Xiao Moha, courtesy name Yuanyin, was from Lanling. His grandfather, Xiao Jing, was the Right General of the Liang Dynasty, and his father, Xiao Liang, was the magistrate of Shixing County in the Liang Dynasty. Xiao Moha followed his father to Shixing County, but his father died when he was just a child. His adoptive uncle, Cai Lu Yang, who was in Nankang at the time, adopted Xiao Moha. As Xiao Moha grew up, he was decisive, courageous, and physically strong.
During the rebellion led by Hou Jing, Emperor Gaozu of Liang went to rescue the capital city, and Xiao Moha's adoptive father, Cai Lu Yang, raised troops to resist him. At the age of thirteen, Xiao Moha rode out alone to engage in battle, and no one in the army could stop him. After Cai Lu Yang was defeated, Xiao Moha joined Hou Andu, who treated him very well. From then on, Xiao Moha followed Hou Andu into battle.
Later, Ren Yue and Xu Sihui led the Qi army to invade, and Emperor Gaozu sent Hou Andu to resist the Qi army at Zhongshan Longwei and Beijiao Altar. Hou Andu said to Xiao Moha, "I've heard about how brave and skilled you are in battle, but seeing it for myself is another thing!" Xiao Moha replied, "Let me show you today!" The battle began, and when Hou Andu fell from his horse and was surrounded by enemies, Xiao Moha charged into the ranks of the Qi army on horseback, alone, sending them into disarray. This brief respite allowed Hou Andu to escape safely.
In the early Tianjia period, Xiao Moha was appointed as the magistrate of his county because he had quelled the rebellions of Liu Yi and Ouyang Ge. He was later promoted and eventually appointed Prefect of Bashan.
In the year 573 AD, our army headed north to battle, and Moha followed General Wu Mingche across the Yangtze River to launch an attack on Qin County. At that time, Northern Qi dispatched General Wei Pohu with a hundred thousand troops to provide reinforcements; their vanguard units were called "Cangtou," "Xijiao," and "Dalili," each of them standing eight feet tall, being incredibly strong, and possessing exceptional combat prowess. There were also Hu people from the Western Regions, with archery skills so precise that they never missed; our army was quite fearful of them.
As the battle drew near, Wu Mingche said to Moha, "If you take out this Hu general, the enemy's morale will crumble, and you will be as famous as Guan Yu and Zhang Fei, taking down an enemy general like Yan Liang!" Moha replied, "Tell me what he looks like, and I will take him down!" Wu Mingche then brought a defected soldier who knew the Hu general, describing him as wearing red and using a bow made of birch bark with bone tips. Wu Mingche sent scouts to confirm that the Hu general was at the front of the enemy formation and personally poured a drink for Moha. After drinking, Moha rode into the Qi army camp. The Hu general stepped forward, standing about ten paces away from Moha; before he even had a chance to draw his bow, Moha threw a mace from a distance, striking him squarely in the forehead, causing him to fall instantly.
More than ten soldiers from the "Dalili" unit of the Qi army rushed out for revenge, but Moha cut them all down, leading to the defeat and retreat of the Qi army. Because of this remarkable feat in battle, Moha was appointed as General Mingyi and granted the title of Baron of Lianping County, with a fief of five hundred households. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to Marquis and appointed as Grand Minister of Ceremonies, while retaining his other official positions.
In 575 AD, Moha accompanied Wu Mingche in the siege of Suyu, defeated the Qi general Wang Kangde, and was appointed Governor of Jinxi for his military achievements. In 577 AD, Wu Mingche led his troops to attack Luliang, where they engaged the Qi army in a major battle. Moha led seven cavalry soldiers to charge into the enemy ranks and seized the Qi army's banner, completely defeating them. For this military achievement, Moha was awarded the official titles of General of Chariots and Cavalry, General of Martial Valor, and Inspector of Qiaozhou.
After Emperor Wu of Zhou destroyed the Qi state, he sent his general Yu Wenxin to compete for Luliang. The two armies clashed at Longhui. At that time, Yu Wenxin had several thousand elite cavalry soldiers. Moha only led twelve cavalry soldiers deep into the Zhou army camp, charging into the enemy ranks and killing countless foes.
Later, the Zhou army sent General Wang Gui to reinforce the troops, setting up a long siege circle downstream of Luliang, cutting off the Qi army's escape route. Moha said to Mingche, "I heard that Wang Gui has just started to block the downstream; they are currently building city walls, which are still under construction. If you send troops to attack them, they will surely not resist. The waterway is not completely cut off yet, and the enemy's morale isn't strong. If their city walls are completed, we will all become prisoners!" Mingche stroked his beard and replied confidently, "Charging into battle is the general's job; strategizing is my job!" Moha's expression changed when he heard this, and he retreated.
Within ten days, more and more reinforcements from Zhou's army were arriving. Moha went to request Mingche, saying, "We can't fight now; we're in a tough spot. If we secretly break through, it wouldn't be shameful. I hope you lead the infantry, walking slowly, while I take a few thousand cavalry ahead to clear the way and make sure you get to the capital safely." Mingche said, "Your plan is indeed good. But I am in full command of this battle, failing to achieve victory and now being trapped here; I am truly ashamed. Besides, with all these infantry, as the overall commander, I need to stay back and supervise, so we all move together. Your cavalry should go ahead, not wasting time." So Moha led the cavalry unit to set off at night.
Earlier, the Zhou army had completed the encirclement and laid multiple layers of troops on the main road. Moha picked eighty elite cavalry to lead the charge, with the rest following closely behind, and made it to Huainan by dawn. Emperor Gaozong sent a decree calling him back to court and appointed him as the Right Guard General. Eleven years later, when Zhou's army went after Shouyang, Moha and Fan Yi led the troops to rescue but returned without any success.
In the fourteenth year, Emperor Gaozong passed away. Prince Shuling of Shixing actually attacked the emperor directly in the palace; even though he didn’t kill him, he really hurt him. Shuling got scared and quickly ran to Dongfu City. At that time, everyone was in a panic; nobody had the guts to catch this traitor. The attendant of the Eastern Palace, Sima Shen, quickly ran to inform the emperor and called for Moha. As soon as Moha stepped through the palace gate, he received the emperor's order to immediately lead hundreds of cavalry and infantry to ambush at the west gate of Dongfu City.
Shu Ling was in a panic at the moment and slipped away from the southern gate of the city. Mohe led the troops to catch up and killed Shu Ling. Because of his great achievements, Mohe was appointed as the Gentleman of the Cavalry, General of Cavalry, and was also appointed as the Duke of Suijian, with a fief of three thousand households. The gold and silver treasures that Shu Ling had previously plundered were all bestowed upon Mohe by the emperor. Soon after, Mohe received another promotion, becoming the Chamberlain, General of the Flying Cavalry, and was also given the title of Left Minister of Rites. Previously, only the Three Excellencies could wear the decorative tail feathers in the Yellow Hall, but the emperor made an exception for Mohe to enjoy this privilege, and allowed him to ride in and out of the Yellow Hall gate on horseback, wearing the tail feathers in both the Yellow Hall and the imperial chambers. Moreover, the emperor married his daughter to the crown prince, making Mohe the father-in-law of the Crown Prince.
It is said that General He Ruobi of the Sui Dynasty set his sights on the territory south of the Yangtze River for an invasion. At that time, the Chen Dynasty Emperor Chen Shubao appointed Mohe Luosha to oversee the defense and gave him the governorship of Nanxu Province, while keeping the other officials in their positions. On the first day of the first month of the third year of the Zhenming reign, Chen Shubao summoned Mohe Luosha back to the capital. He Ruobi seized this opportunity to cross the Yangtze River and assault Jingkou (modern-day Zhenjiang, Jiangsu). Mohe Luosha requested to lead a counterattack, but Chen Shubao refused.
Later, He Ruobi's forces approached Zhongshan (modern-day Zijin Mountain in Nanjing), and Mohe Luosha suggested, "He Ruobi is deep in enemy territory, reinforcements have not arrived, and their fortifications have not been completed. The soldiers are panicking. If we launch a surprise attack now, we will surely win!" Chen Shubao still did not agree. As the Sui army neared the city and war loomed, Chen Shubao finally said to Mohe Luosha, "You must fight to the death for me!" Mohe Luosha replied, "In war, one fights for the nation and for oneself. In today's battle, I also have to think about my family!"
Chen Shubao distributed a wealth of gold and silver to reward the troops and ordered General Lu Guangda to station his troops at Baitugang, the southernmost position of all the forces. The forces of General Ren Zhong of Zhendong were next in line, followed by General Fan Yi's troops and those of Military Officer Kong Fan, while Mohe Luosha's forces were positioned at the far north. The various armies stretched twenty miles from north to south, with gaps between them, leaving them unaware of each other's situations. He Ruobi initially thought that the Chen army appeared unprepared for battle, so he took light cavalry up the mountain to observe the terrain. Upon seeing that the Chen army had deployed such a large formation, he quickly dismounted and organized his troops. Lu Guangda led the charge, and the Sui army retreated multiple times but soon launched a counterattack, splitting to attack other Chen generals to the north. Kong Fan entered the battle but fled shortly after; other generals also dispersed, and before the formal battle even began, the cavalry was the first to flee and could not regroup. Mohe Luosha was rendered powerless and was eventually captured by the Sui army. After the capital's fall, He Ruobi imprisoned Chen Shubao in the Dejiao Hall and sent soldiers to guard him. Mohe Luosha requested to see He Ruobi, saying, "I only wish to see my old master one last time; if I must die, at least I can do so with my eyes closed." He Ruobi felt very sympathetic towards him and agreed. Mohe Luosha entered to see Chen Shubao, knelt before him, and wept bitterly, even bringing food from the old kitchen for Chen Shubao. After saying goodbye and coming out, the guards showed him great respect and did not dare to meet his gaze. That year, Mohe Luosha surrendered to the Sui Dynasty and was appointed as an official with the title of Kaifu Yitong Sanqi. Later, he accompanied Han Prince Yang Liang to Bingzhou, joined him in rebellion, and was ultimately killed at the age of seventy-three.
Maha, usually speaking little and appearing as a mature elder, transforms completely in battle, brave and invincible, charging forward and breaking through the enemy lines; no one can stop him. When he was less than twenty years old, he followed Hou Jing in Jingkou and especially liked hunting, going out hunting almost every day. Later, when Hou Jing campaigned east and west, won battles, and conquered cities and territories, Maha made significant contributions.
Zi Shilian, from a young age, was intelligent and brave, completely inheriting his father's virtues. He was deeply filial, and even after the mourning period for his father Maha was over, he still missed his father very much. When his father's friends mentioned him, Shilian was overwhelmed with grief and cried uncontrollably, and everyone listening felt sad. He never wielded a knife or axe in his life, and people regarded him highly.
Under Maha's command was a knight named Chen Zhishen, possessing exceptional martial skills. Due to his merits in pacifying Shuling, he became the Intendant of Baling. After Maha was killed, his wife and children had already been looted. It was Chen Zhishen who tended to Maha's body, personally handling the funeral arrangements, and passersby were deeply moved, praising his loyalty.
Chen Yu from Yingchuan also followed Maha in battle. He was intelligent and knowledgeable, had read many books, understood astronomy and geography, knew military strategy, was also a skilled writer, and was proficient in horsemanship. Ultimately, he rose to the position of royal advisor.
Ren Zhong, courtesy name Fengcheng, nicknamed Mannu, is from Ruyin. He was quite poor when he was young, and the folks in the village looked down on him. As he grew up, he became very intelligent, clever, strong, and particularly skilled in archery. Many young people in the area followed him. When Xiao Fan, the Prince of Poyang in the Liang Dynasty, set up camp in Hezhou, he caught wind of Ren Zhong's reputation and brought him on board. During the rebellion of Hou Jing, Ren Zhong led hundreds of people from his village to join the Prefect of Jinxi, Mei Boliang, in fighting against Hou Jing's subordinate Wang Guixian in Shouchun, managing to fend off the enemy in every battle. Later, when local bandits led by Hu Tong were looting everywhere, Xiao Fan sent Ren Zhong along with General Mei Sili to put down the rebellion. He also went with Xiao Fan's son to aid the capital, but when the capital fell, he stationed in Jinxi. After Hou Jing was defeated, Ren Zhong was named the General Who Pacifies Bandits.
Wang Lin set up camp in Xiaoxian and appointed Zhong as the Prefect of Baling. Later, after Wang Lin was defeated and returned to court, Zhong was promoted to General of Mingyi and Prefect of Anxiang, continuing to accompany Hou Han in putting down Baling and Xiangzhou. He climbed the ranks several times, eventually becoming the Prefect of Yuning and the Interior Minister of Hengyang. During the Hua Jiao rebellion, Zhong got involved in their plans. After Hua Jiao was defeated, Emperor Gaozong let him off the hook since Zhong had tipped off the court beforehand.
At the start of the Taijian period, he followed Zhang Zhaoda to Guangzhou to take on Ouyang Ge, and was made the General of Zhige for his accomplishments. Later, he was promoted to General of Wuyi and the Interior Minister of Luling. After his term was over, he returned to court to take up the role of General of the Right Army.
Five years later, the imperial army marched north. He led troops along the western route, defeated the King of Liyang, Gao Jing'an of the Qi Kingdom at Xianshan, pursued all the way to Dongguan, and captured the eastern and western cities of Gao Jing'an. He then captured Qizhou and Qiaozhou, directly attacked Hefei, entered the city outskirts, and finally captured Huozhou. For these military achievements, he was appointed as a Gentleman of the Cavalry, granted the title of Marquis of Anfu County, and given a land grant of five hundred households. In the Battle of Luliang, the army faced a crushing defeat, but he led the entire army to safely retreat. Soon after, the court ordered him to command the troops in Shouyang, Xincai, Huozhou, and along the Huai River, promoting him to General Ningyuan and Governor of Huozhou. Later, he returned to the court as the General of the Left Guard.
Eleven years later, he was further appointed as the Commander of the Northern Expedition, promoted to General of the Northern Campaign, leading infantry and cavalry to Qin County. In the twelfth year, he was promoted to Commissioner of Military Affairs, Gentleman of the Cavalry, Commander of military affairs in Southern Yuzhou, General of the Southern Campaign, and Governor of Southern Yuzhou, with his land grant increased to fifteen hundred households. He still led infantry and cavalry to Liyang. The Zhou Dynasty sent Wang Yangui to lead troops to rescue, but he defeated them and captured Wang Yangui. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, he was promoted to General of the Southern Garrison and assigned a ceremonial guard. He then returned to the court as the Commander of the Army, appointed as an attendant, titled Duke of Liangxin County, with a land grant of three thousand households. Finally, he was appointed as the Interior Minister in Wuxing, with his official rank elevated by two thousand shi.
The Sui army crossed the Yangtze River, and Chen Shubao (Zhong) rushed from Wuxing to Zhuque Gate to gather the troops. The emperor called Xiao Moha and others to the inner palace to discuss countermeasures. Chen Shubao said, "The military books say that the situation between us and the enemy is different. The enemy wants quick victories, while we should take a steady and cautious approach. We should first bolster our defenses at the palace, and at the same time send naval forces to Nan Yu Province and Jingkou to cut off the enemy's supply lines. When spring brings higher waters, the troops such as Zhou Luoxun upstream will definitely come down the river to support us. This is a good plan!" Others disagreed, and as a result, they recklessly engaged in battle.
They were defeated, and Chen Shubao hastily rushed to the palace to report the defeat to the emperor, saying, "Your Majesty, just get the boats ready to go upstream to meet the reinforcements. I'll do everything I can to protect you!" The emperor believed him and ordered Chen Shubao to arrange the army. Chen Shubao declined, saying, "After I arrange everything, I will come to meet you immediately." The emperor had the palace maids get ready and wait for Chen Shubao, but he never showed up after a long wait. Sui general Han Qinhu moved in from Xinlin, and Chen Shubao surrendered with a small group of cavalry at Shizigang, and led Han Qinhu's forces into Nanye Gate. The palace was overrun, and that year he was taken to Chang'an, where the Sui Dynasty appointed him as a high official. He passed away at the age of seventy-seven. His son, Chen Yuwu, also rose to a high official position.
There was a man named Shen Keqing, from Wukang, Wuxing. He was cunning and ruthless, serving as a palace official, constantly resorting to unscrupulous tactics to exploit the common people in order to advance his career. Another man named Shi Wenqing, from Wucheng, Wuxing, came from a poor background but later rose to prominence and was promoted by the emperor to become the chief scribe, then quickly rose to the position of governor of Xiangzhou. Before they could take office, the Sui army launched an attack, and military reports flooded in from all directions. Shi Wenqing and Shen Keqing were in charge of confidential documents, and all reports from the outside had to go through them. Shi Wenqing recognized Xiangzhou's strategic importance and wanted to take office quickly, so he colluded with Shen Keqing and intentionally withheld information about the military situation. The emperor remained oblivious to their actions, which ultimately led to the nation's downfall, for which they were both culpable. After the Sui army invaded, both of them were killed.
Fan Yi, courtesy name Zhilie, was from Huyang, Nanyang. His ancestors were powerful figures; his grandfather Fan Fangxing had served as a court attendant, general, and governor of Sizhou in the Liang Dynasty, and was granted the title of Marquis of Yufu County. His father Fan Wenchu also served as a court attendant, general, and governor in the Liang Dynasty, and was granted the title of Marquis of Xincai County. Thus, Fan Yi was born into a military family and began training in martial arts from a young age, showing exceptional skill in archery.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, Fan Yi led his men to aid Taicheng with his uncle Fan Wenjiao. However, his uncle died in battle at Qingxi, so Fan Yi led the remaining family members to Jiangling and continued to fight alongside Wang Sengbian to confront Xiao Yu, the Prince of Hedong. For his achievements, he was promoted to the rank of General and Right General, and later succeeded his brother Fan Jun as the Prefect of Liangxing, commanding the garrison across three provinces and joining Marquis Yifeng Xiao Xun in the campaign against Lu Na in Xiangzhou.
The army arrived in Baling, the camp had not yet been established, and Lü Na stealthily led his troops in a surprise attack, yelling and making a commotion outside the camp, which terrified those inside and threw them into disarray. Only Fan Yi led dozens of men to guard the camp gate, fighting valiantly and killing over ten enemy soldiers, beating the drums and issuing commands to boost morale. Because of his meritorious service, he was promoted to Commandant, General of the Household Troops, and General of Righteous Might, and was granted the title of Count of Yidao County, with a fief of three hundred households. Not long after, he was appointed as the Administrator of Tianmen, with his rank and fief increased to a total of one thousand households.
Later, when Western Wei besieged Jiangling, Fan Yi led his troops to the rescue, but Jiangling was captured, and he was taken prisoner by the Prince of Yueyang. After a considerable time, he finally managed to escape.
After Emperor Gaozu stepped down, Han Yi and his brother Han Meng raised an army to support Wang Lin. Wang Lin was defeated and fled to Northern Qi. Grand Commandant Hou Zhan sent envoys to urge Han Yi to surrender, and Han Yi returned to court with his son and troops.
In the second year of the Tianjia era, Han Yi was appointed as General of the Household Troops, and later accompanied Hou Zhan on campaigns against Ba, Shu, and Xiangzhou. He gradually climbed the ranks to become the Inspector of Wuzhou. In the early years of Taijian, he was transferred to the position of Inspector of Fengzhou, titled Marquis of Gaochang County, with a fief of one thousand households. He later returned to court and served as the General of the Left Guard.
Five years later, the imperial army launched a campaign northward, with Han Yi leading the troops to attack Chu Zi City in Guangling, capturing the city and defeating the Qi army at Yingkou. The Qi army was reinforced from Cangling, but Han Yi defeated them as well. In the seventh year, he successively captured six cities, including Tongzhou, Xiapi, and Gaozha. After suffering a major military loss in Luliang, the court appointed Han Yi as Grand Commander, promoted him to General of the North, led the army across the Huai River, built a city at Qingkou, and defended against the Zhou army. As a result of heavy rain, the city walls were damaged, and Han Yi led the entire army to retreat. Not long after, he was promoted to Central Army Commander.
In the eleventh year, General of the Zhou Dynasty Liang Shiyan surrounded Shouyang, and the court appointed Han Yi Commander of the Northern Expedition, leading the navy into Jiaohu. Later, he was also appointed to General of the West, commanding the military affairs of Jingzhou, Yingshou, Bajou, and Wuzhou on both land and water. In the twelfth year, he was promoted to command the military affairs of Mianzhou and Hanzhou, but was dismissed from office due to administrative issues. In the thirteenth year, the court summoned him to serve as Central Guard, and shortly after, he was promoted to Guard General and Governor of Jingzhou.
After the emperor ascended to the throne, Han Yi was promoted to General of the West, granted the title of Duke of Xiaoyao County, with a fief consisting of three thousand households, and his other official positions remained the same. He returned to the court, serving as Palace Attendant and Guard General. When the Sui army moved across the Yangtze River, Han Yi told Minister Yuan Xian, "Jingkou and Caishi are both very important strategic locations, each requiring several thousand elite soldiers, as well as two hundred Jinchi ships to be deployed in the Yangtze River, with strict precautions taken upstream and downstream. If this cannot be achieved, it will be disastrous!" Other generals agreed with his opinion. However, later, Shi Wenqing and others concealed the news of the Sui army, and Han Yi's plan could not be implemented. The capital fell, and Han Yi entered the pass as mandated, shortly after passing.
Meng Zhiwu is the younger brother of Yi. He grew up tall and handsome, with great strategic insight. As he grew older, he excelled in riding and archery, with exceptional courage. After Tai City fell, he followed his brother Yi to escape to the capital, where he made multiple achievements and was appointed as General Weirong.
Xiao Fangju, the Marquis of Nan'an in the Liang Dynasty, served as the governor of Xiangzhou, appointing Meng as his military advisor. When Prince Wuling Xiao Jiqi rebelled and launched an attack downstream along the Han River, Fangju sent Meng to lead the armies of Xiangzhou and Yingzhou to resist Xiao Jiqi with Commander Lu Fa. At that time, Xiao Jiqi had already taken control, with his warships dominating the Ba River. The two sides were deadlocked at the canyon, unable to form ranks in time. Lu Fa estimated that Xiao Jiqi's army was exhausted and demoralized, so he ordered Meng to lead three thousand elite soldiers on over a hundred light boats, rushing straight towards Xiao Jiqi with the current, catching him off guard and charging forward while shouting.
Xiao Jiqi's army was caught off guard, panicked and disorganized, unable to form ranks in time. Many of them abandoned their boats and jumped into the water to save themselves, with over a thousand fleeing in this way. Xiao Jiqi had several hundred close aides with him at the time. Meng led over thirty soldiers, using shields for protection and wielding long spears, directly boarding Xiao Jiqi's ship. With wide eyes, shouting loudly, Xiao Jiqi's guards were frightened and scattered, cowering on the ground. Meng personally captured Xiao Jiqi and his two sons in the cabin and executed them, seizing all of Xiao Jiqi's vessels and armaments.
Because of his military achievements, Meng was awarded the position of General of the Cavalry Corps, granted the title of Earl of Anshan, and given a fief of 1,000 households. He then continued to lead his troops to pacify Liangzhou and Yizhou, bringing stability to the entire Shu region. Upon his triumphant return to the capital, he was promoted to Governor, Cavalier Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Inspector of Sizhou, with his title elevated to Marquis and his fief increased to 2,000 households.
In 560 AD, Meng and his forces lost a battle at Dunkou and were captured by Wang Lin. Taking advantage of this victory, Wang Lin conquered several counties in the south and then sent Meng and Li Xiaochen to attack Yuzhang, putting pressure on Zhou Di. However, their army was defeated, and Meng was captured by Zhou Di. Before long, he secretly made his way back to Wang Lin. Eventually, Wang Lin was also defeated and returned to the capital.
In 561 AD, Meng was appointed as Cavalier Attendant of the Palace Secretariat and Prefect of Yongyang. Later, he was promoted to Deputy Marshal of the Prince of Ancheng's residence. In 566 AD, he became the General of Valiant Martial Prowess and Governor of Luling. At the beginning of the Taijian era, he was further promoted to General of Martial Valor, Chief of Staff for the Prince of Shixing, and concurrently Chief of Changsha. He then followed Zhang Zhaoda to fight in Jiangling, covertly leading troops into the gorge and burning down the ships of the Zhou army. For this achievement, he was appointed as Marquis of Fuchuan, with a fief of 500 households. He later served as Cavalier Attendant and was promoted to Commissioner and Commander of Military Affairs for Jing and Xin provinces, General of Propagating Far, and Inspector of Jingzhou. Finally, he returned to the capital and served as the General of the Left Guard.
After Chen Houzhu became emperor, he was granted a fief of a thousand households, while his other official positions remained the same. In the year 570 AD, he was appointed Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of Military Affairs in Southern Yuzhou, General of Loyalty and Martial Prowess, and Governor of Southern Yuzhou. When the Sui general Han Qinhu crossed the Yangtze River and arrived in the capital, his sixth son was serving as the acting governor of the province. Han Qinhu attacked and captured the provincial city, where his son and family were taken as captives. At that time, Chen Houzhu and Left Guard General Jiang Yuanxun were preparing to defend against the Sui army with eighty warships on the Yangtze River. Chen Houzhu knew that his wife and children were in the hands of the Sui army, and worried he might waver, he considered replacing him with Ren Zhong, but decided against it to avoid hurting his feelings. In 573 AD, he surrendered to the Sui Dynasty.
Lu Guangda, styled Bianlan, was the younger brother of Lu Xida, the Governor of Wuzhou. He was ambitious from a young age, determined to achieve greatness, and was humble in his dealings with others, earning him great popularity and many visitors from afar. At that time, the generals south of the Yangtze River each commanded several thousand troops, with Lu Guangda commanding particularly large forces. He first served as the Right Regular Attendant in the Prince Shaoling's Kingdom of the Liang Dynasty, and later rose to become the Middle Army Adviser of the Duke of Pingnan Dangyang.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, he and his brother Lu Xida gathered forces to defend Xinchai. Emperor Yuan of Liang appointed him Provisional General, General of Valor, and Governor of Jinzhou. When Wang Sengbian campaigned against Hou Jing, Lu Guangda welcomed the army at the border and oversaw the logistical support for the troops. Wang Sengbian told Shen Jiong, "Lu Guangda is also a key support for our army's eastward advance!" Then Lu Guangda led the troops to fight alongside Wang Sengbian. After the defeat of Hou Jing, Lu Guangda was further honored with the title of Attendant Cavalryman of the Household, with no change in his other official positions.
After the founding of the Sui Dynasty, he was appointed as General of the Distant Campaign and Prefect of Donghai. Shortly after, he was transferred to the position of Prefect of Guiyang, but he firmly declined and eventually returned to the court as an official and court attendant. Later, he was appointed as General of the Acting Command, General of Reliable Warfare, and Prefect of Beixincai. He followed Wu Mingche in the campaign against Zhou Di in Linyuan, leading the charge in every battle and achieving remarkable military exploits. Afterward, he succeeded his brother Lu Xida as Inspector of Wuzhou and granted the title of Marquis of Zhongsu County with a fief of 500 households.
In the first year of Guangda, he was appointed as an official and court attendant, Commander of Military Affairs in Southern Yu Province, and Inspector of Southern Yu Province. Hua Jiao rebelled, and the court ordered Sikong Chunyu Liang to lead a large army to suppress the rebellion. When the army arrived at Xiakou, Hua Jiao's navy was very powerful, and no one dared to engage. Lu Guangda was the first to lead elite soldiers directly into the enemy, and the two sides' warships engaged in battle. Lu Guangda shouted as he ascended the lookout tower on the warship, encouraging his soldiers to bravely kill the enemy. At that moment, the wind was strong, the waves were high, the warship was swaying, and the lookout tower was swaying violently. Lu Guangda accidentally fell into the water and sank for quite some time before being rescued. After Hua Jiao was pacified, he was appointed as Commander, General of Intelligent Warfare, and Commander of Military Affairs in Bazu, as well as Inspector of Bazu.
At the beginning of the Taijian period, I went to Xiakou with Yitong Zhang Zhaoda to strengthen the defenses of Ding'an, Shudu, and other states and counties. At that time, the Zhou Dynasty was planning to attack the area south of the Yangtze River. They were constructing numerous ships in Shudu and transporting grain to Qingni. I and Qian Daoji led troops to launch a sudden assault, setting fire to their ships and provisions. Because of this military achievement, I was promoted and elevated to oversee an additional two thousand households, and then I returned to my original station.
I have always been decisive and efficient in my role as an official and trusted my subordinates, so the people and officials all support me. When my term ended, everyone petitioned the court to let me continue in my position, and the emperor ordered me to continue for another two years. Five years later, the army marched north and reclaimed the land in the Huainan region that was previously lost. My army encountered the Qi army at Daxian, won a decisive victory, killed their King, Zhang Yuanfan, and captured countless prisoners. Following this, we captured Beixuzhou, and I was appointed as the Military Governor and Commander of Beixuzhou. Shortly after, I was promoted to Cavalier Attendant and transferred back to the capital as the Right Guard General.
Eight years later, I was reassigned as governor of Beiyanzhou and later promoted to governor of Jinzhou. Ten years later, I was appointed as the Commissioner of the Two Provinces of He and Huo, with the title of Renwei General, and served as the governor of Hezhou. In the eleventh year, General Liang Shiyan of the Zhou dynasty besieged Shouchun, and the court ordered Generals Fan Yi and Ren Zhong to provide reinforcements at Yangping and Qin County. I led my troops into the Huai River region and flanked the Zhou army. As a result, the Zhou army seized Yuzhou and Huozhou, and other regions like Nanyanzhou, Beiyanzhou, and Jinzhou fell one after another. The other generals were unable to secure any victories, and as a result, I was dismissed from my post, retaining only my title as marquis and returning home.
In the twelfth year, Fan Yi, the governor of Yuzhou, and I led our troops north to conquer Guomo City. After that, I was appointed as the Commissioner, General of Pingxi, and Commander of military affairs in the ten provinces above Yingshou, leading forty thousand naval troops stationed in Jiangxia. Yuan Jing, the Anzhou governor of the Zhou dynasty, led troops to harass us from across the river, but I dispatched a detachment to drive them off.
After Chen Shubao became emperor, Chen Xuandi's brother Chen Shuling was appointed as General of An's Left Flank. Not long after, he was promoted to General of Southern Tranquility and Governor of Southern Yuzhou. In the second year of the Zhide era, he was appointed as General of Southern Tranquility, summoned as an attendant, and was granted the title Duke of Suiyue County, while the land granted remained the same. Shortly after, he also served as Middle Leading General.
When He Ruobi led his troops to attack Zhongshan, Chen Shuling positioned his troops south of Baitugang, facing off against He Ruobi's army. Chen Shuling personally put on armor, held a drumstick to signal commands, urged the vanguard to charge, and launched repeated attacks. The Sui forces fled in disarray, and Chen Shuling pursued them to their camp, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy in several waves of attack, repeating this several times. When He Ruobi defeated other generals of the Chen dynasty and advanced to the imperial palace, burning down the Beiyegate, Chen Shuling still led the remaining soldiers in stubborn resistance, fighting fiercely, killing and capturing hundreds of enemy soldiers. When night fell, he finally removed his armor, knelt on the palace steps, and wept bitterly, saying to everyone, "I am powerless to save the country; my sins weigh heavily on me!" The soldiers wept and sobbed, and thus Chen Shuling surrendered. In the third year of the Zhengming era, he was sent to the Sui dynasty as mandated.
Chen Shuling grieved over the fall of the Chen dynasty, became gravely ill, and died soon after from grief and indignation. He was fifty-nine years old that year. Jiang Zong, the Minister of Works, touched his coffin and wept bitterly, then wrote a poem on the coffin lid: "Though filled with resentment in the afterlife, one's reputation endures with time. Mourning for you, dying for righteousness, not to be unworthy of the grace of life." Jiang Zong also wrote the epitaph for Chen Shuling, which essentially says: "Disaster spread to the Huaihai region, strategic locations were lost, the situation was turbulent, and the world was in turmoil. Military generals turned traitor, soldiers had no fighting spirit; only Chen Shuling was loyal and brave, with exceptional leadership. His loyalty shone like the sun, his momentum was as chilling as severe frost; he remembered kindness, repaid the country, and never forgot his duties."
When the Sui general Han Qinhu first crossed the Yangtze River, Chen Shuling's eldest son, Chen Shizhen, was in Xinchai. He, along with his brother Chen Shixiong and subordinates, defected to Han Qinhu. Han Qinhu sent messengers to persuade Chen Shuling to surrender. At that time, Chen Shuling was stationed in the capital, and he took the initiative to surrender and confess his wrongdoing to the magistrate. Emperor Chen said to him: "Although Shizhen has defected to the Sui Dynasty, you are a senior minister of the country, someone I depend on. How can I suspect you because of his actions?" So he rewarded him with gold and allowed him to return to camp that very day.
Chen Shuling had a squad leader named Yang Xiaobian, who fought valiantly in the army, charging into the fray. His son also followed Yang Xiaobian, wielding his sword and slaying over ten Sui soldiers, and eventually died of exhaustion, with both father and son falling in battle.
Historical accounts state: Xiao Moho, with a presence that overshadowed all the generals and soldiers, was one of the top fierce generals of his era. Although he lacked strategies, he could still be regarded as a hero of his era! However, he was awkward with words yet strong in spirit, somewhat akin to figures like Li Guang!
Ren Zhong, although brave and decisive, is fickle and deceitful at heart. He even deceived the emperor and got himself into trouble. What a letdown! As for Lu Guangda, he is dedicated to his duties and stands for what is right, ready to sacrifice himself for the cause of justice. He’s truly a loyal subject of the Chen Dynasty!
