Xiao Baojuan, the Emperor of Qi during the Northern and Southern Dynasties

Biography of the character

Succession as a young man

Xiao Baojuan’s biological mother Liu Huiduan ( Xiao Luan's first wife) died early and was raised by Concubine Pan. When he was young, he didn't like reading and enjoyed catching mice. Xiao Luan's eldest son Xiao Baoyi was unable to inherit the throne due to his disability, so in the first year of Jianwu (494), Xiao Baojuan was appointed as the crown prince.

On Jiyou Day in the seventh month of the first year of Yongtai (September 1, 498), Emperor Ming of Qi Xiao Luan died. Prince Xiao Baojuan succeeded him and became the sixth emperor of Qi in the Southern Dynasty. But he had stuttered since he was a child and didn't like to study. He only knew how to play all day long. He often dug holes and caught mice with the guards in the East Palace and stayed up all night. Xiao Luan didn't pay much attention to him, but he was worried that he would not be able to control his uncles and brothers in the clan in the future. After Xiao Luan usurped the throne through conspiracy, he indiscriminately killed the descendants of Emperor Gao and Emperor Wu to consolidate the throne, and attacked the important officials before his death. Xiao Baojuan was killed. The little emperor kept this in mind. After ascending the throne, he carried it forward with his actions.

Absurd and cruel

In 499 AD, Xiao Baojuan made Pan Yunu, the niece of Concubine Pan, a noble concubine. Xiao Baojuan was introverted and rarely spoke. He did not like to interact with ministers and often wandered out of the palace. Every time he went out, he would demolish residences and expel residents. He would also build Xianhua, Shenxian, and Yushou halls, and reward his ministers in large quantities. Causing financial difficulties to the country.

Many emperors in the Southern Dynasties were extravagant and corrupt, especially Xiao Baojuan. When the harem was burned down in a fire, three new luxurious palaces were built: Xianhua, Shenxian and Yushou. Xiao Baojuan was extremely stingy with money, and he especially liked to work as a butcher and vendor. A market was set up in the palace garden, where the eunuchs slaughtered pigs and sheep, and the palace maids sold wine and meat. Concubine Pan acted as the city magistrate, and she served as Concubine Pan's deputy. In case of urgent matters, she would be handed over to Concubine Pan for judgment.

When Xiao Baojuan was in power, he had to go out for more than 20 days in a month, sometimes during the day and sometimes at night. Anyone who sees it will be killed. Therefore, local officials were always on the lookout. Whenever they saw him leaving the palace, they would immediately run around and call out the people, leaving the roads empty of passers-by and empty houses. For a time, "all industry and commerce were abandoned."

Rebellion and separation

Xiao Baojuan reported to his father that he was responsible for overseeing and assisting ministers. If he was not satisfied, he immediately killed them, forcing the civil servants to resign, the generals to rebel, and the capital was in danger several times. Empress Dowager Qi Xuande criticized him in her edict. Xiao Baojuan also killed many ministers. After taking the throne, he killed Minister Gu Ming's right servant She Jiangu, Sikong Xu Xiaosi, right general Xiao Tanzhi, leading general Liu Xuan and others. It was also because of Xiao Baojuan's cowardice that King Xiao Yaoguang of Shi'an, Taiwei Chen Xianda, and General Cui Huijing of Pingxi launched rebellions one after another, but they were all defeated and killed.

After Xiao Baojuan put down the rebellion, he became even more violent. In addition to having fun day and night with his beloved concubine Pan Yunu, the naughty minister Mei Chong'er and others, he also sent people to poison Xiao Baojuan, the minister who was most effective in putting down the rebellion. Yi, as a result, Xiao Yi's younger brother Xiao Yan sent troops to attack Jiankang, and supported Xiao Baorong, the king of Nankang, to proclaim himself emperor in Jiangling.

He spent the whole day practicing military formations with his attendants and officials in front of Huaguang Palace for fun, but he paid no attention to the soldiers and horses outside the city. The army of Liang Wang Xiao Yan had already attacked the city. Outside, when he heard the sound of drums outside the city, he put on a big red robe and climbed to the roof of Jingyang Tower to watch the excitement. A stray arrow almost injured his legs and feet. The general guarding the city, Wang Zhenguo, led his troops into the palace at night. His favored minister Ru Fazhen knelt on the ground and begged him to reward the soldiers, but he still refused. He also said, "Am I the only one the rebels will capture? Why do you want rewards from me?" Liang Wang Xiao Yan joined forces with Qi generals to attack. On the night when Kangcheng was built, Xiao Baojuan signed autographs, sang songs and had fun in the Hande Hall. Before he fell asleep, he heard the sound of the army breaking in and quickly slipped out of the north gate. The eunuch Huang Taiping slashed his knee with a knife. He fell to the ground and cursed: "Do you want to rebel, slave?" One of the eunuchs, Zhang Qi, cut off his head without any explanation. After Xiao Yan came to power, he instructed Empress Dowager Xuande to deprive Xiao Baojuan of his imperial title. Xiao Baojuan was deposed as King of Fuling, and was soon posthumously named Marquis of Donghun. However, the mausoleum was still built according to the emperor's rank.

Political Measures

Xiao Baojuan regarded the common people as nothing, did not know how to cherish the civil and military ministers, and went on a killing spree at every turn. He had a grudge against his cousins ??Jiang Yu and Jiang Bin and killed them because they had given him good advice many times. Cao Hu, the commander of the army, had a lot of money in his family. Xiao Baojuan killed Cao Hu and swallowed up his property. He also killed ministers Xiao Yaoguang, Xiao Tanzhi, Xu Xiaosi and many others. Even the emperor's uncle Liu Xuan was not spared.

Xiao Baojuan’s crazy and indiscriminate killing aroused the fear of the ministers. In order to seek peace of mind, they rebelled one after another. In November of the first year of Yongyuan (AD 499), Qi Taiwei Chen Xianda raised troops in Xunyang (now Jiujiang, Jiangxi) and marched to quarry (now on the east bank of the Yangtze River in Ma'anshan, Anhui). In March of the following year, Cui Huijing, the general of Pingxi, rebelled and joined forces with Xiao Baoxuan, the governor of Xu and Yanzhou, the king of Jiangxia, to besiege Jiankang. Although Chen Xianda and Cui Huijing were defeated and killed one after another, they caused shock in the government and the public. In November of this year, Xiao Yan, the governor of Yongzhou, Lu Sengzhen and others led ten thousand people to raise troops in Xiangyang (now Xiangfan, Hubei).

Faced with such a dangerous situation, Xiao Baojuan did not know that the end was coming and still indulged in fun. Ru Fazhen and another confidant of Xiao Baojuan, Mei Chong'er, slandered Xiao Baojuan and said: "The ministers are not trying their best, so the enemy's siege cannot be lifted. They should all be killed." Xiao Baojuan listened to them. If so, prepare to raise the butcher knife to the ministers again.

Xiao Baojuan's insistence finally led to the alliance of internal and external opposition forces and accelerated his downfall.

Historical evaluation

Xiao Zixian: ① The Marquis of Donghun was destroyed and his virtues were flowing down the river. Dao returned to save the chaos, and he served as a sword and slaughtered, which truly brought peace. It is also God's will to push the eunuch's name. ② The slow road in the east is faint and spicy. Nai Dianze abandoned Yilun, played with the fire of war, and burned himself in the end.

Li Yanshou: Donghun is named "Juan" and "Tibetan" is the end. Its omens are forewarned, and the cover is also ordered by heaven.

Zhou Tan: Decide who will help catch the mice, don’t worry about Xiao Yan being afraid of Concubine Pan. The sword is close to the neck of the long circle, but I still cherish the money for Luo Hui.

Cai Dongfan: Baojuan is dishonest and evil, and the blame is solely on Concubine Pan. If she is not a woman, the country will be destroyed; if Gaigu confuses the master, chaos will inevitably follow.