Wow, there's a long list of names here, all government officials: Wang Xun, Cai Bao, Yang Jian, Liu Yin, Huan Xuan (and his son Huan Yi), Zhu Ci, Mao Bao (his son Mu Zhi, grandson Qu, and a relative named Dezhu), Liu Xia, Deng Yue (Deng Yue's son Liu Xia, and another named Zhu Xu).
Wang Xun, style name Shaobo, was from Weixing. He first served as an official known for his filial piety and integrity in the county, then became a historian in the Department of Personnel, and later was promoted to Palace General. He gradually rose through the ranks and eventually became the Prefect of Shangluo. The cattle and horses he had raised during his tenure, as well as the calves and foals born, were all handed over to the government after his term ended, claiming they were produced in the county. He was later promoted to Prefect of Weixing.
When Emperor Hui was critically ill, the Inspector of Ningzhou, Li Yi, died, and over a hundred people in the city died defending it with Li Yi's daughter for over a year. In the fourth year of Yongjia, Mao Meng, the Assistant Prefect of Ningzhou, went to the capital to request the court to send an Inspector, but he didn't even get to see anyone. Mao Meng was so desperate that he cried out loud, saying, "The Inspector is dead, families in the city are destroyed, people are dying, holding out in isolation. I came all this way to plead, but the court is not helping at all. I am ashamed that I did not move the King of Qin like Bao Xie did, and I am ashamed that I cannot move heaven and earth like Liang's wife. I might as well be dead; please let me die, Your Majesty!" His words moved the court, and they sent Wang Xun to serve as Colonel of the Southern Tribes and Inspector of Ningzhou to restore order.
I set out with Meng Huo, but we ran into bandits halfway, which set us back by over a year. Upon arrival, Li Xiong was looming outside, while there was internal chaos caused by local tribes. The soldiers were scattered and perished, and the cities turned into ruins. I forged ahead, gathered the scattered troops, implemented strict measures, and took a hard line against the local tribes. Before I even reached the province, I promoted Dong Lian to scholar from a distance. When I arrived, I arrested Zhou Yue and executed him for resisting the appointment. Zhou Yue's brother secretly plotted to kill me and even recruited Zhao Tao, the son of the former Jianning Prefect, as a scapegoat to take the fall. Their scheme fell apart, and I had them all executed. I also executed many influential figures who defied the law, around several dozen families. I then launched a campaign against the local tribes, capturing and killing thousands, and seizing tens of thousands of horses, cattle, and sheep. Everyone recognized my authority, and my reputation in Ningzhou was solidified. I sent my son Cheng to petition the Emperor for additional titles. The Emperor was pleased and continuously promoted me, promoting me to Cavalry Commandant, General of Annan, and Acting General, while keeping my roles as Colonel and Governor, and granting me the title of Count of Baozhong County. I believed the terrain was well-suited for both defense and development, so I proposed to create Pingyi County from Manghe County, Nanguang County from Zhuti County, Yelang County from Jianning County, Liangshui County from Yongchang County, and rename Yizhou County as Jinning County. These proposals were all successfully carried out.
Before, the Governor of Yue Xi, Li Zhao, was captured by Li Xiong, but later escaped back from Shu territory. I then appointed him as the Governor of Yue Xi once more. Li Xiong sent Li Xiang and Ren to attack Li Zhao. Li Zhao, together with Wang Zai, the Governors of Nan Qin and Han Jia, resisted them and fought a battle at Wenshui. Li Zhao was defeated, leading Wang Zai to surrender both Nan Qin and Han Jia to Li Xiong. Later, Li Xiang and his troops crossed the Lu River to attack Ningzhou. I sent Generals Yao Chong and Cuan Chen to resist them, and they fought a battle at Tanglang, defeating Li Xiang's forces. Yao Chong even chased them to the Lu River bank, killing over a thousand. Due to the long distance, Yao Chong did not dare to cross the river to continue the pursuit. I was furious that Yao Chong did not pursue them relentlessly, so I imprisoned all the generals and severely whipped Yao Chong. My anger was so intense that my hair stood on end, and I even broke my hat. That night, I died of anger. Lao Su had served as an official in the state for fourteen years, and the people of the state elected his son, Su Jian, to take over the management of state affairs. Later, the court appointed Su Jian as the Colonel of Nan Yi, the Inspector of Ningzhou, and gave him the insignia of military authority. Su Xun was posthumously honored as "Zhuang." Tao Kan was worried that Su Jian could not handle the people of Shu, so at the end of the Taining period, he memorialized the court to send the Governor of Lingling, Yin Feng, to replace Su Jian as the Inspector of Ningzhou and recall Su Jian to the capital. As a result, Su Jian died from an illness on his way back to the capital. His brother, Su Cheng, inherited his title and later served as the Governor of Wei Xing and a Cavalier Attendant.
Cai Bao, styled Shixuan, was a native of Yucheng, Chenliu. His grandfather Cai Zhi was the Chief of the Imperial Guards of the Han Dynasty and the uncle of Cai Yong, the Left General of the Han Dynasty; his great-grandfather Cai Mu was the Minister of Personnel of the Wei Kingdom; his father Cai Hong was the Governor of Yinping. Cai Bao was a man of great ambition, serving as the magistrate of Henan, and later as the Prefect of Changle and Qinghe counties. Later, during the chaos in the country, he fled south to seek refuge, and Emperor Yuan of Jin appointed him General Zhenwu and Prefect of Linhuai, later promoting him to General Jianwei and Inspector of Xuzhou. Initially, Zu Ti was the Inspector of Xuzhou, and Cai Bao was his Marshal, who was well-regarded by Zu Ti. However, when Zu Ti was promoted to the Inspector of Yuzhou, Cai Bao took over as the Inspector of Xuzhou, both bearing the heavy responsibility of fighting the enemy, which made Zu Ti feel ashamed.
At that time, Xu Gan, the Prefect of Mount Tai, and Liu Xia, the Interior Minister of Pengcheng, joined forces to attack the rebel Zhou Fu, resulting in Zhou Fu's death at Xu Gan's hands. When it was time to reward their achievements, Liu Xia took credit first. Furious, Xu Gan rebelled, declaring himself the General of Anbei and the Inspector of Yanzhou, and even seized the territory of Hou Shimao, the Prefect of Dongguan. When Shi Le heard about this, he led troops to attack Xu Gan, who, fearing for his life, surrendered and was accepted back by the Emperor. However, not long after, he rebelled once more and fled to Shi Le. Shi Le sent Wang Fudu, Zhang Jing, and hundreds of cavalry to support him. The court subsequently dispatched General Yang Jian, known for subduing the Xiongnu, General Hou Li, Prefect Liu Xia, Xianbei Duan Wenyang, and others, alongside Cai Bao (referring to military leaders, not animals), to campaign against Xu Gan.
The generals were all afraid, stopped near Pei County, and dared not advance. Leopard wanted to fight, but Yang Jian firmly opposed. Xu Gan sent someone to ask Shi Le for help, and Shi Le claimed to have difficulties but requested a significant amount of supplies from Xu Gan. Moreover, Wang Fudou and his men mistreated Xu Gan's family. Xu Gan realized Shi Le would not come to his aid, and seeing Wang Fudou and his men’s arrogance, he killed them and sought to surrender once more. The emperor was furious, viewing Xu Gan as fickle and dismissing his surrender outright, ordering Leopard and Yang Jian to continue the attack according to the plan. Yang Jian and Liu Xia were suspicious of one another, refusing to heed each other's counsel, and even exchanged letters to accuse one another, so Leopard could not advance for a long time.
Diao Xie, the Minister of the Left, reported: "After careful consideration of the situation in Huaibei, we have missed our best chance. It is now midsummer, and crossing the mountains will be difficult, as the locals are skilled archers who know the terrain well. A single defender can hold a strategic position against a hundred attackers. Moreover, transporting food and supplies is very difficult. If one day the food is not enough, it will be unstoppable by manpower. The Book of Documents states that it is better to endure insults than to inflict them on others. We should stay put, strengthen our defense, and wait until autumn to send troops." The emperor said, "Recognizing when to retreat is indeed in line with military strategy. However, this little thief, while cunning, will ultimately be captured. Retreating without even engaging the enemy leads to self-destruction, a fate the ancients warned against. Moreover, Shao Cun has already taken the enemy's stronghold, and our momentum is strong; we cannot afford to retreat any further!"
Therefore, the emperor sent Hao Gu to act as the acting governor and urge them to move forward. Bao wanted to attack directly, but Yang Jian still opposed this plan. Diao Xie submitted a petition to dismiss Yang Jian from his post, appointed Bao as the vanguard, transferred Yang Jian's army to him, demoted Yang Jian, and allowed him the chance to redeem himself later. Bao advanced and occupied Biancheng in an attempt to pressure Xu Gan. At this time, Shi Le was stationed in Juping, preparing to attack Bao. Bao fled overnight and retreated to Pei County. Xu Gan launched an attack on Bao's supply line at Tanqiu, and Generals Liu Chong and Lu Dang fought bravely and died.
Bao was defeated and was considering returning to confess. However, Wang Shu, the General of the Northern Central Army, stopped him and said, "The barbarian invaders are coming. General, you should fulfill your duty and defend the people against external enemies first. It's not too late to confess after the enemy retreats." Bao followed his advice. When Emperor Yuan heard that Bao had retreated, he sent someone to arrest him. When the messenger arrived, Wang Shu surrounded Bao at night. Thinking it was another difficulty, Bao led his troops to counterattack, but later stopped when he learned of the imperial edict. Wang Shu arrested Bao, escorted him to Jiankang, executed him publicly, and displayed his body in the market for three days. Bao was 52 years old at that time.
When Bao was in Xuzhou, he pacified his soldiers internally and united people of all ethnic groups externally, winning the affection and respect of people from near and far. Many mourned his death upon hearing the news. Bao had no sons, but his nephew, Yi, whose courtesy name was Yuanzi, achieved the ranks of Cavalier in Regular Attendance, Governor of Yanzhou, and Marquis of Gaoyang. Later, Yin Hao launched a Northern Expedition and sent Yi to lead the army from Pengcheng. He ultimately fell in battle.
Yang Jian, styled Jingqi, was from Mount Tai. His father, Yang Ji, once served as the General of the Chariots and Cavalry of the Xiongnu. His elder brother, Yang Wei, held the positions of Grand Herald and Inspector of Yanzhou and Xuzhou. Yang Jian was appointed as the Prefect of Dongyang, and later rose through the ranks to become the Crown Prince's Left Guard Commander. During the rebellion of Xu Gan, Minister Wang Dao believed that, as a member of the prestigious Yang family from Xu Gan's hometown, Yang Jian could subdue him, and requested the court to send him to the north to suppress the rebellion. Yang Jian repeatedly declined, stating that he did not have the talent for military command. The Grand Commandant Chi Jian also submitted a memorial stating that Yang Jian lacked such abilities and should not be appointed lightly. However, Wang Dao insisted on appointing him as the campaign commander, which resulted in defeat. Wang Dao, feeling responsible for recommending Yang Jian, offered to step down, but the Emperor did not agree. Yang Jian was sentenced to death by the authorities, but Emperor Yuan, due to Yang Jian's empress being a distant relative of the imperial family, pardoned him from execution but stripped him of his official title. After some time, he was appointed as the Minister of Revenue. When Wang Dun rebelled, Emperor Ming, being Yang Jian's uncle and having a close bond with him, had some suspicions and reproaches towards him. When Emperor Cheng ascended the throne, Yang Jian participated in the campaign against Su Jun and was granted the title of Marquis of Fengcheng for his military achievements, later rising to the rank of Grandee of the Palace. He eventually passed away.
Liu Yin, styled Chengyin, was from Ye County in Shandong and a descendant of King Dao of Qi of the Han Dynasty. He was handsome, confident, and mingled with prominent figures of the time, gaining fame in the Shandong region and being admired by many. Some recommended him as a virtuous and honorable person and urged him to serve as a minor official under the Minister of Works, but he refused. Amidst the chaos of the realm, he planned to flee to Liaodong with his mother for refuge. However, when passing through Youzhou, the Inspector of Youzhou, Wang Jun, kept him and recommended him for the position of Prefect of Bohai. After Wang Jun's defeat, Liu Yin sought refuge with Shao Xu, the Inspector of Jizhou.
Shao Xu had very few troops and was considering surrendering to Shi Le. Liu Yin advised Shao Xu, saying, "Tian Dan and Bao Xu were merely minor officials from the states of Qi and Chu, yet they were able to save their nearly destroyed countries and make them strong again. General, you have elite soldiers and strong generals, holding fortified cities. How can you so easily give up the rewards that are within reach and hand over your loyal and trustworthy men to wolves and tigers? Moreover, Xiang Yu and Yuan Shao were also powerful, but when Liu Bang wore mourning clothes, everyone followed him; when Cao Cao supported the emperor, the various lords kept to themselves. Why? Because the outcomes of aligning with or going against the will of heaven are different, as dictated by natural laws. Besides, those undisciplined barbarians gathered together, and even if they are numerous, will ultimately be slaughtered like livestock. Are you really considering joining them? Doesn’t that seem very risky?"
Shao Xu asked, "If that's the case, what should I do?" Liu Yin said, "The King of Langya is renowned for his virtuous conduct, and he has established a stronghold in the south, with a bright future ahead. Right now, the best course of action for you is to resist Shi Le, to inspire righteous scholars and rally around loyal and upright individuals to boost the morale of the soldiers. Keep things under wraps, because once the right moment arrives, it’ll be hard to go back. Success or failure, rise or fall, all hinges on this moment." Shao Xu followed his advice, executed a few dissenters, sent envoys to the south, and the court was quite pleased. Liu Yin then requested to leave, and Shao Xu provided him with a generous amount for his journey.
Liu Yin arrived in Jiankang, and the emperor appointed him as a military officer as an aide to the Prime Minister, later promoting him to the position of Ministerial Official in the Ministry of Personnel. Hearing that Shi Jilong was attacking Yanci, Liu Yin said to the emperor, "The officials in the northern provinces have all surrendered; only Shao Xu is still resisting. If Shao Xu is defeated by Shi Jilong, those righteous scholars will lose their place to return to, unable to find a place in the court. I believe that troops should be sent to rescue him." The emperor was preparing to send troops for rescue, but Shao Xu died in battle, so the rescue effort was called off.
Wang Dun had always been on good terms with Liu Yin, greatly respected him, and wanted him to be his Right General. Knowing that Wang Dun had rebellious intentions, Liu Yin pretended to be ill and did not attend court, to go against Wang Dun's wishes. He was then sent as the Prefect of Yuzhang, where Liu Yin declined the position because of a foot ailment. The court then sent someone to deliver the seal to his home for him to take office. There was a local bully named Mo Hong in Yuzhang, who took advantage of the chaotic times to kill the county magistrate and oppress the people. After Liu Yin took office, he executed Mo Hong and other powerful figures, restoring order in Yuzhang.
In the early years of the Xianhe period, Liu Yin held the position of Military Governor of the Pingnan Army and was also appointed as a Cavalry Attendant. When Su Jun rebelled, Wen Qiao led troops south to suppress the rebellion, leaving Liu Yin and others to guard Penkou. After the rebellion was quelled, in recognition of his contributions, he was granted the title of Marquis of Fengcheng. Shortly after, Liu Yin succeeded Wen Qiao as the Pingnan General, Commander-in-Chief of the military forces in Jiangzhou, Governor of Jiangzhou, and was granted an honorary title of distinction.
Liu Ying's official position rose steadily, and he grew increasingly arrogant, indulging in wine and pleasure, neglecting political affairs, and brazenly amassing wealth. His business dealings amassed a fortune of millions. When Liu Ying succeeded Wen Qiao, many believed it was a poor choice. Both Tao Kan and Xi Jian believed Liu Ying was unfit for a local official role, but the court dismissed their concerns. Someone asked Wang Yue, "Now after the great chaos, discipline has been relaxed, with tens of thousands of refugees fleeing from Jiangling to Jiankang, many concentrated in Jiangzhou. Jiangzhou is the country's southern gateway, a strategic location, yet Liu Ying remains indulgent and neglectful. Without external threats, internal strife is bound to arise." Wang Yue said, "I heard that Wen Pingnan mentioned to my grandfather that he had been having recurring nightmares and wanted to find a successor. Eventually, he suggested Liu Ying as a candidate. This was Wen Qiao's suggestion, not my grandfather's."
At that time, the court was in disarray, and officials received no salaries and relied solely on the grain transportation from Jiangzhou. However, Liu Ying prioritized personal gain over public duty. The relevant authorities impeached Liu Ying, leading to his dismissal. Shortly after the impeachment was announced, Liu Ying was assassinated by Guo Mo at the age of forty-nine. His son, Liu Chisong, succeeded him, married the Princess of Nanping, and rose to the ranks of Yellow Gate Attendant and Prefect of Yixing.
Huan Xuan is from Bozhou in Anhui. His grandfather, Huan Xu, served as the Chief Clerk of Champions, and his father, Huan Bi, served as the Champion Chief Clerk. Huan Xuan was known for his honesty and reliability, initially serving as a Chamberlain under Emperor Yuan. At that time, there was a man named Zhang Ping, who proclaimed himself the Governor of Yuzhou; and another man named Fan Ya, who proclaimed himself the Prefect of Qiao County. Each of them occupied a city and commanded thousands of troops. The Emperor trusted in Huan Xuan's reliability, and since he was from the same hometown as Zhang Ping and Fan Ya, he promoted him to the position of military advisor and sent him to persuade Zhang Ping and Fan Ya to lay down their arms. Zhang Ping and Fan Ya sent a military registrar to accompany Huan Xuan to the Chamberlain's residence to receive their new appointments. The Emperor appointed them all as fourth-rank generals, allowing them to retain command of their original troops and be responsible for defending against northern enemies. Later, General Wang Han of the Southern Army requested Huan Xuan to serve as his military advisor.
After some time, the Governor of Yuzhou, Zu Ti, stationed his troops in Luzhou and sent his aide Yin Yi to meet with Zhang Ping and Fan Ya. Yin Yi looked down on Zhang Ping, went to Zhang Ping's house, and said he wanted to turn his house into a stable. When he saw the large pot in Zhang Ping's house, he even wanted to melt it down to forge iron tools. Zhang Ping said, "This is a specially made pot for the emperor. It can only be used when the world is at peace. How can you just smash it?" Yin Yi replied, "Can you guarantee the safety of your own head? Are you still worried about this big pot?" Zhang Ping was furious and killed Yin Yi on the spot, then strengthened the defense and guarded the city. More than a year later, Zu Ti attacked Zhang Ping and killed him, while Fan Ya continued to occupy Qiaocheng. Zu Ti did not have enough troops, so he sought help from Wang Han, who sent Huan Xuan with five hundred troops to assist Zu Ti. Zu Ti said to Huan Xuan, "You have previously advised Zhang Ping and Fan Ya and have a good reputation with them. Now go and persuade Fan Ya again. If he surrenders, I will put him in a key position, not only sparing his life but also giving him high positions and rewards." So Huan Xuan only brought one horse and went to Fan Ya with two people, saying to Fan Ya, "Zu Ti is looking to quell your rebellion and has always relied on you. Previously, Yin Yi was arrogant and disrespectful, which was not Zu Ti's intention. Now, if you surrender, you can establish merit and preserve your wealth and status. If you continue to resist, the court will definitely send stronger generals to attack you. Your disorganized forces, relying on dilapidated city walls, facing strong enemies to the north and attacks from the court to the south, you simply cannot protect yourself. I urge you to think this over carefully." Fan Ya and Huan Xuan shared a drink and became sworn brothers, then sent his son to go with Huan Xuan to see Zu Ti. In a few days, Fan Ya personally went to see Zu Ti, who instructed him to return and reassure the people. Fan Ya mentioned that Zu Ti's troops had insulted him repeatedly before, and he was afraid of the repercussions of surrendering. Fan Ya then closed the city and defended it. Zu Ti attacked him again and sent Huan Xuan to persuade him to surrender. Fan Ya killed all those who opposed him, then surrendered to Zu Ti.
Not long after, Shi Le's general surrounded Qiaocheng. Wang Han sent Huan Xuan to lead the army to rescue Zu Di, but before he arrived, the enemy retreated. Zu Di left Huan Xuan to punish those who did not obey, and they were all defeated. Later, Huan Xuan was promoted to the governor of Qiao State.
When Zu Yue abandoned Qiaocheng, Xuan Yi advised him in writing, but Zu Yue did not listen, so Shi Le occupied Chenliu. Later, Zu Yue and Su Jun rebelled together. Xuan Yi said to Zu Yue's brother Zu Zhi, "The powerful barbarians have not been eliminated yet. We should work together to attack them. Can rebelling alongside Su Jun really last? If you want to dominate, why not help the court to attack Su Jun, so your reputation will naturally grow." They did not listen to him. To advise Zu Yue, Xuan Yi sent his son Xuan Rong to request an audience with Zu Yue. Zu Yue knew that Xuan Yi would definitely advise him, so he did not agree. Xuan Yi then broke with Zu Yue and no longer associated with him.
Chen Guang from Shaoling led several hundred households to seek refuge with Xuan Yi, who welcomed them warmly. Zu Yue returned to Liyang, and Xuan Yi, with several thousand households, wanted to move south to seek refuge in Xunyang, setting up camp at Matoushan. Just as Zu Huan was about to attack Penkou, Tao Kan sent Mao Bao to the rescue. Zu Huan sent troops to attack Xuan Yi, who sent his son Xuan Rong to seek help from Mao Bao. Mao Bao defeated Zu Huan, and Xuan Yi allied with Wen Qiao. Wen Qiao appointed Xuan Rong as a military advisor. After the rebellion was quelled, Xuan Yi lived in Wuchang, and Xuan Rong became Liu Yin's military advisor. Guo Mo killed Liu Yin, and Xuan Rong became Guo Mo's military advisor.
Tao Kan attacked Guo Mo, and Guo Mo sent Xuan Rong to ask Xuan Yi for help. Xuan Yi feigned agreement. Deng Yue, the Prefect of Xiyang, and Liu Xu, the Prefect of Wuchang, suspected that Xuan Yi and Guo Mo were colluding. Wang Sui, the West Cao of Yuzhou, remarked, "Xuan Yi had previously betrayed the ancestral agreement; how could he possibly collude with Guo Mo?" Deng Yue and Liu Xu sent Wang Sui to observe Xuan Yi. Wang Sui said to Xuan Yi, "Although you don't think that way in your heart, there is no way to prove yourself except by handing Xuan Rong over to me." Xuan Yi dispatched Xuan Rong along with Wang Sui to meet Tao Kan. Tao Kan appointed Xuan Rong as his advisor and elevated Xuan Yi to the position of Prefect of Wuchang. Soon after, he was promoted to oversee military affairs in Mianzhong, General of the South, and magistrate of Jiangxia.
Under the control of Shi Le, Guo Jing, the Inspector of Jingzhou, was stationed in Xiangyang. Tao Kan sent his son Tao Bin, also known as the Military Counselor of Pingxi, to attack Fancheng with Xuan, and they captured it. Then, Li Yang, the Prefect of Jingling, captured Xinye. Guo Jing was afraid and fled. Tao Xuan and Li Yang successfully pacified Xiangyang. Tao Kan stationed Tao Xuan in Xiangyang and established Yicheng County in some areas south of the Huai River. Tao Xuan recruited and reassured those who had just surrendered, encouraged agricultural development and sericulture, simplified punishments, and reduced unnecessary bureaucratic procedures. Sometimes he even donned coarse cloth garments and appeared in the official carriage while holding a hoe and rake, and at times he personally farmed and harvested. Over the next decade, Shi Jilong sent cavalry to attack him twice, and Tao Xuan, with the support of his soldiers, successfully resisted and triumphed over larger forces each time. He was praised for his military talent, second only to Zu Ti and Zhou Fang.
Tao Kan was planning to send Tao Xuan to the north to participate in the unification efforts, but Tao Kan passed away. Later, Yu Liang became the governor of Jingzhou and planned a northern expedition. He appointed Tao Xuan as the Commander of the Vanguard Forces in Mianbei, General of the Northern Forces, and Governor of Sizhou, and granted him the authority to defend Xiangyang. Shi Jilong sent seven thousand cavalry across the Mian River to attack Xiangyang. Yu Liang sent Sima Wang Qiqi and Fuguo General Mao Bao to rescue Tao Xuan. The enemy tunneled in from three sides to assault the city. Tao Xuan recruited elite soldiers and launched a surprise counterattack, killing hundreds of enemy soldiers, capturing a large number of armor and horses, compelling the enemy to withdraw. Some time later, Tao Xuan sent infantry and cavalry to rescue over eight thousand captives taken by the Shi army in various counties of Nanyang. After Yu Yi succeeded Yu Liang, he aimed to mobilize the full strength of the nation for a northern campaign and appointed Tao Xuan as the commander of the military of the three states of Si, Liang, and Yong, as well as the four counties of Nanyang, Xiangyang, Xinye, and Nanxiang in Jingzhou, Governor of Liangzhou, and maintained his generalship while granting him full authority. Due to his previous military achievements, Tao Xuan was granted the title of male of Jingling County. Tao Xuan guarded Xiangyang for many years, pacifying refugees and the people, achieving notable political success. Yu Yi was transferred to Xiangyang and ordered Tao Xuan to attack Li Pi, a general under Shi Jilong, near Danshui, which ended in defeat. Yu Yi was furious and demoted Tao Xuan to the rank of General Jianwei, assigning him to defend Xianshan. Tao Xuan was physically and mentally drained, compounded by his old age and illness. At that time, Wang Qiqi, the commander of the Southern Barbarians, stationed in Jiangling, requested a transfer due to illness. Yu Yi appointed Tao Xuan as General of the South and Prefect of Nan County to replace Wang Qiqi. Disheartened and unfulfilled, Tao Xuan died before assuming office. He was posthumously promoted to General of the South, with his highest military rank being Prefect of Xinye.
Uncle Yi, his father named Jing, was quite a formidable figure back then, holding high-ranking positions like Shizhong, Danyang Yin, Zhonglingjun, General of Hujun, and Marquis of Changshe. Uncle Yi was also quite skilled in military matters, decisive and straightforward, highly regarded by Wang Meng and Liu Yan, frequently involved in military affairs, and was later promoted to Grand Marshal's Attendant. At that time, Fu Jian's power was very strong, and incidents were common along the border. The court needed to find capable people to fend off external threats, so he was appointed as the Governor of Huainan. Due to his effective governance, he was promoted to Inspector of the Twelve Counties of Yuzhou, Military Commander of the Five Counties of Jiangxi in Yangzhou, named General Who Establishes Might and appointed Taiwei of Liyang. He retained his position as Governor of Huainan. He and Xie Xuan together defeated enemy generals such as Wang Jian and Zhang Hao, and for his achievements, he was granted the title of Viscount of Xuancheng County, later promoted to Commander of Military Affairs in Yuzhou, General of the West's Guards, and Governor of Yuzhou.
When Fu Jian invaded from the south, he, Champion General Xie Xuan, and Assistant General Xie Yan defeated Fu Jian at the Feishui River. In recognition of his merits, he was made Marquis of Yongxiu County, promoted to Right General, and rewarded with one million coins and thousands of outfits. He was humble and down-to-earth, staying modest despite his impressive achievements. He was a talented musician, the best of his time, renowned as the finest in Jiangzuo. He had a Kai Ting flute from Cai Yong, which he often played himself. One time, Wang Huizhi was summoned to the capital, and his boat docked at Qingxi. They weren't acquainted at that time. Passing by the shore, the guests on the boat told Wang Huizhi, "This is Huan Ye Wang." Wang Huizhi asked someone to stop Uncle Yi and said, "I heard you play the flute very well, can you perform a piece for me?" Uncle Yi, who was already in a high position, had long heard of Wang Huizhi's reputation, got off the carriage, sat down on the Hu bed, performed three pieces, and then got back into the carriage and left without saying a word to Wang Huizhi.
Xie An's son-in-law, Wang Guobao, is arrogant and unruly, whom Xie An despises and constantly tries to keep in check. As Emperor Xiaowu aged, he became increasingly consumed by wine and women, while Prince Daozi of Kuaiji was even more foolish and indulgent, only favoring flatterers and sycophants. Therefore, Wang Guobao's scheming and flattery gradually gained traction with the emperor and his ministers. Seeing Xie An's high status and reputation, those greedy, deceitful, and malevolent individuals began to secretly frame him, widening the rift between Xie An and Wang Guobao.
One day, the emperor summoned Xie An to attend a banquet, and Xie An sat next to the emperor. The emperor asked Xie An to play a tune on the flute. Calm and collected, Xie An played a melody, then put down the flute and said, "My zither skills aren't as good as my flute playing, but I believe it is sufficient to accompany singing and instrumental music. Please allow me to play the zither and sing, with a flutist to accompany me." The emperor admired his honesty even more and ordered the court musicians to play the flute. Xie An then said, "The musicians in the palace may not be as good as my slaves at playing the flute. My slave is very skilled at playing the flute." The emperor appreciated his sincerity even more and allowed him to call for his slave. His slave played the flute while Xie An accompanied him on the zither and sang a poignant poem: "It is not easy to serve a ruler, but it is difficult to be a loyal minister. Loyalty and honesty are not evident, leading to suspicion and danger. Zhou Dan assisted in civil and military affairs, his achievements are unparalleled. Supporting the king's policies with sincerity, yet being accused by his own uncle." His performance was passionate and moving, bringing tears to Xie An's eyes. The emperor rose, approached Xie An, and stroked his beard, and said, "You are truly an extraordinary man!" The emperor felt a wave of shame wash over him.
Wang Guobao served in the state for ten years, calming the populace, managing the wasteland, and winning their hearts. After Huan Chong's death, he was appointed as the commander of Jiangzhou, ten counties in Jingzhou, and four counties in Yuzhou, and also retained his position as the governor of Jiangzhou. His position as a general remained unchanged, and he was granted an honorary title. Upon taking office, Wang Guobao found that the border was peaceful and believed that a lenient and benevolent policy should be emphasized. He petitioned the court, stating that the population of Jiangzhou was scarce due to years of poor harvests, with only fifty-six thousand households remaining. He suggested merging some small counties, waiving the grain debts owed by each county, and relocating the state capital back to Yuzhang. The court ordered the capital to be moved to Xunyang, granting all other requests. Wang Guobao, based on the actual situation, did his best to relieve and comfort the people, who benefited greatly from his efforts. He served for many years and was later summoned to be the General of the Guard, leading one thousand soldiers from the Right Army and incorporating them into the Guard. He passed away in office. The court posthumously appointed him as the General of the Right, bestowed upon him the title of Cavalier Attendant, and posthumously honored him with the title "Lie". Initially, General Yi had six hundred sets of horse armor. He had prepared a memorial in advance, intending to present it after his death. The memorial read: "I have been granted special favor by Your Majesty and entrusted with the crucial responsibility of defending the western border. After the victory in Huainan, the enemy troops fled to the north, leaving behind people, horses, weapons, and armor strewn about. At that time, the resources were inadequate to fully equip the troops. Over the years, I have been diligently repairing and organizing them, and now everything is in order. Although the world is now unified, the remnants of rebellion have not been completely quelled. Despite my old age and declining health, I still wish to serve to the best of my ability and repay Your Majesty's grace. This determination will never waver; even in death, I will carry this regret. I hereby present one hundred sets of horse gear and five hundred sets of infantry armor, currently located in Xunyang. I ask Your Majesty to order the relevant departments to accept them." The emperor decreed: "General Yi's loyal heart cannot be fully realized, which saddens me even more. We still accept the armor he submitted."
After General Yi's death, his son Zisù inherited his title. After Zisù's passing, his son Zilíng also inherited the title. After the establishment of the Song Dynasty, the feudal states were abolished. Although General Yi's younger brother was not particularly remarkable, he possessed some military skill. He participated in the campaign against Sun En and rose to the rank of Champion General.
Zhu Sì, courtesy name Zhòngwén, was from Anlu. When he was young, he served as an attendant to the military officer Tao Dan in the State of Wu. After the fall of Wu, he was transferred to Jiangxia. Zhu Sì was exceptionally brave but not good with words and illiterate. As a county magistrate, he merely introduced himself by name to the local gentry. When he became a general, he became known for his humility. During the rebellion of Zhang Chang, the prefect Gong Qin fled to Shekou, and Zhu Sì, along with his colleagues Chen Bao and Bu Xing, joined forces to suppress the rebellion but failed. They then fled to Wuchang with Gong Qin. Later, Zhu Sì led his troops to defeat Zhang Chang. He was promoted to Cavalry Commander and appointed as the Commander of Suiyi. Since some counties in Zhu Sì's jurisdiction had sided with Zhang Chang, only his own troops responded to the call to suppress the rebels, resulting in tensions between both factions. Zhu Sì requested to establish a new county, so a portion of land was designated from the eastern part of Anlu to establish Sheyang County.
Later, Chen Min rebelled, and Tao Kan was stationed in Jiangxia. Knowing that Zhu Sì was skilled in naval warfare, Tao Kan instructed him to quickly build ships and even specially built a large ship named "Zuo Zhen" for him to secure the river mouth. Zhu Sì swiftly routed Chen Min's vanguard troops. Chen Min's brother, Chen Hui, proclaimed himself the Governor of Jingzhou. In Wuchang, Tao Kan led Zhu Sì and the army to defeat them. After subduing Chen Min and Chen Hui, Zhu Sì was enfeoffed as a Viscount and appointed as a Cavalry Commander.
At that time, the marauding bandits from the west often came to Jiangxia to plunder. The Governor of Jiangxia, Yang Min, always summoned his generals to strategize against the bandits, but Zhu Si remained silent. Yang Min asked him, "General Zhu, why aren't you speaking?" Zhu Si replied, "Others use their mouths to deal with bandits; I rely solely on force." Yang Min then asked, "General, you have always won in battles before; why is that?" Zhu Si said, "The key to winning a battle is patience. If the enemy cannot endure, I can, that's why I win." Yang Min burst into laughter upon hearing this.
In the Yongjia era, Shi Le attacked Jiangxia. Zhu Si and Yang Min fled to Xiakou. Later, Tao Kan came to Xiakou to defend it, and Zhu Si joined him, being promoted to the rank of General Mingwei. Following Tao Kan to campaign against Du Tao, Zhu Si achieved great success, as noted in Tao Kan's biography. In the battle at Xiakou, Zhu Si protected himself with iron armor and took out several enemy generals with crossbow bolts. The bandits beached their boats and formed a battle line along the shore. Zhu Si moved along the riverbank, looking for opportunities. He was shot in the leg by an enemy arrow, but he didn’t flinch. When reinforcements arrived, the bandits were routed, and Zhu Si gave chase. The bandits abandoned their boats and jumped into the water to escape, with many of them drowning. The bandits fled back to Changsha, and Zhu Si chased them to Puqi, but he couldn’t catch up and had to turn back. Later, Zhu Si was promoted to General Weiyuan and was given a red flag and an ornate canopy.
In the Jianxing era, there was a fellow named Chen Sheng, who, along with over two thousand rogues and ruffians, was robbing and plundering along the river, making life miserable for the locals. The authorities sent a guy named Sima Si to act as the overseer and lead troops to deal with Chen Sheng. Even though Chen Sheng had fewer followers, Sima Si did not rush to take action. Instead, he discussed terms with Chen Sheng, saying that as long as Chen Sheng's younger brother surrendered, he would let Chen Sheng go. Chen Sheng believed him and sent his younger brother. In the end, while Sima Si seemed to agree on the surface, he secretly sent elite troops to kill Chen Sheng's younger brother and then took advantage of Chen Sheng's unpreparedness to launch a sneak attack with the troops.
That day just happened to be New Year's for Chen Sheng, and his whole family was caught up in sacrifices and feasting. Suddenly, Sima Si's troops barged in, and Chen Sheng figured out what was going on. Chen Sheng's generals, Yan Jin and Zheng Jin, fought tooth and nail, but Sima Si's forces were too much to handle, and many of their soldiers got hurt, forcing them to pull back. Chen Sheng fled to Dongcheng, but Sima Si laid siege to Dongcheng with his men, stacked a huge pile of firewood outside the city, built high watchtowers, fired powerful crossbows at the folks inside the city, and even cut off the water supply to Dongcheng. With a shortage of water in the city, people had to resort to killing cows just to drink their blood, and the situation was critical. Eventually, Chen Sheng's brother-in-law, Yan Jin, ended up beheading him and surrendered to Sima Si. For taking down the Shu bandit Chen Sheng and joining the fight against Gao, Sima Si got promoted to General Guangwei and became the magistrate of Jingling.
Back then, Wang Dun wanted his younger brother Wang Hao to replace Sima Kan as the governor of Jingzhou province. Sima Kan's old generals Zheng Pan, Ma Jun, and others went to Wang Dun, hoping he would keep Sima Kan. However, Wang Dun refused. Seeing that Sima Kan had just defeated the bandit Chen Sheng, everyone was willing to follow him, while Wang Hao was known for his violent temperament. So they decided to band together against Wang Hao. They assembled their forces at Congkou and even sent a messenger to Sima Si, hoping he would join them. Sima Si pretended to agree but feigned illness and did not send troops. Zheng Pan and the others had to go against Wang Hao themselves.
As a result, doubts and dissent began to fester within the ranks, and the soldiers scattered and fell back to Hengsangkou, hoping to join Du Zeng. At this time, Zhu Gui, Zhao You, Li Huan, and others led troops to attack them. Fearing for their lives, Zheng Pan and the others alleged that Sima Sunjing had colluded with Wang Hao, then killed Sunjing and surrendered to Zhu Gui and his men.
The veteran general Zhou Yi readied his forces to march west. He left his chief of staff, Liu Jun, to defend the Yangkou fortress. At this time, Du Zeng came to persuade Zhou Yi, warning, "Diwu Yi is a crafty bandit. He is pretending to withdraw west to mislead everyone, wanting to lure the official army to the west and then launch a surprise attack on Yangkou. We should send more troops and not advance westward easily." Zhou Yi was proud and overconfident, and he considered Du Zeng too old to be trustworthy, so he decided to march west. Ultimately, Du Zeng and his men turned around and launched an attack. Zhou Yi then sent Du Zeng back, but upon his arrival at the fortress, he found himself surrounded by Du Zeng and his forces.
Liu Jun found that the northern gate of the fortress was strategically positioned, so he assigned Du Zeng to guard the southern gate instead. Someone told Liu Jun, "Du Zeng and Zheng Pan are in cahoots." The bandits learned of this change and attacked the northern gate. At this time, Zheng Pan's accomplice Ma Jun also led troops to attack the fortress. Ma Jun's wife and children were inside the fortress, and someone suggested mutilating Ma Jun's wife and children's faces as a threat. Du Zeng said, "Killing his wife and children may not necessarily lift the siege, but instead will enrage them." So that plan was abandoned. The crossbow machine Du Zeng usually used suddenly jammed, which left him feeling uneasy.
Once he boarded the boat, the bandits raised their spears to stab him. Du Zeng grabbed the spear and turned it against the bandits. The bandits ran to the cabin shouting, "The bandit leader is here!" Du Zeng escaped by swimming fifty paces from the bottom of the boat. After finding a doctor for treatment, his injuries slightly improved. Du Zeng sent someone to persuade him to return, saying, "Ma Jun and his men are grateful for your kindness. Your family can be saved. Hand over all your family members to Ma Jun, and he will take good care of them." Du Zeng replied, "There are no elderly people among the bandits. I am in my sixties now and can no longer be a bandit. Even if I die, I will return to the south. I entrust my family to you." So he returned to Zengshan.
At that time, Wang Hao, Li Huan, and Du Zeng faced off multiple times near Zengshan. The soldiers shouted in panic repeatedly, "The bandits are coming!" Due to a flare-up of his old injuries and overwhelming fear, Du Zeng died and was buried on Zengshan.
Mao Bao, with the courtesy name Shuo Zhen, was a native of Yangwu in Xingyang, Henan. Wang Dun appointed him as the county magistrate of Linxiang. After Wang Dun's death, he became Wen Qiao's Military Advisor for Pingnan. Later, when Su Jun revolted, Wen Qiao wanted to lead the troops to suppress the rebellion, but General Tao Kan, the Western Expedition General, was hesitant to help. Despite several explanations by Wen Qiao, he was unable to persuade Tao Kan. Wen Qiao even sent a messenger to relay Tao Kan's thoughts: "You should stay here and defend; I should go to the front first." Two days after the messenger departed, another messenger sent by Mao Bao returned. Upon hearing about this, he said to Wen Qiao, "When undertaking great tasks, one should act together with everyone. Success comes from everyone working together. How can there be a reason for acting on their own? Even if there are doubts, one should pretend not to know, especially if you're the one who had doubts first! It's best to quickly send someone to retrieve the previous message, revise its contents, and insist on marching together. If the previous messenger cannot be caught up with, then send another person." Wen Qiao saw the light after hearing this advice and immediately sent someone to retrieve the messenger, revised the message, and Tao Kan agreed to march together to suppress Su Jun. Mao Bao led a thousand men as the vanguard of Wen Qiao's army, stationed together in Qiezipu.
Initially, Wen Qiao considered that the southern army was accustomed to naval battles, while Su Jun's army consisted of infantry, so he wanted to use this advantage to defeat the enemy and ordered that anyone who landed ashore would be killed. At this time, Su Jun sent ten thousand measures of grain to Zu Yue, and Zu Yue sent Sima Huanfu and others to receive it. Mao Bao said to his soldiers, "The military books say that there are times when military orders are not to be followed. Can we not go ashore?" He then came up with a plan and fought fiercely, capturing all the grain sent by Su Jun, killing numerous enemies, and putting Zu Yue in a serious food crisis. Wen Qiao was so impressed by Mao Bao's achievements that he promoted him to Prefect of Lujiang.
Tao Kan planned to send Zu Huan and Huan Fu to mount a surprise attack on Penkou, while he was also going to fight. At that moment, Xie An's younger brother, Xie Bao, said, "The righteous army is counting on you; you can't leave—let me go instead!" Tao Kan looked at the people around him and said, "This young man makes a good point!" So he sent Xie Bao.
Earlier, Huan Xuan broke the agreement and stationed his troops at Matou Mountain, and as a result, he was attacked by Zu Huan and Huan Fu and sought help from Xie Bao. Xie Bao's soldiers were suspicious of Huan Xuan, believing he was in cahoots with Zu Huan and Huan Fu. Despite Huan Xuan's son Huan Rong's repeated requests, Xie Bao went with him. Before they arrived, the enemy soldiers were already fighting with Huan Xuan. Xie Bao's soldiers were few in number and poorly equipped, suffering a major defeat to Zu Huan and Huan Fu. Xie Bao was shot in the thigh, the arrow piercing through to the saddle, staining his boot red with blood. He had the arrow removed and ran hundreds of miles at night, guided by the stars, to reach the ship. Upon arrival, he first wept for his fallen soldiers, tended to his wound, and then set out again to rescue Huan Xuan that night. By the time Xie Bao reached Huan Xuan's camp, Zu Huan and Huan Fu had already retreated.
Xie Bao continued to assault Zu Yue, where his army was stationed at Dongguan. They broke through Hefei but were later recalled to Shitoucheng. Both Tao Kan and Wen Qiao were unable to defeat the rebel forces, and Tao Kan wanted to lead the army in a southward retreat. Xie Bao said to Wen Qiao, "I can keep them at bay." He then persuaded Tao Kan, "You should have stationed troops at Wuhu as a strategic point between the north and south. You were stationed there before, so you should not withdraw now. Furthermore, the army should advance without the option of retreat, not only to instill discipline and demonstrate resolve, but also because withdrawing would lead to destruction. Wasn't Du Tuo strong in the past? Did you not defeat him? Why do you now think that Zu Yue cannot be defeated? The enemy soldiers fear death; not all of them are brave. You can try using my troops to surprise the enemy by cutting off their supply lines, forcing them into a difficult situation. If I don't succeed, you can still retreat later, so no one will blame you." Tao Kan agreed and promoted Xie Bao to be the supervisor. Xie Bao burned the supplies in Junju Rong and Hushu, causing Zu Yue to lack food, and Tao Kan ultimately decided not to withdraw the troops.
After Zu Yue's death, Kuang Shu surrendered with the city of Yuancheng. Tao Kan assigned Xie Bao to defend the southern city and Deng Yue to guard the western city. The enemy sent Han Huang to attack, and Xie Bao shot down dozens of people on the city wall. Han Huang asked Xie Bao, "Are you Maulu Jiang?" Xie Bao replied, "Yes." Han Huang said, "You have a reputation for bravery; why don’t you come in for a duel?" Xie Bao said, "If you’re so skilled, why don’t you come in for a duel?" Han Huang laughed and retreated. Once the enemy was subdued, Xie Bao was appointed as the Marquis of Zhoulingshi, with a fief that included 1,600 households.
Yu Liang was appointed as the Grand General of the Western Garrison, also serving as the General of State Assistance and the Magistrate of Jiangxia, commanding the counties of Suijun and Yiyang, stationed at Shangming. Later, he was promoted to General of the Pacification of the Barbarians. Following Yu Liang, they attacked Guo Mo together. After Guo Mo was pacified, Yu Liang, Sima Wang Qiqi, and others went to Zhangshan to rescue Huan Xuan. They defeated the rebel general Shi Yu, and Yu Liang was promoted to General Who Conquers the Barbarians.
Yu Liang planned a northern expedition and submitted a memorial to the court to resign from the position of Governor of Yuzhou, requesting that this position be given to Xie Shang. The court issued an edict appointing Xie Shang as the military commander of the Yangzhou Jiangxi region, concurrently serving as the Governor of Yuzhou, with his military position unchanged. He and the Prefect of Xiyang, Fan Jun, were ordered to lead ten thousand troops to garrison Zhucheng. Shi Le disliked Xie Shang, so he sent his son Shi Jian and generals Kui An, Li Tu, and others to lead fifty thousand troops to attack. Zhang He led twenty thousand cavalry to attack Zhucheng. Xie Shang sought Yu Liang for help, but Yu Liang thought the city was strong and did not send reinforcements in time, resulting in the fall of Zhucheng. Xie Shang, Fan Jun, and others led their subordinates to break out, with six thousand people drowning in the river during their escape, including Xie Shang. Yu Liang wept bitterly over this, leading to a relapse of his old illness, and he passed away shortly after.
The court issued an edict that stated, "Xie Shang's failure should be condemned. However, he made great contributions to the royal family during the rebellion of Su Jun. Now we only investigate his mistakes, so we will not posthumously confer any titles, merely offer sacrifices." Later, the ministers in the court all said that Xie Shang had made significant contributions and died for the royal cause, so his title should not be stripped. Only in the third year of Shengping did the court issue an edict restoring his title.
At first, Xie Shang was in Wuchang, and a soldier bought a small white turtle in the market, measuring four or five inches long. As he raised it, it grew bigger, and later he put it into the river. When Zhucheng was lost, the soldier who raised the turtle, wearing armor and holding a knife, jumped into the river. He felt like he had fallen onto a rock, but when he looked, it turned out to be the small white turtle he had raised before, now measuring five or six feet long and sending him to the east bank, thus saving him.
Xie Shang had two sons: Xie Muzhi and Xie Anzhi.
Xie Muzhi, courtesy name Xianzu, nickname Wusheng, because his name conflicted with the taboo name of Wang Jinghou (Wang Dun's wife), changed to use his courtesy name in public, and later, because Huan Wen's mother also had the name Xian, he reverted to using his nickname. Xie Muzhi was decisive and brave, inheriting his father's style. General Yuyi appointed him as a military officer. He inherited the title of Marquis of Zhouling. Yuyi and his allies held significant power in Shaanxi, allowing his son Xie Fangzhi to serve as the General of Jianwu, guarding Xiangyang. Xie Fangzhi was still young, so Yuyi selected reliable military officers to assist him in his duties, appointing Xie Muzhi as the Marshal of Jianwu. Not long after, Yuyi passed away, and the generals Gan Zan, Dai Xi, and others rebelled. Xie Muzhi, together with Chief of Staff Jiang Chen and Marshal Zhu Tao of Anxi, suppressed the rebellion.
After Huan Wen took over the position of Inspector of Yizhou, he reappointed Xie An as his military officer. After pacifying the Shu region alongside Huan Wen, Xie An was granted the title of Marquis of Duxiang, his second son. Shortly after, Xie An was promoted to General of Yangwei and Prefect of Yingchuan, continuing to follow Huan Wen in pacifying Luoyang and entering Guanzhong. Huan Wen was preparing to return to the imperial court, but since Xie An's rewards had not yet been allocated, he left Xie An with two thousand troops to guard the royal mausoleum.
During the early Shengping period, Xie An was promoted again, serving as the military governor of Ningzhou, General Yangwei, and the governor of Ningzhou. Because Huan Wen was appointed as the Duke of Nanjun, Xie An was also reappointed as the Marquis of Jian'an and resumed his role as Huan Wen's Grand Commandant. He was later promoted to Champion General and given command of the troops he had previously recruited. When Huan Wen attacked Murong Wei, he tasked Xie An with overseeing the excavation of a canal over a hundred miles long in Juye, diverting the Wenshui River to Jichuan. After Huan Wen burned the ships and marched back on foot, he assigned Xie An to oversee the military affairs of the four counties in Dongyan while retaining his original position.
When Yuan Zhen rebelled in Shouyang, Huan Wen prepared to campaign against him. Xie An was appointed as Champion General and concurrently served as the Prefect of Huainan, stationed in Liyang. After Yuan Zhen's rebellion was quelled and his remnants scattered, Xie An was tasked with overseeing military affairs in Jiangxi, part of Yangzhou, and also served as the Prefect of Chenjun. Before long, Xie An's jurisdiction expanded, being appointed to oversee the military affairs of Yicheng County, Yangzhou, five counties in Jingzhou, and Jingzhao County in Yongzhou, while his position as General remained unchanged. Shortly after, he was promoted to Inspector of Liangzhou. Due to illness, Xie An requested to be relieved of his duties, and the court issued an edict permitting him to return to the capital with the title of Champion General.
Fu Jian appointed Kou Pengcheng as General, granting him temporary command to be in charge of military affairs north of the Yangtze River and stationed in Guangling. He later promoted him to Right General and Interior Minister of Xuan Cheng, still granting him temporary command to be stationed in Gushu. Xie An felt that being stationed near the capital posed no military pressure, and there was no need for him to retain temporary command, so he submitted a memorial to decline the authority, which the Emperor approved.
Next, Fu Jian's army surrounded Xiangyang again, and the Emperor ordered Xie An to consult Huan Chong and accept his command. Huan Chong sent Xie An to oversee the troops in the Mian River basin. Just as Xie An arrived, Zhu Xu was defeated and captured, prompting Xie An to lead his troops back to the county. Later, Fu Jian's army attacked Shu Han again, and the Inspector of Liangzhou, Yang Liang, and the Inspector of Yizhou, Zhou Zhongsun, both fled. Huan Chong then appointed Xie An to command the military forces of three counties in Liangzhou, assigning him as Right General, Colonel of the Western Barbarians, Inspector of Yizhou, and Prefect of Jianping, granting him the authority to act on behalf of the emperor, stationed in Ba County, and appointing his son Xie Qiu as Prefect of Zitong. Xie An and Xie Qiu launched an attack against Fu Jian, advancing into Ba Xi County, but due to a lack of supplies, they retreated to Ba Dong, where Xie An fell ill and passed away. Following his death, he was posthumously promoted to General of the Central Army and bestowed the posthumous title "Lie." His son Xie Zhen succeeded him and later became the Prefect of Tianmen. Xie An's brothers—Xie Xu, Xie Qiu, Xie Fan, Xie Jin, and Xie Yuan—of whom Xie Xu was the most renowned.
Xie Qu, also known as Shu Lian, was appointed as a military officer by General Huan Huo when he was young. After his father passed away and he completed his mourning period, Xie An appointed him as a military officer of the Guard General and later promoted him to be an Attendant of the Imperial Secretariat. Xie An then requested him to serve as a military officer again and later appointed him as the Marshal of the Northern Expedition under Xie Yan, son of Xie An. In the Battle of Huai Fei, Fu Jian fled, and Xie Qu and Tian Cizhi pursued him together, chasing him to Zhongyang but eventually returned without catching him. He was later promoted to General of Tranquil North and Governor of Huainan. He was then further appointed as General of the North and Military Strategist of Qiao Wang. In Haoling County, there was a place called Qingpu surrounded by lakes and marshes, covered with reeds and duckweeds, where many fugitives gathered eluding government control. Xie Qu proposed leading a thousand men to confront them. During a severe drought, Xie Qu set fire to the reeds and duckweeds, forcing the fugitives out of hiding. They surrendered to Xie Qu, totaling nearly ten thousand households, all of whom were incorporated into the army, which pleased the court. Xie Qu was later promoted to Marshal of the Western Central Army, General of Longxiang, and Intendant of Qiaoliang Commandery. He then replaced Guo Quan as General of Establishing Might and Governor of Yizhou.
During the early reign of Emperor An of the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Mao Qu was promoted and became the General of Conquering the Barbarians, gaining significant recognition. Later, when Huan Xuan rebelled and seized power, he sent officials to promote Mao Qu as a Cavalier In Regular Attendance and Left General, a higher official position. However, Mao Qu firmly refused their offer and detained the envoys sent by Huan Xuan, demonstrating a resolute stance.
Huan Xuan, seeing that Mao Qu did not pay attention to him, sent Huan Xi to serve as the Governor of Liangzhou, arranged for Wang Yi to guard Fuling, Guo Fa to guard Dangqu, Shi Ji to guard Bajun, and Zhou Daozi to guard Baidi City, putting on a show of encircling Mao Qu, preparing to besiege him from all sides. Mao Qu was no pushover; he quickly sent out notices to various regions, listing Huan Xuan's crimes, and then sent the Prefect of Badong, Liu Yue, the Prefect of Jianping, Luo Shu, and the Commander of the Conquering Troops, Zhen Ji, to defeat Huan Xi and his men. He took charge of his troops to face off against Huan Xuan's forces near Baidi City.
The Prince of Wuling (referring to the Emperor An of Jin at the time) even put out a special order, praising Mao Qu: "Mao Qu, the Governor of Yizhou, is loyal, reliable, and upright. Since Huan Xuan began to have evil intentions, he has been looking for ways to handle him. If he can now suppress the rebellion and eliminate the enemies in Jingzhou and Yingzhou, then I'll promote him right away!" This shows that the court recognized Mao Qu's loyalty and skills.
Initially, Qu's younger brother, Qu Fan, the Inspector of Ningzhou, passed away. Qu's elder brother Qu Qiu's grandson, Qu Youzhi, along with the military officer Fei Tian, led a few hundred people to attend the funeral and buried him in Jiangling. At this time, Huan Xuan had failed, and they planned to flee to Liangzhou. Qu's younger brother Qu Jin's son, Qu Xiuzhi, who was the cavalry commander under Huan Xuan, lured Huan Xuan into the territory of Shu. Subsequently, Xiuzhi, Youzhi, Fei Tian, and a man from Hanjia named Feng Qian together killed Huan Xuan. Upon hearing of Huan Xuan's death, they marched their troops to Zhijiang, but Huan Zhen had already captured Jiangling. Liu Yi and his men returned to Xunyang, and they too retreated. Not long after, Qu Jizhi and Qu Shu fell ill, so Youzhi approached Huan Zhen under the guise of surrendering, but was actually plotting to attack him. However, the plan was uncovered, and Youzhi was killed. Youzhi's Marshal Shi Yanzu and the Prefect of Fuling, Wen Chumao, reassured the remaining soldiers and secured Fuling. Huan Zhen dispatched Huan Fang to Yizhou, where he was stationed at Xiling. Wen Chumao mounted a resistance and defeated Huan Fang. After Huan Zhen's death, Emperor An was restored to the throne and issued a decree stating: "Honest individuals stand tall like pine trees in winter; loyal ministers reveal their true worth only in times of national crisis. The Inspector of Yizhou, Qu Tishi Hongzheng, indeed acted like a righteous flag, accepting the imperial order to station troops near the capital; his meritorious service in upholding the state truly moves me. He is hereby promoted to General for the Conquest of the West, appointed as Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, Commander of military affairs in the five provinces of Yiliang, Qin, Liang, Ning, concurrently serving as the Prefect of Yidu and Ningshu." Another decree appointed the Colonel of Western Yi, Qu Jin, as Commissioner, Supervisor of military affairs in Liang and Qin, General Who Conquers the Enemies, Inspector of Liang and Qin, Prefect of Lueyang and Wudu. Qu Jin's younger brother, Qu Yuan, the Prefect of Shu, was appointed as General Who Supports the State, Inspector of Ningzhou.
At the beginning, Xu heard that Zhen (referring to Huan Xuan) had captured Jiangling, so he led his troops to provide assistance. He sent Jin and Yuan downstream along the Yangtze River and dispatched Qiao Zong, an aide, to lead the troops from Baxi and Zitong to the Fu River, preparing to meet Xu's army in Bajun. However, the people of Shu were unwilling to campaign eastward, so Qiao Zong exploited the soldiers' desire to return home, rebelled at Wucheng Shuikou, and then attacked Fucheng, killing Jin in the process. Jin's Chief Official Zheng Chunzhi hurried from Chengdu to Luecheng to report to Xu. At that time, Xu was in Luecheng, approximately 400 li away from Chengdu. He dispatched Wang Qiong, a military officer, to quell the rebellion, and the two sides met in Guanghan. He Lin, the county magistrate of Badao, also gathered a group of people to assist Qiao Zong. Xu's men were lured by Qiao Zong, and ultimately, they turned against Xu, Yuan, and their nephews in Shu, resulting in their deaths. Xu's son Hong inherited his title.
During the Yixi period, Yan Zu served as the Shikang Prefect and wrote a memorial to plead for justice for the Xu brothers. So the emperor issued a decree saying, "The former Governor of Yizhou Xu, Colonel Jin of the Xiyi, and Prefect Yuan of Shu, they were loyal to the king and made significant contributions, but the outcome was different from what was expected. Their funerals are also near, and my heart is filled with even greater sorrow. They should be posthumously promoted to their former official positions, given 300,000 coins, and 300 pieces of cloth." Because Xu had merit in attacking Huan Xuan, he was posthumously named the Duke of Guixiang with a land grant of 1,500 households. And because Xu's son You killed Huan Xuan, he was appointed as the Marquis of Yidao County.
From Xu's grandfather to Xu, four generations produced four prominent figures who held military power and played significant roles in the founding of the state, belonging to a prestigious family. However, in terms of talent and character, they were not as good as the Zhou family of Xunyang.
Jin's son Xiuzhi was promoted several times, reaching the rank of Right Guard General, and followed Liu Yu in pacifying Yao Hong. Later, he served as the Sima of Anxi and later died in the state of Wei.
An Zhi, the younger brother of Xu, style name Zhongzu, also possessed military talent and was promoted several times, eventually becoming a military officer and the governor of Wei Commandery. During the regency of Emperor Jianwen, he was regarded as a trusted confidant. After Emperor Jianwen ascended the throne, An Zhi followed the Emperor leading troops and even stayed overnight in the palace. He was soon appointed as the General of the Cavalry. When Yu Xi entered Jingkou, causing an uproar in the court, An Zhi was ordered to take charge of military affairs such as guarding the city gates. After Emperor Xiaowu ascended the throne, the rebel Lu Song broke into the palace. Upon hearing the news, An Zhi led his troops straight to Yunlong Gate, personally fought bravely against the enemy. Later, Left Guard General Yin Kang, General of the Army Huan Mi, and others arrived, joining forces with An Zhi to finally eliminate Lu Song. An Zhi was promoted to General of the Right Guard. After the death of Emperor Wen of Song, An Zhi served as the Grand Architect. He was posthumously honored with the title of Guanglu Xun.
He had four sons, named Tan, Tai, Sui, and Dun. The eldest son Tan inherited the title and became the Chancellor of Jiangxia. The second son Tai served as an official in the Palace Secretariat and later as a military advisor in the Rear Army. He and the third son Sui had a close relationship with the Prince of Kuaiji. Later, due to his achievements in the campaign against Lu Song, Tai was granted the title of Pingdouzi, which was inherited by Tan. Once, Yuan Xian visited Tai's house as a guest, and when leaving, Tai jokingly said, "If you leave, I'll cut off your feet!" Yuan Xian was furious and left immediately, holding a grudge against Tai ever since. When Yuan Xian failed, Tai held the titles of Champion General, Tangyi Commandery Prefect, and Taishan Commandery Prefect. The third son Sui was the General of the Cavalry, and the fourth son Dun was the Chief Clerk to the Grand Mentor. Later, when Huan Xuan came to power, he sent Tai to arrest Yuan Xian, who was then humiliated by Tai for past grievances when they arrived at Xinting. Shortly after, both Tai and Sui were killed by Huan Xuan, while only Dun was exiled to Guangzhou. During the Yixi period, Dun was granted amnesty and returned to court, and eventually became the Prefect of Yidu.
Dezu is from the Qu family. His father and grandfather both perished in the turmoil of war. Dezu and his four brothers fled to the south together, each of whom was a skilled warrior. Jingzhou Governor Liu Daogui appointed Dezu as the General of Jianwu and the Prefect of Shiping, later transferring him to Fuling as Prefect. During Lu Xun's rebellion, Liu Daogui appointed him as a military officer to participate in the campaign against Xu Daofu, where he achieved victory at Shixing. Shortly after, Dezu's mother passed away, and he returned home to observe a period of mourning. Later, when Liu Yu launched an attack against Sima Xiuzhi, Dezu was appointed as a military advisor and Prefect of Yiyang, and was granted the title of Marquis of Qianling County, then promoted to Prefect of Nanyang. He followed Liu Yu in the conquest of Yao Hong, capturing multiple counties like Xingyang, Fufeng, Nan'an, and Fengyi, earning significant accolades. Liu Yu held him in high regard, appointing him as the General of Longxiang and Inspector of Qinzhou. Liu Yu left his second son Liu Yizhen in Guanzhong, appointing him as General of Anxi and Inspector of Yongzhou, and assigned Dezu as a military advisor, concurrently serving as Prefect of Tianshui, following Liu Yizhen's return. Liu Yu then appointed Dezu as Commander of Hedong and Pingyang, General of the State, and Prefect of Hedong, replacing Liu Zunkao in guarding Puban. Despite suffering a defeat in the Hebei campaign, Dezu safely withdrew with the entire army. Liu Yu was planning to pacify Guanzhong and Luoyang, so he first appointed Dezu as Commander of Nine Counties, Champion General, Prefect of Xingyang and Jingzhao, granting him the title of Baron of Guanyang County due to his previous achievements. Shortly after, he was promoted to Commander of Sizhou, Yong, and Bingzhou, Champion General, and Inspector of Sizhou, stationed in Wulao, before ultimately being captured by the Wei army. Dezu's brothers, Liu Ni and Liu Bian, were both outstanding and honorable, but tragically, Liu Ni fell in battle against Lu Xun, while Liu Bian died in battle against Lu Zong, both fought bravely and with valor, earning widespread admiration.
Liu Xia, courtesy name Zhengchang, hails from Guangping in Yiyang. He is decisive in character, skilled in archery, and is outgoing and courageous. During the chaos of the world, Liu Xia became a fortress lord, charging into battle and achieving resounding victories. People likened him to Zhang Fei and Guan Yu. The Jizhou Inspector, Shao Xu, held him in high regard and gave his daughter in marriage to him. Liu Xia stationed himself between the Yellow River and Ji Water, keeping bandits at a distance. Later, he secretly dispatched envoys to accept the emperor's decree, and the court was pleased and issued a decree to commend him, appointing him as Dragon Cavalry General and Intendant of Pingyuan. At the beginning of the Jianwu era, the emperor praised Liu Xia's loyalty and appointed him as the Intendant of Xiapi, while maintaining his military rank.
Initially, Zhou Jian, also called Zhou Fu, and his fellow townsman Zhou Mo became fortress lords in their respective regions, turning to robbery to survive amid the chaos. Zhou Mo surrendered to Zu Ti, which angered Zhou Fu, prompting him to attack and kill Zhou Mo. He then rebelled in Pengcheng, with Shi Le dispatching cavalry to support him. The court appointed Liu Xia as the Intendant of Pengcheng, along with the Inspector of Xuzhou Cai Bao and the Administrator of Mount Tai Xu Gan, to quell Zhou Fu. They fought a battle in Hanshan, where Zhou Fu was defeated and forced to flee. Liu Xia was subsequently appointed as the Administrator of Linhuai. Later, Xu Gan staged another rebellion, and once order was restored, Liu Xia was appointed as General of the Central Army and Inspector of Yanzhou.
During the beginning of the Taiping era, Liu Xia moved from Pengcheng to Sikou to be stationed. When Wang Han rebelled, Liu Xia and Su Jun rushed to the capital. Wang Han was defeated, and Liu Xia followed Dan Yangyin Wen Qiao to chase Wang Han to Huainan. As a result, Liu Xia became somewhat indulgent with his soldiers, allowing them to loot everywhere. Wen Qiao said, "The heavens help the just side, so Wang Han will be eliminated; we cannot take advantage of chaos to create chaos again!" After hearing Wen Qiao's words, Liu Xia reflected deeply on his actions and apologized to him. After the situation was settled, because of his merits, he was appointed as the Quanling Duke, later promoted to Gentleman of the Imperial Guard, monitoring military affairs in Huainan, General of the North Central Army, Governor of Xuzhou, and was also granted a ceremonial authority to guard Huaiyin in place of Wang Sui. In the first year of Xianhe, Liu Xia passed away and was posthumously appointed as the General Who Pacifies the North.
Since Liu Zhao was still young, the emperor granted Xuzhou to Chi Jian and appointed Guo Mo as the General of the North Central Army, in command of Liu Xia's forces. However, Liu's brother-in-law Tian Fang and his former subordinates Shi Die, Bian Xian, Li Long, and others were unwilling to accept the new leadership. They supported Liu Zhao to inherit Liu Xia's position and then rebelled. The emperor sent Guo Mo and others to lead the armies of various counties to suppress them. Just as Guo Mo and his men set off, Liu Jiao, the Governor of Linhuai, suddenly attacked Liu Xia's camp with hundreds of soldiers. Shi Die and his men were terrified and scattered in all directions; Tian Fang and the supervisor Bian Xian were killed on the spot. Shi Die and Li Long were also caught up and killed in Xiapi, and their severed heads were sent to the capital. Liu Xia's mother, wife, staff, and soldiers all returned to Jiankang.
Xia's wife is truly a remarkable woman, completely inheriting her father's bravery. When Shi Le besieged Xia in the past, she alone brought a few horses and rescued Xia from the midst of enemy troops. When Tian Fang and others wanted to rebel, Xia's wife vehemently advised against it, but they did not listen. So she secretly set fire to their weapons and equipment.
Zi Zhao inherited the title and became the Cavalry Attendant. After Zi Zhao's death, his son Zi Ju inherited the title; after Zi Ju's death, his son Zi Zun inherited the title; after Zi Zun's death, his son Zi Boling inherited the title. Later, the Song Dynasty replaced the Jin Dynasty, leading to the revocation of their titles.
Deng Yue, with the courtesy name Bo Shan, was from Chen County. Originally named Yue, he changed his name to avoid conflict with Emperor Kang, and later changed it to Dai. He showed military talent at a young age and served as a staff officer under Wang Dun. He later rose to the position of Attendant Cavalry and Prefect of Xiyang. When Wang Han rebelled, Deng Yue led troops to attack the capital with Wang Han. After Wang Han's failure, Deng Yue and Zhou Fu fled to the barbarian king Xiang Can. He was later granted amnesty, and he and Zhou Fu came out together. Eventually, Minister Wang Dao appointed him as Attendant Cavalry and later appointed him as Prefect of Xiyang.
When Su Jun rebelled, Pingnan General Wen Qiao sent Deng Yue, along with Supervisors Wang Qiqi, Wang Qianqi, and Ji Mu from Poyang Prefecture, to lead the navy to support. After Su Jun was pacified, Deng Yue returned to the county. After Guo Mo killed Liu Yin, Grand Marshal Tao Kan sent Deng Yue to lead the Xiyang army to attack him. After Guo Mo was pacified, Deng Yue was promoted to Supervisor of Military Affairs of Jiaoguang, Jiawu General, and held the title of Pingyue Central General, and was granted the title of Marquis of Yicheng. In the third year of the Xiankang era, Deng Yue sent troops to attack Yelang, defeated them, and was appointed as the General of Conquering Barbarians, and later promoted to General of Pingnan. After Deng Yue's death, his son Deng Xia inherited his title.
Speaking of Xie Xia, with the style name Yingyuan, he was a formidable character, bold and skilled, compared to figures like Xiang Yu and Fan Kuai at the time. Huan Wen treated him as his aide, taking him on expeditions. Xie Xia later became the Champion General and held several prefectural positions, a true renowned general! In the waters of the Mian River north of Xiangyang City lived a giant water dragon that often harmed people. Without hesitation, Xie Xia jumped into the water, fought the dragon with a sword, and finally chopped it into pieces before resurfacing, truly impressive! Unfortunately, in the Battle of Fangtou, Huan Wen, feeling resentful and intimidated by Xie Xia's courage, dismissed him from his position, and shortly after Xie Xia passed away. Later, during the Ningkang years, the court posthumously appointed him as the Prefect of Luling.
Xie Yi, the younger brother of Xie Xia, with the style name Maoshan, also inherited the family's tradition of martial prowess. After Xie Xia's death, Xie Yi rose through the ranks, serving as the military supervisor of Guangzhou, and held the titles of General Jianwei, Pingyue Central General, and Guangzhou Governor, with the authority of a ceremonial title granted by the court, making him a prominent figure as well.
Let's talk about Zhu Xu, courtesy name Cilun, who was from Yiyang. His father, Zhu Tao, was also a capable man, having served as a Colonel of the Western Barbarians and the Governor of Yizhou. Zhu Xu, influenced from a young age, also became a famous general, rising through the ranks to eventually become the Eagle-Soaring General and the Magistrate of Jiangxia. During the Xingning period, the Inspector of Liangzhou, Sima Xun, rebelled, and Huan Wen recommended Zhu Xu to lead the expedition to suppress the rebellion. Zhu Xu achieved great success and was appointed as the General of Conquering Barbarians, and was also granted the title of Lord of Xiangping. During the Taihe period, he was further promoted to the Governor of Yanzhou. At that time, a man named Qian Hong raised a band of over a hundred men in the vicinity of the Great Wall, hiding in the deep mountains and forests. The court appointed Zhu Xu as the Central Army Commander and the Prefect of Wuxing to eradicate the bandits. Zhu Xu arrived in Wuxing commandery and quickly captured Qian Hong. After completing the task, he returned to Yanzhou.
During the Ningkang period, I, Xie Shi, was appointed as the Commissioner, Supervisor of Military Affairs in Mianzhong, General of Southern Command, and the Governor of Liangzhou, stationed in Xiangyang. That year, Fu Jian sent his general Fu Pi with troops to besiege Xiangyang. I fought tooth and nail to defend the city, with the enemy running low on supplies and still launching fierce attacks. When Fu Pi first attacked, my mother Lady Han personally climbed the city wall to inspect, and she said the northwest corner was the weakest point. She then led over a hundred maids and women from the city to build a twenty-zhang-long wall at the northwest corner. Indeed, when the enemy attacked the northwest corner, the wall was broken through, but everyone quickly retreated to defend the newly constructed wall. Fu Pi had no choice but to withdraw his troops. The people of Xiangyang called this newly added wall "Lady's Wall."
I have defeated the enemy many times, and everyone was very tired. In addition, the enemy had retreated far, so everyone thought they would not come back again. As a result, our defenses became lax. Inspector Li Bohu secretly colluded with the enemy, and Xiangyang fell. I was captured by Fu Jian as well. Fu Jian killed Li Bohu as a warning to others because he betrayed the country. I had initially planned to escape home, so I sneaked off to Yiyang and hid at Xia Kui's house. Fu Jian grew suspicious of Xia Kui and had him arrested. I had no choice but to turn myself in to Fu Hui. To my surprise, Fu Jian praised me, didn’t hold me accountable, and even appointed me as a secretary.
In the first year of the Taiyuan era, Fu Jian invaded the south again, and I led our forces in resistance. At that time, most of Fu Jian's forces were still stationed in Xiangcheng, while Fu Rong had brought three hundred thousand troops to the front. Fu Jian sent me to persuade Xie Shi to surrender, hoping to flaunt his military might. I turned to Xie Shi and told him, "If Fu Jian's million troops all arrive, we won’t stand a chance. While they haven't fully converged yet, let's strike quickly; we can definitely win!" So Xie Shi dispatched Xie Yan to gather eight thousand elite soldiers to cross the Fei River and challenge the enemy. Fu Jian's army fell back slightly, and I was right behind their lines, shouting loudly, "Fu Jian is defeated!" The enemy troops heard this and immediately broke ranks in panic, and I took the opportunity to escape back. Later, I was appointed Dragon Cavalry General and Interior Minister of Langye, then promoted to military commander of five counties in Yangzhou and Yuzhou, and finally became the governor of Yuzhou, stationed in Luoyang.
Later, the Xianbei and Di Liao rebels prompted the court to dispatch Generals Qin Ying and Tong Bin to join forces with the various counties in the Huai and Si regions to suppress the rebellion. The emperor also appointed him to oversee the military affairs of Yanzhou and Qingzhou, while concurrently serving as the governor of these two provinces, while maintaining his position as general, stationed in Pengcheng. He requested to be stationed in Huaiyin, and the emperor consented. Di Liao sent his son Di Zhao to attack Chenzhou and Yingzhou, so he dispatched Qin Ying to confront Di Zhao, successfully driving him away. The emperor subsequently conferred upon him the title of General of the Expeditionary Forces. He petitioned the court to transport 100,000 shu of rice from Jiangzhou and 5,000 rolls of cloth as military expenses, which the emperor granted. He was further appointed as the military commander of Sizhou, Yongzhou, Liangzhou, and Qinzhou. The emperor also sent General Guangwei, the Prefect of Henan, Yang Quanqi, and the Prefect of Nanyang, Zhao Mu, each leading a thousand soldiers to assist him. He also petitioned to receive the mansion and land of one hundred hectares formerly owned by Huan Shisheng, the former governor of Jingzhou, and eighty thousand shu of grain, which the court granted. He was subsequently assigned to guard Luoyang and protect the imperial mausoleum.
Later, Murong Yong led troops to attack Luoyang. He crossed the Yellow River at Heyin and met Murong Yong's false general Wang Ci and others at Qinshui. They fought a battle, defeated Wang Ci and killed Murong Yong's subordinate Wuzhi. His military advisor Zhao Mu and the Prefect of Jiangxia, Huan Bucai, pursued Murong Yong and defeated him in Taihang Mountain. Murong Yong fled back to Shangdang. At this time, Yang Kai gathered several thousand people in the areas of Huzhou and Shanzhou. Upon hearing that Murong Yong was defeated, he sent his son to surrender. He pursued Murong Yong to Baishui in Shangdang and faced him for twenty days. Hearing that Zhai Liao planned to attack Jinyong City, he returned with his troops and attacked Zhai Zhao, defeating him at Shimen Pass. He also sent Zhao Fan to defeat Zhai Liao in Huaixian. Zhai Liao fled under cover of night. He withdrew his troops to Luoyang, leaving General Yingyang Zhu Dang to guard Shimen. He also appointed his son to oversee the defense of Luoyang with Zhao Fan assisting him. He then returned to Xiangyang. King Daozi of Kuaiji maintained a neutral stance regarding his victories and defeats. Later, the East Qiang Colonel Dou Chong wanted to enter the Hanchuan area. The residents of Anding, including Huangfu Zhao and Zhou Xun, sought to assist Dou Chong. The Governor of Liangzhou, Zhou Qiong, lost the three counties of Baxi and was short on troops. He asked for help, so he sent General Huangfu Zhen to support. Dou Chong occupied the east of Chang'an, and Huangfu Zhao, Zhou Xun, and others scattered and fled. Due to old age and illness, he repeatedly requested to resign in memorials, but the emperor did not allow it. When the emperor rejected his memorial, he resigned from his post without permission. After a few dozen days, the court placed the blame on the Minister of Justice, and the emperor ordered not to investigate his responsibility. He passed away in the eighteenth year of Taiyuan, posthumously awarded the titles of Left General and Cavalry Attendant.
The history books say: The Jin Dynasty declined, and the emperors all fled to the south of the Yangtze River, with internal rebellions occurring one after another and external enemies constantly causing trouble. The national strategy was poorly managed, and the generals did not have much merit. Sima Xun, Sima Bao, Sima Xuan, and Sima Yin performed their duties with relative diligence during the Taixing era, while Mao Bao, Deng Xia, Liu Laozhi, and Zhu Xu were active during the Xianhe period. Although they were not as good as the renowned generals of antiquity, they could be considered relatively capable figures at that time.
They were praised in a poem that goes: "The spirit spreads between the Huai River and the sea, disasters surge through the Chan River. They destroy enemies like dark serpents, rising like wild geese. The sound of their war drums is heard, and their strategies are as cunning as rabbit traps. A band of brave heroes tirelessly executing the nation's strategy."
