Sima Daozi

As the emperor's only surviving brother, Sima Daozi was in an honored position. In 380, when he was 16 or 17, he was offered the position of prime minister, but he declined. In 383, he finally accepted the title while the empire was preparing for a showdown with the powerful rival [[Former Qin]], and, after Jin forces repelled Former Qin forces at the [[Battle of Fei River]], thus guaranteeing the dynasty's continued survival, he soon came into a power conflict with [[Xie An]], who had served as Emperor Xiaowu's regent ever since Emperor Xiaowu's ascension; this conflict was aggravated by Xie An's son-in-law [[Wang Guobao]], whose cousin was Sima Daozi's wife and whom Xie disfavored, who therefore retaliated by slandering Xie before Emperor Xiaowu and Sima Daozi. Emperor Xiaowu therefore began to listen to Xie less, and in 385, Xie volunteered to lead an army and leave the capital to avoid further conflict with Sima Daozi. When Xie died later that year, Sima Daozi became the head of the government under Emperor Xiaowu, who entrusted his brother with most important affairs of state.

As the emperor's only surviving brother, Sima Daozi was in an honored position. In 380, when he was 16 or 17, he was offered the position of prime minister, but he declined. In 383, he finally accepted the title while the empire was preparing for a showdown with the powerful rival [[Former Qin]], and, after Jin forces repelled Former Qin forces at the [[Battle of Fei River]], thus guaranteeing the dynasty's continued survival, he soon came into a power conflict with [[Xie An]], who had served as Emperor Xiaowu's regent ever since Emperor Xiaowu's ascension; this conflict was aggravated by Xie An's son-in-law [[Wang Guobao]], whose cousin was Sima Daozi's wife and whom Xie disfavored, who therefore retaliated by slandering Xie before Emperor Xiaowu and Sima Daozi. Emperor Xiaowu therefore began to listen to Xie less, and in 385, Xie volunteered to lead an army and leave the capital to avoid further conflict with Sima Daozi. When Xie died later that year, Sima Daozi became the head of the government under Emperor Xiaowu, who entrusted his brother with most important affairs of state.

Both Emperor Xiaowu and Sima Daozi were described to be spending much of their times with drinking and feasting, rather than with important affairs of state. A number of politicians who wanted power gathered around Sima Daozi and flattered him, causing him to be less and less deferential to the emperor. He was also known for being obsessed with gathering wealth and for extravagance in living—including constructing an artificial hill in the back of his mansion, an excessively expensive and difficult task. Emperor Xiaowu eventually became angry about the situation, and he commissioned the well-known officials [[Wang Gong (Jin dynasty)|Wang Gong]] and [[Yin Zhongkan]] to be provincial governors to counteract Sima Daozi's authority. The emperor and the prince at times suspected of each other, requiring intervention of their mother Empress Dowager Li. However, eventually they reconciled. It was around this time that Sima Daozi would, fatefully, inadvertently offend Huan Wen's son [[Huan Xuan]] the Duke of Nan Commandery—as at one feast where Sima Daozi invited Huan Xuan as a guest, after Sima Daozi became drunk, he made the statement, "Was it not true that when Huan Wen became old, he planned treason?" Huan Xuan was so struck by the statement that he fell prostrate on the ground, fearing that Sima Daozi would kill him, and from this point he bore a grudge against the prince.

Both Emperor Xiaowu and Sima Daozi were described to be spending much of their time drinking and feasting, rather than with important affairs of state. A number of politicians who wanted power gathered around Sima Daozi and flattered him, causing him to be less and less deferential to the emperor. He was also known for being obsessed with gathering wealth and for extravagance in living—including constructing an artificial hill in the back of his mansion, an excessively expensive and difficult task. Emperor Xiaowu eventually became angry about the situation, and he commissioned the well-known officials [[Wang Gong (Jin dynasty)|Wang Gong]] and [[Yin Zhongkan]] to be provincial governors to counteract Sima Daozi's authority. The emperor and the prince at times suspected of each other, requiring intervention of their mother Empress Dowager Li. However, eventually they reconciled. It was around this time that Sima Daozi would, fatefully, inadvertently offend Huan Wen's son [[Huan Xuan]] the Duke of Nan Commandery—as at one feast where Sima Daozi invited Huan Xuan as a guest, after Sima Daozi became drunk, he made the statement, "Was it not true that when Huan Wen became old, he planned treason?" Huan Xuan was so struck by the statement that he fell prostrate on the ground, fearing that Sima Daozi would kill him, and from this point he bore a grudge against the prince.

On 27 December 392,According to Sima Yao's biography in ''Book of Jin'', Sima Daozi was made Prince of Kuaiji and Sima Dewen was made Prince of Langya on the ''gengyin'' day of the 11th month of the 17th year of the ''Taiyuan'' era of Yao's reign. This corresponds to 27 Dec 392 in the Julian calendar. ([太元十七年十一月]庚寅，徙封琅邪王道子为会稽王，封皇子德文为琅邪王。) ''Jin Shu'' vol. 09. Sima Daozi was created the [[Prince of Kuaiji]], to permit the greater title of Prince of Langye be given to Emperor Xiaowu's second son [[Emperor Gong of Jin|Sima Dewen]]{{efn|younger brother of the [[developmental disability|developmentally disabled]] Crown Prince [[Emperor An of Jin|Sima Dezong]]}}.

On 27 December 392,According to Sima Yao's biography in ''Book of Jin'', Sima Daozi was made Prince of Kuaiji and Sima Dewen was made Prince of Langya on the ''gengyin'' day of the 11th month of the 17th year of the ''Taiyuan'' era of Yao's reign. This corresponds to 27 Dec 392 in the Julian calendar. ([太元十七年十一月]庚寅，徙封琅邪王道子为会稽王，封皇子德文为琅邪王。) ''Jin Shu'' vol. 09. Sima Daozi was created the [[Prince of Kuaiji]], to permit the greater title of Prince of Langye be given to Emperor Xiaowu's second son [[Emperor Gong of Jin|Sima Dewen]]{{efn|younger brother of the [[developmental disability|developmentally disabled]] Crown Prince [[Emperor An of Jin|Sima Dezong]]}}.