Shao Xu, styled Sizu, was from Anyang, Wei County. His father was a cavalry attendant. Shao Xu was down-to-earth, highly ambitious, and highly capable, well-versed in the classics, history, and literature, especially skilled in debate, and knowledgeable in astronomy. At first, he served as a military aide under King Ying of Chengdu. When King Ying of Chengdu was preparing to fight against King Yi of Changsha, Shao Xu advised him, "I've heard that brothers are as vital as a person's left and right hands. Now you're preparing to face heroes from all over, yet you want to cut off one of your hands? I truly don't understand your reasoning." King Ying did not heed his advice. Later, Shao Xu served as a military aide under Gou Xi and was subsequently appointed as the magistrate of Qinshui County.
During the increasingly chaotic times, Shao Xu resigned and returned home, then recruited a band of outlaws, amassing a few hundred men. Later, Wang Jun appointed Shao Xu as the General of Suiji and the Prefect of Leling, stationed in Yanci, and appointed Shao Xu's son Shao Yi as an aide. Shao Xu pacified the displaced people, and many sought refuge with him. Later, Shi Le defeated Wang Jun and sent Shao Yi to persuade Shao Xu to surrender to him. Shao Xu was isolated and temporarily attached himself to Shi Le, who also appointed his son Shao Yi as an aide.
After some time, Duan Pidi in Jicheng sent someone to invite Shao Xu to return and surrender to Emperor Yuan. Shao Xu's followers advised him, "If you abandon Shi Le and go to Duan Pidi now, your son will be in danger!" Shao Xu cried and said, "I entered government service for the country; how can I become a traitor for my son!" So Shao Xu completely severed ties with Shi Le, and Shi Le executed Shao Xu's son Shao Yi. Fearing an attack from Shi Le, Shao Xu initially sought assistance from Duan Pidi, who sent his brother Duan Wenyang to aid Shao Xu.
Duan Wenyang had not arrived yet, but Shi Le had already encircled Shao Xu with eight thousand cavalry. Shi Le had always harbored a fear of the Xianbei. When he heard that Duan Wenyang had arrived, he abandoned his siege equipment and fled. Shao Xu and Duan Wenyang chased Shi Le all the way to Anling. Though they didn’t catch him, they captured many of Shi Le's officials and over three thousand households. They also dispatched cavalry to raid Changshan in Shi Le's northern territories, bringing back more than two thousand households.
After killing Liu Kun, Shao Xu earned the ire of many people in the Jin Dynasty, so he fled to Shi Le with his subordinates. County magistrate Zhao of Nanhe led them, along with more than a thousand households from Guangchuan and Bohai, also betraying Shi Le and joining Shao Xu. The emperor appointed Shao Xu as the governor of both Pingyuan and Le'an counties and promoted him to Right General, Inspector of Jizhou, and later to General of the North, granting him temporary authority and the title of Zhu's Zuozi. Shao Xu sent his nephew, Shao Cun, the magistrate of Wuyi County, along with Wenyang, to gather grain in Pingyuan with soldiers who had defected from Liu Kun, but they ended up being defeated by Shi Jilong. Previously, Shao Xu and Cao Yi had been competing for territory. Cao Yi took advantage of Shao Cun's defeat to seize Shao Xu's farmland and capture his people, leaving Shao Xu scrambling to rescue them.
During the Taixing period, Shao Xu sent Shao Cun and Wenyang to garrison at Huangjin Gu in Jinan to threaten Cao Yi, who, feeling threatened, sought peace. Not long after, Liu Kun led his troops to attack Duan Mobai, and Shi Le knew that Shao Xu was isolated and in danger, so he sent Shi Jilong to lay siege to Shao Xu. Shi Jilong's cavalry arrived at the city and began looting the inhabitants. Shao Xu led his troops out of the city to mount a rescue, but Shi Jilong's ambush cavalry cut off Shao Xu's escape route, resulting in his capture and forced surrender. Shao Xu called out to his nephew Shao Zhu and the others, "I have always wanted to avenge our country and repay the court's favor, but I never expected to end up like this. You must work hard and follow Liu Kun faithfully; don't be disloyal!"
Upon learning of Shao Xu's death, the emperor issued an edict saying, "Shao Xu was loyal and devoted to the country, righteous and generous, stabilized the people during chaotic times, cared for the country and its people, and ultimately sacrificed himself for the country. His contributions were not yet complete, and it is unfortunate that he died in battle; I am deeply saddened. He had many subordinates who needed a timely replacement for his position. His subordinates, civil and military officials, have jointly elected his son Shao Ji as the camp leader. Shao Xu's loyalty and contributions to both the country and its people are acknowledged, so now his son is appointed as his successor to appease the people. Let Shao Ji succeed his father, lead the army, serve the country, and seek vengeance!"
Shi Le sent a messenger to return the captured Xu Yule. Le said to the messenger Xu Guangrang, "Our nation is fulfilling the mandate of heaven, quelling rebellions, and people from all corners are rallying to us. Even the Jin Dynasty fears our power and has fled to Yangzhou. But Xu Yule, like an ant, occupies a small coastal territory, defying the royal decree. Does he think he can still get away with this? This is truly ungrateful! The country has laws; can he still get away with it?"
Xu Yu Le replied, "During the late years of the Jin Dynasty, there was famine and war throughout the country. I had nowhere to run, so I could only protect my hometown and clan to help the elderly, weak, women, and children survive. Coincidentally, when you, the king, began to rise up in arms, I surrendered and offered myself as a hostage to you, wholeheartedly loyal, but did not receive your kindness or forgiveness. Later, when I returned to the Jin Dynasty, I was given important positions by you. I swear to be loyal and devoted, with no hidden agendas. Furthermore, I have enjoyed the hospitality of the Jin Dynasty. If I were to betray you and have second thoughts, the Jin Dynasty would not tolerate me either. King Wen of Zhou was born among the Eastern Barbarians, and Great Yu was born in the Western Qiang. The rise of emperors relies on fate and virtue. There is no common sense to speak of! I hope that you, the king, can be like Yu Shun and Xia Yu, wise and martial, bestowing grace upon the world. Who wouldn't admire your divine might? Who wouldn't feel honored to follow your royal leadership, especially captives like me! If captives abandon their true lord for a false one, they can't hope to worship at the Heavenly Gate. You’re not wronging me, and I’m not wronging you. Getting executed is a common fate for captives. I just regret that it’s destined by heaven; what else can I say?"
Le said, "His words are truly profound; I feel very ashamed. Loyalty to one's own lord, this is what I value." He then ordered Zhang Bin to arrange for Xu Yu Le to stay at the guesthouse and be treated well, and soon appointed him as a mid-level official. He also ordered that all captured enemy generals in the future be sent to Xu Yu Le, not to be killed without his permission, hoping to find talents like Xu Yu Le.
At the beginning, when Shi Le attacked Xu Yule, the court was under pressure from Wang Dun and had no time to attend to him. After Xu Yule was captured by Shi Le, he cultivated vegetables and sold them to support himself. Shi Le sent people to observe him secretly on multiple occasions and sighed, "He is truly a noble person! If not for this, how could he be deemed noble?" Shi Le admired his humble and noble character and rewarded him with food and cloth on several occasions. Every time he went to court, Shi Le would sigh about this to encourage the court officials.
After Xu Yule was captured, the remaining Zhu and Ji, along with Pi Di, defended the city against the enemy. The emperor granted Xu the official positions of General Yangwu and Prefect of Wuyi. Shi Le sent troops to attack them many times, and the battles were very difficult. Eventually, Pi Di, his brother Wen Yang, Zhu, Ji, and others were captured; only Xu broke through the siege and fled south, but was ambushed and killed by bandits on the way. Later, Xu also died.
Li Ju, also known as Shihui, was from Pingyang. When he was young, he played with his friends and took on the role of their leader, giving ideas and commanding everyone, already exhibiting the traits of an adult. When he grew up, he became an official and was sent by the former county magistrate to Chang'an. General Liang Wang Cong was impressed by him and made him a high-ranking official. He achieved great success in battles against the Di tribe and in the campaign against Qi Wannian, and was granted the title of Marquis of Dongming Pavilion. Upon returning to his hometown, he served as the county guard. The Prefect Song Zhou sought to replace him with his relative Wu Ji, so Li Ju pretended to resign due to illness. Wu Ji was afraid of Li Ju's return, so he covertly arranged for someone to assassinate him, but he was saved by someone, allowing him to escape. Later, when Liu Yuanhai attacked Pingyang, the people fled in all directions. Li Ju was well-respected by the villagers, who elected him as their leader. He set up camp east of Xingyang before later relocating to Xinzheng.
Li Ju was brave, decisive, and highly strategic. Sima Yue, the King of Donghai, appointed him Prefect of Ruyin. In the early years of the Yongjia era, Li Ju and Yuan Fu, the Prefect of Runan, were sent to build the Qianjin Embankment in Luoyang to facilitate transport. After the city of Luoyang was lost, the Grand Commandant Xun Fan fled to Yangcheng, while the Guard General Hua Hui fled to Chenggao. At that time, there was a severe famine, and the rebel leader Hou Du and his men often captured people for food. Many of Xun Fan and Hua Hui's subordinates fell victim to them. Li Ju defeated Hou Du and his men, then settled Xun Fan and Hua Hui by building houses for them and providing food. Later, Xun Fan took on court responsibilities, established an office, and appointed Li Ju as the Prefect of Xingyang. Li Ju gathered and reassured the displaced people, and many from near and far joined him.
Shi Le led a large force against Zhang Ju. Zhang Ju ordered the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled to take shelter in the mountains and instructed everyone to release the cattle and horses, while he himself lay in ambush waiting for the enemy to take the bait. When the rebel soldiers saw the scattered cattle and horses, they rushed to grab them. At that moment, Zhang Ju gave the order, and the ambushed soldiers and horses rushed out, with deafening battle cries echoing through the valley. As a result, Shi Le's army suffered a crushing defeat, with many captured rebel soldiers killed. Shi Le had no choice but to flee in disgrace.
Zhang Ju quickly reported the battle to the emperor, who was greatly pleased and promptly promoted him, appointing him as the Champion General, with grand ceremonial attire and a covered chariot. He was also enfeoffed as the Marquis of Yangwu County, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Hedong and Pingyang. During that time, the region faced consecutive years of famine and outbreaks of plague, and Zhang Ju was particularly concerned about the people's suffering, doing everything he could to comfort them. The common people were very grateful to him.
Later, many bandits arrived from Chang'an, looting their way eastward. Zhang Ju sent troops to fight them, defeating them decisively and rescuing thousands of women who had been abducted. His generals believed these women were outside Zhang Ju's jurisdiction and wanted to keep them. However, Zhang Ju said, "They are all citizens of the country; there is no distinction among us!" So, he immediately sent these women back.
At that time, Liu Kun entrusted Guo Mo to the prefect of Henan. Guo Mo was under intense pressure from Liu Yuanhai and sought refuge with Shao Xu. Shao Xu planned to send his nephew Guo Song to meet Guo Mo but was cautious about taking any rash actions. Coincidentally, at this time, Liu Kun sent the army officer Zhang Zhao to lead more than five hundred Xianbei cavalry to Chang'an, where Guo Mo was trapped and the road was blocked. Guo Mo planned to return to seek refuge with Shao Xu. Upon arriving at Shao Xu's camp, Shao Xu said to Zhang Zhao, "Guo Mo was appointed by Lord Liu (referring to Liu Kun); it concerns Lord Liu's household, and I will assist him with everything I can." The Tuge tribe had long feared the Xianbei tribe, so they invited Zhang Zhao to join forces to support Guo Mo. Zhang Zhao agreed. Seeing the Xianbei cavalry, the enemy fled without putting up a fight. Guo Song discreetly sent a small boat across the Yellow River, enabling the warriors to conduct a night raid on Huai City, attacking the enemy's remaining camp and achieving another victory. Guo Mo then led his subordinates to seek sanctuary with Shao Xu.
Later, Liu Cong sent his cousin Liu Chang to lead thirty thousand troops to attack Shao Xu. They set up camp at the old fort of the Han King, only seven miles away from Shao Xu, and even sent messengers offering cattle and wine to Liu Chang to persuade Shao Xu to surrender. When Liu Chang's army arrived, Shao Xu had not had time to prepare and sent messengers pretending to surrender with cattle and wine to Liu Chang. However, he secretly concealed his elite soldiers and only let Liu Chang see some aged and weak soldiers. Liu Chang did not suspect anything and treated his generals to a feast, where everyone got drunk and full. Shao Xu planned a night raid on the enemy camp, but the soldiers grew fearful upon seeing the enemy's overwhelming numbers. Shao Xu then sent Guo Song to pray at the shrine of Zheng Zichan, saying, "You served the State of Zheng in your time; how could these ruthless barbarians dare to confront you!" He also had the shaman announce, "Divine spirits are coming from the east, who will send divine troops to help us!" Upon hearing these words, the soldiers were eager to rush into battle. So Shao Xu sent Guo Song, Yang Zhang, and others to select one thousand brave soldiers to launch a surprise attack on Liu Chang's camp at night, seizing a substantial amount of armor and warhorses, killing thousands of enemy soldiers, with Liu Chang managing to escape alone.
Earlier, Guo Mo learned of Shao Xu's predicament under attack, so he sent his brother Guo Zhi to lead troops to support him. Later, he heard that Shao Xu had defeated Liu Chang, so Guo Zhi hurried to join Shao Xu. Shao Xu then provided Guo Zhi with five hundred horses, divided the army into three routes, pursued the enemy under the cover of night, and returned only after securing yet another resounding victory.
At first, Shi Le stationed Zhao Gu to defend Luoyang, but his chief of staff, Zhou Zhen, had a poor relationship with Zhao Gu and secretly informed Shi Le about Zhao Gu's conduct. After defeating Zhang Chang, Shi Le found a letter from Shi Cong to Zhang Chang in the tent, ordering Zhang Chang to pacify Zhang Ju, pass by Luoyang, capture and kill Zhao Gu, and then have Zhou Zhen replace him. Zhang Ju presented the letter to Zhao Gu, who executed Zhou Zhen and his son on the spot, and then marched a thousand cavalry to submit to Zhang Ju. Zhang Ju allowed him to continue guarding Luoyang.
Several months later, Shi Cong sent his son Shi Can, along with Liu Yasheng and others, leading one hundred thousand infantry and cavalry to camp on the north bank of Mengjin, and sent Liu Yasheng to attack Zhao Gu in Luoyang. Zhao Gu fled to Yangcheng Mountain and urgently dispatched his younger brother for assistance. Zhang Ju then assigned Guo Song to lead troops to Luokou to provide support. Guo Song sent his lieutenant, Zhang Pi, leading one thousand elite soldiers to cross the Yellow River under the cover of night. Shi Can's scouts reported the arrival of enemy troops, but Shi Can, confident in his numerical advantage, dismissed the report. As a result, Guo Song and his troops suddenly attacked from ten directions, causing Shi Can's army to descend into chaos and flee in all directions, leading to significant casualties. Zhang Ju's forces seized the opportunity to capture their camp, seizing a vast array of weapons, equipment, and military supplies.
The next morning, Shi Can noticed that Zhang Pi had few troops remaining, and together with Liu Yasheng, they launched an attack with all remaining troops for over twenty days without success. Zhang Ju personally led the troops to rescue, sending three thousand elite soldiers by boat to support Zhang Pi. The enemy army formed up along the river, even using long hooks to snag the boats, but they couldn't cross the river for several days. Zhang Ju covertly dispatched his deputy commander, Ge Zeng, to cross the river under the cover of night, enter Zhang Pi's camp, and together with Zhang Pi, select over a thousand elite cavalry. They then killed the captured cattle and horses, burned the weapons and equipment, and broke out under the cover of night, escaping to Wulao. Shi Cong chased after them but returned without catching up. Shi Cong was consumed by anger and ultimately fell ill and died. "**Emperor Jia recognized his contributions, appointing General Zhang Ju as the military commander of the three counties in Henan, General of Anxi, Prefect of Xingyang, and Marquis of Xiuwu County.**" The emperor greatly appreciated Zhang Ju's contributions, appointing him as the military commander of the three counties in Henan, General of Anxi, Prefect of Xingyang, and granting him the title of Marquis of Xiuwu County.
After Liu Can became emperor, he became more and more tyrannical and ineffective. His general, Jin Zhun, rebelled, killing Liu Can and his entire family. Jin Zhun even dug up Liu Cong's tomb, chopped up Liu Cong's body, and then sent someone to inform Liu Ju, saying, "Liu Yuanhai (Liu Cong), that fool from the Tuoba tribe, took advantage of the chaos within the Eastern Jin Dynasty, causing chaos in Youzhou and Bingzhou, pretending to act on behalf of divine will, resulting in two emperors being captured by the barbarians. I led everyone to protect the imperial tomb and specially came to report to the court."
Liu Ju immediately reported this to the emperor, who sent officials to meet the imperial tomb. However, before they could reach the tomb, Jin Zhun was killed by Shi Le and Liu Yao. Liu Ju felt he lacked sufficient troops to accomplish anything significant, often sighing and feeling frustrated. Later, when the emperor ascended the throne, he appointed Liu Ju as the military commander of the various armies in Sizhou, Inspector of Sizhou, and changed his title to Marquis of Pingyang County, while retaining his military rank.
At that time, the Prefect of Hongnong, Yin An, General Zhenwei, Song Shi, and four armies were stationed in Luoyang, distrustful of one another and reluctant to assist. Liu Ju and Liu Mo each sent a thousand cavalry to Luoyang to stabilize the situation. As a result, Yin An and the others colluded and went to inform Shi Le, who then sent Shi Sheng to lead five thousand cavalry to Luoyang, which forced the troops of Liu Ju and Liu Mo to retreat. Shortly thereafter, the four generals had a change of heart and sent people to request Liu Ju and Liu Mo to protect them. Liu Mo then sent five hundred infantry into Luoyang. Seeing the four generals colluding with each other, Shi Sheng felt uneasy and took one of Song Shi's military forces across the Yellow River to the south. The common people all fled to Liu Ju, leaving Luoyang empty.
Liu Ju recommended Guo Song to be appointed as the General of Yangwu and the Prefect of Yangdi County, to construct defenses along the river while farming and defending, aiming to eliminate the enemy. Just as Zhao Gu died, Shi Sheng sent cavalry to attack Guo Song. Guo Song was quite shrewd, and as soon as the enemy arrived, he set up an ambush and defeated them, without gaining anything. Shi Sheng was furious and personally led more than four thousand cavalry to raid several counties, then attacked Guo Song's fortress. After a short skirmish, Shi Sheng withdrew to Yeban. Guo Song led five hundred elite soldiers to chase Shi Sheng to Panzhi Gutting and soundly defeated him. Because of Guo Song's great achievements, Liu Ju requested that he be promoted, rewarded, and granted the title of Marquis of Jiyang Ting.
Guo Mo wanted to betray the ancestral covenant. Guo Ju tried his best to stop him, but in the end, he couldn't. The ancestral covenant was defeated by Guo Mo. Shi Le sent his adopted son Shi Heng to attack Guo Mo. Fearing future retaliation, Guo Mo decided to surrender to Liu Yao. He sent the military officer Zheng Xiong to discuss this with Guo Ju, who firmly disagreed. Later, Shi Le dispatched General Shi Liang with five thousand elite soldiers to attack Guo Ju. Guo Ju fought back but was ultimately defeated. Guo Ju's brother, Guo Yuan, was captured by Shi Le's men. Shi Le ordered Guo Yuan to write a letter persuading Guo Ju to surrender, stating, "Last year, Cao Yi from Dongping and Yi Lu from Xibin both surrendered. You, Guo Ju, are as isolated as a cow's horn in the wilderness. Why not surrender?" Guo Ju showed the letter to Guo Song, who said, "Even when Wang Ling's mother was captured by the enemy, Wang Ling did not change his mind. What does my brother matter?" Shi Le sent Guo Song a whip and a riding crop as a gesture of goodwill, but Guo Song completely ignored him. Shi Le dispatched General Shi Sheng to garrison in Luoyang, where he plundered the Henan region. Starving, Guo Mo urged Guo Ju to surrender to Liu Yao.
After Guo Ju was defeated by Shi Liang, he followed Guo Mo's advice and sent envoys to surrender to Liu Yao. Liu Yao sent his younger brother Liu Yue to lead troops to Heyin, intending to attack Shi Sheng together with Guo Ju. Shi Le sent troops to surround Liu Yue, who did not dare to come out. Later, Guo Mo was defeated by Shi Sui and secretly ran away to Jiankang. When Guo Ju heard this news, he was furious and sent Guo Song and others with a letter to chase Guo Mo, specifically instructing Guo Song to say, "Do you understand the principle of 'when the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'? The fact that Guo Mo is here is all because of you. At a critical moment, he ran away. You must bring him back!" Guo Song caught up with Guo Mo in Xiangcheng, and Guo Mo, knowing he had betrayed Guo Ju, left his wife and children behind and ran away. Guo Song returned with the remaining soldiers to Guo Ju's side, and Guo Ju continued to treat Guo Mo's wife and children with the same kindness as before. Liu Yue, unable to wait for reinforcements, surrendered to Shi Jilong.
Among Guo Ju's soldiers, some were secretly contemplating surrendering to Shi Le. Guo Ju was aware of this but felt powerless to act, so he led the remaining troops south, preparing to seek refuge with the imperial court. Many people ran away on the way, but only Guo Song, officer Guo Fang, clerk Zhang Jing, registrar Gou Yuan, general Qian Tao, Jiang Ba, Liang Zhi, Sima Shang, Ji Hong, Li Gui, Duan Xiu, and over a hundred others abandoned their homes and followed Guo Ju. When they reached Luyang County, Guo Ju fell off his horse and died, and was buried on Xiangyang Xianshan.
Duan Pidi is of the Eastern Xianbei. Their family is powerful, having been tribal leaders for generations. His father Wu Muchen once helped the Eastern Sea King Sima Yue in battle and made great achievements. Later, Wang Jun recommended Wu Muchen and appointed him as a prince of the Jin Dynasty, naming him the Duke of Liaoxi. He also gave his daughter in marriage to him to strengthen the friendship with neighboring countries. Upon Emperor Huai's ascension to the throne, Wu Muchen was appointed Grand Chanyu, while Duan Pidi was named Left Wise King. They both led armies to assist the court in battle, and Duan Pidi was also appointed General Who Calms the Military. After Wu Muchen's death, his brother She Fuchen inherited the Chanyu title from Wu Muchen's son, Jilu Juan.
When Liu Yao attacked Luoyang, Wang Jun sent Wang Chang and others with Jilu Juan, his brother Wen Yang, and cousin Mobai to attack Shi Le's Xiangguo. However, Shi Le defeated them, forcing a retreat to their camp. Mobai pursued but was captured by Shi Le. Shi Le used Mobai as a hostage and sent a messenger to negotiate with Jilu Juan. Jilu Juan was inclined to agree, but Wen Yang quickly urged him, saying, "We were sent to attack Shi Le. Are we going to let go of this enemy we have already captured just for Mobai? This not only contradicts Wang Jun's intentions, but also poses a future threat. We absolutely cannot agree!" Despite this, Jilu Juan used 250 war horses, a box of gold, and a box of silver to ransom Mobai back. Shi Le released Mobai and gave Jilu Juan many treasures of gold, silver, and silk as a reward. Jilu Juan even facilitated an alliance, allowing Wen Yang to become sworn brothers with Shi Le (Shi Jilong), before leading his troops back. Wang Chang and his men were also compelled to retreat due to insufficient forces.
During the Jianwu period, Duan Pidi appointed Liu Kun as the Grand Commander to join forces against Shi Le. They also ordered She Fuchen, Jilu Juan, and Mobai to surround Xiangguo from three directions. Liu Kun and Duan Pidi were stationed at Gu'an, waiting for other troops to arrive. Shi Le, fearing the situation, sent a bribe to Mobai. However, Mobai, eager to repay past favors while also looking to exploit Duan Pidi's absence, spoke ill of him in front of She Fuchen and Jilu Juan. He said, "You follow your nephew, but obey your uncle's orders? Even if you achieve success in the future, all the benefits will be taken by Duan Pidi!" She Fuchen and the others were convinced and returned with their troops. Duan Pidi was forced to halt his plans. Later, Jilu Juan died of illness, and Duan Pidi hastily returned to his hometown for the funeral, reaching Youbeiping in Ji County. Mobai spread rumors that Duan Pidi was plotting to usurp power and led troops to defeat him. Mobai then killed She Fuchen, his family, and more than two hundred of his followers, and declared himself chanyu.
After Wang Jun's defeat, Shi Chong became the Inspector of Youzhou. Liu Kun fled from Bingzhou to seek refuge from him, forming an alliance to fight against Shi Le. However, Shi Chong was defeated by Mobai, causing his troops to scatter. Fearing that Liu Kun would betray him, Shi Chong had Liu Kun killed, resulting in the disbandment of the Jin forces.
Unable to save himself, Shi Chong sought refuge from Shao Xu. However, Mobai defeated them once more. Injured, Shi Chong said to Shao Xu, "I, a barbarian, have come to ruin because of my pursuit of justice. If you still value our past friendship, join me in fighting back. This would be your kindness!" Shao Xu replied, "Thanks to your reputation and grace, I have been able to serve the court loyally. Now that you are in trouble, how can I not fight alongside you?" Together, they pursued Mobai and nearly decimated his army.
Shi Chong also sent Wenyang to Jicheng to fight Mo Bei's younger brother. When he was still eighty miles from Jicheng, Wenyang heard that Shao Xu had died, and the soldiers were all afraid. The army scattered again and was soon blocked by Shi Jilong. Wenyang fought fiercely with hundreds of his personal soldiers to carve out a bloody path into the city. As Shi Jilong launched another assault on the city, Wenyang climbed up the city wall and saw Shi Jilong preparing to come out and challenge him, but Shi Chong forbade it. Wenyang said, "I am famous for my bravery, so the people trust me. If they see the people being captured and I do not save them, that’s not the mark of a true hero! If I let everyone down, who will stand by me?" So Wenyang led dozens of brave men to fight against Shi Jilong's army, killing many Huren.
As a consequence, Ma Lei fell, and Wenyang was utterly exhausted and collapsed, unable to rise. Shi Jilong shouted, "Brother, we are both Rongdi people. I've long hoped we could join forces. Fate has smiled upon my wish; today we meet. Why do you still want to fight? Please put down your weapons!" Wenyang spat, "You've done so much wrong; you should have met your end long ago! My brother did not use my strategies, which led you to this point today! I would rather die than be captured by you!" So Wenyang jumped down and kept fighting fiercely. When his spear shattered, he kept battling with his knife. Shi Jilong's army surrounded Wenyang from all sides with horses and shields, closing in to capture him. Wenyang fought from dawn till dusk, utterly drained, before he was finally captured. The people in the city were filled with fear.
Pi Di wanted to ride back to the capital by himself, but his younger brother, the Interior Minister of Le'an, Sima Ji, led soldiers to stop him from leaving. Sima Ji also wanted the court messenger Wang Ying to send Pi Di to Shi Le. Pi Di sternly rebuked Sima Ji, saying, "You don't even follow our brother's last wish, forcing me to not return to the court. This is already outrageous, and now you want to detain the emperor's messenger. Although I am a barbarian, I have never heard of such a thing!" Then he said to Wang Ying, "My family has received great kindness from the court for generations, and I have never forgotten loyalty and filial piety. Today, forced by the situation, I want to return to the court to plead guilty, but you are forcing me, making it impossible for me to be loyal. If you could let me rest for a while, as long as I am alive, I will never forget my homeland." After speaking, he crossed the Yellow River.
Pi Di wore court attire, held a ceremonial staff, and went to see Shi Le with his followers, saying, "I have received the country's grace and have always wanted to eliminate you. Unfortunately, our country is in chaos, leading to the current situation. Since I cannot die in battle, I cannot show you any respect." Shi Le and Pi Di were sworn brothers before, and Shi Le stood up to bow to him. When Pi Di arrived in Xiangguo, he did not bow to Shi Le, remaining in his court attire and holding the Jin Dynasty's ceremonial staff. Several years later, a faction within the country conspired to crown Pi Di as emperor. After the plot was uncovered, Pi Di was executed. Wen Yang also died from drinking poison, leaving only their descendants behind. After Pi Di's death, his brother Ya succeeded to the throne. After Ya's death, his grandson Liao succeeded to the throne, Liao, who was the grandson of Pi Di's cousin, Lu Juan.
After the chaos that followed the fall of the Wei Dynasty, he declared himself emperor and occupied the Liaoxi region, though he acknowledged the authority of the Jin Dynasty. His territory extended from Youzhou in the west to the Liao River in the east. He ruled over more than 30,000 households of various groups, with around 40,000 to 50,000 cavalry with the ability to shoot arrows. He was embroiled in constant warfare against Shi Le and was ultimately defeated by him. Tens of thousands of families were relocated to the Siyong region. His son, Lan, gathered troops and cavalry to resist Shi Le for an extended period. After the fall of the Shi clan, the descendants of Pi Di, known as Mobo, gathered tens of thousands of Xianbei people, seized Wangren Mountain, and declared himself King of Zhao, seeking refuge under Murong Jun. Not long after, he was defeated by Ran Min, fled to Yimu, where he once again declared himself emperor. Murong Jun dispatched Murong Ke to confront him, and Mobo, fearing defeat, chose to surrender.
Wei Jun, from Dong'e in Dongjun, lived in Guanzhong. Initially, he was merely a minor official in Yongzhou. When Prince Yong rebelled and failed, he was appointed as the General of Wuwei. Later, he became the Controller of the Imperial Treasury and showed great ability. At the end of the Yongjia period, he fled east with several hundred families and sought refuge in Xie Shi, located in Heyin. At that time, the capital was in dire straits and chaos. Wei Jun seized some grain and presented it to Emperor Huai, who then appointed him as the General of Yangwei, the Prefect of Pingyang, while retaining his position as Controller of the Imperial Treasury. However, due to the turmoil in the world, he did not formally assume these positions. After Luoyang was captured, he stationed himself at Shiliangwu in the north of Luoyang, sheltering refugees while gradually constructing weapons. He first tried to persuade the bandits who sought refuge with him, explaining that the fate of the Great Jin Dynasty was not yet over and its revival was imminent, urging them to submit. As a result, many people truly joined him. For those who defied him and turned against him, he sent troops to attack them. If they surrendered, he would spare their lives, never resorting to indiscriminate killing. As a result, an increasing number of people from near and far came to admire him and sought refuge with him. Liu Kun, acting on the Emperor's orders, appointed Wei Jun as the Intendant of Henan. At that time, Grand Commandant Xun Fan established a headquarters in Mixian, and Wei Jun went to seek military advice from Xun Fan, who was very satisfied with him and even invited Li Ju to meet and discuss together. Li Ju planned to go to the appointment that night, but his subordinates deemed Wei Jun unreliable and advised him against going. Li Ju said, "Loyal and like-minded individuals have nothing to doubt!" After the meeting, both sides were pleased, and this meeting forged an alliance between Wei Jun and Li Ju.
Liu Yao was jealous of Wei Jun's growing power, so he surrounded him with his troops. Liu Yan and Guo Mo sent troops to rescue him, but Liu Yao split his forces to intercept them in Hebei, setting an ambush for them, resulting in a major defeat for Liu Yan and Guo Mo's army, capturing all of Liu Yan's cavalry troops. Wei Jun made a nighttime escape but was captured by Liu Yao and ultimately met his end. He was posthumously promoted to General of the West after his death. His kinsman Wei Gai inherited his army.
Wei Gai, whose courtesy name was Hai, originally lived in Yinpai, Jingzhao. When Prince Yong of Hejian launched an attack on Prince Lun of Zhao, Wei Gai was appointed as the commander of the troops. When Liu Yao attacked Luoyang, he followed Wei Jun in resisting, first leading his troops to defend Jinyong City, thereby remaining unharmed. After Liu Yao withdrew his troops, the rest of the army pledged their allegiance to him.
Now, Du Yin, son of Du Yu, became the Prefect of Hongnong, stationed near a place called Quanwu in Yiyang. This place was frequently attacked by bandits, so Du Yin had to request support from his superior. The superior sent General Ma Zhan with three hundred soldiers to help him. Ma Zhan, knowing that Du Yin was vulnerable, launched a nighttime attack, killed Du Yin, and took control of Quanwu. The people of Quanwu were terrified and had no choice but to comply with him.
Ma Zhan then allied with Li Ju and Guo Mo to resist the bandits. Seeing how capable Ma Zhan was in battle, the court appointed him General of Wuwei, commanding the army in the western Yongliang region to campaign against Liu Yao. The Emperor even granted him additional titles and ranks, appointing him Champion General and Prefect of Hedong, tasked with defending the three counties of Hedong, Henan, and Pingyang.
Liu Yao once attacked Li Ju, but he was defeated by Ma Zhan. Later, when Li Ju was preparing to welcome Guo Mo, Ma Zhan sent troops to support him. He also joined forces with Ren Yin, the Intendant of Henan, to jointly resist the enemy. However, as time went on, the army gradually ran low on food and clothing. Liu Yao's army harassed them daily. Ma Zhan wanted to relocate everyone south, but nobody was willing. In the end, Ma Zhan had no choice but to flee to Nanyang alone on horseback. The emperor promoted him to Vanguard Commander, General Pacifying the North, and Inspector of Yongzhou. Most of Ma Zhan's soldiers surrendered to Liu Yao. Liu Yao's recruitment of soldiers was ruthless, while Ma Zhan acted arrogantly and domineeringly. His subordinates sent messengers to summon Ma Zhan back. Ma Zhan returned secretly, but his subordinates killed him and declared him their leader. Ma Zhan was transferred to Xinye and led his troops to assist Zhou Fang in suppressing Du Zeng's rebellion. The court appointed him Prefect of Shunyang. Later, when Wang Dun rebelled, Gan Zhuo, the Inspector of Liangzhou, did not join the rebellion. He wanted to gauge Ma Zhan's stance and tentatively sent him Wang Dun's orders. Ma Zhan said, "I am loyal to the court and resist rebels. Now, Wang Dun is attacking the emperor, which is not something I can support!" He firmly refused Wang Dun. When Su Jun rebelled, Ma Zhan led his troops to aid the court, stationed in Shitoucheng, and followed the orders of Tao Kan. Before Su Jun's rebellion was subdued, Ma Zhan fell seriously ill. He returned to camp but died on the way and was buried in Wuling. His nephew, Ma Xiong, succeeded him in command.
Guo Mo was a native of Hanoi. He was very poor when he was young, but because he was strong and brave, he served under the prefect Pei Zheng and rose to the rank of general. Later, during the Yongjia Rebellion, Guo Mo took the remaining soldiers and declared himself a warlord, using fishing boats to raid eastbound caravans, accumulating immense wealth over the years, which attracted an increasing number of refugees to his side. He treated his soldiers very well, and everyone supported him greatly.
Guo Mo's brother-in-law, Lu Jia, from the same county, once brought several stones of official grain to his sister. Guo Mo considered this a violation of the rules and decided to kill him. Lu Jia was afraid and quickly fled to Shi Le. To demonstrate his fairness and integrity, Guo Mo actually shot his own wife himself! Afterwards, he sent someone to visit Liu Kun, and Liu Kun appointed him as the prefect of Hanoi.
Liu Yuanhai dispatched his nephew Liu Yao to confront Guo Mo. Liu Yao surrounded him with three armies, trying to starve him to death. Guo Mo sent his wife out as a hostage while requesting to purchase food. After buying the food, he strengthened his defenses. Liu Yao was very angry, threw Guo Mo's wife into the river to drown, and then began to attack. Guo Mo sent his brother Guo Zhi to ask Liu Kun for help, but Liu Kun felt that Guo Mo was too cunning, so he kept him and only sent troops to rescue him slowly. Guo Mo urgently sent someone to request reinforcements. At this time, Guo Zhi went out of the city to wash the horses but was forcibly brought back. Guo Mo simply sent Guo Zhi to be a hostage to Shi Le. Shi Le believed Guo Mo was too crafty, so he wrote a letter to Liu Yao. Guo Mo secretly sent someone to obtain Shi Le's letter and immediately broke through the siege to join Li Ju. Later, he and Li Ju fought against Liu Yao and Shi Le, and these events are recorded in Li Ju's biography.
During the early years of the Taixing era, Guo Mo was appointed as the Governor of Yingchuan. He fought against Shi Hui and suffered a defeat. Li Ju also grew increasingly weak. Guo Mo was filled with worry and fear, so he handed his seal over to his subordinate Yin Qiao and said to him, "Lord Li has been very kind to me. I feel too ashamed to thank him. Three days later, you announce that I have left." After saying this, he fled to Yangdi. When Li Ju heard about this, he was very angry and sent his general Guo Song to chase Guo Mo. When they reached Xiangcheng, they caught up with Guo Mo. Guo Mo left his family behind and escaped alone on horseback.
Guo Mo arrived in the capital, and Emperor Jin Ming appointed him as General of the Conquering Barbarians. After Liu Xia's death, Guo Mo was appointed as the General of the Northern Central Army, responsible for overseeing military matters in Huainan, and was granted the power of a temporary command. Liu Xia's former subordinates, including Li Long, conspired to rebel. The court ordered Guo Mo and the Right Guard General Zhao Yin to jointly suppress the rebellion.
The court wanted to send troops to suppress Su Jun, fearing that he would rebel. They summoned Xie Shang and appointed him as the Rear General, tasked with leading the Garrison Cavalry. He distinguished himself in his first battle, but the army was later defeated, and Xie Shang fled to the south. Xi Jian suggested building fortifications in Daye north of Qu'a to divert the enemy's forces and appointed Xie Shang to guard the area. Su Jun sent Han Huang and others to attack Xie Shang fiercely. The fortifications lacked water, and Xie Shang was quite fearful. He sent out a portion of his troops to find a water source, then quietly slipped out through the south gate, leaving the rest to hold the fortifications. Just as Su Jun passed away, the siege was lifted, and Xie Shang was summoned by the court to be the General of the Right Army.
Xie Shang prefers to be a frontier general and does not want to serve as a guard in the capital. When he was about to go on a mission, he said to General Liu Yin of Pingnan, "I can defend against the invasion of the Hu people, but I have never been given proper recognition. The Right Army General is mainly responsible for the Imperial Guards. If a war breaks out at the border and I'm called to fight, only then will they assign troops. There’s no camaraderie or trust among the soldiers, and no bonds have been formed. Taking such an army to battle, how can we expect to succeed? The court should select officials based on talent; how can officials choose their own positions? Will the country not fall into chaos?" Liu Yin said, "Although what you said is correct, it is not something that ordinary people can understand." When Xie Shang was about to depart, he asked Liu Yin for some support. At that time, Liu Yin had been dismissed by the emperor, had not yet confessed, and was instead defending himself, becoming even more arrogant and extravagant, which left people both near and far puzzled.
Initially, Tao Kan was called up because of the rebellion of Su Jun. When passing through Xunyang, he met Yin Hao. Yin Hao and his aides, including Zhang Man, looked down on Tao Kan, even mocked him openly, which Tao Kan held a grudge over. Later, on the eve of the New Year, Yin Hao sent Tao Kan a pot of wine and a pig, which Tao Kan directly threw into the water, making him even angrier. In addition, there was a foreigner named Gai Zhun, who had previously taken the daughter of Kong Wei, killed by Zu Han, as his wife. Kong Wei's family came searching for her, and Zhang Man and others asked Gai Zhun to send the wife back, but he refused, thus creating a rift with Yin Hao and Zhang Man.
Later, Gai Zhun told Tao Kan, "Liu Jiangzhou (Liu Yuan) appeared to accept the court's pardon, but in reality had other plans in secret. He, along with Chief of Staff Sima Zhangman, Xun Kai, and others, were plotting day and night to rebel. They only feared Guo Mo, saying they would eliminate Guo Mo first before starting the rebellion. A great disaster is approaching; you need to be fully prepared." Tao Kan had long held a grudge against Yin Hao, so he led his men and attacked Yin Hao after the city gates opened at dawn. Yin Hao's generals wanted to resist Tao Kan, but Tao Kan rebuked them, declaring, "I am ordered to suppress rebels; those who resist will face execution of their entire family!" And so, Tao Kan burst into Yin Hao's private quarters. Yin Hao was sleeping with his concubine at the time, and Tao Kan dragged him out and executed him. Then, Tao Kan also arrested Yin Hao's associates Sima Zhangman, Xun Kai, and others, falsely accusing them of plotting treason.
Tao Kan sent Yin Hao's head to the capital, forged a false edict, and announced it inside and outside. He also took away Yin Hao's daughter, concubine, as well as gold, silver, and treasures, before returning to his ship. After initially claiming he would go to Xiadu, he instead returned and stopped at Yin Hao's mansion, recruiting Huan Xuan and Wang Qiqi. Wang Qiqi, fearing the prospect of being forced, persuaded Tao Kan to quell the unrest in the south and Jiangzhou, and Tao Kan agreed. Wang Qiqi took the opportunity to escape to Lushan, while Huan Xuan chose to stay loyal inside.
Sima Wangdao was afraid that Tao Kan could not be controlled, so he ordered a general amnesty and publicly displayed Yin Hao's severed head on a large ship on the Yangtze River, appointing Tao Kan as the General of the Western Zhonglang and the Governor of Yuzhou. The Prefect of Wuchang, Deng Yue, hurriedly reported this matter to the Grand Commandant, Tao Kan. Upon hearing this, Tao Kan stood up abruptly, slammed the table, and said, "This is definitely false!" He immediately led his troops to attack Wang Dao and wrote a memorial detailing Wang Dao's crimes. Upon hearing this, Wang Dao withdrew Yin Hao's head and ordered Yu Liang to assist Tao Kan in attacking Wang Dao. Tao Kan wanted to march south to occupy Yuzhang, but Wang Dao had already brought his troops to the city and built earthworks to attack it. Various armies gathered and surrounded Wang Dao. Tao Kan, recognizing Wang Dao's bravery and skill in battle, wanted to leave him a way out, so he sent Guo Song to persuade Wang Dao to surrender. Tao Kan agreed to surrender. However, Wang Dao's generals Zhang Chou, Song Hou, and others were afraid of being killed by Wang Dao, so they hesitated and refused to come out. The assault intensified, and Song Hou finally brought Wang Dao to surrender. Wang Dao was immediately beheaded at the military gate, and more than forty of his followers were executed, with their heads sent to the capital. According to historical records, generals like Shao, Li, Wei, and Guo, during the turbulent times of the country and the years of warfare, had sufficient prestige to command respect, and their courage and strategies were enough to intimidate their enemies, which enabled them to defend perilous cities, command operations over long distances, recruit volunteers, and resist enemies. Although they experienced countless hardships and obstacles, they remained loyal and devoted to the court. General Shao and others were able to achieve victory with few troops, winning many battles, inciting resentment and causing repeated defeats for Xuan Ming and Shi Long. Unfortunately, they were outnumbered, and their efforts ultimately fell short, which is truly a shame! So, compared to these individuals, who stands out the most?
General Mo, although he escaped the dangers of war and participated in politics, due to a moment of impulse, brought trouble upon himself and was eventually killed. This is not something a rational person would do! General Duan Pidi, who came from afar but wholeheartedly served the court, was loyal to the country from the start; even in the enemy's court, he remained steadfast in his integrity. Since Su Wu, he has been the only one like this. Lady Yue Shi was killed because of the Duan family's reputation; General Duan Pidi was killed because of everyone's expectations; the rise and fall came too quickly! The Book of Songs says, "No words go unrewarded, no virtues go unrepaid," that's the truth.
Let’s praise generals like Shao Li; they are truly loyal and brave! Facing great dangers, they journeyed through various checkpoints. Though their strength was limited, they bore heavy responsibilities, ultimately sacrificing their lives in the line of duty. General Duan Pidi was resolute and decisive, giving his life to uphold his integrity. In contrast, General Mo was cruel and ruthless, ultimately facing the consequences of his actions.
