Biography of Sima Liang, King of Runan
[From JS059. Son of Sima Yi and First of the Eight Kings.
He was supposed to lead the regency for Emperor Hui. Instead he let Yang Jun seize power. ]
The Cultured and Complete [wencheng] King of Ru'nan, Liang [d. 26 July 291], courtesy name Ziyi, was Emperor Xuan's fourth son.
[In terms of seniority presumably, in terms of birth order he should be third as both he and his brother Zhou should be born before Gan]
As young he was pure and alert, and had a talent for employing. He served Wei as Cavalier and Attending Gentleman and Marquis of Wansui village. He was designated Commander of the Palace Gentlemen of the East and his fief advanced to Marquis of Guangyang district.
At the punishment of Zhuge Dan at Shouchun, he suffered a setback and was dismissed from office. Soon after, he was designated General of the Left, concurrently Cavalier in Regular Attendance and Acting with the Tally, and was sent out as Overseer of All Army Affairs of Yu Province. When the Five Ranks were established, his fief was changed to Earl of Qiyang. He was moved to be General who Garrisons the West.
When Emperor Wu trod the eastern steps, he was enfeoffed as King of Fufeng commandery, with revenue of 10 000 household's, setting up a Marshal of Cavalry, adding an Adjutant to the categories of officials. [?] Holding the Tally, Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Guanzhong, Yong and Liang.
It happened that the Inspector of Qin province, Hu Lie was captured by the Qiang and murdered. Liang dispatched the General Liu Qi and the Controller of Cavalry Jing Yan to go in rescue, and did not advance. He was convicted for this and demoted to be General who Pacifies the West.
Qi accepted beheading. Liang and army director Cao Jiong submitted words to the authorities. Since it was a mistake in controls and measures caused by Liang that made [Qi] set out, he requested to be given Qi's death. [?]
A decree said: “When Gaoping was surrounded and in a critical state, planned inside the city to reach Qi sufficiently to accordingly uprooted each other. [?] He was simply not able to arrive on a narrow path, yet still undertaking a deep advance. Now rushing about has been thrown out, but he is yet convicted of observing failure and defeat, [?] causing to add Qi's great massacre. Now if it can not but be Qi, accept be alive.” [?] [The Emperor] had the ministers also memorialise on dismissing Liang from office and trimming the territory of his feudal title, but decreed however only to dismiss him from office.
Soon after, he was designated General who Calms the Army. That year, the Wu general Bu Chan came in surrender. Liang, Acting the Tally [?] and Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs accordingly admitted him. He was promoted to the concurrent responsibility of Palace Attendant.
At the beginning of Xianning [275 – 280], he used Chiyang in Fufeng, 4 300 households, as Lady Dowager Ms. Fu's bathing town, and set up an Assistant Prefect of the Household and a Coachman. Later changed the revenue to Zhijiang in Nan commandery. The Lady Dowager once had a small illness, and [wanted to] drive it out in the Luo river [?]. Liang and his brothers, 3 people, attended and followed, all Holding the Tally with Drummers and Pipers, shaking and dazzling the banks of the Luo. [?] Emperor Wu climbed the Lingyun Terrace to look at them, saying: “Lady Fu can be said to be rich in worthies!” [?]
[Lady Fu had 4 sons with Sima Yi: Liang, Zhou, Jing and Jun, but Jing had died before the founding of Jin. Sima Zhou was born in 227, so Lady Fu must have been closing on seventy by the time of this episode. In the years before the defeat of Wu, Sima Zhou was headquartered in Xiapi as Great General who Garrisons the East, Acting with the Tally and Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs of Xu Province. Sima Fu had taken over Sima Liang's Guanzhong command as Great General who Garrisons the West, Envoy Holding the Tally and Commander-in-Chief of All Army Affairs in Yong and Liang and other provinces.]
That year he was advanced to the title of General of the Guards, concurrently Palace Attendant. At the time the imperial clan house was abundant and flourishing, but without uniting in assisting each other. [?] Therefore used Liang as Master of the Imperial Clan, his original office as before. He sent [people] to teach and guide, observe and investigate. When they did not obey the rites and laws, the lesser [offenders] were corrected into using right conduct, for the greater he submitted the affair in a public memorial [?]
In the 3rd Year [of Xianning, 277 AD], moved his fief to Runan and sent him out as Great General who Garrisons the South, Commander-in-Chief of the Army Affairs of Yu province, Opening Office and Acting with the Tally. He went to his state. He was given the Chasing Point Chariot and the Black Wheeled Calf Chariot, 500 000 coins.
Soon after, corrected [?] Liang to be Palace Attendant, Great General who Calms the Army, acting as General of the Army of the Rear, governing the Best of the Army, the Foot Soldiers, the Shooting at Sound, Chang River and other encampments. He was given 500 soldiers and 100 cavalry.
He was moved to Grand Commandant, Recording the Affairs of the Masters of Writings, acting as Grand Tutor to the Heir-Apparent, Palace Attendant as before.
When Emperor Wu was bedridden by illness, he was pushed back by Yang Jun. Therefore used Liang as Palace Attendant, Great Marshal, Acting with Yellow Battle-axe, Great Commander-in-Chief and Controller of All Army Affairs of Yu Province, and sent [him] out to garrison Xuchang, added carriage hoisting his music and dancers in six rows. Enfeoffed his son Yang as Duke of Xiyang.
He had not yet set out, when the Emperor greatly worsened. An edict stopped Liang to appoint him accordingly to later affairs. Yang Jun heard of this, followed the Inspector of the Palace Writers, Hua Yi to demand to look at the edict, and thereupon did not return it.
When the Emperor expired, Liang feared Jun suspected him, claimed illness and did not enter. Only at the outside of the gates of the Grand Marshal did he express mourning, announcing a request to visit the burial.
Jun wanted to punish Liang. Liang knew this, and asked about plans to the Commandant of Justice, He Xu. Xu said: “Now the imperial court turn their hearts to Your Excellency. Your Excellency, why do you not punish the person, but fear punishment by the person?” Some [?] said Liang to lead and act to enter and depose Jun. Liang was not able to use [this]. At night he hurriedly went to Xuchang, and for this reason escaped.
When Jun was executed, an edict said: “The Grand Marshal, the King of Runan, Liang, embodies the Way and is infused with pureness, thoroughly understands the management of government, proclaiming the achievements of his shelter, manifest at the home court, the manners of the Two South, [?] circulating in the quarter of the Xia, wanting to rely on far-reaching plans, using the reforms of King Kang.
Hence [We are] using Liang as Grand Steward, Recording the Affairs of the Masters of Writing, to enter court without hastening, wear sword and shoes in the upper palace, adding to his staff 10 people, and allowing 1 000 soldiers, 100 cavalry; and together with the Grand Guardian, Wei Guan, correct and control the court and government.”
Liang argued rewards for achieving the execution of Yang Jun beyond proportions, desiring accordingly to frivolously please the hearts of the masses. Because of this he let down expectations.
The King of Chu, Wei, was meritorious and excelled at establishing power. Liang dreaded him and wanted to take away his troops and authority. Wei was considerably displeased, and therefore assented to the purposes of Empress Jia. He falsely accused Liang and Guan to have a plan of deposing the established [i.e. the Emperor].
A false edict dispatched his Senior Clerk, Gongsun Hong and the General who Amasses Crossbows, Li Zhao at night to use troops and surround them. The Controller Below the Tents, Li Long reported the outside was rebelling, and asked to resist them. Liang did not listen.
Suddenly the Chu troops climbed the wall and shouted. Liang was frightened and said: “I am without two hearts. Why has it come to this? Suppose you have a written decree, could I see it?” Hong and the others did not allow it, and pressed the troops to attack him.
The Senior Clerk Liu Zhun spoke to Liang, saying: “Observing this there must certainly thus be a villainous scheme. Within the office the talented in government are like a forest. You can still yet resist and fight.” He again did not listen.
Thereupon he was seized by Zhao, and sighing, said: “My loyal heart, can [my?] ruin be shown to all under Heaven? How like without the Way, [I was] vainly killed for no offence?”
At that time there was a great heat. Soldiers seated Liang beneath [?] the chariot. People at the time pitied him, and were handing over fans to him. At the time people pitied him, and handed over fans to him.
The generals had reached the middle of the day, without daring to murder [him]. Wei sent out an order saying: “[He who] is able to behead Liang, will be rewarded with 1000 bolts of cloth.” He thereupon was murdered by disorderly soldiers and cast off the walls of the northern gate. The temple hair, ears and nose all known to be injured on him. [Sima Liang died 26 July 291, JS004]
When Wei was executed, posthumously returned Liang his feudal rank and titles, gave a private vessel in the Eastern Garden of Warmth and Light, one set of court clothes, 3 000 000 cash, 300 bolts of cloth and silk, rites for mourning and burial like in the past to King Xian of Anping, Fu, a temple built with a carriage hoisting his music.
