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reinaka42 · 4 months

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Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) Masterpost

Wang Chuan Feng Hua Lu (忘川风华录) is a Vocal synth (Vocaloid and SynthV) music project. It consists of songs themed around different figures throughout Chinese history. The project is a collaboration between different artists and creatives, with music and videos featuring prominent traditional Chinese elements. The project's title translates to "The Records of Magnificence of the Wangchuan" - In Chinese mythology, "Wangchuan" (or River of Forgetting) is a river in the Underworld that can rid one of their past life's memories, similar to the river Lethe.

A mobile game adaptation has also been developed by NetEast. Unfortunately, I haven't played it so I can't give much insight on it. However, I assume that its premise is similar to that of the idea behind the project as a whole: all these historical figures meeting each other in the Underworld after they died. Maybe.

You can find all the songs on Bilibili. The official Weibo can be found here. The game's website, which includes all characters appearing so far in the game, can be found here, and its Weibo can be found here.

(If you prefer YouTube, I've also put together a handy playlist. Please know that most of these videos are reposts though, so please watch the original Bilibili MVs if you can!)

This blog is where I will be posting everything I feel like I need to say about the songs in this project. A lot of it is lifted from my Twitter account but will be in much more detail. Note that I probably won't touch collab songs, or songs that don't focus solely on the project's own characters.

Disclaimer: I do not speak Chinese, nor am I an expert on Chinese history. Therefore, I cannot reliably translate the lyrics to these songs, nor my words should be taken as gospel. I am merely a nerd gushing about my hyperfixation.

Playlist

多情岸【Duo Qing An】 ➼ B link

洛阳怀【Luo Yang Huai】 ➼ B link

易水诀【Yi Shui Jue】 ➼ B link

山河令【Shan He Ling】 ➼ B link

簪花人间【Zhan Hua Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

栖凰【Qi Huang】 ➼ B link

心上秋【Xin Shang Qiu】 ➼ B link

祖龙吟【Zu Long Yin】 ➼ B link

如见青山【Ru Jian Qing Shan】 ➼ B link

竹林间【Zhu Lin Jian】 ➼ B link

天下局【Tian Xia Ju】 ➼ B link

青鸟衔风【Qing Niao Xian Feng】 ➼ B link

木兰行【Mu Lan Xing】 ➼ B link

好字唯之【Hao Zi Wei Zhi】 ➼ B link

不可道【Bu Ke Dao】 ➼ B link

水叙湖风【Shui Xu Hu Feng】 (collab) ➼ B link

是非【Shi Fei】 ➼ B link

风起甘露【Feng Qi Gan Lu】 (collab) ➼ B link

谓剑【Wei Jian】 ➼ B link

万象霜天【Wan Xiang Shuang Tian】 (New Year event song) ➼ B link

千秋梦【Qian Qiu Meng】 ➼ B link

易安难安【Yi An Nan An】 ➼ B link

惊鹊【Jing Que】 ➼ B link

高歌破阵【Gao Ge Po Zhen】 (collab) ➼ B link

不赴【Bu Fu】 ➼ B link

西行【Xi Xing】 ➼ B link

大航海家【Da Hang Hai Jia】 ➼ B link

牡丹乱【Mu Dan Luan】 (collab) ➼ B link

倾国【Qing Guo】 (collab) ➼ B link

相虎【Xiang Hu】 ➼ B link

补天裂【Bu Tian Lie】 ➼ B link

此期盈期【Ci Qi Ying Qi】 (1st anniversary song) ➼ B link

破云来【Po Yun Lai】 ➼ B link

归钓吟【Gui Diao Yin】 ➼ B link

始见千秋【Shi Jian Qian Qiu】 ➼ B link

临川浮梦【Lin Chuan Fu Meng】 ➼ B link

将军行【Jiang Jun Xing】 ➼ B link

妄语人间【Wang Yu Ren Jian】 ➼ B link

数风流【Shu Feng Liu】 (2nd anniversary song) ➼ B link

问剑春秋【Wen Jian Chun Qiu】 ➼ B link

起战令【Qi Zhan Ling】 ➼ B link

人间应又雪【Ren Jian Ying You Xue】 ➼ B link

旷古回响【Kuang Gu Hui Xiang】 ➼ B link

墨隐侠声【Mo Yin Xia Sheng】 ➼ B link

桃源故人【Tao Yuan Gu Ren】 (3rd anniversary song) ➼ B link

*Note: The anniversary songs are probably for the game's anniversaries, as the project itself is more than 5 years old.

Albums

Vol 1: 溯洄【Su Hui】 Includes character songs from Duo Qing An to Zhu Lin Jian. Features human vocals.

Vol 2: 踏浪【Ta Lang】 Includes character songs from Tian Xia Ju to Jing Que.

Vol 3: 数风流【Shu Feng Liu】 Includes character songs from Bu Fu to Wang Yu Ren Jian, an unreleased song titled 燕双归【Yan Shuang Gui】, and the two anniversary songs.

Visual character guide:

#忘川风华录 #wang chuan feng hua lu #wcfhl #chinese music #vocasynth #vocaloid #synthv #vocaloid project #synth v project #synthesizer v #vocal synths #long post #this is the culmination of a 3 year brainrot #i will try my best

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bookofjin · 3 years

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Rise of Sixteen States: 302

The war in Shu continues.

14 February 302 – 2 February 303

(Jin's 1st Year of Tai'an)

1st Year of Tai'an, 12thmonth, dingmao [26 January], the King of Hejian, Yong, petitioned that the King of Qi, Jiong, was spying and keeping an eye on the spirit-like receptacles and had no heart for his lord. He and the King of Chengdu, Ying; the King of Xinye, Xin; and the King of Fanyang, Xiao, assembled together at Luoyang, and requested to dismiss Jiong to return him to his residence.

The King of Changsha, Ai, received the Driving Carriage to station at the southern Zhiche gate. He attacked Jiong and killed him.

Used the King of Changsha, Ai, as Grand Commandant and Commander-in-Chief of the Various Army Affairs at Centre and Outside.

(Li Te)

1stYear of Tai'an, Spring, Luo Shang's Serrated Gates, Xia Kuang, attacked Li Te at Lishi, but lost the advantage.

The General who Conquers the West, the King of Hejian, Yong, dispatched the Controller-Protector Ya Bo to chastise Te. Bo stayed in Zitong. Jin also designated the former Grand Warden of Guanghan, Zhang Zheng as Grand Warden of Guanghan, he occupied Deyang. The Colonel of the Southern Yi, Li Yi, also dispatched 5 000 troops to help Shang. Shang dispatched Controller-Protector Zhang Gui of Baxi to supervise forty [“four thousand”?] from the Serrated Gates army [?] at Fancheng. They were to attack Te from three sides.

Bo just then dispatched Army Advisor Meng Shao to persuade Te to surrender. Shang passed on to Bo a letter which said:

In the past year [I] obtained a note from Li Liu, that surrender was in his heart, earnestly and sincere. Owing to at the time [my] dominating control, he got to return to be a bandit. [I] hear Te is trusting sincerely in lowly functionaries, but Liu and Xiang# with seven or eight thousand people come to rob daily. They have an attitude of perfidious malice, and their shifty deceits are unfathomable. It is impermissible to not put weigh in grasping them.

Bo did not follow, and for that reason was routed by Te at Yangmian.

Te instructed Dang and Xiong# to assault Bo. Te personally struck Zhang Gui, Gui's multitudes were greatly defeated. Dang again engaged Bo in battle over continuous days, and Bo likewise achieved defeat, the dead were the greater half. Dang pursued Bo to Hande, Bo fled to Jiameng. The Grand Warden of Zitong, Zhang Yan, threw away his granaries and stores, and ran to Baxi.

Dang advanced to rob Baxi. The Assistant of Baxi commandery, Mao Zhi, and the Five Officials Xiang Zhen used the commandery to surrender to Dang. Dang consoled and helped those began to adhere, the hundred families were calmed by it. Dang advanced to attack Jiameng. Bo again escaped far away, his multitudes thoroughly surrendered to Dang.

Ya Bo was talented both in civil and military matters, and the Great General who Conquers the West, the King of Hejian deeply esteemed him. Earlier, when he was Grand Warden of Yinping, he had been dismissed by the Assistant Officer of Ba commandery, Mao Fu, and so he resented the people of Liang# province.

Reaching the western campaign, the Conquers the West Xu Xiong, since at the service of Yangmian, while the bandits still had not yet arrived, heard the cry of a crane and readily withdrew. Bo wished to pile up the blame on Liang# province, relying on himself not being provided with provisions. The Within the Seat of Liang# province petitioned about it, and Bo hence got the blame. Jin therefore in turn employed Xu Xiong as Inspector of Liang# province.

8thMonth [9 September – 7 October], Te advanced to attack Zhang Zheng at Deyang. Zheng relied on the heights and occupied defiles, he and Te grasped each other for continuous days. At the time Te and Dang had divided to make to camps. Zheng waited for Te's camp to empty out, and dispatched infantry troops to follow the mountains and attack him. Te confronted them in battle but did not gain the advantage, the mountain defiles constrained and confined and the multitudes did not know what to do. Luo Zhun and Ren Dao both recommended pulling out and withdrawing, but Te calculated that Dang would surely come, and for that reason did not allow it.

Zheng's multitudes who had arrived bit by bit became many, and the mountain road was extremely narrow, it was only possible for one or two people to move, Dang's army did not manage to go forward. He spoke to his Marshal, Wang Xin, saying:

Father is deep among the bandits, this is my death day.

Then he wore heavy armour, grasped a long lance, and with a great shout went straight ahead. Pushing the spear-point certain to die, he killed more than ten people. Zheng's multitudes came to help each other. Dang's army all fought desperately to the death, Zheng's army thereupon scattered.

Te discussed his wish to let Zheng go to return to Fu. Dang and Wang Xin advanced to say:

Zheng's army has fought continuously, and his soldiers are wounded and injured, their wisdom and bravery all exhausted. [We] ought to take the opportunity of their ruin and then seize him. If we set aside and let go of him, Zheng will rear the ill and gather the absconded. When his remaining multitudes once more join together, planning against them will not be easy.

Te followed them, and again advanced to attack Zheng. Zheng broke through the encirclement and ran. Te dispatched generals to pursue him by water and land, and then murdered Zheng. They seized alive Zheng's son Cun, and so Zheng's corpse returned with him.

Te used Jian Shi as Grand Warden of Deyang, he imposed on and annexed territory as far as Dianjiang in Ba commandery.

During Te's attack on Zhang Zheng, he sent Li Xiang# together with Li Pan, Ren Hui, and Li Gong to station the army at Piqiao, to prepare against Luo Shang. Shang dispatched the army to incite them to battle. Xiang# and others routed him. Shang again dispatched several thousand people to set out and fight, Xiang# again destroyed and routed them, greatly captured their armaments and armour, and attacked and burnt their gates.

Li Liu advanced the army to stay north of Chengdu. Shang dispatched his detached general Zhang Xing to pretend to surrender to Xiang#, to observe what was false or true. At the time Xiang#'s army did not exceed 2 000 people. Xing return at night to report to Shang, and Shang dispatched 10 000 spirited and brave men (HYGZ: “Sou troops”) biting branches to accompany Xing and assault Xiang#'s camp at night. Li Pan confronted them in battle and died. Xiang# and his generals and soldiers ran to Liu's palisades, combined his strength with Liu, and turned around to attack Shang's army. Shang's army was thrown into chaos, and lost their arms and armour. Those who returned from the defeat were one or two out of ten.

Jin's Inspector of Liang# province, Xu Xiong, dispatched an army to attack Te. Te destroyed and routed them. Te made ready the strategic points and did not get to advance. [The General who] Conquers the West therefore dispatched the Army Overseer Liu Chen to command the western campaign. Since the Central States had affairs, it did not bear fruit. Yet the Colonel of the Southern Yi, Li Yi, dispatched Sou troops to help Shang. Shang's army's was crushed several times, and Te's strength flourished daily.

(JS088, Biography of Liu Chen: When the King of Qi, Jiong assisted the Government, he pulled [Chen] in to be Senior Clerk of the Left, then moved him to Palace Attendant. At the time Li Liu was making chaos in Shu. A decree used Chen as Palace Attendant, Acting with the Tally, to command the Inspector of Yi province, Luo Shang, the Inspector of Liang# province, Xu Xiong, and others to chastise Liu. He travelled to stay at Chang'an. The King of Hejian, Yong, requested Liu Chen to be Minister of the Army, and dispatched Xi Wei to replace him.)

(There is a chronological problem here, since Li Liu only became the overall leader next year when the Central States no longer had “affairs”. On the other hand, as seen above it was Liu, and not Te, who threatened Chengdu at this point of the conflict. It is possible contemporaries judged the relative importance of the two different than later historians.)

(Li Liu)

Li Liu, courtesy name Xuantong, was Te's fourth brother. As young he was fond of studying and at ease with bow and horse. The Colonel of the Eastern Qiang, He Pan claimed Liu had the bravery of Meng Ben and Xia Yu, and lifted him up to be Controller of the Eastern Qian. When they escaped the conditions for Yi province, the Inspector, Zhao Xin, esteemed and was amazed by him. At Xiang being sent by Xin to combine the section multitudes, Liu likewise recruited sons and brothers of their home village, several thousand men. When Xiang was killed by Xin, Liu accompanied Te to calm and comfort the drifting people, rout Chang Jun at Mianzhu, and pacify Zhao Xin at Chengdu. The imperial court discussed his merits, designated him General who Arouses Domination, with ennoblement as Marquis of Wuyang.

At the carry on of authority by Te, he used Liu as General who Garrisons the East. He dwelt in the eastern camp, and was titled as the Controller-Protector of the East. Te often sent Liu to supervise sharp multitudes, he and Luo Shang grasped each other.

(Li Xiong)

Li Xiong, courtesy name Zhongjun, was Te's third son. Dang, courtesy name Zhongping, was Te's oldest son. Their mother, Ms. Luo, dreamt a pair of rainbows and climbing to Heaven from their gate. One of the rainbows broke in the middle. Then she gave birth to Dang. Later Ms. Luo was drawing water, suddenly it was like she slept. She again dreamt of a great snake entwining her body, and thereupon became pregnant. After fourteen months she gave birth to Xiong. She often said:

If one of my two sons perish first, the one who lives will certainly be of great worth.

Dang passed on in the era of Li Liu.

Xiong was 8 chi, 3 cun tall, and had a pleasing appearance and countenance. Someone skilled at assessment assessed him, saying:

This Lord will become valued, for his assessment there are four things: His eyes are like layered clouds, his nose is like a turtle or dragon, his mouth is like a square vessel, his ears are like they look at each other. He is the model for becoming a valued person, that his rank exceeding the Three Excellencies is not in doubt.

(HYGZ: At the time when Xiong was young, Xin Ran assessed he would become valued.)

As young he gained a reputation for his ardent spirit. Always when he made a circuit of his home district, the gentlemen of understanding and intelligence all esteemed and put weight in him. There was one Liu Hua, he was a skilled scholar of the Way. Middle of the Taikang era [280 – 289], he always advised the district, saying:

The gentlemen of Guan and Long all will relocate south. Among the sons of the Li clan only Zhongjun has a Heavenly bearing and is unusually conspicuous. In the end he will become a ruler of men.

Many people of his home district were on good terms with him. He and his uncle Xiang both gained a reputation for their ardent spirits, [When Xiang died,] many of the people reverted to him. When Te raised troops in Shu, and carried on authority, he used Xiong to garrison Zitong, and also designated him General of the Van.

#r16s

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the-archlich · 4 years

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Zhang Yang story is very interesting. Maybe he is the first "fans" of Lü Bu what ever the latter does. He even insanely thinking to send reinforcement although his teritorry is very far from Xu and get murdered just because of that. And then thinking how he is very fond of Lü Bu why is he didn't join Dong Zhuo and instead he is in the Coalition army?

Zhang Yang had kind of an unlikely career path. Everything he did makes sense in context.

He was from Bing province, where his skill in battle brought him to the attention of the local inspector Ding Yuan. Zhang Yang was made a minor officer - so he worked closely with fellow Bing-province warrior Lü Bu. The two of them were friends before the shit really hit the fan.

In 188, Ding Yuan sent Zhang Yang to the capital, where he served in the Army of the Western Gardens under the eunuch Jian Shuo - along with Cao Cao and Yuan Shao. Then shit fell apart; Emperor Ling died and He Jin killed Jian Shuo. At that point, He JIn sent Zhang Yang back to Bing to recruit soldiers to help him against the eunuchs (similar to the order he gave Bao Xin and Wang Kuang. Acting with He Jin’s authority, Zhang Yang recruited soldiers - but instead of taking them to Luoyang, he stayed in Bing and used them to fight Zhang Yan and his Heishan Bandits.

As a result of all this, Zhang Yang wasn’t there when Lü Bu killed Ding Yuan. While the rest of Ding Yuan’s men went over to Dong Zhuo, Zhang Yang was doing his own thing in Bing. Although he failed to take control of Shangdang he gathered a substantial army and became a local power. With friends on both sides, Zhang Yang was at first able to stay out of the whole mess.

Things changed when Yuan Shao started to act on his ambitions to take control of Jing in 191, having abandoned the campaign against Dong Zhuo. Zhang Yang joined him along with Yufuluo. Yufuluo evidently wasn’t entirely willing to support Yuan Shao, and he forced Zhang Yang to rebel with him. They were driven off by Qu Yi (because Qu Yi), but this essentially reasserted Zhang Yang’s independence.

Now, in 190, Yuan Shao personally occupied Henei commandery and his subordinate Wang Kuang acted as its executor. But Wang Kang was driven off early in the year and Yuan Shao essentially abandoned the commandery to focus on Ji. Dong Zhuo was driven back to Chang’an by Sun Jian. So to shore up his position, he offered Zhang Yang the title of Executor of Henei. Zhang Yang was now an enemy of Yuan Shao and needed some allies, and he was old friends with Lü Bu; so he accepted the position.

So, it was an odd series of circumstances that led him to being where he was.

Zhang Yang remained in Henei for the rest of his career. He often provided shelter to Lü Bu when he was on the run, and the two were evidently close friends. To his credit, Zhang Yang did aid Liu Xie when he fled from Chang’an and seems to have governed his territory reasonably well.

Then, in 198, his old friend Lü Bu was in danger, being under siege in Xu province. Zhang Yang wanted to help him - but, of course, he couldn’t actually send soldiers that far. Instead he dispatched soldiers to Dongshi 東市 in Yan as a diversion - hoping to draw some of Cao Cao’s resources west to relieve the pressure on Lü Bu. But this fell apart when one of Zhang Yang’s officers assassinated him in support of Cao Cao. The assassin was killed in turn by a man who wanted to lead the army to join Yuan Shao. They did so, but the remnants of Zhang Yang’s army were quickly defeated by Cao Ren and Shi Huan, putting an end to all that.

#zhang yang

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bookofjin · 3 years

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Annals of Chuping 1 (190)

[From Yuan Hong’s Houhanji 28]

Annals of Emperor Xiaoxian [“Filial and Offering”], Part 1

1st Year of Chuping [“Beginning Peace”]

[23 February 190 – 11 February 191]

Spring, 1st Month, xinhai [4 March], a great amnesty Under Heaven.

Palace Attendant Zhou Bi and Colonel of the City Gates Wu Qiong, argued to Dong Zhuo, saying:

In all cases the affairs of deposing and installing are great, and not attained by regular people. Yuan Shao did not comprehend the greater structure, and fearful and afraid set out and ran without having other aspirations. Now with the urgency of a bounty, circumstances are certain to make him change.

The Yuan clan have planted kindness for four generations, the students and former functionaries from their gates are everywhere Under Heaven. Suppose they gather the prominent and outstanding so as to assemble a crowd of followers. The gallant and bold will follow them and rise up, and East of the Mountains will not be possessed by Your Excellency. It is not as good as forgiving him, and designate him the Warden of a single commandery. Then Shao will delight in avoiding punishment, and there is certain to be no worries.

Zhuo considered it to be so, and therefore used Shao as Grand Warden of Bohai.

On guichou [6 March], Zhuo killed the King of Hongnong.

Zhuo sent the Prefect of the Gentlemen of the Palace, Li Ru, to advance with poisoned wine to the King, saying:

Ingesting the drugs can expel the foulness.

The King said:

I am not ill. In truth [you] wish to kill me this way.

He was not willing, they forced him. And so the King was together with Concubine Tang and the palace people to drink the drugs. The King himself sang, saying:

Heaven's Way is easy, and destiny why so hard.

Forsook the ten thousand vehicles, and withdrew to guard the border.

A traitorous subject is coercing, and fate will not be delayed.

Going away [I am] about to leave you, and depart for the hidden darkness.

Concubine Tang rose up and danced, she sang, saying:

August Heaven collapses, and Sovereign Earth crumbles.

Somebody is Emperor or King, and fate is cut short and swept away.

The dead and living have different paths, and following this [will] turn aside.

Dismayed, I am alone and solitary, and within the heart is sorrow.

Following that she wept, and those sitting there all grieved. The King spoke to Concubine Tang, saying:

You are the former consort of a king, and in the circumstances will not become the wife of a functionary or commoner. Take care of yourself, from that [I] bid farewell with you.

Thereupon he drank the drugs and died. The Emperor heard about it, he came down from his seat and thoroughly grieved.

At that time, the Inspector of Ji province, Han Fu, the Inspector of Yu province, Kong Zhou, the Inspector of Yan province, Liu Dai, the Grand Warden of Chenliu, Zhang Miao, the Grand Warden of Bohai, Yuan Shao, the Grand Warden of Donghai, Qiao Mao, the Grand Warden of Shanyang, Yuan Yi, the Grand Warden of Henan, Wang Kuang, the Chancellor of Jibei, Bao Xin, the General of the Rear, Yuan Shu, the Consultant Gentleman Cao Cao, and others all rose up with righteous troops, wanting to execute Zhuo. Their multitudes each numbered several tens of thousand people, and they pushed forward Shao as master of the oath. Shao titled himself General of Chariots and Cavalry. Cao was Acting General who Exerts the Martial.

The Grand Warden of Changsha, Sun Jian, likewise raised troops to execute Zhuo, and by the time he arrived in Nanyang, his multitude numbered several tens of thousand people. Zhuo used Jian as General who Routs the Miscreants, hoping he would be agreeable and restrained. Jian denounced Zhuo as being past his prime, and advanced to station at Yangdui. Zhuo was greatly angered, and dispatched Hu Zhen and Lü Bu to strike Jian. They fought at Jianping, and Jian greatly routed them.

Zhuo, since the troops East of the Mountains were abundant, wished to move the capital to Within the Passes. He summoned the Excellencies and Dignitaries to discuss it, saying:

Gaozu's capital was Within the Passes for eleven generations. Later during Han's middle flourishing, the eastern capital was Luoyang. From Guangwu until now there then has been twelve generations. Leaning on the the Stone-Wrapped Chamber Prophecies, [we] ought to again return the capital to Chang'an.

Among the hundred officials there were none who dared to respond. The Minister over the Masses, Yang Biao, said:

Moving the capital and changing the regulations are the great affairs of Under Heaven, and always must follow the heart of the people and ensue from what is proper for the times. Formerly Pangeng made the fifth move, and the people of Yin where altogether resentful. For that reason he composed three chapters to shed light on and explain it.

In the past when Wang Mang usurped and rebelled, he disarrayed and made chaos of the Five Constants. And in the disarray of Gengshi and the Red Eyebrows, they burnt down down Chang'an and harmed and wounded the hundred families. The population drifted away and absconded, and out of a hundred not one remained. When Guangwu accepted the instructions, he altered the capital to Luoyang, and this was appropriate for it.

Just now [we] have established and installed a sagely ruler, brilliantly raising high Han's benediction. But then for no reason to give up the ancestral temples and palace halls, abandon the former emperors' parks and mounds, the hundred families will be frightened and alarmed and not figure out these intentions. There will surely be boiling gruel and an assembly of ants, and so cause disturbance and chaos. The Stone-Wrapped Chamber Prophecies is a book of bewitching perversity, how can [we] trust and make use of it?

Zhuo changed colour and said:

Excellency Yang wishes to obstruct the strategies of the House of State? East of the Mountains, the Yellow Head-scarves make chaos, and is where thieves are rising up. Chang'an's strategic points of Yao and Han are firm, they are the important defences of the state.

Also from Right of Long [one] obtains timber, the work is not difficult. And below the Southern Mountains of Duling there are Emperor Xiaowu's old place for kilns to make brickwork, in one morning and one evening it can be managed. The palace houses and official storehouses, how are they not sufficient to talk about! The hundred families and small people, how is it sufficient to discus with them! Suppose there are [those who] go forward and come back, [we] will use our great troops to spur them on, how will they get to be by themselves?

The hundred companions all lost colour. The Grand Commandant, Huang Wan, said:

This is a great affair. Excellency Yang' speech, might it not be [you] could think about it?

The Minister of Work, Xun Shuang said:

How is the Chancellor of State enjoying moving the capital? Now East of the Mountains, troops are rising up, it is not possible to corral them in in a single day. But West of the Passes is still quiet, and for that reason we will move there to plan, as in the circumstances of Qin and Han. Stand firm and fight, without stop, and misfortune is certain to be what comes back. I will not do that.

Zhuo caused to have the ministers memorialise to dismiss the two Excellencies.

2nd Month, dinghai [probably a mistake for yihai, 28 March], the Grand Commandant, Huang Wan, and the Minister over the Masses, Yang Biao, were retired by bamboo slips.

Earlier, Zhuo made use of the opinions of Wu Qiong and Zhou Bi and selected the famous scholars of Under Heaven. When Fu and others had set out, they all raised up troops to plot against Zhuo. Zhuo considered that Qiong and Bi had sold him out, and in his heart was angry with them. Reaching the discussion on moving west, Qiong and Bi firmly admonished. Zhuo, greatly angered, said:

You Lords said [we] must draw out and employ good scholars. Zhuo followed the two lords' scheme, and did not dare to disobey the heart of Under Heaven. When the various lords arrived at their offices, they raised up troops and plotted, how can Zhuo count on [you]?

Thereupon he beheaded Qiong and Bi.

Biao and Wan were fearful and afraid, and hastened to Zhuo to apologize, saying:

It was because of small people's fondness for the old, not a wish to obstruct the affairs of state. [We] request to consider [our] shortcomings as accepting punishment.

Zhuo was not fully furious with them at the time [?], and when he killed Qiong and Bi, he had come to regret it, so for that reason the petitioned for Biao and Wan to be Brilliantly Blessed Grandees.

Zhuo used the Governor of Henan, Zhu Jun, as Grand Coachman, to be considered as deputy for himself. Jun was not willing to accept, and because of that advanced to say:

The state ought not to move, it is certainly undeserving of Under Heaven's expectations, and will complete the rift with East of the Mountains. Your Subject does not see that it is possible.

There was a minister who said:

The summons to audience was for you Lord to accept the designations, but you Lord resisted it. [We] did not ask about the affairs of moving, but you Lord put it forth. Why so?

Jun said:

To be deputy for the Chancellor of State is extremely weighty and is not something Your Subject is capable of. That moving the capital not be planned is what is pressing for Your Subject. To decline what he is not capable of, and advance what is urgent for him is what is proper for a subject.

There was a minister who said:

The affairs of moving the capital, earlier there were no plans for that, and even if there are, they have not yet been exposed. How did [you] gain knowledge of it?

Jun said:

The Chancellor of State, Dong Zhuo, arranged to make Your Subject talk about it.

The ministers were not able to bend [him] and so the great subjects of the court, and the Gentleman of the Masters of Writing, Hua Xin, and others all commended him.

Owing to that, they desisted and did not make him deputy to Zhuo. Zhuo increasingly hated him, and he feared he would certainly be destroyed by Zhuo, he therefore ran to Jing province. The Intendant of the Brilliantly Blessed, Zhao Qian, became Grand Coachman. Wang Yun became Minister over the Masses and caretaker Prefect of the Masters of Writing.

On dinghai [9 April], the Son of Heaven transferred the capital to Chang'an. Zhuo stayed behind to station at Luoyang, he thoroughly burned the palace houses, and moved the people to Chang'an.

On renchen [14 April], a white nimbus passed through the sun.

3rd Month, jisi [21 May, possibly an error for yisi, 24 April], the Chariot Drove to arrive at Chang'an. During the chaos of the Red Eyebrows, the palace houses had burnt down completely, and there was only the Exalted Temple and the Jingzhao office buildings. Thereupon they went and made the capital there.

On wuwu [10 May], Zhuo killed the Grand Tutor, Yuan Wei, and his three sons.

At that time, Yuan Shao was stationed in Henei. The Grand Warden of Chenliu, Zhang Miao, the Inspector of Yan province, Liu Dai, the Grand Warden of Dong commandery, Qiao Mao, and the Grand Warden of Shanyang, Yuan Yi, stationed at Suanzao. The General of the Rear, Yuan Shu, stationed at Nanyang.

The Inspector of Ji province, Han Fu, held a great assembly at Suanzao, wanting to make an oath. The various provinces and commanderies in turn pushed forward and yielded to each other, nobody was willing to be the one in front. The Board of Merit Official of Guangling, Zang Hong, climbed the altar holding the blood, and said:

The House of Han is ill-fortuned and the kingly guide-ropes have lost control. The traitorous subject Dong Zhuo exploits feuds to indulge in harm. Calamity is inflicted on the most venerable, cruelty flows to the hundred families. There is great fear for the loss and destruction of the altars of soil and grain, and the shearing away and overturning of the Four Seas.

The Inspector of Yan province, Liu Dai, the Inspector of Yu province, Kong Zhou, the Grand Warden of Chenliu, Zhang Miao, the Grand Warden of Dong commandery, Qiao Mao, the Grand Warden of Guangling, Chao, and others, have brought together and joined righteous troops, and together hurry to the state's difficulties.

All of us in the same oath must unite our hearts and join our strength, so as to cause a subject be steadfast, and that perished heads and lost principals are certain to not cause division. [If] there are those who pull out from this oath, they will tumble to their fate without having offspring. August Heaven and Sovereign Earth, the founders, ancestors and luminous spirits, will truly all oversee it.

The spirit of Hong's speech was sorrowful but strong, with weeping tears flowing down. Of those who heard his words, even among the squads of footsoldiers, the servants and cooks, there were none who were not excited and brought up.

Zhuo's troops were strong, and Shao and the others did not dare to be the first to advance. Cao Cao said:

[We] raised up righteous troops to punish violence and chaos, and now the multitudes have already joined together. How can you Lords be doubtful afterwards? [When we] caused Dong Zhuo to hear about the troops of East the Mountains rising up, [if he] had relied on the veneration for the kingly house, occupied the defiles of the Two Zhou, and turned to preside over Under Heaven, then even though he was without the Way in how he acted, it still would be enough to troublesome.

But now he burns down the palace houses and forcibly moves the Son of Heaven. Within the Seas shake and stir, and do not understand where to resort to. This is the time when Heaven destroys him. With a single battle Under Heaven will be settled, [we] cannot neglect it.

He guided his army to go west and fight at Xingyang. Cao's troops were greatly defeated.

At that time, the Inspector of Qing province, Jiao He, also raised troops to chastise Zhuo, [but] He and the various generals when they travelled west, did not make protective defences for the common people. When they started to cross the He, the Yellow Head-scarves had already entered their region. Qing province was flourishing and wealthy, and the army strong, [but] He looked at the robbers and ran north, not once catching the wind and dust, or mixing with the banners and drums. He excelled at divining with stalks and trusted ghosts and gods. When one enters to see his [kind of] person, Pure Talk impinge the sky. When one sets out to observe his government, rewards and penalties are in smashed disorder. The province thereupon is barren and bleak, and thoroughly becomes hills and wasteland.

Soon after, He became ill and passed on. Yuan Shao sent Zang Hong to take charge of Qing province. He consoled He's people and multitudes, and the thieves and bandits ran off and fled. Shao admired his ability, and moved him to be Grand Warden of Dong commandery.

Summer, 4th Month [22 May – 20 June], used the Great Minister of Horse, Liu Yu, as Grand Tutor.

The Prefect of the Masters of Writing, Wang Yun, memorialised, saying:

Grand Scribe Wang Li explains the Classic of Filial Piety' Six Secret Affairs. Make the Imperial Court act on them, to dispel and hold off calamity and evil. He has increasingly the body of a sage.

A decree said:

[We] have heard a king must study virtuously. [We] have not heard that Master Kong made the Classic of Filial Piety to be [like] this, and then held off evil.

Yun firmly memorialised his request, saying:

Li's studies are deep and substantial, these are the confidential mysteries of a sagely person. Act on them without reduction.

The Emperor therefore followed it. Often on auspicious days, Wang Yun, together with Wang Li, would enter to make the Emperor recite one section of the Classic of Filial Piety, and use canes and two bamboo mats to delineate the Nine Palaces on top of them [?]. On subsequent days, [he?] at times then set out from and entered them. When Yun came to harm, he then did not again act it out.

Yuan Hong says: The gods in truth are perceptive, bright, principled and straight, they comply with people and then act. For a king who esteems virtue, to abundantly make offerings to be used as banquets for Heaven and Earth can be said to be the utmost. Suppose in all regards the affairs of the Six Secrets was not the Way of a sagely person, and for a regular fellow it is in the same way still not possible, then how is it with the fates of emperors and kings!

5th Month [21 June – 19 July], the Minister of Works, Xun Shuang, passed away.

Shuang, courtesy name Ciming, was the son of the Prefect of Langling, Shu. Aged twelve, Grand Commandant Du Qiao taught him. He was recommended as Filial and Upright, and Worthy and Good. During the partisan affairs, he was proscribed and forbidden, and went in seclusion by the sea. He again went south to hide at the banks of the Han. When the partisan affair was loosened, nominations and instructions arrived criss-crossed, there was summons to be [Scholar] of the Way and Broad Scholar. In all cases he did not go.

At the beginning of Emperor Xian's reign, Dong Zhuo endorsed Shuang as Chancellor of Pingyuan. He had not yet arrived at his post, when he was summoned to be Intendant of the Brilliantly Blessed. After being in his office building for three days, he moved to Minister of Works. At that time, those who were loyal and proper had a brave forbearance, and those who held close the Way were deeply silent. Shuang had dispersed calamity at the court of Dong Zhuo, and also in the space of a ten day ranked at the pinnacle of subjects, a lordly person would use this to deride him.

Earlier, Shuang and his brothers, eight people, were titled as the “Eight Dragons”, and Shuang most of all was praised as a Ruist and for his refinement. His older brother's son Yu's fame carried weight in his generation.

6th Month, xinwei [22 July], the Brilliantly Blessed Grandee Zhong Fu became Minister of Works.

Zhuo opened up the various mounds of Luoyang and the graves and tombs of the great subjects. He destroyed the bells and bell frames that were within Luoyang city, and melted them down as coins. In all cases they did not complete the engravings. Furthermore he melted the Five zhu coins, the engravings and the outer rim were impossible to hold on to. Hence money became cheap and things expensive. One hu of grain reached several millions.

The Grand Warden of Liaodong, Gongsun Du, titled himself as Shepherd of Ping province, and erected a Temple of Shizu of Han.

When the Chanyu, Qiangqu, had been killed by the people of his state, his son Yufuluo should have been installed, [but] the people of the state installed Xubu as Chanyu, and Yufuluo went to the imperial palace to lodge a complaint. It happened that Emperor Ling collapsed, and the kingly house was in chaos. Yufuluo brought along several thousand cavalry, and, together with the White Waves thieves, he robbed the region of Ji province. The hundred families had all made tall walls and emptied the countryside, so there was little to obtain by plunder and robbery. He wished to return home to his state, but the people of state did not accept it, and he thereupon halted in Hedong.

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