Zhou Tiehu, his origins unknown, migrated south during the Liang Dynasty. He was known for his rough speech, great strength and skill with a spear. He worked under the command of the Eastern River King Xiao Yu in the Liang Dynasty and became famous for his bravery. Xiao Yu appreciated him and appointed Zhou Tiehu as a military officer in the local government. Later, when Xiao Yu became the Governor of Guangzhou, he promoted Zhou Tiehu to be the magistrate of Xingning County. Xiao Yu was then transferred to Xiangzhou as the Governor of Xiangzhou and appointed Zhou Tiehu as the magistrate of Linzheng County.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, Emperor Liang Yuan sent Crown Prince Xiao Fang to replace Xiao Yu in Jingzhou, and even sent troops to pressure Xiao Yu. Xiao Yu resisted, resulting in the deaths of Xiao Fang and others. Zhou Tiehu distinguished himself, and Xiao Yu held him in high regard. Later, Wang Sengbian led an attack against Xiao Yu and captured Zhou Tiehu on the battlefield. Wang Sengbian ordered him to be boiled alive, but Zhou Tiehu shouted, "Hou Jing has not been defeated yet, how can you kill a brave warrior?" Wang Sengbian found his words intriguing and spared him, sending him back to his own troops.
When Hou Jing advanced westward, Zhou Tiehu followed Wang Sengbian and conquered Renyue, capturing Song Zixian and gaining victories in every battle. Emperor Liang Yuan issued a decree appointing him as General Renwei and the Governor of Tongzhou, granting him the title of Viscount of Dunyang County with a fief of three hundred households granted to him. He continued to accompany Wang Sengbian in conquering the capital, defeated Xie Daren, and quelled the rebellion of Lu Na in Xiangzhou. In the second year of Chengsheng, in recognition of his earlier military achievements, he was promoted to Marquis, with his fief increased to five hundred households. He also held the position of Cavalier In Regular Attendance and Commander of Xinyi, while keeping his position as general. Emperor Gaozu, Xiao Yan, executed Wang Sengbian, and Zhou Tiehu surrendered along with his troops, thereby restoring his previous official position.
Xu Sihui enticed the army of Qi to cross the Yangtze River. Zhou Tiehu defeated their navy at Banqiao Pu, capturing all weapons, equipment, and ships. He then successfully attacked the Qi army's infantry camp at Liyang. After Xu Sihui was pacified, in the second year of Shaotai, Zhou Tiehu was promoted to Palace Attendant, Strict Guard General, and Left Guard of the Crown Prince.
Tiehu followed Zhou Wenyu to fight against Xiao Bo in Nanjiang, always leading from the front. Later, Zhou Wenyu sent Tiehu to lead a separate army to ambush the Qi general Ouyang Wei at Kuzhutan. After that, he followed Zhou Wenyu on a campaign to the west against Wang Lin, but they suffered defeat at Dunkou. Tiehu, along with Zhou Wenyu and Hou An, was captured by Wang Lin. Wang Lin summoned the captured generals for a discussion, and Tiehu, refusing to back down, maintained a particularly tough attitude. As a result, Wang Lin pardoned Zhou Wenyu and the others, executing only Tiehu, who was forty-nine years old at the time.
Upon hearing this, Emperor Gaozu issued a decree saying, "The most precious things in life are one’s body and soul, and the most important is life. However, for someone like Tiehu who sacrifices his life for righteousness and serves the country faithfully, it is appropriate to grant higher honors in remembrance of the past. Tiehu, the Palace Attendant, Strict Guard General, Left Guard of the Crown Prince, Governor of Tongzhou, and founding Marquis of Duncheng County, was a steady and courageous man with great determination and spirit. He dedicated himself to campaigns in the north and suppression of rebellions in the south. He fought bravely on the battlefield of Jiangxia, eliminating many enemies with fearless vigor. His loyalty and integrity, reminiscent of General Pang De's fearless demeanor in the face of danger, were deeply mourned. He was posthumously promoted to Palace Attendant and Protector General, Governor of Qing and Ji Provinces, along with an additional grant of one thousand households. He was bestowed a set of ceremonial musical instruments, and his title as marquis remains unchanged."
In the fifth year of Tianjia, Emperor Shizu issued another decree, saying, "The portraits of the distinguished officials of the Han Dynasty are hung in the palace, and the names of the fierce generals of the Wei Dynasty are listed in the ancestral temple. Their achievements and merits have been passed down through the ages, and they are respected by generations. The Imperial Attendant, the Guardian General, the governors of Qing and Ji provinces, and the Marquis of Duyang County, Tiehu, were loyal and brave, resolute and courageous. At the onset of King Ye's reign, he found himself in dangerous situations many times, charging into battle and striking directly at the enemy camp with unwavering righteousness. This is the legacy of loyalty and righteousness in ancient times, which inspires those who understand its significance. Although he sacrificed heroically, his legacy of loyalty and righteousness has been remembered for generations, and we should remember his achievements. He was honored with burial in the imperial tomb, and a grand sacrificial ceremony was conducted in his honor, allowing him to be worshipped in the ancestral temple." His son, Yu, inherited his title.
There was a man named Ma Ming, whose courtesy name was Shilang, a general under the Prince of Liang, Xiao Fan. When Hou Jing rebelled, Ma Ming defended the eastern city of Lujiang, resisting the enemy. Later, Emperor Yuan of Liang promoted him, appointing him as a Cavalier Attendant, General Who Pacifies the North, Governor of Beiyuan Province, and appointed him as the Prefect of Lujiang. When Jingzhou was lost, Ma Ming defected to Emperor Gaozu. During the Shaotai period, he regained his official position, being appointed as the Marquis of Xihua County, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. He also followed Wen Yu in the expedition against Wang Lin, but faced defeat at Dunkou. Ma Ming fought bravely and died in battle, posthumously honored as the General Who Conquers the West and Governor of Yingshou Province.
Next, let's talk about Cheng Lingxi, styled Xuandi, a native of Xinan Haining. He was known for his bravery and strength at a young age, able to cover over two hundred miles in a single day, and was skilled in horse riding and swimming. During the late period of the Liang Dynasty, there were bandits everywhere in Haining, Yixian, Shexian, Poyang Prefecture, and Xuancheng Prefecture, which caused distress in the surrounding counties. Cheng Lingxi was highly respected in his village, and everyone both feared and respected him. Therefore, the previous county magistrates tasked him with recruiting young people to capture those bandits.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, Cheng Lingxi gathered a band of followers and occupied Yixian and Shexian to resist Hou Jing. Hou Jing's army occupied Xinan, and the Xinan Prefect, Xiao Yin, fled to Cheng Lingxi for refuge. Cheng Lingxi appointed him as their leader. Emperor Yuan of Liang was ruling in Jingzhou and secretly sent a decree to Cheng Lingxi. Liu Shenmao rebelled against Hou Jing in Dongyang, and Cheng Lingxi captured Xinan, cooperating with Liu Shenmao. Emperor Yuan of Liang appointed Cheng Lingxi as the Chief Envoy, Cavalry Commandant, Commander of all military affairs in Xinan Prefecture, General of Cloud Banners, Governor of Qiaozhou, and appointed him as the Prefect of Xinan, granting him a fief of five hundred households. Later, Liu Shenmao was defeated by Hou Jing, and Hou Jing's general Lv Zirong attacked Xinan. Cheng Lingxi retreated to Yixian and Shexian. After Hou Jing's defeat, Lv Zirong retreated as well, and Cheng Lingxi reoccupied Xinan. He then attacked Jiande and captured the bandit leader Zhao Sangqian. In recognition of his significant achievements, he was appointed as the Chief Envoy, Cavalry Commandant, Commander of military affairs in Qing and Ji provinces, Governor of Qingzhou, with his fief increased to one thousand households. He retained his titles as General and Prefect.
The emperor sent Ling Xi with his troops to Yangzhou to assist Wang Sengbian in defending the city. Later, Ling Xi was promoted to Prefect of Wuxing, but before he assumed office, Wang Sengbian asked him to follow Hou Jian to support Jingzhou. Consequently, Jingzhou fell, forcing Ling Xi to return to the capital. Later, the emperor executed Wang Sengbian, and Ling Xi brought his troops to provide support, engaging in a fierce battle with the enemy at the west gate of Shitoucheng, but was ultimately unsuccessful, thus he had to send envoys to negotiate with the enemy after prolonged negotiations. The emperor admired him very much.
In the first year of Shaotai, the emperor appointed Ling Xi as the Commissioner, General of Trust and Valor, and Prefect of Lanling, while retaining his previous position as a palace attendant, and sent him to help defend the city of Jingkou. Later, after pacifying the rebellion of Xu Sihui, Ling Xi made great achievements, was appointed as the Prefect of Nandan Yang, and was titled as the Marquis of Suian County, with an expanded fief of 1,500 households, continuing to guard Caishi.
Later, he followed Zhou Wenyu to fight against Wang Lin, but was defeated at Dunkou and subsequently captured by Wang Lin. The following year, he escaped back with Hou An and others. He also simultaneously held the position of Intendant of Danyang, and later was sent to serve as the Prefect of Gaotang County and Taiyuan County, continuing to guard Nanling. He was later promoted to Left Guard of the Crown Prince. After the emperor's death, Wang Lin's army came over, and Ling Xi defeated them in Nanling, capturing many soldiers and seizing over ten Qinglong chariots. For his valor in this battle, he was appointed as the Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief of the Military Affairs of Southern Yuzhou along the Yangtze River, General of Trust and Valor, and Governor of Southern Yuzhou. Hou Jian and his forces also defeated Wang Lin at Zhakou, and Ling Xi pursued the victory, occupying Lushan. He was subsequently promoted to Left Guard General, with all other official positions retained.
In the fourth year of the Tianjia era, Zhou Di led troops in a major offensive against Linchuan. The emperor appointed Ling Xi as the commander, and he took a detour from Poyang to attack Zhou Di, who then fled into the mountains. Five years later, Ling Xi was promoted to the Central Guardian, while retaining his previous role as an attendant. Later, he was appointed as the commander overseeing military affairs in the three provinces of Ying, Ba, and Wu, as well as General Xuan Yi and the governor of Yingzhou. After the enthronement of the usurper emperor, Ling Xi's official position was further elevated, and he was appointed as General of Yunhui.
Hua Jiao rebelled and sent someone to persuade Ling Xi to surrender. Ling Xi killed Hua Jiao's messenger and reported the incident to the court. The court highly valued Ling Xi's loyalty, reinforced the defenses at his command, assigned him a ceremonial guard, and trusted him enough to allow his son Wenji to command the navy in support of the defense. At that time, the Zhou Dynasty, General Hu Gong Tuoba Ding led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to help Hua Jiao attack Ling Xi. Ling Xi held the city under siege. When Hua Jiao retreated, Ling Xi pursued Tuoba Ding. Before Tuoba Ding could cross the river, he surrendered along with his forces. Ling Xi then launched an attack on Mianzhou in the Zhou Dynasty, seized it, and captured their governor, Pei Kuan. In recognition of his significant contributions, Ling Xi was promoted to General of Anxi, was granted the title of Marquis of Chong'an County, and his fief was expanded to encompass two thousand households.
Ling Xi was someone with a rather stern demeanor, extremely demanding of his subordinates. Whenever a soldier made even a minor mistake, he would punish them according to military law, sometimes even administering physical punishment on the spot. Despite this, his orders were always clear, and he shared in both the joys and hardships with his soldiers, so everyone respected him. He particularly enjoyed farming, working diligently on his own crops. Whether it was irrigated fields or dry land, his speed in planting and harvesting crops surpassed even the experienced farmers. None of the women in his household were idle, as he kept them busy spinning and weaving fabric. He was also generous with his spending. In the second year of the Guangda era, Ling Xi passed away in the prefecture at the age of fifty-five. The court posthumously appointed him as General of the West Garrison and bestowed upon him the title of Loyal and Valiant. In the fourth year of Taijian, the court decreed that he be honored in the temple alongside the founding emperor. His son, Wenji, inherited his title. Wenji, styled Shaoqing, practiced archery and horsemanship from a young age, showing great talent and courage like his father. He joined Ling Xi in battle from a young age, always charging ahead fearlessly. When Ling Xi, Zhou Wenyu, and Hou An were defeated at Chongkou and captured by Wang Lin, the emperor summoned the captured sons of the generals and treated them well. Wenji conducted himself with great propriety, earning high praise from the emperor. During the Yongding years, Wenji was promoted to Assistant Cavalry Commander and appointed as the prefect of Jurong. After the new emperor ascended the throne, Wenji was appointed as a military officer within the Xuanhui Prince's Mansion. At that time, the prince was the governor of Yangzhou, stationed in Yecheng, with all military affairs in the mansion entrusted to him. In the second year of Tianjia, Wenji was appointed as General of Zhenyi and Prefect of Xin'an, joining Hou An in the campaign against Liu Yi. Liu Yi's allies occupied Xin'an, prompting Wenji to lead three hundred elite soldiers in a rapid assault. Liu Yi sent his nephew Zan to resist, but after a battle in which Wenji defeated Zan's forces, Liu Yi ultimately surrendered.
After three years, Wang Boma, the King of Shixing, was sent to guard Dongzhou, and Wen Ji also went with him, serving as a military counselor at the Zhendongfu garrison and also as the county governor of Jian County. In the fourth year, Chen Baoying conspired with Liu Yi and sent troops to attack Linchuan again following Zhou Di. Our Emperor Sizuo sent Prefect Yu Xiaoqing of Xinyi to launch a surprise attack on Jin'an by sea, with Wen Ji leading the vanguard troops. The battles went smoothly, and Wen Ji distinguished himself with the most military honors, contributing significantly to the defeat of Chen Baoying. After the war, he was promoted to serve as a military advisor and oversee the troops directly. Later, he was assigned as the Prefect of Linhai. Not long after, he rode a fast horse to Yingcheng to help his father defend the city. After Hua Jiao was subdued, Ling Xi and Wen Ji both contributed to the defense. After Ling Xi passed away, Wen Ji succeeded him in command of the army, was promoted to General of Superiority, and continued to assist in defending Yuezhou. Wen Ji was especially filial; even in the military camp, he rarely took care of himself and lived a very austere lifestyle. In the second year of Taijian, he was appointed Yuzhang's Interior Minister, retaining his military position. After the mourning period, he inherited the title of Duke of Chong'an County. Later, he followed Commander Zhang Zhaoda to lead troops to Jingzhou to suppress Xiao Kui. Xiao Kui and the Zhou army built many ships, which were anchored in Qingni Water. At that time, the water level was high, and the current was swift, so Zhang Zhaoda sent Wen Ji and Qian Daoji with swift boats to launch a surprise attack and burn down their ships. Xiao Kui's army became somewhat lax, so Zhang Zhaoda sent Wen Ji to infiltrate their outer city at night, resulting in many casualties. Later, the Zhou army mounted a major offensive, and the Interior Minister of Baling, Lei Daoqin, was killed in action, and Wen Ji came close to losing his life. Because of his achievements in this battle, he was promoted to the position of Imperial Secretariat, General of Anyuan, and was also granted an additional five hundred households of land as part of his title.
For five years, General Wu Mingche advanced north to attack Qin Jun. At the key waterway for transportation in front of Jiangpu in Qin Jun, the Qi forces erected large wooden stakes in the water as barriers. Wu Mingche first sent Wen Ji with elite soldiers to remove these barriers, then led the main army to conquer Qin Jun. Afterwards, Wen Ji was dispatched alone to besiege Jingzhou, capture it, and then attack Xuyi, which he also captured. Finally, he joined Wu Mingche in besieging Shouyang.
Wen Ji was known for his meticulousness and seriousness, being very strict with his subordinates. The cities he conquered were nearly all fortified by building river dams first, followed by extensive civil engineering projects. Each project involved a considerable workforce, often numbering in the tens of thousands. Whenever assigning combat tasks, Wen Ji always arrived earlier than other generals, woke up early in the morning, and worked until dark before resting. Everyone in the military camp admired his diligence and hard work. He consistently led the charge in every battle, instilling fear in the Qi army, who referred to him as "Cheng Shou." As a result of his military achievements, he was promoted to Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and General of Mingwei, and granted an additional five hundred households of land. He also concurrently served as the Interior Minister of Xin'an, with his official rank elevated to General of Wuyi.
At the age of eight years, he was appointed as the Bearer of the Staff, Commander of Military Affairs in Qiaozhou, General of An Yuan, and Governor of Qiaozhou. In the same year, he was also appointed as the Commander of Military Affairs in Beixuzhou, and the Governor of Beixuzhou, with other official positions remaining the same. In the ninth year, he followed Ming Che north to campaign and built a dam in Lüliang, which is recorded in Ming Che's biography. In the spring of the tenth year of his reign, he was defeated in battle and captured by the Zhou army, who then appointed him as the Grand Marshal. In the eleventh year, he escaped from the Zhou dynasty to Guoyang, but was apprehended by border officials, sent back to Chang'an, and ultimately died in prison. At that time, the emperor at that time had already severed ties with the Zhou dynasty, so he was unaware of this incident. It was not until the first year of the Zhide era that the emperor learned of this incident and posthumously conferred the title of Cavalier in Regular Attendance upon him. Subsequently, a decree was issued stating: "The late Cavalier in Regular Attendance and former Duke of Chong'an County, Wenji, was capable of upholding this honor. He went off to the battlefield at a young age; although not a commander, his achievements were the greatest, his military exploits remarkable, but he died in battle, a true tragedy. However, his established merits and long-standing contributions to the country are certainly worthy of remembrance; Wenji passed away far from home, truly deserving of sympathy. Considering his past merits and mourning his premature death, he should be honored with memorial rites, not left in obscurity. He is posthumously granted the title of Marquis of Chong'an County, with a fiefdom of one thousand households, to be inherited by his son, ensuring the family legacy continues."
Historical records record: Both Cheng Lingxi and his son were known for their strictness with their subordinates, upholding strict military discipline, but they shared both hardships and victories with their soldiers, were not motivated by personal gain, which contributed to their victories on the battlefield.
