Lu Zilong, courtesy name Xingshi, was a native of Wuxian, Suzhou. His grandfather, Lu Changzhi, served as the magistrate of Jiaxing County in the Liang Dynasty, and his father, Lu Quan, served as the magistrate of Fengshi County. From a young age, Lu Zilong was ambitious and determined to achieve great accomplishments. He started out as a palace guard in the Eastern Palace. During the rebellion led by Hou Jing, he gathered a militia in his hometown. At that time, Zhang Biao was serving as the Prefect of Wu County and recruited him to serve as a military leader. Zhang Biao was later transferred to serve as the Prefect of Kuaiji, and Lu Zilong followed him. When the emperor launched a campaign against Zhang Biao, many of Zhang Biao's subordinates surrendered, but Lu Zilong fought to the end and was eventually defeated. Recognizing his loyalty, the emperor appointed him as a military officer, reinstating him to command his original troops. He later served as the magistrate of Shifeng County and Yongxing County.
After the emperor ascended the throne, Lu Zilong was responsible for overseeing the palace's weapons and security. He then joined General Hou Andu in resisting the army of Wang Lin, engaging in battle at Zhakou. After Wang Lin's defeat, Lu Zilong was appointed as the General of the Imperial Army. In the first year of Tianjia, he was granted the title of Count of Yiyang County with a fief of three hundred households. He was later appointed as the Prefect of Gaotang County. The following year, he was appointed as the General of Mingwei and the Prefect of Luling. During this time, Zhou Di instigated a rebellion in Linchuan, and a local rebel known as Xiuxing Shi joined forces with him to attack Lu Zilong. Lu Zilong set up an ambush outside the city, closed the city gates, and feigned weakness. When the enemy entered the ambush, he launched a coordinated attack from the front and rear, decisively defeating the enemy forces. Xiuxing Shi surrendered, and Lu Zilong escorted him back to the capital.
In the fourth year of Tianjia, Zhou Di once again allied with Chen Baoying to attack Linchuan. Lu Zilong accompanied Commander Zhang Zhaoda in the campaign against Zhou Di. Zhou Di fled, and Lu Zilong followed Zhang Zhaoda over the Dongxing Ridge to continue pursuing Chen Baoying. The army arrived in Jian'an, and Lu Zilong was appointed as the Jian'an County Supervisor. Chen Baoying occupied the lakeside of Jian'an to resist the imperial army. Lu Zilong and Zhang Zhaoda camped separately. Zhang Zhaoda engaged the enemy first; the battle was going poorly, and they lost their military flags and bugles. Upon hearing this, Lu Zilong quickly mobilized his troops to provide assistance, defeated the enemy, and reclaimed the flags, weapons, and armor lost by Zhang Zhaoda. After Jian'an was pacified, Lu Zilong was promoted to Acting General and Commander of Military Affairs in Wuzhou, with his general position unchanged. Shortly after, he was further titled as the Earl of Chaoyang County, with a fief comprising five hundred households. After the ascension of the deposed emperor, Lu Zilong was promoted to the General of Intelligent Warfare, appointed as an attendant cavalier in the palace, with his other positions unchanged.
Hua Jiao led a rebellion in Xiangzhou, and his son Long was Hua Jiao's confidant. Hua Jiao had always been suspicious of his son Long and had repeatedly sent envoys to persuade him to join his cause, but Long had never agreed. With no other option, Hua Jiao sent troops to attack his son Long, but they failed to succeed. Later, when Hua Jiao was defeated in Yingzhou, his son Long led troops to attack Hua Jiao's rear and joined forces with the imperial army. The court subsequently granted him an official title, appointing him as Commissioner, elevated him to the rank of marquis, with an additional land grant of seven hundred households.
Not long after, he was promoted to Governor of the three provinces of Jing, Xin, and You, General of Military Affairs, General of Valor, and Governor of Jingzhou, while still holding the positions of Imperial Commissioner and Palace Attendant. At that time, Jingzhou had just been established, with its capital in Gong'an, and the city walls were still under construction. His son Long was responsible for building the city walls and pacifying the local people. Whether they were Han Chinese or ethnic minorities, he managed their affairs well, and everyone thought he did a good job. Three years later, the officials and citizens of Jingzhou jointly petitioned the court to erect a stele praising Long's achievements, and the court agreed. In the first year of the Taijian period, he was further appointed as General of Cloud Banners. Two years later, he died at the age of forty-seven. The court posthumously honored him with the title of Cavalier Attendant, and he was posthumously honored with the title "Wei." His son, Wu, inherited his title.
His other son, Zicai, took over his father's army at the age of sixteen and followed Wu Mingche on a northern campaign, earning accolades. He held the positions of Registrar of the Wang Mansion and Prefect of Hongnong, always following Wu Mingche. Later, when Wu Mingche was defeated at Luoyang, Zicai fled back home and was killed by someone, at the age of twenty-two.
His other son, Zicai, was also talented and served in battles with his father, earning many merits. He was appointed as Prefect of Nanping, granted the title of Viscount of Shixing County, with a fief of three hundred households. He also followed Wu Mingche on a northern campaign, serving as Supervisor of Anzhou and stationed in Suyu. Later, he was promoted to Consultant to the Prince of Shixing in the Central Guards, and then further promoted to General of Fierce Valor and Governor of Xinzhou. He died in the thirteenth year of the Taijian period at the age of forty-two, and the court posthumously honored him with the title of External Cavalier Attendant.
Qian Daoji, styled Zitao, was from Changxing, Huzhou, Zhejiang. His father, Qian Jingshen, was the county magistrate of Hanshou during the Liang Dynasty. Qian Daoji was known for his filial piety since childhood and later showed great military talent. Before Chen Baxian became emperor, he married his sister to Qian Daoji. Later, Qian Daoji followed the founding emperor in quelling the rebellion of Lu Zilue in Guangzhou and was appointed as the magistrate of Binjiang County. After the founding emperor became emperor, he sent Qian Daoji to help Chen Shubao suppress the rebellion of Zhang Biao in Kuaiji. Due to his achievements, he was appointed as the General of the Straight Pavilion, promoted to the position of Imperial Secretariat, Acting Cavalry General, Governor of Dongxuzhou, Marquis of Yong'an County, with a fief consisting of five hundred households. He led three thousand troops to station at Liangshan with Hou Andu, later serving as the magistrate of Qiantang County and Yuhang County. In the third year of Yongding, he was stationed at Nanwan Kou with Chen Shubao. In the first year of Tianjia, he was appointed as the magistrate of Shan County, stationed at Nanyan in Shan County, and soon promoted to the Prefect of Linhai, continuing to be stationed at Nanyan.
When Hou Andu campaigned against Liu Yi, Qian Daoji led troops from Songyang, blocking Liu Yi's retreat. After Liu Yi was subdued, he was appointed as the General with Authority to Command, Imperial Secretariat, General of Light Chariots, Commander of the military forces in both East and West Hengzhou, Governor of Hengzhou, and concurrently the Interior Minister of Shixing. In the first year of Guangda, his fief was increased by seven hundred households, totaling twelve hundred households.
After Emperor Chen Xuan ascended the throne, he summoned Ouyang He to the court. Ouyang He, feeling suspicious and fearful, gathered troops to attack Hengzhou. Qian Daoji fought against him and repelled Ouyang He. Later, Commander Zhang Zhaoda led troops to suppress Ouyang He, appointing Qian Daoji as the Commander of Infantry. He blocked Ouyang He's retreat by taking a hidden route. After Ouyang He was subdued, Qian Daoji was appointed as the Left Guard General.
In the second year of the Taijian era, he followed Zhang Zhaoda to Jiangling to launch a campaign against Xiao Kui. Qian Daoji led other troops and Lu Zilong to burn Xiao Kui's ships, and also served as the vanguard force under Zhang Zhaoda to capture Anshu City, leading to the surrender of Anshu City. For his achievements, he was promoted to the position of Sanqi Changshi, Renwu General, with an increase of nine hundred households in his fief, totaling two thousand one hundred households. In the same year, he was appointed as Renwei General and Prefect of Wuxing. Before he assumed office, he was reassigned as Commissioner, Commander of the military forces of the three provinces of Ying, Ba, and Wu, and Governor of Yingzhou. During the Northern Expedition against the Chen army, Qian Daoji and Yitong Huang Fabian besieged Liyang together. After the capture of Liyang City, Qian Daoji was sent to garrison there. For his achievements, he was promoted to Yunhui General, with an increase of 1500 households in his fief, totaling 3600 households. In November of the same year, he passed away at the age of sixty-three after a prolonged illness. The court posthumously reinstated him to his original official position and conferred upon him the posthumous title of "Su." His son Qian Mai inherited his title.
Luo Ya, courtesy name Qimen, was from Lin'an, Huzhou, Zhejiang. His grandfather Luo Midao served as a military officer under King Ancheng during the Liang Dynasty, and his father Luo Yu served as a military officer under King Siwang in Poyang. When Luo Ya was twelve years old, a family fortune teller remarked, "This child is extraordinary and will surely achieve great things in the future." Towards the end of the Taiqing period of the Liang Dynasty, Yang Jian (later Emperor Wen of Sui) sought refuge in Lin'an. Luo Ya's mother hosted him and, struck by Yang Jian's impressive demeanor, knew he was not an ordinary person and extended him exceptional hospitality.
Later, Yang Jian became the Prefect of Wuxing and promoted Luo Ya to the rank of general. Together, they suppressed the rebellions of Du Gan and Zhang Biao. Luo Ya was brave and valiant in battle, the bravest man in the army, and was appointed as General of the Direct Guard. In the second year of Taiping, his mother passed away, so Luo Ya resigned from his position to observe a period of mourning at home. While Yang Jian was stationed in Kuaiji, he appointed Luo Ya as the Prefect of Shanyin County. In the third year of Yongding, Luo Ya was appointed as a military officer in the Andong Prefecture and stationed in Yecheng. Shortly after, he followed Yang Jian to fight against Wang Lin in southern Anhui. After Yang Jian became emperor, he appointed Luo Ya as General of the Guard, General Who Suppresses the Barbarians, and Palace Attendant of the Cavalry. He was also granted the title of Marquis of Chang'an with a fief of five hundred households. Later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Lin'an County, then promoted to the Governor of Yuezhou, with all other positions unchanged.
When Luo Ya's mother passed away, it coincided with widespread famine and ongoing warfare throughout the country, delaying her burial until this time. The court posthumously honored Luo Ya's mother with the title Lady of Chang'an, with the posthumous title of 'Gong.' As a result, Luo Ya was promoted to General of Zhenwei and Prefect of Jinling. Three years later, due to his achievements in pacifying Zhou Di, he was promoted to Champion General and Governor of Linqi. In the third year of the Taijian era, he was appointed as General of Anyuan and Interior Minister of Hengyang, but before he could take office, he was reassigned as Prefect of Guiyang. Eight years later, he returned to court and was appointed as Palace Attendant of the Cavalry, serving in the palace. Ten years later, he was appointed as Governor of Fengzhou, with all other positions unchanged. In the second year of the Zhide era, Luo Ya passed away at the age of fifty-seven years. The court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of General of Anyuan and Governor of Guangzhou. His son Luo Yi succeeded him in his title.
The history books say: Individuals such as Lu Zilong and Qian Daoji, some sought refuge with their families by joining Yang Jian, others leveraged their experience to achieve notable accomplishments; they all possessed the capability to command armies and undertake significant military duties. Regarding those appointed as border generals, who achieved remarkable success, they were indeed exceptional! Luo Ya recognized Yang Jian's talent and virtue very early on, which might be likened to Zhang Liang's support of Liu Bang. Luo Ya's mother's wisdom and foresight could also be compared to Mr. Baigu's keen insight into character; the discerning vision and foresight of a gentleman in recognizing talent is likely akin to this!
