Luo Xian, courtesy name Lingze, was from Xiangyang. His father Luo Meng once served as the Governor of Guanghan in Shu Han. Luo Xian could write essays at the age of thirteen and gained early fame. He studied under Qiao Zhou as his teacher, and Qiao Zhou's students all compared him to Zigong. He was upright, honest, strict, and serious towards others, never tired of treating scholars, generous, willing to help others, and never focused on building wealth through business. He served as the Palace Attendant and the Herald of the Faith in Shu Han, and also embarked on two diplomatic missions to the state of Wu, where he was well-regarded by the locals.
At that time, Huang Hao was in a position of great power, and many people flattered him, but Luo Xian kept to himself and did not associate with him. Huang Hao was very angry and demoted him to Governor of Badong. At that time, the Grand General Yan Yu was in Badong as the military overseer, and he appointed Luo Xian as the leader of the army, serving as Yan Yu's deputy. When the state of Wei attacked Shu Han, Yan Yu was recalled to Chengdu, and Luo Xian defended the city of Yong'an. After Chengdu fell, the city's inhabitants were in a panic, and the border officials all fled. Luo Xian executed a troublemaker, and the people in the city finally calmed down. He knew that after Liu Shan surrendered, and then he led his troops to remain at Dotting Pavilion for three days.
Wu State heard that Shu Han had been destroyed and sent General Sheng Xian to advance westward. Officially, it was presented as a rescue mission, but in reality, it was an attempt to attack Luo Xian. Luo Xian said, "Our Shu Han has already been destroyed. Wu State and we are interdependent. They disregard our safety and instead want to take advantage of the situation. I would rather serve as a subordinate than betray my principles!" So he pledged allegiance to Western Jin. He reorganized the army, strengthened defenses, inspired morale with noble integrity, and the soldiers all obeyed his commands. After the deaths of Zhong Hui and Deng Ai, many cities were left leaderless. Wu State then sent Bu Xie to march westward, and Luo Xian defeated his army. Sun Xiu was furious and sent Lu Kang to support Bu Xie. Luo Xian held out for over a year, with no reinforcements forthcoming, and many people died in the city due to the plague. Some suggested he retreat south to Zangke or north to Shangyong to preserve his life. Luo Xian said, "As a monarch, the people all rely on him. If he cannot protect them and instead abandons them to escape, a true gentleman would never do that. I would rather die here!" At this point, Governor Hu Lie of Jingzhou and his men arrived to provide assistance, and Lu Kang withdrew his troops. Luo Xian was appointed Lingjiang General, Supervisor of Ba Dong Military Affairs, and Governor of Wuling by the Jin Dynasty. In the early years of the Taishi era, he entered the court, and Emperor Wu of Jin proclaimed, "Luo Xian is loyal, brave, talented, and strategic. He can be accompanied by a music band." He also bestowed upon him a Shanxuan jade sword. In the sixth year of Taishi, Luo Xian passed away, and the court posthumously conferred upon him the titles of Supervisor, General of Annan, and Governor of Wuling, granted him the title of Marquis of Xie, and posthumously honored him with the title of Liet. Initially, (Yang) Xian participated in a banquet at Hualin Garden, where the emperor inquired about the sons of officials from Shu and later asked about ancestors worthy of promotion. Xian recommended talented individuals from Shu, such as Chang Ji and Du Zhen, noting that they were exceptional talents from Shu. Emperor Wu then summoned and appointed them all.
Yang Xian's son, Yang Xi, later became a Court Attendant and General of Lingjiang, commanding his father's troops, and eventually served as the Prefect of Guanghan. Yang Xian's nephew is named Yang Shang.
Yang Shang, courtesy name Jingzhi, also known by his childhood name Zhong. His father, Yang Shi, was once the Prefect of Zangke. Yang Shang lost his father when he was young and was raised by his uncle Yang Xian. He was very talented in writing. The Governor of Jingzhou, Wang Rong, appointed Yang Shang and Liu Qiao as military advisors and trusted them greatly. Towards the end of the Taikang period, Yang Shang became the Governor of Liangzhou. When Zhao Xin rebelled in Shu, Yang Shang submitted a memorial saying, "Zhao Xin is not a talented person and will definitely not succeed. Just wait to see him fail." As a result, the court granted Yang Shang military authority, appointing him as General of Pacification in the West, Inspector of Yizhou, and Colonel of the Western Marches. Yang Shang was very greedy and often indecisive, and the people of Shu said, "Those favored by Yang Shang are either deceitful or sycophantic; those disliked by Yang Shang are not loyal and upright. His family is extremely wealthy, as rich as the states of Lu and Wei, and his household resembled a bustling marketplace; he is as greedy as a jackal, never satisfied." Some said, "We can handle the bandits in Shu, but Yang Shang has brought us harm. The General of Pacification in the West has become a calamity." At that time, Li Te also rebelled in Shu, attacking and killing Zhao Xin. He then attacked Chengdu, where Yang Shang was, causing Yang Shang to retreat to Jiangyang. At first, Yang Shang requested support from the court, and the Governor of Jingzhou, Zong Dai, led the Prefect of Jianping, Sun Fu, to rescue them. Upon arriving in Jiangzhou, Zong Dai and Sun Fu's forces were formidable, and those oppressed by bandits were all spirited. Yang Shang sent his aide Ren Rui to pretend to surrender, secretly sending a signal to attack together. As a result, Li Te was defeated and killed, and his head was sent to Luoyang. Li Te's son Li Xiong declared himself emperor and set up his capital in Picheng. Yang Shang sent General Wei Bo to attack him, but was unsuccessful. Soon after, Yang Shang died, and Li Xiong seized control of Shu.
Teng Xiu, courtesy name Xianxian, was from Xie, a place in Nanyang. He served as a general in the state of Wu and was granted the title of Marquis of Xie. During Sun Hao's reign, Teng Xiu replaced Xiong Mu as the Inspector of Guangzhou and governed effectively, winning the affection of the people. Later, he was summoned by the court to serve as the Commandant of the Golden Guard. However, the local troops in Guangzhou, led by Guo Ma and others, revolted. Sun Hao believed that Teng Xiu was highly respected and trusted in the Lingnan region, so he appointed him as a Commissioner, Commander of Guangzhou Military Affairs, General of the Southern Guard, and Governor of Guangzhou to quell the rebellion. Before the rebellion was quelled, the state of Wu was defeated by the Jin Dynasty. Teng Xiu led his troops to provide support, but when he reached Baqiu, Sun Hao had already surrendered. Teng Xiu returned in mourning clothes, weeping, and submitted his seal of office together with the Inspectors of Guangzhou, Lu Feng, and the Prefect of Cangwu, Wang Yi. The court appointed Teng Xiu as General Who Maintains the South, with his duties as Governor of Guangzhou, Commissioner, and Commander unchanged. He was also granted the title of Marquis of Wudang, granted a musical ensemble, and entrusted with overseeing all matters in the south. Teng Xiu stayed in the south for many years, gaining the support of local ethnic minorities.
In the ninth year of Taikang, Teng Xiu passed away, and he had requested to be buried in the capital. The emperor appreciated his wish and bestowed upon him a plot of land, and granted him the posthumous title "Sheng." Teng Xiu's sons petitioned the court, saying: "Our father Teng Xiu was trapped in Wu and forced to serve them; he was fortunate to witness the unification of the Jin Dynasty and took part in quelling rebellions, overseeing military affairs. However, before he had the chance to meet the emperor, he was assigned a significant duty in the south, due to his outstanding military achievements, which had not been recognized by the court. Despite his old age and frailty, he repeatedly requested retirement, but was never approved, and unfortunately passed away. Following our father's wishes, we brought his coffin back to the capital, looking upon the imperial palace with deep sorrow. We heard that the scholars posthumously titled our father 'Sheng'; although this reputation spread, it does not match his achievements, which we find hard to accept, so we respectfully bring this to your attention." The emperor then ordered to posthumously title Teng Xiu as "Zhong."
Teng Xiu's son, Teng Han, initially held the position of Chief of Light Chariots under Yu Bing, and made contributions in the campaign against Su Jun, and was granted the title of Marquis of Xiayang County, with a fief of 1,600 households, and appointed as General Who Pacifies the South and Governor of Guangzhou. He was greatly beloved by the people during his time in office, and was posthumously titled "Dai" after his death. Teng Han's son, Teng Yun, later served as the Governor of Jiaozhou.
Teng Xiu's great-grandson Teng Tianzhi served as the General of Longxiang and Prefect of Wei County. While defending Liyang, he was captured by Zhai Liao and ultimately perished in battle.
Malong, courtesy name Xiaoxing, was from Pinglu, Shandong. He was intelligent and brave from a young age and liked to build a good reputation. When the Inspector of Yanzhou in the Wei State, Linghu Yu, was killed for committing a crime, no one in the province dared to claim his body. Malong pretended to be Linghu Yu's friend, used his own funds to give Linghu Yu a proper burial, observed a three-year period of mourning for him, planted pine and cypress trees in his memory, and only returned after the funeral was completed. The people of the entire province thought he did a great job, and this act became a well-regarded story. Later, he was appointed as a military officer.
During the Taishi era, the court wanted to attack the Wu State, and the emperor issued a decree, "Wu State has yet to be pacified, and we need fierce generals to achieve victory. Although there have been methods to recommend talented individuals in the past, they have not been able to completely discover all outstanding talents. Therefore, it is necessary to notify all prefectures and counties that if there are brave, outstanding, talented, and exceptional individuals, their names should be reported, and I will select the most outstanding talents for promotion and appointment. As long as there are such talents, there should be no limitations." Yanzhou recommended Malong, stating that he was exceptionally talented and could make a fine general. Malong later gradually rose through the ranks and became Inspector Sima.
At first, the Governor of Liangzhou, Yang Xin, fell out with the Qiang Rong tribes, and the Grand General Long Chen predicted that Yang Xin was definitely done for. Not long after, Yang Xin was captured by the Qiang Rong, and communication along the Hexi Corridor was cut off too. The Emperor was worried all day, trying to figure out a way out. During court sessions, he would sigh and say, "Who can help me defeat these Qiang Rong and restore the connection to Liangzhou?" The ministers were stumped. Long Chen stepped up and said, "Your Majesty, if you trust me, I can pacify them." The Emperor said, "If you can truly eliminate these bandits, I will naturally use you, but what’s your plan?" Long Chen said, "Your Majesty, just trust me and let me decide how to proceed." The Emperor asked, "How will you do it?" Long Chen said, "I want to gather three thousand brave warriors, no matter where they come from. I will lead them westward in style, relying on Your Majesty's reputation. Those ugly Qiang Rong don’t stand a chance!" The Emperor agreed and appointed Long Chen as the Prefect of Wuwei.
The ministers protested, saying, "We have so many troops in our army, and the military forces of the provinces are also plenty. We can directly use these forces; there’s no need for special recruitment rewards to disrupt the normal system. Long Chen is just a minor general, talking nonsense; we shouldn’t listen to him!" The Emperor did not listen to them. The conditions for Long Chen's recruitment were: being able to pull a crossbow with a force of thirty-six jin, and shoot arrows with a bow with a force of four jin, with on-the-spot testing. From morning until noon, he recruited three thousand five hundred people. Long Chen exclaimed, "That’s enough!" Then he requested to choose weapons from the armory himself. The Armory Commander clashed with him, and the Chief Imperial Secretary even accused Long Chen. Long Chen argued, "I’m going to fight on the battlefield and serve the court, but the Armory Commander gave me the junk weapons from the Wei Dynasty, which are useless. This isn’t what Your Majesty had in mind for me to defeat the bandits!" The Emperor agreed with Long Chen's statement and granted him three years of military funds.
Long Chen then crossed the Wenshui River with his troops. Qiang and Rong tribal leaders like Shu Jineng led tens of thousands of soldiers and horses. Some positioned themselves in strategic locations to block Long Chen's advance, while others set up ambushes to cut off his retreat. Long Chen designed specialized carts based on the "Eight Formation Diagram." In open areas, they set up camp using horned carts, and in narrow areas, they built wooden houses on the carts. They advanced while fighting, and within arrow range, enemies fell one after another. Long Chen came up with clever tactics, taking the enemy by surprise. Sometimes, they piled magnetic stones on both sides of the road, making it impossible for the Qiang and Rong soldiers in iron armor to move, while Long Chen's soldiers in rhino armor faced no obstacles, leading the Qiang and Rong soldiers to regard Long Chen as a deity. Long Chen marched thousands of miles in battle, killing thousands of enemies.
Since Long Chen's western expedition, he lost contact with the court, which caused great concern. Some said he had died in battle. Later, Long Chen suddenly arrived at the court in the middle of the night, delighting the emperor. The next morning, the emperor gathered his ministers and said, "If I had listened to you, Qinzhou and Liangzhou would have been lost!" He then decreed, "Long Chen led a small group of elite soldiers, bravely advancing and completing the mission at great risk to his life. He is bestowed the title of Acting General and Exemplary General, and awarded the Red Banner, Curved Canopy, and Trumpet." Upon Long Chen's arrival in Wuwei, the Qiang and Rong leaders, including Puba Han and Qiewan Neng, surrendered along with tens of thousands of their tribes. In total, over ten thousand people were either killed or surrendered. He subsequently led his generals, including Shan Rong and Meigu Neng, into battle against Shu Jineng, defeating him and ultimately pacifying Liangzhou.
The court discussed rewarding Long Chen and his soldiers. The relevant authorities reported that Long Chen's soldiers had already received their rewards ahead of time and should not be awarded new official titles. General Wei, Yang Yao, countered, "In the past, elite soldiers received fewer rewards, which was specifically designed to attract talent. Now Long Chen's army has achieved a singular victory, and the Western Regions are stable. We shouldn't let past rewards hinder future accomplishments." Therefore, Yang Yao's opinion was adopted, granting titles and official positions, with varying levels of rewards. During the Taikang period of the Western Jin Dynasty, the court recognized that the Western Ping region had fallen into disrepair and needed to be restored quickly. Thus, Bi Long was appointed as the Protector of Pinghu and the Prefect of Xiping. The court also assigned him a group of elite soldiers to station in Xiping. At that time, the southern minority group known as Chengxi frequently harassed the border. When Bi Long took office, he led his troops to attack them. Chengxi relied on the dangerous terrain to defend, so Bi Long ordered his soldiers to carry farming tools to create the appearance of tilling the fields. Chengxi realized that Bi Long did not appear to have any intention of fighting, so their vigilance relaxed. Bi Long seized this opportunity to launch a sudden attack, achieving a decisive victory and completely subduing the barbarian tribes under his command, who dared not invade again. During the Taixi period, Bi Long was granted the title of Marquis of Fenggao County and was also given the position of Eastern Qiang Colonel. Over the next decade, his reputation instilled fear in the surrounding regions of Longyou. Later, the Prefect of Lueyang, Yan Shu, had a close relationship with Yang Jun and secretly plotted to replace Bi Long. He spread rumors claiming that Bi Long was too old and muddled, no longer suitable for leading troops in battle. As a result, the court recalled Bi Long and had Yan Shu take over his position. Consequently, the various Di and Qiang tribes began to regroup, and the common people were filled with dread. The court feared that another conflict might arise in the Guanlong region, so they had no choice but to dismiss Yan Shu from his post and let Bi Long return to continue his official duties. Bi Long ultimately passed away while still in office.
The son of Bi Long, Bi Xian, also inherited his father's bravery. Later, when the Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying, attacked the Prince of Changsha, Sima Yi, he appointed Bi Xian as General of Eagle Rising, ordering him to station troops at Heqiao. However, he was defeated by Sima Yi's general, Wang Hu, and died in battle.
Hu Fen, styled Xuanwei, was from Linjing, Anding County, the son of Yin Zun, the General of Chariots and Cavalry of the Wei Kingdom. Hu Fen had a cheerful personality, was strategic, and had a love for military affairs since childhood. During the expedition to Liaodong by Emperor Xuan, he served as an attendant in white by the Emperor's side and was highly valued by the Emperor. Upon returning to the court, he was appointed as a Colonel, gradually promoted to Governor of Xuzhou, and was granted the title Xia Yang. When the central Xiongnu commander, Liu Meng, rebelled, the court sent the General of Valiant Cavalry, Lu Fan, to suppress the rebellion, appointing Hu Fen as the military supervisor and granting him full command to lead troops stationed at Kengbei as the follow-up forces to Lu Fan. Together, they defeated Liu Meng, and one of Liu Meng's generals, Li Ke, killed Liu Meng and surrendered. Due to his repeated military achievements, Hu Fen was promoted all the way to General Who Conquers the South, serving as the Protector-General of the Army of Jingzhou. He was later promoted to the position of Chief of the Guards and appointed as Cavalier Attendant. Although he came from a noble family, Hu Fen remained diligent in his studies even in his later years, excelling in both civil and military affairs. He was highly respected by the people wherever he served, especially in the border regions.
During the Taishi era, Emperor Wu began to neglect state affairs, indulging in the pleasures of life and selecting daughters of nobles to join the royal harem. Hu Fen's daughter was chosen to become a concubine. Since Hu Fen only had one son, who served the King of Nanyang and passed away early, he lamented, "I am not dead yet, but I only have two children - my son is in the afterlife, and my daughter is in the heavens."
Fen was an experienced minister, and with his daughter being favored in the harem, he also received the Emperor's favor. He was promoted to Left Protector-General and further granted the title of Grand Minister of Ceremonies. At that time, Yang Jun was quite arrogant, thanks to his daughter being the Empress. Fen advised Yang Jun, saying, "Are you becoming more arrogant because of your daughter? Look at history; every family that has married into the royal family has eventually been wiped out. It's just a matter of time. Look at your behavior now, you're clearly hastening your own downfall!" Yang Jun replied, "Isn't your daughter also in the royal family?" Fen answered, "Compared to your daughter, mine is just a servant girl; what influence can she have?" People at the time felt anxious for Fen; although Yang Jun held a grudge against him, he did not dare to easily harm him. Fen later passed away while in office, posthumously granted the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry, with the posthumous name Zhuang.
Fen had six brothers; his elder brother, Guang, and his younger brother, Lie, were both well-known. Guang, styled Xuanzu, held the positions of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Privy Treasurer. Guang's son, Xi, also known as Linfu, was also talented and served as Inspector of Liangzhou, General Who Establishes Martial Might, Acting General, and Protector of the Qiang Garrison. Lie, styled Wuxuan, once led troops to attack Shu. During Zhong Hui's rebellion, Lie and other generals were all imprisoned. Lie's son, Shiyuan, was just eighteen at the time, but he charged ahead of the soldiers and killed Zhong Hui, gaining fame far and wide. Lie later became Inspector of Qinzhou, and during the Liangzhou rebellion, he was stationed in Wancheng, surrounded by enemy forces with no reinforcements, and ultimately died in battle. Tao Huang, styled Shiying, was from Danyang Moling. His father, Tao Ji, once served as the Inspector of Jiaozhou for the Wu Kingdom. Tao Huang served in various official roles in the Wu Kingdom, steadily climbing to high ranks.
When Sun Hao was the emperor, the governor of Jiaozhi, Sun Xun, was a corrupt official, and the common people were fed up with him. By chance, there was an official named Deng Xun who came to inspect at that time. He brazenly allocated three thousand peacocks to be transported to Moling. The journey was long and tough, and everyone was thinking about rebellion. As a result, the district official Lv Xing killed Sun Xun and Deng Xun, and Jiaozhi submitted to the Western Jin. Emperor Wu of Jin appointed Lv Xing as the General of Annan and the governor of Jiaozhi. Not long after, Lv Xing was killed by his assistant Li Tong. Emperor Wu then appointed Cuan Gu from Jianning as the governor of Jiaozhi, but Cuan Gu also fell ill and died. Afterwards, he sent Ma Rong from Baxi to replace him, but Ma Rong also fell ill and died.
The Southern Military Inspector Huo Yi sent Yang Ji from Jianwei to replace Ma Rong. Yang Ji, along with General Mao Jiong, the Prefect of Jiuzhen, Dong Yuan, and other officials, set out from Shu to attack Jiaozhi. They defeated the Wu army in the ancient city, killing the Grand Marshal of Wu, Xiu Ze, and the Governor of Jiaozhou, Liu Jun.
Wu sent Yu Si as the Inspector, Xue Xi as the General of Weinan and the Grand Marshal, and Tao Huang as the Prefect of Cangwu to fight against Yang Ji in a battle at the river. Tao Huang was defeated and fell back to Hepu, losing two major generals. Xue Xi was furious and questioned Tao Huang, saying, "You volunteered to fight the rebels, but lost two major generals. How do you plan to take responsibility for this?" Tao Huang replied, "I couldn't do things my way; the coordination between our forces was lacking, so we lost the battle." Xue Xi fumed and decided to pull back the troops.
Tao Huang took advantage of the night and launched a surprise attack on Dong Yuan, capturing a great deal of Dong Yuan's treasures and transporting them back by boat. Xue Xun subsequently apologized to Tao Huang, appointed him as the governor of Jiaozhou, and appointed him as the commander of the vanguard. Tao Huang set off by sea and unexpectedly made his way straight to Jiaozhi, where Dong Yuan resisted him. When the two sides were about to go to war, Tao Huang suspected an ambush inside the city walls and set up long spears behind him. At the beginning of the battle, Dong Yuan pretended to retreat, and Tao Huang pursued. As expected, hidden soldiers emerged, and the long spears held off the ambushers, leading to a crushing defeat for Dong Yuan and his forces. Tao Huang used the spoils of war he had captured earlier, thousands of pieces of silk, to give to the bandit leader Liang Qi, who rallied tens of thousands of troops to assist Tao Huang. Dong Yuan had a brave general named Jie Xi in the city, so Tao Huang tricked Jie Xi's younger brother, Jie Xiang, into writing a letter to Jie Xi and had Jie Xiang ride in Tao Huang's official carriage, leading the procession with drums and gongs. When Dong Yuan's troops saw this, they thought, "If even Jie Xiang is doing this, Jie Xi must be planning to escape as well," so they executed Jie Xi. Xue Xun and Tao Huang eventually captured Jiaozhi. The state of Wu ultimately appointed Tao Huang as the governor of Jiaozhou.
Now, Tao Huang was a shrewd strategist, known for his generosity and ability to win people over. At that time, Teng Xiu had made multiple attempts to quell the southern rebels but had failed each time. Tao Huang said, "The southern rebels rely on our salt and iron trade, so let's halt all trade with them, destroy all the salt and iron, and convert them into farming tools. If we hold out for two or three years, we can defeat them in a single decisive battle!" Teng Xiu followed his advice, and they indeed defeated the rebels.
Initially, Huo Yi sent Yang Ji, Mao Jiong, and others to guard the city. He made a solemn vow to them, saying, "If the city is surrendered in less than one hundred days of being besieged, your families will face execution. If reinforcements haven't arrived after one hundred days, I, Huo Yi, will take responsibility!" Yang Ji and the others held the city for less than a hundred days, ran out of food and requested to surrender. Tao Huang refused, but instead sent them supplies to continue holding out. Other generals urged Tao Huang to accept their surrender, but Tao Huang said, "Huo Yi is already dead; he's definitely not coming to rescue Yang Ji and the others. Let's wait until their time is up before accepting their surrender, so they can be pardoned, and I’ll have a solid reason. This way, we can pacify the people and maintain friendly relations with neighboring countries; isn't it the best of both worlds?" When the deadline arrived, with food gone and no reinforcements in sight, they finally surrendered. Mao Jiong later killed Teng Xiu, and Teng Xiu's son, Teng Yun, joined Tao Huang on a southern campaign. After they captured the city, Teng Yun sought revenge, but Tao Huang intervened.
Mao Jiong secretly conspired to attack Tao Huang. When the truth was revealed, Tao Huang caught Mao Jiong and reprimanded him, saying, "You traitor of the Jin!" Mao Jiong roared, "Dog of the Wu Kingdom! What kind of traitor do you think you are?" Teng Yun sliced open Mao Jiong's belly and asked, "Do you dare to rebel again?" Mao Jiong, on the verge of death, continued to curse, "My ambition is to kill your Sun Hao. What kind of dog are you?" After capturing Yang Ji and the others, Tao Huang sent them back to the court. When Yang Ji arrived in Hapu, he succumbed to illness. Meng Gan, Cuan Neng, Li Song, and others arrived in Jianye. Sun Hao initially intended to execute them. Someone advised Sun Hao that Meng Gan and others were loyal to their former lord and should be forgiven to inspire the frontier generals. Sun Hao listened to the advice and prepared to exile them to Linhai. Meng Gan wanted to return to the north, fearing that exile to the east would be even further. They knew that the people of Wu favored the side bamboo crossbows made in Shu, so they claimed they could craft them. Sun Hao kept them to make crossbows and arrows. Eventually, Meng Gan managed to escape to the capital, but Li Song and Cuan Neng were killed by Sun Hao. Meng Gan presented a plan to the court to attack the Wu Kingdom, and the emperor greatly rewarded him, appointing him as the Governor of Rinan. Before this, the court appointed Yang Ji as the Inspector of Jiaozhou and Mao Jiong as the Prefect of Jiaozhi. However, before their appointments arrived, they were defeated in battle. The court posthumously appointed Yang Ji as the Inspector of Jiaozhou, and the sons of Mao Jiong, Li Song, and Cuan Neng were all granted the title of Marquis within the Passes. Li Zuo, the magistrate of Jiuzhen County, surrendered to Sun Hao. Sun Hao sent generals to attack him, but their attempts to capture him were unsuccessful. Li Zuo's uncle, Li Huang, followed the army and advised Li Zuo to surrender. Li Zuo replied, "Uncle, you are a general of the Wu Kingdom, while I am a subject of the Jin Kingdom. I can only speak based on my own abilities!" After a prolonged siege, Jiuzhen County was finally breached.
Sun Hao appointed Lu Kang as the Commissioner of the Imperial Edict, Commander of Military Affairs in Jiaozhou Province, General of the Front, and Governor of Jiaozhou Province. The regions of Wuping Commandery, Jiude Commandery, and Xinchang Commandery are strategically important, inhabited by fierce local tribes who have never submitted to the court in history. Lu Kang led troops to conquer the area, establishing three commanderies and bringing more than thirty counties under the jurisdiction of Jiuzhen Commandery. Later, Sun Hao transferred Lu Kang to Wuchang to serve as Commander and appointed Xiu Yun, the Prefect of Hepu, to replace him. Thousands of people in Jiaozhou pleaded for Lu Kang to stay, and Sun Hao finally agreed to let him return.
Since surrendering to the Jin Dynasty, Sun Hao personally wrote a letter to Lu Kang and sent an edict through messengers, commanding him to submit to the Jin Dynasty. Lu Kang wept for many days after receiving it, then sent his official seal to Luoyang. Emperor Wu of Jin issued an edict restoring him to his original position, appointing him as Marquis of Wanling and promoting him to the rank of Champion General.
After the unification of Wu, the court started to cut back on the military forces in various provinces and prefectures. Huang wrote a memorial saying: "Jiaozhou is located in a remote and wild region, isolated from the Central Plains, and various ethnic groups are colluding with one another, with their influence stretching across the mountains and seas. Moreover, it is over a thousand miles from Nanjun to the seaside, while it is only seven hundred miles from Linyi. The barbarian leader Fan Xiong has been a bandit for generations, who claims to be a king, and has attacked the common people many times. They also collaborate among themselves with Funan, and relying on the dangerous terrain, they resist the jurisdiction of the court. When it was under Wu's control in the past, they rebelled many times, attacked and destroyed counties, and killed officials. I have limited capabilities and was conscripted by my previous country, stationed in the south for over ten years. Although there have been many expeditions in the past, eliminating some leaders, there are still bandits hiding in the deep mountains and forests. The soldiers under my command originally numbered over seven thousand; the southern climate is hot and humid, with miasma prevalent. Combined with years of warfare, casualties have been severe, and now only two thousand four hundred and twenty remain. Now that the world is unified and everyone has submitted to the court, we should disband and recuperate, focusing on developing rituals and music education. However, the people of Jiaozhou have a limited grasp of righteousness; they are content with pleasure and like to cause trouble. Moreover, along the southern banks of Guangzhou, in an area of over six thousand miles, there are over fifty thousand households who do not obey jurisdiction, and adding those in Guilin, there are another ten thousand households. Only about five thousand households actually follow the government's authority. Jiaozhou and Guangzhou are interdependent, and the military is the only thing that can keep stability. Ningzhou is located upstream, one thousand six hundred miles away from Jiaozhi County, with convenient water and land transportation, mutually guarding each other. The Ningzhou military shouldn't be downsized for now to prevent any appearance of weakness. The world is in turmoil, and changes often come unexpectedly. After my country fell, my views were dismissed, and I was graciously favored by the emperor, who promoted me and pardoned my past mistakes, entrusting me with important tasks, helping me rise from disgrace to honor. I will do everything I can to repay the emperor's kindness, fulfill my duties seriously, and boldly present my opinions to the emperor."
Huang submitted a memorial saying, "The land in Hepu County is barren with no farmland. The locals rely entirely on pearl diving for their livelihood, and merchants come and go, exchanging pearls for food. During the Wu Kingdom, strict regulations were imposed on pearls due to fears that locals would sell them privately. Therefore, pearl trade was banned, leading to hunger and hardship among the people. Additionally, the court’s collection of pearls was often inadequate. I now request that top-quality pearls contribute 30%, medium-quality pearls contribute 10%, and low-quality pearls be exempt from taxes. From October to February, which is not the season for harvesting top-quality pearls, commercial travelers are allowed to pass as usual." The emperor approved the petition.
It is said that in the southern region, a family served as the governor of Jiaozhou for three generations, a total of thirty years, enjoying high prestige and deep love from the local people. When this governor passed away, the whole province mourned deeply, as if they had lost a beloved mother. The court then appointed Wu Yan, the Minister of Ceremonies, as his successor. After Wu Yan's death, another Minister of Ceremonies, Gu Mi, was appointed. When Gu Mi died, the locals even pressured Gu Mi's son to take charge of the province. After the son passed away shortly thereafter, his brother Gu Shou wanted to take over, but the locals resisted. He had to plead desperately before he was reluctantly appointed as governor. Once in office, Gu Shou went so far as to kill officials such as Hu Zhao and even attempted to murder his subordinate Liang Shuo. Liang Shuo managed to escape, raised troops to attack Gu Shou, captured him, and handed him over to Gu Shou's mother, who then poisoned her own son.
Liang Shuo then brought in Wei, the son of the former governor, to take over as the governor of Jiaozhou. Wei was cherished by the locals throughout his tenure, but sadly, he passed away three years later. Wei's brother, Shu, and Wei's son, Sui, later served as governors of Jiaozhou. From the first governor to Sui, a total of four generations and five people have served as governors of Jiaozhou, highlighting the family's deep-rooted influence!
Let's talk about the younger brother of the former governor, Jun, who served as the Grand General of Zhen Nan and Governor of Jingzhou in the state of Wu, holding high-ranking positions. Jun's younger brother, Kang, served as the Junior Household Officer for the Crown Prince. Jun's son Yan, styled Gongzhi; Yan's younger brother You, styled Gongyu, were both well-known. Yan became the Prefect of Linhai and the Yellow Gate Attendant. You became the Interior Minister of Xuan Cheng and the Chief Military Advisor of Wang Dao's Right Army. Yan's son Fu became the Prefect of Hu but was later killed by Han Huang, and was posthumously granted the title of Prefect of Lujiang. Kang's son Hui also has his own biography recorded.
Wu Yan, styled Shize, was from Wu County in the state of Wu. He came from a poor background but was skilled in both civil and military affairs. Standing eight feet tall, he could subdue fierce beasts with his bare hands, with strength far surpassing that of an average person. He held a minor position as an official in Tongjiang. At that time, General Xue Xun led troops on a southern expedition, with a grand military presence that deeply impressed Wu Yan. A skilled physiognomist named Liu Zha told him: "With your looks, achieving this level in the future is already impressive—don't be too ambitious!" He started out as a minor officer under the Grand Marshal of Wu, Lu Kang. Lu Kang admired his bravery and talent and wanted to promote him but was concerned about how others would react. So Lu Kang summoned all the generals and secretly sent someone to act crazy and brandish a knife, attempting to frighten everyone. The other generals were terrified and fled, but Wu Yan kept his composure and used a table to block the crazed person, gaining the admiration of all for his bravery. As a result, Lu Kang promoted him.
I was appointed governor of Jianping. At that time, Wang Jun was preparing to attack the state of Wu, building ships in the Shu region. I sensed things were going south, so I asked for more troops for defense, but Emperor Sima Yan did not agree. I took matters into my own hands and strung up iron chains across the river. When the Wu army arrived, the cities along the Yangtze River surrendered when they saw them. Some put up a brief fight before being easily overrun, but I held my ground, and the Wu army struggled to take me down. In the end, they had to retreat, acknowledging my defense.
After the fall of Wu, I surrendered, and Emperor Sima Yan appointed me as the governor of Jincheng. One time, the Emperor casually asked Xue Ying, "Why did Sun Hao's kingdom fall?" Xue Ying replied, "Sun Hao was a foolish king who surrounded himself with sycophants, abused punishments, and didn’t trust his ministers or generals. He made everyone feel insecure and unstable, leading to his downfall." The Emperor then turned to me and asked, and I replied, "The Emperor of Wu was handsome, and his ministers were wise." The Emperor chuckled and replied, "With a wise ruler and capable ministers, how could a kingdom fall?" I said, "Fate has its limits; when your time's up, it's up. That's why Your Majesty has me in your grasp. It's destiny, not something that can be changed by human effort!" Zhang Hua was there too, and he said to me, "You’ve been a general in Wu for years and yet stayed under the radar; it’s really puzzling!" I boldly replied, "Your Majesty gets me, but you don’t!" The Emperor was quite pleased to hear that.
I was transferred to Dunhuang, where both prestige and virtue were highly regarded. Later, I was promoted to the Prefect of Yanmen. At that time, Prince Shunyang, Sima Chang, was arrogant and overbearing. Several previous officials were falsely accused by him of crimes. When I became the Prefect of Shunyang, I was honest, upright, and strict about discipline, and everyone feared me. Sima Chang couldn't frame me, so he instead recommended me, hoping to have me removed from that position. As a result, I was promoted to the position of Cavalier Attendant. The emperor once asked me, "Between Lu Xi and Lu Kang, who is more formidable?" I replied, "In terms of morality and reputation, Lu Kang is not as good as Lu Xi; in terms of achievements and accomplishments, Lu Xi is not as good as Lu Kang."
After the death of the Governor of Taohuang, the court appointed Yan as the Southern Commander and the Governor of Jiaozhou. The court also sent a lot of money to the Lu brothers. Lu Ji originally wanted to accept it, but he remarked, "Yan originally came from humble origins and was promoted by his late father. However, his response to the imperial edicts was lacking. How can I accept his money?" So Lu Ji refused and often criticized Yan.
In Changsha, there was a filial and upright man named Yin Yu, who said to Lu Ji and others, "Since ancient times, many people from humble origins have eventually achieved great things, not just the nobles and ministers. People like He Yuangan, Hou Xiaoming, Tang Ruzong, and Zhang Yiyun all started from humble beginnings and eventually held important positions as palace attendants or external governors, and no one spoke ill of them. You, as a member of the gentry, have been criticizing Yan endlessly just because his response to the imperial decrees was slightly inappropriate. I'm concerned that people from the south might come looking for trouble with you, and you'll find yourself all alone." Only after Lu Ji and the others heard Yin Yu's words did they begin to change their minds, and the criticism of Yan began to fade.
At the time of Tao Huang's death, the garrison troops in Jiuzhen County revolted, driving away the governor, and the bandit chief Zhao Zhi besieged the county town. Yan personally led his troops to quell the rebellion. He guarded the south for more than twenty years; his reputation and benevolence were outstanding, and the southern region was thus stabilized and peaceful. Later, he submitted a memorial requesting to return to the capital, and the court summoned him to serve as the Grand Chancellor. He ultimately passed away while in office.
Zhang Guang, styled Jingwu, was from Zhongwu in Jiangxia. He was eight feet tall, with good-looking eyebrows and eyes, and a pleasant voice. When he was young, he served as a county official. His family had been military officers for generations, and later he became a leader of the guards, meriting in the war against Wu, and was promoted to the Western Commandant of Jiangxia, later transferring to the Northern Commandant.
Initially, when Zhao Wang Lun served as the commander in Guanzhong, the Di and Qiang tribes rebelled, and the governor Zhang Sun was killed in battle, with almost no officials or soldiers in the counties surviving. Zhang Guang was stationed with over a hundred men north of Malan Mountain and was besieged by the enemy for over a hundred days. Zhang Guang bolstered the morale of his troops, repeatedly using surprise attacks on the enemy, and ultimately defeated them. Given the small size of his forces and the long distance, Zhang Guang feared he would also perish in battle. As a result, Prince Liang Yong sent Sima Suo Jing with troops to support Zhang Guang. The entire army wept with joy upon his arrival and then returned to Chang'an together. Prince Liang Yong commended Zhang Guang in a memorial: "In the desperate situation of being surrounded on all sides, he showed loyalty and righteousness like Geng Gong, and should be generously rewarded to motivate others." The court subsequently promoted Zhang Guang to Prefect of Xinping and also gave him a band and music team.
Speaking of this guy Liu Shen, he received a secret decree from the court to attack King Yung of Hejian. However, Guang immediately led his troops to support Liu Shen without hesitation. But Liu Shen was somewhat petty and valued the Qinzhou Governor Huangfu Zhong quite a lot. Huangfu Zhong, from a prominent family in the Guanxi region, always thought Guang was beneath him and often did not accept his ideas. As a result, the forces from both provinces were defeated, and Huangfu Zhong was captured by Yung. Yung asked Guang, "What was your goal when you first took up arms?" Guang replied with a righteous expression, "It's because Liu Yongzhou ignored my strategies that led to your current predicament!" Yung appreciated Guang's response, so he spent a day drinking with Guang and even appointed him as the Right Guard General.
Later, Chen Min rebelled, and the court appointed Guang as the Governor of Shunyang, with the title of General of Lingjiang as well, sending him with five thousand troops to Jingzhou to suppress Chen Min. Liu Hongya, the Governor of Jingzhou, held Guang in high regard, praising him as an exceptional talent from Southern Chu. At that time, the Governor of Jiangxia, Tao Kan, and Chen Min's general Qian Duan were in a standoff at Changqi. Xiangyang Governor Pi Chu led infantry and had Guang set up an ambush, waiting for the right moment, while Wuling Governor Miao Guang led the navy and hid the ships in the Mian River. When Pi Chu's troops engaged Chen Min's forces, Guang seized the opportunity, led the ambush, and launched a joint attack by land and water, leading to a rout of Chen Min's forces. Liu Hongya submitted a memorial to the court, praising Guang's significant achievements, resulting in his promotion to General of Material Officials and Governor of Liangzhou.
Earlier, Deng Ding from Qinzhou took more than two thousand households and ran to Hanzhong because of a famine. After settling in Chenggu, they gradually began to commit robberies. Liangzhou Governor Zhang Yin sent Zhang Yan, the Prefect of Baxi, to attack them. Deng Ding, in a moment of desperation, pretended to surrender to Zhang Yan, even sending gold and silver treasures to him. Zhang Yan was overjoyed and let his guard down. Deng Ding secretly reached out to Li Xiong, who then dispatched troops to aid him. Realizing the situation was turning against him, Zhang Yan withdrew his troops, and Deng Ding took the opportunity to attack Hanzhong. Du Zheng, the Prefect of Hanzhong, fled to Weixing, and Zhang Yin followed suit. Guang, who had yet to officially assume his position in Liangzhou, stayed in Weixing and discussed strategies with other county officials on how to reclaim Hanzhong. Zhang Yan brazenly declared, "Hanzhong is now desolate and near the bandits. We have to wait for heroes to come forward to recapture Hanzhong!" Du Zheng was furious, "Zhang Yan accepted the bandits' gold and silver, failed to attack in time, delayed, and caused the loss of Hanzhong. This is entirely Zhang Yan's fault!" Guang, also angered, immediately ordered Zhang Yan's arrest and execution as a warning to others. Guang comforted the suffering people, and everyone was quite pleased with him. As a result, Guang set up his base in Hanzhong.
Legend has it that the rebel Wang Ruyu and his companions Li Yun, Yang Wu, and others led more than three thousand households from Xiangyang to Hanzhong. At that time, the governor of Yizhou, Luo Guang, sent the military officer Jin Miao to intercept them at Huangjin (place name). As a result, Jin Miao received a lot of bribes from Li Yun and advised Luo Guang to accept Li Yun's surrender. Luo Guang trusted Jin Miao and allowed Li Yun and his group to take root. However, not long after, Jin Miao grew envious of Li Yun's valuable possessions and wanted to take them, so he went to Luo Guang and said, "Li Yun's people are not engaged in legitimate occupations at all. They are always thinking about making weapons, harboring ill intentions! We can take this opportunity to capture them!" Luo Guang fell for it again. So Luo Guang sent Jin Miao to attack Li Yun, but they failed. Luo Guang had to turn to the Di king Yang Mao for help. Yang Mao sent his son Yang Nandi to assist. Yang Nandi asked Luo Guang for supplies, but Luo Guang refused. At this time, Yang Wu sent many gifts to Yang Nandi and said to him, "All the treasures of the exiled people are with Luo Guang. Instead of fighting us, why not go fight Luo Guang!" Yang Nandi was overjoyed by this news and promised to help Luo Guang, but secretly conspired with Li Yun. Luo Guang was completely unaware of this and even sent reinforcements to support Jin Miao. As a result, Li Yun and Yang Nandi collaborated to ambush Jin Miao and his men, and the reinforcements fell to stray arrows. The rebels grew even bolder afterward. Luo Guang could do nothing but defend the city, holding out from summer to winter, until he became seriously ill. His subordinates and the people advised him to retreat to Weixing, but Luo Guang unsheathed his sword and declared, "I have received immense favor from the court, but I have not been able to eliminate these bandits. Now, if I can die in battle, it would be like achieving immortality. How can I retreat?" After saying this, he died from his fury, at the age of fifty-five. The people mourned him deeply, grieving for him everywhere. Luo Guang was survived by two sons, Luo Jiong and Luo Mai.
Luo Jiong was appointed as the Grand Secretary when he was young. Luo Mai was exceptionally talented and shared his father's charisma. The people of the state recommended Luo Mai to act in the state's affairs, but he was killed in action while fighting bandits. Luo Guang's deputy Fan Kuang and the commander Wang Qiao escorted Luo Guang's wife and children and led the remaining soldiers to retreat to Wei Xing City. Later, Ren Yin, the prefect of Yiyang, was appointed as the Inspector of Liangzhou, and Luo Guang's wife and children returned to their home district. The prefect of Nanping, Ying Zhan, wrote to Commander Wang Dun, saying, "When Luo Guang was in Liangzhou, he managed to rally a small force, carry on a broken legacy, and gain prominence in Ba and Shu. During the turmoil in the Central Plains, as states and counties fell, with no reinforcements from outside and a lack of food and supplies, he fought against the enemy with a small force, resisting for many years with steadfast loyalty. He deserves to be posthumously honored with a title to honor his spirit." However, Wang Dun chose not to heed his advice.
Zhao You, courtesy name Yuansun, was from Huainan. He came from a family of military generals for generations and was very famous. Later, he was appointed as the chief registrar by the province. At that time, the governor Xi Long received an order from Prince Qi, Jiong to mobilize troops against Prince Zhao Lun. Xi Long wanted to respond to the call, but his sons and nephews were all in Luoyang. He was worried that if he responded but failed, he would face consequences from Prince Qi. Therefore, he found himself in a dilemma and was consulting with his subordinates. Zhao You advised Xi Long, stating, "Prince Zhao has usurped the throne, and everyone hates him. Now the righteous forces are rising up everywhere, and Prince Zhao Lun will soon fail. You should think this through carefully. The best way is to personally lead elite troops and go directly to Xuchang. If that's not possible, you can retain some troops and send a fierce general to join the allied forces to attack Prince Zhao Lun, which is also a good choice. If you simply send a token force, then that would be the worst option." Xi Long said, "I have been favored by two emperors and cannot favor one side. I only wish to ensure the safety of the province." Zhao You, along with Zhi Zhong Liu Bao and registrar Zhang Bao, urged Xi Long, "If you remain inactive, the situation will worsen rapidly, and soon even the state and county will not be safe!" Xi Long still hesitated and was ultimately betrayed and killed by his subordinates. Zhao You returned home and stayed home, shutting himself in.
Later, General Wang Dun appointed him as an officer and bestowed upon him the title of Guangwu General, enabling him to team up with Gan Zhuo and Zhou Fang to attack Hua Yi, and ultimately secured a decisive victory. He went on to defeat Du Tuo in Xixiang. In the early years of Taixing, he once again attacked Du Tuo with Gan Zhuo, ultimately eliminating him. Due to his numerous military accomplishments, he was granted the title of Marquis of Ping'a and succeeded Tao Kan as the Governor of Wuchang. At that time, Du Zeng led a rebellion in Jingzhou backed by Fifth Yi, and Wang Dun sent Zhao You and the Prefect of Xiangyang, Zhu Gui, to resist them. Since Fifth Yi was sent by Emperor Min and had high prestige, the people of the Jingchu region all pledged allegiance to him. Zhao You and his forces fought valiantly against the rebels, ultimately perishing in battle. Wang Dun was deeply saddened and petitioned the court for Zhao You to be posthumously appointed as General Who Subdues the Caitiffs and Inspector of Qinzhou, with the posthumous title "Jing." Zhao You's son, Zhao Gong, also died in battle alongside his father. When Emperor Yuan was still the Prince of Jin, he ordered that Zhao Gong be posthumously appointed as Prefect of Xinchang. Zhao Gong's younger brother, Zhao Yin, who was styled Boshu, requested to accompany the expedition when Wang Dun sent Zhou Fang to attack Du Zeng. Given Du Zeng's formidable forces, Zhou Fang planned to use Zhao Yin to first wear down Du Zeng's troops before launching an attack. Zhao Yin captured many enemy leaders. Later, Wang Dao recommended him for the position of Attendant Officer. When King Wang Zong staged a rebellion, Zhao Yin killed him. Therefore, Wang Dao and Yu Liang both highly valued him. He was subsequently promoted to Champion General, then reassigned as the Inspector of Xiyu Province, and ultimately passed away while in office.
In historical records, it is said that loyalty is the highest virtue, and fidelity is the foundation of serving the monarch. They dedicated themselves to the country, upholding their noble integrity even amidst hardships. Luo Xian and Teng Xiu entered the officialdom with integrity and were sent to Badong, where they partook of the emperor's hospitality; they then marched to Lingnan, waving their military flags. During the turmoil of the dynasty, as the court fell into chaos, they wept inconsolably at Baqiu and held emergency meetings at Dotting. Individuals as loyal and resolute as they are truly rare!
Xiao Xing and Xuan Wei were both intelligent and brave, skilled in martial arts. They defeated the enemy in Hexi and subdued the fierce chieftain in Kunbei. They predicted Yang Xin's inevitable failure and criticized Yang Jun for soon inviting disaster. Tao Huang and Wu Yan, their talents were equally matched, admired by Mao Jiong for their deep foresight, and praised by Lu Kang for their outstanding strategies. They held important positions, their incorruptible reputation spread far and wide; experienced military generals, their achievements even more remarkable. Jing Wu was an exceptional talent from Nan Chu, while Yuansun hailed from a long line of generals, facing death fearlessly, as if they were ascending to immortality. They all wholeheartedly offered advice to the court, all perished in battle, but their loyalty will be eternally remembered.
Luo Xian deserves praise for his exceptional abilities while stationed at Yulei, renowned throughout the world. Teng Xiu went to Shimen, implemented beneficial policies, and achieved remarkable results. Xiao Xing and Xuan Wei, their behavior was impeccable. They honored Yugong with a proper burial and criticized the Yang family. Tao Huang's strategies were extraordinary, and Wu Yan's talents outstanding. They led elite troops to sneak attack Dong Zhuo, impressing Xue Rengui with their military prowess. Only Zhao Yun and Zhang Fei had versatile and brilliant military strategies. Zhao Yun served as a county magistrate in Beidi, while Zhang Fei earned accolades in Xiangxi.
