Yao Yizhong is a member of the Qiang ethnic group from Chiting, Nan'an. His ancestors were descendants of the ancient sage-kings Yu and Shun. Da Yu granted land to Shun's sons in the Western Rong, and their family has been Qiang tribal leaders for generations. Later, their family became powerful between the Tao River and Hanshui. By the time of the seventh-generation descendant Tianyu, chaos erupted in the Western regions during the late Han Dynasty, and they were defeated by General Ma Wu of the Yang family, so they moved to the frontier. By the time of the ninth-generation descendant Qian Na, he led his people to submit to the Han Dynasty, which pleased the Han court. They appointed him as the Champion General, the Western Qiang Colonel, and the King of Submission, allowing him to live in Chiting, Nan'an. Qian's great-grandson Ke Hui became the General of Pacification of the West in Wei State, the Colonel of the Sui Rong forces, and the Commander of the Western Qiang. Ke Hui had a son named Yizhong, who was brave and resolute from a young age and showed little interest in business but liked to help others. Everyone both feared and respected him. During the chaotic Yongjia period, he led tens of thousands of people to migrate east to Yumei, self-styled as the Protector of the Western Qiang and Colonel, the Governor of Yongzhou, and the Duke of Fufeng. After Liu Yao pacified Chen An, he appointed Yizhong as the General of Pacification of the West, conferred upon him the title of Duke of Pingxiang, and granted him land on the Longshan. Later, when Shi Le captured Shanggui, Yizhong advised him, "You now command a hundred thousand troops, with unmatched accomplishments. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase your talents and devise strategies. There are many powerful figures in Longshan, and the people of Qin are tough and strong. If you show them both kindness and authority, they will naturally submit; if you only use force, they will rebel. Therefore, you should relocate the powerful figures of Longshan to weaken their influence and resettle them near the capital." Shi Le accepted his advice and promoted Yizhong to the General of the West and the Left Commander of the Six Non-Han Tribes. Later, when the Inspector of Yuzhou of the Jin Dynasty, Zu Yue, sought refuge with Shi Le, who treated him with great favor, Yizhong submitted a memorial advising, "Zu Yue harmed the Jin Dynasty, forced the Empress Dowager to death, and was disloyal to the Jin Dynasty. Your Majesty, by trusting him, I fear this marks the beginning of treachery and unrest!" Shi Le heeded his advice and indeed killed Zu Yue.
After Lao died, Shi Le took power. He recalled Yi Zhong's earlier words, so he relocated all the influential figures from Qinzhou and Yongzhou to Guandong. Yi Zhong led tens of thousands of soldiers to Qinghe, was appointed as General of Fierce Valor, Grand Commander of the Western Qiang, and granted the title of Duke of Xiangping County. Later, Shi Le deposed Shi Hong to declare himself emperor. Yi Zhong feigned illness and did not congratulate him. Shi Le summoned him several times before he finally appeared. He solemnly addressed Shi Le, "Why did you enthusiastically hand over power to me in the beginning, but now you are taking it back?" Shi Le was taken aback by his candor and refrained from blaming him. Later, Yi Zhong was promoted to Chief Commandant, Grand Commander of Ten Commanderies and Six Yi Tribes, and Champion General. He was known for his integrity, frugality, and steadfastness. He never concerned himself with appearances, frequently spoke his mind, and never avoided issues, which Shi Le highly valued. Whenever there was a major event in the court, he was always involved in the decision-making process, and the ministers respected him and entrusted him with important matters.
One time, the Left Lieutenant of Wucheng County, the brother of Shi Le's favored concubine, had previously harassed Yi Zhong's subordinates. Yi Zhong arrested the Left Lieutenant, enumerated his offenses, and ordered his subordinates to execute him. The Left Lieutenant, terrified, pleaded for mercy, and only then did Yi Zhong relent. This exemplified Yi Zhong's uncompromising nature.
When Shi Le was on the verge of death, Liang Du defeated Li Nong in Xingyang. Shi Le was so terrified that he quickly sent for Yi Zhong to come to his aid. Yi Zhong led over 8,000 troops to camp in the southern outskirts of Ye City, and then hastily rode to Ye City. At that time, Shi Le was too ill to meet with Yi Zhong, so he took Yi Zhong to the military headquarters with the intention of providing him a meal. Yi Zhong was angry when he heard this and refused to eat, saying, "You summoned me to fight, not to dine! I don't care if you live or die; just seeing you is worth dying for!" The people around told Shi Le about this, and only then did Shi Le see him.
Yi Zhong berated Shi Le: "You, even when you're dying, you're still wearing that worried face? You're so sick! When you were young, you should have surrounded yourself with capable allies instead of causing everyone to kill each other. You also have faults, being too strict with your subordinates, which led to the rebellion. You're so seriously ill now, and your son is young. If something happens to you, the world will definitely be in chaos. You should worry about this, not just the enemy! Liang Du and the others originally wanted to go home, but they rebelled together and committed all kinds of heinous acts. This time, they will definitely be caught. I'm ready to charge into battle and take them down in one go!" Yi Zhong was straightforward in character, speaking without reservation to anyone. Shi Le tolerated him and immediately appointed him as the governor, attendant, and Grand General of the West, and also rewarded him with armor and a war horse. Yi Zhong said, "Do you think old Yi can defeat those rebels?" After saying that, he put on his armor in the courtyard, mounted his horse, rode south without saying another word, and actually defeated Liang Du. Because of his great achievements, he was permitted to wear a sword and boots in court, did not have to bow during court meetings, and was even granted the title Duke of Xiping County.
Ran Min revolted, and Yi Zhong led troops to quell him, camping near Hunqiao. Shi Zhi proclaimed himself emperor in Xiangguo, appointed Yi Zhong as the Right Prime Minister, and treated him exceptionally well. Shi Zhi and Ran Min fought, and before he left, Yi Zhong reminded his son Yi Xiang: "You're ten times stronger than Ran Min. If you don't capture him, don't come back!" Yi Xiang defeated Ran Min at Changluzhe before returning. However, Yi Zhong gave him a hundred lashes as punishment for not capturing Ran Min. Yi Zhong had a man named Ma Heluo under him, who was both knowledgeable and eloquent. When Zhang Cha assisted Shi Shi, Ma Heluo defected to Zhang Cha, who appointed him as a courtier. Later, after Zhang Cha's downfall, Ma Heluo returned. Everyone urged Yi Zhong to execute him, but Yi Zhong said, "Now is the time to attract talent. We should use his abilities, and there is no need to kill him." So, he appointed Ma Heluo as a military advisor. Just look at his tolerance! Yi Zhong had 42 sons and often reminded them: "I originally sought to repay the Shi family's kindness for treating me well during the chaos of the Jin Dynasty. Now that the Shi family has fallen, there is no ruler in the Central Plains anymore, and no barbarians have ever been emperor. After I die, surrender to the Jin Dynasty, and serve faithfully as loyal subjects, doing no unjust acts." He sent envoys to surrender. In the seventh year of the Yonghe era, Yi Zhong was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner, Grand Commander of the Six Barbarians, Commander of Jianghuai Military Affairs, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, Equalizing Three Officials, and Duke of Gaoling County. In the eighth year, he passed away at seventy-three. His son Xiangzhi entered Guanzhong and was defeated by Fu Sheng. Fu Sheng secured Yi Zhong's coffin and buried him in Tianshui Ji County with royal honors. After Fu Chang usurped the throne, he posthumously conferred the title of Emperor Jingyuan upon Yi Zhong, with the temple name Shizu and the tomb name Gaoling, and established a manor with five hundred households for him.
Xiang Zi Jingguo, the fifth son of Yi Zhong. At the age of seventeen, he was around 2.6 meters tall, with arms that reached below his knees. He was brave and talented, insightful, good at uniting people's hearts, and the soldiers loved him and requested that he be named heir. Yi Zhong disagreed, but the people's daily requests numbered in the thousands, so Yi Zhong entrusted him with military command. After Shi Zhi usurped the throne, he appointed Xiang as the General for Maintaining Order, the Colonel of the Wuhuan, the Governor of Yuzhou, and the Duke of Xinchang. The Jin Dynasty also sent envoys to appoint Xiang as the General Who Pacifies the North, the Inspector of Bingzhou, and the Duke of Jiu County.
After Yi Zhong's death, Xiang secretly chose not to hold a funeral, leading an army of sixty thousand south to attack Yangping, Yuancheng, and Fagan, all of which were captured, plundering over three thousand households, and then set up camp at Qiaoao Ferry. He appointed Wang Liang from Taiyuan as his Chief of Staff, Chi of Tianshui as the Marshal, Fu Zicheng of Lueyang as the Left Division Commander, Lianqi of Nan'an as the Right Division Commander, Wang Heina of Lueyang as the Front Division Commander, Qiangbai as the Rear Division Commander, Xue Zan of Taiyuan, and Wang Quanyi of Lueyang as Staff Officers. Only after arriving at Xingyang did he finally hold a funeral and burial ceremony. He fought with Gao Chang and Li Li in Matian, and was struck by an arrow amidst the chaos of battle; fortunately, his younger brother Chang was spared. The Jin Dynasty assigned Xiang to Qiaocheng and sent his five brothers to serve in official positions. He alone rode across the Huai River on horseback and met with Xie Shang, the Governor of Yuzhou, in Shouchun. Xie Shang ordered the ceremonial guard to be dismissed and to change out of their official attire, and the two greeted each other like old friends and quickly struck a deal.
At that time, Xiangyang Wang had a great reputation, was brave, skilled in battle, and unmatched by anyone, especially studious, knowledgeable, and eloquent. In the southern region, his wisdom and talents were widely renowned. The General of the Central Army and the Inspector of Yangzhou, Yin Hao, was quite fearful of him and sent assassins, using Xiangyang Wang's brothers as intermediaries, to kill him multiple times. Those assassins all honestly revealed the situation, but Xiangyang Wang welcomed them as old friends.
Yin Hao secretly sent General Wei Jing to lead over 5,000 soldiers to attack King Xiangyang. As a result, King Xiangyang directly killed Wei Jing and took over his army. Yin Hao hated him even more, so he assigned General Liu Qi to defend Qiao County, transferred King Xiangyang to Liangguo's Lita, and gave him a ceremonial title in Liangguo. King Xiangyang sent Quan Yi to see Yin Hao, who said, "Yao Pingbei (referring to King Xiangyang) always does as he pleases; how can he be my opponent!" Quan Yi said, "General, you’re too gullible when it comes to slander, and you have doubts in your heart. I believe the root of this suspicion lies not with him." Yin Hao said, "Yao Pingbei indulges those bad people and even stole my horse. Is this how a loyal subject behaves?" Quan Yi said, "General, you think Yao Pingbei relies on military strength, but ultimately, it's hard to sustain, so he trains his army, preparing to punish those who do not follow the rules. Stealing horses is also for self-defense." Yin Hao said, "How can this be?"
Yin Hao sent Xie Wan to attack King Xiangyang, but he was defeated. Yin Hao was very angry, and coincidentally heard that there was a disturbance in Guanzhong, so he led his army northward. King Xiangyang set up an ambush in Shansang, defeated Yin Hao's army, killed and captured tens of thousands of people, and captured a vast amount of military supplies. He left his brother to guard the camp in Shansang and returned to Huainan himself. Yin Hao sent Liu Qi and Wang Bin to attack Shansang, but King Xiangyang killed them all as they crossed from Huainan. He moved rapidly, crossed the Huai River, stationed in Xuyi, recruited refugees, and expanded his army to 70,000. He appointed officials and encouraged everyone to farm and rear silkworms, and sent envoys to Jianye to accuse Yin Hao of his wrongdoings and present his own stance.
Legend has it that Guo Yi, with more than a thousand people, persuaded the Interior Minister of the Jin Dynasty, Liu Shi, to surrender and defected to Shi Le. The court was in a panic at the time and quickly appointed Zhou Min, the Minister of Personnel, as the General of the Central Army, to bolster defenses along the Yangtze River. Most of Shi Le's officers and soldiers were from the north and advised him to return to the north. Shi Le followed their advice and headed north, and declared himself Grand General and Grand Chanyu, attacking Waihuang, but was defeated by the Jin Dynasty's border defense generals. However, Shi Le was a formidable leader. He gathered all the scattered soldiers and reassured them, quickly strengthening his army. He then occupied Xuchang, intended to march from Hedong to Guanzhong, and set out from Xuchang to attack Luoyang, but after a whole month of siege, he still couldn't capture it. His chief strategist, Wang Liang, advised him, "You are wise and famous throughout the world. The soldiers are all looking forward to serving you. You shouldn't risk your reputation and burden your men. We should return to Hebei and plan for the future." However, Shi Le said, "Although Luoyang is small, its terrain is strategic and difficult to attack, making it a good place for military use. I want to secure Luoyang first and then pursue greater ambitions." Shortly thereafter, Wang Liang passed away, and Shi Le lamented, "Is heaven against my success? Wang Liang has left me too!"
During the Jin Dynasty, General Huan Wen set out from Jiangling to attack Shi Le. The two armies fought on the northern bank of the Yi River, where Huan Wen defeated Shi Le, who fled to the North Mountain with a few thousand cavalry. That night, more than five thousand common people left their families behind and settled in Yangxiang. The next day, more than four thousand households arrived to seek refuge. Despite having suffered many defeats in the past, whenever people knew where he was, they would bring their families to join him. There were rumors that Shi Le was seriously injured, and the women captured by Huan Wen's army all cried towards the north, demonstrating Shi Le's standing in the hearts of the people. Earlier, a man named Yang Liang from Hongnong had joined Shi Le, who treated him like an honored guest. Later, Yang Liang defected to Huan Wen, who inquired about Shi Le. Yang Liang said, "Shi Le possesses extraordinary charisma and talent, akin to Sun Ce, and even greater martial prowess." This illustrates how formidable Shi Le was perceived by others.
Fu Jian's younger brother Fu Rong wanted to extend his power to the Guanzhong area, so he set up camp in Xingcheng. He sent his cousin Yao Lan to attack Fucheng and also dispatched his brother Fu Yi and General Wang Qinlu to persuade the Rong and Xia tribes in the northern territories to surrender. They managed to recruit over fifty thousand households. Fu Sheng dispatched General Fu Fei to confront them, but Yao Lan was ultimately defeated and captured. Upon witnessing this, Fu Rong withdrew his forces to the west. Fu Sheng then sent Fu Jian and Deng Qiang to intercept him. Fu Rong prepared to fight, but a monk advised him to first organize his army and gather strength before considering the next move. However, Fu Rong asserted that two exceptional leaders could not exist simultaneously, and he hoped for divine protection to save the people. As the Qiang troops approached, Fu Rong, enraged, charged forward and was ultimately defeated in battle at Sanyuan and killed by Fu Jian. He was only twenty-seven years old during the first year of the Jin Dynasty's reign. Fu Sheng gave him a funeral worthy of a duke. Later, Fu Chang usurped the throne and posthumously conferred the title of King of Wei Wu upon Fu Rong, granting his grandson Fu Yanding the title of Duke of Dongcheng.
Fu Chang, style name Jingmao (苻苌), was the 24th son of Yi Zhong (弋仲). He was exceptionally intelligent from a young age, very cunning, generous, not concerned with trivial matters, and not overly concerned with personal refinement. His brothers were all taken aback by his distinctiveness. Fu Chang followed Fu Rong into battle, participating in important military planning each time. Once, when Fu Rong attacked Luoyang, he dreamt of Fu Chang wearing magnificent official robes, sitting on a high seat, with many tribal leaders standing by his side serving him. The next day, Fu Rong shared with his generals, "I had a dream like this; this child has great ambitions, maybe he can revitalize our family in the future!" Another time, when Fu Rong was defeated in the Battle of Matian and his horse was shot by an arrow, Fu Chang quickly dismounted and gave his own horse to Fu Rong. Fu Rong asked him, "What about you?" Fu Chang said, "As long as my big brother is okay, those little punks won't dare to touch me." Later, when reinforcements arrived, they were all saved.
After Fu Rong's death, Fu Chang surrendered to Fu Sheng along with his younger brothers. Fu Jian appointed Fu Chang as the General of Yangwu (扬武将军), later promoted him to the General of the Left Guard, and also had him serve as the Governor of Longdong, Jijun, Hedong, Wudu, Wuwei, Baxi, Fufeng, and other places, as well as the Inspector of Ning, You, and Yan provinces. He once again served as the General of Yangwu and the Colonel of Infantry, and was finally granted the title of Marquis of Yidu. He achieved many great accomplishments under Fu Jian's command.
Initially, Chang followed Yang An to attack Shu. Once, while taking a nap by the water, a brilliant light suddenly shone above his head, which puzzled everyone. Later, when Fu Jian attacked Eastern Jin, he appointed Chang as the General of Longxiang, in charge of military affairs in Yizhou and Liangzhou, and said to Chang, "When I started out, 'Longxiang' was my title, which has never been given to anyone else. Now I specially confer it upon you, entrusting you with handling affairs in the south." Fu Jian's Left General Dou Chong quickly remarked, "Your Majesty, you should be careful with your words; this isn’t a good sign, so please think it over." Fu Jian remained silent.
After Fu Jian was defeated in Huainan, he returned to Chang'an, and Murong Hong rebelled. Fu Jian sent his son Fu Rui to quell the rebellion, appointing Chang as the General. However, they were defeated by Murong Hong, resulting in Fu Rui's death in battle. Chang sent Zhao Du, the Chief of Longxiang, to Chang'an to apologize to Fu Jian, but Fu Jian, enraged, executed Zhao Du. Fearing for his life, Chang fled north across the Wei River and sought refuge with a horse herder. The influential clans of Xizhou, such as Yin Xiang, Zhao Yao, Wang Qinlu, Niu Shuang, Di Guang, Zhang Qian, and many others, representing over fifty thousand households, all pledged their allegiance to Chang. At first, Chang was inclined to refuse, but Yin Wei, the Prefect of Tianshui, persuaded him, saying, "We are in a time of great chaos, and the signs of the Qin Dynasty's downfall are already apparent. General, your reputation is widespread, and you will surely be able to save the situation. These heroes have come to support you. You should accept their nomination and not stand idly by, watching everyone perish without trying to save them!" Chang followed Yin Wei's advice and in the ninth year of Taiyuan, declared himself as Grand General, Grand Chanyu, and Eternal Qin King, issued a general amnesty, adopted the era name 'Baique,' and began his rule. He appointed Yin Xiang as the Left Chancellor of Tianshui and Pang Yan as the Right Chancellor of Nan'an, with Yao Huang and Yin Wei as the Left and Right Marshals, Di Bozhi, Jiao Qian, Liang Xi, Pang Wei, and Ren Qian as the Middle Attendants, Jiang Xun and Yan Zun as advisors, and as military advisors, along with Wang Ju, Jiao Shi, Jiang Xiu, Yin Yannian, Niu Shuang, Zhang Qian as generals, Wang Qinlu, Yao Fangcheng, Wang Polu, Yang Nan, Yin Song, Pei Qi, Zhao Yao, Di Guang, Dang Shan, and others.
Murong Chong fought against Fu Jian, who had a formidable military force. Yao Chang originally wanted to go west, but worried that Murong Chong would block him, so he sent envoys to negotiate with Murong Chong, offering his son Yao Chong as a pledge, and stationed his troops in Beidi, actively preparing for battle and waiting for the right moment. Previously, Fu Jian had relocated several thousand households of Jin Dynasty civilians to Fulu, but they all chose to surrender to Yao Chang. More than ten thousand households of Qiang and Hu people in Beidi, Xinping, and Anding regions also surrendered to him. Fu Jian personally led his generals in an attack against Yao Chang, but they were unable to capture him.
Upon hearing that Murong Chong was attacking Chang'an, Yao Chang discussed strategies for attacking Chang'an. His subordinates all said, "We should first take Xianyang to gain control over the region." Yao Chang said, "The Yan Kingdom rose with soldiers nostalgic for the old dynasty. If we achieve success quickly, they will all want to return to the east. How can we occupy Guanzhong for a long time? I want to move the army to Lingbei, accumulate food and grass, and when the Qin Kingdom weakens and the Yan Kingdom retreats, we can easily take it down. Without spending a single soldier, we can pacify the world, just like Bian Zhuangzi waiting for the tiger to tire itself out." Fu Jian's General Ning Shuo, Song Fang, led three thousand cavalry from Yunzhong to Chang'an, but Yao Chang ambushed him in Erxian and secured a victory. Song Fang escaped alone, while his Marshal Tian Huang surrendered his troops to Yao Chang. Yao Chang sent his generals to attack Xinping and captured it, and then continued to attack Anding, where the cities in Lingbei surrendered to him.
At this time, Fu Jian was forced into a corner by Murong Chong and fled to Wujiang Mountain. Murong Chong entered Chang'an. Fu Jian's officials, including Colonel of the Capital Quan Yi, Minister Zhao Qian, Grand Herald Huangfu Fu, Household Counsellor Xue Zan, and Prefect of Fufeng Duan Kang, along with several hundred civil and military officials, all fled to surrender to Yao Chang. Yao Chang sent General of Cavalry Wu Zhong to lead cavalry to surround Fu Jian, while he himself went to Xinping. Soon Wu Zhong captured Fu Jian and brought him to Yao Chang.
Murong Chong sent his General of Chariots and Cavalry Gao Gai to lead fifty thousand troops to attack Yao Chang. The two sides clashed south of Xinping, with Yao Chang achieving a decisive victory. Gao Gai surrendered to Yao Chang with several thousand men and was appointed as Cavalier Attendant. Murong Chong led his army eastward, leaving Chang'an empty. The Hu people of the Lu River in Chang'an proclaimed Haonu as emperor, and the people north of the Wei River responded to him. King Lin of Fufeng defended Ma Wei with several thousand soldiers and horses. Haonu sent his brother to attack King Lin. Yao Chang attacked King Lin, defeated him, and King Lin fled to Hanzhong. Yao Chang captured Haonu's brother, then attacked Haonu, who ultimately surrendered.
In 385 AD, Chang usurped the throne from Fu Jian and became emperor in Chang'an. He issued a general amnesty, changed the era name to Jianchu, changed the country's name to Da Qin, and renamed it Chang'an. He appointed his wife Shao Shi as empress, his son Xing as crown prince, and established various official positions. He claimed to have inherited the territory of the Fu clan, followed the tradition of the Han dynasty's succession from the Zhou dynasty, and wore clothing in the style of the Han dynasty. He also relocated over five thousand households from Anding Commandery to Chang'an. He appointed his brother Xu as Colonel of the Capital to defend Chang'an.
Chang personally led troops to Anding, defeating Jin Xi, the Hu leader, and Mei Yu, the Xianbei leader from Liangzhou, securing a significant victory. Then he went to Qinzhou to confront Wang Tong, the governor appointed by Fu Jian. At that time, more than 20,000 households of the Tuge people in Tianshui and the Qiang and Hu people in Lueyang rallied to Chang's cause. Wang Tong, fearing defeat, surrendered. Chang rewarded his soldiers in Shanggui, and the native of Nan'an, Gu Chengshen, advised him: "Our Nan'an Prefecture is vast, densely populated, and characterized by rugged terrain and abundant talent; it is a place for military and political talents. Wang Tong, as the Qinzhou governor, failed to attract talents, resulting in a stalemate in Qinzhou, only focusing on enjoyment, resulting in the current predicament. Your Majesty should distribute the wealth of Qinzhou to the army and commend those who have made contributions to meet the expectations of the people in the border areas." Chang agreed with him and promoted him to be an official. He also appointed his brother, Shuo De, as the military commander of the Longyou region, General of the Westward Expedition, Qinzhou governor, and concurrently as the Protector of the Eastern Qiang, stationed in Shanggui. After returning to Anding, Chang governed with diligence and kindness towards the people, reduced unnecessary expenses, and addressed various issues of the time. He promoted and appointed individuals among the common people who displayed talent and virtue.
When Chang Hong was in Qinzhou, he was defeated by Fu Deng, as recorded in the "Biography of Fu Deng." Later, Chang Hong's son, Xing, was stationed in Chang'an, quite distant from Fu Deng. The Prefect of Fengyi, Lan Du, who served under Fu Deng, quarreled with Fu Shino, and Murong Yong attacked them. Lan Du sent someone to ask Chang Hong for help. As Chang Hong was preparing to go to the rescue, Minister Yao Min and Left Protector Yin Wei advised him, saying, "Fu Deng is near Wating now, Your Majesty, you should not act rashly." However, Chang Hong said, "Fu Deng is slow and indecisive, always missing good opportunities. When he hears that I am going to lead the campaign myself, he will surely be busy gathering troops and supplies from all over, and he will not dare to advance into enemy territory rashly. In two months, I can take down these three rebels, and my plan will definitely succeed!" Thus, Chang Hong's army was stationed in Woyuan. Fu Shino led his army to intercept, and a large battle broke out. Ultimately, Fu Shino was defeated, and all his soldiers were taken prisoner. Chang Hong also captured Lan Du, seized his troops and warhorses. Afterwards, Chang Hong dug out the body of Fu Jian, viciously beat him, stripped him bare, covered the body with thorns, then dug a grave and buried him. Wang Xuan, the General of Murong Yong's Western Expedition, also surrendered his army to Chang Hong.
At first, the heroes of the Guanzhong region all thought that the Fu family had been wiped out. Chang Hong's military talent and strategic acumen were unparalleled, and he could change the course of history with a single move. However, after years of conflict with Fu Deng, Chang Hong was defeated several times. People from all around were contemplating whether to abandon him for others. Only the generals Zhi Nan, Guan Jun, Fu Guo, Guan Wei, Long Xiang, and Zhen Bei remained loyal and steadfast, without any hesitation. They left their children at the camp to manage the supply of provisions, while leading elite soldiers to follow Chang Hong in battles on all sides. At that time, Chang Hong had many camps, so people called his army the "Great Camp," a term that originated at that time. As heavy snow fell, Chang Hong wrote a decree, deeply reflecting on his shortcomings. He brought forth silk and treasures from the harem to support the troops, subsisting on only one type of vegetable, and his wife also refrained from wearing luxurious attire. If soldiers fell in battle, they were posthumously promoted by two ranks; if soldiers died, they were also rewarded. He also established an academy and honored the sages. A man from Dunhuang named Suolu Yao requested to assassinate Fu Deng, and Chang Hong asked, "If you're risking your life to carry out this assassination, who is it for?" Suolu Yao said, "After I die, please take care of my friend, Xinxian from Longxi." Chang Hong then sent him. The plan was uncovered, and Fu Deng executed Suolu Yao. Chang Hong subsequently appointed Xinxian as a cavalry commander.
Once upon a time, Fu Jian attacked Anding, and his generals advised him to fight a decisive battle with Fu Deng. Fu Jian said, "It is a major taboo in military strategy to compete with a desperate enemy. I will use tactics to win." So he left Minister of Personnel Yao Min to defend Anding, and he himself led his troops to conduct a night raid on the supplies of Fu Deng's army, successfully capturing them at Dajie. Some generals wanted to pursue the retreating forces of Fu Deng while they were in disarray, but Fu Jian said, "Although Fu Deng's army is currently in chaos, they are still filled with anger. We cannot act recklessly now." So the pursuit was stopped. Fu Jian felt that Anding was narrow and sparsely populated, and too close to Fu Deng's army, which made it difficult to defend. Therefore, he sent Yao Shuode to guard Anding, moved over a thousand households from Anding to Yinmi, and sent his younger brother to guard Nanjing. He established the Altar of the State in Chang'an. People over seventy years old with noble character were appointed as officials of the second rank, and they received annual rewards of cattle and wine.
Yin Wei and Yao Huang asked Gu Chengsheng: "Fu Deng, this desperate bandit, has not been eliminated for so many years. Those scheming villains are everywhere inciting trouble, and the people of all ethnic groups are losing heart. What should we do?" Chengsheng said: "Your Majesty is wise and martial; rewards and punishments are clear. Those talented individuals are willing to serve Your Majesty. Why worry about major events not succeeding and the Di tribe's bandits not being eliminated?" Yin Wei said again: "Fu Deng, this desperate bandit has not been extinguished yet. Those scheming villains are everywhere colluding. Shouldn't we be afraid?" Chengsheng said: "The Three Qins region is the country of abundance, and Your Majesty already controls eighty percent. Now, the only ones we need to worry about are Fu Deng, Yang Ding, and Lei Edi. The other small fries are not worth mentioning! Moreover, Lei Edi has a small force, not worth worrying about. Fu Deng relies only on a motley crew, barely hanging on. When it comes to intelligence and martial prowess, he’s no match for Your Majesty. To achieve the ambition of hegemony, obstacles must be cleared first in order to stabilize the world in the end. The Han and Wei dynasties both took over ten years to unify the country; five or six years is not considered long. Your Majesty is incredibly clever, exceptionally brave, and unmatched in the world; capturing Fu Deng will be more than enough. I hope Your Majesty can show grace, recruit talents widely, strengthen the military, and wait for the right time. If I fail to achieve my grand plan, I'm willing to accept execution!" Yin Wei conveyed Chengsheng's words to Fu Jian, who was very pleased and appointed Chengsheng as the Marquis of Guannei.
Lei E led everyone in surrendering to Yao Chang and was appointed General of Zhen Dong. At this time, Wei He Fei proclaimed himself Grand General and Sky King, leading tens of thousands of Di and Hu tribesmen to attack Anbei Yao Dang City, located in Xingcheng. Lei E also responded to Wei He Fei's attack, targeting Zhen Dong's Yao Han De in Li Run. Yao Chang planned to personally lead a campaign against them, but his ministers advised him, saying, "Your Majesty, why are you not concerned about Fu Deng, just sixty miles from Chang'an, yet worried about Wei He Fei, who is six hundred miles away?" Yao Chang said, "Fu Deng cannot be defeated all at once, and my city cannot be easily captured by Fu Deng. Lei E is a very clever person, beyond what ordinary people can compare. He is drawing Wei He Fei from the south, allying with Dong Cheng in the east, and scheming with charm. If they take Xingcheng and Li Run, and Lei E holds those territories, he will be able to control the region and support each other. By then, the northeast of Chang'an will be out of my hands." So Yao Chang secretly mobilized his troops.
At that time, Yao Chang's army had fewer than two thousand troops, while the combined armies of Wei Hefei and Lei Ede had tens of thousands of soldiers, with a continuous stream of Di and Hu soldiers coming to support them. Every time Yao Chang saw a new army arriving, he wore a smile. The ministers were very surprised and asked him why. Yao Chang said, "Now these scoundrels are all colluding with each other and gathering together, so I can take advantage of this opportunity to wipe out their stronghold in one decisive blow. There will be no more enemies in the northeast direction!" Wei Hefei and the others saw that Yao Chang's forces were few, so they launched an all-out assault. Yao Chang held his ground and refrained from battle, feigning weakness. He secretly sent his son Yao Chong to lead a few hundred cavalry to launch a surprise attack on Wei Hefei's rear. Wei Hefei's army was thrown into disarray, and Yao Chang then sent the generals Zhenyuan Wang Yao Chao and Pingyuan General Tan Liang to lead infantry and cavalry to attack. Wei Hefei was slain, along with over ten thousand others beheaded. Lei Ede sought to surrender, and Yao Chang treated him as he always had. Lei Ede often told others, "I consider my wisdom and courage sufficient to be a hero of my era. Compared to those heroes, people like me should command respect across vast lands. But I was defeated by Yao Gong's strategy; such is my fate!" Lei Ede was resolute and courageous, upright and serious, not allowing others to do anything against morality. The heroes of Lingbei all greatly respected him. Yao Chang ordered his generals to plant a tree in a gap in the camp's wall to commemorate his military achievements. More than a year later, Yao Chang inquired, "How is it going?" The general replied, "The camp was too small, so I’ve expanded it." Yao Chang said, "Battles in the past were never as satisfying as they are now. Using one thousand six hundred men to defeat thirty thousand, the great endeavors of the nation can only succeed this way. A minor victory is considered miraculous; what's there to boast about in a great victory?"
Once upon a time, Hu Caoyin and Wang Da presented three thousand war horses, and the imperial court appointed Caoyin as General of the Northern Frontier and Governor of Bingzhou, while Wang Da was made General of the Distant Garrison and Prefect of Jincheng.
Next, let's talk about General Chang. He was known for his straightforwardness—when his subordinates made mistakes, he would often rebuke them to their faces and would even insult them. The Minister of Ceremonies, Quan Yi, advised him: "General, you have a broad mind, not bound by trivial matters, able to lead the heroes and gather talents, forgiving past grievances and recruiting talents widely. This truly reflects the generosity of the founding emperor! However, your disrespectful demeanor should still be changed." General Chang replied, "That's just my personality! I don't have the virtues of Emperor Shun, not even a bit; but I have learned a bit from the flaws of Emperor Han Gaozu. If I don’t heed honest advice, how would I know when I’m wrong?"
The leader of the Southern Qiang, Dou Yang, surrendered along with five thousand families, and the court appointed him as General of the West Garrison.
General Chang ordered the execution of anyone seeking personal vengeance. For those soldiers who died in battle, funerals were arranged in accordance with their families’ wishes, and their families received support and care.
General Zhendong Gou Yao occupied the area of Wanbao and secretly colluded with Fu Deng. General Chang fought with Fu Deng, suffered defeat at Matouyuan, but quickly regrouped his forces for another battle. Yao Shuode said to other generals, "The general has always been cautious and prefers to win through strategy. Now that we have been defeated and are still approaching the enemy, there must be a reason behind it." General Chang heard this and said to Yao Shuode, "Fu Deng is slow to deploy his troops and does not have a clear understanding of the enemy's situation. Now he advances with lightly armed troops, directly occupying my east side; it must be that Gou Yao and he are in cahoots. If this continues, things will get complicated, and the consequences will be unpredictable. That's why I want to fight quickly; I want to defeat them before Gou Yao has a chance to strategize and collaborate with him." So he went to battle again, achieved a resounding victory, and Fu Deng retreated to Mai County. Fu Deng's general Jinchui surrendered to General Chang with Xinping, and General Chang recklessly entered Jinchui's camp with just a few hundred cavalry. His subordinates cautioned him against it, but General Chang said, "Since Jinchui has left Fu Deng and still wants to plot against me, where else would he go? Besides, he just surrendered, indicating his submission. If I don't trust him, how can I maintain control?" Indeed, those Di people had their own ulterior motives, but Jinchui ultimately refrained from participating, and the situation was diffused. Later, General Chang secretly attacked Fu Deng and instructed Fu Deng's crown prince Xing, "Gou Yao is sly and poses a threat to the country. He will come to see you when he hears that I have returned to the north. When that happens, make sure to capture him." Gou Yao did come to Chang'an to see Fu Deng's crown prince Xing, and Xing sent Yin Wei to execute him.
General Chang achieved a great victory east of Anding and hosted a banquet to celebrate. All the generals and soldiers said, "If we encounter Cao Cao, how could those bandits still be around? You are too kind!" General Chang smiled and said, "Compared to my late brother, I fall short in four aspects: first, he was eight feet five inches tall, with arms that reached his knees, which frightened people at first sight; second, he could command an army of one hundred thousand, rivaling heroes from across the land. As soon as he waved his flag, the soldiers would bravely advance, with no force able to stand in their way; third, he was knowledgeable about both ancient and modern topics, proficient in various studies and skills, able to control heroes and talents; and fourth, he led the army, remaining calm even in the face of danger, fostering unity and inspiring everyone to fight bravely. Therefore, he was able to establish great achievements, entrusting important tasks to many talented individuals, all because of his outstanding strategy and foresight." The courtiers all cheered.
General Chang ordered all stationed troops in various regions to establish schools, which must remain in place. Regular assessments would be conducted, and promotions and appointments would be based on their abilities. The General of the Valiant Cavalry, Fu Deng, led six thousand households to surrender. General Chang appointed him as the Governor-General, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Duke of Gaoping.
General Chang fell seriously ill and appointed Yao Shuode to guard Li Run, while Yin Wei guarded Chang'an. He called the Crown Prince, Fu Xing, to the camp. General Yao Fangcheng said to Fu Xing, "The enemy is still out there, the Emperor is seriously ill, and Wang Tong, Fu Yin, and others all have their own armies, which will surely become a threat. They should all be eliminated." Fu Xing then killed Fu Yin, Wang Tong, Wang Guang, Xu Cheng, and Mao Sheng, before he went to see General Chang. When Fu Xing arrived, General Chang angrily said, "Wang Tong and his brothers were my fellow townsmen, without any other ambitions. Xu Cheng and others were all famous generals in the Qin Dynasty. The world has just been pacified, and I was planning to reemploy them. How could you easily kill them, making people feel uneasy?"
General Chang issued an order that all soldiers and officials involved in the campaign, if their household registration is in the camp, their descendants can inherit their family estate for generations to come without worry. Fu Deng and Dou Chong faced off, and General Chang intended to take the lead in the attack. Yin Wei said to General Chang, "The Crown Prince's reputation for kindness is well-known far and wide, but his military abilities are not yet widely known. The Crown Prince should take part in the campaign himself, gradually increasing his prestige and intimidating the enemy." General Chang accepted his advice and warned Fu Xing, "The enemy will soon know you’re coming; they will surely retreat to the fortress and concentrate their forces to resist. As long as you surround them, you will surely win." When Fu Xing arrived at Hukong Fortress, Dou Chong himself lifted the siege. Fu Deng heard that Fu Xing had gone to Hukong Fortress and withdrew his troops. Fu Xing took advantage of the victory, captured Pingliang, secured a decisive victory, and everything unfolded as General Chang had planned. Then Fu Xing was summoned back to guard Chang'an.
In summary, those who badmouthed Fu Chang, or exposed his past misdeeds, were all punished by Fu Chang using their own misdeeds against them. Later, the Jin Dynasty's General Pingyuan, Protector of the Di Yang Fosong, surrendered to Fu Chang along with over three thousand Hu and Shu households. Jin Dynasty generals Yang Quanqi and Zhao Mu pursued them, so Fu Chang dispatched Yao Chong to their aid, resulting in a significant defeat for the Jin army and the death of Zhao Mu. Afterwards, Fu Chang appointed Yang Fosong as the General of the Eastern Command.
On the way back to Chang'an, Fu Chang fell seriously ill when he reached Xinzhibao and could only sit slowly in a sedan chair. In the middle of the night, he had a nightmare in which Fu Jian led the heavenly emissaries and hundreds of ghost soldiers into the camp. Fu Chang was so scared that he hurried into the palace, where the people mistook him for a "ghost" and accidentally stabbed him in the groin. The "ghosts" then exclaimed to each other, "Right in the vital spot!" and pulled out their spears, causing blood to pour out. When Fu Chang woke up, he was both shocked and afraid, and he found his groin swollen. He called for a doctor to perform acupuncture and bloodletting, releasing as much blood as he had seen in his dream. After that, Fu Chang began to talk nonsense, at times exclaiming, "Your Majesty, it was actually your brother Fu Xiang who killed you, not me! Please don't blame me!"
Upon arriving in Chang'an, Fu Chang summoned the Grand Commandant Yao Min, the Minister of Works Zuo Pushe Yin Wei, the Minister of the Right Yao Huang, and the Minister Di Bozhi, entrusting the governance of the country to them to support Fu Deng. Fu Chang said to Fu Deng, "If anyone slanders these people, you mustn't trust it. Treat your family with kindness, treat your ministers with respect, keep your promises, and show kindness to the people. If you manage these four things well, I won’t have any worries." In the eighteenth year of the Taiyuan era, Fu Chang passed away at the age of sixty-four after reigning for eight years. He was posthumously honored as Emperor Wuzhao, known by the temple name Taizu, with his tomb designated as Yuanling.
