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The Exalted Ancestor [gaozu], the Martial [wu] August Emperor, taboo Yu, courtesy name Deyu, child name Jinu, was a native of Suiyu hamlet in Pengcheng count,y and a descendant of Emperor Gao of Han's younger brother King Yuan of Chu, Jiao.

Jiao begot the Marquis Yi of Hong, Fu. Fu begot the Lineage Corrector, Piqiang. Piqiang begot Marquis Mou of Yangcheng, De. De begot Marquis Jie of Yangcheng, Anmin. Anmin begot Marquis Li of Yangcheng, Qingji. Qingji begot Marquis Su of Yangcheng, Cen. Cen begot the Lineage Corrector Ping. Ping begot the Prefect of Dongwucheng, Mou. Mou begot the Grand Warden of Donglai, Jing. Jing begot the Classics Clarifier, Qia. Qia begot the Broad Scholar, Hong. Hong begot the Chief Commandant of Langye, Kui. Kui begot Wei's Grand Warden of Dingxiang, Mou. Mou begot the Prefect Yecheng, Liang. Liang begot Jin's Grand Warden of Beiping, Ying. Ying begot the staff official of the Chancellor of State, Xi. Xi begot the Prefect of Kaifeng, Xusun. Xusun's begot Hun. He first passed beyond the Jiang, and resided at Jingkou village in Dantu county, Jinling commandery. His office rank reached the Prefect of Wuyuan. Hun begot the Grand Warden of Dong'an, Jing. Jing begot the Commandery Board of Merit, Qiao. This was the August Father.

Gaozu was born in Emperor Ai of Jin's 1st Year of Xingning, a guihai year, 3rd Month, renyin [16 April 363]. Reaching adulthood, he was 7 chi, 6 cun tall, his manners and temper were special and unusual. His family was poor. He had great aspirations, but did not put in order the angles and corners. He served his step-mother, thereby [gaining] a reputation for filial piety and consideration.

He began as Marshal for the [General] of the Best of the Army, Sun Wuzhong. Emperor An's 3rd Year of Long'an, 11th Month [14 December 399 – 12 January 400], the bewitching traitor Sun En made chaos in Kuaji. The Jin court's General of Guards, Xie Yan, and General of the Van, Liu Laozhi went east to punish. Laozhi requested Gaozu to Assist his Office in Army Affairs.

12th Month [13 January – 10 February], Laozhi arrived in Wu, but the traitors hemmed the roads and gathered together. Laozhi instructed Gaozu, with several tens of people, to spy on the traitors near and far. He happened to meet the traitors arriving, a multitude of several tens of people. Gaozu readily advanced to fight with them. Of the people he commanded, many died, yet his mood for fighting was still sharp, waving with his hand a long blade. The killed and injured were a considerable multitude.

Laozhi's son Jingxuan had doubts about Gaozu being delayed for a long time, and feared he had been surrounded by the traitors. He therefore searched for him with light cavalry. Soon after the multitudes and cavalry met together, the traitors then fled and withdrew. They beheaded and captured more than a thousand people, pushed forward the vanguard and advanced. They pacified Shanyin. En escaped and turned back to enter the sea.

4th Year, 5th Month [8 June – 7 July 400], En again entered Kuaiji, he killed the General of Guards, Xie Yan.

11th Month [2 December – 31 December], Liu Laozhi again led the multitudes to conquer east. En withdrew and ran. Laozi garrisoned Shangyu, and sent Gaozu to defend Gouzhang city. Gouzhang city was entirely humble and small, the combat soldiers did not exceed several hundred people. Gaozu regularly put on armour and held weapons, and was first among the officers and soldiers. Always when fighting, he every time broke the vanguard and destroyed the ranks. The traitors therefore withdrew and turned back to Jiakou.

At the time the various leaders in the eastern campaign managed the armies without regulations. The officers and soldiers brutally plundered and were a considerable hardship for the hundred families. Only Gaozu's rules and orders were clear and orderly, arrivals could not but personally rely on him.

5th Year, Spring [30 January – 28 April 401], Sun En frequently attacked Gouzhang. Gaozu again and again broke and routed him. En then ran to enter the sea.

3rd Month [31 March – 28 April], En set out north for Haiyan. Gaozu pursued and safeguarded it. He built a fort at the old seat of Haiyan. The traitors came daily to attack the fort, within the fort the troops' strength became very weak. Gaozu therefore selected dare-to-die soldiers, several hundred people. All removed their armour and helmets, and held on to the lacking troops. Together they beat the drums and made noise, and then set out. The traitors shook in fear and were robbed of spirit, and because of their fear they then fled from them. They also threw away their armour, scattered and fled. He beheaded their chief leader Yao Sheng.

Though fighting continuously, he achieved victory. As such the multitudes were few and did not resist, Gaozu alone was deeply worried about it. One night, he put down the banners and hid the multitudes, as if they had escaped. At daylight he opened the gates, and sent several weak and ill people to climb the walls. The traitors from afar asked about the whereabouts of Liu taboo [i.e. Liu Yu]. They said he had fled in the night. The traitors trusted it, and therefore led the multitudes to greatly go up [?]. Gaozu exploited their indolent neglect, strove and struck, and greatly routed them.

En knew the fort would not come down, and therefore advanced towards Hudu. Gaozu then abandoned the fort and pursued him. The Prefect of Haiyan, Bao Lou, dispatched his son Sizhi with 1 000 troops of Wu, he requested to be the vanguard. Gaozu said:

The traitor troops are the very best, the people of Wu are not practised in fighting. Suppose the vanguard loses its edge, [they will] surely defeat our army. [You] can stay in the rear, and be in support.

He did not follow.

That night, Gaozu prepared many ambush troops, combined with setting up banners and drums. As such the ones who stayed put did not exceed a few people. Next day, the traitors led the multitudes, more than ten thousand, to offer battle. As soon as the vanguard was engaged, the hidden [troops] all set out. They raised the banners, made sound and drummed. The traitors said there were armies on four sides and therefore withdrew. Sizhi pursued the flight and was overcome by the traitors.

Gaozu sometimes fought, sometimes withdrew. The traitors were abundant. Those he led were dead or injured, and moreover exhausted. Gaozu worried about not escaping. He arrived at the recent ambush troops' place [?], and then stopped. He ordered left and right to remove and take off the dead people's clothes. The traitors said he must be running to turn around and stop [?], and suspected there was still an ambush. Gaozu because of that called out for further battle, his spirit and appearance was very fierce. The traitor multitudes due to him being as such, pulled in the army and left. Gaozu calmly returned, and afterwards the scattered troops gathered little by little.

5th Month [29 May – 26 June], Sun En routed Hudu, and killed the Interior Clerk of Wu state, Yuan Shansong. 4 000 people died. That month, Gaozu again routed the traitors and Lou county.

6th Month [27 June – 26 July], En exploited the victory to sail the sea, and before long arrived at Dantu. His combat soldiers were more than 100 000. Liu Laozhi was still garrisoning Shanyin. The capital district was shaken.

Gaozu with multiple double marches arrived together with the traitors. At that time the multitudes' strength was already lacking, and additionally were tired and troubled due to the long march. Yet the defending army of Dantu did not have aspirations for contending. En led a multitude of several ten thousand, and with drums and clamour climbed Mount Suan. The resident people all carried the burden and stood up [?]. Gaozu led his command to run and strike, greatly routing him. Those who died from throwing themselves [?] from the peak into the water were a considerable multitude. En used rows of shields [?] to carry himself, and just managed to turn back on a boat.

Although he was broken and routed, he still relied on his multitudes' strength, and straight-away turned toward the Imperial City. His towered ships were tall and large, faced with [?] the wind he could not advance. After ten days he therefore arrived at Baishi. Soon after he learned that Liu Laozhi had turned back, and the imperial court was prepared. He thereupon ran towards Yuzhou [“Yu Island”].

8th Month [25 August – 23 September], used Gaozu as General who Establishes the Martial and Grand Warden of Xiapi. He led the navy to pursue En to Yuzhou, and again greatly routed En. En fled south.

11th Month [21 December – 19 January 402], Gaozu pursued En to Hudu. Reaching Haiyan, he again routed him. In the three battles, he also took many captives. The prisoners and tallied [dead] were accordingly several ten thousand. En, since from this there was starvation and famine, illness and pestilence, and the greater half were dead, ran from Jiakou to Linhai.

1st Year of Yuanxing, 1st Month [18 February – 19 March 402], the General of Agile Cavalry, Sima Yuanxian, campaigned west against the Inspector of Jing province, Huan Xuan. Xuan likewise led a great multitude from Jing and Chun, and came down [river] to punish Yuanxian. Yuanxian dispatched the General who Garrisons the North, Liu Laozhi, to resist him. Gaozu Assisted his Army Affairs. They stayed on Lizhou [“Li Island”].

Xuan arrived and Gaozu requested to strike him, but [Laozhi] did not permit it. He wanted to dispatched his son Jingxuan to go to Xuan and request peace. Gaozu and Laozhi's sister's child He Wuji of Donghai both firmly requested. He did not follow. Thereupon he dispatched Jingxuan to go to Xuan. Xuan overcame the capital district, and killed Yuanxian. He used Laozhi as Interior Clerk of Kuaiji. He was afraid and then beseeched Gaozu, saying:

[If he] readily snatches my troops, calamity is likely to arrive. Now I will go north to Gao Ya[zhi] at Guangling and raise the affair. Are you, Sir, able to accompany my departure?

He replied, saying:

The General, though with several ten thousand sturdy soldiers, looked to the wind and surrendered in submission. The other one recently gained his aspirations, his power shakes Under Heaven. With the people of the Three Armies' feelings, and the capital already distant [?], what can be gained by arriving in Guangling! [I], taboo [i.e. “Yu”], will turn back and return to Jingkou, that is all.

Laozhi rebelled [?] and left, and strangled himself to death.

He Wuji spoke to Gaozu, saying:

Where can I go?

Gaozu said:

[The General] who Conquers the North left [but] will surely not escape. You Sir can follow me and return to Jingkou. Huan Xuan is surely able to defend and control the northern front. I will serve him together with you Sir. If not so, I and Sir will plot against him. Right now are the days of Xuan concealing his feelings and relying on calculations [?]. He surely wants to employ our kind.

Huan Xuan's senior cousin Xiu, as [General who] Consoles the Army, was headquartered at Dantu. He used Gaozu as Army Assistant of the Central Troops, with army and commandery like before.

Sun En, since after he had fled in defeat  his followers on the journey gradually scattered, feared to live to be captured. He therefore, in Linhai, threw himself in the water and died. The remaining multitudes pushed forward En's younger sister's husband Lu Xun as their master. Huan Xuan wished moreover to restore tranquillity in the eastern lands, and used Xun as Grand Warden of Yongjia. Xun, though he accepted the instructions, yet his robbing and brutality did not stop.

5th Month [16 June – 15 July], Xuan again dispatched Gaozu on an eastern conquest. At the time Xun had entered Dongyang from Linhai.

2nd Year, 1st Month [8 February – 8 March 403], Xuan again dispatched Gaozu to rout Xun in Danyang. Xun fled to Yongjia. He then pursued and routed him, and beheaded his chief leader Zhang Shidao. He pursued and punished to Jin'an. Xun sailed the sea to flee south.

6th Month [5 July – 3 August], promoted Gaozu to Interior Clerk of Pengcheng.

Huan Xuan became King of Chu, and wanted to plan usurpation by force. Xuan's senior cousin the General of Guards, Qian, screened off [?] people. He asked Gaozu, saying:

The King of Chu's merits and virtue are plentiful and weighty, the Four Seas are returning to the embrace. The feelings of the imperial court, all say [we] ought to be ceding and yielding. What do you Sir think about it?

Gaozu already had aspirations and desire to plot against Xuan, he therefore submissively demurred, and replied saying:

The King of Chu is the son of Xuanwu [Huan Wen], his merits and virtue overshadows the generation. The House of Jin is small and weak, the people have long expectations for change. To exploit fortune to abdicate and replace, how is it impermissible?

Qian happily said:

[If] you Sir say possibly so, it readily will be truly possibly so.

12th Month [30 December – 27 January 404], Huan Xuan usurped the rank of Emperor, and moved the Son of Heaven to Xunyang. Huan Xiu entered court, and Gaozu followed to come to imperial district. Xuan saw Gaozu, and spoke to the Minister over the Masses, Wang Mi, saying:

Yesterday [I] saw Liu taboo, his manners and temper are not regular. [He] probably is an outstanding person.

Always when visiting gatherings [?], he immediately pulled out and welcomed [him?] with the abundantly devotion, bestowing and conferring considerable wealth [?]. Gaozu more and more hated him. Someone advised Xuan, saying:

Liu taboo acts like a dragon and walks like a tiger, his looks and vision are not ordinary. [I] fear he will not be a subordinate person. [We] ought to anticipate him [?].

Xuan said:

I soon intend to pacify and wash clean the Central Plains. With no Liu taboo [I] cannot possible turn over to the great affair [?]. When Guan and Long are pacified and settled, afterwards [we] will separately discuss it, that is all.

Xuan therefore sent down a decree, saying:

Liu taboo, though lacking control of multitudes [?], again and again broke the bewitching spear point. Sailing the sea in thorough pursuit, out of ten he put to the end eight of them. The various generals fought strongly, many were heavily wounded. From the head of the host down to the generals and soldiers, all are equally suitable for discussing rewards, to thereby narrating merits and zeal.

Before this, when Gaozu was on the eastern conquest against Lu Xun, He Wuji accompanied him to Shanyin, and urged him to raise up righteousness in Kuaiji. Gaozu, considering as Xuan had not yet occupied the furthest rank, and moreover since Kuaiji was distant and remote so aid for the affair would be difficult, waited for him to usurp in rebellion and the affair to be brought forth. He proceeded calmly to Jiakou to plot against him, and did not worry over not achieving [it].

Reaching the point when Huan Xiu returned to the capital, Gaozu relied on using metal wounds [?] for the onset of illness, that he was not capable of follow on the travel. Then he and Wuji returned together on the same boat, to plan for establishing a prospering restoration. Hence he and his younger brother Daogui, Liu Yi of Pei commandery, Meng Chang of Pingchang, Wei Yongzhi of Rencheng, Tan Pingzhi of Gaoping, Zhuge Changmin of Langye, Wang Yuande of Taiyuan, Xin Huxing of Longxi, and Zhong Houzhi of Dongguan, all together made righteous plans.