Dou Tai, courtesy name Shining, was a native of Da'an from a noble family in Qinghe Guanjin. His ancestor Dou Luo served as the commander of Tian Wan in Northern Wei, so his family had always resided in the northern borderlands. His father, Dou Le, died defending the city with General Yang Jun during the uprising led by Liu Han Balin at the end of Northern Wei. Dou Tai later held a high official position and was posthumously honored with the title of Minister of Works.
It is said that when Dou Tai's mother was pregnant, she dreamed of a fierce storm with thunder and lightning, a terrifying sight. She ran to the courtyard to see a blinding lightning strike and heavy rain pouring down, which frightened her. When she woke up, she found out she was pregnant. However, she had been pregnant for a long time but couldn't give birth, which filled her with dread. A wise woman said, "Go wash your skirt in the river, and childbirth will be easier." Dou Tai's mother moved south as advised, and shortly after, Dou Tai was born.
As Dou Tai grew up, he excelled in horseback riding and archery; he was both brave and resourceful. His father and brother died on the border, and Dou Tai brought their bodies back to Erzhu Rong. Due to his contributions in the campaign against Xing Gao, he was granted the title of Guangazi. When Gao Huan served as the Governor of Jinzhou, he invited Dou Tai to be the city's military commander, taking part in military decisions. Dou Tai's official position continued to rise, becoming the Minister of the Guards, the Grand Commander of Jingkai, and later the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat. As a royal relative, Dou Tai held a high position and although he didn't frequently accuse others, the officials in court were all intimidated by him.
In the third year of Tianping, Gao Huan launched a westward campaign and ordered Dou Tai to advance from Tongguan. In the fourth year of Tianping, Dou Tai reached Xiaoguan, where he was attacked by the Western Wei Emperor Yuwen Tai, resulting in his army being completely annihilated, and Dou Tai committed suicide. In fact, just as Dou Tai was about to depart from Ye City, a fortune-telling nun in Ye City accurately predicted, "Dou Xingtai will not return." On the night before his departure, at the third watch, thousands of people dressed in crimson official robes suddenly surged into Dou Tai's residence, claiming they were there to capture Lieutenant Dou. The guards were terrified. After these people broke into several rooms, they quickly left. The next morning, when they checked, everything in the residence was normal, indicating it was the work of malevolent spirits. It was common knowledge that Dou Tai's expedition was doomed to fail. Later, the court posthumously honored Dou Tai with the titles of Grand Marshal, Grand Commander, and Minister of Personnel, and conferred upon him the posthumous name Wuzhen. Dou Tai's wife was the younger sister of Empress Dowager Wu Minglou (Gao Huan's wife). Although Dou Tai received preferential treatment due to this connection, his accomplishments were entirely his own doing. After the establishment of Northern Qi, Emperor Wenxuan of Northern Qi even visited Dou Tai's tomb to pay his respects. In the early years of the Huangjian era, Dou Tai was honored in the temple courtyard alongside Gao Huan. His son Dou Xiaojing inherited his title and rose to the rank of Minister of the Three Departments.
Wei Jing, with the courtesy name Shizhen, was a remarkable figure. In the past, during the Qin and Han dynasties, there was a government title known as Wei Hou, and someone in Wei Jing's ancestry held this position, which is how the surname came to be. Wei Jing was gentle in nature but very loyal. During the reign of Emperor Xiaochang of the Wei dynasty, a rebellion broke out in Beizhen, and Wei Jing followed Gao Huan (Shenwu) to Du Luozhou's military camp, and later joined Er Zhu Rong. He was granted the title of Earl of Boye County for his military achievements. He later joined Gao Huan to raise forces in Xindu. In the Battle of Hanling, only the troops led by Wei Jing faced defeat. After Gao Huan captured Luoyang, he assigned Wei Jing to guard Ye City. Soon after, his title was elevated, and he was made a duke. Wei Jing's wife was Lady Changshan, who was Gao Huan's sister. As a relative of Gao Huan and a man of merit, he and She Digan were always entrusted with important military tasks during operations. However, both had a penchant for small gains, which often resulted in Gao Huan reprimanding them.
Later, Wei Jing was transferred to the Jizhou Governor, and he began to accept bribes on a grand scale once more, even forcibly conscripting commoners for hunting, leading to the deaths of over three hundred individuals. Once, She Digang and Wei Jing were both in front of Gao Huan, and She Digang proposed that Wei Jing be appointed as the Imperial Censor. Gao Huan replied, "Why are you looking to pursue such a lowly position?" She Digang said, "I'm trying to trap Wei Jing!" Gao Huan laughed heartily and called for the actor Shi Dongtong to ridicule Wei Jing. Dongtong stripped Wei Jing of his clothes and said, "You exploit the common people, so why shouldn't I exploit you?" Gao Huan cautioned Wei Jing, "You must not be greedy!" Wei Jing said, "Let’s see who profits more; I only take a little from above, while you skim off the emperor!" Gao Huan smiled without replying. Later, Wei Jing was granted the title of Marquis of Changle County. He held the positions of Grand Preceptor and Grand Tutor, but was later removed from his position for harboring fugitives. He sent Cui Xian to tell Gao Cheng (Wenxiang), "Tell Ahui (Gao Cheng's nickname), this wealth and honor are meant to kill me!" Gao Huan cried when he heard this, ran to the gates of the palace, and said, "If it weren't for Wei Jing, how could I have my current position today!" He had to plead three times before the emperor finally agreed. Thus, Wei Jing was demoted to Grand General of Cavalry and assigned as Supervisor of the Palace Secretariat. Gao Huan went to see him, but Wei Jing lay there angrily, shouting, "If you want to kill me, just do it!" Changshan Jun said to Gao Huan, "The old man is about to die, how can you bear to pressure him like this?" He also said, "I’ve toiled a lifetime fetching water for you." With that, he revealed his calloused hands. Gao Huan comforted Wei Jing and even knelt before him.
Prior to this, Wei Jing had a good horse that Gao Cheng wanted, but Wei Jing refused to part with it, saying: "Just as soil blocks support each other to become a wall, people help each other to become kings; one cannot hoard a horse and then expect to demand it!" Gao Huan reprimanded Gao Cheng over this and even hit him. Lord of Changshan cried and pleaded for leniency. Wei Jing said, "This boy has been spoiled; let him be a trusted aide, why cry and whine about being hit?" Later, Wei Jing was once more summoned as the Grand Marshal, and his behavior changed; the people lived peacefully and content. After that, he fell ill and died in Qingzhou. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the titles of Grand Preceptor and Minister of Works. After the Northern Qi accepted the throne, because Wei Jing was a founding hero, the court ordered a memorial service at his tomb. In the early years of the Huangjian period, Wei Jing was honored alongside Gao Huan at his temple and posthumously titled King of Chang Le.
As for Zi Can, this young man became a high official early in life, known for his rough demeanor and fondness for brawling. During the Tianbao era of Northern Qi, the emperor conferred titles of kings to She Di Gan and others, but Zi Can was furious that his father was not made a king, and he locked himself in his home for over ten days without attending court. The emperor found this odd and sent someone to investigate. Zi Can shouted at the messenger through the door, "If the Son of Heaven does not make my father a king, I might as well be dead!" The messenger replied, "You need to open the door to receive the decree!" In response, Zi Can drew his bow and shot an arrow at the messenger through the door! The messenger hurriedly reported this to the emperor. The emperor sent Duan Shao, an envoy of Emperor Wenxuan, to deliver the decree. When Zi Can saw Duan Shao, he merely pounded his chest and cried, saying nothing. Eventually, Emperor Wenxuan visited him personally to offer comfort, which allowed him to return to court and serve. Not long after, the emperor posthumously conferred the title of King of Jing Chang Le upon his father, and Zi Can inherited the title. He later ascended to the positions of Minister of Personnel and Grand Tutor, eventually passing away.
His son, Zishi Bian, inherited the title. Later, the army of the Zhou Dynasty planned to attack Ye City and ordered Zishi Bian to lead more than a thousand cavalry to gather intelligence on the enemy. Upon arriving at Fukou, they climbed to a high vantage point and looked west, where they saw a group of crows flying up in the distance. Zishi Bian mistook it for the flag of the Western Army and, frightened, hurried back. By the time he reached Zimo Bridge, he dared not look back. Zishi Bian passed away during the reign of Emperor Kaihuang of the Sui Dynasty while serving as the governor of Xizhou.
Lou Zhao, whose courtesy name was Pusa, was from Pingcheng in Daijun and was the younger brother of Empress Wuming. His grandfather Lou Ti was a talented and knowledgeable man who owned thousands of household servants and had so many cattle and horses that they were measured by the bushel. Lou Ti was generous and helpful, which attracted many scholars seeking refuge with him. During the reign of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty, he was granted the title of Marquis of Zhending in recognition of his achievements. His father Lou Neigan was skilled in martial arts but unfortunately passed away without holding any official position. Because of his noble status, the Northern Wei court posthumously appointed Lou Zhao as Minister of Works. After the establishment of the Northern Qi Dynasty, he was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Taiyuan.
Lou Zhao was upright, honest, broad-minded, strategic, with an impressive eight-foot waist, and was unmatched in equestrian archery skills of his time. Gao Huan (Emperor Shenwu) recognized his worth early on, and Lou Zhao quickly discerned Gao Huan's character, always treating him with great respect. He frequently accompanied Gao Huan on hunts, consistently advising him against taking risks in dangerous areas. When Gao Huan wanted to send troops to Xindu, Lou Zhao proposed an effective strategy and was appointed Grand Commander of the Central Army. He participated in the Battle of Guang'a, defeating Erzhu Zhao, and was granted the title of Count of Anxi County, which was later changed to Duke of Jibei, and then to Duke of Puyang County, and was also appointed General of the Leading Army. Later, when Emperor Xiaowu of Wei plotted to betray Gao Huan, Lou Zhao resigned from his position, citing illness as the reason, and returned to Jin Yang.
After following Gao Huan into Luoyang, Fan Zihu, the Governor of Yanzhou, rebelled. Gao Huan appointed Lou Zhao as the Grand Commander of the East to suppress him. After Fan Zihu's death, the generals urged Lou Zhao to arrest and kill all of Fan Zihu's followers. Lou Zhao said, "The people of Yanzhou are innocent and have suffered brutal killings. Their ruler is guilty, but what crime have the people committed?" So he let them go. Later, Lou Zhao was promoted to Grand Marshal while continuing to serve as Leading Military General. He was later promoted to Minister of State, then exiled to serve as the Inspector of Dingzhou. Lou Zhao enjoyed drinking, and in his later years, he suffered a mild stroke. Although he recovered from the illness, he was unable to handle the heavy political affairs, leaving them to his subordinates while he focused on the overall strategy. He passed away in Dingzhou. The court posthumously conferred upon him the honorary title of Huangyue, as well as the titles of Grand Preceptor and Grand Commandant, with the posthumous title of Wu. After the establishment of Northern Qi, the court issued a decree to offer sacrifices at his tomb and posthumously granted him the title of Prince of Taiyuan. During the reign of Huangjian, he was also included in the worship at the Temple of God of War. His eldest son, Lou Zhongda, inherited his title and was renamed Prince of Puyang.
The second son was named Dingyuan and rose to a high office at a young age. Among the relatives of Emperor Wu Cheng, he was quite favored and later was appointed as the Prince of Linhuai Commandery. When Emperor Wu Cheng fell seriously ill, he and the Prince of Zhao were entrusted to assist in governing the court, with Dingyuan being appointed as Minister of State. The Prince of Zhao accused He Shi of crimes, and Dingyuan conspired with him to accept bribes from He Shi, leading to a downfall for the Prince of Zhao, which revealed his greed and stinginess. Shortly after, he was reassigned as the Inspector of Yingzhou.
Once, Dingyuan's younger brother, Jilüe, was sought after by Muti Bo for the singers and dancers in his household, but Dingyuan did not agree. Later, Gao Sihao rebelled, and Muti Bo had the Langzhong Ling of Linhuai Kingdom report Dingyuan for secretly colluding with Gao Sihao. The emperor then dispatched Duan Chang from the Kaifu to capture Dingyuan with three thousand cavalry and sent Shiyushi Zhao Xiu to Yuzhou to impeach Dingyuan on charges of corruption and bribery. Dingyuan realized the situation was dire and hanged himself.
His nephew was named Rui. Rui's courtesy name was Foren, and his father was Ba, who had served as the Minister of the South in Wei. Rui was orphaned at a young age and was raised by his uncle, Zhao. He served as a commander in the court of the Divine Martial Emperor and was granted the title of Duke of Yexian. He gradually rose through the ranks and became the governor of Guangzhou. While in office, he faced severe criticism from Emperor Wenxiang for his corruption and excesses. He was later reappointed as the Duke of Jiumen County. After the usurpation of Northern Qi, he was appointed as the Army General and also granted the title of Marquis of Anding. Rui had no genuine talents and depended on his royal connections to lead a life of debauchery, marked by greed and lust. While serving as the governor of Yuzhou, he endlessly plundered the wealth of the people. During the Huangjian period, he was titled King of Dong'an. In the first year of Danning, he was promoted to Sikong. After quelling Gao Guiyan's rebellion in Jizhou, he was further promoted to Situ. In the third year of Heqing, he indiscriminately killed innocents and was reported by Song Zhongxian, the Left Minister of Personnel. Although he was eventually pardoned, he was removed from his official post. Later, he served as the Grand Commandant and was later promoted to Grand Marshal for his military achievements. When Emperor Wucheng arrived in Heyang, he permitted Rui to lead a military force to Xuanhu. Rui lingered in the Yuzhou region for over a hundred days, committing numerous misdeeds, and as a result, the emperor dismissed him from his position, retaining only his princely title. Shortly after, he was reappointed as Grand Commandant but later died, receiving the posthumous title of Grand Marshal. His son Ziyan inherited his title and ascended to the position of Kaifu Yitong Sansi.
Zhe Di Gan is quite an impressive figure! Several generations ago, his ancestor, Yue Dou Juan, during the reign of Emperor Wen of Wei, was honored for his contributions and was given the region of Shanwu in the west of Shannu. Later, he moved north with his clan and settled in Shuofang. Zhe Di Gan is straightforward, not talkative, but skilled in martial arts.
During the Zhengguang period of Wei, the court began to suppress rebels, and he was appointed as a general and served as a guard in the palace. Because his hometown was in a cold place and not ideal for summer living, he worked in the capital in the winter and returned to his hometown in the summer. In the first year of the Xiaochang era, the northern frontier was in turmoil, so he went to Yunzhong, where Governor Fei Mu assigned him to Erzhu Rong. He then followed Erzhu Rong to Luoyang.
Later, he joined Gao Huan in raising an army and defeated several minority tribes in Hanling, and was granted the title of Duke of Guangping, soon after promoted to Duke of the county. During the Battle of Heyin, while other generals won battles, his troops retreated. Gao Huan took his past contributions into account and did not punish him. He was later promoted to Grand Protector and Grand Teacher. During the Wulao rebellion, Gao Huan sent him as the vanguard. On the way, he didn't even go home, and when he met Hou Jing, he did not have time to eat, but Hou Jing even sent cavalry to deliver him food! At that time, Emperor Wen led the army to Luoyang with great force. Other generals did not want to cross the Yellow River, but he was determined to cross. Gao Huan's army arrived afterwards and achieved a great victory.
After that, he was appointed Governor of Dingzhou. He didn't understand much about official matters, so handling matters was somewhat challenging, but he was known for his integrity and was not corrupt, so the officials had no complaints. Later, he was promoted to Grand Preceptor. During the Tianbao era, because he distinguished himself in the Battle of Tianping, he was granted the title of Prince of Zhangwu and further promoted to Grand Chancellor. He married Princess Le Ling, the sister of Gao Huan, which earned him special favor from Gao Huan. He often led troops into battle and had a high reputation; everyone respected him, and he was very strict in his leadership.
Once, when he went to the capital, Prince Yuan Xiaoyou of Wei made an inappropriate joke at the official gate. The other ministers dared not criticize him to his face, but he sternly reprimanded Yuan Xiaoyou, who felt very ashamed. Contemporaries praised him for his actions. After his death, the court posthumously awarded him the title of Yellow Seal and the position of Grand Chancellor, and provided him with a luxurious carriage, with the posthumous name Jinglie. He had not received an education and wrote his signature with the character "干," but he wrote it with the strokes reversed; people referred to him as "Chuanzhui," meaning "the awl." There was also a military general named Wang Zhou, who wrote the character "吉" first and then wrote other characters around it; neither of them learned to read until their descendants' generation! After his death, during the early years of the Huangjian era, he was posthumously honored in the Shenwu Temple. His son She Di Jingfu held an official position equivalent to that of the Three Officials, but he later passed away; his son, She Di Shiwen, succeeded him in his title.
Shi Wen was a proud and upright person, and even neighbors and close relatives rarely approached him. While in the State of Qi, he inherited the title of Duke of Zhangwu and served as the General of the Army. After Emperor Wu of Zhou pacified Qi, many high-ranking officials from Shandong came to seek his favor, but Shi Wen kept his doors tightly shut and refused to come out. Emperor Wu found this very strange, so he granted him the title of Governor with the rank of the Three Officials and appointed him as the Inspector of Suizhou. After Emperor Wen of Sui ascended the throne, he further promoted him to the position of Governor and granted him the title of Count of Hubi County. Shortly thereafter, he was appointed as the Inspector of Beizhou. He was known for his integrity and frugality, never accepted government provisions, and his family had little surplus wealth. Once, his son stole a pastry from the government kitchen, and Shi Wen imprisoned him for several days, administering two hundred lashes, then personally escorted him back to the capital, while the servants at home dared not go out. He had to buy pickled vegetables from outside the borders. Whenever someone entered or exited his home, he would seal the door, severing ties with relatives and friends, and he did not attend any celebratory or mourning events. He enforced the law very strictly, and the officials were very obedient to him, with no instances of theft on the streets. Shi Wen ensured that even minor offenses were met with severe punishment.
Once, he found himself at court when the emperor rewarded the nobles by allowing them to select treasures from the left treasury, with no limits on their selections. Everyone took a lot, but Shi Wen only took a piece of silk in his mouth and held two pieces in his hands. The emperor asked him why, and Shi Wen replied, "My mouth and hands are enough; I do not need anything else." The emperor was very surprised and awarded him additional gifts. Upon returning to his province, he vigorously investigated corrupt officials, leaving no stone unturned from cloth to grain, apprehending over a thousand people, all of whom were exiled to Lingnan. When relatives and friends came to see him off, the cries echoed throughout the province. In Lingnan, due to miasma and disease, about eighteen or nineteen of the exiles died, so his parents and wife only cried for Shi Wen. Upon hearing this, he had them captured and severely beaten, leading to even more cries.
Wei Kun, the Governor of Beizhou, and Zhao Da, the Magistrate of Qinghe, were both very harsh, while only the Prefect was relatively open-minded. At that time, people said: "The Inspector is the record of a demon, the Sima (司马) is the glare of a viper, the Prefect issues judgments with a smile, and the Magistrate of Qinghe is a predator." Upon hearing this, the Emperor sighed, saying, "Shi Wen is more brutal than a wild beast." Eventually, he was dismissed because of this matter. Shortly after, he was appointed as the Prefect of Yongzhou, where he told others, "I have always strictly adhered to laws and regulations and cannot flatter the powerful; I fear I will perish in this bureaucratic world." After taking office, he enforced the law very strictly and did not avoid the powerful, which made guests afraid to visit. Many people complained about him. Shi Wen's younger sister was a concubine of the State of Qi, renowned for her beauty. After the State of Qi was destroyed, she was given to Duke Xue Changsun Lan. Changsun Lan's wife, Zheng, was very jealous and slandered her to Empress Wenxian, which led the empress to order Changsun Lan to divorce Shi Wen's sister. Shi Wen felt ashamed because of this and stopped meeting with Changsun Lan. Later, during the mourning period of the Inspector of Yingzhou, Tang Junming married his daughter, which resulted in both Tang Junming and Shi Wen being impeached by the Censors. Shi Wen was known for his fiery temperament and died in a fit of rage after a few days in prison. His family was left with no wealth and three sons, with no prospects for their livelihood, and no relatives or friends could help them.
Han Gui, styled Bainian, was a man from the Tai'an Di tribe. From a young age, he had ambition and integrity, with a stable and reserved personality, rarely showing his emotions. When Gao Huan was stationed in Jinzhu, he summoned Han Gui to serve as the governor of the city. When Gao Huan raised his forces in Xindu, Han Gui actively supported his strategic plans. Later, he followed Gao Huan to Guang'a and distinguished himself in the Battle of Hanling, being granted the title of Marquis of Pingchang. He then served as the commander of the central forces and participated in the battle at Chihuan Ridge, defeating Er Zhu Zhao. Afterward, he was promoted to the governorship of Taizhou and was beloved by the locals. When Gao Huan inspected Taizhou, he wanted to transfer Han Gui back to his command and rewarded each household in the city with two pieces of silk. However, more than seven thousand households in the state, including figures like Tian Zhao, declined the gifts, only asking Gao Huan to keep Han Gui. Gao Huan was deeply moved and decided to retain him. Due to his repeated military achievements, Han Gui was promoted to Duke of Ande. Later, he was appointed governor of Yingzhou, but during his tenure, he was accused of corruption and bribery by the censors and was dismissed from his position, stripped of his title. Shortly thereafter, he regained the title of Duke of Ande. He held successive positions as Chancellor and Minister of Works. After Gao Yang of Northern Qi usurped the throne and proclaimed himself emperor, he granted Han Gui the title of King of Ande. Han Gui's sister was taken as a concubine by Gao Huan and gave birth to Gao Huan, the King of Shangdang. Han Gui ascended through the ranks because of his contributions, attaining high positions. He was humble and respectful, never allowed wealth or status to make him arrogant or complacent. Later, he was appointed Grand Marshal and followed Emperor Wenxuan Gao Yang to campaign against the Rouran, but he fell ill and passed away while on campaign. The court posthumously awarded him the titles of Huangyue, Grand Chancellor, and Grand Preceptor, and he was given the posthumous name of Suwu. In the early years of the Huangjian period of Northern Qi, his portrait was enshrined alongside the portrait of Emperor Wenxiang Gao Huan in the temple courtyard.
His son Han Jinming inherited his title. During the reign of Tian Tong of Northern Qi, he was renamed to the King of Donglai. Han Jinming was a heroic and chivalrous man, and among the noble offspring at the time, he valued learning the most. He enjoyed drinking, lived extravagantly, and often entertained guests, with the cost of a banquet easily reaching tens of thousands of coins. However, he still felt it was not luxurious enough. The court wanted him to take on important positions, but he always refused. He told others, "Let me enjoy good wine, appreciate famous sites and historical relics; how could I go back to being a low-ranking official, staring at old books all day?" During the Wuping period of Northern Qi, he was appointed as the Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, but resigned from office citing illness after more than a hundred days.
Pan Le, styled Xianggui, was from Shimen in Guangning. His family was originally a prominent clan in Guangzong, and during the Wei Dynasty, they were enfeoffed to guard the northern borders, so they settled there. His father, Pan Yong, was quite capable and inherited the title of Guangzong male. When Pan Le was born, a sparrow landed on his mother's left shoulder, and fortune tellers said this was a sign of good fortune, so he was named "Xianggui," which later became his style name. As Pan Le grew up, he was generous and courageous.
At first, he joined Ge Rong and was titled as the King of Jingzhao when he was only nineteen years old. After Ge Rong's failure, he followed Erzhu Rong and became an independent general, going to attack Yuan Hao. For his achievements, he was enfeoffed as the Count of Fucheng County. Later, when Gao Huan became the Inspector of Jinzhou, he invited Pan Le to be the Chief of Zhencheng City. He accompanied Gao Huan and defeated Erzhu Zhao at Guang'a, and his title rose to Count of Guangzong County. Due to his repeated military successes, he was appointed as the Inspector of Dongyongzhou. Gao Huan once considered abolishing Dongyongzhou, but Pan Le argued that Dongyongzhou was located between mountains and rivers, bordering the Hu and Shu territories, making its geographical position crucial and one that should not be abandoned; thus, Dongyongzhou was preserved.
Later, Pan Le defeated the army of Western Wei at Heyin. Everyone discussed whether to pursue them; those willing to pursue chose to go west, while those unwilling went east. Only Pan Le and Liu Feng chose to go west. Gao Huan admired their resolve, and since there was no consensus among the others, the pursuit was called off. Pan Le was conferred the title of Duke of Jinmen. After Gao Yang ascended the throne, Pan Le defended the city of Heyang and defeated the Western Wei general Yang Ling and others. At that time, Gao Yang felt that the fortifications built by Pingjian, the Huaizhou governor, and others were deep in enemy territory and wanted to abandon them. Pan Le believed that Zhi Pass was a crucial stronghold that needed to be defended, so he repaired the fortifications, increased the troops, and then returned to Heyang, where he was appointed Sikong. After Northern Qi accepted the abdication of the throne, Pan Le offered a jade seal and ceremonial talismans. He was again granted the title of King of Hedong and promoted to Situ.
The Western Wei Emperor Wen sent his envoy Hou Mocheng Chong to attack Zhi Pass from Qiziling, while Yitong Yang Ling attacked Jianzhou from Guzhong Road, capturing Gugang Fort. The emperor commanded Pan Le to lead the army in resistance. Pan Le traveled day and night, arriving at Changzi, and sent Yitong Han Yongxing to launch a surprise attack on Hou Mocheng Chong from the west of Jianzhou, which caused him to flee. He was then appointed Grand Commander of the Southern Route to launch a campaign against Hou Jing. Pan Le set out from Shibie, heading south for over a hundred miles, reaching Jingzhou of the Liang Dynasty. Jingzhou was formerly known as Shiliang, but Hou Jing renamed it Huaizhou after seizing control. Pan Le recaptured it, reestablished Jingzhou, and went on to conquer Anzhou. Later, Pan Le was appointed as the governor of Yingzhou, continuing his campaigns in the Huai River and Han River basins. In the sixth year of the Tianbao era, Pan Le died in Xuanhe, leaving a legacy of military prowess. After his death, he was posthumously awarded the titles of honorary Huangyue, Grand Preceptor, Grand Marshal, and Minister of State.
The royal family of the Sui Dynasty had many descendants. Most of the sons of the generals were proud and domineering, but only Zi Huang was composed and unassuming, cautious and careful, and he deliberately led a quiet life. Later, he married a princess and was granted the title of Duke of the Imperial Escort. During the Wuping period, he was promoted to Right Chancellor of Youzhou and concurrently served as the Governor of Youzhou. Later, when the Zhou Dynasty's army was about to attack Ye City, Zi Huang led tens of thousands of cavalry to offer support. Upon reaching Boling, he heard that Ye City was on the verge of falling and surrendered directly to the Zhou Dynasty in Jizhou. The emperor of the Zhou Dynasty even granted him the title of "Shang Kaifu." Ultimately, he died in the early years of the Daye period.
