Hulü Jin, styled A Liudun, is from the Chulu tribe in Shuozhou, Shanxi. His grandfather, Hulü Li, known for his bravery and military prowess, led his tribe to submit to the court during the reign of Emperor Daowu of the Northern Wei and was bestowed the title of Duke of Mengdu. His great-grandfather, Hulü Fanding, held the position of Minister of the Palace. His father, Hulü Danagui, rose to the position of Grand Minister of Rites and was also the first chief of the people. When the Tianping era arrived, Hulü Jin's father passed away, and the court posthumously awarded him the title of Duke of Sikong.
Hulü Jin is known for his integrity, an expert in horseback riding and archery, and prefers to use the tactics of the Xiongnu in battle. He is formidable; he can estimate the size of enemy forces just by the dust stirred up by their horses and can sense their distance by the scent of the ground. Initially, he served as a military commander and once accompanied General Yang Jun from Huaishuo Town to escort the Rouran leader Anagui back to the north. Anagui admired Hulü Jin's archery skills when he saw him hunting. Later, when Anagui invaded Gaolu again, Hulü Jin led his troops to resist and defeated them decisively. During the reign of Zhengguang, Liu Hanbalin rebelled, and Hulü Jin followed him, with Liu Hanbalin even bestowing upon him a royal title. However, Liu Hanbalin ultimately failed, and Hulü Jin brought over ten thousand households to surrender at Yunzhou, where the court appointed him as the second chief of the people.
Later, Hulü Jin was transferred to the area near Huangguadui, but he was defeated by Du Luozhou, causing his men to scatter. Only he and his brother, Hulü Ping, managed to escape and sought refuge with Er Zhu Rong. Er Zhu Rong appointed Hulü Jin as a deputy commander, and he gradually rose through the ranks to become a commander. After Emperor Xiaozhuang ascended the throne, he was granted the title of Baron of Fucheng County and was also promoted to General Ning Shuo and Cavalry Commander. He followed Er Zhu Rong to defeat Ge Rong and Yuan Hao, garnering numerous military achievements, and was ultimately elevated to Grand General of the Southern Front.
When Erzhu Rong and his followers rebelled, Gaozu (Gao Huan) secretly plotted to deal with them, conspired with Lou Zhao and She Digan, and prepared to raise troops. Gaozu marched south to attack Ye City, leaving Jin (Jin Jingxian) to guard Xindu, and also appointed him as the Governor-General of Hengzhou, Yunzhou, Yanzhou, Shuozhou, Xianzhou, and Weizhou, entrusting him with rear operations. Jin Jingxian also defeated Li Xiu, earning a promotion to Right Guanglu Daifu. Later, Jin Jingxian arrived at Ye City to rendezvous with Gaozu, and together they subdued Jinyang, completely eliminating the power of Erzhu Zhao.
At the beginning of the Taichang period, Jin Jingxian was appointed as the Governor of Fenzhou, the Grand Governor of Dangzhou, and was made a marquis. Later, he followed Gaozu to defeat the Gedouling in Hexi. During the Tianping period, Jin Jingxian was transferred to Ye City, where Gaozu ordered him to station thirty thousand infantry and cavalry at Fengling Pass to guard against enemy invasions from the west. After the army withdrew, he returned to Jinyang. Later, when Gaozu fought the enemy at Shayuan and was defeated, he was forced to retreat, allowing the enemy from the west to occupy the cities in Dongyong. Gaozu then sent Jin Jingxian, Wei Jing, and She Digan to recapture those cities.
In the Yuanxiang era, Emperor Wen of Western Wei marched troops to besiege Heyang. Gaozu rallied his forces to resist and sent Jin Jingxian directly to Taizhou to form a pincer attack. Upon arriving in Jinzhou, Jin Jingxian found that the enemy had pulled back, so he teamed up with Xue Xiuyi from Xingtai to take on the bandits at Qiaoshan. Not long after, Gaozu arrived, and they managed to defeat the bandits together. Afterwards, Jin Jingxian followed Gaozu to capture several cities, including Nangang and Shaojun. Once the Wuding period began, the Governor of Beiyu, Gao Zhongmi, rebelled in the west, and Emperor Wen came to attack Luoyang again. Gaozu ordered Jin Jingxian to assign Liu Feng, Bu Dahan Sa, and tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry to defend Heyang City against the Western Wei's attacks. After Gaozu arrived, they together defeated Gao Zhongmi.
Once the war was over, Jin Jingxian was appointed as the Grand Marshal and was also granted the title of Duke of Shicheng County with a fief that included a thousand households, making him quite a formidable figure. Three years later, Gaozu led troops to attack the Mountain Hu, splitting the forces into two routes. Gaozu assigned Jin Jingxian to lead the southern army from Huangluling, while he led the northern army across Chihongling, and then met Jin Jingxian at Wutushu, where they defeated the Mountain Hu together. After the fighting wrapped up, Jin Jingxian was appointed as the Governor of Jizhou. Four years later, Gaozu ordered Jin Jingxian to march the army from Wusu Road to join him in Jinzhou, and together they launched an attack on Yubi. After the fighting wrapped up, Gaozu allowed Jin Jingxian to take command of the large army returning to Jinyang.
After Emperor Shizong ascended the throne, Hou Jing seized Yingchuan and then surrendered to Western Wei. The Emperor ordered Generals Pan Le and Xue Gu to hold Heyang to prevent Western Wei from attacking. On the side of Western Wei, senior generals Li Jinghe and several others led tens of thousands of cavalry and infantry, with the intention of rescuing Hou Jing from Xincheng. As a result, Pan Le blocked them at Guangwu and drove them back. Pan Le was subsequently appointed governor of Sizhou, and he built three military fortresses—Yangzhi, Baijia, and Huyan—in Yiyang with his troops to strengthen defense before returning.
After Hou Jing escaped to Nanyu, Western Wei's Yitong Sansi (the title of a high-ranking official) Wang Sizheng occupied Yingchuan. Emperor Shizong then sent Gao Yue, Murong Shaozong, and Liu Feng to besiege Wang Sizheng. The Emperor also ordered Pan Le and Zhu Hundao to station troops in Heyang to cut off the Western Wei's supply route. He then ordered Pan Le to attack Yingchuan. After the situation calmed down, the Emperor sent Pan Le to transport provisions to Yiyang. Western Wei general Ma Shaolong, stationed at Jiuyu Shu, occupied a strategic position and put up a stubborn resistance but was ultimately defeated by Pan Le. In recognition of his accomplishments in this battle, Pan Le was additionally appointed as the Lord of Anping County.
After Emperor Xianzu ascended to the throne, he granted Pan Le the title of Duke of Xianyang, while he continued to serve as governor. That winter, the emperor went to Jinyang Palace. Pan Le fell ill, and the emperor personally visited his home to check on him, bestowing him with medicinal herbs and sending messengers back and forth. After Pan Le recovered, he returned to his post. Three years later, Pan Le was promoted to Grand Tutor. Later, when the emperor went to campaign against the rebel Xizhu forces, Pan Le accompanied him. After the army returned, the emperor went to Sizhou again, where he feasted and shot arrows with Pan Le before departing. Four years later, Pan Le stepped down as governor and once again returned to Jinyang as Grand Tutor. The emperor visited Pan Le's residence again, accompanied by the empress, the crown prince, and all the princes. They all drank and sang together, not dispersing until late at night. The emperor was very pleased and granted Pan Le's second son, Feng Le, the title of General of the Imperial Guards, saying to Pan Le, "You have made great contributions to the country, and your father and son are loyal. I want to become family with you, to forever be the guardians of our nation." He then ordered Pan Le's grandson, Wu Du, to marry Princess Yining. On the wedding day, both the emperor and the empress dowager went to Pan Le's home, accompanied by the empress, the crown prince, and all the princes, showing how much the emperor valued Pan Le.
Later, it is said that the Rouran were defeated by the Turkic tribes, and their people scattered in flight. The court worried they might disrupt the borders and scare the people, so they ordered the Jin clan to station twenty thousand cavalry at Baidao as a precaution. As a result, the Rouran leader Doupotu Jiu secretly attempted to flee west with over three thousand households. The scouts returned with the news, and the Jin forces pursued them, capturing them all.
The Rouran Chanyu intended to relocate the entire nation to the west. The Jin clan captured their scouts and reported their findings to the imperial court, explaining that this presented an opportunity to eliminate the Rouran. Therefore, Emperor Xianzu led an army alongside the Jin clan to attack the Rouran at Tulai, capturing more than twenty thousand households and returned in triumph. As a result, the Jin clan was promoted to Chancellor of the Right, granted a fief in Qizhou, and later promoted to Chancellor of the Left.
After Emperor Suzong ascended the throne, he married a granddaughter of the Jin clan as his crown princess. He also ordered the Jin clan to pay an audience to the emperor, allowing them to ride in a carriage directly to the palace steps. After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he treated the Jin clan with even greater honor and took another granddaughter of the Jin clan as a crown princess. The eldest son of the Jin clan was titled General Guangda, the second son Xian, and the grandson Wudu held the official position of Minister of State, equivalent to the rank of three ministers, being dispatched to various regions for defense. The other descendants were also granted noble titles and ranks, holding high positions and power. "One empress, two crown princesses, three princesses" — their honor and favor were unparalleled at that time.
The Jin clan once advised their son Guang, saying: "Although I cannot read, I have heard of historical figures related by marriage, like Liang Ji, none of whom met a good end. If your family is favored by the emperor, the courtiers will become envious; if your family loses favor, the emperor will also disdain you. Our family's wealth and honor were earned through service to the country; how can we rely on the favor of a daughter?" Despite this advice, they ultimately could not escape this fate, and the Jin clan remained worried about it. In the third year of the Tiantong era, the Jin clan passed away at the age of eighty years. Emperor Shizu held a grand funeral for him in the Western Hall, and Emperor Houshu also held a mourning ceremony for him in Jinyang Palace. The court posthumously conferred upon him the posthumous title of "General of the Yellow Seal," the authority to command the military of twelve provinces including Shuo, Ding, Ji, and Qing, as well as various other titles such as Chancellor, Grand Commandant, and Recorder of the Ministry of Personnel, while retaining his titles as chieftain and king, and granting him one million coins, with the posthumous title of "Martial." His son Guang inherited his titles.
Guang, whose courtesy name was Mingyue, excelled in horseback riding and archery from a young age, with exceptional martial skills and a well-established reputation. During the late Wei Dynasty, he followed the army on a western expedition, where he encountered Mo Zhehui, the chief historian under Emperor Zhou Wendi. Guang, riding on horseback, shot an arrow that struck Mo Zhehui, taking him prisoner on the spot. At that time, Guang was only seventeen years old. Emperor Gaozu was highly impressed and quickly promoted him to governor.
Later, when Shizong became the crown prince, he regarded Guang as a trusted governor, gradually promoting him to General of the Campaigns and eventually to General of the Guards. In the fifth year of the Wuding era, he was granted the title of Earl of Yongle. One time, while hunting with Shizong at Huanqiao, he spotted a large bird flying in the clouds. Guang drew his bow and shot an arrow, hitting the bird in the neck. The bird, which resembled a wheel, spiraled down and, upon landing, turned out to be a large eagle! Emperor Shizong picked it up for a closer look, greatly surprised. The chancellor, Xiang Zigao, remarked, "This truly is a master archer!" At that time, people called him "Falling Eagle Governor." Not long after, he also concurrently served as the Left Guard General and was elevated to the rank of Count.
When Prince Qi accepted the abdication, he was elevated to Minister of State, holding the title of "Equal to Three Ministers," and was also granted the title of County Earl of Xian'an. Three years later, he followed the army on an expedition beyond the Great Wall, fighting valiantly and charging into the fray, killing many enemies and capturing a large number of livestock. After his triumphant return, he was appointed as the Inspector of Jinzhou.
To the east of Jinzhou were the military strongholds of Tianzhu, Xin'an, and Niutou from the Zhou Dynasty, where fugitives and rebels often gathered, repeatedly engaging in theft and pillaging. Seven years later, Prince Qi led five thousand infantry and cavalry in a surprise attack, storming these three strongholds and defeating Zhou's Wang Jingjun and others, capturing over five hundred people and more than a thousand livestock. Nine years later, he led his troops to seize four military strongholds: Jiangchuan, Baima, Huijiao, and Yicheng, from the Zhou Dynasty. Subsequently, he was appointed as the Inspector of Shuozhou. Ten years later, he was subsequently promoted to Special Advisor and Minister of State, retaining the title of "Equal to Three Ministers."
In February, he led ten thousand cavalry to attack the Marquis of Cao Hui of the Zhou Dynasty, killing him. The lord of Baigu City, Xue Yusheng, deserted the city and fled, so the King of Qi occupied Wenhou Town, established a military fortress and fortifications, and then returned. In the first year of the Qianming era, he was appointed as the governor of Bingzhou. In the first year of Huangjian, he was elevated to the rank of Duke of Julu County. At that time, Wang Yueling was named crown prince, and Emperor Suzong considered the King of Qi to be loyal and prudent for generations, having made great contributions to the royal family, so he married his eldest daughter to the crown prince as a consort.
In the first year of Daning, he was appointed as the Right Minister of Personnel, with an estate in Zhongshan County. The following year, he was appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. In April of the second year of Heqing, he led twenty thousand infantry and cavalry to construct Xunzhang City in the west of Zhiguan, while also constructing a two-hundred-mile-long Great Wall and establishing thirteen military fortresses. In the first month of the third year, the Zhou Dynasty sent generals such as Daxi Chengxing to invade Pingyang, and the court ordered the King of Qi to lead thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to repel them. Upon hearing this, Daxi Chengxing and his forces retreated. The King of Qi pursued and entered Zhou territory, capturing over two thousand prisoners before returning. In March of the same year, he was promoted to Minister of Instruction. In April, he led cavalry north to engage the Turks, seizing over a thousand warhorses.
In the winter of the same year, Emperor Wu of the Zhou Dynasty dispatched General Wei Chi Jiong, Duke Yu Wen Xian of Qi, and others, with a claimed total military strength of one hundred thousand, to invade Luoyang. Duke of Qi led fifty thousand cavalry to quickly confront them, engaging in a fierce battle with the Zhou army at Mang Mountain, where the Zhou forces suffered a great defeat. Duke of Qi personally shot and killed Ke Chi Xiong, slaying over three thousand enemies, while Wei Chi Jiong and Yu Wen Xian barely escaped. Duke of Qi confiscated all their weapons and supplies and piled up the enemy corpses to construct a memorial mound. Emperor Shizu personally visited Luoyang to commend and reward Duke of Qi for his achievements, promoting him to the position of Grand Commandant and granting him the title of Duke of Guancheng. Prior to this, Emperor Shizu had already married Duke of Qi's second daughter to the Crown Prince as a consort, and in the first year of the Tiantong era, she was established as Empress. In the same year, Duke of Qi was appointed as Grand General. In June of the third year, Duke of Qi's father passed away, and he resigned to observe filial piety. That month, the court issued an edict allowing Duke of Qi and his brother Xian to resume their original official positions. In the autumn, Duke of Qi was appointed as Grand Protector, inheriting the title of King of Xianyang, and he also took over the position of Chief of the First People, and he was also granted the title of Duke of Wude, with land in Zhao Prefecture, and was later promoted to Grand Tutor.
In December, the Zhou Dynasty sent generals to besiege Luoyang, cutting off its food supply. In the first month of Wuping's first year, the Emperor ordered Wei Xiaokuan to lead thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to attack them. Upon reaching Dinglong, Zhou generals Zhangye Duke Yu Wen Jie, Governor of Zhongzhou Liang Shiyan, and Chief of Water Liang Jingxing gathered again at Lulujiao. Wei Xiaokuan, wearing armor and wielding sharp weapons, led the charge into battle. As soon as the fighting began, Yu Wen Jie’s army collapsed, resulting in the capture of over two thousand enemy heads.
The army advanced all the way to Yiyang, in a standoff against Duke Yuwen Xian of Qi and Duke Daxi Xianjing of Shen for ten days. Wei Xiaokuan ordered the construction of two cities, Tongguan and Fenghua, to open up the road to Yiyang. When the army was returning, they marched to Anyang, where Yuwen Xian and others claimed to have fifty thousand troops, still pursuing the army. Wei Xiaokuan led the cavalry to counterattack, resulting in a crushing defeat for Yuwen Xian's forces, capturing their Chief Minister Yuwen Ying, Commander Yue Qinshi, Liang, Han Yan, and others, and beheading more than three hundred enemy soldiers.
Yuwen Xian then ordered Yuwen Jie and his general, Duke Liang Lu, along with Liang Jingxing, Liang Shiyan, and others to lead thirty thousand infantry and cavalry to block the main route at Lule. Wei Xiaokuan, together with Han Guisun, the Huyan clan, Wang Xian, and others, launched a joint attack, achieving a decisive victory, slaying Liang Jingxing, and capturing over a thousand war horses. The emperor then promoted him to Right Chancellor and Governor of Bingzhou.
That winter, Wei Xiaokuan again led fifty thousand infantry and cavalry to build the cities of Huagu and Longmen at Yubi, standing off against Yuwen Xian and Daxi Xianjing, who did not dare to act recklessly. Wei Xiaokuan then advanced and besieged Dingyang, also constructing Nanfan City. He established administrative prefectures to maintain control over the area, with over ten thousand households, including Han and various minority ethnic groups, coming to pledge allegiance.
Over the course of two years, I commanded troops to construct thirteen military strongholds, including Pinglong, Weibing, and Tongrong. At that time, the pillar of the Zhou Dynasty, Duke Puhuan of Fuhan, and Duke Wei Xiaokuan led over ten thousand infantry and cavalry to attack Pinglong. We fought a battle on the north bank of the Fen River, resulting in a decisive victory, capturing and executing over a thousand enemies. The emperor was greatly pleased and elevated me to Duke of Zhongshan, also increasing my fief by adding a thousand households to my domain.
After returning triumphantly to the capital from the battle, the emperor ordered me to lead 50,000 infantry and cavalry to attack the city of Baiting, held by Yao Xiang, starting from Pingyang Road. We advanced with unstoppable momentum, captured Baiting City, and captured nine high-ranking officials, including their city lord Yitong and the Grand Commander, along with several thousand prisoners. The emperor was overjoyed and granted me the title of Duke of Changle. In the same month, the Zhou Dynasty sent their pillar Guoguan Guang to besiege Yiyang. I immediately led 50,000 infantry and cavalry to reinforce and engaged them in a fierce battle at the city gates. As a result, we captured four military outposts, including Jian'an, from the Zhou Dynasty and took over a thousand prisoners before returning to the capital.
Before the army had returned to Ye City, the emperor ordered us to quickly disband the troops. I felt this was inappropriate because the soldiers had earned significant merits, and we hadn’t had the chance to reward them before their dismissal; it would be a shame to let their achievements go unrecognized! Therefore, I secretly wrote a memorial requesting the emperor to send someone to announce the decree, allowing the army to continue advancing until the emperor's messenger arrived to disband them. However, the court sent the messenger at a snail's pace, and by the time the army returned to the capital, we were close to Zimo. I had the army set up camp and wait for the messenger. When the emperor heard that my troops were nearing the capital, he was displeased and quickly sent someone to catch up with me and asked me to come to the palace. Only then did he announce the rewards for the army and their disbandment. The emperor also appointed me as the Left Chancellor and bestowed upon me the title of Duke of Qinghe.
After I became the Left Prime Minister, I often sat behind the curtain during court sessions. Zuting, unaware of this rule, rode his horse right past me. I was furious and said to someone nearby, "How dare he do that!" Later, while Zuting spoke loudly and arrogantly in the inner court, I happened to walk by and overheard him, which only fueled my anger. Realizing I was upset, Zuting sent a servant with a gift to probe the reason for my anger, asking my subordinate, "Is the Prime Minister angry because of Xiaozheng, referring to Gao Huan?" My subordinate replied, "Ever since you came to power, the Prime Minister has been sighing every night, saying, 'A blind man has entered, and the country is surely doomed!'"
Mutipo expressed a desire to marry my illegitimate daughter, but I refused. The Emperor rewarded Mutipo with a piece of land in Jinyang, and I said in the court, "This land has been used for growing crops and raising thousands of warhorses since the reign of Emperor Shenwu, as a safeguard. Now it is being rewarded to Mutipo, isn't this a bit of a neglect of military affairs?" As a result, both Zuting and Mutipo began to resent me.
General Zhou Weixiaokuan, fearing Huluguang's power, deliberately spread rumors. He sent spies to spread the rumors to Yecheng, saying, "A hundred sheng of grain soar into the sky, the bright moon illuminates Chang'an," and also said, "A tall mountain does not collapse on its own, an oak tree does not stand upright without support."
Zuting then concocted a few more lines: "The blind old husband carries a big axe on his back, the verbose old mother cannot speak." He had children singing these rumors in the streets. Mutipo heard these rumors and quickly told his mother Lingxuan. Upon hearing this, Lingxuan realized that "verbose old mother" referred to her and "blind old husband" referred to Zuting. So, the mother and son conspired to inform the Emperor about these rumors, saying, "The Hulugu family has been a great general for generations, with a great reputation and influence in the Western Regions and even in the Turkic region. His daughter became the Empress, his son married a princess, and now these rumors have emerged, which is genuinely alarming!"
After the emperor heard about it, he asked Han Changluan how to handle this situation. Han Changluan thought the rumor was not credible, so they decided to put the matter on the back burner for now. Zu Jing took the chance to advise the emperor, with only He Hongzhen present at the time. The emperor said, "I listened to your advice before and wanted to take action, but Changluan believes there's no need for that." Before Zu Jing could speak, He Hongzhen interrupted, saying, "If Huluguang did not have rebellious intentions, then of course there is no problem. But if he did have rebellious intentions and we do not act promptly, what if word gets out?" The emperor said, "Hongzhen is right!" He still couldn't make up his mind.
At this time, an official from the Prime Minister's Office secretly informed the emperor that after Huluguang returned from his previous campaign in the west, the court ordered the army to disband, but he had the army approach the capital, attempting rebellion. Although he ultimately failed, his home was stocked with crossbows, armor, and thousands of servants. He also frequently sent people to secretly contact Fengle and Wudu, up to no good. If they did not act soon, the fallout could be disastrous! The official mentioned the army approaching the capital, confirming the emperor's previous suspicions. The emperor said to He Hongzhen, "You never know what people are thinking. I suspected he wanted to rebel before, and it seems to be true!"
The emperor was timid and very afraid that Huluguang would rebel soon, so he quickly asked He Hongzhen to track down Zu Jing. He was also worried that if they sent someone to grab Huluguang, he might not go along. Zu Jing said, "Just call him in directly. He may suspect us and refuse to come. It’d be smarter to send him a nice horse and tell him, 'Tomorrow we will go to Dongshan together for fun, you can ride this horse.' Huluguang will surely come to say thanks, and we can take the opportunity to arrest him." The emperor decided to go with Zu Jing's plan.
After a while, Hu Lu Guang arrived and took him to Liangfeng Hall, where Liu Tao Zhi killed him from behind; he was fifty-eight years old at the time. The emperor then issued an edict stating that Hu Lu Guang had plotted rebellion and had been executed, and that his family would not be held accountable. Soon after, another edict was issued, exterminating Hu Lu Guang's entire family.
This person had a rather reclusive personality, spoke little, and had a quick temper and a hard demeanor, being particularly strict with his subordinates. In leading troops and managing affairs, he relied entirely on his authority and fear. During the construction of the city walls, he would often whip the common people, which was quite tyrannical. However, since he joined the army at a young age, he had always been very disciplined, and both neighboring countries and enemies feared him and did not dare to act recklessly. Although his wrongdoings were not overt, he ultimately had his entire family killed, which caused great regret among officials and the public. When Emperor Wu of Zhou heard of his death, he was overjoyed and even specially pardoned criminals in the regions he governed. Later, after capturing Ye City, he posthumously conferred upon him the titles of Shang Zhu Guo and Chong Guo Gong. Pointing to the imperial decree, he said, "If this fellow were still alive, how could I have captured Ye City so smoothly!"
He had a total of four sons. The eldest son was named Wu Du, who rose to the positions of Te Jin, Taizi Taibao, and held the title of Governor of Liangzhou and Yanzhou. In every position he held, he accomplished little of note, only skilled at extorting from and oppressing the people. After his father's death, the court sent someone to the province to kill him. The second son was named Xu Da, who served as Zhong Hu Jun and held the title of Governor of the Three Departments, dying earlier than his father. The third son was named Shi Xiong, who also reached the position of Governor of the Three Departments. The fourth son was named Heng Jia, who held a nominal title in the Three Departments. All of these sons were granted death sentences. His youngest son was named Zhong, who was just a few years old at the time, and thus escaped disaster. Later, he inherited the title of Chong Guo Gong and, during the Kaihuang period of the Sui Dynasty, became a General of Cavalry before he died.
Xian, whose courtesy name was Fengle, was clever and intelligent from a young age, especially skilled in archery, and even the founding emperor praised him upon meeting him. Later, Emperor Shizong promoted him to the position of Assistant Military Minister. He was then promoted to General of the Conquering Turks, Grand Gentleman of the Central Court, and was also granted the title of General of Anxi, later made Duke of Xianqin County, and finally appointed as the Governor of Tongzhou. After Emperor Xianzhu ascended the throne, Xian's official position was raised to General for the Western Campaign, and he was additionally granted the title of Duke of Xianqin County.
In the third year of the Tian Tong era, Xian was appointed as an envoy with special authority, commanding the military forces of six states: Youzhou, Anzhou, Pingzhou, Nanying, Beiying, and Dongyan, while also serving as the Governor of Youzhou. That autumn, over a hundred thousand Turks invaded the state’s territory, and Xian led the generals to resist. The Turks, seeing our army’s disciplined formation and impressive presence, were frightened and dared not engage in battle, quickly sending envoys to seek peace. Xian, suspecting they were deceitful, warned them: "You did not come here to pay tribute, but rather changed your mind upon seeing the situation change, and you are not sincere. If you are truly sincere, hurry back and send envoys again." Hearing this, the Turks fled in fear.
In May of the first year of the Tian Tong era, the Turkic Muhan sent envoys to pay tribute, and it was only then that Xian reported to the court. From then on, the Turks came to pay tribute on time every year, and Xian achieved great merit in this matter. The court issued a decree, promoting him to the position of Acting Minister. Xian believed that the northern Turks frequently invaded the borders, and it was essential to prevent future threats, so he began to build defensive works starting from Kuduig Garrison, extending eastward all the way to the coast, winding over two thousand miles along the mountains. In the two hundred miles of critical terrain, he either opened mountains to build cities or blocked valleys to construct fortifications, setting up over fifty garrisons and patrol posts. He also directed the Gao Liang River to flow north into Yijing and east into Luzhou for irrigation of farmland. The reserves in the border areas accumulated year by year, and transportation became easier, benefiting both the country and its people.
In June of that year, Xian's father died, and he took a leave of absence due to mourning. He and his brother Guang were both reinstated by the court and returned to garrison Yanji Town. Three years later, he was elevated to the rank of Special Advisor. Four years later, he was promoted to the position of Minister of the Imperial Council and was also granted the title of Marquis of Gaicheng. In the first year of the Wuping era, he was appointed as General of Cavalry. His son Shiguangwu was appointed as the Governor of Yanzhou. Xian served several emperors and was esteemed for his prudence and integrity. Despite his prominent status, he was never arrogant or complacent, but rather concerned about his family's prominence. He then submitted a request to retire from public office. Although the emperor held him in high regard, he still approved his request. In the autumn of that year, he was posthumously granted the title of Prince of Jingshan.
In July of the year 618 AD, the emperor ordered General Heba Fuen and others to swiftly apprehend Li Xian with a dozen cavalrymen. He also sent General Xianyu Taozhi and the Prefect of Luozhou to lead the cavalry from Dingzhou as reinforcements and appointed Xianyu Taozhi to succeed Li Xian. When Heba Fuen and his men arrived, the gatekeeper reported that the messengers were in armor and both men and horses were drenched in sweat, so the city gate should be closed. Li Xian said, "How can we question or deny the emperor's messengers?" and went out to meet them. Heba Fuen seized Li Xian and arrested him on the spot. Li Xian died in the Changshi Hall. In his final moments, he lamented, "To have attained such wealth and status, with a daughter as empress and a household full of princesses, commanding three hundred soldiers daily, how could it not end in disaster!" His five sons, Shida, Shiqian, Shibian, Shiqiu, and Fuhu, all under fifteen, were granted clemency.
Before Li Xian was killed, he suddenly ordered his sons in the state to take five or six children from the Fu Hu family, tie them with ropes around their necks, and ride donkeys out of the city. The whole family cried as they sent them off to the city gate, returning only in the evening. Not a single official or commoner was not puzzled. At that time, Ma Siming, the prefect of Yan County, was knowledgeable in medicine and highly regarded by Li Xian. He secretly asked Li Xian what was going on, and Li Xian replied, "It is necessary to perform some rituals to ward off evil spirits." A few days later, the incident happened.
Li Xian and his brother Li Guang were both skilled in archery since childhood. Their father would send them hunting every day and compare the number of prey they caught when they returned. Li Guang sometimes caught very few, but he always managed to find some odd and unusual prey, such as turtles with shells, to hide the fact that he caught so little. Although Li Xian caught more, his prey was neither rare nor significant. So Li Guang often received rewards, while Li Xian often got beaten. When asked about this, Li Guang replied, "Mingyue (referring to Li Xian) always shoots the prey in the back, while I (Fengle, referring to Li Guang) only need to hit the prey. Although I catch fewer, I am much better than my brother." Those who heard this thought he made a good point.
Jin Xiongping, who was skilled in archery since childhood, was very talented. During the reign of Wei Jingming, he became the Palace General, and later was promoted to the General of Xiangwei. During the Zhengguang period, the Six Towns rebelled, and he followed the Grand General Wei Bin to the north to suppress the rebellion. The army was defeated, and he was captured by the enemy. Later, he escaped to his brother Jin Yu's place in Yunzhou and was then promoted to the Dragon Cavalry General. He and his brother Jin Yu led their troops south but were defeated by Du Luozhou at Huangguadui, scattering their troops.
Later, he sought refuge with Er Zhu Rong, who treated him very well, allowing him to inherit his father's title and making him the first chieftain of the local leaders, equivalent to the head of the local chieftains. When Gao Zu started the uprising, Jin Xiong Ping followed him as a commander. Gradually promoted, he became the General of Pacifying the North and the Governor of Xianzhou, later being further appointed as the General of the South and granted the title of Count of Gu'an County. Before long, he was elevated to the rank of Marquis and also served as the acting Governor of Sizhou. Later, Emperor Zhou sent his right general Li Xiaoguang to occupy Liangzhou, and Jin Xiong Ping led his troops there and captured Li Xiaoguang.
He was then assigned as the Governor of Yanzhou. After returning to court, he also concurrently served as the Left Guard General, leading ten thousand troops to suppress the rebel forces in Beixu, defeating them, and was then appointed as the Governor of Jizhou. When Hou Jing crossed the Yangtze River, the court appointed Jin Xiong Ping as Grand Commander, tasking him with recapturing over thirty cities, including Shouyang and Suyu, with the Inspector of Qingzhou Jing Xianjun and Left Guard General She Di Fulian among others. After completing the mission, he returned to the state, was granted the title of Chancellor, promoted to General of Biaoqi, and his noble rank was elevated to Duke. After Emperor Xianzu ascended the throne, he was further granted the title of Marquis of Xianyang. Later, he served as the Governor of Yanzhou, but was dismissed due to corruption and bribery. He was then reappointed as the Chancellor with the title of Yitong Sansi.
After Emperor Fei ascended the throne, Jin Xiong Ping was appointed as a special adviser, receiving a salary from the territories of Cangzhou and Leling County. During the Huangjian period, he was granted the title of Duke of Dingyang and served as a military protector. Later, he became the Governor of Qingzhou and eventually passed away, posthumously elevated to the rank of Grand Commandant.
Historical records state: When Hu Lujin assisted Gao Zu in pacifying the world, he was loyal and contributed greatly to establishing the imperial enterprise, thus enjoying a long life, holding a high position and great power, above all officials. However, after achieving success and fame, he became complacent, and through a little negligence, disaster befell his descendants, leading to the extermination of his clan. Although he wielded immense power, this exemplifies the Daoist saying that "excess leads to loss."
Hu Luoguang, as the successor of a famous general, naturally exudes a calm demeanor. He is proficient in tactics and military strategy, skilled in warfare, and unpredictable in battle, achieving repeated victories. Starting from the Guanzhong and Yellow River areas, he fought on the battlefield for nearly forty years. When Gaozu established his dominance, the Yuwen clan was just rising, and Hu Luoguang led his troops into battle, repeatedly defeating the enemy's momentum. After the reign of Da Ning, the neighboring countries to the east grew weaker, the Guanzhong region reclaimed Ba and Shu, and the army in Jiangling was eliminated. Hu Luoguang pursued his victories, showing his ambition to unify the realm. He managed the army, boosted morale, effectively controlled the borders, and enemies rarely maintained a complete formation in battle, while cities seldom remained intact during sieges. The Qi army no longer dared to easily deploy troops, and the Qin state no longer dared to easily open its borders. However, the world was in chaos, corrupt officials were in power, and some used deceit to sow discord between him and the emperor. The emperor, being incompetent and in a tough situation, ended up undermining his own defenses. Previously, General Li Mu of the Zhao state defended against the Xiongnu in the north and Qin in the west, but was betrayed by Guo Kai, leading to his death and the downfall of Zhao. Could those who want to kill Hu Luoguang be spies from Qin? Their methods and outcomes are so similar! Internally causing discord among the generals and externally giving formidable foes a chance for revenge. Alas! Future generations should heed this as a warning!
Praise: Brave Xianyang, the light of the nation. Bright and loyal, still a prominent figure. His reputation resounds in the west, his power and prestige are high. Under the pressure of his fame, it is easy to provoke slander. It all started with clever words and ended in a tragic downfall.
