Yin Xiaozu was a native of Changping in Chen County. His great-grandfather, Yin Xian, served as the Grand Commandant of the Jin Dynasty. His father and grandfather did not achieve much. When Yin Xiaozu was young, he was quite unrestrained, fond of drinking and partying, but also had a fierce determination. In the later years of Emperor Wen of the Song Dynasty, he became a minor official responsible for cavalry.
Emperor Xiaowu of the Song Dynasty thought he had military talent, so he was appointed General of Fenyu and Governor of Jibei. Later, he was transferred back to the court and became General of Jishe. In the early years of the Daming Dynasty, the Suolu, a branch of the Xianbei tribe, invaded Qingzhou, and the emperor sent Yin Xiaozu to the north to rescue, under the command of the Governor of Qingzhou, Yan Shibai. Yin Xiaozu fought numerous battles against the Suolu, achieving victory after victory. For more details, refer to the biography of Yan Shibai. After the battles, he was appointed General of the Prince’s Expedition, with the additional title of Dragon Cavalry General, and his official position continued to grow.
Later, Prince Liudan of Jingling rebelled in Guangling, and Yin Xiaozu joined Shen Qingzhi in suppressing the rebellion, achieving military merit and receiving promotions, becoming General of the Prince of Xiyang, General of Ningshuo, and Governor of Nanjiyin. Afterwards, he was appointed Governor of Xuyi while retaining his military title. He later returned to the court as General of Huben, concurrently serving as General of Ningshuo and Governor of Yangping and Dongping. His official position continued to grow, and he successively served as Governor of Jinan and Nanchun, with his military title unchanged.
In the year 477 AD, I was appointed Inspector of Yanzhou, responsible for military affairs in Yanzhou.
Later, Emperor Taizong had just ascended the throne, and rebellions broke out in various places. My nephew's colleague, Ge Sengshao from Yingchuan, was a military officer serving as an advisor to the Minister of War at the time. He suggested that the court invite me to the capital. The emperor sent him to summon me. At that time, Xuzhou Governor Xue Andu sent Xue Suo'er and others to guard the key routes. Ge Sengshao managed to slip past them, found me, and said, "Emperor Jinghe (referring to Liu Ziye) has completely lost his mind. There has never been a more absurd emperor in history. Both the court and the people are in grave danger; the situation is dire! Our new emperor, Emperor Taizong, is a ruler born to be wise and extremely brave. He quelled the rebellion shortly after ascending the throne, transforming the nation. This is just the beginning. The country is in turmoil, and the court is in great danger. It is necessary to support the enthronement of an elder emperor, as all the court officials think the same. The world will soon be at peace. However, those scoundrels stir one another up, spread falsehoods, and for their own benefit, they all hope the young emperor continues to reign. If heaven truly helps those rebels succeed, the young emperor will be at risk, power will be fragmented, and wars will break out everywhere. No one will have a good life then. Uncle, you have always aspired to achieve greatness, and you are known for your integrity. If you can lead the elite troops of Jizhou and Hezhou back to the court, not only can you quell the rebellion and protect the emperor, but you will also secure your place in history!" I asked Ge Sengshao for detailed information about the court's situation, and he answered each question based on the circumstances. He also mentioned that the court had a strong military, and the emperor wished for me to lead the troops into battle. That day, I left my wife, children, and elderly relatives behind and followed Ge Sengshao back to the capital with two thousand civil and military officers.
In a time of great chaos, the court had managed to hold onto only Dan Yang County. But then, Yongshi County rebelled again. The rebel soldiers from Yixing were about to attack Yanling, which threw the court and its people into a panic, with everyone wanting to escape. Just then, Xiaozu appeared, instantly lifting everyone's spirits. Along with the brave warriors from Chu, the people felt more at ease. The court quickly appointed Xiaozu as Champion General, entrusting him with command of the vanguard troops to face the southern rebels. The Emperor also gifted Xiaozu the armor and helmet once worn by Zhuge Liang, along with a powerful crossbow that even the armor couldn't withstand. Xiaozu was renowned for his loyalty and dedication, running a tight ship. If any fathers, sons, or brothers were among the southern rebels, Xiaozu was determined to punish them, which led to discontent among the troops. Later, the court promoted him to Commander-in-Chief of military forces across four provinces while keeping his original governorship. As the rebels seized Zheqi, Xiaozu readied himself for an assault. Before departing, he said his goodbyes to the court's Grand Tutor Wang Xuanmo, which left everyone feeling oddly melancholic.
In the second year of Taishi, on the third day of the third month, Xiaozu fought against the rebel army. Surprisingly, he even brought drums and musicians with him. People in the army said, "Yin Tongjun is really a stubborn guy! Even now, he is fighting the enemy in such a high-profile manner. It's like he's got ten sharpshooters aiming at him all at once; how's he supposed to survive that?" As a result, that day, Xiaozu was shot dead by an arrow in front of the battle formation. He was only fifty-two years old that year. The court posthumously awarded him the titles of Cavalier in Regular Attendance and General Who Conquers the North, keeping his position as Commander. He was also titled as Marquis of Zigui County, with a fief of one thousand households. Four years later, he was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Jian'an County, with the posthumous title of Loyal Marquis. Sadly, all of Xiaozu's sons were killed by Xue Andu, and eventually, only his cousin's son, Huidai, ended up inheriting the title. After the Qi dynasty received the abdication, his title was also revoked.
Liu Men, styled Boyou, was from Pengcheng, Xuzhou. His grandfather, Liu Huaiyi, served as the Administrator of Shixing, and his father, Liu Yingzhi, served as the Administrator of Runan and Xinchai. Later, he went off to fight against Linyi but got sick and died. Liu Men had aspirations from a young age and enjoyed reading. Coming from a poor background, he first served as the Magistrate of Zengcheng County in Guangzhou, and later, the Governor of Guangzhou, Liu Daoxi, took notice of him and transferred him to serve as the Registrar of Yanglie Prefecture.
In the year 450 AD (the 27th year of Song Yuanjia), the northern Suolu tribe invaded the south, and Liu Daoxi sent Liu Men to the capital to deliver a letter seeking reinforcements. Emperor Xiaowudi Liu Jun received him, and the two really hit it off. Liu Men's replies impressed the emperor, so he was appointed General of Ningyuan and Prefect of Suiyuan. Later, towards the end of the Yuanjia period, Xiao Jian rebelled in Guangzhou, and Liu Men led his troops to crush the rebellion, directly torching Xiao Jian's stronghold at Nanmen. The Governor of Guangzhou, Zong Que, appointed him Registrar of the Military Prefecture, and for his achievements, he was made Marquis of Daping and promoted to Attendant Cavalier of the Household.
During the Xiaojian era, both Jingzhou and Jiangzhou rebelled. Zong Que appointed Liu Ben as the General of Ning Shuo and the Governor of Xiangdong to lead troops to quell the rebellion in Anlu. Once the rebellion was quelled, Liu Ben was appointed as the Prefect of Jinkang, and later transferred to be the Prefect of Yulin. At the beginning of the Daming period, Liu Ben returned to the capital, where the Inspector of Xuzhou, Liu Daolong, invited him to serve as the Marshal of Ning Shuo. Subsequently, Prince Jingling, Liu Dan, rebelled in Guangling. Liu Ben followed Liu Daolong's command to pacify the rebellion, and after its suppression, Liu Ben was granted the title of Marquis of Jincheng County. He was later appointed as a military officer in Prince Xi Yang's army, serving in the court.
Before that, the court sent Fei Shen to fight against Chen Tan, but was unable to achieve victory. Therefore, Liu Ben was appointed as the General of Longxiang, the Protector of Xijiang, and the Prefect of Yulin. Liu Ben led the troops to battle, which went smoothly, capturing many fine horses and presenting the Emperor with precious coral and intertwined trees, greatly pleasing him. Later, he was appointed as a military officer in Prince Xin'an's Liu Luan's army, but following the death of his mother, he did not take up the position. After Emperor Liu Ziye ascended to the throne, he appointed Liu Ben as the General of Zhenwei and the Commandant of Tunqi, serving in the court.
When Emperor Tang Taizong ascended to the throne, he promoted Liu Ben to General of Ning Shuo while retaining his previous position as Commandant. Later, the Inspector of Jiangzhou, Prince Xun of Jin'an, rebelled, prompting responses from various regions. The Emperor allowed Liu Ben to serve as the Assistant Marshal of Prince Jianping Jing Su, leading troops to Liangshan in his original official capacity. At the same time, the Inspector of Yuzhou, Yin Yan, also rebelled. The court summoned Liu Ben back to the capital to suppress the rebellion, appointing him as the temporary title of Assistant General, leading the army to subdue Yin Yan. Remarkably, he entered the palace with just thirty soldiers. He later also served as the Marshal of Prince Shanyang Xiuyou's cavalry while retaining his other positions.
He defeated General Liu Shun in Wantang and Du Shubao in Hengtang, as recorded in the biography of Yin Yan. The Emperor appointed him as the Deputy General of Fuguo, the Cavalry Adviser to Prince Xiuyou of Shanyang, the Prefect of Liangjun, and granted him temporary authority, but he did not take up any of these positions. Yin Yan defended the city, defending from spring to winter, while Xue Daobiao and Pang Mengqiu attacked Shouyang. He coordinated inside and outside forces, winning every battle. He was good at comforting his soldiers, kind-hearted, and well-loved by the people.
Once, General Wang Guang wanted the horse he was riding, which angered the other generals. They thought Wang Guang was too presumptuous and advised him to discipline Wang Guang according to protocol. However, he just laughed and immediately gave the horse to Wang Guang. Later, he was appointed as the Commissioner, Supervisor of Military Affairs in Guang and Jiaozhou, Prefect of Pingyue, and Governor of Guangzhou. His position as general remained unchanged, but he still did not take up the positions. When Yin Yan opened the city gates and surrendered, he ordered the troops not to act on their own, ensuring that the citizens and their property in the city were unharmed. The people were very grateful to him, referring to him as their savior and erecting a monument in his honor.
Later, he was appointed as the Supervisor of Military Affairs in Yining and Ningzhou, Governor of Yizhou, while retaining his titles of Commissioner and General, but he still did not take up the positions. Finally, he returned to the capital and was appointed as the Left Guard of the Crown Prince, granted the title of Marquis of Poyang County, with a fief of one thousand households.
At the beginning, Yan sought assistance from Suolu, and as a result, the Suolu forces were stationed in Runan. In the third year of Taishi, the court appointed Min as the General of the Expeditionary Army, commanding the vanguard forces of the Western Front, granting him a special seal, permitting him to appoint subordinates, without changing his official position. Previously, Chang Zhenqi occupied Runan and opposed Yan. After Yan surrendered, he utilized the defected Suolu soldiers in battle, all of which are recorded in Yan's biography. At this time, Min led Suolu Xihe Duke and Changshe Duke to besiege Zhang Jingyuan, the Fuguo General and Prefect of Ruyin. Zhang Jingyuan and his military commander Yang Wenchang mounted a resistance and counterattack, achieving a significant victory. Zhang Jingyuan later fell ill and died. The Emperor admired his achievements and posthumously awarded him the title of Champion General and Governor of Yuzhou, posthumously granting him the title of Lord of Hanyu County, with a fief of three hundred households, and appointed Yang Wenchang as the new Prefect of Ruyin. Then, the court appointed Min as the Right Guard General, permitting him to continue serving as the Commissioner, Governor of Yuzhou and Sizhou, General of the Expeditionary Army, and Governor of Yuzhou, while retaining his other duties.
In the fourth year of Taishi, the court promoted Meng to be an attendant minister, allowing him to concurrently serve as the Archery Commandant, but he did not accept. Later, his official position was further elevated to Right General. In the same year, the Suolu sent Sima Zhao Huairen of Ruyang to lead five hundred infantry and cavalry to attack Wujin County. Meng dispatched General Qu Yuande of Longxiang to lead light troops in a counterattack, causing the Suolu army to scatter in fear. The Suolu's son, Gong E Yuaba, escorted by three hundred men, camped with ten thousand carts on the east side of Ruyang Terrace. Qu Yuande alone charged into the enemy camp, killed Yuaba, and then attacked Ruyang Terrace, quickly breaking through the outer defenses, capturing 1,300 carts and killing 150 enemy soldiers. Meng then sent Sun Tanguan to lead troops to guard the area west of Yiyang. When Suolu invaded Yiyang, Sun Tanguan defeated them. Suolu had about two thousand carts plundered from Beiyu Province. Meng recruited refugees, set up an ambush in Xuchang, and attacked them, causing the Suolu army to flee, burning a lot of food.
Huai Xi's Jia Yuanyou submitted a memorial to the emperor, suggesting an attack from the north on Xuanhu, which would allow the recovery of Chenjun, Nandun, Runan, and Xincai. The emperor showed Jia Yuanyou's suggestion to Meng and asked for a detailed reply. Meng replied:
Yuanyou said, "The enemy country's ruler is young and incompetent, with treacherous officials in power, causing chaos both internally and externally, and the country is on the verge of collapse." I disagree. The enemy army invaded, occupied provinces, and the people suffered heavy casualties. Last winter, the army could not farm, and this spring, the cities are besieged. The country has no time to recover lost territory, much less defeat the enemy.
Yuanyou also said, "There are more than seven thousand households with sufficient food reserves to feed twenty thousand people for several years." I also disagree. Twenty thousand people would need forty-eight thousand hu of grain in a year, two hundred and forty thousand hu in five years, which is impossible. That sounds like an exaggeration.
Yuan You said again: "The enemy has already set up a post in Xuanhu and has taken it over. If we can't rely on it, then we don't need to bother with it. Since we are all attacking the city, we should attack Xuanhu first. Why attack Yancheng first and put ourselves at risk of being attacked from all sides? Moreover, even if there are more than seven thousand households with sufficient food, the enemy still needs to transport food from afar, indicating their lack of control and the people's discontent with them."
Yuan You said again: "The enemy wants to use water and land transportation to supply the army with food. This is an opportunity to attack them, today!" I disagree with that too. They are building post roads, holding on to the city, and observing their situation; they don't seem weak at all. It will be difficult to seize the opportunity for an attack.
Yuan You said again: "The people of the four counties have suffered for twenty-seven years under the enemy and all want to seek revenge and wait for the arrival of the imperial army." I disagree with that too. Yuan Shibao and others have received great favor from the court, but now they have joined the enemy, showing they haven't forgotten their old master and not really seeking revenge. How can we easily believe them?
Yuan You said again: "I suggest we order Jingzhou and Yongzhou to each send two thousand elite soldiers to attack from Yiyang along the western mountains towards the north, directly targeting Yancheng." I disagree with that too. Yancheng is a key transportation route for the enemy, and the terrain is challenging. It is several hundred miles away, and they would need to sneak in with supplies to reach the plains to attack the enemy's strong city. Throughout history, even famous generals have not succeeded using this method. Even if they can win the battle, it is unknown if they can withstand both Xuanhu to the south and Changshe to the north. Furthermore, the enemy occupies several cities, with convenient water and land transportation. Cutting off their food supply would be too difficult.
Yuan You said again: "The enemy has surrounded Ruyin and has been harassing us for two years. They were defeated by Zhang Jingyuan, and now they are still too afraid to cross the Huai River." I think this is not right either. Jingyuan's forces are weak, and he can hardly protect himself. We have to send troops to support him in order to achieve any victory. Are the enemies really afraid of him now? The enemies that Jingyuan previously defeated were only a few hundred, while the enemy has forty thousand troops, both infantry and cavalry, yet they are still too afraid to attack. Now they are advising the court to dispatch a small force on a distant campaign, claiming that victory can be easily achieved. This contradiction is too absurd.
Yuan You said again: "The Lu Nu and Wang Jingzhi in the Longshan and Zhishui areas have received titles from the court, with over ten thousand troops. The time for attack has come; we are only waiting for the court's order." I think this is also not right. Lu Nu has been in cahoots with the enemy for years. It was only last year that they showed loyalty to the court, claiming they wanted to make achievements. Since receiving their titles, they’ve run off, revealing their treachery. Wang Jingzhi is a desperado with just a handful of men under his command, completely unreliable, let alone over ten thousand troops. This does not match the actual situation.
Yuan You said again: "The people in the four counties all hate the enemy. Their camps are connected, the fields have been abandoned for two years, the people's livelihoods have been cut off, the enemy has no logistical support, and their food reserves have been used up. Cutting off their supply lines is our top priority."
I said, to cut off the enemy's supply lines, we need to use troops, and to use troops, we need to have a supply of food and forage for the troops. But now, we are two hundred miles outside of Xuanhu City; how can we ensure that there is enough food and forage for the troops? This is really a huge problem!
I secretly consulted historical records since the Yuanjia era and found that those people from remote and uncivilized areas often participated in court politics, boasted about their plans, and returned to the capital in disgrace, calling for campaigns against the enemy. Lu Shuang's empty rhetoric actually damaged the country's reputation, wasted troops, and squandered vast amounts of wealth. People like this always propose flattering suggestions, and the court always believes them, only to regret it later. People in border regions are only concerned about who is strong and who is weak. When our army reaches the border, they greet the troops with food and drink; but once the army withdraws, they rush in to plunder and kill. How many times have the leaders been hindered by the people along the Yellow River on their way back to the capital?
Emperor Taizong took my advice, and Yuan You's suggestion was put on hold. Chang Zhenqi wrote to me, urging me to strike back at the enemy. Zhenqi and his son Chao Yue, along with Yulin Supervisor Shi Bao, defeated the enemy leader Du Gongfeibai and his men in Qiaoxian, with a total of over three thousand casualties. Zhenqi immediately reported to Emperor Taizong, who was extremely pleased. He appointed Zhenqi as the Commissioner and Commander of Military Affairs in Northern and Southern Yuzhou, General of the North, Governor of Sizhou, and Marquis of Xincai County in Runan, with a fief of a thousand households; appointed Chao Yue as the General of Fuguo, Governor of Beiyuzhou, and the Prefect of Yingchuan, Ruyang... Three counties, and appointed Shi Bao as the General of Fuguo, Governor of Chen and Nandun, and the Prefect of Zhenyang County, with a fief of three hundred households. Later, Zhenqi was ambushed by the enemy while leading his troops south, and was defeated. Zhenqi managed to escape to the mountains of Shouyang to save himself, while Chao Yue and Shi Bao fell in battle.
Five years have passed, and Yang Wenchang, the Prefect of Ruyin, has repeatedly defeated the enemy in Jingting and the western border. The court issued an edict to promote him to General of Pacification of the West and Governor of Yuzhou, without any change in his other entitlements, but he did not accept. In the same year, the court summoned him to serve as Gentleman Attendant and Central Army Commander. Yang Wenchang felt that the world was too chaotic, and he only wanted to find a quiet place to settle down, so he requested to serve as the Governor of Dongyang County. The Emperor presented his request to the court officials, from the Minister of Works Yuan Can and below, all praised him and felt that his request should be granted. The Emperor said, "The Prince of Baling and the Prince of Jianping both have thoughts of retiring to the countryside. If the world is peaceful, we should fulfill their wishes." Yang Wenchang began to build a residence south of Zhongling, preparing to settle down there. He piled up stones, stored water sources, transforming the area into a mountainous landscape. Many officials in the court who liked tranquility went there to play.
In the sixth year, Yang Wenchang's official position changed from Gentleman Attendant to Palace Attendant. In the same year, the Prince of Qi was appointed as the Governor of Nanyanzhou, stationed in Huaiyin. The court appointed Yang Wenchang as Commissioner, Commander of the military forces of Nan, Xu, Yan, Qing, and Ji provinces, General of Pacification of the North, with no change in his positions as Palace Attendant and Central Army Commander, letting him go to Guangling to guard. He firmly declined the titles of Palace Attendant and General, and the Emperor agreed, granting him only the title of Acting General of Pacification of the North. In the seventh year, he relinquished his roles as Commissioner, Acting General, and Commander. Before Emperor Taizong passed away, he instructed everyone to appoint him as the Right Minister, with no change in his position as Central Army Commander, and also provided him with a ceremonial escort. After the Emperor's abdication, he added five hundred soldiers to his retinue.
During the Yuanhui era, a strange event occurred when the moon aligned with the position of the Right Law Star, and the Venus star moved to the position of the Chief General Star. Some people advised Mian to resign from his position to avoid disaster. Mian, however, said, "I have a clear conscience in my actions, and I am accountable to the heavens and earth and spirits. If one takes on heavy responsibilities without sufficient ability, disasters will surely come. The will of heaven is unpredictable; can one truly escape this fate?"
Later, Prince Xiufan of Guiyang rebelled, and his army quickly reached the vicinity of the capital. The court promptly appointed Min as the General, equipped him with assistants and scribes, and assigned him to defend Shitou City (now Nanjing). Not long after, the rebel army took position south of Zhuque Hang. General Wang Daolong of the Right Army led the Imperial Guards to Zhuque Hang and found the enemy already there, and quickly sent word to Min. Upon Min's arrival, he ordered the closure of the waterway, but Wang Daolong ignored him, urging Min to cross the waterway and engage in battle. Consequently, they were defeated south of the waterway, and Min died in battle at the age of fifty-seven that year.
After the rebellion was quelled, the emperor issued a decree that read: "True righteousness is inherent, and loyalty is the foundation of being human. Min's achievements are as enduring as inscriptions on stone, forever remembered. If not for his extraordinary wisdom and noble character, how could he sacrifice his life to defend the court! Therefore, Min, the General, the Marquis of Poyang County, who was upright, noble, and distinguished, with a bright and honest mind, had outstanding achievements and a renowned reputation. He worried about the country and the people, and in a time of turmoil, he was preparing to display his talents and assist the emperor in governing the country. When the rebels caused chaos and approached the capital, he stepped forward and was ordered to march. He sacrificed himself for the country, and his reputation will forever endure. I am filled with deep sorrow and profound emotion. In ancient times, Wang Yun exemplified loyalty and integrity, while Bian Rang stood firm and unyielding; they are both examples worth emulating. Although Min has passed away, his accomplishments will be eternally honored, and I will posthumously award him to commend his merits." The decree concluded with: "Min is posthumously appointed as Cavalier Attendant and Minister of Works, with his original rank and title retained, and he is posthumously awarded the title Duke of Loyalty and Brilliance."
Meng's son, Meng Quan, inherited his title and became the Governor of Guangzhou during the late Ming period under Emperor Shun. After the usurpation of the throne by the Qi dynasty, his title was revoked. Meng's younger brother, Meng Xiao, served as Ning Shuo General and Governor of Jiaozhou during the Tai Shi period and died in office. He was bestowed the title of Marquis of Zhi posthumously.
Historical records state that when Wu Han pacified the Shu region, the city was filled with blood, a sight too horrific to endure. However, he faded into obscurity in the Han dynasty afterward.
After Lu Kang pacified Xiling, the calamity befalling the Bu family even affected infants. Lu Kang's sons, Lu Ji and Lu Yun, were eventually killed and met their demise at the hands of the court. This is indeed lamentable!
When Liu Meng captured Shou Chun, the people in the city had no complaints. Instead, they assisted the elderly and children, singing and dancing as they emerged from the siege. This sight was truly magnificent!
