Pei Sui, courtesy name Yuanming, was from Wenxi in Hedong and was a descendant of Pei Chuo, the Governor of Xiangzhou during the Wei Dynasty. His grandfather, Pei Shousun, lived in Shouyang and served as the former Chief of Staff of the Front Army under Emperor Wu of Song; his father, Pei Zhongmu, was a General of Valiant Cavalry. Pei Sui was able to write essays at the age of ten and was especially skilled in the "Spring and Autumn Annals of Mr. Zuo." During the reign of Emperor Jianwu of Qi, the Inspector Xiao Yaochang recognized his talent and appointed him as his Chief Secretary. In Shouyang, there was a temple on Bagong Mountain, and Xiao Yaochang wanted to erect a stele, so he asked Pei Sui to write the inscription, which received widespread acclaim. Later, Pei Sui took the imperial examination, performed well, and was appointed as an official in the court.
After Emperor Donghun ascended the throne, Prince Shi'an, Xiao Yaoguang, became the General of Pacification and the Inspector of Yangzhou, and invited Pei Sui to serve as his Military Advisor. Later, when Xiao Yaoguang was defeated, Pei Sui returned to Shouyang. Just as Inspector Pei Shuye was leading Shouyang to surrender to the Wei Dynasty, many prominent families in Yuzhou were captured, and Pei Sui migrated north along with many others. Emperor Xuanwu of Wei admired him greatly and appointed him as a Minister of State and later as the Prefect of Wei Commandery. When Wei dispatched Wang Su to guard Shouyang, Pei Sui always wanted to follow Wang Su and secretly planned to return to the south.
During the Tianjian era, he finally found an opportunity to secretly return to the court and was appointed as a Military Advisor of the Rear Army. Pei Sui requested to serve on the border and was later appointed as the General of National Defense and the Prefect of Lujiang. At that time, the Wei General Lv Po suddenly led fifty thousand troops to attack Lujiang Commandery, and Pei Sui led his soldiers to resist, defeated them, and was further appointed as the General of the Right Army. Five years later, the court launched an expedition to Shaoyang Prefecture, and the Wei army built a long bridge over the Huai River. Pei Sui built defensive works by the bridge and secured victory in every engagement. He also secretly developed a warship known as the "No-Piercing Ship."
Later, encountering heavy rain and the Huai River flooding, Pei Sui took advantage of this by boarding a warship directly to the bridge. The Wei army was terrified and in disarray, and Pei Sui pursued them, securing a decisive victory. He captured Yangshi City and killed its lord, Yuan Kang; then took Huoqiu City and killed its lord, Ning Yongren; subdued Xiaoxian and even launched an attack on Hefei. Due to these military achievements, he was granted the title of Viscount of Yiling County, with a fief of three hundred households, and later promoted to Chief of the Champions and Governor of Guangling.
I went to the Temple of Emperor Wu with the villagers, and then we talked about the achievements of emperors throughout history. Consequently, my wife's nephew Wang Zhuan secretly reported me to the founding ancestor, saying that I, Pei Sui, bragged and did not behave like a subject. As a result, I was demoted and became the Prefect of Shi'an. I thought to myself that I wanted to make achievements on the border, rather than staying idle in a remote place, so I wrote a letter to Lv Sengzhen, saying, "In the past, Ruan Xian and Yan Yan both had the feeling of being demoted as local officials twice. I can't compare to the ancients. Now it's already the 'third time.' This isn't what I had in mind. What should I do?" Before taking office, the Wei army launched an attack on Suyu, and the emperor ordered me to resist. When I led the troops to defend Zhidu, the Wei army retreated. Later, I was promoted to Right Army Consultant, Sima of the Prince of Yuzhang's Command, leading the troops to help defend Shitou City. After that, I was appointed as the Prefect of Jingling, reclaiming farmland, which benefited both the government and the people. I was then promoted to Guerrilla General, Director of the Zhu Yi Hall, on duty in the palace. Not long after, I was promoted to Acting General, General of Mingwei, Colonel of the Western Rong, Governor of Beiliang and Qinzhou. I reclaimed thousands of hectares of farmland; the granaries were filled to capacity, reducing the transportation pressure on the border. The people and officials enjoyed a peaceful life, and they sent over a thousand pieces of silk as a thank you. I replied calmly, "You shouldn't do this; I can't turn down your gift either." In the end, I accepted just two pieces of silk. Afterwards, I returned to court as a Censor, General of Yunqi, and General of the Zhu Yi Hall, and was eventually promoted to Grand Master of Works.
In the second year of the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, Wen Sengming, the Inspector of Yizhou, rebelled and surrendered to the Wei state. The Emperor appointed me as the Provisional General and General of Trustworthiness, leading the army to suppress the rebellion. I ventured deep into Wei territory, taking a border path to launch a surprise attack on the enemy. The Wei-appointed Inspector of Yizhou, Feng Shou, who was stationed at Tangong Pass, was defeated by me. I then besieged Yizhou City, captured Feng Shou, and restored order in Yizhou. I was appointed as Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs for North Xuzhou, General of Trustworthiness, and Inspector of North Xuzhou. Before taking office, I was promoted to Commissioner of Military Affairs for Yuzhou, North Yu, and Huo Sanzhou, Inspector of Yuzhou, and stationed in Hefei.
Four years later, I was promoted to General of Xuan Yi. In that year, the army was set to launch a northern expedition, and I was appointed as the overall commander of the expeditionary forces. Leading three thousand cavalry, I first launched a surprise attack on Shouyang. On the night of the ninth day of the ninth month, we quietly arrived at the outskirts of Shouyang City, attacked the outer city, broke through the city gates, and engaged in nine battles in a single day. Unfortunately, the rear guard, Cai Xiucheng, lost his way and did not arrive in time, so with no reinforcements, I had to retreat.
After that, I reorganized the army, gathered the soldiers, and ordered the various generals to differentiate their troops by color. Dressed in a yellow robe, I led the cavalry to capture cities such as Diqiu, Picheng, and Lijiang, and slaughtered the defenders in Ancheng, Matou, and Shaling. That winter, I also began the construction of Shaobi.
In the second year, he defeated Xinchai County of the Wei Kingdom again, all the way to Zhengcheng, and the people of Ruying rallied to his cause. Changsun Zhi, the defender of Shouyang in the Wei Kingdom, and the King of Hejian, Yuan Chen, led fifty thousand troops out of the city to challenge him. He ordered the soldiers to split into four teams and lie in ambush, and also had General Li Zulian pretend to flee to lure the enemy. Changsun Zhi and his army pursued, but the four ambush teams emerged together, resulting in a crushing defeat for the Wei army, with over ten thousand enemy soldiers killed. Changsun Zhi and his men were terrified and scattered in all directions, hiding back in the city and not daring to come out again. In May of that year, he passed away while in service.
The court posthumously appointed him as the Attendant and Left Guard General, granted him a ceremonial escort, elevated his title to Marquis, increased his fiefdom by seven hundred households, and posthumously honored him with the title "Lie." He was usually quiet, not one to smile much, but was meticulous and strategic, kind and enlightened, able to gain the support of his soldiers. He was upright, prestigious, and officers and soldiers alike revered him, with few daring to violate military discipline. After his death, the people around the Huai and Fei Rivers wept bitterly, saying that if he had not died, Luoyang would never have been taken.
This individual, named Zi Li, originally graduated from the National University after receiving a recommendation, and became the Left Attendant to Prince Shaoling and a military officer in the Xingwei. Later, when Prince Shaoling was appointed as the Governor of Nanyanzhou, he was promoted to the position of Changliu military officer, but before he could assume his duties, he was stationed in the capital as a guard, and later became the Direct Attendant General. After his father's passing and the conclusion of his mourning period, he inherited his title, then requested to join the army in its campaign against Shouyang, and was appointed as the General of the Cloud Banner, and was later promoted to Cavalry Attendant.
Later, he participated in the attack on Guangling City of the Wei Kingdom, successfully capturing the city. As a result, he was appointed Governor of Western Yuzhou, General of Trust and Martial Valor, and received the title of General of Chariots. He later became the Yellow Gate Attendant and was promoted to the position of Sima of Xuan City in the Central Army. Shortly after, he was appointed Commander of the Military of Northern Xuzhou, Renzhou, and Suizhou, holding the titles of General of Trust and Martial Valor and Governor of Northern Xuzhou. Later, the court summoned him to serve as Left Guard of the Crown Prince, concurrently holding the position of Minister of Guards, and later transferred to the position of Minister of Treasury. Eventually, he passed away and was posthumously given the title "Zhuang." His son, Zizheng, served as an Attendant in the Yellow Gate during the Chengsheng period. After Jiangling fell, he surrendered to Western Wei as per protocol.
Zhi Gao, courtesy name Ruyushan, was the son of Middle Attendant Officer Yu Sui. He began his career as a state official, later becoming the Magistrate of Xindu County and serving in the court as a court official. He was later promoted to Military Advisor. He had a great love for reading, was ambitious from an early age, and often accompanied his uncle Yu Sui in battles, where he always distinguished himself. Yu Sui highly valued him and entrusted him with key responsibilities in the army. During the Battle of Shouyang, Yu Sui died in battle, and Zhi Gao, alongside Xiahou Kui, pacified Shouyang. He was then appointed Chief Clerk of Pingbei Yuzhang, Prefect of Liangjun, and was granted the title of Lord of Ducheng County with a fief of 250 households. At that time, Ruyin County of the Wei Kingdom surrendered, and the court ordered Zhi Gao to receive them, granting him the titles of Acting General, Brave and Valiant General, and Governor of Yingzhou. However, the people of Yingzhou staged a rebellion at night, scaling the walls and infiltrating the city. Zhi Gao led his family and troops in a fierce counterattack, repelling the rebels.
Later, his father died, and Zhi Gao returned to the capital for the funeral. After the mourning period, he was appointed as General Guangyuan and participated in suppressing the bandits in Yinling. He was then appointed as the Governor of Qiaozhou. Later, he was appointed as General of the Left Wing and then transferred to serve as the Administrator of Nanqia and Administrator of Beixuzhou. Soon after, he was promoted to the position of Cavalry Attendant. Not long after, he was appointed as General Xiongxin and Inspector of Xiyuzhou while retaining his other positions. During the rebellion of Hou Jing, Zhi Gao led his troops to rescue Nan Yuzhou, where he commanded the reinforcements from Jiangyou and stationed at Zhangongzhou. When Liu Zhongli reached Hengjiang, Zhi Gao sent over two hundred ships to greet him, and together with Wei Can and others, they camped at Qingtang and took over Jianxing Garden. When the city fell, Zhi Gao retreated to Hefei and withdrew westward with Prince of Poyang, Fan Rang. They slowly made their way to Xincai with over ten thousand troops, but they had yet to pledge allegiance to any faction. Emperor Yuan sent Xiao Huizheng to call for him, appointing him as Chamberlain and General Who Protects the Army. Upon arriving in Jiangling, the court conferred upon him the titles of Special Excellence and Grandee of the Purple Light. When he passed away, he was seventy-three years old. The court posthumously awarded him the titles of Chamberlain and Equal of the Three Offices and awarded him a musical ensemble. His son, Zhi Ji, rose to the position of Right Guard of the Crown Prince and Inspector of Junzhou. During the attack of Western Wei on Jiangling, Zhi Ji fought bravely and died on the battlefield. Zhi Ping, styled Ruyuan, was the fifth younger brother of Zhi Gao. In his youth, he fought alongside Yu Sui as well and was granted the title of Marquis of Duting for his military achievements. He later served as an Attendant to the Prince of Wuling, Prefect of Fufeng County, and Prefect of Hongnong County, but did not hold these positions for long. He was then appointed as Chief of Staff of Qiaozhou and Prefect of Yangping. During the rebellion of Hou Jing, he staunchly resisted, and after the city fell, he was appointed as Cavalry Attendant, General of the Right Guard, and Prince's Registrar.
Zhi Heng, also known as Yue, is the thirteenth younger brother of Zhi Gao. He has always enjoyed making friends since he was young, with a bold and righteous personality, not really managing any businesses. Zhi Gao noticed his carefree behavior and intentionally gave him a small blanket and fed him simple meals to motivate him. Zhi Heng sighed and said, "A true man must be wealthy and noble; he should cover himself with hundreds of blankets!" So he took hundreds of servants and cultivated a vast expanse of land in Shaobei, constructed a villa, and quickly accumulated a large amount of wealth. When the Crown Prince (the later Emperor Taizong) heard about this, he summoned him and appointed him as the Chief Attendant of the Prince of Hedong, the Chief Commander of the Palace, and later promoted him to General of the Household.
During the rebellion of Hou Jing, Zhi Heng was appointed General of Zhenwei and followed Prince of Poyang Fan Zhen to attack Hou Jing. After Hou Jing crossed the Yangtze River, Fan Zhen and his eldest son Fan Si went to provide aid. They crossed the Huai River and occupied the East City. After the capital was captured, Zhi Heng withdrew to Hefei and, along with Fan Zhen, traveled upstream to Piancheng. Hou Jing sent Ren Yue to attack Jinxi from the upper reaches, and Fan Zhen ordered Zhi Heng to go downstream to support; however, before he arrived, Fan Zhen died, and Zhi Heng returned.
At that time, Prince of Xunyang Xiao Daxin was in Jiangzhou. Mei Sili, the deputy of Fan Zhen, secretly asked Xiao Daxin to attack Piancheng. Zhi Heng killed Mei Sili and turned down Xiao Daxin's request. Xiao Daxin then led Jiangzhou in surrendering to Hou Jing. Zhi Heng led his troops and his brother Zhi Gao to join Emperor Yuan. Emperor Yuan appointed him as the Chief Cavalry Officer, Minister of Justice, and then sent him to serve as the Governor of Dongxuzhou. He later followed Wang Sengbian to resist Hou Jing in Baling. After Hou Jing retreated, Zhi Heng was appointed as the General Who Maintains Order, General Who Pacifies the North, Inspector of Dongxuzhou, and Middle Guard, with the title of Marquis of Yuning, overseeing a fief of three thousand households.
He followed Wang Sengbian in pursuing Hou Jing, pacifying Yingzhou, Luzhou, Jiangzhou, Jinzhou, and other regions, serving as the vanguard and charging into battle. Finally arriving at Shitoucheng, he defeated Hou Jing, who fled to the east. Wang Sengbian ordered Zhi Heng and Du Er to station in Taicheng to defend it. Later, Lu Na rebelled and took control of Xiangzhou, and Zhi Heng followed Wang Sengbian south to suppress the rebellion. He defeated Lu Na's general, Li Xianming, in battle, quelling the rebellion. He also defeated the army of Prince Wuling Xiao Ji at Xiakou. He was subsequently appointed as the Prefect of Wuxing. At that point, he finally realized his long-held wish to create a hundred quilts.
Later, Jiangling was lost, and Northern Qi sent Wang Gao Huan to attack Dongguan with the hostage Prince Zhenyang. Prince Jin'an Xiao Fangzhi took command and appointed Zhi Heng as the Commissioner, General Who Guards the North, and Inspector of Xuzhou, leading a large army accompanied by a band of musicians to defend Qicheng. Having exhausted his troops and arrows, he died in battle at the age of forty-one. The court posthumously honored him with the titles of Supervisor and Duke of Sishang, with the posthumous title of Loyal and Valiant. His son Feng Bao inherited his title.
Xiahou Dan, styled Shilong, was the son of the General of Chariots and Cavalry Xiahou Xiang. When the Qi dynasty was newly established, he was initially appointed as an attendant, a minor official. By the end of the Yongyuan era, his father Xiahou Xiang had become the General of the Western Central Army and the Prince Marshal of Nankang, stationed in Jingzhou. Xiahou Dan stayed in the capital, serving under Duke Donghun (Xiao Baojuan). Later, when Cui Huijing rebelled, Xiahou Dan was promoted to the Valiant Cavalry General for his contributions in resisting the rebellion.
When Emperor Gaozu Xiao Yan raised his troops, his father Xiahou Xiang and Chancellor Xiao Yingzhou responded to Xiao Yan together, secretly sending people to the capital to welcome Xiahou Dan. Xiahou Dan, acting on the orders of Empress Xuande (Empress Xiao Baojuan), permitted King Nankang Xiao Baorong to ascend to the throne, bestowed upon him ten counties, and declared him King of Xuan Cheng. He elevated Xiahou Dan to the position of Prime Minister, allowing him to form his own team and select officials. After Jiankang City was captured, Xiahou Dan was appointed as the Minister of Personnel, and shortly thereafter promoted to Palace Attendant, and even went to greet Emperor Gaozu Xiao Yan with the imperial seal.
In the first year of Tianjian, he was dispatched to serve as the Prefect of Xuan Cheng. Shortly after, he returned to the capital, serving as Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and concurrently as General of the Right Valiant Cavalry. In the sixth year, he was sent abroad to serve as chief clerk of Prince Pingxi Shixing and Prefect of Nanjun, but when his father passed away, he resigned and returned home to observe a mourning period. He observed mourning very seriously, residing next to the tomb and distributing his estate among his younger brothers. Eight years later, he was appointed as Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Sizhou, General of Valor, Inspector of Sizhou, and Prefect of Anlu. Upon completing his mourning period, he inherited the title of Count of Fengcheng County. He served in the province with great benevolence and authority, deeply respected and beloved by the local people.
In the twelfth year, he returned to the court and became the Minister of the Interior. Later, he was promoted to Deputy Chief, Right Guard General, and concurrently served as the Grand Administrator of Yuzhou. In the fifteenth year, he was dispatched to serve as General of Faith and War, Chief of Anxi, and Governor of Jiangxia. In the seventeenth year, he returned to the court and became the Imperial Attendant, Commander of the Prince's Right Guard, and was later promoted to Vanguard General, concurrently serving as General of the Vanguard. Not long after, he was dispatched to serve as General of Radiant Might and Governor of Wuxing. During his tenure in Wuxing, he achieved remarkable accomplishments, and local officials and people erected portraits and stone tablets to praise him. After three years, he returned to the court and became the Imperial Attendant, concurrently serving as General of the Right Valiant Cavalry. Later, he was promoted to Minister of the Imperial Household, while retaining his position as Imperial Attendant. However, he was dismissed due to an error in his official duties, but shortly after, the Emperor issued an edict reinstating him. In the fifth year, he was promoted to Middle Army Protector.
In the sixth year, the Emperor initiated a large-scale northern campaign. Initially, the Governor of Yuzhou, Pei Sui, led renowned generals such as Zhan Sengzhi, Ming Shaoshi, Yu Hong, and Zhang Cheng to attack Shouyang City from the south, but ultimately failed to capture the city, resulting in Pei Sui's death. The Emperor then sent Liu Dan to take over Pei Sui's command with the Emperor's orders. Liu Dan faced off against Yuan Chen, the Prince of Hejian, and Yuan Yu, the Prince of Linhuai, and secured numerous victories. Later, he received a secret order to lead his troops back to Huifei for rest and await the repairs of the dam on the Huai River before launching another attack.
In the summer of the seventh year, the dam on the Huai River had accumulated a significant amount of water, and Shouyang City was about to be flooded. The emperor dispatched troops from the northern route, led by Yuan Shu, Peng Baosun, Chen Qingzhi, and others, to make a slight advance. Liu Dan led Zhan Sengzhi, Yu Hong, Zhang Cheng, and others to march from Qingliu Gorge, preparing to attack the Huai River and Hefei area. The Wei army built a city near Hefei, attempting to cut off Liu Dan's forces. Liu Dan and Sengzhi turned back to engage them in battle, defeating the Wei army. They then launched an attack on Lijiang, and General Zhenwei Wei Fang also rushed from the northern route to join forces. The two armies combined forces, and wherever they went, the enemy surrendered. They captured a total of fifty-two cities, took seventy-five thousand men and women prisoner, and seized two hundred thousand stones of grain. The emperor ordered that Shouyang be established as Yuzhou according to the previous system, and Hefei Town be changed to Nanyuzhou. Liu Dan was appointed as the governor of Yuzhou, Huainan, Huozhou, Yizhou, Dingzhou, and other five states, and was appointed as the General of Yunhui, also serving as the governor of both Yuzhou and Nanyuzhou.
The Shouchun region had long been ravaged by war, resulting in most of the population fleeing. Liu Dan reduced penalties, lowered taxes, encouraged farming, reduced corvee labor, and soon, the population began to recover. In the second year of the Datong era, Liu Dan was promoted to Pingbei General. In the third year, Liu Dan passed away in the provincial capital. Upon receiving the news, the emperor immediately donned plain clothing to mourn and posthumously awarded him the title of Chariot General, as well as the posthumous title 'Xiang'. The people of Shouchun, led by Xiahou Jian and five hundred others, petitioned the emperor to erect a stele and shrine in honor of Liu Dan, which he granted.
Liu Dan is a handsome man, broad-minded, generous, well-read, eloquent, good at debating, and able to answer questions accurately. His kinsman Xiahou Yi became the Prefect of Hengyang. One day when bidding farewell to Liu Dan, the emperor asked him, "How is your relationship with Xiahou Yi?" Liu Dan replied, "He is my cousin." The emperor, knowing that Xiahou Yi's relationship with Liu Dan was quite distant, said, "You are really crude; you can't even tell the difference between family ties." Liu Dan replied, "I've heard that serving others can lead to distant relationships, so I am embarrassed to say we are family." People at the time thought his answer was very good.
He held official positions in six counties and three states, never saving money or investing in businesses. He shared his salary and rewards with relatives and friends. He lived a simple life, in his dress and daily life, never seeking luxury. In his later years, he enjoyed listening to music and kept over a dozen singers and dancers, who all dressed simply. When guests came, he had them perform behind a curtain, which people jokingly referred to as the "Xiahou Curtain of Courtesans."
He had two sons, one named Yi and the other named Sun. Yi inherited the title of Duke of Fengcheng and later became a Prince's Attendant and Imperial Stableman. During the Taiqing period, Hou Jing rebelled, and Yi and his brother Sun led their troops into the city to fight back, but both ended up dying in the city.
His younger brother is named Kui, courtesy name Jilong. He initially served as a military officer at the Southern Kang Palace in the Qi Kingdom. During the Zhongxing period, he was promoted to Minister of Works. In the first year of the Tianjian era, he became the Prince's Stablemaster, a Chamberlain, and a Gentleman of the Palace Archives. After his father's death and the end of his mourning period, he was appointed Chief Architect, responsible for constructing the Taiji Hall. In the first year of the Putong era, he was appointed Chief Historian of Prince Shaoling, responsible for the affairs of the prince's palace. That same year, he was appointed a General and led troops north to campaign, and upon his return, he was appointed as an Attendant to the Yellow Gate. In the second year, he assisted Pei Sui in quelling the rebellion in Yizhou. In the third year, he succeeded his brother as the Prefect of Wuxing, and shortly after was promoted to General, Prefect of Xiyang and Wuchang, overseeing two counties. In the seventh year, the court summoned him to serve as the Commander of the Guards, but before taking office, he was reassigned as Commander, Supervisor of Military Affairs in Sizhou, General of Trustworthy Military Affairs, Governor of Sizhou, and concurrently as Governor of Anlu.
Eight years later, the Emperor ordered the Governor of Kui, General Zhuang Wujun Pei Zhili, and the Direct Pavilion General Ren Sizu to set out from Yiyang to attack and seize the three passes of Pingjing, Muling, and Yinshan, all of which were successfully captured! At that time, the Governor of Qiaozhou, Zhan Sengzhi, had surrounded the Governor of Dong Yu Province, Yuan Qing, in Guangling, and had already breached its defenses. The Wei general, Yuan Xianbo, led troops to the rescue, but was defeated by Sengzhi. Pei Zhili hurried from Wuyang to join Sengzhi, directly cutting off the Wei army's retreat. Yuan Qing fortified the city and held out until Pei Zhili arrived, at which point he surrendered voluntarily.
Pei Zhili wanted to give credit to Zhan Sengzhi, but Sengzhi said, "Yuan Qing and Ben originally wanted to surrender to you, not to me. If you go, it might create problems. Besides, the troops I brought are all hastily recruited and difficult to manage. You have always been strict with your soldiers and will definitely not violate military discipline. It is most appropriate for you to accept his surrender." So Pei Zhili climbed up the city tower, removed the Wei country's flag, replaced it with the court's military flag, and everyone remained still. Yuan Qinghe put down his weapons and surrendered, without any chaos among the troops. In total, over forty thousand men, women, and children surrendered, along with sixty thousand hu of grain and many other supplies. Upon hearing this, Yuan Xianbo was so scared that he fled in the middle of the night. Our army caught up and captured more than twenty thousand people, and countless others were killed. The Emperor appointed Zhan Sengzhi as the governor of Dongyu Prefecture, based in Guangling. Pei Zhili then stationed his troops in Anyang. He also sent a deputy general to attack Chucheng, capturing everyone there. As a result, the road north of Yiyang was completely severed from Wei.
In the second year of Datong, Yuan Yuanda, the governor of Yingzhou in Wei, requested to surrender. The Emperor ordered the governor of Yingzhou, Yuan Shu, to meet Yuan Yuanda, and Pei Zhili rushed from Chucheng to join them and ended up staying there to defend. The Emperor renamed Yingzhou in Wei to Beisi Prefecture, assigned Pei Zhili to oversee military affairs in the prefecture. Three years later, Pei Zhili was promoted to a commanding officer and then to Renwei General, and granted the title of Marquis of Baocheng County, with a fief of fifteen hundred households. In the second year of Zhongdatong, he was summoned to serve as the Right Guard General, but later resigned to return home and mourn his mother's passing.
At that time, Liu Ming, the Governor of Nanyanzhou in the Wei Kingdom, surrendered to the court along with Qiaocheng. The court ordered General Yuan Shu, the General of the Northern Frontier, to lead the army to meet them, and appointed Xiahou Kui as the General of the Cloud Banners to accompany the army north to quell the rebellion. Not long after, Xiahou Kui was appointed as Imperial Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Southern Yuzhou, and Governor of Southern Yuzhou. Six years later, he was promoted to Imperial Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Yuzhou, Huai, Chen, Ying, Jian, Huo, and Yi seven provinces, and Governor of Yuzhou. Due to long-term warfare, the people of Yuzhou were displaced, with many losing their jobs. Xiahou Kui led his soldiers to build dams in Cangling, irrigating more than a thousand acres of farmland. The annual harvest could exceed a million stones of grain, which not only enriched the army's reserves but also helped the impoverished. The people of Yuzhou benefited immensely from this. Xiahou Kui's brother Xiahou Dan had previously served as the Governor of Yuzhou, and now Xiahou Kui has taken over his position. The brothers have done many good deeds for the people of Yuzhou, and the common folk composed songs in their praise: "We have the province, frequently Xiahou; elder brother and younger brother, governing with excellence." Xiahou Kui served in Yuzhou for seven years, achieving remarkable results, and people from near and far all rallied to him. He had over ten thousand soldiers under his command, more than two thousand warhorses, all well-trained and strong in combat, establishing a formidable military force at that time.
Xiahou Kui was extravagantly lavish, with a multitude of concubines in his household. Over a hundred women wore luxurious silk and satin clothing, as well as gold and silver jewelry. Despite his status, he enjoyed making friends and treated others with respect. His mansion was often filled with guests, including civil and military officials who praised him. In the fourth year of the Datong era, Xiahou Kui passed away in Yuzhou at the age of fifty-six. The court issued an edict of mourning, granting two hundred thousand coins and two hundred pieces of cloth as funeral expenses. He was posthumously appointed as a Palace Attendant and General of the North, with the posthumous title of "Huan." His son Xiahou Zhuan later became the Grand Minister of Ceremonies.
Xiahou Kui's younger brother, Xiahou Rao, was boorish and unruly in his youth, often residing in the countryside. However, he inherited his father's troops and assisted in defending the state and county. The governor, Xiao Yuanming, recognized his military prowess and recommended him as the Chief of Staff. After Xiao Yuanming was killed in battle at Pengcheng, Xiahou Rao became Hou Jing's Chief of Staff. Hou Jing later rebelled, and Xiahou Rao led the vanguard across the Yangtze River, stationed his troops at Shilin Hall in the west of the city, and looted the mansions of the wealthy, seizing numerous children and valuables. When Xiao Yuanming was alive, he had four beautiful wives: Zhang, Yu, Wang, and Ruan. After Xiao Yuanming's death, his wives returned to the capital city, while Xiahou Rao besieged Xiao Yuanming's mansion and claimed these four wives.
Yu Hong, from Xiangyang, was tall and fair-skinned. He participated in many battles, always charging into battle, and served as the governor of three places: Nanqiao, Xuyi, and Jingling. He often said to people, "As an official, I pursue the four 'completions': catching all the fish and turtles in the water, hunting all the deer in the mountains, harvesting all the crops in the fields, and ensuring all the villagers are compliant." He believed that life is fleeting and one should enjoy happiness and wealth to the fullest. He indulged in a lavish lifestyle, with more than a hundred concubines, and amassed a vast fortune in gold, silver, and jewels. His clothes, utensils, and vehicles were all the finest. He was later promoted to the Sima of Pingxi and Wang of Xiangdong, as well as the governor of Xinxing and Yongning, and ultimately died while in office.
Wei Fang, courtesy name Yuanzhi, was the son of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wei Rui. He initially served as a reception clerk under the Prince of Qi Jin'an, and when the Emperor was in Yongzhou province, he was summoned to serve as a registrar. Wei Fang was seven feet and seven inches tall, with a waist measurement of eight spans, and had a very imposing appearance. In the first year of Tianjian, he became the Prefect of Xuyi, then was transferred to serve as a Palace Attendant, and later became a military advisor for Prince Jin'an's light chariots. He was then promoted to serve as the military advisor for Prince Shixing, but stepped down due to his father's death. After fulfilling his mourning duties, he inherited the title of Marquis of Yongchang and was appointed as the Chief Clerk of the Prince of Nanping's light chariots and the Prefect of Xiangyang. He was later promoted to acting General, General of Mingwei, and Prefect of Jingling. He handled governmental affairs justly and kindly, gaining respect from both officials and common folk. In the sixth year, during a massive northern campaign, he was appointed as General of Zhenwei and was tasked with leading troops along with Hu Longya to support Cao Zhongzong. In the seventh year, Xiahou Dan's attack on Lijiang failed, so the Emperor dispatched him to lead troops from the north to support Shouchun City. He was later promoted to Chief Clerk of the Prince of Nankang and Prefect of Xunyang. Wei Fang served as a frontier official for a long time, making significant political contributions.
In the eighth year AD, the Emperor sent Cao Zhongzong and others to attack Guoyang, appointing him as General of Mingwei to lead the troops in support. The Wei general Fei Mu suddenly attacked, and he had not yet established his camp, with only over two hundred men under his command. His younger brother Xun was exceptionally brave and the backbone of the army, so he sent him charging into battle on horseback alone, holding off the Wei forces several times. Eventually, his brother's horse was injured and could no longer run, while he himself was struck by three arrows. Everyone panicked and urged him to flee at once.
(The protagonist) shouted at them, saying, "Today there's no way out!" Then, he took off his helmet, dismounted, and sat on a stool to command the battle. Now, the soldiers fought to the death, with one man worth a hundred. The Wei army eventually retreated, and (the protagonist) pursued them to the city of Guoyang.
The Wei kingdom sent King Yuanzhao of Changshan, General Li Jiang, Qifo Bao, Fei Mu, and others, a total of fifty thousand reinforcements. (The protagonist) led generals such as Chen Du and Zhao Bochao to flank the enemy and achieved a complete victory. The lord of Guoyang surrendered. (The protagonist) ascended the city tower, counted a total of four thousand two hundred surrendered soldiers, and a mountain of captured weapons and gear piled up; he also sent thirty surrendered soldiers to report to Li Jiang, Fei Mu, and the others. The Wei army abandoned their camp, scattered in all directions, and our troops pursued them relentlessly, nearly annihilating them. They also captured Fei Mu's brother, Fei Chao, and Wang Wei, escorting them to the capital.
Later, (the protagonist) was appointed as the Right Guardian of the Crown Prince, and then promoted to the Imperial Secretariat Cavalry Commandant. He was then sent to serve as the Commissioner, overseeing military affairs in the provinces of Liang and Nanqin, Trustworthy General, and Governor of Liang and Nanqin provinces. In the second year of Zhongdatong, he was transferred to oversee military affairs in the province of North Xuzhou, and appointed as the Governor of North Xuzhou, with an additional title granting him control over four hundred households, while retaining his other official positions. He guarded North Xuzhou for three years, passed away at fifty-nine, and was posthumously granted the title of Marquis Yi.
(The protagonist) was known for his kindness, honesty, and willingness to help others, particularly good to his younger brothers. Whenever he had to leave home for a distant place or return from a campaign, he always shared a room with his brothers. People referred to them as the "Three Jiangs."
At the beginning, (the protagonist) and Zhang Shuai from Wu County, each had their respective concubines pregnant, so they became in-laws. Later, both of them had children, but before they had a chance to grow up, Zhang Shuai passed away, leaving behind widows and orphans. (The protagonist) took care of them throughout. When he became the Inspector of North Xuzhou, some influential families sought marriage alliances, but (the protagonist) said, "I cannot go back on my word to an old friend." So, he married his son to Zhang Shuai's daughter and his daughter to Zhang Shuai's son. At that time, people praised (the protagonist) for his loyalty and integrity. His eldest son, Can, is also the subject of a biography.
Historians say that Pei Sui was well-known for his literary talent early on, and his thoughts were profound; Xiahou Dan was particularly studious and eloquent; Kui was extravagant in his lifestyle but cherished talents; Wei Fang was generous and trustworthy. These four men all rose to prominence at the right time, encountering rulers who appreciated them, and they all fully utilized their talents.
Later, they all became governors or prefects, achieved military success, defended the borders, and made significant contributions. They were both literary and martial talents, celebrated ministers of the Liang Dynasty! "They were all capable in both civil and military affairs, truly renowned ministers of the Liang dynasty."
