Liu Tan, courtesy name Wentong, was from Jie County in Hedong. His father, Liu Shilong, once served as the Minister of Works, which is akin to the Chancellor of the State of Qi. When Liu Tan was seventeen years old, Emperor Wu of Qi became the Grand General of the Central Army and appointed him as a military staff officer, later promoting him to a chief clerk. During the early establishment of the Qi dynasty, Liu Tan entered the court as a junior official in the Three Excellencies, gradually advancing to become the Attendant to the Crown Prince, and serving as an aide to Prince Xiaoxiang of Badong. When Xiaoxiang later became the Inspector of Jingzhou, Liu Tan followed him there. However, sensing impending trouble as Xiaoxiang was associating with unsavory characters, Liu Tan feigned illness to return to the capital. Subsequently, Xiaoxiang did indeed face trouble, and Liu Tan narrowly escaped disaster by departing early.
Afterwards, he served as the Deputy Minister of the Palace Library and the Chief Military Advisor. He was later dispatched as the Prefect of Xin'an, but due to his lack of political accomplishments, he was dismissed and returned. After some time, he became the Military Advisor to the Right Army. Towards the end of the Jianwu era, he was appointed as the Colonel of the Western Qiang, the Inspector of Liangzhou, and the Inspector of Southern Qinzhou. When Xiao Yan launched his rebellion, Liu Tan supported him in Hanzhong. After Xiao Yan became Emperor, he appointed Liu Tan as an Attendant to the Emperor, and later as the General of the Front Army. Following his ascension, Xiao Yan called him to serve as the General of the Guard, but before he could assume the position, he was promoted to be the Minister of the Crown Prince, along with the title of Cavalier in Regular Attendance. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was granted the title of Marquis of Qujiang County, with a fief of one thousand households. Xiao Yan even composed a poem for him: "You truly stand out among the crowd; only I truly remember your contributions." Once, while serving alongside Xiao Yan, Xiao Yan asked him: "Xu Yuanyu disobeyed orders and went to Lingnan. The 'Book of Zhou' says 'punishment does not extend to descendants.' I have already pardoned his sons; what is your opinion on this?" Liu Tan replied, "Punishment does not affect descendants, but rewards can extend to future generations. Our dynasty has achieved this now." Xiao Yan found his reasoning sound. Not long after, Liu Tan was promoted to the position of Right Deputy Minister of the Secretariat.
In the fourth year of Tianjian, Xiao Yan launched a large-scale northern expedition, with Prince Linchuan Xiao Hong leading the army and Liu Yan serving as his deputy. After the war ended, Liu Yan returned to his position as an official. Due to long-term illness, he was appointed as the Grand Master of the Golden Purple Court and was also given the title of Sanqi Changshi, along with twenty trusted aides. Before he could take up his new position, he was sent south as a commissioner, General of Annan, and Governor of Xiangzhou. In October of the sixth year of Tianjian, he passed away in Xiangzhou at the age of forty-six. Xiao Yan held a mourning ceremony for him dressed in simple garments, posthumously conferring upon him the titles of Shizhong and Fuzhong General, and providing him with a set of musicians. He was posthumously honored with the title "Mu." Liu Yan had written "Ren Zheng Zhuan" and some poems and essays, demonstrating considerable literary talent. His son Liu Zhao succeeded him in his title.
Liu Cheng, the fourth younger brother of Liu Yan, was also well-regarded and served as Shizhong and Chief of Zhenxi. He passed away in the twelfth year of Tianjian and was posthumously granted the titles of General of Ningyuan and Governor of Yuzhou.
Wen Ruo, styled as Chen, was the fifth younger brother of Liu Yan. When he was young, his father Shilong and mother Yan both fell seriously ill, and Wen Ruo did not take off his belt for several years, always serving by their bedside. After his parents passed away, his devotion during the mourning period touched many hearts. He was later appointed as an Attendant Official and gradually rose through the ranks to become the Junior Attendant to the Crown Prince, Chief Clerk of the Western Command, and Historiographer of Merit.
Qi Dong, the Marquis of Hun, sent Liu Shanyang, the Governor of Bashu, to launch a surprise attack on Gaozu (Xiao Daocheng) from Jingzhou. Xiao Yingzhou, the Chief of the Western Command, was momentarily indecisive, so he called Wen Ruo and his relatives Xi Chanwen and others to discuss countermeasures together at night. Wen Ruo said, "The court is currently incompetent and tyrannical, committing numerous wrongs. I’ve heard that the officials and nobles in the capital are all on edge, too scared to act recklessly; fortunately, we are far away and can temporarily keep safe. As for what’s happening in Yongzhou, let them fight it out among themselves. Haven't we learned from Lord Xiao’s example? He led a few thousand elite soldiers to defeat the Cui clan's 100,000 army, but in the end was framed by those treacherous people, which brought about a string of calamities. We should learn from past mistakes and be cautious about the future! If Liu Shanyang’s plot succeeds, who knows if we’ll be next? Furthermore, the troops in Yongzhou are strong and well-supplied, Lord Xiao is exceptionally brave, Liu Shanyang is no match at all; even if Liu Shanyang somehow manages to win, Jingzhou will bear the blame for negligence. It’s a tough situation, and we need to think it through carefully!" Xi Chanwen also strongly persuaded Xiao Yingzhou to help Gaozu. Xiao Yingzhou then devised a plan to lure and kill Liu Shanyang, appointing Wen Ruo as the General of Ning Shuo.
After Emperor He ascended to the throne, Wen Ruo was appointed as a Minister in the Ministry of Personnel, later promoted to the General of the State and the Governor of Nanping. Shortly after, he was promoted to the Palace Attendant and the General of the Crown, while retaining his position as Governor. He was then appointed as the Minister of Personnel, but he did not accept the position. After Yingzhou was pacified, Xiao Yingzhou planned to move the capital to Xiakou, but Wen Ruo once again urged against it strongly, believing that the Ba and Xia regions weren’t fully pacified yet, and it wasn’t wise to easily abandon our foundation and shake the people's trust. Xiao Yingzhou did not heed his advice. Soon after, the army from Badong advanced to Xie Kou, and the plans to relocate the capital were scrapped. People regarded Wen Ruo as having great foresight.
After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he appointed him as the Minister of Military Affairs and also concurrently as General of the Valiant Cavalry. Because of his contributions during the uprising, he was granted the title of Zhouling Count, with a fief of seven hundred households. In the second year of Tianjian, he was dispatched as Chief of Anxi, Champion General, and Governor of Nanjun. Six years later, the court summoned him back to the capital, appointing him as Cavalier Attendant and Commander of the Right Guard for the Crown Prince. Before he could depart, he was promoted to the position of Military Commissioner, Commander of Military Affairs in Xiangzhou, General Who Supports the State, and Governor of Xiangzhou. In the eighth year, he was punished for unlawfully releasing soldiers on duty. Shortly after, he returned to the court, serving as Secretary of the Imperial Secretariat, then promoted to Cavalier Attendant, and later transferred to the position of Minister of Rites. Before he could assume the new position, he fell ill. The emperor issued an edict changing his appointment to Censor and Grand Secretary, but his illness worsened, and he was unable to take up the new role. In the tenth year of Tianjian, he died at home at the age of forty-one. The court posthumously appointed him as the Minister of the Palace Library and bestowed the posthumous title of Mu. His son Fan succeeded him in his title.
Xi Chanwen was from Linjing County in Anding Commandery. He grew up in poverty but extensively read historical texts. In the early Qi Dynasty, he served as a military officer under the governor of Yongzhou, Xiao Chifu, and befriended Xiao Yingzhou, Chifu's son. Later, he held positions as a military officer in the Western Central Army, responsible for managing city defense affairs. When Emperor Gaozu was preparing to rebel, Xi Chanwen strongly persuaded him, with Xiao Yingzhou joining in his persuasion. They secretly sent a message to Emperor Gaozu through Tian Zugong, presenting a silver-inlaid dagger, who in return gifted him a golden ruyi. He was appointed as a Minister of the Yellow Gate and soon after promoted to Minister of War. When Xiao Yingzhou suddenly passed away, causing chaos in the province, Xi Chanwen, given the emperor's youth and his own high office, took on the responsibility of managing the province. He, along with ministers from the Western Dynasty, welcomed Prince Dan, who was stationed in Yongzhou, to oversee provincial affairs and restore order. After Emperor Gaozu ascended the throne, he appointed Xi Chanwen as Minister of Justice and General of the State, granting him the title of Count of Shanyang with a fief of 700 households. He was later assigned as the Prefect of Dongyang, and later changed to Count of Xiangxi, with the fief unchanged. He served as the Prefect of Dongyang for two years, renowned for his integrity, and eventually passed away in office. The court awarded him thirty thousand coins and fifty bolts of cloth for his funeral expenses, and posthumously granted him the title of Wei.
Wei Rui, courtesy name Huaiwen, was from Duling, in the Jingzhao region. Coming from a line of distinguished ancestors, his family had long been a prominent clan in the Sanfu area. His grandfather, Wei Xuan, retreated to the southern mountains of Chang'an to escape government conscription. When Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yu, entered Guanzhong, he summoned him to serve as a staff member in the Ministry of War, but he did not go. His uncle, Wei Zuxing, held the position of Guanglu Xun during the late Song Dynasty. His father, Wei Zugu, was the chief historian of Ningyuan County. Wei Rui was renowned for his filial piety towards his stepmother, which was well-known at the time. His older brothers, Wei Zuan and Wei Chan, had already gained recognition. Wei Zuan and Wei Rui both enjoyed studying, while Wei Chan was known for his high moral standards. Wei Zuxing was appointed county magistrate multiple times, and each time he took Wei Rui with him, treating him as if he were his own son. At that time, Wei Rui's uncle, Wang Cheng, and cousin, Du Yun, were both respected figures in the community. Wei Zuxing asked Wei Rui, "Do you think you measure up to Wang Cheng and Du Yun?" Wei Rui humbly felt unable to respond. Wei Zuxing said, "Your writing may be slightly inferior, but your knowledge should surpass theirs; however, to make a meaningful contribution to the nation, they cannot compare to you." Wei Rui's older brother, Du Youwen, was appointed inspector of Liangzhou and wanted Wei Rui to join him. Liangzhou was fertile and rich, but many had previously fallen from grace because of corruption. Although Wei Rui was still young at the time, he was already recognized for his integrity.
During the early years of the Yongguang era, Yuan Yi became the Inspector of Yongzhou and was very impressed by Wei Rui. He brought him on as an advisor. After Yuan Yi took office, he joined Deng Wan in rebellion. Wei Rui requested a transfer to Yicheng County and managed to steer clear of Yuan Yi's troubles. Later, he was appointed as the Left Attendant of Prince Jinping and was promoted to Acting Military Advisor to General Xiao Shuo, the King of Guiyang. He served under Prime Minister Liu Shilong of the Qi Dynasty to defend Yingcheng against the Inspector of Jingzhou, Shen Youzhi. After Shen Youzhi was defeated, Wei Rui was promoted to Military Advisor of the Front Army. Eventually, he was appointed as the Magistrate of Guangde County. He continued to rise in ranks, serving as the Governor of Xing in Qi, the Prefect of Benzhou, the Colonel of Changshui, and the General of the Right Army. As chaos engulfed the Qi Dynasty, Wei Rui was reluctant to leave his hometown and requested to be appointed as the Prefect of Shangyong, and was promoted to General Jianwei. Not long after, the Grand Commandant Chen Xianda and the General of the Guards Cui Huijing frequently attacked the capital, leading to widespread panic among the populace. The situation remained unstable, and people from the Western regions came to Wei Rui for advice. Wei Rui said, "While Chen Xianda may be an experienced general, he is not the type to accomplish anything significant; although Cui Huijing has been through a lot, he is weak and not good at warfare. Their attack on Jiankang is inevitable! The real talents will likely rise from our province." So he sent two of his sons to join the ancestor Xiao Daocheng. When the call for the righteous army came, Liu Rui quickly rallied the county folks to cut bamboo and build rafts, taking a shortcut to arrive with over 2,000 people and 200 horses to lend support! The ancestor was thrilled to see Liu Rui and said, "I have only heard of your reputation before; today I finally see you in person, my great cause is finally in good hands!" The righteous army captured Yingcheng and Lu Di, bringing peace to the Jiahu region. Liu Rui had plenty of great ideas, and the ancestor embraced them all.
The army set out from Yingcheng, and Emperor Gaozu was worried about who to leave behind as a defender. After some thought, he turned to Liu Rui and said, "Why are we looking elsewhere when we have such a fine steed available?" That day, Liu Rui was appointed as the Champion General and the Prefect of Jiangxia, in charge of the matters of Yingzhou. When Yingcheng was besieged, with a population of 100,000 people, the city gates were shut for several years. Seventy to eighty percent of the population perished from the plague, with bodies stacked beneath beds while the living slept on top. Liu Rui carefully arranged and handled these matters, giving the dead a proper burial and helping the living resettle, for which the common people were grateful.
Later, after Liangtai was built, Liu Rui was summoned to serve as the Minister of Rites. After Gaozu became emperor, Liu Rui was promoted to Minister of Works, granted the title Duke of Liangzi, with a fief of 300 households. In the second year of Tianjian, he was further enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongchang County, with the same number of households. When the Eastern Palace was completed, he was transferred to the Commander of the Crown Prince's Right Guard, and later served as the General of Fu State and Governor of Yuzhou, concurrently holding the position of Governor of Liyang. Three years later, when Wei sent troops to invade, Liu Rui led the army of Yuzhou to repel them.
Four years later, the court ordered Wang Rui to lead the army on a northern expedition. Wang Rui sent his Chief Clerk Wang Chaozong and the Prefect of Liang County, Feng Daogen, to attack the Wei army at Xiaoxian City, but they couldn't take it. Wang Rui personally inspected the camp when suddenly hundreds of Wei soldiers burst out of the city and formed a battle formation outside the gate. Wang Rui was eager to strike right away, but his officers urged him, "They're being overconfident; we're not ready for battle yet. Let's hold off until everyone's suited up before we attack."
Wang Rui said, "No! There are more than two thousand people in Weicheng, fiercely guarding the city gates. They are capable of defending themselves. If they send people out, they must be elite soldiers. If we can defeat them, we can take the city." Everyone hesitated, but Wang Rui pointed to the commander's token in his hand and said, "The court gave me this, not to be a decoration! My military strategy must not be violated by anyone!" So he ordered an attack. The soldiers fought bravely, and the Wei army was decisively defeated and retreated. Wang Rui pursued them and captured Xiaoxian City overnight. Then, he led his troops to attack Hefei.
Previously, the Right Army's Sima Hulue led an attack on Hefei for a long time without success. Wang Rui surveyed the local terrain and said, "I have heard that 'Fenshui can irrigate Pingyang, and Jiangshui can irrigate Anyi.' The situation here is similar!" So he ordered the construction of a dam on the Feishui River, taking charge of the construction himself. In no time, the dam was built, the river was flowing, and warships began to arrive. The Wei army had built two small fortifications on the east and west sides of Hefei, and Wang Rui first captured these two fortifications.
At this time, the Wei army's reinforcements led by General Yang Lingyin suddenly arrived with fifty thousand troops. Everyone was afraid and worried about not being able to win, so they requested additional troops from the court. Wang Rui smiled and said, "The enemy has already reached the city, and now they request reinforcements? Sharpening their swords in the heat of battle, there is no time! Besides, if I request reinforcements, they are also recruiting troops. It's like Wu State reinforcing Baxiu and Shu State reinforcing Baide; it's the same idea. 'The key to victory for an army lies in unity, not in the number of troops,' this is an age-old principle!" So he led his troops to battle, defeated Yang Lingyin's army, and boosted the morale.
At first, the Feishui Dam was built, allowing the military commander Wang Huaijing to fortify a position on the riverbank for defense. As a result, the Wei army breached Wang Huaijing's defenses, and more than a thousand people died in battle. The Wei army pursued their victory and advanced to Ruiti, with great momentum. The military supervisor Pan Lingyou advised Lu Rui to retreat to Chaohu, and other generals also requested a retreat to Sanchakou. Lu Rui retorted angrily, "How can this be? Generals who die in battle should charge forward, not retreat!" He then ordered umbrellas, fans, and military flags to be taken out and inserted under the embankment, demonstrating his unwavering resolve. Lu Rui was originally in poor health, never rode a horse in battle, instead being carried in a cart to urge and motivate the army. When the Wei army attempted to breach the embankment, Lu Rui personally fought with them. When the Wei army retreated slightly, Lu Rui built fortifications on the embankment to strengthen the defense line. Lu Rui constructed warships nearly as tall as the walls of Hefei City, surrounding the Wei army on all sides. The Wei army was at their wits' end, lamenting their fate. Lu Rui's siege engines were ready, the dam was full of water, and the Wei army's reinforcements were of no use. The Wei army's defending general, Du Yuanlun, climbed the city wall to supervise the battle and was shot dead by crossbow arrows, leading to the eventual breach of the city. Over ten thousand enemy soldiers were captured, and thousands of cattle and horses were seized. The captured silks filled ten rooms, and these spoils of war were distributed as rewards to the troops.
Lu Rui hosts visitors during the day and handles military affairs at night. He often works late into the night, tending to and reassuring his soldiers. He always feels pressed for time, so soldiers flock to him. Wherever he goes, the camp is meticulously organized, with barracks, fences, and walls all in accordance with regulations. After the capture of Hefei City, Gaozu ordered all troops to camp at Dongling. Dongling is only twenty miles from the Wei State's Pichi City, and a decisive battle was imminent. At that point, he ordered a retreat. Fearing being pursued by the enemy, Lu Rui sent all the supplies ahead while he rode in a simple cart at the back. Upon hearing of Lu Rui's reputation, the Wei army dared not approach. Lu Rui led the entire army safely back. After this incident, the provincial capital of Yuzhou was moved to Hefei.
Five years ago, Yuan Ying, the King of Zhongshan in Wei, led troops to attack North Xuzhou, besieging the governor Chang Yi in Zhongli with a strong army of a million, capturing over forty cities in a row. Our emperor sent General Cao Jingzong with two hundred thousand troops to resist. When Cao Jingzong arrived at Shaoyangzhou, he built fortifications for defense. The emperor then ordered Wei Rui to lead the Yuzhou troops in support. Wei Rui set out from Hefei, took a shortcut through Yinling Daze, and quickly constructed bridges over mountain streams and valleys. The soldiers, fearing the might of the Wei army, urged Wei Rui to take it slow. Wei Rui said, "The people in Zhongli City are all hiding underground, using buckets to drink water. The chariots are speeding, the soldiers are running, and they are still afraid of the Wei army catching up. Why should we take our time? The Wei army has already entered our encirclement, so you don't have to worry!" Ten days later, Wei Rui reached Shaoyang.
At the beginning, the emperor said to Cao Jingzong, "Wei Rui is your fellow townsman; you should show him proper respect." Cao Jingzong met Wei Rui and paid him great respect. When the emperor heard about this, he said, "The harmonious relationship between the two generals will ensure victory in this battle!" Wei Rui, twenty miles in front of Cao Jingzong's camp, dug a long trench at night and erected deer antlers, transforming the area into a stronghold, completing the defense works before dawn. Yuan Ying was taken aback and exclaimed, "What is this? It's like a miracle!" The next morning, Yuan Ying personally led the army to launch an attack. Wei Rui sat in a modest wooden cart, holding a white horn-shaped scepter to command the troops. After several skirmishes that day, Yuan Ying was very afraid of the strength of Wei Rui's army.
The Wei army attacked the city again at night, arrows raining down like a deluge. Wei Rui's son An requested to descend from the city to avoid the arrow rain, but Wei Rui disagreed. The soldiers were in panic, but Wei Rui shouted at them from the city wall, reassuring them. Earlier, the Wei army had built two bridges on both sides of Shaoyangzhou, with hundreds of paces of barricades spanning the Huai River as a passage. Wei Rui prepared a fleet of warships and had officials like Feng Daogen, Pei Sui, and Li Wenzhao form a naval force. With the Huai River rising, Wei Rui immediately sent them out to attack. The warships surged toward the enemy's position, loading straw onto small boats, pouring oil on them, and setting them on fire, burning down the Wei army's bridges. The fierce wind fanned the flames, thick smoke covered the sky, and the vanguard soldiers dismantled the barricades and cut off the bridges. The river surged swiftly, and in no time, both the bridges and barricades were destroyed. Feng Daogen and others also personally led the charge; the soldiers bravely killed the enemy, the sound of battle shook the heavens, one soldier could hold off a hundred foes, leading to the Wei army's rout.
Yuan Ying saw that the bridge had been burned and fled. Over 100,000 Wei soldiers drowned, and almost as many were killed. The rest surrendered, knelt down, and begged for mercy, requesting to be taken prisoner, bringing the total to several hundred thousand. The captured military supplies, cattle, and horses were innumerable. Wei Rui sent someone to report to Chang Yi, who felt a mix of sadness and joy, shouting, "We survived! We survived!" The emperor sent Zhou She, a palace attendant, to offer comfort to Wei Rui by the Huai River. Wei Rui displayed the captured spoils of war at the entrance of the camp. After Zhou She saw them, he said to Wei Rui, "Your spoils this time are as plentiful as those from the Battle of Xionger Mountain!" Due to his achievements in this battle, Wei Rui was promoted to Marquis with a fief of seven hundred households, appointed as an imperial attendant, and promoted to General of the Right Guard.
He served as General of the Left Guard for seven years, shortly after being promoted to Chief of Anxi and Administrator of Nan County, a mid-level official position. When the governor of Sizhou, Ma Xianpin, returned from campaigning in the north and was pursued by Wei troops, chaos erupted in the Sanguan region. The court ordered Pei Rui to lead troops to provide support. Pei Rui arrived in Anlu, increased the height of the city walls by over two zhang, dug a large moat, and built tall towers. Many viewed this as a sign of weakness. Pei Rui said, "It's not like that. When leading troops into battle, sometimes you have to show weakness, not to always appear aggressive." At that time, Yuan Ying went to pursue Ma Xianpin again to seek revenge for the defeat at Shaoyang. Upon hearing that Pei Rui had arrived, he decided to retreat. The emperor also ordered a halt to military operations.
The following year, he was promoted to General of Trust and Martial Valor, as well as Governor of Jiangzhou. Nine years later, he was called back to serve as an imperial attendant and General of the Right Guard, then promoted to General of the Left Guard and Prince's Advisor, followed by an appointment as an imperial attendant. Thirteen years later, he was promoted to General of Wisdom and Martial Valor and Intendant of Danyang, but was dismissed due to administrative issues. After some time, he was reinstated and appointed as Central Protector.
In the fourteenth year, he was again appointed General of Pingbei, Colonel of Ningman, and Governor of Yongzhou. When Pei Rui first raised his troops, his friend Yin Junguang pleaded with him not to go. After Pei Rui returned home to become an official, Yin Junguang visited him, and Pei Rui smiled and said to him, "If I had taken your advice, I would have ended up begging along the way." He then gifted him ten plow oxen. Pei Rui was always generous to his old friends. He arranged temporary county magistrate positions for scholars over seventy, and the villagers held him in fond memory. In the fifteenth year, he petitioned for retirement, and the emperor granted his request with special favor. In the seventeenth year, he was summoned again to be Cavalier Attendant and General of the Guard, and shortly after, he was even assigned a ceremonial guard while serving in the palace. In the court, he was humble and cautious, never speaking out of turn, and the Emperor Gaozu respected him greatly. He showed more kindness to orphans and widows than to his own sons, and he distributed all his official salaries and rewards to relatives and friends, without saving any money at home. Later, when he had nothing to do at home as General of the Guard, he envied figures like Wan Shi and Lu Jia, so he painted their portraits on his wall to admire. Even in his old age, he spent his leisure time teaching children to read. His third son, Pei Leng, was particularly knowledgeable in the classics and histories, and people at the time all said he was well-versed. Pei Rui often asked Pei Leng to explain books to him, and he could explain them clearly. Emperor Gaozu was then enthusiastic about Buddhism, and everyone was following suit. Pei Rui felt his faith was shaky and, given his high position, he didn't want to just go along with everyone else, so his actions were not much different from before.
In the first year of the Common Era, during the summer, he was appointed as an attendant and General of Chariots and Cavalry, but due to illness, he had not yet assumed his post. In August, he died at home at the age of seventy-nine. Before his death, he left a will requesting a simple burial and to be buried in his everyday clothes. Emperor Gaozu mourned him on the same day, deeply saddened. The court granted him one hundred thousand coins, two hundred pieces of cloth, a set of precious items from the East Garden, a set of court attire, one additional piece of clothing, and covered all funeral expenses. A supervisor was appointed to oversee the funeral arrangements. After his death, he was posthumously appointed as an attendant, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and a supervisor of the palace, and he was posthumously honored with the title "Yan".
During the Battle of Shaoyang, he displayed great integrity and virtue. Some individuals wanted him to compete against Cao Jingzong and brought out two hundred thousand coins for a gamble. Cao Jingzong rolled the dice and got a "pheasant"; he casually rolled a "horse", then quickly turned over a die and said, "This is an unexpected situation," and so the competition was called off. While other generals eagerly reported their victories to the court, he chose to stay back. He never sought victory, and there were many such instances, which is why he earned praise from future generations. He had four sons: Fang, Zheng, Leng, and An, with Fang having a separate biography.
His son Zheng, styled Jingzhi, initially served as a military officer under the King of Nankang, gradually rising to become a secretary in the Imperial Secretariat, and later being sent to Xiangyang as a governor. Initially, he had a good relationship with the Prince of Donghai, but later, when the prince became a minister responsible for selecting officials, many people tried to win his favor, but his son Zheng maintained a detached attitude. After the prince was dismissed, his son Zheng treated him with even greater sincerity than before, which earned him the admiration of the people. He later attained the position of Supervisor of the Yellow Gate.
His son Ling, courtesy name Weizhi, had a calm personality and pursued a career in studying the classics. He was knowledgeable, had an exceptional memory, and people sought his advice. He initially served as a military staff officer in the Ancheng Prince's residence and gradually rose to the positions of Imperial Secretary, Prince's Attendant, and Minister of Rites. He also wrote three volumes of "The Continued Instruction of the Book of Han." His son An, courtesy name Wuzhi, was strong-willed and upright. He studied history and literature from a young age and was quite articulate. He started as an attendant in the Prince's residence and eventually became Minister of the Household, Governor of Nanyuzhou, and Minister of the Imperial Stables. When Hou Jing crossed the Yangtze River, he defended the city’s six gates and later took command of the western military forces. He fought tirelessly to defend the western earthworks, and for his achievements, he was appointed General of Light Cavalry and bestowed with additional honors. He died in the city and was posthumously granted the title of Cavalier Attendant and General of the Left Guard. He had a younger brother named Ai. From a young age, he was filial to his parents, calm, and responsible. His great-grandfather was a general of the Jin Dynasty, his grandfather served as the Prefect of Yiyang during the Song Dynasty, and his father passed away early. Orphaned at a young age, he was known for his extraordinary devotion to his mother. He was reserved and rarely socialized with others, but he dedicated himself to studying diligently. At the age of twelve, he went to the capital and encountered the Emperor visiting the Southern Park. While everyone else gathered to watch the spectacle, he sat alone reading, completely absorbed in his reading. His family was astonished by his behavior. As he grew older, his extensive knowledge and literary talent, particularly in the Book of Changes and the Zuo Commentary on the Spring and Autumn Annals, became widely recognized.
When Yuan Yi served as the Inspector of Yongzhou, he invited him to serve as his aide and appointed him as the chief clerk. After his mother passed away, he set up a shelter beside her grave to observe the mourning period and personally dug her grave. At that time, his grandfather was serving in Yongzhou and went to console him upon hearing the news. After the mourning period ended, he was appointed as a junior military officer. When the rebel forces rose up, he was appointed as the General of Valiant Martial Arts, the Marquis of Nanping, and also served as the magistrate of Xiangyang. At that time, the capital was still in turmoil, Yongzhou was vacant, and the Wei Xing Prefect Yan Sengdu and others occupied the county city in rebellion, resulting in chaos across the province and widespread panic among the populace. He was calm, intelligent, and strategic, with great prestige in the local area. He made every effort to pacify the people, appealing to their reason and emotions. He also recruited strong men from his hometown, gathering over a thousand men, and achieved a decisive victory over Yan Sengdu and his forces in a major battle at Shiping County, bringing peace to the people.
After the death of Xiao Yingzhou, Emperor He mobilized forces to Xiangyang, and he accompanied Prince Shixing Wang Dan to Xiangyang. Previously, the Ba Dong Prefect Xiao Gui and Lu Xiulie raised troops to attack Jingzhou. Upon Prince Shixing Wang's arrival, he wrote a letter urging surrender, and Xiao Gui surrendered on the same day.
In the second year of the Zhongxing era, he followed Emperor He eastward. After his grandfather's abdication, he was promoted to the position of Vice General of the Nation, still serving as the General of Valiant Cavalry, and later appointed as the Prefect of Ningshu. He and the Inspector of Yizhou, Deng Yuanqi, went west to campaign against Liu Jilian. When they reached Gong'an, he fell ill and passed away, posthumously honored with the title of Minister of Guard. His son Qianxiang later attained the rank of General of Valiant Cavalry, Chief of Staff for the Northern Expedition, and Prefect of Ruyin and Zhongli.
Yao Cha, the Minister of Personnel of the Chen Dynasty, said: In the past, Dou Rong led the Hexi region to submit to the Han Dynasty and eventually established a prominent family; Liu Yan responded to the call of Nanzheng, and his family's reputation has remained strong; he really caught a lucky break! Your plans are bound to succeed; you're really clever! Wei Rui rose up from Shangyong to join the righteous cause; his territory is smaller than that of Liu Yan, but in the battles of Hefei and Shaoyang, his contributions were significant, yet he stayed modest and humble, not boasting about his achievements; he truly embodies the qualities of a gentleman! Yao Cha's remarks are essentially assessing the different political choices and final results of several people. He uses the examples of Dou Rong, Liu Yan, and Wei Rui to encourage or suggest to "Chen." Dou Rong and Liu Yan both found success and built a reputation by making the right choices. Wei Rui achieved his goals without arrogance, making him a true role model. Yao Cha's intention is quite clear: he hopes "Chen" can also follow in their footsteps, make wise choices, find success, and uphold a humble character.
