Yuan Faseng was a descendant of the Wei royal family; his ancestor was Emperor Wen of Wei. His father was Prince Zhongkui of Jiangyang. Yuan Faseng held various official positions in Wei, eventually becoming the Grand Master of the Court. He later became the Imperial Protector, Commander of Military Affairs in Xuzhou, Governor of Xuzhou, and was stationed in Pengcheng. In the fifth year of the Putong era, Wei fell into chaos, and Yuan Faseng seized Pengcheng and declared himself emperor. He killed those who opposed him, appointed his sons as kings, arranged military leaders, and sought to restore the Wei dynasty's authority.
As the chaos in Wei began to subside, the court prepared to launch an attack against Yuan Faseng. Fearing this, he sent someone to surrender and requested to become a vassal state. The Emperor agreed and appointed him as an Imperial Attendant, Minister of Works, Marquis of Shi'an County, and granted him a fief of 5,000 households. When Wei's army approached, Yuan Faseng requested to return to the court, and the Emperor sent the Imperial Attendant Zhu Yi to meet him. Upon his arrival, the Emperor graciously received him, as he was focused on recruiting defectors and reassuring those who had surrendered, so he rewarded Yuan Faseng with countless gifts, including luxurious mansions, beautiful women, musicians, and treasures of gold and silver.
During his tenure in Wei, Yuan Faseng held significant military positions in border regions and killed many enemies in wars. As a result, he requested the Emperor to provide him with a military escort for his protection, which was granted with a guard of one hundred men accompanying him wherever he went. In the second year of the Datong era, he was promoted to Champion General; in the first year of Zhongdatong, he was promoted to General of Chariots and Cavalry; in the fourth year, he was appointed Grand Commandant and concurrently held the title of Golden Purple Grand Master. In the same year, the Emperor wanted to make him the Emperor of Eastern Wei, but he declined the offer and continued to serve as the Imperial Protector, Cavalier In Regular Attendance, General of the Agile Cavalry, and Intendant of the Three Dukes' Offices, as well as Governor of Yingzhou. In the second year of the Datong era, he was summoned back to the imperial court and appointed as Imperial Attendant, Grand Commandant, and Commander of the Imperial Guard. He passed away at the age of eighty-three. His two sons, Jinglong and Jingzhong, entered the court alongside him during the Putong era.
Jing Long was appointed as the Duke of Dunyang County, with a fief of one thousand households. Later, he was sent out to serve as the Imperial Commissioner, Commander of the military forces of thirteen provinces including Guang, Yue, Jiao, and Gui, General of Pacification of the South, General of the Guards of Pacification of Yue, and Governor of Guangzhou. In the third year of the Zhongda Tong era, he was summoned back to the court to serve as Court Attendant and General of the Right. In the fourth year, he was appointed as the General Conquering the North and the Governor of Xuzhou, and he was titled Prince of Pengcheng, but he did not assume the title. Soon after, he was reappointed as Court Attendant and Director of Revenue. In the early years of the Taiqing period, he was appointed as the Imperial Commissioner, Commander of the military forces of thirteen provinces including Guang, Yue, Jiao, and Gui, General Conquering the South, General of the Guards of Pacification of Yue, and Governor of Guangzhou. When he reached Leishou, he fell ill and passed away at the age of fifty-eight.
Jing Zhong was appointed as the Duke of Zhijiang County, with a fief of one thousand households. Later, he was appointed as Court Attendant and General of the Right. In the third year of the Datong period, he was further promoted and received a total of two thousand households as his fief, and the court also granted him a musical ensemble. Afterwards, he served as the Imperial Commissioner, Commander of the military forces of thirteen provinces including Guang, Yue, and others, General who Proclaims Benevolence, General of the Guards of Pacification of Yue, and Governor of Guangzhou. During the Datong period, he was summoned back to the court to serve as Court Attendant and General of the Left. His brother Jing Long later also became the Governor of Guangzhou. Later, Hou Jing rebelled, and because Jing Zhong belonged to the Yuan clan, Hou Jing sent someone to deliver a letter to him, attempting to sway him and promising to back him as their leader. Jing Zhong surprisingly raised troops in support of Hou Jing. As a result, the Western River Protector Chen Baxian and the Governor of Chengzhou Wang Huaiming and others rebelled against Hou Jing. Chen Baxian called out to Jing Zhong's troops, "The court claims that Yuan Jing Zhong colluded with the rebels, conspired to endanger the state, and now sent Qujiang Gongbo to serve as the Governor and guard this province." Upon hearing this, Jing Zhong's subordinates all dropped their weapons and fled, leaving Jing Zhong no choice but to take his own life.
Yuanshu, courtesy name Junli, was a close relative of the Wei royal family. His ancestors included Emperor Xianwen, and his father was Xi, the King of Xianyang. Yuanshu served as an official in the Wei kingdom, rising to the position of Minister of the Imperial Family. During the Erzhu Rong rebellion, he returned to the Southern Dynasties after eight years in the eighth year of Tianjian and was appointed as the Prince of Ye, with a fief of 2,000 households, and the title of Cavalier Attendant. In the sixth year of the Putong era, he welcomed Yuan Faseng back to the court, and was subsequently promoted to Governor, Inspector of Ying, Si, and Huo provinces, General of Cloud and Banners, and Governor of Yingzhou, with his fief increased to 3,000 households. He later quelled a rebellion of the southern barbarians and was further appointed as Cavalier Attendant and General of the West, with an additional 500 households added to his fief. In the second year of Datong, he was summoned back to the court and appointed as Palace Attendant and General of the Right. In the fourth year of Datong, he was again appointed as Governor, General Who Guards the North, and Commander of the Northern Expedition, and the court even gave him an escort to lead an attack on the Wei kingdom. He captured the city of Qiaocheng in Wei, but was surrounded when the Wei general Dugu Ruyuan came to its rescue. As a result, Yuanshu was besieged, the city fell, and he died in captivity at the age of 48.
Yuanzhen, during the period of Datong, requested to accompany the Wei kingdom's envoy Cui Changqian to Ye City to arrange his father's funeral. Upon his return, he was appointed as a Crown Prince Attendant. In the early years of Taiqing, Hou Jing surrendered and requested the court to recruit members of the Yuan clan to support him as their leader. The court issued a decree appointing Yuanzhen as King of Xianyang and sent him back north with imperial honors. However, Hou Jing soon failed, and Yuanzhen subsequently returned to court.
Yuan Yuanda, a branch of the royal family of the Wei Kingdom, his ancestors included Emperor Mingyuan, and his father was the King of Le Ping. Yuan Yuanda held the positions of Minister of the Imperial Secretariat and Inspector of Yingzhou in the Wei Kingdom. During the ordinary years, the Wei Kingdom launched a northern campaign against Yiyang. Yuan Yuanda led the entire province in surrendering, and the Wei Emperor issued a decree appointing him as the Duke of Le Ping, with a fief of one thousand households, and granted him a mansion and musicians. He was later appointed as the Imperial Commissioner, Cavalier in Regular Attendance, Commander of Military Affairs in Xiangzhou, General Who Pacifies the South, and Inspector of Xiangzhou. In the second year of the Da Tong era, he was summoned back to court and appointed as Palace Attendant, Grand Master of the Palace, and General of the Left. In the third year of the Da Tong era, Yuan Yuanda passed away at the age of fifty-seven.
Wang Shennian was from Qixian, Taiyuan. He was fond of Confucianism in his youth, especially proficient in the inner classics. He served as an official in the Wei state, starting as a county clerk and gradually rising to the position of governor of Yingchuan, later leading the entire county to surrender to Wei. After the Wei army arrived, he and his family crossed the Yangtze River. The Wei emperor granted him the title of Marquis of Nancheng, with a fief of five hundred households. Soon after, he was appointed as the Prefect of Ancheng, and later served as the Prefect of Wuyang and Xuancheng, making significant political achievements in those regions. Later, he was recalled to the court to serve as the Minister of Imperial Stables. Subsequently, he was sent out as an envoy with special authority, overseeing military affairs in the provinces of Qing and Ji, General of the Loyal Martial, and governor of Qing and Ji provinces. Wang Shennian was known for his integrity; wherever he served, he made it a point to prohibit immoral sacrifices. At that time, there was a mountain called Shilu Mountain in the northeastern part of Qingzhou and Jizhou, located by the sea, and there was originally a temple on the mountain where sorcerers deceived the people, drawing people from near and far to pray there, wasting considerable resources. After Wang Shennian took office, he ordered the temple to be demolished, and the local customs changed as a result. In peacetime, the Wei state launched a large-scale northern expedition, and Wang Shennian was summoned to serve as Right Guard General. Six years later, he was promoted to envoy with special authority, a regular attendant, and General of the Claw and Fang, while still retaining the position of Right Guard General. Later, he passed away due to illness at the age of seventy-five. The Wei emperor issued an edict posthumously promoting him to his original position and the position of governor of Hengzhou, and granted him a set of musical instruments. He was posthumously bestowed the title 'Zhuang,' which means 'Brave.'
In his youth, Wang Shennian excelled at horseback riding and archery, and even in old age, his skills did not decline. He once demonstrated before Emperor Gaozu, wielding two knives and a shield, skillfully alternating his swings as he rode back and forth, showcasing extraordinary skills that no one could match. At that time, there was also a man named Yang Hua, who was skilled at charging into battle on horseback; both were renowned for their exceptional skills, and Emperor Gaozu greatly admired them.
His son Wang Zunye achieved the rank of Grand Minister. After his death, he was posthumously granted the title of General of Trustworthy Might, Governor of Qing and Ji provinces, and awarded a set of drum and trumpet bands. His second son, Wang Sengbian, is recorded in another biography.
Yang Hua was from the Chouchi region in Wudu. His father was named Dayan, a famous general of the Wei state. Yang Hua was exceptionally strong from a young age, and also tall and imposing. The Empress Dowager of Wei became infatuated with him and sought to take him for herself. Yang Hua, fearing trouble, surrendered along with his followers. The Empress Dowager could not forget him, and even composed a song "Ode to Yang Baihua," having palace maids sing and dance to it tirelessly. Yang Hua participated in multiple battles, gaining numerous accolades, advancing to the positions of Grand Minister and Commander of the Crown Prince's Left Guard, and was granted the title of Marquis of Yiyang County. During the Taiqing period of Northern Wei, Hou Jing led a rebellion. Yang Hua sought to uphold his integrity, but his wife and children were taken captive by the rebels. With no other choice, he surrendered, ultimately meeting his end at the hands of the rebels.
Yang Kan, styled Zu Xin, was from Liangfu of Mount Tai and a descendant of Yang Xu, the governor of Nanyang during the Han Dynasty. His grandfather, Yang Gui, was appointed as a ritual liquor official and a senior official during the time when Emperor Wu of Song attacked Linxu Prefecture. Later, when Xue Andu led the surrender of Pengcheng to the Northern Wei, Yang Gui was captured and subsequently appointed as a general and governor of Yingzhou in the Wei state. His father, Yang Zhi, was a palace attendant and a high-ranking official in the Wei state. Yang Kan grew up tall and handsome, standing at seven feet eight inches, and had a particular fondness for reading history books. He was knowledgeable, especially enjoying the "Zuo Zhuan" (Chronicles of Zuo) and "Sun Wu's Art of War" (The Art of War). Before he turned twenty, he distinguished himself in Liangzhou alongside his father. During the Zhengguang period of Northern Wei, he gradually rose to the rank of general. At that time, the Qiang chieftain of Qinzhou, Mo Zhe Niansheng, rebelled and proclaimed himself emperor, sending his brother Tiansheng to lead troops to capture Qizhou and then attack Yongzhou. As a general, Yang Kan joined forces with Xiao Baoyin to quell the rebellion. He secretly observed and seized the opportunity to shoot Tiansheng dead, causing Tiansheng's army to immediately collapse. Due to this military achievement, Yang Kan was promoted to envoy with special powers, General of the Eastern Expedition, and was appointed as the governor of Mount Tai, being granted the title of Duke of Juping. Initially, his father always longed to return to their southern hometown, often telling his brothers, "How can anyone spend their whole life away from home? You should all return to serve the Eastern Wei court." At that time, Kan intended to cross the Yellow River to honor his father's last wish. His older brother, Yang Dun, the governor of Yanzhou, secretly learned of this matter and took control of the state city to prevent Kan.
Kan led 30,000 elite soldiers to attack his brother but was unsuccessful, and then built more than ten defensive cities. The rewards from the court were no better than those given to Yuan Faseng. The court also sent Yang Yaren and Wang Bian to support the troops, with Li Yuanlu responsible for transporting supplies and equipment. After Wei Di heard about this, he appointed Kan as the Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry, the Minister of Works, and the Duke of Mount Tai County, and allowed him to continue serving as the Inspector of Yanzhou. As a result, Kan killed the envoy sent by Wei Di, using the act to intimidate others.
The people of the Wei Dynasty were terrified, so they ordered Yu Hui to lead hundreds of thousands of troops, along with Gao Huan, Erzhu Yang, and others, to surround Kan's army, killing many soldiers. The arrows in their camp had run out, and the reinforcements from the south did not arrive, so Kan took advantage of the night to break through, fighting and marching all night before finally escaping from the territory of Wei.
When they reached Zhakou, there were still tens of thousands of soldiers and two thousand horses left, ready to enter the south. The soldiers sang mournful songs throughout the night. Kan thanked everyone and said, "You miss your hometown, and I can't make you follow me. It's up to you to choose to stay or leave. Let’s part ways here." Then everyone bid farewell and left.
After the suppression of the Hou Jing rebellion, in 529 AD, which was the third year of the Northern Wei's Datong era, Yuwen Kan, the brother of Yuwen Tai, entered the capital. The emperor immediately appointed him to several high-ranking positions, including the Commissioner, the Cavalier Attendant, the Commander of the Xiqiu Expedition, the General of Peace in the North, and the Inspector of Xuzhou. Not long after, the emperor appointed Yuwen Kan as the Commander of the Northern Expedition and assigned him to station his troops in Rijing. Unfortunately, due to errors made by Chen Qingzhi, military operations were halted. In the same year, the emperor promoted him to Cavalier Attendant and General of the Cloud Banners, as well as Inspector of Qingzhou and Inspector of Jizhou.
In the fourth year of Datong, the emperor appointed him as the envoy with special commission, the military governor of Xiqiu, General of Anbei, and the Governor of Yanzhou, to accompany Grand Marshal Yuan Faseng north to campaign. Yuan Faseng had told the emperor beforehand, "I have known Yu Wenkan for some time and hope to go to battle with him." The emperor summoned Yu Wenkan to inquire about his battle strategy. Yu Wenkan presented his battle plan in detail to the emperor. The emperor said, "I understand you wish to fight alongside the Grand Marshal." Yu Wenkan replied, "After returning to court, I have always wanted to serve the country, but in reality, I do not want to go to battle with Yuan Faseng. The northerners see me as a southerner, and the southerners see me as a northerner. Now, going to battle with Yuan Faseng is like a group of wild beasts chasing each other. This not only contradicts my intentions but also causes the Xiongnu to look down on the Han Dynasty." The emperor said, "The court urgently needs you to take up arms." He was then appointed as the Chief Marshal. The emperor also said to Yu Wenkan, "The position of Chief Marshal has been vacant for a long time. It was specially established for you this time." Upon reaching Guanzhu, Yuan Shu was defeated in Qiaocheng. After the battle, Yu Wenkan returned to court and was appointed as an attendant. In the fifth year of Datong, the emperor granted him the title of Marquis of Gaochang, with a fief of one thousand households. In the sixth year of Datong, he was appointed as the General of Yunhui and the Prefect of Jin'an. The people of the Minyue region had a long history of rebellion, and the previous prefects had failed to suppress them. Upon his arrival, Yu Wenkan swiftly quelled the rebellion, killed the rebel leaders Chen Cheng and Wu Man, and restored stability to the county, and no one dared to rebel again. Shortly after, he was summoned by the court to serve as the Commander of the Prince's Left Guard.
In the third year of Datong, the Emperor visited Leyou Garden for leisure and held a banquet, to which I was also invited. At that time, the Minister of the Interior reported that the newly crafted two-edged spear (a type of spear) was completed, measuring twenty-four feet in length and thirteen inches in circumference. The Emperor rewarded me with a horse to test the spear. I mounted the horse, wielded the spear left and right, showcasing its impressive capabilities. The Emperor was very pleased and even wrote a thirty-verse poem titled "Martial Banquet Poem" for me to see. On the spot, I spontaneously composed a poem in response to the Emperor's request. After reading it, the Emperor said, "I have heard that the benevolent must be brave; today I see that you, the brave, are also benevolent. This truly continues the legacy of Zou and Lu, and there are indeed successors among the talented!" Six years later, I was promoted to Left Chief Historian of the Ministry of Personnel. Eight years later, I was again promoted to the Minister of the Imperial Household. At that time, Minister He Jingrong was in charge and worked in the same department as I, but he never took the initiative to interact with me. An eunuch named Zhang Sengyin wanted to visit me, and I bluntly replied, "My bed is not a place for eunuchs!" I simply did not let him in. People back then praised me for my integrity. Nine years later, I was dispatched to serve as an envoy with the imperial edict, General of the Mighty Army, and Governor of Hengzhou.
In the first year of Taiqing, I was summoned back to the capital by the court to serve as a palace attendant. Just as a major northern campaign was underway, the Emperor appointed me as the envoy and General of the Champion, tasked with overseeing the construction of the Han Mountain Dam. In just twenty days, the dam was completed. I advised Marshal Zhengyang to use the water flow to attack Pengcheng, but he did not listen to me. Later, when the main force of the Wei army arrived, I urged him several times to attack while the Wei army was still far and fatigued, and the next day I advised him to go into battle, but he still did not listen. There was little I could do, so I could only lead my troops to camp at the dam. Ultimately, the army was defeated, and I organized my troops into formation and slowly retreated.
Two years later, he became the Minister of State again. Hou Jing rebelled and captured Liyang, and Emperor Gaozu asked him how to counter Hou Jing. Kan said: "There have been signs of Hou Jing's rebellion for a long time. Maybe he will charge over like a rampaging wild boar. We should quickly occupy Caishi and let Prince Shaoling attack Shouchun. In this way, Hou Jing's advance will be blocked, his retreat will lose his stronghold, and those disorderly rabble will naturally disintegrate." Some people thought that Hou Jing dared not approach the capital easily, so they shelved his plan and allowed him to station over a thousand cavalry at Wangguo Gate.
When Hou Jing arrived in Xinlin, he chased Kan into the military command post of Vice Governor Xuan Cheng Wang. By this time, Hou Jing's army had reached the city, and the townsfolk rushed into the city in panic, with public and private property in complete chaos. Kan quickly divided the defense zones and assigned royal relatives to oversee one another. The soldiers scrambled to the armory to grab weapons and armor. Those responsible for guarding were unable to stop them. Kan ordered the execution of several individuals to restore order. As the enemy approached the city wall, panic spread among everyone. Kan feigned receiving a secret letter, saying, "Prince Shaoling and Marquis of Xichang are almost here." Everyone felt a little relieved.
The enemy attacked Dongye Gate, setting fires ablaze. Kan personally went forward to resist, dousing the flames with water. He also shot and killed several enemies with a bow, forcing the enemy to retreat. He was then promoted to the positions of attendant, military strategist, and general. The court issued a decree to reward him with five thousand taels of gold, ten thousand taels of silver, and ten thousand bolts of silk as a reward for the soldiers, but he graciously declined. However, he privately rewarded over a thousand soldiers under his command.
It is said that the bandits used a pointed wooden siege engine to attack the city; ordinary bows, arrows, and stones were useless against it. Han Xin (referring to Han Xin) had someone make a torch resembling a pheasant tail, with iron tips affixed to it, soaked in oil, and threw it onto the wooden siege engine, burning it down completely in no time.
The bandits then began piling up dirt mounds from the east and west sides, intending to use the dirt mounds to assault the city, terrifying the inhabitants. Han Xin ordered the digging of tunnels, secretly removing the dirt from the dirt mounds, causing the mounds to collapse. The bandits then constructed a lengthy siege perimeter, over ten zhang tall, to shoot and kill the people inside the city. Han Xin said, "This tower is so high, yet the foundation is so shallow; it will definitely collapse when it assaults the city. Let's just sit back and watch; there's no need to prepare anything." The tower indeed toppled as soon as it started moving, and everyone admired Han Xin's strategy.
After several unsuccessful attacks, the bandits then constructed a lengthy siege perimeter. Zhu Yi and Zhang Wan suggested going out of the city to fight them, and Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang asked Han Xin about this. Han Xin said, "No, it's not a good idea. The bandits have been attacking the city for so long without success; that's why they built a long siege perimeter, hoping the people inside the city would surrender. If we attack now, with too few soldiers, we won’t be able to overpower the enemy; if we send out many soldiers and end up losing, there could be a stampede, and with the narrow city gates and bridges, the losses would be catastrophic. This is called showing weakness, not displaying our royal might!" Liu Bang disregarded Han Xin's advice and sent out over a thousand soldiers to battle. Before they even engaged in combat, they were spooked by the enemy's banners, and during the rush to cross the bridge, many fell into the water and drowned, leading to the drowning of many soldiers.
Initially, Kan's eldest son, Zhuo, was captured by the Jingzhou forces and brought to the city gates to show Kan. Kan said, "I have devoted all my family's resources to serve the court, yet I still feel it is insufficient. Why should I care about just one son? It's fortunate you died early." A few days later, they brought Zhuo back again. Kan said to Zhuo, "I thought you had died long ago; I didn't expect you to still be alive. Since I have entrusted my life to the nation and sworn to die in battle, I will never change my decision because of you." After speaking, Kan shot Zhuo dead with a bow. The enemy was touched by his loyalty and chose not to harm him.
Jingzhou sent Yitong Fu Shizhe to talk to Kan, saying, "The Marquis has traveled from afar to pay respects to the Emperor, why did you close the city gates and not welcome him in time? As a high official of the court, you should open the city gates to welcome the imperial envoy!" Kan said, "The Marquis surrendered to the court following his defeat in battle, and now guards Fangcheng. The court has high expectations for you, so why worry? Why suddenly rebel with your troops? Now you lead a disorganized rabble to the foot of the royal city, the enemy's warhorses drink from the Huai River, arrows are shot towards the palace, could a loyal subject do such a thing? I have received significant favor from the court and should follow the court's will, eradicate such treacherous behavior. I cannot easily accept your lies and open the city gates to welcome the traitors. Please inform the Marquis to find a solution promptly!"
Fu Shizhe said, "Hou Wang is fiercely loyal to the court, yet the court remains unaware. He wishes to personally inform the emperor of the truth and eradicate the treacherous officials. He is in the military, so he wears armor when he comes to court. How can you accuse him of rebellion?" Kan replied, "The emperor has ruled the world for nearly fifty years; he is wise and perceptive. Nothing can be hidden from him. How can treacherous people cause chaos in the court? You’re trying to cover up your crimes by fabricating these lies. Moreover, Hou Wang personally took up arms and assaulted the city gate. How can you say he is loyal to the court?" Fu Shizhe was at a loss for words and replied, "When I was in the north, I heard of your reputation, and I regret that I never had the opportunity to meet you. I want to take off my armor and see you." Kan then helped him take off his helmet. Fu Shizhe looked at Kan for a long time before leaving. This shows just how revered Kan is among the northern people!
Later, a heavy rain caused the earthen mound within the city to collapse. The enemy took the opportunity to try to attack the city. The two sides engaged in fierce combat, overwhelming the defending army. Kan ordered a barrage of torches to be hurled, creating a wall of fire to block the enemy's path, and then built defensive fortifications in the inner city, preventing the enemy from advancing. In December, Kan died of illness on the city tower at the age of fifty-four. The court issued an edict granting him five hundred pieces of secret equipment, five hundred pieces of cloth, three million coins, posthumously promoting him to the rank of Minister of the Guards, and granting him a band of musicians.
Legend has it that Kan was exceptionally brave from a young age, with immense strength. The draw weight of his bow exceeds ten stones! Once, at the Yao Temple in Yanzhou, he climbed directly up a wall, climbing to a height of five zhang in one go, and even walked seven steps horizontally! There were several stone statues standing on the Sizhou Bridge, each standing eight feet tall and as thick as ten waists. Kan seized one and smashed it into pieces on the ground!
This person has a bold and extravagant personality and is a master of music. He created two songs, "Picking Lotus" (《采莲》) and "Rowing Song" (《棹歌》), which are very innovative and unique. He is surrounded by a group of concubines, leading an extraordinarily lavish lifestyle. He has a zither player named Lu Taixi, whose fingernails are seven inches long, resembling deer antlers! There is also a dancer named Zhang Jingwan, whose waist is only one foot six inches in circumference, and people at the time said she could perform a dance with a palm. Another person, Sun Jingyu, can bend backward at the waist to touch the ground and can even pick up a hairpin from the mat with his mouth. He bestowed gifts upon the singer Queen E'er, and the Eastern Palace also rewarded him with the singer Qu Ouzhi. They are all skilled in various strange and rare songs, and at that time, no one could compare to them. When he first arrived in Hengzhou, he built three connected floating pavilions on two large ships, decorated with pearls and jade, hung with brocade, set up with curtains and screens, arranged with a band, and set sail with the tide while hosting a banquet by the water's edge, attracting a crowd of spectators along the riverbank.
During the Datong era, the Wei envoy Yang Fei, who had studied with him in the north before, was ordered by the emperor to be entertained by him. Over three hundred guests attended, using utensils made of gold, jade, and pearls, and three musical pieces were played. Until evening, over a hundred maids held gilded candles. He himself did not drink much, but he loved making friends, spending his days drinking with guests, getting drunk and sober with them. He was generous and tolerant. Once, when he returned to Liankou in the south and hosted a banquet for guests, a guest named Zhang Rucai got drunk and set fire to the ship, burning more than seventy ships and countless money and goods. Hearing about it, he remained unfazed and continued drinking as if nothing had happened. Zhang Rucai felt a mix of shame and fear and ran away, but he sent someone to comfort him and asked him to come back, treating him just as he always had.
The third brother was called Kun, with the style name Zipeng. He followed Kan in Taicheng, but when the city fell, he fled to Yangping. Later, Hou Jing called him back and treated him exceptionally well. After Hou Jing's defeat, Kun secretly planned and followed Hou Jing's movements to the east. When Hou Jing suffered defeat in Songjiang and had only three boats left, he planned to sail to Mengshan. Seeing that Hou Jing was tired and asleep during the day, Kun told the sailors on the boat, "There's no Mengshan around here! Just follow my orders!" and sailed directly towards Jingkou. When they reached Hudouzhou, Hou Jing woke up and was taken aback. He asked the people on the shore, who told him, "Guo Yuanjian is still in Guangling!" Hou Jing was overjoyed and intended to seek refuge with Guo Yuanjian. Kun unsheathed his sword and threatened the sailors, commanding them to sail towards Jingkou. Hou Jing tried to escape by jumping into the water, but Kun stabbed him with a spear before he could fully escape. Hou Jing then ran into the cabin and attempted to drill a hole in the bottom of the boat with a small knife, but Kun killed him with a long spear.
The emperor appointed Kun as the Commissioner, Imperial Clerk of the Cavalry, Commander of military affairs in Qing and Ji provinces, General of Mingwei, Governor of Qingzhou, and granted him the title of Duke of Changguo. He was granted a fief consisting of two thousand households, rewarded with five million coins, five thousand stones of rice, one thousand pieces of cloth, and he also took on the role of Prefect of Dongyang. Later, he summoned Lu Na and appointed him as the Imperial Clerk of the Cavalry. After pacifying the rebellion in the Xiazhong region, Kun was appointed as the Governor of Xijin Province. After defeating Guo Yuanjian at Dongguan, he was promoted to the position of General of Trustworthy and Martial, and Governor of Dongjin Province. In the third year of Chengsheng, when Western Wei besieged Jiangling, Kun went to rescue but arrived too late. He then went with Wang Sengyin to Lingnan to campaign against Xiao Bo. Hearing that Commander Seng Bian had suffered defeat, he returned with his troops only to be defeated by Hou Hai in Yuzhang, where he met his end. He was only twenty-eight years old at the time.
Yang Yaren, courtesy name Xiaomu, was from Juping in Mount Tai. He was bold and courageous from a young age and later became the chief clerk in the county. In the ordinary years, he returned to Liang from Wei with his brothers and was appointed as the Marquis of Guangjin. He fought in battles in Qingzhou and Qizhou, where he won numerous military achievements, gradually rising to the position of Cavalry Attendant and the Prefect of Liyang.
In the fourth year of Zhongdatong, he was appointed as the Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief of the military forces in Qiaozhou, General of Faithful Might, and the Governor of Qiaozhou. In the seventh year of Datong, he was promoted to the position of the Protector of the Left Guard of the Crown Prince and later appointed as the Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief of the military forces in the four provinces of Nan, Bei, Yu, and Chu, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and the Governor of Beisi. After Hou Jing surrendered, the court ordered Yaren to lead 30,000 elite soldiers, including the Governors of Shizhou, Huan Hezhi, and Renzhou, Zhan Hai Zhen, to support Xuanhu against Hou Jing. He was also appointed as the Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief of the military forces in the seven provinces of Si, Yu, Huai, Ji, Yin, Ying, and Xiyu, the Governor of Si and Yu, to defend Xuanhu. When Hou Jing was defeated in Woyang and the Northern Wei army approached, Yaren was concerned about the logistics not keeping up and retreated to Beisi, submitting a letter of apology.
Emperor Gaozu was enraged and harshly reprimanded him. Yaren, frightened, positioned his troops along the banks of the Huai River. When Hou Jing rebelled again, Yaren led his troops to provide assistance. In the second year of Taiqing, Hou Jing betrayed him, and Yaren, along with Zhao Bochao and Prince Xiao Hui of Nankang, attacked Hou Jing's army but was defeated. The city fell, and Yaren was captured by Hou Jing, who kept him alive and appointed him as the Minister of War.
Yaren has always wanted to strive for excellence in his heart. He said to his close friends, "I come from humble origins, but I have been greatly trusted by the court. However, I have not accomplished anything to repay the court's kindness. In times of national crisis, I have not been able to sacrifice myself for the country and have merely survived until now. If I were to end my life this way, I would die with deep regrets!" After saying this, he burst into tears, and everyone present felt extremely sad.
Three years later, he escaped to Jiangxi, where hundreds of his original subordinates came to greet him, preparing to go to Jiangling together. When they reached Dongguan, he was murdered by the sons of Xun Bodao, the former Prefect of North Xuzhou.
Historical records say: The revolution led by Emperor Gaozu eventually succeeded, ushering in a glorious era. His benevolence was remembered by all, and those who sacrificed their lives for him continued to do so.
Monks like Yuanfaseng who came to our land were also favored by the emperor, living a life of prestige and wealth. It's truly wonderful!
Yet, during the turmoil of the Taiqing period, both Yang Kan and Yaren devoted themselves wholeheartedly to serving their country. Yang Kan showed no fear in times of danger, while Yaren sacrificed his life for justice. Their aspirations soared as high as pine and bamboo, and their hearts were as unyielding as steel. They were truly loyal and righteous martyrs of ancient times. They truly embody the spirit of loyalty and sacrifice of ancient heroes!
