Emperor Gaozu had eight sons: Lady Ding gave birth to Crown Prince Xiaotong, Emperor Jianwen (Xiaogang), and Prince Xiaoxu of Luling; Lady Ruan gave birth to Emperor Xiaoyi; Lady Wu gave birth to Prince Xiaozong of Yuzhang; Lady Dong gave birth to Prince Xiaoji of Nankang Jian; Lady Ding gave birth to Prince Xiaolun of Shaoling; Lady Ge gave birth to Prince Xiaoji of Wuling. The deeds of Xiaozong and Xiaoji are recorded separately.
Let's talk about Prince Xiaoji of Nankang Jian, whose courtesy name was Shijin. He was the fourth son of Emperor Gaozu. In the eighth year of Tianjian, he was titled Prince of Nankang County, with a fief that included two thousand households. Later, he was appointed as General of Pacification, responsible for the military affairs at Shitoucheng. Ten years later, he was promoted to General of Pacification, Commander of Military Affairs in Southern Xuzhou, and Governor of Southern Xuzhou, with the title also upgraded to General of Benevolent Might. And he was only seven years old at that time! Just imagine, a seven-year-old child serving as a governor, in charge of military affairs for a whole province, isn't that impressive? It is said that at that time, an official accepted bribes and secretly altered official documents, but the Chief Clerk Wang Sengru did not notice. However, young Prince Xiaoji saw it at a glance, called out the official on the spot, and the official quickly confessed. Everyone admired his intelligence and alertness. In the sixteenth year of Tianjian, he was summoned back to the court to serve as General of Xuan Yi (General of Xuan Yi), continuing to be in charge of military affairs at Shitoucheng. In the seventeenth year, he was appointed as General of Pacification, Commander of Military Affairs in the five provinces of Southern and Northern Yan, Xu, Qing, and Ji, and Governor of Southern Yan, where he excelled and earned widespread acclaim.
Later, the court issued a decree for him to return to the capital. As a result, the people of Nanyanzhou, a total of 370 individuals, actually ran to the capital together to praise Xiao Ji's fifteen virtues and request the court to keep him! The Emperor was touched by their sincerity and agreed, even promoting him to be the Northern General. After four years, he was summoned back to the court to serve as Attendant and General of the Cloud Banner, continuing to oversee military affairs at Shitou Garrison. Five years later, he was sent to serve as Commissioner and Military Commander of Jiangzhou, as well as Governor of Jiangzhou. After his mother Dong Shuyi passed away, Xiao Ji observed an extremely strict mourning period, beyond the customary mourning practices. The Emperor personally issued a decree to comfort him and permitted him to continue overseeing state affairs. However, he insisted on stepping down and was finally appointed as General of the Right Wing, continuing to be in charge of military affairs at Shitou Garrison and later being bestowed the title of Army Protector. Unfortunately, his health was poor, and he was frail and in poor health, unable to handle governmental affairs. In the third year of the Datong era, Xiao Ji passed away at the age of twenty-five. After his death, the court posthumously honored him with the titles of Attendant, General of the Central Army, and Supervisor of the Palace Library, and also granted him a musical piece. He was posthumously given the title "Jian."
Xiao Ji, a man who lived simply, had few hobbies and even fewer desires. He did not even have a servant at home and lived very frugally, turning over all his salary to the national treasury. After his death, it was discovered that he had accumulated tens of millions of money in the mansion, all of which he had saved over the years, with not even a name registered for it.
Zi Huili, with the courtesy name Changcai, was intelligent and clever from a young age and had a passion for reading historical texts. He became an orphan at the age of eleven, but he was particularly favored by Emperor Gaozu, receiving treatment akin to that of a prince regarding clothing, meals, and etiquette. At the age of fifteen, he was appointed General of Light Cavalry and Inspector of Xiangzhou, also in charge of military affairs at Shitou Shu. He was later promoted to Attendant and concurrently held the position of General of the Army. Shortly after, he was appointed General of Xuanhui and Intendant of Danyang, and was assigned subordinates. He was then dispatched as the Commissioner, Commander of the military forces across the seven provinces of Nan, Beiyan, Beixu, Qing, Ji, Dongxu, and Qiao, General Who Pacifies the North, and Inspector of Nanyan, with his official rank continually rising.
In the first year of the Taiqing era, he led his troops north to confront the enemy, reaching Pengcheng, but was defeated by Wei's forces and had to retreat to his base. The following year, Hou Jing laid siege to Jiankang (modern-day Nanjing), and Huili rallied his troops to prepare for a rescue. At this time, Feng Shanhou, the Inspector of Beixu, planned to exploit the situation to attack Guangling, claiming to be going to provide relief while harboring ulterior motives. Huili saw through his scheme and thwarted him. Just as they were poised for a successful advance, Tai City fell. Hou Jing sent Dong Shaoxian, the former Prefect of Linjiang, bearing an imperial decree from Emperor Gaozu to summon Huili. His subordinates urged him not to go, saying, "Hou Jing is a treacherous rebel; you mustn't go!"
Huili said, "Your thoughts are different from mine. The Emperor is old and is now under the control of the rebel army. I've received an imperial summons to the capital. As a loyal subject, how could I possibly disobey such a summons? Besides, I am far from the capital, up north by the river; it is difficult to achieve merit. It is better to go to the capital in person and find a solution firsthand. I have made up my mind!" So he packed his bags, handed over the city to Dong Shaoxian, and went to the capital. Hou Jing appointed him as a courtier, minister of works, and concurrently as the director of the palace library. Although he was in enemy territory, he was always thinking about restoring the court, secretly contacting Xixianghou Quan and others, uniting brave men to prepare for a rebellion. At this time, Zuhao of Fanyang killed Dong Shaoxian, rebelled in Guangling, and agreed to cooperate with Huili. Unfortunately, Zuhao's rebellion failed, implicating Huili. Hou Jing forged an imperial edict to strip Huili of his official title, but still allowed him to serve as the Minister of Works as a commoner.
It was winter, and Jing Shao (Jing Huan) wanted to go to Jinxi. At that time, Jing Shao was in very poor health, so he discussed this matter with Huili and Liu Jingli. Liu Jingli said, "To accomplish great things, you need some resources. Now we don't even have a single soldier; how can we act?" Huili said, "Over in Hushu, I have over three thousand veteran soldiers from my past. I have already contacted them, and once the agreed time comes, they can gather. We just need to wait for my signal, and they can immediately rush to the capital. The enemy forces are estimated to be about a thousand. If we attack from the outside with a large army, and we support from the inside, we can directly capture Wang Wei. This matter will definitely succeed! Even if Jing Shao returns later, he won't be able to do anything to us." Liu Jingli thought it was a good plan and agreed. At that time, the common people all hated the enemy soldiers, hoping that someone could lead them in a fight. From Danyang to Jingkou, this sentiment was widespread. Unfortunately, the plan failed, and both Huili and his brother Tongli were killed. Tongli, style name Zhongxuan, served as the Prince's stable master and was appointed as the Marquis of Qiyang.
Tong Li's younger brother is named Yi Li, with the courtesy name Jiying, and he is the sixth younger brother of Huili. Ten days after his birth, King Jian died. At the age of three, he could speak. He saw the people in the palace leaving one by one, crying and bidding them farewell. Yi Li asked what was happening, and someone said, "These are the palace maids of King Jian; they all left after the funeral." Yi Li burst into tears at this news, crying uncontrollably. Everyone in the palace saw it, and not a single person was unmoved; even three palace maids stopped in their tracks because of his crying. After the mourning period was over, Yi Li went to see Emperor Gaozu and cried uncontrollably again. Emperor Gaozu also shed tears, saying to those around him, "When this child grows up, he will definitely become an outstanding talent!" In the eighth year of Datong, Yi Li was granted the title of Marquis of Anle County, with a fief of five hundred households.
Yi Li has a heroic personality, eager to achieve great things and make a name for himself. Every time he read stories of loyal officials and heroes, he would put down the book and sigh, "In my lifetime, I must live up to the ancients!" He was well-read and very eloquent. He once visited the tomb of Kong Wenju to pay his respects and even wrote an inscription for Kong Wenju's monument, which was very well written.
During the Taiqing period, Hou Jing rebelled internally. Xiao Yi Li gathered hundreds of guests, lightly equipped, and went to Nanyanzhou to follow his brother Xiao Huili to rescue. He always led the charge and was always at the forefront of the soldiers. After the city was lost, he followed Xiao Huili back to Guangling, and then went to Northern Wei as a hostage to request assistance. After two days, he heard that Hou Jing's general Dong Shaolian had occupied Guangling, so he pursued Xiao Huili but was eventually captured. Dong Shaolian was on high alert, preventing the two brothers, Xiao Yi Li and Xiao Huili, from meeting. So Xiao Yi Li pretended to request to return to the capital, hoping to see his mother. He told his sister, Princess Angu, "Things have come to this; how can we let the whole family die together? If my brother comes, please tell him to find a way to save himself and not worry about us. Even if the country is in peril, I will not regret dying for it. I still hope to serve my country in the future, though I don't know how fate will unfold for me!"
When he arrived in the capital, Xiao Yili felt that the surrendered general of Wei, Yuan Zhen, was a man of integrity and loyalty worthy of trust with important matters, so he gifted him a jade-handled fan. Yuan Zhen was very puzzled and did not understand why, so he did not accept it. Xiao Yili said, "You will understand in the future; I hope you do not refuse." Later, when Xiao Zuhao raised an army, Xiao Yili fled to Changlu, where he gathered an army of over a thousand men. Some of his followers defected to the rebels and seized the opportunity to capture Xiao Huili. As a result, his army fell apart, and Xiao Yili was eventually killed by Hou Jing. He was only twenty-one years old that year. Yuan Zhen finally understood what Xiao Yili had said before, so he went to collect and bury him.
Xiao Xu, known as the King of Luling, was the fifth son of Gaozu. In the eighth year of the Tianjian era, he was appointed as the King of Luling County, with a fief of two thousand households. In the tenth year, he was appointed as the General of Light Chariots and the Governor of Nanpeng City, Langya. In the thirteenth year, he was promoted to the Governor of Kuaiji. In the sixteenth year, he was the Commander-in-Chief of Jiangzhou's military affairs, the General of Yunhui, and the Governor of Jiangzhou. In the first year of Putong, he was summoned as the General of Xuan Yi and was responsible for the military defense of Shitou City.
Xu Shaoying was a real powerhouse of a kid, good at horseback riding, archery, hunting, and hitting the bullseye with every shot! Emperor Gaozu always sighed and said, "This boy is truly my Rencheng!" One time, he and Prince Linhe Zhengde, as well as Hu Guitong, Zhao Bochao, and a few others, had a horseback riding and archery competition in front of Emperor Gaozu. Xu Shaoying excelled, leaving everyone else behind, which delighted Emperor Gaozu.
Three years later, he was promoted to the position of General, Commander of the military forces in the provinces of Yong, Liang, Qin, and Sha, Western General, and Governor of Yong Province. Seven years later, he was also granted the title of General Who Pacifies the North. In the second year of the Zhongda Tong era, he was appointed General, Commander of the military forces in the provinces of Yong, Liang, Qin, and Sha, General Who Pacifies the North again, Colonel Who Pacifies the Southern Barbarians, and Governor of Yong Province, and was even given a ceremonial guard. Xu Shaoying, a man who liked to amass horses and weapons, raised a large number of warhorses and elite soldiers, with his home overflowing with gold, silver, and treasures, and his warehouses bursting at the seams. Four years later, he was promoted to General Who Pacifies the North again. In the first year of the Datong era, he was appointed General, Commander of the military forces in Jiangzhou, General Who Pacifies the South, and Governor of Jiangzhou. Three years later, he was summoned back to the capital by the court to serve as General of the Guard, also overseeing the defense of Shitou Garrison. Five years later, he rose to the rank of General of Chariots and Cavalry and was granted the title of Palace Attendant, equivalent to the rank of Three Offices. He was later reassigned and appointed General, Commander of the military forces in the provinces of Jing, Ying, Si, Yong, Nan, Bei Qin, Liang, Ba, and Hua, and Governor of Jingzhou. Sadly, he passed away in office during the second year of the Zhongda Tong era, at the age of forty-four. The court posthumously honored him with the title of Minister of Works, Cavalier Attendant, and Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, also granting him a ceremonial guard and the posthumous title of "Wei." His eldest son, Ansi, inherited his title.
Wang Lun, the Prince of Shaoling, was the sixth son of Emperor Gaozu. He was intelligent and knowledgeable from a young age, well-versed in literature and particularly skilled in writing letters. In the thirteenth year of Tianjian, he was appointed as the Prince of Shaoling, with a fief consisting of two thousand households. He was later sent to serve as General of Ningyuan, Prefect of Langye County and Pengcheng County, and then promoted to General of Light Cavalry and Prefect of Kuaiji County. In the eighteenth year of Tianjian, he was summoned back by the court to serve as General of Xinwei. In the first year of Putong, he was responsible for military affairs in Shitoucheng, and shortly after was promoted to Governor of Jiangzhou. In the fifth year, he was appointed as General of the Western Army, acting as Governor of Nanyanzhou, but was later dismissed and stripped of his title due to errors. In the seventh year, he was appointed as Court Attendant. In the first year of Datong, he regained his title and was later promoted to General of Xinwei, with the addition of an assistant historian. In the first year of Zhongdatong, he served as Intendant of Danyang. In the fourth year, he was appointed as Court Attendant, General of Xuanhui, and Governor of Yangzhou.
Wang Lun was accused of harming the interests of the people by the Minister of the Imperial Household, He Zhitong. Upon learning of this, Wang Lun ordered his associate Dai Zigao to assassinate He Zhitong in the capital. He Zhitong's son reported this to the imperial palace, and Emperor Gaozu ordered the surrounding of Wang Lun's residence and the arrest of Dai Zigao. However, Wang Lun hid Dai Zigao and refused to hand him over. As a result of this incident, he was demoted to commoner status. Not long after, he was reinstated to his title. In the first year of Datong, he served as Court Attendant and General of Yunhui. In the seventh year, he was appointed as Commissioner and Commander of the military for Yingshou, Dingzhou, Huozhou, and Sizhou, General Pacifying the West, and Governor of Yingshou. He was later promoted to General Who Guards the Front and Intendant of Danyang. In the first year of Zhongdatong, he was appointed as General Who Guards the East and Governor of Nanxuzhou.
In 548 AD, I was promoted and became General of Zhongwei, also serving as Supervisor of the Left and Right Departments of the Household, a high-ranking official. Later, Hou Jing rebelled, and the Emperor appointed me as Grand Commander of the Campaign to combat him. Before setting off, the Emperor warned me, "Although Hou Jing has some military experience, don't think you can defeat him all at once; you have to slowly wear him down."
I hurried to Zhongli, only to find that Hou Jing had already crossed the Caishi Ferry. I traveled day and night with my men, but as we were crossing the river, a strong wind suddenly rose, resulting in nearly ten percent of our troops and horses drowning. Alas, what a stroke of bad luck. Then, I led Generals Dachun from Xifeng and Dacheng from Xingan, with a total of thirty thousand infantry and cavalry, departing from Jingkou. General Zhao Bochao suggested, "If we take the Huangcheng Road, we will definitely have a head-on collision with the enemy. It's better to take a shortcut and head straight to Zhongshan to catch them off guard." I thought his idea was good, so I followed his advice.
The troops quickly arrived at the foot of Zhongshan, startling the enemy who attacked us from three directions. We fought fiercely and scored a decisive victory, capturing over a thousand enemy heads. The next day, the enemy attacked again, and we fought until nightfall. The enemy fell back a bit, and General Hou Jun led a few dozen cavalry to pursue. However, the enemy turned back and attacked Hou Jun, causing his troops to panic. The enemy took advantage of this, which led to our defeat. I retreated to Zhongshan with fewer than a thousand men remaining, surrounded by the enemy, and we suffered yet another defeat. In the end, we could only retreat back to Jingkou.
In the spring of 549 AD, I joined forces with the Governor of Dongyangzhou, Prince Nanping, Ke, and others to reinforce the troops and arrived at Biaoqi Continent. I was promoted again and became the Minister of State. Later, when Taicheng was lost, I escaped to Yuxue. In 550 AD, I arrived in Yingzhou, and the Governor of Yingzhou wanted to transfer the prefecture to me, but I declined. The Emperor later appointed me as the Acting Yellow Commander's Scepter and Commander-in-Chief of the military, bestowing upon me considerable authority. So I appointed various officials, renamed the hall to Zhengyang Hall, and officially started working. During that time, unusual occurrences kept happening, such as natural disasters, which left me feeling quite unsettled. At that time, Emperor Yuan had been besieging Wang Yu of Hedong in Changsha for a long time, with all communication cut off. I learned that the situation was urgent and wished to offer assistance, but due to insufficient military provisions, I had to give up. Thus, I composed a letter to the Emperor:
"Alas, in the days of yore, the late Emperor was wise and filial, governing the realm with wisdom and harmony, peace at home, and with no grievances from any corner. This serves as an exemplary model for governance, and it reflects our family's cherished traditions! You and I, both have been taught by the late Emperor and should adhere to it, as it must not be altered. As the saying goes, 'harmony is of utmost value', especially when circumstances and timing pale in comparison to human harmony, how can brothers turn against one another?"
Recently I heard that Yuer acted without regard for the bigger picture, didn't follow the rules, and even bullied his brother. As a result, fighting broke out in the Xiangjiang and Three Gorges regions. Uncle Fang and the others ran into enemy troops and were all killed in battle. This is truly unfair. After hearing the news, my heart aches for them. The more I thought about it, the angrier and sadder I became. I don't know what to do. I am far away in the state; I know about it, but the details are still unclear. After arriving here, I carefully inquired, and everyone said that Yuer handled the situation improperly and the supplies were blocked. His younger brother also did not repent, so they raised an army against him. Yuer doesn't understand the big picture and acts recklessly, even if he felt he had no choice, but how can he possibly know what I'm thinking? He refused to discuss things properly and chose to use force instead. Brothers have turned against each other, and relatives have become enemies; it’s all happened so suddenly. My heart is truly broken!
I have received your letter, and news has also come. There are all kinds of opinions, and I can't investigate the specific situation. The country is in grave danger, suffering immense trauma. We are not heartless; surely we understand the bond of loyalty to our ruler? The foreign enemies are strong now, and we have yet to avenge our nation's grievances. The three of us brothers are outside; if we don't do our best to support the country, what kind of loyal subjects would we be? We must reflect deeply on our past mistakes and resolve with unwavering determination, swearing by the heavens and earth, relying on the spirits of our ancestors, thinking about it day and night, and finding ways together to restore the country. As for other small conflicts, they can be tolerated appropriately. If we let our emotions get in the way and delay national affairs, what will happen? We should distinguish between priorities, not be blinded by trivial matters, put aside needless sorrow, use reason to solve problems, and advise him well. Now Zhongshan has been lost, and we are about to kill our own son; isn't this akin to drinking poison to quench thirst? If Yu'er acts recklessly, it will bring suffering to all, near and far. If his younger brother learns from him, the consequences will be even more dire. I urge everyone to show more tolerance, exercise patience, and allow tensions to ease. History shows that no nation can survive internal strife while facing external threats.
In war, of course the goal is to win; but if fighting against our own people, even winning feels bad, there's no real benefit in winning, and losing would be even worse, leading to exhausted soldiers and suffering civilians, resulting in huge losses. Hou Jing's army still hasn't dared to cross the river, mainly because our defenses are solid, and the garrisons in various places are strong. If we have internal strife, it would be like helping Hou Jing in the war; he would easily succeed without much effort, and those scoundrels would be ecstatic upon hearing the news. And that Zhuang Tie, that kid who has rebelled, has been holding the Marquis of Guanning and the Marquis of Huai'an hostage for a long time, boosting his own reputation, stirring up trouble in Dangyang and seriously affecting the border defense. Now we have to fight again, spreading our forces thin from Guazhou to Xiangzhou and Yongzhou, turning everywhere into a battlefield and exhausting our troops. Hou Jing takes advantage of the situation, charging across the Yangtze River like a wild boar, facing enemies inside and out, being attacked from all sides; there's no way out! Just thinking about it sends chills down my spine; the situation is extremely critical! If you're trapped in Dongting Lake, with continuous fighting, and Yongzhou is also in danger, what should we do? We must urgently call upon the Wei army for assistance, seeking external help. Hou Jing is like a festering wound within us, Western Qin is like a tumor outside the body, the Guanzhong region is almost at its limit, not to mention that this greedy and ruthless Hou Jing will surely try to swallow us whole next. If you still don't take it seriously, our country will be finished! I don't possess any special foresight; I'm merely synthesizing different pieces of information and gathering various opinions; everyone shares these concerns, sensing that the situation is dire.
Next, let's continue to analyze the current situation. Brother, you are stuck in Dongting Lake, the fighting is heating up, and Yongzhou is also facing danger. This situation is really concerning. Hou Jing's power is a real menace, and the threat from Western Qin is equally great. The Guanzhong region is already in danger, let alone that greedy bastard Hou Jing, who will definitely continue to expand. So you really need to take this seriously; otherwise, the country’s in real trouble! I’m no prophet, but based on various information and everyone's concerns, I have come to this conclusion. Everyone feels the situation is not good and wants to solve this problem.
Since I turned fifty, I have received the emperor's grace and blessings spread throughout the world. Although there have been some rebellions, the country is generally stable and peaceful. "Although there are difficulties, Yōngxī has not been chaotic." Throughout the country, loyal folks are filled with indignation. Many families have suffered disasters, but those loyal folks are bravely fighting back. Everyone is eager to gear up and fight back, angry and ready to kill Hou Jing with their own hands. Too bad there’s no commander to rally the troops. "Everyone wants to take Hou Jing down, but they need a leader to step up." Now everyone is willing to sacrifice for the country, and people are rushing in like a tidal wave.
Younger brother, you are valiant and skilled in warfare, a contemporary hero, well-versed in both literature and military strategy. You have both the talent for literature and the strategy for warfare, capable of rescuing those in peril. Both the court and the common people look to you to restore peace. "To save the drowning and aid those in need, the court and the people alike depend on you. Who else but you can restore order and unite the realms?" How can you disappoint the expectations of everyone and invite their criticism? As for the challenges I have faced, I have conveyed them to you honestly. "The hardships I faced are as I have described. The principles are clear; no need for further elaboration; verify it with reality, no need for confirmation." I took the risk of setting out from Dongchuan because I had foreseen that the lords upstream would band together to launch an attack, hoping to make a mark on the battlefield with the life I have left. However, when we arrived in Jiujiang, Brother Anbei retreated upstream, solely because of the disruption in our supply lines. In the end, we were left with only coarse rations, leading to our emaciation and inability to advance.
Hou Jing took the opportunity to regroup and further delay his punishment, which only increased my anger. I really don't know what to do. "Hou Jing is taking the opportunity to regroup and further delay his punishment, which only adds to my anger, leaving me with no place to vent." I estimate that the food supply in the Xiaoxiang region should still be able to barely sustain itself. If your army faces obstacles and the food transport is delayed, the situation will become dire. "Considering the grain in the Xiaoxiang Valley, it is still barely sufficient. If the transportation is hindered by your troops, the situation will be very dangerous, and there will be no time to dispatch it." Now everyone is anxiously waiting, placing their hopes in you. If you fail like in the Battle of Xihé, the fate of the nation rests on your shoulders. "Everyone is anxiously waiting for you; the fate of the nation rests on your shoulders. If you fail like in Xihé, the situation will be critical!" I implore you, my brother, to quickly send troops to rescue the critical situation at Miluo River, save the country, and manage the transport of food and supplies to the army, so that we can work together to quell the rebellion, which is imminent. "I hope that you will quickly send troops to rescue the critical situation at Miluo River, save the country, and manage the transport of food and supplies to the army, so that we can work together to quell the rebellion, which is imminent." When the ancestral temple is restored to peace, and there is peace throughout the land, it will all be thanks to you. Wouldn't that be a blessing? "When the ancestral temple is restored and peace returns to the land, your achievements will be celebrated." I am of mediocre talent and have limited military resources, unable to bear heavy responsibilities. "I am of mediocre talent and have limited military resources; how can I bear such a burden?" Therefore, I can only place my hopes in you, trusting you will understand my plight. Even if I receive orders today and die in battle tomorrow, I will have no complaints. "I place my hopes in you, trusting you will understand my plight. If I die tomorrow, I will have no regrets." I am merely documenting what I have seen and heard, hoping that you will not be offended. "I am merely documenting what I have seen and heard, hoping that you will not be offended. I find myself confused when writing, and my thoughts are scattered."
The emperor wrote again, saying that Prince Xiao Lun of Hedong was guilty and there was no way to rescue him. Upon receiving the letter in court, he wept and exclaimed, "How could it have come to this!" Everyone present heard him and couldn't hold back their tears. Xiao Lun then began a massive overhaul of weapons and armor, preparing to launch an attack against Hou Jing. When Emperor Yuan learned of Xiao Lun's formidable forces, he sent Wang Sengbian to lead ten thousand naval troops to confront Xiao Lun. Xiao Lun's generals, such as Liu Longwu, surrendered to Wang Sengbian. Xiao Lun's army was routed, and he fled to Wuchang with his son Xiao Zhi and a handful of followers on a small boat.
At that time, Xiao Lun's Chief Clerk Wei Zhi and Sima Jianglu were both outside. When they heard that Xiao Lun had been defeated, they hurried to meet him. Xiao Lun regrouped the scattered soldiers and stationed them in Qichang County, preparing to join forces with the Wei army to attack Nanyang. Hou Jing's general Ren Yue heard about this and sent two hundred cavalry to attack Xiao Lun. Caught off guard, Xiao Lun was defeated again and fled to Dingzhou. The governor of Dingzhou, Tian Longzu, welcomed Xiao Lun. Xiao Lun worried that Tian Longzu, being an official appointed by Jingzhou, might capture him, so he returned to Qichang. When he reached Runan, Li Su, the city lord appointed by Western Wei in Runan and a former subordinate of Xiao Lun, heard about Xiao Lun's defeat and opened the city gates to welcome him. Xiao Lun repaired the city, recruited soldiers and prepared to attack Jingling. Ma Xiu, the governor of Anzhou in Western Wei, reported to the Western Wei court after hearing about this. Western Wei then sent General Yang Zhong and Yitong Hou Ji Tong to lead the troops to Runan. In the second month of the following year, Yang Zhong and others arrived in Runan, where Xiao Lun held the city firmly. During a cold snap and heavy snowfall, Yang Zhong and his men could not capture the city and sustained heavy casualties. Eventually, Li Su was struck down by a stray arrow, and the city was breached. Yang Zhong and his men captured Xiao Lun, who refused to surrender and was ultimately killed. His body was thrown onto the riverbank, and even after several days, his body showed no signs of decay; birds and beasts dared not approach. He was only thirty-three years old at the time. The people mourned for him and erected a shrine in his honor. Eventually, the emperor posthumously bestowed upon him the title "Xie."
His eldest son, Xiao Jian, whose courtesy name was Changbai. In the first year of Datong, he was traditionally appointed as the Marquis of Runan, with a fief comprising five hundred households. He was also skilled in cursive and clerical script, but had a rather dull and uninspiring personality. During the siege by Hou Jing, Xiao Jian was stationed at the Taiyang Gate, spending all day drinking and neglecting military matters. He failed to acknowledge the soldiers' meritorious deeds and showed no regard for the soldiers' lives during the epidemic, which led to resentment among the troops. In the third month of the third year of Taiqing, Xiao Jian's aides, Dong Xunhua, Bai Tanlang, and others, used ropes to lure the rebel forces onto the city wall, resulting in the city's breach, which led to Xiao Jian's death.
His younger brother was named Xiao Que, styled as Zhongzheng. He was exceptionally brave from a young age and was also gifted in literature. In the second year of Datong, he was appointed as the Marquis of Zhengjie, with a fief of five hundred households, and later moved to Yong'an. He often practiced horseback archery and studied military strategy at home, which led people at the time to think he was somewhat eccentric. Those around him urged him to reconsider, but he said, "Just wait until I defeat the enemy for our country; then you'll see!" He was later appointed as the Deputy of the Secretariat and an Attendant to the Prince.
In the battle of Zhongshan, Xiao Que fought bravely, unstoppable, and struck fear into the hearts of his enemies. Every time he went into battle, he was radiating confidence and unparalleled bravery. Wearing armor and sitting on a horse, he charged into battle from morning till night without feeling tired at all. Other generals looked up to his courage. Later, Hou Jing requested peace talks, and Xiao Que was in a distant place at the time. He feared it would lead to future troubles, so he wrote to request the court to summon him back to the city. The court summoned him back to the capital, appointed him as the Southern Zhonglang General, and increased his fief by two thousand households. Xiao Que knew that this agreement was not to be trusted and that the city would definitely be breached, so he wanted to escape to the south. When Wang Sendai learned of this, he forced Xiao Que to return to the city, but Xiao Que still refused. Wang Sendai cried and said, "Are you trying to rebel?" At that time, the imperial envoy Zhou Shizhen was also present, and Xiao Que then turned to Zhou Shizhen and said, "Although Hou Jing said he would withdraw his troops, he did not lift the siege of Jiankang. In my opinion, the situation is very dangerous. Now that I am summoned back, I see no benefit in it." Zhou Shizhen said, "The imperial decree has been issued. How can you refuse, Lord Hou?" Xiao Que still insisted on not returning, and Wang Sendai was furious. He said to Zhao Bochao, "Qiaozhou (Xiao Que's official position), kill him for me, and then send his head to the court!" Zhao Bochao brandished his knife, looked at Xiao Que, and said, "I know you, but this knife doesn’t recognize you!" Xiao Que was moved to tears and then returned to the city. When Hou Jing tore up the alliance and once again besieged Jiankang, the city was breached. Xiao Que rushed into the palace and reported to Gaozu, "The city has been lost!" Gaozu asked, "Can we fight again?" Xiao Que replied, "No, I personally led the charge just now, and I could no longer hold the line, so I had to climb down from the city wall and barely escape here." Gaozu sighed and said, "Gain it, lose it, what's there to regret?" He then asked Xiao Que to write a letter to reassure the troops.
It is said that General Jing, when he first met Qv, was taken aback by his strength and kept him by his side from then on. Later, General Jing led his troops into battle, and when an eagle appeared in the sky and the enemy soldiers unleashed a flurry of arrows at it, only Qv managed to bring it down with a single arrow. This infuriated the enemy, who urged General Jing to dispose of Qv swiftly.
Some time earlier, General Jing's relative, the King of Nankang, sent someone to Qv secretly, saying, "General Jing is quite the lightweight, and one person can take care of him. If you're willing to take action, we won't have to worry. Just go ahead and kill him; it'll be a service to the country. But the timing isn't right yet. Go back and tell the King of Nankang not to worry about my safety." But before he could make a move, the enemy got to him.
According to historical records, since the Zhou and Han dynasties, local lords have always been valued for consolidating the ruling foundation, much like the ancient practice of enfeoffment established by Emperor Gaozu. The Kings of Nankang and Luling are both royal relatives, with noble status and known for their filial piety and courage. As for Qv, he was clever and talented, though a bit impulsive, frequently facing demotions due to his mistakes. During the Taiqing rebellion, he was the only one who remained loyal and filial, which is truly commendable!
