Emperor Ming of Southern Qi - Reign

Reign

Emperor Ming was commonly regarded as an intelligent and frugal ruler, and he took a hands-on approach to governance. He was, however, also known for his suspecting nature, and few high level officials could feel safe during his reign. He also periodically continued to kill the descendants of Emperors Gao and Wu, as he perceived them to be threats to his own sons. Each time he conducted these killings, he would first offer incenses (presumably to Emperors Gao and Wu) and cry bitterly, before carrying out the actions.

Emperor Ming created his second son Xiao Baojuan crown prince, as his oldest son Xiao Baoyi (蕭寶義) was said to be so disabled that he could not speak (and was also not born of Emperor Ming's wife Liu Huiduan (劉惠端), who had died in 489, long before he became emperor). As Emperor Ming's sons were young, he entrusted great responsibilities to his nephews Xiao Yaoguang, Xiao Yaoxin, and Xiao Yaochang. When Xiao Zhaowen was removed from the throne, the edict that Emperor Ming issued in Empress Dowager Wang's name created him the Prince of Hailing. About a month after he was removed from the throne, however, Emperor Ming, on pretenses that Xiao Zhaowen was ill, sent imperial physicians to see him, but instead instructed the physicians to have him poisoned. Xiao Zhaowen was given the posthumous name Gong (恭, meaning "respectful") and buried with great honors, but not imperial honors.

Meanwhile, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei used Emperor Ming's usurpation of the throne as a pretense to launch a major attack against Southern Qi in late 494. After several largely inconclusive battles, however, Northern Wei forces abandoned the campaign in spring 495. As soon as the campaign was over, Emperor Ming executed Xiao Chen, one general he was allied with during the coup against Xiao Zhaoye, and Xiao Chen's broothers, as he suspected Xiao Chen of plotting a coup. He also, on pretense that they were plotting with Xiao Chen, executed Emperor Wu's sons Xiao Ziming (蕭子明) the Prince of Xiyang, Xiao Zihan (蕭子罕) the Prince of Nanhai, and Xiao Zizhen (蕭子貞) the Prince of Shaoling. In 497, he also killed the high level official Wang Yan, who had also participated in the coup against Xiao Zhaoye, on suspicion of plotting against him.

In fall 497, Northern Wei's Emperor Xiaowen launched another major attack on Southern Qi. The results were again largely indecisive, although the key border city Wancheng (宛城, in modern Nanyang, Henan) fell to Northern We, as did Xinye (新野, also in modern Nanyang). Meanwhile, during the campaign, with Emperor Ming himself being ill, he, in consultation with Xiao Yaoguang, executed 10 more princes from Emperor Gao's line—all of the surviving sons of Emperors Gao and Wu and Xiao Zhangmao:

• Xiao Xuan (蕭鉉), the Prince of Hedong, son of Emperor Gao
• Xiao Ziyue (蕭子岳), the Prince of Linhe, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Ziwen (蕭子文), the Prince of Xiyang, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Zijun (蕭子峻), the Prince of Hengyang, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Zilin (蕭子琳), the Prince of Nankang, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Zimin (蕭子珉), the Prince of Yongyang, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Zijian (蕭子建), the Prince of Xiangdong, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Zixia (蕭子夏), the Prince of Nan Commandery, son of Emperor Wu
• Xiao Zhaocan (蕭昭粲), the Prince of Guiyang, son of Xiao Zhangmao
• Xiao Zhaoxiu (蕭昭秀), the Prince of Baling, son of Xiao Zhangmao

What was particularly unusual about Emperor Ming's actions in executing these princes was that after he executed them, he ordered the high level officials to accuse these princes of crimes and seek their executions—and then he first formally rejected the recommendations, and then accepted them. This was largely perceived as an attempt by him to be seen as only doing what was necessary.

In summer 498, the retired general Wang Jingze (王敬則), believing that Emperor Ming was about to have him executed, rebelled from his retirement place of Kuaiji (會稽, in modern Shaoxing, Zhejiang). He claimed to want to support Emperor Gao's grandson (the son of Xiao Ni the Prince of Yuzhang) Xiao Zike (蕭子恪) the Marquess of Nankang as leader. As a result, Emperor Ming, again with counsel from Xiao Yaoguang, ordered all of the male descendants of Emperors Gao and Wu into the palace, ready to poison them. However, after Xiao Zike fled back to the capital Jiankang and showed that he was not part of Wang's rebellion, Emperor Ming changed his mind at the last moment and spared them. About 20 days after the start of Wang's rebellion, he was killed in battle, and his rebellion dissipated.

Three months later, Emperor Ming died. Crown Prince Baojuan succeeded him as emperor (later to be known as the Marquess of Donghun).