Zhou Chu, style name Ziyin, was from Yangxian, Yixing. His father, Zhou Fang, was the Prefect of Poyang in the State of Wu. Zhou Chu lost his parents at a young age, and before he even turned twenty, he had incredible strength and loved horseback riding and hunting. However, he paid no attention to his behavior and gave in to his desires, making everyone in the area hate him.
Realizing that he was disliked by everyone, Zhou Chu decided to change his ways and said to the elders in his village, "Why is everyone so unhappy in this peaceful time with good harvests?" The elders sighed and said, "There are three pests we haven't dealt with, how can we be happy?" Zhou Chu asked, "What pests?" They replied, "The white-faced tiger on the southern mountain, the dragon lurking under the bridge, and you, young man, these three!" Zhou Chu said, "If these are pests, I can eliminate them all!" The elders said, "If you can eliminate them, it'll be a big deal for the whole county, not just getting rid of pests."
So Zhou Chu went into the mountains and shot the fierce tiger, then jumped into the water to fight the dragon. The dragon would sink and resurface, and Zhou Chu fought it for miles, for three whole days and nights. Everyone thought Zhou Chu had died and celebrated, but he came back alive after killing the dragon! Hearing the villagers celebrating, he realized how much they had hated him before, so he went to the land of Wu to find the two famous scholars, Lu Kang and Lu Yun. Unfortunately, he only met Lu Yun and told him his situation, saying, "I want to turn my life around, but I’m worried it might be too late because of my age." Lu Yun said, "The ancients say 'it's never too late to change,' you still have time; the key is to be determined and not worry about your reputation."
Zhou resolved to study diligently, began to develop literary skills, and vowed to be chivalrous, loyal, trustworthy, and selfless. A year later, the government officials invited him to become an official. He served as the Left Minister of the Eastern Observational Office in Wu. During the later period of Sun Hao's reign, Zhou served as the Inspector of No Challenges. After Wu's downfall, Wang Hun held a feast in Jianye Palace, and when everyone was enjoying themselves, he asked the people of Wu if they were sad about the country's demise. Zhou replied, "During the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty, with the Three Kingdoms vying for power, Wei fell first, followed by Wu. The sorrow of a nation's fall is not something one person can fully grasp!" Wang Hun felt embarrassed.
When I arrived in Luoyang, I was soon promoted to Prefect of Xinping. There, I brought peace to the barbarian tribes and quelled the rebellion, and the rebellious Qiang people all surrendered. The people of Yongzhou praised me for my good work. Later, I was transferred to be Prefect of Guanghan. Guanghan County was burdened with numerous unresolved cases, some of which had been unresolved for thirty years. I meticulously examined the cases, discerned right from wrong, and resolved them all within a single day. As my mother aged, I resigned from my position to take care of her at home. Not long after, the court appointed me as Prefect of Chuguo, but before I assumed the role, I was summoned to be a Cavalier Attendant. I remarked, "In ancient times, people would resign from high offices, but not from lesser positions." So I first took up the position in Chuguo.
At that time, Chuguo had just experienced war, and the old and new residents lived together, with customs not yet unified. I actively promoted education and even arranged for the burial of unclaimed bodies and scattered bones. Shortly after my appointment, people from near and far praised my benevolent governance.
When Zhou served as a close attendant in the court, he often advised the emperor with candor. Later, he was promoted to Chief Censor and never spared officials, regardless of their status or connections. When Prince Liang Yong violated the law, Zhou imposed a severe punishment.
Later, the Di people, led by Qi Wannian, rebelled, and the ministers in the court were not optimistic about Zhou Chu, arguing, "Zhou Chu is the son of a famous general from the state of Wu. Although loyal and brave, he is too rigid." So the court sent Xiahou Jun to the west to quell the uprising. General Fubo Sun Xiu knew that Zhou Chu was likely to meet his end in this battle, so he advised him, "You still have an elderly mother at home. You can find an excuse to decline this mission." Zhou Chu replied, "It's tough to balance loyalty and filial piety! Since I have decided to serve the country, how can I consider my parents' feelings? Today is where I will fight to the death!"
When Qi Wannian heard that Zhou Chu was coming, he said, "When Lord Zhou was in Linxinping before, I knew him well. He is talented in both civil and military matters. If he attacks with all his might, we won’t stand a chance against him. If we let him lead us by the nose, we will be finished." Later, Prince Liang Yong was appointed as the Grand General of the West, in charge of the military in the Guanzhong region. Zhou Chu knew that Liang Yong was narrow-minded and would surely scheme against him, but he believed that as a loyal subject, he should fulfill his duty without fear or hesitation. So he set out on his journey with a tragic resolve to fight to the death.
Minister Chen Zhun knew that Liang Yong would retaliate against Zhou Chu, so he petitioned the court, "Xiahou Jun and Liang Yong are both powerful figures, unsuited to lead troops into battle. They lack courage and responsibility. Zhou Chu is from the state of Wu, loyal, brave, and strong. Now isolated and unsupported, he will surely die in battle. We should order Meng Guan to lead ten thousand elite soldiers as Zhou Chu's vanguard; only then can we hope to defeat the rebel forces. Otherwise, Liang Yong will certainly place Zhou Chu at the forefront, and Zhou Chu will undoubtedly meet with failure." However, the court did not adopt his suggestion.
At that time, the rebel army was stationed in Liangshan, numbering seventy thousand soldiers, but Xiahou Jun only assigned Zhou Chu five thousand soldiers for the attack. Zhou Chu said, "Without reinforcements, the army will surely be defeated. Even if I fall in battle, it would be a disgrace to the nation." Prince Liang ordered Zhou Chu to continue the attack, so Zhou Chu, along with General Lu Bo and Governor Jie Xi of Yongzhou, attacked Qi Wannian together at Liu Mo. Just before the battle commenced, Zhou Chu's soldiers had not yet eaten, but Prince Liang urged them to attack quickly and severed their only means of retreat. Knowing he would definitely be defeated, Zhou Chu recited a poem: "The affairs of the world are behind me, I ride forth to gaze upon the western frontier. Millet and beans are sweet, hoping for a final victory." After reciting the poem, he began the battle, fighting from dawn until dusk, killing tens of thousands of enemy soldiers.
When the bowstrings snapped and the arrows were exhausted, Lu Bo and Jie Xi did not come to the rescue. His companions urged him to retreat, but Zhou Chu drew his sword and said, "Today is the day I lay down my life for the country; why should I even consider retreating? Besides, the famous generals of ancient times, when entrusted by the country, fought bravely and never retreated. Now these troops have lost faith in me; morale must be low. As a minister of the court sacrificing for my country, I will die with honor!" He fought with all his might and ultimately died on the battlefield. The court posthumously appointed him as General of Peace in the West, granted him a million coins and a hundred acres of land for his burial, and fifty acres of land in the capital to build a mansion, as well as five acres of land for his family. The court issued a decree stating, "Zhou Chu's mother is elderly and comes from afar; therefore, I grant her medicine, wine, and rice to ensure her comfort in her later years."
It is said that Lu Ji wrote thirty pieces of "Silent Words" and "Records of Local Customs," and also compiled the "Book of Wu." At that time, Pan Yue was ordered to write the first "Poem of Guanzhong," in which he said: "The army of the Zhou dynasty followed their orders, dying on the battlefield. Although people may die, their loyalty and righteousness will be remembered for generations." The Western Rong Colonel Yan Zuan also wrote a poem saying: "Maintaining integrity throughout, with unwavering loyalty. Although he is dead, his good reputation will be recorded in the history books." Later, Emperor Yuan ascended to the title of Prince of Jin and wanted to give Lu Ji a posthumous title. He Xun, the Minister of Rites, suggested: "Lu Ji has noble character and outstanding talent; he served successively as the governor of four counties, pacifying the people and achieving remarkable results; he served faithfully in the court and sacrificed his life to defend the country during critical times; these are all excellent qualities of loyal and virtuous officials and the noble virtues of martyrs. The 'Regulations of Posthumous Titles' states, 'Those who uphold virtue without turning back are called filial,' so he was posthumously titled 'Filial.' Lu Ji had three sons: Lu Qi, Lu Jing, and Lu Zha. Lu Jing died young, while Lu Qi and Lu Zha were both very famous. Lu Qi, styled Xuanpei, was resolute and inherited his father's virtues, although his literary talent was not as great. He kept to himself and did not socialize casually, which earned him a high reputation in the area. When he was not yet twenty years old, the local government summoned him to take up an official position, but he declined. It wasn't until the new governor arrived and requested him to serve as an assistant that he humbly accepted the position and took it up with respect. Later, he was recommended to the court several times, passed the imperial examination, and was appointed as a court official.
During the Tai'an period, Zhang Chang, Qiu Shen, and other rebel leaders rose up in Jiangxia, and the common people rallied to their cause, as if returning home. Emperor Hui dispatched General Huahong to suppress them, but he was defeated at the Battle of Zhangshan. Zhang Chang and his followers grew increasingly powerful, killing General Yang Yi of Pingnan, General Zhen Nan, King Xin Ye, and others, and various regions fell under their control. Zhang Chang sent Feng Yun to attack Xuzhou and dispatched Shi Bing to assault Yangzhou. The governor of Yangzhou, Chen Hui, fled the city, and Shi Bing quickly seized large swathes of land in Yangzhou. Lu Ji quietly plotted to take down Shi Bing and secretly contacted the former Nanping historian Wang Ju. Together, they jointly appointed Gu Mi, the governor of Wuxing, as the military commander for the nine prefectures of Yangzhou and teamed up with local leaders from Jiangdong to rise against him, killing Shi Bing's appointed officials in Wuxing, including Qu Shan and others. Shi Bing dispatched his general Qiang Du with tens of thousands of troops to confront Lu Ji, who defeated Qiang Du in battle. At this time, General Chen Min arrived from Guangling to support Lu Ji, slaying Shi Bing's general Zhao Cong in Wuhu, and then attacked Shi Bing at Jiankang alongside Lu Ji. Shi Bing retreated north to Fengyun, where Zhang Tong, the Sima of Fengyun, executed both Fengyun and Shi Bing, surrendering to the imperial court, and Xuzhou and Yangzhou were pacified. Lu Ji chose not to boast about his own merits and rewards, disbanded the troops, and headed home.
Chen Min rebelled in Yangzhou, and the court appointed Lu Ji as Prefect of Anfeng, granting him the rank of a fourth-grade general. Lu Ji claimed to be ill and declined to assume the position, secretly sending someone to inform General Liu Zhun in Zhendong to bring troops to the riverbank to coordinate efforts to eliminate Chen Min. He even cut off a lock of hair as a token of trust. At the time, Liu Zhun was in Shou Chun and sent Hu Yan to lead troops eastward. At that time, Chen Min's younger brother Chen Chang was the General of Guangwu and the Intendant of Liyang, with Qian Guang from Wuxing acting as his Chief of Staff. Lu Ji covertly instructed Qian Guang to assassinate Chen Chang. Later, Lu Ji, Gu Rong, Gan Zhuo, and others led troops to attack Chen Min. Chen Min's forces were routed, and he fled northward on horseback alone, eventually being captured near the Jiangcheng border and beheaded in Jiankang, resulting in the extermination of his entire family and clan.
Prince Sima Yue of Donghai heard of Lu Ji's reputation and recruited him as a military advisor. The court issued a decree appointing him as a Gentleman of the Imperial Library and Cavalry Commandant, but he declined the appointments. When Emperor Yuan first took control of Jiangzuo, he appointed Lu Ji as a subordinate in the warehouse department. Earlier, Qian Hui of Wuxing also rebelled against Chen Min, and Sima Yue appointed him as General Jianwu, ordering him to lead his subordinates to assemble in the capital. When Qian Hui reached Guangling and heard that Liu Cong was laying siege to Luoyang, he became fearful and dared not continue forward. The emperor urged him to arrive on time, but Qian Hui began to harbor rebellious intentions. Wang Dun was elevated to a high-ranking position and was supposed to go on a western expedition with Qian Hui. Qian Hui secretly plotted to assassinate Wang Dun to spark a rebellion, but Wang Dun learned of the plot and promptly alerted the emperor. Qian Hui murdered Chen Feng and set fire to the government offices, declaring himself Grand General of West Pacification, Governor of the Eight Provinces, and kidnapped Sun Hao's son Sun Chong, proclaiming him King of Wu, only to execute him shortly thereafter. Qian Hui then launched an attack on the county where Lu Ji was stationed.
The Emperor sent General Guo Yi, Prefect Song Dian, and others to suppress him, but due to insufficient troops, they were hesitant to act hastily. Lu Ji once again rallied the local populace and, alongside Guo Yi, launched an attack against Qian Hui, beheaded him, and sent his severed head to Jiankang. Lu Ji pacified Jiangnan three times, restored the royal rule, and the Emperor highly valued his contributions, appointing him as General Jianwei, Prefect of Wuxing, and granting him the title of Marquis of Wucheng. After enduring war and chaos, the people of Wuxing were left starving and impoverished, with rampant banditry. Lu Ji governed with remarkable benevolence, and the people held him in high regard. Within less than a year, peace returned to the region. Because Lu Ji led troops to suppress rebellions multiple times, the Emperor acknowledged his considerable contributions and established Yixing Commandery, including Yangxian, the counties west of the Great Wall, and the perpetual county of Danyang, to commend his achievements.
The Wang Jun family wielded considerable influence, and everyone rallied behind him. The Emperor grew increasingly wary of him. At that time, many people from the Central Plains helped the Emperor conquer the world, but Wang Jun felt undervalued and aggrieved, which only fueled his anger further. At that time, General Zhendong, the Sacrificial Official Donglai Wang Hui, was also insulted by Zhou Yi, so they secretly conspired with Wang Jun to oust those in power. They planned to elect Wang Jun, Dai Ruosi, and other southern officials to aid the Emperor in managing political affairs.
Earlier, the exiled army leader Xia Tie and his followers lived in the area of the Huai River and Si River. Wang Hui secretly wrote a letter to Xia Tie, urging him to raise an army and rebel, claiming that he would support him in the Jiangnan region alongside Wang Jun. At the start of the Jianxing era, Xia Tie had already gathered hundreds of people. However, Cai Bao, the Prefect of Linhuai, killed Xia Tie and reported the matter to the emperor. Upon hearing of Xia Tie's death, Wang Hui, fearing punishment, fled to Wang Jun. Wang Jun killed Wang Hui and buried him in a pigpen. The emperor was aware of this but chose not to make it public, instead appointing Wang Jun as the Marshal of Zhendong. Before Wang Jun could assume the position, the emperor changed his appointment to General of Jianwu and Prefect of Nanjun.
Wang Jun traveled south to Wuhu, where the emperor issued another decree: "The Wang family has been loyal and brave for generations, and his loyalty is very clear. I hold him in high regard. I now appoint him as the Military Advisor, with his military position unchanged, promoted to a duke, and his salary and officials appointed according to the standards of the founding heroes." Wang Jun was enraged by the emperor's fickle attitude, and knowing that his conspiracy had been uncovered, he fell ill from grief and anger, developing painful sores on his back, and died at the age of fifty-six years. Before his death, he told his son Wang Xie, "It was the people from the Central Plains who killed me. If you can avenge me, then you are my good son!" The people of Wu referred to those from the Central Plains as "cangzi," which explains Wang Jun's words. After his death, the court posthumously conferred upon him the title of General Who Assists the State and granted him the posthumous title of Loyal and Virtuous. His son Wang Xie inherited his title.
This person named Zhou Qian, styled Yanhe, always remembered his father's teachings. At that time, many officials who had lost their positions in the fallen state sought refuge in the Wu region. Many of them took up important positions, using their former identities to treat the people of Wu arrogantly, which led to widespread public grievances. Zhou Qian saw an opportunity to rise against them and secretly contacted Xu Fu, the chief official of Wuxing County. Xu Fu had his own armed forces at home, so Zhou Qian asked him to recruit soldiers and procure horses, pretending it was under orders from his uncle, Zhou Zha. Those who liked adventure and chaos responded one after another, rallying under the banner of punishing Wang Dao and Diao Xie. Even Sun Hao's relative, Sun Bi, raised troops in Guangde. Xu Fu killed Yuan Xiu, the governor of Wuxing, and gathered thousands of troops. However, Zhou Zha fell ill and returned home, and upon hearing the news, he was frightened and quickly reported the matter to Kong Kan, the governor of Yixing. Seeing that his uncle did not agree, Zhou Qian did not dare to act rashly. Xu Fu's associates became afraid and turned against him, killing him. Sun Bi's army was also defeated, and the governor of Xuan Cheng, Tao You, wiped them out. Emperor Yuan of the Jin Dynasty took into account the Zhou family's longstanding influence in the Wu region, so he did not harshly investigate the matter and continued to treat them favorably as before. Disheartened by Zhou Zha's rebuke and the shattering of his ideals, Zhou Qian returned home dejectedly and lived a dissolute life, often telling others, "Life is short; you should enjoy it to the fullest!" He eventually became the Prefect of Linhuai.
Zhou Qian's younger brother, Zhou Yi, was famous from a young age. Emperor Yuan of the Jin Dynasty once summoned him to serve as a prime minister's secretary, but unfortunately, he died young.
Zhou Zha, courtesy name Xuanji, was arrogant, deceitful, and greedy for wealth, with a duplicitous nature. He was proud of his family background from a young age and refused to respond to calls from various provinces. He was later recognized as a filial and incorruptible official, serving as a Langzhong and military advisor to Wang Jiong, the Prince of Qi. He was then appointed as the county magistrate of Jurong and promoted to General of Wu's Upper Army. Despite being summoned to serve as a military advisor to the Prince of Donghai, he did not go. For his contributions to pacifying Qian Hui, he was granted the title of Marquis of Zhangpu. When Emperor Yuan of Jin recommended Zhou Zha to be the General of Ningyuan and the Interior Minister of Liyang, he did not take up the position and was instead reassigned. After Xu Fu was pacified, Zhou Zha was appointed as the General of Stalwart Valor, the Interior Minister of Wuxing, and was commended by the court for his previous achievements. He was subsequently enfeoffed as the Marquis of Dongqian County and promoted to General Who Subdues the Barbarians, overseeing military affairs in Yangzhou and appointed as the General of the East Central Army, stationed in Tuzhong. However, he did not take up the position and was later appointed as the Right General and the Commander of the Stone Land and Water Army. Zhou Zha suffered from a foot ailment that prevented him from assuming his duties. After repeatedly declining, he was eventually impeached by officials and left with no choice but to assume his position. He was later appointed as a Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary.
Wang Dun led his troops in an assault on Shitou City, and Dai Kui opened the city gates and surrendered to Wang Dun, leading to the defeat of the imperial army. Wang Dun later promoted Dai Kui to the rank of Guanglu Xun and shortly thereafter appointed him as a Minister. After some time, Dai Kui was further promoted to Right General and the Interior Minister of Kuaiji. At that time, Dai Kui's brother, Dai Jing, held the position of Prefect of Jinling and was also the Marquis of Qingliuting; Dai Kui's younger brother, Dai Yue, was the General Who Subdues the Barbarians and the Interior Minister of Wuxing; Dai Yue's younger brother, Dai Zan, was a military official of the Grand Marshal, the Marquis of Wukang County; Dai Zan's younger brother, Dai Jin, was the Imperial Scholar of the Crown Prince and the Marquis of Duxiang; Dai Kui's nephew, Dai Xie, was the Prefect of Linhuai and the Duke of Wucheng. The Dai family held five marquis titles, all of which were high-ranking positions, and their influence in the Wu region was unparalleled, which led Wang Dun to harbor intense resentment towards them.
Later, Dai Wei's mother passed away, and there were thousands of mourners who came to pay their respects. Wang Dun grew increasingly wary of the Dai family. When Wang Dun was seriously ill, Qian Feng, as the Zhou family was a powerful force, rivaling Shen Chong's own influence, sought to align himself with Shen Chong and plotted to eliminate the Zhou family in order to enable Shen Chong to consolidate his power in Jiangdong. So he advised Wang Dun, "Those in power fear being pressured by formidable forces. Throughout history, the source of chaos has always arisen in this way. Currently, the most powerful families in Jiangdong are the Zhou and Shen families. General, a century from now, these two families will surely stir trouble. The Zhou family is powerful and produces many talents. They should be dealt with first so that your descendants can be safe and the country can be preserved." Wang Dun believed his words.
At that time, there was a Taoist priest named Li Tuo, who used magic to deceive the people. He claimed to be eight hundred years old, so people called him Li Baibai. He came from the Central Plains to Jianye, using his so-called ghostly techniques to heal the sick and even bestowing official titles on others, and many people were taken in by him. His disciple Li Hong trained disciples at Lingshan, claiming that a prophecy was coming to fruition and that he would become king. So Wang Dun sent the Commandant of Lujiang, Li Heng, to accuse Dai Kui and his brothers, sons, and nephews of plotting a rebellion with Li Tuo. At that time, Dai Wei was Wang Dun's military advisor, and Wang Dun executed Dai Wei, Li Tuo, and Li Hong in the military camp. He then sent the officer He Luan to Shen Chong to kill Dai Kui's brothers and nephews. Afterwards, Wang Dun led troops to attack Kuaiji and launched a surprise assault on Dai Kui. Dai Kui was initially unaware, but when he heard that the enemy approached the gates, he led a few hundred followers out of the city to resist, only to face defeat and be killed. Dai Kui was greedy and lustful, only concerned with accumulating wealth. On the day the enemy approached the gates, his warehouse was stocked with many high-quality weapons, painted white on the outside, ready to equip soldiers, but he was too stingy to use them and only gave the soldiers some old weapons. His stinginess meant the soldiers were unwilling to fight for him.
After Zhou Zha's death, his colleagues and subordinates jointly submitted a memorial to the court, requesting posthumous honors for Zhou Zha and a reversal of his wrongful accusations. This matter was submitted for discussion to eight departments. The Minister Bian Rong believed that Zhou Zha had opened the city gates during the Battle of Shitoucheng, allowing the enemy to enter and causing chaos, which was Zhou Zha's responsibility. Therefore, he did not fully support the idea of granting posthumous honors to Zhou Zha, and also suggested restoring Zhou Zha's brother to his original position.
However, the Minister Wang Dao believed that Zhou Zha had defended the city of Shitoucheng with loyalty and dedication, making the ultimate sacrifice for the country. As for past events, those of us who were knowledgeable at the time, just like Zhou Zha, did not see any issues. This statement fully agrees with the wise judgment of the emperor. Now, those who are now trying to investigate any possible signs of disloyalty by Zhou Zha in the past are only doing so because the crimes of the traitor have become evident. Even if such things had occurred at the time, no one was aware of them! When everyone sees through the conspiracy of the traitor, Zhou Zha and us ministers all gave our lives for the country, died in battle, and Zhou Zha was ultimately executed. The court's orders had been issued, the matter was settled, and only then did they say he was a rebel. This lack of distinction between right and wrong, and between retreat and advance, should indeed be taken seriously by the court. I believe that he should be restored to honor, just like Zhou Yi and Dai Ruosi.
The Minister Xie Jian then said: Praise and criticism should adhere to clear standards and established precedents. Now, Zhou Yi and Dai Ruosi have been reinstated because of their loyalty, while Zhou Zha is being treated the same for opening the city gates. The situations are different, yet the rewards and punishments are the same, which leaves me perplexed. According to Minister Wang Dao's statement, those of us who were knowledgeable at the time, just like Zhou Zha, did not see any issues, which shows a clear distinction between right and wrong, each with its own reasoning. In the past, Emperor Wen of Song was disrespectful, and Hua Le was punished; Duke Ling of Qi trusted treacherous officials, and Gao Hou was killed as a result. Following this logic, Prince Qiao, Zhou Yi, and Dai Ruosi should all receive similar punishments, so how can they still be honored and reinstated in their positions? Now that Zhou Yi and Dai Ruosi have had their honor restored, then Zhou Zha should be condemned; this is quite clear.
Wang Dao retorted again: What you, Minister of Works, are saying is that you believe the situation of Zhou Zha opening the city gate is different from that of Qiao Wang, Zhou Yi, and Dai Ruosi. Did Zhou Zha really open the city gate, or was it just a rumor? If we judge based solely on rumors, it would be better to investigate carefully and find out the truth. Some say that Zhou Zha knew about the political chaos caused by Wei Bao, believed in Su Jun, and helped him. If he really helped Su Jun by getting rid of the treacherous individuals, wouldn't that be a great achievement like those in ancient times who eliminated the four tyrants and supported a wise ruler? In this case, Zhou Zha also demonstrated loyalty to the state. Later, when Su Jun rebelled, Zhou Zha stayed indoors and did not associate with the rebels, and in the end, his entire family was exterminated, all because he upheld justice! Believing in Su Jun and helping him was just the situation at that time; he did not expect such a great rebellion to occur later. Opposing the chaos caused by Wei Bao and Xie did not mean losing the integrity of a loyal subject. Were the only loyal ministers in the court at that time Zhou Yi and Zhou Zha? If they were all deemed disloyal, it would probably falsely accuse Qiao Wang, Zhou Yi, and Dai Ruosi. They all died for the country, which also reflects the integrity of a loyal subject. They simply had differing perspectives, but their loyalty was the same, so it should be clarified. Regarding your mention of Song Hua and Qi Gao, they were also involved because of Wei Bao and Xie. In the past, Zi Jiu was in trouble and Zhao Hu died for him, but Guan Zhong did not die. If death is the measure of virtue, then Guan Zhong should have been demoted; if not dying is considered virtuous, then Zhao Hu died wrongly. Why are there two different opinions on ancient allusions? It is because their loyalty was the same. Although death is a manifestation of loyalty, not all loyal individuals should die. Emperor Gao of Han had a testament that stated only the Liu clan could be kings and only meritorious subjects could be marquises. Those who disobeyed orders would be killed by the people. Later, Empress Lü established the Lü clan as kings. Zhou Bo obeyed, but Wang Ling opposed. What, then, should we say about Wang Ling? Historical records praised both of them. Thus, whether one lives or dies, fights or refrains from fighting, as long as the truth is revealed and their intentions understood, they cannot be judged indiscriminately. Furthermore, Zhou Zha is already dead. If he is posthumously honored, it acknowledges that he resisted rebellion, upheld justice, and was killed, which does not betray his loyalty.
Xi Jian continued to refute, but the court ultimately sided with Wang Dao, posthumously honoring Zhou Zha with the title of Guard Commander, and sent envoys to offer sacrifices to him. Zhou Xi's eldest brother Zhou Zha served as a minor official in the Taizai Prefecture. His second brother Zhou Zhi passed the imperial examination for filial piety, but did not take up the position. Zhou Xi was quite capable and eventually rose to become the General of Conquering Barbarians, the Prefect of Wuxing, and the Minister of the Yellow Gate. Later, when Xu Fu rebelled, Zhou Xi's clan brother Zhou Xu also rose in rebellion. The emperor wanted to send troops to crush the rebellion, but Wang Dao said, "With too few troops, we cannot suppress the rebellion; with too many troops, it would leave our rear vulnerable. Minister of the Yellow Gate Zhou Xi is loyal and deeply loved by the people of Wuxing; I think sending him will be enough to deal with Zhou Xu." So the emperor sent a hundred strong men to Zhou Xi to ride back to Yangxian. Upon receiving the order, Zhou Xi immediately set off, traveling day and night. When he arrived at the county, just when he was about to enter the city, he encountered Zhou Xu. Zhou Xi said to Zhou Xu, "Let's visit Prefect Kong together and discuss some matters." Zhou Xu refused to enter the city, but Zhou Xi insisted on dragging him in. After sitting down, Zhou Xi said to Prefect Kong Kan, "Prefect, why did you leave this thief here in the prefecture?" Zhou Xu had a small knife hidden on him and immediately drew the knife towards Zhou Xi. Zhou Xi shouted to the missionary Wu Zeng, "Take action!" Wu Zeng, showing great courage, struck Zhou Xu with the hilt of his knife, killing him. Zhou Xi initially wanted to kill Zhou Xie too, but Zhou Zha stopped him and ultimately shifted the blame onto his cousin Zhou Shao, who was subsequently killed. Zhou Xi didn’t go home to check on his mother afterward; he just left. His mother was so worried that she ran after him. His loyalty and sense of righteousness were truly admirable!
Later, Zhou Yi was promoted to the position of Right Guard of the Crown Prince. During the rebellion led by Wang Dun, Zhou Yi was promoted to Champion General, responsible for commanding the military forces across five prefectures, including Kuaiji, Wuxing, Yixing, Jinling, and Dongyang, leading three thousand troops of the navy to attack Shen Chong. However, before they even set out, the imperial forces were defeated. Zhou Yi learned that Zhou Zha had opened the city gates to surrender to Wang Dun, which left him both furious and alarmed. He was assassinated shortly thereafter. After Wang Dun restored order, both Zhou Yi and Zhou Zha were reinstated to their official positions.
In his early years, Zhou Yi built a house in Gushu, consisting of five rooms. However, six beams fell from the sky simultaneously, getting stuck on top of the pillars, which seemed impossible to achieve manually. Ultimately, the Zhou family faced decline.
Zhou Yi's younger brother, Zhou Jin, was known for his reckless behavior in his youth. Once, on Wuyi Road in Jiankang, he and two colleagues saw a maid from the Kong family and ordered his subordinates to capture her onto their carriage, showing blatant arrogance and tyranny.
Zhou Fang, whose courtesy name was Shi Da, was from Ancheng, Runan. In the late Han Dynasty, his family fled to Jiangnan to escape the turmoil of war, and by Zhou Fang's generation, they had already become the fourth generation. After the unification of Wu, his family settled in Xunyang County, Lujiang Commandery. His grandfather, Zhou Zuan, was the General of Wei Yuan of Wu, and his father, Zhou Min, was the Left Middle General. From a young age, Zhou Fang was known for his calmness, decisiveness, humility, and generosity, often helping the poor despite his family's financial struggles. He held the position of county magistrate and recommended Tao Kan, who was then a minor official, to serve as his chief clerk. They became good friends, and Zhou Fang even married his daughter to Tao Kan's son, Tao Zhan. Zhou Fang was awarded the title of Filial and Incorrupt, appointed as a court official and magistrate, but he never took up the posts. Once, when someone stole his family's ox and killed it in the cemetery, Zhou Fang discreetly buried the meat without informing anyone.
After Emperor Yuan crossed the river, he allowed Zhou Fang to participate in military operations guarding the east. At that time, there was a person with the same name as Zhou Fang who was sentenced to death. The officials mistakenly arrested Zhou Fang instead. Zhou Fang rose up in resistance, defeated those who tried to capture him, causing dozens to flee. He then went to meet the emperor. The emperor did not blame him. Soon after, Zhou Fang was appointed General of Yanglie, commanding 1,200 soldiers stationed at Eling in Xunyang, to campaign against Huayi with Gan Zhuo and Zhao You. Zhou Fang's fierce general Ding Qian and Huayi's military commander Feng Yi conspired. Zhou Fang captured both of them and had them executed. Feng Yi attacked Zhou Fang, but Zhou Fang led his troops to defeat him. Feng Yi fled to Chaisang, and Zhou Fang pursued him without hesitation. Huayi sent his subordinates Wang Yue, Fu Zha, and others with over ten thousand troops to support Feng Yi. A major battle erupted at Penkou, resulting in yet another defeat for Wang Yue and his men. Zhou Fang and Gan Zhuo joined forces in Pengze against Huayi's naval commander Zhu Ju and others, defeating them as well. Zhou Guang, one of Huayi's subordinates, set fire to the city to assist Zhou Fang, but ultimately, Huayi's forces were routed. Zhou Fang captured Huayi alive and killed him, thus pacifying Jiangzhou.
The emperor appointed Zhou Fang as the General of Zhenwu and Prefect of Xunyang, and also bestowed him a ceremonial band and a prestigious carriage! Later, the emperor ordered Zhou Fang and various armies to campaign together against Du Tuo. Du Tuo employed a tool known as Jiegao to sabotage the official army's ships, so Fang devised a countermeasure known as Changqi Cheng. As a result, Du Tuo's plan failed. However, the bandits launched a stealthy attack on the official army from Qingcaohu and sent the general Zhang Yan to attack Yuzhang, carrying out acts of arson and looting.
At that time, Wang Dun guarded Penkou and sent aides Miao Rui and Li Heng to follow Fang's command in the fight against Zhang Yan. Miao Rui fought against Zhang Yan in Yuzhang and Shitou, forcing Zhang Yan's army to scatter in all directions. Fang led his subordinates, including General Li Wu, to chase after Zhang Yan, ultimately achieving a complete victory and even killing Zhang Yan on the spot. During the battle, Fang was hit by a stray arrow, knocking out two front teeth, but he remained unfazed and continued to command, truly a hero!
By nightfall, Fang and the enemy were positioned across the river, with the enemy outnumbering them several times over. Fang knew that his forces were insufficient to win. So, he secretly sent someone disguised as a woodcutter to go out, and then ordered the troops to line up, beat drums, shout, and yell, "The left army has arrived!" The soldiers cheered! That night, he ordered the troops to make more fires for cooking, leading the enemy to mistakenly believe reinforcements had arrived, causing the enemy to retreat before dawn. Fang told his generals, "The enemy will definitely retreat, but they will eventually realize that we have no reinforcements and will come back to attack us. We should quickly cross the river to the north bank."
After the army crossed the river, Fang immediately ordered the destruction of the bridge. Sure enough, the enemy arrived shortly after but could not advance due to the river blocking their path and were forced to retreat back to Xiangzhou. Fang then led the navy to attack Xiangcheng. When the army reached Fukou, Du Tao sent Du Hong to lead troops from Haihun. At this time, the situation at Penkou was in chaos, so Fang stealthily crossed on foot from Chaisang and fought against the enemy, slaying hundreds of enemy troops. The enemy retreated to Luling, and Fang led his army to pursue and defeat them, forcing the enemy to take refuge and fortify in the city.
Later, because the provisions were taken by the enemy, Fang's forces retreated to Baqiu. After the supplies arrived, Fang surrounded Du Hong in Luling. Du Hong tossed a wealth of gold and silver out of the city, and the soldiers and officials scrambled to seize them. Du Hong took advantage of the chaos in the army to break through. Fang led his troops to pursue and captured vast quantities of horses, armor, and weapons, piling up like mountains! Du Hong fled to Nankang, where the Prefect of Nankang led troops to resist, but was defeated by Fang. Du Hong finally escaped to Linhe to avoid disaster. The emperor promoted Fang to the rank of Dragon Cavalry General, and Wang Dun recommended Fang to be the Prefect of Yuzhang, also appointing him as the Commander-in-Chief of Conquest, and granting him the title of Marquis of Xunyang County—what an honor!
When the Governor of Liangzhou, Zhang Guang, died, the emperor appointed Fifth Yi as the General Conquering the South, overseeing the four provinces of Jingzhou, Liangzhou, Yizhou, and Ningzhou, and ordered him to depart from Wuguan. Du Zeng, Zhi Zhan, Hu Hun, and other rebel leaders went to welcome Fifth Yi, gathering tens of thousands of troops. They first defeated Tao Kan in Shicheng, then attacked the stationed General Pingnan Xun Song in Wancheng, but were unable to take it, and then led their troops to Jiangling.
Wang Dun sent his brother Wang Yi as the Governor of Jingzhou, commanding the General Conquering the Barbarians Zhao You, the Prefect of Xiangyang Zhu Gui, and the General of Lingjiang Huang Jun to attack Du Zeng. They suffered a major defeat at Nüguan Lake, with Zhao You and Zhu Gui both killed in battle. Du Zeng pursued the victory, driving away Wang Yi, and headed straight for Miankou, burning, killing, and plundering everywhere, striking fear into the provinces of Jiangzhou and Mianzhou. The emperor then sent Tao Fang to fight him. Tao Fang marched with eight thousand troops to Dunyang. Du Zeng and his men were riding high, and Tao Fang said, "Seize the initiative, that's a smart military tactic!"
He ordered General Li Heng to command the left wing, Xu Chao to command the right wing, and led the central army himself, raising the flag high. Du Zeng was afraid of Tao Fang, so he first attacked the left and right wings. Du Zeng was a fierce warrior, and Tao Fang disliked him, so he shot wild fowl from the rear to boost morale. He told the soldiers, "If one wing falls, beat the drum three times; if both wings fall, beat it six times." Zhao Yin led the remnants of his father's defeated troops to join the left wing, fought valiantly, and though defeated, they regrouped. Zhao Yin rode his horse to report to Tao Fang, who was furious and scolded him, ordering him to charge again. Zhao Yin wept and charged once more, from morning to afternoon, both wings were defeated.
Upon hearing the drumbeat, Tao Fang selected eight hundred elite soldiers, gave them wine himself, and ordered them not to move until they heard the drumbeat to charge. Before the enemy was thirty paces away, Tao Fang personally sounded the war drum, and the soldiers surged forward, Du Zeng's forces were thrown into chaos, suffering over a thousand casualties. That night, Tao Fang pursued the enemy, and his generals requested to continue the pursuit the next day, yet Tao Fang said, "Du Zeng is valiant and good at war; he was defeated today because they were tired, while our morale is high, which is why we were able to win. We must capitalize on their fatigue to pursue them relentlessly and ensure their complete defeat." So they marched forward with drums, quickly securing the regions around the Han and Mian rivers. Du Zeng and the others fled to Wudang Mountain.
Tao Fang was promoted to the position of General of the Southern Central Army for his achievements, in charge of the various armies in Liangzhou, and also became the Governor of Liangzhou, stationed in Xiangyang. Tao Fang told his subordinates, "Even though Duke Wen of Jin won the Battle of Chengpu, he still had worries because his beloved general did not die. Now if I don't kill Du Zeng, there could be endless troubles!" So he launched a surprise attack again and defeated Du Zeng, who then fled. Tao Fang's subordinate Su Wen captured Du Zeng and brought him to the military camp, and also captured Di Wu, Hu Hun, Zhi Zhan, and others, sending them to Wang Dun. Tao Fang reported to Wang Dun that Di Wu was forced by Du Zeng and should not be executed. Wang Dun ignored him and executed Di Wu. Tao Fang was promoted to General of Annan, while retaining his positions as Governor and Inspector.
At first, Wang Dun feared that Du Zeng might cause trouble, so he said to Zhou Fang, "If Du Zeng is captured, we should discuss appointing you as the Governor of Jingzhou." However, Wang Dun later did not follow through. When Wang Yi was dismissed, the court issued a decree appointing Zhou Fang as the Governor of Jingzhou. Wang Dun recognized Zhou Fang as a capable general with substantial achievements but felt hesitant. His advisor, Guo Shu, counseled Wang Dun, "Although Jingzhou is poor due to war and neglect, it is actually a place where military talent can be utilized. If it is handed over to someone else, it could lead to a situation where it becomes unmanageable. You should manage it yourself, and Zhou Fang going to Liangzhou is enough." Wang Dun followed his advice, which infuriated Zhou Fang. Wang Dun personally penned a letter of explanation and included a jade bowl as a token of apology. Zhou Fang smashed the bowl on the floor and said, "Do you think I’m just a commoner who can be bought with treasures?" He secretly planned to deal with Wang Dun.
After arriving in Xiangyang, Zhou Fang devoted himself to developing agriculture, training soldiers, and actively listening to others' opinions, promptly filling any vacancies in local government positions, and then reporting back to the court. Wang Dun felt worried about this, but also feared Zhou Fang's powerful influence and did not dare to confront him. Zhou Fang's prestige continued to rise, and people from near and far respected him. His wisdom and bravery surpassed ordinary people, establishing him as a prominent general of the era. He was humble and never bragged about his accomplishments. Someone asked Zhou Fang, "Some people can't resist bragging about their small accomplishments. Your achievements are so great, why don't you say a word?" Zhou Fang replied, "The court's majesty and authority compel the soldiers to follow orders. What credit do I have?" The soldiers respected him even more because of this. Zhou Fang trained his army, reorganized his troops, and wanted to display his talents in the Central Plains. He also formed an alliance with Li Ju and Guo Mo, ambitiously aiming to pacify the Heluo region. He was good at soothing and winning over people's hearts, and the soldiers were willing to go to great lengths for him. It was said that Wang Dun harbored rebellious intentions, which made Zhou Fang seethe with anger. Despite his treasonous intentions, Wang Dun didn't dare to act rashly as long as Zhou Fang was alive. When Zhou Fang was young, he once met a fortune-teller from Lujiang named Chen Xun, who told Zhou Fang and Tao Kan, "Both of you will become regional princes, with comparable achievements, but Tao Kan will enjoy a long life while Zhou Fang will have a short life. The only difference is in age." Zhou Fang was one year younger than Tao Kan and passed away in the third year of Taixing at the age of sixty-one. The emperor was deeply saddened by his death, posthumously appointed him as General Who Conquers the West, bestowed upon him the posthumous title "Zhuang," and erected a stele in his hometown. He had two sons: Zhou Fu and Zhou Guang.
Ah, speaking of which, it's all about family matters. My father, he was a man with iron bones, but unfortunately, I'm nowhere near that. The emperor saw a bit of resemblance to my father in me, so he appointed me as a minor official in the Chancellor's Office. Later, my father passed away, so I stepped down to observe the mourning period. After the mourning period, I inherited my father's title, and later became the General of Eagle Rising and the Prefect of Wuchang.
Later, Wang Dun took a liking to me and made me his subordinate as a Chamberlain. Deng Yue and I became Wang Dun's confidants. However, good times didn't last long, as Gan Zhuo was killed by Wang Dun. Wang Dun then appointed me as the military commander of Mianbei, the General of Southern Zhonglang, and stationed me in Mianzhong. Later, when Wang Dun rebelled, I followed him along with two thousand troops. After Wang Dun's failure, I escaped with Deng Yue.
My younger brother secretly sent me money and supplies, but he was actually plotting to kill Deng Yue. I lost my temper and shouted at him, "I escaped with Deng Boshan, why didn't you just take me out first?!" Just then, Deng Yue arrived, so I dashed to the door and called out from a distance, "You better leave now! Even blood brothers are plotting against each other, what about others!" Upon hearing this, Deng Yue quickly rowed away. We both hid in the territory of the Western Yang barbarians, where the chieftain Xiang Can took us in.
Earlier, when Deng Yue was an official in the West Yang, he had plans to attack the barbarians, which made them all hate him and want to kill him. But Xiang Can disagreed, saying, "Lord Deng has come to seek refuge with me in distress, how could I possibly kill him!" Thanks to him, we both saved our lives.
The following year, the court granted amnesty to Wang Dun's followers, so Deng Yue and I went to the capital to apologize. However, the emperor did not forgive us and imprisoned both of us.
During the Xianhe period, Wang Dao recognized Fu's talent and appointed him as an official in the Ministry of Personnel. Later on, he was promoted to General Ningyuan and Prefect of Jiangxia. When Su Jun rebelled, Fu followed Wen Qiao in suppressing the rebellion. After Su Jun was defeated, Fu was promoted to General overseeing military affairs in Mianbei and South General, stationed in Xiangyang. However, when Guo Jing led troops to attack Xiangyang on behalf of Shi Le, Fu could not hold the city and had to flee to Wuchang with his men, leading to his dismissal.
Shortly after, he was appointed as General of Zhenwei and Prefect of Yuzhang. He then took over the military command of Badong and served as Governor of Yizhou from Guanqiu Ao, and was granted the authority of a temporary command while retaining his position as a general. He was later promoted to General of Pacification and also supervised military affairs in Ningzhou. During the Yonghe period, Huan Wen launched a campaign against Shu, and Fu was appointed as the overseer of military affairs in four counties in Liangzhou, including Han Zhong, Baxi, Zitong, and Yinping, stationed in Pengmo.
Fu defeated the remnants of the Shu forces led by Wei Wen and Deng Ding, and killed the pretender to the position of Minister of Works and General Who Pacifies the South, Wang Shi and Wang Run. As a result of his military achievements, he was promoted to General of Pacification of the West. Surprisingly, Wei Wen, Deng Ding, and their allies revolted once more, proclaiming Fan Ben, the son of Fan Xian, as emperor. Fan Xian used to be the national teacher under Li Xiong, and using unorthodox methods, he quickly amassed over ten thousand followers. Fu and General Longxiang Zhu Tao led troops to defeat and kill Fan Ben, and for his victory, Fu was bestowed the title of Duke of Jiancheng County.
Later, Western Expedition Commander Xiao Jingwen rebelled, killed General Yang Jin, occupied Fucheng, and declared himself the Governor of Yizhou. Huan Wen sent Commander Deng Xia to assist in suppressing him, but they were unable to capture Fucheng and had to withdraw. Huan Wen then ordered Sima Xun, the Governor of Liangzhou, and others to join forces to once again attack Xiao Jingwen. Xiao Jingwen defended Fucheng, holding out from February until August before surrendering. Sima Xun executed him and sent his head to the capital. During the Shengping period, Sima Xun was promoted to General of the Western Garrison. He served in provincial positions for over thirty years, passing away in the third year of Xingning. After his death, he was posthumously appointed as General of the Western Expedition and honored with the title Xiang. His son, Chu, succeeded him in his title.
Speaking of this Duke Chu, he was a descendant of the Chu Kingdom! He initially followed his father in the Western Expedition, later accompanying him to Shu, where he rose in ranks to become the Eagle General and the Prefect of Jianwei. After his father's death, Duke Chu took over Liangzhou and Yizhou, was granted military authority by the court, and inherited the title of Duke of Jiancheng. He spent a long time in Liangzhou and Yizhou, maintaining particularly good relations with the local people.
At that time, Sima Xun, the Governor of Liangzhou, rebelled, and Duke Chu, along with Zhu Xu, quelled the rebellion. He was then promoted to Champion General. During the Taihe era, there were bandits in Shu called Li Jinyin and Li Hong in Guanghan, who led a large-scale rebellion, claiming to be the sons of Li Shi and seeking to establish the Shengdao Dynasty with the reign title of Fenghuang. Furthermore, there was a man named Li Gao in Longxi who claimed to be Li Xiong's son and captured Fucheng. Unable to maintain control, the Governor of Liangzhou, Yang Liang, could not hold it, so Duke Chu sent his son to suppress the rebellion. Unfortunately, Duke Chu passed away that year, and the court posthumously honored him with the title Ding Gong. His son, Chu Qiong, inherited his title.
Chu Qiong, he was quite a formidable figure, courageous and clever, and held various official positions in several counties. Later, he succeeded Yang Liang as the Inspector of Liangzhou, and was also made the General of Jianwu, concurrently serving as the Colonel of Xirong. Earlier, the Di tribe's Dou Chong surrendered, and the court appointed him as the Colonel of Dongqiang. Unexpectedly, Dou Chong later rebelled and tried to attack Hanzhong. People from Anding, like Huangfu Zhao, and from Jingzhao, like Zhou Xun, even conspired to accept Dou Chong. Chu Qiong secretly learned about their plan and captured and executed Huangfu Zhao, Zhou Xun, and others. Not long after, Chu Qiong passed away, and his son Chu Xiao inherited his position.
Meng Wei, styled Xiao, was known for his integrity from a young age. The state called him up to serve as a ritual official, and later he worked his way up to become the Colonel of the Western Barbarians, and also served as the Administrator of Zitong. During the Ningkang period, Fu Jian's general Yang An attacked Zitong, and Meng Wei held Fucheng against all odds, even sending several thousand infantry and cavalry to escort his mother and wife, planning to escort them all the way to Jiangling via the Han River. However, they were ambushed midway by Fu Jian's general Zhu Yong; Meng Wei's family was taken captive, and he ultimately surrendered to Yang An.
Fu Jian wanted to make him a court official, Meng Wei said, "I've only made it this far because of the court's kindness. But my mother has been captured, I've lost my honor! Now that my mother and I can both survive, it's all due to the Qin state's mercy. Even if they offered me a duke's title, I wouldn't feel proud, let alone a lowly official!" Fu Jian, upon hearing this, did not insist further. From then on, whenever Meng Wei met Fu Jian, he would sit cross-legged and call Fu Jian "Di bandit," which really irked Fu Jian.
Once on New Year's Day, Meng Wei dressed very formally, and Fu Jian asked him, "How does the New Year's Day celebration of the Jin Dynasty compare to now?" Meng Wei rolled up his sleeves and loudly said, "A bunch of barbarians gathered together, just like a pack of dogs and sheep—how dare they even think they can compare to the emperor!" Later, when Lv Guang went to conquer the Western Regions, Fu Jian held a farewell banquet with two hundred thousand troops and banners stretching for hundreds of miles. He asked Meng Wei again, "How strong is my army?" Meng Wei replied, "Since ancient times, I've never seen a barbarian army this strong!" Fu Jian's ministers thought Meng Wei was being too disrespectful and kept urging Fu Jian to get rid of him. But Fu Jian started to value him more and more. Meng Wei secretly wrote a letter to Huan Chong, informing him of Fu Jian's treachery. In the third year of Taiyuan, Meng Wei made a secret escape to Hanzhong, and Fu Jian sent troops to catch up with him. Later, Meng Wei conspired with Fu Jian's nephew Fu Bao to attack Fu Jian. When the plot was exposed, Fu Jian summoned Meng Wei to explain himself. Meng Wei said, "In ancient times, Nie Zheng and Yu Rang were both humble ministers of Yan and Zhao, and they were willing to endure hardships to avenge their lord, never forgetting their loyalty and righteousness. Moreover, my Meng family has been receiving the grace of the Jin Dynasty for generations. How could I forget? Whether alive as a subject of the Jin Dynasty or dead as a ghost of the Jin Dynasty, what more is there to say?" Fu Jian remarked, "Killing you now will just make you a legend!" So he punished him severely and exiled him to Taiyuan. Later, Fu Jian took Shunyang and Weixing and captured their two prefects. Both of them stood firm, and Fu Jian sighed, "Zhou Meng Wei stood his ground before, Ding Yanyuan later lived a clean life, and Ji Zuchong died by fasting. These people are all loyal ministers!"
Zhou Kuang died in Taiyuan due to illness. His son Zhou Xing brought his father's coffin back, and General Xie Xuan personally went to mourn. He then reported to the court, "I have heard that recognizing good deeds and setting examples is to promote education and leave a lasting legacy. Zhou Kuang, the Colonel of the Western Yi and Prefect of Zitong, was fiercely loyal and incorruptible. Unfortunately, he met a tragic death on the border. Every time I think of his aspirations, I feel that even Su Wu's virtue pales in comparison to his. Previously, I ordered a search in Bingzhou for Zhou Kuang's funeral and to locate his family. It took great effort, traversing mountains and rivers for several days to find them, support them, and send them back to their hometown. I ask the Emperor to remember his loyalty, honor his integrity, and let his unwavering spirit be passed down through generations, to comfort the living and console the dead." Emperor Xiaowu issued a decree, "Zhou Kuang had great aspirations and noble character, comparable to the loyal heroes of antiquity. It is a pity that he passed away at a young age before he could accomplish great deeds. Honoring his righteousness sets a standard for the nation. He is posthumously appointed as General of the Dragon Cavalry and Governor of Yizhou, awarded 200,000 coins and 100 bolts of fabric." The Emperor also bestowed further rewards upon his family.
Zhou Guang inherited his father's admirable traits from an early age. At the age of eleven, he met Wang Dun, who asked him, "Since there are no generals in your county, who can be of use?" Zhou Guang replied, "If you don't mind my young age, I believe no one is more suitable than I am." Wang Dun appointed him as General of Ningyuan and Prefect of Xunyang. Later, when Wang Dun rebelled, Zhou Guang led over a thousand men to support him. Upon arrival, Zhou Guang was unaware that Wang Dun had already died and still wished to see him. Wang Dun's subordinates kept the truth hidden, claiming that Wang Dun was ill. When Zhou Guang came out and said, "I came from such a distant place, but I can't see Lord Wang. Could it be that Lord Wang has died?" He immediately sought out his brother and questioned him, "Lord Wang is dead; why are you still rebelling alongside Qian Feng?" Everyone was taken aback. That night, the crowd eventually dispersed, Qian Feng fled, and Zhou Guang caught him in Helu Zhou. He then went to the court to plead for leniency and was not punished. Later, during Su Jun's rebellion, Zhou Guang fought valiantly alongside Wen Qiao and achieved significant victories. After Su Jun's rebellion was quelled, Zhou Guang was granted the title of Lord of Qujiang and eventually passed away while in office.
Zi Zhong Sun was initially appointed as the Chief Military Officer, General of Zhenwu, and Governor of Ningzhou during the Xingning period. He engaged in corruption and extortion during his tenure in Ningzhou, leaving the people to suffer immensely. Later, Huan Wen felt that there were too many thieves in Liangzhou and Yizhou, and having heard of the Zhou family's esteemed reputation, appointed Zi Zhong Sun as the inspector of Yizhou, Yuzhou, and Liangzhou. During the Ningkang period, Yang An rebelled in Shu, and Zi Zhong Sun failed to defend the city, leading to his loss of office. He was subsequently summoned to serve as a Palace Attendant and eventually passed away.
It is said that when Tao Kan was just a small figure, his family was preparing for a funeral and about to bury a loved one when suddenly a cow suddenly disappeared. They looked everywhere but couldn't find her. At that moment, they encountered an old man who said, "I saw a cow sleeping in a ravine on the hill ahead. That spot is perfect for a burial; one day, it will be a place for a high-ranking official!" He then pointed to another mountain and said, "That mountain is also good. One day, it will produce an official of two thousand stones." After saying this, the old man vanished. Tao Kan took the old man's advice, found the cow, buried their loved one in that place, and also bought the mountain pointed out by the old man. Later, the old man passed away and was buried there as well. True to his words, Tao Kan made quite a name for himself in Ningzhou and Yizhou. From that point on, three generations of his family held official positions in Yizhou for a total of forty-one years, just like the old man had foretold.
The historian said: Is there really an unchanging standard for benevolence and righteousness? A gentleman embodies benevolence and righteousness in his actions, while abandoning them is the mark of a villain. Although Zhou Ziyin was initially reckless and unruly, acting like a fierce dragon or beast and dominating the countryside, he was able to restrain himself in the end, strive for progress, change for the better every day, disregard life and death, value loyalty, and sacrificed his life for his country. He is truly a man of integrity! Xuan Pei, relying on his loyalty and bravery, quelled numerous rebellions and earned a reputation that no one could surpass in the court, and his achievements were recorded in the royal palace's annals. However, he later fell out with the court ministers, plotted conspiracies in secret, and acted out of anger without considering the consequences, which showed a lack of foresight. It's a shame he ultimately died in anger! Zha and Ye were both talented individuals who thought highly of themselves. They were initially suspected by the court and were ultimately killed by the powerful, showing that sometimes the strong can be brought down by the weak. Zha was assigned to guard the city but opened the gates to welcome thieves, abandoning his duty to mimic rebellion, which actually happened. Even though he later resorted to criminal methods, he got what was coming to him. The court wanting to promote him? That was just too much! This kind of practice led to the decline of the Jin Dynasty's legal system! Zhou Fang was talented in both civil and military matters, held important positions, quelled rebellions in Xiangzhou and Luozhou, captured Jiangzhou and Hanzhou, assisted the son of Sun Yi, wielded a baton, commanded the army, and was feared in the Western Shu region. During the time of national prosperity, people hailed him as a renowned general, achieving great success and recognition. What could compare to him, as even history records?
Praise: General Zhou Fang of Pingxi initially acted unjustly, but ultimately found his way to righteousness; his bravery was sufficient to vanquish tyranny, and his loyalty was such that he would sacrifice his life. Xuan Pei achieved significant victories, quelling the uprisings in Jiangdong on three occasions. While Zha opened the city gates to greet the enemy, Yan remained steadfastly loyal. The generals of Xunyang, wielding staffs and battle-axes, are valiant and adept in combat. Future generations ought to emulate their example. Meng Wei, loyal and resolute, always kept his former lord in his thoughts.
