Chapter 141 Chapter 140

Xiao Yu, the eldest son of Xiao Dao, was born in Jiankang in the seventeenth year of Yuanjia (AD 440).It is said that on the night of his birth, his grandmother and mother dreamed that there was a dragon sitting on the house, so he was named Long Er.Xiao Yu succeeded to the throne at the age of 43 and was called Emperor Wu. He reigned for 12 years and died at the age of 54. After Emperor Song Ming ascended the throne, Liu Zixun, governor of Jiangzhou and king of Jin'an, led by Deng Wan, rebelled.At that time, Xiao Yu was only in his 20s and served as the county magistrate of Gan County.Gan County is under the jurisdiction of Nankang County, and Nankang County is a subordinate county of Jiangzhou, so Gan County is at the center of turmoil.Nankang Prime Minister Shen Suzhi repeatedly ordered Xiao Yu to raise troops to respond to Liu Zixun's uprising, but they were all rejected.Seeing that he dared to refuse to obey orders, Shen Suzhi was furious and ordered him to be taken to the county jail.

Xiao Yu was imprisoned in the county prison. When he was anxious, his clansman Xiao Xinzu and his disciple Huan Kang led the crowd to break the prison and rescue him.After Shen Suzhi heard the news, hundreds of people came to chase after him. Without fear, Xiao Yu commanded the crowd to defeat the pursuers, captured Shen Suzhi alive, and beheaded more than a hundred enemies.Then, he led more than 100 troops to formally raise troops to respond to the imperial court's order.Later, as many as 3,000 people captured Nankang County. After Emperor Ming quelled the Liu Zixun Rebellion, Xiao Yu and his father Xiao Daocheng were promoted to nobles because of their loyalty to the imperial court and their military exploits.Xiao Yu also made his debut in this turmoil, showing outstanding political acumen and military talent.

After Xiao Daocheng took advantage of the opportunity of the Liu Song royal family's fratricide and gradually took control of the government, Xiao Yu, as his father's right-hand man, was entrusted with an important task.Shen Youzhi served as the governor of Jingzhou. His soldiers were brave and well-armored. He himself had experienced battles and made outstanding military achievements. Internal history, travel to Yingzhou affairs, and guard against Shen Youzhi.Xiao Yu repaired equipment in Yingzhou, practiced soldiers and horses, and actively prepared for battle.After Shun Emperor Liu Zhun came to the throne, Xiao Daocheng transferred Jinxi King Liu Xie as the governor of Yangzhou, appointed Xiao Yu as the general of the left guard, returned to Beijing with Liu Xie, and wrote to him, asking: "Since you entered the court, you have been elected as a civil and military officer. If you agree with your capital, you will be responsible for future affairs." Xiao Yu received the letter and recommended Sima Liu Shilong to replace him, and Xiao Daoguo appointed Liu Shilong as the chief historian to deal with Yingzhou affairs.Before leaving, Xiao Yu said to Liu Shilong: "Once Shen Youzhi makes a change, burns Xiakou boats, and then goes eastward, he will not be able to subdue. If Shen Youzhi can be left to attack Yingcheng, he will not be able to break away. You are in it, I am the outsider, attacking both inside and outside, and we will be able to break the enemy." Therefore, when Xiao Yu traveled to Xunyang and received the news of Shen Youzhi's rebellion, it was not accidental that he was able to be so confident and commanded well, but he had been prepared for a long time.Later, Shen Youzhi really stormed the city of Ying, but met Liu Shilong's tenacious resistance, and failed to capture it for more than 30 days.After Shen Youzhi's rebellion was quelled, Xiao Yu was granted the title of Marquis of Wenxi County and served as governor of Jiangzhou.Later, he rose step by step with the promotion of his father's status.

The Qi State was established, Xiao Yu was the son of Qi, and the stone city was the womb of the world, and the order of Fang Province was like the East Palace.Xiao Daocheng proclaimed himself emperor in the Song Dynasty, and he was established as the prince and became the natural successor of the Qi Dynasty. In March of the fourth year of Jianyuan (AD 482), Qi Gaodi Xiao Daocheng died, and Xiao Yu officially ascended the throne.In the second year, it was changed to Yuan Yongming. At the beginning of Xiao Yu's accession to the throne, the first big problem he faced was how to treat the old officials left behind by his late father.He was more than 40 years old when he became emperor. When he was young, he started a business with his father and made great contributions. He has rich political and military experience. In addition, he has a strong temperament, has his own opinions when encountering problems, and has the ambition to do great things, so he is unwilling to obey orders. As for others, I don't want everything to be governed according to my father's arrangement before his death.When Xiao Daocheng was dying, he summoned Chu Yuan and Wang Jian to assist Xiao Yu under the will.These two people are cautious and careful people, Xiao Yu felt at ease with them, knowing that they would not interfere in the government affairs, so even though Chu Yuan asked to resign from the post of Gu Ming many times due to illness, he refused to allow it.But Xiao Yu couldn't be so tolerant to other old ministers of the previous dynasty.

When Shen Youzhi's rebellion at the end of the Song Dynasty, Jiang Mi, Minister of the Ministry of Officials, suggested that Xiao Daocheng fake Huang Yue command to put down the rebellion, so he was highly appreciated by Xiao Daocheng, and his official position was well-understood from then on.After Xiao Daocheng's death, he was dissatisfied with Wu Yi's order to assist Jiang Mi in the government.When Xiao Yu came to the throne, many ministers were promoted to new positions. He was still in the old position, and he was even more unhappy, and often uttered slanderous words.Once, Xiao Yu fell ill, Jiang Mi hurriedly came to Yuzhang Wang Xiaoyi's mansion, after some politeness, he asked nakedly: "Now the Supreme Being can't afford the disease, and the Crown Prince is not a talent, I don't know what the Lord's plan is? "Xiao Yi is a loyal person and has a close relationship with his elder brother Xiao Yu, so he was not moved by Jiang Mi's provocations. After Xiao Yu's condition improved, he immediately reported Jiang Mi's inappropriate words and deeds.After Xiao Yu heard this, he immediately ordered Jiang Mi to be the prefect of Nandonghai. Before he could leave, he ordered Yushi Zhongcheng to report Jiang Mi's crimes before and after, and then issued an imperial edict to order him to die.

Among the former courtiers, Xiao Yu hated Xun Boyu the most, who had sued him for being black.Xun Boyu had followed Xiao Daocheng for many years, and was loyal and trusted by Xiao Daocheng.He has a close relationship with Yuan Chongzu. After Xiao Yu came to the throne, in order to temporarily appease Xun Boyu, he superficially put a lot of importance on Xun Boyu and Yuan Chongzu. Five soldiers Shangshu.In April of the first year of Yongming (483 A.D.), Xiao Yu suddenly issued an edict, slandering his ancestors and recruiting people from the north of the Yangtze River. He wanted to join forces with Xun Boyu and sent troops to kill them.

Cheqi General Zhang Jinger is one of Xiao Daocheng's powerful generals, who has repeatedly made outstanding achievements.Xiao Yu has long been worried about this rude and ambitious old minister with outstanding martial arts skills.After Yuan Chongzu's death, Zhang Jing'er began to panic, and Xiao Yu was even more worried about him when he found out.It happened that someone reported that Zhang Jinger sent people to trade with the barbarians.Xiao Yu was afraid that he would raise his troops to cause chaos, so he made up his mind to get rid of him.One day, Xiao Yu set up Baguan Zhai (Baguan is the Eight Precepts of Buddhism) in Hualin Garden, and all the courtiers came to participate.Xiao Yuduan sat at the head and decisively ordered Zhang Jinger to be arrested and imprisoned.Soon, Zhang Jinger and her four sons were killed at the same time.

Xie Chaozong and Zhang Jinger are in-laws. Seeing that Zhang Jinger was killed, he felt dissatisfied.One day, he went to visit Li Anmin, Yin of Danyang, and said, "Kill Han Xin in the past, and Peng Yue this year. I don't know what your plan is?" , Then reported to Xiao Yu, Xiao Yu usually hated Xie Chaozong's contempt and rudeness, so he ordered Yushi Zhongcheng Yuan Yuqin to impeach Xie Chaozong, and then paid him to Tingwei, moved to the frontier, and died on the way. Xiao Yu was very dissatisfied with the lack of sharp language in Yuan Yu's impeachment table for Xie Chaozong, so he asked Zuo Cheng Wang Qin to play Yuan Yu's light essays, deflecting the law, exempting him from office, and imprisoning him for another 10 years.

Of course, Xiao Yu did not blindly reject his father's important ministers, but also used them skillfully, including the dead.This is the case with the rebellion cases of Yuan Can, Shen Youzhi and others. Both Yuan Can and Shen Youzhi fought against Xiao Daocheng at the end of Song Dynasty and died in failure. Xiao Daocheng was punished as treason while he was alive.But because they rebelled under the banner of maintaining the rule of the Song Dynasty, many people in the society praised their spirit of loyalty to the old lord, especially Yuan Can, who won the sympathy of the world for the death of the Song Dynasty.On the contrary, Chu Yuan, an important official of the court at that time, was despised by others for betraying Yuan Can. His son Chu Ben was ashamed of his father's infidelity. , aroused great repercussions at the time.Xiao Yu deeply understands this situation, and he also wants to use this spirit of loyalty to the old master and never changing the festival to stabilize his rule, so that he can issue an imperial edict in April of the first year of Yongming (AD 483), saying "Yuan Can, Liu Bing, Shen Youzhi, although the end is not the end, but the beginning can be recorded", he was ordered to be buried with rites.Later, Xiao Yu asked Shen Yue to write "Book of Songs". Shen Yue didn't know whether he should write "Biography of Yuan Can", so he asked Xiao Yu for instructions.Xiao Yi replied: "Yuan Can is a loyal minister of the Song Dynasty." He agreed to write a biography for Yuan Can.Shen Yue recorded some scandals in the life of Emperor Xiaowu of Song Dynasty and Emperor Ming in a large space in the book. Xiao Yu met and said to Shen Yue: "I used to work in Emperor Ming, and you can think of the righteousness of hiding evil." So, Shen Yue John made a lot of redactions in the book.Xiao Yu was able to treat the previous dynasty with such tolerance, showing the generosity of a statesman, and thus won the hearts of the people.

Xiao Yu has a resolute temperament, is decisive in dealing with affairs, and has great ambitions to do great things. After he ascended the throne, he determined to make the country prosperous and strong.What he hates most is extravagance and waste, and he doesn't like banquets and carvings.Even so, there are still more than ten thousand concubines in his harem, and there are more than a thousand concubines in the harem of his younger brother, Yuzhang Wang Xiaoyi. Although Xiao Yu was able to properly handle the case of Yuan Can and Shen You, his employment is unknown.When Xiao Yu was the chief historian of Zhenxi, Wang Yan, the chief secretary of Song Shifu, flattered him in every possible way and gained his trust.Xiao Yu is the crown prince, and Wang Yan is the middle son.Later, Xiao Yu offended his father, Emperor Xiao Daocheng, and Wang Yan was afraid of hurting himself, so he claimed that he could not see Xiao Yu because of illness, and voluntarily distanced himself from him.After Xiao Yu ascended the throne, not only did he not blame Wang Yan, but he trusted him as before. He was first appointed as Danyang Yin, and then he was appointed as the governor of Jiangzhou. People met day and night to discuss court affairs. Although the ministers of the court looked down on people like Wang Yan, but because the emperor held him in high esteem, even princes and ministers such as Xiao Yi and Wang Jian condescended to receive him.In the seventh year of Yongming (AD 489), Wang Jian passed away.The official of the ceremony wanted to follow the story of the Eastern Jin Dynasty Prime Minister Wang Dao, and posthumously named Wang Jian as "document".Wang Yan was at odds with Wang Jian on weekdays, so he said to Xiao Yu: "The king of Jin Dynasty received this posthumous posthumous title, but since the Song family, it has not been added to surnames other than the royal family." After hearing this, Xiao Yu canceled the posthumous posthumous title and changed it to His posthumous title is "Wen Xian".Xiao Yu also wanted to ask Wang Yan for his opinion, using Wang Huan as the ministerial order.The relationship between Wang Yan and Wang Huan was not on good terms, so he offered advice in front of Xiao Yu, saying: "Liu Shilong has a great reputation, and I am afraid it should not be after Wang Huan." Shangshu left servant shoots.

In addition, Xiao Yu's confidants were won by several villains from humble backgrounds, such as Ru Faliang, Lu Wenxian, Lu Wenxian, and Lu Wendu, the foreign prisoner.Ru Faliang and others' lawless, self-serving and fraudulent behavior aroused people's hatred and disgust, but because Xiao Yu indulged them so much, others did not dare to oppose and criticize them. However, compared to the vendetta between father and son and brothers in the previous dynasty, Xiao Yu kept in mind his father's dying words and was able to take care of his family.One day, Xiao Yu saw a memorial that secretly reported that Changsha Wang Xiaohuang had dismissed from southern Xuzhou and returned to the capital. He privately carried hundreds of weapons and weapons. After being discovered by the forbidden department, they all threw them into the river.Xiao Yu once explicitly prohibited the kings from accumulating private wars, and the kings were only allowed to arrest about 40 people in the capital.Seeing that Xiao Huang dared to disobey the order, he couldn't help being furious, and wanted to correct him to justice.After hearing the news, Xiao Yi, the king of Yuzhang, rushed to see Xiao Yu. When they met, he knelt down and saluted, weeping bitterly: "Xiao Huang's crime is not worthy of forgiveness. May Your Majesty forgive Bai Xiang for the sake of the previous dynasty." Xiao Yu Hearing him mention his father, also known as Xiao Huang's small character Baixiang, the affection of flesh and blood was born spontaneously, and he couldn't help but bow his head and weep. There are 19 brothers Xiao Yu, he is the eldest, and the second brother Xiao Yi is his mother and brother.The two brothers have been harmonious and close since childhood.His father, Xiao Daocheng, saw that Xiao Yi was prudent and tolerant, and wanted to replace Prince Xiao Yu with him. Human friendship is deeper.According to the system, all kings must be neatly dressed when they meet the emperor. Xiao Yi specially allowed Xiao Yi to wear white skirts and hats when attending the Inner Palace Music Banquet.Xiao Yi is cautious, considers the high position and weight, and often thinks of retreating. He treats Xiao Yu with respect and loyalty, and does the courtesy of a monarch and minister. Only Xiao Yu is lucky to be in the mansion, and he wears white clothes and black gauze hat to serve the banquet.So Xiao Yu is most at ease with him. Xiao Huang is the fourth son of Xiao Daocheng. He has little martial power and loves martial arts.At the end of the Song Dynasty, when Shen Youzhi, the governor of Jingzhou, rebelled, Xiao Huang wore armor and led many armed guards to parade on horseback in the streets, very majestic.After Xiao Daocheng came to the throne, Xiao Huang served as governor of Yuzhou, and whenever he had to deal with government affairs, he was always restricted by the code, and Xiao Huang killed the code in a fit of anger.This incident deeply angered Xiao Daocheng, he personally issued an imperial edict to punish Xiao Huang, and from then on he no longer liked him.When Xiao Daocheng was dying, he told Xiao Yu that he could only let Xiao Huang work in a place close to the capital, and not let him go far, so as to control him.Therefore, after Xiao Yu came to the throne, he first appointed Xiao Huang as the governor of South Xuzhou, and then recruited him to Beijing.Because Xiao Yi repeatedly interceded for Xiao Huang, Xiao Yu also remembered his father's last warning, so he pardoned Xiao Huang's crime.From then on until Xiao Huang's death in the eighth year of Yongming (AD 490), Xiao Yu had no intention of harming him, but he did not see his relatives, and he was never allowed to work in places other than the capital. In August of the eighth year of Yongming (AD 490), the bureaucrats of Jingzhou government secretly reported that Jingzhou governor and Badong king Xiao Zixiang made brocade robes and other things privately, preparing to trade weapons with the barbarians.Xiao Zixiang is the fourth son of Xiao Yu. When he was a child, Xiao Yi had no children, so he succeeded him to Xiao Yi.Later, even though Xiao Yi had a son, he still asked Zixiang to be his eldest son. Xiao Yi agreed, and specially took care of Zixiang to enjoy the treatment of not paying homage to the kings.Even so, because he has already succeeded, the clothes of the vehicles are different from those of other princes.Xiao Zixiang has a violent temper. Whenever he entered the court, he would be very angry when he remembered that he was treated differently from other princes, and he would slam his fist on the wall of the car.After Xiao Yu knew about it, he couldn't bear his son being wronged, so he specially ordered his car uniform to be the same as that of other princes.In the sixth year of Yongming (AD 488), Xiao Zixiang was named the king of Padang.In seven years, he served as governor of Jingzhou.Xiao Zixiang was extremely brave and good at martial arts since he was a child. He liked all kinds of weapons, so he wanted to trade weapons and sticks with barbarians.Xiao Yu knew this martial arts son very well, and felt that he was not the kind of ambitious person.In order to find out the truth of the matter, first send someone to Jingjia for inspection.Unexpectedly, he soon got another message: Xiao Zixiang learned that the imperial court had sent people to investigate his dealings with the barbarians, so he called eight people including Chang Shi Liu Yin and Dian Zhao Wu Xiuzhi to question him. All killed! When Xiao Yu heard the news, he was surprised and angry, and said to his ministers: "The son's voice is reversed!" Then he sent Weiwei Hu Xiezhi, guerrilla general Yin Lue, and Zhongshusheren Ru Faliang to lead hundreds of elite soldiers to Jingzhou The arrest group is small.He also ordered: "If Zixiang returns home with his arms tied, he can save his life." After hearing the news, Xiao Zixiang frequently sent envoys to contact him to confess his love, and killed cattle to prepare a lot of food and wine to comfort the Taiwanese army (that is, the imperial guards).Yin Lue and others were not allowed to explain and were not allowed to enter the palace.Xiao Zixiang couldn't bear it anymore, and led 2,000 warriors and state soldiers under his care to leave the city. He and more than a hundred of them practiced Wanjun crossbows and stayed on the embankment of the river.The next day, Fuzhou soldiers fought with the Taiwan army. Xiao Zixiang fired a crossbow on the embankment and shot. The Taiwan army was defeated. Yin Lue died in battle. Xiao Yu was very annoyed when he saw that Xiao Zixiang dared to openly mobilize troops, and sent Danyang Yin Xiao Shunzhi to follow him.Prince Xiao Changmao usually hated Xiao Zixiang very much, so he secretly ordered Xiao Shunzhi to execute Xiao Zixiang outside before his departure.Xiao Zixiang took about 30 people in white clothes to Jiankang by boat, and met Xiao Shunzhi who was leading the troops on the way.Zixiang wanted to explain the reason, but Xiao Shunzhi refused to listen, so he was hanged in Shetang. Before he died, Xiao Zixiang wrote a letter to his father himself, expressing his grievances, and said: In order to avoid the slander of his father, he is willing to commit suicide so that the Qi Dynasty will not be ridiculed for killing his son.Reading his son's suicide note, Xiao Yu felt very sad.But when he saw a report asking Xiao Zixiang's family name to be cut off, Jazz, and Yi's surname to be cut off, he still agreed. In his later years, Xiao Yu was deeply troubled by the matter of his successor. Xiao Yu gave birth to his eldest son Xiao Changmao when he was less than 20 years old. This child was most loved by his grandfather Xiao Daocheng.In order to train Xiao Changmao, Xiao Yu once asked him to comfort the general and get in touch with the army.Later, he was sent back to the capital to follow Xiao Daocheng.At that time, Xiao Daocheng started a great business and paid special attention to his heirs. He was very happy to see his eldest son and grandson, and often made him communicate with civil and military guests. In the capital, Changmao is also responsible for the internal and external defense and the defense of the sects." Before Xiao Daocheng proclaimed himself emperor in the Song Dynasty, Xiao Zi returned to Beijing from Yongzhou.Because Xiangyang is an important military town, Xiao Changmao was appointed governor of Yongzhou on behalf of his father. After Xiao Daocheng ascended the throne, Xiao Changmao was granted the title of King of Nanjun.In all dynasties in the south of the Yangtze River, there has never been a direct emperor's grandson as a king. Xiao Daocheng set this precedent, which shows his love for his eldest grandson. Xiao Yu ascended the throne and made Xiao Changmao the crown prince.Changmao loved literature and righteousness, received literati with courtesy, raised warriors, and trusted disciples were distributed in the court.Xiao Yu often handed over prison lawsuits to him.In his later years, Xiao Yu enjoyed banquets and tours, and distributed the Shangshu Cao Shi to the prince for provincial inspection, so the prince became famous inside and outside. Xiao Changmao was fond of extravagance by nature, and the decorations in Dongguan's halls surpassed those of the imperial palace.Once, Xiao Yu went to the mansion of Yuzhang Wang Xiaoyi, and when he came back, he passed the Crown Prince’s East Palace. He was surprised to see the grandeur and scale of the palace city. , but I was kept in the dark, completely unaware, never thought that the prince would act so boldly, and all officials in the government and the public were so afraid of the prince and deceived themselves.Xiao Yu only felt a wave of anger rushing straight to his head, and he sternly ordered: "Who is the supervisor? Get me arrested and put in prison!" Xiao Changmao heard that his father was angry, panicked and at a loss, and hurriedly ordered his subordinates to hide the evidence.Xiao Yu was annoyed and saddened by what the prince had done, and severely reprimanded him. Xiao Changmao was too obese, so he seldom went out to play, and stayed in the East Palace all day.For fun, he often played with Yu Yi in the palace with his subordinates, making chariots and rides that only the emperor was qualified to ride on.The East Palace and the Imperial Palace are very close at hand, but Xiao Yu didn't even hear the wind. In the first month of the eleventh year of Yongming (AD 493), Xiao Yu received a report that the prince fell ill, so he went to the East Palace to visit him.Soon, the prince died of illness.Xiao Yu went to the East Palace in person and wept bitterly.An imperial edict was issued for the prince-to-be to wear the clothes of the crown of gun to hold the funeral, and his posthumous title was "Wen Hui". After the death of Prince Wen Hui, most people believed that the heir to the throne would be King Xiao Ziliang of Jingling.Xiao Ziliang is the second son of Xiao Yu, born to the same queen as Prince Wen Hui.Since the end of the Song Dynasty, he followed his father into the official career and received various influences in politics and military affairs.Qi Shi, a high official, served as prime minister for many years, became his father's right-hand man, and was deeply loved.He was thirsty for talents, and received corporals with courtesy. At that time, talents gathered in all directions.According to Xiao Ziliang's political experience and prestige, it seems that it is not a problem to be established as the heir, but the result is beyond people's expectations.It turned out that Xiao Yu carefully inspected the East Palace after the death of the prince, and was furious when he found out that the prince violated the rules of the clothes and feathers.And because Xiao Ziliang was friendly with the prince and did not report what he knew, even Xiao Ziliang became suspicious. After repeated consideration, in April of that year, Xiao Yu formally made Prince Wenhui's eldest son Xiao Zhaoye, the king of Nanjun, as the grandson of the emperor, and all civil and military affairs in the East Palace were changed to the official subordinate of the grandson. In July, Xiao Yu was seriously ill, and Xiao Ziliang was ordered to bring Jiazhan into Yanchang Hall to serve medicine.He also thought that the government and the public were worried when they heard the news, and people's hearts were unstable, so they braced their sick bodies and called the Yuefu to play music.When he was dying, Xiao Yu slowly opened his eyes, scanned the people around with difficulty, and asked out of breath: "Where is the grandson?" Left and right hurriedly answered: "The grandson is still outside the hall." Xiao Yu decided Gathering his mind, he said word by word: "Xuan Taisun entered the palace, and the East Palace Jiazhan followed." After finishing speaking, he closed his eyes and waited quietly.After a while, the grandson Xiao Zhaoye arrived in a hurry, Xiao Yu stretched out his hand, held the grandson tremblingly, and said with all his strength: "If you remember Weng, do it well!" Then he looked at his second son Xiao Ziliang, and nodded. head, and died peacefully at the age of 54.The posthumous name is "Emperor Wu", and the temple name is "Shizu".Buried in Jing'an Mausoleum.