Liu Yuanjing, courtesy name: Xiaoren, was a native of Jie County in Hedong. His great-grandfather Liu Zhuo moved from his hometown in Hedong to Xiangyang, where he became the Prefect of Runan. His grandfather Liu Tian was the Prefect of Xihe. His father Liu Jiping was the Prefect of Fengyi. Liu Yuanjing was skilled in horseback riding and archery from a young age, often accompanying his father on expeditions against the barbarians. He was known for his bravery, and although he spoke little, he was very capable. The Governor of Jingzhou, Xie Hui, heard of his reputation and wanted to recruit him, but before Liu Yuanjing could go, Xie Hui failed. The Governor of Yongzhou, Liu Daochan, greatly admired his talents, but at that time Liu Yuanjing was in mourning, so he was not able to appoint him. Later, the Governor of Jingzhou, Prince Yi Gong of Jiangxia, summoned him. Liu Daochan said, "I originally wanted to keep him for a long time, but now that the prince has summoned him, I can't force him to stay. I'm quite regretful about it."
After his mourning period ended, Liu Yuanjing was appointed as the General of the Central Army of the Kingdom of Jiangxia and later promoted to the General of the Palace. He was then appointed by Yi Gong as a military advisor to the Minister of Works, and as Yi Gong rose in rank, he successively served as a military advisor in the Ministry of the State and the Ministry of the Grand Commandant. The founding emperor valued him highly. Earlier, when Liu Daochan held office in Yongzhou, his governance was effective and won the hearts of the people. Distant barbarian tribes submitted and relocated to the Han and Mian rivers to establish villages, which greatly increased the population. After Liu Daochan's death, these barbarian tribes began to rise up again. The Emperor Shizu stationed himself in western Xiangyang, and Yi Gong appointed Liu Yuanjing as a military leader, appointing him as General of Guangwei and Prefect of Sui County. When Liu Yuanjing arrived in Sui County, the barbarians cut off the post road and planned to attack the county. The county faced food shortages and lacked weapons. Liu Yuanjing devised a battle strategy, assembling six or seven hundred men and stationing five hundred men to guard the post road. Some said, "The barbarians are about to attack the city; we should not divide our forces in this situation."
Liu Yuanjing said, "The barbarians heard that the county had sent heavy troops to defend; how could they have thought the troops in the city were few? Attacking from both inside and outside is more advantageous for us." When the barbarian soldiers were fast approaching, he ordered the soldiers stationed at the post road to be prepared for defense, and then led the remaining troops to launch a surprise attack from behind the barbarian soldiers, commanding, "Charge as soon as you see the signal fire." With attacks from both sides, the barbarian soldiers fell into chaos; over a thousand of them jumped into the Yun River and drowned, and hundreds were killed or captured. The county was secured, and no more barbarian raids occurred. Later, Zhu Xiuzhi campaigned against the barbarians, and Liu Yuanjing joined him. He also aided Shen Qingzhi in the conquest of Yunshan and the capture of Taiyang City. Finally, he was appointed as a military officer in the Anbei Mansion by Emperor Sui Zu.
I accompanied General Wang Dan to garrison Xiangyang and served as a military officer in the rear army. Later, the court initiated a major northern campaign and ordered troops from various towns to march. In August of the twenty-seventh year, Wang Dan sent General Zhenwei Yin Xianzu to transport supplies and dispatched Generals Lu Fangping, Xue Andou, Pang Faqi (the governor of Lueyang), and others to march to Lushi, while General Guangwei Tian Yiren advanced to Luyang. I was promoted to General Yuanjing Jianwei as well, commanding these generals.
Pang Ji, the external general of the rear army, was seventy-three years old that year. He was from a prominent family in Qin territory, and many Qiang people were loyal to him. He requested to advance to Chang'an and surrender the Guanzhong region. He personally financed the transport of supplies into Lushi. Zhao Nan of Lushi welcomed him, and some of the major families in Hongnong had intended to submit to the court, and allowed Pang Ji to seek refuge with them. In October, Lu Fangping, Xue Andu, and Pang Faqi's armies arrived at Baiting, but I had not yet set out. Pang Faqi led Fangping, Andu, and other troops ahead, crossing Xiong'er Mountain from Xiuyang Pavilion. Pang Ji reached Gaomenmu City and met Prince Yongchang, who was entering Hongnong, so he returned to Lushi, secured a strategic position and held it firmly. After some time, he recruited young men from Lushi to Yiyang Gougong Valley to inspire their patriotic hearts. Later in the month, I led the army to continue advancing.
In November, Pang Faqi, Xue Andu, Lu Fangping, and other troops entered Lushi, killed the county magistrate Li Feng, appointed Zhao Nan as the magistrate of Lushi, and also appointed him as the Fenu General. Zhao Nan led the militia and guided the main forces. Pang Faqi and others crossed Tieling Mountain and reached Kaifangkou. Pang Ji came out from Mucity and met with Pang Faqi. My main army arrived at Jiukou, but since the vanguard had advanced too far and the rear could not catch up, I quickly dispatched Yin Xianzu to Lushi for reinforcements. Due to insufficient military supplies and could not sustain a prolonged standoff, I had to halt and lead the army to scale a hundred-foot cliff, entering Lushi via Wengu.
Legend has it that Fa Qi led his army to Fangbodui, located just five miles from Hongnong City. The bandits dispatched over two thousand men to scout the route, and Fa Qi ordered his troops to launch a counterattack, driving away those cavalry. Then, our army quickly made siege weapons and charged toward the city. The impostor Hongnong Prefect, Li Chugu, took refuge in the city with his followers. Fa Qi, Andu, Fang Ping, and their troops attacked fiercely, with the battle cries shaking the heavens, while Ji Ming and Zhao Nan led the militia to charge. Siege vehicles surrounded the city walls from all directions, attacking from several directions at the same time. The soldiers bravely killed the enemies, rushing up one after another. At that time, Li Chugu and his son guarded the south gate, personally commanding the battle, with over three thousand residents of Hongnong inside. They raised white flags on the north tower, and some even fired arrows without arrowheads attached. The deputy generals Tan Jin and Xue Xixiao from Andu's army were the first to scale the city and captured Li Chugu and his son alive. Lu Fangping rushed in from the south gate and also captured the fake county magistrate, finally restoring calm among the city's residents.
General Yuan Jing marched his troops over Xionger Mountain, General Andu set up camp in Hongnong, General Fa Qi occupied Tongguan, and General Ji Ming led the troops of Fang Ping and Zhao Nan towards the Seven-Mile Valley in Shaanxi. General Deng Sheng and Chief Liu Can of the Palace even sent people to the wilderness to recruit Liu Kuan from Yiyang, who rallied over two thousand militia to assault Jinmen Wu, capturing the place. They also killed the garrison commander Li Maidi, who was Li Chugu's son and a famous brave general who previously served as a chief historian under King Yongchang. King Yongchang was deeply saddened to hear of his death, feeling as though he had lost a vital ally. King Yongchang then sent the Chief Clerk Yao Fan with three thousand men to follow General Yuan Jing's command. In November, General Yuan Jing led a large army to Hongnong and established his camp at Kaifangkou. The court appointed General Yuan Jing as the new Prefect of Hongnong and provided him with officials and assistants.
At first, Andu was stationed in Hongnong, while other armies had already entered Shaanxi. General Yuan Jing arrived and said to Andu, "We can't just sit and guard an empty city, letting General Pang infiltrate the enemy's territory. This is not a good strategy! We should quickly send troops to attack the enemy together with General Xianzu. I have to wait to collect taxes before bringing troops to support." So everyone went to Shaan County together, marched straight into the city, set up camp, and prepared to launch an assault, also constructing many siege weapons. The enemy's city was strategically built along the river, leveraging the challenging terrain, and they took advantage of the terrain to mount a strong defense. Generals Jiming, Andu, Fangping, Xianzu, Zhaonan, and other armies attacked three times in a row but failed to capture the city. The Governor of Luozhou, Zhang Dihe, who led twenty thousand troops, crossed the river from Maoshan to rescue the enemy. Andu and Fangping lined up in the south of the city on standby, while General Xianzu led the elite troops as a reserve army. General Jiming led the volunteer army from Gaoming and Yiyang to deploy at the south gate, and General Zhaonan led the young soldiers from Lushi and Leyong to support General Jiming. The enemy launched a major attack, with light cavalry challenging us. General Andu, with his eyes wide and spear drawn, rode alone into the enemy's formation, launching fierce attacks from all directions. The enemy soldiers were scattered and unable to resist, leaving countless enemies in his wake. Meanwhile, our other troops rallied and charged forward, with the soldiers fighting valiantly. At first, the enemy cavalry charged from all sides, and our army was a bit overwhelmed. General Andu was furious; he took off his helmet and armor, donning only a red tunic, and removed the equipment from his warhorse. He rode into the enemy's formation with fierce determination and unstoppable courage, and no enemy in his path could escape. The enemy was terrified by his audacity; despite their desperate attempts to shoot him down, none succeeded. This happened several times; each time he charged into the enemy's formation, the enemy could not regroup.
Initially, General Yuan Jing ordered General Lu Yuan to defend Hangu Pass. The enemy was too strong, and General Lu Yuan was unable to hold out alone, so he led his soldiers to set up a defensive formation, raised many flags, and slowly retreated, taking advantage of the treacherous terrain. At that moment, General An Du and other troops were fighting the enemy. The enemy's General San Lang saw General Lu Yuan's army retreating from the mountain and thought that General Yuan Jing's main army had arrived. Moreover, it was already late in the day, so the enemy panicked and fled, with many cavalrymen escaping back to the city.
Trouble was approaching, so Fang Ping quickly sent a messenger on a fast horse to inform General Yuan Jing. At that time, all the troops were running out of food, with only a few days' rations remaining. General Yuan Jing was busy collecting taxes and preparing mules and horses to transport the grain. Upon receiving Fang Ping's message, General Yuan Jing immediately sent Deputy General Liu Yuanhu to lead two thousand infantry and cavalry to swiftly support Shanzhou. The entire army prepared for battle, marched through the night, and arrived in just one night.
The next morning, the enemy came out again and established their formation outside the city. Fang Ping's army also formed their battle formation, with General An Du commanding the cavalry and Fang Ping personally leading the infantry. The two flanks coordinated, while other volunteer soldiers lined up in the southwest of the city. Fang Ping said to An Du, "The formidable enemy is right in front of us, with the strong city walls behind us. Today is the day we fight to the death. If you retreat, I will kill you; if I retreat, you will kill me!" An Du said, "Alright, you are right! Why would I hold back my own life?" Thus, the two sides engaged in battle.
At this time, Liu Yuanhu arrived as well. He ordered the army to conceal their flags and war drums. The soldiers gritted their teeth and remained silent, sneaking forward in ambush. They did not notice them at all. Fang Ping and the others were engaged in fierce battle with the enemy, while Liu Yuanhu led a large army to charge out directly from the passage outside the south gate of the city, forming up to the north, with banners flying and a formidable presence. They charged out suddenly, catching the enemy off guard and instilling fear. Liu Yuanhu and the banner commander Zong Yue led elite cavalry to charge into the enemy formation, launching a fierce attack together. An Du, seething with anger, charged into the enemy formation with a spear in hand, moving back and forth, taking down numerous enemies. His arms were splattered with dried blood, his spear broken, but he grabbed another and charged back in. Deputy General Tan Jin led the cavalry closely behind to support him.
From morning until evening, the enemy was defeated, Zhang Shiti was slain, and over three thousand others were killed. Countless others committed suicide by jumping into rivers and ditches, while more than two thousand surrendered.
Yuan Jing arrived early in the morning with light cavalry and found that many of the captured soldiers were from Hanoi. Yuan Jing asked them, "Did you surrender to the enemy because you felt that the court did not show you favor? Now that you are fighting hard for the enemy, it indicates that you never had loyal intentions. Those who are willing to submit to the court will be spared; those who commit wrongdoing will be punished. You should understand that this is how the court's army conducts itself!" The captives all said, "We were forced to come here by the enemy. Their cavalry chased the infantry, and before the battle even began, we surrendered. We witnessed it ourselves and dare not betray the court!" Many generals wanted to kill them all, but Yuan Jing thought otherwise and said, "The banners of the royal army are advancing north, so we should let our reputation for benevolence and righteousness precede us." So he released them all. For those from Guannei, Yuan Jing provided them with credentials to pass through the guarding troops, and the captives all cheered and left.
Since the Xiaoshan and Shanshan areas had been pacified and needed to be reassured, the court appointed Liu Kuanqiu from Hongnong as the governor of Hongnong. The court also provided Yuan Jing with an honor guard.
Fa Qi then arrived at Tongguan. Prior to this, General Jianyi and Prefect Liu Huai of Huashan had assembled a volunteer army to assault Tongguan, captured the city, but lacked the strength to hold it. After some time, they gathered more troops to support the royal army. When Fa Qi arrived at Tongguan, Liu Huai was already there. The bandit leader guarding Tongguan, Lou Xu, saw the royal army's banners and fled in fear, resulting in many enemies falling into the river and drowning. Fa Qi and Liu Huai immediately occupied Tongguan.
The commander of Pucheng Town sent a decoy general to set up three camps at Fenglingdui to confuse Faqi. Faqi marched straight through, passing the old camps of Wang and Tan. The enemy believed Faqi was making a direct march towards Chang'an, so He Nan led his troops in an attempt to cross the Yellow River and cut off Faqi's retreat. Faqi ordered his soldiers to shoot arrows when they arrived at the river, which caused the enemy to scatter in panic. Local militias in Guanzhong rose up, and the Qiang and Hu tribes from all quarters also sought to join the fight. The court then sent General Yang Wu Kang Yuan to lead two thousand troops from Shangluo to operate under Yuan Jing's command and support the troops stationed at Hangu Pass.
After Yuan Jing left, the enemy marched towards Guanzhong. By this time, the army had run out of supplies, so Yuan Jing retreated to Baiyangling to make a stand. Before the enemy arrived, Yuan Jing descended the mountain into Hongnong and entered Huguan Pass. Du Daosheng, the Inspector of Wozhou and defender of Puban, led twenty thousand troops to Wanan River, one hundred and twenty miles from Huguan Pass. Yuan Jing recruited one thousand elite soldiers, preparing to launch a night attack on the enemy camp, but got lost and returned at dawn. Du Daosheng led his elite troops to rain arrows down on the enemy, and after the two sides fought, the enemy was routed once more.
Speaking of the pressing situation in the north, General Wang Xuanmo and other generals were defeated and retreated, as enemy troops pursued them, advancing deep into our territory. Emperor Taizu believed that Yuan Jing should not advance alone, so he ordered a retreat of all troops. Yuan Jing then led his soldiers to cross the Baiyang Ridge from Huguan, detouring through Changzhou, leaving Xue Andu to hold the rear and Zong Yue to support him. General Fa Qi departed from Tongguan and headed to Shangcheng to meet up with Yuan Jing; General Ji Ming also returned from Hugu, and they all achieved notable victories, returning triumphantly with a grand procession and banners that obscured the sun. Emperor Taizu ascended the city to greet Yuan Jing in person, appointing him as General of Ning Shuo, Prefect of Jingzhao County, Prefect of Guangping County, and establishing a mansion for him in Fancheng, where he would lead his troops to be stationed there and oversee northern barbarian affairs. At the same time, Pang Jiming was appointed as the Chief of Barbarian Affairs, Xue Andu as the Rear Army Attendant, Lu Fangping as the Assistant of Ning Barbarians, Zang Zhi as the Inspector of Yongzhou, and Yuan Jing was promoted to Champion Marshal and Prefect of Xiangyang, while retaining his position as a general.
General Lu Shuang led his troops to Hu Lao, and Emperor Taizu ordered Yuan Jing to lead Xue Andu and others north to reach the city of Guancheng. The defenders of Guancheng, realizing the situation was hopeless, fled, allowing Yuan Jing to occupy the city. After arriving at Hongguan, Yuan Jing wanted to pursue the victory and, together with Xue Andu, crossed the Yellow River to attack Du Daosheng in Puban, but at this time Lu Shuang withdrew his troops, which forced Yuan Jing to retreat. Later, Yuan Jing led his troops north again to campaign, his reputation spread far and wide, instilling fear beyond the borders. Emperor Taizu once again ordered him to take his troops to Xiyang to engage in the campaign against the Wushui Barbarians.
When Emperor Shizu personally led the campaign to defeat the instigator, he appointed Yuan Jing as a military councilor, commanding the central forces, and granted him the title of Champion General while retaining his position as Governor. He was given a vanguard of ten thousand troops, with thirteen armies, including Zong Que and Xue An, all under his command. Yuan Jing also wrote to his colleagues in the court, saying: "The nation is suffering greatly from disasters, the culprit runs rampant, the people and the deities are filled with grief and fury, as if the very heavens and earth are on the verge of collapse. The Southern General is leading the righteous forces against the instigator, the Minister of Works and Zang the Champion are also mobilizing troops, and warships stretch for miles, while the court has made ample provisions and rewards. Though my martial skills are lacking, I am fortunate to hold a significant post in the army, leading the vanguard. The situation is in our favor; our forces outnumber the enemy a hundred times over. You, who have been loyal to the country for generations, have devoted yourselves to the nation, having received favor from the previous dynasty, and having enjoyed wealth and glory for many years. Now, you find yourselves under enemy rule, unable to display your talents. I believe that upon hearing this news, you will be filled with mixed emotions. The army has already set out, and the clearing of obstacles has just begun. I look forward to meeting you all soon, so we can seek revenge together."
The rebel ships are both few and in poor condition, and the marshal fears they can't win a naval battle against the enemy. Upon arriving in Wuhu, Marshal Yuan Jing was particularly pleased and quickened their pace. He heard that warships had been dispatched from Shitoucheng, so Yuan Jing disembarked outside Jiangning City, established defensive fortifications near Banqiao, and secured their position. Then, he stationed himself in Yinshan and sent Xue Andu to lead the cavalry to deploy defenses on the south bank. Yuan Jing himself stealthily made his way to Xinting, constructed fortifications along the mountains and rivers, and took up strategic positions on both the eastern and western flanks. The emperor also sent General Longxiang and Staff Officer Cheng Tianzuo to reinforce the troops. Cheng Tianzuo also built a camp on a high ground in the southeast direction. Many defectors urged Yuan Jing to launch an attack quickly, but he said, "No! We cannot rely on unreliable surrendering people. Rogues collude with one another; reckless, unprepared attacks will only provoke the enemy. We must rely on our own indestructible advantages. Are we afraid that the enemy will not attack?"
Before Yuan Jing's fortifications were completed, Zhan Shuer, a subordinate of General Longxiang, discovered this. Zhan Shuer advised Zhang Shao (Zhang Shao is the marshal, for ease of reading, the full name is used here) to send troops to attack, but Zhang Shao refused. After several days, he ordered the troops to launch a combined land and naval assault, and Zhang Shao personally led the troops to the front. When the army arrived at Waguansi, they encountered the rebel patrol team. The patrol team was routed, allowing the enemy to close in on Yuan Jing's fortifications. Seeing that Yuan Jing's fortifications were still incomplete, Zhang Shao believed they could engage in a decisive ground battle. However, upon arrival, they discovered that the wooden barriers were already quite robust, leaving them with no choice but to launch a ground assault. Yuan Jing had earlier instructed his troops, "Excessive drumming can weaken morale; excessive shouting can drain strength. Just grit your teeth and fight with all your might, and follow only the drum signals from my camp for orders."
The enemy generals Lu Xiu, Wang Luohan, and Liu Jianzhi, as well as the cavalry general Chang Bo and their soldiers, fought to the death. Liu Jianzhi first attacked in the southwest direction, successfully burning the rebel forces' grass boats multiple times and even crossing the river. Cheng Tianzuo's camp was still under construction and was already in disarray due to enemy attacks. Wang Luohan and others attacked the north gate of the camp, and the enemy's warships arrived as well. Yuan Jing faced attacks from both land and water, but his troops' morale was high. He sent out all his brave warriors to fight, leaving only a few aides to relay military orders. He divided his troops to support Cheng Tianzuo, stabilizing their position and ultimately driving back the enemy. Seeing that the enemy was exhausted, he ordered the camp to be opened, drums to be beaten, and shouts to pursue the enemy. The enemy was defeated, with many killed by the Huai River. Zhang Shao led the remaining army to attack the camp, but was once again defeated by Yuan Jing, with more casualties than the last time. Zhang Shao personally killed fleeing soldiers, but couldn't regain control of the situation and fled back to the palace in a panic to save his life, while Xiao Bin was injured. Liu Jianzhi retreated with his troops, but before the troops dispersed, Yuan Jing pursued, and the enemy was scattered, many jumping into the Dead Horse Gorge, causing the gorge to fill with bodies. Yuan Jing killed Liu Jianzhi and military leaders Yao Shuyi, Wang Jiangbao, Zhu Mingzhi, and Zhuge Maizhi. Navy commander Chu Zhanzhi and deputy general Liu Daocun surrendered.
After the Emperor ascended to the throne at Xinting, he appointed Yuan Jing as an attendant while concurrently serving as the Left Guard General. Later, he was appointed as the commissioner, responsible for overseeing the military affairs of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, North and South Qinzhou, Jingling County in Jingzhou, and Sui County. His official titles were former general and pacification officer, while also serving as the governor of Yongzhou. This was a highly lucrative position! When the Emperor was at Bako, he asked Yuan Jing, "After things are settled, what do you want?" Yuan Jing said, "If Your Majesty's grace is overly generous, I hope to return to my hometown." So the Emperor gave him so many official positions.
Initially, Zang Zhi rebelled, believing that King Yixuan of Nanqiao was weak and easily manipulated, hoping to install him as emperor. He secretly contacted Yuan Jing, asking him to lead the army back west. Yuan Jing took Zang Zhi's letter directly to the emperor and said to Zang Zhi's envoy, "General Zang may not be aware of Your Highness's wise actions! Now is the time to suppress the rebels; there's no way you can head back west!" Because of this, Zang Zhi held a deep resentment toward Yuan Jing. Later, Yuan Jing became the Governor of Yongzhou. Zang Zhi feared that Yuan Jing might pose a threat to Jingzhou and Jiangzhou later, so he advised the emperor not to let Yuan Jing's army stray too far from the capital. Instead of heeding his advice, the emperor went a step further and appointed Yuan Jing as the General of the Guard, tasked with defending Shitoucheng. Yuan Jing declined this appointment. Later, the emperor promoted Yuan Jing to the position of Army Commander, and also granted him the title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, appointing him as Duke of Qujiang County with a fief of three thousand households. The pace of his promotions was astonishing! In January of the year 452 AD, Lu Shuang rebelled, and the court dispatched General Wang Xuanmo of the Left Guard to quell him. At the same time, Yuan Jing's rank was elevated, appointing him as the General of the Army, giving him command authority, permitting him to appoint his own staff, and allowing him to direct operations after Wang Xuanmo. Later, Yuan Jing received another promotion and was appointed the military commander of Yongzhou, Liangzhou, North Qinzhou, South Qinzhou, Jingling County in Jingzhou, and Sui County, while holding the title of General of the Army, also serving as Colonel of Pacification of the Man Barbarians and Governor of Yongzhou, with unchanged command authority. Zang Zhi and Yixuan joined the rebellion as well. Wang Xuanmo occupied Liangshan, constructed fortifications along the river, reinforcing them with earthen walls. Yuan Huzhi and Xue An crossed the Yangtze River and seized Liyang. Yuan Jing deployed his troops at Caishi. Wang Xuanmo learned that the enemy forces were formidable, so he sent Sima Guanfaji to request additional troops. The court subsequently ordered Yuan Jing to lead the army to Gu Shu.
General Wu Nian of the Yuanjing faction went to Gushu, but was ambushed by General Pang Faqi of the Zangzhi faction, who launched a surprise attack on Gushu. Pang Faqi fled alone after his defeat at the hands of Wu Nian. The Zangzhi faction breached the western camp of Wang Xuanmo. Wang Xuanmo sent Yuan Huzhi to tell Yuanjing, "Now we only have ten thousand men on the east bank; the enemy outnumbers us several times. The situation is dire; I think we should retreat and join forces with you to fight the enemy."
Yuanjing said to Yuan Huzhi, "There are rules of engagement in warfare; we cannot retreat first. Although the enemy is many, they are suspicious and disorganized. We should concentrate our forces to attack them now." Yuan Huzhi said, "There are thirty thousand rebels in Yunnan Province, but your troops are only one-tenth of theirs. If we rashly attack the enemy, our weakness will be exposed, and their morale will rise." Yuanjing heeded his advice and dispatched elite troops to support Wang Xuanmo, leaving behind the elderly and weaker soldiers to defend. The troops sent out were carrying many flags. Looking from Liangshan, it looked as if tens of thousands of people had come. Everyone said, "The troops from the capital have all arrived!" As a result, they quickly achieved victory.
The emperor sent Yan Jun, the magistrate of Danyang, to deliver an imperial decree of consolation, and at the same time appointed Shen Qingzhi and Yuan Jingdu as the Grand Coordinators of the Three Departments, granting the title of Duke of Jin'an County, with no change in stipends. Yuan Jingdu firmly declined the position of Grand Coordinator of the Three Departments and instead took on the roles of General of the Army, Prince's Advisor, and was also appointed as an attendant. Not long after, he was promoted to Cavalry General and Governor of Benzhou, while retaining his roles as General of the Army and attendant. In the second year of Daming, the emperor once again granted him the title of Grand Coordinator of the Three Departments, which he again declined. The following year, he was promoted to Minister of the Left, while retaining his positions as Prince's Advisor, attendant, and Governor. Since his fief was located in Lingnan and the long distance for transporting autumn taxes, his fief was changed to Duke of Badong County. Five years later, the emperor appointed him as Grand Minister of Splendor of the Left, Grand Coordinator of the Three Departments, attendant, Minister of the Left, and Governor, which he declined once again. Following the example of Zheng Mao, Marquis of Miling in the Jin Dynasty, who did not accept the position of Minister of Works, further details can be found in "Biography of Shen Qingzhi." Six years later, he was appointed as Minister of Works, while retaining his positions as attendant, Minister of the Left, and Governor, which he firmly declined. Finally, he was appointed as attendant, Cavalry General, and Governor of Nanyanzhou, but remained in the capital. After the death of Emperor Shizu, he, along with Prince Yaigong of Jiangxia and Yan Shibai, were entrusted to assist the young emperor. He was later promoted to Minister of the Left, concurrently serving as magistrate of Danyang, while retaining his roles as attendant and general, and was assigned twenty sword-bearing guards, which he firmly declined.
Yuan Jing began his career as a military general and later became involved in court politics. Although this was not his expertise, he was a man of elegance and dignity. Many high-ranking officials in the court at that time were keen on managing industries, but Yuan Jing refrained from managing any business ventures. He had dozens of acres of vegetable gardens on the south bank. When the gardeners brought back 20,000 coins earned from selling vegetables, Yuan Jing said, "I planted this vegetable garden to feed my family; now selling the vegetables to make money, isn't this taking advantage of the people's interests?" So he gave the money back to the gardeners.
Emperor Shizu was stern and extraordinarily harsh. Although Yuan Jing was favored, he was always worried about attracting disaster. Grand Preceptor Wang Yigong and other ministers were all trembling and dared not show any signs of arrogance, let alone have private interactions. After Emperor Shizu's death, Yigong, Yuan Jing, and the others remarked to one another, "Today we have finally escaped the disaster." Yigong, Yiyang, and other princes, as well as Yuan Jing and Yan Shibo, often played together, singing, drinking, and having fun day and night.
That deposed emperor had a history of wrongdoing since childhood, creating chaos in the internal affairs, and even killed Dai Faxing, completely exposing his cruel nature. Yigong, Yuan Jing, and a few other ministers were terrified, feeling anxious and indecisive, secretly plotting to depose the emperor and support Yigong. They gathered every night to plot, but they hesitated and struggled to make a decision.
During the Yongguang period, in the summer, Yuan Jing was appointed as the Imperial Envoy, commander of the military forces in southern Yu and Xuan Cheng, the governor of Nanyu Prefecture, and retained the positions of Attendant Minister and Minister of Personnel. Before he could take office, his plans were uncovered! The emperor personally led troops to arrest him. The emperor first sent someone to summon Yuan Jing. Yuan Jing's people quickly reported that the approaching troops were imposing and heavily armed. Yuan Jing sensed trouble, so he quickly donned his official robes, got into a carriage, and went to answer the summons. As he stepped out of his house, he encountered his younger brother, Yuan Shuren, the charioteer marshal, who was clad in armor and accompanied by dozens of warriors attempting to prevent him from leaving. Yuan Jing earnestly tried to dissuade his brother. As they left the alley, the imperial soldiers surged in, and Yuan Jing was killed instantly as he stepped out of the carriage. In his final moments, he appeared remarkably calm. He was sixty years old that year.
His eldest son, Qing Zong, though talented, was known for his eccentric personality. Later, Emperor Shizu ordered Yuan Jing to send him back to Xiangyang, and he was executed on the way. His second son, Yuan Sizong, was serving as a charioteer for the Prince of Yuzhang at the time. Yuan Jing had several other sons: Sizong, Shaozong, Maozong, Xiaozong, Wenzong, Zhongzong, Chengzong, and Xiuzong. His younger brother, Yuan Shuren, and his nephew, Yuan Sengzhen (a military consultant), as well as other brothers and nephews, were killed in the capital and Xiangyang, amounting to dozens in total. Only Yuan Jing's youngest son, Chengzong, and his grandson Zuan managed to survive.
After Emperor Taizong ascended to the throne, he ordered, "The former Palace Attendant, Minister of Rites, General of the Flying Cavalry, Duke of Ba Dong Commandery, newly appointed as the General of the Household with equal rank to the Three Excellencies, and Governor of Nanyuzhou, Yuan Jing, was a man of grace, steady character, who upheld justice and was humble. He was loyal to the country, assisting the monarch, but was unfortunately framed by treacherous individuals and cruelly murdered; it was a true injustice! Having inherited my ancestors' legacy, I am deeply saddened and must honor his contributions to show loyalty and righteousness. I posthumously appoint him as Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of the armies of Nanyuzhou and Jiangzhou, Grand Commandant, Palace Attendant, Governor, and Duke, and bestow upon him thirty guards, a feathered banner, and a musical ensemble, with the posthumous title of 'Duke of Loyalty and Valor.'"
Yuan Jing's uncle, Ren, served as the Inspector of Liangzhou and a Yellow Gate Attendant. Because he defeated Zang Zhi, he was granted the title of Marquis of Yiyang, with a fief of eight hundred households. Yuan Jing's cousin, Yuan Hu, took over as the Inspector of Liangzhou during the late Ming Dynasty after Ren. He later rebelled alongside Prince Zixun of Jin'an but surrendered to the court after the rebellion failed. Yuan Jing's uncle's younger brother, Xian Zong, served as the Colonel of the Sikong in the early Ming period. However, when Prince Dan of Jingling rebelled, Xian Zong was killed and posthumously honored as a Yellow Gate Attendant. Yuan Jing's cousin, Guang Shi, initially stayed in his hometown but was later appointed as the General of Zhechong and the Governor of Hebei by Northern Wei (Suo Lu), and was also titled the Lord of Xiling. His father-in-law was the pretender to the position of Minister of Works, Cui Hao, who was also the Prime Minister of Northern Wei. In the 27th year of Yongjia, the Emperor of Northern Wei, Tuoba Tao, marched south to attack Ruzhou and Yingzhou. Cui Hao had other intentions; therefore, Guang Shi rallied the righteous men of Hebei to support Cui Hao. However, Cui Hao's plot was exposed, and he was killed, resulting in the destruction of many prominent families in Hedong. Guang Shi fled south to save his life. Later, Emperor Taizu of the Song appointed him as the General of Zhenwu. During the reign of Emperor Jiahe, he was promoted to the position of Left General and served as the Director of the Secretariat. When Emperor Taizong pacified the rebellion, Guang Shi participated in military planning and was appointed as the Right Guard General, with a fief of one thousand households. Later, when rebellions broke out again, his colleagues, Zong Yue and Tan Jin, were executed. Guang Shi fled to Xue Andu, who asked him to guard Xiapi City. However, Xue Andu colluded with Northern Wei, so Guang Shi led his troops to surrender to Emperor Taizong of the Song. The Emperor pardoned him and appointed him as the Prefect of Shunyang. However, his son Xinwei later conspired to rebel, which resulted in Guang Shi being executed.
Master Yan, whose courtesy name is Changyuan, is a native of Linyi in Langye and the cousin of the provincial governor of Dongyang, Jun. His father, Yan Shao, was upright and capable, highly regarded by Xie Hui. When Xie Hui was appointed as the General of the Army, he appointed Yan Shao as a military strategist. Yan Shao also participated in the political machinations surrounding the succession of emperors. After Xie Hui was stationed in Jiangling, he appointed Yan Shao as a military advisor and in charge of records, entrusting him with all military affairs. Yan Shao had a premonition that Xie Hui would encounter trouble, so he requested to be appointed as the Prefect of Jingling. Before he could take up the position, Xie Hui was already summoned by the court. Xie Hui wanted to rebel against the court with Yan Shao, but Yan Shao chose to poison himself.
Master Yan grew up poor and lonely, but he was self-taught, read extensively, and even had some knowledge of music. Later, when Liu Daochan was appointed as the provincial governor of Yongzhou, he valued Yan's talents and appointed him as a deputy military advisor. His younger brother, Yan Shizhong, married the daughter of Zang Zhi. When Zang Zhi served as the provincial governor of Xuzhou, he appointed Yan as his chief clerk. Later, Prince Hengyang Liu Yiji succeeded Zang Zhi as the provincial governor of Xuzhou, and Zang Zhi recommended Yan to him. Liu Yiji immediately appointed Yan as the military advisor for the western expedition. After that, Marquis Xing'an Liu Yibin succeeded Liu Yiji, and then Emperor Wu succeeded Liu Yibin, and Yan continued to serve as a deputy military advisor for the state and the northern campaigns.
At that time, Wang Jingwen served as a consultant, greatly appreciated Yan Shibei's cleverness and ability to handle matters, and recommended him to the Emperor. Yan Shibei took the opportunity to request the Emperor to grant him the title of Chief Scribe, so the Emperor appointed him as the Chief Scribe of Xuzhou. He was very good at flattery and sycophancy, so he was held in high regard by his superiors. When he left Xuzhou, he was still sent off as the Chief Scribe. When the Emperor was stationed at Xunyang, he petitioned the Emperor to appoint Yan Shibei as the Chief Scribe of the Southern Central Command. However, the Emperor refused and said to his close officials, "How can Yan Shibei be the Chief Scribe of the Southern Central Command?" The Emperor then requested him to be the Chief Assistant of Changliu, but the Emperor still said, "The court cannot give him this position; you'll have to figure it out." So the Emperor had to let him serve as a military advisor, in charge of legal and prison affairs. After suppressing the rebels, he was promoted to Chief Scribe.
After Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, my protagonist was first appointed as a Yellow Gate Attendant, following Wang Dan, and became the Grand Historian of the Cavalry and the Governor of Nanjun. Later, he was promoted to Grand General of the Cavalry, the Grand Historian of Nan Puyang, and also served as the Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate; his official position was rising rapidly!
However, Zang Zhi rebelled, and he was sent to serve as General Ningyuan and Governor of Dongyang, leading troops to form a staff responsible for eastern front defenses. After the rebellion was quelled, he returned to the court, became a Yellow Gate Attendant again, and also served as the Colonel of Infantry. Not long after, he was promoted to Front General, then transferred to Deputy Director of the Imperial Censorate, and finally appointed as an Imperial Attendant. His rapid promotions were the envy of many!
In order to commend those who pacified the rebellion, the Emperor issued a decree in the first year of the Ming Dynasty; the original text is as follows:
"In the past, during times of national crisis, many hesitated and were afraid. However, Pang Xiuzhi was able to uphold righteousness and be the first to express loyalty, allowing us to uncover the enemy's plot in advance, prepare our military early, and quickly suppress the rebellion. He made a tremendous contribution! We must not forget his loyalty. Also, Yan Shibai, Yuan Minsun, Wang Qianzhi, and Zhang Yan, who participated in the rebellion suppression from the start, offering strategic advice and facing considerable risks, deserve special rewards. Therefore, I hereby appoint Pang Xiuzhi as the Earl of Le'an County with a fief of six hundred households each; Yan Shibai as the Viscount of Pingdu County, Yuan Minsun as the Viscount of Xingping County, Wang Qianzhi as the Viscount of Shiyang County, and Zhang Yan as the Viscount of Guangjin County, each with a fief of five hundred households.
My mentor, Yan Shibai, was promoted to General of the Right Guard, but later resigned to observe mourning for his mother. Two years later, he was appointed as the Chief Military Officer overseeing Dong'an County and Dongguan County in the Qing and Ji provinces, as well as the military officer of Jibei County in Yanzhou, holding the title of Assistant General while also serving as the Governor of Qing and Ji provinces."
In the same year, the Northern Wei Dynasty's Tuoba Jun sent a man named Shi Ben, with the title of Acting Cavalry Commandant, General of the West, and also granted him the title of "Duke of Tianshui," to lead troops to attack Qingkou. The defending general of Qingkou, Fu Qian'ai, who held the title of General Zhu Qi, decisively defeated the enemy.
The emperor sent Huben Zhu Pang Mengqiu and Jishe General Yin Xiaozu to support, instructing them to follow the command of my uncle. My uncle then sent Deputy Commander Gou Sida to fight alongside Pang Mengqiu. When they reached Shagou, they encountered the enemy's Kuhuan Gong and Wujun Gong, who had many cavalry and infantry, with tens of thousands of troops ready for battle. Pang Mengqiu and his men fought desperately all day, with Pang Mengqiu personally killing Wujun Gong, which led to the enemy's retreat. Yin Xiaozu also killed Kuhuan Gong, and thousands of enemies drowned in the river.
The enemy subsequently dispatched Henan Gong, Heishui Gong, Jizhou Gong, and Zhang Huaizhi, the Governor of Qingzhou, to camp by the Jishui River. My uncle sent Deputy Commander Jiang Fangxing to support Fu Qian'ai, and together they defeated them, killing Henan Gong Shulan and others. Another enemy leader, "Tamen," brought over ten thousand men to attack Qingkou City. Fu Qian'ai and Jiang Fangxing went out to meet them, killing "Tamen" on the spot, with the rest of the enemy scattering in every direction.
The Duke of Tianshui, Shi Ben, returned with another twenty thousand troops to assault the city once more. Fu Qian'ai and his men went out to meet them, once again defeating the enemy and pursuing them all the way to Chilongmen, resulting in the deaths of many enemy soldiers.
The emperor is extremely pleased and issued a decree praising: "The enemy is like a pack of rabid dogs, attempting to invade our borders. Our General of the Auxiliary State, Governor of Qing and Ji provinces, Shi Bo, commanded effectively and adapted swiftly, and the valiant soldiers defending the city fought valiantly, winning four battles within a month. The various troops cooperated with each other, fought bravely, repeatedly killed enemy generals, and annihilated a large number of enemies. I am very pleased with this! Special envoys were dispatched to commend them, and the Auxiliary State Government was instructed to carefully examine their merits and reward them accordingly."
Gou Sida and Pang Mengqiu chased the enemy all the way to Duliang, only to discover that the enemy was overwhelming, surrounding them on all sides. The Deputy South Army Tong Taiyi joined Gou Sida and others, riding into the enemy camp and sending the enemy scattering. Pang Mengqiu and the others arrived later, and the enemy fled in disarray, with many plunging into the river and drowning. After a while, the enemy regrouped with a significant force and attacked again, but Pang Mengqiu and his men defeated them once more.
The emperor then sent the Deputy Minister of Works Bu Tiansheng to support Shi Bo. Zhang Huaizhi had taken control of Migou City, so Shi Bo sent Bu Tiansheng and his troops to attack. Zhang Huaizhi emerged from the city to engage in battle, but Bu Tiansheng, accompanied by the main generals Liu Huaizhen, the White-Clothed Guest Zhu Shiyi, and the Palace General Meng Jizu, attacked Zhang Huaizhi. Zhang Huaizhi was defeated and fled back to the city, narrowly avoiding death. Meng Jizu lost his life in the battle and was posthumously promoted to the position of county governor. Next, the Longxi King stationed his troops in Shencheng, with their backs to the Ji River and facing the Yellow River, flanked by treacherous terrain on three sides. Bu Tiansheng led his troops to attack, and Zhu Shiyi and his armored men were the first to storm the city walls. The enemy jumped into the river to escape, with countless drowning in the river, and Shencheng was captured that very day.
The enemy launched another attack on Yue'an City, and General Jianwei, the governor of Pingyuan Yue'an, and Bu Tiansheng, the military commander of Wudu, fought together to defeat the enemy. The enemy fled, and we pursued them all the way to Qingkou. The enemy surrounded Fu Qian'ai, who mounted a defense right there. When the emperor arrived, the enemy broke the siege and fled. Shi Bo was promoted to General of Conquering Barbarians.
In the third year, the Prince of Jingling rebelled, and Shi Bo sent his chief of staff, Ji Xuanjing, with five thousand men to suppress the rebellion. This was a crucial moment!
In the fourth year, he was summoned by the court to serve as an imperial attendant and also held the position of General of the Right Army. The emperor personally took him to Longmi for an inspection tour. At that time, he held a status unmatched by any other court official. Later, he was promoted to Minister of Personnel, while still retaining the position of General of the Right Army. The emperor was wary of letting all power fall into the hands of others, so he personally inquired about various matters. The officials in charge of selecting candidates merely dealt with paperwork, while Shi Bo could make decisions independently, and the emperor almost always agreed with his suggestions. Later, he was promoted to attendant and also held the position of General of the Right Guard. In the seventh year, he was promoted to Minister of the Right as well. At that time, the court created two Minister of Personnel positions, and Xie Zhuang from Chen County and Wang Tansheng from Langye were both appointed to these positions.
Shi Bo's son wanted to place Zhang Qi, who came from a humble background, in the position of Gongche Ling. The Emperor believed Zhang Qi's qualifications and rank were insufficient, so he appointed him as the Market Purchase Officer too, and then appointed Cai Daohui to take over as Gongche Ling. As a result, several officials under Shi Bo—Pan Daoqi, Chu Daohui, Yan Yizhi, Yuan Congfu, Ren Danzhi, Shi Dao'er, Huang Nan, and Zhou Gongxuan—deliberately defied the Emperor's orders, allowing Zhang Qi to assume the position of Gongche Ling first, completely ignoring the order for him to also serve as Market Purchase Officer. As a result of this incident, the Emperor held Shi Bo accountable. Because of his son's meddling in personnel matters, Xie Zhuang and Tan Sheng were removed from their positions, Pan Daoqi and Chu Daohui were executed, and Yan Yizhi along with six others received a hundred lashes. Later, Shi Bo was appointed as a Consultant to the Crown Prince, and despite having been punished previously, the Emperor continued to rely on him as before.
Before Emperor Shizu passed away, he left a testament appointing his Shibo as the assistant to the young emperor, entrusting him with all matters of the Ministry of Personnel. After the abdication of the emperor, he was reappointed to his original position and also took on the role of Weiwei. As he held power for a long time, people from all walks of life flocked to him. Those who visited his mansion experienced rapid promotions, often exceeding their rightful ranks. He accepted many bribes and amassed considerable wealth, employing the finest singers, dancers, and musicians, and owning the most luxurious garden estate of the time. His lavish lifestyle drew envy from many. Later, he was promoted to Shangshu Pushe and concurrently appointed as Dan Yang Yin. When the abdicated emperor wanted to take control, he issued a decree transferring him to the position of Left Pushe, also appointing him as Sanqi Changshi, and appointing the Minister of Personnel, Wang Jingwen, as Right Pushe. His position as Dan Yang Yin was revoked, and he was assigned other tasks. It was then that he began to feel fearful. Shortly after, he was executed alongside Grand Preceptor Jiangxi Wang Yigong and Liu Yuanjing, at the age of forty-seven. His six sons were also killed. My younger brother, Shizhong, served as a Zhongshu Lang and Governor of Jinling. My uncle held the position of Chief Clerk in the Ministry of Works and also served as Governor of Nankang. After Emperor Taizong of Tang ascended the throne, he issued a decree saying, "The former Sanqi Changshi, Pushe, Dan Yang Yin, and Pingdu County's son, Shibo, who once held esteemed positions and honors during the country’s tumultuous times, tragically perished under the tyranny of the era, and his descendants were also cut off, which is truly sympathetic and regrettable. However, due to his avarice, his awarded titles should be downgraded. He may be posthumously honored as a marquis to appease his spirit. His posthumous title was 'Huangzi'." My nephew, Shigan, inherited the title. Later, following the abdication of the Qi Dynasty, the national title was abolished.
Shen Qingzhi, styled Hongxian, was from Wukang in Wuxing. His older brother Shen Changzhi had served as a military officer under Zhao Lunzhi, who was the Commandant for Conquering the Barbarians, and as the Prefect of Nanyang Commandery. He achieved military achievements in the campaign against the barbarians and was officially appointed as the Prefect.
Shen Qingzhi had ambition and capability from a young age. During the rebellion led by Sun En, when Sun En's forces attacked Wukang, Shen Qingzhi, still a minor, joined his fellow villagers in resisting, becoming known for his bravery. After the chaos subsided, with his hometown in disarray, Shen Qingzhi personally worked the land, working hard to make a living. After years of relative obscurity, at the age of thirty, he quietly visited his brother in Xiangyang. Zhao Lunzhi, the superior of his brother, was impressed by Shen Qingzhi. At that time, Zhao Lunzhi's son, Zhao Bofu, was the Prefect of Jingling, so Zhao Lunzhi had Zhao Bofu recruit Shen Qingzhi as an officer. Barbarians in Jingling frequently harassed the region, but Shen Qingzhi devised strategies to defeat them every time, earning Zhao Bofu a reputation as a skilled commander. Later, when Zhao Bofu was transferred from Jingling Commandery to lead a campaign against the barbarians of Xiling, he did not take Shen Qingzhi along and returned without any military achievements.
In the second year of the Yongchu era, Shen Qingzhi was promoted to the position of Palace Gentleman-General and then joined Liu Yu (Bofu) on a northern campaign, participating in military operations under the command of Yan Zhi. When Liu Yu fell ill and returned, Shen Qingzhi continued to follow Tan Daoji. Tan Daoji recommended Shen Qingzhi to see Emperor Wu of Song, praising his loyalty, caution, and military knowledge. As a result, Emperor Wu of Song appointed him in charge of the defense of the East Gate, gradually giving him closer access to the palace. Later, Shen Qingzhi was assigned to garrison the new city of Qiantang, and upon his return, he served as the Prefect of Huaili.
General Liu Zhan knew Shen Qingzhi and wanted to win him over, saying, "You have been in the court for so many years; you should be promoted." Shen Qingzhi solemnly replied, "I have been in the court for ten years, and by rights, I should have been promoted. There's no need to trouble you about it." Soon after, he was promoted to General. On the night when Liu Zhan was arrested, Emperor Song Wudi opened the palace gates in the dead of night to summon Shen Qingzhi. Shen Qingzhi, dressed in military attire, rushed in without having time to change. Emperor Song Wudi was taken aback and asked, "Why are you dressed in such a hurry?" Shen Qingzhi replied, "I didn't have time to get properly dressed." Afterwards, Shen Qingzhi was tasked with arresting and executing Liu Bin, the Prefect of Wu Commandery. Later, he was promoted to Military Advisor for Prince Liu Jun of Shixing and also served as Attendant Cavalry Officer.
In the nineteenth year of Yuanjia, Liu Daochan, the governor of Yongzhou, passed away, and various barbarian tribes across different regions revolted. Zhu Xiuzhi, the Deputy Marshal of the West, failed in his campaign against the barbarian tribes, so the court appointed Shen Qingzhi as the General of Might to lead troops to support Zhu Xiuzhi. Zhu Xiuzhi was imprisoned for breaching military discipline, so Shen Qingzhi took it upon himself to continue the campaign against the barbarian tribes, defeating the tribes in the Yuanmian region and capturing over 7,000 enemy combatants. He then marched to Huyang and captured over 10,000 enemy combatants. He was later promoted to Military Advisor to Prince Guangling, Liu Dan, while also serving as Military Advisor to Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, Liu Yilong (Shizu). Emperor Wen led his army to the west as the Governor of Yongzhou. At that time, the barbarian raiders were rampant, and both land and water transportation were hindered, trapping Emperor Wen's army on a levee and halting their advance. Consequently, Emperor Wen split his forces and dispatched Shen Qingzhi to confront the bandits, defeating them and capturing 20,000 surrendering foes. After Emperor Wen arrived at Zhendi, the barbarian tribes along the postal route revolted again, killing Shen Shi. Shen Qingzhi launched another attack against them. Wang Xuanmo commanded the army from Jingzhou, and Wang Fanghui commanded the forces from Taiwan, and they joined forces with Shen Qingzhi to subdue the mountainous regions, capturing over 70,000 enemy combatants. The Yanshan barbarian tribe was the strongest, and Lu Zongzhi had attempted to conquer them multiple times without success. Shen Qingzhi finally pacified them, capturing over 30,000 enemy combatants. After quelling the rebellion, Shen Qingzhi returned to the capital to once again serve as Military Advisor to Prince Guangling, Liu Dan, and was promoted to General of Might, and concurrently appointed as Prefect of Nanjiyin.
The barbarians of Yongzhou are making trouble again. General Qingzhi, along with the governor and Prince Wang Dan, marched into the Mian River Basin. After arriving in Xiangyang, General Qingzhi led more than 20,000 troops to attack the barbarians in the mountains north of the Mian River, including military adviser Liu Yuanjing, county governor Zong Que, General Zhenwei Liu Yong, military adviser Lu Shangqi, military adviser Gu Bin, Ma Wengong, military adviser Xiao Jingsi, former Qingzhou deputy Cui Muli, military adviser Liu Yongzhi, General Wang Jingshi, and others. Zong Que marched to Taihong Mountain from Xin'an, Liu Yuanjing took the Wushui Ridge from Junshui, Ma Wengong attacked Chixi Wu from Caiyangkou, Wang Jingshi marched to Chiqi Ban from the foot of Yanshan, and Cui Muli, Lu Shangqi, and other eight-way armies attacked simultaneously. General Qingzhi himself attacked Wuqu, quickly captured Wu, and used it as the command center for the various armies.
In the previous few battles against the barbarians, the army camped at the mountain's base to force the barbarians into battle. However, the barbarians defended the mountains, taking advantage of the terrain, showering us with arrows and stones, resulting in repeated defeats with minimal impact. General Qingzhi then gathered the troops at the base of Ruqiu Mountain and said, "If we attack along the mountain road, our soldiers and horses will surely suffer heavy losses. The barbarians had a great harvest last year, with mountains of grain stored up. They have not suffered from hunger and poverty yet, so it will be difficult to eliminate them for a while. Now I propose that each of you lead your troops to set up camp directly on the mountain and catch them by surprise. The barbarians will surely be scared, and we can win without a fight while they are!"
So the various armies started chopping down trees together to clear the way, no longer engaging in direct combat with the tribes. They beat drums and gongs loudly while charging up the mountain, heading straight for the center of the barbarian territory, seizing strategic positions. The tribes were thrown into chaos, and General Qing took advantage of their fear to surround them, which made the barbarian soldiers flee in all directions. From winter to spring, the army sustained themselves with the local resources, consuming the tribes' food.
After some time, the leader of the tribes in Nanxin County, Tian Yansheng, rebelled with his ten tribes and over six thousand followers. They attacked and surrounded the county seat. Qing then sent Yuan Jing with five thousand men to support. Before the army arrived, the county seat was breached, the warehouses and government offices were burned down, and the common folk were captured. Tian Yansheng and his followers occupied Baiyang Mountain. Yuan Jing chased them to the foot of the mountain, where the troops gathered to surround the mountain. Zong Que led his vanguard troops to charge first, and the entire army launched a fierce attack, scoring a major victory that sent the tribes in the mountains into a panic, who begged for their lives. Qing was plagued by headaches and liked to wear a fox fur hat, which the tribes despised, calling him "Cangtou Gong." Every time they saw Qing's army, they would tremble and say, "Cangtou Gong is here again!"
Qing led the army out of Ruqiu Mountain to inspect the city defenses and claimed another significant victory, beheading three thousand enemies, capturing over twenty-eight thousand tribespeople, with another twenty-five thousand laying down their arms. They also seized over seven hundred cattle and horses and more than ninety thousand bushels of grain. Following Wang Dan, they constructed two towns in Baichu to accommodate the surrendered and captured tribespeople.
Qing then led his troops to campaign against the Qiang and Yi tribes in the Xingzhu Mountain region. They were located in rugged terrain and had constructed formidable fortifications complete with gates and watchtowers. The mountains were thick with trees and boulders, which they piled up as defensive works. They established various departments, raised flags, appointed generals, and had groups of armored cavalry. Qing set up camps in the mountains, connecting them with gates. He also instructed his soldiers to dig ponds within the camps to avoid venturing outside for water and to prevent the tribes from setting fires. One night, a strong wind blew, and the tribes descended from the mountains with torches to set fire to the camps. The soldiers swiftly doused the flames with water from the ponds while firing arrows at the tribes, forcing them to scatter. Qing ordered the army to cut through the mountains to attack the tribes, but the terrain was difficult and it was the rainy season. Six forts were established—Donggang, Shushan, Yimin, Xichai, Huangjiao, and Shangjiang—before pulling back the troops. The tribes were besieged for a long time, enduring hunger and deprivation, and eventually surrendered. The captured tribespeople were resettled in the capital as new inhabitants.
In the year 454 AD, Xie Qingzhi was promoted to Prince's Infantry Commander. In the same year, the emperor was planning a northern campaign, and Xie Qingzhi strongly advised against it, saying, "Our infantry has never been able to defeat the enemy's cavalry! Please think twice before acting; just look at what happened with Tan Daoji and Wang Xuanmo before. Tan Daoji failed twice in his northern campaigns, and Wang Xuanmo also returned from battle defeated. The generals under your command now are at best comparable to them in strength, and the size of the army is not much different from before. I fear this northern campaign will end in disgrace again, and victory will be hard to come by." However, the emperor said, "Those fools are occupying Henan. If we take back Henan, even if we suffer some losses, we can find other solutions. Furthermore, Tan Daoji failed because he allowed the enemy to grow stronger, and Wang Xuanmo failed because he acted recklessly halfway. The reason why the enemy is arrogant is mainly that they have cavalry. It is now summer; the Yellow River is rising, and the river is unobstructed. We can sail north; the garrison at Qiao and Huatai will definitely flee, and the garrison at Huatai will be easy to attack. If we capture these two locations and win over the people, Hulao Pass and Luoyang will inevitably fall. By winter, the enemy's city garrisons won't be able to react, and their cavalry won't be able to cross the river, and they will be like turtles in a jar!" Xie Qingzhi still insisted on his opinion. At that time, the Intendant of Danyang, Xu Zhanzhi, and the Minister of Personnel, Jiang Zhan, were also present. The emperor asked Xu Zhanzhi and others to refute Xie Qingzhi. Xie Qingzhi said, "Running a country is like running a household; you consult farmers about farming and weavers about weaving. Your Majesty wants to go to war now, but only consults with us scholars; how can we expect to win this war?" The emperor laughed heartily upon hearing this.
The Northern Expedition has begun. Xie Qingzhi, as the deputy of Wang Xuanmo, launched an attack on Qiao Ao together, and the enemy defenders in the city fled at the first sight of them. Later, Wang Xuanmo went to besiege Huatai, while Xie Qingzhi and Xiao Bin remained at Qiao Ao, where Xie was appointed as Xiao Bin's deputy marshal. Wang Xuanmo besieged Huatai for a long time but was unable to take it. The enemy commander, Tuoba Tao, marched a large army southward, so Xiao Bin sent Xie Qingzhi to lead five thousand troops to rescue Wang Xuanmo. Xie Qingzhi said, "Wang Xuanmo's army is worn out, and the enemy is about to arrive. Each army must have at least ten thousand troops to attack; having too few troops would be pointless!" Xiao Bin insisted on sending him anyway, which resulted in Wang Xuanmo's retreat. Xiao Bin wanted to execute Wang Xuanmo, but Xie Qingzhi strongly advised against it. Later, the emperor asked Xie Qingzhi, "Why did you advise Xiao Bin not to kill Wang Xuanmo?" Xie Qingzhi replied, "Defeated generals who flee are all terrified of punishment. They will either surrender or run away, causing the army to scatter. Moreover, the enemy's large army has arrived; this is no time to lose our heads. It is better to attack." Xiao Bin, who had previously suffered defeat on the battlefield, wanted to hold his ground in Qiao Ao. Qingzhi said to him, "You've pushed deep into enemy territory to achieve your objectives, but now you've faced such a defeat. How can you possibly stay here long-term? Qingzhou and Jizhou are both very weak now, yet you are holding on to this remote small city. If the enemy comes from the east, we could lose everything east of Qingzhou. Qiao Ao is remote and isolated, and it risks repeating Zhu Xiu's mistakes at Huatai."
The imperial envoy happened to arrive and did not allow Xiao Bin to retreat. Other generals also believed they should stay. Xiao Bin asked Qing Zhi what to do. Qing Zhi said, "Decisions about military actions on the front line should be made by the generals themselves. Imperial orders come from afar, and the situation has already changed. You have strategists like Fan Zeng at your disposal, yet you don't utilize them. What good is mere talk?" Xiao Bin and the others present chuckled and said, "Shen Gong (referring to Qing Zhi), you're starting to lecture again." Qing Zhi exclaimed, "Although you have read many ancient and modern books, learning from personal experience like me is more effective!" Xuan Mo requested to remain at Qiao Ao after suffering a defeat, so Xiao Bin went back to Li Cheng, while Shen Tan and Yuan Huzhi held their ground at Qing Kou. Qing Zhi rode a fast horse back to the court. Before he could arrive, he received an imperial edict from the emperor, ordering him to halt his advance and return to rescue Xuan Mo. Consequently, the enemy had already reached Peng Cheng, and Qing Zhi could not advance north. Grand Commandant Wang Yigong of Jiangxia stayed in his residence to lead the troops. Tuoba Tao arrived at Maoshan, and Yigong sent Qing Zhi to lead three thousand men to resist. Qing Zhi felt the enemy was too strong, and if he went, he would likely be captured, so he refused to go. Later, Emperor Taizu said to him, "Your handling along the Yellow River was very appropriate, except for not abandoning Qiao Ao. You have been by my side for a long time and understand my intentions well. You haven't done anything wrong by disobeying the edict." In the year 227 AD, the envoy Qing Zhi moved several thousand displaced families from Peng Cheng to Guabu. General Cheng Tianzuo of the Northern Expedition also moved refugees from Jiangxi to Nanzhou, using the same method.
In the year 229 AD, the emperor planned another northern campaign. Qing Zhi strongly counseled against it, but the emperor did not listen because of their disagreements, so Qing Zhi did not participate in the campaign. At that time, the fugitive Sima Heishi and the rebel official Xiahou Fangjin deceived and incited the barbarians in the Xiyang Wushui area, bringing disaster from the Huai and Ru Rivers to the Yangtze and Han River basins. In October, the emperor dispatched Qing Zhi to lead the various generals against them and ordered troops from Yuzhou, Jingzhou, and Yongzhou to follow Qing Zhi's command.
In January of the year 230 AD, Emperor Shizu arrived at Wuzhou and personally led the generals. Qing Zhi departed from Bashui to Wuzhou to consult Emperor Shizu on military strategy. Coincidentally, Emperor Shizu's adviser Dong Yuansi returned from the capital and reported the situation regarding the traitorous murderers of the emperor. Emperor Shizu then sent Qing Zhi back to rally the troops. Qing Zhi told his confidants, "We needn't concern ourselves with Xiao Bin's wife and her associates. I know all the other generals and they are easy to deal with. There are only about thirty conspirators in the East Palace; the others were coerced and won’t resist. Now we are fighting for justice against the rebels, and we will surely prevail." After the army assembled, the emperor appointed Qing Zhi as the General for Conquering the Barbarians, the Interior Minister of Wuchang, and also made him the leader of the palace guards. Emperor Shizu returned to Xunyang, where Qing Zhi and others believed there was no ruler and urged Emperor Shizu to ascend to the throne, but he did not agree.
The rebel Shao sent Qing Zhi's student Qian Wuji to persuade Qing Zhi to lay down his weapons, but Qing Zhi instead captured Qian Wuji and handed him over to Emperor Shizu. After Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he appointed Shen Qing Zhi as the General of the Army and also conferred upon him the title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary. Not long after, he appointed Qing Zhi as the Commissioner-in-Chief, Commander of the Southern Yanzhou, Yu, Xu, and Yanzhou armies, General Who Guards the Army, Governor of Nanyanzhou, while retaining his title of Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary, stationing him in Yuyi.
The emperor fought battles to suppress rebellion, thinking of the achievements of the generals. He issued a decree saying, "I have been abandoned by heaven, and I have experienced much hardship and shed tears on my long journey back. I am determined to completely suppress the rebellion, lead the army to attack the rebels, and the righteous army is as unstoppable as a raging torrent. All the generals have been loyal and fulfilled their duties, completing the mission smoothly as if returning home. Not long after, the country was restored to peace. As an insignificant person, I have come to inherit the throne. I have always remembered your achievements and want to reward you generously. The newly appointed officials: Shen Qingzhi, Liu Yuanjing, Zong Que, Xu Yibao, Shen Faxi, and Gu Bin, all of you have contributed with your strategies, tactics, and military command. Some of you have given advice, some have fought and suppressed the rebellion in one battle, some have commanded elite troops and achieved victory with precision. Your loyalty to the nation, putting your own safety aside, surpasses that of the heroes of old. Your achievements have benefited the people and moved me deeply. Now, how should I reward your merits? I will grant you land and titles, so your families may thrive for generations to come. Qingzhi is granted the title of Prince of Nanchang County, Yuanjing is granted the title of Prince of Qujiang County, both with land grants of three thousand households. Que is granted the title of Count of Taoyang County, with a land grant of two thousand households. Yibao is granted the title of Count of Yiyang County, with a land grant of one thousand five hundred households. Faxi is granted the title of Count of Pinggu County, and Bin is granted the title of Count of Yangxin County, both with a land grant of one thousand households." The emperor then summoned them in front of the court and appointed them to official positions. He then ordered Shen Qingzhi to return from Xuyi to Guangling to take up garrison duty.
In the first month of the first year of the Xiaojian era, Lu Shuang rebelled, and the emperor dispatched General Wang Xuanmo of the Left Guard to quell the rebellion. Wang Xuanmo's army marched upstream along the Huai River toward Shouyang, commanding several other generals as well. Soon after, news arrived that Jingzhou and Jiangzhou had also rebelled, so the emperor summoned Tan Daoji back to the court. Tan Daoji entered the palace with fifty armored soldiers through the six gates. Lu Shuang first sent his brother Lu Yu to occupy Menglong, and the governor of Liyang, Zhang Youxu, led troops to suppress Lu Yu. However, upon Lu Shuang's arrival, Zhang Youxu's forces scattered and joined Lu Shuang's rebellion. Therefore, the emperor ordered Tan Daoji to cross the Yangtze River to confront Lu Shuang.
Upon hearing of Tan Daoji's arrival, Lu Shuang ordered his troops to gradually retreat while he stayed behind to cover their withdrawal. Tan Daoji and his men engaged Lu Shuang in battle, and Xue Andu directly killed Lu Shuang on the battlefield. The emperor subsequently promoted Tan Daoji to Grand General of the North, placing him in command of the three provinces of Qingzhou, Jizhou, and Youzhou, and gave him an escort. The frontline army defeated the enemy, but Tan Daoji was promoted only one rank because he arrived late. Shortly after, he and Liu Yuanjing were appointed as Palace Attendants, but he turned down the offer. He was later appointed as Duke of Shixing County, with no change in income.
At seventy years old, Tan Daoji firmly requested to retire, a request the emperor respected and granted. The emperor appointed him as Palace Attendant, Left Grandee of the Palace, and Grand Minister, but he firmly declined. He submitted numerous memorials and even knelt before the emperor, saying, "Even Zhang Liang, a famous virtuous man, was allowed to retire by Emperor Gaozu of Han; what use am I that Your Majesty must need me?" He even wept as he spoke. The emperor had no choice but to allow him to retire as a duke, granting him a monthly stipend of ten thousand coins and one hundred bushels of rice, along with fifty guards. In the first year of the Daming era, the emperor reiterated his previous order, but Tan Daoji once again firmly declined.
Three years later, Jingling Wang of Sikong rebelled in Guangling. The emperor appointed Tan Daoji as the envoy with imperial authority, commander of military affairs in the three provinces of Nanyan, Xu, and Yanzhou, grand general of chariots and cavalry, ceremonial officer of the court, and governor of Nanyanzhou, tasking him with leading the army to quell the rebellion. When the army reached Ouyang, Prince Jingling sent gifts to his relative Shen Daomin, who was connected to Tan Daoji, requesting him to deliver a letter and a jade-handled knife to persuade Tan Daoji. Tan Daoji returned Shen Daomin and enumerated Prince Jingling's crimes. When Tan Daoji reached the city gates, Prince Jingling called out to him from the city tower: "Why has Shen Jun come at such an old age?" Tan Daoji replied: "The court believes you have lost your senses, not worthy of young men wasting their energy, so they sent me." The emperor was worried that Prince Jingling would flee to the north, so he tasked Tan Daoji with blocking his escape. Tan Daoji relocated the camp to Baitu, eighteen li from the city walls. That evening, he set up camp at Xinting. Prince Jingling did manage to escape, but he didn't get far before returning to the city. This incident is recorded in the "Biography of Dan."
Qingzhi arrived at the camp on the west side of Luoyang city, intending to set fire to the east gate, but the rain thwarted his plans and he failed. Qingzhi's nephew, Seng Rong, who was the governor of Yanzhou at the time and stationed in Xiaqiu, sent his son Huai Ming with several hundred cavalry to meet Qingzhi and officially take over the position of military governor. Qingzhi blocked the enemy's access routes, constructed siege roads, and erected siege towers and earthen ramps, preparing various siege weapons. Due to the heavy summer rains, they were unable to launch an assault on the city. The emperor sent the chief censor, Yu Huizhi, to reprimand Qingzhi, attempting to provoke a reaction from him, but the emperor did not pursue the matter. Then, the emperor sent a large amount of military provisions to Qingzhi, with over a hundred people bringing them into the city through the north gate. Qingzhi burned everything without a second thought. The leader of the rebel army in the city, Dan, sent letters and seals to Qingzhi, hoping he would assist in sending them out. Qingzhi said, "I am ordered to suppress the rebels; I cannot assist you in sending these out. If you truly want to plead your case to the court, you should open the city gates and send people out; I will escort them." Every time they attacked the city, Qingzhi led the charge at the front. The emperor once warned him, "As a commander, you should exercise sound judgment. Why do you always charge to the front, risking danger from arrows and stones? If something goes wrong, the consequences could be dire." From April to July, they ultimately breached the city and killed the rebel leader, Dan. The emperor promoted Qingzhi to the position of Minister of Works, but he resolutely declined. Finally, emulating the precedent established by Zheng Mao, the Marquis of Miling in the Jin Dynasty, he and Liu Yuanjing went to court together. Qingzhi occupied the Minister of Works seat, while Liu Yuanjing took his place behind him. The court also allocated him fifty officials and several horses.
Four years later, the southern tribes rebelled again, and the court dispatched General Qingzhi to lead the army against the rebellion. After a year of fighting, the rebellion was ultimately suppressed, and tens of thousands of captives were taken. Qingzhi had four very luxurious houses outside of Qingming Gate, and a beautiful, spacious courtyard in Louhu. One night, Qingzhi moved with his descendants to live in the courtyard in Louhu, returning all the houses outside Qingming Gate to the court. He also moved his relatives and friends to Louhu, living in close quarters. He actively promoted agriculture, often pointing to the ground and saying, "This is where my wealth lies!" He enjoyed the generous treatment of the country; his family was already quite affluent, with assets valued in the millions and thousands of servants. He also twice presented large sums of money and food to the court. Since his hometown of Shixing was relatively close to the capital, he sought a promotion to Nanhai County, but the court did not agree. He had dozens of beautiful and capable concubines. Qingzhi led a comfortable and carefree life, filled with joy every day, rarely leaving the house except to attend court meetings. Whenever he went out to enjoy leisure or hunt, he rode on horseback, full of vitality, not resembling an old man at all. The Crown Princess gave Qingzhi the gold-inlaid dagger and chopsticks bequeathed by the late emperor, saying, "You have toiled greatly and deserve to indulge in them. And these wine cups and spoons should be toasted first to you, this great doctor."
One time, the emperor held a banquet and requested all the officials to compose poetry. Qingzhi couldn't read or write, but the emperor insisted that he compose a poem. Qingzhi said, "I can't write; please let me dictate and have Yan Shibai write for me." The emperor then let Yan Shibai write, and Qingzhi dictated a poem: "My humble official position has brought me such good fortune, catching up with the peaceful and prosperous era. I am old and weak, exhausted, only wanting to return to my old home on Nangang. Resigning from my official position, in this prosperous era, what shame could I have compared to Zhang Liang?" The emperor was very pleased, and everyone praised the poem.
After the death of the late emperor, Qing Zhi and Liu Yuanjing, along with others, assisted the new emperor. The will stated that in the event of war or need for military campaigns, Qing Zhi would be in charge. After the new emperor ascended the throne, he granted Qing Zhi several canes and three prestigious carriages. Every time Qing Zhi attended court, he only rode a simple, uncovered carriage, accompanied by only three to five people. When he rode out to inspect the fields, there was only one person to lead his horse. During the busy farming season, he sometimes found no one in the fields, and those who crossed paths with him had no idea he was a high-ranking official. After being granted the three carriages, he said to others, "When I usually inspect the fields, if someone is with me, it’s three of us, and if I’m alone, just the two of us." When the emperor offered him the canes, he firmly refused.
That deposed emperor was simply mad and wicked, not at all what an emperor should be. Many people advised the reigning emperor, Liu Jun, the Xiaowudi of Liu Song, to depose him. They conspired with Liu Yuanjing and informed Liu Jun of the plot. Liu Jun had a tense relationship with Liu Yigong, the Prince of Jiangxia, and upon hearing this, he quickly revealed the conspiracy. As a result, the deposed emperor executed Liu Yigong and the others. Then, Liu Jun elevated a man named Xie Qingzhi, appointing him as an attendant and Grand Commandant, and granting his second son, Xie Wenji, the title of Marquis of Jian'an County, with a thousand households under his command.
Later, King Yiyang, Liu Chang, rebelled. Xie Qingzhi accompanied the emperor across the Yangtze River, taking charge of the army. Xie Qingzhi's youngest son, Xie Wenyao, excelled at horseback riding and archery as a teenager. The emperor liked him very much, so he appointed him the Marquis of Yongyang County, granting him a thousand households of land. The emperor grew increasingly cruel and tyrannical, but Xie Qingzhi persisted in advising him, even as the emperor grew impatient. Later, when the emperor sought to execute He Mai, fearing Xie Qingzhi would oppose him, he ordered all the bridges in Qingxi to be sealed off to prevent his passage. Xie Qingzhi indeed arrived, but turned back when he found the way blocked. The emperor then sent Xie Qingzhi's cousin, Xie Youzhi, with poison to compel him to take his own life, as Xie Qingzhi was eighty years old at the time. Earlier that year, Xie Qingzhi dreamt that someone gifted him two pieces of silk, saying, "This silk is sufficient." Xie Qingzhi remarked to others, "I certainly won't survive this year. Two pieces of silk, eighty feet each, just enough, not a bit more." Following his death, the emperor bestowed numerous honors upon him, posthumously appointing him as a Palace Attendant and Grand Commandant, and providing him with a luxurious carriage and a ceremonial escort, with the posthumous title of Duke Zhongwu. Before Xie Qingzhi could be buried, the emperor was defeated. Later, Liu Ziye, brother of Emperor Xiaowu of Song, ascended the throne and posthumously appointed Xie Qingzhi as a Palace Attendant and Minister of Works, with the posthumous title of Duke Xiang.
Xie Qingzhi's eldest son, Xie Wenshu, served as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate in the Imperial Secretariat and as an Attendant during the Jinghe period. When Xie Qingzhi died, he refused to drink poison, so Xie Youzhi suffocated him with a blanket. Xie Wenshu secretly hid the poison. Some urged Xie Wenshu to flee, but he saw how the Emperor had Prince Liu Yigong of Jiangxia dismembered and feared that if he escaped, the Emperor would treat him the same way out of anger, so he took the poison and ended his life. His brother, Xie Zhaoming, followed suit and took his own life. In the seventh year of the Taishi era, Xie Qingzhi was posthumously titled Duke of Cangwu. In the first year of Yuanjia, his previous title was restored. At that time, Shixing County was renamed Guangxing County, and Xie Zhaoming's son, Xie Tanliang, succeeded him as Duke of Guangxing. Later, during the Qi Dynasty's usurpation, these titles were lost. Xie Qingzhi's younger brother, Xie Shaozhi, served as a military officer under Prince Liu Shao of Luling during the Yuanjia period, where he fell ill and died after campaigning against bandits in Jian'an and Jieyang. Seng Rong, the nephew of Qingzhi and son of Changzhi, became the magistrate of Ancheng County during the Xiaojian period. During the Jinghe period, the court summoned him to serve as an Attendant of the Yellow Gate, but he passed away before assuming the position. His son, Huaiming, returned home to observe mourning when his father died during the Taishi period of Emperor Taizong. After completing his mourning period, he was appointed as General of Jianwei, achieved numerous military successes, and was granted the title of Viscount of Wuxing County with a fief that included four hundred households. He later served as a Yellow Gate Chamberlain and twice as Governor of Nanyanzhou. During the Yuanhui era, his mother died, so he resigned from office to observe mourning at home. When Prince Guigang Xiu Fan rebelled, he was appointed Champion General to command the naval defense of Shitoucheng. When the Vermilion Bird Gate fell, Huaiming abandoned his troops and soon after, he died from overwhelming anxiety.
Qing Zhi's cousin, Fa Xi, whose courtesy name was Xian, was a military strategist. He initially served as a general under Zhao Bofu and later joined Qing in the expedition against the Wushui barbarians. During Emperor Shizu's campaign against the rebels, Fa Xi was appointed as a military officer in Nan Zhonglang, promoted to General of Ning Shuo, and commanded three thousand troops as the vanguard, and arrived at Xinting alongside Liu Yuanjing. Liu Yuanjing stationed at the central camp, Zong Que stationed at the western camp, and Fa Xi stationed at the eastern camp. The eastern camp held a strategic position, and when the enemy launched an attack on Liu Yuanjing, Fa Xi led the troops to target the enemy, inflicting heavy casualties. Fa Xi ordered all the trees outside the camp to be cut down, obstructing the enemy's advance. The enemy moved along the tree line, but Fa Xi created multiple gaps among the trees, selecting soldiers skilled in archery to shoot arrows, resulting in numerous enemy casualties. Once the fighting ceased, Fa Xi was appointed as General of Ning Shuo and Prefect of Shixing, and later went to Guangzhou to confront Xiao Jian. It was said that the imperial army was nearing, but Xiao Jian misled the soldiers by claiming, "The imperial army is made up of bandits." The soldiers believed him. Gu Mai, the former Northern Expedition Officer who had been captured, was imprisoned in the city. He was proficient in astronomy and predicted, "There will be a large army coming to Jingzhou and Jiangzhou." This led the townspeople to remain resolute. Initially, Emperor Shizu dispatched Deng Wan to besiege Xiao Jian, only planning a single line of attack. When Fa Xi arrived, he said, "We should attack from all sides at the same time. If we only defend one direction, when will we be able to capture it?" Deng Wan, fearing he wouldn't receive credit, was reluctant to heed his advice. Fa Xi said, "Let's coordinate our efforts for fifty days." After fifty days of failed attempts, Deng Wan finally followed Fa Xi's advice. By attacking from all eight directions at once, they captured the city in just one day, killed Xiao Jian, and pacified Guangzhou. Fa Xi relinquished the treasury to Deng Wan before returning. Fa Xi was promoted to General of the Valiant Cavalry and Prefect of Xunyang, and also held the position of Marshal for Prince Ziluan of Xin'an. Several dozen officials in the court were relatives of Fa Xi's cousin, Qing Zhi. Wen Xiu, the son of Shao, is documented in a separate biography.
The historian records that Zhang Shizhi believed that if law enforcement is biased, lawsuits across the country will become inconsistent and chaotic. If the court is just, everyone can enjoy fairness, but if law enforcement is in disarray, the common people will be left helpless. Shi Dan, favored by the emperor, replaced the ministers and instilled fear in both the court and the populace. He ingratiated himself with the powerful, used money to forge connections, and bribed officials from central departments to local government offices. He catered to personal requests, even delaying the emperor's edicts. Heaven was enraged, and misfortune struck one after another, yet Shi Dan persisted in his ways while Wang and Xie lost their positions as a result. The gentlemen believe this issue is more than just a simple error in governance and law enforcement! This saying captures that very truth!
