Zhu Lingshi, styled Bo'er, was from Pei County, Pei Commandery. His family had been military generals for generations. His grandfather Zhu Teng was General of Establishing Might and the Historian of the State of Wu. His uncles Zhu Xian and Zhu Bin both served as generals under the command of Yuan Zhen, with Zhu Xian serving as the Historian of Liang State and Zhu Bin serving as the Historian of Runan. Later, Grand Marshal Huan Wen attacked Yuan Zhen in Shouyang. Yuan Zhen suspected that Zhu Xian and his brother were colluding with Huan Wen, so he ordered their execution. Zhu Lingshi's father, Zhu Chuo, managed to escape and sought refuge with Huan Wen. In battles, he always led the charge without fear. When Shouyang fell and Yuan Zhen died, Zhu Chuo even went so far as to dig up Yuan Zhen's coffin and whip his corpse. This angered Huan Wen, who was furious and wanted to kill him, but Huan Wen's brother Huan Chong pleaded for Zhu Chuo's life. In gratitude for Huan Chong's mercy, Zhu Chuo served him faithfully, treating him as if he were his own father. He later served as Huan Chong's Cavalry Commander, Prefect of Xiyang, and Prefect of Guangping. After Huan Chong's death, Zhu Chuo was grief-stricken and cried blood until he died. Huan Chong's sons treated Zhu Lingshi as a true brother.
Zhu Lingshi had always enjoyed wielding weapons from a young age. He was somewhat frivolous and did not pay much attention to etiquette. His father-in-law was from the Jiang family of Huainan, a timid man. Zhu Lingshi had his father-in-law lie down in a corner of the hall, then cut a one-inch square of paper and stuck it on his father-in-law's pillow. He then threw a small knife from eight or nine feet away, hitting the target every time! Although his father-in-law was trembling in fear, he dared not move because of Zhu Lingshi. When a large lump grew on his father-in-law's head, Zhu Lingshi secretly cut it off while his father-in-law was sleeping, which ultimately led to his father-in-law's death.
At first, Zhu Lingshi served as a palace general, often following the brothers Huan Xiu and serving as a military officer for Huan Xiu. While in Jingkou, Liu Yu, the founder, captured the capital and appointed him as a military officer for Jianwu. While accompanying Liu Yu to Jiangcheng in preparation for battle, Zhu Lingshi said to Liu Yu, "My ancestors have always received the favor of the Huan family. I truly cannot take up arms against them. Please let me stay behind in the army." Liu Yu thought what he said made sense, so he agreed. After the situation was resolved, Zhu Lingshi was appointed as a military officer of Zhenjun, later promoted to Wukang magistrate, and even awarded the title of Ningyuan General.
After the chaos, there was a man from Wukang named Yao Xizu. He rallied a group of fugitive rogues who were engaged in robbery. They hid away in a treacherous and hard-to-reach location, and the local officials feared them and dared not confront them.
Later, a man named Lingshi came to this county. He feigned a close relationship with Yao Xizu and even invited Yao Xizu to be his military officer. Yao Xizu, relying on his many brothers and followers, thought that Lingshi would not dare to do anything to him, so he went there without a care.
However, Lingshi had secretly devised a plan with his trusted men. He knew that Yao Xizu lived on Beitu Road. So, he invited Yao Xizu to have a meal together, and during the banquet, he signaled his men to kill Yao Xizu.
Then, Lingshi quickly led the government's troops to Yao Xizu's house, taking them by surprise. No one could put up a fight, and he killed Yao Xizu along with all his men, amounting to dozens of people. From then on, this area was restored to peace.
Liu Yu appointed He Wuji as a military officer again, later promoted him to Chief Registrar of Xuzhou, and then promoted him to a court official. Shortly after, he was appointed as a military officer once more. He once accompanied Liu Yu on a campaign against the Xianbei but was dismissed for an error. After Guanggu City was captured, he was appointed as a military officer again. When Lu Xun attacked Shitou City, He Wuji served as the commander of the central army. Lu Xun selected several thousand brave soldiers to attack from the south bank, so Liu Yu sent He Wuji to lead the Xianbei infantry across the Huai River to attack them. He Wuji rallied the soldiers to fight bravely, and they all fought fiercely, killing hundreds of enemies, forcing Lu Xun's army to retreat. He Wuji not only had military talent but also excelled in handling political affairs, earning him Liu Yu's trust and respect. After Lu Xun was pacified, He Wuji was appointed as General of Ningyuan, Protector of Ningman, and Prefect of Xiyang.
In the eighth year of the Yixi period, Liu Yu marched west against Liu Yi, and He Wuji followed him to Jiangling. In the ninth year of the Yixi period, Liu Yu sent troops to attack Shu territory, appointing He Wuji as the commander-in-chief and granting him the titles of General Jianwei and Governor of Yizhou, tasking him with leading General Zang Xi of Ningshuo, Prefect Kuai En of Hejian, Prefect Liu Zhong of Xiaping, and General Zhu Lin of Longxiang, along with a total of twenty thousand troops, departing from Jiangling. Not long after, he was additionally appointed as the overall commander of military affairs in Yizhou. At first, Liu Yu and He Wuji devised a strategy for the attack. Liu Yu said, "A few years ago, Liu Jingxuan attacked from Huanghu Road and achieved nothing before retreating. The enemy will definitely think we're going to attack by water this time, but we must surprise them by attacking from the inland waterway. This way, they'll likely focus their forces on defending Fucheng to guard against our attack from the inland route. If we attack from Huanghu Road too, we'll be walking right into their trap. Now we should take the army to attack Chengdu from the outer waterway, while sending a small contingent to pretend to attack from the inland waterway. This is the clever strategy to outsmart the enemy."
Liu Yu was worried that the news would leak out and the enemy would uncover their plans, so he wrote a confidential letter, sealed it securely, and handed it to He Wuji. On the envelope, he wrote: "Only open upon arrival at Baidi City." Although the army had already set out, the specific battle plan had not been disclosed to everyone. Upon arriving at Baidi City, He Wuji opened the letter, which stated: "All armies will attack Chengdu from the outer waterways, Zang Xi and Zhu Lin will attack Guanghan from the inner waterways, and some elite troops will board more than ten light warships to make a feint attack on Huanghu Road from the inner waterways." Consequently, the various armies adjusted their routes and quickened their pace. Qiao Zong did strengthen the defense of the inner waterways, sending his general Qiao Daofu to station heavy troops in Fucheng, and sending former general Hou Hui, Prefect of Shu County, Qiao Sheng, and others to lead more than ten thousand troops to station in Pengmo, building walls along the riverbank.
In June, Ling Shi arrived at Pengmo. Many generals felt that the enemy's north city was strategically crucial and heavily fortified, so they advocated attacking the south city first. Ling Shi, however, said: "No! Although the enemy's main force is in the north city, even if we capture the south city now, we might not be able to seize the north city. We should concentrate our forces to attack the north city. Once the north city is breached, the south city will naturally collapse without a fight."
In July, Ling Shi led Liu Zhong, Kuai En, and others to attack the north city. From morning till evening, they burned down the enemy's watchtowers, then launched simultaneous attacks from all sides, killing Hou Hui and Qiao Sheng. Afterwards, Ling Shi led the troops back, feigning an attack, and the south city quickly fell. A total of fifteen generals were killed, and other camps quickly disintegrated, enabling our army to board the ships and then advance on foot.
General Zang Xi of Longxiang died of illness in Guanghan. After Zhulin arrived in Guanghan, he defeated General Qiao Daofu. Another army attacked and captured Niupi City by boat, killing General Qiao Fu. Qiao Zong heard news of defeats in various places, fled to Fucheng, was captured by Wang Zhi from Baxi, and sent to our military camp. The pretender Ma Dan kept everything in the government warehouse waiting for our army to arrive. Qiao Daofu heard that Peng Mo had lost, so he brought five thousand elite soldiers to reinforce. When he heard that Qiao Zong had already fled, his army dispersed, and he had to flee to the Liao tribes. Du Yao from Baxi captured him and brought him, and he was executed at the military camp gate. Huan Tian, the brother of Huan Qian, accompanied him into Shu, served as the governor of Ningshu, and was eventually killed.
Gaozu wanted to attack Shu, but finding a suitable commander proved difficult. Finally, he chose Ling Shi. Many believed that pacifying Shu historically required a formidable general, and Ling Shi was not yet well-known. They worried he might not be up to the task, so there were many objections. However, Gaozu did not listen to them. Therefore, Gaozu gave half of the army and elite soldiers to Ling Shi. Zang Xi, brother of Empress Jing, was admired for Gaozu's ability to judge people and appreciated Ling Shi's strong ability to handle matters.
Ling Shi sent Sima Shen Shuren to guard Fucheng. The Shu person Hou Chande rebelled and attacked Fucheng. Shen Shuren defeated him and killed Hou Chande. At the beginning, Ling Shi pacified Shu, only killing Qiao Zong's family. However, after Hou Chande rebelled, the repercussions were far-reaching, so Ling Shi ordered a widespread massacre, leading to a significant loss of life. Ling Shi was appointed as the Deputy General of the Empire, and soon promoted to oversee military affairs in six counties of Baxi, Zitong, Dangqu, Nanhanchong, Angu, and Huaining in Yizhou, as well as Anning in Qinzhou, and was granted the title of Marquis of Fengcheng County, with a fief of a thousand households.
In the year 411 AD, Shi Lingshi was appointed as a military counselor and also promoted to Champion General by the Emperor. The following year, during the Northern Expedition, he was further promoted to Left General while retaining his original title, and was given troops to guard the palace. Liu Muzhi trusted him greatly and consulted with him on all matters big and small. After Emperor Liu Yu returned to Pengcheng, Shi Lingshi was appointed as Marshal of the Right of the State. In the year 414 AD, General of Anxi, Duke of Guiyang Yizhen was summoned back to the court, and Shi Lingshi was appointed to command the military in the Guanzhong region, also being appointed as General of the Right and Governor of Yongzhou. The court specifically instructed Shi Lingshi that if the Guanzhong region could not be held, he could retreat with Yizhen. In the end, Shi Lingshi led the city's people and soldiers in a hasty retreat. General Longxiang Wang Jingxian was stationed at Caogonglei at the time, and Shi Lingshi led the remaining troops from Tongguan to seek refuge with Wang Jingxian. However, the enemy cut off their water supply, rendering the soldiers too thirsty to fight, resulting in the loss of the city. Shi Lingshi and Wang Jingxian were both captured by the enemy and taken to Chang'an, where they were eventually killed. He was only forty years old at the time of his death.
His son, Shi Jingfu, inherited his title. After Shi Jingfu's death, his son Shi Zuxuan inherited the title, but after committing a crime, he was stripped of his title and was unable to regain it for eight years. Later, his title was revoked for failing to properly allocate land to his aunt. Finally, Shi Zulongshao, the younger brother of Shi Zuxuan, was designated as the heir. After Emperor Gao of Qi took the throne, the titles of the Shi family were abolished.
Shi Chao, the younger brother of Shi Ling, was also a brave and skilled rider. Despite their noble background, the two brothers enjoyed corresponding through letters. When Huan Qian served as General of the Guard, Shi Chao was appointed as his aide-de-camp. Later, he participated in military operations with He Wuji's Right Army of the State. After Xu Daofu defeated He Wuji, he captured Shi Chao and appointed him as an aide-de-camp. Upon arriving at Shitoucheng, Shi Chao persuaded the people on the same boat to escape back to the founder Liu Yu on a small boat. Liu Yu was very pleased and appointed him Chief Clerk of Xuzhou. Shi Chao also retrieved Huan Qian's head and personally handled his funeral. Later, he was promoted to the position of a cavalry aide-de-camp, a Lang of the Ministry of Personnel, and was soon reappointed as a military aide-de-camp, General of Ning Shuo, and Prefect of Pei County. When campaigning westward against Liu Yi, the court sent Shi Chao to lead infantry and cavalry from Jiangling. Before they arrived, Liu Yi was already defeated. During the campaign against Sima Xiuzhi, the court dispatched the Champion General Tan Daoji and Shi Chao to lead infantry from Dabao. When Lu Zongzhi heard that Shi Chao was coming, he personally led his troops to confront him in battle, but before the battle commenced, Jiangling had already been pacified. Shi Chao followed the army to Xiangyang, where he was appointed to the Prefect of Xinye. Later, he pursued Lu Zongzhi to Nanyang before returning to his base. In the year 416 AD, the Northern Expedition commenced! Our leader, Shi Chao, led the charge directly toward the Yellow River. On the other side were the forces of Tuoba Si, as well as Yao Xing's son-in-law, who sent his brother, Ge Qing, along with Anping Gong Yizhan, Tuoba Daosheng, and Abao Gan, a few governors, with a hundred thousand infantry and cavalry, to establish their camp on the north bank of the Yellow River. They also frequently sent several thousand cavalry to follow the army along the river.
At that time, our soldiers on the south bank of the Yellow River pulled up a long rope, a hundred zhang in length, to use for crossing the river. The Yellow River was flowing rapidly, and if anyone drifted to the north bank, they would immediately be captured by the enemy as prisoners. As soon as our army crossed the river, the enemy fled; when our army pulled back, they rushed back to attack, like cats catching mice. Later, our leader sent Ding Guang with seven hundred men, along with a hundred vehicles, to the north bank of the Yellow River, a hundred steps away from the river, and set up a "Moon Formation" with the river flanking both sides, with seven soldiers arranged on each vehicle. Once the formation was set up, a white flag was raised. The enemy, seeing only a few hundred of us with vehicles, were confused and hesitated to move.
Our leader had already sent Shi Chao with reinforcements for Ding Guang, preparing a hundred powerful crossbows, adding twenty extra soldiers to each vehicle, and setting up strong crossbows on the vehicle shafts. When the enemy saw our formation set up, they charged in to surround us. Shi Chao first used a soft bow and small arrows to shoot at the enemy, who, seeing our small numbers and weak soldiers, poured in from all directions. Tuoba Si then sent Tuoba Song with thirty thousand cavalry to reinforce them, charging straight into our camp to attack. At this point, all hundred large crossbows were fired simultaneously, and we also selected several sharpshooters to shoot arrows together. Although the enemy was numerous, the large crossbows still weren't enough.
Before Shi Chao set out, he brought a large hammer and over a thousand long spears. He cut the spears into three- or four-foot-long sections and used the hammer to drive them into the ground. One spear could pierce through several enemies, overwhelming them and causing them to collapse instantly. Shi Chao also beheaded Abo Gan on the spot, forcing the enemies back to the outskirts of the city. Shi Chao, along with Hu Fan and Liu Rongzu, pursued them. They were surrounded by the enemies but fought bravely all day, killing over a thousand enemies, which finally caused the enemies to retreat. Our leader then sent Xu Yizhi with five thousand men to attack Yueqi City, but the enemies surrounded Xu Yizhi and formed a long spear formation. Shi Chao rushed to support them, but by the time he arrived, the enemies had already fled.
Later, the army captured Puban, and the leader appointed Shi Chao as the governor of Hedong, asking him to station there. When the enemies noticed Shi Chao's smaller force, they attacked the city again. Shi Chao defeated them, and they retreated, taking several days to regroup with the main army. When Gaozu returned from Chang'an, he tasked Shi Chao with constructing a waterway from Chang'an to Pengcheng. Afterwards, Shi Chao was appointed Minister of the Central Secretariat and granted the title of Marquis of Xingping County. The Guanzhong region was not peaceful, so Gaozu sent Shi Chao to pacify the people in the Heluo region. Upon arriving at Puban, he encountered Ling Shi, who had escaped from Chang'an to Cao Gong's camp. Shi Chao crossed the Yellow River to meet Ling Shi, but both he and Ling Shi were slain by Fofu at the age of thirty-seven.
Mao Xiuzhi, courtesy name Jingwen, was a native of Yangwu in Xingyang. His grandfather Mao Husheng and uncle Mao Qu both served as governor of Yizhou, and his father Mao Jin served as governor of Liangzhou and Qinzhou. Mao Xiuzhi was ambitious and enjoyed reading historical books in his spare time. The Governor of Jingzhou, Yin Zhongkan, valued him and appointed him as an officer in Ningyuan. Later, when Huan Xuan occupied Jingzhou, Mao Xiuzhi continued to work under Huan Xuan, serving successively as an officer in the rear army, the Grand Commandant's office, and the Chancellor's office. He was knowledgeable in music theory, was adept at horseback riding and archery, and was held in high regard by Huan Xuan. After Huan Xuan usurped the throne, he appointed Mao Xiuzhi as Colonel of the Tunki. When Huan Xuan fled west, Mao Xiuzhi followed him. Later, when Huan Xuan was defeated in Zhengrongzhou and retreated back to Jiangling, people were in a state of panic and wanted to escape to Hanchuan. Mao Xiuzhi urged them to seek refuge in Shu, and Feng Qian killed Huan Xuan at Meihuizhou, all of which was attributed to Mao Xiuzhi.
After the Jin'an Emperor was restored in Jiangling, he appointed Mao Xiuzhi as the General of the Elite Cavalry. Upon his return to the capital, Gaozu appointed him as Military Advisor to the Garrison and promoted him to General of Ning Shuo. Not long after, he was promoted to General of the Right Guard. Due to his contribution for killing Huan Xuan, and since both his uncle and father were in Shu territory, Gaozu wanted to use him as external assistance, so he continued to promote him and grant him titles. Later, his father Mao Jin was killed by Qiao Zong, so Gaozu appointed him as the General of Dragon Soaring, allocated troops to him, and sent him to Shu territory. Gaozu also sent the Governor of Yizhou, Sima Rongqi, along with Wen Chumao, Shi Yanzu, and others to march westward. When Mao Xiuzhi arrived at Dangqu, Sima Rongqi was killed by his advisor Yang Chengzu, who declared himself General of the Vanguard and Governor of Bazi. Mao Xiuzhi withdrew to Baidi City, where Yang Chengzu attacked from below but was unable to capture. Mao Xiuzhi sent his advisor Yan Gang and others to rally troops, and the Administrator of Hanjia, Feng Qian, brought soldiers to support. Together, they defeated Yang Chengzu and killed him. Wen Chumao was still in the area at that time, so Mao Xiuzhi sent the General of the Valiant, Zhang Jiren, with five hundred soldiers to capture Wen Chumao and others. The Inspector of Jingzhou, Dao Gui, sent the General of Fenwu, Yuan Daozhi, with one thousand soldiers to carry out Mao Xiuzhi's orders. Mao Xiuzhi ordered Yuan Daozhi and Zhang Jiren to attack together.
It is said that the Governor of Yizhou, Bao Lou, refused to send troops to suppress the rebels. He then wrote to the court, saying, "I have heard that people live to live better, and there are indeed ways to preserve life. In my case, the path to survival has reached its end. I am still alive only by clinging to my fleeting life like morning dew, hoping to eradicate the enemy with the Emperor's light. Since I raised troops to the west, I have experienced countless difficulties, which only temporarily halted the rebels and allowed the bandits to catch their breath. This is not only because of the long journey, but also because the movement of the army is not solely in my control. I often sigh in solitude, weeping and yearning for the arrival of the western army. Governor of Yizhou, Bao Lou, arrived in Badong on April 29th and stationed in Baidi City, waiting for the court's strategic orders. However, the favorable opportunities have been repeatedly missed, and the chance to send troops to suppress the rebels has been delayed time and again. Although I fought to the death, I could not get reinforcements, so I can only run around and plead my case to the court. In ancient times, the State of Song killed Shen Dan, and King Zhuang of Chu bore a grudge. Moreover, I sacrificed my family and career for the country. Such loyalists are rare; their integrity is as pure as frost and snow, both admirable and lamentable. Wu Zixu did not disappoint the king's grace, and Shen Baoxu did not forget the country's peril; they all waited for their moment, then took action. And now I find myself even more humble than they were, but I have not received support from the court, so I can only look up to the heavens for grace, hoping that the Emperor will show pity and weep for the western land."
Xiu expressed a sense of shame in both public and private aspects in the memorial, saying: "I am grateful for the imperial favor; how can I continue to enjoy wealth and glory, mingling with mediocre people? I request forgiveness for my sins, which I should not have committed, and I do not wish to continue living. I only hope to use the power of the court to completely suppress the rebellion, and I earnestly ask Your Majesty to remove my official position and title, and grant me the power to command troops in battle. My service to the country is definitely not empty talk. Since I set out on this expedition, I have been burdened with worries, plagued by illness, and constantly worried about my life, but I must lead the troops, charge into battle, personally kill the rebels, and repay the country. By then, even if I die in battle, I will have no regrets, and my family's peace will be enough to justify myself to the late emperor in heaven."
Emperor Gaozu was moved by Xiu's loyalty, so he ordered General Liu Jingxuan to lead generals such as Wen Chumao and Shi Yanzu to attack the Shu area. The army reached Huanghu but achieved no results and retreated. Qiao Zong took the opportunity to kill Xiu's father, brothers, and other relatives, but Xiu's family members were all able to return.
Lu Xun reached near the capital, and Liu Yu (Xiu's style name) had not yet taken off his mourning clothes when he was appointed as the Assistant General of the State. Shortly afterwards, he was promoted to the Governor of Xuan Cheng and stationed in Gushu. Later, he was attacked by Lu Xun's ally Ruan Ci, and Liu Yu defeated Ruan Ci. Lu Xun fled, Liu Yi returned to Gushu, and Liu Yu was appointed as Liu Yi's rear army commander. Due to his mismanagement of subordinates, he was dismissed from his positions as general and Interior Minister. Liu Yi marched west to guard Jiangling, and Liu Yu was appointed as the Sima of the Guard, Assistant General of the State, and Governor of Nanguo. Although Liu Yu was under Liu Yi, he secretly had a good relationship with Gaozu. When Liu Yu attacked Liu Yi, he first sent Wang Zhen'e to attack Jiangling. Liu Yu and his troops fought valiantly together, and Liu Yu later granted him a pardon.
At that time, Liu Yu sent Zhu Lingshi to attack Shu. Liu Yu strongly requested to go, but he was concerned that he might indiscriminately kill innocent people if he went to Shu. After all, he had a longstanding feud with the Mao family. The situation in Shu was dangerous. He might lose his life, so he did not agree. After returning to the capital, Liu Yu was appointed as the Chamberlain of the Yellow Gate and later promoted to Right Guard General.
Liu Yu did not believe in ghosts and gods; wherever he went, he burned down the local temples. In Jiangshan Temple, there were good cattle and horses, which he also took. When Liu Yu attacked Sima Xiuzhi, he was appointed as the Advisor to the General, Guanjun General, and concurrently as the Governor of Nanjun.
Liu Yu prepared to attack the Qiang tribe, first sending Liu Yu to repair Shao Bi, reclaiming thousands of acres of land. Upon arriving in Pengcheng, Liu Yu was tasked with constructing a mansion, while retaining his rank as General. After the pacification of Luoyang, Liu Yu was appointed as the Governor of Henan and Henai, acting on the affairs of the Western province, stationed in Luoyang, responsible for repairing the city defenses. After Liu Yu arrived in Luoyang, his accomplishments were reviewed, and he was rewarded with many clothes and treasures, estimated to be worth twenty million at the time. Prior to this, Liu Jingxuan's daughter got married, and Liu Yu rewarded her with three million coins and a thousand pieces of brocade, which was regarded as very generous at the time. After Wang Zhen'e's death, Liu Yu took over as the Commander of Anxi, while retaining his rank as General.
Just as Duke Guiyang Liu Yizhen set out from Chang'an, his army was intercepted and defeated by Fofu (Helian Bobo). Liu Yu and Liu Yizhen lost contact and were about to be captured. He climbed up a hill, which was high and steep; the soldiers of the Right Guard deserted, and those he had previously punished hurled spears at him, injuring his forehead. He fell down the hill and was subsequently captured by Fofu. After Fofu's death, his son Helian Chang was captured by the Suolu Tuoba Tao, and Liu Yu ultimately met his demise.
Initially, Zhu Xiuzhi held in high regard a Taoist priest on Mount Song when he was in Luoyang. The priest placed great trust in Zhu Xiuzhi and looked out for him at every turn, so Zhu Xiuzhi was able to survive. Later, he moved with him to Pingcheng. Once, Zhu Xiuzhi prepared a pot of lamb stew and offered it to the Shangshu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Shangshu was extremely impressed by the flavor and presented it to Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Emperor Taiwu was very happy and appointed Zhu Xiuzhi as Tai Guanling. Later, Zhu Xiuzhi gradually gained the trust of Emperor Taiwu and held various titles, including Shangshu, Guanglu Daifu, and Nanjun Gong. The positions of Tai Guanling and Shangshu were also retained. Later, Zhu Xiuzhi also allied himself with the Northern Wei Dynasty and earned Emperor Taiwu's favor. They got along very well. One day, Zhu Xiuzhi inquired about who was in power in the Southern Dynasties, and Zhu Xiuzhi replied, "Yin Jingren." Zhu Xiuzhi smiled and said, "When I was in the South before, Yin Jingren was still very young. When I go back, should I carry shoes to his door to apologize?" For many years, Zhu Xiuzhi hesitated to ask about news from home. It was not until a long time later that he began to inquire. Zhu Xiuzhi eventually shared the details, saying, "Your son Yuan Jiao is very sensible and praised by many." Zhu Xiuzhi listened, was overcome with sadness and couldn't find the words, simply staring at Zhu Xiuzhi in silence for a long time, then sighed and said, "Ah!" From then on, he never mentioned his family again. Earlier, some returnees from the Northern Wei Dynasty claimed that Zhu Xiuzhi had urged Emperor Taiwu to invade the borders and even taught him to learn Chinese rituals. Emperor Taizu of the Song Dynasty was highly skeptical of this and reprimanded him. Later, after Zhu Xiuzhi returned to court, he provided a detailed explanation, and Emperor Taizu finally dispelled his doubts. During his time in the Northern Wei Dynasty, Zhu Xiuzhi took multiple wives and concubines, fathering numerous children. In the twenty-third year of the Yuanjia era, Zhu Xiuzhi passed away in the Northern Wei Dynasty at the age of seventy-two years. His son Zhu Yuanjiao later became the county magistrate of Wanling, Jiangcheng, and Liyang.
Fu Hongzhi, courtesy name Zhongdu, is from Neiyang in the northern part of the country. The Fu family originally hailed from Lingzhou. In the late Han Dynasty, Lingzhou was occupied by the Northern Wei, and thus the Fu family became part of Neiyang County. In the third year of Taikang during the Jin Dynasty, Lingzhou County was reestablished, and the Fu family belonged to Lingzhou. Fu Hongzhi's great-grandfather was Fu Zhi, who served as the Minister of Works during the Jin Dynasty and was later granted the title Duke of Lingzhou. However, he was reluctant to accept a title in his hometown, so the Fu Zhi family returned to Neiyang. Fu Hongzhi's grandfather, Fu Chang, once served as the Secretary of the Ministry of Works and was killed by the Hu people. His son, Fu Hong, was able to return home only after the Hu were defeated during the reign of Emperor Mu of Jin. Fu Hong had a son named Fu Shao, who served as the Governor of Liangzhou and as a Cavalier in Regular Attendance. Fu Shao had a son named Fu Hongzhi.
He was quite ambitious and charismatic in his youth, and later became the provincial registrar. When Huan Xuan was trying to usurp the throne, the people of Xinye, under the leadership of Yu Ze, rebelled in Nanyang and attacked the Inspector of Yongzhou, Feng Gai, who fled in terror. At that time, Hongzhi was in Jiangling, collaborating with Yu Bin, the nephew of Yu Ze, to kill the Inspector of Jingzhou, Huan Shikang, and then have Yu Ze appointed as the Inspector of Jingzhou. However, Yu Hong, Yu Bin's cousin, discovered this plan and went to inform Huan Shikang. Huan Shikang had Yu Bin arrested and executed, and imprisoned Hongzhi. However, Huan Xuan believed that Hongzhi had no part in the plot, and since he had no soldiers and was dressed simply at the time, he decided to release him.
Later, Yi Qi raised the banner, and the General of the Auxiliary State, Dao Gui, appointed him as a military adviser, with the official titles of General of Ningyuan and Prefect of Weixing. When Lu Xun rebelled, Huan Shisui came out from Shangluo Jia Kou, claiming to be the Inspector of Jingzhou; Wang Tian'en, the Magistrate of Zhengyang, also claimed to be the Inspector of Liangzhou and went to attack Xicheng. At that time, Shao was in Liangzhou, so he sent Hongzhi to attack Huan Shisui and the others, resulting in all of them being killed. After that, Hongzhi was appointed as a military adviser to the Grand Commandant. Following Sima Xiuzhi to battle, he was appointed as the Rear Guard Commander and was also named General of Valor and Prefect of Shunyang. When Gaozu launched a northern expedition, Hongzhi and others led seven armies through Wuguan into enemy territory, causing the pretender to the Inspector of Shangluo to flee in fear. They captured Lantian and surrendered the tribes of Rong and Jin in those regions. The Jin people Pang Binzhi, Dai Yang, and the Hu people Kang Heng, among others, all surrendered with their tribes. Hongzhi was originally skilled in horseback riding, so after Gaozu arrived in Chang'an, Hongzhi was seen in Yao Hong's Chidao, dressed casually, riding and playing on horseback, galloping fast one moment and walking slowly the next, running back and forth within twenty miles, showcasing remarkable riding skills! Thousands of Qiang and Hu people watched, all amazed. Even more impressive is that as soon as he mounted the horse, he knocked the handle of the whip on the saddle, and the whip handle's hole was still resting against the horse's rear!
It is said that a man named Yang Hongzhi first served as an official in Guiyang, and later became a historian in Yongzhou, then was promoted to Sima of the Western Rong and General of Ning Shuo. At that time, the Prefect of Luoyang, Xu Shigao, rebelled, and Hongzhi led troops to suppress him. Later, Emperor Gaozu returned to Chang'an, and this young man, Helian Gui, claimed to be the Crown Prince and led thirty thousand troops to attack Chang'an. Hongzhi only led five thousand infantry and cavalry, and defeated Helian Gui's army at the Widow's Crossing, causing significant casualties to the enemy. Helian Gui then went to Weinan to plunder, but Hongzhi defeated him again, capturing three hundred prisoners and saving over seven thousand civilians.
Later, Yi Zhen (referring to Emperor Gaozu) returned to the east, and Helian Gui pursued with all his might, resulting in a major battle at Qingni. Hongzhi, wearing armor and commanding respect, was the true backbone of the army. Unfortunately, he was ultimately defeated and captured. Helian Gui pressured him to surrender, but Hongzhi chose to die rather than submit. On that cold day, Helian Gui had his clothes torn off and Hongzhi cursed vehemently before being killed. He was only forty-two years old at the time.
Historians note that during the prosperous eras of the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, the Central Plains region was well-organized, with cultural influence stretching from the east to the sea and west to the border, affecting every corner. During the Han Dynasty, the territory expanded and trade was established with countries from all directions, greatly expanding the reach and impact of cultural dissemination compared to earlier times. After the Jin Dynasty moved its capital to the south, communication between the Guanzhong region and the northern frontier diminished. Minority groups like the Qiang and Rong tribes had long been unaffected by Central Plains culture, so the court implemented a policy of "control and restraint," aiming to keep them in check without compelling them to fully submit.
If they can abide by the court's decrees and obey the court's orders, the court will communicate with them through letters and handle matters according to its rules. If they exploit their strategic position and cause chaos on the border, then the court should strengthen its defenses and defend against their incursions. Huan Wen was indeed a remarkable figure, single-minded in wanting to seize control of the Jin Dynasty. If not for his defeats at Ba and Fangtou, the Jin Dynasty might have fallen into his hands. When Gaozu rose in rebellion, he lacked the same level of accumulated strength as the Zhou Dynasty. In order to unify the country, he had to first achieve military success to win the people's support. He only wanted to reach Longmen, capture Jizhou and Zhaozhou, surpassing Huan Wen's achievements and those of ancient famous generals. However, he had yet to establish a foothold in Eastern Jin, and his reputation echoed only in Jiangnan. How could he win the people's hearts, gain their support, and smoothly ascend to the throne?
Didn't he realize that the Guanzhong region couldn't support such a large army, making it hard for his rule to endure? In the end, he occupied Xianyang but then abandoned it. Wasn't that a miscalculation? These four generals (referring to Yang Hongzhi and the other three) all perished in battle while trying to protect their own forces. It's such a shame!
