Service Under Emperor Shun
Xiao Daocheng made Emperor Houfei's brother Liu Zhun the Prince of Ancheng emperor (as Emperor Shun). In response, the general Shen Youzhi arose with the troops of his Jing Province (荊州, modern central and western Hubei), accusing Xiao of wanting to usurp the throne. Yuan and Liu Bing also believed that that was Xiao's intent, and, as Xiao prepared for a campaign against Shen, secretly planned another uprising within Jiankang to overthrow Xiao. However, Yuan, believing that the plot would not succeed without Chu Yuan's support, told Chu of the plot as well, and Chu, who was friendly with Xiao, quickly informed Xiao. Yuan, not aware of this, continued his preparations, aligning with a number of generals and preparing to rise. However, Liu Bing panicked during the preparation stage, and fled to Yuan's defense post at the fortress of Shitou Cheng several hours in advance of the scheduled time, alarming Xiao and allowing him to further start a counterinsurrection, arresting and killing several generals aligned with Yuan and Liu Bing before they could act. Xiao's troops then sieged Yuan's defenses at Shitou. Yuan was killed in battle, and Liu Bing fled but was captured and executed as well. This led to a popular lament, written into a song, that stated, "Alas Shitou. It is better to die as Yuan Can than to live as Chu Yuan!" By 478, Shen was defeated as well, and there appeared to be no longer any threat to Xiao, who became increasingly resolute to take over the throne. While Yuan did not participate in Xiao's discussion with his associates, chief of whom was Wang Jian, in taking over the throne, he continued to acquiesce in the additional honors that Xiao was having bestowed on himself in preparation for taking over the throne, including granting Xiao the nine bestowments and the successive titles of Duke of Qi, and then Prince of Qi, in 479. In summer 479, Xiao forced Emperor Shun to abdicate and then, with Chu ceremonially offering him the imperial seal, accepted the throne, ending Liu Song and establishing Southern Qi (as its Emperor Gao).
Read more about this topic: Chu Yuan
Famous quotes containing the words service, emperor and/or shun:
“The service a man renders his friend is trivial and selfish, compared with the service he knows his friend stood in readiness to yield him, alike before he had begun to serve his friend, and now also. Compared with that good-will I bear my friend, the benefit it is in my power to render him seems small.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
“The emperor is in the Church, not about the Church.”
—Ambrose (c. 333–397)
“I love a gay and sociable wisdom, and shun harshness and austerity in behaviour, holding every surly countenance suspect.”
—Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592)