Early life

Shi Hu's father was named Koumi (寇觅) and was a son of a cousin of Shi Le's father Zhouhezhu (周曷朱). His father died early and he became raised by Zhouhezhu and his wife, Shi Le's mother Lady Wang, so he was also sometimes referred to as Shi Le's brother. During the early 300s, a severe famine affected the Jie tribesmen, and Shi Hu became separated from Shi Le. Later, after Shi Le had become a powerful Han Zhao general, Liu Kun the Jin governor of Bing Province (并州, modern northern and central Shanxi), where the Jie were from, located Shi Hu and Lady Wang and sent them to Shi Le along with messengers, trying to persuade Shi Le to defect from Han Zhao to Jin. Shi Le, in gratitude, sent horses and jewel to Liu, but did not accept his invitation. (Since the Jie did not appear to use family names, and Shi Le's own family name of "Shi" was given to him by his friend Ji Sang, presumably this was also the time that Shi Le gave Shi Hu the same family name and gave him the courtesy name Jilong as well, patterned after his own courtesy name Shilong (世龙).)

Shi Hu grew up in Shi Le's army, and when he was young, he became known for incessantly hunting and not following military orders, and particularly liked hitting people with sling bullets. Shi Le considered killing him, as the entire army was complaining about Shi Hu, but Lady Wang responded, "Before a fast bull grows up, it would often break wagons that it pulls. Endure him a little bit." By the time he got to age 18, he was about 184 cm tall, and he became known for his bravery in battle and skills in archery and horsemanship, and the entire army feared him. Shi Le gave him the sister of the general Guo Rong (郭荣) in marriage to him, but he favored his concubine Zheng Yingtao and, at Zheng's instigation, killed Lady Guo. The same happened to his next wife, Lady Cui. He also became known for his cruelty in governing his soldiers and in battle, as he often executed officers who disagreed with his wishes or had great abilities, and whenever he captured a city, he often slaughtered the entire population. Even though Shi Le rebuked him at times, he could not get Shi Hu to change his ways. However, despite his cruelty, he also gave his officers leeway in their tactics, and he often led them into battles fearless of dangers. Therefore, Shi Le trusted him greatly and made him one of his top lieutenants.

During Shi Les stint as Han Zhao general

Shi Le frequently sent Shi Hu out in command of forces against important foes and gave him the title of Marquess of Fanyang. The enemies that Shi Hu engaged while serving under Shi Le included:

• 313 - Shi Hu defeated Liu Kun's son Liu Yan (刘演), who was then in control of the important city Yecheng (in modern Handan, Hebei), forcing Liu Yan to flee and yield control of Yecheng to him. Shi Le made Shi Hu the governor of Wei Commandery (with capital at Yecheng), and henceforth Shi Hu saw Yecheng as his personal possession, taking up residence in the three towers that Cao Cao had built.

• 317 - Shi Le sent Shi Hu to attack the Jin general Zu Ti, who was recapturing territory south of the Yellow River, but after unable to defeat Zu conclusively, Shi Hu was forced to withdraw. Zu would henceforth pose a major threat to Shi Le until Zu's death in 321.

• 318 - Shi Hu was a major general in Shi Le's campaign against Jin Zhun, who had assassinated the Han Zhao emperor Liu Can and slaughtered members of the imperial Liu clan. His victories over Jin Zhun's cousin and succession Jin Ming (靳明) forced Jin Ming to abandon the capital Pingyang (平阳, in modern Linfen, Shanxi) and surrender to the new emperor Liu Yao.

• 319 - Shi Hu defended against a Zu Ti attack against the general Chen Chuan (陈川), who had earlier switched his allegiance from Jin to Shi Le, and he repelled Zu. Later in the year, Shi Hu attacked the Xianbei chief Riliuyan (日六延), based in the Hetao region (the area around the northern bend of the Yellow River, in modern Ningxia and western Inner Mongolia) and greatly defeated him.

In 319, Shi Le, after a dispute of Liu Yao, declared independence as the Prince of Zhao (thus establishing Later Zhao), and he bestowed Shi Hu a number of offices and the title the Duke of Zhongshan.

During Shi Les reign as Later Zhao prince/emperor

After Shi Le's establishment of Later Zhao, he, even more so than before, extensively relied on Shi Hu to defeat major enemies. The major battles that Shi Hu engaged in included:

• 320 - Shi Hu captured Shao Xu, the Jin governor of Ji Province (冀州, modern western Shandong), one of the last major pockets of Jin resistance in northern China, in battle.

• 321 - Shi Hu captured Duan Pidi, the Jin governor of You Province (幽州, modern Beijing, Tianjin, and northern Hebei, even though he was no longer in control of You Province by that point) and his brother Duan Wenyuan (段文鸳), wiping out the last major pocket of Jin resistance in northern China. (It was after this battle that Shi showed that while he was cruel, he had respect for his enemies, as after Duan Pidi refused to bow to him despite an implicit threat of death, he bowed to Duan out of respect.)

• 322 - Shi Hu captured the general Xu Kan, who had vacillated between allegiances to Jin and Later Zhao.

• 323 - Shi Hu captured the general Cao Ni, who had vacillated between allegiances to Jin, Han Zhao, and Later Zhao, and who was in control of most of modern Shandong, thus eliminating a major semi-independent domain in the north. It was after the siege of Cao's capital Guanggu (广固, in modern Weifang, Shandong) that an example of Shi Hu's cruelty was shown—he wanted to slaughter all of the population of Guanggu. After Later Zhao's governor of Qing Province (青州, modern central and eastern Shandong), Liu Zheng (刘徵) protested that he was supposed to govern over the people and that he cannot govern without people, Shi nevertheless slaughtered most of the population but left 700 people alive for Liu to govern.

• 325 - With Later Zhao by this point in a state of constant war against Han Zhao, Shi Hu defeated and captured the Han Zhao general Liu Yue (刘岳) the Prince of Zhongshan, depriving the Han Zhao emperor Liu Yao of one of his key generals. He also captured and killed the Han Zhao general Wang Teng (王腾), who had earlier defected from Later Zhao.

• 328 - Shi Hu attacked Han Zhao, but was defeated by Liu Yao, who then attacked Luoyang. Shi Le had to personally relieve Luoyang, capturing Liu Yao in battle in early 329.

• 329 - After Liu Yao was captured, the Han Zhao crown prince Liu Xi and his brother Liu Yin abandoned the Han Zhao capital Chang'an and fled to Shanggui (上邽, in modern Tianshui, Gansu), but in the fall Liu Yin tried to recapture Chang'an. Shi Hu defeated him, forcing him to flee back to Shanggui, and then advanced on Shanggui, capturing it and killing Liu Xi and Liu Yin, ending Han Zhao.

As the years went by, Shi Hu began to develop an antagonistic relationship with Shi Le's key advisors Cheng Xia (the maternal uncle of Shi Le's crown prince Shi Hong) and Xu Guang, who had seen Shi Hu's ambitions and urged for Shi Le to curb his powers. The first conflict came in 326, when Shi Le, under Cheng's advice, had Shi Hong take over Yecheng's defenses, forcing Shi Hu's household to move out of the three towers. (Shi Hu retaliated by having soldiers in bandits' masquerades raid Cheng's home late at night, rape the women of his household, and rob them of their clothing.) In 330, after Shi Le successively claimed the titles of "Heavenly King" (Tian Wang) and emperor, Shi Hu was given title of Prince of Zhongshan, and two of his sons were also given title of princes as well. However, Shi Hu became incensed that he was not also given the title of Grand Chanyu, which Shi Le had granted to his son Shi Hong (石宏, note different character than his crown prince), and he secretly started plotting taking over after Shi Le's death. In 332, Shi Le tried to curb his powers by having the crown prince and the eunuch Yan Zhen (严震) participate in important decisions that were previously Shi Hu's to make, which only served to anger Shi Hu.

Coup against Shi Hong

As Shi Le grew ill in 333, Shi Hu entered the palace to serve him in his illness and cut off his communication with the outside. Shi Hu then issued false edicts summoning Shi Hong the Prince of Qin (not the crown prince) and Shi Le's adopted son Shi Kan (石堪) the Prince of Pengcheng back to the capital Xiangguo (襄国, in modern Xintai, Hebei) and then detained them. When Shi Le died in the fall, Shi Hu immediately seized the crown prince Shi Hong and arrested and executed Cheng and Xu. Shi Hong, in fear, offered the throne to Shi Hu, but Shi Hu forced him to take the throne.

Shi Hu then forced Shi Hong to confer on him the title King of Wei—intentionally paralleling Cao Cao's title while preparing for usurpation of the Han throne—and granting him the nine bestowments. All of Shi Le's trusted officials were demoted or moved to posts with no real power, while Shi Hu's subordinates were moved into key positions. Shi Le's wife Empress Dowager Liu plotted with Shi Kan to try to start rebellions to overthrow Shi Hu, but after Shi Kan fled the capital but failed in his attempt to capture Linqiu (廪丘, in modern Puyang, Henan), Shi Hu captured him and cruelly executed him by burning. Soon thereafter, Empress Dowager Liu's role was discovered, and she was executed as well.

In winter 333, Shi Sheng (石生) the Prince of Hedong, in defense of Chang'an, and Shi Lang, in defense of Luoyang, declared a rebellion against Shi Hu and sought assistance from Jin. Pu Hong (蒲洪) the Di chief also rose and sought assistance from Former Liang. Shi Hu personally attacked Shi Lang and captured Luoyang easily, killing Shi Lang. He then attacked Chang'an with his son Shi Ting (石挺) the Prince of Liang, but Shi Ting was defeated by Shi Sheng's subordinate Guo Quan (郭权) and killed. Shi Hu was forced to withdraw. However, Shi Sheng did not know about this victory and, when the Xianbei chief Shegui (涉瑰) rebelled, panicked and fled, abandoning Chang'an, and was killed in flight. Guo fled to Shanggui but was defeated in 334. Pu surrendered and was pardoned. That ended significant resistance to Shi Hu.

In 334, unable to endure Shi Hu's vengeance, Shi Hong personally carried imperial seals and visited Shi Hu's palace, offering to abdicate to him. Shi Hu declined with sarcastic language, and Shi Hong, knowing that Shi Hu had even crueler intentions, could carry out no other intentions. In late 334, Shi Hu deposed Shi Hong to the title the Prince of Haiyang, but soon had him, his mother Empress Dowager Cheng, and his brothers Shi Hong and Shi Hui (石恢) the Prince of Nanyang put to death. The officials offered the imperial title to Shi Hu, but Shi Hu declined and took the title "Regent Heavenly Prince" (摄政天王).

Early reign

In 335, Shi Hu moved the capital from Xiangguo to Yecheng. Later that year, he (a self-avowed Buddhist), unhappy that he was unable to distinguish which monks had become monks because they truly believed Buddhism and which had taken vows to evade taxes and labor, considered outlawing commoners from becoming monks. However, after his officials proposed a far more extensive ban than he wanted, he cancelled the plan and instead issued an edict proclaiming religious freedom.

Starting 336, Shi Hu began a series of palace-building projects, completing a number of exceedingly luxurious palaces. One of them, Taiwu Palace (太武殿), was described in this manner:

:The foundation was nine and a third meters tall, 65 steps long and 75 steps wide, all made of marble. The bottom contains a basement that is largely enough for 500 armed guards. The gaps between the bricks were filled with paint; the tops of buttresses was decorated with gold, and the top of columns were decorated with silver. The screens were made of pearls, and the walls were made of jade. The workmanship was extremely fine. The imperial bedroom has facilities including a bed made of white jade and comforters with fine ribbons, and on top of the comforters were sown in lotus flowers made of gold.

He further built nine additional palaces and selected many women to fill the palaces. The tax and labor burdens of these projects greatly encumbered the people, and he further gathered many men as soldiers with intent to conquer other states, increasing the burden.

In 337, Shi Hu claimed the title Heavenly King (Tian Wang), and he give title to his wife Zheng Yingtao empress and his son Shi Sui (石邃) crown prince, while his sons who were previously given title of princes were given duke titles instead.

Later in 337, Shi Hu would kill his recently appointed crown prince. Shi Sui was himself no less cruel than his father, and one of his favorite pastimes was to order a woman to dress well, and then behead her and eat her body. Shi Hu had put him in charge of most key decisions, but at times, when Shi Sui would report his decisions, Shi Hu would be angry and yell, "Why report such minute things?" while if Shi Sui did not do so, he would yell, "Why not report?" He would further whip Shi Sui at times he was angry. Shi Sui therefore considered assassinating his father. Shi Hu discovered this and killed Shi Sui's co-conspirators, but initially pardoned him. However, Shi Sui refused to apologize, and this angered Shi Hu, who deposed him and then executed him, along with his wife Crown Princess Zhang and his 26 children, burying them in one humongous coffin. He also killed some 200 subordinates of Shi Sui, and he deposed Empress Zheng to the title of Duchess Dowager of Donghai. He instead give title to his second son Shi Xuan (石宣) as crown prince and his mother Du Zhu as empress. However, he also favored another son by Empress Du, Shi Tao (石韬), and a rivalry between the brothers soon developed.

In late 337, Shi Hu entered into an alliance with the Former Yan prince Murong Huang to attack the Xianbei Duan tribe. In 338, the joint forces defeated and essentially wiped out the Duan, but Shi Hu, angry that Murong Huang withdrew his forces early, advanced on the Former Yan capital Jicheng (棘城, in modern Jinzhou, Liaoning) and surrounded it, intending to wipe Former Yan out. However, after nearly 20 days of siege, Later Zhao forces were unable to capture Jicheng and forced to withdraw, and they suffered heavy losses at the hands of a Former Yan general, Murong Huang's son Murong Ke. During the next few years, Later Zhao would have no real way of curbing Former Yan expansions, and was eventually forced to yield most of formerly Duan territory to Former Yan.

In 339, displeased that the Jin general Yu Liang was planning an attack against Later Zhao, Shi Hu acted first, sending his adopted grandson Shi Min to attack the borders with Jin, pillaging the border region and capturing Zhucheng (邾城, in modern Huanggang, Hubei), ending Yu's hopes of a northern campaign.

In 340, Shi Hu briefly entered into an alliance with Cheng Han's emperor Li Shou against Jin. However, after initially excitedly wishing to attack Jin, Li Shou cancelled his plan after contrary counsel by Gong Zhuang (龚壮), and the alliance did not come to anything.

Late reign

In 342, Shi Hu continued a large number of construction projects, and further ordered major conscriptions, with plans to attack not only Jin but also Former Liang and Former Yan. The people were greatly burdened, and the officials took the chances of these projects to engage in corruption. The people were described of being so troubled that many committed suicide. In 344, after believing the astrologer Zhao Lan (赵揽) that a campaign would bring ill fortune, cancelled the campaign plans.

In 346, the Later Zhao generals Wang Zhuo (王擢) and Ma Qiu attacked Former Liang with intent to conquer it, but after some initial successes, they were repelled by the Former Liang general Xie Ai. Another attack by Ma in 347 was also repelled by Xie.

Later in 347, believing a Buddhist monk's words that the Hu (胡, broad term encompassing non-Han) were about to lose their power to the Han and that the Han needed to be suppressed, further forced the Han men to engage in great labor.

In 348, the conflict between Shi Xuan and Shi Tao came to a horrible resolution. After a dispute over Shi Tao's building of a palace named Xuanguang Palace (宣光殿) -- since that name violated the naming taboo on Shi Xuan's name—Shi Xuan assassinated Shi Tao and considered assassinating Shi Hu as well. Shi Hu quickly suspected Shi Xuan, and his suspicions were fanned by that Shi Xuan showed no sign of mourning for Shi Tao. He detained Shi Xuan and arrested his followers, discovering the assassination plot. He planned to execute Shi Xuan, despite opposition from the Buddhist monk Fu Tucheng, whose prophecies he had respected greatly and who had predicted that Shi Xuan's death would bring great disaster on the empire. Indeed, he carried out a most cruel execution of Shi Xuan. Shi Xuan was placed near a wooden platform with a ladder leading up to it. His hairs and tongue were then pulled out, and then he was dragged up the ladder onto the platform. A rope was threaded through his pierced jaw, and then he was hoisted onto a wooden pyre. His hands and feet were then cut off, his eyes gouged out, and his abdomen sliced open and entrails allowed to flow out—as how Shi Tao appeared at his death. Then, a great fire was set on the pyre, and Shi Xuan was burned to death. Shi Xuan's mother Empress Du was reduced to commoner status, and Shi Xuan's wife, concubines, and sons were all executed, including his youngest, whom Shi Hu was holding in his arms and was considering pardoning—but the executioner grabbed the child out of Shi Hu's arms and executed him. Shi Hu, shocked by his young grandson's death, grew ill. Shi Xuan's subordinates were executed as well, and the crown prince's guards were exiled to Liang Province (凉州, modern eastern Gansu).

Later that year, Shi Hu considered a new heir. Of his sons, Shi Bin (石斌) the Duke of Yan and Shi Zun the Duke of Pengcheng were considered the most capable, but under the advice of Zhang Chai, who understood Shi Hu's fear of yet another son rebelling and took advantage of it by suggesting that the reasons why his prior crown princes rebelled was because their mothers were of low birth, Shi Hu instead give title to his youngest son Shi Shi (石世) the Duke of Qi crown prince, and his mother Consort Liu the youngest daughter of the Han Zhao emperor Liu Yao, empress.

In spring 349, Shi Hu claimed the title of emperor and promoted all of his duke sons to princes. He soon however had to face a major rebellion—by former Crown Prince Xuan's guard captain Liang Du (梁犊), whose men were driven by desperation after finding out that they were not covered by the general pardon that Shi Hu issued when he took imperial title. They defeated every army sent to oppose them, until the Qiang chief Yao Yizhong (姚弋仲) was able to defeat them. Yao took the opportunity to try to persuade Shi Hu that it was unwise to have an heir so young, but although Shi Hu honored Yao greatly, he did not listen to Yao.

In summer 349, Shi Hu was near death, and he ordered that Shi Zun and Shi Bin be made regents for Shi Shi. This interfered with Empress Liu's and Zhang Chai's plans to take over the government, and they issued false edicts imprisoning Shi Bin and sending Shi Zun away. As Shi Hu grew closer to death, Shi Bin was put to death. After he died, Shi Shi took the throne, but after just 33 days was deposed by Shi Zun, who was then deposed by another son of Shi Hu, Shi Jian the Prince of Yiyang. Shi Jian then fell under the control of Shi Min, and by 350 Shi Min had killed Shi Jian and massacred most Jie and Xiongnu people, changed his family name back to his father's original Ran (冉), and usurped the throne. Another son of Shi Hu's, Shi Zhi, would claim imperial title and try to reestablish Later Zhao, but by 351 he was dead as well. Shi Hu's empire and people were destroyed, just two years after his death.

Era names

• Jianwu (建武 jiàn wǔ) 335–349

• Taining (太宁 taì níng) 349

Personal information

• Father

　• Koumi (寇觅), posthumously honored as Emperor Xiao, distant nephew of Shi Le's father Zhouhezhu (周曷朱). His grandfather's name was Beye

• Wives

　• Lady Guo, sister of the general Guo Rong (郭荣)

　• Lady Cui

　• Empress Zheng Yingtao (given title and deposed 337, killed by Ran Min 349), mother of Princes Sui and Zun

　• Empress Du (given title 337, deposed 348), mother of Princes Xuan and Tao

　• Empress Liu, daughter of Liu Yao (given title 348, killed by Shi Zun 349), mother of Prince Shi

• Children

　• Shi Sui (石邃), initially the Prince of Qi (given title 330), later the Crown Prince of Wei (given title 333), later the Crown Prince (given title and executed 337)

　• Shi Xuan (石宣), initially the Prince of Hejian (given title 333), later the Crown Prince (given title 337, executed 348)

　• Shi Tao (石韬), initially the Prince of Le'an (given title 333), later the Duke of Qin (given title 337, assassinated by Shi Xuan 348)

　• Shi Chong (石冲), Prince of Pei (forced to commit suicide by Shi Zun 349)

　• Shi Zun (石遵), initially the Prince of Qi (given title 333), later the Duke of Pengcheng (given title 337), later the Prince of Pengcheng (given title 349), later emperor

　• Shi Jian (石鉴), initially the Prince of Dai (given title 333), later the Duke of Yiyang (given title 337), later the Prince of Yiyang (given title 349), later emperor

　• Shi Bao (石苞), initially the Prince of Leping (given title 333), later the Duke of Leping (given title 337), later the Prince of Leping (given title and executed by Shi Jian 349)

　• Shi Bin (石斌), initially the Prince of Pingyuan (given title 330), later the Prince of Zhangwu (given title 333), later the Duke of Yan (given title 337), later the Prince of Yan (given title and executed by Empress Liu 349)

　• Shi Ting (石挺), the Prince of Liang (given title 330, killed in battle by Guo Quan (郭权) 333)

　• Shi Zhi (石祇), initially the Prince of Xinxing, later emperor

　• Shi Kun (石琨), the Prince of Ruyin (executed by Jin 352)

　• Shi Shi (石世), initially the Duke of Qi, later the Crown Prince (given title 348), later emperor

登基前

满手鲜血

生性残暴的石虎，少年时喜欢用弹弓打人为乐。十八岁时，由于其武艺超凡且勇猛过人，因此受到石勒的宠信，被封为征虏将军。石勒其后又为石虎纳聘将军郭荣的妹妹为妻，但石虎心仪的是当时的杂技名角郑樱桃。于是便把郭氏杀死，而后迎娶郑氏。之后，石虎又娶了崔氏，但崔氏最后因郑氏的挑拨而死于石虎手中。

在军中，凡是比石虎有才艺或有武艺的，石虎就会设法把他们杀死，死于他手上的人不可计数。石虎是好杀的人，每次攻下一座城后，不论男女都一律杀死。一次，石虎攻下青州后又下令屠城。此次血腥屠城，仅馀七百多人保全性命。

夺位野心

太和三年（330年）二月，石勒称大赵天王，行皇帝事；以妃刘氏为王后，世子石弘为皇太子，程遐为右仆射、领吏部尚书。中山王石虎怒，秘密对长子齐王石邃说：「我亲冒矢石随主上征战二十馀年，是成大赵之业者，应该做大单于，主上却授予『黄吻婢儿』，想起来就令人气塞，不能寝食！待主上晏驾之后，我不会给他留种。」

石勒临终前，石虎威迫太子石弘把曾劝石勒除掉自己的大臣程遐和徐光逮捕入狱并杀死。又命儿子石邃率兵入宿卫，文武百官害怕不已，太子石弘也吓得连忙对石虎说道自己不是治天下的人材，石虎才是真正的天子。但石虎明白石勒尸骨未寒，就这样强登上皇帝只会众叛亲离，并受后世人的唾骂。因此宁愿有点耐性，演出曹操的「挟天子以令诸侯」的戏，由这位太子登位。

夺位称王

石弘坐上宝座后，成为了傀儡皇帝。石弘登基后便被石虎所逼，将程遐、徐光论罪诛斩，封石虎为丞相、魏王、大单于，再封土地，封邦建土。而他的三名儿子都被封为拥有军权的职位，至于他的亲人和亲信都放排在有大权的职位上，而之前石勒的文武百官就放置在毫无权力的闲职上。这时后赵已真正的形成「挟天子以令诸侯」的局面。刘太后与石勒养子石堪合谋起兵拥戴石弘的弟弟石恢为盟主，石堪兵败被杀，石恢被徵召回京，刘太后被石虎废黜杀害。石弘生母程氏被尊为太后，也没有实权。延熙元年（334年）十月石弘持玺绶向石虎表明愿意禅位。石虎说：「天下人自当有议，何为自论此也！」意思是只能自己逼石弘退位，而不能接受石弘禅位。石弘哭著回宫对程太后说：「先帝真要灭种了！」不久石虎称石弘居丧不孝，废为海阳王，自称天王，并把石弘、程太后和石弘的弟弟石宏、石恢都幽禁于崇训宫，旋即杀死他们。

登基后

穷奢极欲

石虎称天王后，石邃为太子（之前为魏太子），并开始他极为奢侈的统治。石虎不顾人民负担到处征杀，使人民的兵役和力役负担相当重大，他又下令凡是有免兵役特权的家族，五丁取二，四丁取其二，而没有特权的家族则所有丁壮都需服役。为了攻打东晋，在全国征调士兵的物品：每五人出车一乘、牛两头、米谷五十斛、绢十份，不交者格杀勿论。无数的百姓为了安全，不得不把自己的子女卖掉。

后赵建武二年（336年），石虎为了装饰邺城，令牙门将张弥把洛阳的钟虞、九龙、翁仲、铜驼、飞廉等相生物运到去邺城。在运送途中，一只钟虞没入了黄河，于是张弥便下令三百多名人潜到水中，把钟虞系上绳，再利用百多头牛和许多架辘轳把钟虞拉上来，之后就地造了可装万斛的大船，把这些相生运过黄河。其后又制造了特大的车子以把相生运送到邺城，这次的行动单是运送就足足用了人民千千万万的劳力和血汗了。

在邺城以西三里，有石虎所建的桑梓苑，苑内临漳水修建了很多座豪华的宫殿，下令从民间强行掠夺十三岁至二十岁的女子三万馀人。仅在345年一年间，各郡县官吏为搜罗美女上交差事，公然抢掠貌美的有夫之妇九千馀人，不忍受夺妻之辱而反抗的男人均遭残杀，被夺女子为避免受辱也大多自杀，一大批家庭夫妻离散，家破人亡。但石虎徵集女人倒不完全是好色，石虎内置女官十有八等，教宫人星占及马步射。置女太史于灵台，仰观灾祥，以考外太史之虚实（《晋书·石季龙载记》）。石虎还鉴于东汉太监专权的危害，不信任太监，因此宫中没有太监，相关职务只能由女人充当。苑内养有奇珍异兽，石虎经常在此游玩设宴。从襄国至邺城的二百里内，每隔四十里使建一行宫，每宫都有一位夫人，数十位的侍婢居住，由黄门官守门。

而在浴室上，更是别出心裁：在皇后浴室中，门窗都是由木刻成的镂孔图案，石虎就是在这儿和皇后梳洗。而每年的4月8日，在这里精工制造的九龙吐水浴太子之像。在太武殿前，沟的中间有多层以纱等的「过滤器」。

「凤诏」也是石虎的发明之一，石虎处理政事时会和皇后一起坐在高高在上的楼观上，并用五色纸上写下诏书，把诏书放在一只由木雕刻成、外施漆画、金腿的「凤凰」口中。金凤凰系在辘轳牵引的绳上。当下诏时，待人把辘轳摇动，「凤凰」就像从天空飞下来般，大臣们都要跪下接诏。

每隔不久，石虎便会大会群臣，每次都头戴通天冠、身佩玉玺、循周礼的规定礼乐一番，然后观赏杂技表演，群臣大会几乎都有美酒佳酿给自己和群臣所饮用。殿上挂著了大铁灯一百二十支。在灯下有数千戴金银佩饰的宫女和石虎观看表演。在殿外，三十部鼓吹同时演奏，鼓乐震天，场面极为震撼。

石虎好射猎，但因体胖而无法骑马，因而改为用猎辇。而他的猎辇装有豪华的华盖羽葆，由二十人推行，座下有转轴装置，可以根据猎物的所在地转动。在出猎时，石虎会戴上由金镂织成的合欢帽、穿上合欢裤，手拿著弓箭。而石虎为了方便行猎，于是把黄河以北的大片良田为猎区，派御史监督，规定除自己外有敢在猎区猎兽者处死。而这「犯兽」的刑法，又被各官员用来欺压百姓，若百姓家有美女或好的牛马等家畜，官员要求不给，就诬陷其「犯兽」，因此被判死刑者甚多。

石虎像他伯父石勒一样崇拜大和尚佛图澄，石勒因信佛图澄之言而减少了很多杀虐。有次石虎向佛图澄问甚么是佛法，佛图澄只说了四字：「佛法不杀」．石虎没有听取佛图澄的劝告，后来倒是听了一个叫吴进的假和尚说胡人的气数已衰，而晋人的气数开始恢复，一定要苦役晋人才能压著他们的气数。结果石虎下令强徵邺城附近各郡的男女百姓十六万多人、车十万乘在邺城东修华林苑，并围苑建数十里的长墙。

骨肉相残

在中国历史上还记载著石虎父子的相互残杀。

事缘石虎儿子石邃不满父亲宠爱其馀的两个儿子石宣和石韬，渐渐地，这种不满转化为仇恨，对父亲石虎恨之入骨，恨不得弑父夺位。石虎得知后，把石邃的手下李颜捉来审问，李颜吓得不知如何是好，便一五一十地都事情告诉石虎：石邃密谋杀石宣和弑石虎夺位。石虎得知后把李颜及其家人三十多人斩首处死，再把石邃幽禁于东宫。石邃被幽禁后仍然目中无人，石虎一怒之下，下令把石邃和他的妻子、家人杀死，再塞进同一口棺材内，同一时间又把石邃的党羽二百多人杀死。

石邃死后，石宣为皇太子，石宣之母杜昭仪为天王皇后，郑樱桃废为东海太妃。同时又让石韬掌握军政大权，打算让石宣和石韬之间达成一定的平衡。结果却引发新一轮内讧。

到了其后，石宣因不满其父石虎较宠爱石韬而要除掉石韬。不久之后，两兄弟经常发生冲突，石宣于是把石韬砍掉手足、双眼刺烂、破肚惨死。石宣并计划在石韬的丧礼上弑父，以夺皇位。

石虎得知爱儿石韬死了，昏迷了好一段时间，他本想出席儿子的丧礼，幸而大臣提醒，没有出席丧礼。后来，石虎得到知情人的报告，得知皇太子石宣杀了石韬。愤怒到极点的石虎在设计控制石宣后，下令用铁环穿透石宣下巴锁著，又将他的饭菜倒入大木槽，使石宣进食时像猪、狗般。石虎逼石宣用舌头舐著杀石韬的剑上的血，石宣发出了震动宫殿的哀声。石虎下令在邺城城北埋起柴堆，上面设置了木竿、竿上安装了辘轳。并让石韬生前最宠的宦官，郝稚和刘霸二人拽著石宣的舌头和头发，沿著梯子拉上柴堆，之后用辘轳把他绞起来，再用一模一样的方法向石宣施刑。当石宣已奄奄一息时在柴堆四处点火，石宣被烧成了灰烬。这还未能平熄石虎的怒火，再下令把灰烬分散到名门道中，任人、马、马车的辗踏，又将石宣的妻、子九人杀死，又把石宣的卫士、宦官等数百人车裂，将尸体投进漳河。石宣的一个年幼的儿子抱著石虎的大腿求饶，石虎心生怜悯想赦免但大臣们却将其夺走处死，石虎的腰带都被孙子扯断。东宫卫兵十馀万被流放边疆，途中举行暴动，石虎急忙调集重兵镇压了下去。但后赵统治基础动摇了。

连杀两位太子后，太尉张举认为燕公石斌、彭城公石遵都有武艺文德，建议从二人中选择储君。但戎昭将军张豺先前曾将刘曜的女儿献给石虎，生有齐公石世，于是他说服石虎立石世，这样刘氏成为太后，他可以辅政。石虎说：「太子二十多岁就想弑父，石世才十岁，等他二十岁了，我已经老了。」于是与张举、李农定议，敕令公卿上书请立石世为太子，于是立石世为太子，其母刘氏为皇后。

石虎病重时，以石遵为大将军，镇关右，石斌为丞相、录尚书事，张豺为镇卫大将军、领军将军、吏部尚书，同受遗诏辅政。刘皇后怕石斌辅政不利于石世，就与张豺合谋，派使者诈称石虎病愈，石斌性好酒猎，于是又恣意而为。刘皇后便矫命称石斌无忠孝之心，免其官，以王归第，派张豺弟张雄率龙腾五百人看守。石遵从幽州来朝，被打发走，石虎知道后说「恨不见之」。一次石虎驾临西阁，龙腾将军、中郎二百馀人列拜于前，说宜令燕王石斌入宿卫，典兵马，也有请求以石斌为皇太子。石虎不知石斌已被罢官囚禁，命召石斌来，左右说石斌饮酒得病不能入。石虎又命以辇迎之，要将其玺绶交给他，最后也没人前去。不久石虎昏眩入内。张豺让张雄等矫石虎命杀石斌，刘皇后又矫命以张豺为太保、都督中外诸军、录尚书事，加千兵百骑，一依霍光辅汉故事。

石虎死后，石世继位，不久就被推翻，石虎诸子石遵、石鉴、石祗相继登基，又相继被杀。石虎死后三年，后赵就灭亡了。

轶事

• 慕容儁曾梦见石虎咬他的手臂，令慕容儁十分厌恶，于是下令挖开石虎的墓穴，骂道：「死胡竟然敢梦中吓天子！」于是命御史中尉阳约数其残酷之罪，鞭尸后丢到漳水去。《资治通鉴》更谓慕容儁在石虎墓找不到石虎尸首，于是悬赏百金求尸；后因邺城女子李菟报告，在东明观找到石虎尸首，发现他竟僵硬不腐；石虎尸首被投进漳水后，更靠在柱边不流走。

家庭

• 父亲

　• 石寇觅，石勒的父亲周曷朱的侄辈远亲，后来追尊为孝皇帝。

• 妻子

　• 郭氏，将军郭荣之妹，被石虎殴死。

　• 崔氏，清河大族崔家的女儿，被石虎杀死。

　• 郑樱桃，杂技名角，石邃和石遵之母，337年立为天王后，同年废为东海太妃。349年尊为皇太后，同年被冉闵所杀。

　• 杜珠，石宣之母，据推测也是石韬之母，先为昭仪，337年立为天王后，348年废。

　• 刘氏，石世之母，刘曜之女，348年立为皇后，349年时为石遵所杀。

　• 柳贵嫔，柳耆之女，348年被石虎所杀。

　• 齐氏，石斌母，娼妓，无宠

• 子女

　• 长子石邃，330年立为齐王。333年由于石虎立为魏王，石邃立为魏太子。337年立为皇太子，同年被处决。

　• 次子石宣，333年立为河间王，337年立为皇太子，348年被处决。

　• 三子石鉴，333年立为代王，337年为义阳公，349年为义阳王，同年登基，350年被冉闵所杀。

　• 石韬，333年立为乐安王，337年立为秦公，348年被石宣暗杀。

　• 石冲，年长于石遵，封沛王，349年起兵讨石遵，兵败被俘被赐死。

　• 九子石遵，333年立为齐王，337年为彭城公，349年为彭城王，同年登基，不久被石鉴、冉闵所杀。

　• 石苞，333年立为乐平王，337年为乐平公，349年复立为乐平王，被当时皇帝石鉴派往刺杀冉闵，事败后被石鉴灭口。

　• 石斌，330年立为平原王，333年为章武王，337年为燕公，349年立为燕王，旋即被刘皇后矫诏处决。

　• 石挺，初为梁王，333年被反抗石虎的将领郭权所杀。

　• 石琨，初为汝阴王，后赵灭亡后与妻儿投效东晋，352年全家被东晋政权处决。

　• 石祗，初为新兴王，后登基称帝，351年被将领刘显所杀。

　• 石炳，石祗称帝时，为丞相、乐安王。与石祗同死。

　• 石世，初为齐公，348年立为皇太子，349年继石虎为君主，同年被石遵所杀。

　• 养子冉良，石虎部下将领。被石虎收为养子后改姓石，又名石瞻。冉闵之父。咸和三年（328年），冉良在石虎和刘曜部队交战中战死于新绛。

　• 养孙冉闵