Zhang Hongce, whose courtesy name was Zhenjian, was from Fangcheng, Fanyang. He was the cousin of Empress Wenxian. From a young age, he was renowned for his filial piety. When his mother fell ill and was unable to eat for five days, Zhang Hongce also fasted for the same period. When his mother finally managed to drink some porridge, he ate what was left. After his mother passed away, he refrained from eating pickled vegetables for three years, nearly costing him his life. He shared a particularly close bond with his brothers and was reluctant to be separated from them, even for a moment. Even though they had all started their own families, they still slept and woke up together. People frequently compared him to the Jiang brothers, Jiang Gong and Jiang Zong. He initially served as an attendant in the Kingdom of Qishao Ling, later rising to the positions of Palace Attendant and General of the West Central Army, and also acted as a military advisor to the King of Jiangxia.
Zhang Hongce and Gaozu were of similar age, and they had known each other since childhood. They shared a very close relationship and often played together. Every time he entered Gaozu's room, Zhang Hongce always felt an ethereal atmosphere, which made him feel particularly solemn, so he respected Gaozu very much. As the Jianwu era was drawing to a close, Zhang Hongce and Gaozu spent the night together. After drinking too much, they moved their mats and sat under the stars, discussing national affairs. Zhang Hongce asked Gaozu, "What do you make of the celestial signs? Will the country be peaceful?" Gaozu replied, "Is it appropriate to say?" Zhang Hongce said, "Please tell me, what signs are there?" Gaozu said, "There are signs of losing the earth energy in the northern part of the Han Dynasty, and signs of urgent military action in the eastern part of Zhejiang. At the beginning of winter this year, Wei will definitely send troops; if Wei sends troops, the northern part of the Han Dynasty will be lost. Now the emperor has been ill for a long time, and there are many differing opinions in the court. If someone takes advantage of the situation to cause chaos, the Ji clan might seize the opportunity to rebel, which will not ultimately succeed, only lead to self-destruction. Next year, the capital will be in turmoil, and the death toll will be as chaotic as a tangled mess. The fortunes of the Qi Kingdom will begin to wane from this point. Heroes will appear in the regions of Liang, Chu, and Han." Zhang Hongce asked, "Where are the heroes now? Are they already wealthy, or are they still among the people?" Gaozu smiled and said, "Emperor Guangwu once said, 'Who knows if it's me?'" Zhang Hongce stood up and said, "The words spoken tonight are the will of heaven! Please let me formalize our bond as ruler and subject!" Gaozu said, "Do you want to emulate Deng Chen?" That winter, the army of Wei attacked Xinye, and Gaozu led the troops to rescue them. He also secretly accepted the imperial order to replace Cao Hu as the Inspector of Yongzhou. Zhang Hongce was very happy to hear this news and said to Gaozu, "What you said last night has really come to pass!" Gaozu smiled and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore." Zhang Hongce followed Gaozu westward, continued to participate in military decisions, personally joined the battle, and was unafraid of hardship.
In the autumn of the fifth year of his reign, Emperor Ming passed away. In his will, he appointed Gaozu as the Governor of Yongzhou. He then recommended Hongce to be the Military Secretary and concurrently serve as the Magistrate of Xiangyang County. Gaozu saw the chaos in the world and was determined to save it. He quietly began to prepare, discussing all his plans exclusively with Hongce. At that time, the King of Xuanwu returned from Yizhou and continued to serve as the Chief of Staff of the Western Command, responsible for the affairs of Yingzhou. Gaozu sent Hongce to Yingzhou to share his strategies with the King of Xuanwu, the details of which are recorded in the "Annals of Gaozu." Hongce counseled the King of Xuanwu, saying: "During the decline of the Zhou Dynasty, the feudal lords were embroiled in conflict. Duke Huan of Qi, an ordinary man, managed to restore order to the world, convening nine meetings with the feudal lords. Even now, the common people praise him. The court's virtue is declining, the world is in chaos, and the fate of the common people hinges on who can take on the great responsibility. Yingzhou is strategically important, and Yongzhou has a strong military presence. Your brothers are brave and skilled in battle, and now they are invincible, controlling the territories of both provinces, effectively ruling over a third of the realm. As long as you gather righteous forces, uphold justice for the people, abolish the incompetent emperor, and enthrone a wise monarch, it would be as easy as flipping a switch. In this way, you can achieve the same greatness as Duke Huan of Qi and Guan Zhong, establishing eternal merits for generations to come. Do not be deceived by those young people, leaving future generations with a laughing stock. I have a thorough understanding of the situation in Yongzhou, and I hope you will take my advice into serious consideration." Although the King of Xuanwu was not very pleased, he had no choice but to accept.
As the saying goes, war was imminent, so the Emperor secretly summoned Hongce and Lv Sengzhen to discuss at home that night, and the next morning the troops set out at dawn. The Emperor appointed Hongce as the Deputy General and Commander of the Army, leading ten thousand troops responsible for logistics. Hongce had previously served as a junior official in the West Division, later promoted to Infantry Colonel, and then served as a Chariot and Cavalry Advisor. After they captured Yingcheng, many generals, such as Xiao Yingda and Yang Gongze, wanted to rest in Xiakou. However, the Emperor felt they should capitalize on their victory and head directly to the capital, so he discussed this with Hongce, who agreed with the Emperor's plan. The Emperor also consulted General Yu Yuanyu, who also agreed. Therefore, the Emperor ordered the army to set off that day, marching along the Yangtze River straight to Jiankang. Along the way, Hongce had everything mapped out in his mind regarding where the army would camp at the river banks, docks, and villages.
When the army arrived at Xinlin, they encountered Wang Mao and Cao Jingzong fighting at Dahang. The Emperor sent Hongce to bring them gifts of encouragement, and everyone fought hard, defeating the Zhuque Army that day. The Emperor took up residence in Shitou City, with Hongce in charge of guarding the city gates and comforting the people and saving many from the ravages of war. After the city fell, the Emperor sent Hongce and Lv Sengzhen to enter the palace first to inspect the treasures in the treasury. At that time, the treasures in the city were stacked high, but Hongce firmly instructed his subordinates not to take anything—not even a single coin. Later, Hongce was promoted to Guard Captain and appointed to the Ministry of Personnel. During the Tianjian era, he was promoted to Cavalry Attendant, conferred the title of Marquis of Taoyang County, and granted a fief of 2,200 households. Hongce was loyal to the Emperor, carrying out his orders with unwavering loyalty; he also helped elevate his friends and fellow villagers, earning the respect of court officials.
Speaking of the remnants of the Eastern Hu, who had just been pardoned, they were still uneasy in their hearts. Under the cover of night, several hundred people sneaked into the palace with torches and clubs, causing chaos and setting fire to the Divine Tiger Gate and the General's Hall. At that time, Sima Lü Sengzhen, the commander of the front army, happened to be on duty in the palace, and he and the guards repelled the rioters. However, the rioters fled to the Weiwei Mansion. Hongce was trying to put out the fire at that time, but he was ambushed from behind by the rioters. He was just 47 at the time. Emperor Gaozu was especially saddened by this.
The Emperor bestowed numerous gifts upon Hongce's family, including a set of clothes, 100,000 coins, 100 bolts of cloth, and 200 jin of candles. He also issued a decree that read: "My cousin Hongce, who served as the Weiwei General, died at the hands of these treacherous rebels due to his negligence. He was upright, honest, knowledgeable, and experienced a difficult journey from local official to court official. His family was in decline and lived in poverty, which brings to mind the sorrow expressed in the 'Wei Yang Song'! I had high hopes for him to serve the court, but I never expected such misfortune. He lost his chance to serve the country, and I am truly heartbroken over this! He is posthumously honored with the title of Cavalier Attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, accompanied by a ceremonial band, with the posthumous title 'Min'."
Hongce was a generous and understanding person, treating others with kindness and decency, and held loyalty and righteousness in high regard. Even when his official position rose later on, he did not put on airs and treated old friends and acquaintances with the same courtesy. He generously shared his salary and rewards with his relatives and friends. As a result, after his passing, everyone mourned his loss. His son, Hongmian, later rose to an official position, but that is a tale for another time.
Yu Yu (courtesy name Sida) was a man from Xinye. He served as the Liangzhou Recorder for the Xuanwu King of Changsha and also served as the Prefect of Huayang. When the Wei army attacked Nanzheng, there were dozens of empty granaries across Liangzhou. Yu Yu had the granaries sealed and put up notices on them, telling the soldiers, "These granaries are filled with food, enough for us to last two years. As long as we defend with determination, we will surely succeed!" The soldiers were reassured by this. After the Wei army retreated, Yu Yu was promoted to Yulin Supervisor for his contributions, and later rose to the rank of Army Secretary of the Southern Zhonglang.
In the later years of Yongyuan, Emperor Gaozu raised an army and sent someone to write a letter to Yu Yu asking for his help. After the establishment of the Western Terrace, Yu Yu was appointed as the General of Ning Shuo, responsible for selecting talents and following Emperor Gaozu on his eastern expedition. When the army reached Yangkou, the Emperor sent the Chief Imperial Censor, Zong Chuo, to visit and comfort the troops. Yu Yu told Zong Chuo, "The Emperor has not yet formally granted full authority to Emperor Gaozu (the imperial seal has not been bestowed), so it is not the time for you to lead the vassals." After Zong Chuo returned, he transferred military authority to Emperor Gaozu. At that time, Xiao Yingzhou was in command of all military affairs, and some suggested that Emperor Gaozu should send him a letter of thanks. Yu Yu strongly opposed this idea, and the matter was set aside. After the capture of Yingcheng, Yu Yu and Zhang Hongce's suggestions were in line with Emperor Gaozu's thoughts, so Emperor Gaozu ordered the entire army to attack, successfully capturing Yingcheng. Emperor Gaozu consistently heeded Yu Yu's counsel and strategies. When the Ba Fu was first established, Yu Yu was granted the title of Marquis of Guangmu County and later served as Rear Marshal. He subsequently served as General of Ning Shuo, Prefect of Baxi County, and Prefect of Zitong County.
Liangzhou's Chief Historian Xiahou Daoqian surrendered the entire region to the Wei Kingdom, and Wei cavalry launched an attack on Baxi County. Yu Yu defended the city for over a hundred days; when the food in the city ran out, the soldiers could only gnaw on grass and eat soil. Though half of them perished, none were willing to surrender. The Wei army finally withdrew, and the court issued a decree to grant him an additional two hundred households of land and promoted him to a count. Yu Yu passed away in office six years later.
Zheng Shaoshu, courtesy name Zhongming, was from Xingyang Kaifeng, and his ancestors had lived in Shouyang for generations. His grandfather Zheng Kun served as the High Ping Prefect of the Song Dynasty. Zheng Shaoshu lived in poverty after losing both parents at a young age. In his twenties, he became the magistrate of Anfeng County and made significant achievements in his role. The county transferred him to the prefectural government as the chief scribe, and later he was promoted to the official historian. At that time, the governor Xiao Dan sent troops to arrest the soldiers under his command because his brother Xiao Chen was killed, and everyone was scared and fled. Zheng Shaoshu heard about the incident and rode there alone. After Xiao Dan's death, Zheng Shaoshu even sent his coffin, earning praise from everyone. When he arrived in the capital, the Minister Xu Xiaosi saw Zheng Shaoshu and regarded him highly, saying, "He is a hero like Zu Ti!"
When the founding emperor was an official in Sizhou, he appointed my uncle as the Middle Army Attendant, in charge of the affairs of Changliu County. My uncle established a good relationship with the founding emperor at that time. Later, when the founding emperor left Sizhou to return to the capital, he dismissed a group of guests, but my uncle resolutely insisted on staying. The founding emperor replied, "Your talents will be useful sooner or later, and I can't help you much now. You'd better find another way." My uncle responded, "I have decided to follow you and will not change my mind." The founding emperor still did not agree, so my uncle returned to his hometown of Shouyang. The Shouyang Prefect Xiao Yaochang tried hard to win over my uncle, but my uncle refused to yield. In a fit of rage, Xiao Yaochang sought to arrest him, but fortunately, someone helped him escape.
When Gaozu became the Governor of Yongzhou, my uncle secretly returned to Gaozu's side by a back route. Later, he was appointed as the Commander of Ningman, and then became the Prefect of Fufeng. Later, Dong Hunhou executed many court officials and began to suspect Gaozu. My uncle's brother, Zhi, was working for Dong Hunhou and was sent to Yongzhou by Dong Hunhou, under the pretense of visiting my uncle, but in reality, he was sent as a spy. My uncle found out about this and secretly informed Gaozu. When Zhi arrived in Yongzhou, Gaozu hosted a banquet for him at my uncle's residence and playfully said to Zhi, "The court sent you to spy on us. Let's enjoy a drink today and take a good look around." They all laughed heartily. Then Gaozu asked Zhi to climb the city tower and take a good look at the government office, soldiers, weapons, ships, and warhorses, all of which were plentiful. When Zhi returned, he told my uncle, "Yongzhou is very strong. It's not an easy target." My uncle said, "Brother, when you go back, report back to the emperor with the facts. If the emperor really wants to attack Yongzhou, I am willing to lead our troops into battle against them." Later, my uncle said goodbye to his brother at Nanxianshan, and they embraced and cried, reluctant to part.
Once upon a time, when the army set out, he was appointed as the Champion General and later promoted to the Brave Cavalry General. He followed the emperor to Jiangzhou, leaving his uncle Shaoshu to handle state affairs, overseeing the grain and fodder transport between Jiangzhou and Xiangzhou, ensuring that there were no problems at all. At the start of the Tianjian era, he was appointed as the Warden of the Guards. Shaoshu was fiercely loyal to the emperor, reporting every little movement outside in detail. Every time he reported to the emperor, if things went well, he would say, "I am foolish and did not think thoroughly; all these are the wise decisions of the emperor!" If things were not done well, he would say, "I did not think thoroughly, thought it should be done this way, almost causing a major event for the court; I deserve to be punished severely!" The emperor had great trust in him. Later, when his mother passed away, he resigned and returned home to mourn. Shaoshu was a devoted son, and the emperor even sent someone to comfort him in his mourning. After some time, he was appointed as the Champion General, Right Army Sima, and was also granted the title of Marquis of Yingdao, with a fief of one thousand households. Not long after, he became the Warden of the Guards again and was also promoted to Champion General. Due to the population decline and economic hardship in Yingdao County, he was later reassigned as Marquis of Dongxing County, with the same fief of one thousand households. He lost his father at a young age and was particularly filial to his mother and grandmother, which was well-known locally. He was also very respectful to his older brother. Once he became a high-ranking official, he shared his salary, rewards, and gifts from various regions with his older brother.
After three years, the Wei army surrounded Hefei. He was appointed to lead the various armies to guard the East Gate in his original capacity. After the siege ended, he was promoted to the position of Commander of the Guard. Later, Yiyang was occupied by the Wei army, and the capital of Sizhou was relocated south of the pass. In the fourth year, he was appointed as the General of Pacification, General of Barbarian Conquest, and Governor of Sizhou. Upon taking office, he built city walls and moats, repaired weapons, reclaimed wasteland, stored food, and resettled refugees, ensuring the common people could live in peace. He was somewhat proud and arrogant, and could be somewhat overbearing, but he was very approachable and warm-hearted in his dealings with others and promoted many talented individuals, so many were willing to follow him. In the sixth year, he was appointed as the General of the Left and was also granted the title of Imperial Attendant. He concurrently held the position of Grand Supervisor of Sizhou and Yuzhou. His uncle Zheng Shaoshu fell seriously ill at this time. The court specially sent people to his home to bestow an official title upon him, and then returned him to his residence in a carriage. The Emperor even dispatched eunuchs to bring him medicine, making several visits a day.
Seven years later, Zheng Shaoshu passed away at his residence at the age of forty-five. The Emperor Gaozu originally planned to attend his funeral, but the alley to Zheng Shaoshu's house was too narrow to accommodate the emperor's procession, so Emperor Gaozu did not go. The emperor decreed: "In remembrance of his contributions, which the late emperor also valued; his loyalty and integrity are timeless virtues. Zheng Shaoshu, the founding marquis of Dongxing County, served as a Palace Attendant and General of the Right Guard. He was known for his integrity and loyalty to the emperor and made remarkable achievements from the outset, excelling in local governance. Just as he was being entrusted with important responsibilities by the court and was preparing to dedicate himself even further, he suddenly passed away, causing me great sorrow. He should be posthumously granted higher honors as a sign of our gratitude. He is hereby posthumously honored with the titles of Palace Attendant and General of the Guard, and will be provided with a set of ceremonial instruments, a set of secret items, court attire, mourning attire, and all funeral expenses shall be covered by the court. He shall receive the posthumous title of 'Loyal'." After Zheng Shaoshu's death, Emperor Gaozu tearfully said to his courtiers: "Zheng Shaoshu was loyal and accomplished, attributing his successes to the emperor and his failures to himself. Few people today can compare to him." The emperor's deep appreciation and regret for him were evident. His son, Zheng Zhen, succeeded him in his title.
Lv Sengzhen, also known as Yuan-yu, was from Fan County in Dongping, and his family had resided in Guangling for generations. He was born into a poor family. When he was young, he studied under his teacher. A fortune teller once observed the students in his class and pointed at Lv Sengzhen, telling the teacher, "This child will have extraordinary achievements in the future, and might even rise to the rank of marquis or high official." In his twenties, he worked under the command of Liu Bing, the magistrate of Danyang. After Liu Bing was killed, he served as a secretary under Emperor Wen of the founding dynasty. He was seven and a half feet tall and very handsome. Among his peers, few would dare to disrespect him, and everyone respected him greatly.
Legend has it that our ancestor, the founding emperor, when he was young, served as an aide to the governor of Yuzhou and also held the position of magistrate in Meng County, where he performed well. Later, he was promoted to be the deputy general and registrar of the army. At that time, there was a troublemaker named Tang Yu who rebelled in Dongyang, and our ancestor led troops to suppress the rebellion, with a man named Sengzhen in charge of logistics. This Sengzhen lived east of Jianyang Gate, and since receiving his assignment, he walked from Jianyang Gate every day without even returning home. Our ancestor thought this young man was quite reliable.
Later, our ancestor became the magistrate of Danyang and appointed Sengzhen as the county postal supervisor. When the Qi dynasty's prince was appointed governor of Jingzhou, Emperor Wu of Qi assigned Sengzhen to accompany the prince as his bodyguard to Jingzhou. In the ninth year of Yongming, the governor of Yongzhou, Wang Huan, rebelled, and the court dispatched Sengzhen to assist General Cao Hu in quelling the rebellion, and appointed him as the magistrate of Xincheng County. At that time, the Wei army invaded the north bank of the Mian River, and the Minister of Works, Chen Xianda, saw that Sengzhen was extraordinary and quietly pulled him aside, saying, "You have the appearance of a nobleman; you have a bright future ahead of you, so put in the effort!"
In the second year of the Jianwu era, the Wei Kingdom launched a massive invasion to the south, with five major armies launching a coordinated attack. Emperor Gaozu led his troops to rescue Yiyang, with Monk Zhen joining him. At that time, Xuanwu King of Changsha was serving as the Inspector of Liangzhou. The Wei army besieged Yiyang for several months, with Wei spies everywhere, cutting off communication between Yiyang and Yongzhou. Emperor Gaozu wanted to send someone to Xiangyang to inquire about the situation in Liangzhou, but everyone was afraid to go except for Monk Zhen, who volunteered and set out on a boat that same day. Upon reaching Xiangyang, he urged the local forces to support and brought back a letter from Xuanwu King, which made Emperor Gaozu very happy. After the matter was resolved, Monk Zhen was appointed as the Commander of the Feathered Forest.
After Xiao Yan became Emperor, Xu Xiaosi was in charge of handling court affairs and wanted to work together with Monk Zhen, but Monk Zhen felt that it would not be stable in the long run, so he declined. By that time, Emperor Xiao Yan had already arrived in Yongzhou, and Monk Zhen kept requesting to return to the west. He was later appointed as the Prefect of Qixian. Upon arriving in Qixian, Emperor Xiao Yan appointed him as a Military Advisor, demonstrating great trust in him. Monk Zhen secretly trained a group of elite warriors.
Emperor Xiao Yan recruited many strong warriors, and the people responded by gathering over ten thousand. Emperor Xiao Yan had them clear the open space in the west of the city to build thousands of houses as residences. They cut down a lot of wood and bamboo, sinking them into Tanxi River, forming piles of thatch that resembled small mountains, but these materials were not put to use. Only Monk Zhen understood Emperor Xiao Yan's intentions and had secretly prepared hundreds of oars.
After the uprising of the righteous forces, Emperor Xiao Yan summoned Monk Zhen and Zhang Hongce for a discussion that night, and the next day they mobilized the army to retrieve the wood and bamboo from Tanxi River, build ships, and cover them with thatch. When the army was about to depart, the generals indeed started quarreling over the oars, but Monk Zhen produced the oars he had prepared ahead of time, distributing two to each boat, which finally ended the argument.
General Xiao Yan appointed Buddhist Monk Zhen as the General for the State and Infantry Colonel, entrusting him to enter and exit the palace to convey imperial edicts. When the army arrived at Yingcheng, Monk Zhen led the troops to set up camp at Yan Yue Lei, and soon moved to Qi Cheng. Once Yingzhou was captured, General Xiao Yan promoted Monk Zhen to the Grand General of the Vanguard. When the army reached Jiangning, General Xiao Yan ordered Monk Zhen and Wang Mao to lead the elite troops to launch an attack on Chibilo. That day, General Li Jushi of Dong Hunhou led his troops into battle; Monk Zhen and his men took the initiative and secured a resounding victory. Then, Monk Zhen and Wang Mao constructed a fort at Bai Banqiao. After the fort was completed, Wang Mao moved to Yuecheng, while Monk Zhen remained alone to guard Bai Banqiao.
Li Jushi secretly observed that the defending forces were outnumbered, so he led ten thousand elite soldiers to directly attack the city. Monk Zhen said to his soldiers, "Our forces are insufficient now; we cannot engage in a direct confrontation with them. Do not shoot arrows from a distance; wait for them to approach the moat, and we will concentrate our strength to defeat them." Soon, the enemy crossed the moat and removed the barriers. Monk Zhen sent people to climb the city wall; arrows and stones were shot simultaneously, and he personally led three hundred cavalry and infantry to charge from behind. The soldiers guarding the city corners also came down from the wall, mounting a pincer attack; Li Jushi's army immediately dispersed, seizing countless weapons and equipment. Monk Zhen then moved to Yuecheng. The Dong Hunhou's general Wang Zhen Guo arranged his chariots into a camp, positioned along the Huai River. When Wang Mao's army attacked him, Monk Zhen set fire to his camp, leading to its collapse that very day.
After capturing Jiankang City, Emperor Gaozu had Buddhist Monk Zhen lead the advance troops into the imperial palace to inspect the treasury with Zhang Hongce. That day, he promoted Buddhist Monk Zhen to continue serving as the Prefect of Nanpeng City, and also appointed him as a Gentleman-in-Waiting of the Yellow Gate and Commander of the Tiger Ben. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he further appointed Buddhist Monk Zhen as the Champion General and Marshal of the Vanguard, and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Pinggu County, with a fief comprising 1,200 households. Shortly after, he was promoted to Gentleman of the Palace Secretariat and Right Guard General. After some time, he was promoted to Left Guard General, assigned to serve as a Cavalier Attendant, and responsible for the security of the imperial palace during the night in the Secretariat.
In the winter of the fourth year of Tianjian, the Emperor initiated a large-scale northern campaign. During this busy time, Buddhist Monk Zhen served in the Chancellery by day and returned to the Secretariat at night. In the summer of the fifth year, the Emperor sent Buddhist Monk Zhen to lead the elite Feather Forest Army on a campaign to Liangcheng. Upon the army's return that winter, Buddhist Monk Zhen also took on the additional role of Tutor to the Crown Prince, with no change in his official position.
Seng Zhen had been away from home for a long time, so he submitted a request to return home to pay respects to his ancestors' graves. The Emperor wanted to give him a good position, so he appointed him as the Governor of South Yan Province, with the titles of General of the North and Governor of South Yan Province. During his time as Governor, Seng Zhen was fair and treated his subordinates equally, without showing favoritism to his relatives. His father's brothers and their sons had made a living selling onions, and after Seng Zhen became Governor, they wanted to use his power to gain official positions. Seng Zhen said, "I am grateful for the Emperor's favor and have not had a chance to repay it. You all have your own livelihoods; how can you seek official positions recklessly? Go back to selling onions!" Seng Zhen's old house was in the north of the city, with a post office in front of it. The villagers advised him to tear down the post office and expand his own house. Seng Zhen fiercely replied, "The post office belongs to the government and has been here since its establishment. How can it be torn down for the sake of my private house?" His sister married into the Yu family and lived in a small house on the west side of the city, crammed in among other shops. Every time Seng Zhen passed by his sister's house with his entourage, he did not feel ashamed. After serving in the province for a hundred days, he was summoned back to the court to serve as the General of the Army and was soon promoted to the position of Cavalier Attendant, given a band to play music, and continued to work in the Secretariat. Seng Zhen achieved remarkable success and gained the Emperor's deep trust. The Emperor's favor for him was unmatched. Seng Zhen was very respectful and cautious. When on duty in the palace, he didn't dare to take off his robes even in the heat. Every time he served the Emperor, he held his breath, bowed deeply, and never took the initiative to use chopsticks during meals. Once, after drinking too much, he ate an orange. The Emperor laughed and said, "This can be considered progress!" On top of his salary, the Emperor granted him one hundred thousand coins each month, along with continuous rewards.
For ten years, Seng Zhen was constantly ill. The emperor sent people to visit him and deliver medicine at least four or five times a day. Seng Zhen told his old friends, "When I was in Meng County before, I had a severe case of jaundice. Everyone thought I wouldn't survive, but the emperor said, 'You have the appearance of wealth and nobility, you will definitely not die, and you will get better after some time.' And it did get better. Now, although I am wealthy and noble, I have jaundice again, just like before, and this time I definitely won't recover." As he predicted, he passed away in his residence at the barracks at the age of fifty-eight.
On that day, the founding emperor personally went to pay his last respects and issued a decree saying, "Remembering old friends until death, this is the principle of emperors throughout history; bestowing posthumous titles and honors is also a longstanding tradition. Seng Zhen, Attendant Cavalry, General of the Army, and Marquis of Pinggu County, was extraordinarily talented, with vast knowledge, unwavering dedication, and unparalleled loyalty. He and I have known each other for many years, with deep affection. At the beginning of the founding of the dynasty, he made many contributions. Later, in the palace guard, he was loyal day and night. Just as I was about to appoint him to an important official position, he suddenly passed away, which caused me great sorrow. It is only fitting to bestow upon him a higher title in recognition of his service. He is to be awarded a set of secret items from the Eastern Garden, a set of court attire, an additional garment, and all funeral expenses will be covered by the court. His posthumous title will be Marquis of Loyalty and Respect." The founding emperor mourned Seng Zhen's passing deeply, shedding tears as he spoke. Seng Zhen's eldest son had died young, and his grandson, Tan, succeeded him.
Minister of Official Personnel Yao Cha of the Chen Dynasty said: Zhang Hongce is kind and cautious, Lu Sengzhen is diligent and dedicated, and Zheng Shaoshu is loyal and upright. The three of them have all made great efforts to establish the royal enterprise. Sengzhen is respectful and prudent in the court, while Zheng Shaoshu is adept at discerning the emperor's will and employing flattery and eloquence, which all exemplify their integrity as ministers.
