north of Qinhuai. All the officials offered the seal and ribbon, but Liu Yilong repeatedly declined. ceremony.Afterwards, Bei Fa drove into the palace, climbed to the front hall of Taiji, announced amnesty, and changed the year name to Yuanjia.

Not long after he ascended the throne, Liu Yilong officially appointed Xie Hui as the governor of Jingzhou.Then, Liu Yilong ordered that, with the merit of establishing a strategy to secure the country, Xu Xianzhi was promoted to Sikong, Fu Liang was added to open the third division of Fuyitong, Xie Huijin was named General Wei, and Tan Daoji was named General Bei.A Sizuo asked the emperor to come to Hualin Garden to hear the lawsuit and deal with the prison according to the story of the previous dynasty. Liu Yilong issued an edict saying that most of me are not familiar with political punishment, but as before, Xu Xianzhi and Wang Hong pushed for the hearing.It seems that he has a lot of trust in Minister Gu Ming without hesitation.

In the first month of spring in the second year of Yuanjia (AD 425), Liu Yilong had been on the throne for five months, and Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang returned to power.He was secretly happy about this, but he still refused to accept it right away, but gave way again and again; after submitting the form three times, he reluctantly agreed, and began to take care of every opportunity.Liu Yilong was calm on the surface, but secretly he was stepping up his preparations. At the end of the second year of Yuanjia, Liu Yilong publicly announced that he would launch a large-scale Northern Expedition, equip ships, and forge weapons, with great momentum.This move by Liu Yilong aroused great concern and speculation from the government and the public. The news that "the imperial court will send troops to attack Xie Hui" spread like wildfire. Conspiracy to raise troops.

In the first month of the third year of Yuanjia (AD 426), Liu Yilong was ready to stop and start to act.Xie Hui is an experienced general, who will attack him?Liu Yilong decided to appoint Tan Daoji, who had participated in the abolition, to lead the army.Attendant Wang Hua and others all thought it was inappropriate and opposed it in unison.Liu Yilong smiled and said: "When the emperor was abolished, Tan Daoji was only a coercion, not the leader, and the matter of killing the emperor has nothing to do with him. I will caress him, and he will have no worries." After hearing his analysis, everyone was convinced.

On the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, Liu Yilong summoned Xu Xianzhi and Fu Liang.On this day, Brother Xie Hui was on duty, and hurriedly sent someone to report to Fu Liang: "There is an unusual punishment in the palace." At this time, Fu Liang was already on the road. They immediately sent someone to report to Xu Xianzhi.Xu Xianzhi had already arrived at Ximing Gate. Hearing the report, he hurried back to Yangzhou Inspector's Mansion, left Guo in his wife's interrogation car, and walked to Xinlinpu, 20 miles outside Jiankang City, where he hanged himself in a pottery stove.Fu Liang went out of Guomen by car and rode to the tomb of his elder brother Fu Di, but Fu Tingwei was captured by the imperial court.Before Fu Liang was killed, Liu Yilong thought of his meritorious service in going to Jiangling to welcome him, and sent someone from Zhongshushe to tell him: "With the sincerity of Jiangling, I will make sure that all of you are safe."

After Xu and Fu were killed, Liu Yilong issued an edict to declare martial law, amnesty, and personally supervised the army from all walks of life to attack Xie Hui.At the beginning, Xie Hui didn't pay much attention to the imperial army. When he suddenly heard that Tan Daoji led the army to attack, he was terrified and defeated in just one battle. He was captured alive and sent to Jiankang for beheading. After Desheng returned to Jiankang, Liu Yilong issued an order to appoint Xie Lingyun, a close confidant of Luling King Liu Yizhen, as secretary supervisor, and Yan Yanzhi as Zhongshu servant.Taoist Huilin was also allowed to participate in the dignitaries, and he was called "Prime Minister in Black".

After killing Xu Xianzhi, Fu Liang, and Xie Hui, Liu Yilong took back the power of the court.In order to strengthen the royal family's rule over the central government, he transferred his fourth brother Liu Yikang, king of Pengcheng, back to Beijing in the sixth year of Yuanjia (429 A.D.) to serve as a situ, record ministerial affairs, and assist the government together with Prime Minister Wang Hong.Wang Hong was well aware of the dangers of the officialdom, coupled with his poor health, so he gave up everything to Liu Yikang, so Liu Yikang made decisions on internal and external affairs of the court.In the ninth year of Yuanjia (AD 432), Liu Yikang was added as the governor of Yangzhou, and in the sixteenth year (AD 439), he was promoted to the rank of general.Liu Yikang was so powerful that people in the government and the public fawned over him one after another. There were often hundreds of cars waiting at the gate of the house every morning.

After Liu Yikang assumed power, he felt that Sikong and Jiangzhou Governor Tan Daoji would pose a threat to him.Tan Daoji was the only remaining famous general of Beifu at that time. He had experienced many battles, made outstanding military exploits and was well-known far and wide.In the thirteenth year of Yuanjia (AD 436), Liu Yikang called Tan Daoji into the ancestral Tao and arrested him.In March, Tan Daoji, his son Tan Zhi and 11 other people were killed together with Fu Tingwei, but his childish grandson was saved from death. In the seventeenth year of Yuanjia (AD 440), the contradiction between Liu Yilong and Liu Yikang began to emerge.Servant Yin Jingren once secretly said to Liu Yilong: "The king's power is not a plan for the country, and it should be suppressed less!" Although Liu Yilong didn't say anything, he thought it deeply in his heart.

Liu Bin and others who surrounded Liu Yikang saw that Liu Yilong was sick, and often created public opinion: the emperor should be an older king, not a young one.Once Liu Yilong was critically ill and asked Liu Yikang to write Gu Mingzhao.Liu Yikang returned to the mansion and told the leaders Liu Zhan and Yin Jingren about the emperor's critical illness, crying bitterly while talking.Liu Zhan said: "The difficulties in the world are all caused by the young master's government!" After hearing this, Liu Yikang and Yin Jingren were silent. After Liu Yilong's condition improved, he heard the report that when he was seriously ill, Liu Yikang's confidant Kong Yinxiu and others actually carried Liu Yikang to Shang Shuyi Cao to ask for the files of Emperor Kang in the last years of Jin Xiankang, and prepared for Liu Yikang's succession to the throne. Medium burn.He turned to think that Liu Yikang was a brother and did not participate in this matter, so it is not good to accuse him of crimes. Besides, the time to completely solve Liu Yikang's matter is not yet ripe, so he can only endure it for a while, so he forbears it.But from then on, his hatred of Liu Yikang became stronger and stronger.

In October, Liu Yilong believed that the time was ripe and decided to solve Liu Yikang's problem.First, Liu Yikang was summoned to stay in Taicheng and stay in Zhongshu Province.When Tan Daoji was alive, he recommended Shen Qingzhi to Liu Yilong, saying that he was loyal, prudent, and well versed in military affairs. Therefore, Liu Yilong used Shen Qingzhi as the leader to defend Dongyemen.That night, Liu Yilong opened the door to summon Shen Qingzhi, and asked him to arrest Liu Yikang's confidant Liu Zhan and hand him over to the Tingwei. .Then they sent someone to announce the decree to Liu Yikang, informing Liu Zhan and others of their crimes.That night, Liu Yilong visited Yanxian Hall in Hualin Garden in person and summoned his confidant Yin Jingren.Since Yin Jingren was squeezed out by Liu Zhan and others, he has been recuperating at home for five years since the twelfth year of Yuanjia (AD 435). However, he secretly exchanged dozens of secret letters with the emperor every day.On this day, he heard that Liu Zhan had been arrested, and ordered someone to wipe his clothes, but neither the left nor the right knew what he meant.After receiving the edict summoned by the emperor, he still claimed that he had foot problems, and sat on the small bed to talk with the emperor.Liu Yilong entrusted him to deal with all matters concerning punishment and punishment. Liu Yikang knew that what the emperor did was aimed at him, so he submitted his resignation.Liu Yilong issued an edict to appoint Liu Yikang as the governor of Jiangzhou, and to go out of the town of Yuzhang (now Nanchang City, Jiangxi Province) with a generous salary. All those who wish to follow him are allowed to go with him, and all major and important affairs of the court are also reported to Liu Yikang.In addition, Liu Yilong also appointed Sima Xiaobin as Liu Yikang's counselor to join the army, leading the prefect of Yuzhang, and handling all matters in the mansion.He also sent General Longxiang Xiao Chengzhi to lead troops to defend and supervise Liu Yikang. After Liu Yikang was demoted to Jiangzhou, a long time passed unknowingly. One day, Liu Yilong went to a banquet at Princess Kuaiji's house, and the atmosphere at the banquet was joyful and harmonious.Suddenly, Princess Kuaiji got up from the table, kowtowed to Liu Yilong and saluted, with tears streaming down her face, feeling overwhelmed with grief.Liu Yilong didn't know what it meant, he was very surprised, he left the table and helped his sister up himself.Princess Kuaiji said: "The car (Liu Yikang's nickname) will not be tolerated by His Majesty at the end of the year, and I am pleading for his life." He swore: "Never worry about it. If you violate today's oath, you will be responsible for Chuning Mausoleum." He immediately sealed the place where he drank wine to give Liu Yikang, and wrote on it: "Sister Kuaiji has a banquet to remember her brother, and the rest of the wine is today. Marquis." Princess Kuaiji died in the 21st year of Yuanjia (AD 444), and Liu Yikang was safe and sound while she was alive. In December of the 22nd year of Yuanjia (AD 445), Fan Ye, Kong Xixian and others were killed after their conspiracy to support Liu Yikang was revealed. Some officials asked Liu Yikang to be deprived of the title of Pengcheng King Liu Yikang, and paid Ting Wei for punishment.Liu Yilong knew that Liu Yikang did not personally participate in this matter, but he knew that he was a threat to his throne, so he ordered: Liu Yikang and his children should be exempted from common people, and their ties should be expelled, and they should move to Ancheng County (now southeast of Anfu County, Jiangxi Province) ).Taking General Shen Shao of Ningshuo as An Chengxiang, he led the defense. In the twenty-eighth year of Yuanjia (AD 451), the Northern Wei Dynasty aggressively invaded the south, and the situation was critical. Liu Yilong thought of his younger brother Liu Yikang who was far away in Ancheng, and was afraid that someone would take the opportunity to take him as the master and cause trouble. He executed Liu Yikang as soon as possible to avoid future troubles.Therefore, Liu Yilong sent Yan Long, a member of Zhongshushe, to bring medicine and give Liu Yikang death.Liu Yikang refused to take the medicine, saying: "Buddhism forbids suicide, and I would like to deal with it at will." The messenger killed him as a cover-up. Liu Yilong killed his younger brother Pengcheng King Liu Yikang, which opened the prelude to the fratricide of the Liu Song Dynasty. Father and son brothers began to kill each other continuously, which eventually led to the fall of the Liu Song regime. Since the Jin Dynasty was forced to move south to establish the Jiangnan state, the Northern Expedition to recover the lost land has become a major issue that the government and the public have paid attention to.During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, there were several famous northern expeditions by Zu Ti, Huan Wen and Liu Yu.Although Liu Yilong is frail and sick, he is ambitious. He wants to inherit his father Liu Yu's unfinished business, gallop across the Central Plains, and unify the whole country.In addition, since Yuanjia, the society has been stable, the population has increased, production has developed, soldiers and food have been sufficient, and the national strength has become strong. Liu Yilong's desire for the Northern Expedition has also become stronger and stronger.Seeing that he intends to manage the Central Plains, all the ministers rushed to offer advice to win favor. In July of the twenty-seventh year of Yuanjia (AD 450), Liu Yilong issued an edict announcing the Northern Expedition.The main force of the Northern Expedition was led by General Wang Xuanmo of Ningshuo, and Xiao Bin, the governor of the two prefectures of Qinghai and Hebei, was the overseer.Yi Taiwei and Jiang Xia Wang Liu Yigong were stationed in Pengcheng and led the army.In order to support the Northern Expedition, princes, concubines, court officials, Mushou, and down to the rich people, each donated gold, silk, and sundries to help the country.The soldiers of six prefectures were also sent to join the army to make up for the shortage of troops. The army of the Northern Expedition marched northward in a mighty way divided by water and land.The main force led by General Ningshuo Wang Xuanmo besieged the slippery platform.Its troops are well-equipped, the soldiers are strong, and their fighting spirit is strong.But Wang Xuanmo was greedy, incompetent and self-willed. When he first besieged the city, he did not adopt the correct suggestions of other generals, and missed many good opportunities to defeat the enemy. Therefore, he failed to defeat the enemy after several months of besieging the city.At this moment, Tuoba Tao, Emperor Taiwu of the Wei Dynasty, personally led an army to the south to rescue the slippery platform. Wang Xuanmo retreated in panic, losing more than 10,000 soldiers, and discarded military equipment piled up like a mountain.The army of the Northern Wei Dynasty took advantage of the victory and pursued, broke through Xuanhu, went down to Xiangcheng (now Shenqiu County, Henan Province), forced Pengcheng (now Xuzhou City, Jiangsu Province), and then diverted to the south, crossed the Huaihe River and went straight to Guabu (southeast of Liuhe County, Jiangsu Province today), threatening to cross the river. Jiang attacked Jiankang.Liu Song's whole country was shocked.Upon hearing the news, Liu Yilong urgently ordered martial law both inside and outside, conscripted civilians to supplement the army, and deployed ships and defensive troops six to seven hundred miles from Caishi (now Caishiji, southwest of Maanshan City, Anhui Province) to Jiyang (now Jiangyin County, Jiangsu Province). Standing ready and establishing a solid line of defense, the Northern Wei Army's offensive was contained. Liu Yilong climbed to Stone City to watch, and saw the forest of banners and flags on the north bank of the Yangtze River, and the sound of military drums shaking heaven and earth. He deeply regretted this Northern Expedition.He said to Jiang Zhan with a worried face: "There are few people who agree with the plan of the Northern Expedition. Today, the scholars and the people are complaining, which makes me feel ashamed and worries the ministers in the court. It is all my fault." At that time, he thought of Tan Daoji, a famous general of Beifu who was brave and good at fighting, and said: "If Tan Daoji is here, how can Huma be so arrogant!" In the first month of the second year, the Northern Wei army saw that there was no room to take advantage of, so they had to withdraw.When the Northern Wei army retreated, they carried out unprecedented massacres, looting and destruction. Every time they passed through, young and strong were killed, even babies were not spared.The houses were burned down, and the counties and counties they passed through were completely bare.The village is empty, and no cock crows or dogs bark.Jiangnan suffered from this catastrophe, the national power declined greatly, and the military defense line was withdrawn from Luoyang and Huaitai to Huaibei, and the once prosperous and powerful "Yuanjiazhizheng" declined. In his later years, the relationship between Liu Yilong and Prince Liu Shao became more and more tense, until they became incompatible. Liu Shao was born in the third year of Yuanjia (426 A.D.). As soon as he was born, his mother, Empress Yuan, held him in her arms and examined him carefully. The more she looked at him, the more she felt disliked, so she sent someone to report to Liu Yilong: "This child looks unusual. In the future, the country will be ruined and the family will be destroyed, so it cannot be lifted." He also wanted to kill Liu Shao.Liu Yilong was eagerly looking forward to the news of the birth of the child. When he first heard that a son was born, he couldn't help being overjoyed. Then when he heard that the queen was going to kill her son, he couldn't help being shocked. , Liu Shao was able to save his life.In the sixth year of Yuanjia (429 A.D.), Liu Yilong officially made Liu Shao the crown prince.Seeing that the clan was strong, he was afraid that Liu Shao's brothers would make trouble, so he specially increased the number of troops in the East Palace, making it similar to the Yulin Army, with a strength of ten thousand.In order to cultivate the prince's political ability, he let Liu Shao participate in the management and decision-making of state affairs.In this way, Liu Shao became his powerful arm.But later, a rift gradually developed between father and son, and Liu Yilong felt more and more unable to tolerate Liu Shao's arbitrariness. One day, a secretary reported that Princess Dongyang's Huangmen Chen Qingguo surrendered to the court, exposing that the crown prince Liu Shao and the second prince Shixing Wang Liu Jun had colluded with each other.After hearing this, Liu Yilong was shocked and couldn't believe his ears. He immediately ordered Wang Parrot to be arrested.Soon, some officials handed over hundreds of sheets of paper written by Liu Shao and Liu Jun, found from Wang Parrot's house, all of which were written by witchcraft, and dug up a jade man in the image of Liu Yilong in front of Hanzhang Hall. , only Yan Daoyu absconded in fear of crime.Looking at the criminal evidence in front of him, Liu Yilong trembled with anger. Soon, Liu Yilong received another secret report: Yan Daoyu, a witch wanted by the imperial court, was hiding in Zhang Yi's home in Jingkou.He immediately sent someone to arrest them, but only two of Yan Daoyu's maidservants were caught.The two confessed that Yan Daoyu first hid in the Prince's East Palace, then went to Jingkou with Liu Jun, and has now returned to Jiankang, the capital with him.Liu Yilong originally thought that Liu Shao and Liu Jun had already been convicted and cut off contact with Yan Daoyu. After hearing the report, he was greatly disappointed, melancholy, regretful, and horrified.He ordered the second maidservant to be sent from Jingkou to the capital for re-interrogation, and after the matter was clarified, the second son would be severely punished. After several changes, Liu Yilong no longer had any hope for the two sons Shao and Jun, so he made up his mind to abolish Prince Liu Shao and bestow the death of Prince Shixing Liu Jun.He first conspired with his servant Wang Sengchuo to find the allusions of the abolished princes and kings since the Han and Wei dynasties, and sent the servant of the minister to shoot Xu Zhanzhi and the minister of the official department Jiang Zhan, so that they could participate in the matter. After the abolition of the crown prince Liu Shao, who will be appointed as the crown prince?Liu Yilong was hesitant about this: he didn't like the three sons who came in order; he wanted to choose one of his beloved fourth son, Liu Shuo, King of Nanping, and the seventh son, Liu Hong, King of Jianping, to be the crown prince. Which one is better?He couldn't make up his mind again. Seeing this, Wang Sengchuo, the attendant, was very anxious, and came to meet Liu Yilong: "The matter of establishment depends entirely on the will of the Holy One. According to my opinion, this matter should be stopped quickly and not delayed. The ancients said, 'It should be broken continuously. , instead of being chaotic', may the sage cut grace with righteousness, and don't bear it any longer. Otherwise, you should treat the prince with open arms as before, and fulfill the nature of father and son, so there is no need to worry about doubts. Although the matter of abolishing the establishment is strict , will also be leaked. You must not cause accidents to make fun of thousands of years." After hearing this, Liu Yilong still couldn't make up his mind.Wang Sengchuo became anxious, and blurted out the words: "I am afraid that after a thousand years, people will say that your majesty can only lay off younger brothers, not sons." "You can only lay off younger brothers, not sons." Wang Zenchuo's words deeply hurt Liu Yilong, and he decided to step up his actions.At this time, Liu Shuo entered the court from Shouyang, and lost Liu Yilong's favor for some reason. Liu Yilong decided not to consider the matter of making him the prince, but the only one left was his beloved son Liu Hong.But he changed his mind, Liu Hong ranked seventh among his brothers, and he was afraid of causing dissatisfaction with other sons and ministers, so he hesitated again.The proposal to abolish the prince and set up a new one has not been decided for a long time, and Liu Yilong is annoyed and confused.One day at the place of Concubine Pan Shu, the mother of the second prince Liu Jun, she couldn't help but tell Concubine Pan Shu about this matter.Concubine Pan Shu heard this, and immediately told Liu Jun, who in turn told Liu Shao, but Liu Yilong didn't know it, and was still thinking hard day and night, not knowing what to do. One day, Liu Yilong received a secret report from his attendant Wang Sengchuo: Recently, Prince Liu Shao rewarded soldiers in the East Palace every night, and even served wine himself.This matter is unusual, and it seems that there will be an act of treason. I hope the emperor will make a quick decision.Liu Yilong's heart was shocked, and he couldn't help thinking secretly: Although the prince has a strong temperament, does he really dare to raise troops to rebel?The matter of abolishing the prince should be quickly discussed, otherwise if the prince finds out about it, there will be chaos.But who is right?When he was still hesitating there, he didn't know that a catastrophe was imminent. In the 30th year of Yuanjia (AD 453), on February 21st, Liu Yilong had a private conversation with Xu Zhanzhi in Hedian all night. After a lazy night, he said to Xu Zhanzhi, "I've been tired all night, so I should rest." Since Liu Yilong decided to abolish the crown prince, Xu Zhanzhi often had secret talks with Liu Yilong at night, fearing that someone would eavesdrop, so he held a candle and went around the wall to inspect it himself. Only when you are sure that there is no one, you can rest assured that you are doing secret business, often all night long.At this moment, he was also tired and exhausted. Hearing what Liu Yilong said, he fell asleep without even having time to extinguish the candle.The guard on duty in the old guard was also asleep. After a while, he heard the sound of chaotic footsteps approaching from far away. Liu Yilong opened his hazy eyes and saw Prince Liu Shao's confidant Zhang Chaozhi barging into the palace with a knife in his hands. Zhong hurriedly raised the case machine to resist, but was slashed by Zhang Chaozhi viciously, and all five fingers were chopped off in one stroke.Then, Zhang Chaozhi stabbed him fiercely with a knife, and Liu Yilong died immediately. He died at the age of 47.Xu Zhanzhi got up in a panic and went straight to the north gate. Before he could open the gate, the rebels rushed in and he was also killed.Jiang Zhan was on duty in Shizhong Province, when he heard a commotion, he knew that Liu Shao was in trouble, and sighed: "There is no need for Wang Seng's jokes, so this is what happened." After Liu Yilong's death, Liu Shao took the throne, and his father added the temple name "Zhongzong" and posthumous title "Emperor Jing".In March, he was buried in Changning Mausoleum. When Liu Jun, the king of Wuling, heard that his father had been murdered, he immediately launched an army crusade and defeated Liu Shao, who became the throne.