Zhao Lunzhi, courtesy name Youcheng, was from Xiapi, a small town. He was the younger brother of Empress Xiaomu. Both of his parents died when he was young, and his family was poor. However, he was especially known for his filial piety towards his mother, which was well known. When Emperor Wu of Han raised troops, he fought alongside them and achieved many military merits. He was titled as the Marquis of Langzhong County and later rose in ranks to become the Governor of Yongzhou.
During Emperor Wu's northern expedition, Zhao Lunzhi sent the Prefect of Shunyang, Fu Hongzhi, and the Prefect of Fufeng, Shen Tianzi, to defeat Yao Hong's forces in Lantian. After Emperor Wu ascended to the throne, due to Zhao Lunzhi's contributions in helping him ascend to the throne, he was further titled as the Marquis of Xiaocheng County and appointed as the General of Pacification of the North, stationed in Xiangyang. When the young emperor ascended, the court summoned him to the capital and appointed him as the Protector-General. In the third year of Yuanjia, he was promoted to General of the Guard, and shortly after, he was promoted to the Left Guanglu Daifu, concurrently holding the position of General of the Army.
Although Zhao Lunzhi was of imperial descent and had a prominent status, his life was very simple. He had a rough personality, was not very worldly-wise, and did not understand many things about social interactions. After serving as an official in the local government for a long time, he felt that he had accumulated quite a bit of wealth. When he went to the capital to serve as the Protector-General, he felt that his background and official position were somewhat mismatched, believing he had been given a lesser position. A Grand Master named Fan Tai, known for his humor, often joked with Zhao Lunzhi, saying, "The position of Minister of Works and Construction is vacant, and it's definitely going to be given to you, my old friend. I'm not saying whether you are capable or not, but based on the order of promotion for those of imperial descent, it's your turn for this position." Zhao Lunzhi was overjoyed to hear this and often brought food and wine to visit Fan Tai. Zhao Lunzhi passed away in the fifth year of Yuanjia, and his son Zhao Bofu succeeded him in his title.
Zhou Bofu, courtesy name Runyuan, loved horseback archery since he was young. When he became the Governor of Jingling, local tribes often raided the area. Bofu led soldiers to fight and defeated them all, so everyone said he was very talented. Later, he became the General of Ningyuan, commanding the righteous volunteers stationed north of the palace. Whenever there was a fire or thieves in the city, he would personally put on armor and assist the local officials and soldiers in restoring order. The Emperor held him in high regard.
After Emperor Wen ascended to the throne, Bofu was promoted and successively served as the Inspector of Xuzhou and Yanzhou. He was known for his strictness in office, and both the people and officials were afraid of him, like they feared jackals and tigers. However, precisely because he was strict, thieves kept their distance and dared not come near. In the eighteenth year of Yuanjia, he was summoned by the court to serve as the General Leading the Army. Previously, the External Supervisors were not under the jurisdiction of the General, and if mutual subordination was needed, there would be separate decrees, until this time when the General began to take command. In the twenty-first year of Yuanjia, he was promoted to the Inspector of Yuzhou. The following year, he was appointed as the Guard General, also serving as the Intendant of Danyang. His governance was exceedingly harsh, and both officials and the populace found it unbearable. Some were even driven to rebellion and escape, only to be captured and drowned; even the officials responsible for writing, if their penmanship did not satisfy him, would be beaten with fifty lashes. His son, Zhou Qian, married Princess Haiyan, the fourth daughter of Emperor Wen.
At the beginning, King Jun of Shixing often visited the harem because Lady Pan was favored, and ended up having an affair with the princess. When Zhou Qian married the princess, she was very angry upon entering the palace, shouting, hitting, and kicking, even tearing the straps of the tent. This incident reached the emperor, who ordered their divorce and executed the princess and Lady Jiang, who was born to King Jun. Zhou Bofu felt ashamed and fearful as a result, fell ill, and died. He was posthumously given the title "Su." His title was inherited by his grandson Zhou Xu, and after the Qi dynasty usurped the throne, his title was abolished.
Wang Yi, style name Zhongde, was from Qixian, Taiyuan. He claimed to be the younger brother of Minister Sun of the Han dynasty and the seventh generation grandson of Governor Mao of Youzhou. His grandfather Wang Hong served Shi Jilong; his father Wang Miao served Fu Jian, and both father and son held the official rank of 2,000 stones.
Zhongjian was calm and mature from a young age, very strategic, knowledgeable about astronomy and geography, and skilled in music. After the failure of Fu Jian, at the age of seventeen, Zhongjian rebelled with his brother Rui, fought against Murong Chui, and ended up losing. Zhongjian was seriously injured, fled, and got separated from his family. He reached a vast swamp, could go no further, and had to lie down in the woods. Suddenly, a boy in blue clothing riding a cow came by, saw Zhongjian, and asked him, "Have you eaten?" Zhongjian said he was hungry. The boy left and came back with food for him. After eating, Zhongjian wanted to leave, but suddenly a flood came, leaving him unsure of what to do. At this moment, a white wolf ran in front of him, howled at the sky, grabbed Zhongjian's clothes, and led him across the water; Zhongjian followed the white wolf and managed to cross the river, reuniting with his brother Rui.
They crossed the river to Huatai, where Zhai Liao kept them behind and appointed them as generals. After a few years, Zhong Jian wanted to return to his hometown in the south and escaped to Mount Tai. Zhai Liao sent cavalry to pursue him relentlessly. He traveled at night and suddenly came across torches ahead that guided him. Zhong Jian followed the torches for over a hundred miles and managed to shake off his pursuers.
Towards the end of the Taiyuan era of the Jin Dynasty, the brothers moved to Pengcheng. Their names were similar to those of Emperor Xuan and Emperor Yuan of the Jin Dynasty, so everyone used their style names to address them. The elder brother Rui's style name was Yuande. Northerners held in high regard people of the same surname, viewing them as close kin. Therefore, when people from afar sought refuge, they would try their best to help. If they were not welcoming, they would be looked down upon by the locals. Zhong Jian heard that Wang Yu was in Jiangnan and was from Taiyuan, so he went to seek refuge with him. However, Wang Yu was cold towards him, so he went to seek refuge with Huan Xuan in Gushu. Just as Huan Xuan usurped the throne, Zhong Jian met General Zhang Chang, who supported the state, and discussed the major events in the world. Zhong Jian remarked, "Historically, no dynasty change has ever succeeded solely due to one family's power. Yet those initiating the revolution now may lack the capability to achieve significant results."
Yuande was both decisive and wise. Emperor Wu had a deep understanding of him and shared a righteous plan to strike against Huan Xuan in the capital. When Zhong Jian heard about this plan, he told Yuande, "Significant matters must remain confidential. Seize the opportunity to act quickly, without delay. Huan Xuan often sneaks in and out in the middle of the night. If we want to deal with him now, only one person is needed." Unfortunately, the plan was leaked, resulting in Yuande's death at the hands of Huan Xuan. Zhong Jian went into hiding, fleeing in all directions. Later, the rebel forces captured Jianye, and Zhong Jian took Yuande's son, Fang, to see Emperor Wu. Emperor Wu cradled Fang on horseback, and he and Zhong Jian cried bitterly facing each other. Yuande was posthumously honored with an official title, titled the Marquis of Anfu County, and Zhong Jian was appointed as a military advisor.
Legend has it that Emperor Wu of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yu, led a northern campaign against Guanggu, with his general Xie Zhongde as the vanguard. They fought in more than twenty battles, winning them all. Later, Lu Xun rebelled and defeated Liu Yi in Sangluo. Emperor Wu withdrew his troops and returned to the capital, with soldiers returning wounded and only a few thousand fit for battle. In contrast, Lu Xun's army boasted a hundred thousand troops, with warships stretching for miles. The fleeing soldiers praised Lu Xun's might. The ministers suggested relocating the capital to evade his threat. However, Xie Zhongde boldly stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty is in power, and you are a wise minister supporting the throne. We’ve just achieved a great victory, and our name has spread far and wide. These bandits seized the opportunity of our expedition to launch a surprise attack. Now that they hear of our triumphant return, they will surely scatter without us having to lift a finger. If we panic and relocate the capital to dodge the enemy, we'll be no better than commoners. How can we intimidate the enemy if we act like common folks giving orders? Those brave and ambitious individuals will naturally pick their side. If we're moving the capital, then I, Xie Zhongde, will resign first!" Emperor Wu was pleased with his response and appointed Xie Zhongde to defend Yuecheng.
Later, Lu Xun fled from Cai Prefecture to the south, and Emperor Wu sent Xie Zhongde to pursue him. Lu Xun left behind his trusted follower Fan Chongmin with five thousand men and hundreds of warships, holding his ground at Lingkou in the south of the city. Xie Zhongde launched an assault, defeated Fan Chongmin, burned his ships, captured his remaining soldiers, and outperformed all other commanders in military achievements, thus being appointed as the Marquis of Xingan County. In the twelfth year of the Yixi era, the Northern Expedition war broke out again, and Xie Zhongde was promoted to General for Suppressing the Barbarians, concurrently serving as the Inspector of Jizhou and the commander of the vanguard forces. Champion General Tan Daoji and Dragon Cavalry General Wang Zhen'e marched towards Luoyang; General Liu Zunkao of Ning Shuo and General Shen Linzi of Establishing Martial Arts led their troops from Shimen; General Zhu Chaoshi of Ning Shuo and Hu Fan moved towards Bancheng, all these commanders obeyed Xie Zhongde's command. Xie Zhongde led Dragon Cavalry General Zhu Mu, General of Ningyuan Zhu Lingxiu, Yan Gang, and others, entered the Yellow River from Juye, commanded the army and stationed them at Tongguan. After the capture of Chang'an City, Xie Zhongde was appointed as a military advisor to the Grand Commandant. Emperor Wu wanted to move the capital to Luoyang, and the court officials all thought it was a good idea. However, Xie Zhongde said, "Extraordinary events during a crisis can shock and frighten ordinary people. Now that we have been fighting for so long, the soldiers are eager to return home, so we should make Jianye the foundation and consider relocating the capital only after the realm is stable." Emperor Wu agreed with this reasoning and sent someone to escort Yao Hong back to Pengcheng. Because of his repeated military successes, Xie Zhongde was promoted to Inspector of Xuzhou and appointed as a Commander.
In 426 AD, he was promoted to General of the North and accompanied Yan in the northern campaign, achieving a great victory and inflicting a crushing defeat on the enemy. Our troops were stationed at Lingchang Ferry. Both Sizhou and Yanzhou were reclaimed, and everyone was overjoyed, except for him, who looked worried, saying, "Although the Xiongnu people have no righteousness or morals, they are very cunning! Now that they have withdrawn their troops, they must be regrouping, waiting for winter when the river freezes. We’ll be in trouble then!"
Indeed, in October, the enemy crossed the Yellow River at Weisu Ferry and headed straight for Jinyong City. The troops from Hulao and Luoyang panicked and scattered. Upon hearing that these two cities could not be defended, he suggested burning the ships and fleeing with everyone. But he stopped him, insisting, "Luoyang is lost, and Hulao cannot be defended. This is a desperate situation! Right now, the enemy is a thousand miles away, and Huatai still has a strong army! If we ditch the ships and run now, the troops will definitely scatter. We should first go to Jishui, then to Maergukou, and then think about what to do." So, he ordered the troops to march south along the Jishui River to Licheng, then disembark, burn the ships, discard the armor, and retreat to Pengcheng. In the end, both he and Yan were dismissed from their posts. Shortly after, he went to Huatai with Tan Daoji to help out, but they ran out of supplies and had to turn back.
In 431 AD, he was appointed General of the North and Governor of Xuzhou. The following year, he also held the post of Governor of Yanzhou. He served as Governor of Xuzhou three times, and his reputation spread far and wide in Pengcheng. He built a pagoda in a Buddhist temple, where he enshrined statues of a white wolf and a child, commemorating a supernatural event he experienced in Hebei. In 435 AD, he was promoted to Grand General of the North. He passed away in 437 AD and was posthumously honored as Marquis Huan. His temple also had a sacrificial altar for the white wolf and child, where they were worshipped together in rituals. His son, Huan Zhengxiu, was later killed by a household servant.
Zhang Shao, courtesy name Maozong, was the older brother of Zhang Yu, the Governor of Kuaiji. He initially served as a clerk in the Longxiang Mansion of Wang Dan, the Interior Minister of Langya, during the Jin Dynasty. Later, Huan Xuan exiled Wang Dan to Guangzhou, and Wang Dan's friends all left him; only Zhang Shao remained steadfastly loyal, even shedding tears as he bid him farewell. During that time of war and famine, Zhang Shao also sent him food and supplies for his wife and children.
When Huan Xuan seized power, Zhang Chang, his father, who was initially a Minister, was demoted to Minister of Justice due to a minor error in his duties. Later, when Emperor Wu launched a campaign against Huan Xuan, Zhang Shao (Zhang Chang's son) submitted a statement of loyalty, which greatly pleased the Emperor. The Emperor ordered a proclamation to be written at his doorstep: "Anyone who dares to provoke Minister Zhang will face military justice!" Later, the Emperor appointed Zhang Chang as the Governor of Wu Commandery.
When Wang Mi became the Inspector of Yangzhou, he invited Zhang Shao to be his chief clerk. Liu Yi became the Assistant Prime Minister and he particularly liked talented individuals. Back then, everyone wanted to curry favor with him, almost queuing up to shower him with gifts, but Zhang Shao did not go. When asked why he did not go, Zhang Shao said, "The Lord is the chosen one of Heaven, a dragon and phoenix among men, what more is there to say?" Liu Muzhi reported this to the Emperor, who liked Zhang Shao even more and promoted him to General, putting him in charge of the Cao of Longliu Bandits (responsible for capturing fugitives).
Lu Xun led his troops to the gates of the capital, and the Emperor sent Zhang Shao to guard the southern city. At that moment, the townsfolk gathered by the river to watch the bandits, which the Emperor found strange, so he asked Zhang Shao what was going on. Zhang Shao replied, "If those officials hadn't rebelled yet, everyone would be busy fleeing for their lives; how would they have time to watch the show? Now that they have all surrendered, everyone doesn’t need to be afraid anymore." Shortly after, Zhang Shao was promoted to chief clerk of the commandery.
Zhang Shao is a workaholic with great energy and is very serious in handling government affairs. Later, when it was time to dispatch Liu Fan, Zhang Shao was stationed at Zhilu in Xizhou. That night, he quickly ordered his subordinates, "The army is about to set out; everyone, quickly prepare the boats and supplies, we will need them tomorrow morning!" The next morning, the emperor wanted to check on something, and the items were promptly delivered to him. The emperor was surprised and asked how it was done so quickly. His subordinates replied, "Zhang Shao ordered us to prepare last night." The emperor happily said, "Zhang Shao, this young man, is really on the same page as me!"
Nine years later, the crown prince established the Office of Expedition, and Zhang Shao was appointed as a recording clerk, later promoted to the central army, then to advisory military officer, and also served as a secretary. Twelve years later, the Emperor wanted to launch a northern expedition. Zhang Shao sought an audience with the Emperor and said, "Life is fragile; one must have foresight and insight. If Liu Muzhi were to have an accident, who could replace him? Now the Crown Prince is so important; what if something happens to him?" The Emperor said, "This matter relies on Liu Muzhi and you!" At that time, the Governor of Qingzhou, Tan Zhi, was stationed in Guangling, and a group of fugitives gathered in Chuzhou. Tan Zhi led troops to suppress them. Liu Muzhi was worried that this could lead to trouble and wanted to send troops to support. Zhang Shao said, "Tan Zhi has the advantage of terrain, and Dao Ji is the commander of the army. If we act impulsively, it will only cause more trouble. It's better to send someone to inquire first, gauge their intentions before making a decision." As a result, Tan Zhi did not make any reckless moves.
Later, Liu Muzhi passed away, striking fear throughout the court. It was soon ordered that Sima Xuanzhi would take his place. Zhang Shao opposed this, saying, "The situation is urgent. While Xuanzhi is indeed capable, we should first seek approval from the north before proceeding, as the Crown Prince has not yet issued a formal order." Upon receiving a reply, the Crown Prince commanded, "Both court affairs and local matters shall be under Sima Xu's control, with other matters to be reported to me." Emperor Wu admired Zhang Shao's composure in times of crisis and his noble character. In the fourteenth year, when the Crown Prince was to guard Jingzhou, Zhang Shao strongly advised, "The position of the Crown Prince is crucial, affecting the safety of the entire nation. He should not leave the court. I would rather die than not speak out!" The Emperor eventually accepted his advice. After Emperor Wen was appointed as the General and Governor of Jingzhou, he appointed Zhang Shao as Sima and magistrate of Nanjun, entrusting him with many responsibilities. After Emperor Wu ascended to the throne, he awarded Zhang Shao the title of Lord Linju for his assistance in his ascension. Later, when Hunan Province was separated from Jingzhou, Zhang Shao was appointed as its governor. He planned to establish a provincial government in Changsha, but considering its inland location and not being a military stronghold, he believed it would burden the people and go against administrative principles. The Emperor agreed with his opinion. Later, when Xie Hui rebelled and tried to win Zhang Shao over with a letter, Zhang Shao didn't even bother to open the letter and immediately sent it to the Emperor. In the year 438 AD, he was promoted to General Who Conquers the Caitiffs, also serving as Colonel of Pacification of the Man and Governor of Yongzhou, receiving another promotion in his official position. Initially, there was some animosity between Wang Hua and Mr. Shao, but after Wang Hua was promoted, his relatives and friends worried he might take revenge on Mr. Shao. However, Mr. Shao said, "Zilin (Wang Hua's courtesy name) is a person of integrity and fairness. He will never compromise justice for personal grievances." Ultimately, Wang Hua didn’t create any trouble for him and continued to promote him as before.
After arriving in Xiangyang, Mr. Shao busied himself with building city walls, reinforcing dykes, and reclaiming thousands of acres of land, allowing the people of Xiangyang to live prosperous lives. The tribal groups from the Danshui and Xisi river basins often came to plunder, so Mr. Shao used a strategy to trick the tribal leaders into a trap, capturing them and their accomplices. This really stirred things up, as the tribal groups rebelled after being deceived, cutting off all waterway transportation.
Later, Mr. Shao's son, Shao Zifu, went to Xiangyang to visit him and prepare to return to the capital. The tribal groups were waiting to ambush him! Luckily, at that moment, an envoy from the Rouran kingdom arrived to pay tribute, and the tribal groups mistakenly captured Shao Zifu as the Rouran envoy. Due to this incident, Mr. Shao was demoted and his title was downgraded to General Yanglie.
Later, Wang Yigong in Jiangling appointed Mr. Shao as the Chief Military Officer, giving him a ceremonial staff and appointing him as the Colonel of the Southern Barbarians. However, during his tenure in Yongzhou, he embezzled and accepted bribes, collecting a staggering 2.45 million coins! This corruption was exposed, resulting in his conviction by the court, dismissal from office, and stripped of his title and fiefdom. He later became the Prefect of Wuxing, and after his death, the court restored his title and fiefdom, posthumously bestowing upon him the title of "Jianbo."
Before his death, Mr. Shao left a will, requesting that only vegetables and fruits be offered, using a simple reed mat as his funeral bier, with his sons accompanying him to the burial. His sons, Shao Zifu, Shao Ziyuan, and Shao Zijing, all became well-known.
Jing Yin, also known as Zha, lost his mother when he was just a few years old. When he found out about this, he displayed sadness and longing, even though he was still a child. At around ten years old, he wanted to find something left by his mother, but everything had already been given away, leaving only a box containing his mother's belongings. Whenever he remembered his mother, he would open the box and cry, and he would cry even when he saw his stepmother.
He was upright and noble, elegantly poised, fond of discussing metaphysics, and skilled in writing. His father, Shao, encouraged him to debate the "Xici" and "Zhang" of the Book of Changes with Zong Shaowen from Nanyang. After several debates, Zong Shaowen felt he was on the verge of losing and exclaimed, "I'm going to lose to him in knowledge!" From then on, Jing Yin's reputation grew. Emperor Wu heard of his talent, summoned him, greatly admired him, and said, "It's really hard to find such a talented person!" So he appointed him as a military officer in the Crown Prince's army, calling on him frequently. Later, he was promoted to the military secretary for Wang Yigong of Jiangxia.
Yigong requested Emperor Wen to grant him a monk well-versed in Buddhist teachings. By chance, Jing Yin was going back to Jiangling for vacation, so he went to bid farewell to Emperor Wen. Emperor Wen ordered that the monk be taken in his carriage with Jing Yin, saying, "You can exchange ideas on the way." Jing Yin did not comply with the imperial decree, which annoyed Emperor Wen. Later, Jing Yin was promoted to the role of a regular attendant in the Imperial Secretariat. Emperor Wen once playfully asked him, "How does Zha (Jing Yin's nickname) compare to Li (Shao's nickname)?" Jing Yin replied, "Li is the king of fruits, how could I possibly compare to it?"
The officials Di Dang and Zhou Jiu were both in charge of important affairs. Because Jing Yin is quite well-known among his peers, they wanted to visit him. Zhou Jiu said, "He probably won't receive us warmly, so we might as well not go." Di Dang replied, "We are both officials now; what is there to worry about? What's wrong with sitting down and talking together?" Jing Yin had prepared two beds, placed about three to four feet from the wall. After the two guests sat down, Jing Yin told his attendants, "Move my bed further away!" Di Dang and Zhou Jiu felt awkward and left in embarrassment. This was indicative of his arrogance and self-importance.
He paid great attention to his manners and speech, always speaking in a slow and measured tone. When bidding farewell to others, he would shake their hands and say, "Please remember me." His words echoed in their ears for a long time. The later generations of the Zhang family greatly admired him, all because of Jing Yin. Later, Jing Yin was promoted to the position of Yellow Gate Attendant, General of the Army of Shixing Wang Jun, and Left Chief Historian of the Ministry of Works. Before he could take office, his father passed away in Wuxing. He observed the mourning period for over ten days before he began to eat and drink. After the burial, he avoided salty food, and his health deteriorated; he fell seriously ill. His uncle Maodu repeatedly encouraged him to take care of himself during his mourning, but he only became more sorrowful, sometimes fainting and sometimes waking up. Maodu said, "I advise you to mourn properly, but you only become more sad." From then on, Maodu stopped advising him. Less than a year later, Jing Yin passed away. Emperor Xiaowu ascended to the throne, commending his filial piety and posthumously promoting him to the rank of attendant, and renaming his residence to Xiaozhang Village.
His younger brother Zhang Jian inherited his father's title, eventually rising to the rank of senior official. Zhang Jian was brave and strong, once subdued a fierce beast with his bare hands, and was appointed as the General of Fu Guo by the mastermind behind it. Later, when Emperor Xiaowu arrived at Xinting, Zhang Jian fled but tragically drowned in the Huai River. His son Zhang Shi inherited his title.
Zhang Chang, courtesy name Shaowei, is the son of Zhang Wei, brother of Zhang Shao. Zhang Wei was known for his integrity when he was young and served as a Minister of Medicine in the Kingdom of Langye during the Jin Dynasty. He followed the King of Langye to Luoyang, and after returning to the capital, Emperor Wu secretly ordered him to take poison by giving him a jar of medicated wine. Following orders, he drank the poisoned wine along the way and died.
Zhang Chang, along with his cousins Zhang Fu, Zhang Yan, and Zhang Jing, were prominent young talents of the time. He initially served as the chief secretary of Xu Pei, the governor. After Xu Pei was killed, Zhang Chang risked his life to escape and mourned openly, which earned him widespread praise. His younger brother Zhang Mu was once bitten by a mad dog, and the doctor said eating toads could cure him. Zhang Mu was terrified, but Zhang Chang, smiling, took a taste first, and this cured him. Zhang Chang later rose through the ranks to become the Chief Attendant to the Crown Prince.
Emperor Xiaowu was stationed in Pengcheng, with Zhang Chang serving as the Chief of Anbei and the Prefect of Pei County. In the twenty-seventh year of Yuanjia, the Wei Emperor Tuoba Tao launched a southern attack, and Grand Commandant Prince Yigong of Jiangxia led the army stationed in Pengcheng. The Wei army was only a few dozen miles away from Pengcheng. Although Pengcheng had a large troop presence, it was short on military provisions. Yigong wanted to abandon Pengcheng and retreat south, but after several days of deliberation, no decision had been reached. At this time, Licheng had ample supplies but fewer troops. Shen Qingzhi, an officer in the Anbei army, suggested forming a box formation with chariots, with elite soldiers positioned on the flanks, escorting two imperial princes and consorts straight to Licheng. Some city defense troops were left behind to assist General Xiao Sihua. The Grand Commandant's Chief Secretary He Xu disagreed, suggesting that all the troops escape to Yuzhou and return to the capital by sea. With neither plan decided, everyone gathered again to discuss. Zhang Chang said, "If going to Licheng and Yuzhou is feasible, I would certainly support it wholeheartedly. But now the city is running low on food, and the people are in a state of panic. It's only because the city gates are tightly shut that no one has fled. If there’s even the slightest disturbance, the troops will fall into chaos. Although food is scarce now, it hasn't run out yet. How can we abandon a safe plan for a risky one? This plan must be implemented, and I’m willing to stake my life on it!" Emperor Xiaowu took Zhang Chang's advice and said to Yigong, "We cannot go against Chief Zhang's words!" Yigong then abandoned the plan to retreat south.
When the Emperor of Wei arrived, he visited his father’s tomb south of the city and set up a felt tent on the racetrack to stay. Previously, the leader of the Wei forces, Kuai Ying, had been captured. That evening, the Wei Emperor sent Kuai Ying to the Xiaoshi Gate and requested sugarcane and wine. Emperor Xiaowu sent two vessels of wine and one hundred stalks of sugarcane. They also requested camels.
The next day, the Emperor of Wei personally went to the horse stage again and sent people to the Small Market Gate to meet Emperor Xiaowu, bringing camels and various other items to be received by the people at the South Gate. Zhang Chang from the Southern Dynasty was chatting with Li Xiaobo, the Shangshu of Wei, atop the city wall. Li Xiaobo asked, "What is your surname?" Zhang Chang replied, "My surname is Zhang." Li Xiaobo said, "You are Zhang Changshi, right?" Zhang Chang said, "How did you know?" Li Xiaobo said, "Your name has long been known to us, so I know." There was a savvy individual in the city who had previously been in Wei, and Yigong sent him to take a look. Upon recognizing Li Xiaobo, he opened the gate and sent some items over. The Emperor of Wei wanted wine and oranges again, and Emperor Xiaowu sent shell cups and some treasures from the South. The Emperor of Wei asked Li Xiaobo to convey a message: "The Emperor of Wei has decreed to borrow your Boju (a kind of gaming equipment)." Zhang Chang said, "We will certainly send the Boju over, but this decree is meant to be used in other countries; how can it be used in our own country?" Li Xiaobo said, "This is just an exchange between neighboring officials." Li Xiaobo also said, "The Grand Commandant and the General of the Garrison have not received news from the South for a long time; they must be very anxious. If you need to send a message, we can help escort it." Zhang Chang said, "The journey is very far; there's no need to trouble Wei for this." Li Xiaobo said, "I know there's a water route, but it seems to be blocked by bandits." Zhang Chang said, "So you’re called bandits because you wear white, huh?" Li Xiaobo smiled and said, "Today's bandits are no different from the Yellow Turban Army or the Red Eyebrow Army; they are just not in Jiangnan." Wei requested the Boju again, and it was quickly sent over.
The Emperor of Wei sent felt blankets, nine kinds of salt, and black beans, saying, "Each of these salts has its own use. White salt is what the Emperor of Wei eats; black salt is used for treating bloating; take six zhu and consume it with wine; Hu salt is used for eye pain; soft salt should not be consumed; it is used for treating wounds on a horse's back; red salt, speckled salt, smelly salt, and horse tooth salt—these four types should not be consumed. Black beans can be eaten." The Emperor of Wei also requested yellow gall, saying, "The Emperor of Wei asked the Grand Marshal and the General of Anbei why they didn't send someone to inquire about the situation, to see my appearance, to understand me as a person." Zhang Chang also read the imperial edict in response, saying, "We have already understood the appearance and talent of the Emperor of Wei through multiple interactions. Minister Li personally conveyed the decree; we wish to avoid any barriers between us, so we will not send anyone." He also said, "The Emperor of Wei expressed dissatisfaction with the horses previously sent. If the General of Anbei needs large horses, we can send them; if you need Shu horses, we also have good horses." Zhang Chang said, "The General of Anbei does not lack good horses; whether to send horses or not is up to you; this is not something we are requesting." Yi Gong also sent ten torches and candles, and Emperor Xiaowu also sent a piece of brocade. He said, "I understand you still require yellow gall. If it is for the army, it will certainly be insufficient; if it is only for the Emperor of Wei, there should be no shortage, so we will not send it again." Li Xiaobo said, "You are wealthy in the south; why wear grass shoes? If you are all like this, how will the soldiers be?" Zhang Chang said, "I feel somewhat embarrassed by your comments about our wealth. It's just that I am not good at military affairs. I have been tasked with leading the army, which prevents me from wearing extravagant clothing in the camp." The Emperor of Wei sent someone to borrow musical instruments such as the harp and pipa, as well as chess pieces from the two princes. Li Xiaobo spoke with great propriety and also showcased the elegance of the north. Zhang Chang responded with fluency and agility, displaying elegant speech, and the people of Wei admired him greatly.
Let's talk about Zhang Chang, originally from Xiangyang. He was recommended by Wei Shengyun and appointed as the Chief Historian under Sima Yixuan, the Prince of Nanqiao, and the Prefect of Nanjun. Later, Sima Yixuan's father was killed, and Yixuan wanted to hold a memorial ceremony. Zhang Chang immediately led the troops to respond. After the ceremony, Zhang Chang changed into yellow pants and clothes, walked out of the archery hall, commanded the soldiers, and his demeanor impressed everyone, who were eager to serve under him. After the situation calmed down, Zhang Chang was appointed as the Minister of Personnel and granted the title of Marquis of Yidao County.
Later, Sima Yixuan had rebellious intentions, and Cai Chao and others valued Zhang Chang's reputation, persuading Sima Yixuan to keep him. So, Sima Yixuan dismissed the position of Colonel of the Southern Forces and appointed Zhang Chang, also bestowing upon him the title of Champion General and appointing him as the Chief Historian of the Prime Minister. Zhang Chang sent his student Xun Sengbao to Jiankang (now Nanjing) to report Sima Yixuan's crimes to Yan Jun. However, Xun Sengbao got involved in private business dealings and was delayed in Baling, failing to arrive in time. At that moment, Sima Yixuan launched his rebellion, the roads were blocked, and Xun Sengbao ultimately failed to reach Jiankang.
Sima Yixuan planned to rebel and sent his favorite courtier Zhai Lingbao to test Zhang Chang. Zhang Chang firmly denied this and was ready to die to prove his loyalty. Zhai Lingbao reported Zhang Chang's words to Sima Yixuan, who believed Zhang Chang would not change his mind and wanted to kill him as an example to others. Fortunately, Prime Minister Sima Zhuchao intervened, and Zhang Chang was spared. Afterwards, Zhang Chang was promoted to General of the Army, establishing a separate military department to consolidate support. Although Zhang Chang was responsible for drafting documents and issuing orders, he often drank heavily and wasn't really focused on these matters. Later, Sima Yixuan was defeated at Liangshan, and Zhang Chang was captured by the enemy, left without his clothes.
He happened to meet General Wang Xuanmo riding out of the camp, and although Zhang Chang was in ragged clothes, he managed to squeeze onto Wang Xuanmo's carriage. Wang Xuanmo was quite displeased. The generals requested that Zhang Chang be killed, but fortunately Commander Zhang Rong saved his life. Zhang Chang was delivered to the capital, handed over to the court for trial, and ultimately pardoned.
Later, he was appointed as the Minister of Justice and later promoted to the position of Imperial Attendant. Once, Emperor Xiaowu hosted a banquet for the court officials, and Zhang Chang was also present. He Yan became intoxicated and said, "Zhang Chang is truly a remarkable talent! He rebelled with Sima Yixuan, but in the end nothing happened. If it weren't for his genius, how could he have done this!" Zhang Chang retorted, "Who do you think was responsible for cleaning the yellow pavilion back then?" The Emperor asked, "What happened?" It turned out that Shang Zhi (Sima Yixuan's father) once served as the notorious Minister of Works, and when the rebels arrived at Xinlin Gate, everyone ran away; only Shang Zhi and his son cleaned the yellow pavilion together. So Zhang Chang used this statement to mock He Yan.
In the second year of Xiaojian, Zhang Chang was appointed as the Governor of Kuaiji. After his death, he was posthumously named Xuan. Zhang Chang loved his disciple Zhang Ji very much, and before he died, he requested to be buried alongside Zhang Ji. Many people opposed this at the time.
His younger brother Yue was well-regarded and served as the Imperial Attendant, the Chief of Staff of the Northern Expedition of the Prince of Linhai, and the Prefect of Nanjun. Later, the Prince of Jin'an, Sima Xun, rebelled and proclaimed himself emperor, appointing him as the Minister of Personnel. After the plot was discovered, Yue killed Deng Wan and surrendered to the court, becoming the Chief Minister of the Crown Prince. He was later promoted to the Inspector of Yongzhou. In the sixth year of Taishi, Emperor Ming established the office of the Three Ba Commanders in Ba Commandery, appointing Yue to this position and also granting him the titles of General of Chijie and Fushi, as well as the Prefect of Ba Commandery. However, before he could take up his new position, he died.
His son Hao became the Northern Expedition Consultant for Sima Wang, the Prince of Yiyang. Hao's younger brother Yan served as a Yellow Gate Official, was granted the title of Viscount of Guangjin, and also held positions as the Right Guardian of the Crown Prince and the Prefect of Dongyang. This Yan forced the county officials to burn their forearms as offerings to Buddhist statues, and when commoners committed crimes, he made them burn incense and worship Buddha to atone for their offenses, often requiring people to bow thousands of times. Eventually, he was dismissed from office and imprisoned for his actions. Later, he was reinstated as a Palace Official, but ultimately rebelled alongside Prince Sima Xun of Jin'an and was killed after their defeat.
As for myself and several other ministers, we consulted the "Gao Family's Short History." In this book, after the biography of Zhao Lun, there should be a biography of Dao Yan, but it is missing. According to the standard historical writing, emperors are usually referred to by their temple names, and the Wei Dynasty is referred to as "Lu." However, in this book, the emperor is addressed by his imperial title, and the Wei Dynasty is called the Wei Dynasty, similar to the style of the "History of the Southern Dynasties." But the biographies do not include the comments of the historiographers at the end, making it feel less like official history. Nevertheless, its writing style differs slightly from that of the "History of the Southern Dynasties," so we chose to retain it.
